cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification and modelling of a class of nonlinear systems

This paper presents an identification procedure based on Volterra-Wiener functional expansion representations of a class of nonlinear systems often encountered in practice. Approximate analytical expressions are derived for the Volterra and Wiener kernels of these systems in the case of weak nonlinearities, i.e. for small magnitude coefficients of the polynomial nonlinearity. This identification method is based on Wierner kernel measurements obtained from input-output data when the input is Gaussian white noise. This method can be used for modelling and validation studies of this class of systems from experimental input-output data.
Atopy, helminths, and cancer

There are two hypotheses for the primary function of the T(H)/IgE system: protection against helminths that 'spills over' into inappropriate allergic responses in the modern environment, or protection from a variety of environmental carcinogens and infectious diseases that is adaptive even today. We suggest that rather than being alternatives, these two hypotheses fit into a single causal framework. Atopic responses to helminths kill, inhibit, or expel the parasites, thereby reducing their debilitating effects, the most serious of which is bladder cancer. The ultimate (evolutionary) reason for the T(H)2/IgE system may be minimizing chances that multiple biotic and abiotic hazards and carcinogens will enter the body; in some tropical areas, helminths are the major proximate (immediate) triggers of this response.
Cognitive factors in health psychology and behavioral medicine

Research in health psychology and behavioral medicine has increased exponentially over the past three decades. Prevention and control efforts across a variety of diseases have recognized that individual difference factors, belief systems, attitudes, behaviors, and environments can affect an individual's health. This work continues, as there has been no abatement in the rate at which aversive, chronic, and life-threatening diseases continue to affect millions of Americans each year. The purpose of this review is to discuss the influence of cognitive factors on health psychology and behavioral medicine using the cancer literature as an example. The main discussion focuses on the impact of cognitive constructs on behavioral medicine and health psychology in cancer, which appears to be widespread. The article concludes with some implications for future research in the area.
Students Who Seem to be Unmotivated May have Attention Deficits

A child or adolescent with school problems whose parents have concerns about motivation, such as, “seems lazy,” or, “could do better if he/she tried,” may have an attention deficit. This paper presents the results of analyses of a brief questionnaire constructed for parents to detect such a behavioral pattern. A 12-item scale, which we called the “Seems Unmotivated” scale, had an alpha of 0.88. Crosstabulations and analyses of variance demonstrated the power of this scale to identify children with attention deficits. In a child with perceived motivational difficulties, the possibility of an attention deficit should be considered.
Cloning and characterization of four novel coral acid-rich proteins that precipitate carbonates in vitro.

Biomineralization is a widely dispersed and highly regulated but poorly understood process by which organisms precipitate minerals from a wide variety of elements [1]. For many years, it has been hypothesized that the biological precipitation of carbonates is catalyzed by and organized on an extracellular organic matrix containing a suite of proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides [2, 3]. The structures of these molecules, their evolutionary history, and the biophysical mechanisms responsible for calcification remain enigmatic. Despite the recognition that mineralized tissues contain proteins that are unusually rich in aspartic and glutamic acids [4-6], the role of these proteins in biomineralization remains elusive [5, 6]. Here we report, for the first time, the identification, cloning, amino acid sequence, and characterization of four highly acidic proteins, derived from expression of genes obtained from the common stony coral, Stylophora pistillata. Each of these four proteins can spontaneously catalyze the precipitation of calcium carbonate in vitro. Our results demonstrate that coral acid-rich proteins (CARPs) not only bind Ca(2+) stoichiometrically but also precipitate aragonite in vitro in seawater at pH 8.2 and 7.6, via an electrostatic interaction with protons on bicarbonate anions. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that at least one of the CARPs arose from a gene fusion. Similar, highly acidic proteins appear to have evolved several times independently in metazoans through convergence. Based purely on thermodynamic grounds, the predicted change in surface ocean pH in the next decades would appear to have minimal effect on the capacity of these acid-rich proteins to precipitate carbonates.
Earth science: A deep foundry

Melting and solidification of iron alloys in Earth's core may explain structural complexity in the solid inner core, and alter the way we think about the dynamics of the deep interior. See Letter p.361 David Gubbins and colleagues present geodynamo simulations showing that variations in heat flow at the core–mantle boundary are transferred to the inner core boundary. They find that the variations can be large enough to cause heat to flow into the inner core and, if this were to occur in the Earth, to cause localized melting. Such melting would release heavy liquid that could form a variable composition layer, providing a simple explanation for seismic velocity anomalies seen immediately above the inner core boundary. Localized melting and freezing could also provide a mechanism to create seismic anomalies in the inner core itself.
Eigenfunctions, eigenvalues, and time evolution of finite, bounded, undriven, quantum systems are not chaotic.

We prove here that the eigenvalues, eigenfunctions, and time evolutions for a broad class of spatially bounded, finite particle number, undriven, quantum systems can be computed by algorithms containing logarithmically less information than the quantities themselves. Algorithmic complexity theory asserts that such quantal systems are nonchaotic. These results are shown to be valid independent of the size of system parameters such as mass or Planck's constant, provided they are not set equal to zero or infinity. However, rather than confronting quantum mechanics with classical mechanics via the correspondence principle, we suggest a direct comparison of quantum mechanics with macroscopic laboratory reality. Specifically, we here propose the double pendulum---a simple, two-degree-of-freedom, macroscopic system exhibiting a transition to chaos as its amplitude increases---as a model suitable for testing whether a nonchaotic quantum mechanics can accurately predict laboratory observation. Neither theory nor experiment appears to offer insurmountable difficulties to the performance of this comparison.
Optimal foraging by a suspension-feeding copepod: responses to short-term and seasonal variation in food resources

Laboratory radioisotope experiments were used to investigate the effects of phytoplankton seasonal succession on the selectivity and clearance rates of a suspension-feeding copepod in two Indiana lakes. Responses to particle size and quality were tested by allowing adult female Diaptomus birgei feeding in natural seston to select between a small (6×7 μm) flagellate (Chlamydomonas reinhardii) and a large, poor quality food (heat-killed Carteria olivieri, 22×25 μm). Short-term responses were tested in one lake by additional treatments in which copepods were acclimated for 5-6 h in filtered lake water ("starved") or natural seston with added Chlamydomonas ("enriched"). Copepods from both lakes fed selectively on the small live flagellate during the spring bloom of edible phytoplankton but fed selectively on the larger, poor quality particle during the "clear water phase" when food was scarce. These results are interpreted as an interaction between the concentration-dependent selectivity for high quality foods predicted by optimal diet theory and a perceptual bias for large-sized particles. Selectivity for high-quality food was intermediate and clearance rates were depressed when total phytoplankton abundance was high but dominated by filamentous cyanobacteria. In each experiment copepods also responded to the short-term manipulations by exhibiting weaker discrimination against the poor quality particle in the starvation treatment and stronger discrimination in the enriched treatment. A two-way mixed model ANOVA revealed substantial short term (37%) and seasonal (53%) components to the total variance in selectivity. Clearance rates were also influenced by both phytoplankton succession and the short-term resource manipulations. As expected, clearance rates on the poor quality food were more sensitive to the abundance of alternative foods. These results show how the feeding behavior of a freshwater copepod is modulated by both seasonal and short-term variation in natural food.
Fas and Fas Ligand Interactions Suppress Melanoma Lung Metastasis

Apoptosis induced by Fas (CD95) ligation is frequently lost during tumor progression; however, there is no direct evidence to support an association of Fas loss-of-function with metastatic tumor behavior. To determine whether Fas loss-of-function is critical for acquisition of the metastatic phenotype, we have compared the ability of Fas-sensitive K1735 murine melanomas to form spontaneous lung metastases in wild-type and Fas ligand–deficient mice. Fas-sensitive melanoma clones are highly tumorigenic but rarely metastatic in wild-type syngeneic mice. However, in Fas ligand–deficient mice, both the incidence and number of metastases are increased. These findings provide the first evidence that Fas–Fas ligand interactions can suppress metastasis and that tumor Fas loss-of-function may be causally linked to metastatic progression.
Microfluidic glycosyl hydrolase screening for biomass-to-biofuel conversion.

The hydrolysis of biomass to fermentable sugars using glycosyl hydrolases such as cellulases and hemicellulases is a limiting and costly step in the conversion of biomass to biofuels. Enhancement in hydrolysis efficiency is necessary and requires improvement in both enzymes and processing strategies. Advances in both areas in turn strongly depend on the progress in developing high-throughput assays to rapidly and quantitatively screen a large number of enzymes and processing conditions. For example, the characterization of various cellodextrins and xylooligomers produced during the time course of saccharification is important in the design of suitable reactors, enzyme cocktail compositions, and biomass pretreatment schemes. We have developed a microfluidic-chip-based assay for rapid and precise characterization of glycans and xylans resulting from biomass hydrolysis. The technique enables multiplexed separation of soluble cellodextrins and xylose oligomers in around 1 min (10-fold faster than HPLC). The m...
Differential expression of proteins in radioresistant and radiosensitive human squamous carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND Previous studies support a genetic basis for cellular radioresistance. The associated biochemical and molecular events, however, are not fully understood. PURPOSE We investigated the differential protein pattern as a molecular determinant of resistance or sensitivity of head and neck squamous carcinoma cells to ionizing radiation. METHODS Using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by computer-assisted quantitative analysis, we compared the protein profiles of three relatively radioresistant and three relatively radiosensitive head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines (previously characterized by in vitro and clinical parameters as radioresistant or radiosensitive) to determine which proteins were consistently expressed or enhanced in the radioresistant compared with the radiosensitive phenotype. RESULTS Our analysis indicated that 14 proteins were preferentially expressed in the radio-resistant cell lines SQ-20B, JSQ-3, and SCC-35, with one protein (molecular mass of 92 kd and pI of 5.5) distinctly expressed in the radioresistant cell lines. Four proteins were enhanced by greater than 10-fold, three were enhanced fivefold to 10-fold, and six were enhanced twofold to fivefold in the radioresistant cell lines. In addition, we observed a second set of 15 proteins preferentially expressed in the radio-sensitive cell lines SQ-9G, SQ-38, and SCC-9. A 40-kd protein (pI 7.1) was distinctly expressed in the radiosensitive cell lines. The remaining radiosensitive cell-specific proteins were enhanced by greater than 10-fold (two proteins), fivefold to 10-fold (two proteins), or twofold to fivefold (10 proteins) compared with their counterparts in the radioresistant cell lysates. CONCLUSION These results provide evidence for differential protein expression associated with phenotypic expression of cellular radioresistance or radiosensitivity. IMPLICATIONS This study will facilitate the characterization of these proteins correlated with the radiation response-specific phenotype.
Achieving congestion diversity in wireless ad-hoc networks

This work presents the Congestion Diversity Protocol (CDP), a routing protocol for multi-hop wireless networks that combines important aspects of shortest-path and backpressure routing to achieve improved end-end delay performance. In particular, CDP delivers lower end-to-end delay and fewer packet drops than existing routing protocols while maintaining equivalent throughput. This paper reports on a practical (hardware and software) implementation of CDP in an indoor WiFi network consisting of 12 802.11g nodes. This small test-bed enables an imperical comparison of CDP's performance against a set of state of the art protocols which include both congestion unaware and congestion aware routing protocols. In most topologies and scenarios we consider, CDP provides improvements for UDP traffic with respect to both end-end delay and throughput over the existing protocols.
Decreased NR1 phosphorylation and decreased NMDAR function in hibernating Arctic ground squirrels.

Heterothermic mammals such as ground squirrels tolerate ischemia and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) better than homeothermic mammals such as rats both in vivo and in vitro, and this tolerance is enhanced in the hibernating state. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying this tolerance remain unclear. NMDA receptors (NMDAR) play a key role in excitotoxicity. The purpose of the current study was therefore to test the hypothesis that NMDAR are down-regulated in hibernating Arctic ground squirrels (hAGS; Spermophilus parryii). To address this hypothesis, we used Western blot analysis to investigate NMDAR phosphorylation, an activator of NMDAR function, and internalization in naive hippocampal tissue from hAGS, interbout euthermic AGS (ibeAGS), and rats. Furthermore, we used fura-2 calcium imaging to examine NMDAR function in cultured hippocampal slices from hAGS, ibeAGS, and rats. We report that phosphorylation of the NMDAR1 (NR1) subunit is decreased in hippocampal tissue from hAGS and that the NMDAR component of Glu-induced increase in [Ca2+]i is decreased in hippocampal slices from hAGS. Moreover, the fraction of NR1 in the functional membrane pool in AGS is less than that in rats.
Perturbation theory of broadband impedances

A perturbation theory for broadband impedance calculations has been developed, allowing evaluation of impedances for an accelerating structure of a rather arbitrary shape. General formulas are given for the longitudinal and transverse impedances. The method is checked by calculating impedances and comparing results with those for structures previously studied. Several new results, including impedance of a taper, are presented. >
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Matrix Inhibits and Confers Cooperativity on Gag Precursor-Membrane Interactions

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag multimerization and membrane binding are required for particle formation. However, it is unclear what constitutes a minimal plasma membrane-specific targeting signal and what role the matrix (MA) globular head and other Gag domains play in membrane targeting. Here, we use membrane flotation and microscopic analysis of Gag deletion mutants to demonstrate that the HIV-1 MA globular head inhibits a plasma membrane-specific targeting signal contained within the six amino-terminal MA residues. MA-mediated inhibition is relieved by concentration-dependent Gag multimerization and imparts a high degree of cooperativity on Gag-membrane association. This cooperativity may confer temporal and spatial regulation on HIV-1 assembly.
The ratio method of estimating water resistivity and TDS from resistivity logs

It is a general belief that useful estimates of total dissolved solids concentrations of ground water cannot be made from borehole geophysical logs. A case study of estimating total dissolved solids concentration of ground water in the local area using the ratio method yielded estimates with an average error of less than 25 percent. The results do not support the hypothesis that useful estimates of total dissolved solids concentration cannot be made from borehole geophysical logs. The case study included a comparison of estimates of total dissolved solids concentration utilizing a resistivity of the mud input versus using resistivity of the mud filtrate input. Estimates made using resistivity of mud had a correlation coefficient of 0.97 whereas estimates using resistivity of mud filtrate had a correlation coefficient of only 0.27. The results from the case study suggest that at least in some cases the resistivity of the mud (Rm) may produce a better estimate of the resistivity of water (Rw) in the fully flushed zone than an estimate using the resistivity of the mud filtrate Rmf. The ratio method can be easily used to estimate ground-water resistivity and total dissolved solids concentration of the formation water based only on data from resistivity logs. The advantage of the method is that data on porosity, cementation exponent, temperature, and volume of clay are not required. The method, which has been used by the oil industry to crudely estimate water resistivity, is based in part on the ratio of the resistivity of a fully water-saturated formation to the resistivity of the fully flushed zone adjacent to the annulus in a mud-filled borehole. The method, which is very robust, requires only an estimate of the resistivity of a fully water-saturated formation from a deep looking induction or resistivity log, an estimate of the resistivity of the fully flushed zone from a microresistivity or short normal log, and a measurement of resistivity of the mud or mud filtrate and its temperature.
A Complete Axiomatization for Branching Bisimulation Congruence of Finite-State Behaviours

This paper offers a complete inference system for branching bisimulation congruence on a basic sublanguage of CCS for representing regular processes with silent moves. Moreover, complete axiomatizations are provided for the guarded expressions in this language, representing the divergence-free processes, and for the recursion-free expressions, representing the finite processes. Furthermore it is argued that in abstract interleaving semantics (at least for finite processes) branching bisimulation congruence is the finest reasonable congruence possible. The argument is that for closed recursion-free process expressions, in the presence of some standard process algebra operations like partially synchronous parallel composition and relabelling, branching bisimulation congruence is completely axiomatized by the usual axioms for strong congruence together with Milner's first τ-law aτ X=aX.
Coactions and Skew Products of Topological Graphs

We show that the C*-algebra of a skew-product topological graph E ×κ G is isomorphic to the crossed product of C*(E) by a coaction of the locally compact group G.
Distinct anatomical subtypes of the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia: A cluster analysis study

The behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by changes in personality and behaviour. It is typically associated with frontal lobe atrophy, although patterns of atrophy are heterogeneous. The objective of this study was to examine case-by-case variability in patterns of grey matter atrophy in subjects with the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia and to investigate whether behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia can be divided into distinct anatomical subtypes. Sixty-six subjects that fulfilled clinical criteria for a diagnosis of the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia with a volumetric magnetic resonance imaging scan were identified. Grey matter volumes were obtained for 26 regions of interest, covering frontal, temporal and parietal lobes, striatum, insula and supplemental motor area, using the automated anatomical labelling atlas. Regional volumes were divided by total grey matter volume. A hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis using Ward's clustering linkage method was performed to cluster the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia subjects into different anatomical clusters. Voxel-based morphometry was used to assess patterns of grey matter loss in each identified cluster of subjects compared to an age and gender-matched control group at P < 0.05 (family-wise error corrected). We identified four potentially useful clusters with distinct patterns of grey matter loss, which we posit represent anatomical subtypes of the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia. Two of these subtypes were associated with temporal lobe volume loss, with one subtype showing loss restricted to temporal lobe regions (temporal-dominant subtype) and the other showing grey matter loss in the temporal lobes as well as frontal and parietal lobes (temporofrontoparietal subtype). Another two subtypes were characterized by a large amount of frontal lobe volume loss, with one subtype showing grey matter loss in the frontal lobes as well as loss of the temporal lobes (frontotemporal subtype) and the other subtype showing loss relatively restricted to the frontal lobes (frontal-dominant subtype). These four subtypes differed on clinical measures of executive function, episodic memory and confrontation naming. There were also associations between the four subtypes and genetic or pathological diagnoses which were obtained in 48% of the cohort. The clusters did not differ in behavioural severity as measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory; supporting the original classification of the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia in these subjects. Our findings suggest behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia can therefore be subdivided into four different anatomical subtypes.
Inhalational Lung Injury Associated With Humidifier “White Dust”

Humidifiers are commonly used in the community to relieve symptoms associated with acute respiratory infections in young children; however, clear benefits of these devices have not been documented. The Environmental Protection Agency has not found any adverse health effects related to humidifier use. We report here the case of a young infant with significant accidental inhalational lung injury related to dispersal of mineral dust from an ultrasonic home-use humidifier. The clinical consequences included prolonged hypoxemia, tachypnea, and failure to thrive. Radiography revealed pneumonitis, and pulmonary-function testing showed a nonreversible mild obstructive ventilatory defect. Because of persistent symptoms, evolution of failure to thrive, and nonresponse to inhaled and short courses of systemic glucocorticoids, an aggressive management approach was successfully pursued with high-dose pulse steroid therapy, which could be a potential therapeutic approach for similar patients. In addition, this case raises important questions about the safety of exposing infants and young children to humidifiers and emphasizes the need for further study.
NICOTINE AND ESTROGEN SYNERGISTICALLY EXACERBATE CEREBRAL ISCHEMIC INJURY

The greater incidence of myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, and ischemic stroke among women who smoke and use oral contraception (OC) compared to women who do not smoke and who do or do not use OC may be due in part to how nicotine influences endocrine function in women. For example, we recently demonstrated that chronic exposure to nicotine, the addictive agent in tobacco smoke responsible for the elevated risk of cardiac arrest, abolishes the endogenous or exogenous 17β-estradiol-conferred protection of the hippocampus against global cerebral ischemia (a potential outcome of cardiac arrest) in naive or ovariectomized female rats. In the current study we examined the hypotheses that (1) a synergistic deleterious effect of nicotine plus oral contraceptives exacerbates post-ischemic hippocampal damage in female rats, and (2) nicotine directly inhibits estrogen-mediated intracellular signaling in the hippocampus. To test first hypothesis and to simulate smoking behavior-induced nicotine levels in the human body, we implanted osmotic pumps containing nicotine in the female rats for 16 days. Furthermore, we mimicked the use of oral contraceptives in females by administering oral contraceptives orally to the rat. Rats exposed to either nicotine alone or in combination with oral contraceptives were subjected to an episode of cerebral ischemia and the resultant brain damage was quantified. These results showed for the first time that nicotine with oral contraceptives did indeed exacerbate post-ischemic CA1 damage as compared to nicotine alone in naive female rats. In ex vivo hippocampal slice cultures, we found that nicotine alone or with 17β-estradiol directly hinders estrogen receptors-mediated phosphorylation of cyclic-AMP element binding protein, a process required for neuronal survival and also exacerbates ischemic damage. Thus, nicotine can affect the outcome of cerebral ischemia by influencing brain endocrine function directly rather than through indirect systemic effects.
Biomechanical Evaluation of Effect of Coracoid Tunnel Placement on Load to Failure of Fixation During Repair of Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocations

Purpose To evaluate the effect of entry and exit points of the coracoid tunnel on load to failure and mode of failure, to reduce the incidence of coracoid fractures and acromioclavicular joint repair failures. Methods This study investigates 5 tunnel placements based on different entry and exit points in the coracoid process: center-center orientation represents perfect placement of the bone tunnel and served as perfect tunnel placement in our study. Four common errors in drilling were then tested and acted as the experimental groups in our study (medial-center, center-medial, lateral-center, and center-lateral). Using 35 cadaveric shoulders (mean age, 68.0 ± 13.0 years), we tested these 5 tunnel orientations using a single repair technique (cortical button) loaded to failure on an MTS 858 Servohydraulic test system (MTS Systems, Eden Prairie, MN). A control group of 7 cadaveric shoulders without the presence of a coracoid tunnel was also tested to determine the type of fracture pattern that occurred. Results The coracoids without tunnel drilling fractured in patterns similar to traumatic coracoid injuries. With regard to the 5 tunnel groups, it was found that the loads to failure with center-center and medial-center tunnel placement were significantly higher than those with center-medial, center-lateral, and lateral-center tunnel placement. The failure modes of the former were primarily within the repair constructs, whereas those of the latter were primarily due to bony failure. Conclusions Our biomechanical results showed a higher peak load to failure with a center-center or medial-center tunnel orientation, which may lessen the risk of coracoid fracture during drilling with a 6-mm cannulated drill bit. Clinical Relevance Proper trajectory of the drill during formation of a coracoid bone tunnel can help reduce the risk of coracoid process fracture and repair failure.
Surface plasmon polaritons in concentric cylindrical structures

Abstract Theoretical studies of surface plasmon polaritons in cylindrical structures consistent of concentric layers are presented. The complete set of Maxwell’s equations with appropriate boundary conditions are solved and expressed in a matrix form for a system with a finite number of shells imbedded in an environment. Numerical evaluations of the transcendental equation for the dispersion relation are given to analyze the role of factors such as number of shells, dielectric properties of the materials and the environment, curvature and size of the system.
Impact of Off-Road Vehicles on Macroinvertebrates of a Mid-Atlantic Beach

Potential and actual impacts of off-road vehicle (ORV) use on beach macroinvertebrates were examined on the Cape Lookout National Seashore (North Carolina). Mole crabs Emerita talpoida and coquinas Donax variabilis were not damaged. Ghost crabs Ocypode quadrata were completely protected by burrows as shallow as 5 cm, and therefore were not subject to injury during the day, but they could be killed in large numbers by vehicles while feeding on the foreshore at night. Ghost crab populations on the Seashore were large (10 000 km−1 of beach) and a small proportion of the population would be killed by a single vehicle pass. Nevertheless, predicted population mortalities calculated from observed kills of ghost crabs per vehicle-km ranged from 14–98% for 100 vehicle passes. Currently vehicle use on this beach is light and essentially none occurs on the foreshore after dark. Little impact on beach macroinvertebrates would be expected from this usage pattern. Actual impact on ghost crab populations, assessed by burrow censuses, was negligible. No differences were detected between heavy-use and light-use sites in total population size, average crab size or population change through the heaviest traffic season. However, increases in traffic to levels seen on other beaches, especially night driving, would probably have devastating effects on ghost crab populations. In heavily used areas, banning of ORVs from the foreshore between dusk and dawn may be required to protect this species.
Thromboxane A2 from Kupffer cells contributes to the hyperresponsiveness of hepatic portal circulation to endothelin-1 in endotoxemic rats

We examined the role of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in LPS-induced hyperresponsiveness of hepatic portal circulation to endothelins (ETs) and whether Kupffer cells are the primary source of TXA2 release ...
A two-component model for the electron distribution function in a high-current pseudospark or back-lighted thyratron

Temperature, energy, and densities of two electron distribution function components, including an isotropic bulk part and an anisotropic beam, are analyzed for a hydrogen pseudospark and/or back-lighted thyratron switch plasma with a peak electron density of 1-3*10/sup 15/ cm/sup -3/ and peak current density of approximately=10/sup 4/ A/cm/sup 2/. Estimates of a very small cathode-fall width during the conduction phase and high electric field strengths lead to the injection of an electron beam with energies >or=100 eV and density of 10/sup 13/-10/sup 14/ cm/sup -3/ into a Maxwellian bulk plasma. Collisional and radiative processes of monoenergetic beam electrons, bulk plasma electrons and ions, and atomic hydrogen are modeled by a set of rate equations, and line intensity ratios are compared with measurements. Under these high-current conditions, for an initial density n/sub H2/=10/sup 16/ cm/sup -3/ and electron temperature of 0.8-1 eV, the estimated beam density is approximately=10/sup 13/-10/sup 14/ cm/sup -3/. These results suggest the possibility of producing in a simple way a very high-density electron beam. >
Instability of a liquid film flow over a vibrating inclined plane

The problem of the onset of instability in a liquid layer flowing down a vibrating inclined plane is formulated. For the solution of the problem, the Fourier components of the disturbance are expanded in Chebychev polynomials with time-dependent coefficients. The reduced system of ordinary differential equations is analysed with the aid of Floquet theory. The interaction of the long gravity waves, the relatively short shear waves and the parametrically resonated Faraday waves occurring in the film flow is studied. Numerical results show that the long gravity waves can be significantly suppressed, but cannot be completely eliminated by use of the externally imposed oscillation on the incline. At small angles of inclination, the short shear waves may be exploited to enhance the Faraday waves. For a given set of relevant flow parameters, there exists a critical amplitude of the plane vibration below which the Faraday wave cannot be generated. At a given amplitude above this critical one, there also exists a cutoff wavenumber above which the Faraday wave cannot be excited. In general the critical amplitude increases, but the cutoff wavenumber decreases, with increasing viscosity. The cutoff wavenumber also decreases with increasing surface tension. The application of the theory to a novel method of film atomization is discussed.
The neurobiology of psychopathic traits in youths

Conduct disorder is a childhood behaviour disorder that is characterized by persistent aggressive or antisocial behaviour that disrupts the child's environment and impairs his or her functioning. A proportion of children with conduct disorder have psychopathic traits. Psychopathic traits consist of a callous-unemotional component and an impulsive-antisocial component, which are associated with two core impairments. The first is a reduced empathic response to the distress of other individuals, which primarily reflects reduced amygdala responsiveness to distress cues; the second is deficits in decision making and in reinforcement learning, which reflects dysfunction in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and striatum. Genetic and prenatal factors contribute to the abnormal development of these neural systems, and social-environmental variables that affect motivation influence the probability that antisocial behaviour will be subsequently displayed.
Positive feedback trading and diffusion of asset price changes: Evidence from housing transactions

The positive feedback hypothesis states that good news (bad news) engenders positive (negative) attitudes that accentuate the impact of the news on asset prices. It is a special case of the representativeness heuristic which states that there is a general tendency to overemphasize the most recent evidence. This paper tests a form of the positive feedback hypothesis where recent rates of change in asset prices become important information used by decision-makers. If this is the case, housing price changes will tend to diffuse throughout a metropolitan area. Evidence from Hartford, Connecticut supports this hypothesis and the evidence is inconsistent with alternative explanations.
CHLORITIZATION OF MONTMORILLONITE BY ITS COPRECIPITATION WITH MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE

A magnesium hydroxide-montmorillonite complex prepared at an OH/Mg molar ratio of 2 (16 meq Mg/g clay) and immediately cleaned of any free Mg(OH)2 behaves like magnesium-chlorite and shows no change during 3 months ageing. Magnesium hydroxide completely precipitates within the interlayer space of montmorillonite. X-ray diffraction analysis, thermal (DTA and TGA) studies, i.r. absorption analysis, polarographic reduction behaviour, and cation exchange capacity measure- ments confirm the transformation of montmorillonite to a chloriteqike structure. Further ageing of the complex results in the release of brucite from the interlayer space and expansion of the compJex on glycerol treatment. X-ray analysis of the 6 months aged sample shows the presence of free brucite but not montmorillonite. A small but significant increase in CEC of the complex is observed on ageing. When the Mg(OH)2-montmorillonite complex is allowed to age in the presence of free Mg(OH)2 (ex- ternal to montmorillonite unit layers) in a dry state, a "seeding" effect takes place and the "fixed" Mg(OH)z starts coming out from the interlayer space after 10 days.
Review of Green’s Functions for Linear Open Channel

A general solution is derived for the linearized shallow water equations describing flow in a wide channel with constant bed slope, with a known time- and space-dependent lateral inflow, and for a known upstream hydrograph. The method used is that of the Green’s function; it has the advantage of facilitating computations and of providing a unified treatment for both the upstream inflow and the lateral inflow problem. The method can also be used to solve the linear diffusion approximation of the system.
Abstract 70: KLF14 is a Novel Regulator of Human Metabolism

Human genetic studies have identified DNA variants near the KLF14 gene to be strongly associated with HDL cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and risk of coronary artery disease. Furthermore, the same variants are associated with both the expression level of KLF14 (cis eQTL) and the expression levels of ten other genes related to metabolic traits located on different chromosomes (trans eQTL) in human adipose tissues, suggesting that KLF14 may be a master regulator of gene expression in adipose tissue and a key player in human metabolism. In order to evaluate this hypothesis, we have rapidly and efficiently generated both KLF14 knockout human adipocytes (differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells) and Klf14 knockout mice through the use of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) systems. We have analyzed the KLF14 knockout adipocytes and the Klf14 knockout mice for metabolic phenotypes at several different level...
Lower gray matter integrity is associated with greater lap time variation in high-functioning older adults.

Abstract Background Lower integrity of cerebral gray matter is associated with higher gait variability. It is not known whether gray matter integrity is associated with higher lap time variation (LTV), a clinically accessible measure of gait variability, high levels of which have been associated with mortality. This study examines the cross-sectional association between gray matter mean diffusivity (MD) and LTV in community-dwelling older adults. Methods Study participants consisted of 449 high-functioning adults aged 50 and older (56.8% female) in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, free of overt neurological disease. The magnitude of MD in the gray matter, a measure of impaired tissue integrity, was assessed by diffusion tensor imaging in 16 regions of interest (ROIs) involved with executive function, sensorimotor function, and memory. LTV was assessed as variability in lap time based on individual trajectories over ten 40-m laps. Age, sex, height, and weight were covariates. The model additionally adjusted for mean lap time and health conditions that may affect LTV. Results Higher levels of average MD across 16 ROIs were significantly associated with higher LTV after adjustment for covariates. Specifically, higher MD in the precuneus and the anterior and middle cingulate cortices was strongly associated with higher LTV, as compared to other ROIs. The association persisted after adjustment for mean lap time, hypertension, and diabetes. Conclusions Lower gray matter integrity in selected areas may underlie greater LTV in high-functioning community-dwelling older adults. Longitudinal studies are warranted to examine whether changes in gray matter integrity precede more variable gait.
Photoflash and laser ignition of select high-nitrogen materials

Abstract Gas-producing energetic materials that can be readily ignited with a photoflash are typically opaque sensitive primary explosives. In this study, we explore the photoactivity of select high-nitrogen (HiN) compounds that are much less sensitive than primary explosives. These HiN materials produce large amounts of gas upon decomposition and this makes them suitable for use in actuators, igniters, or micro-thrusters. This paper presents ignition experimental results using similar shaped pulses at two different wavelengths, specifically using a xenon photoflash and a single wavelength CO 2 laser. Several select HiN materials were tested for flash ignitability, and those that were found to be flash ignitable were further ignited with CO 2 laser heating. By comparing ignition behavior at various laser and flash intensities, some ignition mechanisms are suggested. Thermal heating, regardless of source, appears to be the dominant mechanism responsible for ignition and photochemical effects appear to be negligible in the ignition of the materials considered in this study. Higher laser and photoflash irradiance is shown to require less energy, and is therefore more efficient. The opacity of the material is an important consideration in ignitability, but not a sufficient criterion. We find that opaque materials that successfully propagate well in small capillary tubes are also more likely to successfully flash ignite. We suggest this is due to the higher burning rate of these materials and also in part due to the exothermic reaction occurring at or near the burning surface, allowing the reactions to proceed without quenching.
Mammography dose in relation to body mass index, race and menopausal status

Mammography dose increases with compressed breast thickness (CBT), but few studies have examined other correlates of dose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between factors such as race, age, body mass index (BMI), CBT, and menopausal status and mammography screening dose, measured for 509 women in a US population. A multiple linear regression model was developed for dose, based on consideration of these factors as well as examination characteristics. BMI and number of films during examination were positively related to dose. After adjusting for these factors, high CBT also leads to higher dose. Whites receive lower doses than black women but differences are slight after controlling for the effects of CBT and BMI, which were significantly higher among black women. Pre-menopausal women receive higher doses, after adjusting for all other factors, than post-menopausal women. Jointly, these factors account for approximately 75% to 80% of the variability in dose among this study population. Because rates of overweight are increasing in the US, average doses from mammography may be increasing as well.
Effects of electrode design on electrodialysis reversal performance

AbstractElectrodialysis/electrodialysis reversal (ED/EDR) is a promising brackish water desalination processes. As with any other desalination process, ED/EDR can be affected by several operating and design factors, many of which have been investigated thoroughly. The influences of operating factors—such as applied voltage, flowrate, and temperature—are known, as are the influences of several design factors, such as membrane characteristics, spacer configuration, and spacer thickness. However, no published results have explored how electrode design affects the process. This paper uses pilot-scale experiments at the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility to investigate how three different electrode designs—full, recessed, and tapered—affect the performance of EDR systems. Performance was measured as the amount of electrical current in the stack, removal percentage, and standardized power consumption (SPC); the key factor for the comparison was considered to be SPC. The experiments wer...
The resistance of Blattella germanica to common used insecticides in Changchun city

Objective To investigate the resistance of Blattella germanica to beta-cypermethrin and propoxur in Changchun,and give guidance to use insecticides scientifically. Methods Contacting with chemical cover in jar. Results The resistance ratio to beta-cypermethrin was 1.792~2.526,the average was 2.259;to propoxur was 1.214~1.658,the average was 1.478. Conclusion The field-collected strains of cockroach have resistance to beta-cypermethrin,but they are susceptible to propoxur in Changchun city.
Evaluation of Different Amplification Protocols for Use in Primer-Extension Preamplification

Different amplification protocols were evaluated for use with primer-extension preamplification (PEP). We hypothesized that a protocol known to improve amplification of long DNA fragments would improve efficacy of PEP. Eight DNA samples were preamplified by PCR using different protocols. Treatments consisted of the use of Taq DNA polymerase (T), Taq plus a second polymerase obtained from Pyrococcus furiosus (E) or Stoffel fragment (S) in PEP. After preamplification, six genetic markers were genotyped, and the number of scorable genotypes was recorded. A control reaction (C) consisted of amplification using genomic DNA as template. A second experiment was performed to evaluate preamplification efficiency using Taq DNA polymerase (5 units) and exponential dilutions of Pfu DNA polymerase. After preamplification, the same procedure was used to obtain a number of scorable genotypes. In the first experiment, treatment E was the most reliable approach for amplifying genomic DNA in PEP. Treatments T and S produced fewer scorable genotypes than treatments E or C. In the second experiment, low concentrations of Pfu DNA polymerase produced a similar percentage of scorable genotypes as higher concentrations. Low concentrations of Pfu DNA polymerase combined with Taq DNA polymerase is the most cost-effective procedure to maximize amplification of limited DNA samples in PEP.
Finney Hinged Penile Implant: Experience with 100 Cases

AbstractThe flexirod hinged penile prosthesis was implanted in 100 patients: 21 through a perineal incision and 79 through a dorsal penile incision. Surgery via the dorsal approach is performed more easily and quickly, and produces less postoperative pain. The modified technique and results for the hinged implant are described. The complication rate was 5 per cent (4 per cent once the design of the prosthesis was finalized).
AKT isoforms modulate Th1‐like Treg generation and function in human autoimmune disease

Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) exhibit plasticity, which dictates their function. Secretion of the inflammatory cytokine IFNγ, together with the acquisition of a T helper 1 (Th1)-like effector phenotype as observed in cancer, infection, and autoimmune diseases, is associated with loss of Treg suppressor function through an unknown mechanism. Here, we describe the signaling events driving the generation of human Th1-Tregs. Using a genome-wide gene expression approach and pathway analysis, we identify the PI3K/AKT/Foxo1/3 signaling cascade as the major pathway involved in IFNγ secretion by human Tregs. Furthermore, we describe the opposing roles of AKT isoforms in Th1-Treg generation ex vivo Finally, we employ multiple sclerosis as an in vivo model with increased but functionally defective Th1-Tregs. We show that the PI3K/AKT/Foxo1/3 pathway is activated in ex vivo-isolated Tregs from untreated relapsing-remitting MS patients and that blockade of the pathway inhibits IFNγ secretion and restores the immune suppressive function of Tregs. These data define a fundamental pathway regulating the function of human Tregs and suggest a novel treatment paradigm for autoimmune diseases.
Discussion of Theories of Cyclotron Resonance Line Shape

A number of theories for the line shape of cyclotron resonance absorption in semiconductors in very strong magnetic fields are briefly reviewed and criticized. It is shown that a correct theory obtains through the use of the (integral) quantum kinetic equation.
Anxiously elaborating the social percept: Anxiety and age differences in functional connectivity of the fusiform face area in a peer evaluation paradigm

Social anxiety disorder involves biased cognition and altered neural responses to social stimuli. This study further assesses the precise ways in which neural activation associated with perceptual ...