cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Haemodynamic determinants of the mitral valve closure sound: A finite element study

Automatic acoustic classification and diagnosis of mitral valve disease remain outstanding biomedical problems. Although considerable attention has been given to the evolution of signal processing techniques, the mechanics of the first heart sound generation has been largely overlooked. In this study, the haemodynamic determinants of the first heart sound were examined in a computational model. Specifically, the relationship of the transvalvular pressure and its maximum derivative to the time-frequency content of the acoustic pressure was examined. To model the transient vibrations of the mitral valve apparatus bathed in a blood medium, a dynamic, non-linear, fluid-coupled finite element model of the mitral valve leaflets and chordae tendinae was constructed. It was found that the root mean squared (RMS) acoustic pressure varied linearly (r2= 0.99) from 0.010 to 0.259 mmHg, following an increase in maximum dP/dt from 415 to 12470 mm Hg s(-1). Over that same range, peak frequency varied non-linearly from 59.6 to 88.1 Hz. An increase in left-ventricular pressure at coaptation from 22.5 to 58.5mm Hg resulted in a linear (r2= 0.91) rise in RMS acoustic pressure from 0.017 to 1.41mm Hg. This rise in transmitral pressure was accompanied by a non-linear rise in peak frequency from 63.5 to 74.1 Hz. The relationship between the transvalvular pressure and its derivative and the time-frequency content of the first heart sound has been examined comprehensively in a computational model for the first time. Results suggest that classification schemes should embed both of these variables for more accurate classification.
Balloon assisted treatment of intracranial aneurysms: the conglomerate coil mass technique

Endovascular techniques for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms have rapidly evolved over the past 15 years since the introduction and subsequent US Food and Drug administration approval of the Gugleilmi detachable coil. During this period, a number of different coil designs and adjunctive devices have been developed to facilitate the treatment of more complex and challenging cerebral aneurysms. One such adjunctive device, the hypercompliant occlusion balloon, can be temporarily inflated during the delivery of embolization coils to prevent their prolapse into the parent vessel. This technique, known as balloon assisted treatment (BAT), remains somewhat controversial as many operators do not incorporate this approach into their practice, favoring stent supported techniques instead. Moreover, those operators who do practice BAT use a variety of different approaches. In this review, we discuss the theoretical concepts underlying BAT, the potential advantages and disadvantages of this approach and finally the technical evolution of BAT in our endovascular practice.
Spectral cues provided by the pinna for monaural localization in the horizontal plane

Six subjects located, monaurally, 1.0-kHz-wide noise bursts whose source originated on the side of the functioning ear and whose center frequency ranged from 4.0 through 9.0 kHz (Part 1). Irrespective of their actual locations, the stimuli appeared to migrate from the frontal sector of the arc toward the side as the center frequency was increased above 4.0 kHz. For some subjects, the sounds appeared again in front at the higher center frequencies. Comparable data were obtained with noise bursts 2.0 kHz in width. We referred to these constellations of location judgments, influenced by the frequency composition of the stimuli, as spatial referent maps. In Part 2, we measured, by means of a miniature microphone placed at the entrance of the external ear canal, the pinna amplification function for these same stimuli emanating from the same locations. The results showed a positive relation between the apparent location of noise bursts centered at 6.0 kHz and above and the relative amplification provided by the pinna. Localization performances by two subjects, chosen on the basis of their noncorresponding spatial referent maps, were examined for stimuli of wider bandwidths IPart 3). Their proficiency differed markedly from one another, which we accounted for in terms of different spatial referent maps that were associated with differences in the pinna amplification function.
Level shifter speed, power, and reliability trade-offs across normal and reverse temperature dependences

In this paper, we study the impact of the normal and reverse temperature dependences on low-voltage level shifters, which are particularly interesting because they may have components that operate in both dependence regions. The speed, power, and delay variation trade-offs of two level shifter designs are examined for a range of voltage swings, drive strengths and process corners in a commercial 65 nm technology. The PG level shifter is found to provide better delay and power performance than the DCVSL level shifter; however, the limited range of functional operating conditions in the PG structure make the DCVSL unit a superior choice for reliable system designs.
Variational Basis of Nonlinear Flexibility Methods for Structural Analysis of Frames

There have been a number of contributions to the literature on a class of structural analysis methods referred to as nonlinear flexibility methods. These methods appear to perform very well compared to classical stiffness approaches for problems with constitutive nonlinearities. Although most of these methods appeal to variational principles, the exact variational basis of these methods has not been entirely clear. Some of them even seem not to be variationally consistent. We show in this paper that, because the equations of equilibrium and kinematics are directly integrable, a nonlinear flexibility method (in the spirit of those presented in the literature) can be derived without appeal to variational principles. The method does not involve interpolation of the displacement field and the accuracy of the method is limited only by the numerical scheme used to perform element integrals. There is no need for h refinement to improve accuracy. Further, we show that this nonlinear flexibility method is essentially identical, with some subtle algorithmic differences, to a two-field (Hellinger-Reissner) variational principle when the stress interpolation is exact (which is possible for this class of problems). We demonstrate the utility of the nonlinear flexibility method by applying it to a problem involving cyclic inelastic loading wherein the strain fields evolve into functions that are difficult to capture through interpolation.
Observations on the morphology of pancreatic secretory capillaries

The fine morphology of, and the light microscopic distribution of ATPase in, pancreatic secretory capillaries suggest that they may be absorptive channels receiving material from the general blood circulation rather than secretory channels communicating with the duct system. This assumption is based upon many observations; 1. The pattern of microvilli of their wall differs from that of acinar lumen. 2. The material retained by them in ultrathin sections differs from that retained by acinar lumen. 3. They ramify, basally, to the level of Golgi region. 4. The lack of release of zymogen droplets in them. 5. Their points of origin from acinar lumen are controlled by zonulae occludentes. 6. Gulf-like extensions from the basal surface of acinar cell communicate with them. 7. Fenestrated blood capillaries run in their vicinity. 8. Blood capillaries and acinar cells share a joint basement lamina. 9. Light microscopically, ATPase activity is associated with their wall and not with the basal acinar cell surface.
Axillary Vein Thrombosis

Three patients with venographically proven axillary vein thromboses were treated with low-dose streptokinase infused directly into the involved vein. These veins had been occluded from twelve hours to three weeks. No complications and no marked systemic effects occurred. Patency was achieved in all three patients. Directly infused, low-dose streptokinase may provide an alternative to treatment with heparin and may eliminate the sequela of chronic venous thrombosis.
Transient expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in some neurons of the developing inferior colliculus of the rat

Using immunocytochemistry, we detected tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-containing cells in the developing inferior colliculus. These cells lacked other catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes and they occurred in newborn and immature rats up to 21 days of age. TH-positive cells of the inferior colliculus were contacted by synapses that contained pleomorphic vesicles.
Effect of nanoclay on the electrical resistivity and rheological properties of smart and sensing bentonite drilling muds

Abstract In this study, the effect temperature on the electrical resistivity and rheological properties of a water based bentonite drilling mud modified with nanoclay was investigated. Based on the experimental and analytical study the electrical resistivity was identified as the sensing property of the smart drilling mud so that the changes in the properties can be monitored in real-time during construction. The bentonite contents in the drilling muds were varied from 2% to 8% by the weight of water and temperature was varied from 25 °C to 85 °C. The nanoclay (particle size in range of 12 nm to 20 nm) content was varied between 0 and 0.6% by the weight of the drilling mud to modify the rheological properties and enhance the sensing electrical resistivity of the drilling mud. The nanoclay and bentonite clay were characterized using the X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses the major constituents in the nanoclay were montmorillonite (MMT) (hydrated sodium calcium aluminum magnesium silicate hydroxide, (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2·nH2O)), quartz (SiO2), magnesium aluminum silicate ((MgAl) SiO3) and calcium–aluminum silicate hydrate (CaAl2 (SiO4)2(OH)4). The TGA analyses on the bentonite and nanoclay showed weight loss in the temperature range of 600 °C to 800 °C, which supported the presence of montmorillonite. The weight loss up to 120 °C represented the loss of moisture (free water) in both bentonite and nanoclay which was 6.4% and 12.8%, respectively. The total weight loss at 800 °C for the bentonite decreased from 12.9% to 7.15%, about 45% reduction, when the bentonite clay was mixed with 0.6% of nanoclay. The results also showed that 0.6% nanoclay decreased the electrical resistivity of the drilling mud from 15% to 36% based on the bentonite content in the drilling mud. The electrical resistivity of the drilling mud with and without nanoclay decreased with the increase in the temperature. The nanoclay modification increased the yield point (YP) and plastic viscosity (PV) by 30% to 61% and 12% to 37% respectively based on the bentonite content and temperature of the drilling mud. Addition of nanoclay also increased the apparent viscosity and gel strength of the drilling muds. The rheological properties of the drilling muds have been correlated to the electrical resistivity of the drilling mud using nonlinear power and hyperbolic relationships. The model predictions agreed well with the experimental results. Hence the performance of the bentonite drilling muds with and without nanoclay can be characterized based on the electrical resistivity which can be monitored real-time in the field.
Primary defect production by high energy displacement cascades in molybdenum

Abstract We report molecular dynamics simulations of primary damage in molybdenum produced by high energy displacement cascades on the femto- to pico-second and Angstrom to nanometer scales. Clustering directly occurred for both interstitials and vacancies in the 1–50 keV cascade energy range explored. Point defect survival efficiency and partitioning probabilities into different sized clusters were quantified. The results will provide an important reference for kinetic models to describe the microstructural evolution in Mo under ion or neutron irradiations over much longer time and length scales.
Observation of Surface Plasmons and Measurement of the Optical Constants for Sodium and Potassium

The optical constants of sodium and potassium from 1.75 to 4.5 eV are measured using a highly sensitive ellipsometric technique developed by Schnatterly and Jasperson. Measurements are made on the vacuum interface of films vacuum deposited at 77 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Surface plasmons are readily observed, and their decay with time and temperature gives estimates of the activation energy and lattice-vibrational frequency associated with the annealing properties of the metallic surface. The plasma frequency and electronic "optical" mass (at visible and near-ultraviolet frequencies) are calculated from the real part of the dielectric constant and found to be 3.8 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.1 eV (5.4 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.2 eV) and $(1.08\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02){m}_{e}[(1.00\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02){m}_{e}]$ for potassium (sodium). The energy-loss function for potassium is given, and the room-temperature optical constants measured for sodium and potassium are tabulated for future use.
A degenerative myelopathy in young German shepherd dogs.

Two young male German shepherd dogs, six and seven months old, were evaluated for progressive hindlimb ataxia and paresis. Both dogs were found to be thin and poorly muscled on physical examination, and on neurological examination, the lesions were localised to the spinal cord between T2 and L4. Microscopical examination of the spinal cords demonstrated widespread axonal degeneration similar to that seen in aged German shepherd dogs with chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy (CDRM), although the distribution of these changes was not identical to CDRM.
459 EFFECTS OF CROMOLYN ON INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Clinical and histological effects of Cromolyn (DSCG) were studied in 12 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IFBD) (5 Crohn's and 7 UC). Patients had refractory disease for at least 1 year. Treatment varied from 6-18 months and was not associated with adverse effects. Granulated mast cells were estimated in the lamina propria of normal control specimens (22) and others with IFBD. Biopsies were classified as normal, healed or chronic active. Index of disease activity was recorded for each patient. Results were in mast cells/mm2: Normal-343; UC-323 and Crohn's-304. During DSCG treatment: in Crohn's disease 3 of 5 (60%) improved clinically and 2 had progressive disease. Those who improved showed a mean increase of 105 mast cells/mm2 (from 267 to 372). In UC, 6 of 7 improved clinically (85%). Four of these showed a mean increase of 148 mast cells/mm2 (from 239 to 387/mm2). Two who improved clinically but had no increase in mast cells had active histologic disease pre and post-treatment. Overall, those who responded best to drug both by clinical and histologic criteria showed an increase in mast cells. DSCG is of value in the therapy of IFBD, and its effects may be directly related to its action on mast cells.
Multinucleated cells formed in vitro from Paget's bone marrow express viral antigens

Abstract Paget's disease of bone is characterized by large numbers of osteoclasts that have viral-like nuclear and/or cytoplasmic inclusions. Pagetic osteoclasts express respiratory syncytial viral (RSV) and measles viral (MV) nucleocapsid antigens. The data suggest a possible viral etiology for Paget's disease. However, studies to characterize further the putative viral inclusions in Paget's osteoclasts have been severely hampered by the extreme difficulty in isolating large numbers of osteoclasts from pagetic bone. The recent demonstration that osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (MNC), that had certain characteristics of pagetic osteoclasts formed in marrow cultures from Paget's patients, may permit studies to describe this virus further. Therefore, we have cultured marrow samples from involved and uninvolved bones from Paget's patients and from normal subjects to determine if the MNC formed in these cultures express viral antigens. RSV and/or MV antigens were expressed in the mononuclear cells and/or the MNC formed in 12 of 12 marrow cultures from active lesions of patients with Paget's disease, with 40–50% of the cells expressing viral antigens. In contrast, less than 5% of cells isolated from cultures from normal subjects expressed RSV and/or MV. These results suggest that MNC formed in long-term marrow cultures from patients with Paget's disease frequently express paramyxoviral antigens and are very similar to pagetic osteoclasts. Thus, these marrow cultures may be useful for further characterizing the virus in Paget's disease.
Nitrotyrosine Immunostaining Correlates with Increased Extracellular Matrix: Evidence of Postplacental Hypoxia

Abstract Nitrotyrosine residues (NT), an index of oxidative stress arising from peroxynitrite formation and action, are found in placental vasculature of pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia (PE) or pregestational insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). This study correlates conventional placental pathology with NT immunostaining in 20 cases of perinatal mortality (13 stillbirths and seven cases of neonatal mortality) associated with PE, IDDM, amniotic fluid infection syndrome (AFIS), or from fetal/neonatal demise not related to these conditions (congenital anomalies) ( n =five/group). Patients with PE have more decidual arteriolopathy and Tenney–Parker change, while patients with IDDM and ascending infection have more villous cytotrophoblastic hyperplasia. Archival paraffin-embedded placental sections were immunostained for NT for correlation with clinical features and H&E histological findings. The intensity of immunostaining for NT varied from absent ( n =7) to 1+ ( n =5) or 2+ ( n =8). All eight placentae with 2+ staining showed increased villous extracellular matrix (ECM), compared to none of five with 1+ staining and two of seven with no staining (χ 2 =14.3, P =0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of stem villi with luminal vascular abnormalities (5.7 vs 10 vs 35.7 per cent, F =2.3, P =0.1). Our data show that increased production of reactive oxygen species by placental tissue may be associated with increased extracellular matrix, itself produced by fibroblasts under the influence of oxygen. NT immunostaining may therefore help differentiate those cases of perinatal morbidity/mortality associated with post-placental hypoxia provided that the secondary impact of intrauterine fetal death can be excluded by future studies.
Multicolor in vivo targeted imaging to guide real‐time surgery of HER2‐positive micrometastases in a two‐tumor coincident model of ovarian cancer

One of the primary goals of oncological molecular imaging is to accurately identify and characterize malignant tissues in vivo. Currently, molecular imaging relies on targeting a single molecule that while overexpressed in malignancy, is often also expressed at lower levels in normal tissue, resulting in reduced tumor to background ratios. One approach to increasing the specificity of molecular imaging in cancer is to use multiple probes each with distinct fluorescence to target several surface antigens simultaneously, in order to identify tissue expression profiles, rather than relying on the expression of a single target. This next step forward in molecular imaging will rely on characterization of tissue based on fluorescence and therefore will require the ability to simultaneously identify several optical probes each attached to different targeting ligands. We created a novel 'coincident' ovarian cancer mouse model by coinjecting each animal with two distinct cell lines, HER2+/red fluorescent protein (RFP)- SKOV3 and HER2-/RFP+ SHIN3-RFP, in order to establish a model of disease in which animals simultaneously bore tumors with two distinct phenotypes (HER2+/RFP-, HER2-/RFP+), which could be utilized for multicolor imaging. The HER2 receptor of the SKOV3 cell line was targeted with a trastuzumab-rhodamine green conjugate to create green tumor implants, whereas the RFP plasmid of the SHIN3 cells created red tumor implants. We demonstrate that real-time in vivo multicolor imaging is feasible and that fluorescence characteristics can then serve to guide the surgical removal of disease.
Distribution and function of splash, an achaete-scute homolog in the adult olfactory organ of the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus.

achaete-scute complex (ASC) genes, which encode basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, regulate embryonic and adult neurogenesis in many animals. In adult arthropods, including crustaceans, ASC homologs have been identified but rarely functionally characterized. We took advantage of the recently identified crustacean homolog, splash (spiny lobster achaete scute homolog), in the olfactory organ of the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus to examine its role in adult neurogenesis. We tested the hypothesis that splash is associated with but not restricted to sensory neuron formation in the olfactory organ, the antennular lateral flagellum (LF), of adult spiny lobsters. We demonstrated splash labeling in epithelial cells across LF developmental zones (i.e., proliferation and mature zones), in auxiliary cells surrounding dendrites of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), and in immature and mature ORNs, but not in granulocytes or chromatophores. Since ORN proliferation varies with molt stage, we examined splash expression across molt stages and found that molt stage affected splash expression in the ORN mature zone but not in the proliferation zone. In vivo incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) showed no correlation in the cellular pattern of splash expression and BrdU labeling. The intensity of splash labeling was dramatically enhanced in the proliferation zones following LF damage, suggesting enhanced splash expression during repair and/or regeneration. We conclude that splash is not closely associated with the formation of sensory neurons under normal physiological conditions, and we propose that splash is involved in repair and regeneration. We also propose that splash has additional roles other than neurogenesis in adult crustaceans. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 71: 316–335, 2011
A fatal case of inappropriate adh secretion induced by cyclophosphamide therapy

Cyclophosphamide is used extensively to treat malignancies. A 5-year-old boy with stage IV neuroblastoma is described who developed a fatal syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion after high dose cyclophosphamide therapy.
Longitudinal trends and influence of BMI mismatch in living kidney donors and their recipients.

Background and objectives Age and body mass index (BMI) of kidney donors and recipients affect kidney allograft outcomes. Moreover, while deceased donor and recipient body size mismatch have been reported to influence allograft outcomes, how BMI mismatch in living kidney donor–recipient pairs affect graft survival is not well defined.
Novice Programmers Talking about Projects: What Automated Text Analysis Reveals about Online Scratch Users' Comments

In this paper we examine the possibilities of applying predictive analysis to users' written communication via comments in an open-ended online social networking forum: Scratch.mit.edu. Scratch is primarily used by youth ages 8-16 years to program software like games, animations, and stories; their social interactions take place around commenting, remixing, and sharing computer programs (called projects). This exploratory work contributes to work in educational data mining by broadly describing and comparing comments about projects versus other topics in Scratch. Referencing communication accommodation theory, we found that user comments about projects exhibited different linguistic cues than other comments, and these cues were successfully used to classify comment topic. Further, results also suggest that project comments embody richer language than other comments. This suggests several future avenues for research on youth's online comments about programming and other technical projects that may reveal educational opportunities in creating and sharing projects.
A simple technique for estimating deuterium incorporation levels in macromolecules.

Abstract A technique is described for estimating the levels of incorporation of deuterium into partially deuterated protein and RNA using NMR. The method provides accurate information about deuterium incorporation into nonexchangeable hydrogen positions for the macromolecular species in question.
Spectral diagnosis of atherosclerosis using an optical fiber laser catheter

This communication demonstrates that fluorescence spectra of human aorta with good S/N ratios can be collected using an optical fiber laser catheter. The performance of this catheter is compared to a non-fiber optic collection system with an equivalent delivery/collection geometry. For a given sample, fluorescence lineshapes obtained using the two systems are identical; differences in peak fluorescence intensity are related to the different collection efficiencies of the two systems. It is shown that the fluorescence lineshape of arterial tissue depends on the delivery/collection geometry of the detection system, and that this is due to the interaction of absorption and fluorescence within the artery wall. This effect is investigated systematically using a specially designed collection system. Results are analyzed qualitatively using a simple, one-dimensional model of tissue fluorescence. With this analysis, we present design requirements for a collection system in which such geometric effects are eliminated, and show that our optical fiber laser catheter satisfies these requirements.
Energy efficiency in the Internet of Things — Critical or nice-to-have?

Many people predict Internet of Things will become the next big wave of IT industry. Some people predicts there are a trillions of dollars businesses in the IoT era, as IoT will significant improve our lives. However, are energy efficiency VLSI designs critical to the success of IoT? Or, they are just nice-to-have. In this talk, we plan to discuss the following topics: What are the key computing and communication technology barriers in the IoT era? What kind of VLSI designs in the most important part in IoT?
COMPARISON OF ZERO-STRESS CONTOURS TO SURFACE EROSION FOR EXCAVATED SLOPES IN STRATIFIED ROCK

Abstract Erosion of a cut slope in stratified sandstone and siltstone over a ten-year period resulted in a surface profile conforming to the zero-stress contour calculated in the initial excavation. This paper shows the stress contours calculated using a two-dimensional finite-element analysis and the configuration of the eroded cut, demonstrating that the calculated zero-stress contour may be used to predict the equilibrium surface of the excavation.
Computer-assisted image analysis to quantify regional and specific receptor ligand binding: upregulation of [3H]QNB and [3H]WB4101 binding in denervated hippocampus.

Abstract Quantitative regional analysis of receptor autoradiographs using the Nikon Magiscan image analysis system permits resolution of regional variations in specific binding in non-homogeneous CNS structures, such as the hippocampus. Cholinergic denervation, produced by fimbrial transections, elicits a 24% increase in atropine-displaceable [ 3 H]QNB binding in whole coronal sections of the hippocampal formation, which is greatest in the dorsal subiculum, CA3 and dentate gyrus. This lesion also elicits a 69% increase in lower affinity [ 3 H]WB4101 binding which is displaceabte by phentolamine, but not by prazosin. This represents a sum of increases and decreases in binding in several subregions. Taken together, these findings serve to emphasize the need for normalized regional evaluation of subtracted images which have been calibrated, and linearized or transformed, to reveal binding specific to a single site.
Regeneration by complementary wing disc fragments of Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract If an amphibian or insect appendage is cut into two fragments and both are allowed to undergo growth and pattern regulation, often one fragment regenerates structures specified by the second, while the second forms a mirror duplicate. This complementarity has been central to recent models of positional information in epimorphic fields. To test if complementary fragments rigorously duplicate and regenerate, we cultured a variety of Drosophila wing disc fragments for 0, 3, 5, 7, or 14 days in adults prior to injection into larval hosts for metamorphosis. The results confirm that complementary fragments predominantly duplicate and regenerate, but also show that: (1) Regeneration by complementary fragments, sometimes as far as the opposite disc margins, is common and statistically significant. (2) Narrow anterior and ventral disc margin fragments regenerate in about 0.25 of the cultured implants; equal-sized posterior and dorsal fragments do not, thus anterior-posterior and ventral-dorsal asymmetries exist. (3) A large central disc fragment and its peripheral complement both regenerate. (4) The kinetics of regeneration differs in different fragments. (5) Duplication and regeneration are statistically independent events in individual implants. The anterior-posterior and ventral-dorsal asymmetries suggest positional coding in imaginal discs is carried in a Cartesian cross-gradient system. Regeneration by complementary fragments implies that some mechanism enables normally duplicating fragments to regenerate. The capacity of biosynthetic reaction-diffusion systems to establish Cartesian coordinates and explain wing disc pattern regulation is discussed.
Derivation of Droplet Size Distribution in Sprays By Using Information Theory

Abstract In this paper, the joint droplet size and velocity distribution is derived by applying information theory to the atomization process, along with the normalization of the probability distribution function and the physical conservation laws of mass, momentum and energy. The obtained distribution contains the Weber number as a variable, and agrees with experimental observations. An equation for the Sauter mean diameter (D32) is obtained which agrees with several of the expressions that have been obtained from correlations of experimental data. When the Weber number exceeds 4000, the results given by Li and Tankin (1987) are appropriate.
Linear theory for the bending and extension of a thin, residually stressed, fiber-reinforced lamina

Abstract The Euler equations of a thickness-wise expansion of the potential energy of a thin body, truncated at a specified order in thickness, furnish a model for the bending and stretching of plates and shells. However, truncated expansions of the energy typically do not lead to well-posed minimization problems. This is related to the fact that the truncations may fail to satisfy the relevant Legendre–Hadamard condition, which is necessary for the existence of minimizers. This lack of well-posedness is thus entirely consistent with well-posedness in the exact theory. However, it is an inconvenience from the viewpoint of analysis. What is desired is an accurate, well-posed truncation that preserves the structure of classical plate theory. The present work is concerned with the development of such a model for a uniform fiber-reinforced lamina.
Effect of perioperative blood transfusion on prostate cancer recurrence.

Abstract Background Transfusion may predispose patients to an increased risk of tumor recurrence following solid organ surgery. Lung and colon cancer studies suggest that blood transfusions promote tumor growth or distant metastasis possibly due to immunosuppression. Blood loss can be high during radical retropubic prostatectomy necessitating intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion. The impact of blood transfusion on recurrence risk after radical retropubic prostatectomy remains uncertain. Objective To determine the influence of allogeneic or autologous blood transfusion on prostate cancer recurrence in men undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy and assess their prognostic significance using serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as an intermediate endpoint. Methods Six hundred eleven men treated from 1987 to the present have had all clinical and follow-up data entered prospectively into a clinical database; 242 (40%) did not receive blood transfusion, 252 (41%) received autologous blood transfusion, and 117 (19%) received allogeneic blood transfusion. Biochemical failure was defined as PSA > 0.3 ng/ml on any follow-up visit. ANOVA, chi-square, and survival analyses were used to evaluate clinical characteristics and biochemical progression-free survival. Results Patients participated for a mean of 44 months, range 1 to 170 months, until biochemical progression (78) or July 1, 2005 (533). Average estimated blood loss was 929 ml, 1573 ml, and 2,818 ml in the no blood transfusion, autologous blood transfusion, and allogeneic blood transfusion groups, respectively (P = 0.001). Patients in the allogeneic transfusion group were older, had higher preoperative PSA, higher stage disease, and greater blood loss. Biochemical failure rates were similar in the 3 groups (P = 0.42). Biochemical failure at 5 years occurred in 14% of men who did not receive blood transfusion, 10% of men who received autologous blood transfusion, and 16% of men who received allogeneic blood transfusion. No patient suffered clinical progression or prostate cancer death. Conclusions Autologous or allogeneic blood transfusions do not appear to influence the risk of biochemical failure in men with clinically localized prostate cancer treated with radical retropubic prostatectomy.
Posterior pituitary involvement in the control of luteinizing hormone and prolactin secretion during the estrous cycle.

The effects of removal of the posterior lobe of the pituitary on plasma concentrations of PRL, LH, and FSH were examined under the following conditions: on each morning of the 4-day estrous cycle, 2 weeks after ovariectomy, and 2 h after the administration of a LHRH inhibitory analog on estrus. Blood was collected from a femoral artery immediately before and during the 3 h after posterior pituitary lobectomy or sham lobectomy. Significant elevations of both PRL and LH were seen after removal of the posterior pituitary on estrus and diestrus day 1, while no change was seen in the plasma concentration of either hormone after posterior pituitary removal on diestrus day 2. On proestrus, posterior lobectomy resulted in an elevation of LH only. The posterior lobectomy-induced PRL elevations were rapid and of short duration, while those of LH were delayed and prolonged. No alteration in plasma FSH concentrations was seen after posterior pituitary lobectomy performed on any day of the estrous cycle. In contrast t...
BIOSYNTHESIS OF RENIN IN MOUSE KIDNEY TUMOR AS4.1 CELLS

As4.1, a renin-expressing cell line isolated from a mouse renal tumor, was characterized for synthesis, processing, storage and secretion of renin polypeptides. Metabolic labeling, immunoprecipitation and SDS/PAGE analysis revealed that renin was secreted into the culture supernatant predominantly in the form of prorenin which migrated as products of 42-47 kDa. The predominant intracellular renin was processed into two chains, of 33-34 and 5 kDa. N-glycanase treatment removed N-linked oligosaccharides and yielded products of 41 kDa for prorenin and 31-32 kDa for the heavier chain of two-chain renin. The N-terminus of the constitutively secreted prorenin was determined by automated Edman degradation to be Leu22 while the N-terminus of the heavy chain was Ser72. Renin polypeptides constituted 3.1 +/- 1.4% (mean percentage of total precipitable radioactivity +/- SD) of de-novo-synthesized protein secreted into the medium and 0.2 +/- 0.17% retained intracellularly. Extrapolation of renin activity assays suggest that a single cell stores approximately 680 fg of active renin. A slow incremental release into the medium of processed renin heavy chain was detected by immunoprecipitation and SDS/PAGE. Renin activity assays confirmed the release of approximately 4 fg prorenin and 0.32 fg active renin cell(-1) h(-1). Indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated intracellular renin to be distributed in a punctate pattern. Renin was found to be colocalized with the lysosomal marker, beta-glucuronidase, by double-fluorescent labeling. These cells have enabled characterization of glycosylated mouse renin-1 and may prove a valuable tool for studying intracellular trafficing of renin and associated processing enzymes.
Half-fringe photoelasticity: A new approach to whole-field stress analysis

This paper presents a new method for whole-field stress analysis based on a symbiosis of two techniques—classical photoelasticity and modern digital image analysis. The resulting method is called ‘half-fringe photoelasticity (HFP)’. Classical photoelasticity demands materials with high birefringence, which leads to extensive use of plastics as model materials. Since the behavior of these materials is often different from that of the prototype materials, their use distorts the similitude relationships. In many contemporary problems this distortion is untenable. HFP offers a way out of this dilemma. It permits materials and loads to be chosen so that no more than one half of a fringe order appears in the area of interest. Thus, for example, glass, which behaves linearly up to high stress levels and over a wide range of temperatures, could be used as model material. Alternatively, models from polymeric materials could be used under very low load in order to stay within the linear part of the stress-strain diagram and to prevent large deformations. The half-fringe-photoelasticity system, which is described here, utilizes the resulting low levels of birefringence for effective stress analysis. This paper describes the system. It outlines a calibration routine and illustrates its application to two simple problems using glass models.
Using Coculture to Detect Chemically Mediated Interspecies Interactions

In nature, bacteria rarely exist in isolation; they are instead surrounded by a diverse array of other microorganisms that alter the local environment by secreting metabolites. These metabolites have the potential to modulate the physiology and differentiation of their microbial neighbors and are likely important factors in the establishment and maintenance of complex microbial communities. We have developed a fluorescence-based coculture screen to identify such chemically mediated microbial interactions. The screen involves combining a fluorescent transcriptional reporter strain with environmental microbes on solid media and allowing the colonies to grow in coculture. The fluorescent transcriptional reporter is designed so that the chosen bacterial strain fluoresces when it is expressing a particular phenotype of interest (i.e. biofilm formation, sporulation, virulence factor production, etc.) Screening is performed under growth conditions where this phenotype is not expressed (and therefore the reporter strain is typically nonfluorescent). When an environmental microbe secretes a metabolite that activates this phenotype, it diffuses through the agar and activates the fluorescent reporter construct. This allows the inducing-metabolite-producing microbe to be detected: they are the nonfluorescent colonies most proximal to the fluorescent colonies. Thus, this screen allows the identification of environmental microbes that produce diffusible metabolites that activate a particular physiological response in a reporter strain. This publication discusses how to: a) select appropriate coculture screening conditions, b) prepare the reporter and environmental microbes for screening, c) perform the coculture screen, d) isolate putative inducing organisms, and e) confirm their activity in a secondary screen. We developed this method to screen for soil organisms that activate biofilm matrix-production in Bacillus subtilis; however, we also discuss considerations for applying this approach to other genetically tractable bacteria.
Symposium on Public Performance Data and Private Business Decisions: Introduction

Why should business decision-makers study government performance data? The international collection of articles in this symposium illustrates the type of issues and data that managers should consider in making business decisions.
Identifying Emotions on the Basis of Neural Activation.

We attempt to determine the discriminability and organization of neural activation corresponding to the experience of specific emotions. Method actors were asked to self-induce nine emotional states (anger, disgust, envy, fear, happiness, lust, pride, sadness, and shame) while in an fMRI scanner. Using a Gaussian Naive Bayes pooled variance classifier, we demonstrate the ability to identify specific emotions experienced by an individual at well over chance accuracy on the basis of: 1) neural activation of the same individual in other trials, 2) neural activation of other individuals who experienced similar trials, and 3) neural activation of the same individual to a qualitatively different type of emotion induction. Factor analysis identified valence, arousal, sociality, and lust as dimensions underlying the activation patterns. These results suggest a structure for neural representations of emotion and inform theories of emotional processing.
The interrelationship of subglottic air pressure, fundamental frequency, and vocal intensity during speech*

Summary In this study we have simultaneously measured subglottic air pressure, airflow, and vocal intensity during speech in nine healthy subjects. Subglottic air pressure was measured directly by puncture of the cricothyroid membrane. The results show that the interaction between these aerodynamic properties is much more complex that previously believed. Certain trends were seen in most individuals, such as an increase in vocal intensity with increased subglottic air pressure. However, there was considerable variability in the overall aerodynamic properties between subjects and at different frequency and intensity ranges. At certain frequencies several subjects were able to generate significantly louder voices without a comparable increase in subglottic air pressure. We hypothesize that these increases in vocal efficiency are due to changes in vocal fold vibration properties. The relationship between fundamental frequency and subglottic pressure was also noted to vary depending on vocal intensity. Possible mechanisms for these behaviors are discussed.
Whole genome SNP arrays as a potential diagnostic tool for the detection of characteristic chromosomal aberrations in renal epithelial tumors

Renal tumors with complex or unusual morphology require extensive workup for accurate classification. Chromosomal aberrations that define subtypes of renal epithelial neoplasms have been reported. We explored if whole-genome chromosome copy number and loss-of-heterozygosity analysis with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays can be used to identify these aberrations and classify renal epithelial tumors. We analyzed 20 paraffin-embedded tissues representing clear cell, papillary renal and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, as well as oncocytoma with Affymetrix GeneChip 10K 2.0 Mapping arrays. SNP array results were in concordance with known genetic aberrations for each renal tumor subtype. Additional chromosomal aberrations were detected in all renal cell tumor types. The unique patterns allowed 19 out of 20 tumors to be readily categorized by their chromosomal copy number aberrations. One papillary renal cell carcinoma type 2 did not show the characteristic 7/17 trisomies. Clustering using the median copy number of each chromosomal arm correlated with histological class when using a restricted set of chromosomes. In addition, three morphologically challenging tumors were analyzed to explore the potential clinical utility of this method. In these cases, the SNP array-based copy number evaluation yielded information with potential clinical value. These results show that SNP arrays can detect characteristic chromosomal aberrations in paraffin-embedded renal tumors, and thus offer a high-resolution, genome-wide method that can be used as an ancillary study for classification and potentially for prognostic stratification of these tumors.
Academic, Social, and Personal Uses of the Internet: Cases of Students from an Urban Latino Classroom.

AbstractAs more and more K–12 students gain access to the Internet at home and at school, the potential exists for students, families, and schools to use this resource in new ways. However, we know little about Internet use and perceptions by students and families from outside the middle class, main-stream U.S. culture. This study presents cases of four Latino middle school students from three families who gained home Internet access for the first time in connection with an educational technology project set in a public school in Detroit, Michigan. We asked how the students and their families perceived and used the Internet as a tool for education, recreation, and socializing.
American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer, 2003

Each January, the American Cancer Society (ACS) publishes a summary of existing recommendations for early cancer detection, including updates, and/or emerging issues that are relevant to screening for cancer. In 2002, the ACS assembled expert groups to update guidelines for cervical cancer screening and breast cancer screening, and to evaluate new technology for colorectal cancer screening. In November 2002, updated guidelines for cervical cancer screening were published in this journal, and breast cancer screening guidelines will be updated in 2003. In this issue, there is a report of a workshop held to review emerging technology for colorectal cancer screening that resulted in a modification of current previous recommendations for fecal occult blood tests, and revised recommendations for the "cancer-related check-up" in which clinical encounters provide case-finding and health-counseling opportunities. Finally, we provide an update of the most recent data pertaining to participation rates in cancer screening by age, gender, and ethnicity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
A Key Agreement Protocol Using Band-Limited Random Signals and Feedback

Key distribution is an essential element in cryptography. In this paper, the framework of a classical key agreement protocol using band-limited random signals and feedback is presented. The secrecy is derived from masking information by privately held random signals. Critical parameters of the protocol are identified. Raw performance of the system is presented. The secrecy can be enhanced by taking advantages of measures, such as reconciliation and privacy amplification, developed for classical and quantum key agreement protocols.