Search

There is increasing evidence that anthropogenic climate change and socioeconomic development are altering the dynamics of extreme wildfire events, leading to increasing wildfire risk globally and causing potential new conflicts in wildfire risk management (WFRM). Managing these risks in increasingly complex governance settings raises important equity concerns; in particular, what is perceived as just in terms of outcomes and processes. We develop a framework for identifying and categorizing along the WFRM cycle (prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery and adaptation) crucial and generally applicable aspects of distributional, procedural and restorative justice. We argue that policymakers and decision-makers should proactively consider all three justice aspects within collaborative governance policy processes to successfully innovate integrated WFRM strategies that respond to equity concerns.

Abstract: We investigated the flux-pinning properties of YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) films in which Y2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles were uniformly embedded by using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. Y2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles with average sizes of 10–30 nm and with different densities by changing the number of nanoparticle layers were introduced in a YBCO matrix in the form of a multilayered structure. The total thickness of the YBCO superconducting layers was kept to be 250 nm. Dilute doping was found to be effective for both Y2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles. For Y2O3 doping, critical current density (J c ) enhancements over a wide range of fields were obtained in 1- and 5-layer doped samples, while weak J c enhancements and a better field dependence of J c were found in the YBCO film with 1 layer of ZnO. Based on an analysis of surface morphology, the transition temperature (T c ), and J c , we discuss the difference between the two types of nanoparticles as flux-pinning centers.

This work proposes a two-stage immune algorithm that embeds the compromise programming to perform multi-objective optimal compensator placement. A new problem formulation model that involves fuzzy sets to reflect the imprecise nature of objectives and incorporates multiple planning requirements is presented. The proposed approach finds a set of non-inferior (Pareto) solutions rather than any single aggregated optimal solution. Additionally, this developed approach eliminates the need for any user-definedweight factor to aggregate all objectives. Comparative studies are conducted on an actual system with encouraging results, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

In this paper, we propose a new method to design a grey prediction system controller using output feedback. The optimal reduced order model will be used to retain the physical meaning of the output states. By using only the output states feedback, the control strategy can be implemented easily. The grey prediction method adopts the forecasting information from the output state variables to control system behavior. As a result, it reduces the oscillation and enhances the dynamic stability of the system. The advantages of the proposed method are verified through a detailed simulation of a multi-machine power system.

Abstract: The performance of most electronic chassis control systems in the past has been optimized individually. Recently, a great research effort has been dedicated to the integration of chassis control systems in an effort to improve the vehicle performance. This involves orchestration of individual control modules so that they can jointly contribute to the enhancement of their control effect. In this research, two integrated control logics for AFS (Active Front Steering) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) have been developed. Of the two logics, one uses a supervisor that rules over the individual modules. The other logic uses a CL (Characteristic Locus) method, which is a frequency-domain multivariable control technique. The two logics have been tested under various driving conditions to investigate their control effects. The results indicate that the proposed integrated control logics can yield vehicle performance that is superior to that of the individual control modules without any integration scheme.

Most recent efforts to reduce the noise produced by hard disk drives (HDDs) have been based on measurable physical quantities such as the sound pressure level. However, given that the purpose of reducing HDD noise is to improve human comfort, it would be better to evaluate noise levels on the basis of human perceptions. To address this issue, we carried out human jury tests on eight HDDs in which people were asked to compare the noise of pairs of HDDs and determine which HDD sounded louder or more annoying. The jury test results were then compared with sound pressure level measurements of the noise produced by the idling HDDs and a discrepancy was found between the human perception of HDD noise and the physical quantities commonly employed for noise control. Psychoacoustic variables such as loudness level showed a better correlation with the jury test results.

Transient/chronic microenvironmental hypoxia that exists within a majority of solid tumors has been suggested to have a profound influence on tumor growth and therapeutic outcome. Since the functions of novel antioxidant proteins, peroxiredoxin I (Prx I) and II, have been implicated in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, it was of our special interest to probe a possible role of Prx I and II in the context of hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Since both Prx I and II use thioredoxin (Trx) as an electron donor and Trx is a substrate for thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), we investigated the regulation of Trx and TrxR as well as Prx expression following hypoxia. Here we show a dynamic change of glutathione homeostasis in lung cancer A549 cells and an up-regulation of Prx I and Trx following hypoxia. Western blot analysis of 10 human lung cancer and paired normal lung tissues also revealed an elevated expression of Prx I and Trx proteins in lung cancer tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis of the lung cancer tissues confirmed an augmented Prx I and Trx expression in cancer cells with respect to the parenchymal cells in adjacent normal lung tissue. Based on these results, we suggest that the redox changes in lung tumor microenvironment could have acted as a trigger for the up-regulation of Prx I and Trx in lung cancer cells. Although the clinical significance of our finding awaits more rigorous future study, preferential augmentation of the Prx I and Trx in lung cancer cells may well represent an attempt of cancer cells to manipulate a dynamic redox change in tumor microenvironment in a manner that is beneficial for their proliferation and malignant progression.

In this paper, we proposed the design concept of NRRO-free non-contact bearings for a high performance hard disk drive (HDD) spindle. We numerically analyzed three types of hydrodynamic journal air bearings [gas dynamic bearing (GDB)], such as a partial herringbone groove, a sinusoidal wave, and a taper-flat type. And we compared their performances in terms of pressure distribution, load capacity, radial stiffness, unbalance response, and stability threshold. For the design examples, we examined the Case 1 with 2.0 µm bearing clearance and 10000 rpm, and the Case 2 with 1.0 µm clearance and 15000 rpm. As a result of numerical analysis, we found that the taper-flat type was the most promising for high performance HDD spindle compared with the other types. It can have the bearing stiffness of about 3.0 × 10 6 N/m in Case 1 and of about 2.0 × 10 7 N/m in Case 2. We also discussed the allowance of parameters for the optimal design of the taper-flat type journal bearing.

We have investigated the mechanism of action of two benzimidazolone analogs (NS004 and NS1619) on DeltaF508-CFTR using both whole-cell and cell-attached patch-clamp techniques and compared their effects with those of genistein. We conclude that benzimidazolone analogs and genistein act through a common mechanism, based on the following evidence: 1) both act only on phosphorylated CFTR, 2) the maximal DeltaF508-CFTR current activated by benzimidazolone analogs is identical to that induced by genistein, 3) benzimidazolone analogs increase the open probability of the forskolin-dependent DeltaF508-CFTR channel activity through an increase of the channel open time and a decrease of the channel closed time (effects indistinct from those reported for genistein), and 4) the prolonged K1250A-CFTR channel open time (in the presence of 10 microM forskolin) is unaffected by benzimidazolone analogs or genistein, supporting the hypothesis that these compounds stabilize the open state by inhibiting ATP hydrolysis at nucleotide binding domain 2 (NBD2). In addition, we demonstrate that NS004 and NS1619 are more potent CFTR activators than genistein (EC(50) values are 87 +/- 14 nM, 472 +/- 88 nM, and 4.4 +/- 0.5 microM, respectively). From our studies with the double mutant DeltaF508/K1250A-CFTR, we conclude that benzimidazolone analogs and genistein rectify the DeltaF508-CFTR prolonged closed time independent of their effects on channel open time, since these agonists enhance DeltaF508/K1250A-CFTR activity by shortening the channel closed time. These studies should pave the way toward understanding the agonist binding sites at a molecular level.

A (t, n) threshold proxy signature scheme allows t or more proxy signers from a designated group of n proxy signers to sign messages on behalf of an original signer. The authors review both Zhang's threshold proxy signature scheme and Kim's threshold proxy signature scheme. They show that Zhang's scheme suffers from some weaknesses and Kim's scheme suffers from a disadvantage. Based on Zhang's scheme, they propose a new threshold proxy signature scheme to defeat the weaknesses of Zhang's scheme and the disadvantage of Kim's scheme.

Sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) was administered orally at a dose of 50 mg per kg body weight twice or three times per day to a newborn infant with lactic acidosis of unknown cause (patient 1) and to a 15-year-old boy with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy associated with lactic acidosis (patient 2). In patient 1, during treatment with DCA, DCA accumulated in the blood judging from the findings that the urinary excretion of DCA increased cumulatively and the blood lactate level rapidly decreased to the normal range. In patient 2, the blood DCA level gradually increased during treatment to a concentration of 250 µgml-1and the blood lactate level decreased and was maintained within the normal range. DCA was detected in the brain (25 µg g tissue-1) and the liver, kidney and muscle (33.8, 33.8 and 26.3 µg g tissue-1, respectively) obtained at autopsy of patient 1, and in the cerebrospinal fluid of patient 2 at a concentration of 125 µg ml-1when the blood concentration was 250 µg ml-1. The lactate levels in the cerebrospinal fluid decreased from 7 and 4mmoll-1to 2.4 and 2.6 mmoll-1in patients 1 and 2, respectively. Thus DCA may be useful in clinical treatment of chronic congenital lactic acidosis because it seems to cross the blood-brain barrier. However, it must be given at non-toxic doses, determined by monitoring the concentrations of lactate and DCA in the blood, because orally administered DCA tends to accumulate in tissues.

Wrinkles, porosity, delaminations and other defects introduced during the manufacturing processing can compromise mechanical performance of advanced composites. This paper describes a method of using fiber optic sensors for monitoring the formation of graphite fiber bending in real time during manufacturing process. Theoretical formulation of the sensor behavior and experimental results are presented. The response of the sensor to composite fiber bending is characterized. The application to analyzing the formation of wrinkles in compression molding of graphite/epoxy composites is demonstrated.

Flexible manufacturing cell (FMC) is an emerging component in modern manufacturing environments. In an FMC, parts are processed by a few programmable machine types, transported by an automated material handling system (MHS), and stored in buffers between operations. The benefits of an FMC are mostly derived from the flexibility it provides. Since operations of an FMC are automated, effective real-time scheduling is crucial. However, the interaction among machines, MHS and buffers make the scheduling problem extremely complicated. Major difficulties include the sequence- dependent setups of MHS operations and finite buffer capacities. How to develop an effective FMC scheduling methodology is an important and challenging task.

Stripped rabbit descending colon mucosae were studied in vitro in modified Ussing chambers to determine the effects of AlF4-and vanadate on Cl- transport. Serosal additions of AlF4-and vanadate increase short-circuit current (ISC) and tissue conductance, while luminal addition of the agents is ineffective. Addition of aluminium potentiates the effect of NaF on ISC. AlF4-and vanadate increase serosal-to-mucosal flux of 36Cl without affecting mucosal-to-serosal flux. The effects of these agents on ISC are markedly inhibited by serosal addition of bumetanide and depend on the presence of Na+ in the serosal bathing solution. The effects of AlF4-and vanadate on ISC are dependent on the presence of Ca2+ in the bathing solution, and are completely inhibited by indomethacin, but the effect of forskolin is not affected by the removal of Ca2+ from the bathing solution and the addition of indomethacin. AlF4-and vanadate significantly increase the level of inositol phosphate metabolites. The results indicate that AlF4-and vanadate increase Cl- secretion in the rabbit colon via an increase in prostaglandin synthesis which is mediated by the increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations.

1. Wide‐tipped, low‐resistance (approximately 1 M omega) pipettes were used to record the whole‐cell Cl‐ current activated by cAMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKA) in guinea‐pig ventricular myocytes internally dialysed with or without GTP. Without GTP in the pipette, the response to 1 microM‐isoprenaline declined with time and eventually disappeared, usually within approximately 20 min of rupturing the membrane and beginning cell dialysis. 2. This rundown of the isoprenaline response occurred more quickly with wider, lower‐resistance pipette tips. 3. After complete rundown of the isoprenaline response, histamine (10 microM), another agonist known to elicit the Cl‐ current, also had no effect, but extracellular forskolin (1 microM) or intrapipette cAMP (1 mM) could still readily elicit the Cl‐ current. 4. In contrast, with 100 microM‐GTP in the pipette, the response to 1 microM‐isoprenaline was well maintained for periods greater than 20 min. But, if GTP was then withdrawn from the pipette, a rundown of the isoprenaline response was seen comparable to that in the experiments begun with GTP‐free pipette solution. Moreover, in experiments begun without pipette GTP, the addition of 100 microM‐GTP to the pipette solution, after the response to isoprenaline had disappeared, was able to restore that Cl‐ current response. 5. With GTP in the pipette, the forskolin‐induced Cl‐ current could be suppressed by concurrent exposure to carbachol (10 microM). That inhibition was not seen in myocytes pretreated with pertussis toxin. In untreated myocytes dialysed with GTP‐free pipette solution, after disappearance of the isoprenaline response, the muscarinic receptor‐mediated inhibition was itself abolished. 6. We confirm that both beta‐adrenoceptor‐mediated activation of the Cl‐ current by isoprenaline, and muscarinic receptor‐mediated inhibition of the forskolin‐induced Cl‐ current, are mediated by G proteins, and conclude that the disappearance of both receptor‐mediated responses during whole‐cell recording with GTP‐free pipette solution reflects the fall of cellular [GTP] below the level required to maintain G protein‐dependent signal transduction.

Gap junctions are aggregates of transmembranous channels which bypass the extracellular space by transporting messenger molecules and ions from one cytoplasmic source to an adjacent cytoplasmic interior. The channels join the plasma membranes of adjacent cells by bridging the extracellular space between them. Thereby, cellular “compartments” which were once considered to be individual units are, in actuality, interconnected by a system of pathways which form a functional cellular syncytium. The evolutionary importance of a generalized intercellular communication system can be appreciated when one considers the widespread prevalence of gap junctions within animals of all multicellular phyla, and within almost all tissues of vertebrates. Only a few population of cells such as skeletal muscle cells (which are fused to form functional syncytia) and circulating blood cells are not equipped with gap junctions. This paper provides a brief review of the diverse structural, molecular and functional aspects of gap junctions as revealed by current research.

Abstract: A systematic study of the effect of milling conditions on the low-temperature carbothermic reduction of the mineral ilmenite has been carried out. It was found that after ball milling of an ilmenite-carbon mixture at room temperature, the ilmenite was reduced to rutile and metallic iron during subsequent low-temperature annealing (760 C for 30 minutes). A longer milling time results in a lower reduction temperature and a higher reduction rate. Higher milling intensity also leads to a lower reduction temperature. This enhanced reduction reaction induced by ball milling mainly results from the intimate mixing and large contact area between milled ilmenite and carbon particles.

ICI 147,798 has been shown to exhibit both diuretic and beta-antagonist properties in vivo. The present study investigated the nature and selectivity of the beta-antagonism in a variety of isolated tissues. ICI 147,798 produced a concentration-dependent suppression of the maximum chronotropic response of norepinephrine in guinea pig right atria (beta-1 adrenoceptor). ICI 147,798 caused a concentration-dependent shift to the right of the salbutamol concentration-response curve in the guinea pig trachea (beta-2 adrenoceptor), and Schild analysis suggested competitive inhibition. Propranolol produced parallel shifts to the right of the norepinephrine concentration-response curve in guinea pig right atria, except at relatively high concentrations. The inhibitory effects of propranolol in guinea pig right atria were reversed by greater than 95%, whereas the effects of ICI 147,798 were only slightly reversed after a 6-hr washout period. Preincubation of propranolol with ICI 147,798 in guinea pig right atria prevented completely the suppression of the norepinephrine maximum chronotropic response. Postincubation of propranolol with ICI 147,798 partially reversed the suppression of the maximum chronotropic response. ICI 147,798 had no effect on the maximum chronotropic responses of either histamine (H2-receptor) or forskolin (adenylate cyclase activation) in guinea pig right atria and had no effect on agonist responses in a variety of other receptor systems. The insurmountable beta-1 adrenoceptor antagonism was evaluated based on the assumptions of irreversible competitive antagonism, mixed competitive and noncompetitive antagonism and slowly dissociating competitive antagonism ("hemi-equilibrium" conditions). Concentration-dependent changes in norepinephrine KA values suggested the first three possibilities were unlikely.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In rabbits, the characteristics of cardiac beta-1 receptor blockade produced by ICI 147,798, a novel beta receptor blocking agent with diuretic properties, were evaluated and compared with those of propranolol. In conscious rabbits, i.v. injections of 0.31, 1.0 and 3.1 mg/kg of ICI 147,798 and 1.0 mg/kg of propranolol caused significant bradycardia. ICI 147,798 produced a dose-dependent shift to the right of the dose-response (chronotropic) curve of isoproterenol with suppression of the maximal tachycardia, an effect characteristic of insurmountable beta receptor blockade. Propranolol also produced a shift to the right of the dose-response curve of isoproterenol without affecting the maximal tachycardia. ICI 147,798-induced antagonism was specific for beta adrenoceptors as it failed to modify the effects of acetylcholine, angiotensin II, phenylephrine, adenosine, histamine and prostaglandin E2 on mean arterial pressure and heart rate. In rabbits with prior autonomic blockade, ICI 147,798, like propranolol, failed to inhibit the positive chronotropic effects of theophylline which are mediated by postreceptor mechanisms. In reserpinized rabbits, ICI 147,798 was found to have no intrinsic sympathomimetic activity. Unlike the effects of propranolol, which were attenuated by first-pass through the hepatic vascular bed, the effects of ICI 147,798 were unaffected suggesting an absence of first-pass metabolism. The effects of propranolol (1.0 mg/kg i.v.) were not detectable at 24 hr after injection, whereas significant beta receptor blocking activity was still present at 24 hr after ICI 147,798 (1.0 mg/kg i.v.). The results suggest that ICI 147,798 is a specific, long-acting, insurmountable beta-1 receptor blocking agent without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abstract.: To study K+ channels in the basolateral membrane of chloride-secreting epithelia, rat tracheal epithelial monolayers were cultured on permeable filters and mounted into an Ussing chamber system. The mucosal membrane was permeabilized with nystatin (180 μg/ml) in the symmetrical high K+ (145 mm) Ringer solution. During measurement of the macroscopic K+ conductance properties of the basolateral membrane under a transepithelial voltage clamp, we detected at least two types of K+ currents: one is an inwardly rectifying K+ current and the other is a slowly activating outwardly rectifying K+ current. The inwardly rectifying K+ current is inhibited by Ba2+. The slowly activating K+ current was potentiated by cAMP and inhibited by clofilium, phorbol 12-myristae 13-acetate (PMA) and lowering temperature. This is consistent with the biophysical characteristics of I SK channel. RT-PCR analysis revealed the presence of I SK cDNA in the rat trachea epithelia. Although 0.1 mm Ba2+ only had minimal affect on short-circuit current (I sc) induced by cAMP in intact epithelia, 0.1 mm clofilium strongly inhibited it. These results indicate that I SK might be important for maintaining cAMP-induced chloride secretion in the rat trachea epithelia.

Numerical results are presented for convective heat transfer of a laminar mist flow in the thermal entrance region of a concentric annulus with a heated core and an insulated outer wall. Both constant temperature and constant heat flux on the inner wall are considered. The saturated droplets in the mist flow are considered as equivalent heat sinks distributed in the superheated vapor stream. Calculations are performed for variations of droplet size, mean vapor velocity, droplet number density, and the local Nusselt number in the streamwise direction until the single-phase fully developed condition is reached. The effects of different governing parameters on heat transfer characteristics are studied.

We obtained a primary culture of prostatic cells through explantation from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Structural morphology, immunohistochemical staining, and growth characteristics of these cells demonstrate that they are consistent with the population of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). We examined the influence of a nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), on the regulation of human prostatic SMC proliferation. SNP exhibited a concentration-dependent (0.1-10 microM) inhibition of fetal calf serum-induced proliferation in human prostatic SMCs. In addition, growth-inhibitory responses to 8-bromo-cGMP (1-30 muM) were observed. However, the responses to SNP were significantly diminished by the presence of 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (3 microM; a selective guanylate cyclase inhibitor). Furthermore, SNP induced an increased concentration-dependent accumulation of intracellular cGMP in human prostatic SMCs. After 48-hr period of deprivation of serum, cells were restimulated with serum to permit cell cycle progression. The addition of SNP (10 microM) at various times after the addition of serum to serum-deprived cells showed maximal inhibition of cell proliferation even when added 6 hr after the serum. This blocking effect of cell cycle progression was lost gradually as the delay from serum to SNP application increased from 6 to 18 hr. The membrane-associated protein kinase C (PKC) activity was studied in human prostatic SMCs; results showed that fetal calf serum (10%, v/v) significantly increased membrane-associated PKC activity. SNP (10 muM), which had little effect on basal kinase activity, completely abolished serum-induced augmentation of PKC activity. Therefore, we suggest that SNP mediates its antiproliferative effect by the inhibition of PKC activity on human prostatic SMCs; furthermore, its antiproliferative effect occurs at the early G1 phase of the cell cycle.

A quantitative description of chemical bonds in bis(diiminosuccinonitrilo)nickel, Ni(disn)2, is made in terms of topological properties of electron densities. These properties are obtained both from an X-ray diffraction experiment and from molecular orbital calculations. The asphericity in electron density around the Ni ion is surely observable from the Laplacian of the electron density with density accumulation in the dπ direction but density depletion along the dσ (Ni−N) direction. On the basis of the topological properties at bond critical points, the bonding between Ni and the imino nitrogen atom is classified as mainly a closed-shell interaction but with some covalent character. The bonds within the ligand, disn, are all shared interactions, and the bond order is reflected clearly from the density at the critical point, ρ(rc). The π-delocalization of the molecule is precisely indicated by the bond ellipticity and is illustrated by Fermi-hole distribution. Atom domains in the molecule are demonstrated. Molecular electrostatic potential is derived both from experiment and from MO calculations. For all the properties, the agreement between experiment and theory is reasonable.

We have cloned a protein from bovine brain, brain-derived voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (BR1-VDAC), that is identical to a recently sequenced plasmalemmal-bound porin from human lymphocytes. mRNA hybridization indicates that BR1-VDAC is widely distributed throughout nervous and nonnervous tissues. In situ localization substantiated that the BR1-VDAC is associated with the plasmalemma of astrocytes. A monoclonal antibody that recognizes the N terminus of the BR1-VDAC protein completely blocks an astrocytic high-conductance anion channel that has electrophysiological similarities with the mitochondrial VDAC. Since the high-conductance anion channel in astrocytes has been shown to respond to hypoosmotic solutions, its molecular identification provides the basis for a better understanding of volume regulation in brain tissue.