cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A permeability test for the study of mitochondrial injury in in vitro cultured heart muscle and endothelioid cells.

A cytochemical permeability test for the detection of injury toin situ mitochondria of cultured heart cells is presented. The test is based on the increased rate at which injured mitochondria stain for succinate dehydrogenase activity. Whereas an intact inner mitochondrial membrane limits the rate at which Nitro Blue tetrazolium and phenazine methosulphate reach succinate dehydrogenase, injured mitochondria allow these reactants to reach the enzyme more rapidly to form microsopically-observable formazan granules. The extent of staining at fixed durations of incubation with the reactants was assessed on a blind basis with pseudo dark-field microscopy, using a standardized rating scale. Differences in the staining of control and treated cells were analysed statistically by a semi-quantitative method. Treatment of the cultures with either vitamin A or chlorpromazine, resulted in more rapid mitochondrial staining. Brief pre-fixation of the cells with cold acetone also labilized the mitochondria as did a delay in the change of culture medium.
“What the Real World in Schools is Like”: Urban Youth in Dialogue About Educational Inequality

This article examines the emergence of a dialogue among urban youth about their educational condition, and the opportunities for learning and collaboration that ensue. The study is based on observations and interviews with eight students in a community-based program that supports the engagement of young people in school reform. Notably, the membership includes youth enrolled in both urban and suburban high schools. Findings reveal that the students capitalized on their dialogic inquiry process by constructing knowledge of educational disparity and forging coalitions across district lines. Implications include the possibilities for structuring and supporting students’ social inquiry, and the potential for diverse, student-led dialogues to advance the cause of educational equality.
THE UTILITY OF SOIL SURVEYS TO ASSESS FLOODPLAIN SEDIMENT STORAGE IN SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA

How useful are county soil surveys for estimating floodplain storage in fluvial sediment budgets? This paper compares data about accelerated sedimentation collected from field corings with information derived from three county soil surveys in southeastern Minnesota. Two soil surveys proved to be unsatisfactory data sources about historical alluvium, but another survey was a more accurate source for one drainage basin. Even this third soil survey would require calibration for use in a geographic information system, because it was only the survey's maximum estimate that agreed with the field data.
Genetics of resistance to peanut stunt, clover yellow vein, and alfalfa mosaic viruses in white clover

Peanut stunt virus (PSV), clover yellow vein virus (CYVV), and alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) reduce white clover (Trifolium repens L.) yield and persistence in the southeastern U.S. Southern regional virus resistant (SRVR) germplasm is the only white clover with resistance to these viruses, but little is known about the genetics of this resistance. Our objective was to determine the relative importance of general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA), maternal effects, and nonmaternal reciprocal effects in the inheritance of resistance to PSV, CYVV, and AMV in a diallel cross of one 'Tillman' and seven SRVR plants with differing virus susceptibilities [...]
Desnutrin/ATGL Is Regulated by AMPK and Is Required for a Brown Adipose Phenotype

While fatty acids (FAs) released by white adipose tissue (WAT) provide energy for other organs, lipolysis is also critical in brown adipose tissue (BAT), generating FAs for oxidation and UCP-1 activation for thermogenesis. Here we show that adipose-specific ablation of desnutrin/ATGL in mice converts BAT to a WAT-like tissue. These mice exhibit severely impaired thermogenesis with increased expression of WAT-enriched genes but decreased BAT genes, including UCP-1 with lower PPARα binding to its promoter, revealing the requirement of desnutrin-catalyzed lipolysis for maintaining a BAT phenotype. We also show that desnutrin is phosphorylated by AMPK at S406, increasing TAG hydrolase activity, and provide evidence for increased lipolysis by AMPK phosphorylation of desnutrin in adipocytes and in vivo. Despite adiposity and impaired BAT function, desnutrin-ASKO mice have improved hepatic insulin sensitivity with lower DAG levels. Overall, desnutrin is phosphorylated/activated by AMPK to increase lipolysis and brings FA oxidation and UCP-1 induction for thermogenesis.
Field performance of maize grown from Fusarium verticillioides-inoculated seed

Fusarium verticillioides is an important fungus occupying dual roles in the maize plant. The fungus functions as an endophyte, a fungal/host interaction beneficial to the growth of some plants. At other times, the fungus may function as a mycotoxin producing pathogen. The advantages and/or disadvantages of the endophytic relationship must be established in order to target appropriate sites for controlling diseases and mycotoxins in maize. One possibility could be to ensure seed maize is fungal free prior to planting. Reciprocal inoculations were made with two fungal isolates on seed of two maize genotypes. Yield was measured at harvest by ear and seed characters and vegetative growth at one-month intervals for plant survival, height, weight and stem diameter. Yield and vegetative growth differed among mature plants only once based on seed inoculation status. In 1998, plant weight was reduced and seed weight per ear was increased for the dent maize, GT-MAS: gk, grown from F. verticillioides RRC 374- inoculated seed compared to other seed treatments. Most vegetative characters were reduced at the first collection for Silver Queen plants grown from F. verticillioides-inoculated seed in 1997 and 1999, but not in 1998. However, no significant differences occurred among mature Silver Queen plants during any of the three growing seasons. In conclusion, yield and vegetative growth of mature maize plants grown from F. verticillioides-inoculated seed were equal to or greater than plants grown from non-inoculated seed under south Georgia field conditions during 1997, 1998, and 1999.
Microdetermination of dolichol in tissues

A method is described for the rapid purification and analysis of tissue dolichol on a nanomole scale. The assay is based on a radioisotope dilution technique in which [3H]dolichyl palmitate is used as tracer and acetylation with [14C]acetic anhydride serves as the quantitating reaction. The acetylation conditions were characterized with respect to time, temperature and concentration of reagents. When this method was applied to pig liver, a value was obtained which fell within the range of previously published results based on a gravimetric assay. In chicken, dolichol levels were found to be high in oviduct and low or absent in red blood cells and plasma.
Kinetics of the Acid Digestion of Serpentine with Concurrent Grinding. 1. Initial Investigations

The rapid extraction of magnesium from serpentine is critical to novel low-pressure mineral carbonation methodology. Though almost any acid can dissolve the magnesium, the rate plays a critical role in the industrialization of the process. It has been demonstrated that including a low-energy, attrition-type grinding with the chemical attack of the acid can more than double the extraction rate. However, the dissolution mechanism and rate law were elusive. It was found that the dissolution mechanism changes through the reaction progress and with particle size. A model was developed that combines the effects of surface reaction, surface speciation, the electrical double layer, particle size distribution, and ash layer diffusion. Because of the highly irregular particle geometry, a semiempirical spherical particle size distribution was used. The resulting model was able to fit the data with reasonable parameters, and it was demonstrated that the effect of grinding is to change the diffusivity of the ash layer...
Kartagener's Syndrome and Deaf-Mutism: An Unusual Association

Two of three siblings with deaf mutism in a Negro family had complete Kartagener's syndrome. This association has not been reported before. Kartagener's syndrome is rare in the Negro race.
Vasotocin, prostaglandin, and female reproductive behavior in the frog, Rana pipiens.

Receptive behavior in the female frog, Rana pipiens, as indicated by inhibition of the release call, was potentiated by administration of 5 μg/gbw (ip) prostaglandin E2, or prostaglandin F2α. Arginine-8 vasotocin (1 μg/g body wt) also inhibited the release call, but its effect was delayed by a single injection of 10 μg/g body wt of the prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, indomethacin. These results suggest that both vasotocin and prostaglandin may be involved in the manifestation of female mating behavior in R. pipiens and that vasotocin may act, at least in part, through a mechanism that involves prostaglandin synthesis.
Molecular cloning of the complete genome of reovirus serotype 3

Abstract All 10 genes of the Dearing strain of reovirus serotype 3 have been cloned in their entirety into pBR322. This has been proved by sequencing the terminal regions (50–100 residues long) of all 10 cloned genes; all such regions were found to be identical to the corresponding terminal regions of the double-stranded RNA genes that are present in reovirus particles. The lengths of the cloned reovirus genes were estimated by comparing their electrophoretic mobilities (and those of their Pst I cleavage fragments) with those of accurately known marker DNA molecules. The genes range in size from about 3825 bp for the L genes to about 1200 pb for the S4 gene.
A Split Driver Approach to Soc Virtualization - Challenges and Opportunities

Embedded platforms are becoming increasingly more resource-rich (e.g. processing speeds, number of cores, memory, and communication rates). As a result, they are being transformed from `closed', fixed-function devices to programmable and flexible platforms capable of supporting diverse types of services. One approach to enabling service diversity jointly with proper isolation of key critical functionality is to leverage platform virtualization technology. Toward this end, this paper first describes an approach to virtualizing System-on-a-Chip (SoC) platforms, and next explores the opportunities for shared use of such virtualized SoC devices by multiple concurrently executing services. The research is conducted on the Intel Tolapai SoC which integrates an x86 core with a crypto accelerator, and using the Xen hypervisor.
Characterization of cryogenic direct-drive ICF targets during layering studies and just prior to shot time

The characterization of OMEGA cryogenic targets is based on shadowgraphs obtained from multiple angular views taken with the target in the layering sphere. The D 2 ice has been observed to re-layer during slow rotations, leading to procedural changes that avoid re-layering thus ensuring high-quality, spherical-harmonic, 3-D ice layer reconstructions. Shadowgrams taken inside the target chamber within 20 ms of shot time have verified that the ice layers remain preserved during the transport.
The independence of miss ratio on page size

A theoretical justification is given to the empirical observation that in some computing systems with a paged, 2-level storage hierarchy, long-term miss ratio is roughly independent of page size. Let MISS be the expected working-set miss ratio in the independent reference model, with expected working set size CAP pages. Now form blocks, by combining the B pages with the highest probabilities of reference into one block, the B pages with the next-highest probabilities of reference into a second block, and so on. Let MISS* be the expected working-set miss ratio when all data are moved in blocks and when the expected working set size is again CAP pages, that is, CAP/B = C blocks. It is proved that | MISS — MISS* | C) + (33/C2). Thus, if the expected working-set size (in blocks) is sufficiently large, then the miss ratios in the blocked and unblocked cases are approximately equal. This result is used to argue the approximate independence of miss ratio on page size in more realistic models of page references.
Standalone personal health records in the United States: meeting patient desires

Personal health records (PHRs) are electronic tools for patients to maintain a comprehensive record of their health information. Despite the potential for PHRs to increase patient involvement in their overall health care and lead to shared decision-making with their health care providers, only 11 % of consumers in the United States maintain a PHR. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how standalone PHRs address the reported desires of patients. An Internet search identified nineteen web-based standalone PHRs that were available free-of-charge. A literature search was conducted to identify patient-reported desires for a PHR. A checklist was constructed with an evaluation procedure to assess the presence of functionalities within each standalone PHR that met identified patient desires. Each of the nineteen identified PHRs was then assessed using this checklist. Providing security and privacy protections for patients’ health information; having information presented in layman’s terms; and generating a printed report of health information were the only desires met by more than half of the evaluated PHRs. Only five PHRs met over half of the patient desires. Findings reveal that current standalone PHRs are designed to serve as a repository of health information, rather than as an interactive tool to help patients become more knowledgeable about and involved in their own care. There is a need for patient perspectives to be considered and integrated into the design of PHRs in order for PHRs to achieve their full potential.
Comparative studies of receptor binding and steroidogenic properties of angiotensins in the rat adrenal glomerulosa.

Angiotensin and analogs were tested in isolated rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells to find if there was a correlation between receptor affinity and steroidogenic potency. Comparative receptor-binding affinities and corresponding aldosterone-releasing effects obtained for each analog were: [Asp1, Ile5]angiotensin II, 1.0 and 1.0; [Asp1, Val5]angiotensin II, 0.69 and 1.65; [Asn1 Val5]angiotensin II, 1.18 and 0.68; [Sar1]angiotensin II, 2.07 and 1.7; [Me2Gly1]angiotensin II, 0.63 and 0.72; [Ile5]angiotensin III, 0.72 and 0.59; [Val5]angiotensin III, 0.92 and 0.34; [Ile5]angiotensin I, 0.007 and 0.051; des-Asp1-[Ile5]-angiotensin I, 0.004 and 0.03; and [Val5, Ser9]angiotensin I, 0.03 and 0.098. Taken as a group, these agonist analogs demonstrated good correlations between these two variables (r = 0.76; P < 0.001). There was parallelism between binding inhibition and aldosterone-releasing effect when position 5 was substituted with isoleucine, regardless of the substituent in position 1 of the angiotensins. Th...
A simple approach for superior performance of lithium/sulphur batteries modified with a gel polymer electrolyte

A gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) is superior to a liquid electrolyte in reducing electrolyte leakage and flammability for the safety of rechargeable batteries. However, using GPE in lithium/sulphur (Li/S) batteries reduces the capacity because the highly viscous GPE traps lithium polysulfide (PS) within the electrolyte and makes the PS electrochemically inactive. In order to compensate for the loss of capacity, a porous poly(ethylene oxide)–sulphur composite has been selected to modify the commercial separator. It is shown that elemental sulphur in the composite layer not only serves as the pore-making agent (or called wetting agent) to facilitate filling of the liquid electrolyte in the cell assembly, but also provides additional sulphur to increase the cell's capacity. As a result, the Li/S cell with a GPE-modified separator has even higher capacity than the liquid electrolyte cell while still retaining the advantages of GPE. In this paper we discuss the effect of the composite's composition on the morphology, electrolyte wettability and cell's performance.
Copper-mediated displacements of allylic THP ethers on a bisphosphonate template

The copper-mediated displacement of allylic THP ethers by Grignard reagents has been examined in a system that contains a geminal bisphosphonate ester. With Grignard reagents derived from several aromatic halides or benzyl bromide the displacement proceeds in attractive yields, but more mixed results were obtained from reactions with alkyl halides. In addition to its role as a nucleophile, the Grignard reagent also appears to deprotonate the bisphosphonate to generate an anionic intermediate. Formation of this anion appears to limit competitive nucleophilic attack at the phosphonate group and provides an intermediate that can be trapped by reaction with an electrophilic reagent such as methyl iodide to access a more substituted system.
Contrast Variation of Non-gaussian Speckle

Intensity fluctuations of laser light scattered from a random phase medium into a far-field on-axis observation point are analysed theoretically assuming a gaussian phase variation of the medium and a gaussian laser beam profile. The results give a theoretical background of the past experiments concerning the contrast variation of non-gaussian speckle patterns due to rough surfaces.
Characterization of human genomic yeast artificial chromosome inserts containing hexokinase 1 coding information on chromosome 10

Hexokinase 1 (HK1) is one of four mammalian HK isoenzymes and maps to human chromosome 10. Two yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) were identified in the Washington University human YAC library using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers designed with knowledge of the human HK1 cDNA sequence. YAC B129B12 is 120 kb in length and maps entirely to chromosome 10. YAC A159D5 is 400 kb in length and appears to have resulted from a recombination of chromosome 10 with non-chromosome 10 material. We report these YACs as potential resources for those interested in HK1 gene organization and mapping, as well as those desiring additional genomic information and markers on chromosome 10.
Challenges for environmental impact assessment in Sri Lanka

Abstract Salient features in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process in Sri Lanka have proven to be the provision for public participation, the requirement of alternative proposals, and the use of a prescribed list to identify projects that must undergo review. While EIA has been successfully introduced and over 500 projects have been reviewed, some significant shortcomings remain. Integrated government policies on the types of projects that are encouraged in various zones are needed. Environmental data and effluent standards are insufficient. A code of conduct for project-approving authorities and the EIA consultants is needed. The infrastructure to monitor and enforce environmental regulations is inadequate. Addressing these shortcomings will be challenging given the opposition to the EIA process and the limitations in resources. But it is all the more important so that EIA can become entrenched in project appraisal.
Racial differences in the living kidney donation experience and implications for education.

Context—Much has been written about the barriers to deceased organ donation in the African American community. However, relatively little research has been conducted on barriers to living donation among African Americans. A shortage of suitable deceased donor kidneys among African Americans has encouraged donation from living donors.Objective—As a follow-up to several focus groups with health professionals about barriers to living donation and suggestions for educational interventions, we sought to determine kidney donors' thoughts and feelings about their donation.Design—Telephone interviews with past donors.Participants—Nine African Americans and 9 whites were selected from a database of laparoscopic donor nephrectomies from 1993 to 2003.Outcome Measures—Transcribed phone interviews were reviewed by 3 researchers to determine recurring themes and categorize responses.Results—Responses were categorized into 8 areas of concern: health, financial, life with 1 kidney, procreation, psychosocial matters, surg...
Coordinated Control of Space Robot Teams for the On-Orbit Construction of Large Flexible Space Structures

The construction of future space structures in Earth orbit such as solar power stations and space telescopes will require coordinated teams of autonomous space robots. These robot teams can excite ...
A NEW TEST OF SU(3) IN MESON PHOTOPRODUCTION

Abstract A relation between the production amplitudes for the reactions γp → pπ+π-, pK+K- and σ+K+ π- is derived from SU(3). The relation is consistent with experimental data.
Robust Prediction of Treefall Pit and Mound Sizes from Tree Size Across 10 Forest Blowdowns in Eastern North America

Treefall pits and mounds, formed when trees are uprooted by wind, influence an exceptionally broad range of phenomena in forests, having impacts on vegetation composition, soil formation, erosion, and soil respiration, among other processes. For example, treefall pits and mounds are known to have plant species composition with more pioneer species than nearby undisturbed soil; these microsites also are wetter (pits) or drier (mounds) than undisturbed soil; and have lower rates of soil respiration. Therefore, knowledge of the extent or coverage of these microsites will improve estimates of several processes as well as vegetation composition at the stand and landscape scale. Such information would be timely, given predictions of climate-change driven increases in severe weather that is the primary agent of pit and mound formation. However, to date, there have been no attempts to define a robust relationship to predict the sizes of these microsites across multiple forest types in eastern North America. Here, we summarize field measurement of the relationship between tree size and treefall pit and mound sizes, across ten catastrophic windthrow study sites. We find that for all ten sites pooled, simple ln–ln regression explains almost 54% of the variation in sizes of treefall pits (n = 1,039) and treefall mounds (n = 962) on the basis of tree diameter. This relationship spans numerous soil types, 31 tree species, and tree sizes ranging from 5 cm to greater than 105 cm diameter. Such a relationship may be coupled with information on the severity of disturbance (for example, proportion of stems uprooted) and pre-disturbance tree size structure, to provide a basis for predicting the area covered by pit and mound microsites at the landscape scale, and thereby a basis to frame expected impacts on soil formation, carbon cycling, vegetation establishment, and other ecological, edaphic, and biogeochemical processes.
Stuffed rare earth pyrochlore solid solutions

Abstract Synthesis and crystal structures are described for the compounds Ln 2 (Ti 2− x Ln x )O 7− x /2 , where Ln =Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and x ranges from 0 to 0.67. Rietveld refinements of X-ray powder diffraction data indicate that in the Tb and Dy titanate pyrochlores, the extra Ln 3+ cations mix mainly on the Ti 4+ site with little disorder on the original Ln 3+ site. For the smaller rare earths (Ho–Lu), stuffing additional lanthanide ions results in a pyrochlore to defect fluorite transition, where the Ln 3+ and Ti 4+ ions become completely randomized at the maximum ( x =0.67). Initial magnetic characterization for the fully stuffed x =0.67 samples for Ln =Tb–Yb shows no long range ordering down to 2 K, and only partial saturation of the full expected magnetic moment under applied fields up to 5 T. In all of these Ln –Ti–O pyrochlores, the addition of magnetic Ln 3+ in place of non-magnetic Ti 4+ adds edge sharing tetrahedral spin interactions to a normally corner sharing tetrahedral network of spins. The increase in spin connectivity in this family of solid solutions represents a new avenue for investigating geometrical magnetic frustration in the rare earth titanate pyrochlores.
Correlating a template with video using an optical correlator

A common problem arising in optical processing is that problem dimensions often do not match the dimensions for the optical devices or optical architecture. Such is usually the case for time t in a video camera that provides continuous samples of x, y and time t . We wish to correlate incoming video data with a template video in real-time so we can see variations in time between the data and template. In block correlation we split the time sequence into segments that can be handled with the optical correlator. However, convolution of a data segment with a template leads to increased length relative to the input data. Because convolution in an optical correlator is computed in the frequency domain and sampled data is periodic in the frequency domain, the additional values are aliased and distort the result. There are two methods to remove errors due to aliasing: (a) the overlap and add (b) the overlap and save. We show how the optical correlator may be modified for the overlap and save method which seems to be simpler to implement than the overlap and add.
Suppression at High Temperature of Effects Due to Statistics in the Second Virial Coefficient of a Real Gas

It is shown that the repulsive core present in realistic two-body potentials and in hard spheres leads to the rapid suppression of the effects of statistics in the second virial coefficient, except at very low temperatures. For hard spheres, an upper bound is obtained which goes down exponentially with temperature when the latter becomes large.
Continuous phase modulation receivers based on frequency domain processing

This paper proposes a scheme of continuous phase modulation (CPM) receivers using frequency domain equalization and conventional parallel and serial CPM receiver structures. Frequency domain equalizers for CPM block transmissions provide spectral and power efficient wireless communications with less complexity than conventional time-domain processing receivers over frequency selective fading channels. Adopting a modified zero-padding method of CPM block transmissions to realize cyclic convolution and frequency domain processing at the receiver preserves phase continuity without additional phase control data and enables decision feedback equalizers to be initialized without delays. Serial and parallel receiver structures for minimum shift keying-like demodulators can be combined with frequency domain equalizers for CPM block transmissions. The proposed frequency domain equalizers eliminate the complexity overhead of conventional decomposition-based CPM receivers. Numerical results show that proposed frequency domain CPM equalizers can achieve equivalent performance of conventional equalizers based on Laurent or orthogonal decomposition.
Theory of Elasticity in Two Dimensions and Its Application to Langmuir−Blodgett Films

The theory of elasticity in two-dimensional systems is discussed and applied to several specific cases of interest. In particular the elastic behavior of solid Langmuir−Blodgett films is reviewed a...
Comparative electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of high-surface area materials: zeolites

Abstract In adsorption and catalytic technology, it is often suggested that many key high-surface area materials, e.g. zeolites, are “all surface”. Despite this contention numerous examples have recently been found employing comparative solid-state magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR; bulk analysis) and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA; surface analysis) that challenge this claim. Thus, for example, during the conversion of certain Y zeolites to the ultrastable form, certain cation by-products have been found, by ESCA, to be selectively transported to the outer surface. In addition, during pratical use many zeolites are often bound by select aluminas or clays to enhance their stability. ESCA analysis has demonstrated that these binders often coat most of the zeolite particles with a thin binder layer that is not detected by NMR. In some cases, these coatings are found to alter various aspects of the adsorptive and catalytic properties of these systems. In other cases NMR and ESCA results suggest detection of the same species. This report describes our present understanding of several key cases.
Interfacial charge transfer events of BODIPY molecules: single molecule spectroelectrochemistry and substrate effects

We present single molecule fluorescence and spectroelectrochemistry characteristics of 4,4′-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) bearing two carboxylic acid groups at its 2 and 6 positions. Our study shows a heterogeneous half redox potential distribution for the BODIPY molecules embedded in polystyrene film because of the heterogeneity in their charge transfer rates. Single molecules adsorbed onto a TiO2 surface with ordered nanostructures show surprising fluorescence blinking activity with the shortest ON duration time in comparison to bare glass and indium-tin oxide (ITO) surfaces. Single molecule stability tests show longer ON duration time and a stable fluorescence feature when dispersed in polystyrene thin film than molecules exposed to air. Shorter ON times are observed for molecules. In intimate contact with ITO in comparison to glass substrates. Such a decrease in their fluorescence stability or intensity is explained by charge transfer activities from the dye molecules to the metal oxide surface. Electron transfer and back transfer rates are calculated to illustrate the substrate effects by using a well-established model.
Pharmacology of calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum

Calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) has been elicited in response to additions of many different agents. Activators of Ca2+ release are here tentatively classified as activators of a Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release channel preferentially localized in SR terminal or as likely activators of other Ca2+ efflux pathways. Some of these pathways may be associated with several different mechanisms for SR Ca2+ release that have been postulated previously. Studies of various inhibitors of excitation-contraction coupling and of certain forms of SR Ca2+ release are summarized. The sensitivity of isolated SR to certain agents is unusually affected by experimental conditions. These effects can seriously undermine attempts to anticipate effects of the same pharmacological agentsin situ. Finally, mention is made of a new preparation (“sarcoballs”) designed to make the pharmacological study of SR Ca2+ release more accessible to electrophysiologists, and some concluding speculations on the future of SR pharmacology are offered.
A new single-stage AC-DC converter for medical implant devices

A single-stage buck-type AC-DC converter is proposed for medical implants to achieve high efficiency. The proposed structure combines two traditional stages of the three-stage power path for medical implants and eliminates a MOSFET and a filter capacitor to improve the efficiency. The proposed circuit converts 40 Vpp coil voltage into a DC output voltage of 4.2 V. The stability analysis of the circuit is also presented. Load currents between 1 mA to 100 mA are supported. The efficiency of the proposed circuit is 81.9%.
Superior Rectus Muscle Overaction After Cataract Extraction

Four patients with an ipsilateral hypertropia after cataract extraction consistent with superior rectus muscle overaction were identified between March 1990 and April 1992. Operative trauma was the most likely causative factor, as other likely conditions were excluded. The proposed pathogenesis for all cases is similar to that of botulinum type-A toxin therapy: a transient postoperative weakness of the ipsilateral inferior rectus muscle leads to a contracture or strengthening of the ipsilateral antagonist (the superior rectus muscle). Possible mechanisms of injury that would result in a transient inferior rectus muscle palsy would include anesthetic myotoxicity or direct trauma to the muscle and related structures from the retrobulbar injection (or subconjunctival injection). Surgical intervention consisting of an ipsilateral superior rectus muscle recession and posterior fixation sutures (when the vertical incomitance was large) yielded excellent results in restoring single binocular vision. Possible preventive measures would include using a minimal volume of anesthetic along with careful needle placement.
A method for complete angiographic obliteration of a brain arteriovenous malformation in a single session through a single pedicle

Abstract Historically, the endovascular treatment of arteriovenous malformations (AVM) has largely been relegated to an adjunctive role to open surgical and radiosurgical methods. In this article, we describe a novel endovascular approach to the treatment of brain AVM using Onyx (ev3 Endovascular, Plymouth, MN, USA), which may allow for a complete angiographic obliteration in a single treatment session. Twelve patients underwent Onyx embolization of an AVM using a novel “reverse plug and push” technique in which a plug is formed around the treatment catheter prior to injecting Onyx into the AVM. The plug mitigates the risk of backflow and catheter entrapment, thereby allowing the user to inject higher volumes of Onyx at higher injection rates. Patient demographics, AVM characteristics, and treatment details were reviewed. Using the “reverse plug then push” technique, an average of 8.8 mL of Onyx was injected into the AVM in a single session. In every case, the microcatheter was removed easily with minimal traction pressure. Complete angiographic obliteration was achieved in 83% of patients after a single treatment. Morbidity and mortality were 8% each. The “reverse plug then push” technique allows for a more rapid injection of Onyx due to the formation of a well-controlled plug prior to treatment, mitigating the risk of catheter entrapment by Onyx reflux. With further refinement, this technique may present a viable curative option for treatment of select brain AVM.
Changing Pedagogy: Analysing ELT Teachers in China by ZHENG, XIN–MIN, & CHRIS DAVISON

The article reviews the book "Changing Pedagogy: Analysing ELT Teachers in China," by Xin-Min Zheng and Chris Davison.
Natural Hydrocarbon Seepage in Marine Environment: ABSTRACT

Evidence of hydrocarbon seepage in the marine environment has been documented back to prehistoric times. Hydrocarbons are held in structural and stratigraphic traps by overlying, impervious layers, and they can escape only if the capping layer is destroyed. Escape channels through the capping layer are formed primarily by faulting, which may be essentially due to tectonic forces, as in the Santa Barbara Channel area, or may be due to diapiric uplift as in the Gulf of Mexico. Unconsolidated sediments of varying thickness overlie consolidated sediments and bedrock in most marine environments. Because of the incompetency of these sediments, fault traces usually are not transmitted to the surface as open fractures. Hydrocarbons are forced to flow or bubble up through these sediments in a manner that may be analogous to diapirism. The more viscous the hydrocarbon the more probable it is that traces will remain in the sediment. Traces have been found at various locations in the Gulf of Mexico and off the California coast. Seepage is intermittent and aperiodic with unpredictable rates. Viscosity and the passage up through the sediments may be the controlling factor in the intermittent flow. Tidal effects may be significant. Hydrocarbons have a specific gravity lower than that of seawater. There is no evidence that floating oil or tar through self distillation will increase enough in specific gravity to sink. It has been suggested that accretion of sediment particles could cause floating tar to sink. This could occur only along the surf zone, or at the mouths of heavily laden streams if at all. It is, therefore, almost axiomatic that tar or tarry residues found in marine sediments originated from a natural seep. No oil from pumped bilges or ruptured fuel tanks ever sank to the bottom. End_of_Article - Last_Page 657------------
High‐Temperature Microstructure of a Hot‐Pressed Silicon Nitride

The outstanding question as to the microstructure of silicon nitride at temperatures associated with potential high-temperature applications of the material is addressed experimentally by quenching thin (transmission electron microscopy) samples from 1450°C and examining them in the microscope. The morphology of the microstructure is qualitatively unchanged compared to the materials slowly cooled, for example, after hot-pressing, to room temperature. The most significant difference is that the thickness of the intergranular phase is larger, typically 2 to 10 nm, as compared to the ∼ 1 nm observed in the hot-pressed material. In addition there is an apparent increase in the volume fraction of the intergranular phase at the three-grain junctions. On the basis of a number of supporting experiments including both hot-stage transmission electron microscopy (up to 1000°C) and Auger electron spectroscopy of material fractured and examined at 850°C, the change in microstructure is concluded to occur at temperatures above about 1000°C.
R-Ketorolac Targets Cdc42 and Rac1 and Alters Ovarian Cancer Cell Behaviors Critical for Invasion and Metastasis

Cdc42 (cell division control protein 42) and Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) are attractive therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer based on established importance in tumor cell migration, adhesion and invasion. Despite a predicted benefit, targeting GTPases has not yet been translated to clinical practice. We previously established that Cdc42 and constitutively active Rac1b are overexpressed in primary ovarian tumor tissues. Through high throughput screening and computational shape homology approaches we identified R-ketorolac as a Cdc42 and Rac1 inhibitor; distinct from the anti-inflammatory, cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity of S-ketorolac. In the present study, we establish R-ketorolac as an allosteric inhibitor of Cdc42 and Rac1. Cell-based assays validate R-ketorolac activity against Cdc42 and Rac1. Studies on immortalized human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells (SKOV3ip), and primary, patient-derived ovarian cancer cells show R-ketorolac is a robust inhibitor of growth factor or serum dependent Cdc42 and Rac1 activation with a potency and cellular efficacy similar to small molecule inhibitors of Cdc42 (CID2950007/ML141) and Rac1 (NSC23766). Furthermore, GTPase inhibition by R-ketorolac reduces downstream p21-activated kinases (PAK1/PAK2) effector activation by >80%. Multiple assays of cell behavior using SKOV3ip and primary patient-derived ovarian cancer cells show that R-ketorolac significantly inhibits cell adhesion, migration and invasion. In sum, we provide evidence for R-ketorolac as direct inhibitor of Cdc42 and Rac1 that is capable of modulating downstream GTPase-dependent, physiological responses, which are critical to tumor metastasis. Our findings demonstrate the selective inhibition of Cdc42 and Rac1 GTPases by an FDA approved drug-racemic ketorolac that can be used in humans.
Spatially-Constrained Similarity Measurefor Large-Scale Object Retrieval

One fundamental problem in object retrieval with the bag-of-words model is its lack of spatial information. Although various approaches are proposed to incorporate spatial constraints into the model, most of them are either too strict or too loose so that they are only effective in limited cases. In this paper, a new spatially-constrained similarity measure (SCSM) is proposed to handle object rotation, scaling, view point change and appearance deformation. The similarity measure can be efficiently calculated by a voting-based method using inverted files. During the retrieval process, object localization in the database images can also be simultaneously achieved using SCSM without post-processing. Furthermore, based on the retrieval and localization results of SCSM, we introduce a novel and robust re-ranking method with the $k$ -nearest neighbors of the query for automatically refining the initial search results. Extensive performance evaluations on six public data sets show that SCSM significantly outperforms other spatial models including RANSAC-based spatial verification, while $k$ -NN re-ranking outperforms most state-of-the-art approaches using query expansion. We also adapted SCSM for mobile product image search with an iterative algorithm to simultaneously extract the product instance from the mobile query image, identify the instance, and retrieve visually similar product images. Experiments on two product image search data sets show that our approach can robustly localize and extract the product in the query image, and hence drastically improve the retrieval accuracy over baseline methods.
Endogenous glucocorticoids restrain catecholamine synthesis and release at rest and during immobilization stress in rats.

Cardiovascular and metabolic adjustments during stress involve participation of the sympatho-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical systems, which interact at several levels. The present study investigated the effects of removal of endogenous glucocorticoids on indices of norepinephrine release and metabolism and of catecholamine biosynthesis in sympathetic nerves, at baseline and in response to immobilization stress (IMMO) in rats. Plasma levels of the catecholamine precursor dihydroxyphenylalanine, norepinephrine (NE), the NE metabolites dihydroxyphenylglycol and methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol, dopamine, and the dopamine metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid were measured in adrenalectomized, adrenal-medullectomized, or sham-operated conscious rats, with or without glucocorticoid treatment (25 mg/kg.24 h cortisol for 7 days by osmotic minipumps), at rest and after 5, 20, 60, and 120 min of IMMO. Adrenalectomy eliminated plasma levels of epinephrine and corticosterone and au...
The effects of temperature, diet, and other factors on development, survivorship, and oviposition of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae).

Developmental rate and survivorship of small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), life stages were measured across different temperatures (21, 25, 28, 32 and 35°C) and diets, which included natural and artificial pollen, honey, and bee pupae. Temperature affected hatch success, time to hatching, and larval growth. Eggs hatched in 61 h at 21°C but in <22 h at 35°C. Larvae achieved peak weight in <8 d at 35°C but needed 17 d at 21°C. Diet had comparatively little effect on larval survivorship or maximum weight, although larvae fed only bee pupae had lower survivorship. Access to soil influenced pupation success. Duration of the life stage spent in the soil, during which pupation occurs, was also affected by temperature: adults emerged after 32.7 d at 21°C but after only 14.8 d at 35°C, albeit with high mortality. Minimum temperature for development was estimated at 13.5°C for eggs, and 10.0°C for larvae and pupae. Temperature influenced adult longevity and oviposition: on a honey and pollen diet average adult lifespan was 92.8 d at 24°C but only 11.6 d at 35°C. Beetles lived longer at 28°C or lower but produced the most eggs per female, regardless of diet, at 32°C. Beetle density influenced fecundity: beetles kept at three pairs per vial laid 6.7 times more eggs per female than those kept as single pairs. Overall, beetles fared best at 28-32°C with mortality of all stages highest at 35°C.
An incremental mode-superposition for non-linear dynamic analysis

This paper uses an incremental mode-superposition procedure to compute the inelastic dynamic response of multi-degree-of-freedom systems. A damping matrix proportional to the instantaneous properties is used throughout the analysis. The non-linear response of several shear type plane and space frames with elastic-plastic and bilinear column properties subjected to ground excitation was computed by both the incremental mode-superposition and the direct integration of the coupled equations of motion. When all modes are considered, the responses computed by the incremental mode-superposition are identical to those from the direct integration. Fewer modes can also be used to compute the response with reasonable accuracy by performing the modal truncation for each time increment. The study shows that incorporating instantaneous damping in non-linear dynamic analysis is relatively simple and requires less computational time than the direct integration.
TRANSVERSALS OF INFINITE FAMILIES WITH FINITELY MANY INFINITE MEMBERS

Abstract The main theorem of this memorandum gives necessary and sufficient conditions for an infinite family of sets with only finitely many infinite members to have a transversal. We also show that the existence of a transversal of an infinite family of sets with only countably many infinite members is equivalent to the existence of a function from the subsets of the index set of the family to the cardinal numbers having certain properties. In the introduction we state the most important known results in this area. The final section contains two examples that illustrate the difficulties encountered in attempting to generalize the result we have obtained.
The functional consequences of gustatory nerve regeneration as assessed behaviorally in a rat model.

When gustatory nerves are transected, the taste buds they normally innervate degenerate and specific deficits in taste-related behavior result depending on the nerves transected, the taste compounds used, and the nature of the behavioral test (see Spector, 2003). In rodents, the chorda tympani nerve (CT) which innervates the anterior tongue, and the glossopharyngeal nerve (GL) which innervates the posterior tongue, both have a great proclivity to regenerate after injury and reinnervate their native receptor fields. It is clear that there are some seemingly permanent anatomical consequences of CT regeneration including reductions in taste bud number and volume, decreases in the number of myelinated axons, decrease in the density of terminal projections, and a decline in the volume of the terminal field in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) (Shuler et al., 2004; for review, see Spector, 2003). These regeneration induced changes in the anatomy of the system raise the issue of whether taste function would be altered in some way. Accordingly, my laboratory has been using behavioral procedures to examine whether functions that are disrupted by neurotomy recover upon regeneration of the nerve. The CT, which innervates ~13% of the total taste buds in the rat, is exceptionally responsive to NaCl. Although for many years the input of the CT was thought to be unnecessary to maintain sensibility to NaCl based on two-bottle preference tests, when more psychophysically rigorous tasks were applied to assess responsiveness to this salt, very severe and unequivocal behavioral deficits were revealed in rats that had the nerve transected. Thus, the ability of the regenerated CT to support taste-guided performance in tasks involving NaCl was a conceptually promising way to begin to assess the functional conse
On incremental sigma-delta modulation with optimal filtering

The paper presents a quantization-theoretic framework for studying incremental sigma-delta (/spl Sigma//spl Delta/) data conversion systems. The framework makes it possible to efficiently compute the quantization intervals and hence the transfer function of the quantizer, and to determine the mean square error (MSE) and maximum error for the optimal and conventional linear filters for first and second order incremental /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulators. The results show that the optimal filter can significantly outperform conventional linear filters in terms of both MSE and maximum error. The performance of conventional /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ data converters is then compared to that of incremental /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ with optimal filtering for bandlimited signals. It is shown that incremental /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ can outperform the conventional approach in terms of signal-to-noise-and-distortion ratio. The framework is also used to provide a simpler and more intuitive derivation of the Zoomer algorithm.