cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling with Mixtures of Linear Regressions

Consider data (x1,y1),…,(xn,yn), where each xi may be vector valued, and the distribution of yi given xi is a mixture of linear regressions. This provides a generalization of mixture models which do not include covariates in the mixture formulation. This mixture of linear regressions formulation has appeared in the computer science literature under the name “Hierarchical Mixtures of Experts” model. This model has been considered from both frequentist and Bayesian viewpoints. We focus on the Bayesian formulation. Previously, estimation of the mixture of linear regression model has been done through straightforward Gibbs sampling with latent variables. This paper contributes to this field in three major areas. First, we provide a theoretical underpinning to the Bayesian implementation by demonstrating consistency of the posterior distribution. This demonstration is done by extending results in Barron, Schervish and Wasserman (Annals of Statistics 27: 536–561, 1999) on bracketing entropy to the regression setting. Second, we demonstrate through examples that straightforward Gibbs sampling may fail to effectively explore the posterior distribution and provide alternative algorithms that are more accurate. Third, we demonstrate the usefulness of the mixture of linear regressions framework in Bayesian robust regression. The methods described in the paper are applied to two examples.
Infinite-Time Turing Machines and Borel Reducibility

In this document I will outline a couple of recent developments, due to Joel Hamkins, Philip Welch and myself, in the theory of infinite-time Turing machines. These results were obtained with the idea of extending the scope of the study of Borel equivalence relations, an area of descriptive set theory. I will introduce the most basic aspects of Borel equivalence relations, and show how infinite-time computation may provide insight into this area.
GENETIC CONSEQUENCES OF TRUNCATION SELECTION AT THE PHENOTYPIC LEVEL IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

I F selection operates independently on each locus, its action on the large amounts of genic variability discovered in many populations (e.g., LEWONTIN and HUBBY 1966) would cause excessive genetic loads compared with the actual situation. In order to accommodate selection for many genes, threshold or truncationselection models have been proposed assuming heterozygote superiority ( SVED, REED and BODMER 1967; KING 1967; MILKMAN 1967; WILLS, CRENSHAW and VITALE 1970). As a typical form, MILKMAN and WILLS et al. assumed that the individuals having the largest number of heterozygous loci are selected to produce the next generation. Selection acts at the phenotypic level, the phenotype being the result of genotypic and environmental (including chance) effects. Thus. for any trait including fitness. large phenotypic values do not always follow from large genotypic values. We have attempted to examine the genetic consequences of the typical phenotypic truncation selection on the basis of the genetic parameters for viability obtained in D. melanogaster. If this truncation-selection occurs, it is probably operating mainly in the period from egg to adult. We have estimated the genotypic and environmental variances, and the heritability (broad sense) of egg-adult viability. Two experiments were conducted, one to estimate the variability in relative viability and the other to estimate mean viability. Employed were second chromosomes from 691 extracted by the marked inversion technique from a population in a state park near Raleigh, North Carolina. This population is probably near equilibrium (MUKAI et al. 1971 ) . To estimate variability, the relative viabilities of 688 random heterozygotes were estimated using the Cy method (cf. WALLACE 1956). Crosses were made between five Cy/+i females and five CY/+^+^ males (between successively numbered lines where the subscript indicates line number), and Cy is SMI ( C y ) . Four days after the crosses were made, all flies were transferred to the second vial for another four days and then discarded. The numbers of C y and of wild-type flies of each pair of vials were pooled, and the relative viability of heterozygous wild-
Methods for the isolation and characterization of constituents of natural products: XIV. Use of iodine monochloride for detecting unsaturation in microgram quantities of colored derivatives

Abstract A procedure is described for detecting unsaturation in the parent compound of colored derivatives at the microgram level using iodine monochloride. Included in the study were the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives of carbonyl compounds, the 2,6-dinitrophenylhyrazone derivatives of pyruvic acid esters of alcohols, the α-methyl-2,4,6-trinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives of alkoxyacetaldehyde compounds, the 2,6-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives of pyruvamides and the N-2,4-dinitrophenylethanolamine esters of fatty acids. Compounds which add iodine monochloride are sufficiently retarded on thin-layer partition plates to be classified as unsaturated. Carbonyl derivatives in which the double bond or bonds are conjugated with the hydrazone linkage and certain carbonyl compounds containing a double bond β,γ to the hydrazone linkage fail to be detected.
Superinfection Exclusion by P22 Prophage in Lysogens of Salmonella typhimurium I. Exclusion of Generalized Transducing Particles

P22-mediated generalized transduction in S. typhimurium occurs in both sensitive and lysogenic recipient bacteria, but the efficiency of transduction is significantly higher in sensitive cells than in wild-type P22 lysogens. This reduction in the efficiency of transduction is under the control of the prophage sieA gene; this gene is also responsible for the exclusion of superinfecting phage. Experiments with purified radioactive transducing particles demonstrate that exclusion of transducing particles in a sie+ lysogen occurs at some step after the adsorption of transducing particles to the cell. This exclusion can be partially overcome by infection of the sie+ lysogen with large numbers of nontransducing phage in addition to the purified transducing particles.
Oliz, a suite of Perl scripts that assist in the design of microarrays using 50mer oligonucleotides from the 3' untranslated region

Background Identifying reliable oligonucleotide sequences for use in microarray experiments is a complex process. Two key issues are the accuracy of the input sequences and the specificity of the oligonucleotide sequences.
The influence of temperature on muscle velocity and sustained performance in swimming carp.

The aim of this study was to evaluate how fish locomote at different muscle temperatures. Sarcomere length excursion and muscle shortening velocity, V , were determined from high-speed motion pictures of carp, Cyprinus carpio (11–14 cm), swimming steadily at various sustained speeds at 10, 15 and 20°C. In the middle and posterior regions of the carp, sarcomeres of the lateral red muscle underwent cyclical excursions of 0.31 μm, centred around the resting length of 2.06 μm (i.e. from 1.91 to 2.22 μm). The amplitudes of the sarcomere length excursions were essentially independent of swimming speed and temperature. As tail-beat frequency increased linearly with swimming speed regardless of temperature, the sarcomeres underwent the same length changes in a shorter time. Thus, V increased in a linear and temperature-independent manner with swimming speed. Neither temperature nor swimming speed had an influence on tail-beat amplitude or tail height. Our findings indicate that muscle fibres are used only over a narrow, temperature-independent range of V / V max (0.17-0.36) where power and efficiency are maximal. Carp start to recruit their white muscles at swimming speeds where the red muscle V / V max becomes too high (and thus power output declines). When the V / V max of the active muscle falls too low during steady swimming, carp switch to ‘burst-and-coast’ swimming, apparently to keep V / V max high. Because V max (maximum velocity of shortening) of carp red muscle has a Q10 of 1.63, the transition speeds between swimming styles are lower at lower temperatures. Thus, carp recruit their white anaerobic muscle at a lower swimming speed at lower temperatures (verified by electromyography), resulting in a lower maximum sustainable swimming speed. The present findings also indicate that, to generate the same total force and power to swim at a given speed, carp at 10°C must recruit about 50% greater fibre cross-sectional area than they do at 20°C. Note: Present address: Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA. Present address: Department of Pure and Applied Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, England.
New Approaches to Clinical Trials in Neuroprotection Introduction

In 10 years after the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for acute ischemic stroke, tPA has had only a modest impact in the overall burden of disease. Current estimates suggest that about 2% to 8% of US ischemic stroke patients receive tPA,1 and that continuing improvement of in-hospital care might not increase this proportion much beyond 20%.2 There remains an urgent need for additional therapeutic approaches to acute ischemic stroke. Neuroprotective drug strategies offer the promise of limiting infarct tissue damage without increasing hemorrhage risk. Despite an extensive literature showing neuroprotective drug actions in reducing infarct size in rodent ischemia models, efficacy has not been confirmed in large multicenter clinical trials.3,4 This situation is not unique to neuroprotective agents because many promising recanalization approaches have also failed. For example, a large trial of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, abciximab, administered within 5 hours of symptom onset (or 3 hours after awakening with stroke) was recently terminated because of concerns of increased risk of intracranial …
Treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with intranasal amphotericin B: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trial

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most common chronic diseases. Its etiology is unknown, and there is a paucity of effective medical treatments. Objective We tested the hypothesis that intranasal antifungal treatment improves the objective computed tomography (CT) findings (inflammatory mucosal thickening), nasal endoscopy stages, and symptoms of CRS. Methods A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, single-center trial used amphotericin B to treat 30 randomly selected patients with CRS. Patients were instructed to instill 20 mL amphotericin B (250 μg/mL) or placebo to each nostril twice daily for 6 months. The primary outcome was a quantitative reduction in inflammatory mucosal thickening on CT scans of a standardized coronal cut. Secondary outcome measures were endoscopic scores, patient symptom scores, and levels of intranasal inflammatory mediators. Results Twenty-four patients completed the 6 months of treatment. Patients receiving amphotericin B achieved a relative reduction in the percentage of mucosal thickening on CT scans (n=10; −8.8%) compared with placebo (n=14; +2.5%; P =.030). Likewise, the changes in the endoscopic scores improved in the amphotericin B group compared with placebo ( P =.038). Between-group comparisons of the changes in the intranasal mucus levels of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin showed a reduction in the amphotericin B group and an increase in the placebo group ( P =.046); levels of IL-5 showed similar tendencies ( P =.082). Conclusion Intranasal amphotericin B reduced inflammatory mucosal thickening on both CT scan and nasal endoscopy and decreased the levels of intranasal markers for eosinophilic inflammation in patients with CRS.
Time Domain Response of Electrical Ceramics Micro to Megaseconds

The electrical properties of ceramics can be measured in either the time domain or in the frequency domain. But for electrically nonlinear ceramics such as varistors, time-domain measurements provide insights that are different and more relevant to material performance as well as being more physically incisive. This article focuses specifically on the electrical properties of ZnO varistors, but much of it is of relevance for other materials, in particular those materials with grain-boundary barriers and disordered ceramics or glasses. The interpretation of electrical measurements in the time domain is profoundly influenced by such practical matters as source impedance and waveform characteristics. Experimental results are presented for both high and low source impedance relative to that of a test varistor, and the difference in experimental difficulty and ease of interpretation is described. Time-domain measurements of capacitance and of the inductive response of varistors to large, fast electrical pulses are presented and their implications for varistor theory are given. Experimental evidence is given of short- and long-term memory in varistors. These memory phenomena are ascribed respectively to the life time of holes that become trapped in barriers and to polarization currents originating from deep electron traps. Polarization current measurements are presented for a wide range of time and temperature. The power-law time dependence and “universal” behavior of these currents is discussed. The exponent that describes the power law behavior is seen to change with temperature, and the change is interpreted as a double transition from diffusive to dispersive transport that originates with current from two different electron traps.
Ontologies: Weather and flight information

Presents a collection of slides from the author's conference presentation. Topics covered include: Ontology, Data Models and Schemas; Ontology Use Case - Semantic Discovery in NextGen Network Enabled Weather (NNEW); and a final summary.
Separating mood disturbance from mild cognitive impairment in geriatric depression

Disentangling depression from dementia remains one of the most difficult clinical challenges for psychiatrists caring for older adults. The relationship between geriatric depression and dementia is complex for several reasons. First, cognitive impairment is often a prominent feature of depression in the elderly. Cognition may improve with successful treatment of depression but it may not normalize. Indeed, marked memory impairment in older depressed individuals may indicate a prodromal state of dementia. This review will examine issues related to depression and cognitive disorder in the elderly. The author will provide an evidence-based approach to separate mood disorder from cognitive disorder among older adults.
Use of simple remote sensing tools to expedite surveys for rare tiger beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)

Tiger beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) often occupy small patches of suitable habitat in otherwise unsuitable landscapes. Such patches are easily overlooked, which may lead to underestimates of both the number of occurrences and the overall population size. In this study, simple World Wide Web-based tools (Google Earth and Microsoft Terraserver) were used to search high-resolution satellite imagery for patches of suitable habitat for globally and regionally rare tiger beetles on a 3,278 ha wildlife refuge in Maryland, USA. This tract is largely forested but contains scattered small open areas of sand and clay soils that are potential habitat for tiger beetles of conservation concern. Visual inspection of remotely sensed imagery resulted in the identification of 19 potential habitat patches, 15 of which yielded tiger beetle populations when surveyed on the ground. The number of species of tiger beetles recorded from this tract was increased from 3 to 8 and two new sites were discovered for the state sensitive species Cicindela scutellaris rugifrons Dejean. In addition, a small population of C. splendida Hentz was discovered, a species last reported from Maryland in 1948. The technique described here shows great promise for locating small patches of potential tiger beetle habitat in otherwise unsuitable landscapes.
Solutions of some singular integral equation

Abstract A singular integral equation with a Holderian second member function on [ a , b ] is considered and solved for four different type of kernels in the class of functions that are unbounded at the end points of the interval.
Well-done meat intake and the risk of breast cancer

Background: Heterocyclic amines, mutagens formed in meats cooked at high temperatures, have been demonstrated as mammary carcinogens in animals. We conducted a nested, case-control study among 41836 cohort members of the Iowa Women's Health Study to evaluate the potential role of heterocyclic amines and intake of well-done meat in the risk for human breast cancer. Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to individuals in the cohort who had breast cancer diagnosed during the period from 1992 through 1994 and a random sample of cancer-free cohort members to obtain information on usual intake of meats and on meat preparation practices. Color photographs showing various doneness levels of hamburger, beefsteak, and bacon were included. Multivariate analysis was performed on data from 273 case subjects and 657 control subjects who completed the survey. Results: A dose-response relationship was found between doneness levels of meat consumed and breast cancer risk. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for very well-done meat versus rare or medium-done meat were 1.54 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.96-2.47) for hamburger, 2.21 (95% CI = 1.30-3.77) for beef steak, and 1.64 (95% CI = 0.92-2.93) for bacon. Women who consumed these three meats consistently very well done had a 4.62 times higher risk (95% CI = 1.36-15.70) than that of women who consumed the meats rare or medium done. Risk of breast cancer was also elevated with increasing intake of well-done to very well-done meat. Conclusions : Consumption of well-done meats and, thus, exposures to heterocyclic amines (or other compounds) formed during high-temperature cooking may play an important role in the risk of breast cancer.
Total laparoscopic proctocolectomy with Brooke ileostomy: a novel incisionless surgical treatment for patients with ulcerative colitis

This report describes the clinical benefits and safety of a novel (incisionless) laparoscopic operation for chronic ulcerative colitis. The medical records for four patients with the diagnosis of chronic ulcerative colitis who underwent “incisionless” laparoscopic proctocolectomy with Brooke ileostomy were reviewed. A novel technique was used for successfully performance of four total proctocloectomies with end ileostomies that did not require abdominal incisions. The clinical outcomes measured included time to oral intake, time to ostomy output, operative time, postoperative and intraoperative complications, estimated blood loss, and length of stay. All the patients recovered without incident intraoperatively and postoperatively. The operative times ranged from 330 to 550 min. Postoperative findings included median time to oral intake (2 days), median time to ileostomy output (2 days), and median length of stay (4 days). This case series demonstrates that an incisionless approach to chronic ulocerative colitis for patients who desire an end ileostomy may be feasible and safe, offering patients short-term recovery and cosmetic benefits.
Introduction to the Special Issue, Part II: Interventions to Promote Reintegration of Traumatized Youth Conscripted as Child Soldiers

As the investigations presented in the first part of this two-part special issue evidenced in vivid detail, for children conscripted into armed combat the consequences can be dire and long-lasting ...
The metallurgy of zinc-coated steel

Abstract The generation of zinc and zinc alloy coatings on steel is one of the commercially most important processing techniques used to protect steel components exposed to corrosive environments. From a technological standpoint, the principles of galvanizing have remained unchanged since this coating came into use over 200 years ago. However, because of new applications in the automotive and construction industry, a considerable amount of research has recently occurred on all aspects of the galvanizing process and on new types of Zn coatings. This review will discuss the metallurgy of zinc-coated steel from a scientific standpoint to develop relationships to practical applications. Hot-dip zinc coating methods, i.e. batch and continuous processes, will first be reviewed along with Fe–Zn phase equilibria and kinetics. Commercially, the addition of aluminum to the zinc bath results in three important types of coatings, galvanized, galfan and galvalume, and produces complex reactions at the coating/substrate interface. Fe–Zn–Al equilibrium will be reviewed in the light of recent studies of solubility and inhibition layer formation and breakdown. The effect of steel substrate composition on these reactions will also be critically analyzed. The overlay coating formation, or the coating alloy, is specifically chosen for its desired properties. The morphology of the galvanize, galfan and galvalume coating overlays will be reviewed, as well as the effect of heat treatment to produce a galvanneal coating. Finally, the effect of the microstructures of these coatings on the important properties of corrosion, formability, weldability and paintability will be discussed.
Matched asymptotic expansions for free convection about an impermeable horizontal surface in a porous medium

The problem of steady free convection in a porous medium adjacent to a horizontal impermeable heated surface, with wall temperature distribution w=∞+Aλ(0≤λ<2), for ≥0 and =∞ for <0, is investigated by the method of matched asymptotic expansions. The small parameter in the perturbation series is found to be the inverse one-third power of the Rayleigh number. For the first-order inner problem the governing equations reduced to the boundary layer approximations which have been solved previously. The effects of fluid entrainment, streamwise heat conduction and upward-drift induced friction are taken into consideration in the second and third-order theory for which similarity solutions are obtained. Numerical results for temperature and streamwise velocity profiles as well as the local Nusselt number at different local Rayleigh numbers and different prescribed wall temperature distributions are presented. It was found that the local Nusselt numbers as obtained from the boundary layer theory for λ=0.5 are accurate to the third-order, while those for λ=0 are accurate to the second-order. For other values of λ, the boundary layer theory underestimates the local Nusselt number slightly; the accuracy of the boundary layer theory decreases as the Rayleigh numbers decrease and as λ increases from λ=0.5.
Directional counter for the determination of the complete azimuthal effect of primary cosmic radiation.

The apparatus which the authors designed, constructed, and operated at the Institute of Physics of the National University of Mexico for the purpose of determining the azimuthal variation of primary cosmic radiation at fixed zenith angles consists essentially of four triple‐coincidence Geiger‐Muller telescopes mounted at zenith angles of 0°, 20°, 40°, and 60°, and are so arranged that, by rotation around a vertical axis, the directional intensity or counting rate can be measured at 16 equally spaced azimuths. The rotation and photographic recording are fully automatic. Several novel features of the apparatus are discussed here, most notable of which is the feature that, in contradistinction to the usual parallel connection of the three counters, as used in the conventional Rossi circuit and necessitating an amplifier tube for each Geiger‐Muller counter, a material simplification of the circuits was obtained by connecting the three counters in series feeding a single stage of amplification.
A Role for the Cannabinoid 1 Receptor in Neuronal Differentiation of Adult Spinal Cord Progenitors in vitro is Revealed through Pharmacological Inhibition and Genetic Deletion

In contrast to the adult brain, the adult spinal cord is a non-neurogenic environment. Understanding how to manipulate the spinal cord environment to promote the formation of new neurons is an attractive therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury and disease. The cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) has been implicated as a modulator of neural progenitor cell proliferation and fate specification in the brain; however, no evidence exists for modulation of adult spinal cord progenitor cells. Using adult rat spinal cord primary cultures, we demonstrated that CB1R antagonism with AM251 significantly decreased the number of Nestin(+) cells, and increased the number of βIII tubulin(+) and DCX(+) cells, indicative of neuronal differentiation. AM251’s effect was blocked by co-application of the CB1R agonists, WIN 55,212-2 or ACEA. Consistent with our hypothesis, the chronic absence of CB1R via the use of knock-out (CB1-/-) mice resulted in significantly higher levels of DCX(+) cells compared to wild type (CB1+/+) cultures, indicative of enhanced neuronal differentiation in CB1-/- spinal cords. Moreover, AM251 promoted neuronal differentiation in CB1+/+, but not in CB1-/- cultures. Since CB1R modulates synaptic transmission, and synaptic transmission has been shown to influence progenitor cell fate, we evaluated whether AM251-induced neuronal differentiation was affected by chronic inactivity. Interestingly, either the presence of the voltage-dependent sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX), or the removal of mature neurons, inhibited the AM251-induced increase in DCX (+) cells. In summary, antagonism or absence of CB1R promotes neuronal differentiation in adult spinal cord cultures, and this action appears to require TTX-sensitive neuronal activity.
Concentrating Immunoprotective Phytoactive Compounds from Fruits and Vegetables into Shelf-stable Protein-rich Ingredients

Co-delivery of edible proteins with health-protective fruit (muscadine grape) and vegetable (kale) phytoactive compounds was accomplished in a biofortified ingredient for use in convenient, portable food formulations. Polyphenolics were concentrated (10–42 mg/g range) in dry muscadine-protein matrices. Kale-fortified protein matrices also captured polyphenolics (8 mg/g), carotenoids (69 μg/g) and glucosinolates (7 μmol/g). Neither total phenolics nor glucosinolates were significantly diminished even after long term (6 months) storage at 4, 20, or 37 °C, whereas carotenoids degraded over time, particularly at higher temperatures. Dry biofortified phytoactive-protein ingredients allowed delivery of immunoprotective compounds from fruits and vegetables in a stable, lightweight matrix.
Overwhelming patients and overwhelmed therapists.

This article will address an aspect of many therapists’ practices that is often hidden from view. Therapists sometimes find themselves in impasses where they not only feel that progress is not being made but that they have had lapses in judgment. They report feeling both uncomfortable about their role and unable to extricate themselves from it. As members of a group that specializes in treating patients with personality disorders that have not responded to other approaches, we periodically get calls from therapists with regard to these overwhelming cases. 1 While this article will focus on the dynamics and management of these difficult situations rather than on an overall treatment approach, many of the concepts that we apply stem from the object relations–based model, called transference-focused psychotherapy or TFP (Clarkin, Yeomans, & Kernberg, 2006). The main ingredients of TFP can be described as follows: TFP is based on the clinical view that the symptoms of serious character pathology are manifestations of an underlying psychological structure that suffers from the lack of a coherent and consistent sense of self and others. The internal sense of self and others is built up of different pair
Bioenergetics of Nerve Excitation

The process of action potential production is analyzed in relation to the problem of energy transduction in the nerve. Describing the conditions required for the maintenance of excitability, the indispensability of divalent cations and the dispensability of univalent cations in the external medium are emphasized. Univalent cations with a strong tendency toward hydration enhance the action potential amplitude when added to the external Ca-salt solution. Experimental facts are described in consonance with the macromolecular interpretation of nerve excitation which postulates a transition of the negatively charged membrane macromolecules from a hydrophobic (resting) state to a hydrophilic (excited) state. Thermodynamic implications are discussed in relation to changes in enthalpy and volume accompanied by action potential production. Difficulties associated with analyses of excitation processes on a molecular basis are stressed.
Development of a side-view chamber for studying cell-surface adhesion under flow conditions

Observing microscopic specimens is often useful in studies of cellular interaction with a vascular wall. We have developed an in vitro side-view flow chamber that permits observations from the side of the cell's contact with various adhesive surfaces under dynamic flow conditions. This side-view flow chamber consists of two precision rectangular glass tubes called microslides. A smaller microslide is inserted into a larger one to create a flow channel with a flat surface on which either cultured vascular endothelium can be grown or purified adhesion molecules can be coated. Two optical prisms with a 45 degrees chromium-coated surface are used along the flow channel to generate light illumination and observation pathways. The side-view images of cell-substrate contact can be obtained using a light microscope. This design allows us not only to measure the effects of flow on cell-surface adhesion strength, but also to have close observation of cell deformation and adhesive contact to various surfaces in shear flow. In addition, this chamber can readily serve for a conventional top-view flow channel, similar to the parallel-plate flow chambers used in many areas. The development of such a side-view flow chamber can be beneficial to various in vitro applications in cellular studies that require an edge view, especially for various cell interactions with cultured vascular endothelium or surfaces containing single-type adhesive molecules under flow conditions.
Sedating children for radiological procedures: an intensivist's perspective.

There has been a phenomenal increase in the number of diagnostic and interventional radiology procedures in the past decade. Consequently, the demand for fast, effective and safe sedation for children has grown exponentially as well. The parents expect a relatively pain and anxiety free experience for their children. The radiologists expect the child to be cooperative and not move. Meanwhile, the regulatory standards for sedation have become more stringent. Moreover, with the advent of PACS and digital radiology, the radiologist reading the diagnostic studies may not be in the same room, or even in the same country as the patient undergoing the tests. The time pressures has increased tremendously on the pediatric radiologists and the ‘opportunity costs’ of supervising the sedation of a child is steep. The “scanner-time” is scarce and there is no scope for ineffective and inefficient sedation regimen. Many different models are being introduced in different institutions for providing effective, efficient and safe sedation to children undergoing radiological procedures. The following viewpoint reflects the perspective of a pediatric intensivist-based sedation program.
Immunomodulatory activity of interferon-beta

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disorder of the central nervous system that appears to be driven by a shift in immune functioning toward excess inflammation that results in demyelination and axonal loss. Beta interferons were the first class of disease-modifying therapies to be approved for patients with MS after treatment with this type I interferon improved the course of MS on both clinical and radiological measures in clinical trials. The mechanism of action of interferon-beta appears to be driven by influencing the immune system at many levels, including antigen-presenting cells, T cells, and B cells. One effect of these interactions is to shift cytokine networks in favor of an anti-inflammatory effect. The pleiotropic mechanism of action may be a critical factor in determining the efficacy of interferon-beta in MS. This review will focus on select immunological mechanisms that are influenced by this type I cytokine.
Scanning electrochemical microscopy. 60. Quantitative calibration of the SECM substrate generation/tip collection mode and its use for the study of the oxygen reduction mechanism.

The substrate generation/tip collection (SG/TC) mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) coupled with linear voltammetry is proposed as a way to quantify reaction intermediates generated in the solution at small substrates (100 μm diameter). The collection efficiency (CE) for SG/TC mode depends on the collector tip radius (a), the tip/substrate distance (d), and the size of the insulating glass sheath surrounding the collector tip (RG). In this work, we present experimental and simulated calibration CE values for different SG/TC geometries. Results of digital simulations in axial 2-D symmetry with the tip approaching a planar substrate are shown and fit experimental results obtained using ferrocenemethanol as a redox mediator very well. This model assumes that the mediator reacts under stationary-state conditions and undergoes diffusion-controlled electron transfer without any heterogeneous or homogeneous kinetic complications. Empirical equations for all SG/TC geometries reported here are provi...
A fast, low-mass detector for charged particles☆

Abstract A multiwire proportional counter is described which yields time, position, and angle information. We report a measured time resolution of 2 ns fwhm, and an estimated position resolution of 0.1 mm.
Evaluation of Milk Fat Fractionation and Modification Techniques for Creating Cocoa Butter Replacers

Abstract The utilization of milk fat fractions or interesterified milk fat fractions in chocolate confectionery was examined. Anhydrous milk fat was fractionated by two methods: multiple step melt crystallization; and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. The middle- and high-melting fractions were then interesterified using an immobilized lipase under conditions of CO2 at atmospheric pressure or CO2 at supercritical pressures. Milk fat and milk fat fractions were used to prepare mixtures with cocoa butter which were analysed for solid fat content using nuclear magnetic resonance. Isosolid diagrams were prepared from solid fat data to evaluate interactions between milk fat and cocoa butter. Experimental milk chocolates with 10% or 20% of the cocoa butter replaced by milk fat fraction were evaluated. These chocolates also contained intact milk fat added as whole milk powder during conching. Evaluation of cocoa butter/milk fat mixtures indicated that the high-melting fraction produced by melt crystallization was more compatible with cocoa butter than anhydrous milk fat, particularly after interesterification under atmospheric or supercritical conditions. No other fraction, native or modified, displayed significantly increased compatibility. Evaluation of experimental milk chocolates demonstrated that chocolates prepared with modified high-melting fractions replacing 10% of the cocoa butter were significantly harder than chocolates containing 10% of any other milk fat fraction, native or modified. However, these chocolates were still significantly softer than the control chocolate. More potential may exist for using milk fat fractions in dark chocolate than for milk chocolate, which already contains milk fat.
Dendritic cell neurofibroma with pseudorosettes: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 5 intraoral cases

Objective We report cases of dendritic cell neurofibroma with pseudorosettes (DCNP) presenting in the oral cavity and discuss clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features that differentiate this from other benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Study Design DCNPs were identified over a 2-year period, and history and histopathologic features were reviewed. Common nerve sheath tumors from the same period were identified and compared. Results Five intraoral cases of DCNP presented in 2 men and 3 women, with a median age of 59 years. Three presented on the buccal mucosa, and 2 presented on the tongue. Each exhibited a biphasic population of cells with pseudorosettes and strong CD57 positivity. Conclusions With 31 cases of DCNP reported, the most common site of occurrence is now the head and neck region. DCNPs exhibit a characteristic biphasic population of cells and strong CD57 positivity. Pathologists should consider this diagnosis when confronted with unusual neural lesions.
Postoperative recurrence of angina pectoris after aortocoronary venous graft bypass.

Abstract Fifty-six patients with angina pectoris under-went aortocoronary bypass graft implantation. All subjects had an initial angina-free postoperative period. Twelve patients so operated upon had a return of angina pectoris; their clinical and catheterization findings did not differ in any respect when compared with those in the pain-free group. Eight subjects with occlusion of all aortocoronary grafts denied postoperative angina pectoris. It is concluded that caution should be exercised in attributing the relief of angina pectoris to aortocoronary bypass graft patency.
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma presenting as lipoatrophy and nodules.

Background Cutaneous lymphomas have many morphologic forms and clinical features. Lymphoma presents rarely with a constellation of nodules, panniculitis, and localized lipoatrophy. The histopathologic similarities of lymphoma and connective tissue disease panniculitis may create a diagnostic challenge. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the case of a 47-year-old man who presented 15 years earlier with recurrent fevers, fatigue, tender subcutaneous nodules, and facial, trunk, and extremity lipoatrophy. Results Initial biopsy of a cutaneous nodule showed lymphohistiocytic panniculitis without atypical inflammatory cells. Serologic tests showed negative connective tissue serologies, yet the initial clinical impression was most consistent with lupus panniculitis. Initially, the patient was treated with oral prednisone; later, steroid-sparing agents were used with modest improvement evidenced by resolution of his systemic symptoms and stabilization of the cutaneous findings. A decade later, more pronounced facial lipoatrophy, new facial nodules, and posterior thigh pain developed. Laboratory testing showed leukopenia, elevated liver and muscle enzymes, hypertriglyceridemia, and a low level of high-density lipoprotein. Biopsy of a new chin nodule indicated peripheral T-cell lymphoma, whereas an evaluation for systemic malignant involvement was negative. The patient was started on chemotherapy, which resulted in stabilization of the lipoatrophy and decreasing size and frequency of the cutaneous nodules, but the posterior thigh pain persisted. Conclusions We report a rare case of lymphoma presenting as nodules and profound lipoatrophy, which exemplifies the complexity of lymphomas. Profound lipoatrophy and panniculitis may be an unusual and diagnostically challenging presentation of cutaneous lymphoma.
Immunotherapy of Colorectal Cancer

Research and clinical interest in the therapy of cancer and in adjuvant therapy for preventing cancer recurrence involve the application of sophisticated immunological techniques to the recognition and destruction of tumour targets. The current status of immunotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer includes modifications of monoclonal antibodies that recognise surface glycoproteins of colorectal cancer cells in a relatively specific fashion. These have been used successfully for imaging studies and in preclinical therapeutic trials. Attempts are under way to find the optimum radioisotope for antibody labelling in order to maximise therapeutic efficacy while maintaining low toxicity. Chemical and molecular modifications of antibody molecules are directed at improving their therapeutic efficacy while reducing their immunogenicity.
Numerical Modeling of a Micro-Scale Stirling Cooler

Micro-scale coolers have a wide range of potential application areas, such as cooling for chip- and board-level electronics, sensors and radio frequency systems. Miniature devices operating on the Stirling cycle are an attractive potential choice due to the high efficiencies realized for macroscale Stirling machines. A new micro-scale Stirling cooler system composed of arrays of silicon MEMS cooling elements has been designed. In this paper, we use computational tools to analyze the porosity-dependence of the pressure and heat transfer performance in the regenerator. For laminar flow in the micro-scale regenerator, the optimal porosity is in a range of 0.85∼0.9 based on maximizing the system coefficient of performance (COP). The system’s thermal performance was then predicted considering compressible flow and heat transfer with a large deformed mesh in COMSOL. The Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) technique was used to handle the deformed geometry and the moving boundary. To overcome the computational complexity brought about by the fine pillar structure in the regenerator, a porous medium model was used to replace the pillars in the model, allowing for numerical predictions of full-element geometry. Parametric studies of the design demonstrate the effect of the operating frequency on the cooling capacity and the COP of the system.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Effect of indium impurities on the de Haas-van Alphen effect in lead

Abstract Several aspects of the effect of indium impurities on the de Haas-van Alphen effect in lead were investigated. Studies were made of the nature of several orbits in the third zone Fermi surface of pure lead and the effects of alloying on these orbits. Rigid band theory is able to account for changes in cross-sectional area for one of the orbits. Some data on the scattering temperature obtained from amplitude studies are also reported.
SPM-based Electrical Characterization of Aged Waspaloy Microstructures

The results of SPM-based localized electrical examination of precipitation hardened Waspaloy microstructures using Electrostatic Force Microscopy (EFM) and Current-Atomic Force Microscopy (I-AFM) are reported herein. The measurements were conducted on two differently etched specimens with the same initial microstructure. Selective etching by preferentially removing the ?’ or the ? phase resulted in a non-uniform surface topography leaving the less reactive phase standing in relief relative to the depressed phase. The presence of a non-uniform surface topography affected the measured EFM response by causing an inhomogeneous surface voltage distribution. A non-linear tip-surface interaction could have further complicated the measured EFM response by making it non-localized. The EFM phase obeyed a supplementary behavior upon reversing the polarity of the DC bias. Using I-AFM, the tip current was found to be the highest at ?-?’ interphase boundaries, which was attributed to the relaxation of the lattice atoms in the relief zone formed upon etching.
Monograph of the solenofilomorphidae (Turbellaria: Acoela)

Morphological studies of eleven new species in the family permitted reconstruction of progressive evolutionary lines, and this strongly implies progressive evolutionary lines for other acoela. Solenofilomorpha funilis n. sp., Myopea crassula n. g. n. sp., M. latafaucium n. sp., Fusantrum rhammiphorum n. g. n. sp. and Endocincta punctata n. g. n. sp. are described from the coast of South Carolina, U.S.A., and S. guaymensis n. sp. is described from the Gulf of California. Five additional unnamed species from the U. S. Pacific Coast, Sweden and Tunisia are briefly described. Two species groupings were based on correlation between two different arrangements of pharynx muscles and trio arrangements of antrum muscles and further correlations with lesser characters. The membership of the two groupings in a single family make it clear that evolution proceeded by addition of structures to a less complex common ancestor. Functional and behavioral considerations support the evolutionary path drawn from morphology. Distinctive statocyst structure, ciliary interconnections and sperm morphology shared by acoels show them to have a common ancestry, but clearly different pharynges and male structures cannot be consistent with evolution by reductions. A common ancestor of low complexity has probably given rise to several partly parallel evolutionary lines which together form the structurally diverse Acoela. The history of acoel systematics is also briefly summarized.
Effects of visceral inputs on the processing of labyrinthine signals by the inferior and caudal medial vestibular nuclei: ramifications for the production of motion sickness

Neurons located in the caudal aspect of the vestibular nucleus complex have been shown to receive visceral inputs and project to brainstem regions that participate in generating emesis, such as nucleus tractus solitarius and the “vomiting region” in the lateral tegmental field (LTF). Consequently, it has been hypothesized that neurons in the caudal vestibular nuclei participate in triggering motion sickness and that visceral inputs to the vestibular nucleus complex can affect motion sickness susceptibility. To obtain supporting evidence for this hypothesis, we determined the effects of intragastric infusion of copper sulfate (CuSO4) on responses of neurons in the inferior and caudal medial vestibular nuclei to rotations in vertical planes. CuSO4 readily elicits nausea and emesis by activating gastrointestinal (GI) afferents. Infusion of CuSO4 produced a >30 % change in spontaneous firing rate of approximately one-third of neurons in the caudal aspect of the vestibular nucleus complex. These changes in firing rate developed over several minutes, presumably in tandem with the emetic response. The gains of responses to vertical vestibular stimulation of a larger fraction (approximately two-thirds) of caudal vestibular nucleus neurons were altered over 30 % by administration of CuSO4. The response gains of some units went up, and others went down, and there was no significant relationship with concurrent spontaneous firing rate change. These findings support the notion that the effects of visceral inputs on motion sickness susceptibility are mediated in part through the caudal vestibular nuclei. However, our previous studies showed that infusion of CuSO4 produced larger changes in response to vestibular stimulation of LTF neurons, as well as parabrachial nucleus neurons that are believed to participate in generating nausea. Thus, integrative effects of GI inputs on the processing of labyrinthine inputs must occur at brain sites that participate in eliciting motion sickness in addition to the caudal vestibular nuclei. It seems likely that the occurrence of motion sickness requires converging inputs to brain areas that generate nausea and vomiting from a variety of regions that process vestibular signals.
Effect of UV irradiation on gas sensing behavior of nanocrystalline ZnO thin films

The effect of UV irradiation on ZnO thin film based gas sensor was investigated. Zinc oxide thin films were deposited on an alkali free glass substrate by magnetron sputtering system using zinc target. The UV irradiation of the ZnO thin films was measured to understand the change of microstructure, electrical properties, optical properties and gas sensing characteristics. The X-ray diffraction patterns and SEM images revealed that the films have a nanocrystalline structure. The optical properties of ZnO films were not affected by the UV irradiation significantly. The gas sensing behavior of zinc oxide thin films were enhanced by UV irradiation for a shorter period whereas sensing characteristics were degraded for a longer irradiation period. It was also observed that the dependence of gas sensing characteristics was correlated with the change of electrical properties and crystallinity of films.