cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of PET neurofunctional mapping studies.

Summary: In this work, we present a method for analyzing positron emission tomography (PET) functional mapping experiments. The method is useful for identifying statistically significant differences between two PET data sets. First, uniform-variance Z-images are created and then the statistical uncertainty in region-of-interest values are calculated using a previously published method. The Z-images are calculated from the emission sinograms only—the calculation does not use scanner normalization and attenuation corrections and hence variance from these sources is eliminated, with no decrease in validity. Next, the Z-images are analyzed for activation sites using two separate techniques: a cluster analysis method and a change distribution analysis method. Both of these techniques are shown to be effective for objectively locating significantly activated regions from the Z-images. Two advantages of these methods are that they are objective and efficient; all of the parameters necessary in the calculations can be precomputed and stored since they depend only upon the geometry of the scanner.
Field Guides for Insects

Insects have been on the earth for 350 million years, 348 million years longer than man. With one to two million species, insects account for over three‐fourths of the animal species on earth. They are found in practically every terrestrial habitat.
Energy harvesting receivers: Optimal sampling and decoding policies

When receivers rely on stochastic energy harvesting, the processes of sampling and decoding may be interrupted by power outages. This will affect the reliable communication rate. To model the receiver, we decompose the processing tasks in two parts: first is sampling or Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC) which includes all RF front-end processing, and second is decoding. In this work, we consider a source that transmits codewords from a fixed rate codebook through a memoryless channel. Based on the relative energy costs of sampling and decoding, we determine the policy that maximizes the receiver's message decoding rate when there is excess energy in the average harvesting rate but the receiver's battery capacity constrains the packet decoding rate.
The effect of input beat frequencies on injection-locked oscillators

The effect of spurious leakage signals on injection-locked oscillators is discussed. The instantaneous frequency and instantaneous phase shift are derived to show when such signals have negligible effect.
Electroencephalogram discharges in atypical cognitive development.

In order to investigate the significance of electroencephalogram discharges and their treatment we retrospectively reviewed the charts of 22 children with atypical cognitive development that did not respond to standard educational therapy and demonstrated discharges on electroencephalogram. Most children demonstrated no obvious symptoms of seizures and developmental regression and/or fluctuations were uncommon. The majority of children demonstrated a language and attention disorder and autism symptomatology and had multifocal discharges on electroencephalograms. Of the 20 patients treated with antiepileptic medications, 70% demonstrated definite improvement within one clinic visit. This study suggests that children with electroencephalogram discharges and developmental cognitive disorders demonstrate a unique pattern of symptomatology and discharges on electroencephalography. This study suggests that children with developmental cognitive disorders that do not respond to standard therapy may benefit from screening with an electroencephalogram and a trial of antiepileptic mediation if discharges are detected.
Anisotropy of electrical conductivity in dry olivine

[1] The electrical conductivity ({sigma}) was measured for a single crystal of San Carlos olivine (Fo{sub 89.1}) for all three principal orientations over oxygen fugacities 10{sup -7} < fO{sub 2} < 10{sup 1} Pa at 1100, 1200, and 1300 C. Fe-doped Pt electrodes were used in conjunction with a conservative range of fO{sub 2}, T, and time to reduce Fe loss resulting in data that is {approx}0.15 log units higher in conductivity than previous studies. At 1200 C and fO{sub 2} = 10{sup -1} Pa, {sigma}{sub [100]} = 10{sup -2.27} S/m, {sigma}{sub [010]} = 10{sup -2.49} S/m, {sigma}{sub [001]} = 10{sup -2.40} S/m. The dependences of {sigma} on T and fO{sub 2} have been simultaneously modeled with undifferentiated mixed conduction of small polarons and Mg vacancies to obtain steady-state fO{sub 2}-independent activation energies: Ea{sub [100]} = 0.32 eV, Ea{sub [010]} = 0.56 eV, Ea{sub [001]} = 0.71 eV. A single crystal of dry olivine would provide a maximum of {approx}10{sup 0.4} S/m azimuthal {sigma} contrast for T < 1500 C. The anisotropic results are combined to create an isotropic model with Ea = 0.53 eV.
Visualizing abnormal climate changes in Central America from 1995 to 2000

This article describes statistical approaches that led to our main results regarding the abnormal climate changes of Central America from 1995 to 2000. These results are depicted in the poster (http://stat-computing.org/dataexpo/2006/entries.html) submitted at the contest of 2006 ASA Data Exposition.
Anti-CD30 Antibodies for Hodgkin Lymphoma

Treatment of refractory or relapsed classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) remains challenging, but targeted immunotherapy has recently emerged as a potential treatment option for these patients. Although first-generation monoclonal anti-CD30 antibodies proved disappointing, current efforts to modify anti-CD30 antibodies to improve binding of effector cells and enhance activity appears more promising, as does the development of novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). ADCs offer the potential to deliver potent therapies with minimal toxicity. One highly active ADC, brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35), combines an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody and the antitubulin agent monomethyl auristatin E. Initial phase 1 studies of brentuximab vedotin showed a 52% overall response rate in relapsed HL, with minimal toxicity. This article highlights the development of anti-CD30 antibodies and ADCs for relapsed or refractory classical HL.
Chronic idiopathic pericardial effusion: with special reference to the development of constrictive pericarditis

Chronic idiopathic pericardial effusion is an unusual condition that causes severe congestive heart failure and may be an early stage in the development of constrictive pericarditis. A case is reported and some other cases from the literature are reviewed in order to present the clinical features and treatment of this condition.
Nicotine Dependence and Psychiatric and Substance Use Comorbidities in a Sample of American Indian Male Veterans

Abstract Background American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest rates of nicotine dependence in the U.S. However, studies analyzing associations between nicotine dependence and psychiatric and substance use disorders in these groups have been limited. Methods This study analyzes the co-occurrence of current and lifetime DSM-III-R nicotine dependence with psychiatric and substance use disorders in a community sample of 480 American Indian male veterans. Results Lifetime nicotine dependence (23.3%) was associated with all lifetime disorders studied, including alcohol use and drug use disorders, affective and anxiety disorders, PTSD, pathological gambling and antisocial personality disorder. Current nicotine dependence was present in 19% of the sample and significantly associated with current affective and gambling disorder. Conclusions Substantial co-morbidity exists between nicotine dependence and other substance abuse and psychiatric disorders among this sample of American Indian male veterans, particularly for lifetime diagnoses. Screening for all psychiatric disorders among American Indian/Alaska Native smokers may be warranted. Although these results are similar to those observed among the general U.S. population, unique risk factors exist among American Indians/Alaska Natives which may require further attention. Specific public health and clinical interventions to reduce the rate of nicotine dependence among American Indians/Alaska Natives are recommended.
Agreement between clinical examination and quantitative tests of neurologic function among 384 subjects.

Background Quantitative neurological tests are often cheaper and easier than clinical examinations, and provide continuous data which may discriminate between exposed and nonexposed groups with more sensitivity than dichotomous (normal/abnormal) examination data. Methods We compare clinical examinations and analogous quantitative tests for arm tremor, postural sway, and vibrotactile sensitivity (finger and toe), for 384 subjects. Results The “abnormal” clinical outcomes studied were relatively common (range, 3–36%), and did not result in impairment of daily activity for affected subjects. All the quantitative tests were reasonably good predictors of the corresponding clinical outcome. The most predictive test was for toe vibrotactile sensitivity. The probability of an abnormal clinical result for those in the worst quartile for the toe test was 0.63, compared with 0.36 for all subjects. Conclusions Our results suggest that certain quantitative tests might be used in epidemiologic studies instead of a physical examination. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:361–368, 2001. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Metatheory of storage capacity limits

Commentators expressed a wide variety of views on whether there is a basic capacity limit of 3 to 5 chunks and, among those who believe in it, about why it occurs. In this response, I conclude that the capacity limit is real and that the concept is strengthened by additional evidence offered by a number of commentators. I consider various arguments why the limit occurs and try to organize these arguments into a conceptual framework or “metatheory” of storage capacity limits meant to be useful in future research to settle the issue. I suggest that principles of memory representation determine what parts of the representation will be most prominent but that limits of attention (or of a memory store that includes only items that have been most recently attended) determine the 3- to 5-chunk capacity limit.
Can we improve the clinical assessment of working memory? An evaluation of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Third Edition using a working memory criterion construct

Working memory is the cognitive ability to hold a discrete amount of information in mind in an accessible state for utilization in mental tasks. This cognitive ability is impaired in many clinical populations typically assessed by clinical neuropsychologists. Recently, there have been a number of theoretical shifts in the way that working memory is conceptualized and assessed in the experimental literature. This study sought to determine to what extent the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III) Working Memory Index (WMI) measures the construct studied in the cognitive working memory literature, whether an improved WMI could be derived from the subtests that comprise the WAIS-III, and what percentage of variance in individual WAIS-III subtests is explained by working memory. It was hypothesized that subtests beyond those currently used to form the WAIS-III WMI would be able to account for a greater percentage of variance in a working memory criterion construct than the current WMI. Multiple regression analyses (n = 180) revealed that the best predictor model of subtests for assessing working memory was composed of the Digit Span, Letter-Number Sequencing, Matrix Reasoning, and Vocabulary. The Arithmetic subtest was not a significant contributor to the model. These results are discussed in the context of how they relate to Unsworth and Engle's (2006, 2007) new conceptualization of working memory mechanisms.
3-(4-Bromo-phen-yl)-1-butyl-5-[1-(2-chloro-6-methyl-phen-yl)-1H-tetra-zol-5-yl]imidazolidine-2,4-dione.

In the title mol­ecule, C21H20BrClN6O2, the chloro-substituted benzene ring forms a dihedral angle of 77.84 (7)° with the tetra­zole ring and the bromo-substituted ring forms a dihedral angle of 43.95 (6)° with the imidazole ring. The dihedral angle between the tetra­zole and imidazole rings is 67.42 (8)°. The terminal methyl group of the butyl substituent is disordered over two sets of sites, with refined occupancies 0.67 (3) and 0.33 (3). In the crystal, there is a short Br⋯N contact of 3.183 (2) A.
SU-FF-T-168: The Evaluation of Several Commercial IMRT Treatment Planning Systems Heterogeneity Dose Calculation Algorithms Using An Anthropomorphic Thorax Phantom

Purpose: To measure the accuracy of heterogeneity dose calculation algorithms from several commercial IMRTtreatment planning systems using an anthropomorphic thorax phantom. Method and Materials: Four planning trials were designed to characterize heterogeneity dose calculation algorithms. The four trials were 1) evaluation of ADAC Pinnacle's conventional 3D algorithm as a baseline, 2) evaluation of Pinnacle IMRT, 3) evaluation of Corvus IMRT and 4) evaluation of a hybrid plan consisting of the Pinnacle dose calculation optimized by Corvus. The accuracy of the algorithms was determined by delivering the clinically relevant treatment plans to the Radiological Physics Center's anthropomorphic thorax phantom. The phantom contained radiochromic film in the three major planes and TLDs in the center of the tumor target. The film data were normalized to the TLD readings. Point doses and planar dose distributions were extracted from the treatment planning system and compared to TLD and film measurements. Dose profiles and planar dose distributions were compared point by point using criteria of ±5% and 3mm distance to agreement. Results: Preliminary results for Pinnacle reveal TLD‐to‐calculation dose ratios of 0.994 and 0.990 for 3D and IMRT, respectively. Points on dose profiles through the target and adjacent lung met the agreement criteria 96% and 84% of the time for the respective treatment techniques. The 3D TPS planar dose distribution agreed with measurements to within the criteria at 74% of the points, while the IMRT TPS agreed at 73% of the points. Conclusion: The Pinnacle conventional and IMRT heterogeneous dose calculation algorithms agree well with measured data in an anthropomorphic thorax phantom.
VOIP in a university call center

Can VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) actually work in a university call center? There are a number of issues surrounding implementing VOIP. This session will discuss the type of equipment needed, both software and hardware. Detailed information about how a university went digital.We will start with what switches, servers, personnel, and maintenance were required. Then move on to the installation. There is a physical infrastructure that has to exist for VOIP, including integrating analog phone systems, network, and workstations.We will devote some time to the call center workstation, their requirements and specifications. The computers running the softphone utility have to be robust, fast and clean.No VOIP discussion would be complete without a report on the softphone utility. The University of Wyoming chose Frontrange Solutions Contact Center. We will go over its usage, answering calls, transfers, voice mail, feedback to the client and specialist, and what reporting statistics are available. There are a number of advantages over a standard analog system, including having a virtual helpdesk with the ability to remotely bring extra specialists into the call center and provide second-level support.We will discuss potential pitfalls such as network lag and disruptions, computer crashes, and windows OS problems.The University of Wyoming has tested multiple lines of headsets. Since these headsets must be USB in order to interact with the softphone, there are limitations. Should you choose wired or wireless headsets?Our discussion will conclude with a feasibility discussion on VOIP and prices involved with implementation.
[Comment on “IGBP: Crown jewel or prodigal son?” by Juan Roederer] IGBP and ICSU

Juan Roederer's article about IGBP (International Geosphere-Biosphere Program) and ICSU (International Council of Scientific Unions) in Eos, (“IGBP: Crown Jewel or Prodigal Son?” December 12, 1989, p. 1552) has interesting implications for the organization of international scientific cooperation within the framework of ICSU. In ICSU, power is divided between the International Scientific Union members and National Members (representing national academies and research councils). Even though the research sponsored by ICSU is done at national expense, and the operating expenses of ICSU come directly or indirectly from national sources, the Unions tend to hold the balance of power.
Cr(V)–Cr(V) dimers in Ae4[Cr2N6] (Ae = Ca and Sr)

Single crystals of the isostructural compounds Ae4[Cr2N6] (Ae = Ca and Sr) were synthesised from the elements in a mixed sodium–gallium melt at 900 °C. The reactions were performed in sealed niobium tubes with NaN3 as the nitrogen source. The compounds crystallise in the triclinic space group P (No. 2) with similar lattice parameters. The structure contains [Cr2N6]8−, isolated anionic units of edge-sharing tetrahedra that permit chromium–chromium bonding.
The surface chemistry of ethyl iodide on hydrogen-covered Ni(100) surfaces

Abstract The reactivity of ethyl iodides on hydrogen predosed Ni ( 100) surfaces has been studied by using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) spectroscopy. The data show that hydrogen coadsorption inhibits the decomposition of ethyl groups at all coverages. Also, at ethyl iodide coverages below saturation, the yields of both ethylene and ethane (the products of β-hydride and reductive elimination reactions respectively) increase equally with hydrogen coadsorption, but near saturation the desorption of ethane increases at the expense of ethylene production. A small amount of ethane is also produced via the hydrogenation of chemisorbed ethylene. This latter reaction occurs at higher temperature, which means that its activation energy is higher than that for the direct hydrogenation of the ethyl species. No coupling or H-D exchange reactions were observed in our experiments.
Is there a role for interferon in the treatment of small cell lung cancer

Introduction The term interferon (IFN) was first coined by Isaacs and Lindemann in 1957 to signify a substance elaborated by virally all infected cells that functions to inhibit viral replication [ 11. In the 1970s. Cantell and the Finnish Blood Bank isolated sufficient quantities of crude alpha lFN (IFN-a) from buffy coat layers to allow testing in clinical trials. In the early 198Os, with use of recombinant DNA technology, the interferon genes were isolated and cloned and the first large scale clinical trials with purified recombinant IFN-a (r-II+a however, this difference is of unkuown clinical significance. There are 3 broad groups of interferons; alpha(a), beta@), and gamma(y) [231. IFN-a was originally derived from leukocytes, while IFN-p was of fibroblast origin. However, subsequent evidence has shown that both are synthesized by most cells. IFN-y, by comparison, is a lymphokine secreted by T-cells. There are marked similarities between IlW-a and IFN-p. Their genes cluster on chromosome 9 and they share a cell surface receptor encoded on chromosome 21. In contrast, IFN-y has a molecular weight of 17,000 with 146 amino acids of which only 18 are homologous with EN-a. The gamma gene is on chromosome 12 and the receptor is located on chromosome 6 and is different from that of the a and /3 receptors. It is these differences that are believed to account for the differences in the degree of antiviral, immunomodulatory and antiproliferative effects of the various IFNs.
PET studies of cocaine inhibition of myocardial norepinephrine uptake.

Positron emission tomography (PET), [11C]cocaine, and (–)-6-[18F]fluoronorepinephrine [(-)-6-[18F]NE] were used to determine the extent to which the binding of labeled cocaine in the baboon heart represents binding to the norepinephrine transporter and to characterize the functional consequences of cocaine administration on the norepinephrine transporter. Peak heart binding of [11C] cocaine was high (0.038-0.055%/g) and clearance was rapid (t1/2 from peak: 2.5–9 min) for both tracer doses and a pharmacological dose. The binding of a tracer dose of labeled cocaine could not be inhibited by desipramine, tomoxetine, cocaine, nomifensine, or benztropine. The behavior of a pharmacological dose of [11C]cocaine could not be distinguished from a tracer dose and also could not be inhibited by tomoxetine. However, pretreatment with cocaine profoundly inhibited norepinephrine uptake as assessed by (–)-6-[18F]NE. Recovery was slow with only 48% of the baseline (–)-6-[18F]NE uptake being recovered by 78 minutes after cocaine administration. [11C]Benzoylecgonine, a vasoactive metabolite of cocaine, showed negligible retention in heart. The results of this study (i.e., the rapid clearance of cocaine from the heart, the inability to inhibit cocaine binding with desipramine and tomoxetine, and its relatively long-lasting effects on norepinephrine uptake) reinforce the need to understand the link between cocaine pharmacokinetics and norepinephrine transporter function and its relationship to cardiotoxicity. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Film Calibration for Rocket Ultraviolet Spectrographs

Photographic exposure and density characteristics of SWR film (Eastman Kodak) and SC-5 film (Kodak Pathe) were investigated at several wavelengths for the spectral range 1200 A to 3700 A, and for different developers. A sodium salicylate phosphor-coated photomultiplier tube and a calibrated nitric oxide cell enabled absolute intensities to be determined. A manostat-regulated Schueler lamp and a mercury arc lamp were utilized as sources. Data leading to H and D curves with exposures given in photons/cm2 or ergs/cm2 were obtained. Information on speeds, gammas, and other photometric parameters is presented.
A duality theory for bilattices

Recent studies of the algebraic properties of bilattices have provided insight into their internal strucutres, and have led to practical results, especially in reducing the computational complexity of bilattice-based multi-valued logic programs. In this paper the representation theorem for interlaced bilattices without negation found in [19] and extended to arbitrary interlaced bilattices without negation in [2] is presented. A natural equivalence is then established between the category of interlaced bilattices and the cartesian square of the category of bounded lattices. As a consequence a dual natural equivalence is obtained between the category of distributive bilattices and the coproduct of the category of bounded Priestley spaces with itself. Some applications of these equivalences are given. The subdirectly irreducible interlaced bilattices are characterized in terms of subdirectly irreducible lattices. A known characterization of the join-irreducible elements of the "knowledge" lattice of an interlaced bilattice is used to establish a natural equivalence between the category of finite, distributive bilattices and the category of posets of the form \( {\bf P} \oplus_\perp {\bf Q} \).
First‐principles theory for the equations of state of minerals at high pressures and temperatures: Application to MgO

The results of a first-principles model for the equation of state of MgO from ambient to combined pressure-temperature conditions assumed for the earth's lower mantle are presented. Ab initio electron-gas pair potentials are used for the short-range interactions. The thermal contribution to the equation of state is determined from the quasiharmonic phonons calculated from the pair potentials. The model successfully reproduces the room-temperature compression curve measured to ∼1 Mbar and the thermal expansion at zero pressure. The volume coefficient of thermal expansion (298 K) is calculated to drop to 30% and 18% of the zero-pressure value at 0.5 Mbar and 1.0 Mbar, respectively.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF WHIRLING‐ AND CONVENTIONAL‐FLUIDIZED BEDS IN THEIR APPLICATION TO DEHYDRATION. I. HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER ANALYSIS

Heat and mass transfer characteristics of conventional- and whirling-flui-dized beds were compared in order to determine their suitability in dehydration applications. Results obtained for the particular case of wheat dehydration indicated that whirling beds present a better design with higher heat and mass transfer coefficients than conventional-fluidized beds. In fact, studies carried out in two-stage fluidized beds showed that whirling beds had approximately 1.9 times higher heat transfer coefficients in the first stage and 1.7 times higher in the second stage than conventional-fluidized beds. Moreover, mass transfer coefficients were 1.9 and 2.8 times higher in the first and second stages, respectively, as compared to conventional-fluidized beds. Conventional-fluidized beds were observed to exhibit a tendency for pulsating fluidization, resulting in slugging, channeling, and bubbling, factors that impair heat and mass transfer. This behavior was seldom found in whirling beds for the conditions investigated.
Corporations and economic inequality around the world: The paradox of hierarchy☆

Abstract Using time-series data from the US since 1950 and from 53 countries around the world in 2006, this chapter documents a strong negative relation between an economy's employment concentration (that is, the proportion of the labor force employed by the largest 10, 25, or 50 firms) and its level of income inequality. Within the US, we find that trends in the relative size of the largest employers (up in the 1960s and 1970s, down in the 1980s and 1990s, up in the 2000s) are directly linked to changes in inequality, and that corporate size is a proximal cause of the extravagant increase in social inequality over the past generation. We conclude that organization theory can provide a distinctive contribution to understanding societal outcomes.
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Without Routine Use of Radiation Therapy for Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Pilot Trial

Purpose Although neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy achieves low local recurrence rates in clinical stages II to III rectal cancer, it delays administration of optimal chemotherapy. We evaluated preoperative infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX)/bevacizumab with selective rather than consistent use of chemoradiotherapy. Patients and Methods Thirty-two patients with clinical stages II to III rectal cancer participated in this single-center phase II trial. All were candidates for low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision (TME). Patients were to receive six cycles of FOLFOX, with bevacizumab included for cycles 1 to 4. Patients with stable/progressive disease were to have radiation before TME, whereas responders were to have immediate TME. Postoperative radiation was planned if R0 resection was not achieved. Postoperative FOLFOX × 6 was recommended, but adjuvant regimens were left to clinician discretion. The primary outcome was R0 resection rate. Results Between April 2007 and...
CO Vibration Rotation Lines from Circumstellar Shells

We have conducted an investigation of the inner part (~2–3″) of red giant star envelopes through observations of emission in the 4.6 μm vibration rotation lines of CO produced by resonance scattering. A novel experimental technique, employing an annular aperture to mask the central infrared continuum source, was used to obtain line profiles at a mean angular offset of 2.7±0.7″ from the center. The results for the carbon-rich Mira variable IRC+10216 are presented. The KPNO Fourier Transform Spectrometer at the 4m telescope, was used to measure the IRC+10216 spectrum at λλ = 2100–2200 cm-1, with a resolution of 3.5 km s-1, including CO lines from P(9) to R(14). In addition to the expected emission up to the expansion velocity of the envelope, both CO and 13CO show evidence of high velocity features in the blue wing of the line, beyond the 15 km s-1 expansion velocity (Fig. 1).
Determining microwave brightness temperatures from precipitating horizontally finite and vertically structured clouds

Microwave radiances that may be measured from satellite-borne radiometers operating at 37 GHz have been computed as a function of rainfall rates from horizontally finite precipitating clouds that contain both ice and liquid hydrometeors. It is found that precipitating ice at the top of the cloud depresses brightness temperatures significantly. Detailed comparison between finite clouds and the equivalent sections of plane-parallel clouds are made. Footprint averaged brightness temperatures from finite clouds are found to deviate considerably from the sectioned plane-parallel approximation, especially for large rain rates. Better agreement is achieved if a plane-parallel source function is used in the finite cloud model. The effect of shape and orientation of the precipitating cells with respect to the satellite has also been considered. It is found that the largest errors introduced by plane-parallel theory besides the footprint-filling errors are encountered when precipitating cells have large fractions of their surface below the freezing level or contain large amounts of ice.
Mechanisms by Which Fibrin and Fibronectin Appear in Healing Wounds: Implications for Peyronie's Disease

ABSTRACTPurpose: The extracellular matrix that is present at sites of tissue repair in most instances undergoes an orderly transition from a fibrin containing matrix to collagen-rich scar. However, in some conditions, such as Peyronie's disease, fibrin persists. Evidence from a number of experimental systems indicates that extracellular matrix proteins and their receptors serve an important function in regulating cell behaviors. Thus, the presence of the fibrin matrix is likely to have important implications in the course of either normal or pathogenic wound healing as occurs in Peyronie's disease. Potential mechanisms by which the fibrin rich provisional matrix appears in healing wounds are presented.Materials and Methods: Methodologies, such as in situ hybridization, immunolocalization and labeled tracer techniques, were used in our study.Results: We found by these approaches that the 2 general mechanisms that contribute to the generation of the wound extracellular matrix are leakage of plasma proteins,...
Enabling multi-threaded applications on hybrid shared memory manycore architectures

As the number of cores per chip increases, maintaining cache coherence becomes prohibitive for both power and performance. Non Coherent Cache (NCC) architectures do away with hardware-based cache coherence, but become difficult to program. Some existing architectures provide a middle ground by providing some shared memory in the hardware. Specifically, the 48-core Intel Single-chip Cloud Computer (SCC) provides some off-chip (DRAM) shared memory and some on-chip (SRAM) shared memory. We call such architectures Hybrid Shared Memory, or HSM, manycore architectures. However, how to efficiently execute multi-threaded programs on HSM architectures is an open problem. To be able to execute a multi-threaded program correctly on HSM architectures, the compiler must: i) identify all the shared data and map it to the shared memory, and ii) map the frequently accessed shared data to the on-chip shared memory. In this paper, we present a source-to-source translator written using CETUS (Dave et al. [1]) that identifies a conservative superset of all the shared data in a multi-threaded application, and maps it to the off-chip shared memory such that it enables execution on HSM architectures. This improves the performance of our benchmarks by 32x. Following, we identify and map the frequently accessed shared data to the on-chip shared memory. This further improves the performance of our benchmarks by 8x on average.
Oocytic accumulation and tissue distribution of 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin and benzo[a]pyrene in gravid Fundulus heteroclitus

These studies investigated the maternal transfer of xenobiotic ligands in the estuarine mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus). The common environmental contaminants 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) were shown to accumulate in maturing oocytes of gravid F. heteroclitus. In vivo, time-course experiments with gravid female fish demonstrated time- and dose-dependent changes in oocytic accumulation of 3 H-TCDD and 14 C-B[a]P. In studies with 14 C-B[a]P, both total radiochemical content and the composition of 14 C-B[a]P metabolites in these extracts presented an accumulation profile that mirrored the profiles observed in sera from dosed fish reported previously. Furthermore, the accumulation of both 3 H-TCDD and 14 C-B[a]P was related to oocyte maturational state (i.e., size) and, correspondingly, to vitellogenin (VTG) uptake. Although VTG uptake is critical for proper oocyte growth and early-life-stage development, analysis of these data suggests an additional role for VTG as a vector of maternal transfer for both 3 H-TCDD and 14 C-B[a]P. This conclusion is also supported by an accompanying paper, presented in this volume, that examined the association of VTG with TCDD and B[a]P.
Rethinking the Relationship Between Hyperactivation and Chemotaxis in Mammalian Sperm

Hyperactivation, a motility pattern of mammalian sperm in the oviduct, is essential to fertilization. Hyperactivation helps sperm to swim effectively through oviductal mucus, to escape from the sperm reservoir, and to penetrate the cumulus matrix and zona pellucida of the oocyte. There is some evidence that mammalian sperm can undergo chemotaxis; however, the relationship of chemotaxis to hyperactivation is unknown. Ca2+ signaling is involved in hyperactivation and implicated in chemotaxis as well. In vivo, sperm hyperactivate in the lower oviduct, far from the cumulus-oocyte complex and possibly beyond the influence of chemotactic gradients emanating from the oocyte or cumulus. Thus, sperm are likely to be hyperactivated before sensing chemotactic gradients. Chemotactic signals might modulate hyperactivation to direct sperm toward oocytes as they reach a region of influence. Ca2+-directed modulation of hyperactivation is a potential mechanism of this process.
Patient evaluation of hospital outcomes: an analysis of open-ended comments from extreme clusters in a national survey

Objectives A recent study identified patients in six distinct response groups based on their evaluations of outcomes related to overall satisfaction, malpractice and benefit of treatment. This study validates the response clusters by analysing and comparing open-ended comments from the extreme positive and extreme negative response groups. Design Qualitative content analysis. Setting Data from open-ended comment fields provided by patients who completed a national patient-experience survey carried out in Norway in 2011. 10 514 patients responded to the questionnaire and 3233 provided comments. A random sample of 50 open-ended comments from respondents representing cluster 1 (‘excellent services’), cluster 5 (‘services have clear improvement needs’) and outliers (‘very poor services’) was reviewed. Results 3 distinct patient profiles were identified. More than half of the comments in cluster 1 included descriptions of positive healthcare experiences, one addressed patient safety issues. Only 1 of the comments in cluster 5 was positive, and 12 were related to safety. All comments from the outliers were negative, and more than three-quarters reported experiences related to malpractice or adverse events. Recurring themes did not differ significantly between the three respondent groups, but significant differences were found for the descriptions and severity of the experiences. Conclusions Patients in negative response groups had distinct and much poorer healthcare descriptions than those in the extreme positive group, supporting the interpretation of quality differences between these groups. Further research should assess ways of combining statistical cluster information and qualitative comments, which could be used for local quality improvement and public reporting.
Sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria as cation accumulation sites in smooth muscle.

A tubular system of sarcoplasmic reticulum that is not penetrated by extracellular markers is described in vertebrate smooth muscles. The sarcoplasmic reticulum forms fenestrations around the surface vesicles and also forms close appositions (an approximately 10 to 12 nm gap traversed by periodic electron dense materia) with the non-specialized surface membrane. The morphological couplings are considered to be the most probable sites of electromechanical coupling of the action potential to the twitch contraction. The relative volume of the sarcoplasmic reticulum varies in functionally different (tonic and phasic) smooth muscles, and correlates with the ability of the different smooth muscles to contract in the absence of extracellular calcium. Electron opaque deposits of strontium are accumulated by peripheral and central elements of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The accumulation of strontium and barium by mitochondria raises the possibility that, in addition to the sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria may play a role in the regulation of intracellular divalent cation levels in vertebrate smooth muscle.
Influence of Vertisol development on sauropod egg taphonomy and distribution at the Auca Mahuevo locality, Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract At the Auca Mahuevo locality in the Upper Cretaceous Anacleto Formation in Patagonia, Argentina pedogenic processes associated with Vertisol development affected changes in both individual titanosaur egg morphology and three-dimensional egg distribution. These changes resulted primarily from vertical and lateral movement within fluvial overbank sediments due to clay mineral expansion and contraction in alternating wet and dry seasonal conditions. At the scale of individual sauropod eggs, pedogenic sediment movement produced egg shearing, eggshell fracture and displacement, mechanical abrasion of egg ornamentation, and alteration of egg size and shape. Movement of either individual eggs or subsets of eggs along slickensided surfaces (1) modified the number and relative position of eggs within individual clutches, (2) combined eggs of one of more clutches produced by different females, and (3) combined eggs from one or more nesting horizons, producing a time-averaged fossil assemblage. These mechanisms of egg rearrangement suggest that accurate interpretation of dinosaur reproductive behavior using fossil egg assemblages preserved in fine-grained fluvial overbank deposits require careful assessment of pedogenic processes.
Accuracy of ultrasound-guided intra-articular injections in guinea pig knees

Objective Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs, a commonly used animal model of osteoarthritis, were used to determine if high frequency ultrasound can ensure intra-articular injections are accurately positioned in the knee joint. Methods A high-resolution small animal ultrasound system with a 40 MHz transducer was used for image-guided injections. A total of 36 guinea pigs were anaesthetised with isoflurane and placed on a heated stage. Sterile needles were inserted directly into the knee joint medially, while the transducer was placed on the lateral surface, allowing the femur, tibia and fat pad to be visualised in the images. B-mode cine loops were acquired during 100 µl. We assessed our ability to visualise 1) important anatomical landmarks, 2) the needle and 3) anatomical changes due to the injection. Results From the ultrasound images, we were able to visualise clearly the movement of anatomical landmarks in 75% of the injections. The majority of these showed separation of the fat pad (67.1%), suggesting the injections were correctly delivered in the joint space. We also observed dorsal joint expansion (23%) and patellar tendon movement (10%) in a smaller subset of injections. Conclusion The results demonstrate that this image-guided technique can be used to visualise the location of an intra-articular injection in the joints of guinea pigs. Future studies using an ultrasound-guided approach could help improve the injection accuracy in a variety of anatomical locations and animal models, in the hope of developing anti-arthritic therapies. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2015;4:1–5.
Transplant Outcomes and Economic Costs Associated with Patient Noncompliance to Immunosuppression

We describe factors associated with immunosuppression compliance after kidney transplantation and examine relationships between compliance with allograft outcomes and costs. Medicare claims for immunosuppression in 15 525 renal transplant recipients with at least 1 year of graft function were used to calculate compliance as medication possession ratio. Compliance was categorized by quartiles as poor, fair, good and excellent. We modeled adjusted associations of clinical factors with the likelihood of persistent compliance by multiple logistic regressions (aOR), and estimated associations of compliance with subsequent graft and patient survival with Cox proportional hazards (aHR). Adolescent recipients aged 19-24 years were more likely to be persistently noncompliant compared to patients aged 24-44 years (aOR 1.49 [1.06-2.10]). Poor (aHR 1.80 [1.52-2.13]) and fair (aHR 1.63[1.37-1.93]) compliant recipients were associated with increased risks of allograft loss compared to the excellent compliant recipients. Persistent low compliance was associated with a $12 840 increase in individual 3-year medical costs. Immunosuppression medication possession ratios indicative of less than the highest quartile of compliance predicted increased risk of graft loss and elevated costs. These findings suggest that interventions to improve medication compliance among kidney transplant recipients should emphasize the benefits of maximal compliance, rather than discourage low compliance.
Lossy distributed source coding using LDPC codes

In this paper, we propose a practical scheme for lossy distributed source coding with side information available at the decoder. Our proposed scheme is based on sending parity bits using LDPC codes. We provide the design procedure for the LDPC code that guarantees performance close to the Wyner-Ziv limit for long LDPC codes. Using simulation results, we show that the proposed method performs close to the theoretical limit for even short length codes.
Discrete-time dynamic compensation of analog-to-digital converters

The use of post-sampling digital signal processing to linearize the behavior of high speed flash analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) is discussed. Dynamic compensation of the sampled ADC input is achieved by accessing an error correction table using the current state of the converter and an estimate of the derivative of the input signal. A finite impulse response (FIR) filter is used to provide the estimate of the slope of the input signal, resulting in a compensation procedure which may be implemented for any off-the-shelf converter. Performance is shown to be comparable to that obtained using other procedures which require either modifications of the ADC architecture or the use of multiple ADCs. >
Buspirone, Chlordiazepoxide and Diazepam Effects in a Zebrafish Model of Anxiety

Zebrafish are becoming more widely used to study neurobehavioral pharmacology. We have developed a method to assess novel environment diving behavior of zebrafish as a model of stress response and anxiolytic drug effects. In a novel tank, zebrafish dwell in the bottom of the tank initially and then increase their swimming exploration to higher levels over time. We previously found that nicotine, which has anxiolytic effects in rodents and humans, significantly lessens the novel tank diving response in zebrafish. The specificity of the diving effect was validated with a novel vs. non-novel test tank. The novel tank diving response of zebrafish was tested when given three anxiolytic drugs from two different chemical and pharmacological classes: buspirone, chlordiazepoxide and diazepam. When the test tank was novel the diving response was clearly seen whereas it was significantly reduced when the test tank was not novel. Buspirone, a serotonergic (5HT(1A) receptor agonist) anxiolytic drug with some D(2) dopaminergic effect, had a pronounced anxiolytic-like effect in the zebrafish diving model at doses that did not have sedative effects. In contrast, chlordiazepoxide, a benzodiazepine anxiolytic drug, which is an effective agonist at GABA-A receptors, did not produce signs of anxiolysis in zebrafish over a broad dose range up to those that caused sedation. Diazepam another benzodiazepine anxiolytic drug did produce an anxiolytic effect at doses that did not cause sedation. The zebrafish novel tank diving task can be useful in discriminating anxiolytic drugs of several classes (serotonergic, benzodiazepines and nicotinic).
Direct detection differential polarization-phase-shift keying based on Jones vector

In this paper, differential polarization-phase-shift keying (DPolPSK) is proposed for digital lightwave communication, in which information is encoded in both polarization and phase. The DPolPSK symbols are demodulated by optical delayed interference and electrical multilevel detection, without using any polarization control or polarization selection at the receiver. Simulation results show that single-channel error-free transmission at 20 Gb/s (10 Gsymbol/s) through 25 spans of 100 km standard single-mode fiber is possible. Unlike for DPSK, the Gaussian BER estimation method is found to be reasonably accurate for this new modulation format. The constellation diagram of DPolPSK can be represented by a set of Jones vectors. Hence DPolPSK can also be called differential Jones-vector shift keying (DJSK).
Photolysis of polyribobromouridylic acid.

— Photolysis of polyribobromouridylic acid with 313 nm light at neutral pH caused extensive debromination and a loss of A280 (280–nm absorbance) without comparable increase in A260. At an exposure of 190μE/cm2, strand breakage occurred on the average of one break every 170 BrU residues. Little if any pyrimidine hydrate was produced. Exhaustive RNase hydrolysis of photolysed polymer gave a mixture of mononucleotides and oligonucleotides. The mononucleotide fraction was found to be composed of unaltered BrUMP and contained little if any UMP. Irradiation of the polymer at alkaline pH caused little or no debromination or spectral change.
Full-chip analysis of leakage power under process variations, including spatial correlations

In this paper, we present a method for analyzing the leakage current, and hence the leakage power, of a circuit under process parameter variations that can include spatial correlations due to intra-chip variation. A lognormal distribution is used to approximate the leakage current of each gate and the total chip leakage is determined by summing up the lognormals. In this work, both subthreshold leakage and gate tunneling leakage are considered. The proposed method is shown to be effective in predicting the CDF/PDF of the total chip leakage. The average errors for mean and sigma values are -1.3% and -4.1%.
Shot transition detection using a perceptual distance function

A shot transition occurs when a frame fails to maintain perceptual continuity with its previous frame. To maintain perceptual continuity, two consecutive frames must contain similar perceptual features. We propose using the dynamic partial function (DPF) as the inter-frame distance function to detect perceptual discontinuity, and hence the boundary of a shot. Through analysis and experiments, we show that DPF is more effective than traditional distance functions for detecting shot transitions. We also discuss the foundation of DPF in cognitive psychology.