cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ranking canonical views for tourist attractions

Online photo collections have become truly gigantic. Photo sharing sites such as Flickr ( http://www.flickr.com/ ) host billions of photographs, a large portion of which are contributed by tourists. In this paper, we leverage online photo collections to automatically rank canonical views for tourist attractions. Ideal canonical views for a tourist attraction should both be representative of the site and exhibit a diverse set of views (Kennedy and Naaman, International Conference on World Wide Web 297---306, 2008). In order to meet both goals, we rank canonical views in two stages. During the first stage, we use visual features to encode the content of photographs and infer the popularity of each photograph. During the second stage, we rank photographs using a suppression scheme to keep popular views top-ranked while demoting duplicate views. After a ranking is generated, canonical views at various granularities can be retrieved in real-time, which advances over previous work and is a promising feature for real applications. In order to scale canonical view ranking to gigantic online photo collections, we propose to leverage geo-tags (latitudes/longitudes of the location of the scene in the photographs) to speed up the basic algorithm. We preprocess the photo collection to extract subsets of photographs that are geographically clustered (or geo-clusters), and constrain the expensive visual processing within each geo-cluster. We test the algorithm on two large Flickr data sets of Rome and the Yosemite national park, and show promising results on canonical view ranking. For quantitative analysis, we adopt two medium data sets and conduct a subjective comparison with previous work. It shows that while both algorithms are able to produce canonical views of high quality, our algorithm has the advantage of responding in real-time to canonical view retrieval at various granularities.
Carbon Nanotubes for Thermoacoustic Contrast Enhancement: Preliminary Results

The unique electrical properties of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes make them good candidates for thermoacoustic contrast agents. Theoretical considerations suggest that nanotubes are capable of greatly increasing a material's absorption of electromagnetic radiation. We describe these properties and discuss our measurements of aqueous nanotube solutions and nanotube-infused tissue mimicking phantoms. We discuss results and the difficulties currently associated with making these measurements on nanotubes.
CPG-7909 (PF-3512676, ProMune®): toll-like receptor-9 agonist in cancer therapy

Stimulation of toll-like receptor (TLR)9 activates human plasmacytoid dendritic cells and B cells, and induces potent innate immune responses in preclinical tumor models and in patients. CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) are TLR9 agonists that show promising results as vaccine adjuvants and in the treatment of cancers, infections, asthma and allergy. PF-3512676 (ProMune) was developed as a TLR9 agonist for the treatment of cancer as monotherapy and as an adjuvant in combination with chemo- and immunotherapy. Phase I and II trials have tested this drug in several hematopoietic and solid tumors. Pfizer has initiated Phase III trials to test PF-3512676 in combination with standard chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer.
Underestimate of tonometric readings after photorefractive keratectomy increases at higher intraocular pressure levels.

PURPOSE To determine whether tonometric readings of increases in intraocular pressure (IOP) during the water-drinking test (WDT) are affected by variations in central corneal thickness (CCT) induced by photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS Data from 30 randomly selected eyes of 30 patients (18 men and 12 women; mean age, +/- SD: 33.9 +/- 7.6 years) undergoing bilateral PRK for myopia (-6.57 +/- 2.39 D) were obtained. Objective refraction, anterior radius of corneal curvature (R), CCT, and IOP measurements at baseline and at different time intervals after ingestion of 1 L of water within 5 minutes, were performed before and 6 months after PRK. All measured IOPs were recalculated by a correction factor for R and CCT and expressed as corrected intraocular pressure (IOPC) measurements. RESULTS The mean R +/- SD was 7.84 +/- 0.20 and 8.76 +/- 0.34 mm, and the mean CCT was 544.83 +/- 19.69 and 453.97 +/- 29.95 microm, before and after PRK, respectively. The mean IOP at baseline was 15.05 +/- 2.78 and 9.83 +/- 2.56 mm Hg, and during WDT was 18.32 +/- 3.42 and 11.42 +/- 3.10 mm Hg at 10 minutes, 18.59 +/- 2.99 and 11.54 +/- 2.54 mm Hg at 20 minutes, 17.80 +/- 2.85 and 10.87 +/- 2.22 mm Hg at 30 minutes, 16.35 +/- 3.02 and 10.26 +/- 2.21 mm Hg at 45 minutes, and 14.90 +/- 2.52 and 9.81 +/- 2.32 mm Hg at 60 minutes, before and after PRK, respectively. The mean IOPC at baseline was 13.64 +/- 2.33 and 13.05 +/- 2.98 mm Hg, and during WDT was 16.61 +/- 2.77 and 15.08 +/- 3.59 mm Hg at 10 minutes, 16.96 +/- 2.69 and 15.33 +/- 2.96 mm Hg at 20 minutes, 16.10 +/- 2.50 and 14.42 +/- 2.60 mm Hg at 30 minutes, 14.92 +/- 2.72 and 13.62 +/- 2.65 mm Hg at 45 minutes, 13.82 +/- 2.27 and 13.05 +/- 2.55 mm Hg at 60 minutes, before and after excimer laser treatment, respectively. Pre- and postoperative IOPs and percentages of IOP increase differed significantly (P < 0.05), in particular at the peak, as did IOPCs but not the percentages of increase in IOPC, apart from the highest values. CONCLUSIONS Corneal changes after PRK for myopia may induce an uneven underestimate of the IOP increases. The inadequacy of a correction factor to compensate for CCT and R at high IOP levels indicates that other biomechanical factors may play a role when the cornea is subjected to dynamic actual IOP variation. Such increase of the well-known underestimate of IOP after PRK at higher actual IOPs may have significant clinical implications in tonometric assessment of subjects at risk of glaucomatous damage.
The fine structure and formation mechanism of lower bainite

Isothermal transformation of austenite to lower bainite was studied by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in two high-purity Fe-C-4 wt pct Mn-2 wt pct Si alloys containing 0.4 and 0.6 wt pct carbon, in order to elucidate the fine structure and formation mechanism of lower bainite. The present results support a mechanism for lower bainite formation presented previously in which lower bainite sheaves result from the formation of an aggregate of fine ferrite crystals with thin austenite “gaps” between them; carbide precipitation occurs within these austenite gaps. This mechanism accounts for the carbides oriented at an angle to the sheaf axis repeatedly observed in lower bainite but is inconsistent with models based on the precipitation of a high-volume fraction of carbides within highly supersaturated ferrite formed by high-velocity shear. Observations by a number of other researchers are reviewed and shown to include morphological features consistent with the present mechanism. Finally, the orientation relationships typically observed among ferrite, austenite, and carbides in lower bainite are reviewed and shown in most (but not all) cases to be consistent with the view that carbides precipitate in austenite at ferrite-austenite boundaries, also in agreement with the present model.
A liquid helium, time-of-flight coincidence neutron polarimeter

Abstract A liquid helium, time-of-flight coincidence neutron polarimeter has been developed to measure neutron polarization. The polarizer-analyzer is liquid helium in a specially constructed cryostat. Energy selection is accomplished by time-of-flight techniques and the background is reduced to a negligible amount by requiring fast coincidence between the polarizer-analyzer and the side counters. The counts from both side counters are recorded simultaneously in a 400-channel analyzer by splitting the memory of the analyzer. Measurement of the neutron polarization for the D(d,n) 3 He reaction was made using the polarimeter for deuteron bombarding energies between 1.5 and 1.9 MeV at a laboratory angle of 35°. The polarization varies from −16.5 percent at 1.5 MeV to −21.6 percent at 1.9 MeV.
Electron Spin Resonance and Electron Spin Echo Modulation Spectroscopic Studies of Cupric Ion−Adsorbate Interactions in Synthetic Clinoptilolite

The site locations and adsorbate interactions of Cu2+ in Cu2+-exchanged synthetic clinoptilolite have been determined by electron spin resonance and electron spin echo modulation spectroscopies. Strong effects of the H+, Li+, Na+, and K+ cocations have been found on the coordination number and on the location of the cupric ion. Cu2+ coordinates three molecules of water in hydrated CuH−clinoptilolite (CuH−Clino) and in CuLi−Clino, but only two molecules of water in hydrated CuNa−Clino and CuK−Clino. Two cupric ion sites are observed in many cases and are attributed to sites in ten-ring and eight-ring main channels. Activation to 400 °C is sufficient to remove these water molecules and cause migration of Cu2+ to an eight-ring intersecting channel. Adsorption of polar molecules such as water, ammonia, alcohols, and acetonitrile causes the migration of Cu2+ into the main channels to coordinate with the adsorbates. Cu2+ forms complexes with three molecules of ethanol and four of ammonia in CuH−Clino, but only ...
Hemangiopericytoma of the bladder after polyvinyl alcohol exposure

A patient with hemangiopericytoma of the bladder following intensive exposure to polyvinyl alcohol is reported. Some early studies on polymer carcinogenesis are reviewed and recent work on vinyl chloride as a mutagen and potent carcinogen is cited. The need for epidemiologic and animal studies of other monomers is presented.
A new genus and species of Dipterocarpaceae from the Neotropics. II. Stem anatomy

An examination of the external morphology of a recent collection from Araracuara, Colombia, has suggested that the plant belongs to the primarily Old World family Dipterocarpaceae. A study of the wood, bark, and pith anatomy of this new taxon,Pseudomonotes tropenbosii Londono, Alvarez & Forero, was undertaken to help confirm its systematic affinities. Comparisons ofPseudomonotes with data from the literature and reference wood slides, coupled with the use of computer-aided identification keys, support the view that its closest relationships probably are within the family Dipterocarpaceae. Detailed anatomical comparisons have revealed thatPseudomonotes' relationships are most likely to be with the subfamily Monotoideae, comprised of the African generaMonotes A. DC. andMarquesia Gilg.
Photodichroic crystals for coherent optical data processing

Abstract The use of photodichroic alkali halide crystals as re-usable input, storage, and filter plane elements in a coherent optical computer are reviewed. Various recording methods and applications are presented with emphasis on the use of the M and MA centres in NaF at room temperature.
Distributed flow sensing using optical hot -wire grid

An optical hot-wire flow sensing grid is presented using a single piece of self-heated optical fiber to perform distributed flow measurement. The flow-induced temperature loss profiles along the fiber are interrogated by the in-fiber Rayleigh backscattering, and spatially resolved in millimeter resolution using optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR). The flow rate, position, and flow direction are retrieved simultaneously. Both electrical and optical on-fiber heating were demonstrated to suit different flow sensing applications.
An FTIR study of water thin films on magnesium oxide

Abstract Transmission Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is used to investigate the adsorption of water on dry nitrogen, cleaved MgO(1 0 0) surfaces under ambient conditions. The majority of the water physically adsorbs to the substrate in a reversible manner. The water thin film exhibits liquid-like hydrogen bonding even at the lowest coverages detected and at temperatures as low as −10 °C. A plot of the coverage of water on MgO as a function of the water vapor pressure resembles a typical BET adsorption isotherm, indicating that the layer grows in via three-dimensional island formation. This growth mechanism is suggested not only by the isotherm but also by the fact that IR absorption due to the OH stretch of the adsorbed water does not change as a function of coverage. Water does not wet the MgO surface; at relative humidities as high as 90% the water thin film consists of just five layers of water. At no time during this series of experiments were carbon-containing features seen in the FTIR spectra.
Eye movements and the visual autokinetic phenomenon.

The autokinetic reports of 64 male Ss reflected to a significant extent the direction of compensatory eye movements which had been experimentally manipulated using a retinal image displacement technique. A tracking device was used to record the seconds per trial that the stimulus appeared in each of four visual field quadrants, a temporal measure of magnitude, latency, and direction of initial movement. The results suggest compensatory eye movements associated with the maintenance of single-point binocular fixation and consequent reduction of the disruptive effects of heterophorically stimulated fixation disparity, as the visual mechanism primarily responsible for the autokinetic phenomenon.
Low Background Isotope Tracing in Biochemistry

Abstract Isotopic labels have been a primary tool in tracing chemicals in natural systems for over 60 years. Tritium and radiocarbon are used in organic tracing, but decay counting is inefficient compared to mass spectrometric analyses of stable and very long lived isotopes. Accelerator mass spectrometry quantifies attomoles (10−18mole) or attoCuries of labeled compounds from milligram-sized biochemical samples. AMS opens the door to increased chemical tracing directly in humans without uncertain extrapolations from animal models. Radioactivities used in experiments with AMS quantification are low enough to present no hazard in the laboratory and no significant radioactive wastes.
Electrophysiological characteristics of rodent myocardium damaged by adrenaline

Myocardial cell injury was produced in rats and guinea pigs by injecting 3.0 mg.kg-1 1-adrenaline subcutaneously. Ventricular myocardium removed from animals 24 h after the injection exhibited marked electrophysiological alterations when studied in vitro. These alterations included: (1) reduced resting membrane potential, action potential amplitude and duration, and dV/dt; (2) conduction disturbances such as delay, unidirectional block, summation and inhibition; (3) abnormal automatic activity including triggered sustained rhythmic activity and post-overdrive acceleration. Conduction disturbances were affected by stimulus intensity, duration, rate and site of pacing. Isoprenaline (10(-7) mol.litre-1) improved conduction. Automatic activity was modified by changes in entrance and exit block and depolarising or hyperpolarising current pulses. These data indicate that diverse abnormal electrophysiological alterations occur in myocardium damaged by adrenaline.
A Novel Asymmetric Clamping Cell for Measuring Streaming Potential of Flat Surfaces

A novel asymmetric clamping cell is used to measure the ζ potential of macroscopic sample surfaces. The unique design of the cell allows in-situ measurement of ζ potentials of any flat surfaces, either solids (such as glass, plastics, metals, and ceramics) or flexible sheets (like polymer films, papers, foils, and membranes), without having to cut or shape the test surfaces to fit the measuring cell dimensions. The cell enables measurement of the streaming potential through several parallel rectangular channels formed by firmly pressing a grooved spacer against the test surface. The term “asymmetric” specifically refers to the unique configuration of the channels, where one of the walls (the test surface) bears a different charging property (or, more specifically, ζ potential), compared to the other three surfaces of the channel (formed by the spacer). A mathematical formulation on the basis of Smoluchowski−Helmholtz approach reveals that the measured ζ potential in such a cell represents the average ζ po...
Anisotropic photoelectron emission from small particles

Abstract Photoelectron emission by small particles depends on power density at the surface. Lorenz—Mie calculations for spheres indicate that this is anisotropic so there should be corresponding anisotropic angular distribution of photoelectrons which will depend upon particle size and complex refractive index.
Effects of drying on the phenolics content and antioxidant activity of muscadine pomace

Abstract Three drying technologies [ i.e ., vacuum belt drying (VBD), hot air drying (HAD), and freeze drying (FD)] were evaluated for the processing of muscadine pomace in terms of their impact on drying time requirement, moisture content (MC), water activity (a w ), total phenolics content (TPC), and antioxidant activity (AA). Muscadine pomace discs of two thicknesses (2 and 4 mm) were dried using 16 different time-temperature combinations for VBD, 12 different time-temperature and air velocity combinations for HAD, and one treatment for FD. The TPC and AA in lyophilised samples were 583 ± 8 and 608 ± 16 μmol GAE/g d.w. and 2.21 ± 0.15 and 2.30 ± 0.17 mmol Fe 2+ E/g d.w. for the 2 and 4 mm thick discs, respectively. The VBD treatment of 60–80–100–100 °C for 60 min ( i.e ., TV2) for 2 mm thick discs showed the highest TPC value, and no significant ( P > 0.05) differences were observed in AA of 2 mm thick discs dried by VDB and FD. The TPC and AA for the VBD treatment of 60–80–100–100 °C for 90 min and HAD treatment of 70 °C at 0.6 m/s for 3 h for the 2 mm thick discs were not significantly ( P > 0.05) different compared to freeze dried samples. For 4 mm thick samples, the TPC and AA for the VBD treatments of 60–80–100–100 °C, 60–90–120–120 °C, 70–90–110–110 °C, 80–90–100–100 °C, and 90–105–120–120 °C for 90 min as well as 70–90–110–110 °C for 60 min were not significantly ( P > 0.05) different compared to those for freeze dried discs. VBD is a promising drying technology, as the resultant products possessed high TPCs and were dried in less than ¼ of the time compared with that of FD.
Heterogeneous catalysis by solid superacids--14. Perfluorinated resinsulfonic acid (nafion-h) catalyzed Friedel-crafts alkylation of toluene and phenol with alkyl chloroformates and oxalates

Abstract Perfluorinated resinsulfonic acid (Nafion-H)-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation of toluene and phenol with alkyl chloroformates and oxalates was studied, in both liquid- and gas-phase reactions. Alkylations gave good yields in clean reactions without the need for any complex decompositions or workup. No acylation side products were formed in the reactions. The question of C- versus O-alkylation is discussed.
Novel approach to boron-10 enriched decaborane(14): an important advance in synthetic boron hydride chemistry

Abstract The oxidative polyhedral cage-fusion reaction of the sodium or lithium salt of the B-10 enriched pentaborate anion, [ 10 B 5 H 8 ] − , with anhydrous FeCl 3 , NiCl 2 , Br 2 , or C 5 H 11 Br, followed by room temperature sublimation of the product, produced 10 B 10 H 14 ( 3 ) in 52–65% yields.
Studies of S-But-3-ynyl and gem-Dimethyl S-But-3-ynyl Thioglycoside Donors in Gold-Catalyzed Glycosylations

Gold-catalyzed glycosylation using S-but-3-ynyl and gem-dimethyl S-but-3-ynyl thioglycoside donors has been investigated for the synthesis of various types of complex oligosaccharides. It was found that 2,2-dimethyl S-but-3-ynyl thioglycoside donors are more reactive than their S-but-3-ynyl thioglycoside counterparts and gave the glycoside products in relatively higher yields.
Generalized Confidence Intervals for Ratios of Regression Coefficients with Applications to Bioassays

The problem of constructing a confidence interval for the ratio of two regression coefficients is addressed in the context of multiple regression. The concept of a Generalized Confidence Interval is used, and the resulting confidence interval is shown to perform well in terms of coverage probability. The proposed methodology always results in an interval, unlike the confidence region generated from Fieller's theorem. The procedure can easily be implemented for parallel-line assays, slope-ratio assays, and quantal assays under a probit model. Furthermore, this approach can also be extended to compute confidence intervals based on data from multiple bioassays. The results are illustrated using several examples.
Acid-base and redox properties of fluorided AIPO4 catalysts

Fluorided-AIPO4 catalysts (1–5 wt%) have been prepared by impregnation until incipient wetness of aluminum orthophosphate with ammonium fluoride aqueous solution. The concentration of surface acid and basic sites as well as the amount of oxidizing and reducing sites of these catalysts were measured. The results provide evidence that the fluoridation of AIPO4 up to 5 wt% leads to a change in the acidity-basicity balance with a surface that only contains acid and electron acceptor properties, although the number of sites are decreased in comparison to that of the corresponding unmodified AIPO4.
Obstetric predictors of placental/umbilical cord blood volume for transplantation.

Abstract Objective: Umbilical cord blood is an effective alternative to bone marrow as a source of hematopoietic stem cells in transplantation. However, the amount of donor blood and the cell content that are collected may be insufficient for engraftment in some adult recipients. This study identifies obstetric factors that affect retrievable placental cord blood volume. Study design: A retrospective analysis of factors that were obtained by direct observation or medical record review that were related to harvested cord blood volume was conducted; the analysis involved 9205 deliveries from mothers who donated placental cord blood through the obstetric services of two New York City hospitals between 1993 and 1999. Results: Obstetric factors that influenced significantly the total volume of blood that was collected were route of delivery, induction of labor, presence of a nuchal cord, infant birth weight, multiple births, placental weight, and duration of labor. The length of the umbilical cord from the venipuncture site and the length of time to cord blood collection also affected the volume that was retrieved. Maternal ethnicity was associated with cord blood yield; Caucasian mothers provided larger quantities than either African American or Asian mothers. Conclusion: Our results confirm that the volume of residual placental cord blood that is collected for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is influenced by several factors, the presence of which predict the likelihood of an adequate collection. Collected volumes can be improved when a longer length of the cord is left with the placenta and when there is a shorter time between the delivery of the placenta and the collection. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:503-9.)
Measurement of Tidal Form Drag Using Seafloor Pressure Sensors

AbstractAs currents flow over rough topography, the pressure difference between the up- and downstream sides results in form drag—a force that opposes the flow. Measuring form drag is valuable because it can be used to estimate the loss of energy from currents as they interact with topography. An array of bottom pressure sensors was used to measure the tidal form drag on a sloping ridge in 200 m of water that forms a 1-km headland at the surface in Puget Sound, Washington. The form drag per unit length of the ridge reached 1 × 104 N m−1 during peak flood tides. The tidally averaged power removed from the tidal currents by form drag was 0.2 W m−2, which is 30 times larger than power losses to friction. Form drag is best parameterized by a linear wave drag law as opposed to a bluff body drag law because the flow is stratified and both internal waves and eddies are generated on the sloping topography. Maximum turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates of 5 × 10−5 W kg−1 were measured with a microstructure pr...
Distributed consulting in a distributed environment

Project Athena is one of the world's largest centrally-administered distributed computer environments, linking more than 1,000 workstations. Students and faculty use workstations scattered across MIT's 146-acre campus, in public clusters, private offices, and labs. Users can login to any Athena workstation on campus to access their files, mail, software, and even other systems, through the network.To serve our widespread network of workstations and more than 9000 users, with a staff of only 20 part-time consultants and 20 part-time volunteers, we've developed an efficient, distributed consulting system to match our distributed computing system.We've developed a number of tools to adapt to the fact that users, consultants, and other members of the Athena organization may be logged in anywhere on campus. We use Athena's Zephyr messaging system to locate, communicate with and coordinate with, in real time, all consultants and Network Services and Systems Support staff members. Using OLC (presented at the October '89 SIGUCCS), the on-line consulting system software, users and consultants can contact each other from any part of campus.To handle the expected 45,000 questions this year, we've modified OLC so that consultants can answer more than one question simultaneously. We also offer an answers system, accessible by users and consultants, providing answers to common questions. As the system or users' use of the systems changes, we can update these answers instantaneously.Our OLC software has been adapted for other uses. Some courses now use an “on-line teaching assistant” version (OLTA) which allows students to ask course-related questions. Instructors can review OLTA conversations to uncover common problems that have occurred.This session will cover our distributed consulting system as it exists and changes we're making to meet our ever-increasing load and to handle the integration of other systems into the Athena environment.
J-Estimation Procedure Based on Moire Interferometry Data.

Abstract : The J-integral, which has been heralded by many as a stable crack growth and ductile fracture criteria and which in its linearly elastic limit becomes the strain energy release rate, derives its popularity in being a path-independent integral. The purpose of this paper is to review an experimental procedure, which was developed by the authors, using more interferometry, for estimating the J-integral values along contours inside fracture specimens and to present some resistance curves, R-curves, of aluminum single edge notched (SEN) specimens.
Energy Sprawl or Energy Efficiency: Climate Policy Impacts on Natural Habitat for the United States of America

Concern over climate change has led the U.S. to consider a cap-and-trade system to regulate emissions. Here we illustrate the land-use impact to U.S. habitat types of new energy development resulting from different U.S. energy policies. We estimated the total new land area needed by 2030 to produce energy, under current law and under various cap-and-trade policies, and then partitioned the area impacted among habitat types with geospatial data on the feasibility of production. The land-use intensity of different energy production techniques varies over three orders of magnitude, from 1.9–2.8 km2/TW hr/yr for nuclear power to 788–1000 km2/TW hr/yr for biodiesel from soy. In all scenarios, temperate deciduous forests and temperate grasslands will be most impacted by future energy development, although the magnitude of impact by wind, biomass, and coal to different habitat types is policy-specific. Regardless of the existence or structure of a cap-and-trade bill, at least 206,000 km2 will be impacted without substantial increases in energy efficiency, which saves at least 7.6 km2 per TW hr of electricity conserved annually and 27.5 km2 per TW hr of liquid fuels conserved annually. Climate policy that reduces carbon dioxide emissions may increase the areal impact of energy, although the magnitude of this potential side effect may be substantially mitigated by increases in energy efficiency. The possibility of widespread energy sprawl increases the need for energy conservation, appropriate siting, sustainable production practices, and compensatory mitigation offsets.
High Tg aliphatic polyesters by the polymerization of spirolactide derivatives

A series of bicyclic and tricyclic lactide derivatives was prepared using L-lactide as the starting material. Exomethylene-lactide served as a platform for the Diels–Alder addition of various dienes to afford norbornene-, cyclohexadiene-, and isoprene-lactide derivatives. Norbornene-lactide (NL) was also hydrogenated to the saturated norbornane analog. These new lactide derivatives were subjected to ring-opening polymerization using 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) as the catalyst. Homopolymers of poly(cyclohexadiene-lactide) (Mn = 6.4 kg mol−1), poly(isoprene-lactide) (Mn = 15.3 kg mol−1), and poly(norbornane-lactide) (Mn = 34.4 kg mol−1) exhibited glass transition temperatures (Tg's) of 119 °C, 77 °C, and 107 °C, respectively. The decomposition temperature (Td) of unsaturated PLA derivatives was ≤280 °C, whereas saturated poly(norbornane-lactide) has a Td of 300 °C. Additionally, a series of poly(norbornene-lactide-s-L-lactide) (P(NL-s-L)) copolymers with varying ratios of NL and L-lactide were prepared. The Tg's of the P(NL-s-L) samples ranged from 61 to 100 °C, and the values were well-described by the Fox equation.
Selective Relaying in OFDM Multihop Cooperative Networks

There has been growing interest in the integration of multihop (or relaying) capability into conventional wireless networks. In this paper, we propose an OFDM-based selective relaying scheme, where the relay selection at each hop is performed on a per-subcarrier basis and joint selection is adopted at the last two hops. The outage analysis clearly shows that full spatial diversity gain can be achieved with this proposed selective OFDMA relaying. In contrast, no diversity gain can be obtained if the entire OFDM block chooses the same relay with the highest combined SNR. It is also demonstrated that with coding among the subcarriers, superior performance can be achieved by selective OFDMA relaying with only symbol detection at each relay. This is highly attractive as the processing complexity and decoding delay incurred are very small.
PD-1 regulates extrathymic regulatory T-cell differentiation

Treg cells and the programed death-1/programed death ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway are both critical for maintaining peripheral tolerance to self-Ags. A significant subset of Treg cells constitutively expresses PD-1, which prompted an investigation into the role of PD-1/PD-L1 interactions in Treg-cell development, function, and induction in vivo. The phenotype and abundance of Treg cells was not significantly altered in PD-1-deficient mice. The thymic development of polyclonal and monospecific Treg cells was not negatively impacted by PD-1 deficiency. The suppressive function of PD-1(-/-) Treg cells was similar to their PD-1(+/+) counterparts both in vitro and in vivo. However, in three different in vivo experimental settings, PD-1(-/-) conventional CD4(+) T cells demonstrated a strikingly diminished tendency toward differentiation into peripherally induced Treg (pTreg) cells. Our results demonstrate that PD-1 is dispensable for thymic Treg-cell development and suppressive function, but is critical for the extrathymic differentiation of pTreg cells in vivo. These data suggest that Ab blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway may augment T-cell responses by acting directly on conventional T cells, and also by suppressing the differentiation of pTreg cells.
Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Isolated Nerve and Muscle Preparations

An S-band waveguide exposure system was designed to study the electromagnetic fields on the isolated tissues. The temperature of the exposed tissue was maintained at a constant temperature by circulating temperature controlled Ringer's solution through the waveguide. Isolated frog sciatic nerves, cat saphenous nerves, rabbit vagus nerves and superior cervical ganglia, as well as rat diaphragm muscles were placed in the waveguide either parallel or perpendicular to the electric field of the TE/sub 10/ mode. Compound action potentials of nerves or contractile tensions of muscles were recorded before, during and after the 2450-MHz microwave irradiation. Results showed no significant change in characteristics of nerves or muscles exposed to CW specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.3-1500 W/kg and pulsed peak SAR of 0.3-220 kW/kg. The effects observed during high-power radiation were reproducible by changing the solution temperature. No direct field stimulation of nerves or muscles was observed during microwave irradiation.
Current dosing paradigm for stereotactic radiosurgery alone after surgical resection of brain metastases needs to be optimized for improved local control.

Purpose To describe the use of radiosurgery (RS) alone to the resection cavity after resection of brain metastases as an alternative to adjuvant whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Methods and Materials Sixty-two patients with 64 cavities were treated with linear accelerator–based RS alone to the resection cavity after surgical removal of brain metastases between March 2007 and August 2010. Fifty-two patients (81%) had a gross total resection. Median cavity volume was 8.5 cm 3 . Forty-four patients (71%) had a single metastasis. Median marginal and maximum doses were 18 Gy and 20.4 Gy, respectively. Sixty-one cavities (95%) had gross tumor volume to planning target volume expansion of ≥1 mm. Results Six-month and 1-year actuarial local recurrence rates were 14% and 22%, respectively, with a median follow-up period of 9.7 months. Six-month and 1-year actuarial distant brain recurrence, total intracranial recurrence, and freedom from WBRT rates were 31% and 51%, 41% and 63%, and 91% and 74%, respectively. The symptomatic cavity radiation necrosis rate was 8%, with 2 patients (3%) undergoing surgery. Of the 11 local failures, 8 were in-field, 1 was marginal, and 2 were both (defined as in-field if ≥90% of recurrence within the prescription isodose and marginal if ≥90% outside of the prescription isodose). Conclusions The high rate of in-field cavity failure suggests that geographic misses with highly conformal RS are not a major contributor to local recurrence. The current dosing regimen derived from Radiation Therapy Oncology Group protocol 90-05 should be optimized in this patient population before any direct comparison with WBRT.
Calculation of Heats of Formation for Zn Complexes: Comparison of Density Functional Theory, Second Order Perturbation Theory, Coupled-Cluster and Complete Active Space Methods.

Heats of formation were predicted for nine ZnX complexes (X = Zn, H, O, F2, S, Cl, Cl2, CH3, (CH3)2) using 14 density functionals, MP2 calculations, and the CCSD and CCSD(T) coupled-cluster methods. Calculations utilized the correlation consistent cc-pVTZ and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets. Heats of formation were most accurately predicted by the TPSSTPSS and TPSSKCIS density functionals, and the BLYP, B3LYP, MP2, CCSD, and CCSD(T) levels were among the poorest performing methods based on accuracy. A wide range of Zn2 equilibrium bond distances were predicted, indicating that many of the studied levels of theory may be unable to adequately describe this transition metal dimer. To further benchmark the accuracy of the density functional methods, high-level CASSCF and CASPT2 calculations were performed to estimate bond dissociation energies, equilibrium bond lengths, and heats of formation for the diatomic Zn complexes, and the latter two quantities were compared with the results of DFT, MP2, and coupled-cluster ca...
ASD System Condition Monitoring Using Cross Bicoherence

In this paper, we propose a novel condition monitoring method for adjustable speed drives (ASD) and ASD-driven motors. The key idea is to diagnose the status of the load side of an ASD from observations made at the source side. The use of a higher-order spectral metric, the cross bicoherence, is proposed for the detection and analysis of anomalies associated with nonlinear devices in ASD systems. In this paper, we apply our method to detect phase imbalance at the load side of an ASD. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method provides a unique signature of phase imbalance for detection and classification of asymmetric impedance associated with the phase imbalance. Furthermore, the proposed method shows a more sensitive detection performance compared to the conventional imbalance measurement method, which enables early detection of potential faults.
Porcine Adrenocortical Lipids in Relation to Striated Muscle Characteristics.

SummaryLarge lipid masses were found in zona reticularis of certain porcine animals and it was suggested that they might represent a degenerative change. Correlation coefficients indicated that the zona reticularis lipid masses may be associated with a rapid post-mortem pH decline in muscle and a short post-mortem sarcomere length.
Mutant Analysis Shows that Alanine Racemases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli Are Dimeric

Alanine racemases are ubiquitous prokaryotic enzymes providing the essential peptidoglycan precursor d-alanine. We present evidence that the enzymes from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli function exclusively as homodimers. Moreover, we demonstrate that expression of a K35A Y235A double mutation of dadX in E. coli suppresses bacterial growth in a dominant negative fashion.
The Role of Homogentisate Phytyltransferase and Other Tocopherol Pathway Enzymes in the Regulation of Tocopherol Synthesis during Abiotic Stress

Tocopherols are amphipathic antioxidants synthesized exclusively by photosynthetic organisms. Tocopherol levels change significantly during plant growth and development and in response to stress, likely as a consequence of the altered expression of pathway-related genes. Homogentisate phytyltransferase (HPT) is a key enzyme limiting tocopherol biosynthesis in unstressed Arabidopsis leaves (E. Collakova, D. DellaPenna [2003] Plant Physiol 131: 632–642). Wild-type and transgenic Arabidopsis plants constitutively overexpressing HPT (35S::HPT1) were subjected to a combination of abiotic stresses for up to 15 d and tocopherol levels, composition, and expression of several tocopherol pathway-related genes were determined. Abiotic stress resulted in an 18- and 8-fold increase in total tocopherol content in wild-type and 35S::HPT1 leaves, respectively, with tocopherol levels in 35S::HPT1 being 2- to 4-fold higher than wild type at all experimental time points. Increased total tocopherol levels correlated with elevated HPT mRNA levels and HPT specific activity in 35S::HPT1 and wild-type leaves, suggesting that HPT activity limits total tocopherol synthesis during abiotic stress. In addition, substrate availability and expression of pathway enzymes before HPT also contribute to increased tocopherol synthesis during stress. The accumulation of high levels of β-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols in stressed tissues suggested that the methylation of phytylquinol and tocopherol intermediates limit α-tocopherol synthesis. Overexpression of γ-tocopherol methyltransferase in the 35S::HPT1 background resulted in nearly complete conversion of γ- and δ-tocopherols to α- and β-tocopherols, respectively, indicating that γ-tocopherol methyltransferase activity limits α-tocopherol synthesis in stressed leaves.
Hormonal control of precursor pools, ribonucleic acid synthesis, and cellular morphology in mammary tissue pieces during lactogenesis.

Abstract Ribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid, and protein content of rat mammary tissue increased between day 18 of pregnancy and day 3 of lactation. Concurrently, free phosphate and nucleoside plus nucleotide pools increased. Preincubation of mammary pieces for 2 to 11 hr in medium without hormone increased specific activity of the nucleosides plus nucleotides compared to those tissue slices incubated with hydrocortisone, prolactin, and insulin. Hormones had no effect on the specific activity of the phosphate pool. Regressive histological changes in tissue pieces incubated 12 hr without hormones were not in tissue incubated in hormone-containing medium. Increasing the metabolite concentration in the incubation medium enhanced incorporation of 3 H-uridine and 32 Pi into ribonucleic acid. The combination of insulin, prolactin, and hydrocortisone stimulated ribonucleic acid synthesis in both prepartum and postpartum tissue. Incubation in the presence of prolactin and insulin was sufficient for stimulation in prepartum tissue while hydrocortisone and insulin were necessary for maximum rates of synthesis by postpartum tissue pieces. All species of ribonucleic acid which were identifiable by acrylamide gel electrophoresis responded to hormonal stimulation in a similar manner.
Three-Dimensional Facial Imaging Using a Static Light Screen (SLS) and a Dynamic Subject

Many commercially available 3-D sensors suitable for face image capture employ passive or texture-assisted stereo imaging or structured illumination with a moving light stripe. These techniques require a stationary subject. We describe an initial design and evaluation of a fixed-stripe moving object 3-D scanner designed for human faces. Our method of acquisition requires the subject to walk through a static light screen generated by two laser line projectors. Triangulation and tracking applied to the video sequences captured during subject motion yield a 3-D image of the subject's face from multiple images. To demonstrate the accuracy of our initial design, a small-scale facial recognition experiment was executed. In an experiment involving 81 subjects with four images per subject on the average, we used two gallery images per subject, and we achieved 89.6% rank-one recognition using an iterative closest point (ICP)-based matching method, demonstrating the feasibility of the technique.
Verapamil-A Potent Inhibitor of Esophageal Contractions in the Baboon

Verapamil, a calcium channel blocking agent, has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of smooth muscle contraction. We studied the effects of verapamilan lower esophageal sphincter pressure and esophageal peristalsis in 5 awake baboons. An infusion of verapamil (80 μg/kg · min) decreased amplitude of peristalsis by 63% in the smooth muscle segments of the esophagus but had no effect on striated muscle. Duration of peristaltic waves in the smooth muscle portion of the esophagus was also shortened, but there was no effect on velocity of the contraction wave. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure decreased by 74% during verapamil infusion. These studies suggest that verapamil or other calcium channel blocking agents may be of potential use in the treatment of esophageal motility disorders associated with increased pressure.
Institutional Analysis and Water Resources Management

This paper first defines and discusses the central constructs which comprise a framework of institutional analysis used in a recently completed three-year investigation of problems in water resource management. More detailed discussions of these constructs can be found in Gregg et al. (1991). The subsequent section of the paper presents the outlines of an application of this framework in an ongoing examination of water resource management and climate change in the upper Rio Grande basin in the United States.
Ethical Failures and History Lessons: The U.S. Public Health Service Research Studies in Tuskegee and Guatemala

Bioethics is often thought of as having been “born in scandal and raised in protectionism.” Less often acknowledged is that bioethics has been so nourished by melodramatic frames that the effort to provide a different form of analysis has been problematic. Using examples of the author’s scholarship on the history and coverage of the United States Public Health Service’s untreated syphilis study in Tuskegee (1932–72) and its sexually transmitted diseases inoculation research studies in Guatemala (1946–48), these histories of medical malfeasance, governmental overreach, and the use of racist and imperial power are examined for the limitations of emotional understandings of “bad scientists” and failures to obtain consent. It is argued that these two tragedies, which have provided an explanation for suspicion of medical and public health research, need to be understood in the context of research hubris and institutional power. They remind us of the necessity for protection of human rights against dangerous excesses of zeal in human research, and the need for researchers to imagine themselves in similar situations.
Hand-held devices for avionics system maintenance

Maintenance of aerospace equipment, including aircraft, requires highly trained personnel and expensive test equipment. The job has become increasingly complex over the years as more sophisticated electronic equipment has been added to perform the functions of sensing, communication and control. This paper explores the need and requirements for hand-held devices in the field of avionics system maintenance. A number of research programs are described that have as an objective the development of hand-held or clothing-mounted electronic devices for assisting the user while performing various tasks. A new, highly integrated microcontroller is used to illustrate the design of a cost effective, hand-held maintenance device for avionics system maintenance.
Sub-Coronal Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Placement With Modified No-Touch Technique: A Step-by-Step Approach With Outcomes.

Abstract Introduction The surgical treatment of disorders of male sexual function requires specific exposure to correct the underlying problem safely and efficiently. Currently, sub-coronal exposure is used for treatment of phimosis, Peyronie's disease plaque (PDP), and semirigid penile prosthesis insertion. Infra-pubic and scrotal incisions are used for inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) placement. However, men who present with several disorders might require multiple procedures and surgical incisions. Aim To report a prospective review of our surgical experience and outcomes with a single sub-coronal incision for IPP placement with a modified no-touch technique. This approach allows for access to the entire corporal body for multiple reconstructive procedures. Methods Two hundred men had IPPs placed through a sub-coronal incision using our modified no-touch technique. The penis was degloved to the level of the penoscrotal junction and the dartos muscle was everted and secured to the drapes. This allowed exclusion of the scrotal and penile skin from the operative field. After artificial erection, the patient's corpora were inspected for PDP and other abnormalities. Penoscrotal IPP models were placed in all cases with insertion proximal to the penoscrotal junction. After placement of the IPP, the abnormalities were repaired. Main Outcome Measures Feasibility of the procedure, operative times, complication rate, utilization of accessory, reconstructive procedures, and post-operative penile length. Results Of the 200 men who had IPP placement, 92 had PDP that was treated, 106 (53%) consented to circumcision, 24 (12%) had their reservoir placed ectopically, and 31 (16%) had a prosthesis exchanged through the sub-coronal technique. Mean operative time was 73 minutes (39–161 minutes). Conclusion Specialists in the surgical treatment of disorders of male sexual function can perform multiple procedures safely and easily through a modified no-touch single sub-coronal incision. This approach allows access to the entire corporal body, providing excellent visibility and allowing the surgeon to perform multiple penile reconstructive surgeries through a single incision.
Asset Pricing in an Exchange Economy with Bayesian Agents

This paper extends the standard Mehra-Prescott one-good, pure exchange economy to the case where agents are assumed to be in ignorance of the true transition probabilities of the growth rate of output and to learn them using bayes rule. The main conclusion is that the proposed bayes model yields asset prices and equity premium that are nearly identical to the one in the standard model when the expected transition probabilities of the former equals the transition probabilities of the latter.