cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stochastic LWR model with heterogeneous vehicles: Theory and application for autonomous vehicles

Abstract The introduction of autonomous vehicles (AV) will increase the vehicle heterogeneity on our roads. It is claimed that these vehicles will be able to achieve lower spacings for the same speed than human driven ones. Therefore, a good understanding of the influence of heterogeneous driver behavior on macroscopic traffic flow characteristics is crucial. This paper presents a stochastic Lighthill-Whitham Richards model by introducing heterogeneous, i.e., vehicle dependent, jam densities. The model is solved in Lagrangian coordinates, and the nature of the model allows for investigating the impact of driver heterogeneity on macroscopic relations of traffic flow, both through simulations and analytically. The results show that both static and dynamic macroscopic characteristics of the model, such as average speed, capacity drop and flow rate evolution at a bottleneck, are consistent with the deterministic version with an equivalent jam density, which is the harmonic mean of the distribution. Establishing the theoretical way to average the parameters will allow us to develop some control strategies for connected AV in a mixed environment to control the platoon behavior and drive traffic flow to the desired state. In this line, this paper discusses the relation between the desired AV characteristics and the market penetration rate to maximize the flow rate at bottlenecks by reducing the capacity drop effects. This further motivates future research on the technology development for AVs.
21 Years of Distributed Denial-of Service: Current State of Affairs

The Internet's features and capacity have evolved, but is the nature of its security noticeably better? We examine the fundamental nature of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) and the state of the union of our defenses in today's DDoS wars.
Close Encounters of the AI Kind: Use of AI Influencers As Brand Endorsers

Brand endorsers can contribute to a brand’s success or failure (in the case of endorser transgressions). Recent advancements in technology have produced new, nonhuman alternatives to traditional ce...
Abstract 15025: Visceral Adiposity and Muscle Composition in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and Association With Exercise Tolerance

Introduction: Visceral adipose tissue (AT) promotes inflammation and adverse metabolic changes that mediate disease progression in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Exercise i...
Plasma lipidome abnormalities in people with HIV initiating antiretroviral therapy

Dyslipidemia often accompanies human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART). Lipid abnormalities likely contribute to increased cardiometabolic disease among people with HIV (PWH). Here, we expand our previous findings on changes in the lipidome following ART initiation, and associations among lipid species, including ceramides (CER), diacylglycerols (DAG), and triacylglycerols (TAG), with immune activation. Concentrations and fatty acid composition of plasma lipids (~ 1300 species) were measured by differential mobility spectroscopy in samples from 35 treatment-naive PWH pre- and post-initiation of ART (raltegravir (RAL)/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC)); lipidomes were compared to those found in demographically similar HIV-uninfected individuals (n = 13). Compared to people without HIV, 37.1% of all lipid species measured were altered in PWH at baseline, and 31.8% of lipid species were altered following 48 weeks of ART. Concentrations of lipid classes were also altered in PWH; diacylglycerols (DAGs) and triacylglycerols (TAGs) were increased at baseline, and DAGs remained increased after 48 weeks of ART. Lipids previously linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes were enriched in PWH pre- and post ART, and were related to immune activation and insulin resistance scores. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-containing lipids were lower in PWH compared to levels in controls, and were inversely related to levels of inflammatory biomarkers. HIV infection and ART initiation both induce cardiometabolic changes to the composition of the plasma lipidome. These alterations are associated with inflammatory biomarkers, and may directly contribute to elevated CVD risk and diabetes. This study is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT00660972 ). Registered April 16, 2008.
Cocaine nephropathy: A rare cause of abnormal nephrograms.

Abstract Cocaine use is associated with a variety of renal injuries. Although rhabdomyolysis is the most common cause of cocaine-induced nephropathy, cocaine can also cause renal vasculitis, acute interstitial nephritis, acute tubular necrosis, thrombotic microangiopathy, and renal infarction. We present a rare case of cocaine-induced nephropathy in a 30-year-old male who presented with acute kidney injury and abnormal nephrograms at contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Mechanisms of cocaine-induced renal injury and differential causes of abnormal nephrograms encountered at imaging are discussed. Cocaine-induced nephropathy is a rare but important cause of abnormal nephrograms and should be considered in the differential diagnosis when clinically appropriate.
Providing Therapy with Asian Immigrant Families: A Review of Prominent Issues and Treatment Considerations

In this chapter, we address several common family-related issues, which could necessitate seeking mental health treatment. A vignette is used as a framework for understanding four core stressors and clinical issues, which immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers experience. We also provide the reader with a 15-item assessment instrument, which can be used to augment traditional clinical interviews. This instrument focuses on acculturative, isolative, resettlement, traumatic stress, and resiliency factors, which serve to help immigrant families adjust to their new experiences in the United States and Canada. The following family-based clinical issues are discussed: (a) acculturative stress, (b) anti-immigration rhetoric, (c) differences in the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers relative to orderly migration, (d) stereotypes, (e) war-based conflict, (f) mental health stigma, (g) intimate partner violence, (h) physical punishment, (i) and other forms of abuse, neglect, and maltreatment. The chapter concludes with several therapeutic interventions, which have been found to be effective at addressing the unique needs of an individual, couple, or family.
Surgical Technique: Urethrectomy

Urethrectomy is a surgical technique most commonly utilized for urethral involvement with tumor, pathology demonstrating prostatic stromal invasion, urethral tumor recurrence following radical cystoprostatectomy, and positive distal urethral margin on cystoprostatectomy specimen. It involves a meticulous dissection of both the distal and proximal urethra, the technique of which is described in this chapter.
Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience

Introduction: What Is Cognitive Neuroscience? PART I: PRINCIPLES OF NEUROSCIENCE AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN STUDYING COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS The Human Nervous System: Structure and Function Relevant Principles of Cognitive Psychology Exploring Cognitive Processes in Neural Terms PART II: PRINCIPLES OF SENSORY PROCESSING AND PERCEPTION Overview of Sensory Processing The Perception of Visual Stimuli The Perception of Auditory Stimuli Mechanosensory and Chemosensory Perception PART III: PRINCIPLES OF MOTOR PROCESSING AND MOTOR BEHAVIOR Motor Systems and Motor Control Computation and Cognition in the Motor System PART IV: PRINCIPLES OF ATTENTION Overview of Attention Effects of Attention on Sensory Processing Attentional Control and Attentional Systems PART V: PRINCIPLES OF MEMORY Memory and the Brain: From Cells to Systems Declarative Memory Nondeclarative Memory Working Memory PART VI: PRINCIPLES OF EMOTION AND SOCIAL COGNITION Overview of Emotions Emotional Influences on Cognitive Functions Social Cognition PART VII: PRINCIPLES OF SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION Overview of Speech and Language The Neural Bases of Language Representation of Time and Number PART VIII: PRINCIPLES OF EXECUTIVE PROCESSING Executive Control Systems Decision Making Reasoning and Problem Solving PART IX: EVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING CONSCIOUSNESS Evolution of Brain and Cognition Development of the Brain and Its Cognitive Functions Consciousness Appendix: Neural Signalling Glossary Index
A new interpolated symbol timing recovery method

Digital interpolation has been used for symbol timing synchronization in communication systems and magnetic channel read-out. Multiplierless up-sampling is proposed here to mitigate the problem of performance/complexity trade-offs in traditional implementations. The new interpolation architecture results in a small-area, low-power realization and also provides better performance than traditional approaches. Prototype chips with BIST have been fabricated in TSMC 0.25-/spl mu/m CMOS. These chips have been tested to be fully functional and can run at a clock frequency of 400 MHz.
Simultaneous Monitoring of Dopamine Concentration at Spatially Different Brain Locations in vivo

Abstract When coupled with a microelectrode, background-subtracted fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) allows fast, sensitive and selective determination of analytes within a small spatial location. For the past 30 years experiments using this technique have been largely confined to recordings at a single microelectrode. Arrays with closely separated microelectrodes would allow researchers to gain more informative data as well as probe regions in close spatial proximity. This work presents one of the first FSCV microelectrode arrays (MEA) implemented in vivo with the ability to sample from different regions in close spatial proximity (equidistant within 1 mm). The array is manufactured from fused silica capillaries and a microfabricated electrode spacer. The functionality of the array is assessed by simultaneously monitoring electrically stimulated dopamine (DA) release in the striatum of anesthetized rat. As expected, heterogeneous dopamine release was simultaneously observed. Additionally, the pharmacological effect of raclopride (D2 receptor antagonist) and cocaine (monoamine uptake blocker) on the heterogeneity of DA release, in spatially different brain regions was shown to alter neurotransmitter release at all four electrode sites.
The Substrate-Assisted General Base Catalysis Model for Phosphate Monoester Hydrolysis: Evaluation Using Reactivity Comparisons

Reactions of phosphate monoesters are ubiquitous in biological chemistry. Hence, this class of reactions has been subjected to extensive mechanistic analysis by physical organic chemists seeking to understand the nonenzymatic reactions and to apply this understanding to the corresponding enzymatic reactions. Substrate-assisted general base catalysis of phosphoryl transfer, in which a proton from the nucleophile is transferred to a nonbridging phosphoryl oxygen of the substrate prior to attack, has recently been proposed as a mechanism for both nonenzymatic and enzymatic reactions of phosphate monoester dianions and related compounds, in opposition to the previously accepted mechanism of direct nucleophilic reaction. We have evaluated this new mechanism for the hydrolysis of a phosphate monoester dianion in solution by considering the reactivity of the monoester monoanion that is a reaction intermediate in the proposed proton transfer. The monoanion of the monoester 2,4-dinitrophenyl phosphate (DNPP-) and ...
Ignition and combustion of mechanically alloyed Al–Mg powders with customized particle sizes

Abstract Adding aluminum to propellants, pyrotechnics, and explosives is common to boost their energy density. A number of approaches have been investigated that could shorten aluminum ignition delay, increase combustion rate, and decrease the tendency of aluminum droplets to agglomerate. Previous work showed that particles of mechanically alloyed Al·Mg powders burn faster than similarly sized particles of pure aluminum. However, preparation of mechanically alloyed powders with particle sizes matching those of fine aluminum used in energetic formulations was not achieved. This work is focused on preparation of mechanically alloyed, composite Al·Mg powders in which both internal structures and particle size distributions are adjusted. Milling protocol is optimized to prepare equiaxial, micron-scale particles suitable for laboratory evaluations of their oxidation, ignition, and combustion characteristics. Oxidation of the prepared powders is studied using thermo-analytical measurements. Ignition is characterized experimentally using an electrically heated filament setup. Combustion is studied using a constant volume explosion setup for the powder cloud combustion, and a laser ignition setup for characterization of combustion rates and temperatures for individual particles. For the prepared materials, ignition and combustion characteristics are compared to those of pure Al. It is observed that the mechanically alloyed powders ignite at much lower temperatures than Al. Once ignited, the particles burn nearly as fast as Al, resulting in an overall improvement of the combustion performance.
Internet-delivered behavior change program increases physical activity and improves cardiometabolic disease risk factors in sedentary adults: Results of a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objectives . To determine whether the Active Living Every Day (ALED-I) internet-delivered theory-based physical activity (PA) behavior change program increases PA and improves cardiometabolic disease risk factors (CDRF) in sedentary overweight adults. Methods . The study was a randomized control trial that took place in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado from 2005–2007. Thirty-two men and women (21–65 years) were randomized to a 16-week ALED-I intervention ( n = 14; age = 41.4 ± 3.7 years; BMI = 32.3 ± 1.3 kg/m 2 ) or a delayed intent-to-treat control condition ( n = 18; age = 49.4 ± 1.7 years; BMI = 30.6 ± 0.8 kg/m 2 ). At baseline and post-intervention, PA by pedometer and CDRFs were measured. Results . Both groups had similar baseline PA levels. ALED-I increased PA by an average of 1384 steps/day ( p = 0.03) compared to 816 steps/day ( p = 0.14) for the control group. Waist circumference (100.6 ± 2.4 vs. 96.6 ± 2.7 cm) and Coronary Risk Ratio (5.1 ± 0.3 vs. 4.7 ± 0.3) decreased in the ALED-I group and did not change in the control group (99.2 ± 2.2 vs.99.8 ± 2.1 cm) and (3.7 ± 0.1 vs. 3.7 ± 0.1), respectively. Conclusions . The internet-delivered ALED program increased PA and improved some CDRFs in sedentary overweight/obese adults. To our knowledge, this is the first efficacy trial of the internet-delivered ALED program. Further studies are warranted due to the reach and cost-effectiveness of internet-delivered PA programs.
Intraurban variation in the price of housing

Abstract Theoretical models of spatial consumer behavior assume the existence of a housing price surface that increases with accessibility. It is often hypothesized that inadequate accessibility measures are responsible for the failure of most empirical studies to support this premise. A general accessibility measure consisting of a double power series in cartesian coordinates is developed and shown to represent a general formulation of traditional accessibility measures. This formulation is incorporated in a hedonic price regression model, and the model is estimated using census tract data for the city of Milwaukee. The hedonic prices are then used to construct intraurban housing price indexes. The results of this study provide strong support for the existence of the presumed price surface. A comparison of this new hedonic price model with traditional models suggests that the double power series formulation is a superior representation of accessibility.
Iron and silicic acid concentrations regulate Si uptake north and south of the Polar Frontal Zone in the Pacific Sector of the Southern Ocean

Abstract We investigated the relative roles of Fe and silicic acid availabilities in regulating Si uptake rates across the Polar Frontal Zone in the Pacific Sector of the Southern Ocean (59–68°S, 170°W) during the US JGOFS Antarctic Environment Southern Ocean Process Study (AESOPS). Meridional gradients in silicic acid concentration ([Si(OH)4]) of about 0.25–0.56 μM km−1 were observed in this area during austral spring and summer, 1997–1998, with [Si(OH)4] ranging from 32 Si(OH) 4 and 15 NO 3− uptake rates, biogenic silica concentrations and Si(OH)4 : NO3− uptake ratios. Fe addition had little or no effect on Si uptake rates in enrichments conducted in the low-Si waters north of the Si gradient. However, Fe addition increased Si uptake rates 3–5 times over controls in enrichments conducted in the high-Si waters south of the gradient, in both spring and summer. Fe addition decreased Si(OH)4 : NO3− uptake ratios by 2–5 times, largely due to stimulation of NO3− uptake rates. Zn addition had no effect on Si(OH)4 and NO3− uptake rates. Short-term (24 h) Si additions had varying effects on Si uptake rates, depending on season and location. In spring, additions of 40 μM Si to water from bottle enrichments, conducted north of the Si gradient (in situ [Si(OH)4] ∼15 μM) did not increase Si uptake rates initially, but did increase uptake rates after 8 days. In the summer enrichment north of the Si gradient (in situ [Si(OH)4] ∼5 μM), 50 μM Si additions doubled in situ Si uptake rates in the initial water collected for the enrichment, and increased Si uptake rates as much as 16-fold during the experiment. South of the Si gradient, where in situ [Si(OH)4] was >40 μM in both spring and summer, Si addition had no effect on in situ Si uptake rates in the initial enrichment water nor on any Si uptake rates measured during the experiment. Our results indicate that both Fe and Si availabilities regulate Si uptake rates and silica production in the Southern Ocean along 170°W. Fe limitation appears to restrict Si uptake rates south of the Si gradient and plays a role in preventing Si depletion south of the ACC, where ambient [Si(OH)4] never fell below 40 μM during 1997–1998. Our experiments in the Seasonal Ice Zone at 62° suggest that Si uptake in this area switched from being Fe-limited in the spring, when in situ [Si(OH)4] was >40 μM, to Si-limited in the summer, when [Si(OH)4] was
Nonadiabatic Transitions In The Dynamics Of The NeICl Van Der Waals Complex

Abstract Both electronic energy transfer and vibrational predissociation decay channels are observed following excitation of NeICl complexes to the β ion-pair state. Dispersed fluorescence is detected on the E→X transition as well as the D′→A′ and/or β→A transitions. The vibrational quantum number of the emitting level is reflected in the shape of the Franck-Condon envelope, while its electronic character is determined from the emission wavelength and profile. The relaxation pathways are found to depend on the initial vibrational excitation of the NeICl complex.
Relationship between changes in hemispheric advantage during familiarization to faces and proficiency in facial recognition

Female college students were given a task involving the recognition of initially unfamiliar faces which were tachistoscopically presented to one or the other visual field. Subjects who showed a left visual field advantage made fewer errors than those who showed a right visual field advantage both at the very beginning of the task, when the faces were totally unfamiliar, and at the end of the task, when the faces were relatively familiar; however, during intermediate phases of familiarization, there was no difference in number of errors between subjects with right and left visual field advantages. The results support our previously proposed view that there are shifts in the processing of facial information, beginning with a relatively undifferentiated holistic type of right hemisphere processing, progressing to an analytic mode of left hemisphere processing and culminating in a mode of right hemisphere processing in which distinctive features are incorporated into an articulated whole. The results further suggest that the direction of hemispheric advantage shown at different periods in the course of familiarization is related to level of proficiency.
Routine paternity testing: finding the right ethical paradigm.

Ravelingien and Pennings's article, “The Right to Know Your Genetic Parents: From Open-Identity Gamete Donation to Routine Paternity Testing” (2013), is a thought-provoking defense of an uncommon p...
Hydrolysis and protein binding of melphalan

Melphalan (30 microgram/ml) is completely hydrolyzed in water at 37 degrees after 8 hr. At lower temperatures, hydrolysis proceeds at slower rates. The presence of bovine serum albumin retards hydrolysis of melphalan (30 microgram/ml) in water. The melphalan hydrolysis rate is directely releated to the bovine serum albumin concentration. At 37 degrees, 8 g of bovine serum albumin/100 ml of water gives a recovery rate of melphalan similar to that of human plasma. In vitro alkylation of melphalan at 37 degrees with human plasma containing 30 microgram/ml, calculated by equilibrium dialysis, methanol extraction, and high-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis, is 30% after 8 hr.
Probability Distributions and Search Schemes.

Abstract One property of search schemes used frequently as an indication of search efficiency is the expected number of passes (or read operations) required to locate a record in computer memory (or secondary storage). However, other properties related to the variation in the number of passes required may be equally important in determining the most efficient search technique for a given file (or set of records). These properties can be obtained from the distribution of the number of passes. In this paper, the binary search scheme is discussed within this framework. The probability distribution of the number of passes required is derived along with the mean, standard deviation and the percentiles. The mean and standard deviation of the random sequential search scheme are also presented. The application of these results to common search problems in record access and retrieval are discussed and possible extensions involving a combination of binary and random search techniques are indicated.
New high-pressure transformation in alpha -quartz.

Recent experimental and theoretical studies report that quenched pressure-amorphized \ensuremath{\alpha}-quartz is elastically anisotropic and displays a reversal of anisotropy with respect to the original crystallographic orientation. We demonstrate that samples recovered from static compression experiments of \ensuremath{\alpha}-quartz exhibit an unusual pressure-induced microstructure, which arises from a new phase transformation in \ensuremath{\alpha}-quartz at 21 GPa. Upon decompression, the high-pressure phase reverts to a quartzlike structure in a twinned state, accounting for the previously reported elastic behavior.
The Moral Floor: A Philosophical Examination of the Connection Between Ethics and Business

This paper examines the philosophical basis for the argument that there is a connection between ethical behavior and profitability. Both sides of this argument – that good ethics is good business and that bad ethics is bad business – are explored. The possibility of a moral floor above which ethical behavior is not rewarded is considered, and an economic experiment testing such a proposition is discussed. Johnson & Johnson suffers a potentially devastating blow when some cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules cause several deaths. Johnson & Johnson voluntarily pulls Tylenol off the shelf, to universal acclaim. When Tylenol is returned to the marketplace, its share of the over-the-counter painkiller market becomes greater than it was before the tragedy. Arthur Andersen, the venerable accounting firm, is caught in the web surrounding the downfall of Enron, Inc. As Enron’s various sins are discovered, it is found that Arthur Andersen auditors had signed off on flawed audits and had shredded documents to cover themselves. Andersen is prosecuted for, and convicted of, obstructing justice (although the conviction is later overturned). Today the firm barely exists and has no resemblance to the Big Five accounting giant of 1999. These stories seem to indicate that ethical (or unethical) behavior leads to positive (or negative) financial results. But the philosophical arguments underpinning such statements are seldom subjected to proper analysis. They are perhaps wishful thinking, or perhaps based on examples such as the above without considering other examples that may reinforce a contrary position. This paper will explore the philosophical arguments and empirical evidence regarding these statements and state some research questions for exploration in this area. In particular we will propose the possibility that a moral floor exists above which firms that engage in ethical activities will not reap rewards, but below which firms that engage in unethical activities will be punished by actors in the economic marketplace. We will discuss an economic experiment to determine if such actors indeed form a moral floor.
Renal growth characteristics in children born with multicystic dysplastic kidneys

Abstract Objectives. To report on the growth characteristics of the affected and contralateral kidneys in children born with multicystic dysplastic kidneys (MCDKs). Methods. Thirty-three patients were enrolled from 1970 to 1995: 23 were initially managed nonoperatively (mean follow-up 3.39 years), and 10 underwent nephrectomy. Patients underwent radionuclide renal imaging and contrast voiding cystography. Serial ultrasonography was used to obtain measurements of the affected and contralateral kidneys. Blood pressure measurements and serum creatinine levels were available in some patients. Results. Among the 23 nonoperative patients, the affected MCDK involuted in 4 patients during a mean follow-up of 4.5 years at a rate of 1.02 cm/yr (24% annually); 7 kidneys decreased in size at a mean rate of 0.38 cm/yr (5.8% annually); 6 grew at a mean rate of 1.16 cm/yr (9.9% annually); 1 kidney did not change in size; and 5 children were lost to follow-up. The mean size of the contralateral kidneys at birth was 5.3 cm, 2 standard deviations larger than normal. Over time, this relative hypertrophy was maintained at a growth rate of 0.89 cm/yr (18.5% annually). Two patients who had undergone nephrectomy also had serial postoperative ultrasonic renal measurements, and contralateral growth was 0.61 cm/yr (12.16% annually). All but 1 patient had normal blood pressure measurements and serum creatinine levels. Conclusions. Most MCDKs involute or decrease in size over time, although this may take many years. Contralateral hypertrophy is seen at birth and is maintained during childhood growth, regardless of whether the affected kidney is removed. There is no associated hypertension or malignancy when the dysplastic kidney is left in place.
A linearly implicit predictor–corrector scheme for pricing American options using a penalty method approach

Abstract Pricing of an American option is complicated since at each time we have to determine not only the option value but also whether or not it should be exercised (early exercise constraint). This makes the valuation of an American option a free boundary problem. Typically at each time there is a particular value of the asset, which marks the boundary between two regions: to one side one should hold the option and to other side one should exercise it. Assuming that investors act optimally, the value of an American option cannot fall below the value that would be obtained if it were exercised early. Effectively, this means that the American option early exercise feature transforms the original linear pricing partial differential equation into a nonlinear one. We consider a penalty method approach in which the free and moving boundary is removed by adding a small and continuous penalty term to the Black–Scholes equation; consequently,the problem can be solved on a fixed domain. Analytical solutions of the Black–Scholes model of American option problems are seldom available and hence such derivatives must be priced by stable and efficient numerical techniques. Standard numerical methods involve the need to solve a system of nonlinear equations, evolving from the finite difference discretization of the nonlinear Black–Scholes model, at each time step by a Newton-type iterative procedure. We implement a novel linearly implicit scheme by treating the nonlinear penalty term explicitly, while maintaining superior accuracy and stability properties compared to the well-known θ -methods.
Tracer-kinetic models for measuring cerebral blood flow using externally detected radiotracers

All tracer-kinetic models currently employed with positron-emission tomography (PET) are based on compartmental assumptions. Our first indication that a compartmental model might suffer from severe limitations in certain circumstances when used with PET occurred when we implemented the Kety tissue-autoradiography technique for measuring CBF and observed that the resulting CBF estimates, rather than remaining constant (to within predictable statistical uncertainty) as expected, fell with increasing scan duration T when T greater than 1 min. After ruling out other explanations, we concluded that a one-compartment model does not possess sufficient realism for adequately describing the movement of labeled water in brain. This article recounts our search for more realistic substitute models. We give our derivations and results for the residue-detection impulse responses for unit capillary-tissue systems of our two candidate distributed-parameter models. In a sequence of trials beginning with the simplest, we tested four progressively more detailed candidate models against data from appropriate residue-detection experiments. In these, we generated high-temporal-resolution counting-rate data reflecting the history of radiolabeled-water uptake and washout in the brains of rhesus monkeys. We describe our treatment of the data to yield model-independent empirical values of CBF and of other parameters. By substituting these into our trial-model functions,more » we were able to make direct comparisons of the model predictions with the experimental dynamic counting-rate histories, confirming that our reservations concerning the one-compartment model were well founded and obliging us to reject two others. We conclude that a two-barrier distributed-parameter model has the potential of serving as a substitute for the Kety model in PET measurements of CBF in patients, especially when scan durations for T greater than 1 min are desired.« less
Assessment of the ratio of carpal contents to carpal tunnel volume in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: A preliminary report

An anatomic basis for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been proposed but not confirmed; both volumetric and area studies have been used to address this issue. The authors have demonstrated that the ratio of the carpal tunnel contents (CTC) to carpal tunnel volume (CTV) provides information regarding the relative free space in the carpal tunnel as compared with canal volume alone. This study was undertaken to determine, whether the CTC/CTV ratio was higher for patients with CTS than for normal subjects. Seven asymptomatic volunteers and 7 patients with symptoms of CTS underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) so that the CTC/CTV ratios could be determined. Standard radiographs were analyzed to identify plain radiographic variables that differed between patients with CTS and control subjects, and no differences were found. On MRIs, however, CTC/CTV ratios were noted to be higher for patients with CTS than for matched control subjects.
An All-Metal Micro-Relay With Bulk Foil Pt–Rh Contacts for High-Power RF Applications

This paper describes the performance of stainless-steel micro-relays, with platinum-rhodium metal foil contact elements, in handling high-power RF signals. The electrical and thermal responses are described for electrostatically actuated three-terminal micro-relays that are directly assembled on printed circuit boards. The preliminary designs have footprints of 6.4 mm2. Fabricated relays have 90-V turn-on (pull-down) voltage. The down-state insertion loss and up-state isolation were better than 0.2 and 25 dB over the band of dc-5 GHz, respectively. The devices can accommodate incident RF power up to 18.5 W at 3 GHz when cooled by forced air from a mini-fan.
Thyroid Control over Biomembranes. VII. Heart Muscle Mitochondria from L-Triiodothyronine-Injected Rats*

Abstract Mitochondria prepared from the myocardia of rats injected with l -triiodothyronine, 1 μg/g body weight daily for 3 days, were compared with those from euthyroid or hypothyroid animals. The heart weights of the hormonetreated animals increased 37%, whereas mitochondrial yield remained unchanged. Oxidative phosphorylation measured at 25°C featured a decreased rate of phosphorylating (State 3) respiration with normal phosphorylative efficiency (ADP: O ratio). The respiratory deficit was connected with a progressive loss as the mitochondria stood in iced suspensions; control mitochondrial respiration decreased 0.26-times as fast. The lipid composition of the heart mitochondria of the thyrotoxic group was abnormal in that the excess of neutral lipids (probably triglycerides) had a high content of oleoyl residues. Their phospholipid group compositions and the fatty acyl contents of each of the phospholipid classes were similar to control compositions, in contrast to the excess linoleoyl and decreased arachidonoyl contents of the phosphatidylcholines in the hypothyroid group. Thus the abnormalities of heart mitochondrial function are connected with different patterns of lipid changes in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Evidence for a relationship of organelle lipids to the reported abnormal myocardial contractile performance in these thyroid states is discussed.
Chemical-dynamical models of the Venus mesosphere based upon diurnal microwave CO variations☆

An attempt is made to explain the fact that the large variation in Venus CO abundance with planetary phase using a combination of photochemical and kinematical models. Present knowledge about the Venus mesosphere is first summarized, emphasizing the more completely measured lower and upper atmosphere. The predictions of Dickinson and Ridley's (1977) hydrodynamic modeling are compared to the results of microwave observations of CO. It is noted that the nightside CO bulge above 90-95 km altitude indicated by microwave measurements is a primary characteristic of these models, whereas the opposite phase behavior of CO between 80 and 90 km is not predicted by them. The result of diurnal photochemical models for the Venus mesosphere are presented and an attempt is made to reproduce the phase behavior of CO between 80 and 90 km in the Venus mesosphere. Possible diurnal variations due to chemistry and vertical eddy diffusion are considered.
Augmenting Data Warehouses with Big Data

In the past decade, corporations are increasingly engaging in efforts whose aim is the analysis and wide-ranging use of big data. The majority of academic big data articles have been focused on methods, approaches, opportunities, and organizational impact of big data analytics. In this article, the focus is on the ability of big data while acting as a direct source for impactful analysis to also augment and enrich the analytical power of data warehouses.
Solventless injecction for packed column supercritical fluid chromatography

The adverse effects of injection solvent strength on microbore packed column SFC band broadening are demonstrated and a solventless injection system that eliminates these effects is introduced. The injection system removes solvent in a GC-like manner using a retention gap and an on-column capillary GC syringe. The analyte is delivered to the analytical column in a solvent-free plug of supercritical fluid mobile phase.
Effect of chronic corticosteroid administration on diaphyseal and metaphyseal bone mass.

ABSTRACT Bone mass was measured by the photon absorption technique in the forearm of 490 normals, 36 patients with idiopathic osteoporosis, 21 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had not received corticosteroid therapy, 48 patients who had been maintained on corticosteroid therapy for one or more years, 2 patients with Cushing's disease and 25 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Measurements were made at two points along the radius, a proximal diaphyseal site which is comprised primarily of cortical bone (DM) and a distal metaphyseal site reflecting a greater proportion of trabecular bone (MM). Patients with idiopathic osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis not treated with steroids both showed a parallel percentage loss of bone mass at the DM and MM sites, a pattern similar to the pattern of bone loss seen in normal subjects with aging. In contrast, patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and corticosteroid-induced osteopenia both showed a significantly greater degree of loss at the MM site. T...
771-1 Role of Intracellular Calcium In the Antiarrhythmic Effect of Procalnamide During Ventricular Fibrillation In Rat Hearts

Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) overload is considered one of the factors that cause ventricular fibrillation (VF). In addition, VF itself causes and maintains [Ca2+]i overload. We tested whether the class IA antiarrhythmic agent procainamide can reduce [Ca2+]i overload during VF and if so, whether such reduction is responsible for the recovery of left ventricular function. For this purpose, we measured the effects of 0.1 mM (0.03 mg/ml) procainamide perfusion on left ventricular developed pressure (LVP), heart rate, and [Ca2+]i during pacing-induced VF in isolated rat hearts. [Ca2+]i was assessed by surface fluorometry after Indo-1/AM-loading. The concentration of procainamide was selected in a way that about half of the hearts would recover from VF (criteria: recovery of LVP g 67%). During perfusion with 0.1 mM procainamide, 6 hearts recovered from VF (●), whereas 8 hearts did not recover (z, recovery of LVP l 33%). In the untreated control group (○, n = 5), no heart recovered from VE Procainamide effects on heart rate (left panel) and [Ca2+]i (right panel) are shown (mean ± SEM; †p l .05 vs. control; *p l 0.05 vs. no recovery): Download : Download high-res image (109KB) Download : Download full-size image We conclude that procainamide can reduce [Ca2+]i overload during VF. In addition, the reduction of the [Ca2++]i overload might be responsible for the recovery of the left ventricular function. This reduction appeared to be dependent on the fibrillation rate (use-dependent) rather than on the decrease of heart rate.
Use of aquatic toxicology and quantitative chemistry to estimate environmental deactivation of marine-grade creosote in seawater

The acute toxicity of marine-grade creosote, expressed as the 96-h LC50, is 0.018 mg/L for mysids (Mysidopsis bahia Molenock), 0.24 mg/L for pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum Burken-road) and 0.72 mg/L for sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus, Lacepede). The 96-h EC50 (shell deposition) for Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica Gmelin) is 0.71 mg/L. Mysid bioassays and chemical analyses estimate the half-life (≤ 1 week) for marine-grade creosote in seawater.
Statistical Probability as a Metaphor for Epistemological Probability

The metaphor, "EPISTEMOLOGICAL PROBABILITY IS STATISTICAL PROBABILITY" is traced to the origins of probability theory. Related metaphors appear both in everyday discourse about social processes, and in social scientific argumentation, often disguised as literal claims. Gambling provides a familiar vehicle for expressing the uncertainties associated with social interactions and with social science research. Examples are drawn from reports of research on media effects, from everyday conversations, and from political communication.
Treatment of children with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas with chemoradiotherapy followed by a combination of temozolomide, irinotecan, and bevacizumab.

Background: Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) are inoperable and highly resistant tumors to chemotherapy and irradiation. DIPG has the worst prognosis among all pediatric brain tumors and the overwhelming majority of patients die within 6–18 months after diagnosis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of six DIPG patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (daily carboplatin and oral etoposide in five patients and temozolomide in one patient) followed by maintenance chemotherapy consisting of irinotecan, temozolomide, and bevacizumab at our institution between January 2007 until December 2007. Results: Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 10.4 ± 3.08 and 14.6 ± 3.55 months, respectively. Side effects in the patients included hypertension in two, abdominal cramping and diarrhea in four, and neutropenia in five patients. Conclusions: This augmented regimen was associated with increased but tolerable toxicity and a modest increase in EFS and OS when compared with published l...
Inter-species interconnections in acid mine drainage microbial communities

Metagenomic studies are revolutionizing our understanding of microbes in the biosphere. They have uncovered numerous proteins of unknown function in tens of essentially unstudied lineages that lack cultivated representatives. Notably, few of these microorganisms have been visualized, and even fewer have been described ultra-structurally in their essentially intact, physiologically relevant states. Here, we present cryogenic transmission electron microscope (cryo-TEM) 2D images and 3D tomographic datasets for archaeal species from natural acid mine drainage (AMD) microbial communities. Ultrastructural findings indicate the importance of microbial interconnectedness via a range of mechanisms, including direct cytoplasmic bridges and pervasive pili. The data also suggest a variety of biological structures associated with cell-cell interfaces that lack explanation. Some may play roles in inter-species interactions. Interdependences amongst the archaea may have confounded prior isolation efforts. Overall, the findings underline knowledge gaps related to archaeal cell components and highlight the likely importance of co-evolution in shaping microbial lineages.
Changing thermal topography of the Baltimore-Washington corridor: 1950?1979

A study of the temperature field for the Baltimore-Washington region reveals that since 1950 there has been the development of an urban ‘heat corridor’. Trend surface analysis shows that there has been an inversion of the thermal topography in the region as a ‘saddle’ of rising temperatures has emerged, replacing a trough of lowered temperatures through three decades. Steady population growth throughout the area is seen to be the most important contributor. The strengthening of the heat corridor is best expressed in the summer months and weakest during the winter months. As population continues to grow in this region, the thermal topography is sure to be modified even further.
USING CANONICAL CORRELATION FOR HYDROLOGICAL PREDICTIONS

ABSTRACT Hydrologists often encounter analyses involving multiple dependent variables. Previously it had been suggested that canonical correlation might be used as a suitable multivariate analogue to multiple regression in such situations (Rice, 1967). However, in order to use canonical correlation for prediction, all roots must be retained. This study of the use of canonical correlation for prediction purposes led to the discovery that, when all roots are retaired, a canonical correlation solution is mathematically equivalent to a set of multiple regression solutions. Consequently, multiple regressions are preferable because they give the hydrologist more latitude in the choice of variables in his prediction equations. Results obtained in this study suggest that the D 2 statistic is not a suitable descriptor of the differences between hydrographs described by the parameters of a fitted gamma distribution.
Distinct Functions of Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factors eIF1A and eIF3 in the Formation of the 40 S Ribosomal Preinitiation Complex

We have used an in vitro translation initiation assay to investigate the requirements for the efficient transfer of Met-tRNAf (as Met-tRNAf·eIF2·GTP ternary complex) to 40 S ribosomal subunits in the absence of mRNA (or an AUG codon) to form the 40 S preinitiation complex. We observed that the 17-kDa initiation factor eIF1A is necessary and sufficient to mediate nearly quantitative transfer of Met-tRNAf to isolated 40 S ribosomal subunits. However, the addition of 60 S ribosomal subunits to the 40 S preinitiation complex formed under these conditions disrupted the 40 S complex resulting in dissociation of Met-tRNAf from the 40 S subunit. When the eIF1A-dependent preinitiation reaction was carried out with 40 S ribosomal subunits that had been preincubated with eIF3, the 40 S preinitiation complex formed included bound eIF3 (40 S·eIF3·Met-tRNAf·eIF2·GTP). In contrast to the complex lacking eIF3, this complex was not disrupted by the addition of 60 S ribosomal subunits. These results suggest that in vivo, both eIF1A and eIF3 are required to form a stable 40 S preinitiation complex, eIF1A catalyzing the transfer of Met-tRNAf·eIF2·GTP to 40 S subunits, and eIF3 stabilizing the resulting complex and preventing its disruption by 60 S ribosomal subunits.
Novel Amphiphilic α-Helix Mimetics Based on a Bis-benzamide Scaffold

To mimic amphiphilic α-helices, a new scaffold was designed based on a bis-benzamide that places four side-chain functional groups found at the i, i+2, i+5, and i+7 positions of a helix. Its two hy...
Face off--the interplay between activating and inhibitory immune receptors.

Abstract The function of leukocytes is regulated by the integration of positive and negative signals received through cell surface receptors. Related receptors with similar extracellular domains and often binding the same ligands can transmit either inhibitory or activating signals. Studies are beginning to reveal how these ‘paired receptors’ control immune functions.
Reconstitution of a Functional Core Polycomb Repressive Complex

The opposing actions of polycomb (PcG) and trithorax group (trxG) gene products maintain essential gene expression patterns during Drosophila development. PcG proteins are thought to establish repressive chromatin structures, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are not known. Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) contains several PcG proteins and inhibits chromatin remodeling by trxG-related SWI/SNF complexes. We have defined a functional core of PRC1 by reconstituting a stable complex using four recombinant PcG proteins. One subunit, PSC, can also inhibit chromatin remodeling on its own. These PcG proteins create a chromatin structure that has normal nucleosome organization and is accessible to nucleases but excludes hSWI/SNF.
A Youla-based, state space approach to the parameterization of H 2 suboptimal, regulating controllers

A Youla-like parameterization method is developed for multi-objective output regulating controllers meeting a suboptimal H 2 performance level. Many engineering applications, from management of nuclear power to hard disk data, all incorporate a form of regulation in terms of asymptotic tracking and disturbance rejection of a fully or partially known disturbance. The ability to directly define a convex set of controllers which regulate the output and satisfy certain H 2 performance criterion is crucial. Thus, the proposed method attempts to address this issue through an affine parameterization of controllers to a set of convex control parameters. Lastly, an example exploring flying height regulation of a disk drive head is considered where a switched controller is constructed based on the proposed parameterization.