cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of contrast magnitude and resolution metric on noise-resolution tradeoffs in x-ray CT imaging: a comparison of non-quadratic penalized alternating minimization and filtered backprojection algorithms

Purpose: To assess the impact of contrast magnitude and spatial resolution metric choices on the noise-resolution tradeoff of a non-quadratic penalized statistical iterative algorithm, Alternating Minimization (AM), in x-ray transmission CT. Methods: Monoenergetic Poisson-counting CT data were simulated for a water phantom containing circular inserts of varying contrast (7% to 238%). The data was reconstructed with conventional filtered backprojection (FBP) and two non-quadratic penalty parameterizations of AM. A range of smoothing strengths is reconstructed for each algorithm to quantify the noise-resolution tradeoff curve. Modulation transfer functions (MTFs) were estimated from the circular contrast-insert edges and then integrated up to a cutoff frequency as a single-parameter measure of local spatial resolution. Two cutoff frequencies and two resolution comparison values are investigated for their effect on reported tradeoff advantage. Results: The noise-resolution tradeoff curve was always more favorable for AM than FBP. For strongly edge-preserving penalty functions, this advantage was found to be dependent upon the contrast for which resolution is quantified for comparison. The magnitude of the reported dose reduction potential of the AM algorithm was shown to be dependent on the resolution metric choices, though the general contrast-dependence was always evident. Conclusions: The penalized AM algorithm shows the potential to reconstruct images of comparable quality using a fraction of the dose required by FBP. The contrast-dependence on the tradeoff advantage implies that statistical algorithms using non-quadratic penalty functions should be assessed using contrasts relevant to the intended clinical task.
Predatory Salamanders Reverse the Outcome of Competition Among Three Species of Anuran Tadpoles

The outcome of competition among three species of anuran tadpoles in replicated artificial pond communities depends on the density of predatory salamanders present in the community. Predators differentially affect the survival of anuran species to metamorphosis and reverse the pattern of anuran relative abundance resulting from interspecific competition among tadpoles in the absence of predators.
Health-risk behavior and the type A behavior pattern.

Although the Type A pattern has been established as a risk factor for coronary heart disease, it is not clear whether the pattern is associated with other health-risk behaviors. 26 men and 59 women completed the student version of the Jenkins Activity Survey and a questionnaire concerning smoking, drinking, exercise, and seatbelt use. Type A behavior was not related to these behavioral risk factors. Smokers, however, reported using seatbelts less often than nonsmokers. In addition, men drank more and women exercised more.
A colorimetric assay for the measurement of the sensitivity of herpes simplex viruses to antiviral agents.

Abstract A quantitative colorimetric method for measuring the inhibition of viral cytopathic effects has been adapted to the assay of antiviral compounds. Drug-treated, virus-infected cultures in microtiter plates were stained with the vital dye neutral red and the amount of dye incorporated was determined in a multichannel spectrophotometer. The technique required smaller volumes of reagents, was more easily automated than the standard plaque reduction assay and had good reproducibility. Standard conditions of 30 infectious units of challenge virus and 72-h incubation were judged to be optimal. Median inhibitory concentrations (ID50) for a number of compounds were approximately tenfold higher in the dye-uptake assay compared with the plaque reduction assay, possible related to the higher multiplicity of infection required to give the desired level of cytopathic effect in the microtiter method.
Convergence and error bound analysis for the space-time CESE method

In this work, we study the convergence behavior of a recently developed space-time conservation element and solution element method for solving conservation laws. In particular, we apply the method to a one-dimensional time-dependent convection-diffusion equation possibly with high Peclet number. We prove that the scheme converges and we obtain an error bound. This method performs well even for strong convection dominance over diffusion with good long-time accuracy. Numerical simulations are performed to verify the results. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 17: 64–78, 2001
Localization and binding of transforming growth factor-β isoforms in mouse preimplantation embryos and in delayed and activated blastocysts☆

The stage and cell-specific accumulation of mammalian isoforms of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta 1, TGF-beta 2, and TGF-beta 3) and TGF-beta binding were examined in the preimplantation embryo and in progesterone (P4)-treated delayed or P4 plus estradiol-17 beta (E2)-treated activated blastocysts in the mouse. Immunocytochemical studies revealed that while all three immunoreactive TGF-beta isoforms were present in one-cell embryos, very little or no immunostaining was observed in two-cell embryos. However, distinct immunostaining of these isoforms was again observed in four-cell embryos and persisted through the blastocyst stage. Among the isoforms studied, TGF-beta 2 immunostaining showed a unique pattern in late morulae. In many of these morulae, the staining was primarily observed in outside cells. However, in blastocysts, immunostaining for all three isoforms was present both in the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (Tr). Immunostaining in sectioned blastocysts and immunosurgically isolated ICMs confirmed immunostaining in Tr and ICM cells. To ascertain whether preimplantation embryos can produce TGF-beta isoforms, immunostaining was performed in embryos grown in vitro from two-cell stage in simple balanced salt solution. Immunoreactive TGF-beta s 1-3 were present in embryos at all stages of development examined (four-cell embryos through blastocysts). The virtual absence of immunoactive TGF-beta s in two-cell embryos but their accumulation in embryos at later stages of development in vitro provides evidence that these growth factors were produced by embryos. In order to assess at what stages of development preimplantation embryos could be responsive to TGF-beta s, specific binding of [125I]TGF-beta 1 and [125I]TGF-beta 2 was performed in embryos and examined by autoradiography. Low levels of binding were first detected in eight-cell embryos. The binding increased in morulae followed by a further increase in blastocysts. Analysis of binding of [125I]TGF-beta 2 in immunosurgically isolated ICMs indicated that binding was primarily evident in Tr cells. Affinity labeling of TGF-beta 1 or TGF-beta 2 in Day 4 blastocysts revealed three classes of binding proteins with approximate molecular sizes of 65 kDa (type I), 90 kDa (type II), and greater than 250 kDa (type III), in addition to a doublet of 130 and 140 kDa proteins. This observation is similar to those reported for other cell types. The data suggest that embryos are likely to be responsive to TGF-beta s after the third cleavage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Argon Ion Laser Angiosurgery In Different Animal Models Using A Multifiber Optical Delivery System

Stenotic or occlusive (two different techniques) lesions were surgically induced in the canine common carotid artery. The lesions were evaluated angiographically prior to as well as after laser angiosurgery (LAS). LAS was performed in 30 dogs using a continuous wave (CW) argon ion laser (Innova 20) coupled to a multifiber, quartz-shielded, fiberoptic catheter. Successful removal of lesion tissue was achieved in 89% of the animals with stenoses and in 40% and 82% in each of the two groups of dogs with occlusions. In the latter two groups, perforation of the vessel wall during LAS was encountered in 60% and 18%, respectively. No perforations occurred in the stenotic animals, where long-term follow-up was possible for up to 60 days with a patency rate of 63% and morphological evidence of excellent healing with complete reendothelialization.
The jet in crossflow

The jet in crossflow, or transverse jet, is a flowfield that has relevance to a wide range of energy and propulsion systems. Over the years, our group's studies on this canonical flowfield have focused on the dynamics of the vorticity associated with equidensity and variable density jets in crossflow, including the stability characteristics of the jet's upstream shear layer, as a means of explaining jet response to altered types of excitation. The jet's upstream shear layer is demonstrated to exhibit convectively unstable behavior at high jet-to-crossflow momentum flux ratios, transitioning to absolutely unstable behavior at low momentum flux and/or density ratios, with attendant differences in shear layer vorticity evolution and rollup. These differences in stability characteristics are shown to have a significant effect on how one optimally employs external excitation to control jet penetration and spread, depending on the flow regime and specific engineering application. Yet recent unexpected observations on altered transverse jet structure under different flow conditions introduce a host of unanswered questions, primarily but not exclusively associated with the nature of molecular mixing, that make this canonical flowfield one that is of great interest for more extensive exploration.
Comparing temporally aware mobile robot controllers built with Sun's Java Real-Time System, OROCOS's real-time toolkit and player

Designing a robot controller that can optimally manage limited resources in a deterministic, real-time manner can be challenging. Behavior-based architectures, which split autonomy into levels, are very popular but neither have real-time features that enforce timing constraints nor support determinism. Even though real-time features are not included, it seems like a natural fit to make each level in the behavior-based architecture its own task or process. The only that thing that it lacks are the timing features. This has already been implemented using Suns Java Real-Time System. It has also been shown that timing constraints effect performance. This brings us to the question; why not use the more traditional language of C or C++ to implement this behavior-based real-time architecture? Are we not taught that Java is useful but slow compared to C and C++? If so why not use C++ and the features of Open Robot Control Software (OROCOS) to implement the architecture. This paper answers the question of does it really matter what language is used in a behavior-based real-time architecture. We implemented the architecture using OROCOS/C++ running on UBUNTU. Then compared our implementation to two other implementations of the architecture: Java/Player on Fedora; and Suns Java Real-Time System (RTS) on Solaris. Results, from experiments on a robot, show that our OROCOS/C++ implementation performed similarly to the Java RTS implementation. Both the OROCOS and Java RTS implementations performed better than the Player/Java implementation. This suggests that Java is in fact feasible for a behavior-based real-time robot architecture but it needs to be run using Java RTS not the regular version.
Effect of filler composition and crosslinker concentration on the tribological behavior of spent germ particle-based polymeric composites

Abstract Thermosetting composites have been prepared by the use of a biobased resin and spent germ filler, which is a byproduct from a wet ethanol production plant. Microscale tribological measurements were performed on samples with different concentrations of the filler as well as the crosslinker using a ball-on-flat reciprocating microtribometer. Microscale friction and wear behavior during dry sliding were evaluated using a spherical silicon nitride probe (radius 1.2 mm) and a conical diamond (radius 100 μm, cone angle 90°) probe to impose different contact conditions. Finally, a pin-on-disc tribometer was used to study the macroscale wear properties at high loads against an alumina pin. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of wear tracks on the samples were obtained to elucidate deformation mechanisms. All samples showed evidence of abrasive wear in both micro- and macro-scales. It was found that an increase in the concentration of the filler resulted in higher friction coefficients against Si 3 N 4 , while an increase in the concentration of the crosslinker lowered the abrasive wear depth. These results provide some insight into the effectiveness of using biobased spent germ–tung oil polymer composites as potential tribomaterials.
Hydrocarbons in alaskan marine intertidal algae

There are several reasons for studying the hydrocarbon composition of marine benthic algae: to investigate chemotaxonomic relationships; to provide information related to possible petroleum contamination; and to identify components for use in studies of biogeochemical cycling In view of this, it is surprising how few reports of hydrocarbons in macrophytic algae have appeared. An extensive group of plants from the coastal waters of the northeastern U.S.A. .has been analysed [l-3]. However, only four plants collected in the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico have been examined [4-6-J. Here we report on the determination of hydrocarbons in.11 species of benthic algae collected at 11 locations within lower Cook,Inlet, Alaska. These analyses augment the previous work with Pacific plants and allow comparisons between Atlantic and Pacific taxa.
Infrared heterodyne solar radiometry.

An infrared heterodyne radiometer has sufficient sensitivity for application to high resolution spectrometric studies of the sun and the absorption of sunlight in the atmosphere. In the 10-micron region, the resolution can typically range from less than .0067/cm to .067/cm. The minimum detectable signal can approach 10 to the -24th power W/Hz. The infrared heterodyne radiometer (IHR) can also be used for atmospheric propagation studies at the emission frequencies of the CO2 laser for the examination of the feasibility of space-to-ground laser communication links.
Plasminogen Activator Promotes Recovery Following Spinal Cord Injury

Plasminogen activators play an important role in synaptic plasticity associated with the crossed phrenic phenomenon (CPP) and recovery of respiratory function after spinal cord injury. A genetic approach using knockout mice lacking various genes in the plasminogen activator/plasmin system has shown that induction of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is required during the first hour after a C2-hemisection for the acquisition of the CPP response. The uPA knockout mice do not show the structural remodeling of phrenic motor neuron synapses characteristic of the CPP response. As shown here uPA acts in a cell signaling manner via binding to its receptor uPAR rather than as a protease, since uPAR knockout mice or knock-in mice possessing a modified uPA that is unable to bind to uPAR both fail to generate a CPP and recover respiratory function. Microarray data and real-time PCR analysis of mRNAs induced in the phrenic motor nucleus after C2-hemisection in C57Bl/6 mice as compared to uPA knockout mice indicate a potential cell signaling cascade downstream possibly involving β-integrin and Src, and other pathways. Identification of these uPA-mediated signaling pathways may provide the opportunity to pharmacologically upregulate the synaptic plasticity necessary for recovery of phrenic motoneuron activity following cervical spinal cord injury.
The Identity of Indiscernibles

Summary One form of the principle of the identity of indiscernibles asserts that for any two distinct entities it is necessarily the case that there is a description which distinguishes between them, in that it applies to one but not to the other. In this paper it is argued that this form of the principle is false. The argument is based upon the nature of language, in particular the need for ostensive definition of terms which are not verbally definable. It is concluded that the identity of indiscernibles, in its linguistic form, requires a power of discrimination which no language could possess. Other versions of the principle, however, formulated in terms of properties rather than descriptions, are unaffected by the argument and may well be true. Resume Une forme du principe de l'identite des indiscernables affirme que pour deux entites distinctes, il existe necessairement une description qui permet de les separer, en ce sens qu'elle s'applique a l'une d'elles et non a l'autre. Cet article montre que cette facon de formuler le principe n'est pas correcte. L'argumentation repose sur la nature du langage; il faudrait en particulier pouvoir definir explicitement des termes qui ne sont pas definissable par des mots. On en conclut que l'identite des indiscernables, sous sa forme linguistique exigerait un pouvoir discriminatoire qu'aucun langage ne peut avoir. Par contre, d'autres versions de ce principe, formulees en termes de proprietes plutot que de description, ne sont pas atteinte par l'objection et pourraient ětre vraies. Zusammenfassung Eine Form des Prinzips der Identitat des Unterscheidbaren sagt, dass es fur zwei beliebige unterscheidbare Entitaten notwendig eine Beschreibung gibt, die sie insofern unterscheidet, als sie auf die eine, nicht aber auf die andere zutrifft. Es wird gezeigt, dass das Prinzip in dieser Form nicht richtig sein kann. Die Argumentation beruht auf der Natur der Sprache, im besonderen auf der unumganglichen Forderung nach der ostensiven Definition von Termen, die nicht rein verbal definierbar sind. Der Verfasser gelangt zum Schluss, dass die Identitat des Ununterscheidbaren in seiner linguistischen Form ein Unterscheidungsvermogen erfordert, das keine Sprache besitzt. Andere Versionen des Prinzips dagegen, die mit Hilfe von Eigenschaften und nicht von Beschreibungen formuliert werden, werden dadurch nicht betroffen und konnten wohl richtig sein.
Leishmania in the Chick Embryo. I. Multiplication of Amastigotes of L. donovani in the Liver

SYNOPSIS. On the 14th day of incubation chick embryos were inoculated intravenously with approximately 4 × 104 amastigotes of Leishmania donovani in ground, infected hamster spleen. Embryos were then incubated at 28, 33, or 37 C. At 1 hr and at 2, 4, and 6 days postinfection embryos were killed, and parasite burdens in the liver and spleen estimated by the method of Stauber. The spleen played a relatively minor role in clearance of amastigotes from the bloodstream and parasites did not survive beyond the 2nd day. In each experiment ∼20% of the injected amastigotes were found in the liver after 1 hr. Numbers of amastigotes declined in embryos incubated at 37 C and were not observed later than 2 days postinfection. At 33 C the amastigotes multiplied at a rapid rate, and at 28 C they not only multiplied but, in some instances, transformed to the promastigote form.
Experience with a computer-based medical record for nurse practitioners in ambulatory care

Abstract The background, requirements, and design of a computer-based medical record for nurse practitioners in ambulatory care are described. The major objective was to test the acceptability to primary health care providers of direct entry of narrative information. After a 1-year clinical trial, the system was evaluated. Although most of the objectives were achieved, changing requirements and lack of acceptability resulted in withdrawal of the system from the clinical setting. A discussion of the reasons for this unacceptability and the conditions which would have to be met in order to reimplement the system is included.
CCN and Vertical Velocity Influences on Droplet Concentrations and Supersaturations in Clean and Polluted Stratus Clouds

AbstractCloud microphysics and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) measurements from two marine stratus cloud projects are presented and analyzed. Results show that the increase of cloud droplet concentrations Nc with CCN concentrations NCCN rolls off for NCCN at 1% supersaturation (S)N1% above 400 cm−3. Moreover, at such high concentrations Nc was not so well correlated with NCCN but tended to be more closely related to vertical velocity W or variations of W (σw). This changeover from predominate Nc dependence on NCCN to Nc dependence on W or σw is due to the higher slope k of CCN spectra at lower S, which is made more relevant by the lower cloud S that is forced by higher NCCN. Higher k makes greater influence of W or σw variations than NCCN variations on Nc. This changeover at high NCCN thus seems to limit the indirect aerosol effect (IAE).On the other hand, in clean-air stratus cloud S often exceeded 1% and decreased to slightly less than 0.1% in polluted conditions. This means that smaller CCN [those wit...
Magnetoresistance of a periodic superconducting network near T c

The dc magnetoresistance of a superconducting ladder network is computed using linear-response theory. The calculation employs the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations and is thus expected to be relevant for T\ensuremath{\approxeq}${T}_{c}$. The results obtained exhibit a surprising qualitative similarity to experimental data for networks of Josephson junctions.
Preparing the Public for War: Efforts to Establish a National Propaganda Agency, 1940-41

A PRESIDENT'S ability to bring public opinion into line with his own view of the nature and requirements of the current political situation will frequently determine whether his policies are effective and his political goals fully achieved. This was the challenge that confronted Franklin D. Roosevelt during I94i as he sought public support for his determination to ensure Hitler's defeat by any means necessary.1 Public hostility toward the war posed a serious dilemma for the president. He was sorely concerned about the plight of Great Britain, especially after the fall of France in July I940, and he was anxious to take action to prevent her collapse. Many Americans, however, neither shared his anxiety nor viewed the situation with sufficient urgency to accept American military intervention.2 Even though the president's speeches, and organizations such as William Allen White's Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies had helped bring most Americans to support all-out material assistance to Britain, the administration was not satisfied. Munitions production lagged behind schedule, in part, at least, because of worker and management apathy toward the European war and its implications for the United States. The same indifference with respect to preparedness and inability to conceive of war as an immediate possibility was also reflected in strong public and congressional opposition to effective draft legislation in I94I as well as in unrest and a generally low spirit among draftees. These attitudes frustrated administration hopes for limited military intervention, impeded efforts to supply Britain with munitions, and retarded America's own efforts at preparedness. To interventionists in government and out, the nation seemed all but paralyzed in the face of increasing peril. Concerned about the
Les techniques narratives dans l'autobiographie et le roman autobiographique: L'exemple de Stendhal et de Musset

L'etude et la comparaison des techniques narratives (point de vue) de La Confession d'un enfant du siecle et des Souvenirs d'egotisme montre que le roman redige a la premiere personne et l'autobiographie constituent des genres bien distincts. L'A. souligne l'inegale repartition des roles du narrateur et du heros.
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Lacrimal Gland: A Case Report with a Review of the Literature

Adenoid cystic carcinomas, the most common malignancies of the lacrimal gland, are rare overall. We describe a patient who presented with right periorbital swelling developing over 5 months and magnetic resonance imaging findings of a soft tissue mass in the lacrimal fossa with invasion of the adjacent bone. The patient underwent right lateral orbitotomy with tumor debulking. Pathologic analysis showed neoplastic cells in a predominantly cribriform pattern, and the patient was diagnosed with an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland. We review the clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of these rare, aggressive malignancies as well as treatment options with reference to the current literature.
Abstract A53: Proximity to clinic and time to diagnostic resolution after abnormal cancer screening in an urban safety net setting.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of proximity from subjects' residence to their clinic on the time to diagnostic resolution for subjects with a breast or cervical cancer screening abnormality in an urban safety net setting. Methods: Boston Patient Navigation Research Program collected data (2007- 2008) for women who had a breast or cervical cancer screening abnormality at six community health centers. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and proportional hazards regression models examined the effect of distance to clinic on time to resolution, adjusting for community health center, age, race, language, and insurance. Results: We geocoded addresses for 1512 of 1544 subjects (98%). Among those with a breast screening abnormality (36% Black, 33% Hispanic; 44% non-English), there was no significant difference in adjusted hazard ratios between the distance quartiles, 0.08 to >6.12 miles, (p-values 0.50-0.98). Among those with a cervical screening abnormality (22% Black, 21% Hispanic; 15% non-English) those in the closest distance quartile (<0.6 miles) were less likely to resolve than the next closest quartile (0.6-1.47 miles) (adjusted Hazard Ratio 0.756, 95% CI 0.574 -0.995). Cervical screening subjects living closest to their clinic were slower to resolve. Conclusions: Increased distance between residence and clinic is not a barrier to diagnostic resolution for this vulnerable urban population Citation Format: Ann M. Han, Tracy Battaglia, Veronica M. Vieira, Sharon Bak, Tim Heeren, Clara Chen, Karen M. Freund. Proximity to clinic and time to diagnostic resolution after abnormal cancer screening in an urban safety net setting. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A53.
Effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis on aboveground arthropod herbivory in tallgrass prairie: an in situ experiment

Plant–herbivore interactions and mycorrhizal symbiosis are important associations in grasslands that may interact due to their relationships with a common host plant and its resources. However, few studies have explored the effect of mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant–herbivore interactions. An understanding of the complex interactions between host plants, mycorrhizal fungi, and insect herbivores is enhanced by in situ examinations of the three parties acting simultaneously. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis on insect herbivory and the host-plant community in tallgrass prairie. We used long-term mycorrhizal and fungicide-treated plots at Konza Prairie Biological Station (Manhattan, KS) to determine whether insect herbivory is altered by suppression of mycorrhizal fungi. Herbivory on plants in mycorrhizal control plots was greater than in fungicide-treated plots, and for one plant guild, C3 graminoids, the difference was significant. In fungicide-treated plots, plant diversity was significantly greater and herbivory was negatively correlated with plant species diversity. Differences in productivity of plant functional groups due to mycorrhizal symbiosis may be a key factor in patterns of insect herbivory. The results indicate that mycorrhizal symbiosis has diverse consequences, influencing the abundance and the quality of host plants in tallgrass prairie, as well as their responses to consumers.
Conductivity without collisions or noise

Electrical conductivity without particle-particle or wave-particle collisional noise or radiation
Increased sediment accretion rates following invasion by Phragmites australis : The role of litter

Negative connotations of invasive plants worldwide have implicated them as the bearers of unfavorable ecosystem change. We contrasted 5-yr-old and 20-yr-oldPhragmites populations with pre-invasion areas occupied byTypha spp. andPanicum virgatum in an oligohaline tidal marsh of Chesapeake Bay. Peak live biomass was 3 times greater, while standing dead and litter was twice as great in the 20-yr-oldPhragmites. It is this abundance of concentrated litter on the marsh surface of maturePhragmites populations that we implicate as encouraging the trapping of organic and mineral matter. The rate of vertical accretion in 20-yr-oldPhragmites populations is 3–4 mm yr−1 above the adjacent populations. By integrating the constant initial concentration and constant rate of supply models on individual210Pb cores, we estimate thatPhragmites populations require a minimum of 7-yr post-colonization to enhance rates of accretion in this system. In ligh of the considerable loss of marsh habitat from relative sea-level rise, this finding contests the view that invasion creates strictly undesirable change at the ecosystem level.
Hitting and martingale characterizations of one-dimensional diffusions.

The main theorem of the paper is that, for a large class of one-dimensional diffusions (i. e. strong Markov processes with continuous sample paths): if x(t) is a continuous stochastic process possessing the hitting probabilities and mean exit times of the given diffusion, then x(t) is Markovian, with the transition probabilities of the diffusion.
Self-assembly of cobalt nanoparticle rings.

Weakly ferromagnetic cobalt nanoparticles can assemble spontaneously into nanosized “bracelets” when dispersed in organic solvents containing resorcinarenes as surfactants. Bracelet self-assembly occurs in solution and is directed by magnetic dipolar interactions, whereas nanoparticle rings with larger diameters are produced by evaporation-driven flow on wetted surfaces.
The purinergic neurotransmitter revisited: a single substance or multiple players?

The past half century has witnessed tremendous advances in our understanding of extracellular purinergic signaling pathways. Purinergic neurotransmission, in particular, has emerged as a key contributor in the efficient control mechanisms in the nervous system. The identity of the purine neurotransmitter, however, remains controversial. Identifying it is difficult because purines are present in all cell types, have a large variety of cell sources, and are released via numerous pathways. Moreover, studies on purinergic neurotransmission have relied heavily on indirect measurements of integrated postjunctional responses that do not provide direct information for neurotransmitter identity. This paper discusses experimental support for adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) as a neurotransmitter and recent evidence for possible contribution of other purines, in addition to or instead of ATP, in chemical neurotransmission in the peripheral, enteric and central nervous systems. Sites of release and action of purines in model systems such as vas deferens, blood vessels, urinary bladder and chromaffin cells are discussed. This is preceded by a brief discussion of studies demonstrating storage of purines in synaptic vesicles. We examine recent evidence for cell type targets (e.g., smooth muscle cells, interstitial cells, neurons and glia) for purine neurotransmitters in different systems. This is followed by brief discussion of mechanisms of terminating the action of purine neurotransmitters, including extracellular nucleotide hydrolysis and possible salvage and reuptake in the cell. The significance of direct neurotransmitter release measurements is highlighted. Possibilities for involvement of multiple purines (e.g., ATP, ADP, NAD+, ADP-ribose, adenosine, and diadenosine polyphosphates) in neurotransmission are considered throughout.
Sclerosing polycystic adenosis of the salivary gland: a lesion that may be associated with dysplasia and carcinoma in situ.

Summary: Sclerosing polycystic adenosis is a recently described, extremely rare, reactive sclerosing inflammatory process somewhat similar to adenosis tumor of the breast. To date, 31 cases have been described in the literature. Twenty-seven tumors involved the parotid gland, two involved the submandibular gland, and two arose within the oral cavity in minor salivary gland sites. Patients ranged in age from 9 to 80 years, with an approximate 2.5:1 female-to-male incidence. Primary tumors range in size from 1 to 7 cm in greatest dimension, are typically unencapsulated, and are composed of densely sclerotic lobules with prominent cystic change. Hyperplasia of ductal and acinar elements and areas of apocrine-like metaplasia are typical. Foci with dysplasia of ductal epithelium ranging from mild dysplasia to occasional cases with carcinoma in situ are moderately frequent. Invasive carcinoma has not been reported in these patients. Tumors in 5 (29%) of the 16 patients with follow-up have recurred. To date, no patients have developed metastases or have died from disease.
Murmur alternans in aortic stenosis.

SUMMARY We have presented a case of severe aortic stenosis with pulsus alternans manifesting alternation of the auscultatory findings, namely, the systolic ejection murmur, diastolic gallop sound, first and second heart sounds and ejection click. Physiologic considerations are discussed. In the presence of a regular heart rate, alternating auscultatory findings have the same clinical significance as the finding of pulsus alternans.
Large scale purification of human fibroblast interferon.

Abstract Human fibroblast interferon was partially purified, about 4,000-fold, on a chromatographic tandem of columns: concanavalin A-agarose → phenyl-agarose, to a specific activity of ca 4 × 107. The overall recovery of interferon activity was ca 60%.
Convergence of a Difference Equation and Its Applications

In this paper, we establish a sufficient condition for every solution of the forced difference equation $$x_{n+1} - x_n + p_nx_{n-k} = r_n, \ \ n=0, 1, \ldots$$
TH-A-BRA-09: Statistical Assessment of Plan Robustness Under Uncertainties: IMRT Vs. Proton Therapy

Purpose: Fair comparisons between x‐ray IMRT and Proton therapy plans should include assessment of plan robustness. However, this is difficult because the dose distribution can be altered in the presence of uncertainties in different ways for each modality. In order to fairly evaluate plan's robustness for both arms, we propose the use of statistical parameters to assess the probabilistic distribution of dose and DVHs under setup and range uncertainties. Methods: A lungcancer patient currently undergoing randomized trial was selected for this study. Physician approved x‐ray IMRT and passively scattered proton plans were created under identical planning objectives. For each of these plans, a total of 500 dose calculations were performed that simulated 50 virtual treatments with each treatment having 10 fractions. We found random error quickly converged within 10 fractions. A random setup error was introduced for each of the multiple fractions while a static systematic setup and range errors were introduced over simulated treatments. In calculating the doses, we assumed a static dose distribution for the IMRT plan. For Proton plans, a new dose calculation was performed for every simulation using a fast dose calculation method. Based on these simulations, the expectation value of DVH (E[DVH]) and standard deviation (SD[DVH]) were calculated. Both SD[DVH] and the difference between E[DVH] and the original DVH characterize the plan's robustness. Results: The E[DVH] showed that the V100% target coverage was 0.5% and 4% less than the original coverage for IMRT and Proton plans, respectively. The SD[DVH] near the prescription dose bin were 1% and 3% for IMRT and Proton plans respectively. Conclusions: Our results showed that the E[DVH] and SD[DVH] are viable options for evaluating plan robustness for both treatment modalities. Clinical prescription and dose objectives should be evaluated under uncertainty to assure treatment goals can be realized against uncertainties considered. Supported in part by NCI P01CA021239‐29A1.
The evolution of CICS/ESA in the Sysplex environment

The IBM CICS/ESA® transaction processing subsystem has been enhanced in a way that enables transparent exploitation of Parallel Sysplex™ technology, even by existing large-scale applications. This paper describes how CICS/ESA takes advantage of and integrates new Multiple Virtual Storage (MVS) features to provide an external view of the sysplex as a single entity with workload-sensitive routing algorithms for passing work requests between nodes of the sysplex. Sysplex-wide access is provided to application scratch-pad data, to security data, and to database and file data with complete integrity.
CONCURRENCY IN PRODUCT REALIZATION

Technology per se does not provide a competitive advantage. Timely exploitation of technology is what gives the competitive edge, and this demands a major shift in the product development process and management of the industrial enterprise. `Teaming to win' is more than a management theme; it is the disciplined engineering practice that is essential to success in today's global marketplace. Teaming supports the concurrent engineering practices required to integrate the activities of people responsible for product realization through achievement of shorter development cycles, lower costs, and defect-free products.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Prevention of biothreats: a look ahead.

On October 6, 2009, the Center for Biosecurity of UPMC organized a 1-day conference, ‘‘Prevention of Biothreats: A Look Ahead,’’ in Washington, DC. The conference was hosted in collaboration with the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, and it was funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The meeting was attended by more than 150 administration officials, policy analysts, scientists, health leaders, congressional staff members, and members of the media to discuss strategies for countering biological weapons threats. During the conference, participants discussed a wide range of U.S. government programs, international approaches, and nongovernment efforts aimed at preventing the development and use of biological weapons, including arms control and multilateral agreements; efforts to prevent the unlawful acquisition of materials, equipment, and information; deterrence, intelligence, and surveillance; and improving resilience to biological attacks as a means of dissuasion and prevention. Given the wide range of activities and professional groups engaged in biothreat prevention efforts, it is rare for the entire community to convene as a single group. This meeting accomplished that—the first step toward generating promising new ideas and directions for biothreat prevention and promoting greater coherence in the biopreparation community. This summary report was prepared by the staff of the Center for Biosecurity of UPMC to provide a brief synopsis of each day’s panel discussions and individual presentations. Videos of the day’s discussions, the conference agenda, speaker biographies, and background readings are available on the conference website: www.upmc-biosecurity. org=preventionconf.
Coordination chemistry of bidentate diflourophospines IV. Complexes of 1,2-bis(diflourophosphino)ethane with Ni(O) and Mo(O).

The ligand, 1,2-bis(difluorophosphino)ethane, (PF2C2H4PF2), reacts with Ni(CO)4 in the gas phase and in solution to produce carbon monoxide and a polymer, [Ni(PF2C2H4PF2)2]x. PF2C2H4PF2 displaces norbornadiene from (C7H8)Mo(CO)4 to yield the relatively air-stable complex, Mo(CO)4-(PF2C2H4PF2). Analysis of the infrared spectrum of the monomeric complex indicates that the ligand exhibits π-acceptor strength equal to PF2C6H10PF2.
Bulk-flow versus thermal-capillary models for Czochralski growth of semiconductors

Abstract The flows of a Czochralski semiconductor melt predicted by a bulk-flow model are contrasted with results obtained from a hydrodynamic thermal-capillary model (HTCM) which includes realistic interfacial geometries and boundary conditions. Both models are solved using the same finite-element methodology. Simulations are performed for the model problems posed by Wheeler [1], which are representative of the growth of semiconductors in a small-scale Czochralski system. Limit points in the steady-state solutions are found with respect to crystal rotation for both models, and similar structures are obtained for flows driven by crystal and crucible rotation only. Significant differences in model predictions are found for flows affected by buoyancy. Combined rotational and buoyant flows predicted by the HTCM are strongly affected by changes in overall system heat transfer caused by crystal diameter control. The inability of bulk-flow models to predict these coupled effects is discussed.
Determination of Pentylenetetrazol in Tablets and Injectables by NMR

A rapid and accurate NMR procedure is described for the analysis of pentylenetetrazol in tablet and injection dosage forms. A standard deviation of 0.7% was obtained on 10 synthetic mixtures. The NMR spectrum, in addition, provides a very specific means of identification for pentylenetetrazol.
Multiple functions of DNA polymerases.

The primary role of DNA polymerases is to accurately and efficiently replicate the genome to ensure the maintenance of the genetic information and its faithful transmission through generations. This is not a simple task considering the size of the genome and its constant exposure to endogenous and environmental DNA damaging agents. Thus, a number of DNA repair pathways operate in cells to protect the integrity of the genome. In addition to their role in replication, DNA polymerases play a central role in most of these pathways. Given the multitude and the complexity of DNA transactions that depend on DNA polymerase activity, it is not surprising that cells in all organisms contain multiple highly specialized DNA polymerases, the majority of which have only recently been discovered. Five DNA polymerases are now recognized in Escherichia coli, 8 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and at least 15 in humans. While polymerases in bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells have been extensively studied much less is known a...
LASE: locating and applying systematic edits by learning from examples

Adding features and fixing bugs often require sys- tematic edits that make similar, but not identical, changes to many code locations. Finding all the relevant locations and making the correct edits is a tedious and error-prone process for developers. This paper addresses both problems using edit scripts learned from multiple examples. We design and implement a tool called LASE that (1) creates a context-aware edit script from two or more examples, and uses the script to (2) automatically identify edit locations and to (3) transform the code. We evaluate LASE on an oracle test suite of systematic edits from Eclipse JDT and SWT. LASE finds edit locations with 99% precision and 89% recall, and transforms them with 91% accuracy. We also evaluate LASE on 37 example systematic edits from other open source programs and find LASE is accurate and effective. Furthermore, we confirmed with developers that LASE found edit locations which they missed. Our novel algorithm that learns from multiple examples is critical to achieving high precision and recall; edit scripts created from only one example produce too many false positives, false negatives, or both. Our results indicate that LASE should help developers in automating systematic editing. Whereas most prior work either suggests edit locations or performs simple edits, LASE is the first to do both for nontrivial program edits.
A tripyridylthioether macrocycle: (14,17-dithia-22,23,24-triaza­tetra­cyclo­[16.3.1.13,7.19,13]tetra­cosa-1(22),3,5,7(24),9,11,13(23),18,20-nona­ene-2,8-dione

The title compound, C19H13N3O2S2, is a macrocycle with a `wheelchair' conformation. The `backrest' pyridine ring is tilted by 142.87 (7)° with respect to the `seat' plane, and the two `wheel' pyridine rings are tilted by 70.33 (3)° with respect to one another.
Path dependent high strain, strain-rate deformation of polymer toroidal elements

The dynamic behavior of toroidal elements (o-rings) is investigated at the range of global engineering strains up to 0.7 and strain rates about 100 s−1. It was observed that the corresponding average dynamic stiffness of rubber toroidal elements increases up to 3 times in comparison with their quasistatic compression. The viscoelastic dynamic model using linear strain-rate dependence and Hertz damped model did not satisfactory agree with experimental data in investigated range of strains and strain-rates. In order to reflect experimental results, a modified viscoelastic model with power-law strain-rate dependence was proposed. Path dependent deformation of o-rings with different levels of pre-compression was investigated under dynamic loading conditions. It was found that dynamic response of pre-compressed o-rings at the initial strain range of 0.04–0.25 is similar to the behavior of uncompressed o-rings, but further increasing pre-compression to 0.4 and 0.5 results in different force-strain curves demonstrating memory effect. This phenomenon is explained using a model incorporating dependence of dynamic force on initial pre-compression introducing critical level of dynamic strain, after which memory of initial pre-compression fades. This model predicts that force history of weakly compressed o-rings (initial strain 4%) on the stage of loading represents an envelope for all other data in agreement with experiments. In all cases, the dynamic behavior was characterized by stiffer force-displacement curves in comparison with quasistatic compression of o-rings.
Hybrid phenolic friction composites containing Kevlar® pulp Part 1. Enhancement of friction and wear performance☆

The friction and wear characteristics of control (without Kevlar® pulp) and hybrid (with Kevlar® pulp) phenolic composites containing milled E-glass or steel were determined at various counterface speeds and temperatures using a Chase friction tester. In general, Kevlar® pulp significantly improved the wear resistance and decreased the coefficient of friction for both types of hybrid composites. Kevlar® pulp also imparted excellent frictional stability at high speeds in steel-fiber composites and significantly reduced higher frequency ( > 5 kHz) noise at high speeds in both steel and glass-fiber composites. The stabilization of the coefficient of friction and reduction of noise was not due to the reduction of the coefficient of friction because it also occurred at constant frictional force. The addition of Kevlar® pulp to a steel-fiber-containing formulation significantly improved its overall performance.