cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ENSO indices from sea surface salinity observed by Aquarius and Argo

Analysis of the first 26 months of data from the Aquarius satellite confirms the existence of a sharp sea surface salinity (SSS) front along the equator in the western equatorial Pacific. Following several earlier studies, we use the longitudinal location of the 34.8-psu isohaline as an index, termed Nino-S34.8, to measure the zonal displacement of the SSS front and consequently the eastern edge of the western Pacific warm pool. The on-going collection of the Array for Real-time Geostrophic Oceanography (ARGO) program data shows high correlations between Nino-S34.8 and the existing indices of El Nino, suggesting its potential important role in ENSO evolution. Further analysis of the ARGO data reveals that SSS variability in the southeastern tropical Pacific is crucial to identify the type of El Nino. A new SSS index, termed the southeastern Pacific SSS index (SEPSI), is defined based on the SSS variability in the region (0°–10°S, 150°–90°W). The SEPSI is highly correlated with the El Nino Modoki index, as well as the Trans-Nino index, introduced by previous studies. It has large positive anomalies during central Pacific El Nino or El Nino Modoki events, as a result of enhanced zonal sea surface temperature gradients between the central and eastern tropical Pacific, and can be used to characterize the type of El Nino. The processes that possibly control these SSS indices are also discussed.
Effect of Via Etch Profile and Barrier Metal on Electromigration Performance of W-Filled Via Structure in TiN/AlCu/TiN Metallization

In this study, we have evaluated electromigration performance of W-plug vias, fabricated with process variations in via hole etching as well as in via barrier deposition, on a TiN(barrier)/AlCu/TiN metallization system. We found that via etch profile scheme as well as deposition conformity for via barrier can significantly affect W-plug via lifetimes. The results indicate that the quality of contact with AlCu layer of bottom level metal is a critical factor in determining via lifetime. Precise control of via etching or by use of conformal via barrier to ensure a good barrier between W-plug and the AlCu of bottom level metal is essential for achieving reliable via structures.
fMRI in the awake marmoset: somatosensory-evoked responses, functional connectivity, and comparison with propofol anesthesia.

Functional neuroimaging in animal models is essential for understanding the principles of neurovascular coupling and the physiological basis of fMRI signals that are widely used to study sensory and cognitive processing in the human brain. While hemodynamic responses to sensory stimuli have been characterized in humans, animal studies are able to combine very high resolution imaging with invasive measurements and pharmacological manipulation. To date, most high-resolution studies of neurovascular coupling in small animals have been carried out in anesthetized rodents. Here we report fMRI experiments in conscious, awake common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), and compare responses to animals anesthetized with propofol. In conscious marmosets, robust BOLD fMRI responses to somatosensory stimulation of the forearm were found in contralateral and ipsilateral regions of the thalamus, primary (SI) and secondary (SII) somatosensory cortex, and the caudate nucleus. These responses were markedly stronger than those in anesthetized marmosets and showed a monotonic increase in the amplitude of the BOLD response with stimulus frequency. On the other hand, anesthesia significantly attenuated responses in thalamus, SI and SII, and abolished responses in caudate and ipsilateral SI. Moreover, anesthesia influenced several other aspects of the fMRI responses, including the shape of the hemodynamic response function and the interareal (SI–SII) spontaneous functional connectivity. Together, these findings demonstrate the value of the conscious, awake marmoset model for studying physiological responses in the somatosensory pathway, in the absence of anesthesia, so that the data can be compared most directly to fMRI in conscious humans.
Laboratory Evaluation of Open-Graded Asphalt Mixes with Small Aggregates and Various Binders and Additives:

An ongoing research effort seeks to develop alternative asphalt surface mixes that will be quiet and durable without sacrificing safety. The effects of several common combinations of binder type and additive on noise reduction and durability of an open-graded asphalt mix with small aggregate size were investigated. Five binder types and two additives were selected for a 4.75-mm nominal maximum aggregate size gradation. A series of laboratory tests was conducted to evaluate their performance-related pavement surface properties. Results showed that the use of polymer-modified or rubberized binders instead of unmodified binder in the 4.75-mm open-graded mixture reduced permeability but increased acoustic absorption, with the mixture containing asphalt rubber binder showing the most acoustic absorption improvement. The use of asphalt rubber could also increase the mixture resistance to moisture damage, premature failure, raveling, and rutting. There were preliminary indications of friction improvement by repl...
Techniques for extracting statistical data from free-form text using APL

A family of methods has been developed for processing free-form text files using APL. We assume that a file has an arbitrary structure and has regions of statistical and numerical data embedded in it. The data in the file are processed to extract the following information: 1. the embedded statistical and numeric regions, 2. titles, keys (legends), and tic-mark identifiers, associated with each region, and 3. dates and other pertinent information. Once these data are extracted, bar, line, pie charts or a combination of those are plotted. An APL program which is automatically loaded and invoked performs these tasks. The program has been tested on hundreds of files with different structures. Some of these files have multiple statistical regions.
The tensile behavior of an oxide dispersion strengthened copper-niobium composite

Abstract Niobium particulate reinforced aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) dispersion strengthened copper composite is an attractive and emerging engineering material for applications requiring high strength, high thermal and electrical conductivities and resistance to softening at elevated temperatures. In this paper, the microstructure and tensile behavior of the composite is examined. The strength of the material marginally decreases at elevated temperatures with a concomitant improvement in ductility. The composite microstructure maintained a high value of the yield strength/ultimate tensile strength ratio. The fracture behavior of the composite is examined in light of intrinsic microstructural effects, nature of loading and deformation characteristics of the matrix.
Developmental changes in cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase activity and microsomal phospholipid fatty acid composition in alveolar type II cells

Abstract Cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase is the rate-limiting enzyme in the choline pathway of phosphatidylcholine synthesis in fetal and adult lung. To examine the developmental changes in cytidylyltransferase activity, subcellular fractions were prepared from freshly isolated type II cells from 19 and 21 d gestation fetal rats, newborn (0 h, 3 h, 3–12 h, +1, +2, +7 postnatal day), and adult rats and the fractions assayed for cytidylyltransferase activity. Cytidylyltransferase activity per cell was low during late fetal gestation, but rose rapidly during the first 3 h after birth, predominantly due to an increase in microsomal enzyme activity. Microsomal and cytosolic enzyme specific activity increased 6 and 3.9 fold, respectively, from birth (0 h) to +1 postnatal day. The subcellular distribution of enzyme activity changed from 40% microsomal in fetal type II cells to 85% microsomal at 3–12 h, and 60% in this compartment in adult type II cells. Although evidence suggests that membrane lipid may affect enzyme activity, developmental changes in type II cell membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition have not been previously studied. Capillary gas chromatography analysis of phospholipid fatty acids extracted from microsome fractions revealed a 3-fold increase in both total saturated and unsaturated phospholipid fatty acids from day 19 to day 21 gestation. There was a further 62% increase in total saturated fatty acids during the first postnatal day, concomitant with the peak in microsomal cytidylyltransferase activity.
Localizing age-related changes in brain structure between childhood and adolescence using statistical parametric mapping

Volumetric studies have consistently shown reductions in cerebral gray matter volume between childhood and adolescence, with the most dramatic changes occurring in the more dorsal cortices of the frontal and parietal lobes. The purpose of this study was to examine the spatial location of these changes employing methods typical of functional imaging studies. T1-weighted structural MRI data (1.2 mm) were analyzed for nine normally developing children and nine normal adolescents. Validity and reliability of the tissue segmentation protocol were assessed as part of several preprocessing analyses prior to statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Using SPM96, a simple contrast of average gray matter differences between the two age groups revealed 57 significant clusters (SPM[Z] height threshold, P<0.001, extent threshold 50, uncorrected). The pattern and distribution of differences were consistent with earlier findings from the volumetric assessment of the same subjects. Specifically, more differences were observed in dorsal frontal and parietal regions with relatively few differences observed in cortices of the temporal and occipital lobes. Permutation tests were conducted to assess the overall significance of the gray matter differences and validity of the parametric maps. Twenty SPMs were created with subjects randomly assigned to groups. None of the random SPMs approached the number of significant clusters observed in the age difference SPM (mean number of significant clusters = 5.8). The age effects observed appear to result from regions that consistently segment as gray matter in the younger group and consistently segment as white matter in the older group. The utility of these methods for localizing relatively subtle structural changes that occur between childhood and adolescence has not previously been examined.
Investigation of Tunneling States Using the Spin-Phonon Interaction. II. Analysis

A detailed comparison is made between the experimental results outlined in the preceding paper and the presently available theory. It is found that the Devonshire model adequately accounts for the results on KCl:C${\mathrm{N}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. A tunneling model is appropriate to the system KCl:${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$. Using this model, our results indicate that a significant amount of tunneling occurs along the body diagonal. This in turn indicates that the potential barrier to motion along the body diagonal is considerably less than that obtained from the calculations of Quigley and Das and of Wilson et al.
Buddhism, death, and the feminine

This article is an attempt to elucidate how certain developmental issues and conflicts are constellated in non-Western theologies. Despite a prevailing view of Buddhism as a philosophy of detachment that enlightens us about our illusions and the psychological causes of our suffering, numerous Buddhist texts also evidence marked disgust for the body and physical decay, disparage the putrescing body as a real thing, and, finally, blame women for death and contamination. It is the task of clinicians to trace the origins of ideas, feelings, and pathological character structures in their patients. Psychohistorians and psychologists of religion, on the other hand, attempt to shed light on constellations of emotional arrest and injury, the determinants of motive, fantasy, and imagination in historical individuals, groups, and cultures. While this task may seem epistemically complicated, and indeed any psychological methodology may be justly susceptible to a variety of criticisms, the discoveries of psychoanalysis may be invoked to identify certain specific patterns of behavior and fantasy that might not be discerned as clearly without a psychological lens. When one examines the fecal obsessions of Martin Luther,
Functional pitch of a liver: fatty liver disease diagnosis with photoacoustic spectrum analysis

To provide more information for classification and assessment of biological tissues, photoacoustic spectrum analysis (PASA) moves beyond the quantification of the intensities of the photoacoustic (PA) signals by the use of the frequency-domain power distribution, namely power spectrum, of broadband PA signals. The method of PASA quantifies the linear-fit to the power spectrum of the PA signals from a biological tissue with 3 parameters, including intercept, midband-fit and slope. Intercept and midband-fit reflect the total optical absorption of the tissues whereas slope reflects the heterogeneity of the tissue structure. Taking advantage of the optical absorption contrasts contributed by lipid and blood at 1200 and 532 nm, respectively and the heterogeneous tissue microstructure in fatty liver due to the lipid infiltration, we investigate the capability of PASA in identifying histological changes of fatty livers in mouse model. 6 and 9 pairs of normal and fatty liver tissues from rat models were examined by ex vivo experiment with a conventional rotational PA measurement system. One pair of rat models with normal and fatty livers was examined non-invasively and in situ with our recently developed ultrasound and PA parallel imaging system. The results support our hypotheses that the spectrum analysis of PA signals can provide quantitative measures of the differences between the normal and fatty liver tissues and that part of the PA power spectrum can suffice for characterization of microstructures in biological tissues. Experimental results also indicate that the vibrational absorption peak of lipid at 1200nm could facilitate fatty liver diagnosis.
Olefins as major components of epicuticular lipids of three Sitophilus weevils

Abstract 1. 1. Cuticular hydrocarbons of adults of the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), maize weevil, S. zeamais Motschulsky and granary weevil, S. granarius (L.), were analyzed by gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. n-Alkanes, methylbranched alkanes, n-alkenes, n-alkadienes and traces of n-alkatrienes were detected in each species. 2. 2. n-Alkanes composed 27.0, 26.6 and 43.3% of the hydrocarbons in S. oryzae, S. zeamais, and S. granarius, respectively. Even and odd chain components from C16 to C39 were detected in each species. n-Heptacosane, n-nonacosane, and n-hentriacontane were major components. 3. 3. Branched-chain alkanes were minor components (0.8–2.5%) of the total hydrocarbons in each species. Internally- and terminally-branched monomethylalkanes and internally-branched dimethylalkanes were identified. Internally branched dimethylalkanes with 11 (9,21-dimethyltritriacontane and 11,23-dimethylpentatriacontane) and 13 (11,25-dimethylheptatriacontane) methylenes between the branch points were identified in S. zeamais. 4. 4. n-Alkenes (C27:1 to C47:1) made up 18.5, 15.1 and 27.6% of the hydrocarbons of S. oryzae, S. zeamais, and S. granarius, respectively. n-Hentriacontene and n-tritriacontene were predominant components. Double bond positions were located primarily at 7–8 and 9–10. 5. 5. n-Alkadienes (C31:2 to C47:2) made up 53.7, 57.2 and 26.6% of the hydrocarbons of S. oryzae, S. zeamais and S. granarius, respectively. n-Tritriacontadiene, n-pentatriacontadiene and n-heptatriacontadiene were predominant components. Each GLC peak was an isomeric mixture. 6. 6. Hydrocarbon components of S. oryzae and S. zeamais were quantitatively and qualitatively very similar. However, significant differences were found between these two species and S. granarius. The use of cuticular hydrocarbons as chemotaxonomic markers in Coleoptera is briefly discussed.
Gender and theory of mind in preschoolers' group effort: evidence for timing differences behind children's earliest social loafing.

This study explored mental state reasoning within the context of group effort and possible differences in development between boys and girls. Preschool children (59 girls, 47 boys) were assessed for theory of mind (ToM) ability using classic false belief tests. Children participated in group effort conditions that alternated from one condition, where individual effort was transparent and obvious, to one where individual effort remained anonymous. The aim was to investigate if emergent mental state reasoning, after controlling for age, was associated with the well-known phenomenon of reduced effort in group tasks (“social loafing”). Girls had slightly higher ToM scores and social loafing than boys. Hierarchical regression, controlling for age, indicated that understanding of others’ false beliefs uniquely predicted social loafing and interacted weakly with gender status.
Middle School Drum Ensemble: An Unlikely Experience in Classroom Democracy.

Though music has a long and successful history within education, it is often one of the first sacrificial lambs when school budgets tighten. Over the course of an academic year, a documentary film sought to tell the story of an American middle school drum ensemble. The context of this group provided an ideal way to examine the nature of student participation in extra-curricular activities and how those activities provide the kinds of challenges and experiences that lead to satisfaction and self-efficacy in students. Most of these students have never played an instrument, and the group represents a cross section for every type of social group within this school setting. The tone taken by the teacher is one of democratic equalities. Students know and experience this, and it is one of many reasons why the group has continually grown over the short time it has been at this school.
Complexity reduction in compressive sensing using Hirschman uncertainty structured random matrices

Compressive Sensing (CS) increases the computational complexity of decoding while simplifying the sampling process. In this paper, we apply our previously discussed Hirschman Optimal Transform to develop a series of measurement matrices that reduce the computational complexity of decoding while preserving the recovery performance. In addition, this application provides us alternative choices when we need different accuracy levels for the recovered image. Our simulation results show that with only 1/4 the computational resources of the partial DFT sensing basis, our proposed new sensing matrices achieve the best PSNR performance, which is fully 5dB superior to other commonly used sensing bases.
The Dynamics of Planar Quadratic Maps with Nonempty Bounded Critical Set

If the critical set of a planar quadratic map is bounded and nonempty, then the range is doubly covered except the image of the critical set and the region bounded by it (Fig. 1). For a map of this type, we showed that infinity is a sink and the set of bounded orbits is nonempty hence its boundary may be regarded as a generalization of Julia sets of complex quadratic maps. In this paper, we also provided evidences to conjecture that maps of this type have infinitely many periodic points.
Impact of hypoxia on the metastatic potential of human prostate cancer cells.

Purpose Intratumoral hypoxia is known to be associated with radioresistance and metastasis. The present study examined the effect of acute and chronic hypoxia on the metastatic potential of prostate cancer PC-3, DU145, and LNCaP cells. Methods and Materials Cell proliferation and clonogenicity were tested by MTT assay and colony formation assay, respectively. “Wound-healing” and Matrigel-based chamber assays were used to monitor cell motility and invasion. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression was tested by Western blot, and HIF-1-target gene expression was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was determined by gelatin zymography. Results When PC-3 cells were exposed to 1% oxygen (hypoxia) for various periods of time, chronic hypoxia (≥24 h) decreased cell proliferation and induced cell death. In contrast, prostate cancer cells exposed to acute hypoxia (≤6 h) displayed increased motility, clonogenic survival, and invasive capacity. At the molecular level, both hypoxia and anoxia transiently stabilized HIF-1α. Exposure to hypoxia also induced the early expression of MMP-2, an invasiveness-related gene. Treatment with the HIF-1 inhibitor YC-1 attenuated the acute hypoxia-induced migration, invasion, and MMP-2 activity. Conclusions The length of oxygen deprivation strongly affected the functional behavior of all three prostate cancer cell lines. Acute hypoxia in particular was found to promote a more aggressive metastatic phenotype.
THE INTERACTION OF HOST AND BACTERIUM IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICABILITY BY STREPTOCOCCUS HAEMOLYTICUS

An epidemic of infections due to group A Streptococcus haemolyticus type 12 originated in an infant with bronchiectasis, and involved children and nurses. Some of the children spread contagion; the nurses did not spread contagion. The children who spread contagion had few or no recognizable type 12 organisms in their throats; most of the nurses had type 12 predominant in their throat flora. Two children who spread contagion had non-hemolytic streptococci in their throat flora, which became hemolytic on cultivation and proved to be type 12. Four children had in their throat flora hemolytic type 12 streptococci which became non-hemolytic when grown in fluid media containing serum. These infants appeared to act as disseminating hosts in which the pathogen developed communicability and at the same time became morphologically and physiologically labile. The labile streptococci gave rise to atypical forms whose requirements for rapid reproduction (as tested in vitro) were similar to those existing in the human host. The hypothesis presented is that the genesis of communicability depends on the coexistence of two conditions: a transmitting host lacking in restraining influences, permitting the acquisition of physiological lability by the microorganism; and the development of adaptive mechanisms in the bacterial cell, facilitating survival under atmospheric conditions and subsequent colonization in the environment of human tissues.
Automatic synthesis of extended burst-mode circuits using generalized C-elements

Presents a new automatic synthesis technique for extended burst-mode circuits, a class of asynchronous circuits that allows multiple input changes between state transitions and a choice of next states based on input signal levels. The target implementation is a pseudo-static asymmetric CMOS complex gate for each output, known as a generalized C-element. The synthesis algorithm generates hazard-free covers for the set and reset functions of each output using Nowick and Dill's (1995) exact hazard-free logic minimization algorithm. Each output circuit is formed by mapping its set and reset logic to N and P stacks of an asymmetric CMOS gate connected to a sustainer; long-series stacks are decomposed into static gates followed by short stacks. A simple heuristic is used to ensure that no short-circuit paths exist from V/sub dd/ to ground. The resulting circuits for small- to medium-size extended burst-mode specifications are 40% smaller and 30% faster than the two-level circuits generated by a 3D synthesis tool, and significantly smaller and faster than the complex-gate circuits generated by the method of Kudva et al. (1996).
The Differential Requirement for Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Activities Distinguishes Two Functions of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 ICP0

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) ICP0 directs the degradation of cellular proteins associated with nuclear structures called ND10, a function thought to be closely associated with its broad transactivating activity. Roscovitine (Rosco), an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks), inhibits the replication of HSV-1, HSV-2, human cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster virus, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by inhibiting specific steps or activities of viral regulatory proteins, indicating the broad and pleiotropic effects that cdks have on the replication of these viruses. We previously demonstrated that Rosco inhibits the transactivating activity of ICP0. In the present study, we asked whether Rosco also affects the ability of ICP0 to direct the degradation of ND10-associated proteins. For this purpose, WI-38 cells treated with cycloheximide (CHX) were mock infected or infected with wild-type HSV-1 or an ICP0− mutant (7134). After release from the CHX block, the infections were allowed to proceed for 2 h in the presence or absence of Rosco at a concentration known to inhibit ICP0's transactivating activity. The cells were then examined for the presence of ICP0 and selected ND10-associated antigens (promyelocytic leukemia antigen [PML], sp100, hDaxx, and NDP55) by immunofluorescence. Staining for the ND10-associated antigens was detected in ≤20% of KOS-infected cells in the presence or absence of Rosco, demonstrating that Rosco-sensitive kinases are not required for ICP0's ability to direct the dispersal or degradation of these antigens. In contrast, >90% of 7134- and mock-infected cells stained positive for all ND10-associated antigens in the presence or absence of Rosco. Similar results were obtained with a non-ND10-associated antigen, DNA-PKcs, a known target of ICP0-directed degradation. The results of the PML and DNA-PKcs immunofluorescence studies correlated with a decrease in the levels of these proteins as determined by Western blotting. Thus, the differential requirement for Rosco-sensitive cdk activities distinguishes ICP0's ability to direct the dispersal or degradation of cellular proteins from its transactivating activity.
The MsPRP2 promoter enables strong heterologous gene expression in a root-specific manner and is enhanced by overexpression of Alfin 1

Promoter specificity and efficiency of utilization are essential for endogenous and transgene expression. Selective root expression remains to be defined in terms of both promoter elements and transcription factors that provide high levels of ubiquitous expression. We characterized expression from the MsPRP2 promoter with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter transgene in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and found that a promoter fragment (+1 to -652 bp) retained the root and callus specificity of the endogenous MsPRP2 gene and hence this promoter fragment contains elements necessary for root-specific expression. The strong ubiquitous expression obtained from this promoter was comparable to that of the CaMV 35S promoter in roots and was enhanced by transgenic overexpression of Alfin 1, a root- and callus-specific transcription factor in alfalfa. No transgenic expression was obtained in leaves with this promoter in the presence or absence of Alfin 1. The increased expression of GFP in alfalfa containing the Alfin 1 transgene confirms the function of Alfin 1 binding sites in the MsPRP2 promoter fragment and also indicates that Alfin 1 concentrations are limiting for maximal expression in calli and roots. These findings characterize the MsPRP2 promoter as a novel root- and callus-specific promoter of plant origin that can be used as an effective tool for strong root-directed gene expression. In addition, we have demonstrated that the signal sequence of MsPRP2 can be used for efficient secretion of transgene products from callus and roots.
A randomized controlled trial of Hanen’s ‘More Than Words’ in toddlers with early autism symptoms

Background: This randomized controlled trial compared Hanen’s ‘More than Words’ (HMTW), a parentimplemented intervention, to a ‘business as usual’ control group. Methods: Sixty-two children (51 boys and 11 girls; M age = 20 months; SD = 2.6) who met criteria for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their parents participated in the study. The HMTW intervention was provided over 3.5 months. There were three measurement periods: prior to randomization (Time 1) and at 5 and 9 months post enrollment (Times 2 and 3). Children’s communication and parental responsivity were measured at each time point. Children’s object interest, a putative moderator, was measured at Time 1. Results: There were no main effects of the HMTW intervention on either parental responsivity or children’s communication. However, the effects on residualized gains in parental responsivity from Time 1 to both Times 2 and 3 yielded noteworthy effect sizes (Glass’s D = .71, .50 respectively). In contrast, there were treatment effects on child communication gains to Time 3 that were moderated by children’s Time 1 object interest. Children with lower levels of Time 1 object interest exhibited facilitated growth in communication; children with higher levels of object interest exhibited growth attenuation. Conclusions: The HMTW intervention showed differential effects on child communication depending on a baseline child factor. HMTW facilitated communication in children with lower levels of Time 1 object interest. Parents of children who evidence higher object interest may require greater support to implement the HMTW strategies, or may require different strategies than those provided by the HMTW curriculum.
VEGF Trap(R1R2) suppresses experimental corneal angiogenesis.

Purpose To determine the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) TrapR1R2 on bFGF-induced experimental corneal neovascularization (NV). Methods Control pellets or pellets containing 80 ng bFGF were surgically implanted into wild-type C57BL/6 and VEGF-LacZ mouse corneas. The corneas were photographed, harvested, and the percentage of corneal NV was calculated. The harvested corneas were evaluated for VEGF expression. VEGF-LacZ mice received tail vein injections of an endothelial-specific lectin after pellet implantation to determine the temporal and spatial relationship between VEGF expression and corneal NV. Intraperitoneal injections of VEGF TrapR1R2 or a human IgG Fc domain control protein were administered, and bFGF pellet-induced corneal NV was evaluated. Results NV of the corneal stroma began on day 4 and was sustained through day 21 following bFGF pellet implantation. Progression of vascular endothelial cells correlated with increased VEGF-LacZ expression. Western blot analysis showed increased VEGF expression in the corneal NV zone. Following bFGF pellet implantation, the area of corneal NV in untreated controls was 1.05+/-0.12 mm2 and 1.53+/-0.27 mm2 at days 4 and 7, respectively. This was significantly greater than that of mice treated with VEGF Trap (0.24+/-0.11 mm2 and 0.35+/-0.16 mm2 at days 4 and 7, respectively; p Conclusions Corneal keratocytes express VEGF after bFGF stimulation and bFGF-induced corneal NV is blocked by intraperitoneal VEGF TrapR1R2 administration. Systemic administration of VEGF TrapR1R2 may have potential therapeutic applications in the management of corneal NV.
Assessing hospital preparedness: comparison of an on-site survey with a self-reported, internet-based, long-distance tabletop drill.

BackgroundMethods of defining hospital disaster preparedness are poorly defined in the literature, leaving wide discrepancies between a hospital's self-reported preparedness and that assessed by an objective reviewer.ObjectivesThis study compared self-reported surge capacity data from individual hospitals, obtained from a previously reported long-distance tabletop drill (LDTT) prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament in Cape Town, South Africa, with surge capacity data assessed by an on-site survey inspection team.MethodsIn this prospective, observational study, contact persons used in the prior LDTT assessing hospital disaster preparedness in the lead-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup made surge capacity assessments (licensed bed capacity plus surge capacity beds) for the respiratory intensive care unit (RICU), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), medical intensive care unit (MICU), and general medical/surgical beds in each hospital. Following the 2010 World Cup, this data was then re-evaluated by an on-site survey team consisting of two of the authors.ResultsThe contact persons for the individual hospitals from the LDTT underreported their individual hospital's surge capacity in 86% (95% CI, 46%-99%) of RICU beds; 100% (95% CI, 63%-100%) of MICU beds; 75% (95% CI, 40%-94%) of NICU beds; and 71% (95% CI, 35%-92%) of medical/surgical beds compared with the on-site inspection team.ConclusionsThe contact persons for the LDTT overwhelmingly underreported surge capacity beds compared with the surge capacity determined by the on-site inspection team.ValeskyW, RoblinP, PatelB, AdelaineJ, ZehtabchiS, ArquillaB. Assessing Hospital Preparedness: Comparison of an On-site Survey with a Self-reported, Internet-based, Long-distance Tabletop Drill. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(4):1-4.
Expanding the molecular recognition repertoire of antifreeze polypeptides: effects on nucleoside crystal growth

Despite differences in the crystal structures of ice and nucleosides, antifreeze polypeptides (AFPs) have been demonstrated to inhibit nucleation of 5-methyluridine, cytidine, and inosine and modify the crystal growth of the nucleosides efficiently. The molecular recognition repertoire of AFPs has been expanded to non-ice-like crystalline solids.
PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES AND SUBJECTIVE DISCOMFORT OF SIMULATED WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION FROM A MOBILE UNDERGROUND MINING MACHINE

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has developed an in-house facility to evaluate selected effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) levels experienced by underground mobile equipment operators. Vertical vibration data were collected from a coal haulage vehicle via a uniaxial accelerometer attached to the machine frame under the operator's seat. Data were analyzed and processed so a computer-controlled platform could approximate the vibration signals. Eight men (35.5 yr ± 6.5 SD) participated in a pilot study to evaluate the effects of shock and WBV on heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and subjective discomfort. Subjects were exposed to vibration for 30-min periods while seated in a typical seat (backrest angle at 90° or 130°) that was plain steel or modified with 2 in foam padding. Subjects repeated the same protocol on a separate day, without the vibration. Results indicated the vibration significantly increased the HR (p < 0.01), systolic BP, mean BP, the number of times subjects reported discomfort, and overall...
Equine bone marrow: A quantitative analysis of erythroid maturation

The equine bone marrow responds to blood loss by increased erythropoiesis, only releasing reticulocytes into the peripheral circulation in severe chronic anemia. We have used morphometric analysis based on electron microscopy of the equine marrow to examine the maturation and release of reticulocytes. Developing red cells in the bone marrows of normal and chronically anemic horses were divided into four stages: early, intermediate, late-stage erythroblasts, and reticulocytes. Morphometric analysis of each stage included volume density of mitochondria per micron3 of cytoplasm, surface area of the outer mitochondrial membrane per unit volume of mitochondria, and the number of ribosomes per unit volume of cytoplasm (total, clustered, single). Matched t tests between normal and anemic animals showed significant differences (P less than or equal to .001) for volume density of mitochondria and numbers of ribosomes only at the reticulocyte stage. The large reticulocyte produced and released in chronic anemia may be best explained by a skipped mitotic division.
Rapidly progressive subcutaneous metastases from gallbladder cancer: insight into a rare presentation in gastrointestinal malignancies.

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBCA) is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract. It has an aggressive biology that results in the ability to spread, seed and grow in disparate environments. It can metastasize via lymphatic, hematogenous, and peritoneal seeding. However, GBCA metastasis to distant subcutaneous sites is extremely rare. Case presentation: This case report describes the presentation of metastatic GBCA with rapidly progressive subcutaneous metastases. A 58-year-old woman presented with acute onset right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a calcified and thickened gallbladder with cholelithiasis and presumed cholecystitis. Diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a gallbladder mass. Biopsies were consistent with GBCA. The patient was referred to our cancer center for further surgical management. However, she was found to have rapidly growing subcutaneous nodules in the shoulders, chest, abdomen, and buttocks. Positron emission tomography (PET) demonstrated that these were fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid. A core needle biopsy of a chest wall lesion was consistent with metastatic GBCA. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with stage IVB GBCA and was initiated on systemic chemotherapy. Discussion: GBCA is known to have an incredible propensity to grow within the peritoneal cavity, as well as along needle biopsy tracts and at laparoscopic port sites. Several case reports have demonstrated that GBCA also has the potential to metastasize to distant subcutaneous sites, most often including breast metastases, while the current cases represents a more diffuse pattern of spread. Conclusions: GBCA belongs to the short list of solid visceral malignancies that have the potential to develop remote subcutaneous metastases.
Organizational Diversity, Vitality and Outcomes in the Civil Rights Movement

Sociologists often assert, but rarely test, the claim that organizational diversity benefits social movements by invigorating movement vitality and facilitating success. Our analysis of black civil rights organizations shows that goal and tactical diversity of a social movement is largely a function of organizational density, level of resources available to the movement, and the number of protests initiated by the movement. Goal diversity increases the rate of protest, whereas tactical diversity increases the likelihood of achieving a desired policy outcome. These findings advance our understanding of social movements and organizations by illuminating how organizational dynamics of a social movement might change over time, and in turn how this change might affect the vitality and desired outcomes of social movements.
Analyzing the use of e-textiles to improve application performance

E-textiles are an alternative to radio-based personal area networks, with potentially significant advantages in hardware cost and energy consumption, through a reduction in the number of communication modules and the energy consumed by data transmission. This paper presents a methodology based on simulation and physical experimentation for quantifying this savings on a large e-textile that determines the bearing/location of one or more distant audible targets.
A simplified resectioning technique

A simple and rapid technique is outlined for 20-40 mUm sectioning of epoxy embedded tissue, removal of areas of interest from the thick sections, resectiening of the selected areas for ultrastructural use. Use of the embeddmg mixture desaibed by Kushida in 1971- makes possible thick sectioning without fracturing. Mounting on glass slides with immersion oil for light microscopic observation facilitates later demouutng for isolation of selected areas. Identification of specific areas of interest is aided by an osmium intensifier stain, p-phenylenediamine. The method is useful for both localizing specific tissue areas and for systematic sampling at precise intervals.
Distributed EM algorithms for density estimation and clustering in sensor networks

The paper considers the problem of density estimation and clustering in distributed sensor networks. It is assumed that each node in the network senses an environment that can be described as a mixture of some elementary conditions. The measurements are thus statistically modeled with a mixture of Gaussians, where each Gaussian component corresponds to one of the elementary conditions. The paper presents a distributed expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm for estimating the Gaussian components, which are common to the environment and sensor network as a whole, as well as the mixing probabilities that may vary from node to node. The algorithm produces an estimate (in terms of a Gaussian mixture approximation) of the density of the sensor data without requiring the data to be transmitted to and processed at a central location. Alternatively, the algorithm can be viewed as a distributed processing strategy for clustering the sensor data into components corresponding to predominant environmental features sensed by the network. The convergence of the distributed EM algorithm is investigated, and simulations demonstrate the potential of this approach to sensor network data analysis.
Long-stemmed humeral components in primary shoulder arthroplasty.

Background Long-stemmed humeral components are often associated with revision shoulder arthroplasty. However, long-stemmed humeral components will likely prove useful in selected patients with extra large shoulders and in those with bone loss from nonarthroplasty causes and in humeral fractures. This study was developed to examine the frequency of use of longer humeral stems, identify the indications for their use, define the results, and enumerate the complications encountered. Materials and methods Thirty-five primary shoulder arthroplasties were followed-up clinically and radiographically for at least 2 years or until revision surgery. The primary indications for use of an intermediate or long stem were a large humeral canal in 18 shoulders and severe preoperative metaphyseal or diaphyseal bone loss in 17. Average clinical follow-up was 6.5 years. Results Excellent or satisfactory results were achieved in 21 of 35 shoulders. No components met criteria to be considered radiographically at risk for clinical loosening. Intraoperative complications included an unrecognized nondisplaced diaphyseal fracture that later displaced in 1 shoulder. Late complications included deep infection in 1 and fracture nonunion in 1. Conclusions Intermediate or long-stemmed humeral components proved useful in obtaining a secure distal fit in patients with a large humeral canal or in those with significant proximal bone loss. Worse clinical results were achieved in those with bone loss. Radiographic follow-up shows these components are at a low risk for loosening.
Risk assessment: Choosing and managing technology-induced risk: How much risk should we choose to live with? How should we assess and manage the risks we face?

For pt.I see ibid., vol.18, no.11, p.58 (1981). This is the second of two articles on risk assessment. In the first, the author developed a framework for thinking about risk. In this framework, two processes-exposures and effects, at left in figure-act upon natural processes and human activities to produce some effect or change. The other two processes-perception and evaluation-act upon this change and develop some notion of risk through costs and benefits, and this is developed upon.
Use of a Contacted Buried ${\rm n}^{+}$ Layer for Single Event Mitigation in 90 nm CMOS

3-D TCAD simulation results predict reduction in single event charge collection, transient pulse widths, and charge sharing in a 90 nm bulk twin well process CMOS by using a contacted n+ buried layer.
Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant problem for critically ill children. The kidney is responsible for numerous homeostatic controls in the body and disruption of kidney function carries significant and severe consequence for the host. Unfortunately, poor understanding of the multifactorial nature of the causes of AKI and the inability to accurately diagnose real-time injury impedes the derivation of any universally accepted “therapy” for kidney injury. The list of causes of AKI in pediatrics is long, but most etiologies share commonalities in how they induce injury. Recent consensus definitions of AKI have allowed for more stratified and tiered injury levels, improving epidemiologic study of the impact of AKI. Biomarker research continues to pursue the optimal marker, or collection of markers, for prediction of AKI, diagnosis of established AKI, and the ability to predict progression or recovery from AKI. Unfortunately, complete recovery from AKI in the critically ill patient is likely more an assumption than the reality. Many patients transition to chronic kidney disease (CKD) months to years after “recovering” from AKI. As nephrologists and intensivists understand that more patients are dying from AKI and not just with AKI, attention has been focused on efforts to prevent AKI in the at-risk patient and supportive care for those afflicted with injury. This chapter will discuss the pathophysiology, diagnosis, epidemiology, and management of AKI in pediatrics and the horizon for the optimal care of children at-risk and recovering from this lethal disease process.
Integrated computational–experimental approach for evaluating recovered fracture strength after induction healing of asphalt concrete beam samples

Abstract This paper presents an integrated computational–experimental approach for evaluating recovered fracture strength after induction healing of asphalt concrete beams containing steel wool fibers. The cyclic beam fracture-healing test was utilized to measure the recovered fracture strength of asphalt concrete samples at temperatures of 60 °C, 80 °C, and 100 °C as reported in previous paper. The 2D multiphase bilinear cohesive zone models (CZM) were employed to predict the fracture strength of original and healed (after fracture) beam samples. For the original sample, the CZM with measured fracture parameters has good prediction on both crack path and sample force–displacement relations. With regards to healed samples, the healed fracture energy was proportionally calibrated with peak stress ratios based on bilinear cohesive law. All the nine tested samples were simulated with eight fracture-healing test cycles. The predicted fracture behaviors of these samples showed favorable comparison with the measured fracture strength after each fracture-healing cyclic test. These comparison study indicated that the integrated computational–experimental tools can be applied to evaluate the sample healing performance.
Limitations in the Interpretation of Intravenous Carotid Digital Subtraction Angiography

To evaluate the limitations of intravenous carotid digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the diagnosis of carotid disease, studies of 130 patients were reviewed. Factors that resulted in a nondiagnostic study included: (1) misregistration larynx artifact overlying the carotid bifurcation; (2) external carotid or vertebral artery overlying the internal carotid artery; and (3) poor arterial contrast density secondary to poor cardiac function. As a result of these limitations, the ideal of adequate demonstration of both carotid bifurcations in two opposite oblique projections or an oblique and anteroposterior projection was achieved in only 34 patients (26%). Of 126 carotid bifurcations that were seen adequately in two or more different projections, 19 (15%) showed an abnormality in one projection but appeared normal in another. These abnormalities would not have been detected had the vessel been visualized only in the spuriously normal-appearing projection. These and other limitations of intravenous DSA, such as contrast load and morbidity, are discussed.