cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Domain microstructure evolution in magnetic shape memory alloys: Phase-field model and simulation

A phase-field micromagnetic microelastic model is employed to simulate domain microstructure evolution in magnetic shape memory alloys. The simulations reveal that coupled motions of martensite twin boundaries and magnetic domain walls depend not only on the external magnetic field but also on internal domain configurations. It is shown that a twin boundary can continue its motion under a decreasing magnetic field or even reverse motion direction without changing magnetic field. The domain microstructure-dependent driving forces for the coupled motions of martensite twin boundaries and magnetic domain walls are analyzed; these explain the complex domain processes and resultant peculiar magnetomechanical behavior of magnetic shape memory alloys.
Message-driven frequency hopping: Design and analysis

This paper considers spectrally efficient frequency hopping (FH) system design. Relying on time-frequency diversity over large spectrum, FH systems are robust against hostile jamming interference. However, the spectral efficiency of existing FH systems is very low due to inappropriate use of the total available bandwidth. To improve the system capacity, in this paper, we propose an innovative message-driven frequency hopping (MDFH) scheme. Unlike in traditional FH where the hopping pattern of each user is determined by a pre-selected pseudo-random (PN) sequence, inMDFH, part of the message stream will be acting as the PN sequence, and transmitted through hopping frequency control. As a result, system efficiency is increased significantly since additional information transmission is achieved at no extra cost on either bandwidth or power. We further enhance MDFH by allowing simultaneous transmissions over multiple frequency bands. The enhanced MDFH scheme, named E-MDFH, can achieve high spectral efficiency, and can readily be extended to an FH-based collision-free multiple access scheme. Quantitative performance analysis on the proposed schemes demonstrates that: transmission through hopping frequency control essentially introduces another dimension to the signal space, and the corresponding coding gain can increase the system efficiency by multiple times.
Photonuclear target systems for producing clinically useful quantities of 11C using an electron linear accelerator.

Described in this paper are what the authors believe to be the first practical photonuclear target systems for production of C containing CO and CO2 using bremsstrahlung produced from an electron linear accelerator similar to certain radiotherapy accelerators. This is a continuation of work reported earlier concerning a similar target system presently being used for production of VO-O2. The C producing systems utilized liquid carbon dioxide, liquid cyclohexane, and liquid glacial acetic acid target materials. The carbon dioxide and glacial acetic acid target materials produced principally a C-CO product material. The cyclohexane target material produced a C-hydrocarbon product which was then oxidized to CO2. Target activity yields for these systems, normalized to a 20-cm-long by 10-cm-diam target chamber irradiated in a bremsstrahlung field produced by a 26-MeV, 100-microA electron beam, were 1.9 X 10(8) Bq (5 mCi) at 7.4 X 10(8) Bq g (20 mCi g ) for carbon dioxide, 1.4 X 10(8) Bq (3.8 mCi) at 3.7 X 10(10) Bq g (1 Ci g ) for cyclohexane, and 7.4 X 10(8) Bq (20 mCi) at 3.7 X 10(10) Bq g (1 Ci g ) for glacial acetic acid.
Long-term results of tissue development and cell differentiation on Dacron prostheses seeded with microvascular cells in dogs.

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate in vivo the long-term development, differentiation, and proliferation of the subendothelial tissue on Dacron prostheses seeded with microvascular cells (MVC). Methods: Autologous MVC from omental adipose tissue were seeded on 4 mm Dacron prostheses and the prostheses interposed in the carotid arteries of mongrel dogs for 5, 13, and 26 weeks. Results: Light and electron microscopic evaluation of patent seeded prostheses demonstrated an almost complete monolayer of endothelial cells and well-organized subendothelial tissue, whereas patent control prostheses were mainly covered by red and white thrombi, which were partially replaced by organized tissue with increased implantation time. The measurements of the thickness of the luminal cell layer in seeded and control grafts showed no statistically significant increase between 5 and 26 weeks of implantation. The subendothelial tissue of seeded prostheses demonstrated a time-dependent maturation of highly synthesizing myofibroblasts embedded in a collagen matrix to cells with features of smooth muscle cells located in a collagen-elastin matrix. In control grafts examined after 26 weeks the spontaneous endothelialization was accompanied by a delayed or incomplete maturation of subendothelial tissue. Conclusions: Our study indicates that MVC seeded onto Dacron prostheses are able to generate a vascular wall that does not continue to proliferate after prolonged implantation and that increasingly resembles the wall of a normal artery in cell differentiation and intercellular matrix. (J VASC SURG 1993;18:1019-28.)
“Brothers Under the Bridge” Factors Influencing the Transience of Registered Sex Offenders in Florida

The transience of registered sex offenders (RSOs) is a major impediment to reentry success, particularly because it has been linked to increased absconding and recidivism, and thus decreased community safety. Unfortunately, there is limited existing research on what factors most influence this transience. The purpose of this study was to identify and explore the relative influence of factors predicting transience for RSOs. Using data gathered from the Florida sex offender registry and multiple supplemental state and federal data sources, the analysis revealed a number of county- and individual-level characteristics that are associated with the likelihood of RSO transience. At the county level, these include residence restriction coverage, housing affordability, and population density. At the individual level, these include age, minority status, victim type (minor vs. adult), risk level, supervision status, and prior failure to register convictions. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Maximal order for quadratures usingn evaluations

The problem is to find approximationsI ϕ(f; h) to the integralI(f; h)=e 0 f. Such an approximation has “local order”p ifI(f; h)−I ϕ(f; h)=O(h p ) ash→0. Letπ(n) denote the maximal local order possible for a method usingn evaluations of a function or its derivatives. We show that π(n)=2n+1 if the information used is Hermitian. This is conjectured to be true in general. The conjecture is established for all methods using three or fewer evaluations.
Maximum-diversity transmissions over doubly selective wireless channels

High data rates and multipath propagation give rise to frequency-selectivity of wireless channels, while carrier frequency offsets and mobility-induced Doppler shifts introduce time-selectivity in wireless links. The resulting time- and frequency-selective (or doubly selective) channels offer joint multipath-Doppler diversity gains. Relying on a basis expansion model of the doubly selective channel, we prove that the maximum achievable multipath-Doppler diversity order is determined by the rank of the correlation matrix of the channel's expansion coefficients, and is multiplicative in the effective degrees of freedom that the channel exhibits in the time and frequency dimensions. Interestingly, it turns out that time-frequency reception alone does not guarantee maximum diversity, unless the transmission is also designed judiciously. We design such block precoded transmissions. The corresponding designs for frequency-selective or time-selective channels follow as special cases, and thorough simulations are provided to corroborate our theoretical findings.
Microwave inverse scattering for breast tumor detection using finite difference frequency domain modeling

We have implemented a new algorithm for the electromagnetic inverse scattering problem in inhomogeneous media using a MATLAB-based finite difference frequency domain (FDFD) forward model. This algorithm, referred to as FDFD-based inverse method, constructs a near-linear expression for inversion from the matrix form of the forward model and uses a vector-based Born approximation without employing an a priori Green's function. This algorithm is easily implemented and is robust to the heterogeneity of the background. 2D microwave breast tumor detection is investigated using an MRI-based breast model for the purpose of checking the application in highly heterogeneous material.
Heparin in plasma samples causes nonspecific binding to histones on Western blots

We observed an artifactual reactivity on Western blots when heparin was used as the anticoagulant in collected blood specimens. This nonspecific interaction was found to be due to immunoglobulin aggregates that bound to cellular proteins, in particular histones. Nonspecific interaction was not observed in fresh heparinized samples, but was present in samples frozen for long-term storage. Other anticoagulants such as EDTA, oxaloacetate and sodium citrate did not cause this nonspecific reactivity. Although adding heparin to serum could reproduce the nonspecific reactivity on Western blots, other immunological tests such as ELISA or indirect immunofluorescence were not affected by the use of heparinized plasma. Enzymatic digestion of heparinized samples with Heparinase I removed the artifactual reactivity, leaving specific antigen-antibody interactions unaffected. Therefore, we advise caution in the interpretation of Western blotting experiments when blood or other tissue fluid specimens are collected in heparin.
Localization of immunoreactive glutamyl aminopeptidase in rat brain. II. Distribution and correlation with angiotensin II.

Abstract Glutamyl aminopeptidase (EAP, EC 3.4.11.7) selectively hydrolyzes N-terminal glutamyl and aspartyl residues from oligopeptides and is present in the brain. (Asp1)Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a substrate for EAP, and increasing evidence suggests that des(Asp1)angiotensin II (Ang III) is an active angiotensin peptide in the brain. To determine whether a relationship exists between EAP and Ang II/III in rat brain, we compared their immunocytochemical distributions. EAP-like immunoreactivity was localized primarily to the adventitial surface of cerebral microvessels throughout the forebrain. Endothelial cells, neurons and glial cells were not labeled. The immunocytochemical staining of microvessel adventitium with EAP antiserum was suggestive of labeling of perivascular pericytes since intravenous horseradish peroxidase resulted in a similar adventitial pattern of staining, in addition to pericyte cell bodies. EAP immunoreactivity was highest within circumventricular organs, areas known to contain high levels of Ang II receptors. Positively stained EAP microvessels were also concentrated in areas containing Ang II/III immunoreactive neurons or nerve terminals, including the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and the median eminence. The immunocytochemical localization of EAP suggests that it may be involved in a wide variety of functions within the brain, including: (i) metabolism of circulating peptides in brain areas devoid of a blood-brain barrier, (ii) metabolism of circulating peptides as a component of the blood-brain barrier, (iii) metabolism of intravascularly synthesized peptides, (iv) metabolism of hypothalamic peptides released into the portal circulation, (v) metabolism/conversion of neuronally released Ang II to Ang III in the interstitial space, and (vi) metabolism of neuronally released neuropeptides with vasoactive properties. In this latter capacity, EAP may play a role as a component of a brain-blood vessel barrier to neuropeptides that could alter regional blood flow or vascular permeability.
Mechanistic aspects of the oxidation of amines by monoamine oxidase

Abstract Mechanistic studies on the oxidation by benzylamine by bovine hepatic monoamine oxidase at pH 7.4 have led to a formal mechanism. According to the proposed ping-pong mechanism, benzaldehyde and E-FADH2 are produced first and this can be shown by carrying out the reaction anaerobically. However, the point of release of ammonia has not been studied directly. Therefore, 14C-methyl labelled N-methyl-benzylamine was synthesized and used as a substrate since it was difficult to show directly that ammonia is produced anaerobically because of contamination of solutions with NH3. The experimental set-up and the results which show that ammonia is produced anaerobically before H2O2 are presented.
One-step synthesis and characterization of highly-ordered titanium dioxide Nanotubes

Highly-ordered, densely-packed, hexagonal TiO 2 nanotubes were synthesized in a single-step anodization of Ti foil using a constant dc potential of 60 V. The synthesized nanotubes exhibit a bamboo-like structure, with rings formed along the length. X-ray diffraction reveals the as-grown nanotubes to be amorphous, which upon annealing at 723 K changes to a dominantly crystalline anatase phase. A high concentration of the electrolyte coupled with a mechanically uneven Ti surface leads to “nano-grass” like structure. A long anodization time also contributes to rapid breakdown of the Nanotubes.
Atmospheric Absorption Measurements with a Microwave Radiometer

The absorption of microwave radiation in traversing the earth's atmosphere has been measured at three wave-lengths (1.00 cm, 1.25 cm, and 1.50 cm) in the region of a water-vapor absorption line. The measurement employs a sensitive radiometer to detect thermal radiation from the absorbing atmosphere. The theory of such measurements and the connection between absorption and thermal radiation are presented. The measured absorption together with water-vapor soundings of the atmosphere permits the calculation of the absorption coefficients at standard conditions (293\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, 1015 millibar). These are 0.011, 0.026, and 0.014 db/km/g ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O/${\mathrm{m}}^{3}$ for the wave-lengths 1.00 cm, 1.25 cm, and 1.50 cm, respectively. These values are (50 percent) greater than those given by the theory of Van Vleck. The collision width of the line and its location are in better agreement with the theory and infra-red absorption measurement. It is also found that there is very little (20\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K) radiation from cosmic matter at the radiometer wave-lengths.
Hand infections in the diabetic patient

Between 1984 and 1994, 23 diabetic patients were admitted to a university hospital/Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Medical Centre with a primary or secondary diagnosis of hand infection. We also identified 726 patients admitted to all DVA Medical Centres during the years 1989 through 1994 with co-diagnoses of diabetes mellitus and hand infection. Contrary to previously published literature, most diabetic hand infections are non-specific, confined to the soft tissues, and respond to broad spectrum parenteral antibiotic therapy. When surgery is necessary, most patients do not require amputation.
A bivariate parametric model for survival and intermediate event times.

In diseases such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), there is great interest in describing the frequency of secondary diagnoses that occur during the course of the disease and their effect on survival. Casting this situation in a more general framework, one distinguishes a terminal event (TE) and an intermediate event (IE) that may or may not occur. In epidemiologic applications the TE is usually death. Earlier studies of IE and TE times have used the latter to censor the IE time for individuals who do not present it. For such cases, we argue that more appropriately the TE removes the individual from the risk set for the IE. With this view, one distinguishes observations of four types, each with a different formula for its likelihood contribution. We propose an approach that uses separate parametric models for the marginal distribution of the survival time D and for the conditional distribution of the time R to the IE given D = d and R⩽D. A central quantity is the probability of presenting the IE given the occurrence of the TE at time d. This function of d can reveal important connections between the two events. We suggest a model derived from Weibull distributions where the parameters control the shape of this function. One can obtain inferences about other probabilities of interest such as the proportion of individuals who present the IE, P(R⩽D), the marginal distribution of R among the IE cases, P(R>r∣R⩽D) and the residual survival after the IE occurs, P(D−R>v∣R⩽D, R = r). We apply the model to the analysis of time to secondary Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) diagnosis and time to death in a large cohort study of homosexual men infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) and who had an initial non-KS AIDS diagnosis.
Resolving Mixed Algal Species in Hyperspectral Images

We investigated a lab-based hyperspectral imaging system's response from pure (single) and mixed (two) algal cultures containing known algae types and volumetric combinations to characterize the system's performance. The spectral response to volumetric changes in single and combinations of algal mixtures with known ratios were tested. Constrained linear spectral unmixing was applied to extract the algal content of the mixtures based on abundances that produced the lowest root mean square error. Percent prediction error was computed as the difference between actual percent volumetric content and abundances at minimum RMS error. Best prediction errors were computed as 0.4%, 0.4% and 6.3% for the mixed spectra from three independent experiments. The worst prediction errors were found as 5.6%, 5.4% and 13.4% for the same order of experiments. Additionally, Beer-Lambert's law was utilized to relate transmittance to different volumes of pure algal suspensions demonstrating linear logarithmic trends for optical property measurements.
Rigidity of infinite (circle) packings

The nerve of a packing is a graph that encodes its combinatorics. The vertices of the nerve correspond to the packed sets, and an edge occurs between two vertices in the nerve precisely when the corresponding sets of the packing intersect.
Performance analysis of generalized switch and examine combining

In diversity-rich environments, there is a tradeoff between performance and complexity. While combining a high number of paths improves the performance, it also increases the receiver complexity. With this in mind, we look into the performance of generalized switch and examine combining (GSEC): a low-complexity scheme suitable for diversity-rich environments. More specifically, after deriving the statistics of the combiner output, including the moment generating function and probability density function, we analyze the performance of of GSEC in independent and identically distributed Rayleigh fading environment in terms of average combiner signal-to-noise ratio, outage probability, and average error probability. As an illustration of the mathematical formalism, selected numerical examples and provided together with some related discussions and result interpretations.
Whole-Organ Tissue Engineering: Decellularization and Recellularization of Three-Dimensional Matrix Scaffolds

The definitive treatment for end-stage organ failure is orthotopic transplantation. However, the demand for transplantation far exceeds the number of available donor organs. A promising tissue-engineering/regenerative-medicine approach for functional organ replacement has emerged in recent years. Decellularization of donor organs such as heart, liver, and lung can provide an acellular, naturally occurring three-dimensional biologic scaffold material that can then be seeded with selected cell populations. Preliminary studies in animal models have provided encouraging results for the proof of concept. However, significant challenges for three-dimensional organ engineering approach remain. This manuscript describes the fundamental concepts of whole-organ engineering, including characterization of the extracellular matrix as a scaffold, methods for decellularization of vascular organs, potential cells to reseed such a scaffold, techniques for the recellularization process and important aspects regarding biore...
Is SIMD enough for scientific and engineering applications on massively parallel computers

Some basic issues involved in matching an application to a distributed memory parallel machine are addressed. In particular, data communication and processor synchronization as they relate to MIMD (multiple instruction-multiple data) and SIMD (single-instruction-multiple data) architectures are discussed. To illustrate the differences, the authors describe the implementation and performance of several engineering and scientific applications that have been coded for both kinds of machines. They find that many problems are well suited to both architectures. However, when the natural parallelism in a simulation requires a loose synchronization between processors, the MIMD paradigm offers a greater programming flexibility than SIMD. >
SYZYGY - a framework for scalable cross-module IPO

Performing analysis across module boundaries for an entire program is important for exploiting several runtime performance opportunities. However, due to scalability problems in existing full-program analysis frameworks, such performance opportunities are only realized by paying tremendous compile-time costs. Alternative solutions, such as partial compilations or user assertions, are complicated or unsafe and as a result, not many commercial applications are compiled today with cross-module optimizations. We present SYZYGY, a practical framework for performing efficient, scalable, interprocedural optimizations. The framework is implemented in the HP-UX Itanium/spl reg/ compilers and we have successfully compiled many very large applications consisting of millions of lines of code. We achieved performance improvements of up to 40% over optimization level two and compilation time improvements in the order of 100% and more compared to a previous approach.
Conditional Disruption Of Beta 1 Integrin In Schwann Cells Impedes Interactions With Axons

In dystrophic mice, a model of merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy, laminin-2 mutations produce peripheral nerve dysmyelination and render Schwann cells unable to sort bundles of axons. The laminin receptor and the mechanism through which dysmyelination and impaired sorting occur are unknown. We describe mice in which Schwann cell-specific disruption of beta1 integrin, a component of laminin receptors, causes a severe neuropathy with impaired radial sorting of axons. Beta1-null Schwann cells populate nerves, proliferate, and survive normally, but do not extend or maintain normal processes around axons. Interestingly, some Schwann cells surpass this problem to form normal myelin, possibly due to the presence of other laminin receptors such as dystroglycan and α6β4 integrin. These data suggest that PI integrin links laminin in the basal lamina to the cytoskeleton in order for Schwann cells to ensheath axons, and alteration of this linkage contributes to the peripheral neuropathy of congenital muscular dystrophy.
Newton's Method

Newton's method is one of the most powerful techniques for solving systems of nonlinear equations and minimizing functions. It is easy to implement and has a provably fast rate of convergence under fairly mild assumptions. Because of these and other nice properties, Newton's method is at the heart of many solution techniques used to solve real-world problems. This article gives a short introduction to this method with a brief discussion of some of the main issues in applying this algorithm for the solution of practical problems. WIREs Comp Stat 2011 3 75–78 DOI: 10.1002/wics.129 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website
bioDBnet: the biological database network

Summary: bioDBnet is an online web resource that provides interconnected access to many types of biological databases. It has integrated many of the most commonly used biological databases and in its current state has 153 database identifiers (nodes) covering all aspects of biology including genes, proteins, pathways and other biological concepts. bioDBnet offers various ways to work with these databases including conversions, extensive database reports, custom navigation and has various tools to enhance the quality of the results. Importantly, the access to bioDBnet is updated regularly, providing access to the most recent releases of each individual database. Availability: http://biodbnet.abcc.ncifcrf.gov Contact: stephensr@mail.nih.gov Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online
Lack of Interactions between Fire Ant Control Products and White Grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Turfgrass

Insecticides are widely used to manage turfgrass pest such as white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta (Buren) are important predators and pests in managed turfgrass. We tested the susceptibility of white grub life stages (adults, egg, and larvae) to predation by S. invicta and determined if insecticides applied for control of S. invicta would result in locally greater white grub populations. Field trials over 2 yr evaluated bifenthrin, fipronil, and hydramethylnon applied to large and small scale turfgrass plots for impacts on fire ant foraging and white grub populations. Coincident with these trials, adults, larvae, and eggs of common scarab species were evaluated for susceptibility to predation by S. invicta under field conditions. Field trials with insecticides failed to show a significant increase in white grub populations resulting from treatment of turfgrass for fire ants. This, in part, may be because of a lack of predation of S. invicta on adult and larval scarabs. Egg predation was greatest at 70% but < 20% of adults and larvae were attacked in a 24 h test. Contrary to other studies, results presented here suggest that fire ants and fire ant control products applied to turfgrass have a minimal impact on white grub populations.
Identifying Children with Specific Reading Disabilities From Listening and Reading Discrepancy Scores

A method of identifying children with specific reading disabilities by identifying discrepancies between their reading and listening comprehension scores was validated with disabled and nondisabled readers in Grades 4, 5, and 6. The method is based on a modification of the reading comprehension subtest of the Peabody Individual Achievement Test (Dunn & Markwardt, 1970). In this modification, even-numbered sentences are read by subjects, and odd-numbered sentences are read by the test administrator as subjects listen. The features of this test that reduce demands on working memory, thereby making it suitable for the detection of a discrepancy between reading and listening comprehension in readers with disabilities, are discussed. A significant group-by-modality interaction was obtained. Children with reading disabilities scored significantly lower on reading than on listening comprehension, while nondisabled readers scored slightly higher, but not significantly so, on reading than on listening comprehensio...
Query strategies for priced information

We consider a class of problems in which an algorithm seeks to compute a function f over a set of n inputs, where each input has an associated price. The algorithm queries inputs sequentially, trying to learn the value of the function for the minimum cost. We apply the competitive analysis of algorithms to this framework, designing algorithms that incur large cost only when the cost of the cheapest "proof" for the value of f is also large. We provide algorithms that achieve the optimal competitive ratio for functions that include arbitrary Boolean AND/OR trees, and for the problem of searching in a sorted array. We also investigate a model for pricing in this framework and construct, for every AND/OR tree, a set of prices that satisfies a very strong type of equilibrium property.
A coherent perturbation algorithm

A coherent perturbation (CP) adaptive technique which eliminates the need to implement a separate receiver on each adaptive element is described. The new algorithm supports more implementation options than other perturbation techniques and produces an estimate of the power in a single element. A hardlimited version of the new algorithm can also be implemented to reduce the dynamic range requirement as well as the variations in transient response with jamming power. An approximation for the steady-state misadjustment is obtained. Simulation results are presented and compared with theoretical results. Timing synchronization requirements derived from computer runs are also presented.
Ultrasonic Characterization of Polymers in Their Evolution From Solid to Liquid State

A polymer can be defined as a large molecule made of a number of repeating units. Actually many natural organic substances, such as hevea rubber, cellulose, starch, leather, proteins... are polymers. The hypothesis, that these materials are made of very long chains and that they owe their specific properties to this peculiar structure, was first put forth by Kekule in 1877. Since then, the macromolecular theory has been substantiated by its numerous success, both scientific — one of the most exhilarating being the discovery of the double helix structure for the DNA molecule by Crick, Watson and Wilkins (1953) — and industrial, with the advent of totally synthetic polymers which today represent an important portion of industrial materials.
Competition and the density dependence of metabolic rates

Summary Although mass and temperature are strong predictors of metabolic rates, there is considerable unexplained variation in metabolic rates both within and across species after body size and temperature are taken into account. Some of this variation may be due to changes in the rate of food intake with population density, as metabolism depends on the throughput of food to fuel biochemical reactions. Using data collected from the literature, we show that individual metabolic rates are negatively correlated with population density for a wide range of organisms including primary producers and consumers. Using new data for the zooplankter Daphnia ambigua, we also find genotypic variation in the relationship between metabolic rate and population density. The relationship between metabolic rate and population density generally follows a power law scaling, and within a population, density-correlated variation in metabolism can span two orders of magnitude. We suggest that density-dependent metabolic rates arise via competitive effects on foraging rates (both exploitation and interference competition), combined with an activity response to accommodate the resource constraint induced by competition. Standard ecological models predict the kind of density-dependent foraging patterns that could give rise to density-dependent metabolic rates, but this has generally not been investigated. Our results indicate that after body mass and temperature, population density represents an important third axis that may account for a large amount of unexplained variance in metabolic rates within and among species. The effect of population density on metabolism has implications for the scaling of metabolic rates from individuals to populations and the relative performance of species and genotypes and therefore also for community assembly and evolution.
Obesity rather than neoadjuvant chemotherapy predicts steatohepatitis in patients with colorectal metastasis

Abstract Introduction Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been associated with an increased risk of surgery because of chemotherapy-associated steatohepatitis and sinusoidal obstruction. The aim of the current study was to assess for other predictors of steatohepatitis and sinusoidal obstruction and to determine the role of obesity as a risk factor in patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CLM). Methods An institutional review board–approved prospectively maintained database of 1,605 patients who underwent hepatic procedures for CLM from 2001 to 2009 was reviewed. Results In a review of 208 resected patients, body mass index was the only predictor of liver injury according to multivariate analysis ( P P 30) was 36%, and among obese patients (BMI >30) the rate of steatosis or steatohepatitis was 39%. Conclusions Obesity is the strongest predictor of steatosis and steatohepatitis in patients with CLM, and this risk is independent of the use of preoperative chemotherapy.
AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT OF DATA COLLECTION USING THE INTERNET

Identical questionnaire items were used to gather data from 2 samples of employees. One sample (n= 50) responded to a survey implemented on the World Wide Web. Another sample (n= 181) filled out a paper version of the survey. Analyses of the 2 data sets supported an exploration of the viability of World Wide Web data collection. The World Wide Web data had fewer missing values than the paper and pencil data. A covariance analysis simultaneously conducted in both samples indicated similar covariance structures among the tested variables. The costs and benefits of using access controls to improve sampling are discussed. Four applications that do not require such access controls are discussed.
Disability among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults: disparities in prevalence and risk.

Objectives. We used population-based data to comprehensively examine disability among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults.Methods. We estimated prevalence of disability and its covariates and compared by sexual orientation by utilizing data from the Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 82 531) collected in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009. We used multivariate logistic regression to examine the relationship between disability and sexual orientation, after we controlled for covariates of disability.Results. Findings indicated that the prevalence of disability is higher among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults compared with their heterosexual counterparts; lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults with disabilities are significantly younger than heterosexual adults with disabilities. Higher disability prevalence among lesbians and among bisexual women and men remained significant after we controlled for covariates of disability.Conclusions. Higher rates of disability among lesbian, gay, and bisex...
Relation of age, diastolic pressure and known duration of hypertension to presence of low renin essential hypertension

Plasma renin activity and aldosterone secretion rates were measured in 100 patients with essential hypertension in response to a low sodium diet and upright posture. Plasma renin activity showed a subnormal response in 22 percent of patients, and a greater than normal response in 4 percent. In contrast to findings in 50 normal subjects, there was a significant positive correlation between the incidence of subnormal renin response and patient age and level of diastolic blood pressure. There was no correlation between renin response and known duration of hypertension. Comparison of several clinical and biochemical variables among the renin study subgroups revealed no differences except that the group with a low level of renin activity excreted a greater amount of sodium. These data support the hypothesis that a low renin activity level may evolve with time in patients with essential hypertension.
Drawing Boundaries for Air Quality Control Under the Clean Air Act: The Importance of NOT Being Nonattainment

Much has changed with regard to air pollution control since 1970 whenCongress revised the Clean Air Act to assume a form that, in very broad terms,it retains today. From a legal point of view, while states1 still retained at thattime wide-ranging discretion to design the regulatory controls necessary toattain the air quality goals of the Act, that discretion was significantly limitedwhen Congress revisited the Act in 1977. State discretion diminished to aneven greater extent, particularly with regard to the air pollutants ozone, carbonmonoxide, and particulate matter, when President George H.W. Bush signedthe Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
A generic architecture for multi-modulus dividers in low-power and high-speed frequency synthesis

The paper presents a generic architecture for programmable multi-modulus dividers (MMD) for low-power and high-speed frequency synthesis applications. The proposed architecture uses cascaded divide by 2/3 cells in a ripple fashion except for the last cell, which is a P/(P+1) dual modulus prescaler used to adjust the minimum division ratio and the required division range. This approach provides an optimized architecture with minimum current consumption, the smallest area and minimum number of control bits for designing MMDs with a unit step increment.
Effect of degenerate spherical harmonics and a method for automatic shimming of oblique slices

Several spherical harmonics degenerate on an oblique plane. Two-dimensional field mapping of an oblique slice causes ambiguity in determination of the degenerate spherical harmonics terms. Therefore, automatic shimming of oblique slices may lead to erroneous adjustment of shims corresponding to the degenerate spherical harmonics. In this paper an automatic slice shimming technique derived from the FASTMAP method (Gruetter R. Magn. Reson. Med. 1993; 29, 804-811) is proposed. This new method unequivocally determines and corrects all of the first- and the second-order shims for slices of arbitrary orientation.
BOREALOSUCHUS (CROCODYLIA) FROM THE PALEOCENE OF BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TEXAS

Fossil vertebrates have been described from the Paleocene of Big Bend National Park, Brewster County, Texas, by Wilson et al. (1952), Wilson (1967), Schiebout (1973, 1974), and Standhardt (1986). These studies focused on the mammalian component of the fauna, although crocodylian and chelonian remains are known. Schiebout (1973) referred a partial dentary to Diplocynodon. Teeth in the Black Peaks Formation were referred to Allognathosuchus by Straight (1996); Standardt (1986) discussed isolated crocodyliform teeth from across the Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary in this area, but did not assign any of them to named taxa. Brochu (1996) briefly reviewed more complete remains, which were found to include an alligatorid and a member of Borealosuchus. The giant crocodylian Deinosuchus and a goniopholidid are known from underlying Cretaceous sediments (Rowe et al., 1992), and overlying Eocene units are known to preserve remains of the ziphodont taxon Pristichampsus (Busbey, 1986). A skull from the Paleocene Black Peaks Formation of Big Bend National Park can be referred to Borealosuchus. The name Borealosuchus is defined with reference to the monophyletic group including the last common ancestor of four crocodylians formerly classified as “ Leidyosuchus ” ( B. sternbergii, B. acutidentatus, B. wilsoni, B. formidabilis ) and all of its descendents (Brochu, 1997b). Borealosuchus is closely related to, but not a member of, a clade including living alligatorids and crocodylids (Wu et al., 1996, 1997; Salisbury and Willis, 1996; Brochu, 1997a,b). A phylogenetic review of these taxa (Brochu, 1997b) indicated that B. sternbergii is the basalmost member of this group, and that B. acutidentatus and B. wilsoni are sister taxa. Borealosuchus appears to include most, if not all, fossils from North America referred to Diplocynodon (Brochu, 1997b, 1999). To date, most occurrences of Borealosuchus have been from northern North America— B. sternbergii from …
Nutritional Support of the Severely Burned Patient

Advances in treatment of burns have caused marked decreases in mortality. In 1952, 50% of young patients would be predicted to die with a 50% TBSA burn [1], whereas in today’s top burn units, almost any size burn in a young patient would be predicted to survive (Table 1) [2]. The treatment advances have been in the areas of resuscitation, wound closure, infection control, and support of the hyper-metabolic response to trauma. In regards to hypermetabolism and nutritional treatments, weight losses of greater than 30% were common among burn patients prior to the advent of continuous enteral nutritional support. These losses were at least partly responsible for high mortality rates associated with moderate and large size burns [3]. With modern treatments, weight losses after burn can be prevented. Open image in new window Table 1 Burn mortality (LD%50); the numbers are the %TBSA burn at which 50% of patients would be expected to die
The gamma-ray sky as seen with HAWC

The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) TeV Gamma-Ray Observatory located at a site about two hours drive east of Puebla, Mexico on the Sierra Negra plateau (4100m a.s.l.) was inaugurated in March 2015. The array of 300 water Cherenkov detectors can observe large portions of the sky simultaneously and, with an energy range of 100GeV to 100 TeV, is currently one of the most sensitive instruments capable of probing particle acceleration near PeV energies. HAWC has already started science operation in the Summer of 2013 and preliminary sky maps have been produced from 260 days of data taken with a partial array. Multiple > 5 σ (pre- trials) hotspots are visible along the galactic plane and some appear to coincide with known TeV sources from the H.E.S.S. catalog, SNRs and molecular cloud associations, and pulsars wind nebulae (PWNe). The sky maps based on partial HAWC array data are discussed as well as the scientific potential of the completed instrument especially in the context of multi-wavelengths studies.
The Effect of Selected Pretreatments on the Dyeing and Color Properties and pH-Sensitivity of Wools Dyed with Metallized Azo Dyes

The effect of tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride (THPC) and peroxydisulfate (PS) anion pretreatments on the dyeing properties of wool with metallized azo dyes was studied and characterized. Chrome-metallized azo dyes containing pyrazolone or acetoacetanilide moieties dyed THPC and PS-treated wools to different shades than those found for untreated wool, whereas treated and untreated wools dyed with chrome-metallized azo dyes containing aromatic benzenoid rings on both sides of the azo group gave much smaller color differences. The particular mordant used did not significantly affect the nature of color differences observed when treated and untreated wools dyed with mordant dyes containing a pyrazolone moiety were metallized; however, the pH-sensitivity of the mordant-dyed wools was reduced by metallization, with sodium dichromate and cuprous sulfate metallization providing the greatest degree of stabilization.
Depth of Field in Plenoptic Cameras

Certain new algorithms used by plenoptic cameras require focused microlens images. The range of applicability of these algorithms therefore depends on the depth of field of the relay system comprising the plenoptic camera. We analyze the relationships and tradeoffs between camera parameters and depth of field and characterize conditions for optimal refocusing, stereo, and 3D imaging.
Economic/reimbursement issues in MR imaging with gadolinium contrast agents.

Implementation of an accurate, reliable index of cost effectiveness would help to advance technology assessment and reimbursement of MR imaging procedures, including gadolinium enhancement. To this end, an objective, consensual measure that satisfies the need for «gold-standard» confirmation of diagnostic impressions in routine clinical practice and limits interpreter bias has been developed. Eponymously termed Diagnostic Merit, this barometer is expressed as the percentage of independent judges confirming diagnostic impressions entered by case-blinded radiologists assigned unenhanced and enhanced image sets for interpretation
Influence of Persistent Companion Clouds on Geophysical Vortex Dynamics

Large geophysical vortices provide some of the most dramatic features in the known atmospheres, from hurricanes on Earth to the Great Red Spot on Jupiter. A notable difference between the Great Red Spot and terrestrial hurricanes is that hurricanes are more dynamic, changing shape and location in response to internal and external conditions. In contrast, large vortices on the outer two gas giant planets, Uranus and Neptune, have exhibited a greater tendency toward dynamics more akin to hurricanes. The most notable of these dynamic vortices was the original Great Dark Spot observed by Voyager II in 1989, which through eight months of observation drifted towards the equator by ten degrees in latitude and oscillated in shape over an eight-day period during the month of closest observation. Also like hurricanes, it now appears that clouds also play a critical role in governing the dynamics of these features, most importantly in terms of persistent orographic companion clouds that form in the vicinity of some of these vortices. However, to better understand the vertical as well as horizontal motions requires highest resolution simulations of these features. This paper will discuss the evidence of cloud effects on the vortex dynamics and progress on achieving the higher resolution vortex simulations that more accurately simulate the cloud physics. A deeper exploration of the cloud-vortex interaction will give us a better understanding of the physics of the ice giant atmospheres. In turn, this may help elucidate the motions of hurricanes on Earth through the application of comparative planetology.
Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in Tyrosine and a β-Hairpin Maquette: Reaction Dynamics on the Picosecond Time Scale

In proteins, proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) can involve the transient oxidation and reduction of the aromatic amino acid tyrosine. Due to the short life time of tyrosyl radical intermediates, transient absorption spectroscopy provides an important tool in deciphering electron-transfer mechanisms. In this report, the photoionization of solution tyrosine and tyrosinate was investigated using transient, picosecond absorption spectroscopy. The results were compared to data acquired from a tyrosine-containing β-hairpin peptide. This maquette, peptide A, is an 18-mer that exhibits π–π interaction between tyrosine (Y5) and histidine (H14). Y5 and H14 carry out an orthogonal PCET reaction when Y5 is oxidized in the mid-pH range. Photolysis of all samples (280 nm, instrument response: 360 fs) generated a solvated electron signal within 3 ps. A signal from the S1 state and a 410 nm signal from the neutral tyrosyl radical were also formed in 3 ps. Fits to S1 and tyrosyl radical decay profiles revealed bipha...