cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Illuminating software specifications

A software specification is a description of what a system is to compute, and as such, it serves as an essential communication vehicle between the customers of the system and its implementers. The overriding concern in writing a specification is therefore one of clarity.Traditionally, specifications have been written in a procedural style known as structured English or pseudo-code. The problem with this style of specification is that it only implicitly defines what the system is to compute in terms of a procedure or algorithm that describes how to compute it. As a consequence, the reader of such a specification must mentally execute the procedure to understand what it computes, and thus ascertaining its correctness is error-prone.To remedy this situation, recent research has focused on declarative specification techniques, such as Z notation, that use mathematical logic to explicitly describe the goal of computation. While declarative specifications are an improvement over procedural ones in terms of precision and verifiability, mathematical logic is difficult to write and to read, even for experienced software engineers, much less typical customers.This paper describes a new technique for illuminating declarative software specifications through the use of complementary diagrams that are borrowed from database theory. This technique, based on the use of Entity-Relationship diagrams, a well-known conceptual modelling method, and GraphLog, a novel visual query language, has all the precision and formality of mathematical logic. In addition it presents information in a way that exploits the capability of the human visual system for pattern recognition. We claim that these diagrams often present typical specifications more clearly than the corresponding logical formulas. The paper illustrates this technique using a family tree application taken from a software engineering textbook, and concludes with a brief description of 4Thought, a supporting tool set that is currently under development.
Cell-Associated Nature of Cottontail Rabbit Herpesvirus In Vitro

The cottontail rabbit herpesvirus is presently classified in subgroup A of the herpesviruses, whereas the virus is strongly cell associated and belongs in subgroup B.
UTD: Classifying Semantic Relations by Combining Lexical and Semantic Resources

This paper describes our system for SemEval-2010 Task 8 on multi-way classification of semantic relations between nominals. First, the type of semantic relation is classified. Then a relation type-specific classifier determines the relation direction. Classification is performed using SVM classifiers and a number of features that capture the context, semantic role affiliation, and possible pre-existing relations of the nominals. This approach achieved an F1 score of 82.19% and an accuracy of 77.92%.
In vitro effect of aflatoxin b1 on rat liver macrophages (kuffer cells)

Abstract The effect of aflatoxin B1 on the uptake and incorporation of [3H]leucine and [3H]uridine and on phagocytosis of latex particles was studied using cultures of rat liver macrophages (Kuffer cells). Aflatoxin B1 inhibited the incorporation of both isotopes, but inhibition of uridine incorporation was greater than that of leucine, suggesting that RNA synthesis was a major site of inhibition. Aflatoxin b1also inhibited phagocytosis of latex particles in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
Spectrophotometric Determination of Cycloserine and Isoniazid in Pharmaceutical Preparations

Cycloserine may be determined in certain dosage forms by dilution in hydrochloric acid and measurement of the absorbance at 219 millimicrons. Combinations of cycloserine with isoniazid may be determined from a single dilution from absorbances at 219 and 272 millimicrons, respectively. In this and in other dosage forms, Values approaching the theoretical were obtained. The method requires no special apparatus and very little time. It shows good correlation with the microbiological method and is capable of following degradation in experimental preparations. The accuracy of the method is within ±2 per cent; its precision within ±1 per cent.
Stoichiometry, percolation, and Verwey ordering in magnetite.

Neutron scattering experiments on ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3(1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}})}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ single crystals show that, for \ensuremath{\delta}=0, the well established additional Bragg peaks occur at (h,0,1+1/2), below ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{V}}$=122.5 K with abrupt disappearance of the diffuse planar scattering associated with 1D correlations along the cubic axis. For \ensuremath{\delta}=0.006, the superlattice peaks never become resolution limited, long-range order is not attained, and the diffuse scattering increases continuously with cooling. This composition exceeds the percolation limit beyond which the transition is inhibited by insufficient average charge per ordered unit cell.
The new era of multiple sclerosis therapeutics.

The early 1990s began a new era in the treatment of MS, when the FDA approved interferon beta-1b as the first treatment for reducing the rate of relapses. Many additional effective therapies have followed during the past 20 years, each of which was shown in clinical trials to reduce both the clinical and neuroimaging abnormalities associated with disease progression. These medications clearly limited the impact of the disease as shown by placebo-controlled trials, reducing the relapse rate by up to two-thirds, and the risk of sustained progression of disability by up to 40 %. The available therapies offer a wide array of options, with diverse mechanisms of action and a range of treatment routes and frequency of administrations. In this volume, we present the current state and future prospects of MS therapies. We include 12 critical reviews in this volume, written by leading authorities. The volume begins with assessment of currently available immunomodulatory agents, followed by a review of pipeline therapies, such as those currently in phase II/III trials or filed with the FDA. A number of subsequent papers focus on the role of aggressive immunosuppressive and stem-cell strategies, or use of immunotherapies in children with MS. These are followed by reviews of symptomatic and acute relapse treatments. The volume concludes with a review of cutting-edge imaging strategies to non-invasively monitor MS-related neuroinflammation. Although my wish as Guest Editor was to make this edition comprehensive, we were not able to cover all of the available and emerging therapies due to publication deadlines. Despite the abundant progress made in this new MS neurotherapeutic era, there remain several unmet needs. For early stage relapsing forms of MS, the treatment effects are significant but only partial. For progressive forms of MS, these agents are generally ineffective with regard to limiting disease progression. When considering the use of such therapies, patients and caregivers must weigh benefits against treatment burdens such as route/frequency of administration, side effects, and safety. Thus, there remains a “treatment gap” that provides a challenge to investigators in the field. Nonetheless, the availability of current therapies has made MS a treatable, manageable disease. Rohit Bakshi Guest Editor
Phosphorus chemical shielding anisotropies and the sign of JPP IN P4S3 from NMR studies in a nematic solvent

Abstract The 31 P magnetic shielding anisotropies in P 4 S 3 from Fourier transform NMR spectra in the nematic phase are reported. They are in satisfactory agreement with results obtained from pulsed solid state experiments by Gibby et al. The sign of the scalar coupling constant J PP between the apical and basal phosphorus atoms is determined by correlating the results of this work with the results of Gibby et al.
Concurrent pemetrexed and radiation therapy in the treatment of patients with inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review of completed and ongoing studies

Current standard for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is combined concurrent therapy with a platinum-based regimen. Preclinical synergistic activity of pemetrexed with radiation therapy (RT) and favorable toxicity profile has led to clinical trials evaluating pemetrexed in chemoradiation regimens. This literature search of concurrent pemetrexed and RT treatment of patients with stage III NSCLC included MEDLINE database, meeting abstracts, and the clinical trial registry database. Nineteen unique studies were represented across all databases including 11 phase I studies and eight phase II studies. Of the six phase II trials with mature data available, median overall survival ranged from 18.7 to 34 months. Esophagitis and pneumonitis occurred in 0-16% and 0-23% of patients, respectively. Of the ongoing trials, there is one phase III and four phase II trials with pemetrexed in locally advanced NSCLC. Pemetrexed can be administered safely at full systemic doses with either cisplatin or carboplatin concomitantly with radical doses of thoracic radiation therapy. While results from the ongoing phase III PROCLAIM trial are needed to address definitively the efficacy of pemetrexed-cisplatin plus RT in stage III NSCLC, available results from phase II trials suggest that this regimen has promising activity with an acceptable toxicity profile.
Expansion of Markets and the Geographic Distribution of Economic Activities: The Trends in U. S. Regional Manufacturing Structure, 1860–1987

This paper presents evidence on the long-run trends in U. S. regional specialization and localization and examines which model of regional specialization is most consistent with the data. Regional specialization in the United States rose substantially between 1860 and the turn of the twentieth century, flattened out during the interwar years, and then fell substantially and continuously since the 1930s. The analysis of the long-run trends in U. S. regional specialization and localization supports explanations based on production scale economies and the Heckscher-Ohlin model but is inconsistent with explanations based on external economies.
Toxic chemicals in sediments and biota from a creosote-polluted harbor: relationships with hepatic neoplasms and other hepatic lesions in English sole ( Parophrys vetulus )

High prevalences of idiopathic hepatic lesions, including neoplasms (e.g., hepatocellular carcinomas, cholangiocellular carcinomas) (27%, 20 of 75 fish) and foci of cellular alteration (putative preneoplastic lesions) (44%, 33 of 75 fish), were found in English sole (Parophrys vetulus) exposed to creosote-contaminated sediments in Eagle Harbor, Puget Sound, WA. Sediments from the contaminated region of the harbor contained particularly high concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., benzo(a)pyrene and benz(a)anthracene), and a variety of nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds (e.g., carbazole and acridine). The composition of the aromatic compounds was characteristic of creosote. Dramatically lower concentrations of aromatic compounds were found in sediments from a reference site in which the bottom-dwelling fish examined were free of detectable neoplastic or preneoplastic hepatic lesions. Food organisms in the stomachs of the English sole from Eagle Harbor contained substantially higher concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbons than comparable organisms from the reference site. The concentrations of individual aromatic hydrocarbons in muscle and liver from the Eagle Harbor fish were low; however, high concentrations of metabolites of aromatic compounds were present in the bile. The findings strongly suggest an association between exposure to creosote and the prevalence of hepatic lesions, including neoplasms, in the bottom-dwelling fish, and furthermore support the putativemore » role of aromatic hydrocarbons in liver carcinogenesis in fish.« less
In-vivo real-time tandem scanning confocal microscopic examination of wound healing in the cornea following an alkali burn

Chemical burns of the cornea can cause irreversible scarring, leading to visual impairment. The tandem scanning confocal microscope (TSM) was used to evaluate stromal changes in vivo following exposure to alkali, the most devastating form of chemical ocular injury. The corneas of anesthetized rabbits were exposed to filter papers impregnated with NaOH. A 25x water immersion objective lens was used with the TSM, and images captured with a CCD camera. Normal keratocytes appeared as ovoid nuclei. Collagen lamellae were not visible. Alkali led to immediate opacification of the extracellular matrix and loss of keratocytes. The former was quantified by en-face serial optical sectioning and subsequent off-line densitometry of the captured image. Wound healing was monitored as spindle-shaped cells appeared at the wound edge. This was accompanied by the production of fibrillary extracellular matrix. After 3 days, branched cellular processes 100 to 200 micrometers long were extended. By 1 week, dense aggregates of ovoid fibroblasts and whorls of collagen fibers had formed. Despite the overlying scarring, the deeper stromal layers and endothelium were still visible with this technique. We suggest that the TSM would be a useful clinical instrument for the evaluation and treatment evaluation of patients with chemical injuries of the cornea.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Salt‐adapted bacteria isolated from the Rouge River and potential for degradation of contaminants and biotechnological applications

The current work extends the phenotypic and molecular characterization of the bacterial culture collection from the Rouge River to gain an understanding of the physiology of the strains and their potential for biotechnological applications. Phenotypic and molecular analyses were performed on six unique strains. Most of the strains tested for hydrolytic activities were positive for the production of enzymes, in contrast to previously described species that showed very little hydrolase activities. Little antibiotic resistance was seen among the strains, although Halobacillus (strain 9‐gw1‐su5‐2) was found to be the most resistant to antibiotics. Results revealed the physiological diversity of the strains in terms of their ability to metabolize unusual and refractory substrates. Of the 31 toxic organic compounds, 2 to 18 were used by the strains. Clostridium (strain 9‐gw1‐su5‐2) exhibited the broadest utilization capability. The isolates were versatile in their nutrient abilities and represented a potential ...
Effect of Harvest Date on Yield, Composition, and Nutritive Value of Corn Stover and DDGS

Efficient utilization of the non-grain portion of corn plant and distiller's grains for ruminants and the grain for ethanol will allow optimization of both food and fuel production. Corn stover can be effectively used as animal feed if it is collected before in-field dry-down. This study determined the yield and nutritive value of corn stover, distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and feed value enhanced stover (FVES) (a mixture of corn stover and DDGS) on different corn harvest dates, and determined the harvest time that maximizes whole-plant utilization. Corn and corn stover were harvested at different dates from 21 August to 23 November in 2009, and DDGS samples were produced from the corn samples collected at different harvest dates by dry grind fermentation. From 21 August to 23 November, dry matter yield of the stalk and leaf fraction and the cob decreased by 37.4% and 9.8%, respectively. During the same time period, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and lignin concentrations in the stalk and leaf fraction increased by 16.8, 12.7, and 1.0 percentage points, respectively, while crude protein concentrations decreased by 4.1 percentage points. For FVES, both the highest dry matter yield and the highest total digestible nutrient concentration were reached when corn just reached physiological maturity. Corn and corn stover can be harvested at the corn physiological maturity stage for maximum dry matter yield and optimum nutrient quality of FVES for ruminants, leaving more corn for ethanol production.
Engineering the Alcohol Pocket to Create a Chemically-Activated GIRK Channel

G-protein gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels are implicated in alcohol abuse. Ethanol directly activates GIRKs through interaction with a discrete alcohol-binding pocket that we identified in the cytoplasmic domain. The structural mechanism underlying ethanol-dependent activation, however, is not well understood. Here, we hypothesized that chemically modifying the alcohol pocket with alcohol-like reagents would activate the channel. To examine this, we engineered GIRK2 containing a single cytoplasmic cysteine substitution in the βD-βE domain of the alcohol pocket; S246 is located near the edge of the pocket, and L257 is located within the pocket. All Cys substitutions were introduced into GIRK2c lacking four native Cys residues (GIRK2c(cys-)) and transiently expressed in HEK293T cells. We studied the effect of 2-Hydroxyethyl MTS (MTS-HE, alcohol-like) and two hydrophobic MTS reagents- Benzyl-MTS (MTS-Bn), and 4-hydroxy benzyl-MTS (MTS-Y), on basal (Ba2+-sensitive) and alcohol-activated GIRK currents. MTS-HE (100 μM) increased basal GIRK currents for S246C (34% ± 12%, n=7) and L257C (120% ± 24%, n=7). Similarly, MTS-Bn (10 μM) modification increased basal currents by 74% ± 18% (n=7) for S246C, and by 333% ± 31% (n=4) for L257C. MTS-Y (100 μM) increased the basal currents by 102% ± 25% (n= 5) for L257C but did not affect S246C. In addition, MTS modification decreased MPD-activated current. For L257C, we confirmed that intracellular application of MTS-HE produced a concentration-dependent increase in the time course of channel activation, having a rate constant of 90.6±17.2 M−1s−1 (n=11). Taken together, these data demonstrate that MTS modification of a single amino acid in the alcohol pocket can engage channel activation, and limit the access of bulkier diols (e.g., MPD). These results reveal novel mechanisms for chemical activation of GIRKs and underscore the importance of hydrophobic interactions in alcohol-mediated activation of GIRKs.
Phonon Squeezed States Generated by Second-Order Raman Scattering

We study squeezed states of phonons, which allow a reduction in the quantum fluctuations of the atomic displacements to below the zero-point quantum noise level of coherent phonon states. We investigate the generation of squeezed phonon states using a second-order Raman scattering process. We calculate the expectation values and fluctuations of both the atomic displacement and the lattice amplitude operators, as well as the effects of the phonon squeezed states on macroscopically measurable quantities, such as changes in the dielectric constant. These results are compared with recent experiments.
Integrated Instrumentation and Sensor Systems Functional Model and Taxonomy

This article presents a systems engineering functional architecture tailored to guide the development of integrated instrumentation/sensor systems (IISSs; incorporating communications media and interconnections and signal acquisition) for application to aerospace equipment in the following activities: test and evaluation, system diagnostics and health management (DHM), and advanced system control. The functional architecture suggested a taxonomy for IISSs based on defined variants of the functional architecture and morphological variations on the functional elements. The functional architecture and derived taxonomy focus attention on the sensor system interfaces and the transformations of the sensed parameters as the key to the definition and categorization of new configurations and implementation of integrated IISSs that promise to support the following: improved aerospace system verification and validation, more effective and responsive equipment health management, and a greater scope for precise control of system behavior and performance.
“Bamboozled by Our Own Words”: Semantic Blindness and Some Arguments Against Contextualism*

The best grounds for accepting contextualism concerning knowledge attributions are to be found in how knowledge-attributing (and knowledge-denying) sentences are used in ordinary, non-philosophical talk: What ordinary speakers will count as "knowledge" in some non-philosophical contexts they will deny is such in others. Contextualists typically appeal to pairs of cases that forcefully display the variability in the epistemic standards that govern ordinary usage: A "low standards" case (henceforth, "LOW") in which a speaker seems quite appropriately and truthfully to ascribe knowledge to a subject will be paired with a "high standards" case ("HIGH") in which another speaker in a quite different and more demanding context seems with equal propriety and truth to say that the same subject (or a similarly positioned subject) does not know. The contextualist argument based on such cases is driven by the premises that the positive attribution of knowledge in LOW is true, and that the denial of knowledge in HIGH is true. And where the contextualist has constructed HIGH and LOW wisely, those premises are in turn powerfully supported by the two mutually reinforcing strands of evidence that both of the claims intuitively seem true, and that both claims are perfectly appropriate. The resulting argument for contextualism is very powerful indeed, but I am on the offensive making that case in another paper: "The Ordinary Language Basis for Contextualism and the New Invariantism."1 Here I play defense, defending contextualism from several related objections. First, an objection from comparative judgments of content: It is alleged that the denial of knowledge in HIGH seems to contradict the affirmation of knowledge in LOW, and that this is a problem for contextualism. Second, an objection from metalinguistic claims: It is alleged that if S-HIGH (the speaker in HIGH) and S-LOW (the speaker in LOW) were told of each
Interleukin-6 polymorphism is associated with more aggressive prostate cancer.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has an important role during prostate cancer progression and IL-6 levels in the serum of patients with hormone refractory and metastatic prostate cancer are significantly increased compared with those in patients with hormone sensitive and localized prostate cancer. The G>C polymorphism at position −174 in the promoter of the IL-6 gene has been associated with differences in IL-6 transcription in vitro and IL-6 protein levels in vivo. We determined the association of IL-6 polymorphism with prostate cancer progression.Materials and Methods: We examined the association of IL-6 polymorphism with the risk of advanced disease in 95 patients with different stages of prostate cancer using the tetra-primer polymerase chain reaction genotyping method.Results: We found that the −174G>C genotype of IL-6 gene was associated with an overall increased risk of advanced prostate cancer. A strong association between this genotype and Gleason score was observed at the −174G>C locus of ...
Reconsidering the McKibben muscle: Energetics, operating fluid, and bladder material

In spite of extensive modeling and characterization efforts, little is known about the energetics of McKibben muscle actuators. This article experimentally investigates the effectiveness of traditional McKibben muscles at converting fluid energy delivered to the actuator to mechanical output work over full actuation cycles. Once these efficiency metrics are established, a comparison of the efficiencies of traditional pneumatic fluidic artificial muscles and hydraulic fluidic artificial muscles is presented. Two new hydraulic oil compatible bladder materials are tested—an elastomeric Viton bladder and an inelastic low-density polyethylene bladder. The performance of these muscle variants is compared by measuring blocked force and free contraction as a function of pressure, hysteresis, and energy efficiencies. The measurement of fluid volume delivered to the fluidic artificial muscles over their actuation ranges is shown to be useful for evaluating the accuracy of existing cylindrical volume models. Models ...
The Use of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons as Boundary Lubricants for Stainless Steels

Friction and wear experiments with 1-cetene and cetane on stainless steel demonstrated the effect of a carbon-carbon double bond in the boundary lubrication of stainless steel. Experiments with cold-rolled steel, nickel, and chromium indicated the chromium to be the constituent in the steel that is markedly affected. The use of the unsaturated 1-cetene resulted in a lowering of the friction coefficient and the wear over its saturated analog, cetane. It is postulated that the improvement in friction and wear observed using the olefin 1-cetene is due to chemical attachment to the chromium or chromium oxide present in the wearing surface of the stainless steel reducing the amount of intermetallic contact. Experiments using the pure polar olefin vinyl stearate as the lubricant resulted in even further improvement of the frictional properties of stainless steel rubbing surfaces than the olefin alone, and a mechanism is proposed. It is also shown that these same improvements in frictional properties can be obta...
A Novel Technique for the Determination of Surface Biaxial Stress under External Confinement Using Raman Spectroscopy

Bi-axial compressive stress induced as a result of mechanical confinement within a zirconium diboride-silicon carbide (ZrB2-SiC) ceramic composite has been quantified using micro Raman spectroscopy and then validated using two independent experimental methods. First a relationship relating the Raman peak-shift on a confined silicon carbide (SiC) particle to magnitude of imposed confinement stress was developed by utilizing phonon deformation potentials for 3C-SiC diamond and zinc-blende crystal structures. ZrB2-5wt%SiC samples, prepared using spark plasma sintering were subjected to different confinement pressure on the lateral surface by thermal shrink fitting metallic sleeves. The relationship between Raman peak-shift and confinement stress was then verified by comparing the measured stress in this method with that calculated from analytical expressions readily available for thick walled cylinders. The relationship was further validated independently using digital image correlation (DIC) by measuring the displacements for unknown levels of progressively increasing confinement stress induced by a shaft-collar ring on similar specimens. The Raman peak-shift relation derived for SiC phase also correctly predicted process-induced residual stresses due to a mismatch in coefficient of thermal expansion between the matrix phase and SiC particles. The derived Raman peak-shift relationship can also be generalized and can be a valuable tool to experimentally determine unknown bi-axial stress in a Raman active structure.
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF LAND AND THE “SAGEBRUSH REBELLION”

Advocates of ''privatization'' argue that the sale of public lands to private owners would significantly improve the management of natural resources. Experience from the first round of land sales suggests that the government, responding to the politics of the Sagebrush Rebellion, will continue to subsidize preferred uses of ''privatized'' lands through give-aways, below-par purchases, preference sales, and imperfect sales. Even though the federal government may go ahead with the land sales program, political compromises will not allow the free market goals of privatization to be realized. 12 references.
Stretching, Mechanotransduction, and Proinflammatory Cytokines in the Fetal Membranes

In the third trimester of normal pregnancy, the human fetal membranes become increasingly distended and use mechanotransduction and its downstream signaling to remodel and function. Their overdistension either by multifetal pregnancy or by polyhydramnios often leads to preterm birth, but the mechanism is unclear. Stretching of the fetal membranes in vitro upregulates several cytokines and enzymes that can drive collagen degradation, leading to membrane rupture. The sensitivity of this response appears to be specific for different cell types and is likely to result from differential activation of some key transcription factors and cofactors. Few cytokines in the fetal membranes respond to stretch: the most robust of these is pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF). This is constitutively expressed and protects the amnion cells from apoptosis caused by chronic static distension. However, it can also be stimulated by inflammation, infection, and hypoxia and upregulates a number of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and enzymes important in the initiation of parturition. Therefore, it is proposed here that PBEF functions in normal pregnancy to protect the amnion cells as they become increasingly stretched, but if stimulated, it can initiate key events leading to parturition.
Design and Fabrication of an Experimental Facility for High-Pressure Pool Boiling

In this work, we present the design and fabrication a high-pressure pool boiling facility to conduct pool boiling experiments on horizontal heated surfaces under elevated pressures, up to 20 bar. Previous research has shown that micro- and/or nano-structured surfaces and coated surfaces will increase heat transfer coefficients up to one order of magnitude at atmospheric pressure. However, most boiling applications are subjected to high pressure, especially in the power industry. Pressure inside a boiling water reactor in a nuclear power plant will reach as high as 75 atm (75.99 bar). In order to determine how heat transfer is enhanced at increased pressures, with deionized water and refrigerants, on modified surfaces, a special experimental setup needs to be designed and fabricated. Difficulties in making such an experimental setup come from stabilizing the system pressure, sealing the test setup and visualizing the boiling conditions in the vessel. Both advantages and disadvantages of this design will be discussed and possible methods for improvements will be proposed. Preliminary test results on a plane copper surface are also included. Future research will be focusing on boiling of water and refrigerants on micro-structured copper surfaces, graphene coated, and Teflon© coated surfaces under high pressure.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
SU‐E‐I‐98: Neurovascular Device Localization Accuracy Dependence on Exposure, Temporal Filtering, and Motion Blur for Real Time Imaging with the Microangiographic Fluoroscope

Purpose: To study the accuracy of localization during fluoroscopy for static and moving objects and its dependence on quantum noise determined by exposure and temporal filtering and on motion blur determined by speed of object movement. Methods: A stainless steel stent (90 micron struts) used as object of interest was mounted on a stepper motor controlled linear stage with effective step size of 1.7 micron. The new high resolution 35‐ micron‐ pixel Microangiographic Fluoroscope (MAF) was used for imaging the stent as it was moved forward 7500 steps and brought back to the original position for different speeds. Fluoroscopy was performed at 4 different exposures. The object detection algorithm available in LabVIEW IMAQ Vision software was used to localize the stent using different temporal filtering weights. Results: (a) For fixed exposure, stationary object localization accuracy is improved by a factor of 5 for higher temporal filtering compared to no temporal filtering; however, for moving objects the error in localization increased 50 percent due to motion blurring when the filter weight was increased from 4 to 8. (b) For fixed temporal filtering, localization accuracy improved with higher exposure. Doubling the exposure improved accuracy 3 times for stationary and 1.5 times for the moving object. (c) Localization accuracy for stationary objects at a given dose and temporal filtering is similar to that at twice the dose and half the temporal filtering weight, whereas that for moving objects was found to be slightly better for the latter case. (d) Localization accuracy was observed to decrease proportionally with increased object speed due to increased motion blur. Conclusions: Localization accuracy in high quantum noise situations can be improved by increasing the temporal filtering. There is a need to implement variable weight temporal filtering depending on the amount of motion detected. Support: NIH Grants R01‐EB008425, R01‐EB002873
Cultural perceptions and negotiations surrounding sexual and reproductive health among migrant and non-migrant indigenous Mexican women from Yucatán, Mexico

Information regarding sexual and reproductive health of indigenous women from Mexican sending and US receiving communities is limited. This research aims to explore the perceptions of indigenous women from US migrant receiving and Mexican migrant sending communities regarding their sexual health experiences and reproductive health practices. From January to March 2012, two key informant interviews and 31 in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted among women ages 18-55 in Tunkas, Yucatan and Anaheim and Inglewood, California. Women reported challenges to obtaining routine reproductive clinical care, including access to care barriers and lack of perceived power over their own sexual health. This was further compounded by migration processes and deficiencies in health care delivery systems. Socio-cultural beliefs and gendered power dynamics influence sexual and reproductive health decisions and behaviors of migrant and non-migrant women. Findings underscore existing gender-based reproductive health norms and serve to inform future transnational research and public health education to improve the health of indigenous migrant and non-migrant women in the US and Mexico.
‘Soup ladle’ autotransfusion

Autotransfusion is the collection and reinfusion of the patient's own blood. This technique can help in response to the increasing demand for blood and the heightening awareness of transfusion morbidity1. A simple, low cost, perioperative autotransfusion technique that can be easily practised by all surgeons is described.
Hydrogen uptake on film surfaces produced by a unique codeposition process

Abstract Hydrogen uptake on several different film surfaces has been achieved by deposition of a conventional hydrogen gettering system via a novel combination of physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes. We decided to use a conventional hydrogen gettering system, developed by Smith and Schicker [J.R. Schicker, AS/KCD Project No. EPN-047620, May 1994], that uses an acetylenic organic compound mixed with carbon supported palladium metal. The organic material, 1,4-bis-(phenylethynyl) benzene (DEB), is mixed with palladium and carbon by employing conventional solid state ceramic preparative techniques. Our novel codeposition process combines PVD and CVD techniques for fabricating thin-film coatings of the palladium-catalyzed DEB hydrogen gettering system. Hydrogen uptake was confirmed by 1 H NMR and our novel process lends itself well to placing hydrogen getter onto complex shapes and substrates of various compositions.
Electro-stimulation and sensori-neural hearing loss: a preliminary report.

Abstract The effects of electro-stimulation on pure tone threshold and speech discrimination scores of persons with sensori-neural hearing loss was assessed using a double-blind procedure. Improvements in speech discrimination cold not be attributed to a placebo effect. EEG examinations revealed no harmful effects of the electro-stimulation procedure.
Large deviations for systems driven by two-time-scale nonhomogeneous Markovian chains and applications to optimal control problems

This paper is based on our paper [15]. We present the main results; the verbatim proofs are omitted due to the page limitation. We develop large deviations principles for systems driven by continuous-time Markov chains with two-time scales and related optimal control problems. A distinct feature of our setup is that the Markov chain under consideration is time dependent or inhomogeneous. The use of two-time-scale formulation stems from the effort of reducing computational complexity in a wide variety of applications in control, optimization, and systems theory. Then the results are applied to certain dynamic systems and LQ control problems.
Antenna-mediated near field spectroscopic Imaging: Extension to the time and frequency domains

Scattering scanning near field microscopy is capable of measuring the response of a material to incident infrared light with a resolution determined by the tip radius of the antenna. We present new methods and results here, in which broad band and ultrafast sources are used to extend this technique into the time and frequency domains.
New York MARKAL: An evaluation of carbon dioxide emission control strategies in New York State

A MARKAL model was developed for the State of New York. It represents the state's energy system as a set of typical technologies for generating, converting, and using energy as it evolves over a 45–year period. NYMARKAL was applied here in demonstration analyses to explore strategies to reduce 2 emissions. NYMARKAL was installed at the State Energy Office and in the Offices of the New York Power Pool. Example scenarios showed that it is more difficult and more expensive to reduce carbon emissions in New York State than in the United States as a whole. Were a common carbon tax instituted, it would have less effect in New York and most carbon emissions reduction would take place elsewhere in the country where it is more cost–effective. Alternatively, were all states required to reduce CO2 emissions by an equal percentage (say by 20 per cent), the cost per unit emissions reduction to New York would be much greater than in the rest of the country.
1115 CHARACTERIZATION OF THE INFANT'S ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO H. INFLUENZAE B OLIGOSACCHARIDE-DIPHTHERIA TOXOID CONJUGATE VACCINES

1115 CHARACTERIZATION OF THE INFANT'S ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO H. INFLUENZAE B OLIGOSACCHARIDE-DIPHTHERIA TOXOID CONJUGATE VACCINES
Blood Pressure Regulation: Every Adaptation is an Integration?

This focused review serves to explore relevant issues in regard to blood pressure regulation and by doing so, provides the initial stimulus paper for the Thematic Review series “Blood Pressure Regulation” to be published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology over the coming months. In this introduction, we highlight how variable normal blood pressure can be and challenge the reader to take another look at some key concepts related to blood pressure regulation. We point out that there is frequently an underappreciated balance between peripheral vasodilation and systemic blood pressure regulation and ask the question: are changes in blood pressure, in effect, reasonable and integrated adaptations to the physiological challenge at hand? We conclude with the idea that blood pressure regulatory systems are both flexible and redundant; ensuring a wide variety of activities associated with life can be accompanied by a perfusion pressure that can serve multiple masters.
Calculation of nonequilibrium hypersonic turbulent boundary layers and comparisons with experimental data

Compressible hypersonic turbulent boundary layers solution by finite difference method, relating mixing length to velocity profile shape factor
Panic in the plains: agricultural markets and the panic of 1893

Nearly every previous study of the 1893 bank panic acknowledges its regional concentration in the Western states yet few provide any in-depth study of what caused such a distinct regional pattern. Here, I recast the 1893 crisis as having its origins in agricultural markets and then spreading to Western banks that were highly exposed to agricultural shocks. Negative shocks to agricultural yields and the relative importance of the wheat crop for specific states emerge as important explanations for the regional pattern of bank closures and thus for the panic itself.
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy and parenchymal amyloid deposition in transgenic mice expressing the Danish mutant form of human BRI2.

Familial Danish dementia (FDD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease clinically characterized by the presence of cataracts, hearing impairment, cerebellar ataxia and dementia. Neuropathologically, FDD is characterized by the presence of widespread cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), parenchymal amyloid deposition and neurofibrillary tangles. FDD is caused by a 10-nucleotide duplication-insertion in the BRI2 gene that generates a larger-than-normal precursor protein, of which the Danish amyloid subunit (ADan) comprises the last 34 amino acids. Here, we describe a transgenic mouse model for FDD (Tg-FDD) in which the mouse Prnp (prion protein) promoter drives the expression of the Danish mutant form of human BRI2. The main neuropathological findings in Tg-FDD mice are the presence of widespread CAA and parenchymal deposition of ADan. In addition, we observe the presence of amyloid-associated gliosis, an inflammatory response and deposition of oligomeric ADan. As the animals aged, they showed abnormal grooming behavior, an arched back, and walked with a wide-based gait and shorter steps. This mouse model may give insights on the pathogenesis of FDD and will prove useful for the development of therapeutics. Moreover, the study of Tg-FDD mice may offer new insights into the role of amyloid in neurodegeneration in other disorders, including Alzheimer disease.
Early recognition of clusters in molecular dynamics

Abstract We propose a novel method for recognizing bound clusters in molecular dynamics simulations of nuclear collisions. Demanding that each particle in a given cluster is bound with respect to that cluster, we employ a Metropolis procedure (akin to simulated annealing) to maximize the cluster binding. Remarkably, the cluster can be identified approximately well before spatial separation occurs.
Pourquoi Freud associe-t-il perception et conscience dans un même système ?

Resume Objectifs Le but de ce texte est d’explorer la notion de conscience dans l’œuvre de Freud. Methode Les termes « conscience, conscient » et apparentes (systeme perception-conscience, etre conscient, devenir conscient) ont ete etudies dans l’ensemble de l’œuvre de Freud, et leurs differentes formulations ont ete comparees et analysees. Resultats Il apparait que Freud ne considere pas la conscience comme une instance ou formation intrapsychique, mais comme une fonction de l’appareil psychique. Selon sa conception, la conscience est proche de la perception, elles forment un meme systeme, et s’opposent aux systemes plus profonds du psychisme (systemes mnesiques, inconscient). Le systeme perception-conscience a comme mission de recevoir les stimuli, et donc n’est pas en mesure de les garder de facon permanente. Cette approche pose la question de la « conscience de soi », qui ne peut se concevoir autrement que comme permanente. Discussion La conscience en tant que fonction semble necessaire a Freud pour etayer la theorie de la cure : il s’agit de proceder a une rememoration (retour a la conscience de souvenir correspondant a des perceptions passees), ou encore de realiser une reactualisation (transfert), ou enfin de stimuler le travail d’investigation du patient par une construction. Dans tous les cas, le but sera un « devenir-conscient », que Freud place au centre de l’efficacite therapeutique. La question de la « conscience de soi » peut se comprendre comme la perception-conscience des stimuli en provenance du corps, qui possedent donc un caractere permanent et continu, aboutissant a des « frayages » definitifs. Conclusions La conscience occupe une place importante dans l’œuvre de Freud, non pas au sein d’une opposition « etre conscient » – « etre inconscient », mais comme fonction du moi au service de la connaissance de l’inconscient et de la maitrise de la vie pulsionnelle.
Residual porosity in polymeric latex films

Solubility and diffusivity measurements of a probe gas (CO2), which has an inherently low solubility in the polymer, have been used to characterize residual porosity in polymeric latex films. Sorption isotherms resembling those of a glassy polymer were obtained, even though the glass transition temperature of the polymer was 1°C, about 30°C below the experimental temperature. Solvent cast films of the same polymer exhibited much lower solubilities, and followed the expected Henry's law behavior. CO2 solubility and diffusivity were found to decrease with aging time for the latex films, but did not quite reach the values of the solvent cast films, even after 75 days at room temperature. The sorption data could be described by the dual-mode sorption model, which is commonly employed in the analysis of glassy polymer sorption isotherms. Estimates of the amount of porosity were made from the sorption data, and values ranging from 0.6–0.03% were obtained for latex films aged from 62 h to 75 days, respectively. Our results suggest that permeability differences noted by others for latex and solvent cast films of the same polymer are due to the substantial solubility differences for low-solubility penetrants in these two types of films.
Chemically-mediated pre-mating behavior in two tetranychid species

We used bioassays to evaluate the arrestment response of male twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, and Banks grass mite, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks) to whole-body extract from conspecific quiescent deutonymphs. We examined the effect of previous behavior on mite response to extract from female quiescent deutonymphs. We also examined male arrestment and guarding behavior in response to 2 extract concentrations and to extract from male quiescent deutonymphs. Male T. urticae and O. pratensis exhibited similar changes in their behavior in response to the different extracts with which we presented them. Males that were guarding quiescent deutonymphs immediately prior to testing spent more time in an untreated 3.5-mm-diameter circle than did males that were previously engaged in other behaviors. However, when nonguarding males were presented with extract of conspecific female quiescent deutonymphs they remained in the stimulus circle as long as guarding males did in an untreated circle. Arrestment duration of nonguarding males increased at 2 higher extract concentrations. The arrestment response was not exclusive to extracts from female quiescent deutonymphs; nonguarding male mites were also arrested by extracts from male quiescent deutonymphs, although for a shorter time. Duration of arrestment was related roughly to size differences between male and female quiescent deutonymphs. Furthermore, males did not show an exclusive preference for guarding conspecific male or female quiescent deutonymphs. It seems unlikely that the arrestant is a specific sex pheromone. Rather, male mites probably use the arrestant as a necessary cue to focus their attention on an individual that may be a suitable mate. Other tactile, visual, and chemical stimuli may then help males to decide whether to remain and assume mate guarding behaviors.
Anchor referral: a new technique.

Abstract A modification of the standard category judgment technique permits an analysis of a pre-decision behavior. Anchor values of the test dimension are left accessible during the test trial for S. The resultant frequency of anchor usage (not excluding the duration, etc.) may then be correlated with other performance characteristics. Two applications of the technique are described, one with samples from a totally blind population, the other concerned with speech perception in normal and hemiplegic subjects. Some research directions which the technique suggests are also noted.