cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Associations between cerebrovascular risk factors and parkinson disease.

Objective To determine whether cerebrovascular risk factors are associated with subsequent diagnoses of Parkinson disease, and whether these associations are similar in magnitude to those with subsequent diagnoses of Alzheimer disease. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study using claims data from a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries from 2008 to 2015. The exposures were stroke, atrial fibrillation, coronary disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, valvular heart disease, tobacco use, and alcohol abuse. The primary outcome was a new diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson disease. The secondary outcome was a new diagnosis of Alzheimer disease. Marginal structural Cox models adjusting for time-dependent confounding were used to characterize the association between exposures and outcomes. We also evaluated the association between cerebrovascular risk factors and subsequent renal colic (negative control). Results Among 1,035,536 Medicare beneficiaries followed for a mean of 5.2 years, 15,531 (1.5%) participants were diagnosed with Parkinson disease and 81,974 (7.9%) were diagnosed with Alzheimer disease. Most evaluated cerebrovascular risk factors, including prior stroke (hazard ratio = 1.55; 95% confidence interval = 1.39-1.72), were associated with the subsequent diagnosis of Parkinson disease. The magnitudes of these associations were similar, but attenuated, to the associations between cerebrovascular risk factors and Alzheimer disease. Confirming the validity of our analytical model, most cerebrovascular risk factors were not associated with the subsequent diagnosis of renal colic. Interpretation Cerebrovascular risk factors are associated with Parkinson disease, an effect comparable to their association with Alzheimer disease. ANN NEUROL 2019;86:572-581.
Introduction: Zavaleta and the postcolonial condition

The critical knowledge of society is therefore a consequence of the way things happen. It should always be this way – the nature of things should determine the nature of their knowledge, the ways o...
LEFT TO RIGHT SHUNTING IN 60-YEAR-OLD PATIENT: ROLE OF PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

Post-tricuspid valve shunt lesions commonly present in childhood, presentation in adulthood is often complicated by pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) & impose a challenging clinical dilemma. 60 year-old male was transferred to our center with a diagnosis of aorto-right ventricular (Ao-RV) fistula
The Importance of the Instantaneous Phase for Face Detection using Simple Convolutional Neural Networks

Large scale training of Deep Learning methods requires significant computational resources. The use of transfer learning methods tends to speed up learning while producing complex networks that are very hard to interpret.This paper investigates the use of a low-complexity image processing system to investigate the advantages of using AMFM representations versus raw images for face detection. Thus, instead of raw images, we consider the advantages of using AM, FM, or AM-FM representations derived from a low-complexity filterbank and processed through a reduced LeNet-5.The results showed that there are significant advantages associated with the use of FM representations. FM images enabled very fast training over a few epochs while neither IA nor raw images produced any meaningful training for such low-complexity network. Furthermore, the use of FM images was 7× to 11× faster to train per epoch while using 123× less parameters than a reduced-complexity MobileNetV2, at comparable performance (AUC of 0.79 vs 0.80).
Two weeks of image-guided left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves smoking cessation: A double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized clinical trial.

Abstract Background Previous studies have found that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) transiently reduces smoking craving, decreases cigarette consumption, and increases abstinence rates. Objective We investigated whether 10 daily MRI-guided rTMS sessions over two weeks to the LDLPFC paired with craving cues could reduce cigarette consumption and induce smoking cessation. Methods We enrolled 42 treatment-seeking nicotine-dependent smokers (≥10 cigarettes per day) in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. Participants received 10 daily sessions over 2 weeks of either active or sham MRI-guided rTMS (10Hz, 3000 pulses each session) to the LDLPFC concurrently with video smoking cues. The primary outcome was a reduction in biochemically confirmed cigarette consumption with a secondary outcome of abstinence on the target quit date. We also recorded cue-induced craving and withdrawal symptoms. Results Compared to sham (n = 17), participants receiving active rTMS (n = 21) smoked significantly fewer cigarettes per day during the 2-week treatment (mean [SD], 13.73[9.18] vs. 11.06[9.29], P Conclusions Daily MRI-guided rTMS to the LDLPFC for 10 days reduces cigarette consumption and cued craving for up to one month and also increases the likelihood of smoking cessation. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02401672.
Development and Cross-Validation of a Nomogram for Chronic Kidney Disease Following Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy.

Introduction: We sought to identify the factors associated with deterioration of renal functions after robot-assisted radical cystectomy, and to develop a nomogram to detect the probability of prog...
A Choice Too Far: Transit Difficulty and Early High School Transfer:

The challenge of a long and difficult commute to school each day is likely to wear on students, leading some to change schools. We used administrative data from approximately 3,900 students in the ...
Nonlinear analysis of functionally graded beams using the dual mesh finite domain method and the finite element method

Abstract In this paper, geometrically nonlinear analysis of functionally graded beams using the dual mesh finite domain method (DMFDM) and the finite element method is presented. The DMFDM makes use of a primal mesh of finite elements and associated approximation for the variables of the formulation and a dual mesh of control domains, which does not overlap the primal mesh, for the satisfaction of the governing equations. The dual variables can be postcomputed uniquely and accurately at the control domain interfaces. The method is used to obtain nonlinear (due to the von Karman nonlinear strains) bending solutions of straight, through-thickness functionally graded beams using the Euler–Bernoulli and the Timoshenko beam theories. Mixed models, which contain displacements and the bending moment as degrees of freedom, and displacement models are developed. Numerical results of linear and nonlinear analyses are presented to illustrate the methodology and a comparison of the generalized displacements and bending moments obtained with the DMFDM and FEM models while bringing out certain interesting features of functionally graded beams.
Social Implications of COVID-19 Deaths: Analyzing Race, Ethnicity, Socio-Economic Conditions, Gender, and Age for the US

This paper examines two CDC data sets in order to provide a comprehensive overview and social implications of COVID-19 related deaths within the United States over the first eight months of 2020. By analyzing the first data set during this eight-month period with the variables of age, race, and individual states in the United States, we found correlations between COVID-19 deaths and these three variables. Overall, our multivariable regression model was found to be statistically significant.Â When analyzing the second CDC data set, we used the same variables with one exception; gender was used in place of race. From this analysis, it was found that trends in age and individual states were significant. However, since gender was not found to be significant in predicting deaths, we concluded that, gender does not play a significant role in the prognosis of COVID-19 induced deaths. However, the age of an individual and his/her state of residence potentially play a significant role in determining life or death. Socio-economic analysis of the US population confirms Qualitative socio-economic Logic based Cascade Hypotheses (QLCH) of education, occupation, and income affecting race/ethnicity differently. For a given race/ethnicity, education drives occupation then income, where a person lives, and in turn his/her access to healthcare coverage. Considering socio-economic data based QLCH framework, we conclude that different races are poised for differing effects of COVID-19 and that Asians and Whites are in a stronger position to combat COVID-19 than Hispanics and Blacks.
Airway Anatomy and Tracheobronchial Tree

This chapter reviews how to perform a detailed preoperative evaluation of a patient’s airway including a twelve-step approach to assessing the teeth, palate, oropharynx, neck, and range of motion of the head and neck. It also reviews critical structures of the airway, broken down into the components of nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, and tracheobronchial tree. It also outlines important distances within the airway which can be used to assess appropriate depth of endotracheal tube positioning.
Work with what you've got

Quantum computing combines great promise with daunting challenges — the road to devices that solve real-world problems is still long. Now, an implementation of a quantum algorithm maps the problems we want to solve to the devices we already have.
Remote Sensing of Tropospheric Gases and Aerosols with an Airborne DIAL System

A multipurpose airborne differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system has been recently developed at the NASA Langley Research Center to remotely measure the profiles of various gases and aerosols in diverse atmospheric investigations. The capability to rapidly determine the spatial distribution of gases such as ozone, water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide and simultaneously measure the backscattering distribution of aerosols at several laser wavelengths provides the opportunity for developing an extensive data base for examining the complex interaction of atmospheric dynamics and chemistry.
Inhibition of the Induction of Liver Hexose-Monophosphate Shunt Dehydrogenases in the Starved-Refed Rat by Injection of Triton WR-1339

The effect of Triton WR-1339 on induction of liver glucose6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) was investigated. Male rats of the Holtzman strain were starved for 3 days and refed a diet high in carbohydrate (68.9% as glucose monohydrate ). Twenty-four hours prior to refeeding, the experimental rats were injected with 85 mg/100 g body weight of Triton WR-1339 and the control rats were given equal volumes of a physiological saline solution. The induction of the two lipogenesis associated dehydrogenases, G6PDH and 6PGDH, in the liver of the Triton-treated rats, was both delayed and de pressed. Very high triglycA©ridelevels and relatively high hexosaminidase levels were observed in the plasma of the Triton-injected rats, compared with that of plasma of the control rats for most of the experimental period. Three hours after refeeding the diet, a significant elevation in the plasma glucose level was observed in the saline-treated rats but not in the plasma of Triton-intoxicated rats. No significant recompartmentation of lysosomal enzyme activity to liver nuclei occurred as a result of refeeding a carbo hydrate-rich diet when Triton WR-1339 was injected 20 hours before refeed ing. This contrasts with the rapid association of lysosomal enzymes with nuclei from livers of starved rats refed a carbohydrate containing diet, but not treated with the detergent as previously reported from this laboratory. In the present study, the fragility of liver lysosomes of Triton injected, starved rats to homogenization did not change significantly after refeeding a high carbohydrate diet. Thus, Triton inhibited the transient lysosomal fragility previously observed in rats similarly examined, but not injected with Triton WR-1339. J. Nutr. 108: 1566-1571, 1978. INDEXING
School absenteeism and child health.

In a recent article by Kirkland et al.1 describing the nature of solitary thyroid nodules in 30 children, one child with thyroid abscess was reported. The authors reviewed 35 cases of abscesses in childhood, four of which were reported after 1950. We recently studied a child with thyroid abscess in whom the clinical course was characterized by multiple recurrences. The patient was a 5 4/12 year-old-girl who developed progressive swelling in the anterior portion of the neck two weeks after the onset of intermittent low grade fever, rhinorrhea, and cough.
Mechanism could explain rapid, dramatic, cyclic Arctic warming

Multiple times in the Earth's past, the air over Greenland has warmed by 10°C or more in just a few decades before resetting over centuries. First discovered in the 1990s, these so-called Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) events are spurred by an unknown cause. Dokken et al. propose that D-O events are driven by cyclic interactions between sea ice and ocean circulation patterns in Nordic seas.
Multiprocessor Systems-on-Chips

Moores Law has reached the point at which we can build single-chips with multiple processors and significant amounts of memory. Multiprocessor systems-on-chips (MPSoCs) have opened up new application areas, such as low-power and real-time embedded systems. This talk will review the architectures of multiprocessor systems-on-chips and the design methodologies used to create them. MPSoCs make use of advanced processors, memory systems, and on-chip networks, often delivered as intellectual property modules. The design methodologies required to design these complex systems build on earlier VLSI techniques but must address many new problems as well.
The Role of Bacteriophage in Group A Streptococcal Pathogenesis

Group A streptococci (e.g., Streptococcus pyogenes) are strictly human pathogens that are responsible for a number of suppurative infections, including scarlet fever, toxic shock syndrome, necrotizing fasciitis, impetigo, erysipelas, cellulitis, and pharyngitis. Early progress on group A streptococcal phage research was slow, partly due to poor plaque formation as a result of the streptococci’s fastidious growth requirements. Some of the first papers began to appear in the 1950s, with the introduction of a dialysate medium which helped to overcome this obstacle. But even then, studies on group A streptococcal phage were not extensive over the ensuing decades. Although it was well known that group A streptococci have an elaborate bacteriophage system, suggesting that phage may play an important role in the disease potential of these bacteria, it was not until 2001, when the first complete genome sequence of an M1 streptococcus strain (SF370) was reported by Ferretti and coworkers that the true impact phage has on streptococcal pathogenicity was realized. To determine the nature of the events necessary for phage induction in the presence of pharyngeal cells, the necessity of contact between streptococci and pharyngeal cells can be ruled out since phage and Spd-1 could be induced when the pharyngeal cells were covered with a membrane before the addition of the streptococci. The frequency of lysogeny increases with the amount of free prophage mixed with recipient bacteria.
Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury XIII: The Cepheid period-luminosity relation in M31

Using Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys (HST/ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) observations from the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT), we present new period-luminosity (P-L) relations for Cepheid variables in M31. Cepheids from several ground-based studies are identified in the PHAT photometry to derive new P-L and Wesenheit P-L relations in the near infrared and visual filters. We derive a distance modulus to M31 of 24.51 +/- 0.08 in the IR bands and 24.32 +/- 0.09 in the visual bands, including the first P-L relations in the F475W and F814W filters for M31. Our derived visual and IR distance moduli disagree at slightly more than a 1{\sigma} level. Differences in the P-L relations between ground-based and HST observations are investigated for a subset of Cepheids. We find a significant discrepancy between ground-based and HST P-L relations with the same Cepheids, suggesting adverse effects from photometric contamination in ground-based Cepheid observations. Additionally, a statistically significant radial trend in the P-L relation is found which does not appear to be explained by metallicity.
Live and let die: in vivo selection of gene-modified hematopoietic stem cells via MGMT-mediated chemoprotection

Abstract Gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) provides a potential means of correcting monogenic defects and altering drug sensitivity of normal bone marrow to cytotoxic agents. These applications have significant therapeutic potential but the translation of successful murine studies into human therapies has been hindered by low gene transfer in large animals (including humans), and recent serious side effects in a human immunodeficiency trial related to insertional mutagenesis. The latter trial, along with other subsequent trials, while bringing into focus the potential risks of integrating vector systems, also clearly demonstrate the potential usefulness of in vivo selection as it relates to inefficient stem cell transduction. Developing from initial studies by our group and other investigators in which drug resistance was utilized to demonstrate the feasibility of using gene transfer to effect protection from myelotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents, expression of mutant forms of O6-methyguanine-DNA-methytransferase (MGMT) coupled with the simultaneous use of pharmacologic inhibitors and chemotherapeutic agents has been shown to provide a powerful method to select HSC in vivo. While stem and progenitor cell protection and resulting selection in vivo has potential applications for the treatment of selected cancers (allowing dose escalation) and for correction of monogenic disease (allowing an iatrogenic survival advantage of transduced cells in vivo), such an in vivo selection may have untoward effects on stem cell behavior. These deleterious effects may include stem cell exhaustion; lineage skewing; accumulation of genotoxic lesions; and clonal dominance driven towards a pro-leukemic phenotype. Knowledge of the likelihood of such deleterious events occurring as well as their potential implications will be critical to future clinical applications and may also enhance our understanding of both normal stem cell behavior and the evolution of hematopoietic malignancies.
Networks of planar neural organizing centers

Abstract A codimension-three degenerate Bogdanov–Takens bifurcation at a cusp organizes Type I excitability of neural membranes and has parameter regions for Type II. We argue from the electrophysiology why this is expected. We derive and analyze a local canonical model for weakly connected neural networks of multiple such bifurcations. The canonical model suggests a dynamical form of the network adaptation conditions, which mimic an afterhyperpolarizing potential causing neuron spike frequency adaptation. We also simulate strongly connected neural oscillators and two-component models of mixed types constructed from this model, and bursting from periodic variation of parameters.
RECENT AMPLIFICATION OF RAT ID SEQUENCES

The rodent identifier (ID) family of repeats has amplified at an extremely high rate in the rat genome in recent evolutionary time, resulting in 130,000 copies per haploid genome. Statistical analyses support the grouping of 119 individual rat ID elements into four major and three minor subfamilies based on six diagnostic nucleotide positions. The consensus sequence of the oldest subfamily is identical to the ID region of the rat BC1 RNA gene, suggesting that the BC1 gene has dominated the early amplification of rat ID elements. The other six subfamilies share at least one diagnostic mutation in relation to the BC1 gene and show much less nucleotide sequence divergence, indicating that the recent large amplification of rat ID elements has been driven by another lineage of master gene(s) in the rat genome. This is consistent with the formation of a new lineage of master elements for ID amplification in rat. The formation of most rat ID elements appears to have occurred during the past three million years based on the results that four out of five randomly chosen ID elements are present only in the genome of one rat species and not in other closely related species.
Functional analysis of immunoreceptor tyrosinebased activation motif (ITAM)-mediated signal transduction: the two YxxL segments within a single CD3ζITAM are functionally distinct

Functional analysis of the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) derived from the membrane-proximal ITAM of CD3zeta demonstrates that mutations at either the tyrosine or leucine residues in the N-terminal YxxL segment of the ITAM abolish all signal transduction functions of this ITAM. In contrast, mutations at the tyrosine or leucine residues in the C-terminal YxxL segment abrogate signals for interleukin (IL)-2 production but do not prevent tyrosine phosphorylation of the N-terminal tyrosine of the ITAM, lck association with the ITAM, activation of phospholipase C-gamma1 or calcium mobilization. Cross-linking of chimeric receptors containing a C-terminal YxxL leucine mutation induces tyrosine phosphorylation of ZAP70 but without stable binding to the phosphorylated ITAM. These results indicate that the two YxxL segments in an ITAM are functionally distinct and that both are essential for ZAP70 binding and IL-2 production. Furthermore, tyrosine phosphorylation of ZAP70 per se is not sufficient to trigger the downstream events leading to IL-2 production. Substitution of an alanine for the bulky side chain at the Y+1 position of the N-terminal YxxL segment reduces the receptor cross-linking requirement necessary to achieve cellular activation and the absolute dependence on lck in this process. Our results reveal that both the number of ITAM as well as the specific amino acid residues within a single ITAM determine the extent of chimeric receptor cross-linking required to trigger tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signaling events.
Sociological Research on the Labor Market: Conceptual and Methodological Issues

This article provides a critical analysis of recent sociological research on labor markets. Efforts by sociologists to provide structural explanations of earnings inequality that counter human capital theory have been hampered by methodological problems associated with inadequate model specification and the inappropriate use of variance as a criterion for theoretical importance. Moreover, the structural effects observed in recent studies do not have an unambiguous interpretation; they are consistent with three different mechanisms: differences in demand, internal labor market effects, and class effects. Future work in this area needs to pay greater attention to the links between theoretical interpretations and empirical analyses.
Electrophysiological basis for the behavioural response of male and female Trichoplusia ni to synthetic female pheromone

Electroantennogram (EAG) studies demonstrated that antennae of both male and female Trichoplusia ni have: (1) receptor-neurones sensitive to female pheromone, (2) a low response threshold, (3) an identical mean-percentage EAG curve over a broad concentration range of pheromone, and (4) a similar absolute recovery interval from adaptation to pheromonal stimulation. These factors suggest that antennae of male and female T. ni have homologous and homogeneous acceptor sites for the female pheromone. Pheromonal stimulation of female antennae elicited EAGs with only 25% of the amplitude of those elicited in males.
American Democratic Practice, France, and Russia: Institutions, Values, and Alternative Democratic Experience

The US emphasis on democratic procedures and property rights profoundly distinguishes the American polity from nearly all consolidated and newly emergent democracies; democracies that place stress on more egalitarian notions of social justice. Interrelating institutional arrangements and democratic values through an application of George Tsebelis's veto players theory and Isaiah Berlin's notions of positive and negative liberty, we juxtapose the American and French democracies as we assess Russia's post-Soviet democratic consolidation. We focus on the policy-making proclivities of these three states, and a combined application of the veto players framework and positive-negative liberty dichotomy reveals a US policy bias toward the status quo as contrasted with a French and Russian system bias facilitating more substantial policy change. The 1993–1995 Clinton health-care initiative, the 1997–2002 Jospin-Left program, with attention to the 35-hour workweek and associated policies, and the 2000–2006 Putin po...
Circadian rhythms and the effects of lighting on tonic immobility in two species of lizard (Anolis carolinensis and Hemidactylus turcicus).

Circadian rhythms in tonic immobility (TI) were investigated in two species of lizard, anoles ( Anolis carolinensis ) and geckos ( Hemidactylus turcicus ), which have opposite activity cycles and might be expected to react differentially to lighting conditions and temporal factors. Immobility durations in both species were longer in the light than in the dark. When both species were tested after 2 days of constant light, they both showed circadian rhythms of TI with longer mean durations of TI at night; but, when subjects were maintained in constant dark for 2 days, circadian differences did not appear.
Natural electromagnetic field fluctuations in the 3.0- to 0.02-cps range

Using large loop antennas the ultra-low-frequency research group at the National Bureau of Standards has studied the upper atmosphere phenomena of geomagnetic micropulsations. Data taken at a number of world stations on both direct reading chart and magnetic tape indicate a division into three contributing phenomena for the frequency range of 3.0 to 0.02 cps. Very regular oscillations of 2.0 to 0.2 cps are a strange pulsation phenomenon most likely of outer atmospheric origin but apparently unrelated to solar-terrestrial disturbances. Sudden bursts of large amplitude field fluctuations spread throughout the frequency range are closely related to high latitude particle precipitation, enhanced ionospheric absorption, and auroral luminosity; these fluctuations seem to be of ionospheric origin. Regular oscillations between 0.2 and 0.03 cps appearing over broad sections of the earth with related phase on days of high solar-terrestrial activity are presently the best candidate for magneto-hydrodynamic interpretation. During the International Quiet Sun Year (IQSY) a configuration of world stations will be operated along a latitudinal line covering about 180° at three sites in the boreal auroral zone, along a longitudinal line near 75° to 80°W longitude with conjugate stations corresponding to L shell values of about 6.5 and 4, and at an equatorial site.
Minority-carrier hole diffusion length in heavily-doped polysilicon and its influence on polysilicon-emitter transistors

The minority-carrier hole diffusion lengths in heavily doped polysilicon with and without hydrogen passivation were determined by analyzing the photon-induced current in polysilicon-emitter diode structure. After hydrogen passivation, the minority-carrier hole diffusion length in polysilicon was increased by a factor of approximately 3.5. Such an increase in diffusion length should result in an increase in polysilicon-emitter transistor current gain if the transport model of T.H. Ning and R.D. Issac (1980) is valid. However, by comparing transistors with and without hydrogen passivation, it is found that the polysilicon-monosilicon interface properties are more important than the minority-carrier transport properties in the polysilicon layer in determining the current gain for transistors with emitter doping >1*10/sup 20/ cm/sup -3/. Nevertheless, for an emitter doping >
An evaluation of the physicochemical degradation of gold ion-exchange resins in hypochlorite solutions

The long-term operating characteristics of ion-exchange resins suitable for the hydrometallurgical recovery of precious metals remain largely unknown. This study examines some physicochemical properties of two promising ion-exchange resins for gold, SR-3 and PAZ-8, when subjected to experimental conditions similar to those of a typical alkaline-chlorination gold recovery process. It is shown that the degradation behavior may be related to both the micro- and macrostructural properties of the resins. Severe resin degradation occurs on pro-longed, agitated contact of the SR-3 resin beads with hypochlorite solutions at ambient tem-perature; the low cross linkage of the resin facilitates mechanical damage, while chemical degradation occurs by dehydration, oxidative scission of the functional groups, and breakdown of the polymer matrix. The PAZ-8 resin is highly cross linked and is more resistant to both mechanical and chemical attack under similar conditions.
Payload-Directed Control of Geophysical Magnetic Surveys

Using non-navigational (e.g. imagers, scientific) sensor information in control loops is a difficult problem to which no general solution exists. Whether the task can be successfully achieved in a particular case depends highly on problem specifics, such as application domain and sensors of interest. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of using magnetometer data for control feedback in the context of geophysical magnetic surveys. An experimental system was created and deployed to (a) assess sensor integration with autonomous vehicles, (b) investigate how magnetometer data can be used for feedback control, and (c) evaluate the feasibility of using such a system for geophysical magnetic surveys. Finally, we report the results of our experiments and show that payload-directed control of geophysical magnetic surveys is indeed feasible.
Power system steady-state stability and the load-flow Jacobian

The relationship is presented between a detailed power system dynamic model and a standard load-flow model. The linearized dynamic model is examined to show how the load-flow Jacobian appears in the system dynamic-state Jacobian for evaluating steady-state stability. Two special cases are given for the situation when singularity of the load-flow Jacobian implies singularity of the system dynamic-state Jacobian. The standard load-flow Jacobian can provide information about the existence of a steady-state equilibrium point for a specified level of loading or interchange. There are two very special cases when the determinant of the standard load-flow Jacobian implies something about the steady-state stability of a dynamic model. Both of these cases involve very drastic assumptions about the synchronous machines and their control systems. The load level which produces a singular load-flow Jacobian should be considered an optimistic upper bound on maximum loadability. >
Sherpa Moving Mass Entry Descent Landing System

We describe Sherpa - a Strap-on High-altitude Entry Reconnaissance and Precision Aeromaneuver system that utilizes a moving mass system within an entry capsule to land a spacecraft precisely onto the surface of Mars.
Sp Family of Transcription Factors Is Involved in Valproic Acid-induced Expression of Gαi2*

Valproic acid-induced gene expression has been attributed to the DNA-binding activity of the transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP-1). Using K562 cells, we have studied valproic acid-induced transcription from the human Gαi2 gene promoter, which lacks AP-1-binding motifs. We find that valproic acid-induced expression of Gαi2 is inhibited by mithramycin A, a compound that interferes with Sp1 binding to GC boxes in DNA. Three Sp1-binding sequences, located at +68/+75, −50/−36, and −92/−85 in the promoter, accounted for about 60% of this transcriptional effect, as judged by transient transfection assays. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that these sites bind members of the Sp family of transcription factors. Binding to DNA was inhibited by mithramycin A and was greater in nuclear extracts from cells treated with valproic acid than in control cells. Okadaic acid, calyculin A, and fostriecin, which are potent inhibitors of protein phosphatase, suppressed the transcriptional response to valproic acid. This inhibitory effect was not observed when promoter constructs containing mutations in the referenced Sp1-binding sites were used for transfections. In nuclear extracts from cells cultured in the presence of these inhibitors, the binding of Sp1/Sp3 to DNA probes was much less than in control cells. Alkaline phosphatase treatment of nuclear extracts resulted in enhanced binding of Sp proteins to the DNA probes. These results are consistent with the idea that dephosphorylating conditions enhanced Sp binding to the DNA probes as well as Sp-mediated transcription induced by valproic acid. This study demonstrates that the gene expression-inducing effect of valproic acid occurs, in part, through the Sp family of transcription factors.
An Interdomain Energetic Tug-of-War Creates the Allosterically Active State in Hsp70 Molecular Chaperones

The allosteric mechanism of Hsp70 molecular chaperones enables ATP binding to the N-terminal nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) to alter substrate affinity to the C-terminal substrate-binding domain (SBD) and substrate binding to enhance ATP hydrolysis. Cycling between ATP-bound and ADP/substrate-bound states requires Hsp70s to visit a state with high ATPase activity and fast on/off kinetics of substrate binding. We have trapped this "allosterically active" state for the E. coli Hsp70, DnaK, and identified how interactions among the NBD, the β subdomain of the SBD, the SBD α-helical lid, and the conserved hydrophobic interdomain linker enable allosteric signal transmission between ligand-binding sites. Allostery in Hsp70s results from an energetic tug-of-war between domain conformations and formation of two orthogonal interfaces: between the NBD and SBD, and between the helical lid and the β subdomain of the SBD. The resulting energetic tension underlies Hsp70 functional properties and enables them to be modulated by ligands and cochaperones and "tuned" through evolution.
Linear complementarity problems and characterizations of Minkowski matrices

Abstract This paper unifies several recent characterizations of Minkowski matrices (nonsingular M-matrices) in terms of linear complementarity problems.
Space Radiation Effects on the Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of Graphite-Epoxy Composites

This investigation of composite material properties utilized T300/934 graphite-epoxy that was subjected to 1.0 MeV electron radiation for a total dose of 1.0 x 10 to the 10th rads at a rate of 5.0 x 10 to the 7th rads/hour, simulating a worst-case exposure equivalent to 30 years in space. Mechanical testing was performed on 4-ply unidirectional laminates over the temperature range of -250 F (116 K) to +250 F (394 K). In-plane elastic tensile and shear properties as well as strength were obtained. The results show that electron radiation degrades the epoxy matrix and produces products that volatilize at the temperatures considered. These degradation products plasticize the epoxy at elevated temperatures and embrittle it at low temperatures, thereby altering the mechanical properties of the composite.
1773 EVALUATION OF A HIGH FREQUENCY JET NEBULIZER

A new “jet nebulizer” (JN) system adapted from high frequency jet ventilation was evaluated as a delivery system for bronchodilators. Pulmonary function tests were compared in 15 patients with stable chronic asthma at zero, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after receiving 0.2 ml of metaproterenol sulfate in 2.8 ml of saline by JN and conventional nebulization (CN). One patient developed severe bronchospasm following JN and could not complete the study. In the remaining 14 patients there was no significant difference between CN and JN for the percentage improvement in FVC, FEV1, Peak Flow Rates, and FEF25-75 at any of the time points. Significantly more metaproterenol was delivered by CN (Mean 2.1 ± 0.3 (SD) gm of solution versus 1.9 ± 0.5 (SD) gm by JN). This may have been due to greater loss of aerosolized medication with CN. Several patients reported that the JN treatment led to increased sputum clearance, although this finding was not objectively quantified. Thus, JN does not appear to offer an advantage over CN in the treatment of patients with asthma, although the similar improvement with less medication delivery may reflect improved aerosol deposition. Further research with JN is indicated; first to clarify whether there is improved aerosol particle deposition and secondly, in light of the subjective findings, to investigate whether use of JN in patients with chronic sputum production is advantageous.
Integrating geochemistry and micromorphology to interpret feature use at Dust Cave, a Paleo‐Indian through middle‐archaic site in Northwest Alabama

The authors develop an integrated method using geochemistry and micromorphology to examine the use of archaeological features at Dust Cave, a Paleo-Indian through Middle Archaic (10,650–3600 cal. B.C.) site in northwest Alabama. Samples analyzed using ICP-AES for aluminum (Al), barium (Ba), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), phosphorous (P), strontium (Sr), sulfur (S), and zinc (Zn) and suggest that cultural features differ chemically from geogenic sediments in several ways: (a) K-means cluster analyses indicate that features of known origin and suspected features of the same origin cluster together, thereby allowing for a preliminary separation into discrete functionalities; (b) phosphorus serves as an indicator of human occupation intensity; and (c) Sr/Ca and K/P ratios help identify anthropogenic materials. Micromorphological observations allow for a finer subdivision of feature types and help highlight postdepositional processes affecting cave sediments, and interpretation of activity at the site. These findings show that feature diversity and occupation intensity increased through time, peaking during the Middle Archaic. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Differential Effects of Acute and Repeated Electrically and Chemically Induced Seizures on [3H]Nimodipine and [125I]Omega‐Conotoxin GVIA Binding in Rat Brain

[3H]Nimodipine and high-affinity [125I]omega-conotoxin GVIA (CgTX) binding were investigated in membranes from rat cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus after electrically and chemically induced seizures. Animals were decapitated 30 min after a single electroconvulsive shock (ECS) or lidocaine-induced seizure and 24 h after the last of 10 once-daily ECS or six once-daily lidocaine-induced seizures. After a single ECS, [3H]nimodipine and [125I]CgTX binding sites decreased in cerebral cortex (by 10% and 17%, respectively). A downregulation of [3H]nimodipine binding sites in hippocampus occurred after single and repeated lidocaine-induced seizures (by 24% and 11%, respectively), whereas [125I]CgTX binding remained unaltered. An earlier report on changes in [3H]nitrendipine binding after chronic ECS in cortex and hippocampus was not confirmed.
Spectral band selection for color machine vision used for plant identification

A monochrome video camera and a set of narrow bandpass optical filters were used to capture images in 13 spectral bands from 400 nm to 1000 nm. Images of 4 plant species were captured. Pixel data was extracted from the images in user defined areas on the plant leaves. Attempts were made to classify the plants based on the spectral information in the extracted data.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Topological feature extraction and tracking

Scientific datasets obtained by measurement or produced by computational simulations must be analyzed to understand the phenomenon under study. The analysis typically requires a mathematically sound definition of the features of interest and robust algorithms to identify these features, compute statistics about them, and often track them over time. Because scientific datasets often capture phenomena with multi-scale behaviour, and almost always contain noise the definitions and algorithms must be designed with sufficient flexibility and care to allow multi-scale analysis and noise-removal. In this paper, we present some recent work on topological feature extraction and tracking with applications in molecular analysis, combustion simulation, and structural analysis of porous materials.
Transforming Growth Factor β-Activated Kinase 1 Is a Key Mediator of Ovine Follicle-Stimulating Hormone β-Subunit Expression

FSH, a key regulator of gonadal function, contains a β-subunit (FSHβ) that is transcriptionally induced by activin, a member of the TGFβ-superfamily. This study used 4.7 kb of the ovine FSHβ-promoter linked to luciferase (oFSHβLuc) plus a well-characterized activin-responsive construct, p3TPLuc, to investigate the hypothesis that Smad3, TGFβ-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), or both cause activin-mediated induction of FSH. Overexpression of either Smad3 or TAK1 induced oFSHβLuc in gonadotrope-derived LβT2 cells as much as activin itself. Induction of p3TPLuc by activin is known to require Smad3 activation in many cell types, and this was true in LβT2 cells, where 10-fold induction by activin (2–8 h after activin treatment) was blocked more than 90% by two dominant negative (DN) inhibitors of Smad3 [DN-Smad3 (3SA) and DN-Smad3 (D407E)]. By contrast, 6.5-fold induction of oFSHβLuc by activin (10–24 h after activin treatment) was not blocked by either DN-Smad inhibitor, suggesting that activation of Smad3 did not t...
Design criteria for the NPR reactor building

Abstract The 105-N building, which houses the world's largest power reactor, is a highly specialized structure of reinforced concrete and steel. The secondary shielding walls, which surround the reactor and its coolant system, are 4 to 5 built1 2 feet thick; the ceilings 1 built1 2 to 2 built1 2 feet thick. These walls are designed to reduce radiation levels to safe human tolerance during normal reactor operation and to function as a low pressure confiner during an emergency. Interior surfaces are covered with an elastomeric coating consisting of 15 mils of neoprene and 5 mils of (white) hypalon. In addition to normal dead and live loads, the structure is designed to resist: 1) a temperature differential of 40°F, 2) an internal pressure of 5 psig or a vacuum of 2 psig, and 3) seismic loads associated with a ground acceleration of 0.2 gravity. Criteria used in the detail design of the 105-N building are reproduced in this paper.
Simple spike firing patterns of cat cerebellar Purkinje cells in sleep and waking.

Abstract 1. 1. Previous studies of neuronal activity during sleep have indicated that the pattern of firing of neurons was altered as a function of behavioral state (waking, synchronized sleep and desynchronized sleep). Although not evaluated quantitatively, this change in pattern has been assumed to be independent of changes in firing rate and has formed the basis for postulates of physiological mechanism (such as disinhibition) acting differentially in sleep. In a population of identifiable units, we have examined quantitatively the relationship between firing pattern (as measured by interspike interval histograms and by auto-correlation techniques) and firing rate to see if alterations in firing rate could explain differences in firing pattern observed during behavioral state changes. 2. 2. Simple spikes of 39 Purkinje cells in the cerebellar vermis were recorded by extracellular micro-electrodes during natural sleep and waking in unrestrained, unanesthetized cats. 3. 3. An analysis of covariance demonstrated that characteristics of the form of interspike interval histograms (variance, third moment, fourth moment, percentage of intervals at the mode) were a function of the firing rate of the unit. All units firing with the same mean interspike interval duration tended to have the same histogram form; behavioral state was not an important determinant of histogram form except insofar as the unit firing rate was altered. 4. 4. Auto-correlation analysis demonstrated a tendency toward rhythmic firing with period duration near the modal interval. A high degree of rhythmicity was associated with a high firing rate, and a low degree of rhythmicity was associated with a low firing rate, suggesting that this aspect of firing pattern, like that of histogram characteristics, was also a function of firing rate. 5. 5. These findings indicate that, for simple spikes of cerebellar Purkinje cells, changes in firing rate account for differences in firing patterns observed with behavioral state changes.
Feline early life ocular disease

Objectives Histomorphologic changes in six globes from six cats, which experienced early life ocular disease of undetermined etiology, are described. Design A retrospective morphologic study of six eyes from six cats with early life ocular surface disease of unknown etiology, from 2002 to 2006 extracted from a pathology collection, which includes 2200 feline submissions. Procedure Sections of affected globes, stained with H&E were examined with a light microscope. Results The mean age of the affected cats, at the time of enucleation, was 7.5 months ranging from 7 weeks to 2 years. The cats were one male, one female, one male neutered, and one female spayed cat. For the remaining two cats the sex was not known. All cats were DSH. Significant histomorphologic findings included collapse of the globe in all cases and a broad corneal perforation with protrusion of the anterior uvea, which was epithelialized in all cases. Three cases revealed uveal hematopoiesis in the anterior and posterior uvea. All cases had recognizable corneal tissue at the limbus on both sides. Inflammation in all cases consisted of variable but generally mild uveitis and no eyes had endophthalmitis. Four of the globes had no recognizable lens tissue. Three of the cats had symblepharon formation described as part of the clinical condition. The other three cases had no mention of symblepharon. Conclusions These cases are considered to represent changes associated with early life corneal ablation of unknown etiology. Uveal prolapse, mild inflammation, and symblepharon are considered to be either secondary or caused by the same destructive primary event that affected the cornea. These cases are the first cases we are aware of with uveal extramedullary hematopoiesis in cats. Careful consideration of cell morphology is necessary to distinguish this condition from round cell neoplasms or inflammation.
The effect of plasma cortisol levels on the lymphocyte transformation test.

Abstract Serum cortisol levels and lymphocyte transformation were studied in two groups of patients with bronchial asthma before and after administration of synthetic corticotropin. While the patients in both groups had symptoms of comparable severity, one group was on routine, nonsteroid therapy, the other on long-term corticosteroid maintenance. Increases in serum cortisol and decreased lymphocyte transformation after administration of the corticotropin were found in both groups, but the non-corticosteroid-treated group showed, in general, a greater rise in serum cortisol and a more marked decrease in lymphocyte transformation. In patients on corticosteroid maintenance, lymphocyte transformation was depressed at all time intervals, both prior to and after corticotropin injection.
GaAs IMPATT Diodes, Oscillators and Amplifiers

This paper reviews the history and the state of the art of gallium arsenide impact avalanche transit time (IMPATT) diodes.