cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Algorithms for autonomous exploration and estimation in compliant environments

This paper investigates algorithms for enabling surgical slave robots to autonomously explore shape and stiffness of surgical fields. The paper addresses methods for estimating shape and impedance parameters of tissue and methods for autonomously exploring perceived impedance during tool interaction inside a tissue cleft. A hybrid force-motion controller and a cycloidal motion path are proposed to address shape exploration. An adaptive exploration algorithm for segmentation of surface features and a predictor-corrector algorithm for exploration of deep features are introduced based on discrete impedance estimates. These estimates are derived from localized excitation of tissue coupled with simultaneous force measurements. Shape estimation is validated in ex-vivo bovine tissue and attains surface estimation errors of less than 2.5 mm with force sensing resolutions achievable with current technologies in minimally invasive surgical robots. The effect of scan patterns on the accuracy of the shape estimate is demonstrated by comparing the shape estimate of a Cartesian raster scan with overlapping cycloid scan pattern. It is shown that the latter pattern filters the shape estimation bias due to frictional drag forces. Surface impedance exploration is validated to successfully segment compliant environments on flexible inorganic models. Simulations and experiments show that the adaptive search algorithm reduces overall time requirements relative to the complexity of the underlying structures. Finally, autonomous exploration of deep features is demonstrated in an inorganic model and ex-vivo bovine tissue. It is shown that estimates of least constraint based on singular value decomposition of locally estimated tissue stiffness can generate motion to accurately follow a tissue cleft with a predictor-corrector algorithm employing alternating steps of position and admittance control. We believe that these results demonstrate the potential of these algorithms for enabling “smart” surgical devices capable of autonomous execution of intraoperative surgical plans.
Integrated Tools for Future Distributed Engine Control Technologies

Turbine engines are highly complex mechanical systems that are becoming increasingly dependent on control technologies to achieve system performance and safety metrics. However, the contribution of controls to these measurable system objectives is difficult to quantify due to a lack of tools capable of informing the decision makers. This shortcoming hinders technology insertion in the engine design process. NASA Glenn Research Center is developing a Hardware-inthe- Loop (HIL) platform and analysis tool set that will serve as a focal point for new control technologies, especially those related to the hardware development and integration of distributed engine control. The HIL platform is intended to enable rapid and detailed evaluation of new engine control applications, from conceptual design through hardware development, in order to quantify their impact on engine systems. This paper discusses the complex interactions of the control system, within the context of the larger engine system, and how new control technologies are changing that paradigm. The conceptual design of the new HIL platform is then described as a primary tool to address those interactions and how it will help feed the insertion of new technologies into future engine systems.
The Association of Lipid Activators with the Amphipathic Helical Domain of CTP:Phosphocholine Cytidylyltransferase Accelerates Catalysis by Increasing the Affinity of the Enzyme for CTP

The biochemical mechanism for the regulation of enzyme activity by lipid modulators and the role of the amphipathic α-helical domain of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CT) was investigated by analyzing the kinetic properties of the wild-type protein and two truncation mutants isolated from a baculovirus expression system. The CT[Δ312-367] mutant protein lacked the carboxyl-terminal phosphorylation domain and retained high catalytic activity along with both positive and negative regulation by lipid modulators. The CT[Δ257-367] deletion removed in addition the region containing three consecutive amphipathic α-helical repeats. The CT[Δ257-367] mutant protein exhibited a significantly lower specific activity compared to CT or CT[Δ312-367] when expressed in either insect or mammalian cells; however, CT[Δ257-367] activity was refractory to either stimulation or inhibition by lipid regulators. Lipid activators accelerated CT activity by decreasing the Km for CTP from 24.7 mM in their absence to 0.7 mM in their presence. The Km for phosphocholine was not affected by lipid activators. The activity of CT[Δ257-367] was comparable to the activity of wild-type CT in the absence of lipid activators and the CTP Km for CT[Δ257-367] was 13.9 mM. The enzymatic properties of the CT[Δ231-367] mutant were comparable to those exhibited by the CT[257-367] mutant indicating that removal of residues 231 through 257 did not have any additional influence on the lipid regulation of the enzyme. Thus, the region between residues 257 and 312 was required to confer lipid regulation on CT, and the association of activating lipids with this region of the protein stimulated catalysis by increasing the affinity of the enzyme for CTP.
An experimental investigation of surface thermometry and heat flux

Abstract Several types of surface-temperature sensors were characterized in terms of the thermal properties of their substrates and their response times. This was followed by an evaluation of their capabilities as transient heat flux sensors using a rapid-compression machine. The thermal properties of the sensor substrate were found to affect significantly the measured heat flux, and therefore a mismatch in the thermal properties of the sensor and the test-section walls may cause erroneous results.
Routine, accurate mass measurement up to m/e 1700 using vapor‐deposited silver bromide plates

The utility of photoplate recording of high resolution mass spectra for routine, accurate mass measurement is extended to mass 1700 (and probably beyond) by the use of evaporated silver bromide plates. Data illustrating the accuracy obtainable and the dynamic range are presented.
ATS‐3 observed cloud brightness field related to a meso‐to‐subsynoptic scale rainfall pattern

The geosynchronous satellite (ATS-III) time lapse cloud brightness data have been analyzed with a view to correlating the time variations of cirrus shield area to rainfall rate in mid-latitude storm complexes. While inadequate rainfall sampling precludes point-to-point comparison, an excellent correlation is obtained with the time-change of radar echo areas in the cloud complex. Also presented are preliminary results on excellent correspondence between subsynoptic scale cloud brightness anomaly patterns and the precipitation patterns in mid-latitude frontal zones. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1972.tb01567.x
Cognitive mediation of sex-role orientation

Seventy-two androgynous and sex-role stereotyped male undergraduates participated in a study which sought to explore the possible cognitive mediation of sex-role orientation. After reading a paragraph consisting of contrived thought listings of an individual considering the purchase of a car, S s rated the individual on a set of 60 neutral and sex-typed bipolar constructs, each presented along 13-point Likert-type scales. It was predicted that: (1) Sex-role Stereotyped individuals would employ sex-typed constructs more frequently and more meaningfully (a) than they would utilize neutral constructs, and (b) than would their Androgynous counterparts; and (2) Androgynous individuals would employ neutral constructs more frequently and more meaningfully (a) than they would employ sex-typed constructs, and (b) than would their Sex-role Stereotyped counterparts. Results support all predictions with one exception: androgynous subjects employed sex-typed and neutral constructs with equal meaningfulness. Results were interpreted as lending support to the suggested cognitive mediation of sex-role orientation.
Trapping and releasing of telecom rainbow

We show how the graded grating structures developed for “trapped rainbow” in THz domain can be transferred to telecom frequencies for future possible optical communication and various nano photonic applications.
Methanol-water mixtures: a microsolvation study using the effective fragment potential method.

The formation process of methanol−water mixtures, (MeOH/H2O)n, n = 2, 3,..., 8 is studied at the molecular level using the general effective fragment potential (EFP2) method and second-order perturbation theory (MP2). Extensive Monte Carlo/simulated annealing global optimizations were used to locate global minimum structures for each n, for both homo and hetero clusters. Mixing at the microscopic level was investigated, and some general conclusions about the microsolvation behavior of these mixtures are presented. For all of these clusters, incomplete mixing is observed at the molecular level. Low-energy (MeOH/H2O)n clusters retain much of their initial structure in the global minima of the mixed clusters.
Abstract LB-208: Targeting resistance pathways in BRAF-mutant pediatric gliomas

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Mutational activation of BRAF is a common finding in pediatric gliomas. As many as 14% of pediatric high grade glioma and up to 66% of certain low grade pediatric glioma subtypes contain the BRAFV600E mutation. Small molecule inhibitors that selectively target BRAFV600E are FDA approved for melanoma and have shown significant efficacy in treating BRAFV600E glioma in pre-clinical trials. Despite showing initial efficacy, drug resistance significantly limits the use of BRAFV600E inhibitors in clinical settings. Here, we identified the molecular mechanisms of BRAFV600E inhibitor resistance in glioma and also provide strategies to over come drug resistance. We have generated multiple BRAFV600E inhibitor resistant glioma cell lines and murine models to study the mechanisms of drug resistance in glioma. The BRAFV600E inhibitor resistant AM38 and DBTRG-05MG cells are insensitive to BRAF inhibitor induced MAP kinase inhibition, reduced cell viability and cell cycle arrest. Also, the BRAFV600E inhibitor resistant glioma xenografts do not respond to drug induced suppression of tumor growth, resulting in poor animal survival. By phospho-receptor tyrosine kinase array and gene expression array, we found that certain receptor tyrosine kinases, including EGF and Axl receptors, and pro-survival pathways such as Wnt signaling, are hyperactivated in BRAFV600E inhibitor resistant gliomas. We further showed that pharmacological and genetic inhibition of those pathways significantly reduces the viability of those drug resistant cells. In conclusion, we have discovered mechanisms of BRAFV600E inhibitor resistance in glioma. We showed that BRAFV600E inhibitor resistant cells acquire drug dependency by upregulating pro-survival pathway, such as Wnt, and hyperactivating receptor tyrosine kinases, including EGFR and Axl, to bypass the insult from the drug. Our data suggests novel therapeutic strategies to BRAFV600E -mutant pediatric glioma in which no effective treatment is available. Citation Format: Tsun-Wen (Sheena) Yao, Yasuyuki Yoshida, Jie Zhang, Tomoko Ozawa, David James, Theodore Nicolaides. Targeting resistance pathways in BRAF-mutant pediatric gliomas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-208. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-208
Characteristics of a superfluid fountain pump

Abstract The use of a fountain driven by the thermomechanical effect is a technique for circulating superfluid helium-4 which has desirable features when a relatively large mass flow is required. An analysis of the operation of such a pump is presented and used to interpret experimental results for the regime in which inertial effects are small. Some considerations in the design of a fountain pump are discussed.
The orchidaceae of the Bahama Archipelago: additions, distributional extensions, and nomenclatural change

This paper reports the results of our continuing investigation of the Orchidaceae of the Bahama Archipelago. Included are the addition to the orchid flora of a species not previously reported,Harrisella filiformis (Sw.) Cogn.; descriptions of four natural hybrids,Encyclia × guzinskii, Encyclia × hillyerorum, Encyclia × knowlesii, andTolumnia × adamsii, heretofore unknown; five distributional extensions; and the reinstatement of the nameEncyclia altissima Schltr.
Dorsal-ventral differentiation in Simonsiella and other aspects of its morphology and ultrastructure

The morphology and ultrastructure of the aerobic, Gram-negative multicellular-filamentous bacteria of the genus Simonsiella were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The flat, ribbon-shaped, multicellular filaments show dorsal-ventral differentiation with respect to their orientations to solid substrata. The dorsal surface, orientated away from the substrate, is convex and possesses an unstructured capsule. The ventral surface, on which the organisms adhere and glide, is concave and has an extracellular layer with fibrils extending at right angles from the cell wall. The cytoplasm in the ventral region contains a proliferation of intracytoplasmic membranes and few ribosomes in comparison to the cytoplasm in other parts of the cell. Centripetal cell wall formation is asymmetrical and commences preferentially in the ventral region. Quantitative differences in morphology and cytology exist among selected Simonsiella strains. Functional aspects of this dorsalventral differentiation are discussed with respect to the colonization and adherence of Simonsiella to mucosal squamous epithelial cells in its ecological habitat, the oral cavities of warm-blooded vertebrates.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia incidence is substantially higher than estimated from tumor registry data

BACKGROUND Although chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) often is described as the most common leukemia in the U.S. and Western Europe, to the authors' knowledge the true incidence of CLL in the U.S. is unknown. CLL incidence is estimated from tumor registry reports based on tissue pathology and cancer treatment data. Tumor registry data may underestimate the incidence of CLL substantially because CLL can be diagnosed by flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood cells, and the majority of patients do not require treatment at the time of diagnosis. METHODS To test the hypothesis that CLL has a higher incidence than estimated from tumor registry data, the authors compared the actual and reported incidence of CLL for a 10-year interval at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS). The accuracy of surveillance methods for new diagnoses of CLL was confirmed by reviewing the lymphocyte counts in 45,009 CAVHS patients over a 4-year period. RESULTS The tumor registry correctly reported 58 of 93 patients with CLL (62.4%) who were diagnosed between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1999. The tumor registry correctly reported 100% of patients with CLL diagnosed between 1990–1991 but reported only 34.5% of patients with CLL diagnosed between 1998–1999. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of CLL in the CAVHS was 37.6% higher than estimated from tumor registry data due to an increase in the use of peripheral blood immunophenotype as the only diagnostic test for CLL over the time period of the study. These data suggest that the true incidence of CLL may be substantially higher than estimated from tumor registry data. Cancer 2001;92:1325–30. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
The Computation of the Velocity Field

The organization of movement in the changing retinal image provides a valuable source of information for analysing the environment in terms of objects, their motion in space, and their three-dimensional structure. A description of this movement is not provided to our visual system directly, however; it must be inferred from the pattern of changing intensity that reaches the eye. This paper examines the problem of motion measurement, which we formulate as the computation of an instantaneous two-dimensional velocity field from the changing image. Initial measurements of motion take place at the location of significant intensity changes. These measurements provide only one component of local velocity, and must be integrated to compute the two-dimensional velocity field. A fundamental problem for this integration stage is that the velocity field is not determined uniquely from information available in the changing image. We formulate an additional constraint of smoothness of the velocity field, based on the physical assumption that surfaces are generally smooth, which allows the computation of a unique velocity field. A theoretical analysis of the conditions under which this computation yields the correct velocity field suggests that the solution is physically plausible. Empirical studies show the predictions of this computation to be consistent with human motion perception.
The numerical solution of exterior neumann problem for Helmholtz's equation via modified green's functions approach☆

Abstract In the 1970s, modified Green's function approach for solving the Helmholtz equation was proposed by Jones and Ursell and in the 1980s was clarified by Kleinman, Roach and Kress. To this date there are no numerical results available for this approach. In this paper, a global Galerkin method is used to numerically solve the exterior Neumann problem for the Helmholtz equation in three dimensions based on Jones' modified integral equation approach. Jones approach directly leads to an integral equation which only involves weakly singular operators, thus is a good alternative for solving the exterior Neumann problem. Theoretical and computational details of the method are presented.
Bioabsorbable implants in the treatment of hand fractures: an update.

UNLABELLED Bioabsorbable implants have been used extensively in medicine. Many have suggested interest in these materials for hand fractures since they may lead to less implant morbidity and subsequent stiffness, and they have additional advantages: they are radiolucent, they eliminate hardware removal procedures, they limit stress shielding, and they incrementally transfer load to healing fractures. Disadvantages include weakness relative to metal implants, rapid loss of initial implant strength, higher refracture rates, and foreign body reactions. Newer polymers have led to a reduction in these complications and more stable fixation. While not yet incorporated into the armamentarium of most surgeons, there is promise that in the near future they may assist in the management of some hand fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V (expert opinion).
VARIABLES WHICH AFFECT COLOR DEVELOPMENT IN A MODIFICATION OF ZIMMERMANN'S REACTION AND A SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF COLORS DEVELOPED WITH KETOSTEROIDS12

DURING THE COURSE of the experiments recorded in the preceding paper(i) it became increasingly obvious that a number of variable factors influence the rate and intensity of color development in the assay of androgens3 by the mdinitrobensene reaction. These findings had been noted previously by other observers. When we began our observations in 1937, Zimmermann (2, 3) and Wu and Chou (4) had already published their data which were incomplete and not entirely in accord. Callow, Callow and Emmens (5) later reported a more comprehensive study of these variables. Their publication served to reemphasize the importance of the latter, but did not contain sufficiently detailed data on this phase of the problem. Using Wu and Chou's technic as a point of departure, Callow et al. attempted to find those conditions which give the maximum intensity of color per unit weight ofandrogen. Zimmermann had previously pointed out that an attempt
Liposome-like Nanostructures for Drug Delivery

Liposomes are a class of well-established drug carriers that have found numerous therapeutic applications. The success of liposomes, together with recent advancements in nanotechnology, has motivated the development of various novel liposome-like nanostructures with improved drug delivery performance. These nanostructures can be categorized into five major varieties, namely: (1) polymer-stabilized liposomes, (2) nanoparticle-stabilized liposomes, (3) core–shell lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles, (4) natural membrane-derived vesicles, and (5) natural membrane coated nanoparticles. They have received significant attention and have become popular drug delivery platforms. Herein, we discuss the unique strengths of these liposome-like platforms in drug delivery, with a particular emphasis on how liposome-inspired novel designs have led to improved therapeutic efficacy, and review recent progress made by each platform in advancing healthcare.
In vitro phosphorylation of AlgR, a regulator of mucoidy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by a histidine protein kinase and effects of small phospho-donor molecules.

Summary AlgR is a transcriptional regulator of mucoidy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a critical virulence factor expressed in cystic fibrosis. AlgR belongs to the superfamily of bacterial signal transduction systems, and has been shown to bind to the algD promoter, a critical point in the regulation of mucoidy. This protein, like other typical response regulators, contains highly conserved residues known to be critical for the phosphorylation and signal transduction processes. However, a typical second component Interacting with AlgR has not been identified. Here we demonstrate that AlgR undergoes phosphorylation in vitro when interacting with the well-characterized histidine protein kinase CheA. These results Indicate that AlgR is capable of undergoing phosphorylation typical of other two-component signal transduction systems. Moreover, the phosphotransfer reaction between CheA and AlgR was found to be affected by the presence of carbamoyl phosphate, acetyl phosphate, and salts of phosphoramidic acid, recently shown to act as small-molecular-weight phospho-donors in the process of phosphorylation of several response regulators. These findings suggest that AlgR may react with intermediary metabolites such as carbamoyl phosphate and acetyl phosphate, and that these processes may play a role in the control of mucoidy in P. aeruginosa.
When Parents Kill: An Analysis of Filicides in Fiji

Despite the burgeoning literature on filicide, little research exists on parental murders in small, non-Western societies. This study adds to the scant extant information and contributes to a full understanding of the topic by examining offense patterns and victim and offender characteristics in the South Pacific island of Fiji. The findings indicate that filicidal parents were overwhelmingly female, young, and of low socioeconomic background. Filicide offenses were the culmination of excessive corporal child-control strategies, unwanted pregnancy, and stresses and strains associated with severe marital disharmony. Posthomicidal suicide attempts occurred in 10% of the cases. These findings are discussed in relation to the growing literature in the field. The author concludes that further research in other societies is necessary if we are to understand the full range of factors that contribute to parents’ homicidal assaults on their offspring.
Sexual obsessions and clinical correlates in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Because little is known about sexual obsessions in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), we examined rates and clinical correlates of sexual obsessions in 293 consecutive subjects with primary lifetime Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, OCD (54.6% females; mean age, 40.5 F 12.9 years). Symptom severity was examined using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. Comorbidity, treatment response, insight, depression symptoms, quality of life, and social functioning were also assessed. All variables were compared in subjects who have OCD with and without sexual obsessions. Of the 293 subjects with primary OCD, 73 (24.9%) reported a history of sexual obsessions, and 39 (13.3%) of the subjects with OCD reported current sexual obsessions. Women were as likely as men to report sexual obsessions. As compared to those without these symptoms, subjects with current sexual obsessions were significantly more likely to report current aggressive (P b .001) and religious (P = .001) obsessions. Subjects with sexual obsessions also reported an earlier age of onset of OCD than subjects without these symptoms. Severity of OCD, comorbidity, treatment response, insight, depressive symptoms, quality of life, and social functioning did not differ between those with and without sexual obsessions. These preliminary results suggest that sexual obsessions are fairly common among individuals with OCD and may be associated with important clinical characteristics.
Impact of home warfarin use on treatment patterns and bleeding complications for patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: observations from the CRUSADE quality improvement initiative

Aims To examine treatment patterns and outcomes of patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE ACS) receiving long-term warfarin anticoagulation. Methods and results We examined acute medication and invasive cardiac procedure use and in-hospital outcomes among 101 078 patients with NSTE ACS included in the CRUSADE registry. On admission, 7201 patients (7%) were on home warfarin therapy. Compared with non-anticoagulated patients, these patients were older and had more comorbidities, but were less likely to receive acute antiplatelet and antithrombin medications. Patients on warfarin were also less likely to undergo coronary angiography (adjusted OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.70–0.86) and percutaneous coronary intervention (adjusted OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.75–0.86), and had longer waiting times for these procedures when performed. Although patients on warfarin had higher rates of death and major bleeding compared with non-anticoagulated patients, these differences were no longer significant after multivariable adjustment [ORs 0.90 (95% CI 0.80–1.02) and 1.02 (95% CI 0.93–1.11)]. Among patients on warfarin, however, early use of antiplatelet medications was associated with increased transfusion risk. Conclusion Despite higher-risk characteristics, warfarin-anticoagulated patients are often more conservatively managed, as early use of antithrombotic therapies may be associated with increased bleeding. Further investigation is needed to determine the optimal choice of therapies for this population.
Learning from human tutoring

Human one-to-one tutoring has been shown to be a very effective form of instruction. Three contrasting hypotheses, a tutor-centered one, a student-centered one, and an interactive one could all potentially explain the effectiveness of tutoring. To test these hypotheses, analyses focused not only on the effectiveness of the tutors’ moves, but also on the effectiveness of the students’ construction on learning, as well as their interaction. The interaction hypothesis is further tested in the second study by manipulating the kind of tutoring tactics tutors were permitted to use. In order to promote a more interactive style of dialogue, rather than a didactic style, tutors were suppressed from giving explanations and feedback. Instead, tutors were encouraged to prompt the students. Surprisingly, students learned just as effectively even when tutors were suppressed from giving explanations and feedback. Their learning in the interactive style of tutoring is attributed to construction from deeper and a greater amount of scaffolding episodes, as well as their greater effort to take control of their own learning by reading more. What they learned from reading was limited, however, by their reading abilities.
Nonmyopic informative path planning in spatio-temporal models

In many sensing applications we must continuously gather information to provide a good estimate of the state of the environment at every point in time. A robot may tour an environment, gathering information every hour. In a wireless sensor network, these tours correspond to packets being transmitted. In these settings, we are often faced with resource restrictions, like energy constraints. The users issue queries with certain expectations on the answer quality. Thus, we must optimize the tours to ensure the satisfaction of the user constraints, while at the same time minimize the cost of the query plan. For a single timestep, this optimization problem is NP-hard, but recent approximation algorithms with theoretical guarantees provide good solutions. In this paper, we present a new efficient algorithm, exploiting dynamic programming and submodularity of the information collected, that efficiently plans data collection tours for an entire (finite) horizon. Our algorithm can use any single step procedure as a black box, and, based on its properties, provides strong theoretical guarantees for the solution. We also provide an extensive empirical analysis demonstrating the benefits of nonmyopic planning in two real world sensing applications.
Genetic analysis workshop II: Segregation and linkage analysis

Familial segregation and linkage analyses were performed on two sets of the Genetic Analyses Workshop II data. The salient features of the mode of inheritance of the disease trait and its linkage/association with polymorphic markers and also marker-marker linkages were delineated using statistical-genetic techniques.
High protein nutrition in prematures by means of casein supplement to human milk.

Summary An increase of the daily weight gain in prematures was obtained by adding pure undigested casein to human milk (1.5 per cent “Seccosan”), the effect being of the same order as that reported for other kinds of high protein nutrition. The Seccosan diet produced an increased level of serum albumin and consequently of total protein, while serum globulin did not undergo any significant changes. The Seccosan diet also produced an increased level of blood urea. These biochemical changes correspond to those caused by a diet of half skimmed citric acid (cow's) milk. An increased daily weight gain does not necessarily constitute evidence of better thriving. As several observations including the rise of blood urea levels might be interpreted as indicating an increased renal strain, it has been emphasized that the urea values are of the same order as those found in full term infants fed on ordinary cow's milk mixtures. L'addition de caseine pure non digeree au lait maternel (1,5 % de Seccosan) a entraine une augmentation du gain de poids quotidien chez des prematures. L'effet obtenu etait identique a celui realise par d'autres types de regimes hyperprotidiques. Le regime au Seccosan entrainait une elevation du taux de l'uree serique, et par suite des proteines totales du serum; a l'oppose, on n'enregistrait pas de modifications sensibles des globulines seriques. Le regime au Seccosan provoquait en outre une eIevation du taux de l'uree sanguine. Ces modifications bioehimiques etaient analogues a celles obtenues par I'administration d'un regime comportant du lait de vache demiecreme et additionne d'acide citrique. Or, a une amentation du gain de poids quotidien ne correspond pas necessairement une amelioration de la croissance. Comme dans plusieurs observations l'elevation de l'uree sanguine pouvait etre interpretee comme le resultat d'une augmentation de l'activite renale, l'auteur met l'accent sur le fait que l'elevation du taux de l'uree est semblable a celle que l'on observe ehez des enfants nes a terme, nourris par divers types de lait de vache.
When Birds of Different Feathers Flock Together: A Preliminary Comparison of Intra-Ethnic and Inter-Ethnic Dating Relationships

In light of an increasing ethnic diversity in the US, we sought to investigate how and whether cultural variables impact the quality of dating relationships by comparing couples from either the same or a different ethnic group. In a small sample of young dating couples, we examined motives for initiating their relationships, relationship satisfaction, self-esteem, and various structural variables, including degree of prejudice. Results revealed that same-ethnic and inter-ethnic couple members entered relationships for similar reasons, and reported similar levels of relationship satisfaction. Those in interethnic relationships were somewhat lower in self-esteem than those in same-ethnic relationships. Relative to persons dating within their ethnic group, those dating outside their ethnic group reported less identification with members of their own ethnicity, greater availability of potential dating partners outside their ethnic group, less societal approval of their current relationships, and greater prefe...
Surface functionalized alumina nanoparticle filled polymeric nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties

Alumina nanoparticles were successfully functionalized with a bi-functional coupling agent, (3-methacryloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPS), through a facile neutral solvent method. MPS was found to be covalently bound with the nanoparticles. The linked MPS was polymerized with a vinyl-ester resin monomer through a free radical polymerization. Atomic force microscope phase images showed a uniform distribution of nanoparticles. Microtensile test results revealed the Young's modulus and strength increasing with particle loading. Microscopic examinations revealed the presence of large plastic deformations at the micron scale in the nanocomposites in agreement with the observed strengthening effect of functionalized nanoparticles. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) did not show any significant change in the thermal degradation of the nanocomposite as compared with the neat resin. The polymer matrix effectively protected the alumina nanoparticles from dissolution in basic and acidic solutions.
Standards-Based Cyber Exercises

While many institutions include cyber exercises as a part of their curricula, the outcomes assessment of the exercises do not generally include the mapping of the exercises to specific standards. Thus, while students are obtaining important foundational skill sets in information assurance, the resulting competencies are not as quantifiable as those from more standard types of educational activities such as uniform quizzes and exams. This paper discusses an approach through which cyber exercises can be developed with a focus on measuring performance against specific standards. This method facilitates the use of cyber exercises as a foundational component in the education of the information assurance professional, while providing a consistent outcomes assessment framework.
On the discrete time algebraic Riccati equation

A detailed account of the properties of a class of algebraic Riccati equations which arise in discrete time control and filtering problems is given. It is shown that a generalized notion of detectability plays an important role in classifying solutions of these equations. This concept is also related to a minimum phase condition.
Changes in Bni4 localization induced by cell stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Septin complexes at the bud neck in Saccharomyces cerevisiae serve as a scaffold for proteins involved in signaling, cell cycle control, and cell wall synthesis. Many of these bind asymmetrically, associating with either the mother- or daughter-side of the neck. Septin structures are inherently apolar so the basis for the asymmetric binding remains unknown. Bni4, a regulatory subunit of yeast protein phosphatase type 1, Glc7, binds to the outside of the septin ring prior to bud formation and remains restricted to the mother-side of the bud neck after bud emergence. Bni4 is responsible for targeting Glc7 to the mother-side of the bud neck for proper deposition of the chitin ring. We show here that Bni4 localizes symmetrically, as two distinct rings on both sides of the bud neck following energy depletion or activation of cell cycle checkpoints. Our data indicate that loss of Bni4 asymmetry can occur via at least two different mechanisms. Furthermore, we show that Bni4 has a Swe1-dependent role in regulating the cell morphogenesis checkpoint in response to hydroxyurea, which suggests that the change in localization of Bni4 following checkpoint activation may help stabilize the cell cycle regulator Swe1 during cell cycle arrest.
Accuracy and Fluency in List and Context Reading of Skilled and RD Groups: Absolute and Relative Performance Levels

The purpose of this study was to examine (1) the performance levels and the magnitude of performance difference between students with reading disabilities (RD) and skilled readers when reading a typical classroom text; (2) the hypothesis that students with RD have specific difficulty using context in such a way that reading fluency is affected; and (3) whether RD subtypes may be differentiated according to performance on contextual and context-free reading tasks. Two groups of fourth graders (85 skilled readers and 24 students with RD) completed a standardized test of reading comprehension, read aloud a folktale, and read aloud the folktale's words in a randomly sequenced list. Performance was scored as correct rate and percentage correct. Based on the number of words per idea unit in the passage, we also estimated the rate at which reader groups encountered and processed text ideas. Compared to the RD group, skilled readers read three times more correct words per minute in context, and showed higher accuracy and rates on all measures. Both context and isolated word-reading rates were highly sensitive to impairment. We found no evidence for RD subtypes based on these measures. Results illustrate differences in reading levels between the two groups, the temporal advantage skilled readers have in linking text ideas, how word reading differs as a function of task format and performance dimension, and how limited word-identification skills (not comprehension) produce contextual reading difficulties for students with RD.
2K-3 Magnetically Vibrated Brachytherapy Seeds: Ferromagnetic Core Models and Image Reconstruction Methods

Magnetically Induced Motion Imaging (MIMI) uses an oscillating magnetic field and ultrasonic motion-tracking techniques to vibrate and identify brachytherapy seeds in situ. The efficacy of the technique relies on the ability to generate and detect seed vibration, and distinguish this vibration signal from other motion sources. The vibration of the seed depends on the torque generated by a ferromagnetic core in the seed. A design goal is to maximize the torque for the limited amount of core material that can be placed within a seed. We have developed 3D finite-element models for two seed core geometries, an ellipsoid and a rod capped by two semi-hemispheres. Both seed cores have identical volumes (7.4times10-10m3 ), length (4mm), and permeability (mur=4000). Calculation by the Maxwell Stress Tensor method yields a torque for the rod 1.4 times that of the ellipsoidal core, demonstrating the substantial sensitivity of torque on core geometry. The oscillating seeds act as dipole shear wave sources, with maximum vibration amplitude at the ends of the seed and a vibration minimum at the center of length. This gives rise to a characteristic vibration amplitude distribution in the surrounding tissue, with two lobes per seed. By taking advantage of the opposing phase of the seed ends, we demonstrate a method that links these lobes. A compounding technique for suppressing ring-down artifact is demonstrated. These methods are demonstrated on RF data acquired from seeds in beef muscle tissue. 3D vibration isosurface maps of seed vibration amplitude are presented and found to be in good agreement with previously reported simulations
From partial shape matching through local deformation to robust global shape similarity for object detection

In this paper, we propose a novel framework for contour based object detection. Compared to previous work, our contribution is three-fold. 1) A novel shape matching scheme suitable for partial matching of edge fragments. The shape descriptor has the same geometric units as shape context but our shape representation is not histogram based. 2) Grouping of partial matching hypotheses to object detection hypotheses is expressed as maximum clique inference on a weighted graph. 3) A novel local affine-transformation to utilize the holistic shape information for scoring and ranking the shape similarity hypotheses. Consequently, each detection result not only identifies the location of the target object in the image, but also provides a precise location of its contours, since we transform a complete model contour to the image. Very competitive results on ETHZ dataset, obtained in a pure shape-based framework, demonstrate that our method achieves not only accurate object detection but also precise contour localization on cluttered background.
Distributed object interoperability via a network type system

Object-oriented programming techniques are increasingly gaining attention as a solution to some of the software engineering problems plaguing the construction of large software projects. Unfortunately, object-oriented interfaces are usually only enforced and usable through language mechanisms making it impossible for disjoint components to interact in a loosely coupled distributed environment. The authors' investigate the possibility of creating a runtime notion of an object's interface and allow the dynamic querying of objects for their conformance to that interface. The project provides a mechanism to dynamically generate proxies to objects in different protection domains so that once this conformance is confirmed, operations can be invoked on the object in a mechanism compatible with the programming language in question. This is done without violating the encapsulation and enforced interfaces provided by the distributed objects. >
Estradiol Synthesis and Action at the Synapse: Evidence for “Synaptocrine” Signaling

Classically, the modulation of brain function and behavior by steroid hormones was linked exclusively to secretion by peripheral endocrine glands. Subsequently, steroid actions within the brain were shown dependent upon either synthesis and secretion by peripheral organs or by production within the CNS itself using peripheral sources of precursors. Discovery of the estrogen-synthetic enzyme aromatase in brain further bolstered the latter view and served as a catalyst for expanding concepts of neurosteroidogenesis. In parallel research, several steroids, including estradiol, were found to have rapid effects on neuronal excitability, partially explained by novel actions at neuronal membranes. Recent findings from multiple levels of analysis and labs necessitate an updated view on how steroids are delivered to neural circuits. There is now considerable evidence for expression of the aromatase enzyme within synaptic boutons in the vertebrate CNS. Furthermore, additional work now directly couples rapid regulation of neuroestrogen synthesis with neurophysiological and behavioral outcomes. In this review we summarize evidence for targeted and acute synaptic estrogen synthesis and perisynaptic estrogen actions in the CNS of songbirds. We evaluate these findings in the context of criteria associated with classic neuromodulatory signaling. We term this novel form of signaling ‘synaptocrine’, and discuss its implications.
Moving From a Culture of Blame to a Culture of Safety in the Nursing Home Setting

TOPIC. A culture of safety. PURPOSE. To explore the current culture of blame and what organizational elements must be impacted to move toward a culture of safety in the nursing home setting. METHODS. A mixed-method approach incorporating a case study and staff member survey results were used to explicate the organizational elements impacting the current nursing home culture. CONCLUSION. Nurse leaders can create an environment in which every member of the team feels a responsibility and an ability to insure that residents are safe by improving communication and participation in decision making.
The Three Dimensions of Scriptures

This article proposes a new model for understanding the ways that scriptures function. Several big media stories of recent years, such as those surrounding controversies over Ten Commandments monuments in U.S. courthouses and Qur’ans desecrated at Guantanamo Bay, involve the iconic function of scriptures. Yet contemporary scholarship on Jewish, Christian, or Muslim scriptures is ill-prepared to interpret these events because it has focused almost all its efforts on textual interpretation. Even the increased attention to the performative function of scripture by Wilfred Cantwell Smith and his students does not provide resources for understanding the iconic roles of scriptures. This article addresses the gap by theorizing the nature of scriptures as a function of their ritualization in three dimensions—semantic, performative, and iconic. The model provides a means for conceptualizing how traditions ritualize scriptures and how they claim and negotiate social power through this process.
Can Serum Testosterone Be Used as a Marker of Overall Health

Low serum testosterone has been associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerosis. Individuals with these comorbidities are at increased risk of premature death and other adverse health effects. Clinical data portend low testosterone as a risk factor for developing these conditions which are supported by the hypogonadal-obesity-adipocytokine hypothesis. The authors support comprehensive evaluation for these comorbid conditions in men found to have low serum testosterone.
Age-related changes in the responsiveness of apolipoprotein A1 to thyroid hormone

To determine the age-related changes in the effect of thyroid hormone on apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) gene expression, male Fischer 344 rats at 4 (young) and 26 (aged) mo of age were studied. Hyperthyroidism was induced with daily intraperitoneal injections of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (15 micrograms/100 g body wt) for 10 days. Hypothyroidism was induced with 0.025% methimazole in drinking water for 4 wk. Hyperthyroidism was associated with increased serum ApoA1 levels in young rats [7.52 +/- 0.41 vs. 3.67 +/- 0.30 optical density (OD); P < 0.01]. The increase in aged rats (6.5 +/- 0.87 vs. 5.14 +/- 0.09 OD) did not reach statistical significance. Hypothyroidism was not associated with significant changes in serum ApoA1 levels in either young or aged rats. Hyperthyroidism was associated with a 2.5-fold increase in ApoA1 mRNA in young rats and a 1.7-fold increase in aged rats. Hypothyroidism was associated with a 3.6-fold reduction in ApoA1 mRNA in young rats, but there was no significant change in aged hypothyroid rats. Mobility shift assays indicated that the binding of transacting factors to ApoA1 promoter increased in hyperthyroid young rats but not in hyperthyroid aged rats. It is concluded that aging in rats is associated with reduced ApoA1 responsiveness to thyroid hormones. This altered responsiveness could partly be the result of changes in the binding activity of nuclear factors to the ApoA1 promoter.