cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bioenergetic Consequences of Left Ventricular Remodeling

Background Left ventricular (LV) remodeling is associated with LV dysfunction and decrease of coronary flow reserve. The underlying mechanisms responsible for these alterations are unclear. Changes in myocardial high-energy phosphate levels may be associated with these alterations. Methods and Results Twelve dogs with LV remodeling secondary to discrete necrosis produced by transmyocardial DC shock were compared with 8 normal dogs. LV mass and end-diastolic volume were measured by magnetic resonance imaging 7 days before and 12.9±1.3 months after DC shock. Transmurally localized 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra from five layers across the LV wall were obtained simultaneously with transmural blood flow measurements (microspheres) under basal conditions and during pacing at 200 and 240 beats per minute. LV mass and end-diastolic volume were significantly increased after DC shock (33% and 26%, respectively, each P <.01). Under basal conditions, the subendocardial creatine phosphate (CP)/ATP ratio was significantly lower in remodeled LV compared with the control group (1.71±0.09 versus 2.04±0.09, P <.05). The subendocardial CP/ATP ratio was inversely correlated with both the increase in LV mass and LV end-diastolic volume ( r =−.77 and r =−.70, P <.01 and P <.05, respectively). In remodeled myocardium, pacing induced a significant increase in LV end-diastolic pressure (from 8±1 to 20±3 mm Hg, P <.05), which was accompanied by a significant decrease of subendocardial/subepicardial (Endo/Epi) blood flow ratio (from 1.01±0.10 to 0.63±0.11, P <.05) and a significant decrease in subendocardial CP/ATP ratio (from 1.78±0.07 to 1.61±0.10, P <.05) and increase of ΔPi/ATP ratio (from 0 to 0.24±0.05, P <.01). The decrease in subendocardial CP/ATP ratio was correlated with the decrease in Endo/Epi blood flow ratio ( r =.79, P <.05). Conclusions These results demonstrate that alterations in myocardial high-energy phosphate levels are correlated with the extent of LV remodeling. In remodeled hearts, pacing-induced tachycardia produces further changes of myocardial high-energy phosphate levels in the subendocardium that appear to be related to ventricular dysfunction and redistribution of blood flow away from the subendocardium.
Structural basis of the mutagenicity of phenylazoaniline dyes

The CASE (Computer-Automated Structure Evaluation) methodology was used to gain an understanding of the basis of mutagenicity of phenylazoanilines. It was found that the activity of these molecules is dependent upon an intact moiety that spans the azo linkage, i.e., the azo bond must remain intact for mutagenicity. The study also addressed the effect of sulfonation on the activity of these azo dyes. It was revealed that sulfonation at only certain sites resulted in loss of mutagenicity. Sulfonation of the structural moiety responsible for the activity of phenylazoaniline dyes did not necessarily result in complete elimination of activity as this substitution could generate new structural moieties which contribute to the activity of the molecules.
From microarrays to mechanisms of brain development and function

Abstract Microarray technology provides a powerful approach to understand complex biological systems. The most common application of microarray technology is to document gene expression profiles of all genes within a genome in response to specific conditions such as disease, drug application, or genotype. One result of this technology is the ability to ascribe activities to genes with unknown functions – such rationale is the basis behind ‘functional genomics’. This approach is particularly well-suited to studies of the brain because roughly one third to one half of all genes in vertebrate genomes are expressed in the brain. However, less than half of such genes have any defined function. While a large number of studies have applied microarray technology to the brain, few studies have followed up the expression profiling approach with functional characterization of the genes identified. In this review, I highlight recent research that reflects the initial promise of functional genomics in the brain. I focus on neural differentiation with particular emphasis on synapse development.
Spirotetronate Polyketides as Leads in Drug Discovery

The discovery of chlorothricin (1) defined a new family of microbial metabolites with potent antitumor antibiotic properties collectively referred to as spirotetronate polyketides. These microbial metabolites are structurally distinguished by the presence of a spirotetronate motif embedded within a macrocyclic core. Glycosylation at the periphery of this core contributes to the structural complexity and bioactivity of this motif. The spirotetronate family displays impressive chemical structures, potent bioactivities, and significant pharmacological potential. This review groups the family members based on structural and biosynthetic considerations and summarizes synthetic and biological studies that aim to elucidate their mode of action and explore their pharmacological potential.
The catalytic decomposition of potassium perchlorate

Abstract The thermal decomposition of potassium perchlorate in the presence of various metal oxides was investigated by thermogravimetry and by isothermal weight loss techniques. The effect of metal oxide concentration on the temperature of initial deflection, Ti, of thermogravimetry curves of metal oxide/potassium perchlorate mixtures was determined. The Arrhenius parameters were also tabulated to demonstrate the effect of metal oxide concentration on the rate of decomposition of the potassium perchlorate.
Modulation of the acquisition of the rabbit eyeblink conditioned response by conditioned contextual stimuli.

Three experiments were conducted to ask if conditioned emotional responses (CERs) controlled by contextual cues modulate the acquisition of eyelid conditioned responses (CRs) to discrete conditioned stimuli (CSs). Experiment 1 showed that 30-s auditory stimuli that were paired with aversive shocks to one paraorbital region or the other controlled discriminated CERs, as measured by potentiation of a startle response. In Experiments 2 and 3, similarly trained 30-s stimuli served as contexts in which 1,050-ms CSs were paired with a paraorbital unconditioned stimulus (US). Reinforced contexts both impaired (Experiments 2A and 2B) and facilitated (Experiment 3B) acquisition of the eyeblink CR, depending on the locus of the USs involved. The data are consistent with the interpretation that CERs controlled by contextual cues facilitate CR acquisition, but do so in the face of blocking effects of CR tendencies also conditioned to the contextual cues. Theories of instrumental learning frequently have centered around the notion that conditioned emotional responses (CERs) modulate the vigor and the rate of acquisition of instrumentally reinforced behaviors (Konorski, 1967; Miller, 1963; Mowrer, 1960; Rescorla & Solomon, 1967; Spence, 1956). In contrast, theories of Pavlovian conditioning have rarely emphasized any such modulatory notion. Spence (1960) entertained the possibility that discrete conditioned responses (CRs) might be modulated by CERs. Konorski (1967) was the major exception, arguing explicitly that the acquisition of "consummatory" CRs requires the motivational support of "preparatory" CERs: He supposed that in the usual circumstance, CERs conditioned to the experimental environment are essential to the subsequent development of discrete CRs to conditioned stimuli (CSs) trained in that environment. Until recently, the Konorskian possibility had received little direct research attention and the nature of the interaction between CERs and discrete CRs in Pavlovian conditioning was relatively uncertain. However, Thompson et al. (1987) and Wagner and Brandon (1989) marshaled data that they took to be encouraging to the views of Konorski. Subsequent studies from our laboratory (Brandon & Wagner, 1991; Brandon, Betts, & Wagner, 1994; Bombace, Brandon, & Wagner, 1991) clearly have demonstrated that the performance of a Pavlovian eyeblink CR in the rabbit can be potentiated by an independently trained CER. The experiments reported here asked whether the learning of the eyeblink CR is similarly modulated by a CER.
Visualizing the evolution of surface morphology and surface bond strain during plasma deposition of amorphous silicon thin films

Fundamental understanding of atomic-scale processes that determine the surface morphology of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin films during plasma deposition is essential to develop systematic strategies for depositing smooth device-quality a-Si:H films. We have developed visualization tools for monitoring the evolution of surface morphology, atomic coordination, and bond strain distribution during radical precursor migration on a-Si:H surfaces; these tools are used here to study the mechanisms of SiH/sub 3/ diffusion on the a-Si:H surface and elucidate valley-filling phenomena leading to smooth a-Si:H films. We present surface characterization results during a radical migration trajectory representative of the early stage of plasma deposition: the SiH/sub 3/ precursor is impinged on a hill and migrates until it is incorporated into a nearby valley on the a-Si:H surface.
A FRAMEWORK FOR INDIVIDUALIZING INSTRUCTION

Individualized instruction is a basic principle of special education programs, yet, few attempts have been made to define clearly the philosophical and procedural aspects of this important concept. We examine three elements of individualization — philosophy, strategies, and enhancers — and develop a framework for achieving greater individualized instruction.
Kids Talking About Race: Tween‐agers in a Post‐Civil Rights Era

Our research examines how American children understand and talk about how race matters in their everyday lives. We draw on interviews with 44 middle school children who attend schools in an integrated county-wide system and find that while some use color-blind rhetoric, most children in our study know that race matters, while they offer alternative accounts for why and how. Some explain race as social inequality, while others offer cultural accounts of racial differences. Our analysis suggests that for white children, gender matters; more girls describe racial inequality than boys. For children of color, class seems to be key, with middle-class children giving cultural explanations, including negative evaluations of others in their own racial group. We use an intersectionality framework to analyze the alternative and complex narratives children give for their own experiences of race and race relations between peers.
Cooling rate limitations in the diffusion bonding of microchannel arrays

Abstract A significant barrier to the diffusion bonding of microchannel arrays is the large capital investment required to setup production. This large capital investment extends from long heating and cooling cycles leading to poor production capacities. Empirical studies in industry have shown that cooling rate is limited by the warpage of microchannel laminae, which is believed to be caused by thermal buckling. In this paper, the limits of cooling rates based on thermal buckling during the diffusion bonding of microchannel laminae are investigated. Finite element analyses of the transient thermal and stress behaviors of these microchannel laminae were conducted to identify the maximum cooling rates for different lamina thicknesses. Findings confirm that cooling rates are limited by the thermal buckling of unconstrained microchannel laminae during cooling of the device. Finite element analysis results are used to extrapolate implications for microchannel production.
An Experiment in Earthquake Control at Rangely, Colorado

An experiment in an oil field at Rangely, Colorado, has demonstrated the feasibility of earthquake control. Variations in seismicity were produced by controlled variations in the fluid pressure in a seismically active zone. Precise earthquake locations revealed that the earthquakes clustered about a fault trending through a zone of high pore pressure produced by secondary recovery operations. Laboratory measurements of the frictional properties of the reservoir rocks and an in situ stress measurement made near the earthquake zone were used to predict the fluid pressure required to trigger earthquakes on preexisting fractures. Fluid pressure was controlled by alternately injecting and recovering water from wells that penetrated the seismic zone. Fluid pressure was monitored in observation wells, and a computer model of the reservoir was used to infer the fluid pressure distributions in the vicinity of the injection wells. The results of this experiment confirm the predicted effect of fluid pressure on earthquake activity and indicate that earthquakes can be controlled wherever we can control the fluid pressure in a fault zone.
Amorphization of the intermetallic compound V2Zr by ball milling

Abstract To separate the different stages of the ball milling process, the formation of an amorphous phase starting from an intermetallic compound was investigated. Experimental conditions are described under which the intermetallic compound V2Zr becomes X-ray-amorphous. Upon heating the amorphous phase in a DSC apparatus, no crystallization is observed up to a temperature of 813 K. At 859 K, an exothermal reaction takes place associated with the crystallization into V- and Zr-solid solutions. The thermodynamic conditions in the systems VZr are discussed based on a simple Calphad approach. The conclusion is that the results of the milling process in the VZr system depend strongly on the exact milling conditions. This may be a common feature of systems with positive enthalpy of mixing.
Control of Large D-C Motors Supplied from Ignitron Rectifiers

From a consideration of the problems of the control of a d-c motor supplied from a phase controlled ignitron rectifier we have tried to show: 1. The closed loop or feed-back system is highly desirable. 2. Such a system requires the use of some form of amplifier between the reference and comparison circuit and the ignitron phase shift system. 3. Three different systems involving the use of amplidynes, electronic amplifiers, and amplistats have been successfully built to serve this function. 4. The choice of the best method for a particular application depends upon the particular requirements of that application.
Cardiovascular Effects of Sustained Norepinephrine Infusions. I. Hemodynamics

Norepinephrine (NE) in graded doses of 1, 2, and 4 µg/kg/min was infused for four hours into 14 dogs; 5 dogs served as controls. The systemic pressure and flow, blood volume, hematocrit, arterial blood pH, and oxygen saturation were measured at selected intervals throughout the infusion period. Cardiovascular performance was augmented during the first 15 minutes of the NE infusions, but this effect was not sustained. Thereafter, there was a dose-related decline in cardiac output, systemic pressure and left ventricular work, and an increase in the calculated peripheral vascular resistance. At the highest NE dose rate employed, significant left ventricular failure developed by the second hour of NE administration. The hematocrit increased during the first 15 minutes of NE infusion and remained elevated throughout the infusion period. Sustained hypovolemia was not found during the prolonged NE administration, and severe acidosis (pH < 7.20) was inconstant. The processes which lead to cardiovascular dysfuncti...
Crystal structure of the full-length ATPase GspE from the Vibrio vulnificus type II secretion system in complex with the cytoplasmic domain of GspL

The type II secretion system (T2SS) is present in many Gram-negative bacteria and is responsible for secreting a large number of folded proteins, including major virulence factors, across the outer membrane. The T2SS consists of 11-15 different proteins most of which are present in multiple copies in the assembled secretion machinery. The ATPase GspE, essential for the functioning of the T2SS, contains three domains (N1E, N2E and CTE) of which the N1E domain is associated with the cytoplasmic domain of the inner membrane protein GspL. Here we describe and analyze the structure of the GspE•cyto-GspL complex from Vibrio vulnificus in the presence of an ATP analog, AMPPNP. There are three such ∼83 kDa complexes per asymmetric unit with essentially the same structure. The N2E and CTE domains of a single V. vulnificus GspE subunit adopt a mutual orientation that has not been seen before in any of the previous GspE structures, neither in structures of related ATPases from other secretion systems. This underlines the tremendous conformational flexibility of the T2SS secretion ATPase. Cyto-GspL interacts not only with the N1E domain, but also with the CTE domain and is even in contact with AMPPNP. Moreover, the cyto-GspL domains engage in two types of mutual interactions, resulting in two essentially identical, but crystallographically independent, "cyto-GspL rods" that run throughout the crystal. Very similar rods are present in previous crystals of cyto-GspL and of the N1E•cyto-GspL complex. This arrangement, now seen four times in three entirely different crystal forms, involves contacts between highly conserved residues suggesting a role in the biogenesis or the secretion mechanism or both of the T2SS.
Engrailed, Wnt and Pax genes regulate midbrain-hindbrain development

The mouse Engrailed, Wnt and Pax genes, which are homologues of Drosophila segmentation genes, have provided a critical genetic entry point for dissecting the molecular and cellular control of mesencephalon and metencephalon development in vertebrates. Mutant phenotypes and gene expression data suggest that six members of these gene families are required for early formation of these brain regions. Ectopic transplantation studies have shown that the midbrain-hindbrain-junction protein can act as an organizer and recruit certain host cells to re-establish parts of the entire region. Taken together, these studies indicate that the mesencephalon and metencephalon develop as one independent unit, and that the genetic network regulating development of this region involves conserved genes that control segmentation in Drosophila. By analogy, segmentation of the rest of the brain might best be described in terms of 'genetic units' defined by genetic and transplantation data.
The magnetic anisotropy of mantle peridotites: Example from the Twin Sisters dunite, Washington

Abstract The Twin Sisters dunite massif, Washington State, provides unweathered peridotites for magnetic analysis. These rocks have been chosen to test a new magnetic fabric based on measuring the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) in high-field with a vibrating sample magnetometer. Although the dunites are fresh, they host small quantities of secondary magnetite formed along cracks. Under low-field conditions magnetite masks the magnetic fabric of olivine, and thus the magnetic fabric does not reflect mantle flow deformation. Above the magnetic saturation, at a field of 1 T, the ferrimagnetic component is removed and the high-field slope represents the paramagnetic AMS only. This high-field AMS originates from the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of olivine. The high-field AMS are compared with lattice preferred orientation (LPO) fabric data obtained by electron backscatter diffraction. LPO point distributions are formed by high-temperature plastic flow, and match the high-field measurements. In contrast, girdle LPOs present notable departures from the high-field AMS axes.
Measuring the RMS length of short electron pulses with an RF cavity and a beam position monitor

The Sub-picosecond Accelerator at Los Alamos National Laboratory is a 1300 MHz, 8 MeV photoinjector. Its beam can be bunched to sub-picosecond lengths using a magnetic chicane. To observe this, we use an RF cavity operating in a TM/sub 110/ mode to generate a transverse magnetic dipole field that "streaks" each bunch as it passes. Inserting a screen downstream, we determine the pulse length by measuring the increase in the beam spot width. To achieve sufficient resolution two things must happen: first, the unstreaked beam must be well focused at the screen, and, second, the drift after the cavity must be long enough. At high charge and short pulse lengths, these goals become mutually exclusive. To eliminate this problem, we propose using a beam position monitor instead of a screen. The second moment of the beam position monitor signals determines the difference between the x and y rms widths of the beam. With a properly orientated cavity, the resulting change in this quantity also gives the pulse length. However, the BPM does not require a well focused beam at its position, eliminating that constraint on resolution.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS ON THE LARGE SUBUNIT OF THE RAT LIVER RIBOSOME

Active large subunits obtained by urea treatment of rat liver ribosomes, 59S, were compared with large subunits in intact ribosomes and with the 50S subunits obtained by EDTA treatment. For electron microscopy the specimens were negatively stained or shadow cast. The negatively stained 59S subunits had a slightly ovoidal form; their average dimensions, 244 ± 17 x 207 ± 18 A, were very close to the dimensions of the large subunits in intact ribosomes, and lay between the theoretical dimensions for anhydrous and fully hydrated particles that were calculated from the physical properties of the subunits in solution. The shadow-cast preparations showed particles of similar shape. The 50S subunits, which had lost their 5S RNA, were shadow cast at the same time. They appeared to be more spread out than the 59S subunits and had threadlike extensions. In the positively stained regions of uranyl oxalate-stained preparations the 50S particles varied greatly in shape and size, with average dimensions of 330 ± 21 x 276 ± 33 A, and showed threadlike extensions like those of the shadow-cast particles. For 50S particles in solution the frictional drag of these extensions probably accounts for their low sedimentation coefficient.
MINMUM DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS IN THE GAMMA RADIOGRAPHY OF ONE AND THREE INCH STEEL SECTIONS

. A study was made to determine the minimum practical source to film distances which may be employed in gamma radiography of steel sections up to three inches in thickness for several sizes of radium capsules. Existing analyses of the geometrical exposure conditions have been reviewed and found useful in connection with these experimental studies. It has been found that the conditions in x-ray and gamma ray radiography differ in certain respects. The minimum permissible practical source to film distances determined in this work are listed below:
English and Globalization in India: The Fractal Nature of Discourse

There are many different discourses about English in India that emerge from different subject positions. The discourses of both the English-dominant and the English-excluded draw on similar themes and on dominant ideologies of globalization, but produce discourses that are refractions of each other. At a theoretical level, this gives us insight into interdiscursivity and how dominant discourses shape the formation of non-dominant discourses. I suggest that such discourses have a fractal nature, being products of iteration and manifesting similar structures, and offer the concept of fractal discursivity as a way of analyzing this kind of interdiscursivity.
Precis: a design-time precision analysis tool

Currently, few tools exist to aid the FPGA developer in translating an algorithm designed for a general-purpose-processor into one that is precision-optimized for FPGAs. This task requires extensive knowledge of both the algorithm and the target hardware. We present a design-time tool, Precis, which assists the developer in analyzing the precision requirements of algorithms specified in MATLAB. Through the combined use of simulation, user input, and program analysis, we demonstrate a methodology for precision analysis that can aid the developer in focusing their manual precision optimization efforts.
Health Impacts of Environmental Mycobacteria

Environmental mycobacteria are emerging pathogens causing opportunistic infections in humans and animals. The health impacts of human-mycobacterial interactions are complex and likely much broader than currently recognized. Environmental mycobacteria preferentially survive chlorination in municipal water, using it as a vector to infect humans. Widespread chlorination of water has likely selected more resistant environmental mycobacteria species and potentially explains the shift from M. scrofulaceum to M. avium as a cause of cervical lymphadenitis in children. Thus, human activities have affected mycobacterial ecology. While the slow growth and hydrophobicity of environmental mycobacteria appear to be disadvantages, the unique cell wall architecture also grants high biocide and antibiotic resistance, while hydrophobicity facilitates nutrient acquisition, biofilm formation, and spread by aerosolization. The remarkable stress tolerance of environmental mycobacteria is the major reason they are human pathogens. Environmental mycobacteria invade protozoans, exhibiting parasitic and symbiotic relationships. The molecular mechanisms of mycobacterial intracellular pathogenesis in animals likely evolved from similar mechanisms facilitating survival in protozoans. In addition to outright infection, environmental mycobacteria may also play a role in chronic bowl diseases, allergies, immunity to other pulmonary infections, and the efficacy of bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination.
Characterization of task performance based on maximum a posteriori reconstructions

The performance of two related tasks, object detection and object amplitude estimation, is investigated. These tasks are related because the best amplitude estimate is the appropriate decision variable for the detection task. Different results have been observed for these two tasks as a function of lambda (a scalar which controls the strength of regularization) in a study restricted to images containing a mixture of high- and low-contrast nonoverlapping disks on a zero background. It has been found that in maximum a posteriori reconstructions the contrast of the low-contrast disks relative to the background decreases steadily as lambda increases. Thus the estimates for the amplitude of these disks deviate from their actual values. On the other hand, the detectability index does not change as quickly. The reason for this is that detectability is based on the separation of the estimate of the amplitude of the object relative to the estimate of the background value compared to their RMS deviations. The choice of lambda obviously becomes an important issue as it affects the bias in the estimated amplitude. It is postulated that the same behavior holds for many other types of Tikhonov regularization. >
Rags or Riches? Estimating the Probabilities of Poverty and Affluence across the Adult American Life Span

Objective. Poverty and affluence represent events central to the American identity of failure and success. Yet in spite of their significance, we know little about the actual likelihood of experiencing these events across the adult life course. In this article we empirically estimate the extent to which Americans will experience poverty and/or affluence during their adulthood. Methods. A series of life tables are constructed based upon data from 25 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Our measure of poverty is identical to that used by the U.S. Census Bureau in estimating the overall U.S. poverty rates. Affluence is defined as 10 times the poverty level. Results. Results indicate that between the ages of 25 and 75, 51.1 percent of Americans will experience at least one year below the poverty line, 51.0 percent will encounter a year of affluence, while only 20.1 percent of Americans will avoid either of these economic extremes. The effects of race and education in altering the likelihood of encountering poverty versus affluence are substantial. Conclusions. The opportunities for acute economic failure and success appear to be very real components of the American experience. Based upon this, we discuss an alternative typology to conceptualizing stratification in America.
Occupational monitoring of particulate diesel exhaust by NIOSH method 5040.

NMAM 5040 is a particulate carbon method based on a thermal-optical analysis technique. The method was evaluated and published as a method for monitoring occupational exposures to particulate diesel exhaust, but it is applicable to particulate carbon aerosols in general, and has been routinely used in both occupational and environmental settings. Both organic and elemental carbon are determined, but EC is a more selective measure of workplace diesel exposure. In previous studies, good agreement between TC results obtained by different methods has been achieved, but the OC-EC results for different methods have been quite variable. Although a reference material is not currently available to test the accuracy of different methods, previous studies indicate that purely thermal methods are subject to positive bias from organic materials that char. Charring and inadequate removal of refractory OC components during the nonoxidative mode (typically 550 degrees C in nitrogen) likely explain the positive bias of thermal methods, as well as the large variability across methods. These interferences may be negligible in some cases (e.g., samples from mines), but they present significant biases in others (e.g., urban air samples, samples containing wood or cigarette smokes). Good interlaboratory agreement was obtained in a round robin comparison between six laboratories that used NMAM 5040, which was not the case with purely thermal methods. Good agreement has also been seen in smaller-scale comparisons conducted for quality assurance purposes. Until a suitable reference material becomes available, such comparisons are recommended as part of a laboratory's QA procedures. At present, five commercial laboratories (4 in the United States and 1 in Canada) perform the 5040 analysis, and over 40 instruments are in use globally for environmental and occupational monitoring.
Differential effects in humans after repeated administrations of zolpidem and triazolam

Zolpidem, a commonly prescribed hypnotic, is an imidazopyridine that purportedly has a unique benzodiazepine-receptor binding profile. Despite its unique binding profile, human laboratory experiments have generally failed to demonstrate meaningful behavioral pharmacological differences between zolpidem and classic benzodiazepine-receptor agonists like triazolam. In this article, two groups of nondrug-abusing volunteers received 15 mg zolpidem (N = 11) or 0.375 mg zolpidem (N = 15) on four separate occasions and placebo on two other occasions. In both groups, the order of drug administration was quasi-random. Drug effects were assessed with a battery of laboratory performance tasks and subject-rated drug-effect questionnaires. Zolpidem and triazolam produced prototypical sedative-like effects (e.g., impaired performance, increased subject-ratings of sedation). The performance-impairing effects of triazolam, but not zolpidem, were significantly less after the final administration relative to the initial administration. The subject-rated effects of both zolpidem and triazolam were significantly less after the final administration relative to the initial administration. The results of this experiment suggest that zolpidem and triazolam differ in terms of tolerance-producing effects. Future studies should assess the tolerance-producing effects of zolpidem across a range of doses, as well as other novel sedatives such as zaleplon.
Dendrimer-Based Postnatal Therapy for Neuroinflammation and Cerebral Palsy in a Rabbit Model

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a chronic childhood disorder with no effective cure. Neuroinflammation, caused by activated microglia and astrocytes, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of CP and disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Targeting neuroinflammation can be a potent therapeutic strategy. However, delivering drugs across the blood-brain-barrier to the target cells for treating diffuse brain injury is a major challenge. Here, we show that systemically administered polyamidoamine dendrimers localize in activated microglia and astrocytes in the brain of newborn rabbits with CP, but not healthy controls. We further demonstrate that dendrimer-based N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) therapy for brain injury suppresses neuroinflammation and leads to a dramatic improvement in motor function in the CP kits. The well known and safe clinical profile for NAC when combined with dendrimer-based targeting, provides opportunities for clinical translation in the treatment of neuroinflammatory disorders in humans. The effectiveness of the dendrimer-NAC treatment, administered in the postnatal period for a prenatal insult, suggests a window of opportunity for treatment of CP in humans after birth.
Algorithms for coupled domain MEMS simulation

The performance of micro-electro-mechanical systemsdepends on the interaction between electrical, mechanical,and fluidic forces. Simulating this coupled problem is made moredifficult by the fact that most MEMS devices are innately three-dimensionaland geometrically complicated. It is possible to simulateefficiently these devices using domain-specific solvers, providedthe coupling betweendomains can be handled effectively. Inthis paper we will survey recent developments in coupled-domainsimulation, and give computational comparisons between relaxation,multi-level Newton, and Newton-Iterative methods for 3-Delectromechanical analysis.
Tragedy of the Anticommons? Intellectual Property and the Sharing of Scientific Information

Many philosophers argue that the emphasis on commercializing scientific research—and particularly on patenting the results of research—is both epistemically and socially detrimental, in part because it inhibits the flow of information. One of the most important of these criticisms is the “tragedy of the anticommons” thesis. Some have attempted to test this thesis empirically, and many have argued that these empirical tests effectively falsify the thesis. I argue that they neither falsify nor disconfirm the thesis because they do not actually test it. Additionally, I argue that there is other evidence that actually supports the thesis.
More Yes-No Voting

In this chapter, as in Chapter 3, our primary interest is in yes-no voting systems that are not weighted. We begin by returning to the theorem in Chapter 3 that characterized the weighted voting systems as precisely those that are trade robust (meaning that an arbitrary trade among several winning coalitions can never simultaneously render all of them losing). A natural question suggested by this result is whether trade robustness really needs to be stated in terms of “several winning coalitions.” That is, perhaps a yes-no voting system is weighted if and only if a (not necessarily one-for-one) trade between two winning coalitions can never simultaneously render both losing. Recall that in showing that the procedure to amend the Canadian constitution is not trade robust we needed only two winning coalitions.
Dislocation Processes and Deformation Behavior in -Oriented FeX-Ni60–X-Al40 Single Crystals

The mechanical properties and dislocation microstructure of single crystals with a range of compositions within the Fex-Ni60–x-Al40 pseudobinary system have been investigated, with the purpose of bridging the behavior from FeAl to NiAl. Experiments are focused on the compression testing of oriented single crystals with compositions where x = 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 (in atomic percent). Observations of a dislocation morphologies at room temperature and both a and non-a dislocation activity at elevated temperatures are reported and discussed. Measurements of the yield strength, elastic modulus and strain hardening rates are reported, and the variation of strength with composition is correlated with dislocation dissociation and overall dislocation morphology.
Bandwidth drivers for future networks

This chapter discusses bandwidth drivers for future networks. The capacity of the access network is the ultimate barrier to bandwidth growth and while copper dominates the last mile, the upper bounds can be relatively easily determined. The really disruptive technology is fibre to the home and this has not yet been deployed in any quantity that seriously perturbs these bounds. However, if incumbent and other large scale CLECs start to mass deploy fibre to customers then future network bandwidths could become truly enormous!
The Rise and Fall of a Political Maverick: Ken Livingstone and the London Mayoral Elections of 2000 and 2008

In 2000, as part of Tony Blairﾒs promised devolution of British government, an election was held for a newly created political office: The Mayor of Greater London. After being denied the Party nomination, Labour MP Ken Livingstone chose to run as an independent candidate and was expelled from the party. Unencumbered by partisanship and conventional campaign strategy, he ran a nontraditional campaign and presented himself as a political maverick. This strategy proved to be effective as he won a plurality of the vote in a crowded 11 person field. In 2004, Livingstone was re-admitted to the Labour Party and re-elected mayor. In the 2008 election, Livingstone was defeated by an equally unconventional candidate, Conservative MP Boris Johnson. Johnson, who was born in New York City, used many of the same campaign tactics Livingstone employed eight years earlier. Using multivariate analysis, we compare and contrast voting behavior in the 2000 and 2008 Mayoral elections to determine the sources of voter support, the importance of ideology, and the influence of the maverick campaign style.
Effects of social determinants on Chinese immigrant food service workers' work performance and injuries: mental health as a mediator

OBJECTIVE: The effects of social discrimination, job concerns, and social support on worker mental health and the influence of mental health on occupational health outcomes have been documented intermittently. We propose an integrated, theory-driven model to distinguish the impact of social determinants on work performance and injuries and the mediating effects of mental health problems. METHODS: The US Chinese immigrant food service workers (N = 194) completed a multimeasure interview; we tested the integrated model using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Mental health problems, which were associated with decreased work performance and increased injuries, also mediated relationships between job/employment concerns and both work performance and injuries but did not mediate the influences of discrimination and social support. CONCLUSIONS: This research reveals mechanisms by which social determinants influence immigrant worker health, pointing to complementary strategies for reducing occupational health disparities. Language: en
Characterization of the high temperature oxidation of TBC-coated oxide-dispersed β-NiAl substrates

A Y2O3−stabilized ZrO2 coating on three different oxide-dispersed (Y2O3, ZrO2 and Al2O3) β-NiAl substrates was studied to evaluate the spallation behaviour of the coating and its effect on the oxidation behavior of these alloy substrates. Spallation of the coating during cyclic testing at 1200°C primarily occurred at the Al2O3 scale-substrate interface and was dependent on the adhesion of the scale to the substrate. Uncoated, Y2O3−dispersed β-NiAl had the best Al2O3 scale adhesion and the coated β-NiAl substrate had the longest coating lifetime. Al2O3−dispersed β-NiAl exhibited the poorest scale adhesion and the coating completely spalled after two 2-hour cycles. For this model-type system, the growth of voids at the metal-scale interface appears to be critical in determining scale adhesion and thus coating lifetime.
Active Piezoelectric Actuation and Control of Highly Flexible Multifunctional Wings

Both active actuation and energy harvesting of highly flexible wings using piezoelectric transduction are studied in this paper. The piezoelectric effect is included in a strain-based geometrically nonlinear beam formulation. The resulting structural dynamic equations for multifunctional beams are then coupled with a finite-state unsteady aerodynamic formulation, allowing for piezoelectric energy harvesting and actuation with the nonlinear aeroelastic system. With the development, it is possible to provide an integral aeroelastic and electromechanical solution of concurrent active control and piezoelectric energy harvesting for wing vibrations, with the considering the geometrical nonlinear effects of slender multifunctional wings. In this paper, LQR and LQG controllers are developed for the active control of wing vibrations. The controllers demonstrate effective gust alleviation capabilities. Furthermore, a concurrent active vibration control and energy harvesting can also be realized for the multifunctional wing system with embedded piezoelectric materials.
FROM PALPITATIONS TO CARDIOVASCULAR COLLAPSE: THE STORY OF A PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA

While pheochromocytoma most commonly presents with paroxysmal hypertension, headache, palpitations and diaphoresis, it can also present in a fulminant form with cardiovascular collapse and persistent fever. A 59-year-old woman presented with severe chest pain after 1 month of intermittent
Analysis on Blocking of Qinghai-Tibet DC System Caused by Transformer Energizing in Northwest China 750 kV Grid

This paper focuses on the blocking of Qinghai-Tibet DC system caused by energizing of no-load transformers located over 800 km away at Guanting and Wusheng,in northwest China 750 kV grid.Frequency response characteristics of the network are analyzed.There are zero and pole around 100 Hz in the frequency spectrum of the impedance seen from the energizing position.With the length of near quarter wavelength of electromagnetic wave at 100 Hz,capacitive effect of this line is significant.As such,second harmonic voltage is amplified along the 750 kV line.The equivalent impedance at 100 Hz of Chaidamu subtransmission network is large.Also in Qinghai-Tibet DC system,150 Hz harmonics will appear at DC side if negative 100 Hz harmonics exist at AC side.All these lead to amplification of harmonics and blockage of the DC system.Research results elucidate the transmission characteristics and influences on DC system of harmonic caused by energizing of no-load transformer,and provide theoretical evidence of research on harmonic protection problems in DC systems.
Effects of psoralea corylifolia on the humoral immunity of mice

Objective: To study the effect of Psoralea corylifolia on the humoral immunity of mice. Methods: After mice were administered with psoralea orally for 7 days, levels of specific antibody were determined through agglutination and ELISA test. Results: Compared with the results of the control group, both titters and OD results of experiment group were significantly increased. Conclusion: Psoralea corylifolia can improve the humoral immunity of mice.
School Environmental Robustness, Holding Power and Achievement: Implications for Effective Middle Schools

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the construct of school “holding power” (as measured by teacher perceptions of school environmental robustness and generalized job satisfaction) and its relationship to school outcomes of achievement and attendance. Of particular interest, were the results of analyses completed with a sample of middle schools. The Robustness Semantic Differential (RSD) and Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS) were administered to approximately 1600 teachers in 80 schools. The results of correlation and multiple regression analyses demonstrated rather strong positive relationships between school environmental robustness characteristics and school attendance and achievement. Teacher satisfaction was inversely related to these school outcomes. Implications of the findings for understanding the middle school environment and for completing additional studies within this line of inquiry are discussed.
NEW TECHNIQUE AND MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR PERCUTANEOUS NONENDOSCOPIC TUBE GASTROSTOMY

A percutaneous nonendoscopic gastrostomy tube placement device and a new technique for nonendoscopic gastric feeding tube placement were developed for use in animals weighing < 15 kg. After a successful experimental trial in 7 cats, the tube placement device was used in 8 clinical animals (7 cats and 1 dog). All gastrostomy feeding tubes were placed on the first attempt within 10 minutes. Position of the tube was evaluated by endoscopy in 14 of 15, by radiography in 4 of 15, and by celiotomy and necropsy in 2 of 15 animals, respectively. Placement was comparable to the percutaneous endoscopic technique in all but 1 cat. In this animal, the tube had to be placed existing the skin in a caudoventral location because of severe panniculitis. Complications related to the use of the tube placement device were not observed. Complications related to gastrostomy tube management developed in 5 of 15 animals. The prevalence of clinically important or life-threatening complications (peritonitis or premature removal) was 3 of 15.
Theory of Steady, One-Dimensional, Laminar Flame Propagation

In the 1950s research of S. S. Penner contributed to advancement of the theory of premixed laminar flame propagation. The present article reviews some of that work as well as recent advances in the theory, with emphasis on real flames with detailed chemical-kinetic descriptions. The exposition indicates the way in which the early work is contributing strongly to current progress. With the numerical and theoretical methods that are now available, substantial accomplishments in describing real laminar flames may be anticipated in the near future.
Chapter 21 – Adhesion Molecules in Asthma and Airway Diseases

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the structures of some of the most important families of adhesion receptors. It also summarizes what is known about the patterns of adhesion receptor expression and function on cells relevant to asthma and other chronic airway diseases, and discusses examples of in vivo evidence implicating some of these proteins in pathways, which contribute to phenotypic features of airway diseases. Adhesion molecules can be divided into families based on their primary amino acid sequence similarity. Some adhesion molecule families principally mediate cell–cell adhesion, others are principally involved in cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix, and some are involved in both types of adhesion events. Families involved in cell–cell adhesion include claudins, occludins, cadherins, and immunoglobulin superfamily members. Airway and lung parenchymal inflammation are important features of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Inhibition of recruitment of specific populations of inflammatory cells into the airways has thus been considered as a potential therapeutic intervention in these diseases. Airway injury or inflammation, as occurs in patients with asthma and COPD, can perturb epithelial and endothelial permeability by altering the expression and/or function of these proteins. Selectins, integrins, and their immunoglobulin family member counter-receptors, play central roles in the recruitment of leukocytes into the airway wall and in regulating the function of leukocytes that have been recruited. The multiple critical roles played by adhesion molecules in airway health and disease make these proteins attractive candidates for improvements in treatment and monitoring of patients with asthma and COPD.