cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Semi-Automated Location Identification of Catheters in Digital Chest Radiographs

Localization of catheter tips is the most common task in intensive care unit imaging. In this work, catheters appearing in digital chest radiographs acquired by portable chest x-rays were tracked using a semi-automatic method. Due to the fact that catheters are synthetic objects, its profile does not vary drastically over its length. Therefore, we use forward looking registration with normalized cross-correlation in order to take advantage of a priori information of the catheter profile. The registration is accomplished with a two-dimensional template representative of the catheter to be tracked generated using two seed points given by the user. To validate catheter tracking with this method, we look at two metrics: accuracy and precision. The algorithms results are compared to a ground truth established by catheter midlines marked by expert radiologists. Using 12 objects of interest comprised of naso-gastric, endo-tracheal tubes, and chest tubes, and PICC and central venous catheters, we find that our algorithm can fully track 75% of the objects of interest, with a average tracking accuracy and precision of 85.0%, 93.6% respectively using the above metrics. Such a technique would be useful for physicians wishing to verify the positioning of catheter tips using chest radiographs.
Linear response of stretch-affected premixed flames to flow oscillations

Abstract The linear response of 2D wedge-shaped premixed flames to harmonic velocity disturbances was studied, allowing for the influence of flame stretch manifested as variations in the local flame speed along the wrinkled flame front. Results obtained from analyzing the G-equation show that the flame response is mainly characterized by a Markstein number σ ˆ C , which measures the curvature effect of the wrinkles, and a Strouhal number, St f , defined as the angular frequency of the disturbance normalized by the time taken for the disturbance to propagate the flame length. Flame stretch is found to become important when the disturbance frequency satisfies σ ˆ C St f 2 ∼ O ( 1 ) , i.e. St f ∼ O ( σ ˆ C − 1 / 2 ) . Specifically, for disturbance frequencies below this order, stretch effects are small and the flame responds as an unstretched one. When the disturbance frequencies are of this order, the transfer function, defined as the ratio of the normalized fluctuation of the heat release rate to that of the velocity, is contributed mostly from fluctuations of the flame surface area, which is now affected by stretch. Finally, as the disturbance frequency increases to St f ∼ O ( σ ˆ C − 1 ) , i.e. σ ˆ C St f ∼ O ( 1 ) , the direct contribution from the stretch-affected flame speed fluctuation to the transfer function becomes comparable to that of the flame surface area. The present study phenomenologically explains the experimentally observed filtering effect in which the flame wrinkles developed at the flame base decay along the flame surface for large frequency disturbances as well as for thermal-diffusively stable and weakly unstable mixtures.
Removing systematic errors in interionic potentials of mean force computed in molecular simulations using reaction-field-based electrostatics

The performance of reaction-field methods to treat electrostatic interactions is tested in simulations of ions solvated in water. The potential of mean force between sodium chloride pair of ions and between side chains of lysine and aspartate are computed using umbrella sampling and molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that in comparison with lattice sum calculations, the charge-group-based approaches to reaction-field treatments produce a large error in the association energy of the ions that exhibits strong systematic dependence on the size of the simulation box. The atom-based implementation of the reaction field is seen to (i) improve the overall quality of the potential of mean force and (ii) remove the dependence on the size of the simulation box. It is suggested that the atom-based truncation be used in reaction-field simulations of mixed media.
Movement of elements into the atmosphere from coniferous trees in subalpine forests of colorado and Idaho

Abstract Exudates from conifer trees, presumably consisting largely of volatile materials, were sampled at 19 subalpine localitites in Colorado and Idaho where anomalous amounts of several metals were determined in vegetation and mull during previous geochemical testing. The trees sampled were lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). The condensed exudates were passed through No. 40 Whatman filters, and through 5-micron, 0.45-micron, and 0.05-micron average-pore-diameter membrane filters, evaporated to dryness, and each residue was ashed and analyzed by a semiquantitative spectrographic method. The ashed residues of the exudates contain lithium, beryllium, boron, sodium, magnesium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, gallium, arsenic, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, silver, lead, bismuth, cadmium, tin, antimony, barium, and lanthanum. The presence of these elements suggests that volatile exudates from vegetation are a medium for the transport of elements in the biogeochemical cycle in subalpine environments. Thus, air sampling and analysis of aerosols derived from volatile exudates may be a useful tool in geochemical exploration.
Apolipoprotein E4: an allele associated with many diseases

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) was discovered as a plasma protein involved in lipoprotein metabolism. ApoE is synthesized by the liver and is also made locally in the brain. There are three common variants of apoE, resulting from common genetic variation, called E2, E3 and E4. The E3 allele is the most prevalent form, and the proportion of the three alleles differs between populations. Epidemiological studies have found that the E4 allele is associated with decreased longevity, increased plasma cholesterol levels and increased prevalence for cardiovascular disease and particularly for Alzheimer's disease. The apoE polymorphism also affects response to head trauma, cognitive decline upon ageing and several other disorders. Thus, common genetic variation in the apoE gene may be associated with successful ageing.
The Philosophy of Religion: Retrospect and Prospect

ADECADE or so ago the impending death of the philosophy of religion was widely rumored. Now we know that like similar reports of Mark Twain's demise this one was also grossly exaggerated. In point of fact, the record of the past ten years has been one of renascent vitality. Yet precisely how has the philosophy of religion fared during these ten years? What significant changes and developments have taken place? What new issues have been born and what old issues have died ? What
Nonlinear Optical Properties Of Glasses And Glass Or Gel-Based Composites

In glasses, the largest observed value of nonlinear refractive index n2 is currently about 0.1 X10-11 esu. Changes in n2 are dependent on the third-order electronic polarization, which can be estimated from the linear electronic polarizability or from the refractive index and Abbe number. Theoretical calculations of n2 have been made for some glasses with potentially high nonlinear refractive indexes. Glasses are likewise useful for the matrix of some organic compounds and semiconductors with high optical nonlinearity.
Neoadjuvant Therapy and Local Excision of Rectal Adenocarcinoma

Disease-free survival and local pelvic control after local excision alone for rectal adenocarcinoma are not as good as after proctectomy. If local excision is to be offered to select patients with distal rectal cancer as curative therapy, neoadjuvant chemoradiation may improve outcome. Neoadjuvant therapy may downsize and downstage the tumor and sterilize the margins of resection. In addition, recent data suggest that mesorectal nodal status can be predicted by histologic T stage following neoadjuvant therapy, leading to more accurate selection of patients for expectant follow-up after local excision versus proctectomy. Patients who have an excellent clinical response to neoadjuvant therapy may be initially offered local excision. If pathologic analysis reveals ypT0-1 disease, the risk of nodal metastases is approximately 3%. Proctectomy can be reserved for patients proven to have residual ypT2-4 disease. Before widespread adoption, it will be critical to prospectively compare results of this treatment algorithm with proctectomy.
The Missing Court of Claims Report: Is Letitia Humphreys Court of Claims Report 42?

Abstract Between the years 1855 and 1863, the opinions or “reports” of the United States Court of Claims were delivered to the House of Representatives for final consideration. In total, 296 cases were conveyed, but in the process, Report 42 was lost and, according to indexes of such documents, “never received by [the] House.” This article cites examined records of the Court of Claims, from both the United States Congressional Serial Set and original documents now in the National Archives, which support the contention that there was a completed opinion for Court of Claims Report 42 that was lost sometime during its transfer between the Court and the House. This 150-year-old case – Letitia Humphreys, Administratrix of Andrew Atkinson – was one in a long list of judicial proceedings, involving over 100 claimants, that resulted from the 1812 invasion of Florida by the United States, and that concerned the payment of interest to those compensated under the last clause of the ninth article of the 1819 Treaty of Amity, Settlement, and Limits, Between the United States of America and His Catholic Majesty. These Florida petitions were examples of early claims actions against the federal government, in many cases after decades of inaction.
China's Emerging Market for Property Rights: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives

This paper contrasts state-directed and market-mediated reform of enterprise ownership rights in transition economies. We evaluate China's emerging market for enterprise ownership rights from the perspective of conditions underpinning the Coase Theorem: the assignment of property rights, the degree of competition, and the nature of transaction costs. China's recent experience suggests that policies designed to expand and support the scope of decentralized, market-based restructuring of ownership rights, even under conditions that deviate widely from the ideal assumptions underlying the Coase Theorem, may prove more beneficial than direct official intervention.
Immediate life support by a single transplanted lung in puppies.

Abstract Lung allotransplantation followed immediately by ligation of the opposite pulmonary artery is compatible with survival for at least eight days in 5–10-Kg. puppies if the arterial anastomosis is made distensible and if there are no other technical flaws. The denervated transplanted lung does not necessarily develop congestion, hemorrhage or edema even though it is providing adequate total gas exchange while carrying the entire cardiac output. Technical problems, which are more difficult to prevent in puppies than in adult dogs, can be over-come by suitable precautions. Presently available immunosuppression is insufficient to prevent significant rejection of transplanted lungs with certainty in an outbred population. Ultimately, however, as improved methods for preventing rejection are developed, lung transplantation, as a therapeutic modality, should be feasible in infants and children.
The Business Ethics of Short Selling and Naked Short Selling

The controversy over short selling has continued unabated from the introduction of modern equity trading in Amsterdam in 1610 to the present day. Nevertheless, the business ethics literature has not really addressed short selling. Short sellers not only profit from the misery of others, they also create it through their selling activities. However, they also provide a socially useful service by making prices better reflect true values, protecting other investors from purchasing overpriced securities. Short sellers can also help to provide liquidity in the markets. Recently, there has been a hue and cry against so called “naked” short selling, which involves not delivering the shares that have been sold. This gives manipulators a tool for depressing stock prices and deprives purchasers of voting rights and potential stock lending revenue. Naked short selling creates ethical issues for short sellers, buyers, brokers, market makers, and regulators. Is it ethical to exploit a legal loophole that permits sellers to sell stock and delay delivering shares indefinitely?
Condensation on a spherical droplet, II

Abstract Previous work on calculation of condensation rate for a spherical droplet is extended, and a simple expression in the near continuum requime is derived by solving the Boltzmann equation. Use of this result in Fuch's interpolation formula for all knudsen numbers is discussed, and relationship with previous results is examined. An improved form of the Fuchs interpolation formula is also given.
Physical and chemical parameters of sediment extraction and fractionation that influence toxicity, as evaluated by microtox®

Several physical and chemical parameters of sediment extraction and fractionation of organic compounds that influence bioassay results were evaluated. Each parameter was evaluated with a photoluminescent bacterial bioassay (Microtox) as an end point. Three solvents (acetonitrile, acetone, and methanol) were studied for their ability to extract toxic organic components from marine sediments. Acetone extracted the most toxicity, with no difference between acetonitrile and methanol. Two methods of fractionating sediment extracts (silica-gel-column chromatography (SGCC) and acid-base fractionation) were compared. SGCC was more useful because it resulted in a wider range of responses and was faster to perform than acid-base fractionation. Microtox was used to rank four marine sediments with respect to toxicity and to determine if one chemical class (or fraction) was consistently more toxic among different sediments. With some caveats, Microtox results agreed with general chemical concentration trends and other bioassay results in distinguishing between contaminated and noncontaminated sediments. Although results indicated there was not a consistently most toxic fraction among sediments, there was a consistently least toxic fraction. The effect of sediment storage time on toxicity was also evaluated. Results indicated that the most stable chemical fraction (containing nonpolar hydrocarbons) did not change toxicologically for 30 weeks, whereas themore » more chemically active fraction (containing ketones, quinones, and carboxyls) changed as soon as one week.« less
Obesity-hypertension: the effects on cardiovascular and renal systems

Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies suggest that a large number of obese patients have a high prevalence of hypertension. This association causes the following changes: insulin and leptin resistance with a suppressed biologic activity of natriuretic peptide, which contributes to sodium retention with concomitant expanded cardiopulmonary volume and increased cardiac output. The cellular metabolism of cations may be altered in obesity and may lead to changes in vascular responsiveness and increased vascular resistance. These changes lead to structural adaptations in the heart characterized by concentric-eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy. The hypertrophic condition provides the basis for the development of congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias that may explain the higher rates of cardiac sudden death in those patients. In the kidneys, obesity hypertension may initiate a derangement of renal function. The increased deposit of interstitial cells and of extracellular matrix between the tubules induces higher interstitial hydrostatic pressure and tubular sodium reabsorption. The consequent increase in renal flow and glomerular filtration enhances albuminuria excretion and the susceptibility to the development of renal damage. In summary, the hemodynamic and structural adaptations related to obesity hypertension is the cause of greater risk for adverse cardiovascular and renal events.
Multiphysics modeling and uncertainty quantification for an active composite reflector

A multiphysics, high resolution simulation of an actively controlled, composite reflector panel is developed to extrapolate from ground test results to flight performance. The subject test article has previously demonstrated sub-micron corrected shape in a controlled laboratory thermal load. This paper develops a model of the on-orbit performance of the panel under realistic thermal loads, with an active heater control system, and performs an uncertainty quantification of the predicted response. The primary contribution of this paper is the first reported application of the Sandia developed Sierra mechanics simulation tools to a spacecraft multiphysics simulation of a closed-loop system, including uncertainty quantification. The simulation was developed so as to have sufficient resolution to capture the residual panel shape error that remains after the thermal and mechanical control loops are closed. An uncertainty quantification analysis was performed to assess the predicted tolerance in the closed-loop wavefront error. Key tools used for the uncertainty quantification are also described.
A Quantile Regression Analysis of Micro-lending's Poverty Impact

This paper aims to evaluate the impact of a microlending program on ameliorating measured poverty within its client population, with the aim of improving that impact. We analyze over 18,000 women micro-finance clients of the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), a database using the Progress out of Poverty (PPI) Scorecard as a measure of poverty. Analysis using both OLS and quantile multivariate regression models shows how observable borrower attributes affect the ability of clients to reduce their measured poverty. Loan size, duration, and the economic activity supported all have strongly identifiable effects. Moreover, estimates suggest which among the poor are receiving the greatest effective help by the program. Results offer specific advice to the NWTF and other micro-lenders: impact is greatest with fewer, larger loans in particular economic sectors (sari-sari, service and trade) but require patience as each additional year increases the clients average change in poverty score.
Fast SVD Computations for Synchrophasor Algorithms

Many singular value decomposition (SVD) problems in power system computations require only a few largest singular values of a large-scale matrix for the analysis. This letter introduces two fast SVD approaches recently developed in other domains to power systems for speeding up phasor measurement unit (PMU) based online applications. The first method is a randomized SVD algorithm that accelerates computation by introducing a low-rank approximation of a given matrix through randomness. The second method is the augmented Lanczos bidiagonalization, an iterative Krylov subspace technique that computes sequences of projections of a given matrix onto low-dimensional subspaces. Both approaches are illustrated on SVD evaluation within an ambient oscillation monitoring algorithm, namely stochastic subspace identification (SSI).
p-Version least squares finite element formulation for axisymmetric incompressible Newtonian fluid flow

Abstract This paper presents a p -version least squares finite element formulation for axisymmetric incompressible Newtonian fluid flow. The partial differential equations describing the fluid motion are cast into a set of first order coupled partial differential equations involving viscous stresses as auxiliary variables. The pressure, velocities (primary variables) and the viscous stresses (auxiliary variables) are interpolated over an element using equal order, C 0 , p -version hierarchical approximation functions. The p -version least squares finite element formulation is constructed using the set of first order coupled partial differential equations which results in finding a solution vector {δ} for which the partial derivatives of the error functional (integrated sum of squares of the errors resulting from individual equations for the entire discretization) with respect to the nodal degrees of freedom {δ} become zero. This is accomplished by using Newton's method with a line search. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the convergence characteristics and accuracy of the method.
Execution and optimization of continuous windowed aggregation queries

The desire of companies to analyze web-site activity data quickly in order to show personalized content and advertisements to users has led to renewed interest in continuous query processing. One important query class here is windowed aggregation which does time-based windowing followed by grouping and aggregation over a data stream. An example query may aggregate each user's activity over a recent one hour window, and update the result every five minutes. In this paper, we characterize the rich execution plan space for windowed aggregation queries. No such attempt has been made previously to the best of our knowledge. Our second contribution is in developing a cost-based optimizer to pick a good plan from this space for a given query. Finally, we show the effectiveness of the cost-based optimizer.
Some Aspects of the Ozone-Depletion Problem in the Stratosphere

A preliminary investigation of O3 depletion by NOx in the exhaust of an SST wake is presented. Initial calculations were made using a model employing a two-step chemistry mechanism consisting of an NOx catalytic cycle and assuming total NOx and the ratio NO/NO2 to be conserved. The results indicate O3 depletion in the wake much less severe than reported in earlier investigations which used a much larger reaction rate constant. Subsequent investigation revealed, however, that even the current O3 depletion rates appear too large. Because of the apparent deficiencies in the two-step chemical model, a model is presented with a more realistic chemical mechanism without the requirement for NO conservation. Results indicate that total NOx and initial NO/NO2 ratio play an important role in determining O3 depletion. Furthermore, only in the case of rather extreme concentrations of water vapor or unrealistically large photolysis rates is there any significant conversion of NOx to HNO3.
The science of rotator cuff tears: translating animal models to clinical recommendations using simulation analysis.

The purpose of this article is to review basic science studies using various animal models for rotator cuff research and to describe structural, biomechanical, and functional changes to muscle following rotator cuff tears. The use of computational simulations to translate the findings from animal models to human scale is further detailed. A comprehensive review was performed of the basic science literature describing the use of animal models and simulation analysis to examine muscle function following rotator cuff injury and repair in the ageing population. The findings from various studies of rotator cuff pathology emphasize the importance of preventing permanent muscular changes with detrimental results. In vivo muscle function, electromyography, and passive muscle–tendon unit properties were studied before and after supraspinatus tenotomy in a rodent rotator cuff injury model (acute vs chronic). Then, a series of simulation experiments were conducted using a validated computational human musculoskeletal shoulder model to assess both passive and active tension of rotator cuff repairs based on surgical positioning. Outcomes of rotator cuff repair may be improved by earlier surgical intervention, with lower surgical repair tensions and fewer electromyographic neuromuscular changes. An integrated approach of animal experiments, computer simulation analyses, and clinical studies may allow us to gain a fundamental understanding of the underlying pathology and interpret the results for clinical translation.
Is modest QT interval prolongation in normal adults like the canary in the coal mine

In the early 1900s, William Einthoven introduced the electrocardiogram (ECG) using a string galvanometer, and he named the P, QRS, and T deflections as we know them today [(1)][1]. The initial clinical focus was on cardiac arrhythmias, with subsequent emphasis on associating altered ECG deflections
On the Question of Uniqueness of Stable Load-Flow Solutions

Practical experience with load-flow solutions has indicated that stable solutions are probably unique, given sufficient data about a network to determine a solution from the standpoint of dimensionality, i.e., having as many equations as variables for the remaining unknowns. A counterexample is given here for which two stable solutions exist, and an approach towards the analysis of uniqueness is presented that adds some insight into the nature of load-flow solutions in general.
SkySweeper: A low DOF, dynamic high wire robot

SkySweeper is a mobile robot designed to operate in an environment of cables, wires, power lines, ropes, et cetera. The robot is comprised of two links pivotally connected at one end; a series elastic actuator at this “elbow” joint can actuate relative rotation between the two links. At the opposite end of each link is an actuated three-position clamp. The clamp can either be open, partially closed, such that the clamp can roll (translate) along the cable, or fully closed, such that the clamp can only pivot on the cable. By actuating the elbow joint and cleverly choosing the positions of the clamps, the robot can locomote on the cable in a number of different ways. The particular method of locomotion can be chosen to minimize energy consumption, maximize speed, or traverse an obstacle (e.g. a support from which the cable is suspended). SkySweeper has the potential to locomote in a more energy efficient manner than existing cable-locomoting robots. It also operates with a minimal number of actuators, which reduces cost significantly. Potential applications include power and communication line inspection, suspension bridge inspection and construction, as well as entertainment. Data from a prototype, consisting largely of 3D-printed and off-the-shelf parts, are compared to dynamic simulation results.
Making psychiatric emergency services work better for children and families.

p r o n h b l v i f o i P sychiatric emergencies in children and adolescents present an important opportunity to meaningfully engage children and families with mental health services. Many young people presenting in psychiatric crisis have serious and untreated mental illness; another subset of children and families have encountered insurmountable difficulties with accessing mental health services and use emergency departments as their last resort. After the series of school shooting events begun by the Columbine shootings, many school systems have implemented protocols requiring emergency psychiatric evaluation of children and adolescents displaying suicidal or homicidal ideation/behavior or severe aggression in the school setting. Emergency departments ideally would provide high-quality evaluation and treatment planning for the range of young patients accessing mental health services in psychiatric crisis. Instead, children and families often encounter a system poorly equipped to safely and effectively evaluate and manage their child’s or teenager’s mental health problem. Across the country, young patients are often managed in medical or adult psychiatry settings, which commonly lack roundthe-clock access to child and adolescent psychiatric clinicians and, in the case of medical emergency departments, the facility capacity to safely manage psychiatric patients. Many of these young people require immediate clinical intervention. There is generally little capacity to provide care to acutely ill children and adolescents in the outpatient clinic system; often the only option for these patients is admission to inpatient units. The article by Case et al. in this issue of the Journal clearly documents the significant burden that pediatric mental health visits place on emergency departments across the United States. The clear increase in these types of visits seen in the 1990s has persisted. Previous smaller studies of a
Physiographic features on the northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope

The continental slope of the northern Gulf of Mexico is diapirically controlled and is comprised of coalescing salt sheets, salt withdrawal basins, salt ridges, salt tongues and sills, and submarine canyons. Bathymetric information from single-beam data has resulted in several published maps. Many of the map areas have been remapped, using multibeam surveys, by the US National Ocean Service, and names have been given to the major physiographic features. The multibeam program was discontinued before complete coverage of the slope was accomplished. We provide charts of the remaining areas with names of features that have been accepted by the US Board of Geographic Names.
Functional hyperemic response in the rat visual cortex under halothane anesthesia

Abstract To establish a model for functional hyperemia in the rat visual cortex, cortical blood flow responses to flash stimulation were measured with the laser Doppler flow (LDF) technique at various levels of halothane anesthesia. The concentration-dependent effect of halothane on arterial pressure and its consequent effect on the hyperemic response were also investigated. Using a stroboscopic light source, 10 flashes at 1 min intervals were delivered to the left eye of 12 Sprague–Dawley rats. LDF responses were measured bilaterally in the monocular primary visual cortex (V1M) at steady state halothane concentrations between 0.4 and 1.4%. In six rats, methoxamine (MX) was infused to prevent halothane-induced hypotension; the remaining rats did not receive MX. In all rats, LDF response to flash commenced within 1 s and peaked at 2.5 s in the contralateral V1M, but not in ipsilateral V1M. The maximum LDF response was 25% at 0.5% halothane and 12% at 1.4% halothane. In rats without MX infusion, mean arterial pressure (MAP) fell from 138 to 90 mmHg when halothane increased from 0.4 to 1.4%. MX infusion prevented the hypotension, but did not influence the LDF response, suggesting that the halothane's effect was direct rather than pressure-mediated. We demonstrate for the first time, a robust functional hyperemic response to discrete flash stimuli in the primary visual cortex of halothane-anesthetized albino rats that can be measured with LDF over a wide range of halothane concentrations and is not fully suppressed at surgical levels of halothane anesthesia.
ON THE CALCIUM RECEPTOR THAT MEDIATES DEPOLARIZATION-SECRETION COUPLING AT CHOLINERGIC MOTOR NERVE TERMINALS

1 The behaviour of the divalent cations Ca and Sr as agonists for receptors that mediate the synchronous evoked secretion of acetylcholine (ACh) was studied in the hope of determining whether the relationship between Ca binding and ACh secretion is determined only by the law of mass action or by the mathematical framework of receptor theory. Experiments were designed to evaluate the assumption that maximum effect requires occupation of all receptors by testing for the presence of spare Ca receptors on presynaptic terminals. Frog cutaneous nerve-muscle preparations were employed in conjunction with conventional electrophysiological methods.2 Curves of log [Ca] or log [Sr] against the mean number of ACh quanta released (m) were constructed to saturation. The log [Sr]-m relationship was shifted to the right and had a smaller maximum than the log [Ca]-m curve. This suggests that Ca has a higher efficacy than Sr and raises the possibility that spare binding sites are present for Ca.3 As a qualitative test for spare Ca receptors, La(3+) (>/=0.5 mum) or 2-chloroadenosine (25 mum) was employed as an irreversible antagonist of the effects of extracellular Ca on evoked ACh release. Despite the irreversible blockade of a proportion of receptors, increases in the [Ca] overcame this antagonism and produced a parallel shift in the log [Ca]-m relation to the right. This suggests an apparent receptor reserve for Ca. Antagonism of Sr-mediated ACh release by either La(3+) or 2-chloroadenosine could not be overcome by increasing the [Sr].4 As a quantitative test for spare Ca binding sites, the equilibrium affinity constant for Sr(K(Sr)) as a competitive inhibitor of Ca was determined and compared with values for K(Sr) calculated by two other methods which invoke the spare receptor assumption. All three methods produced comparable results. (K(Sr) = 0.24-0.27 mm(-1)).5 The equilibrium affinity constant for Ca (K(Ca)) was calculated by comparing reciprocal plots of the concentrations of Ca that produce equal levels of ACh release in the presence and absence of La(3+) (0.5 mum-3 mum). K(Ca) was estimated to be between 0.02 and 0.06 mm(-1).6 Efficacy (e), which is thought to reflect the ability of Ca or Sr once bound to receptors to support ACh release, was determined by the modified occupation theory of Stephenson (1956). The e(Ca) was estimated to be 9-20 and e(Sr) was 0.2-0.5.7 The experimentally determined values for K(Ca), K(Sr), e(Ca), e(Sr) along with the assumptions that spare Ca binding sites exist and that the non-linearities in the log [Ca] or log [Sr]-m curves are introduced beyond the sites of binding and efficacy were used to generate theoretical log [Me]-m curves. The theoretical relationships were similar to the experimental results.8 The results suggest that spare Ca receptors are present at motor nerve endings and that receptor theory provides an accurate quantitative description of the lumped events between Ca binding and ACh secretion. The possible physical correlates of affinity and efficacy are discussed.
Active Immunization of a Human Being against Cobra ( Naja naja ) Venom

BECAUSE of the complexity of venom proteins and their great local and systemic effects, active immunization has been confined to animals utilized in the production of commercial antivenins. In work recorded here, the feasibility of a safe and practical method of immunization of man against snakebite has been explored.
Lsh, a guardian of heterochromatin at repeat elements

Lymphoid-specific helicase (Lsh) is a crucial factor for normal embryonic development; targeted deletion of Lsh is lethal. Lsh belongs to a family of chromatin-remodeling proteins and is closely associated with pericentromeric heterochromatin. Lsh deficiency leads to abnormal heterochromatin organization, with a loss of DNA methylation, and an altered pattern of histone-tail acetylation and methylation. As a functional consequence of perturbed heterochromatin, aberrant reactivation of parasitic retroviral elements in the genome and abnormal mitosis with amplified centrosomes and genomic instability were observed. Thus, Lsh is a major epigenetic regulator crucial for normal heterochromatin structure and function.
Heat Transfer in Health and Healing

Our bodies depend on an exquisitely sensitive and refined temperature control system to maintain a state of health and homeostasis. The exceptionally broad range of physical activities that humans engage in and the diverse array of environmental conditions we face require remarkable strategies and mechanisms for regulating internal and external heat transfer processes. On the occasions for which the body suffers trauma, therapeutic temperature modulation is often the approach of choice for reversing injury and inflammation and launching a cascade of healing. The focus of human thermoregulation is maintenance of the body core temperature within a tight range of values, even as internal rates of energy generation may vary over an order of magnitude, environmental convection, and radiation heat loads may undergo large changes in the absence of any significant personal control, surface insulation may be added or removed, all occurring while the body's internal thermostat follows a diurnal circadian cycle that may be altered by illness and anesthetic agents. An advanced level of understanding of the complex physiological function and control of the human body may be combined with skill in heat transfer analysis and design to develop life-saving and injury-healing medical devices. This paper will describe some of the challenges and conquests the author has experienced related to the practice of heat transfer for maintenance of health and enhancement of healing processes.
Effect of Iron on Growth and Ultrastructure of Acaryochloris marina

The cyanobacterial genus Acaryochloris is the only known group of oxygenic phototrophs that contain chlorophyll d rather than chlorophyll a as the major photosynthetic pigment. Studies on this organism are still in their earliest stages, and biochemical analysis has rapidly outpaced growth optimization. We have investigated culture growth of the major strains of Acaryochloris marina (MBIC11017 and MBIC10697) by using several published and some newly developed growth media. It was determined that heavy addition of iron significantly enhanced culture longevity. These high-iron cultures showed an ultrastructure with thylakoid stacks that resemble traditional cyanobacteria (unlike previous studies). These cultures also show a novel reversal in the pigment ratios of the photosystem II signature components chlorophyll a and pheophytin a, as opposed to those in previous studies.
On Shape of Plane Elastic Curves

We study shapes of planar arcs and closed contours modeled on elastic curves obtained by bending, stretching or compressing line segments non-uniformly along their extensions. Shapes are represented as elements of a quotient space of curves obtained by identifying those that differ by shape-preserving transformations. The elastic properties of the curves are encoded in Riemannian metrics on these spaces. Geodesics in shape spaces are used to quantify shape divergence and to develop morphing techniques. The shape spaces and metrics constructed are novel and offer an environment for the study of shape statistics. Elasticity leads to shape correspondences and deformations that are more natural and intuitive than those obtained in several existing models. Applications of shape geodesics to the definition and calculation of mean shapes and to the development of shape clustering techniques are also investigated.
From system specifications to component behavioral models

Early system specifications, such as use-case scenarios and properties, rarely completely specify the system. Partial models of system-level behavior, derived from these specifications, have proven useful in early system analysis. We believe that the scope of possible analyses can be enhanced by utilizing component-level partial models. In this paper, we outline an algorithm for deriving a component-level Modal Transition System (MTS) from system-level scenario and property specifications. The generated MTSs capture the possible component implementations that (1) necessarily provide the behavior required by the scenarios, (2) restrict behavior forbidden by the properties, and (3) leave the behavior that is neither explicitly required nor forbidden as undefined. We discuss how these generated models can help discover system-design flaws, support requirements elicitation, and help select off-the-shelf components.
Variational reduced-density-matrix method using three-particle N-representability conditions with application to many-electron molecules

Molecular two-electron reduced density matrices (2-RDMs) are computed variationally without the many-electron wave function by constraining the 2-RDM with a set of three-particle N-representability conditions known as three-positivity conditions. These constraints restrict four distinct three-particle probability distributions, which can be defined for any N-particle system, to be nonnegative. The variational calculation of the 2-RDM with full three-positivity conditions is implemented with the first-order semidefinite programming algorithm [D.A. Mazziotti, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 213001 (2004)]. We also derive and implement a generalization of the T{sub 2} representability condition, which is a subset of the three-positivity conditions. Energies and 2-RDMs are computed for several molecules as well as the nitrogen molecule at both equilibrium and nonequilibrium geometries. The ground-state energies for nitrogen are within 0.0015 a.u. of the values from full configuration interaction at all internuclear distances.
High isolation antenna for multi-radio antenna system using a complementary antenna pair

Complementary antenna pair composed with electric and magnetic dipole antennas is a potential antenna solution for multi-radio antenna system in space-limited mobile devices because of its excellent isolation performance at close proximity between antennas. The pair can be configured with side-by-side or top-to-bottom configuration depends on application. The isolation performance provides more than 32 dB even with the LCD near the antenna pair, but need to be measured with modified antenna design for accurate verification. The antenna prototype is for single band operation at this moment. We are working on the design of highly isolated multi-band antenna design with smaller antenna size.
An algorithm for simulating power/ground networks using Pade approximants and its symbolic implementation

This paper presents an event-driven algorithm and its symbolic implementation for the analysis of power and ground (P/G) bus networks. The algorithm uses frequency-domain techniques and moment matching approaches based on Pade approximants to estimate the transfer function at each node in the P/G network. Afterwards, the transient waveforms are extracted for each node. The process requires repetitive simulation of a linear and time-variant (from one time event to the next) circuit model for the P/G network which is the reason a symbolic implementation was produced. The P/G network is modeled by a hierarchical combination of mesh and tree structures that are composed of a collection of RC-/spl pi/-segments and pulldown (or pullup) switches. The switches are symbolically represented by Boolean variables and a compiled symbolic code is generated only once for each P/G network. The transient waveforms are then produced by repetitive evaluation of the symbolic output. The results show that the symbolic implementation is an order of magnitude faster, with reasonably good accuracy, than using a traditional analog circuit simulator like SPICE.
PREPARATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF ENTOMOPHILOUS POLLEN USING SONICATION AND AN AREA-COUNTING TECHNIQUE

ABSTRACT Large pollen grains are difficult to quantify accurately. In order to ensure none have escaped, the anther must be removed and preserved before it is fully mature, leaving the pollen grains somewhat fragile and cohesive. Any method of quantification requires that they be separated into discrete grains, a difficult process, in part, due to their immature state. A probe sonicator can effectively disperse pollen grains from an opened anther in a petri dish partially filled with water. If the grains are too large to readily remain in suspension they can be allowed to settle in the petri dish and then quantified. As long as the grains are uniformly distributed in the petri dish, a compound microscope can be used to count the pollen grains in a field of view, and the contents of multiple fields of view can be used to extrapolate the total number of pollen grains.
Aspergillus Flavus Biomass in Maize Estimated by Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Is Strongly Correlated With Aflatoxin Concentration

Aspergillus flavus causes ear rot of maize and produces aflatoxins that can contaminate grain even in the absence of visible symptoms of infection. Resistance to aflatoxin accumulation and pathogen colonization are considered distinct traits in maize. Colonization of grain by fungi such as A. flavus has been difficult to quantify. We developed and validated two quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays to estimate fungal biomass in maize tissues. In order to study the relationship between fungal biomass and aflatoxin accumulation, qPCR was conducted and aflatoxin concentrations were assayed in milled samples of mature maize kernels for two diverse sets of maize germplasm. The first was a set of hybrids that was inoculated with A. flavus in a conducive field environment in Mississippi. These hybrids, mainly early tropical and non-stiff-stalk genotypes adapted to local conditions, carry known sources of resistance among their progenitors. The second set, also tested in Mississippi, was a group of inbred lines representing a wider sample of maize genetic diversity. For both sets, our results showed a high correlation between fungal load and aflatoxin concentration in maize kernels. Our qPCR methodology could have a direct impact on breeding programs that aim to identify lines with resistance to aflatoxin accumulation, and set the stage for future studies on the genetic dissection of aflatoxin-related traits.
Delayed diffusion-weighted MR abnormality in a patient with an extensive acute cerebral hypoxic injury.

Diffusion-weighted (DW) MR imaging usually identifies acute cerebral infarction injury in symptomatic patients. We report a patient with severe hypoxic brain injury following suicide attempt by hanging, but with normal DW MR imaging 5-6 h after the event. Follow-up DW MR imaging 3 days after the event, and subsequent autopsy, revealed extensive cerebral anoxic injury. Language: en
Hydrogel-droplet microfluidic platform for high-resolution imaging and sorting of early larval Caenorhabditis elegans

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an important model organism in research on neuroscience and development because of its stereotyped anatomy, relevance to human biology, and ease of culture and genetic manipulation. The first larval stage (L1) is of particular interest in many biological problems, including post-embryonic developmental processes and developmental decision-making, such as dauer formation. However, L1's small size and high mobility make it difficult to manipulate; particularly in microfluidic chips, which have been used to great advantage in handling larger larvae and adult animals, small features are difficult to fabricate and these structures often get clogged easily, making the devices less robust. We have developed a microfluidic device to overcome these challenges and enable high-resolution imaging and sorting of early larval stage C. elegans via encapsulation in droplets of a thermosensitive hydrogel. To achieve precise handling of early larval stage worms, we demonstrated on-chip production, storage, and sorting of hydrogel droplets. We also demonstrated temporary immobilization of the worms within the droplets, allowing high-resolution imaging with minimal physiological perturbations. Because of the ability to array hydrogel droplets for handling a large number of L1 worms in a robust way, we envision that this platform will be widely applicable to screening in various developmental studies.