cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On asymptotic solutions for nonsymmetric deformations of shallow shells of revolution

Abstract The paper presents asymptotic solutions of the differential equations for unsymmetrical deformations of such shallow shells of revolution as behave qualitatively similar to shallow spherical shells. Three distinct classes of asymptotic solutions, two of an interior nature, one of a boundary layer nature, and each having its own amplitude factor, are superimposed. Determination of the relative magnitudes of the amplitude factors follows from a consideration of the relevant boundary conditions, as exemplified for two distinct classes of boundary conditions. Determination of the amplitude factors is equivalent to the determination of the relative orders of magnitude of interior bending and direct stresses and of edge zone bending and direct stresses. The general results are illustrated by the explicit solution for a shallow spherical shell with sinusoidally varying meridional edge load, and with vanishing circumferential edge load and meridional bending moment, the fourth condition being that of vanishing transverse shear force or of vanishing transverse deflection.
Carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectra of Substituted-1,2,4-triazoles

Abstract The natural abundance carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of 5-(1-naphthylmethyl)-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1, 2, 4-triazol-3-thiol and 5-(1-naphthylmethyl)-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1, 2, 4-triazol-3-yl-thioglycolic acid were recorded using Fourier transform techniques. The chemical shift of various carbon resonances of these compounds have been assigned on the basis of the chemical shift theory, the signal multiplicity observed in the single frequency off-resonance decoupled (SFORD) spectra and comparison with the chemical shifts of model compounds.
How Nonsectarian is 'Nonsectarian'?: Jorge Ferrer's Pluralist Alternative to Tibetan Buddhist Inclusivism

This paper queries the logic of the structure of hierarchical philosophical systems. Following the Indian tradition of siddhānta, Tibetan Buddhist traditions articulate a hierarchy of philosophical views. The ‘Middle Way’ philosophy or Madhyamaka—the view that holds that the ultimate truth is emptiness—is, in general, held to be the highest view in the systematic depictions of philosophies in Tibet, and is contrasted with realist schools of thought, Buddhist and non-Buddhist. But why should an antirealist or nominalist position be said to be ‘better’ than a realist position? What is the criterion for this claim and is it, or can it, be more than a criterion that is tradition-specific for only Tibetan Buddhists? In this paper, I will look at the criteria to evaluate Buddhist philosophical traditions, particularly as articulated in what came to be referred as the ‘nonsectarian’ (ris med) tradition. I draw from the recent work of Jorge Ferrer to query the assumptions of the hierarchical structures of ‘nonsectarian’ traditions and attempt to articulate an evaluative criteria for a nonsectarian stance that are not based solely on metaphysical or tradition-specific claims.
A Bibliography of Recent Pharmaceutical Care Articles on Pain Management and End-of-Life Care Issues

(2000). A Bibliography of Recent Pharmaceutical Care Articles on Pain Management and End-of-Life Care Issues. Journal of Pharmaceutical Care in Pain & Symptom Control: Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 49-56.
The paediatric cytarabine syndrome can be viewed as a drug-induced cytokine release syndrome.

Chng (2003) indicated fever as an important part of the cytarabine syndrome and suggests cytokines as mediators. In an attempt to investigate the mechanisms behind cytarabine-induced fever, we evaluated 16 children (1AE5– 14AE8 years old) in clinical remission during high–dose cytarabine treatment (six infusions of 2 g/m 2 every 12 h). Fever (median 38AE5� C, range 38AE0–39AE7� C) occurred in 13 of 16 patients at a median of 28 h (20–47 h) after the start of the first infusion. The fever declined spontaneously in 10 of 13 patients despite continued infusions. The series of infusions was not interrupted in any case. Some patients showed signs of malaise, abdominal pain, myalgias and self-limiting rash, but none was severely ill. Blood cultures were negative and no antibiotics were administered. C-reactive protein was low at the beginning of treatment, but increased at 36 h to 21AE 5+6 AE6 mg/l [mean + standard error of the mean (SEM); P <0 AE001 compared with pretreatment levels] and at 60 h to 29AE 7+6 AE4 mg/l (P <0 AE001 compared with pretreatment levels). The plasma cytokine patterns are shown in Fig 1. We found a significant elevation of tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-a )a t 12 h, which preceded the onset of fever in all 13 febrile patients. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-c (IFN-c) were highest at the onset of fever. An elevation of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ra and IL-10 was noted at the end of treatment (data not shown). Four children received steroids for symptomatic reasons after the onset of fever and they had significantly lower IL-6 and IL-1ra levels afterwards (Ek et al, 2001). Our data demonstrated an association between febrile reactions during high-dose cytarabine treatment and release of proinflammatory cytokines in a pattern resembling that of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), with early release of TNF-a that induces a cascade of other pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines. The symptoms and the cytokine levels abated spontaneously in most cases. We are aware that the reaction can be much more pronounced in adults and even induce adult respiratory distress syndrome (Andersson et al, 1990). The absolute levels of TNF-a and IL-6 are often 5–10 times higher in SIRS than we detected.
Pyrethroid Resistance in the Horn Fly., Haematobia irritans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae)

Haematobia irritans (L.) populations were sampled from different locations in Louisiana and assayed with two pyrethroids, fenvalerate and permethrin. At the LD50, resistance to fenvalerate relative to an unexposed horn fly population was 36-, 32-, and 10-fold greater in the Red River, Rosepine, and Ben Hur populations, respectively. Resistance to permethrin at the LD50, level was 24-, 27-, and 10-fold greater in the respective populations. Thus, these horn fly populations were resistant to both fenvalerate and permethrin. The inherent irritancy/repellency of the pyrethroids for horn flies suggest that behavior may be a contributing factor to the pyrethroid resistance in these insects.
A comparative study of several compressibility corrections to turbulence models applied to high-speed shear layers

Several recently published compressibility corrections to the standard k-epsilon turbulence model are used with the Navier-Stokes equations to compute the mixing region of a large variety of high speed flows. These corrections, specifically developed to address the weakness of higher order turbulence models to accurately predict the spread rate of compressible free shear flows, are applied to two stream flows of the same gas mixing under a large variety of free stream conditions. Results are presented for two types of flows: unconfined streams with either (1) matched total temperatures and static pressures, or (2) matched static temperatures and pressures, and a confined stream.
Short-Term Longitudinal Effects of the Transcendental Meditation Technique on EEG Power and Coherence

EEG alpha coherence and slow alpha power were recorded from frontal and occipital derivations during relaxation or the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique in fifteen subjects. Subjects were tested before and after a two-week baseline period in which half practiced twice daily relaxation and half did not change their schedule. All subjects were then instructed in the TM technique and retested after a two-week period of twice daily practice of the technique. During the first two-week period there were no group differences or group by session interactions, but there was a significant effect of repeated measurement, indicating a decrease in occipital power independent of group. After the two-week TM technique period, subjects showed a significant increase in frontal alpha coherence above a 0.95 threshold. Frontal alpha coherence was found to be a more sensitive discriminator of the TM technique than alpha power, which may clarify previously reported nonsignificant EEG differences between the TM technique...
Genetic Resistance to Deficiency of Riboflavin in the Chick

Abstract GREAT differences in the response of individuals to different diets, or to certain deficiencies in the diet, are normally expected, and are commonly assumed to result, in part, from differences in genotype. Striking results of selection for resistance to a nutritional deficiency were obtained by Serfontein and Payne (1934) when, with only one generation of selection, they were able to segregate fowls 18.6 percent of whose chicks developed “slipped tendon” (perosis), as compared with 50 percent among chicks from parents which had been susceptible to the disorder. In view of a later study by Wilgus, Norris and Heuser (1937) we may assume that much of this difference was the result of differences in genetic resistance to a deficiency of manganese in the diet. A difference between breeds in their requirement for vitamin B1 (thiamine) was later demonstrated by Lamoreux and Hutt (1939). They found that White Leghorns consistently had a . . .
The strange lake Zr-Y-Nb-Be-REE deposit, labrador: A geochemical profile in till, lake and stream sediment, and water

Abstract Samples of till, stream sediment and water, and lake sediment and water were collected over an 800-km 2 area in the vicinity of a 6 × 8 km peralkaline granite which hosts a large-tonnage deposit of Zr-Y-Nb-Be-REE. The samples were analyzed for up to 28 elements. Erosion of the granite during continental glaciation has formed a geochemical dispersion pattern at least 40 km in length in all sample media. Dispersion patterns in till are strong, linear and narrow; those in streams somewhat broader while those in lake data provide the widest exploration target. The best indicator elements in till and stream sediment data include Be, Pb, Nb, La and Y. Yttrium and F in stream water are also very useful. Lake sediment and water samples were analyzed for fewer elements; of these Be and Pb in sediment and F in water best reflect the mineralized granite.
Management practices and net returns in milk production in Washington.

Summary Under milk-feed ratios similar to those that existed during 1949 and 1950 in western Washington, the practice of heavy grain feeding combined with a fair amount of hay (Feeding Schedule 4) iucurs the highest cost per cow or per hundredweight of milk, regardless of month of freshening or level of production. The practice of feeding large amounts of grass silage, such as under Schedule 3, provides the cheapest supply of TDN for any month of freshening. Differences in total costs for cows freshening in the same month, but fed under different schedules, appear to be influenced more by the amounts of concentrates fed than by the amounts of roughage and succulent feeds consumed. This infers that when the milk-grain ratio is unfavorable, the differences between costs of different types of feedingschedules will become more apparent. The level of milk production per cow changes only the magnitude of net returns per cow. The level of production does not change the relationship between the most profitable and the least profitable month of freshening.
Hybridized nanocavities as single-polarized plasmonic antennas

We experimentally demonstrate that hybridized nanocavities in optically thick metal films radiate in coherence, and act as an efficient single-polarized plasmonic nano-antenna array. We employ propagating and localized plasmons to enhance polarization control along one axis, with total suppression of the perpendicular polarization component. The relationship between the near-field and far-field radiation is established through a quasi-static model connecting the individual nano-antenna behavior to the phenomenon of extraordinary light transmission. Hybridized nanocavity antennas, with length scales below the conventional diffraction limit, present opportunities for potential applications in photovoltaics, optoelectronic devices and optical sensors.
Madcaps, Screwballs, and Con Women: The Female Trickster in American Culture

Women have been tricking men for thousands of years, and female tricksters have been appearing in classic and popular texts at least since the Thousand and One Nights. While there are many studies of tricksters, few have focused on the chicanery of women, and none have dealt with the ways in which the female trickster is constructed in America. Madcaps, Screwballs, and Con Women is the first book to explore the cultural work performed by female tricksters in the "new country" of American mass consumer culture. Beginning with such nineteenth-century novels as Capitola the Madcap and moving through twentieth-century novels, films, radio, and television shows, Lori Landay looks at how popular heroines use craft and deceit to circumvent the limitations of femininity. She considers texts of the 1920s such as Elinor Glyn's It and Anita Loos's Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; films of Mae West, as well as other Depression-era and wartime film comedy; the postwar television series I Love Lucy; and such contemporary texts as "Roseanne," "Ellen," and "Batman." In addition, Landay explores the connections between these texts and advertisements selling products that encourage female deception and trickery.
In vitro lymphocyte blastogenesis: a prognostic test in patients with neoplastic disease.

The in vitro lymphocyte response to PHA was studied in patients with Hodgkin's disease, bronchogenic calcinoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia; the results were correlated with the clinical and immunologic status of these patients. The lymphocyte blastogenesis was normal among patients in remission, except in a few instances in which depression could be attributed to antecedent therapy: PHA response varied greatly among patients with active Hodgkin's disease and appeared to be affected by a variety of factors related to the disease and to treatment. The mean PHA response in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma was significantly depressed as compared to that of normal subjects. There was a correlation between lymphocyte blastogenesis and the extent of the disease or survival of these patients with bronchogenic carcinoma. The PHA response was markedly depressed and delayed in almost all patients with active chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and it was only slightly or moderately depressed, but somewhat delayed, in some patients in remission. The lymphocyte response correlated well with the duration of disease, the status of therapy, the status of disease, the degree of lymphocytosis, and the immunologic status of these patients in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Permanent Multipole Magnets with Adjustable Strength

Preceded by a short discussion of the motives for using permanent magnets in accelerators, a new type of permanent magnet for use in accelerators is presented. The basic design and most important properties of a quadrupole will be described that uses both steel and permanent magnet material. The field gradient produced by this magnet can be adjusted without changing any other aspect of the field produced by this quadrupole. The generalization of this concept to produce other multipole fields, or combination of multipole fields, will also be presented.
Prediction of Positive Peer Relations from Observed Parent–Child Interactions

The nature of 7-year-old children's (n = 140) positive peer relations was examined using a multi-method, multi-agent approach. A confirmatory factor analysis suggested three factors clustered by reporting agent and method: teachers' perceptions of the child's positive attributes, observation of the child-peer interaction in three play settings, and observation of the child-peer interaction in a teaching context. Similar pathways were found for boys and girls. Once it was established that stable constructs could be developed to measure positive peer relations, earlier parent-child characteristics were examined to assess their utility in predicting children's positive friendships. Parental scaffolding and warmth were measured at 18 months and 5 years of age. Structural equation modeling suggests that positive parent interactions were positively related to later peer relations, but this relationship was significant only for boys. Possible explanations for this sex difference are discussed.
Rheostructural studies on a synthetic mesophase pitch during transient shear flow

Abstract The steady, shear viscosities of a synthetic mesophase pitch (Mitsubishi AR-HP) obtained from rate-sweep experiments at 0.1–10 s−1 exhibited shear-thinning (region I) and plateau responses (region II), but displayed a hysteresis during the decreasing rate sweep. Transient tests revealed that the shear stress (and consequently the shear viscosity) displayed a local maximum and a minimum before approaching a steady state. Following steady flow at 1 s−1, a reversal of flow direction or a very short interruption in flow did not lead to the maxima or minima in the transient shear stress, but the maxima and the minima reappeared in the transient stress after a rest time of ∼1000 s. An experimental protocol was developed to preserve the rheological samples, and their microstructure was characterized in three orthogonal planes for the initial and final states. The initial microstructure was found to have a weak, but preferred, orientation of mesophase layers in the radial direction of the rheometer cone-plate (due to the initial squeezing flow). The initial microstructure changed to a flow-aligned fibrous structure after shearing in the viscometric flow.
Market Research in the US-Part 2: demographic data-who’s living where, doing what

Evaluates key commercial publications and syndicated sources of U.S. demographic information
Altered chemokine receptor sensitivity in FVBN202 rat neu transgenic mice.

We report here that breast cancer cells from spontaneous tumors that arise in rat neu transgenic mice produce several chemokines capable of acting upon cells of the immune system. Moreover, mice bearing these spontaneous tumors possess splenic T cells as well as CD11c+, CD11b+ and CD19+ cells with an altered sensitivity to recombinant chemokines compared to naive mice. A comparison between T-cell migration and the level of chemokines produced by the tumor cells revealed that the altered chemotactic activity was not a direct consequence of tumor-derived chemokines. These data suggest that a growing tumor may indirectly alter leukocyte chemotactic activity.
Identical twins discordant for ulcerative colitis with colon cancer.

A 22-year-old patient with a 16-year history of ulcerative colitis who developed multifocal anaplastic colon cancer is presented. His identical twin, proven by blood type, HL-A, and fingerprint analyses, has been completely asymptomatic. This report suggests that ulcerative colitis results from a polygenic predisposition without full penetrance. Subsequent development of colon cancer seems more likely related to the inflammatory disease than an independent genetic determinant.
Positive Selection of an H2-M3 Restricted T Cell Receptor

Abstract Thymocytes are positively selected for αβ T cell antigen receptors (TCR) that recognize antigen in conjunction with self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. MHC bound peptides participate in positive selection; however, their role has remained controversial. A TCR transgenic mouse was established using a TCR restricted to the MHC class Ib molecule, H2-M3. Having defined H2-M3 as the positively selecting MHC molecule, the severely limited number of H2-M3 binding peptides allowed us to characterize an NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1)-derived peptide as the physiological ligand of positive selection. This peptide bears no apparent sequence homology to the cognate peptide, is expressed ubiquitously, and yet does not interfere with peripheral T cells. Our studies also suggest that positive selection becomes promiscuous at high epitope densities.
Enduring Maternal Influences in a Precocial Rodent

The guinea pig is highly developed at birth and requires little active maternal care. Yet the mother and other social figures markedly influence biobehavioral processes of the offspring. Here, responses of guinea pigs and nonhuman primates to maternal and other social separation procedures are compared, and influences of social partners on endocrine responses and behavior in periadolescent guinea pigs are described.
Driving While Intoxicated - Different Roads to and From the Problem

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) continues to be a major societal concern, exacting a high personal and financial cost. The present article reviews the current scope of the drinking-driving problem ...
Toxoplasmosis in Distemper-Susceptible Carnivora

Toxoplasmosis is described in 18 carnivora of five different species: five dogs, four gray foxes, two raccoons, a skunk and six mink. In the raccoons and skunk the infection is reported for the first time, and in the mink for the first time in the United States. All the cases represented the acute disseminated form of toxoplasmosis, with focal necrosis of the lung, liver, and heart, and glial nodules of the central nervous system. A simultaneous distemper infection was present in three of the five dogs, in all four gray foxes, in both raccoons, and the skunk. It is believed that the distemper virus may provide the most important triggering mechanism necessary to initiate an acute toxoplasma infection or cause a flare-up of latent toxoplasmosis. In a 3-week-old puppy, and in the mink the toxoplasma infection was not associated with canine distemper.
Pong-cache poisoning in GUESS

This paper studies the problem of resource discovery in unstructured peer-to-peer (P2P) systems. We propose simple policies that make the discovery of resources resilient to coordinated attacks by malicious nodes. We focus on a novel P2P protocol called GUESS [8] that uses a pong cache, a set of currently known nodes, to discover new ones. We define a simple, abstract model of a GUESS network,and We describe how to limit pong cache poisoning, a condition in which the ids of malicious nodes appear in the pong caches of good nodes. We run simulations based on our model, and evaluate different options for the key decisions that nodes need to make.We propose an ID smearing algorithm (IDSA) and a dynamic network partitioning (DNP) scheme that can be used together to reduce the impact of malicious nodes. We also propose adding an introduction protocol (IP) as a basic mechanism to GUESS to ensure liveness. We suggest using a most-recently-used (MRU) cache replacement policy to slow down the rate of poisoning. Finally, we determine the marginal utility of using a malicious node detector (MND) to further limit poisoning, and the level of accuracy required of the detector.
Disturbance attenuation for systems with input saturation: An LMI approach

A new design technique is proposed to improve disturbance attenuation for systems with input saturation. The main results rely on a multiobjective approach which combines the quadratic stabilization technique with constraints on inputs. For the full-state feedback problem, the sufficient conditions for the feasibility of a high-gain controller are expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMI). For output feedback design, the controllers are assumed to have an observer-based structure. The sufficient conditions for the output feedback controller to recover the full-state properties are also given in terms of LMI.
Chemical burn induced by cutaneous exposure to a concentrated sodium hypochlorite and alkyl sulfate solution.

Background: Acute irritant contact dermatitis induced by cutaneous exposure to chemicals is a common dermatologic problem in the workplace. In severe cases, irritant contact responses can result in a caustic burn. Chemical burn induced by concentrated sodium hypochlorite (the active ingredient in bleach) has been reported infrequently in the literature, with no previously reported cases of chemical burn due to an alkyl sulfate (a common surfactant in cleaning fluids). Here we describe a chemical burn in a 16-year-old girl resulting from exposure to a solution of concentrated sodium hypochlorite and alkyl sulfate applied as a sanitizer to the interior of roller skates worn at work.Observations: The diagnosis was made on the basis of the patient's exposure history, clinical appearance, and laboratory results. On physical examination, the erythematous plaque, located at the site of chemical exposure, had intact skin lines, surrounding edema, and decreased sensitivity to touch. The peripheral white blood cell...
Mixed Methods, Mixed Causes?:

This article investigates the relationship between research methods and conceptions of causation in mixed-methods research. It begins by distinguishing the natural conception of causation from the intentional conception. Natural causation construes causal explanation as establishing and accounting for ordered patterns of human behavior on the model of the natural sciences and is associated with quantitative methods. Intentional causation construes causal explanation as establishing and accounting for ordered patterns of human behavior in terms of norm-governed institutions and practices and is associated with qualita- tive methods. The article then argues that both conceptions of causation have a role in social research but that the two conceptions do not map on to quantitative versus qualitative methods. Rather the relationship is crisscrossing-quantitative methods can be used to investigate intentional causation and qualitative methods can be used to investigate natural causa- tion-within an overarching framework of mixed-methods interpretivism in which intentional causation is primary.
A building block for nuclear medicine imaging systems data acquisition

Adapting acquisition electronics to new detector designs has often led to complications and compromises. As we developed depth-of-interaction detector designs based on both discrete crystal arrays (dMiCE) and monolithic crystals (cMiCE) concepts, we found that our previous electronics design was inadequate to the task and launched a design effort we have termed our Phase II electronics. The system is based on a basic card design (the Phase II board) that has a large field programmable gate array (FPGA) with sufficient static RAM to support a variety of pulse processing algorithms our group has developed-including timing estimation, pulse integration with pileup correction, and statistical estimation of the event location in the detector. Here we report on the initial development and testing of the Phase II digital board as a basic building block for data acquisition systems.
Adsorption of Fluoride from Water Using Sintered Clay-Hydroxyapatite Composites

AbstractThis paper proposes a new method of removing fluoride from drinking water. It presents the results of an experimental study on the effects of the temperature and mixture ratio on the adsorption characteristics of fluoride on clay-hydroxyapatite (C-HA) composites. The writers fabricated the C-HA materials from composites of hydroxyapatite (HA), redart clay, and fine wood chips (sawdust) in well-controlled proportions. Five different ratios of clay to HA at five different temperatures (500, 600, 700, 800, and 900°C) were sintered. The results of the adsorption tests demonstrated that the defluoridation capacity of the adsorbent that contains only HA decreases with increasing sintering temperature. The adsorption capacities of the C-HA adsorbents also increase with increasing HA volume fraction. The adsorption capacity of the porous C-HA mixtures and HA are well modeled by the Freundlich equation. The changes in the free energy reveal the spontaneous nature of the adsorption process. A particle and i...
Plasma acylcarnitine profiles suggest incomplete long-chain fatty acid β-oxidation and altered tricarboxylic acid cycle activity in type 2 diabetic African-American women.

Inefficient muscle long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) combustion is associated with insulin resistance, but molecular links between mitochondrial fat catabolism and insulin action remain controversial. We hypothesized that plasma acylcarnitine profiling would identify distinct metabolite patterns reflective of muscle fat catabolism when comparing individuals bearing a missense G304A uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3 g/a) polymorphism to controls, because UCP3 is predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle and g/a individuals have reduced whole-body fat oxidation. MS analyses of 42 carnitine moieties in plasma samples from fasting type 2 diabetics (n = 44) and nondiabetics (n = 12) with or without the UCP3 g/a polymorphism (n = 28/genotype: 22 diabetic, 6 nondiabetic/genotype) were conducted. Contrary to our hypothesis, genotype had a negligible impact on plasma metabolite patterns. However, a comparison of nondiabetics vs. type 2 diabetics revealed a striking increase in the concentrations of fatty acylcarnitines reflective of incomplete LCFA beta-oxidation in the latter (i.e. summed C10- to C14-carnitine concentrations were approximately 300% of controls; P = 0.004). Across all volunteers (n = 56), acetylcarnitine rose and propionylcarnitine decreased with increasing hemoglobin A1c (r = 0.544, P < 0.0001; and r = -0.308, P < 0.05, respectively) and with increasing total plasma acylcarnitine concentration. In proof-of-concept studies, we made the novel observation that C12-C14 acylcarnitines significantly stimulated nuclear factor kappa-B activity (up to 200% of controls) in RAW264.7 cells. These results are consistent with the working hypothesis that inefficient tissue LCFA beta-oxidation, due in part to a relatively low tricarboxylic acid cycle capacity, increases tissue accumulation of acetyl-CoA and generates chain-shortened acylcarnitine molecules that activate proinflammatory pathways implicated in insulin resistance.
Efficient dissemination of personalized video content in resource-constrained environments

Video streaming on mobile devices such as PDA's, laptop PCs, pocket PCs and cell phones is becoming increasingly popular. These mobile devices are typically constrained by their battery capacity, bandwidth, screen resolution and video decoding and rendering capabilities. Consequently, video personalization strategies are used to provide these resource-constrained mobile devices with personalized video content that is most relevant to the client's request while simultaneously satisfying the client's resource constraints. Proxy-based caching of video content is a proven strategy to reduce both client latencies and server loads. In this paper, we propose novel video personalization server and caching mechanisms, the combination of which can efficiently disseminate personalized videos to multiple resource-constrained clients. The video personalization servers use an automatic video segmentation and video indexing scheme based on semantic video content. The caching proxies implement a novel cache replacement and multi-stage client request aggregation algorithm, specifically suited for caching personalized video files generated by the personalization servers. The cache design also implements a personalized video segment calculation algorithm based on client's content preferences and resource constraints. The paper reports series of experiments that demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed techniques in scalably disseminating personalized video content to resource constrained client-devices.
Speech perception in noise for bilingual listeners with normal hearing

AbstractObjective: The purpose of this study was to determine if speech-in-noise ability, as measured by SNR-50 and SNR loss in bilingual Spanish listeners with normal hearing, was affected by test difficulty. Design: Quasi-experimental, non-randomized intervention study. Study sample: Two groups of adult listeners participated: monolingual English listeners with normal hearing (N = 12) and bilingual Spanish listeners with normal hearing who were proficient in English (N = 10). The quick speech-in-noise (QuickSIN), the Bamford-Kowal-Bench speech-in-noise (BKB-SIN), and the words-in-noise (WIN) tests were used to assess signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss and SNR-50 for both groups. Results: Despite the fact that the bilinguals had normal hearing and were proficient in English, each of the speech-in-noise tests evaluated indicated the Spanish listeners had measurable SNR loss and higher than normal SNR-50s. Performance on the BKB-SIN was best for both groups, indicating test difficulty had a significant impac...
Species compositional similarity and ecoregions: Do ecoregion boundaries represent zones of high species turnover?

The concept of an ecoregion, a discrete spatial area where species composition is presumed to be relatively homogeneous compared to that between areas, has become an increasingly common conservation tool. We test the effectiveness of one ecoregion delineation (World Wildlife Fund) in capturing patterns of change in species composition of birds, mammals, and trees across the United States (excluding Hawaii) and Canada, and describe the extent to which each ecoregion boundary is concurrent with relatively large changes in species composition. Digitized range maps were used to record presence/absence in 50 · 50 km equal-area grid cells covering the study area. Jaccards index of similarity was calculated for all pairs of cells in the same or adjacent ecoregions. The average rate at which similarity declined with geographic distance was calculated using pairs of cells within the same ecoregion (intraecoregion turnover) or using pairs of cells in adjacent ecoregions (inter-ecoregion turnover). The intra-ecoregion rate varies widely among ecoregions and between taxa, with trees having a faster rate of similarity decline than mammals or birds. For all three species groups, most ecoregion boundaries have similar rates across them (inter-ecoregion) than that within each adjacent ecoregion (intraecoregion), with the exception of zones of transition between biomes and major geographical features. Although the ecoregion concept is useful for many other conservation applications, the lack of systematic, high turnover rates along ecoregion boundaries suggests that ecoregions should not be used as a quantitative basis for delineating geographic areas of a particular taxonomic group. � 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Detyrosinated (Glu) microtubules are stabilized by an ATP-sensitive plus-end cap

Many cell types contain a subset of long-lived, ‘stable’ microtubules that differ from dynamic microtubules in that they are enriched in post-translationally detyrosinated tubulin (Glu-tubulin). Elevated Glu tubulin does not stabilize the microtubules and the mechanism for the stability of Glu microtubules is not known. We used detergent-extracted cell models to investigate the nature of Glu microtubule stability. In these cell models, Glu microtubules did not incorporate exogenously added tubulin subunits on their distal ends, while >70% of the bulk microtubules did. Ca(2+)-generated fragments of Glu microtubules incorporated tubulin, showing that Glu microtubule ends are capped. Consistent with this, Glu microtubules in cell models were resistant to dilution-induced breakdown. Known microtubule end-associated proteins (EB1, APC, p150(Glued) and vinculin focal adhesions) were not localized on Glu microtubule ends. ATP, but not nonhydrolyzable analogues, induced depolymerization of Glu microtubules in cell models. Timelapse and photobleaching studies showed that ATP triggered subunit loss from the plus end. ATP breakdown of Glu microtubules was inhibited by AMP-PNP and vanadate, but not by kinase or other inhibitors. Additional experiments showed that conventional kinesin or kif3 were not involved in Glu microtubule capping. We conclude that Glu microtubules are stabilized by a plus-end cap that includes an ATPase with properties similar to kinesins.
Three-dimensional maximum a posteriori (MAP) imaging with radiopharmaceuticals labeled with three Cu radionuclides

Abstract Background One of the limiting factors in achieving the best spatial resolution in positron emission tomography (PET), especially in small-animal PET, is the positron range associated with the decay of nuclides, and usual PET image reconstruction algorithms do not provide a correction for the positron range. This work presents initial results obtained with the maximum a posteriori (MAP) algorithm, which has been developed to include an accurate model of the camera response, the Poisson distribution of coincidence data and the fundamental physics of positron decay including the positron range. Methods Phantoms were imaged with three positron emitting isotopes of Cu ( 60 Cu, 61 Cu and 64 Cu), and mice and rats were imaged with two radiopharmaceuticals labeled with these isotopes in a microPET-R4 camera. These isotopes decay by positron emission with very different end-point energies resulting in wildly different spatial resolutions. Spatial resolution improvement and image quality offered by the MAP algorithm were studied with the line source phantom and a miniature Derenzo phantom. In addition, three mice and three rats were sequentially injected over a 48-h period with Cu-pyruvaldehyde bis( N 4 -methylthiosemicarbazone) (for blood flow to organs) and Cu-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-tri(methanephosphonic acid) (for bone imaging) labeled with the said three isotopes of Cu. Results The line source experiment showed that comparable spatial resolution is possible with all three isotopes when using the positron range correction in MAP. The in vivo images obtained from 60 Cu and 61 Cu and reconstructed with 2D filtered back projection algorithms provided by the camera manufacturer show reduced clarity due to degraded spatial resolution arising from the extended positron ranges as compared with 64 Cu. MAP reconstructions exhibited a higher resolution with clearer organ delineation. Conclusion Inclusion of a positron range model in the MAP reconstruction algorithm may potentially result in significant resolution recovery for isotopes with larger positron ranges.
Managing complexity: a Web seminar experience

This project provided a novel forum for the delivery of three presentations in the area of the management of complexity in product development. An invited group of three speakers provided presentations concerning the role of complexity in product development in a colloquia series in the Engineering Management Program at Florida Tech. These presentations were digitized into a format suitable for distribution over the Internet and made available to a global audience for the period April 9-27, 2001. Participants used a self-registration Web site to create a user account to access the presentations and a Web-based conference tool to interact with other participants. Invitations were e-mailed to numerous engineering and management professional groups and ads were placed in prominent journals. Two engineering organizations (IEEE Engineering Management Society and IEE Management Professional Network) endorsed the project and marketed the Web seminar to their memberships. As of April 28/sup th/, 452 people had accessed the seminar series using 16,373 "hits" to the web pages. The presentations were accessed 1,156 times. Minimal technical problems arose and the project delivered a process model for low cost, worldwide distribution of media and interactive sessions that is not commonly available in any current venue. This report summarizes the project, the operational details, the results, and conclusions drawn from this experiment.
High-Speed Real-Time Simulation

Summary form only given. Real-time simulation, in which the behaviour of a simulation of a system develops in precisely the same time-scale as the corresponding behaviour of the system itself, has been used for many years for testing hardware (hardware-in-the-loop or HIL), software and for training (e.g. flight simulators, power-plant simulators). The two distinguishing features of real-time simulation are synchronization with the actual behaviour via a real-time clock and an interface system that allows the external systems to operate just as if they were connected to the real system. One of the key characteristics of a real-time simulation is the frame time which determines the discrete time increments by which a simulation is advanced each time the next state of the system is calculated. Many real-time simulations require frame times of the order of milliseconds, and modern realtime operating systems, which typically involve latencies of a few microseconds, are quite capable of supporting such applications. Some applications, however, such as in power electronics and automobile engines require frame times of less than 10 muS. Small arrays of digital signal processors on PCI cards offer an efficient way of meeting this requirement and have been demonstrated to support simple applications at frame times as low as 2 muS. Another promising approach for even shorter frame times is to use FPGAs, which promise sub-microsecond frame times. Many applications require that the high-speed real-time (HSRT) simulation is embedded in a larger simulation of an entire system with less stringent frame-time requirements, and multi-rate real-time simulation is another current research interest. The presentation will review these developments and ongoing research in this area
Marketing healthy food to the least interested consumers.

This study discusses specific marketing strategies for two broad groups of consumers with radically different approaches to food selection. For over three decades strategies aimed at improving food choices assumed that providing nutritional information would change eating behaviors. We show that this strategy is only effective for consumers, a largely female group, already highly interested in the nutrient density and subsequent healthfulness of their food choices. In contrast, the nutritional information strategy does not change the food choices for those who have low interest in their food's nutrition, a group that is overwhelmingly male. These gender differences when making food choices are an opportunity for foodservice providers to implement a ‘dual-track’ marketing strategy that can expand their customer base and increase their revenue while still meeting emerging nutrition mandates. In addition, this new approach will help address the nation's obesity epidemic.
AN HISTORICAL COMPARISON OF SEAWEED POPULATIONS FROM CASCO BAY, MAINE

Abstract Based on recent and historical collections dating back to the early 1900s, the seaweed flora in Casco Bay, Maine consists of 206 taxa: 55 Chlorophyta, 70 Phaeophyta, and 81 Rhodophyta. In 1911, Frank Shipley Collins recorded 173 taxa from Casco Bay, while 164 taxa were found during recent sampling since 1994. A comparison of the two time periods shows a 77.7% similarity; some plants have apparently disappeared (or are very rare) and others are newly recorded. Eight newly collected seaweeds represent species that are most common in estuarine and shallow embayments and have southern warm-water affinities (e.g., Hummia onusta, Striaria attenuata, Callithamnion corymbosum, Ceramium cimbricum, Chondria baileyana, Polysiphonia denudata, P. elongata, and Spyridia filamentosa); six others represent introduced taxa, including Codium fragile subsp. tomentosoides, Ulonema rhizophorum, Bonnemaisonia hamifera and its “Trailliella intricata” stage, plus Dumontia contorta, Lomentaria clavellosa, and Porphyra ye...
Localized epidermolytic hyperkeratosis of the female external genitalia.

Background: Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EH) is most commonly associated with the diffuse involvement of congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma, but can also be found in a localized pattern. Localized EH is rare, but mucocutaneous lesions have been been identified, most commonly in the mouth. Methods: We observed a 58-year-old African-American female who noted spots on her genitalia for approximately 2 years. The lesions were increasing in size, darkening, and had become pruritic and sore over the past 6 months. Results: Physical examination revealed seven scattered, tan to brown, verrucoid papules on the labia and mons pubis, resembling condylomata acuminata or Bowenoid papulosis. Biopsy of a single labial papule revealed epidermal acanthosis, compact hyperkeratotic papillomatosis, perinuclear clear zones, granular keratohyalin clumping, hypergranulosis, and dyskeratosis resulting in intracellular eosinophilic globules, all characteristic of EH. Conclusions: Because of the rarity of localized genital EH and similar appearance to common diagnoses, clinical confusion may occur without biopsy.
Development of Agile Wide Spectral Range Hyperspectral/Polarization Imagers

Two agile hyperspectral/polarization imagers covering wide spectral ranges: (i)0.43-2.12 µm and (ii)0.69-4.0 µm are developed. Each uses a two-transducer acousto-optic tunable filter and three separate cameras. Experiments and results will be presented.
Creativity, Biology, and Education

DURING THESE TIMES of turbulence and re-evaluation in the field of teaching, both biologists and educators are doing a great deal of thinking to the end that biology might be presented more effectively to the coming generations. Efforts are being widely made to increase the conceptual and quantitative content of the subject matter, to bring more up-to-date exercises into the teaching laboratory, and to reduce the time lag between the frontiers of knowledge and the classroom. Such efforts can be expected to increase the efficiency with which biological concepts, techniques, and terminology are transmitted to the student. One can ask at this point to what end this increased efficiency is directed? Surely it will aid in producing a student body at any given level which is more erudite and with a more catholic grasp of biological principles. This is, of course, very well if one views biology just as a body of knowledge which is to be passed on in as broad and integrated a manner as possible. Within this view the student masters a large mass of fact, is told what the scientific method is, and has structure, process, or technique demonstrated to him in the laboratory. It is noteworthy that within this conception of biology there is little time for a student to have more than fleeting twinges of curiosity about life phenomena or to experience the challenge of a real problem. He is much too occupied with the acquisition of a body of knowledge to taste the rewards that biology has to offer him as an individual.
Efficient Down-conversion of Single Photons for Quantum Communication

We propose and demonstrate a system by which light from a diamond NV-center single photon source may be efficiently down-converted to the telecommunications band using difference frequency generation in a PPLN waveguide.
Autophagy interaction with herpes simplex virus type-1 infection

More than 50% of the U.S. population is infected with herpes simplex virus type-I (HSV-1) and global infectious estimates are nearly 90%. HSV-1 is normally seen as a harmless virus but debilitating diseases can arise, including encephalitis and ocular diseases. HSV-1 is unique in that it can undermine host defenses and establish lifelong infection in neurons. Viral reactivation from latency may allow HSV-1 to lay siege to the brain (Herpes encephalitis). Recent advances maintain that HSV-1 proteins act to suppress and/or control the lysosome-dependent degradation pathway of macroautophagy (hereafter autophagy) and consequently, in neurons, may be coupled with the advancement of HSV-1-associated pathogenesis. Furthermore, increasing evidence suggests that HSV-1 infection may constitute a gradual risk factor for neurodegenerative disorders. The relationship between HSV-1 infection and autophagy manipulation combined with neuropathogenesis may be intimately intertwined demanding further investigation.