cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of a very high-resolution small animal PET scanner using a silicon scatter detector insert

A small animal positron emission tomography (PET) instrument using a high-resolution solid-state detector insert in a conventional PET system was investigated for its potential to achieve sub-millimeter spatial resolution for mouse imaging. Monte Carlo simulations were used to estimate the effect of detector configurations (thickness, length and radius) on sensitivity. From this initial study, a PET system having an inner cylindrical silicon detector (4 cm ID, 4 cm length and 1.6 cm thickness composed of 16 layers of 300 µm × 300 µm × 1 mm pads), for scattering, surrounded by an outer cylindrical BGO scintillation detector (17.6 cm ID, 16 cm length and 2 cm thickness segmented into 3 mm × 3 mm × 20 mm crystals), for capture was evaluated in detail. In order to evaluate spatial resolution, sensitivity and image quality of the PET system, 2D images of multiple point and cylinder sources were reconstructed with the simulation data including blurring from positron range and annihilation photon acollinearity using filtered backprojection (FBP). Simulation results for 18F demonstrate 340 µm FWHM at the center of the field of view with 1.0% sensitivity from the coincidence of single scattering events in both silicon detectors and 1.0 mm FWHM with 9.0% sensitivity from the coincidence of single scattering in the silicon and full energy absorption of the second photon in the BGO detector.
CYP4A metabolites of arachidonic acid and VEGF are mediators of skeletal muscle angiogenesis

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated in angiogenesis induced by electrical stimulation in skeletal muscle. Less is known about the role of arachidonic acid metabolites in the control of growth of blood vessels in vivo. The present study examined the role of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) on the angiogenesis induced by electrical stimulation in skeletal muscle. The tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus muscles of rats were stimulated for 7 days. Electrical stimulation significantly increased the 20-HETE formation and angiogenesis in the muscles, which was blocked by chronic treatment with N-hydroxy-N'-(4-butyl-2-methylphenol)formamidine (HET0016) or 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT). Chronic treatment with either HET0016 or ABT did not block the increases in VEGF protein expression in both muscles. To analyze the role of VEGF on 20-HETE formation, additional rats were treated with VEGF-neutralizing antibody (VEGF Ab). VEGF Ab blocked the increases of 20-HETE formation induced by stimulation. These results place 20-HETE in the downstream signaling pathway for angiogenesis and show that both VEGF and 20-HETE are involved in the angiogenesis induced by electrical stimulation in skeletal muscle.
Behavioural Theory for OR Applications

Operational researchers are finding that the most interesting research problems are increasingly those that require explanation of purposeful behaviour of individuals, organizations, institutions and societies. Two basic approaches can be taken to provide such explanations; empirically based classification research strategies or theory-based experimental research strategies. The author argues for the second approach based on behavioural research experiences at the University of Pennsylvania's Busch Center over the past 10 years. The advantages of the theory-based approaches, that they can be tested and generalized, are demonstrated by case-study examples using the Environmental Interaction Theory of Personlity.
A technique of integumental grafting for aging studies

Eine Methode zur Ausfuhrung ausgedehnter Hauttransplantationen bei Ratten, die einer vorubergehenden Parabiose unterworfen wurden, wird beschrieben. Die Methode soll zur Untersuchung von Altersveranderungen der Haut benutzt werden.
Report on the Charleston Conference 2006

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on the highlights of the 2006 Charleston Conference.Design/methodology/approach – Documentation of the presentations given at the conference.Findings – The Charleston Conference report discusses new directions in many areas of collection development, including trends in e‐books, new developments in e‐resources, preservation of e‐resources, and scholarly communication.Practical implications – The report discusses new ideas and new directions in many areas of collection development that alert librarians to changes on the horizon.Originality/value – This report is of interest to library and information management professionals.
Developmental regulation of nucleoplasmin function by phosphorylation, glutamylation, and methylation

Nucleoplasms (Npm) is an abundant storage chaperone for histones H2A and H2B in the oocyte, egg and early embryo of Xenopus laevis. Regulation of Nucleoplasmin histone binding and release is critical to its developmental function in establishing zygotic chromatin. To test the function of Nucleoplasmin post-translational modifications in regulation of its function, we determined its full complement of PTMs, characterized their dynamic changes during development, and tested their role in modulating plasmid supercoiling. Here we present the full mass spectrometric analysis of nucleoplasmin from two oogenic states: the non-activated, oocyte form, and the activated, egg form. We characterize the changes in phosphorylation that occur upon oocyte maturation and also show that nucleoplasms is differentially polyglutamylated between the two states. Specifically, we show an increase in phosphorylation of nucleoplasms from a majority of two within oocytes to a majority of six within eggs. This hyperphosphorylation occurs upon germinal vesicle breakdown induced by progesterone treatment. We demonstrate dynamic post-translational addition of up to five glutamyl groups (glutamylation) to residues within the second acidic stretch of nucleoplasms. Glutamylation is an isopeptide addition of a glutamic acid to the g-carboxyl of a primary chain glutamate residue. We also identify a highly-abundant, C-terminal arginine methylation on arginine 187 within the “GRGR” motif that we previously demonstrated to be catalyzed by the arginine methyltransferase complex PRMT5-MEP50. Npm hyperphosphorylation is present from egg-laying until the mid-blastula transition, concomitant with the period of transcriptional repression, while arginine methylation and glutamylation persist through gastrulation. Finally, we demonstrate that Nucleoplasms phosphorylation negatively regulates its ability to promote supercoiling, indicative of altered histone release. We conclude that developmentally dynamic changes in Nucleoplasms phosphorylation modulate its histone binding and release.
MicC, a Second Small-RNA Regulator of Omp Protein Expression in Escherichia coli

In a previous bioinformatics-based search for novel small-RNA genes encoded by the Escherichia coli genome, we identified a region, IS063, located between the ompN and ydbK genes, that encodes an ∼100-nucleotide small-RNA transcript. Here we show that the expression of this small RNA is increased at a low temperature and in minimal medium. Twenty-two nucleotides at the 5′ end of this transcript have the potential to form base pairs with the leader sequence of the mRNA encoding the outer membrane protein OmpC. The deletion of IS063 increased the expression of an ompC-luc translational fusion 1.5- to 2-fold, and a 10-fold overexpression of the small RNA led to a 2- to 3-fold repression of the fusion. Deletion and overexpression of the IS063 RNA also resulted in increases and decreases, respectively, in OmpC protein levels. Taken together, these results suggest that IS063 is a regulator of OmpC expression; thus, the small RNA has been renamed MicC. The antisense regulation was further demonstrated by the finding that micC mutations were suppressed by compensatory mutations in the ompC mRNA. MicC was also shown to inhibit ribosome binding to the ompC mRNA leader in vitro and to require the Hfq RNA chaperone for its function. We suggest that the MicF and MicC RNAs act in conjunction with the EnvZ-OmpR two-component system to control the OmpF/OmpC protein ratio in response to a variety of environmental stimuli.
Complication risk with pulse generator change: implications when reacting to a device advisory or recall

Background:Recent advisories and recalls of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have highlighted the need for evidence-based recommendations regarding management of patients with advisory devices. In order to better facilitate decision-making when weighing the relative risks and benefits of performing generator changes in these patients, we conducted a review to assess operative complication rates. Methods:We reviewed generator changes performed between 2000 and 2005 at the Mayo Clinic-Rochester, including a total of 732 change-outs consisting of 570 done for elective replacement indicators (ERI) and 162 for manufacturer advisories or recalls. Complications included all those requiring reoperation, occurring within a 60-day period postoperatively and directly attributable to the generator change. These included infection requiring device excision, hematoma requiring evacuation, and incisional dehiscence requiring reclosure. Results:Operation-associated complications requiring intervention were noted in 9 patients, or 1.24% of our population. Of these nine complications, eight occurred among patients receiving pulse generator replacement for ERI (1.40%) and one occurred in a patient receiving replacement for a manufacturer advisory or recall (0.62%). Complications included 5 infections, 3 hematomas, and 1 incisional dehiscence. Conclusions:Generator replacement is not a benign procedure and associated risks must be weighed in the context of other variables when making management choices in patients with advisory or recall devices.
Enhanced accumulated trapping efficiency using an auxiliary trapping electrode in an external source Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer

Abstract A scheme for the enhanced accumulation of ions injected into the trapped ion cell of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer from an external electrospray ionization source is described. This method utilizes an auxiliary electrode positioned outside the trapped ion cell which increases the effective collisional path length for ions traversing the trapped ion cell. A comparison made between pressure-assisted accumulated trapping in a symmetric trapping well, an asymmetric trapping well, and a symmetric trapping well with that for the addition of an auxiliary electrode indicates that trapping efficiency can be significantly improved when an auxiliary electrode trapping configuration is utilized.
Integrator backstepping control of a brush DC motor turning a robotic load

In this paper, we design and implement integrator backstepping controllers (i.e., adaptive and robust) for a brush DC motor driving a one-link robot manipulator. Through the use of Lyapunov stability-type arguments, we show that both of these controllers ensure "good" load position tracking despite parametric uncertainty throughout the entire electromechanical system. Experimental results are presented to illustrate the performance and feasibility of implementing the nonlinear control algorithms. >
Flimmerepithel der Trachea

Die Entfernung von Fremdkorpern aus der Trachea wird durch Flimmerbewegung von Zilien bewerkstelligt, welche als lange, bewegliche Verlangerungen aus der freien Oberflache gewisser Epithelzellen ragen. In der vorliegenden Aufnahme sieht man einige Zilien (C) im Langsschnitt am apikalen Pol der Zelle. Auf Grund ihrer Lange, ihrer Schlankheit (250 mµ im Durchmesser) und ihrer gewundenen Form sind die meisten Zilien nur teilweise im Schnitt getroffen und erscheinen so im Schrag- und Querschnitt (C′). Ahnlich wie die Mikrovilli (Mv), die ebenfalls aus den Zellen der Trachea emporragen, werden die Zilien durch eine dreischichtige Elementarmembran (EM, Einsatz) begrenzt. Zum Unterschied zu den Mikrovilli aber, besitzen die Zilien einen komplexen inneren Aufbau, der allen Zilien und Geiseln, gleichgultig ob von pflanzlichen oder tierischen Zellen, gemein ist. Die Struktur dieser Einrichtung kann am besten an einem Querschnitt gezeigt werden (Einsatzbild). So sieht man den „achtformigen“ Querschnitt von 9 doppelten Filamenten oder Mikrotubuli, die zu einem peripheren Ring vereinigt sind und im Zentrum ein weiteres Paar umschliesen (der 9+2-Komplex); das ganze wird von der Plasmamembran umhullt. Die fadenformige Natur dieser Struktureinheiten kann aus Langsschnitten erschlossen werden. An der Basis jeder Zilie findet sich ein Basalkorperchen, das im Bau sehr dem Zentriol ahnelt. Seit der ersten Entdeckung dieser Struktureinheit sind ausfuhrlichere Beschreibungen der verschiedensten Bestandteile der Zilien veroffentlicht worden. Verschiedene Mechanismen der ziliaren Bewegung wurden vorgeschlagen, welche auf Strukturbesonderheiten basieren, die uns das Elektronenmikroskop gezeigt hat. Jedoch der Mechanismus, durch den die Zilien bewegt werden, und die Art, wie die Bewegungen zur Wellenform koordiniert werden, konnten bisher nicht befriedigend erklart werden.
Can computer managed multimedia (CMM) replace the professor

The author explores whether computer managed multimedia (CMM) can replace the professor. He predicts that by 2001 most students will have a wireless, networked CMM system (handheld), and professors will be producers and facilitators rather than knowledge broadcasters. >
Performance analysis of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) mobile-Satellite system using moment-based approximation of degradation factors

A theoretical solution for the performance of a land-mobile-satellite communication system is presented. Because a closed-form solution is difficult to get and to evaluate, a method of approximation based on moment techniques is proposed to yield a numerical evaluation. The effects of traveling wave tube amplifier (TWTA) nonlinearity and fading are the main degradation factors in the mobile-satellite channel using a low-earth-orbit satellite. The numerical results for the performance are given as a function of these two factors. A two-parameter model is used for TWTA and the fading channel is modeled as Rician including phase information. Results demonstrate the accuracy of this approximation especially under fading when a satellite is located at the lower elevation angles
Continuous injection model for hard X-ray correlated microwave bursts

Asymmetric magnetic field configurations in solar active regions hinder mildly relativistic electrons with magnetic moments suitable to produce microwave radiation from being trapped. Therefore the duration of stay of electrons in the microwave source region is much shorter (<0.2 s) than in the usually assumed trapping models. On this basis we construct a consistent model of hard X-ray correlated microwave bursts due to continuous injection of electrons into a pole field of an asymmetric magnetic loop (Figures 1 and 2). This resolves the discrepancy of the numbers of electrons needed to produce X-ray and radio emission. We compute gyrosynchrotron spectra with the assumption of conservation of the magnetic moment M in the microwave source. The consequence is an anticorrelation between the low frequency power index a of the microwave spectrum and the power index γ of the hard X-ray spectrum. In fact during the flare of May 18, 1972 γ increases with time while a is decreasing, so that γ+a= constant. Furthermore, it is shown that electrons with energies below 100 keV contribute significantly to the microwave radiation; they determine the low frequency spectrum completely. The model is able to explain the most often observed type C-spectra (Guidice and Castelli, 1975), but also flat spectra over one frequency decade.
An Efficient Permutation Approach for Classical and Bioequivalence Hypothesis Testing of Biomedical Shape Study

A new statistical permutation analysis method is presented in this paper to efficiently and accurately localize regionally specific shape differences between groups of 3D biomedical images. It can improve the system's efficiency by approximating the permutation distribution of the test statistic with Pearson distribution series. This procedure involves the calculation of the first four moments of the permutation distribution, which are derived theoretically and analytically without any permutation. Furthermore, bioequivalence testing aims for practical significances between the two groups that are statistically significant with the shape differences larger than a desired threshold. Experimental results based on both classical and bioequivalence hypothesis tests using simulated data and real biomedical images are presented to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed approach.
Filter banks for cyclic-prefixing the nonuniform DMT system

The cyclic prefix system is used in discrete multitone channels for frequency domain equalization and is based on the inversion of samples of the channel frequency response at uniformly spaced points (DFT coefficients). In this paper, we consider nonuniformly spaced samples of the channel frequency response, especially octave-spaced. The anticipated advantage is that for channels with rapidly decaying frequency responses, there are relatively fewer equalizer coefficients with unduly large values, and helps to reduce amplification of channel noise at the receiver. We show how to combine a wavelet-like filter bank with traditional DFTs to achieve this goal. While the idea appears to be exciting and opens up interesting problems, its merits still remain to be evaluated.
Multi-layer coupled band-pass filter for 60 GHz LTCC system-on-package

We have developed a design method for space-saving and wide passband band-pass filter (BPF) for 60-GHz band applications. The BPF comprises multilayer-coupled stripline resonators on a multilayer low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate and can be highly integrated into a millimeter-wave system-on-package that is suitable for 60 GHz-band wireless communication applications. The proposed design method provides compactness and wide passband characteristics under fabrication accuracy limitation. The prototype filter is fabricated on a six-layer 50-µm LTCC substrate. A fabricated prototype BPF circuit achieves a passband of 54–66 GHz, which is suitable for 60 GHz channels. We also clarified that the displacements between layers of the LTCC multilayer substrate caused during its fabrication degraded its characteristics only slightly.
Shapes and sizes of synaptic vesicles in the cerebellum of the Syrian hamster-cortex and deep nuclei.

Material was obtained from eight adult apparently healthy Syrian hamsters perfused with 3.2% glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer. Cortex and deep nuclei were prepared for electron microscopy by osmication and Epon embedding. Measurement of size and shape of vesicles was from printx × 50,000. Vesicle profiles whose least diameter was 75% or more of the maximum diameter were classified as round (spherical). If the greatest dimension was more than twice the least, the vesicle was termed flattened, all others oval. So defined, the synaptic sacs in the deep nuclei, large sacs of the granular layer and small sacs of the molecular layer contained more round vesicles than oval and flat combined and differences between these three locations were slight. In large sacs of the molecular layer, oval and flattened vesicles slightly outnumbered round ones. Average sizes were deep nuclei 468 A, large sacs of granular layer 494 A, small sacs of molecular layer 452 A and large sacs of molecular layer 414 A. Statistical analysis indicated that the mean size of vesicles was significantly different when each of the four locations was compared with the others. These differences are too small to be apparent by inspection. Since the vesicles in the deep nuclei are intermediate in size between those in mossy terminals and the axospinous ones of the molecular layer it was concluded that size and shape of vesicles did not distinguish between excitatory and inhibitory synapses in Syrian hamster cerebellum.
Armalcolite in crustal paragneiss xenoliths, central Mexico

Aluminous armalcolite has been found in two sillimanite-bearing xenoliths that were recently exhumed from the lower crust of central Mexico. The ranges of compositions are (Fe5.1s-0.66Mgo.lS-0.2SAlo.lS-0.lS V6.66-o.lOFe6.6o-o.o6Titt4-l.s6)Os and (Fefi1o-o.S1 MgO.lS-0.29Alo.16-0.19V6.62-0.06Fe6.1o-o.s1 Ti1.19-1.71)Os. The occurrence of armalcolite is unusual in crustal paragneisses because most terrestrial armalcolite occurs in volcanic rocks that are derived from partial melting in the Earth's mantle. Textures suggest that armalcolite is a late product formed by the reaction rutile + ilmenitess = armalcolitess during rapid transport of the xenoliths to the surface. Phase equilibria in the system MgO-FeO-Fe203- Ti02, which indicate that armalcolite is stable in the crust at 900-1200 °C, are consistent with this interpretation. Thermodynamic properties are estimated for oxides in the system MgO-FeO-Fe203Ti02 to constrain activity-composition relations for armalcolite and conditions of formation. Activity coefficients calculated for armalcolite range from 0.27 to 1.36, depending on the ilmenite model used, at temperatures between 1000 and 1300 °C. Depth of formation of armalcolite in the crust is not well constrained. Thermodynamic calculations at 800-1200°C for the compositions observed indicate that the armalcolite in one xenolith would have been in equilibrium with rutile at values of 102 between the hematite + magnetite buffer (HM) and the fayalite + magnetite + quartz (FMQ) buffer, and that armalcolite in the other xenolith would have been in equilibrium with rutile and ilmenite at values of 102 between FMQ and two log units below the FMQ buffer.
Novel role of reactive oxygen species-activated trp melastatin channel-2 in mediating angiogenesis and postischemic neovascularization

Objective— Transient receptor potential melastatin-2 (TRPM2) channel is a nonselective cation channel that mediates influx of Ca 2+ and Na + with relative permeability of P Ca: P Na ≈0.6 in response to cellular oxidative stress. As angiogenesis and ischemic neovascularization are both significantly dependent on oxidant signaling, here we investigated the possible role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)–induced reactive oxygen species production in activating TRPM2-dependent Ca 2+ signaling and in the mechanism of angiogenesis and ischemic neovascularization. Approach and Results— We observed that VEGF stimulation rapidly induced the association of TRPM2 and cellular Src kinase with vascular endothelial-cadherin forming a signalplex at vascular endothelial-cadherin junctions in endothelial cells. Using endothelial cells isolated from TRPM2 −/− mice or after small interfering RNA depletion of TRPM2, we demonstrated that TRPM2-activated Ca 2+ signaling was required for cellular Src kinase–induced phosphorylation of vascular endothelial-cadherin at Y658 and Y731, the crucial sites involved in vascular endothelial-cadherin internalization in response to VEGF. VEGF-induced reactive oxygen species generation activated TRPM2-induced Ca 2+ entry, whereas the reactive oxygen species–insensitive TRPM2 mutant (C1008→A) showed impaired Ca 2+ entry. Endothelial cells depleted of TRPM2 also displayed significantly perturbed migratory phenotype and impaired activation of cellular Src in response to VEGF. TRPM2 −/− mice reconstituted with wild-type myeloid cells demonstrated aberrant angiogenesis and neovascularization in the hindlimb ischemia model as compared with wild-type mice. Conclusions— VEGF-induced angiogenesis and postischemic neovascularization in mice required reactive oxygen species generation in endothelial cells and resultant TRPM2 activation. Thus, our findings provide novel insight into the role of TRPM2 in mechanism of angiogenesis and ischemic neovascularization.
A New Two-Dimensional Routing Algorithm

A new heuristic algorithm for two-dimensional routing utilizing two distinct layers is described. It is assumed that all terminals are on the boundary of a rectilinear routing region with or without cutout sections. Terminals on vertical boundary segments are assumed to be on one layer and those on horizontal boundary segments are on the other layer. This algorithm finds all possible paths with minimum corners for a net and then chooses one of those paths by considering path length, the likelihood of blocking nets not yet routed, the usage of vacant tracks, and the necessity of going through an area expected to be congested. A dynamic data structure is maintained. If h and v are the numbers of horizontal and vertical tracks, n is the number of nets, and t is the number of terminals, then the storage requirement is o(hv) and the time complexity is o((t-n)hv). For h=23, v=64, n=47, and t=130 the storage required is 60K bytes and cpu time is 16 seconds. This algorithm is implemented in the C language on a VAX 11/780 under the Berkeley Unix (FOOTNOTE: Unix is a trademark of Bell Laboratories.) Operating system, as part of the LTX layout system of the layout aids group at Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill.
Bioassay evidence for a sex attractant pheromone in the large carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta (Anthophoridae: Hymenoptera)

A field bioassay was conducted to test i˜hethercompoundsp roduced in the thoracic gland of male X. varipuncta are involved in long-range mate attraction. Filter paper impregnated with the two most abundant compounds of the male gland was placed in sites comparable to those used by territorial males during the time of day when mating activity occurs. Females visited these filter paper ‘lures’ as often as they visited unmanipulated males in the study area. Males with the chemical mixture added to their territories did not receive more matings than males at territories where we had not added the chemical mixture. These findings and other studies, summarized herein, support the hypothesis that the male gland produces a pheromone which functions as a long-range sex attractant.
α,ω-Glycols and dicarboxylic acids from butadiene, isoprene, and styrene and some derived block polymers, esters, and urethans

The living polymer technique of Szwarc has been employed to synthesize α,ω-bifunctional derivatives of polybutadiene, polyisoprene, and polystyrene. The glycols derived from polybutadiene have been hydrogenated to give saturated glycols. The glycols from polyisoprene have been partially hydrogenated. Some block polymer esters and urethans have been characterized.
High-resolution imaging using virtual sensors from 2-D autoregressive vector extrapolation

Virtual sensors are used to attain a robust high-resolution imaging capability that detects weak signals in the presence of strong signals, when the sensors are limited in number due to space, weight, power, and cost constraints. Such conditions are becoming commonplace with the influx of smart systems, wireless networks, remote sensing, and autonomous vehicles/systems. The virtual sensor data is created autonomously in real time from the original data using a novel two-dimensional (2-D) Autoregressive Vector Prediction algorithm. A 2-D transform is then applied to the new virtual data set, which includes the original data, to give a robust high resolution imaging capability. Simulations are used to compare this super-resolution capability with a high-resolution technique and the truth, to resolve previously obscured low-level signals in the presence of a dominant source. The virtual sensor data is also compared to the truth data. We also summarize the computational cost and extrapolation stability to achieve this high-resolution capability.
Pulse shaping multiphoton FRET microscopy

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) microscopy is a commonly-used technique to study problems in biophysics that range from uncovering cellular signaling pathways to detecting conformational changes in single biomolecules. Unfortunately, excitation and emission spectral overlap between the fluorophores create challenges in quantitative FRET studies. It has been shown previously that quantitative FRET stoichiometry can be performed by selective excitation of donor and acceptor fluorophores. Extending this approach to two-photon FRET applications is difficult when conventional femtosecond laser sources are used due to their limited bandwidth and slow tuning response time. Extremely broadband titanium:sapphire lasers enable the simultaneous excitation of both donor and acceptor for two-photon FRET, but do so without selectivity. Here we present a novel two-photon FRET microscopy technique that employs pulse-shaping to perform selective excitation of fluorophores in live cells and detect FRET between them. Pulse-shaping via multiphoton intrapulse interference can tailor the excitation pulses to achieve selective excitation. This technique overcomes the limitation of conventional femtosecond lasers to allow rapid switching between selective excitation of the donor and acceptor fluorophores. We apply the method to live cells expressing the fluorescent proteins mCerulean and mCherry, demonstrating selective excitation of fluorophores via pulse-shaping and the detection of twophoton FRET. This work paves the way for two-photon FRET stoichiometry.
Excellent outcomes with use of synthetic vascular grafts for treatment of mycotic aortic pseudoaneurysms after heart transplantation.

Background Mycotic pseudoaneurysm is a rare but potentially lethal complication after heart transplantation. Allograft has been advocated as the choice of material for aortic replacement. We report a series of 7 patients with pseudoaneurysm that was treated with primary repair or synthetic graft replacement. Methods Between October 2005 and February 2011, 8 patients (mean age, 55.3 years; range, 39 to 67 years), were diagnosed with mycotic pseudoaneurysms of the ascending aorta 2 to 29 months after transplantation. One patient declined operative repair, and the remainder had urgent or emergency surgical intervention. One patient had primary repair at the cardioplegia site, and one had primary end-to-end anastomosis after the infected recipient aortic segment was resected. Five patients had replacement of the infected aorta with a Dacron graft (DuPont, Wilmington, DE) for pseudoaneurysm development at the suture line or donor aorta. Clinical and radiologic follow-up assessments were performed in all patients. Results There were no operative or in-hospital deaths. None of the patients had major postoperative complications, and there was no cardiac allograft dysfunction. Median follow-up was 25 months (range, 1 to 48 months). One patient died of a pulmonary embolism 10 months after the operation. The remaining 6 patients remain free of infection. The most recent radiologic follow-up showed no residual or recurrence of pseudoaneurysms among the surviving patients. Conclusions A synthetic vascular graft to replace the infected aorta is a viable aortic substitute among transplant recipients, and in the presence of a vascularized flap, can offer excellent midterm outcomes.
Multiple-dislocation emission from the crack tip in the ductile fracture of Al

Abstract This paper presents the results of a large-scale atomistic simulation study of the process of emission of multiple dislocations in Al. We use embedded-atom method potentials based on ab-initio data and molecular statics and dynamics techniques to study the configuration of the crack tip as the dislocation emission process evolves. In the configuration studied, the crack is oriented in a {111}-type plane with a [110]-type crack front and the dislocations are emitted in adjacent inclined {111}-type planes. The dislocations are Shockley partials and they form a twinned region. The number of dislocations emitted increases with increasing applied stress intensity and is limited if the dislocations are not allowed to reach their equilibrium positions The shielding effect of the emitted dislocations decreases the total stress intensity factor at the crack tip but also causes a net decrease in the mode-II stress intensity factor projected on the slip plane of the emitted dislocations. Most importantly, t...
CarTel: a distributed mobile sensor computing system

CarTel is a mobile sensor computing system designed to collect, process, deliver, and visualize data from sensors located on mobile units such as automobiles. A CarTel node is a mobile embedded computer coupled to a set of sensors. Each node gathers and processes sensor readings locally before delivering them to a central portal, where the data is stored in a database for further analysis and visualization. In the automotive context, a variety of on-board and external sensors collect data as users drive.CarTel provides a simple query-oriented programming interface, handles large amounts of heterogeneous data from sensors, and handles intermittent and variable network connectivity. CarTel nodes rely primarily on opportunistic wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) connectivity to the Internet, or to "data mules" such as other CarTel nodes, mobile phone flash memories, or USB keys-to communicate with the portal. CarTel applications run on the portal, using a delay-tolerant continuous query processor, ICEDB, to specify how the mobile nodes should summarize, filter, and dynamically prioritize data. The portal and the mobile nodes use a delay-tolerant network stack, CafNet, to communicat.CarTel has been deployed on six cars, running on a small scale in Boston and Seattle for over a year. It has been used to analyze commute times, analyze metropolitan Wi-Fi deployments, and for automotive diagnostics.
The Strength to Kill or the Power to Protect?: Power Resources and Violence against Civilians in Civil Conflict

The theoretical relationship between insurgent power (or capabilities) and violence is not clear. On the one hand, more troops may lead to more death; yet on the other, as insurgents’ power within the conflict increases their incentive for violence against civilians should decline. Thus, there exists a tension between the ability and the incentive to kill. Aggregate assessments of insurgent capability are largely insufficient for explaining violence against civilians because they cannot speak to this tension. Whether groups choose to indulge in violence or not is more likely related to the manner in which specific components of power affect a group’s opportunities to engage in violence and its willingness to do so. Disaggregating insurgent power resources and examining their interplay offers new insights into the motives for civilian killing as well as providing additional empirical evidence for existing theories. I test hypotheses regarding the relationship between these disaggregated strength components and insurgent violence using a new dyadic dataset on insurgent characteristics and recent data on civilian targeting in civil war. The results reveal that groups with high levels of combat capabilities kill larger numbers of civilians. However, strong popular support dampens the effect of high combat capabilities on insurgent violence. Additionally, insurgents that enjoy effective control over territory and a relatively high degree of central control over their forces use comparatively less violence than those that do not.
Is Computer-Assisted EBP Generating “Fast” Practice?

Abstract In search of a model for examining the impacts of computer-assisted EBP on practice and education for practice, the authors review basic traditional “slow motion” social work practice and compare it to what one of the authors calls “fast practice.” Fast practice involves not only immersion of the practitioners in the now common electronic assemblage of horizontally and vertically linked hardware and software, but also the possible collapsing of Western practice orientations to social work that foreshadow a newly emerging decentered profession. In addition, the authors present data they collected about technology usage among human service providers to begin to assess how traditional social work practice components are being transformed by computer-assisted technology, suggesting that the electronic assemblage may be moving the profession into an entirely new and unexpected territory called “fast practice.”
Validity of the Slosson Intelligence Test with Young Learning Disabled Children

Summy.-Many studies document the utility of the Slosson Intelligence Test with "normal" and retarded subjects but few data are available regarding the use of this instrument with learning disabled children. Several investigators have suggested that the Slosson may overestimate 1Q for this population. This study compared the intellectual functioning of two groups of 24 children suspected of being learning disabled. Slosson scores exceeded scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised by approximately 9 IQ points. In spite of the recent conversion of the Slosson to a deviation IQ, caution appears prudent in interpreting IQ for this population. Five reports provide useful data on the Slosson Intelligence Test with young (5to 8-yr.-old) learning disabled children. Kossack, Callaway, and Jerrolds (4) described performance of 195 subjects evaluated because of suspected learning disabilities. Most of these children were in elementary school and their IQs approximated a normal distribution. For 12% of the subjects Slosson scores fell below and for 17% exceeded Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) Full Scale IQs by 11 points or more. A similar observation was made by Ritter, Duffey, and Fischman (5) who studied 44 children (aged 4.4 to 12.1 yr.) referred by teachers to determine appropriate educational placement. These authors found significant mean differences in IQ (p < .01) berween the Slosson and the Stanford-Binet for above-average (Binet IQ above 109) and below-average (Binet IQ below 90) children. When age ranges were collapsed, significant differences in IQ (p < .01) were found for children aged 4 to 9 yr. Baum and Kelly (2) compared Slosson scores with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) for 98 "high risk" kindergarten children aged 5.0 to 5.5 yr. Slosson IQs averaged 12 or 13 points higher thao mean WPPSI IQs for these children. Swanson and Jacobson (7) compared Slossons and WISCs for 64 second graders referred by teachers for possible learning disabilities. The Slosson scores averaged 4.5 points higher than WISC scores. Crofoot and Bennett (3) investigated WISC-R and Slosson scores for 80 public school children evaluated for possible learning disabilities and mental retardation. The children averaged 10.3 yr. (raoge G.5 to 16.0 yr.). Slosson scores averaged 8 to 11 points above mean WISC-R IQs. These data suggest that for learning disabled children the Slosson may overestimate IQ. During the rlme In which these studies were conducted the Binet utilized a deviation IQ and the Slosson a ratio IQ. The Slosson (6) was developed in 1960 and validated against the 1960 revision of the Binet. At that time the Binet used a ratio IQ. In 1972 it was converted to a deviation IQ instrument. This resulted in a relatively consistent overestimation of IQ by the Slosson for some age groups. In 1981 the Slosson was converted to a deviation IQ and normed against the 1972 revision of the Binet (1). The present port hoc investigation evaluated the validity of the Slosson deviation IQ for young learning disabled children.
Geographical Variation of Diapause Termination of the Pink Bollworm

Diapause Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) collected from near Safford (S), Marana (M), and Yuma (Y), Ariz., were exposed to diapause terminating conditions (28°C and 13 h light). Differences in pupation rates were noted; the number of days to reach 50% pupation of S and M was significantly different from Y. Significant differences in both diapause and post-diapause weight characteristics were also noted. Adult males lived longer than females but there was no difference in adult longevity between locations. The evidence suggsts that there may be different strains of pink bollworm in Arizona.
Design and Synthesis of Oxazoline-Based Scaffolds for Hybrid Lewis Acid/Lewis Base Catalysis of Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation

A new class of hybrid Lewis acid/Lewis base catalysts has been designed and prepared with an initial objective of promoting stereoselective direct aldol reactions. Several scaffolds were synthesized that contain amine moieties capable of enamine catalysis, connected to heterocyclic metal-chelating sections composed of an oxazole–oxazoline or thiazole–oxazoline. Early screening results have identified oxa­zole–oxazoline-based systems capable of promoting a highly diastereo- and enantioselective direct aldol reaction of propionaldehyde with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, when combined with Lewis acids such as zinc triflate.
Cardiac preservation in patients undergoing transplantation. A clinical trial comparing University of Wisconsin solution and Stanford solution.

Recent laboratory investigations have shown significantly improved donor heart preservation and function when the University of Wisconsin solution (UW) is used for arrest and storage. These findings prompted us to compare UW to Stanford solution in a clinical trial. After giving informed consent, patients were blindly randomized to receive a heart arrested and stored in UW or a heart arrested in Stanford solution and stored in normal saline. Orthotopic transplants were performed in a routine manner. Fourteen patients with a mean age of 54 years were randomized to UW, and 15 patients with a mean age of 51 years were randomized to Stanford solution. Mean donor ages (UW 27 years, Stanford 24 years) and ischemic times (UW 150 minutes, Stanford 135 minutes) were similar. Several differences were observed intraoperatively. At end ischemia, mean adenosine triphosphate (UW 5.87 mmol/gm wet weight, Stanford 4.75 mmol/gm) and creatine phosphate (UW 9.26 mmol/gm, Stanford 4.75 mmol/gm) levels were higher in the UW hearts (p
Global Pattern Matching

This chapter reviews the seminal work on global pattern theory over the past three decades, with extension and application of the method to neuroanatomy, its implementation, and validation. All of these works have contributed toward additional fundamental insights and advances in applications and theory to bring this very promising set of methods to a point where they are suitable for evaluation in the demanding and complex realm of modern neuroanatomy. It has been suggested that geometry, in a precise but wide sense of the term, is the basis for understanding complex structures. In the terminology of pattern theory, mathematical constructs are then formulated: configuration spaces, image algebras, and patterns. There are examples in the literature for pattern theory applications from a number of scenarios ranging from microbiology to automatic target recognition (ATR) to digital anatomy. To implement the program pattern analysis through pattern synthesis, the algorithm takes small steps on some differential manifold. The steps are governed by a combination of the prior probability measure and the likelihood function representing the physics of the sensors.
Influence of carboxylation on osteocalcin detection by mass spectrometry.

Rationale Osteocalcin is a small, abundant bone protein that is difficult to detect using high-throughput tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) proteomic approaches from bone protein extracts, and is predominantly detected by non-MS immunological methods. Here, we analyze bovine osteocalcin and its post-translational modifications to determine why a protein of this size goes undetected. Methods Osteocalcin was purified from cow bone using well-established methods. Intact osteocalcin or trypsin-digested osteocalcin were separated using an Agilent 1200 series high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system and analyzed using a ThermoScientific LTQ-Orbitrap XL after fragmentation with higher-energy collision dissociation. Data were analyzed using Mascot or Prosight Lite. Results Our results support previous findings that the cow osteocalcin has up to three carboxylations using both intact osteocalcin and digested forms. Using Mascot, we were able to detect osteocalcin peptides, but no fragments that localized the carboxylations. Full annotation using Prosight Lite of the intact (three carboxylations), N-terminal peptide (one carboxylation), and middle peptide (two carboxylations) showed complete fragmentation was present, but complete neutral loss was observed. Conclusions Osteocalcin carboxylation, and its associated neutral losses, makes high-throughput detection of this protein challenging; however, alternative fragmentation or limited purification can overcome these challenges. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extending Classical Multirate Signal Processing Theory to Graphs—Part II: M-Channel Filter Banks

This paper builds upon the basic theory of multirate systems for graph signals developed in the companion paper (Part I) and studies $M$ -channel polynomial filter banks on graphs. The behavior of such graph filter banks differs from that of classical filter banks in many ways, the precise details depending on the eigenstructure of the adjacency matrix $\boldsymbol {A}$ . It is shown that graph filter banks represent, (linear and) periodically, shift-variant systems only when $\boldsymbol {A}$ satisfies the noble identity conditions developed in Part I. It is then shown that perfect reconstruction graph filter banks can always be developed when $\boldsymbol {A}$ satisfies the eigenvector structure satisfied by $M$ -block cyclic graphs and has distinct eigenvalues (further restrictions on eigenvalues being unnecessary for this). If $\boldsymbol {A}$ is actually $M$ -block cyclic then these PR filter banks indeed become practical, i.e., arbitrary filter polynomial orders are possible, and there are robustness advantages. In this case, the PR condition is identical to PR in classical filter banks—any classical PR example can be converted to a graph PR filter bank on an $M$ -block cyclic graph. It is shown that for $M$ -block cyclic graphs with all eigenvalues on the unit circle, the frequency responses of filters have meaningful correspondence with classical filter banks. Polyphase representations are then developed for graph filter banks and utilized to develop alternate conditions for alias cancellation and perfect reconstruction, again for graphs with specific eigenstructures. It is then shown that the eigenvector condition on the graph can be relaxed by using similarity transforms.
Ion velocity-locking in the neighborhood of virtual cathodes via instability enhanced collisional friction

Axial ion motion in virtual cathodes and their connected presheaths are studied with laser-induced fluorescence. Virtual cathodes are formed using small electrodes (A electrode/A loss < 1.7(2.3 m e/m i)1/2) biased at higher than the plasma potential far from the electrode in multi-dipole confined filament discharges of argon gas. The virtual cathodes are electrostatic, with no magnetic fields present near the electrode to confine ions. An emissive probe is employed to measure the full potential profile from the bulk plasma up to the surface of the electrode. A planar Langmuir probe is employed to measure the electron temperature T e, the plasma density n e and to calculate the Debye length. Ions reflected from the electron sheath are only observed when the electrode is biased 1T e/e above the bulk plasma potential. When the electrode is biased more negatively, ions retain most of the kinetic energy from the potential drop along the presheath and sheath structure. When reflected ions are observed, ions retain very little of the kinetic energy from the presheath and sheath potential drop. The Baalrud–Callen–Hegna two-stream instability enhanced collisional friction theory is invoked to explain the phenomenon and provides qualitative agreement with the experimental results.