cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fracture toughness determination of layered materials

Abstract Layered materials, such as sedimentary rocks, are ubiquitous. A newly developed fracture toughness test specimen, which is semi-circular in shape and contains an edge-crack, is subjected to three-point-bend loading. The fracture load and the fracture energy of a layered rock are then measured with static tests, and the fracture toughness is determined using a stress intensity factor method, a compliance method and a J- integral based method. The results of all three methods agree satisfactorily showing that the fracture toughness determination using linear elastic fracture mechanics is valid for anisotropic rock materials. Specifically, the static fracture toughness of oil shale, which is a typical layered rock containing fossil fuel, was measured. The static fracture toughness decreases with the specific gravity (which is related to oil yield). No specimen size dependence was observed for the range of specimen sizes used in the experimental program. A minimum dimensional requirement is proposed for plane strain fracture toughness. The proposed specimen is applicable for both layered and non-layered materials. It is especially useful for core-based specimens.
Self-Sitting and Reaching in 5- to 8-Month-Old Infants: The Impact of Posture and Its Development on Early Eye-Hand Coordination

Abstract The relation between progress in the control of posture (i.e., the achievement of self-sitting posture) and the developmental transition from two-handed to one-handed engagement in infant reaching was investigated. Two groups of 5- to 8-month-old infants, who were either able or yet unable to sit on their own, were videotaped while they reached for objects in four different posture conditions that provided varying amounts of body support. Videotapes of infant reaches were microanalyzed to determine the relative engagement of both hands during reaches. Results demonstrate the interaction between postural development and the morphology of infant reaching. Nonsitting infants displayed symmetrical and synergistic engagement of both arms and hands while reaching in all but the seated posture condition. Sitting infants, by contrast, showed asymmetrical and lateralized (one-handed) reaches in all posture conditions. Results also show that, aside from posture, the perceived spatial arrangement of the obj...
Anthropology and Adoption

resultats. Bulletin et Memoires de la Societe d'Anthropologie de Paris 1(12):95-118. Holloway, R. 1985 The Poor Brain of Homo sapiens neandertalnsisr. See What You Please . .. In Ancestors: The Hard Evidence. E. Delson, ed. Pp. 319-324. New York: Alan R. Liss. Howells, W. W. 1993 Getting Here. Washington, DC: Compass. Lewin, R. 1991 La naissance de l'anthropologie moleculaire. La Recherche 22:12421251. Pope, G. G. 1992 The Craniofacial Evidence for the Emergence of Modern Humans in China. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 35:243-298 Smith, F. H. 1993 Models and Realities in Modern Human Origins: The African Fossil Evidence. In The Origin of Modern Humans and the Impact of Chronometric Dating. M.J. Aitken, C. B. Stringer, and P. A. Mellars, eds. Pp. 234-248. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Stringer, C. B. 1990 The Emergence of Modern Humans. Scientific American 263(6):98104 Thorne, A. G. 1981 The Centre and the Edge: The Significance of Australian Hominids to African Paleoanthropology. In Proceedings of the 8th PanAfrican Congress of Prehistory and Quaternary Studies, Nairobi, September 1977. R. E. Leakey and B. A. Ogot, eds. Pp. 180-181. Nairobi: TILLMIAP.
Polymorphisms and atrial fibrillation: sorting the wheat from the chaff

In the last 5 years, we have gained an increasing appreciation for the genetic contribution to atrial fibrillation (AF). While Mendelian families with AF have been reported, they have typically been considered rare. Studies from Framingham1 and Iceland2 have demonstrated a genetic basis for AF in the general population. Family members of those with AF have an odds ratios of ∼1.8 for developing the arrhythmia. This risk is considerably greater for younger patients1,2 and those with lone AF.3 One approach to identify common genetic determinants of a disease in a population is to perform an association study between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and the condition of interest. Such a study can be performed using one to many hundreds of thousands of SNPs across the genome. In the case of AF, numerous prior associations have been reported between AF and variants in the cardiac sodium and potassium channels, gap junction proteins, and inflammatory markers, among others. However, the studies to date have generally been underpowered, have not been replicated, and have a low pre-test probability of the SNP actually causing AF. Sinner et al. have described the relationship between the K897T SNP in KCNH2 /HERG and AF in >1200 affected individuals and 2400 controls.4 Based on the well-known relationship between variation in KCNH2 /HERG and ventricular repolarization, the authors hypothesized that this gene may also be … *Corresponding author. Tel: +1 617 726 4959, Fax: +1 617 726 2155. Email: pellinor{at}partners.org
Poster Abstract #15: MRI Measurement of Whole Spinal Cord Volume at 3T: Reproducibility and Relevance to Multiple Sclerosis

Objective Determine the reproducibility and clinical relevance of measuring whole spinal cord volume in healthy controls and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using 3T MRI. Background Spinal cord atrophy may be especially relevant to disability in MS. The advent of 3T MRI brings the potential to assess spinal cord volume more precisely than conventional platforms. Design/Methods Eight patients with MS and five healthy subjects underwent 3T MRI of the whole spinal cord using axial fast spin-echo T2-weighted images. The upper cervical cord volume was calculated at C2–3. The cord volume was acquired using an edge-finding tool based on local thresholding and was normalized by the craniocaudal extent of the cord. Results The whole spinal cord volume in the MS group was 8.2% lower vs. healthy subjects ( p = 0.13; effect size, Cohen's d = 0.89). Whole spinal cord volume normalized by number of slices was 5% lower in patients with MS ( p = 0.16; d = 0.79) and whole spinal cord volume normalized by intracranial volume (ICV) was lower by 4.7% in MS vs. controls ( p = 0.16; d = 0.63). Normalizing the whole cord volume with number of slices and ICV showed a 1.5% difference in MS vs. controls ( p = 0.79; d = 0.50). Upper cervical spinal cord volume was 7% lower in MS vs. controls ( p = 0.33; d = 0.51). The whole cord volume scan–rescan, intrarater, and inter-rater coefficient of variation ranged from 0.5% to 0.7%; those for upper cervical cord cross-sectional volume ranged from 1.3% to 3.8%. Conclusions In this pilot study, whole spinal cord volume shows larger effect sizes than upper cervical cord volume in differentiating mildly disabled patients with MS from normal controls. Normalization of spinal cord volume by intracranial volume reduced such effect sizes and therefore may not be desirable. Whole spinal cord volume showed higher reproducibility than measurement of upper cervical cord volume. Study supported by: National Multiple Sclerosis Society (RG3705A1; RG3798A2); National Institutes of Health (NINDS 1R01NS055083-01).
Diffraction efficiencies of speckle patterns recorded on photographic film

Optical Fourier transform processing of double-exposure speckle patterns creates a fringe pattern with a central bright spike. The relation between mean transmittance of the double-exposure and the strength and quality of the fringe pattern is examined. A simple model serves to quantify the diffraction, and agrees well with measured quantities. The ratio of diffracted power to incident power is the diffraction efficiency, and the ratio of the diffracted power to transmitted power is termed the transmitted diffraction efficiency. The different characteristics of the signal described by the two efficiencies are discussed. It is shown that the cleanest signal and the most powerful signal occur for different exposures.
CONCEPTS VERSUS FACTS: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

ABSTRACT Tired of the continual calls for more emphasis on concepts in mathematical instruction and less on memorization of facts, the authors desire a clear understanding of concepts and facts. To this end, they explore how concepts and facts are different, how they can be similar, and how both can be taught and assessed. The final goal is to help students learn concepts and facts at higher levels of abstraction, gaining the best of what both facts and concepts have to offer.
Hyperosmotic stress up-regulates amino acid transport in vascular endothelial cells

Hyperosmotic stress up-regulates amino acid transport in vascular endothelial cells. Cultured vascular endothelial cells take up L-proline by sodium-dependent transport. Cells incubated in medium made hyperosmotic by addition of sucrose showed a dose-dependent increase in Na + /proline cotransport. Studies with α-(methylamino)isobutyric acid revealed that the up-regulation was specific for amino acid transport system A. Up-regulation was blocked by actinomycin D and cycloheximide, indicating roles for gene transcription and protein synthesis. Up-regulation was maximum after five to six hours of hyperosmotic treatment, but returned to control levels when osmotic stress was maintained for 24 hours. The decline at 24 hours was accompanied by a significant increase in Na + /γ-aminobutyric acid cotransport. The activity of this system, which also transports betaine, remained unchanged after just five hours of hyperosmotic stress. Inclusion of betaine in the hyperosmotic medium reduced up-regulation of system A. Na/Pi cotransport also was up-regulated by five hours of hyperosmotic stress. Up-regulation of system A, but not Na/Pi cotransport, was detected in isolated membrane fractions indicating that increased activity of this membrane transport system may be one mechanism by which vascular endothelial cells accumulate amino acids. The amino acids may act as organic osmolytes to help maintain normal cell volume during the early phase of hyperosmotic stress.
Diversion of ethanol metabolism by sulfhydryl amino acids. D-penicillamine-directed excretion of 2,5,5-trimethyl-D-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid in the urine of rats after ethanol administration.

Abstract Administration of the sulfhydryl amino acid; D-penicillamine, to rats prior to or simultaneously with ethanol gave rise to the urinary excretion of 2,5,5-trimethyl-D-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA), which was detected by thin-layer chromatography and isolated as its N-acetyl derivative. The corresponding 2-methylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid could not be detected in the urine of rats treated with ethanol and L-cysteine under identical conditions. TTCA is formed by the condensation of the administered D-penicillamine with ethanol-derived acetaldehyde generated in vivo . This was verified by isolation of labeled TTCA after administration of D-penicillamine and ethanol-1-14C and quantitated by inverse isotope dilution assays. Disulfiram pretreatment of the rats doubled the excretion of TTCA in the urine. The physico-chemical properties of the isolated N-acetyl-TTCA were identical in all respects to an authentic, chemically-synthesized product, prepared by reacting D-penicillamine with acetaldehyde to form TTCA and then acetylating this product with acetic anhydride.
A contemporary analysis of epidemiology and management of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia.

Objective The purpose of this study was to review a large cohort of patients with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) and to analyze the epidemiology and outcomes with various treatment modalities. Study Design A retrospective chart review was performed that encompassed patients who were treated for VAIN at a single center from 1990-2007. Demographics, disease characteristics, referring cytology, and histologic information were recorded. Primary outcome was recurrence or progression to carcinoma. Statistical analyses were performed with statistical software. Results One hundred sixty-three women were included in the study: median age, 50 years (range, 21–84 years); white, 87%; current or previous smokers, 35%. At the time of diagnosis, 23% of the women had VAIN1; 37% of the women had VAIN2, and 35% of the women had VAIN3. Referral Papanicolaou smear results of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or atypical glandular cells revealed VAIN2 or VAIN3 in 89% of cases ( P = .0019) vs 53% of cases with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. The median follow-up period was 18 months (range, 1–194 months). VAIN1 was observed in 70% of cases; 71% of patients who were treated for VAIN1 had recurrence or progression. VAIN2 was treated in 77% of patients; 53% of those who were treated had recurrence or progression. VAIN3 was treated in 94% of cases; 31% of them had recurrence or progression. Risk of recurrence was not correlated to VAIN type ( P = .3). Six carcinomas were discovered in patients with VAIN2 and VAIN3. Median time to progression was 17 months for VAIN1, 11 months for VAIN2, and 11 months for VAIN3 ( P = .036). Conclusion Despite the subtype, VAIN often recurs but does so more quickly with higher grade dysplasia.
Democracy and dictatorship revisited

We address the strengths and weaknesses of the main available measures of political regime and extend the dichotomous regime classification first introduced in Alvarez et al. (Stud. Comp. Int. Dev. 31(2):3–36, 1996). This extension focuses on how incumbents are removed from office. We argue that differences across regime measures must be taken seriously and that they should be evaluated in terms of whether they (1) serve to address important research questions, (2) can be interpreted meaningfully, and (3) are reproducible. We argue that existing measures of democracy are not interchangeable and that the choice of measure should be guided by its theoretical and empirical underpinnings. We show that the choice of regime measure matters by replicating studies published in leading journals.
Determination of the molecular weight between cross-links of elastomeric stocks by tensile retraction measurements I. SBR vulcanizates

Tensile retraction measurements of Mc were made on a variety of polyurethanes or polyurethane-ureas. These samples were prepared using a number of prepolymer MW and functionalities. In addition, the stoichiometry of the cure was allowed to range widely. In all cases, excellent linear correlation coefficients were obtained between the Mc and the Amax of the test. The slope and Mr (the value of Mc extrapolated to Amax = 1) determined from this was used to characterize the polymer. These data allowed the determination of χ for each of the different systems such that comparable values of Mc could be measured by swelling. Identical formulations cured at different temperatures were shown to have measurable differences in Mc, slope, and percentage set. These variations appear to relate to the perfection of the network and morphology of the hard domains.
New method for quantifying the response of filters at corners

Although the edge response of nonlinear filters has been the topic of much research, the behavior of many filters at 2D structures such as sharp corners is not as well understood. We introduce a new technique that defines the response of a 2D filter at corners of any angle. The response measure may be expressed either as fractional preservation or as an attenuation in decibels. Plotting the response measure in polar form illustrates the corner response of a filter both intuitively and quantitatively. The corner response may be computed for a particular size and shape of filter window on a discrete lattice, or may be determined in continuous space for a filter with a specific window shape. The continuous space response measure gives the response of the filter to corners in general, and usually corresponds closely with that determined for the filter on a discrete lattice. The corner responses of several widely used filters (median, averaging, and morphological) are compared.
Combination gene therapy for salivary gland cancer.

: An established combination gene therapy strategy involving adenovirus vector delivery of the herpes thymidine kinase (tk) and murine interleukin-2 genes was adapted to treat salivary gland cancer in a murine model. Salivary tumors were generated by transcutaneous injection of 5 × 105 murine squamous carcinoma cells into the submandibular gland of syngeneic C3H/HeJ mice. After one week, established submandibular gland tumors were injected with a recombinant adenovirus containing therapeutic and control genes. Animals were subsequently administered ganciclovir twice daily (25 mg/kg) for six days. All animals receiving tk and ganciclovir demonstrated tumor regression, however a significantly greater response was seen in mice that were treated with both tk + mIL-2. Residual tumors from all treatment and control groups were harvested for microscopic evaluation and immunohistochemistry staining. Specific immunostaining revealed a predominance of CD8+ lymphocytes in the tumor beds of the animals treated with IL-2, suggesting a preferential immune response resulting from the local IL-2 expression. Although still in its infancy, the concept of using adenoviral gene therapy strategies to provide less invasive means of treating salivary tumors is promising.
Nitrogen removal from domestic wastewater using the marshland upwelling system

Abstract Malfunctioning or nonexistent wastewater treatment systems are one of the primary causes of water quality degradation in coastal areas. The marshland upwelling system (MUS) was developed as a low-cost, low-maintenance on-site treatment alternative for coastal dwellings, in which wastewater is injected into the saline subsoil and pushed toward the surface by buoyancy forces. Four injection regimes, characterized by flow rate (L/min), duration (min), and frequency (h), were evaluated for a MUS located in Moss Point, Mississippi, from June 2001 to June 2002 to determine the system's ability to remove nitrogen from wastewaters generated from recreational facilities. Nitrogen data were collected from a cluster of monitoring wells surrounding the injection well. The injection regime of 2.8 L/min (30 min/3 h) resulted in the best removal efficiency. Total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) were reduced from an influent average of 168 and 160 to 2.4 and 1.5 mg-N/L, respectively. Vector distance-based removal coefficients were estimated to be 0.88 and 0.84 m −1 for TKN and TAN, respectively. Subsequently, 3.2 and 3.1 vector meters were required to reduce TKN and TAN to 10 mg-N/L. The probabilities of the system effluent to exceed 10 mg-N/L were estimated to be 3% for TKN and 0% for TAN, respectively. Bench-scale laboratory studies indicated the potential for further treatment in the upper zone of the MUS system due to increases in redox potential caused by the Juncus roemerianus ’ rhizosphere , which provided a nitrification zone.
The Dissemination of keepin' it REAL Through D.A.R.E. America: A Lesson in Disseminating Health Messages

This essay discusses the impact of the Drug Resistance Strategies Project's keepin' it REAL substance use prevention curriculum. The Drug Resistance Strategies Project (DRS) is an interdisciplinary...
QT dispersion is a marker for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias after atrioventricular nodal ablation using radiofrequency energy

Abstract Our data suggest that increased QT dispersion is a marker of electrical instability and predicts PMVT/VF after AVNA, particularly in association with depressed left ventricular systolic function. Patients showing marked QT dispersion require careful monitoring after AVNA.
Unusual Surface Aging of Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Elastomers

We have observed an unusual increase in adhesion hysteresis and frictional forces for poly- (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) lenses sliding on smooth glassy surfaces after a period of aging in a laboratory environment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle, and in situ surface-sensitive sum frequency generationspectroscopy(SFG)measurementsshownodifferencesbetweenanagedandunagedlens,indicating that these changes in tribological properties cannot be due to surface contaminant or degradation. Instead, we observed that the SFG intensity of the PDMS Si-CH3 symmetric band is 3 orders of magnitude higher after sliding the aged lenses. Such a large increase in the SFG signal can only arise from very well-ordered PDMS moleculesinducedbyslidingandhasimportantconsequencesinunderstandingadhesionhysteresisandfriction.
HANDY system for video-mediated communication

In this paper, we propose an approach to enhance the interaction level of video-mediated communication, by using the idea of shared space, a designated area where both users will be able to interact with each other, simulating the sense of presence of one user into the second user's video image. A basic prototype was implemented and preliminary analysis is showed.
The utility of bone cement to prevent lead migration with minimally invasive placement of spinal cord stimulator laminectomy leads.

Background Lead migration is a significant concern with spinal cord stimulator (SCS) placement with rates ranging from 10% to 60%. Objective To describe a novel technique using bone cement at the laminotomy site to help prevent lead migration after minimally invasive placement of laminectomy paddle leads and to present our short-term results. Methods A review of a prospectively maintained database identified all patients who underwent minimally invasive placement of laminectomy leads with the use of bone cement. All procedures were performed between July 2008 and August 2010 with conscious sedation and local anesthetic. Intraoperative testing was performed to confirm good pain coverage. A small volume of bone cement (1-3 cm) was then placed to cover the laminectomy defect. Radiographic and clinical follow-up was assessed. Results Forty-two patients (mean age, 58.0 years) underwent 42 procedures. Back pain (88.1%) and leg pain (88.6%) were the most common presenting symptoms. No intraoperative complications were noted. Two patients (4.8%) required removal of their devices because of nonhealing wounds. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 6 months, and no cases of clinical or radiographic lead migration were seen at the time of publication. Conclusion We present a novel technique in the hopes of decreasing the incidence of lead migration after minimally invasive placement of spinal cord stimulator laminectomy paddle leads. Our results have been promising thus far with no cases of lead migration.
Spectropolarimetry of Two Broad Absorption Line Quasars with the W. M. Keck Telescope

We have observed the broad absorption line quasars PHL 5200 and 0105-265 with spectropolarimetry at the Keck telescope. In PHL 5200 the continuum is consistent with a power law with constant polarization, p = 5.1%. A drop in polarization in the red is explained with dilution by unpolarized Fe II emission. In both objects the permitted emission lines are unpolarized. In PHL 5200 the semiforbidden line C III] λ1909 is weakly polarized; we attribute this to resonance scattering. The polarization rises in the broad absorption troughs, to a peak of 12% in both objects. The high values of p are restricted to a narrow velocity range that is well inside the absorption troughs. In each object, the polarization position angle is constant, except that in PHL 5200 there are marginally significant rotations in the C IV trough and in the C III] emission line. We describe two simple geometries that can explain some of these features. In the first, there are scattered and direct rays; in the troughs the direct ray (unpolarized) is largely absorbed, and we mainly see the highly polarized scattered ray. In the other, the high trough polarization is caused by resonance scattering.
Structures of Well-Being Sufficient Conditions for Identification as Restricted Covariance Models

An example demonstrates that Joreskog's (1969) suggested sufficient condi tions for identifying unknown parameters in a confirmatory factor analytic model with correlated factors are not sufficrent. Sufficient conditions for identifying parameters in the class of models used by Burt et al. (1978) to estimate population structures of well-being from various indicators of satisfaction are given. The six hypotheses stated in Burt et al. are reconsidered and similarly supported when their final covariance model is restricted so as to meet the sufficiency conditions given here.
Multi-fiber reconstruction from DW-MRI using a continuous mixture of von Mises-Fisher distributions

In this paper we propose a method for reconstructing the Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance (DW-MR) signal at each lattice point using a novel continuous mixture of von Mises-Fisher distribution functions. Unlike most existing methods, neither does this model assume a fixed functional form for the MR signal attenuation (e.g. 2nd or 4th order tensor) nor does it arbitrarily fix important mixture parameters like the number of components. We show that this continuous mixture has a closed form expression and leads to a linear system which can be easily solved. Through extensive experimentation with synthetic data we show that this technique outperforms various other state-of-the-art techniques in resolving fiber crossings. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of this method using real DW-MRI data from rat brain and optic chiasm.
Polyoxometalates and colloidal nanocrystals as building blocks for metal oxide nanocomposite films

We report the preparation of solution-derived metal oxide nanocomposite films by combining polyoxometalates (POMs) and colloidal oxide nanocrystals. Polyniobates and vanadates were combined with Sn-doped In2O3 (ITO) nanocrystals leading to Nb2O5–ITO, V2O5–ITO and VO2–ITO nanocomposite films. Compared to other solution-phase methodologies, this approach offers excellent control of the nanoinclusion composition, size, morphology, and volume fraction. Two different methodologies have been used, which are based on the ex situ (in solution) and in situ (within the film) ligand exchange of the pristine organic capping ligands of the nanocrystals by POMs. A thorough structural and compositional characterization of the films at different stages of the ligand exchange process is also presented.
Ultrascalable Implicit Finite Element Analyses in Solid Mechanics with over a Half a Billion Degrees of Freedom

The solution of elliptic diffusion operators is the computational bottleneck in many simulations in a wide range of engineering and scientific disciplines. We present a truly scalable-ultrascalable-algebraic multigrid (AMG) linear solver for the diffusion operator in unstructured elasticity problems. Scalability is demonstrated with speedup studies of a non-linear micro-finite element analyses of a human vertebral body with over a half of a billion degrees of freedom on up to 4088 processors on the ACSI White machine. This work is significant because in the domain of unstructured implicit finite element analysis in solid mechanics with complex geometry, this is the first demonstration of a highly parallel and efficient application of a mathematically optimal linear solution method on a common large scale computing platform - the IBM SP Power3.
The Disappearing Senior Leaders Cabinet Member Age Structures in Five Western Nations, 1868-1978

Changing age patterns among cabinet members in postindustrial societies have major significance for both the likely political roles open to aging individuals and the representation of age-related interests. Data on cabinet appointments over the past century in Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States show strikingly common tendencies. Junior and senior appointees are giving way to a greater concentration of middle age cabinet members. The emerging age similarity of cabinet career patterns in each country supports the emphasis on regularity and uniformity stressed by recent observers of postindustrial societies. Aging populations thus seem destined to be increasingly underrepresented in the emerging leadership groups of postindustrial societies.
Stability Properties of Activated Tryptophan Hydroxylase from Rat Midbrain

: Time courses of the activation-inactivation sequence in rat midbrain tryptophan hydroxylase after preincubation with calcium, ATP + MgCl2, or sulfhydryl reagents and after freezing and thawing suggest that the activated enzyme is more vulnerable to loss of activity. The sequence induced by calcium was prevented by the protease inhibitor leupeptin, and an accelerated decline in activity after activation by ATP + MgCl2 was reduced greatly by increasing levels of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) cofactor. The effects of calcium and ATP + MgCl2 were additive, which suggests independent mechanisms. The findings suggest that time courses of enzyme activation and inactivation processes may offer a useful way to study the influence of a range of effectors on tryptophan hydroxylase function.
Sources of error in the estimation of Leydig cell numbers in control and atrophied mammalian testes.

SUMMARY The effects of assuming (i) that testicular tissue shrinks equally regardless of species or treatment at fixing and processing, (ii) that all Leydig cells in a given testis have spherical nuclei of identical size, and (iii) that testicular volume (i.e. the reference volume) is constant regardless of species or treatment, on the estimation of Leydig cell numbers in mammalian testes were investigated. This was accomplished by comparing the results of stereological analyses of Leydig cell numerical density and Leydig cell number in control testes of hamster, guinea-pig, and rat and in atrophied testes of hamster, and rat, obtained via the disector method which is unbiased with respect to the particle shape under study, and the Floderus equation which assumes that the particles under study are identical spheres. In control hamster, and also in guinea-pig, the effects of the three assumptions on the estimates of Leydig cell number per testis were negligible, because in these two treatment groups, the total shrinkage of testis tissue at fixing and processing (ST%) was low, Leydig cell nuclear profiles were circular in section, and the average volume of a testis was close to unity (i.e. 1 cm3). By contrast, in hamsters, and rats with atrophied testes, these assumptions produced incorrect estimates in Leydig cell number per testis, because the ST% was high, the majority of Leydig cell nuclear profiles were pleomorphic, and the average volume of a testis was lower than control. In summary, this study documents that the assumptions of equal shrinkage in testis tissue at fixing and processing, a constant testicular reference volume, and spheroidal shape of Leydig cell nuclei may contribute significant errors in estimates of Leydig cell number in mammalian testes. The magnitude of the errors introduced by these assumptions depends upon the species and the experimental treatment.
Total synthesis of the ionophore antibiotic ionomycin. Asymmetric synthesis of the C1-C10 and C11-C16 synthons

Abstract Asymmetric synthesis of the synthons 1 and 3 are described. Absolute stereochemical relationships in these intermediates have been established via chiral enolate and directed hydrogenation processes.
Wavelet-like basis functions for efficient waveguide mode computation

The authors demonstrate the use of the wavelet-like basis functions of B. Alpert et al. to reduce the MoM (method of moments) impedance matrix Z for a hollow cylindrical waveguide from N/sup 2/ nonzero elements in the pulse basis to /spl alpha/N/sup 2/ nonzero elements in the wavelet-like basis, where /spl alpha/ /spl ap/ 0.2 for the example considered. The reduction in the expense of computing the determinant of the MoM matrix Z comes about because many of the wavelet-like basis functions are subdomain functions with only high spatial frequencies. These high spatial frequency sources do not radiate well and hence do not interact with one another. Thus, the impedance matrix Z has many zero elements when represented in such a basis. This allows the use of sparse matrix methods for efficient calculation of the determinant. The new sparse matrix can be factored and its determinant computed much more rapidly than the original full matrix. For the example considered, the speedup factor is about 10. >
PRML: A Modeling Language for Rapid Design Exploration of Partially Reconfigurable FPGAs

Leveraging partial reconfiguration (PR) can improve system flexibility, cost, and performance/power/area tradeoffs over non-PR functionally-equivalent systems, however, realizing these benefits is challenging, time-consuming, and PR must be considered early during application design to reduce design exploration time and improve system quality. To facilitate realizing these benefits, we present an application design framework and an abstract modeling language for PR (PRML). By applying extensive PRML modeling guidelines to a complex arithmetic core, we show PRML's potential for efficient PR capability analysis, enabling designers to determine Pareto optimal systems during application formulation based on designer-specified area and performance metrics.
PURIFICATION OF MYELIN CARBONIC ANHYDRASE

— A procedure has been developed for the purification of the membrane bound form of carbonic anhydrase from rat brain myelin. The procedure is rapid, requiring only two steps, and can be applied to small amounts of material. Conditions have been established whereby the enzyme can be almost quantitatively solubilized with up to a 60 fold increase in specific activity. Purification by affinity chromatography yields a preparation which is homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, preliminary evidence suggests that activity may be reduced by the removal of lipids during chromatography and subsequent dialysis. The purified preparation is high in dicarboxylic and hydroxyl amino acids and contains only 1×2 cysteine residues. The reduction of cysteine appears to be essential for the full expression of enzymatic activity.
The Develop of Intelligent Electronic Device Platform for Transformer Multi-Condition Monitoring

The intelligent electronic device used for transformer multi condition monitoring platform was designed based on IEC61850 communication protocol. Based on the analysis of condition monitoring parameter, the overall program and module function were elaborated, the function and design method of signal conditioning module, data acquisition and transformer system, threshold setting were discussed in detail. The intelligent electronic device platform can realize comprehensive monitoring of multi state parameters of transformers. The monitored data will be uploaded automatically in case of the monitoring parameters overrunning. The platform is of a high degree of intelligence, good reliability, flexibility, versatility, and scalability.
Signal-dependent compensation in phase-shifter based arrays

It is shown that when the shape (complex envelope) of the communicated signal is known, the directivity of the phase-shifter based array and the ratio of main-lobe area to sidelobe area can be improved by utilizing a correcting function to the complex weight, based on the signal complex envelope. Because many weighted arrays already employ controllable amplitude and phase (complex weighting), the compensation can be achieved with extra software. In order to calculate the compensation, the array factor of a planar uniform phased array is expressed in terms of the complex envelope of the signal that is communicated. This is performed for a phase-shifter based array and for a true-time-delay based array. The required correction is determined by approximating the directivity of the true-time-delay based array by the directivity of the phase-shifter based array. The resulting compensation is signal- and main-direction dependent. >
Persons, Babies and Martians

I have argued at several points that moral philosophy should begin with knowing and attempting to understand the facts of the issue in question. If this is so then the task should be relatively easy in the case of abortion. There is no need for someone wondering about this area of ethics to go much further than the philosophy section of the bookstore or library to find all he or she could want to know, and more. Philosophical writings on abortion are filled not only with the usual arguments and analyses offered by philosophers, but also with biological information, the testimony of people involved in all aspects of abortion, and even poetry on the subject. And yet philosophers, like everyone else, remain divided on the issue. Does this mean that there is something wrong with the method that I am espousing and its emphasis on attention to facts?
Thalamic Synchrony and the Adaptive Gating of Information Flow to Cortex

Although it has long been posited that sensory adaptation serves to enhance information flow in sensory pathways, the neural basis remains elusive. Simultaneous single-unit recordings in the thalamus and cortex in anesthetized rats showed that adaptation differentially influenced thalamus and cortex in a manner that fundamentally changed the nature of information conveyed about vibrissa motion. Using an ideal observer of cortical activity, we found that performance in detecting vibrissal deflections degraded with adaptation while performance in discriminating among vibrissal deflections of different velocities was enhanced, a trend not observed in thalamus. Analysis of simultaneously recorded thalamic neurons did reveal, however, an analogous adaptive change in thalamic synchrony that mirrored the cortical response. An integrate-and-fire model using experimentally measured thalamic input reproduced the observed transformations. The results here suggest a shift in coding strategy with adaptation that directly controls information relayed to cortex, which could have implications for encoding velocity signatures of textures.
Discontinuous waveband switching in WDM optical networks

Routing techniques used in wavelength routed optical networks (WRN) do not give an efficient solution with waveband routed optical networks (WBN) as the objective of routing in WRN is to reduce the blocking probability and that in WBN is to reduce the number of switching ports. Routing in WBN can be divided two parts, finding the route and grouping the wavelength assigned into that route with some existing wavelengths/wavebands. In this paper, we propose a heuristic for waveband routing, which uses a new grouping strategy called discontinuous waveband grouping to group the wavelengths into a waveband. The main objective of our algorithm is to decrease the total number of ports required and reduce the blocking probability of the network. The performance of the heuristic is analyzed using simulation on a WBN with non-uniform wavebands
The Effectiveness of a Pre-Exercise Performance Drink (PRX) on Indices of Maximal Cardiorespiratory Fitness

This study examined the effectiveness of a pre-exercise drink (PRX) called EM·PACT on indices of maximal cardiorespiratory fitness. Twenty-four males (n = 12) and females (n = 12) ages 18–24 years (20.25 + 1.42), volunteered as subjects. Each subject performed two randomized trials of a VO2max treadmill test within a week of each other. Subjects in this randomized, placebo controlled, counter balanced, crossover design, ingested either a placebo (water) or PRX 20 minutes before each exercise bout. VO2max and time to exhaustion (Time) during graded exercise testing were evaluated. Using paired samples t-tests, significantly greater mean values were found in VO2max and Time for the PRX trial compared to the placebo trial (p < .05). Results indicate that indices of cardiorespiratory fitness; specifically VO2max and Time are enhanced by ingestion of PRX prior to exercise testing. The combined results of this investigation may provide meaningful practical applications for coaches and athletes alike regarding ergogenic hydration options.
Cell cycle regulation by protein degradation

Cell division is controlled by a highly regulated program to accurately duplicate and segregate chromosomes. An important feature of the cell cycle regulatory program is that key cell cycle proteins are present and active during specific cell cycle stages but are later removed or inhibited to maintain appropriate timing. The ubiquitin-proteasome system has emerged as an important mechanism to target cell cycle proteins for degradation at critical junctures during cell division. Two key E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes that target key cell cycle proteins are the Skp1-Cul1-F-box protein complex and the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome. This chapter focuses on the role of these E3 ubiquitin ligases and how ubiquitin-dependent degradation of central cell cycle regulatory proteins advances the cell cycle.
Model segmentation for numerical prediction

Machine Learning algorithms are difficult to directly apply among data sets of high dimensionality. This paper examines application of hybrid algorithms to segment data models to enable a higher level of accuracy. Our process begins with the reduction of our input parameter sets through the derivation of dominant characteristics. Using these characteristics, ranges are determined in which to segment our model. Each set is then used to train a predictive model using Machine Learning techniques. One major attribute of our application framework is to support an interchangeable set of algorithms for each stage. This process is demonstrated by estimating stated incomes from an automotive financing application for purpose of predictive modeling. We conclude that by applying our segmented hybrid framework we can achieve substantial improvements in accuracy over pure Machine Learning applications.
Thermodynamic data on the formation of solid carbon and organic compounds in primitive planetary atmospheres

Thermodynamic data on formation of solid carbon and organic compounds in primitive planetary atmospheres
Effect of media properties on side erase bands

The erase bands on CoNiCr/Cr longitudinal media with coercivities ranging from 176 to 1390 Oe have been studied using a two-frequency, triple-track profile method. In this method, the two side tracks are recorded at 10 kfci and the central track ranges from 0 to 40 kfci. The write and the erase widths are measured by the Bitter method. Media properties such as coercivity, coercivity squareness, and remanence-thickness product are correlated with the total write width. It is shown that media with high coercivity squareness contribute to a reduction in the width of a side erase band. The magnetic structure of the triple-track profile has been characterized by high-resolution Bitter patterns using scanning electron microscopy, showing domain structures within bit cells and along track edges. The relationship of the erase band to the magnetic structure is discussed. >
Image-based manipulation planning for nonrigid objects

Most current techniques for the robotic manipulation of nonrigid objects require the acquisition of detailed physical models prior to manipulation. In an effort to avoid the problems caused by such modeling, a three-phase paradigm based on human coordination studies has recently been reported. However, the vision-based model used to predict object motion depends on the the object's current shape, making manipulation planning difficult. In this paper, an alternative motion model for use in the three-phase framework is presented. Based on the novel concept of the cardinal spatial Jacobian, this new model is shape-independent while still requiring the use of no a priori physical object models.
Characterizing and improving the performance of Intel Threading Building Blocks

The Intel threading building blocks (TBB) runtime library is a popular C++ parallelization environment (D. Bolton, 2007) that offers a set of methods and templates for creating parallel applications. Through support of parallel tasks rather than parallel threads, the TBB runtime library offers improved performance scalability by dynamically redistributing parallel tasks across available processors. This not only creates more scalable, portable parallel applications, but also increases programming productivity by allowing programmers to focus their efforts on identifying concurrency rather than worrying about its management. While many applications benefit from dynamic management of parallelism, dynamic management carries parallelization overhead that increases with increasing core counts and decreasing task sizes. Understanding the sources of these overheads and their implications on application performance can help programmers make more efficient use of available parallelism. Clearly understanding the behavior of these overheads is the first step in creating efficient, scalable parallelization environments targeted at future CMP systems. In this paper we study and characterize some of the overheads of the Intel Threading Building Blocks through the use of real-hardware and simulation performance measurements. Our results show that synchronization overheads within TBB can have a significant and detrimental effect on parallelism performance. Random stealing, while simple and effective at low core counts, becomes less effective as application heterogeneity and core counts increase. Overall, our study provides valuable insights that can be used to create more robust, scalable runtime libraries.
The Dynamic Nature of Homicide Clearances A Multilevel Model Comparison of Three Time Periods

Homicide clearance rates in the United States have been steadily declining from the 1960s through the 1990s. Our study asks: (1) Are the factors commonly identified in homicide clearance research a...
On Walsh-domain versus RDFT filtering

Spectral filtering and the computation of Fourier coefficients by the fast Walsh transform (FWT) and the fast algorithm for the real discrete Fourier transform (FRFT) are discussed on a comparative basis. In all cases discussed, the FRFT has fewer multiplications and additions. As the comparisons show, there is no good reason for using the Walsh-Fourier method in spectral filtering or for the generation of Fourier coefficients if the number of operations are the major criterion. However, the Walsh-Fourier method may still be useful if both the Walsh and the Fourier coefficients are to be utilized in a particular application. >