cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An ion/molecule reaction for the identification of analytes with two basic functional groups

A mass spectrometric method is presented for the identification of analytes with two basic functionalities and PA between 222 and 245 kcal/mol, including diamines. This method utilizes gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of protonated analytes with neutral 1,1-diethoxyethene (DEE) in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR). A variety of protonated mono-, bi-, and trifunctional analytes containing different functional groups, namely, amido, amino, N-oxide, hydroxy, carboxylic acid, keto, thio, thioether, alkene, phosphite, and phosphonate, were tested in the FT-ICR. The results demonstrate that basic protonated bifunctional compounds (PA between 222 and 245 kcal/mol) react selectively with DEE by forming a specific addition/elimination product ion (adduct - EtOH) (this product was also observed for lysine with three functionalities). The diagnostic reaction sequence involves proton transfer from the protonated analyte to the basic vinyl group in DEE, followed by addition of one of the functional groups of the analyte to the electrophilic α-carbon in protonated DEE. The next step involves proton transfer from this functionality to the other analyte functionality, followed by proton transfer to DEE and elimination of ethanol. Since the mechanism involves proton transfer between two functional groups of the analyte, the reaction does not occur for analytes where the two functionalities cannot be in close proximity (i.e., meta-phenylenediamine), and where no proton is available (i.e., dimethylaminoketone).
Measuring color‐matching functions. Part I

A visual colorimeter was designed to implement a new model for the determination of color-matching functions developed in the Munsell Color Science Laboratory. An instrument utilizing laser primaries was originally developed. The instrument was later improved to incorporate CRT primaries and seven interference filters to make matches to simulated daylight in a 2° bipartite field. The system was designed to minimize the strain on observers. Color-matching functions of naive observers can be measured in approximately 30 minutes. Results from an individual observer correlate well with data collected on the National Research Council of Canada's Trichromator. Part II of this article gives the color-matching functions results for 18 observers and 20 repetitions by a single observer.
Applications of nanoparticle arrays to coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy of chiral molecules

A new surface-enhanced coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) diagnostic of chiral molecules using one-dimensional arrays of metallic nanocylinders is reported. It is found that such structures can be made biresonant, with one resonance arising from guided resonance (GR) of the periodic structure and the another--from the surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Enormous enhancements of the CARS signal can be expected when the pump laser beam is tuned to GR and the emitted anti-Stokes signal is tuned to SPR. Peak field enhancement corresponding to GR is systematically studied for metallic and dielectric nanorods as a function of the incidence angle, material losses, and nanorod diameter. Using coupled dipole approximation (CDA), we provide analytic estimates of the maximum local field enhancements and resonance widths, and find optimum parameters for the field amplification in our essentially two-dimensional geometry. It is shown that the maximum field enhancement at GR is always limited by resistive losses, which can never be completely cancelled by the far-field dipolar interaction. Full electromagnetic simulations supplement CDA-based calculations and qualitatively confirm their findings. Two types of CARS applications are envisioned: one is based on simultaneous enhancement of both two pump waves and of the emission of the anti-Stokes signal, and another one is designed specifically for detection of chiral molecules in crossed fields with very low background noise.
Psychosocial Correlates of Depression Symptoms During the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Objective To explore the psychosocial correlates of depression symptoms during the third trimester of pregnancy. Design Cross‐sectional design guided by Selye's theory of stress. Setting Prenatal care provider offices or mutually agreeable locations in the Pacific Northwest. Participants One hundred thirty‐nine women in their third trimester of pregnancy. The majority was Caucasian and married. Fifty‐two of the participants (38%) had scores greater than or equal to 16 on the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depressed Mood Scale. Main Outcome Measure The Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depressed Mood Scale. Results Stepwise linear regression indicated that 46% of the variance of third‐trimester depressive symptoms was due to brief and intermittent negative mood states that occurred primarily during the first trimester, a lack of marital satisfaction and social support, and gravida. Lifetime abuse did not contribute significantly to third‐trimester depression symptoms. Conclusions One third of the sample reported subclinical levels of depression symptoms. Prenatal care providers may want to consider these minor and brief mood changes as predictive of depression symptoms later in pregnancy, particularly when experienced during the first trimester.
Clumpy structure of the Universe and general field

OBSERVATIONS of redshifts on samples complete to a given limiting magnitude have shown that redshifts are segregated or, in other words, that ranges of velocities exist in which for a given region of the sky no galaxies are observed1–9. Such observations could fit the empirical model briefly discussed by myself and Rood3. We suggested that visible matter in the Universe is found in groups and/or large asymmetric structures, superclusters. Empty, or nearly empty, regions are observed in between. Such an empirical model was confirmed by data obtained in the Hercules region. The model may agree with the theory and numerical analysis developed by Zeldovich and Coll10. This note stresses that the observations set a strong limit on the density of the so called ‘field galaxies’ and questions the very existence of such objects.
Pledgeted mattress sutures reduce recurrent reflux after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

Abstract Introduction In response to a perceived increase in the incidence of recurrent reflux after adopting the laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, we adjusted our technique to include the use of pledgeted, horizontal mattress sutures for crural closure and wrap construction. Methods We assessed the impact of this technical modification in children who underwent laparoscopic fundoplication between 1997 and 2007 at a large children's hospital. The medical history, indications, technical details, and outcomes were reviewed. Differences between groups were assessed with χ 2 , logistic regression, and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results A total of 384 subjects were identified. Neurologic deficits were present in 77%. The crural closure and wrap were constructed with simple sutures in 226 and with pledgeted, horizontal mattress sutures in 158. The cumulative incidences of recurrent reflux, gagging/retching, wrap failure on imaging studies, and reoperation were significantly greater with the use of simple sutures ( P Conclusions The use of pledgeted, horizontal mattress sutures for crural closure and wrap construction in laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication may reduce the incidence of recurrent reflux.
Lipid-bound factor Xa regulates tissue factor activity

The activation of coagulation factor X by tissue factor (TF) and coagulation factor VIIa (VIIa) on a phospholipid surface is thought to be the key step in the initiation of blood coagulation. In this reaction, the product, fXa, is transiently and reversibly bound to the TF-VIIa enzyme complex. This in effect leads to a probabilistic inhibition of subsequent fX activations; a new fX substrate molecule cannot be activated until the old fXa molecule leaves. In this study, we demonstrate that benzamidine and soybean trypsin inhibitor-conjugated Sepharose beads, which bind fXa and sequester it away from the reaction, serve to enhance fX activation by the TF-VIIa complex. Thus, removal of fXa from the reactive zone, by either flow, fXa sequestration, or binding to distant lipid surfaces, can serve to enhance the levels of TF-VIIa activity. Using resonance energy transfer, we found the dissociation constants of fX and fXa for 100 nm diameter phospholipid vesicles to be on the order of 30-60 nM, consistent with previous measurements employing planar lipid surfaces. On the basis of the measurements of binding of fXa to phospholipid surfaces, we demonstrate that the rates of fX activation by the TF-VIIa complex under a variety of experimental conditions depend inversely on the amount of product (fXa) bound to the TF-phospholipid surface. These data support an inhibitory role for the reaction product, fXa, and indicate that models previously employed in understanding this initial coagulation reaction must now be re-evaluated to account for both the product occupancy of the phospholipid surface and the binding of the product to the enzyme. Moreover, the inhibitory properties of fXa can be described on the basis of the estimated surface density of fXa molecules on the TF-phospholipid surface.
Description of ground-state band energies in well-deformed even-even nuclei with the confined β-soft rotor model

The analytical solution of the confined \ensuremath{\beta}-soft (CBS) rotor model is systematically compared to the energies of the ground-state rotational bands of strongly deformed heavy even-even nuclei. The model reproduces with one structural parameter the yrast band energies for all sufficiently well known rare-earth nuclei and actinides with a structural signature of ${R}_{4/2}=E({4}_{1}^{+})/E({2}_{1}^{+})g3.30$ up to the ${12}^{+}$ state with an accuracy of the order of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. This systematic study of the CBS model demonstrates the regularity of the ground-state bands without exception. Comparison to the Davydov Chaban model suggests that the agreement between data and collective models with soft potentials is insensitive to the details of the potential.
Metabolism of 2-acetylaminofluorene by rainbow trout

In order to examine factors that may contribute to the reported resistance of rainbow trout, Shasta strain, to the well-known hepatocarcinogenic effects of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), the in-vitro and in-vivo metabolism of [14C]AAF in trout has been examined. Trout (compared to rat) liver microsomes metabolized AAF more efficiently, producing 3-fold larger amounts of ring-hydroxylated metabolites (7-hydroxy-AAF and 5-hydroxy-AAF), but 5-fold less N-hydroxy-AAF. Freshly isolated trout hepatocytes extensively metabolized AAF to form the same ring-hydroxylated metabolites and their respective glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. N-OH-AAF (plus its conjugates) and covalently-bound AAF derivatives amounted, respectively, to < 1% and 1.4–1.6% of total metabolites. Liver DNA of trout treated with AAF contained a single AAF-DNA adduct identified as N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene (the major persistent AAF-DNA adduct found in rat liver). The level of this adduct (12 attomoles/μg DNA) was about 1000-fold lower than the level of AAF-DNA adduct previously reported in rat liver. The data show that trout liver, compared to rat liver, is considerably less efficient in metabolizing AAF to carcinogenic metabolites, and more efficient in forming nontoxic products, thus possibly explaining, in part, the resistance of trout to AAF-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.
Modeling and Material Damage Identification of a Sandwich Plate Using MDOF Modal Parameter Estimation and the Method of Virtual Forces

High temperature and low density metallic materials are being considered for thermal protection systems (TPS) for future aerospace applications. In this paper, a method for damage detection, location, and quantification using one actuator with distributed vibration sensors is presented for estimating virtual forces introduced by damage in a model aluminum honeycomb (H/C) TPS panel. A simplified analytical transverse vibration model of a homogeneous flat plate is considered to verify the method, which is then applied to the model aluminum H/C sandwich panel to demonstrate the method experimentally. First, a fully populated frequency response function matrix from the healthy panel is measured using an equal number of actuators and sensors. Virtual forces due to damage are then estimated by filtering data from the damaged panel using the healthy baseline response matrix. Second, a modal dynamic model for the sandwich panel is extracted using a single degree-of-freedom modal parameter estimation algorithm (Global Least Squares). The estimated modal frequencies and residues are used to build a dynamic observer to synthesize frequency response measurements unavailable with only one actuator. Modal impact testing is used to acquire frequency response functions, which serve as inputs to the frequency and residue parameter estimation process. It is shown that the virtual force method, with or without a modal observer, can detect damage due to density changes.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Assessing the roles of essential functional groups in the mechanism of homoserine succinyltransferase.

Abstract Homoserine acyltransferases catalyze the commitment step to methionine and other important biological precursors which make this class of enzymes essential for the survival of bacteria, plants and fungi. This class of enzymes is not found in humans, making them an attractive new target for antimicrobial design. Homoserine O-succinyltransferase (HST) is a representative from this class, with little known about the key amino acids involved in substrate specificity and catalysis. HST from Escherichia coli has been cloned, purified and kinetically characterized. Through site-directed mutagenesis and steady-state kinetic studies the residues that comprise a catalytic triad for HST, the catalytic cysteine nucleophile, an active site acid–base histidine, and the base orienting glutamate, have been identified and characterized. Several residues which confer substrate specificity for both homoserine and succinyl-CoA have also been identified and kinetically evaluated. Mutations of an active site glutamate to either aspartate or alanine drastically increase the Km for homoserine, assigning this glutamate to a binding role for the α-amino group of homoserine. An active site arginine orients the carboxyl moiety of homoserine, while the carboxyl moiety of succinyl-CoA is positioned for catalysis by a lysine residue. Removing functionality at either of these positions alters the enzyme’s ability to effectively utilize homoserine or succinyl-CoA, respectively, reflected in an increased Km and decreased catalytic efficiency. The data presented here provides new details of the catalytic mechanism of succinyltransferases, resolves a controversy between alternative mechanistic hypotheses, and provides a starting point for the development of selective inhibitors of HST.
Do children play fair with mother nature? Understanding children’s judgments of environmentally harmful actions

Abstract The current study asks how young children judge behaviors that harm the environment as compared to moral transgressions, social-conventional transgressions, and personal choices. This study also questions whether children are more likely to cite biocentric or homocentric reasons when justifying their judgments of environmentally harmful behaviors. To answer these questions, sixty-one 6–10 year olds were asked to judge the severity of various actions that impact the environment. For comparison, participants also judged moral transgressions, social-conventional transgressions, and personal choices. Children judged actions that harm the environment more severely than social-conventional transgressions but not as severely as moral transgressions. When justifying their judgments of these environmentally harmful behaviors, participants were more likely to reference biocentric reasons as compared to homocentric reasons. The findings suggest that children perceive harm to the environment as bad, but harm to humans as worse.
LAYER I NEOCORTICAL ECTOPIA: CELLULAR ORGANIZATION AND LOCAL CORTICAL CIRCUITRY

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) are associated with neurological disorders and cognitive impairments in humans. Molecular layer ectopia, clusters of misplaced cells in layer I of the neocortex, have been identified in patients with developmental dyslexia and psychomotor retardation. Mouse models of this developmental disorder display behavioral impairments and increased seizure susceptibility. Although there is a correlation between cortical malformations and neurological dysfunction, little is known about the morphological and physiological properties of cells within cortical malformations. In the present study we used electrophysiological and immunocytochemical analyses to examine the distribution of neuronal and non-neuronal cell types within and surrounding layer I neocortical ectopia in NXSMD/EiJ mice. We show that cells within ectopia have membrane properties of both pyramidal and a variety of non-pyramidal cell types, including fast-spiking cells. Immunocytochemical analysis for different interneuronal subtypes demonstrates that ectopia contain nonpyramidal cells immunoreactive for calbindin-D28K (CALB), parvalbumin (PARV), and calretinin (CR). Ectopia also contains astrocytes, positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and oligodendrocyte precursor cells positive for NG2 proteoglycan (NG2). Lastly, we provide electrophysiological and morphological evidence to demonstrate that cells within ectopia receive input from cells within layers I, upper and deeper II/III, and V and provide outputs to cells within deep layer II/III and layer V, but not layers I and upper II/III. These results indicate that ectopia contain cells of different lineages with diverse morphological and physiological properties, and appear to cause disruptions in local cortical circuitry.
Engineering, institutions, and the public interest: Evaluating product quality in the Kenyan solar photovoltaics industry

Solar sales in Kenya are among the highest per capita among developing countries. While this commercial success makes the Kenya market a global leader, product quality problems have been a persistent concern. In this paper, we report performance test results from 2004 to 2005 for five brands of amorphous silicon (a-Si) photovoltaic (PV) modules sold in the Kenya market. Three of the five brands performed well, but two performed well below their advertised levels. These results support previous work indicating that high-quality a-Si PV modules are a good economic value. The presence of the low performing brands, however, confirms a need for market institutions that ensure the quality of all products sold in the market. Prior work from 1999 indicated a similar quality pattern among brands. This confirms the persistent nature of the problem, and the need for vigilant, long-term approaches to quality assurance for solar markets in Kenya and elsewhere. Following the release of our 2004/2005 test results in Kenya, the Kenya Bureau of Standards moved to implement and enforce performance standards for both amorphous and crystalline silicon PV modules. This appears to represent a positive step towards the institutionalization of quality assurance for products in the Kenya solar market.
Fish intake by adolescents is related to nutrient intake but not lifestyle factors.

Nutrition during adolescence influences long-term health outcomes. Consumption of fish has many health benefits, yet few studies have investigated associations between fish intake and nutrient inta...
The characterization of annealing in thin metal films using the Mayadas-Shatzkes theory

Abstract A technique suggested by Mola and Heras of analyzing thin film size effect data is used to characterize the structure of thin polycrystalline metal films. A linear least-squares analysis of the product of resistivity and thickness versus thickness allows a consistent determination of the size effect parameter α. Annealing studies (130–460 K) on gold films (120–1150 A) yield temperature-independent values of the reflection coefficient both before and after annealing and allow the annealing to be characterized quantitatively.
A Locomotor Innovation Enables Water-Land Transition in a Marine Fish

Background Morphological innovations that significantly enhance performance capacity may enable exploitation of new resources and invasion of new ecological niches. The invasion of land from the aquatic realm requires dramatic structural and physiological modifications to permit survival in a gravity-dominated, aerial environment. Most fishes are obligatorily aquatic, with amphibious fishes typically making slow-moving and short forays on to land. Methodology/Principal Findings Here I describe the behaviors and movements of a little known marine fish that moves extraordinarily rapidly on land. I found that the Pacific leaping blenny, Alticus arnoldorum, employs a tail-twisting movement on land, previously unreported in fishes. Focal point behavioral observations of Alticus show that they have largely abandoned the marine realm, feed and reproduce on land, and even defend terrestrial territories. Comparisons of these blennies' terrestrial kinematic and kinetic (i.e., force) measurements with those of less terrestrial sister genera show A. arnoldorum move with greater stability and locomotor control, and can move away more rapidly from impending threats. Conclusions/Significance My results demonstrate that axial tail twisting serves as a key innovation enabling invasion of a novel marine niche. This paper highlights the potential of using this system to address general evolutionary questions about water-land transitions and niche invasions.
Genetic studies of recombining DNA in pneumococcal transformation.

The results of genetic fine structure experiments, performed on the amiA locus of Pneumococcus are summarized. The peculiar feature of transformation genetics is that a given donor marker mutation transforms with an efficiency characteristic of the mutated site. In spite of this difficulty, mapping procedures have been devised and quantitative recombination studies performed. It is concluded from these studies that transformation, in this locus, is the consequence of frequent, and essentially random exchanges occurring between donor DNA and the chromosomal DNA of the recipient cell. The average length of uninterrupted donor DNA polynucleotide strand which could be inserted into the chromosome of a transformed cell is estimated, from genetic data, to be probably not greater than 3·105 daltons (for a double-stranded insertion). It is proposed, on the basis of genetic evidence, that following essentially random exchanges between donor DNA and recipient chromosome, a revision process, specific for certain types of mutated sites, occurs. The revision process appears to remove preferentially donor DNA sequences from the primary recombinant structure, and allow repair along the chromosomal template, leading to low efficiency in the genetic integration of these sites. A mechanism for this "destruction-choice" process is presented, and evidence in support of this mechanism discussed.
Cerebrospinal fluid GABA levels in involuntary movement disorders

Abstract GABA was measured in Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with involuntary movement disorders to evaluate the selectivity and specificity of CSF GABA levels in diseases of the basal ganglia and cerebellum. GABA was measured by ion-exchange/fluorometric method from the first 12 ml of CSF. The results showed the mean ( ± SD) CSF GABA levels to be 233 ± 78 pmol/ml in normal controls, 141 ± 60 pmol / ml in Hungtinton's disease, 130 ± 48 pmol / ml in Parkinson's disease, 125 ± 89 pmol / ml in Cerebellar degeneration and 125 ± 43 pmol / ml in Essential tremor. Statistical comparison using the Student's t -test showed that CSF GABA level was significantly reduced in patients with Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Cerebellar degeneration and Essential tremor when compared to normal controls. No statistically significant differences were found between Huntington's disease and other three diseases, showing that low CSF GABA levels are not specific for any one of these diseases. No clear correlation was seen between CSF GABA levels and age, duration, severity of illness, medication or symptoms in either Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease.
Two Decades of Anglophone Historical Writing on Colonial Mexico: Continuity and Change since 1980

Research on colonial Mexico continues to be one of the most important sub- fields in the history of Latin America in the United States, but also enjoys considerable attention in Canada and Britain. Over the last twenty-five years or so the approach of English-speaking scholars to colonial Mexican history has changed perceptibly. The rise of cultural history, ethnohistory, and subaltern history, for example, are all fairly obvious trends, even if they were already on the horizon by 1980 or so. On the other hand, more traditional styles of work such as economic history have continued strong. The article traces these changes, both in general terms and by looking at a number of monographs and clusters of works. One conclusion of the essay is that the rise of cultural history, ethnohistory, and the search for “subaltern agency”in more recent historical writings, by de-emphasizing the scalar measurement of Mexican underdevelopment so characteristic of older types of writing, have made for a less grim and monochromatic image of colonial Mexican society. La investigacioon sobre el Meexico colonial sigue siendo uno de los sub-campos maas importantes de los estudios de la historia de Ameerica Latina en Estados Unidos; tambieen disfruta de una atencioon notable en Canadaa e Inglaterra. No obstante, durante los ultimos veinticinco annos los meetodos y planteamientos de los historiadores angloofonos frente a la historia del Meexico colonial han cambiado notablemente. El ascenso de la historia cultural, la etnohistoria, y la historia de grupos subalternos, por ejemplo, son tendencias bastante obvias, a pesar de que ya se vieran en el horizonte historiograafico desde 1980. Por supuesto, los trabajos tradicionales, como los que versan sobre historia econoomica, han seguido fuertes tambieen. Este articulo esboza estos cambios, en teerminos generales como tambieen a travees del examen de varias obras monograaficas y grupos de obras. Una conclusioon del ensayo es que el ascenso de la historia cultural, la etnohistoria, y la busqueda de la “agencia subalterna”en las obras histooricas maas recientes, ha pintado una imagen menos sombriia y monocromaatica de la sociedad mexicana de la eepoca colonial, al desenfatizar la medicioon del desarrollo mexicano como si existiera en una escala lineal (una caracteriistica del estilo de los trabajos maas tradicionales).
A Comparison of a New Neuroadaptive Controller Architecture with the σ- and e- Modification Architectures

.This paper presents a neuroadaptive full-state feedback controller design for the Boeing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), and a neuroadaptive output feedback controller design for a damped van der Pol oscillator model. The proposed neuroadaptive controllers employ a novel controller architecture involving additional terms in the update laws that are constructed using a moving window of the integrated system uncertainty. These terms can be used to identify the ideal system weights of the neural network as well as effectively suppress system uncertainty and actuator system failures.
Microarchitecture of the liver: a jigsaw puzzle.

Only little is known about how cells coordinately behave to establish functional tissue structure and restore microarchitecture during regeneration. Research in this field is hampered by a lack of techniques that allow quantification of tissue architecture and its development. To bridge this gap, we have established a procedure based on confocal laser scans, image processing, and three-dimensional tissue reconstruction, as well as quantitative mathematical modeling. As a proof of principle, we reconstructed and modeled liver regeneration in mice after damage by CCl(4), a prototypical inducer of pericentral liver damage. We have chosen the regenerating liver as an example because of the tight link between liver architecture and function: the complex microarchitecture formed by hepatocytes and microvessels, i.e. sinusoids, ensures optimal exchange of metabolites between blood and hepatocytes. Our model captures all hepatocytes and sinusoids of a liver lobule during a 16 day regeneration process. The model unambiguously predicted a so-far unrecognized mechanism as essential for liver regeneration, whereby daughter hepatocytes align along the orientation of the closest sinusoid, a process which we named "hepatocyte-sinusoid alignment" (HSA). The simulated tissue architecture was only in agreement with the experimentally obtained data when HSA was included into the model and, moreover, no other likely mechanism could replace it. In order to experimentally validate the model of prediction of HSA, we analyzed the three-dimensional orientation of daughter hepatocytes in relation to the sinusoids. The results of this analysis clearly confirmed the model prediction. We believe our procedure is widely applicable in the systems biology of tissues.
Electrocardiographic (ECG) Manifestations of Diastolic Dysfunction

Background: ECG P-wave and QRS-complex durations characterize atrial and ventricular conduction and are used in clinical practice for diagnostics. QRS duration $120 ms is an indication for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). Studies suggest that ECG P-wave and QRS duration can be used to optimize CRT device programming. Objective: To determine whether automatically measured device intracardiac electrogram (EGM) conduction intervals can be used as a surrogate for ECG conduction intervals to identify patients for CRT and optimize CRT device programming. Methods: A 5-lead surface ECG and device telemetered signals, which included marker channel, Can-SVC (Superior Vena Cava coil) EGM, and Can-RAr (right atrial ring electrode) EGM, were digitally recorded from CRT patients (n585) during intrinsic ventricular activation with or without atrial pacing. A Wave Duration Measurement (WDM) algorithm was developed to automatically measure sensed (Ps) or paced P-waves (Pp) and sensed QRS conduction intervals (QRSs) from the EGMs as the interval from the device sensed or pacing marker to the end of the respective wave. The WDM results were compared to the corresponding P and QRS conduction intervals manually measured from the surface ECG using Pearson correlation analysis and mean absolute difference (MADIFF). Manual wave measurements were performed twice by the same expert to evaluate intra-observer variability. Results: Automatically determined wave conduction intervals correlated with manually measured values (Table). Intra-observer MADIFFs for the manually measured Ps, Pp and QRSs from surface ECGs were 1167 ms, 11614 ms and 967 ms respectively, comparable to the accuracy of the automatic measurements. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the feasibility of determining sensed or paced P and sensed QRS conduction intervals from far-field EGMs which may then be used to identify patients for CRT and optimize CRT parameters.
Metastasis After Radical Prostatectomy or External Beam Radiotherapy for Patients With Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: A Comparison of Clinical Cohorts Adjusted for Case Mix

Purpose We assessed the effect of radical prostatectomy (RP) and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) on distant metastases (DM) rates in patients with localized prostate cancer treated with RP or EBRT at a single specialized cancer center. Patients and Methods Patients with clinical stages T1c-T3b prostate cancer were treated with intensity-modulated EBRT ( 81 Gy) or RP. Both cohorts included patients treated with salvage radiotherapy or androgendeprivation therapy for biochemical failure. Salvage therapy for patients with RP was delivered a median of 13 months after biochemical failure compared with 69 months for EBRT patients. DM was compared controlling for patient age, clinical stage, serum prostate-specific antigen level, biopsy Gleason score, and year of treatment. Results The 8-year probability of freedom from metastatic progression was 97% for RP patients and 93% for EBRT patients. After adjustment for case mix, surgery was associated with a reduced risk of metastasis (hazard ratio, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.65; P .001). Results were similar for prostate cancer–specific mortality (hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.80; P .015). Rates of metastatic progression were similar for favorable-risk disease (1.9% difference in 8-year metastasis-free survival), somewhat reduced for intermediate-risk disease (3.3%), and more substantially reduced in unfavorable-risk disease (7.8% in 8-year metastatic progression). Conclusion Metastatic progression is infrequent in men with low-risk prostate cancer treated with either RP or EBRT. RP patients with higher-risk disease treated had a lower risk of metastatic progression and prostate cancer–specific death than EBRT patients. These results may be confounded by differences in the use and timing of salvage therapy. J Clin Oncol 28:1508-1513. © 2010 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
Preparation of soy hull pectin

Abstract Soy hull, a co-product of soybean processing, was investigated as a source of pectin. Pectin content of soy hull extracts expressed as percent galacturonic acid content, varied from 76.7% to 88.3%. Enzymatic pretreatment of soy hulls increased content of alkali soluble pectins. X-ray diffraction patterns of soy hull pectins were similar to those of commercial citrus pectin; however, enzymatic pretreatment increased X-ray diffraction intensities corresponding to interatomic distances of 17.5, 7.5, 4.3, 3.0, 2.9, and 2.7 A. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of soy hull pectins revealed differences in the region between 1800 and 1600 cm−1. Size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography was useful in identifying soy hull pectins. ©
Color perception profiles in central achromatopsia

Central achromatopsia is an impairment of color perception caused by damage to the visual association cortex. Its psychophysical underpinnings remain poorly defined. We report our attempt to characterize the defect along critical dimensions of color space, taking advantage of the same standardized tasks that allow detailed profiles in patients with retinal cone defects. We studied two patients. The results in patient 1 showed that perceptual color space was collapsed along the red-green (R-G) and short-wavelength-sensitive cone (S-cone) dimensions but that discriminations along achromatic dimensions were relatively preserved. Additional observations showed that the defect was dependent on target size, and that processing of surface and light source effects that differ from color (eg, transparency) was intact. Patient 2 showed a less severe color processing defect involving signals arising from the S-cones of the retina, although an R-G defect was also present. The profiles in these two patients demonstrate that central achromatopsia encompasses a range of color processing impairments with varied psychophysical characteristics.
Skew quadrupole in RHIC dipole magnets at high fields

In the RHIC are dipoles, the center of the cold mass lies above the center of the cryostat. At the maximum design field, the magnetic flux lines leak through the yoke to the asymmetrically located cryostat, which provides an additional return path. This introduces a systematic top-bottom asymmetry leading to a skew quadrupole term at high fields. A similar asymmetry is also created by any difference in weights of the upper and the lower yoke halves. Data from measurements of several RHIC dipoles are presented to study this effect. In the current production series of the RHIC dipoles, an attempt is made to compensate the effect of the cryostat by an asymmetry in the iron yoke. Seven dipoles with this type of yoke have been cold tested, and show a reduced saturation in the skew quadrupole term, as expected.
CNS invasion by CD14+/CD16+ peripheral blood-derived monocytes in HIV dementia: perivascular accumulation and reservoir of HIV infection

Increases in circulating CD14+/CD16+ monocytes have been associated with HIV dementia; trafficking of these cells into the CNS has been proposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of HIV-induced neurological disorders. This model suggests that events outside the CNS leading to monocyte activation initiate the process leading to HIV dementia. To investigate the role of this activated monocyte subset in the pathogenesis of HIV dementia, we examined brain specimens from patients with HIV encephalopathy (HIVE), HIV without encephalopathy, and seronegative controls. An accumulation of perivascular macrophages was observed in HIVE. The majority of these cells identified in microglial nodules and in the perivascular infiltrate were CD14+/CD16+. P24 antigen colocalized with both CD14 and CD16 suggesting that the CD14+/CD16+ macrophage is a major reservoir of HIV-1 infection in CNS. Using CD45/LCA staining, the perivascular macrophage was distinguished from resident microglia. In addition to perivascular and nodular localizations, CD16 also stained ramified cells throughout the white matter. These cells were more ramified and abundant than cells positive for CD14 in white matter. Double staining for p24 and CD16 suggests that these cells were often infected with HIV-1. The prominent distribution of CD14+ cells in HIVE prompted our analysis of soluble CD14 levels in cerebrospinal fluid. Higher levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14) were observed in patients with moderate-to-severe HIV dementia, suggesting the utility of sCD14 as a surrogate marker. CD14+/CD16+ monocytes may play a role in other neurological disorders and sCD14 may be useful for evaluating these conditions.
Dumptrucks versus dredges: An economic analysis of sand sources for beach nourishment

This article examines the use of inland mined sand and offshore dredged sand for beach nourishment projects in North Carolina, focusing on the question of whether inland mined sand is economically preferential for hot‐spot erosion control. Excavation, processing, and transport costs are presented, and cost efficiencies of hypothetical beach nourishment projects are compared. Cost analyses indicate that inland mined sand is economical for small projects (10,000–50,000 cubic yards), given that a clean sand source can be located within 15 miles of the nourishment site. The two factors primarily influencing per cubic yard costs of inland sand are overland transportation expenses and processing costs. The use of dredged offshore sand is less expensive for large projects (> 100,000 cubic yards) due to the economies of scale affecting dredge mobilization. Large beach nourishment projects in North Carolina will most likely continue to utilize offshore dredged sand.
The integration of automatic segmentation and motion tracking for 4D reconstruction and visualization of musculoskeletal structures

The 3D reconstruction of high contrast anatomical structures has been widely explored. However, a class of important clinical problems involves the motion of very complex musculoskeletal structures including the joints, hence a 4D reconstruction is desired. Practical difficulties with 4D reconstruction with MRI include the time required for data acquisition, the resolution required for visualization of small but critical structures, the gross inhomogeneities of field coil response, the degree of noise present with the signal and the extreme low-contrast details between some distinct anatomical structures. The authors present a comprehensive approach to 4D musculoskeletal imagery that address the above challenges. Specific MRI imaging protocols; segmentation, motion estimation and motion tracking algorithms are developed and applied to render complex 4D musculoskeletal systems. Applications of the approach include the analysis of the rotation of the upper arm and the knee extension.
Architectural illustration: the advancement of light, shade and shadows knowledge with 3D digital technology

The transition from traditional graphics into computer graphics over the past decade has brought about a multitude of changes that graphics educators and other graphics professionals have had to address and incorporate. The ever evolving integration of computer aided design (CAD) in architecture and engineering have revolutionized the design and documentation process. In the graphic communication area, changes from layout and design to desktop publishing and interactive 'new media' design for CD-ROM and Web distribution are but a few of the changes graphic educators have to keep up with. One problem with new technology is computer graphics encompasses several components and areas, and some of these areas are not able to progress into technology as quickly as others. This paper gives an overview of the shades, shadows and perspective course at Purdue University and how it has evolved into an integrated 2D and 3D digital lighting and rendering illustration course.
Radiation tolerance of the skin.

(1969). Radiation Tolerance of the Skin. Acta Radiologica: Therapy, Physics, Biology: Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 311-330.
Innovation and Wearable Computing: A Proposed Collaborative Policy Design Framework

The rapidly expanding market for wearable computing devices (wearables), driven by the confluence of information and communication technology and public acceptance of a design aesthetic, suggests nearly limitless potential for consumer uses. As adoption of wearables spreads, there are cultural and social impacts that represent both barriers and opportunities, with subsequent public policy ramifications. All too often designers, technologists, and policymakers operate independently; consequently, often products are out of sync, lack interoperability, or are hindered by well-meaning (but obstructive) policy. This article proposes a collaborative policy design framework, based on initial trials undertaken at a multidisciplinary collaborative engineering center, the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center. The proposed collaborative policy design process will enhance the development of wearable devices and guide interdisciplinary collaborators as they explore the various implications and effects of device design in social, technological, and regulatory contexts.
Neuroergonomics: a review of applications to physical and cognitive work.

Neuroergonomics is an emerging science that is defined as the study of the human brain in relation to performance at work and in everyday settings. This paper provides a critical review of the neuroergonomic approach to evaluating physical and cognitive work, particularly in mobile settings. Neuroergonomics research employing mobile and immobile brain imaging techniques are discussed in the following areas of physical and cognitive work: (1) physical work parameters; (2) physical fatigue; (3) vigilance and mental fatigue; (4) training and neuroadaptive systems; and (5) assessment of concurrent physical and cognitive work. Finally, the integration of brain and body measurements in investigating workload and fatigue, in the context of mobile brain/body imaging (“MoBI”), is discussed.
Kernel Map Compression for Speeding the Execution of Kernel-Based Methods

The use of Mercer kernel methods in statistical learning theory provides for strong learning capabilities, as seen in kernel principal component analysis and support vector machines. Unfortunately, after learning, the computational complexity of execution through a kernel is of the order of the size of the training set, which is quite large for many applications. This paper proposes a two-step procedure for arriving at a compact and computationally efficient execution procedure. After learning in the kernel space, the proposed extension exploits the universal approximation capabilities of generalized radial basis function neural networks to efficiently approximate and replace the projections onto the empirical kernel map used during execution. Sample applications demonstrate significant compression of the kernel representation with graceful performance loss.
Parallel molecular genetic pathways operate during CNS metamorphosis in Drosophila.

Abstract Insect metamorphosis provides a valuable model for studying mechanisms of steroid hormone action on the nervous system during a dynamic phase of functional remodeling. The Drosophila Broad Complex ( BRC ) holds a pivotal position in the gene expression cascade triggered by the molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) at the onset of metamorphosis. We previously demonstrated that the BRC, which encodes a family of zinc-finger transcription factors, is essential for transducing 20E signals into the morphogenetic movements and cellular assembly that alter the CNS from juvenile to adult form and function. We set out to examine the relationship of BRC to two other genes, IMP-E1 and Deformed ( Dfd ), involved in the metamorphic transition of the CNS. Representatives of the whole family of BRC transcript isoforms accumulate in the CNS during the larval-to-pupal transition and respond directly to 20E in vitro. IMP-E1 is also directly regulated by 20E, but its induction is independent of BRC, revealing that 20E works through at least two pathways in the CNS. DFD expression is also independent of BRC function. Surprisingly, BRC and DFD proteins are expressed in distinct, nonoverlapping subsets of neuronal nuclei of the subesophageal ganglion even though both are required for its migration into the head capsule. This suggests that the segment identity and ecdysone cascades operate in parallel to control region-specific reorganization during metamorphosis.
Correlation between Solar Activity and the Brightness of Jupiter's Great Red Spot

IT may be interesting to note in connexion with the letter of Graf, Smith and McDevitt1 discussing the correlation of solar activity and brightness of Jupiter's great red spot that the brightness of the Jovian spot seems to have two maxima for each single maximum of the Zurich sunspot number. It has been pointed out, particularly by Gnevyshev2, that a number of aspects of the solar cycle behave in a similar manner. Perhaps the most striking of these is the incidence of proton flares (see especially Fig. 6 of Gnevyshev2) which clearly has two maxima per solar cycle with one maximum preceding the sunspot maximum by a slight amount and the other occurring during the declining phase of solar activity. Because the proton flares are known to have very important terrestrial effects, and because proton flares have the same double maxima behaviour as does the visibility of the Jovian red spot, it seems reasonable to suggest that perhaps the emission of solar particles may be a more relevant aspect of solar activity to associate with Jupiter's spot than the ultraviolet radiation suggested by Graf et al.1.
AB-INITIO STUDIES OF DIFFUSION AND GROWTH PHENOMENA ON SEMICONDUCTOR SURFACES

We discuss the application of ab-initio quantum-mechanical calculations, based on pseudopotential local-density-functional theory, to diffusion and growth phenomena on semiconductor surfaces. We examine in detail two specific examples: adatom diffusion on the Ge(111)c(2×8) reconstructed surface and surfactant-mediated homoepitaxial growth on Si substrates. In these examples, the combination of results from first-principles calculations and simple simulations helps elucidate complex dynamical phenomena. We also make predictions on the feasibility of using hydrogen as a surfactant on Si substrates, by drawing analogies between the chemical behavior of group-V or group-VI adsorbates and Si-H complexes.