cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seismological evidence for long-term and rapidly accelerating magma pressurization preceding the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska

Abstract Successful eruption forecasts are heavily dependent on the recognition of well-established patterns in volcano monitoring data. Therefore, it is critical to develop, in retrospect, an understanding of the physical basis for cases of abnormal precursory behavior, as the basis for (a) a complete understanding of the range of precursory signals that may be expected at a particular volcano and (b) development of new monitoring approaches to detect more subtle signals of the underlying processes responsible for common patterns of seismic unrest. Here, using a hybrid analysis of shear-wave splitting (SWS) and double-couple fault-plane solutions (FPS), we document the timing and nature of local stress field changes in the months to days preceding the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska, which was characterized by an abnormally long period of precursory low-frequency seismicity reflected in multiple escalations of alert levels prior to the eruption. We find that an approximately ~90° change in the polarization of fast S-wavelets ( Φ ) accompanied the earliest signs of seismic unrest in 2008 and continued through the eruption before diminishing in 2009. A similar change in the orientation of VT FPS occurred 18–48 h prior to the eruption onset on March 23, 2009, but almost two months after a strong increase in the rate of shallow VT earthquakes. Combined, our SWS and FPS results show the earliest-, and latest-known changes in seismic monitoring data, respectively, and are suggestive of a protracted period of slow magma ascent followed by a short period of rapidly increasing magma pressurization beneath the volcano. These results demonstrate the power of a combined stress-field analysis for clarifying the processes driving ambiguous seismic unrest at active volcanoes.
Hierarchical Hough transform based on pyramidal architecture

A hierarchical Hough transform (HT) based on pyramidal architecture is described, being a main component of the low-to-medium spatial vision subsystem for a mobile robot. The sequence of processing in the system originally conceived to be essential to the extraction of line features in indoor scenes consisted of: histogram equalization, smoothing with the use of a medial filter, edge detection using the Sobel edge detectors, binarization to extract the edges detected, labeling, rebinarization and thinning to refine the edges to thin lines, and line extraction using a hierarchical approach to the HT method. The task was to establish the importance of each step for the success of the hierarchical HT. It was implemented on a 386-based personal computer with 640 K memory and proved to give results of high quality as compared with the standard HT implementation. >
A demonstration of the RADAR personal assistant

Email clients were not designed to serve as a task management tools, but a high volume of task-relevant information in email leads many people to use email clients for this purpose. Such usage aggravates a user's experience of email overload and reduces productivity. Prior research systems have sought to address this problem by experimentally adding task management capabilities to email client software. RADAR (Reflective Agents with Distributed Adaptive Reasoning) takes a different approach in which a software agent acts like a trusted human assistant. Many RADAR components employ machine learning to improve their performance. Human participant studies showed a clear impact of learning on useI peIformance metrics.
Combing and Bending of Carbon Nanotube Arrays with Confined Microfluidic Flow on Patterned Surfaces

Ordered arrays of carbon nanotubes in bent and straight states were prepared using “wet” deposition of nanotube solutions on a patterned surface. This approach provided a means for the formation of highly oriented and textured nanotube arrays of different types. Moreover, under certain conditions, nanotube loops of different shapes were formed on amine-terminated silicon surface stripes. Atomic force microscopy observations indicated that the majority of the deposited nanotubes (up to 90%) are uniformly oriented and up to 40% of aligned nanotubes are folded into different nanoscale shapes (open and closed loops with 200−300 nm radius of curvature). We suggested that the dewetting of the SAM-confined liquid film was responsible for the alignment of carbon nanotubes and for the formation of the looped nanotubes. The instability of a receding contact line caused water microdroplets behind the dewetting film, which could serve as nuclei for nanotube trapping. The nanotubes pinned to the functionalized surface...
Time use patterns, lifestyles, and sustainability of nonwork travel behavior

This article adds to the limited literature on lifestyles and travel behavior by examining the relationship between nonwork travel and five lifestyle orientations: passive leisure, socializing, family, recreation, and community. Using data from the 2003 American Time Use Survey, we estimate negative binomial models of trip frequency and Tobit models of travel time. Family-oriented lifestyle is found to have the strongest auto dependence while recreation-oriented lifestyle has the weakest. The results indicate that the uphill battle for sustainability may benefit from research that targets travel related to family activities and from policies that promote recreation-oriented lifestyle.
Ensemble Pseudocodeword Weight Enumerators for Protograph-Based Generalized LDPC Codes

Recently, pseudocodewords of Tanner graphs of LDPC codes have been used to explain the behavior of iterative decoders for these codes. In this paper, finite-length pseudocodeword weight enumerators for protograph-based generalized-LDPC code ensembles are obtained. Then asymptotic results are derived from the finite-length results by letting the block length go to infinity. The asymptotic results allow us to determine whether or not the typical minimum pseudocodeword weight grows linearly with codeword length. We give examples with Hamming component codes.
Influence of Caloric Restriction on Motor Behavior, Longevity, and Brain Lipid Composition in Sandhoff Disease Mice

Caloric restriction (CR), which improves health and increases longevity, was studied as a therapy in a hexosaminidase b knockout mouse model of Sandhoff disease (SD), an incurable neurodegenerative disease involving accumulation of brain ganglioside GM2 and asialo-GM2 (GA2). Adult mice were fed a rodent chow diet either ad libitum (AL) or restricted to reduce body weight by 15–18% (CR). Although GM2 and GA2 were elevated, no significant differences were seen between the Hexb–/– and the Hexbþ/– mice for most brain phospholipids and cholesterol. Cerebrosides and sulfatides were reduced in the Hexb–/– mice. In addition, rotorod performance was significantly worse in the Hexb–/– mice than in the Hexbþ/– mice. CR, which decreased circulating glucose and elevated ketone bodies, significantly improved rotorod performance and extended longevity in the Hexb–/– mice but had no significant effect on brain lipid composition or on cytoplasmic neuronal vacuoles. The expression of CD68 and F4/80 was significantly less in the CR-fed than in the AL-fed Hexb–/– mice. We suggest that the CR delays disease progression in SD and possibly in other ganglioside storage diseases through anti-inflammatory mechanisms. V C 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of serum cytokine release in response to hand-assisted, laparoscopic, and open surgery in a porcine model.

Abstract Background Although the immunologic benefits of laparoscopic surgery have been established, effects from hand-assisted (HA) surgery have not been investigated thoroughly. We hypothesized that the HA approach maintains the immunologic advantage of laparoscopic surgery compared with the open (O) approach. Methods Six O, HA, and laparoscopic (L) transabdominal left nephrectomies were performed on pigs. Blood samples were taken preoperatively, perioperatively, and postoperatively, and serum interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels were measured. Results At 24 hours after surgery, interleukin-6 levels were significantly higher in the O group vs the HA and L groups (82.2 vs 37.5 and 29.9 pg/mL, respectively; P Conclusions The HA approach mimics the immunologic effects of laparoscopic surgery. These data suggest that the HA technique resulted in a reduced systemic immune activation in the early perioperative period when compared with open surgery. In addition to clinical benefits of minimal access, the HA approach also may afford patients an immunologic advantage over laparotomy.
Cybergirls: Negotiating Social Identities on Cybersites

Cyberspace has been regarded as an ideal site for adolescents' identity exploration since it is socially mediated. Liberal cyberfeminists argue that virtual spaces promote gender equality, fluidity, and unity through body-free interactions. This study investigated the cybersites frequented by two adolescent girls who eschewed typical representations of gender in their online and offline worlds. The purpose of the study was to describe how these young women constructed and consumed dynamic websites in their formations and representations of their identities as 'Do-It-Yourselfers' and punk rock fans. In situ observations, online interviews, and screen printouts were collected and analysed to describe how these textual creations in cyberspace facilitated or impeded identity construction. The cases illustrate how these adolescent girls made use of websites for affirmation, reflection, reinforcement, and negotiation in the process of staking claims about their selves, and demonstrate how the online environment may provide safe spaces for girls that are not found offline.
Homology of the Gene Coding for Outer Membrane Lipoprotein Within Various Gram-Negative Bacteria

The mRNA for a major outer membrane lipoprotein from Escherichia coli was found to hybridize specifically with one of the Eco RI and one of the Hin dIII restriction endonuclease-generated fragments of total DNA from nine bacteria in the family Enterobacteriaceae: E. coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhimurium, Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella aerogenes, Enterobacter aerogenes, Edwardsiella tarda, Serratia marcescens , and Erwinia amylovora . However, among the Enterobacteriaceae , DNA from two species of Proteus ( P. mirabilis and P. morganii ) did not contain any restriction endonuclease fragments that hybridized with the E. coli lipoprotein mRNA. Furthermore, no hybrid bands were detected in four other gram-negative bacteria outside the family Enterobacteriaceae: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter sp. HO1-N, Caulobacter crescentus , and Myxococcus xanthus . Envelope fractions from all bacteria in the family Enterobacteriaceae tested above cross-reacted with antiserum against the purified E. coli free-form lipoprotein in the Ouchterlony immunodiffusion test. Both species of Proteus , however, gave considerably weaker precipitation lines, in comparison with the intense lines produced by the other members of the family. All of the above four bacteria outside the family Enterobacteriaceae did not cross-react with anti- E. coli lipoprotein serum. From these results, the rate of evolutionary changes in the lipoprotein gene seems to be closely related to that observed for various soluble enzymes of the Enterobacteriaceae . Images
The Case for Outpatient Coronary Intervention Balancing Charges and Discharges

Over the past 30 years, dramatic improvements have been achieved in the safety of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures, despite the increasing complexity of clinical and anatomic conditions treated. The need for emergent bypass surgery has declined from 8% in 1990 to far less than 1% in the current era, and the rate of vascular complications has declined dramatically as techniques have improved and procedural experience has increased. Given the remarkable current periprocedural safety profile of elective coronary intervention, has the time come for us to consider whether outpatient PCI can be safely performed? In this issue of Circulation , investigators from the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam investigated this question as part of the Elective PCI in Outpatient Study (EPOS).1 Article p 2299 The study by Heyde and colleagues randomly assigned 800 consecutive, elective, outpatient, planned PCI patients to a strategy of either same-day discharge or routine care that included an overnight observation in the hospital. The patients and providers were blinded to the assignment until after evaluation according to predefined criteria for those patients who required additional observation or treatment. All patients eligible for same-day discharge, regardless of assignment, were then strictly observed for 4 hours and then underwent a rigorous triage evaluation to determine if same-day discharge would be appropriate. At that time, those patients who were randomized to the same-day discharge group were discharged, whereas the patients randomized to the overnight hospitalization group were kept in-hospital for observation. The investigators found that 20% of patients in both disposition arms developed one of the predefined exclusions for same-day discharge. Of the ≈80% of patients suitable for same-day discharge, none suffered a cardiac event within 24 hours after PCI, and only 3 patients suffered a vascular complication, with no differences observed in the 2 …
Effect of drought on biomass allocation in two invasive and two native grass species dominating the mixed-grass prairie.

Control of exotic plant species invading the native prairie relies on our understanding of the eco-physiological mechanisms responsible for the spread of these species as they compete with native plants for soil resources. We used a greenhouse pot experiment to study vegetative biomass allocation in response to drought stress in two exotic grass species, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss), and two native species, western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Love) and green needlegrass (Stipa viridula Trin.). The experiment was conducted over 3 months in 2010 and again in 2011 in a factorial design of four species and two drought treatments. The proportional data of biomass allocation to shoots, roots, rhizomes and crowns (shoot base) of grass seedlings were analysed by both the nonparametric Mann–Whitney U-test on the original data and one-way anova on the arcsine-transformed data. Our data suggest a clear distinction between the two invasive and two native species in potential competitiveness in soil resource use, with the two exotic species having higher biomass allocation to roots than the two native species and the native species having a higher biomass allocation to crowns than the two exotic species. It is interesting to note that the strongly rhizomatous smooth brome did not produce rhizomes in the first season's growth, regardless of the water stress level. The effect of drought stress on biomass allocation manifested itself more on rhizomes or crowns than on roots or shoots of the four studied grass species, with the effects species-specific in nature.
Island growth of Y2BaCuO5 nanoparticles in (211∼1.5 nm/123∼10 nm)×N composite multilayer structures to enhance flux pinning of YBa2Cu3O7−δ films

A controlled introduction of second-phase Y2BaCuO5 (211) nanoparticles into YBa2Cu3O7−δ (123) thin films was achieved for the first time for the purpose of increasing flux pinning. The island-growth mode of 211 on 123 was utilized to obtain an area particle density >1011 cm-2 of 211 thick-disk-shaped nanoparticles in individual layers. Composite layered structures of (211y nanoparticles/123z)×N were deposited by pulsed laser deposition on LaAlO3 substrates, with N bilayers = 24 to 100, y thickness = 1 to 2 nm, and z thickness = 6 to 15 nm (assuming continuous layer coverage). With 211 addition, the critical current densities at 77 K were higher at magnetic fields as low as 0.1 T and increased as much as approximately 300% at 1.5 T. The superconducting transition temperature was reduced by approximately 2 to 4 K for 211 volume fraction <20%. Reinitiation of 123 growth after every 211 layer resulted in a smooth and flat surface finish on the films and also greatly reduced surface particulate formation especially in thicker films (∼ μm).
Petrogenesis and Geodynamic Significance of Ultramafic Inclusions and Basanite from Southern Syria

Seventeen upper-mantle ultramafic xenoliths from the Lower Quaternary Tal Khodr Imtan cinder cone in southern Syria have revealed a dominant protogranular texture of nine spinel lherzolites, two spinel harzburgites, four spinel dunites, one spinel olivine websterite, and one spinel clinopyroxenite. The lherzolites, harzburgites, and dunites contain Cr-diopside and brown-red picotite, with a basanitic host rock; the websterite and clinopyroxenite contain Ti-Al-augite and Cr-hercynite. A lherzolite to dunite depletion trend is shown in the abundance of intermediate- and lightrare-earth elements (IREE and LREE) and from analytical data of dunitic olivine, with Ca, Al, Fe, Cr, and Si being the most depleted elements. The depletion probably resulted from successive partial melting. The scoriaceous basanite shows enrichments in REE and trace elements from a plume; the basanitic coating (around ultramafic xenoliths) increases in Mg/Mg+Fe+2 and concentrations of Al2O3, TiO2, and Na2O by contamination from peridot...
Performance Metrics: Key to Success in Global Supply Chain Management

ABSTRACT The globalization of business has created new challenges for supply chain management. Many multinational companies have formed partnerships with, and depend on, the cooperation of firms halfway around the world. Managing, controlling, and measuring the performance of global supply chains is growing in complexity, but also in its importance, in order for companies to make a success of their cross-border partnerships. This paper discusses the particular challenges of global supply chain management, the complexity of decisions regarding the location of new facilities, and new information system technologies which facilitate global supply chain management. The paper also presents real-world examples of the successful use of performance metrics to monitor global supply chains and discusses ongoing challenges of global supply chains.
Research affects public policy: the case of the legal drinking age in the United States

After receiving little attention from 1940 to 1970, minimum-age laws were a focus of debate and policy change in the United States from 1970 to 1985. In the 1970s, 29 states lowered the legal age, and in the late 1970s and early 1980s, all states with an age below 21 raised the legal age to 21 for all types of alcoholic beverages. Research on the effects of such policy changes were a central component in the political debates on minimum-age laws. The process by which research results influenced public policy deliberations is discussed. Characteristics that facilitated research results being taken into account in the policy debates included: (1) research of high interval validity that withstood challenge, (2) dissemination of the research results beyond networks of scientists, and (3) participation of bridging individuals who learned of the research results, and condensed and communicated key findings to policy-makers.
Specification of cell fate in the mammalian cochlea

Mammalian auditory sensation is mediated by the organ of Corti, a specialized sensory epithelium found in the cochlea of the inner ear. Proper auditory function requires that the many different cell types found in the sensory epithelium be precisely ordered within an exquisitely patterned cellular mosaic. The development of this mosaic depends on a series of cell fate decisions that transform the initially nearly uniform cochlear epithelium into the complex structure of the mature organ of Corti. The prosensory domain, which contains the progenitors of both the mechanosensory hair cells and their associated supporting cells, first becomes distinct from both the neural and the nonsensory domains. Further cell fate decisions subdivide prosensory cells into populations of inner and outer hair cells, and several different types of supporting cells. A number of different signaling pathways and transcription factors are known to be necessary for these developmental processes; in this review, we will summarize these results with an emphasis on recent findings.
Metropolitan road traffic simulation on FPGAs

This work demonstrates that road traffic simulation of entire metropolitan areas is possible with reconfigurable supercomputing that combines 64-bit microprocessors and FPGAs in a high bandwidth, low latency interconnect. Previously, traffic simulation on FPGAs was limited to very-short road segments or required a very large number of FPGAs. Our data streaming approach overcomes scaling issues associated with direct implementations and still allows for high-level parallelism by dividing the data sets between hardware and software across the reconfigurable supercomputer. Using one FPGA on the Cray XD1 supercomputer, we are able to achieve a 34.4/spl times/ speed up over the AMD microprocessor. System integration issues must be optimized to exploit this speedup in the overall simulation.
Moving beyond dichotomies in research on oral contraceptives: A comment on Edwards and O'Neal

In an impressive series of studies, Edwards and O'Neal (this issue) present evidence that argues strongly in favor of including women on oral contraceptives (OC) when measuring the effects of competition on salivary testosterone (T). Compared to non-users, Edwards and O'Neal find that OC users showed the same increase in T after competition as non-users, despite the fact that OC users had much lower levels of salivary T before and after the competition (presumably due to OC's inhibition of FSH and LH). These findings have important design consequences.
Caenorhabditis elegans TBX-2 Directly Regulates Its Own Expression in a Negative Autoregulatory Loop

T-box genes often exhibit dynamic expression patterns, and their expression levels can be crucial for normal function. Despite the importance of these genes, there is little known about T-box gene regulation. We have focused on the Caenorhabditis elegans gene tbx-2 to understand how T-box gene expression is regulated, and here we demonstrate TBX-2 itself directly represses its own expression in a negative autoregulatory loop. tbx-2 is essential for normal pharyngeal muscle development, and a tbx-2 promoter gfp fusion (Ptbx-2::gfp) is transiently expressed in the pharynx during embryogenesis and in a small number of head neurons in larvae and adults. Reduced tbx-2 function resulted in ectopic Ptbx-2::gfp expression in the seam cells and gut in larvae and adults. Mutation of potential T-box binding sites within the tbx-2 promoter resulted in a similar pattern of ectopic Ptbx-2::gfp expression, and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses show TBX-2 binds these sites in vivo. This pattern of ectopic Ptbx-2::gfp expression in tbx-2 mutants was very similar to that observed in mutants affecting the NF-Y complex, and our results comparing tbx-2 and nfyb-1 single- and double mutants suggest TBX-2 and NF-Y function in a single pathway to repress the tbx-2 promoter. The tbx-2 promoter is the first direct target identified for TBX-2, and we used it to ask whether SUMOylation is essential for TBX-2 repression. RNAi knockdown of SUMOylation pathway components led to ectopic Ptbx-2::gfp expression in the seam cells and gut. Ectopic Ptbx-2::gfp also was observed in the syncytial hypodermis, suggesting either the tbx-2 promoter is repressed by other SUMOylation dependent mechanisms, or that decreased SUMOylation leads to stable changes in seam cell nuclei as they fuse with the syncytial hypodermis. We suggest negative autoregulation is an important mechanism that allows precise control of tbx-2 expression levels and may allow rapid changes in gene expression during development.
What is the Optimal Channel Density for Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization

Abstract Background Transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR) has demonstrated reproducible relief of angina in patients with end-stage coronary disease. However, the optimum dose or channel density has not been elucidated. Methods Using a porcine model of chronic myocardial ischemia, 14 animals were treated with CO 2 TMR and randomized as follows: group 1 was 1 channel per 2 cm 2 ; group 2 was 1 channel per 1 cm 2 ; and group 3 was 2 channels per 1 cm 2 . Left ventricular myocardial viability and function were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiography pretreatment, and repeated 6 weeks later. Results The MRI assessment of group 1 (1 channel/2 cm 2 ) and group 2 (1 channel/cm 2 ) demonstrated similar improvement in segmental contractility posttreatment of 12.11% ± 5.15% and 12.47% ± 9.51%, respectively. In contrast, group 3 (2 channels/cm 2 ) showed significantly worse segmental contractility posttreatment: −18.52% ± 7.16% ( p = 0.01). Echocardiographic imaging revealed significant improvements in wall thickening in the ischemic zone for group 1 at 0.91 ± 0.07 cm pretreatment versus 1.30 ± 0.09 cm posttreatment, ( p = 0.01); and for group 2 at 0.93 ± 0.11 cm versus 1.42 ± 0.18 cm, ( p = 0.01). No significant improvement in wall thickening was seen in group 3 (0.84 ± 0.06 cm versus 0.88 ± 0.09 cm, p = n.s.). Conclusions These data corroborate the empiric finding of an effective therapeutic dose range for TMR, 1 channel per 1 to 2 cm 2 . These results also demonstrate a detrimental effect when channel density is increased above the clinical standard of 1 channel per cm 2 to a density of 2 channels per 1 cm 2 .
Biogenesis of the Fraction 1 Capsule and Analysis of the Ultrastructure of Yersinia pestis

Analysis of a Yersinia pestis Δcaf1A mutant demonstrated that the Caf1A usher is required for the assembly and secretion of the fraction 1 capsule. The capsule assembled into thin fibrils and denser aggregates on the bacterial surface. Pilus-like fibers were also detected on the surface of Y. pestis. The capsule occasionally coated these fibers, suggesting how the capsule may cloak surface features to prevent host recognition.
Hard and Soft Closes: A Field Experiment on Auction Closing Rules

Late bidding in online auctions has attracted substantial theoretical and empirical attention. This paper reports the results of a controlled field experiment on late bidding behavior. Pairs of $50 gift certificates were auctioned simultaneously on Yahoo! Auctions, using a randomized paired comparison design. Yahoo? site allows sellers to specify whether they wish to use a hard or soft close, and this enabled us to run one auction in each pair with a soft close, and the other with a hard close. An advantage to our randomized paired design is that differences in numbers of bidders, numbers of simultaneously occurring auctions and other sources of noise in bidding behavior are substantially controlled when drawing inferences with respect to treatment effects. We find that auctions with soft-closes yield economically and statistically significantly higher mean seller revenue than hard-close auctions, and that the difference is due to those cases where the soft-close auction is extended.
Performance of a breadboard lidar receiver at 1570 nm for remotely sensing atmospheric CO/sub 2/ concentration

Summary form only given. We are developing a differential absorption lidar technique to remotely measure the atmosphere CO/sub 2/ concentration from aircraft. It uses two alternating multi-kilohertz pulsed lasers, one "on-line" at a CO/sub 2/ absorption wavelength about 1570 nm and one "off-line" at a nearby wavelength. The two lasers are co-aligned and pointed at the ground. The receiver detects the ground echoes from both lasers and measure the ratio of the echo pulses energies to determine the absorption due to the CO/sub 2/ in the column along the optical path. The goal is to achieve a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of 500 to 1000 in each measurement after averaging over a few tens of seconds for detecting CO/sub 2/ concentration to a few parts per million.
Reference architecture, metamodel, and modeling principles for architectural knowledge management in information technology services

Capturing and sharing design knowledge such as architectural decisions is becoming increasingly important in firms providing professional Information Technology (IT) services such as enterprise application development and strategic outsourcing. Methods, models, and tools supporting explicit knowledge management strategies have been proposed in recent years; however, several challenges remain unaddressed. In this paper, we extend our previous work to overcome these challenges and to satisfy the requirements of an additional user group, presales architects that are responsible for IT service solution proposals. In strategic outsourcing, such solution proposals require complex, contractually relevant design decisions concerning many different resources such as IT infrastructures, people, and real estate. To support both presales and project architects, we define a common reference architecture and a decision process-oriented metamodel. We also present a tool implementation of these concepts and discuss their application to outsourcing proposals and application development projects. Finally, we establish twelve decision modeling principles and practices that capture the practical experience gained and lessons learned during the application of our decision modeling concepts to both proposal development and architecture design work on projects.
Assessment of Coronary Stenosis Severity and Transmural Perfusion Gradient by Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography Comparison of Gray-Scale B-Mode With Power Doppler Imaging

Background—The present study (1) compared the ability of power Doppler imaging with that of gray-scale B-mode tissue imaging to opacify the myocardium and detect coronary stenosis by myocardial contrast echocardiography and (2) compared the response of video intensity (VI) to variable pulsing intervals for each modality. Methods and Results—Four grades of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) stenoses were created in 9 open-chest dogs. Stenoses reduced resting LAD flow by 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of baseline by flow probe. Myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed during varying ECG gated pulsing intervals (PIs) from 1:1 to 1:10. By gray-scale imaging, background-subtracted LAD bed VI was less than baseline VI at all PIs for the 100% reduced-flow state but not for any other flow state or interval. By power Doppler imaging, LAD bed VI was less than baseline VI at all intervals for 75% and 100% reduced-flow states but only 1:1 and 1:2 for 25% and 50% reduced-flow states, respectively. Corre...
Use and misuse of the MMPI in multiple sclerosis.

A corrected profile for multiple-sclerosis-related symptoms was developed for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). 64 multiple sclerosis (definite) patients' original and multiple sclerosis-corrected MMPI profiles were compared. Scale 1 (Hypochondriasis), Scale 3 (Hysteria), and Scale 8 (Schizophrenia) were significantly lowered when items relating to multiple-sclerosis symptomatology were deleted. The multiple sclerosis-corrected profile improved Shaw-Matthew's Pseudoneurological Scale's effectiveness in differentiating multiple sclerosis patients from pseudoneurotic patients. The need for symptom-correction scores for other neurological disorders is emphasized.
Application of the Materials-by-Design Methodology to Redesign a New Grade of the High-Strength Low-Alloy Class of Steels with Improved Mechanical Properties and Processability

An alternative to the traditional trial-and-error empirical approach for the development of new materials is the so-called materials-by-design approach. Within the latter approach, a material is treated as a complex system and its design and optimization is carried out by employing computer-aided engineering analyses, predictive tools, and available material databases. In the present work, the materials-by-design approach is utilized to redesign a grade of high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) class of steels with improved mechanical properties (primarily strength and fracture toughness), processability (e.g., castability, hot formability, and weldability), and corrosion resistance. Toward that end, a number of material thermodynamics, kinetics of phase transformations, and physics of deformation and fracture computational models and databases have been developed/assembled and utilized within a multi-disciplinary, two-level material-by-design optimization scheme. To validate the models, their prediction is compared against the experimental results for the related steel HSLA100. Then the optimization procedure is employed to determine the optimal chemical composition and the tempering schedule for a newly designed grade of the HSLA class of steels with enhanced mechanical properties, processability, and corrosion resistance.
23andMe: The Business and Ethics of Personal Genetics Testing

This case study is written to teach about genetic testing, privacy, and the future of applied genomic research. The case is especially useful for instructors in healthcare policy, healthcare politics, and NIH-mandated courses in the responsible conduct of research (RCR).In November 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stopped 23andMe, a personal genetic testing company, from continuing to provide customers with disease risk information. The case describes the company’s background and operations as a provider of direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing for genetically linked diseases, behavioral traits, and familial lineage, with a focus throughout on issues of health policy and medical ethics. Several significant ethical and health policy issues are raised by the case. First, the ownership of genetic information is presently up in the air, with disputes over patents on gene sequences and questions about the degree of control that individuals can exercise over biological materials removed from their bodies. Second, is it the responsibility of the government (namely the FDA) to protect consumers from possibly misleading health information, or does such protection prevent people from learning useful probabilities and making behavioral adjustments that improve their health? Third, the case is structured to enable discussion of patient rights, specifically whether there is a right to not learn of disease predispositions.
Simultaneous high-speed and long-range imaging with optically subsampled OCT (Conference Presentation)

Current implementations of OCT can either image over long depth ranges with slower imaging speeds, or at high imaging speeds with more limited depth ranges. The simultaneous operation at multi-centimeter depth ranges and MHz-scale A-line rates is challenging due to limitations in the electronic bandwidths of current digitizers and data transfer buses. The lack of multi-cm depth range, MHz-speed OCT hinders the translation of the imaging technology to sites and organs with complex geometries and expansive fields. Here we describe a first demonstration of a simultaneous cm-scale depth range and MHz-scale A-line rate OCT platform. We describe the principles behind data compression by optically subsampled OCT, the development and performance of a novel subsampled OCT wavelength stepped source operating at 19 MHz A-line rates, the extension of passive quadrature demodulation architectures to GHz-scale acquisition bandwidths, and the first ever integration of these technologies into a subsampled OCT system capable of acquiring volume data at video-rates across multi-cm depth ranges. We use this platform to demonstrate depth resolved measurements over large fields that exhibit complex topography such as the face. The performance, limitations, and the next stages of technical development for this optically subsampled OCT platform are summarized. This platform may open new opportunities for camera-like OCT deployments in sites and organs that are inaccessible to current OCT technologies.
An Overview of Demonstration and Extension of Pioneer Super Hybrid Rice Liangyou Peijiu

The demonstration and extension of Liangyou Peijiu (Pei′ai 64S/9311), a pioneer super hybrid rice combination which was developed in 1996 and started to be experimentalized and demonstrated nationwide in 1998, was summarized, the planting performance of this combination in various ecological areas was related and the reasons for rapid extension of Liangyou Peijiu in China were analyzed.
NF-κB-Disease and Traditional Chinese Medicines Intervention

Nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB) is a huge transcription factor family which participates the regulation of a battery of inflammatory genes.The over activation of NF-κB is intimately involved in many human diseases such as atherosclerosis、arthritis、asthma and malignant tumor and so on.This article reviewed the activation mechanisms of NF-κB including both classical pathway and alternative pathway.We also introduced the key role of NF-κB among the diseases mentioned above.We emphasized the importance of Chinese traditional medicine in regulation of several molecular targets of NF-κB pathway.Special attention was made on the newest researches of atherosclerosis and the influence of TCM on altered NF-κB pathway was discussed.
A 2.0–5.5 GHz Wide Bandwidth Ring-Based Digital Fractional-N PLL With Extended Range Multi-Modulus Divider

Phase noise performance of ring oscillator based digital fractional-N phase-locked loops (FNPLLs) is severely compromised by conflicting bandwidth requirements to simultaneously suppress oscillator phase and quantization noise introduced by the time-to-digital converter (TDC), $\Delta \Sigma $ fractional divider, and digital-to-analog converter (DAC). As a consequence, their figure-of-merit (FoMJ) that quantifies the power–jitter tradeoff is at least 25 dB worse than their LC-oscillator-based FNPLL counterparts. This paper seeks to close this performance gap by extending PLL bandwidth (BW) using quantization noise cancellation techniques and by employing a dual-path digital loop filter to suppress the detrimental impact of DAC quantization noise. Fabricated in 65 nm CMOS process, the proposed FNPLL operates over a wide frequency range of 2.0–5.5 GHz using a modified extended range multi-modulus divider with seamless switching. The proposed digital FNPLL achieves 1.9 psrms integrated jitter while consuming only 4 mW at 5 GHz output. The measured in-band phase noise is better than −96 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset. The proposed FNPLL achieves wide BW up to 6 MHz using a 50 MHz reference and its FoMJ is −228.5 dB, which is the best among all reported ring-based FNPLLs.
Ubiquitous Real-World Sensing and Audiology-Based Health Informatics.

Background Hearing impairment and hearing rehabilitation strategies have historically been studied within the confines of a sound booth under controlled experimental conditions. The real world is quite different from the clinical setting and it is important to study how a person with hearing impairment interacts with the world both with and without a hearing assist intervention. A person's ability to hear enables them to communicate and to effectively interact with the world. If a person suffers from hearing impairment, we might anticipate that they could become more disengaged from the world, more socially isolated, potentially depressed, and have additional comorbidities such as cognitive and physical impairment. Indeed, prior research has shown that hearing impairment is associated with social isolation, decreased functional ability and mobility, fall risk, diabetes, and cognitive impairment. However, nearly all of the work that has been done in this area of assessing the impact of hearing impairment on a person's social, cognitive, and physical health has been done through clinical tests or self-report studies using questionnaires and surveys that attempt to objectively quantify various aspects of health. Unfortunately, clinical tests, questionnaires, and surveys oftentimes inaccurately assess a person's true social, cognitive, and physical health. Only when a person is observed in their natural living environment can a more accurate assessment of health be obtained. The ability to assess hearing health, social engagement, cognitive, and physical health in natural living environments is becoming possible with the advent of ubiquitous sensing capabilities. Purpose Here we discuss some of the work that has been done by our group and others that may be of use to the field of audiology e-health. The purpose of this article is not to present new experimental data, but rather to describe a new method of using advanced in-home sensing techniques to better understand how hearing diagnostics, interventions, and rehabilitation influence the lives and behaviors of patients.
Antimicrobial Peptide Impacts the Lateral Diffusion and Bending Rigidity of Phospholipid Membrane

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are the first line of defense system against foreign microorganisms. They are well known for their strong interaction with the cell membrane of pathogens. Quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) and Neutron spin echo (NSE) measurements have been carried out on 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) membrane to understand the effect of melittin, an important AMP on the dynamical and mechanical behavior of membrane. Even at low concentration (0.2 mol%), the addition of melittin is found to influence the membrane dynamics significantly in a different way, depending on the phase of the lipid bilayers. In the gel phase, it acts as a plasticizer, enhancing the lateral motion of DMPC. However, in the fluid phase, it acts as a stiffening agent, hindering the lateral motion of the lipid molecules. Various interesting results on the impact of melittin on the phase behavior and lateral diffusion of the membrane will be discussed here. Their importance originate from the fact that many cellular functions, including cell signaling, membrane trafficking, and cell recognition are controlled to a great extent by the lateral diffusion of lipids in the membrane. NSE measurements indicate that incorporation of melittin modify the bending rigidity of the membrane, which is found to decrease with the concentration of melittin. Cholesterol is a vital component of erythrocyte membranes, which is a natural target for melittin. To understand the role of cholesterol, both QENS and NSE experiments have also been carried out on cholesterol-supplemented DMPC membrane in the absence and presence of melittin. Our measurements show that the destabilizing effect of melittin on the membranes can be mitigated by the presence of cholesterol. This study might provide new insights into the mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides and their selective toxicity towards foreign microorganisms.
On the Mean Stress Correction in Fatigue Life Assessment in Cast Aluminum Alloys

Several equations provided in the literature for mean stress correction have been summarized. By using datasets for cast aluminum alloys, these equations have been reanalyzed for best fit to the data. The goodness of fit of the mean stress correction equations to data have been characterized statistically. Based on these results, best performing equations are introduced. Suggestions on how to use these equations are provided in the paper.
The Life Profitability Method (LPM): A financial approach to engineering decisions

Abstract The Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) is often used to guide engineering decisions to incorporate the costs of an asset during its entire service life in the decision making-process. However, researchers have found that decision-makers’ preferences, i.e. design choices, are often different from those suggested by the current LCC Analysis. To explain these discrepancies researches introduced human risk aversion formulations that are based on individual perceptions. This paper argues that the current LCC analyses are incomplete and they only provide a partial representation of the economic consequences valuable to decision makers. The paper proposes the Life Profitability Method (LPM), which introduces additional financial measures capable of capturing the future costs and revenues including a non-zero growth rate, insurance protection, and profitability ratios not accounted for in the LCCA. The LPM allows for optimal decisions based on more complete financial information.
Determinacy and Indeterminacy, Being and Non-Being in the Fragments of Parmenides

(1976). Determinacy and Indeterminacy, Being and Non-Being in the Fragments of Parmenides. Canadian Journal of Philosophy: Vol. 6, Supplementary Volume 2: New Essays on Plato and the Pre-Socratics, pp. 45-60.
Abstract P040: Role of 20-HETE in Elevated Blood Pressure in Hyperandrogenemic Female Rats, a Model of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive disorder in premenopausal women, is characterized by hyperandrogenemia, metabolic syndrome and inflammation. They also exhibit elevated blood pressure (BP) but may not be treated since they do not meet the criteria for hypertension (BP>130/90 mm Hg). We have characterized a female rat model of hyperandrogenemia (HAF) using dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that mimics many characteristics of women with PCOS. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that androgen-induced upregulation of the cytochrome P450 4A2 isoform (CYP4A2) and the formation of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) in renal microvasculature contributes to the elevated BP in HAF rats. Female rats of SS.5BN consomic strain (wild type) rats and CYP4A2-/- rats on this same background were implanted with DHT (7.5mg/90d) or placebo pellets (n=5-8/grp) beginning at 6 wks of age; pellets were changed every 85 d. At 14 wks of age, rats were implanted with radiotelemetry transmitters, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured for 10 days. Endogenous 20-HETE levels were measured using LC-MS in renal microvessels isolated using an Evans Blue sieving technique. DHT-treated HAF-SS.5BN rats had significantly higher MAP compared to placebo-SS.5BN (128±6 vs. 104±1 mmHg, p<0.004). In contrast, HAF-CYP4A2-/- rats had no change in MAP compared to placebo-CYP4A2-/- controls (120±4 vs 118±3 mmHg, p=NS). Endogenous 20-HETE levels in renal microvessels of HAF-SS.5BN rats were significantly increased compared to Placebo-SS.5BN (2.27±0.91 vs. 0.32±0.037 pmol/mg, p<0.01). The 20-HETE levels were lower in CYP4A2-/- than SS.5BN but DHT in HAF-CYP4A2-/- had no effect on 20-HETE levels compared to Placebo- CYP4A2-/-. These results suggest that androgen-mediated upregulation of the expression of CYP4A2 and the production of 20-HETE in renal microvessels contribute to elevated BP in HAF rats. These data also suggest that methods to attenuate 20-HETE may provide a novel therapeutic to reduce BP in women with PCOS. Work supported by NIH RO1HL66072 and PO1HL51971.