cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scalp EEG signal reconstruction for detection of mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a neurological disease which is often comorbid with early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study explores the potential for detecting changes in neurological functional organization which may be indicative of MCI and early AD using neural network models for scalp EEG signal reconstruction. Resting 32-channel EEG records from 48 age-matched participants (mean age 75.7 years)-15 normal controls (NC), 16 MCI, and 17 early-stage AD-are examined. Neural network models are trained to reconstruct artificially “deleted” samples of EEG using subsets of records from NC participants. Models are applied to EEG records and quality scores are assigned to reconstructions of individual channels. Principal components of regional average reconstruction quality scores are used in a support vector machine model to discriminate between groups. Analyses demonstrate accuracies of 90.3% for MCI vs. NC (p-value<;0.0005), 90.6% for AD vs. NC (p-value<;0.0003), and 87.5% for AD/MCI vs. NC (p-value<;0.0003). Techniques developed here may be used to detect changes in EEG activity due to neurological degeneration associated with MCI and early AD.
An Ultrasonographic Study of the Persistence of Buckle Height Three Years after Segmental Sponge Explants

We studied a consecutive series of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments treated with segmental silicone sponge explants and cryotherapy, with or without drainage, approximately three years postoperatively by ultrasonography to determine the degree and persistence of the height of the buckle measuring 1.5 to 3 mm remained in all patienst examined clinically and ultrasonographically at three years or later. Five of these patients reexamined one year later demonstrated no loss of buckle height between the third and fourth postoperative years. By comparison, in a small group of patients examined early in their postoperative course (2.5 to 4 months), the buckles were only slightly higher than in the group studied at three years. Buckle height thus appeared to stabilize relatively quickly postoperatively and to persist at least three years. We believe encapsulation of the sponge by scar tissue must contribute to the long-term maintenance of buckle height.
Relation Between Amiodarone and Desethylamiodarone Plasma Concentrations and Ventricular Defibrillation Energy Requirements

The main finding of this prospective, controlled study is that amiodarone and desethylamiodarone plasma concentrations < 1 mg/L are associated with a 23% increase in the acute defibrillation energy requirement and with a 31% increase in the requirement for a subcutaneous patch or array. The defibrillation energy requirement does not correlate with the plasma concentrations of amiodarone, desethylamiodarone, amiodarone plus desethylamiodarone, or with the duration or daily dosage of amiodarone therapy.
Free and pedicle flaps in lower extremity trauma

Improvements in microsurgical techniques and perioperative management have led to more attempts at limb salvage surgery after severe extremity trauma. Although some microsurgery-trained orthopedic surgeons will perform extremity soft tissue reconstruction, many rely on plastic surgeons or hand surgeons. However, the orthopedic trauma surgeon often remains the principle decision maker in the follow-up of these patients. Therefore, orthopedic surgeons should have a clear understanding of the planning and execution of flap reconstruction of the traumatized extremities. Collaboration with the microsurgery team will also improve planning of orthopedic procedures and facilitate a better understanding of the expected outcomes after tissue transfer. This becomes especially important when considering, debridement, early amputation versus extensive soft tissue reconstruction and when discussing these alternatives with patients and family as well as postoperative course. The goals of this article are to provide orthopedic trauma surgeons with an understanding of the selection, planning, and execution of tissue transfers for posttraumatic extremity reconstruction and to review their successes and outcomes in the literature. Communication between teams involved in reconstruction of the traumatized extremity and an understanding of limitations are paramount to successful outcomes after reconstruction. Level of Evidence: Not ratable.
Inverse planning simulated annealing for magnetic resonance imaging-based intracavitary high-dose-rate brachytherapy for cervical cancer.

Abstract Purpose To develop a technique using exclusively magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to perform dwell position identification, targets and organs at risk delineation, and to apply inverse planning dose optimization to high-dose-rate brachytherapy for cervical cancer. Methods and materials We included 15 consecutive women treated with high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for cervical cancer. All patients underwent MRI after placement of tandem and ring applicator containing a gadodiamide-filled dummy marker. This technique allowed direct visualization of the source pathway and precise definition of the intra-applicator source positions. For each patient, we delineated gross target volume (GTV), high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV), and organs at risk on MRI, according to the European Gynecological GEC-ESTRO Working Group definitions. We performed inverse planning simulated annealing (IPSA) and analyzed the dose–volume histograms with the following endpoints: D90, D100, and V100 for GTV and HR-CTV; D0.1 cc, D1 cc, D2 cc for bladder, rectum, and bowel; and dose at Point A. Results The intra-applicator source pathway was easily visualized on MRI using the gadodiamide-filled marker. IPSA provided excellent target coverage. The mean D90 and V100 for HR-CTV were 103 ± 5% and 92 ± 3%, respectively. IPSA provided excellent bladder sparing. D1 cc and D2 cc of bladder were 73 ± 10% and 67 ± 10%, respectively. Conclusions We developed a novel technique that allows direct visualization of the intra-applicator source pathway on MRI. Using this technique, we successfully performed inverse planning directly from MRI.
Militarism, Not Service

American society is based on the maintenance and reproduction of various inequalities. These core inequalities appear throughout society and are sustained and transmitted through a variety of mechanisms and structures which involve intention and accident. The institution of the military reflects deeply the society of which it is a part. An all-volunteer service is likely to be a service composed mainly of people from lower-class backgrounds. This kind of army is as class biased, and indeed is perhaps more class biased, than one based on a draft where certain groups are deferred. In my response to Michael Useem, I would like to suggest three things: �9 A renewal of the draft does not imply by definition a renewal of the alleged inequalities of the Vietnam era. �9 His reading of the history of conscription since the Second World War is misleading and, indeed, wrong to some degree. �9 Even a renewal of a draft based on a lottery would continue to reproduce the inequalities of society in the armed forces. The key value in any resumption of the draft is equity. If a draft is to be put into place, all who are eligible should be randomly chosen through some kind of lottery with no deferments granted. This would produce an equitable draft call. This is not to say that one could argue for the draft in general. I am against peacetime resumption of the draft because the only point to a build-up of forces is the use of those forces. Useem seems to think that implementation of a lottery system with no deferments is unlikely or improbable. Given the protests of the Vietnam era and the need of the military for skilled personnel, a lottery is probably the only system that would have a chance of implementation. This is a political question, and most organized groups would likely struggle for precisely this kind of draft.
A first-order approximation to stochastic optimal control of reservoirs

A new approximate method of solution for stochastic optimal control problems with many state and control variables is introduced. The method is based on the expansion of the optimal control into the deterministic feedback control plus a caution term. The analytic, small-perturbation calculation of the caution term is at the heart of the new method. The developed approximation depends only on the first two statistical moments of the random inputs and up to the third derivatives of the cost functions. Its computational requirements do not exhibit the exponential growth exhibited by discrete stochastic DP and can be used as a suboptimal solution to problems for which application of stochastic DP is not feasible. The method is accurate when the cost-to-go functions are approximately cubic in a neighbourhood around the deterministic trajectory whose size depends on forecasting uncertainty. Furthermore, the method elucidates the stochastic optimization problem yielding insights which cannot be easily obtained from the numerical application of discrete DP.
Single-stage repair of tetralogy of Fallot with pseudoaneurysm: a unique approach

Pseudoaneurysm is a potentially lethal complication after modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. This report describes a frequently misdiagnosed clinical presentation along with noninvasive diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm after a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. We report a novel single-stage surgical management of the pseudoaneurysm with concomitant complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot.
William Thaddeus Coleman, Jr.: Breaking the Color Barrier at the U.S. Supreme Court

On April 15, 2007, baseball fans celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers—an event that broke the color barrier and integrated major league baseball. In stadiums across America, professional baseball teams honored the memory and accomplishments of Robinson, as managers and players donned Robinson’s retired jersey number, Hall of Famers threw out ceremonial first pitches, and tributes boomed from video displays. The tributes to Robinson, however, like his legacy, went far beyond the ballparks, as newspaper and television journalists debated Robinson’s role as a civil-rights pioneer while lamenting the dwindling number of minorities playing baseball and elementary school children read stories of Robinson’s stirring feats.
Effects of activated reactive evaporation process parameters on the microhardness of polycrystalline silicon carbide thin films

Polycrystalline s-SiC is expected to be an excellent material for thin film temperature sensors for the measurement of the surface temperature of gas turbine engine components operated at high temperatures (up to 1500°C). In this paper, Vickers and Knoop indentation microhardness tests were carried out on the silicon carbide films grown on Si(100) substrates by the activated reactive evaporation (ARE) process to measure one of the important mechanical properties, i.e. hardness of the films. The results of these tests are presented as a function of the ARE process parameters, such as C2H2 pressure PC2H2, substrate temperature Tsub, ARE electrode voltage VARE for the generation of d.c. glow discharge and substrate bias Vsub. It was found that the hardness of the films is very much dependent on these process parameters. A Vickers hardness value of 3680 kgf mm−2 (36.1 GPa) at 25 gf load (0.25 N) and a Knoop hardness value of 2060 kgf mm−2 (20.2 GPa) at 100 gf load (0.98 N) are obtained for polycrystalline s-SiC films (C-to-Si ratio, 1.17) prepared under the following deposition conditions: C2H2 pressure, 3 mTorr (0.4 Pa); substrate temperature, 700°C; ARE electrode voltage, +150 V; substrate bias, −50 V. Microhardness variation of the s-SiC films with applied load on the indenter was also studied. It was found that the hardness of the films decreases with increasing load, which is believed to be due to indentation size and substrate hardness effects.
Allergic Rhinitis and Rhinosinusitis

A relationship between allergic rhinitis and acute and chronic rhinosinusitis has been postulated for many years. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that such a relationship is likely. In addition, evidence of a common pathophysiologic mechanism linking these diseases is compelling and continues to evolve. Although a clear and definitive causal relationship remains to be elucidated, an increasing number of studies support the plausibility of this link. The current paradigm of the "unified airway" and evidence to support this model further strengthen this link. This article reviews the literature relating allergic rhinitis and acute and chronic rhinosinusitis.
Experimental catalepsy is both enhanced and disrupted by apomorphine

In mice that were scored for the length of time they remained immobile in awkward postures (cataleptic) on an inclined wire grid, a large IP dose of pilocarpine (80 mg/kg) caused a clear catalepsy, which was prevented by both dopamine agonists that were tested, apomorphine (4 or 8 mg/kg, IP) and bromocriptine (8 mg/kg, IP). In other experiments, haloperidol (2.5 mg/kg) caused mild catalepsy. As expected, neither 4 nor 8 mg/kg apomorphine caused much effect when given alone, but both doses produced profound and long-lasting catalepsy in the haloperidol-treated animals. Bromocriptine also had little effect when given alone, and neither 4 nor 8 mg/kg enhanced the haloperidol catalepsy. Apomorphine alone produced catalepsy at low doses. Repeated testing after a low (0.3 mg/kg) dose of apomorphine showed that catalepsy was most profound at 5 min postinjection, with progressive decline thereafter. Apomorphine, but not bromocriptine, thus can produce catalepsy under certain conditions of DA receptor blockade or in low dose. Catalepsy, and perhaps other forms of hypomotility, appear to be differentially mediated by a subclass of dopaminergic receptors.
The stability of sodalite in the system NaAlSiO4-NaCl

The reaction sodalite = β-nepheline + NaCl (s) was reversed in solid-medium apparatus (923 K, 7.6–8.0 kbar; 973 K, 7.4–7.6 kbar; 1073 K, 7.8–8.0 kbar; 1173 K, 8.4–8.6 kbar) and the reaction sodalite = carnegieite + NaCl (l) was reversed at 1 bar (1649–1652 K). The calculated slope for the first reaction is −11 bar/K compared to the experimentally constrained slope above 973 K of +5 bar/K. This major discrepancy can be eliminated if the entropy of sodalite (Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2) is 61.7 J/mol · K greater than the measured value of 848.1 ± 4.0 J/mol · K at 298.15 K. This entropy contribution is equal to that expected from 58% disorder of Al and Si on the tetrahedral sites, but could also be caused by a reversible phase change. The experimental reversals between 923 K and 973 K can be fit with a dPdT of −11 bar/K, suggesting that the excess entropy for sodalite is present only above 923 K. A phase diagram for the NaAlSiO4-NaCl system that is consistent with the measured thermochemical data and the experiments between 973 and 1650 K can be generated if the 61.7 J/mol · K entropy contribution is included in the S2980 of sodalite. This entropy contribution must be removed below 973 K for the experiments to fit with calculations. Previously unreported thermodynamic data estimated in this study are ΔG2980 for sodalite (−12697 kJ/mol) and carnegieite (NaAlSiO4) (−1958 kJ/mol), S2980 of carnegieite (129.6 J/mol · K) and compressibility of NaClliquid (V298P (cm3) = 31.6 · [1 − 24.7 · 10−3 · P + 800 · 10−6 · P2]) (T in K; P in kbar). Sodalite is a high-temperature, low-pressure phase, stable well above the solidus in sodic silica-undersaturated magmas enriched in NaCl, and its presence constrains NaCl activities in magmas. Estimates of minimum NaCl (l) activities in the Mont St-Hilaire sodalite syenites are 0.05 at 1073 K and 0.13 at 1273 K. Density calculations are consistent with the field observations that sodalite phenocrysts will float in a nepheline syenite liquid. This explains the enrichment of sodalite in the upper levels of the sodalite syenites at Mont St-Hilaire and elsewhere.
The Presence of the Doctorate among Small College Library Directors

Although a doctorate provides a library director with little practical assistance toward fulfilling his or her job, many college and university administrators seem to expect library directors to have one. The presence of the doctorate has been studied extensively within ARL institutions, but not within small colleges. This article explores the presence of the doctorate among small college library directors, considering gender and tenure in addition to size of the library, the college, and the library staff. This research finds that 20 percent of library directors at Baccalaureate I institutions have doctorates, and 40 percent have second master’s degrees. Librarians with doctorates do not direct larger institutions than those without Ph.D.s. The value of the doctorate, and its future among female directors in particular, is considered.
STRESS RELAXATION AND LOW FIELD PROTON MAGNETIC RESONANCE STUDIES OF CHEESE ANALOG

Cheese analog samples were prepared using two different sources of fat, milkfat and vegetable oil. The rheological properties of the samples, which ranged in moisture from 42.5 to 50%, were examined using compression and stress relaxation tests. The values of peak stress (a at 50% strain) from the compression tests and the initial stress (σ o ), equilibrium stress (σ e ), and elastic constant (g t ) from the stress relaxation tests, were compared. All four values were higher for the samples containing milkfat as compared to the samples containing vegetable oil. For both analog formulations, moisture content was negatively correlated with values of σ o (R 2 > 0.91), σ e (R 2 > 0.80) and g 1 (R 2 > 0. 94) at 40 mm/min crosshead speed. The CPMG-T 2 relaxation curves of the samples were determined using a low field (5.35 MHz) proton magnetic resonance sensor, The T 2 relaxation data were fit to a two-term exponential model having time constants T 2a and T 2b . In the model, the coefficients a and β indicated, respectively, the contribution of T 2a and T 2b to the T 2 relaxation. The T 2a value was associated with the water in the analog cheese while the T 2b value was associated with the oil. The T 2a value was correlated (R 2 > 0. 95) with the relative proportion of water in each sample. It increased as the moisture content increased. There were negative correlations between T 2a and σ o , σ e , and g 1 from the stress relaxation tests.
Acetylcholine, choline acetyltransferase and cholinesterases in the rat heart

Abstract The distribution of acetylcholine (ACh), choline acetyltransferase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cholinesterase (ChE) in the rat heart was investigated. The hearts were dissected into various regions and homogenized. Substrate specificity and inhibition studies indicated the presence of two cholinester hydrolyzing enzymes. Both hydrolyze ACh and either acetyl-β-methylcholine or propionylcholine and butyrylcholine respectively. Enzyme activity was found to be higher in the atria than in the ventricles. In both the atria and the ventricles, a higher enzyme activity was found in the right than in the left portions. The enzyme hydrolyzing propionylcholine was the prevailing enzyme. The distribution of ACh was determined by pyrolysis-gas chromatography. ACh concentrations were found to be higher in the atria than in the ventricles with the right side having the higher ACh content in both portions: right atrium, 30.4 nmoles/g, compared to left atrium, 13.1 nmoles/g; and right ventricle, 4.2 nmoles/g, compared to left ventricle, 2.5 nmoles/g. CAT activity was greatest in the right atrium, 12.4 nmoles/g/min, and right ventricle, 11.0 nmoles/g/min, followed by the left ventricle, 8.1 nmoles/g/min and left atrium, 7.6 nmoles/g/min. The distribution of ACh and CAT is in good agreement with the histochemical localization of AChE and ChE and the parasympathetic fibers in these areas of the heart.
Reactions of CCl, CCl2 and CClF radicals

Abstract The rate constants at room temperature have been determined for the reaction of CCl, CCl 2 , and CClF radicals with various added scavengers. We have employed the technique of laser-induced fluorescence to permit the evaluation of these rate constants.
The use of intraluminal stents for tracheal collapse in two horses: Case management and long-term treatment

Summary Tracheal collapse is an uncommon clinical disorder in horses but when present can be difficult to correct. Various medical and surgical procedures to correct tracheal collapse have been described in horses with variable success. Recently, the use of an intraluminal stent has been described as a treatment for tracheal collapse in a miniature horse. The long-term management, utilising intraluminal stents, in 2 miniature horses with tracheal collapse is presented here. In particular, various complications as a result of intraluminal stent placement are described, the most persistent being the formation of granulation tissue at various regions of the stents. Multiple methods of combating granulation tissue in this situation also are discussed.
Mechanical properties of bone as a function of position and orientation.

Abstract This paper considers the variation in the mechanical properties of the long bones as a function of position and orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bone. Small specimens of bovine tibiae were taken at various positions along the bone in three mutually perpendicular directions. These were tensile tested to failure and the fracture stress and elastic moduli measured. It was found that the long bone changes from being highly anisotropic at the mid-diaphysis to essentially isotropic at the epiphyses. The variation of mechanical properties between the axes were measured and mathematical models given to describe the behavior. A failure stress criterion for bone substance is given. A three-dimensional failure locus is given enabling one to predict the failure stress and direction of the failure of cortical bone under a given set of combined stresses.
Nuclear Import Strategies of High Risk HPV16 L1 Major Capsid Protein

During the late phase of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the L1 major capsid proteins enter the nuclei of host epithelial cells and, together with the L2 minor capsid proteins, assemble the replicated viral DNA into virions. We investigated the nuclear import of the L1 major capsid protein of high risk HPV16. When digitonin-permeabilized HeLa cells were incubated with HPV16 L1 capsomeres, the L1 protein was imported into the nucleus in a receptor-mediated manner. HPV16 L1 capsomeres formed complexes with Kap alpha2beta1 heterodimers via interaction with Kap alpha2. Accordingly, nuclear import of HPV16 L1 capsomeres was mediated by Kap alpha2beta1 heterodimers, required RanGDP and free GTP, and was independent of GTP hydrolysis. Remarkably, HPV16 L1 capsomeres also interacted with Kap beta2 and binding of RanGTP to Kap beta2 did not dissociate the HPV16 L1.Kap beta2 complex. Significantly, HPV16 L1 capsomeres inhibited the nuclear import of Kap beta2 and of a Kap beta2-specific M9-containing cargo. These data suggest that, during the productive stage of infection, while the HPV16 L1 major capsid protein enters the nucleus via the Kap alpha2beta1-mediated pathway to assemble the virions, it also inhibits the Kap beta2-mediated nuclear import of host hnRNP A1 protein and, in this way, favors virion formation.
CYTOSKELETON - SPECIFIC IMMUNOLIPOSOMES: SEALING OF HYPOXIC CELLS AND INTRACELLULAR DELIVERY OF DNA

Various pathological conditions, including hypoxia and inflammation, provoke cell membrane lesions. These lesions represent microscopic holes in the sarcolemma through which the components of the cytoskeleton become exposed to the surroundings. Labeled antibodies against intracellular cytoskeletal antigens, such as antimyosin antibody, may be used to reveal cell membrane lesions. Being coupled to liposomes, such antibodies can deliver phospholipid vesicles to the affected cell surface and 'plug' them directly into the holes. The in vitro antimyosin antibody-mediated liposome transport to cytoskeletal antigen of hypoxic cardiomyocytes was used in order: (1) to prevent cell deaths by sealing membrane lesions; and (2) to achieve intracellular DNA delivery. A hypoxic model of injury in H9C2 rat embryonic cardiocytes was used in these experiments. Under hypoxic culture conditions, cells were incubated with 150-200 nm antimyosin-immunoliposomes (IL), plain liposomes (PL), and non-specific IgG-liposomes (IgL). After hypoxia (which lasted in different experiments from 1 to 5 days), cell viability was assessed following [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation, Trypan Blue exclusion test and by fluorescent microscopy. All tests demonstrated highly improved survival of hypoxic cells in the presence of IL (up to 95% survival after 24 h of hypoxia), whereas, cell survival in the presence of control PL and IgL never exceeded 40%. The presence of IL maintained the survival of hypoxic cells for approximately 5 days, while all control cultures never survived for more than 24-36 h. In addition, salvaged cells maintained normal proliferation after hypoxia in the presence of IL. Electron microscopy experiments with silver grains containing IL demonstrated that after incubation, silver grains can be identified in the cytoplasm, which we see as evidence of possible fusion of 'plugging' liposomes with cell membrane. Based on this phenomenon, it is hypothesized that if target cells are under artificial stress, cytoskeleton-specific IL can deliver their contents into the cytoplasm, which provides a good opportunity for the intracellular delivery of drugs and DNA. This hypothesis was confirmed by successful delivery of a plasmid pEScFv 2G42D7 (antimyosin antibody) vector in hypoxic H9C2 cardiocytes by IL.
An ab initio study of intermolecular interactions of nitromethane dimer and nitromethane trimer.

Different geometries of nitromethane dimer and nitromethane trimer have been fully optimized employing the density functional theory B3LYP method and the 6-31++G** basis set. Three-body interaction energy has been obtained with the ab initio supermolecular approach at the levels of MP2/6-31++G**//B3LYP/6-31++G** and MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-31++G**. The internal rotation of methyl group induced by intermolecular interaction has been observed theoretically. For the optimized structures of nitromethane dimer, the strength of C--H...O--N H-bond ranges from -9.0 to -12.4 kJ mol(-1) at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-31++G** level, and the B3LYP method underestimates the interaction strength compared with the MP2 method, while MP2/6-31++G**//B3LYP/6-31++G** calculated DeltaE(C) is within 2.5 kJ mol(-1) of the corresponding value at the MP4(SDTQ)/6-31G**//B3LYP/6-31++G** level. The analytic atom-atom intermolecular potential has been successfully regressed by using the MP2/6-31++G**//B3LYP/6-31++G** calculated interaction energies of nitromethane dimer. For the optimized structures of nitromethane trimer the three-body interaction energies occupy small percentage of corresponding total binding energies, but become important for the compressed nitromethane explosive. In addition, it has been discovered that the three-body interaction energy in the cyclic nitromethane trimer is more and more negative as intermolecular distances decrease from 2.2 to 1.7 A.
High resolution Raman spectroscopy of gases with laser sources. The rotational spectrum of cyanuric fluoride-C3N3F3

Abstract The pure rotational Raman spectrum of cyanuric fluoride vapor was photographed using a high resolution plane grating spectrograph. The spectrum was excited with the λ = 4880 A radiation emitted by a single-mode argon-ion laser. Two sets of molecular constants were determined from the R and S branches. The preferred results are those determined from the S -branch data. These are: B 0 = 0.0655954 ± 14 × 10 −7 cm −1 , D J = (2.52 ± 0.17) × 10 −9 cm −1 and H J = (−1.59 ± 0.59) × 10 −14 cm −1 , where the uncertainties are one standard deviation. Possible effects of line shifts due to unresolved K structure and the presence of hot bands on the accuracy of the values of the molecular constants are discussed. The B 0 value is compared to the rotation constant computed with the structural parameters determined with the electron diffraction technique; the agreement between these two rotation constants is only fair.
XXXIII. Variation of resistance and power factor of glass condensers with radio-frequencies

Abstract The resistance and power factor of glass condensers were measured at radio-frequencies of 76 to 8250 kilocycles. The resistance-frequency curves show small maxima between 1300 and 1900 kilocycles, and the power factor-frequency curves have an irregular flat region at the same frequencies. The power factor decreases from 60 to 70 per cent. in the frequency range. The resistance was found to vary inversely as the frequency and inversely as the capacity. The greater portion of the resistance of glass condensers as well as of air condensers is due to dielectric losses. In the case of glass condensers a portion of the dielectric absorption is due to polar orientation as explained by the Debye theory.
A novel shape feature to classify microcalcifications

The cited references claim that microcalcifications from many benign regions are all round or oval. The detection of at least one roughly shaped microcalcification in a suspicious region could be an early sign of potentially developing malignant cancer. This paper proposes a shape analysis method to aid radiologists in classifying regions of interest that are difficult to diagnosis. A region growing and a gradient vector flow methods are used to obtain an ordered set of contour points of each microcalcification. A three level wavelet transform frequency analysis provides a band pass approximation of the normalized distance signature. A novel metric derived from the normalized distance signature is proposed to quantify the roughness of a microcalcification. An experiment using a large dataset is used to evaluate the robustness of the proposed roughness metric against several published shape features.
Stimulus offset P3 and temporal resolution of uncertainty

Abstract Stimulus offset evoked potentials were recorded to short (1250 ms) and long (2500 ms) tones in the context of the odd-ball paradigm. In one condition, the short tone was presented frequently with a probability of 0.85 and the long tone with a probability of 0.15, and in a second condition, the probabilities of tone presentation were reversed. Offset P3s were obtained only to short and not to long rare tones, indicating that resolution of uncertainty rather than stimulus probability or task relevance is responsible for eliciting this late positive component in the context of this experiment.
Assessment of Aegilops tauschii for Resistance to Biotypes of Wheat Curl Mite (Acari: Eriophyidae)

Aegilops tauschii, the wild diploid D-genome progenitor of wheat, Triticum aestivum L., is an important source of resistance to several arthropod pests and pathogens. A total of 108 Ae. tauschii accessions from different geographic regions were evaluated for resistance to biotypes of the wheat curl mite, Aceria tosichella Keifer, from Kansas, Nebraska, and Montana. The wheat curl mite is the only vector known to transmit wheat streak mosaic virus. Wheat curl mite resistance was detected in germplasm from all the geographic locations represented. The highest percentage of resistant accessions originated from Turkey, followed by Afghanistan and the Caspian Sea region of Iran. Sixty-seven percent of the accessions exhibited resistance to at least one wheat curl mite biotype and 19% were resistant to all the three biotyopes. Resistance to the accessions tested occurred more frequently in the Nebraska and Kansas biotypes (69% and 64%, respectively) than did resistance to the Montana biotype (42%), although the frequency of resistance was not significant. The differential reactions of accessions to the different wheat curl mite biotypes suggests that Ae. tauschii has at least five different genes for resistance to mite colonization. Ae. tauschii continues to be a very useful source for wheat curl mite resistance genes for bread wheat improvement.
The kidney sodium-phosphate co-transporter alters bone quality in an age and gender specific manner.

Abstract Mutations in the kidney NaPiIIa co-transporter are clinically associated with hypophosphatemia, hyperphosphaturia (phosphate wasting), hypercalcemia, nephrolithiasis and bone demineralization. The mouse lacking this co-transporter system was reported to recover its skeletal defects with age, but the “quality” of the bones was not considered. To assess changes in bone quality we examined both male and female NaPiIIa knockout (KO) mice at 1 and 7 months of age using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and Fourier transform infrared imaging (FTIRI). KO cancellous bones at both ages had greater bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness and lesser structure model index based on micro-CT values relative to age- and sex-matched wildtype animals. There was a sexual-dimorphism in the micro-CT parameters, with differences at 7 months seen principally in males. Cortical bone at 1 month showed an increase in bone volume fraction, but this was not seen at 7 months. Cortical thickness which was elevated in the male and female KO at 1 month was lower in the male KO at 7 months. FTIRI showed a reduced mineral and acid phosphate content in the male and female KO's bones at 1 month with no change in acid phosphate content at 7 months. Collagen maturity was reduced in KO cancellous bone at 1 month. The observed sexual dimorphism in the micro-CT data may be related to altered phosphate homeostasis, differences in animal growth rates and other factors. These data indicate that the bone quality of the KO mice at both ages differs from the normal and suggests that these bone quality differences may contribute to skeletal phenotype in humans with mutations in this co-transporter.
Demonstration of the Rat Ischemic Skin Wound Model

The propensity for chronic wounds in humans increases with ageing, disease conditions such as diabetes and impaired cardiovascular function, and unrelieved pressure due to immobility. Animal models have been developed that attempt to mimic these conditions for the purpose of furthering our understanding of the complexity of chronic wounds. The model described herein is a rat ischemic skin flap model that permits a prolonged reduction of blood flow resulting in wounds that become ischemic and resemble a chronic wound phenotype (reduced vascularization, increased inflammation and delayed wound closure). It consists of a bipedicled dorsal flap with 2 ischemic wounds placed centrally and 2 non-ischemic wounds lateral to the flap as controls. A novel addition to this ischemic skin flap model is the placement of a silicone sheet beneath the flap that functions as a barrier and a splint to prevent revascularization and reduce contraction as the wounds heal. Despite the debate of using rats for wound healing studies due to their quite distinct anatomic and physiologic differences compared to humans (i.e., the presence of a panniculus carnosus muscle, short life-span, increased number of hair follicles, and their ability to heal infected wounds) the modifications employed in this model make it a valuable alternative to previously developed ischemic skin flap models.
Evaluation of a smart alarm for intensive care using clinical data

We describe and report the results of an evaluation of a smart alarm algorithm for post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients. The algorithm (CABG-SA) was applied to vital sign data streams recorded in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) at a hospital in the University of Pennsylvania Health System. In order to determine the specificity of CABG-SA, the alarms generated by CABG-SA were compared against the actual interventions performed by the staff of the critical care unit. Overall, CABG-SA alarmed for 55% of the time relative to traditional alarms while still generating alarms for 12 of the 13 recorded interventions.
The rise time of photoreduction, difference spectrum, and oxidation-reduction potential of P430.

Abstract Using 20-nsec ruby-laser pulses as an actinic source and a rapid transient recorder in the detection system, the onset times for both P700 photooxidation and P430 photoreduction were measured to be equal to or less than 0.1 μsec. The light-minus-dark difference spectrum of P430 in the visible and uv regions mimics that of an iron-sulfur protein. The midpoint oxidation-reduction potential of P430 was determined by redox poising combined with flash kinetic spectrophotometry to be −470 mV vs. standard hydrogen electrode, and the titration data indicate a one-electron change for the P430 redox reaction.
Catatonic Stupor and Neuroleptic Drugs

To the Editor.— Catatonic stupor, a syndrome marked by isolation, withdrawal, mutism, and characteristic neuromuscular abnormalities such as bizarre posture, rigidity, immobility, and waxy flexibility, is a serious medical problem. In fact, reports of disastrous outcomes continue to appear in the current medical literature. The description of two such cases by Regestein and colleagues (238:618-620, 1977) underscores the fact that the onset of certain medical complications (eg, dehydration, hyperthermia, pulmonary abnormalities) represents a critical turning point in the management of this syndrome. As their report exemplifies, once such complications ensue, clinical deterioration may occur so rapidly that further treatment cannot keep pace no matter how tenacious. Although the pathogenesis of catatonic stupor remains unclear, the syndrome is generally regarded as nonspecific, and multiple causes have been implicated. 1 We wish to emphasize, however, that patients in whom catatonic stupor develops after the start of neuroleptic drug therapy (eg, both cases
River chemistry as a monitor of Yosemite Park mountain hydroclimates

High-frequency, high-altitude measurements of water chemistry provide insights into processes relating to the hydrology, climate, and geochemistry of mountain catchments. When such observations are combined with stream stage, temperature, snow, weather, and other surface hydroclimate measurements, they are particularly useful in allowing connections between climate, river discharge, river chemistry, and ecosystems to be discerned. Climate is the major source of variability in U.S. and global water resources. For example, large-scale variations in the global atmosphere and the Pacific Ocean are responsible for much of the variability in river discharge in Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, and the U.S. Southwest [Cayan and Peterson, 1989], and thus are closely linked to water and energy resources of the western United States [Cayan et al., 2003].
Firm debt structure, firm size and risk volatility in US industrial firms

US industrial-firm panel data on short-term and long-term borrowing (term debt structure) for annual and quarterly time periods over the years 1995 to 2008 are used to test an insulation hypothesis and a related volatility hypothesis. The former test uses a regression model relating the log of the ratio of accounts payable in trade to Long-Term Debt (LTD) to firm size and other variables. The focus is on the firm's response to the US Federal Reserve (FED)'s monetary policy, where the response is a micro perspective on the earlier macro debate over the existence of bank lending channels. The latter hypothesis uses the panel heteroscedastic variances from the first regression procedure to test for a quadratic-form risk function (either U-shaped or inverted U-shaped) using sigma squared and the Coefficient of Variation (CV) as risk indexes and firm size as a determinant. The findings suggest that there is some evidence that US industrial firms in their borrowing behaviour do insulate themselves from the effe...
In Vivo Diagnosis of Pulmonary Atherosclerosis: Role of Intravascular Ultrasound

The application of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in diagnosing pulmonary artery atherosclerosis is described. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of the use of this technique in the recognition of pulmonary atherosclerosis. We describe a patient with long-standing primary pulmonary hypertension with evidence of pulmonary artery calcification seen on a chest x-ray film. The IVUS imaging of the pulmonary arteries identified intimal disruption with complex atherosclerosis. Thus, IVUS can be a useful tool in the diagnosis of pulmonary artery atherosclerosis.
Alternative length scales for polycrystalline materials—II. cluster morphology

Abstract In a preceding paper we have proposed that a physically relevant length scale for polycrystalline materials is that associated with clusters of grains sharing special boundaries. Here we examine how that length scale changes with microstructure evolution under various external influences. We also discuss how the length scale may be reflected in constitutive relations for several examples of physical and mechanical properties of polycrystalline materials.
Zigzag-shaped AMR magnetic sensors: Transfer characteristics and noise (Invited Paper)

Microfabricated magnetoresistive zigzag-shaped elements based on the anisotropic magnetoresistance effect were studied for use as magnetic field sensors. Images taken using scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis show that the magnetization in the devices tends to follow the edges of the device, thereby providing a geometrical (45°) bias that alternates along length of the sensor. It was found that these devices are primarily sensitive to magnetic fields applied along the long axis; a flat response is observed for perpendicular fields. The alternating magnetization bias provides the directionality of the sensor because the angles in adjacent zigzag blocks scissor for fields parallel to the long axis and rotate for perpendicular fields. This results in resistances that either add or cancel, respectively. A single-domain, coherent rotation description provides an estimate for the qualitative behavior of these zigzag structures and indicates the possible role of exchange in the shape of the transfer curves. Noise measurements were also taken on these devices. Thermal resistance noise was the dominant noise source above about 10 kHz. At low frequencies the resistance noise was found to be dominated by a 1/f contribution that depends on the applied magnetic field. The 1/f noise is relatively low and field independent when the element is in a saturated magnetic state and contains a relatively large and field dependent excess contribution when the magnetic field is in the sensitive field range of the element. The 1/f noise level observed in the saturated state depends in a nontrivial way on the quality and processing of the magnetic element, showing a trend for lower normalized noise in elements having higher sensitivity. In the most sensitive elements (magnetoresistance > 1%) the 1/f noise level is comparable to that found in nonmagnetic metals. We attribute the origin of noise to defect motion. In the unsaturated state, the excess noise is found to track the dc resistance susceptibility. For particular values of applied field we also observed large random telegraph signals in the time domain. The telegraph noise was extremely sensitive to the applied field, becoming active and inactive in our measurement bandwidth for changes in field of only a few Oersteds. This behavior indicates a magnetic origin to the excess noise. The variation of the excess noise level with applied dc magnetic field can be explained qualitatively using a model based on thermal excitation of the magnetization direction and/or domain wall hopping between pinning sites.
The rate of convergence of GMRES on a tridiagonal Toeplitz linear system

The Generalized Minimal Residual method (GMRES) is often used to solve a nonsymmetric linear system Ax = b. But its convergence analysis is a rather difficult task in general. A commonly used approach is to diagonalize A = XΛ X −1 and then separate the study of GMRES convergence behavior into optimizing the condition number of X and a polynomial minimization problem over A’s spectrum. This artificial separation could greatly overestimate GMRES residuals and likely yields error bounds that are too far from the actual ones. On the other hand, considering the effects of both A’s spectrum and the conditioning of X at the same time poses a difficult challenge, perhaps impossible to deal with in general but only possible for certain particular linear systems. This paper will do so for a (nonsymmetric) tridiagonal Toeplitz system. Sharp error bounds on and sometimes exact expressions for residuals are obtained. These expressions and/or bounds are in terms of the three parameters that define A and Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind.
A reverse updated Lagrangian finite element formulation for determining material properties from measured force and displacement data

The mechanical response of solids exhibiting complex material behavior has traditionally been determined by fitting constitutive models of specified functional form to experimentally derived force-displacement (stress-strain) data. However, characterizing the nonlinear mechanical behavior of complex materials requires a method of quantifying material behavior that is not restricted by a specific constitutive relation. To this end, a new method, termed the reverse updated Lagrangian finite element method (RULFEM), which is based on the three-dimensional displacement field of the deformed solid and the finite element method, is developed for incrementally linear materials. Using the RULEFM, the body is discretized by finite elements and its material properties are determined element-wise, i.e., the properties are assumed to be uniform at the element level and may vary from one element to another. The validity of RULFEM is demonstrated by three noise-free numerical examples and three numerical examples with various input noise levels. Two methods to assess the global and local errors of the results due to error in the measured input data (noisy data) are also discussed.
A terrorist hijacking: Victims' experiences initially and 9 years later

Three victims of a terrorist attack were interviewed in order to determine the coping mechanisms they utilized during the attack, the psychopathology present after the attack and the ways they dealt with their psychopathology. Fantasy, the belief in one's ability to positively influence his environment, altruistic actions, and dissociation reportedly helped those interviewed to cope during the incident. Depressive and post-traumatic stress phenomena comprised the major psychopathology present in those interviewed. Altruistic actions, symbolic repetition and mastery of the traumatic situation, self-esteem enhancing activities, avoidance of reminders of the incident and involvement in certain types of relationships reportedly helped these victims to deal with the sequelae of the attack.
Public and private hypotheses

Abstract The uses of hypothesis in scientific medicine and in clinical medicine are broadly similar; but they differ in subtle but important logical details. The key distinction is that scientific medicine deals with broad (“public”) hypotheses about entire populations; and the predominant problem of inference is statistics in the face of epistemological uncertainty. In contrast, clinical medicine deals with individual, tailor-made (“private”) hypotheses; the uncertainty (e.g. the diagnosis or recurrence risk in relatives) is ontological, and the main feature of the analysis is probability. The same logical rules are at times mistakenly applied to both. Disregard of these subtleties may lead to paradoxes, contradictions, and at times disastrously false conclusions. The basic principles and distinctions are laid out with illustrations that are most readily provided from medical genetics, but apply to all branches of medicine.