cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aortic diameter and pressure-flow sequence identify mechanism of blood flow during external chest compression in dogs☆

Aortic flow and pressure relations and aortic diameter were examined during sinus rhythm, internal cardiac massage, vest cardiopulmonary resuscitation, conventional manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation and high impulse manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 14 anesthetized large dogs. During sinus rhythm and during internal cardiac massage, ascending aortic flow and pressure increased simultaneously and the rise in ascending aorta pressure preceded the rise in descending aortic pressure by (mean +/- SEM) 28 +/- 4 and 30 +/- 1 ms, respectively. In contrast, during vest, conventional and high impulse cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ascending aortic flow lagged behind the initial rise in aortic pressure by 40 +/- 4 to 46 +/- 4 ms and ascending and descending aortic pressure increased simultaneously (p less than 0.001 for each external compression mode versus sinus rhythm and internal massage). The ratio of pulse pressure to stroke volume increased by an order of magnitude during all modes of external chest compression (p less than 0.001 versus sinus rhythm and internal massage) and aortic diameter decreased during vest and high impulse cardiopulmonary resuscitation (p less than 0.05 versus sinus rhythm and internal massage). The hemodynamics of external chest compression depart from the normal physiologic sequence of stroke volume-induced increase in aortic pressure and diameter. The rise in aortic pressure precedes flow into the aorta, stroke volume does not fully account for pulse pressure, and aortic diameter decreases during chest compression. These data support the hypothesis that blood flow is due to fluctuations in intrathoracic pressure for high impulse as well as vest and conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Syphilis and pelvic inflammatory disease

Since screening every patient in the emergency department for venereal disease is impractical, we hypothesized that patients with the clinical diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) might be at higher risk and a group that should be screened. Seventy women with a clinical diagnosis of PID treated in our adult emergency department from July to November 1976 were screened for syphilis using three separate serologic tests: Venereal Disease Research Laboratory, fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption, and treponema pallidum hemagglutination. The incidence of positive serologies in our study group was significantly higher (11.4 %) than that of 100 controls (4 %). All patients with a clinical diagnosis of PID should be screened for syphilis using both FTA-Abs and TPHA tests, as well as a VDRL.
Development of a Fatigue Life Assessment Tool for Pipelines With Local Wrinkles

Pipelines may be subject to ground movement events or external interference that imposes axial and moment loading into the pipeline. This system demand may cause localized deformation mechanisms to develop, that may be observed as local wrinkling or buckling of the pipe wall. The local buckle amplitude may increase with continued external loading and may fracture due to low cycle fatigue failure caused by operational conditions.There exists limited data and engineering guidance on the mechanical performance of energy pipelines with a local wrinkle or buckle. The literature suggests the fatigue service life can be significantly reduced by the presence of local wall deformation mechanisms.In this study, continuum numerical modelling procedures are developed to assess the influence of pipeline damage in the form of a local wrinkle or buckle on the low-cycle fatigue life. The simulation tool is calibrated from the available literature and a parametric study is conducted to examine the influence of wrinkle bend radius, pipe wall thickness, cyclic displacement amplitude, material grade and constitutive models on the pipe mechanical performance.© 2013 ASME
Distributed association control in shared wireless networks

In modern wireless networks, fairness of user throughputs is often important to efficiently utilize the available network bandwidth. Association control-control of user associations to reduce overloading of access points (APs)-has been the standard approach to address this problem. However, in the recent paradigm of shared wireless networks in both, community and commercial space, access points are increasingly managed without any central coordination. As a result, achieving user level fairness in these settings remains a challenging task. In this paper, we consider the global utility of proportional fairness. Specifically, we propose a distributed approach to association control, in which each user makes association decisions based on the information gathered from probe responses from its nearby APs. Two solutions are presented: (i) a randomized approach, in which users update their associations probabilistically, and (ii) a deterministic association rule that converges quickly. We provide theoretical guarantees on the performance of both approaches. Our simulation results show that the proposed solutions can significantly improve fairness and overall throughput compared to other association heuristics.
Active-site-directed photoaffinity radioiodination of androgen-binding proteins

Abstract Androgen-binding protein (ABP) in rat epididymal cytosol and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in rabbit serum and SHBG purified from human serum were active-site-directed photoaffinity radiolabeled with 17α-[( E )-2-[ 125 I]iodoethenyl]androstan-4,6-dien-17β-ol-3-one ([ 125 I]1). The interaction of this compound with binding components in epididymal cytosol was dependent on exposure of the mixture to ultraviolet light and on the duration of exposure. Photolysis in the presence of [ 125 I]1 and 5α-dihydrotesosterone (5α-DHT) resulted in a 40% inhibition of binding of [ 125 I]1 to cytosolic components. These result indicate that, while [ 125 I]1 interacted with 5α-DHT binding sites, it also formed adducts with other sites. To characterize the labeled species, the photolysis mixture was subjected to electrophoresis under denaturing and reducing conditions. Autoradiography of the gel revealed that ABP and SHBG were labeled with [ 125 I]1, but in cytosol and serum, higher and lower molecular weight components were also labeled. Purified SHBG was labeled, but no labeled contaminating protein was detected. The presence of 5α-DHT completely inhibited [ 125 I]1 photolabeling of human and rabbit SHBG and of ABP. However, in cytosol, the presence of 5α-DHT also eliminated photolabeling to a component that may be albumin, but 5α-DHT did not affect [ 125 I]1 photolabeling of other contaminating proteins in cytosol. Thus, while [ 125 I]1 is an effective photoaffinity radiolabel for ABP and SHBG, the observation that it also photolabels other proteins limits its practical use to the radiolabeling of purified ABP and SHBG preparations.
Moses, happy man?

This article exams the Biblical figure Moses in the light of both ancient and modern understandings of happiness, asking whether Moses himself was happy, and what that might mean, and whether he may be considered an example of a “felicitator,” one who works successfully for the happiness of others.
Anesthetics modulate the release of glutamate and GABA via neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Abstract Inhalational general anesthetics are known to modulate the activity of various neuroreceptors and ion channels. Potentiation of the GABA A receptor function and inhibition of the glutamate receptors received much attention. Recently, it is becoming abundantly clear that neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are also an important target site of general anesthetics. Modulation of the presynaptic and preterminal nAChRs affects the release of various transmitters leading to amplification of the effects via a cascade of multisynaptic events. We studied the effects of isoflurane and sevoflurane on spontaneous miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) in rat cortical neurons in primary culture. The currents were recorded from bipolar and multipolar neurons using the patch clamp technique. Both isoflurane and sevolfurane at 1 MAC had essentially the same effects. In bipolar neurons, the amplitude of mEPSCs was suppressed by anesthetics, while that of mIPSCs was augmented. These effects of anesthetics reflect direct inhibition and potentiation of the glutamate and GABA A receptors, respectively. The frequency of mEPSCs and mIPSCs of bipolar neurons was increased by 30 μM ACh, reflecting the increased release of glutamate and GABA, respectively, as a result of the activation of nAChRs. Anesthetics had no effect on the frequency when applied along. However, when anesthetics and ACh were co-applied, the frequency was increased less than that caused by ACh alone, presumably because anesthetics inhibited the activity of nAChRs. Multipolar neurons were devoid of nAChs and responded to ACh and anesthetics in the same way as that of bipolar neurons with the exception of the responses via nAChRs. In conclusion, isoflurane and sevoflurane modulate the activity of the glutamate and GABA receptors both directly and indirectly via inhibition of nAChRs.
Clinical Outcomes After Self-Expanding Plastic Stent Placement for Refractory Benign Esophageal Strictures

Background Refractory benign esophageal strictures (RBES) are defined as those that persist structurally and symptomatically after repeated dilation sessions. Small series have reported favorable outcomes after placement and subsequent removal of Polyflex™ self-expanding plastic stents (SEPS).
A Three-Fold Increase in Current Carrying Capability of Al-Cu Metallurgy by Pre-Depositing a Suitable Underlay Material

To achieve the desired Cr-Cr202/Al-Cu laminate chip metalization, first Cr is deposited with the evaporation chamber back-filled with water vapor to a partial pressure of 1 to 4 × 10?3 Pa. This is followed by standard Al Cu evaporation, lift-off or subetch, sinter, and insulation processing. The critical process step of bleeding in water vapor during Cr evaporation has to be maintained at an optimum because too much Cr202 will lead to high contact resistance and too little Cr202 will lead to a loss of diffusion barrier effectiveness. It is during the sintering cycle that 'Cr' diffusion into the Al-Cu metallization structure occurs along with formation of limited amounts of Al2O03 TThe presence of Al and Cr oxides in turn limits the formation of Cr and Al intermetallics. This results in an acceptable sheet resistance of the metallization structure. Accelerated testing of interconnecting stripes and various sizes of metal contacts to resistor and transistor devices at different temperature and current levels has been completed. As for Al-Cu metallization test results for Cr-Cr203/Al-Cu can be represented by tf J?n exp(?H ÷ kT) where J is the current density, T is the temperature, k is the Boltzman constant, ?H is the activation energy and n is the current exponent. Thus at constant temperature J2 = J1 × (tf1 ÷ tf2)1/n and since for Cr-Cr203/Al-Cu metallurgy the testing done supports an improvement in electromigration lifetime of 1OX, an activation energy of 0.
The ideal response of a Gulf of Mexico estuary plume to wind forcing: Its connection with salt flux and a Lagrangian view

[1] The plume structure of Perdido Bay Estuary (PBE), a typical bay on the Florida-Alabama coast along the Gulf of Mexico, was simulated using an existing calibrated model. To better understand plume dynamics in the PBE and similar bay systems, idealized sensitivity experiments were conducted to examine the influence of wind stress on the 3-D plume signature: the results indicate that wind speed and direction significantly influence plume orientation, area, width, length, and depth. The plume size was reduced under the effect of wind and increased wind forcing. Among wind-forced cases, the plume is largest for northerly (offshore) winds and smallest for southerly (onshore) winds. Bay-shelf salt flux and water flux were also investigated, since they are important for the formation of a 3-D plume structure. Model simulations show that water outflow to the coastal ocean is strongest under northerly winds and can be stopped by southerly winds. For moderately strong winds, the outflow and plume size are larger for easterly downwelling-favorable winds than for westerly upwelling-favorable winds; the opposite is true for outflow and plume size for these two wind directions under stronger winds. For all wind directions, the ratio of salt flux and water flux at the bay mouth increases with wind speed. This ratio trend is consistent with higher outflow salinities, and this decreased buoyancy signature, along with more energetic vertical mixing, reduces plume size. A detailed understanding of this water and salt flux is essential to the plume dynamics studied here and for other plumes. Additional particle transport analysis using variable wind forcing was conducted to determine the influence of the plume on particle movement. The results showed a consistency between the surface plume, salt flux, and particle transport and illustrate the strong effects that winds have on particle fate and dispersion.
Enhanced scrape-off layer plasma in DIII-D double-null discharges

Abstract In this paper, we examine a denser and broader scrape-off layer (SOL) plasma, one class of which was first seen in VH mode, in the DIII-D tokamak. An enhanced SOL appears in many types of double-null (DN) discharges and is not a property of VH mode only. The L and H mode DN enhanced SOL density and temperature profiles exhibit a 5–6 cm broad profile outside the separatrix. The VH mode enhanced SOL is associated with a higher separatrix density and temperature and is only 1.5–2 cm wide. Both types of SOL enhancement are only observed in high triangularity discharges. The origin of the enhanced SOL is, however, not yet understood.
Special considerations in conducting bereavement focus groups

Focus groups conducted with grieving people pose special challenges. However, this method can be successfully used in bereavement research especially when group interaction is central to the resear...
Preparative electrophoresis of histones in solubilizable polyacrylamide gels.

Histones from the mouse testis have been fractionated on 17% acrylamide gels containing 0.19% Bis-acrylylcystamine (BAC), 25 M urea and 0.4% Lubrol-WX at pH 2.7. Polyacrylamide gels which contain BAC, a cross-linking agent with disulfide bonds, can be solubilized in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol, at pH 8.3. Polymerization is carried out at 40 degrees C and in the presence of 6.5--7.5% tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) at pH 8.3. Gels containing high acrylamide concentration (greater than 15%) are not soluble if polymerized at lower pH or TEMED concentrations. Following electrophoresis, the gels are stained with Coomassie brilliant blue R for the visualization of protein bands. The stained protein bands are excised and adjusted to pH 8.3 prior to their solubilization. The histones are recovered by ion-exchange chromatography and are free of soluble gel components and dye. Two variants of histone H2B (H2B . 1 and H2B . 2) have been isolated at approx. 95% purity using this single purification step.
Intracellular long-wavelength voltage-sensitive dyes for studying the dynamics of action potentials in axons and thin dendrites.

In CNS neurons most of synaptic integration takes place in thin dendritic branches that are difficult to study with conventional physiological recording techniques (electrodes). When cellular compartments are too small, or too many, for electrode recordings, optical methods bring considerable advantages. Here we focused our experimental effort on the development and utilization of new kinds of voltage-sensitive dyes (VSD). The new VSDs have bluish appearance in organic solvents, and hence are dubbed “blue dyes”. They have preferred excitation windows for voltage recording that are shifted to longer wavelengths (∼660 nm). Excitation in deep red light and emission in the near-infrared render “blue VSDs” potentially useful in measurements from fluorescent structures below the tissue surface because light scattering is minimized at longer wavelengths. Seven new molecules were systematically tested using intracellular injection. In comparison to the previously used red dye (JPW-3028) the blue dyes have better sensitivity (ΔF/F) by approximately 40%. Blue dyes take little time to fill the dendritic tree, and in this aspect they are comparable with the fastest red dye JPW-3028. Based on our results, blue VSDs are well suited for experimental exploration of thin neuronal processes in semi intact preparations (brain slice). In some cases only 6 sweeps of temporal averaging were needed to acquire excellent records of individual action potentials in basal and oblique dendritic branches, or in axons and axon collaterals up to 200 μm away from the cell body. Signal-to-noise ratio of these recordings was ∼10. The combination of blue dyes and laser illumination approach imposed little photodynamic damage and allowed the total number of recording sweeps per cell to exceed 100. Using these dyes and a spot laser illumination technique, we demonstrate the first recording of action potentials in the oblique dendrite and distal axonal segment of the same pyramidal cell.
Immunocytochemical localization of testis ecdysiotropin in the pupa of the gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Antiserum against testis ecdysiotropin isolated from the gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar, reacted with neurons in the protocerebrum, optic and antennal lobes, subesophageal, thoracic and abdominal ganglia, as well as in nerve tracts extending through the optic lobes, tritocerebrum, and interganglionic connectives of the pupal stage of these insects. Testis ecdysiotropin is a peptide required by immature moths to initiate production of testes ecdysteroid, which is necessary for the development of the male reproductive system and initiation of spermatogenesis. Antiserum against testis ecdysiotropin also detected an accumulation of testis ecdysiotripic-like material between the inner and outer testis sheaths of pupae. The localization of this peptide in the imaginal disks of the last larval stage, cells and nerve fibers in the optic and antennal lobes of the pupa of both sexes, as well as in the testes during development of the adult reproductive system indicates that testis ecdysiotropin has a much larger impact on adult metamorphosis than development of the reproductive system and initiation of gametogenesis. Although this peptide may have a modulatory role in the central nervous system (CNS), it may also initiate a cascade of activity required for the development of the adult nervous system, in addition to its role in reproduction.
A Search for Identity: The “German Question” in Atlantic Alliance Relations

Major changes in the postwar global environment have transformed “the” German question into many German questions that continue to complicate the foreign and domestic policy-making processes in the Federal Republic. Inconsistencies between official policy pronouncements and the accepted political modus operandi are explainable in terms of four “paradoxes”: (1) the nation/state identity paradox; (2) the reunification/integration paradox; (3) the stability/security paradox; and (4) the lessons-of-history/normalcy paradox. West German commitment to the Atlantic Alliance remains unshaken, but the FRG should not be forced to choose between the U.S. and Europe, between integration with the West and further improvement in relations with the GDR. Normalization of those relations will be best served by a mutual adherence to the principles of balance, territorial integrity, confidence building and greater transparency in matters of inter-German decision making.
Imagining nation, envisioning progress: emperor, agricultural elites, and imperial ministers in search of engineers in 19th century Brazil

This study shows how the development of engineering schools in 19th century Brazil is intimately linked with images of nation and visions of progress held by social actors who materialized these into engineering schools, curricula, and graduates. The study proposes that theories of nation present interesting conceptual and empirical challenges for engineering studies scholars by inviting us to explain the emergence and preeminence of engineering education in relationship to the emergence of nation. The article shows that in 19th century Brazil there were a number of competing images and corresponding visions of progress that significantly shaped the development of Brazil's engineering education institutions. One such image was championed by the Emperor Pedro II who wanted to reaffirm Brazil as a civilized empire on par with France and the US. Another was defended by regional elites and defined in terms of agricultural development of their local regions. A third one was endorsed by an alliance of imperial ...
Genetic polymorphism of basic proteins from parotid saliva.

In a study of 90 randomly chosen parotid salivas from Blacks three phenotypes were observed during acid-urea starch-gel electrophoresis. Inheritance was controlled by two codominant alleles at an autosomal locus. Of 101 Caucasians, one had a heterozygous phenotype indistinguishable electrophoretically from that in Blacks. Gene frequencies were: for Blacks, parotid basic protein (Pbl) = 0.84, (Pb2) = 0.16; for Caucasians, (Pbl) ~ 0.995, (Pb2) ~ 0.005.
Patterns of microzooplankton growth in dilution experiments across a trophic gradient: Implications for herbivory studies

To investigate the growth and grazing patterns of microzooplankton (MZP) in environments of differing productivity, dilution experiments measuring phytoplankton growth (μ) and grazing mortality (m) rates were performed using samples from contrasting locations along the Texas coast. Samples were collected from estuaries, coastal lagoons and offshore Gulf of Mexico locations in the spring and summer of 2001. MZP growth rates were determined in each dilution treatment. Although MZP biomass changed over time in most dilution treatments, adjusting μ and m for the actual grazer gradient (represented by geometric mean MZP biomass) did not cause a significant deviation from the nominal dilution gradient. Likewise, these adjustments did not yield significant regressions where none existed before adjustment. The dynamics of MZP taxonomic groups (ciliates, dinoflagellates) and size categories differed suggesting that in some cases internal predation may lead to trophic cascades. MZP biomass was higher in productive coastal waters and included a larger proportion of dinoflagellates than in the oligotrophic, ciliate-dominated waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The MZP biomass-to-chlorophyll a ratio was lowest in the hypereutrophic Nueces River, where MZP biomass significantly increased in all dilution treatments (net growth rates up to 2 day−1) suggesting a strong top–down control. In the brown-tide dominated Upper Laguna Madre and the oligotrophic seagrass-dominated Lower Laguna Madre MZP growth was decoupled from that of phytoplankton. At these sites, MZP were likely fueled by bacterial carbon and mixotrophy, respectively. Observing the growth response of MZP in dilution experiments can provide insight into trophic structure and efficiency of the microbial food web.
Selective Role of Intracellular Chloride in the Regulation of the Intrinsic but Not Extrinsic Pathway of Apoptosis in Jurkat T-cells

Apoptosis is a genetic program for the removal of unwanted cells from an organism, which is distinct from necrosis by its characteristic volume loss or apoptotic volume decrease. This cell shrinkage is the result of ion redistribution that is crucial for both the activation and execution of apoptosis. Here we report that UV-C but not Fas ligand treatment results in a significant decrease in intracellular chloride that can be abolished by modulation of chloride flux using either the chloride channel inhibitor SITS or medium with a reduced chloride concentration. Accordingly, downstream events are diminished during UV-C-induced apoptosis following chloride flux modulation, whereas Fas ligand-induced apoptotic characteristics are not affected. Moreover, the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway early in the apoptotic signaling cascade was affected by chloride flux in Jurkat T-cells. Thus, an alteration of intracellular chloride plays an important role in the activation of signaling molecules upstream of the mitochondria, specifically impairing the intrinsic but not extrinsic apoptotic pathway.
Arteriovenous access : Managing common problems

The creation and maintenance of hemoaccess occupies a significant portion of most vascular and general surgery practices. In this article, the methods used to detect hemoaccess at risk for failure and the endovascular and surgical techniques used to prolong or restore their patency are reviewed. Also, the management of hemoaccess infection, aneurysmal degeneration, false aneurysm formation, and symptomatic arterial steal syndrome are described.
25-Phosphorus analogs of vitamin D3

Abstract The syntheses 1α-hydroxy-25-oxo-25-phosphavitamin D 3 , 25-oxo-25-phospha-26,27-dioxa-26,27-dimethylvitamin D 3 , and 1α-hydroxy-25-oxo-25-phospha-26,27-dioxa-26,27-dimethylvitamin D 3 are reported. The biological activity of 25-oxo-25-phosphavitamin D 3 and the above compounds are reported.
Geometric surface smoothing via anisotropic diffusion of normals

This paper introduces a method for smoothing complex, noisy surfaces, while preserving (and enhancing) sharp, geometric features. It has two main advantages over previous approaches to feature preserving surface smoothing. First is the use of level set surface models, which allows us to process very complex shapes of arbitrary and changing topology. This generality makes it well suited for processing surfaces that are derived directly from measured data. The second advantage is that the proposed method derives from a well-founded formulation, which is a natural generalization of anisotropic diffusion, as used in image processing. This formulation is based on the proposition that the generalization of image filtering entails filtering the normals of the surface, rather than processing the positions of points on a mesh.
Where Memory Meets Attention: Neural Substrates of Negative Priming

The negative priming (NP) effect refers to the observed increase in identification time for a current target stimulus or stimulus feature (the "probe") that has been employed as a distractor stimulus or stimulus feature on the previous trial (the "prime"), representing strong evidence that ignored information is actively processed to a high level by selective attention systems. However, theoretical accounts of NP differ in whether they attribute the effect to processes of selective inhibition or episodic memory retrieval. Here we derived neurophysiological predictions from the rival "selective inhibition" and "episodic retrieval" models of NP, and employed event-related fMRI in a color-naming Stroop task to assess neural responses to probe trials that were subject to either no priming or negative priming. Compared to no-priming probe trials, NP resulted in increased activation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, in a region which has been closely linked with episodic memory retrieval functions. NP was also accompanied by activation of the right thalamus, particularly the mediodorsal nucleus, which has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, a condition associated with diminished NP effects. Our results support the proposal that ignored stimulus information is fully encoded in memory, and that episodic retrieval, not selective inhibition, of such information affects selective attention performance on subsequent trials.
A versatile framework for shape description

We present a shape description framework that generates a multitude of shape descriptors through a variety of design and continuum of parameter choices. Our parameter is a surface mesh, referred to as the template, which is supplied at run time, and allows generating different shape descriptors for the same model. Our framework extracts a numerical shape descriptor by computing a selected function on the model mesh, mapping (transferring) it to the template, expanding the mapped function in terms of a basis on the template, and collecting the expansion coefficients into a vector. We investigate possible design choices for the steps in the framework, and introduce novel approaches that provide further freedom in generating a multitude of previously unknown descriptors. We show that our approach is a generalization of the way some of the existing numerical descriptors are defined, and that for appropriate template choices one is able to reproduce some of the well-known descriptors. Finally, we show empirically that design and parameter choices have non-trivial effects on the descriptor’s performance, and that better retrieval results can be obtained by combining descriptors obtained via different templates.
Modeling of class imbalance using an empirical approach with spambase dataset and random forest classification

Classification of imbalanced data is an important research problem as most of the data encountered in real world systems is imbalanced. Recently a representation learning technique called Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) has been proposed to handle imbalanced data problem. Random Forest (RF) algorithm with SMOTE has been previously used to improve classification performance in minority class over majority class. Although RF with SMOTE demonstrates improved classification performance, the relationship between the classification performance and the imbalanced ratio between the majority and minority classes is not well defined. Therefore mathematical models that describe this relationship is useful especially in the big data environment which suffers from imbalanced data. In this paper, we proposed a mathematical model using an empirical approach applied to the well known Spambase dataset and Random Forest classification approach including its adoption with SMOTE representation learning technique. We have presented a linear model which describes the relationship between true positive classification rate and the imbalanced ratio between the majority and minority classes. This model can help IT researchers to develop better spam filter algorithms.
Numerical and Analytical Modeling of Free-Jet Melt Spinning for Fe75−Si10−B15 (at. %) Metallic Glasses

Amorphous fiber, ribbon, or film is produced through melt spinning. In this manufacturing process, a continuous delivery of amorphous material is simultaneously dependent on the wheel spinning rate, metallic liquid viscosity, surface tension force, heat transfer inside the melt pool and along the substrate, and other parameters. An analysis of a free-jet melt spinning for fiber manufacture has been performed to relate the process control parameters with amorphous formation. We present a numerical simulation of transient impingement of a free melt jet with a rapidly rotating wheel, along with theoretical estimates of melt ribbon thickness, to investigate dynamical characteristics of the flow in melt pool. The nucleation temperature and the critical cooling rate are predicted in the paper for alloy Fe75–Si10–B15 (at. %). Thermal conduction is found to dominate undercooling in melt spinning by comparing the temperature and velocity measurements with our numerical simulation and the analytical solutions.
Body size and serum levels of insulin and leptin in relation to the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Purpose: Obesity has been implicated in the etiology of benign and malignant prostatic growth due to its influence on metabolic and endocrine changes. Because obesity is an important determinant of serum levels of insulin and leptin (the product of the obesity gene Ob), we investigated the role of obesity and serum levels of insulin and leptin in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) etiology.Materials and Methods: Fasting serum levels of insulin and leptin as well as the body mass index, a measure of overall obesity, and waist-to-hip ratio, an indicator of abdominal obesity, were determined in 200 men newly diagnosed with BPH who were hospitalized for surgery and in 302 randomly selected healthy male subjects from the population in Shanghai, China.Results: A higher waist-to-hip ratio and higher serum insulin were significantly associated with an increased risk of BPH. Relative to men in the lowest waist-to-hip ratio quartile (less than 0.856) those in the highest quartile (greater than 0.923) were at 2.4-fo...
Contextual Challenges to Dual-Language Education: A Case Study of a Developing Middle School Program.

This article describes how a team of urban middle school educators in Philadelphia were developing a dual-language program to address the needs of their low-income, predominantly Puerto Rican population. It demonstrates how the structural, sociolinguistic, and ideological context influenced the way that this bilingual program functioned on the local level, and it challenges the dichotomous thinking that characterizes most discussions of bilingual education.
Scanning electron microscope studies of cycad tracheids

Abstract SEM studies of pit membranes of cycad tracheids revealed porosities in some, but not most of the tracheid pits examined. Porosities, where present, are mostly varied in size and density. Porosities do not extend through pit membranes and appear limited to the first-formed portion of the primary wall. Because of inconsistency in porosity presence within a secondary xylem sample, as well as between stems and roots of a species, and among species, interpretation is difficult. Earlier reports of perforations or perforation plates in cycads are not confirmed, and may be the result of oxidative effects of maceration fluids. Forms of helical sculpture on the inner surfaces of tracheids in Encephalartos and Zamia represent a phenomenon newly reported for cycads. Helical sculpturing on secondary xylem elements of other vascular plants is usually interpreted as a xeromorphic feature, and this interpretation may be valid for cycads as well.
Probabilistic bounds on message delivery for the totem single-ring protocol

For fault-tolerant real-time distributed systems, the probability that a message is not delivered within its real-time deadline must be small enough that it does not adversely affect system reliability. The authors investigate the delivery of messages for the totem protocol, a reliable ordered broadcast protocol that the authors have developed for fault-tolerant distributed systems with physical broadcasts over a local-area network. The total order on broadcast messages, constructed by the totem protocol, supports the maintenance of consistency of replicated information as, for example, in a replicated database. The authors present a methodology for determining the probability of satisfying bounds on the latency from message origination to ordered delivery in the presence of communication faults. >
DNA transfer into vascular smooth muscle using fusigenic Sendai virus (HJV)-liposomes

Manipulation of the genetic machinery of cells both in vitro and in vivo is becoming an ever more important means of elucidating pathways of molecular and cellular biochemistry. In addition, gene therapy has been proposed as a novel and potentially powerful treatment for both inherited and acquired diseases. Successful gene transfer and gene blockade generally depend on high efficiency delivery of exogenous DNA or RNA into living cells, and much effort has therefore been focused on the development of methods for achieving this delivery in a safe and effective manner. We describe here our application of fusigenic Sendai virus (HVJ)-liposome technology toward the effective delivery of DNA into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in cell culture. Cellular uptake and intracellular distribution of oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) after transfection with HVJ-liposome complexes was characterized using fluorescent (FITC)-labeled ODN, and the biologic effect of HVJ-liposome mediated transfection was demonstrated via inhibition of DNA synthesis in cultured VSMC using antisense ODN against basic fibroblast growth factor.
Pulmonary hemorrhage with hematuria: do not forget IgA nephropathy

IgA nephropathy is the commonest cause of glomerulonephritis worldwide, and is usually a renal-limited disease. In rare cases, IgA nephropathy may also present with a pulmonary–renal syndrome in which pulmonary hemorrhage is a critical feature. Patients presenting with IgA nephropathy and pulmonary hemorrhage have high morbidity and are at high risk for mortality unless rapid immunosuppressive therapy is instituted. We present a case of IgA nephropathy complicated by pulmonary hemorrhage in which immunosuppressive therapy led to a good outcome, and review the literature on similar cases and the outcome of therapy.
Encoding wide-field motion and direction in the central complex of the cockroach, Blaberus discoidalis

In the arthropod brain, the central complex (CX) receives various forms of sensory signals and is associated with motor functions, but its precise role in behavior is controversial. The optomotor response is a highly conserved turning behavior directed by visual motion. In tethered cockroaches, 20% procaine injected into the CX reversibly blocked this behavior. We then used multichannel extracellular recording to sample unit activity in the CX in response to wide-field visual motion stimuli, moving either horizontally or vertically at various temporal frequencies. For the 401 units we sampled, we identified five stereotyped response patterns: tonically inhibited or excited responses during motion, phasically inhibited or excited responses at the initiation of motion, and phasically excited responses at the termination of motion. Sixty-seven percent of the units responded to horizontal motion, while only 19% responded to vertical motion. Thirty-eight percent of responding units were directionally selective to horizontal motion. Response type and directional selectivity were sometimes conditional with other stimulus parameters, such as temporal frequency. For instance, 16% of the units that responded tonically to low temporal frequencies responded phasically to high temporal frequencies. In addition, we found that 26% of wide-field motion responding units showed a periodic response that was entrained to the temporal frequency of the stimulus. Our results show a diverse population of neurons within the CX that are variably tuned to wide-field motion parameters. Our behavioral data further suggest that such CX activity is required for effective optomotor responses.
Outcomes in Cardiac Transplant Recipients According to Pretransplant AT1R Antibody Levels and Donor AT1R Polymorphisms

s S183 artery operation. We found a statistically significant difference in BNP levels between groups (group A-mean level 2241 ng/l, group B 101,3ng/l, p< 0,001, Mann-Whitney test). All pts from group A suffered from at least one episode of decompensation, none from group B. 7 pts from group A had severe and 2pts mild systolic dysfunction of subpulmonal ventricle. All pts from group B had normal EF of subpulmonal ventricle. Conclusion: Prognosis estimation in pts with TGA and RV systolic dysfunction still remains difficult. The results of our retrospective study show that pts with high BNP levels, history of decompensation episodes and systolic dysfunction of subpulmonal ventricle have very poor prognosis. These patients require very intensive treatment approach and should be urgent transplant candidates.
Architecture of a comprehensive radiologic imaging network

An emerging concept in picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) is the PACS infrastructure. The critical components in this infrastructure are communication systems, cluster controller, database integration, fault-tolerant design, and systems integration software. The architecture of a comprehensive communication system within this infrastructure, which will support a digital-based radiology operation, is described. This communication network consists of a real-time analog video and digital components. The video network utilizes broadband and fiber-optic communication technologies. The digital communication is based on a three-tiered network integrating Ethernet, FDDI, and Ultranet technologies. The digital network uses the standard TCP/IP protocol and has a fault-tolerant design. Both components have been in clinical operation since the summer of 1991. >
PASSIVE DYNAMIC CONTROLLERS FOR NONLINEAR MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

A methodology for model-independent controller design for controlling the large angular motion of multibody dynamic systems is outlined. The controlled system may consist of rigid and flexible components that undergo large rigid body motion and small elastic deformations. Control forces/torques are applied to drive the system and at the same time suppress the vibrations due to flexibility of the components. The proposed controller consists of passive second-order systems that may be designed with little knowledge of the system parameters, even if the controlled system is nonlinear. Under rather general assumptions, the passive design assures that the closed-loop system has guaranteed stability properties. Unlike positive real controller design, stabilization can be accomplished without direct velocity feedback. In addition, the second-order passive design allows dynamic feedback controllers with considerable freedom to tune for desired system response and to avoid actuator saturation. After developing the basic mathematical formulation of the design methodology, simulation results are presented to illustrate the proposed approach applied to a flexible six-degree-of-freedom manipulator.
Influence of Homogenization, Copper, and Ascorbic Acid on Light-Activated Flavor in Milk

Summary This study reports on some factors that influence light activated flavor induced in milk by exposure to fluorescent light under conditions that produced distinct light flavor with little or no lipid oxidation as measured by the thiobarbituric acid test. Homogenization increased susceptibility to light flavor, but decreased susceptibility to both copper-induced and light-induced oxidized flavors. Both addition of copper, and of neocuproine to chelate natural copper, demonstrated that copper catalyzes light flavor. Destruction of ascorbic acid by ascorbic acid oxidase decreased susceptibility to light flavor, but added ascorbic acid did not inhibit light flavor, as it does oxidized flavor.
Exploring the Variation in Student Project Team Knowledge Integration Competency

Organizations are increasingly using cross-functional project teams to increase flexibility. The belief is that individuals will be able to share and combine their different knowledge and expertise, i.e., integrate their diverse knowledge, in order to develop more creative solutions. However, project teams of all kinds often fail to meet their objectives. In this paper, we explore the knowledge integration process in student project teams and identify what learning tool interventions might facilitate improved knowledge integration. The results from this initial study suggest that teams do differ significantly in their knowledge integration competence and that this is related most strongly to their use of social capital. Reflective learning tools appeared to be helpful in improving this knowledge integration competency. However, teams were more or less able to take advantage of the intervention. Our research, therefore, identifies that an important area for future research is to explore what team factors influence its ability to use learning tool interventions.
Threshold network synthesis and optimization and its application to nanotechnologies

We propose an algorithm for efficient threshold network synthesis of arbitrary multioutput Boolean functions. Many nanotechnologies, such as resonant tunneling diodes, quantum cellular automata, and single electron tunneling, are capable of implementing threshold logic efficiently. The main purpose of this work is to bridge the current wide gap between research on nanoscale devices and research on synthesis methodologies for generating optimized networks utilizing these devices. While functionally-correct threshold gates and circuits based on nanotechnologies have been successfully demonstrated, there exists no methodology or design automation tool for general multilevel threshold network synthesis. We have built the first such tool, threshold logic synthesizer (TELS), on top of an existing Boolean logic synthesis tool. Experiments with 56 multioutput benchmarks indicate that, compared to traditional logic synthesis, up to 80.0% and 70.6% reduction in gate count and interconnect count, respectively, is possible with the average being 22.7% and 12.6%, respectively. Furthermore, the synthesized networks are well-balanced structurally. The novelty of this work lies in the introduction of the first comprehensive synthesis methodology and tool for general multilevel threshold logic design.
Pavlovian influences over food and drug intake

Consuming food and taking drugs share several important characteristics. In particular, each causes changes in important physiological parameters that are constantly being monitored and regulated by the brain. As examples, blood glucose increases after meals; and body temperature decreases after ethanol is taken. Such changes elicit neurally-mediated homeostatic responses that serve to reduce the magnitude and duration of the perturbation. It is argued that when an individual can accurately anticipate pending meals or drugs, it can make appropriate responses to minimize or totally neutralize the meal/drug-elicited perturbations. This phenomenon, which is the basis for meal and drug tolerance, relies upon Pavlovian conditioning. Literature is reviewed which documents the role of conditioning processes in the development of tolerance. The argument is made that conditioned responses enable individuals to derive necessary or desirable aspects of food and drugs while minimizing some of their negative effects. In a final section, drug tolerance is discussed as a natural consequence of evolution-derived, meal-related learning processes, with associated negative consequences.
Variability of the Compressive Strength of Parallel Strand Lumber

Measurement of the compressive strength of parallel strand lumber (PSL) is conducted on specimens of varying size with nominally identical mesostructure. The mean of the compressive strength is found to vary inversely with the specimen size, and the coefficient of variation of the strength is found to decrease with increasing specimen size, and to be smaller than the coefficient of variation of strength for solid lumber. The correlation length of the compressive strength is approximately 0.5 m, and this correlation length leads to significant specimen-to-specimen variation in mean strength. A computational model is developed that includes the following properties of the PSL mesostructure: the strand length, the grain angle, the elastic constants, and the parameters of the Tsai-Hill failure surface. The computational model predicts the mean strength and coefficient of variation reasonably well, and predicts the correct form of correlation decay, but overpredicts the correlation length for compressive strength, likely because of sensitivity to the distribution of strand length used in the model. The estimates of the statistics of the PSL compressive strength are useful for reliability analysis of PSL structures, and the computational model, although still in need of further development, can be used in evaluating the effect of mesostructural parameters on PSL compressive strength.