cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correspondence as energy-based segmentation

We pose the correspondence problem as one of energy-based segmentation. In this framework, correspondence assigns each pixel in an image to exactly one of several non-overlapping regions, and it also computes a displacement function for each region. The framework is better able to capture the scene geometry than the more direct formulation of matching pixels in two or more images, particularly when the surfaces in the scene are not fronto-parallel. To illustrate the framework, we present a specific correspondence algorithm that minimizes an energy functional by alternating between (1) segmenting the image into a number of non-overlapping regions using the multiway-cut algorithm of Boykov, Veksler, and Zabih; and (2) finding the affine parameters describing the displacement of the pixels in each region. After convergence, a final step escapes local minima due to over-segmentation. The basic algorithm is extended in two ways: using ground control points to detect long, thin regions; and warping segmentation results to efficiently process image sequences. Experiments on real images show the algorithm's ability to find an accurate segmentation and displacement map, as well as discontinuities and creases, on a wide variety of stereo and motion imagery.
Strategies to Improve Anterior Cruciate Ligament Healing and Graft Placement

Recent improvements in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction have been notable for strategies to improve ACL healing and to improve graft placements. The controversial choice of 1 -bundle or 2-bundle grafts requires an advanced knowledge of native ACL insertional anatomy and an appreciation for the kinematic effects of graft placements. Understanding the limitations of surgical techniques to place tunnels is important. Once grafts are placed, new biologic strategies to promote intra-articular and intraosseous healing are evolving. Although these biologic engineering strategies are currently experimental, they are projected for clinical application in the near future.
Blends of ultrasonically devulcanized tire-curing bladder and butyl rubber

The devulcanization of the butyl rubber based tire-curing bladder was carried out with a grooved barrel ultrasonic extruder. The devulcanized rubber was blended at different ratios with the carbon black filled virgin butyl rubber and cured. The rheological and mechanical properties, as well as gel fraction and crosslink density of the revulcanized rubber and vulcanizates of blends have been measured. The blend of ground tire-curing bladder and carbon black filled butyl rubber has also been prepared for comparison purpose. Compared to the blend containing the ground rubber, compounding of the blends containing the devulcanized bladder were easier and their vulcanizates had smoother surface. In addition, the vulcanizates containing devulcanized tire-curing bladder and virgin rubber showed substantially improved mechanical properties than the vulcanizate of the devulcanized rubber alone.
Some remarks on spherically invariant distributions

Abstract We consider the notion of a spherically invariant measure on a real and separable Hilbert space and study some equivalence properties of measures of this type. The latter are of interest in statistical communication theory.
Effect of increased glucocorticoid responsiveness in transformed mouse lung cells

Many transformed mouse lung cells, including LM2 cells, contain activating mutations in the Ki-ras gene and show reduced responsiveness to growth inhibition by glucocorticoids. LM2GR cells, which are LM2 cells stably transfected with a rat glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene, were used to determine whether increasing glucocorticoid responsiveness can influence aspects of the transformed phenotype. LM2GR cells grew slower and had a lower final saturation density than the parental LM2 cells. Expression of growth-related genes was examined by northern blot analysis. The cells were serum-deprived and treated with fetal bovine serum (FBS), steroid-stripped FBS (ssFBS), dexamethasone, or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. The level and pattern of Ki-ras mRNA expression was similar in both LM2 and LM2GR cells, but histone H4 mRNA was expressed in a more regulated fashion in LM2GR cells. The induction of c-jun and c-fos mRNA expression lasted longer in the LM2GR cells treated with ssFBS; however, the maximal induction was greater in the LM2 cells treated with FBS. LM2GR cells demonstrated similar activator protein-1 (AP-1) activity but higher GR activity than LM2 cells as determined by using AP-1-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) and mouse mammary tumor virus-CAT transient transfection assays, consistent with the higher level of GR mRNA in LM2GR cells. Both cell lines exhibited the ability to grow in soft agar and to form tumors in nude mice. These results indicate that introduction of a functional GR transgene into LM2 cells can increase glucocorticoid responsiveness and alter the expression of genes involved in growth regulation but cannot overcome anchorage-independent cell growth or tumorigenicity, apparently because of the presence of an activated Ki-ras gene.
Influence of intravenous nutrients on bilirubin transport. II. Emulsified lipid solutions.

Summary: The effects of an emulsified intravenous fat preparation (Intralipid) on bilirubin transport were analyzed by cholestyramine extraction, spectrophotometric analysis, Sephadex gel filtration, peroxidase assay, bilirubin uptake by red blood cells, and by toxicity in tissue culture (L-929) cells. Intralipid is capable of binding bilirubin, but does not compete effectively with bilirubin bound to high affinity sites on albumin. The emulsified fat appears to have a higher affinity for bilirubin than for cell membranes. Red blood cells become coated with Intralipid, resulting in an increased association of bilirubin with the cell surface, but a drecrease in pigment actually incorporated into the red cell membrane. In tissue culture experiments, Intralipid protected the cells from bilirubin toxicity. it is conculuded that Intralipid may enhance the carrying capacity of serum for bilirubin, and thus exert a protective effect a protective effect on tissues. Speculation: Emulsified fat appears to interact with serum bilirubin not bound (or loosely bound) to albumin. Higher affinity for bilirubin of Intralipid compared with celluar surface membranes suggests that emulsified fat infusions may act as a temparary barrier to entry of bilirubin of Intralipid compared with cellular surface membranes suggests that emulsified fat infusions may act as temporary barrier to entry of bilirubin into tissues.
Proxy perspectives regarding end-of-life care for persons with cancer.

BACKGROUND Each year, greater than a half million people die of cancer in the U.S. Despite progress in increasing access to palliative oncology services, end-of-life care still needs improvement. Measuring the quality of the end-of-life experience is difficult because of patient debility and reduced consciousness as death approaches. Family proxies have been proposed as valuable informants regarding the quality of end-of-life care. This article describes family proxy perspectives concerning care at the end of life in patients who died of advanced cancer. METHODS In the context of a novel outpatient palliative care demonstration project, 125 family proxy respondents completed a structured survey by telephone 3 months to 6 months after the patient's death from breast, lung, or gastrointestinal cancer. Four key quality of care indicators were measured: decision-making and physician communication, location of death, hospice involvement, and end-of-life symptoms. RESULTS Proxies reported that 78% to 81% of patients completed at least 1 form of advance directive and approximately half of them were helpful in guiding care. Communication with physicians regarding end-of-life treatment wishes occurred in 67% of cases, but only 57% of the patients actually made a plan with their physician to ensure that their wishes were followed. The majority of patients died in their location of choice, most often at home, and greater than half had hospice involvement for an average of 41.8 days before death. During the last week of life, the majority of patients experienced troublesome physical and emotional symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Measurement of proxy perspectives is feasible as an indicator of the quality of end-of-life care, and the results of the current study provide actionable data for areas of improvement in palliative oncology care. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Retarding Field Optics For Practical Electron Beam Lithography

Recent work in retarding field optics for electron beam lithography has concentrated on the advantages to be gained for low electron landing energies (< 4 keV). We have examined the benefits obtained from the use of a retarding field when the electron landing energy is conventional (10-20 keV), eliminating the necessity for novel resist systems. The improved aberrations resulting from the use of a retarding field are discussed, and the reduction of space charge effects is simulated using a Monte Carlo calculation. Preliminary results indicate that a four-fold increase in current can be realized for a beam of given sharpness by using the retarding field. Practical considerations for implementing retarding field optics are examined.
On Capacity Functionals in Interval Probabilities

This paper addresses some basic issues concerning set-functions which are endpoints in interval probabilities. The property of alternating of infinite order of set-functions is investigated in detail. Generalizing a result of Graf (1980), we establish a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of the Radon-Nikodym derivatives for a larger class of set functions, called submeasures.
Partial Cardiac Denervation and Sinus Node Modification for Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia

We describe a case of inappropriate sinus tachycardia refractory to medical therapy and catheter sinus node ablation, which was successfully treated by surgery with approaches on both the sinus node and cardiac autonomic ganglia.
The gas chromatographic resolution of DL-isovaline.

Isovaline is of cosmological interest because it is one of the 12 non-protein amino acids which have been isolated from the Murchison meteorite, and unlike the other chiral amino acids in this meteorite, it has no alpha-hydrogen at its asymmetric center and hence cannot racemize by the customary alpha-hydrogen-dependent mechanisms which engender racemization in ordinary amino acids. Experiments were conducted in which a .01 M solution of N-TFA-DL-isovalyl-L-leucine isopropyl ester in nitromethane was injected into the capillary column of a gas chromatograph coupled to a digital electronic integrator-recorder. Efflux times and integrated peak area percents are shown next to each diastereometer peak.
The regulation of mouse liver ornithine decarboxylase by metabolites.

Abstract The enzyme ornithine decarboxylase ( l -Ornithine carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.17), has been partially purified from the livers of mice subjected to partial hepatectomy (6–8 h previously). Mouse liver ornithine decarboxylase requires pyridoxal phosphate, and dithiothreitol for maximal activity. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 7.3, it is inhibited in the presence of 0.3 M phosphate, glycine, Tricine and Tris. It shows no dependence on metal ions and is inhibited by high salt concentrations, particularly ammonium salts. The kinetics of the enzyme have been studied with putrescine (and analogs), spermidine and spermine, in the presence of both high and low levels of pyridoxal phosphate. High concentrations of pyridoxal phosphate inhibit the enzyme. The enzyme is also inhibited by low concentrations of putrescine (1 mM). As the concentration of putrescine increased to 10 mM, non-competitive inhibition was observed, this could be reversed by addition of higher levels of pyridoxal phosphate. Spermidine and spermine inhibit (noncompetitively) only at high concentrations (10 mM). Ornithine inhibits at high concentrations (2 mM). Spectral studies have shown that the observed kinetics of competitive inhibition at low concentrations of polyamine changing to noncompetitive inhibition at high polyamine concentrations are due to competition between enzyme and substrate (or inhibitor) for free (non-enzyme bound) pyridoxal phosphate. Noncompetitive inhibition arises through the formation of transient Schiff base complexes between amines and free pyridoxal phosphate. It also appears that the binding of substrate to the active site takes place through Schiff base formation with enzyme bound pyridoxal phosphate.
A Spectroscopic and Theoretical Investigation of a Free‐Base meso‐Trithienylcorrole

The unique optical properties of free-base meso-tris(5-methylthien-2-yl)corrole were compared to those of the widely investigated meso-triphenyl-substituted analogue. A combination of spectroscopic and computational experiments was undertaken to elucidate the relationship between structural features of the neutral, mono-anionic and mono-cationic forms of the corroles and their corresponding optical properties. A general bathochromic shift was measured for the thienyl-substituted corrole. The experimental spectra are supported by excited state calculations. A systematic series of ground state minimizations were performed to determine energy minima for the flexible and solvent-sensitive molecules. Trithienylcorrole was found to have a more nonplanar macrocycle in conjunction with a high degree of π-overlap with the meso-substituents. Both structural features contribute to their bathochromically shifted optical spectra. The configurational character of the thienyl-substituted corrole is shown to have a larger degree of molecular orbital mixing and doubly excited character, which suggest a more complex electronic structure that does not fully adhere to the Gouterman four-orbital model. The reactivity of the thienyl groups, particularly with respect to their ability to be (electro)-polymerized, combined with the tight coupling of the meso-thienyl groups with the corrole chromophore elucidated in this work, recommends the meso-thienylcorroles as building blocks in, for instance, organic semiconductor devices.
Optimal Hybrid Control for Structures

A new method for integrated design of passive and active elements is presented. Rather than the existing qualitative selection of parameters for passive elements, a quantitative approach is proposed which finds optimal active and passive parameters with respect to an H2/H1 performance requirement. This new approach automatically yields passive designs when the given performance limits are high enough, and active (hybrid) designs when the given performance constraints are stringent. Furthermore, our algorithm finds that the special performance requirement (the peak of the frequency response) which cannot be satisfied by any passive design. Hence, this paper shows how to determine WHEN is control required, rather than assuming a priori that it is or it is not required. A simple design method given herein yields any one of passive, active and hybrid designs, depending only on the level of the performance constraints that are specified in the statement of the problem.
Diagnosis and management of ampullary adenoma: The expanding role of endoscopy

Ampullary adenoma is a pre-cancerous lesion arising from the duodenal papilla that is often asymptomatic. It is important to distinguish whether the adenoma is sporadic or arises in the setting of familial adenomatous polyposis as this has important implications with respect to management and surveillance. Multiple modalities are available for staging of these lesions to help guide the most appropriate therapy. Those that are used most commonly include computed tomography, endoscopic ultrasound, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In recent years, endoscopy has become the primary modality for therapeutic management of the majority of ampullary adenomas. Surgery remains the standard curative procedure for confirmed or suspected adenocarcinoma. This review will provide the framework for the diagnosis and management of ampullary adenomas from the perspective of the practicing gastroenterologist.
Reliability of the tip and dip speech-hearing tests for children

The reliability of SRT and speech intelligibility tests has been studied on adults. Reliability estimates for SRT are between .60 and .90, with standard error estimates from 1.5 to over five dB. For speech intelligibility tests the reliability estimates range from .50 to 90, with standard error of estimates from 2.5% to over 10%. Little has been reported on test reliability with children. For this study the TIP and DIP tests, for threshold and discrimination, respectively, were given to 295 normal and 138 hypacusic children three through twelve years of age. Subjects were retested within one week. TIP test-retest reliability was .72 for normals, and .89 to .99 for hypacusics. DIP test-retest reliability was .46 to .51 for normals and .60 to .93 for hypacusics. Standard error of estimate was about 3 dB for TIP, and 10% for DIP. These values are about the same as the reliability values for adults.
Constraints on Lake Agassiz discharge through the late-glacial Champlain Sea (St. Lawrence Lowlands, Canada) using salinity proxies and an estuarine circulation model

During the last deglaciation, abrupt freshwater discharge events from proglacial lakes in North America, such as glacial Lake Agassiz, are believed to have drained into the North Atlantic Ocean, causing large shifts in climate by weakening the formation of North Atlantic Deep Water and decreasing ocean heat transport to high northern latitudes. These discharges were caused by changes in lake drainage outlets, but the duration, magnitude and routing of discharge events, factors which govern the climatic response to freshwater forcing, are poorly known. Abrupt discharges, called floods, are typically assumed to last months to a year, whereas more gradual discharges, called routing events, occur over centuries. Here we use estuarine modeling to evaluate freshwater discharge from Lake Agassiz and other North American proglacial lakes into the North Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence estuary around 11.5 ka BP, the onset of the Preboreal oscillation (PBO). Faunal and isotopic proxy data from the Champlain Sea, a semi-isolated, marine-brackish water body that occupied the St. Lawrence and Champlain Valleys from 13 to 9 ka, indicate salinity fell about 7–8 (range of 4–11) around 11.5 ka. Model results suggest that minimum (1600 km3) and maximum (9500 km3) estimates of plausible flood volumes determined from Lake Agassiz paleoshorelines would produce the proxy-reconstructed salinity decrease if the floods lasted <1 day to 5 months and 1 month to 2 years, respectively. In addition, Champlain Sea salinity responds very quickly to the initiation (within days) and cessation (within weeks) of flooding events. These results support the hypothesis that a glacial lake flood, rather than a sustained routing event, discharged through the St. Lawrence Estuary during the PBO.
EFFECT OF PORE DIFFUSION IN METHANOL SYNTHESIS

Abstract Pore diffusion limitations dampen the sensitivity of temperature runaway to variations in the coolant temperature in methanol synthesis reactors. For an isothermal pellet and low product concentration, the relationship between catalyst effectiveness and the Thiele parameter can be represented with a single curve. However, when equilibrium is approached or at high product concentrations, the relationship between catalyst effectiveness and the Thiele parameter becomes a function of catalyst surface temperature. For large temperature gradients in the catalyst, the effectiveness factor can significantly increase and parametric sensitivity in the relationship between catalyst effectiveness and the Thiele parameter may result.
Thermal analysis of wafer-level LED packages with multichips

Thermal analysis of wafer-level packaged LEDs with red, green and blue multi-chips are investigated. With Si-MEMS technology, wafer-level packaged LEDs are useful for the high power applications such as back light unit (BLU) and general solid state lighting due to the compactness and integrated fabrication process. In this paper, thermal characteristics of wafer-level packaged white LEDs with multi-chips are investigated using both serial and matrix measurement methods.
Infiltration and Directional Solidification of CMSX-4 through a Particulate Ceramic Preform

A potential method for producing selectively reinforced, single-crystal superalloy castings was investigated. Porous particulate alumina preforms were infiltrated with the liquid Ni-based superalloy CMSX-4 under a gas pressure of about 1 atm, and then the alloy was solidified directionally through the preform at different rates. Optical microscopy and Laue X-ray diffraction showed that the orientation of the metallic grains was unaffected by the preform and that no stray grains were nucleated there. In the particular experimental configuration, single grain orientations (i.e., single crystals) were achieved at cooling rates ≤15 °C/min. Furthermore, the microsegregation pattern in the composite region showed that the alloy solidified from the center of the interstices toward the alumina particles, further indicating that nucleation did not occur on the preform. Microsegregation in the composite region is lower than in the unreinforced regions due to geometric confinement of solidification in the narrow spaces between the ceramic particles.
Defining Leadership as an Influence on KM Success

As many of the constructs of KM success have been identified and empirically shown to have an impact on that success, the need for understanding the underlying influences on these constructs becomes increasingly important. This meta-study investigated the meanings of leadership and its subconstructs (traits/skills, behavior/style, and power) to understand their influences on KM by exploring answers to two research questions: What is meant by the term leadership and how has it been used in KM literature? What are the open research questions about the constructs of leadership and their impact on KM? The answers to these questions take the form of a meta-analysis of the literature and a matrix of the KM success factors and subconstructs of leadership.
A STRUCTURAL FLEXIBILITY TRANSFORMATION MATRIX FOR MODELLING OPEN-KINEMATIC CHAINS WITH REVOLUTE AND PRISMATIC JOINTS

Abstract A general approach to systematically derive the equations of motion of flexible open-kinematic chains is presented in this paper. The methodology exploits the serial characteristics of the kinematic chain by complementing the 4×4 Denavit–Hartenberg transformation matrix with a 4×4 structural flexibility matrix. The latter is defined based on a floating coordinate system which rendered the formulation applicable to both prismatic and revolute joints. The versatility of the approach is demonstrated through its implementation to formulate forward kinematic problems of manipulators with revolute and prismatic joints. Moreover, the proposed flexibility matrix is used in the development of a dynamic model for a compliant spherical robotic manipulator. This task has a dual purpose. First, it demonstrates how the flexibility matrix can be implemented in a systematic approach for deriving the equations of motion of an open-kinematic chain that account for the axial geometric shortening, the torsional vibration, and the in-plane and out-of-plane transverse deformations of the compliant member. Second, the inclusion of the torsional vibration in the equation of motion serves to broaden the scope of previous research work done on modelling open-kinematic chains. The formulation can now address dynamic problems that are not limited to the positioning but are also concerned with the orientation of rigid body payloads as they are being manipulated by robotic manipulators. The digital simulation results exhibit the interaction between the torsional vibration and the rigid body motion of the arm. Furthermore, they demonstrate a strong coupling effect between the torsional vibration and the transverse deformations of the arm whenever the payload is not grasped at its mass center by the gripper.
The initial transient in melting and solidification experiments

It is shown that the determination of the initial transient on melting is mathematically equivalent to finding the initial transient on solidification, and a solution to the problem is presented. The solution is evaluated numerically at the interface and the results for solidification are compared to previous solutions for various values of the solid diffusion coefficient. The results for melting show that the initial transient will necessarily be shorter than for a corresponding solidification experiment at the same rate for distribution coefficient k 1.
Effects of Intolerance of Ambiguity Upon Interpersonal Attraction.

Previous research (Crandall, 1969) investigated the self-descriptions of Ss who were either tolerant or intolerant of ambiguiry. There was some indirect, and unexpected, evidence that intolerant Ss might be more likable than rolerant Ss. The present research was designed to study more directly the relation between attraction and intolerance of ambiguity. Twenry Ss took Budner's (1962) scale for Tolerance-Intolerance of Ambiguity, and also administered it to a friend and a disliked or neutral acquaintance. The latter, nonfriends, were significantly more intolerant of ambiguiry (M = 54.90) than the friends (M = 47.10; t = 3.17, p < .01, rwo-tailed test). Even Ss most intolerant of ambiguity had friends who were more tolerant of ambiguity than the non-friends. Another approach involved 8 discussion groups of five Ss each. The groups met on two occasions, for a total of 1 hr., to discuss ego defenses as applied to a case history. Each S then ranked the other members of the group for likabiliry. With 1.00 indicating maximum likabiliry, the mean rank for the member of each group most intolerant of ambiguity was 3.00, whereas the mean for the most tolerant one was 2.40. Of the 40 Ss 27 liked the most tolerant other person in the group better than the most intolerant other member ( z = 2.21, p < .05, two-tailed test). Also consistent with the finding of the first srudy was that even the most intolerant Ss preferred tolerant others. Both studies indicated that intolerance of ambiguity detracts from interpersonal attraction, but great tolerance does not enhance attraction more than average tolerance of ambiguity. Further research is needed to determine more specifically what i t is about intolerance of ambiguity that inhibits liking by others. Ss also took the Interpersonal Adjective Checklist (Leary, 1957). The results generally confirmed the previous findings (Crandall, 1969). Briefly, intolerant Ss showed greatest strength in the friendly-weak quadrant and had their lowest scores in the opposite, hostile-strong sector. Tolerant Ss again showed the exact opposite pattern. Neither group appeared to be systematically influenced by social desirability response set Both groups thus describe themselves quite differently on the checklist, and these differences are stable enough to replicate. However, in view of the above findings, it seems that the differences in self-descriptions do not have direct implications for likability, whatever else they may mean.
Mediastinitis associated with foreign body erosion of the esophagus in children.

Abstract Objective: Timely and experienced intervention for esophageal foreign bodies generally allows for removal with minimal morbidity. However, esophageal foreign bodies present a risk for esophageal perforation and subsequent mediastinitis, especially if the diagnosis of the foreign body is delayed. Although much has been written about the management of esophageal foreign bodies and their complications, little has been mentioned in recent literature about the specific complication of mediastinitis. This review was performed to examine our experience with this uncommon complication of esophageal foreign bodies. Methods: A retrospective review of the esophageal foreign body database at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin from 1987 to 1997 was performed to identify patients with esophageal foreign bodies and subsequent mediastinitis. Results: Four patients with esophageal perforation with associated mediastinitis secondary to retained esophageal foreign bodies were identified. Three of the four patients were treated with conservative measures consisting of foreign body removal, intravenous antibiotics and discontinuing of oral nutrition. These patients all achieved resolution of their mediastinitis and esophageal perforation with subsequent return to normal diets and no significant morbidity. One patient, with vascular erosion, required aggressive, invasive therapy. Conclusion: From review of this limited number of patients, in the absence of major vascular erosion, conservative methods of treating children with foreign body esophageal perforation and subsequent mediastinitis appears to be effective.
Metallothionein-Independent Zinc Protection from Alcoholic Liver Injury

Previous studies using metallothionein (MT)-overexpressing transgenic mice have demonstrated that MT protects the liver from oxidative injury induced by alcohol. The mechanism of action of MT is unknown. Because MT primarily binds to zinc under physiological conditions and releases zinc under oxidative stress and zinc is an antioxidant element, it is likely that zinc mediates the protective action of MT. The present study was undertaken to determine the distinct role of zinc in hepatic protection from alcoholic injury. MT I/II-knockout (MT-KO) mice along with their wild-type controls were treated with three gastric doses of ethanol at 5 g/kg at 12-hour intervals. Zinc sulfate was injected intraperitoneally in a dosage of 5 mg/kg/day for 3 days before ethanol treatment. MT concentrations in MT-KO mice were very low and zinc concentrations in MT-KO mice were lower than in wild-type mice. Zinc treatment significantly elevated hepatic MT concentrations only in wild-type mice and increased zinc concentrations in both MT-KO and wild-type mice. Ethanol treatment caused degenerative morphological changes and necrotic appearance in the livers of MT-KO mice. Microvesicular steatosis was the only ethanol-induced change in the liver of wild-type mice. Ethanol treatment decreased hepatic glutathione concentrations and increased hepatic lipid peroxidation, and the concentrations of lipid peroxide products in the wild-type mice were lower than in the MT-KO mice. All of these alcohol-induced toxic responses were significantly suppressed by zinc treatment in both MT-KO and wild-type mouse livers. These results demonstrate that zinc, independent of MT, plays an important role in protection from alcoholic liver injury. However, MT is required to maintain high levels of zinc in the liver, suggesting that the protective action of MT in the liver is likely mediated by zinc.
Designing the Sustainable Foodshed: A Cross-Disciplinary Undergraduate Environmental Studies Course

This article demonstrates the educational value of an undergraduate course that integrates design and the liberal arts to teach about ecological systems, using study of the university campus as the means to connect theory and practice. It presents the curricular goals, objectives, results, and lessons learned from a qualitative case study of a cross-disciplinary course that required design and liberal arts students to develop innovative solutions to improve the sustainability of The New School’s food system. Student and faculty evaluations suggest that an integrated design and liberal arts course can be an effective and enjoyable method to learn about sustainability and urban systems; and it helps students learn different techniques for research, problem-solving, and communication.
Defining edges on a round earth

On planar maps lines, polygons and polygonal paths are clearly defined by their endpoints and vertices, but on a round earth the definition of the connecting edges is far from obvious. This paper presents a definition, examines its properties, and proposes it as an industry standard. Algorithms based on this definition are outlined.
Prebiotic chemical evolution: a meteoritic perspective

Carbonaceous chondrite meteorites are primitive asteroidal fragments that contain organic carbon and offer a glimpse of the a-biotic chemical processes that preceded the onset of terrestrial life. Their organic materials display structures as diverse as kerogen-like macromolecules and simpler soluble compounds with identical counterparts in Earth’s biosphere. All show an isotopic composition that verifies their extraterrestrial origin and a lineage to cosmochemical synthetic regimes. While the origin of life remains an inscrutable event, the natural samples of meteorites offer means for learning the range of abiotic molecules available to prebiotic chemistry as well as to explore the physico chemical regimes that might have led to a selected chemical pool amenable to the onset of life.
Object detection using subband decomposition

Subband decomposition wherein each subimage contains in- formation about a specific range of scales and orientations provides an important vehicle for discriminating between objects with coherent struc- ture and the random patterns of background noise. We use the cortex transform to create a 32-element feature space representing four scales and eight orientations. Simple hypothesis testing based on variances of the feature elements provides an initial indication of the presence and location of structure whose scale and orientation make it stand out from the background. The feature vectors of these somewhat obvious object pixels are then used in a novel training scheme to derive a linear classi- fier for subsequent recognition of faint, low-contrast objects. The method is used to detect calcification structure in digitized mammograms, and the results are compared with those of a previously published wavelet technique. Measurable improvements in detector output suggest that the new approach has potential. © 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation En- gineers. (S0091-3286(98)03201-2)
Origins of Stereoselectivity in Intramolecular Diels−Alder Cycloadditions of Dienes and Dienophiles Linked by Ester and Amide Tethers

B3LYP/6-31+G(d) calculations of structures and relative energies for competing transition states for intramolecular Diels−Alder reactions of substituted 3,5-hexadienyl acrylates and acrylamides show that boatlike conformations are sometimes favored in the forming ring that includes the tether.
Hyperphosphorylated p107 and p130 bind to T-antigen: identification of a critical regulatory sequence present in RB but not in p107/p130.

The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor RB and its related proteins, p107 and p130, are targets of several viral oncoproteins, including SV40 large T-antigen (T-Ag) and adenovirus E1A. T-Ag and E1A each contains an LXCXE-peptide motif through which binding to the conserved `A/B pocket' present in RB, p107 and p130 is achieved. The LXCXE-binding activity of RB, we have previously shown, is inhibited by phosphorylation at Thr 821 and 826 in the C-terminal region of RB. Thr 821 and its surrounding sequence is unique to RB and not found in p107 or p130. Interestingly, hyperphosphorylation of p107 does not disrupt its ability to bind T-Ag or to inhibit the transactivating function of E1A. Insertion of a fourteen amino acid sequence of RB containing Thr 821 into p107 prevents binding of T-Ag and E1A to phosphorylated p107. These results show that the RB sequence surrounding Thr 821 plays a critical role in the regulation of the `A/B pocket' function. In addition, these data indicate that the protein binding functions of RB and p107 are not equivalently regulated by phosphorylation.
The Impact of Human Capital and Selected Job Rewards on Community College Faculty Job Satisfaction

Community colleges accommodate nearly half of all United States college students. Increased reliance upon community colleges is driven by the current economic downturn, rising costs of higher education, and changing expectations for today's workforce requiring advanced skill sets. Community colleges offer more affordable options for broader spectrums of students including traditional and nontraditional college students and dual-enrolled high school students. Community college faculty facilitate student learning and program completion. A shortage of community college faculty will likely emerge as numerous faculty retire. Community college administrators need strategies for retaining and recruiting faculty amid increasing retirements. One effective strategy is to offer a work environment that cultivates positive work-related attitudes (e.g., job satisfaction). This study examines the ability of select human capital investments, intrinsic rewards, extrinsic rewards, and sociodemographics to predict overall j...
Interaction of lipids with immune function I: Biochemical effects of dietary lipids on plasma membranes

Abstract Lipids have especially potent and complex effects on the body's response to infection or stress. These effects are related to the diverse functions that lipids perform, especially as structural components and metabolic intermediates. In this article, the basic biochemical processes by which lipids modulate pathways occurring in plasma membranes will be reviewed. These processes include modulation of the biophysical properties of the phospholipid bilayer, production of lipid peroxides, metabolism of 20-carbon fatty acids to eicosanoid end-products, and the direct effects of fatty acids on signal transduction. In a subsequent article, the animal and human experimental data on the interactions of lipids with the immune system will be reviewed.
Magnetic resonance imaging at high magnetic fields

MRI has made significant advances since its introduction over fifteen years ago. The technology has been driven by a combination of higher magnetic fields, more efficient pulse sequence design and technical advances in transducer technology associated with the capture of weak magnetic resonance signals. This paper explores those advances with particular emphasis on state of the art high field MRI systems and the latest radio frequency (RF) transducers or RF coils as they are commonly referred to. The design and construction of large bore magnets operating at high magnetic fields has been the special purview of a limited number of engineering companies while the design and construction of RF coils has been addressed by a wider range of physicist and engineers working at major universities as well as those engineers working within industry. Our work at the University of Florida has been mainly focused on developing these RF coils to address the unique problems presented by operating at high magnetic fields and frequencies.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Source and Significance of Confusion in Public Goods Experiments

Economists use public goods experiments to develop and test theories of individual preferences and institutional design. Previous work demonstrates many participants in public goods experiments contribute to the public good out of confusion. We design experiments to provide insights on the consequences and causes of confusion. We establish that confusion amounts to more than statistical noise and does not dissipate with repetition (i.e. learning). Confused subjects use experimental parameters and the behavior of other players as cues, which confounds treatment effects and traditional strategies to identify other-regarding preferences through exogenous parameter changes and the modeling of reactions to other subjects decisions. We argue that confusion stems from an inaccurate understanding of game incentives (failure of game form recognition), which is a consequence of the framing and inadequate payoff information in standard instructions. Modified instructions can substantially reduce confusion, and, in turn, change the distribution of contributions to the public good.
Multivariate Cuscore control charts for monitoring the mean vector in autocorrelated processes

In many systems, quantitative observations of process variables can be used to characterize a process for quality control purposes. As the intervals between observations become shorter, autocorrelation may occur and lead to a high false alarm rate in traditional Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts. In this article, a Multivariate Cuscore (MCuscore) SPC procedure based on the sequential likelihood ratio test and fault signature analysis is developed for monitoring the mean vector of an autocorrelated multivariate process. The MCuscore charts for the transient, steady and ramp mean shift signal are designed; they do not rely on the assumption of known signal starting time. An example is presented to demonstrate the application of the MCuscore chart to monitoring three autocorrelated variables of an online search engine marketing tracking process. Furthermore, the simulation analysis shows that the MCuscore chart outperforms the traditional multivariate cumulative sum control chart in detecting process ...
Characterization of dipeptide isomers by tandem mass spectrometry of their mono- versus dilithiated complexes.

he Li + complexes of the isomeric dipeptide pairs PheGly/ GlyPhe, PheAla/AlaPhe, and TrpAla/AlaTrp, namely, [Pep + Li] + , and of the corresponding lithium carboxylates, namely, [Pep - H + 2Li] + , are produced in the gas phase by desorption ionization, and their unimolecular chemistry is probed by tandem mass spectrometry experiments at various activation conditions. At low internal energies, monolithiated isomers dissociate to the same products, formed through a mixed anhydride intermediate in which the sequence information is lost. Isomerization to the mixed anhydride is less competitive at higher internal energies, which start promoting sequence-specific fragmentations. On the other hand, dilithiated isomers (they contain a permanent COO - Li + salt bridge) do not rearrange to an anhydride and give rise to substantially different fragmentation patterns; structurally diagnostic c 1 - and y 1 -type fragments are observed at all internal energies, allowing for unequivocal sequence assignment. The mono- and dilithiated peptides undergo loss of their aromatic side chain to form distonic radical ions carrying Li + charge(s) and one unpaired electron at an α-C atom of the peptide backbone. The yield of such metal-bound peptide radicals is particularly high from the dilithiated complexes, [Pep - H + 2Li] + . Upon activation, the Li + ions become mobile and can be shuttled to the various basic sites of the dipeptides, where they may initiate backbone fragmentation or the elimination of small neutral molecules.
Using image analysis to predict the weight of Alaskan salmon of different species.

: After harvesting, salmon is sorted by species, size, and quality. This is generally manually done by operators. Automation would bring repeatability, objectivity, and record-keeping capabilities to these tasks. Machine vision (MV) and image analysis have been used in sorting many agricultural products. Four salmon species were tested: pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), red (Oncorhynchus nerka), silver (Oncorhynchus kisutch), and chum (Oncorhynchus keta). A total of 60 whole fish from each species were first weighed, then placed in a light box to take their picture. Weight compared with view area as well as length and width correlations were developed. In addition the effect of “hump” development (see text) of pink salmon on this correlation was investigated. It was possible to predict the weight of a salmon by view area, regardless of species, and regardless of the development of a hump for pinks. Within pink salmon there was a small but insignificant difference between predictive equations for the weight of “regular” fish and “humpy” fish. Machine vision can accurately predict the weight of whole salmon for sorting.
Studies of Tubercle Bacillus-Histiocyte Relationships. VIII. Comparative Study of Cellular Resistance induced by Brucella and Mycobacteria.

Comparison of the Brucella-immune and the BCG-immune histiocyte, each of which is resistant to necrotization by either Brucella or mycobacteria, has revealed a number of dissimilarities in their behavior. The Brucella-immune histiocyte was found to be incapable of transferring its resistance to the cells of normal animals; it was also unable to achieve attenuation of virulent tubercle bacilli. In contrast, the BCG-immune histiocyte and certain of its subcellular components (ribosomes and ribosomal RNA) were effective in inducing cellular resistance in normal animals against both Brucella and mycobacteria. When RNA was used, only immune ribosomal RNA was effective; when intact ribosomes were used, both immune and recipient ribosomes proved active. These investigations have also shown that the resistance of the BCG-immune histiocyte against Brucella and mycobacteria was of long duration and not readily dissociable.
A Simple Approximation for Unbiased Estimation of the Standard Deviation

(1971). A Simple Approximation for Unbiased Estimation of the Standard Deviation. The American Statistician: Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 30-32.
Beyond personal responsibility: Effects of causal attributions for overweight and obesity on weight-related beliefs, stigma, and policy support

Objective: The objective of this research was to compare the effects of different causal attributions for overweight and obesity, among individuals with overweight and obesity, on weight-related beliefs, stigmatising attitudes and policy support.Design: In Study 1, an online sample of 95 US adults rated the extent to which they believed various factors caused their own weight status. In Study 2, 125 US adults read one of three randomly assigned online passages attributing obesity to personal responsibility, biology, or the ‘food environment.’ All participants in both studies were overweight or obese.Main outcome measures: All participants reported beliefs about weight loss, weight-stigmatising attitudes, and support for obesity-related policies.Results: In Study 1, biological attributions were associated with low weight-malleability beliefs and blame, high policy support, but high internalised weight bias. ‘Food environment’ attributions were not associated with any outcomes, while ‘personal responsibilit...
Evaluation of organic coatings for the promotion of dropwise condensation of steam

Abstract Several new polymer coatings, as well as gold and silver, were evaluated for their ability to promote and sustain dropwise condensation of steam. Long-term behavior on 25-mm-square specimens was qualitatively observed in an endurance apparatus and heat transfer coefficients on single horizontal tubes were determined in a separate heat transfer apparatus. The organic coatings were successful in promoting good quality dropwise condensation for prolonged periods of times (> 12,000 h). Dropwise heat transfer coefficients as large as six times the film condensation value were obtained with these coatings and results were not dependent upon the thermal conductivity of the wall.
Physics and chemistry of MoS2 intercalation compounds

An investigation is made of the physics and chemistry of MoS2 intercalation compounds. These compounds may be separated into two groups according to their stoichiometry, structure and superconducting properties. The first group consists of Na, Ca, and Sr intercalates, and the second group consists of K, Rb, and Cs intercalates. Particular attention is given to the structure of the electronic energy band and to the normal state and superconducting properties of these compounds.