The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is an important modulator of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) growth and function. Several lines of evidence suggest that the SNS also promotes VSM differentiation. The present study tests this hypothesis. Expression of smooth muscle myosin (SM2) and alpha-actin were assessed by Western analysis as indexes of VSM differentiation. SM2 expression (normalized to al...

In this paper, a hybrid methodology with a vector space model (VSM) and process-oriented attributes for document management is proposed. The VSM is fine-tuned for classifying documents generated during R&D processes. The document correlation values are computed with the VSM for efficient retrieval. Only documents with high correlation values are presented to meet the specific retrieval purpose,...

The vector space model (VSM) of information retrieval suffers in two areas, it does not utilise term positions and it treats every term as being independent. We examine two information retrieval methods based on the simple vector space model. The first uses the query term position flow within the documents to calculate the document score, the second includes related terms in the query by making...

This is essentially an archival document that summarizes the results of several tests performed at the Draper Laboratory on extended-range straightness monitor systems during the GEM Muon Alignment R&D activity. Two systems are discussed; standard 3-point LED/Lens/Quad-cell Straight Line Monitors (SLM) with multi-LED blocks, and the Video Straightness Monitor (VSM). Included are measurements of...

Caveolae are becoming increasingly recognized as an important organizational structure for a variety of signal and energy-transducing systems in vascular smooth muscle (VSM). In this review, we discuss the emerging role of the caveolins in organizing and modulating the basic functions of smooth muscle: contraction, growth/proliferation, and the energetic support systems that support these funct...

Virtual system methodology (VSM) tries to extend system inquiring processes beyond the scope of soft systems methodology, and thus make it applicable to the whirling dynamics of social complexity. At the core of VSM is the process of virtual semiosis, the use of various signs and sign structures while making sense of the emergent behavior of a complex dynamic system as a whole. VSM applies virt...

Silicon samples sputtered with multiple magnetic layers can be characterized by using x-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) techniques. XRD identifies the crystallographic structures and chemical composition of the unknown layers. VSM measures the change in magnetic moment versus applied field, thus giving the information needed to ...

This paper addresses the issue of motion-based description of video contents within the framework of the future MPEG-7 standard. A family of velocity-based similarity measures (VSM) is defined, involving a generic distance function which can be specified according to the query type. VSM computation complexity, spatio-temporal alignment problems and translational and homogenous motion component ...

Apelin-13 causes vasoconstriction by acting directly on APJ receptors in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells; however, the ionic mechanisms underlying this action at the cellular level remain unclear. Large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BKCa) channels in VSM cells are critical regulators of membrane potential and vascular tone. In the present study, we examined the effect of apelin-13 on BK...

Connexins (Cx) form gap junctions and allow the coordination of cellular behaviour. In vessels, expression of Cx40, Cx37, and Cx43 is well established and specifically Cx40 serves important functions in endothelial cells. In contrast, expression and physiological functions of Cx45 is unclear although its expression has been suggested in vascular smooth muscle (VSM). Therefore, we studied expres...