cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Satellite-Derived Rapid-Scan Wind Observations on Numerical Model Forecasts of Hurricane Katrina

Abstract The impacts of special Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) rapid-scan (RS) wind observations on numerical model 24–120-h track forecasts of Hurricane Katrina are examined in a series of data assimilation and forecast experiments. The RS wind vectors are derived from geostationary satellites by tracking cloud motions through successive 5-min images. In these experiments, RS wind observations are added over the area 15°–60°N, 60°–110°W, and they supplement the observations used in operational forecasts. The inclusion of RS wind observations reduces errors in numerical forecasts of the Katrina landfall position at 1200 UTC 29 August 2005 by an average of 12% compared to control cases that include “targeted” dropsonde observations in the Katrina environment. The largest average improvements are made to the 84- to 120-h Katrina track forecasts, rather than to the short-range track forecasts. These results suggest that RS wind observations can potentially be used in future cases to...
New Perspectives on Mississippian Occupations in Western Tennessee and Northwestern Mississippi: Recent Chronological and Geophysical Investigations at Chucalissa (40Sy1), Shelby County, Tennessee

Investigations at Chucalissa (40SY1) in Shelby County, Tennessee, have been instrumental in establishing Mississippian period chronology for southwestern Tennessee and much of the surrounding region. Excavations conducted in 2003 produced a suite of new radiocarbon dates that has provided a refined developmental lineage of occupations in West Tennessee and northwestern Mississippi, while geophysical investigations in 2011 have clarified our understanding of the late prehistoric occupation of the site and validated suggestions of distinctive mound architecture in a region extending over a large portion of the Southeast.
Combination of magnetic and electric quadrupole lenses as zoom Sextuplet ion microprobe focusing system with minimum spherical aberration

The new generation nuclear microprobe system at the Louisiana Accelerator Center in the University of Louisiana at Lafayette consists of a 6.25 m beam line that employs the magnetic quadrupole Sextuplet lens system. This Sextuplet is a zoom system having the same demagnifications, the same focal lengths and the same positions of the focal points in (xoz) and (yoz) planes as in the case for the Russian quadruplet, It also can have the same spherical aberrations in both planes. The parameters which allow obtaining the lowest coefficients of spherical aberration are found for different geometrical configurations of electric and magnetic quadrupole lenses. Specifically, the configuration of a combined Sextuplet consisting of two magnetic and four electrostatic lenses or consisting of two electrostatic and four magnetic lenses is studied and compared with magnetic and electrostatic Sextuplets. The values of the chromatic and spherical aberrations for these combined systems are compared and the minimum spot radius and the half-widths of the corresponding slits for some optimal magnetic and electrostatic Sextuplets are given. sponding for some optimal magnetic and electrostatic Sextuplets are given.
LIFETIME AND CURRENT ABUSE, PREGNANCY RISKS, AND OUTCOMES AMONG NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN

This study examines the effects of current abuse, battering during pregnancy, and lifetime physical and sexual abuse on pregnancy risks and outcomes among 30 urban Native American women. One-third of the women in this study were battered during the index pregnancy, and nearly two-thirds had been abused by their current partner. All but 3 women had experienced physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime, and nearly three-fourths had been multiply abused. Significant relationships were found between current partner abuse, decreased birth weight, and inadequate prenatal care. The variable, increased lifetime abuse events, was significantly associated with increased risk factors for preterm birth/ low birth weight. High rates of substance use and sexually transmitted diseases were noted among women in this study. Further research is needed to examine abuse and relationships between abuse and pregnancy risks and outcomes among Native American women.
Accessory urethra with juxtaposed meatus

A case report is presented of a juxtaposed urethral meatus and accessory urethra. The need for careful examination of the urethral meatus is emphasized.
Multinational banking and economic development: a case study

Abstract Evidence of inward foreign direct investment by commercial banks into two regions of China is used to examine the effect or relaxation of controls over inward investment on investment by nonfinancial firms. The existence of sophisticated intermediaries with experience in the international financial system creates conditions for a verifiable, sharp increase in the rate of inward investment by multinational corporations. Two explanations are advanced: the newly available expertise in the international financial system allows multinational firms to invest with the assurance that they will have sophisticated capability to hedge risks and, because the financial sector is a sensitive sector, permission for multinational banks to enter is a sign of a commitment to a policy of open industrialization.
Wind-Induced Failures of Highway Light Poles During Winter Storms

Wind-induced failures of aluminum-alloy highway light poles during a winter storm are investigated. Wind-induced phenomena including along-wind buffeting and galloping-type vibration, initiated by the presence of freezing precipitation on the surface of the units, are analyzed. The dynamic performance of these systems is evaluated through numerical statistical simulations. The representation of the aerodynamic coefficients in the presence of freezing rain is based upon existing literature. Statistical methods were preferred due to the absence of field data and the inherent uncertainty associated with this particular event.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The basis for female choice in an avian brood parasite

Behavioral observation and experimental manipulation of a marked population of brood parasitic brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) were conducted to determine whether or not females exhibit mate choice and to elucidate the ultimate basis for any such choice. Female choice was indicated by the fact that each female copulated with only one male, although most were courted by several. Patterns of female aggression towards males also revealed that females had the opportunity to display choice. Courtship by males was sometimes treated by females as harassment, but there was no conclusive evidence that a male provided his mate with protection from harassment by other males. Nor was there any indication of other proximate benefits or services males might have provided for females. Thus, there is no evidence that males provide females with anything other than their genes. An experimental removal of mated males and the pattern of subsequent remating of widowed females are consistent with female choice for male genetic quality.
The Effect of Circumferential Pitch of Steam Turbine Blades on Torque as Compared with “Biplane Effect” on the “Lift” of Aerofoils

It is known that the “lift” of biplanes and triplanes per unit of wing surface is inferior to that of a monoplane, and that the degree of departure depends upon the gap-chord ratio. Published data indicate that the lift increases with increasing gap, apparently towards some limiting value. Regarding steam turbine wheels as rings of multiplanes, it may be asked, Is there any direct evidence that the torque on each blade is influenced by the presence of the other blades?.Many experiments have been made to determine the optimum circumferential pitch for a given blade shape, but most of these have aimed simply at arriving empirically at the best efficiency, without inquiry into the factors involved. The experiments described in the paper were carried out with low-velocity reaction blading, and were aimed at eliminating as many factors as possible, so as to make a clear issue of the effect of spacing the runner blades closer or wider apart. These experiments indicated that the effect of circumferential spacing...
Release of hyaluronidase and β‐N‐acetylhexosaminidase during in vitro incubation of hamster sperm

Previous studies have shown that hamster sperm release a significant amount of hyaluronidase before and independently of the normal acrosome reaction. In this study, we have used improved methods for in vitro incubation to investigate the time course of the release of hyaluronidase and hexosaminidase from hamster sperm. When hamster sperm are incubated in medium which allows capacitation, 34 to 47% of the total mechanically extractable hyaluronidase and 34 to 51% of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase are released into solution prior to and independently of the normal acrosome reaction (ARx). An additional 40 to 50% of the hyaluronidase and 34 to 51% of the hexosaminidase are released at the time of the normal ARx. Control experiments indicate that the early release is not due to the presence of dead sperm in culture and that the normal ARx is required for the second release. Increasing amounts of TCA-precipitated bovine serum albumin in the culture medium stimulated the early (1 hr) release of both enzymes. The data are consistent with the ideas that a significant amount of both enzymes is released from the sperm surface by 1 hr of incubation and that about the same amount of each enzyme is released during the normal ARx. Hyaluronidase and hexosaminidase release at the time of the acrosome reaction was measured for the first time using hamster sperm. The biphasic release of these enzymes may indicate that they have a dual function in fertilization and may help explain how sperm can penetrate the cumulus and corona radiata without undergoing an acrosome reaction.
Does Cerclage Prevent Preterm Birth

Cervical surgery to prevent recurrent pregnancy loss was introduced in 1902 by Herman [1], when he reported on his experience of three patients treated by Emmet trachelorrhaphy. In 1955 Shirodkar [2] and later in 1957 McDonald [3] introduced methods of transvaginal cerclage to treat cervical incompetence. Despite minor modifications, these procedures have remained the mainstay of therapy to prevent recurrent pregnancy loss. Cervical incompetence has been defined as a physical deficit in the strength of the cervical tissue that is either congenital or acquired [4]. Examples of congenital disorders associated with recurrent pregnancy loss include mullerian anomalies, diethylstilbestrol exposure, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Examples of acquired disorders of the cervical stroma that could potentially result in recurring pregnancy loss include obstetric trauma, such as cervical laceration extending into the lower uterine segment, or gynecologic procedures, such as cervical conization. Cervical incompetence has been traditionally diagnosed by the historic criteria of painless dilation of the cervix; recurrent early preterm delivery (b32 weeks) or second-trimester loss; and progressively earlier delivery with each subsequent pregnancy. In the 1990s, with the advent of transvaginal ultrasound and cervical length measurement, sonographic criteria were developed to diagnose cervical incompetence. This included a short closed cervical length; dilation of the internal os; and prolapse of the membranes into the endocervical canal (funneling or beaking). In addition, exacerbations of these findings with transfundal pressure were also considered a hallmark of this disease [5].
Two-slot coiled coaxial cable resonator: Reaching critical coupling at a reduced number of coils

This paper reports the experimental demonstration of a coiled coaxial cable resonator capable of meeting the critical coupling condition using a reduced number of coils relative to previously reported coiled resonators. By introducing a second slot along the length of the device, a two-slot coiled coaxial cable resonator was fabricated and critical coupling observed at 22 turns. An additional device with one-slot, but otherwise identically constructed, was also fabricated. After 44 turns, the one-slot device had yet to reach critical coupling. An ultrahigh signal-to-noise ratio (greater than 70 dB) was observed at critical coupling of the two-slot device. This reduction in number of slots necessary to reach critical coupling, and the corresponding reduction of physical length of the device, makes this demonstration of the control of critical coupling a potentially important step towards the successful application of coiled coaxial cable resonators to microwave communication and robust sensing applications.
Electron spin relaxation rates for nitridochromium(V) tetratolylporphyrin and nitridochromium(V) octaethylporphyrin in Frozen solution

T1 andTm for nitridochromium(V) tetratolylporphyrin and nitridochromium(V) octaethylporphyrin were measured by saturation recovery and electron spin echo EPR, respectively, between 10 and 130 K. The temperature dependence of 1/T1 was similar to that observed previously for chromium(V) complexes of hydroxycarboxylic acids. The spin lattice relaxation rate was faster in the perpendicular plane (the porphyrin plane) than normal to this plane. 1/Tm was orientation dependent with the fastest rates observed for orientations intermediate between the principal axes. The orientation dependence of 1/Tm increased with increasing temperature and decreasing rigidity of the matrix, and is attributed to molecular motion.
The Human Mandible and the Origins of Speech

Among the unique traits of human mandibles is the finding of relatively greater utilization of cortical bone with respect to other hominoids. The functional significance of this trait is not plausibly linked to masticatory demands given the diminution of the masticatory musculature in human evolution and the behavioral universal of extraoral food preparation in recent humans. Similarly, the presence of more mandibular bone is not a correlated effect of systemic skeletal robusticity, since gracilization of the skeleton is a feature diagnostic of modern humans. The mandibular symphysis in modern humans is manifested as the chin, and it is here where cortical bone hypertrophy is most pronounced. The potential covariation between the expression of the chin and bone hypertrophy is explored in an attempt to clarify their respective biomechanical roles. Current developments in skeletal biomechanics implicate low magnitude, high frequency strains in bone hypertrophy. The physiology of speech production likely produces strains in mandibular bone of greater frequency and lesser magnitude than those associated with mastication. Consequently, language acquisition plausibly accounts for cortical hypertrophy in modern human mandibles. Its role in the evolution and development of the chin is less clear.
Clinical Judgment Versus Decision Analysis for Managing Device Advisories

Introduction: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and pacemaker (PM) advisories may have a significant impact on patient management. Surveys of clinical practice have shown a great deal of variability in patient management after a device advisory. We compared our management of consecutive patients in a single large university practice with device advisories to the “best” patient management strategy predicted by a decision analysis model. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all patients who had implanted devices affected by an advisory at our medical center between March 2005 and May 2006 and compared our actual patient management strategy with that subsequently predicted by a decision analysis model. Results: Over 14 months, 11 advisories from three different manufacturers affected 436 patients. Twelve patients (2.8%) were deceased and 39 patients (8.9%) were followed at outside facilities. Management of the 385 remaining patients varied based on type of malfunction or potential malfunction, manufacturer recommendations, device dependency, and patient or physician preferences. Management consisted of the following: 57 device replacements (15.2%), 44 devices reprogrammed or magnets issued (11.7%), and 268 patients underwent more frequent follow-up (71.3%). No major complications, related to device malfunction or device replacement, occurred among any patient affected with a device advisory. Concordance between the decision analysis model and our management strategy occurred in 57.1% of cases and 25 devices were replaced when it was not the preferred treatment strategy predicted by the decision model (43.9%, 37.3% when excluding devices replaced based on patient preference). The decision analysis favored replacement for all patients with PM dependency, but only for four patients with ICDs for secondary prevention. No devices were left implanted that the decision analysis model predicted should have been replaced. Conclusions: We found that despite a fairly conservative device replacement strategy for advisories, we still replaced more devices when it was not the preferred device management strategy predicted by a decision analysis model. This study demonstrates that even when risks and benefits are being considered by experienced clinicians, a formal decision analysis can help to develop a systematic evidence based approach and potentially avoid unnecessary procedures.
Supporting inheritance using subclass assertions

Abstract Inheritance, together with object and class, is the key concept of object oriented systems. Adopting the concept-oriented view (COV for short) of inheritance, current OO systems such as GemStone, Orion, C++, O 2 , PostGres, Iris, and SmallTalk dominantly interpret inheritance by retaining all attributes and methods in a subclass from its superclass, and by supporting the specification of additional attributes and methods in the subclass. However, this monotonic extension property may result in a redundant subclass representation which in turn gives rise to update anomalies. Thus extra effort in practice used to prevent these problems from happening is to change an IS-A relationship in COV of hierarchy into sibling in the program-oriented view (POV for short) hierarchy. However, the dichotomy between the concept and implementation leads to a significant difference of the class hierarchy between the designing phase and implementation phase of OO systems, hence increases the complexity in designing OO systems. In this paper, we show that, when the subclass attributes are linearly related to the superclass attributes (the attributes in the superclass can be linearly expressed by those in the subclass), linear subclass assertions/constraints can be elegantly used to resolve the problems such as the redundant subclass representation , and update anomalies . We have proved that (1) given a linear subclass assertion, a non-redundant subclass representation can be automatically decided, and the bilateral mappings between the class and the determined subclass can be automatically constructed, and (2) given a user-chosen subclass representation and the mapping from the chosen subclass to the superclass, the linear subclass assertion and inverse mapping can be automatically constructed, and (3) placing an object into the most specific class in an ISA class hierarchy can be automatically conducted. The proposed novel ideas have been prototyped on GemStone/Smalltalk on a SunSparc/Unix platform. Our experience indicates that the proposed idea can be efficiently and effectively integrated into an OO system.
The Influence of Biology and Psychology upon Physics: Ernst Mach Revisited

Adaptationist accounts of our physiology and psychology form the basis of Machian physics. The newly matured sciences of physiology, psychology, and evolutionary theory suggested that space, time and matter are psychological phenomena as well as physical ones. Mach's critique of Newtonian space and time which inspired Einstein arose out of this tradition, and thus, in a limited yet important sense, bio-psychology influenced the course of twentieth century physics.
Enhanced sensitivity electrochemical assay of low-molecular-weight heparins using rotating polyion-sensitive membrane electrodes

Use of a novel rotating polycation-sensitive polymer membrane electrode yields sensors that can serve as simple potentiometric titration endpoint detectors for the determination of three FDA approved low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) anticoagulant drugs (Fragmin, Normiflo, and Lovenox). The rotating electrode configuration dramatically improves the reproducibility and increases the sensitivity for LMWH determinations by protamine titration. At a rotation speed of 3000 rpm, electrodes with optimized thin (50 µm) polymer membranes doped with dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate (DNNS) respond to low levels of protamine ( 0.2 U mL−1) can be readily achieved.
Short Definitions of the Ordinals

In this paper, a simple inductive characterization of the ordinal numbers is stated and developed. The characterization forms the basis for a set of axioms for ordinal theory and also for several short explicit definitions of the ordinals. The axioms are shown to be sufficient for ordinal theory, and, subject to suitable existence assumptions, each of the definitions is shown to imply the axioms. The present results apply to the familiar von Neumann version of the ordinals, but the methods used are easily adapted to other versions. ? 1. Axioms for ordinal theory. According to the usual interpretation, each ordinal is the set of all lesser ordinals. Thus zero is the empty set A, a successor ordinal x' is x U {x} for some ordinal x, and a limit ordinal is a set w of ordinals that is equal to its own sum set Zw. In fact, the class On of all ordinals might be characterized informally as the smallest class Z such that (1) AEZ, (2) (y) (yEZ D y'EZ), and (3) (w) (1w = w c Z D wEZ). More simply, On can be characterized as the smallest Z such that
Thermodynamic effects of inner orbital splitting in dibenzoylmethane complexes of the first transition series tervalent metal ions

Abstract The standard heats of combustion for the dibenzoylmethane complexes of the transition metal species scandium(III) through cobalt(III) (with the exception of titanium(III)) have been determined using a static oxygen bomb calorimeter. Corrections of the data to standard states were carried out using Hubbard, Scott and Waddington's modification of Washburn's methods. The heats of sublimation of the complexes and of the ligand were determined from vapour pressure measurements. Use of these data in a thermochemical cycle allowed the bond energies for the homolytic and heterolytic cleavage of the metal to oxygen bonds to be calculated. The lattice energies for the complexes were also calculated. The heterolytic bond energies, the lattice energies and the standard heats of formation of the complexes varied with atomic number in a manner consistent with ligand field theory.
Solar and geospace connections of energetic particle events

[1] A Coordinated Data Analysis Workshop (CDAW) was conducted recently to study the solar and geospace connections of large solar energetic particle (SEP) events of solar cycle 23 (up to the end of 2001). This paper summarizes the properties these events, the scientific issues discussed, and some of the results obtained during the workshop.
An 800V integrated DMOS-IGBT/PiN or MPS-rectifier power device

A novel power device that integrates a non-punchthrough DMOS insulated gate bipolar transistor with a fast-switching, anti-parallel PiN or merged pin Schottky (MPS) rectifier is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Integration of the anti-parallel rectifier within the power switch reduces cost, component-count and packaging parasitic of the power module. Device integration is achieved through side-by-side placement of the IGBT and PiN/MPS rectifier in the same die with both devices sharing common terminals. Experimental characteristics of the fabricated designs indicate successful device integration with competitive IGBT and diode performance in the integrated device, as compared to discrete devices. Improved reverse recovery performance of the antiparallel rectifier is evident from 30% reduction in reverse peak current and 45% reduction in reverse recovery charge due to the MPS structure as compared to a PiN.
Slip length crossover on a graphene surface

Using equilibrium and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, we study the flow of argon fluid above the critical temperature in a planar nanochannel delimited by graphene walls. We observe that, as a function of pressure, the slip length first decreases due to the decreasing mean free path of gas molecules, reaches the minimum value when the pressure is close to the critical pressure, and then increases with further increase in pressure. We demonstrate that the slip length increase at high pressures is due to the fact that the viscosity of fluid increases much faster with pressure than the friction coefficient between the fluid and the graphene. This behavior is clearly exhibited in the case of graphene due to a very smooth potential landscape originating from a very high atomic density of graphene planes. By contrast, on surfaces with lower atomic density, such as an (100) Au surface, the slip length for high fluid pressures is essentially zero, regardless of the nature of interaction between fluid and the solid wall.
Outdoor algal mass cultures—I. Applications

Abstract Algal mass culturing research has been carried out in many parts of the world for past 30 yr. Whereas early efforts were directed towards single-celled protein production for human consumption, many new applications have evolved including wastewater treatment, water renovation, nutrient recycling, production of chemicals, aquaculture and bioconversion of solar energy. Photosynthetic yields over 30g dry wt m−2day−1 have been attained on occasion in many locations for short periods and yields between 15 and 25 g dry wt m−2 day−1 for longer periods are now common. It appears that bioconversion of solar energy with algal cultures is not attractive because of the tremendous quantities of land, water and nutrients required. Similarly, single-celled protein from microalgae is beset with numerous problems associated with nutritional quality, toxicology and economics. The main attractiveness of algal mass cultures is that they have great versatility to be integrated into multi-use systems for simultaneously solving several environmental problems. Their use probably will be limited to small specific applications and not on the massive scale projected in the past.
Quality indicators for the management of heart failure in vulnerable elders.

Heart failure contributes to substantial morbidity and mortality in elderly persons, and its prevalence increases with age. This review investigates the relationship between processes and outcomes ...
Interview: Protein Folding and Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases

In this interview, Dr. Lindquist describes relationships between protein folding, prion diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. The problem of the protein folding is at the core of the modern biology. In addition to their traditional biochemical functions, proteins can mediate transfer of biological information and therefore can be considered a genetic material. This recently discovered function of proteins has important implications for studies of human disorders. Dr. Lindquist also describes current experimental approaches to investigate the mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases based on genetic studies in model organisms.
On the electronic density distribution in diborane

Abstract A study has been made of the effects of including hydrogen 2p basis orbitals in computing semi-empirical wave functions for diborane. The charges predicted by the Mulliken and the Lowdin definitions are compared with the electronic density distributions computed from the wave functions.
Effect of random response generation on cryptomnesia

The effect of randomizing the response-generation sequence on the frequency of cryptomnesia or inadvertent plagiarism was investigated. It was hypothesized that, if subjects were not aware of the sequence of responding, frequency of cryptomnesia would decrease. Each of the 24 undergraduate psychology students orally generated category exemplars, alternating with 3 other subjects according to a randomized response sequence imposed by the experimenter. Next, subjects attempted to recall items they had just generated. Finally, they had to generate new items in each category. On each task, they were instructed not to repeat an item generated by another subject. Plagiarism of others' responses occurred at the same frequency as in the Brown and Murphy study 0989) in which a sequential response generation was used, indicating that variables other than the awareness of sequence may affect the occurrence of cryptomnesia.
Characterization of a polypurine/polypyrimidine sequence upstream of the mouse metallothionein-I gene

A 128 base pair long homopurine/homopyrimidine (R/Y) element is located approximately 1.2 kb upstream of the transcription start point of the mouse metallothionein-I ( MT-I ) gene. We present a detailed in vitro structural characterization of the MT-I R/Y sequence as determined by enzymatic and chemical probes. An approximately 190 bp fragment containing the MT-I R/Y sequence was subcloned into a recombinant vector. Low resolution analysis with S1 nuclease indicates that DNA in this region was unpaired in supercoiled plasmids treated at low pH. High resolution mapping with chemical probes selective for non-B DNA structures provides evidence that the MT-I R/Y sequence adopts one or more H-DNA structures. We also investigated this sequence to determine if it can influence transcriptional regulation. Promoter/reporter constructs were prepared in which the MT-I R/Y sequence was positioned in either orientation upstream of either the MT-I or HSV-TK promoters. Promoter/reporter activities were evaluated by transient transfection assays using mouse NIH3T3 cells. The MT-I R/Y sequence displayed no detectable activity as a cis -acting transcriptional regulatory element. These results demonstrate that although the MT-I R/Y sequence is able to adopt a non-B DNA structure under certain in vitro conditions, there is no evidence that this sequence plays a significant role in transcriptional regulation.
Implementing a graphical multi-user interface toolkit

Multi-user applications allows users in different locations to simultaneously interact with a common interface. Creating multi-user applications is complicated by issues such as process synchronization, replicated window management, and floor control. As a result, several papers describing toolkits that simplify programming of multi-user applications have appeared in the literature. This paper discusses several low-level issues that must be addressed when implementing such a toolkit. Issues relating to replicated window management, supporting heterogeneous hardware environments, and multi-user event handling are discussed.
Ultrasound molecular imaging

Ultrasound molecular imaging is based on the specific acoustic properties of acoustically active, gas-filled microbubbles (ultrasound contrast agents), which can be sensitively imaged with regular ultrasound methods. Modulating shell properties or binding specific probes to the microbubbles allows to target them to histological structures of interest. Due to the size and mode of delivery, microbubbles can mainly target intravascular epitopes. Fortunately, most disease processes result in the expression of such markers on local endothelium of the tissue microvasculature, allowing its targeted contrast ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound molecular imaging is an easy to use and cheap technique which can be made widely available. It is highly sensitive and offers a better spatial and temporal resolution compared to other, in particular nuclear molecular imaging techniques. Specific microbubble properties allow mechanical interaction with the surrounding tissue once the bubble is insonated. This raises safety concerns but bears also potential for therapeutic applications of this technique. The following article reviews the acoustic properties of ultrasound contrast agents and the imaging methods for their detection and quantification. Current concepts of microbubble targeting are discussed and experimental and clinical applications presented.
As Good as Chocolate

No one could have imagined how important the 1948 discovery of the vasoconstrictor serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) would be to the field of human physiology ( 1 ). Elucidation of the 5-HT structure ( 2 ) and synthesis of the molecule with the expected biological activity ( 3 ) soon followed. This monoamine is a ligand for 15 receptors, and drugs that target 5-HT receptors are widely used to treat conditions including migraine headache, depression, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and irritable bowel syndrome, reflecting the wide diversity of physiological and pathophysiological processes in which 5-HT is involved ( 4 ). On page 615 and 610 in this issue, Wacker et al. ( 5 ) and Wang et al. ( 6 ), respectively, report the crystal structure of human 5-HT2B bound to the antimigraine agent ergotamine and compare it with the 5-HT1B-ergotamine structure. Together with biochemical and computational data, these structures reveal molecular mechanisms responsible for divergent signaling patterns of ergotamine, serotonin, and the psychedelic drug lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).
Solution of the Dimer Problem by the Transfer Matrix Method

It is shown how the monomer‐dimer problem can be formulated in terms of a transfer matrix, and hence in terms of simple spin operators as was originally done for the Ising problem. Thus, we rederive the solution to the pure dimer problem without using Pfaffians. The solution is extremely simple once one sees how to formulate the transfer matrix.
Parastatistics and a unified theory of identical particles

Abstract The simplest parafermi model is shown to be equivalent to a theory with two types of ordinary fermions that are dynamically indistinguishable. Also, a unified theory of identical particles is proposed that encompasses theories arising both from the permutation-symmetry approach of the first-quantized theory and from the parastatistics commutation-relation approach of second-quantized theory. Using this theory cluster properties are shown to be compatible with parastatistics.
Topological Nearrings on the Euclidean Plane

: Every continuous binary operation* which is right distributive over (R2, +), the two-dimensional topological Euclidean group, is induced by four continuous functions from R2 to the reals, R. We choose two of these functions to map everything onto zero, we let one be an arbitrary constant function and we let the remaining function be arbitrary. We then find necessary and sufficient conditions on the constant function and the remaining function so that the induced multiplication is associative and, hence, (R2, +, *) is a topological nearring. This allows us to completely describe all the induced multiplications which result in topological nearrings with additive group (R2, +). In addition, we determine the ideals of each of these nearrings as well as its automorphism group.
Increased hydraulic resistance in combining open channel flows

Abstract In combining open channel flows, blockage at the junction is manifested by the rise in the stage due to the effect of lateral inflow from the branch channel. Blockage results in pockets of flow where the flow velocity is very small and the depth of flow is large. The entry of the lateral flow into the main channel also throttles the main channel flow and results in an increase in the hydraulic resistance to flow which in turn leads to considerable energy losses. In the design of open channel networks, the expected increase in the flow depth near the channel junction permits one to estimate the height of the channel walls in the vicinity of the junction. A relationship between blockage and the ratio of the discharges is proposed on the basis of the energy principle. Using this relationship, one can predict blockage for a right-angled junction in combining flow. Using experimental results, the proposed relationship is verified.
Clinical Pearls in Men's Health

Clinical Pearls is a novel presentation format that was introduced at the American College of Physicians' 2001 Annual Meeting. This format was designed with the understanding that physicians enjoy learning from real patient cases, solving problems, and applying useful tips or “pearls” to practice. Using the Clinical Pearls format, speakers present brief cases followed by multiple choice questions to a general medicine audience. The audience members' answer distributions, obtained using electronic audience response systems, are displayed along with the correct answer. The speaker then discusses teaching points, provides reasons for correct and incorrect answers, and concludes by revealing a clinical pearl. As a service to its readers, Mayo Clinic Proceedings has invited Clinical Pearl presentations to be published in our Concise Review section.
Cloning and characterization of retinol dehydrogenase transcripts expressed in human epidermal keratinocytes.

The normal growth and differentiation of the epidermis require an adequate supply of vitamin A. The active form of vitamin A for normal epidermal homeostasis is retinoic acid (RA). Retinoic acid controls the expression of retinoid-responsive genes via interactions of the retinoic acid/nuclear receptor complexes at specific DNA sequences in their control regions. The message conveyed by RA is likely modulated by the concentration of the ligand available for binding to the receptors. Following the uptake of plasma retinol, epidermal keratinocytes synthesize retinoic acid via two sequential reactions with retinaldehyde as an intermediate. Several retinol dehydrogenase (RDH) enzymes, members of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) gene superfamily, catalyze the first and rate-limiting step that generates retinaldehyde from retinol bound to cellular retinol-binding protein (holo-CRBP). However, little is known about these enzymes and their genes in the epidermal cells. Our work describes the first member of the RDH family found in epidermis. We show that this gene is expressed predominantly in the differentiating spinous layers and that it is under positive, feed-forward regulation by retinoic acid. It encodes a protein that, using NAD+ as a preferred cofactor, utilizes free and CRBP-bound all-trans-retinol and steroids as substrates.
Multi-objective optimisation and sensitivity analysis of a paratransit bus structure for rollover and side impact tests

Paratransit buses are heavily used in the United States. A paratransit bus consists of custom passenger compartments mounted onto separate cutaway chassis. The lack of dedicated national crashworthiness standards, along with different construction methods used by paratransit fleet manufacturers, can result in a wide variance of passenger compartment structural strength. In August 2007, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), to ensure adequate crashworthiness performance, introduced a standard stipulating that newly acquired buses must be tested for rollover and side impact conditions. The rollover test is performed using a tilt table test according to UN-ECE Regulation 66. The side impact test involves the impact of a bus by a common sport utility vehicle or pickup truck. In the current study, an original finite element model of a paratransit bus was used in LS-DYNA® simulations of both the rollover and the side impact testing procedures per FDOT standard. Using LS-OPT®, a metamodel-based approa...
Recovery from Salmonella (panama) meningitis in an infant treated with sulfapyridine

Summary A case of purulent meningitis due to Salmonella panama in an infant is reported. We believe it to be the first recognized instance of this organism as the causative agent in meningitis. The patient recovered from a second attack. Therapy consisted of repeated lumbar punctures, blood transfusions, and the administration of sulfapyridine.
The effect of a ruminal nitrogen (N) deficiency in dairy cows: evaluation of the cornell net carbohydrate and protein system ruminal N deficiency adjustment.

Twenty-four multiparous and fifteen first lactation Holstein cows averaging 263 days in milk and weighing 614 kg were fed diets adequate or deficient in ruminal nitrogen (N), based on predictions of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS). After adjustment to a low crude protein (CP) total mixed rations (TMR; 12.6% CP), the cows were allocated to 13 blocks based on lactation number, milk production, body condition score, and body weight. Within each block, cows were randomly assigned to one of the 3 treatment (TRT) diets (9.4, 11.1 and 14.1% CP for TRT 1, 2, and 3, respectively). All diets contained the same proportion of high moisture corn, chopped grass hay, and minerals, with urea substituted for corn silage as needed to reach the three CP levels. The TRT diets were then fed to the cows for 4 wk. Milk production was significantly affected by TRT: 15.5, 18.8, and 21.7 kg/d for TRT diets 1, 2, and 3, respectively. DMI was increased significantly as the percentage of CP increased from 9.4 to 14.1% CP: 17.6, 20.0, and 21.2 kg/d for TRT diets 1, 2, and 3, respectively. CNCPS predictions for production (with and without the N adjustment for ruminal N deficiency) of metabolizable protein (MP) allowable milk were compared with observed milk production. Using the average individual weekly cow data from all 3 TRT, we found that the CNCPS accounted for 72 and 68% of the variation in MP allowable milk without and with the N deficiency adjustment, respectively. The overall mean bias without the N adjustment was 3.3 kg of milk (over prediction model bias of 14.6%, P < 0.001), and the N adjustment reduced the model over-prediction bias to 0.01 kg of milk (P = 0.96).
Cyclopentadienyl Yttrium Complexes Bearing a Fluorinated Aryloxide Functionality

The ligand C5H5(CH2CArF2OH) (3) (ArF = 3,5-C6H3(CF3)2) was prepared in moderate yield (65%) by ring opening of the epoxide ArF2C(O)CH2 (2) with NaCp. Epoxide 2 was accessible in two steps from comm...
A hybrid finite element boundary element method for periodic structures on non-periodic meshes using interior penalty method

Recent interests in analyzing/designing large finite arrays, frequency selective surfaces (FSS), and metamaterials speak volume of the need for a robust and efficient numerical method for arbitrary and inhomogeneous periodic structures in 3D. The development in general numerical methods for analyzing arbitrary 3-dimensional periodic structures is nothing new. Many existing literature has thoroughly addressing this issue, including the hybridization of finite and boundary element method utilizes the Ewald transform to quickly compute the needed periodic Greenpsilas function. However, most of the work on modeling periodic structures relies on the availability of periodic meshes. Although such a constraint may not seem much a burden in many problem geometries, however, the relief of such a constraint still contributes greatly to the flexibility of applying the computer codes to periodic structures. This attribute has been the focus of a few recent publications on using non-periodic meshes for analyzing periodic structures.
Minimum torque ripple, maximum efficiency excitation of brushless permanent magnet motors

Permanent magnet motors are usually driven in one of two ways. Sinusoidal currents are applied when the motor has a sinusoidal back EMF, and rectangular currents are applied when the back EMF has a trapezoidal shape. If implemented perfectly, each of these drive schemes is capable of producing ripple-free torque, which is desirable in many applications. However, in reality, permanent magnet motors never exhibit perfectly sinusoidal or trapezoidal back EMFs. Moreover, the power electronics used to drive the motor often has limitations that keep it from producing the required current waveform, especially as speed or load torque increases. In addition to these limitations, a permanent magnet motor often exhibits parasitic cogging torque that directly contributes to torque ripple. This work explores the relationships between motor current and back EMF, and identifies minimum torque ripple, maximum efficiency current excitations that can be implemented with finite bandwidth power electronics (current controlled VSI). >
Systematic lossy error protection versus layered coding with unequal error protection

In this paper we compare two schemes for error-resilient video transmission, viz., systematic lossy error protection, and layered coding with unequal error protection. In the first scheme, the systematic portion consists of the compressed video signal transmitted without channel coding. For error-resilience, an additional bitstream, generated by Wyner-Ziv encoding of the video signal, is transmitted. In the event of channel errors, the Wyner-Ziv description is decoded using the error-prone systematic description as side-information. In the second scheme, the video bitstream is partitioned into two or more layers, and each layer is assigned different amounts of parity information depending upon its relative significance. Since the base layer has heavy protection, a certain minimum video quality is guaranteed at the receiver. We derive information-theoretic conditions for optimality of each of the above systems. We also compare experimentally, the performance of the competing schemes, for a particular application, i.e., Error-resilient digital video broadcasting. It is shown that systematic lossy error protection outperforms layered (scalable) coding by ensuring graceful degradation of video quality without incurring the loss in rate-distortion performance observed in practical layered video coding schemes.
An alternative approach to treating lateral epicondylitis. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study

Objective: To investigate the effect of noxious level electrical stimulation on pain, grip strength and functional abilities in subjects with chronic lateral epicondylitis.Design: Randomized, placebo-control, double-blinded study.Setting: Physical Therapy Department, North Georgia College and State University.Subjects: Eighteen subjects with chronic lateral epicondylitis between the ages of 24 and 72 years participated in this study. Subjects were randomly assigned into treatment or placebo groups.Interventions: Subjects received six sessions of low-frequency electrical stimulation over the palpated tender points. The intensity of electrical stimulation was set at 0 in the placebo group.Main measurements: Grip strength, functional status, pain intensity and limited activity due to pain were assessed before and after treatment. Six-month follow-up data were collected in treatment group only.Results: Both clinically and statistically significant improvements in average grip strength were found (treatment gr...