cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer CSF biomarkers may be misleading in normal-pressure hydrocephalus.

Objective: This article discusses why CSF biomarkers found in normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) can be misleading when distinguishing NPH from comorbid NPH with Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods: We describe NPH CSF biomarkers and how shunt surgery can change them. We hypothesize the effects that hydrocephalus may play on interstitial fluid space and amyloid precursor protein (APP) fragment drainage into the CSF based on a recent report and how this may explain the misleading CSF NPH biomarker findings. Results: In NPH, β-amyloid protein 42 (Aβ42) is low (as in AD), but total tau (t-tau) and phospho-tau (p-tau) levels are normal, providing conflicting biomarker findings. Low Aβ42 supports an AD diagnosis but tau findings do not. Importantly, not only Aβ42, but all APP fragments and tau proteins are low in NPH CSF. Further, these proteins increase after shunting. An increase in interstitial space and APP fragment drainage into the CSF during sleep was reported recently. Conclusions: In the setting of hydrocephalus when the brain is compressed, a decrease in interstitial space and APP protein fragment drainage into the CSF may be impeded, resulting in low levels of all APP fragments and tau proteins, which has been reported. Shunting, which decompresses the brain, would create more room for the interstitial space to increase and protein waste fragments to drain into the CSF. In fact, CSF proteins increase after shunting. CSF biomarkers in pre-shunt NPH have low Aβ42 and tau protein levels, providing misleading information to distinguish NPH from comorbid NPH plus AD.
Photoinduced processes in a tricomponent molecule consisting of diphenylaminofluorene-dicyanoethylene-methano[60]fullerene.

Photoinduced intramolecular processes in a tricomponent molecule C60(>(CN)2−DPAF), consisting of an electron-accepting methano[60]fullerene moiety (C60>) covalently bound to an electron-donating di...
Double-stranded RNA mycovirus in Periconia circinata☆

Abstract Virus-like particles (VLPs) were isolated from some pathogenic strains of the fungus Periconia circinata , which produces host-specific toxins and causes root rot of susceptible sorghum cultivars. The VLPs were polyhedral, 32 nm in diameter, had a typical nucleo-protein absorption spectrum and sedimented at rates of approximately 66, 140 and 150S. Multiple species of double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) with molecular weights of 1·75, 1·40, 1·25, 1·10, 0·48 and 0·42 × 10 6 daltons, estimated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, were isolated from the VLPs and from the fungal mycelium. Some of the non-pathogenic isolates, which did not produce host-specific toxins in culture, also contained the VLPs and dsRNA. In other fungal isolates, both pathogenic and non-pathogenic, VLPs and dsRNA were not detected, suggesting that mycoviruses are not associated with toxin production and pathogenesis in P. circinata .
Functional magnetic resonance imaging of intrinsic brain networks for translational drug discovery

Developing translational biomarkers is a priority for psychiatry research. Task-independent functional brain imaging is a relatively novel technique that allows examination of the brain's intrinsic networks, defined as functionally and (often) structurally connected populations of neurons whose properties reflect fundamental neurobiological organizational principles of the central nervous system. The ability to study the activity and organization of these networks has opened a promising new avenue for translational investigation, because they can be analogously examined across species and disease states. Interestingly, imaging studies have revealed shared spatial and functional characteristics of the intrinsic network architecture of the brain across species, including mice, rats, non-human primates, and humans. Using schizophrenia as an example, we show how intrinsic networks may show similar abnormalities in human diseases and animal models of these diseases, supporting their use as biomarkers in drug development.
A note on distance matrices with unicyclic graph realizations

Abstract We give necessary and sufficient conditions for a distance matrix to have a unicyclic graph as unique optimal graph realization.
Spin-polarized 3He-4He solutions: Longitudinal spin diffusion and nonlinear spin dynamics.

Pulsed-NMR techniques have been used to investigate longitudinal spin diffusion and nonlinear spin dynamics in dilute, spin-polarized $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}^{4}$He solutions between 4 and 400 mK. Solutions with $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ concentrations ${\mathit{x}}_{3}$=3.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$ and 19.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$ were forcibly polarized to as much as 65% and 25%, respectively, with a 9.2-T magnetic field. A technique for measuring the coefficient of longitudinal spin diffusion ${\mathit{D}}_{\mathrm{?}}$ is described, and the results of the technique are compared with recent theoretical calculations. Throughout a temperature range that covers both degenerate and nondegenerate behaviors, theory and experiment are found to be in excellent quantitative agreement for ${\mathit{x}}_{3}$=3.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$, and in somewhat weaker agreement for ${\mathit{x}}_{3}$=19.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$. The presence of strong molecular fields in this system is confirmed by the observation of multiple spin echoes, but it is found that they are not adequately described by recent theory. In addition, the observation of a novel, extremely long-lived oscillation with a lifetime on the order of 10 s is reported. These oscillations are found to have sensitive temperature and magnetic-field-gradient dependencies. A simple model which implies that this behavior is driven by a nonlinear instability is presented, and the results of numerical simulations based on this model are examined in an attempt to gain further insight into the spin dynamics of the system.
Community-acquired infectious pneumonia in puppies: 65 Cases (1993-2002)

Objective—To identify causative organisms, treatment, outcome, and prognosis for dogs < 1 year old with community-acquired infectious pneumonia. Design—Retrospective case series. Animals—65 dogs. Procedures—Dogs were considered to have community-acquired infectious pneumonia if they had clinical signs of primary respiratory tract disease in conjunction with radiographic evidence of alveolar disease and positive results following bacterial culture of tracheal wash fluid. Results—Most dogs were hypoxemic at the time of initial examination, with pulmonary function becoming worse during the first few days of hospitalization before improving; 57 (88%) dogs survived to discharge. Bordetella bronchiseptica was isolated from tracheal wash fluid from 32 (49%) dogs, and other organisms, predominantly gram-negative enteric bacteria, were isolated from the other 33 (51%). Dogs with Bordetella pneumonia were significantly younger (median, 14 vs 21 weeks), were significantly more likely to have been obtained from a pet...
Clinical Effectiveness of Coblation Inferior Turbinate Reduction

Abstract objective We sought to determine the safety and clinical effectiveness of coblation (short for “cold ablation”) inferior turbinate reduction for turbinate hypertrophy. Methods A consecutive series of adult patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy were treated with the coblation technique in the office setting. Subjective symptoms were assessed prior to treatment and at the 3- and 6-month intervals after treatment with the Rhinosinusitis Symptom Inventory (RSI) and a short nasal symptom questionnaire. Results Twenty-four of 26 treated patients completed the protocol. At the 3-month follow-up, statistically significant decreases in the nasal and overall symptom domains of the RSI were noted (changes of −10.5 and −8.7, with P = 0.018 and P = 0.015, respectively). These improvements were also significant at the 6-month follow-up (−20.1 and −15.8 with, P P P = 0.006 and P = 0.011, respectively). These decreases remained statistically significant and slightly larger in magnitude at 6 months ( P = 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively). Postoperative epistaxis occurred in 2 of 24 (8.3%) of patients. Conclusion Coblation inferior turbinate reduction is an effective procedure for inferior turbinate hypertrophy. The clinical benefit persists at 6 months after the procedure.
New progress in real and complex polynomial root-finding

Matrix methods are increasingly popular for polynomial root-finding. The idea is to approximate the roots as the eigenvalues of the companion or generalized companion matrix associated with an input polynomial. The algorithms also solve secular equation. QR algorithm is the most customary method for eigen-solving, but we explore the inverse Rayleigh quotient iteration instead, which turns out to be competitive with the most popular root-finders because of its excellence in exploiting matrix structure. To advance the iteration we preprocess the matrix and incorporate Newton's linearization, repeated squaring, homotopy continuation techniques, and some heuristics. The resulting algorithms accelerate the known numerical root-finders for univariate polynomial and secular equations, and are particularly well suited for the acceleration by using parallel processing. Furthermore, even on serial computers the acceleration is dramatic for numerical approximation of the real roots in the typical case where they are much less numerous than all complex roots.
An interactive 3D toolkit for constructing 3D widgets

Today’s user interfaces for most 3D graphics applications still depend heavily on 2D GUIs and keyboard input. There have been several recent attempts both to extend these user interfaces into 3D and to describe intermediary 3D widgets that control application objects [3; 4; 5; 7; 13; 15]. Even though this style of interaction is a straightforward extension of interaction through intermediary 2D widgets such as dials or sliders, we know of no efforts to develop interactive 3D toolkits akin to UIMX or Garnet [11]. The Brown Graphics Group has had considerable experience using its Unified Graphics Architecture (UGA) system [16] to script 3D widgets such as deformation racks [14], interactive shadows [9], parameterized models, and other constrained 3D geometries. Using this experience, we have developed an interactive toolkit to facilitate the visual programming of the geometry and behavior of such interactive models. The toolkit provides both a core set of 3D widget primitives for constructing interactive behaviors based on constrained affine transformations, and an interactive 3D interface for combining these primitives into more complex widgets. This video paper describes the fundamental concepts of the toolkit and its core set of primitives. In particular, we describe (i) the conceptual structure of the primitives, (ii) the criteria used to select a particular primitive widget set that would be expressive enough to let us construct a wide range of interactive 3D objects, and (iii) the constraint relationships among the primitives.
On the Stability and Control of Continuous-Time TSK Fuzzy Systems

This paper introduces a new stability test and control design methodology for type-1 and type-2 continuous-time (CT) Takagi-Sugeno-Kang systems. Unlike methods based on a common Lyapunov function, our stability results apply for systems with unstable consequents, and our controllers can be designed for systems with unstabilizable consequents. The stability results are derived using the comparison principle with a discontinuous function and the upper right-hand derivative. The control results include CT fuzzy proportional controllers and fuzzy proportional-integral controllers that can be obtained by solving linear matrix inequalities. We provide several examples to demonstrate our stability testing and controller design and compare our results to available methods in the literature. Our results compare favorably with results available in the literature and provide stability tests and controllers where earlier approaches fail.
Robust hybrid flow analyzer for formaldehyde.

We report fully automated self-calibrating formaldehyde analyzers relying on a hybrid flow format and include operational scheme and design details. Long-term operation is made possible with the use of syringe pumps. Four identical analyzers were built and showed low LODs of 120 pptv or better (S/N = 3) and good linearity over 0–50 ppbv HCHO concentration range (r2 > 0.9960), all concentrations refer to 10 min averaging times. The analyzer can resume normal operation after short-term power failure with at most two cycles of data loss following restart. Good agreement between analyzers was observed for either indoor or outdoor measurements. The use of an integrated HCHO calibration source and full control by the host computer via a graphical user interface program enables the instrument to switch between zero, calibration, and sampling modes in a programmed automated manner. Detailed field data from deployment in three urban Texas locations from the summer of 2006 are presented. Features of the data, inclu...
Understanding IT project risks as disturbances to digital ecosystems

Traditionally, IT projects have been conceptualized as efforts that must be managed and tracked to ensure that requirements are met and resource constraints are respected. We contend that for large IT projects, this conceptualization may be flawed because they occasion broad changes to the IT and work practice environment and can endanger the very stakeholder networks that provide the backdrop for the work practice. We suggest viewing such large projects as interventions in a digital ecosystem. This paper investigates a specific concern following this perspective: the incidence of risks in such large projects. We perform a meta-analysis to identify categories of risks in IT projects and compare these against disturbances to an ecosystem. Our analysis shows that proactive preservation or controlled evolution of the ecosystem is likely to provide a more useful conceptualization of IT project risks.
Training Copy Catalogers in Preparation for System Migration: An Incremental Approach

ABSTRACT In January 2001, Valdosta State University's Odum Library migrated from a Data Research Associates (DRA) integrated system to an Endeavor Voyager system. Cataloging staff needed to shift from using a DOS-based cataloging module and online public catalog (OPAC) to using a Windows-based interface for daily cataloging and a Web-based OPAC. Cataloging staff also needed to learn to use MARC format for holdings data (MFHD). The Catalog Librarian trained copy catalogers to use the Web-based OPAC, Windows-based cataloging module, and MFHDs–entailing major visual and conceptual changes–using an “incremental” approach, which reduced large concepts to manageable pieces. This gradual, low-stress training enabled catalogers to learn a vast amount of material and apply it successfully immediately after migration without feeling psychologically overwhelmed and with no significant interruption in production.
How crosslisting affects merger and acquisition activity

Consistent with crosslisting decreasing the cost of capital, we find that firms which issue American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are much more likely to undertake an acquisition than non-crosslisted firms. The results do not appear to be driven by self-selection, as the increase in acquisitions is robust to a Heckman correction as well as to a fixed-effect analysis. Adding the home country’s shareholder rights to the analysis, we find that crosslisted firms increase their takeover activity primarily if they are from weak shareholder rights countries. This evidence is consistent with crosslisting reducing the cost of capital of firms from weak governance countries significantly, and this reduction in cost of capital allows these firms to pursue more domestic and international takeovers.
Horizontal optokinetic nystagmus in the cat: recovery from cortical lesions

We have examined recovery from the acute effects of unilateral and bilateral visual cortex lesions on horizontal optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) in the cat. A single bilateral cortical lesion virtually abolishes monocular OKN in response to temporalward stimulation, and severely reduces OKN in response to nasalward stimulation at higher drum velocities. A unilateral cortical lesion causes deficits in OKN toward the side of the lesion, but these changes are less substantial than those observed after a bilateral lesion. The nature of the acute changes in OKN caused by cortical lesions supports the notion that the visual cortex has two important roles in the OKN system of the cat: first, it mediates OKN in response to temporalward motion of the visual environment during monocular viewing; second, it expands the response range of the OKN system to include higher stimulus velocities. Finally, the results from unilaterally lesioned cats suggest that a single hemisphere can mediate OKN in both directions, with an emphasis on the direction ipsilateral to that hemisphere. The patterns of recovery of OKN in lesioned cats follow two major trends: a small, gradual increase in the overall gain of OKN from its severely depressed level immediately after a large bilateral lesion, and a 'balancing' process that reduces the marked asymmetry between rightward and leftward OKN caused by a unilateral lesion. This balancing of the reflex is accomplished by an improvement in performance in one direction while performance in the opposite direction actually declines. Recovery is faster and more pronounced in lesioned cats with one cortical hemisphere intact, suggesting that the surviving visual cortex compensates for the effects of the lesion by modifying activity in subcortical pathways. These experiments indicate that the visual system of the cat has the capacity to recover at least partially from the deficits in OKN behavior caused by cortical lesions, and that this recovery is the outcome of an interaction between cortical and subcortical pathways mediating this important visuomotor reflex.
The influence of sucrose and sorbitol on gel–sol transition of low-methoxyl pectin+Ca2+ gels

Abstract Melting temperatures ( T m ) of low-methoxyl (LM) pectin+Ca 2+ gels were strongly dependent on LM pectin concentration, and on the presence of sucrose and sorbitol. Enthalpy (Δ H m ) (kJ mol −1 ) of melting of the gels was determined from Eldridge–Ferry plots; Δ H m of sucrose gels was higher than those of plain gels (43.1 kJ mol −1 ) while that of sorbitol gels was lower, reflecting the important role of the hydroxyl groups in sucrose and sorbitol. Structure loss rates (SLR), defined as (−d G ′/d t ) (Pa s −1 ), were determined during melting of LM pectin+sugars gels. The SLR versus temperature profiles were bell-shaped curves with maximum values over the ranges (24–35°C) depending on the amount of pectin and sugars. Based on a reference LM pectin concentration, a reduced SLR (SLR R ) versus reduced temperature ( T R ) master curve could be constructed for LM pectin gels with different pectin concentrations and at a fixed sugar content. The effect of temperature on SLR was described by the Arrhenius relationship, and the estimated activation energy ( E a ) was between 7.26 and 350 kJ mol −1 .
Volunteer Dedication: Understanding the Role of Identity Importance on Participation Frequency

The nonprofit sector is an important part of the economic system, one that relies heavily on volunteer labor. Understanding higher participation levels among volunteers, particularly volunteering m...
An integral of products of Legendre functions and a Clebsch-Gordan sum

Abstract : New proofs and extensions are given of a sum considered by A. M. Din involving Clebsch-Gordan coefficients with zero magnetic quantum numbers and of an integral involving the product of three Legendre functions, one of the second kind. (Author)
Contributions of ethnicity to differential item functioning of cannabis abuse and dependence symptoms.

Objective:Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States, and as a result, it is associated with significant public health costs. The present study sought to investigate whether item response theory (IRT) methods could be used to identify meaningful differences in how cannabis abuse and dependence symptoms (determined by criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) function as indices of the severity of misuse across two ethnic groups: Native Americans and European Americans.Method:Participants were drawn from two previously collected samples, a population of Native Americans living on contiguous reservations (n = 406) and the University of California at San Francisco Family Alcoholism Study (n = 728). Cannabis use disorder symptoms were assessed using the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism.Results:Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that the cannabis abuse and dependence symptoms indexed a single latent trait meas...
Aging of signal transduction pathways, and pathology

The major cell signaling pathways, and their specific mechanisms of transduction, have been a subject of investigation for many years. As our understanding of these pathways advances, we find that they are evolutionarily well-conserved not only individually, but also at the level of their crosstalk and signal integration. Productive interactions within the key signal transduction networks determine success in embryonic organogenesis, and postnatal tissue repair throughout adulthood. However, aside from clues revealed through examining age-related degenerative diseases, much remains uncertain about imbalances within these pathways during normal aging. Further, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which alterations in the major cell signal transduction networks cause age-related pathologies. The aim of this review is to describe the complex interplay between the Notch, TGFβ, WNT, RTK-Ras and Hh signaling pathways, with a specific focus on the changes introduced within these networks by the aging process, and those typical of age-associated human pathologies.
Triplet Excited States of a d6 Ligand System in a Cubic Field

Our concern is the spin sublevels of the first excited triplet state of a d6 electron system in a cubic field. To that end, we will construct exact analytic eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for these sublevels. The essential point is that we formulate the total wave functions, space plus spin, so that they form bases for the irreducible representations of the O‘ double group. By virtue of such a choice, the matrix with respect to the total Hamiltonian, which comprises both crystal field potential and spin−orbit coupling, is a priori diagonalized for any triplet manifold. That is, the symmetry-adapted wave functions are eigenfunctions of the total Hamiltonian. Configuration interaction among the sublevels of different triplet states may also be expressed analytically, and the resulting eigenvalues and eigenfunctions may be obtained as a function of the spin−orbit coupling parameter ςnd and the 3T1−3T2 energy gap, ΔE (i.e., 8B, where B is the Racah parameter). The sublevel energies obtained in this way are co...
Female menstrual cyclicity and sexual behavior in stumptail Macaques (Macaca arctoides)

The sexual behavior and female reproductive cycles of a captive group of stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides)were monitored during a 12-month period. The data, consisting of 303 ad libitummounts and copulations and 125 hr of focal-female testing, were analyzed by their frequency of occurrence during the three hormonal phases of the female menstrual cycle. Regularly cycling females exhibited statistically higher frequencies of all sexual behaviors compared to the amenorrheal controls. Contrary to previous reports which indicate no variation in sexual behavior throughout the reproductive cycle in this species, our data show marked increases in copulations during the periovulatory phase. Male dominance rank is associated with sexual behavior only at midcycle.
Sub-micrometer conducting polyaniline tubes prepared from polymer fiber templates

Polyaniline tubes have been prepared using sub-micrometer polymer fibers as templates. The core fibers were fabricated by a nonmechanical electrostatic process known as electrospinning. Conductive polyaniline (PANi) was coated on the surface of preformed polymer nanofibers through in situ deposition. The removal of the core from the resulting PANi coaxial fibers by pyrolysis leads to the formation of PANi tubular materials, which undergo reversible doping between the conducting and insulating phase with acid or base.
Predictable chromatographic separations of enantiomers: aryl allenic acids and their derivatives

Abstract Designed to distinguish between the enantiomers of compounds having certain rather common structural features, the chiral selector used in chiral stationary phase (CSP) 1 columns is broadly applicable. The validity of the chiral recognition mechanism used to design the selector is supported by NMR and chromatographic studies and one can honestly claim to have a relatively good understanding of when and how this selector will differentiate between enantiomers. Consequently, one can often confidently predict not only that this column will separate the enantiomers of a given compound but also specify the relation between absolute configuration and elution order. A recent paper describing the use of a chiral allenic acid to aid in assigning absolute configurations by exciton-coupled circular dichroic measurements focused our attention on these allenes. A priori, these aromatic allenic acids appeared to contain structural features which would allow enantio-separation on CSP 1. Accordingly, a series of chiral allenic acids and their ester and amide derivatives were prepared for chromatographic study. Indeed, the enantiomers of the acids and esters are readily resolved, eluting in the expected order. The amides resolve more poorly for reasons that are clearly defined. Relevant data and mechanistic explanations are presented to convey an understanding of how CSP 1 differentiates between enantiomers.
Combinatorial approach of bacteria to antibiotic resistance.

In this minireview, we will consider the combinatorial genetics bacteria use to offset antibiotic selective pressure, i.e., resistance gene associations, organization, and regulation. The quantitative and qualitative consequences of this gene shuffling will be discussed in terms of phenotype. For the sake of simplicity, we will concentrate on Gram-positive cocci (enterococci, streptococci, and staphylococci) of medical importance and on antibiotic classes which are therapeutically relevant. The data provided are mainly, if not exclusively, taken from the work carried out in the laboratory, although there are numerous other examples in the literature.
What Should School-Based Evaluation Look Like?.

In this article, we report the results of an instrumental, mixed methods case study (Stake, 1995) of a culturally responsive school-based evaluation initiative. In studying culturally responsive school-based evaluation, we found some broader issues with school-based evaluation more generally. These challenges include what knowledge schools need to engage in evaluation, organizational constraints which impact what models are appropriate for school-based evaluation approaches, and the meanings of culture. Teachers and principals clearly understood culture in a different way after participating in school-based culturally responsive evaluation. However, more theoretical work and field studies will need to be conducted to further assess being culturally responsive in evaluation.
Tracking Information Epidemics in Blogspace

Beyond serving as online diaries, weblogs have evolved into a complex social structure, one which is in many ways ideal for the study of the propagation of information. As weblog authors discover and republish information, we are able to use the existing link structure of blogspace to track its flow. Where the path by which it spreads is ambiguous, we utilize a novel inference scheme that takes advantage of data describing historical, repeating patterns of "infection." Our paper describes this technique as well as a visualization system that allows for the graphical tracking of information flow.
Predictive Path Switching Control for Improving the Quality of Service in Real-Time Applications

A congestion avoidance strategy based on the concept of predictive path switching control (PPSC) is proposed for improving the quality-of-service (QoS) in real-time applications, and in particular in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications deployed over the public Internet. The proposed PPSC strategy requires the dynamic prediction of traffic congestion levels over all available network paths. This predictive information is then used as an input for a control strategy to select the best available path at each pre-determined time. A study using emulated network paths explores the impact of overall path loss rate and traffic delay signal frequency content on the proposed PPSC strategy. The study reveals that PPSC provides the best QoS improvement for real-time applications if the average over-all loss rate of the available paths is between 5% and 15%, and if the traffic delay signal contains mostly low frequencies. Linear and nonlinear dynamic predictors are developed and used along with actual network data collected from PlanetLab for demonstrating the effectiveness of the PPSC strategy. The results show that PPSC is better than no path switching, with no one dynamic predictor providing the best performance for all case studies. A voting-based control strategy is proposed to overcome this problem. The results demonstrate that the voting-based control results in universally better performance for all cases studied. VoIP packets encoded with Speex, a publicly available encoder, demonstrate that any PPSC strategy is far more effective than no path switching. The proposed voting-based PPSC is moderately more effective than PPSC based on a simple predictor, both resulting in voice quality mostly over 3.0 in MOS, if the available network paths have overall loss rate in the range of 5% and 15%. Though encouraging, the PPSC strategy raises a number of implementation issues, which must still be addressed. In particular, scaling of the PPSC to a large number of network paths will require probing packets that generate significant overhead traffic. These and other issues require further research.
Effect of Sweetener Types on Quality and Composition of Canned Kiwi Nectars

The effect of sweetener types and citric acid on quality and composition of canned kiwi fruit nectars was investigated. Objective measurements with a Brookfield viscosimeter indicate that the consistency of the nectars changed very little with the sweetener types. The high performance liquid chromatography method was used to determine the various oligosaccharides in the nectars. Sensory evaluation of the canned nectars indicates that the sweetener types and citric acid cause some differences in sweetness scores. The panel did not find significant difference in flavor between the nectars made with sucrose and those made with other combinations.
An online supervisor for robotic tasks

To increase task flexibility in a robotic assembly environment, a hierarchical planning and execution system is being developed which will map user-specified three-dimensional part assembly tasks into various target robotic workcells, and execute these tasks efficiently using manipulators and sensors available in the workcell. One level of this hierarchy, the supervisor, is responsible for assigning subtasks of a system-generated task plan to a set of task specific specialists, and online coordination of the activity of these specialists to accomplish the user-specified assembly. The design is broken down into five major functional blocks: resource management; concurrency detection; task scheduling; error recovery; and interprocess communication. The overall function of the supervisor is examined in relation to the other levels of the hierarchical system. The theoretical design of each module of the supervisor is presented and a sample assembly is executed under the supervisor's control. >
Synthesis and Characterization of Germanium Coordination Compounds for Production of Germanium Nanomaterials.

A series of novel germanium(II) precursors was synthesized to initiate an investigation between the precursors’ structures and the morphologies of the resulting nanoparticles. The precursors were synthesized from the reaction of Ge[N(SiMe3)2]2 or [Ge(OBut)2]2 and the appropriate ligand: N,N’-dibenzylethylenediamine (H2-DBED), tert-butanol (H-OBut), 2,6-di-methyl phenol (H-DMP), 2,6-di-phenyl phenol (H-DPP), tert-butyldimethylsilanol (H-DMBS), triphenylsilanol (H-TPS), triphenylsilanethiol (H-TPST), and benzenethiol (H-PS). The products were identified as: [Ge(μc-DBED)]2 (1, μc= bridging chelating), [Ge(μ-DMP)(DMP)]2 (2), Ge(DPP)2 (3), [Ge(μ-OBut)(DMBS)]2, (4), [Ge(μ-DMBS)(DMBS)]2 (5), Ge(TPS)3(H) (6), [Ge(μ-TPST)(TPST)]2 (7), and Ge(PS)4 (8). The Ge(II) metal centers were found to adopt a pyramidal geometry for 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, a bent arrangement for 3, and a tetrahedral coordination for the Ge(IV) species 6 and 8. Using a simple solution precipitation methodology, Ge(0) nanomaterials were isolated as dots and wires for the majority of precursors. Compound 7 led to the isolation of amorphous GexSy. The nanomaterials isolated were characterized by TEM, EDS, and powder XRD. A correlation between the precursor’s arrangement and final observed nanomorphology was proffered as part of the ‘precursor structure affect’ phenomenon.
Refining the structure of a stochastic context-free grammar

We present a machine learning algorithm for refining the structure of a stochastic context‐free grammar (SCFG). This algorithm consists of a heuristic for identifying structural errors and an operator for fixing them. The heuristic identifies nonterminals in the model SCFG that appear to be performing the function of two or more nonterminals in the target SCFG, and the operator attempts to rectify this problem by introducing a new nonterminal. Structural refinement is important because most common SCFG learning methods set the probability parameters while leaving the structure of the grammar fixed. Thus, any structural errors introduced prior to training will persist. We present experiments that show our approach is able to significantly improve the accuracy of an SCFG designed to model an important class of RNA sequences called terminators.
Fine structural observations on cell death in the epidermis of the external gills of the larval frog, Rana pipiens

The fine structure of the epidermis of the external gills of the larval frog, Rana pipiens, was observed during the period of gill degeneration. Many of the epidermal cells underwent morbid alterations. In typical degenerating epidermal cells the nucleus became irregular in outline, chromatin formed electron-dense clumps and the nuclear envelope increased in width. Lysosomes became prevalent in the cytoplasm of these cells and progressively larger autophagic vacuoles appeared. As degeneration continued, apical epidermal cells were found embedded deeper within the epidermis. In some instances cell processes from two neighboring epidermal cells extended partially around the relocated degenerating apical epidermal cells probably contributing to their translocation; phagocytosis was completed by a single cell in other instances. The degree of participation of the phagocytic epidermal cells in the degenerative process was uncertain. The distribution of acid phosphatase activity was followed in specimens treated by the Gomori technique. Profiles of cisterna-like elements, positive for the enzyme, suggested that perhaps entire Golgi cisternae contributed to the formation of autophagic vacuoles in combination with small vesicles. Heterophils and macrophages observed in the degenerating gills were believed to participate in the removal of the dying cells.
Biocontamination Detection in the NDX-1 Planetary Prototype

Starting in 2006, a planetary space suit concept demonstrator called the NDX-1 was designed and built at the Space Suit Laboratory of the University of North Dakota. Up to this date the prototype has been successfully tested by conducting surface operations jointly with NASA in a number of extreme environments around the world. Nevertheless, the prototype requires modifications in some of its principal interacting elements in order to perform more effectively. Such is the case of the pressure-containing bladder, which was studied from a microbiological perspective to address two main aspects: level and type of bacterial contamination of the inner surface of the bladder, and a comparison of microbial retention efficiencies between the current material of the bladder, natural Latex, and a synthetic fabric such as Neoprene. A series of Colony Forming Unit assays were conducted on the inner surface of the pressure-containing bladder, and natural Latex and Neoprene cut-outs. Additional tests with water drops were conducted to obtain further evidence on microbial retention capability of these materials. Results showed that the level of bacteria on the inner surface of the bladder were high according to standards used in the International Space Station. The bacteria types were identified as part of the normal microbial flora of the human skin and environment. Microbial growth on the Neoprene cut-out appeared to be higher than in the one made of natural Latex.
Direct Graft Puncture with Use of a Crossed Catheter Technique for Thrombolysis of Peripheral Bypass Grafts

PURPOSE To determine the efficacy and safety of direct graft puncture of peripheral arterial bypass grafts with placement of retrograde and antegrade catheters within the graft for thrombolytic therapy. This study also evaluated potential clinical benefit to patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study was performed on 19 patients with 24 peripheral bypass grafts and lower extremity ischemia of less than 1 month duration. Thrombolysis was performed with a continuous high-dose infusion of urokinase. Successful lysis was defined as greater than 95% clot dissolution with antegrade flow within the graft. RESULTS Technical success was achieved in 17 of 19 patients (89%). The complexity of operative intervention was diminished in 12 of 19 patients (63%). The major complication rate (16%) was significantly higher and, therefore, this technique has a role for patients in whom traditional access is not optimal, such as in those in whom access cannot be achieved or in those with long bypass grafts. CONCLUSION Direct graft puncture with placement of catheters across the proximal and distal anastomoses of bypass grafts is a safe method of access, with a major complication rate similar to conventional access techniques. This mode of graft access demonstrates efficacious thrombolysis and acts as a conduit for ancillary procedures.
Diode-laser spectroscopy of alkali halides: The sodium fluoride molecule

Abstract The vibration-rotation spectrum of the sodium fluoride molecule was recorded using a diode laser. A total of 127 rotational lines were recorded in the first overtone band (2-0) and several hot bands with Δν=2. These data, combined with previous microwave measurements, enabled us to determine ten vibration-rotation constants for NaF including ω e =535.6594(15) cm −1 and ω e χ e =3.57636(68) cm −1 .
Succinylcholine pretreatment using gallamine or mivacurium during rapid sequence induction in children: a randomized, controlled study

Abstract Study Objective: To determine if pretreatment with either gallamine or mivacurium before succinylcholine in children is associated with reduction in fasciculations; postoperative myalgias; or serum levels of potassium, creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), and myoglobin. Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded study. Setting: Operating room at a children's hospital. Patients: 45 ASA physical status IE children, aged 3 to 15 years, scheduled for emergency surgery. Interventions: The children received either normal saline 0.5 mL, mivacurium chloride 0.03 mg · kg -1 , or gallamine triethiodide 0.04 mg · kg -1 2 minutes prior to rapid sequence induction (RSI) using thiopental sodium 5 mg · kg -1 , fentanyl 2 μg · kg -1 , and succinylcholine 2 mg · kg -1 . Measurements: Serum potassium concentration (0, 3, 5, 7.5, and 15 min), myoglobin concentration (5 and 15 min), and CPK concentration (0 min and 24 hr). Fasciculation and myalgia were rated on a 0 to 3 score. Main Results: There was no difference between groups for fasciculation (p = 0.87) or myalgia score (p = 0.52). The mivacurium group had significantly less increase in potassium at 5 minutes (0.45 vs. 0.0, p=0.01), myoglobin at 5 minutes (56 vs . 2, p vs . 2.5, p vs . 138, p Conclusions: Administration of mivacurium 0.03 mg · kg -1 intravenously 2 minutes before administration of succinylcholine 2 mg · kg -1 in children is effective in reducing the increase in serum potassium at 5 minutes, the increase in myoglobin at 5 minutes and 15 minutes, and the increase in CPK at 24 hours.
A new protein: macromolecular insoluble could globulin (MICG) derived from mouse thymocytes.

A novel protein synthesized and isolated from mouse thymocytes is described. The protein can be separated from radiolabelled cell lysates by taking advantage of its insolubility in the cold. It is a macromolecule with a molecular weight of 225,000 daltons, migrates as a β-globulin on electrophoresis and has unique antigenic determinents as shown by the production of a monospecific antiserum.
CONNECTIVE TISSUE SYNTHESIS BY SCLERODERMA SKIN FIBROBLASTS IN CELL CULTURE

Skin fibroblasts from subjects with scleroderma and control subjects were grown in tissue culture to compare the characteristics of connective tissue metabolism. A striking increase in soluble collagen (media hydroxyproline) was observed in eight of nine scleroderma cultures when they were compared with identically handled control cultures matched for the age and sex of the donor and the anatomic site of the donor skin. Glycoprotein content as estimated by hexosamine and sialic acid was also significantly increased in the scleroderma cultures. Estimations of protein-polysaccharide content by uronic acid determinations were low in all cultures and not significantly increased in scleroderma cultures. This report demonstrates the feasibility of using fibroblast cell cultures to study chronic rheumatic and connective tissue disorders. The initial results suggest a net increase in collagen and glycoprotein synthesis in scleroderma fibroblast cultures. The implications of an abnormality of connective tissue metabolism by skin fibroblasts propagated in vitro in the acquired disorder scleroderma are discussed.
Automatically exploiting symmetries in constraint programming

We introduce a framework for studying and solving a class of CSP formulations. The framework allows constraints to be expressed as linear and non-linear equations, then compiles them into SAT instances via Boolean logic circuits. While in general reduction to SAT may lead to the loss of structure, we specifically detect several types of structure in high-level input and use them in compilation. Linearity is preserved by the use of pseudo-Boolean (PB) constraints in conjunction with a 0-1 ILP solver that extends common SAT-solving techniques. Symmetries are detected in high-level constraints by solving the graph automorphism problem on parse trees. Symmetry-breaking predicates are added during compilation. Our system generalizes earlier work on symmetries in SAT and 0-1 ILP problems. Empirical evaluation is performed on instances of the social golfers and Hamming code generation problems. We show substantial speedups with symmetry-breaking, especially on unsatisfiable instances. In general, our runtimes with the specialized 0-1 ILP solver Pueblo are competitive with results recently reported for ILOG Solver.
Histopathology of inflammatory skin disease in oncological patients

Abstract The spectrum of cutaneous lesions in oncological patients includes entities encountered in the general population, lesions associated with underlying malignant processes (such as paraneoplastic syndromes) and conditions related to the immunosuppressed status of these patients or their antineoplastic treatment. The paraneoplastic syndromes represent a group of skin conditions that may precede or coexist with the diagnosis of malignancy and may also signal tumour recurrences. In general, there is a high prevalence of immunosuppression in oncological patients, related to the alteration of humoral and cellular immunity or their immunosuppressive therapy. Thus, these patients are especially susceptible to certain infections associated with high morbidity and mortality. Correct and early recognition of the cutaneous manifestations in oncological patients provides an important insight into underlying malignant process, possible complications (iatrogenic or not) and prognosis. In this review we offer a practical overview of inflammatory or neoplastic conditions associated with internal malignancies and cutaneous infectious in oncological patients.
Thyroid stimulating hormone enhancement of bovine oocyte maturation in vitro.

Efforts to improve bovine embryonic development in vitro involved study of effects of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) alone or in combination with LH on bovine oocyte maturation (IVM). Putative effects were assessed by observing cumulus expansion (CE), fertilization (IVF), and development to morulae/blastocysts (M/B). Effects of prolactin (PRL) were also investigated. Variables for the 24-hr IVM interval were no hormone (control), TSH (0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 μg/ml) or PRL (10, 100, or 1000 μg/ml), luteinizing hormone (LH) (0, 10, or 100 μg/ml) + TSH (0.1 or 0.5 μg/ml), and serum (20%, v/v) + 0.5 μg TSH/ml; data were from 4–5 trials for each IVM treatment. Higher proportions of oocytes exhibited complete CE with hormones or serum than without (P < 0.05). All oocytes (with and without CE) were inseminated with heparin-capacitated sperm. A higher proportion of inseminated oocytes cleaved after IVM with 0.5 μg TSH/ml (53.4%) than for other TSH treatments (P < 0.05). The combination of TSH (0.1 and 0.5 μg/ml) with 10 μgLH/ml for IVM enabled higher proportions (P < 0.05) of ova to fertilize (67.4 and 69.2%) than did medium alone (28.3%), LH (10 μg/ml) alone (54.1%), or serum + 0.5 μg TSH/ml (55.6%). No improvement in proportions undergoing fertilization was seen after addition of TSH to 100 μgLH/ml for IVM. Frequency of CE and cleavage did not differ among PRL treatments. More M/B developed from cleaved ova after IVM with LH or TSH than with PRL or no hormone (P < 0.05). Data document the beneficial influences of TSH and LH during IVM on the quality of the resulting ova.
Straddle-board modeling of SMT joint behaviors

Straddle-board specimens consisting of a chip carrier connected by J-leads to a printed wiring board were tested isothermally at room temperature. Thermal expansions were simulated by controlling the deflection of the bisectioned printed wiring board. Initial results are presented from using the straddle-board configuration for material response and fatigue life analysis of actual surface-mounted joints. The leads were subjected to two typical extreme modes of deformation, longitudinal and transverse deflections, to determine the behaviors and damage in each case. It was found that the transverse component of the lead deflection, which increases in magnitude toward the corner of the chip carrier, is more damaging than the longitudinal component, which does not vary from lead to lead. The fatigue data, plotted as percent load drop versus cycles, follows a linear pattern during the initial stages of damage. The effects of stress relaxation on the rate of loading show a logarithmic correlation with deflection. >