cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generation of Synthetic Digital Image Correlation Images Using the Open-Source Blender Software

With camera equipment becoming cheaper and computer processing power increasing exponentially, optical test methods are becoming ubiquitous in the mechanics and dynamics communities. However, unlike more traditional methods where the measurement response of interest is obtained directly from the sensor (e.g. an accelerometer directly provides an acceleration), image-based measurement techniques often require a non-trivial amount of post-processing to extract displacements and strains from a series of images. Using experimental images to develop and validate these post-processing algorithms can be a challenge; real images have a finite depth of field, they can have poor contrast, they can be noisy, there can be calibration errors, etc. It is advantageous to create synthetic images with which image processing algorithms can be investigated without the need to deal with all the complexity and cost involved in a real experiment. Synthetic images also provide access to a “true” analytical solution, which is typically not available in an experiment. However, many synthetic image generation tools are either bespoke research codes or built into commercial software, which can limit accessibility. Blender is a free and open-source 3D software package that supports scene modeling and rendering, among other features. It runs an underlying Python scripting engine, so activities such as building and deforming a mesh or rendering a series of images can be automated. For these reasons, Blender has the potential to be used more widely than current synthetic image tools, as well as perform more sophisticated analyses. While Blender was not designed for engineering purposes, this work will demonstrate Blender’s suitability for generating synthetic test images for digital image correlation, and show its accuracy is comparable to commercial synthetic image generation software packages.
Research note: Priority shaping of source traffic in ATM B-ISDN

A source traffic shaper based on prediction of the behaviour of the ATM B-ISDN access policer is discussed. Using this approach, it is possible, within a policed virtual circuit, to reduce both loss and delay of the high-priority cells at the expense of delay of the low-priority cells. The priority-based traffic shaping is beneficial for sources generating cell streams with differing service requirements, e.g. multimedia sources.
Cultural Factors in Health Insurance

Even if health and economic factors are important in health insurance, they do not operate in a cultural vacuum. Two major cultural factors are involved. They are medical technology and a value system which holds that medical care should be available to persons who need it regardless of economic circumstance.
Optical absorption spectrum of trivalent cerium in Y 2 O 3 , Ba 2 GdTaO 6 , ThO 2 , and related compounds

The optical absorption coefficient at room temperature has been measured for cerium-doped Y2O3 and Y1.4Gd0.6O3 samples from 1500 to 45000 wave numbers. Diffuse reflectivity has been measured on cerium-doped powders of Y2O3, Lu2O3, Sc2O3, Ba2GdTaO6, and ThO2 over the same range. A number of 4f − 4f and 4f − 5d transitions of trivalent Ce have been seen, and some experimental values for their oscillator strengths have been determined. A tentative assignment of particular transitions to either C2 or C3i sites in the Y2O3 structure has been made. Some of the transitions have also been seen by use of Raman scattering. Several phonon replicas of the 4f − 4f transitions have been identified. The charge-transfer band of tetravalent cerium in Y1.4Gd0.6O3 has been identified.
RENAL CELL CARCINOMA AND AUTOIMMUNE HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA

A previously healthy man who became bedridden because of malaise, fatigue, and weakness was found to have an autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). In the course of his evaluation for the AIHA, he was found, coincidentally, to have a renal cell carcinoma. The AIHA was marginally responsive to therapy with corticosteroids, but it resolved promptly after excision of the cancer. This case represents probably a rarely observed association between a nonhematologic malignancy and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
Optic Nerve Head Pit With Sectoral Inner Retinal Hypoplasia: A Bottomless Pit.

Awoman inher late30sdiagnosed inchildhoodashavingamblyopia in the lefteyepresented forexamination.Visual acuitywasstable since childhood: 20/20OD and 20/100OSwith a relative afferent pupillary defect in the left eye, stereopsis of 100 arc-seconds, and 10 of 10 Ishihara color plates in each eye. Ophthalmoscopic examinationof the lefteyeshowedatemporalopticnerveheadpit (ONHP) and optical coherence tomography showed absence of the internal limiting membrane, ganglion cell, and nerve fiber layers in the distribution of the papillomacular bundle (Figure). Discussion Thinning of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer has been described in ONHP,1,2 but this is the first case, to our knowledge, to demonstrate absence of the 3 innermost macular layers. Despite lack of earlier pictures, the stability of vision suggests this finding is congenital. This case suggests a possible association between ONHP and sectoral hypoplasia of the inner retina, which may be important to recognize in eyes with ONHP treated for amblyopia or glaucoma.3
Continuous Model Theory

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses continuous model theory. The sets of formulas and sentences are defined in the usual manner. Connectives are interpreted as functions mapping the cartesian powers. While it is relatively easy to find examples of continuous logics, it is not so certain that many adequate logics can be found. This is because the point 1 ∈ X has to have certain special properties which would preclude X from being an arbitrary compact Hausdorff space. A large body of results in 2-valued model theory is concerned with the problem of providing syntactic characterizations for classes of models which are closed under certain algebraic operations. A class K M is said to be an existential, universal, universal-existential, or positive class if it is an arbitrary intersection of finite unions of classes. A theorem analogous to the above four theorems and which does not appear to carry over to the general case is the previously mentioned result of Keisler on Horn classes and reduced products.
Computational analysis of the syntax and interpretation of "free" word order in Turkish

In this dissertation, I examine a language with "free" word order, specifically Turkish, in order to develop a formalism that can capture the syntax and the context-dependent interpretation of "free" word order within a computational framework. In "free" word order languages, word order is used to convey distinctions in meaning that are not captured by traditional truth-conditional semantics. The word order indicates the "information structure", e.g. what is the "topic" and the "focus" of the sentence. The context-appropriate use of "free" word order is of considerable importance in developing practical applications in natural language interpretation, generation, and machine translation. I develop a formalism called Multiset-CCG, an extension of Combinatory Categorial Grammars, CCGs, (Ades/Steedman 1982, Steedman 1985), and demonstrate its advantages in an implementation of a data-base query system that interprets Turkish questions and generates answers with contextually appropriate word orders. Multiset-CCG is a context-sensitive and polynomially parsable grammar that captures the formal and descriptive properties of "free" word order and restrictions on word order in simple and complex sentences (with discontinuous constituents and long distance dependencies). Multiset-CCG captures the context-dependent meaning of word order in Turkish by compositionally deriving the predicate-argument structure and the information structure of a sentence in parallel. The advantages of using such a formalism are that it is computationally attractive and that it provides a compositional and flexible surface structure that allows syntactic constituents to correspond to information structure constituents. A formalism that integrates information structure and syntax such as Multiset-CCG is essential to the computational tasks of interpreting and generating sentences with contextually appropriate word orders in "free" word order languages.
Gene Expression--Where to Start?

Transcription just got noisier with the discovery of short RNAs that are synthesized at or near DNA regions that also initiate full-length RNAs.
Effects of alcohol on absorption of vitamin A in normal and in gastrectomized subjects.

Summary 1.Malabsorption of vitamin A was found in 24 out of 27 patients with Billroth II subtotal gastrectomy. 2.A significant rise in the acetylcholine and methacholine cholinesterase activity of the erythrocytes was also observed in these patients. 3.Ingestion of ethyl alcohol (a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor) in the form of wine prior to administration of the test dose of vitamin A more than doubled the rate of intestinal absorption of this vitamin in gastrectomized patients. 4.By contrast, in normal subjects ingestion of wine prior to administration of the test dose caused a significant decrease in absorption of vitamin A. 5.The mechanism of postgastrectomy malabsorption and the different action of alcohol on the absorption of vitamin A in normal subjects and in patients who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy might be explained by variations in pancreatic secretion determined by the biphasic activity pattern of the autonomic nervous system.
Transportation into narrative worlds: implications for entertainment media influences on tobacco use

Aims A growing body of research suggests that smoking portrayals in movies influence adolescent tobacco use. However, the mechanism for this influence remains unclear. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of research on narrative transportation theory, particularly as applied to movies and smoking. We propose that this theory can provide a valuable framework for guiding research on the role of entertainment media in smoking and other addictive behaviors. Methods We review empirical work on transportation theory and highlight the psychological mechanisms underlying transportation effects. ‘Transportation into narrative worlds’ refers to cognitive, emotional and imagery engagement into a narrative (including movies and entertainment media). We link this work with research on the effects of movie smoking. Results Research suggests that individuals who are more highly transported into narratives show greater attitude, belief and behavior change. Transportation effects work through reducing counterarguing, creating connections (identification and liking) with characters and increasing perceptions of realism and emotional involvement. We propose several future directions and research challenges for applying a transportation framework to the issue of entertainment media effects on smoking and tobacco disparities. Understanding factors contributing to transportation may provide a more nuanced view of who will be affected by movie smoking, and understanding the psychological processes underlying narrative persuasion may guide intervention efforts. Conclusions Narrative transportation theory suggests that individuals' cognitive, emotional and imagery immersion in a narrative is a key mechanism of attitude, belief and behavior change. This theory provides a potentially generative and psychologically grounded framework for increasing knowledge about the boundary conditions and processes underlying the effects of entertainment media on tobacco use.
At what age should children engage in agricultural tasks

Purpose: We compared parents' perceived-as-appropriate ages with actual-performance ages for their children engaging in selected agricultural tasks or practices, and we examined the factors associated with age discrepancy. Methods: We analyzed data from the Keokuk County Rural Health Study collected among parents of children age 17 or younger. Parents were interviewed separately regarding the age of their children's involvement in 14 selected agricultural tasks and their opinions about appropriate age of involvement. Findings: Of the 264 families included, 86.5% with a son and 69.8% with a daughter reported having children involved in at least 1 of 14 selected agricultural tasks. The average actual-performance ages for children to be involved in any of the tasks were younger than those that parents perceived appropriate. Furthermore, in 6 of the 9 North American Guidelines for Children's Agricultural Tasks (NAGCAT) that we assessed, parents' perceived-as-appropriate ages were younger than minimum ages recommended by the NAGCAT. Driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) was the most common task with actual-performance age younger than the NAGCAT-recommended age; 53.0% of boys (n = 106) and 36.1% of girls (n = 61) did so under the recommended age. Boys and children who live on a farm, or whose parents have been or are farmers, were significantly more likely to perform agricultural tasks at earlier ages. Conclusions: Our results suggest farm parents and other rural stakeholders need to be better educated and encouraged to follow the NAGCAT guidelines, and that multilevel interventions need to be developed to ensure protection of children from agricultural injury and death. Language: en
Team decision models of an inventory supply organization

When uncertainty is a consideration in the normative analysis of decisions and information within organizations, “best” programs of decision rules depend on the information structure which pertains to the organization. Under different information structures, different decision rule programs are optimal relative to the prevailing criteria of organization performance. Propositions from team decision theory may be employed advantageously to resolve behavioral issues in the formal description of organizational decision processes. In specifying the information structure of an organization within the analysis of team problems it becomes useful to distinguish between components of the data generating process and the information system. An information system can be described completely in terms of (1) the space of states of the world, {Xi} = X; (2) the space of information, {Zk} = Z; and (3) the system likelihood function or conditional probability of each item of information, Zk, given the state, Xi, for each Zk e Z and Xi e X. The framework of applied statistical decision theory provides an operational procedure for the normative analysis of alternative decision rule programs and information systems. These considerations are illustrated for a simple logistics organization with operating costs given by a constrained asymmetric linear function of inventory and demand. In particular, both normal and extensive form analyses of the team decision problem are detailed under several logistics information systems.
Hippocampal dysfunction in schizophrenia.

Although not necessarily primary to the disease, hippocampal dysfunction in schizophrenia is suggested by morphological changes in the hippocampal formation reported in schizophrenic patients. This notion receives additional support from studies showing that 1) similar behavioral deficits are exhibited by both schizophrenics and animals with hippocampal lesions, and 2) some of these behavioral deficits are reversed by neuroleptics in both schizophrenics and lesioned animals. A brain-mapped neural network model is used to explain how some impairments in attention can be caused by hippocampal dysfunction and ameliorated by dopaminergic blockers. Hippocampus 2001;11:599–613. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Radiative-lifetime measurements of the 4p 5 P, 4p 3 P, and 4d 5 D ∘ multiplets of O i

Time-resolved spectroscopy is used to observe the 4p5P → 3s5S∘, 4p3P → 3s3S∘, and 4d5D∘ → 3p5P multiplet transitions of the O i spectrum occurring at λ = 3947, 4368, and 6157 A, respectively. The excited atomic states are produced through dissociative excitation of an O2 target gas by a pulsed electron beam of ~0.5–2-μsec pulse width and 100-eV incident energy. The mean radiative lifetimes of the 4p5P, 4p3P, and 4d5D∘ multiplets are obtained from analysis of the resulting radiative decay over the pressure range ~20–100 mTorr and are reported as 194, 161, and 95 nsec, respectively. The corresponding collisional deactivation cross sections for the multiplets are also obtained from the lifetime-versus-pressure measurements and are reported as 3.2 × 10−15, 7.7 × 10−15, and 1.6 × 10−15 cm2, respectively.
GFAP Transgenic Mice

The ability to direct expression of genes to astrocytes in mice has been one of the major motivators of transcriptional analyses of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene. Another has been the possibility of discovering signaling pathways that operate during development, disease, and injury-all states that increase GFAP gene activity-by identifying and working back from the responsible DNA elements. Here we review studies in both these areas and provide practical guidelines for the construction and analysis of GFAP transgenes. Analyses of the GFAP promoter from cell transfection experiments are summarized to provide background information for the studies in transgenics. Another section provides practical information on the construction and analysis of transgenic mice, with particular reference to GFAP transgenes. The survey of analyses of GFAP transcription elements in transgenic mice reveals that a segment of about 2 kb of the 5'-flanking region of the gene is sufficient to direct reporter gene activity to astrocytes with high specificity. This segment also supports a response to brain injury by upregulation of the activity. Developmentally, the transgene activity is seen by e12.5, several days earlier than GFAP protein or mRNA has been detected. GFAP transcription control regions have already been used to express several proteins in astrocytes to evaluate their biological effects. These proteins include IL-3, IL-6, TGF-beta1, the HIV envelop protein gp120, the MHC Class I Db protein, somatosatin, CNTF, and the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase. In the future many other GFAP transgenes are expected to be produced, with increasing knowledge of the GFAP regulatory elements promising greater sophistication through promoters that can be regulated, have higher activity, and target activity to particular brain regions.
Stimuli sensitive polymers and self regulated drug delivery systems: A very partial review

Since the early days of the Journal of Controlled Release, there has been considerable interest in materials that can release drug on an "on-demand" basis. So called "stimuli-responsive" and "intelligent" systems have been designed to deliver drug at various times or at various sites in the body, according to a stimulus that is either endogenous or externally applied. In the past three decades, research along these lines has taken numerous directions, and each new generation of investigators has discovered new physicochemical principles and chemical schemes by which the release properties of materials can be altered. No single review could possibly do justice to all of these approaches. In this article, some general observations are made, and a partial history of the field is presented. Both open loop and closed loop systems are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on stimuli-responsive hydrogels, and on systems that can respond repeatedly. It is argued that the most success at present and in the foreseeable future is with systems in which biosensing and actuation (i.e. drug delivery) are separated, with a human and/or cybernetic operator linking the two.
Closing the Home Care Case: Clinicians’ Perspectives on Family Caregiving

Focus groups revealed five inherent conflicts that affect home health care clinicians’ interactions with family caregivers: (a) Services often depend on caregivers’ participation, but the home care system does not give them formal status or consideration; (b) clinicians must balance competing priorities within a short time frame; (c) clinicians recognize that families have unmet emotional and training needs, but benefits are not designed to address them; (d) clinicians face conflicting professional roles as patient advocates and service gatekeepers; and (e) agencies reserve social work services, a key to caregiver access to community resources, for their most difficult cases. Building a more rational system will involve raising awareness about the system’s limitation, providing more training and support for caregivers and the professionals who interact with them, and aligning financial incentives with the realities of what it takes to prepare caregivers to care for patients with complex needs when formal ...
Multiple neurochemical and hormonal mechanisms of stress-induced analgesia.

The principal theme of our work on the phenomenon of stress-induced analgesia has been that multiple neurochemically and neurohormonally discrete paininhibitory systems exist and that these systems can be selectively activated by a single stressor, inescapable footshock. Some of these stress-activated endogenous mechanisms of analgesia involve opioid peptides, others do not. Similarly, some forms of stress analgesia rely principally on central nervous system substrates, but others are dependent upon hormonal factors, possibly opioid peptides, as well. This chapter describes our initial investigations identifying these various forms of stress analgesia, highlights some of the evidence indicating the independence of these multiple forms, and attempts to integrate some of our findings with those reported by others.
Creating a library assignment workshop for university faculty

Abstract In cooperation with the university's Center for Teaching Excellence, an interactive Library Assignment Workshop was developed to educate teaching faculty on designing effective library related assignments. Feedback from workshop attendees was positive and supported repeating the workshop several time per year, with a focus on new faculty.
Bone Disease: Preparing for Your Parathyroidectomy

Introduction PATIENTS WITH ESRD typically present with some form of bonemineral disease (BMD) due to secondary hyperparathyroidism. Secondary hyperparathyroidism develops in patients with ESRD because of various mechanisms that include increased phosphorus and decreased calcium and 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D levels. Individualized medical therapy usually consists of controlling hyperphosphatemia with a prescribed nutrition plan, phosphate binders, and administering vitamin D/analog and calcimimetic agents to lower parathyroid hormone (PTH). However, some patients, despite medical therapy interventions, have persistently elevated phosphorous (.5.5 mg/dL) and PTH levels greater than 800 pg/mL, which may result in cardiovascular disease (vascular calcification) and reduced bone mass. Calciphylaxis, the calcification of small arterial vessels, may even occur, which can result in skin necrosis due to this change in BMD. For those individuals with persistently elevated PTH, calcium, or phosphorus and for those who are symptomatic (fractures, bone pain, pruritus), there is the surgical option to have a parathyroidectomy. Research suggests that a parathyroidectomy improves bone mineral density (decreases risk of fractures) and blood pressure through calcium stabilization and relieves some uremic pruritus. Although a parathyroidectomy can serve to improve a patient’s quality of life, the surgery may appear intimidating and the etiology of BMD very complicated. One of the many roles of a renal registered dietitian is to bridge this knowledge gap. There are currently not many tools to help inform, educate, and comfort patients as they consider and agree to this surgery. This education tool will aid registered dietitians and other allied clinical professionals in helping patients better understand BMD disease and what to expect with parathyroidectomy.
Interaction between nitric oxide synthase inhibitor induced oscillations and the activation flow coupling response

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the activation-flow coupling (AFC) response to periodic electrical forepaw stimulation was investigated using signal averaged laser Doppler (LD) flowmetry. LD measures of calculated cerebral blood flow (CBF) were obtained both prior and after intra-peritoneal administration of the non-selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) (40 mg/kg). Characteristic baseline low frequency vasomotion oscillations (0.17 Hz) were observed after L-NNA administration. These LD(CBF) oscillations were synchronous within but not between hemispheres. L-NNA reduced the magnitude of the AFC response (p<0.05) for longer stimuli (1 min) with longer inter-stimulus intervals (2 min). In contrast, the magnitude of the AFC response for short duration stimuli (4 s) with short inter-stimulus intervals (20 s) was augmented (p<0.05) after L-NNA. An interaction occurred between L-NNA induced vasomotion oscillations and the AFC response with the greatest increase occurring at the stimulus harmonic closest to the oscillatory frequency. Nitric oxide may therefore modulate the effects of other vasodilators involved in vasomotion oscillations and the AFC response.
Health care reform continues: themes for academic medicine.

The challenge for U.S. academic medicine in this decade is to redesign itself to serve its classic functions--teaching, research, and special service to patients--while filling the needs of what is evolving into a comprehensive integrated system of health care. First, in the absence of federally legislated comprehensive health care reform, the health care community must develop a consensus on the purposes, scope, and content of health care to bring some reason and order to the short-term, market-driven incrementalism that governs today's health care. Specifically, the author proposes that the issues of health care be defined in a broad social context, that the gap between public health and medicine be lessened, and that perspectives of public health and health promotion and disease prevention be more effectively incorporated into medical education. Second, there is an urgent need for new approaches to funding and financial management of teaching, research, and patient care in academic health centers to counter the erosion of traditional sources of support. Third, to sustain generalist physician practices of high quality, a conceptual basis for generalism must be defined in affirmative functional terms, and the generalist's frame of reference and intellectual tools and processes must be formulated. Last, many forces are now acting to reduce the intellectual content of medical practice and teaching. Academic medicine--in teaching and in research--must nurture and promote the intellectual content and standards of all aspects of medicine to sustain the quality of clinical practice over time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Documentation by Intravascular Ultrasound of Thrombus Overlying a Small Atheromatous Plaque in a Coronary Artery in Unstable Angina Pectoris and in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Rupture of atheromatous plaques leading to acute coronary syndromes usually occur in lipid-reach and well-developed coronary lesions. We describe 2 unusual patients with acute coronary syndromes in whom there was angiographic and intravascular ultrasound evidence of an intraluminal thrombus overlying a small, nonocclusive plaque in an enlarged coronary artery.
Intracellular Crotonyl-CoA Stimulates Transcription through p300-Catalyzed Histone Crotonylation

Acetylation of histones at DNA regulatory elements plays a critical role in transcriptional activation. Histones are also modified by other acyl moieties, including crotonyl, yet the mechanisms that govern acetylation versus crotonylation and the functional consequences of this "choice" remain unclear. We show that the coactivator p300 has both crotonyltransferase and acetyltransferase activities, and that p300-catalyzed histone crotonylation directly stimulates transcription to a greater degree than histone acetylation. Levels of histone crotonylation are regulated by the cellular concentration of crotonyl-CoA, which can be altered through genetic and environmental perturbations. In a cell-based model of transcriptional activation, increasing or decreasing the cellular concentration of crotonyl-CoA leads to enhanced or diminished gene expression, respectively, which correlates with the levels of histone crotonylation flanking the regulatory elements of activated genes. Our findings support a general principle wherein differential histone acylation (i.e., acetylation versus crotonylation) couples cellular metabolism to the regulation of gene expression.
Fibrous Aragonite in Sealed Pliocene Glycymeris yessoensis: Postmortem: ABSTRACT

About 300 jointed bivalves of Glycymeris yessoensis were collected from a lenticle of an almost unispecific shell bed in the Onma Formation, central Japan. Most of the valves were partly open and completely infilled with the surrounding sandy silt; 5 were sealed and contained only a small amount of aragonite-cemented siltstone. The void in the chamber of the sealed valves is occupied with acicular needles of aragonite overgrown on the inner surface of the valves and on the surface of parasitic boreholes within the shells. The fibrous aragonite on the inner surface of the shells is in optical continuity with the aragonite crystals at both inner and outer structural layers. The fibrous aragonite indicates strong depletion of O18 and slight depletion of C13 UP> compared with the shell. A cold to temperate open sea comparable with that off the western coast of Hokkaido at present is zoogeographically indicated for the Onma molluscan fauna. These isotopic depletions differ from that of aragonite cement generally found in grapestone clusters, reef rocks, and beachrocks, all of which are typically tropical. The textural evidence suggests that precipitation of the aragonite postdated the partial infilling by sediments, but took place when the sediments were plastic; hence a freshwater origin of the aragonite is excluded. A plausible interpretation is aragonitic growth from a solution trapped and warmed within the chamber during an early stage of fossilization. Aragonite cementation may occur in a localized space such as a shell chamber in nontro ical seawater. End_of_Article - Last_Page 856------------
Direct Observation of CIO from Chlorine Nitrate Photolysis.

Chlorine nitrate photolysis has been investigated with the use of a molecular beam technique. Excitation at both 248 and 193 nanometers led to photodissociation by two pathways, ClONO2 yields ClO + NO2 and ClONO2 yields Cl + NO3, with comparable yields. This experiment provides a direct measurement of the ClO product channel and consequently raises the possibility of an analogous channel in ClO dimer photolysis. Photodissociation of the ClO dimer is a critical step in the catalytic cycle that is presumed to dominate polar stratospheric ozone destruction. A substantial yield of ClO would reduce the efficiency of this cycle.
Electromagnetic scattering from arbitrarily shaped conducting bodies coated with a thin layer of lossy magnetic material

An efficient moment solution is given for the problem of electromagnetic scattering from an arbitrarily shaped, three-dimensional conducting body coated with a thin layer of lossy magnetic material. The surface equivalence principle is used to replace the conductor with a surface electric current, and the volume equivalence principle is used to replace the coating with a magnetic volume current. The behaviour of the field in the thin coating justifies approximating the volume current by a surface magnetic current residing next to the surface electric current. The boundary condition on the tangential component of the total magnetic field is used to express the magnetic surface current in terms of the electric surface current. The boundary condition on the tangential component of the electric field is then used to obtain an integral equation for the surface current. The method of moments is used to solve this equation approximately. The computed numerical results are in excellent agreement with the exact data for the case of a spherical scatterer.
Demonstration of enamel matrix proteins on root-analogue surfaces of rabbit permanent incisor teeth

The continuously erupting rabbit incisor tooth is normally thought of as having an enamel covered “crown” on its labial surface and a cementum covered “root” on its lingual surface. We have examined both surfaces of continuously erupting rabbit incisor teeth taken from near term embryos by a variety of means, including transmission and scanning electron microscopy, biochemical fractionation, and immunohistochemistry. In all cases, we could detect no qualitative difference in the early extracellular matrices taken from the labial and lingual surfaces of the teeth. Both matrices were shown to be composed of dentin and enamel, although the thickness and geometry of the enamel matrix on the lingual surface was somewhat different from that on the labial surface.
Open‐channel estimation of denitrification

Estimates of denitrification based on standard methods often cannot easily be extrapolated to entire ecosystems because of high spatial heterogeneity in rates of denitrification. Diel changes in the concentration of dinitrogen (N2) in running waters provide the basis for estimating denitrification by an open-channel technique in much the same way that ecosystem metabolism can be estimated from diel changes in the concentration of dissolved oxygen. The open-channel N2 method was field tested at a site on the South Platte River downstream from Denver, CO; concentrations of N2 were measured by membrane inlet mass spectrometry. For a date in November 1998, the rate of denitrification was estimated to be 0.19 mol N2 m−2 d−1 and was similar to rates reported in previous studies based on mass-balance analysis. The open-channel N2 method is the first method to provide direct, whole-system estimates of denitrification in flowing waters and may help to expand our understanding of nitrogen cycling in running waters.
Centip3De: A 3930DMIPS/W configurable near-threshold 3D stacked system with 64 ARM Cortex-M3 cores

Recent high performance IC design has been dominated by power density constraints. 3D integration increases device density even further, and these devices will not be usable without viable strategies to reduce power consumption. This paper proposes the use of near-threshold computing (NTC) to address this issue in a stacked 3D system. In NTC, cores are operated near the threshold voltage (∼200mV above Vth) to optimally balance power and performance [1]. In Centip3De, we operate cores at 650mV, as opposed to the wear-out limited supply voltage of 1.5V. This improves measured energy efficiency by 5.1×. The dramatically lower power consumption of NTC makes it an attractive match for 3D design, which has limited power dissipation capabilities, but also has improved innate power and performance compared to 2D design.
12.4L: Late-News Paper: Polymer LEDs for Edge-Lighting Reflective LCDs

We present a study on the use of Polymer Light Emitting Diode (PLED) materials as possible integrated edge lighting components for reflective liquid crystal displays. The use of PLEDs for illumination of reflective displays does not compromise the positive attributes of portable reflective display technology; such as lightweight, thin and compact construction, and low-power consumption. We have optimized the peak reflectance of a cholesteric reflecting cell with the emission spectrum of an PLED, and compared the important optical parameters to other illumination sources.
Only Children and Interpersonal Behavior: An Experimental and Survey Study

A study was conducted to investigate the validity of many of the stereotypes about only children. A sample of 77 undergraduates (30 only, 30 first, and 17 last born) underwent a two-play Prisoner's Dilemma Game, the NASA exercise, and completed a questionnaire. Results indicated that only children were more likely to make cooperative response moves in the Prisoner's Dilemma Game and deviated more from the group decision in the NASA exercise than nononlies. Only children reported having fewer friends and joining fewer clubs than nononlies, but reported comparable numbers of close friends and took a comparable number of leadership positions in the clubs they joined. Results are discussed in terms of effects of siblings on development of interpersonal behavior.
The Police, the Prosecution, and Plea Negotiation Rates: An Exploratory Look

Plea negotiation has become a dominant mode of case disposition in the criminal justice system. However, the quantitative impact of the police on this process has yet to be fully understood. The present research investigates the effect of police-prosecutor "cooperation" on the bargaining decision in one state. The results indicate that as police-prosecutor cooperation increases, the propensity of the prosecutor to bargain decreases.
Enhanced Collagenase Activity in Diabetic Rat Gingiva: In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence

Gingiva from alloxan and streptozotocin-diabetic rats exhibited markedly enhanced collagenolytic activity in tissue culture. This effect was eliminated by puromycin or by repeated freeze-thawing of the tissue prior to incubation. Soluble extracts of the diabetic gingiva in situ were found to contain breakdown products of collagen similar in size to the reaction products generated by tissue collagenase. These fragments were not detected in the control tissue. This study indicates that experimental diabetes stimulates the synthesis of gingival collagenase in culture and that a similar effect occurs in vivo.
The influence of caffeine on the sodium efflux in barnacle muscle fibers.

Nachweis, dass Coffein zunachst den Auswartstrom von Na-Ionen aus Einzelfasern der Bernakelmuskeln verringert, ihn hernach aber zu steigern vermag.
Aromatase inhibitors: an overview for surgeons.

b i s b a I m t e t c n i w t g w S t o s i i reast cancer is the most common cancer in women in he US and the second leading cause of cancer death in omen. Over the past century, there have been many dvances in the treatment of breast cancer, including adiation, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Beaton discovered in 1896 that oophorectomy could lead o regression of a breast tumor in an inoperable patient. ince that time, researchers have discovered what estroen is, how its receptor functions, and how it is involved n breast cancer. Strategies have been developed to use his knowledge by manipulation of the estrogen recepor, most notably through tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is a elective estrogen receptor modulator that functions by ompetitively blocking the estrogen receptor. Tamoxifen as become the gold standard for endocrine therapy of he breast. It is used in estrogen receptor-positive (ER ) omen in the adjuvant, advanced, and neoadjuvant hases of treatment. It is even being used in prevention f cancer. Another strategy in endocrine therapy has een developed that blocks synthesis of estrogen by inibiting the aromatase enzyme. Aromatase inhibitors are roving to be an effective treatment in breast cancer and ight even be superior to tamoxifen. Exposure of sureons to aromatase inhibitors will become more comon as these drugs are used increasingly in the neoaduvant setting. Additionally, as more surgeons manage heir patients’ endocrine therapies postoperatively, they ill need to add aromatase inhibitors to their treatment trategies. This article will review available evidence on he use of aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer.
MRI in optic neuritis

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated several hyperintense white matter lesions in the brain of 15/20 patients with acute optic neuritis. The patients were categorized into three groups bas...
BVRIJHK photometry of RR Lyrae variables

Contemporaneous BVRI and JHK photometry are given for the RR Lyrae variables SW And and TU UMa. Additional BVRI photometry is included for the variables TT Lyn and T Sex and two JHK points for UU Vir. These 331 observations supplement those already published in our series of observations of RR Lyrae variables and can be phase-locked to radial velocities given by Barnes et al. (1988, ApJS, 67, 403) and by Wilson et al. (1989, ApJS, 69, 951). We briefly discuss our new observations of TU UMa in the context of the binary model proposed by Saha and White (1990, PASP, 102, 148).
Geologic sequestration through EOR: Policy and regulatory considerations for greenhouse gas accounting

Abstract The objective of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is to reduce emissions to the atmosphere through the sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in deep geologic formations. Recent studies of life-cycle emissions from CCS projects that sequester CO 2 captured from coal-fired power generation through EOR show that net emissions from this process are positive due to the CO 2 emissions embodied in produced oil. For geologic sequestration through enhanced oil recovery (GS-EOR) to be effective, life cycle GHG emissions from the system must be small and consumption of the energy produced should not result in larger emissions than would otherwise happen in the absence of the GS-EOR project. In the best case, where relatively high emissions intensity oil and electrical generation are being displaced, the emissions reduction potential is greater than the amount of CO 2 purchased by the project; however, where a relatively light crude and carbon free marginal generation is being displaced, the GS-EOR project results in an emissions increase. As a matter of public policy, if reducing emissions of CO 2 is of great importance, encouraging GS-EOR will not be as effective as geologic sequestration in deep saline aquifers, or other means of reducing emissions that do not result in increased production of fossil fuels. Nonetheless, it is likely that GS-EOR projects will happen in the absence of emissions reduction incentives because they bring other benefits. The nature and scope of a GHG reduction program will determine the accounting approach needed to accurately estimate the emissions from GS-EOR, but in general, components that do not fall under an emissions cap will need to be accounted for via life cycle assessment. While further study is needed, it appears that allocating the emissions reduction to an electric power generator would be less complex and more effective that allocating it to the oil or fuels producer.
22 Nutrient use efficiency and coastal productivity: comparative perspectives on ecosystem structure and mechanisms of control

Net primary production in marine ecosystems ultimately reflects the inputs of nutrients and the efficiency with which nutrients are acquired and used by phytoplankton in growth. In contrast to our understanding of the linkages between nutrient loading and production, the influence of nutrient use efficiency (NUE) on cross-system variations in coastal productivity remains unclear. Nutrient use efficiency at the ecosystem scale is the product of the per capita efficiency of nutrient use in phytoplankton growth and the efficiency with which phytoplankton communities are able to assimilate limiting nutrient(s). We measured the relative dominance of ecosystem N pools by phytoplankton biomass as an index of NUE across 56 inner-shelf sites. These sites were distributed across a strong geographic range of upwelling intensity and productivity along the coasts of Oregon, California and New Zealand. We also compiled an extensive dataset of published NUE values in coastal and oceanic sites in order to assess cross-system patterns and differences in NUE. Our results indicate that exceptional rates of productivity in inner-shelf upwelling systems arise as a consequence of near dominance of ecosystem N pools by phytoplankton biomass. Elevated rates of NUE nevertheless appear to be a transient phenomenon in marine systems. Cross-shelf transects across upwelling fronts off the Oregon coast reveal a temporal pattern of intense phytoplankton blooms and decline that reflects the eventual dominance of ecosystems N pools by detrital and dissolved organic N pools. Our findings suggest that NUE may play a central role in governing the productivity of marine ecosystems.
An intelligent data-centric approach toward identification of conserved motifs in protein sequences

The continued integration of the computational and biological sciences has revolutionized genomic and proteomic studies. However, efficient collaboration between these fields requires the creation of shared standards. A common problem arises when biological input does not properly fit the expectations of the algorithm, which can result in misinterpretation of the output. This potential confounding of input/output is a drawback especially when regarding motif finding software. Here we propose a method for improving output by selecting input based upon evolutionary distance, domain architecture, and known function. This method improved detection of both known and unknown motifs in two separate case studies. By standardizing input considerations, both biologists and bioinformaticians can better interpret and design the evolving sophistication of bioinformatic software.
Electrophoretic analysis of proteins associated with tumor cell invasion.

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is an extremely powerful tool for separating and analyzing proteins associated with different diseases and has been invaluable in the identification and analysis of proteins associated with characteristics unique to tumor cells. This study presents data demonstrating the application of conventional sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and substrate-incorporated SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (zymography) to obtain information about the proteins and catalytically active (or activatable) proteases associated with the process of tumor cell invasion using established human melanoma and breast carcinoma cell lines. Conventional SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to show that cells sequentially selected from a low invasive human melanoma cell line on the basis of their ability to invade in vitro have an increase and/or addition of six unique proteins on their cell surface. In a different application of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, zymography was used to demonstrate that there is an increase in the levels of gelatinase A in the conditioned medium from three differently invasive human melanoma cell lines coincident with their ability to invade in vitro. Furthermore, the conditioned medium from the most invasive melanoma cell line demonstrated the greatest amount of gelatinase B activity. While the conditioned medium from three human breast carci noma cell lines contained low levels of both gelatinase A and B, one breast cell line also contained activity associated with stromelysin(s) not seen in the melanoma cell lines. The most invasive melanoma and breast cell lines contained appreciable levels of urokinase, while the less invasive melanoma cell lines contained low levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator and the less invasive breast cell lines contained little-to-no plasminogen activator(s) activity. These observations can contribute to our understanding of the invasive process and the electrophoretic techniques used to monitor, test and analyze therapeutic approaches for metastatic diseases.
Anesthesia for Esophageal Surgery

Esophageal surgery comprises a variety of procedures of differing complexity to treat functional and structural disorders of the esophagus. Local disease extension, surgical repair technique, and p...