cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of the volume of coronary microemboli needed for reproducible visualization of microinfarcts on contrast enhanced MDCT and MRI

Summary The purpose of this study was to 1) determine the threshold volume of coronary microemboli (<120μm) needed for reproducible visualization of microinfarcts on contrast enhanced MDCT and MRI and 2) assess the impact of microemboli volumes on myocardial perfusion and left ventricular (LV) function. Background
Management of endophthalmitis in a silicone oil-filled eye.

PURPOSETo describe the management of endophthalmitis in an eye filled with silicone oil for prolonged internal retinal tamponade.METHODSA patient with a silicone oil-filled eye developed endophthalmitis postoperatively. Results of clinical examination, diagnostic procedures, and surgical management
Fatty Acid Composition of Serum Cholesteryl Esters in Young Adults

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To describe ethnic and gender differences in serum cholesteryl ester fatty acids in young adults. The composition of fatty acids in serum cholesteryl esters (CE) was analyzed by gas chromatography in 106 young adults (x age=26.5yrs.) (43 males, 63 females; 63 whites, 43 blacks). A total of 97.4% of the fatty acids in serum CE were explained. The median percentage of fatty acids in serum CE was highest for linoleic (52.5%), followed by oleic (18.4%), palmitic (8.8%), arachadonic (7.5%), palmitoleic (2.8%), and stearic (1.2%); with the remaining percentage being explained by minor fatty acids. Small amounts of lauric acid were detected in only 15 individuals. Significant ethnic and gender differences were observed in the median percentage levels of several fatty acids in serum CE, but, no significant differences were observed in linoleic and linolenic. Whites had significantly (p
Thoracentesis in the emergency department

Presented is a review of thoracentesis, a procedure with which the emergency physician should be familiar. The pathophysiology of pleural effusions is described and is followed by a review of the clinical presentation and diagnosis. Special attention is given to technique and interpretation of results.
Passive synthetic aperture imaging

This paper concerns analysis of imaging sensor called the passive synthetic aperture imaging (PSAI) sensor that is useful for deep-space imaging. The PSAI sensor concept is similar to some other interferometric imaging systems, except that a grating interferometer, which provides improved achromaticity, is used to interfere the light. In this paper we discuss features of the PSAI sensor concept including the optical system and image formation process.
The protein kinase C inhibitor enzastaurin exhibits antitumor activity against uveal melanoma.

GNAQ mutations at codon 209 have been recently identified in approximately 50% of uveal melanomas (UM) and are reported to be oncogenic through activating the MAPK/Erk1/2 pathway. Protein kinase C (PKC) is a component of signaling from GNAQ to Erk1/2. Inhibition of PKC might regulate GNAQ mutation-induced Erk1/2 activation, resulting in growth inhibition of UM cells carrying GNAQ mutations. UM cells carrying wild type or mutant GNAQ were treated with the PKC inhibitor enzastaurin. Effects on proliferation, apoptosis, and signaling events were evaluated. Enzastaurin downregulated the expression of several PKC isoforms including PKCβII PKCθ, PKCe and/or their phosphorylation in GNAQ mutated cells. Downregulation of these PKC isoforms in GNAQ mutated cells by shRNA resulted in reduced viability. Enzastaurin exhibited greater antiproliferative effect on GNAQ mutant cells than wild type cells through induction of G1 arrest and apoptosis. Enzastaurin-induced G1 arrest was associated with inhibition of Erk1/2 phosphorylation, downregulation of cyclin D1, and accumulation of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1. Furthermore, enzastaurin reduced the expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and survivin in GNAQ mutant cells. Inhibition of Erk1/2 phosphorylation with a MEK specific inhibitor enhanced the sensitivity of GNAQ wild type cells to enzastaurin, accompanied by p27Kip1 accumulation and/or inhibition of enzastaurin-induced survivin and Bcl-2 upregulation. PKC inhibitors such as enzastaurin have activity against UM cells carrying GNAQ mutations through inhibition of the PKC/Erk1/2 pathway and induction of G1 arrest and apoptosis. Inhibition of the PKC pathway provides a basis for clinical investigation in patients with UM.
Impact of Particle Generation Method on the Apparent Hygroscopicity of Insoluble Mineral Particles

Calcite (CaCO 3 ) mineral particles are commonly generated by atomization techniques to study their heterogeneous chemistry, hygroscopicity, and cloud nucleation properties. Here we investigate the significant artifact introduced in generating calcium mineral particles through the atomization of a saturated suspension of the powder in water, by measuring particle hygroscopicity via CCN activation curves. Particles produced from atomization displayed hygroscopicities as large as κapp > 0.1, 100 times more hygroscopic than that obtained for dry-generated calcite, κapp = 0.0011. The hygroscopicity of the wet-generated particles increased as a function of time the calcite powder spent in water, and with decreasing particle size. Wet-generated calcium oxalate was more hygroscopic through wet- (κapp = 0.34) versus dry-generation (κapp = 0.048). Atomized calcium sulfate particles, however, were only slightly more hygroscopic (κapp = 0.0045) than those generated dry (κapp = 0.0016). Single-particle analysis by AT...
785-3 Quantitation of Left Ventricular Mass with Two-Dimensional Echocardiography: Description and Validation of a Simplified Method That may be Used in the Absence of a Short Axis View

Quantitation of left ventricular mass (LVM) is becoming increasingly important in clinical cardiology given the recent studies indicating that extensive hypertrophy is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events and death in patients with a variety of cardiac disorders including those producing LV dysfunction with or without heart failure. Current echocardiographic methods of determining LVM (i.e., the cube, the area length or the truncated ellipsoid) require a good quality short axis view of the LV at mid cavity; thus, they cannot be applied to patients with angulated parasternal views of the left ventricle. Accordingly, we have developed a method of determining LVM from measurements of LV diameter (Dd), septal (S) and posterior wall (PW) thickness (T) at the base of the LV from a parasternal long axis view at enddiastole, combined with a measurement of the LV long axis (L) taken from an apical view. The area length equation was modified by substituting diameter(s) squared times π/4 for the circular area(s) derived from the short axis view Thus, LVM was calculated as; LVM = 0.687 × ( [ ( Dd + ST + PWT ) 2 × ( L + PWT ) ] - [ Dd 2 × L ] ) The method was evaluated in 36 patients (24 males) with a mean age of 62 ± 8 yr. and a variety of cardiac diseases. LVM determined by the diameter method was compared to an independent measurement of LVM with the area length method (range, 87–532 grams). An excellent correlation (r = 0.96; P l 0.0001) was observed between the two methods. Analysis with the Bland-Altman method revealed a mean difference between the two methods of 5 ± 34 grams. The regression equation, y = 1.02x – 0.05, indicates that the relation between the two methods is along the line of identity Conclusions Ouantitation of LVM with two-dimensional echocardiography is possible in the absence of a short axis view by using measurements from parasternal long and apical views. Results with this new method are in excellent agreement with measurements of LVM by the conventional area length method.
Multimodal Surveillance: an Introduction

Multimodal sensing, data processing, and system integration are still in a fast growing stage of research and development. Much work needs to be done to ensure successful real-world, large-scale surveillance applications. The collection in this book is just samples of some representative works in the field and therefore by no means to be complete. However, we hope this collection will stimulate more interests in the research and development of multimodal surveillance techniques, including the further developments of multimodal sensors, multimodal data fusion algorithms, and multimodal surveillance systems.
Concurrent and Predictive Validity of the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire in a Sample of European Freshman Students

This study represents the first attempt to examine the validity of scores on the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ) in a sample of European university students. Concurrent validity was established through significant correlations in the expected direction with alternative measures of student adjustment (academic motivation, loneliness, depression, and general adjustment to university). Further concurrent validity evidence for selected subscales was provided through moderate associations with students’engagement in social activities and their self-reported use of psychological services provided on campus. Findings regarding predictive validity, as assessed through correlations with student attrition and academic results, went in the expected direction but were somewhat less convincing. The latter results are explained in terms of differences between European and North American systems of higher education. With some reservations regarding the Academic Adjustment subscale, then, the SACQ seem...
Divisors on division algebras and error correcting codes

Recall that a (linear) code is just a k-subspace C of k, where k is some finite field. The elements of C are referred to as codewords, and the dimension of the code, dim(C), is just the dimension of C as a k-space. The length of the code is the dimension of the ambient space k; that is, the length of C is n. The minimum distance, d(a, b) between two codewords a = (a1, . . . , an) and b = (b1, . . . , bn) is defined by d(a, b) = |{i | ai 6= bi}|, and the minimum distance of the code, d(C), is defined by d(C) = min{d(a, b) | a, b ∈ C, a 6= b}. The weight, w(a), of a codeword a = (a1, . . . , an) is defined by w(a) = |{i | ai 6= 0}|. The linearity of the code ensures that d(C) is also equal to min{w(a) | a ∈ C, a 6= 0}. ∗Supported in part by a grant from the N.S.F.
Triiodothyronine increases calcium loss in a bed rest antigravity model for space flight.

Bed rest has been used as a model to simulate the effects of space flight on bone metabolism. Thyroid hormones accelerate bone metabolism. Thus, supraphysiologic doses of this hormone might be used as a model to accelerate bone metabolism during bed rest and potentially simulate space flight. The objective of the study was to quantitate the changes in bone turnover after low doses of triiodothyronine (T3) added to short-term bed rest. Nine men and 5 women were restricted to bed rest for 28 days with their heads positioned 6° below their feet. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or oral T3 at doses of 50 to 75 μg/d in a single-blind fashion. Calcium balance was measured over 5-day periods; and T3, thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, immunoreactive parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase, and urinary deoxypyridinoline were measured weekly. Triiodothyronine increased 2-fold in the men and 5-fold in the women during treatment, suppressing both thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone. Calcium balance was negative by 300 to 400 mg/d in the T3-treated volunteers, primarily because of the increased fecal loss that was not present in the placebo group. Urinary deoxypyridinoline to creatinine ratio, a marker of bone resorption, increased 60% in the placebo group during bed rest, but more than doubled in the T3-treated subjects (P < .01), suggesting that bone resorption was enhanced by treatment with T3. Changes in serum osteocalcin and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, markers of bone formation, were similar in T3- and placebo-treated subjects. Triiodothyronine increases bone resorption and fecal calcium loss in subjects at bed rest.
Alarm walking in Columbian black-tailed deer: its characterization and possible antipredatory signaling functions

Many antipredator behaviors advertise honestly an individual’s health and awareness of predators, reducing the probability of further attack. We presented full-sized models of felid predators to Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and observed a unique conspicuous gait pattern, the alarm walk, which has not been described in the literature. We conducted frame-by-frame analyses of gait timing and leg movement from video recordings of alarm walking and normal walking. Compared with normal walking, contact durations of all legs during alarm walking were greater and deer lifted their foreleg carpal joint higher off the ground, suggesting that alarm walking requires a level of control and flexibility in leg movement not possible in arthritic or lame individuals. Although phases of limb movement (i.e., midtime lag between fore and hind legs) were reliably different, there was no difference in the angle of foreleg lifting between the 2 walking styles. Performance of alarm walking was correlated with foot stamping, and was observed more often when the predator model was out of view. Although there was no direct evidence supporting any 1 function of alarm walking, available evidence suggests that alarm walking might have the dual function of signaling to a stealthy predator that it has been detected and that the displaying deer is healthy and capable of escaping, both of which should deter further pursuit.
Thermal and force-chain effects in an experimental, sloping granular shear flow

Force chains figure prominently in shearing motions of granular materials, inasmuch as these chains of load-bearing grains dominate resistance to motion. A simple scaling of the forces involved in the motion of a dry, gravity-driven granular shear flow induced by vibrations (see, e.g., Roering et al., 2001; Roering, 2004) suggests that this shearing motion reflects a balance between the rate of production and the rate of disruption of granular force chains. The rate of production of force chains is proportional to the rate of shear. The rate of disruption is proportional to the rate of shear as force chains ‘age’ during rotation, whence they become unstable and self-destruct. The rate of disruption is also proportional to the frequency and intensity of elastic waves, induced by acoustic vibrations, that propagate through the granular material and weaken force chains. The analysis is empirically consistent with the exponential-like profiles of grain displacement, and the strongly nonlinear increase in grain flux with increasing surface slope, observed in experiments. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Los Angeles Barrio, 1850-1890: A Social History

"An imponant book ...[which] provides the first detailed analysis of the changes that transformed one of the most important Mexican pueblos in the Southwest into a Chicano urban barrio. Using quantitative data together with traditional secondary and primary historical sources, the author traces the major socio-economic, political, and racial factors that evolved during the post-Mexican War decades and that created a subordinate status for Mexican Americans in a burgeoning American city." (Western Historical Quarterly). "Griswold del Castillo's history of the Mexican community during the first decades of the 'American era' ...concentrates on the mechanisms which the community adopted as it was confronted by changes in the economic structure of the region, the in-migration of Anglo-Americans as well as Mexicans, and by the effects of racial segregation on the community. [The] aim is to reveal the history of a community undergoing rapid social and economic change, not to write the history of one society's domination of another." (UCLA Historical Journal). "Los Angeles Chicanos emerge not as the homogeneous, passive victims of stereotypical fame, but as internally diverse, active participants in the simultaneous struggles to maintain their socio-cultural fabric and to capture a part of the American Dream. The author effectively demonstrates that the Chicano decline occurred not because of cultural weaknesses but as the almost inevitable resu lt of Anglo prejudice, numerical domination, and control of political and economic institutions...an admirable book and a fine piece of scholarship." (American Historical Review).
Dielectric metasurface analogue of electromagnetically induced transparency

We present an experimental demonstration of a metasurface analogue of electromagnetically induced transparency based on silicon instead of lossy plasmonic metal, therefore achieved a record-high quality factor of 483 and a sensing figure-of-merit of 103.
Can aluminium‐clad capillary columns be used for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry on a sector mass spectrometer?

Aluminium-clad fused silica capillary columns can be used with magnetic sector mass spectrometers. The column end needs to be pulled back a millimetre or so from the ion source to avoid electrical arcing. The chromatographic integrity is maintained. This brings the benefits of robust construction and high temperature gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to sector mass spectrometers.
Maternal work hours and work stress: Impact on pregnancy outcomes

LORI DAY, AMY SPARKS, SHANNA SWAN, University of Iowa, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iowa City, Iowa, University of Missouri-Columbia, Family & Community Medicine, Columbia, Missouri OBJECTIVE: To examine how maternal work hours (MWH) and workrelated stress (WRS) affect gestational age at delivery and birth weight. STUDY DESIGN: Between 1999-2005, pregnancy and delivery information in spontaneously conceived pregnancies was obtained. This data was collected for the Study for Future Families, a prospective cohort study conducted at four US centers (Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Iowa City and Columbia, MO). Women reported the average weekly number of work hours and rated their WRS on a 4-increment scale. The influence of MWH and WRS on gestational age and birth weight was evaluated by analysis of variance. Covariates included maternal age, race, nulliparity, tobacco use, educational level and infant gender. Twin gestations (14 infants) and infants !2500 g (15 infants) were excluded. A value of p!.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: The 371 mothers included in the analysis were predominantly Caucasian (83%), college-educated (90%), employed (84%), !35 years old (81%), and parous (62%). Only fourteen infants were preterm (3.8%). Average gestational age at delivery was 39.3 G .1 weeks (mean G se). Gestational age at delivery decreased as MWH increased. Women working O40 hours/week delivered at 38.9 G .2 weeks compared to women working !40 hours/week who delivered at 39.5 G .1 weeks (p=0.04). Gestational age at delivery decreased as WRS increased (p=0.028). WRS was not associated with MWH. Average birth weight was 3561 g G 27.2 g. Birth weight of these O2500 g infants did not differ based on MWH. However, the average birth weight was lowest for women with the highest WRS (3409 g G 97 g) versus lowest WRS (3577 g G 66 g) (p = 0.2). CONCLUSION: Women who work longer hours tend to deliver at an earlier gestation. However, self-reported work-stress has a greater impact on gestational age and birth weight than absolute number of hours worked.
Neighborhood Social Capital as Differential Social Organization: Resident and Leadership Dimensions

This article treats social capital as a multidimensional phenomenon along which neighborhoods are differentially organized. The authors assess this notion by linking two original surveys carried out in Chicago based on community residents (N = 8,782) and positional leaders (N = 2,822) representing six organizational dimensions. These data are used to examine both the dimensionality and structural predictors of neighborhood social organization. Results show that the social capital of Chicago communities encapsulates four distinct dimensions at the residential level and two at the leadership level. Moreover, dimensions of leadership-based social capital are for the most part inversely related to resident-based social capital and differentially predicted by concentrated disadvantage, residential stability, and racial/ethnic diversity. Based on multidimensional scaling and clustering of the communities, the authors derive a conceptual typology highlighted by four distinct groups—Cosmopolitan Efficacy, Urban V...
The effect of tripelennamine hydrochloride (pyribenzamine) on the release of histamine during in vitro hemolytic reaction in rabbit blood.

Abstract 1.1. In confirmation of earlier work, an increase in the content of histamine in plasma was found to accompany the in vitro hemolytic reaction which occurred in blood of rabbits sensitized to sheep erythrocytes when these were added to the blood. 2.2. The presence of pyribenzamine did not affect the in vitro liberation of histamine during the hemolytic reaction.
Dielectric properties of polyvinyl alcohol filled with nanometer size barium titanate particles

Recently extensive research efforts have been given to better understand and control properties of polymeric composite systems with nano-size metal-oxide inclusions. Improvements in the dielectric breakdown strength and significant change in dielectric dispersion of matrix polymers have been reported when nanometer size have been embedded. In the current study we will focus on dielectric properties (as a function of frequency and temperature) of a polymeric composite system (nanodielectric) composed of polyvinyl alcohol and barium titanate nano powder. In the investigations, the temperature range is between 50-295 K, and the frequency range is between 20 Hz - 1 MHz. Polarization and conduction processes are investigated in the linear regime. Dielectric breakdown strengths of samples are also reported.
Intracranial Strokes: Mechanical Thrombectomy Using the Merci and Penumbra Devices

The use of catheter-directed, endovascular mechanical thrombolysis has revolutionized the treatment of acute ischemic strokes in the last few years. Acute ischemic stroke remains the third most common cause of death and the first most common cause of permanent adult disability in industrialized nations. Each year, approximately 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke in the USA, with its direct and indirect annual cost estimated as more than $40 billion. The only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medical therapy for acute ischemic stroke is the intravenous (IV) administration of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rtPA) within 3 h of symptom onset. The European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study (ECASS) III trial expanded the utilization of IV rtPA up to 4.5 h from symptom onset, albeit with more contraindications. Given this restricted therapeutic window, less than 1 % of acute ischemic stroke patients receive IV rtPA. Moreover, the recanalization rates of IV rtPA for proximal, large vessel occlusions range from only 10 % for internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusions to 30 % for middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusions.
Theory of Mind and Insight in Chimpanzees, Elephants, and Other Animals?

This chapter attempts to provide an accessible review of a fundamental scientific and philosophical question: Are animals conscious? Instead of trying to address the issue of consciousness as a whole, this partial review will for the most part touch upon just two facets of consciousness—theory of mind and insight.
The effectiveness of health screening in a school program for migrant children.

This program shows again the price paid for fragmented health services. The provision of screening teams outside of normal channels of health care resulted in the discovery of many health defects, but in the treatment of less than half of them. Several ways might be found to improve the program. At the present time we believe that an effective school health assessment can be made without physical examinations. Instead, if it is felt that heart disease should be detected in school, heart-sound screening could be added to the test battery. Teacher observation should be utilized by emphasizing the teacher-nurse conferences. This would result in referral not only of physical abnormalities, but of children with behavioral symptoms, and children with such conditions as hyperactivity and dyslexia. Such a procedure has been advocated for nearly 30 years. It would leave unsuspected hernias, which are rare, and inapparent otitis without pain, fever, or hearing loss which is probably of little significance, as the major abnormalities liable to be overlooked in health assessment. The program described here would have been far more effective had nursing time been used in the follow-up of health defects rather than in physical examinations. For instance, two of the four nurses on the screening teams might have worked with community nurses and school personnel to reach the parents. In our opinion, abandoning physical examinations and redirecting nursing time into coordination and follow-up would result in better health care for the children in the program.
Numerical Study of Impact of Nano-Pores on Gas-Oil Ratio and Production Mechanisms in Liquid-Rich Shale Oil Reservoirs

Summary Several anomalous production phenomena have been observed in liquid-rich shale (LRS) oil wells, indicating that they are quite different from conventional oil wells. One of these unique phenomenon is flattened producing gas oil ratio (GOR) due to nano-darcy permeability of shale rocks and effects of pore proximity on phase behavior and fluid flow in nanoscale pores. To understand true production mechanisms and well production performance in these resources, it is crucial to account for the impact of nano-pores in fluid flow studies. This study discusses the impact of nano-pore confinement on PVT properties, transport properties, rock compaction, how these phenomena affect pro duced GOR of LRS oil wells, and how to incorporate these phenomena into reservoir modeling studies. Also, we have developed a methodology for modeling LRS oil wells that simulates GOR behavior accurately. The proposed methodology has been applied to construct a compositional simulation model using a single stage hydraulic fracture reservoir model with logarithmically-spaced local grid refinement (LS-LGR) grids. The effect of pore proximity on PVT is considered by introducing new correlations for modifying critical properties of fluid components in nano-pores. Production data from several horizonta l wells in the Eagle Ford shale were used for history matching and model calibration. The study shows that “flat” GOR’s in early stages of production are caused by delayed development of two-phase flow as a result of reduction of the bubble point pressure in nano-pores. Enhancement of critical gas saturation delays mobilization of gas molecules in nano-pores and could extend non-intuitive GOR behavior further when reservoir pressure drops below the bubble point. The study reveals that period of flat produced GOR depends on the volatility of the reservoir fluid and the pore size distribution in the reservoir. For moderate-GOR oil reservoirs, the flat GOR lasts longer than for highly volatile oil reservoirs. We found that permeability reduction due to compaction on can reduce ultimate oil recovery by more than 20%. This study explored several unique phenomena in LRS reservoirs and presents new correlations for reservoir fluid properties and phase behavior under confinement. These new correlations and the effects of nano-pores can be combined with numerical models to simulate better the performance of LRS oil reservoirs and to estimate EUR accurately.
“Senza raccontarli i luoghi non esistono”: Il GRA di Roma tra urbanistica e transmedia storytelling:

Il saggio esamina l'esservazione della periferia di Roma a ridosso del Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA) nel film di Gianfranco Rosi (Sacro GRA: storie dal Grande Raccordo Anulare, 2013) e nel racconto...
The Clinical Year Begins

Law school clinics are inspired by medical school clinical education, but usually operate quite differently from their medical school counterparts. The Clinical Year, which this Article discusses, borrows more completely from medical education by immersing students in a full-year, 24-credit course in which students work full-time in three different law office placements, under the guidance of full-time faculty and of adjunct faculty members at each placement. This Article first outlines how such a course works, and demonstrates that it can be offered under the rules that now govern legal education. Then the Article argues that despite the Clinical Year's differences from many in-house clinics, this course has its own distinctive educational value, as an intensive apprenticeship experience that is simultaneously a continuation of academic study. The Clinical year, in short, should become part of legal education's experiential toolkit.
The diagnostic value of the serum levels of IGF-1,IGFBP3 and LH in woman children with central precocious puberty

Objective To investigate the changes of serum levels of IGF-1,IGFBP3 and LH in woman children with central precocious puberty( CPP) to provide the theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods Sixty-nine woman children with CPP,26 cases of idiopathic central precocious puberty( ICPP),43 cases of simple breast development( SPT) were enrolled in the investigation,meanwhile,30 healthy woman subjects were enrolled as control group. The serum levels of IGF-1,IGFBP3 and LH were detected by electrochemiluminescence method for the four groups. Results The serum levels [( 451 ± 148) ng /ml]of IGF-1 in ICPP group were significantly higher than those [( 268 ± 56) ng /ml] in SPT group and those [( 141 ± 69) ng /ml]in control group( P 0. 05). The serum levels [( 268 ± 56) ng /ml] of IGF-1 in SPT group were significantly higher than those in control group( P 0. 05). The serum levels [( 5. 7 ± 1. 0) ng /ml]of IGFBP3 in ICPP group and those [( 5. 3 ± 0. 5) ng /ml] in SPT group were significantly higher than those [( 4. 2 ± 1. 3) ng /ml] in control group( P 0. 05). The peak levels [( 27. 2 ± 22. 7) U /L]of LH in ICPP group were significantly higher than those [( 3. 2 ±1. 9) U /L]in SPT group( P 0. 05). Conclusion IGF-1 and IGFBP3 can be regarded as diagnostic basis for diagnosis of sexual precosity,IGF-1 has the significance of differential diagnosis for ICPP and SPT. The obvious enhancement of LH peak may be correlated to HPG activation in advance of axis function in woman children with CPP.
Research and Development on the ECC of Video MPEG4

It is a need of solving the contradiction between the limited memory space and more and more abundant video information that the video image compresses The code,alleviate video communication between channel and communication contradiction between the channel width in recent years and meet need that transmit in real time of video too at the same time. The protection of the image information of the video is for preventing the stealing, distorts, duplicates and spreads illegally easily of sensitive information.The technology of image information includes information encryption and information hiding two parts. The video information encryption is mainly researched in this paper.The security of Elliptic Curve Cryptogrphy (ECC) is based on the difficulty of elliptic curve discrete logarithm. So far, the Elliptic Curve Cryptosystem(ECC)provides the highest strength-per-bit of any cryptosystem know. In addition to its high security ,ECC also has many other merits. Such as less computation overheads shorter key size, considerable bandwidth savings, and so on. All of these merits have made it become the best public-key crytosystem that is suitable for use in the future.An encryption method based on ECC is applied on the MPEG system directly.The encryption method regard the image data file as the general binary scale data file to enerypt.It is satisfactory to encrypt the result.
Getting it Write: On the Craft of Academic Writing

This essay explores the academic writing life through narrative and practical strategy. It attempts to get at larger questions of method in pastoral theology through the concrete subject matter of how I (and others) go about writing, illustrating in both content and procedure key methodological assumptions that guide work in pastoral theology, such as reflexivity, concern for the daily, demand to perform well the practice we study, and commitment to deeper transformation. I argue, among other things, that writers (in pastoral theology and beyond) manage the challenge and lure of writing through intentional crafting of everyday patterns in time and space. Ultimately, the material disciplines of writing open up into important vocational and spiritual questions and habits.
On the Stability of Ocean Vortices

Abstract The conservation laws of an f-plane model are used to study the stability of steady nonlinear solutions to finite amplitude perturbations. The method can only be applied to symmetric flows; circular vortices are therefore chosen for this work. Sufficient stability conditions are found for a general N-layer model, with either a “reduced gravity” or “flat bottom” lower boundary condition. Low values of N are explicitly presented and the difficulty with the continuous stratification limit, N →, is discussed. There might exist states with a constant or monotonic potential vorticity horizontal dependence, but which are, nevertheless, unstable. In this case, the basic flow must violate a kind of subcriticality condition and a growing perturbation must have negative or zero energy.
Female feeding history impacts gonad development and reproductive timing in the wolf spider Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz, 1844)

In mating systems that include semelparous reproduction and/or scramble competition, synchronous maturation of the sexes is vital for success. However, food limitation may alter the onset of maturation or the overall quality of the mature individuals and affect reproductive success. We examined the role of feeding history (well-fed vs. long-term deprivation) on female reproductive timing and its correlation with temporal patterns of receptivity behavior in the wolf spider Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz, 1844). We found that feeding history influenced developmental time and delayed maturation in long-term food-limited females. There was no significant difference in relative condition between treatments, yet well-fed females showed higher rates of receptivity. Peak receptivity behavior was correlated with the estimated overall mass of female ovaries/eggs, with females that possess larger ovaries and eggs showing more receptive behavior. This supports the hypothesis that while a food-limited female may attain maturity, the limiting factor underlying reproductive success is gonad maturation.
EXPERIMENTAL ALTERATIONS OF THE IMMUNE MECHANISMS IN TOXOPLASMOSIS

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a study focusing on experimental alterations of the immune mechanisms in toxoplasmosis. The purpose of the study was to facilitate the isolation of T. gondii by suppressing the immune response in inoculated mice. A strain isolated from a patient's lymph node was used in the preliminary studies. Treating the mice with splenectomy total body irradiation, six mercaptopurine, immuran and combination of these did not facilitate isolation. The use of cortisone acetate proved to be valuable as indicated by more frequent visualization of the organism and without substantial suppression of the dye test antibody response in mice tested 21 to 50 days after inoculation. A total of 8 to 11 mg of cortisone per mouse was used, administered in 1 or 2 mg daily or on alternate days. At least 4 mg was administered before inoculation. Cortisonization was continued to within a few days of the microscopic examination of smears from the mouse peritoneal cavity prepared 6 to 14 days after inoculation. T. gondii was observed 10 and 13 days after mouse inoculation in six recent isolations from lymph nodes.
Metaprogramming-enabled parallel execution of apparently sequential C++ code

Task-based execution models have received considerable attention in recent years to meet the performance challenges facing high-performance computing (HPC). In this paper we introduce MetaPASS — Metaprogramming-enabled Para-llelism from Apparently Sequential Semantics — a proof-of-concept, non-intrusive header library that enables implicit task-based parallelism in a sequential C++ code. MetaPASS is a data-driven model, relying on dependency analysis of variable read-/write accesses to derive a directed acyclic graph (DAG) of the computation to be performed. MetaPASS enables embedding of runtime dependency analysis directly in C++ applications using only template metaprogramming. Rather than requiring verbose task-based code or source-to-source compilers, a native C++ code can be made task-based with minimal modifications. We present an overview of the programming model enabled by MetaPASS and the C++ runtime API required to support it. Details are provided regarding how standard template metaprogramming is used to capture task dependencies. We finally discuss how the programming model can be deployed in both an MPI+X and in a standalone distributed memory context.
Active Heteroscedastic Regression

An active learner is given a model classΘ, a large sample of unlabeled data drawn from an underlying distribution and access to a labeling oracle that can provide a label for any of the unlabeled instances. The goal of the learner is to find a model θ ∈ Θ that fits the data to a given accuracy while making as few label queries to the oracle as possible. In this work, we consider a theoretical analysis of the label requirement of active learning for regression under a heteroscedastic noise model, where the noise depends on the instance. We provide bounds on the convergence rates of active and passive learning for heteroscedastic regression. Our results illustrate that just like in binary classification, some partial knowledge of the nature of the noise can lead to significant gains in the label requirement of active learning.
A method for characterizing and matching CT image quality across CT scanners from different manufacturers

Purpose The purpose of this study was to quantitatively characterize the fundamental aspects of image quality (IQ) associated with different computed tomography (CT) reconstruction algorithms, the resolution, noise texture, noise magnitude per dose, and use those data to devise a methodology to match IQ between different CT systems. Methods And Materials This study entailed a three step methodology involving (1) characterizing the noise magnitude, texture, and resolution for a CT system-reconstruction using the relationship between noise magnitude and Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI), noise power spectrum (NPS), and modulation transfer function (MTF), (2) developing clinically relevant strategies of weighting the differences among system-reconstructions as a means to determine the best match (3) identifying for each target system-reconstruction, system-reconstructions with matched in terms of that minimum IQ differences. Images of the ACR CT phantom were acquired at two dose levels on each of two CT scanners. Images were reconstructed using all available reconstruction kernels and multiple iterative reconstruction (IR) settings. Each reconstruction was characterized as described above. Percent changes for each IQ metric were calculated for every possible pair of system-reconstructions. Weighting functions, reflecting the human visual system's limit to discriminate between spatial frequencies with differences below 5%, were applied to the differences and the product of the weighted values were used to indicate the best match for each system-reconstruction. Results Noise texture and resolution are governed by choice of reconstruction kernel and IR strength, while noise magnitude is additionally dependent on dose. Harder kernels have better resolution, finer noise texture, and increases the required dose for a given noise magnitude, and vice versa. Increasing IR strength improves resolution, coarsens noise texture, and lowers the required dose. 71% of Siemens matches for GE target reconstructions had percent changes in noise texture/resolution under 5%. 73% of GE matches for Siemens target reconstructions had percent changes in noise texture/resolution under 5%. ACR phantom images for each matched reconstruction pair appeared similar in both noise magnitude and noise texture. Conclusion Matching image appearance in terms of resolution, noise magnitude, and noise texture provide a quantitative and reproducible strategy to improve consistency in image quality among different CT scanners and reconstructions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Radium mobility and the age of groundwater in public-drinking-water supplies from the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system, north-central USA

Abstract High radium (Ra) concentrations in potable portions of the Cambrian-Ordovician (C-O) aquifer system were investigated using water-quality data and environmental tracers (3H, 3Hetrit, SF6, 14C and 4Herad) of groundwater age from 80 public-supply wells (PSWs). Groundwater ages were estimated by calibration of tracers to lumped parameter models and ranged from modern ( 1 Myr) in the most downgradient, confined portions of the potable system. More than 80 and 40 percent of mean groundwater ages were older than 1000 and 50,000 yr, respectively. Anoxic, Fe-reducing conditions and increased mineralization develop with time in the aquifer system and mobilize Ra into solution resulting in the frequent occurrence of combined Ra (Rac = 226Ra + 228Ra) at concentrations exceeding the USEPA MCL of 185 mBq/L (5 pCi/L). The distribution of the three Ra isotopes comprising total Ra (Rat = 224Ra + 226Ra + 228Ra) differed across the aquifer system. The concentrations of 224Ra and 228Ra were strongly correlated and comprised a larger proportion of the Rat concentration in samples from the regionally unconfined area, where arkosic sandstones provide an enhanced source for progeny from the 232Th decay series. 226Ra comprised a larger proportion of the Rat concentration in samples from downgradient confined regions. Concentrations of Rat were significantly greater in samples from the regionally confined area of the aquifer system because of the increase in 226Ra concentrations there as compared to the regionally unconfined area. 226Ra distribution coefficients decreased substantially with anoxic conditions and increasing ionic strength of groundwater (mineralization), indicating that Ra is mobilized to solution from solid phases of the aquifer as adsorption capacity is diminished. The amount of 226Ra released from solid phases by alpha-recoil mechanisms and retained in solution increases relative to the amount of Ra sequestered by adsorption processes or co-precipitation with barite as adsorption capacity and the concentration of Ba decreases. Although 226Ra occurred at concentrations greater than 224Ra or 228Ra, the ingestion exposure risk was greater for 228Ra owing to its greater toxicity. In addition, 224Ra added substantial alpha-particle radioactivity to potable samples from the C-O aquifer system. Thus, monitoring for Ra isotopes and gross-alpha-activity (GAA) is important in upgradient, regionally unconfined areas as downgradient, and GAA measurements made within 72 h of sample collection would best capture alpha-particle radiation from the short-lived 224Ra.
Economic and Innovative Factors Influence on Funding of the Supply-Side of Housing in Nairobi, Kenya

Housing impact on an economy is undisputed. Economic factors comprising market forces, cost of inputs, the macro economy and the cost of funding are one set of factors that impacts on the funding of the supply-side of housing. Financiers’ reactionary actions to encourage uptake of credit is undertaken by use of innovation and technology. This paper sets to establish the relationships between both economic and innovative factors, and funding of the supply-side of housing in Kenya and also the moderating effect of the major stakeholders. Using an explanatory form of approach in research design a survey was conducted using questionnaires to collect data from a random sample of 212 branches in Nairobi of financial institutions drawn from a population of 43 commercial banks, 9 deposit-taking MFIs and three major financiers of housing. Factor analysis, correlation analysis and ordinal logit regression were used to determine the relationships. A negative relationship between economic factors and funding of housing was found, while innovative financing and technological factors were found to have no influence. A positive moderating effect of stakeholders on the relationships between both economic factors, and innovative financing and technological factors on one side, and funding of housing was established. The implication being that economic factors play a bigger role in impacting housing and a stable economy is conducive in encouraging investments in housing, with government acting more as an enabler. Innovative financing and technology act as facilitators only.
Comprehensively Assessing the Acute Femoral Cartilage Response and Recovery after Walking and Drop-Landing: An Ultrasonographic Study.

Abstract We compared the acute response and recovery of ultrasonography (US) cartilage outcomes (i.e., thickness, cross-sectional area, and echo intensity) between walking, drop-landing and control conditions in 43 young adults with no history of lower extremity injury. A femoral cartilage US assessment was performed before and after each condition to determine the acute cartilage response and recovery at 15, 30 and 45 min. Percentage change scores from pre- to all post-time points were used for analysis. Acute cartilage response and recovery were analyzed with a 3 × 4 (condition × time) repeated-measures analysis of variance. Greater deformation of the medial and lateral femoral cartilage was observed immediately after both the walking and drop-landing conditions compared with the control condition. Cartilage deformation after the drop-landing condition required longer time to recover compared with the walking condition. The femoral cartilage deformation was not accompanied by concurrent alterations in cartilage echo intensity.
Zur Chemie des Befruchtungsvorganges

Wenn wir die Frage aufwerfen, welche Erscheinung am charakteristischsten fur das Leben ist, so mussen wir unbedingt die Antwort geben, das das die Fortpflanzung und Kontinuitat der Organismen ist; denn wie auch sonst die hoheren und niederen Formen sich unterscheiden mogen, in diesem einen Umstand stimmen sie alle uberein. Bei hoheren Organismen entsteht nach der Befruchtung aus den Keimzellen ein neuer Organismus, der den Eltern gleicht, und wieder Keimzellen bildet, welche wieder befruchtet werden usf. Bei niederen Formen ist der Vorgang dahin vereinfacht, das eine Teilung stattfindet, das jeder Teil durch Nahrungsaufnahme wachst, und das dann wieder eine Teilung stattfindet usf. Wenn wir uns also die Aufgabe stellen wollten, lebende Organismen kunstlich herzustellen, so muste, wie mir scheint, der Angriffspunkt fur die Losung dieses Problems in der Analyse desjenigen Vorgangs liegen, welcher das ruhende Ei vom latenten zum aktiven Leben erweckt, namlich des Befruchtungsvorganges. Tritt kein Spermatozoon in das Ei, so geht es in der Mehrzahl der Falle rasch zugrunde; tritt ein Spermatozoon in dasselbe, so wird damit nicht nur die Anregung zur Entwicklung des individuellen Eies, sondern einer unbegrenzten Reihe von Generationen gegeben, bis ausere Umstande die Art zerstoren. Der Befruchtungsvorgang kann in der Tat als ein schopferischer Akt angesehen werden.