cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scales and spectra of turbulence over the gulf stream during offshore cyclogenesis

Turbulence structure of the marine boundary layer (MBL) over the Gulf Stream and the adjacent coastal waters during the development of a storm is discussed. Prestorm conditions prevailed on 9 February and a meso-low formed on 10 February which intensified into an offshore cyclone on 11 February. Observations from aircraft, buoys and ships were made as part of the Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment (GALE, 86) during these three days. Analysis of the high frequency (20 Hz) turbulence data collected from low-level flights by the NCAR King Air and Electra indicates the effect of the storm development on the turbulence structure of the MBL.
Possible radio wave precursors associated with the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9/Jupiter impacts

We suggest that prior to its impact with Jupiter, comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 will behave as an electrical generator in the Jovian magnetosphere, converting planetary rotational energy to electrical energy via a dust/plasma interaction. This electrical energy will then be deposited in the dayside auroral region where it may drive various auroral phenomena including cyclotron radio emission. Such emission could be detected by spacecraft like Ulysses and Galileo many hours prior to the actual comet impact with the upper atmosphere. We apply the theory originally developed to explain the spokes in Saturn's rings. This theory allows us to quantify the driving potential associated with the comet and, consequently, to determine the radio power created in the auroral region. We conclude that if enough fine dust is present in the cometary system, comet-induced auroral radio emissions will reach detectable levels. This emission should be observable in the dayside hemisphere about 12-24 hours prior to each fragment impact.
Input-polarisation scanning technique for overcoming polarisation-induced signal fading in interferometric fibre sensors

Results of theoretical and experimental studies are presented, which show that polarisation-induced signal fading, caused by random polarisation fluctuations in an interferometric sensor, can be overcome by interrogating the sensor at three pre-defined input SOPs.
Fecal microbiota transplant for recurrent clostridium difficile infection: Mayo clinic in Arizona experience

Abstract Objective To report the initial experience of treating recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) with fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Patients and Methods The study retrospectively reviewed FMTs performed at Mayo Clinic in Arizona between January 1, 2011, and January 31, 2013. All the recipients had multiple recurrent CDIs unresponsive to traditional antibiotic drug therapy. A standardized protocol was developed to identify patients, screen donors, perform FMT, and determine outcomes via telephone surveys. Results Thirty-one patients (mean ± SD age, 61.26±19.34 years) underwent FMT. Median time from index infection to FMT was 340 days. Ninety-seven percent (29 of 30) of patients reported substantial improvement or resolution of diarrhea (median time to improvement, 3 days), 74% (17 of 23) reported improvement or resolution of abdominal pain (median time to improvement, 3 days), and 55% (16 of 29) had improvement or resolution of fatigue (median time to improvement, 6 days). Three patients underwent repeated FMT owing to persistent symptoms; 2 reported improvement in diarrhea with the second therapy. No serious adverse events directly related to FMT were reported. Conclusion A standardized regimen of FMT for recurrent CDI is safe, is highly effective, and can be provided using a relatively simple protocol.
Turfgrass Reflectance Measurements, Chlorophyll, and Soil Nitrate Desorbed from Anion Exchange Membranes

There is not extensive research on the potential of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) for determining available N in soils of turfgrass systems, nor on the use of reflectance meters for quantifying turfgrass color. The two objectives of this study were to determine relationships between (i) turfgrass color measurements and soil nitrate (NO 3 -N) desorbed from AEMs and (ii) reflectance meter measurements and turfgrass chlorophyll concentration. A field experiment was conducted on a 90% Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) stand across 2 yr. Anion exchange membranes were inserted into the soil and exchanged weekly. Desorbed NO 3 -N from the AEMs was quantified. Turfgrass color and chlorophyll measurements were taken monthly. Reflectance meter measurements were significantly related to chlorophyll concentration. Linear response plateau models suggested critical levels of AEM soil NO 3 -N, above which turfgrass color did not improve, from 0.31 to 0.43 μg cm -2 d -1 . These models suggest that critical levels of soil NO 3 -N could be determined that maximize turfgrass quality without excessive N application. These findings suggest both AEMs and hand-held reflectance meters could be useful tools for N management in turfgrass.
Morphological variation of a syncytial virus from lymphosarcomatous and apparently normal cattle.

Double-membrane enveloped, endoplasmic reticulum-associated (ERA) viral particles occurred in the cytoplasm of bovine embryonic splenic cell cultures previously infected with bovine syncytial virus (BSV) that had been isolated from lymphosarcomatous and apparently normal cattle. Previously, BSV was seen only in budding forms at the plasma membrane.
Probing the donor and acceptor dye assemblies at the galleries of α-zirconium phosphate

Abstract Self-assembly of fluorescein (Fl) and rhodamine B (RhB) dyes at the galleries of surfactant impregnated α-zirconium phosphate (SAZrP) is demonstrated here. Cationic surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and didodecyldimethylammonium bromide solubilize the hydrophobic dyes in aqueous solutions and enhance their binding to negatively charged α-ZrP. Fl molecules immobilized in SAZrP exhibit distinct spectroscopic signatures with 14 nm red-shifted absorption ( λ max at 501 nm vs 487 nm in aqueous solutions) and hyperchromicity ( e max =100,000 M −1 cm −1 , twice the value in aqueous or micellar solutions). RhB, in contrast, retains the spectroscopic features as those observed in aqueous solutions ( λ max at 553 nm). Enhanced relative quantum yields for the SAZrP bound dyes as compared to aqueous solutions are observed ( φ rel values of 1.7 and 1.32 for Fl/CAZrP and RhB/CAZrP respectively). Facile binding of Fl molecules with SAZrP was used to investigate the energy transfer between co-immobilized Fl (donor) and RhB (acceptors) molecules. Quenching of Fl fluorescence by RhB, immobilized on SAZrP was efficient and Stern–Volmer quenching constants ( K SV ) on the order of 10 6 M −1 . Energy transfer efficiencies are enhanced an order of magnitude when compared to solution phase values. Fluorescence polarization of the Fl/SAZrP assemblies at varying Fl concentrations indicated depolarization of the emission at high loadings. Quenching rate constants increased with the dye loading and fluorescence lifetimes decreased due to self-quenching ( τ =3.75 ns (monoexponential), low loading vs τ 1 =0.44 ns (69%, biexponential), high loading). Donor to donor energy migration is possible within these assemblies. Accelerated energy transfer of the immobilized dyes will be useful in the design of artificial light harvesting complexes and photon antennas.
Laparoscopic curative resection of pheochromocytomas.

Since it was first performed in 1992,1 laparoscopy has clearly become the procedure of choice for the removal of most functioning and nonfunctioning adrenal tumors. Compared with those who underwent a standard open approach, patients undergoing a laparoscopic adrenalectomy have demonstrated decreased perioperative morbidity, shorter hospitalization, and faster functional recovery.2–5 Modern indications for a minimally invasive approach have been expanded to large tumors, bilateral pathology, and metastatic malignancies.6–10 Despite early concerns about perioperative cardiovascular complications related to pneumoperitoneum, organ manipulation, and dissection, several isolated reports and small series have shown the laparoscopic approach to be safe.11–13 The feasibility of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma has been established with careful attention to proper preoperative alpha-adrenergic blockade and intraoperative management. However, when compared with other adrenal pathologies, a minimally invasive adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma, even in experienced hands, may be associated with longer operative times, increased complications, and longer hospitalization.14 Our study presents a large multicenter experience with laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma.
Teachers' Interpretations of "CGI" after Four Years: Meanings and Practices.

Twenty primary teachers were interviewed who, three or four years earlier, had participated in in-service workshops on Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI). Three patterns of CGI use seemed related to the meanings teachers constructed for CGI itself. Teachers who reported developing their use of CGI until it formed the mainstay of their mathematics teaching saw CGI conceptually. They also reported learning mainly through their interactions with students and other teachers and developing beliefs about the conceptual nature of mathematics, the constructivist nature of learning, and the students' central role in that learning. Teachers who reported never having used CGI more than supplementally saw CGI as a group of procedures and espoused more traditional beliefs in these areas. Teachers who reported using CGI more at first, but less currently, showed a marked incongruity between their espoused beliefs and reported practices. The authors ask whether additional reseacher support, collegial interaction, or perhaps prescriptiveness in the intervention might have helped teachers in this third group enact their conceptually based beliefs.
Analysis on Community Variational Trend in Dynamic Networks

Temporal analysis on dynamic networks has become a popularly discussed topic today, with more and more emerging data over time. In this paper we investigate the problem of detecting and tracking the variational communities within a given time period. We first define a metric to measure the strength of a community, called the normalized temporal community strength. And then, we propose our analysis framework. The community may evolve over time, either split to multiple communities or merge with others. We address the problem of evolutionary clustering with requirement on temporal smoothness and propose a revised soft clustering method based on non-negative matrix factorization. Then we use a clustering matching method to find the soft correspondence between different community distribution structures. This matching establishes the connection between consecutive snapshots. To estimate the variational rate and meanwhile address the smoothness during continuous evolution, we propose an objective function that combines the conformity of current variation and historical variational trend. In addition, we integrate the weights to the objective function to identify the temporal outliers. An iterative coordinate descent method is proposed to solve the optimization framework. We extensively evaluate our method with a synthetic dataset and several real datasets. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method, which is greatly superior to the baselines on detection of the communities with significant variation over time.
Interior Surface Modification of Bacteriophage MS2

An efficient strategy for the interior surface functionalization of MS2 viral capsids is reported, featuring a new hetero-Diels-Alder bioconjugation reaction. After virus isolation, the RNA genome was removed from the spherical particles by exposure to pH 11.8 conditions for a period of 4 h. Following this, 180 tyrosine residues on the interior surface of each "empty" capsid shell were modified by using a site-selective diazonium-coupling reaction. To attach additional functionality, the azo conjugate was reduced with Na2S2O4 to afford an ortho-amino tyrosine derivative. Oxidation of this moiety with NaIO4 produced an o-iminoquinone on the protein surface, which was found to undergo an efficient hetero-Diels-Alder reaction with N-(4-aminophenyl)acrylamide. This four-step procedure can be carried out in under 4 h, reaches high levels of conversion, and yields the desired conjugates in >60% overall yield.
CIRCADIAN MITOTIC RHYTHM IN EPIPHYSEAL CARTILAGE

A PRELIMINARY publication in Nature based on the colchicine method suggested that a diurnal periodicity existed for the cells of growing epiphyseal cartilage in mice1. In the course of a subsequent investigation dealing with the rhythmicity of bone formation in rats, it became possible to extend the original findings and to describe the mitotic rhythm in greater detail.
An Exploratory Study of Perceived Importance of Web Site Characteristics: The Case of the Bed and Breakfast Industry

ABSTRACT Little research has been documented on how Bed and Breakfast (B&B) operators conduct their business on the Internet from customers' perspectives and what perceptions customers had toward B&B Web sites. As an exploratory effort toward theory development, this study examined one actual B&B Web site in a midwestern area and identified antecedent variables of customers' behavioral intentions to use a B&B Web site. Among three different constructs examined, customers' satisfaction with the information provided by the B&B Web site appeared to be the most powerful determinant of customers' intentions to use the Web site again. Implications and suggestions are included for B&B operators and future research.
Monitoring carboplatin ototoxicity with distortion-product otoacoustic emissions in children with retinoblastoma

Abstract Objective Carboplatin is a common chemotherapy agent with potential ototoxic side effects that is used to treat a variety of pediatric cancers, including retinoblastoma. Retinoblastoma is a malignant tumor of the retina that is usually diagnosed in young children. Distortion-product otoacoustic emission tests offer an effective method of monitoring for ototoxicity in young children. This study was designed to compare measurements of distortion-product otoacoustic emissions obtained before and after several courses of carboplatin chemotherapy in order to examine if (a) mean distortion-product otoacoustic emission levels were significantly different; and (b) if criterion reductions in distortion-product otoacoustic emission levels were observed in individual children. Methods A prospective repeated measures study. Ten children with a median age of 7.6 months (range, 3–72 months) diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral retinoblastoma were examined. Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions were acquired from both ears of the children with 65/55 dB SPL primary tones ( f 2 = 793–7996 Hz) and a frequency resolution of 3 points/octave. Distortion-product otoacoustic emission levels in dB SPL were measured before chemotherapy treatment (baseline measurement) and after 3–4 courses of chemotherapy (interim measurement). Comparisons were made between baseline and interim distortion-product otoacoustic emission levels (collapsed across ears). Evidence of ototoxicity was based on criterion reductions (≥6 dB) in distortion-product otoacoustic emission levels. Results Significant differences between baseline and interim mean distortion-product otoacoustic emission levels were only observed at f 2 = 7996 Hz. Four children exhibited criterion reductions in distortion-product otoacoustic emission levels. Conclusions Mean distortion-product otoacoustic emission levels at most frequencies were not changed following 3–4 courses of carboplatin chemotherapy in children with retinoblastoma. However, on an individual basis, children receiving higher doses of carboplatin exhibited criterion reductions in distortion-product otoacoustic emission level at several frequencies. These findings suggest that higher doses of carboplatin affect outer hair cell function, and distortion-product otoacoustic emission tests can provide useful information when monitoring children at risk of developing carboplatin ototoxicity.
Prolonged post-block hypoexcitability induced by anodal blockade of cat tooth pulp.

Abstract Stimulation of the canine tooth pulp in the barbiturized cat was used to elicit trigeminal field potentials as an index of pulpal excitability. The purpose of the present experiment was to characterize the magnitude and temporal pattern of a dose-dependent attenuation of pulpal excitability induced during and following the application of direct anodal blocking currents (electroanalgesia) to the test tooth. The application of electroanalgesia current resulted in pulpal hypoexcitability which, with rare exception, tended to progressively increase with time. Following the cessation of all but quite low levels of block, the pulpal excitability (by either monopolar or bipolar testing) never returned to its control level, but remained elevated or occasionally became more intense for several hours dependent on the intensity and duration of the blocking current. These characteristics imply changes unlikely to result solely from a “pure” membrane hyperpolarization of the classical anodal block hypothesis.
Assessment of mortality in the construction industry in the United States, 1984-1986

Construction, one of the larger industries in the United States, employs 7.6 million workers, many in skilled trades occupations. Previously published data about potential worksite exposures and mortality of construction site workers are limited. We analyzed occupation and industry codes on death certificates from 19 U.S. states to evaluate mortality risks among men and women usually employed in construction occupations. Proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) for cancer and several other chronic diseases were significantly elevated among 61,682 white male construction workers who died between 1984 and 1986. Men younger than age 65, who were probably still employed immediately prior to death, had significantly elevated PMRs for cancer, asbestos-related diseases, mental disorders, alcohol-related disease, digestive diseases, falls, poisonings, traumatic fatalities that are usually work-related, and homicides. Elevated PMRs for many of the same causes were observed to a lesser degree for black men and white women whose usual industry was construction. In addition, women experienced excess cancer of the connective tissue and suicide mortality. Various skilled construction trades had elevated PMRs for specific sites, such as bone cancer and melanoma in brickmasons, stomach cancer in roofers and brickmasons, kidney and bone cancer in concrete/terrazzo finishers, nasal cancer in plumbers, pulmonary tuberculosis in laborers, scrotal cancer and aplastic anemia in electricians, acute myeloid leukemia in boilermakers, rectal cancer and multiple sclerosis in electrical power installers, and lung cancer in structural metal workers. Using a standard population of blue collar workers did not result in fewer elevated PMRs for construction workers. Despite lifestyle differences and other limitations of the study, the large numbers of excess deaths observed in this study indicate the need for preventive action for construction workers.
Exoplanet atmospheres: A theoretical outlook

With over two dozen exoplanet atmospheres observed today, the field of exoplanet atmospheres is solidly established. The highlights of exoplanet atmosphere studies include: detection of molecular spectral features; constraints on atmospheric vertical temperature structure; detection of day-night temperature gradients; and a new numerical approach to atmosphere temperature and abundance retrieval. As hot Jupiter observations and interpretation are maturing, the next frontier is super Earth atmospheres. Theoretical models of super Earth atmospheres are moving forward with observational hopes pinned on the James Webb Space Telescope , scheduled for launch in 2014. Further in the future lies direct imaging attempts to answer the enigmatic and ancient question, “Are we alone?” via atmospheric biosignatures.
Just-in-time vaccines: Biomineralized calcium phosphate core-immunogen shell nanoparticles induce long-lasting CD8+ T cell responses in mice

Distributed and on-demand vaccine production could be game-changing for infectious disease treatment in the developing world by providing new therapeutic opportunities and breaking the refrigeration “cold chain”. Here, we show that a fusion protein between a calcium phosphate binding domain and the model antigen ovalbumin can mineralize a biocompatible adjuvant in a single step. The resulting 50 nm calcium phosphate core-immunogen shell particles are comparable to soluble protein in inducing ovalbumin-specific antibody response and class switch recombination in mice. However, single dose vaccination with nanoparticles leads to higher expansion of ovalbumin-specific CD8+ T cells upon challenge with an influenza virus bearing the ovalbumin-derived SIINFEKL peptide, and these cells produce high levels of IFN-γ. Furthermore, mice exhibit a robust antigen-specific CD8+ T cell recall response when challenged with virus 8 months post-immunization. These results underscore the promise of immunogen-controlled adjuvant mineralization for just-in-time manufacturing of effective T cell vaccines.
Environmental Programming: Case Study of Using This Versatile Design Teaching Tool

Environmental programming is a flexible design teaching tool that is appropriate for use in a variety of educational settings. It encourages interior design students to emphasize development of design criteria and analysis of client needs before they approach a graphic design solution. It also provides a design approach that may be used successfully in a traditional lecture format class by students who do not possess graphic design skills. The project incorporates three separate approaches to environmental programming. Following development of a detailed user profile and environmental setting, design criteria are formulated that would be: (1) supportive for the chosen user group in a specific physical setting, (2) facilitate or support a particular social process, and (3) meet the needs of a handicapped person.
In postmeiotic male germ cells poly (A) shortening accompanies translation of mRNA encoding γ enteric actin but not cytoplasmic β and γ actin mRNAs

In the mammalian testis the cytoplasmic beta and gamma actins are expressed in all stages of germ-cell differentiation, whereas gamma enteric actin is expressed in germ cells solely in postmeiotic stages. Northern blot analysis of mouse testicular RNAs reveals actin mRNAs of about 2.1, 1.5, and 1.4 kB. The 2.1-kB mRNAs encode the cytoplasmic beta and gamma actins, whereas the two faster-migrating actin mRNAs encode gamma enteric actin. When postmitochondrial mouse testis extracts are fractionated by sucrose gradient centrifugation, the 1.5-kB gamma enteric actin mRNA is primarily found in the nonpolysomal fraction, whereas the 1.4-kB gamma enteric actin is polysomal. When the poly (A) tails are removed, the nonpolysomal and polysomal gamma enteric actin mRNAs both migrate at 1.3 kB, indicating that the difference in electrophoretic mobilities of the two gamma enteric actin mRNAs is caused by poly (A) length differences. The nonpolysomal and polysomal forms of the cytoplasmic beta and gamma actins show similar electrophoretic mobilities before and after deadenylation. Sequence comparison of the 3' untranslated region of the mouse gamma enteric actin to the 3' untranslated regions of other testicular mRNAs that undergo partial deadenylation reveals three highly-conserved sequence elements. These data demonstrate that the poly (A) shortening of polysomal mRNAs previously seen only with testis-specific mRNAs that are stored as mRNPs also occurs with mRNAs of widely-expressed genes that are expressed in postmeiotic male germ cells. The mRNAs all contain specific conserved sequence elements in their 3' untranslated regions.
Detection of agreement vs. disagreement in meetings: training with unlabeled data

To support summarization of automatically transcribed meetings, we introduce a classifier to recognize agreement or disagreement utterances, utilizing both word-based and prosodic cues. We show that hand-labeling efforts can be minimized by using unsupervised training on a large unlabeled data set combined with supervised training on a small amount of data. For ASR transcripts with over 45% WER, the system recovers nearly 80% of agree/disagree utterances with a confusion rate of only 3%.
Differential effects of octreotide on motor responses to nicotine in rats.

Abstract We tested the hypothesis that brain somatostatin levels modify two motor behaviors evoked by ICV infusions of nicotine. Unrestrained, awake rats were given fixed-concentration infusions of nicotine until the prostration/immobility (PI) syndrome and convulsions were produced. Infusion duration ranged from 0.9 to 1.2 min for the PI syndrome and 2.5 to 4.9 min for the convulsions. Octreotide, a stable somatostatin analog (4.5 μg, ICV), significantly raised the threshold for nicotine convulsions 1.0 and 5.5 h after pretreatment but not at 24 or 48 h. Cysteamine, a somatostatin releaser and depletor (0.35–0.75 mg/rat, ICV), also caused a dose-dependent increase in seizure threshold. Similarities in the responses to octreotide and cysteamine suggest that depression of nicotine convulsions by cysteamine may be mediated by release of endogenous somatostatin. Neither octreotide nor cysteamine altered the threshold for the PI syndrome. These results support the view that one motor behavior evoked by nicotine is subject to control by somatostatin whereas another is not.
Thiol chelation of Cu2+ by dihydrolipoic acid prevents human low density lipoprotein peroxidation.

Abstract Mono-thiols can act either as pro- or anti-oxidants during metal-catalyzed low density lipoprotein (LDL) peroxidation, however investigation of the role of vicinal thiols has been neglected. Therefore dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), a vicinal dithiol, and lipoic acid, its oxidized form, were used to investigate Cu2+-mediated LDL peroxidation. We demonstrate here that DHLA inhibited Cu2+-dependent LDL peroxidation by chelating copper. DHLA (0–20 μM) increased lag-times of conjugated diene formation in LDL (100 μg/ml) oxidized with 5 μM Cu2+ in a concentration dependent manner, and this effect was saturated after 5 μM DHLA; enough to chelate all of the added Cu2+. In a similar fashion DHLA prevented LDL-mediated reduction of Cu2+ to Cu+. Lipoic acid had no effect in these systems. DHLA alone also reduced Cu2+, however this was inhibited when DHLA was in excess of the copper concentration. Hence there is complex formation between the two species. Copper:DHLA complex formation was further investigated and found to be dependent upon pH and the presence of oxygen. At low pH (
A Gelfand‐Phillips Property with Respect to the Weak Topology

We consider a Gelfand-Phillips type property for the weak topology. The main results that we obtain are (1) for certain Banach spaces, E˜ϵF inherits this property from E and F, and (2) the spaces Lp(μ, E) have this property when E does. A subset A of a Banach space E is a limited set if every (bounded linear) operator T:E c0 maps A onto a relatively compact subset of c0. The Banach space E has the Gelfand-Phillips property if every limited set is relatively compact. In this note, we study the analogous notions set in the weak topology. Thus we say that A ⊂ E is a Grothendieck set if every T: E c0 maps A onto a relatively weakly compact set; and E is said to have the weak type GP property if every Grothendieck set in E is relatively weakly compact. In the papers [3, 4 and 6], it is shown among other results that the ϵ-tensor product E and the spaces Lp(μ, E) inherit the Gelfand-Phillips property from E and F. In this paper, we study the same questions for the weak type GP property. It is easily verified that continuous linear images of Grothendieck sets are Grothendieck and that the weak type GP property is inherited by subspaces. Among the spaces with the weak type GP property one easily finds the separable spaces, and more generally, spaces with a weak* sequentially compact dual ball. Also, C(K) spaces where K is (DCSC) are weak type GP (see [3] and the discussion before Corollary 4 below). A Grothendieck space (a Banach space whose unit ball is a Grothendieck set) has the weak type GP if and only if it is reflexive.
Exploitation of host signaling pathways by microbial quorum sensing signals

Environmental and commensal microbes that live within, on and around us have an enormous impact on human health. Recent progress in studies of prokaryotic interplay as well as host–bacteria interactions suggests that secreted microbial products, including quorum sensing signals (QSS), are important mediators of these intrakingdom and interkingdom relations. Reports have assigned QSS diverse and sometimes seemingly contradictory effects on mammalian cell physiology ranging from either blunting of the immune response or exerting pro-inflammatory activities to inducing cellular stress pathways and ultimately apoptosis. Thus, it is still unclear whether microbes utilize QSS to establish and maintain infections via modulation of host signaling pathways or if the eukaryotic host uses the conserved microbial QSS structures as molecular danger beacons to detect and fight infections. Along the same lines exactly how and under what circumstances QSS are detected by host cells remains a mystery, especially considering the distinct chemical properties of the QSS classes with some being small enough to passively diffuse across membranes while others most likely require extracellular recognition mechanisms.
Mo1236 Sedation Related Complications in Patients Undergoing ERCP: A Single Center Experience

total visibility score. The lower the score, the more clear the visibility. The total time taken for procedure (from insertion at GE junction to withdrawal at GE junction) and the volume of flushes required were also recorded. Results: Visibility scores were significantly better in group C than in either of the other groups (group A: 6.08; group B: 5.83; group C: 4.66, p 0.05). The group C required fewer flushes during the procedure than either of the other groups (group A: 31mL; group B: 35mL; group C: 8mL, p 0.05). The endoscopic time (minute) in group C was significantly shorter than in group B (1.9 vs. 2.4, p 0.001). There were no complications in any of the groups. Conclusion: Premedication as in group C significantly improved the mucosal visibility of the stomach and decreased additional flushes than in either of the other groups.
Regularization with differential operators. I. General theory

Abstract The method of regularization is used to obtain least squares solutions of the linear equation Kx = y, where K is a bounded linear operator from one Hilbert space into another and the regularizing operator L is a closed densely defined linear operator. Existence, uniqueness, and convergence analyses are developed. An application is given to the special case when K is a first kind integral operator and L is an nth order differential operator in the Hilbert space L2[a, b].
HOMOPLASY AND THE CHOICE AMONG CLADOGRAMS

Abstract Cladistic data are more decisive when the possible trees differ more in tree length. When all the possible dichotomous trees have the same length, no one tree is better supported than the others, and the data are completely undecisive. From a rule for recursively generating undecisive matrices for different numbers of taxa, formulas to calculate consistency, rescaled consistency and retention indices in undecisive matrices are derived. The least decisive matrices are not the matrices with the lowest possible consistency, rescaled consistency or retention indices (on the most parsimonious trees); those statistics do not directly vary with decisiveness. Decisiveness can be measured with a newly proposed statistic, DD=S−S)/(S−S) (where S= length of the most parsimonious cladogram, S= mean length of all the possible cladograms for the data set and M= observed variation). For any data set, S can be calculated exactly with simple formulas; it depends on the types of characters present, and not on their congruence. Despite some recent assertions to the contrary, the consistency index is an appropriate measure of homoplasy (= deviation from hierarchy). The retention index seems more appropriate for comparing the fit of different trees for the same data set.
Topology optimization using B-spline finite elements

Topology optimization algorithms using traditional elements often do not yield well-defined smooth boundaries. The computed optimal material distributions have problems such as "checkerboard" pattern formation unless special techniques, such as filtering, are used to suppress them. Even when the contours of a continuous density function are defined as the boundary, the solution can still have shape irregularities. The ability of B-spline elements to mitigate these problems are studied here by using these elements to both represent the density function as well as to perform structural analysis. B-spline elements can represent the density function and the displacement field as tangent and curvature continuous functions. Therefore, stresses and strains computed using these elements is continuous between elements. Furthermore, fewer quadratic and cubic B-spline elements are needed to obtain acceptable solutions. Results obtained by B-spline elements are compared with traditional elements using compliance as objective function augmented by a density smoothing scheme that eliminates mesh dependence of the solutions while promoting smoother shapes.
Federal tax incentives and disincentives for the adoption of wood-fuel electric-generating technologies

Abstract In this paper, we estimate the effects of current federaltax policy on the financial criteria that investor-owned electric utilities (IOUs) and non-utility electricity generators (NUGs) use to evaluate wood-fuel electric-generating technologies, distinguishing between dedicated-plantation and wood-waste fuels. Accelerated tax depreciation, the 1·5 ¢/kWh production tax credit for the dedicated-plantation technology, and the alternative minimum tax are the most important tax provisions. The results indicate that federal tax laws have significantly different effects on the evaluation criteria, depending on the plant's ownership (IOU vs NUG) and type of fuel (dedicated-plantation vs wood-waste).
Optimization of clean fractionation processing as a pre-treatment technology for prairie cordgrass

The main objective of this study was to fractionate prairie cordgrass (PCG) obtaining the highest cellulose digestibility. Following clean fractionation (CF) processing, the PCG lignocellulosic biomass was fractionated into three main building blocks: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Effects of processing factors such as time, temperature, catalyst concentration and organic solvent mixture composition were evaluated. Organic solvent-aqueous mixture contained methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), ethanol and water in different proportions. Sulfuric acid was used as a catalyst. In order to evaluate the degree of pre-treatment, enzymatic saccharification was employed on the cellulose fraction obtained from the CF process. Response surface methodology was used for process optimization and statistical analysis. Optimal conditions (39 min, 154°C, 0.69% catalyst and 9% MIBK) resulted in 84% glucose yield and 87% acid insoluble lignin (AIL).
Circulating immune cell and microRNA in patients with uveal melanoma developing metastatic disease

Background The immune response has been implicated in the control of uveal melanoma progression. Epigenetic mechanisms mediated by specific microRNAs (miRs) regulate immune responses.
Conical ion distributions at one earth radius - observations from the acceleration region?

Thermal ion measurements from the retarding ion mass spectrometer (RIMS) on Dynamics Explorer 1 (DE 1) in the night side auroral region were surveyed for evidence of ion acceleration. The RIMS measurements showed evidence for ion acceleration in the 2-10,000 km altitude range, with ion distributions peaked near 90 deg, and with temperatures of 1 to 10 eV. Two illustrations of the RIMS data for such observations are given. The conical distributions are found at the low latitude edge of the auroral region, just outside the plasmapause. In the first example, the three major ion species (H+, He+, and O+) show evidence of acceleration. The angular distributions are peaked at different pitch angles, indicating that the different species have been accelerated at different altitudes. The H+ flux is higher than the O+ flux in this first example, in the RIMS energy range (0-50 eV). This is apparently typical of the RIMS observations on the night side. In the second example, only O+ is transversely accelerated.
The effect of continuous positive airway pressure treatment on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Study Objectives:We sought to provide an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of studies investigating the effect of positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA...
Informatische Unterstützung des Coachings im Hochleistungssport

book. Institute of Sports Science, Salzburg, S 107 8. Kreitmair K (2006) Heatmaps im Fusball – Methodologie zur computergestutzten Erfassung. Unv. Examensarbeit, Universitat Augsburg 9. Lames M, Beetz M (2006) ASpoGAMo (Automated Sports Game Analysis Model) – ein automatisiertes, umfassendes Modell zur Analyse von Sportspielen. Unv. Manuskript, TU Munchen 10. Lames M, Hansen G (2001) Designing observational systems to support top-level teams in game sports. Int J Perform Anal 1(1):85–91 11. Leitner R, Fischer A, Soser A, Baca A, Smekal G, Hofmann P (2003) A novel 3D local position measurement (LPM) technology. In: Muller E et al. (eds) ECSS Salzburg 2003 – Abstract book. Institute of Sports Science, Salzburg, S 191 12. Mehler F (1995) Multimedia und akustische Spracherkennung. In: Perl J (ed) Sport und Informatik IV. Straus, Koln, S 32–46 13. Neef W (1991) Informationstechnologien zur unmittelbaren Wettkampfsteuerung in den Sportspielen. In: Perl J (ed) Sport und Informatik II. Straus, Koln, S 177–
Removal of specularities using color and polarization

An algorithm for separating the specular and diffuse components of reflection from images is presented. The method uses color and polarization simultaneously to obtain strong constraints on the reflection components at each image point. Polarization is used to locally determine the color of the specular component, constraining the diffuse color at a pixel to a one-dimensional linear subspace. This subspace is used to find neighboring pixels whose color is consistent with the pixel. Diffuse color information from consistent neighbors is used to determine the diffuse color of the pixel. In contrast to previous separation algorithms, the proposed method can handle highlights that have a varying diffuse component, as well as highlights that include regions with different reflectance and material properties. Experimental results obtained by applying the algorithm to complex scenes with textured objects and strong interreflections are presented. >
Comparison and Optimization of Impact Behavior of Triangular Tubes

*† ‡ Crashworthiness technology strives to protect occupants by maintaining the structural integrity and by converting the kinetic energy into other forms; and at the same time, the lower crashing force the occupants are being undertaken, the more safety the occupants would obtain. The paper has compared different tubes with the same volume under the same impacting condition and found out that triangular tube possesses the lowest crushing mean force. Load difference parameter (LD) is defined as the difference between maximum peak force and dynamic mean force in the paper. In order to reach the lowest LD parameter, response surface method (RSM) is used to identify the optimal shape of triangular tube using explicit finite element code Ls-Dyna as a simulation tool. The study has also shown that the circular cross-section tube has the highest dynamic mean force, followed by the hexagonal cross-section tube, then the rectangular cross-section tube, and lastly, the triangular cross-section tube, under the same supporting capacity and impact environment. Applying RSM to identify the best triangular shape to reach the minimum LD parameter as objective function, the central composite design is applied for design of experiment. The second-order model and third-order model have been used to compare the results in order to show the influence of regression methods. Two impacting condition are applied for optimization, namely fixed tube and moving tube. The final results show that the minimum LD value convergences at the equal lateral triangle for both impacting cases. The coefficient of multiple determinations R 2 for both impacting case are all over 0.9 for third-order model. Also, the normality of residual, the deformation modes, crushing force are presented and discussed for optimal triangular tubes.
Texture modulation detection by probability summation among orientation-selective and isotropic mechanisms.

Substantial evidence has accumulated for the notion that modulations of second-order properties in the visual scene are processed by mechanisms which detect contrast variations within narrow orientation/ spatial frequency channels. It has also been suggested that mechanisms exist which detect contrast modulations across all orientations. Many naturally occurring texture variations (e.g., modulations in orientation and/or spatial frequency) involve simultaneous contrast modulations in multiple channels. Contrasting conclusions have been drawn regarding the manner in which the information carried in multiple channels is combined. In a series of two experiments it is shown that simultaneous contrast modulations in two narrow orientation bands are detected by three mechanisms, two of which detect contrast modulations within the modulated bands only, the third of which integrates contrast across orientations in order to detect modulations of overall contrast. The three mechanisms combine their efforts by probability summation.
Optical absorption and electrical conductivity in amorphous In-Zn-O: A new TCO for CIGS PV

We report the coupled optical and electrical properties of a-IZO films as a function of both the metals composition and the %O 2 in the Ar/O 2 sputter gas mix. In particular, a-IZO films with conductivity δ ≫ 2000 S/cm can be grown for a broad range of metals compositions (60 to 85 at.% In) as long as the corresponding optimal oxygen level is used in the deposition. The amount of oxygen required increases with increasing indium content. When too much oxygen is used, the a-IZO remains clear but the conductivity is reduced due to a decreased carrier concentration. Whereas, when too little oxygen is used, the conductivity is reduced due to decreased electron mobility and there is a concurrent increase in the optical absorption from 400 to 1000 nm which renders the oxygen deficient a-IZO samples gray.
Design, construction, and analysis of a continuum robot

This paper proposes a novel approach in the design, construction and analysis of a continuum robot. The paper examines the drawbacks of two existing designs and proposes a new mechanical design that uses a single latex rubber tube as the central member, providing a design that is both simple and robust. Next, a new, simplified method of modeling kinematics is introduced. A novel verification procedure is then applied to examine the validity of the proposed model in two different domains of applicability and could be used to verify many other models that are constructed based on similar assumptions. Finally, a two-level electrical control scheme enables rapid prototyping.
The Association Between Smoking and Unhealthy Behaviors Among a National Sample of Mexican-American Adolescents.

: This study examined the relationship between smoking and participation in unhealthy behaviors among Mexican-American adolescents through a secondary analysis of national data. Mexican-American adolescents (N=580), ages 10 through 18 years who were interviewed as part of the 1993 Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey (TAPS II), were selected for analysis. Data collected included smoking status of the adolescent and participation in certain unhealthy behaviors. Among girls in the study, smokers were more likely to not wear a seat belt, be involved in physical fighting, not be involved in organized sports, perform poorly in school, say they like to do risky things, and ride in a car with a drunk or high driver. For boys, smoking was significantly associated with liking to do risky things, fighting, not attending church, and poor academic performance. These results suggest that Mexican-American adolescents who smoke may be at higher risk for engaging in behaviors that could compromise their health and safety, and for not being involved in activities that may exert a protective influence. (J Sch Health. 1998;68(9):376–380)
The Population of the Mediterranean Region During 1950–2000

Since ancient times, when some of the most influential civilisations in human history evolved in the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Basin, the region has been fairly densely settled, and important population centres, some of which attained a pre-eminent position as sites of commerce, culture or power, were located on or near the Mediterranean shores. Today, the Mediterranean Basin constitutes one of the few natural boundaries dividing the developed world of the North from the developing world of the South. Indeed, the most populous European countries bordering the northern littoral of the Mediterranean are among the most advanced economies of the world, while those lying to the east and south of the Mediterranean are, for the most part, medium-income countries still facing many of the problems of underdevelopment.
Sexual differentiation of hepatic metabolism of corticosterone and testosterone in the rat.

The metabolism of corticosterone and testosterone has been studied in vitro in separate aliquots of the same homogenates of livers from neonatally masculinized and non-masculinized adult castrate male rats. The recovered metabolites were separated by TLC and identified by the combined use of GLC and appropriate derivative formation. The major effect of neonatal masculinization upon the metabolism of both steroids was to increase the ratio of 3 beta : 3 alpha metabolites but this effect was much more prominent in the metabolism of corticosterone than of testosterone. Only 5 alpha metabolites of corticosterone were found, whereas a minor amount of 5 beta products appeared in the case of testosterone. Reduction at C-20 accounted for only about 5% of the metabolism of corticosterone with the exclusive formation of 20 beta-hydroxy derivatives in the non-masculinized liver, but of both 20 alpha and 20 beta products in the masculinized liver. Small amounts of acetylated androstane 3,17-diols and 3-hydroxy-17-ketones were formed, apparently by enzymic reactions that are influenced by neonatal masculinization.
Visual comparison of search results: A censorship case study

Understanding the qualitative differences between the sets of results from different search engines can be a difficult task. How many links must you follow from each list before you can reach a conclusion? We describe a user interface that allows users to quickly identify the most significant differences in content between two lists of Web pages. We have implemented this interface in CenSEARCHip, a system for comparing the effects of censorship policies on search engines.