cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple intracranial aneurysms as delayed complications of an atrial myxoma: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Atrial myxomas are rare cardiac tumors that may cause neurological complications; however, delayed neurological events after total tumor resection are rare. In this report, we present a patient who developed transient cerebral ischemic attacks and was found to have multiple intracranial aneurysms 5 years after successful resection of her atrial myxoma. At the time of myxoma resection, there were no neurological symptoms; at the time of presentation with transient ischemic attacks, there was no evidence of atrial recurrence. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 32-year-old woman presented with five episodes of right arm and face paresthesia, each lasting 15 to 20 minutes, 5 years after successful resection of her atrial myxoma. Clopidogrel bisulfate therapy was initiated, with resolution of her symptoms. Angiography revealed multiple, peripherally located, fusiform cerebral aneurysms. INTERVENTION: A left frontal craniotomy for resection and biopsy of one of the aneurysms was performed, to establish the diagnosis. Pathological analysis of the biopsied aneurysm provided evidence of direct atrial myxoma invasion and occlusion of the cerebral blood vessel. CONCLUSION: Neurological symptoms may accompany or lead to the diagnosis of atrial myxoma. Rarely, as in this case, myxomatous aneurysms may develop years after definitive treatment of the primary tumor. Patients who have undergone successful resection of a left atrial myxoma may be at risk for delayed cerebral ischemia associated with aneurysm development, and this phenomenon must be considered for patients with neurological symptoms who present even years after myxoma removal. The natural history, pathophysiological features, and treatment dilemma of these aneurysms are discussed.
The Upper Atmosphere Composition Spectrometer

Abstract : The Upper Atmosphere Composition Spectrometer (UACS) was flown on the DOD Space Test Program mission S85-1. This report describes the instrument and its operation. The Upper Atmosphere Composition Spectrometer employs a conventional quadrupole mass filter with a semiopen ionization chamber and a special dual detector system for a large dynamic measurement range. In addition to measuring neutral gas composition for masses 4 to 48, UACS performs a retarding potential analysis of the incident neutral gas stream to measure atmospheric temperature and one component of the neutral wind. Examples of its operation in orbit are discussed. Keywords: Atmospheric Composition; Neutral Mass Spectrometers; Satellites; Wind; Temperature.
Regular p-groups, III

This notion is investigated in the first section of this article, and we obtain some analogues and extensions of well-known properties of regular p-groups. We also introduce the subgroup ?J,(N; G), a “relativization” of U,(N), and relate it to regular embedding. In the second section we investigate totally reguZar groups, these being the groups K that are regularly embedded in G whenever they are normal in G. For example, a group with IK : fJ,(WI Gd-’ is totally regular. Total regularity is essentially a condition on the automorphisms of K, so several recent papers constructing p-groups with “small” automorphism group yield examples of totally regular groups. These show that total regularity is not inherited by either subgroups or factor groups. Under the assumptions that all sections of K are totally regular, we derive severe restrictions on the structure of K, and probably more is true. Finally, in the last section we discuss briefly the notions of marginal series and marginal products of varieties, a natural generalization of some of the preceding concepts. We also believe that the series of subgroups c-T,,,(G) and W,(G), defined respectively in the Remark to Theorem 4 and at the beginning of Section 3, are of interest.
Paramagnetic Resonance Absorption in Salts of V and Mn

Paramagnetic resonance absorptions in tetravalent, trivalent, and divalent salts of V and in a divalent salt of Mn have been investigated at room temperature and at a frequency of 9.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{9}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. A detailed study has been made of the absorption in single crystals of the Tutton salt of ${\mathrm{V}}^{+2}$ as a function of orientation. The results have been interpreted on the basis of crystalline electrostatic fields.
Comparing satellite rainfall estimates with rain gauge data: Optimal strategies suggested by a spectral model

Validation of satellite remote-sensing methods for estimating rainfall against rain-gauge data is attractive because of the direct nature of the rain-gauge measurements. Comparisons of satellite estimates to rain-gauge data are difficult, however, because of the extreme variability of rain and the fact that satellites view large areas over a short time while rain gauges monitor small areas continuously. In this paper, a statistical model of rainfall variability developed for studies of sampling error in averages of satellite data is used to examine the impact of spatial and temporal averaging of satellite and gauge data on intercomparison results. The model parameters were derived from radar observations of rain, but the model appears to capture many of the characteristics of rain-gauge data as well. The model predicts that many months of data from areas containing a few gauges are required to validate satellite estimates over the areas, and that the areas should be of the order of several hundred km in diameter. Over gauge arrays of sufficiently high density, the optimal areas and averaging times are reduced. The possibility of using time-weighted averages of gauge data is explored.
SU‐GG‐I‐09: Evaluation of Noise Reduction Methods On Very Low Dose CT Renal Perfusion Imaging

Purpose: To quantify the impact of dose reduction on the image quality of time‐resolved renal perfusion CTimages and to compare the performance of several noise reduction algorithms on very low‐dose perfusion images.Method and Materials: In this study, series of renal perfusion CTimages were generated using a porcine model. The 3‐minute full‐dose scans were performed at 80 kVp and 160 mAs with the animal in a baseline physiological state. Dose‐reduced scans were performed 10 minutes later on the same animal and same scanner (Siemens Definition) at 80 kVp with 32 mAs or 16 mAs, respectively, with the animal still at baseline conditions. Several traditional image‐based noise‐reduction algorithms (low‐pass, median, and sigma‐filter) and the recently introduced local highly constrained back projection (HYPR‐LR) were applied to the low‐dose images. Signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNR) and time‐density curves were obtained on the full‐dose, original low‐dose, and various de‐noised low‐dose images.Results: Examination of SNR and time‐density curves from de‐noised low‐dose images shows that the SNR and time‐density curves were similar or improved at both 1/5th and 1/10th dose levels. Conclusion: The time‐density curves of low‐dose renal perfusion CTimages, which provide physiological quantification of organ perfusion and function, are not compromised by use of image‐based noise‐reduction algorithms. While traditional image‐based filters provided greater noise reduction, a decrease in spatial resolution was evident. With a different noise reduction mechanism from spatial filters, HYPR processed images maintained spatial resolution, making them more suitable for applications such as time‐resolved CTangiography.Conflict of Interest: CHM and ANP: Research grants from Siemens Medical Solutions.
Photon beam characterization and modelling for Monte Carlo treatment planning

Photon beams of 4, 6 and 15 MV from Varian Clinac 2100C and 2300C/D accelerators were simulated using the EGS4/BEAM code system. The accelerators were modelled as a combination of component modules (CMs) consisting of a target, primary collimator, exit window, flattening filter, monitor chamber, secondary collimator, ring collimator, photon jaws and protection window. A full phase space file was scored directly above the upper photon jaws and analysed using beam data processing software, BEAMDP, to derive the beam characteristics, such as planar fluence, angular distribution, energy spectrum and the fractional contributions of each individual CM. A multiple-source model has been further developed to reconstruct the original phase space. Separate sources were created with accurate source intensity, energy, fluence and angular distributions for the target, primary collimator and flattening filter. Good agreement (within 2%) between the Monte Carlo calculations with the source model and those with the original phase space was achieved in the dose distributions for field sizes of 4 cm x 4 cm to 40 cm x 40 cm at source surface distances (SSDs) of 80-120 cm. The dose distributions in lung and bone heterogeneous phantoms have also been found to be in good agreement (within 2%) for 4, 6 and 15 MV photon beams for various field sizes between the Monte Carlo calculations with the source model and those with the original phase space.
Adaptive Regulation of Mechanical Manipulators

This paper presents an adaptive scheme for point-to-point motion control of robot manipulators. The controller does not require knowledge of either the structure or the parameter values of the robot dynamics, is computationally efficient, and is shown to be globally stable. Furthermore, the control system is very general and is directly implementable in either joint-space or Cartesian-space with either nonredundant or redundant manipulators.
Frequency of Enamel Lamellae in Molars of Rats on Coarse and Fine Particle Diets

An experiment was designed to compare microfractures (lamellae) in the enamel of rats fed either a coarse- or fine-particle diet. The differences observed between these two groups, as determined by an arbitrary scoring method, were not statistically significant.
Prioritized aggregation operators and their applications

Multicriteria decision problems having a prioritization relationship between the criteria arises in situations in which a decrease in satisfaction to a higher priority criteria can't be readily compensated by an increase in satisfaction to a lower priority criteria. A typical example of this is the relationship between safety and cost. We consider criteria aggregation procedures for use in this kind of situation. We suggest that the prioritization between criteria can be modeled by making the weights associated with a criterion dependent upon the satisfaction of the higher priority criteria. We implement this using a prioritized scoring operator. We show how the lack of satisfaction to a higher order criteria blocks the possibility of compensation by lower priority criteria. We show that in the special case where the prioritization relationship among the criteria satisfies a linear ordering we can use a prioritized averaging operator.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors reverse butyrate stimulation of human Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cell alkaline phosphatase but not butyrate promotion of dipeptidyl dipeptidase.

Short chain fatty acids such as sodium butyrate are concentrated in the colonic lumen and may protect against colon carcinogenesis by maintaining colonocytic differentiation, but the mechanisms by which they act are not fully understood. It has recently been suggested that short chain fatty acids modulate cellular tyrosine kinase activity in addition to altering chromatin structure via regulation of histone acetylation and DNA methylation. Therefore, the authors evaluated the influence of tyrosine kinase inhibition on the effects of 10 mM butyrate on human Caco-2 intestinal epithelial differentiation, using alkaline phosphatase and dipeptidyl dipeptidase specific activity as markers of differentiation, and two tyrosine kinase inhibitors, of different mechanisms of action and different effects on Caco-2 brush border enzyme specific activity, to block tyrosine kinase activity. As expected, butyrate stimulated both alkaline phosphatase and dipeptidyl dipeptidase specific activity. The tyrosine kinase inhibitors prevented, and indeed one inhibitor reversed the effects of butyrate on alkaline phosphatase specific activity. However, tyrosine kinase inhibition did not prevent butyrate stimulation of dipeptidyl dipeptidase specific activity. Different pathways are likely to regulate the effects of butyrate on expression of these two brush border enzymes. Butyrate stimulation of alkaline phosphatase, but not dipeptidyl dipeptidase, may involve tyrosine phosphorylation signaling.
Health Coverage of Low-Income Citizen and Noncitizen Wage Earners: Sources and Disparities

The health coverage of low-income workers represents an area of continuing disparities in the United States system of health insurance. Using the 2001 California Health Interview Survey, we estimate the effect of low-income wage earners’ citizenship and gender on the odds of obtaining primary employment-based health insurance (EBHI), dependent EBHI, public program coverage, and coverage from any source. We find that noncitizen men and women who comprise 40% of California’s low-income workforce, share the disadvantage of much lower rates of insurance coverage, compared to naturalized and U.S.-born citizens. However, poor coverage rates of noncitizen men, regardless of permanent residency status, result from the cumulative disadvantage in obtaining dependent EBHI and public insurance. If public policies designed to provide a health care safety net fail to address the health care coverage needs of low-wage noncitizens, health disparities will continue to increase in this group that contributes essentially to the U.S. economy.
Do neurotrophic interactions control synapse formation in the adult rat brain

Abstract The role of axonal transport in the regulation of synaptic contacts was studied in the adult rat dentate gyrus. Colchicine was applied to the fimbria, which includes fibers of the hippocampal commissural system, and axonal transport was measured. Axonal transport in these and other fibers of the fimbria was markedly reduced. The region of commissural termination in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus was monitored by electron microscopy for changes in the number of synapses per unit area following colchicine treatment, sodium chloride treatment, or fimbrial transection. Four days after colchicine treatment there was no change in the number of synapses. However, at 11 and 60–70 days after colchicine treatment the number of synapses per unit area significantly increased. This increase occurred throughout the commissural terminal zone, but it did not occur in terminal zones of other afferents in the dentate gyrus. The increased synaptic density appeared to arise from the commissural system itself because removal of commissural fibers eliminates the increase (in addition to the normal commissural input). These findings suggest a role for axonally transported trophic substances in the specific regulation of synaptogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the adult rat.
Fluorescence studies of metal complexes in synergistic extraction systems combining dibutyl phosphoric acid and tri- n -butyl phosphate

The extraction of lanthanides using a combination of tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) and dibutyl phosphoric acid (HDBP) was found to display characteristics of microemulsion aggregates, which may be related to synergistic effects. We studied the extraction of lanthanides and actinides, in our case dysprosium, europium, and uranium, with TBP and HDBP in conjunction with 2D fluorescence spectrometry. The results presented indicate that the coordination environment around the metal ion in the organic phase changes as the ratio between TBP and HDBP changes. This suggests the presence of mixed complexes of M:TBP:HDBP but does not rule out the presence of reverse micelles.
Chaotic map models of soot fluctuations in turbulent diffusion flames

Abstract In this paper, we introduce a methodology to characterize time-dependent soot volume fraction fluctuations in turbulent diffusion flames via chaotic maps. The approach is based on the hypothesis that fluctuations of properties in turbulent flames are deterministic in nature, rather than statistical. Our objective is to develop models of these fluctuations to be used in comprehensive algorithms to study the nature of turbulent flames and the interaction of turbulence with radiation. To this end we measured the time series of soot scattering coefficient in an ethylene diffusion flame from light scattering experiments and fit these data to linear combinations of chaotic maps of the unit interval. Both time series and power spectra can be modeled with reasonable accuracy in this way. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Inhibition of cyclin D1 gene transcription by Brg-1

The evolutionarily conserved SWI-SNF chromatin remodeling complex regulates cellular proliferation. A catalytic subunit, BRG-1, is frequently down regulated, silenced or mutated in malignant cells, however, the mechanism by which BRG-1 may function as a tumor suppressor or block breast cancer cellular proliferation is not understood. The cyclin D1 gene is a collaborative oncogene overexpressed in greater than 50% of human breast cancers. Herein, BRG-1 inhibited DNA synthesis and cyclin D1 expression in human MCF-7 breast cancer epithelial cells. The cyclin D1 promoter AP-1 and CRE sites were required for repression by BRG-1 in promoter assays. BRG-1 deficient cells abolished and siRNA to BRG-1 reduced, formation of the BRG-1 chromatin complex. The endogenous cyclin D1 promoter AP-1 site bound BRG-1. Estradiol treatment of MCF-7 cells induced recruitment of BRG-1 to the endogenous hpS2 gene promoter. Estradiol, which induced cyclin D1 abundance, was associated with a reduction in recruitment of the co-repressors HP1alpha/HDAC1 to the endogenous cyclin D1 promoter AP-1/BRG-1 binding sites. These studies suggest the endogenous cyclin D1 promoter BRG-1 binding site functions as a molecular scaffold in the context of local chromatin upon which coactivators and corepressors are recruited to regulate cyclin D1.
Sex determination: Some like it hot (and some don't)

There is a widely accepted theoretical explanation for why sex in some species is determined at the embryo stage by environmental factors such as temperature. That theory is now supported by experiment.
Thermoanalytical characteristics of durable press treated cotton fabrics

Thermoanalytical characteristics of chemically treated cotton fabric often appear similar to those of untreated cotton. The overwhelming amount of cotton cellulose versus the small quantities of finishing chemicals present can mask many features contributed by reactant. The current work is an initial attempt to detect and differentiate among a variety of durable press finishes. They include three N-methylol reactants, and four polycarboxylic acids with two alkali metal salts of phosphorus-containing acids used to catalyze their reaction with cellulose. Differential scanning calorimetric and thermogravimetric techniques were employed under dynamic nitrogen conditions. Changes in residue, rate of weight loss, peak intensity, and peak temperature were observed and varied with reactant, catalyst used, and washing. The ability to distinguish among polycarboxylic acids, catalysts, and/or other formaldehyde-based reactants is of value to the textile chemist. With these preliminary results, we may soon offer a new means of finish identification. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Visual interfaces to digital libraries

Today's digital libraries (DLs) are content rich, multimedia, multilingual collections that are distributed and accessed worldwide. Designing useful interfaces to access, understand, and manage this knowledge has become an active and challenging field of study. Visual interfaces to DLs aim to shift the user's mental load from slow reading to faster perceptual processes such as visual pattern recognition. They draw on progress in the new field of Information Visualization.The workshop in 2002 continues the theme started at JCDL 2001. In addition, the growth of the field warrants new perspectives on some of the issues we have addressed last year.
In‐service training of older law enforcement officers: an andragogical argument

Purpose – Law enforcement officers enter police service usually sometime after their 21st birthday. They often remain in police service until they turn 65. To maintain their professional skills and re‐certify their licenses as law enforcement officers, they must complete in‐service training hours. The purpose of this study is to estimate the current number of law enforcement officers over 40 years old and to explore possible andragogical solutions to existing in‐service training methodologies.Design/methodology/approach – The Police Officer Standard and Training (POST) organizations were contacted in all 50 States in a telephone survey.Findings – Police training requirements vary widely between States. There are a large number of older law enforcement officers that require in‐service training. This population might be better served using andragogical training techniques.Research limitations/implications – Although this was a nationwide study, there were certain limitations that must be considered. Only St...
Incorporating heterogeneous adoption rates in new product diffusion: A model and empirical investigations

This paper presents a stochastic model of the adoption process for durables that explicitly incorporates heterogeneity in adoption rates among the consumers. The model assumes that the individual adoption times follow the Weibull distribution. Heterogeneity in adoption rates is represented by the gamma distribution. The resulting Burr distribution is more general than the Bass model, fits data as well as the Bass model estimated using OLS regression, and has parameters that can be used to make inferences about individual adoption behavior without being influenced by spurious aggregation effects.
Experimental Study on Electric-Current Induced Damage Evolution at the Crack Tip in Thin Film Conductors

The time dependent temperature distribution induced by electric current heating in a double edge cracked, unpassivated thin aluminum or gold film interconnect lines is monitored using a high resolution infrared imaging system. A pure aluminum or gold film, with a thickness of 0.2 μm, is deposited by high vacuum evaporation coating and patterned into test structures of varying widths. The operative mechanisms of mass transport are assessed in view of the monitored temperature profile. The pre-cracked aluminum film shows fine crack growth towards the positive electrode, which originates from the initial crack tips. The crack-tip temperature is close to melting, during propagation. After the initial crack propagation, a hot spot is formed between the two elongated cracks, and leads to failure. The crack growth generates a backward mass flow towards the negative electrode. The gold film shows a different pattern, in which the original cracks propagate towards each other with a slight tilt towards the negative electrode. The tip temperature is lower than the melting temperature. These time dependent failure mechanisms are rationalize using a proposed critical current intensity factor and a normalized current intensity rate, similar to the fracture toughness KIC for brittle fracture.
Equation of state constraints from neutron stars

Recent measurements of thermal radiation from neutron stars have suggested a rather broad range of radiation radii (\(R_{\infty}=R/\sqrt{1-2GM/Rc^{2}}\,\)). Sources in M13 and Omega Cen imply R∞∼12–14 km, but X7 in 47 Tuc implies R∞∼16–20 km and RX J1856-3754 R∞>17 km. If these measurements are all correct, only a limited selection of EOS’s could be consistent with them, but a broad range of neutron star masses (up to 2 M⊙) would also be necessary. The surviving equations of state are incompatible with significant softening above nuclear saturation densities, such as would occur with Boson condensates, a low-density quark-hadron transition, or hyperons. Other potential constraints, such as from QPO’s, radio pulsar mass and moment of inertia measurements, and neutron star cooling, are compared.
Bitmap approach to trend clustering for prediction in time series databases

This paper describes a bitmap approach to clustering and prediction of trends in time-series databases. Similar trend patterns, rather than similar data patterns, are extracted from time-series database. We consider four types of matches: (1) Exact match, (2) Similarity match, (3) Exact match by shift, and (4) Similarity match by shift. Each pair of time-series data may be matched in one of these four types if this pair is similar one to another, by similarity (or sim) notion over a threshold. Matched data can be clustered by the same way of matching. To improve performance, we use the notion of center of a cluster. The radius of a cluster is used to determine whether a given time-series data is included in the cluster. We also use a new notion of dissimilarity, called dissim, to make accurate clusters. It is likely that a time series data is in one cluster rather than in another by using both notions, sim and dissim: a data is similar to one cluster while it is dissimilar to another. For a trend sequence, the cluster that is dissimilar to that sequence is called dissimilar-cluster. For a cluster, the notion dissim can be also used to identify a set of clusters that are dissimilar to the given cluster. A prediction of a trend can be made by (1) Intra-cluster Trend Prediction that refers to the trends in the cluster as that trend is involved and (2) Inter-cluster Trend Prediction that refers to other trends in the cluster that is dissimilar to that trend. The contribution of this paper includes (1) clustering by using not only similarity match but also dissimilarity match. In this way we prevent any positive and negative failures. (2) Prediction by using not only similar trend sequences but also dissimilar trend sequences. (3) A bitmap approach can improve performance of clustering and prediction.
Synthesis and characterization of trans-M2(TiPB)2(O2C-CHCH-2-C4H3S)2 (M = Mo or W) and comments on the metal-to-ligand charge transfer bands in MM quadruply bonded complexes of the type trans-M2(TiPB)2L2, where TiPB = 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate and L = π-accepting carboxylate ligand

The preparation and characterization of the compounds trans-M(2)(T(i)PB)(2)(O(2)C-CH=CH-2-C(4)H(3)S)(2) where M = Mo or W and T(i)PB = 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate are reported. The optical spectra of the new compounds are compared with those of related trans-M(2)(T(i)PB)(2)L(2) compounds where L = O(2)C-C(6)H(4)-4-CN, O(2)C-α,α'-terthienyl (TTh), and O(2)C-4-C(6)H(4)N-B(C(6)F(5))(3), that show strong metal-to-ligand charge transfer bands because of M(2)δ to Lπ conjugation, and are notably temperature dependant due to the various conformations of the two trans-L groups. Upon cooling the spectral features sharpen as the planar geometry that optimizes M(2)δ-Lπ conjugation is favored. As the electronic coupling of the two trans-Lπ systems increases the (0,0) electronic transition gains intensity indicating a greater nesting of the ground state (S(0)) and excited state (S(1)) potential energy surfaces. These features are discussed in terms of the related electronic coupling of [M(2)]-[M(2)] complexes.
The scientific revolution in demography

Since 1960 a debate has taken place between demographers and natural scientists over projections of world population into the future and the methods appropriate for making projections. Underlying this debate is a disagreement over the factors which influence human population growth. To the usual factors of fertility and mortality the natural scientists emphasize the human population's ability to communicate and thereby to enlarge available resources. Also at issue are different philosophies concerning the manipulation of data. The debate between demographers and natural scientists bears many of the features of a scientific revolution as described by Thomas Kuhn. The new theory also meets the criterion of scientific growth contained in the correspondence principle. The theories used by demographers and natural scientists have political implications, since the demographers assume stability whereas the natural scientists observe instability.
A theoretical approach for non-equilibrium radiation dosimetry

This study presents a theoretical approach to the dosimetry for small and non-equilibrium radiation fields. We applied the newly developed VMCBC© algorithm to the dosimetry for megavoltage photon beams using Monte Carlo techniques. The approach assumes that a Monte Carlo simulated beam can be calibrated per incident particle at the target in an x-ray tube or in an accelerator head. Since the geometry of the accelerator head and beam defining systems can be modeled in detail, the output of a radiation beam can be accurately related to the number of incident particles through particle transport calculations. The proposed methodology is benchmarked and validated using existing radiosurgery beam commissioning data, which were experimentally measured for narrow beams defined by conical collimators with diameters ranging from 7.5 mm to 30 mm. The Monte Carlo predicted beam outputs agree with the measurement values within the uncertainty of the experiments. The Monte Carlo approach developed and introduced in this study allows the user to perform absolute radiation dosimetry in addition to relative dose distributions at locations where charged-particle equilibrium (CPE) does not exist, such as radiation dose from a narrow stereotactic radiosurgery beam, and where experimental measurements are difficult. The BEAMnrc/DOSXYZnrc code was employed in the Monte Carlo simulations.
Towards a dynamical interpretation of dual amplitudes with Mandelstam analyticity

Abstract The infinite momentum frame loop variable x should be identified with the variable appearing in the integral representation of dual amplitudes with Mandelstam analyticity. Large angle and Regge behavior are discussed under this aspect.
Load Rating and Reliability Analysis of an Aerial Guideway Structure for Condition Assessment

Aerial guideways are elegant transportation structures that are seen at airports, theme parks, and crowded urban areas. The guideways generally consist of continuous, prestressed concrete beam spans, precast concrete columns, and steel beam-column connections. Although there are guidelines prepared as a supplement to conventional highway and railway bridge design codes, aerial guideways form a different class, relatively less studied compared to common highway bridges. The primary objective of this paper is to present a study to better understand the structural behavior and capacity used in an existing guideway structural system which has been in service for about 35 years. The load demand on the guideway system has increased by about 50% over the years. The structural system is composed of six-span continuous prestressed concrete bridge segments. In order to develop models that bound the possible existing condition of the structure, several models are developed by changing the most critical parameters. The critical parameters are categorized as material properties, prestress losses, boundary conditions, and continuity conditions. Sensitivity studies are conducted using eight parametric models for simulations with moving loads for the two different train types. The load rating and reliability indexes are computed for all the cases under different loading conditions. The parameters that have the most influence on the load rating and reliability are also presented. The information generated from these analyses can be utilized for better-focused visual inspection and can also be used for developing a long-term structural monitoring plan.
Optimal syllables are not always optimal: A prosodic structure of Yukaghir

The object of this paper is to investigate the prosodic system of Yukaghir from the perspective of Optimality Theory. The analysis reveals that the prosodic word in Yukaghir exhibits continuous left-to-right parsing into bimoraic monosyllabic feet. As a result, the surface occurrence of light monomoraic syllables is prohibited, and various strategies apply to fix the output. From a general point of view this article aims to show that a grammar may include a requirement for a foot to be aligned with both edges of the same syllable. When the constraints on foot structure play a critical role in determining the surface shape of the word, this requirement forces input-unfaithful heavy closed syllables.
Lactogens protect rodent and human beta cells against glucolipotoxicity-induced cell death through Janus kinase‐2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription-5 (STAT5) signalling

A leading cause of type 2 diabetes is a reduction in functional beta cell mass partly due to increased beta cell death, triggered by stressors such as glucolipotoxicity (GLT). This study evaluates the hypothesis that lactogens can protect beta cells against GLT and examines the mechanism behind the pro-survival effect. The effect of exogenous treatment or endogenous expression of lactogens on GLT-induced beta cell death was examined in INS-1 cells, and in rodent and human islets. The mechanism behind the pro-survival effect of lactogens was determined using an inhibitor, siRNAs, a dominant negative (DN) mutant, and Cre-lox-mediated gene deletion analysis. Lactogens significantly protect INS-1 and primary rodent beta cells against GLT-induced cell death. The pro-survival effect of lactogens in rodent beta cells is mediated through activation of the Janus kinase-2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription-5 (STAT5) signalling pathway. Lactogen-induced increase in the anti-apoptotic B cell lymphoma-extra large (BCLXL) protein is required to mediate its pro-survival effects in both INS-1 cells and primary rodent beta cells. Most importantly, lactogens significantly protect human beta cells against GLT-induced cell death, and their pro-survival effect is also mediated through the JAK2/STAT5 pathway. These studies, together with previous work, clearly demonstrate the pro-survival nature of lactogens and identify the JAK2/STAT5 pathway as an important mediator of this effect in both rodent and human beta cells. Future studies will determine the effectiveness of this peptide in vivo in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.
Toward a Continuous Record of the Sky

It is currently feasible to start a continuous digital record of the entire sky sensitive to any visual magnitude brighter than 15 each night. Such a record could be created with a modest array of small telescopes, collectively generating no more than a few gigabytes of data daily. Alternatively, a few small telescopes could continually repoint to scan and record the entire sky down to any visual magnitude brighter than 15 with a recurrence epoch of at most a few weeks, again always generating less than 1 Gbyte of data each night. These estimates derive from CCD ability and budgets typical of university research projects. As a prototype, we have developed and are utilizing an inexpensive single-telescope system that obtains optical data from about 1500 deg2. We discuss the general case of creating and storing data from both an epochal survey, in which a small number of telescopes continually scan the sky, and a continuous survey, composed of a constellation of telescopes each dedicated to continually inspect a designated section of the sky. We compute speciÐc limitations of canonical surveys in visible light, and estimate that all-sky continuous visual light surveys could be sensitive to magnitude 20 in a single night by about 2010. Possible scientiÐc returns of continuous and epochal sky surveys include continued monitoring of most known variable stars, estab- lishing case histories for variables of future interest, uncovering new forms of stellar variability, discovering the brightest cases of microlensing, discovering new novae and supernovae, discovering new counterparts to gamma-ray bursts, monitoring known solar system objects, discovering new solar system objects, and discovering objects that might strike the Earth.
Controls on gross production by a semiarid forest growing near its warm and dry ecotonal limit

Climate change is expected to move the spatial patterns of temperature and water availability poleward and upslope, with concomitant shifts in vegetation distribution. Vegetation growing near its southern or low-elevation range limit may prove especially susceptible to mortality and displacement. We investigated the controls on Gross Primary Production (GPP) by an oak and pine stand located just above the lower forest limit in Southern California's San Jacinto Mountains. The local climate was montane Mediterranean, and the stand experienced extensive mortality in the early 1990s and from 2002 to 2004 coincident with extended droughts. The maintenance of high rates of CO2 uptake in winter, and access to water deep in the soil column in summer, allowed for a year-round growing season. The evergreens at the site remained photosynthetically active year-round despite frequent freezing nights. High rates of CO2 uptake were observed at air temperatures below 8°C, which is colder than has been reported for other ecosystems. Winter cold exerted a minor limitation on GPP, and winter warming would have a small effect on GPP. Vegetation withdrew water from the soil, saprolite, and fractured granitic bedrock to support transpiration and CO2 uptake during the dry summer, which further expanded the growing season. Access to a reliable supply of moisture deep in the soil and regolith appears critical for the survival of large trees at the site. These trees may prove vulnerable to climate change if increasing evaporation rates or interannual precipitation variability causes a more frequent or severe depletion of deep regolith moisture. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.
Does wearing a surgical facemask or N95-respirator impair radio communication?

Abstract Purpose This study evaluated the impact wearing a surgical facemask or N95 air purifying respirator (N95) has on radio reception. Methods We compared the ability of a flight crewmember and a layperson sitting in a Bell 407 crew compartment and a dispatcher sitting in a communication center to accurately record 20 randomized aviation terms transmitted over the radio by a helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) pilot wearing a surgical facemask and six different N95s with and without the aircraft engine operating. Results With the aircraft engine off, all terms (100% accuracy) were correctly identified, regardless of the absence or presence of the surgical facemask or N95 studied. With the aircraft engine on, the surgical facemask (3M-1826) and two N95 respirators (3M-1860, Safe Life Corp-150) maintained 100% accuracy. Remaining N95 accuracy was as follows: 3M-8511 and Kimberly-Clark PFR95 (98%), Inoyel-3212 (97%), and 3M-1870 (93%). Conclusions In general, despite wearing a facemask, radio reception accuracy is high (>90%). However, aircraft engine noise and N95 type do appear to adversely affect the accuracy of radio reception. All HEMS pilots and crewmembers should be aware of these radio reception findings when using an N95 respirator during transport. A brief review of the surgical facemask and N95 effectiveness to prevent viral respiratory infections is provided.
Capturing and Conveying Chamorro Cultural Knowledge Using Social Media

The Chamorro people have a long history and rich cultural traditions that have survived the affects of colonization and loss of political control. However, these traditions are in danger of being lost if they are not passed from one generation to the next. The purpose of this study is to understand if information and communication technologies, specifically social media, are used to capture and convey Chamorro cultural knowledge. Two data collection methods were used to understand the types of Chamorro cultural knowledge that is valued, and what social media is used by the Chamorro people today to capture and convey cultural knowledge. The results indicate that the Chamorro people today share the core Chamorro cultural values, and do use information and communication technologies, including social media to capture and convey Chamorro cultural knowledge.
Characterizing Water Diffusion In Fixed Baboon Brain

In the Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory in St. Louis, Missouri, there is an ongoing project to characterize water diffusion in fixed baboon brain using diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging as a means of monitoring development throughout gestation. Magnetic resonance images can be made sensitive to diffusion by applying magnetic field gradients during the pulse sequence. Results from the analysis of diffusion weighted magnetic resonance images using a full diffusion tensor model do not fit the data well. The estimated standard deviation of the noise exhibit structures corresponding to known baboon brain anatomy. However, the diffusion tensor plus a constant model overfits the data: the residuals in the brain are smaller than in regions where there is no signal. Consequently, the full diffusion tensor plus a constant model has too many parameters and needs to be simplified. This model can be simplified by imposing axial symmetry on the diffusion tensor. There are three axially symmetric diffusion tensor models, prolate, oblate, and isotropic; and two other models, no signal and full diffusion tensor, that could characterize the diffusion weighted images. These five models may or may not have a constant offset, giving 10 total models that potentially describe the diffusion process. In this paper the Bayesian calculations needed to select which of the 10 models best characterizes the diffusion data are presented. The various outputs from the analysis are illustrated using one of our baboon brain data sets.
Connecting Positive and Normative Legal Theory

Positive and normative legal theory often seem to have little to do with one another. I suggest that the disconnect arises from two sources: the gap between fact and value, and the gap between external and internal perspectives on law. I then lay out a repertoire of strategies and mechanisms for connecting positive and normative legal theory. In some cases, positive theory can serve as a direct source of normative arguments. In other cases, positive theory serves as an indirect constraint on normative decisionmaking, thereby narrowing the set of normative arguments that must be considered. Finally, I ask: in light of our best positive theories, to what audiences can normative scholarship coherently be addressed?
Devices for high performance computing beyond 14nm node - is there anything other than Si?

A scaling path for Si based technology seems possible to the 8nm node. Power limitation will force to reduce the supply voltage at the expense of device performance and susceptibility to process variations. A lower limit of Vdd=0.5V seems feasible. Parallelism on system level will provide system through put which stresses architecture and software development. In particular legacy code will be a problem for a transition period that might require dual supply multi core architectures. In this scenario device technology has to cater to both high voltage and low voltage operation. Beyond the 8nm node new device concepts are needed. Considering the time frame of a 2019 manufacturing for this node a device has to be demonstrated now. At this point CNTs seem to be the only viable option for the post Si area.
An APC/C inhibitor stabilizes cyclin B1 by prematurely terminating ubiquitination.

TAME, an inhibitor of the ubiquitin ligase APC, promotes autoubiquitination and dissociation of Cdc20, an APC activator. In the presence of APC substrate, TAME decreases the catalytic activity of APC-Cdc20 complex and decouples substrate ubiquitination from proteasomal degradation. The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC) is a ubiquitin ligase that is required for exit from mitosis. We previously showed that tosyl arginine methyl ester (TAME) inhibits APC-dependent proteolysis by competing with the C-terminal isoleucine-arginine tail of the APC activator cell division cycle 20 (Cdc20) for APC binding. Here we show that in the absence of APC substrates, TAME ejects Cdc20 from the APC by promoting Cdc20 autoubiquitination in its N-terminal region. Cyclin B1 antagonizes TAME's effect by promoting binding of free Cdc20 to the APC and by suppressing Cdc20 autoubiquitination. Nevertheless, TAME stabilizes cyclin B1 in Xenopus extracts by two mechanisms. First, it reduces the kcat of the APC-Cdc20–cyclin B1 complex without affecting the Km, slowing the initial ubiquitination of unmodified cyclin B1. Second, as cyclin B1 becomes ubiquitinated, it loses its ability to promote Cdc20 binding to the APC in the presence of TAME. As a result, cyclin B1 ubiquitination terminates before reaching the threshold necessary for proteolysis.
Tree growth at polar latitudes based on fossil tree ring analysis

Permineralized trunks and mature wood samples with well-preserved growth rings are described and analyzed from the Upper Permian and Middle Triassic of the central Transantarctic Mountains. This fossil wood is unique in that the plants lived in an environment with no modern analogue and exhibited luxuriant tree growth above 75°S paleolatitude. Ring width averages 1.69– 2.3 mm, with maximum width of 6.83–9.9 mm, an order of magnitude larger than ring widths produced at near-polar latitudes today. Tree rings in both the Permian and Triassic woods show similar structure, consisting almost entirely of earlywood (spring wood), with between 0–12% of each ring classified as latewood (summer wood). The small amount of latewood (0–6 cells) indicates a very rapid transition to seasonal dormancy, probably in response to decreasing light levels at these paleolatitudes. In order to accurately delimit the earlywood–latewood boundary, a comparison was done of classical dendroclimatological techniques and alternative techniques utilized primarily by paleobotanists analyzing fossil woods. We found that classical wood anatomy techniques provided a more accurate explanation of wood development and tree growth for these high-latitude samples. The suggested cool-temperate Late Permian Glossopteris flora from this area differs substantially from the warm-temperate Middle Triassic corystosperm flora (leaf type, Dicroidium) and very different paleoclimates have been reconstructed for these two time periods. Ring structure and wood growth from both sites, however, are very similar, indicating that these plants were responding to the environment in very similar ways. The structure of the tree rings, including a large number of earlywood tracheids and a very low number of latewood cells, provides evidence that growth at these polar latitudes was limited by light levels rather than water and temperature as occurs in modern high-latitude forests. These fossil tree rings have important implications for understanding woody shoot growth and cambial function at high latitudes during periods of global warmth. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.