cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radial artery grafting

After its recent reintroduction in coronary surgery the radial artery is gaining wide acceptance as complementary arterial conduits for surgical myocardial revascularization. The main technical aspects of radial artery harvesting, the biological and vasoactive characteristics of radial artery grafts as well as the mid- to long-term angiographic results and the role of the antispatic therapy are reviewed.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of breast cancer patients can be reprogrammed to enhance anti-HER-2/neu reactivity and overcome myeloid-derived suppressor cells

Meeting abstracts Barriers limiting the efficacy of adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) for breast cancer patients include immune suppression mediated by myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and a low frequency of tumor-reactive memory T cells (Tm). Recently, we developed an ex vivo protocol to
Inactivation of Escherichia coli cells with sonication, manosonication, thermosonication, and manothermosonication: Microbial responses and kinetics modeling

The responses of Escherichia coli K12 to sonication, manosonication (MS), thermosonication (TS), and manothermosonication (MTS) treatments were investigated at 40, 47, 54, and 61 °C and 100, 300, 400, and 500 kPa, in comparison with heat only treatments at the same temperatures. The inactivation kinetics were evaluated with five selected models and two statistical indices. Within the time frame (4 min) and temperature range used in this study, inactivation of E. coli K12 with a single lethal factor (heat or sonication) can be described by a first-order kinetic equation. For treatments with more than one lethal factor, non-linear inactivation curves were observed, which included a fast initial inactivation followed by a slow reduction in microbial survival counts. The biphasic model produced the best fit of the inactivation data compared to other non-linear models. Environmental scanning electron microscopy images showed extensive cell damage and breakage on E. coli K12 cells treated by MS, TS, and MTS.
When failure becomes success: Class and the debate over stabilization and adjustment

Abstract This article criticizes the current debate over stabilization and adjustment and develops an alternative, class-analytic approach. First, the respective theories and policy recommendations of neoclassical and structuralist economist are analyzed. Then, the article considers the recent experiences of Argentina, Brazil, and Peru where orthodox and heterodox policies have been attempted and subsequently declared failures. Finally, it is shown that those failures with respect to employment, inflation, and the balance of payments become successes to the extent that they involve increasing exploitation and otherwise strengthening the class aspects of capitalism.
Resonance spectroscopy of solids and plasmas

Abstract A brief review of the history of cyclotron resonance in plasmas and solids over a 30 year span at MIT is presented together with the interband resonant spectroscopy of semiconductors and semimetals which was a consequence. Magnetoplasma phenomena at microwave and infrared frequencies is also treated. Finally, the role of lasers is weaved into the fabric of the more recent extensions of these experimental and theoretical studies.
Surface structure of MgO (001): Ab initio versus shell model

We have performed first-principles calculations on quasicubic MgO clusters for sizes up to 64 atoms. The results of these calculations have been used to determine a generalized environmentally dependent shell model (EDSM). In addition to reproducing the results from the first-principles calculations we suggest that the resulting EDSM parameters are more physical and more transferable than previous parametrizations based on bulk properties. First, we show that the force-constant matrix derived from the EDSM leads to an efficient approach to preconditioning. A full geometrical optimization of the quasicubic 64-atom MgO cluster is accomplished with a total of four first-principles force evaluations which is significantly less than what is required from a conjugate-gradient algorithm. Second, we use the shell-model parameters to study the relaxation and rumpling of an infinite (001) surface. The agreement between the EDSM and recent medium-energy scattering results is excellent and is significantly better than the agreement between conventional shell-model results and experiment. We show that these improvements are due to a more accurate accounting of the appropriate atomic polarizabilities: not only are these insensitively determined by previous methods, but also those for surface atoms are quite different from their counterparts for bulk atoms.
Stability of plane poiseuille flow of a highly elastic liquid

Abstract The stability of fully developed pressure driven plane laminar flow of a Maxwell fluid has been studied using linear hydrodynamic stability theory. Elasticity is destabilizing in the inertial regime, but the flow is found to be stable to infinitesimal disturbances at low Reynolds numbers. This result contradicts previous calculations, which predicted a low Reynolds number flow instability at a critical recoverable shear of order unity. The previous calculations were carried out using less accurate numerical methods; the eigenvalue problem which must be solved is a delicate one, requiring sophisticated umerical techniques in order to avoid the calculation of spurious unstable modes. This work has direct bearing on the question of the mechanism of a low Reynolds number extrusion instability known as “melt fracture”. It is observed that the intensity of melt fracture increases with increasing die length for high density polyethylene, and it is therfore believed by some experimentalists that fully-developed die flow is unstable for this polymer above a critical recoverable shear. The analysis appears to be at variance with this interpretation of the experimental results.
Systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony in patients with diastolic heart failure and the effect of medical therapy

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony in diastolic heart failure (DHF) patients and identify the effects of medical therapy. Background The prevalence of systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony in DHF patients is unknown with no data on the effects of medical therapy on dyssynchrony. Methods Patients presenting with DHF (n = 60; 61 ± 9 years old, 35 women) underwent echocardiographic imaging simultaneous with invasive measurements. An age-matched control group of 35 subjects and 60 patients with systolic heart failure (SHF) were included for comparison. Systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony were assessed by tissue Doppler and defined using mean and SD values in the control group. Results Systolic dyssynchrony was present in 20 patients (33%) with DHF and 24 patients (40%) with SHF and was associated in both groups with significantly worse left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic properties (p Conclusions Systolic dyssynchrony occurs in 33% of DHF patients, and diastolic dyssynchrony occurs in 58%. Medical therapy results in significant shortening of the diastolic intraventricular time delay which is closely related to improvement in LV relaxation.
West Nile Virus Infection in the Immunocompromised Patient

West Nile virus infection has become the predominant cause of flavivirus-associated encephalitis in the US. While 80 % of infected individuals are asymptomatic, 20 % develop symptoms including fever, headache, transient rash and gastrointestinal symptoms. Among the immunocompetent population, 1 in 150 develop neuroinvasive disease characterized by acute flaccid paralysis, Parkinsonian cogwheel rigidity, meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis and asymmetric muscle weakness (Mostashari et al. in Lancet 358:261–264, 2001). In the immunocompromised population such as transplant recipients and HIV-infected and chemotherapy patients, the incidence of neuroinvasive disease may be increased. The largest population studied is recipients of solid organ transplants, with data on both donor-derived and naturally occurring transmissions. The risk of neuroinvasive disease in donor-derived infection is estimated to be between 50 % and 75 % while in those with mosquito-borne transmission the risk is estimated at 40 % of those infected (Kumar et al. in Am J Transplant 4:1883–1888, 2004). With significant morbidity associated with donor transmission, specific pretransplant screening recommendations are reviewed. Treatment includes supportive care and consideration for the use of intravenous immunoglobulin.
Spatially and Temporally Resolved Studies of Convectionless Photobleaching Kinetics: Line Trap †

The kinetics of the growth of depletion zones around a static trap in an effective one-dimensional geometry were studied with a new fluorescence-based setup. The experiment consists of a photobleaching reaction of fluorescein dye by a strong laser beam, which served as a phototrap in the experiment, inside a 150-Im gap between two parallel microscope slides. The kinetics of the growth of the depletion zone were monitored by the previously defined i distance, which can be directly measured experimentally. The effect of trap strengths on the kinetics was tested experimentally by changing the photobleaching laser power. The strong laser power acted as a perfect trap, which gives a t 1/2 scaling behavior for the i distance over most of the time range. However, the experiment with a weak laser power produced an anomalous early-time behavior for the i distance, which is faster than the t 1/2 time scaling. A crossover behavior was observed with an intermediate laser power. The experimental results are consistent with an exact one-dimensional analytical solution and were also reproduced in Monte Carlo simulations as well as by exact enumeration calculations. The latter two methods show that the asymptotic results for an exact one-dimensional lattice are still valid in a quasi- one-dimensional system, for both perfect and imperfect trapping reactions.
Conicity and depth effects on the optical transmission of lithium niobate photonic crystals patterned by focused ion beam

We report on novel focused ion beam fabrication techniques that can greatly improve the optical performance of photonic crystal structures. The finite depth and conicity effects of holes and trenches in Lithium Niobate (LN) photonic crystals have been theoretically analyzed, showing that the conicity causes refraction into the bulk sample, resulting in high transmission loss and no useful spectral features. The techniques for reducing the conicity angle from 25° to 5° were explained for the focused ion beam (FIB) milled structures.
Short-term effects of recombinant human growth hormone and feeding on gluconeogenesis in humans

After a short-term fast, lactating women have increased rates of glucose production but not gluconeogenesis (GNG) despite relative hypoinsulinemia. We explored the effects of non–insulin-dependent increase in glucose utilization and recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on glucose production, glycogenolysis, and GNG in both the fed and overnight-fasted condition. Six controls and 7 lactating women were studied twice, in random order, after 7 days of saline or rhGH. Glucose kinetics and GNG were measured using [U-13C]glucose mass isotopomer distribution analysis. The rhGH increased milk production in the lactating women and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) in both groups. Glycogenolysis and GNG were higher in fasting lactating women than controls after either saline or rhGH (P < .05). After rhGH administration, GNG remained higher (P < .02) in the lactating women than controls. Gluconeogenesis was not suppressed in either group during 5 hours of continuous meal ingestion, despite a 5-fold increase in plasma insulin. Lactating women had similar glucose but lower insulin and C-peptide concentrations than controls after both rhGH and saline treatment (P < .01), although rhGH decreased (P < .01) insulin sensitivity in both groups (P < .05). Gluconeogenesis is not affected by short-term increases in insulin and/or rhGH, which suggests a fundamental rethinking of the role of insulin in acutely regulating GNG.
Forgiveness, Mindfulness, and Health

Forgiveness and mindfulness have both been associated with a variety of salutary health-related outcomes. Though thought to be related to one another, very little empirical work has examined the association of forgiveness and mindfulness, including in the context of health. Consistent with theory regarding the forgiveness–health association and the definition of health behavior, we hypothesized that mindfulness would play a role in the relationship between forgiveness and health. Cross-sectional mediation-based analyses were conducted on data collected from a sample of 368 undergraduate students in southern Appalachia. Participants were 73.64% female and 88.32% Caucasian, with an average age of 21.62 years. Mindfulness played a role in the association of forgiveness of self, forgiveness of others, and forgiveness of situations with physical health status, somatic symptoms, mental health status, and psychological distress. In the context of the forgiveness–health association, mindfulness may play a primary role for forgiveness of others and largely a secondary role for forgiveness of self and forgiveness of situations. The role of mindfulness may be explained by the (un)forgiveness–energy hypothesis, such that forgiveness may allow energy to be invested in mindful processes. Religious/spiritual diversity may impact the association of forgiveness and mindfulness. As this study may be the first to examine mindfulness as a health behavior and only the second empirical study to explicitly examine the association between forgiveness and mindfulness, more research is needed to understand the relationships among forgiveness, mindfulness, and health.
Structure, physical and photophysical properties of platinum(II) complexes containing 7,8-benzoquinoline and various bis(diphenylphosphine) ligands

Abstract A series of platinum complexses. [Pt(7,8-bzq)(dppm)](PF6), [Pt(7,8-bzq)(dppe)](PF6) and [Pt(7,8-bzq)(dppp)](PF6), which vary only in the number of carbon atoms bridging two diphenyl phosphine ligands, have been synthesized and their structures have been determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Structural characteristics are as follows: [Pt(7,8-bzq)(dppm)](PF6), orthorhombic, Pbca, a = 17.427(4), b = 17.946(4), c = 22.262 A , Z = 8 ; [Pt(7,8-bzq)(dppe)](PF6), monoclinic, P2 1 /c, a = 11.519(2), b = 14.080(3), c = 21.804(4) A , Z = 4 ; [Pt(7,8-bzq)(dppp)](PF6), Pna2 1 , a = 20.216(4), b = 11.574(2), c = 15.739(3) A Z = 4 . The PPtP bite angle varies in the series from 72.1(5) to 84.55(2) to 91.57(10)° for [Pt(7,8-bzq)(dppm)]−, [Pt(7,8-bzq)(dppe)]− and [Pt(7,8-bzq)(dppp)]+, respectively. The absorption spectra are blue-shifted and the emission lifetimes at 77 K increase in the same order. Emission lifetime differences are shown to relate to the perturbation associated with the additional methylene groups.
The role of self-expandable metallic stents for the treatment of airway complications after lung transplantation.

Background. Airway complications continue to be an important source of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation (LTx). Different approaches have been used for their nonsurgical management. We describe our experience using self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) in patients with airway complications post-LTx. Methods. We present a retrospective analysis of stent related-data of all the LTx patients who received SEMSs to treat postoperative airway complications. Results. Between January 1992 and December 2001, 36 of 253 patients (14.2%) developed post-LTx airway complications involving 40 of 348 anastomoses (11.5%). A total of 15 SEMSs were placed in 12 patients (mean age 47.3±9.6 years) for tracheobronchomalacia, stenosis, and anastomotic dehiscence, including one patient referred from an outside hospital. Mean follow-up was 20.1±19.5 months (range 1.2-58 months). Patency and symptom improvement were achieved in 11 of 12 patients. Stenting of the airway led to successful weaning of two patients who were on prolonged mechanical ventilation. Suture dehiscence was effectively managed in two patients who were not candidates for surgical repair. Overall, the complication rate was 0.040 complications per patient per month (total number of complications and total number of months using the stent). Bacterial bronchitis (four patients) and obstructive granulomas (three patients) were the most frequent complications. The survival of LTx patients with airway SEMSs was similar when compared with the survival of all other LTx patients (P=0.74). Conclusions. SEMSs are safe and effective in the management of airway complications in selected patients post-LTx. Weaning from mechanical ventilation and management of anastomotic dehiscence are the unique attributes of this device.
Utilization of Fly Ash in Roadbed Stabilization: Some Examples of Western U.S. Experience

In contrast with pozzolanic bituminous fly ashes, the western American lignite and subbituminous fly ashes are both pozzolanic and cementitious. During the last three years, there has been much research and actual use of western ash alone and with lime or cement for roadbed stabilization. In contrast with lime stabilization which only applies to clay, the western ashes can be used to stabilize clay as well as silty and granular soils. Fly ash is moving from the experimental to standard alternative for pavement in many states. Some examples of western U.S. experience will be presented.
Investigation of the sulfuryl transfer step from substrate to enzyme by arylsulfatases

The reactions of the arylsulfatase A (ASA) from Helix pomatia and that from Aerobacter aerogenes with p-nitrophenyl sulfate were examined by determination of the pH dependence of V m a x /K m and by measurement of kinetic isotope effects. Both enzymes exhibit bell-shaped pH-rate dependences for V m a x /K m . The ASA from Helix pomatia exhibits a more acidic pH optimum (pH 4-5) than the ASA from Aerobacter aerogenes (pH ∼ 7). The sulfuryl transfer from substrate to enzyme is general acid-assisted in both enzymes, but isotope effects indicate differences in the synchronicity of protonation with S-O bond fission. In the reaction of the Helix pomatia enzyme, protonation is synchronous with bond fission and the leaving group is fully neutralized in the transition state. In the reaction catalyzed by the Aerobacter aerogenes ASA, protonation of the leaving group lags behind bond fission and the leaving group bears a partial negative charge in the transition state.
Against epistemic totalitarianism: the insurrectional politics of Bessie Head

This paper argues that South African writer, Bessie Head, crafted art that refuses discursive closure, or epistemic totalitarianism. The essay demonstrates this by examining Head's commitment to analysing power in the context of people's daily lives and her attention to the insurrectionary role of imagination in intervening in established dynamics of power. The first section draws connections between Head's practice of writing about ordinary people to her own experience and observations of living under South African apartheid. The second section focuses on the analytical links that Head makes between poverty, white privilege and institutional economic structures in order to demonstrate how her analysis of the rigidity of the system yielded an attentiveness to the need to be able to imagine other possibilities. The third section depicts Head's insurrectionary writing as part of a moral force that is, in part, a function of her analysis of the problem as an absence of imaginative possibilities. This, I sugg...
The Indo‐Sri Lankan accord: An analysis of conflict termination

This article examines the attempts made to negotiate a peaceful settlement to Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict, focusing on the role of India as both the instigator and guarantor of the Indo‐Sri Lankan Accord of 1987. The failure of the Accord was the result of many factors, including India's role as instigator in forcing the agreement forward, and as guarantor by deploying Indian troops as peacekeepers. Finally, the article discusses both prior and subsequent attempts to negotiate a settlement with the conclusion that India's role as a regional hegemon continues to hamper state actors and multilateral organizations from intervening to mediate a peaceful end to the conflict.
Phenytoin-induced Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome: A Case Report from the Emergency Department

Abstract Background Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is an uncommon but serious hypersensitivity drug reaction most frequently associated with antiepileptics. Clinical manifestations include rash, fever, and visceral organ involvement, most commonly hepatitis. The mortality rate associated with DRESS syndrome is approximately 10%, the majority due to fulminant liver failure. Objectives We report one case of phenytoin-induced DRESS syndrome in a patient who presented to the Emergency Department (ED). Our objectives for this case report include: 1) to learn the importance of DRESS syndrome; 2) to recognize the signs and symptoms of DRESS syndrome; 3) to know what diagnostic studies are indicated; and 4) to learn the appropriate treatment. Case Report We report one case of phenytoin-induced DRESS syndrome in a 34-year-old man, previously on phenytoin for seizure prophylaxis, who presented to the ED with 5 days of worsening symptoms including generalized rash, fever, tongue swelling, and dysphagia. Laboratory results revealed an eosinophilia and elevated liver enzymes. With initiation of steroids, the transaminitis improved despite increasing eosinophilia and development of an atypical lymphocytosis. Fever and angioedema resolved with improvement of the rash, and the patient was discharged on hospital day 3. Conclusion Given the significant mortality related to DRESS syndrome, ED staff should have a low threshold for suspecting the condition in patients who present with unusual complaints and skin findings after starting any antiepileptic drug. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with corticosteroids is imperative.
Situational and personality determinants of a victim's identification with a tormentor

The effects of two situational (tormentor legitimacy and tormentor justification) and two personality (victim's belief in the just world and victim's Machiavellianism) factors on several reactions of a victim to his tormentor were explored. Greater conformity by victims to their tormentor's opinions occurred when the victims believed strongly in the just world and when the tormentor was well justified for his behavior; there was a greater conformity towards the tormentor in these conditions than towards a neutral nontormentor. The tormentor received less positive evaluations from the victim when he acquired his role illegitimately or when the victim was Machiavellian; when the tormentor acquired the role legitimately, he was liked no less than the nontormentor. The experimental variables did not affect behavioral imitation of the tormentor or the interpersonal distance maintained by the victim. The results failed to conform to any simple identification process. Several explanations for these results are explored and directions for additional research are discussed.
Effect of Dibutyryl Cyclic AMP and Serum Deprivation on the Membranes of Transformed Mouse Fibroblasts. A Freeze Fracture Study

SummaryDibutyryl cyclic AMP inhibits growth of certain transformed mouse fibroblasts as does serum starvation. These treatments, however, fail to affect membrane structure as visualized by freeze fracture and electron microscopy. These observations suggest that such treatments do not restore the membranes of transformed cells to normal and that the organization and distribution of certain membrane proteins may be critical for the development and maintenance of the normal contact inhibited state.
Do bidecadal oscillations exist in the global temperature record

MODELS predict1–3 that increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases will result in an increase in the global mean temperature over the next few decades and beyond. It is therefore important to be able to distinguish a warming trend from natural variability in the time series of global temperatures. Recently, Ghil and Vautard4 applied singular spectrum analysis to a record of global surface air temperatures, and identified a secular warming trend and a small number of oscillatory modes. The oscillations had interdecadal periods of 21 and 16 years (attributed to changes in the extratropical ocean circulation), and interannual periods of 6 and 5 years (attributed to the El Nino/Southern Oscillation). Here we re-analyse the data by considering various lengths of the temperature record, and we apply singular spectrum analysis to five other temperature records (two global, three hemispheric). Our results offer no support for the presence of bidecadal oscillations in the global surface temperature records.
Transient in vivo selection of transduced peripheral blood cells using antifolate drug selection in rhesus macaques that received transplants with hematopoietic stem cells expressing dihydrofolate reductase vectors

One of the main obstacles for effective human gene therapy for hematopoietic disorders remains the achievement of an adequate number of genetically corrected blood cells. One approach to this goal is to incorporate drug resistance genes into vectors to enable in vivo selection of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Although a number of drug resistance vectors enable HSC selection in murine systems, little is known about these systems in large animal models. To address this issue, we transplanted cells transduced with dihydrofolate resistance vectors into 6 rhesus macaques and studied whether selection of vector-expressing cells occurred following drug treatment with trimetrexate and nitrobenzylmercaptopurineriboside-phosphate. In some of the 10 administered drug treatment courses, substantial increases in the levels of transduced peripheral blood cells were noted; however, numbers returned to baseline levels within 17 days. Attempts to induce stem cell cycling with stem cell factor and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor prior to drug treatment did not lead to sustained enrichment for transduced cells. These data highlight an important species-specific difference between murine and nonhuman primate models for assessing in vivo HSC selection strategies and emphasize the importance of using drugs capable of inducing selective pressure at the level of HSCs.
The Five Myths of MMN: Redefining How to Use MMN in Basic and Clinical Research

The goal of this review article is to redefine what the mismatch negativity (MMN) component of event-related potentials reflects in auditory scene analysis, and to provide an overview of how the MMN serves as a valuable tool in Cognitive Neuroscience research. In doing so, some of the old beliefs (five common ‘myths’) about MMN will be dispelled, such as the notion that MMN is a simple feature discriminator and that attention itself modulates MMN elicitation. A revised description of what MMN truly reflects will be provided, which includes a principal focus onto the highly context-dependent nature of MMN elicitation and new terminology to discuss MMN and attention. This revised framework will help clarify what has been a long line of seemingly contradictory results from studies in which behavioral ability to hear differences between sounds and passive elicitation of MMN have been inconsistent. Understanding what MMN is will also benefit clinical research efforts by providing a new picture of how to design appropriate paradigms suited to various clinical populations.
Vibrational excitation of H2 and HCl by low-energy electron impact. An isotope scaling law *

Abstract We examine the mass dependence of cross sections for resonant vibrational excitation by electron impact (from ν i to ν f ) in H 2 and its isotopes. Excitation cross sections, for both inelastic and superelastic collisions, using numerical potential curves in a nonlocal resonance theory are presented and seen to obey the scaling law σ∝μ − |ν i −ν f |/2, where μ is the reduced nuclear mass of the isotope. This scaling law is also observed to hold for HCl, DCl, and TCl. We also present a supporting analytical argument for this isotope scaling law using a simple resonance model in which the neutral and resonant anion nuclear potential energy curves are taken as equal-frequency linear harmonic oscillators.
African American attitudes toward gay males: Faith-based initiatives and implications for HIV/AIDS services

INTRODUCTION A disproportionate number of African Americans have HIV/AIDS. AIDS was stigmatized in special ways in the African American community (Cohen, 1999; Fullilove and Fullilove, 1999). Community-based organizations, particularly those agencies concerned with drug abuse, owned AIDS in the early days of the epidemic, but religious leaders kept their distance (Morales and Fullilove, 1992; Fullilove and Fullilove, 1999; Weinstein, 1990). Fullilove and Fullilove (1999) studied AIDS attitudes among African American clergy in the New York City area and found that at the heart of the faith-based organizations' immobility was stigma toward those who were substance users and abusers and homosexual males; yet, the greatest stumbling block to action was attitudes toward homosexuality (Fullilove and Fullilove, 1996; Fullilove and Fullilove, 1999). National welfare policy proposals are now being debated and implemented that might shift responsibility for some social work services to faith-based organizations. In June 2000, leaders of black faith-based organizations met in Tuskegee, Alabama in an effort to plan action for combating AIDS. More than 300 bishops, pastors, priests and layman attended the meeting from In African American
Color image compression using neural network prediction of color components

In this paper we present a new scheme for color image compression. The proposed scheme exploits the correlation between the basic color components (red, green, and blue: RGB) by predicting two color components given one color component. Specifically, this scheme employs neural network predictors to predict the red and blue color components using the encoded (reconstructed) green color component. The prediction error is further quantized using vector quantization. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated and compared with that of the JPEG.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A new SMART sensing system for aerospace structures

It is essential to ensure the safety and reliability of in-service structures such as unmanned vehicles by detecting structural cracking, corrosion, delamination, material degradation and other types of damage in time. Utilization of an integrated sensor network system can enable automatic inspection of such damages ultimately. Using a built-in network of actuators and sensors, Acellent is providing tools for advanced structural diagnostics. Acellent's integrated structural health monitoring system consists of an actuator/sensor network, supporting signal generation and data acquisition hardware, and data processing, visualization and analysis software. This paper describes the various features of Acellent's latest SMART sensing system. The new system is USB-based and is ultra-portable using the state-of-the-art technology, while delivering many functions such as system self-diagnosis, sensor diagnosis, through-transmission mode and pulse-echo mode of operation and temperature measurement. Performance of the new system was evaluated for assessment of damage in composite structures.
Providing Mission Assurance for Airborne Networks

Detecting, assessing, and understanding the impact of cyber events on mission systems and tasks is critical for assuring mission success for airborne and enclave networks. As the throughput of air-ground data links continues to increase and the network services accessible to airborne platforms and enclave networks grows, threats become capable of causing more extensive disruptions. This is especially true for airborne missions, where little detection and assessment capability is present. Traditional solutions are not optimal for airborne or enclaved environments because of their constrained throughput, intermittent connectivity, limited coordination of mission-specific details, and the lack of accessibility to centralized cyber event correlation. This paper describes an approach and tool developed to overcome these issues on airborne networks while providing efficient collection and mission impact estimation for the United States Air Force.
Short-term electrical stimulation alters tongue muscle fibre type composition

Abstract Objective To examine whether short-term exogenous activation of a tongue muscle induced a phenotypic shift from a fast to a slow fibre-type, and thus assess a potential therapeutic avenue to protect against obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Methods New Zealand White rabbit genioglossus (GG) muscle, characteristically a fast muscle, was continuously stimulated at a frequency attributed to slow muscle (10 Hz, 3 V DC pulses) using an implanted micro-circuit for 7 days. Changes in muscle fibre types and aerobic capacity were assessed between stimulated and un-stimulated (control) groups using immunohistochemistry and electrophoresis for myosin heavy chain (MHC) and assayed for citrate synthase. Results Compared to the un-stimulated control group, stimulated GG muscles had more (∼13%) type I MHC (slow-twitch) content; a proportional decrease in type II MHC (fast-twitch) isoform also occurred in the stimulated GG muscle (P Conclusion Together, these results demonstrate a successful alteration in tongue muscle characteristics using exogenous electrical stimulation and perhaps a potential therapeutic application for OSA.
Antenna miniaturization beyond the fundamental limits using impedance modulation

Antennas which are physically smaller than their operative wavelength are defined as electrically small antennas. An electrically small antenna characterizes any antenna which fits insides a sphere with radius a =1/k, where k is the wave number of the radiated or received field [1]. Compact-size and wide-frequency bandwidth are in contradiction with lossless antennas. Based on the fundamental limits theory [2–5], the minimum radius of a sphere, a, which encloses a lossless antenna, is related to the maximum quality factor of the antenna, Q. This paper presents a novel technique based on impedance modulation to overcome the fundamental limits of antennas.
Ponderosa pine snag dynamics and cavity excavation following wildfire in northern Arizona

Snags are important components of wildlife habitat, providing nesting and feeding sites for over 75 species of animals in the southwestern United States. Wildfires can increase or decrease the availability of snags to wildlife by killing live trees or incinerating snags. Our objectives were to describe dynamics and spatial patterns of fire-killed snags in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests of northern Arizona and predict the probability of snag use by cavity nesters. We established six 1-ha plots following two recent fires that occurred in northern Arizona (Hochderffer fire of 1996 [H96] and Pumpkin fire of 2000 [P00]) to determine ponderosa pine snag availability and use by wildlife as evidenced by presence of excavated cavities. For comparison, six paired 1-ha plots in nearby unburned areas were sampled with burned plots. For the twelve 1 ha plots, field methods included mapping and measuring 15 characteristics for 668 snags (630 in burned and 38 in unburned plots) 4 years post-fire on the H96 fire,and1010snags(996 inburned and14inunburnedplots) 1yearpost-fire ontheP00fire.We remeasured characteristicsof all snags in 2003. Most burned snags were standing 3 years after fire, but 7 years after fire, 41% had fallen. Snags in burned plots wereclumped wheninitiallymeasuredandremeasured. After7years,snagsinburnedplotsthatwere stillstandingwere straight, large diameter trees in denser clumps. Density of excavated cavities was similar between burned (3.0 ha 1 ) and unburned (2.2 ha 1 )plots,eventhoughburnedareas producedmuchhigherdensities ofsnags.Snags(bothburnedandunburned)thatwere most likely to contain excavated cavities were large diameter with broken tops. This evidence of cavity nester use indicates that in ponderosa pine forests in the southwest, retaining large diameter snags is important to cavity nesters regardless of snag origin. If salvage logging is to occur in severely burned ponderosa pine in the southwest, retaining straight, large diameter snags in clumps will help maintain snags for cavity-excavating species. # 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Comparison of the lattice Boltzmann and pseudo-spectral methods for decaying turbulence: Low-order statistics

Abstract We conduct a detailed comparison of the lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE) and the pseudo-spectral (PS) methods for direct numerical simulations (DNS) of the decaying homogeneous isotropic turbulence in a three-dimensional periodic cube. We use a mesh size of N 3 = 128 3 and the Taylor micro-scale Reynolds number 24.35 ⩽ Re λ ⩽ 72.37 , and carry out all simulations to t ≈ 30 τ 0 , where τ 0 is the turbulence turnover time. In the PS method, the second-order Adam–Bashforth scheme is used to numerically integrate the nonlinear term while the viscous term is treated exactly. We compare the following quantities computed by the LBE and PS methods: instantaneous velocity u and vorticity ω fields, and statistical quantities such as, the total energy K ( t ) and the energy spectrum E ( k , t ) , the dissipation rate e ( t ) , the root-mean-squared (rms) pressure fluctuation δ p ( t ) and the pressure spectrum P ( k , t ) , and the skewness and flatness of the velocity derivative. Our results show that the LBE method performs very well when compared to the PS method in terms of accuracy and efficiency: the instantaneous flow fields, u and ω , and all the statistical quantities — except the rms pressure fluctuation δ p ( t ) and the pressure spectrum P ( k , t ) — computed from the LBE and PS methods agree well with each other, provided that the initial flow field is adequately resolved by both methods. We note that δ p ( t ) and P ( k , t ) computed from the two methods agree with each other in a period of time much shorter than that for other quantities, indicating that the pressure field p computed by using the LBE method is less accurate than other quantities. The skewness and flatness computed from the LBE method contain high-frequency oscillations due to acoustic waves in the system, which are absent in PS methods. Our results indicate that the resolution requirement for the LBE method is δ x / η 0 ⩽ 1.0 , approximately twice of the requirement for PS methods, where δ x and η 0 are the grid spacing and the initial Kolmogorov length, respectively. Overall, the LBE method is shown to be a reliable and accurate method for the DNS of decaying turbulence.
"World avoided" simulations with the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model

[1] We use the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model, coupled to a deep ocean model, to investigate the impact of continued growth of halogenated ozone depleting substances (ODS) in the absence of the Montreal Protocol. We confirm the previously reported result that the growth of ODS leads to a global collapse of the ozone layer in mid-21st century, with column amounts falling to 100 DU or less at all latitudes. We also show that heterogeneous activation of chlorine in the lower stratosphere hastens this collapse but is not essential to produce it. The growth of ODS, which are also greenhouse gases, produces a radiative forcing of 4 W m � 2 by 2070, nearly equal that of the non-ODS greenhouse gases CO2 ,C H4, and N2O in the RCP4.5 scenario of IPCC. This leads to surface warming of over 2 K in the tropics, 6 K in the Arctic, and close to 4 K in Antarctica in 2070 compared to the beginning of the century. We explore the reversibility of these impacts following complete cessation of ODS emissions in the mid-2050s. We find that impacts are reversed on various time scales, depending on the atmospheric lifetime of the ODS that cause them. Thus ozone in the lower stratosphere in the tropics and subtropics recovers very quickly because the ODS that release chlorine and bromine there (e.g., methyl chloroform and methyl bromide) have short atmospheric lifetimes and are removed within a few years. On the other hand, ozone depletion in the polar caps and global radiative forcing depend on longer-lived ODS, such that much of these impacts persist through the end of our simulations in 2070. Citation: Garcia, R. R., D. E. Kinnison, and D. R. Marsh (2012), “World avoided” simulations with the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model, J. Geophys. Res., 117, D23303, doi:10.1029/2012JD018430.
Attitudes to Wolves and Wolf Policy Among Ojibwe Tribal Members and Non-tribal Residents of Wisconsin's Wolf Range

Gray wolf (Canis lupus) policy is dynamic and involves multiple stakeholders. Attitudinal surveys have historically measured stakeholder attitudes, although Native American views have rarely been studied systematically. We sent a mail-back questionnaire to members of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians (Ojibwe) to assess attitudes toward wolves and Wisconsin wolf policy. We compared their responses to a sample of non-tribal residents of Wisconsin’s wolf range. Tribal respondents held significantly more positive attitudes toward wolves, were more supportive of protective policy, and were less supportive of a public wolf harvest than non-tribal respondents. Multivariate analyses revealed several demographic factors associated with observed differences in attitudes; the most frequent and strongest predictor was whether or not a respondent was a tribal member. Ojibwe perspectives deserve attention in future wolf policy and may influence a possible wolf harvest, especially given Ojibwe treaty rights in the Great Lakes region.
United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service: advances in the molecular genetic analysis of insects and their application to pest management.

USDA-ARS scientists have made important contributions to the molecular genetic analysis of agriculturally important insects, and have been in the forefront of using this information for the development of new pest management strategies. Advances have been made in the identification and analysis of genetic systems involved in insect development, reproduction and behavior which enable the identification of new targets for control, as well as the development of highly specific insecticidal products. Other studies have been on the leading edge of developing gene transfer technology to better elucidate these biological processes though functional genomics and to develop new transgenic strains for biological control. Important contributions have also been made to the development and use of molecular markers and methodologies to identify and track insect populations. The use of molecular genetic technology and strategies will become increasingly important to pest management as genomic sequencing information becomes available from important pest insects, their targets and other associated organisms. Published in 2003 for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ranking via Robust Binary Classification

We propose RoBiRank, a ranking algorithm that is motivated by observing a close connection between evaluation metrics for learning to rank and loss functions for robust classification. It shows competitive performance on standard benchmark datasets against a number of other representative algorithms in the literature. We also discuss extensions of RoBiRank to large scale problems where explicit feature vectors and scores are not given. We show that RoBiRank can be efficiently parallelized across a large number of machines; for a task that requires 386,133 x 49,824, 519 pairwise interactions between items to be ranked, RoBiRank finds solutions that are of dramatically higher quality than that can be found by a state-of-the-art competitor algorithm, given the same amount of wall-clock time for computation.
Spinon-holon interactions in an anisotropic t-J chain: A comprehensive study

We consider a generalization of the one-dimensional t-J model with anisotropic spin-spin interactions. We show that the anisotropy leads to an effective attractive interaction between the spinon and holon excitations, resulting in a localized bound state. Detailed quantitative analytic predictions for the dependence of the binding energy on the anisotropy are presented and are verified by precise numerical simulations. The binding energy is found to interpolate smoothly between a finite value in the t- Jz limit and zero in the isotropic limit, going to zero exponentially in the vicinity of the latter. We identify changes in spinon dispersion as the primary factor for this nontrivial behavior. © 2007 The American Physical Society.
Upper mantle anisotropy and coupled-mode long-period surface waves

SUMMARY We investigate surface wave propagation effects caused by P and S-wave velocity anisotropy and its orientation in the upper mantle. We compare coupled-mode synthetic seismograms, constructed from sums of free oscillations for different types of upper mantle models, in order to understand better the observable aspects of anisotropy and its fast direction in the earth. Our calculations suggest that upper mantle anisotropy, which is not transversely isotropic, of few per cent can generate significant waveform anomalies in long-period seismic records of 0–20 mHz. Those anomalies are termed ‘quasi-Love’ waves and are caused by spheroidal—toroidal free-oscillation coupling. Large quasi-Love waveforms are difficult to produce with levels of isotropic heterogeneity consistent with global tomographic models of the mantle. Coupled-mode waveform anomalies in long-period seismic records at a single station can be used to diagnose the presence of anisotropic structure in the upper mantle. Because 0Sl, —0Tl coupling pairs have weak sensitivity to aspherical wavenumbers s 4 mHz, smoother/rougher structure generates longer/shorter-period fundamental-branch waveform anomalies. Anisotropy in our models is assumed to have hexagonal symmetry, that is, a single axis of symmetry. However, the symmetry axis can be arbitrarily oriented. The waveform anomalies associated with spheroidal-toroidal coupling are sensitive to the orientation of the fast-velocity direction of upper mantle anisotropy. In particular, for the same level of velocity perturbation, coupled-mode waveform anomalies increase as the fast axis of anisotropic structure rotates from vertical to horizontal. The orientation of the fast axis can influence both phase shifts and coupled-mode waveforms of long-period surface waves. The coupled-mode waveform anomalies predicted by our theoretical calculations are observed in the data and seem to diagnose the presence of upper mantle anisotropy which is not transversely isotropic.
Making the Work of Anchor Institutions Stick: Building Coalitions and Collective Expertise

As more colleges and universities commit to a public mission, it is critical that our work as anchor institutions have a sustainable and positive impact, and that we collaborate fully with the diverse voices and expertise beyond our campuses—the most valuable assets of our multicultural cities. Taking Syracuse, New York, as a microcosm, the authors examine how Syracuse University physically and metaphorically has become an embedded and trusted anchor institution by building “civil infrastructure” to enable lasting “social infrastructure.” We joined with numerous partners in one of the city’s poorest but most promising neighborhoods to design “green homes,” repurpose old warehouses, and greatly expand educational opportunities for all children. As we did, art, technology, and literacy began to rewrite the story of the neighborhood. Scholars, students, and residents forged “communities of experts” to fulfill the central promise of an anchor institution: to make a sustainable difference in our community.