cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Security-Constrained Unit Commitment Con-sidering Locational Frequency Stability in Low-Inertia Power Grids.

With increasing installation of wind and solar gen-eration, conventional synchronous generators in power systems are gradually displaced resulting in a significant reduction in system inertia. Maintaining system frequency within acceptable ranges becomes more critical for the stability of a power system. In this paper, we first study the impact of inter-area oscillations on the system rate-of-change-of-frequency (RoCoF) security; then, the limitations on locational RoCoFs accounting for G-1 contingency stability are derived. By enforcing these frequency related constraints, a location based RoCoF constrained security constrained unit commitment (LRC-SCUC) model is proposed. Furthermore, an effective piecewise linearization (PWL) tech-nique is employed to formulate a RoCoF linearization problem and linearize the nonlinear function representing the location based RoCoF constraints in SCUC. Simulation results reveal that the inclusion of inertia-related constraints can substantially im-prove the system stability at the cost of higher operation cost. The results also show that deploying virtual inertia techniques not only reduces the total cost, but also improves the system market efficiency.
Social Networks and Support: A Comparison of African Americans, Asian Americans, Caucasians, and Hispanics

Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households (1988), this study examines cultural variations in social networks and support. The responses of African American (n=2,391), Asian (n=...
Marriage and marital dissolution among black Americans.

Over the past few decades, the place of marriage in American family life has declined, and the decline has been sharper among Blacks than among Whites. This article describes the trends in marriage...
Retrograde ventriculoatrial conduction in complete heart block: studies with His bundle electrography.

Abstract In a patient with complete heart block and retrograde Ventriculoatrial conduction, His bundle electrography demonstrated (1) orthograde block beyond the bundle of His, (2) retrograde conduction through the atrioventricular (A-V) node as evidenced by retrograde P′ waves with His bundle echoes, and by the effect of idioventricular beats on subsequent sinus P wave to His bundle intervals, even in the absence of retrograde P′ waves. It is concluded that retrograde conduction can occur in complete heart block if the block is beyond the bundle of His and the A-V node is intact. The retrograde pathway around the block to the A-V node may be by muscular conduction.
Digital signal processors for communications, video infrastructure, and audio

This paper provides a description of the features of Texas Instruments' new TMS320C6455 and TMS320C672x series digital-signal processors (DSPs). The high-speed Serial RapidIOtrade port, DDR2 memory controller, and multiple standard ports of TMS320C6455 DSPs make these processors ideal for communications and video infrastructure systems. Similarly, the audio-oriented peripherals and large amount of on-chip memory included on the floating-point TMS320C672x series DSPs enable professional audio applications. Both processors include enhanced CPUs with instruction set enhancements focused on algorithms specific to their application space and a flexible DMA architecture suited to their system needs
Eight years of "Prostate Cancer Awareness Week": lessons in screening and early detection. Prostate Cancer Education Council.

BACKGROUND Prostate Cancer Awareness Week began in 1989 to raise public awareness of the disease and impact on its clinical dynamics. Prior to 1990, prostate carcinoma was usually diagnosed in symptomatic men as advanced and ipso facto incurable. METHODS A 5-year longitudinal study of screening and early detection was initiated in 1992, involving 250 centers that tested over 50,000 men annually. The study analyzed the following: 1) the efficacy of digital rectal examination and prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests for the early detection of prostate carcinoma, 2) the impact of serial screening on stage of disease at diagnosis and cancer detection, 3) age and race specific reference ranges for PSA, 4) prostate carcinoma risk factors, and 5) psychosocial variables that influence the appropriateness and acceptability of both screening and treatment. RESULTS Community-based screening for prostate carcinoma is as effective as programs conducted at academic centers, but annual testing may not be necessary for all men. Participants in community screening programs may require more prescreening information and education regarding the potential risks and benefits of screening, and also regarding the cascade of diagnostic and treatment decisions that follow an abnormal digital rectal examination or an elevated PSA finding. CONCLUSIONS Community-based prostate carcinoma screening programs have contributed to the shift in the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma at an earlier stage. They provide data that are useful in studying the natural course of prostate carcinoma and in designing studies of the effect that prostate carcinoma screening has on mortality from the disease. Cancer 1997; 80:1845-51. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Convective rainfall estimation from digital GOES-1 infrared data

An investigation was conducted to determine the feasibility of developing and objective technique for estimating convective rainfall from digital GOES-1 infrared data. The study area was a 240 km by 240 km box centered on College Station, Texas (Texas A and M University). The Scofield and Oliver (1977) rainfall estimation scheme was adapted and used with the digital geostationary satellite data. The concept of enhancement curves with respect to rainfall approximation is discussed. Raingage rainfall analyses and satellite-derived rainfall estimation analyses were compared. The correlation for the station data pairs (observed versus estimated rainfall amounts) for the convective portion of the storm was 0.92. It was demonstrated that a fairly accurate objective rainfall technique using digital geostationary infrared satellite data is feasible. The rawinsonde and some synoptic data that were used in this investigation came from NASA's Atmospheric Variability Experiment, AVE 7.
Potential role of activated macrophages in acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. I. Isolation and characterization of activated macrophages from rat liver.

Twenty-four hours following treatment of rats with the analgesic acetaminophen (1.2 g/kg), we observed an infitraltion of mononuclear cells into centribobular regions of the liver in the absence of necrosis. To determine whether acetaminophen induces the accumulation and activation of mononuclear phagocytes, we compared the morphologic and functional characteristics of macrophages obtained from livers of acetaminophen-treated rats with those of resident macrophages (Kupffer cells) from untreated control animals. Macrophages were isolanted from rat livers by combined collagenase/pronase perfusion, selective digestion, and differential centrifugation on a metrizamide gradient. Acetaminophen treatment resulted in a twofold increase in macrophage yields from the liver compared with controls. Macrophages isolated from treated animals were generally larger than resident Kupffer cells, were highly vacuolated, and adhered to culture dishes more rapidly. Liver macrophages from both treated and untreated rats phagocytized sheep red blood cells (sRBC) in a time-dependent manner, reaching a maximum after 60–75 min incubation with sRBCs. However, macrophages from livers of acetaminophen-treated rats phagocytized two to three times more sRBC than did resident Kupffer cells. Using the Boyden chamber technique, both macrophage populations were found to be chemotactic to a number of stimuli including the complement fragment, C5a, and synthetic collagenous peptides related to tissue breakdown products. Levels of migration of macrophages from livers of acetaminophen-treated rats were four to seven times greater than those of resident Kupffer cells. In addition, compared with resident Kupffer cells, macrophages from acetaminophen-treated rats released 30% more superoxide anion in response to the stimulus, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate. Taken together, these results suggest that acetaminophen treatment of rats leads to the recruitment and activation of macrophages in the liver.
A new method for forming ZnTe contacts for CdTe cells (solar cells)

An electrochemical technique (galvanic) has been developed for directly depositing ZnTe films doped with Cu onto evaporated CdTe/CdS/ITO/glass substrates to form a semitransparent p/sup +/ contact to the CdTe. The CdTe/CdS/ITO/glass substrates were placed in a solution containing ZnCl/sub 2/ and dissolved TeO/sub 2/, and were short circuited externally to a Zn electrode. Uniform, single-phase ZnTe films were obtained for specific pH, temperature, and concentration regimes of the reacting ions. Copper doping of the ZnTe films was achieved by adding an appropriate amount of Cu/sup +2/ ions complexed with triethanolamine to the solution. The results of ZnTe:Cu/CdTe/CdS solar cells fabricated using this method are discussed. >
Tributyltin alters secretion of interleukin 1 beta from human immune cells

Tributyltin (TBT) has been used as a biocide in industrial applications such as wood preservation, antifouling paint and antifungal agents. Owing to its many uses, it contaminates the environment and has been found in human blood samples. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that promotes cell growth, tissue repair and immune response regulation. Produced predominately by both monocytes and macrophages, IL-1β appears to increase the invasiveness of certain tumors. This study shows that TBT modifies the secretion of IL-1β from increasingly reconstituted preparations of human immune cells. IL-1β secretion was examined after 24-, 48-h or 6-day exposures to TBT in highly enriched human natural killer (NK) cells, monocyte-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MD-PBMCs), PBMCs, granulocytes and a preparation combining both PBMCs and granulocytes (PBMCs+granulocytes). TBT altered IL-1β secretion from all of the cell preparations. The 200 nM concentration of TBT normally blocked the secretion of IL-1β, whereas lower concentrations (usually 5–50 nM) elevated secretion of IL-1β. Examination of the signaling pathway(s) responsible for the elevated secretion of IL-1β was carried out in MD-PBMCs. Pathways examined were IL-1β processing (Caspase-1), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB). Results indicated that MAPK pathways (p44/42 and p38) appear to be the targets of TBT that lead to increased IL-1β secretion from immune cells. These results from human immune cells show IL-1β dysregulation by TBT is occurring ex vivo. Thus, the potential for in vivo effects on pro-inflammatory cytokine levels may possibly be a consequence of TBT exposures. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Versatile Technique for the Fabrication of PEDOT: PSS Films for Organic Solar Cells

Organic solar cells hold the potential of low-cost production as compared to inorganic solar cells, as well as the increase in efficiency. To realize these possibilities, the key is to fabricate most of the functional films in requisite structures via ambient solution-processed techniques. The PEDOT: PSS films, which are commonly used as an anode layer in organic electronic devices, were deposited on large-area ITO glass substrates under optimized conditions. The spin, spray, brush and brush+spray-coating techniques were utilized to examine their suitability in the fabrication of organic solar cells (OSCs). The films were characterized for their morphology, molecular structure, optical and electrical properties and results are compared with the existing data. A smooth and thin films of PEDOT: PSS were obtained by “Spray+Brush” coating method with attractive sheet-conductivity having potential in fabricating OSCs with different architectures. Key words : Organic solar cells; PEDOT: PSS films; Solution-processed techniques
Cytological Examination as an Adjunct to Liver Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Hepatic Metastases

Sixty-seven postmortem cases of cancer had two separate Menghini transthoracic needle liver biopsies performed through the same skin site. Histological and cytological evaluation for cancer was performed on the tissue core and on the aspirated fluid. Twenty-seven of 39 cases (69%) with liver metastases could be diagnosed with these methods, as compared with only 16 of 39 cases (41%) when utilizing only one histological specimen and no cytology, or 21 of 39 cases (54%) using two biopsies. Cytology alone revealed cancer in 6 of 39 cases (15%) when the histological specimens showed no cancer. There were 4 additional cases in whom cancer was diagnosed by cytological examination in an organ through which the needle had passed (pleura, lung, diaphragm, or peritoneum). There were no erroneous cytology reports of cancer. The cytological material which is usually discarded represents no additional risk and significantly increases the diagnostic yield in metastatic liver cancer. A second biopsy through the same skin site also increases the diagnostic yield. The combined use of both the cytology technique and the second liver biopsy through the same skin site is advocated to increase significantly the diagnostic yield in metastatic cancer to the liver.
Grasping the 'teachable moment': time since diagnosis, symptom burden and health behaviors in breast, colorectal and prostate cancer survivors.

Background A cancer diagnosis may provide a ‘teachable moment’ in cancer recovery. To better understand factors influencing lifestyle choices following diagnosis, we examined associations between time since diagnosis and symptom burden with recommended dietary (e.g., five or more fruit/vegetable servings/day), physical activity (e.g., >150 active min, 3–5 times/week), and smoking behaviors (i.e., eliminate tobacco use) in cancer survivors. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional survey data collected from breast (n = 528), colorectal (n = 106), and prostate (n = 419) cancer survivors following active treatment at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Four regression models were tested for behaviors of interest. Additionally, we assessed symptom burden as a potential moderator and/or mediator between time since diagnosis and behaviors. Results Respondents were mostly female (55%) and non-Hispanic White (68%) with a mean age of 62.8 ± 11.4 years and mean time since diagnosis of 4.6 ± 3.1 years. In regression models, greater time since diagnosis predicted lower fruit and vegetable consumption (B = −0.05, p = 0.02) and more cigarette smoking (B = 0.06, p = 0.105). Greater symptom burden was a significant negative predictor for physical activity (B = −0.08, p < .001). We did not find evidence that symptom burden moderated or mediated the association between time since diagnosis and health behaviors. Conclusion We assessed the prevalence of recommended behaviors in the context of other challenges that survivors face, including time since diagnosis and symptom burden. Our results provide indirect evidence that proximity to a cancer diagnosis may provide a teachable moment to improve dietary and smoking behaviors and that symptom burden may impede physical activity following diagnosis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The cytoskeletal organization of breast carcinoma and fibroblast cells inside three dimensional (3-D) isotropic silicon microstructures

Studying the cytoskeletal organization as cells interact in their local microenvironment is interest of biological science, tissue engineering and cancer diagnosis applications. Herein, we describe the behavior of cell lines obtained from metastatic breast tumor pleural effusions (MDA-MB-231), normal fibrocystic mammary epithelium (MCF10A), and HS68 normal fibroblasts inside three dimensional (3-D) isotropic silicon microstructures fabricated by a single-mask, single-isotropic-etch process. We report differences in adhesion, mechanism of force balance within the cytoskeleton, and deformability among these cell types inside the 3-D microenvironment. HS68 fibroblasts typically stretched and formed vinculin-rich focal adhesions at anchor sites inside the etched cavities. In contrast, MCF10A and MDA-MB-231 cells adopted the curved surfaces of isotropic microstructures and exhibited more diffuse vinculin cytoplasmic staining in addition to vinculin localized in focal adhesions. The measurement of cells elasticity using atomic force microscopy (AFM) indentation revealed that HS68 cells are significantly stiffer (p < 0.0001) than MCF10A and MDA-MB-231 cells. Upon microtubule disruption with nocodazole, fibroblasts no longer stretched, but adhesion of MCF10A and MDA-MB-231 within the etched features remained unaltered. Our findings are consistent with tensegrity theory. The 3-D microstructures have the potential to probe cytoskeletal-based differences between healthy and diseased cells that can provide biomarkers for diagnostics purposes.
NAFTA and the border environmental cooperation commission: Assessing activism in the environmental infrastructure project certification process (1996–2004)

Abstract The signing of the NAFTA agreement in 1994 brought environmental problems found on the United States/Mexico border into light. The new institutions created by NAFTA, specifically the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC), were designed to encourage public participation in the environmental infrastructure certification process. Using the insights of historical institutionalism combined with contributions from organizational decision making in the context of high probability technologies, we assess three key variables: environmental infrastructure types, attributes of the community, and institutional rules. To assess the impact of these variables on the BECC certification process, content analysis was conducted on infrastructure projects in Texas and the bordering Mexican states from 1995 to 2004. The paper finds that water and wastewater treatment projects prevailed on both sides of the border with Mexico receiving a greater funding level, largely because of the BECC's top down rule‐mak...
Risk and Protective Factors Associated with the Transition to a First Sexual Relationship with an Older Partner

Abstract Purpose To examine whether family, individual, peer and school characteristics are associated with the transition to a first sexual experience with a partner who is three or more years older. Methods Using multinomial logistic regressions, we analyzed a sample of female teens from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to assess risk and protective factors associated with having a first sexual experience with a partner three or more years older, compared with a similar-aged partner and compared with not engaging in sexual intercourse. Results Younger and foreign-born teens, with lower parent education, with older friendship networks, and attending a school that spans multiple grades, had greater odds of having a first sexual experience with an older partner than with a similar-aged partner. Hispanics and premenarche females had lower odds of having an older sexual partner than of abstaining from sexual intercourse. In contrast, older age, lower parent education, nonintact family structure, less connection to and more communication with parents, substance use or having peers who used substances, and having older peers were associated with increased odds of having sex with an older partner, compared with not engaging in sexual intercourse. Conclusion The findings underscore the importance of educating teens about the risks associated with dating and sexual relationships with older partners, and of educating parents to be especially attentive to the age composition of their teens' circle of friends. Our research has implications for families and program providers, by identifying target risk groups in need of potential prevention efforts.
Transport of iodothyronines from bloodstream to brain: contributions by blood:brain and choroid plexus:cerebrospinal fluid barriers

Thyroid hormone entering the brain from the cerebral circulation must first cross barriers at the blood:brain and choroid plexus:cerebrospinal fluid interfaces. The route taken after entry through those barriers might bring about selective delivery of hormone to different regions of the brain and those differences might be crucial for the ultimate functional effects of the hormone. To determine whether and how distribution of hormone in the brain might vary according to the route of entry, film autoradiograms of serially sectioned brains were prepared after delivery of a pulse of125I-labeled thyroid hormone into either the right lateral cerebral ventricle or the femoral vein. The results after intrathecal injection, reflecting the penetration of hormone into brain after crossing the choroid plexus:cerebrospinal fluid barrier, revealed a markedly limited, essentially periventricular distribution of radioactivity at both 3 and 48 h after hormone administration. Results after i.v. administration, which allows hormone access across both barriers, revealed an initial distribution pattern (at 3 h) generally similar to that seen after administration of markers of cerebral blood flow; at 48 h there was strong resolution in selected brain regions never noted to be labeled after intrathecal hormone injection. The functional implications of the differences in results produced by the two different routes of hormone entry are not known. However, ready access to circumventricular organs would appear to be favored by hormone crossing the choroid plexus:cerebrospinal fluid barrier whereas access to the panoply of nuclear triiodothyronine receptors would be favored by hormone crossing the blood:brain barrier. Therefore both routes of barrier transport should be taken into account in assessing the kinetics and actions of thyroid hormones in the central nervous system.
Prostaglandin Receptors in the Kidney: A New Route for Intervention?

Prostaglandins comprise a structurally diverse family of cyclooxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid, including thromboxane A2, PGD2, PGE2, PGF2α and PGI
Synthesis of allyl phosphine oxides/boranes via Horner reaction of bis(diphenylphosphine)ethane monoxide reagent with an aldehyde

The Horner–Wittig addition–elimination reaction using bis(diphenylphosphine)ethane monoxide [DIPHOS(O)] with an aldehyde affords Z-allyl phosphine oxides/boranes. Alternatively, the stereoselective Lewis acid mediated intermolecular reduction of its γ-ketobisphosphoranes and stereoselective intramolecular reduction of γ-ketophosphine·borane derivatives followed by elimination of diphenylphosphinate affords E-allyl phosphine oxides/boranes with good to high selectivity. Allyl phosphine oxides are common intermediates in the synthesis of polyenes.
Spatial and seasonal patterns of periphyton biomass and productivity in the northern Everglades, Florida, U.S.A.

We sampled periphyton in dominant habitats at oligotrophic and eutrophic sites in the northern Everglades during the wet and the dryseasons to determine the effects of nutrient enrichment on periphytonbiomass, taxonomic composition, productivity, and phosphorus storage. Arealbiomass was high (100–1600 g ash-free dry mass [AFDM]m−2) in oligotrophic sloughs and in stands of the emergentmacrophyte Eleocharis cellulosa, but was low in adjacent stands of sawgrass,Cladium jamaicense (7–52 g AFDM m−2). Epipelon biomasswas high throughout the year at oligotrophic sites whereas epiphyton andmetaphyton biomass varied seasonally and peaked during the wet season.Periphyton biomass was low (3–68 g AFDM m−2) and limitedto epiphyton and metaphyton in open-water habitats at eutrophic sites andwas undetectable in cattail stands (Typha domingensis) that covered morethan 90% of the marsh in these areas. Oligotrophic periphytonassemblages exhibited strong seasonal shifts in species composition and weredominated by cyanobacteria (e.g., Chroococcus turgidus, Scytonema hofmannii)during the wet season and diatoms (e.g. Amphora lineolata, Mastogloiasmithii) during the dry season. Eutrophic assemblages were dominated byCyanobacteria (e.g., Oscillatoria princeps) and green algae (e.g., Spirogyraspp.) and exhibited comparatively little seasonality. Biomass-specific grossprimary productivity (GPP) of periphyton assemblages in eutrophic openwaters was higher than for comparable slough assemblages, but areal GPP wassimilar in these eutrophic (0.9–9.1 g C m−2d−1) and oligotrophic (1.75–11.49 g C m−2d−1) habitats. On a habitat-weighted basis, areal periphytonGPP was 6- to 30-fold lower in eutrophic areas of the marsh due to extensiveTypha stands that were devoid of periphyton. Periphyton at eutrophic siteshad higher P content and uptake rates than the oligotrophic assemblage, butstored only 5% as much P because of the lower areal biomass.Eutrophication in the Everglades has resulted in a decrease in periphytonbiomass and its contribution to marsh primary productivity. These changesmay have important implications for efforts to manage this wetland in asustainable manner.
Mental stress ischemia: present status and future goals

A body of research published over the past 20 years has revealed much concerning the prevalence, pathophysiology, and prognosis associated with MSI while also providing promising approaches to improving event-free survival rates in those who have this form of ischemia. Although many important questions remain, we believe that the findings to date provide sufficient evidence for the planning, development, and execution of a large-scale clinical trial. Such a trial would provide for not only further testing of prognostic significance and treatment effects but also explorations into important remaining questions of pathophysiology while elaborating possible additional modalities for treatment. Our collective expertise in nuclear cardiology provides an opportunity to establish the diagnostic standardization, approach, and assessment of prognosis and treatment. We are in a position to be thought leaders of a complex clinical manifestation of ischemia that has substantial clinical impact.
Line Forces and Dislocations in Anisotropic Elastic Composite Wedges and Spaces

A composite wedge or a composite space is considered which consists of n wedges of different anisotropic elastic materials and wedge angles. For the composite wedge, a line force is applied at its wedge apex while the sides of the composite wedge is traction free. For the composite space, a line force and a line dislocation are applied at the center. In both cases, explicit solutions in real form are obtained for the displacement, the displacement gradient, the stress function and the stress. This is achieved by the new sum rules presented here. In most literatures, the stress in a homogeneous anisotropic elastic space subject to a line force or a line dislocation is obtained indirectly through the displacement gradient and the stress–strain laws. In this paper the stress is obtained directly from the stress function. An interesting result is that the surface traction on any radial plane vanishes for the composite wedge. For the composite space, the surface traction on any radial plane depends on r only and is invariant with respect to the choice of the radial plane. Es wird ein zusammengesetzter Keil oder ein zusammengesetzter Raum betrachtet, der aus n Keilen unterschiedlichen anisotropen Materials und Keilwinkeln besteht. Fur den zusammengesetzten Keil wird eine Linienkraft an seiner Spitze angelegt, wahrend die Seiten des zusammengesetzten Keils zugfrei bleiben. Fur den zusammengesetzten Raum wird eine Linienkraft und eine Linienversetzung im Zentrum angelegt. In beiden Fallen werden explizite Losungen in realer Form fur die Verschiebung, den Verschiebungsgradienten, die Spannungsfunktion und die Spannung erhalten. Dies wird durch neue, hier vorgestellte Summenregeln erreicht. In den meisten Arbeiten wird die Spannung in einem homogenen anisotropen elastischen Raum, der einer Linienkraft oder einer Linienversetzung ausgesetzt ist, indirekt uber den Verschiebungsgradienten und die Spannungs–Dehnungsgesetze erhalten. In der Arbeit wird die Spannung direkt aus der Spannungsfunktion erhalten. Ein interessantes Ergebnis ist, das der Oberflachenzug auf jeder radialen Ebene fur den zusammengesetzten Keil verschwindet. Fur den zusammengesetzten Raum hangt der Oberflachenzug auf irgendeiner radialen Ebene nur von r ab und ist invariant gegenuber der Wahl der radialen Ebene.
Electron-hydrogen scattering just above the ionization threshold

Abstract The scattering of electrons by hydrogen atoms is studied for an incident energy of 15 eV, by means of a close coupling calculation using a pseudostate basis. Results are presented for elastic scattering and n = 2 excitation, including angular correlation parameters. The ionization cross section is extracted by an improved projection technique.
Saliency-based multifoveated MPEG compression

Most current foveation strategies are limited to foveating sequences based on a direct measurement or an implicit assumption of the gaze direction. Such approaches often fail in unconstrained environments or when necessary equipment is absent. Alternatively, a computational model of visual attention may be used to predict visually salient locations. We describe such a neurobiological model of attention and its specific application to foveated video compression. The algorithm is demonstrated to be successful in foveating to regions of human interest in a variety of video segments, including synthetic as well as natural scenes, and also gives good compression ratios.
Teratogenicity and embryotoxicity of nickel carbonyl in Syrian hamsters

Nickel carbonyl was administered to groups of pregnant hamsters by inhalation (0.06 mg Ni(CO)4/liter/15 min) on days 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 of gestation. The dams were killed on day 15 of gestation, and the fetuses were examined for malformations. Exposure to Ni(CO)4 on days 4 or 5 of gestation resulted in malformations in 5.5% (8/146) and 5.8% (10/171) of the progeny, respectively (P less than 0.05, versus 0/95 in controls). The proportions of litters with malformed fetuses were 33% (4/12) and 24% (4/17) in dams exposed to Ni(CO)4 on days 4 and 5 of gestation (P less than 0.05, versus 0/9 in litters of control dams). Progeny of dams exposed to Ni(CO)4 on days 4 and 5 included 9 fetuses with cystic lungs, 7 fetuses with exencephaly, 1 fetus with exencephaly plus fused rib, and 1 fetus with anophthalmia plus cleft palate. Hemorrhages into serous cavities were found in 18% (26/146) and 25% (42/171) of fetuses of dams exposed to Ni(CO)4 on days 4 or 5 of gestation. Such hemorrhages were not observed in controls. In progeny of dams exposed to Ni(CO)4 on days 6 or 7 of gestation, there was 1 fetus with fused ribs and there were 2 fetuses with hydronephrosis. In another experiment, pregnant hamsters were exposed to inhalation of Ni(CO)4 (0.06 mg/liter/15 min) on day 5 of gestation; these dams were permitted to deliver their litters and to nurse their pups. On the day of delivery, there was no significant difference in the average number of live pups in the Ni(CO)4-exposed litters compared to control litters. Neonatal mortality was increased in Ni(CO)4-exposed litters; by day 4 postpartum, the number of live pups averaged 7.6 +/- 1.5 in Ni(CO)4-exposed litters (P less than 0.01 versus 9.6 +/- 1.8 pups in control litters). This study demonstrates that Ni(CO)4 is teratogenic and embryotoxic in Syrian hamsters.
Bleaching of cotton with activated peroxide systems

The bleaching performance of a novel cationic bleach activator, N-[4-(triethylammoniomethyl)benzoyl]-caprolactam chloride, was compared to that of nonanoyloxybenzene sulphonate, a commercially available anionic bleach activator. The whiteness of bleached cotton fabric was used as a measure of the performance. Comparison of bleach performance and the effect of key variables were evaluated using a central composite experimental design. The performances of both activators increased with temperature and sodium hydroxide concentration. Also, the performance of the cationic bleach activator increased with activator concentration, while an increase in the concentration of nonanoyloxybenzene sulphonate gave an adverse effect on the performance. It was found that the cationic bleach activator was superior to the anionic activator in the hot bleaching of cotton under the conditions studied.
Grape seed extract inhibits lipid oxidation in muscle from different species during refrigerated and frozen storage and oxidation catalyzed by peroxynitrite and iron/ascorbate in a pyrogallol red model system

The antioxidant effect of grape seed extract (GSE) was determined by assessing the bleaching of pyrogallol red (PGR) by peroxynitrite or iron/ascorbate, and the formation of lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and thiobarbituric acid substances (TBARS) in raw or cooked ground muscle during refrigerated or frozen storage. In PGR models, GSE was more effective than gallic acid in inhibiting oxidation. The formation of LOOH and TBARS was inhibited by GSE (0.1% and 1.0%) compared to untreated controls and samples treated with sodium tripolyphosphate. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), alone or in combination with GSE, had no effect on LOOH or TBARS, which provides clues about the possible mechanism of action of GSE. These results show that GSE at concentrations as low as 0.1% is a very effective inhibitor of primary and secondary oxidation products in various muscle systems and has potential as a natural antioxidant in raw and cooked meat systems.
A spiking thalamus model for form and motion processing of images

The thalamus, far from being a simple relay, supports several functions including attention and awareness. Recent spiking models of the thalamus tend to focus on abstract thalamocortical features such as rhythms and synchrony. Here a new spiking retino-thalamic model is presented that reproduces several aspects in visual processing including distinct form and motion processing pathways. Using test and natural image sequences, differences between parvocellular and magnocellular relay neurons are studied. In line with several experimental results, parvocellular neurons are found to be more sensitive to changes in color (necessary for form processing) than temporal frequency (necessary for motion processing) and conversely for magnocellular neurons. This model can in turn be used as input into subsequent cortical models or as a tool to aid in experimentation. Future extensions could include modeling brainstem or cortical influence on thalamic processing, as well as the control of virtual agents.
Coexpression of the genes for platelet-derived growth factor B-chain receptor and macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor during monocytic differentiation.

Abstract Receptors for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) have not been identified previously to our knowledge in human myeloid cells that also produce PDGF. Here we report that phorbol ester-treated myeloid cells differentiated along the monocytic lineage express both a full-length 5.5-kilobase (kb) mRNA and a predominant, truncated 4.6-kb mRNA coding for the PDGF B-chain receptor (PDGF-BR). PDGF-BR was identified in phorbol ester-differentiated myeloid cells by indirect immunofluorescence with an antibody specific to PDGF-BR. This anti-PDGF-BR was also used in immunoprecipitation studies to demonstrate that lysates of phorbol ester-differentiated myeloid cells contain PDGF-BR molecules of 37 kDa to 130 kDa. The results also show that the tandemly linked genes for PDGF-BR and the macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor are coexpressed in the phorbol ester-differentiated myeloid cells. Expression of these two receptor genes has not been shown previously in any cell type to our knowledge.
The role of fourth-generation cephalosporins in the treatment of serious infectious diseases in hospitalized patients.

Abstract For many years, the third-generation cephalosporins have been utilized in the treatment of a broad range of infections. The reduction in the efficacy of these antimicrobials in hospitals seen in recent years is a result of the development of resistance to these compounds. This resistance, caused in part by the production of β-lactamases which can spread from species to species, has intensified the search for alternative agents. Compared with third-generation cephalosporins, fourth-generation cephalosporins possess enhanced activity against Gram-positive organisms, excellent penetration into Gram-negative bacilli, and are more stable against the activity of some β-lactamases. Accordingly, fourth-generation cephalosporins are attractive candidates to replace third-generation cephalosporins for the treatment of many nosocomial infections.
In-set/out-of-set speaker recognition: leverging the speaker and noise balance

This study addresses the problem of identifying in-set versus out-of-set speakers in noise for limited train/test durations in situations where rapid detection and tracking is required. The objective is to form a decision as to whether the current input speaker is accepted as a member of the enrolled in-set group or rejected as an outside speaker. A new scoring algorithm that combines scores across an energy-frequency grid is developed where high-energy speaker dependent frames are fused with weighted scores from low-energy noise dependent frames. By leveraging the balance between the speaker versus the background noise environment, it is possible to see an improvement in equal error rate performance. Using an initial form of the algorithm with speakers from the TIMIT database with 5 seconds of train and 2 seconds of test, the average relative EER performance improvement is 27.4%. The results confirm that for situations in which the background environment type remains constant between train and test, an in-set/out-of-set speaker recognition system that takes advantage of information gathered from the environmental noise can be formulated which realizes significant improvement.
Indexing volumetric shapes with matching and packing

We describe a novel algorithm for bulk-loading an index with high-dimensional data and apply it to the problem of volumetric shape matching. Our matching and packing algorithm is a general approach for packing data according to a similarity metric. First, an approximate $$k$$ k -nearest neighbor graph is constructed using vantage-point initialization, an improvement to previous work that decreases construction time while improving the quality of approximation. Then, graph matching is iteratively performed to pack related items closely together. The end result is a dense index with good performance. We define a new query specification for shape matching that uses minimum and maximum shape constraints to explicitly specify the spatial requirements of the desired shape. This specification provides a natural language for performing volumetric shape matching and is readily supported by the geometry-based similarity search (GSS) tree, an indexing structure that maintains explicit representations of volumetric shape. We describe our implementation of a GSS tree for volumetric shape matching and provide a comprehensive evaluation of parameter sensitivity, performance, and scalability. Compared to previous bulk-loading algorithms, we find that matching and packing can construct a GSS tree index in the same amount of time that is denser, flatter, and better performing, with an observed average performance improvement of 2X.
AZIMUTHAL STRUCTURE OF THE Cyg X-2 X-RAY DUST HALO

There is little information concerning the azimuthal distribution of X-rays in dust-scattering halos. This paper describes a Chandra observation of the bright source Cyg X-2 designed specifically for this purpose. After measuring and subtracting ≈10% instrument effects, we find the scattering halo to be rather uniform with possible fluctuations in the surface brightness of only 2%. Observations and data processing are discussed in detail. Some information about the dust distribution is derived.
A classifier based approach to flow shop scheduling

Scheduling is an important function of any manufacturing enterprise which helps in the timely delivery of its goods. Scheduling problems are typically hard to solve well. Moreover, once a schedule is prepared, it quickly needs to be revised to take into consideration the changes in the shop since preparation of the schedule. Various factors such as machine breakdowns, malerial or manpower shortages, for example, may necessitate the n~vision of the schedule. The schedule must be updated reactively to changes in the job shop (dynamic/reactive scheduling).
Computer simulation of the structure and elasticity of polyurethane networks: 1. Polyoxypropylene tetrols and hexamethylene diisocyanate

Abstract Model urethane networks prepared from polyoxypropylene tetrols and hexamethylene diisocyanate have been studied with the aid of the computer. Good agreement with experiment is found for gel points when the crosslinkers are treated as sticks. The simulation-theory moduli for the phantom model show good agreement with experiments for networks prepared with Mn = 1200 in the bulk and at various dilutions, or with Mn = 2100 in the bulk. Simulations underestimate moduli for networks prepared from Mn = 2100 at various dilutions by factors of less than 2.
Poetry and Photography An Exploration into Expressive/Creative Qualitative Research

This study explores the use of photography and poetry as tools of qualitative social research. The question guiding this exploration is how might the visual representation of reality (photography) ...
Hospice Enrollment Saves Money For Medicare And Improves Care Quality Across A Number Of Different Lengths-Of-Stay

Despite its demonstrated potential to both improve quality of care and lower costs, the Medicare hospice benefit has been seen as producing savings only for patients enrolled 53–105 days before death. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, 2002–08, and individual Medicare claims, and overcoming limitations of previous work, we found $2,561 in savings to Medicare for each patient enrolled in hospice 53–105 days before death, compared to a matched, nonhospice control. Even higher savings were seen, however, with more common, shorter enrollment periods: $2,650, $5,040, and $6,430 per patient enrolled 1–7, 8–14, and 15–30 days prior to death, respectively. Within all periods examined, hospice patients also had significantly lower rates of hospital service use and in-hospital death than matched controls. Instead of attempting to limit Medicare hospice participation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should focus on ensuring the timely enrollment of qualified patients who desire the benefit.
Political-Administrative Relations in Collaborative Environmental Management

Do local elected and staff officials play different roles in collaborative environmental management? Local elected officials express more concern about threats to property rights and excessive government taxes and are more likely to participate in watershed partnerships to head off state and federal regulations. In contrast, local staff officials express more concern about excessive population growth, impaired water quality, and threats to species. Local elected officials associate more with resource users and local districts whereas local staff officials associate more with federal and state government officials, environmentalists, and scientists. The conclusion extends the findings into an exploration into the respective roles of elected and staff officials in sustainable politics.
Ephemeris of a Highly Eccentric Orbit - Explorer 28

An ephemeris has been obtained for Explorer 28 (IMP 3) which agrees well with 2 years of radio observations and with SAO observations a year later. This ephemeris is generated over the 3 year lifetime by a numerical integration method utilizing a set of initial conditions, at launch and without requiring further differential correction. Because highly eccentric orbits are difficult to compute with acceptable accuracy and because a long continuous arc has been obtained which compares with actual data to a known precision, this ephemeris may be used as a standard for computing highly eccentric orbits in the Earth-Moon system.
A fundamental understanding of factors affecting frost nucleation.

Abstract Theoretical analysis of the nucleation process for frost formation on a cold surface shows that the air at the cold surface should be supersaturated in order for frost nucleation to occur. This understanding is new, relative to previously published frost growth models. Further, the supersaturation degree is dependent on the surface energy, which is related to the water contact angle. The theoretical predictions were compared to experimental results, and reasonable agreement was obtained. Qualitatively, a low energy surface (high contact angle) requires higher supersaturation degree for frost nucleation than a high energy surface. Quantitatively, the experimental data shows that the low energy surface requires approximately 10 times higher supersaturation degree than the high energy surface when the contact angle difference is approximately 80° at −20 °C surface temperature. The factors affecting the surface energy such energy such as temperature, surface roughness, and foreign particles are discussed in this paper.
UnZIPping mechanisms of effector-triggered immunity in animals.

The mechanisms by which epithelial cells distinguish pathogens from commensal microbes have long puzzled us. Now, McEwan et al. (2012) and Dunbar et al. (2012), in this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, demonstrate that in C. elegans, microbial toxin-induced inhibition of host cellular functions, especially blockade of protein translation, activates the effector-triggered immune response dependent on the transcription factor ZIP-2.
Tropical Tropopause Structure and Processes as Observed with GPS Radio Occultation

The vertical temperature structure of the tropical atmosphere has been explained as controlled by the combined effect of three green house gases: water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ozone. Absorption by water vapor of the light reflected off the Earth's surface would determine the temperature lapse rate in the lower troposphere up to the bottom of the Tropical Transition Layer (TTL); radiative absorption by carbon dioxide would dominate the temperature lapse rate between the bottom of the TTL and the coldest point in the upper-troposphere, the cold point tropopause (CPT), and; absorption of incoming solar radiation by ozone would control the temperature above the CPT. The TTL region can thus be very sensitive to changes in the relative abundances of these greenhouse gases. In this contribution we describe the seasonal evolution of temperature profiles in the TTL and their longitudinal structure using GPS radio occultation.
X-ray diffraction study of the binding of the antisickling agent 12C79 to human hemoglobin.

Abstract The hemoglobin binding site of the antisickling agent 12C79 has been determined by x-ray crystallography. 12C79 is recognized as one of the first molecules to reach clinical trials that was designed, de novo, from x-ray-determined atomic coordinates of a protein. Several previous attempts to verify the proposed Hb binding sites via crystallographic studies have failed. Using revised experimental procedures, we obtained 12C79-deoxyhemoglobin crystals grown after reaction with oxyhemoglobin and cyanoborohydride reduction to stabilize the Schiff base linkage. The difference electron-density Fourier maps show that two 12C79 molecules bind covalently to both symmetry-related N-terminal amino groups of the hemoglobin alpha chains. This is in contrast to the original design that proposed the binding of one drug molecule that spans the molecular dyad to interact with both N-terminal alpha-amino groups.
ESD design automation for a 90nm ASIC design system

Design tools for ESD are described that ensure robust protection at both the cell and chip level in a high-volume, highly automated ASIC design system. There are three primary components: Design Rule Checking (DRC) for ESD; transient CDM simulations on extracted netlists; and analysis of chip-level power supply net resistances.