cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Field Robotic Systems for High-Throughput Plant Phenotyping: A Review and a Case Study

Continuous crop improvement is essential to meet the growing demands for food, feed, fuel, and fiber around the globe. High-throughput plant phenotyping (HTPP) aims to break the bottleneck in plant breeding programs where phenotypic data are mostly collected with inefficient manual methods. With the recent rapid advancements and applications of robotics in many industries, field robots are also expected to bring transformational changes to HTPP applications. This chapter presents an updated review of the infield ground-based robotic HTPP systems developed so far. Moreover, we report a case study of an autonomous mobile phenotyping robot PhenoBot 3.0 for row crop phenotyping, focusing on the development and evaluation of the navigation system for the articulated steering, a four-wheel-drive robot with an extremely tall sensor mast. Several navigation techniques were integrated to achieve robustness at different corn plant growth stages. Additionally, we briefly review the major sensing technologies for field-based HTPP and present a vision sensor PhenoStereo to show the promising potential of integrating conventional stereo imaging with the state-of-the-art visual perception techniques for plant organ phenotyping applications. As an example, we show that a highly accurate estimation of sorghum stem diameter can be achieved with PhenoStereo. With this chapter, our goal is to provide valuable insights and guidance on the development of infield ground robotic HTPP systems to researchers and practitioners.
Security analysis of confidential-compute instruction set architecture for virtualized workloads

Data in-use protection is critical to the data use lifecycle. Trusted execution environments supported by hardware are a key element of a system that provides data protection. The computing model focused on data protection via hardware-attested trusted execution engines is broadly called confidential computing. In this paper, we describe a security analysis of an Intel ISA extension called Intel® Trust Domain Extensions (Intel® TDX) to host confidential compute virtual machine workloads (called Trust Domain Virtual Machines or TD VMs) in the cloud. This paper describes the threat model and security architecture for Intel TDX. We describe the architecture principles, design constraints, and outline open problems that should be solved to increase the utility and scale of confidential computing models.
Role and Mechanisms of Actions of Thyroid Hormone on the Skeletal Development

The importance of the thyroid hormone axis in the regulation of skeletal growth and maintenance has been well established from clinical studies involving patients with mutations in proteins that regulate synthesis and/or actions of thyroid hormone. Data from genetic mouse models involving disruption and overexpression of components of the thyroid hormone axis also provide direct support for a key role for thyroid hormone in the regulation of bone metabolism. Thyroid hormone regulates proliferation and/or differentiated actions of multiple cell types in bone including chondrocytes, osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Thyroid hormone effects on the target cells are mediated via ligand-inducible nuclear receptors/transcription factors, thyroid hormone receptor (TR) α and β, of which TRα seems to be critically important in regulating bone cell functions. In terms of mechanisms for thyroid hormone action, studies suggest that thyroid hormone regulates a number of key growth factor signaling pathways including insulin-like growth factor-I, parathyroid hormone related protein, fibroblast growth factor, Indian hedgehog and Wnt to influence skeletal growth. In this review we describe findings from various genetic mouse models and clinical mutations of thyroid hormone signaling related mutations in humans that pertain to the role and mechanism of action of thyroid hormone in the regulation of skeletal growth and maintenance.
La poesía cibernética latinoamericana (todavía) in print: un recorrido desde los años 50 y 60 hasta finales de la primera década del 2000

Dentro de los poemarios que abordan el ‘salto electronico / digital’ propio de la literatura de nuestros tiempos se encuentran los de Cristian Aedo: Recolector de Pixeles (2008/9); Claudio Gaete Briones: El cementerio de los Disidentes (2005), seccion “Cibernauta”, y de Silvia Veloso: Sistema en caos y maquina: la educacion sentimental de la inteligencia artificial (2003). Se trata en estos casos de un abordaje tematico (y metaliterario) y no el propiamente tecno/logico (material) de la (nueva) tecnologia computacional, por la cual se define en la actualidad el campo creativo y critico / teorico de la e-poesia o de la poesia digital (de acuerdo a Hayles, Glazier, Block et al .). Es decir, su aproximacion a este campo es todavia referencial (metapoetica) y perteneciente al mundo de la print culture , muy en la perspectiva transicional que desarrolla Miller en su ensayo "Poetics of Cyberspace: Two Ways to Get a Life" (2007). Haciendo un enlace pasatista y comparativo con los poemas ciberinformaticos de Carlos German Belli, que datan de finales / principios de las decadas del los 50/60, propongo ejemplificar un cierto linaje poetico latinoamericano que se hizo y todavia se hace cargo de anticipar, anunciar y, hoy, reiterar, ese ‘salto e…/ d…’ inevitable y transformador de la literatura. Tambien incluyo a los miembros y obras de este linaje en una subcategoria de lo que Funkhouser –aunque el no lo considera en su estudio- llama la “prehistoria” (todavia presente, digo yo, en muchos ambitos) de la poesia digital. Por ultimo, este planteamiento arqueologico quiere conectarse con una cierta corriente posthumanista (en mucho intiutiva) en las poesia latinoamericana, la que cobraria visibilidad con el poemario de Veloso, por ejemplo, que podemos leer en paralelo a la pelicula A.I. (2001) de Steven Spielberg, y a ambos trabajos en la linea decimononica (e ilustrada) de eduacar al salvaje, en este caso al ‘ente’ mecanico; todo lo cual muestra una de las contradicciones teoricas del posthuamanismo –o perplejidades, si es que se ve en la contradiccion un movimiento propio de cualquiera teoria o condicion autorreflexiva de la condicion (linguistica) humana.
Determining benefits and costs of improved central air conditioner efficiencies

Economic impacts on individual consumers from possible revisions to U.S. residential-type central air conditioner energy-efficiency standards are examined using a life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis. LCC is the consumer's cost of purchasing and installing a central air conditioner and operating it over its lifetime. This approach makes it possible to evaluate the economic impacts on individual consumers from the revised standards. The methodology allows an examination of groups of the population which benefit or lose from suggested efficiency standards. The results show that the economic benefits to consumers due to modest increases in efficiency are significant. For an efficiency increase of 20percent over the existing minimum standard (i.e., 12 SEER), 35percent of households with central air conditioners experience significant LCC savings, with an average savings of $453, while 25percent show significant LCC losses, with an average loss of $158 compared to a pre-standard LCC average of $5,170. The remainder of the population (40percent) are largely unaffected.
We asked them what they thought, now what do we do? The use of LibQUAL+ data to redesign public services at the University of Pittsburgh

Abstract With the development of the LibQUAL+™ survey instrument, the University of Pittsburgh Library System libraries, particularly our public services division, were offered a tool by which we could begin to determine user satisfaction with library collections and services. Moreover, we now have a means to measure, on an annual basis, how successful new initiatives have been in addressing earlier perceived problems. This article focuses on how we used our institutional data to inform a process for redesigning our public service units, and to implement new, more user-designed services.
Identification of Aerobically and Anaerobically Induced Genes in Enterococcus faecalis by Random Arbitrarily Primed PCR

Enterococci have emerged among the leading causes of nosocomial infection. With the goal of analyzing enterococcal genes differentially expressed in environments related to commensal or environmental colonization and infection sites, we adapted and optimized a method more commonly used in the study of eukaryotic gene expression, random arbitrarily primed PCR (RAP-PCR). The RAP-PCR method was systematically optimized, allowing the technique to be used in a highly reproducible manner with gram-positive bacterial RNA. In the present study, aerobiosis was chosen as a variable for the induction of changes in gene expression by Enterococcus faecalis. Aerobically and anaerobically induced genes were detected and identified to the sequence level, and differential gene expression was confirmed by quantitative, specifically primed RT-PCR. Differentially expressed genes included several sharing identity with those of other organisms related to oxygen metabolism, as well as hypothetical genes lacking identity to known genes.
Pictures and Children's Story Recall: Some Questions of Durability

It has been found that story-relevant pictures help children recall stories. But do those gains endure over time? Those of the second graders in this study did, over a 3-day period. Although they had more to forget, children aided by pictures did not forget more than those in a control group.
Valine-toxic intermittent maple syrup urine disease: a previously unrecognized variant.

An 18-month-old boy with repeated episodes of vomiting, lethargy, irritability, acidosis, and hypoglycemia from the age of 2 months was proved to have a variant form of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). Amino acid load tests for leucine, isoleucine, valine, and phenylalanine were performed and compared to similar tests in a child with classic MSUD; maximum serum concentrations during tolerance studies in our patient were 24, 16, 26, and 18 mg/dl, respectively. All amino acid challenges were tolerated well except for valine. Within one hour after valine administration the child developed symptoms of lethargy, vomiting, ataxia, irritability, and hypoglycemia. Cortisol, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon response to hypoglycemia were normal. Filbroblasts studies on cultured cells from our patient demonstrated abnormally low rates of 14CO2 production from both 14C-labeled leucine and 14C-labeled valine. Decarboxylation with valine as substrate was significantly less than the decarboxylation with leucine. A proteinrestricted diet was started but he continued to have occasional symptomatic episodes of hyperaminoacidemia and at the age of 4 years died during one of these episodes. Results of neuropathologic studies differed from those reported in the literature for classic MSUD disease.
How Voyager 2 has been reprogrammed

The Pioneer 11 and the Voyager 1 encounters with Saturn have revealed a remarkable richness and diversity of physical phenomena. As a result of these discoveries and of continued earth-based studies, major changes have been made in the observations planned for Voyager 2. A description is presented of some of the opportunities for new observations to be made by Voyager 2, taking into account four major areas of investigation, including the atmosphere, rings, satellites, and magnetosphere. The study of the dynamics of Saturn's atmosphere is of interest because Saturn, like Jupiter, is a giant rapidly-rotating body composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, encircled by bands of clouds of frozen ammonia. More information is to be obtained concerning the B-ring and the F-ring, and images with better resolution of Hyperion and Iapetus are to be returned.
Design of high-speed circuits for optical communication systems

This paper presents the design of circuits and architectures for optical communication transceivers. First, a system overview illustrating the challenges in high-speed implementations is given. Next, the design of transimpedance amplifiers and limiters is discussed and the problem of clock and data recovery is addressed. Finally, jitter issues and methods of estimating the jitter are introduced.
Transcriptional regulation of the human TNFSF11 gene in T cells via a cell type-selective set of distal enhancers

In addition to osteoblast lineage cells, the TNF-like factor receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) is expressed in both B and T cells and may play a role in bone resorption. Rankl gene (Tnfsf11) expression in mouse T cells is mediated through multiple distal elements marked by increased transcription factor occupancy, histone tail acetylation, and RNA polymerase II recruitment. Little is known, however, of the regulation of human TNFSF11 in T cells. Accordingly, we examined the consequence of T cell activation on the expression of this factor both in Jurkat cells and in primary human T cells. We then explored the mechanism of this regulation by scanning over 400 kb of DNA surrounding the TNFSF11 locus for regulatory enhancers using ChIP-chip analysis. Histone H3/H4 acetylation enrichment identified putative regulatory regions located between -170 and -220 kb upstream of the human TNFSF11 TSS that we designated the human T cell control region (hTCCR). This region showed high sequence conservation with the mouse TCCR. Inhibition of MEK1/2 by U0126 resulted in decreased RANKL expression suggesting that stimulation through MEK1/2 was a prerequisite. ChIP-chip analysis also revealed that c-FOS was recruited to the hTCCR as well. Importantly, both the human TNFSF11 D5a/b (RLD5a/b) enhancer and segments of the hTCCR mediated robust inducible reporter activity following TCR activation. Finally, SNPs implicated in diseases characterized by dysregulated BMD co-localized to the hTCCR region. We conclude that the hTCCR region contains a cell-selective set of enhancers that plays an integral role in the transcriptional regulation of the TNFSF11 gene in human T cells.
Phase I trial of retroviral-mediated transfer of the human MDR1 gene as marrow chemoprotection in patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation.

PURPOSENormal bone marrow cells have little or no expression of the MDR p-glycoprotein product and, therefore, are particularly susceptible to killing by MDR-sensitive drugs, such as vinca alkaloids, anthracyclines, podophyllins, and paclitaxel and its congeners. Here we report the results of a phase I clinical trial that tested the safety and efficacy of transfer of the human multiple drug resistance (MDR1, MDR) gene into hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors in bone marrow as a means of providing resistance of these cells to the toxic effects of cancer chemotherapy.PATIENTS AND METHODSUp to one third of the harvested cells of patients who were undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation as part of a high-dose chemotherapy treatment for advanced cancer were transduced with an MDR cDNA-containing retrovirus; these transduced cells were reinfused together with unmanipulated cells after chemotherapy.RESULTSHigh-level MDR transduction of erythroid burst-forming unit (BFU-E) and colony-forming unit-g...
Integrating design for producibility into a CAE design environment

The goal of the author is to unravel some of the mystery surrounding the relationship between producibility tools and the design process. Successful integration of producibility tools begins with an understanding of unique corporate cultures. Competitive environments and corporate cultures can be documented in standard procedures. Based on standard procedures, disciplined design methodologies can be developed that meet organizational goals and permit the successful integration of automated CAE tools. The next step then, is the development of an integrated CAE tools strategy that itself meets the requirements of the design methodology and considers automated producibility tools. Producibility tools can then become a formal part of the design process. Producibility tools themselves can be developed with integration into the design process as a goal. A model for integrated producibility tool development is presented. It defines the need for significant planning and design prior to the actual construction and fanout of any producibility tool. >
Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae: Clinical Presentation and Management Strategies

Dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVF) are a rare type of acquired intracranial vascular malformation consisting of a pathological shunt located within the dura matter of the brain.1–3 In contradistinction to brain arteriovenous malformations, DAVFs do not harbor a focal nidus.1 These lesions may arise anywhere along the dura, but most commonly are found in the region of the transverse, sigmoid, and cavernous sinuses.2,4–6 DAVF are typically supplied by meningeal arteries and exhibit venous drainage either directly into the dural venous sinuses or via cortical and meningeal veins.2,3 Larger, more complex lesions may recruit pial arterial supply.3 Although a single lesion is present in a majority of patients, multiple shunts can occur in ≤8%.7 DAVF can present with a myriad of clinical signs and symptoms. In general, it is the location and most importantly the venous drainage pattern of DAVF that determines their clinical presentation and potential for serious sequelae.2,8–11 Management strategies for DAVF are consequently guided by these features and include conservative management, as well as endovascular and surgical treatments. This article will begin by reviewing the epidemiology, natural history, and classification of these lesions. Subsequently, clinical presentations, imaging characteristics, and treatment of DAVF will be discussed. DAVF account for only 10% to 15% of intracranial vascular malformations but are slightly over-represented in the posterior fossa (35% of such lesions).4,10 DAVF are typically encountered in middle-aged adults with a median age of onset in the sixth decade.11 Although there is a female predominance, DAVF in men are more likely to display aggressive neurological symptoms and present with hemorrhage.11–13 Rarely, DAVF may be encountered in the pediatric population, where these lesions tend to be more extensive. …
Search and design of nonmagnetic centrosymmetric layered crystals with large local spin polarization

Until recently, spin polarization in nonmagnetic materials was the exclusive territory of noncentrosymmetric structures. It was recently shown that a form of ``hidden spin polarization'' (named the ``Rashba-2'' or ``R-2'' effect) could exist in globally centrosymmetric crystals provided the individual layers belong to polar point group symmetries. This realization could considerably broaden the range of materials that might be considered for spin-polarization spintronic applications to include the hitherto ``forbidden spintronic compound'' that belongs to centrosymmetric symmetries. Here we take the necessary steps to transition from such general, material-agnostic condensed matter theory arguments to material-specific ``design principles'' that could aid future laboratory search of R-2 materials. Specifically, we (i) classify different prototype layered structures that have been broadly studied in the literature in terms of their expected R-2 behavior, including the $\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{i}}_{2}\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{e}}_{3}$-structure type (a prototype topological insulator), $\mathrm{Mo}{\mathrm{S}}_{2}$-structure type (a prototype valleytronic compound), and $\mathrm{LaBiO}{\mathrm{S}}_{2}$-structure type (a host of superconductivity upon doping); (ii) formulate the properties that ideal R-2 compounds should have in terms of combination of their global unit cell symmetries with specific point group symmetries of their constituent ``sectors''; and (iii) use first-principles band theory to search for compounds from the prototype family of $\mathrm{LaOBi}{\mathrm{S}}_{2}$-type structures that satisfy these R-2 design metrics. We initially consider both stable and hypothetical ${M}^{\ensuremath{'}}\mathrm{O}M{X}_{2}$ (M': Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Al, Ga, In, Tl; M: P, As, Sb, Bi; X: S, Se, Te) compounds to establish an understanding of trends of R-2 with composition, and then indicate the predictions that are expected to be stable and synthesizable. We predict large spin splittings (up to $\ensuremath{\sim}200\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$ for holes in $\mathrm{LaOBiT}{\mathrm{e}}_{2}$) as well as surface Rashba states. Experimental testing of such predictions is called for.
Expression profile and in vitro blockade of programmed death‐1 in human papillomavirus–negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background Treatment with a blocking programmed death-1 (αPD-1) antibody recently showed clinical efficacy for various tumor types. In this study, we characterized the expression profile of PD-1/programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) and the potential of PD-1 blockade in human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods Lymphocytes from peripheral blood, draining lymph nodes, and the tumor were phenotyped for PD-1 expression, and their proliferative activity was assessed in the presence of blocking αPD-1 treatment. Primary tumor expression of PD-L1 was also analyzed using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results Lymphocyte PD-1 expression was abundant with highest expression in the tumor, and in vitro mixed lymphocyte reaction demonstrated that PD-1 blockade could induce T cell proliferation. Furthermore, tumor cells were found to have 3 distinct patterns of PD-L1 expression with over 78% of the specimens demonstrating strong PD-L1 positivity. Conclusion Our data strongly supports the use of αPD-1 blockade in patients with HPV-negative HNSCC that are refractory to standard treatments. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 1088–1095, 2015
Correlated petrologic and geochemical characteristics of CO3 chondrites

Many properties of CO3 chondrites have been shown previously to have resulted from thermal metamorphism; petrologic subtypes 3.0-3.7 have been assigned to members of the group. Additional properties that correlate with the metamorphic sequence but seem to have resulted from hydrothermal alteration include the modal abundance of amoeboid olivine inclusions (AOI), chondrule size, the types of refractory inclusions and whole rock O isotopic composition. The percentage of rimmed AOI increases with petrologic subtype. The rims most likely formed during hydrothermal alteration. The previously reported correlation between AOI abundance and chondrite subtype is probably an artifact due to the difficulty in recognizing small unrimmed AOI in the least metamorphosed CO3 chondrites. Because large (>=200 micron size) porphyritic chondrules have nearly the same mean size in all CO3 chondrites, it seems likely that the correlation between chondrule size and subtype is due to alteration of the smallest chondrules to the point of unrecognizability as complete objects in the more metamorphosed CO3 chondrites. The previously reported decrease in the proportion of melilite-rich refractory inclusions with increasing petrologic subtype may have resulted from more extensive hydrothermal alteration in CO3 .4-3.7 chondrites that converted primary melilite into Ca-pyroxene, andradite and nepheline. Alteration probably caused the preferential occurrence of O-16-poor oxygen isotopes in the more metamorphosed whole rock samples.
Computing while charging: building a distributed computing infrastructure using smartphones

Every night, a large number of idle smartphones are plugged into a power source for recharging the battery. Given the increasing computing capabilities of smartphones, these idle phones constitute a sizeable computing infrastructure. Therefore, for an enterprise which supplies its employees with smartphones, we argue that a computing infrastructure that leverages idle smartphones being charged overnight is an energy-efficient and cost-effective alternative to running tasks on traditional server infrastructure. While parallel execution and scheduling models exist for servers (e.g., MapReduce), smartphones present a unique set of technical challenges due to the heterogeneity in CPU clock speed, variability in network bandwidth, and lower availability compared to servers.In this paper, we address many of these challenges to develop CWC---a distributed computing infrastructure using smartphones. Specifically, our contributions are: (i) we profile the charging behaviors of real phone owners to show the viability of our approach, (ii) we enable programmers to execute parallelizable tasks on smartphones with little effort, (iii) we develop a simple task migration model to resume interrupted task executions, and (iv) we implement and evaluate a prototype of CWC (with 18 Android smartphones) that employs an underlying novel scheduling algorithm to minimize the makespan of a set of tasks. Our extensive evaluations demonstrate that the performance of our approach makes our vision viable. Further, we explicitly evaluate the performance of CWC's scheduling component to demonstrate its efficacy compared to other possible approaches.
So You're Planning a Science Fair: Comments from a Judge

(1976). So You're Planning a Science Fair: Comments from a Judge. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 49, No. 6, pp. 256-258.
Channel opening by anesthetics and GABA induces similar changes in the GABAA receptor M2 segment.

For many general anesthetics, their molecular basis of action involves interactions with GABAA receptors. Anesthetics produce concentration-dependent effects on GABAA receptors. Low concentrations potentiate submaximal GABA- induced currents. Higher concentrations directly activate the receptors. Functional effects of anesthetics have been char- acterized, but little is known about the conformational changes they induce. We probed anesthetic-induced conformational changes in the M2 membrane-spanning, channel-lining segment using disulfide trapping between engineered cysteines. Previously, we showed that oxidation by copper phenanthroline in the presence of GABA of the M2 69 cysteine mutants, a1T261Cb1T256C and a1b1T256C resulted in formation of an intersubunit disulfide bond between the adjacent b-subunits that significantly increased the channels' spontaneous open probability. Oxidation in GABA's absence had no effect. We examined the effect on a1T261Cb1T256C and on a1b1T256C of oxidation by copper phenanthroline in the presence of potentiating and directly activating concentrations of the general anesthetics propofol, pentobarbital, and isoflurane. Oxidation in the presence of potentiating concentration of anesthetics had little effect. Oxidation in the presence of directly activating anesthetic concentrations significantly increased the channels' spontaneous open probability. We infer that activation by anesthetics and GABA induces a similar conformational change at the M2 segment 69 position that is related to channel opening.
Curvature Effects in Non-Premixed Tubular Flames

Non-premixed tubular flames are formed by the opposed tubular burner. A detailed structural investigation using the spontaneous Raman scattering technique is conducted on flames with constant curvature using 15% H2 diluted by N2 against air at various stretch rates. The measured temperature and major species concentrations agree well with the numerical prediction. Compared with the numerical results of the opposed-jet flat flame, it is shown that the curvature weakens the effects of preferential diffusion for the flames studied where the curvature is concave towards the fuel stream. Near-extinction nonpremixed tubular flames using different fuels are also studied. Hydrogen flames (Le 1) prefer concave curvature, which is opposite to the hydrogen flames, and cellular structures appear throughout the burner’s operational range. These phenomena show that for flames with Le 1. Curvature has minimal effects on tubular non-premixed flames with Lewis number close to unity. The comparison between experimental and calculated extinction conditions supports the above conclusions.
Vacuum system design for NSLS-II storage ring

National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) is a proposed 3-GeV, 800-meter circumference, high-flux and high-brightness synchrotron radiation facility that is being designed at United States Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory. It will replace the present NSLS, a two-decade old 2nd-generation light source. To deliver photon beams with < 1 nm spatial resolution and 0.1 meV energy resolution for the users, NSLS II will have extremely high brightness, flux and stability; and ultra low emittance of ≤ 1 nm-rad. This stringent requirement and its impact on vacuum systems as compared with other 3rd generation light sources will be described. The design of the storage ring and the vacuum systems will be presented, with emphasis on vacuum chamber design, material selection, pump arrangement verses pressure variation, photon beam tracking and absorber positioning.
Airway responsiveness of chronic smokers to increased lung volume and to a bronchodilator.

Airways responsiveness of chronic smokers to an aerosolized bronchodilator and to breathing at increased lung volume (one liter above Functional Residual Capacity) was compared using a modified flow body plethysmograph to measure large airway resistance (Raw) and distribution of the evenness of the ventilation (PD) of smaller airways simultaneously during normal breathing. The magnitude of the decrease of Raw after bronchodilator administration (M) was significantly correlated with the decrease of Raw after breathing at increased lung volume (r=0.61,P<0.01). Similarly, the magnitude of the decrease of PD after M was significantly correlated with the decrease noted after breathing at increased lung volume (r=0.65,P<0.01). The responsiveness of the individual subject was related to smoking and respiratory disease (RD) history. The heaviest smokers (pack-year history=37.8 years) had more responsive large airways and apparently less responsive small airways than did lighter smokers (pack-year history=14.3 years). Subjects with a past history of RD were more responsive to bronchodilator than subjects without a history of RD even though the smoking history of the two groups was not significantly different.
Drugs and psychotherapy: Comparisons, contrasts, and conclusions

Abstract Recent progress made in the psychological and pharmacological treatment of depression, panic, bulimia nervosa, and attention deficit hyperactivity was examined. The implications of salient research findings for the pragmatic and effective application of psychological and pharmacological interventions in applied and treatment settings is discussed. Issues particularly relevant to disorder-specific evaluations of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapeutic effectiveness are considered, and specific recommendations for future investigations and applications are made.
Picosecond optical studies of electron and hole thermalization in the band tails of a-Si:H

Abstract Using picoseconnd photomodulation we have studied band tail thermalization of photo carriers by following their trapping into defect states in doped and undoped a-Si:H. We found that electron trapping in the subnanosecond time range in doped a-Si:H is about 50 times faster than hole trapping regardless of the trap center energy.
Case report of a child with sensory integration dysfunction

This case report describes a 6-year-old boy with delays in fine motor skills, low frustration level, poor eating behaviour, low self-esteem, unusual fears and increased sensitivity to tactile, visual and auditory stimuli. Formal evaluation on the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) revealed decreased somatosensory processing and discrimination, immature postural reactions and poor motor planning. Intervention addressed concerns primarily through the sensory integration model of practice. A 9-month intervention period where one-to-one therapy was provided each week facilitated improvement in all areas of concern. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Fourier-Stieltjes transforms of measures with a certain continuity property

Abstract Let G be a compact abelian group whose dual group Γ has a finite torsion subgroup. Let μ ϵ M(G) such that ¦μ ¦assigns no mass to any coset of any closed subgroup of G whose index is infinite. Then there is d > 0, dependent only on ∥ μ ∥, such that if for each γ ϵ Γ, ¦ \ gm(γ)¦ ⩾ 1 or ¦ \ gm(γ)¦ ⩽ d , then the set {γ: ¦ \ gm(γ)¦ ⩾ 1} is finite. An upper bound on the cardinality of this set is obtained in terms of ∥ μ ∥and the cardinality of the torsion subgroup of Γ.
Process is more important than product; Or throw out the plan and keep the planner

The Myth of Rationality. To prepare a technology assessment is to engage in a struggle between openness and closedness. This is the inherent struggle of planning and forecasting, since one's objective is to include the significant and exclude the complicating. In technology assessment, this struggle is particularly awkward, since in principle the assessment should be open to the consideration of side‐effects and ricochet effects and to alternative future environments; yet in practice there are limitations on time, personnel and funding, and limitations on the willingness of decision‐makers to assimilate a complicated, differentiated, equivocating analysis. So closedness is imposed where there might be openness.
Concurrent Gastrinoma and Somatostatinoma in a 10-year-old Portuguese Water Dog

Severe hypergastrinaemia in the dog is considered a strong indicator for a gastrin-producing pancreatic islet cell tumour. In human medicine, gastrinomas are described as enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours that cause the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. However, in contrast to the supposed origin of canine gastrinomas in pancreatic islets, gastrinomas in human beings arise predominantly in the duodenum and gastric antrum, and are often a component of the syndrome of multiple endocrine neoplasia type I. This report is of a canine case of multiple endocrine neoplasms, consisting of a pancreatic islet cell somatostatinoma, and a gastrinoma in the mesenteric lymph nodes and liver. From the literature and the authors' findings, it is concluded that the clinical diagnosis of hypergastrinaemia is not pathognomonic for a gastrin-producing islet cell tumour. Furthermore, the presence of an islet cell tumour in the face of hypergastrinaemia does not warrant a diagnosis of an islet cell gastrinoma. Immunohistochemistry is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of a pancreatic islet cell gastrinoma.
Origin of Cerebrospinal Fluid Gamma Globulin in Subacute Sclerosing Leukoencephalitis

ONE of the characteristic features of subacute sclerosing leukoencephalitis (SSLE) is a prominent elevation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) γ-globulin concentration. 1 In this study we have attempted to define the origin of the excess γ-globulin in the CSF. The exchange of gamma G globulin (IgG) labeled with radioactive iodine ( 125 I) between the serum and CSF has been examined in two patients with SSLE and in three control subjects with normal CSF γ lin concentrations. In addition, the rate of flux of γ-globulin into the CSF was measured during ventriculolumbar perfusion of chemotherapeutic agents. Methotrexate was administered by the intraventricular route to two patients with pontine gliomas, and 5-iododeoxyuridine (IUDR) was administered to two patients with SSLE in an attempt to modify the course of these generally fatal diseases. Results were obtained which suggest that immunoglobulin is synthesized within the nervous system in SSLE. Report of Cases CASE 1.—This
Biophysical properties and ionic signature of neuronal progenitors of the postnatal subventricular zone in situ.

Previous studies have reported the presence of neuronal progenitors in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and rostral migratory stream (RMS) of the postnatal mammalian brain. Although many studies have ...
Topical drug delivery by a polymeric nanosphere gel: Formulation optimization and in vitro and in vivo skin distribution studies

Tyrosine-derived nanospheres have demonstrated potential as effective carriers for the topical delivery of lipophilic molecules. In this investigation, a gel formulation containing nanospheres was developed for effective skin application and enhanced permeation. Carbopol and HPMC hydrophilic gels were evaluated for dispersion of these nanospheres. Sparingly water soluble diclofenac sodium (DS) and lipophilic Nile Red were used as model compounds. DS was used to determine the optimum polymer type, viscosity and release properties of the gel while fluorescent Nile Red was used in in vitro and in vivo skin distribution studies. In addition, the effect of a penetration enhancer, Azone, on the skin delivery was investigated. Dispersion of Nile Red-loaded nanospheres in 1% w/v HPMC gel produced a uniform and stable dispersion with suitable rheological properties for topical application, without any short-term cellular toxicity or tissue irritation. In vitro permeation studies using human cadaver skin revealed that the deposition of Nile Red via the nanosphere gel in the upper and lower dermis was 1.4 and 1.8 fold higher, respectively, than the amount of Nile Red deposited via an aqueous nanosphere formulation. In vivo, the HPMC gel containing Nile Red-loaded nanospheres significantly enhanced (1.4 fold) the permeation of Nile Red to the porcine stratum corneum/epidermis compared to the aqueous Nile Red-loaded nanospheres. An additional increase (1.4 fold) of Nile Red deposition in porcine stratum corneum/epidermis was achieved by incorporation of Azone (0.2M) into the nanosphere gel formulation. Therefore, tyrosine-derived nanospheres dispersed in gels offer promise for the topical delivery of lipophilic drugs and personal care agents to skin for treatment of cancers, psoriasis, eczema, and microbial infections.
Requirements And Capabilities Of Video Systems To Provide Quantitative Information

One of the most rapidly expanding new imaging techniques in diagnostic radiology is computerized fluoroscopy. In this technique the video images obtained by using an X-ray image intensifier-TV system are processed by dedicated video image processors to enhance certain clinical aspects. The video images acquired by such systems may also be used to extract quantitative information from such images. The physical and technical requirements for obtaining accurate quantitative information will be discussed. The capabilities of the current systems in meeting these requirements will also be presented.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Noise and ac-dc interference phenomena in the charge-density-wave conductor K 0.3 MoO 3

We demonstrate that extremely thin (l1 \ensuremath{\mu}m thick) samples of the charge-density-wave (CDW) conductor ${\mathrm{K}}_{0.3}$${\mathrm{MoO}}_{3}$ display high-quality narrow-band noise spectra when driven by a dc electric field. In the presence of combined dc and large-amplitude ac fields, the CDW becomes mode locked to the external signal, giving rise to Shapiro steps in the dc I-V characteristics. In the presence of combined dc and small-amplitude ac fields, distinct resonance features in the complex ac conductivity \ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\omega}) are observed whenever the internal and external frequencies coincide. Analysis of the Shapiro-step interference suggests that the ac-dc interference arises from a direct coupling between the driving fields and the low-frequency dielectric relaxation mode in ${\mathrm{K}}_{0.3}$${\mathrm{MoO}}_{3}$. Resonances in the ac conductivity are shown to be analogous to those present in a phase-shifted resonant harmonic oscillator. Both noise and interference experiments yield a ratio between the narrow-band noise frequency and the CDW current-density of ${f}_{\mathrm{NBN}/{J}_{\mathrm{CDW}}}$=12\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3 kHz ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/A, suggesting that the intrinsic pinning potential in ${\mathrm{K}}_{0.3}$${\mathrm{MoO}}_{3}$ has a periodicity equal to the CDW wavelength.
Glucose transporter gene expression in rat brain: Pretranslational changes associated with chronic insulin-induced hypoglycemia, fasting, and diabetes.

Steady-state levels of the major glucose transporter gene (GLUT-1) of the brain were evaluated under three conditions that induced chronic changes in plasma glucose and insulin in adult rats: (i) repeated injection of insulin for 5 days, resulting in plasma glucose levels of 60–70 mg/dl for at least 3 days; (ii) fasting for 3 days; and (iii) moderate streptozotocin-induced diabetes of 1 week duration. Brain GLUT-1 mRNA was measured by dot blot hybridization with a HepG2/erythrocyte (GLUT1) [32P]cRNA probe, and GLUT-1 protein by immunoblot analysis with a polyclonal antibody (11493). Insulin injection resulted in hypoglycemia, increased GLUT-1 mRNA (143 ± 15%, P < 0.05), and increased GLUT-1 protein (141 ± 6%, P < 0.05). The increase in GLUT-1 mRNA was specific for brain, as no change was observed in liver or kidney. Fasting resulted in mild hypoglycemia, lower plasma insulin, increased GLUT-1 mRNA (131 ± 17%, P < 0.05 vs control), and no change in GLUT-1 protein (125 ± 9%, N.S.). Mild streptozotocin diabetes resulted in hyperglycemia, undetectable plasma insulin, decreased GLUT-1 mRNA (65 ± 6%, P < 0.05 vs control), and no change in GLUT-1 protein (84 ± 9%, N.S.). A negative correlation (r = −0.61, P < .0001) between GLUT-1 mRNA levels in brain and plasma glucose concentrations was observed among the three experimental groups and control animals, suggesting that the plasma glucose concentration may be at least one determinant of GLUT-1 levels in rat brain. The importance of these results is the finding that GLUT-1 gene expression in rat brain is regulated in vivo by the nutritional and endocrine status of the animal.
The state of geophysics education

The steering Committee of this meeting thought that the “state of geophysics education” would be of interest to the delegates. Why not? The subject of education in our field is of interest, and we could well ask for an update every year. But the Committee had more purpose than that. There is a certain sense of alarm.
Electronic transport measurements in graphene nanoribbons

We review recent experiments at Columbia on electronic transport in graphene nanostructures. We define the graphene nanostructures by e-beam lithography followed by oxigen plasma etch. In this way we can pattern nanoribbons, rings, as well as other nanostructures. We use this technique to pattern graphene nanoribbons and study the formation of a band gap due to transverse electron confinement. (c) 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
Compactifications of universal abelian threefolds with CM

We determine completions of semi-abelian degenerations of abelian threefolds with complex multiplication. This type of completion plays a crucial role in the determination of motivic decompositions of such degenerating families. To this end we generalize the notion of “relatively complete model” as introduced by Mumford, Faltings and Chai and explicitly compute it in the case at hand.
Uncatalyzed and wall‐catalyzed forward water–gas shift reaction kinetics

The kinetics of the high-temperature (1070–1134 K), low- and high-pressure gas-phase forward water–gas shift reaction (fWGSR) were evaluated in an empty quartz reactor and a quartz reactor packed with quartz particles. The power-law expression for the reaction rate was consistent with the Bradford mechanism and was invariant with respect to pressure. The experimental rate constant was lower than that published by Graven and Long, and slightly higher than estimates obtained using the reaction rate expression derived from the Bradford mechanism in conjunction with values of reaction rate constants obtained from the GRI database. Similar experiments conducted using a reactor composed of Inconel® 600, a representative reactor shell material, exhibited substantially enhanced rates of reaction. A simple power-law rate expression was incorporated into a surface-catalyzed plug flow reactor (PFR) model to correlate the results between 600 and 900 K. Palladium and palladium–copper alloy surfaces, representative of hydrogen membranes, were also shown to enhance the fWGSR rate, but not as much as the Inconel® 600 surfaces. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Radio frequency electric fields inactivation of Escherichia coli in apple cider

Abstract A nonthermal process using radio frequency electric fields (RFEF) was developed to pasteurize apple cider. An 80 kW RFEF pilot plant system was used to process cider at flow rates of 1.5 and 1.9 l/min. Escherichia coli K12 in apple cider was exposed to electric field strengths of 20–30 kV/cm at frequencies of 21, 30, and 41 kHz. Treatment times varied from 140 to 420 μs. Electrical energy costs were calculated using the measured voltages and currents. Energy balances were performed using the inlet and outlet temperatures. RFEF processing at an outlet temperature of 60 °C reduced the population of E. coli by 4.8 log, whereas thermal processing at the same conditions had no effect. Varying the frequency between 21 and 41 kHz had no effect on the level of microbial inactivation; however, increasing the treatment time, field strength and outlet temperature enhanced inactivation. The inactivation data at 20 kV/cm and 60 °C follow first order kinetics with a calculated D values of 74 μs. The inactivation data are represented well by the electric field strength model; the calculated critical electric field strength, Ec, for 60 °C was 4.0 kV/cm. The electrical energy for RFEF pasteurization was 260 J/ml. The electrical cost was $0.0050/l of apple cider. Processing temperature had the greatest influence on energy efficiency. A RFEF nonthermal process has been developed to pasteurize apple cider. The effect of varying processing conditions on energy efficiency was investigated and at the optimum condition, the electrical cost appears to be minor. In addition, the RFEF process can be correlated using first order kinetic models.
SOI MESFETs for extreme environment buck regulators

The next step to confirm the MESFET's ability to handle extreme environments will be testing the buck regulator in the presence of radiation. These measurements will be completed in the coming month and the results presented at the conference. Eventually the goal will be to integrate the MESFET with the feedback circuitry and to more carefully design the buck regulator board, choosing components that maximize the efficiency and reduce the parasitics. Already extensive work has been done to reduce the layout size of the MESFET in Fig. 2 by over 50%.
Phase transitions, symmetry breaking and asymptotic properties of the goldstone-mode frequency

Abstract Using the nonrelativistic analogue of the Goldstone theorem and the theory of collective motion of dynamical variables developed by Mori the Goldstone-mode frequency is given in terms of the order parameter and the long-wavelength form of static susceptibilities. The damping rate is predicted to tend to zero in the long-wavelength limit as the square of the mode frequency. It is shown that the temperature dependence of the Goldstone-mode frequency is, quite generally, proportional to that of the order parameter itself. The general results are applied to the isotropic Heisenberg ferro- and antiferromagnet and superfluid helium. These results confirm predictions derived from the dynamical scaling hypothesis.