cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance Assessment of LTE/LTE-A Based Wireless Networks for Internet-of-Things

Long-term Evolution (LTE)/LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) can be a viable network infrastructure for Internet-of-Things (IoT) as it provides broadband wireless connections and wide-area coverage. However, effectively allocating limited spectrum resources remains a challenging problem due to the massive number of mobile and IoT smart devices competing for limited network resources. In this paper, we assess the performance of transmitting IoT traffic over LTE/LTE-A and discuss strategies for supporting distinct IoT-based systems. We design six cases by considering two data load patterns (i.e., small data load and large data load) from IoT devices and three transmission environments (i.e., free space, suburban, and urban). Through extensive simulation, we evaluate network performance with respect to bandwidth efficiency, throughput, packet loss ratio, and delay. Our experimental results confirm that a narrower bandwidth achieves higher bandwidth efficiency in all cases, but a narrow bandwidth could not maintain acceptable network performance when large data loads need to be transmitted over the network.
Spatial–Temporal Neighborhood Patterns in Four Legacy Cities:

Legacy cities are characterized by long-term, declining trends in both population and economic characteristics, but how these events translate to the neighborhood scale is less well understood. Thi...
Concordance of next-generation sequencing between tissue and liquid biopsies in non-small cell lung cancer.

e21547Background: While genetic profiling has become standard of care for patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), next-generation sequencing (NGS) provides a wealth of informati...
Robotic Parastomal Hernia Repair: Modified Retromuscular Sugarbaker

Parastomal hernias remain technically challenging to repair and continue to have high rates of recurrence and high rates of surgical site occurrences. A variety of operative repairs have been proposed to manage parastomal hernias—each with its own constellation of benefits and clear drawbacks. Repair method is generally selected based on the characteristics of the hernia, the patient comorbidities, and the skill and training level of the surgeon. Methods differ in a variety of ways: open vs. minimally invasive operation, stoma left in situ vs. stoma relocation, primary repair vs. mesh-based repair, permanent synthetic vs. biologic vs. bioabsorbable mesh, uncut vs. keyhole vs. cruciate mesh configuration, and underlay vs. sublay vs. onlay mesh positioning. The need to repair a concomitant midline hernia and the need to include myofascial releases to afford the repair are additional considerations. This chapter describes one method known as the Pauli parastomal henia repair which represents a modified retromuscular Sugarbaker technique.
Kappa: a programming framework for serverless computing

Serverless computing has recently emerged as a new paradigm for running software on the cloud. In this paradigm, programs need to be expressed as a set of short-lived tasks, each of which can complete within a short bounded time (e.g., 15 minutes on AWS Lambda). Serverless computing is beneficial to cloud providers---by allowing them to better utilize resources---and to users---by simplifying management and enabling greater elasticity. However, developing applications to run in this environment is challenging, requiring users to appropriately partition their code, develop new coordination mechanisms, and deal with failure recovery. In this paper, we propose Kappa, a framework that simplifies serverless development. It uses checkpointing to handle lambda function timeouts, and provides concurrency mechanisms that enable parallel computation and coordination.
Infectious disease management with oral antibiotics.

This paper has reviewed the bacterial etiologies and therapies for commonly seen infections in the out-patient clinic or physician's office. The use of oral antibiotics for the treatment of pharyngitis, otitis media, sinusitis, bronchitis, certain pneumonias, cellulitis, urinary tract infections and as follow-up therapy to systemic administration is discussed. Emphasis on the decreasing bacterial spectra of the tetracyclines is noted as well as a discussion of therapy of infections due to beta-lactamase-producingStaphylococcus aureus andHaemophilus influenzae.
Neutralization of Ions on Metal Surfaces (Potential Emission of Secondary Electrons)

When an ion or an excited atom approaches a metal surface, the ion may be neutralized and the excited atom may be de-excited or undergo resonance ionization. These processes are of particular interest because of the role they play in secondary-electron-emission phenomena, in gas-discharge phenomena, in the interaction of plasmas with electrode surfaces, and in the surface-ionization mechanism. The evidence available so far from experimental data for slow incident ions leads to the conclusion that the electronic transitions involved in the processes mentioned above are almost independent of the kinetic energy of the incident particle but are governed by its potential energy of excitation.
Algebraic scattering theory and its application to heavy ion collisions

The use of algebraic scattering theory in the study of heavy ion collisions is reviewed. It is suggested that this approach provides a convenient alternative to coupled channel calculations.
Trends in Rainfall Exceedances in the Observed Record in Selected Areas of the United States1

Bonnin, Geoffrey M., Kazungu Maitaria, and Michael Yekta, 2011. Trends in Rainfall Exceedances in the Observed Record in Selected Areas of the United States. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(6): 1173–1182. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2011.00603.x Abstract: Semantic differences have led to a gap in the understanding of the impacts of climate change on precipitation frequency estimates. There is popular perception that heavy rainfalls have become more frequent, and that this trend will increase with global warming. Most of the literature examines this question from the point of view of climatology using definitions of “heavy,”“very heavy,” or “extreme” rainfall, which are different from those commonly used by civil engineers. This article identifies the differences in meaning used by the climate and civil engineering communities and examines trends in the observed record in the frequency of exceedances (not trends in magnitudes). Using concepts recognized as the basis for design of the Nation’s civil infrastructure, we look at trends in the number of exceedances of thresholds for a variety of precipitation frequencies and event durations used by civil engineers. We found that the estimated trends in exceedances at one-day and multiday durations were statistically significant and increasing for the Ohio River Basin and surrounding states but the reverse was true for the Semiarid Southwest (i.e., not significant and decreasing trends). In addition, we found the magnitude of the trends was small for all but the more frequent events and also small with respect to the uncertainty associated with the precipitation frequency estimates themselves.
Methane Accumulation and Release from Deep Peat: Measurements, Conceptual Models, and Biogeochemical Significance

Northern peatlands account for more than half the world's wetlands but are currently estimated to contribute only about a third of the total methane emissions from all wetlands. Increasing data on the dynamics of methane gas bubbles in peat deposits now suggest that these estimates may need to be scaled upward. Rates of methanogenesis may remain high in deep peat strata because of the downward transport of labile root exudates permitting the widespread production of gas bubbles. Recent investigations using an array of methods have reported free-phase gas volumes of 10-20% within both deep and shallow peat strata and episodic ebullition fluxes exceeding 35 g CH 4 m -2 per event. Gas bubbles accumulate in overpressured pockets that episodically rupture in response to steep declines in atmospheric pressure or declining water tables. Although these ebullition fluxes are highly variable in both time and space, they appear to dominate the annual methane emissions from northern peatlands and represent a major and underappreciated element of the global methane cycle.
Open source software collaborations in Tennessee's regional library system: An exploratory study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the following questions: How are members of the Tennessee's regional library system (TRLS) in the USA using open source software (OSS) applications and collaborating to further their missions and overcome some of their debilitating information‐related circumstances? What kind of partnerships can be explored in order to further use of OSS in the state?Design/methodology/approach – The paper highlights findings from an exploratory website study to identify key trends, practices, and applications of use of OSS in the TRLS.Findings – OSS applications in the TRLS are presented in terms of their current use as well as their future directions of development and opportunities. Study of collaborations in OSS use and website development by public libraries in the TRLS reveals that the OSS infoscape is more complex than previously understood.Originality/value – Minimal research has been done involving the TRLS that has been in existence for over 60 years and comprise...
Geometry of Spiral Galaxy Arms

The previous work (He, 2001) on image analysis of over one hundred nearby galaxies indicates that for any spiral galaxy image of small inclination there is evidence of two sets of iso-ratio curves in different scales which, like curvilineal coordinate lines, expand over different galaxy components. This result sets constraint on galaxy patterns and a general equation which carries this constraint is presented in the current paper. The equation has clear geometrical meaning. Its much simplified version which applies to galaxy arms, when solved, may be a guidance to understanding galaxy patterns.
Colostrum Versus Formula Supplementation for Glucose Stabilization in Newborns of Diabetic Mothers

The purpose of this article is to describe practice change designed to facilitate breastfeeding while maintaining glucose stabilization in infants born to diabetic mothers. Postpractice change outcomes of newborn blood glucose levels, formula supplementation, and colostrum feeds are specifically addressed. There were no significant differences between glucose values for infants given formula supplementation versus those fed colostrum. Postpractice change, admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for glucose stabilization decreased and exclusive breastfeeding increased.
Preparation and characterization of a heterologous anti-rabbit VH antiserum

T and B lymphocytes appear, at least partially, to share idiotypic determinants. Sharing of VH framework determinants is more controversial. In order to examine this question, we have prepared a heterologous anti-rabbit VH antiserum. Antigenically active vh (mol. wt ∼ 13,000 ± 1000 dallons) was isolated from papain cleaved Fd fragments derived from pooled IgG containing about equal amounts of a1, a2 and a3 allotypes. This result confirms the work of Mole et al. (1975) who isolated VH regions from a 1 and a3 Fd fragments which retained a allotypic determinants. Immunization of a single goat with the VH domain elicited production of an antiserum that bound 65–75% of the immunizing antigen. Absorption studies clearly demonstrated that the antiserum reacted with vh of all three a allotypes (al, a2 and a3). Thus, we now have a heterologous antiserum with which to examine further the T cell receptor question.
Ability of the Hessian Fly to Stunt Winter Wheat. 1. Effect of Larval Feeding on Elongation of Leaves

Larvae of Mayetiola destructor (Say) were removed from infested “Monon” wheat plants, Triticum aestivum L., at 2-day intervals from 0 to 12 days after eggs hatched. A single larva (Race B), 1.0 mm long, permanently stunted a wheat plant and reduced the fresh weight after 4 days of feeding. Infestations of 2-5 and 5-10 larvae per plant, allowed to feed 3 or 2 days, respectively, caused stunting and reduced both fresh and dry weight of the wheat plants. In every instance the infested plants showed no stunting symptoms whenever the larvae were removed from the plants; instead these symptoms developed 5-6 days later. The larvae probably were too small to remove a sufficient amount of materials from the plant to cause the delayed stunting. However, the larvae could have secreted something into the plant which interfered with the production or movement of metabolites from the 2nd to 3rd leaf and consequently could have prevented elongation of the 3rd leaf.
Effectiveness of the Accessory Yellow Fluorescent Protein in the Bacterial Luciferase Reaction Correlates with the Lifetime of the Peroxyhemiacetal Intermediate: The Stereochemistry of the Reaction

In the in vitro reaction of Vibrio fischeri Y-1 luciferase, the dependence of the initial luminescence intensity (Io) and its rate of decay (kd) on the chain-length of the aliphatic aldehyde are greatly altered by the presence of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), which functions as an accessory emitter. Whereas with no YFP both kd and Io are maximum for chain lengths ≥ 12, the fraction of the light emitted from the accessory chromophore, measured as the ratio of yellow to blue light (Y/B), is greater with shorter chain-length aldehydes. Thus, aldehydes that are least efficient in the absence of YFP are more efficient for causing yellow emission in its presence. These results are interpreted on the basis of the expected lifetimes of the peroxyhem-iacetals with which YFP interacts: high values of kd reflect short peroxyhemiacetal lifetimes, hence less chance of interaction with YFP. The critical dependence on aldehyde chain-length underlines the importance of stereochemical factors in the bacterial reaction, which are discussed here in the framework of a chemically initiated electron exchange luminescence model.
Sex and hormonal modification of 6-keto-PGF1α release by rat aorta

Abstract The stable breakdown product of prostacyclin, 6-keto-PGF1α, was estimated in plasma samples after incubation with rat aortic rings. The 6-keto-PGF1α concentration obtained with the male aortae was two-fold higher than that of the female. Ovariectomy markedly increased 6-keto-PGF1α six-fold, but castration had no effect. Estradiol and progesterone treatment of the ovariectomized female suppressed (by 50%) and enhanced (two-fold) 6-keto-PGF1α. Testosterone was without effect in gonadectomized males and females. Castrate males did not respond to gonadal steroid treatment.
Evaluation of platelet reactivity in patients with valvular heart disease.

Transmission electron microscopy with a standardized in vitro method was used to evaluate the degree of blood platelet reactivity in 72 normal subjects and 72 patients with valvular heart disease. Among the patients with abnormal natural heart valves, 51 had either aortic insufficiency or aortic stenosis, and 21 patients showed either mitral insufnciency or mitral stenosis. For normal subjects, the platelet differential counts were dominated by the dendritic type platelet, and only a few platelets showed cytoplasmic spreading between adjacent pseudopodia (spread type). A hyperactive response was defined as greater than 20% of the spread type platelet or more than 93 aggregates per 100 single platelets counted, or both. Only 6 (8%) of the 72 normal subjects showed hyperactive platelets. In contrast, 45 (62%) of the 72 patients with valvular heart disease had hyperactive platelets (p
Diffusion Imaging with Hyperpolarized3He Gas

We used MRI of hyperpolarized 3He to demonstrate some novel aspects of gas diffusion. Two different techniques were used. First, a slice was burned into a one-dimensional image by inverting the spins in the slice and diffusion was studied by measuring the magnetization as it filled the depleted slice. A diffusion coefficient was determined by the fit of these data. Second, one-dimensional diffusion images were made using a Stejskal-Tanner PGSE method. This was done with and without a temperature gradient present, showing that the effect of temperature can be dynamically monitored by such diffusion images. Copyright 1997 Academic Press. Copyright 1997Academic Press
The 2011 ABJS Nicolas Andry Award: ‘Lab’-in-a-Knee: In Vivo Knee Forces, Kinematics, and Contact Analysis

Background Tibiofemoral forces are important in the design and clinical outcomes of TKA. We developed a tibial tray with force transducers and a telemetry system to directly measure tibiofemoral compressive forces in vivo. Knee forces and kinematics traditionally have been measured under laboratory conditions. Although this approach is useful for quantitative measurements and experimental studies, the extrapolation of results to clinical conditions may not always be valid.
Antisecretory effects of berberine with morphine, clonidine, L-phenylephrine, yohimbrine or neostigmine in pig jejunum

The effects of berberine alone or in combination with morphine, clonidine, L-phenylephrine or yohimbine were compared in Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (ST)-exposed ligated jejunal loops in 2 week old pigs. In addition, net water and electrolyte fluxes in normal jejunal loops were measured in the presence of neostigmine, morphine, clonidine, L-phenylephrine or yohimbine alone or in combination with berberine. Berberine, morphine, clonidine and L-phenylephrine each reduced the net secretion of water and electrolytes induced by ST (P < 0.05). A significant enhancement of antisecretory effect was observed only with the combination of berberine and L-phenylephrine. Yohimbine or neostigmine augmented the net loss of water and electrolytes produced by ST. Yohimbine did not block the antisecretory action of berberine. In normal jejunum. there was no significant difference in water and ion absorption between adrenergic or opiate agonists alone and their combination with berberine. Neostigmine reversed absorption to net secretion in normal jejunum and this effect was significantly reduced by berberine. The anti-secretory action of berberine appears similar to that of α2-adrenergic agonists, opiates, and anticholinergic agents.
Approximate eigenvalue distribution of a cylindrically isotropic noise sample covariance matrix

The statistical behavior of the eigenvalues of the sample covariance matrix (SCM) plays a key role in determining the performance of adaptive beamformers (ABF) in presence of noise. This paper presents a method to compute the approximate eigenvalue density function (EDF) for the SCM of a cylindrically isotropic noise field when only a finite number of shapshots are available. The EDF of the ensemble covariance matrix (ECM) is modeled as an atomic density with many fewer atoms than the SCM size. The model results in substantial computational savings over more direct methods of computing the EDF. The approximate EDF obtained from this method agrees closely with histograms of eigenvalues obtained from simulation.
Assay of therapeutic doses of methotrexate in body fluids of patients with psoriasis.

A microbiologic technique for the assay of methotrexate (MTX) in urine, serum, erythrocytes, feces, and skin is described. The accuracy of the method equals that of routine microbiologic assays of folic acid. Important differences in serum MTX levels in psoriatic patients during the 24 hr after standardized intravenous and intramuscular administration were demonstrated. Repeated intravenous doses tended to be cleared from the blood uniformly. After oral doses many patients achieved peak serum levels within 2 hr, with fall of level by 4 hr. Others achieved lower levels and responded less well clinically. Persistence of high serum levels at 24 and 48 hr did not confer obvious clinical benefit or necessarily give rise to toxicity. The pattern of clearance from serum was not influenced by serum albumin levels or by renal function when the creatinine clearance was greater than 50 mI/min. However, impaired renal function was clearly correlated with slow clearance. Routine measurement of MTX blood levels is of value in patients with suspected malabsorption or partial renal failure.
Liposome-based flow injection enzyme immunoassay for theophylline

Preliminary results are presented on the development of a sensitive, quantitative immunoassay based on a regenerable, flow injection analysis system incorporating a double-amplification approach. The double amplification is achieved by means of liposome-encapsulated peroxidase enzyme molecules which are released subsequent to a competitive immunological reaction with analyte molecules for immobilized antibodies. The released peroxidase enzymatically cleaves, from an organofluorine substrate, fluoride ions which are then potentiometrically measured. The entire process is carried out in a flow injection analysis system. The competition between the analyte molecules (theophylline) and theophylline-derivatized liposomes for immobilized antibody sites in flow-through immunoreactor column results in unbound liposomes being carried downstream where they are ruptured in the presence of hydrogen peroxide andp-fluorophenol. The peroxidase molecules released react enzymatically to produce fluoride ions which are measured with an ion-selective electrode. The immunoreactor column is then regenerated with a chaotropic agent and the next sample or calibration solution is injected. By means of column regeneration and calibration, accurate quantitation can be achieved; a feature missing from conventional batch-type immunoassays. By means of this liposome/enzyme double-amplification approach, theophylline was determined over a range of concentrations from 0.2 to 4000 ng/ml. The detection limit of 200 pg/ml corresponds to about 100 femtomole of theophylline measured in the 100 μl sample injected.
Design, Synthesis, and Antiviral Evaluations of 1-(Substituted benzyl)-2-substituted-5,6-dichlorobenzimidazoles as Nonnucleoside Analogues of 2,5,6-Trichloro-1-(β-d-ribofuranosyl)benzimidazole

We have recently reported that certain ribosylated polyhalogenated benzimidazoles are potent and selective inhibitors of HCMV replication at noncytotoxic concentrations. To extend the structure−activity relationship beyond these first-generation compounds, we alkylated 5,6-dichloro-2-substituted-benzimidazoles with either a series of substituted benzyl halides or (2-bromoethyl)benzene to obtain five series of nonnucleoside analogues. Evaluation of these compounds for activity against herpes viruses revealed that the new compounds were less active than the benzimidazole ribonucleosides against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and inactive against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). However, as part of our broader antiviral testing, we found that some of these compounds were active against HIV. Comparisons of the biological data revealed that a chloro or bromo group was required at the 2-position for the best separation of activity against HIV and cytotoxicity. Evaluation of the most active compounds against d...
Tournament immersion and cutwidth

A (loopless) digraph H is strongly immersed in a digraph G if the vertices of H are mapped to distinct vertices of G, and the edges of H are mapped to directed paths joining the corresponding pairs of vertices of G, in such a way that the paths used are pairwise edge-disjoint, and do not pass through vertices of G that are images of vertices of H. A digraph has cutwidth at most k if its vertices can be ordered {v"1,...,v"n} in such a way that for each j, there are at most k edges uv such that u@?{v"1,...,v"j"-"1} and v@?{v"j,...,v"n}. We prove that for every set S of tournaments, the following are equivalent:*there is a digraph H such that H cannot be strongly immersed in any member of S, *there exists k such that every member of S has cutwidth at most k, *there exists k such that every vertex of every member of S belongs to at most k edge-disjoint directed cycles. This is a key lemma towards two results that will be presented in later papers: first, that strong immersion is a well-quasi-order for tournaments, and second, that there is a polynomial time algorithm for the k edge-disjoint directed paths problem (for fixed k) in a tournament.
Demyelination regions of nerve fibers in frog muscle spindle as studied by serial sections for electron microscopy

The ultrastructure of different kinds of demyelination regions of small sensory myelinated nerve fibers located within the capsule of the frog muscle spindle has been studied by means of serial sections. The myelinated fiber has been observed to shed its myelin stepwise at nodes or branching points. Loosely wrapped myelin lamellae have been found in parts of the nerves studied. The organization of Schwann cell cytoplasm close to the demyelination areas and its filament-containing processes and their contact arrangements with the nodal or branching axon have been analyzed. In the axoplasm in these areas groups of small vesicles as well as true accumulations of tightly packed mitochondria were observed. Further, densely packed neurofilaments of different appearance were found. The physiological significance of some of the characteristic features found in these-sensory demyelinating nerve fibers is discussed.
Human fetal astrocytes induce the expression of blood-brain barrier specific proteins by autologous endothelial cells

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is involved in many normal regulatory mechanisms as well as in pathologic conditions of the central nervous system. Previous studies examining the development and function of the BBB in vitro have primarily utilized cell lines or cultured tissues from non-human sources. In contrast, this study used a coculture system of human fetal astrocytes and autologous endothelial cells. Astrocytes and endothelial cells (EC) were isolated and cultured on the opposite sides of a synthetic permeable membrane. The cocultures were characterized by electron and light microscopy for morphology and by immunocytochemistry for cell-type specific markers. Using these coculture conditions, astrocytes displayed characteristic morphology and expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein. When cocultured with astrocytes, endothelial cells retained factor VIII expression and expressed the BBB-specific proteins, brain-type glucose transporter (GLUT-1) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. This expression was dependent on EC being in close apposition to or in direct contact with astrocytes. The model presented in this study may permit further examination of the role of the BBB in both normal human neurodevelopment and neuropathologic conditions.
Imaging artifacts of dielectric specimens in transmission mode near-field scanning optical microscopy

Uncertainty in tip morphology of aluminum coated, fiber-optic near-field probes, and the large difference between the physical probe diameter and (smaller) optical diameter, lead to serious imaging artifacts in transmission mode near-field microscopy. Various dielectric materials of different topographies have been studied to develop an understanding of normal and anomalous contrast modes mainly characterized by topographically induced contrast.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Enhancement and quenching of fluorescence of Quin-2 by metal ions

Abstract Addition of aqueous solutions of metal ions (La3+, Dy3+, Nd3+, Eu3+, Lu3+, Sc3+, Al3+, and Be2+) to the fluorescence probe Quin-2 induced changes in the 490 nm emission band (excitation at 334 nm). The resulting spectra were qualitatively different and provided a “signature” for the individual metal ions. The lanthanide metal ions showed decreasing fluorescence emission at 490 nm. Lu3+ and Sc3+ caused a decrease in the emission intensity at 490 nm and a substantial increase in emission intensity at 400 nm or 412 nm, respectively. In all instances, stoichiometry indicated an apparent 1:1 binding ratio, except for Al3+ and Be2+, which showed no significant effect on the fluorescence.
Inorganic Contaminants in Suspended Solids from Hamilton Harbour

Concentrations of heavy metals and phosphorus were measured in suspended solids collected from Hamilton Harbour in the spring and late summer of 1986. Forms of iron were determined using Mossbauer spectroscopy and related to the concentrations of heavy metals and phosphorus. Two iron forms, wustite and hematite, originating from anthropogenic activities were identified in addition to naturally occurring Fe2+ from chlorite and clays and Fe3+ from amorphous iron oxides. The highest metal concentrations are found in deep water and in areas adjacent to outfalls. The concentrations of wustite and hematite are correlated with the concentrations of heavy metals, particularly Zn and Pb. Heavy metals in suspended solids exceed guidelines for open water disposal of dredged sediments. Annual loadings of heavy metals to the sediments, calculated from the heavy metal concentrations in suspended solids, are ∼477 × 103 kg Fe, 16 × 103 kg Zn, 3 × 103 kg Pb, 958 kg Cu, 469 kg Ni, and 56 kg Cd. Phosphorus concentrations in suspended solids are high and range between 3,100 mg kg−1 and 7,300 mg kg−1. Higher than average non-apatite inorganic P (NAI-P) concentrations in solids are observed in samples taken from the vicinity of municipal discharges. Manganese and iron were released from bottom sediments during summer anoxia in the hypolimnion of the deep water; however, no phosphorus release was observed. The results indicate that wustite and hematite are good tracers of industrial pollution and their distribution is of importance in determining the particle dynamics in Hamilton Harbour.
Intraspecific Variation in the Mating System of Spectral Tarsiers

Historically, a species’ social system was perceived to be a fixed attribute and deviations were usually treated as aberrant or maladaptive. Over the last few decades, socioecologists have started to recognize that variation in social systems is normal and adaptive. Here I explore how ecological variation affects the mating system of a nocturnal primate, the spectral tarsier, Tarsius spectrum. Several studies of the spectral tarsier have illustrated variation in this species’ mating system. Although most groups exhibit a monogamous mating system, a small proportion of the population consistently exhibits a polygynous mating system. I conducted this study at Tangkoko Nature Reserve in Sulawesi, Indonesia during 2007. I found that group size was highly variable, ranging from 2 individuals to as many as 8 individuals per sleeping site. Although most groups (21 of 26) were composed of a single adult male and a single adult female, ca. 19% of the groups contained 2 adult females. Three of the 5 groups with 2 adult females contained 2 young infants. As might be expected, polygynous groups were larger than were monogamous groups. The mean group size of monogamous groups was 2.9, whereas the mean group size of polygynous groups was 6.0. Polygynous groups were also more likely to use Ficus caulocarpa trees than were the monogamous groups. Polygynous groups consistently used more sleeping sites as well as larger diameter sleeping trees, than did monogamous groups. The large-diameter fig trees are ideal homes for the spectral tarsiers in that they offer multiple entrances and exits as well as protection from the elements. Polygynous and monogamous groups exhibited no differences in insect biomass available, home range size, or height of sleeping tree. These results support the hypothesis that ecological variation is an important determinant of mating system within spectral tarsiers.
Temporal imaging with the up-conversion time microscope

ABSTRACTWe have demonstrated a temporal imaging system with a novel time lens which magnifies 100 Gb/s optical data by a factor of twelve. The function of a time lens is to impart a quadratic phase modulation or linear frequencysweep to the waveform under study. Our approach to achieving time lens action is to up-convert the waveform under study using a linearly swept pump, thus imparting a linear frequency sweep to the waveform. This techniqueallows for much greater frequency sweep rates and hence shorter focal times than can be obtained with electro-.opticmodulators. Additionally, the increased bandwidth that can be obtained optically instead of electro-optically shouldresult in higher resolution in a temporal imaging system.Keywords: temporal imaging, time lens, time microscope, ultrashort light pulses, ultrafast phenomenona.1. INTRODUCTIONThe direct measurement of ultrashort light pulses and waveforms is limited by current technology to several picoseconds resolution. New techniques for improving resolution generally concentrate on faster photodetectors
The effects of cytoplasmic acidification upon electrical coupling in the organ of Corti.

Abstract The supporting cells of the organ of Corti are joined to one another by gap junctions, and electrical coupling among them is known to be good. It is demonstrated here, using an in vitro preparation, that electrical communication between Hensen's cells can be modified by treatments which are known to cause cytoplasmic acidification. Treatment of the preparation with 100% CO2-saturated medium causes a drop in membrane potential, increase in input resistance, and decrease in steady-state coupling ratio. These measures return to pretreatment levels upon washout of the CO2 medium. Also, direct injection of H+ into a Hensen's cell uncouples that cell from the supporting cell network. An increase in coupling ratio is sometimes observed immediately before and after uncoupling due to CO2 treatment. In fact, in some cases it is possible to solely increase coupling ratios with limited CO2treatments, although prolonged treatment with CO2 invariably produces uncoupling. This phenomenon may be due to an increase in cell resistance without a change in junctional conductance. A few possible roles for gap junctions in the inner ear are suggested, and the significance of the present results discussed.
Sulfur and selenium insertion into the siliconsilicon bond in decamethylcyclopentasilane

Abstract Decamethylcyclopentasilane reacts with elemental sulfur or selenium in decalin at 190°C to give the six-membered ring products, cyclo-(Me 2 Si) 5 S and cyclo-(Me 2 Si) 5 Se. Dodecamethylcyclohexasilane is unreactive towards sulfur or selenium under the same conditions.
Management of hypertension in the young: role of antihypertensive medications

Traditionally, antihypertensive medications were used in few children or adolescents, usually just those with underlying renal or other organ system disease. However, with recent data suggesting that the incidence of primary hypertension may be increasing in the young, it is possible that more children and adolescents will be prescribed antihypertensive agents. This article will review currently available pediatric data on the use of calcium channel blockers, agents affecting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and other classes of antihypertensive medications in children, highlighting appropriate indications and safety considerations. Guidelines for use of antihypertensive medications, including choice of initial agent and how to prescribe appropriately, will be presented.
How Do I Begin To Tell a Story that Has Not Been Told? Anarchism, Autoethnography, and the Middle Ground

As a testament to the growing literature on autoethnography and my own connections to systemic and direct racism, this article is a therapeutic way to explore my past through the ancient way of telling, testifying, and developing knowledge through narrative inquiry. Testimony opens new ways of looking at the world by participating in a subversive form of scholarship. Indigenous scholars have claimed that stories play a vital role in transmitting who we are. Through my experiences, I explore the concept of “the middle ground” and the spaces of identity created by complex relationships of power. Similar to the literature on borders, “go-betweens” dance across worlds and exist in spaces wrought with alienation, discovery, transmission, and cooperation. I also argue that anarchist theory and praxis can inform larger autoethnographic writing, pushing radicals to include narrative inquiry into their own communities and praxis through an exploration of self. In this way, we can begin the difficult process of the...
The effects of chronic fish oil feeding in rats on protein catabolism induced by recombinant mediators

The influence of dietary lipid manipulation with menhaden or safflower oil on changes in protein metabolism in rats receiving recombinant interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha/cachectin (TNF), or both combined (COINF) was examined. Whole-body protein kinetics, energy expenditure, nitrogen excretion, and liver and muscle protein synthesis were studied using tracer quantities of L-[1-14C]-leucine. Rats fed menhaden oil, high in omega-3 fatty acids, had significantly lower rates of leucine oxidation compared to safflower-fed rats after monokine infusion (P less than .05). However, muscle protein synthetic rates and the specific activity of free leucine in plasma and muscle indicated greater net muscle-protein breakdown in animals fed fish oil or receiving monokines. Rats fed omega-3 fatty acids had significantly larger livers as percent of body weight and more total liver protein than safflower oil controls (P less than .0001). Liver weight was further increased by monokines, particularly TNF and COINF (P less than .001) in both diet groups, suggesting that net hepatic anabolism occurred at the expense of net skeletal protein catabolism. Monokines as a group and COINF significantly decreased whole-body leucine flux and incorporation into protein; no effect of menhaden oil was noted. In addition, monokines increased nitrogen excretion during the 24-hour experimental period (P less than .05), and total energy expenditure rose significantly in all groups receiving IL-1 beta and COINF. The recombinant monokines IL-1 beta and TNF, particularly when coinfused, are able to reproduce many of the protein anabolic and catabolic consequences seen following infection and injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
G.O.16

The success of clinical trials in infants with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) requires careful trial planning and appropriate outcomes. Traditional tests are fatiguing for SMA infants, use non-linear ordinal scales and require highly trained evaluators to grade movement. Our study provides preliminary reliability and validity data on a video-based assessment, ACTIVE-mini, which uses the Microsoft Kinect to assess infant movement. The infant lies supine and spontaneous movements are recorded using a series of 3D depth map and color images. Algorithms are used to quantify infant movement speed (i.e. velocity, acceleration, and jerk), as well as total movement volume, and the complexity of infant movement within space. Weekly longitudinal and cross-sectional data were collected over 6 months on 6 SMA infants and 30 controls. Movement speed data are plotted as kernel density plots separated in 2-week age-matched bins. Differences are seen in each movement variable in every age bin. On average the SMA infants have an average jerk value of 57.8% of age-matched peers. Tracings of the extremities and the ratio of convex hull’s surface area to volume ratio, where higher numbers indicate decreased ability, illustrate that an SMA infant has a smaller total movement excursion as well as decreased spatial complexity (upper extremity average: 139–170; lower extremity average: 756–891) when compared to age-matched controls (all extremities average range: 43–68). Preliminary results indicate ACTIVE-mini differentiates movement differences related to speed, variability, quantity, and complexity of movement in SMA infants compared to controls in the first 2 weeks of life. ACTIVE-mini has both clinical and research potential to detect movement abnormalities and measure small changes in ability over time. Further research is needed in a larger sample of diverse diagnoses to refine the statistical models of normal movement and identify typical longitudinal changes in infants.
Neutrophils are primed for cytotoxicity and resist apoptosis in injured patients at risk for multiple organ failure.

Abstract Background: Postinjury multiple organ failure (MOF) is the result of a dysregulated systemic inflammatory response in which primed neutrophils (PMNs) are sequestered in tissues, vulnerable to activation through secondary insults. Apoptosis is critical to the normal clearance of these sequestered PMNs. Conversely, dysfunctional apoptosis prolongs the PMN functional life span, potentially exacerbating PMN-mediated tissue injury and the development of MOF. We hypothesized that severe trauma, in addition to priming PMNs, provokes dysfunctional PMN apoptosis. Methods: Neutrophils were harvested daily from 12 severely injured patients at high risk for MOF, cultured for 24 hours, and assessed for apoptosis with use of acridine orange–ethidium bromide staining and fluorescence microscopy. Priming for elastase release was measured in freshly isolated patient PMNs. Plasma from patients was assessed for its ability to delay apoptosis of normal PMNs. Results: Four patients (33%) had MOF. Neutrophil apoptosis was profoundly delayed in severely injured patients throughout the 5-day study period. Priming for elastase release was augmented concomitantly. Patients' plasma delayed apoptosis of normal PMNs. Conclusion: In patients at high risk for postinjury MOF, PMNs are not only primed for cytotoxicity but also resist apoptosis. The dysfunctional apoptosis is attributed, at least in part, to a plasma-borne mediator. The net effect may facilitate hyperinflammatory organ injury. (Surgery 1999;126:198-202.)
Designs for the self-assembly of open and closed macromolecular structures and a molecular switch using DNA methyltransferases to order proteins on nucleic acid scaffolds

The methyltransferase-directed addressing of fusion proteins to DNA scaffolds offers an approach to the construction of protein/nucleic acid biostructures with potential in a variety of applications. The technology is currently only limited by the yield of high occupancy structures. However, current evidence shows that DNA scaffolds that contain three or four targeted proteins can be reliably constructed. This permits a variety of macromolecular designs, several of which are given in this paper. Designs for open and closed two-dimensional and three-dimensional assemblies and a design for a molecular switch are discussed. The closed two-dimensional assembly takes the form of a square, and could find application as a component of other systems including a macromolecular rotaxane. The closed three-dimensional system takes the form of a trigonal bipyramid and could find application as a macromolecular carcerand. The molecular switch could find application as a peptide biosensor. Guidelines for the construction and structural verification of these designs are reported.
Effects of lipid phase transition and membrane surface charge on the interfacial activation of phospholipase A2.

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes act at the membrane−water interface to access their phospholipid substrate from the membrane. They are regulated by diverse factors, including the membrane charge, fluidity, mode of membrane binding (insertion, orientation), and allosteric conformational effects. Relative contributions of these factors to the complex kinetics of PLA2 activation are not well understood. Here we examine the effects of thermal phase transitions and the surface charge of phospholipid membranes on the activation of human pancreatic PLA2. The temperature dependence of the initial catalytic rate of PLA2 peaks around the lipid phase transition temperature (Tm) when Tm is not too far from physiological temperatures (30−40 °C), and the peak is higher in the presence of anionic membranes. High PLA2 activity can be induced by thermal perturbations of the membrane. Temperature-dependent fluorescence quenching experiments show that despite dramatic effects of the lipid phase transition on PLA2 activity, ...
Thermal Stress of Blast Furnace Hearth Linings under Erosion State

The structure of cooling stave was simplified with equivalent convective heat transfer coefficient, and the thermal stress axisymmetric calculation model of blast furnace hearth linings under erosion state was established. The thermal stresses of familiar erosion states were analyzed. The thermal stress concentration of erosion part is an importance cause of erosion development. ‘Elephant-foot’ erosion seldom develops to ‘boiler-bottom’ erosion. ‘Boiler-bottom’ erosion is a ideal long life erosion state. When the erosion stabilizes, smaller cooling intensity is favorable to linings stabilization.
Macromolecular exchanges between the nucleus and cytoplasm.

The control of transcription and translation is of fundamental importance in cell biology. In this regard, the nuclear envelope is in a unique position to contribute to the regulation of these events, by directing macromolecular exchanges between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Such exchanges occur through the nuclear pore complexes, mainly by signal-mediated processes. Different signals are required for import and export. Specific cytoplasmic or nuclear receptors initially bind the signal-containing substrate, and the complex subsequently interacts with the pores. Additional factors then assist in translocation across the envelope. Current research is focused mainly on further characterization of transport receptors, translocation factors, as well as components of the nuclear pore complex, i.e., the nucleoporins. The ultimate goal is to understand the molecular interactions that occur among the different components of the transport apparatus, the energy sources for transport, and how variations in transport capacity are generated. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppls. 30/31:214-219, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Automatic target detection and tracking in forward-looking infrared image sequences using morphological connected operators

We propose a method for automatic target detection and tracking in forward-looking infrared (FLIR) image sequences. We use morphological connected operators to extract and track targets of interest and remove undesirable clutter. The design of these operators is based on general size, connectivity, and motion criteria, using spatial intraframe and temporal interframe information. In a first step, an image sequence is filtered on a frame-by-frame basis to remove background and residual clutter and to enhance the presence of targets. Detections extracted from the first step are passed to a second step for motion-based analysis. This step exploits the spatiotemporal correlation of the data, stated in terms of a connectivity criterion along the time dimension. The proposed method is suitable for piplined implementation or time progressive coding/transmission, since only a few frames are considered at a time. Experimental results, obtained with real FLIR image sequences, illustrating a wide variety of target and clutter variability, demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method.