cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LOSS OF UROCYSTOLITH ARCHITECTURAL CLARITY DURING IN VIVO RADIOGRAPHIC SIMULATION VERSUS IN VITRO VISUALIZATION

Urocystoliths of 9 mineral types from 434 canine patients submitted to the University of Minnesota Urolith Bank were imaged in a urinary bladder phantom. Imaging techniques simulated were survey radiography and double contrast cystography. Morphologic characteristics visually observed in vitro or by interpretation of high-resolution specimen radiographs were compared to those seen using the simulated in vivo imaging techniques. Shape characteristics that were accurately detected > or = 25% of the time on simulated survey or double contrast radiography were faceted, irregular, jackstone, ovoid, and round. Surface characteristics that were accurately detected > or = 25% of the time on simulated survey or double contrast radiography were rough, smooth, and smooth with blunt tips. Internal architecture characteristics that were accurately detected > or = 25% of the time on simulated survey or double contrast radiography were lucent center, random-nonuniform, and uniform. Shapes such as bosselated, faceted-ovoid, and rosette; surfaces such as botryoidal, and knife-edged; and internal architecture characteristics such as dense center, dense shell, laminated, and fissures were of almost no value either due to poor detectability or poor accuracy of recognition. Based on optimized simulated survey and double contrast radiographic procedures, it appears that a number of shape, surface, and internal architecture characteristics may be of limited or no value in discriminating among urocystolith mineral types under clinical circumstances. Shapes and surfaces were more accurately characterized by the simulated double contrast technique, but for internal architecture, the simulated survey radiographic technique seemed slightly superior overall.
E-beam evaporated glass and MgO layers for gas panel fabrication

An electron-beam evaporation process has been developed that is capable of depositing stable, thick, borosilicate glass films (0.5-50 µm) on various substrates at a rate exceeding 0.5 µm/min. A very low stress of 4-10 × 107 N/m2 in compression was obtained in freshly deposited glass films, and a further reduction below measurable levels of stress was observed after a thermal annealing at 500°C. The effects of evaporation parameter variation and thermal annealing on the film properties of the borosilicate glass layers, as well as the MgO secondary emission layers employed in the fabrication of gas discharge display panels, are presented.
Inoculation of native woody plants with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for phosphate mine land reclamation

Abstract Cuttings of Aronia arbutifolia (L.) Ell., Clethra alnifolia L., Cornus foemina Mill., Ilex glabra (L.) Gray, and Viburnum nudum L. were inoculated in a rooting bed with Glomus etunicatum (Nicol & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe, Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith, or a mixed culture that consisted of several unidentified Glomus spp. After 7 weeks, a low level of root colonization (overall mean of 2%) was recorded for all plant species except V. nudum. These low percentages were sufficient to obtain well-colonized plants (overall mean of 57%) after rooted cuttings were transplanted to potting medium and grown in a shadehouse for 7 months. Inoculation had no effect on plant growth or survival after outplanting to a site that contained abundant clay aggregates and where controls became colonized by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi. Further studies are needed on sites differing in physical and chemical properties before reliable conclusions can be drawn concerning the use of VAM-fungus inoculation in phosphate minelands reclamation.
Endoscopic approaches to the petrous apex

Surgical approaches to the petrous apex include transtemporal, middle cranial fossa, and transsphenoidal approaches. Lateral approaches risk brain injury, facial paralysis, and loss of hearing and vestibular function. Recent advances in minimally invasive surgery with the use of intraoperative navigational systems allow transnasal endoscopic access to petrous apex lesions with minimal morbidity. Removing bone medial to the internal carotid artery at the level of the clival recess can drain cholesterol granulomas of the petrous apex. Potential advantages include avoidance of a craniotomy, faster recovery, minimal postoperative symptoms, shorter hospitalization, and improved maintenance of a drainage pathway. This article describes the authors’ technique for endoscopic surgery of the petrous apex (medial approach), and highlights the important anatomic relationships and potential problems of an endoscopic approach.
Scintillation proximity assay for measuring benzene absorption in a polyethylene membrane

Abstract A polyethylene membrane that had been exposed to benzene vapor was sandwiched between two carboxylated poly(vinyl chloride) membranes that contained carbon-14 labeled lysine. The beta-particles emitted from carbon-14 were in close enough proximity to the benzene molecules to induce an excitation and subsequent emission of photons. The number of photons produced, as measured in a liquid scintillation counter, was shown to be proportional to the amount of benzene absorbed by the polyethylene membrane and was dependent on membrane thickness. This scintillation proximity assay technique can be used to study absorption/desorption processes of aromatic compounds in polymeric membranes.
Medical Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: 5α-Reductase Inhibitors and α-Adrenergic Antagonists

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a nonmalignant neoplasm of the prostatic epithelial and stromal tissue, occurs commonly in elderly men. The "gold standard" of care for symptomatic BPH has been and remains transurethral resection of the prostate. This operation, however, like any surgical procedure, has associated morbidity and imposes an appreciable expense on the health-care system; therefore, enthusiasm for the development of medical therapies for the management of symptomatic BPH has been substantial. Currently, practicing physicians have two types of medications for the treatment of symptomatic BPH: 5α-reductase inhibitors and α-adrenergic antagonists. The former drugs inhibit the conversion of testosterone to the potent prostatic androgen dihydrotestosterone. As a result, the androgenic stimulation to the prostate gland is suppressed, and the size of the prostate is decreased by approximately 25%. In some patients, this outcome decreases the mechanical obstruction of the prostatic urethra and improves micturition. α-Adrenergic antagonists decrease the smooth muscle tone of the bladder neck, prostatic adenoma, and prostatic capsule. After these structures have been relaxed, resistance to urine flow through the prostatic urethra can be decreased, and obstructive voiding symptoms can be resolved. Although two distinctly different mechanisms are involved, both types of medications are effective for treating BPH. Thus, in 1993, transurethral resection of the prostate is no longer the only available therapeutic option. With the advent of medical therapies, internists and primary-care physicians will have more involvement in the care of patients with BPH than previously. Therefore, urologists and nonurologists must work together to serve the needs of patients with prostatism.
Changing Attitudes Toward Smoking and Smoking Susceptibility Through Peer Crowd Targeting: More Evidence From a Controlled Study

Peer crowd identification consistently predicts an adolescent’s smoking behavior. As such, several interventions have targeted adolescents and young adults based on their identification with a spec...
Flooding as a function of shock level and length of confinement

Abstract In a one-way avoidance learning situation with rats, response prevention trials facilitated extinction as an increasing function of the duration of the prevention interval for shock levels below 1.8 mA. For 1.8 mA, extinction was a nonmonotonic function of the response prevention interval, with 15- and 210-sec durations showing the most facilitation of extinction. For all response prevention intervals except 15 sec, trials to extinction was a direct function of shock level. For 15 sec, it was an inverse function of shock level. The unexpected interaction of shock level with prevention interval was explained by invoking the concept of relief.
Detecting protein–protein interaction in live yeast by flow cytometry

Background The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most commonly used organism for studying protein– protein interactions. In this report we demonstrate the use of flow cytometry in observing fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between cyan and yellow fluorescent fusion proteins (CFP and YFP, respectively) as a marker for protein interaction in live yeast cells. Probability binning is also employed to provide a statistical confirmation of our observations. Methods We coexpressed CFP and YFP fusions containing the N-terminal transmembrane domain (NTM) of Tom70p in yeast and analyzed FRET in live cells with a multilaser flow cytometer. The Tom70p NTM was previously shown to be sufficient for mitochondrial localization and protein–protein interaction (Millar and Shore, 1994, J Biol Chem 269:12229–12232). Results FRET was observed only in cells that expressed CFP and YFP fusions that each contained the wild-type NTM. The introduction of mutations previously shown to disrupt NTM interaction eliminated FRET. Probability binning confirmed that differences between the FRET channels of experimental and control samples were statistically and physiologically significant. Conclusion Flow cytometric analysis of FRET in yeast is a powerful technique for studying protein–protein interactions. The use of flow cytometry allows FRET data to be gathered from a large number of individual cells, thus providing important advantages unavailable to other techniques. Its application to yeast presents a new method to a popular system widely used in proteomic studies. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Utility of Progranulin and Serum Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Ovarian Cancer

Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in females and leading gynecologic cause of cancer-related death. Despite the identification of a number of serum biomarkers, methods to identify early-stage disease and predict prognosis remain scarce. We have evaluated two biologically connected serum biomarkers, serum leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and progranulin (PGRN). Methods: Two-hundred frozen plasma samples were acquired from the Mayo Clinic Biospecimen Repository for Ovarian Cancer Research. Samples were obtained from 50 patients with benign conditions, 50 with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage I and II EOC, and 100 with AJCC stage III and IV EOC. Samples were obtained before surgical resection of a mass and were analyzed for absolute levels of SLPI and PGRN using ELISA assays. Receiver-operator characteristic curves were generated for SLPI and PGRN. Median follow-up was 48 months. Results: Absolute levels of SLPI were significantly elevated in patients with EOC compared with benign disease and predicted the presence of EOC (AUC of 0.812; P = 0.04); SLPI remained elevated in the subset of patients with normal CA-125. PGRN levels were not significantly increased in patients with early-stage or late-stage EOC as a whole, but an increase in PGRN levels was associated with decreased overall survival in advanced EOC. Conclusions: SLPI levels are elevated in EOC, and SLPI shows promise as a diagnostic biomarker for patients with both elevated and normal CA-125 levels. An increase in PGRN is associated with decreased overall survival. Impact: SLPI is elevated in EOC and warrants investigation in a screening study in women at risk for EOC. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(10); 1730–5. ©2013 AACR .
On the Issue of Phasing of Undulators at the Advanced Photon Source

Placing two collinear undulators in the 5-m-long straight sections at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) can answer the demand for increased brilliance. Whether longitudinal phasing needs to be taken into account for optimum spectral performance has been investigated. A comprehensive computer simulation study was completed to study the effect of the electron beam emittance, the magnetic field quality of the undulators, and the magnetic field strength (K value) on the spectral performance. For a zero-emittance beam, the radiation spectra exhibit strong interference that depends sensitively on the phase between the undulators. For a realistic APS-emittance beam and beam energy spread, the strong and phase-sensitive interference is substantially smoothed. A summary of the key findings including intensity losses due to unphased undulators is reported in this paper.
Elastic distortions and interactions of point defects in KBr

Abstract Using elasticity theory one can describe the lattice distortion due to the H center in KBr by the following stress tensor P= 7.9 −0.7 0 −0.7 7.9 0 0 0 −4.4 ×10 −12 erg. The distortion field around an H center is evaluated. The elastic interaction between two H centers and between an H center and its anticenter, the F center, is discussed.
Analog circuit design at and below V T + 2V ds,sat

Design methods and architectures for high-performance analog circuitry which operates at supply voltages at and below VT + 2 Vds,sat are developed. A low voltage amplifier is designed using these methods. The amplifier, fabricated in an AMIS 0.5 mum CMOS process with 0.8 V p-channel threshold voltages, is shown to operate at supply voltages as low as 0.75 V with full rail-to-rail input and output operation. The amplifier shows 105 dB of open loop gain and GBW of 0.31 MHz while dissipating 11.5 muW from a 0.8 V supply. The design methods may be used with advanced CMOS processes to further reduce the required analog supply voltage.
Thalamocortical control of feed–forward inhibition in awake somatosensory ‘barrel’ cortex

Intracortical inhibition plays a role in shaping sensory cortical receptive fields and is mediated by both feed-forward and feedback mechanisms. Feed-forward inhibition is the faster of the two processes, being generated by inhibitory interneurons driven by monosynaptic thalamocortical (TC) input. In principle, feed-forward inhibition can prevent targeted cortical neurons from ever reaching threshold when TC input is weak. To do so, however, inhibitory interneurons must respond to TC input at low thresholds and generate spikes very quickly. A powerful feed-forward inhibition would sharpen the tuning characteristics of targeted cortical neurons, and interneurons with sensitive and broadly tuned receptive fields could mediate this process. Suspected inhibitory interneurons (SINs) with precisely these properties are found in layer 4 of the somatosensory (S1) 'barrel' cortex of rodents and rabbits. These interneurons lack the directional selectivity seen in most cortical spiny neurons and in ventrobasal TC afferents, but are much more sensitive than cortical spiny neurons to low-amplitude whisker displacements. This paper is concerned with the activation of S1 SINs by TC impulses, and with the consequences of this activation. Multiple TC neurons and multiple S1 SINs were simultaneously studied in awake rabbits, and cross-correlation methods were used to examine functional connectivity. The results demonstrate a potent, temporally precise, dynamic and highly convergent/divergent functional input from ventrobasal TC neurons to SINs of the topographically aligned S1 barrel. Whereas the extensive pooling of convergent TC inputs onto SINs generates sensitive and broadly tuned inhibitory receptive fields, the potent TC divergence onto many SINs generates sharply synchronous activity among these elements. This TC feed-forward inhibitory network is well suited to provide a fast, potent, sensitive and broadly tuned inhibition of targeted spiny neurons that will suppress spike generation following all but the most optimal feed-forward excitatory inputs.
Lymphatic trafficking kinetics and near-infrared imaging using star polymer architectures with controlled anionic character

Targeted lymphatic delivery of nanoparticles for drug delivery and imaging is primarily dependent on size and charge. Prior studies have observed increased lymphatic uptake and retentions of over 48 h for negatively charged particles compared to neutral and positively charged particles. We have developed new polymeric materials that extend retention over a more pharmaceutically relevant 7-day period. We used whole body fluorescence imaging to observe in mice the lymphatic trafficking of a series of anionic star poly-(6-O-methacryloyl-D-galactose) polymer-NIR dye (IR820) conjugates. The anionic charge of polymers was increased by modifying galactose moieties in the star polymers with succinic anhydride. Increasing anionic nature was associated with enhanced lymphatic uptake up to a zeta potential of ca.-40 mV; further negative charge did not affect lymphatic uptake. Compared to the 20% acid-conjugate, the 40-90% acid-star-polymer conjugates exhibited a 2.5- to 3.5-fold increase in lymphatic uptake in both the popliteal and iliac nodes. The polymer conjugates exhibited node half-lives of 2-20 h in the popliteal nodes and 19-114 h in the deeper iliac nodes. These polymer conjugates can deliver drugs or imaging agents with rapid lymphatic uptake and prolonged deep-nodal retention; thus they may provide a useful vehicle for sustained intralymphatic drug delivery with low toxicity.
Dietary flavonoids, quercetin, luteolin and genistein, reduce oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation and quench free radicals.

Abstract Several dietary flavonoids such as quercetin, luteolin and genistein have been suggested to have cancer chemopreventive effects, although the mechanisms are not fully understood. In the present study, the effects of these flavonoids as antioxidants were investigated in the following systems: (1) production of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and superoxide anion (O 2 − ), (2) lipid peroxidation induced by FeCl 2 in rat liver, and (3) formation of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) induced by either UV or Fenton reaction in calf thymus DNA. The results showed that quercetin and luteolin were equally potent in scavenging H 2 O 2 , with genistein having a moderate effect. Quercetin and luteolin had a potent inhibitory effect on (O 2 − ) generation by xanthine/xanthine oxidase while genistein had a moderate effect. Quercetin and luteolin were potent in inhibiting lipid peroxidation induced by FeCl 2 in rat liver while genistein had a very weak inhibitory effect. All the test compounds had a potent quenching effect on 8-OHdG formation induced by UV light irradiation, with the order of effects being genistei-n > luteolin > quercetin. Of the test compounds, luteolin exhibited the most potent quenching effect on Fenton-induced 8-OHdG formation. The scavenging of oxygen free radicals, the inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation and the quenching effect on 8-OHdG formation by quercetin, luteolin and genistein may, at least in part, be responsible for their anticarcinogenic effects.
Innervation patterns of sea otter (Enhydra lutris) mystacial follicle-sinus complexes.

Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are the most recent group of mammals to return to the sea, and may exemplify divergent somatosensory tactile systems among mammals. Therefore, we quantified the mystacial vibrissal array of sea otters and histologically processed follicle-sinus complexes (F-SCs) to test the hypotheses that the number of myelinated axons per F-SC is greater than that found for terrestrial mammalian vibrissae and that their organization and microstructure converge with those of pinniped vibrissae. A mean of 120.5 vibrissae were arranged rostrally on a broad, blunt muzzle in 7-8 rows and 9-13 columns. The F-SCs of sea otters are tripartite in their organization and similar in microstructure to pinnipeds rather than terrestrial species. Each F-SC was innervated by a mean 1339±408.3 axons. Innervation to the entire mystacial vibrissal array was estimated at 161,313 axons. Our data support the hypothesis that the disproportionate expansion of the coronal gyrus in somatosensory cortex of sea otters is related to the high innervation investment of the mystacial vibrissal array, and that quantifying innervation investment is a good proxy for tactile sensitivity. We predict that the tactile performance of sea otter mystacial vibrissae is comparable to that of harbor seals, sea lions and walruses¬.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Psl Is a Galactose- and Mannose-Rich Exopolysaccharide

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa polysaccharide synthesis locus (psl) is predicted to encode an exopolysaccharide which is critical for biofilm formation. Here we used chemical composition analyses and mannose- or galactose-specific lectin staining, followed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy, to show that Psl is a galactose-rich and mannose-rich exopolysaccharide.
Comparison of VSI and CSI topologies for single-phase active power filters

This paper explores design considerations and relative merits of the voltage-source inverter (VSI) and current-source inverter (CSI) topologies for single-phase active power filter applications. While the VSI has largely overtaken the CSI as the inverter of choice for many applications, the CSI is shown to have certain advantages for single-phase active power filtering.
Atmospheric aberration mitigation and transmitter power scaling using a coherent fiber array

We describe our concept for a power scalable transmitter with built in high-speed (>1 kHz) atmospheric aberration correction capability also. We have demonstrated this concept in the laboratory using seven 1 W fiber amplifiers for the transmitter and phase locked them with a simple and robust method to give spatially coherent output at the receiver. We report the near and far field of the transmitter beam shapes and automatic small angle steering capability for the transmitter beam to follow the slight motions of the receiver. The airborne laser link platform presents difficult engineering problems. The system must be simple, light and rugged, yet provide sufficient power for high-bandwidth communications. The solution we propose naturally fits this application. Phased fiber arrays are a recognized simple solution to power scaling. The inclusion of the corrections of the fiber phase, atmospheric path aberrations, and steering in the same feedback loop is particularly elegant. The proposed transmitter requires substantially less power than an uncorrected transmitter to achieve same link margin, and uses COTS fiber components. Our transmitter can be scaled in power to 100 W and beyond and can correct even turbulence-induced aberrations because of its high-speed response capability.
Non-stationary extreme value analysis in a changing climate

This paper introduces a framework for estimating stationary and non-stationary return levels, return periods, and risks of climatic extremes using Bayesian inference. This framework is implemented in the Non-stationary Extreme Value Analysis (NEVA) software package, explicitly designed to facilitate analysis of extremes in the geosciences. In a Bayesian approach, NEVA estimates the extreme value parameters with a Differential Evolution Markov Chain (DE-MC) approach for global optimization over the parameter space. NEVA includes posterior probability intervals (uncertainty bounds) of estimated return levels through Bayesian inference, with its inherent advantages in uncertainty quantification. The software presents the results of non-stationary extreme value analysis using various exceedance probability methods. We evaluate both stationary and non-stationary components of the package for a case study consisting of annual temperature maxima for a gridded global temperature dataset. The results show that NEVA can reliably describe extremes and their return levels.
Aeroelastic Stability of Plates and Shells: An Innocent’s Guide to the Literature

In the present paper we attempt to provide a guide to the basic literature on the aeroelastic stability of plates and shells or “panel flutter” for the non-expert. In doing so it is hoped that the accomplishments obtained in the field will become available to a wider spectrum of readers and that this will have the twin effects of (i) attracting new workers to the remaining unsolved problems and (ii) indicating how techniques developed for panel flutter may be more widely applied to other physical problems involving the stability or instability of nonlinear, non-conservative systems.
Targeting Notch Signaling in Colorectal Cancer

The activation of Notch signaling is implicated in tumorigenesis in the colon due to the induction of pro-survival signaling in colonic epithelial cells. Chemoresistance is a major obstacle for treatment and for the complete eradication of colorectal cancer (CRC); hence, the inhibition of Notch is an attractive target for CRC and several groups are working to identify small molecules or monoclonal antibodies that inhibit Notch or its downstream events; however, toxicity profiles in normal cells and organs often impede the clinical translation of these molecules. Dietary agents have gained momentum for targeting several pro-survival signaling cascades, and recent studies demonstrated that agents that inhibit Notch signaling result in growth inhibition in preclinical models of CRC. In this review, we focus on the importance of Notch as a preventive and therapeutic target for colon cancer and on the effect of WA on this signaling pathway in the context of colon cancer.
TLB Improvements for Chip Multiprocessors: Inter-Core Cooperative Prefetchers and Shared Last-Level TLBs

Translation Lookaside Buffers (TLBs) are critical to overall system performance. Much past research has addressed uniprocessor TLBs, lowering access times and miss rates. However, as Chip MultiProcessors (CMPs) become ubiquitous, TLB design and performance must be reevaluated. Our article begins by performing a thorough TLB performance evaluation of sequential and parallel benchmarks running on a real-world, modern CMP system using hardware performance counters. This analysis demonstrates the need for further improvement of TLB hit rates for both classes of application, and it also points out that the data TLB has a significantly higher miss rate than the instruction TLB in both cases.In response to the characterization data, we propose and evaluate both Inter-Core Cooperative (ICC) TLB prefetchers and Shared Last-Level (SLL) TLBs as alternatives to the commercial norm of private, per-core L2 TLBs. ICC prefetchers eliminate 19p to 90p of Data TLB (D-TLB) misses across parallel workloads while requiring only modest changes in hardware. SLL TLBs eliminate 7p to 79p of D-TLB misses for parallel workloads and 35p to 95p of D-TLB misses for multiprogrammed sequential workloads. This corresponds to 27p and 21p increases in hit rates as compared to private, per-core L2 TLBs, respectively, and is achieved this using even more modest hardware requirements.Because of their benefits for parallel applications, their applicability to sequential workloads, and their readily implementable hardware, SLL TLBs and ICC TLB prefetchers hold great promise for CMPs.
All-digital PLL and GSM/EDGE transmitter in 90nm CMOS

A 1.2V 42mA all-digital PLL and polar transmitter for a single-chip GSM/EDGE transceiver is implemented in 90nm CMOS. It transmits GMSK with 0.5/spl deg/ rms phase error and achieves -165dBc/Hz phase noise at 20MHz offset, with 10 /spl mu/s settling time. A digitally controlled 6dBm class-E PA modulates the amplitude and meets the EDGE spectral mask with 3.5% EVM.
Energy transfer, charge transfer, and proton transfer in molecular composite systems.

Models for the fundamental mechanisms of excitation energy transfer, including cases involving singlet oxygen states, twisting-intramolecular-charge-transfer (TICT) states, and intramolecular proton transfer, are described in terms of elementary concepts and energy diagrams. Three limiting cases of energy transfer are distinguished, Davydov free excitons (Simpson and Peterson strong coupling) and localized excitons (weak coupling), and the Forster mechanism of vibrational-relaxation energy transfer. The prominent role of the singlet molecular oxygen states is described, together with the role of simultaneous transitions for molecular oxygen pairs. The origin of sudden polarization via the TICT-state potential is discussed and the generality of this phenomenon emphasized. The intramolecular proton-transfer phenomenon is outlined, and its role in molecular excitation transient phenomena is described. The complex interaction of all of these excitation mechanisms in determining photochemical and radiation chemical pathways is suggested.
Determination of early diastolic LV vortex formation time (T∗) via the PDF formalism: A kinematic model of filling

The filling (diastolic) function of the human left ventricle is most commonly assessed by echocardiography, a non-invasive imaging modality. To quantify diastolic function (DF) empiric indices are obtained from the features (height, duration, area) of transmitral flow velocity contour, obtained by echocardiography. The parameterized diastolic filling (PDF) formalism is a kinematic model developed by Kovacs et al which incorporates the suction pump attribute of the left ventricle and facilitates DF quantitation by analysis of echocardiographic transmitral flow velocity contours in terms of stiffness (k), relaxation (c) and load (x o ). A complementary approach developed by Gharib et al, uses fluid mechanics and characterizes DF in terms of vortex formation time (T∗) derived from streamline features formed by the jet of blood aspirated into the ventricle. Both of these methods characterize DF using a causality-based approach. In this paper, we derive T∗'s kinematic analogue T∗ kinematic in terms of k, c and x o . A comparison between T∗ kinematic and T∗ fluid mechanic obtained from averaged transmitral velocity and mitral annulus diameter, is presented. We found that T∗ calculated by the two methods were comparable and T∗ kinematic correlated with the peak LV recoil driving force kx o .
Global Financial Crisis: Reflections on Its Impact on India

The Indian economy looked to be relatively insulated from the global financial crisis that started in August 2007 when the sub-prime mortgage crisis first surfaced in the United States (US). In fact, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was raising interest rates until August 2008 with the explicit objective of cooling the economy and bringing down the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, which visibly had moved above the rate of potential output growth and was contributing to the buildup of inflationary pressures in the economy. This paper attempts an analysis of the origin and causes of global financial crisis and the impact of the crisis on the Indian economy.India, South Asia’s largest economy, has been facing major challenges owing to the global financial crisis. The immediate effects were plummeting stock prices, a net outflow of foreign capital, a large reduction in foreign reserves and a sharp tightening of domestic liquidity. These caused a rapid depreciation of the exchange rate and a surge in short-term interest rates. The second round effects emerged from a slowdown in domestic demand and exports. Demand effects have been particularly severe in housing, construction, consumer durables and the IT sector. As a result, manufacturing production has taken a hit and activities in the organized services sector (housing, construction, IT) are down sharply. Exports declined for two consecutive months in October and November 2008. A recent government study estimates job losses to the tune of five hundred thousand between October and December 2008. GDP growth rate is now estimated at around 7 percent for 2008, down from 9 percent in 2007, and is projected to decline to around 5 percent in 2009. The monetary and fiscal stimulus package is expected to contain the downward slide in demand in 2009 while providing a good basis for recovery in 2010.
Counterfactuals of divine freedom

Contrary to the commonly held position of Luis de Molina, Thomas Flint and others, I argue that counterfactuals of divine freedom (CDFs) are pre-volitional for God within the Molinist framework. That is, CDFs are not true even partly in virtue of some act of God’s will. As a result, I argue that the Molinist God fails to satisfy an epistemic openness requirement for rational deliberation, and thus she cannot rationally deliberate about which world to actualize.
Ordering dependence: Care, disorder, and kinship ideology in North Indian antiviolence counseling

As Indian women's rights organizations address violence against women, they rely heavily on mediation practices such as family counseling. At one counseling center in Jaipur, Rajasthan, family counselors operated in an environment saturated with transnational discourse about human rights and gendered violence. Yet counselors addressed household harm through arguments about kin-based care and interdependence, referred to as seva. Through their discussions of seva, counselors challenge scholarly assumptions about an insurmountable opposition between the demands of kinship and women's rights as autonomous subjects. Instead of presenting independence as a solution to disordered homes, they reordered household dependencies, subtly reworking ideologies of patriarchal kinship. Via ethnographic attention to the complex connections between kinship, care, and interdependence in counseling, I demonstrate the central role of kinship in localizing transnational arguments about rights. [kinship, care, dependence, gender, domestic violence, India]
A Driving Situation Awareness-Based Energy Management Strategy for Parallel Hybrid Vehicles

A concept of "driving situation awareness"-driven energy management system for parallel hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is introduced. The essential feature of the proposed energy management system is to assess the driving environment (in terms of facility type combined with traffic congestion level) using long and short term statistical features of the drive cycle. Subsequently, this knowledge is provided to a system that makes intelligent decisions with respect to the torque distribution and charge sustenance tasks. Simulation work was carried out for the validation of proposed system, and the results reveal its viability for energy management of parallel hybrid vehicles.
Optimal backazimuth estimation for three-component recordings of regional seismic events

Augmenting travel-time data with backazimuth information can improve regional seismic event locations for which only a few recording stations are available. This study examines the achievable accuracy of backazimuths derived from 164 regional short-period P waves recorded at Regional Seismic Test Network (RSTN ) stations. The data represent 62 events with a good distribution of distance, azimuth, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at each of four RSTN stations. Using Preliminary Determination of Epicenter locations to generate reference backazimuths, we examine the effects of computational method, signal window length, frequency content, and SNR on RSTN backazimuth estimates. The variety of geologic environments at the receivers also allows assessment of the effect of receiver structure on backazimuth estimation. Our results indicate that regional three-component recordings can produce useful backazimuths; more than 75 per cent of the records yield backazimuths within 20° of the correct value when reasonable parameters are used. The accuracy of the calculated backazimuths does vary with the receiver, however. RSTN stations in New York and Ontario, located in Precambrian terranes, produce very accurate backazimuths for SNRs greater than 5 dB. At the South Dakota and Tennessee stations, located in sedimentary rocks, complicated receiver structure is the controlling factor in backazimuth estimation. Propagational complexities at the South Dakota site preclude recovery of reasonable backazimuth values; poor statistics are obtained for all parameter combinations. At the Tennessee site, backazimuth accuracy depends strongly on the computational method used. In general, the choice of frequency band is important and varies by stations, while the length of the signal window is less critical. If the problematic South Dakota records are excluded, we achieve an rms backazimuth error of about 6° for recordings with SNR above 10 dB. While a single optimized choice of parameters produces good results for the 164-record data set, a further 5 to 10 per cent improvement can be achieved if the parameters are customized on a station-by-station basis.
Predation by Orius insidiosus on the soybean thrips, Sericothrips variabilis: Effect of prey stage and density.

The predatory capabilities of nymphal and adult Orius insidiosus (Say) preying on larval and adult soybean thrips, Sericothrips variabilis (Beach), were assessed under laboratory conditions. Effects of varying densities of adult soybean thrips on predation by adult O. insidiosus were also determined. All stages of O. insidiosus tested were able to successfully capture 1st- and 2nd instar larvae and adult soybean thrips. The average number of soybean thrips killed per 24-h period increased with successive nymphal stages of O. insidiosus , and adult females killed more soybean thrips than did adult males. Adult male and female O. insidiosus exhibited a type-II functional response when exposed to varying densities of adult S. variabilis . Adult O. insidiosus appeared to feed past satiation at the high densities of soybean thrips.
Expression of tropomyosin 2 gene isoforms in human breast cancer cell lines

In humans, four tropomyosin genes (TPM1, TPM2, TPM3, and TPM4) are known to produce a multitude of isoforms via alternate splicing and/or using alternate promoters. Expression of tropomyosin has been shown to be modulated at both the transcription and the translational levels. Tropomyosins are known to make up some of the stress fibers of human epithelial cells and differences in their expression has been demonstrated in malignant breast epithelial cell lines compared to 'normal' breast cell lines. We have recently reported the expression of four novel TPM1 isoforms (TPM1λ, TPM1µ, TPM1ν, and TPM1ξ) from human malignant tumor breast cell lines that are not expressed in adult and fetal cardiac tissue. Also, we evaluated their expression in relation to the stress fiber formation. In this study, nine malignant breast epithelial cell lines and three 'normal' breast cell lines were examined for stress fiber formation and expression of tropomyosin 2 (TPM2) isoform-specific RNAs and proteins. Stress fiber formation was assessed by immunofluorescence using Leica AF6000 Deconvolution microscope. Stress fiber formation was strong (++++) in the 'normal' cell lines and varied among the malignant cell lines (negative to +++). No new TPM2 gene RNA isoforms were identified, and TPM2β was the most frequently expressed TPM2 RNA and protein isoform. Stress fiber formation positively correlated with TPM2β RNA or protein expression at high, statistically significant degrees. Previously, we had shown that TPM1δ and TPM1λ positively and inversely, respectively, correlated with stress fiber formation. The most powerful predictor of stress fiber formation was the combination of TPM2β RNA, TPM1δ RNA, and the inverse of TPM1λ RNA expression. Our results suggest that the increased expression of TPM1λ and the decreased expression of TPM1δ RNA and TPM2β may lead to decreased stress fiber formation and malignant transformation in human breast epithelial cells.
Predictors of spine deformity progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A systematic review with meta-analysis

AIM: To evaluate published data on the predictors of progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in order to evaluate their efficacy and level of evidence. METHODS: Selection criteria: (1) study design: randomized controlled clinical trials, prospective cohort studies and case series, retrospective comparative and none comparative studies; (2) participants: adolescents with AIS aged from 10 to 20 years; and (3) treatment: observation, bracing, and other. Search method: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, PubMed and patent data bases. All years through August 2014 were included. Data were collected that showed an association between the studied characteristics and the progression of AIS or the severity of the spine deformity. Odds ratio (OR), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were also collected. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the pooled OR and predictive values, if more than 1 study presented a result. The GRADE approach was applied to evaluate the level of evidence. RESULTS: The review included 25 studies. All studies showed statistically significant or borderline association between severity or progression of AIS with the following characteristics: (1) An increase of the Cobb angle or axial rotation during brace treatment; (2) decrease of the rib-vertebral angle at the apical level of the convex side during brace treatment; (3) initial Cobb angle severity (> 25o); (4) osteopenia; (5) patient age < 13 years at diagnosis; (6) premenarche status; (7) skeletal immaturity; (8) thoracic deformity; (9) brain stem vestibular dysfunction; and (10) multiple indices combining radiographic, demographic, and physiologic characteristics. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the following genes: (1) calmodulin 1; (2) estrogen receptor 1; (3) tryptophan hydroxylase 1; (3) insulin-like growth factor 1; (5) neurotrophin 3; (6) interleukin-17 receptor C; (7) melatonin receptor 1B, and (8) ScoliScore test. Other predictors included: (1) impairment of melatonin signaling in osteoblasts and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC); (2) G-protein signaling dysfunction in PBMC; and (3) the level of platelet calmodulin. However, predictive values of all these findings were limited, and the levels of evidence were low. The pooled result of brace treatment outcomes demonstrated that around 27% of patents with AIS experienced exacerbation of the spine deformity during or after brace treatment, and 15% required surgical correction. However, the level of evidence is also low due to the limitations of the included studies. CONCLUSION: This review did not reveal any methods for the prediction of progression in AIS that could be recommended for clinical use as diagnostic criteria.
An analysis of transmission line grounding techniques using a digitized data management solution

In 2014, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created new regulations regarding safe work practices for transmission line construction. These new regulations primarily focus upon improving the practices of grounding equipment during construction to create a safer work zone. Workers are at risk of touch and step potentials from high voltage lines and current propagation through the surrounding soil. Specifically, the regulation requires construction companies, such as Pike Corporation, to utilize protective equipment called equipotential grounding mats instead of conventional grounding rod systems, unless they can prove through an engineering study that a job will be safe to commence using traditional methodology. The team created a data management tool that can help Pike Corporation synthesize a variety of data inputs to determine which means of protection is best for a particular job. The project's secondary objective is to evaluate the impact of these regulations (and the solution within this context) on the company's strategy. Impacts on the company could be reported in terms of additional cost incurred or material resources consumed as a result of these changes. This study will help Pike Corporation make safe and cost-effective business decisions and will also help the industry to better understand the risks to workers and the potential benefits of equipotential grounding mats.
High-Order Harmonic Generation in Ne

Atoms in a strong laser field can emit very high harmonics up until a time during the laser pulse at which ionization occurs. While strong-field ionization has been extensively discussed at intensities coresponding to the above-threshold-ionization and tunneling regimes, less well-understood is the strong-field harmonic generation process. Harmonic generation and ionization may be tied together, but the coherent nature of the harmonic process complicates a comparision with theory, particularity at very high intensities.
Service Firm Identification from an Outsider’s Or Better Yet an Immigrant’s Point of View

To identify or not to identify! This study addresses this issue as it relates to service firms, one’s profession and workgroup from the perspective of immigrant workers in the USA.
Applications of Knot Theory: Using Knot Theory to Unravel Biochemistry Mysteries

Although knots have been used since the dawn of humanity, the mathematical study of knots is only a little over 100 years old. Not only has knot theory grown theoretically, the fields of physics, chemistry, and molecular biology have provided many applications of mathematical knots. In this expository paper, we provide an overview of some connections between knot theory and DNA–protein interaction, outlining specifics of the biological mechanisms of DNA replication while providing an overview of related knot invariants. This work is based on an oral presentation given by the author at the Association of Women Mathematicians Research Symposium April 11, 2015.
The Role of Event Boundaries in Language: Perceiving and Describing the Sequence of Simultaneous Events

Studies in event perception have shown that people impose boundaries onto the constant flux of perceptual information and perceive the world to be composed of a series of discrete events. A significant question arises to whether humans impose boundaries onto events that unfold along multiple tracks and perceive them to be one psychological entity (i.e., temporal chunking). The traditional method of event segmentation has difficulties with investigating simultaneous events. The current study investigated whether and how talking about events reveals the psychological event boundaries imposed by perceivers. The current study manipulated the temporal parameters of stimulus events, controlled the causality of events, and thus translated the linguistic differences into measurable properties of events. Participants viewed films of simultaneous events, and performed linguistic acceptability judgments. The results showed there is a correspondence between how people talk about the event sequence and the order in which events occur following event segmentations.
Comparative Analysis of Renal Functional Outcomes and Overall Survival of Elderly vs Nonelderly Patients Undergoing Radical Nephrectomy.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate changes in renal function and overall survival in elderly vs nonelderly patients undergoing radical nephrectomy (RN) for renal masses. Patients and Methods: We reviewed available records of 392 patients undergoing RN from 2008 through 2013. Patients were divided into elderly, defined as ≥70 years old (n = 110), or nonelderly (n = 282) at the time of nephrectomy. The groups were compared for perioperative characteristics, renal functional outcomes, and overall survival. Standard Student's t-tests were used for continuous variables and Fischer's exact tests for categorical comparisons. Kaplan–Meier estimate models for survival were compared using log-rank tests. Results: Elderly patients were more likely to have comorbidities. Preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of elderly patients was significantly lower (65.6 vs 77.9 mL/minute/1.73 m2, p = 0.0002), as was GFR at discharge (47.7 vs 57.2 mL/minute/1.73 m2, p = 0.001) and at maximum follow-up (46.8 vs 57.4 mL...