cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemical dynamics in proteins : The photoisomerization of retinal in bacteriorhodopsin

Chemical dynamics in proteins are discussed, with bacteriorhodopsin serving as a model system. Ultrafast time-resolved methods used to probe the chemical dynamics of retinal photoisomerization in bacteriorhodopsin are discussed, along with future prospects for ultrafast time-resolved crystallography. The photoisomerization of retinal in bacteriorhodopsin is far more selective and efficient than in solution, the origins of which are discussed in the context of a three-state model for the photoisomerization reaction coordinate. The chemical dynamics are complex, with the excited-state relaxation exhibiting a multiexponential decay with well-defined rate constants. Possible origins for the two major components are also discussed.
Cosmic spherules in the geologic record

— Cosmic spherules obtained from the Greenland ice cap, deep-sea sediments, and ancient oceanic deposits of Eocene and Jurassic age were chemically and texturally compared. The proportions of spherule types were found to change as a function of time, with the number of iron spherules increasing as the age of the sample increased. It is not yet possible, however, to determine if the variation in spherule types represents a real change in the meteoroid complex or is a result of differential weathering of the spherules in the Earth's environment. The age of these spherules ranges from less than 3000 years to about 190 million years. Although only a few spherules older than 500 000 years are chemically unaltered, textural information is available even from the oldest spherules and, by comparison with contemporary spherules, gives some insight into the original compositions of the particles.
A two-parameter Miura transformation of the Benjamin-Ono equation

Abstract The Benjamin-Ono equation is shown to admit a two-parameter family of Miura transformations, leading to a proof that the equation has an infinite number of conserved densities. Linearized equations are derived from a special case of the transformation.
The Low Frequency Radiation of a Scattered Electron

The radiative scattering of a nonrelativistic electron is treated by an approximate method which neglects the reaction of the radiation field on the motion of the electron. In this approximation the different modes of oscillation of the radiation field are independent of one another, and can therefore be treated individually. For frequencies of the radiation small compared to the inverse impact time of the electron, it is shown that the probability of emitting any finite number of quanta is zero, and that the mean radiated energy depends only on the total change in velocity of the electron, the amount of energy radiated being given by the same formula as in classical theory.
Activatable Dendritic 19F Probes for Enzyme Detection.

We describe a novel activatable probe for fluorine-19 NMR based on self-assembling amphiphilic dendrons. The dendron probe has been designed to be spectroscopically silent due to the formation of large aggregates. Upon exposure to the specific target enzyme, the aggregates disassemble to give rise to a sharp 19F NMR signal. The probe is capable of detecting enzyme concentrations in the low nanomolar range. Response time of the probe was found to be affected by the hydrophilic–lipophilic balance of dendrons. Understanding the structural factors that underlie this design principle provides the pathway for using this strategy for a broad range of enzyme-based imaging.
Acute dissection of the descending aorta: noncommunicating versus communicating forms

Abstract Background Noncommunicating dissecting intramural hematoma is an aortic dissection variant, characterized by absent flow within the false lumen. Noncommunicating dissecting intramural hematoma is thought to be more stable than communicating dissection when beginning in the descending aorta. This study assessed clinical characteristics, anatomic characteristics, and 1-year outcomes in acute descending noncommunicating dissecting intramural hematoma versus communicating dissection. Methods Retrospective database review identified patients who underwent magnetic resonance or computed tomography imaging revealing acute descending noncommunicating dissecting intramural hematoma or communicating dissection. Comparisons of clinical and anatomic characteristics and 1-year outcomes were performed. Results Twenty-four noncommunicating dissecting intramural hematoma and 36 communicating dissection cases were identified. Patients with noncommunicating dissecting intramural hematoma were older (68.5 ± 8.8 versus 61.8 ± 11.6 years; p p > 0.05). By follow-up imaging (87% of population), aortic deterioration was more frequent in noncommunicating dissecting intramural hematoma versus communicating dissection cases (60% versus 15%; p Conclusions Acute descending noncommunicating dissecting intramural hematoma and communicating dissection represent two variants, with differing clinical and anatomic characteristics, but comparable levels of 1-year morbidity.
A Numerical and Asymptotic Solution of Maxwell’s Equations for Nonlinear Optical Pulse Propagation

Recent interest in the development of all-optical switching devices and in the utilization of nonlinear optical fibers for long distance communication systems has lead to extensive research on the propagation of nonlinear optical pulses. A particularly important example is the optical soliton [1], whose propagation in nonlinear optical media is frequently modelled by the nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equation [1, 2]. While the NLS equation is an appropriate model for sufficiently wide pulses, some approximations implicit in this equation are no longer valid for narrow or high-powered pulses. To account for these types of pulses, the NLS equation has been extended to include higher-order linear and nonlinear dispersion, as well as effects due to Raman scattering [1, 2].
A Selective Account of Effective Paradigms and Significant Outcomes in the Discovery of Inspirational Marine Natural Products

Marine natural products continue to be a source of significant molecular structures that serve as a stimulus to seed further significant research. This account reviews some of the major advances in the study of marine biomolecules made at UC Santa Cruz over more than three decades. The continuing challenge of discovery and characterization of what we term “inspirational molecular structures”, will be presented in a comprehensive fashion. Examples of privileged molecular structures and their impact on biomedicinal research will be an important theme. The three major groups of organisms explored include: seaweeds, sponges, and marine derived fungi, and the study of their active principles has greatly benefited from synergistic collaborations with both academic and biopharmaceutical groups. The concluding sections of this chronicle will touch on prospects for future outcomes involving new sources and strategies.
Parental Similarity on Child-Rearing Orientations: Effects of Stereotype Similarity

Previous research findings on similarity between parents on child-rearing orientations have been questioned as more recent research has found fairly high stereotype effects between spouses. The present report addressed issues of level and consistency of similarity over time, using data from the first 4 years of a 5-year study of 136 families and their preschool children. Parental similarity was assessed using the Block Child-rearing Practices Report (CRPR). Standard estimates of similarity as well as estimates of a dyadic-level similarity score, with stereotype effects removed, were obtained. While correlations across time were positive and significant for both scores, the dyadic score was significantly lower than the unadjusted score at all time points. Results indicated that earlier significant findings, between similarity and marital relations, family relations and child outcomes, were caused almost completely by stereotype effects.
The Effect of Accuracy of Instruction, Teacher Delivery, and Student Attentiveness on Musicians' Evaluation of Teacher Effectiveness

This study is an examination of whether accuracy and delivery of teacher instruction and student attentiveness would affect evaluative perceptions of teacher effectiveness. Participants were 168 mu...
Race and genetics in understanding the complexities of preterm birth

Preterm birth (PTB; <37 completed weeks of gestation), is one of the major clinical dilemmas of pregnancy. Understanding PTB has been difficult, as the risk factors and pathophysiological factors associated with PTB are poorly understood. Our current knowledge of risk factors and biomarkers in predicting the ‘high-risk’ status during pregnancy has not been successful in reducing the PTB rate, and it has continued to rise in the past few decades. Disparities in the PTB rates observed among different racial groups further complicate the understanding of PTB, suggesting that the risk factors and biomarkers are not universal, and that risk assessment should be made based on a multitude of factors associated with a given individual (personalized risk assessment). Genetic variations and their interactions with the environment can produce distinct risk profiles during pregnancy. In this review, complexities associated with spontaneous PTB are discussed and, to unravel these complexities, using race as a surrogat...
An integrated model of sales managers’ communication practices

Drawing from several diverse streams of research, the authors develop the rationale and empirical background for considering the role of sales manager communication practices. Using a multifaceted conceptualization of communication as its base, the study justifies, proposes, and evaluates a model describing the relations among sales managers’ communication practices and salesperson ambiguity, satisfaction, performance, and commitment. The results support the hypothesized model and suggest that sales manager communication practices are associated with these important salesperson job outcomes.
Economics of depression and cost‐benefit comparisons of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants

The social and economic impact of depression on society at large has only recently been elucidated. The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Epidemiology Catchment Area (ECA) Program demonstrated that the 1 year prevalence of DSM-III mood disorders was almost 10% in the adult population of the United States—or that in any year over 17 million adults suffer from a major mood disorder. Moreover, data gathered by the Cross-National Collaborative Group suggest further that the incidence of depression is increasing, not only in the United States, but in many countries all over the world. And results from the Medical Outcomes Study, which assessed the level of disability associated with depression compared with other common medical disorders, suggested that patients with major depression and dysthymia suffer greater levels of impairment than patients with hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, lung disease, and GI disorders. A number of recent investigations have sought to quantify the costs of depression in the United States and the United Kingdom, and found that depression has remarkably high direct and indirect economic costs, comparable to those associated with other major public health problems. This paper reviews depression within this larger framework and evaluates the impact of treatment advances on the costs of depression. Both pharmaceutical-sponsored and non-sponsored cost-benefit analyses reveal that while the classical anti-depressants cost less on a per-pill basis, ultimately treatment may be less expensive with the newer SSRIs because of improved compliance leading to better outcomes. Depression 2:173–177 (1994/1995). © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Potential bile acid metabolites: IV. Inversion of 7α-hydroxyl; ursodeoxycholic acid

A new method for inversion of chenodeoxycholic to ursodeoxycholic acid which does not involve an intermediary ketone is described. Methyl chenodeoxycholate-3-cathylate-7-mesylate undergoes a mild reaction with potassium superoxide-18-crown ether-6 in DMSO to give ursodeoxycholic acid in good yield.
A midas plugin to enable construction of reproducible web-based image processing pipelines

Image processing is an important quantitative technique for neuroscience researchers, but difficult for those who lack experience in the field. In this paper we present a web-based platform that allows an expert to create a brain image processing pipeline, enabling execution of that pipeline even by those biomedical researchers with limited image processing knowledge. These tools are implemented as a plugin for Midas, an open-source toolkit for creating web based scientific data storage and processing platforms. Using this plugin, an image processing expert can construct a pipeline, create a web-based User Interface, manage jobs, and visualize intermediate results. Pipelines are executed on a grid computing platform using BatchMake and HTCondor. This represents a new capability for biomedical researchers and offers an innovative platform for scientific collaboration. Current tools work well, but can be inaccessible for those lacking image processing expertise. Using this plugin, researchers in collaboration with image processing experts can create workflows with reasonable default settings and streamlined user interfaces, and data can be processed easily from a lab environment without the need for a powerful desktop computer. This platform allows simplified troubleshooting, centralized maintenance, and easy data sharing with collaborators. These capabilities enable reproducible science by sharing datasets and processing pipelines between collaborators. In this paper, we present a description of this innovative Midas plugin, along with results obtained from building and executing several ITK based image processing workflows for diffusion weighted MRI (DW MRI) of rodent brain images, as well as recommendations for building automated image processing pipelines. Although the particular image processing pipelines developed were focused on rodent brain MRI, the presented plugin can be used to support any executable or script-based pipeline.
Interpreting singular definite descriptions in database queries

The paper examines some of the characteristic features of natural language interaction with a database system and its implications for the processing of singular definite descriptions. Some proposals are made for assessing the uniqueness claim of the singular definite article in the context of retrieval from a relational database. Other standard assumptions such as the extensional evaluation and referent evaluation exclusively in the database - rather than within the discourse model - are critically examined.
Dermal dendrocytes and T-cells in canine mycosis fungoides. Support for an animal model of human cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Background. An extensive upper dermal network of human Thy-1+/Factor XIIIa+ dermal dendrocytes (DD) exists in human mycosis fungoides (MF). Methods. Immunophenotyping and morphologic studies on serial frozen and paraffin sections from 15 cases of canine MF were performed to see if a similar network exists in this disease, as has been proposed as an animal model of human MF. Primary antibodies were anti-human Factor XIIIa, Factor XIIIs, anti-canine Thy-1, CD4, CD8, CD18, CD45RA, Class II, MAC387, KP-1, EBM-11, and several other pan-T, pan-B, and pan monocyte markers. Results. Thy-1+/Factor XIIIa+DD were seen in all cases and confirmed on identical cells by double immuno-fluorescence. These were seen throughout the upper dermis, similar to DD in human MF. Canine DD expressed the macrophage marker 2A2+, and were Class II+, CD4+, CD8-, CD18+, EBM11-, Factor XIII-, MAC387-, and KP-1. Epidermal and dermal lymphocytes in canine MF were Thy-1-, CD4+, CD8-, CD18+, CD45RA-, EBM11-, MAC387-, Factor XIIIa-, Factor XIIIs- in some cases, whereas others had a predominance of CD8+ lymphocytes. Conclusions. Thus, canine MF is immuno-phenotypically similar to human MF. Additional support for this disease as a model of human MF is demonstrated by the rich network of Thy-1+/Factor XIIIa+ DD in the upper dermis of canine MF similar to human MF.
Service-learning: a tool to create social capital for collaborative natural resource management

The complexity of many natural resource problems does not allow for simple solutions and cannot be addressed by singular organizations. Collaborative natural resource management is required to address such problems. Because social capital facilitates collaborative action within and between groups, it is important to understand the conditions under which it is created and how its creation can be taught to future environmental professionals. Using interviews, participant observation, and project documents, we conducted a case study of a community forestry initiative in which university students and faculty worked with a public high school, local nonprofits, state agency representatives, and local community members to enhance the use and sustainable management of the school-owned forest. The study found that the establishment of norms of interactions, attention to reciprocity, and organizational capacity to sustain the university-community relationship lead to positive outcomes, including social capital development.
Conceptualizing teacher immediacy through the ‘companion’ metaphor

Situated within the critical pedagogic scholarship that deals with the issue of ‘teacher immediacy’, this study proposes an understanding of the practice of pedagogy through the metaphor of ‘companionship’. A friendly individual but not a friend, the instructor is seen here as someone who can connect to college-age students without any visible effort and someone who makes explicit use of the power dynamics in a classroom to foster academic excellence. The companion model is first compared to other pedagogical models that are conceptualized through metaphors (e.g. in loco parentis, ‘teacher-as-entertainer’) and is then evaluated in terms of its potential weaknesses.
The Influence of Black Racial Identity on the Forgiveness of Whites

Forgiving a group of individuals for past transgressions instead of a single individual has only recently garnered research attention. The present study was designed to determine the association between Black racial identity attitudes and the forgiveness of Whites. An intergroup forgiveness instrument developed to assess forgiveness between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland was adapted to assess racial forgiveness. Results were generally consistent with our predictions. The Internalization Multiculturalist Inclusive identity scale predicted both Future and Never Forgiving. However, the Immersion-Emersion Anti-White and Internalization Afrocentric scale predicted Never Forgiving but not Future Forgiving. Dispositional forgiveness and personality features were found to be associated with intergroup forgiveness. Research in racial intergroup forgiveness may have implications for areas such as race relations and public policy.
Disruption of the Bacteriophage T4 Mre11 Dimer Interface Reveals a Two-State Mechanism for Exonuclease Activity

The Mre11-Rad50 (MR) complex is a central player in DNA repair and is implicated in the processing of DNA ends caused by double strand breaks. Recent crystal structures of the MR complex suggest that several conformational rearrangements occur during its ATP hydrolysis cycle. A comparison of the Mre11 dimer interface from these structures suggests that the interface is dynamic in nature and may adopt several different arrangements. To probe the functional significance of the Mre11 dimer interface, we have generated and characterized a dimer disruption Mre11 mutant (L101D-Mre11). Although L101D-Mre11 binds to Rad50 and dsDNA with affinity comparable with the wild-type enzyme, it does not activate the ATP hydrolysis activity of Rad50, suggesting that the allosteric communication between Mre11 and Rad50 has been interrupted. Additionally, the dsDNA exonuclease activity of the L101D-MR complex has been reduced by 10-fold under conditions where processive exonuclease activity is required. However, we unexpectedly found that under steady state conditions, the nuclease activity of the L101D-MR complex is significantly greater than that of the wild-type complex. Based on steady state and single-turnover nuclease assays, we have assigned the rate-determining step of the steady state nuclease reaction to be the productive assembly of the complex at the dsDNA end. Together, our data suggest that the Mre11 dimer interface adopts at least two different states during the exonuclease reaction.
Trophoblast immunity in human pregnancy defined by antiidiotype.

: Successful reproduction in mammals requires the mother to immunologically accept genetically disparate tissues. Allotypic trophoblast antigens (TLX) are thought to be responsible for influencing maternal acceptance of the feto-placental graft, and faulty regulation of immunity to TLX antigens has been associated with recurrent pregnancy losses. In this report, rabbit antiidiotype (RAb2) was produced to a human TLX antibody (Ab1). This RAb2 detected TLX cross-reactive idio-types (CRI) on antitrophoblast IgG from women with normal and abnormal pregnancies. These findings support an hypothesis that women respond immunologically to allotypic trophoblast antigens, and that idiotype-antiidiotype regulation of this response is characteristic of normal pregnancy.
Presidential Address. Prediction of Function From Infancy to Early Childhood: Implications for Pediatric Psychology

OBJECTIVE To determine whether item groupings derived from the Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener (BINS) are stable and predictive of 36-month cognitive and motor outcome. METHODS BINS was administered at 6, 12, and 24 months, and the Bayley-II or McCarthy scales at 36 months. The BINS was factor analyzed, and factors, biomedical and environmental variables, were related to 36-month outcomes. RESULTS Three factors were identified at each age, accounting for 52% to 64% of the variance. Continuity in factors over infancy and predictive utility of similar functions at 36 months were found. Optimal factor scores (> or = 75th percentile) increased the likelihood of later normal cognitive or motor outcome (ORs 2.14-7.94). CONCLUSIONS Stability and continuity over time exist in specific subdomains of function on a neurodevelopmental screening test.
Demonstration of Effects-Based Operations Using Fully Autonomous Heterogeneous Vehicle Swarms

Effects-based operations have been demonstrated on hardware to realize practical and autonomously performed behaviors utilizing a variety of vehicle platforms including ground, water surface, and aerial vehicles. The heterogeneous vehicle swarms enact a variety of cooperative behaviors autonomously, using reactive, effects-based algorithms and broadcast-only, decentralized communications. Control is achieved through the use of stigmergic potential fields, a form of cooperative motor schema behavior based upon mathematical functions that are associated with entities in the operational environment of the vehicle. The video demonstration shows footage from actual hardware tests that have demonstrated empirically how reactive swarming behaviors using stigmergic potential fields can offer robustly sufficient behavior with improved total system survivability and total operational effectiveness, particularly under dynamic environmental and operational conditions.
A history of radiologic pathology correlation at the armed forces institute of pathology and its evolution into the American Institute for Radiologic Pathology

The evolution of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) has played an important role in the history of pathology education and in radiologic pathology correlation in the United States. From its humble beginnings as a museum, showcasing dried and varnished morbid specimens--human relics of the Civil War, the institute became a leader in pathology. Later, it became a center of instruction for radiology residents seeking to understand the pathologic findings that underlay the radiologic appearance of disease. Images were gathered by the AFIP and the American Registry of Pathology (ARP) and have been used in research and education in radiology and other fields (ophthalmology, otalaryngology, dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery). Despite the contributions of the AFIP, the ARP, and the Radiologic Pathology Correlation Course, high-ranking members of the military and the federal government frowned on a military-owned educational system that also served civilians. Although support from the radiology community dissuaded military officers and federal officials from taking action against the participation of civilians, the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) provisions mandated the disestablishment of the AFIP, forcing the redistribution of some of its resources to other military-only organizations and disbanding other AFIP functions. To ensure that the correlation course, known to radiology residents as the "rad-path" course, was not a casualty of the BRAC, the American College of Radiology (ACR) and leaders of the AFIP and ARP agreed that the ACR should continue this vital educational endeavor. In January 2011, the American Institute for Radiologic Pathology of the ACR debuted and successfully instructed 268 radiology residents, including 40 international residents. The faculty and staff, who had been part of the course at the AFIP, continue to help enrich and improve the course established by their predecessors.
Sensitivity of HMA performance to aggregate shape measured using conventional and image analysis methods

ABSTRACT There is a consensus among researchers and practitioners that aggregate shape properties affect performance, but a debate has arisen over the ability of the current tests to quantify these properties. Image analysis techniques have been shown in recent studies to be rapid and provide detailed information on the different shape properties. However, there is a need to compare the results from the image analysis methods with those from conventional tests based on HMA performance. The focus of this study is on the evaluation of the sensitivity of HMA performance to aggregate properties measured using conventional and image analysis methods. Wavelet image analysis is used to measure texture. Image analysis methods based on the changes in the gradient on a particle boundary, and the difference between a particle radius in a certain direction and that of an equivalent ellipse are used to quantify angularity. Form is quantified a method that evaluates the changes in particle radii with a fixed incrementa...
Revisiting Shibboleths of Race and Urban Economy: Black Employment in Manufacturing and the Public Sector Compared, Chicago 1950-2000

ijur_942 110..129 Despite a singular focus on the linked fate of blacks and manufacturing in many accounts of race and urban economy, black workers in Chicago have relied upon the public sector as a critical route to economic security throughout much of the twentieth century. Four significant trends are identified for the period between 1950 and 2000: (1) African Americans were disproportionately concentrated in the public sector — to a greater degree than in manufacturing; (2) both blacks and whites were disproportionately concentrated in manufacturing — blacks only slightly more; (3) Latinos were most disproportionately concentrated in manufacturing yet experienced no aggregate losses over the 50-year period; (4) the disproportionate decline in black male public employment during the 1990s is a marked break from past sector trends of black male employment growth and stability. These findings emphasize the need to reassess the role of the public sector — the postwar economy’s ‘other’ high wage, unionized sector — in racialized accounts of urban economic restructuring. Recognizing the public sector as not only the most pronounced black employment niche, but also as a labor market standards-setter, sharpens our understanding of the racialized impacts of contemporary public employment trends (e.g. privatization) linked to neoliberal political shifts in urban governance.
E.E. Just Lecture, 1996 Conus Venom Peptides, Receptor and Ion Channel Targets, and Drug Design: 50 Million Years of Neuropharmacology

The predatory cone snails (Conus) are among the most successful living marine animals (∼500 living species). Each Conus species is a specialist in neuropharmacology, and uses venom to capture prey, to escape from and defend against predators and possibly to deter competitors. An individual cone snail’s venom contains a diverse mixture of pharmacological agents, mostly small, structurally constrained peptides (conotoxins). Individual peptides are selectively targeted to a specific isoform of receptor or ion channel. A variety of such targets have been identified, including many voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channel subtypes, as well as G protein-linked receptors. Although there are only a few widely shared structural motifs in conotoxins (the majority of the >25,000 peptides in these venoms probably belong to only half a dozen gene superfamilies), the sequences of peptides are remarkably divergent from one Conus species to another. We suggest that cone snails undergoing speciation have, in effect, a mutator phenotype which acts specifically on the gene segment encoding the mature toxin region. In their 50 million years of evolution, cone snails anticipated many features of the modern drug industry: disposable hypodermic needles, combination drug therapy, and combinatorial strategies for drug discovery. Recent results indicate that the Conus peptide system may provide a novel paradigm for designing ligands that discriminate between closely related members of large families of receptors and ion channels. Many Conus peptides may be “Janus-ligands,” with two distinct recognition faces oriented in different directions, a design which should make far greater target specificity possible.
Determination of Sodium Levothyroxine in Bulk, Tablet, and Injection Formulations by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Sodium levothyroxine was determined in bulk drugs, tablets, and injections by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Levothyroxine was separated from excipients and impurities on a 10-μm cyanoalkyl column using an acetonitrile-water-phosphoric acid mobile phase. The HPLC method is shown to be linear, accurate, and precise, and the results obtained by the HPLC and USP XX methods are compared.
Solid‐state photopolymerization of α,α′‐bis(4‐acetoxy‐3‐methoxybenzylidene)‐p‐benzenediacetonitrile

One crystalline form of α,α′-bis(4-acetoxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-p-benzenediacetonitrile is photopolymerized by a four-center reaction to give a polymer containing alternating benzene and cyclobutane rings. The polymer is highly crystalline and insoluble in most solvents. Location of groups around the cyclobutane ring is deduced from the products obtained on thermal decomposition. Chain contained benzene rings are located in positions 1 and 3; aromatic groups alternate sides of the cyclobutane ring. Special characterization and quantum yield of the polymerization are reported, as well as polymer solution viscosity and alkaline depolymerization of the polymer.
Cross-layer co-exploration of exploiting error resilience for video over wireless applications

In this paper, we propose a cross-layer algorithm/architecture co-exploration for wireless multimedia systems to coordinate interactions among sub-layer optimizers for improvements in energy/QoS/reliability. By exploiting the inherent redundancy in wireless multimedia systems, we generate an expanded design space over traditional, layer-specific approaches. Specifically, we control the error resilient encoder at the application layer to provide awareness of architectural exploration at the physical layer (WCDMA) allowing new design points with lower power consumption via aggressive voltage scaling. While trying to reduce energy consumption, the fault tolerant technique compensates the effect of the hardware and network errors due to aggressive voltage scaling and lossy transmission, respectively. Our experiments on H.263 video over WCDMA communication system demonstrate that co-exploration enlarges the feasible design space which results in significant power savings of 34% in the H.263 encoder more than 20% in the WCDMA modem.
Reproductive costs of migration for males in a partially migrating, pond-breeding amphibian

Migratory animals face costs and benefits related to traveling to another habitat and the timing of the journey. These trade-offs can be sex-specific, with male reproductive success expected to be influenced by arrival time at the breeding habitat. In this study, we examined mating success in a population of partially migrating Red-Spotted Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens (Rafinesque, 1820)). We tested the hypothesis that migrant males are at a disadvantage for spring mating opportunities compared with resident males owing to (i) later arrival time at the breeding pond and (ii) delay in developing the aquatic tail fin, which reduces their competitiveness. We measured the tail heights of successfully courting males compared with the general male population, as well as the time required for migrating males to develop tail fins. Temporally, migrant males arrived at the breeding pond before the majority of mating activity. However, we found that the time required for migrating males to acquire tai...
The School Bus Safety Handbook: Choosing and Using Child Safety Restraint Systems and Wheelchairs

This is a technical handbook intended for those working in the school bus transportation field to develop competence and capacity in the proper selection, installation and usage of child safety res...
How predation shaped fish: the impact of fin spines on body form evolution across teleosts

It is well known that predators can induce morphological changes in some fish: individuals exposed to predation cues increase body depth and the length of spines. We hypothesize that these structures may evolve synergistically, as together, these traits will further enlarge the body dimensions of the fish that gape-limited predators must overcome. We therefore expect that the orientation of the spines will predict which body dimension increases in the presence of predators. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we tested this prediction on the macroevolutionary scale across 347 teleost families, which display considerable variation in fin spines, body depth and width. Consistent with our predictions, we demonstrate that fin spines on the vertical plane (dorsal and anal fins) are associated with a deeper-bodied optimum. Lineages with spines on the horizontal plane (pectoral fins) are associated with a wider-bodied optimum. Optimal body dimensions across lineages without spines paralleling the body dimension match the allometric expectation. Additionally, lineages with longer spines have deeper and wider body dimensions. This evolutionary relationship between fin spines and body dimensions across teleosts reveals functional synergy between these two traits and a potential macroevolutionary signature of predation on the evolutionary dynamics of body shape.
Residential Satisfaction in La Perla Informal Neighborhood, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Residential satisfaction is an important element measuring the quality of life of individuals. This paper reports on the findings of residential satisfaction in the self-built informal neighborhood of La Perla. The settlement is located adjacent to the colonial center of the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Separated by a defensive colonial wall, La Perla is not only physically isolated but also socially segregated from the city of San Juan despite more than 90 years of co-existence. Although urban decay has contributed to La Perla’s reputation, future development plans and a recent drug bust are affecting the future of the community. However, the strong emotional links between the residents and their neighborhood may preserve La Perla as an integral part of San Juan. For this research, more than 100 householder surveys were held in the neighborhood analyzing the conditions of the dwellings, the housing typology, and the householders’ satisfaction. Even though La Perla is a shantytown with strong economic and social problems, the surveys found a very high level of residential satisfaction within the community. This paper is part of a more extensive study of the neighborhood. The final objective is to help organize a basis of knowledge for the formulation of social programs that will complement proposed urban design interventions. The research is a collaboration of Florida Atlantic University, the community of La Perla, and the local government of the city of San Juan. This research has been funded with the help of Florida Atlantic University and the Architectural Research Consortium grant.
Characterization of QRS Complex in ECG Signals Applying Wavelet Transform

Analysis of cardiac signals has gained great importance. Widespread worldwide, allows diagnosing cardiac conditions by means of a graph, which shows a pattern that can classify the patient's heart condition. This work presents the application of wavelet transform for characterization of QRS complex in ECG signals and removal noise. Digital signal processing techniques are applied as the Wavelet transform to enable the analysis of that signal using Matlab® software.
Towards a virtual factory prototype

A virtual factory should represent most of the features and operations of the corresponding real factory. Some of the key features of the virtual factory include the ability to assess performance at multiple resolutions and generate analytics data similar to that possible in a real factory. One should be able to look at the overall factory performance and be able to drill down to a machine and analyze its performance. It will require a large amount of effort and expertise to build such a virtual factory. This paper describes an effort to build a multiple resolution model of a manufacturing cell. The model provides the ability to study the performance at the cell level or at the machine level. The benefits and limitations of the presented approach and future research directions are also described.
Exploiting the o-Quinodimethane Nature of Naphthalene: Cycloaddition Reactions with η2-Coordinated Tungsten–Naphthalene Complexes

Naphthalene, when bound to the complex {TpW(NO)(PMe3)}, is shown to be activated toward Diels–Alder cycloaddition in the bound ring with N-methylmaleimide (NMM). In its most stable form, the tungsten in this complex binds C1 and C2. However, the cyclization reaction is thought to proceed through an intermediate in which the metal binds C2 and C3, rendering the uncoordinated portion of the hydrocarbon similar to a quinodimethane. The reaction rates and regio- and stereochemistry are investigated for a series of substituted naphthalene ligands, and these observations support the proposed mechanism. An X-ray structure of the complex TpW(NO)(PMe3)(η2-L), where L is the cycloadduct of NMM and 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, confirms the endo stereochemistry of the cycloaddition.
The Italian American Table: Food, Family, and Community in New York City

‘Food was always about more than eating.’ This quote from Nancy Verde Barr ends Simone Cinotto’s excellent The Italian American Table: Food, Family, and Community in New York City and well summariz...
DETECTION AND ANALYSIS OF TTV GENE SEQUENCE OF THE TTV ANTIBODY POSITIVE GROUP IN QINGDAO AREA

Objective\ To investigate the variation of TTV gene in Qingdao region. \ Methods\ Specimens of positive serum of TTV antibody were collected and the specific fragments of TTV gene were amplified using nested PCR, the products were purified and connected with T vectors, and then cloned into E.coli JM109, the recombinant plasmid DNA sequence was extracted and compared with AB008394.\ Results\ Fifteen fragments were amplified among 20 samples, it was found that the variation rate of base was 13.3% as compared with that of Ab008394.\ Conclusion\ There are variant TTV in Qingdao area.
TCT-365 The relationship between intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) plaque burden and lesion characteristics by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): a multimodality imaging study

Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS)-derived plaque burden (PB) is a powerful predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). While OCT provides histology-grade definition of coronary plaque morphology in vivo, it does not allow for direct assessment of PB due to limited depth penetration. The
The Clinical Usefulness of Novel Prognostic Factors in CLL: A Study of 477 Patients with Low-Risk (Non-11q, Non-17p) FISH and Known IGVH Mutation Status.

In order to develop integrated models utilizing commonly available prognostic factors, we studied the clinical signficance of IGVH mutation, CD38 and ZAP-70 in 477 CLL patients (pts) with low-risk (non-11q, non-17p) FISH findings. All pts were untreated at the time of FISH assessment, and were collected prospectively in the MD Anderson CLL database. Two hundred & fifteen pts (45%) had mono- (n=160) or bi-alleleic (n=55) deletion of 13q {DEL13Q}, 162 pts (34%) had a negative FISH panel {NEG}, and 100 pts (21%) had trisomy 12 as sole FISH abnormality (n=78) or in association with deletion 13q (n=22) {T12}. Compared to other FISH groups, DEL13Q pts had lower B2m (median 2.2 v 2.6mg/L, p=0.01) and were less likely to be IGVH unmutated (33% v 48%, p=0.001). In contrast, T12 pts were more likely to present with advanced stage disease (Rai≥2 36% v 23%, p=0.01), be CD38 positive (44% v 13%, p
Estimating Consumer Familiarity with Health Terminology: A Context-based Approach

Objectives: Effective health communication is often hindered by a “vocabulary gap” between language familiar to consumers and jargon used in medical practice and research. To present health information to consumers in a comprehensible fashion, we need to develop a mechanism to quantify health terms as being more likely or less likely to be understood by typical members of the lay public. Prior research has used approaches including syllable count, easy word list, and frequency count, all of which have significant limitations. Design: In this article, we present a new method that predicts consumer familiarity using contextual information. The method was applied to a large query log data set and validated using results from two previously conducted consumer surveys. Measurements: We measured the correlation between the survey result and the context-based prediction, syllable count, frequency count, and log normalized frequency count. Results: The correlation coefficient between the context-based prediction and the survey result was 0.773 (p < 0.001), which was higher than the correlation coefficients between the survey result and the syllable count, frequency count, and log normalized frequency count (p ≤ 0.012). Conclusions: The context-based approach provides a good alternative to the existing term familiarity assessment methods.
The Use of Cannabis for Headache Disorders

Abstract Headache disorders are common, debilitating, and, in many cases, inadequately managed by existing treatments. Although clinical trials of cannabis for neuropathic pain have shown promising results, there has been limited research on its use, specifically for headache disorders. This review considers historical prescription practices, summarizes the existing reports on the use of cannabis for headache, and examines the preclinical literature exploring the role of exogenous and endogenous cannabinoids to alter headache pathophysiology. Currently, there is not enough evidence from well-designed clinical trials to support the use of cannabis for headache, but there are sufficient anecdotal and preliminary results, as well as plausible neurobiological mechanisms, to warrant properly designed clinical trials. Such trials are needed to determine short- and long-term efficacy for specific headache types, compatibility with existing treatments, optimal administration practices, as well as potential risks.
Modulating Magnetic Refrigeration through Structural Variation in CoII/III-GdIII Clusters.

Three heterometallic aggregates, [(CoII)2(GdIII)2(tBuPO3)2(O2CtBu)2(HO2CtBu)2(NO3)4]·NEt3 (1), [(CoII)2(CoIII)2(GdIII)3(μ3-OH)2(tBuPO3)2(O2CtBu)9(deaH)2(H2O)2] (2), and (CoIII)2(GdIII)5(μ2-OH)(μ3-OH)2(tBuPO3)2(O2CtBu)10(HO2CtBu)(deaH)2]·MeOH (3), were successfully isolated in reactions of [Co2(μ-OH2)(O2CtBu)4]·(HO2CtBu)4, Gd(NO3)3·6H2O, tBu-PO3H2, and diethanolamine (deaH3) by varying the stoichiometry of the reactants and/or changing the solvent. The structures of the final products were profoundly affected by these minor changes in stoichiometry or a change in solvent. The metal–oxo core of these complexes displays a hemicubane or a defective dicubane-like view. Bond valence sum calculations and bond lengths indicate the presence of CoII centers in compound 1, mixed valent Co centers (CoII/CoIII) in compound 2, and only CoIII centers in compound 3 as required for the charge balances and supported by the magnetic measurements. Magnetic studies reveal significant magnetic entropy changes for complexes 1–3...
Cardiac-Related Spinal Cord Tissue Motion at the Foramen Magnum is Increased in Patients with Type I Chiari Malformation and Decreases Postdecompression Surgery

Objective Type 1 Chiari malformation (CM-I) is a craniospinal disorder historically defined by cerebellar tonsillar position greater than 3–5 mm below the foramen magnum (FM). This definition has come under question because quantitative measurements of cerebellar herniation do not always correspond with symptom severity. Researchers have proposed several additional radiographic diagnostic criteria based on dynamic motion of fluids and/or tissues. The present study objective was to determine if cardiac-related craniocaudal spinal cord tissue displacement is an accurate indicator of the presence of CM-I and if tissue displacement is altered with decompression. Methods A cohort of 20 symptomatic patients underwent decompression surgery. Fifteen healthy volunteers were recruited for comparison with the CM-I group. Axial phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) measurements were collected before and after surgery at the FM with cranial-caudal velocity encoding and 20 frames per cardiac cycle with retrospective reconstruction. Spinal cord motion (SCM) at the FM was quantified based on the peak-to-peak integral of average spinal cord velocity. Results Tissue motion for the presurgical group was significantly greater than controls (P = 0.0009). Motion decreased after surgery (P = 0.058) with an effect size of –0.151 mm and a standard error of 0.066 mm. Postoperatively, no statistical difference from controls in bulk displacement at the FM was found (P = 0.200) after post hoc testing using the Tukey adjustment for multiple comparisons. Conclusions These results support SCM measurement by PC-MRI as a possible noninvasive radiographic diagnostic for CM-I. Dynamic measurement of SCM provides unique diagnostic information about CM-I alongside static quantification of tonsillar position and other intracranial morphometrics.
Why Latino Youth (Don’t) Call Police:

Latinos have been remarkably absent from research on the degree to which citizens notify police about violent crimes. This article takes a few small steps toward filling this knowledge gap through ...