cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection and quantitation of interleukin-2 from individual cells.

Abstract In this report we present the use of cell blotting for the detection of interleukin-2 (IL-2)-producing lymphocytes. This is a rapid and sensitive immunochemical method analogous to Western blotting of proteins. When combined with image analysis one can determine the percentages of IL-2 positive cells as well as quantitate the amount of IL-2 surrounding each cell. When bovine lymph node cells (bLNC) were stimulated with the combination of concanavalin A (ConA) and 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) for 24 h, 46.4 ± 0.6% stained positive for IL-2 and, on average, each cell produced 0.92 ± 0.6 pg of IL-2 in 24 h. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and TPA-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC) produced approximately the same amount, 0.86 ± 0.4 pg of IL-2 per cell in 24 h; 45.6 ± 3.6% stained positive for IL-2.
Odontoid pseudotumor and serial postfusion radiographic evaluation in a patient with a C1–2 mass

Odontoid pseudotumor is a mass occurring around the odontoid process in the cervical spine and can cause significant neurological symptoms at the craniocervical junction due to compression of the spinal cord and cervicomedullary junction at this level. A literature review was performed to provide input on options for treatment and prognosis for this lesion. The literature search found 12 papers in which pseudotumor was treated with posterior decompression and fixation. Posterior decompression and fixation with serial imaging to monitor the size of the pseudotumor postsurgery is a safe and effective treatment option for odontoid pseudotumors.
Long-term experience with World Health Organization grade III (malignant) meningiomas at a single institution.

Purpose To evaluate the outcomes for patients with Grade III meningiomas as defined by the 2007 World Health Organization standards. Methods and Materials The slides from patients who had been treated at the Cleveland Clinic for malignant meningiomas were reviewed by a single neuropathologist. The data from 13 patients treated between 1984 and 2006 satisfied the World Health Organization 2007 definition of Grade III meningioma. A total of 24 surgeries were performed, including 13 primary, 7 salvage, and 4 second salvage. Also, 14 courses of radiotherapy (RT) were administered, including fractionated RT in 3 patients after primary surgery, fractionated RT in 4 patients after salvage surgery, salvage stereotactic radiosurgery to six separate areas in 3 patients, and salvage intensity-modulated RT in 1 patient. Results From the primary surgery, the median survival was 3.4 years, the 5-year survival rate was 47.2%, and the 8-year survival rate was 12.2%. The median time to recurrence was 9.6 months. A trend was seen toward longer survival for patients who had received adjuvant RT after initial surgery compared with those treated with surgery alone. Two patients developed radiation necrosis, and three had surgical complications. Conclusion This is one of the few studies reporting the outcomes for malignant meningioma patients according to recent definitions. Our results are consistent with existing reports of the overall poor outcomes for atypical and malignant meningioma patients. From the available data, surgical resection followed by RT and salvage therapy can lead to extended survival.
D. Z. Phillips and reasonable belief

As an illustration of what Phillips called the “heterogeneity of sense,” this essay concentrates on differences in what is meant by a “reason for belief.” Sometimes saying that a belief is reasonable simply commends the belief’s unquestioned acceptance as a part of what we understand as a sensible outlook. Here the standard picture of justifying truth claims on evidential grounds breaks down; and it also breaks down in cases of fundamental moral and religious disagreement, where the basic beliefs that we hold affect our conception of what counts as a reliable ground of judgment. Phillips accepts the resultant variations in our conceptions of rational judgment as a part of logic, just as Wittgenstein did. All objective means of determining the truth or falsity of an assertion presume some underlying conceptual agreement about what counts as good judgment. This means that the possibility of objective justification is limited. But no pernicious relativism results from this view, for as Wittgenstein said, “After reason comes persuasion.” There is, moreover, a non-objective criterion of sorts in the moral and religious requirement that one be able to live with one’s commitments. In such cases, good judgment is still possible, but it differs markedly from the standard model of making rational inferences.
Ultrafast Interconversion between Protein Conformational Substates: Directly Observed by 2D IR Vibrational Echo Spectroscopy

Conformational dynamics of flexible biomolecules play an important role in the function and stability of proteins. Folded proteins can exist in multiple conformational substates, where each substate has a distinct structure and corresponds to a local minimum on the free energy landscape. Transitions from one minimum to another correspond to dynamical changes in the structure of the protein. By using 2D IR spectroscopy, conformational interconversion between these well defined substates of a myoglobin double mutant is observed on picoseconds timescale. The conformational dynamics are directly measured through the evolution of cross peaks in the 2D IR spectra of CO bound to the heme active site. The conformational switching changes the CO frequency, as detected by the waiting time dependence of the 2D IR vibrational echo spectrum. This result is an example where conformational switching between protein substates occurs on very fast time scales. Moreover, this myoglobin mutant shows enzymatic activity upon substrate binding, which makes it an excellent system to study the influence of substrate binding on structural dynamics.
Acoustical, sensory, and psychological research data and procedures for their use in predicting effects of environmental noises.

A demonstration field-research study reveals that aircraft noise measured at two one-story houses is ∼9dB less attenuated from measured outdoor levels than is street traffic noise, and, found in other studies, ∼14dB less than railway noise. Comparable differences are found between these noises from the application of basic acoustical formulas for quantifying attenuations that occur on site of one- and two-story houses. Reasonably consistent with those findings are results from attitude surveys showing that daily exposure levels of aircraft must be ∼8dB less than levels of street traffic noise, and ∼13dB less than levels of railway noise to be perceived as an equal cause of annoyance and related adverse effects. However, USA government guidelines recommend that equal exposure levels of noise measured outdoors from vehicles of transportation should be considered as being equally annoying. Changes in present USA noise-measurement procedures and noise-control guidelines are proposed that provide more accurate...
A schema for common cents.

Drawings from memory of a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter were obtained from 125 undergraduates. The modal recalls for the heads of all four coins were identical, suggesting that a schema for coins exists. In an attempt to have the schema produced directly, another 75 students designed either a 2-, 7-, or 20-cent piece that would fit into our present currency. The modal drawing for this task was identical to the modal recalls. The schema for the heads derived from these experiments differs from existing coins and is not an average of them.
Stratigraphic architecture of a tide‐influenced shelf‐edge delta, Upper Cretaceous Dorotea Formation, Magallanes‐Austral Basin, Patagonia

The Magallanes-Austral Basin of Patagonian Chile and Argentina is a retroforeland basin associated with Late Cretaceous–Neogene uplift of the southern Andes. The Upper Cretaceous Dorotea Formation records the final phase of deposition in the Late Cretaceous foredeep, marked by southward progradation of a shelf-edge delta and slope. In the Ultima Esperanza district of Chile, laterally extensive, depositional dip-oriented exposures of the Dorotea Formation contain upper slope, delta-front and delta plain facies. Marginal and shallow marine deposits include abundant indicators of tidal activity including inclined heterolithic stratification, heterolithic to sandy tidal bundles, bidirectional palaeocurrent indicators, flaser/wavy/lenticular bedding, heterolithic tidal flat deposits and a relatively low-diversity Skolithos ichnofacies assemblage in delta plain facies. This work documents the stratigraphic architecture and evolution of the shelf-edge delta that was significantly influenced by strong tidal activity. Sediment was delivered to a large slump scar on the shelf-edge by a basin-axial fluvial system, where it was significantly reworked and redistributed by tides. A network of tidally modified mouth bars and tidal channels comprised the outermost reaches of the delta complex, which constituted the staging area and initiation point for gravity flows that dominated the slope and deeper basin. The extent of tidal influence on the Dorotea delta also has important implications for Magallanes-Austral Basin palaeogeography. Prior studies establish axial foreland palaeodrainage, long-term southward palaeotransport directions and large-scale topographic confinement within the foredeep throughout Late Cretaceous time. Abundant tidal features in Dorotea Formation strata further suggest that the Magallanes-Austral Basin was significantly embayed. This ‘Magallanes embayment’ was formed by an impinging fold–thrust belt to the west and a broad forebulge region to the east.
Altering the Process of Aß-Plaque Formation: Effect of Monoclonal Antibodies

Amyloid diseases are a steadily expanding group of debilitating human disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, which are characterized by deposits of insoluble protein fibrils in various tissues. High-visibility studies have found that amyloid mature fibrils are one of the main pathogenic agents in Alzheimer's, resulting in the deposition of extracellular Amyloid beta (As) plaques. Hence, determining the kinetics of amyloid fibril formation, characterizing the morphology of intermediate aggregates and relating them to underlying changes in protein structure are essential for their prevention and removal. Equally important, experimental techniques to provide in-situ characterization of amyloid-s aggregation, aggregate structures and associated changes in protein structure are critical for testing drug targets for their ability to disrupt fibril formation. We have used atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to monitor the time course of changes in topology and conformation of the peptide aggregates. These measurements allow us to detect changes in intra and intermolecular beta sheets, beta turns, and alpha helix conformational rearrangements and relate them to topography conformations. We have tested the effects of different monoclonal antibodies (anti-As mAbs), both N-terminus and C-terminus, on preformed fibrils. We found that for molar ratios of 10:1 to 50:1 (amyloid:antibody), the dissolution process proceeds to completion within 144 hours. We determined that lower stoichiometric molar ratios of antibodies (1000:1) in preincubated solutions of As peptides also promoted defibrillization, but the time to achieve complete removal is more than 6 days. The outcomes of this study provide an in-vitro quantitative model to understand the potentially catalytic capacity of anti-As mAbs to monomerize assemblies of As and instruct the design and interpretation of ongoing clinical trials of these therapeutics in Alzheimer' disease patients.
The Quality of Business Ethics Journals: An Assessment Based on Application

With growth in the quantity of business ethics journals in recent years, assessments of journal quality are helpful to ethics researchers and administrators, as researchers consider available publication venues, and administrators consider the value of faculty research. The few published evaluations of business ethics journals have predominantly utilized two methods of journal quality determination: citation analysis and surveys of active researchers. This study employs a novel method to assess business ethics journals: 83 Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) business schools provided their internally developed journal lists (IDJ lists) that were used to evaluate faculty research, and the submitted lists were then analyzed for the presence and assessment of business ethics journals. This analysis yielded a ranking of 24 business-ethics-centric (BEC) journals, and this ranking reflects the collective judgments of AACSB business school faculties. The results of this study are pragma...
Responses of denervated adult newt limb stumps to reinnervation and reinjury

It is well known that denervated adults newt limbs do not regenerate. Not understood is why denervated newt limb stumps fail to initiate regeneration upon reinnervation. In an effort to define the regeneration limiting factors, we examined the histology of long-term denervated newt limb stumps and tested the effects of various kinds of reinjury. In 5-week denervated limb stumps there were present dedifferentiated cells, differentiated cartilage, and densely packed layered cells. The epidermis covering the limb tip resembled skin epidermis rather than wound epidermis. The kinds of reinjury that were successful in restoring the regeneration capabilities to 5-week denervated limb stumps included; reamputation (100%), a single razor incision (60%), and removal of the healed tissues from the distal limb tip (70%). The results of the study emphasize the importance of both injury and wound epidermis in initiating regeneration.
The mechanisms underlying the generation of the colonic migrating motor complex in both wild-type and nNOS knockout mice.

Colonic migrating motor complexes (CMMCs) propel fecal contents and are altered in diseased states, including slow-transit constipation. However, the mechanisms underlying the CMMCs are controversial because it has been proposed that disinhibition (turning off of inhibitory neurotransmission) or excitatory nerve activity generate the CMMC. Therefore, our aims were to reexamine the mechanisms underlying the CMMC in the colon of wild-type and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)−/− mice. CMMCs were recorded from the isolated murine large bowel using intracellular recordings of electrical activity from circular muscle (CM) combined with tension recording. Spontaneous CMMCs occurred in both wild-type (frequency: 0.3 cycles/min) and nNOS−/− mice (frequency: 0.4 cycles/min). CMMCs consisted of a hyperpolarization, followed by fast oscillations (slow waves) with action potentials superimposed on a slow depolarization (wild-type: 14.0 ± 0.6 mV; nNOS−/−: 11.2 ± 1.5 mV). Both atropine (1 μM) and MEN 10,376 [neurokinin 2 (NK2) antagonist; 0.5 μM] added successively reduced the slow depolarization and the number of action potentials but did not abolish the fast oscillations. The further addition of RP 67580 (NK1 antagonist; 0.5 μM) blocked the fast oscillations and the CMMC. Importantly, none of the antagonists affected the resting membrane potential, suggesting that ongoing tonic inhibition of the CM was maintained. Fecal pellet propulsion, which was blocked by the NK2 or the NK1 antagonist, was slower down the longer, more constricted nNOS−/− mouse colon (wild-type: 47.9 ± 2.4 mm; nNOS−/−: 57.8 ± 1.4 mm). These observations suggest that excitatory neurotransmission enhances pacemaker activity during the CMMC. Therefore, the CMMC is likely generated by a synergistic interaction between neural and interstitial cells of Cajal networks.
Hemodynamic determinants of exercise-induced ST-Segment depression in children with valvar aortic stenosis

To evaluate the hemodynamic factors associated with treadmill-induced ST-segment depression in children with valvar aortic stenosis, 12 patients (mean age 13 years) with ST-segment depression during treadmill exercise and 5 patients (mean age 13 years) without ST-segment depression during treadmill exercise underwent exercise testing during cardiac catheterization. The left ventricular (LV) systolic pressure and LV outflow tract gradient at rest (177 +/- 25 vs 138 +/- 8 mm Hg and 59 +/- 18 vs 23 +/- 7 mm Hg, respectively) and corresponding pressures during maximal supine exercise (248 +/- 37 vs 189 +/- 17 mm Hg and 112 +/- 34 vs 52 +/- 14 mm Hg) were significantly greater (p less than 0.01) in the patients with exercise-induced ST-segment depression, although overlap existed. The LV-O2 supply-demand ratio during maximal supine exercise was significantly less (6.4 +/- 2.7 vs 11.8 +/- 0.7; p less than 0.005) in patients with than in those without exercise-induced ST-segment depression. In fact, an LV-O2 supply-demand ratio less than 11.0 was 100% sensitive and specific in predicting treadmill-induced ST-segment depression. These results suggest that although the development of ST-segment depression during treadmill exercise is related to LV systolic pressure and LV outflow gradient, its major hemodynamic determinant is the LV-O2 supply-demand ratio.
Gastrointestinal and Dermal Absorption: Interspecies Differences

It has been repeatedly demonstrated that there are considerable interspecies differences with respect to the dermal absorptions of a chemically diverse set of substances, ranging from ionic substances to complex organic molecules, some of which are of great relevance to environmental/occupational health (e.g., the organophosphate insecticides). In general, human skin was found to be much less permeable to the substances evaluated when compared to rabbit and rodent skin; however, the pig and monkey appear to most closely simulate the absorption capabilities of human skin for a variety of substances. Unfortunately, no truly systematic evaluations of numerous classes of compounds have been made via interspecies comparisons. Thus, even though the data derived until now are very consistent, one could argue that strong general conclusions with respect to interspecies differences in dermal absorption cannot yet be made because the substances evaluated thus far may not be sufficiently representative. Clearly, further research along these lines is required.
Gender and Ethnic Differences in the Relationship Between Body Esteem and Self-Esteem

Gender and ethnic differences in the relationship between body esteem and self-esteem were examined to assess the degree to which these variables change in relation to each other over time. Difference scores (between Time 1 and Time 2, 1 week apart) were obtained using the Self-Esteem Scale (M. Rosenberg, 1979) and the Body Esteem Scale (S. L. Franzoi & S. A. Shields, 1984) for 163 White women, 140 White men, 55 Black women, and 37 Black men. The results indicated that the correlation of the difference scores was stronger for the group of White women than for the other 3 groups, suggesting that changes in self-esteem parallel changes in body esteem more for White women than for White men, Black men, and Black women. The findings are discussed in relation to the prevalence of bulimia nervosa among White women.
Superconducting Cavities for Synchrotron Use

For two months, as of this writing, a 60 cm length of niobium S-band standing wave accelerator has been installed in the Cornell Electron Synchrotron. The Q0 has remained at its initial value of 1.1 × 109, and the accelerating field at breakdown has remained at 4 MeV/m. The cavity has been used to accelerate the synchrotron beam to 4 GeV by itself and to accelerate the beam to 12 GeV in concert with the normal RF system.
CONSUMER SPECIES RICHNESS AND AUTOTROPHIC BIOMASS

We tested whether standing autotrophic (unicellular algal) biomass is sensitive to variation in initial consumer (nondecomposer, heterotrophic protistan) diversity in experimental microbial microcosms. Our results showed a strong, negative relationship between autotrophic biomass and consumer species richness. Additional microcosm experiments showed that this relationship was due largely to the direct and indirect trophic effects of consumers on autotrophs and decomposers. Collectively, these experiments suggest that standing autotrophic biomass is a function of community composition, trophic structure, and consumer diversity, the determining factors being the number of trophic levels, the discreteness of trophic levels, and the ecological equivalency of species within trophic levels. Our results suggest that ecosystem response to variation in consumer diversity can range from abrupt changes between “green” (high autotrophic biomass) and “barren” (low autotrophic biomass) states to relatively smooth trans...
Application of Auto-Coding for Rapid and Efficient Motor Control Development

In hybrid and electric vehicles, the control of the electric motor is a critical component of vehicle functions such as motoring, generating, engine-starting and braking. The efficient and accurate control of motor torque is performed by the motor controller. It is a complex system incorporating sensor sampling, data processing, controls, diagnostics, and 3-phase Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) generation which are executed in sub-100 uSec periods. Due to the fast execution rates, care must be taken in the software coding phase to ensure the algorithms will not exceed the target processor's throughput capability. Production motor control development often still follows the path of customer requirements, component requirements, simulation, hand-code, and verification test due to the concern for processor throughput. In the case of vehicle system controls, typically executed no faster than 5-10 mSec periods, auto-coding tools are used for algorithm development as well as testing. The advantages of auto-coding to greatly speed the development process by linking the tools for simulation, code generation and testing early in the development process as well as to more easily investigate performance issues late in the process are well known. It is not uncommon, however, to lose coding efficiency with this approach. While the loss of efficiency may be tolerable for slow periods, it is not acceptable at faster periods used in motor controls as it will preclude the algorithms from executing or drive unnecessarily expensive solutions. This paper will present an auto-coding process applied to motor controls, including full implementation on a production permanent magnet motor drive. Best practices for implementing requirements into models that generate efficient code will be highlighted. An overview of the issues associated with model-based documentation will also be covered. The use of test vectors at the component, model and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) level will be presented to show the benefits derived from using a formalized process and the natural linkage to a SPICE ® compliant process. A timing study performed during
Selective predators and their parasitized prey: Are epidemics in zooplankton under top-down control?

Seasonal change in the intensity of fish predation affects succession in lake zooplankton communities. Predation affects not only the zooplankton prey, but also their parasites. Because the ability of a parasite to spread depends in part on the death rate of the hosts, seasonal reductions in the intensity of predation on zooplankton could lead to parasite epidemics. We examined seasonal population dynamics, mortality rate, and incidence of parasitism in lake populations of Daphnia to determine whether parasitism displayed seasonality and synchrony among lake populations and whether any such patterns are consistent with seasonal changes in predation rates. Infections of a bacterial parasite (Spirobacillus cienkowskii )i nDaphnia dentifera populations were seasonal with epidemics in many lakes occurring synchronously in autumn. In situ foraging behavior of the dominant fish planktivores, bluegill sunfish, is highly selective on infected Daphnia. Mortality rates on the Daphnia drop just prior to the initiation of epidemics. An epidemiological model shows that this magnitude of decrease in mortality rate, if driven largely by a reduction in predation, can account for the seasonal occurrence of epidemics in our Daphnia populations. Together, these results suggest that parasitism in Daphnia populations may be seasonally restricted by fish predation.
MPEG-21 Based Temporal Adaptation of Live H.264 Video

The diversity of devices in both wired and wireless networks via which multimedia contents are desired to be accessed and interacted with has grown significantly. Applications like video conferencing, surveillance and chatting is challenged by this diversity which requires live adaptation to meet user requirements and device specifications. In this paper, we present an architecture for temporal adaptation of ITU-T H.264 video conforming to ISO/IEC MPEG-21 DIA for live video stream along with the adaptation module implementation detail. Adaptation is performed on demand directly from the live bitstream and its generic Bitstream Syntax Description (gBSD) avoiding conventional approaches seen in traditional transcoders. As a result, any MPEG-21 compliant host can adapt the stream without requiring the video codec. A prototype, based on the proposed architecture, and experimental evaluations of the system and its performance supporting the architecture are also presented.
Expression of nuclear retinoic acid receptor and retinoid X receptor mRNA in the cornea and conjunctiva

PURPOSE. The effects of retinoic acid in cells are mediated by the nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). Although vitamin A is essential for the normal development and maintenance of the ocular surface, the RARs and RXRs have not been studied in cornea and conjunctiva. The purpose of this study was to identify the mRNA for these receptors in corneal and conjunctival cells in culture and to determine whether all- trans retinoic acid is able to induce expression of RAR mRNA. METHODS. Total RNA was extracted from cultured rabbit corneal stroma and conjunctival fibroblasts and rabbit corneal epithelial cells. RNA was analyzed by Northern blotting using the cDNA probes for RARa, RARs, RAR?, RXRa, RXRs and RXR? mRNA. To investigate induction of retinoid receptors, cells were exposed to 10 -6 M all- trans retinoic acid for 2–48 h before preparation of RNA. Effects of retinoic acid on cell proliferation were also investigated. RESULTS. RARa mRNA transcripts (3.7 kb), RARs mRNA tr...
History of higher education in Pennsylvania

This long book records the vital statistics of higher education in Pennsylvania. Births (Wilkes, p. 327), deaths (Kittanning, p. 101), miscarriages (University of St. Augustine, p. 195), and marriages (Washington and Jefferson, p. 72) are duly recorded, and if the author in this painstaking endeavor has erred in giving such data as charter dates, opening dates, closing dates, enrollment figures, etc., he has probably already heard from the appropriate caretakers of such information at the various institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania. Professor Sack has accomplished a considerable task in mapping out the statistical record, and he has summarized much of this material in a table at the end of the second volume.
Quadricuspid aortic valve: a rare but important abnormality

Since first reported in 1862, quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) remains rare with a reported incidence of 0.008–0.033% on autopsy; however, the actual incidence of QAV is underestimated.1 ,2 QAV is characterised by the presence of four aortic cusps of varying sizes. Clear delineation of the anatomy of the QAV is difficult but of great clinical importance as these patients may present with progressive aortic regurgitation (AR) and other cardiovascular abnormalities.1 ,2 We present a case of QAV in an asymptomatic patient who presented with a murmur on routine examination. An asymptomatic patient presented with a 2/6 grade holosystolic apical cardiac murmur on routine physical examination. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) demonstrated QAV with cusps of equal size (figure 1A, upper and middle images), mild AR and a small restrictive muscular ventricular septal defect (VSD) (figure 1A, lower image). Cardiac MRI …
Research on Construction of the Knowledge System for Software Development

Knowledge management is the source for software enterprises to gain the sustainable competitive advantage. And knowledge system is a required work with strategic significance. So the purpose of this study is to investigate a knowledge system for software development. In this paper, a knowledge system is constructed for software development, which considers the demand of knowledge during the course of software development. Firstly, the concept and construction course of knowledge system are described. Then, a matrix model based on software development stages/roles is proposed, which is used to construct the knowledge system. Based on the matrix model, a two-dimensional knowledge system is constructed for different stages/roles. A description model of knowledge considering subject and object is also developed.
A probabilistic model of power system disturbances

Power system stability analysis involves the study of the state trajectories of a power system in response to a disturbance. The system is usually presumed to be in a static equilibrium state when the disturbance is initiated. The disturbance causes a dynamic motion of the system state variables to either a new equilibrium condition or an unstable condition, which we usually regard as a system failure in some sense. The disturbance that initiates system dynamic behavior is of primary interest here. Qualitatively, the system disturbance may be large or small, and may be a simple step change in some parameter or a complex sequence of changes. We are interested in describing the disturbance not just mathematically, but probabilistically. Thus we seek a definition that will permit us to associate probabilities with disturbance events, such that the probabilities conform to an axiomatic definition of probability.
Continuous capture of skin deformation

We describe a method for the acquisition of deformable human geometry from silhouettes. Our technique uses a commercial tracking system to determine the motion of the skeleton, then estimates geometry for each bone using constraints provided by the silhouettes from one or more cameras. These silhouettes do not give a complete characterization of the geometry for a particular point in time, but when the subject moves, many observations of the same local geometries allow the construction of a complete model. Our reconstruction algorithm provides a simple mechanism for solving the problems of view aggregation, occlusion handling, hole filling, noise removal, and deformation modeling. The resulting model is parameterized to synthesize geometry for new poses of the skeleton. We demonstrate this capability by rendering the geometry for motion sequences that were not included in the original datasets.
Student critical thinking is enhanced by developing exercise prescriptions using online learning modules.

Developing the ability to think critically is an important element of undergraduate physiology education and is influenced by many factors, including the learning environment, the social context of...
Systematic Evaluation to Improve the Quality of Patient Care: From Hope to Hopeful

Clement provides a case study that illustrates an excellent approach toward treatment. The approach conveys concretely the interplay of research and clinical application, assessment and systematic evaluation, and benchmarking of case progress based on similar cases in clinical applications and in research studies. The present comment underscores the important role of systematic evaluation as exemplified in this case report and as a key to high quality patient care. In addition, evaluation accumulated across multiple cases can contribute to the knowledge base both by testing and generating hypotheses about treatment. Evaluation is placed in the context of current discussions about evidence-based treatments and the ongoing debates about clinic practice and research.
Supersymmetry and the Scale of Unification

Unified theories which are supersymmetric down to energies \ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{3}$-${10}^{5}$ GeV have been proposed as possible solutions to the gauge-hierarchy problem. The additional particles then required have significant effects on renormalization of coupling constants. The previous successful calculation of the weak mixing angle is only slightly changed, but the scale of unification is moved significantly higher, into the range of the Planck mass. This may be suggestive of an eventual unification including gravity, and markedly reduces the predicted rate of nucleon decay.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Periaortic Fibrosis and Ureteral Obstruction—Report of Two Cases

Two cases of ureteral obstruction due to the retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm are described.The clinical findings, etiology, diagnosis, and management are discussed. Preoperative diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm with periaortic fibrosis and ureteral obstruction may be possible with the aid of intravenous urography, ultrasonography, and computed tomography.Aortic replacement with synchronous ureterolysis is the treatment of choice; cortico steroids represent an alternative therapy where aortic replacement is too hazardous.
Reactive Ion Etching Processes for Amorphous Germanium Alloys

This paper presents results on reactive ion etching (RIE) processes of amorphous germanium (a-Ge:H), germanium silicon alloys (a-GeSix:H) and germanium oxide (GeOx). Their process characteristics are compared with those of the amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and silicon nitride (SiNx). Various combinations of feeding gases, i.e., from CF4, CF2Cl2, CH3F, and O2, over a pressure range of 100 to 300 mTorr and a power range of 500 to 1500 W were used in this study. The following conclusions are drawn from the results: 1) the a-Ge:H and a-GeSix:H etch mechanisms are similar to that of a-Si:H, but the former have higher etch rates than the latter; 2) a-GeSix:H etch rate falls between those of a-Ge:H and a-Si:H; 3) the GeOx etch mechanism is similar to that of SiNx; 4) although plasma phase chemistry, ion bombardment energy, and surface reactions are all important to the etch process, the film component selectivity is greatly dependent on the feeding gas; 5) to obtain a high etch selectivity between a-GeSix:H and PECVD SiNx a chlorine-containing gas has to be used; 6) RIE plasma damage to a-Si:H TFT is decreased when it is covered with an a-GeSix:H layer.
Isoform Expression Analysis Based on RNA-seq Data

The development of novel high-throughput DNA sequencing methods has provided a powerful method for both mapping and quantifying transcriptomes. This method, termed RNA-seq (RNA sequencing), has advantages over microarray-based approaches in terms of wide dynamic range of expressions, less reliance on existing knowledge about genome sequence, and low background noise. After aligning the reads to the reference genomes, the first step of RNA-seq analysis is to infer relative transcript abundances. This can be done at the whole transcript level, at the isoform-specific relative abundance level assuming a known set of isoforms, and at the level where transcripts are identified and their abundances are quantified. We review these methods briefly and add some recent developments in dealing with non-uniform read distribution within a transcript. We focus on methods for simultaneous transcript discovery and quantification.
Evaluation of Slow-release Fertilizers on Bell Pepper

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Capsicum annuum, Nitamin, methylene-urea, fertigation SUMMARY. This study was conducted to compare different formulations of a slowrelease fertilizer with a conventional fertilizer program to determine their impact on yield and growth of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum). Two formulations of a methylene-urea slow-release fertilizer (Nitamin) were evaluated on dripfertigated and plastic-mulched bell peppers during 2006 in the eastern coastal plain and western Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Liquid slow-release formulations were applied the first 6 or 9 weeks of the growing season and a dry formulation was banded at planting. Treatments were compared with the extension-recommended rate of 200 lb/acre nitrogen (N) (NC-200) and a high-input fertilizer rate of 300 lb/acre N (HI-300) from calcium nitrate injected in 12 weekly applications of drip irrigation. Irrigation was applied twice per week. The slow-release granular formulation at 200 lb/acre N produced the highest marketable yield and better canopy quality in eastern soil.Early marketable yield for this treatment accounted for 46% of the total yield. All slow-release treatments had higher N use efficiency (NUE) values than NC-200 and HI-300 in the eastern study. In loam soil (western study), pepper yield was statistically similar among treatments. Lower rates (150 lb/acre N) of slow-release fertilizer performed as well as NC-200 and HI-300 for marketable yield. Low rates (150 lb/acre N) of one of the liquid formulations performed better in total and marketable NUE than NC-200 and HI-300 in Fletcher, North Carolina. Liquid and dry formulations of slow-release fertilizer showed a potential to be used on bell pepper production across the state at reduced N rates, with greater impact on yield in coarse-textured soils found predominantly in the eastern coastal plain region.
A novel chemical pathway for energy efficient production of Ti metal from upgraded titanium slag

Abstract The developments of energy efficient, low cost titanium metal production processes have challenged the metallurgical industry and research community around the world for several decades. The strong affinity of titanium to oxygen dictates that the conventional Ti metal production processes are energy-intensive. In this paper, a new approach that is designed to minimize energy consumption and overall cost for Ti production is presented. The overall approach is based on a chemical pathway that synergistically integrating a series of low cost unit processes to produce Ti that can match the quality of the product produced by the Kroll process commercially to date. The key steps include production of purified TiO 2 with controlled sizes and morphologies, Mg reduction in the presence of hydrogen to form porous TiH 2 , heat treatment to close the pores, and Ca de-oxygenation to reduce oxygen content to less than 0.15 wt%. The results show that this approach can indeed produce Ti metal powder that has high purity, low oxygen, and meets the specifications by ASTM for general purpose Ti sponge, directly from upgraded titanium slag (UGS) without the high temperature chlorination step.
Nutritional Properties and Feeding Values of Soybeans and Their Coproducts

Publisher Summary Soybean Meal (SBM) is the number-one protein source used in the poultry and livestock industries throughout the world. Of all the SBM that is sold in the United States, >50% is used in diets fed to poultry and 26% is used in diets fed to swine. Ruminant animals, dogs, cats, and others account for the remaining portion of this usage. The main reason for the popularity of SBM is the unique composition of Amino Acids (AAs) that complements the AA compositions of many cereal grains. The excellent AA quality in SBM is also the reason why SBM is increasingly being used in the pet-food industry. While SBM is by far the most popular soybean product in livestock diets, other products are also being used to a varying degree. These products include full-fat soybeans, Soy Protein Concentrate (SPC), Soy Protein Isolate (SPI) soy-bean oil, and soybean hulls. Each of these products has unique nutritional properties that make them appropriate for inclusion in diets fed to certain categories of animals. This chapter provides a summary of the current knowledge about the nutritional values of soybean products fed to poultry, livestock, and companion animals.
Enzymatic characterization of decapacitation factor.

SummaryThe successful destruction of rabbit decapacitation factor by beta-amylase is reported. The finding of a level of amylase 4 times the level found in blood serum suggests that enzymatic removal of decapacitation factor from the surface of the spermatozoa head constitutes one step of the capacitation process. Decapacitation factor appears to be a polysaccharide since it is destroyed by amylolytic but not by proteolytic enzymes.NOTE ADDED IN PROOF: Following the preliminary report that beta-amylase may be involved in capacitation (4), successful in vitro capacitation was described (Kirton, K. T., and Hafs, H. D., Science, 1965, v150, 618). Current experiments using their experimental conditions have been unsuccessful to date in obtaining in vitro capacitation with beta-amylase.
Efficient power allocation in LTE-A based on ordering mechanism

In this paper, we present a new approach that seeks the efficient power allocation in LTE-A based on ordering methodology of active UEs. The feature of non-contiguous CA is implemented with the SISO mode and the infinite buffer traffic type. The proposed approach consists of two aspects: (1) finding the optimal power allocation for each UE by selecting the proper subcarriers, with respect to the required throughput, the current channel condition for each UE, and the interference from neighboring eNodBs, (2) achieving the fairness among multiple UEs with respect to power distribution. We formulate an optimization model to achieve the proposed approach. A set of comprehensive simulations is conducted. It is shown that the new approach has made several improvements on the conventional schemes.
Lay perspectives on the biomedical paradigm on ‘obesity’: Theorizing weight, health and happiness

In-depth interviews with 42 participants reveal both the parallels and disconnections between the biomedical paradigm on obesity and participants’ viewpoints. On the one hand, nearly all participants express that being overweight is unhealthy and is tied to disease, disability and premature death. They also confirm the primacy of weight, believing that weight loss will lead to better health. On the other, participants challenge the use of the Body Mass Index (BMI) along with various biomedical claims about obesity. They criticize the BMI expressing that it fails to acknowledge a psychological dimension of health and, even as a measure of physiological health, is inaccurate. These critiques connect in part to participants’ prioritizing of emotional health and to an understanding of idiosyncratic health. Grounded theorizing from these data focuses on how health beliefs cannot be separated from personal experiences, emotional well-being and ideals of happiness, pointing to new ways to think about health research and practice.
Modern Transparent Papers: Materials, Degradation, and the Effects of Some Conservation Treatments

Modern transparent papers, also known as tracing papers, require specific chemical and physical properties, such as translucency, smoothness, and whiteness, which are produced by specially formulated compositions and manufacturing procedures. Ironically, these special formulations may in some ways render such papers susceptible to problems from damage and degradation, while also making them particularly reactive to moisture and solvents that must be used in conservation treatments to correct these problems. In order to evaluate the effects of water and organic solvents on such papers, four research projects were designed to consider the variables of paper composition, properties, type of solvent, technique of application of solvent, and flattening. This paper summarizes findings on materials characterization, degradative effects of aging, and some effects of solvents used on transparent papers for stain reduction, humidification, and flattening.
Bone marrow and brain: unexpected allies or accidental acquaintances?

Almost 10 yr have passed since we first entertained the idea that circulating blood cells originating in the bone marrow might contribute to central nervous system (CNS) cell lineages. Initially, we showed that microgalia are derived from bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs). Later, we found that BMSCs might also give rise to other neural cells—even neurons. We made our first observations in rodents, and then we examined human samples. In the brains of female patients who received bone marrow from male donors there are cells with neurons-specific markers together with the Y chromosome suggesting that they are the progeny donor bone marrow cells. All of our data and numerous recent experiments in the field suggest that circulating BM cells are quite plastic. Thus, they might be used in regenerative medicine to help heal or replace lost tissue in many different organs.
Physicians' Use of Mood-Altering Drugs

Abstract A prospective study carried out over a 20-year period showed that a group of 45 physicians took more tranquilizers, sedatives and stimulants than 90 matched controls. As college sophomores both groups had been selected for the study because of better than average physical and psychologic health. The physicians drank alcoholic beverages and smoked cigarettes to the same extent as the controls.
Study on key technology of fire source control for high-gas tunnel construction in Duwen highway

The safety control is one of core control contents in supervision work of high-gas tunnel. The section of high-gas tunnel in Dujiangyan-Wenchuan highway was big,the construction was greatly disturbed by gas hazard,and the safety control was quite difficult. The fire source was the blasting fuse of gas combustion or explosion during the construction of big section tunnel. So how to control fire source is one emphasis for the supervision organization to do a good job of safety control. But there were not practical example sand methods to follow at present,and the related construction standards and supervision standards of tunnel had not made a clear regulation. In this paper,through the practical work of fire source monitoring and control after the "12.22 major gas explosion accident" at Zipingpu tunnel of Duwen highway in 2005,a series of countermeasures for fire source monitoring and control was summarized,which would be referenced by fire source control in construction of similar high-gas tunnel and advancing the technology improvement of safety supervision in future.
Goldbach’s Conjectures: A Historical Perspective

In 1742, Goldbach and Euler in conversation and in an exchange of letters discussed the representation of numbers as sums of at most three primes. Although the question as to whether every even number is the sum of one or two primes (the binary Goldbach conjecture) is still unresolved, this and associated questions have attracted many mathematicians over the years, and have lead to a range of powerful techniques with many applications. This article is a commentary on the historical developments, the underlying key ideas and their widespread influence on a variety of central questions.