cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visual Query of Time-Dependent 3D Weather in a Global Geospatial Environment

A multi-key data organization is developed for handling a continuous stream of large scale, time-dependent, 3D weather data in a global environment. The structure supports inserting the data in real-time as they arrive or retrieving weather events at desired times and locations from archived weather histories. In either case data are organized for interactive visualization and visual query.
Regulatory Arbitrage in Repo Markets

Non-U.S. banks with relatively low capital ratios appear to temporarily remove an average of $170 billion from the U.S. market for tri-party repurchase agreements (repo) before each quarter-end in order to appear safer and less levered. This amount is more than double the $76 billion market-wide drop in tri-party repo during the turmoil of the 2008 financial crisis and represents about 10% of the entire tri-party repo market. Such window dressing-induced deleveraging spills over into agency bond markets and money market funds and affects market liquidity each quarter.
Even-Odd Intermolecular Bicentric Reactions

We now turn our attention to EO bicentric intermolecular reactions. Typical cases involve initial addition of a radical to an unsaturated system. The resulting adduct may then eliminate a chemical group giving rise to product formation.
K/Ar Chronology of the Tucson Mountains, Pima County, Arizona

Potassium-argon age determinations in the Tucson Mountains, Pima County, Arizona, indicate two main periods of volcanic activity: the Laramide (57 m.y.–75 m.y. ago); and mid-Tertiary (20 m.y.–30 m.y. ago). The Laramide interval also produced some large plutons. Igneous activity was sparse or absent at other times.
Effect of carbon dioxide and nitrogen on the diffusivity of methane confined in nano-porous carbon aerogel

Abstract The microscopic diffusivity of methane (CH 4 ) confined in nano-porous carbon aerogel was investigated as a function of added carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and nitrogen (N 2 ) pressure using quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS). In the range of the external pressure of 1–2.5 MPa, the self-diffusivity of methane was found to increase with CO 2 pressure and remain practically unchanged in the N 2 environment. Increasing mobility of methane with CO 2 pressure suggests that the adsorbed CH 4 molecules become gradually replaced by CO 2 on the surface of carbon aerogel pores, whereas the presence of N 2 does not induce the replacement. The molecular mobility of the methane, with or without added carbon dioxide and nitrogen, is described by the unrestricted diffusion model, which is characteristic of methane compressed in small pores. On the other hand, both nitrogen and carbon dioxide molecules in carbon aerogel, when studied alone, with no methane present, follow a jump diffusion process, characteristic of the molecular mobility in the densified adsorbed layers on the surface of the aerogel pores.
Polio: another cause for global concern?

Polio was declared an international public health emergency in May 2014. International travel and migration raises the threat for widespread outbreak. Promoting and protecting worker’s health requires increased vigilance over international public health concerns.
Auditory Cortical Images of Tones and Noise Bands

We examined the representation of stimulus center frequencies by the distribution of cortical activity. Recordings were made from the primary auditory cortex (area A1) of ketamine-anesthetized guinea pigs. Cortical images of tones and noise bands were visualized as the simultaneously recorded spike activity of neurons at 16 sites along the tonotopic gradient of cortical frequency representation. The cortical image of a pure tone showed a restricted focus of activity along the tonotopic gradient. As the stimulus frequency was increased, the location of the activation focus shifted from rostral to caudal. When cochlear activation was broadened by increasing the stimulus level or bandwidth, the cortical image broadened. An artificial neural network algorithm was used to quantify the accuracy of center-frequency representation by small populations of cortical neurons. The artificial neural network identified stimulus center frequency based on single-trial spike counts at as few as ten sites. The performance of the artificial neural network under various conditions of stimulus level and bandwidth suggests that the accuracy of representation of center frequency is largely insensitive to changes in the width of cortical images.
Immunoregulation in an Isolated 12-year-old Boy with Congenital Severe Combined Immunodeficiency

We report the evaluation of in vitro immunoregulation in a 12-year-old untreated boy with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Severely hypogammaglobulinemic, the patient was incapable of a specific antibody response to either natural substances or administered antigens. Ficoll-Hypaque-isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNL) from the patient failed to respond to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) with the normal increment in immunoglobulin-secreting cells, as measured by a reverse hemolytic plaque assay. Since the patient was lymphopenic, his MNL were relatively enriched for monocytes (range = 51-81%). Removal of phagocytic cells or the addition of unrelated irradiated helper T lymphocytes resulted in enhanced, but still suboptimal response to PWM, suggesting some intrinsic defect in B lymphocyte function. Co-culture of patient MNL with normal MNL resulted in marked suppression (12% of predicted) of PWM-induced Ig-secreting cells. Suppressor activity was unaffected by prior irradiation of patient MNL, but was substantially reversed (99% of predicted) by removal of his phagocytic cells, whereas the combination of the two procedures further reversed suppression (184% of predicted). The patient's MNL consistently demonstrated subnormal percentages of T3+ and T4+ cells and subnormal to low normal percentages of T8+ cells. These data suggest both an intrinsic defect in B lymphocyte function, and a relative excess of monocytes which could further inhibit Ig secretion by B lymphocytes. Natural killer (NK) cell function was characterized by normal target cell binding by NK cells but severely depressed NK cell cytotoxicity.
Analysis of ultramicro-amount of neptunium-235

Abstract The purpose of this work was to quantitatively determine amounts of neptunium-235 in complex samples. A particular radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) procedure was designed and the results were satisfactory.
Ultrasensitive fluorometric detection of carbohydrates as derivatives in mixtures separated by capillary electrophoresis.

Abstract Reducing monosaccharides and oligosaccharides, after reductive amination, were separated and detected as their 3-(4-carboxybenzoyl)-2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde (CBQCA) derivatives by capillary electrophoresis/laser-induced fluorescence. Under optimized conditions, the minimum detectable quantities for monosaccharide solutes were assessed at low attomole levels (0.5 amol for the CBQCA derivative of galactose). The system has shown considerable promise for high-sensitivity analysis of both neutral and amino sugars in glycoproteins. Complex oligosaccharides, isolated from bovine fetuin by hydrazinolysis, were also successfully "mapped."
Environmental Burdens and the Light-Weighting of Rockets

The overarching goal of the research is to determine the relationship between light-weighting and the life cycle environmental burdens of a rocket system. Light-weighting is done by replacing traditionally metal components with carbon fiber reinforced polymer components. This paper documents a preliminary analysis of the environmental burdens of a rocket, considering rockets of different sizes and propellant combinations. The purpose of the analysis is to first determine if such a relationship exists, and second to determine which components of the rocket most significantly influence the life cycle environmental burdens. The analysis found that a small change of about 0.15–0.3% in the structural mass can decrease embodied energy and carbon dioxide of the rocket by about 5.2% and 5.0%, respectively. Furthermore, the overall propellant load of the rocket decreases by 5.7%, while the overall structural mass decreases by 6.4%. Though there are small differences as to the extent to which light-weighting reduces environmental burdens depending on propellant combination, it is shown that there is a general reduction in life cycle environmental burdens when a rocket is light-weighted.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Validity of perceptions during recovery from maximal exercise in men and women.

The Borg Scale, widely used to measure perceptions of exercise, has not been validated for use during recovery. Heart rate was used as the validity criterion. 11 untrained men and 10 untrained women were run to exhaustion on a treadmill. Heart rate and recovery ratings were obtained at :15, :45, 1:15, 1:45, 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30 min. following exercise. No significant differences were observed between sexes for both heart rate and recovery ratings. Trend analysis showed recovery ratings to be linear between :45 and at 4:30 while heart rate is best described by two linear trends with a break point at 2:30. Percent recovery was significantly faster for recovery ratings at :45, 1:15, 1:45 and 4:30. Heart rate and recovery ratings were not significantly correlated at any time point. A perceptual scale should be designed which more closely approximates metabolic response during recovery.
Determination of paromomycin in human plasma and urine by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene derivatization

Abstract A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of paromomycin in human plasma and urine was developed. Paromomycin was quantitated following pre-column derivatization with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). The chromatographic separation was carried out on a C 18 column at 50°C using a mobile phase consisting of 64% methanol in water adjusted to pH 3.0 with phosphoric acid. The eluents were monitored by UV detection at 350 nm. The linearity of response for paromomycin was demonstrated at concentrations from 0.5 to 50 μg/ml in plasma and 1 to 50 μg/ml in urine. The relative standard deviation of the assay procedure is less than 5%.
Treatment of cryptorchidism with male sex hormone

Summary 1. A review of the 47 cases in the literature on the treatment ofcryptorchidism with male sex hormone is presented in tabular form. Eleven (23.4 per cent) of the cases responded to treatment with complete descent of the testicles; and 13 (27.6 per cent) of the cases showed only a partial response to therapy. 2. Twenty boys with cryptorchidism were treated with male sexhormone: 17 of the boys had unilateral undescended testicles, and 3 of the boys had bilateral undescended testicles. 3. Three (15 per cent) of the cases responded to therapy with complete descent of the testes; one was a unilateral case, and two were bilateral. 4. Partial effect was obtained in 9 (45 per cent) of the cases treated. In these cases the testicles which had not been palpable before treatment became palpable after treatment and could be pulled into the scrotum. In 4 of the cases where the testicles were palpable at the onset of treatment, there was an apparent lengthening of the cord so that the testicles could be pulled into the scrotum. 5. Further treatment with gonadotropic hormone should be institutedin those children who show a partial response to the male sex hormone. 6. Male sex hormone seems to be the most effective in those bilateralcases which show some endocrine disturbance. 7. Though male sex hormone will produce an enlargement of the penisand scrotum and growth of pubic hair, it has a marked tendency to cause a shrinkage in the size of the testicle, both descended and undescended. 8. Gonadotropic hormone is more effective than male sex hormone in the treatment of cryptorchidism. However, some cases which do not respond to gonadotropic hormone alone will respond to therapy when given a combination of gonadotropic and male sex hormone.
Per band PMI selection in finite-rate closed-loop MIMO-OFDM systems

The performance of a MIMO system can be increased significantly, if the channel state information (CSI) is known at the transmitter. Sending the full CSI to the transmitter, however, requires a substantial feedback bandwidth. In a finite-rate closed-loop MIMO, the CSI is quantized into a codebook of a finite set of precoding matrices. In such a scheme, the receiver selects an optimal precoding matrix and sends only the precoding matrix index (PMI) to the transmitter reducing the feedback overhead. However, in MIMO-OFDM, if the precoding is performed per subcarrier the feedback overhead still remains large. To reduce the amount of overhead, one precoder per band of subcarriers can be used. In this paper, we propose per band PMI selection by extending the existing per subcarrier methods. Furthermore, we perform link-level simulations to verify the performance of the proposed methods on a system that operates on the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard.
Analytical approximation of the percolation threshold for overlapping ellipsoids of revolution

Analytic approximations for percolation points in two–dimensional and three–dimensional particulate arrays have been reported for only a very few, simple particle geometries. Here, an analytical approach is presented to determine the percolative properties (i.e. statistical cluster properties) of permeable ellipsoids of revolution. We generalize a series expansion technique, previously used by other authors to study arrays of spheres and cubes. Our analytic solutions are compared with Monte Carlo simulation results, and show good agreement at low particle aspect ratio. At higher aspect ratios, the analytic approximation becomes even more computationally intensive than direct simulation of a number of realizations. Additional simulation results, and simplified, closed–form bounding expressions for percolation thresholds are also presented. Limitations and applications of the asymptotic expressions are discussed in the context of materials design and design of sensor arrays.
New organic second-order nonlinear optical crystals of benzylidene-aniline derivative

The benzylidene-aniline derivative with an electron-donating group at 4-position and an electron-accepting group at 4'-position has been suggested by MO calculation, to have a small molecular dipole moment but a large second-order hyperpolarizability in comparison with those of p-nitroaniline analogous molecules, hence, to be a promising molecule on searching for a new organic crystal with large second-order optical nonlinearity. Chemical modification of the molecule suggested led to a discovery of a series of crystals having high activities in second harmonic generation ( SHG ) ; one of which, 4'-nitrobenzylidene-3-acetamino-4-methoxyaniline ( MNBA ) crystal in monodinic Cc with four molecules per unit cell showed larger powder SHG than 2-methyl-4-mtroaniline ( MNA ) crystal in a preliminary powder SHG experiment. A strongly polarized non-centrosymmetric molecular packing has been achieved in this crystal by the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bond between neighboring acetainino groups. Calculation by an oriented gas model with the use of the detailed structural data from X-ray analysis for the MNBA crystal predicted that the crystal may have up to ca. 2.9 times larger macroscopic optical nonlinearity than MNA crystal. This has been experimentally proven by measuring the d for SHG by Maker fringe method. The largest d coefficient was found to be dii , and the value obtained was 454 pm/V which is 1.8 times larger than d11 of MNA crystal and 13 times larger than of lithium mobate ( ) crystal.
Virtual NEURON: a strategy for merged biochemical and electrophysiological modeling

Because of its highly branched dendrite, the Purkinje neuron requires significant computational resources if coupled electrical and biochemical activity are to be simulated. To address this challenge, we developed a scheme for reducing the geometric complexity; while preserving the essential features of activity in both the soma and a remote dendritic spine. We merged our previously published biochemical model of calcium dynamics and lipid signaling in the Purkinje neuron, developed in the Virtual Cell modeling and simulation environment, with an electrophysiological model based on a Purkinje neuron model available in NEURON. A novel reduction method was applied to the Purkinje neuron geometry to obtain a model with fewer compartments that is tractable in Virtual Cell. Most of the dendritic tree was subject to reduction, but we retained the neuron’s explicit electrical and geometric features along a specified path from spine to soma. Further, unlike previous simplification methods, the dendrites that branch off along the preserved explicit path are retained as reduced branches. We conserved axial resistivity and adjusted passive properties and active channel conductances for the reduction in surface area, and cytosolic calcium for the reduction in volume. Rallpacks are used to validate the reduction algorithm and show that it can be generalized to other complex neuronal geometries. For the Purkinje cell, we found that current injections at the soma were able to produce similar trains of action potentials and membrane potential propagation in the full and reduced models in NEURON; the reduced model produces identical spiking patterns in NEURON and Virtual Cell. Importantly, our reduced model can simulate communication between the soma and a distal spine; an alpha function applied at the spine to represent synaptic stimulation gave similar results in the full and reduced models for potential changes associated with both the spine and the soma. Finally, we combined phosphoinositol signaling and electrophysiology in the reduced model in Virtual Cell. Thus, a strategy has been developed to combine electrophysiology and biochemistry as a step toward merging neuronal and systems biology modeling.
Efficient Techniques for Detecting False Origin Advertisements in Inter-domain Routing

The Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), and hence the Internet, remains critically vulnerable to a range of prefix forgery attacks. In this paper, we address these attacks by proposing a non-cryptographic, incrementally deployable mechanism to probabilistically detect forged BGP origin advertisements. Upon receiving an advertisement from a "suspicious" origin, the receiving domain intelligently probes other ASes about the received information. Any dissenting information indicates potential forgery or error, and is reported by the polled ASes to the true origin and processed appropriately. In this design, we exploit the fact that the highly connected AStopology makes it difficult to block the dissemination of information as it traverses the Internet. We evaluate the effectiveness of our probing mechanism via simulation on realistic Internet topologies. The experiments show that 98% of forgeries can be detected even when as few as 10% of the ASes participate in the protocol under a naive polling stratagem. Moreover, we show that judicious node selection can further improve detection rates while minimizing the number of probes.
Breast self-examination palpation skill: A methodological note

A current issue in research of breast self-examination (BSE) efficacy is the competency of BSE performance. A nonverbal method for testing two palpation skills were developed. They were designed for mail surveys, or other cost-effective methods of following up subjects in a longitudinal study design. They were also designed to avoid semantics problems associated with verbal descriptions of BSE performance, as noted in earlier research of the author. These pictorial questions were included in three mail surveys of the general female population. The data were consistent across all three surveys for both the verbal and nonverbal questions of palpation skill. The diagram index of the hand part used in BSE suggested that a higher proportion of BSE practicers are using the recommended hand part than their verbal reports would indicate. However, the data from the diagram assessing the amount of pressure used for BSE were not very different from the results of the verbal questions.
An Analysis of γ-Aminobutyrate Receptors and Uptake by Isolated Purkinje Cells

: An isolated fraction of Purkinje perikarya was prepared. This fraction had [3H]GABA receptor binding and [3H]muscimol binding analogous to that reported for heterogeneous cerebellar membranes. The finding of two binding components with each ligand suggests that these components do not represent two binding sites, one presynaptic and the other postsynaptic, since both are clearly seen on purified Purkinje cell bodies. Subcellular fractionation indicates that synaptic endings and plasma membranes are enriched in GABA receptors compared with intracellular organelles. Purkinje cell bodies were also found to possess a high-affinity transport system for GABA, which was sensitive to inhibition by diaminobutyric acid (DABA) but not by β-alanine. They showed no evidence of homoexchange (the movement of label without net transport). This supports our suggestion that homoexchange is an artifact of synaptic particle formation.
A Comparison of Total Antioxidant Capacities of Concord, Purple, Red, and Green Grapes Using the CUPRAC Assay

Considering how popular grapes are in terms of their antioxidant benefits, we compared concord, purple, red, and green grapes for total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and carbohydrate concentration. All grapes were acquired from commercial sources and samples of each were separated into skinned and not skinned groups. Each whole grape and the skins were individually homogenized and then separated into pulp and supernatant fractions. Each fraction was analyzed for total TAC and carbohydrates. The concord grapes and purple grapes had significantly higher TAC in the homogenates than did the red or green grapes. The concord grapes and green grapes had significantly higher TAC in the pulp than in the cytosol whereas the red and purple grapes had approximately the same amount. The majority of the TAC of the purple and red grapes was in the skin whereas the concord and green grapes had approximately the same TAC in the skin and pulp. The concord and purple grapes had the highest TAC when compared to the red and green grapes, whereas the red and green grapes had approximately the same total TAC.
OUTCOME OF NEW BENZODIAZEPINE PRESCRIPTIONS TO OLDER ADULTS IN PRIMARY CARE

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to examine the indications for benzodiazepine use, and the baseline characteristics, duration of use and clinical outcomes of older primary care patients prescribed benzodiazepines. Methods Computerized records were used to identify outpatients (n=129) aged ≥60 years who received new benzodiazepine prescriptions from primary care physicians of a group model managed care organization. A baseline telephone survey assessed indications for prescription, sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), depression (Symptom Checklist depression scale and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV), alcohol use (CAGE) and functional status (SF-36). A 2-month follow-up survey assessed benzodiazepine use, sleep quality and depression. Results The most common indications for prescription were insomnia (42%) and anxiety (36%). At baseline, participants reported moderate sleep disturbance (mean Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index=9.3, S.D.=4.0), only 15% met criteria for current depressive episode and only 3% reported at-risk alcohol use. After 2 months, 30% of participants used benzodiazepines at least daily. Both those continuing daily use and those not continuing daily use reported significant improvements in sleep quality and depression, with no difference between groups in rates of improvement. Conclusions Initial benzodiazepine prescriptions to older adults are typically intended for the treatment of anxiety or insomnia, with little evidence for occult depression or alcohol abuse. A significant minority develops a pattern of long-term use, raising concerns about tolerance and dependence.
Functional Alterations in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Following Acute and Chronic Ethanol Exposure

Alcoholism is a pervasive disorder perpetuated in part to relieve negative mood states like anxiety experienced during alcohol withdrawal. Emerging evidence demonstrates a role for the serotonin-rich dorsal raphe (DR) in anxiety following ethanol withdrawal. The current study examined the effects of chronic ethanol vapor exposure on the DR using slice electrophysiology in male DBA2/J mice. We found that chronic ethanol exposure resulted in deficits in social approach indicative of increased anxiety-like behavior at both 24 h and 7 days post-ethanol exposure. At 24 h post-ethanol exposure, we observed increased excitability and decreased spontaneous inhibitory transmission (inhibitory postsynaptic currents, IPSCs) in the DR. At 7 days post-ethanol exposure, we observed increased spontaneous and miniature excitatory transmission (excitatory postsynaptic currents, EPSCs). Because acute ethanol alters GABA transmission in other brain regions, we assessed the effects of ex vivo ethanol (50 mM) on miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) in the DR 24-h post-ethanol exposure. Bath application of ethanol enhanced the amplitude of mIPSCs in cells from ethanol-naive and chronic intermittent ethanol-exposed (CIE) mice, but significantly enhanced the frequency of mIPSCs only in cells from CIE mice, suggesting that DR neurons are more sensitive to the inhibitory effects of acute ethanol following CIE. On the basis of these findings, we hypothesize that net excitation of DR neurons following chronic ethanol exposure contributes to enhanced anxiety during ethanol withdrawal, and that increased sensitivity of DR neurons to subsequent ethanol exposure may mediate acute ethanol’s ability to relieve anxiety during ethanol withdrawal.
Soccer injuries in children requiring trauma center admission.

Abstract Background Soccer continues to gain popularity among youth athletes, and increased numbers of children playing soccer can be expected to result in increased injuries. Objective We reviewed children with soccer injuries severe enough to require trauma activation at our Level I trauma center to determine injury patterns and outcome. Our goal is to raise awareness of the potential for injury in youth soccer. Methods A retrospective review was performed using the trauma registry and electronic medical records at a Level I trauma center to identify children ( Results Eighty-one children treated for soccer injury were identified; 38 (47%) were male. Of these, 20 had injury severe enough to require trauma team activation and 61 had minor injury. Mean age was 14 years old (range 5–17 years, SD 2.3). Lower extremity was the most common site of injury (57%), followed by upper extremity (17%), head (16%), and torso (10%). Mechanisms were: kicked or kneed in 27 patients (33%), collision with another player in 25 (31%), fall in 18 (22%), struck by ball in 10 (12%), and unknown in 1 (1%). Procedures included reduction of fractures, splenectomy, abdominal abscess drainage, and surgical feeding access. Long hospitalizations were recorded in some cases. There were no deaths. Conclusion Although less common, injury requiring prolonged hospital admission and invasive operative procedures exist in the expanding world of youth soccer. With increasing participation in the sport, we anticipate greater numbers of these child athletes presenting with serious injury.
Asymptotic expansion of the posterior density in high dimensional generalized linear models

Abstract While developing a prior distribution for any Bayesian analysis, it is important to check whether the corresponding posterior distribution becomes degenerate in the limit to the true parameter value as the sample size increases. In the same vein, it is also important to understand a more detailed asymptotic behavior of posterior distributions. This is particularly relevant in the development of many nonsubjective priors. The present paper focuses on asymptotic expansions of posteriors for generalized linear models with canonical link functions when the number of regressors grows to infinity at a certain rate relative to the growth of the sample size. These expansions are then used to derive moment matching priors in the generalized linear model setting.
Effect of an Evidence-Based Mobility Intervention on the Level of Function in Acute Intracerebral and Subarachnoid Hemorrhagic Stroke Patients on a Neurointensive Care Unit

Objectives: To explore the effect of an evidence-based mobility intervention on the level of function (LOF) achieved by patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) stroke and to identify clinical characteristics and measures associated with walking distances >15.24m. Design: Retrospective pre- and postintervention study. Setting: Regional neurointensive care unit. Participants: Adult patients with ICH and SAH (NZ361). Intervention: Daily mobility intervention based on patient’s current LOF. Main Outcome Measure: Walking >15.24m (LOF 5) by neurointensive care unit discharge. Results: Electronic health records for 361 patients (52.6% women; mean age, 62.1y; ICH stroke, 63.2%; aphasia, 35%; hemiplegia, 33%) were included. There was a 2.3-fold increase in patients with hemorrhagic stroke achieving a LOF of 5 by neurointensive care unit discharge after
Comparing multi-channel Peer-to-Peer video streaming system designs

The success of commercial Peer-to-Peer (P2P) video streaming systems has triggered interest in exploiting end users' bandwidth to reduce the operating costs of IPTV and Content Distribution Networks (CDN) and to improve the user-perceived service quality. Traditionally, users watching different channels are organized into separate overlays, where there is no cooperation among different channels. However, based on measurement studies, cross-channel cooperation is found to be desirable due to the bandwidth imbalance among different channels. In this paper, we focus on studying the characteristics of existing and potential designs to help system designers choose proper cross-channel cooperation strategies considering efficiency and implementation complexity. Specifically, we propose simple models based on network flow graphs for three general designs, namely Naive Bandwidth allocation Approach (NBA), Passive Channel-aware bandwidth allocation Approach (PCA) and Active Channel-aware bandwidth allocation Approach (ACA) respectively, which capture the key characteristics of different designs. We develop closed-form results for two-channel systems. Then, we use extensive numerical simulations to compare the three designs for various peer population distributions, upload bandwidth distributions and channel structures. Our analytical and simulation results show that: 1) Though the NBA design can be implemented with low complexity, it cannot efficiently use user's bandwidth in general cases; 2) the PCA design can achieve the same bandwidth utilization efficiency as the ACA design in general cases; and 3) the ACA design should be used for special applications and systems in which a user is restricted to watch only one channel at a time.
Effects of Blended Instructional Models on Math Performance

A pretest-posttest cluster-randomized trial involving 31 middle schools and 335 students with disabilities tested the effects of combining explicit and anchored instruction on fraction computation and problem solving. Results of standardized and researcher-developed tests showed that students who were taught with the blended units outscored students in Business As Usual classes. Students made the largest gains in computing with fractions and on problems related to ratios, proportions, and geometry. The findings suggest important implications for the way curriculum is designed for middle school students with disabilities who exhibit low performance in math.
Stimulus properties of thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained in a two-lever operant discrimination task using 20 mg/kg thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and saline as cues. Following completion of 40 daily training sessions, 22 of 25 subjects demonstrated a high level of discriminative responding based on the TRH and saline cues. An evaluation of the time course of TRH indicated that the stimulus properties peak between 5 and 15 min and dissipate substantially by 55–65 min. During additional testing, rats showed dose-dependent generalization between the training treatments (20 mg/kg TRH and saline) and novel doses of TRH (1, 5, 10, and 40 mg/kg). However, animals failed to show generalization between the training drug (20 mg/kg TRH) and d-amphetamine sulfate (0.8, 1.6, or 2.4 mg/kg); likewise, animals trained to discriminate d-amphetamine (0.8 or 1.6 mg/kg) from saline failed to show generalization between d-amphetamine and TRH (10, 20, or 30 mg/kg). Microgram quantities of TRH (2.5–25 μg) administered into either the lateral or third ventricle elicited dose-dependent generalization to the training drug (TRH 20 mg/kg, i.p.), suggesting a CNS mechanism of action for this effect of TRH.
Cardiac arrhythmias induced by prostaglandin F2α in cats

Abstract Intravenous administration of prostaglandin F 2α results in transient episodes of sinus bradycardia in anesthetized cats. In addition, ventricular bigeminy was observed in approximately 40% of those cats anesthetized with pentobarbital (36 mg/kg) and 58% of those anesthetized with chloralose (70 mg/kg). This arrhythmogenic effect of PGF 2α is abolished following bilateral vagotomy, indicating that the arrhythmias are most likely due to a marked stimulation of vagal tone in this species.
Appendiceal Pathology at the Time of Oophorectomy for Ovarian Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of appendiceal pathology in women undergoing surgery for a suspected ovarian neoplasm and the predictive value of intraoperative findings to determine the need for appendectomy at the time of surgery. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent oophorectomy and appendectomy during the same surgical procedures at the University of Virginia Health System from 1992 to 2007. Observations were stratified based on the nature (benign, borderline, or malignant) and histology (serous compared with mucinous) of the ovarian neoplasm, frozen compared with final pathological diagnosis, and the gross appearance of the appendix. RESULTS: Among the 191 patients identified, frozen section was consistent with seven mucinous and 35 serous carcinomas, 16 serous and 33 mucinous borderline tumors, 71 mucinous and serous cystadenomas, and 29 cases of suspected metastatic tumor from a gastrointestinal primary. The highest rates of coexisting appendiceal pathology were associated with serous ovarian cancers (94.4% of grossly abnormal and 35.3% of normal appendices) and ovarian tumors suspected to be of primary gastrointestinal origin (83.3% grossly abnormal and 60.0% normal appendices harbored coexisting mucinous neoplasms). Linear regression analysis revealed that appearance of the appendix and frozen section diagnosis of the ovarian pathology were statistically significant predictors of coexisting appendiceal pathology, but the latter was more important. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of coexisting, clinically significant appendiceal pathology is low with a frozen section diagnosis of serous or mucinous cystadenoma. Appendectomy is recommended when frozen section diagnosis is mucinous or serous ovarian carcinoma, borderline tumor or metastatic carcinoma of suspected gastrointestinal origin.
Origin of lake-outlet deltas in Maine

Abstract Lake-outlet deltas differ from other lacustrine deltas in that they are situated at what is normally the outlet of the lake. Deltas of this type receive sediment only when a flood event in the trunk stream is of sufficient magnitude to cause a flow reversal in the lake's outlet stream. A study of fourteen lake-outlet deltas in Maine indicates that the frequency (once every 2–3 years) and duration (1 to 7 days) of the reversal events are a function of lake size, river flood stage, proximity of the river to the lake, lake drainage area, and cause of the river flooding. The major components of the outlet deltas include well-developed levees, marsh areas, beach ridges, and delta platform. Delta morphology is controlled by the relative importance of riverine versus lacustrine processes. Deltas dominated by river sedimentation are elongate with levees and marshes comprising most of the subaerial delta environment. Where deltaic sediments are strongly reworked by wave action, deltas consist of shore-parallel beach ridges separated by channel fill and marsh deposits. Transitional forms between these two end-members are common.
Role of invasive and noninvasive testing in risk stratification of sudden cardiac death in children and young adults: an electrophysiologic perspective

Sudden cardiac death is a rare, but devastating, event in the young population. Arrhythmia is the mechanism of death in many cases. In addition to clinical history, noninvasive and invasive tests can be used to identify patients who are at risk. Although these tools are not perfect, they can prove valuable if used in proper clinical circumstances. An overview of these tests is presented.
Imaging of glutamate in the spinal cord using GluCEST.

Abstract Glutamate (Glu) is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and spinal cord. The concentration of Glu is altered in a range of neurologic disorders that affect the spinal cord including multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal cord injury. Currently available magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) methods for measuring Glu are limited to low spatial resolution, which makes it difficult to measure differences in gray and white matter glutamate. Recently, it has been shown that Glu exhibits a concentration dependent chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effect between its amine (-NH2) group protons and bulk water protons (GluCEST). Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of imaging glutamate in the spinal cord at 7T using the GluCEST technique. Results from healthy human volunteers (N = 7) showed a significantly higher (p
The effect of skew angle on the axial pressure distribution between flexible rubber-covered rollers

This work presents a simplified means to determine the axial contact pressure distribution between two pinched, flexible, rubber-clad, cylindrical rolls that are aligned with axes skewed. Of particular interest is the effect of the skew angle on the axial contact pressure distribution. A finite element model is used with beam elements to model the bending of the roll cores and spring elements to model the load-indentation relationship between the rubber coatings. Numerical results of contact pressure and contact width vs axial location are presented for varying amounts of skew, and these are compared with experimental results.
Immune Complex Glomerulonephritis Following Bone Marrow Transplantation in C3 Deficient Mice

Background The role of circulating complement in host defense and immune disease is well established. Although a number of cells and tissues are capable of synthesizing complement components locally, the importance of such local synthesis in immune disease has been difficult to establish. Methodology/Principal Findings We used bone marrow transplantation (BMT) between C3 knockout (C3KO) and wild type (WT) mice to construct animals that were discordant for systemic (hepatic) and local (monocytic) C3 synthetic capacity. An immune complex glomerulonephritis (GN) was then induced using intraperitoneal injections of horse spleen apoferritin (HSA) with a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) adjuvant. All HSA/LPS animals developed a proliferative GN with glomerular infiltration by monocytes. By sensitive ELISA, monocyte C3 synthesis could be detected in C3KO animals transplanted with WT bone marrow cells. Despite this, there were no significant differences among groups of mice in measures of clinical (proteinuria, renal function) or histologic (glomerular cellularity, crescents) disease severity. Conclusions/Significance In this model of GN, local synthesis of C3 by infiltrating cells does not appear to be of pathologic importance.
Thrombosis of the vena comitantes of the ulnar artery

A case of traumatic aneurysm of the vena comitantes of the ulnar artery is reported, which was seen initially as a painful hypothenar mass after blunt trauma. Ligation and excision produced complete relief without recurrence.
Distribution and abundance of a tropical rodent, the spiny rat, on islands in Panama

The insular distribution and abundance of the spiny rat (Proechirnys semispinosus) were studied by live-trapping rats on 50 small forested islands in Gatun Lake, Republic of Panama. Rats were found on 29 of these islands. Rat abundance was not correlated with island size or isolation, in contrast to temperate rodents, and may be due to the highly patchy nature of tropical forests and the differing floristic compositions of the study islands. Rat occurrence on islands was related positively to island size and negatively to island isolation. All islands greater than 2.1 ha contained spiny rats, whereas most islands less than 0.9 ha did not contain rats. The relationship between occurrence, size, and isolation are illustrated by a three-dimensional response surface. Results suggest that colonization and extinction regularly occur on these islands and that (1) larger islands with year-round fruit production, regardless of isolation, will have persistent populations of rats, (2) small isolated islands will never or only very rarely have rats owing to a lack of a year-round food source and the difficulty of immigration, and (3) small near islands frequently will have rats when fruits are present. No other species of mouse- or rat-like rodents were captured on the islands. We suggest that P. semispinosus is a better colonist than other sympatric forest species, is more of a habitat generalist, and has a more flexible demographic structure allowing persistence in heterogeneous and changing environments.
Experience with Urethral Stent Explantation

ABSTRACTPurpose: We examined the timing, causes and results of the explantation of UroLume (American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, Minnesota) urethral stents.Materials and Methods: The North American Study Group enrolled 465 patients in a trial of UroLume stent placement, including 69 (14.8% of the series) who required removal of a total of 73 stents (15.6% of stents) in 7 years. The time of explantation, reason for stent removal and local histological findings were determined from patient charts and reviewed in relation to the indication for stent placement.Results: In patients treated for bladder outlet obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia 23% of the stents were removed, as were 5% of those implanted in patients with bulbar urethral stricture and 22% of those in patients with detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (see figure). Of the explantations 43.8% were done during year 1. Migration and/or inappropriate placement was the cause in 38.4% of cases. The most common stent site tissue finding wa...
Photon echoes in CaWO4:Nd3+☆

Abstract We report the generation and detection of photon echoes in CaWO 4 :Nd 3+ . We also describe photon echo behavior as a function of an applied magnetic field and of temperature.
Adventitial remodeling after angioplasty is associated with expression of tenascin mRNA by adventitial myofibroblasts.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the temporospatial expression of tenascin-C (TnC) in balloon-injured rat and porcine arteries. BACKGROUND Recent studies suggest that cell migration, in addition to cell proliferation, is a critical component of neointima formation after vascular injury. We have previously shown that adventitial myofibroblasts synthesize growth factors that contribute to the formation of neointima after arterial injury. We have also shown that the extracellular matrix protein, TnC, regulates cell migration. Consequently, we investigated the temporospatial expression of TnC by myofibroblasts after vascular injury. METHODS In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate the temporospatial expression of TnC in injured arteries. Northern and Western blots were used to determine the in vitro expression of TnC. RESULTS In situ hybridization revealed that the major site of TnC expression early after vascular injury was the adventitial myofibroblasts. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that TnC expression began in adventitial myofibroblasts three days after injury. Tenascin-C expression, however, did not persist in this region. Rather, it moved progressively across the vascular wall toward the luminal surface. By one week, TnC expression reached the developing neointima. In vitro, myofibroblasts did not express TnC mRNA under basal conditions. In contrast, angiotensin II and PDGF-BB, factors that have been implicated in remodeling of balloon-injured arteries, markedly upregulated TnC mRNA. CONCLUSIONS Tenascin-C is expressed in response to balloon injury. Tenascin-C expression begins with adventitial myofibroblasts. Over a period of 7 to 14 days, expression moves progressively across the vessel wall to the neointima. We hypothesize that adventitial myofibroblasts are actively involved in the formation of neointima and that TnC facilitates migration of these cells during adventitial remodeling.
Can urbanization limit iron availability to estuarine algae

Abstract Bioavailable forms of iron are highly unstable in oxygenated saline water, but one way in which iron bioavailability to algae can be enhanced is by chelation to dissolved organic matter (DOM). We hypothesized that urbanization-associated deforestation in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina caused a reduction of iron bioavailability to estuarine phytoplankton by decreasing the supply of forest-derived DOM (i.e., the iron chelation source). Bioassay experiments were conducted comparing the potential for iron depletion by phytoplankton in natural populations and Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehr.) Reimann et Lewin cultures, transferred to Murrells Inlet and North Inlet (an undeveloped estuary) water. Chelated iron addition to incubated natural populations transferred to Murrells Inlet water resulted in increased abundances of phototrophic microplankton (accounted for by Cylindrotheca ), nanoplankton, and picoplankton (dominated by Synechococcus spp.). In North Inlet water, iron enrichment to natural populations only enhanced Synechococcus growth, but this stimulation was much less than that in Murrells Inlet water. The effect of iron on Synechococcus growth in Murrells Inlet was striking (up to 34-fold greater abundance in iron-enriched treatment), suggesting that estuarine Synechococcus may be sensitive to iron stress. The results indicate that iron could be depleted much more readily in Murrells Inlet water, and suggest that iron availability to estuarine phytoplankton may be reduced by urbanization-related practices such as coastal forest clear-cutting.
Friction and Wear Characteristics of Water-Based ZnO and Al2O3 Nanofluids

In recent years, nanofluids have been an active area of research due to their enhanced thermal conductivity over base fluids. However, the tribological properties of nanofluids have not been thoroughly studied. In this research, friction and wear characteristics of water-based nanofluids was carried out. Commercially available water-based nanofluids with 50% ZnO and 50% Al2O3 nanoparticle concentration were used as the lubricant. The 50% concentration nanofluids were diluted using deionized water and an ultrasonic bath into different volume concentrations. The effects of nanoparticle type, particle concentration, and surface roughness of the specimen on the friction and wear characteristics were investigated. The friction and wear tests were performed using a UMT-2 Micro-Tribometer with a ball-on-disk configuration. The surface roughness and wear volume were measured using a WYKO 3D optical surface profiler, and chemical characterization analysis was done using a PHI 5000 VersaProbe X-ray photoelectron sp...