cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Process and formulation variables affecting the drug release from chlorpheniramine maleate-loaded beads coated with commercial and self-prepared aqueous ethyl cellulose pseudolatexes

Abstract Chlorpheniramine maleate-loaded nonpareil seeds were coated in a fluidized bed with a commercial ethyl cellulose pseudolatex, Aquacoat, and ethyl cellulose pseudolatexes prepared by a microfluidization-solvent evaporation technique in order to investigate the effect of process variables (coating temperature, curing temperature and time) and formulation variables (surfactant concentrations) on the drug release in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. Although curing and coating conditions did not affect the drug release in simulated gastric juice, dramatic increases in drug release were seen in simulated intestinal fluid with incompletely cured beads. The presence of the anionic surfactant, sodium lauryl sulfate, in the coating caused the pH-dependent drug release from ethyl cellulose pseudolatex-coated beads. The release from beads coated with surfactant-free pseudolatexes was insensitive to the pH of the dissolution medium. With cured beads, the faster initial drug release in simulated intestinal fluids was attributed to the better wetting of the beads, as indicated by contact angle measurements. The addition of cetyl alcohol as a cosurfactant decreased the drug release and pH sensitivity of the film.
Liberal Policy Debates and Their Consequences for African Americans

Marilyn E. Lashley and Melanie Njeri Jackson (Eds.), African Americans and the New Policy Consensus: Retreat of the Liberal State.
Breaking news on wikipedia: dynamics, structures, and roles in high-tempo collaboration

The goal of my research is to evaluate how distributed virtual teams are able to use socio-technical systems like Wikipedia to self-organize and respond to complex tasks. I examine the roles Wikipedians adopt to synthesize content about breaking news events out of a noisy and complex information space. Using data from Wikipedia's revision histories as well as from other sources like IRC logs, I employ methods in content analysis, statistical network analysis, and trace ethnography to illuminate the multilevel processes which sustain these temporary collaborations as well as the dynamics of how they emerge and dissolve.
A new hand-held indirect calorimeter to measure postprandial energy expenditure.

Objective: To verify the accuracy of a new hand-held metabolic rate measuring device (MedGem) in quantifying postprandial energy expenditure (PP EE). MedGem measurements were compared to measurements obtained with a conventional indirect calorimeter (Delta-Trac). Research Methods and Procedures: The resting metabolic rate of 15 healthy subjects was measured for 20 minutes using Delta-Trac followed by a 10-minute measurement period using MedGem. EE was again measured for 7 hours after consumption of a 2510-kJ breakfast. Measurements were read from the Delta-Trac for the initial 50 minutes of each hour followed by a single reading from the MedGem after 5 to 10 minutes of measurement. Measured EE was calculated as the average of the total measurement period for Delta-Trac and for eight readings using MedGem; PP EE was calculated as the average of all measurements obtained after breakfast consumption. Results: There was no difference in resting metabolic rate between the two methods (6455.1 ± 417.6 vs. 6468.5 ± 337.2 kJ/d for Delta-Trac and MedGem, respectively). Measured EE and PP EE values with Delta-Trac (7019.1 ± 400.8 and 7099.8 ± 399.2 kJ/d, respectively) and MedGem (6775.6 ± 372.0 and 6819.5 ± 379.9 kJ/d, respectively) were not significantly different. There was no bias detected in any of the measurements made with MedGem compared with those of Delta-Trac. Discussion: The new hand-held EE measuring device can accurately track PP EE relative to a conventional indirect calorimetry system and, therefore, provides a new opportunity to assess PP EE in research settings and large-scale trials.
Topological features in 2D symmetric higher-order tensor fields

The topological structure of scalar, vector, and second-order tensor fields provides an important mathematical basis for data analysis and visualization. In this paper, we extend this framework towards higher-order tensors. First, we establish formal uniqueness properties for a geometrically constrained tensor decomposition. This allows us to define and visualize topological structures in symmetric tensor fields of orders three and four. We clarify that in 2D, degeneracies occur at isolated points, regardless of tensor order. However, for orders higher than two, they are no longer equivalent to isotropic tensors, and their fractional Poincare index prevents us from deriving continuous vector fields from the tensor decomposition. Instead, sorting the terms by magnitude leads to a new type of feature, lines along which the resulting vector fields are discontinuous. We propose algorithms to extract these features and present results on higher-order derivatives and higher-order structure tensors.
Short-term morbidity and mortality of Indiana pouch, ileal conduit, and neobladder urinary diversion following radical cystectomy

Abstract Purpose Literature surrounding Indiana pouch (IP) urinary diversion suggests a higher incidence of complications and longer operative time compared with ileal conduit (IC) and neobladder (NB). We sought to assess short-term complications of IP diversions compared with other diversions at our institution. Materials and methods Using institutional National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data, we identified radical cystectomy cases performed for bladder cancer at Indiana University from January 2011 until June 2013. During this time period, the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program randomly evaluated approximately 70% of radical cystectomies performed for urothelial carcinoma at our institution. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with Clavien grade III–V complications. Results A total of 233 cases were identified, 139 IC, 39 IP, and 55 NB. Mean (standard deviation) operative times for IC, IP, and NB were 257 (84), 383 (78), and 327 (88) minutes, respectively ( P P = 0.009). Overall, 12% of patients developed a Clavien grade III–V complication, with no difference observed between groups ( P = 0.884). After controlling for preoperative confounders, IP patients were not at increased odds of developing a Clavien III–V complication compared with IC (odds ratio = 1.38, P = 0.599). Conclusions At a high-volume center, the incidence of serious complications was similar between diversion types. IP patients were more likely to experience minor complications. Patients should be counseled regarding rates of short-term complications and blood transfusion.
Traumatic Herniation of the Buccal Fat Pad: Report of Case

A case is described of an injury involving herniation of the buccal fat pad. A differential diagnosis is outlined, and the results of the patient’s management are discussed.
Thromboembolus from a ligated left atrial appendage

Abstract The left atrial appendage of patients with mitral valve disease is commonly a source of thromboembolus and is often ligated during mitral valve surgery to diminish this risk. However, ligation is often incomplete. We describe a patient with a stroke whose only source of embolus was an incompletely ligated left atrial appendage. Attempts to exclude the left atrial appendage from the arterial circulation by suture ligation may not decrease the risk of thromboemboli and instead may increase such risk. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2001;14:396-8.)
Synthesis and Characterization of Ordered Meso-Macro-Porous Silica Membranes on a Porous Alumina Support*

Abstract Macroporous silica materials with ordered three-dimensional pore structure can be easily prepared by the template-directed sol-gel process. However, it is still a challenge to prepare them in membrane form on a porous support, which limits their applications. In this work, we have demonstrated the feasibility of obtaining a three-dimensional ordered macroporous silica membrane on macroporous alumina support using poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) spheres as the template. PMMA spheres were packed on the top of an Anopore-alumina support by filtration of a PMMA aqueous suspension. Silica sol obtained by an acid-catalyzed sol-gel process was infiltrated into the voids among the spheres. Drying induced stress caused the membrane to crack or peel off from the top of the support. This can be minimized by annealing the PMMA template layer before the introduction of silica sol which increases the mechanical strength of the template. Calcination or solvent extraction to remove the template produced a highly ordered three-dimensional macroporous silica membrane with spherical pores connected by windows in the mesoporous range. The results show that the PMMA-templated infiltration method is effective in preparing three-dimensional ordered macroporous silica membranes on a porous support.
Characterization of diverse forms of myosin heavy chain expressed in adult human skeletal muscle

Abstract In an attempt to define myosin heavy chain (MHC) gene organization and expression in adult human skeletal muscle, we have isolated and characterized genomic sequences corresponding to different human sarcomeric MHC genes (1). In this report, we present the complete DNA sequence of two different adult human skeletal muscle MHC cDNA clones, one of which encodes the entire light meromyosin (LMM) segment of MHC and represents the longest described MHC cDNA sequence. Additionally, both clones provide new sequence data from a 228 amino acid segment of the MHC tail for which no protein or DNA sequence has been previously available. One clone encodes a "fast" form of skeletal muscle MHC while the other clone most closely resembles a MHC form described in rat cardiac ventricles. We show that the 3' untranslated region of skeletal MHC cDNAs are homologous from widely separated species as are cardiac MHC cDNAs. However, there is no homology between the 3' untranslated region of cardiac and skeletal muscle MHCs. Isotype-specific preservation of MHC 3' untranslated sequences during evolution suggests a functional role for these regions.
Synergistic antitumor activity of interleukin-2 and cimetidine against syngeneic murine tumor.

Cimetidine, an H2 histamine receptor antagonist, is a potent immunomodulating agent, which acts by inhibiting suppressor T lymphocyte function. The present work investigated the effect, if any, of cimetidine on interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activities, and on in vivo antitumor activity using syngeneic colon 26 adenocarcinoma as the model. Mimicking the clinical conditions, all in vitro experiments were evaluated with the splenocytes prepared from tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. Ten days after subcutaneous inoculation of tumor cells (5 × 105), animals were treated intraperitoneally daily with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), cimetidine (2 mg kg−1 day−1), IL-2 (300 000 IU/day), or cimetidine plus IL-2 for 7 consecutive days. The treatment of IL-2 plus cimetidine increased NK and LAK cell activities significantly and synergistically at the end of the treatment (i.e. on day 18) as well as 1 week after the treatment (i.e. on day 25), in comparison with those of the control groups (PBS, cimetidine alone, IL-2 alone). Also, in vivo antitumor activity, as analyzed by a Kaplan-Meier life table with the log-rank test, revealed a significantly prolonged survival in the group treated with IL-2 plus cimetidine compared to the control groups. Phenotyping performed on the murine splenocytes on day 18 indicated a significant reduction in Lyt2-positive cells in the cimetidine-treated group in comparison with the PBS group. A significant increase in asialo GM1-positive cells and IL-2-receptor-positive cells was detected in the group treated with IL-2 plus cimetidine in comparison with the PBS and IL-2 control groups. Therefore, this study indicates a synergistic enhancement of IL-2-induced NK and LAK cell activities in tumor-bearing hosts by cimetidine, a noncytotoxic inhibitor of suppressor T function, and a significantly prolonged survival of tumor-bearing animals treated by IL-2 plus cimetidine. It also suggests the clinical potential of combination therapy of IL-2 with cimetidine.
SEISMIC ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURES WITH A FRACTIONAL DERIVATIVE MODEL OF VISCOELASTIC DAMPERS

Viscoelastic dampers are now among some of the preferred energy dissipation devices used for passive seismic response control. To evaluate the performance of structures installed with viscoelastic dampers, different analytical models have been used to characterize their dynamic force deformation characteristics. The fractional derivative models have received favorable attention as they can capture the frequency dependence of the material stiffness and damping properties observed in the tests very well. However, accurate analytical procedures are needed to calculate the response of structures with such damper models. This paper presents a modal analysis approach, similar to that used for the analysis of linear systems, for solving the equations of motion with fractional derivative terms for arbitrary forcing functions such as those caused by earthquake induced ground motions. The uncoupled modal equations still have fractional derivatives, but can be solved by numerical or analytical procedures. Both numerical and analytical procedures are formulated. These procedures are then used to calculate the dynamic response of a multi-degree of freedom shear beam structure excited by ground motions. Numerical results demonstrating the response reducing effect of viscoelastic dampers are also presented.
Magnetopause reconnection impact parameters from multiple spacecraft magnetic field measurements

We present a novel technique that exploits multiple spacecraft data to determine the impact parameters of the most general form of magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause. The method consists of a superposed epoch of multiple spacecraft magnetometer measurements that yields the instantaneous magnetic spatial gradients near a magnetopause reconnection site. The gradients establish the instantaneous positions of the spacecraft relative to the reconnection site. The analysis is well suited to evaluating the spatial scales of singular field line reconnection, which is characterized by a two-dimensional x-type topology adjacent and perpendicular to a reconnecting singular field line. Application of the method to Cluster data known to lie in the vicinity of a northward IMF reconnection site establishes a field topology consistent with singular field line reconnection and a normal magnetic field component of 20 nT. The corresponding current structure consists of a 130 km sheet possibly embedding a thinner. bifurcated sheet.
Progress in the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Progress in the management of thoracic aortic aneurysm includes the following aspects: 1. the concepts of the disease itself, which is frequently generalized so that the second most common cause of late death is rupture of another aneurysm; 2. the diagnostic techniques used: computed tomographic scanning as well as aortography; 3. the medical treatment: with beta blockade and antihypertensive drugs in stable aortic injury in the patient with multiple critical injuries; 4. that hypothermic circulatory arrest with cardiopulmonary bypass and brain temperatures down to 16–20°C has increased successful aortic arch replacement from 50–75% to over 90%; 5. that rapid autologous transfusion by means of a modified Hemonetics machine can collect and process a unit of shed blood in 2–3 minutes and has reduced transfusion requirements by more than half; 6. the vigorous treatment of both consumptive and dilutional coagulopathies; 7. the new reconstructive techniques: involving composite valve graft replacement of the aortic valve, root, and arch as well as coronary artery reattachment; 8. that the use of viable tissue flaps in the treatment of infected aortic grafts as well as intravenous and local irrigation with antibiotics was successful in 8 of 9 of our cases; 9. that graft replacement with intensive antibiotic therapy was effective in 19 of 22 of our patients with mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysm.
Functional or social?: exploring teams in online games

Team collaboration in multi-player online games provides opportunities for players to interact with each other. Facilitating teams has become one of the main design principles to increase social activities. However, there is no research evidence that collaborating on tasks in game teams can produce the desired relational outcome. This paper examines more than half a million solo and team activities during a week in Dragon Nest, an MMO game. We measure the degree of team engagement using the percentage of time played in teams and the percentage of play with repeated teammates, and we then identify different types of players using this. The results show that solo players and team players are two distinct populations and they are highly predictable based on players' in-game status. Moreover, we find that spending more time in teams does not always lead to more social interactions. The interviews with players are conducted to validate the findings.
User-centric speaker report: Ranking-based effectiveness evaluation and feedback

In this paper, we present a computer vision-based system that is capable of automatically analyzing presentation videos and evaluating it according to the learned user's preference. In this system, different visual features indicating the effectiveness of the presentation are extracted. They include the speaker's global movement, face/head orientation distribution and motions caused by the use of hands. Given a set of user scored presentation videos, we adapt the RankBoost [13] algorithm to learn the user's scoring preference so that the system can score a new presentation video in the future to provide the user feedback. The experiment results show that the vision processing part can reliably extract the low level features and the ranking learning part can successfully learn user's different scoring preferences and achieve an average ranking error within one level or less.
Flame stretch effects on partially premixed flames

Abstract Flame stretch is an important characteristic of flame behavior that arises due to flow motion and nonuniformity, and flame curvature. Various investigators have obtained different expressions for flame stretch by employing dissimilar analytical approaches for diverse flame configurations. In this investigation, we consider two such formulations, one which is “exact” and the other that assumes a simplified unidirectional flow, and apply both relations to characterize the behavior of the rich premixed reaction zone in partially premixed flames (PPFs). Steady two-dimensional partially premixed methane–air slot burner flames are established by introducing a rich fuel–air mixture from the inner slot and air from the two outer slots. The flames contain two distinct spatially separated reaction zones. In order to characterize the flame stretch, the corresponding flame deformation must be first measured. The experimental diagnostics include the use of C ∗ 2 -chemiluminescence images, holographic interferometry, and particle image velocimetry. The flame structure depends upon the heat release, temperature, and fluid velocity (therefore, momentum) associated with a particular burner or flame configuration. We focus attention on stretch effects on the inner premixed reaction zone of the PPFs, which exhibits a highly curved portion near its tip and planar portions along its sides. By applying the two formulations, we have inferred unstretched flame speeds and found these to be in good agreement with previously measured results. The methodology also allows us to infer “effective flame speeds” for rich methane–air mixtures with compositions that lie beyond the rich flammability limits for which no data is available in the literature. In general, both formulations provide satisfactory results, although the exact relation is a more accurate representation, as is to be expected. Unidirectional flow can be assumed for relatively larger flames in which the flow behind the flamefront is relatively unperturbed by the preheat zone. As we follow the flame curvature, both the sign and magnitude of the corresponding values of the stretch rate change in a systematic manner. This suggests that the dominating effect in these flames occurs more due to flame curvature and less due to flow nonuniformity effects. In the curved region, the deduced “unstretched” flame speed S uc o is greater than S u o . The measured values of Ma are of O (10 −1 ).
Neurophysiologic assessment of the anal sphincters

One hundred twenty consecutive patients with either fecal incontinence (60 patients), chronic constipation (41 patients), or idiopathic intractable pelvic pain (19 patients) were prospectively assessed. Patients underwent concentric needle electromyography (EMG), bilateral pudendal nerve terminal motor latency evaluation, anorectal manometry, and cinedefecography. The most common EMG finding in patients with fecal incontinence was decreased recruitment of motor units with squeezing and polyphasic motor unit potentials; these are consistent with an injury pattern. The most common EMG finding in the constipated patients was paradoxical puborectalis contraction. This latter abnormality was also a frequent finding in patients with rectal pain, as was prolongation of pudendal nerve latency. Paradoxical puborectalis contraction was diagnosed more frequently with EMG than with cinedefecography. Inter-examination correlation was best in the incontinent group between EMG and manometry. Cinedefecography had poor correlation with EMG in all patient groups but was valuable in the detection of additional pathology such as rectoanal intussusception and anterior rectocele. Electromyography including pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment is a valuable adjunct in the evaluation of disorders of evacuation. The information it yields is complementary to that offered by more routine physiologic examinations.
Plasma estrone, prolactin, neurophysin, and sex steroid-binding globulin in chronic alcoholic men

Abstract The feminization frequently observed in men with alcoholic liver disease has not been satisfactorily explained by existing reports. We have measured plasma estrone, prolactin, estrogen-stimulated neuorphysin, and sex steroid-binding globulin concentrations in 50 men with chronic alcoholism and varying degrees of alcoholic liver disease in an effort to further elucidate possible hormonal mechanisms responsible for the observed feminization. Plasma concentrations of each of these parameters were at least two-fold elevated ( p ⪕ 0.01 ) when compared to values obtained for the same steroid or protein in plasma obtained from normal men. The plasma concentrations of estrone and prolactin in men studied with gynecomastia were significantly greater ( p ⪕ 0.01 and p ⪕ 0.05 , respectively) than were the concentrations of these two hormones in those without this physical sign. Similarly, those men with spider angiomata had significantly greater ( p ⪕ 0.01 ) plasma estrone levels than did the men without this cutaneous vascular abnormality. These significant hormone elevations may contribute to the pathogenesis of feminization so frequently observed in chronic alcoholic men.
Act globally, think locally

I discuss Stoffregen & Bardy's theory from the perspective of the complementary aspect of input conflict, namely, imput coherence - the unity of perception. In a classical approach this leads to the famous “binding problem.” The conceptual framework the authors construct leaves no space for a binding problem to arise. A remaining problem of perceptual conflict, arising in cases of inversion of the visual field can be handled by the theory the authors propose.
Serotoninergic control of growth hormone (GH) secretion in dogs as measured by dose responsiveness.

Abstract L-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) - induced GH release has been demonstrated in animals and man, but serotoninergic control remains controversial. We developed a sensitive radioimmuno-assay for measurement of canine GH and investigated the 5-HTP dose-response relationship in unanesthetized mongrel bitches. Intravenous administration of 1, 5, 10, and 25 mg/kg doses of 5-HTP caused GH release but an increased latency in peak GH response was seen with the larger doses. Doses of 10 and 25 mg/kg induced stressful behavior and markedly increased plasma corticoid levels while lower doses were without effect. From these findings in the dog we conclude that the GH response to low dose 5-HTP is not due to stress and that alternate mechanisms are needed to explain the variable serotoninergic control of GH release demonstrated with low and high dose 5-HTP stimulation.
Linkage analysis in heterogeneous and complex traits

Linkage analysis is generally carried out under singlegene models, while complex traits are thought to be under the control of multiple interacting genes. Current issues related to linkage analysis for complex traits are discussed. It is argued that linkage analyses should be carried out for sub-phenotypes, in addition to classical “affected-unaffected” phenotypes. Correlations for phenotypes among family members are often computed on the basis of extreme phenotypes of a proband, which results in biased estimates. Methods for ascertainment corrections are recommended. A generalized version of heterogeneity analysis is introduced and are shown to provide an effective single-locus analysis for complex traits.
Cerebral palsy in four northern California counties, births 1983 through 1985

To examine the impact of demographic shifts and changes in perinatal medicine on the distribution of cerebral palsy (CP), we investigated characteristics of affected children in a large, recent population-based American cohort study. Children with moderate or severe congenital CP born in four northern California counties in 1983 through 1985 and surviving to age 3 years were identified through records of state service agencies and clinical examination or record review by a single physician. We compared information from birth certificates for 192 children with CP and 155,636 survivors without CP born in those counties in the same period. Children with birth weights 1500 gm, delivery at a hospital with specialized facilities was associated with a lower risk of CP.
Localization of acetylcholinesterase in the neurohypophysis and its functional implications.

SummaryNeurohypophyses of 7 cats were stained for AChE activity by AThCh method. In the infundibular stalk, fibers showed light staining, whereas fibers, their vesicular swellings, and terminations showed moderate staining in the infundibular process of the posterior lobe. No significant AChE activity was noted in the anterior or intermediate lobe. Thus, in conjunction with findings of an earlier study (7), neurons of the hypothalamico-neurohypophyseal tract appear to contain light to moderate concentrations of AChE throughout their full lengths. These findings are consistent with previous proposals (7,8) that liberation of endocrine secretions of the neurohypophysis is controlled by liberation of ACh from the same terminals.
Exponential stability of an attitude tracking control system on SO(3) for large-angle rotational maneuvers☆

Abstract This paper studies a tracking control system for the attitude dynamics of a rigid body. By selecting an attitude error function carefully, we show that the proposed control system guarantees a desirable tracking performance uniformly for rotational maneuvers involving a large initial attitude error. A strict Lyapunov analysis is presented to show exponential stability, and a sufficient condition to avoid non-differentiable points of the attitude error function is also shown. The proposed control system is directly developed on the special orthogonal group to avoid complexities and ambiguities associated with other attitude representations such as Euler angles or quaternions. These are illustrated by numerical examples.
Characterization of coals and coal oxidation by magic-angle 13C n.m.r. spectroscopy

Abstract Magic-angle 13 C n.m.r. spectra have been obtained for a series of vitrinite concentrates. Proper modification of the cross-polarization pulse sequence allows separation of protonated and nonprotonated carbon resonances. This technique is used to determine the relative fraction of nonprotonated aromatic carbons for each of the vitrinites, a parameter observed to decrease with increasing rank. Another parameter, related to the aromatic hydrogen content, is also calculated from these data and the results correlate with those from Fourier transform i.r. spectroscopy. The methods used for analysis of the vitrinite concentrates were then applied to the low-temperature oxidation of coal. The fractional aromaticity as determined by n.m.r. increases with longer oxidation times, indicating preferential attack on aliphatic structures. Here the FT-i.r. results are in quantitative agreement with those from n.m.r. Finally, the advantages of using various pulse sequences to extend the range of magic-angle n.m.r. and of combining FT-i.r. and n.m.r. results are discussed in the context of their potential for coal science.
TU‐C‐303A‐03: Real‐Time Profiling of Respiratory Motion and Its Application to Continuous Horizon Prediction

Purpose: Respiration‐induced tumor motions are semi‐periodic and exhibit different variations that have distinct clinical implications. We develop and investigate a system that is capable of estimating baseline drift, frequency variation and fundamental change (oscillatory amplitude and shape) in real time and utilize such information to predict abdominal or thoracic tumor positions. Method and Materials: The observation is modeled as a periodic fundamental pattern modulated in both frequency and baseline, which is subsequently corrupted by independent additive noise. To jointly estimate these coupled components online, we utilize three key techniques : (1) augment state to capture system dynamics and hysteresis; (2) create a low order elliptical shape model to characterize semi‐periodicity; (3) perform Poincare sectioning to automatically identify iso‐phase instances. Linear interpolation/extrapolation from iso‐phase points provides a continuous phase warping function. The baseline drift is obtained by projecting the elliptical center onto the original time‐displacement axis. A least squared error (LSE) estimate for the fundamental pattern is obtained by inversely phase‐ warping the observed trajectory and compensating for the mean drift. The proposed method is applied to simulated data with known “ground‐truth”. In a preliminary prediction test with RPM data, each component (baseline, phase and fundamental pattern) is extrapolated respectively, and then reassembled to provide a “predicted trajectory”. Results: The proposed method provides the first unsupervised system that achieves robust real‐time estimation of mean displacement, phase and fundamental pattern. Application of the online profiling system to prediction yields continuous horizon prediction of 3∼5 seconds, with similar behavior to what is expected from human observers. Conclusion: We have proposed an online profiling paradigm for describing and characterizing respiratory motions. Tests on simulation data and RPM signals have demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed method. This work was partially sponsored by NIH P01‐CA59827.
In vitro and in vivo labelling of animal tumours with tritiated thymidine.

The labelling indices obtained by incubating tumour specimens with tritiated thymidine in vitro under hyperbaric oxygen have been compared with those obtained by labelling a matched tumour in vivo. The correspondence between these individual labelling indices is sometimes very poor; however, the average labelling index derived from groups of tumours labelled in the two ways does not differ significantly. There was a large variation from field to field within any tumour, and considerable variation from one tumour to another within each tumour type. The mitotic index was also compared in the matched tumour preparations; the mitotic index in vitro was almost always considerably lower than the values observed in vivo.
Automated auditing of design principle adherence

Software design patterns and refactoring browsers are useful tools in developing high-quality software. Object-Oriented Oracle (OOO) is a tool that combines patterns and refactoring and extends them with the ability to recognize when the source-base doesn't adhere to software design principles. OOO relies on sophisticated compiler analyses and a set of heuristics to recognize characteristics of the code where a design principle is applicable, but is not being used. We present an example where the OOO can recognize noncompliance of design rules and the analyses and heuristics that are used to do the recognition. We also discuss other patterns where this approach applies and results from a prototype.
Release of nitric oxide from a sol-gel hybrid material containing a photoactive manganese nitrosyl upon illumination with visible light.

A polyurethane-coated sol−gel material containing the photoactive Mn nitrosyl [Mn(PaPy3)(NO)]ClO4 rapidly releases NO with high quantum efficiency when exposed to visible light of low intensity. Th...
Locus dependence in epigenetic chromatin silencing

Current biological models of epigenetic switches built on chromatin modifications lead to strong constraints on the repertoire of dynamic behaviors for the system. We use the structure of the bifurcation diagram of the underlying dynamical system to explain the existing single cell data in silencing by the SIR system in yeast.
“Ain’t No One Here But Us Social Forces”: Constructing the Professional Responsibility of Engineers

There are many ways to avoid responsibility, for example, explaining what happens as the work of the gods, fate, society, or the system. For engineers, "technology" or "the organization" will serve this purpose quite well. We may distinguish at least nine (related) senses of "responsibility", the most important of which are: (a) responsibility-as-causation (the storm is responsible for flooding), (b) responsibility-as-liability (he is the person responsible and will have to pay), (c) responsibility-as-competency (he's a responsible person, that is, he's rational), (d) responsibility-as-office (he's the responsible person, that is, the person in charge), and (e) a responsibility-as-domain-of-tasks (these are her responsibilities, that is, the things she is supposed to do). For all but the causal sense of responsibility, responsibility may be taken (in a relatively straightforward sense)-and generally is. Why then would anyone want to claim that certain technologies make it impossible to attribute responsibility to engineers (or anyone else)? In this paper, I identify seven arguments for that claim and explain why each is fallacious. The most important are: (1) the argument from "many hands", (2) the argument from individual ignorance, and (3) the argument from blind forces. Each of these arguments makes the same fundamental mistake, the assumption that a certain factual situation, being fixed, settles responsibility, that is, that individuals, either individually or by some group decision, cannot take responsibility. I conclude by pointing out the sort of decisions (and consequences) engineers have explicitly taken responsibility for and why taking responsibility for them is rational, all things considered. There is no technological bar to such responsibility.
Recoil tritium reactions at extremely low pressures

Abstract Recoil tritium reactions with cyclobutane and ethyl chloride have been extended to pressures as low as 5 × 10 −2 torr. The results indicate that more than 85% of the excited molecules subsequent to T-for-H substitution have excitation energies higher than 2.6 eV.
The effect of natural rubber crosslink density on real time birefringence, true stress and true strain behavior

A newly developed real time spectral birefringence technique was implemented to follow the coupled relationships between birefringence, true stress and true strain behavior of varying crosslink density natural rubber vulcanizates at room temperature. It was shown that the stress optical law is valid even at early stages of crystallization during stretching and there exists a critical birefringence beyond which the metastable near perfect oriented and highly distorted crystalline regions form and upon retraction this crystalline order disappears at the same critical birefringence level. These crystalline regions exhibit nematic order with significant axial registry distortions at early stages of the formation. They are suggested to form at or near the juncture points of the chemical network formed by crosslinks, and physical network by chain entanglements where the orientability of the chains is the most efficient.
Acyl coenzyme A: Cholesterol acyltransferase activity in fat body and intestinal microsomes of heliothis zea

Abstract 1. 1. Acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity was detected in the fat body and intestinal microsomes of prepupae of Heliothis zea and was consistent with the presence of steryl esters (principally cholesteryl) in these tissues. 2. 2. The formation of cholesteryl ester, by microsomes of the fat body, was linear to at least 20 min and over a range of protein concentrations from 25 to 200 μg. Under standard assay conditions, the average specific enzymatic activity in the fat body was 41.7 pmol/min/mg while in the intestine it was 59.5 pmol/min/mg. 3. 3. The tissue with the highest percentage of its sterol esterified was the intestine (10.2–11.9%), followed by the fat body (3.9–5.7%) and then the whole prepupa (1.0–1.5%).
Effect of papain on bee venom toxicity

Abstract The use of Adolph's Meat Tenderizer, which contains the enzyme papain, has been recommended for the treatment of bee stings, although no controlled animal or clinical data existed to support this treatment. Using mice as the test animals, we could find no evidence for antagonism of bee venom lethality or intradermal lesions by papain or Adolph's Meat Tenderizer administered following the venom. It therefore can be tentatively concluded that no positive effect would be expected by the application of these preparations in the usual clinical situation. Inactivation of bee venom only occurred when the venom and papain were mixed together prior to injection. In contrast, hydrocortisone ointment 0.5% was highly effective in decreasing the size of lesions produced by the prior intradermal injection of bee venom.
Stakes, withholding, and pragmatic encroachment on knowledge

Several authors have recently endorsed the thesis that there is what has been called pragmatic encroachment on knowledge—in other words, that two people who are in the same situation with respect to truth-related factors may differ in whether they know something, due to a difference in their practical circumstances. This paper aims not to defend this thesis, but to explore how it could be true. What I aim to do, is to show how practical factors could play a role in defeating knowledge by defeating epistemic rationality—the very kind of rationality that is entailed by knowledge, and in which Pascalian considerations do not play any role—even though epistemic rationality consists in having adequate evidence.
Congenital Failure of Formation of the Upper Limb

This article provides an overview of the various classification systems for radial longitudinal, central longitudinal, and ulnar longitudinal deficiencies. It looks specifically at radius deficiency, hypoplastic thumb, index finger pollicization, narrowed thumb web, forearm-elbow deformities, and hand abnormalities. Various surgical approaches to these conditions and their results are explored. The authors conclude that longitudinal failure of formation deformities comprises a substantial portion of the anomalies of the upper limb. Although much of the past and current congenital hand literature has been devoted to these conditions, they continue to be a reconstructive challenge to hand surgeons involved in their care.
Spectrophotometry of J8, J9, and four Trojan asteroids from 0.32 to 1.05 μm

New 30-channel narrowband photometry from 0.32 to 1.05 microns of the retrograde Jovian satellites J9 (to 0.7 micron) and J8 and the trailing Trojan asteroids 617, 884, 1172, and 1173 is presented. The data confirm previous measurements of J8, 617, 884, and 1172 at wavelengths less than 0.8 micron, but the extension into the infrared shows that the normalized spectral reflectance of these objects rises steadily from approximately 0.8 at 0.4 micron to approximately 1.4 at 1.05 microns, suggesting they are too bright in the near infrared to be C-type asteroids. The C classification of 1173 is confirmed. J9 is markedly redder than J8 at visible wavelengths. The results indicate a greater taxonomic contrast between these distant objects and main-belt asteroids than previously thought.
Constrained topological mapping for nonparametric regression analysis

Abstract The idea of using Kohonen's self-organizing maps is applied to the problem of nonparametric regression analysis, that is, evaluation (approximation) of the unknown function of N-1 variables given a number of data points (possibly corrupted by random noise) in N-dimensional input space. Simple examples show that the original Kohonen's algorithm performs poorly for regression problems of even low dimensionality, due to the fact that topologically correct ordering of units in N-dimensional space may violate the natural topological ordering of projections of those units onto (N-1)-dimensional subspace of independent variables. A modification of the original algorithm called the constrained topological mapping algorithm is proposed for regression analysis applications. Given a number of data points in N-dimensional input space, the proposed algorithm performs correct topological mapping of units (as the original algorithm) and at the same time preserves topological ordering of projections of these units onto (N-1)-dimensional subspace of independent coordinates. Simulation examples illustrate good performance (i.e., accuracy, convergence) of the proposed algorithm for approximating 2- and 3-variable functions. Moreover, for multivariate problems the proposed neural approach may alleviate “the curse of dimensionality,” that is, reduce the size of the training set required for evaluation of the unknown function (of many variables), by increasing the number of units (knots) in the topological map.
An Overview and Comparison of Rapid Thermal Processing Equipment: a Users Viewpoint

Five different RTP units have been examined. These are the Varian RTP-800, the Eaton ROA-400, the A.G. Associates 2101/2106, the Tamarack 180A-C and the Varian IA-200. Each system is a cassette-to-cassette serial processor designed for use in a high volume semiconductor fabrication line. These units will heat a wafer from room temperature to 400–1400C in times on the order of a few seconds. Each unit uses radiation to heat and cool the wafer. The different radiation sources, wafer handling systems, temperature measurements and control computers are discussed. The control of slip and nonuniform temperatures is presented as well as information regarding the types of ambients that can be used in each system.
RNA structure prediction from evolutionary patterns of nucleotide composition

Structural elements in RNA molecules have a distinct nucleotide composition, which changes gradually over evolutionary time. We discovered certain features of these compositional patterns that are shared between all RNA families. Based on this information, we developed a structure prediction method that evaluates candidate structures for a set of homologous RNAs on their ability to reproduce the patterns exhibited by biological structures. The method is named SPuNC for ‘Structure Prediction using Nucleotide Composition’. In a performance test on a diverse set of RNA families we demonstrate that the SPuNC algorithm succeeds in selecting the most realistic structures in an ensemble. The average accuracy of top-scoring structures is significantly higher than the average accuracy of all ensemble members (improvements of more than 20% observed). In addition, a consensus structure that includes the most reliable base pairs gleaned from a set of top-scoring structures is generally more accurate than a consensus derived from the full structural ensemble. Our method achieves better accuracy than existing methods on several RNA families, including novel riboswitches and ribozymes. The results clearly show that nucleotide composition can be used to reveal the quality of RNA structures and thus the presented technique should be added to the set of prediction tools.
Approach to the child with prader-willi syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder that is caused by the absence of normally active paternally expressed genes from the chromosome 15q11-q13 region (1). PWS has a prevalence of 1/10,000 to 1/30,000 individuals and is characterized by poor feeding in infancy often associated with failure to thrive, followed by obesity beginning around age 2 (1, 2). These individuals also have hyperphagia, hypotonia, developmental and cognitive delay, behavioral problems, and neuroendocrine abnormalities. Hypogonadism is present in both males and females and manifests as genital hypoplasia, incomplete pubertal development, and, in most, infertility. Short stature is common, related to GH insufficiency. Characteristic facial features, strabismus, and scoliosis are often present, and there is an increased incidence of sleep disturbance and type II diabetes mellitus, the latter particularly in those who become obese.
Statistically optimal dynamic power management for streaming data

This paper presents a method that uses data buffers to create long periods of idleness to exploit power management. This method considers the power consumed by the buffers and assigns an energy penalty for buffer underflow. Our approach provides analytic formulas for calculating the optimal buffer sizes without subjective or heuristic decisions. We simulate four different hardware configurations with MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 formats as a case study. Our results indicate that the optimal buffer size varies significantly for different data formats on different hardware. Simulation results indicate that 16 MB buffers are sufficient for MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 video streams from a microdrive or a network card, but transfers from an IDE disk require buffer sizes ranging from 16 MB to 176 MB, depending on each video's statistical properties.
Using biological approaches for the control of a 9-DoF wheelchair-mounted robotic arm system: Initial experiments

Biological studies have contributed to the control of mobile robots. Studies from the field of neuroscience to the field of psychology have shown roboticists different ways to control mechanical devices. A number of studies pertaining to human reaching and grasping have been done in the past few decades. These studies provide the psychological and neuropsychological evidence regarding human perception and movement of the human hand. This research aims to incorporate ideas from biological studies to control a 9-DoF Wheelchair-Mounted Robotic Arm (WMRA) system to be used as an assistive device. This paper gives succinct details of the biological studies done related to human sensorimotor actions and applies those ideas to control the WMRA. These ideas are incorporated into the WMRA system to work within its limits in its intended environment as an assistive device. This paper provides the implementation and initial simulation results.