cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zoom techniques for achieving scale invariant object tracking in real-time active vision systems

In a manually operated visual tracking system, a camera operator follows an object of interest by moving the camera, then gains additional details about the object by zooming in. As the active vision field progresses, the ability to automate such a system is nearing fruition. One hurdle limiting the deployment of real-time visual tracking systems is in the object recognition algorithms that often have restrictive scale and pose requirements. If those conditions are not met, the performance of the system rapidly degrades to failure. The ability of an automatic fixation system to capture quality video of a non cooperative moving target is strongly related to the response time of the mechanical pan, tilt, and zoom platform. However, the price of such a platform rises with its performance. The goal of this work is to investigate the feasibility and issues that arise when using inexpensive off-the-shelf components in the development of a visual tracking system that provides scale-invariant tracking. One of the main challenges is in the zooming action. Optical zoom acts as a measurement gain, amplifying both resolution and tracking error. Previous work has shown that adding a second camera with fixed focal length can assist the zooming camera if it loses fixation, effectively bounding the error. Furthermore, optical zoom has a longer time-constant than digital zoom. This work proposes a dual camera hybrid zoom configuration where digital zoom is combined with optical zoom to achieve a behavior closer to an ideal zooming action.
Interpersonal evaluations, attitudes and attraction

Abstract The effect of interpersonal evaluations (e.g., judging a person's intelligence) on attraction toward an anonymous person (person-one) was investigated. The study was conducted to assess attraction in five interpersonal relationships in which evaluations commonly occur. Attraction of subjects toward person-one was greater for positive than for negative evaluations when person-one evaluated either the subjects or himself, when a second anonymous person evaluated person-one and the attitudes of person-one were similar to those of the subjects, and when the second person evaluated both person-one and the subjects. When person-one evaluated the subjects, attraction toward person-one was found predictable using the Byrne-Rhamey rule.
Protein kinase A inhibitor attenuates levodopa-induced motor response alterations in the hemi-parkinsonian rat

Abstract Chronically administered levodopa, the standard treatment for Parkinson's disease, is ultimately associated with disabling alterations in motor response. To evaluate the possible contribution of striatal cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathways to these response modifications, the acute effects of a PKA inhibitor, Rp-cAMPS, on motor response changes attending chronic, twice-daily administration of levodopa were measured in 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned hemi-parkinsonian rats. A single intrastriatal injection of Rp-cAMPS (2.5 or 25 μg) attenuated both the shortened duration and augmented intensity of levodopa-induced turning in a dose dependent manner. Rp-cAMPS completely normalized motor responses to a dopamine D1 agonist (SKF 38392), but had no effect on those to a dopamine D2 agonist (quinpirole). These results suggest that D1 receptor-mediated PKA activation may contribute to the development of the altered motor responses associated with chronic levodopa treatment.
When Friends Make You Blue: The Role of Friendship Contingent Self-Esteem in Predicting Self-Esteem and Depressive Symptoms

This research examines the role of friendship contingent self-esteem (FCSE), or self-esteem that is dependent on the quality of one’s friendships, in predicting depressive symptoms. In Study 1, the authors developed a measure of FCSE. Both FCSE and others’ approval correlated with self-esteem and depressive symptoms, but when entered simultaneously in a regression equation, only FCSE significantly predicted self-esteem and depressive symptoms. Study 2 showed that dependency and close friendship competence predicted depressive symptoms only for those high in FCSE. In Study 3, a diary study, FCSE predicted self-esteem instability. Self-esteem instability, in turn, predicted depressive symptoms. Furthermore, a three-way interaction of rumination, FCSE, and the valence of the event predicted momentary self-esteem. Findings are discussed with regard to the importance of considering FCSE when investigating interpersonal risk for depression.
Factors Affecting Nutritive Value of Corn and Sorghum Silage

A knowledge of the appropriate criteria for assessing nutritive quality of forages has been vigorously sought during the past 20 yr. Considerable progress has been made in establishing relationships of chemical constituents to intake and digestibility under specific conditions, but a satisfactory scheme which will consistently predict animal performance continues to elude researchers. However, it now seems well established that the nutritive contribution a forage will make toward meeting an animal's needs depends upon its composition, rate of intake, and the efficiency with which the animal uses the ingested nutrients. From the practical standpoint, the farmer should consider the various aspects of production, harvesting, storing, and feeding which may influence the value of his silages. Therefore, this paper is directed toward summarizing research which relates to answering some of the principal questions in these areas.
Border corrido and ranger lore: A contrast in oral and written traditions

When oral and written cultures come face to face, they generally do so on the latter's terms. Book-knowledge results in a devaluation of traditional elder-mediated knowledge and authority; and, socioeconomic relations are stratified in favor of those with a western orientation. The idealogy of the written culture imposes itself on the oral culture without negotiation. It is a unidirectional transmission of knowledge and a one-sided adjustment forced upon that society which is least able to make it. More often than not, historical evidence is drawn from the influentials and structured for the dominant literate audience by scholarly historical perpsective. Those who must live with the consequences of a social, cultural, and political domination rarely have personal input into written histories. Paul Carpentier (1978) contends that "historians generally neglect that majority of people who live history, and instead concentrate on the few who make it." Historiographers debate the rules of historical evidence, but in western tradition, a near consensus exists favoring written, over and sometimes to the exclusion of, the oral.
Base-induced cyclizations. Reactions of the 1-halo-6-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-cyclohexenes with potassium t-butoxide

Abstract Reactions of 1-bromo-6-(2-hydroxyethoxy)cyclohexene ( 2 ) and its chloro analog 3 with potassium t-butoxide in dimethyl sulfoxide at 60–70° gave cyclohex-2-enone ethylene ketal ( 7 ) and cis -2,5-dioxabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-7-ene ( 8) as the major products. Under these conditions, 1-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-1,4-cyclohexadiene ( 13 ) is also converted to 7 and elimination products, benzene and ethylene glycol. Conversion of 13 to 7 was shown to be reversible by examination of 7 that had been treated with t-BuOK. in DMSO- d 6 . In tetrahydrofuran, 2 and t-BuOK gave benzene as a major product, together with small amounts of 2,5-dioxabicyclo[4.4.0]-dec-6-ene ( 6 ), 7 , and 8 . Mechanisms are proposed for these substitution reactions.
Well-Posedness of the Hydrostatic MHD Equations

The well-posedness of the equations of fluid mechanics in the hydrostatic limit is well known to be a difficult problem. Partial results, both positive and negative, will be reviewed below. In this paper, it is shown that, for ideal magnetohydrodynamics, a magnetic field parallel to the flow direction can ensure well-posedness. The only condition required is that the flow is subalfvenic. The result has some relevance to viscoelastic flows of the upper convected Maxwell fluid, which, in the infinite Weissenberg number limit, is related to ideal MHD.
Simulations of energetic beam deposition: From picoseconds to seconds

We present a method for simulating crystal growth by energetic beam deposition. The method combines a kinetic Monte Carlo simulation for the thermal surface diffusion with a small scale molecular-dynamics simulation of every single deposition event. We have implemented the method using the effective medium theory as a model potential for the atomic interactions, and present simulations for Ag/Ag(111) and Pt/Pt(111) for incoming energies up to 35 eV. The method is capable of following the growth of several monolayers at realistic growth rates of 1 ML per second, correctly accounting for both energy-induced atomic mobility and thermal surface diffusion. We find that the energy influences island and step densities and can induce layer-by-layer growth. We find an optimal energy for layer-by-layer growth (25 eV for Ag), which correlates with where the net impact-induced downward interlayer transport is at a maximum. A high step density is needed for energy-induced layer-by-layer growth, hence the effect dies away at increased temperatures, where thermal surface diffusion reduces the step density. As part of the development of the method, we present molecular-dynamics simulations of single atom-surface collisions on flat parts of the surface and near straight steps, we identify microscopic mechanisms by which the energy influences the growth, and we discuss the nature of the energy-induced atomic mobility.
Developmental pathways from childhood aggression-disruptiveness, chronic peer rejection, and deviant friendships to early-adolescent rule breaking

Childhood aggression–disruptiveness (AD), chronic peer rejection, and deviant friendships were examined as predictors of early-adolescent rule-breaking behaviors. Using a sample of 383 children (193 girls and 190 boys) who were followed from ages 6 to 14, peer rejection trajectories were identified and incorporated into a series of alternative models to assess how chronic peer rejection and deviant friendships mediate the association between stable childhood AD and early-adolescent rule breaking. There were multiple mediated pathways to rule breaking that included both behavioral and relational risk factors, and findings were consistent for boys and girls. Results have implications for better understanding the influence of multiple social processes in the continuity of antisocial behaviors from middle childhood to early adolescence.
Observations of ionospheric plasma flows within theta auroras

[1] This paper reports results from a detailed analysis of theta auroras that occurred during the passage of a magnetic cloud on 8 November 2000. The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) was generally northward for more than 12 hours, while the y-component of the IMF changed signs several times. Auroral images of the Northern Hemisphere acquired from the Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) on board the Polar satellite showed clear development of theta auroras during the prolonged northward IMF period. It is found that the theta aurora can be enhanced by compression of the magnetosphere associated solar wind pressure pulses. We also examine large-scale ionospheric plasma convection flow data from the SuperDARN radar network to study the ionospheric plasma flow pattern associated with the theta aurora. The radar data, when available, showed that two different plasma flows can coexist within the day-night part of the theta aurora. The nightside extension of the theta aurora is always on a region of antisunward convecting flows, whereas there is no consistent flow pattern found in the dayside portion of the theta aurora studied. In general, plasma flow outside the theta aurora cannot be determined because of lack of scattered radar signals, but from a few instances it suggested that the nightside theta aurora is flanked by antisunward flows. In contrast to the prevailing view that theta auroras reside in regions of closed magnetic flux that convect sunward, this study suggests one more aspect of the theta aurora and provides constraints for models and theories.
Anonymous Male Parts in Aristophanes' Ecclesiazusae and the Identity of the Δεσπóτης

The staging of Aristophanes' Ecclesiazusae is complicated considerably by the large number of individual male citizen parts in the play. These include Praxagora's husband Blepyrus (312–477, 520–727), Blepyrus' anonymous Neighbour (327–56) and his friend Chremes (372–477), the First Citizen (564–871) and the Second Citizen (746–876), the Young Man ‘Epigenes’ (938–1111; cf. 931), and the δeσπτης who leads out the Chorus (1128–83). These are not necesarily all independent characters, but the great difficulty with the play is in deciding precisely who is to be identified with whom. R. G. Ussher, the most recent Oxford editor of the text, distinguishes four separate characters, and divides the parts in the following way:
Individual differences in salivary cortisol : Associations with common over-the-counter and prescription medication status in infants and their mothers

The purpose of the present study was to describe associations between the use of common over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications with individual differences in salivary cortisol in infants and their mothers. Participants were 1020 mothers and 852 infants (52.5% boys; ages 5.03–13.44 months) from economically disadvantaged and ethnically diverse families (38.4% African American) who donated saliva samples before, 20 and 40 min after infants participated in a series of challenging tasks. Samples (N = 5616) were later assayed for cortisol. Medication information was content analyzed separately for infants (e.g., teething gels, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, decongestants) and mothers (e.g., narcotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, contraceptives, glucocorticoids). A large percentage of infants (44%) and the majority of mothers (57.5%) had used at least one medication (range 0–4) in the previous 48 h. Most frequent were acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol®) and cold medications (e.g., decongestants) for infants and contraceptives and acetaminophen for mothers. Compared to infants not taking any medications, cortisol reactivity to the challenge tasks was less pronounced for infants taking acetaminophen. Cortisol levels were higher for mothers taking oral or transdermal contraceptives and acetylsalicylic acid (e.g., Aspirin®) but lower for mothers taking pure agonist opioids (e.g., Oxycontin®) compared to mothers not taking any medications. These medication-related differences remained significant after controlling for sampling time, fever, maternal anxiety and depression, infant temperament, ethnicity, SES, and health status. Recommendations are provided to steer investigators clear of these potential sources of unsystematic error variance in salivary cortisol.
Human factors applied to hospital patient care.

Human factors specialists who conduct research on the design of hospitals should consider the needs of patients, not just those of doctors, nurses, and other staff. Patients are subject to physical and psychological confinement, lack of privacy, lack of familiar support, and disruption of familiar behavior patterns, all contributing to loss of personal control and an increase in the stress from hospitalization. To help design better hospital environments for patients, it will be necessary to identify relationships between particular environmental features, subjective reactions to these, and overt behaviors which such features influence. A start in this direction has been made by means of the semantic differential.
RhoA/Rho kinase (ROCK) alters fetuin-A uptake and regulates calcification in bovine vascular smooth muscle cells (BVSMC)

RhoA/Rho kinases (ROCK) play a critical role in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) actin cytoskeleton organization, differentiation, and function and are implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. We have previously determined that an important step in the regulation of calcification is fetuin-A endocytosis, a process that is dependent on changes in the cytoskeleton, which, in turn, is known to be affected by the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. In the present study, bovine VSMC (BVSMC) were treated with the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 or transfected with ROCK small interfering (si) RNA to knock down ROCK expression. Both conditions resulted in reduced actin stress fibers and increased Cy5-labeled fetuin-A uptake. Inhibition of ROCK by Y-27632 or siRNA also significantly increased BVSMC alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcification of BVSMC and rat aorta organ cultures. Cells were then incubated in calcification media in the presence or absence of Y-27632 and matrix vesicles (MV) isolated by collagenase digestion. These MV, isolated from BVSMC incubated with Y-27632, had increased ALP activity and increased ability of MV to subsequently calcify collagen by 66%. In contrast, activation of RhoA, which is upstream of ROCK, by transfecting plasmids encoding the dominant active Rho GTPase mutant (Rho-L63) led to decreased fetuin-A uptake and reduced calcification in BVSMC. These results demonstrate that the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway is an important negative regulator of vascular calcification.
Machine Learning and Simulation: Application in Queuing Systems

Machine learning algorithins have application potential in simulation at stages of model building, simulation execution monitoring in real-time, and output analysis and model refinement. This article presents the basics of the inductive learning paradigm and the ID3 algorithm, highlights the potential of learning in simulation as means for extracting heuristic rules to be used in expert systems, and demonstrates a sample application in simulation of queuing systems.
Analysis of a gain control model of V1: is the goal redundancy reduction?

In this paper we analyze a popular divisive nor- malization model of V 1 with respect to the relationship between its underlying coding strategy and the extraclassical physiolog- ical responses of its constituent modeled neurons. Specifically we are interested in whether the optimization goal of redun- dancy reduction naturally leads to reasonable neural responses, including reasonable distributions of responses. The model is trained on an ensemble of natural images and tested using sinusoidal drifting gratings, with metrics such as suppression index and contrast dependent receptive field growth compared to the objective function values for a sample of neurons. We find that even though the divisive normalization model can produce "typical" neurons that agree with some neurophysiology data, distributions across samples do not agree with experimental data. Our results suggest that redundancy reduction itself is not necessarily causal of the observed extraclassical receptive field phenomena, and that additional optimization dimensions and/or biological constraints must be considered.
The insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I E-peptides are required for isoform-specific gene expression and muscle hypertrophy after local IGF-I production

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) coordinates proliferation and differentiation in a wide variety of cell types. The igf1 gene not only produces IGF-I, but also generates multiple carboxy-terminal extensions, the E-peptides, through alternative splicing leading to different isoforms. It is not known if the IGF-I isoforms share a common pathway for their actions, or if there are specific actions of each protein. Viral administration of murine IGF-IA, IGF-IB, and mature IGF, which lacked an E-peptide extension, was utilized to identify IGF-I isoform-specific responsive genes in muscles of young growing mice. Microarray analysis revealed responses that were driven by increased IGF-I regardless of the presence of E-peptide, such as Bcl-XL. In contrast, distinct expression patterns were observed after viral delivery of IGF-IA or IGF-IB, which included matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13). Expression of Bcl-XL was prevented when viral administration of the IGF-I isoforms was performed into muscles of MKR mice, which lack functional IGF-I receptors on the muscle fibers. However, MMP13 expression persisted under the same conditions after viral injection of IGF-IB. At 4 mo after viral delivery, expression of IGF-IA or IGF-IB promoted muscle hypertrophy, but viral delivery of mature IGF-I failed to increase muscle mass. These studies provide evidence that local production of IGF-I requires the E-peptides to drive hypertrophy in growing muscle and that both common and unique pathways exist for the IGF-I isoforms to promote biological effects.
The mean field theory for image motion estimation

It is shown how the MFT (mean field theory) can be applied to MRF (Markov random field) model-based motion estimation. Specifically, the motion is characterized by a coupled MRF including a displacement field (motion continuity), a line field (motion discontinuity), and a segmentation field (identifying uncovered areas). These fields are estimated by using the MFT. The efficacy of this approach is demonstrated on synthetic and real-world images. >
The sydnone compound 4-hydroxy-4-benzyl­sydno­[3,4-a]­indole

The title compound (systematic name: 9-benzyl-1,9-di­hydroxy-9H-indolo­[1,2-c][1,2,3]­oxa­diazo­le), C16H12N2O3, was synthesized as part of a series of sydnones to determine substituent effects on the sydnone ring. The are two independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. There is interest in finding substituents for the sydnone ring that would allow for the release of NO via ring opening. Observed bond distances and angles for the sydnone ring are consistent with previously published structures, suggesting that the substituents used have little effect towards destabilization of the ring.
Unbound Bilirubin: A Better Predictor of Kernicterus?

The peroxidase method described in this paper measures non–protein-bound bilirubin by oxidation of the free fraction. The oxidation rate is slow compared with rapid dissociation of albumin-bound bilirubin. Thus, the unbound bilirubin can be estimated from the initial rate of decline in total bilirubin concentration. In the 1970s, severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus were major clinical problems. Kernicterus could usually be prevented by administering an exchange transfusion to infants whose serum unconjugated bilirubin concentration reached 341 μmol/L (20 mg/dL), but the diagnostic specificity of 341 μmol/L (20 mg/dL) was quite poor. Premature infants sometimes developed encephalopathy at very low bilirubin concentrations, especially when receiving sulfonamides. While engaged in a fellowship in neonatal medicine, I was stimulated by Gerald Odell’s 1959 paper, in which he used pharmacological arguments to explain how these drugs produced kernicterus by …
Assessment of the OpenAccess Standard: insights on the new EDA industry standard from Hewlett-Packard, a Beta partner and contributing developer

The rapidly increasing complexity and quality requirements of integrated circuit design can only be addressed effectively by a design system architecture that supports very efficient, high-quality sharing of IC design data. The OpenAccess Coalition is delivering an industry standard application programming interface (API) and information model (IM) that provides access to a shared database as an essential infrastructure component for modern IC design systems. The OpenAccess Standard IM and API, along with its reference implementation will be released to the industry early in 2003. Hewlett-Packard has participated in OpenAccess from the outset and most recently as a Beta evaluation partner for this OA industry release. HP has discovered many insights about the OpenAccess standardization process as well as specifically about the IM/API Standard and its reference implementation, which will be summarized herein, and explained in more detail during the presentation at the ISQED Conference.
THE JACK YOUNG CENTRE, SALISBURY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA — A CENTRE FOR ALL OVER 50's

I am writing about the Jack Young Centre because I have been actively involved in its creation and progress. I have been a member of the Centre's Advisory Committee since January 1987 and before that I was a member of the Steering Committee which helped push the idea forward, designed the plans for the extensions and got the Centre off the ground. I write as a Centre volunteer and as such I speak on behalf of all its many users.
Model Development and Identification for Fast Demand Response in Commercial HVAC Systems

Large commercial HVAC systems are attractive targets for fast demand response (DR) applications, e.g., integrating time-intermittent renewable generation. By leveraging the communications in the building automation system (BAS) already present in most buildings, large commercial HVAC systems provide easier access to a large controllable resource than aggregating a large number of small residential loads. However, large commercial HVAC systems are complex with many variables, many end point controllers, and several internal control loops that interact with each other. In addition, the existing fleet of large commercial buildings is diverse with many different HVAC configurations and BAS architectures. Capturing these buildings as DR resources requires a method to greatly reduce the complexity of the HVAC DR control and is general and flexible enough that it can be easily deployed across the diverse fleet of existing buildings. We create such a DR control by developing a system model that uses a single state variable instead of the several hundred variables in a commercial HVAC system. The model includes a small number of system parameters, and we demonstrate how their values can be determined via system identification measurements. Finally, we test our model on a large commercial HVAC system to investigate its control performance.
In‐situ‐Funktionalisierung von Polyolefinen mit Heteroatomen: Reaktionswege und katalytische Kettenübertragung

Kettenubertragungen sind effiziente und selektive chemische Prozesse fur die d- und f-Metall-katalysierte In-situ-Funktionalisierung von Polyolefinen. Eine Reihe hochst unterschiedlicher elektronenarmer wie auch elektronenreicher Kettenubertrager eignet sich dafur, bei der Single-Site-Polymerisation von Olefinen einen selektiven Kettenabbruch mit gleichzeitiger Kohlenstoff-Heteroelement-Verknupfung herbeizufuhren. Als Kettenubertrager finden z. B. Silane, Borane, Alane, Phosphine und Amine Verwendung. Mit ihnen sind hohe Polymerisationsaktivitaten, eine Kontrolle von Molekulargewicht und Mikrostruktur der Polyolefine und eine selektive Kettenfunktionalisierung moglich. Fur elektronenarme und elektronenreiche Reagentien findet man deutlich unterschiedliche Mechanismen. Als Katalysatoren fur diese selektiven Kettenabbruchs-/Funktionalisierungsprozesse eignen sich vielfaltige Metallzentren (fruhe Ubergangsmetalle, Lanthanoide, spate Ubergangsmetalle) und Single-Site-Hilfsliganden (Metallocene, Halbmetallocene, Nichtmetallocene).
Ellagic acid inhibits melanoma growth in vitro.

Ellagic is a polyphenolic compound with anti-fibrotic and antioxidant properties as well as exhibits antitumor properties against various cancer cells in vitro . There are few studies, however, which examine the effects of ellagic acid on melanoma. In the present study, we observe effects of ellagic acid on melanoma cells in vitro . Three metastatic melanoma cell lines (1205Lu, WM852c and A375) were examined to determine the effects of ellagic acid on melanoma cell viability, cell-cycle, apoptosis, NF-κβ activity, and IL-1β & IL-8 secretion. Cell viability assays demonstrated that ellagic acid possesses an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation at concentrations between 25 and 100 µM. In addition, ellagic acid promoted G1 cell cycle arrest, increased levels of apoptosis and decreased synthesis of IL-1β and IL-8 in melanoma cells. Ellagic acid also decreased NF-κβ activity, suggesting at least one potential mechanism by which ellagic acid may exert its effects in melanoma cells. Our findings support further investigation into prospective roles for ellagic acid as a therapeutic, adjuvant, or preventive agent for melanoma.
YBCO/metallic oxide/YBCO trilayers for high-T/sub c/ superconducting SNS junctions

Some metallic oxides are prospective barrier materials for high-T/sub c/ superconducting SNS junctions. Among them, SrVO/sub 3/ is a metallic oxide with a bulk resistivity of 1-1000 /spl mu//spl Omega/-cm and a cubic perovskite-type crystal structure. The lattice constant of SrVO/sub 3/ is 3.84 /spl Aring/ which is close to that of the high-T/sub c/ superconductor YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ (YBCO, a=3.82 /spl Aring/, b=3.89 /spl Aring/). We report the fabrication of metallic SrVO/sub 3/ thin films and YBCO/SrVO/sub 3//YBCO trilayers using pulsed laser ablation. The crystal structure and surface morphology of the films were studied by X-ray diffraction and AFM. The electrical properties of the films were measured by the standard four probe method. The potential application of SrVO/sub 3/ thin films for the barriers of high-T/sub c/ superconducting SNS junctions is discussed. >
Biological transport processes for microhydraulic actuation

Abstract Plants have the ability to develop large mechanical force from chemical energy available with bio-fuels. The energy released by the cleavage of a terminal phosphate ion during the hydrolysis of bio-fuel assists the transport of ions and fluids in cellular homeostasis. Materials that develop pressure and hence strain similar to plants for an external stimuli are classified as Nastic materials. This paper discusses the concept of using biological ion transporters for fabricating an actuator that generates strain by moving fluid through a membrane into an enclosed cavity. Fluid transport through ion transporters reconstituted on a bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) is demonstrated. The BLM was formed from 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho- l -serine] (sodium salt) (POPS) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE) [Avanti Polar Lipids, AL] lipids. The biological ion transporter used for demonstration was a H+-suc co-transporter ( AtSUT4 ) extracted from Arabidopsis thaliana and expressed in yeast. Transporter proteins ( AtSUT4 ) were supplied to us in frozen condition suspended in a pH 7.0 medium after purification. The BLM was reconstituted with AtSUT4 was CaCo2 membrane in a transport assay cup and a pH gradient is applied to the reconstituted membrane. Due to the selectivity of the transporter, fluid transport was observed from the bottom chamber into the cup in the presence of sucrose in the bottom chamber. Fluid flux was observed to be dependent on the concentration of sucrose in the bottom chamber. The experimental results were used for simulating the deformation in the cover plate for a representative actuator configuration. The model predicts transport of fluid starting from the hydrolysis reaction of adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP). The resulting pH gradient from the hydrolysis reaction was used as inputs for the Nernst–Plank electrodiffusion equation to predict the fluid flux. The deformation in the material of the cover plate was estimated by coupling the electro-diffusion equations with a hyperelastic model.
A simple and efficient method for preparation of isolated ovarian follicles for transmission electron microscopy.

Objective A simple method for preparation of isolated ovarian follicles for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using transwell inserts is described.
Bordetella holmesii Bacteremia: A Newly Recognized Clinical Entity among Asplenic Patients

Bordetella holmesii is a recently identified gram-negative bacterial species associated with bacteremia, endocarditis, and respiratory illness, mainly in immunocompromised patients. From isolates submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 1983 through 2000 for further identification, we identified 30 patients with B. holmesii bacteremia. Of the 26 patients for whom data were available, 22 (85%) were anatomically or functionally asplenic. In 25 (96%) of the 26 patients, B. holmesii was the only organism isolated from blood samples, and 14 patients (54%) had B. holmesii recovered from 2 blood cultures. The clinical course of the infection was generally characterized by a nonspecific febrile illness. Twenty-one patients (81%) were treated with various antimicrobial agents, and 20 (77%) were admitted to the hospital. There were no deaths. Our findings support evidence that B. holmesii may be a true pathogen associated with bacteremia among asplenic patients.
Link-Based Emission Factors for Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks Based on Real-World Data:

Heavy-duty diesel vehicles contribute a substantial fraction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) to the on-road vehicle emission inventory. The objectives of this study are to estimate roadway linkbased emission rates for heavy-duty trucks for use in emission inventory estimation and to quantify the impact of factors affecting truck emissions. A speed-acceleration modal emission approach is developed from a database gathered via a portable emission measurement system for single rear-axle and tandem-axle dump trucks. Second-by-second realworld truck speed profiles on links are analyzed on the basis of observed patterns of time distributions of speed-acceleration modes. Link-based emission rates are estimated as the product of the fraction of time spent in each mode and the corresponding modal average emission rate. The sensitivity of link-based emission rates to key factors including chassis type, vehicle load, and fuel type is discussed. Single rear-axle trucks have lower emission rates t...
A theater intervention to prevent teen dating violence for Mexican-American middle school students.

Purpose: To test a theater intervention designed to raise awareness of the dynamics and consequences of teen dating violence (TDV) and to facilitate creation of nonviolent responses to TDV among Latino and Latina adolescents. The intervention was based on Theater of the Oppressed, which advocates the use of theater methods to explore social issues and to allow audiences to experiment with problem-solving, thereby promoting change. Methods: This study used a pretesteposttest, no control group, mixed-measures design to study 66 Mexican-American adolescents (mean age, 13.4 � 5 years). Two plays containing subtle and overt signs of control and abuse were written and performed. Scripts were based on data from prior studies of TDV among Latino and Latina adolescents. At baseline, we measured sociodemographics, personal safety, and ethnic identity. Preepost instruments measured acceptance of TDV, confidence to resolve conflicts nonviolently, and intentions to use nonviolent strategies to resolve conflict. We collected qualitative data via essay. Results: At posttest, participants had less acceptance of TDV (t ¼� 2.08; p < .05), increased confidence to resolve conflicts nonviolently (t ¼ 3.82; p < .001), and higher intentions to use nonviolent strategies (t ¼ 3.35; p ¼ .001). We analyzed 20 essays. Qualitative results provided context for understanding participants’ changes in attitude, confidence, and nonviolent behavioral intentions. Conclusions: This adaptation of Theater of the Oppressed was an effective way to interact with Latino adolescents. In a safe setting, participants vicariously experienced TDV, which facilitated self-reflection and cognitive rehearsal strategies to respond nonviolently to TDV.
Historical introduction to capacitor technology

At present, the important capacitor technologies are impregnated foil-polymer film (for high voltage, high current), metalized film, ceramic, electrolytic, and electric double layer, although metalized paper is still used occasionally in "soggy foil" designs, i.e., self-clearing, fluid-impregnated, high-voltage capacitors. Each of these major technologies faces challenges as they compete with each other for market share.
Insulin stimulates transepithelial sodium transport by activation of a protein phosphatase that increases Na-K ATPase activity in endometrial epithelial cells.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I on transepithelial Na+ transport across porcine glandular endometrial epithelial cells grown in primary culture. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor I acutely stimulated Na+ transport two- to threefold by increasing Na+-K+ ATPase transport activity and basolateral membrane K+ conductance without increasing the apical membrane amiloride-sensitive Na+ conductance. Long-term exposure to insulin for 4 d resulted in enhanced Na+ absorption with a further increase in Na+-K+ ATPase transport activity and an increase in apical membrane amiloride-sensitive Na+ conductance. The effect of insulin on the Na+-K+ ATPase was the result of an increase in Vmax for extracellular K+ and intracellular Na+, and an increase in affinity of the pump for Na+. Immunohistochemical localization along with Western blot analysis of cultured porcine endometrial epithelial cells revealed the presence of α-1 and α-2 isoforms, but not the α-3 isoform of Na+-K+ ATPase, which did not change in the presence of insulin. Insulin-stimulated Na+ transport was inhibited by hydroxy-2-naphthalenylmethylphosphonic acid tris-acetoxymethyl ester [HNMPA-(AM)3], a specific inhibitor of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity, suggesting that the regulation of Na+ transport by insulin involves receptor autophosphorylation. Pretreatment with wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3–kinase as well as okadaic acid and calyculin A, inhibitors of protein phosphatase activity, also blocked the insulin-stimulated increase in short circuit and pump currents, suggesting that activation of phosphatidylinositol 3–kinase and subsequent stimulation of a protein phosphatase mediates the action of insulin on Na+-K+ ATPase activation.
IQ stabilization in childhood-onset schizophrenia

Abstract Objective To examine the long term IQ trajectory for childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) in an expanded, prospective longitudinal study. Methods Seventy children meeting DSM criteria for schizophrenia were tested at 2 year intervals with age appropriate Wechsler intelligence tests and repeated administration of information and comprehension WISC subtests even after age 18. For a subgroup with 31 patients, pre-NIH IQ test administrations were available including 18 pre-psychotic and 13 post-psychotic subjects. The pattern of IQ performance over time was determined using mixed model regression analysis. Results No progressive cognitive decline was seen up to 13+ years post psychosis onset. For the subgroup of subjects with pre-illness scores, there had been an initial steep decline in IQ, from about 2 years prior to 1.7 years after onset of psychotic symptoms, as reported for adult patients. Conclusions The level long-term trajectory of IQ measures in COS appears stable, similar to that reported for adult onset patients. For COS, level cognitive functioning extends up to 13+ years post psychosis onset, in spite of chronic illness and concomitant, progressive loss of cortical gray matter.
Splenic Irradiation in Myelofibrosis: Effect on Circulating Myeloid Progenitor Cells

We have investigated the mechanism of splenic irradiation-induced granulocytopenia in two patients with myelofibrosis and marked splenomegaly. Serial assays were performed for circulating granulocyte-monocyte progenitors capable of colony formation in vitro (CFU-C). For comparison, similar studies were performed on two patients receiving whole brain irradiation for glioma. Splenic irradiation caused a significant decrease in circulating CFU-C in the myelofibrosis patients. There was no decrease in circulating CFU-C in the brain-irradiated patients. No radiation-induced humoral inhibitor of granulopoiesis and no increased CFU-C radiosensitivity could be demonstrated in the myelofibrosis patients. These observations, taken together with previous data on splenic blood flow and pooling, suggest that the major mechanism of irradiation-induced granulocytopenia in myelofibrosis is destruction of proliferating precursor cells in the splenic tissue and sinusoids.
Dexamethasone: Increased Weights and Decreased ‘3H’ Estradiol Retention of Uterus, Vagina and Pituitary in the Ovariectomized Rat

Ovariectomized rats given 100 μg dexamethasone per day for 5 days had significantly heavier dry weights for uterus, vagina and pituitary, indicating a growth promoting activity of dexamethasone on these tissues in which estrogen normally promotes growth changes. The dexamethasone treated animals also retained significantly less ‘3H’estradiol per μg dry weight of tissue for uterus, vagina and pituitary. When ‘3H’estradiol retention was examined in vitro for the nuclear fraction, a significant decrease in retention was found for uterus, vagina and pituitary but not for hypothalamus or cerebral cortex. The decreased ability to bind ‘3H’estradiol, shown by the estrogen targettissues of the dexamethasone-treated rats, along with the increased growth of the estrogen targettissues, demonstrates that these tissues were able to show trophic responses even when greater levels were one-third of normal. Dexamethasone-treated animals tested for sexual receptivity in the presence or absence of progesterone priming did ...
Expert System for Decision Making and Instructing Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence Cargo Interrogation

Artificial Intelligence has been recognized as a highly potential field for automation of cargo scanning process. Specifically, intelligent systems have the capability to direct the process without the interference of a human operator and being able to make decisions. In this paper, an expert system for directing and instructing the cargo inspection, which is performed by means of nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF), is presented. The empirical knowledge is embedded to the system through fuzzy sets while the inference mechanism is encoded by a set of fuzzy rules. The expert system gets as an input a set of parameters arrived from the NRF processing unit and decides whether the cargo is positive or negative in hazardous materials or no decision can be made. In the last case, the way that the sensing parameters should change, to improve next step detection results, is indicated.
Towards Targeted Therapy of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

The B cell antigen receptor (BCR) and its downstream pathways are pivotal in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Recently, inhibitors of kinases in the BCR pathway have shown promising clinical activity in CLL. Based upon these results, the treatment paradigm for CLL will likely undergo major changes. The kinases essential for BCR signal transduction, which are emerging as targets for CLL treatment, and the specific inhibitors under development are the focus of this chapter. In particular, the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib and the PI3K inhibitor idelalisib (GS-1101) are two evolving targeted therapies with the most mature clinical data.
Synthesis and characterization of the physicochemical and magnetic properties for perfluoroalkyl ester and Fe(III) carboxylate-based hydrophobic magnetic ionic liquids

Magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) are a new class of ionic liquids (ILs) that incorporate a paramagnetic component in their chemical structure. Although imidazolium-based MILs can be synthesized using inexpensive and relatively straightforward procedures, these compounds often are water soluble which limits their usefulness in aqueous applications. In this study, two classes of hydrophobic MILs, including perfluorobutyryl ester-based and Fe(III) carboxylate-based MILs, were synthesized and characterized. Functionalization of the cation with fluorinated substituents yielded MILs that were insoluble in aqueous solution at concentrations as low as 0.1% (w/v). In contrast to conventional MILs that rely on paramagnetic anions, Fe(III) carboxylate-based MILs were prepared featuring carboxylate ligands in the cationic moiety capable of chelating a paramagnetic Fe(III) center. The hydrophobic character of the Fe(III) carboxylate-based MILs was subsequently controlled by incorporating the bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([NTf2−]) anion, resulting in MILs that were insoluble in aqueous solutions at 0.1% (w/v). This synthetic strategy has the potential to impart dual functionality to MILs by providing the flexibility to incorporate a task specific anion without sacrificing paramagnetic properties. The molar magnetic susceptibilities (χm) and effective magnetic moments (μeff) of the studied MILs were determined using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry. Consistent with the Curie–Weiss law, a linear relationship between temperature and inverse magnetic susceptibility (χm−1) was observed for the hydrophobic MILs. The μeff values of the MILs examined in this study ranged from 3.56 to 8.06 Bohr magnetons (μB).
Abstract 3861: The Effect of Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Family Function and Mutuality on Post Stroke Depression

Background: Post-stroke depression is common among both stroke survivors and their caregivers. This secondary data analysis explored the effect that stroke survivor and caregiver family function an...
5 – Transient and Developmental Movement Disorders in Children

Specific types of movement disorders occur in young children in association with specific stages of development or at characteristic ages. Most of these are benign conditions, but can be a cause for concern due to their resemblance to more worrisome disorders and their emergence out of a normal background. Disorders discussed in this chapter include benign neonatal sleep myoclonus, benign myoclonus of early infancy, jitteriness, shuddering, paroxysmal tonic upgaze of infancy, spasmus nutans, head nodding, benign paroxysmal torticollis, benign idiopathic dystonia of infancy, Sandifer syndrome, and infantile masturbation.
Task-driven dictionary learning in distributed online settings

We consider task-driven dictionary learning in a decentralized dynamic setting. Here a network of agents while sequentially receiving local information aims to learn a common data-driven signal representation and model parameters. We formulate this problem as a distributed stochastic program with a non-convex objective and present a block variant of the Arrow-Hurwicz saddle point algorithm to solve it. Using Lagrange multipliers to penalize the discrepancy between them, only neighboring nodes exchange model information. We show that decisions made with this saddle point algorithm asymptotically converge to a stationarity condition in expectation under certain conditions. The learning rate depends on the signal source, network, and discriminative task. We illustrate the algorithm performance in an online multi-agent setting for a collaborative image classification task, demonstrating that the performance is comparable to the centralized case and depends on the network topology over which it is run.
Photodynamic Treatment of Herpes Keratitis

Photodynamic inactivation of virus was tested as a potential therapeutic tool for herpesvirus-induced keratitis, which is a leading cause of blindness and disability. Experimental keratitis produced in rabbits by infection with herpesvirus isolated from a human periorbital lesion was treated with proflavine and light. The herpetic keratitis could be rapidly resolved by the dye-light treatment, whereas improvement was not seen in untreated rabbits, nor in those treated with light alone or dye alone.