cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Islet recovery in chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis ablates a large majority of the acinar tissue which otherwise is a troublesome contaminant in preparing islet cells from higher mammals. Chronic pancreatitis was induced by dividing all pancreatic attachments to the duodenum, including major and minor ducts, in six dogs. After 10 weeks, biopsy of the pancreas showed marked acinar cell atrophy and fibrosis with preservation and even proliferation of islet cells. Intravenous glucose tolerance testing revealed only a minor decrease in K value from 3.4 +/- 1.0 to 2.1 +/- 0.4 during 10 weeks. All dogs then underwent total pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation. The pancreas was dispersed to a cell suspension by perfusing the pancreatic ducts with collagenase until tissue integrity failed. The digested tissue was then chopped, dissociated by shaking, and filtered. The average cell yield from the pancreas was 7.6 X 10(7) cells of which greater than 95% were islet cells. Acid alcohol-extracted insulin values suggested an average 7% recovery of insulin content and essentially complete elimination of amylase content was demonstrated.
A climatic database of atmospheric thermal measurements from operational environmental satellites (ATMOES)

Abstract Since the onset of TIROSS operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) processing in 1979, a primary objective has been to produce and distribute atmospheric sounding data to support numerical weather prediction forecast models. However, the concern during the 1980's for man-induced atmospheric changes has resulted in a growing public concern. A new goal to provide monitoring of the earth-atmosphere system on a climatic scale has evolved. This has resulted in a new requirement to provide operational atmospheric products conducive to monitoring the earth's climate. This new requirement cannot be satisfied immediately. A three-part plan is presented to compile and maintain an operational climatic database of Atmospheric Thermal Measurements from operational Environmental Satellites (ATMOES). The plan includes: (1) the development and implementation of operational procedures for the generation of climatic databases during NESDIS operational processing; (2) data collection and the retrospective TOVS processing of climatic databases going back to 1979; and (3) the development of analysis and graphic display capabilities.
On the Chebyshev solution of inconsistent linear equations.

A new formulation of the ascent algorithm for the Chebyshev solution of linear systems is given. This leads to two algorithms, which are similar to the ordinary simplex and the product form of inverse algorithms for the solution of linear programming problems.
Ability of nitrapyrin, dicyandiamide and acetylene to retard nitrification in a mineral and an organic soil

Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of nitrapyrin, dicyandiamide (DCD) and acetylene (C2H2) as nitrification inhibitors in a silt loam and oragnic soil with and without added NH4. Nitrapyrin (8 μg/g soil) and DCD (20 μg/g soil) were very effective in retarding nitrification of NH4−N in the silt loam soil during 14 days of aerobic incubation at 30°C. However neither nitrapyrin, (20 μg/g soil) nor DCD (20 or 100 μg/g soil) were effective in retarding NO3 production in the organic soil not amended with NH4. Dicyandiamide was moderately effective in retarding nitrification (39% inhibition) at 100 μg/g concentration but nitrapyrin at 20 μg/g rate had little effect (8% inhibition) on nitrification in the organic soil amended with NH4. In a separate experiment C2H2 was a very effective inhibitor in both soils when present in the flask atmosphere at 0.1% or 1% (v/v).
Optical anisotropy in the VUV range : experimental studies and dielectric constants of monoclinic GaTe

Normal and oblique incidence reflectances of GaTe have been measured in the 2.5 to 26 eV range using polarized synchrotron radiation. We have deduced 3 complex refractive indices, relative to 3 different crystallographic directions by means of a new method consistent with the Kramers-Kronig relations. We have verified that the electronic transitions in the 20 eV region, from the 3d Ga levels, are strongly localized near gallium atoms. Some transitions from the valence band also appear localized Mesure de la reflectance de GaTe entre 2,5 et 26 eV, sous incidence normale et oblique, a l'aide d'un rayonnement synchrotron polarise. Deduction des 3 indices de refraction complexes relatifs aux 3 directions cristallographiques par une nouvelle methode de calcul incorporant les relations de Kramers-Kronig. Forte localisation des transitions electroniques a partir des niveaux 3d de Ga, pres des atomes Ga, dans la region de 20 eV
Optical design study for NASA's spherical primary optical telescope (SPOT)

Several of NASA's future space telescopes project teams have chosen or are considering segmented primary mirrors as a part of their architecture. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) design employs a 6.5-meter conic primary mirror constructed of 18 hexagonal segments, where each hex is one of three off-axis surface profiles corresponding to its radial distance to the parent mirror axis. Other future mission concepts such as SAFIR (Single Aperture Far-Infra Red) and SUVO (Space Ultra Violet Optical telescope) are considering even larger segmented primary mirrors. The goal of the Spherical Primary Optical Telescope (SPOT) project discussed in this paper is to investigate the option of a spherical primary mirror for such future large aperture NASA missions. Ground-based telescopes such as the Hobby-Eberly have realized this design option, and the current baseline design for ESO's OWL project incorporates a 100-meter segmented spherical primary mirror. While the benefits of fabricating large numbers of identical spherical surface segments are obvious, the optical design for the telescope becomes more complex in order to correct the significant aberration resulting from a spherical primary surface. This paper briefly surveys design approaches of spherical primary telescopes. Image based performance comparisons are made, and examples are presented.
Atypical orofacial pain disorders: A study of diagnostic subtypes

Atypical facial pain is a persistent pain in the face or intraoral region that does not fit into the diagnostic criteria associated with specific orofacial pain disorders. This article presents the results of a study, which showed that in most cases of presumed atypical facial pain, there is a specific physical diagnosis or multiple diagnoses that causes the persistent pain. These difficult to diagnose disorders are reviewed with discussion of future research that is needed in this area.
Effect of acute and chronic morphine administration on brain cholinergic muscarinic receptors.

The binding of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) to various brain regions was determined in rats after acute or chronic treatment with morphine. Morphine and naloxone, in vitro, inhibited the binding of [3H]QNB to striatal membranes only at high concentrations. Thirty minutes after a single injection, morphine (5 or 40 mg/kg s.c.) did not alter the Bmax or Kd values for [3H]QNB binding to striatal receptors. The binding of [3H]QNB to membranes of different brain regions was not changed in morphine tolerant-dependent rats or rats undergoing abrupt or naloxone precipitated withdrawal. The results suggest that central cholinergic muscarinic receptors are unaffected by acute or chronic treatment with morphine, or during abstinence.
Isoflurane preconditions myocardium against infarction via activation of inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding proteins

BackgroundIsoflurane-induced myocardial protection during ischemia is mediated by adenosine triphosphate–regulated potassium (KATP) channels; however, the intracellular signal transduction cascade responsible for this process has been incompletely evaluated. The authors tested the hypothesis that is
SU-E-T-430: Modeling MLC Leaf End in 2D for Sliding Window IMRT and Arc Therapy

Purpose: To develop a 2D geometric model for MLC accounting for leaf end dose leakage for dynamic IMRT and Rapidarc therapy. Methods: Leaf-end dose leakage is one of the problems for MLC dose calculation and modeling. Dosimetric leaf gap used to model the MLC and to count for leakage in dose calculation, but may not be accurate for smaller leaf gaps. We propose another geometric modeling method to compensate for the MLC round-shape leaf ends dose leakage, and improve the accuracy of dose calculation and dose verification. A triangular function is used to geometrically model the MLC leaf end leakage in the leaf motion direction, and a step function is used in the perpendicular direction. Dose measurements with different leaf gap, different window width, and different window height were conducted, and the results were used to fit the analytical model to get the model parameters. Results: Analytical models have been obtained for stop-and-shoot and dynamic modes for MLC motion. Parameters a=0.4, lw'=5.0 mm for 6X and a=0.54, lw'=4.1 mm for 15x were obtained from the fitting process. The proposed MLC leaf end model improves the dose profile at the two ends of the sliding window opening. This improvement is especiallymore » significant for smaller sliding window openings, which are commonly used for highly modulated IMRT plans and arc therapy plans. Conclusion: This work models the MLC round leaf end shape and movement pattern for IMRT dose calculation. The theory, as well as the results in this work provides a useful tool for photon beam IMRT dose calculation and verification.« less
Double-Gyroid Network Morphology in Tapered Diblock Copolymers

We report the formation of a double-gyroid network morphology in normal-tapered poly(isoprene-b-isoprene/styrene-b-styrene) [P(I–IS–S)] and inverse-tapered poly(isoprene-b-styrene/isoprene-b-styrene) [P(I–SI–S)] diblock copolymers. Our tapered diblock copolymers with overall poly(styrene) volume fractions of 0.65 (normal-tapered) and 0.67 (inverse-tapered), and tapered regions comprising 30 vol % of the total polymer, were shown to self-assemble into the double-gyroid network morphology through a combination of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The block copolymers were synthesized by anionic polymerization, where the tapered region between the pure poly(isoprene) and poly(styrene) blocks was generated using a semibatch feed with programmed syringe pumps. The overall composition of these tapered copolymers lies within the expected network-forming region for conventional poly(isoprene-b-styrene) [P(I–S)] diblock copolymers. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) cle...
Volumetric Contraction and Methacrylate Conversion in Photo-polymerized Amorphous Calcium Phosphate/Methacrylate Composites

Because of its relatively high solubility in aqueous media and its rapid transformation to hydroxyapatite, amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) has been utilized as the filler phase of resin-based bioactive composites that have remineralization potential. The objectives of this study were to determine how various methacrylate resins and various types of ACP fillers affect acrylic vinyl conversion and polymerization shrinkage (PS). Several types of photo-crosslinkable resin systems were prepared and admixed with a mass fraction of 40% of either unhybridized, silica- or zirconia-hybridized ACP. After visible light-activated photo-polymerization ACP composites were assessed by near infrared spectroscopy for degree of vinyl conversion and by mercury dilatometry for PS. It was found for these composites that vinyl conversion was independent of filler type but strongly dependent on the type and composition of the resin phase. PS, on the other hand, showed more complex dependence both on the resin type and composition and, in some cases, on the type of ACP. In order to obtain ACP/methacrylate-based composites with maximal vinyl conversion, resin type and composition are of primary importance. However, in order to minimize volume contraction on polymerization it appears necessary to consider both the resin and filler type of these bioactive composites.
On the density of intracellular water

The density of individualArtemia cysts has been determined by sedimentation velocity measurements at unit gravity. Dried cyst (< 0.02 g H2O/g dry weight) densities,ρ s were obtained by successive sedimentation in two nonpenetrating organic solvents. This removes geometric terms from the equation relating density to sedimentation velocity. Hydrated cysts (≈ 1.68 g H2O/g dry weight) were sedimented in 0.0750 m NaCl to obtain their density (ρ c). Values ofρ s,ρ c, and their ratios were found to be independent of cyst volume; therefore, the weight fraction of water in hydrated cysts is very nearly the same in cysts of greatly different size. It can be concluded that measurement of the water content of large populations of these cysts accurately reflects the water content of individual cysts, a point which has been assumed in previous work on this system. Ifρ s does not change appreciably when dried cysts are fully hydrated then the density of their water,ρ w, can be calculated to be 1.022 g/cm3 (±0.0011 ρ). That value is significantly higher than the density of pure water and is very close to estimates ofρ w in skeletal muscle and amphibian oocytes obtained by others. However, the assumption thatρ s is independent of hydration is open to serious criticism, for all these studies. Consequently, conclusions and interpretations derived from such measurements must be considered to be tentative and uncertain.
Regional saturation studies of [3H]naloxone binding in the naive, dependent and withdrawal states.

We have examined the saturation features (Kd and Bmax) of [3H]naloxone binding in rat brain regions in cytoarchitectonically intact tissues of naive, morphine dependent and precipitated withdrawal states using quantitative film autoradiography. Sixty-one saturation experiments in 13 regions of naive rat brains yielded monophasic Eadie-Hofstee plots with a mean (±S.D.) Kdof1.87 ± 0.87 nM and a mean Bmax(±S.D.) of 101 ± 66f mol/mg. The 61 Kd values in naive rats described a normal distribution of regional binding affinities that may reflect the biological variation of a single high affinity binding site. Similar studies in the morphine dependent and precipitated withdrawal states showed no apparent changes in either the Kd of Bmax of regional [3H]naloxone binding. The possibility that in vitro preincubation of tissue sections masked potential alterations in [3H]naloxone binding was examined in competition studies of both morphine and naloxone for 2.0 nM [3H]naloxone binding to striatal sections. Preincubation had no effect on the ability of either opiate agonist or antagonist to compete for [3H]naloxone binding in the naive, morphine dependent or precipitated withdrawal states. The regional data comparing Kd and Bmax for [3H]naloxone binding in naive, morphine dependent and precipitated withdrawal states eliminated the possibility that previous efforts to demonstrate alterations in opiate binding were confounded by homogenization and/or limitations of gross dissection. Our data suggest that either potential changes in antagonist binding in dependent and withdrawal states can only be demonstrated under strict in vivo conditions or that post-binding transduction mechanisms are the sites of adaptive changes in naloxone sensitivity in the states of opiate dependence and withdrawal.
Purification and Characterization of a Recombinant Haemophilus influenzae Outer Membrane Phosphomonoesterase e (P4)

Haemophilus influenzae is a common inhabitant of the upper respiratory tract and can cause serious infections of mucosal surfaces. Results from recent studies indicate that this pathogen possesses copious amounts of surface-localized phosphomonoesterase activity mediated by the bacterial lipoprotein e (P4). While the enzyme has previously been purified to apparent homogeneity, purification of large amounts of protein has been prevented by presence of N-terminal lipid modification. Recombinant DNA technology was employed to simultaneously replace the N-terminal lipid modification signal sequence with one for protein secretion without such modification and to place expression of the protein under the control of the T7-inducible promoter. Results from this work show that high levels of phosphomonoesterase activity were achieved after IPTG induction and purified to apparent homogeneity after two chromatography steps. Consistent with loss of the N-terminal lipid modification, the recombinant enzyme was easily extracted from the bacterial membrane and partitioned within the matrix of gel filtration chromatography resin while retaining a denatured molecular weight similar to that of wild-type e (P4). Results from physicochemical characterization suggest that the recombinant protein was similar to wild-type protein in SDS-PAGE-derived molecular weight, primary structure, substrate specificity, pH optimum, and sensitivity or resistance to various inhibitors. Acquisition of sufficient amounts of recombinant P4 was a prelude for studies to elucidate the structure and function of this unusual phosphomonoesterase.
Operating Characteristics of Alternative Statistical Methods for Detecting Gene-by-Measured Environment Interaction in the Presence of Gene–Environment Correlation in Twin and Sibling Studies

It is likely that all complex behaviors and diseases result from interactions between genetic vulnerabilities and environmental factors. Accurately identifying such gene–environment interactions is of critical importance for genetic research on health and behavior. In a previous article we proposed a set of models for testing alternative relationships between a phenotype (P) and a putative moderator (M) in twin studies. These include the traditional bivariate Cholesky model, an extension of that model that allows for interactions between M and the underling influences on P, and a model in which M has a non-linear main effect on P. Here we use simulations to evaluate the type I error rates, power, and performance of the Bayesian Information Criterion under a variety of data generating mechanisms and samples sizes (n = 2,000 and n = 500 twin pairs). In testing the extension of the Cholesky model, false positive rates consistently fell short of the nominal Type I error rates ( $$ \alpha = 10,.05,.01 $$ ). With adequate sample size (n = 2,000 pairs), the correct model had the lowest BIC value in nearly all simulated datasets. With lower sample sizes, models specifying non-linear main effects were more difficult to distinguish from models containing interaction effects. In addition, we provide an illustration of our approach by examining possible interactions between birthweight and the genetic and environmental influences on child and adolescent anxiety using previously collected data. We found a significant interaction between birthweight and the genetic and environmental influences on anxiety. However, the interaction was accounted for by non-linear main effects of birthweight on anxiety, verifying that interaction effects need to be tested against alternative models.
Is VIX an investor fear gauge in BRIC equity markets

Abstract This study examines the intertemporal relationships between CBOE market volatility index (VIX) and stock market returns in Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC), and between VIX and U.S. stock market returns, to uncover if VIX serves as an investor fear gauge in BRIC and U.S. markets. We conduct the VIX-returns analysis for the 1993–2007 period. Our results suggest a strong negative contemporaneous relation between daily changes (innovations) in VIX and U.S. stock market returns. This relation is stronger when VIX is higher and more volatile. A significant negative contemporaneous relation between VIX and equity returns also exists for China and Brazil during 1993–2007 and for India during 1993–1997. Similar to the U.S. market, the immediate negative relation between the Brazilian stock returns and VIX changes is much stronger when VIX is both high and more volatile. Our results also indicate a strong asymmetric relation between innovations in VIX and daily stock market returns in U.S., Brazil, and China, suggesting that VIX is more of a gauge of investor fear than investor positive sentiment. However, the asymmetric relationship between stock market returns and VIX is much weaker when VIX is large and more volatile. These results have potential implications for portfolio diversification and for stock market and option trading timing in the equity markets of Brazil, India, and China. Overall, our results indicate that VIX is not only an investor fear gauge for the U.S. stock market but also for the equity markets of China, Brazil, and India.
GridDL: an HTTP bandwidth sharing framework

Peer-to-peer (P2P) applications have become a mainstream technology for content distribution. Yet widely used P2P applications, such as BitTorrent and Gnutella, suffer from flaws that are currently open topics of research---from the problem of freeriders to discrimination against peers with asymmetric Internet connections.This paper presents the design of Grid-DL---a software framework for studying the new P2P paradigm that focuses not on exchanging content, but on exchanging bandwidth. Grid-DL provides researchers a tool to implement any algorithm for bandwidth sharing or bandwidth trading, while imposing as few limitations as possible on the researchers. Grid-DL creates a P2P network that executes a given algorithm for bandwidth sharing. Grid-DL also provides the first P2P bandwidth sharing application that does not require a pre-existing P2P network or infrastructure other than the individual peers.
Optimal filter approach to photon-limited white light fringe detection and delay rate estimation in an optical interferometer

We review the formalism for white light fringes in Michelson interferometers. For astronomical use, these instruments are typically limited in sensitivity by photon statistics. Thus we investigate by simulation an alternate approach to fringe detection which utilizes an optimal filter approach. This is compared to a highly successful method presently used in many such systems, based on quadrature fringe amplitude. It is found that the optical filter approach yields an improved sensitivity of between 0.3 and 0.8 visual stellar magnitudes. We also consider the possibility of using such an approach to search over trial values of fringe drift rate, corresponding to linear motion of the fringe. We find that a very significant improvement in performance is possible for system that utilize searches over both delay and delay rate.
National Launch System Advanced Development - Propulsion

The propulsion area Advanced Development Program (ADP) activities of the National Launch System (NLS) are presented and an overview of recent accomplishments are discussed. The ADP is organized into five areas: propulsion, structures/materials/manufacturing, avionics/software, aerothermodynamics/recovery, and operations/subsystems. Information is given for the liquid propulsion tasks supporting the development of the Space Transportation Main Engine (STME), the liquid propulsion test facilities that support STME subsystem and component testing, and solid propulsion tasks that maintain the option to utilize strap-on solid boosters for the smaller vehicles in the NLS family.
Unique Functional Properties of Conserved Arginine Residues in the Lentivirus Lytic Peptide Domains of the C-terminal Tail of HIV-1 gp41

A previous study from our laboratory reported a preferential conservation of arginine relative to lysine in the C-terminal tail (CTT) of HIV-1 envelope (Env). Despite substantial overall sequence variation in the CTT, specific arginines are highly conserved in the lentivirus lytic peptide (LLP) motifs and are scarcely substituted by lysines, in contrast to gp120 and the ectodomain of gp41. However, to date, no explanation has been provided to explain the selective incorporation and conservation of arginines over lysines in these motifs. Herein, we address the functions in virus replication of the most conserved arginines by performing conservative mutations of arginine to lysine in the LLP1 and LLP2 motifs. The presence of lysine in place of arginine in the LLP1 motif resulted in significant impairment of Env expression and consequently virus replication kinetics, Env fusogenicity, and incorporation. By contrast, lysine exchanges in LLP2 only affected the level of Env incorporation and fusogenicity. Our findings demonstrate that the conservative lysine substitutions significantly affect Env functional properties indicating a unique functional role for the highly conserved arginines in the LLP motifs. These results provide for the first time a functional explanation to the preferred incorporation of arginine, relative to lysine, in the CTT of HIV-1 Env. We propose that these arginines may provide unique functions for Env interaction with viral or cellular cofactors that then influence overall Env functional properties.
Nuclear process heat—application to coal gasification

Abstract The high temperature gas cooled reactor has achieved peak coolant temperatures from 775 to 950°C, depending on the core design. These temperatures are sufficiently high to consider the HTR as a source of heat for several large industrial processes. In this article the application is to a coal gasification process which produces a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen as the key product. The gasifier system itself is coupled to the HTR via a catalyzed fluidized bed coal gasifier operating at 700°C and producing methane. The feed to this gasifier is a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and steam with the stoichiometry chosen to effect an overall athermal reaction so that no heat is directly transferred into the gasifier. Its hydrogen supply is generated by steam reforming the methane produced using the direct HTR heat. This indirect system has advantages in terms of its final product, indirect heat transfer and ultimately in the savings of approximately 40% of the coal which would otherwise have been assumed in an all-coal process producing the same final product.
Evaluating the prognostic significance of preoperative thrombocytosis in epithelial ovarian cancer

Objective Preoperative thrombocytosis has been implicated as a negative prognostic marker for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We assessed whether thrombocytosis is an independent risk factor for EOC recurrence and death.
Improved noninvasive diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism with optimally selected clinical and chest radiographic findings

Rationale and Objectives. The authors improved the nonivasive diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) by studying the clinical and chest radiographic findings of patients suspected of having PE and correlating those findings with the physicians' clinical impression. Methods. A stepwise linear discriminant algorithm was developed on the basis of 1,064 patients from the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED) study to select clinical and chest radiographic findings with the highest diagnostic power in patients suspected of having PE. Subsequently, a linear classifier and a nonlinear artificial neural network were developed to help diagnose PE on the basis of the reduced number of findings. Results. Both classifiers produced a statistically significant improvement (A z = 0.077 ± 0.02) in the clinical performance of the PIOPED physicians (A z = 0.72 ± 0.02). Results are also presented separately for groups of patients classified on the basis of the difficulty level of their ventilation-perfusion lung scans. Conclusion. Two computer-aided diagnostic tools were developed to assist physicians in the assessment of the pretest likelihood of PE by using an optimally reduced number of findings.
Vendor capabilities and outsourcing success: A resource-based view

Outsourcing is a generally accepted method for fulfilling an organization’s information systems (IS) needs. A prominent motive for outsourcing is a desire to increase the organization’s access to high-quality information technology and expertise. There is, however, little research that examines the connection between vendor capabilities and customer satisfaction. This paper addresses that gap by using the resource-based view of the firm to investigate linkages between vendor capabilities, IS quality, and customer satisfaction.
Gravitational and Related Constants

IN an earlier communication1 some simple relationships between the fundamental constants e, h, c, G and α were proposed, where G is the usual gravitational constant and α the ratio of proton mass to electron mass. It is now possible to simplify and extend slightly the treatment used previously and to justify to a considerable extent the results then obtained; α will, however, now be taken as the ratio of the mass of the hydrogen atom to that of the electron.
The effect of pancuronium bromide on plasma norepinephrine and cortisol concentrations during thiamylal induction

Effects of pancuronium on free norepinephrine and cortisol concentrations in plasma were investigated in eight elective surgical patients. A dose of 0.09 mg/kg of pancuronium was administered intravenously following thiamylal induction during nitrous oxide-oxygen inhalation and prior to intubation and surgical preparation. No hypoxic or hypercarbic episodes were demonstrated by arterial blood gas studies.
The long range DIII-D plan

The mission of the DIII-D tokamak research program is to provide data needed by ITER and to develop a conceptual physics blueprint for a commercially attractive electrical demonstration plant (DEMO) that would open a path to fusion power commercialization. The National Energy Strategy calls for the development of magnetic fusion as an energy option with operation of a DEMO by 2025. The DEMO will be based on nuclear technology demonstrated in ITER and the physics and engineering database established in magnetic fusion facilities during the next two decades. On the present path, based on extrapolation of current conventional operating modes, ITER is twice as large as Joint European Tokamak (JET), and DEMO, using the same logic, will be even larger. However, successful development of advanced tokamak operating modes could open the way for significantly improved confinement and stability, leading to a smaller, more commercially attractive DEMO, provided new diverter concepts are developed to handle the accompanying high divertor power density. A smaller and lower cost DEMO opens up the possibility that multiple nations, utilities, and industries could build DEMOs simultaneously and, therefore, more rapidly optimize the tokamak for commercialization. Results from experiments at DIII-D and other tokamaks indicate that plasmamore » and divertor performance can be increased transiently beyond the baseline conceptual design of ITER. A simultaneous long pulse demonstration of such improved tokamak plasma and divertor operation for steady state would establish an advanced physics foundation for the tokamak physics experiment program, provide new operating options for ITER, and open a path to an attractive DEMO. The planned DIII-D program incorporates new theory and technology developments to extend the tokamak experimental physics database toward steady state. This research program will also continue to provide increased understanding in many areas of fusion science and technology.« less
Acousto-optic tunable filter-based spectropolarimetric imagers for biomedical applications

Optical imagers that can detect both spectral and polarization signatures are needed in biomedical applications. Acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) based imagers are described that are ideally suited to provide both agile spectral and polarization signatures.
Transport of calcium across caco-2 cells in the presence of inositol hexakisphosphate

Abstract The Caco-2 enterocyte cell model was used to determine whether low concentrations of inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP 6 , phytate) may enhance calcium absorption, as was recently reported for several nonintestinal types of mammalian cells. Three-week-old Caco-2 cell layers grown in tissue culture plates with or without cell culture inserts were incubated with [ 45 Ca]Cl 2 to examine calcium transport or uptake, respectively. No increases in calcium uptake were observed in the presence of micromolar levels of InsP 6 , whereas millimolar levels of InsP 6 gave incongruous results depending on the calcium concentration. The fractional apical-to-basolateral calcium transport was significantly inhibited ( P 6 levels of 100 μ mol/L and above, but the total molar amount of calcium transported still increased with increasing concentrations of calcium. It was concluded that InsP 6 cannot enhance calcium absorption by Caco-2 cells, Caco-2 cell transport is a better indicator of calcium availability than uptake, and higher consumption of calcium may overcome the inhibition of InsP 6 .
On the nanometer scale phase separation of a low-supersaturation Ni–Al–Cr alloy

The phase separation of a Ni–6.5 Al–9.5 Cr at. % alloy aged at 873 K was studied by atom-probe tomography and compared to the predictions of classical precipitation models. Phase separation in this alloy occurs in four distinct regimes: (i) quasi-stationary-state γ′(L12)-precipitate nucleation; (ii) concomitant precipitate nucleation, growth and coagulation and coalescence; (iii) concurrent growth and coarsening, wherein coarsening occurs via both γ′-precipitate coagulation and coalescence and by the classical evaporation–condensation mechanism; and (iv) quasi-stationary-state coarsening of γ′-precipitates, once the equilibrium volume fraction of precipitates is achieved. The predictions of classical nucleation and growth models are not validated experimentally, likely due to the complexity of the atomistic kinetic pathways involved in precipitation. During coarsening, the temporal evolution of the γ′-precipitate average radius, number density and the γ(fcc)-matrix and γ′-precipitate supersaturations foll...
Polygon-based laser scan registration by heterogeneous robots

This paper presents an algorithm to register two laser scans acquired by dual heterogeneous robots in a structured indoor environment. The dual robot system consists of a ground robot and a wall climbing robot equipped with a 3D range scanner and a perspective camera. Both robots alternately step in tandem and stop to acquire a panoramic range image. At each step, the range images from the two robots are registered together and the relative pose of the two robots are updated with respect to the world coordinate frame. An initial estimate of the relative pose between the two range images is computed using a camera pose estimation algorithm with the aid of the camera on the wall-climbing robot. The pose estimate is further refined by a laser scan registration algorithm. This novel algorithm registers two sets of polygons extracted from overlapping range images. The experimental results indicate that the algorithm is robust to fusion of noisy range images acquired in structured indoor environment.
Peripheral Blood Gamma Interferon Release Assays Predict Lung Responses and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Disease Outcome in Mice

Current diagnostic tests for tuberculosis (TB) are not able to distinguish active disease from latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, nor are they able to quantify the risk of a latently infected person progressing to active TB. There is interest, however, in adapting antigen-specific gamma interferon (IFN-γ) release assays (IGRAs) to predict disease outcome. In this study, we used the differential susceptibilities of inbred mouse strains to M. tuberculosis infection to evaluate the prognostic capabilities of IGRAs. Using lung and blood cultures, we determined that CBA/J, DBA/2, and C3H/HeJ mice (models of heightened risk of progression to active TB) produced less antigen-specific IFN-γ in response to M. tuberculosis culture filtrate proteins and early secreted antigenic target-6 than the relatively resistant C57BL/6 mouse strain. Additionally, reduced IFN-γ secretion in supernatants reflected a reduced frequency of IFN-γ-responding cells in the lung and blood and not a specific defect in IFN-γ secretion at the single-cell level. Importantly, detection of antigen-specific IFN-γ from blood cultures accurately reflected lung responses, indicating that blood can be an appropriate test tissue in humans. Furthermore, reduced antigen-specific IFN-γ production and low frequencies of IFN-γ-responding cells from peripheral blood predicted increased risk of TB disease progression across genetically diverse TB disease-susceptible mouse strains, suggesting that similar results may occur in humans. The development of efficacious predictive diagnostic tests for humans would lead to targeted therapy prior to progression to active TB, reducing transmission, incidence, and prevalence rates while maximizing the use of public health resources.
Modulation of L-type calcium channels by sodium ions.

Abstract It is universally believed that the removal of external sodium ions is without effect on calcium current. We now report that in enzymatically isolated guinea pig ventricular cells, the replacement of external sodium ions with certain other cations causes a 3- to 6-fold increase in peak L-type calcium current. The increase in current is reversibly blocked by L-type calcium-channel antagonists, not mediated by changes in internal calcium, and is inhibited by intracellular 5'-adenylyl imidodiphosphate, a nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue. The effects of sodium removal (and isoproterenol) were almost completely blocked by intracellular application of a specific (peptide) inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. These experiments demonstrate a previously unknown effect of sodium ions to modulate calcium-channel phosphorylation via cAMP-dependent protein kinase.
Social science computing curricula: guidelines for the seventies

Several decades ago a new body of techniques sprouted from the field of mathematics. This new technology, which came to be called statistics, grew into an autonomous academic field despite confining pressures. Although the invention of computer techniques historically lagged behind statistics, its entry into the academic world is strikingly similar. Both fields face issues of disciplinary autonomy and both are undergoing similar struggles between applied and theoretical interests. One outcome of these tensions in statistics has been the establishment of separate programs for applied statistics. While we do not dare make rigid predictions for computer science, we would anticipate similar structures, e.g., applied computer science curricula, to emerge.
The number of lymph nodes with metastasis predicts survival in patients with esophageal or esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma who receive preoperative chemoradiation

BACKGROUND The survival of patients with locoregional adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) who receive preoperative chemoradiation is reported to be better among patients who achieve a pathologic complete response than among patients who have residual tumor, including lymph node (LN) metastasis. However, the prognostic significance of the number of LNs with residual metastasis remains unclear. METHODS The authors studied 187 consecutive patients who received chemoradiation followed by an esophagectomy. The number of positive LNs and the size of metastatic tumor in each positive LN were examined with regard to overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). RESULTS A pathologic complete response was achieved by 29% of patients. No LN metastasis (posttherapy pathologic negative LN status [ypN0]) was present in 49% of patients who had residual carcinoma, and LN metastasis (ypN1) was present in 51% of patients. The 5-year OS and 2-year RFS rates achieved by patients who had 1 positive LN (34% and 45%, respectively) were similar to the rates achieved by patients in the ypN0 group (38% [P = 0.84] and 50% [P = 0.77], respectively) but were significantly better than the rates achieved by patients who had ≥ 2 positive LNs (6% [P = 0.02] and 18% [P = 0.01], respectively). The size of metastatic tumor in LNs among patients who had 1 positive LN was a prognostic factor (≥ 4 mm vs. < 4 mm; P = 0.04). In multivariate analysis, OS was better in patients who had 1 LN metastasis among patients in the ypN1 group (P = 0.02) independent of their posttherapy pathologic tumor status. CONCLUSIONS The current results suggested that the number of LNs with metastasis is an independent prognostic factor in patients with residual adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or the EGJ after preoperative chemoradiation. The authors suggest modification of the tumor-lymph node-metastasis (TNM) staging classification (ypTNM) to include the number of positive LNs in the ypN1 category. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Corporate Structure And Capital Strategy At Catholic Healthcare West

This paper analyzes the evolution of capital investment strategy at Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) between 1996 and 2005, as the forty-hospital system reversed its financial losses and diversified ...
Use of intensity modulation for missing tissue compensation of pediatric spinal fields

Irradiation of the cranio-spinal axis is often one of the treatment modalities of certain childhood cancers, e.g., medulloblastoma. In order to achieve a uniform dose to the spinal cord, missing tissue compensators are required. In the past, our practice was to fabricate compensators out of strips of lead. We report on the use of intensity modulated fields to achieve the desired compensation. Seven cases of pediatric cancer whose treatment involved irradiation of the cranio-spinal axis had compensators designed using a beam intensity modulation method rather than making mechanical compensators. The compensators only adjusted for missing tissue along the spinal axis. Comparisons between calculated and measured doses were made at depth in phantoms and on the surface of the patient. The intensity modulated fields were delivered using a step-and-shoot delivery on an Elekta SL20 accelerator equipped with multileaf collimator. The intensity-modulated compensators provided more flexibility in design than the physical compensator method. Finer intensity steps were achievable, more accurate dose distributions were able to be calculated, and adjustments during treatment, e.g., junction changes, were more easily implemented. Convolution/superposition dose calculations were within 3 of measurements. Intensity modulated fields are a practical and more efficient method of delivering uniform doses to the spine in pediatric cancer treatments. They provide many advantages over mechanical compensators with regard to time and flexibility. 2003 American College of Medical Physics.
Two-Stage Actuation Control System for CNC Contouring Systems

A CNC contouring system in which each axis is driven by a two-stage actuation system, where the first stage is a DC servo drive and the second one is piezoelectric microactuator, is discussed. In this system, the contour error, caused by the first stage due to dynamic response diferences between the axes, is decomposed to components which are used as position references for the second stage of each axis. With this arrangement the required travel of the second stage is kept within the travel range of the microactuator. Additional velocity feed-forward loop was added to the first stage which substantially reduces the contour error and thus the travel range requirement from the microactuator. Simulation studies show that the proposed controller has superior performance compared with current control schemes.
“Nation” and “Nationalism”: The Misuse of Key Concepts in Political Science*

One of the essential atarting points of any branch of science is a consistent, broadly understood terminology. Generally accepted definitions of key terms within a discipline are important in order to judge claims by scholars about a given topic. Fortunately, among those who work on the topic of nationalism, there is a growing convergence of definitions of “nation” and “nationalism.” Unfortunately, both terms are often still misused, used loosely, or used inconsistently, especially among those in political science who discuss these terms in passing. Authors of introductory textbooks, who are careful in their usage of other terms, often use these two words in varying—and even contradictory—ways in different parts of the same book. Because of their importance for the discipline, however, political scientists should be very mindful of their use of the terms “nation” and “nationalism.”In this article, definitions for “nation” and “nationalism” are proposed, with each definition followed by sections on common ways the terms are misemployed in political science. I provide examples of both misuses and “loose uses.” While the line between misuse and loose use is somewhat fuzzy (a point reinforced below in the discussion of nations vs. ethnic groups), I consider a misuse to be one in which the term is used in a way that is completely outside how the term is used by nationalism scholars. A loose use is one in which the author has captured only part of the concept or has stretched the meaning of the term to an extreme degree.
Machine Detection of Martian Impact Craters From Digital Topography Data

Research on automatic identification of impact craters on Mars and other planetary bodies has concentrated on detecting them from imagery data. We present a novel approach to crater detection that utilizes digital topography data instead of images. Craters are delineated by topographic curvature. Thresholding maps of curvature transforms topographic data into a binary image, from which craters are identified using a combination of segmentation and detection algorithms. We apply our method to a large and technically demanding test site and compare the results to the existing catalog of manually identified craters. Our algorithm finds many small craters not listed in the manual catalog, but it fails to detect heavily degraded craters. A detailed quality assessment of the algorithm is presented. The topography-based crater-detection algorithm offers a relatively simple and ready-to-use tool for identification and characterization of fresh impact craters with an adequate performance for the immediate application to Martian geomorphology
Facing the challenges of multicore processor technologies using autonomic system software

Summary form only given. Multicore processor technologies, which appear to dominate the processor design landscape, require a shift of paradigm in the development of programming models and supporting environments for scientific and engineering applications. System software for multicore processors needs to exploit fine-grain concurrent execution capabilities and cope with deep, non- uniform memory hierarchies. Software adaptation to multicore technologies needs to happen even as hardware platforms change underneath the software. Last but not least, due to the extremely high compute density of chip multiprocessing components, system software needs to increase its energy-awareness and treat energy and temperature distribution as first-class optimization targets. Unfortunately, energy awareness is most often at odds with high performance. In the first part of this talk, the author discusses some of the major challenges of software adaptation to multicore technologies and motivate the use of autonomic, self-optimizing system software, as a vehicle for both high performance portability and energy-efficient program execution. In the second part of the talk, the author presents ongoing research in runtime environments for dense parallel systems built from multicore and SMT components, and focus on two topics, polymorphic multithreading, and power-aware concurrency control with quality-of-service guarantees. In the same context, the author discusses enabling technologies for improved software autonomy via dynamic runtime optimization, including continuous hardware profilers, and online power-efficiency predictors.