cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
X-ray induced mutation in the mosquito, Culex fatigans.

Abstract X-ray treatment of Culex fatigans males with 2820 r produced variation recoverable in the F3 progeny of these treated males. Many variants could not be established in stocks and are arbitrarily designated as “nongenetic”; they are herein described. Seven variants have been established in laboratory stocks: Four-jointed. An autosomal recessive which adds a fourth joint to the maxillary palpus. Scale row. An autosomal recessive whose principal effect is the addition of an extra row of scales between veins r1 and r2. Cubital scales. An autosomal recessive which adds an extra patch of scales in the cubital area. Closed R2 cell. Probably sex-linked, of irregular behavior. Causes fusion of veins r2 and r3 before the wing margin. Clubbed palpi. Two mutants, one of which affects both palpi, the other of which affects only one. Not definitely distinct; of irregular genetic behavior. Spotted wings. Probably an irregular dominant which adds a dark spot of about 30 long scales in the area of the 3–4 cross vein. A mutation rate of 9% (probably minimal) and the frequent appearance of parallel mutations pose problems of theoretical interest in the study of mutation, and suggest that mosquitoes may be valuable tools for these studies.
Distributed mechanisms for enabling virtual sensors in service oriented intelligent environments

Sensor fusion and virtual sensors have been extensively used in applications requiring the use of high-level abstract information derived from multiple sensory inputs, ranging from defence systems to intelligent environments. In this paper, we present distributed mechanisms for enabling virtual sensors in intelligent environments using service oriented sensor networks (SOSNs). A SOSN brings the concept of service-oriented architecture (SOA) into the sensor network domain, where each sensor is represented as a software service. A SOSN enhances the programmability of sensor networks by decoupling sensor deployment from application development and allows applications to dynamically discover, access and compose sensor services. In our previous work, we had proposed a framework model running inside the service layer of a SOSN for querying virtual data and on-demand creation of virtual sensors. However, the service layer of a SOSN is centralized and this leads to scalability and latency issues in large scale deployments. In this paper, we address the issues of scalability and latency and propose distributed algorithms for in-network creation and execution of virtual sensors. We also present mechanisms for monitoring data quality and provide fault tolerance techniques utilizing sensor-based approximation for coping with the loss of multiple physical sensors. These algorithms not only allow us to reap the benefits of SOSNs but also prevent potential scalability and latency issues. We also show through simulation experiments that our mechanisms require minimal involvement of the service layer and result in significantly lower latency and energy consumption as compared to the centralized stream-based approach.
Electrically Tunable Mode-Locked Lasers Based on Time-to-Wavelength Mapping for Optical Communications

The tunable mode-locked laser based on time-to-wavelength mapping is a relatively unexplored alternative to tunable sources that can be applied to transmission and wavelength switching in optical networks. These lasers have the advantages of a simple tuning mechanism, good wavelength reproducibility, and simple cavity design. The state of research is discussed.
Operant discrimination of interoceptive urinary bladder stimulation in the monkey.

Abstract The interoceptive stimulus of fluid in the urinary bladder of a female rhesus monkey was manipulated so as to function as a discriminative stimulus, such that lever-presses emitted in the absence of the stimulus (SD) were reinforced on FR 24, and those emitted in the presence of the stimulus (SΔ) were extinguished. Successful discrimination was achieved. Results were in agreement with those of previous research, in which stimulus onset was quickly discriminated but stimulus offset was not. Implications of visceral stimulus functions for basic psychophysiology and practical applications for the study and modification of behavior were considered.
Maintaining Complex Relations with Large Cats: Maasai and Lions in Kenya and Tanzania

Research and conservation efforts often occur in areas outside of national parks where people live, often side-by-side and sometimes in conflict with large carnivores. In Tanzania and Kenya much of this work employs a human–wildlife conflict perspective and is based in Maasai areas, where many of the few remaining lions exist. We argue that while Maasai do come into conflict with lions, their relationship with the large cats is far more complex and includes positive dimensions. With quantitative and qualitative data, including Maasai narratives, we illustrate the nuanced ways in which Maasai relate with lions. Our aim is to highlight the complexity of Maasai perceptions of lions and the importance of understanding these complexities for improved lion conservation. The article contributes to a broader research agenda on human–wildlife interactions, the importance of perceptions, and the value of ethnographic research in conservation science.
Economic Innovation, Systemic Leadership, and Military Preparations for War: The U.S. Case

Focusing on an initial and potentially expandable four-variable model combining leading sector innovation, leading sector concentration, naval capability concentration, and military preparation for warfare, a vector autoregression analysis of U.S. data for the 1801-1992 period reveals a substantial degree of interrelationship. The two leading sector variables “Granger cause” the two military-political variables (naval capability concentration and military preparation for warfare). Eight of nine other anticipated relationships linking specific variables are obtained, as are two unanticipated relationships linking naval concentration negatively to the leading sector variables. A very tight, coevolutionary pattern is found to characterize the economic growth-systemic leadership-military mobilization experience of the United States, thereby underlining the constraints of structural change.
Impact of Ambient Temperatures and Driving Conditions on the Chemical Composition of Particulate Matter Emissions from Non-Smoking Gasoline-Powered Motor Vehicles

The detailed chemical composition of particulate matter emissions from four non-smoking gasoline powered motor vehicles were measured using three different driving conditions: a cold-cold start Unified Driving Cycle (UDC), a hot UDC, and a steady state cruise driving cycle. The cold-cold start UDC tests were performed with a cold-cold start temperature of 0°C, which is significantly lower than the 24°C cold start temperature widely used for motor vehicle testing. Each vehicle was operated over three cold-cold UDC cycles, three hot UDC cycles, and a steady state driving cycle comprised of 2 hours at 100 kilometers per hour (kph) plus 1 hour at 50 kph. Particulate matter emissions were characterized for elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), sulfate ions, nitrate ions, ammonium ions, and organic compounds using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS). Mass emissions rates for the test vehicles using both the hot UDC and steady state driving cycles ranged from < 0.1 to 1.3 mg km −1 , while the avera...
Application of transmission electron microscopy to human tumor diagnosis: an historical perspective.

(1987). Application of Transmission Electron Microscopy to Human Tumor Diagnosis: An Historical Perspective. Cancer Investigation: Vol. 5, No. 5, pp. 487-505.
Review: Kaunisto (2007) Variation and Change in the Lexicon: A Corpus-based Analysis of Adjectives in English Ending in –ic and –ical. New York: Rodopi

Mark Kaunisto’s book is a recent addition to Rodopi’s Language and Computers series, which focusses on research grounded in theory and practical application. In common with many other volumes in the series, this book presents a corpus-based study of the variation of one particular linguistic feature: English adjectives ending in –ic and –ical. This book illustrates, broadly, how corpora can be used to provide a diachronic examination of word-formation processes that produce lexical competition. More narrowly, the book offers a detailed examination of eight pairs of words with the competing suffixes –ic and –ical in British English. The introductory chapter positions the current study within the field of corpus-based studies on word formation and lexicology, demonstrating the need for research that moves beyond the study of word-formational processes that result in morphological rivalry and towards those that address the corresponding lexical rivalry. According to Kaunisto, studies of the latter type have, until recently, been difficult to undertake due to the lack of historical corpora that are representative in their size and scope, as well as the overwhelming abundance of lexemes with such affixes in contemporary English language corpora. Kaunisto offers an interesting discussion of the origin of the two competing suffixes under examination, raising the question of why, in some cases, lexical rivalry leads to semantic differentiation, while in others it leads to a purging of one variant from the language entirely. He concludes the chapter with an overview of the book. Chapter 2 provides a description of the materials used in this study. The thirty-five million word corpus used as the primary source of contemporary data contains newspaper texts from 1995 which are taken from The Daily Telegraph/The Sunday Telegraph (TDT/TST). Secondary corpora that were consulted include the British National Corpus (BNC), Collins WordbanksOnline corpus and issues from previous years of the
Topological models of epistemic set theory

Epistemic theories can be used as alternative formalizations of classical mathematics in which its constructive component can be given explicit expression. By epistemic set theory we mean set theory with classical S4 as its underlying logic and with a weakened form of extensionality, so that two sets are taken to be the same iff it is necessarily the case that they have exactly the same elements. The purpose of the present paper is to show how to construct topological models for epistemic set theory very much as has become standard for intuitionistic higher-order theories
Identification of Residues in the Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Fusion Protein That Modulate Fusion Activity and Pathogenesis

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection can result in inflammation and mucus plugging of airways. RSV strain A2-line19F induces relatively high viral load and mucus in mice. The line 19 fusion (F) protein harbors five unique residues compared to the non-mucus-inducing strains A2 and Long, at positions 79, 191, 357, 371, and 557. We hypothesized that differential fusion activity is a determinant of pathogenesis. In a cell-cell fusion assay, line 19 F was more fusogenic than Long F. We changed the residues unique to line 19 F to the corresponding residues in Long F and identified residues 79 and 191 together as responsible for high fusion activity. Surprisingly, mutation of residues 357 or 357 with 371 resulted in gain of fusion activity. Thus, we generated RSV F mutants with a range of defined fusion activity and engineered these into recombinant viruses. We found a clear, positive correlation between fusion activity and early viral load in mice; however, we did not detect a correlation between viral loads and levels of airway mucin expression. The F mutant with the highest fusion activity, A2-line19F-K357T/Y371N, induced high viral loads, severe lung histopathology, and weight loss but did not induce high levels of airway mucin expression. We defined residues 79/191 as critical for line 19 F fusion activity and 357/371 as playing a role in A2-line19F mucus induction. Defining the molecular basis of the role of RSV F in pathogenesis may aid vaccine and therapeutic strategies aimed at this protein. IMPORTANCE Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important lower respiratory tract pathogen of infants for which there is no vaccine. Elucidating mechanisms of RSV pathogenesis is important for rational vaccine and drug design. We defined specific amino acids in the fusion (F) protein of RSV strain line 19 critical for fusion activity and elucidated a correlation between fusion activity and viral load in mice. Further, we identified two distinct amino acids in F as contributing to the mucogenic phenotype of the A2-line19F virus. Taken together, these results illustrate a role for RSV F in virulence.
3D DUMAS: Simultaneous Acquisition of Three-Dimensional Magic Angle Spinning Solid-State NMR Experiments of Proteins

Abstract Using the DUMAS (Dual acquisition Magic Angle Spinning) solid-state NMR approach, we created new pulse schemes that enable the simultaneous acquisition of three dimensional (3D) experiments on uniformly 13 C, 15 N labeled proteins. These new experiments exploit the simultaneous cross-polarization (SIM-CP) from 1 H to 13 C and 15 N to acquire two 3D experiments simultaneously. This is made possible by bidirectional polarization transfer between 13 C and 15 N and the long living 15 N z -polarization in solid state NMR. To demonstrate the power of this approach, four 3D pulse sequences (NCACX, CANCO, NCOCX, CON(CA)CX) are combined into two pulse sequences (3D DUMAS–NCACX–CANCO, 3D DUMAS–NCOCX–CON(CA)CX) that allow simultaneous acquisition of these experiments, reducing the experimental time by approximately half. Importantly, the 3D DUMAS–NCACX–CANCO experiment alone makes it possible to obtain the majority of the backbone sequential resonance assignments for microcrystalline U– 13 C, 15 N ubiquitin. The DUMAS approach is general and applicable to many 3D experiments, nearly doubling the performance of NMR spectrometers.
Role of counterion size and distribution on the electrostatic component to the persistence length of wormlike polyions

Applications of the Poisson-Boltzmann (P-B) equation to simple electrolytes and polyelectrolytes, and Manning's two-state theory for counterion condensation on rodlike polyions are reviewed. A modified Scatchard approach applied to generate binding isotherms for the association of univalent ions of finite size to a linear lattice of unite charges, where two equilibrium conditions are taken into consideration: the number of stacks (ns), and the fraction of bound sites (0). Calculations indicate a rapid change in free ion concentration occurs in the range 0.75 < 0 < 0.9 for site separation values (b) less than the Bjerrum length of 7.12 $A. The apparent observation that counterion condensation does not obey a 'mass-action' law may therefore be an 'experimental illusion'.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Nuclear expression of p53, p21 and cyclin D1 is increased in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.

Aims The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine, using immunohistochemistry, the level of expression of the cell cycle factors p53, p21 and cyclin D1 in a group of bronchioloalveolar carcinomas (BACs), and to compare these data to relevant published data for lung carcinoma; (2) to determine if higher expression rates for these factors in BAC were associated statistically with advanced clinical stage, greater tumour size, tobacco abuse, and/or BAC subtype; (3) to seek, using Fisher's exact t-test and paired data groups, any significant associations within the expression data for p53, p21 and cyclin D1. Methods and results A panel of monoclonal antibodies against p53, p21 and cyclin D1 was applied to 19 bronchioloalveolar carcinomas (17 surgical pathology cases and two autopsies) from the tissue archives of St. Louis University. These immunohistochemical stains were graded on a semiquantitative scale according to the prevalence of nuclear staining within the tumour (< 10% positive cells = 0, 10–25% = 1+, 25–50% = 2+, 50–75% = 3+ and 75–100% = 4+). Six of 19 (32%) of BACs showed 1+ or greater p53 positivity, six of 19 (32%) showed 1+ or greater nuclear cyclin D1 positivity, and nine of 19 (47%) of BACs showed 1+ or greater p21 nuclear positivity. A statistically significant correlation was found between p53 and cyclin D1 expression (P = 0.046, Fisher's exact t-test), but not between p53 and p21, or between p21 and cyclin D1. No statistically significant association was found between the cell cycle factor expression data and subtype of BAC (mucinous vs. nonmucinous), tumour diameter, clinical stage or tobacco-use history. Conclusions BACs show p53 immunostain positivity at a frequency similar to that published for p53 mutations in lung adenocarcinomas in general. Cyclin D1 and p21 nuclear expression characterizes a significant proportion of BACs, with cyclin D1 and p53 expression showing a statistically significant association. Aberrations in p53, p21, and cyclin D1 expression may be important in the development of a significant proportion of BACs.
Myelin mosaicism in female heterozygotes of the canine shaking pup and myelin-deficient rat mutants

Female heterozygotes of the shaking pup and myelin-deficient rat sex-linked recessive traits, show myelin mosaicism of the optic nerve and spinal cord. This is most marked in the optic nerve especially in the rat where mosaic patches persist with aging. In both the rat and dog, abnormal oligodendrocytes with distended rough endoplasmic reticulum are found in the abnormal patches and are a marker of the trait. Female heterozygote dogs can develop a marked tremor which disappears with age.
Anomalous melting properties of He3

Abstract Measurements on He3 from 0.3 to 1.2°K were made of: the melting pressure; the volume change on melting; and the molar volume, compressibility coefficient, and thermal expansion coefficient of the liquid at melting. Pressures were transmitted by a spring-loaded bellows, and temperatures were controlled by a liquid He3 bath. A minimum in the melting curve was observed at 28.91 atmos and 0.330°K. The thermal expansion coefficient of solid He3 was shown to be negative below a melting temperature of 1.0 to 1.2°K. Other anomalies in the PVT melting properties of liquid and solid He3 associated with the melting curve minimum are discussed.
Sorption of Xenon, Methane, and Organic Solvents by a Flexible Microporous Polymer Catena-Bis(Dibenzoylmethanato)-(4,4‘-bipyridyl)nickel(II)

The title polymeric complex, [Ni(bipy)(DBM)2] (bipy = 4,4‘-bipyridyl; DBM = PhCOCHCOPh-, dibenzoylmethanate), absorbs considerable quantities of gases and organic solvents. This material presents s...
Olfactory Comfort: Smelling a Partner's Clothing During Periods of Separation1

We demonstrate for the first time that most women, and some men, deliberately smell their partners’ clothing when they are apart. We asked undergraduate men and women who were, or who had ever been, in a committed heterosexual relationship if they had ever slept with an article of a partner’s clothing or deliberately smelled a partner’s clothing during periods of separation. Both men and women reported that smelling an absent partner’s clothing made them feel happy, comfortable, and secure. We suggest that olfactory comfort is a significant component of attachment and is likely to involve family members other than partners. It has been known for many years (e.g., Kraft-Ebing, 1931) that people sometimes deliberately smell their sexual partners’ clothing. Kraft-Ebing related that among the natives of the Philippine Islands y when it becomes necessary for an engaged pair to separate, they exchange articles of wearing apparel, by means of which each becomes assured of faithfulness. These objects are carefully preserved, covered with kisses, and smelled. (p. 32) The fact that Kraft-Ebing included this report in a book entitled Psychopathia sexualis, however, suggests that the behavior is not quite normal. Scattered reports in the popular media (e.g., Eisman, 2004) and anecdotes known to us suggested, instead, that the behavior may be widespread and quite normal. The paucity of such reports in the scientific literature reflects the relative neglect of olfaction as a social stimulus (cf. Levine & McBurney, 1986), whereas its importance is indicated by the fact that fragrance is a 1 The authors thank Carol Baker for statistical advice and Celia Brownell for helpful discussion. 2 Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Donald H. McBurney,
Chemical anomalies in a cold core Gulf Stream ring

Abstract Changes occuring in a cold core ring were examined using anomalies of salinity, oxygen, nitrate, phosphate and silicate as a function of σ θ for April and August 1977 stations. Sargasso Sea Water was used as the reference for the anomalies. All property anomalies diminished in intensity over the time interval, with stronger changes observed for the nonconservative properties than for salinity. The Slope Water core was readily identifiable by the property anomalies, but the outer region, originally Gulf Stream Water, lost most of its characteristic anomalies by August. Nitrate and phosphate showed similar anomaly distributions, but each of the other three properties showed different distributions within the ring.
On Hebbian-like adaptation in heart muscle: a proposal for ‘cardiac memory’

Studies on the effects of external pacing of heart suggest that the organ, like the nervous system, possesses the properties of ‘memory’ and adaptation. Changes induced in cardiac activation patterns persist long after the agent that induced those changes itself is removed. After the effects of stimulation have disappeared, response to the stimulus applied for a second time is much greater than the earlier response. Motivated by such results, this paper further explores the possibility of a ‘cardiac memory’. In particular, we point out that communication via gap junctions in cardiac tissue is similar to synaptic conductance in nervous tissue and demonstrate, with the aid of a mathematical model, that cardiac tissue can exhibit memory-like behavior if gap-junctional conductances are allowed to adapt according to a Hebbian-like mechanism.
Life History of Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya

Comparative data from wild populations are necessary to understand the evolution of primate life history strategies. We present demographic data from a 29-yr longitudinal study of 8 groups of individually recognized wild blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni). We provide estimates of life history variables and a life table for females. Most females had their first infant at 7 yr. The mean interbirth interval was 28 mo, and decreased from 31 to 18 mo if the first infant died within a year. Interbirth intervals did not differ according to infant sex, but females had longer intervals after their first vs. subsequent births. Infant mortality was 23% and did not differ strongly by sex or mother’s parity. Maximal female lifespan was 32.5–34.5 yr. Across the lifespan, both survivorship and fecundity showed typical primate patterns. Survivorship was lowest in infants, leveled off among juveniles, and then decreased gradually with increasing age in later life. Fecundity was highest among young females and decreased among older females. Births were seasonal, with 64% occurring within 3 mo at the end of the dry season and beginning of the wet season. Survival to 12 mo was higher for infants born during drier months. Birth season timing is plausibly related to thermoregulation of infants, weanling foods, or maternal energy demand. Blue monkeys are a forest-dependent species with a very slow life history and relatively low immature and adult mortality rates compared to closely related guenons living in open habitats. Even among cercopithecines as a whole, they appear to have an exceptionally slow life history relative to body size. Differences in life history “speed” between blue monkeys and their close relatives seem to be related to lower juvenile and adult mortality in forests relative to more open habitats.
Acute Retinal Necrosis Caused By Reactivation of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2

Acute retinal necrosis is a severe form of necrotizing retinitis. Acute retinal necrosis has been demonstrated to be caused by varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus type 1. We treated three patients with acute retinal necrosis apparently caused by recrudescence of latent herpes simplex virus type 2. Primary viral infection was probably congenital, with documented perinatal herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in two patients. Bilateral chorioretinal scars were present in two patients, neither of whom had a history of ocular herpetic infection, suggesting that earlier subclinical chorioretinitis had occurred. In each case, periocular trauma preceded the development of retinitis by two to three weeks. These cases are evidently caused by trauma-induced reactivation of latent virus rather than the onset of a primary infection.
A review of eosinophil chemotaxis and function in Taenia taeniaeformis infections in the laboratory rat

Abstract The eosinophil has long been associated with diseases of acute hypersensitivity and with parasite infections, but its exact role in the pathogenesis of these conditions remains uncertain. Characterization of factors associated with migration of eosinophils into tissues has helped to elucidate eosinophil function. Eosinophil chemotactic factors associated with acute hypersensitivity reactions include the eosinophil chemotactic factors of anaphylaxis, histamine, and arachidonic acid metabolites, all of which are released from mast cells, and the lymphokine eosinophil stimulation promoter (ESP). Eosinophilotaxins associated with parasitic diseases include the lymphokine ESP and the low molecular weight factor ECF-G, both associated with schistosome infection in mice. In addition, in several parasite infections parasite-derived protein eosinophil chemotactic factors have been identified and characterized. The proteins associated with Ascaris, Anisakis , and Schistosoma infections appear to be distinct from one another. We have recently partially characterized a protein from Taenia taeniaeformis larvae which has marked chemotactic activity for eosinophils. In addition we have demonstrated eosinophil chemotactic activity associated with metabolism of arachidonic acid by T. taeniaeformis metacestodes. The results of studies in taeniasis and other parasite infections, therefore, indicate that parasite-derived factors may directly influence migration of eosinophils.
Suppressed vitrinite reflectance in the Ferron coalbed gas fairway, central Utah: possible influence of overpressure

Chemical and thermoplastic properties of coals in the Ferron coalbed methane fairway indicate that coals in the north are of higher rank than coals in the south. Measured vitrinite reflectance does not accurately show this variation of coal rank. Although vitrinite reflectance in the southern and central part of the fairway is consistent with other measures of coal rank, suppressed vitrinite reflectance is observed in the north where methane contents are relatively high. This coincidence of suppressed reflectance and relatively high coalbed methane yields may be significant. We speculate that the suppressed reflectance values result from a burial history where overpressure developed during the early stages of coalification and persisted until recent uplift and cooling; such instances may be diagnostic of prospective coalbed methane targets elsewhere.
Impact of microphone placement errors on speech intelligibility

The speech of a person speaking in a noisy environment can be enhanced through electronic beamforming with spatially distributed microphones. The need to precisely determine microphone locations, however, can limit the application of this approach, especially where microphones must be placed quickly or changed on a regular basis. A precise calibration or measurement process can be tedious and time consuming. In order to understand acceptable limits on the calibration process, this paper examines the impact of microphone position error on the intelligibility. Microphone position error is modeled as a zero-mean uniform distribution in 3 dimensions, and analytical expressions for its impact on beamformed signal power are derived. Experimental and simulation results also are presented to show relationships between the precision of the position measurement and loss in intelligibility for a variety of microphone distributions and distracting sources (other speech and white noise). Results show that for speech near the threshold of intelligibility, microphone position errors with standard deviations less than 1.5cm, limit losses in intelligibility to within 10% of the case for zero position error.
Wall Stress Studies of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in a Clinical Model

To estimate when an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) may rupture, it is necessary to understand the forces responsible for this event. We investigated the wall stresses in an AAA in a clinical model. Using CT scans of the AAA, the diameter and wall thickness were measured and the model of the aneurysm was created. The wall stresses were determined using a finite element analysis in which the aorta was considered isotropic with linear material properties and was loaded with a pressure of 120 mmHg. The AAA was eccentric with a length of 10.5 cm, a diameter of 2.5 to 5.9 cm, and a wall thickness of 1.0 to 2.0 mm. The aneurysm had specific areas of high stress. On the inner surface the highest stress was 0.4 N/mm2 and occurred along two circumferentially oriented belts--one at the bulb and the other just below. The stress was longitudinal at the anterior region of the bulb and circumferential elsewhere, suggesting that a rupture caused by this stress will result in a circumferential tear at the anterior portion of the bulb and a longitudinal tear elsewhere. In the mid-surface the highest stress was 0.37 N/mm2 and occurred at two locations: the posterior region of the bulb and anteriorly just below. The stress was circumferential, suggesting that the rupture caused by this stress will produce a longitudinal tear. The location and orientation of the maximum stress were influenced more by the tethering force than by the wall thickness, luminal pressure, or wall stiffness. In conclusion, the rupture of an AAA is most likely to occur on the inner surface at the bulb. Such analytical approaches could lead to a better understanding of the aneurysm rupture and may be instrumental in planning surgical interventions.
Endovaginal Doppler ultrasound in ovarian torsion: a case series.

Four women with acute pelvic pain clinically suspected to be secondary to ovarian torsion were examined with gray-scale and Doppler ultrasound. All affected ovaries were enlarged (volumes 3.2–34 times the volumes of the ovaries on the unaffected sides). Three ovaries showed no internal flow, and one showed internal arterial flow. Ovary-conserving treatment was attempted in all four cases but the three ovaries which showed no evidence of internal flow eventually required removal. The fourth case, in which arterial flow was present on Doppler examination, was treated only with laparoscopic untwisting of the pedicle and did not require oophorectomy. The results of our study suggest that Doppler findings may distinguish ovaries which are beyond salvage and require removal from those which may be saved by prompt laparoscopic untwisting of the adnexa, but further studies with larger numbers of patients will be necessary. Copyright © 1995 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Avalanching in GaAs p-π-p structures

Abstract A reversible, electric breakdown at fields between 2 and 3 × 10 5 V cm is observed in p -type GaAs structures consisting of a high resistivity layer, approximately 1 μ thick, flanked by low resistivity regions. The breakdown is accompanied by light emission which takes place outside the high resistivity layer since the electrons produced by the breakdown process are swept into the adjacent low resistivity regions before they have a chance to recombine. A study of light intensity vs. electric field suggests an avalanche breakdown characterized by an ionization constant for holes which depends exponentially on the inverse electric field. These p -π- p structures are prepared by zinc diffusion into manganese doped ( p -type) GaAs, and a mechanism is suggested for the formation of the high resistivity layer. The I–V characteristics before breakdown are essentially ohmic up to several volts suggesting the absence of space charge limitation for the current in such thin layers.
Evaluating the Return on Investment for Department of Defense to private sector technology transfer

The United States Government policy indicates maximising Return On Investment (ROI) on R&D as a fundamental reason for technology transfer. Under public laws, federal agencies, are required to spend 0.5/ of their overall budget on technology transfer. Since no models exist to evaluate transfer ROI, this paper presents a framework for such a model. Individual Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRDAs) between the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and private firms are analysed using the model proposed, using objective and subjective measures. Sensitivity analysis is used to identify the best CRDA choice over a range of parameter values.
The assistive robotic arm

Presented in this design is an assistive robotic arm. The assistive robotic arm contains the following subunits: a base, upper arm, lower arm, wrist, and gripping device. The arm is controlled by a microcontroller. The base houses one motor and the microcontroller. Other features of this device include detachable grippers and utensils along with an external keypad from which the client controls the device. When the device is fully extended, the client's new radius of extension is twenty-five inches. The following design, contained in this report, is a senior design project from the University of Connecticut sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The design assists a young, fifth grade boy with quadriplegic, athetoid cerebral palsy to function more independently in his integrated classroom setting. The goal of this design is to provide a child with only gross motor skills a way to eat autonomously and also provide a grip mechanism that would resemble the human hand. The device also closely resembles the movements of the human arm by providing a full range of motion about the x, y, and z axes and throughout the three primary planes of motion.
Structural health monitoring using video stream, influence lines, and statistical analysis:

Civil infrastructure systems experience damage, overloading, aging due to normal operations, severe environmental conditions, and extreme events. These effects change the structural behavior and pe...
Communicating on MIMO Channels with Covariance Information: Antenna Correlation and Coupling

A recent study on correlated block-fading MIMO channels with transmit covariance information indicates guaranteed capacity growth with additional transmit elements, in contrast to previous results for uncorrelated channels. Also, for very rapidly fading channels, the results indicate the optimality of placing antenna elements as close together as possible. In this work, application of radiated power considerations indicates that transmit beamforming only increases capacity when this gain results from correlation inherent in the channel, not correlation that is simply offset by increased antenna coupling. The new analysis reveals that when multipath is directionally biased, antenna spacings of 0.3 to 0.6 wavelengths are optimal, and that when no such bias is present, antennas should be placed as far apart as possible. As expected, the electromagnetic analysis shows that at zero element separation, the array yields no capacity gain over a single antenna.
Variable output, high efficiency-low distortion S-band power amplifiers and their performances under single tone and noise power excitations

A family of one stage, high efficiency-low distortion variable output power MIC amplifiers for narrow band applications at S-band was developed. The amplifiers utilize 0.5 /spl mu/m gatelength PsHEMT devices with 4.8 mm to 19.2 mm peripheries. High efficiency (>60%) is maintained under CW operation at 2.45 GHz over 12 dB of input range by varying Vds between 2 and 8 V. At 2.45 GHz, amplifiers with 19.2 mm devices biased at Vds=8 V, provide 12 W of single tone power at 62% PAE with 13 dB gain (1 dBc) and 36.5 dBm noise power at NPR=17 dB (40 MHz wide noise with 700 kHz notch) with 43% efficiency. >
A neural network filter to detect small targets in high clutter backgrounds

The detection of objects in high-resolution aerial imagery has proven to be a difficult task. In the authors' application, the amount of image clutter is extremely high. Under these conditions, detection based on low-level image cues tends to perform poorly. Neural network techniques have been proposed in object detection applications due to proven robust performance characteristics. A neural network filter was designed and trained to detect targets in thermal infrared images. The feature extraction stage was eliminated and raw gray levels were utilized as input to the network. Two fundamentally different approaches were used to design the training sets. In the first approach, actual image data were utilized for training. In the second case, a model-based approach was adopted to design the training set vectors. The training set consisted of object and background data. The neuron transfer function was modified to improve network convergence and speed and the backpropagation training algorithm was used to train the network. The neural network filter was tested extensively on real image data. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were determined in each case. The detection and false alarm rates were excellent for the neural network filters. Their overall performance was much superior to that of the size-matched contrast-box filter, especially in the images with higher amounts of visual clutter. >
Mixed pathology is more likely in black than white decedents with Alzheimer dementia.

Objective: To compare the burden of neuropathology in black and white participants with clinical Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods: Participants included 122 persons enrolled in the Rush Alzheimer9s Disease Clinical Core, a prospective cohort study of AD. Forty-one black decedents were matched two-to-one to 81 white decedents according to age at death, sex, years of education, and cognition proximate to death. We examined common brain pathologies related to dementia (AD, Lewy body, and macroscopic and microinfarct pathology) and arteriolar sclerosis and atherosclerosis. We calculated the frequency of each dementia pathology both alone and in combination (mixed pathologies). Racial differences in the odds of a single pathology vs mixed pathologies, and in the odds of vessel disease and its severity, were examined using logistic regression analyses. Results: AD pathology was confirmed in >93% of both black and white decedents with AD dementia. However, black decedents were less likely to have Alzheimer pathology as a single dementia pathology than white decedents (19.5% vs 42.0%), and were more likely to have AD mixed with an additional pathology (70.7% vs 50.6%), particularly Alzheimer pathology and Lewy bodies, and Alzheimer pathology, Lewy bodies, and infarcts. Black decedents also had more severe arteriolar sclerosis and atherosclerosis. Conclusion: Black decedents with AD dementia are more likely to have mixed brain pathologies compared with age-, sex-, education-, and cognition-matched white decedents with AD dementia.
Predictive Control Considering Model Uncertainty for Variation Reduction in Multistage Assembly Processes

Active control for dimensional variation reduction in multistage assembly processes (MAPs) is a challenging issue for quality assurance. It is desirable to implement a system-level control strategy to minimize the end-of-line product variance, which is propagated from upstream manufacturing stages. Research has been conducted to realize such objective, based on the variation propagation models derived from the nominal parameters of product and process design. However, due to the uncertainties induced by the significant changes of process parameters, such designated model will be different from that of the actual process, and will not precisely represent the actual physics of the process. This model discrepancy may lead to the performance deterioration of the controllers. This paper proposed a feed-forward MAP control strategy that explicitly takes into account the uncertainties of model coefficients. The case study demonstrates that, when the model uncertainties are significant, the controller derived from the proposed approach outperforms that derived without considering the model uncertainty.
Watching the clock.

Four rats and four pigeons were monitored while performing retrospective timing tasks. All animals displayed collateral behaviors which could have mediated their temporal judgements. Statistical analysis made a good case for such mediation in the case of two pigeons performing on a spatially-differentiated response, but not for the two responding on a color-differentiated response. For the rats, all of which performed on a spatially-differentiated task, prediction of their temporal judgements was always better if based on collateral activity than if based on the passage of time.
Dissolution kinetics and etch pit studies of potassium aluminium sulphate

Abstract The dissolution process of the {111} faces of potash alum is studied, both by microtopographic examinations of the etch pit patterns and by measurement of the dissolution kinetics in a rotating disc crystallizer. Both methods showed that the Cabrera-Levine dissolution theory holds for the two most common dislocation types ending on the {111} faces of potash alum. On the basis of the rotating disc experiments, the interfacial supersaturation of the etch pit experiments was roughly estimated. Using this, it was found that at interfacial supersaturations below -0.6% (dislocations with 〈110〉 Burgers vector) or below -0.85% (dislocations with 〈100〉 Burgers vector) numerous etch pits related to those dislocation types appeared. Below those undersaturations the dissolution process is mainly determined by volume diffusion. From the critical undersaturation, determined in the rotating disc crystallizer, the value of the edge free energy of a step was found to be approximately 0.01 J/m 2 .
Emergence, Involution, and Progression to Carcinoma of Mutant Clones in Normal Endometrial Tissues

Sporadic somatic inactivation of genes such as PTEN within histologically normal endometrium (latent precancers) is an early step in endometrial carcinogenesis. We have used clone-specific mutations of PTEN to determine the fate of latent precancers over time in women who do (high risk) and do not (low risk) develop endometrial neoplasia. PTEN immunohistochemistry was performed on 45 occurrences of endometrial neoplasia and their paired antecedent benign biopsies, along with age matched sample pairs from 167 patients who did not develop a neoplasm. When PTEN-deficient cells were present at both time points, DNA sequencing was performed to determine whether they were single or multiple independent events. Loss of PTEN protein in isolated glands was common in the initial normal biopsies of high- and low-risk groups (42% and 27%, respectively, P = 0.066). Protein-deficient glands have a tendency to disappear over time in low-risk women (P = 0.047) and, even when "persistent," are infrequently (19%, 3/16) confirmed to be the same clone. Similarly, only a small proportion (6.7%, 1/15) of latent precancers seen in high-risk women are the direct progenitors of subsequent neoplasia. There is a high rate of latent precancer turnover in both low- and high-risk patients, with rare long-term persistence of unique clones, which may or may not progress to a histologic lesion. The temporal dynamics of clonal emergence, persistence, and involution are sufficiently complex that in the individual patient, the presence of a latent precancer has an unknown contribution to long-term cancer risk.
Effective tracking through tree-search

A new contour tracking algorithm is presented. Tracking is posed as a matching problem between curves constructed out of edges in the image, and some shape space describing the class of objects of interest. The main contributions of the paper are to present an algorithm which solves this problem accurately and efficiently, in a provable manner. In particular, the algorithm's efficiency derives from a novel tree-search algorithm through the shape space, which allows for much of the shape space to be explored with very little effort. This latter property makes the algorithm effective in highly cluttered scenes, as is demonstrated in an experimental comparison with a condensation tracker.
Tubular flow photoreactors for complex, nonchain kinetics

The stationary state hypothesis, commonly used for intermediates in complex kinetics in batch reactor studies, is analyzed in a tubular flow photoreactor. For practical values of the rate constants for the chosen kinetic sequence, it appears that the hypothesis is valid over all but a short entrance region of the reactor for both streamline and plug flow models. Even though the stationary state is quickly achieved, for the normal range of diffusivities, the conversion to product may be affected by radial diffusion and velocity profiles. In the course of the analysis the pertinent dimensionless parameters establishing the behavior of the reactor were identified. These arose from the differential equations expressing the conservation of radiant energy and mass in the system.
Embracing wireless interference: analog network coding

Traditionally, interference is considered harmful. Wireless networks strive to avoid scheduling multiple transmissions at the same time in order to prevent interference. This paper adopts the opposite approach; it encourages strategically picked senders to interfere. Instead of forwarding packets, routers forward the interfering signals. The destination leverages network-level information to cancel the interference and recover the signal destined to it. The result is analog network coding because it mixes signals not bits.So, what if wireless routers forward signals instead of packets? Theoretically, such an approach doubles the capacity of the canonical 2-way relay network. Surprisingly, it is also practical. We implement our design using software radios and show that it achieves significantly higher throughput than both traditional wireless routing and prior work on wireless network coding.
Collagen density significantly affects the functional properties of an engineered provisional scaffold

The formation of a provisional scaffold is essential in wound healing. However, for tissues inside of joints, this process is impeded by the synovial fluid environment and wound healing is significantly impaired as a result. Therefore, development of substitute provisional scaffolds which are effective in the intra-articular environment is of great interest. Collagen-platelet hydrogels have recently been found useful as substitute provisional scaffolding materials. In this study, our hypothesis was that increasing the collagen density in the hydrogel would result in physiologic changes that would be likely to affect their function as provisional scaffold substitutes. The primary functional outcome measures were modulus of the hydrogel, platelet activation, fibroblast proliferation, and scaffold retraction. Increased collagen density resulted in collagen-platelet hydrogels with a higher storage modulus. Platelet activation was not found to be dependent on the collagen density within the range tested. Increasing the collagen density had a suppressive effect on both fibroblast proliferation and scaffold retraction. These studies suggest that the collagen density may be able to significantly influence the function of collagen-platelet hydrogels used as substitute provisional scaffolds.