cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
4,4,5,5-Tetra(3,5-dibromophenyl)-2,2-diphenyl-1,3-dioxa-2-silole and related compounds as precursors to flame retardant oligomers

Abstract Certain strained five-membered heterocycles undergo thermally-induced, carbon–carbon bond homolysis to generate diradicals capable of initiating vinyl polymerization. These compounds usually contain two oxygen atoms and a larger heteroatom (silicon, phosphorus, sulfur) in addition to carbon. If the heterocycle is suitably substituted with halogen (particularly bromine) containing moities it may function as a vehicle to permit incorporation of flame-retarding units into a polymer or oligomer. When an appropriate heterocycle is used as an initiator for radical polymerization each polymer chain formed contains at least one flame-retarding unit. One such heterocycle is 4,4,5,5-tetra(3,5-dibromophenyl)-2,2-diphenyl-1,3-dioxa-2-silole. In instances in which the heterocycle also acts as a monomer, i.e., it is reactive toward chain-propagating radicals, additional flame-retarding activity may be incorporated into the polymer.
Increases in cytosolic calcium, but not fluid flow, affect aggrecan mRNA levels in articular chondrocytes.

Fluctuations in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) is thought to be one mechanism by which cells transduce mechanical signals into biological responses. Primary cultures of bovine articular chondrocytes (BAC) respond to oscillating fluid flow with a transient rise in [Ca2+]i. However, specific down-stream effects of [Ca2+]i on gene expression and phenotype in BAC remain to be defined. The present work was designed to determine whether [Ca2+]i mobilization regulates aggrecan mRNA levels. [Ca2+]i was transiently elevated by exposing BAC to the [Ca2+]-specific ionophore, ionomycin. The results show that ionomycin increases [Ca2+]i in a dose-dependent fashion. Semi-quantitative real time (RT)-PCR was used to study the effects of increased [Ca2+]i on steady state levels of aggrecan mRNA. Four hours after a brief exposure to 1.5 microM ionomycin, BAC displayed a nearly four-fold decrease in aggrecan mRNA levels compared to control cells. This effect of ionomycin on aggrecan mRNA was no longer evident 6 or 10 h later. Despite previous observations that oscillating fluid flow elicits increased [Ca2+]i in BAC, it did not affect aggrecan mRNA levels. Taken together, these data suggest that ionomycin-induced [Ca2+]i fluctuations regulate aggrecan mRNA levels, but that flow induced [Ca2+]i fluctuations do not.
Role of illumination and thin film layers on the printability of defects

The roles of projection printer illumination and resist/substrate layers in the printability of defects are explored in a physical based approach. In this approach the mutual coherence is first calculated, and then the impact of a defect on a feature is calculated using the image perturbation approach. The concerns are that the use of modified illumination and high NA divergence and reflection of the fields in a thin-film might affect the tendency of a defect to print. Results of this extension for various illuminations, thick resists and antireflection coatings are compared with rigorous thin-film SPLAT simulations. The mutual coherence function (MCF) was found to be strongly dependent of the type of illumination and on the mask geometry; however, the MCF was found to be weakly dependent on the presence of substrate material. This indicates that certain types of illumination sources are more defect tolerant and that the substrate is insignificant in preventing defect printing.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Devil, the Media, and Free Speech: Response to John Durham Peters' Courting the Abyss

(2009). The Devil, the Media, and Free Speech: Response to John Durham Peters' Courting the Abyss. Free Speech Yearbook: Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 147-150.
Cyclic stress strain relations and strain-controlled fatigue of 4140 steel

Abstract The strain controlled low cycle fatigue properties and cyclic stress-strain response of a 4140 steel were investigated as functions of tempering temperature. While as-quenched 4140 steel specimens showed cyclic hardening, tempering at 200°C or higher resulted in cyclic softening which was a maximum for 400°C tempering. The hardening in the quenched steel was attributed to dynamic strain aging. Cyclic softening for the 400 and 550°C tempers resulted in part from rearrangement of the dislocation substructure and reduction of dislocation density as shown by transmission electron microscope. Mechanical removal of the yield point also contributed to cyclic softening and was the dominant mode for specimens tempered at 650°C. Removal of the yield point was attributed to an increase in the number of mobile dislocations. On tempering at 650°C, a failure of the Coffin-Manson relation was observed. Agreement was obtained when the plastic strain amplitude was plotted vs cycles to crack initiation rather than cycles to failure. For tempering at 350°C and higher, it is suggested that the endurance limit is essentially equal to the cyclic yield stress.
SET domain protein lysine methyltransferases: Structure, specificity and catalysis.

Site- and state-specific lysine methylation of histones is catalyzed by a family of proteins that contain the evolutionarily conserved SET domain and plays a fundamental role in epigenetic regulation of gene activation and silencing in all eukaryotes. The recently determined three-dimensional structures of the SET domains from chromosomal proteins reveal that the core SET domain structure contains a two-domain architecture, consisting of a conserved anti-parallel β-barrel and a structurally variable insert that surround a unusual knot-like structure that comprises the enzyme active site. These structures of the SET domains, either in the free state or when bound to cofactor S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and/or histone peptide, mimicking an enzyme/cofactor/substrate complex, further yield the structural insights into the molecular basis of the substrate specificity, methylation multiplicity and the catalytic mechanism of histone lysine methylation.
No Man Is an Island: Early Modern Globalization, Knowledge Networks, and George Psalmanazar’s Formosa

Abstract The 1600-1800 period was an era of global travel and encounters. Yet this “early modern globalization” was highly unstable, characterized by miscommunications and doubts regarding the credibility of both individual witnesses and the facts they adduced. The Formosan hoax of George Psalmanazar (1679?-1763) offers a unique perspective on these themes. Although Psalmanazar was a fraud, his inventions about the island of Formosa circulated widely in different languages, nations, and inscriptive contexts. The divergence between Psalmanazar’s personal credibility and the longevity of his invented facts sheds light on the nature of evidence and information networks in early modern globalization. This episode highlights the imperfect and contested nature of early modern communication networks.
Compression of 3-D echocardiographic images using a modified 3-D set-partitioning-in-hierarchical-trees algorithm based on a 3-D wavelet packet transform

An efficient compression strategy is indispensable for 3-D digital echocardiography, which can provide more accurate di- agnostic information than 2-D echocardiography without geometric assumption, but unfortunately requires a huge storage space. We describe a new set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT) algo- rithm that is based on the wavelet packet transform and use it to compress 3-D echocardiographic images. The new algorithm origi- nates from the well-known SPIHT algorithm that is based on a wavelet transform but outperforms it for the compression of 3-D echocardiographic images. Experimental results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the new SPIHT algorithm. Results show that the new algorithm achieves a very high compression ratio while retaining good quality 3-D echocardiographic images. © 2006 SPIE
Degradation and capacitance: voltage hysteresis in CdTe devices

CdS/CdTe photovoltaic solar cells were made on two different transparent conducting oxide (TCO) structures in order to identify differences in fabrication, performance, and reliability. In one set of cells, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) was used to deposit a bi-layer TCO on Corning 7059 borosilicate glass consisting of a F-doped, conductive tin-oxide (cSnO2) layer capped by an insulating (undoped), buffer (iSnO2) layer. In the other set, a more advanced bi-layer structure consisting of sputtered cadmium stannate (Cd2SnO4; CTO) as the conducting layer and zinc stannate (Zn2SnO4; ZTO) as the buffer layer was used. CTO/ZTO substrates yielded higher performance devices however performance uniformity was worse due to possible strain effects associated with TCO layer fabrication. Cells using the SnO2-based structure were only slightly lower in performance, but exhibited considerably greater performance uniformity. When subjected to accelerated lifetime testing (ALT) at 85 - 100 °C under 1-sun illumination and open-circuit bias, more degradation was observed in CdTe cells deposited on the CTO/ZTO substrates. Considerable C-V hysteresis, defined as the depletion width difference between reverse and forward direction scans, was observed in all Cu-doped CdTe cells. These same effects can also be observed in thin-film modules. Hysteresis was observed to increase with increasing stress and degradation. The mechanism for hysteresis is discussed in terms of both an ionic-drift model and one involving majority carrier emission in the space-charge region (SCR). The increased generation of hysteresis observed in CdTe cells deposited on CTO/ZTO substrates suggests potential decomposition of these latter oxides when subjected to stress testing.
Finite element formulation for dynamics of delaminated composite beams with piezoelectric actuators

As a part of an effort to develop a model-supported method for detection of delaminations in composite beams with the use of time responses to external excitations, a finite element formulation for dynamics of a composite beam with delamination and attached piezoelectric actuators is developed. In this formulation account is taken of transverse shear deformation and nonlinear through-thickness variation of the longitudinal displacement. Parameters that characterize the delamination are incorporated into the formulation that makes the finite element model convenient for use in conjunction with damage identification (not discussed in the present paper). Computational predictions of frequencies show good agreement with experimental results.
Asynchronous Procedures for Parallel Processing

Virtually all the algorithms now being used for network simulation, tracking and optimization are synchronous. They cannot be broken into parallel processes for concurrent execution without inserting a number of synchronization points. The first process to reach a synchronization point must wait for the others to catch up. The resulting delays and communication overheads often grow rapidly with the number of processors. When this happens, large numbers of processors can be used with advantage only if the synchronous algorithm is replaced with an asynchronous procedure. This is not always easy. Asynchronous procedures tend to be counter intuitive, difficult to construct and difficult to analyze. To reduce these disadvantages we will develop concepts useful in thinking about asynchronous procedures, discuss a model after which they may be patterned, introduce some new convergence results and presents some illustrations of how to construct asynchronous procedures. Finally, we will discuss an important application area-contingency constrained optimum flows.
Intensity-based registration and fusion of thermal and visual facial-images

Fusion of images from different modalities provides information that cannot be obtained by viewing the images separately and consecutively. Automatic fusion of thermal and visual images is of great interest in defense and medical applications. In this study, we implemented automatic intensity-based illumination, translation and scale invariant registration of deformable objects in thermal and visual images by maximization of a similarity measure such as generalized correlation ratio. This method was originally used to register ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance images (MRI) successfully. In our current work, we propose a major modification to the original algorithm by investigating appropriate information content in the input data. The registration of facial thermal and visual images in this algorithm is achieved by maximization of the similarity measure between the input images in the appropriate image channel. The algorithm is tested using real facial images with illumination, scale, and translation variations and the results show acceptable accuracy.
Driving Guidelines and Restrictions in Patients with a History of Cardiac Arrhythmias, Syncope, or Implantable Devices

The need to drive is universal in many countries. Patients with syncope, cardiac arrhythmias, or implantable cardioverter–defibrillators (ICDs) have an ongoing risk of sudden incapacitation that may cause harm to themselves and/or others when driving. Restrictions on driving and driving guidelines have been developed with the intent to reduce and prevent motor vehicle accidents, thereby improving personal and public safety. Several guidelines and consensus statements recently were updated. This review focuses on the syncope-related driving guidelines and restrictions. Driving issues related to other causes of loss of consciousness, such as drug or alcohol intoxication, epilepsy, or metabolic disorders, are not included in this review. Approximately 1% to 3% of all motor vehicle accidents are caused by the driver’s sudden incapacitation; of these accidents, 5% to 10% are related to cardiac causes, with or without syncope. Major cardiac causes of syncope are neurally mediated mechanisms, bradycardia, and tachycardia. When the cause of syncope is determined and adequately treated, no driving restrictions are usually required after treatment is implemented. Patients who receive ICD therapy for primary or secondary sudden cardiac death prevention are at risk for future device discharges and sudden incapacitation whether or not they are driving. When the cause of syncope is unknown, the response to treatment is uncertain (such as treating the neurocardiogenic/vasovagal syncope), or ICD discharge is possible, driving recommendations are based on the estimation of “risk of harm while driving” and the general consensus on the threshold of “acceptable risk of harm.” The annual risk of harm while driving can be estimated by the following formula: driving time (%) × vehicle type (commercial to private) × annual risk of syncope or incapacitation × probability of injury or accident.
Coagulation Defects and Bleeding in Open-Heart Surgery

emorrhagic diathesis associated with extracorporeal circulation has been described by a number of investigators, many of H whom have emphasized the presence of specific coagulation defects [ 1, 6, 10, 1 1, 16-1 81. Unfortunately, information on the clinical significance of these abnormalities with respect to incidence and their effect on hemostasis has been lacking. With the increasing use of extracorporeal circulation in cardiac surgery, there is a demand for a means of evaluating the adequacy of hemostasis. As a consequence, the interpretation of the results of routine coagulation procedures has agsumed greater importance. The following study was undertaken to provide such information and includes a description of 50 patients, 15 with excessive blood loss and 35 with “normal” postoperative blood loss. It was presumed correctly that a distinct separation of the two groups of patients could be made on the basis of the coagulation studies.
The Un-translatability 1 of Religion, The Un-translatability of Life: Thinking Talal Asad’s Thought Unthought in the Study of Religion

Abstract Every scholarly attempt to define—and, by extension, theorize, interpret, and conceptualize—religion is based on the sovereign “force of decision.” Such theory-decision translates religion into a symbol or category, accounting for it, separating and releasing it from what Talal Asad calls the “not so easily varied” disciplinary practices that constitute life. In this separation of “religion,” life becomes a spectator (theoros) to itself. Asad’s argument about the impossibility of defining religion, connected to his contention that “life is essentially itself,” helps us think about the un-translatability of life. Closely paralleling Nietzsche and Heidegger’s reflections on existence and memory—but largely unthought by contemporary theorists of religion—Asad’s thinking about religion is a refusal to historicize life.
Modeling the molybdenum sites of the molybdenum hydroxylases

Abstract Molybdenum hydroxylases are multicomponent enzymes which catalyze two electron oxidations of purines, aldehydes, formate and sulfite in animals and microorganisms [1]. In addition, eukaryotic nitrate reductase [2] and several as yet poorly characterized molybdenum containing enzymes have properties similar to those of the hydroxylases. Recent EPR and EXAFS investigation indicate the presence of a terminal oxo and a terminal sulfido group on Mo in oxidized (Mo(VI)) xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase and two oxo groups in oxidized sulfite oxidase [1, 3]. In the reduced state (Mo(V), (IV)) the sulfido group appears to be converted to SH (xanthine oxidase, xanthine dehydrogenase) or one oxo to OH (sulfite oxidase) [3]. In addition, 2–3 Mo thiolate sulfur ligands are present for both oxidized and reduced enzymes [3]. One or more of the thiolate ligands may be located on a side chain of a reduced pterin proposed to be the cofactor common to all Mo hydroxylases [4]. The reduction potentials of the Mo centers of the hyroxylases have been determined and are found to differ considerably between enzymes (−0.355 V for the Mo(VI)/(V) couple in xanthine oxidase [5], 0.038 V in sulfite oxidase [6], e.g.). Recent model studies have concentrated on synthesis and structural characterization of dioxo-Mo(VI) complexes with N, S donor sets which mimic the EXAFS results [7] (Fig. 1a), on monomeric oxo-Mo(V) complexes having EPR parameters similar to those of the enzymes [8, 9] (Fig. 1b), and on oxo-Mo(VI), (V) and (IV) complexes which mimic the redox behavior of the enzymes [9, 10] (Fig. 1b). These results are briefly reviewed. Current work in this laboratory is directed towards the synthesis and characterization of dioxo-Mo(VI) complexes with sterically bulky bi-, tri- and tetradentate ligands which may be electrochemically or chemically reduced to monomeric Mo(V)(O)(OH) complexes: Normally, such reductions give oxo bridged Mo(V) dimers; the presence of bulky groups on the ligands, however, inhibits the dimerization. Representative ligands: Synthetic methods for the preparation of the complexes and their properties (IR, electronic and EPR spectra; electrochemistry) are reported. The relationships between EPR and electrochemical parameters and structures of the complexes are explored and the implications for the molybdenum hydroxylases are discussed. Current problems in modeling the molybdenum centers of the hydorxylases and possible directions for research toward the solutions of these problems are presented.
Enhancement of biomixing by swimming algal cells in two-dimensional films

Fluid mixing in active suspensions of microorganisms is important to ecological phenomena and presents a fascinating stochastic process. We investigate the mixing produced by swimming unicellular algal cells (Chlamydomonas) in quasi-two-dimensional liquid films by simultaneously tracking the motion of the cells and that of microscopic passive tracer particles advected by the fluid. The reduced spatial dimension of the system leads to long-range flows and a surprisingly strong dependence of tracer transport on the concentration of swimmers, which is explored over a wide range. The mean square displacements are well described by a stochastic Langevin model, which is used to parameterize the mixing. The effective diffusion coefficient D grows rapidly with the swimmer concentration Φ as D ∼ Φ3/2, as a result of the increasing frequency of tracer-swimmer interactions and the long-range hydrodynamic disturbances created by the swimmers. Conditional sampling of the tracer data based on the instantaneous swimmer position shows that the rapid growth of the diffusivity enhancement with concentration must be due to particle interactions with multiple swimmers simultaneously. Finally, the anomalous probability distributions of tracer displacements become Gaussian at high concentration, but manifest strong power-law tails at low concentration, while the tracer displacements always grow diffusively in time.
Fatigue strength of Ti–6Al–4V at very long lives

Abstract The objective of this research was to investigate the fatigue strength of Ti–6Al–4V using an ultrasonic fatigue system. Fatigue testing up to 10 9 cycles under fully reversed loading was performed to determine the ultra-high cycle fatigue behavior of Ti–6Al–4V. Endurance limit results were compared to similar data generated on conventional servohydraulic test systems and electromagnetic shaker systems to determine if there are any frequency effects. Fatigue specimens were tested with and without cooling air to determine the effects of increased specimen temperature caused by internal damping due to cycling at a very high frequency. An infrared camera was also used to record specimen temperatures at various load levels. Results indicate that the effects of frequency, including internal heating, on the very high cycle fatigue behavior of Ti–6Al–4V are negligible under fully reversed loading conditions.
Effect of additive noise, signal contrast, and feature motion on visual detection in structured noise

This paper investigates signal detectability in a fixed structured background as a function of signal contrast, additive white noise and feature motion. We use a 4 AFC (alternative forced choice) detection task where the signal appeared at the center of one of four identical, clearly visible, simulated cylindrical artery segments. All four segments moved identically relative to the background in 32-frame image sequences displayed at 15 frames per second. The background in one condition was uniform and in a second condition was structured noise consisting of a single frame randomly selected from a group of clinical x-ray coronary angiograms. We studied two display formats, the 'moving artery' display in which the background was stationary and the cylinders moved back and forth, simulating the motion of the coronary arteries, and the 'stabilized artery' in which each frame of the sequence was translated to keep the cylinders stationary, while the background moved back and forth. The signal to be detected was a disk superimposed at the center of one of the simulated cylinders. Signal energy and the variance of additive Gaussian spatiotemporal white noise were manipulated. For each level of additive white noise the threshold signal energy for detection (at the 82% correct performance level) was determined. There was no time limit to reach decision. For all conditions the threshold signal energy increased linearly with added white noise variance, with a positive y-intercept. The presence of the structured background increased both the y-intercept and the slope of this relationship between threshold energy and added white noise variance. Thus, the presence of the structured background had a multiplicative effect, as well as an additive effect, on the degradation of performance due to added white noise. The multiplicative effect might be modeled by an increase in induced internal noise (noise proportional to the external noise) with the presence of the structured background. Such an effect, if it occurs in the setting of clinical coronary angiography, would cause changes in radiation exposure (and thus quantum noise) to affect visual perception more than expected from experiments with white noise alone. One possible mechanism for this effect may be that the added random noise interferes with the observer's use of spatiotemporal correlations to 'subtract' or 'read around' the structured noise.
Structure-activity relationships in the developmental toxicity of substituted phenols: In vivo effects

Hansch analysis, a quantitative approach relating the physical-chemical properties of molecules to biological effects, was applied to a series of substituted phenols tested for developmental toxicity. The physical-chemical properties included a hydrophobic parameter (log P), an electronic parameter (Hammett sigma), and a bulk parameter (molar refractivity (MR]. Biological activities (potencies) were obtained for 27 congeners in a Chernoff/Kavlock Assay performed in Sprague-Dawley rats exposed on day 11 of gestation. The potencies discussed in this report are the following: the dose to decrease maternal weight gain by 10 g at 24 and 72 hours after treatment (MTOX1 and MTOX2); the dose to increase postimplantation loss by 1 over the concurrent control value (PLOSS); and the dose required to decrease total litter weight by 10% on postnatal day 6 (BIO6). A quantitative structure-activity relationship QSAR was developed for the maternal data (1/MTOX1 = (0.0344*log P) + (-0.1503*sigma) + 0.1195; n = 22, r = 0.81, P less than .0001), which related increasing lipophilicity and decreasing electron-withdrawing ability of the substituent on 22 para-phenols to increasing toxicity. Another QSAR was developed from eight para-phenols that had the greatest postimplantation loss potencies (i.e., less than 100 mmol/kg). The model (1/PLOSS = (-0.2676*log P) + (-0.1827*sigma) + (0.0265*MR) + 0.4420; n = 8, r = 0.93, P less than .0298) related decreasing lipophilicity and electron-withdrawing ability and increasing bulk properties to the decreased viability of implantation sites. However, no descriptor was identified that distinguished the more potent from the less potent congeners for postimplantation loss, and no QSAR was found for litter weight on postnatal day 6 (even when limiting the analysis to the more potent congeners). Congeners were also grouped on a qualitative level according to whether they induced a biological effect below a dose of 6 mmol/kg (termed active), between 6 and 11 mmol/kg (moderately active), or greater than 11 mmol/kg (inactive). Overall, 14 of 27 congeners were classified as active in terms of maternal effects, but only 50% of these were active for developmental effects. Seven of the nine overall active developmental toxicants were active maternal toxicants. Four of the developmental toxicants produced a syndrome of effects that may be related to a similar mechanism of action or common metabolic pathway. Thus, from both quantitative and qualitative viewpoints, the properties of these phenolic congeners that promote maternal toxicity are different from those that contribute to developmental toxicity. It is therefore likely that the mechanisms of toxicity behind these effects are also different.
The biosynthesis of ergosterol from isotopic acetate.

Abstract In a previously coenzyme A-deficient yeast, which was subsequently enriched, 74–84% of the carbon atoms of ergosterol were derived from acetate. Using these yeast cells and labeled acetate as the precursor, ergosterol of high specific activity can be prepared.
Diagrammatic theory of effective hydraulic conductivity

This work presents a stochastic diagrammatic theory for the calculation of the effective hydraulic conductivity of heterogeneous media. The theory is based on the mean-flux series expansion of a log-normal hydraulic conductivity medium in terms of diagrammatic representations and leads to certain general results for the effective hydraulic conductivity of three-dimensional media. A selective summation technique is used to improve low-order perturbation analysis by evaluating an infinite set of diagrammatic terms with a specific topological structure that dominates the perturbation series. For stochastically isotropic media the selective summation yeilds the anticipated exponential expression for the effective hydraulic conductivity. This expression is extended to stochastically anisotropic media. It is also shown that in the case of non homogeneous media the uniform effective hydraulic conductivity is replaced by a non-local tensor kernel, for which general diagrammatic expressions are obtained. The non-local kernel leads to the standard exponential behavior for the effective hydraulic conductivity at the homogeneous limit.
Model-based Iterative Reconstruction Compared to Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction and Filtered Back-projection in CT of the Kidneys and the Adjacent Retroperitoneum

Rationale and Objectives To prospectively evaluate the perceived image quality of model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) compared to adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) and filtered back-projection (FBP) in computed tomography (CT) of the kidneys and retroperitoneum. Materials and Methods With investigational review board and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance, 17 adults underwent 31 contrast-enhanced CT acquisitions at constant tube potential and current (range 30–300 mA). Each was reconstructed with MBIR, ASIR (50%), and FBP. Four reviewers scored each reconstruction's perceived image quality overall and the perceived image quality of seven imaging features that were selected by the authors as being relevant to imaging in the region and pertinent to the evaluation of high-quality diagnostic CT. Results MBIR perceived image quality scored superior to ASIR and FBP both overall (P Conclusions Compared to ASIR and FBP, MBIR provides superior perceived image quality, both overall and for several specific imaging features, across a broad range of tube current levels, and requires approximately half the radiation dose to achieve diagnostic overall perceived image quality. Accordingly, MBIR should enable CT scanning with improved perceived image quality and/or reduced radiation exposure.
Monte Carlo simulations on Intel Xeon Phi: Offload and native mode

In high performance computing, Monte Carlo methods are widely used to solve problems in various areas of computational physics, finance, mathematics, electrical engineering and many other fields. We present Monte Carlo methods for the Intel Xeon Phi coprocessor, to compute Feynman loop integrals in high energy physics, and integrals arising in stochastic geometry as two types of sample problems. The Intel Xeon Phi is based on a Many Integrated Core (MIC) architecture to gain extreme performance. We use two modes, “offload” and “native”, to implement the simulations. We compare the parallel performance of our applications running on Intel Xeon Phi, in terms of time and speedup, with a sequential execution on the CPU. In addition, the applications are designed in both single and double precision.
Folk Music Index

FOLK MUSIC INDEX, http://www.ibiblio.org/folkindex The Folk Music Index is an open-access, Web-based resource devoted to written and performed traditional music. Originally developed by now-retired...
Physiological significance of sharp wave transients on EEG recordings of healthy pre-term and full-term neonates

One EEG sleep cycle was selected from each of ninety-four 3 h studies on 52 healthy neonates from 29 to 43 weeks post-conceptional ages (CA) (28 pre-term (PT)/24 full-term infants (FT); 51 are normal up to at least 18 months of age). Each record was reviewed to identify sharp wave transients (SWTs). No spike discharges were noted. 364 SWTs were tabulated in terms of amplitude, morphology, left:right predominance, anatomical site and EEG sleep state. Mean number of SWTs per hour for full-term, pre-term, and pre-term at post-conceptional term age (PTT) infants were 11.7 (+/- 12), 10.0 (+/- 7), and 13 (+/- 10). Mean amplitudes (microV) were 98.8 (+/- 23.2), 84.9 (+/- 38.3), and 99.4 (+/- 28.8) for FT, PT, and PTT infants respectively. FP1, FP2, T4 and C3 accounted for 94%, 83% and 84% of SWT sites for FT, PT and PTT groups, respectively. Biphasic waves were noted more frequently, and triphasic waves almost exclusively in PT infants (chi 2 = 130.8, P = 0.001). Spearman correlations were significant for amplitude of SWTs with CA (and r = 0.45, P = 0.0001). Significant differences (ANOVA) were found, for instance, between SWT frequency with the site and sleep state (R2 = 0.63, P = 0.0001) between SWT amplitude with sleep state and morphology (R2 = 0.59, P = 0.0001). Brain maturation alters the location and morphology of SWTs in healthy neonates. Descriptions of SWTs on EEG recordings of healthy neonates will improve the assessment of encephalopathic recordings of infants studied for clinical reasons.
Na+-dependent sugar transport in a cultured epithelial cell line from pig kidney.

A Na+-dependent hexose transport system with similar characteristics to that observed in the kidney is retained in a cultured epithelial cell line from pig kidney (LLC-PK1). The active transport of α methyl-d-glucoside (α MGP), a nonmetabolizable sugar, which shares the glucose-galactose transport system in kidney cells is mediated through a Na+-dependent, substrate-saturable process. The kinetic analysis of the effect of Na+ on the uptake of αMGP indicated that the Na+-sugar cotransport system is an affinity type system in which the binding of either sugar or Na+ to carrier increases the affinity for the other ligand without affecting theV max. The sequence of selectivity for different sugars studied by the inhibition produced in the uptake of αMGP is very similar to that reported in rat kidney, rabbit kidney cortex slices, and rabbit renal brush border membrane vesicles. Phlorizin, even at very low concentration, almost completely inhibits αMGP uptake. Conversely, phloretin at the same low concentration stimulated the sugar accumulation by inhibition of efflux, probably at the level of the basolateral membrane. Sulfhydryl group inhibitors also blocked the αMGP uptake, suggesting that these groups were required for normal functioning of the sugar carrier system. This sugar transport system is an important functional marker to study the molecular events associated with the development of polarization in epithelial cells.
AN IMPROVED AIR-DRIVEN TYPE OF ULTRACENTRIFUGE FOR MOLECULAR SEDIMENTATION

1. A description is given of the construction details and operation characteristics of an improved type of air-driven ultracentrifuge operating in vacuum and suitable for the determination of sedimentation constants of protein molecules. 2. The rotor of the centrifuge is made of a forged aluminum alloy; it is oval in shape, measures 185 mm. at its greatest diameter, and weighs 3,430 gm. It carries a transparent cell located at a distance of 65 mm. from the axis of rotation and designed to accommodate a fluid column 15 mm. high. 3. The rotor has been run repeatedly over long periods at a speed of 60,000 R.P.M., which corresponds to a centrifugal force of 260,000 times gravity in the center of the cell. At this speed no deformation of the rotor nor leakage of the cell has been observed. 4. The sharp definition of sedimentation photographs taken at high speed serves to indicate the absence of detectable vibrations in the centrifuge. 5. When a vacuum of less than 1 micron of mercury is maintained in the centrifuge chamber, the rise in the rotor temperature amounts to only 1 or 2°C. after several hours' run at high speed. 6. There has been no evidence of convection currents interfering with normal sedimentation of protein molecules in the centrifugal field. 7. A driving air pressure of about 18 pounds per square inch is sufficient to maintain the centrifuge at a steady speed of 60,000 R.P.M. With a driving pressure of 80 pounds per square inch, it can be accelerated to this speed in less than 20 minutes, and also brought to rest in about the same length of time by the application of the braking system. 8. The adaptation of Svedberg's optical systems to this centrifuge for photographically recording the movement of sedimentation boundaries is described.
Clinicopathological analysis of basal cell carcinoma of the anal region and its distinction from basaloid squamous cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma of the anal region is rare and morphologically difficult to distinguish from basaloid squamous cell carcinoma, particularly on biopsies. This distinction has therapeutic and prognostic implications. We reviewed morphological features of 9 basal cell carcinomas and 15 basaloid squamous cell carcinomas from the anal region diagnosed during 1993-2011 and determined the utility of Ber-EP4, BCL2, TP63, CK5/6, CDKN2A, and SOX2 as diagnostic tools. Immunostains were scored in a semi-quantitative manner (1+-1-10%, 2+-11-50%, 3+->50%). All basal cell carcinomas were located in the perianal region, while all basaloid squamous cell carcinomas originated in the anal canal/anorectum. Nodular subtype of basal cell carcinoma was the most common subtype. Retraction artifact was the only significant distinguishing histological feature of basal cell carcinoma compared with basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (88% vs 26%; P=0.04). Atypical mitoses were more common in basaloid squamous cell carcinomas (71% vs 11%; P=0.05). An in situ component was only present in basaloid squamous cell carcinomas, and was noted in 6/15 cases. Basal cell carcinomas had 2-3+ Ber-EP4 (basal cell carcinoma 100% vs basaloid squamous cell carcinoma 40%; P<0.001) and BCL2 immunoreactivity (basal cell carcinomas 100% vs basaloid squamous cell carcinoma 33%; P<0.001). Diffuse CDKN2A and SOX2 expression was seen only in basaloid squamous cell carcinomas (basal cell carcinoma 0% vs basaloid squamous cell carcinoma 93%; P<0.001). There was no difference in TP63 and CK5/6 expression. Perianal location, retraction artifact, and lack of atypical mitoses are histological features that help distinguish basal cell carcinoma from basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. An in situ component, when present, supports the diagnosis of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. Immunostains are extremely helpful as diffuse Ber-EP4 and BCL2 expression is a feature of basal cell carcinoma and basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is typified by diffuse CDKN2A and SOX2 expression.
Transcription: Gene control by targeted histone acetylation

A transcriptional regulator in yeast, Gcn5p, activates transcription by targeted acetylation of specific lysine residues in the amino-terminal tails of histones. This targeted modification is restricted to nucleosomes assembled on the promoters of Gcn5p-responsive genes.
Primary Care Experiences of Medicare Beneficiaries, 1998 to 2000

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in the quality of primary care experienced and reported by Medicare beneficiaries from 1998 to 2000.
Mechanical and hydrothermal stability of mesoporous materials at extreme conditions

Abstract In situ SAXS measurements were made on periodic mesoporous carbon and silica-based materials as a function of pressure and temperature and in water to supercritical conditions. Our data show that periodic mesoporous silica-based materials exhibit substantial mechanical strength. The pore structure, size and related mesoscale properties appear to directly impact the mechanical response of silica-based materials to high pressures and temperatures. Our results indicate that hydrolysis does not seem to be responsible for the mechanical collapse of the pore structure of silica-based mesoporous materials under high pressure conditions. SBA-15 type mesoporous carbon exhibits excellent hydrothermal stability under extreme conditions. The mesostructure of FDU-12 silica is irreversibly disordered after extreme hydrothermal exposure in a manner consistent with H 2 O dissociation reactions causing topological alteration of the silicate network.
Characterization of Methanol−Water and Acetonitrile−Water Association Using Multivariate Curve Resolution Methods

The solvatochromic comparison method has been used to probe the interactions of solutes with binary solvent mixtures of methanol-water and acetonitrile-water. The solute spectra recorded in these mixtures are composed of the additive spectral contributions of the different solvated species of the solute, i.e., the water-solvated species, the cosolvent-solvated species, and the species solvated by water-solvent complexes. Multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares has been used to model the solvation of the solutes as a function of the composition of the binary solvent mixture. Spectra and concentration profiles of the dye surrounded by the different solvation environments have been isolated. For the first time, solute spectra solvated exclusively by methanol-water and acetonitrile-water complexes have been obtained, and the solvatochromic parameters of dipolarity/polarizability and hydrogen-bonding acidity have been estimated for these complex species.
Neighborhood Racial Composition and Perceptions of Racial Discrimination: Evidence From the Black Women's Health Study

Little is known about the effects of social context or “place” factors (e.g., characteristics of local populations) on African Americans' perceptions and experiences of racism. Using data from 42,445 U.S. black women collected during the 1997 follow-up wave of the Black Women's Health Study, we investigated the association between neighborhood racial composition (“percent black” at the block-group level in 2000 Census data) and perceptions of racial discrimination. Perceived racial discrimination was measured using self-reports of the frequency of discrimination in “everyday” settings (e.g., being treated as if you are dishonest) and “lifetime” occurrences of discrimination on the job, in housing, and by the police. There was a linear inverse relationship between neighborhood percent black and perceived discrimination, i.e., higher percent black was associated with lower levels of discrimination. Our results support the conclusions that, relative to contexts in which blacks are a small minority, more even...
Internalization of the Human N-Formyl Peptide and C5a Chemoattractant Receptors Occurs via Clathrin-Independent Mechanisms†

After stimulation by ligand, most G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) undergo rapid phosphorylation, followed by desensitization and internalization. In the case of the N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR), these latter two processing steps have been shown to be entirely dependent on phosphorylation of the receptor's carboxy terminus. We have previously demonstrated that FPR internalization can occur in the absence of receptor desensitization, indicating that FPR desensitization and internalization are regulated differentially. In this study, we have investigated whether human chemoattractant receptors internalize via clathrin-coated pits. Internalization of the FPR transiently expressed in HEK 293 cells was shown to be dependent upon receptor phosphorylation. Despite this, internalization of the FPR, as well as the C5a receptor, was demonstrated to be independent of the actions of arrestin, dynamin, and clathrin. In addition, we utilized fluorescence microscopy to visualize the FPR and beta(2)-adrenergic receptor as they internalized in the same cell, revealing distinct sites of internalization. Last, we found that a nonphosphorylatable mutant of the FPR, unable to internalize, was competent to activate p44/42 MAP kinase. Together, these results demonstrate not only that the FPR internalizes via an arrestin-, dynamin-, and clathrin-independent pathway but also that signal transduction to MAP kinases occurs in an internalization-independent manner.
Method of phase extraction between coupled atom interferometers using ellipse-specific fitting

We present a method of analysis involving ellipse-specific fitting of sinusoidally coupled data from two gravimeters in a gradiometer configuration. This method permits rapid extraction of induced gradient phase shifts in the presence of common-mode vibrational phase noise. Gravity gradients can be accurately measured in the presence of large vibrational accelerations.
Reversibility of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia: Implications for chemoprevention

High-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia is the most likely precursor of prostatic adenocarcinoma, according to virtually all available evidence. It has a high predictive value as a marker for adenocarcinoma, and its identification in biopsy specimens of the prostate warrants further search for concurrent invasive carcinoma. Androgen deprivation therapy and radiation therapy decrease its prevalence and extent, suggesting a role in chemoprevention.
Teaching Ethical Decision Making: Designing a Personal Value Portrait to Ignite Creativity and Promote Personal Engagement in Case Method Analysis

The case method approach to introducing ethical issues is a traditional tool for applying critical thinking skills to a specific dilemma (Beauchamp & Childress, 2001). It allows for personal reflection and clarification of an individual's conceptual framework for deciding what is and is not ethical behavior. However, it also affords the student distance from the story line and may, through providing a retrospective critique, prevent sufficient challenge to the student to articulate and defend personal value assessments in addressing the ethical dynamics reflected in the case. Providing teaching exercises that encourage the creation of language to form that conceptual framework and a comfort in using that language allows the student to not only identify ethical issues but also recognize and more effectively communicate the struggles with molding a personal values portrait to apply to such cases.
An Accelerator Control System for PIGMI

A control and data acquisition system has been prepared for the PIGMI program's prototype accelerator. The system configuration features a central minicomputer connected to a distributed array of microprocessor based local control points via fast parallel links. A powerful microprocessor based operator's console provides dynamic control of all accelerator parameters while displaying in real time data taken at the local control points. In addition to centralized control, all basic control functions can be executed locally if necessary. While a special operating system was written for the micros, the central computer system primarily runs under its own commercially supplied real-time multitasking system. All applications programs are written in FORTRAN. Details of the control philosophy, the hardware and software are discussed.
Application of the surgical dislocation approach to residual hip deformity secondary to Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

Long-term prognosis after Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (LCPD) depends on the severity of residual hip deformities including a nonspherical femoral head, a short and wide femoral neck, a high riding greater trochanter, and secondary changes in the acetabulum. Hip deformity after healed LCPD may lead to abnormal hip mechanics including femoroacetabular impingement and hip instability secondary to acetabular dysplasia. The surgical dislocation approach has recently been applied to LCPD hip deformity with encouraging short-term results. This approach allows complete dynamic evaluation of the hip joint, identification, and correction of the most common residual deformities. The purpose of this paper is to describe the application of the surgical hip dislocation approach to LCPD deformity and to evaluate the current available literature on the results of this approach to the healed LCPD hip.