cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Velocity-defect scaling for turbulent boundary layers with a range of relative roughness

Velocity profile measurements in zero pressure gradient, turbulent boundary layer flow were made on a smooth wall and on two types of rough walls with a wide range of roughness heights. The ratio of the boundary layer thickness (δ) to the roughness height (k) was 16≤δ/k≤110 in the present study, while the ratio of δ to the equivalent sand roughness height (k s) ranged from 6≤δ/k s≤91. The results show that the mean velocity profiles for all the test surfaces agree within experimental uncertainty in velocity-defect form in the overlap and outer layer when normalized by the friction velocity obtained using two different methods. The velocity-defect profiles also agree when normalized with the velocity scale proposed by Zagarola and Smits (J Fluid Mech 373:33–70, 1998). The results provide evidence that roughness effects on the mean flow are confined to the inner layer, and outer layer similarity of the mean velocity profile applies even for relatively large roughness.
A Linear Time Planarity Algorithm for 2-Complexes

A linear time algorithm to decide whether a given finite 2- complex is planar is described. Topological results of Gross, Harary and Rosen are the mathematical basis for the algorithm. Optimal running time is achieved by constructing various lists simultaneously and keeping their orderings compatible. If the complex is simplical with p vertices, then the algorithm has O(p) time and space bounds. The algorithm uses depth-first search both in application of the graph planarity algorithm of Hopcroft and Tarjan and elsewhere
Getting in Step with the Spirit: Applying Pentecostal Commitments to HIV/AIDS in South Africa

Pentecostalism is the fastest growing form of Christianity in developing countries. Paralleling Pentecostalism's growth has been the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This paper examines how post-apartheid South Africans are responding to the conflicts born of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Fieldwork conducted in 2005 shows that Pentecostals who were not involved in efforts to address HIV/AIDS saw the church's mission as almost exclusively spiritual in nature. Pentecostals who were engaged in HIV/AIDS-related work were more likely to have an integrated worldview and to see the church's mission as relevant to the physical world. Beliefs about removing racism from the church and sin as structural as well as individual were also associated with this integrated worldview. These insights lay the foundation for constructing a Pentecostal social ethic for addressing HIV/AIDS.
Principal-components analysis of fluorescence cross-section spectra from pathogenic and simulant bacteria.

Principal-components analysis of a new set of highly resolved (<1 nm) fluorescence cross-section spectra excited at 354.7 nm over the 370–646 nm band has been used to demonstrate the potential ability of UV standoff lidars to discriminate among particular biological warfare agents and simulants over short ranges. The remapped spectra produced by this technique from Bacillus globigii (Bg) and Bacillus anthracis (Ba) spores were sufficiently different to allow them to be cleanly separated, and the Ba spectra obtained from Sterne and Ames strain spores were distinguishable. These patterns persisted as the spectral resolution was subsequently degraded in processing from ~1 to 34 nm. This is to the author’s knowledge the first time that resolved fluorescence spectra from biological warfare agents have been speciated or shown to be distinguishably different from those normally used surrogates by optical spectroscopy.
Magnetic resonance imaging in asymptomatic disseminated vasculomyelinopathy

Two cases of disseminated vasculomyelinopathy (one of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), the other of acute transverse myelitis), are reported because of the persistence, 3 years and 5 months respectively, of abnormalities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These abnormalities remained although in the first case the disease had been essentially asymptomatic from the onset except for one seizure, the patient remaining neurologically intact, whereas in the second case, the patient had made a complete recovery from very serious neurologic dysfunction. The first case illustrates the fact that ADEM may rarely occur without any symptoms, even in the presence of severe imaging abnormalities in both CT and MRI. Neither the persistence of a blood-brain barrier permeability alteration nor gliosis can satisfactorily explain the MRI changes, and thus the pathological significance of areas of increased signal intensity in MRI remains poorly understood and a matter of uncertainty. This report emphasizes the futility of attempting to correlate any kind of clinical observation, laboratory parameter, or effect of therapeutic regimens with changes, or lack thereof, in the MRI in multiple sclerosis and disseminated vasculomyelinopathy.
Charge simulation based electric field analysis of composite insulators for HVDC lines

This paper illustrates a charge simulation method based computation of electric potential and field of composite insulators for HVDC lines. The electric field is calculated under both dry and wet conditions and compared to AC line insulators. The results indicate that for the same nominal voltage, the electric field for DC lines is higher than for ac lines, thereby necessitating larger field control devices (corona and grading rings) for DC insulators. A process for optimizing corona and grading ring dimensions is described and applied for 500 kV HVDC lines.
Visual cortical units associated with phasic activity in REM sleep and wakefulness.

Abstract Single unit activity was studied in the cat visual cortex in natural transitions of sleep and wakefulness with special reference to phasic activity in desynchronized sleep and wakefulness. Among half the samples which held certain relations to ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) waves in sleep, a small portion of units (5%, 7 of 140 units) had a time-locked phase relationship to PGO waves in sleep. They started rapid firing immediately after the onset of PGO waves and the facilitation lasted for 100–250 msec. Most units in the non-striate cortex had positive relationships to PGO waves, while in the striate cortex the majority showed no correlation with PGO waves. In wakefulness, a small number of units (7%, 4 of 56 units) showed a definite relationship to PGO-like waves in the background EEG, whereas a majority (86%) had no correlation with PGO-like waves. One unit ceased to fire and 3 others accelerated in discharge immediately after the onset of PGO-like waves. Mechanisms underlying these two phasic events at different vigilance levels and their possible biological significance are discussed.
Isoscalar and Isovector transition amplitudes in A = 13

Data for the isovector charge exchange reaction ($^{3}\mathrm{He}$,$t$) on $^{13}\mathrm{C}$ are compared to $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ inelastic scattering data containing both isovector and isoscalar parts, and to strictly isoscalar inelastic $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ scattering to determine the ratio of $\ensuremath{\Delta}T=1$ to $\ensuremath{\Delta}T=0$ transition amplitudes for several states. These amplitudes are used to compute the charge asymmetry for ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ inelastic scattering on $^{13}\mathrm{C}$ and good agreement is found for six excited states. A ratio of mirror electromagnetic reduced transition rates is also correctly predicted. Several scattering mechanism models are compared for the excitation of the high-spin $\frac{7}{{2}^{+}}$ and $\frac{9}{{2}^{+}}$ states of $^{13}\mathrm{C}$ or $^{13}\mathrm{N}$ but no single mechanism can be shown to dominate.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{13}\mathrm{C}$($^{3}\mathrm{He}$,$^{3}\mathrm{He}$\ensuremath{'}) ($^{3}\mathrm{He}$,$t$)($^{4}\mathrm{He}$,$^{4}\mathrm{He}$\ensuremath{'}) ${E}_{^{3}\mathrm{He}}=43.6$ MeV, ${E}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=35.5$ MeV; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(E,\ensuremath{\theta})$, deduce ratio of isovector to isoscalar transition amplitude.
Effect of Pressure on the Photoluminescence of Polynucleotide-Stabilized Cadmium Sulfide Nanocrystals

This work describes the effects of pressure on the photoluminescence of Q-CdS (quantum-confined cadmium sulfide) nanoparticles stabilized by hexametaphosphate, calf thymus DNA, polyadenylic acid, polyuridylic acid, and polyadenylic-uridylic acid in the pressure range from atmospheric pressure to 4 kbar. A marked difference is observed between Q-CdS/polyadenylic acid and that of Q-CdS/polyuridylic acid in terms of pressure-induced changes in the luminescence; coating the surface of each type of Q-CdS with cadmium hydroxide results in a leveling effect whereby only a steady diminution of emission intensity is observed in each case. A model involving pressure-induced perturbation of anionic sulfide hole traps at the semiconductor nanocrystal surface is proposed to explain these observations.
The regularized layered medium equation

The regularized layered medium equotion is proposed as a model of voltage dist,ribution in a medium consisting of alternating thin films of conducting and dielectric riiaterials. This equation is obtained from the layered medium equation by the introdiiction of a regularizing perturbation that takes account of the resistance at the interface bet,ween adjacent conduct,ing and dielectric layers. The regularized equation is an inlplicit evolution equation which is shown to be well-posed. and an explicit measure is derived for the rate of decay of singularities in the initial data. It is shown that. as the regularizing parameter approaches zero, solutions of the initial-boiindary value problem for the regularized equation converge to the corresponding solution of the layered medium equation. This gives a method of calculating the exact rate of decay of singillarities in the initial data for the layered medium equation.
Adenovirus VAI RNA facilitates the initiation of translation in virus-infected cells

The adenovirus VAI RNA is a small polymerase III-transcribed species that is required for optimal translation of mRNAs late after infection. Mutant dl331 fails to produce this RNA species and, as a result, grows poorly. Mutant-infected cells contain normal levels of late mRNAs, but reduced levels of polypeptides are synthesized late after infection. Translational elongation occurs at normal rates in mutant, as compared to wild-type, virus-infected cells. Initiation of translation occurs with reduced efficiency in dl331 -infected cells. VAI RNA is required for formation of a stable 48S preinitiation complex and very likely functions to facilitate the interaction between 43S preinitiation complex and mRNA to form the 48S species.
Vanishing of dipole matrix elements at level crossings.

Demonstration that the vanishing of certain coupling matrix elements at level crossings follow from angular momentum commutation relations. A magnetic dipole transition having delta M = plus or minus 1, induced near a crossing of the levels in a nonzero magnetic field, is found to have a dipole matrix element comparable to or smaller than the quotient of the level separation and the field. This result also applies in the analogous electric field electric dipole case.
On the Genus of a Subfield of a Field

Abstract In 1977 Babai showed that if Γ 1 is a subgroup of a finite group Γ 2 , then the genus of Γ 1 is at most the genus of Γ 2 . We establish a similar result for finite fields.
Detection of β-carbanion formation during kynurenine hydrolysis catalyzed by Pseudomonas marginalis kynureninase

Abstract 2-Amino-4-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid has been shown to be formed during the Pseudomonas marginalis kynureninase-catalyzed hydrolysis of kynurenine in the presence of benzaldehyde and pyridoxal phosphate. The formation of 2-amino-4-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid is the first demonstration, to our knowledge, of the controlled trapping of an amino acid β-carbanion generated either chemically or enzymatically, and is perhaps the best empirical evidence to date that enzyme mechanisms can proceed through a β-carbanionic intermediate. The lifetime of the β-carbanionic alanyl intermediate generated by kynureninase is of sufficient duration to allow reaction with benzaldehyde. Other aromatic, but no aliphatic, aldehydes will undergo electrophilic addition with kynureninase-generated β-carbanionic alanyl intermediates to form the corresponding amino acid.
Hypothalamic obesity after craniopharyngioma: mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Obesity is a common complication after craniopharyngioma therapy, occurring in up to 75% of survivors. Its weight gain is unlike that of normal obesity, in that it occurs even with caloric restriction, and attempts at lifestyle modification are useless to prevent or treat the obesity. The pathogenesis of this condition involves the inability to transduce afferent hormonal signals of adiposity, in effect mimicking a state of CNS starvation. Efferent sympathetic activity drops, resulting in malaise and reduced energy expenditure, and vagal activity increases, resulting in increased insulin secretion and adipogenesis. Lifestyle intervention is essentially useless in this syndrome, termed “hypothalamic obesity”. Pharmacologic treatment is also difficult, consisting of adrenergics to mimic sympathetic activity, or suppression of insulin secretion with octreotide, or both. Recently, bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic gastric banding, truncal vagotomy) have also been attempted with variable results. Early and intensive management is required to mitigate the obesity and its negative consequences.
Are electron tweezers possible

Abstract Positively answering the question in the title, we demonstrate in this work single electron beam trapping and steering of 20–300 nm solid Al nanoparticles generated inside opaque submicron-sized molten Al–Si eutectic alloy spheres. Imaging of solid nanoparticles and liquid alloy in real time was performed using energy filtering in an analytical transmission electron microscope (TEM). Energy-filtering TEM combined with valence electron energy-loss spectroscopy enabled us to investigate in situ nanoscale transformations of the internal structure, temperature dependence of plasmon losses, and local electronic and optical properties under melting and crystallization of individual binary alloy particles. For particles below 20 nm in size, enhanced vibrations of the dynamic solid–liquid interface due to instabilities near the critical threshold were observed just before melting. The obtained results indicate that focused electron beams can act as a tool for manipulation of metal nanoparticles by transferring linear and angular mechanical momenta. Such thermally assisted electron tweezers can be utilized for touchless manipulation and processing of individual nano-objects and potentially for fabrication of assembled nanodevices with atomic level sensitivity and lateral resolution provided by modern electron optical systems. This is by three orders of magnitude better than for light microscopy utilized in conventional optical tweezers. New research directions and potential applications of trapping and tracking of nano-objects by focused electron beams are outlined.
How should we define light or intermittent smoking? Does it matter?

Multiple terms for light and intermittent smokers (LITS), each with a range of definitions, are found in the literature. Because of this wide range of terms and definitions, there has been interest in developing a standard definition of LITS. However, several factors need to be taken into account in setting such a definition. In the literature, levels of cigarette consumption often serve as a proxy measure for toxin exposure, level of addiction, or level of disease risk. However, for a variety of reasons, consumption may not be a good surrogate for these predictor and outcome measures. Some of these reasons include: differences in tobacco products that may affect exposure, changes in understanding about the levels of tobacco use that sustain addiction, how closely consumption measured as cigarettes smoked per day correlates with other markers of exposure, the effect of compensation (changes in smoking behavior to adjust for changes in nicotine levels or in volume of cigarettes smoked), the nonlinear relationship between consumption and disease risk for some diseases, whether people maintain the same levels of smoking over time, and the meaningfulness of various levels of cigarette consumption if other tobacco products are used concurrently. Public health will need to consider, in light of these factors, whether a categorization of LITS is warranted. This commentary briefly explores each of these aspects of LITS: (a) the terms used in the literature for LITS and the range of definitions found for each term; (b) the most valid LITS categories based on the stability of the various levels of consumption over time; (c) the validity of using consumption as a surrogate measure of toxin exposure, addiction, disease risk, or program impact; (d) the implications of polytobacco use for consumption being used as such a proxy; and (e) whether better measures exist for exposure, addiction, and disease risk. Finally, recommendations regarding the use of consumption as a predictor or as an outcome variable and possible relevant categorizations are discussed.
Feature selection in enterprise analytics: a demonstration using an R-based data analytics system

Enterprise applications are analyzing ever larger amounts of data using advanced analytics techniques. Recent systems from Oracle, IBM, and SAP integrate R with a data processing system to support richer advanced analytics on large data. A key step in advanced analytics applications is feature selection, which is often an iterative process that involves statistical algorithms and data manipulations. From our conversations with data scientists and analysts at enterprise settings, we observe three key aspects about feature selection. First, feature selection is performed by many types of users, not just data scientists. Second, high performance is critical to perform feature selection processes on large data. Third, the provenance of the results and steps in feature selection processes needs to be tracked for purposes of transparency and auditability. Based on our discussions with data scientists and the literature on feature selection practice, we organize a set of operations for feature selection into the Columbus framework. We prototype Columbus as a library usable in the Oracle R Enterprise environment. In this demonstration, we use Columbus to showcase how we can support various types of users of feature selection in one system. We then show how we optimize performance and manage the provenance of feature selection processes.
Analyzing the real-time properties of a dataflow execution paradigm using a synthetic aperture radar application

Real-time signal processing applications are commonly designed using a data flow software architecture. The author attempts to understand fundamental real-time properties of such an architecture-the Navy's coarse-grain processing graph method (PGM). By applying recent results in real-time scheduling theory to the subset of PGM employed by the ARPA RASSP Synthetic Aperture Radar benchmark application, he identifies inherent real-time properties of nodes in a PGM data flow graph, and demonstrates how these properties can be exploited to perform useful and important system-level analyses such as schedulability analysis, end-to-end latency analysis, and memory requirements analysis. More importantly, he develops relationships between properties such as latency and buffer bounds and show how one may be traded-off for the other. The results assume only the existence of a simple EDF scheduler and thus can be easily applied in practice.
Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy:. Overview and Applications

The study of mechanical resonances can provide a plethora of information concerning the physical behavior of a system, both at the macroscopic and microscopic level. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS), through advances in electronics and computational power, has evolved into the premier method for the precise study of mechanical resonances of solids. The range of applications is diverse, and as the popularity of RUS continues to increase, so will its spectrum of applications. This article contains an overview of the method, a short discussion of elastic constants, elastic moduli, and a survey of some successful RUS applications.
The First Targeted Delivery of siRNA in Humans via a Self-Assembling, Cyclodextrin Polymer-Based Nanoparticle: From Concept to Clinic

Experimental therapeutics developed to exploit RNA interference (RNAi) are now in clinical studies. Here, the translation from concept to clinic for the first experimental therapeutic to provide targeted delivery of synthetic, small interfering RNA (siRNA) in humans is described. This targeted, nanoparticle formulation of siRNA, denoted as CALAA-01, consists of a cyclodextrin-containing polymer (CDP), a polythethylene glycol (PEG) steric stabilization agent, and human transferrin (Tf) as a targeting ligand for binding to transferrin receptors (TfR) that are typically upregulated on cancer cells. The four component formulation is self-assembled into nanoparticles in the pharmacy and administered intravenously (iv) to patients. The designed features of this experimental therapeutic are described, and their functions illustrated.
Enhancement of radiation therapy by the novel vascular targeting agent ZD6126.

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of the novel vascular targeting agent ZD6126 ( N -acetylcochinol- O -phosphate) in the rodent KHT sarcoma model, either alone or in combination with single- or fractionated-dose radiation therapy. Methods: C3H/HeJ mice bearing i.m. KHT tumors were injected i.p. with ZD6126 doses ranging from 10 to 150 mg/kg. Tumors were irradiated locally in unanesthetized mice using a linear accelerator. Tumor response to ZD6126 administered alone or in combination with radiation was assessed by clonogenic cell survival assay or tumor growth delay. Results: Treatment with ZD6126 led to a rapid tumor vascular shutdown as determined by Hoechst 33342 diffusion. Histologic evaluation showed morphologic damage of tumor cells within a few hours after drug exposure, followed by extensive central tumor necrosis and neoplastic cell death as a result of prolonged ischemia. When combined with radiation, a 150 mg/kg dose of ZD6126 reduced tumor cell survival 10–500-fold compared with radiation alone. These enhancements in tumor cell killing could be achieved for ZD6126 given both before and after radiation exposure. Further, the shape of the cell survival curve observed after the combination therapy suggested that including ZD6126 in the treatment had a major effect on the radiation-resistant hypoxic cell subpopulation associated with this tumor. Finally, when given on a once-weekly basis in conjunction with fractionated radiotherapy, ZD6126 treatment was found to significantly increase the tumor response to daily 2.5 Gy fractions. Conclusion: The present results demonstrated that in the KHT sarcoma, ZD6126 caused rapid tumor vascular shutdown, induction of central tumor necrosis, tumor cell death secondary to ischemia, and enhancement of the antitumor effects of radiation therapy.
Simulation of a cyclic multicast proxy server

The exponential growth of the World Wide Web (WWW) users has made the deployment of proxy servers popular on a network with limited resources. WWW clients perceive better response time, improved performance and speed when response to requested pages are served from the cache of a proxy server, resulting in faster response times after the first document fetch. This work focuses on the development of a cyclic multicast proxy server through the use of a cyclic multicast engine for the delivery of popular web pages from the proxy server cache to increasingly large users under limited server capacity and network resources. The cyclic multicast technique would be more efficient for the delivery of highly requested web pages from the cache to large numbers of receivers. We describe the operation of the cyclic multicast proxy server and characterized the gains in performance through simulation of the cyclic multicast proxy server.
“Night Comes to the Cretaceous” and other tales of the decibel

This education paper presents three entertainment problems that may be of use to educators. These problems illustrate how to use the decibel scale for back of the envelope calculation without a calculator. “Night Comes to the Cretaceous” estimates the size the meteor believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs from the diameter of the Chicxulub crater in the Yucatan, the crater excavated by the detonation of the first hydrogen bomb, and the radius of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. “Euler Would Be Proud” shows how to easily determine powers of e and how to determine natural logarithms without a calculator. “The Amazing Number 1.6” demonstrates that the doubling of the number of transistors on a chip every 18 months of Moore's Law corresponds to an annual compound growth rate of 60% and then shows the implications of this growth rate on computational power over periods of decades. This paper uses the by-hand rational approximations to the multiplicative factors corresponding to integer decibel values between 1 and 20 and the rational decibel approximations corresponding to integer factors between 1 and 10 that appeared in [2].
Human/robot interaction via the transfer of power and information signals. I. Dynamics and control analysis

Extenders, a class of robot manipulators worn by humans to increase human mechanical strength while the wearer's intellect remains the central intelligent control system for manipulating the extender, are characterized, with a focus on the issues of the dynamics and control of human-machine interaction in the sense of the transfer of power and information signals. General models of the human, the extender, and the interaction between the human and the extender are developed. Unstructured modeling is chosen to include all the dynamics in the systems and to avoid specific models. The stability of the system of human, extender, and object being manipulated is analyzed, and the conditions for stable maneuvers derived. An expression for the performance of the extender is defined as a means to quantify the force augmentation. The tradeoff between stability and performance is described. >
Calcium and potassium currents in cells from adult and aged canine right atria.

Background: Action potential (AP) contours vary considerably between normal adult and aged right atrial fibers. The ionic bases for these differences remain unknown. Therefore we studied Ca2+ and K+ currents in cells from adult and aged canine right atria (RA). Methods and Results: We used whole cell patch clamp recording techniques to measure L-type Ca2+ currents (ICaL) with either Ca2+ or Ba2+ (3 mM) as the charge carrier, and both the transient outward (Ito) and sustained potassium currents (Isus) in cells dispersed from normal adult (Adult, 2–5 years) and older dogs (Aged, >8 years). There is a significant reduction in peak ICaL (47%) and IBaL (43%) in Aged cells, yet differences in IBaL disappear with maximal β adrenergic stimulation (isoproterenol, 1 μM). Composite Ito and Isus densities were significantly increased in the Aged versus Adult cell group (by 31 and 27% at +50 mV, respectively). Ito decay during a maintained depolarization was slowed in Aged cells. Furthermore, Ito steady-state inactivation curve was shifted positively in Aged cells. Finally, composite Ito and Isus currents of Aged cells were more sensitive to tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA), a specific inhibitor of some types of K+ currents. In the presence of TEA (5 mM), Ito in Aged cells was significantly greater than that in Adult cells. Conclusions: Ionic currents differ in Aged versus Adult right atrial cells, such that a reduced Ca2+ current and augmented outward currents could contribute significantly to the altered AP contour of the Aged RA cell. Adrenergic stimulation appears to restore Ba2+ currents in Aged cells. Finally, an augmented TEA sensitive current plays a role in changes of Isus in Aged right atrial cells.
What's Most Important?

That's the million-dollar question. When it comes to marketing, you want to know what your customers need. When it comes to AAPM, we want to know what you, our members, need and would benefit from the most. We asked that question at our recent member forum. We asked you what was the most important thing the Academy does for you. The response was clear—the Annual Meeting and networking opportunities came in at 38% each. The journal and publications followed with a 12% response. Your Academy leadership is responding directly to your needs. The Annual Meeting and its networking opportunities and our journal are at the top of our priority list. Have you been to our Annual Meeting lately? Our next one is in Palm Springs, California—February 23–27, 2005—it is the perfect venue. Please mark your calendar now. You will not want to miss this meeting. It is unsurpassed for quality in education. We bring together the best and brightest for this event. You also have the …
The utility of continuous atmospheric measurements for identifying biospheric CO2 flux variability

[1] Motivated by the need to improve the modeling of land‐atmosphere carbon exchange, this study examines the extent to which continuous atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) observations can be used to evaluate flux variability at regional scales. The net ecosystem exchange estimates of four terrestrial biospheric models (TBMs) are used to represent plausible scenarios of surface flux distributions, which are compared in terms of their resulting atmospheric signals. The analysis focuses on North America using the nine towers of the continuous observation network that were operational in 2004. Four test cases are designed to isolate the influence on the atmospheric observations of (1) overall flux differences, (2) magnitude differences in flux across large regions, (3) differences in the flux patterns within ecoregions, and (4) flux variability in the near and far field of observation locations. The CO2 signals generated from the different representations of surface flux distribution are compared using a Chi‐square test of variance. Differences found to be significant are driven primarily by differences in flux magnitude over large scales, and the fine‐scale (primarily temporal) variability of fluxes within the near field of observation locations. Differences in the spatial distribution of fluxes within individual ecoregions, on the other hand, do not translate into significant differences in the observed signals at the towers. Thus, given the types of variation in flux represented by the four TBMs, the atmospheric data may be most informative in the evaluation of aggregated fluxes over large spatial scales (e.g., ecoregions), as well as in the improvement of how the diurnal cycle of fluxes is represented in TBMs, particularly in areas close to tower locations.
Brachial Artery Approach for Endovascular Treatment of Posterior Circulation Intracranial Vascular Disease: Technique and Application in 5 Cases

Although the transbrachial artery approach has been well described as an alternative for percutaneous coronary interventions and diagnostic cerebral arteriography, little has been reported regarding the use of this technique for therapeutic neuroendovascular procedures. We highlight the technical applications of this technique during 5 procedures. Three women (age 68, 69, and 83 years) and 1 man (age 79 years) were treated using brachial artery access. Two of the women with complex posterior circulation aneurysms were treated with stent-assisted coil embolization. The third woman presented with a symptomatic occlusion of the basilar artery and underwent intra-arterial thrombolysis and angioplasty, followed at a later date by a second intra-arterial thrombolysis procedure. The male patient presented with recurrent, intractable posterior circulation ischemic events and underwent balloon angioplasty and stenting of a high-grade stenosis of the right vertebral artery. All patients had failed treatment via a transfemoral route and demonstrated significant thoracoaortic and/or iliofemoral tortuosity. Appropriate intracranial vascular access was achieved in all patients, and there were no intraprocedural complications. We conclude that a transbrachial approach may be successfully used for a variety of therapeutic neuroendovascular interventions when a transfemoral route is not available.
$\epsilon$ -Capacity of Binary Symmetric Averaged Channels

We consider the channel model obtained by averaging binary symmetric channel (BSC) components with respect to a weighting distribution. A nonempty open interval (A, B) is called a capacity gap for this channel model if no channel component has capacity in (A, B) and this property fails for every open interval strictly containing (A, B). For a fixed epsi>0, suppose one wishes to compute the epsi-capacity of the channel, which is the maximum asymptotic rate at which the channel can be encoded via a sequence of channel codes each achieving block error probability lesepsi. In 1963, Parthasarathy provided a formula for epsi-capacity which is valid for all but at most countably many values of epsi. When the formula fails, there exists a unique capacity gap (A, B) such that the epsi-capacity lies in [A, B], but one does not know precisely where. Via a coding theorem and converse, we establish a formula for computing epsi-capacity as a function of the endpoints A, B of the associated capacity gap (A, B); the formula holds whenever the capacity gap is sufficiently narrow in width
Dietary baked egg accelerates resolution of egg allergy in children

Background Baked egg is tolerated by a majority of egg-allergic children. Objective To characterize immunologic changes associated with ingestion of baked egg and evaluate the role that baked egg diets play in the development of tolerance to regular egg. Methods Egg-allergic subjects who tolerated baked egg challenge incorporated baked egg into their diet. Immunologic parameters were measured at follow-up visits. A comparison group strictly avoiding egg was used to evaluate the natural history of the development of tolerance. Results Of the 79 subjects in the intent-to-treat group followed for a median of 37.8 months, 89% now tolerate baked egg and 53% now tolerate regular egg. Of 23 initially baked egg–reactive subjects, 14 (61%) subsequently tolerated baked egg and 6 (26%) now tolerate regular egg. Within the initially baked egg–reactive group, subjects with persistent reactivity to baked egg had higher median baseline egg white (EW)-specific IgE levels (13.5 kU A /L) than those who subsequently tolerated baked egg (4.4 kU A /L; P = .04) and regular egg (3.1 kU A /L; P = .05). In subjects ingesting baked egg, EW-induced skin prick test wheal diameter and EW-, ovalbumin-, and ovomucoid-specific IgE levels decreased significantly, while ovalbumin- and ovomucoid-specific IgG 4 levels increased significantly. Subjects in the per-protocol group were 14.6 times more likely than subjects in the comparison group ( P P Conclusion Initiation of a baked egg diet accelerates the development of regular egg tolerance compared with strict avoidance. Higher serum EW-specific IgE level is associated with persistent baked and regular egg reactivity, while initial baked egg reactivity is not.
THE EFFECT OF DIESEL EXHAUST PARTICLES (DEP) AND CARBON BLACK (CB) ON THIOL CHANGES IN PULMONARY OVALBUMIN ALLERGIC SENSITIZED BROWN NORWAY RATS

Brown Norway rats were exposed by intratracheal instillation of saline, carbon black (CB), or diesel exhaust particles (DEP) (5 mg/kg) on day 1, followed by exposure to ovalbumin (OVA, 90 mg/m(3)) or saline for 30 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 29. Animals were sacrificed on day 30. The DEP, CB, or OVA exposure alone did not result in abnormal levels of inflammatory cells, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), or total protein in the lavage fluid. In combined OVA-DEP or OVA-CB exposure, however, these markers were significantly increased. The adjuvant effect of CB and DEP on OVA sensitization was evidenced by the marked increases in serum OVA-specific IgG (5.6-fold) and IgE (3.5-4 fold) levels, and the increase in interleukin-4 (IL-4) mRNA levels in lung tissue. The OVA exposure markedly reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in both cell types. In combined DEP-OVA exposure, the level of GSH in lymphocytes was further decreased, indicating a possible interactive effect between DEP and OVA exposures. These results show that both DEP and CB augmented OVA-induced allergic sensitization, and that particle composition of DEP may not be a critical factor for the adjuvant effect. OVA exposure causes significant depletion of intracellular GSH in lymphocytes, which may play a key role in OVA-mediated immune responses.
Acoustic telemetry - An overview

Acoustic telemetry from underwater submersibles and sensors has been pursued ever since it was recognized that the ocean could support signal transmission. While it has been evident that some form of communication is possible, the ocean has proved to be a distressingly difficult medium in which to achieve high data rates. High data rate transmission requires a wide bandwidth which is severely constrained in the ocean because of the absorption of high-frequency energy. Moreover, the ocean is a very reverberant environment with both time and frequency spreading of signals; this further limits data transmission rates. The net effect of the bandwidth and reverberation constraints has led to either acoustic telemetry systems with low data rates or to the use of tethered systems. Over the years, various forms of acoustic communication systems have been developed. These have included direct AM and SSB for underwater telephones, FM for sensor data, FSK and DPSK for digital data, and parametric sonars for narrow-beam systems. As offshore operations have increased, several other systems have been proposed and/or built to respond to particular needs. In this paper, we review the underwater channel and the limitations that it imposes upon acoustic telemetry systems. We then survey some of the systems that have been built (excluding military systems) and indicate how they use various communication system principles to overcome these limitations.
Inadequacy of Lymph Node Staging in Gastric Cancer Patients: A Population-Based Study

Background In 1997, examination of at least 15 lymph nodes was recommended for adequate gastric cancer staging. However, the proportion of patients undergoing an adequate lymph node examination (LNE) has not been studied in a population-based manner.
Caregivers of the Elderly: Lack of Nutrition Knowledge

Abstract A Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) was utilized to determine the nutritional knowledge of the caregivers of the clients. To obtain demographic data on the clients a chart review was conducted, which also yielded the name and telephone number of the client's primary caregiver. A questionnaire was administered to the caregiver to determine knowledge of nutrition and specific nutritional care behaviors. Seventy-eight caregivers completed the questionnaire. Scores indicated that the caregivers' knowledge of nutrition was minimal, despite the fact that many of the caregivers were educated beyond high school. However, the majority of caregivers did believe their elder received proper nutrition on a daily basis. Data suggest that caregivers' perceptions of proper nutrition may not be based on accurate nutrition knowledge. Focus on the education of caregivers regarding nutritional needs of older adults and recognition of signs and symptoms of malnutrition may better maintain nutrition...
The role of the proteins Kar9 and Myo2 in orienting the mitotic spindle of budding yeast.

Abstract Background: Two genetic ‘pathways' contribute to the fidelity of nuclear segregation during the process of budding in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae . An early pathway, involving Kar9p and other proteins, orients the mitotic spindle along the mother–bud axis. Upon the onset of anaphase, cytoplasmic dynein provides the motive force for nuclear movement into the bud. Loss of either pathway results in nuclear-migration defects; loss of both is lethal. Here, to visualize the functional steps leading to correct spindle orientation along the mother–bud axis, we imaged live yeast cells expressing Kar9p and dynein as green fluorescent protein fusions. Results: Transport of Kar9p into the bud was found to require the myosin Myo2p. Kar9p interacted with microtubules through the microtubule-binding protein Bim1p and facilitated microtubule penetration into the bud. Once microtubules entered the bud, Kar9p provided a platform for microtubule capture at the bud cortex. Kar9p was also observed at sites of microtubule shortening in the bud, suggesting that Kar9p couples microtubule shortening to nuclear migration. Conclusions: Thus, Kar9p provides a key link between the actin cytoskeleton and microtubules early in the cell cycle. A cooperative mechanism between Kar9p and Myo2p facilitates the pre-anaphase orientation of the spindle. Later, Kar9p couples microtubule disassembly with nuclear migration.
Cerebral perfusion pressure in giraffe: Modelling the effects of head-raising and -lowering

Abstract Loss of consciousness caused by positional changes of the head results from reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF). CBF is related to cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). CPP is the difference between mean arterial pressure (MAP) at the head and intracranial pressure (ICP). The positional change of the giraffe head between ground level and standing upright is the largest of all animals yet loss of consciousness does not occur. We have investigated the possibility that an increase in CPP protects giraffe from fainting, using a mechanical model that functioned as an anatomical U-tube. It consisted of a rigid ascending “carotid” limb, a collapsible “brain” tube drained by a rigid, “vertebral venous plexus” (VVP) tube, and a collapsible “head” tube drained by a collapsible tube representing the “jugular vein”. The descending tubes could be rotated relative to the “carotid” tube to be horizontal, or at 30°, 45°, and 60° to the vertical to simulate changes in head position. Pressure at the top of the “carotid” tube was intracranial MAP, at the top of the “VVP” tube was ICP, and the difference CPP. In the simulated “head-up” position and a fluid flow rate of 4 L min−1, CPP was ∼170 mmHg. With the VVP tube horizontal, CPP fell from ∼170 to 45 mmHg, but increased to ∼67 mmHg at 30° “down”, to ∼70 mmHg at 45° “down” and to ∼75 at 60° “down”. The fall in CPP in the head-down positions resulted from a decrease in viscous resistance in, and dissipation of pressure to, the “head” and “jugular” tubes. These data provide an estimate of cranial pressure changes in giraffe during positional changes of the head, and suggest that an increase in CPP plays a significant role in maintaining CBF during head-raising and that it may be an important mechanism for preventing fainting in giraffe.
An illustration of eigenspace decomposition for illumination invariant pose estimation

Determining the pose of a three-dimensional object under unknown lighting conditions is a challenging problem. Eigenspace methods represent one computationally efficient method for doing illumination invariant pose estimation, and have been applied in a variety of application domains. Unfortunately, determining the appropriate eigenspace dimension, as well as the eigenspace itself, is computationally prohibitive for real-world applications. This paper presents a method to reduce this expense by using results from spectral theory. In particular, this paper shows that a set of images of an object under a wide range of illumination conditions and a fixed pose can be significantly reduced by projecting this data on to a few low-frequency spherical harmonics, producing a set of “harmonic images”. It is then shown that the dimensionality of the set of harmonic images can be further reduced by utilizing the Fast Fourier Transform. An eigendecomposition is then applied in the spectral domain thus relieving the computational burden. Experimental results are presented to compare the proposed algorithm to the true eigendecomposition, as well as assess the computational savings.
Behavioral outcome measures used for human neural stem cell transplantation in rat stroke models

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, leading to the development of various stroke models to test new treatments, most commonly in the rat. Human stroke trials focus on disability, related primarily to neurological deficits. To better model the clinical application of these treatments, many behavioral tests have been developed using the rat stroke model. We performed a systematic review of all the behavioral outcome measures used in published studies of human neural stem cell transplantation in rat stroke models. The reviewed tests include motor, sensory, cognitive, activity, and combination tests. For each test, we give a brief description, trace the origin of the test, and discuss test performance in the reviewed studies. We conclude that while many behavioral tests are available for this purpose, there does not appear to be consensus on an optimal testing strategy.
Response to Letter to the Editor regarding "Anatomic runoff score predicts cardiovascular outcomes in patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease undergoing revascularization".

American Heart Journal - In Press.Proof corrected by the author Available online since samedi 24 octobre 2015
A Wave Propagation Algorithm for the Solution of PDEs on the Surface of a Sphere

Large-scale geophysical flows are governed by partial differential equations on the surface of a sphere. In this paper we present a high-resolution finite volume method using gnomonic grid mappings to solve equations relevant to geophysical fluid dynamics. The method is a generalization of the wave propagation algorithm of CLAWPACK for domains which lie on curved manifolds. We show that in this finite volume context it becomes possible to regularize the singularities arising from the gnomonic mapping; and thus, it becomes possible to compute the solution to various hyperbolic conservation laws on the surface of a sphere in a globally conservative and accurate way. With a slight modification, this approach can also be used to solve equations on a circular domain
An eye on nutrition: The role of vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants in age-related macular degeneration, dry eye syndrome, and cataract

Visual impairment is a global epidemic. In developing countries, nutritional deficiency and cataracts continue to be the leading cause of blindness, whereas age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts are the leading causes in developed nations. The World Health Organization has instituted VISION 2020: "The Right to Sight" as a global mission to put an end to worldwide blindness. In industrialized societies, patients, physicians, researchers, nutritionists, and biochemists have been looking toward vitamins and nutrients to prevent AMD, cataracts, and dry eye syndrome (DES). Nutrients from the AREDS2 study (lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, copper, eicosapentanoic acid [EPA], and docosahexanoic acid [DHA]) set forth by the National Institutes of Health remain the most proven nutritional therapy for reducing the rate of advanced AMD. Omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, have been found to improve DES in randomized clinical trials. Conflicting results have been seen with regard to multivitamin supplementation on the prevention of cataract.