cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real-time photo-realistic visualization of 3D environments for enhanced tele-operation of vehicles

This paper describes a method for creating photorealistic three-dimensional (3D) models of real-world environments in real-time for the purpose of improving and extending the capabilities of vehicle tele-operation. Our approach utilizes the combined data from a laser scanner (for modeling 3D geometry) and a video camera (for modeling surface appearance). The sensors are mounted on a moving vehicle platform, and a photo-realistic 3D model of the vehicle's environment is generated and displayed to the remote operator in real time. Our model consists of three main components: a textured ground surface, textured or colorized non-ground objects, and a textured background for representing regions beyond the laser scanner's sensing horizon. Our approach enables many unique capabilities for vehicle tele-operation, including viewing the scene from virtual viewpoints (e.g., behind the vehicle or top down), seamless augmentation of the environment with digital objects, and improved robustness to transmission latencies and data dropouts.
Equatorial Dry Air Intrusion and Related Synoptic Variability in MJO Initiation during DYNAMO

AbstractDynamics of the Madden–Julian oscillation (DYNAMO) was conducted over the equatorial Indian Ocean (IO) from October 2011 to March 2012. During mid- to late November, a strong Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) event, denoted MJO-2, initiated in the western IO and passed through the DYNAMO observation array. Dry air intrusions associated with synoptic variability in the equatorial region played a key role in the evolution of MJO-2. First, a sharp dry air intrusion surging from the subtropics into the equatorial region suppresses convection in the ITCZ south of the equator. This diminishes subsidence on the equator associated with the ITCZ convection, which leads to an equatorward shift of convection. It is viewed as a contributing factor for the onset of equatorial convection in MJO-2. Once the MJO convection is established, a second type of dry air intrusion is related to synoptic gyres within the MJO convective envelope. The westward-propagating gyres draw drier air from the subtropics into the equa...
Label-free proteomics and systems biology analysis of mycobacterial phagosomes in dendritic cells and macrophages

Proteomics has been applied to study intracellular bacteria and phagocytic vacuoles in different host cell lines, especially macrophages (Mφs). For mycobacterial phagosomes, few studies have identified over several hundred proteins for systems assessment of the phagosome maturation and antigen presentation pathways. More importantly, there has been a scarcity in publication on proteomic characterization of mycobacterial phagosomes in dendritic cells (DCs). In this work, we report a global proteomic analysis of Mφ and DC phagosomes infected with a virulent, an attenuated, and a vaccine strain of mycobacteria. We used label-free quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics tools to decipher the regulation of phagosome maturation and antigen presentation pathways in Mφs and DCs. We found that the phagosomal antigen presentation pathways are repressed more in DCs than in Mφs. The results suggest that virulent mycobacteria might co-opt the host immune system to stimulate granuloma formation for persistence while minimizing the antimicrobial immune response to enhance mycobacterial survival. The studies on phagosomal proteomes have also shown promise in discovering new antigen presentation mechanisms that a professional antigen presentation cell might use to overcome the mycobacterial blockade of conventional antigen presentation pathways.
Calibration of surface hydrogen concentration by TOF direct recoil spectra from methoxylated magnesium

Abstract Methoxylation of magnesium produces a surface layer with known concentrations of H, C, and O. Direct recoil analysis of these atoms allows calibration of the measured relative signals and comparison with calculated recoil intensities. The methoxide/Mg systems provides a standard for surface hydrogen concentrations by the direct recoil technique.
STRUCTURALLY PRESERVED FOSSIL PLANTS FROM ANTARCTICA III. PERMIAN SEEDS

Small, anatomically preserved gymnospermous seeds are detailed from late Permian age silicified specimens collected in the Beardmore Glacier region of Antarctica. The seeds are platyspermic with prominent, sarcotestal wings and a simple pollen chamber. The integument consists of a narrow endotesta, a two-parted sclerotesta and a complex sarcotesta. In mature seeds, the nucellus is present as a papery layer, separated from the endotesta by a nucellar and endotestal cuticle. Cellular megagametophytes are present in many of the seeds and commonly contain two archegonia. A multicellular embryo is present within each archegonium. The embryos are at a similar stage of development and provide evidence of simple polyembryony in these seeds. Although the affinities of the seeds are not presently known, they are discussed in the context of other seeds described from Gondwana deposits, as well as the known flora from the Beardmore Glacier area.
Surveying Nurses: Identifying Strategies to Improve Participation

While surveys of nurses are an important tool in health services and policy research, they are often characterized by low response rates. The authors conducted a systematic review of 22 published reports of efforts to improve response rates to nurse surveys. Two general strategies were explored in this literature: incentive and design-based approaches. Even small financial incentives were found to be effective in improving nurse survey participation. Token nonmonetary incentives, in contrast, were much less effective. In terms of design strategies, postal and telephone strategies have generally been more successful than have fax or web-based approaches, with evidence also supporting use of mixed-mode surveys in this population. In addition, use of first-class stamps on return envelopes as well as questionnaires personalized and endorsed by legitimizing professional associations were also more likely to be successful. Researchers should continue to implement evidence-based strategies in order to improve th...
Biochemical and genetic analysis of ANK in arthritis and bone disease

Mutations in the progressive ankylosis gene (Ank/ANKH) cause surprisingly different skeletal phenotypes in mice and humans. In mice, recessive loss-of-function mutations cause arthritis, ectopic crystal formation, and joint fusion throughout the body. In humans, some dominant mutations cause chondrocalcinosis, an adult-onset disease characterized by the deposition of ectopic joint crystals. Other dominant mutations cause craniometaphyseal dysplasia, a childhood disease characterized by sclerosis of the skull and abnormal modeling of the long bones, with little or no joint pathology. Ank encodes a multiple-pass transmembrane protein that regulates pyrophosphate levels inside and outside tissue culture cells in vitro, but its mechanism of action is not yet clear, and conflicting models have been proposed to explain the effects of the human mutations. Here, we test wild-type and mutant forms of ANK for radiolabeled pyrophosphate-transport activity in frog oocytes. We also reconstruct two human mutations in a bacterial artificial chromosome and test them in transgenic mice for rescue of the Ank null phenotype and for induction of new skeletal phenotypes. Wild-type ANK stimulates saturable transport of pyrophosphate ions across the plasma membrane, with half maximal rates attained at physiological levels of pyrophosphate. Chondrocalcinosis mutations retain apparently wild-type transport activity and can rescue the joint-fusion phenotype of Ank null mice. Craniometaphyseal dysplasia mutations do not transport pyrophosphate and cannot rescue the defects of Ank null mice. Furthermore, microcomputed tomography revealed previously unappreciated phenotypes in Ank null mice that are reminiscent of craniometaphyseal dysplasia. The combination of biochemical and genetic analyses presented here provides insight into how mutations in ANKH cause human skeletal disease.
Does Physical Intimate Partner Violence Affect Sexual Health? A Systematic Review

Forty years of published research (1966-2006) addressing physical intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual health was reviewed (51 manuscripts) and synthesized to determine (a) those sexual health indicators for which sufficient evidence is available to suggest a causal association and (b) gaps in the literature for which additional careful research is needed to establish causality and explain mechanisms for these associations. Sexual health was defined as a continuum of indicators of gynecology and reproductive health. IPV was consistently associated with sexual risk taking, inconsistent condom use, or partner nonmonogamy (23 of 27 studies), having an unplanned pregnancy or induced abortion (13 of 16 studies), having a sexually transmitted infection (17 of 24 studies), and sexual dysfunction (17 of 18 studies). A conceptual model was presented to guide further needed research addressing direct and indirect mechanisms by which physical, sexual, and psychological IPV affects sexual health.
Design and implementation of centralized appointment retrieval system in a public health department

The project involves the design and implementation of a centralized appointment retrieval system for the Jackson County Health Department. The present appointment retrieval systems (manual) are maintained independently by the various clinical programs. An 8 × 10 card (tickler card) is set up for each patient and filed according to the month of the next appointment. One month prior to this date, the patient is sent a reminder to call to schedule his/her appointment. It is difficult to cross-reference a patient's, or his/her family members', appointments among programs. Thus, if a patient, or a family, is receiving more than one clinical service, there is very little ability to coordinate the scheduling of their appointments. This disjunct delivery of services is costly to both the health department and the patient.The centralized appointment retrieval system utilizes a computer to store and retrieve information. Patients are assigned a family number to allow appointments to be cross-referenced. Personal Data Sheets are utilized to obtain the information for entry into the system. The output consists of a master and program-specific listings of appointments for an upcoming month. The listing also includes dates the patient is due to return for other services and dates family members are scheduled for services. Appointments for the patient and his/her family are coordinated by the use of the listing,and appointment reminders are sent to the patient from the listing.
On the bit error probability of QAM modulation

This paper presents some closed-form bit error probability expressions for coherent demodulation of both Gray coded and differentially decoded Gray coded QAM modulations in nonfading and frequency nonselective Rayleigh fading channels. These results demonstrate that as QAM constellation sizes get larger the BEP degradation due to differential encoding and decoding becomes negligible.
Innervation zone location of the biceps brachii, a comparison between genders and correlation with anthropometric measurements

Abstract Avoiding the innervation zone (IZ) is important when collecting surface electromyographic data. The purposes of this study were threefold: (1) to examine the precision of two different techniques for expressing IZ location for the biceps brachii, (2) to compare these locations between men and women, and (3) to determine if IZ movement with changes in elbow joint angle is related to different anthropometric measures. Twenty-four subjects (mean ± SD ages = 21.8 ± 3.5 yr) performed isometric contractions of the right forearm flexors at each of three separate elbow joint angles (90°, 120°, and 150° between the arm and forearm). During each contraction, the location of the IZ for the biceps brachii was visually identified using a linear electrode array. These IZ locations were expressed in both absolute (i.e. as a distance (mm) from the acromion process) and relative (i.e. as a percentage of humerus length) terms. The results suggested that the estimations of IZ location were more precise when expressed in relative versus absolute terms, and were generally different for men and women. The shift in IZ location with changes in elbow joint angle was not, owever, related to height, weight, or humerus length.
Rosiglitazone, a PPAR gamma agonist, attenuates inflammation after surgical brain injury in rodents

Abstract Introduction Surgical brain injury (SBI) is unavoidable during many neurosurgical procedures. This inevitable brain injury can result in post-operative complications including brain edema, blood–brain barrier disruption (BBB) and cell death in susceptible areas. Rosiglitazone (RSG), a PPAR-γ agonist, has been shown to reduce inflammation and provide neuroprotection in experimental models of ischemia and intracerebral hemorrhage. This study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of RSG in a rodent model of SBI. Methods: 65 adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham, vehicle and treatment groups. RSG was administered intraperitoneally in two dosages (1 mg/kg/dose, 6 mg/kg/dose) 30 min before surgery, and 30 min and 4 h after surgery. Animals were euthanized 24 h following neurological evaluation to assess brain edema and BBB permeability by IgG staining. Inflammation was examined using myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay and double-labeling fluorescent immunohistochemical analysis of IL-1β and TNF-α. Results: Localized brain edema was observed in tissue surrounding the surgical injury. This brain edema was significantly higher in rats subjected to SBI than sham animals. Increased IgG staining was present in affected brain tissue; however, RSG reduced neither IgG staining nor brain edema. RSG also did not improve neurological status observed after SBI. RSG, however, significantly attenuated MPO activity and qualitatively decreased IL-1β and TNF-α expression compared to vehicle-treated group. Conclusion: SBI causes increased brain edema, BBB disruption and inflammation localized along the periphery of the site of surgical resection. RSG attenuated inflammatory changes, however, did not improve brain edema, BBB disruption and neurological outcomes after SBI.
Experimental comparisons of statistical uncertainties in analysis of nuclear spectra with the Cambio software application

Cambio is a software application well-suited for analysis of high-resolution nuclear spectral data in which the critical information resides in well-masked peaks or in which the data are sparse and good statistics cannot be obtained. The statistical uncertainty in the results is reported in terms of standard deviations. In the practical use of any analysis application, it is important to have a good understanding of the accuracy of the reported statistical uncertainties in the results. The authors report the results of an experiment that provides a quantitative measure of the accuracy of the reported uncertainties in analyses using Cambio. Ten calibration sources ranging in activity from 25 to 450 kBq were placed 20.5 m from a bare, 100 % relative-efficient high-purity germanium detector. Peaks in these sources occur from 20 to 2,800 keV. Data were accumulated for 128 h to create a parent spectrum from which 1024 8-hour statistically-equivalent daughter spectra were created by random sampling of the parent spectrum data. The parent spectrum was analyzed by fitting parameters which included an underlying continuum, a background of natural peaks adjusted by detector efficiency and material attenuation, and a foreground of the ten sources adjusted by detector efficiency only. Each of the daughter spectra were then analyzed starting with the parameters of the fit to the parent spectrum and then minimizing Chi-square with respect to changes in these parameters. The standard deviations of the estimated activities of the sources from all 1024 spectra were then calculated and compared to the reported statistical uncertainty in the activities and peak areas of the sources.
Beyond Health and Wealth: Predictors of Women's Retirement Satisfaction:

Despite empirical support for the positive effects of health and wealth on retirement satisfaction, alternative variables also play a key role in helping to shape women's assessment of retirement. In the present study, we explore personal and psychosocial predictors of women's retirement satisfaction while controlling for financial security and health. Data from 330 retired women were analyzed using stepwise regression analysis. Results indicate the most significant predictors of women's retirement satisfaction are self-esteem, mastery, emotional support, and ethnicity. Financial security remained a significant predictor of satisfaction; whereas health did not. Suggestions are made to recognize the importance of women's psychological health in retirement, examine different types of social support in relation to stage of retirement, and incorporate diverse audiences in women's retirement research.
Nationwide trends in the utilization of multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MVPCI) in the United States across different gender and ethnicities.

Background: To evaluate nationwide trends in the utilization of Multivessel Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (MVPCI) in the past compared to recent years using a large database from 1988 to 2004. Method: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was utilized to calculate the age-adjusted rate for multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (MVPCI) from 1988 to 2004. Specific ICD-9-CM codes for MVPCI were used to compile the data. Patient demographic data were also analyzed from the database. Results: According to the NIS database, MVPCI was performed in 241,319 patients from 1988 to 2004. Males underwent MVPCI twice as many as compared to females (male: 67.87%, female 32.13%). The mean age for these patients was 64.89 ± 11.84 years old. From 1988, the age-adjusted rate for MVPCI gradually increased to more than three times in 1998 [(6.62 per 100,000 (95%CI = 5.92–7.33) in 1988 to 23.92 per 100,000 (95%CI = 21.62–26.22, P < 0.01) in 1998] and accelerated to more than 6 times that of 1988 at the end of the study in 2004 (41.50 per 100,000 (95%CI = 37.84–45.16). In recent years, this trend was similar for both genders and ethnicities. Conclusion: The utilization of MVPCI has increased six times from 1988 to 2004, with acceleration in recent years. The cause of this acceleration is most likely related to the advancement in the percutaneous coronary interventional techniques.
A Square-Packing Problem of Erdős

This last inequality comes from the observation that, since each e7 represents the area of one of the small squares, the sum cannot exceed 1. (b) A square with sides of length ei may be replaced by two squares, each having side length ei/2 and both lying inside the original. (c) A square with sides of length ei may be replaced by three squares, each having side length ei/2 and all lying inside the original. U
Improved energy density homopolar generator

The preliminary design of a self excited, air-core (SEAC) homopolar generator (HPG) which stores about 250 MJ inertially and is4 capable of delivering 3.2 MA current pulses is presented. In aiming for maximum energy density in an HPG and inductor power supply for electromagnetic (EM) accelerators, the improved energy density (IED) machine uses its self-excited field coils as energy storage inductors and a lightweight graphite reinforced flywheel for inertial energy storage. Weighing approximately 5,000 kg, the design represents a twenty-fold increase in mass energy density over the state of the art and addresses the problem of trapping flux in the rotor during discharge by separating the voltage generating and energy storage functions. Voltage is generated across a squirrel-cage rotor armature by an opposed pair of five-turn cryogenically cooled field Coils/inductors. Inertial energy is stored in a graphite-reinforced epoxy flywheel which will operate at a maximum tip speed of 1,100 m/s. Current collection is accomplished at the smaller radius of the squirrel-cage armature which implies brush slip speeds of no more than 300 m/s at the design speed. The machine is expected to develop about 500 V at half speed while charging the coils to 130 MJ at 3.2 MA. Peak output voltage during discharge of coils will be roughly 10 kV.
Macrosatellite epigenetics: the two faces of DXZ4 and D4Z4

Almost half of the human genome consists of repetitive DNA. Understanding what role these elements have in setting up chromatin states that underlie gene and chromosome function in complex genomes is paramount. The function of some types of repetitive DNA is obvious by virtue of their location, such as the alphoid arrays that define active centromeres. However, there are many other types of repetitive DNA whose evolutionary origins and current roles in genome biology remain unknown. One type of repetitive DNA that falls into this class is the macrosatellites. The relevance of these sequences to disease is clearly demonstrated by the 4q macrosatellite (D4Z4), whereupon contraction in the size of the array is associated with the onset of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Here, I describe recent findings relating to the chromatin organization of D4Z4 and that of the X-linked macrosatellite DXZ4, highlighting the fact that these enigmatic sequences share more than a similar name.
An Al-rich metallic glass with a large supercooled liquid region

The addition of small amounts (microalloying) of Ti was previously shown to improve glass formation and stability in rapidly quenched Al–Y–Fe alloys. Here, microalloying with V is demonstrated to have an even more dramatic effect on glass stability. Al85.35Y8Fe6V0.65 exhibits a crystallization-onset temperature (Tx ) of 365°C and a supercooled liquid region (ΔTx ) of 80°C, the largest currently known for Al-rich metallic glasses. The rapidly quenched oxygenated alloys Al85Y8Fe6V0.65O0.35 and Al84.35Y8Fe6V0.65O1 are also glasses, establishing that the glasses with V have a higher tolerance to oxygen contamination than the alloys prepared with Ti. The partial devitrification of Al85.35Y8Fe6V0.65 produces an unusual, non-uniform microstructure that suggests an autocatalytic nucleation mechanism.
SECOND BREAKWELL MEMORIAL LECTURE : 1961 AND ALL THAT

Abstract The first manned trip beyond Earth orbit was the historic Christmas Eve flight of Apollo 8. One of the critical objectives was to verify that astronauts could navigate in space using a sextant to measure star elevations above the Earth and Moon horizons with a recursive algorithm implemented in an onboard computer to process the measurements. The Apollo Guidance Computer was primitive by any modern comparison having but 72 kilobytes of ROM and 4 kilobytes of RAM with no mass memory or even the ability to up-link large quantities of data or programs. The computer had no built-in redundancy, no spare parts and no backup. The author gives a personal account of these events—how the hardware and software evolved and what really happened on that first manned trip to the Moon.
2-Bit, chained, probabilistic encryption scheme

In this letter we present a new probabilistic encryption algorithm based on the scheme proposed by Jingmin and Kaicheng in 1988. This algorithm utilises the public key concept and recursively encrypts two bits at a time. The message bit expansion is very low and is the same as in their scheme. At the same time, this new scheme is twice as fast.
Maximum likelihood identification of neural point process systems

Using the theory of random point processes, a method is presented whereby functional relationships between neurons can be detected and modeled. The method is based on a point process characterization involving stochastic intensities and an additive rate function model. Estimates are based on the maximum likelihood (ML) principle and asymptotic properties are examined in the absence of a stationarity assumption. An iterative algorithm that computes the ML estimates is presented. It is based on the expectation/maximization (EM) procedure of Dempster et al. (1977) and makes ML identification accessible to models requiring many parameters. Examples illustrating the use of the method are also presented. These examples are derived from simulations of simple neural systems that cannot be identified using correlation techniques. It is shown that the ML method correctly identifies each of these systems.
Tetrathiafulvalene Tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF-TCNQ): A Zero-Bandgap Semiconductor?

We present numerical calculations based on a tight-binding model for the organic conductor tetrathiafulvalene tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF-TCNQ). The model consists of anisotropic planar TTF and TCNQ bands coupled together by an interplanar transfer integral, which produces a nearly zero-bandgap semiconductor. The calculations are compared with experiments and it is found unlikely that all of the data can be explained simultaneously by a noninteracting electron band structure. We then discuss how many-body effects may affect the model and lead to a metal-insulator transition as observed.
All-fiber carbon nanotube based mode-locked laser system for generation of stable fs frequency combs

We report on a simplified all-fiber octave spanning femtosecond laser system based on a tapered fiber carbon nanotube saturable absorber capable of generating a stabilized frequency comb structure.
Determination of serum albumin in neonatal jaundice. The albumin saturation index

Abstract Methods for determination of serum albumin were studied with a view to their use in a new laboratory test designed to help in the management of neonatal jaundice. The use of an albumin saturation index, defined as the ratio of serum albumin concentrations determined by the eosin and bromocresol green dye-binding methods is proposed. The eosin method was chosen because although serum albumin concentration is measured with accuracy and precision in non-jaundiced sera, a reduction in apparent serum albumin concentration is found in jaundiced sera due to the method being carried out at pH 7.10 whereby albumin-bilirubin binding remains firm. The bromocresol green method is used in the index as it measures serum albumin quickly, accurately and precisely in both jaundiced and non-jaundiced sera. Determination of serum albumin by the phenol red and hydroxybenzeneazobenzoic acid dye-binding methods was not of value in the index because accuracy in these methods requires use of buffers at acid pH which result in displacement of bilirubin from its albuminbinding sites.
Proton dose calculation on scatter-corrected CBCT image: Feasibility study for adaptive proton therapy

Purpose: To demonstrate the feasibility of proton dose calculation on scatter-corrected cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images for the purpose of adaptive proton therapy. Methods: CBCT projection images were acquired from anthropomorphic phantoms and a prostate patient using an on-board imaging system of an Elekta infinity linear accelerator. Two previously introduced techniques were used to correct the scattered x-rays in the raw projection images: uniform scatter correction (CBCT us) and a priori CT-based scatter correction (CBCT ap). CBCT images were reconstructed using a standard FDK algorithm and GPU-based reconstruction toolkit. Soft tissue ROI-based HU shifting was used to improve HU accuracy of the uncorrected CBCT images and CBCT us, while no HU change was applied to the CBCT ap. The degree of equivalence of the corrected CBCT images with respect to the reference CT image (CT ref) was evaluated by using angular profiles of water equivalent path length (WEPL) and passively scattered proton treatment plans. The CBCT ap was further evaluated in more realistic scenarios such as rectal filling and weight loss to assess the effect of mismatched prior information on the corrected images. Results: The uncorrected CBCT and CBCT us images demonstrated substantial WEPL discrepancies (7.3 ± 5.3 mm and 11.1 ± 6.6 mm, respectively) with respect to the CT ref, while the CBCT ap images showed substantially reduced WEPL errors (2.4 ± 2.0 mm). Similarly, the CBCT ap-based treatment plans demonstrated a high pass rate (96.0% ± 2.5% in 2 mm/2% criteria) in a 3D gamma analysis. Conclusions: A priori CT-based scatter correction technique was shown to be promising for adaptive proton therapy, as it achieved equivalent proton dose distributions and water equivalent path lengths compared to those of a reference CT in a selection of anthropomorphic phantoms.
Evaluating a Minor Storyline on ER About Teen Obesity, Hypertension, and 5 A Day

This study evaluates the effects of an ER (NBC) storyline about teen obesity, hypertension, and 5 A Day on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. The storyline depicted an African American teen who presented at the emergency room with burns from a workplace injury. Upon diagnosis, the teen was discovered to have hypertension and counseled to eat more fruits and vegetables and get more exercise. The evaluation was conducted using three separate datasets, one of which provided data on a sample of primetime viewers before and after the storyline aired. Results showed that the storyline affected self-reported behavior change and had modest impacts on knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Interestingly, these effects were stronger for men than for women, possibly due to men's lower knowledge levels at baseline. Issues including identification with characters and the value of even modest effects on large audiences and the implications of our findings for future evaluations of entertainment education (EE) and other health communication programs are discussed.
Evidence for glycosidic bond rotation in a nucleobase peroxyl radical and its effect on tandem lesion formation.

Nucleobase peroxyl radicals are the major reactive intermediates formed in DNA when the biopolymer is exposed to γ-radiolysis under aerobic conditions. The major reaction pathways for the peroxyl radical (1) derived from 5,6-dihydro-2‘-deoxyuridin-6-yl involve π-bond addition to or hydrogen atom abstraction from the adjacent nucleotides to produce tandem lesions. The ability to independently generate 1 at a defined site in DNA enabled us to probe its reactivity by varying the local DNA structure. The effect of DNA structure variation reveals that 1 reacts from its syn- and anti-conformations in competition with trapping by thiol. These experiments also reveal that tandem lesions will be produced as a mixture of diastereomers, which could impact their biological effects.
Bayesian D-optimal supersaturated designs

We introduce a new class of supersaturated designs using Bayesian D-optimality. The designs generated using this approach can have arbitrary sample sizes, can have any number of blocks of any size, and can incorporate categorical factors with more than two levels. In side by side diagnostic comparisons based on the E(s 2 ) criterion for two-level experiments having even sample size, our designs either match or out-perform the best designs published to date. The generality of the method is illustrated with quality improvement experiment with 15 runs and 20 factors in 3 blocks. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Transformer Harmonics and Their Distribution

This paper discusses briefly the distribution of harmonics in single-phase transformers and in three-phase banks of single-phase transformers. Two-winding transformers or three-winding transformers, where the harmonic current exists in two of the windings only, are considered. Formulas for the distribution of harmonic currents between primary and secondary circuits are given. Data and results from tests on small experimental transformers in the Research Laboratories of the Electrical Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and also from field tests on a bank of power transformers and a transmission line, have been reproduced. Both in laboratory and field tests calculated and measured values check to engineering accuracy.
Videofluoroscopic evidence of aspiration predicts pneumonia and death but not dehydration following stroke

In order to assess the risk of pneumonia, dehydration, and death associated with videofluoroscopic evidence of aspiration following stroke, the clinical records of 26 patients with aspiration and 33 randomly selected, case-matched, dysphagic controls without videofluoroscopic evidence of aspiration were reviewed. The videofluoroscopic modified barium swallow technique included 5 ml-thin and thick liquid barium, 5 ml barium pudding, and 1/4 cookie coated with barium, plus additional 20 and 30 ml of thin liquid barium. Patients were assessed a mean of 2±1 SD months poststroke and were followed for a mean of 16±8 SD months poststroke. The odds ratio for developing pneumonia was 7.6 times greater for those who aspirated any amount of barium irrespective of its consistency (p=0.05). The odds ratio for developing pneumonia was 5.6 times greater for those who aspirated thickened liquids or more solid consistencies compared with those who did not aspirate, or who aspirated thin liquids only (p=0.06). Dehydration was unrelated to the presence or absence of aspiration. The odds ratio for death was 9.2 times greater for those aspirating thickened liquids or more solid consistencies compared with those who did not aspirate or who aspirated thin liquids only (p=0.01). Aspiration documented by modified videofluoroscopic barium swallow technique is associated with a significant increase in risk of pneumonia and death but not dehydration following stroke.
Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Studies of Phospholipid−NSAID Adducts

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to have strong interactions with lipid membranes. Using small-angle neutron scattering, the effect of ibuprofen, a prominent NSAID, on the radius of small unilamellar vesicles of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and their bilayer structure was studied systematically as a function of pH (ranging from 2 to 8) and drug-to-lipid mole ratio (from 0/1 to 0.62/1 mol/mol). Ibuprofen with a pKa of ∼4.6 was found to significantly affect the bilayer structure at all pH values, irrespective of the charge state of the drug. At low pH values, the drug reduces the bilayer thickness, induces fluid-like behavior, and changes headgroup hydration. The incorporation of the drug in the lipid bilayer while affecting the local bilayer structure and hydration of the lipid does not affect the overall stability of the vesicle dispersions over the pH range studied.
Language as context for the perception of emotion

In the blink of an eye, people can easily see emotion in another person's face. This fact leads many to assume that emotion perception is given and proceeds independently of conceptual processes such as language. In this paper we suggest otherwise and offer the hypothesis that language functions as a context in emotion perception. We review a variety of evidence consistent with the language-as-context view and then discuss how a linguistically relative approach to emotion perception allows for intriguing and generative questions about the extent to which language shapes the sensory processing involved in seeing emotion in another person's face.
Improving Network Throughput Using a Fixed Scheduling Scheme and a P-Persistent Approach

This paper combines a fixed scheduling scheme and a simple p-persistent approach, creating a new MAC scheduling scheme for wireless networks. In a fixed scheduling scheme, a predetermined scheduling vector is assigned to each wireless node before run time. When a node is ready, it calculates the transmission probability pnew, using a successful transmission ratio, a previous transmission probability pold, and a queue utilization ratio. The transmission probability pnew determines whether or not a node can transmit. Our simulation study shows that the new MAC scheduling scheme improves the network throughput and minimizes collision counts.
Neighboring extremal solution for discrete-time optimal control problems with state inequality constraints

A neighboring extremal control method is proposed for discrete-time optimal control problems subject to a general class of inequality constraints. The approach generalizes the method proposed in (R. Ghaemi et al., 2007) to the case when the results of (R. Ghaemi et al., 2007) become inapplicable: one with constraints which depend only on states but not inputs and another with over-determined input-state constraints. The application of the proposed method leads to a computationally efficient model predictive control algorithm, which is described in conjunction with a numerical example, to illustrate the utility of the proposed approach.
Lymphocyte Development and Function in T Cell Receptor and RAG-1 Mutant Mice

We have used gene targeting in embryonic stem cells to generate mice with mutations in T-cell receptor (TCR) gene-alpha, TCR-beta, TCR-delta or the Recombination Activating Gene-1 (RAG-1). TCR-alpha or TCR-beta mutant mice are deficient in alpha beta T cells, but still contain gamma delta T cells and B cells. TCR-delta mutant mice are deficient in gamma delta T cells, but still contain alpha beta T cells and B cells. Mice doubly mutant for TCR-beta and TCR-delta do not have any mature T cells, but still have B cells. RAG-1 mutant mice are totally deficient in both mature T cells and B cells. Here, I describe recent studies of thymocyte development in the mutant mice, and I review experiments addressing the function of the immune system of the mutant mice.
Primary Lung Cancer Surgery in Stage II and Stage III

• We reviewed 100 operations performed on 95 consecutive patients with stage II (n = 7) and stage III (n = 88) primary lung cancer. The five-year survival of patients with N1 involvement was 58% and with N2 disease was 21%. Of 13 patients with Pancoast or chest wall involvement, 58% survived five years. The entire group had a 34% five-year survival and a median survival of 32 months. Preoperative and/or postoperative radiotherapy, in the presence of nodal disease, appears to improve local control, but an effective chemotherapy program is needed for unrecognized visceral metastases. In the absence of contraindications, surgical excision offers the best likelihood of survival and quality of life. (Arch Surg1988;123:583-585)
Pharmacotherapy of Allergic Rhinitis

The primary goal of allergic rhinitis (AR) treatment is to alleviate symptoms, improve quality of life and prevent comorbidities. In addition to allergen avoidance there are several pharmacologic agents available: oral and topical H 1 -antihistamines, intranasal glucocorticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, mast cell stabilizers, anticholinergic agents and decongestants. Medications used for AR are typically administered orally or intranasally. The intranasal route allows for higher concentrations of the drug to be delivered thus minimizing the systemic side effects. However, many patients with AR have an aversion to using nasal spray, and oral medications are typically used in these patients.
Taking the grind out of grinding

Existing uses of RF/microwave heating involve soft targets. This article focuses on current research being carried out in the United Kingdom and South Africa, where microwave energy is being applied to "soften up" rocks for the purpose of mineral extraction.
Dopamine Cell Transplantation for Parkinson’s Disease: The Importance of Controlled Clinical Trials

Transplantation of human fetal dopamine neurons into the brain of Parkinson’s disease patients started in the late 1980s, less than 10 years after experiments in rats showed that embryonic dopamine neurons from a narrow window of development are suitable for transplantation. For human transplantation, the critical stage of development is 6 to 8 weeks after conception. Because putamen is the basal ganglia structure most depleted of dopamine in Parkinson’s disease and because it is the structure most closely mapped to the motor cortex, it has been the primary target for neurotransplantation. The double blind trial conducted at the University of Colorado, Columbia University, and North Shore University is the first controlled surgical trial performed in the field of neurosurgery. Results have shown that transplants of fetal dopamine neurons can survive transplantation without immunosuppression and without regard to the age of the patients. Transplants improved objective signs of Parkinson’s disease to the best effects of L-DOPA seen preoperatively. Placebo surgery produced no clinical changes. In subjects in whom transplants replaced the need for L-DOPA, the implants replicated the preoperative effects of L-DOPA, including dyskinesias in susceptible patients. Our trial has provided the first controlled evidence that dopamine cell transplants can improve the clinical state of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13311-011-0082-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Neuropsychiatric Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury During Acute Neurorehabilitation

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common and costly problem worldwide. In the United States, 1.5 million people sustain TBI each year, and approximately 230,000 of these require hospitalization for management of their injury. The majority of TBI resulting in hospitalization are moderate to severe in nature and produce significant mortality and morbidity. Among those surviving their injuries, most will develop cognitive, emotional, and behavioral (collectively referred to here as neuropsychiatric) disturbances in the acute postinjury period and will require acute rehabilitation management. These posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae present substantial clinical management challenges that the consulting neuropsychiatrist is well suited to evaluate and manage. In the service of offering the consulting neuro­psychiatrist with information that may be of use in the care of persons with TBI receiving care in the acute neurorehabilitation setting, this chapter first defines and describes TBI and reviews the neuroanatomical and neurobehavioral consequences of TBI relevant to understanding posttraumatic neuropsychiatric disturbances. These disturbances are organized under the framework of posttraumatic encephalopathy, and the characteristic forms and stages of recovery of this condition are discussed. Finally, a neuropsychiatric approach to the evaluation of persons with TBI in the acute inpatient neurorehabilitation setting is described.
Role of conformational dynamics in sequence-specific autoantibody*ssDNA recognition.

F8 is a sequence-specific monoclonal anti-ssDNA autoantibody isolated from a lupus prone mouse that forms pathogenic complexes with ssDNA, resulting in kidney damage. Prior studies show that specificity is mediated by a somatic mutation from serine at 31 VH to arginine. Reversion back to serine in 11F8 resulted in >30-fold decrease in affinity and altered thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for sequence-specific recognition of its cognate ssDNA ligand. Mutagenesis and structural studies suggest that R31 VH contacts ssDNA via a salt
Resource conservation and recycling: Behavior and policy.

Handling the huge amount of solid waste generated by our “throw-away society” is a major threat to a sustainable future. Recycling of used products is one important contribution toward sustainability, and social science research can help to increase its success. Of the many varied forms of recycling, residential curbside recycling is fast becoming the dominant form in the U.S., but it has been little studied. This article briefly reviews earlier research on other forms of recycling and describes the findings of several recent studies of curbside programs, including the new commingled collection method. In addition, it summarizes a study on the growth of paper recycling by businesses, and a study of consumers' environmentally conscious “green buying,” which can help reduce the overall amount of solid waste that is generated.
Estimating Utilization Distributions with Kernel Versus Local Convex Hull Methods

Estimates of utilization distributions (UDs) are used in analyses of home-range area, habitat and resource selection, and social interactions. We simulated data from 12 parent UDs, representing 3 series of increasingly intense space-use patterns (clustering of points around a home site, restriction of locations to a network of nodes and corridors, and dominance of a central hole in the UD) and compared the ability of kernel density estimation (KDE) and local convex hull (LCH) construction to reconstruct known UDs from samples of 10, 50, 250, and 1,000 location points. For KDE, we considered 4 bandwidth selectors: the reference bandwidth, least-squares cross-validation (LSCV), direct plug-in (DPI), and solve-the-equation (STE). For the sample sizes and UD patterns tested here, KDE achieved significantly higher volume-of- intersection (VI) scores with known parent UDs than did LCH; KDE also provided less biased home-range area estimates under many conditions. However, LCH minimized the UD volume that occurred outside the true home range boundary (Vout). Among the KDE bandwidth estimators, relative performance depended on the type and intensity of space use patterns, sample size, and the metric used to evaluate performance. Biologists should use KDE for UD and home range estimation within a probabilistic context, unless their objective is to exclude potentially unused areas by defining the area delimited by data. 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Does the use of computer-based BPC tools contribute to redesign effectiveness? Insights from a hermeneutic study

Much of the Business Process Change (BPC) literature maintains that the use of computer-based tools for BPC-related tasks such as process modeling, simulation, and project management has a positive influence on business process redesign effectiveness. Our hermeneutic study of text and text analogues in two organizations reveals that the use of computer-based BPC tools can have two opposing effects on redesign effectiveness. We find that, consistent with the existing literature, such tools can indeed enhance redesign effectiveness by providing: 1) a structure to the redesign process; 2) cognitive support to the redesigners; and 3) a mode for standardized representation of the redesigns. However, we also discover that the autonomization of electronically represented redesigns and the organizational members' subsequent focus on standardized, detailed, and objectified representations (rather than on socially shared understandings) of the redesign, can lead to an alienation of the original redesigners from the business processes that they envisioned. This alienation, further amplified as a result of frequent and sometimes meaningless changes to the electronically objectified redesigns mandated by other BPC stakeholders in the organization, can contribute to inconsistencies in the redesign, thus resulting in a negative influence of BPC tools on redesign effectiveness. Our study 1) illustrates the use of the "hermeneutic circle" to understand the role of computer-based tools in business process redesign; 2) argues that the role of BPC tools can be better understood by focusing on the sociotechnical interaction of the redesigners with the BPC tools in an organizational context rather than by studying the tools in isolation; and 3) indicates that the effect of tools on redesign effectiveness depends on the relative strengths of the two opposing effects of BPC tool use discussed above.