cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient fingertip force computation for object manipulation using dexterous robot hand

Abstract Multifingered hands, or parallel manipulators, can be used to grasp and manipulate objects. Effective finger force computation is necessary for successful manipulation of an object by a multifingered robot hand. This paper presents an efficient computational procedure to obtain finger force of a three-fingered robot hand in object manipulation. We first define initial grasping force as the force to hold a massless object. Then grasping force and contact normal during manipulation are determined from initial grasping force and initial contact normal by tracking the object displacement. Manipulation force, the finger force required to manipulate an object and to compensate for object weight, is computed by the generalized matrix inverse method. Optimal internal force, when necessary, is determined from the grasping force during manipulation without explicitly solving the optimization problem. The computational burden to determine finger force in this paper is less than previous methods.
GPU-Friendly Preconditioners for Efficient 3-D Finite Element Analysis of Thin Structures

A serious computational bottle-neck in finite element analysis today is the solution of the underlying system of equations. To alleviate this problem, researchers have proposed the use of graphics programmable units (GPU) for fast iterative solution of such equations. Indeed, researchers have shown that a GPU-implementation of a double-precision sparse-matrix-vector multiplication (that underlies all iterative methods) is approximately an order of magnitude faster than that of an optimized CPU implementation. Unfortunately, fast matrix-vector multiplication alone is insufficient[[ellipsis]] a good preconditioner is necessary for rapid convergence. Furthermore, most modern preconditioners, such as incomplete Cholesky, are expensive to compute, and cannot be easily ported to the GPU. In this paper, we propose a special class of preconditioners for the analysis of thin structures, such as beams and plates. The proposed preconditioners are developed by combining the multi-grid method, with recently developed dual-representation method for thin structures. It is shown, that these preconditioners are computationally inexpensive, perform better than standard pre-conditioners, and can be easily ported to the GPU.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
PHASE EQUILIBRIA IN THE SYSTEMS OF ACETIC AND GLYCOLIC ACID WITH WATER AND LAURETH 4

Abstract The effect of α-hydroxy group on the phase behavior in a skin lotion model system was studied by determining the phase diagrams for the two systems acetic acid / Laureth 4 / white oil / water and glycolic acid / Laureth 4 / white oil / water using visual observation by optical microscopy. The two acids when combined with surfactant and water gave an isotropic liquid solution, and a lamellar liquid crystal with different amounts of solubilization showing both acids to act as hydrotropes. The result provided essential information about the differences in the phase behavior which can attribute to the presence of a-hydroxy group in the glycolic acid. Small angle x-ray diffraction was used to determine the boundaries of the lamellar liquid crystal phases in the two systems, both acids were found to be located in the water region in the liquid crystal.
Optimize hardware with fixed-point variable length phase factors

Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs) are highly parallel in nature and consist of simple addition, subtraction, and complex rotation operators with phase factors (a.k.a. twiddle factors). With the advent of FPGAs and other reconfigurable seas-of-logic, it is now possible to construct a fully parallel FFT structure where the phase factors are now constants and good targets for hardware optimization. By varying the fixed-point length of the phase factors using phase angle error percentage as a control for the variable length phase factor quantizer, the number of shifted adders required to implement the complex rotation operators can be reduced. Performance comparisons of fixed length and variable length phase factors, along with two quantizer rounding modes, are investigated.
Measurements of range and range straggling of low energy pions and muons

Abstract Using a stack of multiwire proportional chambers with interspersed absorbers, we have measured the range distributions of low energy pions and muons, and have obtained the mean range and range straggling (deviation about the mean) and compared them with the calculations of Janni. The percent differences between the actual incident energies and those calculated from the mean range were 2.37% for 39.3 MeV μ+, 1.13% for 37.6 MeV π+, 0.608% for 33.0 MeV π+, 0.303% for 33.0 MeV π−, and 0.854% for 37.6 MeV π−. These differences are less than the expected errors in the range calculations. The ratios of the observed to the predicted range straggling for the corresponding particles and energies were 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, and 1.2 (accurate to about ±10%).
Increased frequencies of alpha-naphthoflavone induced sister chromatid exchanges in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract Cultures of wholeblood were established from 12 children (mean age = 13.5 years) surviving acute lymphoblastic leukemia (mean time of discontinued therapy = 4.5 years) and 10 agematched controls were assessed for the level of baseline, alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF) and methyl-methane-sulphonate (MMS) induced sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs). The average baseline levels of SCEs in the patient group (7.65) and in the control (6.72) were different at a statistical marginal level ( P = 0.05). No statistical difference was observed in the levels of MMS-induced SCEs between the two groups ( P > 0.1). In contrast, highly significant differences ( P = 0.003) were observed in the level of ANF-induced SCE-levels between the patients (10.78) and the controls (8.76).
Increasing marginal impatience and intertemporal substitution

For infinite-horizon models with recursive preferences the condition known as increasing marginal impatience is often adopted, but the condition is not fully understood in the literature. This paper shows that increasing marginal impatience is equivalent to the intuitive property that the substitutability between the consumption levels in two different periods is a decreasing function of the distance between the periods.
Visual Loss as a Result of Primary Optic Nerve Neuropathy After Intranasal Corticosteroid Injection

A 25-year-old woman experienced acute visual loss after injection of methylprednisolone suspension into the concha nasalis inferioris. Results of ophthalmoscopic examinations were normal throughout the observation period, a finding not reported previously in cases of visual loss after head or neck injections. An afferent pupillary defect, which diminished as visual acuity improved, implicated otpic nerve damage, as did the visual field defect which also improved slightly. This is, to our knowledge, the first case report of acute visual loss caused by optic nerve neuropathy after injection to the head or neck.
Medical malpractice and prostate brachytherapy.

Medical malpractice litigation is one of the most contentious issues in health care today. Medical doctors blame the tort system and personal injury lawyers for bringing forward unwarranted suits that increase malpractice premiums and bring emotional distress to competent physicians. Tortreform has been at the forefront of organized medicine for several decades but, according to Mello (1) medical malpractice remains in crisis. Medical malpractice is intended to serve three social goals: 1) to deter unsafe practices by clinicians, 2) to compensate victims injured by negligence, and lastly, 3) to exact corrective justice. In this framework, the threat of a lawsuit should prompt physicians to practice with care to ensure the well-being of patients. In the interest of fairness, any compensation that may result from a lawsuit is the responsibility of the guilty party/parties and is used to bear the associated costs including medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. In most jurisdictions, to be awarded compensation in a medical malpractice case, the plaintiff must prove four elements: 1) the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, 2) the defendant breached this duty by failing to adhere to the standard of care expected, 3) this breach of duty caused an injury to the plaintiff, and 4) the injury resulted in damages to the plaintiff. The “standard of care” is typically defined as the quality of care that would be expected of a reasonable practitioner in similar circumstances. The standard of care has historically been determined by the testimony of expert witnesses, although practice guidelines have also been used. In many states there has been a discernible shift away from the use of custom as defined by expert witnesses and toward a more independent determination by the court whether there has been a departure from “reasonable conduct.” The purpose of this editorial is not to discuss whether the departure from expert witnesses is wise, to argue the necessity of tort-reform, or to recommend how any reform is to be structured. Instead, this editorial will expand on a single component of a negligence claim, the standard of care that is highlighted in the excellent article by Elliott et al. appearing in this issue of Brachytherapy. A short overview of prostate brachytherapy (PB) in the United States is in order. The utilization of PB in the United States has skyrocketed in the past decade. In the Patterns of Care survey the percentage of prostate cancer patients treated with PB rose from
Complete ranking procedures with appropriate loss functions

This paper treats the problem of comparing different evaluations of procedures which rank the variances of k normal populations. Procedures are evaluated on the basis of appropriate loss functions for a particular goal. The goal considered involves ranking the variances of k independent normal populations when the corresponding population means are unknown. The variances are ranked by selecting samples of size n from each population and using the sample variances to obtain the ranking. Our results extend those of various authors who looked at the narrower problem of evaluating the standard proceduv 3 associated with selecting the smallest of the population variances (see e.g.,P. Somerville (1975)). Different loss functions (both parametric and non-parametric) appropriate to the particular goal under consideration are proposed. Procedures are evaluated by the performance of their risk over a particular preference zone. The sample size n, the least favorable parametric configuration, and the maximum value o...
Overestimation of aerobic capacity with the bruce treadmill protocol in patients being assessed for suspected myocardial ischemia

INTRODUCTION Peak oxygen uptake (VO₂) is prognostic for morbidity and mortality. Estimating aerobic capacity during traditional exercise stress testing is common as it has been shown that total treadmill time on the Bruce protocol predicts peak VO₂. However, the potential to overestimate peak VO2 exists and may have clinical implications regarding the interpretation of exercise test data. METHODS Subjects (N = 303) with symptoms suggestive of myocardial ischemia underwent a myocardial perfusion study and an exercise test with simultaneous ventilatory expired gas analysis. Estimated peak VO₂ from the Bruce treadmill protocol was compared with measured peak VO₂. The Duke Treadmill Score (DTS) was calculated with treadmill time (DTS(time)) and also with measured VO₂ (DTS(measured)),expressed as metabolic equivalents (METs), and converted to time. RESULTS Peak measured METs was significantly lower than peak estimated METs in the entire cohort (6.5 ± 1.9 vs 8.8 ± 2.8, P < .001) as well as in female (5.7 ± 1.4 and 7.8 ± 2.1, P < .001) and male (7.3 ± 2.0 and 9.7 ± 3.1, P < .001) subgroups. Calculation of the DTS with measured METs resulted in a significantly lower score compared with its calculation with treadmill time (2.7 ± 3.5 vs 5.8 ± 4.6, P < .001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that DTS(measured) produce a statistically significant model for diagnosing a perfusion defect in both men and women (P < .05), whereas DTS(time) was diagnostic only in men (P < .05). DISCUSSION This study demonstrates that estimates of aerobic capacity are significantly higher than measured values and this difference may result in a significant underestimation of morbidity/mortality risk.
Extending Jak2V617F and MplW515 Mutation Analysis to Single Hematopoietic Colonies and B and T Lymphocytes

JAK2V617F and MPLW515L/K are myeloproliferative disorder (MPD)-associated mutations. We genotyped 552 individual hematopoietic colonies obtained by CD34+ cell culture from 16 affected patients (13 JAK2V617F and 3 MPLW515L/K) to determine (a) the proportion of colonies harboring a particular mutation in the presence or absence of cytokines, (b) the lineage distribution of endogenous colonies for each mutation, and (c) the differences (if any) in the pattern of mutation among the various MPDs, as established by genotyping of individual colonies. Genotyping analysis revealed cohabitation of mutation-negative and mutation-positive endogenous colonies in polycythemia vera as well as other MPDs. Culture of progenitor cells harboring MPLW515L/K yielded virtually no endogenous erythroid colonies in contrast to JAK2V617F-harboring progenitor cells. The mutation pattern (i.e., relative distribution of homozygous, heterozygous, or wild-type colonies) was not a distinguishing feature among the MPDs, and MPLW515 mutations were detected in B and/or T lymphocytes in all three patients tested. These observations suggest that clonal myelopoiesis antedates acquisition of JAK2V617F or MPLW515L/K mutations and that the latter is acquired in a lympho-myeloid progenitor cell.
Compartmentalized phantoms for the standard man, adolescent and child.

Abstract A compartmentalized phantom for the standard man has been designed and built of readily available and inexpensive materials. Similar phantoms have also been designed for an adolescent and a child. The basic emphasis in the designs is on general utility so that a variety of different dose-measurement techniques could be used on the same phantom. The designs are, however, in reasonable agreement with anthropometric data reported in the literature. The phantoms have proved to be extremely useful in depth dose and energy-absorption measurements for total-body irradiation therapy. Dose measurements with beam teletherapy, brachytherapy devices and internally distributed radioisotopes have also been made.
An analysis of second-stage labor beyond 3 hours in nulliparous women.

Objective To analyze outcomes after second-stage labor beyond 3 hours and determine if prolonged second stages were intentional. Study Design Retrospective cohort analysis of maternal and neonatal outcomes in nulliparous women based on second-stage duration. Medical records were reviewed for management decisions in women with second stages ≥4 hours; all other outcomes were accessed via computerized obstetric database. Results Second stage exceeding 3 hours occurred in 1489 (7%) of 21,991 pregnancies analyzed. Of the 427 (2%) with second stages ≥4 hours, 315 (74%) reached 4 hours unintentionally, after a decision for operative delivery had been made. Only 34 (8%) women were intentionally allowed to continue second-stage labor beyond 4 hours, and half of these ultimately required cesarean. Indices of maternal and neonatal morbidity were significantly increased when second stages exceeded 3 hours. Conclusion Most second stages reaching 4 hours are unintentional, occurring while awaiting an previously decided upon operative delivery. Maternal and neonatal morbidities are significantly increased with second stages beyond 3 hours.
Interprofessional education and collaborative practice.

I thought I would begin by establishing the context for what we (health care providers and public health professionals) are about: we are all working in our various countries, communities and insti...
Paralabral cysts in the hip joint: findings at MR arthrography

Purpose The purpose of this research was to retrospectively characterize paralabral cysts of the hip as seen at MR arthrography.
Exploring the exit, voice, loyalty, and neglect typology: The influence of job satisfaction, quality of alternatives, and investment size

The current theory proposes that responses to dissatisfaction differ in constructiveness versus destructiveness and activity versus passivity, defining four categories of response: exit, voice, loyalty, and neglect. The manner in which employees react to job dissatisfaction is determined by three variables: overall job satisfaction; quality of job alternatives, and magnitude of investments in the job. This article presents a meta-analysis of the results of five studies in a program of research designed to test the current theory. Ten of 12 theory predictions received good support: Greater job satisfaction was associated with greater tendencies toward voice and loyalty, and with lesser exit and neglect. Superior alternatives were associated with greater tendencies toward exit and voice, and with lesser neglect. Greater investment size was associated with greater tendencies toward voice and loyalty, and with lesser neglect.
Measurement of depth-dose distribution in electron irradiated materials

Resume La mesure de la distribution de dose en profondeur dans les materiaux irradies aux electrons On determina la distribution de dose dans la cellophane et l'aluminium irradies aux electrons de 0,5 a 1 MeV en observant les variations de la transmission optique de la cellophane teinte bleue entreposee parmi de minces couches des materiaux. L'effet de la decoloration de la teinture avec exposition on observa en deux manieres: (1) une methode graphique; (2) un calcul de la conversion de la molecule de teinture en une forme transparente en terme de sa section. Dans la cellophane la profondeur de l'effet maximum pour les electrons de 1 MeV fut environ 0,09 cm ou 0,13 gcm−2; dans l'aluminium environ 0,042 cm ou 0,11 gcm−2. En tous deux l'effet devint negligible a des profondeurs d'environ 3 fois les chiffres ci-dits. Les resultats accordent assez bien avec d'autres resultats d'experience et de theorie. Bien des facteurs ont une portee signifiante sur la precision des resultats; dont plusieurs sont controlables. Dans la cellophane “seche” sous les conditions ambiantes ordinaires, plus de la moitie du changement dans la teinture suit de l'action secondaire des agents actifs produits dans la tres petite quantite d'eau dans la cellophane.
WDM fiber laser source using loop mirror configuration

A novel, simple, and flexible WDM laser source is demonstrated using a loop erbium-doped fiber amplifier. Two configurations of the source are investigated where reflecting FBGs are cascaded in series or parallel at the loop outputs. High output power per channel with a signal-to-noise ratio better than 55 dB can be achieved. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 28: 187–189, 2001.
Molecular pathways regulating CD4+ T cell differentiation, anergy and memory with implications for vaccines

CD4 + T cells occupy a central role in the induction and regulation of adaptive immune responses. Activated CD4 + T helper (Th) cells exert immediate effector functions by producing cytokines and chemokines, providing help for the induction of CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses and memory, and providing help for immunoglobulin class switching, affinity maturation of antibody and B cell memory. Inherent in naive CD4 + T cells is the flexibility to adopt alternate lineage potentials, which depend upon regulatory mechanisms that change with tissue microenvironment and upon infection. Here, we discuss lineage instructive programs that regulate CD4 + T cell differentiation and memory and how to translate this knowledge into vaccines and immunotherapies that promote protective immune responses.
CONSTRAINED HEBBIAN LEARNING: GRADIENT DESCENT TO GLOBAL MINIMA IN AN n-DIMENSIONAL LANDSCAPE

This behavior of a constrained linear computing unit is analysed during “Hebbian” learning by gradient descent of a cost function corresponding to the sum of a variance maximization and a weight normalization term. The n-dimensional landscape of this cost function is shown to be composed of one local maximum and of n saddle points plus one global minimum aligned with the principal components of the input patterns. Furthermore, the landscape can be described in terms of hyperspheres, hypercrests, and hypervalleys associated with each of these principal components. Using this description, it is shown that the learning trajectory will converge to the global minimum of the landscape corresponding to the main principal component of the input patterns, provided some conditions on the starting weights and on the learning rate of the descent procedure. Extensions and implications of the algorithm are discussed.
The connexin46 mutant, Cx46T19M, causes loss of gap junction function and alters hemi-channel gating.

An N-terminal mutant of connexin46 (T19M) alters a highly conserved threonine and has been linked to autosomal dominant cataracts. To study the cellular and functional consequences of substitution of this amino acid, T19M was expressed in Xenopus oocytes and in HeLa cells. Unlike wild-type Cx46, T19M did not induce intercellular conductances in Xenopus oocytes. In transfected HeLa cells, T19M was largely localized within the cytoplasm, with drastically reduced formation of gap junction plaques. Expression of rat T19M was cytotoxic, as evidenced by an almost complete loss of viable cells expressing the mutant protein by 48–72 h following transfection. When incubated in medium containing physiological concentrations of divalent cations, T19M-expressing cells showed increased uptake of DAPI as compared with cells expressing wild-type Cx46, suggesting aberrant connexin hemi-channel activity. Time-lapse and dye uptake studies suggested that T19M hemi-channels had reduced sensitivity to Ca2+. Whole cell patch clamp studies of single transfected HeLa cells demonstrated that rat T19M formed functional hemi-channels with altered voltage-dependent gating. These data suggest that T19M causes cataracts by loss of gap junctional channel function and abnormally increased hemi-channel activity. Furthermore, they implicate this conserved threonine in both gap junction plaque formation and channel/hemi-channel gating in Cx46. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00232-014-9752-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Building capacity with demand-driven partnerships: a case study of Partners for Water and Sanitation

Multi-stakeholder partnerships emerged from the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) as a new vehicle for progressing toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by aligning the interests of businesses, governments and civil society to leverage the impact of their interventions. The water and sanitation sector boasts the largest number of such partnerships, including the demand-driven capacity-building partnership Partners for Water and Sanitation (PAWS), a product of the WSSD and a premier UK partnership for sustainable development. Through its partnership network, PAWS has access to the entire UK water industry, which they assign to capacity-building projects in Africa on a demand-driven basis. Though the supply of partners is generally strong, the demand for their assistance is variable. This paper examines the efficacy of demand-driven capacity building partnerships at achieving the water and sanitation MDGs, presenting a case study of the PAWS partnership and using it as a framework for discussion of the supply–demand dynamics that influence the scope, scale and ultimate impact of such partnerships.
The Noir Western: Genre Theory and the Problem of the Anomalous Hybrid

Among the various events planned for the 1947 centennial celebration of Brigham Young's settlement of Utah was the star-studded world premiere of a Hollywood film. The official film of the state's ...
Development of a sensitive microarray immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of neuropeptide Y.

A direct competitive immunoassay in an antibody microarray format was developed for the sensitive detection of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and employed in the analysis of NPY in human sweat samples. This is the first demonstration that antibody microarray, as a powerful multiplex analysis tool, can be used for the sensitive determination of NPY and potentially other neuropeptides. 400 pg/mL of dibiotinylated NPY and 0.1 mg/mL spotting capture antibody were found to offer the best performance, yielding a sensitivity of 50 pg/mL and a linear dynamic range of 0.1–100 ng/mL for NPY. Evaluation of matrix effects by using artificial sweat revealed that dialysis is necessary for analyzing NPY in human sweat samples with microarray immunoassay. In a preliminary application, 50–210 pg/mL of NPY was detected in sweat samples collected with Macroduct collectors. This study indicates that antibody microarrays can be used for NPY analysis and that human sweat could be a valuable sample source for biomarker and proteomics stu...
Interdiffusion of polymers across interfaces

Neutron Reflection (NR) and Dynamic Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (DSIMS) experiments were conducted on symmetrically deuterated polystyrene triblock bilayers (HDH/DHD) which directly probed the interdiffusion dynamics of the chains during welding. The HDH chains had their centers deuterated 50%, the DHD chains had their ends deuterated (25% at each end) such that each chain contained approximately 50% D. During welding, anisotropic motion of the chains produces a time-dependent oscillation (ripple) in the H and D concentration at the interface, which bears the characteristic signature of the polymer dynamics. These oscillations were compared with those predicted by Rouse, polymer mode coupling (PMC), and reptation dynamics. The following conclusions can be made from this study. (a) During the interdiffusion of high molecular weight HDH/DHD pairs, higher mobility of the chain ends caused a concentration oscillation which increased to a maximum amplitude, and eventually vanished at times, t > τD. The amplitude, or excess enrichment found, was appreciably more than that predicted by Rouse and PMC simulations, and was only slightly less than that predicted from reptation simulations. (b) The oscillations were completely missing in the 30 and 50K HDH/DHD polymers, which are only weakly entangled. The lack of oscillations for the 30 and 50K pairs may be due to a combination of surface roughness and fluctuations of order 30 A. (c) It was found that the position of the maximum in this ripple stayed at the interface during its growth. This is also consistent with reptation and has not been explained by other theories. (d) All dynamics models for linear polymers produce ripples, many of which are qualitatively similar to that predicted for reptation. However, each ripple bears the fingerprint of the dynamics in terms of its time-dependent shape, position, and magnitude, and the models are clearly distinguishable. Our results, in summary, support reptation as a candidate mechanism of interdiffusion at polymer(SINGLEBOND) polymer interfaces and its uniqueness is being further pursued. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cecal Necrosis after Open-Heart Operation

Two patients with isolated transmural ischemic necrosis of the cecum after cardiopulmonary bypass are discussed. Superimposed upon the multiple cardiovascular abnormalities in these patients, cardiopulmonary bypass adds another risk factor for nonocclusive intestinal infarction. In patients undergoing open-heart procedures, postoperative nonspecific abdominal complaints should be evaluated with a high degree of suspicion for this lethal complication. An intensive diagnostic effort is indicated, including contrast and angiographic radiological studies. Consideration of early abdominal exploration is indicated.
Principles and applications of continual computation

Automated problem solving is viewed typically as the allocation of computational resources to solve one or more problems passed to a reasoning system. In response to each problem received, effort is applied in real time to generate a solution and problem solving ends when a solution is rendered. We examine continual computation, reasoning policies that capture a broader conception of problem by considering the proactive allocation of computational resources to potential future challenges. We explore policies for allocating idle time for several settings and present applications that highlight opportunities for harnessing continual computation in real-world tasks.  2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Negative resistance and distributed gain in submicron semiconductor diodes using analytical solutions of the Boltzmann transport equation

A perturbational, moments-of-the-Boltzmann-equation approach (PMBE) is used to obtain the impedance Z and propagation constant k of n + nn + diode structures in an analytical fashion. Re (Z) or Im (k) can be examined to determine if negative resistance or gain occurs in the millimetre wave, submillimetre wave, or infrared spectrums where transverse device sizes for semiconductor materials of interest are submicron. Evaluation of Z and k is relatively inexpensive so that hundreds of distinct boundary conditions (BC), corresponding to a single set of interior device parameters, may be studied. Based on such PMBE analytically obtained BC results, a few of the more interesting BC cases could be simulated enlisting a large signal, time domain, spatially varying numerical code. For a single BC cas-e in GaAs, the CPU time ratio between a Monte Carlo code (run on a Cray XM-P) and the analytical PMBE technique (run on a VAX) is on the order of 103 when the Monte Carlo run time is about 1 hour. Examples of PMBE com...
The dorsal column pathway facilitates visceromotor responses to colorectal distention after colon inflammation in rats

Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that a midline lesion of the dorsal columns (DC, limited midline myelotomy) reduces pain of visceral origin in patients with pelvic cancer. Animal experiments showed that a DC lesion leads to decreased activation of thalamic neurons by visceral stimuli, lowers the impact of noxious colon stimulation in behavioral tests and suggested that the effect is mediated mainly by postsynaptic DC neurons. In the present experiments we examined the effect of bilateral DC or ventrolateral (VL) spinal cord lesions on visceromotor reflex EMG activity evoked by graded colorectal distention (30, 60, 80 mmHg) under control conditions and after colon inflammation with mustard oil. The colon inflammation increased significantly the visceromotor responses so that the response to a 30 mmHg distention was larger than that produced by 80 mmHg before inflammation. The DC lesion did not affect the visceromotor reflex response under control conditions but reduced the increased responses after colon inflammation back to control levels and prevented the potentiation of the reflex responses by colon inflammation when performed before the inflammation. Our results suggest that the role of the DC pathway in transmission of visceral pain is augmented under inflammatory conditions when symptoms of visceral allodynia and hyperalgesia may be present. The VL lesions eliminated the visceromotor reflex, presumably by interrupting a facilitatory pathway that involves the brain stem.
Diastereoselective, Three-Component Cascade Synthesis of Tetrahydrofurans and Tetrahydropyrans Employing the Tandem Mukaiyama Aldol−Lactonization Process†

A full account of studies leading to the development of a cascade sequence that generates as many as two C-C bonds, one C-O bond, and three new stereocenters providing substituted tetrahydrofurans (THFs) from simple gamma-ketoaldehydes and thiopyridyl ketene acetals is described. The process involves a tandem Mukaiyama aldol-lactonization (TMAL) and accumulated evidence suggests the intermediacy of a silylated beta-lactone that is intercepted by the pendant ketone. Formation of a cyclic oxocarbenium is followed by reduction with silicon-based nucleophiles leading to a highly diastereoselective synthesis of tetrahydrofurans. This cascade process has now been extended to the synthesis of tetrahydropyrans from simple delta-ketoaldehydes. The stereochemical outcome of the cascade processes described was determined by NOE correlations, coupling constant analysis, and X-ray crystallography of the derived oxygen heterocycles and is in accord with established and recently proposed models for nucleophilic additions to cyclic 5- and 6-membered oxocarbenium ions. The utility of this process was demonstrated by the synthesis of the tetrahydrofuran fragment of colopsinol B.
Managing Different Perspectives in the Redesign of Family-Centered Rounds in a Pediatric Hospital:

Managing conflicts between different perspectives is critical to healthcare system redesign. This study compares the perspectives of different stakeholders involved in family-centered rounds (FCR) ...
Distinct modulation of voltage-gated and ligand-gated Ca2+ currents by PPAR-γ agonists in cultured hippocampal neurons

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and is especially prevalent in the elderly. Because aging is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus, and insulin resistance may contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), anti-diabetic agents (thiazolidinediones-TZDs) are being studied for the treatment of cognitive decline associated with AD. These agents normalize insulin sensitivity in the periphery and can improve cognition and verbal memory in AD patients. Based on evidence that Ca(2+) dysregulation is a pathogenic factor of brain aging/AD, we tested the hypothesis that TZDs could impact Ca(2+) signaling/homeostasis in neurons. We assessed the effects of pioglitazone and rosiglitazone (TZDs) on two major sources of Ca(2+) influx in primary hippocampal cultured neurons, voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel (VGCC) and the NMDA receptor (NMDAR). VGCC- and NMDAR-mediated Ca(2+) currents were recorded using patch-clamp techniques, and Ca(2+) intracellular levels were monitored with Ca(2+) imaging techniques. Rosiglitazone, but not pioglitazone reduced VGCC currents. In contrast, NMDAR-mediated currents were significantly reduced by pioglitazone but not rosiglitazone. These results show that TZDs modulate Ca(2+)-dependent pathways in the brain and have different inhibitory profiles on two major Ca(2+) sources, potentially conferring neuroprotection to an area of the brain that is particularly vulnerable to the effects of aging and/or AD.
Functional evaluation of circulating leukemic cells in acute non-lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract Peripheral blood leukemic cells from 32 patients with acute non-lymphocytic eukemia (ANLL) were tested in vitro for their ability to adhere to nylon fibers and to phagocytize latex particles and S. aureus. In vivo migration to skin windows was also assessed. Using heparinized whole blood, leukemic cells from 47% of patients ( 9 19 ) adhered to fibers although the percent adherence was decreased compared to the per cent of granulocyte adherence in these patients. Phagocytosis by leukemic cells of S. aureus and latex was seen in 44% ( 12 77 ) of patients studied and migration to skin windows occurred in 44% ( 10 23 ). Only cells from patients with some degree of monocytic differentia-(monocytic or myelomonocytic leukemia) were functional while blasts from patients with myelocytic, promyelocytic or poorly differentiated leukemia were non-functional. Prominent extramedullarly leukemic involvement was more common in patients with functional monoblasts and on occasion dominated the patient's clinical course. These data indicate that some degree of monocytic functional maturation takes place in many patients with ANLL and may account for the increase in extramedullary infiltration seen in patients with monocytic leukemia. The simple functional tests described may supplement morphologic criteria in the characterization of ANLL.
Frattini closed groups and adequate extensions of global fields

LetL be a finite Galois extension of a global fieldF. It is shown that if the Galois groupG=Gal(L/F) satisfies a certain condition, thenL is a maximal commutative subfield of someF-division algebra if and only if the intermediate field corresponding to the Frattini subgroup ofG is also a maximal commutative subfield of someF-division algebra. In particular this condition holds ifG is a supersolvable group.
Electrodeposited CoNiP Films with Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy

CoNiP alloy films have been grown by electrodeposition from a chloride bath under galvanostatic control. Film growth, structure, composition, magnetic properties, and morphology have been found to depend significantly on deposition current density. Hard magnetic films were successfully grown at the current density of 7 mA/cm 2 with thickness up to 10 μm, at which a perpendicular coercivity of 188 kA/m was achieved. The magnetic hardness and perpendicular anisotropy of these films are the combined result of a microstructure composed of columnar grains and of a hexagonal phase oriented with the c axis perpendicular to the film plane. Preliminary investigations of magnetization reversal processes suggest the presence of pinning sites located probably at grain boundaries.
Lipomatous glioneurocytoma of the posterior fossa with divergent differentiation: case report.

Objective and importance We report a case of a posterior fossa neuroepithelial tumor with unusual clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging appearance, and morphological features. Clinical presentation This 66-year-old man presented with a history of gait ataxia, dizziness, and tinnitus and was found to have a large tumor in the posterior fossa and cerebellopontine angle. Intervention Gross total excision of the tumor was accomplished. Histologically, the most unique features were macrovesicular accumulations of lipid, giving the tumor (at least focally) an appearance virtually identical to that of mature adipose tissue. Evidence of biphasic neuronal and glial differentiation was noted by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Conclusion A literature review is presented. Diagnostically, this neoplasm seems to fit in a unique group of rarely described, lipomatous neuroectodermal tumors that show divergent neuronal and glial differentiation.
Stochastic High Order Basis Functions for Volume Integral Equation with Surface Roughness

In this paper we present stochastic high order basis functions suitable for the volumetric discretization of interconnect structures. The proposed basis functions are wideband, and can easily be integrated within a stochastic magneto-quasistatic (MQS) or a fullwave mixed potential integral equation (MPIE) solver, rendering the stochastic formulation computationally efficient. In addition, our high order basis functions facilitate the calculation of a correction term, improving the accuracy of the impedance ensemble average.
Multi-component behavioral treatment of trichotillomania: a case study.

Abstract A 21-year-old female with a 13-year history of compulsive hair pulling was treated via a multi-component behavioral intervention strategy. Dependent variables included both quasi-direct behavioral frequency counts (i.e., number of hairs pulled) and physical trace, natural erosion measures (i.e. size of bald areas). Results indicated dramatic decrease in number of hairs pulled from treatment through 40 weeks post-initiation of baseline. These findings were discussed with regard to situational-specificity of trichotillomania and reliance upon experimenter-derived rather than subject-controlled data collection sources.
Chemical ionization mass spectra of some 2‐norbornyl derivatives

Chemical ionization mass spectra of exo- and endo-2-norbornanols and their phenylurethane derivatives have been obtained with several reactant ions. Small differences are noted in the abundances of norbornyl and [M+H]+ ions for the phenylurethane derivatives: more norbornyl ions with the exo compounds. Relative rate constants for decomposition of [M+H]+ ions, kexo/kendo ≅ 1-2. No evidence was found for s-participation in the decomposition of these ions. The i-C4H10 chemical ionization spectrum of endo-2-norbornanol contains a much greater abundance of [M-H]+ ions than the i-C4H10 chemical ionization spectrum of exo-2-norbornanol. This difference presumably results from steric hindrance toward attack of the endo hydrogen.
Information entropy based methods for genome comparison

A plethora of biologically useful information lies obscured in the genomes of organisms. Encoded within the genome of an organism is the information about its evolutionary history. Evolutionary signals are scattered throughout the genome. Bioinformatics approaches are frequently invoked to deconstruct the evolutionary patterns underlying genomes, which are difficult to decipher using traditional laboratory experiments. However, interpreting constantly evolving genomes is a non-trivial task for bioinformaticians. Processes such as mutations, recombinations, insertions and deletions make genomes not only heterogeneous and difficult to decipher but also renders direct sequence comparison less effective. Here we present a brief overview of the sequence comparison methods with a focus on recently proposed alignment-free sequence comparison methods based on Shannon information entropy. Many of these sequence comparison methods have been adapted to construct phylogenetic trees to infer relationships among organisms.
Methods for the determination of binding constants by capillary electrophoresis

Apparent equilibrium constants for molecular association (e.g., association constants, binding constants, dissociation constants, partition coefficients) can be determined with a variety of different capillary electrophoresis (CE) approaches. In many cases, the investigated association behavior is between a smaller molecule or ion (i.e., the solute, drug, or analyte of interest) and a larger entity (e.g., proteins, micelles, polymers, chiral selectors such as cyclodextrins, etc.). Each experimental approach has advantages and disadvantages. Frequently, it is the nature of the system being evaluated that determines the optimal experimental approach. Six different CE-based techniques for evaluating binding constants are reviewed. Examples of each method, and recent references on its use are given.
The Bond Strength of an Adhesive Resin Luting Cement to a Variety of Surface Treatments of a High-Palladium Copper Alloy

PURPOSE This study evaluated the tensile bond strength of a bisphenol glycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA) resin luting cement with four different surface treatments of a high Pd-Cu alloy. MATERIALS AND METHODS For each surface treatment type (tin-plated, porcelain furnace oxide, air-abraded, and finished-only), 15 opposing half-dumbbell-shaped samples were cast and prepared in new Pd-Cu alloy. Samples were luted with a Bis-GMA resin luting cement at a film thickness of 80 microns using a custom alignment apparatus. Samples were stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24 hours, thermocycled for 1,000 cycles, and then stored for 30 days in distilled water at 37 degrees C. Samples were then subjected to fracture in tension at a loading rate of 0.5 cm/min with the bond strengths calculated in megapascals (MPa). The fractured surfaces were examined using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy at various magnifications ranging from 5.5x to 500x to determine the type of bond failure (adhesive, cohesive, or mixed). RESULTS Tensile bond strengths (mean +/- SD MPa) were: tin-plated, 30 +/- 15.7; porcelain furnace oxide, 23 +/-n 8.6; air-abraded, 8 +/- 8.1; and finished-only, 4 +/- 4.5. Statistical analysis of the tensile bond values using an ANCOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison test at a significance level of 0.05 indicated that there was no difference between the tin-plated and the furnace oxide groups, as well as between the air-abraded and the furnace oxide groups. However, there was significant difference between the tin-plated, the air-abraded, and the finished-only groups. The observed bond failures were predominantly mixed and cohesive in nature with only one adhesive failure. CONCLUSIONS There was no significant difference in the tensile bond strengths between the tin-plated group or the porcelain furnace oxide surface group. This suggests that the less-technique-sensitive porcelain furnace oxide surface treatment offers an alternative for achieving high metal-resin bonds to a high Pd-Cu alloy.
Induction of immunity to neuroblastoma early after syngeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using a novel mouse tumor vaccine.

Abstract Autologous HSCT has resulted in improved event-free survival in patients with advanced neuroblastoma, but most of these patients still relapse. We previously reported that transient transfection of mouse neuroblastoma cells with plasmid DNA vectors encoding immune costimulatory molecules generates cell-based vaccines capable of inducing potent antitumor T cell immunity. In this study, we explored the effectiveness of tumor vaccine administration soon after HSCT. Soon after transplantation, only vaccinated mice that had received an adoptive transfer of syngeneic T cells survived tumor challenge. Tumor protective immunity in the transplant recipients was dependent on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and tumor-reactive T cells in the spleens of vaccinated mice could be detected in IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assays. Our data indicate that the adoptive transfer of T cells was absolutely required for induction of protective immunity by the tumor vaccine. Adoptive transfer of T cells accelerated T cell reconstitution, but it also resulted in increased percentages of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells soon after HSCT. Treatment of HSC transplant recipients with an anti-CD25 mAb before tumor vaccination inhibited antitumor immunity and significantly decreased the number of IFN-γ-secreting tumor-specific CD4 T cells. However, physical depletion of CD25+ cells from the adoptively transferred splenocytes appeared to increase the efficacy of tumor vaccination. Collectively, these results demonstrate that anti-neuroblastoma immunity can be induced soon after HSCT using a novel cell-based cancer vaccine. However, sufficient numbers of T cells must be added to the graft to achieve protective antitumor immunity, and depletion of CD25+ T cells from adoptively transferred T cells might provide some additional benefit. These translational studies will aid in our development of post-HSCT vaccines for neuroblastoma.
Fine spatial scale simulations of relativistic electron beam penetration of an overdense plasma

Summary form only given. Previous work by means of 2D simulations has shown that over long time scales an electron beam encountering an over dense background plasma ejects the background electrons from the region where the beam is propagating, leaving the background ions to neutralize the beam charge, thus stabilizing the beam. Subsequently, long timescale simulations with coarse spatial resolution were presented which seemed to show that the 2D behavior carried over to 3D, although a firm conclusion was not possible because of the coarse resolution. The purpose of the present paper is to present simulations of the interaction between the beam and the over dense plasma in 3D with a finer spatial resolution than has been presented previously. These simulations reinforce the conclusion that the beam can propagate stably for long times. Three dimensional perturbations do not destabilize the beam. The beam essentially digs a hole in the background plasma through which it can propagate