cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methane hydrates potential as a future energy source

Gas hydrates are crystalline solids that form from mixtures of water and light natural gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, ethane, propane and butane. They are of considerable interest for their potential as an energy resource and for their potential role in global climate change. From an energy resource point of view, the enormous amounts of methane hydrate under the ocean and beneath arctic permafrost represent an estimated 53% of all fossil fuel (coal, oil, natural gas) reserves on earth, about 10,000 gigatons. The difficulty with recovering this source of energy is that the fuel is in solid form and is not amenable to conventional gas and oil recovery techniques.
Ductile-to-brittle transition in a Ti-based bulk metallic glass

The effects of changes in cooling rate on the density, elastic constants and fracture energy have been determined for Ti40Zr25Cu12Ni3Be20 bulk metallic glass. It is shown that changes in cooling rate directly affect the measured density and elastic constants, while the fracture energy, ranging from 148.9 to only 0.2 kJ m −2 , is also shown to correlate with these changes in cooling rate/density/elastic constants. The critical Poisson’s ratio for toughness in this alloy system is 0.35, somewhat higher than that obtained in other metallic glasses, although consistent with recent theoretical predictions. Further correlations with these changes in toughness on the fracture surface appearance are provided.
Flow cytometric analysis of γδ T cells and natural killer cells on HIV-1 infection

Abstract We have previously shown that HIV-1 seropositivity is associated with an increase in the difference between the number of CD3 + lymphocytes and the total number of CD4 + and CD8 + lymphocytes [CD3 − (CD4 + CD8)] among peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). To investigate the cellular basis of this increase, PBL from seronegative (SN) and AIDS-free seropositive (SP) homosexual men and intravenous drug users were analyzed by two-color flow cytometry. Results showed that SP compared to SN manifested the expected elevation in calculated [CD3 − (CD4 + CD8)] cells (87 vs 28 cells/mm 3 ; P + CD4 − CD8 − phenotype (67 vs 56 cells/mm 3 ; P >0.10) or the CD8 dim phenotype (135 vs 142 cells/mm 3 ; P >0.10). However, SP had significantly lower numbers of cells expressing the CD56 + CD3 − phenotype characteristic of natural killer cells (81 vs 170 cells/mm 3 ; P 3 ; P = 0.010). The latter difference was primarily due to higher numbers of cells coexpressing γδ-TCR and low levels of CD8 (27 vs 15 cells/mm 3 ; P = 0.009). These data suggest that HIV-1 seropositivity is associated with low numbers of natural killer cells and high numbers of CD8 + γδ-TCR lymphocytes. Changes in these populations may reflect altered host defense against HIV-1 or altered T cell kinetics in the presence of HIV-1 infection.
A mbassador of Israel: Peace for Peace

[Israeli Ambassador to the United States Zalman Shoval spoke in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 20, 1992. The ambassador's presentation was a session in the Wisconsin International Trade Conference at the Pfister Hotel.]
Effects of bisphosphonates in children with osteogenesis imperfecta: an AACPDM systematic review

This systematic review of the effects of bisphosphonate treatment in children with osteogenesis imperfecta was conducted using the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine methodology for developing systematic reviews of treatment interventions (Revision 1.1) 2004. Despite a large body of published literature, there have been only eight studies with a sufficiently high level of internal validity to be truly informative. These studies confirm improvement in bone density. Many, but not all studies, demonstrate reduction in fracture rate and enhanced growth. There has been extremely limited evaluation of broader treatment impacts such as deformity, need for orthopedic surgery, pain, functioning, or quality of life. Short-term side effects were minimal. Which medication and dosing regimen is optimal and how long patients should be treated are unclear. This body of evidence would be strengthened by a larger controlled trial, because many studies lacked adequate power to evaluate stated outcomes. These studies do not address the impacts of bisphosphonates in children with milder forms of osteogenesis imperfecta and severe forms that are not due to mutations in the type I pro-collagen gene (e.g. types VII and VIII). Additional research is needed into treatment of infants. More studies evaluating medication choices, optimal dosing, duration of treatment, post-treatment impacts, and long-term side effects are necessary.
Contrast Is the New Penicillin, and Possibly Worse

Surprising to many clinicians, less than 20% of purported penicillin allergies are validated in those undergoing skin testing [1]. Reporting a false penicillin allergy is not benign. Patients are deprived of a class of drugs that are effective, available, and potentially lifesaving. In addition, they open themselves to complications from alternative antibiotics that are potentially less effective, have more side effects, and are more expensive. Unnecessary use of newer-generation antibiotics hastens the inevitable emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, with potentially grave long-term public health consequences. Fortunately, in less than 30 minutes, patients with suspected penicillin allergies may undergo skin testing to confirm or disprove an immunoglobulin-E (IgE)emediated allergy with a high level of confidence [2]. As with penicillin, allergic or allergiclike reactions to iodinated intravascular contrast media are well documented and can range from minor cutaneous eruptions to fatal anaphylaxis. The mechanism of reaction remains controversial, with some reactions demonstrating an IgE or T-cell dependence and others not [3]. A gradual adoption of nonionic contrast material has taken place, owing to market forces, patent expiration, and most importantly, an improved safety profile. Use of nonionic iodinated contrast (either low-osmolar or isoosmolar) is the current standard of care [4,5]. Still, among identified culprit drugs, contrast remains second to only antibiotics as a cause of medicationinduced fatal anaphylaxis in the United States [6]. Interestingly, despite the perceived safety of gadolinium-based
EPITAXIAL ELECTRODEPOSITION OF LEAD SULFIDE ON (100)-ORIENTED SINGLE-CRYSTAL GOLD

Small lattice mismatches and gas-phase deposition are typically used for growing epitaxial films on single-crystal substrates. A 1-µm thick film of PbS can be epitaxially electrodeposited onto a Au (100) single crystal. The large lattice mismatch (45.5 %) between Au and PbS is accommodated by the formation of a coincidence lattice, in which the epitaxial film is rotated by 45 degrees relative to the substrate. The coincidence lattice reduces the mismatch to +2.9 %.
From speeches to actions: EU involvement in the war in Afghanistan through the EUPOL Afghanistan Mission

Abstract Since the 9 of the 11 events, the US and the European Union (EU) have been involved in Afghanistan in order to fight the Taliban and reinstitute Afghan authority and legitimacy domestically and internationally. This article looks at the case study of the EU Police mission in Afghanistan – EUPOL-A – launched in 2007. The Police Reform implemented by EUPOL, modeled on previous police missions, is based on the Security Sector Reform (SSR), which focuses on improving the rule of law by strengthening two sectors: police and judiciary. Afghanistan is a unique case study as it is the first Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) mission launched in time of war and illustrates divergent strategic opinions within the Euro-Atlantic community. This article suggests that the outcomes in Afghanistan have considerable implications on the future of the CSDP in civilian missions and the credibility of the EU as a civilian power.
Information Format and Cognitive Style The Impact of Paired Styles on Performance and Preference

The format of information can provide a powerful communication tool; however, a confluence of mismatched formats can be problematic. Particularly in the area of home energy audits, service providers rely on static reports that outline potential savings and recommendations to customers. These reports are created using a variety of information formats. In a broader sense, incorporating an understanding of the user, at a cognitive level, can reduce the cognitive effort required to comprehend the information presented. This research explores the potential for enhancing these static reports for usability and comprehension. In the paper, a summary of reviews on cognitive theory, comprehension, and style is presented. The hypothesis that matched information format and individual cognitive style will result in more accurate recall and a higher usability rating is tested through a comprehension and usability experiment. Results indicate promising associations not only between format and cognitive style, but also w...
“Keep it secret, keep it safe”: Information poverty, information norms, and stigma

When information practices are understood to be shaped by social context, privilege and marginalization alternately affect not only access to, but also use of information resources. In the context of information, privilege, and community, politics of marginalization drive stigmatized groups to develop collective norms for locating, sharing, and hiding information. In this paper, we investigate the information practices of a subcultural community whose activities are both stigmatized and of uncertain legal status: the extreme body modification community. We use the construct of information poverty to analyze the experiences of 18 people who had obtained, were interested in obtaining, or had performed extreme body modification procedures. With a holistic understanding of how members of this community use information, we complicate information poverty by working through concepts of stigma and community norms. Our research contributes to human information behavior scholarship on marginalized groups and to Internet studies research on how communities negotiate collective norms of information sharing online.
Mitochondrial dysfunction in retinal diseases.

The mitochondrion is a vital intracellular organelle for retinal cell function and survival. There is growing confirmation to support an association between mitochondrial dysfunction and a number of retinal degenerations. Investigations have also unveiled mitochondrial genomic instability as one of the contributing factors for age-related retinal pathophysiology. This review highlights the role of mitochondrial dysfunction originating from oxidative stress in the etiology of retinal diseases including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Moreover, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage associated with AMD due to susceptibility of mtDNA to oxidative damage and failure of mtDNA repair pathways is also highlighted in this review. The susceptibility of neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) mitochondria to oxidative damage with ageing appears to be a major factor in retinal degeneration. It thus appears that the mitochondrion is a weak link in the antioxidant defens...
Pontos de vista sobre a floresta amazônica: xamanismo e tradução

O que e o trabalho xamânico na Amazonia de hoje? Como se pode entender, de forma mais geral, o florescimento do xamanismo e a extensao de sua clientela em situacoes de dominacao colonial, desde pelo menos o seculo XVI? Que hierarquia de poderes e competencias xamânicas e que formas especificas correspondem aos diferentes sistemas politicos e aos diversos nexos entre o local e o global? Por dever de oficio, cabe ao xama o trabalho de traducao. Sugere-se que traducao deva ser entendida aqui em um sentido forte, benjaminiano, de procura de ressonâncias e reverberacoes entre sistemas e codigos diversos, e de totalizacao de pontos de vista parciais.
Attitudes towards drug and alcohol addiction: patients and staff.

Summary This study was undertaken mainly to examine the attitudes heroin addicts hold towards themselves in their addiction; and to compare the addicts' responses with those of the professional and paraprofessional staff who work with them. We consider that the attitudes of the staff play a significant role in treatment, and that treatment becomes more effective when patients and staff agree closely about the cause and nature of the illness. Conversely, a marked divergence in views could seriously impede treatment. The second aim of this study was to compare the way addicts viewed themselves and their illness and the way they viewed alcoholics and alcoholism. We feel that there are many similarities between these major addictive stales even though in most centers they art treated separately.
An Fc receptor-bearing, third population of human mononuclear cells with cytotoxic and regulatory function.

Abstract In 1973 Froland and Natvig reported that 14.5% of human blood lymphocytes expressed distinctive Fc receptors for IgG (FcR) and that this subset lacked surface receptors believed to be characteristic for T and B cells. They named this subset ‘third population' cells. Although these cells have been extensively studied since that time, whether they are a single unique population or immatureforms of other mononuclear populations is controversial. Their lineage is unknown. They have morphologic featur s that distinguish them from other mononuclear cells, but studies with monoclonal antibodies have revealed that they share surface markers andfunctions with T cells, monocytes and even granulocytes. Subsets of these cells are the effectors of natural and antibody-dependent cell killing, regulators of T-cell proliferation and suppressors of immunoglobulin synthesis. Here, David Horwitz and Antony Bakke discuss the present understanding of these cells, which they call ‘L cells' because of the characteristic temperature-labile attachment of IgG molecules to their Fc receptors.
Measurements of Heat Transfer Coefficients to Cylinders in Shallow Bubble Columns

High heat transfer coefficients and large interfacial areas make bubble columns ideal for dehumidification. However, the effect of geometry on the heat transfer coefficients outside cooling coils in shallow bubble columns, such as those used in multi-stage bubble column dehumidifiers, is poorly understood. The generallyoverlooked entry and coalescing regions become important in shallow bubble columns, and there is disagreement on the effects of the coil and column diameters. In this paper, a method is presented for measuring the heat transfer coefficient between coil and liquid in a shallow bubble column. Horizontal cylindrical probes are used to measure the heat transfer coefficient over a range of gas velocities. The liquid depth and the diameter, height, and horizontal position of the cylinder are also varied. Existing correlations for tall columns tend to underpredict the heat transfer coefficient and do not account for all effects of geometry. The highest heat transfer coefficients (above 8000 W/m2-K) are recorded on cylinders placed 4 cm high. No significant effect of cylinder diameter is observed. Based on the results, recommendations are made regarding bubble column dehumidifier design.
The US National Nanotechnology Initiative after 3 years (2001–2003)

Research and education results after the first 3 years of National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) investment are outlined. The history of NNI and several potential outcomes by 2015 are discussed. The views expressed here are based on the interview given for the website www.nano.gov on November 2003.
Dynamic topography as measured by the Geosat altimeter in regions of small surface height signatures

Signatures of strong topographic features on the order of one meter, such as those in the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio current systems have been detected by the Geosat altimeter. However, there are many fronts and eddies that do not have surface signatures as large as these two systems. In this paper we examine an area, namely the Iceland-Faroe region, where surf-ace heights are from 1/10 to 1/3 of those found in the Gulf Stream region, Signals which indicate the presence of the front are detected and an attempt is made to interpret these signatures.
Developmental Expression of the Angiotensinogen Gene in Rat Embryos

Angiotensin II is a potent octapeptide vasoconstrictor and regulator of cardiovascular and electrolyte homeostasis. Angiotensinogen, the protein precursor of angiotensin II, is synthesized by the liver and many other organs of the adult rat. To determine whether angiotensin may be present in early fetal development we analyzed rat embryonic tissues (chorionic membranes, head, and body) for the expression of the angiotensinogen gene during days 11-21 of embryogenesis. Angiotensinogen mRNA was detected at low levels in embryo bodies and yolk sac placenta from day 11 of gestation. An initial rise in this level was noted on day 13, reaching a plateau from day 17 of gestation to birth. Angiotensinogen mRNA levels of the embryonic head were about 10-fold less than those of the body on days 17-19 and increased to levels similar to those of the body on days 20- 21. Angiotensinogen mRNA levels of the yolk sac placenta were about 20-fold higher than those in the embryonic body, but no angiotensinogen mRNA was detec...
Resource Allocation in a Client/Server System for Massive Multi-Player Online Games

The creation of a Massive Multi-Player On-line Game (MMOG) has significant costs, such as maintenance of server rooms, server administration, and customer service. The capacity of servers in a client/server MMOG is hard to scale and cannot adjust quickly to peaks in demand while maintaining the required response time. To handle these peaks in demand, we propose to employ users’ computers as secondary servers. The introduction of users’ computers as secondary servers allows the performance of the MMOG to support an increase in users. Here, we consider two cases: first, for the minimization of the response times from the server, we develop and implement five static heuristics to implement a secondary server scheme that reduces the time taken to compute the state of the MMOG. Second, for our study on fairness, the goal of the heuristics is to provide a “fair” environment for all the users (in terms of similar response times), and to be “robust” against the uncertainty of the number of new players that may join a given system configuration. The number of heterogeneous secondary servers, conversion of a player to a secondary server, and assignment of players to secondary servers are determined by the heuristics implemented in this study.
Finding family for prospective consent in emergency research

Background Innovative approaches are needed to allow for research in the emergency setting while not compromising either the rights or the interests of the subjects enrolled in such research. The emergency consent exception was developed to meet this need.Purpose The goal was to describe the timing of initial contact with relatives and the timing of obtaining informed consent for a research study in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.Methods The study was designed as a prospective, observational study of 129 patients enrolled in an emergency study of traumatic brain injury conducted under the emergency consent exception. Detailed descriptive information was collected both about the availability of relatives of patients enrolled in a study of traumatic brain injury to give prospective consent within the time period required for entering the study and about the extent to which they did give prospective consent during that time period.Results The number of patients with relatives who could be contac...
Can origin of fungal colonies on dilution and soil plates be determined using nonanoic acid

The effect of nonanoic acid (NA) on germination of Trichoderma conidia and on growth from agar disk inocula and hyphal fragments of Trichoderma and Rhizoctonia was investigated. Agar inocula of both species were least sensitive to NA. Hyphal fragments of Rhizoctonia and conidia of Trichoderma were most sensitive, and both failed to initiate new growth in the presence of 2.5 mM-NA. Growth from hyphal fragments of Trichoderma was slightly inhibited at 2.5 mM-NA and completely inhibited at 5.0 mM. Based upon these data, it appears unlikely that a single concentration of NA could be incorporated into a medium to selectively isolate a wide range of fungi from soil that were present as active mycelia rather than as dormant spores.
Extending relational database systems to automatically enforce privacy policies

Databases are at the core of successful businesses. Due to the voluminous stores of personal data being held by companies today, preserving privacy has become a crucial requirement for operating a business. This paper proposes how current relational database management systems can be transformed into their privacy-preserving equivalents. Specifically, we present language constructs and implementation design for fine-grained access control to achieve this goal.
Thymic selection events mediated by the pre-TCR do not depend upon a limiting ligand

Thymocyte differentiation requires the production of a functional TCR, the culmination of a carefully orchestrated series of events in which TCR beta chain gene rearrangement precedes that of TCR alpha genes. The product of a successful rearrangement of the TCR beta locus associates with an invariant protein in immature thymocytes to form the 'pre-TCR' complex, which is required for allelic exclusion at the TCR beta locus, the expression of CD4 and CD8 co-receptors, and the clonal expansion of immature thymocytes. The pivotal role for the beta chain protein during early thymocyte development led us to investigate the relative differentiation efficiency within the same thymus of cells which do and cells which do not possess productive TCR gene rearrangements. Using mixed radiation bone marrow chimeras to establish an in vivo competition between TCR beta transgenic (Tg) and non-Tg bone marrow cells, we show that the prior productive rearrangement of a TCR beta chain gene only subtly enhances the efficiency of intrathymic differentiation. Further, we have compared the relative differentiation efficiency of TCR alpha beta and TCR beta Tg cells within the mixed chimera system by altering the proportion of TCR Tg bone marrow cells in the reconstituting inoculum. As expected, Tg cells carrying both alpha and beta chains of a selectable TCR are developmentally hindered compared with their non-Tg counterparts by the lack of ample numbers of intrathymic positively selecting ligands or niches. In contrast, parallel experiments using TCR beta Tg bone marrow cells demonstrate that the early selection events mediated by the pre-TCR do not similarly depend upon a ligand present in limiting quantities.
A scalable metric learning-based voting method for expression recognition

In this paper, we propose a facial expression classification method using metric learning-based k-nearest neighbor voting. To achieve accurate classification of a facial expression from frontal face image, we first learn a distance metric structure from training data that characterizes the feature space pattern, then use this metric to retrieve nearest neighbors from training dataset, and finally output the classification decision accordingly. An expression is represented as a fusion of face shape and texture. This representation is based on registering a face image with landmarking shape model and extracting Gabor features from local patches around landmarks. This type of representation achieves robustness and effectiveness by using an ensemble of local patch feature detector at a global shape level. A naive implementation of metric learning-based k-nearest neighbor would incur a time complexity proportional to the size of the training dataset, which precludes this method being used with enormous dataset. To scale to potential larger databases, an approximate yet efficient variant scheme of ML-based kNN voting is further devised based on Locality Sensitive Hashing (LSH). A query example is directly hashed to the bucket of a pre-computed hash table where candidate nearest neighbors can be found and there is no need to search the entire database for nearest neighbors. Experimental results on Cohn-Kanade database and Moving Faces and People database show that both ML-based kNN voting and its LSH approximation outperform the state-of-the-art, demonstrating the superiority and scalability of our method.
The photoplastic effect in II–VI compounds. Mercury cadmium telluride

Experiments demonstrating the photoplastic response in mercury cadmium telluride crystals are presented. These experiments show the presence of a series of time delays prior to the change in stress when (Hg1–xCdx)Te crystals are irradiated with light. The change in stress is observed to be positive or negative. In addition the application of a voltage – constant in magnitude or varying temporally – affects the plastic response of the deforming crystal. All of these results are explained by a model in which charged point defects interact coulombically with charged dislocations. The electrons and or holes introduced by the light diffuse to either point defects or dislocations, leading to changes in the interaction between point defects and dislocations. Experimente werden angegeben, die die photoplastische Response in Quecksilber–Kadmiumtelluridkristallen demonstrieren. Diese Experimente zeigen eine Reihe von Zeitverzogerungen vor der Spannungsanderung, wenn (Hg1–xCdx)Te-Kristalle mit Licht bestrahlt werden. Es werden positive oder negative Spannungsanderungen beobachtet. Zusatzlich beeinflust das Anlegen einer elektrischen Spannung – konstant oder zeitlich veranderlich – die plastische Response des sich deformierenden Kristalls. Alle diese Ergebnisse werden mit einem Modell erklart, in dem geladene Punktdefekte uber Coulombkrafte mit geladenen Versetzungen wechselwirken. Die durch das Licht eingefuhrten Elektronen und Locher diffundieren entweder zu Punktdefekten oder Versetzungen, und fuhren zu Anderungen in der Wechselwirkung zwischen Punktdefekten und Versetzungen.
Determinants of Relapse and the Rule Violation Effect in Predicting Safer Sex Goal Violations1

Knowledge of the determinants of lapses into unsafe sex are important parts of HIV prevention interventions. The present study examines the determinants of lapses into unsafe sex, and the role of attribution in predicting lapses into unsafe sex within an HIV prevention treatment program for homosexual men based on the relapse prevention (RP) model (Marlatt & Gordon, 1985). Self-reported negative emotional states and general urges to engage in sex were perceived to precede violations of safer sex goals. Stable and global attributions for a goal violation related to the probability of a second concurrently assessed violation. Prospective analyses indicated that future unprotected oral and anal sex was predicted by current unprotected oral and anal sex. In addition, more stable and external attributions for previous goal violations added to the prediction of future unprotected anal sex. Results are discussed in relation to the RP model, the role of attributions in safer sex goal violations, and treatments to reduce unsafe sexual behavior.
Cheshire at GeoCLEF 2007: Retesting Text Retrieval Baselines

In this paper we will briefly describe the approaches taken by Berkeley for the main GeoCLEF 2007 tasks (Mono and Bilingual retrieval). The approach this year was to use probabilistic text retrieval based on logistic regression and incorporating blind relevance feedback for all of the runs. Our intent was to establish a baseline result without explicit geographic processing for comparision with future geographic processing approaches. All translation for bilingual tasks was performed using the LEC Power Translator machine translation system.
Reptiles as models of contaminant-induced endocrine disruption

Historically, reptiles have been used as bioindicators of environmental contaminants and, currently, reptiles have the potential to elucidate the mechanisms of a newly described group of environmental contaminants--endocrine disrupters. Reptiles are particularly good models for studying endocrine altering compounds due to the fact that different species of reptiles have varying modes of gender determination (genotypic sex determination or temperature-dependent sex determination) and parity modes (oviparity or viviparity). This review focuses both on laboratory and field studies of contaminant-induced endocrine alterations in reptiles. Laboratory studies of oviparous reptiles with temperature-dependent sex determination reveal that embryonic exposure to natural hormones and many man-made chemicals (including the ubiquitous PCBs and common herbicides) can permanently alter the functioning of the reproductive system. It is hypothesized that similar permanent, organizational changes occur in wild reptiles exposed to endocrine-disrupting contaminants.
A low-power silicon-on-sapphire tunable ultra-wideband transmitter

A low-power tunable transmitter for ultra-wide band (UWB) radio was designed and fabricated. The design is based on a ring oscillator VCO, to produce short pulses. Both the pulse duration and frequency is controllable by two voltage biases. The transmitter can be used in both pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) and pulse-position modulation (PPM). The circuit was fabricated on a 0.5mum silicon-on-sapphire CMOS process, and has been experimentally characterized with a transmitter and receiver module. The UWB transmitter produces monocycle pulses of 800 ps duration. The power consumption is 75muW when the pulse frequency is 3 MHz. The core pulse generator occupies 0.0091mm2 of silicon area.
α2-Adrenergic stimulation is protective against ischemia-reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmias in vivo

We previously reported that α2-adrenergic receptor (α2-AR) stimulation in Purkinje fibers in vitro prolongs action potential duration and suppresses β-adrenergic-induced delayed afterdepolarization...
Decomposing the complexity quotient category

In the modular representation theory of finite groups, much recent effort has gone into describing cohomological properties of the category of finitely generated modules. In recent joint work of the author with Jon Carlson and Jeremy Rickard[ 3 ], it has become clear that for some purposes the finiteness restriction is undesirable. In particular, in the quotient category of kG -modules by the subcategory of modules of less than maximal complexity, it turns out that finitely generated modules can have infinitely generated summands, and that including these summands in the category repairs the lack of Krull–Schmidt property.
On the Difference Between Optimal Combination Functions for Verification and Identification Systems

We have investigated different scenarios of combining pattern matchers. The combination problem can be viewed as a construction of a postprocessing classifier operating on the matching scores of the combined matchers. The optimal combination algorithm for verification systems corresponds to the likelihood ratio combination function. It can be implemented by the direct reconstruction of this function with genuine and impostor score density approximations. However, the optimal combination algorithm for identification systems is difficult to express analytically. We will show that this difficulty is caused by the dependencies between matching scores assigned to different classes by the same classifier. The experiments on the large sets of scores from handwritten word recognizers operating on postal images and biometric matchers (NIST biometric score set BSSR1) confirm the existence of such dependencies and that the optimal combination functions for verification and identification systems are different.
Complex triarylsulfonium salt photoinitiators. II. The preparation of several new complex triarylsulfonium salts and the influence of their structure in photoinitiated cationic polymerization

Complex triarylsulfonium salts bearing the thiophenoxy chromophore have been synthesized. The effects of the position of attachment of the thiophenoxy group on the rate of photolysis and in the photoinitiated cationic polymerization of various monomers have been investigated. Other salts in which the thiophenoxy group has been oxidized to the sulfoxide and the sulfone also were prepared to examine the effects of the oxidation state of the sulfur-bearing chromophore on the efficiencies in photoinitiated cationic polymerization. All complex salts having extended conjugation not impeded through positional isomerization or blocked through oxidation of the thiophenoxy chromophore are more reactive than the corresponding triphenylsulfonium salts in cationic polymerization.
Multiple gene products and sequences required for excision of the mobilizable integrated Bacteroides element NBU1.

NBU1 is an integrated 10.3-kbp Bacteroides element, which can excise and transfer to Bacteroides or Escherichia coli recipients, where it integrates into the recipient genome. NBU1 relies on large, >60-kbp, conjugative transposons for factors that trigger excision and for mobilization of the circular form to recipients. Previously, we showed that a single integrase gene, intN1, was necessary and sufficient for integration of NBU1 into its target site on the Bacteroides or E. coli genome. We now show that an unexpectedly large region of NBU1 is required for excision. This region includes, in addition to intN1, four open reading frames plus a large region downstream of the fourth gene, prmN1. This downstream sequence was designated XRS, for “excision-required sequence.” XRS contains the oriT of the circular form of NBU1 and about two-thirds of the adjacent mobilization gene, mobN1. This is the first time an oriT, which is involved in conjugal transfer of the circular form, has been implicated in excision. Disruption of the gene immediately downstream of intN1, orf2, completely abolished excision. The next open reading frame, orf2x, was too small to be disrupted, so we still do not know whether it plays a role in the excision reaction. Deletions were made in each of two open reading frames downstream of orf2x, orf3 and prmN1. Both of these deletions abolished excision, indicating that these genes are also essential for excision. Attempts to complement various mutations in the excision region led us to realize that a portion of the excision region carrying prmN1 and part of the XRS (XRSHIII) inhibited excision when provided in trans on a multicopy plasmid (8 to 10 copies per cell). However, a fragment carrying prmN1, XRS, and the entire mobilization gene, mobN1, did not have this effect. The smaller fragment may be interfering with excision by attracting proteins made by the intact NBU1 and thus removing them from the excision complex. Our results show clearly that excision is a complex process that involves several proteins and a cis-acting region (XRS) which includes the oriT. We suggest that this complex excision machinery may be necessary to allow NBU1 to coordinate nicking at the ends during excision and nicking at the oriT during conjugal transfer, to prevent premature nicking at the oriT before NBU1 has excised and circularized.
Determination of left ventricular mass by single-photon emission computed tomography with thallium-201

Abstract To test the hypothesis that single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) might permit accurate, noninvasive measurement of LV mass, SPECT measurements of LV mass to LV weight were compared in 20 mongrel dogs. Projection images of the left ventricle were acquired after intravenous injection of thallium-201 (TI-201). Transverse sections were reconstructed using filtered backprojection. Coronal sections were extracted from the reconstructed volume. The boundary of LV uptake of TI-201 in each coronal section was defined automatically using a threshold detector. Scintigraphic LV mass [total number of volume elements (voxels) showing TI-201 uptake × voxel volume × specific gravity of myocardium] was compared to actual LV weight. There was good correlation between scintigraphic LV mass and LV weight. Mean LV weight was 68 ± 20 g (± standard deviation) (range 27 to 94). Mean SPECT LV mass was 66 ± 19 g (range 28 to 100). Linear regression analysis yielded the following relation: SPECT LV mass = 0.87 × LV weight + 6.79 (r = 0.91, root-mean-square deviation from regression = 7.5). SPECT measurements were reproducible, with a coefficient of variation of 0.24%. Thus, SPECT of LV TI-201 distribution can be used to measure LV mass in canine myocardium.
Precision, repeatability and validation of indirect 3D anthropometric measurements with light-based imaging techniques

Currently, two-dimensional photographs are most commonly used to facilitate visualization, assessment and treatment of facial abnormalities in craniofacial care but are subject to errors because of perspective, projection, lack metric and 3-dimensional information. A variety of methods are available to generate 3-dimensional facial images such as laser scans, stereo-photogrammetry, infrared imaging and even CT, however each of these methods contain inherent limitations and as such no systems are in common clinical use. In this paper we will focus on the validation of indirect 3-dimensional landmark location and measurement of facial soft-tissue with light-based techniques. Precision, repeatability and validation of a light-based imaging system will be analyzed in this paper.
Mounting of MEMS pressure sensors on catheter guide wires used in balloon angioplasty

This paper discusses a potential solution by mounting micro sensors on the tip of a 0.0018" catheter guidewire that can measure local fluid properties, such as pressure, pressure gradient, temperature, and species concentration levels. A design for mounting the sensors on the guidewire tip is proposed. The technique involves etching of picket shaped cavities on the silicon chip carrier. The MEMS sensor is then flip-chip bonded on to the silicon carrier. The design is biologically compatible, minimizing the exposure of potentially hazardous materials to the arterial system. Further, electrical and mechanical connections are robust, while the profile remains within the 0.018" outside diameter of the guide-wire. Basic design for manufacturability issues such as, materials constraints, minimization of parts and working surfaces, providing nesting features, and modular design have been addressed while arriving at the final design. The focus of the current paper is on pressure sensors but the design is generic and should be applicable for the other types of sensors also.
Impact-Induced Sediment Deposition on an Offshore, Mud-Substrate Continental Shelf, Cretaceous–Paleogene Boundary, Brazos River, Texas, U.S.A.

Abstract Data from twenty Brazos River stratigraphic sections of the K–Pg event deposit are compiled to provide a record of changing depositional processes on the Texas continental shelf that left a record of disturbance triggered by the Chicxulub impact. Foraminiferal paleobathymetric depth control of enclosing sediments indicates paleo–water depths of 75–125 m with gradual deepening above the K–Pg boundary. Outcrop-scale observations indicate that the most complete deposits have a basal unit of mudstone clast-bearing mass flows indicative of movement by noncohesive laminar flow. These mudflows were mobilized by impact-generated seismic shaking of seafloor sediment. The material of the mass flows consists of reworked shell-rich mud matrix containing outsize clasts of consolidated mudstone and cemented concretions. The upper parts of the K–Pg event deposit consist of units of high-energy upward-fining sandstones, each with a basal lag layer of spherule-rich coarse sandstone lag overlain by poorly or moderately sorted hummocky cross-bedded sandstone. The last deposited sandstone is capped with a silt-mud suspension settling layer that as much as 10 cm thick where cemented with calcite, but is much thinner elsewhere. The provenance of these K–Pg Brazos River event deposit sediments is offshore marine muds (lower units) and shallow-water sands (higher units) with admixed impact spherules and no identifiable land-derived component. Deposition was the result of secondary processes activated by energy from seismic disturbance or by atmospheric disturbance, with no deposits directly attributable to tsunami wave control.
Metabolism of a dicofol impurity α-chloro-DDT, but not dicofol or dechlorodicofol, to DDE in mice and a liver microsomal system

1. The important acaricide dicofol and two related compounds, α-chloro-DDT (an impurity in dicofol) and dechlorodicofol (DCD) (a photolysis product of dicofol), as [phenyl-14C]-labelled preparations, were administered i.p. to male mice (30 mg/kg) and incubated with rat-liver microsomes alone and with NADPH, both aerobically and anaerobically, and with rat-liver cytosol alone and with glutathione.2. α-Chloro-DDT is metabolically dechlorinated to DDE in the following systems: in vivo, based on analyses of mouse brain, fat and liver; in vitro, with anaerobic rat-liver microsomes plus NADPH; and with reduced haematin. Trace amounts of DDT are also detected in vivo in mouse liver.3. Dicofol is reductively dechlorinated to DCD, and both compounds are metabolized to dichlorobenzophenone and dichlorobenzhydrol in vivo in the mouse tissues examined, and also in vitro exclusively with anaerobic rat-liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH. Liver cytosol with glutathione is less effective or inactive.4. The in vivo...
Resistance to Rhopalosiphum padi (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Three Triticale Accessions

Abstract Experiments were conducted to identify and characterize host plant resistance to bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), in various wheat and wheat–grass hybrids. Initial tests screened for resistance to R. padi among 12 grass accessions (eight wheat [Triticum aestivum L.], three triticale [XTriticosecale Wittmack], and 1XElytricum [Elytrigia elongata [Host] Nevski × Triticum aestivum hybrid]). R. padi had less population growth on triticale accessions ‘8TA5L’ (PI 611760) and ‘Stniism 3’ (PI 386156) than on other accessions, but nymphiposition by R. padi did not differ among the 12 accessions. Follow-up experiments were conducted to characterize antibiosis, antixenosis, and tolerance to R. padi in three wheat and three triticale accessions. In antibiosis experiments, Stniism 3 and triticale ‘H7089-52’ (PI 611811) prolonged time to reproduction by R. padi compared with that on wheat accessions ‘Arapahoe’ (PI 518591), ‘KS92WGRC24’ (PI 574479), and ‘MV4’ (PI 435095), whereas time to reproduc...
Fine-needle aspiration of small pulmonary nodules yields material for reliable molecular analysis of adenocarcinomas.

Introduction Early molecular characterization with Kirsten rat sarcoma factor, epidermal growth factor, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase are critical to manage pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of lesions Materials and methods We searched our databank for primary pulmonary adenocarcinomas diagnosed by FNA between January 2009 and April 2013. Size of the lesion aspirated, molecular results, and sample source (FNA versus surgical specimen) were recorded. We compared the frequency of mutations identified by FNA versus surgical specimens and the frequency of mutations in lesions by size ( 2 cm). Results We identified 397 primary pulmonary adenocarcinomas. Molecular studies were requested by the clinician in 89 (22%) of primary adenocarcinomas. FNAs were used in 55 cases; 51 (93%) yielded sufficient material for molecular studies; surgical tissue were used in 34 cases; 33 (97%) yielded sufficient material for molecular studies. The insufficient specimens came from 2 FNAs of 0.6 cm nodules, an FNA of a 2 cm nodule, and a core biopsy. Conclusions FNA was adequate for molecular analysis of small nodules. In nodules greater than 0.6 cm, the adequacy is comparable to surgical tissue. There was no statistically significant change in mutation rate by size (53%-58%). Importantly, FNA of small lesions for cytological diagnosis and molecular analysis is encouraged by our data and experience in order to provide early treatment.
Λ π − Production from K − Interactions in Helium

Results are presented of a bubble-chamber study of the interaction of negative kaons with helium yielding $\ensuremath{\Lambda}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ or ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ in the final state. Both low-momentum kaons and kaons at rest were used. In the at-rest sample, the two-step process ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\Sigma}\ensuremath{\pi}$ followed by $\ensuremath{\Sigma}N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\Lambda}N$ accounts for (18\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2)% of the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ final state. Removing these $\ensuremath{\Sigma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ conversion events, on the basis of the pion kinetic energy, gives spectra that are compared with an impulse model. A good fit to the data is obtained by using a Hulth\'en form factor, a mixture of atomic-orbital-capture states with (71\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}9)% $s$ state and (29\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}9)% $p$ state. For this fit, the $S$-wave $\overline{K}N$ amplitude determined by Kim is used, and the $P$-wave amplitude is assumed to be dominated by the ${Y}^{*}(1385)$ with the coupling to $\overline{K}N$ given by $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ symmetry. The same final state initiated by kaons in flight shows a good agreement with the predictions of the impulse model. No evidence is seen for a recently reported enhancement in the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ system at 1440 MeV. The $\ensuremath{\Lambda}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{pd}$ final state is found to be dominated by the $\ensuremath{\Sigma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ conversion process. Stopping-${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$-reaction branching ratios and cross sections are calculated and compared with impulse-model predictions. No evidence is found for a $\ensuremath{\Lambda}n$ bound state, and an upper limit for its production is 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ per stopping ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$.