cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease

Recently, the authors focused on the application of the neural networks to improve the diagnostic capability of the acoustical approach. In order to improve the diagnostic ability for mis-diagnosed patients, the combination of the first four moments (mean, variance, skewness, kurtosis) of the extrema of the coefficients of wavelet transform applied to the diastolic heart sounds associated with coronary artery disease, as well as physical examination parameters, were used as the input pattern to the neural networks. The wavelet transform was chosen, since it is free from assumptions concerning the characteristics of the signal. Finally, using their nonlinear and multilayered architecture, fuzzy neural networks were applied to the diastolic heart sounds produced by coronary stenoses in order to capture fully all relevant information related to the patients' disease states. >
Portrayals of Dominance: Local Newspaper Coverage of a Natural Disaster

In times of crisis or natural disaster, there is an intense demand from the public for information about the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the crisis (Smith & Price, 2005), and pressure o...
Penetration of laminated Kevlar by projectiles. I : Experimental investigation

Abstract The response of woven Kevlar/polyester laminates of varying thicknesses to quasi-static and dynamic penetration by cylindro-conical projectiles with an apex of primarily 60° has been investigated. The static properties of the material were obtained by means of standard testing procedures, including in-plane tension, compression and shear, through-thickness compression, fracture toughness and cone indentation. Compressive dynamic results were obtained using a Hopkinson bar at rates up to 2000 s−1. Quasi-static force-indentation behavior for conical indenters was determined for a specimen thickness ranging from three to 10 layers to provide constitutive relations for the corresponding analytical model. These data exhibit a linear rise whose slope and peak values are proportional to specimen stiffness, followed by a plateau that terminates in a rapid reduction to a small, but finite force level when the shank of the penetrator exits. The curves were found to be highly sensitive to the size of the projectiles and the tip angle. Static investigations were also conducted to assess the effect on penetration of specimens subject to special artificial initial conditions. This included a restraint on the global plate deformation; the use of several samples of the same total thickness, but comprised of several assemblies of stacked laminates; and embedment of an artificial dclamination flaw located centrally at the midplane of the plate over approximately half of its diameter. The dynamic tests were executed using both pneumatic and powder guns, mostly with a 12.7 mm barrel diameter. Ballistic limits were determined for these plates and terminal velocities were measured when perforation occurred. Deliberately introduced delaminations and changes in the volume fraction did not result in significant changes in the impact resistance. The damage zone created was square in shape for a 0/90 lay-up and circular for quasi-isotropic specimens. The damage pattern for dynamic loading was, however, quite different from that for the corresponding quasistatic penetration case. Kevlar laminates were found to be very resistant in arresting blunt-nosed strikers in comparison with metals on a specific weight basis.
Menuda: a knowledge-based menu design expert system

An experimental knowledge-based menu design assistant (MENUDA) was developed to aid the design of menu systems. A conceptual model was first developed to provide a structured construct to organize knowledge of menu system design from the available literature, and to serve as a paradigm for the development of the MENUDA system. The knowledge base and the user interface of the MENUDA system were developed under an interactive microcomputer environment supported by Texas Instruments' Personal Consultant Plus. The current version of the MENUDA system is described in the paper. In addition, the methodology used to derive rules in the MENUDA knowledge base and the appropriateness of employing a knowledge-based expert system approach to providing user interface design guidelines are discussed.
Earthworms as phoretic hosts for Steinernema carpocapsae and Beauveria bassiana: Implications for enhanced biological control

Abstract Prior research indicated that earthworms may serve as phoretic hosts to entomopathogenic nematodes. Therefore, we hypothesized that biocontrol efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes could be enhanced in the presence of earthworms based on increased nematode dispersal through the soil. We also hypothesized that earthworms may serve as phoretic hosts to other entomopathogens, such as entomopathogenic fungi. We tested the first hypothesis by comparing the ability of two strains of Steinernema carpocapsae to suppress the pecan weevil, Curculio caryae , in the presence or absence of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris . Under greenhouse conditions, S. carpocapsae was applied to the soil surface in pots containing C. caryae larvae. We tested the second hypothesis by determining the effects of L. terrestris on dispersal of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana in soil columns. Our results indicated that earthworm presence improved the ability of S. carpocapsae (Sal strain) to control C. caryae below the soil surface. Additionally, S. carpocapsae (All strain) only caused significant C. caryae suppression relative to the controls in the presence of earthworms. B. bassiana dispersal was enhanced by earthworm presence. The fungus was carried through soil by the earthworm; conidia recovered from the earthworm casts remained viable and was pathogenic to Galleria mellonella . Earthworms and other phoretic hosts may assist in dispersal of entomopathogenic nematode and fungal populations in various ecosystems and thereby assist in regulation of insect pests. Additionally, it may be conceivable to combine the application of earthworms with entomopathogens to achieve enhanced levels of inundative or inoculative biocontrol.
The Tail Sheath of Bacteriophage T4 as a Microactuator

Bacteriophage T4 is a virus that attacks bacteria by a fascinating mechanism involving a natural microactuator. In this paper we give a theory for this microactuator that explains the deformations observed and is capable of giving quantitative information on the forces produced and the changes in free energy that occur. The theory suggests a route to man-made synthesis of this actuator (“biomolecular epitaxy” (BME)) and some interesting experiments that could be done on synthesized sheets.
Governmentality and Religion in the Construction of the Argentinean Citizen.

Numerous studies regarding citizens' identity and nation-building issues have relegated the analysis of religion, understood as a cultural practice, and its role in the governing of the citizen. However, this article states that religious narrative is still a crucial technology of government to conduct the conduct of citizens. Through the Foucauldian notion of governmentality, I draw together the roles of religious discourses in three historical educational events from Argentinean history. In contrast to the secularization theory that ignores the power of religion in shaping the modern republican citizen, this study demonstrates the extent to which Catholic narratives are still a central technology in governing the Argentinean republican citizen.
Debt Buybacks and Forgiveness in a Model with Voluntary Repudiation

Debt reduction is usually analyzed in models where default is involuntary and the gains from debt reduction derive from various disincentives linked to a large debt overhang. This paper uses a model in which default is voluntary and shows that debt reduction can be beneficial even in the absence of those disincentives, by inducing debtors to renounce or postpone repudiation. This is likely to happen when debts are large compared to the penalties incurred by debtors if they repudiate. Furthermore, debtors can gain from debt buybacks even after allowing fully for the opportunity costs of using reserves for that purpose. [430]
Combinatorial congruences fromp-subgroups of the symmetric group

For a finite set,A, we consider subgroups, principallyp-subgroups, of the group,SA, and their action on subsets, families of subsets, and other structures onA. We show that the orders of most orbits are divisible by various powers ofp. These results are applied to obtain congruences involving, for example, binomial and multinomial coefficients, providing alternate proofs for some known results, in some cases generalizations and/or sharpenings, and new congruences involving some other structures.
Equilibria and convex cost networks

Abstract This paper explores the relationship between equilibria and convex cost networks. It is shown that the equilibrium points of certain large-scale systems can be obtained as the solution of convex programs. The extremality conditions that relate a certain primal-dual program pair are equivalent to equilibrium conditions. An economics example is given to illustrate the theory
Entire spacelike hypersurfaces of constant mean curvature in Minkowski space

for spacelike hypersurfaces in Minkowski Space possess a remarkable Bernstein property in the maximal case, H = 0 . Calabi [4] has shown for n__<4 and later Cheng and Yau 1-5] for all n that entire, maximal, spacelike solutions of (1) are linear. We investigate to what extent uniqueness holds when the mean curvature H is a positive constant. In that case Eq. (1) has many solutions which we are able to classify by their projective boundary values at infinity in Theorem 1. We can also construct solutions to Eq.(1) asymptotic to arbitrary C 2 perturbations of the light cone in Theorem 2. The Lorentz-Minkowski Space L "+L is IR "+1 endowed with the metric ds 2
Charge Densities of the Nuclei 2O5Tl, 206,208Pb and the Occupancies of the Shell States

The charge densities of the nuclei 205Tl, 206,208Pb have been calculated in modified shell model with fractional number occupations of the shell states 2s, 2p, 2d, and 3s. The value of the n3s was found to be 0.6 for 206TI, and ≈ 1 for 206,208Pb. These values differ appreciably from other data which range between 1.3 to 1.6. By addition of the two neutrons to 206P a charge of 0.24e of one proton is moved from the inner region of the 208Pb to the outer region. In the context of our modified shell model calculations, the measured charge density and occupancy profiles imply that the neutron degrees of freedom we employ carry charge.
Use of osmotically active agents to alter optical properties of tissue: Effects on the detected fluorescence signal measured through skin

Background and Objective: Hyper-osmotic chemical agents were used to study the effects of transient tissue scattering on the remitted fluorescence emission intensity from a target placed under a tissue sample. Study Design/Materials and Methods: A fluorescent film was placed underneath in vitro and in vivo samples of hamster skin, and the remitted fluorescent signal traveling to the tissue surface was monitored over time as the tissue was treated with an osmotically active agent. Results: The detected fluorescent signal increased as the scattering in tissue samples was substantially reduced. The increase was greater for dimethyl sulfoxide than glucose or glycerol. It was not statistically different between in vivo skin and in vitro skin. Conclusion: The study shows how chemical agents can be used to improve the detected signal for a specific optical application. It could be useful in a number of optical therapeutic and diagnostic applications that can benefit from an increase in the penetration depth of light. Lasers Surg. Med. 29:213‐220, 2001. fl 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Molecular active plasmonics: controlling plasmon resonances with molecular machines

The paper studies the molecular-level active control of localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of Au nanodisk arrays with molecular machines. Two types of molecular machines - azobenzene and rotaxane - have been demonstrated to enable the reversible tuning of the LSPRs via the controlled mechanical movements. Azobenzene molecules have the property of trans-cis photoisomerization and enable the photo-induced nematic (N)-isotropic (I) phase transition of the liquid crystals (LCs) that contain the molecules as dopant. The phase transition of the azobenzene-doped LCs causes the refractive-index difference of the LCs, resulting in the reversible peak shift of the LSPRs of the embedded Au nanodisks due to the sensitivity of the LSPRs to the disks' surroundings' refractive index. Au nanodisk array, coated with rotaxanes, switches its LSPRs reversibly when it is exposed to chemical oxidants and reductants alternatively. The correlation between the peak shift of the LSPRs and the chemically driven mechanical movement of rotaxanes is supported by control experiments and a time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT)-based, microscopic model.
The role of the C‐terminus of human α‐synuclein: Intra‐disulfide bonds between the C‐terminus and other regions stabilize non‐fibrillar monomeric isomers

Substantial evidence implicates that the aggregation of α-synuclein (αSyn) is a critical factor in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. This study focuses on the role of αSyn C-terminus. We introduced two additional cysteine residues at positions 107 and 124 (A107C and A124C) to our previous construct. Five X-isomers of oxidative-folded mutation of α-synuclein with three disulfides were isolated and their secondary structures and aggregating features were analyzed. All isomers showed similar random coil structures as wild-type α-synuclein. However, these isomers did not form aggregates or fibrils, even with prolonged incubation, suggesting that the interactions between the C-terminal and N-terminal or central NAC region are important in maintaining the natively unfolded structure of αSyn and thus prevent αSyn from changing conformation, which is a critical step for fibrillation.
From DNA to Targeted Therapeutics: Bringing Synthetic Biology to the Clinic

Synthetic biology aims to make biological engineering more scalable and predictable, lowering the cost and facilitating the translation of synthetic biological systems to practical applications. Increasingly sophisticated, rationally designed synthetic systems that are capable of complex functions pave the way to translational applications, including disease diagnostics and targeted therapeutics. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in synthetic biology in the context of translational research and discuss challenges at the interface between synthetic biology and clinical medicine.
Assessing the role of internships in the career‐oriented employment of graduating college students

This study assessed the relationship between the completion of an internship assignment prior to graduation and subsequent employment in a career‐oriented job after graduation. Subjects for the study were 163 seniors graduating with a business degree from a large public university in the mid‐Atlantic region of the USA. Results showed that the completion of an internship assignment was linked with finding career‐oriented employment, but was not related to a higher level of confidence over personal fit with the position that was selected. The article presents implications for future research and discusses practical issues related to the use of internships and other forms of anticipatory socialization in the career management activities of college students.
Effect of pre‐medication on gastroduodenoscopy in isoflurane‐anesthetized cats

The pre-medicant chosen may influence the ease with which gastroduodenoscopy (GD) is performed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative ease of GD in cats under ketamine and isoflurane anesthesia after IM injection of hydromorphone (H, 0.1 mg kg−1), hydromorphone plus glycopyrrolate (HG, 0.1 mg kg−1 (H), 0.01 mg kg−1 (G)), medetomidine (M, 0.03 mg kg−1), or butorphanol (B, 0.4 mg kg−1). Eight cats were assigned randomly to receive each treatment in a cross-over design with at least 7 days between treatments. Twenty minutes after pre-medication, medetomidine produced greater (p = 0.001) sedation than the other treatments when assessed, using a subjective ordinal scale. The cats were injected with ketamine (10 mg kg−1 IM), orotracheally intubated, connected to a pediatric circle breathing system, and allowed to spontaneously breathe isoflurane in oxygen. Once end-tidal isoflurane concentration was stable at 1.4% for 15 minutes, endoscopy was started. A single endoscopist (REG), who was unaware of the treatment used, performed all endoscopies. The endoscopist scored the difficulty of endoscopy subjectively (0–3). The significance of differences between treatments was evaluated using Friedman's test. Time for entering the stomach was 9.4 (4.7–15.9) (median (minimum–maximum)), 6.6 (5.2–11.7), 8.4 (6.3–16.5), and 7.7 (5.1–14.7) seconds and for entering the duodenum from the stomach was 20.5 (13.8–40.9), 18.2 (10.3–39.8), 20.2 (16.2–119.5), and 22.2 (11.8–83.8) seconds for H, HG, M, and B treatments, respectively. There were no significant differences in the time for, or difficulty of, endoscopy. We conclude that any of these drugs can be used satisfactorily at the doses and combinations tested to pre-medicate cats prior to general anesthesia for GD.
Flight performance of an advanced CZT imaging detector in a balloon-borne wide-field hard X-ray telescope—ProtoEXIST1

Abstract We successfully carried out the first high-altitude balloon flight of a wide-field hard X-ray coded-aperture telescope ProtoEXIST1 , which was launched from the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility at Ft. Sumner, New Mexico on October 9, 2009. ProtoEXIST1 is the first implementation of an advanced CdZnTe (CZT) imaging detector in our ongoing program to establish the technology required for next generation wide-field hard X-ray telescopes such as the High Energy Telescope (HET) in the Energetic X-ray Imaging Survey Telescope ( EXIST ). The CZT detector plane in ProtoEXIST1 consists of an 8×8 array of closely tiled 2 cm×2 cm×0.5 cm thick pixellated CZT crystals, each with 8×8 pixels, mounted on a set of readout electronics boards and covering a 256 cm 2 active area with 2.5 mm pixels. A tungsten mask, mounted at 90 cm above the detector provides shadowgrams of X-ray sources in the 30–600 keV band for imaging, allowing a fully coded field of view of 9°×9° (and 19°×19° for 50% coding fraction) with an angular resolution of 20 ′ . In order to reduce the background radiation, the detector is surrounded by semi-graded (Pb/Sn/Cu) passive shields on the four sides all the way to the mask. On the back side, a 26 cm×26 cm×2 cm CsI(Na) active shield provides signals to tag charged particle induced events as well as ≳ 100 keV background photons from below. The flight duration was only about 7.5 h due to strong winds (60 knots) at float altitude (38–39 km). Throughout the flight, the CZT detector performed excellently. The telescope observed Cyg X-1, a bright black hole binary system, for ∼ 1 h at the end of the flight. Despite a few problems with the pointing and aspect systems that caused the telescope to track about 6.4° off the target, the analysis of the Cyg X-1 data revealed an X-ray source at 7.2 σ in the 30–100 keV energy band at the expected location from the optical images taken by the onboard daytime star camera. The success of this first flight is very encouraging for the future development of the advanced CZT imaging detectors ( ProtoEXIST2 , with 0.6 mm pixels), which will take advantage of the modularization architecture employed in ProtoEXIST1 .
Effect of ultrasound and mechanical agitation on adsorption of 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) by amberlite XAD-2

The work reported here is a continuation of earlier work1 in which ultrasound is found to promote ion exchange but is less effective than mechanical agitation. Correspondingly, an effort has been made to study the effect of ultrasound on adsorption by a non-polar adsorbent, XAD-2 resin. The present work shows, as in the previous case of ion exchange resins, that the rate controlling step is also a diffusion process in the uptake by the non-polar XAD-2.
Sound velocity of Fe-S liquids at high pressure: Implications for the Moon's molten outer core

Article history: Sound velocities of Fe and Fe-S liquids were determined by combining the ultrasonic measurements and synchrotron X-ray techniques under high pressure-temperature conditions from 1 to 8 GPa and 1573 K to 1973 K. Four different liquid compositions were studied including Fe, Fe-10 wt% S, Fe-20 wt% S, and Fe-27 wt% S. Our data show that the velocity of Fe-rich liquids increases upon compression and decreases with increasing sulfur content, whereas temperature has negligible effect on the velocity of Fe-S liquids. The sound velocity data were combined with ambient-pressure densities to fit the Murnaghan equation of state (EOS). Compared to the lunar seismic model, our velocity data constrain the sulfur content at 4 ± 3 wt%, indicating a significantly denser (6.5 ± 0. 5g /cm3) and hotter (1870 + 100 −70 K) outer core than previously estimated. A new lunar structure model incorporating available geophysical observations points to a smaller core radius. Our model suggests a top-down solidification scenario for the evolution of the lunar core. Such "iron snow" process may have been an important mechanism for the growth of
Use of phenylephrine in the detection of the opening snap of mitral stenosis

Abstract The effect of phenylephrine on the 2-OS interval in cases of mitral stenosis is described. This drug prolongs regularly the 2-OS interval and thereby facilitates recognition of the opening snap. By contrast, there was no significant change in the splitting of the second sound in normal subjects or in the patients with mitral stenosis, but of 3 patients with atrial septal defect, the drug causes considerable increase of the splitting interval in one. Because of the characteristics delay of the opening snap in response to phenylephrine, the use of this drug is potentially useful in identification of the opening snap particularly in situations where such a sound is confused with splitting of the second heart sound.
Induction of lipid peroxidation by hexachlorocyclohexane, dieldrin, TCDD, carbon tetrachloride, and hexachlorobenzene in rats.

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCCH) and dieldrin are all halogenated lipophilic environmental contaminants. A common biologic property of these compounds is their ability to induce hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes. Furthermore, exposure of laboratory animals to these xenobiotics elicits a number of similar effects including porphyria, hypothyroidism, a wasting syndrome and lethality. Perturbation of membrane lipids and lipid peroxidation may be responsible for at least part of the toxic effects of HCCH. TCDD has been shown to induce lipid peroxidation in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues. Based on the similar toxic manifestations of HCB, HCCH, TCDD and dieldrin, the authors have examined the effects of these xenobiotics on hepatic lipid peroxidation following an acutely toxic dose. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by determining the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in the liver, employing malondialdehyde as the standard. Animals were also treated with carbon tetrachloride, a well know inducer of lipid peroxidation, as a positive control. Furthermore, the ability of these xenobiotics to inhibit selenium dependent glutathione peroxidase (GSHPX) activity was determined.
Response to open peer commentaries on "Visual bioethics".

In her masterful book about images of atrocities, Regarding the Pain of Others, Susan Sontag (1993) writes that there is a kind of “sleight of hand [that] allows photographs to be both objective re...
Cell cycle phases of a novel human neural cell line and the effect of exogenous gangliosides

Cell cycle phases of a new cell line (10-1) derived from a gemistocytic astrocytoma were analysed with computer-generated curves fit to the percentage of labeled metaphases at various times after a [3H]-thymidine pulse. These large slowly growing tumor cells in vitro had a mitotic index of 2.8%, a confluent density of 34400 cells/cm2 and an average DNA content of 7.91 pg/cell. Ganglioside treatment (50 uM in the culture medium) prolonged the generation time (26 hrs to 33 hrs) as well as all the phases of the cell cycle. The most noticeable effect of ganglioside exposure was to increase the G1 phase by 40%. Therefore we conclude that exogenously added membrane components, such as gangliosides, can lengthen the gemistocytic astrocytoma cell cycle in vitro and modulate the proliferation of these neural cells.
Pollen morphology and phylogenetic relationships in neotropical Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae)

In order to provide new insights into phylogenetic relationships among the neotropical taxa of Phyllanthus, 28 illustrations are provided of the pollen grains of 22 selected species studied from 11 sections of the subgenera represented in the neotropics. Special attention has been given to subgenus Conami because of its variability in pollen morphology: of eight species illustrated, the apertures are diploporate colpi in three species and pores in five species; exine ornamentation is vermiculate in two species and pilate in the other six species. The six species in the neotropical sections Pityrocladus and Microglochidion (subgenus Emblica) are characterized by prolate grains with an increased number of colpi (4–8). Of particular interest are species in which the pollen exine is clypeate (with exine shields); clypeate pollen grains are illustrated in two species of subgenus Xylophylla and in one species of section Cyclanthera that has unique exine shields with single central pila. The pollen of the one Brazilian phylloclade-bearing species illustrated (in section Choretropsis) has 3-colporate grains with reticulate exine, typical for subgenus Phyllanthus, and very different from the clypeate grains of the West Indian phylloclade-bearing species in section Xylophylla. This pollen evidence clearly demonstrates homoplasy in the origin of phylloclades in Phyllanthus. Pollen morphological data suggest that the neotropical taxa of Phyllanthus have arisen following colonization from Africa (subgenus Kirganelia) and Asia (subgenus Emblica). © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2002, 138, 325–338.
GENI with a Network Processing Unit: Enriching SDN Application Experiments

This paper reports the integration of Dell's specialized split data plane (SDP) OpenFlow switch into the GENI testbed. In addition, the paper outlines the research directions in network science and engineering that such a switch may enable together with a new perspective on education in network programming. An SDP switch can be used to perform some specialized processing on flows with special hardware accelerators in addition to hosting any application (running on a Linux OS) that a user may insert on the path of a flow. The SDP switch is composed of a Dell switch (PowerConnect 7024) with an internal physical connection to a sub-unit, Network Processor Unit (NPU), by Cavium Networks. Hosting an OpenvSwitch on the NPU with open hosting of Linux applications enables software-defined networking experiments. The integration challenges/process associated with this unit is presented as a future reference to other such foreign box integrations.
Superload Evaluation of the Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge

The passage of overloads that require special permitting is a common occurrence. Prior to the passage of such an overload, a simplified computer analysis is generally conducted to predict the expected behavior of the bridge. This paper addresses the field evaluation of three superloads that crossed the Bonnet Carre Spillway Bridge in Louisiana. Emphasis is placed on comparisons between the expected and actual behavior due to rotational restraint, live load distribution, the stiffening effect of bridge rails, and other factors. Finite-element modeling was conducted and the approach taken along with the results obtained are described. One important conclusion was that the longitudinal configuration of the axle loads supplied by the hauler was configured differently than indicated on the permit. While the gross load was accurate, the distribution between sets of axles varied considerably from those assumed in the permitting process. To minimize the potential for damage to bridges it is therefore recommended that axle loads be weighed prior to the passage of such overloads.
The rett syndrome: Genetics and the future

Genetic and nongenetic explanations of female-limited disease, such as the Rett syndrome, are reviewed, with emphasis on the possibility of a disturbance of late-replicating X-chromosome heterochromatinization. A possible disturbance of X-chromosome late-replication, as demonstrated by BUdR terminal pulse-labelling is described for a specific Rett syndrome patient.
Atlas-Based Automated Segmentation of Spleen and Liver Using Adaptive Enhancement Estimation

The paper presents the automated segmentation of spleen and liver from contrast-enhanced CT images of normal and hepato/splenomegaly populations. The method used 4 steps: (i) a mean organ model was registered to the patient CT; (ii) the first estimates of the organs were improved by a geodesic active contour; (iii) the contrast enhancements of liver and spleen were estimated to adjust to patient image characteristics, and an adaptive convolution refined the segmentations; (iv) lastly, a normalized probabilistic atlas corrected for shape and location for the precise computation of each organ's volume and height (mid- hepatic liver height and cephalocaudal spleen height). Results from test data demonstrated the method's ability to accurately segment the spleen (RMS error = 1.09mm; DICE/Tanimoto overlaps = 95.2/91) and liver (RMS error = 2.3mm, and DICE/Tanimoto overlaps = 96.2/92.7). The correlations (R2) with clinical/manual height measurements were 0.97 and 0.93 for the spleen and liver respectively.
T violation in SU(2) × U(1) gauge theories of leptons

Theories are studied in which violation of time-reversal invariance occurs in the leptons due to complex gauge couplings. We study under what conditions $T$ violation may be present in a theory, and give three SU(2) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} U(1) models (including an extension of the Cheng-Li model) to serve as examples of general classes of models. The electric dipole moment of the electron and $T$-violating correlations in leptonic decays are discussed. In general $T$-violating effects are difficult to observe even if the $T$-violating parameters are large. However, if heavy neutral leptons are found in neutrino scattering, a relatively simple $T$-violation test is discussed.
Appealing (but not Necessarily Winning) to Improve Your Social Status

In this article, I argue that litigants identify the appellate courts as offering a powerful and public arena where litigants’ claims are placed (at least temporarily) on an equal footing with the current state of the law. In this context, the initiation of appeals is treated as synonymous with receiving endorsements from the appellate courts that the litigants’ original claims had sufficient merit to deserve better treatment than they had received previously from either the opposing parties or the trial courts. These actions work to raise appellants’ social status, and I propose that such activity is one additional reason why some litigants might appeal.
Does the Collapse of a Supramassive Neutron Star Leave a Debris Disk

One possible channel for black hole formation is the collapse of a rigidly rotating massive neutron star as it loses its angular momentum or gains excessive mass through accretion. It was proposed that part of the neutron star may form a debris disk around the black hole. Such short-lived massive disks could be the sources of powerful jets emitting cosmological gamma-ray bursts. Whether the collapse creates a disk depends on the equation of state of the neutron star. We survey a wide range of equations of states allowed by observations and find that disk formation is unfeasible. We conclude that this channel of black hole formation is incapable of producing powerful jets, and discuss implications for models of gamma-ray bursts.
Massive data analytics: the graph 500 on IBM Blue Gene/Q

Graph algorithms are becoming increasingly important for biology, transportation, business intelligence, and a wide range of commercial workloads. Most graph algorithms stress to the limit various architectural aspects of conventional machines. The memory access patterns are irregular, with little spatial locality and data reuse. The amount of computation per loaded byte is very small, typically involving bit manipulation; pointer-chasing is often the norm. Likewise, the generated network traffic comprises small packets that are sent to random destinations at a very high messaging rate. With our recent winning Graph 500 submissions in November 2010, June 2011, and November 2011, we have demonstrated the versatility of the IBM Blue Gene® family of supercomputers and the possibility of using them to parallelize demanding data-intensive applications. In this paper, we describe the algorithmic techniques that we used to map the Graph 500 breadth-first search (BFS) exploration on the IBM Blue Gene®/Q, achieving a performance of 254 billion traversed edges per second.
Pulmonary involvement in ankylosing spondylitis

Purpose of reviewAnti-tumor necrosis factor-α agents have recently been approved and recommended as effective and relatively safe drug therapy for ankylosing spondylitis. In light of this major advance in the management of these patients, recent observations on the pulmonary manifestations of ankylo
Energy-efficiency of MIMO and cooperative MIMO techniques in sensor networks

We consider radio applications in sensor networks, where the nodes operate on batteries so that energy consumption must be minimized, while satisfying given throughput and delay requirements. In this context, we analyze the best modulation and transmission strategy to minimize the total energy consumption required to send a given number of bits. The total energy consumption includes both the transmission energy and the circuit energy consumption. We first consider multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) systems based on Alamouti diversity schemes, which have good spectral efficiency but also more circuitry that consumes energy. We then extend our energy-efficiency analysis of MIMO systems to individual single-antenna nodes that cooperate to form multiple-antenna transmitters or receivers. By transmitting and/or receiving information jointly, we show that tremendous energy saving is possible for transmission distances larger than a given threshold, even when we take into account the local energy cost necessary for joint information transmission and reception. We also show that over some distance ranges, cooperative MIMO transmission and reception can simultaneously achieve both energy savings and delay reduction.
Effect of H2O on the density of silicate melts at high pressures: Static experiments and the application of a modified hard-sphere model of equation of state

Density of ultramafic silicate melts was determined using the sink/float technique at high pressures. Seven melt compositions were studied, among which three were dry compositions with different Mg's (molar MgO/(MgO + FeO) x 100) and the other four were hydrous compositions synthesized by adding 2-7 wt.% H{sub 2}O to the anhydrous ones. Experimental conditions range from 9 to 15 GPa and from 2173 to 2473 K. The sinking and floatation of density markers were observed for all melt compositions. Melt density data were analyzed by applying the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state and a newly developed equation of state for silicate melts based on the model of hard sphere mixtures. The presence of water can significantly reduce the density of melts due to its small molecular mass. On the other hand, water makes hydrous silicate melts more compressible than anhydrous melts and therefore the effect of H{sub 2}O on melt density is less significant at high pressures. The density of hydrous melts was then calculated as a function of H{sub 2}O content at the conditions of the bottom of the upper mantle, and was compared with the density of the dominant upper mantle minerals. Results show that the conditions for amore » negatively buoyant melt that coexists with a pyrolite mantle atop the 410 km discontinuity are marginally satisfied if H{sub 2}O is the only volatile component to facilitate melting, but such conditions will be satisfied by a broader range of conditions when other heavier volatile elements (C, K, etc.) are also present.« less
Using an r-dependent Gaussian width in calculations of the globally uniform semiclassical wave function.

The globally uniform semiclassical wave function expresses the solution to the time independent Schrodinger equation in terms of fixed width Gaussian wave packets traveling along a set of trajectories. There is a globally uniform wave function (GUWF) for each value of the Gaussian width parameter γ. Numerical data show that a small Gaussian width is needed in some regions to obtain accurate results, while a broad Gaussian width provides better results in other regions. Since there is a semiclassically valid GUWF for every positive value of γ, it is reasonable to employ the GUWF corresponding to a Gaussian width that provides good results at each value of r. A criterion for the r dependent choice of γ is proposed and tested on one and two dimensional model problems. The results show that the use of an r dependent γ in the GUWF results in improved accuracy for the model problems considered.
The role of physical geography and habitat type in shaping the biogeographical history of a recent radiation of Neotropical marsupials (Thylamys: Didelphidae)

Aim In this study, we reconstructed the biogeographical history of species within the sister-genera Thylamys and Lestodelphys, Neotropical marsupials that primarily inhabit open biomes. We used this reconstruction to test the extent to which physical geography (e.g. mountains and rivers) and habitat type (e.g. biomes) shaped patterns of diversification. Location Central and southern South America. Methods A fossil-calibrated ultrametric tree for all species within Thylamys and Lestodelphys, along with relevant marsupial outgroups, was reconstructed using sequences from 23 nuclear loci and three mitochondrial loci. Using two biogeographical area schemes (based on biomes and physical barriers, respectively), the biogeographical history of this clade was reconstructed using Lagrange, a maximum-likelihood approach. Results Thylamys and Lestodelphys originated during the Pliocene in the lowland areas east of the Andes and later expanded their range into and across the Andes. Rivers are implicated in speciation events that occurred in the lowlands, whereas differentiation among habitat types may have led to increased in situ speciation within the Andes. Main conclusions Biogeographical area schemes based on biomes and physical geographical barriers offered largely complementary results, supporting the hypothesis that both physical geography and ecological differences among habitats drive speciation in continental fauna. Invasion of high-elevation grasslands may have been the impetus for further diversification in montane habitats, eventually seeding the adjacent lowland areas with additional species.
Biological/medical pulsed electric field treatments

The application of electric fields to a medium, which contains biological cells, causes build-up of charges at the cell membrane, and consequently a change in the transmembrane potential of cells. For low electric fields, this causes voltage-gating, the voltage-induced opening of channels in the cell membrane. With increasing electric field, at transmembrane voltages on the order of 1 V, the cell membrane becomes permeable, an effect called electroporation. It is reversible for moderate electric fields (kV/cm) and pulse duration of microseconds to milliseconds. At higher fields and/or longer pulse durations the cells will be lysed. Applications of these outer membrane effects are biofouling prevention, medical applications such as electroporative delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs into tumor cells, gene therapy, transdermal drug delivery and bacterial decontamination of drinking water and liquid food. A new type of field-cell interaction, "intracellular electromanipulation" by means of submicrosecond electrical pulses at electric fields exceeding 50 kV/cm has been recently added to known cellular bioelectric effects. The bioelectric technique, which is based on high frequency field-cell interactions, extends electroporation of the outer cell membrane to subcellular structures.
Marijuana use among minority youths living in public housing developments

Youths residing in public housing developments appear to be at markedly heightened risk for drug use because of their constant exposure to violence, poverty, and drug-related activity. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a model of marijuana etiology with adolescents (N=624) residing in public housing. African-American and Hispanic seventh graders completed questionnaires about their marijuana use, social influences to smoke maijuana, and sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics. Results indicated that social influences, such as friends' marijuana use and perceived ease of availability of marijuana, significantly predicted both occasional and future use of marijuana. Individual characteristics such as antimarijuana attitudes and drug refsul skills also predicted marijuana use. The findings imply that effective prevention approaches that target urban youths residing in public housing developments should provide them with an awareness of social influences to use marijuana, correct misperceptions about the prevalence of marijuana smoking, and train adolescents in relevant psychosocial skills.
Uncertainty: A Meta-Property of Software

Uncertainty pervades all aspects of engineering, and its management is of paramount importance. In software engineering, uncertainty can occur at many levels. It can appear in the software artifacts including requirements specifications, designs, and the code itself. Uncertainty can also manifest in the way we use tools, and in the engineering practices employed. It is even present in the life cycle methodologies we employ. In short, uncertainty is a persistent, negative quality of both the software and the processes that rendered it. Unfortunately, it is too easy, but often the case, that software engineers ignore issues of uncertainty or overlook them as they become marginalized within other abstractions. In this paper we propose uncertainty as a persistent software quality attribute and examine several approaches for modeling that uncertainty. Finally, we offer suggestions for future work in this regard
Experimental Investigation of a Time Scales-Based Stability Criterion Over Finite Time Horizons

Feedback control systems that employ large area networks or other unpredictable or unreliable communications protocols between sensors, actuators, and controllers may experience nonuniform sampling characteristics. Previous work by Poulsen, et. al. gives a criterion for exponential stability of non-uniformly discretized feedback control systems, assuming sample periods drawn from a known statistical distribution. However, the given stability theorem assumes an infinite time horizon. This work therefore examines the exponential stability criterion experimentally, over a finite time horizon, on a 2nd-order servo mechanism. This paper is the first to experimentally investigate the validity of this time scales stability criterion.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Genetic treatment of a molecular disorder: gene therapy approaches to sickle cell disease

Effective medical management for sickle cell disease (SCD) remains elusive. As a prevalent and severe monogenic disorder, SCD has been long considered a logical candidate for gene therapy. Significant progress has been made in moving toward this goal. These efforts have provided substantial insight into the natural regulation of the globin genes and illuminated challenges for genetic manipulation of the hematopoietic system. The initial γ-retroviral vectors, next-generation lentiviral vectors, and novel genome engineering and gene regulation approaches each share the goal of preventing erythrocyte sickling. After years of preclinical studies, several clinical trials for SCD gene therapies are now open. This review focuses on progress made toward achieving gene therapy, the current state of the field, consideration of factors that may determine clinical success, and prospects for future development.
Deep Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diodes with Emission below 300 nm

In this paper we will describe the problems in growth and fabrication of deep UV LED devices and the approaches that we have used to grow AlGaN-based multiple quantum well deep UV LED structures and to overcome issues of doping efficiency, cracking, and slow growth rates both for the n- and the p-type layers of the device structures. Several innovations in structure growth, device structure design and fabrication and packaging have led to the fabrication of devices with emission from 250−300 nm and cw-milliwatt powers at pump currents of only 20 mA (Vf ≤ 6 V). Record wall plug efficiencies above 1.5 % are now achievable for devices with emission at 280 nm. Thermal management and a proper device design are not only key factors in achieving these record performance numbers but are also crucial to device reliability. We will also discuss some of our initial research to clarify the factors influencing the lifetime of the deep UV LEDs. In addition to our own work, we will review the results from the excellent research carried out at several other laboratories worldwide.