cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fine particulate matter air pollution and aortic perivascular adipose tissue: Oxidative stress, leptin, and vascular dysfunction

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) air pollution increases blood pressure, induces vascular inflammation and dysfunction, and augments atherosclerosis in humans and rodents; however, the understanding of early changes that foster chronic vascular disease is incomplete. Because perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) inflammation is implicated in chronic vascular diseases, we investigated changes in aortic PVAT following short-term air pollution exposure. Mice were exposed to HEPA-filtered or concentrated ambient PM2.5 (CAP) for 9 consecutive days, and the abundance of inflammatory, adipogenic, and adipokine gene mRNAs was measured by gene array and qRT-PCR in thoracic aortic PVAT. Responses of the isolated aorta with and without PVAT to contractile (phenylephrine, PE) and relaxant agonists (acetylcholine, ACh; sodium nitroprusside, SNP) were measured. Exposure to CAP significantly increased the urinary excretion of acrolein metabolite (3HPMA) as well as the abundance of protein-acrolein adducts (a marker of oxidative stress) in PVAT and aorta, upregulated PVAT leptin mRNA expression without changing mRNA levels of several proinflammatory genes, and induced PVAT insulin resistance. In control mice, PVAT significantly depressed PE-induced contractions-an effect that was dampened by CAP exposure. Pulmonary overexpression of extracellular dismutase (ecSOD-Tg) prevented CAP-induced effects on urinary 3HPMA levels, PVAT Lep mRNA, and alterations in PVAT and aortic function, reflecting a necessary role of pulmonary oxidative stress in all of these deleterious CAP-induced changes. More research is needed to address how exactly short-term exposure to PM2.5 perturbs PVAT and aortic function, and how these specific genes and functional changes in PVAT could lead over time to chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis.
The NACHOS CubeSat-based hyperspectral imager: laboratory and field performance characterization

Hyperspectral imaging with sufficient resolution and sensitivity for scientifically useful space-based mapping of trace gases has long required large and expensive satellite instruments. Miniaturizing this capability to a CubeSat configuration is a major challenge, but opens up more agile and far less expensive observing strategies. A major step in this direction is our development of NACHOS, an ultra-compact (1.5U instrument, 3U complete CubeSat) hyperspectral imager covering the 300-500nm spectral range in 400 channels. Here we describe laboratory and field performance characterization of this new instrument. Laboratory tests demonstrate spatial and spectral resolutions of <0.8 mrad and 1.3 nm, respectively, with good resolution of the spectral lines of our SO2 and NO2 target gases. Outdoor field tests under realistic illumination conditions provide real-world signal-to-noise benchmarks, and yield hyperspectral images displaying high quality solar and atmospheric spectra. To estimate on-orbit gas retrieval sensitivities, we computationally implanted plumes of varying concentrations into acquired hyperspectral datacubes. Applying our adaptive matched filter gas-retrieval algorithms to the generated scene, we predict NACHOS will be able to distinguish 35 and 7 ppm⋅m plumes of SO2 and NO2 (respectively) with high sensitivity; a capability well-suited to address scientific goals related to monitoring both passive SO2 degassing from volcanoes and NO2 emissions from anthropogenic sources. Lastly, we will show findings from thermal and vibrational environmental tests, performed in preparation for a scheduled early-2022 launch, demonstrating the extremely robust spectrometer design is well-suited for satellite-based deployment.
SHIP VIBRATIONS IN RANDOM SEAS

A general analysis of ship dynamics in random seas is presented. The analysis covers the steady-state wave-induced response and the transient-state slam-induced (whipping) response. Wave-induced response includes with the rigid-body modes (seakeeping) and the hull flexural modes (springing). The strip theory by Salvesen, Tuck, and Faltinsen is used to determine the hydrodynamic forces. The ship structure is idealized by finite beam elements with the lumped-parameter system. The normal-mode approach is used to calculate the vibration characteristics and dynamic response. Statistics of both wave-induced loads and responses are characterized by Zero-mean Gaussian processes. By spectral analysis, the wave-induced responses can be predicted for a ship moving in random seas. The slamming impacts as the input to the ship are treated as a nonstationary filtered Poisson process. The output slam-induced (whipping) response process can be determined by passing such a nonstationary process through the time-invariant ship system or by using a Markov process. Two ship examples are studied. The 1000-ft (305 m) Great Lakes ore carrier Stewart J. Cort is used for the calculation of the wave-induced response, and the 525-ft (160 m) SS Gopher Mariner is used for the calculation of the slam -induced (whipping) response.
Chapter 2 Antifungal Alkaloids

Publisher Summary Given the need for new antifungal antibiotics for the therapy of serious disseminated mycoses, it is refreshing and encouraging indeed that the potential for the discovery of such agents from natural sources is recognized. The chapter explores that a number of these are alkaloids emphasizes the continuing biological importance of this class of natural products. The structural diversity of the antifungal alkaloids discussed command a word of caution against the temptation to predict the antifungal properties of a given class of alkaloids. It is crucial to the future of new drug discovery and development that the pivotal role of prototype or “lead” compounds be recognized. Most investigators agree that it is not likely that the prototype agents discovered from the natural source become the final drug in the clinic, but spark the pursuit of more extensive studies, to include structure–activity relationships, mechanisms of action, optimal dosages, pharmacokinetics, and metabolism. MIC cutoff value of less than or equal to 3.12 μg/ml is utilized for an agent to be considered for further development. It is recognized that the MIC value alone is not a reliable predictor of in vivo efficacy; however, at the present time, it is the only measure of the antifungal activity of new compounds. Substantial additional information must be accomplished to establish the role of alkaloids as potential new antifungal antibiotics.
Detecting Re-projected Video

A common and simple way to create a bootleg video is to simply record a movie from the theater screen. Because the recorded video is not generally of high quality, it is usually easy to visually detect such recordings. However, given the wide variety of video content and film-making styles, automatic detection is less straight-forward. We describe an automatic technique for detecting a video that was recorded from a screen. We show that the internal camera parameters of such video are inconsistent with the expected parameters of an authentic video.
Lessons from the GEO communication satellite commercial sector on acquisition practices

The geostationary orbit (GEO) communications satellite commercial sector delivers reliable satellites at competitive prices, in short turnaround times, with cutting-edge performance. The authors have examined the evolving commercial satellite market, both from the perspective of established US satellite manufacturers and from that of experienced fleet operators (commercial buyers), with the goal of identifying commercial best practices that could be effectively applied to government space acquisitions.
Seeking Safety treatment for male veterans with a substance use disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology.

Aims To determine whether substituting Seeking Safety (SS), a manualized therapy for comorbid substance use disorders (SUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for part of treatment-as-usual (TAU) improves substance use outcomes. Design Randomized controlled effectiveness trial. Settings Out-patient Veterans Administration Health Care System SUD clinic. Participants Ninety-eight male military Veterans with a SUD and co-occurring PTSD symptomatology. Measurements Drug and alcohol use and PTSD severity, measured on the first day of treatment, and 3 (i.e. the planned end of SS sessions) and 6 months following the baseline assessment. Treatment attendance and patient satisfaction were measured following treatment (3-month follow-up). Active coping was measured at treatment intake and following treatment. Findings SS compared to TAU was associated with better drug use outcomes (P < 0.05), but alcohol use and PTSD severity decreased equally under both treatments (P's < 0.01). SS versus TAU was associated with increased treatment attendance, client satisfaction and active coping (all P's < 0.01). However, neither these factors nor decreases in PTSD severity mediated the effect of treatment on drug use. Conclusions The manualized treatment approach for substance use disorder, Seeking Safety, is well received and associated with better drug use outcomes than ‘treatment as usual’ in male veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. However, the mechanism of its effect is unclear.
Integrated surface-micromachined mass flow controller

An integrated surface-micromachined mass flow controller (MFC) that consists of an electrostatically actuated microvalve and a thermal flow sensor is presented here. With a unique design and utilizing a multilayer Parylene process, the active microvalve and the flow sensor are integrated onto a single chip to perform closed-loop flow control. Sensitivity of the flow sensor is 55 PV/(/spl mu/L/min) for airflow and 12.2 pV/(nL/min) for water. The valve is actuated with a 10 kHz AC signal and an applied pressure of 21 kPa can be sealed with an actuation voltage of 200 V/sub peak/ (/spl plusmn/200 V). For flow control, both Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and actuation voltage adjustment are demonstrated. PWM shows better performance in terms of controllability and linearity.
An assessment of electronic banking initiatives in nigeria

The importance of internet banking in developing countries cannot be overemphasized as the cost of information and communication technologies are becoming cheaper while the problem of digital divide in these nations continue to be resolved. The Central banks of several developing nations have encouraged their financial institutions to incorporate electronic banking services to broaden their delivery systems and to remain competitive. While some banks in Nigeria provide online banking products and services, there is lack of research on the specifics. However, it is only by providing strategic products and services can a bank remain competitive. In this paper, we survey some banks in Nigeria to identify the different products and services that they provide. We discuss the implications of our findings and suggest appropriate strategies that will enable banks provide competitive products and services.
Elimination of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis in intestinal epithelial cells by mechanisms other than nitric oxide

Production of nitric oxide (NO) by intestinal epithelial cells is induced after infection with Salmonella spp. or some other enteroinvasive bacteria. However, direct evidence of the role of NO in the elimination of intracellular pathogens in intestinal mucosa has not been established. This study investigated whether NO mediates killing of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis in human intestinal epithelial cells by using parent Henle-407 cell line and a transfected cell line not capable of induced NO production (Henle-NOdef). NO synthesis was studied as combined accumulation of nitrite and nitrate, as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein determined by Western blotting and as iNOS mRNA detected by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. Although parent and Henle-NOdef cells differed markedly in their ability to produce NO after infection, they eliminated S. Enteritidis equally, as determined by cfu counts. The presence of aminoguanidine, a selective iNOS inhibitor, during the infection blocked the production of NO but did not affect the elimination of the bacteria. These data suggest that NO does not have a direct role in the elimination of intracellular Salmonellae by human intestinal epithelial cells.
A Critique of Popular Political Economies of Knowledge in Cyberspace

The general social science issue addressed by this article is whether social formations change very much as they take on the characteristics popularly associated with “cyberspace”—that is, as their reproduction is heavily mediated by automated information and communication technologies (AICTs). It also inquires as to the extent to which the changes associated with cyberspace are a consequences of changes in knowledge. The article begins with an extended critique of influential scholarly ideas about the relationship between AICTs, knowledge and social formation reproduction, demonstrating how they all share a capital theory of value masquerading as a knowledge theory of value. An alternative, “real” knowledge theory of value is developed an argued for in relation to potential changes in reproduction dynamics that can be connected to AICTs. Finally, the alternative is evaluated in relation to the author’s current research, on advocacy for and development of Free/Libre and Open Source Software, in the Malay World and more generally. The ultimate aim of the theory developed is to help make studies of AICTs’ cultural correlates more comparative.
Interactions between Vitamin A Deficiency and Plasmodium berghei Infection in the Rat

It has been claimed that vitamin A deficiency increases the severity of malarial infection in rats. We measured parasitemia, mortality, serum retinol, liver retinol, spleen weight, and degree of xerophthalmia in vitamin A-deficient rats (A-), pair-fed control rats (A+PF), and ad libitum-fed control rats (A+AL) infected with Plasmodium berghei, a rodent malarial parasite. In experiments 1 and 2 vitamin A deprivation began at weaning. Parasitemia and mortality among mildly deficient (expt. 1, mean serum retinol 19 micrograms/dl) or acutely deficient rats (expt. 2, mean serum retinol less than 5 micrograms/dl) infected with P. berghei were not significantly different from those of infected A+AL or A+PF rats. Furthermore, when the mildly deficient rats were given a second, larger dose of P. berghei, all demonstrated complete immunity to the parasite. However, when vitamin A was withdrawn midway through pregnancy (expt. 3), the A- rats experienced significantly higher parasitemia and mortality during infection with P. berghei. Malaria caused a significant decrease in the serum retinol but not liver retinol of the A+PF and A+AL rats. Among the acutely deficient rats, xerophthalmia was significantly more prevalent and more severe among those infected with malaria than among those not infected with malaria. Malaria and vitamin A deficiency acted synergistically to increase spleen weight, and this interaction was highly significant. In these experiments, vitamin A deficiency decreased the rats' ability to recover from malaria, but only when the deficiency began early in life, was very severe, and the rats were young when infected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A corrected optical system for wide angle Čerenkov light

Abstract A catadioptric system for the focusing of wide-angle Cerenkov light is described. Both geometrical and chromatic aberrations are corrected substantially by a combination of a plano-convex lens and a spherical mirror. In this special case the two radii of curvature are identical and the spherical surfaces are in optical contact.
The pathophysiology of reactive oxygen intermediates in the central nervous system

Current evidence for the participation of free radicals in diseases of the central nervous system is reviewed. We conclude that the pathogenesis is based on a uniform mechanism: free radicals preferentially attack myelin, which contains easily peroxidizable phospholipids. The basal ganglia seem to be a brain area that is especially susceptible to radical damage which is possibly related to the synthesis of neurotransmitters. The clinical picture of the resulting cell death is dominated by convulsions and retardation in childhood and by psychomotoric disability and dementia in adulthood.
How information systems communicate as documents: the concept of authorial voice

Purpose – This study aims to examine how systems for organizing information may present an authorial voice and shows how the mechanism of voice may work to persuasively communicate a point of view on the materials being collected and described by the information system.Design/methodology/approach – The paper synthesizes a conceptual framework from the field of rhetoric and composition and uses that framework to analyze how existing organizational schemes reveal authorial voice.Findings – Through textual analysis, the mechanism of authorial voice is described in three example information systems. In two of the examples, authorial voice is shown to function as a persuasive element by enabling identification, the rhetorical construct defined by the literary critic Kenneth Burke. In one example, voice appears inconsistently and does not work to facilitate persuasion.Research limitations/implications – This study illustrates the concept of authorial voice in the context of information systems, but it does not ...
Data visualization in the Soil Conservation Service

Abstract Since its inception, the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) has been responsible for leadership in the conservation, development and productive use of the Nation's soil, water, and related resources. To provide this leadership, it has been necessary to develop robust computer applications for natural resource-management activities. These applications have primarily been text based. The agency is slowly moving toward graphical based systems to depict natural resources visually. This paper discusses both the present situation and the future needs of data visualization in SCS.
Trade liberalization, credibility and self-fulfilling failures

Abstract This paper addresses the question of whether there may be a self-fulfilling aspect to the failure of liberalization attempts when it is widely known the government will abandon the reform if the central bank suffers an unacceptably large loss in reserves. I derive the conditions for both sustained reform and a self-fulfilling failure to be equilibrium outcomes. Under certain well defined conditions, liberalization is most likely to succeed when the capital account is open.
Electrical-Impulse-Induced Fracture of Zinc Oxide Varistor Ceramics

When varistors are subject to very short (˜1 μ s), high-current pulses, they occasionally fracture. We attribute the occurrence of fracture to stress waves, created by inertial forces in response to the rapid Joule heating, causing the propagation of preexisting microstructural flaws. The amplitude of the stress oscillation is shown to be proportional to the second derivative of temperature with respect to time which, in turn, is directly related to the rate of increase of power. An upper limit for the magnitude of the peak stress is derived in terms of material parameters, varistor geometry, and the maximum electrical power. From the magnitude of the peak stress, a critical defect size is estimated which will cause fracture under given pulse conditions. Conclusions for the design and testing of varistors are drawn.
Does sex make a difference in the prescription of treatments and the adaptation to chronic pain by cancer and non-cancer patients?

Abstract The literature suggests that the sex of patients is an important factor in understanding how they are treated by health care professionals and how they adapt to their symptoms. In two groups of patients with chronic pain ( n =428 non-cancer (Study 1) and n =143 cancer-related (Study 2)), men and women were compared on medications prescribed, treatment history, and coping and adaptation. In Study 1 with the non-cancer pain patients, there were no significant differences between the sexes in past treatments, current analgesic use, pain, or disability. Women were significantly more depressed and were more likely to receive antidepressants than men. Subgrouping patients on the basis of pain-adaptation responses yielded groups with distinct psychosocial and behavioral characteristics. In Study 2 with the cancer pain patients, men and women did not show significant differences on any variables. Consistent with the results of Study 1, however, psychological subgroups differed significantly in pain severity, mood and disability regardless of sex. The results of both studies suggest that the role of patients’ sex in chronic pain may be less important than their psychosocial and behavioral responses. Thus, it appears that knowing the psychological characteristics of patients may be more important than their sex.
Hollywood Border Cinema: Westerns with a Vengeance

Abstract A recent slate of films marks a return of the Western to the borderlands to examine fears about open borders and intimacies with Mexico and Mexicans. These films express “American” anxieties about the integration of the hemisphere through political intervention, economic globalization, and the transnational migration of people and goods.
Prevalence and clinical consequences of fracture and fragment migration of the Bard G2 filter: imaging and clinical follow-up in 684 implantations.

Abstract Purpose To investigate the prevalence and clinical sequelae of G2 filter (Bard Peripheral Vascular, Tempe, Arizona) fractures and fragment migration. Materials and Methods Patients who underwent G2 filter placement between October 2005 and February 2010 were assessed for filter fractures and complications. Fracture prevalence was estimated at various time points based on data from patients with known fracture status. Results Among 829 patients who underwent G2 filter placement, 684 had follow-up imaging and qualified for the study (381 men and 303 women; average age, 60.3 y; range, 15.8–95.2 y). For 541 (79%) patients, at least one image was available that contained the filter (imaging follow-up interval, 14.9 mo ± 20.0; range, 0–78.6 mo); images that did not include the filter but may have shown the migrated fracture fragment were available for 143 (21%) patients (follow-up interval, 11.2 mo ± 19.3; range, 0–83.4 mo). There were 16 fractured limbs identified in 13 patients (incidence, 1.9%; follow-up interval, 30.4 mo ± 18.7; range, 5.5–76.5 mo). Fracture fragments were identified in the pulmonary arteries (n = 4), right ventricle (n = 2), pericardium (n = 1), iliac vein (n = 1), and kidney (n = 1). Four fracture limbs remained near the filter; the remaining three could not be located. All patients with filter fracture were asymptomatic. The estimated 5-year fracture prevalence was 38% (95% confidence interval, 22.9%, 54.8%). Conclusions The early occurrence of G2 filter fractures was low, but the incidence increased over time. No life-threatening events occurred in patients with filter fracture during the study time frame.
Binary inclusion model for the overall elasticity of imperfectly bonded composites

A micromechanical approach is developed to estimate the overall elastic moduli of composite materials with imperfectly bonded spherical fillers. The randomly dispersed particles are assumed to satisfy linear interfacial conditions where both tangential and normal interface displacement discontinuities are linearly related to the respective surface tractions. Using the generalized version of Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method proposed by Furuhashi et al. [6] the analysis of the heterogeneous medium reduces to the study of a corresponding homogeneous medium containing spherical inclusions with a proper distribution of eigenstrain and Somigliana dislocation fields. Based on the estimated pair-wise average of strain fields in two interacting imperfect fillers embedded in the homogeneous infinite matrix, the ensemble phase volume average of field quantities has been evaluated within a representative volume element containing a finite number of imperfect particles. For the case of a constant radial distribution function, results are in reasonable agreement with those based on the generalized self-consistent method and composite sphere assemblage proposed by Hashin [11].
Thermal convection in magmas generated by hot-plate heating

A condition is derived here for the onset of thermal convection in a layer of silicate partial melt that is generated by suddenly and continuously supplying an anomalous heat flux or by maintaining an anomalous high temperature on a plane at some depth within the Earth so that the overlying material is heated to greater-than-solidus temperatures. The results show that for highly fluid basaltic magmas convection may begin in a layer only 10-m thick, whereas for viscous rhyolitic magmas, at least a 10-km thick layer is required. The fact that thermal convection may occur within such a thin layer of basaltic partial melt may partially explain the homogeneity of large volumes of flood basalts that occur. Since convection within rhyolitic partial melts is unlikely, homogeneous rhyolites must be the result of mixing in magma chambers.
A Dual-Component View of Propositional Grasping

On a traditional or default view of the grasping or understanding of a singular proposition by an individual, it is assumed to be a unitary or holistic activity. However, naturalistic views of cognition plausibly could analyze propositional thinking in terms of more than one distinctive functional stage of cognitive processing, suggesting at least the potential legitimacy of a non-unitary analysis of propositional grasping. We outline a novel dual-component view of this kind, and show that it is well supported by current cognitive science research.
A Routine High-Pressure Viscometer for Accurate Measurements to 1 GPa

Of the fields for which the piezoviscous property of liquids is of interest, elastohydrodynamics is unique in deriving its existence from this property. Even recent publications in the field, however, have based the description of the pressure variation of viscosity on myths rather than empirical data. The author offers a description of the construction and operation of an easy-to-use viscometer capable of accurate measurements to a pressure of 1 GPa. The classic measurements of Nobel laureate P. W. Bridgman are repeated and examples of measurements on lubricants are given.
Perceptions versus performance when managing extensions: new evidence about the role of fit between a parent brand and an extension

The extant literature contends that a new product extension’s success is an increasing function of the parent brand’s quality and the degree of fit between the parent brand and extension. We develop theory to explore relationships between parent quality, image fit and functional fit. Each of these components should trigger positive pre-purchase associations from the parent. However, at the point of sale, high levels of functional fit are expected to increase the probability of substitution between parent and extension. To test this and related assertions, we augment UPC scanner data with perceptual measures for 42 matched parent–extension pairs. Findings confirm that high parent quality negatively impacts an extension’s sales when functional fit is high. Equally telling, low parent quality can actually increase an extension’s sales in some cases. We use our fitted model to present counter-factual experiments to show the magnitude of these increases or decreases under combinations of our key variables and extension type, line or brand. The combinations we explore occur frequently in-market.
Chronic bronchitis: prevalence, smoking habits, impact, and antismoking advice

Although the prevalence of chronic bronchitis has been measured in several populations, its impact on quality of life has not been assessed. We report the prevalence and impact of chronic bronchitis (defined as having phlegm on most days for at least 3 months during the previous year) among 4,708 adults ages 20 to 69 representative of the nonaged U.S. population. Men reported chronic bronchitis more frequently than women (12 vs 8%); smokers, regardless of age and sex, reported chronic bronchitis more frequently than former or never smokers. Among both men and women 35 years of age or older, current smokers--as opposed to ex- or never smokers--with chronic bronchitis had the poorest forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1). The most commonly reported impact of chronic bronchitis was worry, followed by pain and restricted activity days, regardless of age, sex, or smoking habits. Of those current and ex-smokers who had seen a physician about their chronic bronchitis, 65% of men and 44% of women had decreased or stopped smoking. Among those current and ex-smokers with chronic bronchitis who did not consult a physician, the proportion of those who had decreased or stopped smoking was 29% for men and 37% for women. Finally, only 43% of male current smokers and 55% of female current smokers who had chronic bronchitis reported that a physician had advised them to decrease or stop smoking.
Porphyromonas gingivalis Trypsin-Like Protease: A Possible Natural Ligand for the Neutrophil Formyl Peptide Receptor

Abstract Porphyromonous gingivalis is a periodontopathic Gram-negative anaerobe associated with chronic adult periodontitis. P. gingivalis proteases are considered important virulence factors in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. In addition, defective bactericidal activity of neutrophils has also been observed in periodontitis. In this report we describe the effects of trypsin-like protease(s) secreted from P. gingivalis cells on the ligand binding of FMLP receptor on neutrophils. It was observed that trypsin-like protease(s) from P. gingivalis stimulate neutrophils by means of superoxide anion production. Subsequently, the proteases were found to cleave the FMLP receptor protein as evident by direct labeling of the FMLP receptor molecule. These results suggest that typsin-like protease(s) secreted from P. gingivalis cells contribute to attenuate the bactericidal activity of neutrophils by cleaving the polypeptide chain of the FMLP receptor molecule. The finding that neutrophils after the incubation with P. gingivalis released protease preparation fail to respond to further stimulation by FMLP suggests that P. gingivalis trypsin-like protease(s) may be a possible ligand for the FMLP receptor.
Novel method for structured light system calibration

System calibration, which usually involves complicated and time-consuming procedures, is crucial for any 3-D shape measurement system. In this work, a novel systematic method is proposed for accurate and quick calibration of a 3-D shape measurement system we developed based on a structured light technique. The key concept is to enable the projector to "capture" images like a camera, thus making the calibration of a projector the same as that of a camera. With this new concept, the calibration of structured light systems becomes essentially the same as the calibration of traditional stereovision systems, which is well estab- lished. The calibration method is fast, robust, and accurate. It signifi- cantly simplifies the calibration and recalibration procedures of struc- tured light systems. This work describes the principle of the proposed method and presents some experimental results that demonstrate its performance. © 2006 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.
A numerical simulation of the solidification process of a binary mixture in a V-shaped enclosure

Abstract A numerical study of the solidification process for a eutectic forming aluminum-copper alloy in a V-shaped sump has been conducted. This geometry was chosen to simulate the limiting cases of sump angle (8° and 16°) for the physical domain of molten metal in the direct chill (DC) continuous casting process. The effects of melt convection and solid movement are also discussed as contributing factors to the segregation patterns. The results of the study showed the angle of the enclosure greatly affected negative segregation bands in the mushy region. Furthermore, the original negatively-segregated mushy zone gradually developed into a positively-segregated region throughout the solid area.
Application of supramolecular nanostamping to the replication of DNA nanoarrays

The rapid development of molecular biology is creating a pressing need for arrays of biomolecules that are able to detect smaller and smaller volumes of analytes. This goal can be achieved by shrinking the average size and spacing of the arrays' constituent features. While bioarrays with dot size and spacing on the nanometer scale have been successfully fabricated via scanning probe microscopy-based techniques, such fabrication methods are serial in nature and consequently slow and expensive. Additionally, the development of truly small arrays able to analyze scarce volumes of liquids is hindered by the present use of optical detection, which sets the minimum dot spacing on the order of roughly half the excitation wavelength. Here, we show that supramolecular nanostamping, a recently introduced truly parallel method for the stamping of DNA features, can efficiently reproduce DNA arrays with features as small as 14 ± 2 nm spaced 77 ± 10 nm. Moreover, we demonstrate that hybridization of these nanoarrays ca...
Myrton’s Organ Imagining the Meanings of Music and Ultimate Reality

As Head Man of the Rich Square Friends’ Meeting during the 1920s and 1930s, the author’s grandfather Myrton Lewis Johnson was at the center of a heated controversy concerning music, and whether the performance of music was consistent with Quaker beliefs. At the center of this controversy were competing ideas about how to experience “ultimate reality,” whether called God, the divine light, the inward light, the seed of truth, or the Christ within. This controversy raises important issues about the experience and meaning of music.
Independent Vector Analysis: Identification Conditions and Performance Bounds

Recently, an extension of independent component analysis (ICA) from one to multiple datasets, termed independent vector analysis (IVA), has been a subject of significant research interest. IVA has also been shown to be a generalization of Hotelling's canonical correlation analysis. In this paper, we provide the identification conditions for a general IVA formulation, which accounts for linear, nonlinear, and sample-to-sample dependencies. The identification conditions are a generalization of previous results for ICA and for IVA when samples are independently and identically distributed. Furthermore, a principal aim of IVA is identification of dependent sources between datasets. Thus, we provide additional conditions for when the arbitrary ordering of the estimated sources can be common across datasets. Performance bounds in terms of the Cramer-Rao lower bound are also provided for demixing matrices and interference to source ratio. The performance of two IVA algorithms are compared to the theoretical bounds.
Lymphocytes and red blood cells as carriers in the immune response of mice and guinea pigs to soluble antigen

Abstract Coupling of soluble antigen, such as RIg, to circulating lymphoid cells or red blood cells increased immunogenicity substantially. As little as 0.01 μg RIg per 10 7 syngeneic cells elicited an antibody response in C57B1/6J strain mice equal to 1300 μg of soluble RIg. About 20 times the amount of soluble RIg induced far less a cellular immune response in guinea pigs than RIg coupled to autologous peripheral blood cells. These cells apparently play a passive role in being able to deliver bound antigen to lymphoid tissues efficiently, thus increasing the probability of interaction between host helper T cells and antigen. This conclusion is based on the following observations: (1) red blood cells, which are not immunologically responder cells, are about as efficient as lymphoid cells; (2) lymphoid cells are not effective as carriers in mice rendered deficient in antigen-specific helper T cells: (3) the antigen coupled to cells must have carrier specificity for host helper T cells.
New ASIC architecture development for energy harvesting

This paper presents the design of an ultra-low power energy scavenging system capable of collecting and managing energy from ambient vibrations and RF electromagnetic waves. Firstly, low power and broadband equiangular spiral antenna which is able to receive and rectify ambient RF radiation is designed and simulated. The energy transducers, commercial piezoelectric generators with a wide frequency range of 26 – 205Hz and the designed spiral antenna are evaluated and characterized to maximize the efficiency. Secondly, the power electronic circuits involved in the energy harvesting are designed in 0.6um CMOS technology and the simulation results are presented. Charge pumps, rectifier and Low drop-out regulator (LDO) were optimized to operate with low voltage ranges since the energy produced by the piezoelectric generator and the equiangular spiral antenna is found to be in microwatts and less from the test results. The AC output from the piezoelectric generator is rectified and boosted to required output level using an AC-DC charge pump. Rectifier and DC-DC charge pump are adopted for the efficient conversion of voltage from the broadband antenna. A back-up battery is provided for the start-up of DC-DC charge pump at low input conditions. An LDO with a drop-out voltage of less than 400mV is designed to provide regulated output of 4.1V to the battery. Finally, the collected energy is stored in a 50uAh capacity thin film battery which is intended for low-voltage and low-power applications.
Bacterial and fungal infections complicating parenteral alimentation in infants and children.

Abstract Fifteen patients supported by a technique of parenteral alimentation all demonstrated improved nutrition and weight gain. The value of the technique was limited, however, because of its associated high risk of bacterial and, especially, fungal infections.
The discussion examination: Making assessment match instructional strategy

This article focuses on a personal classroom experience that led to the development of a discussion examination as a strategy for making assessment match classroom practice in a class for secondary verbally gifted students. The literature read in the courses and the levels of thought emphasized in class discussion inspired the author to use an assessment format that more closely mirrored what went on in the classroom experience. An example of the grid used to assess the process as well as a point system for evaluation are provided. Encouragement for the process and cautions for precision in using it are included.
Efficiently counting program events with support for on-line queries

The ability to count events in a program's execution is required by many program analysis applications. We represent an instrumentation method for efficiently counting events in a program's execution, with support for on-line queries of the event count. Event counting differs from basic block profiling in that an aggregate count of events is kept rather than a set of counters. Due to this difference, solutions to basic block profiling are not well suited to event counting. Our algorithm finds a subset of points in a program to instrument, while guaranteeing that accurate event counts can be obtained efficiently at every point in the execution.
Analytical study of the phosphorescence of pyrimidine derivatives in frozen aqueous solution.

Abstract Phosphorescence excitation and emission spectra, phosphorescence lifetimes, phosphorimetric analytical curves and limits of detection were determined at 77K in 10/90 v/v methanol/water solution for seven pyrimidine derivatives. The effect of pH on the phosphorescence intensity indicated an improvement of the sensitivity of the method in basic medium (pH⋍11). Low limits of detection, between 10 −5 and 10 −8 M , were obtained. The effect of sodium iodide on the phosphorescence efficiency led to heavy-atom enhancement factors ranging from 1·1 to 9·6, depending on the molecular structure and the pH conditions.
Dependence of stimulated Brillouin scattering on focusing optic F number in long scale‐length plasmas

The onset of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) has been examined by varying the effective F number (lens focal length/incident beam diameter) of the optical system used to irradiate a performed 1 mm long, longitudinally uniform hydrocarbon (CH) plasma. SBS onset occurs at higher average laser intensity for smaller F, in qualitative agreement with theory. Quantitative comparison between theory and experiment, and implications for the National Ignition Facility [Phys. Plasmas 2, 2480 (1995)] are discussed.
Clinical evaluation of two bitewing instruments.

Abstract A total of 2,091 bitewing radiographs were made by 158 dental students, and each radiograph was evaluated individually. While the frequency of errors was comparable when regular bitewing films (35.5 per cent) and the Rinn instrument (38.4 per cent) were used, the Precision instrument showed the highest frequency of errors (47.8 per cent).
A placebo-controlled trial of valproate in tardive dyskinesia.

Carroll BJ (1979): Prediction of treatment outcome with lithium. Arch Gen Psychiatry 36:870. Evrard JL, Banman P, Peru R, et al (1978): Lithium concentration in saliva, plasma and RBC of patients given lithium acetate. Acta Psychiatr Scand 58:67. Mendels J, Frazer A (1974): Alteration in cell membrane activity in depression. Am J Psychiatry 131:1240. Mendels J, Frazer A (1973): Intracellular lithium concentration and clinical response: Towards a membrane theory of depression. J Psychiatr Res 10:9. Naylor GJ, McNamee liB, Moody JP (1971): Changes in erythroeytic sodium and potassium on recovery from a depressive illness. Br J Psychiatry 118:212. Naylor G J, Dick DAT, Dick EG (1976): Erythroeytic membrane cation carrier relapse rate of manic depressive illness and response to lithium. Psychol Med 6:257.
A quantitative ultrastructural study of flight muscle in Musca domestica with experimentally lengthened lifespans.

Abstract Houseflies bred from egg through larval and pupal stages at 25°C were reared at 18°C after emergence to experimentally extend their maximum lifespan. The fine structure of flight muscles from these houseflies at 68 days (0–18° flies) was compared to that of houseflies of the same age but reared at 25°C throughout (0–25° flies) and to that of 37-day-old adult flies. Myofibrillar structure was preserved in all three sets of flies. Morphometric study revealed that the total fiber volume and fractional values of a number of parameters were similar in the three sets of flies. The fractional mitochondrial volume in 0–18° and 0–25° flies were similar (31%), less than the value for the adult flies (34%). The striking finding was that the volume of the mitochondrial cristal array decreased only by 24% in the 0–18° flies, compared to the 55% decrease seen in the 0–25° flies. The greater preservation of cristal array in the muscle of 0–18° flies strengthens the idea that the cristae are important to senescene in the organism and suggests a mechanism by which lowered ambient temperature may prolong lifespan in this poikilotherm.
Search for promoters for the GARP and rRNA genes of Trypanosoma congolense

A search was conducted for transcriptional promoters in Trypanosoma congolense. A promoter test plasmid was constructed utilising the luciferase coding region flanked by the intergenic regions of a T. congolense gene encoding GARP, the glutamic acid and alanine rich protein on the surface of procyclic organisms. Using this plasmid, sequences located upstream of an 18S rRNA gene were tested in transient transfection assays for their ability to promote luciferase expression. A rRNA promoter fragment of 377 bp was identified that increases luciferase activity by as much as 35,000-fold above background levels. The rRNA transcription initiation site is located 961 bp upstream of the 18S rRNA gene and immediately downstream of 6 bp imperfect repeats. The plasmid was also used to examine sequences upstream of a GARP gene cluster in two different T. congolense strains for promoter activity. In contrast to the findings of another group, we were unable to detect promoter activity upstream of these GARP genes in either strain. We conclude that the GARP gene promoter, if it exists, has less than 0.03% (1/3000) of the activity of the rRNA promoter in this luciferase-based assay.
Interactions among performance, task, and gender variables in verbal discrimination learning

High school students in four classes were given verbal materials of varying levels of organization in a verbal discrimination experiment. They performed (selected one of four words in each set) on half of the items and were given answers (informed) on the other half. As in two similar recent experiments, correct performed items were acquired more rapidly than correct informed items, but there was no interaction between level of task difficulty and performance. Analysis of incorrectly recalled words yielded some interesting interactions, notably the greater incorrect recall of performed responses by male students.
Production System Optimization for Natural Flowing Water Drive Wells

This paper presents the results of a computer study which leads to the optimum design of a production system for flowing wells subjected to a natural water drive. The results presented consist of a series of graphs which are derived from an analysis of the inflow performance relationships, vertical lift performance, choke performance, horizontal flow performance, and the thermodynamic conditions of the surface conditioning equipment such as separator and flow lines. The Hagedorn and Brown correlations and the Beggs and Brill correlations are utilized to determine pressure drop for vertical lift and horizontal flow performance for multiphase flow. Using these correlations and assuming a flow rate and starting from the separator, pressure losses are calculated along the flowline to the wellhead, across the choke, and down the tubing to the tubing intake. Output from the analysis results in an optimized system design which maximizes production for a set of reservoir conditions and surface constraints. An example well problem is presented which demonstrates the applicability and versatility of the computer analysis. An analysis is also presented to assess the sensitivity of various parameters upon well performance. Such parameters as flowline size, separator temperature and pressure, choke size, tubing size, water oilmore » ratio, gas oil ratio, productivity index, oil gravity and fluid slippage are considered in the sensitivity analysis.« less