cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Semantic sketch-based 3D model retrieval

Query-by-Sketch is an intuitive way to retrieve relevant 3D models given a user sketch. It has many promising application potentials in human computer interaction, 3D animation, game design, etc. However, it is a very challenging task due to the big semantic gap between human-drawn sketches and 3D models. A human-drawn sketch is usually composed of several simplified and exaggerated curves as the iconic representation of an object, while a 3D model of the object is generally an accurate representation of its geometry information. Such big semantic gap makes the search based on a direct 2D-3D comparison suffer low accuracy and high computational cost. In this paper, we propose a novel semantic sketch-based 3D model search to bridge the semantic gap by first recognizing the potential semantic meanings of the user sketch and then performing 2D-3D matching for the 3D models within the predicted categories. The experimental results demonstrate that our approach achieves significant improvements in both search accuracy and efficiency, which further validate that our approach can effectively bridge the semantic gap between user sketches and 3D models.
Antibiotic and Disinfectant Susceptibility Profiles of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) Isolated from Community Wastewater in Texas

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) from human wastewater effluents in a nonclinical semiclosed agri-food system in Texas were characterized for susceptibility to antibiotics and disinfectants. The 50 VRE were resistant to eight fluoroquinolones and 10 of 17 antimicrobials typically active against Gram-positive organisms. The VRE were susceptible to quinupristin/dalfopristin and linezolid. Lack of the insertion element IS1251 correlated with VRE susceptibility to streptomycin and gentamicin at p < 0.0001 and p = 0.033, respectively. An association was observed between pulsed-field gel electrophoresis genotypes Ic and II and susceptibility to streptomycin at p = 0.0006. VRE susceptibility for nine disinfectants and five disinfectant components is shown. Ninety-two percent of the isolates had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for triclosan ≥2 ppm. Triclosan MICs for many of the VRE were well over expected product application levels. No association was observed between antibiotic resistance and disinfectant susceptibility in these VRE. Enterococci multiply-resistant to vancomycin and aminoglycosides were found in a non-hospital environment where one would not expect to find them.
Neuronal cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity is postprandially released from primate hypothalamus

Abstract By use of the push-pull perfusion technique, release of neuronal cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI) from hypothalamus of owl monkeys was investigated in relation to an intragastric meal. In overnight fasted, halothane-anesthetized owl monkeys, levels of CCK-LI in the hypothalamic push-pull perfusate were below assay sensitivity (
Compact silicon-based integrated optical time-delay network

Conventional phased-array antennas are limited by the bandwidth and attenuation as well as mechanical rigidity of the coaxial cables employed to perform the microwave phase shift. Photonic technology offers advantages in distribution of the microwave signal including lightweight, compact delay lines, immunity from electromagnetic interference, low rf transmission loss and possibility of optical signal processing on the microwave encoded optical beam. Fiber optic delay lines have been demonstrated already but one requires a precision cut of the fiber length (accurate to a mm) to achieve accurate psec time delay. Guided-wave based approach allows precise definition of the waveguide delay line lengths. In addition, reproducible delays can be mass- produced ensuring low cost modules. In this paper, we demonstrate the first integrated optical delay lines in the silicon-on-insulator waveguide technology.
Improving clinical productivity in an academic surgical practice through transparency.

Background Patient care revenue is becoming an increasingly important source of funding to support the academic surgery department missions of research and education. Transparency regarding productivity metrics will improve clinical productivity among members of an academic surgical practice. Study Design Clinical productivity-related data were collected and compared between 2 time periods. Data were stratified by pretransparency and post-transparency time periods. Comparisons were made using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, and p values ≤0.05 were considered significant. Results The faculty compensation plan remained the same across both time periods; faculty members were paid a base salary plus practice plan income based on individual collections minus practice overhead and academic program support taxes. Before 2006, clinical productivity data were not made public among faculty members. In 2006, the departmental leadership developed a physician scorecard that led to transparency with regard to productivity. After publication of the scorecard, clinical productivity increased, as did the number of partners producing a threshold number of work relative value units (RVU) (6,415 wRVU = 1.0 full time equivalent [FTE]). This occurred during a time of reduced collections per RVU. There was no change in the work assignments (percent effort for clinical service, research, and teaching) for the physicians between the 2 time periods, or the overall effort assigned to the Veterans Affairs hospital. Conclusions Clinical productivity can be improved by making productivity metrics transparent among faculty members. Additional measures must be taken to ensure that research and teaching activities are appropriately incentivized.
Connexins and the heart

Gap junctions are specialized regions of adjoining cell membranes composed of numerous intercellular low-resistance channels. In the heart, these channels electrotonically couple adjacent myocytes and synchronize the cardiac action potential. Signaling through gap junction channels may also influence embryogenesis and development. Recent studies have identified the connexin gene family whose protein products assemble to form gap junction channels. Studies of connexin gene expression and function are providing new insights into the behavior of gap junction channels in the heart.
Leuprolide, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, enhances colonization after spermatogonial transplantation into mouse testes

Spermatogonial stem cells can be transplanted from a fertile donor mouse to the testis of an infertile recipient where they establish spermatogenesis and produce spermatozoa. In the present study we investigated whether treatment of recipient mice with the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist leuprolide acetate could alter the efficiency of colonization by donor spermatogonial stem cells in the recipient testis. Six recipient mice were treated with busulfan to destroy endogenous spermatogenesis followed by injection of leuprolide acetate to three of the mice. Testis cells from mice carrying the ZFlacZ transgene, which produces beta-galactosidase in spermatids, were used as donor cells for transplantation to allow for identification of donor spermatogenesis in the recipient testis by staining for enzyme activity. The extent of donor cell colonization was compared between leuprolide treated recipients and untreated control mice 3 months after transplantation. Efficiency of colonization by donor cells was markedly enhanced in recipient mice treated with the GnRH agonist leuprolide acetate, which makes the technique of spermatogonial transplantation applicable to a wide range of experimental situations. The present study also indicates that this technique can be used as a biological assay system to investigate factors controlling the establishment and progression of spermatogenesis.
Incorporating maintenance activities into production planning; integration at the master schedule versus material requirements level

SUMMARY This study evaluates the impact of incorporating alternative scheduled maintenance policies or predicted emergency maintenance activities into the MRP system. The results indicate that it is critical to evaluate the failure and utilization characteristics of each machine individually so an appropriate maintenance policy can be established. Otherwise, a firm may implement scheduled maintenance when the costs of the policy actually outweigh the benefits gained by reducing emergency maintenance. Additional results suggest that by incorporating emergency maintenance into the MRP system as a dependent demand item, firms may be able to plan and allocate their resources more efficiently.
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE ADDITIVE AND ANTAGONISTIC ACTIONS OF SODIUM OXALATE, AND SALTS OF MAGNESIUM AND CALCIUM IN THE RABBIT.

The foregoing experiments establish firmly the following facts. Subcutaneous or intramuscular injections of sodium oxalate in subtoxic doses, when administered to an animal which received a subminimal dose of magnesium sulphate, produce profound anesthesia and paralysis of long duration, although the usual effects of sodium oxalate alone are of a stimulating character. This fact is, in general, in harmony with the results reported by Starkenstein who, however, seems to have used the combination of the two salts in one solution; namely, that of magnesium oxalate. The combined injections of subminimal doses of sodium oxalate and magnesium sulphate produce a strong reduction, or even, at times, a complete abolition of the conductivity of the motor nerve endings. An intravenous injection of calcium salts brings on a recovery from the profound and prolonged effects of the combined action of sodium oxalate and magnesium sulphate, which is as prompt as is observed in experiments in which effective doses of magnesium alone were given. This fact is the more noteworthy, since depressions of long duration produced by prolonged continuous injections of magnesium solutions alone do not respond very promptly and effectively to calcium injections. As will be recalled, the starting point for our investigation was the hypothesis that substances which are capable of precipitating calcium—a biological antagonist of magnesium—ought to be capable of increasing the depressive effect of magnesium. Our experiments proved that this assumption was correct. This would seem, therefore, to justify the interpretation that the augmenting action of sodium oxalate has its cause in the ability of the latter to precipitate calcium and thus increase within the body the amount of unantagonized magnesium. However, we wish to state expressly that this view is, for the present, still no more than a hypothesis and does not exclude other possible interpretations of our facts. As we pointed out it speaks against this hypothesis that oxalates do not produce phenomena of depression; the toxic symptoms produced by oxalates exhibit distinctly signs of increased and not of decreased irritability.
Effect of tube geometry and ply-angle on energy absorption of a circular glass/epoxy crush tube – A numerical study

Abstract The superior specific energy absorption characteristics of long fiber composite structures as compared to aluminum and steel are well established. Due to cost and time involved in testing of composites, it is imperative to develop numerical solution of the crushing phenomenon. The work presented here reports work to better understand the energy absorption characteristics of glass–fiber circular crush tubes. The effect of tube diameter and ply orientation on the energy absorption has been extensively investigated. Numerical results are compared with experiments performed elsewhere and the correlation between the two is encouraging.
Simulation of Boundary-Layer Cumulus and Stratocumulus Clouds using a Cloud-Resolving Model With Low- and Third-Order Turbulence Closures

The effects of subgrid-scale condensation and transport become more important as the grid spacings increase from those typically used in large-eddy simulation (LES) to those typically used in cloud-resolving models (CRMs). Incorporation of these effects can be achieved by a joint probability density function approach that utilizes higher-order moments of thermodynamic and dynamic variables. This study examines how well shallow cumulus and stratocumulus clouds are simulated by two versions of a CRM that is implemented with low-order and third-order turbulence closures (LOC and TOC) when a typical CRM horizontal resolution is used and what roles the subgrid-scale and resolved-scale processes play as the horizontal grid spacing of the CRM becomes finer. Cumulus clouds were mostly produced through subgrid-scale transport processes while stratocumulus clouds were produced through both subgrid-scale and resolved-scale processes in the TOC version of the CRM when a typical CRM grid spacing is used. The LOC version of the CRM relied upon resolved-scale circulations to produce both cumulus and stratocumulus clouds, due to small subgrid-scale transports. The mean profiles of thermodynamic variables, cloud fraction and liquid water content exhibit significant differences between the two versions of the CRM, with the TOC results agreeing better with the LES than the LOC results. The characteristics, temporal evolution and mean profiles of shallow cumulus and stratocumulus clouds are weakly dependent upon the horizontal grid spacing used in the TOC CRM. However, the ratio of the subgrid-scale to resolved-scale fluxes becomes smaller as the horizontal grid spacing decreases. The subcloud-layer fluxes are mostly due to the resolved scales when a grid spacing less than or equal to 1 km is used. The overall results of the TOC simulations suggest that a 1-km grid spacing is a good choice for CRM simulation of shallow cumulus and stratocumulus.
Inelastic processes in low-energy ion-surface collisions

Abstract Studies involving ion-solid interactions in the range of a few eV to a few keV that are intermediate between thermal gas-surface interactions and high energy bulk implantation are collectively examined in this review. The interactive process is traced in a phenomenological manner by providing a simple treatment of the different physical and chemical phenomena involved. The kinematics of noble gas ion as well as atomic and molecular reactive ion interactions with surfaces are treated in terms of classical dynamics and experiments are described that probe the nature of ion-solid interaction potentials by examining the scattering of ions from surfaces and the charge exchange processes operative during scattering. Molecular ion scattering is investigated and the behavior interpreted in terms of partial dissociation that results in both atomic and molecular scattering. A neutralization model is described that considers the interaction domain to be divided into three steps: the incoming trajectory, the close encounter, and the outgoing trajectory. A spectrum of possible results from the interaction process is described; these include reaction and chemical alteration of the target surface, desorption of adsorbate atoms by hyperthermal physical/chemical interaction, and accumulation of a high surface concentration of the projectile species, viz. film deposition. These studies investigate the science basic to a number of technological phenomena and represent an elegant approach to the simulation of a number of these phenomena in the controlled environment of ultra-high vacuum. Qualitative and quantitative arguments are made for a number of the experimental results and cross-examination of data from different laboratories is made in terms of simple kinetic and thermodynamic concepts to illustrate fundamental similarities in the various studies.
An InGaAs/GaAs SQW laser integrated with a surface-emitting harmonic generator for DWDM applications

An In/sub 0.22/Ga/sub 0.78/As/GaAs single quantum-well (SQW) laser integrated monolithically with a surface-emitting harmonic generator (SEHG) segment was fabricated and tested. By coupling a 1.06- mu m Nd:YAG laser output into the active device, the green surface-emitting light at 0.51 mu m was observed as the result of nonlinear interactions within the SEHG segment. The nonlinear interaction cross section A/sup nl/ of the device was found to be 2.3*10/sup -7/ W/sup -1/, which agrees well with theory. The application of the active devices as a dense wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) demultiplexer was demonstrated with a tunable Ti:sapphire laser to simulate the multiwavelength signal source and a CCD detector array to record the spatially separated signals of different wavelength. System resolution better than 2 nm was obtained for the device, which was limited by the short length of the SEHG segment. Potential for a DWDM channel spacing of 10 GHz is discussed. >
Light-Induced Frequency Shift in Chemical Spirals

Illumination of ruthenium-catalyzed Belousov−Zhabotinsky reaction decreases the rotational frequency of spirals at low bromate concentrations but increases the frequency at high bromate concentrations. The effective diffusion coefficient D deduced from the Keener−Tyson relation for the spirals, D ≈ ω/3k2, is independent of light intensity (D = 2.5 × 10-6 cm2/s).
A review of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: Technology, applications,and needs on fundamental research

Abstract Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, which convert the chemical energy stored in hydrogen fuel directly and efficiently to electrical energy with water as the only byproduct, have the potential to reduce our energy use, pollutant emissions, and dependence on fossil fuels. Great deal of efforts has been made in the past, particularly during the last couple of decades or so, to advance the PEM fuel cell technology and fundamental research. Factors such as durability and cost still remain as the major barriers to fuel cell commercialization. In the past two years, more than 35% cost reduction has been achieved in fuel cell fabrication, the current status of $61/kW (2009) for transportation fuel cell is still over 50% higher than the target of the US Department of Energy (DOE), i.e. $30/kW by 2015, in order to compete with the conventional technology of internal-combustion engines. In addition, a lifetime of ∼2500 h (for transportation PEM fuel cells) was achieved in 2009, yet still needs to be doubled to meet the DOE’s target, i.e. 5000 h. Breakthroughs are urgently needed to overcome these barriers. In this regard, fundamental studies play an important and indeed critical role. Issues such as water and heat management, and new material development remain the focus of fuel-cell performance improvement and cost reduction. Previous reviews mostly focus on one aspect, either a specific fuel cell application or a particular area of fuel cell research. The objective of this review is three folds: (1) to present the latest status of PEM fuel cell technology development and applications in the transportation, stationary, and portable/micro power generation sectors through an overview of the state-of-the-art and most recent technical progress; (2) to describe the need for fundamental research in this field and fill the gap of addressing the role of fundamental research in fuel cell technology; and (3) to outline major challenges in fuel cell technology development and the needs for fundamental research for the near future and prior to fuel cell commercialization.
Genetic Regression as a Calibration Technique for Solid-Phase Extraction of Dithizone–Metal Chelates

The application of genetic regression (GR) to reflectance spectra of a solid-phase colorimetric extraction for the determination of Hg(II) is demonstrated. GR is a technique that combines wavelengths that optimize linear regression using a genetic algorithm. Solid polystyrene (PS) beads with a molecular weight distribution of 125,000-250,000 were impregnated with Hg(II)-dithizonate, filtered, allowed to dry, and packed in quartz cuvettes, and their reflectance spectra were collected. Quantitation with the use of normal calibration methods could not be achieved because of baseline fluctuations which originate in sample packing, presentation to the spectrometer, and particle size. Results indicate that GR can easily compensate for these baseline fluctuations and provide excellent calibrations.
Cholinergic stimulation increases thrombin activity and gene expression in cultured mouse muscle.

Abstract Activity-dependent synapse reduction is a major determinant of neuromuscular innervation. Previous research has shown that nanomolar concentrations of hirudin, a specific thrombin antagonist, significantly attenuates this reduction, and protease nexin 1 (PN1), an endogenous thrombin inhibitor closely localized to the neuromuscular synapse, can inhibit synapse reduction at similar concentrations. Protease inhibitors which do not inhibit thrombin, including cystatin and aprotinin, had no effect on synapse reduction. We present a series of experiments examining whether prothrombin and/or PN1 gene expression, as well as thrombin activity, are regulated in muscle cultures by acetylcholine (ACh) receptor activation. We also studied the effect of exogenous thrombin on synapse elimination in co-cultures of muscle and cholinergic neurons. Cultured muscle cells were electrically blocked with tetrodotoxin (TTX), or co-treated with ACh in order to isolate ACh receptor activation. Electrical blockade resulted in a decrease in thrombin release to about two-thirds of control values. The application of ACh to electrically blocked muscle cultures resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in thrombin activity released into the medium and a 2-fold increase in prothrombin gene expression. In contrast, ACh treatment in the presence of TTX had no effect on PN1 gene expression compared to treatment with TTX alone. In addition, exogenous thrombin significantly increased synapse elimination in unstimulated muscle/cholinergic neuron co-cultures. These results suggest that thrombin or a thrombin-like molecule released from muscle is required for activity-dependent synapse elimination and is regulated by neuromuscular activity. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Sex Differences in Reward Allocation

Men and women were presented descriptions of two dyadic work groups. In both groups, one member of the dyad did approximately two-thirds of the work. For one of the groups, subjects were asked to imagine that they were the worker of high productivity while for the other group subjects were asked to imagine that they were impartial observers. Subjects were asked to divide the rewards among the two workers for both groups. Men and women did not differ in allocation of reward when acting as impartial observers. When subjects imagined themselves as the worker of high productivity, men gave themselves a greater share of the reward than did women. It was concluded that the results were consistent with the self-interest explanation of sex differences in allocation of reward.
Self-Knowledge and Sociability in the Thought of Rousseau

Abstract Rousseau seems to exemplify an understanding of the philosophic life in general and the quest for self-knowledge in particular as a solitary enterprise. An examination of the Confessions, however, reveals that Rousseau holds that the most important discoveries about ourselves are made not in solitude, but with others. It is furthermore the case that, for Rousseau, the philosophic quest to truly know oneself entails the public articulation of one's self-understanding as a part of a comprehensive account of human things, a social activity fraught with political implications. Therefore, the problem of self-knowledge in Rousseau's thought should be understood as a social and political problem (albeit not a problem with a political solution). That this is so even for the famously solitary Rousseau tells us something important both about the thought of that philosopher and about the quest for self-knowledge as such.
Incidence of lesions on Fungiidae corals in the eastern Red Sea is related to water temperature and coastal pollution

As sea surface temperatures rise and the global human population increases, large-scale field observations of marine organism health and water quality are increasingly necessary. We investigated the health of corals from the family Fungiidae using visual observations in relation to water quality and microbial biogeochemistry parameters along 1300 km of the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. At large scales, incidence of lesions caused by unidentified etiology showed consistent signs, increasing significantly from the northern to southern coast and positively correlated to annual mean seawater temperatures. Lesion abundance also increased to a maximum of 96% near the populous city of Jeddah. The presence of lesioned corals in the region surrounding Jeddah was strongly correlated with elevated concentrations of ammonium and changes in microbial communities that are linked to decreased water quality. This study suggests that both high seawater temperatures and nutrient pollution may play an indirect role in the formation of lesions on corals.
Experimental determination of activation potentials of CK-isoenzymes in human serum and their significance.

Abstract The activation/inactivation of creatine kinase isoenzymes is dependent upon the redox potential of the activator employed. From comparison of the different activating effects with various oxidizing-reducing agents of known redox potentials, a method for determining the mid-point potentials, Em7 (pH 7.0, 30°C) for activation of CK-isoenzymes has been developed. The Em7 values for CK-MM and MB in human serum were respectively, −0.08 V, −0.31 V (± 0.005 SD). The relative stabilities of CK isoenzymes are a function of their Em7 for activation.
Geographic image metadata within a digital image processing system

Abstract Geographic images stored as digital image files within an image processing and display system typically contain more information than merely the digital values that define the image. This “data about the data”, or metadata, can affect the efficiency of the system's analysis and display functions. This paper gives several examples from existing image processing systems of the type of information that is included as metadata, and how this information can be used to improve image processing or display functions.
A Catalog of Outer Ejecta Knots in the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant

Hubble Space Telescope images of the core-collapse supernova remnant Cassiopeia A are used to identify high-velocity knots of ejecta located outside the remnant's main emission shell of expanding debris. These ejecta fragments are found near or ahead of the remnant's forward shock front and mostly lie from 12000 to 30000 in radial distance from the remnant's center of expansion. Filter flux ratios when correlated with published spectra show that these knots can be divided into three emission classes: (1) knots dominated by [N II] lambda lambda 6548, 6583 emissions, ( 2) knots dominated by [O II] kk7319, 7330 emissions, and (3) knots displaying filter flux ratios suggestive of [ S II], [ O II], and [Ar III] lambda 7135 emission line strengths similar to the "fast-moving knots'' (FMKs) found in the remnant's bright main shell. Of 1825 knots identified, 444 are strong [N II] emission knots, 192 are strong [O II] emission knots, and 1189 are FMK-like knots. In terms of location around the remnant, 972, 207, and 646 knots are found in the remnant's northeast jet, southwest jet, and non-jet regions, respectively. Assuming a distance of 3.4 kpc, derived knot transverse velocities based on proper motion measurements spanning a 9 month interval indicate maximum transverse expansion velocities for these three knot classes of 14,500, 13,500, and 11,500 km s(-1), respectively. We present a catalog of these outlying ejecta clumps comprising finding charts, epoch 2004.2 knot positions, proper motions, photometric filter fluxes, and estimated knot emission type, along with cross-references to previous knot identifications and data. This compilation represents a nearly tenfold increase in the number of outlying, high-velocity ejecta knots identified around the Cassiopeia A remnant.
Speckle noise in highly corrected coronagraphs

Speckles in a highly corrected adaptive optic imaging system have been studied through numerical simulations and through analytic and algebraic investigations of the Fourier-optical expressions connecting pupil plane and focal plane, which simplify at high Strehl ratio. Significant insights into the behavior of speckles, and the speckle noise caused when they vary over time, have thus been gained. Such speckle noise is expected to set key limits on the sensitivity of searches for companions around other stars, including extrasolar planets. In most cases, it is advantageous to use a coronagraph of some kind to suppress the bright primary star and so enhance the dynamic range of companion searches. In the current paper, I investigate speckle behavior and its impact on speckle noise in some common coronagraphic architectures, including the classical Lyot coronagraph and the new four quadrant phase mask (FQPM) concept.
Neuroprotective effects of testosterone in a naturally occurring model of neurodegeneration in the adult avian song control system.

Seasonal regression of the avian song control system, a series of discrete brain nuclei that regulate song learning and production, serves as a useful model for investigating the neuroprotective effects of steroids. In seasonally breeding male songbirds, the song control system regresses rapidly when males are transferred from breeding to nonbreeding physiological conditions. One nucleus in particular, the HVC, regresses in volume by 22% within days of castration and transfer to a nonbreeding photoperiod. This regression is mediated primarily by a 30% decrease in neuron number, a result of a caspase-dependent process of programmed cell death. Here we examine whether testosterone (T) can act locally in the brain to prevent seasonal-like neurodegeneration in HVC. We began to infuse T intracerebrally near HVC on one side of the brain in breedingcondition male white-crowned sparrows 2 days prior to T withdrawal and shifting them to short-day photoperiods. The birds were killed 3 or 7 days later. Local T infusion significantly protected ipsilateral HVC from volume regression and neuron loss. In addition, T infusion significantly reduced the number, density, and number/ 1,000 neurons of activated caspase-3 cells and cells positive for cleaved PARP, both markers for programmed cell death, in the ipsilateral HVC. T infusion near HVC also prevented regression of ipsilateral efferent targets of HVC neurons, including the volumes of robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA) and Area X and the soma area and density of RA neurons. Thus T can act locally in the brain to have a neuroprotective effect and act transsynaptically to prevent regression of efferent nuclei. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:4760–4770, 2010.
Release of RHD Virus in Australia

Letters from: [ David O. Matson ][1] [ Alvin W. Smith ][1] The defenders of the rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) virus release program (Dan Drollette, News & Comment, 12 Apr., p. 191; ScienceScope, 19 April, p. 341) appear to have confused the concepts of “host switching” and “host range
Efficient Decentralized Context Sharing via Smart Aggregation

Sensing applications often require participants to share context information about the physical social, or network environment in which they operate. Building shared views of context requires exchanging sensed information, often via peer-to-peer links. In-network aggregation enables efficient distributed data collection, but the goal has been almost exclusively collect a single aggregate value at a single sink node. In contrast, we design and implement a simple protocol for exchanging context information in aggregate in a peer-to-peer fashion, where every node needs to acquire a shared view of the aggregate context. In our protocol, when a node receives new context information from a neighboring node, it aggregates the new information into its local view of the shared state of the world which it then subsequently shares with its neighbors. We demonstrate (both theoretically and empirically) the situations in which participants' raw context information is fully or partially recoverable by other participants from an aggregate and quantify the tradeoffs in communication overhead for the quality of shared context knowledge. Compared with non-aggregation communication for sharing context values among 100 nodes in a simulated network, we show an overhead savings of at least 78.0%, and an overhead savings of 66.0% with 99.8% average accuracy in a 54 node emulated network driven by real world data.
The association of giardiasis with reduced intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A.

Patients with dysgammaglobulinemia frequently harborGiardia lamblia in the upper intestinal tract. However, in patients with symptomatic giardiasis serum immunoglobulin deficiencies have not been a constant or prevailing finding. Immunoglobulin level in duodenal aspirates from 10 patients with chronic symptomatic giardiasis and 10 control subjects were examined under controlled conditions, 3 to 9 months afterGiardia lamblia were eradicated with quinacrine and intestinal morphology and function were presumably fully recovered. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations in 10 patients with symptomatic giardiasis were within the normal range. In contrast, secretory IgA of the aspirates from the duodenojejunal junction of these patients was significantly lower (mean, 52.4 mg/100ml) than that obtained from aspirates of the 10 control subjects under identical conditions (mean, 162.3 mg/100ml) (P<0.01). The results indicate that the function of secretory immunoglobulins can be dissociated from serum immunoglobulins, and that decreased concentrations of secretory IgA predisposed our patients to colonization of intestinal mucous membranes byG lamblia with subsequent chronic diarrhea.
A Two Axis Skin Friction Balance Nulling Circuit Using An Optimal Observer

A two-axis skin friction balance developed at the Langley Research Center employs a state-variable feedback nulling circuit developed via multivariable pole-placement theory. Because of the inherently noisy wind tunnel environment where the balance operates, a less noise-sensitive controller is needed. This paper investigates the application of optimal-observer-based control laws derived using both pole-placement techniques and optimal linear regulator theory. Although a pole-placement-derived control law with optimal observer provides fast response and excellent noise rejection, its observer requires an electrical input proportional to the unknown skin friction force, which is unavailable. To overcome this limitation, an optimal linear regulator design is proposed which estimates the unknown force input and provides excellent noise rejection, at the expense, however, of significantly slower transient response.
Emergence of reinforcer preference as a function of schedule requirements and stimulus similarity.

Tustin (1994) recently observed that an individual's preference for one of two concurrently available reinforcers under low schedule requirements (concurrent fixed-ratio [FR] 1) switched to the other reinforcer when the schedule requirements were high (concurrent FR 10). We extended this line of research by examining preference for similar and dissimilar reinforcers (i.e., those affecting the same sensory modality and those affecting different sensory modalities). Two individuals with developmental disabilities were exposed to an arrangement in which pressing two different panels produced two different reinforcers according to progressively increasing, concurrent-ratio schedules. When two dissimilar stimuli were concurrently available (food and a leisure item), no clear preference for one item over the other was observed, regardless of the FR schedules in effect (FR 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20). By contrast, when two similar stimuli were concurrently available (two food items), a clear preference for one item emerged as the schedule requirements were increased from FR 1 to FR 5 or FR 10. These results are discussed in terms of implications for conducting preference assessments and for selecting reinforcers to be used under training conditions in which response requirements are relatively high or effortful.
Identification, cellular distribution and potential function of the metalloprotease-disintegrin MDC9 in the kidney.

Abstract . The complex interactions of glomerular and tubular epithelial cells with the basal laminae play a critical role in renal function. Disruption of these interactions has been widely implicated in glomerular diseases and acute renal failure. MDC are a large family of membrane-bound proteins containing m etalloprotease, d isintegrin (integrin interaction sites), and c ysteine-rich domains. Little information is available concerning the presence of MDC in the kidney or their role in renal pathophysiology. Using degenerate PCR primers for the conserved metalloprotease and disintegrin domains of this protein family, cDNA templates from tubules, whole glomeruli, and glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) yielded a single, 195-bp product, which on sequence analysis corresponded to a region in the disintegrin domain of MDC9. Northern analysis of poly(A) + RNA from tubules, whole glomeruli, and GEC revealed a 3.9-kb transcript, identical to that of mouse MDC9. Using antibodies generated against a 21-amino acid peptide present in the metalloprotease domain of MDC9, Western analysis of concanavalinA-enriched glomerular microsomal extracts demonstrated both processed (76 kD) and unprocessed (116 kD) forms of MDC9, which upon reduction changed to the corresponding 84- and 124-kD forms. Histochemical studies revealed a basolateral localization of intrinsic MDC9 protein in renal cortical tubule cells and glomerular visceral epithelial cells, which colocalized with the β1 integrin chain. Expression of green fluorescence protein MDC9 chimeric constructs in GEC or polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells revealed a similar punctate basolateral surface localization. Transient overexpression of the soluble disintegrin domain-green fluorescence protein chimera in GEC led to dramatic changes in cellular morphology with rounding and detachment from cell monolayers. These studies document the presence of MDC9 in renal epithelial cells and suggest an important role for MDC9 in renal epithelial cellular interactions with the basal lamina and adjoining cells.
Semi-analytical method for departure point determination

A new method for departure point determination on Cartesian grids, the semi-analytical upwind path line tracing (SUT) method, is presented and compared to two typical departure point determination methods used in semi-Lagrangian advection schemes, the Euler method and the four-step Runge-Kutta method. Rigorous comparisons of the three methods were conducted for a severely curving hypothetical flow field and for advective transport in the rotation of a Gaussian concentration hill
Bilateral Diaphragm Paralysis: A Challenging Diagnosis

Bilateral diaphragm paralysis is a rare cause of unexplained respiratory failure. Although it is a known complication of cardiothoracic surgery, it is often under-recognized and diagnosis is frequently delayed.1 It should be considered in patients with low lung volumes on imaging, progressive hypercapnia, and pronounced dyspnea in the supine position.2 Pulmonary function tests reveal a restrictive process; the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) is reduced. It can be very challenging to definitively diagnose. Fluoroscopic sniff test, which is 90% sensitive for the diagnosis of unilateral diaphragm paralysis, can provide misleading results when bilateral diaphragm paralysis is present. Measurement of transdiaphragmatic pressure with gastric and esophageal balloon placement is the only reliable method to accurately diagnose this disorder.3 We report a case of recurrent hypercapnia, supine dyspnea, and respiratory failure for 2 months prior to diagnosis and treatment of bilateral diaphragm paralysis.
Thoracic Organ Transplantation in Children The State of Heart, Heart-Lung, and Lung Transplantation

Heart, heart-lung, and lung transplantation have become accepted modalities for treatment in children with serious cardiopulmonary disease. Although early deaths secondary to infection and/or acute rejection have been reduced dramatically, there is still an early mortality related to cardiac complications and a late mortality related to rejection and infection. The management of hypoplastic left heart syndrome remains a special problem and is outlined in the review. There is much less experience in the newer modalities of heart-lung and lung transplantation in children and the results of these operative procedures are similar to what was seen in heart transplantation some 10 years ago. Ongoing and significant improvement continues, however, in all forms of transplantation dealing with the lung.
An efficient 3D NMR technique for correlating the proton and 15N backbone amide resonances with the alpha-carbon of the preceding residue in uniformly 15N/13C enriched proteins.

A 3D NMR technique is described which correlates the amide proton and nitrogen resonances of an amino acid residue with the Cα chemical shift of its preceding residue. The technique uses a relay mechanism, transferring magnetization from15N to13Cα via the intervening carbonyl nucleus. This method for obtaining sequential connectivity is less sensitive to large line widths than the alternative HNCA experiment. The technique is demonstrated for the protein calmodulin, complexed with a 26 amino acid fragment of skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase.
On slot allocation for time-constrained messages in dual-bus networks

Several access schemes have been suggested for dual-bus network topology, e.g., DQDB, Fasnet, CRMA, and Simple. It is therefore important to provide various services in this type of networks. This paper addresses the issue of guaranteeing the timely delivery of isochronous (real-time) messages with hard deadlines in slotted dual-bus networks. We propose a slot allocation scheme which can allocate bandwidth for a set of isochronous message streams and provide deterministic deadline guarantees. The proposed slot allocation scheme is guaranteed to find a feasible slot allocation in the sense that all messages can be transmitted in a timely manner as long as the total message density is less than or equal to a certain threshold, where the total message density is defined as the summation of the ratio of maximum message size to message deadline over all streams. We also discuss the implementation details of this scheme, and compare our scheme with another bandwidth allocation scheme proposed by D. Saha et al. (1994).
Differences between non-specific and bio-specific, and between equilibrium and non-equilibrium, interactions in biological systems.

Biological interactions are ‘processes’ 331Intermolecular forces involved 332Synergy between different forces occurring at different locations 333Non-equilibrium, rate and time-dependent interactions 335Reversible and irreversible interactions 337The interaction forces between biological molecules and surfaces are much more complex than those between non-biological molecules or surfaces, such as colloidal particle surfaces. This complexity is due to a number of factors: (i) the simultaneous involvement of many different molecules and different non-covalent forces – van der Waals, electrostatic, solvation (hydration, hydrophobic), steric, entropic and ‘specific’, and (ii) the flexibility of biological macromolecules and fluidity of membranes. Biological interactions are better thought of as ‘processes’ that evolve in space and time and, under physiological conditions, involve a continuous input of energy. Such systems are, therefore, not at thermodynamic equilibrium, or even tending towards equilibrium. Recent surface forces apparatus (SFA) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements on supported model membrane systems (protein-containing lipid bilayers) illustrate these effects. It is suggested that the major theoretical challenge is to establish manageable theories or models that can describe the spatial and time evolution of systems consisting of different molecules subject to certain starting conditions or energy inputs.
Magnetohydrodynamic Wave Resonance and the Evocation of Epileptiform Activity by Millitesla DC Magnetic Fields

DC magnetic fields of low- to medium-flux density (nTesla to mTesla) affect a variety of brain activities. The cellular mechanism underlying these effects is unknown. A model involving magnetohydrodynamic waves and corresponding resonance phenomena is offered here as a solution. The model is discussed in relation to the evocation of epileptiform activity due to external DC magnetic fields in the mTesla range. The assumed existence of a resonance wave makes it possible to calculate the size of the involved area.
Feasibility study of a scalable optical interconnection network for massively parallel processing systems

The theoretical modeling of a novel topology for scalable optical interconnection networks, called optical multimesh hypercube (OMMH), is developed to predict size, bit rate, bit-error rate, power budget, noise, efficiency, interconnect distance, pixel density, and misalignment sensitivity. The numerical predictions are validated with experimental data from commercially available products to assess the effects of various thermal, system, and geometric parameters on the behavior of the sample model. OMMH is a scalable network architecture that combines positive features of the hypercube (small diameter, regular, symmetric, and fault tolerant) and the mesh (constant node degree and size scalability). The OMMH is implemented by a free-space imaging system incorporated with a space-invariant hologram for the hypercube links and fiber optics to provide the mesh connectivity. The results of this work show that the free-space links can operate at 368 Mbits/s and the fiber-based links at 228 Mbits/s for a bit-error rate of 10−17per channel. The predicted system size for 32 nodes in the OMMH is 4.16 mm × 4.16 mm × 3.38 cm. Using 16-bit, bit-parallel transmission per node, the system can operate at a bit rate of up to 5.88 Gbits/s for a size of 1.04 cm × 1.04 cm × 3.38 cm.
Release of leukotriene B4 from human neutrophils after interaction with nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae.

Abstract Opsonization of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae with antibody is critical for the interaction between the organism and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Nontypeable H. influenzae opsonized in fresh antibody-positive serum induced the release of 42.5 +/- 17.9 ng of leukotriene B4 per ml from PMNs after 20 min of incubation at 37 degrees C. On the other hand, opsonization of the organisms in fresh antibody-negative serum stimulated the release of significantly smaller amounts of leukotriene B4 by the PMNs. Simultaneous determinations of phagocytosis demonstrated similar patterns of response. A small amount (26.7 +/- 7.6%) of unopsonized nontypeable H. influenzae was phagocytosed by PMNs during 20 min of incubation at 37 degrees C. In contrast, 89.3 +/- 2.0% of nontypeable H. influenzae opsonized in fresh antibody-positive serum was phagocytosed during the same incubation period (P less than 0.001). Removal of complement through heat inactivation at 56 degrees C for 30 min did not significantly affect phagocytosis. These data suggest that the humoral immune response to nontypeable H. influenzae plays an important role in the inflammatory process and may contribute to the production of middle ear effusions in otitis media.