cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photothermal therapy of cancer cells using magnetic carbon nanoparticles

Photothermal therapy offers a solution for the destruction of cancer cells without significant collateral damage to otherwise healthy cells. Several attempts are underway in using carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) and nanotubes due to their excellent absorption properties in the near-infrared spectrum of biological window. However, minimizing the required number of injected nanoparticles, to ensure minimal cytotoxicity, is a major challenge. We report on the introduction of magnetic carbon nanoparticles (MCNPs) onto cancer cells, localizing them in a desired region by applying an external magnetic field and irradiating them with a near-infrared laser beam. The MCNPs were prepared in Benzene, using an electric plasma discharge, generated in the cavitation field of an ultrasonic horn. The CNPs were made ferromagnetic by use of Fe-electrodes to dope the CNPs, as confirmed by magnetometry. Transmission electron microscopy measurements showed the size distribution of these MCNPs to be in the range of 5-10 nm. For photothermal irradiation, a tunable continuous wave Ti: Sapphire laser beam was weakly focused on to the cell monolayer under an inverted fluorescence microscope. The response of different cell types to photothermal irradiation was investigated. Cell death in the presence of both MCNPs and laser beam was confirmed by morphological changes and propidium iodide fluorescence inclusion assay. The results of our study suggest that MCNP based photothermal therapy is a promising approach to remotely guide photothermal therapy.
Discerning the Spirit among Catholic Charismatics

The “Catholic Charismatic Renewal,” renamed by the bishops the “Charismatic Renewal of the Church,” has a 35 year history in the US and Europe. Debated at Vatican II and analyzed by theologians, the experience of spiritual charisms requires thoughtful discernment, especially if charism is to be properly integrated with sacrament.
Factors Influencing Staff Perceptions of Administrator Support for Tier 2 and 3 Interventions A Multilevel Perspective

Although the number of schools implementing School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) is increasing, and there is great demand for evidence-based Tier 2 and 3 intervention...
The effect of attitudes on inferences of homosexuality and perceived physical attractiveness in women

A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that inferences of homosexuality will be made more frequently about women who are perceived to be less physically attractive. This hypothesis was supported. More importantly, the investigation was designed to determine whether the perception of a relationship between female homosexuality and level of physical attractiveness would be affected by raters' attitudes about homosexuality and traditional sex-role behavior. Results indicated that female raters with conservative attitudes were likely to associate homosexuality with those women to whom they had given the worst evaluations concerning physical appearance, while more liberal females were less likely to do so. Male raters' attitudes bore little relationship to their evaluations of homosexuality and physical attractiveness. Several interpretations of these results are discussed.
Infection and labor: the detection of endotoxin in amniotic fluid.

Intra-amniotic infections are frequently caused by gram-negative organisms. Lypopolysaccharid e, or endotoxin, is a component of the cell wall of these bacteria. The Limulus amebocyte lysate assay is the most sensitive test clinically available for the detection of endotoxin in biologic samples. The diagnostic value of the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay test for the detection of intra-amniotic infection has been examined and compared with that of the Gram stain. The Gram stain had a 60.8% sensitivity and 9.6% false positive rate. The Limulus amebocyte lysate assay had a 69% sensitivity and a 4.8% false positive rate. When both tests were used in combination, the sensitivity improved to 95.6%, whereas the false positive rate was 14.3%. The Limulus amebocyte lysate assay test is a rapid, sensitive, inexpensive, and simple test for the detection of gram-negative intra-amniotic infections.
Invisible light: Using infrared for video conference relighting

Desktop video conferencing often suffers from bad lighting, which may be caused by harsh shadowing, saturated regions, etc. The primary reason for this is the lack of control over lighting in the user's environment. A hardware-based solution to this problem would be to place lights near the video camera, but these would be distracting to the user. We use a set of infrared lights placed around the computer monitor to gather a sequence of frames which is used to infer surface normals of the scene. These are used in combination with a visible spectrum image to create an improved relighting result.
State-space nonlinear process modeling : Identification and universality

A practical approach was used to identify nonlinear models from available data. Knowing the true dynamics of a process allows implementation of a better and more efficient control scheme. Since this knowledge is not always available, a valid alternative to obtain a model is to identify the system. For that purpose, the DABNet (Decoupled A-B Net) structure was used that is composed of a decoupled linear dynamic system followed by a nonlinear static map. The linear dynamic system was initially spanned by a set of discrete Laguerre systems and then cascaded with a single hidden layer Perceptron. A model reduction technique (linear balancing) used on the hidden nodes of the neural network as part of the identification process makes it possible not only to identify the main time constants, but reduce the dimensionality of the Perceptron input. It was proven that the DABNet structure can approximate every nonlinear, causal, discrete time invariant, multiple-input single-output system with fading memory. The final model consists of a linear state-space system whose states, decoupled by input, are mapped by a neural network. Results concerning the application of the methodology to the approximation of a CSTR and a polymer process are presented.
Evaluation of Hypercholesterolemia in Childhood

For many adults, the risk of atherosclerosis can be reduced by intervention and treatment of known risk factors. Direct proof that similar intervention will be effective in children is not available. However, evidence suggests that prevention beginning in childhood will lead to a decrease in incidence of heart disease later in life. The majority of families are eager to take steps to prevent heart disease in their children, especially if there is a family history of early heart disease. It is the role of the pediatrician to identify those children at risk for early heart disease and to initiate advice on reducing risk factors.
Natural-abundance 13C NMR study of glycogen repletion in human liver and muscle

Optimizing the surface-coil design and spectral-acquisition parameters has lead to the observation of the 13C NMR natural abundance glycogen signal in man at 2.1 T. Both the human muscle and hepatic glycogen signals can be detected definitively with a time resolution of approximately equal to 13 min. A 1H/13C concentric surface coil was used. The 1H outer coil was 11 cm in diameter; the 13C inner coil was 8 cm in diameter. The coils were tuned to 89.3 MHz and 22.4 MHz, respectively. The 1H coil was used for optimizing field homogeneity (shimming) the magnet and for single-frequency decoupling of the C1 glycogen signal. Total power deposition from both the transmitter pulse and the continuous wave decoupling did not exceed the Food and Drug Administration guideline of 8 W/kg of tissue. Experiments were done for which healthy subjects returned to the magnets at different times for 13C NMR measurement. The spectral difference between experiments was within the noise in the C1 glycogen region. Because of the spectral reproducibility and the signal sensitivity, hepatic glycogen repletion can be followed. Four hours postprandial, hepatic glycogen increases by 3.8 times from the basal fasted state. The hepatic glycogen data correspond directly to previous biopsy results and support the use of 13C NMR as a noninvasive probe of human metabolism.
The chromatic aberration adjustment in laser optometry.

Abstract— The issues involved in designing chromatic aberration corrections in laser optometry are reviewed. There is considerable disagreement regarding both the magnitude of human eye chromatic aberration and the value that should be assumed for the reference wavelength. Also important are the observer's accommodative state, target luminance wavelength, laser wavelength, intersubject dioptric variations, and several other factors. The appropriate solution for most experiments appears to be to report no chromatic aberration adjustment at all; rather, the investigator should provide basic technical information from which interested readers can make their own corrections, depending on the assumptions of importance to them.
The spatial vectorcardiogram in myocardial infarction typified by prominent R waves in Leads aVR and V1

Abstract 1. 1. Five patients with myocardial infarction and prominent or tall R waves in Leads aV R and/or V 1 are reported. 2. 2. Vectorcardiographic studies revealed that the spatial vector loop was in the right superior anterior octant in three patients, right superior posterior octant in the fourth patient, and left superior posterior octant in the fifth patient. The horizontal plane vector loop was strikingly displaced to the right in four of the five patients. 3. 3. The development of tall R waves in Leads aV R and V 1 is shown in two patients. 4. 4. Evidence is presented that these prominent R waves occur in either antero- or posterolateral wall myocardial infarction and that the infarct must be large in ratio to the remaining myocardium. 5. 5. The spatial vectorcardiogram clearly explains the reason for the prominent R waves and the concept of cardiac rotation need not be involved.
A MODIFICATION OF THE FRANK-GOLDBERGER BLOOD ESTTUN TEST1

The cyclical changes of the vaginal epithelium and reproductive organs in the guinea-pig were first described by Stockard and Papinicolau (1) and later confirmed by Long and Evans (2) and Allen (3) in the rat and mouse respectively. They also demonstrated that these cyclical phenomena ceased after double ovariectomy and reappeared following ovarian implantation. Allen and Doisy (4) were the first to utilize castrated rodents for the purpose of determining the presence of follicular hormone in extracts. Frank and Goldberger (5) applied this method of determination for the blood of normal, fertile, menstruating women, with complete success, using the spayed mouse as the laboratory standard. The test as described is satisfactory, with one exception: it is not always possible to emulsify the lipoid residue with water. Occasionally acacia must be rubbed with the residue so that emulsification will occur. At times even this fails, so that the extract per se must be deposited subcutaneously through a skin incisi...
Synergistic effect and possible mechanisms of tumor necrosis factor and cisplatin cytotoxicity under moderate hyperthermia against gastric cancer cells

Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis is a difficult management problem, and intraperitoneal treatment approaches may provide an opportunity to intensify dose and minimize toxicity. The current experiments were conducted to characterize the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin (cDDP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and hyperthermia (HT) on a gastric cancer cell line in vitro under conditions achievable with intraperitoneal treatment.
Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectral Characterization of Transient Iron Species of Bioinorganic Relevance.

Strategies have been developed to obtain electrospray ionization mass spectral data on short-lived intermediates derived from the reactions of non-heme iron complexes with peroxides. The molecular composition of a transient green intermediate generated from [Fe2O(5-Me3-TPA)2(OH)(H2O)](ClO4)3 with H2O2 in CH3CN at −40 °C was determined by introducing the solution via a precooled syringe to the inlet of the mass spectrometer. The observation of prominent ion clusters in both positive and negative mass regions, together with isotope distribution patterns characteristic of the number of associated ClO4 ions, allows its formulation as [Fe2(O)2(5-Me3-TPA)2](ClO4)3. The molecular composition of a transient blue species derived from the reaction of [Fe2O(TPA)2(H2O)(ClO4)](ClO4)3 with excess benzyl alcohol and tBuOOH at −40 °C was also determined. Due to its limited stability even at −40 °C, the blue intermediate was generated in a cooled mixing tee from its precursor components and directly introduced into the ma...
Theory of Inelastic Electron-Surface-Plasmon Interactions in Metal-Semiconductor Tunnel Junctions

The excess tunneling current due to electron-surface-plasmon interactions in semiconductor-metal tunnel junctions is calculated. The expression for the second derivative of this excess current, which corresponds to structure in $\frac{{d}^{2}I}{d{V}^{2}}$ as an increase in conductance at bias voltages near the surface plasmon energy in the semiconductor, agrees with experiment both in magnitude and line shape.
Hsp20 and its cardioprotection.

The small heat shock protein Hsp20, also referred to as P20/HspB6, is expressed in the brain, stomach, liver, lung, kidney, blood, smooth muscle, skeletal muscle, and cardiac tissue. Although Hsp20 is not heat-inducible, several cellular signaling pathways appear to regulate its biologic functions. In recent years, tremendous advances have been made in elucidating the significance of Hsp20 in smooth muscle and its potential benefits on coronary vasculature. Of interest, recent findings have demonstrated that sustained β -adrenergic stimulation results in expression and phosphorylation of cardiac Hsp20. Moreover, Hsp20 overexpression enhances cardiac function and renders cardioprotection against β -agonist-mediated apoptosis and ischemia/reperfusion injury ex vivo and in vivo. This article reviews the new findings on translocation of Hsp20 in response to various stimuli and the multiple cellular targets of Hsp20, with special emphasis on its protective effects in the heart.
Poröse Materialien zur CO2‐Abtrennung und ‐Abscheidung – Entwicklung und Bewertung

Vor dem Hintergrund moglicher Anwendungen bei der Abscheidung und Lagerung von CO2 und der Reinigung von ruckstandsfrei verbrennendem Erdgas hat die Entwicklung von mikroporosen Materialien fur adsorptive Trennprozesse ein rasantes Wachstum erfahren. Dies gilt in besonderem Mase fur Metall-organische Geruste (metal-organic frameworks, MOFs) und andere porose Koordinationspolymere. Wir beschaftigen uns hier mit der Frage, wie die Eignung dieser vielen Materialien fur eine praktische Anwendung in Kohlendioxid-Trennprozessen schnell beurteilt werden kann. Funf Bewertungskriterien fur Adsorber aus der Literatur der Verfahrenstechnik werden beschrieben und auf mehr als 40 MOFs fur CO2-Abtrennprozesse der Erdgasreinigung, Deponiegastrennung und CO2-Abscheidung aus dem Rauchgas von Kraftwerken angewendet. Es werden Vergleiche mit anderen Materialien wie Zeolithen angestellt, und anhand einer grosen Datenmenge wird der Zusammenhang zwischen den Eigenschaften der MOFs und ihrer Eignung fur die CO2-Abtrennung untersucht. Schlieslich werden fur das Design und die Modifizierung von MOFs kurz Strategien zusammengefasst, die zu einer besseren CO2-Adsorption fuhren sollen.
Chicago School Policy: Regulating Black and Latino Youth in the Global City.

The author examines the relationship between accountability and militarization of urban US schools and social and economic processes in cities. The focus is the role of education policies in the production of inequality and racial oppression in the context of a new geography of centrality and marginality in world cities. This analysis is developed through a case study of Chicago school policy, which has been presented as a model for US schools nationally. The analysis is grounded in critical policy scholarship and critical race theory and draws on qualitative studies of four Chicago schools and system-wide data. It is argued that Chicago's policies serve to regulate and marginalize African American and Latino youth and sort and discipline them for differentiated roles in the economy and the city. It is also argued that these policies establish racialized social control through direct force and internalized discipline. The author contends that in the new urban landscape, education policies rooted in accoun...
Carbon effects on crystallization kinetics of Li2O–Al2O3–SiO2 glasses

Abstract Li 2 O–Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 glasses with varied amounts of carbon were prepared by conventional melting. Based on the crystallization kinetics, the crystallization activation energy E , frequency factor v , and Avrami exponent n were determined by differential thermal analysis. A single crystal phase, β -eucryptite, precipitates in all glasses and no carbonide was detected by X-ray diffraction. Wave length dispersive spectroscopy revealed the incorporated carbon remains in the residual glass phase. Both crystallization activation energy and the logarithm function of frequency factor linearly decrease with the increase of the carbon concentration, while the Avrami exponent remains nearly constant. This is interpreted to indicate that the incorporated carbon has a twofold effect on the crystallization of Lithium aluminium silicate (LAS) glasses: (1) lowers the initial crystallization temperature (2) impedes the diffusion in the glasses, but the former effect is predominant. The addition of 4% by weight of carbon has no detectable effect on crystallization of lithium alumino silicate glasses.
Origins of homochirality: a simulation by electrical circuit

Chiral asymmetry is apparent in almost all living organisms on earth. However, the origins of chirality are unknown. One proposed theory of chiral asymmetry is by a symmetry-breaking transition such as the explosion of a supernova emitting neutrinos into the earth's biosphere during the prebiotic era. The discovery of weak neutral currents reinforces this theory. We present a simulation of this thoery by an electrical circuit that models the bifurcation equation of the chiral symmetry breaking process. There are three components that constitute this circuit: chiral circuit, sawtooth wave generator, and noise generator. The solution to the chiral circuit, which is the core of the hardware, generates the bifurcation equation. The sawtooth wave generator controls the bifurcation point (critical point), and the noise generator gives the system randomness. We included an adjustable bias voltage and saw a tendency to favor one symmetry over another (D or L) with randomness generated by noise.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Potential Operating Region for Ultrasoft X-ray Microscopy of Biological Materials

Calculations are presented which indicate an extensive suboptical region in the microscopy of biological materials in their natural state which is accessible to ultrasoft x-ray transmission microscopy. Throughout most of the region, radiation dosage levels to the specimen are lower than in electron microscopy.
Hierarchical clustering of mathematical journals based upon citation matrices

Journal-to-journal citation matrices can be examined with a two-stage double-standardization and hierarchical clustering procedure that has been widely applied to other transaction flow tables. An illustration is given, using 1967–1975 citations between 22 mathematical journals. Groups oriented to analysis and to algebra are discerned. Certain journals, such as theProceedings of the American Mathematical Society, are shown to have broad, nonspecialized tjes with the other periodicals.
State-of-the-art and prospects for magnetic, electronic and mechanical applications of amorphous metals A synopsis of the ONR materials workshop at Northeastern University, Boston, Mass., November 20 – 21, 1975

Abstract A workshop on the State-of-the-Art and Prospects for Magnetic, Electronic and Mechanical Applications of Amorphous Metals was held on November 20 – 21, 1975, to provide a forum for discussions of the potential applications of amorphous metals and their related physical properties. The 150 attendees of the ONR Materials Workshop at Northeastern University, Boston, included representatives from academia, industry and government, many of whom had also participated in the immediately preceding Second International Conference on Rapidly Quenched Metals held at M.I.T. Half-day sessions were devoted to: (1) preparation and characterization, (2) mechanical applications and (3) magnetic and electronic applications. While statements at the workshop were not for attribution, this report seeks to present a synopsis of the views which were expressed. Although amorphous metals are clearly highly promising for technology, it is indicated that a large amount of essential research and development lies ahead.
Preparation of Standards and Measurement of Nitric Oxide, Nitroxyl, and Related Oxidation Products

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is a vasodilator, neurotransmitter, and inflammatory mediator which is unstable at physiologic O 2 tensions. NO′s susceptibility to oxidation accounts for its short biological half-life in vivo and greatly complicates its measurement. Measuring NO requires an understanding of the redox reactions and partitioning that determine its survival and distribution. In aqueous solutions NO rapidly partitions to the gas phase and virtually all the NO in the aqueous phase is oxidized to nitrite (NO − 2 ). The survival of NO in oxygenated water is inversely proportional to the PO 2 . Nitrate (NO − 3 ) is produced mainly in the presence of oxidizing agents, such as the oxyhemoproteins. NO is readily measured by a chemiluminescence assay in which the reaction of NO with ozone yields light in direct proportion to NO levels (detection threshold ≈5 pmol). This assay is relatively specific as few other biological compounds exist as gases and interact with ozone. The chemiluminescence assay can be modified to measure NO − 2 by refluxing the sample with an acid and a reducing agent, such as potassium iodide (KI). Reduction of NO − 3 to NO requires a stronger reducing agent (vanadium III). Acidification and reduction renders the chemiluminescence assay less specific for NO as not all NO − 2 is derived from NO. NO − 2 is a ubiquitous contaminant of H 2 O and is a product of bacterial denitrification enzymes. The threshold for detection of NO − 2 by chemiluminescence (5 × 10 −11 mol) is lower than that of conventional colorimetric assays using the Griess reagent (threshold≈10 −9 mol). The chemiluminescence assay is best calibrated against NO gas (10 ppm) or saturated NO solutions. Saturated solutions of NO (≈2 mM) are prepared by bubbling deoxygenated H 2 O with 99.99% NO gas using a custom-designed apparatus. Since NO levels in vivo reflect a complex balance of NO synthesis, reduction–oxidation, and partitioning, a single type of assay of only one compartment is rarely adequate to characterize NO metabolism.
Electron loss in low - energy H + - H (high n) merged - beam collisions

We have measured the electron-loss cross section for collisions between protons and highly excited hydrogen atoms having principal quantum numbers in the nominal $n$ band $44\ensuremath{\lesssim}n\ensuremath{\lesssim}50$. The c.m. collision energy range was $0.4 \mathrm{eV}l~Wl~61 \mathrm{eV}$. Theoretical ionization-cross-section results are compared with the data and are then used to unfold from the data the approximate electron-transfer cross section. Classical scaling calculations are found to be in reasonable agreement with the unfolded data while quantal predictions are not.
Gas Flow Method for Detecting Local Preform Defects by Inverse Estimation of Space-Varying Permeability:

A method using gas flow is proposed for testing the quality of fibrous preforms in the resin transfer molding process. The method is based on the idea that preform defects cause variation in permeability and deviation from Darcy's law. This paper presents a gradient-based inverse method that estimate space-varying permeability by examining the consistency between computed and measured pressures at various locations in the mold during steady-state gas flow through the enclosed preform. Such consistency is achieved by the conjugate gradient method. The computed pressures are obtained by the control volume finite element method (CVFEM). The proposed method was demonstrated by using a specially designed mold with multiple ports for gas injection and pressure measurement, and testing for various cases with and without defects.
De-mystifying what's up down there.

After numerous gynecological examinations of teenage girls it becomes clear that they have little knowledge of their vaginal anatomy or any concept of vaginal health. Health education pertaining to reproductive organs is at best limited to pictures of the internal reproductive organs a reflection in part of ambivalence about sexuality. Little focus is on the vagina presumably because there might be more discussion about its function. Vaginitis is a very common reason for office visits by teens as well as adult women every year. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and Trichomoniasis (Trich) are the three most common types seen. Though only Trich is felt to be sexually transmitted BV and VVC are considered sexually-associated since they are usually seen in sexually active females. In prepubertal vaginitis not associated with sexual abuse the causative organisms are usually respiratory pathogens such as Group A beta hemolytic streptococci and H. influenzae or enteric organisms usually E. coli. (excerpt)
A History of Intergenerational Programs.

(1989). A History of Intergenerational Programs. Journal of Children in Contemporary Society: Vol. 20, No. 3-4, pp. 1-16.
Hair reduction using a scanning 800 nm diode laser.

Background. Numerous lasers are currently available for hair removal, yet there are still few studies that have examined the role of fluence, light dose, hair color, and treatment number in laser hair reduction. Objective. To demonstrate the efficacy and safety of a scanning 800 nm diode laser for hair reduction. Methods. An 800 nm scanning diode laser was used to deliver 24, 38, or 48 J/cm2 to a 3 cm × 3 cm area of skin located on the back, groin/bikini area, or thigh in 36 adult patients with varying shades of brown or black hair. Patients received one to four treatments during the course of the study. Hair loss was evaluated at both 30 and 90 days after final treatment. Biopsies were obtained from 20 consenting patients. Results. Significant fluence-dependent hair reduction was demonstrated between treatment and control groups. At 48 J/cm2, the highest dose, a mean hair reduction of 43% was achieved 30 days after the final treatment, and 34% was achieved 90 days after the final treatment. Darker hairs were more effectively treated than lighter hairs. Conclusions. Hair reduction can be safely and effectively achieved using a scanning 800 nm diode laser.
Direct measurement of single-channel Ca2+ currents in bullfrog hair cells reveals two distinct channel subtypes

1. To confer their acute sensitivity to mechanical stimuli, hair cells employ Ca(2+) ions to mediate sharp electrical tuning and neurotransmitter release. We examined the diversity and properties of voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels in bullfrog saccular hair cells by means of perforated and cell-attached patch-clamp techniques. Whole-cell Ca(2+) current records provided hints that hair cells express L-type as well as dihydropyridine-insensitive Ca(2+) currents. 2. Single Ca(2+) channel records confirmed the presence of L-type channels, and a distinct Ca(2+) channel, which has sensitivity towards omega-conotoxin GVIA. Despite its sensitivity towards omega-conotoxin GVIA, the non-L-type channel cannot necessarily be considered as an N-type channel because of its distinct voltage-dependent gating properties. 3. Using 65 mM Ca(2+) as the charge carrier, the L-type channels were recruited at about -40 mV and showed a single-channel conductance of 13 pS. Under similar recording conditions, the non-L-type channels were activated at approximately -60 mV and had a single-channel conductance of approximately 16 pS. 4. The non-L-type channel exhibited at least two fast open time constants (tau(o) = 0.2 and 5 ms). In contrast, the L-type channels showed long openings (tau(o) = approximately 23 ms) that were enhanced by Bay K 8644, in addition to the brief openings (tau(o) = 0.3 and 10 ms). 5. The number of functional channels observed in patches of similar sizes suggests that Ca(2+) channels are expressed singly, in low-density clusters (2-15 channels) and in high-density clusters (20-80 channels). Co-localization of the two channel subtypes was observed in patches containing low-density clusters, but was rare in patches containing high-density clusters. 6. Finally, we confirmed the existence of two distinct Ca(2+) channel subtypes by using immunoblot and immunohistochemical techniques.
On FastMap and the convex hull of multivariate data: toward fast and robust dimension reduction

FastMap is a dimension reduction technique that operates on distances between objects. Although only distances are used, implicitly the technique assumes that the objects are points in a p-dimensional Euclidean space. It selects a sequence of k /spl les/ p orthogonal axes defined by distant pairs of points (called pivots) and computes the projection of the points onto the orthogonal axes. We show that FastMap uses only the outer envelope of a data set. Pivots are taken from the faces, usually vertices, of the convex hull of the data points in the original implicit Euclidean space. This provides a bridge to results in robust statistics, where the convex hull is used as a tool in multivariate outlier detection and in robust estimation methods. The connection sheds new light on the properties of FastMap, particularly its sensitivity to outliers, and provides an opportunity for a new class of dimension reduction algorithms, RobustMaps, that retain the speed of FastMap and exploit ideas in robust statistics.
CMOS resistive fuses for image smoothing and segmentation

A two-terminal nonlinear element called a resistive fuse is described. Its application in image smoothing and segmentation is explained. Two types of CMOS resistive fuses were designed, fabricated, and tested. The first implementation employs four depletion-mode NMOS and PMOS transistors, occupying a minimum area of 30 mu m*38 mu m. The second implementation uses seven or 11 standard enhancement-mode transistors on an area of 75 mu m*100 mu m or less. Individual resistive-fuse circuits have been fabricated and tested and their functionality has been demonstrated. A one-dimensional network of 35 resistive fuses using the 11-transistor implementation was also fabricated in a standard CMOS process. Experimental results indicate that the network is capable of smoothing out small variations in image intensity while preserving the edges of objects. >
eFlux: Simple Automatic Adaptation for Environmentally Powered Devices

Energy management is a critical problem in designing mobile computing systems, especially when those systems depend on harvesting energy from environmental sources, such as solar or wind. Environmental sources are highly variable and difficult to predict, which is often complicated further by device mobility. In this demo, we present a simple approach for developing energy-aware applications using a high-level data flow oriented coordination language. This language, eFlux, is an extension of the Flux (Burns et al., 2006) coordination language, which provides a simple interface for specifying an energy adaptation policy, which can then be implemented automatically by the underlying runtime system. This approach allows a system designer to change the underlying adaptation algorithms (e.g. energy source prediction) without modifying the application. Also, the data flow programming style of Flux simplifies program profiling and performance prediction. In this demo, we will present our experience, to date, using eFlux, including both working system and simulation results. We will also demonstrate an energy-aware GPS tracking device for tracking threatened Wood Turtles in Western Massachusetts
Onyx is associated with poor venous penetration in the treatment of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas

Background and purpose The use of Onyx has become the mainstream for the treatment of cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and arteriovenous malformations, but the reported success for type I spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (sDAVFs) remains limited. We review our experience with Onyx and report its limitations in the treatment of spinal AVFs. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed the Interventional Neuroradiology Procedure database at Washington University for cases of sDAVF embolization. Radiology reports were reviewed for fistula classification, treatment technique, and initial and follow-up results. Angiographic images were reviewed to confirm diagnosis, treatment, and penetration of embolisate into the draining vein. Results With the use of Onyx, sDAVFs were obliterated in six of seven patients at the time of treatment. Follow-up angiography confirmed sDAVF obliteration in two patients, and recurrence in two cases. Two patients had no follow-up. One patient not cured at the time of treatment was treated surgically. Of the nine total treatments, Onyx successfully crossed the nidus into the draining vein in only four cases. Successful venous embolization was facilitated with positioning of the microcatheter to less than 5 mm from the nidus in three of the four cases. The use of n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) resulted in venous penetration in eight of 10 cases, and short term follow-up cure in seven of 10 patients. Conclusions Our experience with Onyx for type I sDAVF embolization has been tempered by difficulty in achieving venous penetration and, consequently, a high rate of recurrence. For management of these fistulas, we favor NBCA or surgical treatment.
Silent TWIK-1 potassium channels conduct monovalent cation currents.

TWIK-1 two-pore domain K+ channels generally produce nonmeasurable or very low levels of K+ currents in heterologous expression systems under physiologically ionic conditions. Two controversial mechanisms have been proposed to account for this behavior: TWIK-1 K+ channels are expressed in the cell surface but silenced by sumoylation at a lysine residue (TWIK-1 K274); constitutive and rapid internalization of TWIK-1 causes TWIK-1 channel silencing. Here we report that TWIK-1 K+ channels heterologously expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells, which are silent in physiological K+ gradients, are able to conduct large monovalent cation currents when extracellular ionic conditions change. These results support the hypothesis that TWIK-1 K+ channels are expressed in the cell surface but silent, and suggest that the TWIK-1 gating behavior rather than the lack of cell surface expression of TWIK-1 results in nondetectable TWIK-1 K+ currents in heterologous expression systems.
DOSE-RELATED HEART-RATE, PERCEPTUAL, AND DECISIONAL CHANGES IN MAN FOLLOWING MARIHUANA SMOKING

Information processing was tested in 12 male subjects after smoking marihuana containing 0, 10, or 20 mg. of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in three consecutive experimental sessions according to a Latin square protocol. Successful dose control was indicated both by the dose-related linear increase observed in heart rate and by preliminary assays of THC metabolites excreted in the urine. During tachistoscopic presentation of varying numbers of circles, statistically significant decrements in information processing occurred as a function of THC dosage. However, adding irrelevant information (triangles) to the display of circles eliminated effects of marihuana on accuracy of counting. Complex reaction times for oddity discrimination increased significantly only after the high dose. Nonetheless, both the social and high doses inappropriately inhibited the general tendency to respond to changing stimuli during oddity discrimination. Marihuana had no effect on field-dependence as measured by the Rod-and-frame test.
Otolithic Evoked Potentials: A New Technique for Vestibular Studies

Evoked potentials, EP, are time-locked electroencephalographic voltages bearing temporal relation to an excitatory stimulus, recorded by scalp electrodes and an averaging computer. This paper reports the first apparent recording of otolithic EP. Thirty-nine students on a tilt table underwent head drop conditions stimulatory to the otolithic maculas. The waveform obtained resembles neither auditory, visual, somatosensory or semicircular EP. Otolithic EP provide heretofore unavailable insights into the electrophysiology of the macular generators, VIII nerve, and related central processing.
Respondent-Driven Sampling II: Deriving Valid Population Estimates from Chain-Referral Samples of Hidden Populations

Researchers studying hidden populations–including injection drug users, men who have sex with men, and the homeless–find that standard probability sampling methods are either inapplicable or prohibitively costly because their subjects lack a sampling frame, have privacy concerns, and constitute a small part of the general population. Therefore, researchers generally employ non-probability methods, including location sampling methods such as targeted sampling, and chain-referral methods such as snowball and respondent-driven sampling. Though nonprobability methods succeed in accessing the hidden populations, they have been insufficient for statistical inference. This paper extends the respondent-driven sampling method to show that when biases associated with chain-referral methods are analyzed in sufficient detail, a statistical theory of the sampling process can be constructed, based on which the sampling process can be redesigned to permit the derivation of indicators that are not biased and have known levels of precision. The results are based on a study of 190 injection drug users in a small Connecticut city.
Opiate slowing of feline respiratory rhythm and effects on putative medullary phase-regulating neurons.

Opiates have effects on respiratory neurons that depress tidal volume and air exchange, reduce chest wall compliance, and slow rhythm. The most dose-sensitive opioid effect is slowing of the respir...
Multiple perspectives on preparing teachers to teach reading

Book reviewed in this article: Knowledge to Support the Teaching of Reading: Preparing Teachers for a Changing World. Catherine Snow, Peg Griffin, & M. Susan Burns. (Eds.). 2005.
The neural dynamics of updating person impressions

Person perception is a dynamic, evolving process. Because other people are an endless source of social information, people need to update their impressions of others based upon new information. We devised an fMRI study to identify brain regions involved in updating impressions. Participants saw faces paired with valenced behavioral information and were asked to form impressions of these individuals. Each face was seen five times in a row, each time with a different behavioral description. Critically, for half of the faces the behaviors were evaluatively consistent, while for the other half they were inconsistent. In line with prior work, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) was associated with forming impressions of individuals based on behavioral information. More importantly, a whole-brain analysis revealed a network of other regions associated with updating impressions of individuals who exhibited evaluatively inconsistent behaviors, including rostrolateral PFC, superior temporal sulcus, right inferior parietal lobule and posterior cingulate cortex.
Cytopathogenicity of mumps virus in cultures of chick embryo and human amnion cells.

SummaryCytopathogenicity of 2 strains of mumps virus for primary cultures of chick embryo (CE) and human amnion (HA) cells was studied. The chick adapted Enders strain induced formation of multinucleated giant cells and extensive cellular destruction in CE cells but did not visibly affect HA cells. Multinucleated giant and spindle-like cells were observed in cultures of HA cells infected with a low passage human amnion adapted strain, which did not visibly affect CE cells. With agar overlay technic viral plaques were obtained with both strains in susceptible cell monolayers.
Design of optimized reference signal for Joint Time-Frequency Domain Reflectometry-based wiring diagnostics

In order to maintain the integrity and safe operation of a power system, a state-of-the-art wiring diagnostic technique is imperative. Joint time-frequency domain reflectometry (JTFDR) is proposed as an ideal solution due to its customizable reference signal and unique time-frequency cross-correlation function. The reference signal depends on three parameters: center frequency, bandwidth, and time duration. Previously, these parameters were chosen based on the frequency characteristics of the cable under test. This paper will fully analyze the changing effects of a wide-range of parameter combinations on two different types of defects. It is determined that there exist optimal reference signal parameters for particular defect types. With this knowledge, JTFDR is able to more sensitively detect various defect types over a longer distance than previously possible.
The unique cytoplasmic domain of human FcγRIIIA regulates receptor mediated function

Ligand specificity characterizes receptors for Abs and many other immune receptors, but the common use of the FcR γ-chain as their signaling subunit challenges the concept that these receptors are functionally distinct. We hypothesized that elements for specificity might be determined by the unique cytoplasmic domain (CY) sequences of the ligand-binding α-chains of γ-chain-associated receptors. Among Fcγ receptors, a protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation consensus motif [RSSTR], identified within the FcγRIIIa (CD16A) CY by in silico analysis, is specifically phosphorylated by PKCs, unlike other FcRs. Phosphorylated CD16A mediates a more robust calcium flux, tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk, and proinflammatory cytokine production, whereas nonphosphorylatable CD16A is more effective at activation of the Gab2/PI3K pathway, leading to enhanced degranulation. S100A4, a specific protein-binding partner for CD16A-CY newly identified by yeast two-hybrid analysis, inhibits phosphorylation of CD16A-CY by PKC in vitro, and reduction of S100A4 levels in vivo enhances receptor phosphorylation upon cross-linking. Taken together, PKC-mediated phosphorylation of CD16A modulates distinct signaling pathways engaged by the receptor. Calcium-activated binding of S100A4 to CD16A, promoted by the initial calcium flux, attenuates the phosphorylation of CY, and, acting as a molecular switch, may both serve as a negative feedback on cytokine production pathways during sustained receptor engagement and favor a shift to degranulation, consistent with the importance of granule release following conjugate formation between CD16A(+) effector cells and target cells. This switch mechanism points to new therapeutic targets and provides a framework for understanding novel receptor polymorphisms.
On the block-sparsity of multiple-measurement vectors

Based on the compressive sensing (CS) theory, it is possible to recover signals, which are either compressible or sparse under some suitable basis, via a small number of non-adaptive linear measurements. In this paper, we investigate recovering of block-sparse signals via multiple measurement vectors (MMVs) in the presence of noise. In this case, we consider one of the existing algorithms which provides a satisfactory estimate in terms of minimum meansquared error but a non-sparse solution. Here, the algorithm is first modified to result in sparse solutions. Then, further modification is performed to account for the unknown block sparsity structure in the solution, as well. The performance of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated by experimental simulations and comparisons with some other algorithms for the sparse recovery problem.
Fuzzy ART and Fuzzy ARTMAP with Adaptively Weighted Distances

In this paper, we introduce a modification of the Fuzzy ARTMAP (FAM) neural network, namely, the Fuzzy ARTMAP with adaptively weighted distances (FAMawd) neural network. In FAMawd we substitute the regular L 1 -norm with a weighted L 1 -norm to measure the distances between categories and input patterns. The distance-related weights are a function of a category's shape and allow for bias in the direction of a category's expansion during learning. Moreover, the modification to the distance measurement is proposed in order to study the capability of FAMawd in achieving more compact knowledge representation than FAM, while simultaneously maintaining good classification performance. For a special parameter setting FAMawd simplifies to the original FAM, thus, making FAMawd a generalization of the FAM architecture. We also present an experimental comparison between FAMawd and FAM on two benchmark classification problems in terms of generalization performance and utilization of categories. Our obtained results illustrate FAMawd's potential to exhibit low memory utilization, while maintaining classification performance comparable to FAM.
Structural Modeling of Human Head

A simplified structural characterization of the human skull-brain system is formulated. The model is represented by a linear elastic shell containing a linear elastic core incorporating experimentally determined properties. The model dynamic response for axisymmetric translational impact loading is sought by obtaining the shell-core static, free vibration, and time function solution. Structural validation of the human head model is demonstrated by comparing the model static stiffness coefficient, fundamental eigenfrequency, radial dynamic displacement, brain pressure, and shear response with corresponding experimental results.
Luminescent InP Quantum Dots with Tunable Emission by Post-Synthetic Modification with Lewis Acids.

We demonstrate the ability of M2+ Lewis acids (M = Cd, Zn) to dramatically enhance the photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) of InP quantum dots. The addition of cadmium and zinc is additionally found to red- and blue-shift, respectively, the lowest energy absorption and emission of InP quantum dots while maintaining particle size. This treatment results in a facile strategy to post-synthetically tune the luminescence color in these materials. Optical and structural characterization (XRD, TEM, XAS, ICP) have led us to identify the primary mechanism of PL turn-on as surface passivation of phosphorus dangling bonds, affording PL QYs up to 49% without the growth of a type I shell or the addition of HF. This route to PL enhancement and color tuning may prove useful as a standalone treatment or as a complement to shelling strategies.
Application of an Elementary Model for Assessing Change to an Isometric Measurement Schedule

Abstract A previously proposed measurement schedule for isometric strength was tested with application of a basic model for assessing change that took test reliability into consideration. Thirty S's were randomized into three groups. Groups took either one, two, or three sessions on one day in which five isometric wrist flexion trials were secured. Two weeks later all groups repeated the schedule exactly. Results indicated that (a) observed and true differences in the test-retest situation differed by one pound or less for each S; (b) initial measures and observed differences were uncorrelated; and (c) the varying number of trials on the first test day had no effect upon measures in the retest situation. It was concluded that the proposed measurement schedule was highly reliable with no demonstrated intrusion of learning or strength development effects.