cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Somatosensory cortical involvement in responses to noxious stimulation in the cat.

The experiment examines the role of the cerebral cortex in regulating responses to noxious stimulation by studying the effects of cortical ablations in cats on escape from electric shock applied to the foot pads. The latency of escape as a function of shock intensity was measured before and after bilateral ablations of various portions of the cat's somatosensory cerebral cortex. Ablations of the second somatosensory cerebral cortex significantly increased the escape response threshold. If the sulci bordering this region were included in the ablation, the threshold increase was greater and longer-lasting. Ablations of the primary somatosensory cortex increased latencies at most intensities of electric shock, but did not change the response thresholds. Ablations of both primary and second somatosensory cortex increased response thresholds and response latencies. None of these ablations altered the responses, however, if the cat had been overtrained for six to seven months prior to surgery. The results suggest that the second somatosensory region and the sulci bordering the second somatosensory region in the cat cerebral cortex are involved in responses to noxious stimulation.
Enhancing suggestibility: the effects of compliance vs. imagery.

For more than 30 years, studies based on a social-learning, cognitive skillmodel of hypnotic responsiveness have documented appreciable increases on behavioraland subjective measures of susceptibility following hypnotizability modification training(Diamond, l972; Gfeller, Lynn, & Pribble, l987; Kinney & Sachs, l974; Sachs & Anderson,l967; Springer, Sachs, & Morrow, l977). By far the most impressive demonstration oftraining-related increments has come from a body of studies conducted by Spanos andhis associates (see Spanos, l986, for a review). In more than fifteen studies (see Gorassini& Spanos, 1999; Spanos, l991; Spanos, Lush, & Gwynn, l989), Spanos has shown thatbetween 50% and 80% of initially low-hypnotizable subjects who underwent a multi-faceted cognitive skill training program (termed herein Carleton Skills Training Program,CSTP) scored as high hypnotizables at posttesting. The CSTP provides participantswith accurate information about hypnosis, and uses direct instruction and observationof a videotaped model to teach participants to: (a) physically enact responses, asopposed to waiting passively for the suggested effects to happen to them (Spanos etal., 1986), and (b) use a variety of cognitive and imaginal strategies to facilitate respondingto suggestions including goal-directed imagery or fantasies (GDF’s; e.g., imagining ahand rising in response to a helium balloon attached to the wrist) to experience thesuggestion-related response as involuntary.What is particularly impressive is that treatment effects have been of largemagnitude, persist for an average of two and a half years after training (Spanos, Cross,Menary, & Smith, l988), and generalize to novel, demanding test suggestions (e.g., see
Bibliography Of The Application Of Infrared Thermography To Electronic And Microelectronic Circuits

Monitoring and Analyzing the Dynamic Junction Temperature Distribution of RF Power Transistors by Using RM-50 Infrared Micro-Imager
A stable, inexpensive, solid-state photomultiplier photometer.

Abstract Many laboratories studying bioluminescent or chemiluminescent systems are measuring the light emission using a photomultiplier photometer designed by E. F. MacNichol in about 1952 (1). In the time since the design of that photometer, enormous advances have occurred in electronics which allow for the modernization of its circuitry. Unfortunately, the commercially available equivalents of the MacNichol photometer have lagged in modernization; moreover, they have never incorporated one of its key features, namely, accurately calibrated gain settings controlled by the high voltage applied to the phototube. In addition, some commercial units are needlessly expensive. Although a satisfactory instrument can be assembled from commercial units (incorporating a highvoltage supply and a microammeter) this instrument would lack the calibrated gain settings, and is also not inexpensive. The present paper describes a modern, miniaturized, solid-state photometer that possesses the stability and accuracy of the original Mac-Nichol design along with its calibrated gain settings. In addition, the photometer has been designed to supply up to 2000 V so that it may be used with end-window photomultipliers requiring this higher operating voltage.
Radiolabeled antitumor agents

Bleomycin serves as a useful prototype for a study of the various properties required in a radiopharmaceutical for tumor imaging. Both in vitro and in vivo results using bleomycin labeled with a large number of different radionuclides have now, been reported. In general, it has not been possible to predict in vivo biologic behavior solely from in vitro data. For example, 57 Co-bleomycin and 111 In-bleomycin both have identical patterns in several different chromatographic systems and do not break down with prolonged storage in saline, exposure to heat, or other cations. However, when the labeled bleomycin is exposed to serum transferrin (and to other as yet unidentified ligands in the body) a difference in stability becomes obvious. The stability and biologic activity of 57 Co-bleomycin in humans demonstrate the validity of metal chelation as a labeling technique for this specific molecule, and also suggests that other stable chelates will have useful applications. Although 57 Co-bleomycin has the most desirable biologic characteristics of all the chelates of bleomycin, the extremely long physical half-life of 57 Co of 270 days creates a significant contamination problem in the hospital. Because of this, the use of 57 Co-bleomycin is limited to a few specialized centers. All users have emphasized the need for a better radionuclide to produce a labeled bleomycin with the same or superior biologic characteristics to 57 Co-bleomycin. Unfortunately, the elements forming the most stable chelates with bleomycin (copper, zinc, cobalt, and nickel) do not have radionuclides with suitable physical characteristics for scanning. Copper-67 may become available in the future from high-energy linear accelerators. However, even if it were available, copper will probably not have as good chemical properties as cobalt.
Statistical models for human fecundability

Statistical models for fertility studies play a critical role in understanding the biology for conception and in identifying potential environmental factors that may negatively affect human reproduction. Aided with improved computing capability, statistical modeling for fertility data has made a remarkable progress in the past decade. The author provides an overview of the historic and current developments for fecundability models.
A method for updating Cholesky factorization of a band matrix

A method is presented for updating the Cholesky factorization of a band symmetric matrix modified by a rank-one matrix which has the same band width. Problems which could involve applications of such a method arise frequently in plasticity and structural optimization where repeated solutions of a band algebraic system with a changing matrix are needed. The Cholesky factorization of a stiffness matrii can be updated after modifying a local stiffness matrix which can be written as a sum of a few rank-one matrices. The number of operations required for the updating is of the order mn or less, where n is the dimension of the global matrix and m is its half band width (including the diagonal).
Effects of the water-soluble fraction of microbiologically or physically altered crude petroleum on the heterotrophic activity of marine bacteria

Abstract Crude petroleum was emulsified or degraded by marine microorganisms and physically altered by an artificial weathering process. Only the water-soluble fraction from emulsified crude petroleum inhibited glutamate uptake by marine microorganisms from South Carolina and Georgia coastal waters. Chloroform extraction recovered almost equal amounts of total hydrocarbon from each water-soluble fraction. Chromatographic data indicated that the composition of microbially emulsified petroleum was similar to that of microbially degraded petroleum. Emulsification of crude petroleum was only observed in summer water samples and did not consistently occur at a given location. Results of this study indicate that the process by which crude petroleum is altered will influence its toxicity to microbial heterotrophic activity.
Applying Robust Design Optimization to Large Systems

While Robust Optimization has been utilized for a variety of design problems, application of Robust Design to the control of large-scale systems presents unique challenges to assure rapid convergence of the solution. Specifically, the need to account for uncertainty in the optimization loop can lead to a prohibitively expensive optimization using existing methods when using robust optimization for control. In this work, a robust optimization framework suitable for operational control of large scale systems is presented. To enable this framework, robust optimization uses a utility function for the objective, dimension reduction in the uncertainty space, and a new algorithm for evaluating probabilistic constraints. The proposed solution accepts the basis in utility theory, where the goal is to maximize expected utility. This allows analytic gradient and Hessian calculations to be derived to reduce the number of iterations required. Dimension reduction reduces uncertain functions to low dimensional parametric uncertainty while the new algorithm for evaluating probabilistic constraints is specifically formulated to reuse information previously generated to estimate the robust objective. These processes reduce the computational expense to enable robust optimization to be used for operational control of a large-scale system. The framework is applied to a multiple-dam hydropower revenue optimization problem, then the solution is compared with the solution given by a non-probabilistic safety factor approach. The solution given by the framework is shown to dominate the other solution by improving upon the expected objective as well as the joint failure probability.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Medication errors in the emergency department: A systems approach to minimizing risk

Adverse drug events caused by medication errors represent a common cause of patient injury in the practice of medicine. Many medication errors are preventable and hence particularly tragic when they occur, often with serious consequences. The enormous increase in the number of available drugs on the market makes it all but impossible for physicians, nurses, and pharmacists to possess the knowledge base necessary for fail-safe medication practice. Indeed, the greatest single systemic factor associated with medication errors is a deficiency in the knowledge requisite to the safe use of drugs. It is vital that physicians, nurses, and pharmacists have at their immediate disposal up-to-date drug references. Patients presenting for care in EDs are usually unfamiliar to their EPs and nurses, and the unique patient factors affecting medication response and toxicity are obscured. An appropriate history, physical examination, and diagnostic workup will assist EPs, nurses, and pharmacists in selecting the safest and most optimum therapeutic regimen for each patient. EDs deliver care "24/7" and are open when valuable information resources, such as hospital pharmacists and previously treating physicians, may not be available for consultation. A systems approach to the complex problem of medication errors will help emergency clinicians eliminate preventable adverse drug events and achieve a goal of a zero-defects system, in which medication errors are a thing of the past. New developments in information technology and the advent of electronic medical records with computerized physician order entry, ward-based clinical pharmacists, and standardized bar codes promise substantial reductions in the incidence of medication errors and adverse drug events. ED patients expect and deserve nothing less than the safest possible emergency medicine service.
Randomized trial on the effectiveness of long- and short-term psychotherapy on psychiatric symptoms and working ability during a 5-year follow-up

AbstractBackground: The information on whether long-term psychotherapy is superior in comparison with short-term therapies during a long time-perspective in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorder is incomplete. Aims: The present study addresses this question in a clinical trial with an exceptionally long follow-up. Methods: In the Helsinki Psychotherapy Study, 326 outpatients with mood or anxiety disorder were randomly assigned to long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and two types of short-term psychotherapy (short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and solution-focused therapy) and were followed up for 5 years from the start of treatment. The outcome measures were psychiatric symptoms measured by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Symptom Check List, anxiety scale (SCL-90-Anx), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) and Symptom Check List, Global Severity Index (SCL-90-GSI), and working ability measured by the Work Ability Index (WAI), the Work-subscale (SAS-Work) ...
Experimental comparison between induced surface current and scattered electromagnetic waves for a metal target with time-varying characteristics

The temporal behaviour of the electromagnetic scattering through a periodically short-circuited slot in a metal plate and of the surface current on that plate are compared experimentally. The results show that the changing surface current on the plate is the dominant source of the observed modulation on the scattered energy.
Quantitation of Chloroquine Phosphate And Primaquine Phosphate In Tablets Using High-performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract Reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography methods for the quantitation of chloroquine phosphate and primaquine phosphate in tablets have been developed. The methods require one column and 2 mobile phases for complete analysis of both drugs when present in combination. The methods are accurate and precise with percent relative standard deviations based on 6 injections of 0.5 and 0.9 for chloroquine and primaquine, respectively. The results of single ingredient, chloroquine phosphate tablets are in excellent agreement with the USP-NF method which is nonspecific. Primaquine interfers with the USP-NF method and not with the developed HPLC method. Both drugs appear to be very stable to heat.
Application of data-driven design optimization methodology to a multi-objective design optimization problem

The data-driven design optimization methodology (DDDOM) is an application of the dynamic data-driven application system concept in the engineering design domain. The DDDOM combines experiments and simulations concurrently and tends to achieve better designs in less time with less effort than traditional methods. This paper presents the application of the DDDOM to a multi-objective design optimization problem—design of a cooling system for electronic elements. In the DDDOM approach, both simulation and experimental data are combined to generate good surrogate models for the objective functions. The e-constraint optimization method is then performed on the surrogate models and the Pareto set is found. The presented approach provides a new methodology for design optimization.
Paediatric catheter cryoablation: techniques, successes and failures.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The benefit of transcatheter cryoablation over radiofrequency ablation is its ability to find the most suitable site for ablation through transitory electrical paralysis of the heart tissue in contact with the catheter tip, frozen to -30 degrees C (cryomapping). Cryoablation is thus 'made to measure' for paediatric patients. The purpose of this review is to show the results of cryoablation in the literature in order to understand when it can be used in children as an alternative to radiofrequency ablation. RECENT FINDINGS Modified cryoablation protocols have increased acute success rates and decreased recurrences. Single institutions, comparing the results obtained with cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias, have demonstrated the same success rate. Furthermore, some authors have attempted to identify parameters predictive of efficacy during cryoablation of atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia. SUMMARY On the basis of the more recent literature data, cryoablation should be considered the treatment of choice for atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia and atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia caused by an accessory pathway very close to the atrioventricular junction in school-age children. The short and long-term efficacy of cryoablation is correlated with highly accurate cryomapping and the creation of a stable lesion through consolidation of the first effective lesion.
Is mechanical ventilation associated with intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants

Abstract Background The impact of mechanical ventilation on the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is unknown, simply because the vast majority of these infants have been routinely intubated and mechanically ventilated. There is a growing interest in the use of early nasal continuous positive airway pressure (ENCPAP) and avoiding mechanical ventilation. Objectives To examine the role of mechanical ventilation since delivery room in determining severe IVH in VLBW infants in two neonatal units that follow the same strategy of respiratory management using ENCPAP. Methods We collected data on delivery room intubation and mechanical ventilation during the first 3 days of life in VLBW infants. Logistic regression model was constructed to test the relationship between early mechanical ventilation and the diagnosis of severe IVH after controlling for significant confounding variables, such as BW, gender, duration of mechanical ventilation, and partial pressure of CO 2 (PCO 2 ). Results Of the studied 340 VLBW, 35 infants had severe IVH; most of them received mechanical ventilation that started either in the delivery room ( n = 12) or during the first ( n = 10) and second ( n = 3) days of life. Severe IVH was independently associated with lower BW, mechanical ventilation in the delivery room, and the cumulative duration of mechanical ventilation during the first 3 days. The adjusted odds ratio for severe IVH in infants intubated in delivery room was (OR = 2.7, CI: 1.1–6.6, P = 0.03). Severe IVH was not associated with gender, prenatal steroids, early sepsis, or patent ductus arteriosus. Conclusions Mechanical ventilation plays a role in predicting severe IVH. Both the time at which ventilation was initiated and the duration of ventilation are important determinants of severe IVH. Risk for severe IVH in infants who were never intubated in delivery room or during the first 3 days of life is miniscule.
Effects of (−)-Δ9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol on regional blood flow in anesthetized dogs

Abstract Distribution of cardiac output to various organs was studied utilizing 85Sr-labelled microspheres in dogs. In the group receiving Δ9-THC, 2.5 mg/kg, i.v., there was a significant reduction in the fractional blood flow accompanied by an increase in resistance in the splanchnic vasculature. Net total peripheral resistance was unchanged.
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Theoretical Study of Competitive Reactions in the Dissociative Chemisorption of CCl4 on Iron Oxide Surfaces

Variable temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (VT STM) and theoretical ab initio computer simulations were used to study dissociative chemisorption and competitive surface chemistry of CCl 4 on an iron-terminated Fe 3 O 4 (111) 2 × 2 surface in an ultrahigh vacuum. The Fe 3 O 4 (111) surface was exposed to CCl 4 molecules at 224 K, slowly annealed to 500 K (0.2 K/s), and scanned at room temperature. Two different chlorine species were observed only on the iron-terminated Fe 3 O 4 (111) 2 × 2 surface due to chemisorption of CCl 4 , one on top of surface-terminating iron atoms (Cl bound to surface irons) and the other at 3-fold oxygen vacancy sites (Cl bound to subsurface irons). The ratio of the number of chlorine species on top sites to the number at 3-fold oxygen vacancy sites is approximately 9:1, which is dramatically different from the 1:10 ratio observed when CCl 4 is dosed at room temperature. The difference in the ratio of these two chlorine species can be explained with a competitive surface reaction picture in which phosgene evolution/surface oxygen atom abstraction, leading to chlorine species at 3-fold oxygen vacancy sites, can only favorably compete with recombination and association reactions, leading to chlorine atoms on top sites, near room temperature. Theoretical calculations were performed that predict an activation barrier of 0.16 eV for the production of phosgene from CCl 4 reacting with the iron-terminated Fe 3 O 4 (111) 2 x 2 surface.
Significance of Extensional Stresses to Red Blood Cell Lysis in a Shearing Flow

Traditionally, an empirical power-law model relating hemolysis to shear stress and exposure time has been used to estimate hemolysis related to flow—however, this basis alone has been insufficient in attempts to predict hemolysis through computational fluid dynamics. Because of this deficiency, we sought to re-examine flow features related to hemolysis in a shearing flow by computationally modeling a set of classic experiments performed in a capillary tube. Simulating 21 different flows of varying entrance contraction ratio, flowrate and viscosity, we identified hemolysis threshold streamlines and analyzed the stresses present. Constant damage thresholds for radial and axial extensional stresses of approximately 3000 Pa for exposure times on the order of microseconds were observed, while no such threshold was found for the maximum shear stress or gradient of the shear stress. The extensional flow seen at the entrance of the capillary appears to be most consistently related to hemolysis. An account of how extensional stresses can lead to lysis of a red cell undergoing tank-tread motion in a shearing flow is provided. This work shows that extensional components of the stress tensor are integral in causing hemolysis for some flows, and should be considered when attempting to predict hemolysis computationally.
The development of virus-free labile blood derivatives--a review.

Human blood plasma derived coagulation factor concentrates carry a substantial risk of virus transmission as traditionally prepared. Intensive investigations during the past 5 years have led to the development of several virus sterilization procedures which can be applied to these concentrates as well as to other labile protein derivatives. This review summarizes detailed information which is now available establishing the virucidal potency of these procedures, particularly with regard to the contaminating viruses of most concern: hepatitis B, non-A, non-B hepatitis and the AIDS virus.
Intrathecal substance P-saporin in the dog: efficacy in bone cancer pain.

Background Substance-p saporin (SP-SAP), a chemical conjugate of substance-p and a recombinant version of the ribosome-inactivating protein, saporin, when administered intrathecally, acts as a targeted neurotoxin producing selective destruction of superficial neurokinin 1 receptor bearing cells in the spinal dorsal horn. The goal of this project was to provide proof of concept data, that a single intrathecal injection of SP-SAP could safely provide effective pain relief in spontaneous bone cancer pain in companion (pet) dogs.
Atomic nitrogen ion distribution and g15755 emission in the auroral ionosphere

Calculations are presented to show the night-time distribution of N+ with the incidence of an aurora. In addition, use is made of the λ3914/λ5755 intensity ratio to estimate the fraction of dissociative ionization encounters of electrons with N2 which lead to the metastable 1S state of NII.
Estimating the Amount of Feed Derived from Pasture by Cows in the Connecticut Dairy Herd Improvement Association

Summary The residual method was used in order to determine the contribution of pasture to total feed supply for a sample of 1,200 Holstein cows from 10 D.H.I.A. farms in Connecticut. One of Brody's measures of dairy merit was combined with the input-output records of the 1,200 cows. Dairy-merit indices were computed for each month of lactation on the basis of winter feed and production records. Pasture contributions then were determined by month of lactation for cows freshening in the various months. Pasture accounted for 38 per cent of the total feed for a cow freshening in March and 33 per cent of the feed for a cow freshening in August, on an annual basis. These were the highest and the lowest percentages, respectively. On a yearly herd basis, using an equal number of cows freshening in each month, pasture accounted for 36 per cent of the total T.D.N. intake, grain for 27 per cent, hay for 21 per cent, and ensilage for 16 per cent of the total nutrients. While there are limitations, this method may be used in computing pasture yield on a seasonal per acre basis. This would provide an additional check on pasture studies in which clipping and grazing methods are used.
Optical express routers for enhanced mesh throughput

Message congestion in heavily loaded mesh networks can limit system throughput. While electronic express routers increase mesh system throughput by alleviating congestion and reducing average message delivery time, optical express routers offer the possibility of a further order of magnitude performance increase by exploiting the latency advantages of decoupling data rate from optical router reconfiguration time. We show how a self-routing optical mesh can be interfaced to an existing electrical mesh, and describe the use of optimized default switch settings to minimize latency. We show that circuit switching exploits the benefits of optics in express routers to a greater extent than does packet switching, and illustrate likely architectures in which waveguide switches, detectors, and amplifiers are integrated to form self-routing nodes. The self-routing mesh algorithm and data format required to guarantee that the correct path is established are described. Our calculations show that for meshes of 512 nodes or more, optical express routers allow an order of magnitude increase in throughput compared to electronic express routers, and possibly two orders of magnitude compared to non-express meshes.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
PARADIGM: an architecture for distributed vision processing

A parallel vision architecture called PARADIGM is proposed. PARADIGM has been designed as a mechanism for composing distributed programs for vision processing and spatial-oriented operations. In the PARADIGM environment, users can focus their efforts on solving vision problems and choosing the best strategies for data partitioning without worrying about task allocation/scheduling and details of communications. PARADIGM has been implemented on top of Nectar, a fiber-optic-based network backplane for heterogeneous multicomputers. A prototype spatial database subsystem has been implemented on Nectar using PARADIGM to justify and refine the design of the proposed vision architecture. >
Amygdala Hyperactivity at Rest in Paranoid Individuals With Schizophrenia

Objective:The amygdala’s role in threat perception suggests that increased activation of this region may be related to paranoid ideation. However, investigations of amygdala function in paranoid individuals with schizophrenia, compared with both healthy individuals and nonparanoid individuals with schizophrenia, have consistently reported reduced task-related activation. The reliance of blood-oxygen-level-dependent functional MRI on a contrast between events and baseline, and the inability to quantitatively measure this baseline, may account for these counterintuitive findings. The present study tested for differences in baseline levels of amygdala activity in paranoid and nonparanoid individuals with schizophrenia using arterial spin labeling perfusion MRI.Method:Resting cerebral blood flow (CBF) and task-related activation of the amygdala were measured in 25 healthy individuals, 16 individuals with schizophrenia who were actively paranoid at the time of scanning, and 16 individuals with schizophrenia wh...
Reassessment of Stable Continental Regions of Southeast Asia

Probabilistic seismic-hazard assessments of the central and eastern United States (CEUS) require estimates of the size of the largest possible earthquake (Mmax). In most of the CEUS, sparse historical seismicity does not provide a record of moderate and large earthquakes that is sufficient to constrain Mmax. One remedy for the insufficient catalog is to combine the catalog of moderate to large CEUS earthquakes with catalogs from other regions worldwide that are tectonically analogous to the CEUS (stable continental regions, or SCRs). After the North America SCR, the largest contribution of earthquakes to this global SCR catalog comes from a Southeast Asian SCR that extends from Indochina to southeasternmost Russia. Integration and interpretation of recently published geological and geophysical results show that most of these Southeast Asian earthquakes occurred in areas exposing abundant alkaline igneous rocks and extensional faults, both of Neogene age (last 23 million years). The implied Neogene extension precludes classification of the areas as SCR crust. The extension also reduces the number of moderate and large Southeast Asian historical earthquakes that are available to constrain CEUS Mmax by 86 percent, from 43 to six.
Inconsistent Fail due to Limited Tester Timing Accuracy

Delay testing is a technique to determine if a chip will function correctly at a specified frequency. If a chip passes delay tests, it will presumably function at the specified frequency in the field. This paper presents experimental results that show how chips can pass very thorough delay tests and still fail in the field. It is shown that some chips sometimes pass and sometimes fail when the same delay test is applied multiple times under the same test conditions. These chips are called inconsistent fails. This paper shows how tester timing edge placement accuracy can cause inconsistent fails and suggests the minimum requirements for guardbands that avoid the inconsistent test results.
Evaluation and Comparison of the IRS-P6 and the Landsat Sensors

The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS-P6), also called ResourceSat-1, was launched in a polar sun-synchronous orbit on October 17, 2003. It carries three sensors: the high-resolution Linear Imaging Self-Scanner (LISS-IV), the medium-resolution Linear Imaging Self-Scanner (LISS-III), and the Advanced Wide-Field Sensor (AWiFS). These three sensors provide images of different resolutions and coverage. To understand the absolute radiometric calibration accuracy of IRS-P6 AWiFS and LISS-III sensors, image pairs from these sensors were compared to images from the Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and Landsat-7 Enhanced TM Plus (ETM+) sensors. The approach involves calibration of surface observations based on image statistics from areas observed nearly simultaneously by the two sensors. This paper also evaluated the viability of data from these next-generation imagers for use in creating three National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) products: land cover, percent tree canopy, and percent impervious surface. Individual products were consistent with previous studies but had slightly lower overall accuracies as compared to data from the Landsat sensors.
Physical-Layer Modeling and System-Level Design of Chip-Scale Photonic Interconnection Networks

Photonic technology is becoming an increasingly attractive solution to the problems facing today's electronic chip-scale interconnection networks. Recent progress in silicon photonics research has enabled the demonstration of all the necessary optical building blocks for creating extremely high-bandwidth density and energy-efficient links for on-chip and off-chip communications. From the feasibility and architecture perspective however, photonics represents a dramatic paradigm shift from traditional electronic network designs due to fundamental differences in how electronics and photonics function and behave. As a result of these differences, new modeling and analysis methods must be employed in order to properly realize a functional photonic chip-scale interconnect design. In this paper, we present a methodology for characterizing and modeling fundamental photonic building blocks which can subsequently be combined to form full photonic network architectures. We also describe a set of tools which can be utilized to assess the physical-layer and system-level performance properties of a photonic network. The models and tools are integrated in a novel open-source design and simulation environment. We present a case study of two different photonic networks-on-chip to demonstrate how our improved understanding and modeling of the physical-layer details of photonic communications can be used to better understand the system-level performance impact.
Effect of Increasing Dosage of Streptomycin Sulfate on Serum Levels of Antimicrobially Active Drug

SUMMARY The effect of doubling the loading dose of streptomycin sulfate from 10 milligrams to 20 milligrams per kilogram body weight on the antimicrobially active drug was studied in six adult tuberculous patients. It was shown that by increasing the administered amount of streptomycin sulfate, an increase of the serum level of antimicrobially active drug was achieved.
Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution using nanocrystalline gallium oxynitride spinel

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water was observed over nanocrystalline gallium oxynitride spinel under simulated solar light irradiation (320 nm < λ < 800 nm). Up to 8 μmol h−1 of H2 was evolved without co-catalyst loading. The photocatalyst was synthesized by the ammonolysis of gallium nitrate hydrate (Ga(NO3)3·xH2O). Optical measurements indicate an indirect gap (Eg) in the visible region (Eg = 2.50 eV) which is ascribed to photoexcitations from the N 2p valence states. A direct gap has an onset at ultraviolet energies (Eg = 3.69 eV), which is ascribed to photoexcitations from lower energy O 2p valence states.
Black Musicians in Northern US Cities during the Early 20th Century: A Test of the Critical Mass Hypothesis of Urban Sub-culture Theory:

According to the sub-culture theory of urbanism, a vital social world will emerge in a city when there is a 'critical mass' of members of some unique population. This hypothesis is tested by analysing the entertainment sub-culture that developed around the musical styles of the southern Blacks who moved to northern cities in the US in the early 20th century. The employment rate of Blacks in the musical professions is examined as an indicator of the vitality of this sub-culture, because this rate reflects the extent to which Blacks could make a living as musicians. Regression analyses of census data from 1910 to 1930 show that, as hypothesised, the rate at which Blacks were employed as professional musicians became positively associated with the size of the Black populations of the urban north only after these populations reached critical mass levels. It is concluded that the central notion of sub-culture theory-that group size intensifies sub-cultures and fosters unconventionality-can help to explain the ...
Reduction of truncation artifacts in rapid 3D articular cartilage imaging

Purpose To reduce Gibbs ringing artifact in three-dimensional (3D) articular knee cartilage imaging with linear prediction (LP). Materials and Methods A reconstruction method using LP in 3D was applied to truncated data sets of six healthy knees. The technique first linearizes the data before applying the prediction algorithm. Three radiologists blindly reviewed and ranked images of the full, truncated, and predicted data sets. Statistical analysis of the radiologists' reviews was performed for image quality, clinical acceptability of the images, and equivalence with the gold standard. Results LP applied to 3D knee cartilage imaging allows for 40% decreased scan time while providing image quality with statistical equivalence to a full data set. Conclusion 3D spoiled gradient echo imaging (SPGR) knee cartilage imaging requires significant scan time. This 40% reduction in scan time will allow such scans to be more feasible without sacrificing clinical acceptability. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;27:860–865. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Institutional Misconduct, Delinquent Background, and Rearrest Frequency Among Serious and Violent Delinquent Offenders

This study examines the relationship of institutional misconduct to postrelease rearrest, controlling for a battery of preincarceration variables typically found to influence recidivism among institutionalized delinquent offenders. Based on data from 1,804 serious and violent male delinquents released from a large southern juvenile correctional system, this research found limited support for institutional misconduct as a determinant of recidivism. Of all measures of misconduct, only the rate of total misconduct infractions was related to postrelease rearrest, and this effect was generally small and found only in the rearrest frequency model, not the dichotomous rearrest model. Implications for research and practice are explored.
Experiments on the nonlinear stages of free-shear-layer transition

An experimental study is made of the instability and transition of a laminar free shear layer by sound excitation. Primary emphasis is placed on the nonlinear stages of transition. Transition from laminar instability to turbulent breakdown covers approximately five wavelengths of downstream distance. The instability has six distinct regions of behaviour : a region of exponential growth described by linear theory; a nonlinear region where critical-layer effects are important, and harmonics and subharmonics are generated; a region of finite amplitude equilibration of the fundamental mode; a region of finite amplitude triggered sub-harmonic instabilities; a region of three-dimensional longitudinal vortex formation; and a final region of weak secondary instabilities and turbulent breakdown.
Effect of nitrogen on carbon dioxide elimination during continuous flow apneic ventilation in dogs

Continuous endobronchial insufflation of air in paralyzed animals (continuous flow apneic ventilation - CFAV) has been shown to maintain adequate oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal. CFAV in patients using oxygen resulted in adequate oxygenation but a mean rise in PaCO2 of 0.6 mmHg/min (0.08 kPa/min). This experiment compared carbon dioxide removal in dogs with air and oxygen. Ten dogs were anesthetized and paralyzed, and CFAV was used for 1 h with either air or oxygen in a randomized fashion. Adequate oxygenation was obtained with air and oxygen. Normal PaCO2 levels were obtained with air; however, in the animals where oxygen was used, PaCO2 levels rose to a mean of 6.45 +/- s.e. mean 0.4 kPa (48.5 +/- s.e.mean 3.2 mmHg).
Advantage of transesophageal over transthoracic echocardiography in the diagnosis of mitral valve endocarditis.

T FUNSESOPHAGEAL echocardiography (TEE) is an increasingly popular choice for a diagnostic tool and intraoperative monitor by both anesthesiologists and cardiologists. TEE has an advantage over transthoracic echocardiography (‘RE) in diagnosing intracardiac masses and valvular dysfunction by providing a clearer image, finer detail, and larger echocardiographic “windows”.‘+’ The following case is reported in which TEE provided a definitive diagnosis of infective endocarditis when TTE results were inconclusive.
Global Methylation in the Placenta and Umbilical Cord Blood From Pregnancies With Maternal Gestational Diabetes, Preeclampsia, and Obesity

Emerging evidence indicates that maternal medical risk during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preeclampsia, and obesity, predisposes the offspring to suboptimal development. However, the underlying biological/epigenetic mechanism in utero is still unknown. The current pilot study (N = 50) compared the levels of global methylation in the placenta and umbilical cord blood among women with and without each risk condition (GDM, preeclampsia, and obesity) and explored whether the levels of global methylation were associated with fetal/infant growth. Results show that global methylation levels in the placenta were lower in patients with gestational diabetes (P = .003) and preeclampsia (P = .05) but higher with obesity (P = .01). Suggestive negative associations were found between global methylation level in the placenta and infant body length and head circumference. While preliminary, it is possible that the placenta tissue, but not umbilical cord blood, may be epigenetically programmed by maternal GDM, preeclampsia, and obesity to carry out its own specific functions that influence fetal growth.
Composition of Fluid Phase Solutes in a Basalt-H2O-CO2 System

Mixtures consisting of 50 weight percent of 1921 Kilauea basalt, 16 percent H 2 O, and 34 percent CO 2 were equilibrated at 800°, 900°, 1000° and 1100° C and 2, 5, and 8 kb. Oxygen fugacity was buffered by Ni + NiO. The fluid phase solute was analyzed for Si, Ti, Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Ba, and Sr. Total solute content ranges from 0.5 to 2 weight percent of the fluid. It is mostly composed of SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 and MgO; total iron is depleted compared to the starting material. The high ratios of Mg/Fe and Mg/Ca and the low total solute content appear to rule out gas transfer as a differentiation mechanism under conditions similar to those of this study. The low solubility of iron may explain magnetite deposits formed at diabase-limestone contacts.
On the Caudal Skeleton of Albula vulpes (L.) (Pisces, Teleostei)

Three variations in the caudal skeleton of Albula vulpes (L.) are described and compared with earlier descriptions. The caudal skeleton of Albula is regarded as a primitive stage of the pleurostylar type, characteristic of clupeoids. This does not necessarily indicate close relationship with the clupeoids. A comparison with the Elopoidei, the caudal skeleton of which is considered a primitive stage of the stegural type, characteristic of some Sal-monoidei, excludes in the opinion of the author the supposed close relationship between Albuloidei and Elopoidei.
Analysis of the Photodegradation of the Imidazolinone Herbicides Imazamox, Imazapic, Imazaquin, and Imazamethabenz-methyl in Aqueous Solution

The photodegradation of the imidazolinone herbicides imazamox, imazapic, imazaquin, and imazamethabenz-methyl has been investigated in phosphate-buffered solutions and buffered solutions containing natural organic matter (NOM). The hydrolysis of imazamethabenz-methyl, the only imidazolinone herbicide susceptible to hydrolysis, was also examined. The rate of hydrolysis of imazamethabenz-methyl increased with increasing pH, with the para isomer degrading more rapidly than the meta isomer. All photodegradation rate constants increased with pH and plateaued after pH 5.2. All imidzaolinones degraded more quickly under 253.7 nm lamps as compared to degradation under 310 nm lamps. Imazamox and imazapic degraded more rapidly than imazaquin at all pH values and had higher quantum yields. In addition, imazamox and imazapic quantum yields increased as a function of pH, whereas imazaquin quantum yields showed no trend as a function of pH. Photodegradation reaction rate constants decreased as the concentration of NOM was increased in the solutions due to the effect of light screening. Formulas for the proposed photoproducts for imazamox, imazapic, and imazaquin in pH 7 phosphate buffers were identified, and structures for the photoproducts are proposed.
Preserving the Unpublished Public Domain

In January 2003, the U.S. copyright expired in unpublished works by every author who had been dead for at least 70 years. This happened because provisions adopted in the 1976 Copyright Act broke with all prior U.S. copyright law, which had offered unpublished works potentially perpetual protection, and imposed a finite term of protection for those works, creating a new unpublished public domain. In light of other recent expansions of copyright law, the creation of this new unpublished public domain provided a welcome ray of sunshine to those who favor a strong public domain. There are, nonetheless, some dark clouds on the horizon for public domain supporters. Although older unpublished works are now in the public domain as a matter of copyright law, it may remain possible for those who own the physical embodiments of such works to use their personal property ownership to condition access to those works - for example, by requiring those to whom they grant access to the work to agree not to publish it. Furthermore, European Union nations have adopted a harmonized “publication right” that gives the first person to publish a previously unpublished public domain work 25 years of copyright-like protection.This chapter considers how those interested in maximizing the public-domain status of older, unpublished works can, in light of these potential impediments, work within the boundaries of existing law to do so. Holders of unpublished public domain material - especially archives and museums - must be encouraged to use contracts that restrict publication of such material in their collections as sparingly and responsibly as possible, an approach largely in concert with the articulated norms of professional archive and museum communities. In addition, those who hold unpublished public domain materials should work to get those works published in such a way that the EU’s publication right does not attach to those works, or that the holder of the publication right does not exercise it to restrict further use of the works.
Effect of vane configuration on yield stress measurements of cement pastes

Abstract The reliable yield stress (τ0) measurement of cement pastes requires selection of appropriate vane configuration and thorough understanding of shear stress distribution acting on top, bottom, and sides of the vane. In this project, 11 vanes containing 2–6 blades, height/diameter ratio (H/D) varying from 2.4 to 1.5, and various shapes including cylindrical, conical, and coaxial-cylindrical were considered. The data obtained were normalized with respect to the cohesion (C) determined using the direct shear method. Test results have shown that vanes made with gradually reduced H/D and/or having conical shapes led to relatively increased τ0 values. For given H/D, the use of coaxial-cylindrical vanes resulted in abrupt breakdown of material structure along with the lowest τ0 responses. The presence of slots is believed to minimize the end effects and strengthen the assumption of shearing taking place within the suspension, which could be advantageous in τ0 measurements.