cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feline intestinal sclerosing mast cell tumour: 50 cases (1997–2008)

This case series presents a unique and unreported variant of feline intestinal mast cell tumour recognized at the CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Fifty cases of feline intestinal mast cell tumours described as having a significant stromal component were reviewed. Neoplastic cells formed a trabecular pattern admixed with moderate to abundant dense stromal collagen (sclerosis). Neoplastic cells had poorly discernible intracytoplasmic granules which demonstrated metachromasia with special histochemical stains consistent with mast cell granules. Additionally, a subset of cases stained for mast cell-specific tryptase and c-kit demonstrated positive immunoreactivity. Eosinophilic infiltrates were moderate to marked in almost all cases. Lymph node and hepatic metastases were present in 66% of the cases. Treatment and clinical outcome was available in 25/50 cases. Twenty-three of these patients died or were euthanized within 2 months of initial diagnosis. This is the first case series to characterize a sclerosing variant of intestinal mast cell tumour in the cat which appears to have a high propensity for metastasis and a guarded prognosis.
Internal stent for securing large skin grafts on small animals.

Abstract A simple and effective technique has been presented for securing large skin grafts on small animals. It is based on the principle of utilization of the animal's trunk as an internal stent for the purpose of immobilizing and maintaining uniform pressure on the graft.
Robustness bounds of Hurwitz and Schur polynomials

In this paper, the problem of robustness bounds of Hurwitz and Schur polynomials is addressed. For weightedL2-norm perturbations of a Hurwitz polynomialp(s) or a Schur polynomialp(z), a new method is developed for calculating the maximal perturbation bound under which stability is preserved. We show that such a robustness bound is related to the minimum of a rational function. The new method is superior to the previous one developed by Soh, Berger, and Dabke in Ref. 1. Our approach also provides solutions for the perturbation polynomial δp(s) or δp(z) with minimal coefficient norm which causep(s)+δp(s) orp(z)+δp(z) to be unstable.
Elastic and inelastic electron tunneling in alkane self-assembled monolayers

A review of the mechanisms and characterization methods of molecular electronic transport is presented. Using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiols in a nanometer-scale device structure, tunneling is unambiguously demonstrated to be the main conduction mechanism for large band gap SAMs exhibiting well-known temperature and length dependencies. Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy exhibits clear vibrational modes of the molecules in the device, presenting the first direct evidence of the presence of molecules in a molecular transport device and confirming the tunneling transport mechanism in alkane self-assembled monolayers.
Equine Embryo Biopsy, Genetic Testing, and Cryopreservation

Abstract Embryo cryopreservation and embryo biopsy have been slow to become established in equine reproductive practice, partly because of the difficulty in applying these techniques to the equine embryo as it is typically recovered from the uterus, that is, at day 7 after ovulation as an expanded blastocyst. Over the past 5 years, we have developed a technique, using micromanipulation with the Piezo drill, which provides a method for biopsy of both small and large equine embryos, with accurate genetic diagnosis from the biopsied cells and normal pregnancy and foaling rates after transfer. During the development of this biopsy technique, we found that blastocysts collapsed after biopsy showed relatively high viability after vitrification and warming. Modification of vitrification methods allowed the establishment of a vitrification technique that supports normal pregnancy rates for expanded blastocysts up to 650 μm in diameter. This technique uses blastocyst collapse, vitrification medium containing ethylene glycol and galactose, in combination with warming medium containing sucrose, and a low-volume vitrification device. Biopsy and vitrification of expanded equine blastocysts are now offered commercially, and have the potential to become valuable tools for use by the equine practitioner in the efficient management of equine reproduction.
Acetylcholine receptor clustering is required for the accumulation and maintenance of scaffolding proteins.

Summary The maintenance of a high density of postsynaptic receptors is essential for proper synaptic function. At the neuromuscular junction, acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregation is induced by nerve-clustering factors and mediated by scaffolding proteins [1]. Although the mechanisms underlying AChR clustering have been extensively studied [2–5], the role that the receptors themselves play in the clustering process and how they are organized with scaffolding proteins is not well understood. Here, we report that the exposure of AChRs labeled with Alexa 594 conjugates to relatively low-powered laser light caused an effect similar to chromaphore-assisted light inactivation (CALI) [6, 7], which resulted in the unexpected dissipation of the illuminated AChRs from clusters on cultured myotubes. This technique enabled us to demonstrate that AChR removal from illuminated regions induced the removal of scaffolding proteins and prevented the accumulation of new AChRs and associated scaffolding proteins. Further, the dissipation of clustered AChRs and scaffold was spatially restricted to the illuminated region and had no effect on neighboring nonilluminated AChRs. These results provide direct evidence that AChRs are essential for the local maintenance and accumulation of intracellular scaffolding proteins and suggest that the scaffold is organized into distinct modular units at AChR clusters.
SU-E-T-579: Impact of Cylinder Size in High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDRBT) for Primary Cancer in the Vagina

Purpose: To evaluate the dosimetric impact of cylinder size in high dose rate Brachytherapy for primary vaginal cancers. Methods: Patients treated with HDR vaginal vault radiation in a list of cylinders ranging from 2.5 to 4 cm in diameter at 0.5 cm increment were analyzed. All patients’ doses were prescribed at the 0.5 cm from the vaginal surface with different treatment lengths. A series of reference points were created to optimize the dose distribution. The fraction dose was 5.5 Gy, the treatment was repeated for 4 times in two weeks. A cylinder volume was contoured in each case according to the prescribed treatment length, and then expanded to 5 mm to get a volume Cylinder_5mm_exp. A volume of PTV-Eval was obtained by subtracting the cylinder volume from the Cylinder_5mm_exp. The shell volume, PTV-Eval serves as the target volume for dosimetric evaluation. Results: DVH curves and average doses of PTV-Eval were obtained. Our results indicated that the DVH curves shifted toward higher dose side when larger cylinder was used instead of smaller ones. When 3.0 cm cylinder was used instead of 2.5 cm, for 3.0 cm treatment length, the average dose only increased 1%, from 790 to 799 cGy. However, the average doses for 3.5 and 4 cm cylinders respectively are 932 and 1137 cGy at the same treatment length. For 5.0 cm treatment length, the average dose is 741 cGy for 2.5 cm cylinder, and 859 cGy for 3 cm cylinder. Conclusion: Our data analysis suggests that for the vaginal intracavitary HDRBT, the average dose is at least 35% larger than the prescribed dose in the studied cases; the size of the cylinder will impact the dose delivered to the target volume. The cylinder with bigger diameter tends to deliver larger average dose to the PTV-Eval.
Predictors of Apnea Test Failure During Brain Death Determination

In a recent publication (Wijdicks et al. in Neurology 71(16):1240, 2008), apnea test safety during brain death determination was evaluated at a single tertiary care center. One major conclusion was that apnea testing was safe in hemodynamically compromised patients in most circumstances and rarely aborted. Determinants of apnea test completion failure are unknown. A–a gradients and $$ {{P_{{{\text{a}}_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }} }} } \mathord{ /{\vphantom {{P_{{{\text{a}}_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }} }} } {F_{{{\text{i}}_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }} }} }}} \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {F_{{{\text{i}}_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }} }} }} $$ ratios were calculated in the previously studied cohort. Arterial blood gas (ABG) values and systolic blood pressures (SBP) were recorded prior to apnea test initiation. Patients that completed the procedure during the declaration of brain death were compared to those whose studies were aborted. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon rank-sum and Fisher’s exact tests where appropriate. Aborted apnea test risk factor assessment was by logistic regression analysis. 207 of the original 228 patients were evaluated. 10 of the 207 patients had aborted apnea tests because of hypoxemia and/or hypotension. 60% who failed the apnea test were male and were of younger age [median: 23 years vs. median: 47 years (P = 0.02)]. A–a gradient median values for aborted and completed apnea tests were 376 and 175 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.003). Neither the $$ {{P_{{{\text{a}}_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }} }} } \mathord{/ {\vphantom {{P_{{{\text{a}}_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }} }} } {F_{{{\text{i}}_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }} }} }}} \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {F_{{{\text{i}}_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }} }} }} $$ ratio (P = 0.14) nor SBP (P = 0.28) were associated with test completion failure. Acidemia preceding a carbon dioxide challenge was independently associated with test completion failure (P = 0.028). Acute lung injury is common in patients undergoing brain death evaluation. Patients that failed completion of apnea testing tended to be younger, had significantly greater A–a gradients, and were more acidotic.
Ultracentrifugation at moderate pressures.

Abstract A pressure chamber was constructed in which analytical centrifuge cells may be filled with nitrogen to pressures of 135 atm. A rise in the schlieren baseline in the gas phase above the solvent permits direct determination of pressure at the conclusion of the experiment. The pressure-dependent monomer-polymer equilibrium of myosin studied by Josephs and Harrington (1) was confirmed as a test of our system.
Carnation responses to spray applications of growth regulators

Abstract Three growth regulators, a-cyclopropyl-a-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-pyrimidine-methanol ( ancymidol ), (2-chloroethyl)trimethylammonium chloride ( chlormequat ), and (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid ( ethephon ) were applied to Dianthus caryophyllus L. ‘White Sim’ grown under long days as foliar sprays at 3 rates and 2 times of application. Chlormequat applied at low rates shortly after flower initiation significantly improved flower production and quality. Anthesis was accelerated by all retardants at low rates without reduction of flower size or plant substance.
P02-391 - Use of electro convulsive therapy for treatment resistant major depressive disorder in pregnant patients : case series

Introduction Use of electro convulsive therapy (ECT) in pregnancy has been a controversial issue for a while, and the data describing cases where ECT was utilized, is limited. Objectives/aims The study describes two cases with reference to presenting psychopathology, course of treatment, and previous strategies used. This is followed by a discussion of risks and benefits of ECT use in pregnancy as well as monitoring measures which help prevent negative outcome. Methods Two cases of treatment resistant depression during pregnancy are described. The details about treatment approaches used prior to consideration of ECT are provided. Results ECT was considered as a last resort and both patients decided to undergo treatment. By the end of the intensive treatment course improvement of symptoms was noticed in both patients to a greater to lesser degree. Conclusion In cases when medication trials alone or even in combination with psychotherapy do not result in significant improvement of depressive symptoms, ECT may be used to maximize positive treatment result in pregnant population. It is an effective treatment for severe mental illness, however, proper monitoring system needs to be in place to minimize negative outcome for fetus and mother.
MDMA (ecstasy) effects on cultured serotonergic neurons: evidence for Ca2+-dependent toxicity linked to release

Animal studies have established a correlation between release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and the long-term reduction of 5-HT (toxicity) by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) with the S(+) enantiomer being more active than the R(-). Using a microculture system of fetal raphe neurons, the enantiomers of MDMA were tested to determine if a similar difference in potency existed. The results showed that the development of the uptake capacity of [3H]5-HT in 4-day cultures was half-maximally inhibited by a single application at time of plating of 5 X 10(-6) M S(+)-MDMA and 5 X 10(-5) M R(-)-MDMA. In order to determine if the Ca2(+)-independent release (chemically induced through the transporter protein and inhibited by reuptake blockers) or the Ca2(+)-dependent release (K(+)-induced and inhibited by presynaptic receptors) contributed to the toxicity, fluoxetine and D1 and alpha 2 agonists were studied. The results showed that both forms of release were involved in the loss of [3H]5-HT uptake capacity, with the direct MDMA-induced Ca2(+)-independent (fluoxetine-sensitive) release being the first step. Evidence from binding studies indicates that MDMA has a micromolar affinity for the 5-HT2 receptor, and our studies in culture showed that ketanserin, a specific 5-HT2 antagonist, was effective at attenuating the effects of S(+)-MDMA on the development of the [3H]5-HT uptake capacity by the cultured raphe neurons. The 5-HT2 receptor is linked to increased intracellular Ca2+ through a second messenger phosphatidylinositol (PI)-hydrolysis mechanism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
NUTRITIVE VALUE OF BREAKFAST CEREAL‐MILK COMBINATIONS

The protein quality of 11 breakfast cereal-milk mixtures combined as normally eaten (1 oz cereal and 4 oz fluid milk) was determined by using a modified slope-ratio assay. Slope ratios (milk = 100) of three of the mixtures (oatmeal-milk, cream of rice-milk and shredded wheat-milk) were higher than that of milk alone. Using protein content and slope ratios it was calculated that 1 oz of the various cereals could increase potential protein value over that of milk alone by 26 to 117%, and that some of the mixtures could supply as much as 22% of the recommended daily allowance for an 8–10-yr-old child. It is suggested that information of this sort combining the protein quality of food mixtures as eaten with the protein content of a serving would be welcomed by consumers.
Internal quantum efficiency modeling of silicon photodiodes

Results are presented for modeling of the shape of the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) versus wavelength for silicon photodiodes in the 400 nm to 900 nm wavelength range. The IQE data are based on measurements of the external quantum efficiencies of three transmission optical trap detectors using an extensive set of laser wavelengths, along with the transmittance of the traps. We find that a simplified version of a previously reported IQE model fits the data with an accuracy of better than 0.01%. These results provide an important validation of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) spectral radiant power responsivity scale disseminated through the NIST Spectral Comparator Facility, as well as those scales disseminated by other National Metrology Institutes who have employed the same model.
Analysis of a laser Doppler anemometer

A theoretical analysis for a laser Doppler anemometer is presented. Starting with Mie scattering theory, expressions are derived for the photocurrent and spectrum due to a single moving scattering particle. From these expressions relations defining the region from which signals are received, the spectrum bandwidth and the spectrum amplitude are obtained. The results are generalized to the signal due to an arbitrary number of randomly positioned scattering particles and treated statistically to examine the effects of particle concentration on the mean square spectrum amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio. Noise in this context refers to spectrum fluctuations arising from the randomness of scatterer positions and concentration fluctuations.
Measurements of macroscopic quantum tunneling out of the zero-voltage state of a current-biased Josephson junction.

The escape rate of an underdamped ($Q\ensuremath{\approx}30$), current-biased Josephson junction from the zero-voltage state has been measured. The relevant parameters of the junction were determined in situ in the thermal regime from the dependence of the escape rate on bias current and from resonant activation in the presence of microwaves. At low temperatures, the escape rate became independent of temperature with a value that, with no adjustable parameters, was in excellent agreement with the zero-temperature prediction for macroscopic quantum tunneling.
Hybrid approaches to physiologic modeling and prediction

This paper explores how the accuracy of a first-principles physiological model can be enhanced by integrating data-driven, "black-box" models with the original model to form a "hybrid" model system. Both linear (autoregressive) and nonlinear (neural network) data-driven techniques are separately combined with a first-principles model to predict human body core temperature. Rectal core temperature data from nine volunteers, subject to four 30/10-minute cycles of moderate exercise/rest regimen in both CONTROL and HUMID environmental conditions, are used to develop and test the approach. The results show significant improvements in prediction accuracy, with average improvements of up to 30% for prediction horizons of 20 minutes. The models developed from one subject's data are also used in the prediction of another subject's core temperature. Initial results for this approach for a 20-minute horizon show no significant improvement over the first-principles model by itself.
An Examination of Variations in the Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia Across a Single Breath Group in Connected Speech

Summary Objectives The purpose of this study was to use spectral and cepstral analyses of speech to investigate whether underlying physiological changes in voice result in changes in acoustic estimates of dysphonia severity in continuous speech contexts within a single breath group. The effect of dysphonia on acoustic estimates of dysphonia severity, frequency, relative intensity, and vocalization time across initial and terminal segments of a single breath group using a common clinical stimulus was investigated. Study Design Prospective quasi-experimental controlled design. Methods Digitized recordings of the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice sentence “We were away a year ago” were obtained from 20 treatment-seeking dysphonic individuals (females, mean age = 39 years) and 20 normal controls (females, mean age = 39 years). Each recorded sample was separated into the first four syllables (“We were away … ”) and second four syllables (“…a year ago.”) of the breath group. Cepstral and spectral measures, intensity measures, and temporal analyses were obtained and used in calculations of the Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia (CSID, an acoustic estimate of dysphonia severity), fundamental frequency (F0), vocalization time, and relative vocal intensity (dB SLP). Statistical analyses were applied to calculations of change (delta [Δ]) in these measures from one breath group segment to the next. Results Results revealed a significant effect of group on measures of CSID and F0, but not relative intensity or vocalization time. Dysphonic speakers exhibited a significant increase in the CSID from the first to second breath group segment and limited variation in F0 compared with controls. Conclusions These results may support the hypothesis that voice impairment increases in severity toward the termination of a breath group even within a short temporal frame (ie, 2 seconds or less of connected speech), and that this portion of the breath group may be an important determinant of perceptual impressions. Further interpretation in the context of laryngeal physiology and indications for additional study will be discussed.
Carbohydrate response element binding protein, ChREBP, a transcription factor coupling hepatic glucose utilization and lipid synthesis

The ability of an organism to sense and store nutrients is vital to survival. The liver is the major organ responsible for converting excess dietary carbohydrate to lipid for storage. An elegant molecular pathway has evolved that allows increased glucose flux into hepatocytes to generate a signaling molecule, xylulose 5-phosphate, that triggers rapid changes in glycolytic enzyme activities and nuclear import of a transcription factor, ChREBP, which coordinates the transcriptional regulation of enzymes that channel the glycolytic end-products into lipogenesis. Further understanding of this metabolic cascade should provide insights on conditions such as fatty liver, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome.
Response to Lai et al., "Development of a Symptom Index for Patients with Primary Brain Tumors"

We read with great interest the article by Lai et al., “Development of a Symptom Index for Patients with Primary Brain Tumors” [1]. Although we agree on the importance of symptom assessment in patients with primary brain tumors, we would like to clarify several points in the article related to the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for Brain Tumor (MDASI-BT): 1. We agree that incorporation of input from both patients and clinicians is critical for instrument development. The author suggests in the discussion that the MDASI-BT did not incorporate patient or clinician input and that it was not developed specifically for patients with advanced brain tumors. a. The MDASI-BT design and validation process did incorporate clinician, patient, and caregiver input about the symptoms included in the instrument, including review of suggested symptoms and allowance for suggestion of important items not initially included [2]. In addition, calculation of a content validity index was undertaken [3]. b. An additional critique is the lack of validation of existing instruments in patients with advanced brain tumors. We might mention that the MDASI-BT validation work included patients with all grades of primary tumors and both patients who were on treatment and patients who had experienced recurrence [2]. Since the initial validation, additional work has shown the MDASI-BT’s sensitivity to tumor progression on magnetic resonance imaging [4] ,a s well as its ability to predict both overall survival and progression-free survival and sensitivity to between-arm treatment differences, as evidenced in two of the largest randomized clinical trials among patients with brain tumor completed to date [5,6].
Restoration of isospin symmetry in highly excited compound nuclei

We have deduced compound nuclear isospin mixing in $^{28}\mathrm{Si}^{\mathrm{*}}$ and $^{26}\mathrm{Al}^{\mathrm{*}}$ at excitation energies between 33 and 65 MeV. The \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray yield from the decay of giant dipole resonances built on excited states is found to be suppressed, implying that isospin mixing is small. By comparison with data from the literature at lower excitation energy, we conclude that isospin is a better symmetry in these compound nuclei at high excitation energy.
Acute and chronic effects of ethanol on papillary muscles from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Abstract The effects of chronic ethanol ingestion (12 weeks) on the mechanical properties of hypertrophied papillary muscle and the in vitro effects of ethanol (80–640 mg/dl) was studied. Papillary muscles from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and their normotensive controls, the Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY), were used in this study. Peak- developed tension was significantly less in muscles obtained from SHR compared with WKY even when normalized for muscle cross-sectional area. Chronic ethanol ingestion resulted in a significant shortening of both contraction and relaxation duration in muscles from SHR and WKY. In muscles from SHR and WKY, acute in vitro ethanol exposure produced concentration-dependent negative inotropic effects that were associated with a reduction in the duration of contraction and relaxation and marked slowing in the maximum velocities of tension development and decay. These findings suggest that the contractile response to ethanol exposure, in vitro, is not modified by either chronic ethanol ingestion or hypertension.
A Wide Linear Output Range Biopotential Amplifier for Physiological Measurement Frontend

This paper presents a wide linear output range biopotential amplifier for physiological measurement frontend. The proposed amplifier consists of an open-loop rail-to-rail differential pair in the first stage and a closed-loop common source amplifier in the second stage, which extends the linear output range by maintaining a constant voltage gain with amplifier output level variation. The nMOS and pMOS gain enhancement switches provide additional compensation for the voltage gain degradation as the amplifier output level moves toward the supply rails. In addition, voltage buffers are used after the first and second stages to alleviate the loading effect. This enables using small-sized feedback resistors, where the amplifier performance is relatively insensitive to resistor mismatch. Aside from the wide linear output range, this approach leads to small silicon area, low power, and relatively high common mode rejection ratio and power supply rejection ratio, which are highly demanding for portable and implantable biomedical instrumentation frontend. The proposed amplifier is implemented using CMOS 0.35μm technology (3.3 V supply) with core area of 0.063 mm2. Measurement results show a stable voltage gain of 46.3 dB for amplifier output range from 0.15 to 3.12 V, and a 0.04% total harmonic distortion with input amplitude of 15 mVpp. Furthermore, the amplifier operation is demonstrated with an actual ECG measurement setup.
Probing Structure and Mechanics of Yeast Prion Proteins with Optical Tweezers

The relevance of amyloid fibers to a variety of severe human disorders and interest in using amyloid fibers as nanowire materials demands a better understanding of their molecular structures and mechanical properties. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, protein Sup35, or its N-terminal fragment (NM) can assemble into a range of amyloid fibers with different underlying protein conformations. The structural diversity of Sup35 amyloids gives rise to a range of yeast prion phenotypes, referred to as weak [PSI+] or strong [PSI+]. This research uses combined optical trapping and fluorescence imaging to explore the mechanics, structure, and structural diversity of NM amyloid fibers. Fibers were reconstituted from purified fluorescently-labeled NM protein at 4°C and 37°C, which populate different protein conformations. These fibers induce strong [PSI+] and weak [PSI+] respectively when transferred in non-prion yeast cells ([psi−]). Tethers were made by attaching one end of the fiber to a cover slip and the other end to a fluorescently labeled polystyrene bead. Optical tweezers were used to obtain force-extension curves for single fibers. Simultaneously, fiber deformation was imaged with an intensified fluorescence camera utilizing an interlaced fluorescence and trapping laser chopping method developed in our lab to slow the trap accelerated photobleaching. Imaging served to confirm the single fiber assay and to identify fiber structure and boundary conditions. The force extension curves were fit to an appropriate wormlike chain model in order to characterize contour length, persistence length, and axial stiffness of individual fibers. Inhomogeneities were identified in the fiber structure in the form of point defects (hinges) that greatly reduce fiber bending stiffness. Furthermore, data for fibers reconstituted at 4°C and 37°C have shown differences in the mechanical properties indicating that distinct structures result in different intermolecular and intramolecular interactions of prion proteins.
Automated routing of DICOM CT, MR, and CR images: Solving the pitfalls of vendor-specific DICOM implementations

This paper details our experience in developing and implementing an automated DICOM Image Router. This workstation serves as a gateway between image acquisition devices and image display and storage devices. Images are checked for demographic input errors and data format inconsistencies between the source and destination devices. Based on the configured rules, an image may be held for manual correction and/or distributed to multiple locations. Distribution is based upon easily configured environmental variables and rules files which may be changed as needed. For example, CT images are typically sent to the archive and to a radiologist’s display workstation. If the patient came from the Emergency Department, a copy of the images are sent to a clinician display workstation located in the Emergency Department. If the patient has suffered trauma to the head, a copy of the images are sent to a display workstation in the Neurosurgery Department for possible consultation. The software was developed on a UNIX-based platform and utilizes a Fast Ethernet network. To date, images from a variety of devices have been acquired: General Electric HiSpeed CT/I scanner, General Electric Signa MRI scanner, Philips Thoravision Digital Chest unit, and Fuji AC-3CS Computed Radiography (CR) unit. Each device has presented new challenges in providing a uniform look to patient demographics in the PACS archive. The workstation also provides a buffer in the event of network outages, storing images for later transmission when the network and/or a workstation recover.
Conformal theory of the two-dimensional Ising model with homogeneous boundary conditions and with disordred boundary fields.

The critical Ising model defined on the upper half plane is studied with conformal-invariance methods. For homogeneous free and fixed-spin boundary conditions we derive all the many-point correlation functions 〈${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{1}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{2}$. . .${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathit{n}}$〉 and 〈${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{1}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{2}$. . .${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{\mathit{n}}$〉 of the spin \ensuremath{\sigma} and the energy density \ensuremath{\epsilon}. We also treat the case of inhomogeneous boundary fields that orient the spins on the x axis up for ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{1}$x\ensuremath{\infty}, down for ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{2}$x${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{1}$, up for ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{3}$x${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{2}$, etc. Exact expressions for the correlation functions 〈\ensuremath{\sigma}${\mathrm{〉}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}1}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{2}$. . .${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{\mathit{m}}$, 〈${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{1}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{2}$${\mathrm{〉}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}1}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{2}$. . .${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{\mathit{m}}$, and 〈${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{1}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{2}$. . .${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{\mathit{n}}$${\mathrm{〉}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}1}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{2}$. . .${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{\mathit{m}}$ are obtained. Examples of droplet shapes for random ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{\mathit{i}}$ are shown.
Class Groups of Multiplicative Invariants

Abstract Let G be a finite subgroup of GLd( Z ). Then G acts on the Laurent polynomial ring k[X±11,..., X±1d] over the field k via the natural G-action on the multiplicative group generated by the variables X1,...,Xd (≅ Z d). We show that the class group of the ring of invariants of this action is isomorphic to Hom(G/N, k*) ⊕ H1(G/D, ( Z d)D), where N denotes the subgroup of G that is generated by all reflections in G and D the subgroup generated by the reflections that are diagonalizable over Z .
From Information to Learning: Pedagogies of Space and the Notion of the Commons

The work of redefining the information commons as a learning commons can be supported by several pedagogies of space, including the notion of thirdspace from the philosophy of Soja, the ideas of place-conscious educators such as Theobald, and the border pedagogy described by Giroux. Pedagogies of space emphasize the importance of physical space as a social relationship, the need for a learning commons to provoke new learning, and possibilities for transforming our ways of thinking.
Expected values for steps/day in special populations.

Abstract Objective To assemble expected values for free-living steps/day in special populations living with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Method Studies identified since 2000 were categorized into similar illnesses and disabilities, capturing the original reference, sample descriptions, descriptions of instruments used (i.e., pedometers, piezoelectric pedometers, accelerometers), number of days worn, and mean and standard deviation of steps/day. Results Sixty unique studies represented: 1) heart and vascular diseases, 2) chronic obstructive lung disease, 3) diabetes and dialysis, 4) breast cancer, 5) neuromuscular diseases, 6) arthritis, joint replacement, and fibromyalgia, 7) disability (including mental retardation/intellectual difficulties), and 8) other special populations. A median steps/day was calculated for each category. Waist-mounted and ankle-mounted instruments were considered separately due to fundamental differences in assessment properties. For waist-mounted instruments, the lowest median values for steps/day are found in disabled older adults (1214 steps/day) followed by people living with COPD (2237 steps/day). The highest values were seen in individuals with Type 1 diabetes (8008 steps/day), mental retardation/intellectual disability (7787 steps/day), and HIV (7545 steps/day). Conclusion This review will be useful to researchers/practitioners who work with individuals living with chronic illness and disability and require such information for surveillance, screening, intervention, and program evaluation purposes.
OBPC symposium: Maize 2004 & beyond - regulation of the mudr/mu transposable elements of maize and their practical uses

The MuDR/Mu transposons of maize are the most aggressive DNA transposons known in terms of their ability to increase the forward mutation frequency by ≈100-fold. Their activities are held in check by multiple host mechanisms that restrict movement to late in development and that minimize the impact on the maize genome. Aspects of MuDR gene, expression that are modulated include transcriptional start site choice, alternative intron splicing, and translational activity. Although not all features of MuDR transposase biology are understood, this element has been used to mobilize endogenous Mu elements and genetically engineered Mu transposons to conduct efficient transposon mutagenesis throughout the maize genome, RescueMu, which contains a copy of the pBluescript bacterial, plasmid, has been used to sequence maize genes and to generate a large population of tagged alleles for subsequent genetic analysis. Derivatives of this element are in the testing phase for enhancer trap and activation gene tagging in maize.
Effect of Constitutive 70-kDa Heat Shock Protein Polymerization on Its Interaction with Protein Substrate

Constitutive 70-kDa heat shock protein (hsc70) is a mixture of monomers and oligomers in ADP, while in ATP it is monomeric unless certain DnaJ homologs are present which induce hsc70 to form large polymers in an ATP-dependent reaction. A key question regarding polymerized hsc70 is whether it is able to bind protein substrates. Polymerized BiP, the hsc70 present in the endoplasmic reticulum, has been found to bind substrates in vitro although substrates appear to bind only to monomeric BiP in vivo. In this study, we investigated whether substrate binds to polymerized cytoplasmic hsc70 in vitro. Although both stoichiometric ATP and high concentrations of cytochrome c peptide monomerized hsc70, direct binding studies provided no evidence that cytochrome c peptide binds to polymerized hsc70. Furthermore, the time course of cytochrome c peptide and clathrin binding to hsc70 suggested that rather than binding to polymerized hsc70, they monomerized it by reducing free monomer, thereby shifting the monomer-polymer equilibrium toward monomer. We conclude that peptide and protein substrates bind at least an order of magnitude more weakly to polymerized hsc70 than to monomer, suggesting that polymerization of hsc70 in vivo, perhaps by DnaJ homologs, may store it in an inactive form.
Pièce de résistance

(2009). Piece de resistance. Journal of Architectural Education: Vol. 62, No. 3, pp. 30-100.
Sodium-Lithium Countertransport Has Low Affinity for Sodium in Hyperinsulinemic Hypertensive Subjects

Abstract We recently reported that incubation of red blood cells with insulin markedly decreases the affinity for external Na+ and increases the maximal transport rate ( V max) of Na+-Li+ countertransport. The association of hypertension with insulin resistance and its compensatory hyperinsulinemia led us to investigate the relationship between insulin levels in vivo and the Na+ activation kinetics of this antiporter. We studied normotensive (n=28) and hypertensive (n=25) subjects after they had fasted overnight and determined their plasma glucose and insulin concentrations. Insulin levels were higher in the hypertensive subjects (11.7±1.5 μU/mL, mean±SEM) than in the normotensive subjects (8.2±1.2 μU/mL), but glucose levels were similar and within normal limits. Antiporter activity was measured as sodium-stimulated Li+ efflux by a new procedure that uses isosmotic conditions to raise external Na+ to 280 mmol/L. In normotensive subjects, V max was reached between 50 and 100 mmol/L Na+, whereas in most hypertensive subjects, Na+ concentrations higher than 150 mmol/L were needed. This different kinetic behavior was because the Na+ concentration for half-maximal activation ( K m) was twofold higher in hypertensive subjects (58.9±5.3 mmol/L) than in normotensive subjects (29.8±2.6 mmol/L, P <.001). Hypertensive subjects with fasting insulin levels greater than 10 μU/mL (n=12) had a higher K m for Na+ than subjects with insulin levels less than 10 μU/mL (n=13) (73.4±8.7 versus 45.6±3.9 mmol/L, respectively, P <.01) and similar V max (0.57±0.05 versus 0.41±0.05 mmol · L−1 · h−1). In contrast, normotensive subjects with insulin levels greater than 10 μU/mL (n=6) had V max and K m values similar to those with insulin levels less than 10 μU/mL (n=22). Simple regression analysis showed that body mass index, insulin, and blood pressure correlated with both kinetic parameters. However, stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the main determinant of V max was blood pressure and for K m, blood pressure and insulin levels. The association of a low affinity for Na+ with in vivo hyperinsulinemia and its concomitant insulin resistance observed in hypertensive subjects agrees with the in vitro effects of insulin on this antiporter.
Non-deterministic lisp with dependency-directed backtracking

Extending functional Lisp with McCarthy's non-det erministic operator AMB yields a language which can concisely express search problems. Dependency-directed backtracking is a powerful search strategy. We describe a non-deterministic Lisp dialect called SCHEMER and show that it can provide automatic dependency-directed backtracking. The resulting language provides a convenient interface to this efficient backtracking strategy.
Insecticide interactions with γ-aminobutyric acid and nicotinic receptors: predictive aspects of structural models

An insecticide binding site may be blocked by widely diverse chemicals, as with the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAR), or accept only closely related compounds, as illustrated by the nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor (nAChR). The human GABAR β3-homopentamer resembles the insect receptor in sensitivity and specificity for noncompetitive antagonists (NCAs), prompting exhaustive site-directed mutagenesis (cysteine scanning), which pinpointed the critical active site as pore-facing residues Ala-2', Thr-6' and Leu-9' and led to a binding site model which fits several classes of insecticidal NCAs. The nAChR agonist site was approached with an ACh binding protein (AChBP) by photoaffinity labeling and neonicotinoid docking. Chloropyridinyl chlorine contacts Ile-106/Met-116 and nitrogen is directed to Ile-118/Trp-147 via a solvent bridge(s). The guanidine/amidine plane undergoes π-stacking with Tyr-188, and the nitro/cyano pharmacophore interacts with Ser-189/Cys-190, thereby defining the binding pocket that models AChBP and possibly nAChR potency and selectivity.
Higher sensitivity moire interferometry for micromechanics studies

A whole-field in-plane displacement measurement method was developed for micromechanics studies. The method increased the sen-
Effect of Lithium on Schwann Cell Proliferation Stimulated by Axolemma‐ and Myelin‐Enriched Fractions

: Cultured Schwann cells stimulated with an axolemma- or myelin-enriched fraction incorporated 2.5 to three times as much [3H]thymidine when 10 mM lithium was added to the extracellular medium. The ability of lithium to enhance the mitogenic activity of either fraction was dose dependent. This result was not due to an increase in osmolarity, because addition of 10 mM NaCl had no effect on the amount of labeled thymidine accumulated by Schwann cells treated with either membrane fraction. In an earlier study, the effect of either membrane fraction could be potentiated with active phorbol esters. Lithium significantly enhanced the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into Schwann cells treated with a myelin-enriched fraction and phorbol esters. In contrast, lithium slightly increased the amount of labeled thymidine incorporated into Schwann cells stimulated with an axolemma-enriched fraction and phorbol esters. The mitogenic activity of either membrane fraction was impaired when the calcium channel blockers Mn2+ and nifedipine were added. Addition of lithium stimulated an increase in the amount of [3H]thymidine accumulated by Schwann cells treated with either the axolemma- or myelin-enriched fraction in the presence of either Mn2+ or nifedipine.
Multielement Visual Tracking: Attention and Perceptual Organization

Two types of theories have been advanced to account for how attention is allocated in performing goal-directed visual tasks. According to location-based theories, visual attention is allocated to spatial locations in the image; according to object-based theories, attention is allocated to perceptual objects. Evidence for the latter view comes from experiments demonstrating the importance of perceptual grouping in selective-attention tasks. This article provides further evidence concerning the importance of perceptual organization in attending to objects. In seven experiments, observers tracked multiple randomly moving visual elements under a variety of conditions. Ten elements moved continuously about the display for several seconds; one to five of them were designated as targets before movement initiation. At the end of movement, one element was highlighted, and subjects indicated whether or not it was a target. The ease with which the elements in the target set could be perceptually grouped was systematically manipulated. In Experiments l-3, factors that influenced the initial formation of a perceptual group were manipulated; this affected performance, but only early in practice. In Experiments 4-7, factors that influenced the maintenance of a perceptual group during motion were manipulated; this affected performance throughout practice. The results suggest that observers spontaneously grouped the target elements and directed attention toward this coherent but nonrigid virtual object. This supports object-based theories of attention and demonstrates that perceptual grouping, which is usually conceived of as a purely stimulus-driven process, can also be governed by goal-directed mechanisms.
Exploiting usage statistics for energy-efficient logical status inference on mobile phones

Logical statuses of mobile users, such as isBusy and isAlone, are the key enabler for a plethora of context-aware mobile applications. While on-board hardware sensors, such as motion, proximity, and location sensors, have been extensively studied for logical status inference, the continuous usage incurs formidable energy consumption and therefore user experience degradation. In this paper, we argue that smartphone usage statistics can be used for logical status inference with negligible energy cost. To validate this argument, this paper presents a continuous inference engine that (1) intercepts multiple operating system events, in particular foreground app, notifications, screen states, and connected networks; (2) extracts informative features from OS events; and (3) efficiently infers the logical status of mobile users. The proposed inference engine is implemented for unmodified Android phones, and an evaluation on a four-week trial has shown promising accuracy in identifying four logical statuses of mobile users with over 87% accuracy while the average energy impact on the battery life is less than 0.5%.
Identification and characterization of genes that interact with lin-12 in Caenorhabditis elegans

We identified and characterized 14 extragenic mutations that suppressed the dominant egg-laying defect of certain lin-12 gain-of-function mutations. These suppressors defined seven genes: supl 7, lag2, sel-4, sel-5, sel-6, sel-7 and sel-8. Mutations in six of the genes are recessive suppressors, whereas the two mutations that define the seventh gene, lag-2, are semidominant suppressors. These suppressor mutations were able to suppress other Zin-12 gain-of-function mutations. The suppressor mutations arose at a very low frequency per gene, 10-50 times below the typical loss-of-function mutation frequency. The suppressor mutations in supl 7 and lag-2 were shown to be rare non-null alleles, and we present evidence that null mutations in these two genes cause lethality. Temperature-shift studies for two suppressor genes, sup1 7and lag-2, suggest that both genes act at approximately the same time as Zin-12in specifying a cell fate. Suppressor alleles of six of these genes enhanced a temperature-sensitive loss-of-function allele of glpl, a gene related to lin-12 in structure and function. Our analysis of these suppressors suggests that the majority of these genes are part of a shared lin-lZ/glpl signal transduction pathway, or act to regulate the expression or stability of lin-12 and glpl.