cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved vergence and accommodation via Purkinje Image tracking with multiple cameras for AR glasses

We present a personalized, comprehensive eye-tracking solution based on tracking higher-order Purkinje images, suited explicitly for eyeglasses-style AR and VR displays. Existing eye-tracking systems for near-eye applications are typically designed to work for an on-axis configuration and rely on pupil center and corneal reflections (PCCR) to estimate gaze with an accuracy of only about 0.5°to 1°. These are often expensive, bulky in form factor, and fail to estimate monocular accommodation, which is crucial for focus adjustment within the AR glasses.Our system independently measures the binocular vergence and monocular accommodation using higher-order Purkinje reflections from the eye, extending the PCCR based methods. We demonstrate that these reflections are sensitive to both gaze rotation and lens accommodation and model the Purkinje images’ behavior in simulation. We also design and fabricate a user-customized eye tracker using cheap off-the-shelf cameras and LEDs. We use an end-to-end convolutional neural network (CNN) for calibrating the eye tracker for the individual user, allowing for robust and simultaneous estimation of vergence and accommodation. Experimental results show that our solution, specifically catering to individual users, outperforms state-of-the-art methods for vergence and depth estimation, achieving an accuracy of 0.3782° and 1.108cm respectively.
Efficacy and comorbidities of hypofractionated and single-dose radiosurgery for vestibular schwannomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are tumors of the cerebellopontine angle with significant morbidity, causing hearing loss, tinnitus, and trigeminal and facial nerve compromise. An effective alternative to microsurgical resection is stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), which can be delivered in either single-fraction (SRS) or hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (hSRT) (3-5 treatments) regimens. It remains unclear which fractionation regimen provides superior outcomes. Methods Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Reviews were searched for studies either comparing hSRT with SRS or focusing on hSRT alone in treating VS. Primary endpoints included tumor control, serviceable hearing, tinnitus, and cranial nerve V and VII symptoms. A random-effects analysis was employed to compare pre- and post-treatment effects (hSRT alone) or SRS and hSRT outcomes (two-arm studies). Results This analysis included 21 studies focusing on hSRT alone and 13 studies comparing SRS and hSRT. Significant heterogeneity was observed. Overall, when hSRT was analyzed alone, crude tumor control was achieved in 94% (95% CI: 88%, 99%) of 1571 patients. There was no difference between pre- and post-treatment odds ratios (OR) of tinnitus, facial, or trigeminal impairment. Serviceable hearing was diminished following hSRT (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.83). Comparison with SRS showed no difference with respect to tumor control, serviceable hearing, trigeminal or facial nerve impairment. Conclusions hSRT achieved excellent tumor control and, with the exception of serviceable hearing, did not result in worse post-treatment cranial nerve symptomatology. Analysis of comparative studies between hSRT and SRS did not reveal any significant difference in either tumor control or treatment morbidities.
Understanding electrochemical cation insertion into prussian blue from electrode deformation and mass changes

Alkali ion insertion into Prussian blue from aqueous electrolytes is characterized with operando AFM and EQCM, showing coupling of current with deformation and mass change rates. Stable cycling occurs only with K+, attributed to its lower hydration energy. The (de)insertion of K+ results in reversible deformation even in the open framework structure.
An on-site and remote study during the COVID-19 pandemic on virtual hand appearance and tactile feedback

A virtual reality (VR) study was conducted both in our lab setting and remotely to investigate the effects of virtual hand appearance and tactile feedback on ownership, external appearance, and tac...
Miscellaneous gastric resections

Ulcerative and neoplastic lesions of the stomach are usually treated by formal subtotal gastrectomy or antrectomy. Occasionally, however, either because of the nature of the lesion or because of the patient’s poor condition, segmental gastric resection is employed. Very uncommonly, proximal gastrectomy may be required for benign lesions of the stomach. In this group of highly selected patients, it may be physiologically advantageous to maintain a normally functioning antrum and pylorus by preserving the vagal innervation of the distal stomach and using a segment of isoperistaltic jejunum to restore gastrointestinal continuity. In this chapter segmental gastric resection and gastric resection with preservation of innervation will be discussed.
Mind–Body Interactions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses how mind–body interactions are being utilized to reduce psychological and physiological distress and improve human health. One great avenue for studying mind–body interactions is the brain–gut axis. The brain–gut connection is the likely culprit as both organs are intimately linked via the vagus nerve. Both structures mediate the neuroendocrine and autonomic outputs to the body and the gut via the vagus nerve. People vary in their responses to and ability to cope with emotional events, and individuals have different emotional thresholds which depend on both genetic and environmental factors. African-Americans are more emotionally expressive than European-Americans and Asian-Americans because African-American culture places the greatest value on emotional expression, followed by European-American and lastly Asian-American cultures. The skin conductance response (SCR) is a remarkably powerful and informative psychophysiological index. Because SCRs are relatively easy to measure, and provide reliable indices of a wide variety of psychological states and processes, SCRs have been arguably the most popular aspect of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity used to study human cognition and emotion.
Cell-Based Immunotherapy with Suppressor CD8+ T Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The chronic persistence of rheumatoid synovitis, an inflammation driven by activated T cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts causing irreversible joint damage, suggests a failure in physiologic mechanisms that down-regulate and terminate chronic immune responses. In vitro CD8(+)CD28(-)CD56(+) T cells tolerize APCs, prevent the priming of naive CD4(+) T cells, and suppress memory CD4(+) T cell responses. Therefore, we generated CD8(+)CD28(-)CD56(+) T cell clones from synovial tissues, expanded them in vitro, and adoptively transferred them into NOD-SCID mice engrafted with synovial tissues from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Adoptively transferred CD8(+)CD28(-)CD56(+) T cells displayed strong anti-inflammatory activity. They inhibited production of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and chemokines in autologous and HLA class I-matched heterologous synovitis. Down-regulation of costimulatory ligands CD80 and CD86 on synovial fibroblasts was identified as one mechanism of immunosuppression. We propose that rheumatoid synovitis can be suppressed by cell-based immunotherapy with immunoregulatory CD8(+) T cells.
Towards Lifestyle Understanding: Predicting Home and Vacation Locations from User's Online Photo Collections

Semantic place labeling has been actively studied in the past few years due to its importance in understanding human mobility and lifestyle patterns. In the last decade, the rapid growth of geotagged multimedia data from online social networks provides a valuable opportunity to predict people's POI locations from temporal, spatial and visual cues. Among the massive amount of social media data, one important type of data is the geotagged web images from image-sharing websites. In this paper, we develop a reliable photo classifier based on the Convolutional Neutral Networks to classify the photo-taking scene of real-life photos. We then present a novel approach to home location and vacation locations prediction by fusing together the visual content of photos and the spatiotemporal features of people's mobility patterns. Using a well-trained classifier, we showed that the robust fusion of visual and spatiotemporal features achieves significant accuracy improvement over each of the features alone for both home and vacation detection.
A Self-Organizing Neural Network Model Of The Primary Visual Cortex

This work is aimed at modeling and analyzing the computational processes by which sensory information is learned and represented in the brain. First, a general self-organizing neural network architecture that forms efficient representations of visual inputs is presented. Two kinds of visual knowledge is stored in the cortical network: information about the principal feature dimensions of the visual world (such as line orientation and ocularity) is stored in the afferent connections, and correlations between these features in the lateral connections. During visual processing, the cortical network filters out these correlations, generating a redundancy-reduced sparse coding of the visual input. Through massively parallel computational simulations, this architecture is shown to give rise to structures similar to those in the primary visual cortex, such as (1) receptive fields, (2) topographic maps, (3) ocular dominance, orientation and size preference columns, and (4) patterned lateral connections between neurons. The same computational process is shown to account for many of the dynamic processes in the visual cortex, such as reorganization following retinal and cortical lesions, and perceptual shifts following dynamic receptive field changes. These results suggest that a single self-organizing process underlies development, plasticity and visual functions in the primary visual cortex.
The issue of informed consent.

Abstract Informed consent is rarely the principle issue that brings a case to trial, but it is paramount in the prevention of suits. Disadvantages of printed forms and tapes are discussed and a method of documenting the informed consent for the litigious patient is presented. The final criterion for deciding whether certain information should have been conveyed is whether it would have altered the decision of a prudent person. Take the patient into your confidence in the decision-making process, and document that you have done so.
Optimum moisture levels for biodegradation of mortality composting envelope materials.

Abstract Moisture affects the physical and biological properties of compost and other solid-state fermentation matrices. Aerobic microbial systems experience different respiration rates (oxygen uptake and CO2 evolution) as a function of moisture content and material type. In this study the microbial respiration rates of 12 mortality composting envelope materials were measured by a pressure sensor method at six different moisture levels. A wide range of respiration (1.6–94.2 mg O2/g VS-day) rates were observed for different materials, with alfalfa hay, silage, oat straw, and turkey litter having the highest values. These four envelope materials may be particularly suitable for improving internal temperature and pathogen destruction rates for disease-related mortality composting. Optimum moisture content was determined based on measurements across a range that spans the maximum respiration rate. The optimum moisture content of each material was observed near water holding capacity, which ranged from near 60% to over 80% on a wet basis for all materials except a highly stabilized soil compost blend (optimum around 25% w.b.). The implications of the results for moisture management and process control strategies during mortality composting are discussed.
Preparation effects in zeolite-supported metal catalysts: Influence of decomposition/reduction on ru particle size

Ruthenium is a highly active catalyst for numerous reactions, such as CO hydrogenation. A very successful method for preparing highly dispersed zeolite-supported Ru catalysts is by ion-exchange of the zeolite with ruthenium hexammine chloride. The ion-exchange is followed, after drying, by the thermal decomposition of the Ru hexammine complex ion and reduction in hydrogen at 673 K of Ru to its metallic form. The ability to prepare highly dispersed zeolite-supported metals having comparable dispersions and metal distribution is crucial in understanding the effect of other variables and in making full use of all the benefits of zeolites as supports. This note discusses the influence of the decomposition/reduction procedure on the physical characteristics of Y-zeolite-supported ruthenium catalysts when alkali cations other than sodium are used to neutralize the zeolite framework. 22 references.
Current and future trends in solid free-form fabrication

Solid freeform fabrication (SFF) technologies have exploded exponentially since the early 1980s. One manifestation of this growth is a proliferation of new SFF processes and variations. A review of currently developed SFF processes is presented, and future trends are discussed.
Observations of multi-microsecond VHF pulsetrains in energetic intracloud lightning discharges

Abstract. Certain intracloud lightning discharges emit energetic, multi-microsecond pulsetrains of radio noise. Observations of this distinctive form of lightning date from 1980 and have involved both ground-based and satellite-based radio recording systems. The underlying intracloud lightning discharges have been referred to as "Narrow Bipolar Pulses", "Narrow Bipolar Events", and "Compact Intracloud Discharges". An important discriminant for this species of radio emission is that, in the range above ~30 MHz, it consists of several microseconds of intense radio noise. When the intracloud emission is viewed from a satellite, each radio pulsetrain is received both from a direct lightning-to-satellite path, and after some delay, from a path via ground. Thus one recording of the radio emission, if of sufficient length, contains the "view" of the intracloud emission from two different angles. One view is of radiation exiting the emitter into the upper hemisphere, the other for radiation exiting into the lower hemisphere. However, the propagation conditions are similar, except that one path includes a ground reflection, while the other does not. One would normally expect a stereoscopic double view of the "same" emission process to provide two almost congruent time series, one delayed from the other, and also differing due to the different propagation effects along the two signal paths, namely, the ground reflection. We present somewhat unexpected results on this matter, using recordings from the FORTE satellite at a passband 118–141 MHz, with simultaneous data at 26–49 MHz. We find that the 118–141 MHz pulsetrain's detailed time-dependence is completely uncorrelated between the two views of the process. We examine statistics of the 118–141 MHz pulsetrain's integrated power and show that the power emitted into the lower hemisphere, on average, exceeds the power emitted into the upper hemisphere. Finally, we examine statistical measures of the amplitude distribution and show that the 118–141 MHz signal emitted downward is slightly more dominated by discrete, temporally-narrow impulses than is the signal emitted upward.
The effects of increased incubator oxygen tension on capillary development in the chick chorioallantois

Abstract Fertile hens' eggs, incubated in room air, were examined at 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 days of incubation and compared with eggs incubated in 60 % oxygen. Eggs incubated in high oxygen had lower diffusing capacities for carbon monoxide, lower rates of oxygen consumption per gram of embryo, heavier embryos and more advanced embryonic morphological development than eggs incubated for the same time in room air. The lower rates of oxygen consumption per gram of embryo are consistent with an increased rate of growth, because oxygen consumption (per gram of embryo) decreases as weight increases; the lower diffusing capacities of eggs incubated in 60% oxygen are interpreted as due to either a decreased chorioallantoic capillary surface area, or an increased thickness of the diffusion barrier between the chick blood and air, or both.
Modeling the memory and performance impacts of loop fusion

Abstract On modern processors, data transfer exceeds floating-point operations as the predominant cost in many linear algebra computations. One tuning technique that focuses on reducing memory accesses is loop fusion. Determining the optimum amount of loop fusion to apply to a routine is difficult as fusion can both positively and negatively impact memory traffic. We present a model that accurately and efficiently evaluates how loop fusion choices affect data movement through the memory hierarchy. We show how to convert the model’s memory traffic predictions to runtime estimates that can be used to compare loop fusion variants.
Ultrafast Carrier Dynamics in an InAs/InGaAs Quantum-Dots-in-a-Well Photodetector

Differential transmission spectroscopy is used to measure carrier dynamics in a quantum-dots-in-a-well heterostructure. This provides fundamental insight into carrier relaxation from three to two to zero dimensions and has significant implications for dots-in-a-well-based mid-infrared photodetectors.
Mark Joseph Schoenberg MD: Innovator, Teacher, Leader (1874–1945)

Mark Joseph Schoenberg is known for his leadership and several important contributions to ophthalmology: 1) He performed the first retinal detachment operation in the United States; 2) he established the first glaucoma clinic in the United States; 3) he was the chief founder of the New York Society for Clinical Ophthalmology; and 4) he innovated the standardization of Schiotz tonometers.
Initial investigation of anterior approach to arytenoid adduction in excised larynges

Objectives/Hypothesis: Arytenoid adduction (AA) can dramatically improve voice quality in patients with vocal fold paralysis (VFP); however, it is technically challenging. We present an anterior approach to AA, where GORE-TEX suture attached to curled wire is passed through the thyroid cartilage or cricothyroid membrane via a guide needle and used to manipulate the muscular process of the arytenoid. Performing AA via an anterior approach leads to comparable aerodynamic and acoustic outcomes compared to traditional AA in an excised larynx model. Study Design: Repeated measures with each larynx serving as its own control. Methods: We performed thyroplasty followed by traditional and anterior AA on excised larynges with simulated VFP. Aerodynamic and acoustic measurements were recorded. Results: Anterior AA significantly improved aerodynamic (phonation threshold power: P = .003) and acoustic parameters (percentage jitter: P = .028; percentage shimmer: P = .001; signal-to-noise ratio: P = .034) compared to VFP in this excised larynx model. Anterior AA and traditional AA produced comparable improvements in all parameters (phonation threshold power: P = .256; percentage jitter: P = .616; percentage shimmer: P = .281; signal-to-noise ratio: P = .970). Conclusions: Anterior AA is an alternative to traditional AA that is easier to perform and produces comparable improvements in laryngeal function.
NUTRITIONAL STABILITY OF CORN-SOY-MILK BLENDS AFTER DRY HEATING TO DESTROY SALMONELLAE

Enriched blends of corn meal, soy flour, and nonfat dry milk (CSM) were adjusted to 7 and 10% moisture and inoculated with approximately 103 cells of Salmonella anatum and Salmonella senftenberg per gram of CSM. The blends were stored at -18 to 60°C and then tested for salmonellae and nutritional changes. S. senftenberg was more heat resistant than S. anatum. At temperatures of 43, 49, 54, and 60°C, S. senftenberg was killed by dry heat after 13, 10, 8, and 6 days, respectively, independent of product moisture. Smaller nutritional losses were observed at 7% than at 10% moisture. Changes in product color, PER values, vitamins A and C, and available lysine were minimal at temperatures of 43 and 49°C for 13 and 10 days, respectively. At 54 and 60°C for 8 and 6 days, nutrient losses were excessive at 10% moisture.
Wainwright, M. 2007. The Mammals of Costa Rica: A Natural History and Field Guide. Zona Tropical, Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, and London, United Kingdom, 454 pp. ISBN 978-0-8014-7375-3, price (paper), $29.95.

M. Wainwright . 2007. The Mammals of Costa Rica: A Natural History and Field Guide. Zona Tropical, Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, and London, United Kingdom, 454 pp. ISBN 978-0-8014-7375-3, price (paper), $29.95. Originally published in Costa Rica in 2002 by Zona Tropical as The Natural History of Costa Rican Mammals this edition is a repackaging, rather than an update. The original was reviewed by Bob Timm (2004) in the Journal of Mammalogy, but the book is now much more readily available. The wealth of information on one of the better-known Central American mammal faunas warrants calling attention to the book once again. The book is an attempt to summarize the wealth of scientific information available on Costa Rican mammals in a format that is easily accessible to a general readership. Costa Rica represents the gold standard in ecotourism these days, as attested by the foreword to this volume, written by the country's President, 1987 Nobel Peace Laureate …
Angioedema Related to Angiotensin Inhibitors

Angiotensin inhibitors have been extensively evaluated in clinical trials and have demonstrated significant reductions in morbidity and mortality following myocardial infarction and stroke, as well as in patients with heart failure or who are at risk of cardiovascular disease. Further, both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are frequently prescribed for the treatment of hypertension and to preserve renal function in patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. Angioedema is a known, but rare, adverse effect of ACEIs and ARBs. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to have a thorough understanding of risks and benefits of prescribing these medications, particularly in patients with a history of angioedema. This review describes the literature evaluating the incidence and cross-reactivity of angioedema with ACEIs and ARBs in order to provide guidance for clinical decision making.
Charge trapping in aligned single-walled carbon nanotube arrays induced by ionizing radiation exposure

The effects of near-interfacial trapping induced by ionizing radiation exposure of aligned single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) arrays are investigated via measurements of gate hysteresis in the transfer characteristics of aligned SWCNT field-effect transistors. Gate hysteresis is attributed to charge injection (i.e., trapping) from the SWCNTs into radiation-induced traps in regions near the SWCNT/dielectric interface. Self-consistent calculations of surface-potential, carrier density, and trapped charge are used to describe hysteresis as a function of ionizing radiation exposure. Hysteresis width (h) and its dependence on gate sweep range are investigated analytically. The effects of non-uniform trap energy distributions on the relationship between hysteresis, gate sweep range, and total ionizing dose are demonstrated with simulations and verified experimentally.
The phase transition associated with intermediate gauge symmetry breaking in superstring models

Characteristic features of the phase transition associated with the intermediate gauge symmetry breaking in superstring models are investigated. The action of O(3)-symmetric bounce solution at a temperature T ⪢ m is estimated as 3T∼(T/m)3, where m is the scale of the effective soft supersymmetry breakings. Since the tunneling effect seems negligible for T⪢m, the critical temperature for the phase transition will be of O(m). After the phase transition, a large amount of entropy could be produced by the decay of Higgs particles with the reheating temperature ⪅105 GeV unless the gauge symmetry breaking scale M1 is small enough, e.g. MI⪅107 GeV for m⪅103 GeV to satisfy SfSi⪅106. A possible baryogenesis due to the Higgs particle decay is also suggested.
Tetrahydro-9-aminoacridine (THA) interacts with the phencyclidine (PCP) receptor site.

The effect ot tetrahydro-9-amm oacndme (THA) and related compounds on hgand binding to the &ssoclatwe anesthetic (phencychdme, PCP) receptor site was assessed using a rat brain homogenate assa'y THA displaced the &ssoclatwe anesthetic hgand [~H]N-(l-[2-thlenyl]cyclohexyl)3-4-plpendme ([~H]TC~P) binding with an ICs0 of 26 uM Other acridine derlvatzves &splayed similar potency as &splacers ol [~H]TCP Chohnesterase mhlbltors and ammopyrtdmes had ICs0s equal to or greater than 100/tM Saturation studies of [~HITCP m the presence and absence of 30 pM THA revealed competitive mhlbltlon with a K~ ot 15/tM The chmcal pharmacology of THA suggests that it antagomzes the effects o! dJssoclatl~e anesthet~t~s whereas m vitro, it behaves as a weak PCP agomst THA may exert some of Its chmcal effects through interaction with the PCP receptor and may have mixed agomst antagomst properties
Effects of glucagon, Arg-vasopressin, and angiotensin II on rat hepatic zinc thionein levels

Rat hepatic zinc thionein levels can be modulated by a variety of external and internal stimuli. Metals, such as zinc or copper, induce levels 20 to 50 fold over controls. Catecholamines can increase levels 10 to 20 fold, while glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone, can increase levels modestly by 2-6 fold. We have investigated the ability of additional hormones, which have receptors on hepatocytes, to modulate the levels of hepatic zinc thionein. Glucagon, angiotensin II, and Arg-vasopressin were administered intravenously and intraperitoneally, one time and three times, over an 11 hour period. Zinc thionein levels in rat liver were increased 1.7 to 5.6 fold by glucagon and 1.7 to 3.6 fold by angiotensin II, but not at all by Arg-vasopressin, as compared to appropriate controls. Glucagon and angiotensin II, when administered in vivo, can modulate zinc thionein levels in rat liver to an extent similar to glucocorticoids. Hepatic zinc thionein levels must now be recognized to be affected in vivo by metals, glucocorticoids, catecholamines, and polypeptide hormones.
Visualization of clustered directed acyclic graphs with node interleaving

Graph drawing and visualization represent structural information as diagrams of abstract graphs and networks. An important subset of graphs is directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). E-Spring algorithm, extended from the popular spring embedder model, eliminates node overlaps in clustered DAGs by modeling nodes as charged particles whose repulsion is controlled by edges modeled as springs. The drawing process needs to reach a stable state when the average distances of separation between nodes are near optimal. This paper presents an enhancement to E-Spring to introduce a stopping condition, which reduces equilibrium distances between nodes and therefore results in a significantly reduced area for DAG visualization. It imposes an upper bound on the repulsive forces between nodes based on graph geometry. The algorithm employs node interleaving to eliminate any residual node overlaps. These new techniques have been validated by visualizing eBay buyer-seller relationships and resulted in overall area reductions in the range of 45% to 79%.
Institutional designs for long-term stewardship of nuclear and hazardous waste sites

Abstract Within the borders of the United States reside numerous nuclear and hazardous waste sites that will pose risks to humans and ecosystems for many centuries, and in some cases several millennia. This paper evaluates several designs for an institution to act as the steward for these sites. To offer lessons learned about the characteristics of long-lasting human institutions, several that have existed for hundreds and thousands of years are reviewed, including the Dominican monastic order, the Sangha community of Buddhist monks, and universities such as those located in Oxford and Paris. Six alternative institutional designs are evaluated over a set of four evaluation criteria. It is recommended that the United States establish a new type of secular nonprofit institution, entitled The Stewardship Institution , to act as steward for the sites. This option is judged most able to focus on the mission of stewardship, meet its technical challenges, survive inevitable periods of political and economic instabilities, and meet current generation cost and implementation concerns. Other institutions considered include a consolidated national stewardship organization, a religious organization, and a new state of the union called the Legacy State.
Identification of cholesterol and progesterone in apple seeds.

Abstract Cholesterol and progesterone were identified in apple seeds by the use of thin-layer and gas chromatography and the derivatives of the hormones. The analyses per 100 grams of apple seeds revealed an average of 385.0 μgrams of cholesterol and 50.0 μgrams of progesterone.
Control of lipid metabolism in cultured cells.

Several studies are presented which indicate that composition of cell lipid is regulated by interaction between intracellular metabolism and lipid transport processes. When the fatty acid composition of cells cultured in essential fatty acid deficient conditions was studied, activation of synthesis of unusual polyun-saturated fatty acids was observed for a number of cell lines. In addition cells contained persistent residual amounts of linoleic acid, presumably owing to efficient scavenging mechanisms. The source of cell lipids was studied in both chemically defined and serum-supplemented media. In the absence of exogenous lipid, cells synthesize lipids from simple precursors, a process which is inhibited by adding serum. When serum lipid is present, cells preferentially utilize fatty acids as a source of nonsterol lipid. These are subsequently esterified intracellularly to make glycerides and phospholipids. When triglyceride is utilized as a source of cell lipid, it is first hydrolyzed before being taken up. By use of a nonhydrolyzable cholesterol ester analog, it is confirmed that both free and ester cholesterol are taken up and excreted by cells. Intracellular cholesterol content is thus regulated by rates of uptake, hydrolysis and excretion as well as by biosynthesis.
Medicine: Smoke signals for lung disease.

A group of proteins that might confer susceptibility to emphysema has been identified. One of them is transforming growth factor-β, and the discovery highlights the many ways of activating this protein in health and disease.
Monodromy matrix for linear difference operators with almost constant coefficients

A new method for solving the discrete scattering problem for a linear single-valued difference operator of arbitrary order with almost constant coefficients is proposed. The treatment is concerned with the asymptotic behavior of its eigenfunctions as |t| → ∞. The purpose of the paper is to investigate the transition between the asymptotically free states of the underlying system, defined in terms of the monodromy operator. A rare mathematical tool is used: an infinite matrix product. It is shown that, if the coefficients of the aforementioned operator are suitably behaved, the monodromy operator exists in the form of the convergent two-sided infinite product of matrices associated with the matrix eigenvalue equation corresponding to the scattering problem. The application of the method to the solution of the scattering problem for Toda lattice equations is demonstrated. However, the approach is quite general and should be applicable to other forms of lattice equations.
Infrared point sources aligned with the SgrA non-thermal radio source

Assembled 0.7-5.0 micron observational data for two point sources approximately aligned with the compact nonthermal radio source SgrA(asterisk) in the Galactic center, thus far interpreted as being from the same object on the basis of their position and spectral continuity, are presently given alternative interpretations. While the object must be a hot star surrounded by a circumstellar dust cloud if it is a foreground star, a Galactic center position calls for an unorthodox extinction curve which suggests that the IR emission may be the Rayleigh-Jeans tail of a hot star or star cluster, or perhaps a thermal accretion disk.
Photoinitator surface segregation induced instabilities from polymerization of a liquid coating on a rigid substrate

Periodic wrinkled surfaces have generated significant interest over the past decade as these structures can be easily fabricated over large areas with minimal fabrication cost, but these structures have generally been limited to thin films on soft elastomeric substrates, which limits their general applicability and utility. Here we present a simple methodology to generate wrinkled surfaces on rigid substrates by surface segregation of a photocatalyst. Upon ultraviolet light (UV) induced photopolymerization, increased catalyst concentration yields a cross-linked layer at the free surface that is supported on top of a more liquid-like bulk film due to differences in polymerization rate. Further polymerization of the underlayer provides the requisite mechanical stress (contraction due to polymerization) to create a wrinkled pattern. A system based upon the renewable monomer, furfuryl alcohol, that is cross-linked with a photoacid generator, triphenyl sulfonium triflate, is utilized to illustrate this concept. Moreover, the polymerized furfuryl alcohol can be transformed into amorphous carbon by heating at elevated temperatures in an inert environment. The role of photoacid generator concentration and substrate temperature on the wrinkle formation and morphology is presented. Finally, exposure through a simple mask can generate hierarchical structures with the wrinkled structure conforming to the geometric constraints of the photopatterned area, including curvilinear structures. This photocatalyzed surface segregation-based methodology provides a promising route to the facile fabrication of microstructured surfaces based upon the wrinkling instability.
The concept of habitat specificity revisited

Habitat specificity indices reflect richness (α) and/or distinctiveness (β) components of diversity. The latter may be defined by α and γ (landscape) diversity in two alternative ways: multiplicatively ( $$ \beta = {\frac{\gamma }{\alpha }} $$ ) and additively ( $$ \beta = \gamma - \alpha $$ ). We demonstrate that the original habitat specificity concept of Wagner and Edwards (Landscape Ecol 16:121–131, 2001) consists of three independent components: core habitat specificity (uniqueness of the species composition), patch area and patch species richness. We describe habitat specificity as a family of indices that may include either area or richness components, or none or both, and open for use of different types of mean in calculation of core habitat specificity. Core habitat specificity is a beta diversity measure: the effective number of completely distinct communities in the landscape. Habitat specificity weighted by species number is a gamma diversity measure: the effective number of species that a patch contributes to landscape richness. We compared 12 habitat specificity indices by theoretical reasoning and by use of field data (vascular plant species in SE Norwegian agricultural landscapes). Habitat specificity indices are strongly influenced by weights for patch area and patch species richness, and the relative contribution of rare vs. common species (type of mean). The relevance of properties emphasized by each habitat specificity index for evaluation of patches in a biodiversity context is discussed. Core habitat specificity is emphasized as an ecologically interpretable measure that specifically addresses patch uniqueness while habitat specificity weighted by species number combines species richness and species composition in ways relevant for conservation biological assessment.
Lower critical field of a Josephson-coupled layer model of high-Tc superconductors.

We calculate the lower critical field ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}1}$ for a magnetic field applied parallel to the layers of a Josephson-coupled layer model of high-${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ superconductors. This result is obtained by using an expression for the vortex line energy that explicitly involves the gauge-invariant phase difference between superconducting layers. We examine the behavior of ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}1}$ as a function of temperature and discuss the manifestation of the superconductor discreteness below a crossover temperature where the coherence length ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{\mathit{c}}$(T) becomes comparable to the lattice constant c. This temperature dependence is contrasted with the standard result for ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}1}$ for a continuous anisotropic type-II superconductor.
Democracy in Japan

Brief Background ost people seem to be under the impression that democracy was introduced to Japan at the end of World War II. Well – not so much introduced as imposed upon the Japanese people by the Allied Forces. While this may be true to some extent, it is important to note that the seeds of democracy already existed in Japanese society in the early 20th century, which explains the relative ease of transition to democratic processes and receptivity of democratic institutions. Another factor that facilitated the transition from an ultranationalist, militarist government was the retention of the imperial system. Although now mostly symbolic, it nevertheless had a stabilizing effect for the Japanese people at a time of great turbulence and change in the aftermath of war. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjia.v0i18.74 Mongolian Journal of International Affairs No.18 2013: 118-122
Habituation and sensitization in an aneural cell: Some comparative and theoretical considerations

Several shorter- and longer-term non-associative modifications in behavior are known to occur in neural as well as aneural systems. Thus neural investment is not essential for these phenomena to occur. Cellular studies of these behaviors in Protozoa, where a single cell is also a whole organism, may be useful in investigating the evolution of mechanisms underlying these plastic behavioral changes.
Indole-3-acetic acid, glucose, and inoculum influence the formation and distribution of basidiocarps of Pholiota malicola in culture.

Combinations of light, glucose, 10-4 or 10-3 M indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and the developmental stage of the inoculum influenced the growth in culture of Pholiota malicola. Vegetative inoculum formed basi- diocarps on potato glucose agar (PDA) only with 3 or 4%, and not with 1 or 2% glucose unless IAA was add- ed. In the light on 2% glucose in PDA, using either whole or parts of immature or mature basidiocarps as inoculum, basidiocarps formed and IAA increased their size and numbers. When the cap was used as inoculum its orientation, pileus up or down, determined whether the basidiocarps formed were solitary, in a cluster or scattered. In the dark using all of the aforementioned types of inoculum, IAA promoted the growth of a mass of vegetative mycelium at the inoculation point and en- largement of carpophore parts, but new basidiocarps did not develop.
Introducing Scirus: Elsevier’s shot at the title

This article reviews Scirus, Elsevier Science’s search engine. Scirus is advertised as the world’s first scientific search engine. It indexes freely‐available Web sites, as well as proprietary content owned by Elsevier and its partners. Scirus was awarded “best specialty search engine” by Search Engine Watch, and may spark a trend whereby other content providers index their content with discipline‐specific Web sites.
Puns, Metaphors, and Misunderstandings in a Two-Year Old's Conception of Death

There is currently growing interest in children's conception of death [1, 2]. The present paper reports, analyzes, and interprets successive stages in the evolution of one two-year old boy's conception of death through a series of puns, metaphors, and misunderstandings about the nature of language, and of its relationship to the world to which it refers. In this sense, this case history is as interesting for what it reveals about children's language and thinking in general, as it is for what it reveals about this one child's concept of “death” in particular. A logical analysis of the syllogistic reasoning implicit in the evolution of this conceptualization of death is presented, and the relationship of puns, metaphors, and other figures of speech to the child's understanding of language, and of reality implicit in this conceptualization is discussed in some detail.
Assessment of Parenting Practices Related to Conduct Problems: Development and Validation of the Management of Children's Behavior Scale

We report on the development and initial validation of the parent-report scale, Management of Children's Behavior Scale (MCBS), designed to evaluate parenting practices related to conduct problems in children. Children (N=396, ages 2-14) referred for outpatient treatment and their parents served as participants. We evaluated the composition and consistency of the scale and provided evidence pertaining to concurrent, predictive, and incremental validity. Evidence for each type of validity was consistent with the conceptualization of the scale and the pertinence to child conduct problems. The measure also was sensitive to therapeutic changes. Parenting practices targeted in treatment (parent management training) improved as predicted over time. The results suggest the measure may be useful in evaluating parenting practices known to relate to conduct problems and often targeted for intervention in parent- and family-based treatment.
The limbic system: an interface.

Much work has related limbic structure with hypothalamic function rather than with higher nervous system function. Most studies have dealt with single limbic structures rather than with several as interrelated functional systems. Upon consideration of the total limbic-structure complex it would appear that the septum-hippocampus-amygdala form an interface between the isocortex and the thalamus. Our work relating to projections of the limbic system, especially the septal area, has directed our attention to the thalamus as a particularly important target of limbic system projections. Furthermore, our work on projections of the cingulate gyrus reveals that this cortical area projects strongly to other cortical regions as well as to thalamic nuclei. The orbital frontal cortex, cingulate gyrus, and hippocampal gyrus are isocortical areas which then link the limbic system with other corticothalamic systems. This feature, plus strong thalamic connections from the hippocampus, septum, and amygdala provide a basis for considering the limbic system as an interface between the overlying cerebral isocortex and thalamic structures. This interface may be a key integrating system related to selective modulation of emotion and sensory mechanisms of the brain via a number of feedback circuits wherein recycling could be effected through the temporal and/or the frontal cortex.
Efficient streaming of stereoscopic depth-based 3D videos

In this paper, we propose a method to extract depth from motion, texture and intensity. We first analyze the depth map to extract a set of depth cues. Then, based on these depth cues, we process the colored reference video, using texture, motion, luminance and chrominance content, to extract the depth map. The processing of each channel in the YC R C B -color space is conducted separately. We tested this approach on different video sequences with different monocular properties. The results of our simulations show that the extracted depth maps generate a 3D video with quality close to the video rendered using the ground truth depth map. We report objective results using 3VQM and subjective analysis via comparison of rendered images. Furthermore, we analyze the savings in bitrate as a consequence of eliminating the need for two video codecs, one for the reference color video and one for the depth map. In this case, only the depth cues are sent as a side information to the color video.
Using SO 2 camera imagery and seismicity to examine degassing and gas accumulation at Kīlauea Volcano, May 2010

Abstract SO 2 camera measurements at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii, in May of 2010 captured two occurrences of lava lake rise and fall within the Halema'um'au Crater summit vent. During high lava stands we observed diminished SO 2 emission rates and decreased seismic tremor. Similar events at Kīlauea have been described as the result of sporadic degassing following gas accumulation beneath a mostly impermeable lava lake surface. Incorporation of SO 2 camera data into a multi-parameter dataset gives credence to the likelihood of shallow gas accumulation as the cause of these high stand events, with accumulated gas release upon lake-level drop compensating for the gas deficit reached during accumulation.
Safety and clinical outcomes among older adults receiving daptomycin therapy: Insights from a patient registry.

Abstract Background: Serious gram-positive bacterial infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults and can present significant challenges to clinicians. Data evaluating the safety and effectiveness of newer agents in this population are limited. Objective: Daptomycin is a lipopeptide with activity against resistant gram-positive organisms. To better understand the overall safety and effectiveness of daptomycin in older adults (≥66 years of age), the authors reviewed the data that were collected as part of an ongoing registry maintained by Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Lexington, Massachusetts), the manufacturer of daptomycin. Methods: The Cubicin Outcomes Registry and Experience (CORE) is a multicenter, retrospective registry designed to collect postmarketing clinical data on patients who received daptomycin. The CORE data collected from 58 institutions across the United States between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007, were analyzed to better understand the overall safety profile of daptomycin and the clinical outcomes of older adults who were treated with this agent. Patients were considered to be nonevaluable if the medical record did not contain sufficient information to determine response at the end of therapy. Nonevaluable patients were excluded from the clinical outcome analysis but included in the safety analysis. Results: The registry contained 1073 patients aged ≥66 years who received daptomycin; 23.8% (255/1073) were ≥81 years of age. Overall, 18.1% (194/1073) of patients experienced 324 adverse events, and 6.2% (67/1073) of patients experienced 97 adverse events that were considered possibly related to treatment with daptomycin. The most frequently reported adverse events that were considered possibly treatment related included creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevations, gastrointestinal disorders, and skin rashes. Among the 67 patients who experienced ≥1 adverse event that was possibly related to daptomycin, 30 discontinued therapy due to the adverse event (13 due to CPK elevation). Overall, 78.7% (844/1073) of patients were considered evaluable for clinical outcomes. The clinical success rate for all evaluable patients was 90.2% (761/844). The success rate for evaluable patients ≥81 years of age (88.6% [171/193]) was comparable to that of the overall population. Conclusion: Experience with daptomycin in this group of older adults suggests good tolerability and clinical outcomes that are consistent with the results of other studies published to date.
Effect of Elevated CO2 Growth Conditions on the Nutritive Composition and Acceptability of Baked Sweet Potatoes

‘Georgia-Jet’ sweet potatoes were grown at CO2 concentrations of 354, 431, 506, and 659 ppm for 90 days. Elevated CO2 concentrations decreased protein, total carotenoids and insoluble dietary fiber. An increase in dry matter and a reddish-orange color was observed at 506 and 659 ppm CO2 concentrations. Sensory evaluation scores for flavor and moistness indicated that sweet potatoes grown under high CO2 concentrations were acceptable and not different from the control.