cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The formation and maintenance of water-meadows in Hampshire, England

Abstract In Hampshire, water-meadows were formed to promote the drainage and irrigation of alluvial meadows. Earthworks and channels enabled the river water to flow more easily over the meadows, and the vegetation was regularly grazed by sheep and cattle, being also cut for hay. Between the sixteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries, farmers formed a distinctive environment, which they carefully maintained. Since that time, irrigation has been replaced by other forms of land management, but its impact can still be seen by the ecologist in the field today.
Ocean dynamics, thermocline adjustment, and regulation of tropical SST

The role of tropical Pacific ocean dynamics in regulating the ocean response to thermodynamic forcing is investigated using an ocean general circulation model (GCM) coupled to a model of the atmospheric mixed layer. It is found that the basin mean sea surface temperature (SST) change is less in the presence of varying ocean heat transport than would be the case if the forcing was everywhere balanced by an equivalent change in the surface heat flux. This occurs because the thermal forcing in the eastern equatorial Pacific is partially compensated by an increase in heat flux divergence associated with the equatorial upwelling. This constitutes a validation of a previously identified ‘‘ocean dynamical thermostat.’’ A simple two-box model of subtropical‐equatorial interaction shows that the SST regulation mechanism crucially depends on spatial variation in the sensitivity of the surface fluxes to SST perturbations. In the GCM, this sensitivity increases with latitude, largely a result of the wind speed dependence of the latent heat flux, so that a uniform forcing can be balanced by a smaller SST change in the subtropics than in equatorial latitudes. The tropical ocean circulation moves heat to where the ocean more readily loses it to the atmosphere. Water that subducts in subtropical latitudes and returns to the equatorial thermocline therefore has a smaller temperature perturbation than the surface equatorial waters. The thermocline temperature adjusts on timescales of decades to the imposed forcing, but the adjustment is insufficient to cancel the thermostat mechanism. The results imply that an increase in the downward heat flux at the ocean surface, as happens with increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, should be accompanied by a stronger equatorial SST gradient. This contradicts the results of coupled atmosphere‐ocean GCMs. Various explanations are offered. None are conclusive, but the possibility that the discrepancy lies in the low resolution of the ocean GCMs typically used in the study of climate change is discussed.
ENSO’s Impact on the Gap Wind Regions of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean*

AbstractThe recently released NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) is used to examine the response to ENSO in the northeast tropical Pacific Ocean (NETP) during 1979–2009. The normally cool Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs) associated with wind jets through the gaps in the Central American mountains at Tehuantepec, Papagayo, and Panama are substantially warmer (colder) than the surrounding ocean during El Nino (La Nina) events. Ocean dynamics generate the ENSO-related SST anomalies in the gap wind regions as the surface fluxes damp the SSTs anomalies, while the Ekman heat transport is generally in quadrature with the anomalies. The ENSO-driven warming is associated with large-scale deepening of the thermocline; with the cold thermocline water at greater depths during El Nino in the NETP, it is less likely to be vertically mixed to the surface, particularly in the gap wind regions where the thermocline is normally very close to the surface. The thermocline deepening is enhanced to the south...
Gold diggers, video vixens, and Jezebels: stereotype images and substance use among urban African American girls.

Abstract Background: This study sought to examine the relationship of negative stereotype attitudes and endorsement of western standards of beauty (i.e., colorism) on the substance use behavior of low-income urban African American girls. Racial socialization was also examined as a potential moderator to identify any buffering effects of parental messages concerning race. Methods: Two hundred seventy-two African American female adolescents (mean age 13.02 years) were recruited from community venues in a Northeastern city. Adolescents completed a self-report questionnaire. Results: Results of a series of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that girls who accepted an African American standard of beauty reported lower levels of substance use than those who endorsed colorism. Additionally, racial socialization buffered the negative relationship of colorism to substance use behavior, but only for a certain subset of girls. Conclusions: Tailored health interventions that consider both gender-specific and ...
Designing power: forms and purposes of colonial model neighborhoods in British Africa

Abstract This paper examines two model neighborhood programs in different British colonies in Africa, during two different time periods: Pumwani, Nairobi's first planned “Native Location” from the 1920s, and the model neighborhoods developed in Zanzibar between 1945 and 1958. I employ research findings from the last decade to assess the attempts by these two colonial states to use urban planning to shape the physical spaces of city life as a way to create consent as well as domination—or, in the words of the career colonialist who had a hand in designing both, Eric Dutton, Goodwill and Rule. What we see by this comparison is how the physical forms and the forms of goodwill and rule changed, but also how many elements of the workings of colonial power remained the same. Ultimately, the comparison shows how intrinsic residential spatiality was to the designs of colonial power, and how unsuccessful these colonial designs were, literally and figuratively.
Effect of specific antibodies and a2-macroglobulin on enzymatic activity of trypsin and chymotrypsin

Abstract 1. (1)Both, antitrypsin antibodies and a 2 -macroglobulin abolished the proteolytic activity of trypsin towards the high-molecular, denatured collagen substrate RBB-hide†, but inhibited activity towards the low-molecular synthetic BAPNA by only about 10 per cent. 2. (2) Antichymotrypsin antibodies or a 2 -macroglobulin abolished chymotrypsin activity towards RBB-hide. Antichymotrypsin antibodies almost completely inhibited chymotrypsin activity towards the low-molecular synthetic substrate ATEE, but a 2 -macroglobulin enhanced activity by about 55 per cent. 3. (3) A low degree of cross-reactivity between antitrypsin (antichymotrypsin) antibodies and chymotrypsin (trypsin), but not elastase was readily demonstrated by enzymatic methods, but not by immunodiffusion techniques. Cross-reactivity between antienzyme antibodies and corresponding zymogens was most pronounced, but affinity for the zymogen, determined enzymatically, was only a small percentage of that for the enzyme. 4. (4) Enzymatic activity of these complexes towards low-molecular substrates could never be completely inhibited, even when a large excess of antibodies or a 2 -macroglobulin was present, whereas proteolytic activity was abolished. These observations support the view that the active center of the enzymes is not involved in complex formation with antibodies or macroglobulin, and that diminished enzymatic activity is largely due to steric hindrance by the macromolecule. 5. (5) No equilibration of enzymes between antibodies and a 2 -macroglobulin was detectable by enzymatic methods when enzyme-a 2 -macroglobulin complexes were incubated with antienzyme antibodies, or when enzyme-antienzyme antibody complexes were incubated with a 2 -macroglobulin. However, in immunodiffusion experiments such mixtures gave precipitin lines suggesting interaction of the complexes with the second species of macromolecule.
One-to-many: example-based mesh animation synthesis

We propose an example-based approach for synthesizing diverse mesh animations. Provided a short clip of deformable mesh animation, our method synthesizes a large number of different animations of arbitrary length. Combining an automatically inferred linear blending skinning (LBS) model with a PCA-based model reduction, our method identifies possible smooth transitions in the example sequence. To create smooth transitions, we synthesize reduced deformation parameters based on a set of characteristic key vertices on the mesh. Furthermore, by analyzing cut nodes on a graph built upon the LBS model, we are able to decompose the mesh into independent components. Motions of these components are synthesized individually and assembled together. Our method has the complexity independent from mesh resolutions, enabling efficient generation of arbitrarily long animations without tedious parameter tuning and heavy computation. We evaluate our method on various animation examples, and demonstrate that numerous diverse animations can be generated from each single example.
Structural Reliability Assessment of Offshore Platforms Under Hurricane Events

This paper presents a structural reliability assessment method to quantify the probability of platform failure for Trinidad offshore platforms subjected to hurricane events. Platforms are modeled as a series system composed of the topsides and jacket including foundation. The platform failure limit state function is defined in terms of environmental load and platform capacity. The platform capacity is evaluated by non-linear pushover analysis using USFOS program. A parametric relationship of wave load as a function of wave height is derived based on the offshore extreme environmental data. The first order reliability method (FORM) is used to estimate the annual failure probability. The relationship between the probability of platform failure and the reserve strength ratio (RSR) of platforms is investigated. The assessment results could be used to evaluate the level of risk associated with hurricane hazards and may be incorporated into the risk-based underwater inspection (RBUI) program as part of the structural integrity management (SIM) process.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
High resolution displacement monitoring of a slow velocity landslide using ground based radar interferometry

Abstract Ground-based interferometric radar (GBIR) monitoring was conducted on a slow-moving, translational failure landslide in Granby, Grand County, Colorado, USA. Radar monitoring was completed over two separate surveys in 2011 using a tripod mounted real aperture sensor. The purpose of this work is to evaluate GBIR as a temporally dense monitoring technique for monitoring landslide displacement and compare the monitoring results to ongoing GPS based surveying methods to verify measured displacements. We discuss the strengths and limitations of GBIR displacement monitoring with a variety of available sensors, and place this monitoring platform, sensor, and workflow into context of previous slope stability monitoring with GBIR. For both surveys, displacement time series were created through a small temporal baseline stacking to reduce noise and maintain high temporal resolution. The results of the displacement time series were compared to average displacement rates derived from GPS based surveying. An overall verification of radar and GPS derived displacement rates was achieved, and identifies important differences relating to the precision and uncertainty of the two techniques. This work demonstrates GBIR monitoring capability of establishing high temporal resolution on tracking variable rates of landslide movements. Spatial modeling of total observed displacements was completed for both surveys verifying a conceptual model of uniform translational landslide movement, providing greater confidence for mitigation planning.
Coated vesicles are associated with acetylcholine receptors at nerve-muscle contacts.

Cholinergic synapses form between ciliary neurons and cultured myotubes. We have identified these synaptic contacts using α-bungarotoxin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (αBTX-HRP). The enzymatic reaction product was limited to a small portion of the sarcolemma in direct apposition to the nerve terminal. Multiple neuronal processes contact the region of the myotube containing acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). At the early stages of nerve-muscle contacts neuronal processes protrude into the coated pits of the myoplasm. Numerous coated pits and coated vesicles were found beneath these early contacts. These vesicles may be involved in the transport of protein molecules at the newly formed cholinergic structures.
Characteristic Physical Parameter Approach to Modeling Chillers Suitable for Fault Detection, Diagnosis, and Evaluation

Model-based fault detection and diagnosis approaches based on statistical models for fault-free performance concurrently require a fault classifier database for diagnosis. On the other hand, a model with physical parameters would directly provide such diagnostic ability. In this paper, we propose a generic model development approach, called the characteristic parameter approach, which is suitable for large engineering systems that usually come equipped with numerous sensors. Such an approach is applied to large centrifugal chillers, which are generally the single most expensive piece of equipment in heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems. The basis of the characteristic parameter approach is to quantify the performance of each and every primary component of the chiller (the electrical motor, the compressor, the condenser heat exchanger, the evaporator heat exchanger, and the expansion device) by one or two performance parameters, the variation in magnitude of which is indicative of the health of that component. A hybrid inverse model is set up based on the theoretical standard refrigeration cycle in conjunction with statistically identified component models that correct for non-standard behavior of the characteristic parameters of the particular chiller. Such an approach has the advantage of using few physically meaningful parameters (as against using the numerous sensor data directly), which simplifies the detection phase while directly providing the needed diagnostic ability. Another advantage to this generic approach is that the identification of the correction models is simple and robust, since it requires regression rather than calibration. The entire methodology has been illustrated with actual monitored data from two centrifugal chillers (one a laboratory chiller and the other a field operated chiller). The sensitivity of this approach to sensor noise has also been investigated.
Uptake of zinc by Raphanus sativus L. from soils amended with sludge or Zn‐EDTA

Abstract This investigation was designed to compare the influence of soil pH and Zn level on Zn accumulation and yields of radish (Raphanus sativus, L.). In the greenhouse, radish plants were grown to marketable maturity in potting soil which contained 0 to 100 ppm Zn from ZnEDTA or 0 to 40 ppm Zn from sewage sludge. Soil pH was increased from 5.8 to 6.8 through additions of Ca(OH)2. Yield responses of shoot and root (hypocotyl‐root complex) to increase sludge fertility levels were expressed with quadratic regression models of the form, Y = B0 + B1X + B2X2 where B1 is positive and B2 is negative (R2 = 0.83∗∗ shoot, and 0.92∗∗ root). Yield reductions, brought about through large sludge applications (25.6 g sludge/kg soil), were not related to phytotoxic soil Zn levels (40 ppm Zn), as plants receiving ZnEDTA tolerated levels up to 100 ppm Zn without significant yield depression. Increasing soil pH lowered Zn concentrations in radishes grown under high Zn levels, regardless of the Zn source. Two factor multi...
Single-channel and whole-cell studies of calcium currents in young and aged rat hippocampal slice neurons.

Abstract The hippocampal slice preparation has contributed greatly to analysis of the basic neurophysiology of brain neurons. In addition, because traumatic dissociative procedures are not used, the in vitro slice is particularly well suited for studies of electrophysiological properties of hippocampal neurons in young and aged rodent brain. Using the slice, we have previously observed an aging-dependent enhancement of voltage-activated Ca2+ influx using a combination of intracellular sharp electrode current-clamp and voltage-clamp techniques. The Ca2+-dependent afterhyperpolarization as well as the Ca2+ action potential were significantly larger in aged rat neurons. Using the sharp electrode switch clamp method, similar effects were found for high voltage-activated whole-cell Ca2+ currents. In order to study the mechanistic bases of these aging phenomena at the single-channel level, we have recently focused on recording cell-attached patches from neurons in the partially dissociated hippocampal slice (‘zipper’ slice). This technique, developed by Gray et al. in 1990, subjects slices to a mild enzymatic treatment resulting in the exposure of individual neurons for patch-clamp procedures. Using this technique, we are currently recording single Ca2+ channel activity in hippocampal slices from 4- to 29-month-old rats.
Magnetic resonance imaging in pachydermoperiostosis

Pachydermoperiostosis is a rare inherited disorder that is manifest clinically by digital clubbing, extremity enlargement, painful and swollen joints, hypertrophic skin changes, and periosteal bone formation. This report illustrates the skeletal findings that may be seen with long-standing disease as evaluated with conventional radiography and with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, with emphasis on the MR appearance of periosteal reaction in this disorder. There are features that suggest pachydermoperiostosis may represent a generalized enthesopathy.
The Evolution of a Goal‐Directed Exploration Model: Effects of Information Scent and GoBack Utility on Successful Exploration

We explore the match of a computational information foraging model to participant data on multi-page web search tasks and find its correlation on several important metrics to be too low to be used with confidence in the evaluation of user-interface designs. We examine the points of mismatch to inspire changes to the model in how it calculates information scent scores and how it assesses the utility of backing up from a lower-level page to a higher-level page. The outcome is a new model that qualitatively matches participant behavior better than the original model, has utility equations more appealing to “common sense” than the original equations, and significantly improves the correlation between model and participant data on our metrics.
Diffusion, Self-Diffusion and Cross-Diffusion

u1(x ,0 )= u 1, 0(x), u2(x ,0 )= u 2, 0(x )i n 0 , where 2= N=1 2 x 2 is the Laplace operator, 0 is a bounded smooth domain of R N with N1, 0 and 0 are the boundary and the closure of 0, respectively, 0T=0_(0, T ) and 0T=0_(0, T ) for some T #( 0,), & is the outward unit normal vector on 0, di , ai , bi , ci (i=1, 2) are all positive constants while :ij (i, j=1, 2) denote non-negative constants. The initial values u1, 0 and u2, 0 are non-negative smooth func- tions which are not identically zero. The mathematical model (1.1) was proposed by Shigesada et al .( 27) in their study of spatial segregation of interacting species, where u1 and u2 represent the densities of two competing species, d1 and d2 are their diffu- sion rates, a1 and a2 denote the intrinsic growth rates, b1 and c2 account for intra-specific competitions, b2 and c1 are the coefficients of inter-specific competitions, :11 and :22 are usually referred as self-diffusion pressures, and :12 and :21 are cross-diffusion pressures. An interesting feature of (1.1) is that the movements of these two competing species are affected by the population pressures due to the mutual interference between the individuals, and it was hoped that the nonlinear dispersive force due to the
Integrating System Level Design and Instrumentation for Communications Development

A challenge for communication system designers is to integrate many hardware subsystems. After a system has been modeled in software it has to be transferred to a hardware prototype. Linking electronic design automation (EDA) tools with measurement equipment decreases the time needed to evaluate and troubleshoot the system. This is accomplished by allowing subsystems to be tested as if they were part of the entire system even before the entire system is transferred to a hardware prototype. In this paper we?ll describe this software/hardware link between the EDA tools and measurement equipment using the HP W-CDMA design library, HP 89441A vector signal analyzer and HP ESG-D RF digital signal generator. In doing this we?ll also be able to describe this solution?s application as a flexible waveform generator. A wide variety of signals can be simulated using HP Advanced Design System (ADS) and the HP W-CDMA design library, with this software/hardware link these signals can now be turned into real world signals generated by the HP ESG-D RF digital signal generator. This includes baseband signals, RF signals, and also signals with channel impairments such as, fading, phase noise, IQ gain imbalance, and amplifier non-linearities. The key benefit of linking the EDA tools with test equipment is the reduced time to market for your products. We have discussed each of the three ways listed above in which you can reduce product cycle times.
Pathogenetic factors in erosive gastritis

Abstract Under physiologic conditions, luminal acid and pepsin are absolute requirements in the development of erosive gastritis and ulceration. Even the injurious effects of most drugs are potentiated by acid and pepsin. Although the importance of luminal acid has long been recognized, only in the last 10 years has evidence accrued showing the detrimental effects of tissue acidosis in producing injury to the gastric mucosa. It now seems clear that by whatever means it is produced, e.g., through reduced mucosal blood flow, metabolic or respiratory acidosis, or inhibition of acid secretion with subsequent decreased "alkaline tide," tissue acidosis plays a profound role in the pathogenesis of erosive gastritis and ulceration. The gastric mucosal barrier is now recognized as the anatomic integrity of the surface epithelium, rather than as an ethereal physiologic barrier. This barrier is maintained as an intact layer under physiologic conditions by a newly described rapid repair process called restitution.
Antigenic requirements for T-cell activation: Reconstitution of a functional antigen from an inactive peptide portion of an antigen conjugated to protein carriers

The structural features of an antigenic peptide required for T-cell activation were examined by a novel approach: an active antigen was constructed from an inactive peptide portion of the original antigen by conjugating it to various proteins. An eicosapeptide, peptide 8, representing residues 103-112 of the tobacco mosaic virus protein (TMVP), was utilized as the model antigen for these studies. While peptide 8 was able to stimulate, in vitro, T-cells from peptide 8 primed mice, synthetic peptides representing various portions of peptide 8 were unable to activate these cells. Although the amino-terminal undecapeptide of peptide 8 (residues 93-103 of TMVP) was unable to activate T-cells from peptide 8 primed mice, conjugates which consisted of this undecapeptide coupled to certain proteins were capable of inducing antigen-specific proliferation of these T-cells. These results identify two structural antigenic features essential for T-cell activation: a T-cell-recognizable epitope within the amino-terminal undecapeptide of peptide 8 and a second region provided by the carboxy-terminal half of peptide 8 or by protein carriers. Potential roles for this second region include providing a site for antigen interaction with Ia molecules on the antigen-presenting cell or, alternatively, providing amino acids important in stabilizing the binding of the T-cell antigen receptor. The results suggest that the recognition of this second region exhibits only a limited specificity.
Hippocampal Volumes in Adolescents with and without a Family History of Alcoholism

Background and Objectives: The hippocampus may be vulnerable to the effects of heavy alcohol use during adolescence, which is a time of continued neurodevelopment. However, differences in hippocampal volume may be due to risk factors such as a family history (FH) of alcoholism. We examined hippocampal volumes in youth with and without a FH of alcoholism prior to the initiation of alcohol use. Methods: Participants were demographically matched adolescents (aged 12–14) with positive (n = 15; FHP) and negative (n = 15; FHN) FH of alcoholism. Each group consisted of 10 males and 5 females with minimal previous substance use. Manual hippocampal tracings were completed on high-resolution magnetic resonance images by reliable raters, and intracranial volumes were controlled in analyses. Results: FH groups did not differ on memory or hippocampal volumes, but group x gender interactions (p < .05) indicated that FHP males had larger left hippocampi than FHN males. Females showed greater left versus right hippocampa...
Immunoreactivity patterns in neurofibrillary tangles of the inferior temporal cortex in Alzheimer disease

The distributions of various immunohistochemical markers of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) were compared to that of a normal nerve cell cytoskeletal marker, SMI32, in the inferior temporal cortex of Alzheimer brains and normal aged controls. NFT markers included antibodies to the microtubule-associated proteins tau, ubiquitin, or amyloid P component (AP). The results showed that, in our group of patients, the decrease of SMI32 immunoreactivity in the Alzheimer temporal cortex is paralleled by an increase in AP immunoreactivity in neurons and neurofibrillary tangles. This suggests that AP may play an important role in NFT formation or evolution in Alzheimer disease.
Modeling Window Contributions to Four-Wave Mixing Spectra and Measurements of Third-Order Optical Susceptibilities

Line shapes of resonant features in four-wave mixing (FWM) spectra are modified by interferences between the electric fields produced by resonant and nonresonant nonlinear optical processes. In experiments on liquid samples, the windows of the optical cell can make a significant nonresonant contribution, and this must be treated correctly when modeling FWM spectra. A model is presented that fully treats the interference between sample and window contributions to FWM signals. A laminar flow cell, which eliminates windows from FWM experiments on liquids, was also demonstrated. Optical hyperpolarizabilities and susceptibilities were measured for FWM processes in liquid acetonitrile, liquid water, and borosilicate glass. A relatively small nonlinearity was found for nonresonant processes in water (γ = 8.6 X 10-38 cm6/erg), which would make it a useful solvent for vibrationally enhanced nonlinear spectroscopy. Experiments were performed to observe singly vibrationally enhanced (SIVE) processes associated with the fundamental stretch vibrations of water. No SIVE signal was detected, and an upper bound of γ < 3 X 10-37 cm6/erg was determined for its nonlinearity.
Models, controls, and levels of semiotic autonomy

We consider forms of autonomy, forms of semiotic systems, and any necessary relations among them. Levels of autonomy are identified as levels of system identity, from adiabatic closure to disintegration. Forms of autonomy or closure in systems are also recognized, including physical, dynamical, functional, and semiotics. Models and controls are canonical linear and circular (closed) semiotic relations respectively. We conclude that only at higher levels of autonomy do semiotic properties become necessary. In particular, all control systems display at least a minimal degree of semiotic autonomy; and all systems with sufficiently interesting functional autonomy are semiotically related to their environments.
Quadrupling Muscle Mass in Mice by Targeting TGF-ß Signaling Pathways

Myostatin is a transforming growth factor-s family member that normally acts to limit skeletal muscle growth. Mice genetically engineered to lack myostatin activity have about twice the amount of muscle mass throughout the body, and similar effects are seen in cattle, sheep, dogs, and a human with naturally occurring loss-of-function mutations in the myostatin gene. Hence, there is considerable interest in developing agents capable of inhibiting myostatin activity for both agricultural and human therapeutic applications. We previously showed that the myostatin binding protein, follistatin, can induce dramatic increases in muscle mass when overexpressed as a transgene in mice. In order to determine whether this effect of follistatin results solely from inhibition of myostatin activity, I analyzed the effect of this transgene in myostatin-null mice. Mstn−/− mice carrying a follistatin transgene had about four times the muscle mass of wild type mice, demonstrating the existence of other regulators of muscle mass with similar activity to myostatin. The greatest effect on muscle mass was observed in offspring of mothers homozygous for the Mstn mutation, raising the possibility that either myostatin itself or a downstream regulator may normally be transferred from the maternal to fetal circulations. These findings demonstrate that the capacity for increasing muscle growth by manipulating TGF-s signaling pathways is much more extensive than previously appreciated and suggest that muscle mass may be controlled at least in part by a systemic mode of action of myostatin.
When Symbols Matter: Religious Rituals and Father-Identity in Parenting a Special Needs Child

Abstract Religious symbols and rituals can provide a center for shaping and ordering a sense of fatherhood, as experienced by the author who is a parent of a special needs child. Such rituals offer support, reassurance and a promise of wholeness for both father and daughter.
Singularities and noise discrimination with wavelets

One can detect and characterize the singularities of a signal from the evolution of the wavelet transform coefficients across scales. The authors discriminate signal information from noise by using some prior knowledge of the properties of singularities. The wavelet transform of the signal is processed in order to remove the singularities created by the noise. The authors restore a sharp signal where part of the noise has been suppressed. Examples in one and two dimensions are shown. >
Radiation therapy for Benign Lymphoepithelial Cysts of parotid glands in HIV patients.

Objectives/Hypothesis To report the long-term outcomes of radiation therapy (RT), and the impact of fractionation size and RT duration on HIV patients with Benign Lymphoepithelial Cysts (BLEC) of the parotid glands. Methods From January 2000 to 2011, 30 patients were eligible for our single institution retrospective study. Both parotids were treated with 24Gy via RT. The median age at RT, HIV diagnosis, and duration of HIV seropositive was 45 years (28–64), 38 years (23–53), and 11 years (6–35), respectively. Patients were stratified into two groups. Group A and B received 2Gyx12 and 1.5Gyx16, respectively. Results After a median follow-up of 66 months (12–141), the overall response (OvR) was 93% of the patients. Specifically, complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) were 80% and 13%, respectively. In group A, 100% had CR. Treatment failure was 7% and all were in group B, which was mainly due to poor compliance. A Chi-square test showed significant relationship between OvR and RT duration (P <0.001), and a positive trend between CR and fraction size of 2Gy (P = 0.053). All acute toxicities were grade ≤2, specifically mucositis (48%), xerostomia (45%), skin erythema (41%), and altered taste (14%). Two patients (6.7%) experienced long-term grade 1 xerostomia. Conclusion RT provides a sustained long-term cosmetic control for BLEC of the parotid glands in HIV patients. Failures are uncommon, and the late side effects have been negligible.
Intercultural human-photo encounters: how cultural similarity affects perceiving and tagging photographs

The increasing popularity of online photo sharing makes encountering photos from other cultures an increasingly common event online. We present an online study investigating how photos' cultural origins interact with people's cultural backgrounds to influence their feelings about and tagging of online photos. People tend to feel closer to photos from their own cultural background than to photos from other cultural backgrounds; however, they apply the same number of tags regardless of the photo's culture. This suggests that culture has different effects of emotional and cognitive processes around picture perception, and also suggests that culture is a salient factor to be accounted for in designing online photo sharing and tagging systems.
How Family Physicians Choose An Office Computer System

Background Purchasing an office computer can be time consuming and frustrating. Financial costs and time demands make it difficult for the family physician, especially in solo practice, to follow the many recommendations offered in the literature. The purpose of this study was to identify the most helpful selection factors used by family physicians who had already purchased an office computer. Methods In May 1990 an 18-item questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 26 percent of the 1167 active members of the Washington Academy of Family Physicians. A final response rate of 45 percent was achieved. Twenty-three percent of the nonresponders were contacted to obtain information about practice demographics and office computer status. Results Seventy-three percent of responders reported using a computer in their practice. The mean cost ranged from $17,300 for solo practitioners to $55,000 for multispecialty groups. Respondents who reported performing a prepurchase needs assessment, involving the office staff in the decision process, and making cost comparisons were more satisfied with their computer systems than those who did not (P less than 0.05). Satisfaction and acceptance were lower and negatively related to an increasing amount of time needed for the system to become fully operational (P less than 0.01). The level of involvement by the practitioner in the decision process was highly predictive of satisfaction with a computer system: those physicians who were most involved were also the most satisfied. Conclusions Family physicians responsible for selecting an office computer for their practices are advised to become personally involved in the decision process, evaluate the practice's needs and goals, involve the office staff, and compare costs before choosing a system. A set of guidelines for selecting an office computer is presented.
Crossed-Screws Provide Greater Tarsometatarsal Fusion Stability Compared to Compression Plates:

Background. Hallux valgus is a common deformity that is often treated with a fusion of the first tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint. Crossed-screws are currently the accepted standard but advances in plate systems present opportunities for improved clinical outcomes; however, in vitro testing should be performed prior to clinical implementation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a locking plate with surgeon- mediated compression provides similar fusion stability compared to crossed-screws and if bone density or joint size are related to construct success. Methods. Ten matched-pair cadaveric specimens received first TMT fusions with either crossed- screws or a compression plate and were loaded for 1000 cycles to assess the amount of joint motion measured as plantar gapping. Bone density was quantified using computed tomography images of each specimen, and joint height was measured with calipers. Results. Crossed-screws provided 3 times greater resistance to plantar gapping compared to compression plates after 1000 cycles. Bone density and joint size did not affect resistance to plantar gapping for either construct. Conclusion. Lag screws or a plantarly applied plate are needed to maximize TMT fusion stability prior to osseous union. Dorsomedially applied plates are also effective when paired with a lag screw placed across the TMT joint. These constructs do not appear to depend on bone density or joint size, suggesting that patients with osteoporosis are viable candidates. Clinical Relevance. The results of this study suggest that traditional, lagged cross-screws provide greater stability to that of a dorsally place compression plate and may lead to better rates of union. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level V—Cadaveric Study
Effects of serial lesions of somatosensory cortex and further neodecortication on retention of a rough-smooth discrimination in rats.

Five groups of rats with bilateral lesions of the somatosensory cortex and one of animals sustaining only sham operations were tested for retention of a rough-smooth discrimination. Two of the lesion groups had sequential unilateral ablations, in one case with interoperative testing, and three groups had one-stage bilateral lesions. The two groups of animals with serial lesions did not differ from each other or from sham operates in relearning the task. Rats with one-stage lesions and preoperative overtraining also performed well, but the other one-stage groups showed deficits relative to control and serial lesion groups. In the second experiment the sham operated rats from Experiment 1 experienced lesions anterior and posterior to the somatosensory zones. These lesions did not affect retention. Somatosensory cortex then was ablated in one operation and severe performance decrements were seen. Removal of additional neocortex in a sample of animals that had relearned the discrimination after one-stage somatosensory cortex lesions (Exp. 1) also affected retention. In contrast, retention was not impaired on some of the measures in those animals that originally had two-stage ablations. The findings from these two experiments show that some ablation effects can be circumvented with overtraining or serial lesion techniques. The data also indicate that non-somatosensory cortex may play a role in recovery after somatic cortex lesions, but that the substrates underlying recovery might, not be the same after one-stage and two-stage ablations.
Longitudinal energy flow in hard proton-nucleus collisions at 400 GeV/c

Using the E609 calorimeter system, we have measured longitudinal energy flow in hard pA collisions which yield dijet final states. The mean laboratory energy flow into the nuclear target (backward) region, nlab < 2.83, minus the value for pp collisions is found to vary as A0.33 ± 0.12, and reaches a value of 50±8 GeV for Pb. The observed probability distribution of energy flow indicates that the energy transfer to a heavy nucleus seldom fluctuates to small values. We also find that the A dependence of the dijet production cross section depends sensitively upon the energy flow to the target region.
The media and the medical market.

I briefly discuss three components of the media that play a role in the commercialization of medicine: advertising, television dramas, and journalism.
THE HISTORY OF HYDROCARBONS EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION IN ARGENTINA

Sedimentary basins in Argentina cover about 1.4 MM sq.km on land, and 400,000 sq.km offshore as far as the 200-m isobath. Oil and gas has been produced from six mostly onshore pericratonic basins, all of which belong to the Sub-Andean domain. Their current daily production amounts to 553,800 brls of oil (of which only 26,500 b/d comes from the offshore) and 2, 392 million cu.ft of gas. Currently, proved reserves are around 1. 354 million brls of oil and 20.3 trillion cu ft of gas. Cumulative production to end-1990 was 5.O billion brls of oil and 13.7 trillion cu ft of gas, 93% of which was associated gas.
Integration of genotoxicity and population genetic analyses in kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami) exposed to radionuclide contamination at the Nevada Test Site, USA.

We examined effects of radionuclide exposure at two atomic blast sites on kangaroo rats ( Dipodomys merriami) at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada, USA, using genotoxicity and population genetic analyses. We assessed chromosome damage by micro- nucleus and flow cytometric assays and genetic variation by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses. The RAPD analysis showed no population structure, but mtDNA exhibited differentiation among and within populations. Genotoxicity effects were not observed when all individuals were analyzed. However, individuals with mtDNA haplotypes unique to the contaminated sites had greater chromosomal damage than contaminated-site individuals with haplotypes shared with reference sites. When interpopulation comparisons used individuals with unique haplotypes, one contaminated site had greater levels of chromosome damage than one or both of the reference sites. We hypothesize that shared-haplotype individuals are potential migrants and that unique-haplotype individuals are potential long-term residents. A parsimony approach was used to estimate the minimum number of migration events necessary to explain the haplotype distributions on a phylogenetic tree. The observed predominance of migration events into the contaminated sites supported our migration hypothesis. We conclude the atomic blast sites are ecological sinks and that immigration masks the genotoxic effects of radiation on the resident populations. Keywords—Population genetics Dipodomys merriami Chromosomal damage Nuclear weapons Nevada Test Site
Identification and Functional Characterization of a Novel CACNA1C-Mediated Cardiac Disorder Characterized by Prolonged QT Intervals with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Congenital Heart Defects, and Sudden Cardiac Death

Background— A portion of sudden cardiac deaths can be attributed to structural heart diseases, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) or cardiac channelopathies such as long-QT syndrome (LQTS); however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are distinct. Here, we identify a novel CACNA1C missense mutation with mixed loss-of-function/gain-of-function responsible for a complex phenotype of LQTS, HCM, sudden cardiac death, and congenital heart defects. Methods and Results— Whole exome sequencing in combination with Ingenuity variant analysis was completed on 3 affected individuals and 1 unaffected individual from a large pedigree with concomitant LQTS, HCM, and congenital heart defects and identified a novel CACNA1C mutation, p.Arg518Cys, as the most likely candidate mutation. Mutational analysis of exon 12 of CACNA1C was completed on 5 additional patients with a similar phenotype of LQTS plus a personal or family history of HCM-like phenotypes and identified 2 additional pedigrees with mutations at the same position, p.Arg518Cys/His. Whole cell patch clamp technique was used to assess the electrophysiological effects of the identified mutations in CaV1.2 and revealed a complex phenotype, including loss of current density and inactivation in combination with increased window and late current. Conclusions— Through whole exome sequencing and expanded cohort screening, we identified a novel genetic substrate p.Arg518Cys/His-CACNA1C, in patients with a complex phenotype including LQTS, HCM, and congenital heart defects annotated as cardiac-only Timothy syndrome. Our electrophysiological studies, identification of mutations at the same amino acid position in multiple pedigrees, and cosegregation with disease in these pedigrees provide evidence that p.Arg518Cys/His is the pathogenic substrate for the observed phenotype.
Taking the Show on the Road: Teaching Political Science in English at Foreign Universities

tor in possession of the requisite substantive expertise is incapable of teaching in the students' native language. In July 1997, and again in May 1998, we team-taught courses in political science research methodology at Babes-Bolyai University, in ClujNapoca, Romania.' The students all spoke Romanian (although Hungarian was the first language for some). All had studied English, but their proficiency was quite varied. We were cognizant of the problems students would have understanding instruction in English, but we also were unable to teach in the students'
Association of abnormal hind-limb postures and back arch with gait abnormality in dairy cattle

Detection of lameness in individual cows is important for the prompt treatment of this painful and production-limiting disease. Current methods for lameness detection involve watching cows walk for several strides. If clinical signs predictive of lameness could be observed more conveniently, as cows are undergoing regularly scheduled examinations while standing, detection levels could increase. The objective of this study was to assess the association between postures observed while cows are standing in stanchions and clinical lameness evaluated by locomotion scoring, and to evaluate the observation of these postures as a test for lameness. The study included 1,243 cows from 4 farms. Cows were observed while standing in stanchions for regularly scheduled management procedures and the presence of arched back and cow-hocked, wide-stance, and favored-limb postures were recorded. The same cows were locomotion-scored as they exited the milking parlor. The proportion of cows observed with arched back and cow-hocked and favored-limb postures increased with increasing severity of lameness (higher locomotion score) but did not increase for the wide-stance posture. For the presence of these postures as a test for lameness (locomotion score ≥3), sensitivity and specificity were 0.63 and 0.64 for back arch, 0.54 and 0.57 for cow hocks, and 0.05 and 0.98 for favored limb. Back-arched, cow-hocked, and favored limb postures were associated with lameness but were not highly sensitive or specific as diagnostic tests. However, observation of back arch may be useful to identify cows needing further examination.
A Semiadaptive Smoothing Algorithm in Bispectrum Estimation

Fourier transform is used to calculate the third-order periodogram, which is an unbiased estimation of the bispectrum. However, the Fourier transform has energy leakage at adjacent frequencies, and the third-order periodogram is not a consistent estimator of the bispectrum because the variance does not converge toward zero when the sample size increases. To solve these problems, we used the Kolmogorov-Zurbenko Fourier transform (KZFT) to calculate the third-order periodogram and then adaptively smoothed it using a square window with varying bandwidth. At each paired frequencies, the bandwidth of the square window is expanded until the squared variation within the window reached a prespecified percentage of the total squared variation. The algorithm gave good results on simulated data, separating two close frequency components with very different energies in noisy data.
Cutaneous β‐glucuronidase: cleavage of mycophenolic acid by preparations of mouse skin

Mycophenolic acid, a new chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of psoriasis, is known to be rapidly conjugated on absorption and to circulate largely in the form of its glucuronide conjugate. Since this metabolite does not readily penetrate intact cells and is cleaved by the enzyme beta-glucuronidase to yield free mycophenolic acid, the ability of preparations of mouse skin to cleave mycophenolic glucuronide was studied. The time course of mycophenolic acid liberation by such preparations and the dependence upon the amount of enzyme preparation were demonstrated. Preparations of mouse skin and mouse liver, kidney, spleen, lung, heart and small intestine were assayed for beta-glucuronidase activity using p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucuronide as substrate. Skin yielded preparations with higher beta-glucuronidase activity per/mg protein than any of the other organs tested. When expressed on the basis of beta-glucuronidase activity recovered per milligram of tissue DNA, skin, liver and kidney showed higher levels than the other organs tested.