cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does the Modified Arrhenius Model Reliably Predict Area of Tissue Ablation After Magnetic Resonance-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Pediatric Lesional Epilepsy?

BACKGROUND Commercial magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) systems utilize a generalized Arrhenius model to estimate the area of tissue damage based on the power and time of ablation. However, the reliability of these estimates in Vivo remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To determine the accuracy and precision of the thermal damage estimate (TDE) calculated by commercially available MRgLITT systems using the generalized Arrhenius model. METHODS A single-center retrospective review of pediatric patients undergoing MRgLITT for lesional epilepsy was performed. The area of each lesion was measured on both TDE and intraoperative postablation, postcontrast T1 magnetic resonance images using ImageJ. Lesions requiring multiple ablations were excluded. The strength of the correlation between TDE and postlesioning measurements was assessed via linear regression. RESULTS A total of 32 lesions were identified in 19 patients. After exclusion, 13 pairs were available for analysis. Linear regression demonstrated a strong correlation between estimated and actual ablation areas (R2 = .97, P < .00001). The TDE underestimated the area of ablation by an average of 3.92% overall (standard error (SE) = 4.57%), but this varied depending on the type of pathologic tissue involved. TDE accuracy and precision were highest in tubers (n = 3), with average underestimation of 2.33% (SE = 0.33%). TDE underestimated the lesioning of the single hypothalamic hamartoma in our series by 52%. In periventricular nodular heterotopias, TDE overestimated ablation areas by an average of 13% (n = 2). CONCLUSION TDE reliability is variably consistent across tissue types, particularly in smaller or periventricular lesions. Further investigation is needed to understand the accuracy of this emerging minimally invasive technique.
Antibody-Mediated Rejection: the Role of Plasma Cells and Memory B Cells

Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) is one of the most common causes of renal allograft loss. This review aims to outline the different clinical scenarios of ABMR with an emphasis on the cellular sources of antibody. Studies of human plasma cells (PC) and memory B cells have been limited, but existing data suggest that both can contribute to ABMR. Hyperacute ABMR is due to pre-existing anti-HLA antibodies. Early acute ABMR likely involves the stimulation of memory B cells and can lead to new long-lived plasma cells. Late acute ABMR involves the de novo development of new memory B cells and PCs that are resistant to conventional immunosuppression. Chronic active ABMR involves not only antibodies (either pre-existing or de novo) but also effector cells such as NK cells, T cells, and macrophages. Cellular processes underlying ABMR involve interactions between memory B cells, plasmablasts, plasma cells, and various effectors. Understanding these cellular processes is needed to improve therapies for ABMR.
Yingyi Ma. Ambitious and Anxious: How Chinese College Students Succeed and Struggle in American Higher Education . New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 2020. 312p. Paper, $35.00 (ISBN 978-0231184588).

Ambitious and Anxious: How Chinese College Students Succeed and Struggle in American Higher Education by Yingyi Ma challenges the monolithic image of Chinese international students at US colleges. Ma, an Associate Professor of Sociology at Syracuse University, attained her bachelor’s degree in China and came to the United States as a fully funded graduate student. She contrasts her background with the new generation of Chinese students in the United States who are mostly self-funded and are more likely to be undergraduate students.
Additive Combinatorics: Long arithmetic progressions in sum sets

Introduction One general theme throughout this book is that sum sets A + B are more structured than arbitrary sets A, B , and in particular that iterated sum sets such as lA = { a 1 + … + a l : a i ∈ A i } should get increasingly structured as l gets larger. One example of this phenomenon is Lemma 4.13, which shows that if A has small Fourier bias then l A quickly fills out the entire ambient group. (See also Exercise 4.3.12 for related demonstration of special structure of sum sets.) For another example, let A be a subset of [1, n ] for some large n and consider (as a measure of structure) the longest progression contained inside A . If A has no structure other than density, e.g. ∣ A ∣ ≥ 0.99 n , then there is not much we can say. Even the powerful quantitative version (11.23) of Szemeredi's theorem due to Gowers can only obtain an arithmetic progression of length Ω(log log log log log n ). For cubes the situation is somewhat better (and simpler); Lemma 10.49 guarantees that A contains a proper cube of dimension Ω(log log n ), though this is still far from the maximal dimension Θ(log n ) of the cubes inside [1 , n ]. The situation improves markedly with taking sum sets, though. First, if A ⊂ [1, n ] has cardinality at least 0.99 n , then it is easy to see that A + A or A − A contains an arithmetic progression of length 0.98 n .
Micro- and Nanoscale Measurement Methods for Phase Change Heat Transfer on Planar and Structured Surfaces

In this opinion piece, we discuss recent advances in experimental methods for characterizing phase change heat transfer. We begin with a survey of techniques for high-resolution measurements of temperature and heat flux at the solid surface and in the working fluid. Next, we focus on diagnostic tools for boiling heat transfer and describe techniques for visualizing the temperature and velocity fields, as well as measurements at the single bubble level. Finally, we discuss techniques to probe the kinetics of vapor formation within a few molecular layers of the interface. We conclude with our outlook for future progress in experimental methods for phase change heat transfer.
On determining the growth of meromorphic solutions of algebraic differential equations having arbitrary entire coefficients

In this paper, we treat the problem of determining the rate of growth of meromorphic functions on the plane, which are solutions of n th order algebraic differential equations whose coefficients are arbitrary entire functions (i.e., equations of the form, Ω(z,y,dy/dz, • • •, d n y/dz n ) — 0, where Ω is a polynomial in y , dy/dz, • • •, d n y/dz n whose coefficients are arbitrary entire functions of z.)
Information and Communications Technology, Agricultural Profitability and Child Labor in Rural Peru

We estimate the impact of access to information and communication technology on agricultural profitability and child labor among isolated villages in rural Peru. We exploit the timing of an intervention that provided at least one public (satellite) payphone to 6,296 villages that did not previously have communication services. Using a village level panel, we show that profitability increased by 19.7 percent. Moreover, this income shock translated into a reduction in the likelihood of child market and agricultural work of 14 and nine percentage points respectively. Overall, the evidence suggests a dominant income effect in the utilization of child labor.
Passive Immunotherapy Protects against Enteric Invasion and Lethal Sepsis in a Murine Model of Gastrointestinal Anthrax

The principal portal for anthrax infection in natural animal outbreaks is the digestive tract. Enteric exposure to anthrax, which is difficult to detect or prevent in a timely manner, could be exploited as an act of terror through contamination of human or animal food. Our group has developed a novel animal model of gastrointestinal (GI) anthrax for evaluation of disease pathogenesis and experimental therapeutics, utilizing vegetative Bacillus anthracis (Sterne strain) administered to A/J mice (a complement-deficient strain) by oral gavage. We hypothesized that a humanized recombinant monoclonal antibody (mAb) * that neutralizes the protective antigen (PA) component of B. anthracis lethal toxin (LT) and edema toxin (ET) could be an effective treatment. Although the efficacy of this anti-anthrax PA mAb has been shown in animal models of inhalational anthrax, its activity in GI infection had not yet been ascertained. We hereby demonstrate that passive immunotherapy with anti-anthrax PA mAb, administered at the same time as gastrointestinal exposure to B. anthracis, prevents lethal sepsis in nearly all cases (>90%), while a delay of up to forty-eight hours in treatment still greatly reduces mortality following exposure (65%). Moreover, passive immunotherapy protects against enteric invasion, associated mucosal injury and subsequent dissemination by gastrointestinal B. anthracis, indicating that it acts to prevent the initial stages of infection. * Expired raxibacumab being cycled off the Strategic National Stockpile; biological activity confirmed by in vitro assay.
Entropy-based Mesh Refinement, I: The Entropy Adjoint Approach

This work presents a mesh refinement indicator based on entropy-variables, with an application to the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. The entropy variables are shown to satisfy an adjoint equation, an observation that allows recent work in adjoint-based error estimation to be leveraged in constructing a relatively cheap but effective adaptation indicator. The output associated with the entropy-variable adjoint is shown to be the net entropy generation in the computational domain, including physical viscous dissipation when present. Adaptation using entropy variables thus targets areas of the domain responsible for numerical, or spurious, entropy generation. Adaptive results for inviscid and viscous aerodynamic examples demonstrate performance efficiency on par with output-based adaptation, as measured by errors in various engineering quantities of interest, with the comparative advantage that no adjoint equations need to be solved.
Joint sensors-sources association and tracking

This paper considers the problem of tracking multiple sources using observations acquired at spatially scattered sensors. Kalman filtering and smoothing techniques are combined with a sparse matrix estimation framework. A pertinent normone regularized minimization formulation is proposed that jointly searches for source-informative sensors, associates sources with sensors and tracks the unknown sources. Block coordinate descent techniques are used to recover the unknown sparse observation matrix, and subsequently obtain source state estimates. Numerical tests are provided to demonstrate the potential of the novel approach to identify the source-informative sensors and accurately track the field sources.
Stepping on a rake: The role of fiscal policy in the inflation of the 1970s☆

Abstract The inflation of the 1970s in the US is often discussed as if the only type of policy action that could have prevented the inflation were monetary policy actions and the only type of policy errors that might have induced the inflation were monetary policy errors. Yet fiscal policy underwent dramatic shifts in the 1970s and economic theory makes clear that in an environment of uncertainty about future fiscal policy, monetary policy instruments may lose potency or have perverse effects. This paper documents the vagaries of fiscal policy in this period and argues that people at the time must have been uncertain about fiscal policy's future course. It also lays out a theoretical framework for understanding the effects of fiscal uncertainties on monetary policy and shows that fiscal variables have predictive value in dynamic models, even if traditional monetary policy indicators are included in the system.
A PCR-Based Technique for Detection of Neotyphodium Endophytes in Diverse Accessions of Tall Fescue

A previously described polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method used for detection of Neotyphodium coenophialum in tall fescue detected Neotyphodium endophytes in some, but not all, infected plants from a geographically diverse sample. In the study reported here, a different set of primers, based on intervening sequences of the tubulin 2 gene, were prepared and used for PCR. PCR with these primers yielded the expected 444 base pair amplification product with DNA from 104 of the 106 infected accessions tested. In addition, one accession originally scored as endophyte-free on the basis of a tissue culture test was correctly rated as endophyte-infected using the PCR procedure. Results suggest that primers based on intervening sequences of the tubulin 2 gene can be used for PCR-based detection of Neotyphodium endophytes in tall fescue accessions of diverse origin.
Review Article: Tutorial on Measuring Rotations Using Multipendulum Systems

Abstract This article considers a classical approach of using a combination of pendulums to measure rotations. The idea of using two identical pendulums installed on different sides of the same axis of rotation for separate measurement of rotational and translational motion was apparently first suggested by Golitzin (1912). It was implemented by Kharin and Simonov (1969) in an instrument designed to record strong ground motion (VBPP—a seismograph of large translational motions and rotations). Unfortunately, difficulty in building identical mechanical systems resulted in unreliable measurements of the rotational component. We modified Golitzin’s idea by using the same configuration of pendulums (a two-pendulum system) without the requirement that the pendulums be identical (Graizer et al. , 1989). Instead of building two identical pendulums, one needs to calibrate the instrument to obtain the natural parameters of each pendulum and apply postprocessing to separate the rotational and translational motions. The two-pendulum system for separate measurements of large amplitude rotations was implemented at the end of the 1980s at the Institute of the Physics of the Earth in Moscow, Russia, using commercially available pendulum instruments. The system was tested using a basic shake table and later successfully applied to measurements in the near field of two large underground nuclear explosions. In this article I updated and generalized the approach to measuring translational and large amplitude rotational motion formulated in previous publications (Graizer, 1989; Graizer et al. , 1989). Numerical testing demonstrated that using a combination of pendulums for measuring rotations may be limited for recording relatively large amplitudes of rotations of the order of 10 -4 and higher for the two-pendulum system of about 100 cm size.
Some topological properties of weakly almost periodic mappings

Abstract A map φ:X→X induces a linear operator T:C(X)→C(X) by composition: Tf(x)=f°φ(x). T and φ are termed weakly almost periodic if the sequence {Tn} is precompact in the weak operator topology. Using general structure theorems for weakly almost periodic operators, the properties of these point maps are studied from the viewpoint of dynamical systems. The structure of individual minimal sets and of the union M of all minimal sets of φ are investigated. One key result is that, if X is compact, then φ is a strongly almost periodic (i.e., has uniformly equicontinuous iterates) homeomorphisms of M and M is a retract of X. These and other general results are applied to the case where X is a manifold. Several results in which weak implies strong almost periodicity are obtained.
Low-thermal-budget MOS gate stack formation using a cluster tool rapid-thermal-processing module

Low thermal budget deposition of thin MOS gate stacks has been performed using a cluster tool rapid thermal processing module. This paper introduces the operational characteristics of the module, and the deposition conditions for gate oxide, nitride, and poly, in addition to spacer oxides. The different processing sequences for gate stacks are described, and finally the electrical characterization results of both rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition and conventional thermal MOS devices are compared.
Effect of Molecular Weight on the Construction of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers: Stripping versus Sticking

Combinations of a polyanion and a polycation, with different molar masses but narrow molar mass distributions, are employed to construct thin films by the polyelectrolyte multilayering technique. All polyelectrolytes are assembled in the presence of added salt. Even highly charged polymers in the 104 Da range of molar mass exhibit atypical multilayering characteristics. If the molar mass, MM, of either of the polymers is in this range, the thickness increment realized on addition of the shorter polymer is partially lost on exposure to the solution of longer polymer, as surface polyelectrolyte is stripped off by its oppositely charged partner. Complete loss of low MM polyanion on exposure to low MM polycation inhibits multilayer growth altogether. The role of salt is elucidated in the balance between multilayer growth, which relies on kinetically irreversible adsorption, and polyelectrolyte stripping, which produces a stable solution dispersion of polyelectrolyte complex. Subtleties in the irreversibility ...
On population comparisons using factor indexes or latent variables

Abstract Population comparisons of multivariate models using factor indexes or latent factors are demonstrated to be unsound with current methods of comparative analysis unless one is willing to assume a priori that all of the variances of the latent factors in a model are identical across all populations analyzed. This is an assumption that is probably only rarely found in comparative research. Without this assumption, comparisons are unsound regardless of whether model estimations are made from regression analysis or maximum likelihood techniques. A general method is suggested which proposes to make comparative analyses of factors possible without the assumption of equal variances across populations.
Variation in the photochemical reactivity of thymine in the DNA of B. subtilis spores, vegetative cells and spores germinated in chloramphenicol.

— The chief photoproduct of thymine produced in u.v. irradiated (2537A) vegetative cells of B. subtilis is the cyclobutane-type dimer while in spores very little of this dimer is produced (maximum yield 2·6 per cent of thymine) but a new photoproduct is produced in high yield (maximum of 28·4 per cent of thymine). This difference in photochemical response appears to be due, at least in part, to a difference in uydration of the DNA. The photochemistry of thymine in isolated DNA irradiated in solution is similar to that of DNA in irradiated vegetative cells, but differs markedly from that of isolated DNA irradiated dry. The yield of cyclobutane-type thymine dimer is much reduced in isolated DNA irradiated dry but a new photoproduct of thymine. is produced which is chromatographically similar to the spore photoproduct. The yield of this photoproduct, however, is never as great as that obtained in irradiated spores. The photochemistry of the DNA thymine of spores germinated in the presence of chloramphenicol is very similar to that of normal vegetative cells. Except for hydration, the physical state of the DNA is probably not otherwise altered by germination in the presence of chloramphenicol since DNA replication is prevented by the presence of chloramphenicol. These results are also consistent with the hypothesis that the unique photochemistry of spores is due, at least in part, to the hydration state of the DNA. The acid stability of the spore photoproduct is indicated by the fact that it is isolated from irradiated spores after hydrolysis in trifluoroacetic acid at 155°C for 60 min. It still contains the methyl group of thymine as judged by the fact that for a given dose of u.v. the same yield of photoproduct was obtained whether the spores were labeled with thymine-2–C-14 or -methyl-C-14. This photoproduct is stable to reirradiation (2537A) in solution under condiditions where thymine dimers of the cyclobutane-type are completely converted back to monomeric thymine. On a column of molecular sieve material (Sephadex-G10), the spore photoproduct elutes in a region intermediate between the cyclobutanetype thymine dimers and monomeric thymine. Of the numerous compounds tested by paper chromatography, the spore photoproduct is most similar (but not identical) in several solvents to 5–hydroxyuracil and 5–hydroxymethyluracil. Our data do not allow us to decide if the product is a monomer or a dimer. Although the photochemistry of thymine in the DNA of spores differs markedly from that for vegetative cells, several lines of evidence make it seem doubtful that the enhanced resistance of spores to u.v. relative to that of vegetative cells can be explained solely on the basis of this difference in the photochemistry of DNA thymine.
Repository manager technology

IBM's Repository Manager™ enables specifications involved in the program application development process to be managed. On the basis of the technology, the Repository Manager/MVS™ was developed as a product. The primary concepts and services of the technology are introduced, and specific aspects of the product and its operation are discussed. A discussion of what is involved in designing and implementing a tool is also included.
Distinguishing Nursing Art: Patient, Researcher, and Student Views: Frances's Story of Nursing Art: The Most Wonderful Person in the World

This story is the second in a series constructed from a study designed to describe how the art of nursing was perceived and understood by patients during a critical illness. Two in-depth interviews were conducted during the recovery phase of this person's illness to answer the question “When is nursing (considered) art?” The initial lead-in to the discussion was, “Tell me a story about a nursing situation that really stood out in your mind—one that was significant and meaningful,” and, “What was the experience like for you?” The interviews were tape recorded, transcribed, condensed into a short story, and shared with the participant. The researcher also composed a “response” to the person's story that personally expressed what the story triggered for her. Undergraduate students were invited to reflect and respond to the “aesthetic face” of nursing from the perspective of a person who was nursed while critically ill. Two examples of student response are included.
Stability design criteria for steel members and frames in the United States

Abstract This paper attempts to give designers an insight into the beam-column problem. The important parameters such as (i) the ultimate strength of columns and beams which are special cases of beam-columns and (ii) secondary effects (P-δ and P-Δ), that should be considered in the ultimate strength design of beam-columns, are identified and discussed. Ultimate strength design interaction equations recommended and proposed in the United States for different categories of beam-columns are then presented. Important features of these equations are summarized. Directions of further research are indicated.
Thermally induced phase separation of polystyrene‐poly(vinyl methyl ether) mixtures

Past differential scanning calorimetry and dielectric relaxation measurements have established that polystyrene (PS)-poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) mixtures exhibit a degree of compatibility when cast from toluene, whereas they are incompatible when cast from chloroform or trichloroethylene. The present study reports that toluene-cast mixtures can be phase-separated by thermal treatment at temperatures exceeding 125°C. This is true for samples containing 20–80 wt-% PS. The temperature of phase separation varies with heating rate; isothermal heating times needed to cause phase separation increase rapidly as the temperature approaches 125°C. Reversibility of the phase separation process depends upon such factors as cooling rate, annealing time, treatment temperature, and thermal history. By annealing and/or slow cooling, all thermally phase-separated mixtures have been brought back to their original state of compatibility. That is, there is no evidence for true irreversiblity of phase separation in thermally treated samples. Quench-cooled samples remain phase-separated indefinitely at room temperature, but this is attributed to rapid cooling below the glass transition of the PS. Chloroform-cast and trichloroethylene-cast mixtures have not been brought to a compatible state by thermal treatment, even after lengthy annealing and slow cooling steps.
Prompt neutron emission from the spontaneous fission of Md 260

We have made the first measurement of the number of neutrons emitted from the spontaneous fission of a nuclide in which very high fragment energies dominate the fission process. In bombardments of {sup 254}Es, we produced a large sample of 28-d {sup 260}Md, which was neutron counted in a 1-m-diameter spherical tank containing a Gd-doped scintillator solution. The average number of neutrons emitted per fission is only 2.58{plus minus}0.11, substantially less than for other actinides. A linear dependence of neutron multiplicity on fragment-excitation energy is observed to the highest values of total kinetic energy.
The Effect of Reproductive Condition on Thermoregulation in Female Agkistrodon piscivorus Near the Northwestern Range Limit

Females of some temperate-zone snake species appear to exhibit thermophilic behavior during gestation, resulting in differential habitat use between gravid and nongravid individuals. We investigated thermoregulation of 13 female cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) near their northwestern range limit in southwestern Missouri during mid-summer. Mean preferred body temperature (23.4 C) and preferred body temperature range (Tset, 20.0-26.5 C) measured in a laboratory thermal gradient were lower than those reported for most snake species. Physical models demonstrated that Tset consistently was available to snakes during the study period, although the frequency of availability varied among habitats. The relatively high thermal quality of the environment (based on Tset availability) allowed snakes to achieve field body temperatures (Tb) closely matching laboratory preferences. Gravid females exploited the thermal environment more efficiently than nongravid females by preferentially occupying the most thermally favorable microhabitats. Accordingly, gravid females consistently maintained higher Tb than nongravid females, demonstrating a functional link between habitat use and thermoregulation. Differences in Tb between gravid and nongravid females were greatest at low ambient temperatures, highlighting their different thermoregulatory strategies. Maintenance of low Tb in nongravid females is consistent with an energy conservation strategy benefiting reproductive investment.
Decoupling of the pomeranchon regge trajectory

Abstract Recently it has been shown that an isolated Pomeranchon Regge pole with unit intercept decouples from many processes at zero momentum transfer. Here we show that the vanishing of the Pomeranchon-Reggeon-particle vertex implies the decoupling of the Pomeranchon from total cross sections. The nontrivial Toller angle and signature properties are essential to the argument. This inconsistency with constant sections raises serious questions about the physical significance of such a Pomeranchon.
Distinct Evolutionary Patterns between Chemoreceptors of 2 Vertebrate Olfactory Systems and the Differential Tuning Hypothesis

Most tetrapod vertebrates have 2 olfactory systems, the main olfactory system (MOS) and the vomeronasal system (VNS). According to the dual olfactory hypothesis, the MOS detects environmental odorants, whereas the VNS recognizes intraspecific pheromonal cues. However, this strict functional distinction has been blurred by recent reports that both systems can perceive both types of signals. Studies of a limited number of receptors suggest that MOS receptors are broadly tuned generalists, whereas VNS receptors are narrowly tuned specialists. However, whether this distinction applies to all MOS and VNS receptors remains unknown. The differential tuning hypothesis predicts that generalist MOS receptors detect an overlapping set of ligands and thus are more likely to be conserved over evolutionary time than specialist VNS receptors, which would evolve in a more lineage-specific manner. Here we test this prediction for all olfactory chemoreceptors by examining the evolutionary patterns of MOS-expressed odorant receptors (ORs) and trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) and VNS-expressed vomeronasal type 1 receptors (V1Rs) and vomeronasal type 2 receptors (V2Rs) in 7 tetrapods (mouse, rat, dog, opossum, platypus, chicken, and frog). The phylogenies of V1Rs and V2Rs show abundant lineage-specific gene gains/losses and virtually no one-to-one orthologs between species. Opposite patterns are found for ORs and TAARs. Analysis of functional data and ligand-binding sites of ORs confirms that paralogous chemoreceptors are more likely than orthologs to have different ligands and that functional divergence between paralogous chemoreceptors is established relatively quickly following gene duplication. Together, these results strongly suggest that the functional profile of the VNS chemoreceptor repertoire evolves much faster than that of the MOS chemoreceptor repertoire and that the differential tuning hypothesis applies to the majority, if not all, of MOS and VNS receptors.
ParasiticMeloidogyne and mutualisticAcremonium increase chitinase in tall fescue.

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is a C-3 perennial grass noted for its persistence in harsh environments. Tall fescue persistence is enhanced byAcremonium coenophialum, a mutualistic fungal endophyte that increases resistance to drought, pathogens, and insects. This research was conducted to identify and elicit biochemical mechanism(s) that could account for tall fescue persistence. In initial studies, two cultivars known to differ in persistence were analyzed for chitinase, an antifungal hydrolase associated with disease resistance in other plants.Acremonium-infected Kentucky 31 (KY31), a persistent cultivar, and Johnstone, a nonpersistent cultivar, were inoculated with the parasitic nematode,Meloidogyne marylandi, grown for 50 days, and analyzed at 10-day intervals. Chitinase fluctuated throughout the 50-day period of seedling development, and activity was highest in the persistentAcremonium-infected KY31. In addition, chitinase was elicited by parasiticM. marylandi and expressed systemically. Subsequent studies were conducted to determine whether or not mutualisticAcremonium could increase chitinase activity. Genetically identical KY31, with and withoutAcremonium, were grown for 25 days and analyzed for chitinase at 5-day intervals. After 20 days,Acremonium-infected KY31 expressed more chitinase thanAcremonium-free KY31. We concluded that chitinase is related to tall fescue persistence; it was highest in the most persistent cultivar, increased under pathogen attack, and increased in the presence ofAcremonium, a symbiont known to enhance disease resistance.
Teen driving in rural North Dakota: A qualitative look at parental perceptions

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens in the United States. Graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs allow new drivers to gain driving experience while protecting them from high-risk situations. North Dakota was one of the last states to implement GDL, and the current program does not meet all of the best practice recommendations. This study used qualitative techniques to explore parents’ perceptions of the role teen driving plays in the daily lives of rural North Dakota families, their understanding of the risks faced by their novice teen drivers, and their support for GDL. A total of 28 interviews with parents of teens aged 13–16 years were conducted in four separate rural areas of the state. During the face-to-face interviews, parents described their teens’ daily lives as busy, filled with school, sports, and other activities that often required traveling considerable distances. Participation in school-sponsored sports and other school-related activities was highly valued. There was nearly unanimous support for licensing teens at age 14½, as was permitted by law at the time of the interviews. Parents expressed that they were comfortable supervising their teen's practice driving, and few reported using resources to assist them in this role. Although few parents expressed concerns over nighttime driving, most parents supported a nighttime driving restriction with exemptions for school, work or sports-related activities. Despite many parents expressing concern over distracted driving, there was less consistent support among parents for passenger restrictions, especially if there would be no exemptions for family members or school activities. These findings can assist in planning policies and programs to reduce crashes among novice, teen drivers, while taking into account the unique perspectives and lifestyles of families living in rural North Dakota.
Clinical requirements for localized hyperthermia in the patient

The physical and mechanical parameters to be considered when contemplating hyperthermia as a cancer treatment modality are discussed. These parameters include heat field size, uniformity of heating, method of hyperthermic production, selection of energy, heat flow, warm-up period and thermometry.
Transverse flow due to minijets in pp collisions at √s=1.8 TeV

Abstract The multiplicity and flavor dependence of average transverse momentum of charged particles produced in high energy pp and p p collisions is studied in a PQCD inspired model. The experimentally observed transverse flow effect at √ s =1.8 TeV is naturally explained in the context of the fragmentation of multiple minijets which dominate the hadronic interaction mechanism at high collider energies.
Physical Processes And Development Opportunities In Far-Infrared Lasers

The physical processes of both discharge excited and optically pumped far infrared lasers will be discussed. Experimentally this work is based on the use of a tunable millimeter and submillimeter spectrometer as a diagnostic probe of the internal energy transfer mechanism in these lasers. Quantitative numerical models whose parameters describe fundamental energy transfer processes will be discussed. Emphasis will be on results which have the potential to lead to new or improved laser systems.
Modeling of friction and shear in thermostamping of composites - Part I

The effects of processing parameters on the friction coefficient between commingled glass-polypropylene plain-weave fabric composites (Twintex) and the steel tool during thermostamping processes are under investigation. This work focuses on the effect of fiber orientation, fabric velocity, normal force, and resin viscosity (through variations in tool and fabric temperatures) under conditions similar to those in the thermostamping processes. In comparison to the experiments conducted to date, velocity, normal force, and tool temperature have the greatest effect on the friction coefficient. The effect of tool temperature on the friction coefficient dominated the effect of initial fabric temperature on the friction coefficient. Based on the effect of these parameters, a phenomenological model has been incorporated into ABAQUS/Standard as a user-supplied friction subroutine. This model was first used in a finite element model of the friction test. A good agreement was found between the experimentally measured...
Influence of aerosol-radiative forcings on the diurnal and seasonal cycles of rainfall over West Africa and Eastern Atlantic Ocean using GCM simulations

Effects of aerosol radiative forcing on the diurnal and seasonal cycles of precipitation over West Africa and eastern Atlantic Ocean are investigated for the boreal summer season: June–July–August. An eight year (2000–2007) average of GCM simulated rainfall data is compared with the corresponding TRMM rainfall data. The comparison shows that the amplitude of the diurnal cycles of rainfall over land and ocean are reasonably well simulated. Over land, the phase of the simulated diurnal cycle of precipitation peaks several hours earlier than that of the TRMM data. Corresponding differences over the ocean(s) are relatively smaller. Some of the key features of the aerosol induced model simulated field anomalies are: (a) aerosol direct radiative forcing which increases the atmospheric stability and reduces the daytime moist convection and convective precipitation; (b) the aerosol induced changes in the diurnal cycle of precipitation are out of phase with those of the TRMM data over land, but are in-phase over the ocean; (c) aerosols reduce the amplitude of the diurnal cycle of precipitation over land and enhance it over ocean. However, the phase of the diurnal cycle is not affected much by the aerosol radiative forcing both over land and ocean. During the boreal summer, aerosol radiative forcing and induced circulation and precipitation cool the Sahel and the southern part of Sahara desert more than the adjacent areas to the north and south, thereby shifting the peak meridional temperature gradient northward. Consequently, an anomalous easterly jet is found north of its climatological location. This anomalous jet is associated with increased cyclonic circulation to the south of its axis, resulting in an anomalous monsoon rain belt in the Sahel.
RNA circularization reveals terminal sequence heterogeneity in a double-stranded RNA virus.

Abstract Double-stranded RNA viruses (dsRNA), termed LRV1, have been found in several strains of the protozoan parasite Leishmania. With the aim of constructing a full-length cDNA copy of the vital genome, including its terminal sequences, a protocol based on PCR amplification across the 3′-5′ junction of circularized RNA was developed. This method proved to be applicable to dsRNA. It provided a relatively simple alternative to one-sided PCR, without loss of specificity inherent in the use of generic primers. LRV1 terminal nucleotide sequences obtained by this method showed a considerable variation in length, particularly at the 5′ end of the positive strand, as well as the potential for forming 3′ overhangs. The opposite genomic end terminates in 0, 1, or 2 TCA trinucleotide repeats. These results are compared with terminal sequences derived from one-sided PCR experiments.
Sitting and standing intention can be decoded from scalp EEG recorded prior to movement execution

Low frequency signals recorded from non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG), in particular movement-related cortical potentials (MRPs), are associated with preparation and execution of movement and thus present a target for use in brain-machine interfaces. We investigated the ability to decode movement intent from delta-band (0.1-4 Hz) EEG recorded immediately before movement execution in healthy volunteers. We used data from epochs starting 1.5 sec before movement onset to classify future movements into one of three classes: stand-up, sit-down, or quiet. We assessed classification accuracy in both externally triggered and self-paced paradigms. Movement onset was determined from electromyography (EMG) recordings synchronized with EEG signals. We employed an artifact subspace reconstruction (ASR) algorithm to eliminate high amplitude noise before building our time-embedded EEG features. We applied local Fisher’s discriminant analysis to reduce the dimensionality of our spatio-temporal features and subsequently used a Gaussian mixture model classifier for our three class problem. Our results demonstrate significantly better than chance classification accuracy (chance level = 33.3%) for the self-initiated (78.0 ± 2.6%) and triggered (74.7 ± 5.7%) paradigms. Surprisingly, we found no significant difference in classification accuracy between the self-paced and cued paradigms when using the full set of non-peripheral electrodes. However, accuracy was significantly increased for self-paced movements when only electrodes over the primary motor area were used. Overall, this study demonstrates that delta-band EEG recorded immediately before movement carries discriminative information regarding movement type. Our results suggest that EEG-based classifiers could improve lower-limb neuroprostheses and neurorehabilitation techniques by providing earlier detection of movement intent, which could be used in robot-assisted strategies for motor training and recovery of function.
Effects of consecutive trials and test-retest reliability of 1000-Hz tympanometry in adults.

AbstractObjective: To investigate the effect of consecutive 1000-Hz tympanometry testing on admittance measures, and examine test-retest reliability. Design: Repeated measures with eight trials of 1000-Hz Ya and Ba/Ga tympanometry, respectively, in two ears of each subject, followed by repeated 226-Hz tympanometry. Study sample: Twenty-seven normal-hearing young adults. Results: For single-peak tympanograms, peak Ytm and Gtm systematically increased across trials with a mean change of 8% and 15% at Trial 8, respectively, whereas Btm increased marginally. For notched tympanograms, peak Ytm and Btm decreased by 23% and 162% at Trial 8, and Gtm in two cases also decreased (10% on average). Trial 2 and 3 contributed 50% to 70% of the total changes. Test-retest differences of subsequently acquired 1000- and 226-Hz tympanograms were smaller than previously reported. Conclusions: Consecutive testing significantly alters middle-ear admittance in 1000-Hz tympanometry. The outcome is contingent on tympanogram patte...
Probabilistic Behavior of Floods of Record in the United States

Literature on the probability distribution function (PDF) of annual maximum flood discharges is extensive, yet the literature on the PDF of the flood of record (FOR) is sparse. This is partially due to two facts: (1) the PDF for record events is more complex than the PDF for annual maxima; and (2) data sets for observed FORs are much smaller than for the annual maximum flood series from which they derive. We show that, if annual floods arise from a generalized extreme values (GEV) distribution, then the FOR also arises from another GEV distribution, which we term GEVmax . We also derive the moments and L-moments for the PDF of GEVmax . Using record flood observations at over 1,500 basins in the United States, we compared theoretical and empirical properties of observed values of the FOR. We found that, at both regional and national scales, the FOR values are on average more extreme than would be expected if they occurred randomly, and that they tend to form spatial clusters.
Fatigue lifetime assessment of adhesive joints by ultrasonic and thermal wave imaging

Various nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods are frequently employed to inspect the adhesive bonds of aircraft structures in service. The literature on the capability of various NDE techniques reveals a deficiency in linking NDE test parameter characteristics of the frequency or size of defects to critical failure properties such as the lifetime and the strength of adhesive bonds. In this study an attempt has been made to develop such correlations. A specimen geometry was employed so as to permit cleavage-type debonding under fatigue loading. This geometry and loading configuration provide for a simple fatigue testing program and simple analytical methods. Damage by flexural fatigue aging of these adhesively bonded specimens was induced at different intervals of their fatigue lifetime. The specimens were composed of materials that were commonly used in actual aircraft production during the 1970s. Pulse-echo ultrasonic C-scanning and thermal wave imaging were performed to inspect the adhesive joints at ...
Prolonged enhancement and depression of synaptic transmission in CA1 pyramidal neurons induced by transient forebrain ischemia in vivo

Abstract Evoked postsynaptic potentials of CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampus were studied during 48 h after severe ischemic insult using in vivo intracellular recording and staining techniques. Postischemic CA1 neurons displayed one of three distinct response patterns following contralateral commissural stimulation. At early recirculation times (0–12 h) approximately 50% of neurons exhibited, in addition to the initial excitatory postsynaptic potential, a late depolarizing postsynaptic potential lasting for more than 100 ms. Application of dizocilpine maleate reduced the amplitude of late depolarizing postsynaptic potential by 60%. Other CA1 neurons recorded in this interval failed to develop late depolarizing postsynaptic potentials but showed a modest blunting of initial excitatory postsynaptic potentials (non-late depolarizing postsynaptic potential neuron). The proportion of recorded neurons with late depolarizing postsynaptic potential characteristics increased to more than 70% during 13–24 h after reperfusion. Beyond 24 h reperfusion, ∼20% of CA1 neurons exhibited very small excitatory postsynaptic potentials even with maximal stimulus intensity. The slope of the initial excitatory postsynaptic potentials in late depolarizing postsynaptic potential neurons increased to ∼150% of control values up to 12 h after reperfusion indicating a prolonged enhancement of synaptic transmission. In contrast, the slope of the initial excitatory postsynaptic potentials in non-late depolarizing postsynaptic potential neurons decreased to less than 50% of preischemic values up to 24 h after reperfusion indicating a prolonged depression of synaptic transmission. More late depolarizing postsynaptic potential neurons were located in the medial portion of CA1 zone where neurons are more vulnerable to ischemia whereas more non-late depolarizing postsynaptic potential neurons were located in the lateral portion of CA1 zone where neurons are more resistant to ischemia. The result from the present study suggests that late depolarizing postsynaptic potential and small excitatory postsynaptic potential neurons may be irreversibly injured while non-late depolarizing postsynaptic potential neurons may be those that survive the ischemic insult. Alterations of synaptic transmission may be associated with the pathogenesis of postischemic neuronal injury.
Quality assurance of magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging-derived metabolic data.

Abstract Purpose Spatially resolved metabolite maps, as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) methods, are being increasingly used to acquire metabolic information to guide therapy, with metabolite ratio maps perhaps providing the most diagnostic information. We present a quality assurance procedure for MRSI-derived metabolic data acquired ultimately for guiding conformal radiotherapy. Methods and materials An MRSI phantom filled with brain-mimicking solutions was custom-built with an insert holding eight vials containing calibration solutions of precisely varying metabolite concentrations that emulated increasing grade/density of brain tumor. Phantom metabolite ratios calculated from fully relaxed 1D, 2D, and 3D MRS data for each vial were compared with calibrated metabolite ratios acquired at 9.4 T. Additionally, 3D ratio maps were "discretized" to eight pseudoabnormality levels on a slice-by-slice basis and the accuracy of this procedure was verified. Results Regression analysis revealed expected linear relationships between experimental and calibration metabolite ratios with intercepts close to zero for the three acquisition modes. 1D MRS data agreed most with theoretical considerations (regression coefficient, b=0.969; intercept 0.008). The 2D (b = 1.049; intercept −0.199) and 3D (correlation coefficient r 2 = 0.9978–0.7336 for five slices) MRSI indicated reduced MRS data quality in regions of degraded B 0 and B 1 homogeneity. Pseudoabnormality levels were found to be consistent with expectations within regions of adequate B 0 homogeneity. Conclusions This simple phantom-based approach to generate baseline calibration curves for all MRS acquisition modes may be useful to identify temporal deviations from acceptable data quality in a routine clinical environment or for testing new MRS and MRSI acquisition software.