cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional structure of ryanodine receptor isoform three in two conformational states as visualized by cryo-electron microscopy.

Abstract Using cryo-electron microscopy and single particle image processing techniques, we present the first three-dimensional reconstructions of isoform 3 of the ryanodine receptor/calcium release channel (RyR3). Reconstructions were carried out on images obtained from a purified, detergent-solubilized receptor for two different buffer conditions, which were expected to favor open and closed functional states of the channel. As for the heart (RyR2) and skeletal muscle (RyR1) receptor isoforms, RyR3 is a homotetrameric complex comprising two main components, a multidomain cytoplasmic assembly and a smaller (∼20% of the total mass) transmembrane region. Although the isoforms show structural similarities, consistent with the ∼70% overall sequence identity of the isoforms, detailed comparisons of RyR3 with RyR1 showed one region of highly significant difference between them. This difference indicated additional mass present in RyR1, and it likely corresponds to a region of the RyR1 sequence (residues 1303–1406, known as diversity region 2) that is absent from RyR3. The reconstructions of RyR3 determined under “open” and “closed” conditions were similar to each other in overall architecture. A difference map computed between the two reconstructions reveals subtle changes in conformation at several widely dispersed locations in the receptor, the most prominent of which is a ∼4 ° rotation of the transmembrane region with respect to the cytoplasmic assembly.
The potentiometric titration of silver and copper with dithiooxamide

Abstract Potentiometric titration with dithiooxamide solution can be used to determine silver and copper in mixtures ranging from 1 to 99% silver with a relative standard deviation ranging from 0.16 to 2.00% for silver and from 0.20 to 1.34% for copper. Analysis of twelve different unknown mixtures of silver (0.100–64.0 p.p.m.) and copper (8.00–1.00 p.p.m.) gave an average accuracy of 1.21 % for silver and 0.82% for copper. Interferences from a number of metals commonly associated with silver and copper are discussed. The advantages of the method over other methods for simultaneously determining silver and copper in a sample are outlined.
Reaching African American Students Profile of an Afrocentric Teacher

In the public school systems of America, what gets attention is that which is trending at any given time. However, one trend that seems to be maintained (while piles of money are made off fads and mostly worthless professional developments) is that Black children are at the bottom of all of the tiers that are measured. Although Afrocentric education has received largely negative press from the mainstream, no argument can be defended against the notion of designing an education that is centered on the needs of those children who come from communities that have been intentionally disorganized by America (and Europe) for many years. Much is known about the problems that have come from the aforementioned historical happening, yet little is known about solutions such as Afrocentric education. This article presents a profile of an Afrocentric teacher who is dedicated to educating the children in his community. Findings include the need to focus on teacher transformation as opposed to students simply learning th...
Political Cultures of the American Compound Republic

Just as Madison described the American political system as a compound republic, partly national and partly confederal, so too is the United States a compound civil society, partly melting pot and partly salad bowl. In many respects, the republic has become more of both since Madison's day. While forces of nationalization, centralization, and homogenization have promoted a certain cultural commonality, countervailing forces of distinction, communalism, and individuation have also asserted rights to equal treatment as well as idiosyncratic consideration. Even groups well along the trails of assimilation and integration have stopped to take a second look at their beginnings. However, since few wish to return to their roots entirely, many groups and individuals have simply compounded their identities, being partly American and partly Catholic, German, Texan, and the like. As a result, continued imagination and communalistic attachments have given the affluent republic of the 1980s a far greater ethnic, racial, religious, cultural, social, and economic diversity than the struggling republic of the 1780s. Yet the same compound Constitution still serves 222 million people, in part, because it parallels the nation's mosaic of peoples with a federal mosaic now compounded to eighty thousand territorial levers of power. In this respect, the overall "constitution" of the American republic fits the "character" of its peoples. "Or do you suppose," asked Socrates, that "regimes arise fTrom an oak or rocks' and not from the dispositions of the men" and women who constitute them?' This issue of Publius examines some of these dispositional questions through the lens of political culture, in particular the theory developed by Daniel J. Elazar which suggests that American political culture is essentially a compound of three political subcultures termed moralistic, individualistic, and traditionalistic.2 These subcultures emerged from
Histamine receptors in urethrovesical smooth muscle

Through the method of pharmacologic antagonism, the contractile effect of histamine was studied simultaneously on isolated smooth muscle preparations obtained from the body and base of the bladder and from the proximal urethra of the guinea pig. Histamine had a contractile effect mediated specifically through H1 receptors, with no H2 activity. This effect was most marked in the body of the bladder, comparatively moderate in the base, and slight in the proximal urethra. It appears that histamine effect is not mediated through either a cholinergic or an adrenergic mechanism. Clinical implications are discussed.
Posture shifting after spinal cord injury using functional neuromuscular stimulation – a computer simulation study

The ability for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) to affect changes in standing posture with functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) was explored using an anatomically inspired musculoskeletal model of the trunk, pelvis and lower extremities (LE). The model tracked trajectories for anteriorly and laterally shifting movements away from erect stance. Forces were applied to both shoulders to represent upper extremity (UE) interaction with an assistive device (e.g., a walker). The muscle excitations required to execute shifting maneuvers with UE forces <10% body-weight (BW) were determined via dynamic optimization. Nine muscle sets were examined to maximize control of shifting posture. Inclusion of the Psoas and External Obliques bilaterally resulted in the least relative UE effort (0.119, mean UE effort = 45.3N ≡ 5.4% BW) for anterior shifting. For lateral shifting, the set including the Psoas and Latissimus Dorsi bilaterally yielded the best performance (0.025, mean UE effort = 27.8 N ≡ 3.3% BW). However, adding the Psoas alone bilaterally competed favorably in overall best performance across both maneuvers. This study suggests suitable activation to specific muscles of the trunk and LE can enable individuals with SCI to alter their standing postures with minimal upper-body effort and subsequently increase reach and standing work volume.
Determination of Common Parameters of Iodothyronine Metabolism and Distribution in Man by Noncompartmental Analysis

A noncompartmental method is proposed for the calculation of the total distribution volume of exchangeable iodothyronine, the fractional irreversible removal rate from the exchangeable pool, and the metabolic clearance rate of labeled triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The method depends on a graphic analysis and does not require the use of computers. The results of noncompartmental analysis of T3 and T4 distribution and metabolism are compared to single compartmental calculations in 12 subjects. Single compartmental analysis appeared to overestimate the distribution volume of T3 by a factor of 2.9, the metabolic clearance rate by a factor of 1.4, and underestimate the fractional removal rate by a factor of 0.48. Whereas single compartmental analysis did not introduce a significant error into the calculation of the metabolic clearance rate of T4, the distribution volume appeared to be overestimated by a factor of 1.4 and the fractional removal rate underestimated by a factor of 0.9.
Statistical Model of Multicomponent-Fuel Drop Evaporation for Many-Drop Flow Simulations

A statistical formulation is developed describing the composition in an evaporating multicomponent-fuel liquid drop and in the gas phase surrounding it. When a complementary discrete-component model is used, it is shown that, when drops are immersed in a carrier gas containing fuel vapor, condensation of species onto the drop results in the development of a minor peak in the liquid composition probability distribution function (PDF). This peak leads to a PDF shape that can be viewed as a combination of two gamma PDFs, which is determined by five parameters. A model is developed for calculating the parameters of the two combined gamma PDFs. Extensive tests of the model for both diesel and gasoline show that the PDF results replicate accurately the discrete model predictions. Most important, the mean and variance of the composition at the drop surface are in excellent agreement with the discrete model. Results from the model show that although the second peak is minor for the liquid PDF, its corresponding peak for the vapor distribution at the drop surface has a comparable magnitude to and sometimes exceeds that corresponding to the first peak. Four-parameter models are also exercised, and it is shown that they are unable to capture the physics of the problem.
Shallow subsurface geology of the continental shelf, Gulf of the Farallones, California, and its relationship to surficial seafloor characteristics

Abstract The Gulf of the Farallones is located on a continental margin that is tectonically active and has experienced eustatic fluctuations of sea level throughout the Quaternary. Bathymetry of the Gulf suggests that it is different from the average continental shelf off California in that instead of a seafloor that slopes gently seaward from the shoreline to the shelf edge (dominantly west to southwest), much of the Gulf shelf slopes to the northwest, a direction that is subparallel to that of the adjacent mainland shoreline. Isobaths are oblique to shore-normal for much of the Gulf shelf as opposed to the more typical shore-parallel isobaths. This northwest trend is parallel to that of the offshore granitic outcrops, the Farallon Island ridge and Cordell Bank. 3.5 kHz shallow subsurface profiles show a regional unconformity (basal unconformity of this study) that truncates bedrock and typically is overlain by a very thin veneer (1–2 m or less) of acoustically transparent unconsolidated sediment. In places, the basal unconformity appears to be coincident with the seafloor. Where the basal unconformity is within 1–2 m of the seafloor, side-scan sonar reveals that either bedrock pierces the seafloor or numerous linear depressions dissect the shelf seafloor. Side-scan sonar shows that the central part of the study area is characterized by numerous linear depressions that are on the order of 1–3 m deep, several meters to 5 km in length, and from 250 m to 2 km in width. The only Holocene unconsolidated sediment in excess of 1–2 m that has accumulated on the Gulf shelf is located where the bedrock surface is topographically depressed. The topographic lows are situated south of the Point Reyes headland and southwest of the Golden Gate. The sediment deposits that overlie these lows attain thicknesses up to 15–20 m; however, their average thickness is less than 10 m. Structure contours on the basal unconformity surface, essentially the top of the bedrock platform, also show that it is topographically high at its southern end and low at its northern end; the slope of the platform is therefore to the northwest. The seafloor mimics the attitude of the bedrock platform owing to the lack of appreciable sediment cover and hence also slopes northwest. This accounts for the oblique to shore-normal orientation of isobaths in the Gulf and the northwestward slope of the seafloor. The results of this investigation suggest that eustatic sea level fluctuations in conjunction with local tectonics had a profound effect on the deposition, erosion, and preservation of sediment on the Gulf shelf throughout the Quaternary and that the shallow subsurface greatly influences many aspects of the present surficial morphology.
Thinning and volume loss of the Arctic Ocean sea ice cover: 2003–2008

[1] We present our best estimate of the thickness and volume of the Arctic Ocean ice cover from 10 Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) campaigns that span a 5-year period between 2003 and 2008. Derived ice drafts are consistently within 0.5 m of those from a submarine cruise in mid-November of 2005 and 4 years of ice draft profiles from moorings in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Along with a more than 42% decrease in multiyear (MY) ice coverage since 2005, there was a remarkable thinning of ∼0.6 m in MY ice thickness over 4 years. In contrast, the average thickness of the seasonal ice in midwinter (∼2 m), which covered more than two-thirds of the Arctic Ocean in 2007, exhibited a negligible trend. Average winter sea ice volume over the period, weighted by a loss of ∼3000 km3 between 2007 and 2008, was ∼14,000 km3. The total MY ice volume in the winter has experienced a net loss of 6300 km3 (>40%) in the 4 years since 2005, while the first-year ice cover gained volume owing to increased overall area coverage. The overall decline in volume and thickness are explained almost entirely by changes in the MY ice cover. Combined with a large decline in MY ice coverage over this short record, there is a reversal in the volumetric and areal contributions of the two ice types to the total volume and area of the Arctic Ocean ice cover. Seasonal ice, having surpassed that of MY ice in winter area coverage and volume, became the dominant ice type. It seems that the near-zero replenishment of the MY ice cover after the summers of 2005 and 2007, an imbalance in the cycle of replenishment and ice export, has played a significant role in the loss of Arctic sea ice volume over the ICESat record.
Dissipative particle dynamics simulation of on-chip hydrodynamic chromatography

Separations of flexible polymers using on-chip hydrodynamic chromatography (HDC) have been studied with dissipative particle dynamic simulations, a novel computational technique that fully accounts for hydrodynamic interactions among polymer segments and with walls. The current study focuses on comparisons of simulation results on elution times with that predicted by earlier theoretical models for HDC separation. The elution times obtained in simulation are found to compare reasonably well with the theoretical prediction when chain stretching is not significant. Deviation from the theoretical prediction occurs when the chain stretching becomes significant. We observe a reversal in elution order and the reversal occurs at a Deborah number about 8, slightly larger than the Deborah number at the onset of chain stretching. The simulations also confirm the applicability of the Aris-Taylor equation for the convective dispersion of small solutes and for solutes like polymer chains, except the latter requires the use of a modified Peclet number.
High temperature optical dephasing mechanism for dye molecules in PMMA glass

Abstract Picosecond photon echo experiments on rhodamine B and octadecyl rhodamine B in a PMMA matrix between 1.0 and 12.5 K are compared. The two dyes have identical first electronic excited state transitions but different masses and moments of inertia. Echo decay times are identical and individual decays at the same temperature from the two systems are superimposable. The high-temperature echo data can be fit to an activated process with an energy of 15 cm−1. We conclude that in this glassy matrix, high-temperature dephasing is caused by a mode of the host and not a mode of the guest as has been suggested for glasses and is common in crystals.
Ubiquitin-mediated Degradation of the Formin mDia2 upon Completion of Cell Division

Formins assemble non-branched actin filaments and modulate microtubule dynamics during cell migration and cell division. At the end of mitosis formins contribute to the generation of actin filaments that form the contractile ring. Rho small GTP-binding proteins activate mammalian diaphanous-related (mDia) formins by directly binding and disrupting an intramolecular autoinhibitory mechanism. Although the Rho-regulated activation mechanism is well characterized, little is known about how formins are switched off. Here we reveal a novel mechanism of formin regulation during cytokinesis based on the following observations; 1) mDia2 is degraded at the end of mitosis, 2) mDia2 is targeted for disposal by post-translational ubiquitin modification, 3) forced expression of activated mDia2 yields binucleate cells due to failed cytokinesis, and 4) the cytokinesis block is dependent upon mDia2-mediated actin assembly as versions of mDia2 incapable of nucleating actin but that still stabilize microtubules have no effect on cytokinesis. We propose that the tight control of mDia2 expression and ubiquitin-mediated degradation is essential for the completion of cell division. Because of the many roles for formins in cell morphology, we discuss the relevance of mDia protein turnover in other processes where ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis is an essential component.
Synthesis, Reactivity, and Solid State Structures of Four-Coordinate Iron(II) and Manganese(II) Alkyl Complexes

Synthesis and characterization of new, four-coordinate, high-spin iron(II) and manganese(II) complexes of the general form L2MR2 (L2 = neutral chelating ligand, R = alkyl) are described. Alkylation of the α-diimine complex, [ArNC(Me)−C(Me)NAr]FeCl2 (Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl), as well as the enantiopure iron dichloride compounds, (−)-(sparteine)FeCl2 and (S)-(tBuBox)FeCl2 ((S)-(tBuBox) = 2,2-bis[2-[4(S)-(R‘)-1,3-oxazolinyl]propane), with LiCH2SiMe3 afforded the corresponding dialkyl derivatives. Solution magnetic susceptibility measurements and X-ray diffraction studies reveal each of the new iron(II) bis-trimethylsilylmethyl complexes to be high-spin, S = 2, tetrahedral molecules. In addition (−)-(sparteine)Fe(CH2CMe3)2, (−)-(sparteine)Fe(CH2C6H5)2, and (S)-(tBuBox)Fe(CH2C6H5)2 were also prepared and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. An enantiopure, high-spin, tetrahedral manganese(II) dialkyl complex, (−)-(sparteine)Mn(CH2SiMe3)2, has also been synthesized. The catalytic activit...
Evaluation of the need for a late harvest time in the assay for chromosome aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Harvest time is one of the most important variables in the assessment of whether a compound is clastogenic and in establishing a dose relation. In CHO cells we have found that for a variety of chemicals one harvest time near 20 h is optimal following a 3-h treatment (Bean et al., 1992). However, some guidelines for testing for regulatory purposes recommend an additional late harvest time 24 h after the first. We tested 10 diverse chemicals in CHO-WBL cells harvested 20-21 h and 42-44 h from the beginning of a 3-hr treatment. We added BrdUrd after treatment and recorded the total% of aberrant cells, and the proportions of aberrations (abs) in first (M1), second (M2) or later metaphases. The chemicals fell into 3 categories: ab yield greatly decreased at 44 h: benzo[a]pyrene, cadmium sulfate, chlorambucil, 2,6-diaminotoluene, 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide and mitomycin C (e.g., 37.0% cells with abs at 20 h and 1.0% at 44 h); ab yields similar at 20 and 44 h: 2-aminobiphenyl, eugenol and 8-hydroxyquinoline (e.g., 8.5% at 20 h and 7.0% at 44 h); and one, dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), which was detected at both times but gave a stronger response at 44 h than at 20 h (e.g., at 10 mM: 6.2% at 20 h and 25.0% at 44 h). This DMN effect was not seen in normal diploid human cells. For DMN the higher ab levels at 44 h than at 20 h were contributed by abs in M3 cells. Thus, while for some chemicals ab yields decrease with successive division, further increases can be seen in CHO in later metaphases, notably for DMN. Overall, however, after a 3-h pulse treatment of CHO cells a positive ab result could be obtained at the early harvest time (20 h) for all 10 chemicals.
Comparison of EEG blind source separation techniques to improve the classification of P300 trials

This paper provides a comparison of several blind source separation (BSS) techniques as they are applied to EEG signals. Specifically, this work focuses on the P300 speller paradigm and assesses the classification accuracies for the identification of P300 trials. Previous work has shown that BSS methods such as independent component analysis (ICA) are useful in extracting the P300 source information from the background noise, increasing the classification rates. ICA will be compared with two other BSS methods, maximum noise fraction (MNF) and principal component analysis (PCA). In addition to this, we will analyze the effect of adding temporal information to the original data, which allows these BSS algorithms to find more complex spatio-temporal patterns.
Effect of dimethyl sulfoxide on the bactericidal function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Abstract : Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is now being widely used to treat various rheumatic, musculoskeletal, and inflammatory conditions, but the therapeutic and detrimental consequences of treating individuals with DMSO remain unclear. We have examined the possibility that DMSO might inhibit the bactericidal function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) by scavenging hydroxyl radical (.OH), one of the key bactericidal components of PMN. Our results suggest that DMSO can decrease the ability of PMN to kill Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and that this inhibition may occur because DMSO scavenges .OH. These observations suggest that DMSO might impair PMN-mediated host defense.
M-TCP: TCP for mobile cellular networks

Transport connections set up over wireless links are frequently plagued by problems such as - high bit error rate (BER), frequent disconnections of the mobile user, and low wireless bandwidth that may change dynamically. In this paper, we study the effects of frequent disconnections and low variable bandwidth on TCP throughput and propose a protocol that addresses this problem. We discuss the implementation (in NetBSD) of our protocol called M-TCP and compare its performance against other mobile TCP implementations. We show that M-TCP has two significant advantages over other solutions: (1) it maintains end-to-end TCP semantics and, (2) it delivers excellent performance for environments where the mobile encounters periods of disconnection.
The Tulipan-Bruner trocar for uterine entry during fetal surgery.

Abstract Objective: Our goal was to compare the use of a specially designed trocar for initial uterine entry with standard entry by electrocautery in creation of a hysterotomy for fetal surgery. Study Design: Ten consecutive patients undergoing hysterotomy for intrauterine repair of myelomeningocele were randomized to initial uterine entry with electrocautery or with the Tulipan-Bruner trocar. Timing of initial uterine entry with electrocautery began with incision into the uterine serosa and ended with incision of the chorioamnionic membranes. Timing of initial uterine entry with the Tulipan-Bruner trocar began with placement of stay sutures and ended with removal of the central introducer from the peel-away sheath. Blood loss was estimated by the primary surgeon. All of the participating surgeons judged the convenience and ease of each technique. The times required for initial uterine entry were compared with an unpaired t test. Statistical significance was set at P Results: The time required for initial uterine entry with electrocautery was 231 ± 63 (mean ± SD) seconds compared with 146 ± 51 seconds with the trocar ( P Conclusion: The Tulipan-Bruner trocar provides quicker, less traumatic uterine entry during creation of a hysterotomy, as compared with electrocautery. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:1188-91.)
Inherited tertiary hypothyroidism in Sprague–Dawley rats

Thyroid hormones (THs) are important in the development and maturation of the central nervous system (CNS). The significant actions of THs during CNS development occur at the time when TH levels are lower than those in the mother and the hypothalamic-thyroid (HPT) axis is not fully functional. In the developing rat nervous system, primarily the cerebellum, the first three postnatal weeks represent a period of significant sensitivity to thyroid hormones. This study presents a spontaneous, inherited recessive hypothyroidism in Sprague-Dawley rats with devastating functional consequences to the development of the CNS. The clinical signs develop around 14 day's postnatal (dpn) and are characterized by ataxia, spasticity, weight loss and hypercholesterolemia. The afflicted rats died at 30 days due to severe neurological deficits. The deterioration affects the entire CNS and is characterized by progressive neuronal morphological and biochemical changes, demyelination and astrogliosis. The cerebellum, brain stem, neocortex, hippocampus and adrenal gland medulla appear to be most affected. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), T3 and T4 levels were significantly lower in hypothyroid rats than control. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR demonstrated a reduction of Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) in the hypothalamus of hypothyroid rats. The weight of both thyroid and pituitary glands were significantly less in hypothyroid rats than the corresponding normal littermate controls. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrates consistent postsynaptic dendritic, synaptic and spine alterative changes in the brain of hypothyroid rats. These data suggest that we discovered a tertiary form of inherited hypothyroidism involving the hypothalamus.
Autoregressive model analysis and decay ratio

Abstract Although weights of some system poles of the AR model are asymptotically constant for model order change, they have transient model-order dependences. These transient order dependences cause the robustness of the decay ratio near the hard-model instability, when the value of it is determined by using an AR model. The relationship between the robustness of the decay ratio and transient order dependences of the AR weights are discussed qualitatively.
Ultrafast Fabry–Perot fiber-optic pressure sensors for multimedia blast event measurements

A shock wave (SW) is characterized as a large pressure fluctuation that typically lasts only a few milliseconds. On the battlefield, SWs pose a serious threat to soldiers who are exposed to explosions, which may lead to blast-induced traumatic brain injuries. SWs can also be used beneficially and have been applied to a variety of medical treatments due to their unique interaction with tissues and cells. Consequently, it is important to have sensors that can quantify SW dynamics in order to better understand the physical interaction between body tissue and the incident acoustic wave. In this paper, the ultrafast fiber-optic sensor based on the Fabry-Perot interferometric principle was designed and four such sensors were fabricated to quantify a blast event within different media, simultaneously. The compact design of the fiber-optic sensor allows for a high degree of spatial resolution when capturing the wavefront of the traveling SW. Several blast event experiments were conducted within different media (e.g., air, rubber membrane, and water) to evaluate the sensor's performance. This research revealed valuable knowledge for further study of SW behavior and SW-related applications.
Response-response compatibility during bimanual movements: Evidence for the conceptual coding of action

The present study investigated response-response (R-R) compatibility in a bimanual keypressing task. Numeric and spatial stimuli were used to cue responses for each hand. Two groups of participants differed in terms of the stimulus-response mappings for the numeric stimuli. For one group, the numeric stimuli were mapped so that the same number for each hand indicated responses that were anatomically compatible (e.g., index finger of both hands). For the other group, the same number for each hand indicated responses that were left-right compatible (e.g., leftmost finger of both hands). The spatial stimuli were mapped in a spatially compatible manner to the responses for both groups. For numeric stimuli, reaction times (RTs) were faster when the same number indicated the response for each hand, regardless of the mapping. For the spatial stimuli, RTs were determined not only by the pairing of stimuli or responses, but also by how the responses were indicated by numeric stimuli. The results indicate that R-R compatibility effects are mediated by abstract codes that reflect individuals’ conceptualizations of their actions.
Reliability Analysis of Phased-Mission System With Independent Component Repairs

This paper proposes a hierarchical modeling approach for the reliability analysis of phased-mission systems with repairable components. The components at the lower level are described by continuous time Markov chains which allow complex component failure/repair behaviors to be modeled. At the upper level, there is a combinatorial model whose structure function is represented by a binary decision diagram (BDD). Two BDD ordering strategies, and consequently two evaluation algorithms, are proposed to compute the phased-mission system (PMS) reliability based on Markov models for components, and a BDD representation of system structure function. The performance of the two evaluation algorithms is compared. One algorithm generates a smaller BDD, while the other has shorter execution time. Several examples, and experiments are presented in the paper to illustrate the application, and the advantages of our approach.
Dendritic Pathology of Granule Cells in Alzheimer's Disease Is Unrelated to Neuritic Plaques

Neuritic plaques are the histologic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the extent to which they are injurious to neurons is unclear. In order to investigate this problem, we intracellularly filled human dentate granule cells with Lucifer yellow in a lightly fixed slice preparation and studied the relationships between their dendrites and neuritic plaques. After counterstaining for plaques and drawing the filled granule cell dendrites, we found that there were significant differences in the morphology of dendrites in control and AD cases; granule cell dendrites from Alzheimer's cases were generally shorter, branched less profusely, and had fewer spines than those from age matched controls. Surprisingly, when dendrites traveled into plaques, they still bore spines and their morphology was distinct from that of the amyloid-stained dystrophic neurites surrounding them. Furthermore, within AD cases we found no significant differences between dendrites that were located directly beneath or passing through plaques and those that were located in plaque-free regions. We conclude that granule cell dendrites are not an integral component of plaques within their dendritic fields and that neuritic plaques have no direct effect on granule cells in the dentate gyrus.
Crosstalk pathways between Toll-like receptors and the complement system

The Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and complement are key innate defense systems that are triggered rapidly upon infection. Although both systems have been investigated primarily as separate entities, an emerging body of evidence indicates extensive crosstalk between complement and TLR signaling pathways. Analysis of these data suggests that the complement–TLR interplay reinforces innate immunity or regulates excessive inflammation, through synergistic or antagonistic interactions, respectively. However, the facility of complement and TLRs for communication is exploited by certain pathogens as a means to modify the host response in ways that favor the persistence of the pathogens. Further elucidation of regulatory links between complement and TLRs is essential for understanding their complex roles in health and disease.
Dose-volume parameters predict for the development of chest wall pain after stereotactic body radiation for lung cancer.

Purpose Chest wall (CW) pain has recently been recognized as an important adverse effect of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We developed a dose–volume model to predict the development of this toxicity. Methods and Materials A total of 126 patients with primary, clinically node-negative NSCLC received three to five fractions of SBRT to doses of 40–60 Gy and were prospectively followed. The dose–absolute volume histograms of two different definitions of the CW as an organ at risk (CW3cm and CW2cm) were examined for all 126 patients. Results With a median follow-up of 16 months, the 2-year estimated actuarial incidence of Grade ≥ 2 CW pain was 39%. The median time to onset of Grade ≥ 2 CW pain (National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, Version 3.0) was 9 months. There was no predictive advantage for biologically corrected dose over physical dose. Neither fraction number ( p = 0.07) nor prescription dose ( p = 0.07) were significantly correlated with the development of Grade ≥ 2 CW pain. Cox Proportional Hazards analysis identified significant correlation with a broad range of dose-volume combinations, with the CW volume receiving 30 Gy (V30) as one of the strongest predictors ( p 3 of CW2cm, there was a significant correlation with Grade ≥ 2 CW pain ( p = 0.004). Conclusions CW toxicity after SBRT is common and long-term follow-up is needed to identify affected patients. A volume of CW ≥ 70 cm 3 receiving 30 Gy is significantly correlated with Grade ≥ 2 CW pain. We are currently applying this constraint at our institution for patients receiving thoracic SBRT. An actuarial atlas of our data is provided as an electronic supplement to facilitate data-sharing and meta-analysis relating to CW pain.
Early Operation for Endocarditis Complicated by Preoperative Cerebral Emboli Is Not Associated With Worsened Outcomes.

Background Valve operations for patients presenting with infective endocarditis (IE) complicated by stroke are thought to carry elevated risk of postoperative complications. Our aim was to compare outcomes of IE patients who undergo surgical intervention early after diagnosis of septic cerebral emboli with outcomes of patients without preoperative emboli. Methods All patients undergoing operations for left-sided IE between 1996 and 2013 at our institution were reviewed. Patients undergoing operations more than 14 days after embolic stroke diagnosis (n = 11) and those with purely hemorrhagic lesions (n = 7) were excluded from the analysis. The study included 308 patients who were stratified according to the presence (STR, n = 54) or absence of a preoperative septic cerebral embolus (NoSTR, n = 254). Primary outcomes of interest were the development of a new postoperative stroke and 30-day mortality. Results Mean time to surgical intervention from stroke onset was 6.0 ± 4.1 days. Staphylococcus aureus (39% STR vs 21% NoSTR, p = 0.004) infection and annular abscess at operation (52% STR vs 27% NoSTR, p p = 0.57) or in the rate of new postoperative stroke (5 [9.4%] STR vs 12 [4.7%] NoSTR, p = 0.19) between groups. In addition, there was no difference in 10-year survival between groups (log-rank p = 0.74). Conclusions Early surgical intervention in patients with IE complicated by preoperative septic cerebral emboli does not lead to significantly worse postoperative outcomes. Early surgical intervention for IE after embolic stroke warrants consideration, particularly in patients with high-risk features such as S aureus or annular abscess, or both.
Network resource management for enterprise wide multimedia services

The support of broadband multimedia applications over an enterprise network poses a broad range of networking challenges for efficient resource management, intelligent switching, and access control for distributed information. We propose two server-based scheduling algorithms, with low computational complexity, to guarantee multimedia information synchronization at the destination, with minimum presentation delays and buffer requirements. We outline a communication framework, highlighting the issues and challenges faced by today's enterprise networks to support multimedia services. We describe the proposed connection establishment and resource allocation schemes in resource-constrained enterprise networks. The objective is to manage the limited resources of the network for maximum utilization. Towards this end we present a dynamic capacity allocation scheme to support connections for multiple users. Specifically, we show that the channel capacity allocation problem can be formulated as a quadratic programming problem. This allocation scheme is implemented at each intermediate switch to dynamically determine the capacity allocation. The effects of interswitch rate mismatch and network delay offset scheduling have also been incorporated in the management framework. In addition, we introduce the concept of route selection based on the requested network quality of service.
Functional morphology of jaw trabeculation in the lesser electric ray Narcine brasiliensis, with comments on the evolution of structural support in the Batoidea

The design of minimum-weight structures that retain their integrity under dynamic loading re- gimes has long challenged engineers. One solution to this problem found in both human and biological design is the optimization of weight and strength by hollowing a structure and replacing its inner core with supportive struts. In animals, this design is observed in sand dollar test, avian beak, and the cancellous bone of tetrapod limbs. Additionally, within the elasmobranch fishes, mineralized trabeculae (struts) have been reported in the jaws of durophagous myliobatid stingrays (Elasmo- branchii: Batoidea), but were believed to be absent in basal members of the batoid clade. This study, however, presents an additional case of batoid trabeculation in the lesser electric ray, Narcine brasiliensis (Torpedini- formes). The trabeculae in these species likely play dif- ferent functional roles. Stingrays use their reinforced jaws to crush bivalves, yet N. brasiliensis feeds by bal- listically protruding its jaws into the sediment to cap- ture polychaetes. In N. brasiliensis, trabeculae are lo- calized to areas likely to experience the highest load: the quadratomandibular jaw joints, hyomandibular- cranial joint, and the thinnest sections of the jaws im- mediately lateral to the symphyses. However, the sup- ports perform different functions dependent on location. In regions where the jaws are loaded transversely (as in durophagous rays), "load leading" trabeculae distribute compressive forces from the cortex through the lumen of the jaws. In the parasymphyseal regions of the jaws, "truss" trabeculae form cross-braces perpendicular to the long axes of the jaws. At peak protrusion, the jaw arch is medially compressed and the jaw loaded axially such that these trabeculae are positioned to resist buck- ling associated with excavation forces. "Truss" trabecu- lae function to maintain the second moment of area in the thinnest regions of the jaws, illustrating a novel function for batoid trabeculation. Thus, this method of structural support appears to have arisen twice inde- pendently in batoids and performs strikingly different ecological functions associated with the distribution of extreme loading environments. J. Morphol. 267:
The Phenomenon of the Third Year

This article describes the phenomenon of the outpatient year experiences of the PGY(Post Graduate Year)-3 year psychiatry residents using participant interviews, focus groups, and research observation at a university health science center. A qualitative research approach was used to identify and understand psychiatric residents’ experiences of their third year. The research question was, “What are the important and valuable experiences of psychiatry residents and what meaning do they ascribe to these experiences in their acquisition of psychiatric skills?” Four themes emerged from the study: Specialty Choice Was a Momentous Decision, Observation and Reflection Should Be Modeled Prior to Practice, The Value of the Third Year Was the Shift to Psychotherapy Training, and The Importance of Overcoming Hurdles to Acquire Their Psychiatric Skills This research study revealed that psychiatry residents saw the third year of their psychiatry education as foundational in building their career.
Pathogenesis and treatment of osteonecrosis of the shoulder.

Osteonecrosis of the humeral head is an uncommon condition that occurs when bone vascularity is impaired. The causes underlying osteonecrosis of the humeral head seem to be multifactorial and can be traumatic or nontraumatic. Although clinical symptoms and causative factors affect the treatment of each patient, staging is the most objective criterion in deciding on the most appropriate treatment. Conservative treatment can be effective in stages I and II. Surgical intervention is advocated when symptoms are persistent and signs of collapse are evident. The surgical options include arthroscopic debridement, core decompression, vascularized bone grafting, and shoulder arthroplasty.
Effect of slice angle on inhomogeneity artifact and its correction in slice-selective MR imaging

The inhomogeneity of a local magnetic field causes an image artifact of geometric distortion and intensity abnormality because of the slice offset and readout shift in slice-selective MR imaging. It has been found that this artifact can be corrected by the projection of the slice offset onto the readout axis at a certain oblique slice angle. The slice angle for the artifact correction is determined by the amplitude of slice selection and readout gradients, and is independent of the magnetic field inhomogeneity and the main magnetic field direction. In addition, the existing view-angle tilting technique is found to be valid only for the slice orientation orthogonal to the object axis. The slice angle effect on the inhomogeneity artifact was confirmed experimentally through phantom and volunteer's head imaging for both regular and view-angle tilted spin echo sequences at 3 T. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Concepts Magn Reson Part A 34A: 238–248, 2009.
Hardware-efficient parallel FIR digital filter structures for symmetric convolutions

Based on fast FIR algorithms (FFA), this paper proposes new parallel finite-impulse response (FIR) filter structures, which are beneficial to symmetric convolutions in terms of the hardware cost. The proposed parallel FIR structures exploit the inherent nature of the symmetric coefficients reducing half the number of multipliers in subfilter section at the expense of additional adders in preprocessing and postprocessing blocks. Exchanging multipliers with adders is advantageous because adders weigh much less than multiplier in terms of silicon area, and besides the overhead from the additional adders in preprocessing and postprocessing blocks stay fixed, not increasing along with the length of the FIR filter, whereas the number of reduced multipliers increases along with the length of the FIR filter. For example, for a 3-parallel 72-tap filter, the proposed structure saves 24 multipliers at the expense of 7 adders, whereas for a 3-parallel 576-tap filter, the proposed structure saves 192 multipliers at the expense of 7 adders still. Overall, the proposed parallel FIR structures can lead to significant hardware savings for symmetric coefficients from the existing FFA parallel FIR filter, especially when the length of the filter is large.
A comparison of two quantitative mass spectrometric methods for the analysis of patulin in apple juice

High resolution single ion monitoring and low resolution multiple ion monitoring without the use of an internal standard, were compared as methods for the mass spectrometric measurement of patulin in apple juice extracts. Single ion monitoring was the more sensitive method and reliably measured 0.2 ppb patulin in apple juice while multiple ion monitoring gave a detection limit of 5 ppb and could reliably measure 10 ppb. A perdeuterated analogue of silylated patulin was found to be unsuitable either as an internal standard or as a carrier.
Nanomaterials for silicon photonic packaging spin-on nanomaterials for optical packaging

Fine precision is necessary in assembling silicon photonics devices, because of single mode optical signals and smaller waveguides on silicon due to the high refractive index of silicon. It is necessary to lower the loss in the optical path for low power and stable operation of optical transceivers,. We report on several new approaches to solve the precision requirement and low loss requirement by using novel spin-on nanomaterials. We discuss possible application schemes in the silicon photonic packaging by using of these materials
ORC binding to TRF2 stimulates OriP replication

In higher eukaryotes, the origin recognition complex (ORC) lacks sequence-specific DNA binding, and it remains unclear what other factors specify an origin of DNA replication. The Epstein–Barr virus origin of plasmid replication (OriP) recruits ORC, but the precise mechanism of ORC recruitment and origin activation is not clear. We now show that ORC is recruited selectively to the dyad symmetry (DS) region of OriP as a consequence of direct interactions with telomere repeat factor 2 (TRF2) and ORC1. TRF-binding sites within DS stimulate replication initiation and facilitate ORC recruitment in vitro and in vivo. TRF2, but not TRF1 or hRap1, recruits ORC from nuclear extracts. The amino-terminal domain of TRF2 associated with a specific region of ORC1 and was necessary for stimulation of DNA replication. These results support a model in which TRF2 stimulates OriP replication activity by direct binding with ORC subunits.
Prosopopoeia, Pedagogy, and Paradoxical Possibility: The “Mother” in the Sixteenth-Century Grammar School

In sixteenth-century male writers’ descriptions of the English grammar school program, mothers were imagined as impediments to boys’ learning. Yet these same writers paradoxically turned to a “mother” figure, prosopopoeia, as the rhetorical device through which they imagined and brought into being a humanist-inspired education. By embedding maternal narratives, bodies, and language in their explanations of grammar school and its “mat(t)er,” the writers of rhetorical manuals, grammar school textbooks, and pedagogical handbooks position the mother at the center of early modern thought, which has implications and consequences for actual mothers and their participation in early modern rhetorical education.
Termination patterns of complex partial seizures: An intracranial EEG study

Purpose While seizure onset patterns have been the subject of many reports, there have been few studies of seizure termination. In this study we report the incidence of synchronous and asynchronous termination patterns of partial seizures recorded with intracranial arrays.