cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Approximate Fixed Point Iteration with an Application to Infinite Horizon Markov Decision Processes

Many approximate iterative algorithms can be represented by the form $V_n=TV_{n-1}+U_n$, $n\geq1$, where $V_{n-1},U_n$, $n\geq1$, are elements of a seminormed linear space $(\mathcal{V},\|\cdot\|)$ and $T$ is a contractive operator. The objective is usually to calculate a fixed point $V^*$ of $T$. Here, the quantities $U_n$ may be interpreted as the errors obtained when the operator $T$ can be evaluated only approximately. As is well known, in the absence of such an approximation error, the algorithm converges to a fixed point with a geometric rate under general conditions. In this article the convergence properties of such algorithms in the presence of an approximation error $U_n$ are studied. It is shown that the error $\|V_n-V^*\|$ is dominated by $\|U_n\|$, so that convergence of $\|U_n\|$ to zero implies the convergence of $\|V_n-V^*\|$ to zero, at a rate determined by $\|U_n\|$. The results are naturally extended to a relative error of the form $\|U_n\|/\|V_{n-1}\|$, as well as to $J$-stage contractions. The utility of this general theory is then demonstrated by an extended application to the problem of model-based approximate and adaptive control of Markov decision processes. The theory is shown to permit a sharpening of known convergence rates under more general conditions. Additionally, bounds on regret for adaptive controls with forced exploration are calculated in terms of a stagewise exploration rate. This permits the determination of an optimal choice of exploration rate within the class of certainty-equivalence adaptive control policies.
A Comparison of Residual-stress Measurements Using Blind-hole, Abrasive-jet and Trepan-ring Methods

This article describes the results of residual-stress measurements which were made on an artillery-projectile metal part to determine whether the state of the stress could be a factor in promoting a failure that had occurred during ballistic test firing. An additional objective of the work was to evaluate the suitability of several different methods for measuring residual stresses by the performance of these measurements on the same metal part.
A Hurt-Based Approach to Safety

This paper describes the Hurt-based Approach to Safety that ExxonMobil’s Upstream Companies use in personnel safety management. Traditionally, ExxonMobil has primarily used industry standards driven by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to classify safety events based on the treatment and/or restrictions provided. However, this treatment-based approach has limitations. With intense focus on administrative reporting (i.e., is the incident recordable or not?) and incident escalation management, the approach does not naturally resonate with workforce members to enable desired cultural changes. Also, historical approaches have not included a potential consequence assessment; a critical element in preventing future injuries. Incident classifications are often inconsistent because work restrictions and medical treatments are subject to individual medical provider judgment. ExxonMobil has created a Hurt-based Approach to mitigate limitations of the treatment-based approach. This paper discusses the history of ExxonMobil’s “Hurt Free” philosophy and explores benefits:  natural safety language of humans; protect family, prevent injuries  consistent description of actual injury severity  integral assessment of potential injury severity  resonates with workforce to enable cultural changes based on caring for people  alignment with Exxon Mobil Corporation’s safety vision of “Nobody Gets Hurt” These benefits, along with passionate safety leadership and Hurt-based metrics, are critical elements in ExxonMobil Upstream’s safety management systems. While many companies have some of these elements in their programs, it is the combination of all elements that drive ExxonMobil’s Hurt-based Approach. This paper will share ExxonMobil’s expectations of safety leaders and insight into how a Hurt Free philosophy leads to higher levels of understanding and promotes safety leadership throughout the organization. It will describe how a Hurt-based Approach provides a more natural line of sight for assessing incident potential and provides a more natural and caring interaction with injured parties; thereby, creating a more positive personal safety culture. It will describe how potential consequence is determined and how this potential drives the prioritization of resources, incident assessments, work activity focus, etc. It will detail ExxonMobil’s “Mining-the-Diamond” initiative which provides increased focus on high consequence potential work activities that could result in life-altering injuries or death. Trend analysis will be provided to illustrate continuous improvement efforts.
Comparative study of the blood gas transport in high altitude and sea level camelidae and goats

Abstract Oxygen dissociation curves of the bloods of 4 species of high altitude camelids (vicuna, alpaca, llama and guanaco), and the mountain goat, Himalayan Tahr, have been studied. In the four high altitude camelid species, there was a shift of the curves to the left when compared to their lowland relative,Camel dromedarius. In the mountain goat, the curve was shifted to the left of that of the domestic goat when blood lactates were high, but the shift disappeared when metabolic acidosis was corrected by addition of bicarbonates. Alkali denaturation and electrophoretic patterns did not show significant differences between the hemoglobins of high- and low-land camelids. CO2 dissociation curves of the bloods of llama and guanaco were not significantly different from those of other mammalian species.
Axisymmetrization and vorticity-gradient intensification of an isolated two-dimensional vortex through filamentation

We consider the evolution of an isolated elliptical vortex in a weakly dissipative fluid. It is shown computationally that a spatially smooth vortex relaxes inviscidly towards axisymmetry on a circulation timescale as the result of filament generation. Heuristically, we derive a simple geometrical formula relating the rate of change of the aspect ratio of a particular vorticity contour to its orientation relative to the streamlines (where the orientation is defined through second-order moments). Computational evidence obtained with diagnostic algorithms validates the formula. By considering streamlines in a corotating frame and applying the new formula, we obtain a detailed kinematic understanding of the vortex's decay to its final state through a primary and a secondary breaking. The circulation transported into the filaments although a small fraction of the total, breaks the symmetry and is the chief cause of axisymmetrization.
Selective targeting of drugs

Abstract Research during the past ten years has expanded understanding of the ways in which molecules and cells interact with high specificity. This has renewed interest in the possible exploitation of such high affinity interactions to target drugs to specific sites. Here we review the many different approaches employed in drug targeting and discuss future perspectives.
Parallel context-sensitive compilation

The searching power of massively parallel associative computers is an under used and under investigated capability that can be used to facilitate software development. This paper describes the development of a context sensitive compiler for pattern-matching languages using that searching power. The described compiler was implemented on the STARAN parallel computer and the compiled OPS5 programs were also executed on the STARAN obtaining an estimated throughput of 6000 rules per second. The described compilation of production rules into equivalent procedural rules is completely data parallel, with the degree of parallelism depending on the number of tokens in the program being compiled. During any one step of the context-sensitive analysis, the entire program is processed in constant time.
Compressive Response of Kevlar/Epoxy Composites

A mathematical model is developed from the principle of minimum potential energy to determine the longitudinal compressive response of unidirectional fiber composites. A theoretical study based on this model is conducted to assess the influence of local fiber misalignment and the nonlinear shear deformation of the matrix. Numerical results are compared with experiments to verify this study; it appears that the predicted compressive response coincides well with experimental results. It is also shown that the compressive strength of Kevlar/epoxy is dominated by local shear failure. 12 references.
A rat model of otitis media with effusion caused by eustachian tube obstruction with and without Streptococcus pneumoniae infection: methods and disease course

Abstract Objective: To describe the clinical and histopathologic progression of a rat model of otitis media with effusion caused by eustachian tube obstruction (ETO) with and without Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Methods: In 164 rats, the left, bony eustachian tube was approached via a ventral incision and obstructed with dental material. Then 108 rats were infected via an intrabullar injection with S pneumoniae . At 48 hours, the infected rats were treated for 5 days with ampicillin. All ears were evaluated by weekly otomicroscopy. On each of days 1, 2, 7, 21, 35, 56, and 112, four rats were killed for histologic study. All effusions were cultured for bacteria. Results: Fourteen rats died of surgical complications; effusion resolved by 2 weeks in 9 rats. During the first few days, infected ears with ETO had bulging tympanic membranes, followed by tympanic membrane retraction, purulent effusion, and otorrhea (50%) over the next few weeks, whereas uninfected ears with ETO developed retraction and serous effusion during the same time frame. At later times, all ears with ETO presented with retraction and serous or serous-mucoid effusion. S pneumoniae was recovered only from the infected ears with ETO (days 1 and 2), with some colonization by nonpathogenic microorganisms observed equally in both groups of ears. Histology showed a typical acute inflammatory reaction in the challenged ears with ETO through day 14 and then a chronic inflammation for all ears with ETO. Conclusion: The experimental methods provoked reproducible pathologic signs similar to those for otitis media with effusion. Given the availability of rat-specific reagents, this model is well suited for studies of cytokine elaboration during disease pathogenesis. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;126:490-98.)
Association of Caffeoyl Coenzyme A 3-O-Methyltransferase Expression with Lignifying Tissues in Several Dicot Plants

Caffeoyl coenzyme A 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) was previously shown to be associated with lignification in both in vitro tracheary elements (TEs) and organs of zinnia (Zinnia elegans). However, it is not known whether this is a general pattern in dicot plants. To address this question, polyclonal antibodies against zinnia recombinant CCoAOMT fusion protein were raised and used for immunolocalization in several dicot plants. The antibodies predominantly recognized a protein band with a molecular mass of 28 kD on western analysis of tissue extracts from zinnia, forsythia (Forsythia suspensa), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and soybean (Glycine max). Western analyses showed that the accumulation of CCoAOMT protein was closely correlated with lignification in in vitro TEs of zinnia. Immunolocalization results showed that CCoAOMT was localized in developing TEs of young zinnia stems and in TEs, xylem fibers, and phloem fibers of old stems. CCoAOMT was also found to be specifically associated with all lignifying tissues, including TEs, xylem fibers, and phloem fibers in stems of forsythia, tobacco, alfalfa, soybean, and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). The presence of CCoAOMT was evident in xylem ray parenchyma cells of forsythia, tobacco, and tomato. In forsythia and alfalfa, pith parenchyma cells next to the vascular cylinder were lignified. Accordingly, marked accumulation of CCoAOMT in these cells was observed. Taken together, these results showed a close association of CCoAOMT expression with lignification in dicot plants. This supports the hypothesis that the CCoAOMT-mediated methylation branch is a general one in lignin biosynthesis during normal growth and development in dicot plants.
Conductile trees: obtaining structural and functional information from endpoint measurements.

The structure of a branching neuronal tree can be determined from electrical measurement and stimulation at the endings of the neuron, as long as action potentials are safely conducted throughout the tree; only time-of-arrival measurements on action potentials are required. Similar measurements yield estimates for branch conduction times. Relative arrival-times measured at these endings for action potentials generated within the structure can be used to localize the sites of spike initiation.
Firm behavior in the rate design phase of the regulatory process

Abstract If the revenue requirement is established using historical data, a public utility still has the flexibility to maximize future profits by proposing rate changes and counting on quantity responses. The results of such behavior differ from those of Ramsey pricing.
Growth hormone therapy for adults: an adolescent field at age 16

Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults recapitulates the advances made during the past 16 years in the recognition and treatment of adult growth hormone (GH) deficiency. It summarizes, in 13 chapters, much of what is known about GH deficiency in adult humans, including its causes, clinical features and treatment. In a broader sense, it is also a useful book for the endocrinologist interested in human GH biology. The book starts with an overview of the clinical aspects of GH deficiency, then proceeds to epidemiology, the newly recognized etiology of head trauma, diagnostic considerations concerned with IGF-1 measurement, GH assays and GH stimulation tests, and monitoring of GH replacement therapy.
Optimal bit allocation for hybrid scalable/multiple-description video transmission over wireless channels

In this paper, we consider the problem of optimal bit allocation for wireless video transmission over fading channels. We use a newly developed hybrid scalable/multiple-description codec that combines the functionality of both scalable and multiple-description codecs. It produces a base layer and multiple-description enhancement layers. Any of the enhancement layers can be decoded (in a non-hierarchical manner) with the base layer to improve the reconstructed video quality. Two different channel coding schemes (Rate-Compatible Punctured Convolutional (RCPC)/Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) coding and, product code Reed Solomon (RS)+RCPC/CRC coding) are used for unequal error protection of the layered bitstream. Optimal allocation of the bitrate between source and channel coding is performed for discrete sets of source coding rates and channel coding rates. Experimental results are presented for a wide range of channel conditions. Also, comparisons with classical scalable coding show the effectiveness of using hybrid scalable/multiple-description coding for wireless transmission.
Intensified dairy operations and their effect on periparturient diseases and postpartum reproduction.

Calving interval trends in Michigan dairy herds. J. Dairy Sci. 56:669. (Abstr.) (19) Thatcher, W. W., and C. J. Wilcox. 1973. Postpartum estrus as an indicator of reproductive status in the dairy cow. J. Dairy Sci. 56:608. (20) Trimberger, G. W., and H. P. Davis. 19t3. Conception rate in dairy cattle by artificial insemination at various stages of estrus. Univ. Neb. Res. Bull. 129. (21) Williamson, N. D., R, S. Morris, D. C. Blood, and C. M. Cannon. 1972. A study of oestrous behavior and oestrus detection methods in a large commercial dairy herd. Vet. Rec. 91:50. (22) Zamjanis, R., M. L. Fahning, and R. H. Schultz. 1969. Anestrus The practitioners dilemma. Scope 14:15. (23) Zimbelman. R. G., J. W. Lauderdale, J. H. Sokolowski, and T. G. Schalk. 1970. Safety and pharmacologic evaluations of melengestrol acetate in cattle and other animals: a review. Amer. Vet. Med. Ass. 157:1528.
Specificity of β-adrenergic control of lipolysis in swine adipose tissue

Abstract 1. 1. Fenoterol ( β 2 -agonist) and several analogs stimulated swine adipose tissue lipolysis in addition to epinephrine, norepinephrine and isoproterenol. 2. 2. Lipolytic activity was inhibited by propranolol ( β 1 + β 2 ) > metoprolol ( β 1 ) > ICI 118, 551 ( β 2 ) > practolol ( β 1 ) > butoxamine ( β 2 ) regardless of the agonist used in the test system. 3. 3. The swine adipose adrenoceptor is not readily classified into a β 1 or β 2 subtype. It may be unique or the classification systems devised in laboratory animals may not be applicable across species.
A Review and Evaluation of Marital and Family Therapies for Affective Disorders

Although the efficacy of individual treatments of affective disorders has been well-documented, there are also significant limitations to existing treatments. In the last decade attention has focused increasingley on the interpersonal context of affective illness, and on marital and family relationships in particular. As a result, a number of approaches have been developed which directly involve family members in treatment. In this article we evaluate the current status of marital and family therapies for affective illness. We begin with a discussion of several lines of research bearing on the relationships between family processes and affective illness. The available treatment outcome data evaluating the efficacy of marital and family interventions are then reviewed, with particular attention paid to predictors of treatment success and cost efficacy issues. Finally, we suggest several priorities for future research.
Oxygen isotope variations in rainfall, drip-water and speleothem calcite from a well-ventilated cave in Texas, USA: Assessing a new speleothem temperature proxy

Abstract Measurements of the oxygen isotopic composition (δ18O value) of rainfall, drip-water and associated calcite (grown on artificial substrates and in a natural speleothem) at multiple drip sites in a well-ventilated cave in central Texas were conducted to investigate the potential use of speleothem δ18O for quantitative temperature reconstructions. From 2009 to 2011, rainfall δ18O varied by 11.5‰ (−10.5‰ to 1.0‰, V-SMOW), whereas drip-waters had a much narrower range of 0.3‰ (−4.7‰ to −4.4‰, V-SMOW). This contrast indicates that mixing processes along flow paths in the vadose zone above the cave produce a well-homogenized water reservoir that supplies drip-water to the cave. The δ18O values for calcite grown on substrates over the same time period show seasonal variations (summer: ∼−6‰; winter: ∼−3‰) that are strongly correlated with surface air temperatures (ta) at all three monitored sites (r2 = 0.88-0.96; p
Use of a heat exchanger to prevent hypothermia during thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repairs

Hypothermia is a common unplanned occurrence in many patients undergoing repair of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms. Many undesirable side effects of hypothermia have been documented, including decreased cardiac output, conduction abnormalities, and blood coagulopathies. We have developed a simple system that incorporates a Sci-Med Biotherm heat exchanger into our left heart bypass circuit. This provides us with the ability to actively rewarm the patient safely and efficiently. This study looks at 16 consecutive patients undergoing repair of thoracic or thoracoabdominal aneurysms. In the 9 patients in whom the heat exchanger was used, there were no adverse effects related to the heat exchanger. All patients had significantly higher temperatures at the conclusion of the procedure than the 7 patients in whom the heat exchanger was not used.
Comparison of constant and variable practice conditions on free-throw shooting.

The proposition that variable practice may be superior to constant practice even for consistent transfer situations was tested on a prototypical consistently performed skill, the basketball free throw. 94 participants were matched on free-throw shooting, then randomly assigned to one of four practice conditions, a Constant condition, i.e., at the free-throw line, and three Variable conditions. Under supervision participants practiced shooting free throws four days a week for three weeks. Three substantially different variable practice conditions produced significant improvement similar to that of constant practice on tests during each week of practice and on a delayed retention test. Consistent with the proposition, the most variable practice group performed as well as the other groups on the retention test despite lower practice performance.
Technical Characteristics of Postsecondary Admissions Tests for Handicapped Examinees: a Review of Research

This paper reviews the research on the technical adequacy of postsecondary admissions tests for handicapped examinees. First, the performance of disabled students relative to the general population is explored. Of the four disability groups discussed, the admissions test performance of learning-disabled students and of hearing impaired students appears most discrepant from the general test-taking population. Evidence relating to the validity and reliability of admissions tests for handicapped and nondisabled examinees is reviewed next. The results of this review suggest no dependable differences in validity or reliability across these populations. However, because the data on which this conclusion is based are so limited, further research is needed before the technical characteristics of admissions tests for handicapped examinees can be fully evaluated.
Effects of forest age and disturbance on population persistence in the understory herb, Arisaema triphyllum (Araceae)

Long-lived understory herbs experience a highly dynamic forest over space and time, yet can persist for more than a century. To understand how these populations persist, we examined effects of forest age and disturbance on potential sexual reproduction and clonal growth in the sexually labile perennial, Arisaema triphyllum. Potential sexual reproduction (female:male ratio) was significantly greater in the Young and Old-Gap forest states compared with Old, closed-canopy sites, where it was virtually absent. In contrast, clonal growth (estimated by cormlet production) did not differ significantly among the three forest states. Of seven environmental variables measured, only light (positively) and plant density (negatively) contributed significantly to the variation in potential sexual reproduction, while no measured variables contributed significantly to the variation in number of cormlets. The larger sexual reproductive effort (flower+stalk biomass/total biomass) for males in the undisturbed, 100 yr old forest may explain the absence of females in these sites, while the invariant vegetative reproductive effort (cormlet biomass/total biomass) may explain the similarity in average number of cormlets per individual per season across forest states. These results suggest that potential sexual reproduction is resource-limited, while clonal growth may be resource-independent. By maintaining ramet production during unfavorable periods, A. triphyllum populations disperse temporally, “waiting” for conditions under which sexual reproduction may resume.
What's new in newborn screening?

Newborn screening (NBS) serves as an important preventive public health program to assist families in obtaining early diagnoses, medical interventions and services for newborns affected with rare congenital conditions. Recent advances in screening techniques using tandem mass spectrometry have vastly increased the number of metabolic conditions that can be detected at birth and many NBS programs have expanded their screening panels accordingly, some now screening for more than 50 conditions. Ongoing program expansions and continuing advances in screening technology and medical care means that today, more than ever, clinicians must be fully informed about NBS. We review some of the issues impacting NBS in the USA as food for thought for clinicians faced with fulfilling their expanded role in NBS systems support. This article reviews the current status of NBS using experiences in the USA as an example of how current NBS systems are changing throughout the world. We provide information on recent publications...
Multidivisional graduate education program in sensory engineering

Sensory engineering is defined to be the science and technology of synthetic environments. This emerging discipline incorporates such technologies as virtual environments and virtual reality, data visualization, human sensory system modeling, human-machine interface, and perception, cognition and performance characterization. An educational curriculum requires basic science in the fields of computer science, electrical engineering, psychology, physiology, the biomedical sciences, and mathematics. The authors present the plan for a multidivisional graduate education program in sensory engineering, being developed at the Johns Hopkins University, within the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, and the Applied Physics Laboratory. >
Hierarchical Color Correction for Camera Cell Phone Images

In this paper, we propose a hierarchical color correction algorithm for enhancing the color of digital images obtained from low-quality digital image capture devices such as cell phone cameras. The proposed method is based on a multilayer hierarchical stochastic framework whose parameters are learned in an offline training procedure using the well-known expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. This hierarchical framework functions by first making soft assignments of images into defect classes and then processing the images in each defect class with an optimized algorithm. The hierarchical color correction is performed in three stages. In the first stage, global color attributes of the low-quality input image are used in a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) framework to perform a soft classification of the image into M predefined global image classes. In the second stage, the input image is processed with a nonlinear color correction algorithm that is designed for each of the M global classes. This color correction algorithm, which we refer to as resolution synthesis color correction (RSCC), applies a spatially varying color correction determined by the local color attributes of the input image. In the third stage, the outputs of the RSCC predictors are combined using the global classification weights to yield the color corrected output image. We compare the performance of the proposed method to other commercial color correction algorithms on cell phone camera images obtained from different sources. Both subjective and objective measures of quality indicate that the new color correction algorithm improves quality over the existing methods.
Long‐term trends in thermospheric neutral temperature and density above Millstone Hill

Incoherent scatter radar measurements of ionospheric temperature and density collected above Millstone Hill over the years 1976–2013 are analyzed to show the long-term trends in noontime neutral temperature and neutral O density over the height region 120–500 km. Exospheric temperature cooled by 69.3 ± 6.4 K over the period, an order of magnitude greater than that expected from greenhouse gas action. The O density dropped 0.081 ± 5.6% at 400 km altitude but rose by 36.9 ± 5.0% at 120 km over this period. This trend in density at 400 km agrees with that determined from satellite drag. The increase in density at 120 km counteracts the thermal contraction of the thermosphere expected to be associated with the cooling, resulting in only a small density response at 400 km. The long-term O density increase at 120 km may be caused by a long-term descent of the turbopause height of 4.2 km. Such a descent has been documented by a series of rocket mass spectrometer measurements.
IL-1 Trap rilonacept in refractory adult onset Still's disease

Adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a seronegative polyarthritis associated with rash and fever.1 The innate immune system has been implicated in its pathogenesis and hypersecretion of interleukin 1 (IL-1) has been associated with increased disease activity.2 We report the first successful use of rilonacept, a long-acting IL-1 Trap, in the management of three patients with refractory AOSD. Rilonacept is a soluble dimeric fusion protein (IL-1 receptor extracellular domain +hIgG1-Fc) administered as a weekly subcutaneous injection (220 mg loading dose and 160 mg maintenance dose).3 Patient 1 was a 41 year-old woman who presented with spiking fevers, sore throat, urticaria, arthritis and splenomegaly accompanied by leucocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (>100 mm/h), increased lung function tests and hyperferritinaemia (8442 ng/ml). She …
Crystalline copper phosphates : Synthesis and thermal stability

The syntheses of Cu(PO3)2, Cu2P2O7, Cu4P2O9, Cu5P2O10, Cu3(PO4)2, and Cu2PO4 were accomplished by several new solid-state routes. Attempts to synthesize CuPO3 were unsuccessful, and it is suspected that this compound, which is reported in the literature, may not exist. The thermal stabilities of Cu(PO3)2, Cu2P2O7 and Cu3(PO4)2 were examined, and their decomposition was concluded to be strongly dependent on slow kinetics.
A Review of Microbiology: An Evolving Science, Second Edition

Review of : Microbiology: An Evolving Science, 2nd ed.; Joan L Slonczweski and John W. Foster; (2011). W.W. Norton & Company, New York NY. 1096 pages. ISBN: 978-0-393-93447-2. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE
Laser ablation of YBCO: utilizing /sup 18/O to investigate the incorporation of oxygen into the laser plume

/sup 18/O has been used as a tracer to measure the transfer of oxygen from the chamber atmosphere into the laser induced plume. The amount of oxygen incorporated into the plume was found by laser ablating from a polycrystalline YBCO target onto a room temperature carbon substrate in an atmosphere of 50% /sup 16/O and 50% /sup 18/O. A series of such samples was prepared using deposition pressures ranging from 0.5 to 260 mTorr. The film stoichiometry, including, most importantly, the atomic fraction of /sup 18/O, for each sample was determined using Rutherford backscattering. The results show that the incorporation of /sup 18/O from the deposition atmosphere increases with increasing deposition pressure (50% /sup 16/O and 50% /sup 18/O) up to approximately 25 mTorr and then, unexpectedly, decreases for higher pressures. >
Prenatal Programming and Toxicity (PPTOX) Introduction

The developmental origin of health and disease hypothesis posits that early-life exposures, including prenatal, can influence disease outcomes throughout the entire lifespan of an organism. Over the past 30 years, scientific researchers have compiled robust epidemiological and mechanistic data showing the effects of early-life nutrition, chemical exposures, and stress on prenatal programing and toxicity. Using novel techniques in genomics and epigenetics, science is now establishing strong links between low-level early-life environmental exposures and the later development of noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease, reproductive effects, immune system function and cancer. Now scientists must engage with communities, industry, policy makers, and clinicians to leverage our newfound understanding of prenatal programing and toxicity into better health outcomes across the lifespan.
Fall Classification by Machine Learning Using Mobile Phones

Fall prevention is a critical component of health care; falls are a common source of injury in the elderly and are associated with significant levels of mortality and morbidity. Automatically detecting falls can allow rapid response to potential emergencies; in addition, knowing the cause or manner of a fall can be beneficial for prevention studies or a more tailored emergency response. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate techniques to not only reliably detect a fall but also to automatically classify the type. We asked 15 subjects to simulate four different types of falls–left and right lateral, forward trips, and backward slips–while wearing mobile phones and previously validated, dedicated accelerometers. Nine subjects also wore the devices for ten days, to provide data for comparison with the simulated falls. We applied five machine learning classifiers to a large time-series feature set to detect falls. Support vector machines and regularized logistic regression were able to identify a fall with 98% accuracy and classify the type of fall with 99% accuracy. This work demonstrates how current machine learning approaches can simplify data collection for prevention in fall-related research as well as improve rapid response to potential injuries due to falls.
A Drosophila Axin homolog, Daxin, inhibits Wnt signaling

The vertebrate Axin protein, the product of the mouse fused gene, binds to beta-catenin to inhibit Wnt signaling. We have identified a homolog of Axin in Drosophila, Daxin. Using double-stranded RNA interference, we generated loss-of-function phenotypes that are similar to overexpression of the Drosophila Wnt gene wingless (wg). Overexpression of Daxin produces phenotypes similar to loss of wg. In addition, we show that Daxin overexpression can modify phenotypes elicited by wg and another Drosophila Wnt gene, DWnt-2. Using immunoprecipitation of endogenous Daxin protein from embryos we show that Daxin interacts with Armadillo and Zeste-white 3. The loss-of-function and overexpression phenotypes show that Daxin, like its mammalian counterpart, acts as a negative regulator of wg/Wnt signaling.
A new deep-sea species of harrimaniid enteropneust (Hemichordata)

Abstract Ninety-two individuals of a deep-sea harrimaniid enteropneust were imaged between 1675 m and 3225 m off the California coast. Of these, about three-fourths were positioned with their posterior regions buried in sediment or hidden by rocks, and the rest were completely exposed on the substratum. When visible, the posterior end of each worm was typically associated with a dense tangle of fecal strands. One specimen was captured and is described here as the holotype of Saxipendium implicatum. In life, it was 22 cm long, and the color of its dome-shaped proboscis, narrow collar, and anterior trunk was medium orange. No wing-like folds of the body wall protruded anywhere along the length of the worm. The proboscis complex included a stomochord and glomeruli, but neither a heart nor a pericardial cavity could be detected. Most of the dorsal collar nerve runs along an open invagination in the dorsal midline of the collar and is only roofed over very briefly at the posterior extremity of the collar. Anot...
NGMNs, 3G, and 4G Networks

The mobile telephone industry has offered vast economic incentives for the network service providers. Coupled with intelligent network (IN) and limited personal services, the mobile services provided to the customers are limited by the intelligence embedded in the mobile service base stations. The role of the base stations in the earlier configurations of the 1970s and 1980s was to provide telephone service connectivity and handover functions necessary to maintain base station contact as the users moved from cell to cell. Currently, vendors are attempting to offer partially converged services, network function virtualization and SDN architectures with additional and enhanced quality of services. More recently, the possibilities of providing multiple bands operating in a multimode to the users are envisioned. Cost effectiveness and economy of scale are yet to be realized or at least during the second half of the decade of 2010.
The H-2 Complex and Somatic Cell Genetics

For more than half a century, mammalian genetics has been concerned almost exclusively with the mechanisms by which genetic information is transmitted through germ cells; an inquiry into the principles governing the expression of genetic information in somatic cells has only recently begun. The genetics of somatic cells is aimed at understanding such phenomena as differentiation, antibody formation, neoplasia, and cell-virus interaction. The existence of somatic cell genetics is dependent upon the ability to detect variant forms (variants) of somatic cells, that is, rare deviations from the norm, which can then be used as markers in genetic analysis. The markers must fulfill two major criteria: they must be expressed in an easily detectable form in the somatic cells, and they must provide ways of selecting a new variant from a population of normal cells. The antigens controlled by the H-2 complex meet both these criteria: they can be detected in all, or almost all normal and neoplastic tissues using a variety of relatively simple serological tests, and they can be subjected to a strong selection pressure in the form of an immune reaction. It is therefore not surprising that H-2 antigens have frequently been used in somatic cell genetics and have contributed considerably to the development of this field. Only one example of this contribution—the variant formation (both specific and nonspecific) in tumor cells—will be considered here.
A G1 Cyclin Is Necessary for Maintenance of Filamentous Growth in Candida albicans

Candida albicans undergoes a dramatic morphological transition in response to various growth conditions. This ability to switch from a yeast form to a hyphal form is required for its pathogenicity. The intractability of Candida to traditional genetic approaches has hampered the study of the molecular mechanism governing this developmental switch. Our approach is to use the more genetically tractable yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to yield clues about the molecular control of filamentation for further studies in Candida. G1 cyclins Cln1 and Cln2 have been implicated in the control of morphogenesis in S. cerevisiae. We show that C. albicans CLN1 (CaCLN1) has the same cell cycle-specific expression pattern as CLN1 and CLN2 of S. cerevisiae. To investigate whether G1 cyclins are similarly involved in the regulation of cell morphogenesis during the yeast-to-hypha transition of C. albicans, we mutated CaCLN1. Cacln1/Cacln1 cells were found to be slower than wild-type cells in cell cycle progression. The Cacln1/Cacln1 mutants were also defective in hyphal colony formation on several solid media. Furthermore, while mutant strains developed germ tubes under several hypha-inducing conditions, they were unable to maintain the hyphal growth mode in a synthetic hypha-inducing liquid medium and were deficient in the expression of hypha-specific genes in this medium. Our results suggest that CaCln1 may coordinately regulate hyphal development with signal transduction pathways in response to various environmental cues.
Amine-Quinone Polyimides as Coatings that Protect Iron Against Corrosion.

A new diamine monomer was synthesized by condensing 4,4′-methylene dianiline with 1,4-benzoquinone. The monomer was condensed with 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride to give a polyamic acid that was soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. The polyamic acid was cast onto iron and thermally imidized to give the amine-quinone polyimide (AQPI-2). AQPI-2 had a thermal decomposition temperature (10% weight loss) of 540°C and a glass transition near 290°C, values typical of polyimides. The degradation of the coating on iron after exposure to NaCl electrolyte was followed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Under these conditions a conventional polyimide failed after 3 days exposure, while AQPI-2 showed no change after 34 days exposure. The adhesive bond between the amine-quinone polyimide and the iron surface was so strong that it could not be broken by the electrolyte.
Complications of Pediatric Otitis Media.

ObjectiveOtitis media (OM) is a common diagnosis in the pediatric population that is usually managed on an outpatient basis. A small proportion of children are admitted due to a complex disease cou...
Ca2+ Current in Rabbit Carotid Body Glomus Cells Is Conducted by Multiple Types of High-Voltage–Activated Ca2+ Channels

Overholt, Jeffrey L. and Nanduri R. Prabhakar. Ca2+ current in rabbit carotid body glomus cells is conducted by multiple types of high-voltage–activated Ca2+ channels. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 2467–247...
Utility of Computed Tomography following Anterior Cervical Diskectomy and Fusion.

Study Design Retrospective case series. Objective To assess the utility of postoperative computed tomography (CT) following anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) and to determine the clinical circumstances most likely to lead to an abnormal CT scan. Methods Patients who underwent ACDF at a tertiary center over a span of 5 years were investigated. Only patients who had a minimum of 6 months' postoperative follow-up and a CT within 2 years after the surgery were included in the study group. All the postoperative notes were reviewed to determine indications for the CT, abnormalities identified, and whether the scan led to an alteration in the treatment course. Results The charts of 690 patients who underwent ACDF were reviewed. Of the 690 patients, 45 (7%) had postoperative CTs. These patients accounted for 53 postoperative CT scans, 45 (85%) of which were taken for patients who expressed persistent postoperative symptoms and/or had abnormal imaging. There were no indications for 8 (15%) of the CTs. Patients who had a CT for persistent symptoms and/or abnormal preliminary imaging were significantly more likely to have an abnormal CT ( p = 0.03) and/or an alteration in treatment course ( p = 0.04) compared with those with no symptomatic or radiologic indication for CT. Conclusions CT is associated with minimal utility regarding the alteration of treatment course when employed in asymptomatic patients. Postoperative CT should be ordered solely for symptomatic patients or those with other abnormal preliminary imaging. Judicious use of postoperative CT will limit the radiation exposure and cost.
Intimate computing

In this column, the author explores the closeness and its implications for computing. Anthropologists and other social scientists often discuss new technologies as if they were more than simply devices. Computing technology is also linked to cultural scripts around such values as efficiency and rationality. The desktop PC computing paradigm is rapidly giving way to a more complicated and nuanced vision of computing technologies and power.
Hessian Fly Control with Carbofuran

Chemical control of Mayetiola destructor (Say) was obtained in wheat, Triticum aestivum L., by applying carbofuran as a seed treatment and by broadcast application with a sprayer. Seed treatment rates of 2 oz AI/bu gave statistically significant reductions in numbers of puparia (“flaxseeds”) after the fall generation but were not effective against subsequent generations. Broadcast treatments at rates of 1–3 lb AI/acre reduced infestations and provided protection against a 2nd, or winter, generation of flies. Yields were negatively correlated with density of puparia in broadcast treatments. Carbofuran did not produce any evident phytotoxicity.
Entrainment of a Driven Oscillator as a Dynamical Phase Transition

Large deviation theory has emerged as the natural language with which to study transitions between dynamical phases, such as the glass transition. Here we use this approach to show that the entrainment of an oscillator to an external driving force can be described as a phase transition between two regions in a joint space-time representation. Specifically, we numerically obtain exact solutions of the large deviation function for a discrete, finite model of an oscillator under a periodically varying external force. We find that the first derivative of the expectation value of the current diverges in the limit of large system size. For weak forcing, perturbation theory allows us to relate the observed frequency of the oscillator to the spectrum of eigenvalues for the unforced system. We find that in the entrainment region where the oscillator exhibits the frequency of the driving force, there is a strong coupling between the ground state and excited states.
Technical updates to the bacterial method for nitrate isotopic analyses.

The bacterial conversion of aqueous nitrate (NO3−) to nitrous oxide (N2O) for isotopic analysis has found widespread use since its introduction (Sigman, D. M.; Casciotti, K. L.; Andreani, M.; Galanter, M.; Bohlke, J. K. Anal. Chem.2001, 73, 4145−4153; Casciotti, K. L.; Sigman, D. M.; Galanter Hastings, M.; Bohlke, J. K.; Hilkert, A. Anal. Chem.2002, 74, 4905−4912). The bacterial strain Pseudomonas aureofaciens (ATTC no. 13985) was shown to convert NO3− to N2O while retaining both N and O isotopic signatures, and automation of the isotopic analysis of N2O greatly increased the throughput of the method (Casciotti, K. L.; Sigman, D. M.; Galanter Hastings, M.; Bohlke, J. K.; Hilkert, A. Anal. Chem.2002, 74, 4905−4912). Continued development of the denitrifier method has led to increased precision and throughput of NO3− isotopic analysis. Presented here are several recent procedural modifications and the demonstration of their effectiveness.
A Simple Method of Sterilizing Blood for Cultural Purposes

Though great attention has been given of late to blood media, the necessity for a method of preparation which would make such media more widely applicable has been felt. Much of the difficulty hitherto experienced has been that of obtaining sterile blood readily and in quantities sufficient for universal use. This difficulty compelled various investigators to select widely different animals for their source of supply. Some even resorted to the use of commercial hemoglobin. The work, therefore, was varied and no standard blood media could be established.
Development of screening labs and investigation of professionals structure of AIDS labs in Jinhua in 2009

Objective:To promote the network construction of screening laboratories in Jin hua and improve the testing technology,quality management and personnel quality of AIDS labs,and to reduce testing error ratio and omission ratio and ensure the correctness and accuracy of testing results.In order to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of AIDS.Methods: Investigating by means of giving questionnaires and blind testing samples and on-site supervision.Results: There are totally 37 screening labs of AIDS currently in Jinhua,the number of professionals in which come to 134 and the proportion of men to women is 1 to 1.Young adults are the major of the professionals and most of the staff has passed the exams of intermediate grade.Most has rich experience of serologic testing but are lack of experience of HIV testing.About the blind samples checking,the exactitude rate,accuracy rate of 2S and excellent rate were respectively 100%,83.7% and 91.9%.All of the screening labs in Jinhua are able to work about HIV testing.Conclusion:The personnel of screening laboratories are well organized and the network construction of laboratories is completed,which can meet the demand of AIDS tests in Jin hua.
Reconstruction of underlying curves with styling radius corners

This paper presents a new curve fitting framework for styling design data. Given a data set that represents a filleted-like curve, underlying curves (U-curves) and styling radius corners (SR-corners) are generated by fitting to low curvature parts and highly curved ones, respectively. A set of U-curves are firstly reconstructed as a unique $$C^0$$ composite B-spline curve, and then an SR-corner is reconstructed for each $$C^0$$ corner. This approach guarantees that U-curves can be smoothly connected through convex SR-corners while enabling full editing of the smooth corners up to sharp ones. Compared with existing schemes that naively fit a curve to each part, the proposed framework provides a guiding principle for the generation of curves, which is more suitable for styling design. Experimental results demonstrate that high-quality curves can be generated even from real-world scanned data.