cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is the routine practice of antibiotic prescription and microbial culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing justified in primary maxillofacial space infection patients? A prospective, randomized clinical study.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this prospective, randomized, comparative clinical study was to compare treatment outcome of removal of foci and incision and drainage, with or without oral antibiotic therapy, in the management of single primary maxillofacial space infection with a known focus. Materials and methods A total of 40 patients with single primary maxillofacial space infection with a known infectious focus were divided into two groups, one treated with incision and drainage only, and the other with incision and drainage along with oral antibiotics. The focus of infection was addressed in both groups. Parameters evaluated included pain score, maximum mouth opening, swelling, purulent discharge and return to normal life, which were assessed on days 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7. The patients were followed up until they reported return to normal life as assessed by a questionnaire. Results All of the patients rapidly responded to treatment as observed by a reduction in pain, swelling, discharge, and improvement in mouth opening. Pus discharge stopped within first 3 days in 75% of patients. The patients who underwent immediate extraction showed a faster resolution of infection (mean return to normal life = 9 days) than others (mean = 11.2 days). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for the five study parameters (p Conclusion This study questions the conventional practice by dental practitioners and surgeons of prescribing antibiotics to all patients with odontogenic infection. Microbial culture and antibiotic sensitivity is of little therapeutic value in selected patient groups.
Dynamical Systems: Basic Theory

The basic concept underlying the study of dynamics in infinite dimensional spaces is that of a semiflow, or as it is sometimes called, a semigroup. This semiflow is a time-dependent action on the ambient space, which we assume to be a complete metric space W, for example, a Banach space or a Frechet space. One should think of the semiflow as a mechanism for describing the solutions of an underlying evolutionary equation. This evolutionary equation is oftentimes the abstract formulation of a given partial differential equation or, sometimes, an ordinary differential equation with time delays. In this chapter we will examine some basic properties of semiflows. Our principal objective is to describe the longtime dynamics in terms of the invariant sets, the limit sets, and the attractors of the semiflow. A comprehensive theory of global attractors is included here. Later in this volume, we will develop the connections between the semiflow and the underlying evolutionary equation.
Patterns of Intensification as Seen from the Upper Paleolithic of the Central Russian Plain

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses patterns of intensification as seen from the upper Paleolithic of the Central Russian Plain. Current theoretical and empirical research on hunter–gatherer adaptations suggests that the time-worn small, simple, and mobile paradigm should be abandoned. The Russian Plain occupies the southern half of the European USSR. It is bordered on the west by the Carpathian Mountains and on the east by the Urals. The area was densely occupied during the Upper Paleolithic and over 1000 sites and localities from this period are known in the archeological record. The chapter discusses the 29 major Upper Paleolithic sites found on the Central Russian Plain. This area of some 180,000 km 2 has produced spectacular sites with elaborate mammoth-bone dwellings, numerous storage pits, as well as examples of portable art, engravings, and a number of exotic materials including fossil marine shells originating at least 600 km south of the sites. Geographically, these sites have a number of common features. They are all found in loess or colluviums, primarily on the second terraces of their respective rivers or along the edges of plateaus next to the rivers. Two broad categories of sites have been found in the area .
Temperature-Programmed Desorption of Pyridine on Zeolites in the Presence of Liquid Solvents

Selecting the proper solvent is a major challenge involved in biomass conversion processes as there is little predictive understanding of how solvent choice will affect reaction rates. To date, most attempts to understand solvent behavior are on a case by case basis, through catalytic activity testing and screening multiple solvent choices. There is a need for characterization techniques aimed toward fundamental understanding of solvent behavior in a simple and systematic fashion. In this work, the effect of solvent on the Bronsted acid site–pyridine interaction was isolated to improve understanding of a solvent’s ability to stabilize charge in nonideal environments like zeolite micropores. Pyridine temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) was applied to zeolites ZSM-5, Beta, and Y in back-pressurized, flowing solvent. The desorption temperatures of pyridine from Bronsted acid sites in vacuum were compared in liquid water, acetonitrile, and n-heptane. For H/ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 12), the pyridine desorption tempe...
4H–SiC alpha spectrometry for nuclear forensics with electrodeposited sources

The alpha emission spectrum of electrodeposited thin film 232Th and depleted uranium sources, including the alpha emitting 232Th decay chain daughters and 238U daughter nuclide 234U, have been measured using a thin film 4H–SiC alpha detector. The energy resolution of this detector was proved suitable for the identification of many of the major characteristic alpha emissions associated with the 232Th daughter isotopes. The identification of the lower energy daughter isotopes made from the 4H–SiC detector measurements was confirmed using a silicon surface barrier detector. A depleted uranium source was fabricated using electrodeposition in a molten salt and the alpha spectrum was acquired with a 4H–SiC detector. The 234U/238U activity ratio and atomic enrichment of 234U in the sample were determined. A method of determining the 235U enrichment in the product stream of the enrichment process used to produce the depleted uranium source was developed. This method makes use of the 234U and 235U waste stream enrichments, as indicated by the depleted uranium source, and a mass balance equation to determine the product 235U enrichment. Since the 235U spectrum was obscured in the electrodeposited source by peak broadening of 238U and 234U, a table of common 235U waste enrichment values was used to compute 235U product enrichments, thereby resulting in a plausible identification of the enrichment process as a Department of Energy HEU enrichment process.
A New Flavonoid from Selaginella tamariscina (Beauv.) Spring

isolation and structure determination of the new flavanoid (I), together with two natural products (II) and (III)
High Resolution Computed Tomography Atlas of the Porcine Temporal Bone and Skull Base: Anatomical Correlates for Traumatic Brain Injury Research.

Head injuries are a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Auditory and vestibular dysfunction may occur following trauma to the temporal bone (TB), including the lateral skull base. The porcine model is a commonly-used large animal model to investigate head injury. Reports detailing porcine TB anatomy based on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) imaging, however, are limited. Herein, we employ HRCT to evaluate and describe the bony anatomy of the porcine TB and skull base. High-resolution multidetector and cone beam computed tomography (CT) were used to image porcine TBs (n=16). TBs were analyzed for major anatomic structures. Porcine temporal bone anatomy was readily identifiable by HRCT. While some variability exists, the ossicular chain, vestibule, cochlea, course of the facial nerve, and skull base are similar to humans. Major differences included position of the external auditory canal and mastoid, as well as presence of the petrous carotid canal. Findings may serve as an at...
Abstract P127: Years of Life Lost Due to Cardiovascular Disease Among Asian American Subgroups, 2003-2012

Introduction: Asian American subgroups (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese) display significant differences in mortality due to cardiovascular disease. It has previou...
Identification of the Hypertension Drug Guanfacine as an Antivirulence Agent in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

An alternative solution to the cyclical development of new antibiotics is the concept of disarming pathogens without affecting their growth, thereby eliminating the selective pressures that lead to resistant phenotypes. Here, we have employed our previously developed HiTES methodology to identify one such compound against the ESKAPE pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Rather than induce silent biosynthetic gene clusters, we used HiTES to suppress actively expressed virulence genes. By screening a library of 770 FDA-approved drugs, we identified guanfacine, a clinical hypertension drug, as an antivirulence agent in P. aeruginosa. Follow-up studies showed that guanfacine reduces biofilm formation and pyocycanin production without altering growth. Moreover, we identified a homologue of QseC, a sensor His kinase used by multiple pathogens to turn on virulence, as a target of guanfacine. Our studies suggest that guanfacine might be an attractive antivirulence lead in P. aeruginosa and provide a template for uncovering such molecules by screening for downregulators of actively expressed biosynthetic genes.
Improvements in Physical Fitness Associated with a Course of U. S. Navy Underwater Trainees, with and without Dietary Supplements

Abstract An evaluation of the U. S. Navy's program of training for underwater swimmers, at Key West, during one typical course of six weeks, shows muscular, cardiovascular, and fat reduction improvements. The program of intensive physical conditioning, both in and out of the water, totaled about five hours of vigorous exercise per day, five days per week. In addition to swimming, the 30 men took land calisthenics drills, ran on an outdoor track, carried scuba packs weighing about 60 lbs., and took many test exercises to virtual exhaustion. Improvements equalled those obtained in wartime university programs but appear to be proportional to time spent, and were better than peacetime programs. Improvements in the cardiovascular area are considered handicapped and were probably hampered by insufficient sleep and the fatigue which accumulated during the course of the experiment. The time was considered inadequate to make the fullest cardiovascular adjustments. Fatigue showed especially in quiet cardiovascular ...
Communication in the PICU: Handoffs of Care

Lapses in communication can have significant consequences for the most vulnerable patients. Thus, we review various types of handoff occurring within pediatric intensive care units and between other care settings. We review the literature describing the impact of handoff between operating room to intensive care units, within the ICU, and among trainees. Specific constructs to facilitate transition of care have been studied with goal of minimizing error. Successful standardized handoff tools stimulate a conversation centered around safety, create a shared mental model, and consider potential causes of decompensation and mitigation strategies. Thorough communication is essential in a variety of transitions of care for critically ill children including, but are not limited to, intra-ICU handoffs between providers, between providers of different disciplines when going to or returning from the operating room or procedural areas, or between teams during the transport of a patient to or from another facility.
Chronic recurrent priapism: A high flow state secondary to an arteriovenous fistula of the corpus cavernosum

Abstract Priapism is clinically defined as an erect penis for more than 4 h unrelated to sexual stimulation. There are two main types of priapism-high flow and low flow, based on the pathophysiology. In this case report we will mainly focus on high flow, non-ischemic priapism, which is the less common form. High flow priapism occurs secondary to congenital malformation or from the development of arteriovenous malformation from genital trauma. This case highlights the importance of differentiation and recognition of posttraumatic high flow priapism and unveils the role of selective internal pudendal artery angiography and embolization in its management.
Photoactivatable Glycolipid Probes for Identifying Mycolate–Protein Interactions in Live Mycobacteria

Mycobacteria have a distinctive glycolipid-rich outer membrane, the mycomembrane, which is a critical target for tuberculosis drug development. However, proteins that associate with the mycomembrane, or that are involved in its metabolism and host interactions, are not well-characterized. To facilitate the study of mycomembrane-related proteins, we developed photoactivatable trehalose monomycolate analogues that metabolically incorporate into the mycomembrane in live mycobacteria, enabling in vivo photo-cross-linking and click-chemistry-mediated analysis of mycolate-interacting proteins. When deployed in Mycobacterium smegmatis with quantitative proteomics, this strategy enriched over 100 proteins, including the mycomembrane porin (MspA), several proteins with known mycomembrane synthesis or remodeling functions (CmrA, MmpL3, Ag85, Tdmh), and numerous candidate mycolate-interacting proteins. Our approach is highly versatile, as it (i) enlists click chemistry for flexible protein functionalization; (ii) in principle can be applied to any mycobacterial species to identify endogenous bacterial proteins or host proteins that interact with mycolates; and (iii) can potentially be expanded to investigate protein interactions with other mycobacterial lipids. This tool is expected to help elucidate fundamental physiological and pathological processes related to the mycomembrane and may reveal novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental syndrome originating in childhood, affecting 5–10% of young persons. Males are more commonly affected than females. Symptoms include developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Individuals with ADHD exhibit significant levels of impairment throughout the lifespan, with comorbidities common. Heritability is substantial; several environmental and genetic risk factors have been identified, which are likely to interact synergistically in shaping onset, course, and outcome. Fronto-striatal brain circuits are strongly implicated. Effective interventions include stimulant medications and behavioral approaches, with comorbidities often requiring additional interventions. Long-term maintenance of treatment gains is a continuing challenge.
Comparative effect of allopurinol and febuxostat on long-term renal outcomes in patients with hyperuricemia and chronic kidney disease: a systematic review.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more likely to develop hyperuricemia and gout. Allopurinol and febuxostat are the most commonly used urate-lowering therapies with established safety and efficacy in CKD patients. The objective of the systematic review is to assess the long-term renal outcomes of allopurinol compared with febuxostat in patients with hyperuricemia and CKD or kidney transplantation. PubMed MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched from inception to December 2019 using the key terms “allopurinol,” “febuxostat,” “xanthine oxidase inhibitors,” “gout suppressants,” “hyperuricemia,” “gout,” “chronic renal insufficiency,” and “kidney transplantation.” Studies with follow-up duration ≥ 12 months were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. Three retrospective observational studies with follow-up duration ranging from 1 to 5 years were reviewed. Febuxostat patients had a significantly higher estimated glomerular filtration rate, reduced risk for renal disease progression, and reduced serum uric acid levels compared with allopurinol patients. All studies had a serious risk of bias. Febuxostat may be more renoprotective than allopurinol in patients with both hyperuricemia and CKD based on evidence from small long-term retrospective studies with serious risk of bias. More methodologically rigorous studies are needed to determine the clinical applicability of these results.
A systems based framework to deduce transcription factors and signaling pathways regulating glycan biosynthesis

Abstract Glycosylation is a common, complex, non-linear post-translational modification. The biosynthesis of these structures is regulated by a set of ‘glycogenes’. The role of transcription factors (TFs) in regulating the glycogenes and related glycosylation pathways is yet unknown. This manuscript presents a multi-OMICs data-mining framework to computationally predict tissue specific TF activities and cell signaling pathways regulating the biosynthesis of specific glycan structures. It combines existing ChIP-Seq (Chromatin ImmunoPrecipitation Sequencing) and RNA-Seq data to reveal 20,617 potentially significant TF-glycogene relationships. This includes interactions involving 524 unique TFs and 341 glycogenes that span 29 TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) cancer types. Here, TF-glycogene interactions appeared in clusters or ‘communities’, suggesting that they may collectively drive changes in sets of carbohydrate structures rather than unique glycans as disease progresses. Upon applying the Fisher’s exact test along with glycogene pathway ontology, we identify TFs that may specifically regulate the biosynthesis of individual glycan types. Integration with knowledge from the Reactome database established the link between cell signaling pathways, transcription factors, glycogene expression, and glycosylation pathways. Whereas analysis results are presented for all 29 cancer types, specific focus is placed on human luminal and basal breast cancer disease progression. This implicates a key role for TGF-β and Wnt signaling in regulating TFs that control both tumorigenesis and cellular glycosylation. Overall, the computational predictions in this manuscript present a rich dataset that is ripe for experimental testing and hypotheses validation.
Was the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Good News for Corporate Bondholders?

SYNOPSIS We investigate the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) on corporate bondholder value by examining the bond market reaction to news events leading up to the passage of SOX. The net impact of SOX on bondholder value is difficult to predict, and there are many reasons why it may be viewed as either good or bad news. Our primary analysis reveals a significant decline in average bondholder value around these events. In addition, cross-sectional tests find that the decline is significantly larger among riskier bonds and among bonds held by firms that are expected to experience the greatest changes under SOX. Thus, our findings are consistent with the bond market expecting the exogenously imposed changes under SOX to make bondholders worse off.
Assessment of Potentially Preventable Hospital Readmissions After Major Surgery and Association With Public vs Private Health Insurance and Comorbidities.

Importance Rehospitalization after major surgery is common and represents a significant cost to the health care system. Little is known regarding the causes of these readmissions and the degree to which they may be preventable. Objective To evaluate the degree to which readmissions after major surgery are potentially preventable. Design, setting, and participants This retrospective cohort study used a weighted sample of 1 937 354 patients from the 2017 National Readmissions Database to evaluate all adult inpatient hospitalizations for 1 of 7 common major surgical procedures. Statistical analysis was performed from January 14 to November 30, 2020. Main outcomes and measures The study calculated 90-day readmission rates as well as rates of readmissions that were considered potentially preventable. Potentially preventable readmissions (PPRs) were defined as those with a primary diagnosis code for superficial surgical site infection, acute kidney injury, aspiration pneumonitis, or any of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-defined ambulatory care sensitive conditions. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with PPRs. Results A total weighted sample of 1 937 354 patients (1 048 046 women [54.1%]; mean age, 66.1 years [95% CI, 66.0-66.3 years]) underwent surgical procedures; 164 755 (8.5%) experienced a readmission within 90 days. Potentially preventable readmissions accounted for 29 321 (17.8%) of all 90-day readmissions, for an estimated total cost to the US health care system of approximately $296 million. The most common reasons for PPRs were congestive heart failure exacerbation (34.6%), pneumonia (12.0%), and acute kidney injury (22.5%). In a multivariable model of adults aged 18 to 64 years, patients with public health insurance (Medicare or Medicaid) had more than twice the odds of PPR compared with those with private insurance (adjusted odds ratio, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.94-2.25). Among patients aged 65 years or older, patients with private insured had 18% lower odds of PPR compared with patients with Medicare as the primary payer (adjusted odds ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.74-0.90). Conclusions and relevance This study suggests that nearly 1 in 5 readmissions after surgery are potentially preventable and account for nearly $300 million in costs. In addition to better inpatient care, improved access to ambulatory care may represent an opportunity to reduce costly readmissions among surgical patients.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with leukemic involvement.

e19552Background: Leukemic involvement (LI) in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (L-DLBCL) is very rare and has been sparsely reported. We report our experience with this entity in a large academic mul...
Topological path planning for autonomous information gathering

In this paper, we present two novel algorithms for information space topological planning that identify topological features in an information field and use them to plan maximally informative paths for a robot in an information gathering task. These features provide a way to rapidly incorporate global context into the informative path planning process by partitioning the state space or the path space of a robot. Our first algorithm, hierarchical hotspot information gathering, uses a topological state space partitioning by constructing a high-level map of information hotspots. We then solve a global scheduling problem over the topological graph, the solution of which is then used for path planning by a set of local greedy coverage planners within each hotspot. Our second algorithm, Topology-Aware Self Organizing Maps, extends the Self Organizing Map algorithm to discover prominent topological features in the information function. These features are used to perform a topological path space decomposition to provide a Stochastic Gradient Ascent optimization algorithm with topologically diverse initialization, improving its performance. In simulated trials and field experiments, we compare the tradeoffs of these two approaches and show that our methods that leverage topological features of the information field consistently perform competitively or better than methods that do not exploit these features, while requiring less computation time.
A New Breed of Musicians: The Information-Seeking Needs and Behaviors of Composers of Electroacoustic Music

ABSTRACT The musical potential of computers has increased exponentially in recent decades, and music composition programs have seen drastic shifts in their landscape as a result. Composers of electroacoustic music are an idiosyncratic group of library patrons, their creative endeavors serving as a model of interdisciplinarity. Drawing from fields including computer science, engineering, and mathematics, these composers present a unique challenge for librarians charged with meeting their information needs. This article discusses some of the innovative ways in which composers of electroacoustic music seek and use information as well as recommendations for librarians to help better serve this diverse group.
FNAS/LDEF Radiation Data Analysis

The radioactive isotope Be-7 was discovered on the forward-facing side of the LDEF satellite in amounts far exceeding that expected from direct cosmic ray activation of the spacecraft material. This prompted an examination of the production of cosmogenic isotopes in the atmosphere and of the processes by which they may be transported to orbital altitudes and absorbed by a spacecraft. Be-7 is only one of several atmospheric cosmogenic isotopes which might be detectable at orbital altitudes and which might prove to be as useful as tracers of atmospheric circulation processes in the mesosphere and thermosphere, as they have been in the lower layers of the atmosphere.
The Base Rate Fallacy Reconsidered: Normative, Descriptive and Methodological Challenges

We have been oversold on the base rate fallacy in probabilistic judgment from an empirical, normative, and methodological standpoint. First, contrary to the conventional wisdom, a thorough examination of the literature reveals that base rates are almost always used and that their degree of use depends on task structure and internal task representation. Second, few tasks map unambiguously into the simple, narrow framework that is held up as the standard of good decision making. Third, the current approach is criticized for its failure to consider how the ambiguous, unreliable and unstable base rates of the real world should be used in the informationally rich and criterion-complex natural environment. A more ecologically valid research program is called for.
The maximum rate of homogeneous ice nucleation in air by cooling

Extensive ice nucleation occurs in moist a i r without the help of foreign particles i f cooled strongly. Experimental [1] as well as theoretical [2] evidences indicate that the mechanism is homogeneous condensation of water vapor followed by homogeneous freezing of the formed droplets due to the rate of homogeneous condensation nucleation being faster than that of homogeneous deposition nucleation. Dry ice generates ice crystals by this mechanism [3, 4]. The homogeneous ice nucleation begins when the air temperature lowers to approximately -40°C and the nucleation rate increases as the lowering continues. Experimental evidences, however, suggest that the rate increase rapidly slows down and becomes negligible as the temperature goes below about -60°C [5]. This effect is of interest not only from the viewpoint of ice nucleation kinetics but also for homogeneous ice nucleation technology in weather modification. In this paper, we shall theoretical ly investigate processes that are responsible for occurrence of the virtual nucleation rate plateau as the temperature of coolant lowers.
Instabilities in a-Si-H solar cells: materials and device issues

The author reviews the significant advances made in the understanding of the Staebler-Wronski effect in a-Si:H-based materials, and its contributions to the light-induced changes in solar cells. Several unresolved issues related to the nature and origin of light-induced defects in materials and their effect on the long-term stability of a-Si:H-based solar cells are also reviewed, and an approach taken to address these problems is discussed. >
More results on r-inflated graphs: Arboricity, thickness, chromatic number and fractional chromatic number

The r -inflation of a graph G is the lexicographic product G with K r . A graph is said to have thickness t if its edges can be partitioned into t sets, each of which induces a planar graph, and t is smallest possible. In the setting of the r -inflation of planar graphs, we investigate the generalization of Ringel's famous Earth-Moon problem: What is the largest chromatic number of any thickness-t graph? In particular, we study classes of planar graphs for which we can determine both the thickness and chromatic number of their 2-inflations, and provide bounds on these parameters for their r -inflations. Moreover, in the same setting, we investigate arboricity and fractional chromatic number as well. We end with a list of open questions.
Weight Gain in Gonadectomized Normal and Lipoprotein Lipase–Deficient Male Domestic Cats Results from Increased Food Intake and Not Decreased Energy Expenditure,

Gonadectomy predisposes domestic cats to undesired body weight gain and obesity. The disturbance responsible for this disregulation of energy balance has not been clearly identified. Energy intake and expenditure, body composition and plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin, glucose and triacylglycerol were determined during a 36-wk period in adult male (2-5 y) gonadectomized (n = 8) and intact (n = 8) normal cats and gonadectomized (n = 8) and intact (n = 8) lipoprotein lipase (LPL)-deficient cats. Cats were housed individually in temperature- and light-controlled rooms and continuously provided a commercial dry-type diet. In normal and LPL-deficient cats, body weight increased (P < 0.05) after gonadectomy by 27 to 29%, mostly as a result of fat accretion. There was a rapid increase (P < 0.05) in food intake of approximately 12% after gonadectomy of normal and LPL-deficient cats. The metabolic rate (kJ.kg(-1).d(-1)), determined in normal intact (319 +/- 20, n = 5) and gonadectomized (332 +/- 36, n = 5) cats, did not differ after gonadectomy. After gonadectomy, plasma concentrations of glucose and triacylglycerol did not change, whereas plasma insulin and leptin concentrations increased (P < 0.05), but not coincidentally with body weight gain. A stair-step increase in energy intake, and not decreased energy expenditure, appears to drive the weight gain associated with gonadectomy. Body fat mass appears to increase until the energy intake supports no further expansion. Adiposity signaling through insulin or leptin does not appear to mediate the energy intake effect. LPL deficiency did not preclude development of the overweight body condition. Therefore, gonadectomy-induced weight gain in cats is not a result of changed adipose LPL activity, as previously suggested.
Blind Separation of Human Heartbeats and Breathing by the use of a Doppler Radar Remote Sensing

The combined use of a Doppler radar with digital signal processing technique gives an effective non-invasive remote sensing of heart beat signals. Initial results have showed that the proposed technique is very promising in successfully isolating desired heart beat signals from other mobile objects and other distortion effects characterizing the wireless channel. We concentrate in this paper on the harder problem of separating at low SNR the signals from two subjects in the same room. We show that preliminary results obtained by the real analytical constant modulus algorithm (RACMA) and the independent component analysis (ICA) on experimental data are very promising into this goal.
Intracavity adaptive correction of a 10-kW solid state heat-capacity laser

The Solid-State, Heat-Capacity Laser (SSHCL), under development at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a large aperture (100 cm{sup 2}), confocal, unstable resonator requiring near-diffraction-limited beam quality. There are two primary sources of the aberrations in the system: residual, static aberrations from the fabrication of the optical components and predictable, time-dependent, thermally-induced index gradients within the gain medium. A deformable mirror placed within the cavity is used to correct the aberrations that are sensed externally with a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. Although it is more challenging than external correction, intracavity correction enables control of the mode growth within the resonator, resulting in the ability to correct a more aberrated system longer. The overall system design, measurement techniques and correction algorithms are discussed. Experimental results from initial correction of the static aberrations and dynamic correction of the time-dependent aberrations are presented.
Microstructure effects on the conjugate heat transfer along a vertical circular pin

Flows," Handbook of Heat Transfer, edited by Rohsenow and Hartnett, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1973, Sect 8. Wells, T. B., "Measurement and Analysis of Microwave Transmission, Reflection for Ablating Flat Panels," 2nd DOD Electromagnetic Windows Symposium, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold AFB, TN, Oct. 1987. Grinberg, I. M., Stellrecht, D. E., Whitacre, G. R., and Bagley, F. L., Development of SCAT Nosetip Concept for Advanced Reentry Vehicles, Final Rept. for June 1975 to Jan. 1976, Battelle Columbus Labs., Columbus, OH, Jan. 1976.
Depressive symptoms precede memory decline, but not vice versa, in non-demented older adults.

Objectives: To determine whether depressive symptoms typically precede or follow memory declines. Design: An autoregressive latent trajectory model was used to examine the direction of the relationship between depressive symptoms and memory decline observed over 12 years. Setting: Washington/Hamilton Heights Inwood Columbia Aging Project, a community-based longitudinal study of aging and dementia in northern Manhattan. Participants: Older adults initially without dementia (n = 2,425). Measurements: Memory composite scores were computed from three subscores of the Selective Reminding Test. Depressive symptoms were assessed using a 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Analyses controlled for age, sex, recruitment wave, education, black race, and Hispanic ethnicity measured at baseline and chronic disease burden measured at each study visit. Results: Initial depressive symptoms predicted worse memory scores at the second study visit (B weight = -0.03; P = .003) and accelerated memory decline over the entire study period (B weight = -0.02; P = .03). Memory scores did not predict subsequent depressive symptoms. Conclusion: These findings suggest that depressive symptoms precede memory decline, but not vice versa, in late life. This pattern of results is consistent with hypotheses that depression is a prodrome of dementia or a causal contributor to memory decline. Clinicians should be aware that depressive symptoms may represent an early indicator not only of dementia, as reported previously, but also of memory decline more generally.
The role of non-ideality in H permeation through membranes

Non-ideality may be important for H diffusion through metallic membranes at large concentrations. This is easily allowed for if the H concentration in the membrane is nearly constant, but if there is a large gradient, the degree of non-ideality will vary across the membrane. A procedure is given in this paper for the conversion of the measured concentration-dependent diffusion coefficients to the concentration-independent one when there is a significant gradient.
Cell cycle regulation of NF-κB-binding activity in cells from human glioblastomas

Abstract Glioblastoma multiforme is a highly malignant and anaplastic tumor of the central nervous system representing more than 50% of all malignant gliomas. The cell origin of this highly undifferentiated tumor remains obscure, although it is postulated that glioblastomas are developed from astrocytes. The rapid growth of the glioma and the state of its undifferentiation are attributed to the deregulation of several signal transduction pathways and cell cycle events. Recent studies showed diverse functions for the NF-κB/Rel family of inducible transcription factors including differentiation, apoptosis, oncogenesis, and cell cycle regulation. We sought to examine the level of NF-κB activity throughout the glioma's cell cycle. Results from band-shift studies indicated a biphasic NF-κB DNA-binding activity in the nuclei of cycling glioblastoma cells. We showed that NF-κB-binding activity maximizes in nuclear extracts at specific cell cycle stages including G0/G1, mid-late G1, and S phase. Results from Northern blotting studies revealed that the differential expression of the NF-κB subunits, p50 and p65, may not be responsible for cell cycle stage-specific association of NF-κB subunits with DNA. However, results from Western blotting analysis utilizing nuclear extracts from glioma cells throughout the cell cycle demonstrated that the nuclear accumulation of p50 and p65 perfectly correlates with their DNA-binding activity. These observations suggest that the nuclear translocation of the p50/p65 subunit of NF-κB in glioma cells is cell cycle stage-dependent and that is distinct from the differential mRNA expression of these genes during glioma cell cycling. The possible role of NF-κB in glioma cell formation and regulation of cellular genes by NF-κB in these tumor cells is discussed.
A stimulated Brillouin scattering phase-conjugate mirror having a peak-power threshold < 100 W

Abstract We have demonstrated stimulated Brillouin scattering phase conjugation in a hollow glass lightguide filled with CS 2 . Threshold peak powers were as low as 70 W, and the reflectivity and conjugation fidelity reached 50% and 80%, respectively. The SBS threshold and reflectivity were unchanged with average input powers up to 20 W.
Telerobotics: problems and research needs

With major emphasis on simulation, a university laboratory telerobotics facility permits problems to be approached by groups of graduate students. Helmet-mounded displays provide realism; the slaving of the display to the human operator's viewpoint gives a sense of 'telepresence' that may be useful for prolonged tasks. Using top-down 3-D model control of distant images allows distant images to be reduced to a few parameters to update the model used for display to the human operator in a preview model to circumvent, in part, the communication delay. Also, the model can be used as a format for supervisory control and permit short-term local autonomous operations. Image processing algorithms can be made simpler and faster without trying to construct sensible images from the bottom. Control studies of telerobots lead to preferential manual control modes and, in this university environment, to basic paradigms for human motion and thence, perhaps, to redesign of robotic control, trajectory path planning, and rehabilitation prosthetics. Speculation as to future industrial drives for this telerobotic field suggests efficient roles for government agencies such as NASA. >
Poison-avoidance learning to food-related tactile stimuli: Avoidance of texture cues by rats

Rats injected with lithium chloride after ingesting familiar food pellets presented in textured metal sleeves learned aversions to the sleeved food. In a choice between sleeved and unsleeved food, the aversions were evident following conditioning with toxicosis delayed as long as 120 min after exposure to the sleeved food (Experiment 1). Texture-specific aversions resulted from procedures in which rats were exposed to food in both rough- and smooth-textured sleeves but were injected with lithium only in conjunction with one of the textures (Experiments 2–4). This differential aversion learning occurred when lithium treatment was delayed 30 min after exposure to the sleeved food (Experiments 3 and 4) and was equally evident in rats conditioned and tested in total darkness or in normal room-level illumination (Experiment 4). However, differential texture aversion learning was not observed with 90- or 300-min delayed toxicosis (Experiment 3). The present experiments highlight the importance of tactile cues in the poison-avoidance learning of species that handle their food during the course of ingestion.
Primary damage states produced by Si and Au recoils in SiC: A molecular dynamics and experimental investigation

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, experimental studies, and a theoretical model have been combined in an investigation of the disordering and amorphization processes in SiC irradiated with Si and Au ions. In MD simulations, large disordered domains, consisting of interstitials and antisite defects, are created in the cascades produced by Au primary knock-on atoms (PKAs); whereas Si PKAs generate only small interstitial clusters, with most defects being single interstitials and vacancies distributed over a large region. The data for a cluster spectrum obtained from MD simulations have been used to calculate the relative cross sections for in-cascade amorphization (or clustering) ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{DI}}$ and in-cascade defect-stimulated amorphization ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{DS}}.$ The ratio of these cross sections, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{DS}}/{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{DI}},$ for Si and Au is in excellent agreement with those derived from the experimental data based on a fit of the direct-impact--defect-stimulated model. This suggests that the observed higher disordering rate and the residual disorder after thermal annealing at 300 K for irradiation with ${\mathrm{Au}}^{2+}$ are associated with a higher probability for in-cascade amorphization or large disordered cluster formation. The observed different behavior for the accumulation and recovery of disorder in SiC irradiated by ${\mathrm{Si}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{Au}}^{2+}$ is qualitatively consistent with the present MD simulations and the direct-impact--defect-stimulated model.
Analytical approach to diffusion of hot carriers in n-type GaAs with Gamma -L-X band structure.

This paper describes an analytical Green's-function approach to the diffusion coefficient of hot electrons in many-valley semiconductors at high electric fields. A set of Langevin-type equations is derived to calculate correlation functions for velocity fluctuation and to determine the thermal diffusion term. Correlation functions for population fluctuation are derived to determine the carrier-transfer term of the diffusion coefficient in the three-valley model, whose expressions are shown to be rather different from those in the two-valley case. A new diffusion term related to cross-correlation functions for the velocity and population fluctuations is introduced and discussed. Reasonable agreement between calculated and measured diffusion coefficients is obtained when our method is applied to n-type GaAs with a \ensuremath{\Gamma}-L-X band structure at room temperature.
Limited exception modeling and its use in presynthesis optimizations

In behavioral descriptions, statementsthat allow limited control jumps, such as Verilog disablestatements on named blocks, are often used for describingsystem behavior in presence of exceptions.In this paper,we extend Timed Decision Tables (TDT), a tabularbehavior model, to represent more general control structuresincluding exceptions.We introduce the notion of action sharing that allows us to reduce resoruce requirementsusing existing high-level synthesis tools on descriptionswith control exceptions.We present presynthesisalgorithms that work on the extended TDT model and analgorithm that performs action sharing in TDT models.Our experiments on well-known HardwareC benchmarksshow size reduction resulting from sharing actions in theinput behavioral descriptions.
Requirements for Brome Mosaic Virus Subgenomic RNA Synthesis In Vivo and Replicase-Core Promoter Interactions In Vitro

Based solely on in vitro results, two contrasting models have been proposed for the recognition of the brome mosaic virus (BMV) subgenomic core promoter by the replicase. The first posits that the replicase recognizes at least four key nucleotides in the core promoter, followed by an induced fit, wherein some of the nucleotides base pair prior to the initiation of RNA synthesis (S. Adkins and C. C. Kao, Virology 252:1-8, 1998). The second model posits that a short RNA hairpin in the core promoter serves as a landing pad for the replicase and that at least some of the key nucleotides help form a stable hairpin (P. C. J. Haasnoot, F. Brederode, R. C. L. Olsthoorn, and J. Bol, RNA 6:708-716, 2000; P. C. J. Haasnoot, R. C. L. Olsthoorn, and J. Bol, RNA 8:110-122, 2002). We used transfected barley protoplasts to examine the recognition of the subgenomic core promoter by the BMV replicase. Key nucleotides required for subgenomic initiation in vitro were found to be important for RNA4 levels in protoplasts. In addition, additional residues not required in vitro and the formation of an RNA hairpin within the core promoter were correlated with wild-type RNA4 levels in cells. Using a template competition assay, the core promoter of ca. 20 nucleotides was found to be sufficient for replicase binding. Mutations of the key residues in the core promoter reduced replicase binding, but deletions that disrupt the predicted base pairing in the proposed stem retained binding at wild-type levels. Together, these results indicate that key nucleotides in the BMV subgenomic core promoter direct replicase recognition but that the formation of a stem-loop is required at a step after binding. Additional functional characterization of the subgenomic core promoter was performed. A portion of the promoter for BMV minus-strand RNA synthesis could substitute for the subgenomic core promoter in transfected cells. The comparable sequence from Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (CCMV) could also substitute for the BMV subgenomic core promoter. However, nucleotides in the CCMV core required for RNA synthesis are not identical to those in BMV, suggesting that the subgenomic core promoter can induce the BMV replicase in interactions needed for subgenomic RNA transcription in vivo.
Some flow-equivalent planar and non-planar graphs

Abstract We find three non-planar graphs which are flow-equivalent to planar graphs. It is also shown that some non-planar graphs are not flow-equivalent to any planar graph.
The effect of calcium and sodium ion concentration on the properties of dilute aqueous solutions of glycine conjugated bile salts: Phase behavior and solubility products of the calcium salts of the common glycine conjugated bile acids

Abstract A systematic examination was made of the effect of calcium and sodium ion concentrations on the phases present at 25°C and neutral pH of dilute aqueous solutions of four synthetically prepared, naturally occurring glycine conjugated bile salts: chenodeoxycholylglycine (CDCG), ursodeoxycholylglycine (UDCG), cholylglycine (CG), and deoxycholylglycine (DCG). Approximate solubility products [ a Ca 2+ · (B − ) 2 ] were measured, using the assumption that the precipitates had the simplest possible stoichiometric composition for calcium bile salts. Values obtained were: CDCG, 0.2 × 10 −8 ; DCG, 1 × 10 −8 ; and UDCG, 4 × 10 −8 . The value for CG was considerably higher. Precipitation was remarkably slow in all cases and often occurred after the intermediate formation of metastable, nonmicellar viscoelastic gels. Equilibrium was often not reached after 20 months. Precipitation was prevented or reduced by calcium ion binding to micelles (whose formation was favored by increased sodium ion concentration) and also by binding to monomers, i.e., by the formation of a soluble complex in the absence of micelles. Addition of phosphatidylcholine to a CDCG solution favored micelle formation and reduced precipitation. A mixture of bile salts simulating that present in human bile (CDCG:CG:DCG, 2:2:1) showed little change upon addition of calcium ions and only solutions low in Na + and close to the critical micellar concentration gave a glassy precipitate depleted in CG. Thus, the rarity of precipitation in bile of calcium glycine conjugated bile salts in vivo despite stoichiometric concentrations of both components much in excess of solubility products is due to: (1) lowered bile salt activity by micelle formation, (2) lowered calcium activity by binding to bile salt micelles and monomers (in addition to other biliary constituents), (3) lowered activity of both ions because of the high ionic strength of bile, and (4) slowness of precipitation and formation of metastable gels rather than crystalline precipitates.