cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drinking salt water enhances rehydration in horses dehydrated by frusemide administration and endurance exercise.

Summary Because the primary stimulus for thirst is an increase in plasma tonicity, we hypothesised that dehydrated horses would drink a greater total volume of fluid voluntarily during the first hour of recovery when they were initially offered salt water. To test this hypothesis, bodyweight (bwt), fluid intake (FI) and [Na+] were measured in 6 Arabian horses offered 3 rehydration solutions. After dehydration was induced by frusemide administration (1 mg/kg bwt, i.v.) followed by 45 km treadmill exercise, water (W), 0.45% NaCl and 0.9% NaCl were offered, in a randomised order, during the initial 5 min after completing exercise. Horses were subsequently placed in a stall and further intake of plain water during the first hour of recovery was measured. By the end of exercise, horses lost 5.2 ± 0.2, 5.6 ± 0.3 and 5.7 ± 0.2% (P>0.05) bwt and FI during the first 5 min of recovery was 10.5 ± 0.7, 11.6 ± 0.8 and 11.6 ± 1.5 l (P>0.05) for W, 0.45% NaCl and 0.9% NaCl, respectively. After 20 min of recovery, [Na+] had decreased with W but remained unchanged from the end exercise values for both saline solutions. During the initial hour of recovery, further water intake was 0.9 ± 0.4, 5.0 ± 0.5 and 6.9 ± 0.7 l (P<0.05) for W, 0.45% NaCl and 0.9% NaCl, respectively. Therefore, total FI was 11.4 ± 0.5, 16.6 ± 0.7 and 18.5 ± 1.7 l (P<0.05) for W, 0.45% NaCl and 0.9% NaCl, respectively, and persisting bwt loss after 60 min of recovery was greater (P<0.05) for W (3.5%) than for the 2 saline solutions (2.4% for 0.45% NaCl and 1.9% for 0.9% NaCl). In conclusion, providing salt water as the initial rehydration fluid maintained an elevated [Na+] and resulted in greater total FI and recovery of bwt loss during the first hour of recovery, in comparison to offering only plain water.
Base-pairings within the RNA pseudoknot associated with the simian retrovirus-1 gag-pro frameshift site

Frameshift and readthrough sites within retroviral messenger RNAs are often followed by nucleotide sequences that have the potential to form pseudoknot structures. In the work presented here, NMR methods were used to characterize the base-pairings and structural features of the RNA pseudoknot downstream of the gag-pro frameshift site of simian retrovirus type-1 (SRV-1) and a functional mutant of the SRV-1 pseudoknot. Evidence is presented that these pseudoknots contain two A-form helical stems of six base-pairs each, connected by two loops, in a classic H-type pseudoknot topology. A particularly interesting feature is that the shorter of the two connecting loops, loop 1, consists of only a single adenosine nucleotide that spans the major groove of stem 2. In this respect, the frameshift-associated pseudoknots are structurally similar to the pseudoknot within the gene 32 mRNA of bacteriophage T2, previously characterized by NMR methods. Despite having similar nucleotide sequences, the solvent exchange rates of the imino protons at the junction of the helical stems in the wild-type and mutant frameshifting pseudoknots differ from each other and from the bacteriophage T2 pseudoknot. The implications of this finding are discussed.
On a class of pursuit and evasion problems

where each “pursuit control” z, from a given class Y yields a pursuit trajectory q( *, w). A function h : E,, x E,, -+ El is preassigned, with h(& , Q) > 0. If the evader chooses a control u E 6 and follows the corresponding trajectory f(*, U) then he “evades capture” before b if b E [0, tl] and h(f(t, u), T(t, v)) > 0 for all t E [0, b] and v E V. (For example, if h(wl , ws) = 1 w1 w2 I2 a2 then [(a, u) evades capture so long as he remains at a distance of at least 6 from every pursuing r](*, v).) We may consider several related problems based on the above model. In Problem I, a closed set A, C En is given and the evader wishes to choose IL E 9 and b E [0, tI] so as to maximize b while insuring that [(b, u) E A, and he evades capture before b. In another problem, for a given function ho : En x En -+ El , the evader may seek to maximize infhO(f(1, , u), T(t, , v))(w E Y) while evading capture before tl . In fact, our methods lend
Mixing fuel particles for space combustion research using acoustics

Part of the microgravity science to be conducted aboard the Shuttle (STS) involves combustion using solids, particles, and liquid droplets. The central experimental facts needed for characterization of premixed quiescent particle cloud flames cannot be adequately established by normal gravity studies alone. The experimental results to date of acoustically mixing a prototypical particulate, lycopodium, in a 5 cm diameter by 75 cm long flame tube aboard a Learjet aircraft flying a 20 sec low gravity trajectory are described. Photographic and light detector instrumentation combine to measure and characterize particle cloud uniformity.
A simple characterization of majority rule

Assuming an odd number of voters, E. S. Maskin recently provided a characterization of majority rule based on full transitivity. This paper characterizes majority rule with a set of axioms that includes two of Maskin's, dispenses with another, and contains weak versions of his other two axioms. It allows the number of voters to be odd or even.
Electrodeposition of a polymer interphase in carbon-fiber composites

The performance of an electrodeposited interphase of poly(butadiene-co-maleic anhydride) (BMA) in carbon-fiber composites is investigated. Carbon fibers are electrocoated with BMA from an aqueous solution and the coated fibers are fabricated into composite bars for evaluation of mechanical properties. These composites show superior impact strength, but lower interlaminar shear strength, compared to composites made from commercially treated fibers. It is suggested that unsaturation in the butadiene segments of the interphase polymer leads to the formation of a crosslinked layer during electrodeposition and subsequent drying. Inadequate penetration of this interphase by bulky epoxy molecules leads to a weak interphase/matrix interface which is the locus of failure, generating the observed mechanical properties. These conclusions are supported by examination of the fracture surfaces by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Further evidence of lack of matrix penetration into the interphase comes from electron microprobe line scans for bromine performed on cross-sections of single-filament composites, the bromine being introduced into the matrix via a brominated epoxy resin. Appropriate control of the chemical structure and physical characteristics of the interphase polymer is thus indicated, for acieving simultaneous improvements in impact and interlaminar shear strengths.
The Absorption of Selenium in the Soft X-Ray Region

The absorption of selenium (from 180A to 240A) has been investigated experimentally. The absorption edge near 225A has been resolved into a double edge due to ${M}_{\mathrm{IV}}$ and ${M}_{\mathrm{V}}$ absorption. The separation of these edges is 0.7 ev. A minimum in the absorption is observed at 208A.
A Specific and Predictable Biochemical Anomaly in Interspecific Hybrids of Baptisia viridis × B. leucantha

IN a chromatographic analysis of twenty-one putative hybrids of Baptisia viridis × B. leucantha each of the hybrid types contained in the leaves 4 distinctive substances which were absent from the leaves of more than 25 specimens of each of the pure parental species examined. The 4 hybrid-specific components were distributed in a novel pattern and reacted characteristically in ammonia vapour when observed in ultra-violet light. Accordingly, they were considered to be bona fide hybrid-specific substances1. Since there has been considerable interest in the appearance of new components in hybrids, and attendant theoretical implications touch on aspects of plant biochemistry and evolutionary mechanisms, it is important to establish conclusively that such substances actually are hybrid-specific and, if possible, their identity.
Kinetics of Contact between Smooth Solids

Abstract The diameter of the circular contact region formed between a smooth rubber sphere and a glass plate has been studied as a function of time under a variety of loading conditions. Theoretically, the system is viewed as a circular crack which can move through the glass-rubber interface in two directions: one to form the contact and the other to break it. Discussion centres principally on the speed at which the crack propagates, and on a sudden stopping of the crack which leads to adhesive hysteresis.
Periodic orbits in the dissipative standard map

The dissipative standard map is studied in both the regular and chaotic regimes using a numerical technique that allows us to obtain the stable and unstable periodic orbits of this map in a systematic way. The method applies in all limits of the map, including the Hamiltonian limit (where the dissipation parameter is b=1) and the strongly dissipative limit (b=0), where the map becomes the one-dimensional circle map. Using our technique we calculate the phase diagram of the map both below the critical line, where the dynamics is dominated by mode locking to stable periodic orbits, and above it, where chaotic behavior appears. We then study the scaling properties of the Arnold tongues as the coefficient of the nonlinear term, V, increases from zero. We find a scaling relation between the width of the Arnold tongue (with w=p/q) and the Liapunov exponent of the most stable orbit in that tongue, which both scale like ${\mathit{V}}^{\mathit{q}}$. This result is obtained numerically and confirmed by an analytic argument.
Project and program decisions in research and development

. This paper describes the application of three comparative procedures for scaling the relative worth of research and development projects. One procedure which assigns a monetary value to each project in units comparable to those used to measure the resources consumed proved to be simple for judges to understand and apply. Its application to sets of projects drawn from two laboratories permits investigating the degree of consensus among subject judges with various organizational affiliations and responsibilities. Significant differences in behavior were observed. Both the methodological and behavioral findings are potentially valuable to researchers and administrators dealing with the R&D function in public and private sectors.
Bifascicular Block Due to Penetrating Wound of the Heart: Electrophysiology Studies

A patient with bifascicular block (right-bundle-branch-block and left anterior hemiblock) secondary to a gunshot wound of the heart is presented. His bundle recordings revealed a normal H-V interval, suggesting that the remaining functioning fascicle (left posterior) was not involved. We believe this to be the first reported case of bifascicular block secondary to pentrating trauma.
Professional Development in Corporate Training

This chapter looks at the new demands on trainers in corporate settings and provides examples that illustrate the skills and abilities that should become part of their professional development. It concludes with recommendations based on principles of adult learning and organization development.
Restraining segments and reactivation of the Santa Monica–Dume–Malibu Coast fault system, offshore Los Angeles, California

[1] A regional west striking system of surface and blind faults transects northern metropolitan Los Angeles, separating the Santa Monica Mountains from two deep sedimentary basins. The surface faults include the Santa Monica, Dume, and Malibu Coast faults. The three-dimensional (3-D) geometries of these faults and deformed dated strata were examined in order to determine how oblique shortening is accommodated, how structural relief grows along a mountain front, and how block translation is related to block rotation. Industry seismic reflection, well, and outcrop data were used to construct digital structure-contour maps of several of these faults and three stratigraphic horizons that intersect them. These maps, swath bathymetry, digital elevation models, and seismicity were incorporated into a 3-D digital database. Modeling included new approaches to determining strike-slip displacement by separate analyses of shortening and structural relief in a restraining double bend. Stratigraphic thicknesses indicate Miocene extension across the Santa Monica and Dume faults, which have been reactivated as a single or linked moderately dipping arcuate fault that accommodates one coherent block motion via left-lateral and left-reverse displacement. Modeling indicates 5 km (+8/−1 km) of left-lateral displacement on part of the Santa Monica–Dume fault and ∼11° of clockwise rotation of the Santa Monica Mountains during the last ∼4 ± 1 m.y. Modern displacement rates modeled from GPS data are similar to our modeled post-∼4 Ma rates of westward escape and clockwise rotation of the Santa Monica Mountains.
Glyoxylate carboligase of Escherichia coli: Some properties of the enzyme☆

Abstract Glyoxylate carboligase from Escherichia coli has previously been shown to contain the prosthetic group flavin adenine dinucleotide. The present paper describes some properties of the enzyme, and attempts to shed some light on the function of the flavin. The enzyme is inhibited by heavy metal ions and by p -OH mercuribenzoate and is activated by SH compounds such as cysteine and glutathione. If the assay is carried out at optimal pH with added cysteine, the turnover number of the best preparations at 30 ° is 3440 μmoles CO 2 produced per minute per micromole of flavin. The combination of the flavin-free apoenzyme with flavin adenine dinucleotide follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with a K m of about 2 × 10 −7 M . It was not possible to show that the enzyme is bleached by glyoxylate. There was, on the other hand, a rather slow bleaching of the enzyme by added sodium dithionite. The dithionite-treated enzyme is inactive, and its activity can be restored by added O 2 , flavin adenine dinucleotide, or flavin mononucleotide. The product of the carboligase reaction, tartronic semialdehyde, is oxidized when the enzyme reaction is carried out in the presence of oxygen and certain buffers, but no evidence could be obtained that the carboligase participates in this oxidation reaction.
Effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and medroxyprogesterone acetate on calcium metabolism: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare the effectiveness of administering medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA; 20 mg/d) in either the first (protocol A) or last (protocol B) 12-week period as well as a 6-month course of the GnRH agonist (GnRH-a; leuprolide acetate; 1 mg/d, SC) on calcium (Ca) metabolism. Design Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Setting Clinical research center, university hospital. Patient(s) Twenty women were randomized into protocol A or B, received either MPA or placebo along with GnRH-a, and were then crossed over at 12 weeks to placebo or MPA, for the final 12-week interval of GnRH-a therapy. Intervention(s) Collection of serum and urine samples and measurement of bone density. Main outcome measure(s) Sex hormone, calcitropic hormone, and bone density studies were performed at baseline and at 12 and 24 weeks. Result(s) In both protocol A and B, LH and E 2 levels declined by 79%–81% and 83%–90% of the baseline, respectively, at 12 and 24 weeks. Serum Ca, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin; 2-h fasting and 24-h urinary Ca excretion; and urinary hydroxyproline levels all increased significantly during GnRH-a treatment alone. Estimated Ca balance decreased significantly during GnRH-a treatment alone. The addition of MPA attenuated the increases in phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and 2-h fasting and 24-h urinary Ca excretion, and the decrease in estimated Ca balance. Comparison of phase order demonstrated that MPA prevented 24-h urinary Ca excretion and urinary hydroxyproline loss and decline in estimated Ca balance when it was added back during the second 12 weeks (protocol B) but not during the first 12 weeks (protocol A). Conclusion(s) We conclude that sequential MPA appears to reverse in part the negative effects of GnRH-a on calcitropic hormones and estimated Ca balance.
Light and electron microscopic assessment of progressive atrophy following moderate traumatic brain injury in the rat

The presence of progressive white matter atrophy following traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been reported in humans as well as in animal models. However, a quantitative analysis of progressive alterations in myelinated axons and other cellular responses to trauma has not been conducted. This study examined quantitative differences in myelinated axons from several white and gray matter structures between non-traumatized and traumatized areas at several time points up to 1 year. We hypothesize that axonal numbers decrease over time within the structures analyzed, based on our previous work demonstrating shrinkage of tissue in these vulnerable areas. Intubated, anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to moderate (1.8–2.2 atm) parasagittal fluid-percussion brain injury, and perfused at various intervals after surgery. Sections from the fimbria, external capsule, thalamus and cerebral cortex from the ipsilateral hemisphere of traumatized and sham-operated animals were prepared and. estimated total numbers of myelinated axons were determined by systematic random sampling. Electron micrographs were obtained for ultrastructural analysis. A significant (P<0.05) reduction in the number of myelinated axons in the traumatized hemisphere compared to control in all structures was observed. In addition, thalamic and cortical axonal counts decreased significantly (P<0.05) over time. Swollen axons and macrophage/microglia infiltration were present as late as 6 months post-TBI in various structures. This study is the first to describe quantitatively chronic axonal changes in vulnerable brains regions after injury. Based on these data, a time-dependent decrease in the number of myelinated axons is seen to occur in vulnerable gray matter regions including the cerebral cortex and thalamus along with distinct morphological changes within white matter tracts after TBI. Although this progressive axonal response to TBI may include Wallerian degeneration, other potential mechanisms underlying this progressive pathological response within the white matter are discussed.
Mouse Liver N-Demethylase Activity

Male-female differences in ethylmorphine N-demethylase activity and cytochrome P-450 content were studied in BALB/cJ, DBA/2J, C3H/HeJ, C57BL/10J and CRL:CD-1 mouse strains. Demethylase activity was gr
"Type-completeness" as a language principle

In his recent Turing Lecture, John Backus delivered a trenchant argument for the proposition that "programming languages are in trouble." Backus claims this to be inevitable: the development of Algol-like languages must lead to this sorry state because it begins from faulty assumptions.A less radical interpretation of the difficulties of language design is that we still do not understand the fundamental principles that should guide our design efforts; the machines we use may limit our results, but our ignorance has far greater effect. As evidence to support this position, we can cite the difficulties of building successors to Algol 60 and Pascal. Both languages have been acclaimed as well-designed, but it has proved extremely difficult to capture just what they "got right." Thus, Hoare has claimed that "Algol 60 was not only a great improvement on its predecessors, but also on nearly all of its successors." [73a] The recent Ada design suggests that the same fate may befall Pascal.In this paper, we expand on an idea of Landin [66] to develop an important principle of programming languages: type-completeness. We argue that application of this principle is an effective tool in understanding problems of programming language design. In particular, type-completeness1. allows us to point out many of the flaws and inconsistencies in existing languages (so we can know what mistakes not to repeat) and2. provides a framework for the design of languages (or language families) that have wide variation in their changeable parts.Below, we present the principle of type-completeness and its ramifications for language design. We then discuss some common examples of incompleteness found in existing Algol-like languages. And we end by presenting the type structure of the type-complete programming language Russell, which has been designed by the authors. As we show, the flexibility provided in Russell by the combination of a small, rich type structure and type-completeness belie Backus's assertion of inherent weakness of vonNeumann languages.
Target Capture and Massively Parallel Sequencing of Ultraconserved Elements for Comparative Studies at Shallow Evolutionary Time Scales

Comparative genetic studies of non-model organisms are transforming rapidly due to major advances in sequencing technology. A limiting factor in these studies has been the identification and screening of orthologous loci across an evolutionarily distant set of taxa. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of genomic markers targeting ultraconserved DNA elements (UCEs) for analyses at shallow evolutionary timescales. Using sequence capture and massively parallel sequencing to generate UCE data for five co-distributed Neotropical rainforest bird species, we recovered 776-1516 UCE loci across the five species. Across species, 53-77% of the loci were polymorphic, containing between 2.0 and 3.2 variable sites per polymorphic locus, on average. We performed species tree construction, coalescent modeling, and species delimitation, and we found that the five co-distributed species exhibited discordant phylogeographic histories. We also found that species trees and divergence times estimated from UCEs were similar to the parameters obtained from mtDNA. The species that inhabit the understory had older divergence times across barriers, contained a higher number of cryptic species, and exhibited larger effective population sizes relative to the species inhabiting the canopy. Because orthologous UCEs can be obtained from a wide array of taxa, are polymorphic at shallow evolutionary timescales, and can be generated rapidly at low cost, they are an effective genetic marker for studies investigating evolutionary patterns and processes at shallow timescales. (Birds; coalescent theory; isolation-with-migration; massively parallel sequencing; Neotropics; next-generation sequencing; phylogeography; SNPs.)
Maximum Likelihood Estimators for Coarsely Resolved Precipitation Data

Most of the literature dealing with hydrologic frequency analysis treats data as being exact and error free. This paper demonstrates that the use of common estimators for distribution parameters and quantiles can lead to serious biases and inadequate assessments of uncertainties when data are coarsely resolved, which is often the case for short-duration precipitation data. Alternative estimators are presented for cases of both data truncation and data rounding and are shown to be superior to common estimators for fitting of exponential and Gumbel probability distributions. A technique is also recommended for determination of the fraction of a data set that would be expected to consist of zeros, enabling an objective approach to augmentation of nonzero data.
High serum interleukin-6 levels correlate with a shorter failure-free survival in indolent lymphoma

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a potent immunomodulatory cytokine that may have pathogenetic and prognostic significance in a number of disorders. The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between serum IL-6 levels and phenotypic characteristics, as well as failure-free survival of patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). Using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), we measured IL-6 in frozen sera from 55 healthy controls and in the pre-treatment frozen sera from 100 low-grade lymphoma patients who were enrolled on protocols at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Serum IL-6 levels were correlated with clinical and laboratory features at diagnosis and with failure-free survival. The serum IL-6 levels were > or =2 pg/mL in 9% (median, or =3.0 mg/L) (p = 0.00013), and unfavorable International Index (p = 0.03). Patients with elevated serum IL-6 levels had an inferior failure-free survival (log rank p = 0.008) compared with those with normal serum IL-6 levels (three-year-failure-free-survival = 55% versus 81%, respectively). In conclusion a minority (25%) of patients with indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas have elevated serum levels of IL-6 at diagnosis. In these individuals, high IL-6 levels are associated with adverse disease features, and predictive of a shorter failure-free survival.
Survey of Parasites In Threatened Stocks of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) In Oregon By Examination of Wet Tissues and Histology

Abstract We are conducting studies on the impacts of parasites on Oregon coastal coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kistuch). An essential first step is documenting the geographic distribution of infections, which may be accomplished by using different methods for parasite detection. Thus, the objectives of the current study were to (1) identify parasite species infecting these stocks of coho salmon and document their prevalence, density, and geographic distribution; (2) assess the pathology of these infections; and (3) for the first time, determine the sensitivity and specificity of histology for detecting parasites compared with examining wet preparations for muscle and gill infections. We examined 576 fry, parr, and smolt coho salmon in total by histology. The muscle and gills of 219 of these fish also were examined by wet preparation. Fish were collected from 10 different locations in 2006–2007. We identified 21 different species of parasites in these fish. Some parasites, such as Nanophyetus salmincola and My...
Polarization by Reflection and Some Optical Constants in the Extreme Ultraviolet

The proportion of polarization, P, of the first-order reflection from an uncoated aluminized grating with an angle of incidence of about 80° has been determined in the spectral region 304 to 1216 A.
How Ecologically Uneven Developments Put the Spin on the Treadmill of Production

The treadmill of production concept can be significantly enriched if it is incorporated into a world-systemic approach to the economic/ecological/political processes that development around dominant nations’ strategies for access to the raw materials that the treadmill requires that they consume at exponentially expanding rates.
TIME-HARMONIC ANALYSIS OF WAVE PROPAGATION IN UNBOUNDED LAYERED STRATA WITH ZIGZAG BOUNDARIES

A frequency-domain consistent absorbing boundary for horizontally layered strata is derived for the cases of antiplane shear and plane strain. The boundary can be composed of nonvertical as well as vertical segments, thus enabling efficient modeling of unbounded media. While the nonvertical boundary, as long as not horizontal, can be inclined at an arbitrary angle, numerical instability is encountered as the boundary becomes nearly horizontal, leading to erroneous results. A modification of the formulation based on selective reduced integration is proposed to make the new boundary condition more robust. Application problems in foundation dynamics and dam-foundation-reservoir interaction are considered to demonstrate the computational efficiency provided by the new boundary.
Feedback Techniques for Intra-Media Continuity and Inter-Media Synchronization in Distributed Multimedia Systems

Future advances in networking and storage will make it feasible to build multimedia on-demand servers that provide services similar to those of a neighbourhood videotape rental store over metropolitan area networks such as B-ISDN. Such multimedia servers can support real-time retrieval of multimedia objects by users onto their ISDN videophones and audiophones for playback. The design of techniques and protocols for providing continuous and synchronous access to multimedia services constitutes the subject matter of this paper
Data abstraction from a programming language viewpoint

This paper traces the development of data abstraction concepts in programming languages. A data abstraction, or abstract data type, describes a collection of abstract entities and operations on the entities. A program which uses a data abstraction can access or modify the entities only through the abstract operations.Specific research topics discussed in the paper include: the role of type in a programming language, the formal specification of the semantics of a data abstraction, data abstraction language construct design issues, type hierarchies, and type-checking.
Is there life after Zeno? Taking executions past the breaking (Zeno) point

Understanding Zeno phenomena plays an important role in understanding hybrid systems. A natural - and intriguing - question to ask is: what happens after a Zeno point? Inspired by the construction of Filippov (1988), we propose a method for extending Zeno executions past a Zeno point for a class of hybrid systems: Lagrangian hybrid systems. We argue that after the Zeno point is reached, the hybrid system should switch to a holonomically constrained dynamical system, where the holonomic constraints are based on the unilateral constraints on the configuration space that originally defined the hybrid system. These principles are substantiated with a series of examples.
Comparison Of Modified Bootstrap And Conventional Sensitometry In Medical Radiography

A new modified bootstrap approach to sensitometry is presented which provides H and D curves that show almost exact agreement with those obtained using conventional methods. Two bootstrap techniques are described; both involve a combination of inverse-square and step-ped wedge modulation of the radiation field and provide intensity-scale sensitometric curves as appropriate for medical radiography. H and D curves obtained with these modified techniques are compared with those obtained for screen-film combinations using inverse-square sensitometry as well as with those obtained for direct x-ray film using time-scale sensitometry. The stepped-wedge of the Wisconsin X-Ray Test Cassette was used in the boot-strap approach since it provides sufficient exposure latitude to encompass the useful den-sity range of medical x-ray film. This approach makes radiographic sensitometry quick and convenient, allowing accurate characteristic curves to be obtained for any screen-film cassette using standard diagnostic equipment.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Methodology for Evaluating a Partially Controlled Longitudinal Treatment Using Principal Stratification, With Application to a Needle Exchange Program.

We consider studies for evaluating the short-term effect of a treatment of interest on a time-to-event outcome. The studies we consider are partially controlled in the following sense: (1) Subjects' exposure to the treatment of interest can vary over time, but this exposure is not directly controlled by the study; (2) subjects' follow-up time is not directly controlled by the study; and (3) the study directly controls another factor that can affect subjects' exposure to the treatment of interest as well as subjects' follow-up time. When factors (1) and (2) are both present in the study, evaluating the treatment of interest using standard methods, including instrumental variables, does not generally estimate treatment effects. We develop the methodology for estimating the effect of treatment in this setting of partially controlled studies under explicit assumptions using the framework for principal stratification for causal inference. We illustrate our methods by a study to evaluate the efficacy of the Bal...
Forecasting the resilience of networked dynamical systems under environmental perturbation

Many real life systems can be viewed as networked systems that are composed by interconnected compartments which exchange mass or energy between each other and with their environment through fluxes. Such interaction with the environment make these systems subject to external perturbations that cause systems parameters to vary away from the nominal values. For nonlinear networked systems, such parameter variations can change the qualitative behaviors of the system (i.e. phase portrait or stability) through a bifurcation [6]. These changes may result in a regime shifts [8] in which the system ”flips” from a nominal operating state to an alternative state. Regime-shifts can be catastrophic for users who have grown accustomed to the quality of services provided by the system prior to the shift. Examples of this can be found in the eutrophication of shallow lakes as a result of human-induced nutrient enrichment or the decline of fisheries due to overfishing practices [8]. Another prime example occurs when voltage collapses cascade through the electric power network [4]. Each of these shifts has the potential to disrupt the services that these systems provide to the society. Forecasting the resilience of these networked systems to parameter variations is therefore crucial for managing their security and sustainability [1, 5]. Consider networked systems ẋ = f(x, μ) whose equilibrium x⇤ depend on parameter μ. The resilience of a system under parameter variation can be measured by the distance = |μ⇤ μ| between the nominal parameter μ and the closest critical paramater μ⇤ at which a bifurcation occur. The quantity , often called distance to closest bifurcation,
On reducing hotspot contention in multistage networks

The authors propose a hardware combining approach for reducing the effects of hotspots on performance in multistage interconnection networks. The new technique tries to increase the rate at which the requests are combined. Instead of considering a single queue for request combination, they consider the two queues leading to the same switching element and the network. This had been found to increase combining at any switching node in the saturation tree. For combining requests in two queues, a modified structure for the switching element is proposed. The proposed technique eliminates tree saturation even in very large networks. It has been shown through simulation that the proposed scheme outperforms most if not all previously suggested schemes. >
Cellular Responses to Oral Pathogens

Background: Several previous epidemiological studies, along with the results of more recent animal model approaches, have suggested a role for periodontitis in atherosclerosis. Such an association could be mediated by direct interactions of periodontopathic bacteria with host vascular tissues. Methods:The interactions of Porphyromonas gingivalis with endothelial cells and macrophages in vitro were investigated relative to modification of low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Results: P. gingivalis 381, its outer membrane vesicles, and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from these organisms were all shown to induce modification of LDL in the presence of the murine macrophage J774.A.1. Such alterations led to an increase in the migration of the particles through agarose gels. In addition,u direct modification of LDL by strain 381 was demonstrated in the absence of macrophages. This latter property appears to be related to the potent protease activities of the bacterium. These properties may contribute to modifi...
Vitis seeds (Vitaceae) from the late Neogene Gray Fossil Site, northeastern Tennessee, U.S.A.

article i nfo This study focuses on morphometric and systematic analyses of the fossil Vitis seeds, recovered from the Gray Fossil Site (7-4.5 Ma, latest Miocene-earliest Pliocene), northeastern Tennessee, U.S.A. A multivariate analysis based on eleven measured characters from 76 complete fossil seeds recognizes three morphotaxa. Further comparisons with both selected modern and fossil vitaceous specimens confirm that these morphotaxa represent three new species, viz. Vitis grayensis sp. nov., Vitis lanatoides sp. nov., and Vitis latisulcata sp. nov. Furthermore, the close resemblance of the first two fossil grapes (V. grayensis and V. lanatoides) with two East Asian Vitis species provides further support concerning a strong eastern Asian aspect of the Gray fossil biota in the late Neogene southeastern North America, as previously evidenced by both animals (e.g. Pristinailurus bristoli (red panda)) and other plants (e.g. Sinomenium and Sargentodoxa).
Computer arithmetic architectures with redundant number systems

Redundant arithmetic number systems are gaining popularity in computationally intensive environments particularly because of the carry-free addition/subtraction properties they possess. This property has enabled arithmetic operations such as addition, multiplication, division, square root, etc., to be performed much faster than with conventional binary number systems. In this paper, some of the recent contributions to the area of design of redundant arithmetic based addition, multiplication, division, and square root algorithms and architectures are briefly discussed. Also, only the use of bit/digit-parallel implementation for architectures is discussed so that the enhancement in speed through the use of redundant arithmetic becomes immediately apparent as opposed to the use of bit/digit-serial architectures, where the primary justification for their use is to conserve area. A new radix 2 division algorithm using over-redundant radix 2 quotient digits and requiring a 2 digit quotient selection function is also presented. >
Intensity of Medical Interventions between Diagnosis and Death in Patients with Advanced Lung and Colorectal Cancer: A CanCORS Analysis.

Abstract Background: Medical interventions are an important component of the illness experience in advanced cancer. Objective: To describe the use of medical interventions between diagnosis and death in decedents with metastatic lung and colorectal cancer. Design: Retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort study. Setting/Subjects: We studied 1,840 decedents from the Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance (CanCORS) study. Subjects had been diagnosed with stage IV lung or colorectal cancer between 2003 and 2005. Measurements: Hospitalizations, surgeries, radiation therapy treatments, chemotherapy treatments, and end-of-life care, reported by tertile of overall survival time. Results: Median survival in the bottom, middle, and top tertiles of survival was 1.2, 5.3, and 15.3 months for lung cancer, and 3.0, 18.0, and 44.4 months for colorectal cancer. Hospitalizations, chemotherapy receipt, and hospice enrollment increased with increasing survival. The median duration of chemotherapy in the top su...
Effectiveness of a Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacon at a Midblock Crosswalk on a High-Speed Urban Collector

On April 8, 2013, the Virginia Department of Transportation installed a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB) system at Belmont Ridge Road in Loudoun County, Virginia; two units at the Washington and Old Dominion Trail crossing were included in addition to advance warning units for the northbound and southbound travel directions. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the utility, effectiveness, and safety of the RRFB system during a 1-year period. Of particular interest were (a) the percentage of trail users who pressed the push button to activate the RRFBs and whether that action varied by mode (pedestrians versus bicyclists), (b) motorist behavior when the RRFB system was activated and not activated, and (c) trail user impressions of the system relating to perceptions of safety. The results of the study indicated that the RRFB systems had a positive effect on motorist awareness. This finding was evidenced by the increased yield rates when the system was activated rather than not activated,...
Differential Provenance: Better Network Diagnostics with Reference Events

In this paper, we propose a new approach to diagnosing problems in complex networks. Our approach is based on the insight that many of the trickiest problems are anomalies -- they affect only a small fraction of the traffic (e.g., perhaps a certain subnet), or they only manifest infrequently. Thus, it is quite common for the network operator to have "examples" of both working and non-working traffic readily available -- perhaps a packet that was misrouted, and a similar packet that was routed correctly. In this case, the cause of the problem is likely to be wherever the two packets were treated differently by the network.We sketch the design of a network debugger that can leverage this information using a novel concept that we call differential provenance. Like classical provenance, differential provenance tracks the causal connections between network and configuration states and the packets that were affected by them; however, it can additionally reason about the causes of any discrepancies between different provenances. We have performed a case study in the context of software-defined networks, and our initial results are encouraging: they suggest that differential provenance can often identify the root cause of even very subtle network issues.
Gnamptogenys hartmani (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Discovered in Louisiana

Colonies of a predatory ant, Gnamptogenys hartmani (W. M. Wheeler)[2][1], were discovered in northwest Louisiana (Bienville Parish) in April 1963. This is the first record of a complete reproductive colony. Wheeler's original description (1915) was based on a single specimen from Huntsville, Texas, and the only subsequent record is by Brown (1961), who identified workers and winged females collected by E. Molendez in Honduras. [1]: #fn-1
Cyromazine Toxicity in Different Laboratory Strains of the Tobacco Hornworm (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

Three different strains of tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (L.), were treated with cyromazine ingestion of cyromazine-treated artificial diet or by intrahemocoelic injection. The effect of cyromazine on larval growth and the onset and severity of poisoning symptoms were similar in the wild-type green-pigmented strain and the white-pigmented mutant. Feeding times of 4 h or greater and injected doses of 22.6 micrograms/g larva or more resulted in lower weight gains than were observed with controls. Elongation caused by exposure was evident within 12-24 h. The incidence of cuticular rupture was 55 and 67% in the dietary exposure tests and 24 and 22% in the injection tests for the green and white strains, respectively. The response of the black strain to cyromazine differed by the route of administration. Like the other strains, dietary exposure times of 4 h or greater led to smaller weight gains than in the controls. Injected doses of 2.8 micrograms/g larva or more caused a decrease in the weight gain of the treated versus controls. A smaller proportion (21%) of black larvae consuming treated diet developed cuticular ruptures, whereas injected treatments had a higher incidence (87%). The differences in the pigmentation of the white and black strains had been linked to high and low juvenile hormone titers, respectively. The greater susceptibility of the juvenile hormone-deficient black strain raises the possibility that the mode of action of cyromazine involves a hormonal component. In a separate series of experiments, the poisoning symptoms of cyromazine were attenuated or eliminated by periods of starvation of 1-3 d following exposure to the chemical. Starvation for 3 d preceding treatment attenuated but did not eliminate signs of poisoning.
An uninvited dinner guest.

Figure 1. Fourth-stage Pseudoterranova decipiens larva in saline solution in a specimen jar The larva had been expectorated by the patient. The larva remained highly active in the specimen jar for 1 week after being expectorated; it perished only when placed in formalin. This is a still image from video 1, available in the electronic edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases. *.._ | | | ,l 1|11E | I-| | . ..:.
PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF ST SEGMENT DEPRESSION DURING EXERCISE TREADMILL STRESS TESTING OF FIREFIGHTERS

Functional capacity has been well established as an important predictor of survival and risk for cardiovascular events in all persons. Over the past twenty-five years of evaluating firefighter candidates at a large urban fire department, we have observed a number of tests with ST-segment depression
Vulnerability to smokeless tobacco use among those dependent on alcohol or illicit drugs.

introduction: Individuals dependent on alcohol or illicit drugs are vulnerable to cigarette smoking and related adverse health outcomes. Less research has been conducted regarding whether these same groups are vulnerable to smokeless tobacco (ST) use. The goal of this study is to examine vulnerability to ST use among individuals with other drug dependence. Methods: Utilizing the most recent (2011) National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NDSUH), we determined odds ratios (ORs) for current cigarette smoking and ST use among those with current alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana dependence, adjusting for relevant sociodemographic characteristics. Vulnerability to cigarette smoking was assessed to confirm that alcohol and illicit drug dependence were associated with increased smoking in these data sets, as shown in prior studies. Identical analyses were completed in the 2009 and 2010 NSDUH to assess generality.
Pronoun resolution

Two approaches to the problem of pronoun resolution are presented. The first is a naive algorithm that works by traversing the surface parse trees of the sentences of the text in a particular order looking for noun phrases of the correct gender and number. The algorithm is shown to incorporate many, though not all, of the constraints on co-referentiality between a nonreflective pronoun and a possible antecedent, which have been discovered recently by linguists. The algorithm clearly does not work in all cases, but the results of an examination of several hundred examples from published texts show that it performs remarkably well.In the second approach, it is shown how pronoun resolution is handled in a comprehensive system for semantic analysis of English texts. The system consists of four basic semantic operations which work by accessing a data base of 'World knowledge" inferences, which are drawn selectively and in a context-dependent way in response to the operations. The first two operations seek to satisfy the demands made by predicates on the nature of their arguments and to discover the relations between sentences. The third operation - knitting - recognizes and merges redundant expressions. These three operations frequently result in a pronoun reference being resolved as a by-product. The fourth operation seeks to resolve those pronouns not resolved by the first three. It involves a bidirectional search of the text and 'World knowledge" for an appropriate chain of inference and utilizes the efficiency of the naive algorithm.Four examples, including the classic examples of Winograd and Charniak, are presented that demonstrate pronoun resolution within the semantic approach.
Compound Identification Using Penalized Linear Regression on Metabolomics.

Compound identification is often achieved by matching the experimental mass spectra to the mass spectra stored in a reference library based on mass spectral similarity. Because the number of compounds in the reference library is much larger than the range of mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) values so that the data become high dimensional data suffering from singularity. For this reason, penalized linear regressions such as ridge regression and the lasso are used instead of the ordinary least squares regression. Furthermore, two-step approaches using the dot product and Pearson’s correlation along with the penalized linear regression are proposed in this study.
Handling uncertainty in answer set programming

We present a probabilistic extension of logic programs under the stable model semantics, inspired by the concept of Markov Logic Networks. The proposed language takes advantage of both formalisms in a single framework, allowing us to represent commonsense reasoning problems that require both logical and probabilistic reasoning in an intuitive and elaboration tolerant way.