cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survival of Walleye Eggs in Suspended Wood Fibers

Abstract Conclusions Mechanical action of suspended wood fibers at concentrations as heavy as 250 p.p.m. has no measurable effect upon the survival of walleye eggs. Before wood fibers can be regarded as harmless to fish eggs in natural waters, however, survival of eggs on wood-fiber deposits on stream bottoms must be determined.
Measuring protein interactions by microchip self-interaction chromatography.

Abstract The self-interaction of proteins is of paramount importance in aggregation and crystallization phenomena. Solution conditions leading to a change in the state of aggregation of a protein, whether amorphous or crystalline, have mainly been discovered by the use of trial and error screening of large numbers of solutions. Self-interaction chromatography has the potential to provide a quantitative method for determination of protein self-interactions amenable to high-throughput screening. This paper describes the construction and characterization of a microchip separation system for low-pressure self-interaction chromatography using lysozyme as a model protein. The retention time was analyzed as a function of mobile-phase composition, amount of protein injected, flow rate, and stationary-phase modification. The capacity factors (k') as a function of crystallizing agent concentration are compared with previously published values for the osmotic second virial coefficient (B(22)) obtained by static light scattering, showing the ability of the chip to accurately determine protein-protein interactions. A 500-fold reduction in protein consumption and the possibility of using conventional instrumentation and automation are some of the advantages over currently used methodologies for evaluating protein-protein interactions.
MISC: the minimal instruction set computer

The minimal instruction set computer (MISC) is a simulation of a simple hardware machine written in the Java language. The architecture represented is register-oriented. MISC has been used by the author in several classes at the undergraduate level. It is under further development at the present time.
Effect of heating on the headspace volatiles of Finnish birch syrup

Abstract The volatiles of birch syrup, heated from 0 to 10 min at 100°C, were analyzed by GC, GC-MS, and by an experienced panel of judges. Some aliphatic carbonyl compounds, especially 3-methylbutanal, 2-methylbutanal, and 2,3-pentanedione, as well as dimethyldisulfide increased markedly in the samples upon heating. Heating birch syrup reduced the aroma intensity of vanillin, had little effect on furaneol, and increased development of burnt aromas. The burnt aroma of the heated syrups paralleled the amounts of dimethyldisulfide. Heating samples in open vials generally resulted in less burnt aroma and greater caramel and furaneol aromas. In comparison with maple syrup, birch syrup was distinctly stronger in furaneol, caramel and burnt aromas, and lower in vanillin aroma.
Ecologically Relevant Variation in Induction and Function of Heat Shock Proteins in Marine Organisms

Ectothermic organisms often face dramatic traverses of environmental temperature on a daily or seasonal basis; exemplars among this group are invertebrates and fish of the rocky intertidal zone. Because of the extremes of temperature exposure, intertidal animals have served as an excellent study system to examine the expression of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in response to natural variation in environmental temperature. Ecologically relevant variation in Hsp expression has been observed with seasonal acclimatization, with small-scale temperature gradients that occur in microhabitats and between species with different intertidal distributions. The maturing understanding of Hsp expression patterns in marine organisms has established a solid foundation on which to build the next set of questions. In this paper, I present an overview of the variation of Hsp expression in intertidal animals in nature and then address two emerging areas of investigation in the ecological physiology of Hsps. One area addresses the plasticity of Hsp expression in marine invertebrates and focuses on the mechanism of regulation of Hsp gene expression by environmental temperature. A second emerging area of investigation concerns whether Hsps as molecular chaperones display functional diversity that correlates with species' adaptation temperature.
Evaluating Smooth Muscle Cells from CaCl2-Induced Rat Aortal Expansions as a Surrogate Culture Model for Study of Elastogenic Induction of Human Aneurysmal Cells

Regression of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) via regeneration of new elastic matrix is constrained by poor elastin synthesis by adult vascular cells and absence of methods to stimulate the same. We recently showed hyaluronan oligomers (HA-o) and TGF-β1 (termed elastogenic factors) to enhance elastin synthesis and matrix formation by healthy rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). We also determined that these factors could likewise elastogenically induce aneurysmal RASMCs isolated from periadventitial CaCl2-injury induced rat AAAs (aRASMCs). However, the factor doses should be increased for these diseased cell types, as even when induced, elastic matrix amounts are roughly one order of magnitude lower than those produced by healthy RASMCs. We presently investigate the dose-specific elastogenic effects of HA-o (0–20 μg/mL) and TGF-β1 (0–10 ng/mL) factors on aRASMCs and compare their phenotype and elastogenic responses to those of human AAA-derived SMCs (aHASMCs); we seek to determine whether aRASMCs ar...
Angular Distribution of the Outgoing Electrons in Electronic Ionization.

Abstract : The information which can be obtained from measurements on both the outgoing particles in single ionization is discussed for the case of high-energy electrons incident on neutral one-and two-electron atoms. The Born Approximation is used to analyze a particular experiment suggested by studies of the nuclear (p,2p) reaction. It is concluded that the momentum distribution for the single-electron orbitals of atomic systems can be determined by experiments of this type. The effects of identity and correlations are investigated, especially for the case of target helium atoms. (Author)
Theory of bonding charge density in β′ NiAl

Abstract Fox and Tabbernor [Acta metall. mater.39, 669 (1991)] have recently measured the four lowest structure factors F(G) of NiAl using highly accurate high energy electron diffraction. We present here a systematic comparison of their results with ab initio band theory, in the context of the local density formalism. We find very good agreement for the three of the four lowest measured structure factors, while our F(200) is ∼0.4 e/cell higher. We tentatively attribute this difference to uncertainties in the treatment of the temperature factors in non-monoatomic compounds. Indeed, comparing with experiment our calculation for the monoatomic Si crystal (where the temperature term factors out), we find that theory reproduces the measured structure factors to within a very small deviations of ∼0.02 e/atom. We have also examined the effect of high Fourier components that are not currently amenable to measurements on the ensuing NiAl deformation electron density distribution (DEDD) maps. We find that the truncation of the Fourier series after four structure factors misses the directional d-like charge lobes near the Ni sites. We show that static and dynamic DEDD give a similar picture of the bonding.
USE OF LASERS IN PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY

Since the elucidation of the principles of selective photothermolysis, lasers have revolutionized the treatment of many types of vascular and pigmented lesions seen in children. Although laser treatment is not perfect, it is extremely safe and allows for improvement or in some instances complete removal of previously untreatable childhood abnormalities. Children with any of the types of lesions discussed in this paper should be referred to an experienced laser surgeon for early evaluation and treatment if appropriate.
Joint Parameter Estimation and Base-Calling for Pyrosequencing Systems

Sequencing-by-synthesis technology takes us a step closer to the promises of personalized medicine by enabling affordable and fast DNA sequencing. Its accuracy, however, is fundamentally limited by the imperfections of the underlying biochemical processes and signal acquisition noise. In this paper, we focus on pyrosequencing systems, derive a mathematical model of the signal they acquire, and develop a joint parameter estimation and base-calling procedure which relies on Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and iterative least squares techniques. Simulations and experimental results demonstrate that the MCMC algorithm outperforms existing state-of-the-art base-calling method.
The role of institutional support in protecting human research subjects.

ABSTRACT Institutional review boards (IRBs) and the federal “assurance” procedures play critical roles in the current research and regulatory environments for clinical research in academic medical centers and other institutions. The author focuses on what institutions can and ought to do to create an infrastructure that assures the protection of human subjects. Specifically, an institution should (1) create an ethics infrastructure in which both IRBs and the function of protecting human subjects are respected; (2) assure that adequate resources (space, staff, equipment) are available; (3) support IRB members with appropriate recognition and time, since their IRB workloads can be heavy; and (4) provide adequate and appropriate education for IRB administrators, members, and staff, and for investigators and research staff. Academic medical centers should also use their expertise in analyzing the current system and developing means of improving it. Nevertheless, providing adequate resources for proper research conduct will be challenging, given the current financial limitations within academic medical centers.
Spatial analysis of environment and population at risk of natural gas fracking in the state of Pennsylvania, USA

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, has been increasing exponentially across the United States, which holds the largest known shale gas reserves in the world. Studies have found that the high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing process (HVHFP) threatens water resources, harms air quality, changes landscapes, and damages ecosystems. However, there is minimal research focusing on the spatial study of environmental and human risks of HVHFP, which is necessary for state and federal governments to administer, regulate, and assess fracking. Integrating GIS and spatial kernel functions, we study the presently operating fracking wells across the state of Pennsylvania (PA), which is the main part of the current hottest Marcellus Shale in US. We geographically process the location data of hydraulic fracturing wells, 2010 census block data, urbanized region data, railway data, local road data, open water data, river data, and wetland data for the state of PA. From this we develop a distance based risk assessment in order to understand the environmental and urban risks. We generate the surface data of fracking well intensity and population intensity by integrating spatial dependence, semivariogram modeling, and a quadratic kernel function. The surface data of population risk generated by the division of fracking well intensity and population intensity provide a novel insight into the local and regional regulation of hydraulic fracturing activities in terms of environmental and health related risks due to the proximity of fracking wells.
A bushy cell network in the rat ventral cochlear nucleus

Geometry of the dendritic tree and synaptic organization of afferent inputs are essential factors in determining how synaptic input is integrated by neurons. This information remains elusive for one of the first brainstem neurons involved in processing of the primary auditory signal from the ear, the bushy cells (BCs) of the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN). Here, we labeled the BC dendritic trees with retrograde tracing techniques to analyze their geometry and synaptic organization after immunofluorescence for excitatory and inhibitory synaptic markers, electron microscopy, morphometry, double tract-tracing methods, and 3D reconstructions. Our study revealed that BC dendrites provide space for a large number of compartmentalized excitatory and inhibitory synaptic interactions. The dendritic inputs on BCs are of cochlear and noncochlear origin, and their proportion and distribution are dependent on the branching pattern and orientation of the dendritic tree in the VCN. Three-dimensional reconstructions showed that BC dendrites branch and cluster with those of other BCs in the core of the VCN. Within the cluster, incoming synaptic inputs establish divergent multiple-contact synapses (dyads and triads) between BCs. Furthermore, neuron-neuron connections including puncta adherentia, sarcoplasmic junctions, and gap junctions are common between BCs, which suggests that these neurons are electrically coupled. Overall, our study demonstrates the existence of a BC network in the rat VCN. This network may establish the neuroanatomical basis for acoustic information processing by individual BCs as well as for enhanced synchronization of the output signal of the VCN.
Transfer matrices, realization, and control of continuous-time linear time-varying systems via polynomial fractional representations

Abstract An algebraic theory of transfer matrices, fractional representations, and control for linear continuous-time time-varying systems based on the realization theory of input-output maps is given. It is shown for the first time that the realization of such systems specified by an abstract input-output map (as a module homomorphism over noncommutative polynomial rings) can be established using an abstract Kalman input-output map defined over a ring of skew polynomials with time-varying coefficients. It is shown that, in fact, transfer matrices can be defined as formal power
Aqueous solution equilibria of pyridoxamine, pyridoxal, 3-hydroxypyridine-4-aldehyde, and 3-hydroxypyridine-2-aldehyde as studied by proton resonance

Abstract The acid-base equilibria of two members of the vitamin B 6 group of compounds, pyridoxamine and pyridoxal, and two simple analogs of the latter, 3-hydroxypyridine-4-aldehyde, and 3-hydroxypyridine-2-aldehyde, have been studied by PMR in D 2 O solutions over the pD range 1–13. The pD dependence of the chemical shifts has been used to obtain pK values for the individual acid dissociation steps of each compound, and to deduce the structures of the principal species involved in each step. pK values so determined correlate well with those obtained in aqueous (H 2 O) solution by direct titrimetry or spectrophotometry. Deprotonation sequences of the four compounds derived from the PMR results corroborate the essential features of these sequences proposed previously from spectrophotometric investigations.
The determination of auroral activity by a photometric method

In the majority of records of auroral activity the total intensity has been estimated visually and the results expressed in international coefficients ]see 1 of ”References“ at end of paper[. This is a useful method but is liable to inaccuracies due to individual differences in observers and to the difficulty of forming any precise estimate of intensity-variations when these are accompanied by changes in color and by a movement of the luminous regions. In a few cases objective records of activity have been made. The French Polar-Year Party at Scoresby Sound used an electrical device for measuring intensity [2]. It appeared to be very satisfactory, even detecting auroras during foggy weather. The records show that the luminous intensity may vary in the ratio 1:1000. The method does not seem, however, to be in general use. Continuous photographic recording of the intensity of various spectral lines has also been used [3]. The plates were exposed for a constant interval and the developed image-densities compared. In this way a curve of average activity during successive intervals of time can be plotted.
Service Use Findings from the Child STEPs Effectiveness Trial: Additional Support for Modular Designs.

This study expands upon the Chorpita et al. (J Consult Clin Psychol 81:999–1009, 2013) findings by examining the impact of treatment protocol on youths’ service utilization up to 2 years after starting an episode of: standard manualized treatment (Standard); modular treatment (Modular); or usual care (UC). Results showed that youths who received Modular accessed fewer service settings at their one-year follow-up relative to youths who received Standard or UC. Findings suggest that modular treatment may offer an advantage over standardized treatment manuals and UC in terms of sustained clinical benefits, and highlight the importance of treatment design considerations for service systems.
Numerical and Experimental Study of the Effect of Underfloor Blockages on Data Center Performance

Due to the increase in computer rack equipment power in recent years, thermal management of data centers has become a challenging problem. Data center facilities with raised floor plenums are the most popular configuration from a thermal management perspective. Considerable ongoing research efforts focus on optimizing the room layouts and equipment design in order to achieve the desired cooling. However, the detrimental impact of underfloor blockages, which occur widely, is seldom addressed. These blockages often take the form of chiller pipes, cabling, and wires. They impede the flow of cold air from the air conditioning units and yield unpredictable and undesirable air flow patterns. In this paper the effect of such underfloor blockages on data center performance is characterized in detail. A representative data center is modeled using a commercial computational fluid dynamics code with typical underfloor blockages. Blockages are shown to have a significant impact on tile flow rates and rack inlet temperatures. Based on the detailed numerical study broad guidelines are presented on managing the underfloor blockages for improved data center performance. Established guidelines are experimentally validated on a different data center cell. A detailed comparison between the experimental and numerical results is presented. Based on the numerical and experimental study it is concluded that blockages if placed in "critical" path can potentially have a detrimental impact on data center performance. Case studies are presented where blockages in "safe" path will have a minimum effect on data center performance.
Closed-loop systems and automation in the era of patients safety and perioperative medicine.

In 2013, General Motors, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Tesla all announced that they would bring self-driving cars to market for the general population before 2020 [1]. Some expectations suggest that by 2040, 75 % of all cars will be autonomous [2] and that this may reduce traffic accidents by a factor 10 [3]. In looking ahead at this possibility, three US states have already enacted laws addressing autonomous vehicles (California, Florida, and Nevada). We’ve come a long way since the model T first rolled off the assembly line. A moment’s reflection will show that automation has flourished in nearly every part of our daily lives. It has made aviation safer and more fuel efficient, modern life more comfortable with the widespread adoption of air conditioning, and has transformed the food industry with the invention of the refrigerator. The whole concept of life and homeostasis, described by Claude Bernard decades ago, relies essentially on feedback control; mammalian physiology may be the most sophisticated series of closed loop systems to ever exist. In looking at our specialty, it is likely that forms of
Clinical, electrocardiographic and morphologic features of massive fatty deposites (“lipomatous hypertrophy”) in the atrial septum

Objectives. This study examined the morphologic features and the clinical significance of massive fatty deposits in the atrial septum of the heart. Background. Large deposits of adipose tissue in the atrial septum were first described in 1964 and have been referred to as “lipomatous hypertrophy” of the atrial septum. A relation between these fatty deposits and atrial arrhythmias has been suggested. Methods. The thickness of the atrial septum cephalad to the fossa ovalis ranged from 1.5 to 6 cm in 91 patients and was ≥2 cm in 80 patients. This report focuses primarily on the latter 80 patients. Results. The thickness of the atrial septum in the 80 patients correlated with body weight and the thickness of the adipose tissue in the atrioventricular groove and that covering the right ventricle. In 53 patients (67%), one or more of the four major epicardial coronary arteries were narrowed >75% in cross-sectioeal area by atherosclerotic plaque. Atrial arrhythmias were present in 31 patients (40%). Patients with larger deposits of fat (atrial septal thickness ≥3 cm) had a higher frequency of atrial arrhythmias (60% vs. 34%, p < 0.01). The atrial septum was significantly thicker in patients with atrial arrhythmia compared with those without atrial arrhythmias (2.9 vs. 2.3 cm, p < 0.01). Of the 28 patients with available electrocardiograms, 20 (71%) showed atrial arrhythmias (nine atrial premature complexes, seven atrial fibrillation, three atrial tachycardia, one ectopic atrial rhythm and one junctional rhythm). Conclusions. Massive fatty deposits in the atrial septum are associated with large deposits of fat elsewhere in the body and other parts of the heart. They are frequently associated with atrial arrhythmias and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.
Mutation I136V alters electrophysiological properties of the NaV1.7 channel in a family with onset of erythromelalgia in the second decade

Background Primary erythromelalgia is an autosomal dominant pain disorder characterized by burning pain and skin redness in the extremities, with onset of symptoms during the first decade in the families whose mutations have been physiologically studied to date. Several mutations of voltage-gated Na+ channel NaV1.7 have been linked with primary erythromelalgia. Recently, a new substitution NaV1.7/I136V has been reported in a Taiwanese family, in which pain appeared at later ages (9–22 years, with onset at 17 years of age or later in 5 of 7 family members), with relatively slow progression (8–10 years) to involvement of the hands. The proband reported onset of symptoms first in his feet at the age of 11, which then progressed to his hands at the age of 19. The new mutation is located in transmembrane segment 1 (S1) of domain I (DI) in contrast to all NaV1.7 mutations reported to date, which have been localized in the voltage sensor S4, the linker joining segments S4 and S5 or pore-lining segments S5 and S6 in DI, II and III.
Improved Algorithms for Sign Determination and Existential Quantifier Elimination

Recently there has been a lot of activity in algorithms that work over real closed fields, and that perform such calculations as quantifier elimination or computing connected components of semi-algebraic sets. A cornerstone of this work is a symbolic sign determination algorithm due to Ben-Or, Kozen and Reif [2]. In this paper we describe a new sign determination method based on the earlier algorithm, but with two advantages: (i) It is faster in the univariate case, and (ii) In the general case, it allows purely symbolic quantifier elimination in pseudo-polynomial time. By purely symbolic, we mean that it is possible to eliminate a quantified variable from a system of polynomials no matter what the coefficient values are
Energy concentration and amino acid digestibility in corn and corn coproducts from the wet-milling industry fed to growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine DE and ME and the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of CP and AA in corn and corn coproducts (high-fat corn germ [HFCG], corn bran, liquid corn extractives [LCE], and a mixture of corn germ meal and LCE [CGM-LCE]) fed to growing pigs. In Exp. 1, 40 growing barrows (initial BW: 33.4 ± 5.77 kg) were housed individually in metabolism cages and randomly allotted to 1 of 5 diets. A corn-based diet (97.4% corn) and 4 diets that contained both corn and each of the corn coproducts were formulated. Each diet was fed to 8 pigs. Feces and urine samples were collected using the marker to marker method with 5-d adaptation and 5-d collection periods. The DE and ME were calculated using the difference procedure. The concentrations of DE and ME in HFCG, corn bran, LCE, and CGM-LCE were less (P < 0.05) than in corn. Among corn coproducts, the concentration of DE in HFCG was greater (P < 0.05) than in corn bran, but the DE in corn bran was not different from DE values in LCE and CGM-LCE. No differences were observed in the ME concentrations among corn coproducts. In Exp. 2, 6 growing barrows (initial BW: 96.6 ± 1.16 kg) with a T-cannula in the distal ileum were randomly allotted to a 6 × 6 Latin square design with 6 diets and 6 periods. A N-free diet and 5 diets that contained corn, HFCG, corn bran, LCE, or CGM-LCE as the sole source of CP and AA were formulated. Each period lasted 7 d and ileal digesta were collected on d 6 and 7 of each period. The SID of CP and all indispensable AA was greater (P < 0.05) in corn than in all corn coproducts with the exception that the SID of Lys in corn was not different from the SID of Lys in HFCG, and the SID of Trp in corn was also not different from the SID of Trp in CGM-LCE. Among corn coproducts, the SID of CP, Arg, and Lys were greater (P < 0.05) in HFCG and CGM-LCE than in corn bran, the SID of Lys and Val was greater (P < 0.05) in LCE than in corn bran, and the SID of Arg was greater (P < 0.05) in HFCG and CGM-LCE than in LCE, but for the remaining indispensable AA, no differences among corn coproducts were observed. In conclusion, the corn coproducts used in these experiments contain less ME and have reduced SID of most AA compared with corn, but there are no differences in ME among corn coproducts and only few differences in the SID of indispensable AA among HFCG, corn bran, LCE, and CGM-LCE.
The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor is a sensitive indicator of domoic acid neurotoxicity

Abstract To evaluate the utility of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) as a biomarker of neurotoxicity, we measured receptor levels after sub-seizure doses of domoic acid (0–3.0 mg/kg) in rats using [3H]PK-11195 autoradiography. PBR expression in limbic structures was significantly increased 5 days, but not 24 or 48 h after injection of 3.0 mg/kg domoic acid. The largest increase in [3H]PK-11195 binding (>500% above control) was found in the CA3 subfield of the hippocampus. Other limbic structures including the CA1 hippocampal subfield, subiculum, dentate gyrus and amygdala also showed significant increases in PBR expression, as did the striatum and substantia nigra pars reticulata. Smaller but significant increases were also observed 5 days after injection of 1.5 mg/kg, but not in animals treated with 0.75 mg/kg domoic acid. No pathology was observed after routine histological staining of brain tissue. Spatial learning and memory, a process thought to be associated with the hippocampus, was assessed in the Morris water maze. Groups treated with 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg, but not 0.75 mg/kg domoic acid were significantly impaired in water maze performance. These findings suggest that the PBR could provide a sensitive and specific biomarker of neurotoxicity. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Critical English for academic purposes: Building on learner, teacher, and program strengths

Abstract Using a critical EAP framework, the current needs analysis or rights analysis study ( Benesch, 2001a ), examines an EAP Writing Program at an urban Hispanic-serving college in the northeast U.S. Analysis of student-writing portfolios, student, professor, and EAP Writing-Center survey and interview data showed that restructuring institutional hierarchies better addressed program and student needs instead of a narrow focus on student “lacks”, “gaps”, or “deficiencies”, a common approach in traditional needs analyses. Using strategic institutional partnerships, the once marginalized EAP Program, primarily serving Generation 1.5 immigrant students, began its first steps in reimagining how to improve program course coherence, communication, content, and student learning objectives, as well as reimagining EAP teacher and student authority, building on and benefitting from stakeholder strengths.
Unbiased binding assays for discovering small-molecule probes and drugs

2011 marks the 10-year anniversary of milestone manuscripts describing drafts of the human genome sequence. Over the past decade, a number of new proteins have been linked to disease-many of which fall into classes that have been historically considered challenging from the perspective of drug discovery. Several of these newly associated proteins lack structural information or strong annotation with regard to function, making development of conventional in vitro functional assays difficult. A recent resurgence in the popularity of simple small molecule binding assays has led to new approaches that do not require knowledge of protein structure or function in advance. Here we briefly review selected methods for executing binding assays that have been used successfully to discover small-molecule probes or drug candidates.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 51

Nuclear structure data available through August 1977 are compiled, and adopted level properties are given. The bulk of the data is presented pictorially for easy comparison. Experimental details, references, and additional comments, where required, are given in the text. All drawings, tables, and comments are reproduced from the computerized Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF). Any additions or corrections desired by the users should be addressed to the compilers for maintenance and updating of the computer file.
Computation of Surface Orientation and Structure of Objects Using Grid Coding

In this correspondence, algorithms are introduced to infer surface orientation and structure of visible object surfaces using grid coding. We adopt the active lighting technique to spatially ``encode'' the scene for analysis. The observed objects, which can have surfaces of arbitrary shape, are assumed to rest on a plane (base plane) in a scene which is ``encoded'' with light cast through a grid plane. Two orthogonal grid patterns are used, where each pattern is obtained with a set of equally spaced stripes marked on a glass pane. The scene is observed through a camera and the object surface orientation is determined using the projected patterns on the object surface. If the surfaces under consideration obey certain smoothness constraints, a dense orientation map can be obtained through proper interpolation. The surface structure can then be recovered given this dense orientation map. Both planar and curved surfaces can be handled in a uniform manner. The algorithms we propose yield reasonably accurate results and are relatively tolerant to noise, especially when compared to shape-from-shading techniques. In contrast to other grid coding techniques reported which match the grid junctions for depth reconstruction under the stereopsis principle, our techniques use the direction of the projected stripes to infer local surface orientation and do not require any correspondence relationship between either the grid lines or the grid junctions to be specified. The algorithm has the ability to register images and can therefore be embedded in a system which integrates knowledge from multiple views.
The unified approach to spectral analysis. II

We develop a new, unified, method to construct a closed (selfad-joint in ℒ2) extension of a partial differential operator in all the spaces ℒp(ℝn) 1≦p≦∞. Our method is not only an unified approach but it is also very efficient. We obtain very weak conditions on the potentials.
Glassy to icosahedral phase transformation in Pd-U-Si alloys.

We observe for the first time the transformation of glassy alloys (${\mathrm{Pd}}_{100\ensuremath{-}x\ensuremath{-}y}{\mathrm{U}}_{x}{\mathrm{Si}}_{y}$, $x\ensuremath{\simeq}y\ensuremath{\simeq}20$ at.%) into a metastable icosahedral phase with quasicrystalline order upon annealing. The icosahedral symmetry of the latter phase is confirmed by x-ray and electron diffraction. This phase can be formed only within a very narrow compositional range ( 2 at.%) of U and Si, suggestive of a strong chemical ordering in it. The icosahedral and glassy phases have similar electrical transport properties. However, magnetic-susceptibility results indicate that the electronic structure of the icosahedral phase is very different from its glassy and crystalline (U${\mathrm{Pd}}_{3}$) counterparts.
Victimization and fear of crime in an entertainment district crime “hot spot:” A test of structural-choice theory

Theories of criminal opportunity and criminal victimization (lifestyles, routine activities, and structuralchoice) all stress the convergence of motivated offenders, suitable targets, and the absence of guardianship in time and space. They each assert the chances of victimization increase as proximity to motivated offenders, exposure to highrisk environments, target attractiveness, and ineffective guardianship increase. This study tests Miethe and Meier’s structuralchoice theory by examining domainspecific victimization and fear of crime among patrons of an entertainment district crime “hot spot. ”Regression results show both victimization experience and fear of crime are associated significantly with indicators of proximity and guardianship, but not with exposure or target attractiveness. White patrons of this area are more likely to be victimized, nonwhites report significantly higher levels of fear.
Review on δ-Transformation-Induced Plasticity (TRIP) Steels with Low Density: The Concept and Current Progress

Novel alloys with high aluminum addition, so-called δ-transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP), have been developed recently for the third generation of advanced high strength steels for automotive applications, which are promising owing to the potential weldability as well as the combination of strength and ductility. In addition, the high aluminum addition results in a density reduction of approximately 5% in these δ-TRIP alloys without sacrificing the Young’s modulus in uniaxial tensile tests. The origin of δ-TRIP concept is introduced first with a review of the published work on δ-TRIP alloys. This review will include methodology for retention of δ-ferrite in casting, rolling and welding conditions, microstructure evolution by austempering, as well as microstructures–properties relationship involving the roles of blocky and lath retained austenite. In addition, currently unresolved problems will be discussed regarding the fundamentals of materials design, automotive application, and industrial manufacturing.
Stress and ACTH increase circulating concentrations of 3α-androstanediol in female rats

The present experiments were carried out to determine what physiological conditions are responsible for the acute increases in serum levels of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol (3 alpha-androstanediol, 3 alpha-Adiol) which are seen in the intact estrous female rat within 15-30 min after mating. Blood samples were obtained from proestrus rats immediately before and 20 min after injection of exogenous hormones or initiation of stress procedures, and plasma concentrations of 3 alpha-Adiol and/or progesterone (P) were measured in these samples by RIA. Intravenous injections of ovine LH (5, 15, or 45 micrograms) or saline resulted in equivalent significant increases in plasma 3 alpha-Adiol 20 min after injection. In contrast, dose-dependent increases in 3 alpha-Adiol were seen after intravenous injection of 0 (acidic saline vehicle), 2, 4, or 8 ng ACTH1-24 to dexamethasone-pretreated rats. The highest ACTH1-24 dose also resulted in a significant increase in plasma P concentration. In a third experiment, a significant increase in 3 alpha-Adiol concentration above baseline was seen at 20 min after onset of restraint stress; in this case plasma P concentrations did not increase significantly. Finally, blood samples were obtained after onset of ether/jugular venipuncture stress two days after ovariectomy (ovx), adrenalectomy (adx), or ovx+adx on diestrus. The plasma 3 alpha-Adiol response to stress was normal in intact sham-operated and non-operated groups of controls, but was significantly diminished in the ovx and the adx groups to 28.4% of that shown by the intact animals. Circulating 3 alpha-Adiol concentrations were undetectable in 22/26 samples obtained in the ovx+adx group. These data demonstrate that plasma concentrations of 3 alpha-Adiol increase in response to stress or ACTH but not LH, and that both the ovary and the adrenal contribute to this increase.
Maturational and aging effects on human brain apparent transverse relaxation.

The goal of this study was to address the need for comprehensive reference data regarding maturational and aging effects on regional transverse relaxation rates (R2) of the brain in normal humans. Regional R2s were measured in twenty-five brain structures from a sample of seventy-seven normal volunteers 9 to 85 years of age. The relationships between regional R2 and age were determined using generalized additive models, without the constraint of a specified a priori model. Data analysis demonstrated that the brain tissue R2-age correlations followed various time courses with both linear and non-linear characteristics depending on the particular brain structure. Most anatomical structures studied exhibited non-linear characteristics, including the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, globus pallidus, putamen, caudate nucleus, red nucleus, substantia nigra, orbitofrontal white matter and temporal white matter. Linear trends were detected in occipital white matter and in the genu of corpus callosum. These results indicate the complexity of age-related R2 changes in the brain while providing normative reference data that can be utilized in clinical examinations and studies utilizing quantitative transverse relaxation.
Hypovolemic Shock Resuscitation

Several changes in the way patients with hemorrhagic shock are resuscitated have occurred over the past decades, including permissive hypotension, minimal crystalloid resuscitation, earlier blood transfusion, and higher plasma and platelet-to-red cell ratios. Hemostatic adjuncts, such as tranexamic acid and prothrombin complex, and the use of new methods of assessing coagulopathy are also being incorporated into resuscitation of the bleeding patient. These ideas have been incorporated by many trauma centers into institutional massive transfusion protocols, and adoption of these protocols has resulted in improvements in mortality and morbidity. This article discusses each of these new resuscitation strategies and the evidence supporting their use.
Tiny web services: design and implementation of interoperable and evolvable sensor networks

We present a web service based approach to enable an evolutionary sensornet system where additional sensor nodes may be added after the initial deployment. The functionality and data provided by the new nodes is exposed in a structured manner, so that multiple applications may access them. The result is a highly inter-operable system where multiple applications can share a common evolving sensor substrate. A key challenge in using web services on resource constrained sensor nodes is the energy and bandwidth overhead of the structured data formats used in web services. Our work provides a detailed evaluation of the overheads and presents an implementation on a representative sensor platform with 48k of ROM, 10k of RAM and a 802.15.4 radio. We identify design choices that optimize the web service operation on resource constrained sensor nodes, including support for low latency messaging and sleep modes, quantifying trade-offs between the design generality and resource efficiency. We also prototyped an example application, for home energy management, demonstrating how evolutionary sensor networks can be supported with our approach.
On the characterization of solution sets of smooth and nonsmooth stochastic Nash games

Variational analysis provides an avenue for characterizing olution sets of deterministic Nash games over continuous trategy sets. We examine whether similar statements, articularly pertaining to existence and uniqueness may be ade, when player objectives are given by expectations of either mooth or nonsmooth functions. In general, a direct application f deterministic results is difficult since the expectation peration results in a less tractable nonlinear function. Our nterest is in developing an analytical framework that only equires the analysis of the integrands of the expectations. ccordingly, in both the smooth and nonsmooth settings, we how that if an appropriate coercivity result holds in an lmost-sure fashion, then the existence of an equilibrium to the riginal stochastic Nash game may be claimed. In the smooth etting, a corresponding sufficiency condition for uniqueness is lso provided. We illustrate the utility of our framework by xamining a class of stochastic Nash-Cournot games in which onsmoothness arises from the use of a risk measure.
Two different scenarios of squamous cell carcinoma within advanced Basal cell carcinomas: cases illustrating the importance of serial biopsy during vismodegib usage.

IMPORTANCE Vismodegib is a Hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitor recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for advanced basal cell carcinoma. We present 2 cases of clinically significant squamous cell carcinoma within the tumor bed of locally advanced basal cell carcinoma found during vismodegib treatment. OBSERVATIONS The first case is that of a patient with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma responsive to vismodegib but with an enlarging papule within the tumor bed. On biopsy, this papule was an invasive acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma. The second case is that of a patient with Gorlin syndrome with a locally advanced basal cell carcinoma that was stable while the patient was receiving therapy with vismodegib for 2.5 years but subsequently increased in size. Biopsy specimens from this tumor showed invasive squamous cell carcinoma, spindle cell subtype. In both cases, the squamous cell carcinomas were surgically resected.
A pump-prime aprotinin dose in cardiac surgery: Appraisal of its effects on the hemostatic system

Abstract Objectives: To examine pump-prime aprotinin action on coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients undergoing primary coronary revascularization. Design: A prospective randomized study. Setting: A university hospital. Participants: Forty-three patients were randomly assigned to either group A, 21 patients treated with 2 × 106 kallikrein inhibitor units (KIU) of aprotinin in the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) prime, or group B, 22 patients, untreated. Interventions: Patients, scheduled for elective coronary surgery, were treated with 2 × 106 KIU of aprotinin in the CPB prime. Markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis were evaluated. Measurements and Main Results: Surgical times, number of reopenings, and allogeneic blood requirements were collected for each patient. Blood samples were obtained before and after surgery for assessing coagulation (prothrombin time [PT], activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT], ethanol test, factor VII, antithrombin III [AT III], thrombinantithrombin III complex [TAT], fragment 1.2 of prothrombin [F1.2]) and fibrinolysis (fibrin degradation products [FDP], plasmin-antiplasmin complexes [PAP], D-dimers) markers variations. In group A surgical times were faster, there were fewer reopenings (0 v 3), and fewer blood transfusions (1 patient v 4 patients). The two groups did not differ for PT, aPTT, and fibrinogen measurements. Postoperative FDP (measurable in more patients of group B at the end of the operation), PAP, and D-dimers postoperatory levels (less increased in aprotinin group) show the antifibrinolytic properties of the drug. Regarding the coagulation markers, factor VII decreased, whereas TAT and F1.2 increased, all to a lesser extent in the aprotinin group compared with the untreated patients, at the end of operation. Conclusion: Pump-prime aprotinin minimized, even if not completely inhibited, the activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis during CPB, possibly ensuring a less complicated and safer postoperative recovery. It seemed to allow the maintenance of a correct balance of hemostatic systems, avoiding the risk of thrombotic phenomena.
Partial-Year Insurance Coverage and the Health Care Utilization of Children:

A large literature examines the effects of health insurance on the health care utilization of children; however, most existing studies conceptualize coverage as a point-in-time measure rather than as a dynamic phenomenon. The major contribution of this article is its provision of estimates on the relationship between the duration of coverage over the course of a calendar year and health care utilization among children. Using child-level fixed-effects regression, we find that an incremental uninsured month is associated with a 0.7 percentage point decline in the probability of receiving a visit over the course of a year and a 3% decrease in the number of visits received. Children with intrayear coverage losses are more likely than those with continuous coverage to lose their usual source of care, which serves as a potential mechanism through which short gaps in coverage may lead to longer-term decrements in utilization.
Error Analysis in the Approximation of Sturm–Liouville Spectral Density Functions

Abstract As one of its options the software package SLEDGE estimates Sturm–Liouville spectral density functions for problems having continuous spectrum. This paper contains the error analysis underlying SLEDGE's approximations: error bounds, Richardson's extrapolation, and stability analysis. Several alternate interpolation schemes are introduced and analyzed. An improvement to SLEDGE is suggested and tested.
Application of a fluorescence sensor for miniscale on-line monitoring of powder mixing kinetics

A portable system using light-induced fluorescence technology (LIF) was development as an analytical tool for on-line monitoring of various manufacturing process applications. The LIF system was verified in several laboratory scale process applications specifically in noninvasive real-time observations of blend kinetics in tumbler blenders. This technology, through careful selection of filters for specific formulations, can provide clean and unadulterated raw data that shows the actual blend characteristic behavior of powder mixtures such as homogeneity end point and blend stability. Consistent blend homogeneity end point was demonstrated for all runs with LIF where data were verified by thief sampling and UV spectrophotometric assays. A correlation between LIF signal and drug powder concentration was established with limits of detection below 0.02% w/w for the API, Triamterene.
Pornography: reactions and reality.

The Greek word porne (harlot) paired with graphe (picture or writing) has for centuries been used for depiction of sexual activity from cave paintings to contemporary internet depictions, movies, and videos. Playboy-type magazines are considered “tame” today. This brief discussion will update busy physicians of all specialties as to how their patients may be using or overusing available explicit materials and will also assess the impact on the patients' current work and home adjustment.