cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioral evidence of thermal hyperalgesia in non-obese diabetic mice with and without insulin-dependent diabetes

The non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse, a model of Type 1 diabetes in humans, has proven useful for the study of genetic, immunologic and epidemiologic aspects of inherited diabetes. Behavioral evidence of hyperalgesia may also be present in the NOD mouse but has not been described. This study examined NOD mice with (NOD+) and without (NOD-) insulin-dependent diabetes, and control strain (ILI) mice for evidence of hyperalgesia to a noxious thermal stimulus. Interestingly, both NOD+ and NOD- mice showed reduced mean hindpaw withdrawal latencies when compared with non-diabetic ILI mice. NOD+ and NOD- mice were also abnormal in their general appearance, activity level, posture, gait and muscle bulk when compared with ILI mice. These findings raise the possibility that hyperalgesia in insulin-dependent NOD mice, or insulin-dependent humans with Type 1 diabetes, may be independent of diabetes and due to a primary disturbance within sensory pathways.
THE VAGUENESS ARGUMENT FOR MEREOLOGICAL UNIVERSALISM

: In this paper, I critically discuss one of the more influential arguments for mereological universalism, what I will call ‘the Vagueness Argument’. I argue that a premise of the Vagueness Argument is not well supported and that there are at least two good reasons for thinking that the premise in question is false.
Characterization of crystals of two venom phospholipases A2.

Crystals of phospholipase A 2 from Crotalus adamanteus and C. atrox have been grown which are suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis to at least 2·8 A and 2·2 A, respectively. Phospholipase A 2 α † from C. adamanteus crystallizes in space group C 222 1 , a = 108·1 A, b = 79·4 A, c = 63.9 A, 30,000 molecular weight (one dimer) per asymmetric unit. Phospholipase A 2 from C. atrox crystallizes in space group P 2 1 2 1 2 1 , a = 53·8 A, b = 99·0 A, c = 49·5 A, 29,760 molecular weight (one dimer) per asymmetric unit.
What Predicts Change in Marital Interaction Over Time? A Study of Alternative Models

This is a report on what predicts the deterioration of affective marital interaction over a 4-year period. Four models were compared for their ability to predict Time-2 dysfunctional marital interaction (a set of reliable predictors of marital dissolution). These four models were: (1) baseline physiology at Time-1; (2) interaction physiology at Time-1; (3) a balance model based on the ratio of positivity to negativity at Time-1; and, (4) cognitions about the relationship operationalized from our coding of the Oral History Interview. All four models predicted Time-2 dysfunctional marital interaction. All four models were also able to predict change, operationalized as predicting Time-2 interaction, controlling for Time-1 interaction, that is, using a covariance regression analysis. The most powerful model in predicting change was the balance ratio model.
Hydrology: Forming valleys from below

Surface water is known to shape the formation and growth of valleys and channels. However, in some geologic settings, groundwater seeping upwards is important for the development of channel networks.
Future generation military avionics fiber optics photonics packaging challenges

The military/aerospace platform operational environment challenges the creativity of fiber optic module packaging engineers as they endeavor to develop and mature new active and passive single-mode fiber optic and photonic components for next generation avionics networking applications. Low sales and manufacturing volumes inherent to avionics combined with lack of standard interface specifications for current and next generation fiber optic local area network architectures and subsystems makes it difficult for avionics suppliers to justify upfront research and development (R&D) investment in advanced fiber optics and photonics packaging technology. Collaboration between commercial industry photonic component and advanced packaging R&D and military/aerospace photonic component and advanced packaging R&D has proven to be a successful formula for mitigating technical and business risk on military/aerospace programs, and gives best value components for military avionics applications. As the avionics industry migrates from multimode fiber optic point-to-point link based systems to fully-interconnected single-mode wavelength division multiplexed-based local area network (WDM LAN) architectures, it naturally follows that similar collaborations will be needed to realize the technical and business success of the avionics WDM LAN. Currently, the SAE Avionics Systems Division (SAE WDM LAN), the IEEE Avionics Fiber Optics and Photonics Conference (AVFOP), and the ARINC Fiber Optics Subcommittee are endeavoring to coordinate avionics WDM LAN standardization efforts internationally via formal committee meetings and conference events.
‘A Steady Contempt of Life’: Suicide Narratives in Hume and Others

In a letter of 1746, David Hume tells of the suicide of his kinsman Major Forbes. While Hume's account overtly presents the major's suicide as heroic, incorporating allusions to the Ajax of Sophocles and the lives of noble Romans such as Cato, the narrative context in which he places it, and the nature of narrative itself, call the wisdom of the act into question. In his essay ‘Of Suicide’, written a few years later, Hume largely avoids narrative examples. However, the small number of historical cases to which he does allude, and an implied narrative of suicide that emerges from context he supplies in passing, diminish the rhetorical force of his argument.
Modal analysis of slab optical waveguides: Fresnel equations v.s. wave equations

We demonstrate both analytically and numerically that the modal analysis of optical slab waveguides based on the total internal reflection (TIR) method and the wave equation method are equivalent. The analytical method based on the TIR and Fresnel equations is also applied to the evanescently-pumped active waveguides where the cladding layers have optical gain, and the results are compared to the numerical simulations. This study establishes a direct connection between the field reflection and transmission coefficients given by the Fresnel equations to the mode solutions of the wave equation in waveguides.
The structure-property relationships in evaporated thick films of alumina-dispersed copper

Abstract The properties of dispersion-strengthened materials produced by the high rate physical vapor deposition technique were studied. Emphasis was on the copper-alumina system. For this study room temperature properties were measured. As-deposited microhardness and also stability characteristics (as established by hardness tests after annealing at various temperatures following a cold-rolling treatment) were determined. These were correlated with metallographic examinations. Tensile tests were performed on the as-deposited materials and also on cold-worked samples. Fractography was done by scanning electron microscopy. Thick films (up to 0.2 cm) were prepared by dual-source evaporation (electron beam healing) and condensation on a stationary substrate preheated to the desired deposition temperature. Deposition rates of about 4000 A s−1 were used. Fine dispersions led to a high as-deposited hardness, about six times the value for pure copper with less than 2 vol.% of alumina. Although annealing caused possible coarsening of the oxide particles, the hardness did not fall appreciably when the films were kept at 0.94Tm for 1 h. The stability experiment was very encouraging. With only about 0.3 vol.% alumina the hardness remained at about three times the value for pure copper even on annealing (after 50% cold-rolling) up to almost the melting point of copper. Transmission electron microscopy showed fine particles of alumina (80 A) after prolonged annealing at 0.79Tm. Optical micrographs revealed very little recrystallization of the matrix. The tensile strenght of the as-deposited material (with only 0.5 vol.% alumina) was 50% greater than that of pure copper. For the cold-rolled deposits, about 1 vol.% alumina gave a 50% higher ultimate tensile strength compared with pure copper. Fractography showed a consistently ductile mode of failure on the microscopic level despite apparent brittle behavior from a macroscopic viewpoint. The results were compared with a commercial powder metallurgy product and were found to be equivalent if not better.
Wilms' tumor: A new cause for urinary extravasation

We report a case of Wilms' tumor associated with urinary extravasation due to tumor invasion through the renal pelvis and anterior renal capsule. Extravasation of urine exposed to tumor may lead to upstaging of the tumor and the requirement for more intensive therapy.
Elastomeric negative acoustic contrast particles for affinity capture assays.

This report describes the development of elastomeric capture microparticles (ECμPs) and their use with acoustophoretic separation to perform microparticle assays via flow cytometry.We have developed simple methods to form ECμPs by cross-linking droplets of common commercially available silicone precursors in suspension followed by surface functionalization with biomolecular recognition reagents. The ECμPs are compressible particles that exhibit negative acoustic contrast in ultrasound when suspended in aqueous media, blood serum, or diluted blood. In this study, these particles have been functionalized with antibodies to bind prostate specific antigen and immunoglobulin (IgG). Specific separation of the ECμPs from blood cells is achieved by flowing them through a microfluidic acoustophoretic device that uses an ultrasonic standing wave to align the blood cells, which exhibit positive acoustic contrast, at a node in the acoustic pressure distribution while aligning the negative acoustic contrast ECμPs at t...
An EXAFS study of interionic distances in complex lanthanide oxides

Abstract When the smaller vanadium ion is substituted for niobium in NdNbO 4 , the volume of the unit cell is almost unchanged; in the lanthanum and cerium counterparts the volume actually increases. In order to understand these phenomena we have employed the technique of extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) to determine all of the near neighbor anion-cation distances in the series of mixed-B-ion oxides, NdNb 1− x V x O 4 , including the end-member compounds, NdNbO 4 and NdVO 4 . We find that the average Nb-O, V-O and Nd-O interionic distances in the mixed compounds closely resemble the distances exhibited in the corresponding end-member compounds, but there are large variances associated with these averages. We take this to mean that, while crystal symmetry is not broken by the substitution of the smaller V 5+ ion, there are substantial local distortions in bond lengths and angles in order to meet the ion-size requirements of immediate neighbors.
Hip dislocation increases roughness of oxidized zirconium femoral heads in total hip arthroplasty: an analysis of 59 retrievals.

The aims of this study were to assess damage on the surface of retrieved oxidized zirconium (OxZr) metal femoral heads, to measure surface roughness of scratches, and to evaluate the extent of surface effacement using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Ceramic zirconia-toughened alumina heads were analyzed for comparison. OxZr femoral heads explanted for recurrent dislocation had the most severe damage (P < 0.001). The median surface roughness of damaged OxZr femoral heads was 1.49 μm, compared to 0.084 μm for damaged ceramic heads and 0.052 μm for undamaged OxZr (P < 0.001). This may be of clinical concern because increased surface roughness has the potential to increase the wear of polyethylene liners articulating against these OxZr heads in THA.
ON THE DIMENSIONALITY OF A LEARNING STYLE QUESTIONNAIRE

The dimensionality of a Learning Style Questionnaire was examined using undergraduate students majoring in science-related areas (chemistry, physics, geology, and biology) at a major state university. The number of dimensions found for the science students did not agree with the number found in earlier research and the composition of the individual dimensions differed substantially from what was found earlier. Additional work on the questionnaire is called for.
Subclassification of murine T cells by computerized microphotometric analysis.

Splenocytes separated by physical means and classified as T cells by immunologic tests and computerized microphotometric analysis are differentiated into subgroups by analysis of the distribution patterns of Feulgen-positive nuclear DNA. In like fashion T cells obtained as purified preparations after separation on a nylon column, and accepted as T cells by micromorphometric analysis were subjected to further computerized morphometric analysis of nuclear DNA to form subgroups of cells. In each case, the number and composition of the detected subgroups were consistent. The classification does not appear to reflect any obvious phases of the cell cycle and is not dependent upon the sex and strain of mice from which the cells were obtained.
State of the Art in Remote Monitoring Technology

Remote monitoring of cardiac physiologic parameters, including heart rhythm and volume status, is playing an increasingly important role in the routine management of cardiac patients. This approach has the potential to provide significant cost and time savings to health care providers while reducing time for diagnosis and treatment of patients. It also has the ability to significantly enhance patient convenience by minimizing office visits. Integration of routine cardiac health parameters, such as blood pressure and daily weight, along with the possibility of monitoring serious changes, such as ST segment deviation, may make rapid, comprehensive cardiac care a reality in the near future.
Cardiac arrhythmias in the athlete

Cardiac arrhythmias in the athlete are a frequent cause for concern. Some arrhythmias may be benign and asymptomatic, but others may be life threatening and a sign that serious cardiovascular disease is present. Physicians often are consulted with regard to arrhythmias, or symptoms consistent with arrhythmias, in athletes. Sinus bradyarrhythmias are common and even expected in athletes. These bradyarrhythmias are rarely a cause for concern. Heart block is unusual and merits a thorough workup. Atrial fibrillation may be more common in the athlete. Supraventricular tachycardias other than atrial fibrillation generally warrant consideration of radiofrequency ablation for cure of the tachyarrhythmia. Ventricular arrhythmias in the athlete generally occur in the setting of structural heart disease that is genetically determined (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, anomalous coronary arteries) or acquired (coronary artery disease, myocarditis, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathies). In these conditions, the arrhythmia generally is life threatening. Ventricular arrhythmias that occur in the athlete without structural heart disease are not thought to be life threatening. Athletes with structural heart disease and syncope and those with exertional syncope merit a complete evaluation.
Conformational stability from variable temperature infrared spectra of krypton and xenon solutions, ab initio calculations, vibrational assignment and r0 structural parameters of vinylcyclopropane

Abstract The infrared spectra (3200–400 cm −1 ) of krypton and xenon solutions of vinylcyclopropane c -C 3 H 5 CH CH 2 , at variable temperatures (−55 to −150 °C) have been recorded. Additionally, the infrared spectra (3200–250 cm −1 ) of the gas and solid have been recorded. From a comparison of the spectra of the fluid phases with that of the solid, all of the fundamental vibrations of the trans conformer have been identified and assigned as well as many of those for the gauche form. By utilizing five pairs of fundamentals for these two conformers in the xenon solutions, an enthalpy difference of 415±42 cm −1 (4.96±0.50 kJ/mol) has been obtained with the trans conformer the more stable form. There is 21±3% of the gauche conformer present at ambient temperature. Results from ab initio calculations show the cis rotamer is a transition state. Equilibrium geometries and total energies of both conformers have been determined from ab initio calculations with full electron correlation by the perturbation method to second order as well as by hybrid density functional theory calculations with the B3LYP method using a number of basis sets. The MP2 calculations predict the trans conformer to be more stable than the gauche form ranging from 358 to 440 cm −1 whereas the B3LYP calculations predict significantly larger values between 571 and 616 cm −1 . By adjusting ab initio MP2(full)/6-311+G(d,p) predicted structural parameters to fit previously reported rotational constants for the trans conformer, adjusted r 0 parameters have been obtained. Comparisons of these parameters to those previously obtained from the microwave and electron diffraction studies are made. Many of the spectroscopic and theoretical results are compared to the corresponding properties for some similar molecules.
Identification of an Adsorbed Hydroxyl Species on the Pt(111) Surface

The electronic structure and vibrations of an adsorbed hydroxyl (OH) species are identified and characterized for the first time on a transition-metal surface. In this study of water's interaction with clean Pt(111) in ultrahigh vacuum, water adsorbed at 100 K desorbs at 180 K without appreciable dissociation. However, in the presence of adsorbed atomic oxygen, water dissociates above 150 K to form adsorbed hydroxyl species. The O-H axis appears to be bent relative to the surface normal.
A Systemic Approach to Occupational and Environmental Health

As the corporate role in occupational and public health receives increased scrutiny, it is essential to recognize that it is not sufficient to identify specific acts of malfeasance or influence, or even to campaign to address them. A more comprehensive and systemic framework for understanding the role of corporations requires consideration of corporate power and its effects as endemic features of national socioeconomic systems and the rapidly integrating global order. The underlying social structures that produce social and environmental problems, and undermine reform, make systemic change necessary. Identifying this “structure of harm” provides important implications for researchers, policymakers, activists, and others trying to address environmental and social problems, particularly with regard to integrating efforts to address immediate impacts with those for longer-term, systemic change.
Status of the BaBar detector

The physics capabilities, design and status of the B a B ar detector currently under construction for the PEP-II asymmetric B Factory at SLAC are reviewed.
ENERGY STABILITY OF A STATIONARY CONDUCTING THERMOMICROPOLAR FLUID LAYER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A MAGNETIC FIELD

The effect of an orthogonal applied magnetic field on an electrically conducting thermomicropolar fluid layer which is heated from below, is investigated. The linear stability and the nonlinear stability of the stationary state are considered when the fluid layer lies between two nonconducting rigid boundaries. The nonlinear stability study is performed for different cases of the Alfven No. A which depends on the strength of the magnetic field. A generalized energy is used for the general case A different from 1. From a variational and numerical analysis the nonlinear stability threshold is obtained and compared with the linear stability results and the nonconducting case. Both micro-rotation and magnetic field tend to stabilize the fluid layer.
Success and failure using scenario planning to enhance organisational longevity

Scenario planning has been linked to increased organisational ability to adapt to changed in the environment. The connection between scenario planning and organisational learning, awareness of the environment, human resources development (HRD), crisis readiness and management, and strategic planning are presented. The paper concludes despite many anecdotal cases and claims that scenario planning can help increase organisational survival, there is a lack of sufficient empirical research to support these claims.
Electrical resistivity of amorphous metallic glasses Fe80B80 and Fe78Mo2B20 between 78 and 1000 K

Abstract Electrical resistivity (ρ) of amorphous Fe 80 B 20 and Fe 78 Mo 2 B 20 have been studied as a function of temperature ( T ) between 78 and 1000 K. The ρ vs T curves, obtained with specified warming and cooling rates, show that such curves are sensitive probes of the crystallization process. Within the experimental error, no anomalies in the ρ behavior can be seen at the Curie temperature of each amorphous alloy.
Induction of anti-tumor immunity by photodynamic therapy (PDT)

Tumor directed PDT has been shown by a number of pre-clinical studies to enhance a specific anti-tumor immune response, which appears to be critical to long-term tumor growth control by PDT. The PDT enhanced immune response is T cell dependent, however the mechanism behind the potentiation of the immune response by PDT is unknown. Induction of T cell dependent immunity depends upon the presence of activated antigen presenting cells. Therefore we have examined the ability of PDT to stimulate maturation and activation of antigen presenting cells in the PDT-treated tumor bed and tumor draining lymph node. Our studies demonstrate and increase in the number of activated antigen presenting cells in the tumor bed 24h following treatment of EMT6 murine tumors with Photofrin-PDT. Tumor draining lymph nodes also showed increased levels of activated antigen presenting cells within 4h of treatment. The levels peaked at 24h and declined by 48h after PDT. These results demonstrate that PDT-enhanced anti-tumor immunity is accompanied by an increase in antigen presenting cell activity. Therefore it is possible that T cell dependent immunity is enhanced following PDT through enhanced antigen presenting cell activity.
The Anarchy of Events and the Anxiety of Story Telling

Although news is a social construction that narrates events in the world by assimilating them to existing cultural categories, there are many cultural categories from which to choose. How do journalists determine whether an event calls for a melodramatic frame or an ironic frame or some other narrative convention? Reviewing two recent studies—of news coverage of 9/11 and news coverage in the early 1990s of an accidental killing of a Japanese exchange student in New Orleans—this article argues that the character of “the events themselves” helps limit what narrative frames journalists select.
The proxemic web: designing for proxemic interactions with responsive web design

Responsive web design has become one of the guiding principles for delivering a consistent viewing experience for the same World Wide Web content across devices of different sizes. However, this principle covers only half of the spectrum of a viewing experience, since it does not factor in proxemic interactions between a user and a single device. In this research, we propose an approach for adapting the construct of responsive web design to account for proxemic interactions and provide an example implementation.
Level of interest sensing in spoken dialog using decision-level fusion of acoustic and lexical evidence

Automatic detection of a user's interest in spoken dialog plays an important role in many applications, such as tutoring systems and customer service systems. In this study, we propose a decision-level fusion approach using acoustic and lexical information to accurately sense a user's interest at the utterance level. Our system consists of three parts: acoustic/prosodic model, lexical model, and a model that combines their decisions for the final output. We use two different regression algorithms to complement each other for the acoustic model. For lexical information, in addition to the bag-of-words model, we propose new features including a level-of-interest value for each word, length information using the number of words, estimated speaking rate, silence in the utterance, and similarity with other utterances. We also investigate the effectiveness of using more automatic speech recognition (ASR) hypotheses (n-best lists) to extract lexical features. The outputs from the acoustic and lexical models are combined at the decision level. Our experiments show that combining acoustic evidence with lexical information improves level-of-interest detection performance, even when lexical features are extracted from ASR output with high word error rate.
Primary brain tumours in Fischer 344 rats chronically exposed to acrylonitrile in their drinking-water.

Acrylonitrile (ACN) has been tested for carcinogenicity by various routes in a number of rat strains. At relatively high levels of administration (e.g. 500 ppm in the drinking-water) there were statistically significant increases in microscopically detectable primary brain tumours, which were difficult to classify. In a further study of ACN-induced brain tumours, ACN was administered to groups of 50 male and 50 female F-344 rats from 6 wk of age at levels of 0, 100 and 500 ppm in the drinking-water. A fourth group of 300 rats (147 males, 153 females), was also given 500 ppm ACN. Neurological signs were observed in 0, 4, 16 and 29, respectively, of the rats in these four groups within 12-18 months. Among the treated animals, females died slightly earlier than males. Few controls of either sex had died by month 18, but, apart from those killed for tumour donation, a high proportion of the rats in the 500-ppm groups had died by that time. Of the 49 brain tumours found in rats exposed to 500 ppm ACN, 11 were only detectable microscopically, 28 were 1-5 mm in diameter and 10 were greater than 5 mm. Despite this variation in size, all the tumours were similar in cellular and architectural features. They were densely cellular, with occasional areas of focal necrosis, and were infiltrative at the margins. They were negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Ultrastructurally, the tumour cells showed intermingling cytoplasmic processes but no glial filaments and no neurosecretory granules or specialized cell contacts. Samples of tumour tissue were successfully grown in culture, but transplantation of samples from these cultures (observed for up to 12 wk) was unsuccessful. However, a direct intracerebral transplantation from a large tumour was successful.
An Update of Nitrile Photochemistry on Titan

Comparisons are undertaken between laboratory kinetics experiments and Voyager observations in order to shed light on possible chemical reaction pathways to the generation of cyanogen and dicyanoacetylene in Titan's upper atmosphere. The predicted concentrations of the simple nitrile compounds are found to be of a magnitude realistically corresponding to the Voyager observations.
Dynamical spin system: exact solution and mean recurrence time

Abstract A model involving a chain of N ≥ 2 spins si = ±1, i = 1,…,N, evolvi ng syncronously in discrete time t via a nonlinear, autonomous transformation si(t+1) = si(t)si+1(t), i = 1,…,N−1; sN(t+1) = sN(t), is presented. The transformation equations are solved explicitly and the detailed decomposition of state space into ergodic sets is found. On the assumption of equally likely initial states, the mean recurrence time is calculated and its variance is discussed. The model displays a strikingly sensitive dependence on the number of spins, and this is reflected in the “staircase” behavior of the mean recurrence time. Remarks are made regarding the connection between the behavior of the model and the ground states of a related two-dimensional Ising model.
Movie Review: Awakenings

Awakenings, a film directed by Penny Marshall and released in 1990, follows the story of Dr. Malcolm Sayer (Robin Williams) as he interacts with catatonic patients infected by an epidemic of viral encephalitis earlier in life. This film is based on true events and takes place in a behavioral institution in the late 1960s. Sayer begins his career at this hospital, where he integrates his passion for neurological research into an investigative approach to the treatment of his patients. However, he is met by initial resistance and apathy from his colleagues, who view the patients as essentially hopeless. One of the orderlies describes the area of practice as a garden "because all we do is feed them and water them." The film particularly follows the interactions and developing relationship between Sayer and one of his patients, Leonard Lowe, who is portrayed by Robert DeNiro. Through interactions with the patients, Sayer begins to notice various stimuli that trigger responses from them and theorizes that these patients may be afflicted with an extreme form of a Parkinson-like disease. Soon after, Sayer becomes a strong proponent for the use of a breakthrough treatment at the time, L-DOPA, for his patients in catatonia. Sayer first administers the drug to Leonard, in which a marked "awakening" is observed. The drug is then administered to the other patients, who also show a dramatic "awakening" from their years in catatonia. At this point, the film follows the new "awakened" experiences of the patients, especially that of Leonard. Despite being initially promising for these patients, the development of dyskinesia and the psychological stress brought on by reentering the real world after years in a catatonic state caused the treated patients to revert back to a catatonic state. This eventually led Dr. Sayer to determine that the drug was not a viable long-term treatment option for these patients.
Intelligibility and accountability: human considerations in context-aware systems

This essay considers the problem of defining the context that context-aware systems should pay attention to from a human perspective. In particular, we argue that there are human aspects of context that cannot be sensed or even inferred by technological means, so context-aware systems cannot be designed simply to act on our behalf. Rather, they will have to be able to defer to users in an efficient and nonobtrusive fashion. Our point is particularly relevant for systems that are constructed such that applications are architecturally isolated from the sensing and inferencing that governs their behavior. We propose a design framework that is intended to guide thinking about accommodating human aspects of context. This framework presents four design principles that support intelligibility of system behavior and accountability of human users and a number of human-salient details of context that must be accounted for in context-aware system design.
Lactate dehydrogenase isozymes, gytochrome oxidase activity, and muscle ions of the rattail (Coryphaenoides sp.)

SYNOPSIS. Investigations into the behavior of molecules in organisms occupying unique environments may provide a better insight into the functions of these same molecules in organisms from more common habitats. An organism well suited for such analyses is the rattail ( Coryphaenoides sp.), a deep-sea teleost. The photoreceptor cells of the retina are predominantly rods. Although the lactate dehydrogenase A1, and B4, isozymes are present in this fish, the E4 isozyme (found in the retina of many teleosts) is absent in the rattail retina. The rattails possess a lower cytochrome oxidase activity than shallow water fish. The sodium concentration is higher, and the potassium concentration lower in the rattail as compared with surface marine fish. The patterns of molecular synthesis and concentrations in the rattail may be related to such factors as light intensity, hydrostatic pressure, and temperature which exists in the deep-sea environment.
A fuzzy ranking of fuzzy numbers

Abstract We present a fuzzy ranking of fuzzy numbers and then briefly discuss two applications.
An efficient algorithm for optimal wavelength converter placement on wavelength-routed networks with arbitrary topologies

This paper describes an algorithm for optimally placing a given number of wavelength converters in all-optical networks (AONs) with arbitrary topologies. We first introduce the simple network model upon which the algorithm is based. We explain how the blocking performance of the network can be obtained when a given number of converters are placed at the network nodes. We then present our optimal converter placement algorithm and illustrate its working using a simple example. The savings in calculation of the blocking performance offered by our algorithm is analyzed. Finally the benefits of our optimal converter placement algorithm is studied through network examples such as the path, NSFnet and the mesh-torus.
Estimating furrow infiltration

Abstract Furrow irrigation, the most common irrigation method in California, can be difficult to manage efficiently because of lack of quantitative information on infiltration rates. Conventional methods of measuring infiltration rates are not likely to be used on routine evaluations of furrow irrigation system. However, volume-balance simulation models of furrow irrigation, which estimate infiltration from water advance data, offer a potential for estimating infiltration in furrows. Six models were evaluated using detail data from 200 furrow evaluations. Results showed an inverse relationship between the exponent of the power advance equation and the exponent of the infiltration equation. This relationship tended to cause the models to greatly underestimate cumulative infiltration as the advance exponent approach unity. The models ability to predict system performance under different flow rates given an initial flow rate was also investigated.
Conversation Impairs the Expression of Learned Sequence Information in a Simulated Driving Environment

Investigations of temporal sequence learning suggest that both learning and the expression of learning may be impaired by the performance of a secondary task. The generalizability of these findings to real-world applications is not, however, clear. Using a high-fidelity driving simulator, the current study investigated visual sequence learning in a practice/transfer design that manipulated secondary task requirements using a naturalistic conversation task. Consistent with previous research, results indicated that secondary task performance both reduced visual sequence learning and resulted in impairments to the expression of learning. These findings extend the theoretical account of dual-task impairment in complex environments by suggesting that task secondary task requirements can impair both the acquisition and retrieval of visual sequence memory.
Severe Paroxysmal Sinus Bradycardia Associated With High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation

Objective To determine the incidence of and risk factors for unexplained paroxysmal bradycardia in children treated with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). Design A nested case-control study. Setting A university-affiliated children's hospital. Subjects All children treated with HFOV for at least 3 days during a 2-year period and a randomly chosen comparison group of 50 children treated with only conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) for at least 3 days during the same time period. Interventions None. Measurements and results Unexplained paroxysmal sinus bradycardia occurred in six children (12%) receiving HFOV, and was significantly more common than in children treated with CMV (0%). The bradycardic events occurred after the lung disease started to improve, and the mean airway pressure (mPaw) at the time of the bradycardias was significantly decreased from the child's maximal mPaw. The bradycardic events were effectively treated acutely with manual ventilation or atropine sulfate, and resolved completely after the patient was changed to a regimen of CMV. Conclusion Unexplained paroxysmal bradycardia associated with HFOV in children is not uncommon. It completely resolves with conversion to CMV and may be related to overdistention of alveoli as compliance improves.
A comparison of several surface treatments for minimizing oxygen diffusion in β-processed titanium-6242 at 800°C

Abstract The development of oxygen-enriched layers on β-processed Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo (Ti-6242) was explored using macrohardness measurements following anneals in laboratory air at temperatures up to 800 °C for periods of up to 300 h. These studies served as a baseline for an assessment of the effect of various surface coatings on the minimization of oxygen ingress under similar conditions. The coatings studied included an SiO 2 /Al bilayer described by Clark et al. ( Oxid. Met., 28 (1987) 391), arc-sprayed Ni-Al and aluminum bronze and NiCoCrAlY deposited by both plasma spray and electron beam evaporation. Virtually all the coatings studied resulted in measurable reductions in oxygen ingress under mechanically static conditions.
Bactericidal activity does not predict sterilizing activity: the case of rifapentine in the murine model of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease.

Background Since 2004, treatment of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease, or Buruli ulcer, has shifted from surgery to daily treatment with streptomycin (STR) + rifampin (RIF) for 8 weeks. For shortening treatment duration, we tested the potential of daily rifapentine (RPT), a long-acting rifamycin derivative, as a substitute for RIF. Methodology/Principal Findings BALB/c mice were infected with M. ulcerans in the right hind footpad and treated either daily (7/7) with STR+RIF or five days/week (5/7) with STR+RIF or STR+RPT for 4 weeks, beginning 28 days after infection when CFU counts were 4.88±0.51. The relative efficacy of the drug treatments was compared by footpad CFU counts during treatment and median time to footpad swelling after treatment cessation as measure of sterilizing activity. All drug treatments were bactericidal. After 1 week of treatment, the decline in CFU counts was significantly greater in treated mice but not different between the three treated groups. After 2 weeks of treatment, the decline in CFU was greater in mice treated with STR+RPT 5/7 than in mice treated with STR+RIF 7/7 and STR+RIF 5/7. After 3 and 4 weeks of treatment, CFU counts were nil in mice treated with STR+RPT and reduced by more than 3 and 4 logs in mice treated with STR+RIF 5/7 and STR+RIF 7/7, respectively. In sharp contrast to the bactericidal activity, the sterilizing activity was not different between all drug regimens although it was in proportion to the treatment duration. Conclusions/Significance The better bactericidal activity of daily STR+RIF and especially of STR+RPT did not translate into better prevention of relapse, possibly because relapse-freecure after treatment of Buruli ulcer is more related to the reversal of mycolactone-induced local immunodeficiency by drug treatment rather than to the bactericidal potency of drugs.
Prognostic classification of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer׳s disease: MRI independent component analysis

Identifying predictors of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) can lead to more accurate diagnosis and facilitate clinical trial participation. We identified 320 participants (93 cognitively normal or CN, 162 MCI, 65 AD) with baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, and cognition data in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. We used independent component analysis (ICA) on structural MR images to derive 30 matter covariance patterns (ICs) across all participants. These ICs were used in iterative and stepwise discriminant classifier analyses to predict diagnostic classification at 24 months for CN vs. MCI, CN vs. AD, MCI vs. AD, and stable MCI (MCI-S) vs. MCI progression to AD (MCI-P). Models were cross-validated with a "leave-10-out" procedure. For CN vs. MCI, 84.7% accuracy was achieved based on cognitive performance measures, ICs, p-tau(181p), and ApoE e4 status. For CN vs. AD, 94.8% accuracy was achieved based on cognitive performance measures, ICs, and p-tau(181p). For MCI vs. AD and MCI-S vs. MCI-P, models achieved 83.1% and 80.3% accuracy, respectively, based on cognitive performance measures, ICs, and p-tau(181p). ICA-derived MRI biomarkers achieve excellent diagnostic accuracy for MCI conversion, which is little improved by CSF biomarkers and ApoE e4 status.
The relation between hydraulic transmissivity and transverse resistance in a complicated aquifer of glacial outwash deposits

Abstract The application of the electrical resistivity method to freshwater aquifers has shown a direct relationship between formation factor and aquifer permeability. This is possible if the layer resistivity of the saturated zone can be obtained from an interpretation of the geoelectrical sounding curve without the ambiguity due to nonuniqueness. This is usually the case for uncomplicated horizontal layer cases where the aquifer is sufficiently thick and has a resistivity which can easily be distinguished from the resistivities of the unsaturated zone and the acquitard. In this study geoelectrical depth soundings after Schlumberger were conducted over aquifers in glacial outwash deposits near a recessional moraine of Rhode Island in southern New England. Lateral as well as vertical changes in lithology, in particular of the grainsize distribution, present a complicated system of a multistory aquifer. The depth soundings were interpreted in terms of layer resistivities, thicknesses, and transverse resistances. In most cases the aquifer could be identified with an intermediate resistivity between that of the unsaturated zone and the fine-grained aquitard. Results of the depth soundings were compared with test wells and pumping tests. Comparison of the ranges of hydraulic transmissivities with the transverse resistance shows a linear relationship between both values. This suggests that even in complicated cases, where test wells are of limited use, the geoelectrical depth sounding method can be used to locate aquifers of high hydraulic transmissivity. Great care is necessary to measure reliably the water resistivity in the test well. A further uncertainty is the depth of the filter screen relative to the bottom of the aquifer in light of the transitory nature between aquifer and aquitard. The transverse resistance is a more unique integral electrical parameter than the layer resistivity. This may explain why it shows a more reliable relationship with the hydraulic transmissivity in a complicated case than the relationship between formation factor and hydraulic conductivity, which was found in simple cases.
Field instrumentation in atomic spectroscopy

The techniques of field analytical chemistry (FAC) have the potential to reduce both analysis time and cost by providing analytical data on site while eliminating the need for sample collection and transport. These methods could be of considerable interest in the fields of environmental monitoring and industrial process control. Much of FAC is accomplished through the use of portable analytical instruments. The emphasis of this review was on field-portable atomic spectrometry, with particular focus upon two techniques: laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and tungsten coil atomic absorption spectrometry (W Coil AAS). LIBS and W Coil AAS have been described in detail, with special attention to instrumentation, analytical performance, applications and examples of portable devices. The two techniques were compared and found to be complimentary. Competing technology, not necessarily based upon atomic spectrometry, was also briefly discussed in order to provide a glimpse of the overall picture of FAC techniques used for the determination of metals. These rival techniques include X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), immunoassay, capillary electrophoresis (CE), and electrochemical sensors.
The classic paradoxes of quantum theory

This paper contains four new dialogues among Simplicio, Salviati, and Sagredo, on the fate of Schrodinger's cat, the existence of physical quantities, the paradigm of Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen, and why a watched kettle may boil, after all.
Optimal thermal shocks for induced diploid gynogenesis in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Abstract Thermal shock can disrupt meiosis II in fish oocytes, producing embryos with an extra set of maternal chromosomes from the second polar body; such shocks have been used to induce diploid gynogenesis or triploidy with varied success in different salmonid species. We investigated the effect of thermal shocks on the success of inducing diploid gynogenesis in chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) oocytes. Different times of initiation (8, 16, and 24 min post-activation) resulted in similar survival. A treatment duration of 20 min resulted in significantly higher gynogen survival to hatch compared to 5 or 15 min, and a 10-min duration resulted in the lowest mean survival. The effect of temperature on induced retention of the second polar body is unclear due to varied results dependent on the maternal egg source; however, the mean survival to hatch for 25°C treatment groups was significantly higher than the mean of 29°C groups.
The ecological effects of physical damage from motor boats on turtle grass beds in Southern Florida

Abstract Observation has shown that beds of turtle grass, Thalassia testudinum , although highly productive, do not recover rapidly following physical disturbance of the rhizome system. In shallow waters the most common form of rhizome disturbance is from the propellers of motor boats. In turtle grass beds which are otherwise thriving, tracks resulting from propellers have been observed to persist from 2 to 5 years. The proportion of fine sediment components is reduced in the sediments from the boat tracks, and the pH and EH are reduced in comparison to the surrounding grass bed. Damage of this type is most likely to occur in the shallow passes between islands and keys. These areas are also the slowest to recover due to the rapid tidal currents present in the shallow passes.
On IIP2 Improvement by Injecting DC Offset at the Mixer in a Wireless Receiver

We present a digital calibration technique for improving IIP2 by injecting DC offset at the mixer. Most receivers offer DC offset cancellation circuitry, and a targeted non-zero DC offset at mixer output is up-converted to RF carrier frequency due to poor reverse isolation of the mixer switch. By controlling amplitude of the injected DC, IIP2 degradation due to LO leakage at the input of RF amplifiers can be compensated. Mathematical analysis and measurement data for a quad-band GSM/GPRS receiver implemented in 90-nm digital CMOS process are presented. Calibrated IIP2 of 50 dBm is reported at LNA input.
The missing aortic prosthesis: An unusual case of pseudo-aortic regurgitation

A 33-year-old woman with a history of multiple aortic valve replacements for infective endocarditis was referred to our institution for presumed vegetations of her aortic prosthesis and aortic root abscess. Transthoracic echocardiography performed shortly after her arrival showed a large pseudo-aneurysm and a mobile echodensity (arrow) at the aortic annulus with regurgitant flow filling the …
Optimal scan design for time-varying tomographic imaging

The tomographic reconstruction of objects with spatially localized temporal variation, such as the heart, is considered. Theoretical analysis, which includes tight performance bounds, shows that, by using an optimally scrambled angular sampling order, the required temporal scan rate can be lowered as much as four times while still preserving image quality. A design procedure is presented for the optimum choice of angular sampling pattern, and demonstrated by simulations. The technique permits graceful degradation of performance over a wide range of temporal sampling rates. >