cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systematic implications of flavonoid pigments in the fern genus hemionitis (adiantiaceae)

The closely related fern generaHemionitis L. andGymnopteris Bernhardi are separated primarily on differences in leaf architecture and venation. Studies indicate that these characters are highly variable and unreliably diagnostic. Further, the type species of the two genera readily hybridize with each other. Spore morphology, as exhibited by SEM, does not support the traditional alignment of the species in these two genera: some species ofHemionitis andGymnopteris have the same rugose to papillate spores, while other species from both genera possess crested spores. The flavonoid chemistry of these taxa coincides with spore type, i.e., taxa from both genera which possess crested spores produce kaempferol and quercetin 3-0-glycosides, while species with tuberculate spores produce only quercetin 3,4′-0-glycosides. The spore and chemical data suggest a realignment of these taxa within a single genus, which would avoid the rather tenuous dependence on a single vegetative character for generic distinctions.
Inhibition of attachment and growth of tumor cells on collagen by a monoclonal antibody

A murine monoclonal antibody, VM-1, which binds to basal cells of normal human epidermis, reduces the ability of human squamous cell carcinoma cells (SCL-1) derived from the skin to attach and spread on collagen by about 50% and causes cell rounding. Similar effects have been previously shown using normal human keratinocytes. The attachment of cell lines derived from human lung squamous cell carcinomas (SW1271 and SW900), melanoma A375, glioblastoma 126, and fibrosarcoma HT1080 is also inhibited by this antibody. VM-1 antibody does not bind to normal human fibroblasts, benign nevus cells, or the human B-cell-derived line 8866. VM-1 antibody inhibits the growth of SCL-1 cells in vitro as measured by cell numbers and [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) incorporation. It is not cytolytic in the presence of complement as measured by51Cr release. Repeated treatment of SCL-1 cells with VM-1 antibody significantly reduces the proportion of SCL-1 cells that attach to collagen. In addition, after treatment of SCL-1 cells with VM-1 antibody, several proteins can no longer be demonstrated by gel electrophoresis of the cell-free supernatant. The VM-1 antibody effect on attachment and spreading is partially reversed by pretreatment of the collagen surface with laminin and fibronectin, but not with the carbohydrates chondroitin-6-sulfate or hyaluronic acid or with the protein lysozyme. By fluorescence staining, the antigen recognized by VM-1 antibody is membrane-bound and Triton X-100 extractable. The VM-1 antigen is excluded from Bio-Sil TSK-400 and sediments at about 10.5 S. It has a covalent molecular weight on the order of 106. Proteinase K digestion produces VM-1 antibody reactive fragments, assumed to be polysaccharides, with a polydisperse molecular weight distribution in the range 5000 to 30 000. The VM-1 antigen is partially lost from solution on boiling and is no longer detectable in the aqueous or organic phase after chloroform-methanol extraction. The properties of the VM-1 antigen are consistent with those of a proteoglycan involved in attachment and spreading of kerationcytes and certain tumor cells on collagen.
Transcription factor binding variation in the evolution of gene regulation.

Transcription factor interactions with DNA are one of the primary mechanisms by which expression is modulated, yet their evolution remains poorly understood. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by microarray (ChIP-chip) or sequencing (ChIP-Seq) has revolutionized the study of protein–DNA interactions. However, only recently has attention focused on determining to what extent these regulatory interactions vary between species across entire genomes. A series of recent studies have compared in vivo binding data across a range of evolutionary distances. Binding events diverge rapidly, indicating gene regulation is an evolutionarily flexible process.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin protein and gene therapies decrease autoimmunity and delay arthritis development in mouse model

Background: Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a multi-functional protein that has anti-inflammatory and tissue protective properties. We previously reported that human AAT (hAAT) gene therapy prevented autoimmune diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice and suppressed arthritis development in combination with doxycycline in mice. In the present study we investigated the feasibility of hAAT monotherapy for the treatment of chronic arthritis in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: DBA/1 mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen (bCII) to induce arthritis. These mice were pretreated either with hAAT protein or with recombinant adeno-associated virus vector expressing hAAT (rAAVhAAT). Control groups received saline injections. Arthritis development was evaluated by prevalence of arthritis and arthritic index. Serum levels of B-cell activating factor of the TNF-a family (BAFF), antibodies against both bovine (bCII) and mouse collagen II (mCII) were tested by ELISA. Results: Human AAT protein therapy as well as recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV8)-mediated hAAT gene therapy significantly delayed onset and ameliorated disease development of arthritis in CIA mouse model. Importantly, hAAT therapies significantly reduced serum levels of BAFF and autoantibodies against bCII and mCII, suggesting that the effects are mediated via B-cells, at least partially. Conclusion: These results present a new drug for arthritis therapy. Human AAT protein and gene therapies are able to ameliorate and delay arthritis development and reduce autoimmunity, indicating promising potential of these therapies as a new treatment strategy for RA.
Treatment of pregnant breast cancer patients and outcomes of children exposed to chemotherapy in utero

BACKGROUND As women in the US delay childbearing, it has been hypothesized that the incidence of breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy will increase. There are very little prospective data on the treatment of pregnant women with breast cancer with chemotherapy and even less data on the outcomes of their children who were exposed to chemotherapy in utero. METHODS Fifty-seven pregnant breast cancer patients were treated on a single-arm, multidisciplinary, institutional review board-approved protocol with FAC (5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide) in the adjuvant (n = 32) or neoadjuvant (n = 25) setting. Parents/guardians were surveyed by mail or telephone regarding outcomes of children exposed to chemotherapy in utero. RESULTS Of the 57 women, 40 are alive and disease-free, 3 have recurrent breast cancer, 12 died from breast cancer, 1 died from other causes, and 1 was lost to follow-up. Of the 25 patients who received neoadjuvant FAC, 6 had a pathologic complete response, whereas 4 had no tumor response to chemotherapy and eventually died from their disease. All women who delivered had live births. One child has Down syndrome and 2 have congenital anomalies (club foot; congenital bilateral ureteral reflux). The children are healthy and those in school are doing well, although 2 have special educational needs. CONCLUSIONS Breast cancer can be treated with FAC chemotherapy during the second and third trimesters without significant short-term complications for the majority of children exposed to chemotherapy in utero. Longer follow-up of the children is needed to evaluate possible late side effects such as impaired cardiac function and fertility. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Grain Boundary and Crystallographic Orientation Effects on Friction

Experimental results are presented that show relationships between grain structure and friction. In particular, grain boundaries cause changes in friction during single pass experiments using a dia...
If Shaming Reduced Obesity, There Would Be No Fat People

One of six commentaries on “Obesity: Chasing an Elusive Epidemic,” by Daniel Callahan, from the January-February 2013 issue.
“Russian nervousness”: Neurasthenia and National Identity in Nineteenth-Century Russia

“Nothing dies so hard as a word”, wrote Harry Quilter in 1892, “—particularly a word nobody understands.” At the end of the nineteenth century, one such word—first uttered in America, but soon reverberating across the Western world—was “neurasthenia”. Popularized by the American neurologist George M Beard, this vaguely defined nervous disorder seemed to crop up everywhere, from medical journals to the popular press to belles lettres. Looking back at the years leading up to the Second World War, Paul Hartenberg recalled its remarkable pervasiveness: “It could be found everywhere, in the salons, at the theatre, in novels, at the Palace. It was used to explain the most disparate individual reactions: suicide and decadent art, fashion and adultery; it became the giant of neuropathology.” Its sufferers included American intellectuals from Beard himself to Theodore Roosevelt, Edith Wharton, and Henry Adams; for European commentators less convinced of the disease's modern American pedigree, the list could be expanded to include everyone from Alcibiades to Tiberius to Napoleon. Anybody who was anybody, it seemed, was neurasthenic.
Cheaters in a gaming social network

The popularity of online gaming has raised signi cantinterest in understanding the technological needs for sup-porting gaming platforms. Consequently, various studiescharacterized network trac due to gaming, resource pro-visioning, work load prediction, and player churn in onlinegames [1]. Other studies have focused on the psycholog-ical and social properties of gamers and gaming commu-nities [5]. Gamers form strong communities around theiractivity, with recent work suggesting that explicitly de nedrelationships of gamers tend to be supported by real worldrelationships [6].One major problem with gaming is cheating. For somecheaters, the motivation is monetary. Virtual goods areworth real world money on eBay, and online game econo-mies provide a lucrative opportunity for cyber criminals [2].For other cheaters, a competitive advantage and the desireto win is motivation enough [3].In this work, we analyze how cheaters are embedded in theSteam Community, a large online social network for gam-ing with millions of active users. Cheaters are identi ed byan automated mechanism operated by the Steam gamingservice and their pro les are permanently agged in a pub-licly visible way. We analyze di erences in gaming-speci cproperties of cheaters and non-cheaters. We also examinewhether cheaters occupy a particular position in the socialnetwork when compared to non-cheaters, and characterizethe relationships they have among themselves, and with non-cheaters.Our study shows that cheaters are well embedded in thesocial network, having similar connectivity to non-cheaters;their social position is largely undistinguishable from thatof fair players; and their geographic distribution does notcorrespond to real world population nor is it determinedby the popularity of the Steam Community at a given realworld location.
Predicting chloride profiles in concrete

Abstract Laboratory studies were undertaken to compare chloride (Cl−) profile data to predictions obtained using ASTM C 1202 of Cl− diffusion into concrete. The effective diffusion coefficients (Deff) derived can be used to determine long-term Cl− profiles of concrete structures. Equations relating Deff with resistivity and permeability of concrete were developed. One- and two- dimensional models were used to determine Cl− profiles of Cl− ions entering concrete in structures such as square piles and decks.
Channel Catfish with a Rayed Adipose Fin

Abstract Two channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus with rayed adipose fins were found in an aquaculture population. One specimen was radiographed and then cleared enzymatically and stained to demonstrate cartilaginous and calcified portions of the adipose and anal fins. The adipose fin, which had 33 rays (lepidotrichia) and was supported by pterygiophores, was morphologically similar to the anal fin. The cause of the abnormal adipose fin was not determined.
The Predicton of Grade Point Average in the Graduate Program in a School of Education of a Large California State University

Both for a total sample of 251 graduate students and for each of two subsamples of 153 men and 98 women who had had at least 18 units of graduate work in professional education at a large campus of the California State University and College system, a criterion measure of grade point average (GPA-GRAD) was more accurately predicted from grade point average measures of undergraduate achievement than from part scores or total scores on the Undergraduate Record Examination (URE). However, the Advance Education examination of the URE did provide statistically significant validity coefficients as well as statistically reliable increments to the coefificient of multiple determination associated with stepwise multiple regression analyses. For combinations of selected undergraduate achievement indices and standardized test measures coefficients of multiple correlation varied between .49 and .44, although some shrinkage could be expected upon cross-validation.
Structure of a small‐molecule inhibitor complexed with GlmU from Haemophilus influenzae reveals an allosteric binding site

N-Acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmU) is an essential enzyme in aminosugars metabolism and an attractive target for antibiotic drug discovery. GlmU catalyzes the formation of uridine-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), an important precursor in the peptidoglycan and lipopolisaccharide biosynthesis in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Here we disclose a 1.9 A resolution crystal structure of a synthetic small-molecule inhibitor of GlmU from Haemophilus influenzae (hiGlmU). The compound was identified through a high-throughput screening (HTS) configured to detect inhibitors that target the uridyltransferase active site of hiGlmU. The original HTS hit exhibited a modest micromolar potency (IC50 ∼ 18 μM in a racemic mixture) against hiGlmU and no activity against Staphylococcus aureus GlmU (saGlmU). The determined crystal structure indicated that the inhibitor occupies an allosteric site adjacent to the GlcNAc-1-P substrate-binding region. Analysis of the mechanistic model of the uridyltransferase reaction suggests that the binding of this allosteric inhibitor prevents structural rearrangements that are required for the enzymatic reaction, thus providing a basis for structure-guided design of a new class of mechanism-based inhibitors of GlmU.
RATIONALIZATION OF THE SUPPLIER BASE IN THE PRESENCE OF YIELD UNCERTAINTY

An important aspect of supply chain management is the optimal configuration of the supplier base. We develop a model to determine optimal lot sizes and the optimal number of suppliers when the yield of the product delivered from each supplier is random. While small orders from a large number of suppliers can reduce yield uncertainty, fixed costs associated with each supplier provide a penalty for having too many suppliers. This is the key tradeoff addressed by our model. We look at the cases when the suppliers are identical as well as nonidentical.
Experimental Fracture Mechanics of Functionally Graded Materials: An Overview of Optical Investigations

The experimental efforts towards understanding the fracture behavior of continuously graded Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) using full-field optical methods are reviewed. Both quasi-static and dynamic fracture investigations involving mode-I and -II conditions are presented. FGM configurations with crack planes perpendicular to, parallel to, and inclined to the direction of compositional gradation are discussed. Different strategies adopted by various investigators to develop polymer-based FGM systems for experimental mechanics studies are also described in this overview. Major theoretical developments that have predated and paralleled the experimental studies have been presented as well. Finally, the paper notes a few potential new directions where further contributions are possible.
Chvátal's Condition cannot hold for both a graph and its complement

Chvatal’s Condition is a sufficient condition for a spanning cycle in an n-vertex graph. The condition is that when the vertex degrees are d1, . . . , dn in nondecreasing order, i i or dn−i ≥ n − i. We prove that this condition cannot hold in both a graph and its complement, and we raise the problem of finding its asymptotic probability in the random graph with edge probability 1/2. This note is motivated by a discussion in the book of Palmer [7, page 81–85]. A theorem is strong if the conclusion is satisfied only when the hypothesis is satisfied, because then the hypotheses cannot be weakened. Palmer defines the strength of a theorem to be the probability that its hypotheses hold divided by the probability that its conclusion holds. We use the standard random graph model for generating n-vertex simple graphs: the vertex set is {1, . . . , n}, and edge ij occurs with probability p, independently of other edges. Let Gn,p denote the random variable for the resulting graph. In general, “Gn,p almost always satisfies Q” means that the probability of Gn,p satisfying Q tends to 1 as n→∞. We restrict our attention to constant p. ∗Supported in part by the NSF under Award No. DMS-0099608. †Supported in part by the NSA under Award No. MDA904-03-1-0037. The United States Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints notwithstanding any copyright notation.
Diuretic use is associated with better learning and memory in older adults in the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory study

Abstract Background To investigate the association between diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I), angiotensin II receptor blockers (AT2RB), and cognitive function. Methods This post hoc analysis of the randomized controlled Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study trial focuses on 3069 nondemented community-dwelling participants aged >75 years. At baseline visit, detailed information about medication use was collected and five cognitive domains were assessed. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to assess cross-sectional associations between medication use and cognitive function. Results In all, 36% of participants reported history of hypertension and 53% reported antihypertensive medication use, with 17% reporting diuretic, 11% ACE-I, and 2% AT2RB use. Potassium-sparing diuretic use (N = 192) was associated with better verbal learning and memory measured by California Verbal Learning Test as compared with no antihypertensive medication users (β = 0.068, P = .01; β = 0.094, P P = .03; β = 0.153, P Conclusion Results warrant further investigation into possible protective effects of potassium-sparing diuretics and the role of potassium in mitigating cognitive decline.
The Effect of Temperature in Concentrated Contact Lubrication

Experiments are described on the frictional behavior of a petroleum oil in the contact zone between a spherical steel roller and a cylindrical one moving in combined rolling and sliding at 23 C, 100 C, and 190 C, and at maximum Hertz contact stresses of up to 390,000 psi. The coefficient of friction is found to decrease with increasing temperature. The results are interpreted on the hypothesis that the frictional force represents the shearing of a film of essentially solidified lubricant at a shear plane of molecular dimensions. Contributed by the ASLE Technical Committee on Bearings and Bearing Lubrication and presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Lubrication Engineers held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 1961.
A Collaboration in Dance Education Between Montclair State University and Bradford School (K–5)

For college students who are pursuing dance teaching degrees, having the opportunity for teaching experiences in a public school before student teaching or internships, under the guidance and suppo...
Running in the Shadows in Campaign 2000: Candidate Metaphors in Editorial Cartoons

Editorial cartoons contribute to candidate image development by offering condensed and simplified metaphoric portrayals. This study identifies the rhetorical fantasia advanced by cartoonists in their metaphors about Al Gore and George Bush through five themes of leadership during the early months of Campaign 2000: character, competence, viability, independence, and charisma. The cartoons reflected overall campaign strategies by attaching character issues to Gore and competence issues to Bush. However, the campaign was over-shadowed by the outside influence of preceding presidents, calling into question the independence of the candidates, which may have fueled the ambivalent results of the election.
Lefty promotes trophoblast lineage specification in human placenta

VISWANATHAN RAVISHANKAR, KRISTIN PATZKOWSKI, MEIYI TANG, CECILIA AVILA, PAUL OGBURN, J. QUIRK, SIAMAK TABIBZADEH, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, Columbia University, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Port Jefferson, New York, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York OBJECTIVE: Microarray analysis has shown a member of the TGF-beta super family, Lefty A, to be the single most abundant inhibitor in stem cells and in the maternal decidua that supports embryo implantation. Based on the foundation that Lefty is induced by the transcriptional factor Oct3/4 that regulates trophoectodermal differentiation, we hypothesized that Lefty is involved in placental development. We sought to determine the presence and distribution of Lefty in human Placenta and examine the biologic impact of lefty A in specification of trophoblasts. STUDY DESIGN: Placental samples were obtained from normal term pregnancies (cesarean or vaginal deliveries). Lefty mRNA was detected by reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Lefty proteins by Western blot analysis. Immunoreactive Lefty was localized in tissue sections by immunohistochemical staining. Decidual cells and BeWo trophoblast cells were subjected to transduction with empty control adenovirus particles and with particles driving Lefty expression. Cells were harvested and analyzed by RT-PCR to determine trophoblast lineage specification and assessed for fusion. RESULTS: 1) Lefty was expressed in villous and extra-villous trophoblasts including binucleated cells. 2) Lefty transduction of maternal decidual cells derived from third trimester placenta led to the development of binucleation, expression of cytokeratin and CGbeta. 3) Transduction of BeWo cells by Lefty increase expression of trophoblast markers including, Imfa, and Stral3. 4) Lefty also led to increased number of multinucleated cells with a large size within 48 hr of treatment. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest a role for Lefty in cell-cell fusion and trophoblast fate specification.
Inhibitory effects of corticosteroids and histamine on human lymphocytes

Both corticosteroids and histamine inhibit mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation. Their mechanisms of inhibition were studied in lymphocytes exposed to methylprednisolone (MP) both in vivo and in vitro. Either in vivo MP treatment or in vitro histamine incubation depressed lymphocyte responsiveness to mitogen stimulation. The combination of both treatments depressed the proliferative responses to a further degree, representing a shift of baseline proliferation by in vivo MP treatment. For in vitro MP studies, normal lymphocytes cultured with varying concentrations of MP were significantly less stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A). Addition of histamine (1 x 10(-3) M) as well as MP in vitro led to a further inhibition of proliferative responses of these cells in an additive pattern in cultures of all MP concentrations. Normal lymphocytes incubated in vitro with histamine, but not with MP, resulted in a rapid rise in intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). These findings suggest that corticosteroid and histamine act independently through different mechanisms.
Effect of HCG on resorption and fetal weight in the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

Abstract Female hamsters were given either low (10 i.u.) or high (100 i.u.) doses of HCG on day 6, 7, or 8 of gestation. Maternal weight at breeding was found to have a significant effect on litter size and the number of resorptions, but not on mean fetal weight, in both control and treatment groups. Treatment regimens produced significant changes in litter size, number of resorptions, mean fetal weight, and resorption site by position within the uterine horns. No teratogenic effects were produced as judged by gross morphological examination.
Microstructural examination of fast-neutron irradiated Li2O

Scanning Electron Microscopy examinations of fast-neutron irradiated Li2O at 608–625°C to 1 and 3 at% 6Li burnups have been performed. Of particular interests are the helium morphologies and their relationships to the reported tritium/helium retentions and swelling in Li2O. Possible defect trapping of tritium is suggested, along with discussions of two other phenomena (microtracking, swelling) on the performance of an Li 2O fusion reactor blanket.
The expression and localization of surface neoantigens in transformed and untransformed cultured cells infected with avian tumor viruses.

The presence and localization of neoantigens induced in cultured cells, infected or transformed with avian tumor viruses (ATV), were studied ultrastructurally on carbon platinum replicas of cell surfaces. The use of antibody, labeled with hemocyanin molecules, provided sensitive detection and analysis of cell surface antigen distribution. The subgroup-specific antigens of the viral envelope were found in considerable amount in the plasma membranes of ATV-infected chick embryo fibroblasts. The distribution of these antigens over the cell surface, evaluated on cells which were prefixed with glutaraldehyde, was found to be diffuse with a greater density on the cell processes in some cells. Reaction of antibody to viral envelope antigens with living ATV-infected cells resulted in a number of patterns of redistribution of membrane antigen-antibody complexes (AAC). Redistribution occurred in symmetrical or asymmetrical modes. The former consisted of randomly oriented aggregates (patches) of AAC over the cell surface. The latter included: (a) linear accumulation of AAC at cell margins; and (b) condensation of complexes into one or more centers of coalescence. These observations could be made on chick embryo cells infected (but not transformed) by avian leukosis virus, or on cells oncogenically transformed by avian sarcoma virus. The regions of coalescence were suggestive of the “capping” phenomenon seen in other systems, and their formation was temporally correlated with endocytosis of labeled AAC and the gradual loss of AAC from the surface. The effects of several biologically perturbing substances on the processes of redistribution were investigated in ALV-infected fibroblasts. Sodium azide, puromycin, actinomycin D, and colchicine had no effect on either form of asymmetrical redistribution. Cytochalasin B (CB) and iodoacetic acid (IAA) appeared to have some effect on the marginal redistribution, and to completely prevent the condensation into foci of coalescence (FC). When treated with these compounds, reacted with antibody at low temperature, washed free of unbound antibody, and warmed at 37° C, cells rapidly cleared their surfaces of AAC. This was not accompanied by formation of FC or endocytosis. In some of these cells, a distribution was observed which suggested a possible centrifugal flow of antigenic sites – perhaps an alternate route for disposal of AAC. None of the drugs tested affected symmetrical redistribution. Repeated attempts at detection and topographical analysis of a tumor-specific antigen on the surface of Rous sarcoma virus-transformed chicken and rat cells have provided no evidence for antibody to such an antigen in the serum of immunized animals. Autochthonous, homologous, and heterologous immunizations of chickens and rats did not produce a detectable antibody response to a virus-specific tumor surface antigen. Preliminary results, however, suggest the expression of an individual-specific (unique) tumor antigen on the surface of Rous sarcoma cells.
Problems and Prospects in Northeastern Prehistoric Ceramic Studies

Three major research topics can be addressed using Northeastern ceramic data. First, different technological developments are seen in the earliest ceramics. Flat-bottomed wares develop in the Middl...
Imaging of infective endocarditis with cardiac CT angiography

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a disease characterized by high rates of morbidity and mortality that can present with a spectrum of clinical and imaging findings. Cardiac-gated computed tomographic angiography (CTA) has been shown to be highly accurate in evaluation of both coronary artery disease and structural heart disease and is now considered an appropriate preoperative imaging modality in patients undergoing noncoronary cardiac surgery. This review discusses the use of cardiac-gated CTA in preoperative evaluation of patients with IE, with emphasis on imaging findings of valvular and perivalvular complications. Topics include technique tips specific to valve imaging with cardiac-gated CTA, potential benefits of cardiac-gated CTA compared with other imaging modalities such as echocardiography, limitations of imaging patients with IE with cardiac-gated CTA, and an overview of potential findings in patients with IE, including vegetations, valve perforations, perivalvular abscesses, perivalvular pseudoaneurysms, and fistulas. Throughout this review, cardiac-gated CTA findings of IE are presented with echocardiographic and operative correlation to emphasize that cardiac-gated CTA may in select cases provide incremental benefit in the preoperative assessment of patients with IE.
Canonical models and the self-adjoint parts of dissipative operators

Abstract Let H be a complex separable Hilbert space and let A be a bounded operator on H with nonnegative imaginary part. The spectral invariants of the self-adjoint part Asa of A are described in terms of Livsic-Brodskiĭ characteristic functions of restrictions A ∗ ¦ M, where M ranges over a suitably large collection of subspaces invariant for A ∗ . In case A = B + K, with B a self-adjoint multiplication operator and K a compact subdiagonal integral operator acting on a direct integral space, the multiplicity function of Asa is described in terms of properties of B. An application is given to Livsic's theory of triangular models.
Lake Huron climatology, inter-lake exchange and mean circulation

Selected key features of the physical limnology, hydrology and climate influencing Lake Huron is presented. The lake is deep (229 m), consists of four interconnected bodies of water and currently there are no diversions into or out of the lake. Long-term annual summaries of meteorological and hydrological variables show that the lake affects spatial distributions across the basin. An estimate of the long-term hydrologic budget shows the relative importance of the major inflows, outflows and net basin supply. Long-term monthly average water level is 176.6 m. Monthly mean total heat flux ranges from −155 W m− 2 in December to 154 W m− 2 in June. Light attenuation is higher in Saginaw Bay and the nearshore compared to the mid-lake. Ice extent can be an important factor in the Lake Huron system with values ranging from 90% depending on winter severity. Surface and mean lake temperature for shallow North Channel are similar, however, large volumes of main Lake Huron and Georgian Bay results in mean ...
Design and stochastic simulation of elastically jointed mechanical systems

The optimal design of an elastically jointed mechanical system is a challenge owing to the nonlinearity associated with the joints, which introduces clearance and friction effects. In the paper, a stochastic simulation design approach is proposed to deal with the random feature of dynamic contacts in the joints. A dynamic analysis simulator is designed. When design parameters are specified, the system behaviour can be predicted through simulation. Finally, a unit truss cell structure is used as an example for the applications of the stochastic simulation method. The analyses show that friction contact dominates at small joint clearance and normal contact dominates at large joint clearance. The joint contact force increases when the joint and the link become stiffer; and the force decreases when joint damping is introduced.
Effects of light and darkness on human parotid salivary flow rate and chemical composition.

Abstract Parotid saliva was collected with and without exogenous stimulation from 5 healthy male dental students. Collections were made under ordinary lighting conditions, in a darkened room, or with blindfolds assuring light deprivation. The mean unstimulated parotid flow under normal lighting conditions was 0.056 ml/min. Darkening the room brought about a significant decrease in flow rate to 0.028 ml/min. When secretion was elicited by chewing sugarless gum, light deprivation significantly depressed parotid flow from 0.605 to 0.478 ml/min. While significant, this depression was proportionately much less than that observed with unstimulated parotid flow. When resting parotid saliva was collected, blindfolding induced a significant decrease in flow rate from 0.056 to 0.026 ml/min. Along with this decrease in flow there were significant increases in potassium and chloride concentrations in the saliva. The sodium concentration was unaffected by this depression in rate of flow. It is suggested that the darkness-induced flow rate depression is mediated through the sympathetic nervous system via pathways similar to those established for the pineal. Other findings led us to consider the possibility that such sympathetic efferents may be, in part, cholinergic.
LEARNING TO WALK THE WALK AND TALK THE TALK: PEER COACHING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER EDUCATION

Early childhood teacher education programs have drastically increased the number of field experiences in the past two decades. As a result, problems have emerged often resulting in negative benefits to pre‐service teachers. Among these problems are: inadequate supervision, ample and model placements and the linkage of theory to practice. This paper describes how one program has implemented peer coaching throughout its entire early childhood teacher education program in an attempt to help alleviate some of the known problems. Student satisfaction and enthusiasm, cooperating teacher support and the benefits of the university have further encouraged and strengthened the use of this strategy. Preliminary research findings also indicate preservice teachers develop a more thorough understanding of the teaching and learning process.
A sampling theory for local selection

We have examined a model of selection (local selection) in which successive favorable alleles enter into a population by displacing a random fraction of each of the preexisting alleles. When the distribution of fitness among newly arising favorable mutations is given by a power law, then the distribution of allele frequencies in the population converge to a Poisson-Dirichlet limit, and the sampling distribution of alleles is a Ewens distribution. This property leads to a convenient algorithm for simulating random equilibrium frequencies of alleles within samples. The model can also be interpreted in terms of species abundances when each invading species displaces a random fraction of each pre-existing species, or in terms of age structures in populations subjected to random catastrophes.
Gas in spinal articulations

The purpose of this review is to illustrate, some for the first time, a variety of gas collections in lumbar facet joints and intervertebral discs and in the sacroiliac joint.
TU‐FF‐A3‐03: Automatic Method of Bone and Static Tissue Removal in Neuro CT Angiography

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to optimize a post‐processing algorithm to eliminate density from bone or other tissues that remain constant during a contrast enhanced CTangiography procedure without compromising the detection of small lesions. Method and Materials: Five patients were scanned using a standard brain CTA protocol: kv=120, mA=300, thickness=2.5 mm, interval=1.25 mm, contrast volume=75 cc's, delay=12s). An identical acquisition was obtained prior to contrast injection. To eliminate movement related errors, the data sets were aligned using a standard motion correction algorithm within SPM2. The pre‐contrast data were used to form a mask based upon intensity thresholds that would capture bone (>200 HU). Additional image processing was used including smoothing and morphologic operations to improve the removal of the bone signal while minimizing the effects to vessel signal. The optimization process involved successive erosion and dilation operations on the mask. A filter was used on the mask to zero pixels between the skull and the external boundaries of the mask. Subtracting the pre‐contrast data from the post‐contrast data was performed to remove static signal. The bone mask was then applied to the difference data to create the final image. The post‐processed CTA data were transferred to a 3D workstation for viewing and qualitative assessment which included the source images and maximum intensity projections. Results: Bone subtraction was successful in all patients without qualitatively significant degradation in contrast‐to noise. The clinical data shows it is possible to remove non‐vascular signal without compromising the visualization of small aneurysms. Conclusion: An automatic method to remove bone density from brain CTA data sets was developed. The method requires a pre‐ and post‐contrast CTA acquisition and thus increases the patients overall radiation exposure though not to significant levels. The automated method will reduce workload and provide non‐biased angiographic data for clinical review.
A double scaling algorithm for the constrained maximum flow problem

The constrained maximum flow problem is to send the maximum possible flow from a source node to a sink node in a directed capacitated network subject to a budget constraint that the total cost of the flow can be at most D. In this research, we present a double scaling algorithm whose generic version runs in time, where n is the number of nodes in the network; m, the number of arcs; C, the largest arc cost; and U, the largest arc capacity. This running time can be further reduced to with the wave implementation of the cost scaling algorithm, and to O(nmlog(n2/m)logmlog Ulog(nC)) with the use of dynamic trees. These bounds are better than the current bound of , where S(n,m,nC) is the time to find a shortest path from a single source to all other nodes where nonnegative reduced costs are used as arc costs.
Year's efforts show commendable progress

RESEARCH and development in the field of dielectrics and insulation have resulted in notable progress during the past year. Experimental studies have ranged from fundamental questions in the fields of pure physics and chemistry, through the important intermediate field of effort made to bring together the talents, resources, and enterprise of both pure and applied science to the wide and always active field of direct development by cut-and-try methods for the improvement of insulating materials and structures.
IDB: an integrated image database system on local area network

This work addresses the problem of managing a huge amount of digital color images. It focuses the possibility to store and retrieve them to make them available for a wide range of application. Key point of the architecture that has been designed and implemented is the distribution of the devices needed by an image system on several nodes of a Local Area Network. Optical disks are used to store the large amount of data required by images. To efficiently access a high number of images, an image data base is provided. All textual information, such as image descriptions, image characteristics, physical data allocation and archive devices, are managed by a relational data base placed on a host system connected to the LAN by a channel attachment. A particular attention has been paid in designing the user interlace: the user interacts with the system through a workstation (PS/2) without taking care of the related processes even if they involve remote resources. The user interlace is "window driven". It is oriented to a non DP professional and it does not require any documentation. The main peculiarities of the architecture are: distributed functions, multi-user environment, interactivity, modularity and non-procedurality (the user has only to describe "what" has to be done, rather than "how" to do it).© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Characterization of sulfur layers from reduced sulfur dioxide on porous platinum black/teflon electrodes

Sulfur layers related to those which modify catalytic activity have been deposited on porous platinum black/polytetrafluoroethylene electrodes through reduction of sulfur dioxide previously adsorbed from SO2-containing aqueous sulfuric acid solutions. These layers were controlled and modified by various electrode pretreatments and then studied using voltammetry and coulometry. Evidence is presented for the existence of at least two types of adsorbed SO2 on the platinum black, corresponding to strongly- and weakly-bound species, and for the oxidative removal of adsorbed SO2 by reaction with oxygen dissolved in the H2SO4 pretreatment solutions. Different types of derived sulfur also are obtained. This derived sulfur apparently reflects the nature of the adsorbed SO2 layer from which it is obtained. The various adsorbed states are discussed in terms of bilayer formation, electrode surface roughness and possible sulfur-induced faceting of the platinum black electrode.
Characteristics features and compaction of plant tissues traced from permineralized peat to coal in Pennsylvanian coals (Desmoinesian) from the Illinois basin

Abstract Plant tissues were traced from coal balls to coal to identify and distinguish their characteristic structures in coal and to determine compaction ratios for specific tissues. Comparison of average cell sizes of lycopod aerial periderm in coal-ball peat and coal gave compaction ratios ranging from 7:1 to 19:1. Some of this compaction took place by three-dimensional contraction of the periderm so that the shapes of the cells in cross section were not greatly changed. Compaction ratios of other tissues ranged from 3:1 to 60:1. Tissues traced into vitrinite include lycopod stem periderm, Stigmaria periderm, “ Diaphorodendron ” cortex, Myeloxylon, Pennsylvanioxylon wood and bark, marattialean fern leaves, Psaronius outer roots, and Stigmaria rootlets. Tissues traced into fusinite or semifusinite include lycopod stem periderm, Myeloxylon , and Psaronius inner roots. Cordaitean leaves, Cordaianthus , and marattialean fructifications were identified in coal and coal balls from the same layer. The coal balls were from the Herrin, Springfield, and Houchin Creek Coal Members of the Carbondale Formation, Desmoinesian Series, Pennsylvanian System and an unnamed coal in Indiana equivalent to the Murphysboro Coal Member in Illinois, Staunton Formation, Desmoinesian Series, Pennsylvanian System. Thin sections and etched polished blocks were characterized by light and SEM microscopy.
The Contributions of Administrative Behavior To Strategic Management

Scholars in administrative behavior have contributed to our understanding of strategic management through (1) the study of organizations in the context of their environment; (2) the study of managerial action in the context of an organization; and (3) the study and development of methods to improve the strategic alignment between an organization's capabilities and its environment. The view of organizations as open systems, prescriptive and descriptive studies of managerial activity, including decision-making processes, and studies of relationships between strategy, structure, and performance are among the contributions of administrative behavior scholars to the field of strategic management.
Viability in Fertile Stocks of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Diluent composition, time consumed in experimental manipulations, and the presence of pyocine-like lethal agents affected the viability of sexual fertility factor-positive and fertility factor-negative auxotrophic stocks of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In the same cultures, recovery of prototrophic revertants increased as the number of viable cells dispensed per plate was reduced. As a result, the number of revertants recovered was indirectly determined by the combined activities of the three conditions affecting viability. Possible modifications by these conditions affecting viability on the expression and interpretation of the fertility factor-positive sex factor-mediated system of genetic recombination are presented.
Bayesian Sequential Detection for the BSC with Unknown Crossover Probability

We propose a novel scheme for detecting coded data transmitted over a communication channel that is either partially or entirely unknown. Viewing the unknown channel parameters as stochastic quantities drawn from a known probability distribution, the likelihood of a sequence of data is derived using Bayesian techniques. A stack-like tree search algorithm is proposed for implementation of maximum likelihood (ML) sequence detection under the Bayesian metric. We apply the Bayesian scheme to the binary symmetric channel (BSC) with unknown crossover probability. The structure of the resulting metric is compared to both the conventional Fano metric and a universal metric presented in (Lapidoth and Ziv, IEEE Trans. IT 1999). Based on its relationship to the metric developed by Lapidoth and Ziv, the newly-derived metric is shown to be pairwise universal over the ensemble of random uniform codes.
Reproductive Maturity and Seasonality of Male Spotted Dolphins, Stenella Attenuata, in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

We estimated age at attainment of sexual maturity and examined reproductive seasonality for male spotted dolphins, Stenella attenuata, from the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Maturity was determined by histological examination of testes. Average age at sexual maturation was 14.7 yr (the mean of two readers’ age estimates). Testis and epididymis weight and seminiferous tubule diameters were reliable indicators of maturity, whereas age, length and color phase were less reliable. Seasonality was determined by changes in testis and epididymis weight, relative quantity of spermatids and spermatozoa, and lumen diameter, as well as an index of testis development (weight of the right testis and epididymis divided by length of the right testis). Testis and epididymis weights and index values peaked in July and August, midway between two predicted mating seasons for the northern offshore stock, but spermatozoa levels were elevated during the predicted breeding seasons.