cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sparse Image Reconstruction using Sparse Priors

Sparse image reconstruction is of interest in the fields of radioastronomy and molecular imaging. The observation is assumed to be a linear transformation of the image, and corrupted by additive white Gaussian noise. We study the usage of sparse priors in the empirical Bayes framework: it permits the selection of the hyperparameters of the prior in a data-driven fashion. Three sparse image reconstruction methods are proposed. A simulation study was performed using a binary-valued image and a Gaussian point spread function. In the range of signal to noise ratios considered, the proposed methods had better performance than sparse Bayesian learning (SBL).
Surface Micromachined MEMS Capacitors With Dual Cavity for Energy Harvesting

A novel electrostatic MEMS capacitors array with dual capacitive cavities for energy harvesting from environmental vibration has been developed. This paper presents the new design, fabrication, modeling, and complete set of characterization of a MEMS capacitors array energy harvester with dual cavities, which achieves considerably higher energy generation than similar devices with a single capacitor. Rocking instability, that is, perturbations that may result in movable plates not in parallel to fixed plates, of the movable plate has been studied based upon comprehensive dynamic simulations using MATLAB. Resultant symmetric breaking causes drastic reduction on power generation. The devices have been successfully fabricated using surface micromachining technology and experimentally characterized. The resonance frequency is observed at 500 Hz. A maximum power of 2.5 μW across the load resistors is achieved under a high DC bias of 15 V and extremely intense excitation above 5 g. Detailed dynamic performance of the MEMS capacitors array energy harvester are presented in the paper. Experimental comparison between device with single capacitor and capacitors array are addressed.
The analytic potential of scientific data: Understanding re‐use value

While problems related to the curation and preservation of scientific data are receiving considerable attention from the information science and digital repository communities, relatively little progress has been made on approaches for evaluating the value of data to inform investment in acquisition, curation, and preservation. Adapting Hjorland's concept of the “epistemological potential” of documents, we assert that analytic potential, or the value of data for analysis beyond its original use, should guide development of data collections for repositories aimed at supporting research. Three key aspects of the analytic potential of data are identified and discussed: preservation readiness, potential user communities, and fit for purpose. Based on evidence from research from the Data Conservancy initiative, we demonstrate how the analytic potential of data can be determined and applied to build large-scale data collections suited for grand challenge science.
The Book Computer Structures: Thoughts After 40 Years

This article discusses the effect of Computer Structures on readers and students. Having a zoo of many computers in one place has been useful to the computer science community for access, comparison, and reference though useful, is not quite enough. The main impact is the understanding that is gained in the writing that went into the subsequent computers, the taxonomy, Bell's law, and the various lines of research it stimulated.
Trajectories of sinking particles in the Sargasso Sea: modeling of statistical funnels above deep-ocean sediment traps

Abstract Characteristics of statistical funnels above moored deep-ocean sediment traps at the Oceanic Flux Program (OFP) site in the Sargasso Sea were determined by Lagrangian analysis of particles sinking through a realistic horizontal velocity field. Stochastic simulations support previous assertions that the trajectories of sinking particles are, for the most part, far from vertical, and that traps sample particles from rather large “catchment” areas when evaluated over long time scales (much greater than 1 year). The dimensions and geographic centers of these catchment areas are determined by the characteristics of the ocean flow field, particle sinking speeds and depth of the traps. The predicted extent and center of the 3200 m OFP trap is nearly identical to that inferred from a previous analysis of OFP trap fluxes and Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) imagery. Traps moored at different depths may collect particles originating in widely separated areas at the sea surface. This is an important issue when the catchment area is assessed over short time scales (less than 60 days), which typify the collection times of most moored sediment traps. Given the typically patchy distribution of particles and particle producers, this can result in short-period flux measurements that show little or no coherence between collections made at the same location for adjacent times or those made simultaneously but at different depths. The effects of eddy dispersion will be greater for most other oceanic regions, as the Sargasso Sea is characterized by relatively low levels of both eddy and mean kinetic energy. The results of this study demonstrate that an understanding of the temporal and spatial characteristics of the flow field above deep-ocean sediment traps is just as important to the interpretation of flux measurements as is the analysis of the material collected by the traps.
Growth characteristics of the diatoms Pseudonitzschia pungens and P. fraudulenta exposed to ultraviolet radiation

Interest in the biology of planktonic, chain-forming Pseudonitzschia species has grown recently after the discovery of toxin production in Pseudonitzschia pungens and related taxa, following the outbreak of shellfish toxicity in Canada in 1987. As part of a broader study on the effects of enhanced ultraviolet light on the growth of bloom-forming phytoplankton, we have examined the growth rates and production of the toxin domoic acid and two additional chemicals [bacillariolides I and II] by Pseudonitzschia pungens varieties and Pseudonitzschia fraudulenta from Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Growth of P. fraudulenta is significantly inhibited by enhanced UV, P. pungens var. pungens shows slight inhibition, and P. pungens var. multiseries is unaffected. Production of bacillariolides I and II by P. pungens var. multiseries is similar in enhanced and deleted UV light. Tolerance of UV light by P. pungens var. multiseries appears to be acquired, and persistent. If ambient UV light continues to increase as a result of global ozone depletion, one may expect UV-resistant taxa such as P. pungens var. multiseries to become more prominent in coastal phytoplankton communities.
A pilot study to gauge nutritional behavior regarding eye health in an urban community health center population

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the knowledge base of an urban community health center population on the link between nutrition and eye health to determine current habits and then utilize this information for an educational intervention. Methods A survey was given to 150 patients of an ethnically mixed, lower socioeconomic cohort. The data served as a guide for a focus group. An exit survey and a 1-month follow-up call were used to assess the success of the group. Results Approximately 83% of respondents were aware of a link between healthy food and healthy eyes. Fewer knew of the ocular benefits of specific nutrients such as omega-3 (42.7%) or vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, and zeaxanthin (32.7%). Only 60% knew smoking could negatively affect eyesight. The largest age group was older than 55 years (26%), and the largest racial group was black (31.3%). The majority (64.7%) ate fish 1 to 2 days a week, and 40% ate green leafy vegetables 3 to 4 days a week. In the cohort, 73.3% reported they would take supplements or change eating habits to improve ocular health. Only 8% who participated in the survey attended the focus group. At the 1-month follow-up, 75% said they had changed their eating habits based on the information presented. Conclusions Although educating a community health center population about nutrition and ocular health can have a positive effect on patient behaviors, it is difficult, even with incentives, to engage this cohort in participating in focus groups aimed at changing behavior.
Sequential constraint imposition for dimension-driven solid models

Abstract A method for imposing geometric constraints sequentially to position rigid bodies with respect to each other is described. The method can be applied to position geometric primitives with respect to each other before combining them using Boolean operations to create dimension-driven solid models. Other applications include modeling assemblies of parts and mechanisms. The major advantage of sequential constraint imposition is that one can avoid solving all the constraint equations in the model simultaneously. Each constraint is imposed one at a time, which requires solving a much smaller set of equations simultaneously. However, in most cases, one can obtain analytical solutions for these small sets of equations so that it is easy to check for the existence of a solution and to identify the right solution when multiple solutions exist.
Downloading from the OPAC: the innovative interfaces environment

This article discusses downloading from OPACs in general and from the INNOPAC system in particular. It begins by setting out a brief philosophy of downloading, providing an introduction to OPAC downloading. It then discusses the practice of OPAC downloading with particular emphasis on tools for capturing and “postprocessing” downloaded flies. Technical and institutional constraints on downloading are addressed and an innovative program for overcoming some of these constraints is described in detail. The article concludes by considering various proposals for improving INNOPAC downloading capabilities.
Stakeholders as partners in evaluation: A stakeholder-collaborative approach☆☆☆

Abstract An emphasis in recent years on the utilization of evaluation has led to such innovations as stakeholder-based evaluation, which typically allows concerned groups to participate at the planning and review phases of a study. This paper presents a case study of a “stakeholder-collaborative” approach, in which the roles of participants were extended, to incorporate the design, administration, and interpretation of surveys and interviews, extensive data-gathering and development of major portions of the final report. An internal evaluator assigned to the group assumed the roles of facilitator and task manager, to enhance the validity of results. Benefits and disadvantages of the approach for this case are discussed, as well as utilization of the report produced. Six months after submission of the final report, four group members and two major users were interviewed regarding this approach and the report's use; all rated the process positively. Interviewee's suggestions for decreasing problems and maximizing benefits are summarized.
Can second-generation versions of existing therapeutics be successful in clinical trials of sepsis?:

Sepsis syndrome and septic shock remain as significant causes of morbidity and mortality. To date, clinical trials of immunotherapeutic agents have failed to establish conclusively a role for these agents despite considerable animal data to suggest a positive benefit. This article discusses the hypotheses upon which these therapies are based, the critical issues associated with clinical trials and the molecules which have been clinically tested. Recommendations for future clinical trials in sepsis are made.
An efficient method for isolation of lactate dehydrogenase isozymes.

Abstract A technique which employs a variable buffer system to isolate isozyme components is described. The system uses standard starch gel equipment, is rapid, and has a high recovery. The technique is designed to select a pH at the p I of the isolate so that during electrophoresis the desired component remains in the well at the origin and is subsequently recovered in a syringe.
Polyps and Masses of the Pediatric Urinary Bladder: A 21-Year Pathology Review

Although not uncommon in adults, bladder tumors are rare in children. In addition, the histologic types of tumors seen in the pediatric population differ from those seen in adults. Although rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common pediatric bladder tumor, many other benign, malignant, and reactive lesions can be encountered. All may present clinically as a mass or polyp in the bladder. This study was designed to describe the pathology and patient demographics of pediatric bladder masses, because there are few studies describing these entities. Retrospectively reviewing our experience over a 21-year period, we identified 98 specimens from 65 patients with polyps or masses in the urinary bladder. As expected, the most frequent diagnosis was rhabdomyosarcoma. This was followed by fibroepithelial polyp and a variety of additional nonurothelial tumors. Only 7 urothelial tumors were identified, including 1 low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma. Inflammatory lesions, such as cystitis cystica and nephrogenic adenoma, were invariably associated with an irritating factor when a history was provided. Our findings emphasize that diagnoses made in the pediatric urinary bladder are distinct from those in adults, although a wide variety of lesions may still be seen.
Effect of block copolymer concentration and core composition on toughening epoxies

Abstract Epoxy thermosets were modified with 0–6 wt. % of poly(ethylene- alt -propylene)- b -poly(ethylene oxide) (PEP-PEO) or polystyrene- b -poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-PEO) diblock copolymers. Both polymers self-assembled into spherical micelles with PEO coronas and either a rubbery PEP or glassy PS core. The influence of the nature of the core on modulus, glass transition temperature, T g , and critical strain energy release rate, G 1c , was investigated. As block copolymer was added up to 2 wt. % loading, both block copolymers provided similar improvements in G 1c . However, at 2 wt. % and above, the epoxies containing PEP-PEO diblock copolymers outperform those containing PS-PEO by approximately a factor of two. In addition, fractography of compact tension specimen surfaces revealed distinct features present on the PEP-PEO materials, which were not present on the PS-PEO-modified thermosets.
The gift of kinship foster care

Abstract This study examines kinship foster care as a gift relationship. Reunification rates and replacement rates into non-related foster care are analyzed within the statistical framework of competing risks to examine the effects of reciprocity, payment, empathy, and duty on the dynamics of kinship foster care. The study makes use of a unique set of survey data on 983 kinship foster children in Cook County, Illinois. Survey responses are linked to computerized administrative records from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to create a 5-year longitudinal file on placement changes from June 30, 1994 to June 30, 1999. Children whose parents were reported as regularly visiting and working toward regaining custody (reciprocity) were more likely to be reunified and less likely to be replaced than children whose parents were reported as non-cooperative with visitation and service plans. Controlling for reciprocity, children were also less likely to be replaced if caregivers retained the full foster care subsidy (payment), reported a good relationship with the child (empathy), and grew-up in the American South and attended church regularly (duty). The sensitivity of these findings to alternative specifications of the competing risks of foster care replacement and kinship transfers is reported.
Brief intervention to reduce hazardous drinking and enhance coping among OEF/OIF/OND veterans

Hazardous drinking among US Military combat veterans is an important public health issue. Because recent combat veterans are difficult to engage in specialty mental health and substance abuse care, there is a need for opportunistic interventions administered in settings visited by recent combat veterans such as primary care. This paper describes a brief (single-session) intervention that was recently developed and tested in a sample of veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND). The intervention consists of a counseling session delivered in a Motivational Interviewing style using a packet of personalized feedback about alcohol misuse, symptoms of PTSD and depression, as well as coping skills. The treatment is described and data from a single case treated with this intervention are presented. Language: en
Evidence for Pituitary Regulation of Somatic Growth, Insulin-Like Growth Factors-I and -II, and Their Binding Proteins in the Fetal Rat

Top of pageAbstract ABSTRACT: We investigated pituitary regulation of late-gestation fetal growth in the spontaneous dwarf rat, a strain with an autosomal recessive mutation (gene symbol dr) in the growth hormone (GH) gene resulting in complete isolated GH deficiency. GH-normal/GH-deficient (Dr/dr) females were crossed with Dr/dr or dr/dr males, producing both GH-deficient and GH-normal fetuses within the same litter. Pups were killed within 3 h after birth to approximate the developmental state of a late-gestation fetus. The body weight of GH-deficient fetuses was inhibited by 14% in comparison to GH-normal animals, but tail length remained unaffected. The brain and lungs were the only organs whose growth appeared to be pituitary-independent. Other organs showed moderate pituitary dependence in proportion to body weight. Serum IGF-I and IGF-II were reduced by 73% and 52%, respectively, in the absence of GH. The major IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) were analyzed by Western ligand blot. The predominant 26- to 30-kD IGFBP band normally seen in neonatal rat serum was greatly increased in GH-deficient sera, to 250% of GH-normal sera as measured by densitometry. However, addition of α-Hec 1 antibody to IGFBP-2, which has been used to identify IGFBP-2 as the major neonatal IGFBP, resulted in immunoprecipitation of only a small amount of the 26- to 30-kD band from the GH-deficient fetuses, suggesting the presence of an additional IGFBP. Northern analysis of GH-deficient livers did not reveal any visible increase in IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, or IGFBP-4 mRNA. We conclude that pituitary GH exerts a modest, but significant, selective effect on fetal body weight and organ growth. Serum levels of both IGF-I and IGF-II, as well as their binding proteins, were shown to be pituitary-GH–dependent in the fetal period. The increase of low-molecular-weight binding proteins in the GH-deficient fetus, which we were unable to attribute to IGFBP-1, -2, -3, or -4, may indicate the presence of unique fetal binding protein(s). The spontaneous dwarf rat may be an important model for further investigation of the development of pituitary dependence in fetal growth.
Myocyte Stretch Slows Cardiac Conduction by a Caveolae-Dependent Increase in Sarcolemmal Capacitance

Alterations in cardiac electrophysiology by mechanical perturbations have been long observed, however the cellular basis for these changes remains poorly understood. Most studies have focused on pro-arrhythmic consequences of stretch-activated currents (SAC). However, alterations in cardiac conduction that can create an arrhythmogenic substrate have also been observed even in the presence of SAC blockade. We tested the hypotheses that stretch slows conduction by increasing cell membrane capacitance via recruitment and sarcolemmal integration of caveolae and found that: (1) Conduction slowing occurred with stretch in both (a) pressure-loaded mouse hearts and (b) biaxially-stretched micropatterned murine cardiomyocyte monolayers, (2) Inhibition of stretch-activated currents had no effect on this slowing in both models, (3) Slowing was abrogated by caveolae depletion in both models, using cav3-knockout mice or incubation with 1 mM MβCD, (4) Stretch significantly increased cell membrane capacitance and time constant in single wild-type, but not caveolae-depleted cells, and (5) These effects on cell membrane capacitance and conduction slowing concide with recruitment and integration of caveolae by stretch. Together, these data suggest that myocyte stretch promotes recruitment and integration of caveolae and causes slowing of cardiac conduction by increasing cell membrane capacitance.
Automated insulin granule segmentation from electron photomicrographs of rat pancreatic β-cells

Increased blood glucose stimulates pancreatic β-cells and induces an exocytotic release of insulin. The β-cell, which contains ~10^4 insulin-containing granules, releases only a few percent of the granules during a given stimulus such as a meal. The temporal response function to a square wave increase in the concentration of glucose is characteristically biphasic. It is not known whether the granules exhibit random or directed migration patterns as a function of phase. Directed migration would suggest the development of an intracellular gradient directing the path and velocity of insulin granule movement. Our ongoing research investigates this process using manual morphometric analysis of electron micrographs of rat pancreatic β-cells. This is a tedious and time-consuming stereological process. Consequently, we have developed an automated algorithm for accurately segmenting and deriving granule counts, areas, and measuring distance to the plasma membrane. The method is a data-driven image processing approach that implements Mahalanobis classifiers to hierarchically classify pixel candidates and subsequently pixel aggregates as insulin granules. Granule cores and halos are classified independently and fused by intersecting the convex difference of granule halos with core candidates. Once fused, total and individual granule areas and distance metrics to the β-cell plasma membrane are obtained. This algorithm provides a rapid and accurate method for the determination of granule numbers, location, and potential gradients in the pancreatic β-cell under different experimental conditions.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Does an offer for a free on-line continuing medical education (CME) activity increase physician survey response rate? A randomized trial

Background Achieving a high response rate in a physician survey is challenging. Monetary incentives increase response rates but obviously add cost to a survey project. We wondered whether an offer of a free continuing medical education (CME) activity would be effective in improving survey response rate.
Field Assessment of Adhesion and Hatch ofChrysoperlaEggs Mechanically Applied in Liquid Carriers

Abstract A mechanical technique was evaluated for releasing green lacewing eggs in liquid suspensions. Deposited eggs were enclosed within a circle of nonpoisonous adhesive to protect them from predation and to prevent escape of hatched larvae. Released eggs were monitored daily for 5 days after release by measuring three response variables: adhesion rate of eggs to foliage, hatch rate of eggs, and “yield” of larvae from discharged eggs; “yield” was the product of egg adhesion and egg hatch. Factors tested were: egg conditioning prior to release (incubated or refrigerated), carrier (distilled water or commercial carrier solution), application technique (mechanical or hand application), and row facing (North or South). Release technique did not significantly effect egg hatch on any day. Conditioning eggs prior to release had the greatest effect on hatch of eggs and resulting yield of larvae during the 5-day monitoring period. Carrier had a significant effect on adhesion of eggs to leaves and hatch of eggs. Commercial carrier solution increased egg adhesion but decreased egg hatch compared to water. Overall mean yield of larvae from incubated eggs distributed mechanically was not significantly different for eggs suspended in water (36.4% on day 5 post-release) and for eggs suspended in commercial carrier solution (36.1% on day 5 post-release). Hand-applied eggs had a higher hatch and subsequent yield of larvae than mechanically released eggs; however, the hand technique was labor intensive.
Effect of Hemodialysis Membranes on β2‐Microglobulin Amyloidosis

Early after the identification of beta(2)-microglobulin amyloidosis (A beta(2)M) as the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, it was thought that hemodialysis was a major cause in the development of the disease. It was subsequently shown that hemodialysis was not necessary for the development of dialysis-related amyloidosis; however, it was believed that the different dialysis membranes did modulate the progression of the disease. Current data demonstrate that hemodialysis fails to prevent or reverse the disease, but there is substantial evidence that high-flux, high-efficiency dialyzers slow its progression. Many factors related to hemodialysis have been evaluated in relation to A beta(2)M, including the effect of the bioincompatibility of the membrane, the capacity of the different membranes to remove beta(2)M, and the effect of reuse on beta(2)M levels. Moreover, there have been intensive efforts to evaluate, explore, and improve the different mechanisms in beta(2)M removal, with adsorption as a promising prospect. With the available evidence, it seems that the removal of beta(2)M by the membrane plays the most important role in modulating the disease outcome and rate of progression, although a large, long-term, multicentered and randomized study is still lacking to prove this relationship. However, it is possible that with the continuing advances in optimizing the beta(2)M removal efficiency of the different membranes, the frequency and severity of the disease can be substantially decreased.
Conjugate gradient adaptive matched filter

We consider an adaptive reduced-rank detector, referred to as the CG-AMF detector, which is obtained by using the conjugate gradient (CG) algorithm to solve for the weight vector of the adaptive matched filter (AMF). The CG is a computationally efficient iterative algorithm, which finds the projection of the AMF weight vector to the Krylov subspace with a dimension growing with the CG iterations. This effectively leads to a family of reduced-rank detectors indexed by the number of CG iterations. The main purpose of this paper is to examine the output signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) of the CG-AMF detector in the presence of strong clutter/interference. Specifically, by exploiting a connection between the CG algorithm and the Lanczos algorithm, we show the output SINR can be asymptotically expressed in a simple form involving a Ritz vector of the sample covariance matrix. The probability density function (pdf) and expected value of the output SINR are then obtained based on this approximation. Our theoretical analysis of the CG-AMF detector is verified by computer simulation. Numerical comparisons are also made with several popular reduced-rank detectors using either data-independent or data-dependent rank reduction approaches. Our results show that for a fixed training size, the CG-AMF detector often reaches its peak output SINR with a lower rank compared with the other reduced-rank detectors, which implies that the CG-AMF detector has lower computational complexity and less training requirement.
A mathematical analysis of affinity membrane bioseparations

Abstract A mathematical model including convection, diffusion and Langmuir adsorption is formulated to analyze the design and operation of affinity membrane bioseparations. A key prediction from the analysis is that the flow velocity through affinity membranes may be limited not by pressure drop, but rather by association kinetics between soluble protein and immobilized ligand. Furthermore, for thin membranes with Peclet numbers less than 40, slow association kinetics may limit the flow velocity to an extent where diffusion axial to flow undesirably becomes a dominant mechanism for transport of protein through the membrane. Lastly, even relatively small thickness variations of 3% and porosity variations of 1% may severely degrade membrane of performance. Practical consequences of these results are presented, e.g. constructing thicker membranes from stacks of thinner membranes will tend to reduce the effect of thickness and porosity variations, sharpen breakthrough curves, raise allowable flow velocities and increase loading capacities.
Collaborative and reconfigurable object tracking

Many Applications perceive visual information through networks of embedded sensors. Intensive image processing computations have to be performed in order to process the perceived information. Such computations usually demand hardware implementations in order to exhibit real time performance. Furthermore, many of such applications are hard to be characterized a priori, since they take different paths according to events happening in the scene at runtime. Hence, reconfigurable hardware devices are the only viable platform for implementing such applications, providing both real time performance and dynamic adaptability for the system.In this paper, we present a collaborative and dynamically adaptive object tracking system that has been built in our lab. We exploit reconfigurable hardware devices embedded in a number of networked cameras in order to achieve our goal. We justify the need for dynamic adaptation of the system through scenarios and applications. Experimental results on a set of scenes advocate the fact that our system works effectively for different scenario of events through reconfiguration. Comparing results with non-adaptive implementations verify the fact that our approach improves system's robustness to scene variations and outperforms the traditional implementations.
Codification and tacitness as knowledge management strategies: an empirical exploration

Abstract This paper develops four categories of knowledge management strategies used by multinational corporations (MNCs). Codification strategies involve the transformation of tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge in order to facilitate flows of organizational knowledge. Tacitness strategies keep organizational knowledge tacit in order to prevent flows of knowledge to competitors. Focused knowledge management strategies regulate knowledge flows by controlling the degree to which knowledge is encoded in forms that match the information intensity and ambiguity of their knowledge. Unfocused knowledge management strategies attempt to regulate knowledge flows by controlling the overall level of codification of knowledge without special consideration of the capabilities of specific forms of codification. Empirical analyses of the effects of these strategies on subunit performance in a sample of US and Danish subsidiaries suggest that the focused strategies are superior to the other strategies. Our results also indicate that different kinds of organizational knowledge require matching forms of codification in order to increase performance. The results give rise to a nested contingency model of knowledge management.
Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in 48 foals: response to antimicrobial therapy.

• Case records of 48 foals with pneumonia due to Rhodococcus equi were reviewed. Twenty of the 48 foals survived and 28 died or were euthanized. There was no significant difference between the survivors and non-survivors in the age of onset of illness, duration of illness prior to admission, the mean white blood cell (WBC) count, or the mean plasma fibrinogen content. • All foals had R. equi isolated from a tracheobronchial aspirate or lung specimens to obtained at necropsy. All organisms were susceptible in vitro (Kirby-Bauer) to erythromycin and gentamicin. Susceptibilities to other drugs were: trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (88%), tetracycline (87%), chloramphenicol (83%); 97% were resistant to cephalothin and 83% to penicillin. • Thirteen of the 20 surviving foals were treated with erythromycin and/or rifampin. A decline in mortality rate was observed with the introduction of the combination of erythromycin and rifampin. Nonr of the 17 foals treated with penicillin and gentamicin survived. • Chronic, active, non-septic synovitis was confirmed in 17 foals. These foals had joint distension with mild or no apparent lameness.
Battery Cell Identification and SOC Estimation Using String Terminal Voltage Measurements

A battery system consists of many battery cells or modules that may have different characteristics. To achieve reliable, efficient, and extended utilization of battery systems, the battery management system (BMS) must keep track of individual cell-level dynamics, state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), failure status, and life-expectancy prediction. Current battery technology employs cell or module-level voltage sensors, with high costs for sensors and packaging, and substantial reliability issues. This paper introduces new methods that utilize existing cell-balancing circuits to estimate an individual cell's voltage and current from battery string terminal voltage/current measurements. This is achieved by actively controlling balancing circuits to create partial observability for battery cell subsystems. Control strategies, estimation algorithms, and their key properties are developed. Some typical battery model structures are used to illustrate the usage of the methods.
An infrared spectroscopy study of simple alcohols adsorbed on H-ZSM-5

Abstract We have examined the adsorption of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-propanol, and 2-methyl-2-propanol on H-ZSM-5 using transmission infrared spectroscopy. In agreement with previous results from temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and thermogravimetric analysis [M. T. Aronson, R. J. Gorte, and W. E. Farneth, J. Catal.98, 434 (1986)], each of the alcohols adsorbs in the vicinity of the Al atoms, as evidenced by the disappearance of the hydroxyl band associated with the hydrogen cation. For 2-methyl-2-propanol adsorbed at 295 K and 2-propanol at 360 K, changes in the IR spectral features and isotopic scrambling following exposure to D2O indicate that these molecules dehydrate to form carbenium ion-like intermediates prior to desorbing as olefin products. Methanol, ethanol, and 1-propanol remain unreacted up to their desorption temperatures. While 1-butanol is shown to be very reactive in TPD, no isotopic scrambling was observed during exposure to D2O and reaction appears to occur through a bimolecular mechanism. The results of this study are explained in terms of a model which assumes that the primary interaction between the alcohols and the zeolite is due to proton transfer at the Al sites. The model pictures the adsorbed species as ion pairs consisting of oxonium ions or carbenium ions coupled with the anionic zeolite framework.
Survey of the continuing education needs of Ohio health care professions: An interdisciplinary approach

Representatives of five health care professions in Ohio were randomly surveyed to determine their past experiences with continuing education and their perceived needs for future continuing education. The survey attempted to assess if future continuing education programs could be designed in an interdisciplinary fashion and still meet the perceived needs of the separate professions. The survey instrument asked questions in the following areas: (a) past participation (continuing education opportunities utilized during the past 12 months), (b) program design (travel, scheduling, fees and other factors affecting participation), (c) professional issues (content), and (d) sample population and demographics. The study showed that program content, date, time and location are the most important factors influencing program attendance. Travel and cost ranked least among these factors. The amount respondents were willing to pay varied significantly among the sampled populations. Specific patterns of responses that are summarized in this paper will be of interest to planners and organizers of future continuing education programs, especially those which include more than one health care discipline in the educational experience.
Improving the Attitudes of 4th Graders Toward Older People Through a Multidimensional Intergenerational Program

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an intergenerational program on children's attitudes toward older people. Four 4th grade classes, one each during the years 2002 through 2005, participated in the study. The elders and school children engaged in meaningful activities over a 5 month period, including the performance of a play and the creation of a book of biographies and stories. The findings indicate that after the program, 9 of 17 items showed statistically significant improvements in children's attitudes toward older people. The results demonstrate that a multidimensional project can improve children's views of growing old.
Ultrastructural localization of δ-opioid receptors in the rat caudate-putamen nucleus during postnatal development: Relation to synaptogenesis

During development, delta-opioid receptors (DORs) in the rat caudate-putamen nucleus (CPN) appear later than mu-opioid receptors (MORs), whose developmental pattern specifically relates to synaptogenesis. We used electron microscopic immunocytochemistry to determine whether there are also age-related changes in subcellular localization of DORs in the rat CPN. Sections from postnatal day (P) 0-P30 and adult dorsomedial CPN were immunogold-silver labeled to examine the plasmalemmal and cytoplasmic distribution of these receptors. In addition, immunoperoxidase labeling was used to determine the numerical density of synapses relative to DOR-labeled profiles. Immunolabeling for DOR was undetectable at P0, light at P5, and dense from P10 onward. The labeling during P5-P10 was mainly localized in somatodendritic profiles but also was readily seen in axon terminals, most of which formed asymmetric synapses with dendrites. From P15, a few immunogold particles were seen in contact with postsynaptic densities in spines, and the proportion of these particles significantly increased in P30 and adult CPN. Other particles were localized in the cytoplasm of dendrites and terminals without significant age-related changes. Stereological analysis showed that compared with labeled dendritic shafts and spines, labeled axon terminals have a closer correlation with synapse formation. These results are in marked contrast with MORs, which show an age-related increase in association with dendritic plasma membrane and a good correlation in the developmental pattern of MOR-labeled spines with synapse formation (Wang et al. [2003] Neuroscience 118:695-708). Together, our results suggest receptor-type specific roles for endogenous opioids acting at both pre- and postsynaptic sides in the developing CPN.
A study of human-human hybridomas from patients with autoimmune thyroid disease.

Human-human B-cell hybridomas were established using peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and Graves' disease. Peripheral mononuclear cells (PMC), with or without mitogen prestimulation, were fused with HGPRT-negative human myeloma cell lines (Gm4672 and Gm0462) using 44% polyethylene glycol. Developing hybridomas were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for human IgG and IgM and antibodies to human thyroglobulin (hTg) and microsomal antigen (M-Ag). A125I-TSH binding inhibition assay was utilized for detecting antibodies to TSH receptor (TSH-R) protein. Hybridoma formation was observed only after prior mitogen stimulation of PMC. The amount of antibody secreted by the human-human hybridomas was highly variable (10 ng-100 µg/ml IgG/IgM). Nine and six-tenths percent of the hybrids secreted anti-hTg and 8.4% secreted anti-M-Ag. A 5% cloning efficiency was achieved, with detection of specific thyroid autoantibody secretion in one-third of the clones derived from positive hybridomas. Immunoglobulin secretion decreased with time and long-term stable clones were not achieved. Thyroid monoclonal autoantibodies to hTg, M-Ag, and TSH-R (IgG and IgM) detected during these studies were of a low affinity. In addition, antibodies were identified which exhibited marked specificity crossover between hTg, M-Ag, and nonthyroid antigens, suggesting the presence of recurrent epitopes. Such observations may help explain the multiplicity of thyroid autoantibodies in human thyroid disease and indicate a common defect in immunoregulation. We suggest that cross-reacting epitopes may be important in the derivation of thyroid-specific B-cell clones.
A search for X-ray pulsations from the Galactic Centre

Data from the SAS-3 satellite were used in a search for X-ray pulsations from the direction of the galactic center. No periodic X-ray behavior was detected in the frequency interval 0.6 Hz to 0.0006 Hz and energy range 2.5 - 35 keV. For periods less than 60 sec, the upper limit to the amplitude of any pulsation in the 2.5 - 10 keV band is approximately .0017 cts/sq cm/s. This corresponds to a pulsed fraction of approximately 1.3 percent of the total GCX flux. Somewhat higher limits apply for longer periods and for energies greater than 10 keV.
Differential sensitivity of human colon cancer cell lines to the nucleoside analogs ARC and DRB.

Recently, we identified a nucleoside analog named ARC (4-amino-6-hydrazino-7-β-D-ribofuranosyl-7H-Pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-5-carboxamide), which has the properties of a general transcriptional inhibitor. Here, we report the characterization of ARC on a panel of colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines. Cell death induced by ARC in CRC cells was accompanied by caspase-3 cleavage and correlated with the downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins, survivin and Mcl-1 and with the inhibition of Akt phosphorylation. At the same time, colon cancer cell lines were resistant to the well–known nucleoside analog DRB (5,6-dichloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole), which failed to downregulate Mcl-1 or survivin. Overall, ARC could represent an attractive candidate for anti-cancer drug development that targets multiple survival pathways in colon cancer cells. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Ontogeny of adrenomedullary responses to hypoxia and hypoglycemia: Role of splanchnic innervation

Adrenals of neonatal rats were denervated at 3 days of age (just before functional neuronal connections are ordinarily made). At 14 days of age, rats with denervated adrenals did not secrete catecholamines in response to a neurogenic reflex stimulus (insulin-induced hypoglycemia), confirming that innervation had failed to develop; sham-operated littermates were fully responsive to insulin. In contrast, hypoxia was still able to cause depletion of adrenal catecholamines in the denervated group, indicating the persistence of a non-neurogenic secretory mechanism well past the age at which it should have disappeared (8 days). Prolonged deprivation of neural input in adult rats also led to the re-emergence of non-neurogenic capabilities. Twenty-one days after surgery in adulthood, adrenal responses to insulin were still not present but those to hypoxia were. Thus, the development of neural stimulation itself is responsible for the ontogenetic loss of the immature type of adrenal catecholamine release mechanism and does so by suppressing the non-neurogenic component; consequently the mechanism can reappear when nerve traffic is interrupted for extended periods.
Climatic Physiology of Cattle

Abstract To show the progress made in acquiring knowledge of the relation of climate to the physiology of the dairy cow, the results of a comparative analysis of the reactions to different temperatures of three categories of cattle are presented. The studies dealt with cattle of the European, Indian, and Santa Gertrudis breeds housed in climatic chambers of constant day and night temperature with the same wall, ceiling, and air temperatures and the same humidity and air movement. Under these conditions, the “comfort zone” of European cattle was found to be between about 30° and 60° F. and that of Indian cattle 50° to 80° F. The higher heat tolerance of the Indian cattle seemed to be due to lower heat production, greater surface area per unit weight, shorter hair, and other body-temperature regulating mechanisms not visually apparent. The larger the animal and the higher her productive level, the lower was the “comfort zone” temperature. The inner body temperature was shown to be constant at about 20° F. above the comfort zone by an S-shaped increase in evaporative cooling. At 105° F. environment the near-lethal temperature of 108° F. was reached in the Holsteins, 106° F. in the Jerseys, and 105° F. in the Indian cows of the same weight as the Jerseys. At environmental temperature of 105° to 107° F. the European cows were near collapse. The Santa Gertrudis were found to be near Brahmans in heat tolerance; they grew equally well and maintained the same rectal temperature at 80° F. as at 50° F. The Santa Gertrudis were more cold-tolerant than the Indian heifers. Their critical temperatures have not yet been determined. The relative cold tolerance of Holstein and Zebu is indicated by a 2% increase in heat production in Holsteins and 60% increase in Zebu on lowering the temperature from 50° to 7° F. Acclimatized European cattle are cold tolerant and are not in need of protection against cold as such but only against wind, snow, and rain. They do need protection against heat. These findings show the practicability of loose-housing methods that have evolved in recent years and are now being commonly used by northern dairymen.
Methods for Enhanced Turbulence Mixing in Supersonic Shear Flows

Supersonic shear layers have inherent low mixing rates due to compressibility effects. Their mixing rate relative to subsonic shear layers can be up to 5 times lower. Several important technological applications which require intense mixing of supersonic flows gave impetus to research aimed to develop methods to enhance mixing in compressible flows with minimal performance penalty. This paper reviews some of these methods applied to both planar shear layers and jets. The methods are arranged in several categories: passive and active control of shear layer instabilities, three dimensional jets, generation of axial vorticity and shock interaction with shear layers. The paper concludes by discussing the importance of the wide range of length-scales in which turbulent mixing occurs.
Determination and Characteristics of the Transition to Two-Phase Slug Flow in Small Horizontal Channels

Two-phase pressure drop and fluctuating static pressures were measured in a small horizontal rectangular channel (hydraulic diameter = 5.44 mm). The two-phase fluid was an air/water mixture at atmospheric pressure tested over a mass flux range of 50 to 2,000 kg/m[sup 2] [center dot] s. Two-phase flow patterns were identified and an objective method was found for determining the flow pattern transition from bubble or plug flow to slug flow. The method is based on an RMS static pressure measurement. In particular, it is shown that the transition is accompanied by a clear and abrupt increase in the RMS pressure when plotted as a function of mass quality. Use of the RMS pressure as a two-phase flow pattern transition indicator is shown to have advantages over pressure-versus-time trace evaluations reported in the literature. The transition is substantiated by a clear local change in slope in the curve of two-phase pressure drop plotted as a function of either Martinelli parameter of mass quality. For high mass fluxes, the change in slope is distinguished by a local peak. Some degree of substantiation was found in previous work for both of the results (the RMS static pressure change and the local pressure dropmore » change) at the transition to slug flow.« less