cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hepatic Parenchymal and Nonparenchymal Cells in Hemorrhage and Ischemia

Although it is widely accepted that ischemia can make a major contribution to organ dysfunction in trauma, shock, and sepsis, the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Since ischemia is, by definition, an imbalance between blood (or oxygen) supply and demand one might predict that susceptibility to ischemia damage might be well modeled by anoxia to parenchymal cells. However, in intact organs, the presence of multiple cell types complicates the response to an ischemic insult. This response is even more complicated when ischemia is followed by reperfusion which exacerbates the injury in intact organs. For instance, vascular endothelial cells have been shown to contain large quantities of xanthine dehydrogenase that can be converted to xanthine oxidase and anoxic stress resulting in the production of oxygen-derived free radicals during reoxygenation [1]. Indeed, in organs such as the heart, such “oxyradicals” of endothelial origin are likely to be major contributors to reperfusion injury [2]. In the liver the situation is further complicated by the presence of a substantial number of macrophages, the hepatic Kupffer cells, and during in vivo reperfusion infiltration by neutrophils which can then constitute a significant population of nonparenchymal cells. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to review the relative susceptibility to ischemic or anoxic injury of hepatocytes and the intact liver.
Fate of Staphylococcus aureus on Vacuum-Packaged Ready-to-Eat Meat Products Stored at 21°C

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has established standards for the composition and shelf stability of various ready-to-eat meat products. These standards may include product pH, moisture:protein ratio, and water activity (aw) values. It is unclear how closely these standards are based on the potential for pathogen growth or toxin production. Because the vacuum packaging used on most ready-to-eat meat products inhibits mold, Staphylococcus aureus is the pathogen most likely to grow on products with reduced aw and increased percentage of water-phase salt. In this study, 34 samples of various ready-to-eat meat products were inoculated with a three-strain mixture of S. aureus, vacuum packaged, and stored at 21°C for 4 weeks. S. aureus numbers decreased by 1.1 to 5.6 log CFU on fermented products (pH ≤ 5.1) with a wide range of salt concentrations and moisture content. Similarly, S. aureus numbers decreased by 3.2 to 4.5 log CFU on dried nonacidified jerky (aw ≤ 0.82; moisture:protein ratio of ≤0.8). Product...
A possible second messenger system for the production of long-term changes in synapses.

Interactions between neurons that leave physiological traces lasting more than a few milleseconds are typically explained by reference to a second messenger system. Candidates for second messengers in brain typically involve enzymes, most often protein kinases, and use activation sequences that vary considerably in complexity; for example, calcium/calmodulin activated kinases require only the presence of sufficient concentrations of calcium against an appropriate background while stimulation of the c-AMP dependent kinase is pictured as a series of steps that include protein translocation, activation of a cyclase, and so forth (Greengard, 1981). Recently a probable second messenger system of considerable complexity and involving a novel type of kinase has been identified (Berridge and Irvine, 1984). Activation of several types of transmitter and hormone receptors stimulates the turnover of membrane phosphatidylinositol (PI) with the formation of two breakdown products in the interior of the cell, one of which releases calcium from intracellular stores and a second that, together with calcium, causes the translocation and activation of protein kinase C. This system can be modulated at several stages, as indicated by the observation that certain membrane receptor classes suppress the activation by other receptors of PI turnover (Baudry et al., 1986). In this chapter we will review the hypothesis that a novel kind of second messenger system is found in brain that, when activated, causes irreversible changes in the fundamental structures and functions of the neuronal cytoskeleton.
A Test of Additionality

This chapter provides an overview of FY1979–1981 aircraft credits and all FY1980–1981 credits to determine if the Bank's export financing decisions show evidence that it responded in an effective manner to its legislative mandate. The focus is on aircraft credits because they represent well over 40% of the Bank's credits authorized during this period. The chapter discusses the Eximbank direct credit policy for aircraft exports and to determine if the Bank provided more generous financing in those cases facing greater product or financing competition and those where a country's access to capital markets was limited. The hypotheses to be tested regarding the Bank's decision making are: 1) the Bank provides more generous financing, the greater is the degree of product or financing competition, as measured by the Bank's competitiveness ranking. 2). The Bank provides more generous financing, the less access the importing country has to capital markets. 3) The Bank provides more generous financing the greater is the potential export value.
Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

Based on its ability to restore key signaling pathways of the host immune system and thus to counteract immune escape by malignant cells, cancer immunotherapy is now at the forefront of cancer research in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Understanding how tumors evade immune recognition and attack, through strategies that include reducing inherent immunogenicity, dysregulating immune checkpoints, and producing an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, will allow the development of novel therapeutic agents to manipulate the immune response. Various forms of immunotherapy are in preclinical trials, including vaccines, oncolytic viruses, and adoptive cell transfer, with the most promising clinical results thus far associated with the use of monoclonal antibodies. This chapter will review the mechanisms of immune escape, and will describe ongoing preclinical and clinical studies, and their implications for immunotherapy in HNSCC.
Changing one's focus of attention alters the structure of movement variability.

Abstract Substantial evidence supports the beneficial effect of an external (vs. internal) focus of attention on task performance during goal-directed movements. Counter-intuitively, an external focus has also been shown to increase joint-level movement variability. Objective To determine whether shifting attentional focus can alter the structure of movement variability, thereby offering a probable mechanistic explanation for how adopting an external focus of attention might confer its benefits. Methods Thirty-five healthy adults (age 23–55) performed unipedal hopping under three different attentional foci: natural (no directed focus), internal focus, and external focus. Uncontrolled manifold analysis was used to examine the structure of movement variability with respect to stabilization of leg orientation and vertical leg length during hopping. Takeoff/landing event bin and stance phase integrals of performance-irrelevant and performance-destabilizing variability were compared across focus conditions. Results Accuracy of hopping in place improved with both external and internal foci compared to the natural condition (.004 ≤ p ≤ .035). External focus, to a greater degree than internal focus, destabilized leg orientation at takeoff and landing compared to the natural condition (.001 ≤ p ≤ .038). External focus increased – but internal focus decreased – leg length stabilization throughout stance compared to the natural condition ( p Conclusion External focus was superior to internal and natural focus conditions in terms of increasing flexibility within the system to orient the leg differently at takeoff and landing to compensate for unintentional drift during hopping. An external focus increased leg length stabilization in stance by preferentially increasing the subset of variability that explores multiple successful performance options. These results provide an understanding of the mechanism underlying external focus benefits – improving movement variability/coordination.
Electrocardiogram algorithms used to differentiate wide complex tachycardias demonstrate diagnostic limitations when applied by non-cardiologists.

Abstract Aims Non-cardiologists (NCs) are often responsible for the preliminary diagnosis and early management of patients presenting with ventricular tachycardia (VT) or supraventricular wide complex tachycardia (SWCT). At present, the Vereckei aVR and Brugada algorithms are the most widely recognized and frequently relied upon wide complex tachycardia (WCT) differentiation criteria by NCs. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic efficacy of the Vereckei aVR and Brugada algorithms when applied by NCs. Methods In a blinded fashion, three internal medicine residents prospectively interpreted WCTs using the Vereckei aVR and Brugada algorithms. The diagnostic performance of each method was evaluated according to their agreement with the correct rhythm diagnosis. Results Two-hundred sixty-nine WCTs (160 VT, 109 SWCT) from 186 patients were independently interpreted by each participant (807 separate interpretations per algorithm). The aVR and Brugada algorithms accurately classified 546 out of 807 (67.7%) and 622 out of 807 (77.1%) interpreted WCTs, respectively. Overall sensitivity and specificity of the aVR algorithm for VT was 92.1% and 31.8%, respectively. Overall sensitivity and specificity of the Brugada algorithm for VT was 89.4% and 59.0%, respectively. Both algorithms yielded modestly favorable overall positive predictive values (aVR 66.5%; Brugada 76.2%) and negative predictive values (aVR 73.3%; Brugada 79.1%). Conclusion Non-cardiologist algorithm users correctly identified most “actual” VTs, but did not sufficiently revise VT probability to conclusively distinguish VT and SWCT. Newer WCT differentiation methods are needed to improve NC's ability to accurately differentiate WCTs.
PARP1 rs1805407 Increases Sensitivity to PARP1 Inhibitors in Cancer Cells Suggesting an Improved Therapeutic Strategy

Personalized cancer therapy relies on identifying patient subsets that benefit from a therapeutic intervention and suggest alternative regimens for those who don’t. A new data integrative approach, based on graphical models, was applied on our multi-modal –omics, and clinical data cohort of metastatic melanoma patients. We found that response to chemotherapy is directly linked to ten gene expression, four methylation variables and PARP1 SNP rs1805407. PARP1 is a DNA repair gene critical for chemotherapy response and for which FDA-approved inhibitors are clinically available (olaparib). We demonstrated that two PARP inhibitors (ABT-888 and olaparib) make SNP carrier cancer cells of various histologic subtypes more sensitive to alkylating agents, but they have no effect in wild-type cells. Furthermore, PARP1 inhibitors act synergistically with chemotherapy in SNP carrier cells (especially in ovarian cancer for which olaparib is FDA-approved), but they are additive at best in wild-type cancer cells. Taken together, our results suggest that the combination of chemotherapy and PARP1 inhibition may benefit the carriers of rs1805407 in the future and may be used in personalized therapy strategies to select patients that are more likely to respond to PARP inhibitors.
Acting with Algorithms: Feminist Propositions for Rhetorical Agency

Abstract This essay links the ubiquitous presence of algorithms with feminist engagements with agency. Grounding our intervention in the concerns of feminist digital studies with embodied experiences of risk and vulnerability in digital networks, we call for feminist attention to the agential consequences of algorithms. We target especially the complex and compromised forms of agency that participants in digital networks share with both human and nonhuman others. Drawing on feminist and technofeminist approaches, we characterize how contemporary digital networks, shaped powerfully by algorithms, not only fall short of ideals of safe, civil, public engagement, but also how algorithms--and the agency attributed to them within digital networks--constrain professional and activist work. Guided by our concern for pragmatic implications of these agential complications, we address three key audiences: graduate students undertaking their professional development in this contemporary digital context; faculty members on search committees making high-stakes hiring decisions; and advocates seeking to bridge academic and public engagement around issues of injustice and equity. To these audiences we articulate seven feminist propositions to clarify and foreground the way algorithmic agency complicates routine rhetorical readings of digital participation.
Adolescent brain and the natural allure of digital media .

The growing amount of screen time among adolescents has raised concerns about the effects it may have on their physical and psychological health. Although the literature is divided on whether the effects are mostly positive, neutral, or mostly negative, it is likely that the impacts will be highly individualized with a mixture of good and bad consequences for each person. Understanding behavioral and neurobiological phenomena of adolescence may help to guide research and interventions to optimize the benefits and minimize the risks. Particular aspects of adolescent development relevant to the issue include: (i) hunger for human connectedness; (ii) appetite for adventure; and (iii) desire for data. .
A kinetically stable anode interface for Li3YCl6-based all-solid-state lithium batteries

Despite their excellent ionic conductivity and electrochemical oxidative stability, the emerging halide-based solid electrolytes suffer from inherent instability toward Li metal anodes. A thick and resistive interface can be formed by continuous reaction between halide electrolytes and Li anodes, leading to high impedance, low coulombic efficiency, and even short circuit of solid-state cells. Here, we report a thin argyrodite (Li6PS5Cl) protection layer to avoid the direct physical contact of the Li anode with Li3YCl6, a representative halide electrolyte. Li6PS5Cl is kinetically stable towards lithium and can also form a good hetero-contact with Li3YCl6. Highly stable Li plating/stripping cycling of a symmetric cell with a steady overpotential of 100 mV after 1000 h was demonstrated, compared to severe overpotential build-up to reach 1500 mV after 60 h of the control group. Besides, the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2/Li full solid-state cell displayed a high initial coulombic efficiency of >87% and a stable lifetime of over 100 cycles. The facile protection of Li6PS5Cl provides a universal way to prevent unfavorable interaction at the anode interface and realize high performance all-solid-state Li-metal batteries.
Plasma metabolomic profiles as affected by diet and stress in Spanish goats.

The effects of high-condensed tannin (CT) diet combined with preslaughter stress have not been studied at the metabolome level in goats. This study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata), a high-CT legume, and transportation stress on plasma metabolome in goats. Uncastrated male Spanish goats (age = 8 months; BW = 26.0 ± 0.48 kg) were either fed ground ‘Serala’ SL hay (SER), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay (BG), or bermudagrass hay-dewormed goats (BG-DW; Control) at 75% of intake, with a corn-based supplementation (25%) for 8 weeks (n = 12/Diet). At the end of the trial, goats were subjected to one of two stress treatments (ST): transported for 90 min to impose stress (TS) or held in pens (NTS) before slaughtering, in two replicates. Live and carcass weights, and blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60 and 90 min of transportation or holding time (Time). The data were analyzed using MIXED procedures in SAS and metabolomics data were analyzed using the R software. When measured after ST, SER group had the lowest body weight (P < 0.05) among the three diet groups. Carcass weights were high in the BG-DW, low in SER, and intermediate in BG group. Plasma creatine concentrations decreased over Time (P < 0.01) in the TS goats in all diet groups. Meat crude protein percentages were higher (P < 0.05) in SER (22.5 ± 0.22) and BG-DW (22.3 ± 0.22) groups compared to the BG group (21.6 ± 0.22). At the metabolome level, SER group had the lowest (P < 0.05) glycine, alanine, threonine, taurine, trans-hydroxyproline, methionine, and histidine concentrations and highest (P < 0.01) lysine and citrulline concentrations among the Diet groups. Butyric acid, concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in the SER group compared to BG group. Eight medium- and long-chained acylcarnitines were higher (P < 0.05) in the BG-DW group than SER or BG groups. In general, amino acid levels decreased and acylcarnitine increased with Time (P < 0.05) in all groups. Sericea diet can be beneficial in enhancing stress coping abilities in goats due to elevated butyrate, lysine, and citrulline levels; however, SER resulted in lower energy level in goats compared to BG or BG-DW groups. Fatty acid metabolism is the main energy pathway in all groups during prolonged stress. Inclusion of certain varieties of SL in the diet must be carefully controlled to prevent possible negative effect.
The (Ir)Relevance of Audience Studies in Journalism Education

Journalism stakeholders increasingly believe that they need to better understand the news audience to accomplish their goals. Our study explores the extent to which this “audience turn” has unfolde...
Teacher Quality and Students’ Post-Secondary Outcomes:

Research suggests teachers’ observable characteristics are inequitably distributed across schools, leaving minoritized students with less exposure to experienced and credentialed teachers. While pr...
Pre- and postnatal bisphenol A treatment does not alter the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) of weanling male and female rats.

Exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) may interfere with brain sexual differentiation. Altered numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) cells in the rodent anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) after developmental BPA treatment have been reported; however, definitive conclusions are lacking. The current study incorporated many of the guidelines suggested for endocrine disrupter research. Specifically, ethinyl estradiol (EE2) served as a reference estrogen, exogenous environmental estrogen exposure was controlled, BPA was administered orally, and subjects consumed a low phytoestrogen diet. Here, on gestational days 6-21, Sprague-Dawley rats (10-15/group) were gavaged with 2.5 or 25.0 µg BPA/kg/day or 5.0 or 10.0 µg EE2/kg/day or the vehicle (5 ml of 0.3% aqueous carboxymethylcellulose/kg/day). A naive control group was weighed and restrained, but not gavaged. Beginning on postnatal day (PND) 1 and continuing until PND 21, the 4 pups/sex/litter were orally treated with the same dose their dam had received. On PND 21, 1/sex/litter was perfused and the brain removed. TH immunoreactivity (TH-ir) was counted in 8 images/pup by a technician blind to treatment status. ANOVA results indicated significantly higher TH-ir cells/mm(2) in females (main effect of sex: p<0.01); however, there was no significant effect of treatment or a significant interaction of treatment with sex. In a separate untreated group of PND 21 Sprague-Dawley pups, AVPV volume was quantified and no significant sexual dimorphism was apparent. Similar to our reported results of behavioral assessments, the BPA treatment paradigm used here (2.5 or 25.0 µg BPA/kg/day administered orally) does not appear to cause significant alterations in AVPV TH-ir.
El significado de Patagonia

El significado del toponimo Patagonia nos ha eludido, a pesar de intentos tales como un no verificable "pies grandes" para designar a los indios americanos de Tierra del Fuego. Presento aqui una posibilidad que me sugirio el estudio del Diccionario Yamana de Thomas Bridges. Este diccionario esta ordenado por agrupaciones de los morfemas de modo similar a como esta siendo compilado el diccionario sumerio en la Universidad de Pensilvania. El diccionario Yaman refleja la vision de mundo de estos pueblos del extremo sur del continente. Parece demostrar como el cerebro organiza y designa los diferentes elementos y artefactos del mundo de acuerdo a su percepcion humana y usa la lengua para etiquetarlos.
Screening for high risk suicidal states using mel-cepstral coefficients and energy in frequency bands

Distinguishing high risk suicidal patients from less severely depressed patients at low risk is a critical problem. This paper describes a novel way to address this issue. The vocal characteristics of male and female speech samples from high risk suicidal and depressed patients were analyzed and distinguished using mel-cepstral coefficients and using energy in frequency bands. Two kinds of speech samples, one from an interview session and the other from a reading session, were analyzed. The results show that mel-cepstral coefficients and energy in frequency bands may be used to separate these populations and the controlled reading tended to provide better results than the interview.
A mechanism for low‐extent melts at the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary

Recent studies have imaged sharp vertical drops in shear wave velocity at the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB). In some regions, the magnitude of the negative velocity gradient at the LAB is too large to be explained by changes in temperature alone. This study demonstrates that small amounts of partial melt in the shallow asthenosphere are a viable model for this sharp seismic boundary. In particular, we examine melting in the upper asthenosphere at the edge of thick cratonic lithosphere, using the example of eastern North America where a sharp LAB velocity gradient has been observed. Finite element modeling of asthenospheric flow at an abrupt lateral decrease in lithosphere thickness indicates that this geometry, together with lateral plate motions, produces edge-driven convection and asthenospheric upwelling at the continental margin. A key component of this work is a comparison of the locations and extents of melting produced by using different models for the depression of the peridotite solidus with varying H2O content. In addition, we develop a simplified parameterization of the H2O-undersaturated peridotite solidus for a constant degree of H2O saturation in nominally anhydrous minerals. The patterns of mantle flow produced by our numerical modeling and various solidus parameterizations predict less than 0.1 wt % to 2.8 wt % (0.01–3.3 vol %) melting at depths between 102 and 126 km for an asthenosphere with a mantle potential temperature of 1350°C and 150 ppm H2O, or between 91 km and a maximum of 200 km for a mantle at 1350°C and 450 ppm H2O. If the asthenosphere has a mantle potential temperature ≤1340°C or contains less than 150 ppm H2O at 3 GPa, no melting will occur. This process of generating melt in the asthenosphere to produce a sharp vertical velocity gradient at the LAB is viable in other locations where convective upwelling occurs in the shallow asthenosphere although it is dependent on asthenospheric potential temperature, composition, and H2O content. Because the asthenosphere may be heterogeneous in composition and H2O content, the onset of melting below the LAB may fluctuate with time and space, as may the magnitude of the shear velocity drop at the LAB.
Roles for neutrophils and monocytes in murine cytomegalovirus-induced microvascular dysfunction (678.16)

One of the first responses of the vasculature to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, such as hypercholesterolemia (HC), is endothelial dysfunction, characterized by impaired arteriolar dilation and venular inflammation and platelet recruitment. Pathogens have been implicated in CVD, and we have recently shown murine cytomegalovirus (mCMV), also impairs endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Although mCMV did not significantly increase blood cell recruitment, mCMV extended the first wave of inflammation (neutrophils) due to HC. Here we used spinning disk intravital microscopy to determine the identity of these recruited leukocytes, and light intravital microscopy to determine if these leukocyte subpopulations contributed to arteriolar dysfunction in mCMV-infected mice on normal diet (ND) or high cholesterol diet (HC). We demonstrated that mCMV shifted populations of adherent leukocytes in microvasculature of HC mice from predominantly neutrophils towards ~1:1 GR-1+ monocytes:neutrophils. Depletion of n...
Older Workers: Employment and Retirement Trends

This report begins by describing the change in the age distribution of the U.S. population that will occur between 2005 and 2025 and by summarizing the historical data on the labor force participation of older workers. This discussion is followed by an analysis of data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey on employment and receipt of pension income among persons age 55 and older. Employment trends among older workers are then discussed in the context of data from the Social Security Administration on the proportion of workers who claim retired-worker benefits before the full retirement age (65 years and 10 months for people who turn 65 in 2008). The final section of the report discusses "phased retirement," a process that combines reduced hours of work with receipt of pension income.
The Heinz Electronic Library Interactive Online System (HELIOS): Building a Digital Archive Using Imaging, OCR, and Natural Language Processing Technologies.

In February 1994, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) embarked on an ambitious project to convert one million pages of the congressional papers of Senator John Heinz (R-PA) into digital format and to provide access to these papers through innovative information retrieval software developed at CMU. Named in memory of the late Senator, the Heinz Electronic Library Interactive Online System (HELIOS) supports full-page digital images and it utilizes natural language processing (NLP) technology to search large quantities of unstructured text. HELIOS will allow researchers to access the Heinz papers through the campus network as well as through the Internet. Over one million dollars was donated by the Heinz Family Foundation, Heinz Company Foundation, and Heinz Endowments to support the establishment of the H. John Heinz III Archives and the digitization project. Heinz assistance has made it possible to advance the principles of digital preservation and access for archival collections. In addition to the Heinz gift, CMU has committed an additional $450,000 in matching resources to the project. These resources primarily come in the form of permanent full-time staff salaries, archival equipment, and rental of a processing facility. Our goal is to develop a digital archive that will serve as a model for the archival profession. We expect to create an archival information technology environment that dramatically increases the depth of indexing and the quality of retrieval beyond what archiving resources have traditionally allowed. To create the HELIOS database, documents are scanned, converted to ASCII form via OCR, verified and organized, and indexed using the CLARIT natural language processing software. The project will develop three graphical user interfaces in a Microsoft Windows environment: a scanning interface, an archivist/verification interface, and an end-user interface. HELIOS represents a significant breakthrough technology that has the potential to transform the work of archivists by helping them to overcome the significant challenges they face, including an inability to: 1. create good finding aids and indexes for paper archives that provide deep access to collections, 2. provide effective retrieval from paper archives due to the inherent diversity and size of these one-of-a-kind files, and 3. offer broad public access to archives because they represent resources that the researcher must visit in order to use effectively. Archivists have resisted the use of information technology because they lack appropriate tools to automatically process large amounts of text for retrieval. HELIOS will offer such a tool. Clearly, there are many problems yet to be solved in the management and preservation of digital archives, but it is CMU's intention to work with the larger archival and library community to help establish standard practices for digitizing paper archives and to develop the information management tools to give scholars and students state-of-the-art access to them.
The Effect of Calcium on the Axoplasm of Giant Nerve Fibres

1. Observations are described which indicate that the axoplasm of the giant nerve fibre of the squid is normally in a gelatinized state and behaves iike a solid. 2. Extruded axoplasm disperses rapidly in sea water, but not in calcium-free solutions of 0.58M-sodium chloride or potassium chloride. 3. The addition of calcium chloride in concentrations of 1 mM. or more causes the axoplasm to disperse, the time for complete disintegration decreasing as the calcium concentration is raised. No comparable effect is produced by the other constituents of sea water.
Estimation of musculotendon kinematics under controlled tendon indentation

The effects of tendon indentation on musculotendon unit mechanics have been left largely unexplored. Tendon indentation is however routinely used in the tendon reflex exam to diagnose the state of reflex pathways. Because muscle mechanoreceptors are sensitive to mechanical changes of the musculotendon unit, this gap in knowledge could potentially impact our understanding of these neurological exams. Accordingly, we have used ultrasound (US) imaging to compare the effects of tendon indentation with the effects angular rotation of the elbow in six neurologically intact individuals. We used sagittal ultrasound movies of the biceps brachii to compare length changes induced by each of these perturbations. Length changes were quantified using a pixel-tracking protocol. Our results show that a 20 mm indentation of the distal tendon is broadly equivalent to a 15° elbow rotation. We also show that within the imaging window the strain differences between the two stretching protocols are statistically insignificant. Finally, we show that there exists a significant linear relationship between the two stretching techniques and that this relationship spans a large rotational angle to indentation depth. We have used a novel tendon probe to administer controlled tendon indentations as a way to characterize musculotendon kinematics. Using this probe, we confirm that tendon indentation can be physiologically equated with joint rotation, and can thus be used as an input for muscle stretching protocols. Furthermore, this is potentially a simpler and more practical alternative to externally imposed angular joint motion.
Artificial muscles of dielectric elastomers attached to artificial tendons of functionalized carbon fibers

Dielectric elastomers are soft actuation materials with promising applications in robotics and biomedical de- vices. In this paper, a bio-inspired artificial muscle actuator with artificial tendons is developed for robotic arm applications. The actuator uses dielectric elastomer as artificial muscle and functionalized carbon fibers as artificial tendons. A VHB 4910 tape is used as the dielectric elastomer and PDMS is used as the bonding material to mechanically connect the carbon fibers to the elastomer. Carbon fibers are highly popular for their high electrical conductivities, mechanical strengths, and bio-compatibilities. After the acid treatments for the functionalization of carbon fibers (500 nm - 10 μm), one end of carbon fibers is spread into the PDMS material, which provides enough bonding strength with other dielectric elastomers, while the other end is connected to a DC power supply. To characterize the actuation capability of the dielectric elastomer and electrical conductivity of carbon fibers, a diaphragm actuator is fabricated, where the carbon fibers are connected to the actuator. To test the mechanical bonding between PDMS and carbon fibers, specimens of PDMS bonded with carbon fibers are fabricated. Experiments have been conducted to verify the actuation capability of the dielectric elastomer and mechanical bonding of PDMS with carbon fibers. The energy efficiency of the dielectric elastomer increases as the load increases, which can reach above 50%. The mechanical bonding is strong enough for robotic arm applications.
Abstract C17: Genome-wide siRNA screen identifies diverse signaling pathways converging at mitochondria to regulate cell death.

Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is regulated by the interplay of BCL2 family proteins, and by signals transduced to/from mitochondria. Recent studies in our group suggest that priming, a mitochondrial state involving interaction between anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins, can determine the sensitivity of chemotherapy. To understand how such priming status is regulated, we performed genome-wide siRNA screen using potent BCL2 inhibitor ABT737. The lead targets generated by the screen were validated and studied for potential mechanisms, revealing multiple signaling pathways that can regulate mitochondrial priming thus affect cell death. Knockdown of lead targets not only protects cells from ABT737 treatments, but also from other chemotherapeutics, such as paclitaxel and etoposide. The protection correlates with the protection of mitochondrial potential, suggesting that they may function upstream of mitochondrial outer membrane permeablization (MOMP). Targets initially identified in MDAMB231 breast cancer cell line were further validated in other cancer types, and demonstrated cell protection from chemo-treatments as well when down-regulated. Analysis of patients bearing deletions in genes or down-regulated RNA expression in some of these targets showed a trend to a poorer survival, supporting our finding that these targets may play important roles in regulating cell death and response to chemotherapy. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):C17. Citation Format: Jing Deng, Anthony Letai. Genome-wide siRNA screen identifies diverse signaling pathways converging at mitochondria to regulate cell death. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C17.
The New Deal, Collective Bargaining, and the Triumph of Industrial Pluralism:

This paper addresses what the author views as a prevailing misconception of labor law theorists and practitioners: that the goal of the Wagner Act was no more than the promotion of peaceful negotiating procedures and written agreements between organized interests—unions and employers—presumptively equal in power. The author argues that in fact the NLRA was drafted, and for a time implemented, with the avowed purpose of giving workers equality with employers in all aspects of industrial policy making, and that the now-prevalent approach became ascendant only after considerable conflict and the displacement of the Act's original administrators.
Anticommuting selfadjoint operators

Abstract Several equivalent definitions of anticommutativity for selfadjoint operators are presented. It is shown that the anticommutativity of two selfadjoint operators A and B satisfying 〈 Af ¦ Bg 〉 + 〈 Bf ¦ Ag 〉 = 0 for all ƒ and g in the intersection of the domains of A and B , is equivalent to the selfadjointness of their sum and difference. In studying the structure of anticommuting selfadjoint operators A and B , attention may be restricted to the case, where both A and B are injective. In that case, A is unitarily equivalent to − A . Moreover, A and B are uniquely determined by a triplet ( b , P , Q ), where b is unitary, and P and Q are commuting, injective, positive, and selfadjoint operators. This is a natural correspondence.
Copulatory behavior of male rats under an imposed operant requirement

Male rats acquired and maintained a leverpressing response when access to an estrous female was the response-contingent event. Leverpressing showed schedule-appropriate temporal patterns, and each intromission was followed by an interval in which no leverpresses were emitted. The copulatory behavior under the leverpress requirement was compared to the behavior of these same Ss when allowed free access to a receptive female. Consistent increases in intromission frequency and decreases in mean interintromission intervals during free tests suggested that the leverpress requirement produced an “enforced interval effect.”
A method for simultaneous variable selection and outlier identification in linear regression

We suggest a method for simultaneous variable selection and outlier identification based on the computation of posterior model probabilities. This avoids the problem that the model you select depends upon the order in which variable selection and outlier identification are carried out. Our method can find multiple outliers and appears to be successful in identifying masked outliers. We also address the problem of model uncertainty via Bayesian model averaging. For problems where the number of models is large, we suggest a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach to approximate the Bayesian model average over the space of all possible variables and outliers under consideration. Software for implementing this approach is described. In an example, we show that model averaging via simultaneous variable selection and outlier identification improves predictive performance and provides more accurate prediction intervals as compared to any single model that might reasonably be selected.
A quantitative assay of deoxyribonucleic acid strand breaks and their repair in mammalian cells

The alkaline/filter DNA elution technique measure single-strand DNA breaks in mammalian cells based on the DNA molecular weight dependent retention of the macromolecule on 2-..mu..m-pore-size filters. Described here is a modification of the technique which uses (/sup 3/H)thymidine-labeled DNA of ..gamma..-irradiated cells as an internal reference. Thus, an increased precision is obtained in the assessment of this type of DNA damage at biologically significant radiation doses (i.e., where cell survival occurs). The measure of DNA damage is based on the actual initial DNA elution rate, i.e., arithmetic ratio of the elution of ''test'' DNA (i.e., /sup 14/C-labeled DNA) relative to the elution of ''reference'' DNA (i.e., /sup 3/H-labeled DNA). The repair of this damage on postirradiation incubation of the cells is detected as a decrease in the rate of ''test'' DNA eluted relative to ''reference'' DNA from unincubated cells. For Chinese hamster V79-171 cells irradiated with 5 Gy (500 rads), repair can be resolved into two first-order processes having rate constants (at 24/sup 0/C) of approx.0.190 and approx.0.017 min/sup -1/.
Effects of Iodination on the Electrical Conductivity of Hydrogen Bis(Phthalocyaninato) Neodymium(III)

Abstract Partial oxidation of hydrogen bis(phthalocyaninato) neodymium(III) by molecular iodine dramatically increases electrical conductivity. The results are discussed in terms of structural models.
Bacterial motility: Secretory secrets of gliding bacteria

Many bacteria glide over surfaces without the aid of flagella. Gliding is still somewhat mysterious, but recent studies show that it involves specialized secretory systems that assemble membrane-associated filaments, and the recognition of extracellular components that trigger movement via transmembrane transducers.
Evaluation of performance of a beta absorption dust monitor

Dust sampling is one of the important tools utilized by industrial hygienists in their evaluation of the work environment. It usually is performed to test compliance with regulations, to identify emission sources, in epidemiologic studies or for determination of the dose inhaled by animals in toxicological studies.
Organization of the basal forebrain in the cat: localization of l-enkephalin, substance P, and choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity

The present study uses immunocytochemical techniques to determine whether cholinergic basal forebrain neurons in the cat are in a position to receive a homogeneous pattern of inputs, or if specific immunocytochemically defined afferent systems are localized to only selected regions of the basal forebrain. Monoclonal antibodies against choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) were used to identify the location of putative cholinergic neurons which are known to project to the cerebral cortex. In addition, polyclonal antibodies against substance P (SP) or enkephalin (Enk) were used on either adjacent or on the same histological sections reacted for ChAT to identify the neuropeptide plexuses that provide input to the basal forebrain. ChAT-immunoreactive (ChAT-IR) perikarya were located throughout the vertical limb, genu and horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca. ChAT-IR neurons also were located within the substantia innominata (SI), within the peripallidal zone around the globus pallidus, and were intercalated within the internal capsule. Enk-IR and SP-IR were used to determine the distribution of putative peptidergic terminals within the basal forebrain. Extensive Enk-IR and SP-IR terminal label was localized within the globus pallidus and the surrounding peripallidal zones, as well as within the SI, whereas the components of the diagonal band of Broca demonstrated negligible Enk-IR and SP-IR label. These data predict that the subdivisions of the cholinergic basal forebrain in the cat do not share a uniform afferent system, and only selective portions of this cholinergic system are in an anatomical position to receive a major direct input from the identified subcortical peptidergic afferents. The segregation of afferents has important consequences in the selective control of cortical function by the cholinergic basalocortical pathway.
Enhancement of high-harmonic gyrotron gain by a dielectric rod

A dielectric rod is shown to reduce the energy requirements of the electron beam for high-harmonic gyrotron operation. A large interaction filling factor can occur for moderate-energy electrons (∼80 keV) spiralling around the rod within the evanescent region of a dielectric waveguide mode. Since the magnetic field strength is reduced by an order of magnitude in an interaction at the tenth harmonic of the cyclotron frequency, a submillimeter-wave gyrotron is now truly feasible because the acceleration voltages can be conveniently produced by DC power supplies.
Steroid and thyroid hormones during sexual maturation of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in seawater or fresh water

Osmolality and circulating levels of estradiol-17β, thyroxine, androgens,progesterone, and sodium are measured concomitantly with determination of oocyte maturation in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) during the spawning season. Male and female salmon are held in both fresh water (their natural environment) and seawater (an unnatural environment) throughout the season. During the early stages of final gonadal maturation, sodium levels and osmolality of fish in seawater increase substantially, which suggests osmoregulatory difficulties. Also, there is a higher mortality rate of fish held in seawater. The circulating levels of all hormones measured differ between coho salmon in fresh water and those in seawater. We conclude from these differences in hormone levels, the dehydrated eggs, incomplete ovulation, and high adult mortality of fish in seawater that reproductive function is compromised in salmon which are retained in seawater during the spawning season.
Actively mode-locked semiconductor lasers

Measurements of actively mode-locked semiconductor lasers are described and compared to calculations of the mode-locking process using three coupled traveling-wave rate equations for the electron and photon densities. The dependence of pulse width on the modulation current and frequency are described. A limitation to minimum achievable pulse widths in mode-locked semiconductor lasers is shown to be dynamic tuning due to gain saturation. Techniques to achieve subpicosecond pulses are described, together with ways to reduce multiple pulse outputs. The amplitude and phase noise of linear- and ring-cavity semiconductor lasers were measured and fond to be tens of dB smaller than YAG and argon lasers and limited by the noise from the microwave oscillator. High-frequency phase noise is only measurable in detuned cavities, and is below -110 dBc (1 Hz) in optimally tuned cavities. The prospects for novel ways to achieve even shorter pulses are discussed. >
New Routes to Synthetically Useful, Sterically Encumbered Arylaluminum Halides and Hydride Halides.

The synthesis and structural characterization of the compounds Mes*AlCl2(THF) (1), Mes*AlCl2 (2), Mes*Al(H)Cl(THF) (3a), Mes*Al(H)Cl (4a), and (Mes*AlH2)2 (5) (Mes* = 2,4,6-t-Bu3C6H2-) are described as well as those for two compounds 3b and 4b that are analogs of 3a and 4a but have H:Cl ratios that are less than 1:1. All compounds were characterized by 1H, 13C NMR, and IR spectroscopy, and 1, 2, 3a, and 4b were additionally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 is best synthesized by the reaction of [(THF)2LiH3AlMes*]2 (6) with 6 equiv of Me3SiCl. A more conventional route involving the addition of (THF)2LiMes* to 2 equiv of AlCl3 in toluene usually affords a mixture of 1 and AlCl3·THF. Recrystallization of 1 from n-hexane results in a species that has less than 1 equiv of THF per Mes*AlCl2. The THF free complex 2 may be obtained in quantitative yield by heating 1 for 20 min at 90 °C under reduced pressure. Compound 3a may be obtained by treating a 1:1 mixture of Mes*Li(THF)2 and LiAlH4 with ...
Adaptation and Communicative Design Patterns of Interaction in Truthful and Deceptive Conversations

Two theoretical frameworks that examine the nature of adaptability and mutual influence in interaction, interpersonal deception theory and interaction adaptation theory, were used to derive hypotheses concerning patterns of interaction that occur across time in truthful and deceptive conversations. Two studies were conducted in which senders were either truthful or deceptive in their interactions with a partner who increased or decreased involvement during the latter half of the conversation. Results revealed that deceivers felt more anxious and were more concerned about self-presentation than truthtellers prior to the interaction and displayed less initial involvement than truthtellers. Patterns of interaction were also moderated by deception. Deceivers increased involvement over time but also reciprocated increases or decreases in receiver involvement. However, deceivers were less responsive than truthtellers to changes in receiver behavior. Finally, partner involvement served as feedback to senders regarding their own performance.
General theory of simultaneous mode mixing and non-condon effects in resonance Raman scattering

Abstract The many-body approach for temperature-dependent resonance Raman scattering by multimode systems is generalized to include arbitrary linear and quadratic electron—phonon coupling plus linear and quadratic non-Condon coupling. Analytic expressions are given for the first-order Raman excitation profiles and the optical absorption. Illustrative numerical calculations are presented.