cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On reconstruction of 3-D volumetric models of reefs and benthic structures from image sequences of a stereo rig

Acquiring 3-D computer models of objects from images has been an active computer vision research topic. A common approach uses overlapping images from different views around the object, and attempts to fuse all the information to construct the model by volume intersection. Most current methods have in common that the camera poses for these views are known. To achieve this, a monocular camera circles the target object on a robot arm, or equivalently, views a target on a rotating platform (e.g., a turntable), while the images are acquired at known intervals. We are interested in the deployment of a submersible platform equipped with stereo vision to construct 3-D volumetric models of benthic habitat objects, e.g., coral reefs and other seafloor structures. In this application, we would automatically acquire continuous 360-degrees stereo views of object(s) of interest, by processing the images online to estimate and control camera trajectory and views. In particular, we show that the redundancy from binocular cues improves the robustness and accuracy. Upon completion of the image data acquisition, a bundle adjustment formulation is proposed to recompute the trajectory and the stereo rig poses, as well as to generate object model(s).
On Admitting Sensor Fault Tolerance While Achieving Secure Biosignal Data Sharing

Remote health monitoring BASNs promise substantive improvements in the quality of healthcare by providing access to diagnostically rich patient data in real-time. However, adoption is hindered by the threat of compromise of the diagnostic quality of the data by faults. Simultaneously, unresolved issues exist with the secure sharing of the sensitive medical data measured by automated BASNs, stemming from the need to provide the data owner (BASN user / patient) and the data consumers (healthcare providers, insurance companies, medical research facilities) secure control over the medical data as it is shared. We address these issues with a robust watermarking approach constrained to leave primary data semantic metrics unaffected and secondary metrics affected minimally. Further, the approach is coordinated with a fault tolerant sensor partitioning technique to afford high semantic accuracy together with recovery of bio signal semantics in the presence of sensor faults, while preserving the robustness of the watermark so that it is not easily corrupted, recovered or spoofed by malicious data consumers. Based on experimentally collected datasets from a gait-stability monitoring BASN, we show that our watermarking technique can robustly and effectively embed up to 1000 bit watermarks under these constraints.
Frequency of systemic lupus erythematosus in different ethnic groups in Hawaii.

Abstract A survey of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients was conducted in civilian general hospitals on Oahu, Hawaii for the years 1970-75. One hundred sixty-eight cases were ascertained, of which 107 were considered "definite." Age-adjusted prevalence rates per 100,000 were estimated for definite cases at the end of 1975 as follows: white 5.8, Chinese 24.1, Filipino 19.9, part-Hawaiian 20.4, and Japanese 18.2. There was a heavy preponderance of females in each ethnic group, averaging 90% of the definite cases overall. Review of vital statistics for the United States and Hawaii during this period showed age-adjusted SLE mortality rates per million as follows: U.S. white 3.04, U.S. non-white 8.82, Hawaii white 1.89, Hawaii non-white 14.46. The cause of the very high SLE prevalence and mortality in the Oriental and Polynesian people of Hawaii is not clear.
Microfractures: A review

Abstract Microfractures are small, high-aspect-ratio cracks in rock that result from application of differential stresses. Although the term has been used to refer to larger features in the petroleum engineering and geophysics literature, in geologic parlance the term refers to fractures visible only under magnification, having lengths of millimeters or less and widths generally less than 0.1 mm. Nevertheless, populations of these structures typically encompass a wide size range and in some cases they form the small-size fraction of fracture arrays that include much larger factures. In geologic settings, microfractures commonly form as Mode I (opening) fractures where the minimum principal stress exceeds the elastic tensile strength creating a narrow opening displacement; in isotropic rocks such fractures mark the plane perpendicular to the least compressive principal stress during fracture growth. These planar or curviplanar openings provide an opportunity for fluids and/or gases to enter the created cavity. Cement deposits or crack closure may trap fluids or gases, leaving mineral precipitates and a track of enclosed fluids and gases. In transmitted light these precipitates frequently manifest as fluid-inclusion planes (FIPs). Cathodoluminescence (CL) images show that many are cement-filled microveins. Microfractures can be used to assess the paleostress history or fluid movement history of a rock body. Also, because sudden opening produces acoustic emissions, microfractures created in the laboratory can be used to assess the rock-failure process. Here we review recent discoveries made using microfractures, including fracture patterns, strain, fracture growth and size-scaling, evolution of stresses around propagating faults (process zones), far-field tectonic stresses, and insights into the state of stress leading to earthquakes.
Measurement of the Lattice Parameter of Silicon, using a Double-diffraction Effect

PRECISION measurements of the lattice parameters of single crystals have been made both by measuring directly the angles of Bragg reflexion1, and by analysing the Kossel, or divergent beam, patterns produced by a point source of X-rays2. The angles between the Bragg cones or their intersections are determined by the ratio . Lonsdale3 has shown that when these angles are very small, as for example when a number of Bragg cones almost intersect at a point, high precision can be achieved using relatively modest apparatus. By recording part of the Kossel pattern of diamond at a distance of 1 metre she obtained a very accurate value of the lattice parameter.
Fine structure of the bean-shaped accessory gland in the male pupa of Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae)☆

Abstract The bean-shaped accessory glands of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor L., produce secretions that form the outer layers of the spermatophore. We aim to understand the hormonal control of growth and differentiation of these glands. In the present paper, we describe the morphology of the glands during pupal maturation in situ . The primary ultrastructural changes during development are those related to the maturation of the secretory machinery, including an increase in prominence of the nucleoli, the expansion of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes, and tracheolar invaginations into the glandular epithelium. These glands increase in size due to cell division, and undergo a change in shape from oval to reniform due to differential mitotic rates in different regions. Of particular interest are cytoplasmic bridges between apposed cells. Although most common during the peak period of cell division, these bridges are not merely relics of incomplete cytokinesis but are potential sites for inter-cellular communication. The study has provided useful indices for scoring the progressive differentiation of the bean-shaped glands.
Empirical characterization and modeling of electrical loads in smart homes

Smart meter deployments are spurring renewed interest in analysis techniques for electricity usage data. An important prerequisite for data analysis is characterizing and modeling how electrical loads use power. While prior work has made significant progress in deriving insights from electricity data, one issue that limits accuracy is the use of general and often simplistic load models. Prior models often associate a fixed power level with an “on” state and either no power, or some minimal amount, with an “off” state. This paper's goal is to develop a new methodology for modeling electric loads that is both simple and accurate. Our approach is empirical in nature: we monitor a wide variety of common loads to distill a small number of common usage characteristics, which we leverage to construct accurate load-specific models. We show that our models are significantly more accurate than binary on-off models, decreasing the root mean square error by as much as 8X for representative loads. Finally, we demonstrate two example uses of our models in data analysis: i) generating device-accurate synthetic traces of building electricity usage, and ii) filtering out loads that generate rapid and random power variations in building electricity data.
Economic returns from forest conversion in the Peruvian Amazon

Abstract Rural people in the Peruvian Amazon both extract the products of intact tropical forest and convert forested land to swidden agriculture. Since the 1950s, agriculture has exceeded forest product extraction in economic importance in the region. Little incentive exists for rural populations to pursue land-use strategies with immediate returns lower than those available from swidden agriculture. Land remains relatively abundant in the region, land and resource tenure are rarely secure, and markets for non-timber forest products are less than dependable. The economics of timber extraction, swidden agriculture, and the harvesting of fruits and latexes from intact forest are examined and compared within a single village near the city of Iquitos. Our analysis indicates that rural populations in the region can be expected to continue converting forested land to swidden agriculture unless alternative land uses become more attractive economically.
Commentary: The RIME/EMR scheme: an educational approach to clinical documentation in electronic medical records.

Abstract Electronic medical records (EMRs) increasingly are used to document the delivery of patient care. Clinical practices that are involved in medical education are more likely to employ EMRs. Yet, the growing use of EMRs presents a new set of challenges for undergraduate and graduate medical education. EMRs can significantly impact how trainees learn and develop medical decision-making strategies and clinical documentation skills. EMRs also affect how clinical notes are evaluated and how feedback is provided to the learner. To use EMRs effectively, students must learn how narrative elements (how to take and record a medical history and physician examination), data elements (laboratory, radiology, medication, and information from ancillary and consultative services), and system elements (how EMRs function within the context of the health care or hospital system where the student trains) combine in the context of compassionate, competent, and safe patient care. This commentary specifically addresses educational issues surrounding student and resident use of EMR systems. The Reporter–Interpreter–Manager–Educator scheme is one approach to teach and evaluate clinical documentation skills using EMRs in the context of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core educational competencies.
Gallium and indium compounds containing three different substituents. Crystal and molecular structure of [(Me3CCH2)ClGaPPh2]3

Abstract Three new heavier group 13 element compounds containing three different substituents, (Me 3 CCH 2 )ClGaPPh 2 , (Me 3 CCH 2 )BrGaPPh 2 and (Me 3 CCH 2 )ClInPPh 2 , have been prepared and characterized. All compounds were characterized by partial elemental analysis, cryoscopic molecular weight studies in benzene solution, and NMR and IR spectroscopic data. All three compounds exist as trimeric molecules in solution. NMR spectral data were consistent with the presence of multiple isomers of the trimers. The compound [(MC 3 CCH 2 )ClGaPPh 2 ] 3 crystallizes in the acentric space group Pn 2 1 a with a = 17.741(9) A, b = 13.942(6) A and c = 21.574(8) A. Diffraction data were collected on an Enraf-Nonius CAD-4 diffractometer, and the structure was refined to R = 4.6% and R w = 6.0% for those 2971 reflections with [ F o >s- 5σ( F o )]. The GaP six-membered ring has a typical chair conformation with the bulky neopentyl groups occupying the E,A,A, positions. Distances of interest include GaCl = 2.209(4), 2.219(4) and 2.220(4) A and GaP(bridging) which range from 2.414(3) A to 2.433(4) A.
Survival Following Free Rupture of Left Ventricular Aneurysm: Report of a Case

Abstract A 50-year-old man sustained free rapture of the left ventricle four weeks following a massive anterior myocardial infarction. The rupture occurred at the junction between a bulging left ventricular aneurysm that was not yet fibrotic and normal myocardium without evidence of fresh myocardial infarction. Accurate preoperative diagnosis aided by echocardiography and right heart catheterization made possible a planned surgical approach. Postoperative support with intraaortic balloon pumping appeared to be beneficial in maintaining satisfactory cardiac function until an adequate stroke volume could be reestablished, presumably by an increase in left ventricular volume.
Narratives of Sport Pedagogies: The Poetic Representation of Life Beyond Dreams

The following article is a messy, performative text that combines the voices of student and professor to tell and show critical (auto)ethnographies. Using multiple biographical, poetic narratives, the student’s voice inscribes sport and its intersections with race, class, and gender. The professor’s theoretical-literary voice precedes the individual narratives, and provides testimony to the pedagogical value of creative analytic practices.
Energy and angular-momentum non-conservation in four-dimensional gauge theories

Abstract We study energy and angular-momentum non-conservation in four-dimensional chiral gauge theories using Landau levels. These effects are physical manifestations of the usual gauge anomaly, and enable us to understand in a semi-classical approximation why anomaly cancellation is required for a consistent field theory.
Where are the gates in gap junction channels

SUMMARY 1. In the formation and function of gap junction channels two types of gates ought to be discriminated: the docking gate and the channel gates proper. The docking gate is involved in the transformation of a closed hemichannel to a patent gap junction channel. By definition the trigger mechanism for this gate and maybe even the gate itself is contained within the extracellular loops of the gap junction proteins, the connexins. The channel gates proper determine the open and closed states of the complete gap junction channels. 2. Probing the docking gate by mutagenesis of connexins and by synthetic peptides indicates that this gate is the consequence of complex interactions between a large fraction of the amino acids comprising the extracellular loops. Probably both inter- and intra-molecular interactions are involved, and disulfide exchange may be entailed in the stabilization of the open and closed states. 3. Of the various effectors on the channel gate(s) the voltage effects have obtained the most scrutiny to date. The response of gap junction channels and hemichannels is diverse, the various channels respond differently to transjunctional and membrane potential. No equivalent to the S4 segment representing the voltage sensor in other voltage dependent ion channels is present in the connexin sequences, instead mutations in various segments of connexins have been reported to affect the voltage dependence of gap junction channels. To understand the complexity of voltage effects on gap junction channels, non-connexin peptides may need to be considered as voltage sensors or as modifiers thereof.
Glucose, lactate and potassium metabolism in the isolated perfused rat liver.

Summary1. During the anesthesia and dissection preparatory to perfusion of the rat liver, there were small losses of tissue glycogen and a slight increase in water content. During the 3-hour perfusion, the water content returned to normal and the Na and K concentrations of the liver were maintained. 2. The perfused liver removed glucose from the circulation if the concentration were greater than 15 mM, and added glucose if it were less than 15 mM. The liver was able to utilize lactate produced from the circulating red cells. 3. During glycogen formation in livers from starved rats, both glucose and lactate were utilized. The rate of glycogen formation was not limited by a lack of K.
Geometry dependent reaction response of Ta + Bi2O3 thermite powder filled linear cellular alloys

Abstract The impact initiated reaction response of a Ta + Bi 2 O 3 thermite powder mixture encapsulated in two different maraging steel geometric structures was investigated. Experiments were performed on the Ta + Bi 2 O 3 mixture initially compressed to ∼40% theoretical maximum density in a hollow cylinder and 9-Cell linear cellular alloy (LCA) structure, both of equivalent relative solid density. The powder filled structures were impacted against a rigid high-strength anvil over the velocity range of 60–204 m s −1 . Reactions were observed in the powder mixture at velocities as low as 60 m s −1 in the 9-Cell LCA structure, and at 105 m s −1 for the hollow cylinder geometry. Three dimensional simulations of the powder filled structures impacting a rigid anvil were carried out at velocities near the reaction threshold conditions. Continuous measurements of pressure and strain were recorded in the simulation at several locations within the powder filler and solid walls of the maraging steel LCA structures. Comparison of calculated results with experimental findings suggested that reaction of the powder filler in both encapsulating geometries occurred at late times as a result of an activated microstructure and elevated temperatures.
DECREASED EXTRACELLULAR RELEASE OF GRANULE ENZYMES FROM IN VITRO- STIMULATED POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES IN GUTTATE PSORIASIS

In vitro degranulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which were stimulated either with synthetic chemotactic peptide (N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, FMLP) or with C3b-opsonized zymosan as a promoter of phagocytosis, was studied in 66 patients with psoriasis, 18 lesion-free psoriatics, 18 healthy subjects, and 14 other dermatological disorder controls. Stimulated release of lysozyme (from specific granules and azurophil granules) and beta-glucuronidase (from azurophil granules) in the presence of both FMLP and serum-activated zymosan was markedly reduced in patients with actively spreading guttate psoriatic lesions, in whom relapse of lesions lasted for less than 1 month and papules involved about 13–25% of skin surface. In contrast, stimulated degranulation was within normal range in active plaque psoriasis, stationary plaque psoriasis, symptomless psoriatics, and patients with disseminated eczema. Spontaneous release of lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase (background) was found to be not different in all groups studied; however, patients with active guttate psoriasis had significantly lower total lysozyme activity than those with active and stationary plaque psoriasis as well as psoriatics in the remission. These data are in favor of in vivo activation of neutrophils in active guttate psoriasis by some factors related to the early relapse of the lesions. This results in a possible combination of the following phenomena: (1) in vivo partial degranulation of neutrophils; (2) induction of “unresponsiveness state” of these cells to subsequent in vitro stimulation; and/or (3) migration of highly responsive neutrophils to skin lesions, which leaves in the circulation the subpopulation less reactive to chemotactic and phagocytic stimuli.
Bridged hypercube networks

Abstract The problem of reducing the diameter of a hypercube-based structure by adding some redundant links to the standard hypercube is considered. A new architecture called Bridged Hypercube (BHC) is introduced. It is shown that the BHC diameter is approximately half the diameter of its hypercube counterpart. For this design, simple and efficient routing algorithms are devised and proved correct. The incremental cost of the proposed link redundancy vanishes as the dimensionality of the hypercube grows yielding an asymptotically overhead free design.
Gender, Ethnicity, and Job Satisfaction Among Social Workers in Israel

ABSTRACT This study (1) examines the effect of ethnicity and gender on job satisfaction and job facets among social workers in Israel, and (2) develops two regression models predicting job satisfaction among Arab and Jewish social workers. A random sample of 218 social workers completed the surveys. The results of MANCOVA show a significant difference between Arab and Jewish social workers with Jews being more satisfied than Arabs. On the other hand, no significant difference between males and females was found. Two multiple regression models were developed. The first explained 23% of the total variance in job satisfaction, with two factors emerging as significant predictors of job satisfaction among Arabs: supervision and promotion. The second model explained 13% of the total variance in job satisfaction among Jews, with two factors emerging s significant predictors of job satisfaction: supervision and autonomy.
Monolithically-fabricated laminated inductors with electrodeposited silver windings

This paper presents batch microfabrication and experimental characterization of solenoid inductors with electrodeposited silver windings and laminated core. To enable high-frequency operation, the metallic magnetic core consists of multiple air-insulated, electroplated micron-thick permalloy (Ni80Fe20) laminations, with total core thicknesses up to tens of microns. The core is achieved by sequential electrodeposition of permalloy and copper, followed by selective removal of the copper, thereby releasing the core laminations. Electroplated silver is selected as winding material for its low resistivity and to withstand the copper etching required during core release. Release of the core laminations is the final inductor fabrication step, reducing potential process-induced damage to the core. Two inductors sharing one laminated core in a transformer geometry are fabricated, and exhibit inductances of approximately 100 nH at 5 MHz, resulting in an inductance density of 29 nH/mm2. This process demonstrates processing compatibility of using silver windings with highly-laminated, fully-integrated magnetics.
Ribitolstoffwechsel in der flavinogenen Hefe Pichia guilliermondii WICKERHAM

Summary Riboflavin overproducing yeast Pichia guilliermondii grown under iron deficiency produces rather large amounts of ribitol and D-arabinitol. The paper describes the presence of several enzymes involved in the ribitol metabolism such as the ribitol-5-phosphate dehydrogenase and the ribose isomerase as well as the enzymatic synthesis of CDP-ribitol. Ribitol-5-phosphate dehydrogenase was purified about 20-fold. Its enzyme kinetics was estimated. The enzyme activity is sensitive against ammonium ions. In iron-deficient yeast the ribitol-5-phosphate dehydrogenase is derepressed by the factor 3-4 compared with iron-grown cells. In a culture medium containing glucose, ribitol or alanine, the enzyme activity is increased. CDP-ribitol formation from D-ribitol-5-phosphate and CTP suggests the presence of some type of nucleotidyl transferase. The metabolism or ribitol in relation to riboflavin biosynthesis is discussed.
THE PARATHYROID OF THE WHITE RAT

The following paper reports a histological study of the parathyroid of the albino rat under various conditions. A considerable number of experiments have been performed in different laboratories, showing that the rat is susceptible to tetania parathyreopriva. This susceptibility varies under different conditions and the problem we have undertaken is the correlation of this variation with anatomical changes in the parathyroid itself. Cristiani (1893) observed that young rats are less able to endure parathyroidectomy than older ones, that females are more apt to suffer than males, and that the susceptibility is greatest in pregnant females. These results are being confirmed by Dr. Hammett of the Wistar Institute in a series of experiments as yet unpublished. Vincent and Jolly, on the other hand, found no influence of age or sex on the susceptibility of the rat to tetania parathyreopriva. There is evidently a difference in this respect between different kinds of animals. Simpson has shown that age is an impo...
Discourse Topics and Metaphors

Using metaphor-annotated material that is sufficiently representative of the topical composition of a similar-length document in a large background corpus, we show that words expressing a discourse-wide topic of discussion are less likely to be metaphorical than other words in a document. Our results suggest that to harvest metaphors more effectively, one is advised to consider words that do not represent a discourse topic.
Regulated accumulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase protein in potato cell cultures: effects of calcium and enzyme inhibitors

Summary The biosynthetic pathway leading to plant cytosolic isoprenoids begins with the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGR)-mediated production of mevalonate (MVA). We describe a transgenic potato cell culture system expressing an epitope-tagged HMGR and use this to directly observe levels of an isoform of the protein in response to chemical stimuli. Addition of calcium to cell cultures results in a decrease in HMGR protein accumulation, whereas EGTA, a chelator of calcium, causes an increase in levels of HMGR observed on immunoblots. The HMGR protein also accumulates following cell treatment with the enzyme-specific inhibitor mevastatin, although this effect is overcome by the addition of MVA. The mevastatin-induced HMGR increases are possibly explained by the inhibition of a feedback-regulated down-regulation due to lowered pools of MVA or its products. Transcripts for the transgene controlled by a constitutive cauliflower mosaic virus promoter, and an endogenous HMGR-encoding gene are coordinately regulated in response to these same treatments, suggesting that the gene promoters are not responsible for the observed changes in transcript levels. The data suggest that potato HMGR is subject to many of the same post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms as have been shown in animal and yeast systems.
Telemetering applications and operation on a large power system

In large power systems, it is essential that load dispatchers have before them at all times a graphic picture of the many variable quantities they are supervising. The various types of continuous telemetering equipment in use on the Bonneville Power Administration's transmission system are described.
Use of microbend fiber optic sensor in material characterization

A new microbend fiber-optic sensor has been developed and applied to static, and, dynamic fracture problems and impact detection. The static and dynamic calibration of this sensor is described. The sensor was made using a multimode fiber and the response of the sensor was studied and optimized. It has a strain sensitivity (gage factor) of over 28 with wide dynamic range and high frequency response. A single edge notched specimen was used with this sensor to determine both the static and dynamic stress intensity factors. The experimental results match well with the theoretical predictions and with the results obtained using electrical strain gages.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of cathode sheet resistance on segmented-in-series SOFC power density

Abstract Segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells with relatively short cell lengths of 1.4 mm were fabricated with varying LSM cathode current collector thicknesses. Increasing the LSM thickness from 11 to 91 μm yielded a factor of 2–3 area-specific resistance decrease and a similar power density increase. The maximum power density measured at 800 °C was 0.53 W cm −2 calculated based on total array area (including interconnect), and 0.9 W cm −2 calculated based on active cell area. A segmented-in-series electrical model was used to quantitatively explain the results based on the decreased cathode sheet resistance. The model also showed that the cell lengths were near optimal for maximizing the power density of these cells.
Observation of the spin-orbit components of the 3B2g(3A2g) ground state in the system Ni2+ : MgF2 by fluorescence line narrowing

Abstract Using a tunable narrow-band infrared laser, we demonstrate for the first time infrared-fluorescnece line narrowing in the system Ni 2+ :MgF 2 . High-resolution emission spectra were obtained by pumping the lowest spin-orbit component B 3 ( 3 T 2g ) (orthorhombic notation with octahedral notation in parentheses) of the 3 T 2g multiplet and observing the B 3 ( 3 T 2g )→B 1 , A, B 2 ( 3 A 2g ) luminescent transitions at low temperature. By tuning the narrow-band laser over the B 3 ( 3 T 2g ) band, resonant and non-resonant fluorescence were obtained which narrowed with respect to the inhomogeneously broadened profile, and additional lines were observed. The spectra can be understood in terms of a simultaneous excitation of two different subsets of Ni 2+ ions which have their B 2 ( 3 A 2g )→B 3 ( 3 T 2g ) and A( 3 A 2g )→B 3 ( 3 T 2g ) transitions in resonance with the laser. The A( 3 A 2g ) and B 1 ( 3 A 2g ) spin-orbit components of the ground-state multiplet lie 1.9 cm −1 and 6.5 cm −1 above the B 2 ( 3 A 2g ) ground state, respectively, at 2 K.
Comparative assessment of S. aureus microbial biofilm inhibition by an N‐alkyl‐polyethyleneimine covalently attached to PMMA or titanium in the Boston Keratoprosthesis

Purpose Biofilms are matrix-associated microbial communities adherent to either biological surfaces or abiotic surfaces. They account for the majority of device-associated infections. Our goal herein is to minimize bacterial adherence and biofilm formation by comparative analysis of new polycations bound to bio-prosthetic ocular-associated materials, poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or titanium, using the Boston KPro as a model system. Methods Using S.aureus ocular-associated clinical isolates, a quantitative assessment of microbial biofilm formation by linear N,N-dodecyl,methyl-polyethyleneimine (DMPEI) (217 kDa) covalently bound to PMMA or titanium compared to the parent PMMA or Ti, respectively, has been performed using confocal laser scanning and electron microscopies. In addition, DMPEI-bound materials have been screened for corneal toxicity in both cell tissue culture and rodent models, and as compared to the original materials. Results A marked inhibitory effect in S. aureus biofilm formation on DMPEI-derivatized materials compared to the parent PMMA (3-4 fold) and Ti (2-fold), without conferring additional epithelial cell cytotoxicity in vitro, has been observed. Furthermore, we have found no additional tissue reactivity, and possibly even a protective effect, with DMPEI-derivatized materials in vivo. Conclusion We found that covalent derivatization with DMPEI of PMMA and Ti greatly reduces S. aureus biofilm formation in vitro compared to the parent materials. There was no additional cytotoxicity seen both in vitro and in vivo. Future studies will evaluate DMPEI-derivatized materials for in vivo antimicrobial efficacy.
Something New to Offer: Renal Denervation

Renal sympathetic hyperactivity is seminal in the maintenance and progression of hypertension. Catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation has been shown to significantly reduce blood pressure (BP) in patients with hypertension. Durability of effect beyond 1 year using this novel technique has never been reported. A cohort of 45 patients with resistant hypertension (systolic BP ≥160 mm Hg on ≥3 antihypertension drugs, including a diuretic) has been originally published. Herein, we report longer-term follow-up data on these and a larger group of similar patients subsequently treated with catheter-based renal denervation in a nonrandomized manner. We treated 153 patients with catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation at 19 centers in Australia, Europe, and the United States. Mean age was 57±11 years, 39% were women, 31% were diabetic, and 22% had coronary artery disease. Baseline values included mean office BP of 176/98±17/15 mm Hg, mean of 5 antihypertension medications, and an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 83±20 mL/min per 1.73 m. The median time from first to last radiofrequency energy ablation was 38 minutes. The procedure was without complication in 97% of patients (149 of 153). The 4 acute procedural complications included 3 groin pseudoaneurysms and 1 renal artery dissection, all managed without further sequelae. Postprocedure office BPs were reduced by 20/10, 24/11, 25/11, 23/11, 26/14, and 32/14 mm Hg at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively. In conclusion, in patients with resistant hypertension, catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation results in a substantial reduction in BP sustained out to ≥2 years of follow-up, without significant adverse events.
Union and Communion: Calvin's Theology of Word and Sacrament

Some scholars consider Calvin's teaching on the sacraments to be an integral part of his theology. Others have challenged the Reformer's consistency in this area, regarding Calvin's eucharistic teaching in particular as a ‘foreign, uncongenial element’ in his work. My argument in this article is that Calvin's eucharistic teaching, particularly in its ‘more nearly patristic’ emphases, is neither inimical nor secondary to his system but is in fact an essential and promising outworking of his theology. As with other perspectives, Calvin's understanding of Word and sacrament generates a particular kind of ecclesiology with emphases that remain ecumenically significant and vital for the life and mission of the church.
A simple approximation to the likelihood interval for a binomial proportion

Abstract This paper proposes a simple, accurate, closed form approximation to the likelihood interval for a binomial proportion p based on a recentered form of the Wald interval.
Synthesis of water-soluble CdSe quantum dots with various fluorescent properties and their application in immunoassay for determination of C-reactive protein.

Effects of various factors on synthesis and fluorescent properties of CdSe quantum dots were studied. It was shown that variation of pH, stabilizer and concentration of precursors brings to obtaining of quantum dots with various fluorescent properties. The nanoparticles prepared were conjugated with rabbit antibodies to C-Reactive protein and C-Reactive protein for competitive immunoassay for determination of CRP. It was shown that interaction of these dots as a result of antigen-antibody reaction brings to resonance energy transfer and these changes in fluorescence spectra correlate with concentration of CRP. This approach permits to determine CRP in range between 4–100 ng
Recent Advances in the Management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Major advances during the past 2 years have resulted in an unprecedented optimism regarding the perception of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. An improved understanding of the pathogenesis of HIV infection coupled with the availability of assays to measure HIV-1 RNA and the approval of new antiretroviral drugs has led to the development of new approaches to the management of HIV infection. In this article, we discuss these advances and their implications in the care of HIV-infected patients. In addition, we present the guidelines for the use of antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection.
Regional impervious surface estimation: an urban heat island application

This paper describes a GIS-based estimation method that can be used to forecast future amounts of impervious surface as a mitigation measure for urban heat island effect in a metropolitan region. The method is unique because it employs a regression model that links the existing amount of impervious surface to population and employment at the census tract level. This approach provides a means to forecast future amounts of impervious surface based on projected population and employment. The method also includes a detailed analysis of high-resolution aerial photography to divide impervious surfaces into different categories. Subdividing impervious surfaces is necessary to evaluate potential urban heat island mitigation policies for different types of impervious surface. The analysis here shows that the impervious surface in the metropolitan Atlanta region will increase to 2638 km2 in 2030, an increase of 45% from 2000. The most common type of impervious surface is dark-coloured pavement. Within this study ar...
Automated flare forecasting using a statistical learning technique

We present a new method for automatically forecasting the occurrence of solar flares based on photospheric magnetic measurements. The method is a cascading combination of an ordinal logistic regression model and a support vector machine classifier. The predictive variables are three photospheric magnetic parameters, i.e., the total unsigned magnetic flux, length of the strong-gradient magnetic polarity inversion line, and total magnetic energy dissipation. The output is true or false for the occurrence of a certain level of flares within 24 hours. Experimental results, from a sample of 230 active regions between 1996 and 2005, show the accuracies of a 24-hour flare forecast to be 0.86, 0.72, 0.65 and 0.84 respectively for the four different levels. Comparison shows an improvement in the accuracy of X-class flare forecasting.
Constructive contrasts between modeled and measured climate responses over a regional scale.

Reducing uncertainty in predictions of regional-scale models depends on meaningful contrasts with field measurements. This paper introduces a two-stage process that works from the premise that an appropriate goal for regional models is to produce reasonable behavior over dominant environmental gradients. We demonstrate two techniques for contrasting models with data, one based on the shape of modeled relationships (functional contrasts) and the other based on an examination of the residuals (residual contrasts) between the model and an empirically derived surface fit to field data. Functional contrasts evaluated the differences between the response of simulated net primary production (NPP) to climate variables and the response observed in field measurements of NPP. Residual contrasts compared deviations of NPP from the empirical surface to identify groupings (for example, vegetation classes, geographic regions) with model deviations different from those of the field data. In all model–data contrasts, we assigned sample weights to field measurements to ensure unbiased representation of the region, and we included both constructive comparisons and formal statistical tests. In general, we learned more from constructive methods designed to reveal structure or pattern in discrepancy than we did from statistical tests designed to falsify models. Although our constructive methods were more subjective and less concise, they succeeded in revealing gaps in our understanding of regional-scale processes that can guide future efforts to reduce scientific uncertainty. This was best illustrated by NPP predictions from the Biome-BGC model, which showed a stronger response to precipitation than apparently operates in the field. In another case, differences revealed in savanna and dry woodlands had insufficient field-data support, suggesting a need for future field studies to improve understanding in this, and other, poorly studied ecosystems.
Serials and Satisfaction

The idea of “satisfaction” privileges narratives that seek to fulfill a promise of wholeness or containment. Such an idea runs counter to the gapped, partial, and suspended work of serial narrative. This essay considers the perils of satisfaction as a goal or byproduct of seriality, examining how serials in practice—from Middlemarch and Great Expectations to Lost and Mad Men—theorize and complicate our sense of resolved conclusion, and how they articulate the ungovernable excess of energy and possibility that serials, at their most narratively engaged, inevitably generate.
Investigations of the Frustulia weinholdii Species Complex with Description of Three New Species, F. capitata, F. latita, and F. soror from South Carolina and Hawaii

ABSTRACT. Frustulia weinholdii and Frustulia neomundana are unusual species of Frustulia that possess a set of incomplete longitudinal ribs and unilaterally deflected proximal-raphe ends. This peculiar combination of traits clearly contrasts these species from most congeners, including the generitype. We reexamined material investigated by J. H. Wallace in order to determine diversity within this species group. We compared the specimens from his South Carolina sample with morphologically similar specimens collected in Hawaii, USA. Our investigation of specimens from both Hawaii and South Carolina with light and scanning electron microscopy revealed a previously undocumented amount of morphological diversity in species from the F. weinholdii complex. We describe this morphological variation and present three new species, F. capitata, F. latita, and F. soror, which can be distinguished from similar species by general valve shape, striae density, and longitudinal rib appearance. Presence of incomplete longit...
SOFC anodes based on infiltration of tungsten bronzes

Abstract Several tungsten bronzes were investigated for use in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anodes. Composite anodes were prepared by infiltration of the precursor salts into a porous yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) scaffold to produce 40-wt% composites with bronze compositions of Na 0.8 Nb y W 1−y O 3−δ ( y = 0, 0.3, 0.7, and 1), K 0.5 WO 3−δ , Cs 0.2 WO 3−δ , and Rb 0.2 WO 3−δ . XRD data showed that the bronze structures were formed following reduction in humidified H 2 at 873 K but that the bronzes were partially reduced to metallic W above 1073 K. Composite conductivities as high as 130 S/cm were observed at 973 K for the Na 0.8 WO 3−δ -YSZ composite but substitution of Nb significantly decreased the conductivity without increasing the temperature at which tungsten was reduced. The impedance of Na 0.8 WO 3−δ -YSZ anodes in humidified H 2 at 973 K was greater than 1.0 Ω cm 2 but this decreased to approximately 0.3 Ω cm 2 upon the addition of 1-wt% Pd for catalytic purposes. The possible use of anodes based on tungsten bronzes is discussed.
Cardiovascular effects after epidural injection of xylazine in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs.

The cardiovascular effects following epidural injection of xylazine or isotonic saline during isoflurane anesthesia were assessed in six healthy dogs. Dogs were anesthetized with isoflurane in O2 and maintained at 2.0% end-tidal concentration. Ventilation was controlled to maintain PaCO2 at 35 to 45 mm Hg. The dorsal pedal artery was cannulated for measurement of arterial blood pressure (AP)(systolic AP, mean AP, diastolic AP) and for blood sample collection. Arterial pH and blood gas tensions (PaO2 and PaCO2) were determined. Cardiac output was measured by thermodilution. The electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate (HR), core body temperature, central venous pressure (CVP), mean pulmonary AP, and end-tidal isoflurane concentration (ETISO) and CO2 tension (ETCO2) were monitored. Systemic vascular resistance (SVR), arterial HCO2 concentration, base balance, and cardiac index (CI) were calculated. After baseline measurements were taken, either xylazine (0.2 mg/kg) in 5 mL isotonic saline or 5 mL of isotonic saline was injected into the lumbosacral epidural space. Data were then recorded at 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, and 120 minutes after epidural injection. Data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures. When significant differences were encountered, mean values were compared using Bonferroni's test. The level of significance was set at P <.05. Mean values for diastolic AP decreased at 90 and 120 minutes compared with the mean value at 15 minutes after epidural injection of xylazine. No differences were detected at any time or between treatments for HR, systolic AP, mean AP, CVP, CI, SVR, mean pulmonary AP, temperature, ETCO2, ETISO, arterial pH, PaCO2, PaO2, plasma bicarbonate concentration, or base balance. Results of this study indicate that epidural injection of xylazine (0.2 mg/kg) is associated with minimal cardiovascular side effects during isoflurane anesthesia in mechanically ventilated dogs.
Nitrogen isotope biogeochemistry of thermal springs

Abstract Distinct biochemical pathways for nitrogen in living organisms can be detected by stable isotope tracers and may be useful in the interpretation of kerogen from ancient, sedimentary rocks. The organic matter in stromatolite growths of thermal springs was studied as a modern analog of these ancient kerogens. Natural variations in the inorganic environment of hydrothermal areas affect the cycling and isotopic composition of nitrogen through organic matter. For example, the nitrogen isotopic composition ( δ 15 N) of stromatolites in alkaline springs with a constant flow of water is similar to that of organisms growing in a nutrient limited steady state. A few of these open system hot springs have higher nonlimiting concentrations of combined nitrogen, and the δ 15 N of the organic matter reflects the normal isotope fractionation associated with the enzymatic reactions of biological nitrogen metabolism. In quiescent, closed system pools, however, the isotopic composition of similar types of organisms is distinctly different and indicates the importance of internal recycling of ammonia. In certain hot springs populated by nitrogen-fixing organisms such as blue-green algae, stable isotope ratios of the organic matter indicate that nitrogen fixation is occurring in hot springs not only in blue-green algal mats, but at higher temperatures (up to 60°C) by nonphotosynthetic bacteria. Another factor governing the δ 15 N of the organic matter includes the presence of bacteria that derive their cellular energy from nitrification or denitrification.
How to start up a start-up

Researchers are increasingly toying with the idea of taking their ideas out of universities and into the marketplace. Starting your own company can be extremely rewarding, but it requires perseverance and a great deal of hard work.
Phase transitions of the generalized contact process with two absorbing states

We investigate the generalized contact process with two absorbing states in one space dimension by means of large-scale Monte Carlo simulations. Treating the creation rate of active sites between inactive domains as an independent parameter leads to a rich phase diagram. In addition to the conventional active and inactive phases we find a parameter region where the simple contact process is inactive, but an infinitesimal creation rate at the boundary between inactive domains is sufficient to take the system into the active phase. Thus, the generalized contact process has two different phase transition lines. The point separating them shares some characteristics with a multicritical point. We also study in detail the critical behaviors of these transitions and their universality.