cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Array data processing techniques applied to long-period shear waves at Fennoscandian seismograph stations

Array data processing is applied to long-period records of S waves at a network of five Fennoscandian seismograph stations (Uppsala, Umea, Nurmijarvi, Kongsberg, Copenhagen) with a maximum separation of 1300 km. Records of five earthquakes and one underground explosion are included in the study. The S motion is resolved into SH and SV, and after appropriate time shifts the individual traces are summed, both directly and after weighting. In general, high signal correlation exists among the different stations involved resulting in more accurate time readings, especially for records which have amplitudes that are too small to be read normally. S-wave station residuals correlate with the general crustal type under each station. In addition, the Fennoscandian shield may have a higher SH/SV velocity ratio than the adjacent tectonic area to the northwest.SV-to-P conversion at the base of the crust can seriously interfere with picking the onset of Sin normal record reading. The study demonstrates that, for epicentral distances beyond about 30°, existing networks of seismograph stations can be successfully used for array processing of long-period arrivals, especially the S arrivals.
Overview of Phosphorus Homeostasis

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for life. The regulation of phosphorus is under tight control through various physiological systems. This chapter will provide a broad overview of phosphorus homeostasis with a focus on local and systemic factors that regulate phosphorus balance in the body.
Model‐free scoring system for risk prediction with application to hepatocellular carcinoma study

Summary There is an increasing need to construct a risk-prediction scoring system for survival data and identify important risk factors (e.g., biomarkers) for patient screening and treatment recommendation. However, most existing methodologies either rely on strong model assumptions (e.g., proportional hazards) or only handle binary outcomes. In this article, we propose a flexible method that simultaneously selects important risk factors and identifies the optimal linear combination of risk factors by maximizing a pseudo-likelihood function based on the time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Our method is particularly useful for risk evaluation and recommendation of optimal subsequent treatments. We show that the proposed method has desirable theoretical properties, including asymptotic normality and the oracle property after variable selection. Numerical performance is evaluated on several simulation data sets and an application to hepatocellular carcinoma data.
The Use of Tranexamic Acid for Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding by Medical and Surgical Intensivists: A Single Center Experience.

Background Tranexamic acid (TXA) may be beneficial in the management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). We sought to investigate how frequently intensivists at our academic institution use TXA for patients with UGIB, and to investigate whether the utilization rate of TXA differs between surgical and medical intensivists, and provide an updated literature review on the subject. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted for UGIB to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) and the medical intensive care unit (MICU) at our academic healthcare facility (University of Florida Health - Shands Hospital) from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016. The patients were categorized as receiving or not receiving TXA. The overall utilization rate of TXA was calculated, and the utilization rates for the MICU and SICU were compared using a two-sample test for equality of two proportions with continuity correction. Results The study cohort included a total of 1,829 patients with a diagnosis of UGIB. Of those, 988 were treated in the MICU and 841 were treated in the SICU. Of the 988 patients in the MICU, six received TXA (0.61%), while 10 (1.19%) of the 841 patients in the SICU received TXA. The overall utilization rate of TXA was 0.87%. The odds of receiving TXA in the SICU were 1.97 times greater than in the MICU (odds ratio (OR): 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74 - 5.2, P = 1.83). Conclusions Our study suggests that TXA may be underused in the management of UGIB, and that the utilization rate does not differ significantly between surgical and medical intensivists.
Room Temperature Ionic Liquids as Replacements for Traditional Organic Solvents and Their Applications Towards “Green Chemistry” in Separation Processes

The full effect of Green Chemistry will be realized when the words “environmentally friendly” and “chemistry” can be used in the same sentence without seeming to be a contradiction. In an effort to comply with governmental regulations and to spruce up the image of the chemical industry, one of the major goals of “green” chemistry is to prevent pollution and waste production at the source. In light of the vast usage of organic solvents in industry, we have investigated the use of Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTIL) as solvent alternatives in liquid/liquid separations. Starting from the initial study in which we examined the partitioning of simple benzene derivatives in liquid/liquid extraction systems, we have also studied how ionisable solutes partition in these systems. The knowledge of how organic solutes partition has facilitated the use of metal ion extractants in RTIL-based liquid/liquid separations. This report discusses our current results in the utilization of RTIL for liquid/liquid extraction and also highlights recent results from the literature (e.g., chromatography, supercritical fluid extraction) in which RTIL have been used for separations. The examples chosen serve as illustrations as to how RTIL can be easily used in separations, however, further research is needed to clarify where the use of RTIL is appropriate and before RTIL can be confirmed to be “green” solvent replacements.
Proteins studied by computer simulations

Computer simulations can complement experiments in molecular biology; and are sometimes the only instrument to probe fundamental processes in the cell. However, their use is hampered by poor convergence. I summarize a number of now widely utilized algorithms that help to alleviate these sampling difficulties, and review recent results that demonstrate the power of these techniques in protein simulations.
The Central Component of a Triangulation

We define the central component of a triangulation of a regular convex polygon as the diameter or triangle containing its geometric center. This definition yields a new recursion relation for Catalan numbers, which can be used to derive congruence relations. We generalize this idea to k-angulations, giving congruences of k-Catalan numbers. We also enumerate the triangulations that include a fixed vertex in their central components.
Oprm1 A112G, a single nucleotide polymorphism, alters expression of stress-responsive genes in multiple brain regions in male and female mice

OPRM1 A118G, a functional human mu-opioid receptor (MOR) polymorphism, is associated with drug dependence and altered stress responsivity in humans as well as altered MOR signaling. MOR signaling can regulate many cellular processes, including gene expression, and many of the long-term, stable effects of drugs and stress may stem from changes in gene expression in diverse brain regions. A mouse model bearing an equivalent polymorphism (Oprm1 A112G) was previously generated and studied. Mice homozygous for the G112 allele show differences in opioid- and stress-related phenotypes. The current study examines the expression of 24 genes related to drug and stress responsivity in the caudoputamen, nucleus accumbens, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala of drug-naive, stress-minimized, male and female mice homozygous for either the G112 variant allele or the wild-type A112 allele. We detected nominal genotype-dependent changes in gene expression of multiple genes. We also detected nominal sex-dependent as well as sex-by-genotype interaction effects on gene expression. Of these, four genotype-dependent differences survived correction for multiple testing: Avp and Gal in the hypothalamus and Oprl1 and Cnr1 in the hippocampus. Changes in the regulation of these genes by mu-opioid receptors encoded by the G112 allele may be involved in some of the behavioral and molecular consequences of this polymorphism observed in mice.
Modular Carrier Board and Package for Infrared LED Arrays

Infrared scene projector (IRSPs) are critical laboratory tools for setup, calibration, and testing of infrared imaging systems. Projectors are progressing to handle higher resolution, faster frame rates and improvement in thermal performance. This work highlights the new cryostat design and how this effects the systems hardware.
The Utility of Whole Body Imaging in the Evaluation of Solitary Brain Tumors.

Background Solitary brain tumors can propose a diagnostic dilemma owing to the difficulty in differentiating between primary brain tumors and metastatic disease. The similar radiologic appearance on routine magnetic resonance imaging will necessitate the need for additional noninvasive testing. We sought to determine the clinical utility of preoperative whole body screening with computed tomography (CT) to detect metastatic disease in patients with solitary brain tumors. Methods A prospectively maintained surgical database for a large quaternary care academic institution was retrospectively reviewed for all patients undergoing craniotomy for a new diagnosis of enhancing solitary brain lesion from January 2011 to January 2016. Patients were excluded if the imaging findings had demonstrated multiple brain tumors, they had a known diagnosis of malignancy, or they had undergone previous craniotomy. The demographic and radiographic information and clinical and histopathologic data were collected and tallied. Results A total of 218 patients with solitary brain tumors met the inclusion criteria and were included in the present study. Histopathologic analysis confirmed primary central nervous system tumors in 152 patients (74.4%) and metastatic disease in 66 (25.6%). Preoperative screening with whole body CT had a sensitivity of 0.92 and specificity of 0.95 for detecting systemic metastases in the patients. Preoperative whole body CT correctly identified systemic malignancy in 88% of the patients ultimately diagnosed with metastasis (positive predictive value, 88%). Of those with negative whole body imaging findings, 97% had a diagnosis of a primary central nervous system neoplasm (negative predictive value, 97%). Conclusions Preoperative whole body CT had a positive predictive value of 88% and negative predictive value of 97% in the present study and was both sensitive (92%) and specific (95%) for the detection of extracranial tumors. The identification of extracranial tumors on whole body CT screening might alter management.
Therapy-seeking behavior among parents concerned about their adolescent’s substance use

Background: Among the most persistent public health problems in the United States is the gap between adolescents who need therapy for a substance use (SU) disorder and those who seek therapy. The r...
Interfacial Rheology of Gallium-Based Liquid Metals.

Gallium and its alloys react with oxygen to form a native oxide that encapsulates the liquid metal with a solid “skin”. The viscoelasticity of this skin is leveraged in applications such as soft el...
Modified Legendre-Gauss-Radau Collocation Method for Solving Optimal Control Problems with Nonsmooth Solutions

A new method is developed for solving optimal control problems whose solutions are nonsmooth. The method developed in this paper employs a modified form of the Legendre-Gauss-Radau orthogonal direct collocation method. This modified Legendre-Gauss-Radau method adds two variables and two constraints at the end of a mesh interval when compared with a previously developed standard Legendre-Gauss-Radau collocation method. The two additional variables are the time at the interface between two mesh intervals and the control at the end of each mesh interval. The two additional constraints are a collocation condition for those differential equations that depend upon the control and an inequality constraint on the control at the endpoint of each mesh interval. The additional constraints modify the search space of the nonlinear programming problem such that an accurate approximation to the location of the nonsmoothness is obtained. The transformed adjoint system of the modified Legendre-Gauss-Radau method is then developed. Using this transformed adjoint system, a method is developed to transform the Lagrange multipliers of the nonlinear programming problem to the costate of the optimal control problem. Furthermore, it is shown that the costate estimate satisfies one of the Weierstrass-Erdmann optimality conditions. Finally, the method developed in this paper is demonstrated on an example whose solution is nonsmooth.
Detection of Cytomegalovirus in Intestinal Tissue of Infants with Necrotizing Enterocolitis or Spontaneous Intestinal Perforation.

Objective To determine the frequency of detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in surgical or autopsy intestinal tissue from infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) of the small bowel. Study design This was a retrospective cohort study of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, with NEC (Bell stage ≥2B) or SIP from 2000 to 2016. Paraffin-embedded surgical or autopsy intestinal tissues were examined for CMV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), and clinical characteristics of CMV-positive vs CMV-negative cases were compared. Results CMV was detected by PCR or IHC in 7 (4%) of 178 infants with surgical or autopsy- confirmed NEC (n = 6) or SIP (n = 1). Among 143 NEC cases (123 surgical, 20 autopsy), CMV was detected in 6 (4%): 4 (2 surgical, 2 autopsy) by both PCR and IHC, and 2 (surgical) by PCR only. Among 35 SIP cases (32 surgical, 3 autopsy), 1 (3%) surgical case was positive, by PCR only. CMV-associated NEC cases had lower median gestational age (24 vs 28 weeks; P = .02), birth weight (649 vs 1121 g; P = .04), and platelet count (16 000/mm3 vs 50 000/mm3; P = .018) compared with CMV-negative cases, respectively. No association was found with receipt of maternal milk, age at NEC diagnosis, male sex, cholestasis, or mortality. Conclusions CMV was detected in intestinal tissue from 4% of NEC or SIP cases (NEC, 4%; SIP, 3%). Lower gestational age, lower birth weight, and thrombocytopenia were significantly associated with detection of CMV in NEC or SIP cases.
Same-Admission Cholecystectomy Compared with Delayed Cholecystectomy in Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis: Outcomes and Predictors in a Safety Net Hospital Cohort.

Objectives Recent studies have shown a decrease in gallstone-related complications if same-admission cholecystectomy (SAC) is performed in mild gallstone pancreatitis (GSP); however, SAC often is not performed in resource-limited settings such as safety net hospitals. The aims of this study were to evaluate the rate of SAC and compare a composite endpoint of recurrent biliary events in patients undergoing SAC with patients in the delayed cholecystectomy (DC) group. Secondary aims included evaluating the rate of recurrent pancreatitis in patients in the DC group, identifying the predictors for DC and the reasons for not undergoing SAC. Methods We reviewed 310 patients admitted in the past 5 years with the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Eighty patients were admitted for gallstone pancreatitis; 75% were African American, 18% were white, and the average age was 44 years with a mean body mass index of 30. Forty patients did not receive cholecystectomy before discharge. The DC and SAC groups were similar in body mass index, ethnicity, severity of pancreatitis, and complications. Results The DC group was significantly more likely to be older and with higher comorbidity indexes compared with the SAC group. Bedside Index of Severity in Acute Pancreatitis scores and revised Atlanta classification definitions were used to define severe acute pancreatitis; 10% (4) of patients had organ failure at 48 hours, whereas 17.5% (7) had a Bedside Index of Severity in Acute Pancreatitis scores ≥3. A total of 14 recurrent biliary events occurred in the DC group (14 of 40), which was 35% compared with 2 of 40 (5%) in the SAC group (P 2 was the only significant predictor of DC. The most common reason for DC was no surgical consultation during the inpatient stay (22%). Conclusions Our findings support existing evidence that DC is associated with a significantly increased risk of recurrent biliary events and pancreatitis. Furthermore, we report a 56% adherence to the current guidelines for SAC and report that the most common reason for not undergoing SAC was the absence of surgical consultation. We conclude that ensuring SAC in eligible patients should be a priority for safety net hospitals because it may help decrease hospital costs in the long term, and active efforts should be made to identify patients who may be less likely to receive SAC.
Self-Compassionate Responses to an Imagined Sexual Assault:

This research assesses the relationship between self-compassion and well-being following an imagined trauma (i.e., sexual assault) and shows positive outcomes from a self-compassion induction. Afte...
A spatial analysis of the development potential of rooftop and community solar energy

Abstract Solar energy is a technically and economically feasible solution for transitioning to renewable sources for electrification. Physical and socio-economic conditions that are important determinants of solar access and use have been discussed in the literature. However, the relative access of different population groups to surfaces able to accommodate equipment to generate solar energy (both individual and community levels) is rarely investigated. In this study, we use remote sensing (e.g., LiDAR) and land use data (e.g., tax parcels) to identify residential rooftop and community solar potential (SP) in Erie County, New York. Underlying socio-demographic and urbanization context are then examined to show if community solar is a solution for population groups who have limited access to rooftop solar. Results indicate that rooftop and community SP have similar distributions among socio-demographic groups. Low income and minority population have not only relatively low access to rooftop solar (54% compared to affluent households, 60% compared to white households), but also have limited access to potential community solar sites in their neighborhoods (37% compared to affluent households, 16% compared to white households). Nevertheless, our methodology provides a way to identify neighborhoods where community solar can be a solution for population with limited access to rooftop solar. Results show that in selected areas with available space (e.g., brownfields), community solar is an accessible alternative. The results imply the need for policy development to address such access issues so that technological advancements can benefit different communities.
Streaming your Identity: Navigating the Presentation of Gender and Sexuality through Live Streaming

The digital presentation of gender and sexuality has been a long-standing concern in HCI and CSCW. There is also a growing interest in exploring more nuanced presentations of identity afforded in emerging online social spaces that have not been thoroughly studied. In this paper, we endeavor to contribute towards this research agenda in yet another new media context -- live streaming -- by analyzing female and LGBTQ streamers’ practices to present and manage their gender identity and sexual identity. Our findings highlight streamers’ gender representation and sexual representation as a demonstration of controlling their own bodies, an awareness of the audiences and the resistance to their expectations, and an exhibition of the affordances and power structure of the specific online social space. We extend existing studies on live streaming by exploring the understudied gender identity and sexual identity aspect of the streaming practices. We also highlight the less audience/performance-oriented but more self-driven aspect of digital representations and the importance of affirmation and empowerment in this process. We add nuance to the existing HCI/CSCW studies on gender and sexuality by investigating a highly dynamic, interactive, and multilayered self-presentation mechanism emerging in live streaming and point to the need for potential new lenses to analyze technology-supported identity construction.
Going All-in on an All-MPT Bar Exam: A Better Measure of Competence to Practice Law?

This paper begins with an assumption about competence to practice law and a brief statement of the bar exam status quo, followed by a longer explanation of why the status quo is problematic, and concludes with an examination of the benefits of transforming the bar exam into an all-MPT powerhouse.
Individualized Multimodal Physiologic Approach to Mechanical Ventilation in Patients With Obesity and Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Reduced Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Utilization

Objective To investigate whether individualized optimization of mechanical ventilation through the implementation of a lung rescue team could reduce the need for venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with obesity and acute respiratory distress syndrome and decrease ICU and hospital length of stay and mortality. Design Single-center, retrospective study at the Massachusetts General Hospital from June 2015 to June 2019. Patients All patients with obesity and acute respiratory distress syndrome who were referred for venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation evaluation due to hypoxemic respiratory failure. Intervention Evaluation and individualized optimization of mechanical ventilation by the lung rescue team before the decision to proceed with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The control group was those patients managed according to hospital standard of care without lung rescue team evaluation. Measurement and main results All 20 patients (100%) allocated in the control group received venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, whereas 10 of 13 patients (77%) evaluated by the lung rescue team did not receive venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Patients who underwent lung rescue team evaluation had a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.03) and shorter ICU length of stay (p = 0.03). There were no differences between groups in in-hospital, 30-day, or 1-year mortality. Conclusions In this hypothesis-generating study, individualized optimization of mechanical ventilation of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and obesity by a lung rescue team was associated with a decrease in the utilization of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, duration of mechanical ventilation, and ICU length of stay. Mortality was not modified by the lung rescue team intervention.
Governing the genome

In the decades since the Human Genome Project was launched in 1990, genomic science has opened a dizzying array of scientific, medical, and commercial possibilities. Some of its applications have generated visible public controversy. As Harvard University political scientist Jennifer Hochschild points out in her new book, Genomic Politics, these controversies often make for strange bedfellows.
Methods for the Production of Recombinant Heparosan, a Critical Heparin Precursor, from Nonpathogenic E. coli Strains.

Heparin is an essential anticoagulant drug discovered over a century ago. Heparin is the second most highly used natural drug and remains a mainstay of therapy with an expected global market share of more than $14 billion in the next 10 years. However, it is still naturally derived from unsustainable animal sources, such as bovine lungs and porcine intestines, as an unfractionated, heterogeneous complex mixture with unpredictable pharmacokinetic properties. Extensive research has been done in devising bioengineering and chemical approaches to produce structurally specific heparin and heparin-like polymers. Though several challenges remain, one of the main bottlenecks is the rapid, high-yield production of recombinant heparosan, a heparin precursor, which is originally isolated from a pathogenic E. coli K5 strain. Herein, we outline the methods for producing metabolically engineered size-specific heparosan, by transforming the essential heparosan biosynthetic genes into nonpathogenic E.coli strain BL21(DE3), in a highly controlled manner. The methods described herein are promising and can be easily scaled up for large-scale production of heparin-like structures.
Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease in African Americans

Mortality, incidence, and prevalence are indices used to describe differences in distribution of a specific disease among selected populations. Each index provides particular information that addresses the burden of disease, but there are marked differences in quantity and quality of the data. The properties of these indices should be considered related to describing the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in African Americans. CVD is usually defined to include all diseases of the circulatory system and referred to as “total cardiovascular diseases.” It includes hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and heart failure. Throughout this chapter, we will specify CVD, CHD, stroke, or other components of CVD. Most of what we know about CVD epidemiology comes from mortality data because it is mandated that these data be collected. Relative to other race/sex groups, African Americans have the highest rates of CHD mortality, with rates especially high in middle-aged African American men. Overall, stroke mortality among African Americans is about 40% higher than White Americans with the largest disparity at younger ages. Data are somewhat inconsistent in incidence of CHD comparing African Americans with White Americans; this may be due to differences between incident fatal and nonfatal CHD with African Americans having higher rates of incident fatal CHD. The increased risk of incident stroke in African Americans compared to White Americans has been confirmed across many populations. The most critical finding from CVD epidemiology is the substantially higher risk of heart disease and stroke among African Americans and particularly among younger African Americans for stroke.
An Ounce of Prevention…Internship Planning and Implementation for Students, University Advisors, and Site Supervisors

Internships in the health profession, specifically in public and community health education and promotion, are a valuable opportunity for students to acquire new skills, as well as implement their recently acquired academic knowledge. There are generally three key players in the internship process: the faculty advisor or coordinator, the site supervisor, and the student intern. There are processes and procedures that can greatly help facilitate a positive experience for all three parties. Essential to this internship process are good organization skills, meticulous planning abilities, and clear communication channels. This article provides easy steps that all three individuals can benefit from during the planning and implementation phases of the internship experiences.
INTERNATIONAL ACTORS AND THE PROMISES AND PITFALLS OF ANTI-CORRUPTION REFORM

Policies to control corruption will always be controversial and contested. Those subject to increased surveillance or limits on their discretion will bewail the lack of trust these constraints imply. They will complain that the new controls are politically motivated and that they fail to respect cultural norms. These objections will be particularly evident when anti-corruption measures are imposed or supported by international actors—most notably aid and lending bodies, global non-profits, or international treaty regimes. The role of international institutions is necessarily limited, given the dominant position of nation-states. Nevertheless, well-executed efforts can benefit ordinary people and may help, rather than harm, domestic and global businesses. The losers are those who benefited from corrupt transactions both in government and in the private sector. International institutions began to promote an anti-corruption agenda in the mid-nineties. The end of the Cold War facilitated these initiatives. For a time, these institutions and their powerful backers in wealthy countries faced no significant opposition. Corrupt government leaders in developing countries could no longer play off the Communist and anti-Communist blocs against
Shielding Theory: GIAO Method

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 The Gauge Problem and the Definition of GIAOs 3 Molecular Orbital Theory with GIAOs 4 Applications of the GIAO Method 5 Biogrpahical Sketches Related Articles
Hepatitis and Liver Failure in Infancy and Childhood

Hepatitis in intrauterine and early postnatal life usually has different causes and clinical features than hepatitic processes experienced by older children and adults. Once obstruction has been excluded, neonatal hepatitis is the most common histologic pattern observed in cholestatic infants. The histologic features of neonatal hepatitis and hepatitis in early childhood are often significantly different from those observed in older patients. Because these features are by themselves frequently not diagnostic of any one liver disease, the pathologist must be familiar with all the potential causes and be able to suggest additional testing modalities, such as assays of metabolic enzymes, determination of specific metabolite levels or ultrastructural examina- tion, that may allow for a definitive diagnosis. In older chil- dren, the differential diagnosis of hepatitis overlaps to a greater extent with causes of hepatitis in adult patients. A detailed discussion of those conditions is beyond the scope of this chapter.
Chapter 66 Speech-sound encoding: physiological manifestations and behavioral ramifications

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses various researches demonstrating how speech sounds are encoded both cortically and subcortically in normal and impaired populations. It presents three examples of the physiological manifestations of speech–sound encoding, which reflects the normal encoding process and are effective in discerning populations with auditory-based learning problems from normal-learning controls. These differences have been identified both at the cortical and subcortical levels and signify deficits in the preconscious encoding of the elemental speech signal rather than a higher-level, cognitive shortcoming. The mismatch response is an auditory evoked response that signals stimulus change. It is a relevant reflection of speech encoding, because the speech signal itself is characterized by acoustic change. This consists of the repeated presentation of one sound (i.e. standard), randomly replaced by another (i.e. deviant) in a small percentage of trials. Increased talker rate and background noise are two conditions known to adversely affect accurate perception and recognition of speech.
Development of a free-drifting submersible digital holographic imaging system

Submersible film-based holographic systems have demonstrated the unique ability of holography to provide high resolution, three-dimensional, in-situ images of marine organisms. Inherently, use of film limits the frame rate and total number of holograms. This paper describes a submersible, free-drifting, digital holographic cinematography system that has a real-time fiber optic communication link. This system collects dual-view digital holograms at a rate of 15 frames per second, enabling the user to observe the behavior of marine plankton and distinguish motile organisms from abiotic particles. In order to follow the particles in time, the sample should have as little motion relative to the cameras as possible. To achieve this goal, the submersible is neutrally buoyant, and has high drag generating elements at the height of the sample volume. In addition, the components surrounding the sample are streamlined and designed to minimize the local flow disturbance. The data from the two digital cameras and other sensors are transmitted at 120 MB/s through a 1 km long, 250 /spl mu/m diameter, fiber optic cable to an acquisition system located on a research vessel. The optical fiber is spooled out from the submersible by a powered mechanism, as the submersible drifts away from the vessel Releasing the fiber out at a rate greater than that of the drifting speed minimizes the transmission of forces through the cable, effectively decoupling the submersible from the cable and vessel dynamics. A variable buoyancy system provides vertical position control while still allowing the system to drift vertically with the surrounding fluid, i.e., follow internal waves. The dual-view holo-camera records two in-line holograms from orthogonal directions, each with a volume of 40.5 cm/sup 3/. Without lenses, the resolution in the 3.4 cm/sup 3/ volume where the beams cross each other, is about 7.4 /spl mu/m in all three directions. Outside of the overlapping region, the resolution in the beam axial direction is lower, but the lateral resolution remains 7.4 /sup 3/. An optional 2/spl times/ lens doubles the resolution, but reduces the sample volume. The first field deployment for this system took place in June 2005, in the Ria de Pontevedra, Spain. It was used for examining thin layers of harmful algal blooms.
Simultaneous RF electrical conductivity and topography mapping of smooth and rough conductive traces using microwave microscopy to identify localized variations

This paper presents a near-field microwave microscope (NFMM) capable of simultaneous non-contact imaging of electrical conductivity (σ) and topography across the surface of microwave circuits without the need of a distance sensor. The microscope monitors the resonant frequency of a dielectric resonator-based microwave probe to acquire the surface topography, and the quality factor to determine the electrical conductivity. Conductivity and topography images of copper foil reveal an average conductivity of about 4e7 S/m and an arithmetic roughness of 0.2µm, respectively. Measured average roughness and conductivity of CB028 silver paste are 0.7e6 S/m and 1.1µm, respectively. The NFMM data reveal significant and correlated variation in surface features and conductivity across the surface of the printed CB028 films. The topography and conductivity images obtained demonstrate that the NFMM can be employed for localized characterization of smooth and rough conductive materials used in microwave devices.
Data Analysis With Map Reduce Programming Paradigm

Abstract In this thesis, we present a summary of our activities associated with the storage and query processing of Google 1T 5-gram data set. We first give a brief introduction to some of the implementation techniques for the relational algebra followed by a Map Reduce implementation of the same operators. We then implement a database schema in Hive for the Google 1T 5-gram data set. The thesis will further look into the query processing with Hive and Pig in the Hadoop setting. More specifically, we report statistics for our queries in this environment.In this thesis, we present a summary of our activities associated with the storage and query processing of Google 1T 5-gram data set. We first give a brief introduction to some of the implementation techniques for the relational algebra followed by a Map Reduce implementation of the same operators. We then implement a database schema in Hive for the Google 1T 5-gram data set. The thesis will further look into the query processing with Hive and Pig in the Hadoop setting. More specifically, we report statistics for our queries in this environment.
Acute lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats

Aims The aim of this study was to assess experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI)-induced lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) by monitoring systemic and urodynamic parameters using an implantable telemetry system. Methods A single lateral fluid percussion TBI (FP-TBI; 3.4 atm) was administered to 10 female rats. Pressure micro-catheters were implanted in the abdominal aorta and bladder dome for simultaneous data recording. Hemodynamic and urodynamic variables recorded 24 hr before and 24 hr after injury were analyzed and compared. Results TBI in the acute phase resulted in LUTD affecting bladder emptying, characterized by failure of voiding reflex, high capacity bladder, increased voided volume, prolonged intermicturition intervals, and loss of compliance. The dominant symptom was urinary retention (100%) and incontinence (60%). The effects followed a pattern of initial loss of bladder function followed by either altered recovery of reflex micturition or a period of incontinence. With a moderate injury symptoms were temporary in 90% of animals and permanent in 10% of animals. Injury produced only transient hypertension (≤1 hr) with a maximum systolic pressure of 172.64 ± 14.53 mmHg (70% of animals). Conclusions The results demonstrate that experimental FP-TBI causes temporary bladder dysfunction that in more severe cases becomes permanent. Telemetry recordings revealed a sequence of events following injury that establishes moderate TBI as a risk factor for neurogenic bladder disorder. Results also suggest a correlation between lateral FP-TBI and incontinence. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:1159–1164, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inferring colonization history and dispersal patterns of a long‐lived seabird by combining genetic and empirical data

Identifying biological trends and threats to organisms that make long distance migrations are often the limiting factors in their conservation. Indeed, Laysan albatross Phoebastria immutabilis are highly vagile seabirds, foraging throughout the North Pacific Ocean. Despite mark–recapture data indicating natal philopatry, Laysan albatross recently re-colonized several anthropogenically extirpated breeding locations. At the same time, a breeding population in the north-western Hawaiian Islands was lost to erosion and it was hypothesized that the colonization events were due to displacement rather than dispersal. Nuclear and mitochondrial markers were used in a range wide survey to test whether natal philopatry corresponded to population structure in Laysan albatross, and to determine whether recent colonization events were a result of displacement from vanishing breeding habitat. Five microsatellite loci found little population structure (FST= 0.01, P= 0.001), and sequences from the mitochondrial control region revealed low population structure (pST = 0.05, Po0.001). The results were consistent with male-mediated dispersal and strong, but not absolute, philopatry by females. Mixed stock analyses and banding records from the newly colonized sites indicated contributions from multiple source populations, which contradicted the displacement hypothesis of a single source population and instead supported species-wide dispersal from all source colonies. High genetic diversity (p= 0.045, h = 0.989), rapid colonization, and great dispersal potential bode well for the conservation of Laysan albatross. However, it may be necessary to protect highisland nesting sites, preserve genetic diversity and maintain breeding populations in the face of projected sea level rises and persistent bycatch.
Mitochondrial and nucleocytoplasmic targeting of O-linked GlcNAc transferase

O-linked GlcNAc transferase (OGT) mediates a novel glycan-dependent signaling pathway, but the intracellular targeting of OGT is poorly understood. We examined the localization of OGT by immunofluorescence microscopy, subcellular fractionation and immunoblotting using highly specific affinity-purified antisera. In addition to the expected nuclear localization, we found that OGT was highly concentrated in mitochondria. Since the mitochondrial OGT (103 kDa) was smaller than OGT found in other compartments (116 kDa) we reasoned that it was one of two predicted splice variants of OGT. The N-termini of these isoforms are unique; the shorter form contains a potential mitochondrial targeting sequence. We found that when epitope-tagged, the shorter form (mOGT; 103 kDa) concentrated in HeLa cell mitochondria, whereas the longer form (ncOGT; 116 kDa) localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm. The N-terminus of mOGT was essential for proper targeting. Although mOGT appears to be an active transferase, O-linked GlcNAc-modified substrates do not accumulate in mitochondria. Using immunoelectron microscopy and mitochondrial fractionation, we found that mOGT was tightly associated with the mitochondrial inner membrane. The differential localization of mitochondrial and nucleocytoplasmic isoforms of OGT suggests that they perform unique intracellular functions.
The Impact of Climate Change on Air Quality–Related Meteorological Conditions in California. Part II: Present versus Future Time Simulation Analysis

AbstractIn this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was applied to dynamically downscale the Parallel Climate Model (PCM) projection for the climate change impact on regional meteorological conditions in California. Comparisons were made for meteorological fields that strongly influence regional air quality between the current (2000–06) and future (2047–53) downscaling results to infer potential air pollution changes in California. Changes in both the meteorological fields and the implied future air quality vary by region and season. Analyses showed that the normalized number of stagnation days (NNSD) integrating all stagnation events, during which most of the air pollution episodes occur, in California's San Joaquin Valley (SJV) will increase and the intensity of stagnation will be stronger in the future for the two main air pollution seasons (i.e., summer and winter). Increases in surface wind and planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) were observed for the coastal part of Los Angele...
Fine structure of vacuolar inclusions in the siphonous green alga Chlorodesmis fastigiata (Udoteaceae, Caulerpales) and their contribution to plug formation

Abstract In Chlorodesmis jastigiata, a remarkable variety of specifically structured material is found in the central vacuole immersed in an ill-defined granular-fibrillar matrix. This material fills the central vacuole throughout the entire length of the dichotomously branched cell of several centimeters' it is most dense in the tip. Most of the vacuolar material is manufactured in the cytoplasm of the apical cell area and then is released gradually into the vacuole. A developmental sequence of the production of osmiophilic granules and their release into the vacuole is proposed. These granules and sphencal fibrous bodies constitute the major components of the vacuolar inclusions. During wound plug formation these components are subject to characteristic redistributions and structural changes, suggesting that they serve specific functions during successive stages of wound plug formation. Paracrystalline chambers around mineral crystals and endophytic bacteria were also observed among the materials in the...
Zero-sum condition: A necessary and sufficient condition for a transitive voting system

Abstract A simple and quick way to ascertain whether or not any given majority voting system can always produce a transitive social preference orderings without imposing any restriction on the distribution of diverse individual preference orderings is to examine whether all individual voting (preference) vectors satisfy the Addition Rule or not. This conclusion was obtained by first reformulating the voting mechanism into that of a linear mapping from Tm defined by q = Σpi. It was found that the subset P of T that can accommodate all possible individual preference ordering profiles and such that every sum vector q = Σ pi of its member vectors pi is contained in T can be expressed as P = {p: p∈ T, s(p) = 0}. It was also pointed out that this is equivalent to the requirement that all individual preference (voting) functions must satisfy the Addition Rule. Finally, Borda's Rule and Saposnik's Contributive Rule were shown to be examples of transitive voting rules which satisfy these necessary and sufficient conditions.
p21ras Stimulates pathways in addition to ERK, p38, and Akt to induce elongation of neurites in PC12 cells

Initiation and elongation of neurites in PC12 cells has been shown to be stimulated by nerve growth factor (NGF). Initiation of NGF-stimulated neurites in a PC12 subclone (PC12-N09) is rapid, giving rise to short neurites that do not elongate after 1 day. To determine whether increasing activation of p21(ras) could restore neurite elongation in these cells and whether it would affect the phosphorylation of signaling proteins, the subclone PC12-N09 was transfected with constitutively active p21(ras61L) (PC12-N09ras61L) and neurite outgrowth with or without NGF was determined. Overexpression of wild-type p21(ras) (PC12-N09rasWT) did not lead to spontaneous neurite initiation but restored the ability of NGF to stimulate continuous neurite elongation. However, NGF-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK, p38, and Akt in PC12-N09rasWT cells is similar in duration to that in PC12-N09 cells, indicating that the p21(ras) signaling through ERK, p38, and Akt was not involved in the restoration of normal neurite elongation in PC12-N09 cells. These results show that p21(ras)-activated pathways other than ERK, p38, and Akt are necessary for appropriate NGF-stimulated neurite elongation in PC12 cells.
Internet resources for mass spectrometry

The growth of the worldwide collection of computer networks known as the Internet has led to a rapid increase in the quantity and variety of information available to scientists in mass spectrometry. It is now possible to learn about the latest mass spectrometric techniques, compare the capabilities of commercial instruments and participate in discussion with colleagues from around the world without ever leaving one's desk. The challenge that comes with the Internet information explosion is to learn how to navigate the various areas of the Internet and fully utilize these new information sources. It is also important to know how and where to find the most reliable information on a medium where quality cannot always be assured. The purpose of this paper is to provide a listing and brief discussion of on-line resources available for mass spectrometry. World Wide Web sites are tabulated for search pages, index pages for mass spectrometry research groups and companies, mass spectrometry societies, local discussion groups, journals and software. Usenet newsgroups and electronic mailing lists of interest to mass spectrometrists are listed and discussed.
The synthesis of spatial motion generators with prismatic, revolute and cylindric pairs without branching defect

Abstract This paper describes the synthesis equations of spatial motion generators mechanisms with revolute, prismatic and cylindric pairs. The mechanism being synthesized is divided into two chains at the origin of the coordinate system embedded in the moving rigid body to be guided by this mechanism. The equations for both chains consist of loop-closure equations and orientation equations. The conditions for avoidance of branching applied in this paper are developed in Ref. [1]. The present paper is an application of that theory, namely, a numerical example for the synthesis of an RPCPRR spatial motion generator without branching defect.