cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phases and phase transitions in a U(1)×U(1) system with θ=2π/3 mutual statistics

We study a U(1) × U(1) system with short-range interactions and mutual θ = 2π/3 statistics in (2+1) dimensions. We are able to reformulate the model to eliminate the sign problem and perform a Monte Carlo study. We find a phase diagram containing a phase with only small loops and two phases with one species of proliferated loop. We also find a phase where both species of loop condense, but without any gapless modes. Lastly, when the energy cost of loops becomes small, we find a phase that is a condensate of bound states, each made up of three particles of one species and a vortex of the other. We define several exact reformulations of the model that allow us to precisely describe each phase in terms of gapped excitations. We propose field-theoretic descriptions of the phases and phase transitions, which are particularly interesting on the “self-dual” line where both species have identical interactions. We also define irreducible responses useful for describing the phases.
Cultivation of cilia-associated respiratory bacillus in artificial medium and determination of the 16S rRNA gene sequence.

Cilia-associated respiratory (CAR) bacillus, an unclassified gliding bacterium associated with respiratory disease in rats, mice, and rabbits, has previously been cultivated only in embryonated chicken eggs, cell culture, or cell culture medium supplemented with conditioned medium from cultured tracheas. A reference strain of CAR bacillus, originally isolated in eggs, grew in cell culture flasks as adherent individual bacilli and ropy, whorled fascicles in cell culture media supplemented only with fetal calf serum. Using Dulbecco9s minimal essential medium, we isolated CAR bacillus from naturally infected rats and a naturally infected rabbit and from experimentally inoculated mice and rats. Isolates were maintained for up to 20 passages. Isolates from rats were similar in morphology to the reference strain, but most were more actively motile and formed pincushion-like aggregates. The rabbit bacilli were smaller and formed fewer aggregates. DNAs of rat isolates differed only slightly in restriction fragment patterns from that of the reference strain, whereas that of the rabbit isolate was distinctly different. Cultures of CAR bacilli of all strains from rats contained Mycoplasma fermentans, Mycoplasma pulmonis, or both, and cultures of the CAR bacillus from the rabbit contained an unidentified arginine-utilizing mycoplasma. The sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of the reference strain was determined by amplification by polymerase chain reaction, cloning of the product, and sequencing by the dideoxynucleotide chain termination method. Comparison of the sequence with sequences in the GenBank data base indicated that CAR bacillus is a unique organism most closely related to Flavobacterium ferrugineum and Flexibacter sancti. Images
Infrastructure-production system dynamics in national and regional systems: An econometric study of the Indian economy

Abstract Treating infrastructure inputs as quasi-fixed in the short run, a multi-equation econometric model of production-infrastructure (social overhead capital) interlinkages and adjustments is developed based on a flexible functional form. Adjustment dynamics are endogenized and costs of adjustments are explicitly incorporated. The model is estimated with regional and national data from India; results include optimal paths and speeds of adjustments for infrastructure inputs market inputs' own and cross-price elasticities and demand elasticities with respect to the level of output, infrastructure stocks and associated user costs; and production cost elasticities with respect to output and infrastructure stocks.
Phylogenetic Methods in Ecology

Phylogenetic comparative methods, incorporating patterns of similarity among close relatives, are an important tool in the ecological research. In tests of adaptive hypotheses, examining interspecific correlations between traits and environmental conditions, independent contrasts and related methods address the statistical nonindependence among species due to common ancestry. In community ecology, patterns of co-occurence among related species provide insights into community assembly processes. In conservation biology, phylogenetic diversity can be an important assessment tool to prioritize species assemblages. Developments in phyloinformatics and improved phylogenies for different groups will promote expanded use of comparative methods in many areas of ecology. Key concepts Comparative biology focuses on similarities and differences among species to test hypotheses in ecology, evolutionary biology and related fields. Closely related species tend to be ecologically similar, reflecting their descent from a common ancestor. This similarity must be considered in tests of adaptive correlations between organismal traits and environmental conditions, as it can create statistical nonindependence among species. The method of phylogenetic independent contrasts, which compares trait values of related species across a phylogeny, provides a robust method to address the nonindependence of species and is widely used in ecology. A variety of processes influence the assembly of ecological communities. Communities may be composed of species that are ecologically similar, reflecting shared adaptations to the environment (known as environmental filtering), or species that are ecologically distinct, as predicted if biotic interactions such as competition or facilitation play an important role. The study of phylogenetic community structure – the degree of relatedness of co-occurring species – provides insight into the processes influencing community assembly. Co-occurrence of close relatives is likely caused by environmental filtering, whereas a variety of processes may lead to co-occurrence of more distant relatives, including competition, facilitation and convergent evolution. Phylogenetic diversity – which can be measured as the sum of the branch lengths in a phylogeny – provides a valuable tool in conservation biology. Targeting areas with high phylogenetic diversity may be an efficient means to maximize conservation of taxa with high diversity of ecological and economic features. Phylogenetic approaches are an important tool to integrate ecological and evolutionary processes across a range of temporal and spatial scales. Keywords: community ecology; comparative methods; diversity; phylogeny; adaptive trait
Endotrophic Calcium, Strontium, and Barium Spores of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus cereus

Abstract Foerster, Harold F. (The University of Texas, Austin), and J. W. Foster. Endotrophic calcium, strontium, and barium spores of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus cereus. J. Bacteriol. 91:1333–1345. 1966.—Spores were produced by washed vegetative cells suspended in deionized water supplemented with CaCl2, SrCl2, or BaCl2. Normal, refractile spores were produced in each case; a portion of the barium spores lost refractility and darkened. Thin-section electron micrographs revealed no apparent anatomical differences among the three types of spores. Analyses revealed that the different spore types were enriched specifically in the metal to which they were exposed during sporogenesis. The calcium content of the strontium and the barium spores was very small. From binary equimolar mixtures of the metal salts, endotrophic spores accumulated both metals to nearly the same extent. Viability of the barium spores was considerably less than that of the other two types. Strontium and barium spores were heat-resistant; however, calcium was essential for maximal heat resistance. Significant differences existed in the rates of germination; calcium spores germinated fastest, strontium spores were slower, and barium spores were slowest. Calcium-barium and calcium-strontium spores germinated readily. Endotrophic calcium and strontium spores germinated without the prior heat activation essential for growth spores. Chemical germination of the different metal-type spores with n-dodecylamine took place at the same relative rates as physiological germination. Heat-induced release of dipicolinic acid occurred much faster with barium and strontium spores than with calcium spores. The washed “coat fraction” from disrupted spores contained little of the spore calcium but most of the spore barium. The metal in this fraction was released by dilute acid. The demineralized coats reabsorbed calcium and barium at neutral pH.
Static Damage Phenomena and Models

This article provides an overview of static damage phenomena and the physical models utilized to identify damage using measured data. Static damage models provide an understanding of the underlying physics associated with damage, which is usually described in terms of boundary conditions, loading conditions, and material, geometric, electromagnetic, and thermodynamic properties. Examples that apply static damage models to examine changes due to damage in elastic waves in structural materials are discussed. Additionally, as a sample sensitivity analysis study, damage in metallic, orthotropic, and composite plates is modeled as variations in local geometry, stiffness, damping, and mass density using two-dimensional and three-dimensional wave propagation models based on the local interaction simulation approach (LISA). Keywords: damage model; structure; corrosion; delamination; crack; metal; composite; wave propagation; LISA; stiffness; mass density; damping
Development of a doctoral program in health care sciences

The doctoral degree is an innovative development in the American health care arena and offers the opportunity to investigate health care within the national and interdisciplinary context. The study of health care requires an awareness of new forms of information and ability to synthesize material from a wide range of disciplines and to communicate outcomes. This program is designed to meet the objective of healthy people for the year 2000 and beyond. Topics discussed include admission requirements, criteria for student intake, core courses, elective courses and career opportunities.
Determining the representative volume element size for three-dimensional microstructural material characterization. Part 2: Application to experimental data

Abstract Improved microstructural imaging and characterization methods have recently opened the door for quantitative evaluation of microstructures of such functional materials as solid oxide fuel cell and battery electrodes and composite gas separation membranes. Accurate quantitative characterization of these structures relies on the concept of a representative volume element (RVE) to provide a sufficiently large sample to be statistically representative of the material. In Part 1 of this work, several models were described to determine the RVE size for several common microstructural properties: volume fraction, particle size, and network contiguity. In this work, extensive synchrotron X-ray nanotomography imaging of a multiphase composite gas separation membrane is used to provide an experimental comparison to the model predictions. Results suggest that the models provide a reasonable estimate of RVE size, and can serve as a starting point for researchers planning imaging and characterization experiments.
The Effectiveness of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Technology Programs for Full-Time Employed Industry Students

The Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT), Portland Center, has been offering Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MfgET) and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) undergraduate programs for students around the greater Portland Metropolitan area for the past ten (10) years. A Master’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MMfgET) is also offered. These programs are extensions of programs offered at OIT main Campus in Klamath Falls. Portland Campus programs are designed specifically to cater to students employed full-time in industry. This paper discusses engineering technology programs and their direct application in training local company fulltime employees to become engineers and managers. Most of these employees have associate degrees and years of experience in their respective companies. A discussion of engineering-related, hands-on work experience and understanding of engineering principles and their applications presented. The effectiveness of special instruction techniques, custom-developed for students with limited time availability, while maintaining ABET accreditations is also discussed. Discussion-oriented learning and teaching models and the impact of adding dimensions to these instructional models, with the industry-experienced students in mind, is emphasized. Case studies are presented to show improvement in student engagement, curiosity, and application of new knowledge to actual day-to-day, work-environment problems. Advantages and disadvantages of night school are discussed.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Purification and characterization of human bone tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) is a histochemical marker for osteoclasts, the multinucleated bone resorbing cell. This type 5 acid phosphatase has been purified 500-fold from human bone by three chromatographic steps: cation exchange, gel filtration, and HPLC cation exchange. Like most other TRAPs isolated, it is a basic glycoprotein of a molecular weight about 33,000. Its pH optimum Km, and Vmax for p-nitrophenyl phosphate are 5.7, 0.8 mM, and 12 units/mg, respectively. Human bone TRAP hydrolyzes aryl phosphates, nucleoside di- and triphosphates, pyrophosphate, and phosphoproteins. It is activated by mild reducing agents but inhibited by molybdate, fluoride, arsenate, phosphate, and dithionite. Its activity is not inhibited by tartrate, a feature that distinguishes it from other acid phosphatases. Sodium etridonate, the bisphosphonate used clinically to reduce bone resorption, is a relatively poor inhibitor of bone TRAP. Human bone TRAP is immunologically related to the porcine uterine secretory TRAP, uteroferrin. Monospecific rabbit antibodies to the bone TRAP have been immunopurified by using affinity chromatography with uteroferrin immobilized on Sepharose and can be used to detect low amounts of the enzyme in a simple dot-blot assay.
636 NEUTROPHIL MIGRATION DEFECT DURING EXPERIMENTAL NUTRITIONAL IRON DEFICIENCY IN POST-WEANING RATS

636 NEUTROPHIL MIGRATION DEFECT DURING EXPERIMENTAL NUTRITIONAL IRON DEFICIENCY IN POST-WEANING RATS
Both body and arm position significantly influence blood pressure measurement

The position of both the body and the arm during indirect blood pressure (BP) measurement is often neglected. The aim of the present study was to test the influence of the position of the patient on BP readings: (1) sitting with the arms supported precisely at the right atrium level and (2) supine: (a) with the arms precisely at the right atrium level and (b) with the arms on the examination bed. In a first group of 57 hypertensive patients, two sessions of BP and heart rate (HR) measurements were performed in two positions: sitting and supine with the arms supported precisely at right atrium level in both positions. BP was measured simultaneously at both arms, with a Hawksley Random Zero sphygmomanometer at the right arm, and with an automated oscillometric device (Bosomat) at the left arm. BP and HR readings obtained in the two positions were then compared. In a second group of 25 normo- and hypertensive persons, two sessions of BP and HR readings were performed in supine with the arms in two different arm positions: (a) the arm placed precisely at right atrium level and (b) the other arm on the examination bed. The measurements were performed at both arms with two automated devices (Bosomat). The readings taken in the two positions were compared. Both systolic BP (SBP; by 9.5 +/- 9.0 (standard deviation, s.d.); right arm) and diastolic BP (DBP; by 4.8 +/- 6.0 mmHg; right arm) were significantly higher in the supine than in the sitting position. When the two different arm positions (body continously supine) were compared in the second part of the study, significantly higher SBP (by 4.6 +/- 6.1 mmHg) and DBP (by 3.9 +/- 2.8 mmHg) were obtained when the arm of the patient was placed on the bed (below the right atrium level), than when the arm was placed at the level of the right atrium. BP readings in sitting and supine positions are not the same. When according to guidelines the arm of the patient is meticulously placed at the right atrium level in both positions, the difference is even greater than when the arm rests on the desk or on the arm support of the chair. Moreover, in the supine position small but significant differences in BP are measured between arm on a 5 cm-high pillow and arm on the bed. In every study reporting BP values, the position of both the body and especially the arm should be precisely mentioned.
Quantitation of the antineoplastic agent indicine-N-oxide in human plasma by differential pulse polarography

A sensitive and reproducible differential pulse polarographic method of analysis was developed for indicine-N-oxide (NSC 132319) in human plasma. Lyophilized plasma is extracted with methanol, and the extract is chromatographed over partially deactivated aluminum oxide and reversed-phase silica gel columns. Indicine-N-oxide is eluted from the silica gel column with 25% aqueous methanol and quantitated by differential pulse polarography by measurement of the peak current at -0.72 ± 0.03 v (versus the saturated calomel electrode). Recovery of indicine-N-oxide from plasma was 88 ± 7% (SD) in the 1–20-μg/ml range. The method was linear over the range of 0.5–10 μg/ml of pH 4.6 buffer.
Another Look at the Use of Noise Addition for Database Security

A number of mechanisms have been proposed for protecting the privacy of individual records in statistical databases. One such method is to perturb the data by adding random noise. It has been previously thought that this method, although increasing estimation variance, produces unbiased estimates. This paper demonstrates that in fact the addition of noise may introduce quite serious biases in the responses given to user queries.
Cation exchange: synthesis and epitaxy of Hg-based superconducting thin films via atomic perturbations

A novel cation-exchange process has been developed for synthesis of bulks and epitaxy of thin films of highly volatile Hg-based high- temperature superconductors (Hg-HTS's). Unlike in a conventional thermal reaction process, precursor matrices of Tl-based high- temperature superconductors were employed in the cation exchange process and annealed in Hg vapors, in which Tl cations were perturbed thermally and replaced subsequently by the Hg cations. A large processing window has been observed suitable for such an atomic perturbation process. This allows Hg-HTS's to inherit high- quality crystalline structures, surface and film/substrate interface morphologies from their Tl-HTS's precursor matrices, eliminating difficulties in synthesis and epitaxy of Hg-HTS's associated with the high volatility of Hg-related compounds. Nearly pure phase HgBa2CaCu2O6+(delta ) and HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+(delta )bulks and epitaxial thin films were obtained reproducibly with exciting physical properties including high Tc's, high Jc's, and low microwave surface resistance. This cation-exchange technique may also provide a general scheme for synthesis of other volatile compounds with pre-designed structure and composition.
Using a clustering technique for detection of moving targets in clutter-cancelled QuickSAR images

The ability to detect and track moving targets in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images has become a topic of much current research. The authors have been reporting on a multi-channel phase interferometry technique for detecting moving targets in SAR images for some time. They have also shown that the phase interferometry between two channels can be utilized to cancel ground clutter from one channel by subtracting a phase-weighted version of the image from the other channel. This is analogous to, but not the same as, the well known DPCA (displaced phase center antenna) technique for clutter cancellation. This paper reports on a clustering technique we have successfully used to detect moving targets, which in almost all cases occupy many more than one or a few pixels in the clutter-cancelled SAR image. This technique greatly reduces false alarms.
Synthesis and structural characterization of new phosphinooxazoline complexes of iron

Abstract The first phosphinooxazoline chelate complexes of iron were synthesized, and their structural and electronic properties were studied. The known phosphinooxazolines 2-(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)-4,5-dihydrooxazole (7a), 2-(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydrooxazole (7b), (S)-4-benzyl-2-(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)-4,5-dihydrooxazole (7e) and (R)-2-(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)-4-phenyl-4,5-dihydrooxazole (7f) were synthesized by a modified three step literature procedure with improved 67–60% overall yields. The new electronically tuned phosphinooxazolines 2-(5-bromo-2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydrooxazole (7c), 3-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl)-4-(diphenylphosphino)-N,N-dimethylaniline (7d) and 2-(2-(diphenylphosphino)-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydrooxazole (7g) were synthesized in three to six steps with 59–29% overall yields. Reaction of 7a–f with CpFe(CO)2I (110 °C, 2 h, toluene) gave the iodide salts of the new iron phosphinooxazoline complexes [CpFe(CO)(7a–f)]+ in 87–21% yield. The new complexes were characterized by X-ray and the molecular structures confirm the octahedral coordination geometry and the half-sandwich structure about the iron center. The impact of different oxazoline ligands on the steric and electronic properties of their iron complexes was determined by analysis of selected bond lengths, νC O stretching frequency and the oxidation potentials of the ligands and the iron complexes.
Functional mapping of the rat olfactory bulb using diverse odorants reveals modular responses to functional groups and hydrocarbon structural features.

In an effort to understand the olfactory code of rats, we collected more than 1,500,000 measurements of glomerular activity in response to 54 odorants selected to provide differences in functional groups and hydrocarbon structure. Each odorant evoked a unique response pattern by differentially stimulating clusters of glomeruli, called modules. Odorants sharing specific aspects of their structure activated the same modules, allowing us to relate responses to structure across approximately 80% of the glomerular layer. The most obvious relationship was between the presence of particular oxygen-containing functional groups and the activity of glomeruli within dorsal modules. Functional group-specific responses were observed for odorants possessing a wide range of hydrocarbon structure, including aliphatic, cyclic, and aromatic features. Even formic acid and acetone, the simplest odorants possessing acid or ketone functional groups, respectively, stimulated modules specific for these functional groups. At the same time, quantitative analysis of pattern similarities revealed relationships in activation patterns between odorants of similar hydrocarbon structure. The odorant responses were reliable enough to allow us to predict accurately specific aspects of odorant molecular structure from the evoked glomerular activity pattern, as well as predicting the location of glomerular activity evoked by novel odorants.
The effect of radiation on twinning in quartz

The Dauphine twinning behavior of quartz subjected to irradiation was studied at room temperature and elevated temperatures. The presence of defects produced by irradiation was utilized to pin the domain wall motion. Both neutrons and gamma-rays were employed for this investigation. The stress required to nucleate an appreciable volume of twins is about twice as high for irradiated crystals than those unirradiated. However, the coercive stress required for causing a complete orientation switch was not much different between irradiated and unirradiated crystals.
Headway Compression during Queue Discharge at Signalized Intersections

Current methodologies for estimation of intersection capacity are based mainly on the concept of saturation flow. Saturation flow is the steady maximum queue discharge rate after the green light is turned on. According to the U.S. Highway Capacity Manual, this steady maximum rate is generally reached after the fourth queuing vehicle is discharged. Two recent studies conducted in Hawaii and Taiwan, however, have found that queue discharge headways tend to undergo compression for a considerable time as more vehicles in the same queue are discharged. Consequently, queue discharge rates often kept rising even after the 15th vehicle has entered the intersection. If this queue discharge characteristic is common in the United States, then there is a need to assess the implications of continued use of the traditional concept of saturation flow rate for capacity analysis of signalized intersections. To provide insight into this potential problem, this study examines the queue discharge characteristics at three int...
Heat Pasteurization of Mechanically Deboned Poultry Meat

Abstract Mechanically deboned poultry meat (MDPM), which had been stuffed into frankfurter casings, was heat pasteurized in a water bath for up to 6 minutes at temperatures of 59°C., 62°C., 65°C., 68°C., or 71°C. Using data from total aerobic plate counts, a thermal destruction curve was prepared showing the time-temperature relationships required to achieve equal degrees of pasteurization. Pasteurized samples of MDPM were stored at 3°C. for up to 12 days and at −18°C. for up to 25 weeks. The shelf-life of MDPM (as measured by total bacterial numbers) was extended by heat pasteurization since the initial level of bacteria was greatly reduced. However, the rate of bacterial growth in pasteurized MDPM was equivalent to or slightly greater than in non-pasteurized MDPM.
Miocene Monkey ( Prohylobates ) from Northern Egypt

Two Miocene primates, Prohylobates tandyi and ?Dryopithecus mogharensis, named in 1918 have long been considered apes. These types are now shown to be synonyms and the species (prior name: Prohylobates tandyi) is newly described and diagnosed. Tooth and jaw structure of Prohylobates is similar to that of an unnamed monkey species from the East African Miocene. Both of these in turn could be derived from African Oligocene monkeys like Parapithecus.
The invention of ‘African Traditional Religion’

(1990). The invention of ‘African Traditional Religion’. Religion: Vol. 20, No. 4, pp. 339-353.
Influence of ophthalmic nerve fibers on choroidal blood flow and myopic eye growth in chicks.

Abstract Ophthalmic sensory nerve fibers containing substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide' innervate the choroid in mammals and are known to vasodilate choroidal blood vessels. The avian choroid is also innervated by ophthalmic nerve fibers containing substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide. The present studies were carried out to determine the influence of these sensory fibers on choroidal blood flow in birds and characterize their interaction with manipulations affecting eye growth. In these studies, ChBF was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry in both eyes in the following groups of birds: (1) normal chicks; (2) chicks with right optic nerve transected for 2 weeks; (3) chicks with right optic nerve transected and a goggle over the right eye for 2 weeks; and (4) chicks with right optic and ophthalmic nerves transected and a goggle over the right eye for 2 weeks. The eyes were refracted and various ocular dimensions measured after the blood-flow measurements. It was found that optic nerve transection reduced ChBF to 30% of normal. Placing a goggle (which increases ocular temperature by 4°C) over an optic nerve transected eye nearly doubled choroidal blood flow over that in an optic nerve transected eye without a goggle. Additional transection of the ophthalmic nerve in a goggled optic nerve-transected eye, yielded choroidal blood flow that was indistinguishable from that in a nongoggled optic nerve-transected eye. Optic nerve transection had a slight stunting effect on axial growth of the eye. While myopic axial elongation was observed in goggled eyes with the optic nerve cut, the extent of myopia was less than in normal goggled eyes. Ophthalmic nerve transection further reduced the myopia induced by goggling in an optic nerve cut eye. These results suggest that ophthalmic nerve input to the choroid exerts a vasodilatory influence, which is activated in a goggled eye. This increased choroidal blood flow may be in response to elevated ocular temperatures caused by the goggling and this increase appears to be masked in goggled eyes with an intact optic nerve by the reduction in choroidal blood flow normally accompanying myopic eye growth. Our results thus show that the induction of myopic eye growth (as in our optic nerve cut eyes with a goggle) need not be accompanied by a decrease in choroidal blood flow from the baseline no-goggle condition (in this case, with the optic nerve cut).
On the use of optical flow methods with spin-tagging magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a versatile noninvasive tool for achieving full-field quantitative visualization of biomedical fluid flows. In this study, two MRI velocimetry techniques (spin tagging and phase contrast) are used to obtain velocity measurements in a Poiseuille flow for Reynolds numbers below 1000. Spin-tagging MRI velocimetry supplies the displacement of tagged grids of nuclear spins from which the velocity field can be inferred, while phase contrast MRI velocimetry directly provides velocity data for every pixel in the field of view. Although the phase contrast method is more accurate for this flow, this technique is more sensitive to errors from magnetic susceptibility gradients, higher order motions, and has limited dynamic range. Spin-tagging MRI velocimetry is a viable alternative if automatic methods for extracting velocity fields from the tags can be found. Optical flow, a technique originally developed for machine vision applications, is proposed here as a postprocessing step to obtain two-dimensional velocity fields from spin-tagging MRI images. Results with artificially generated grids demonstrate the robustness of the optical flow algorithm to noise and indicate that a 7%–10% average error can be expected from the optical flow calculations alone, independent of MRI image artifacts. Experiments on spin-tagging MRI images for a Re=230 Poiseuille flow gave an average error of 6.41%, which was consistent with the measurement error of the generated (synthetic) images with the same level of random noise superimposed. © 2001 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC01: 8761-c, 8719Uv, 8757Ce
Revival and characterization of fungi from ancient polar ice

Glacial ice provides a unique global source of micro-organisms that allows study of both contemporary and ancient fungal diversity. The aim of this research was to revive and/or characterize fungi and fungal DNA entrapped in ancient ice cores from Greenland. Two main methods were developed to detect these micro-organisms in glacial ice: (1) Culturing to obtain viable isolates which were characterized by microscopy, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification and DNA sequencing, using fungal ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer primers; and (2) PCR amplification and DNA sequencing directly from glacial ice. Hundreds of viable fungi (as well as bacteria) were isolated, and DNA sequences were obtained from Greenland ice cores up to 140,000 years old. Some sequences derived directly from ice melt resembled those of contemporary species, while others exhibited little similarity to well-characterized present-day fungi. Species diversity varied among the ice cores. Some fungi remain viable for over 100,000 years in ice. This leads to the possibility that a species can appear to become extinct, but may be capable of reappearing at a later point in time.
Integrating a set of contract checking tools into visual studio

Integrating tools and extensions into existing languages, compilers, debuggers, and IDEs can be difficult, work-intensive, and often results in a one-off integration. In this paper, we report on our experience of building and integrating the CodeContract tool set into an existing programming environment. The CodeContract tools enable 1) authoring of contracts (preconditions, postconditions, and object invariants), 2) instrumenting contract checks into code, 3) statically checking code against contracts, and 4) visualizing contracts and results. We identify three characteristics of our integration that allowed us to reuse existing compilers and IDEs, increase the reach of our tools to multiple languages and target platforms, and maintain the tools over three consecutive versions of C# and Visual Studio with little effort. These principles are 1) use source embedding for new language features, 2) use target analysis and rewriting, and 3) use generic plug-ins to isolate tools from the IDE.
THE PLACE OF TRADITION: HEIDEGGER AND BENJAMIN ON TECHNOLOGY AND ART

Ziarek's claim concerning a more poetic thought appearing in the later Heidegger is echoed by Janet Donohoe. In her essay The Place of Tradition: Heidegger and Benjamin on Technology and Art she argues that notwithstanding the many differences between Heidegger and Benjamin, they share a commitment to a thinking which returns them to a more original poiesis at the root of the philosophical tradition. Both react to a crisis in the European tradition of thought and both see the expression of this crisis in modem technological society. This essay, then, focuses on the paradoxical character of the tradition as elaborated in their respective texts, in order to understand how they can see an artistic or poetic thinking as an alternative to the technological paradigm of our present societies. The reflection on these topics brings out the thinking of a notion of place as central to both Heidegger's and Benjamin's critique of calculative rationality.
How do the nucleon anomalous magnetic moments behave in nuclear matter

Abstract This paper investigates three questions: (i) What is the structure of the nucleon anomalous magnetic moments in the chirally symmetric, renormalizable σ + ω model? (ii) Is the usual assumption of pion-current dominance (no nucleon recoil) justified in field-theoretic models? (iii) How does the presence of symmetric, infinite nuclear matter at normal density affect the anomalous moments? In answer to (i) it is found that the sigma and omega mesons play an important role in restoring the balance in isoscalar and isovector moments for isolated nucleons. The answer to (ii) is “no”. A rough calculation of the effect of nuclear matter yields, for the effective moment of a particle near the top of the Fermi sea, k p (eff) ∼-1.5 nm, k p (eff) ∼- −2.2 nm.
D-brane solutions in noncommutative gauge theory on fuzzy sphere

Noncommutative gauge theory on a fuzzy sphere was obtained by Alekseev, Recknagel, and Schomerus as describing the low energy dynamics of a spherical D2 brane in S{sup 3} with the background b field. We identify a subset of solutions of this theory which are analogues of 'unstable' solitons on a noncommutative flat D2 brane found by Aganagic et al. Analogously to the flat case, these solutions can be interpreted as describing D0 branes 'not yet dissolved' by the D2 brane. We confirm this interpretation by showing the precise agreement of the binding energy computed in the noncommutative and ordinary Born-Infeld descriptions. We then study the stability of the solution describing a single D0 brane off a D2 brane. Similarly to the flat case, we find an instability when the D0 brane is located close to the D2 brane. We furthermore obtain the complete mass spectrum of 0-2 fluctuations, which thus gives a prediction for the low energy spectrum of the 0-2 conformal field theory in S{sup 3}. We also discuss in detail how the instability to a formation of the fuzzy sphere modifies the usual Higgs mechanism for a small separation between the branes.
THE CYSTEINE OF THE CYTOPLASMIC TAIL OF GLUCOSE-DEPENDENT INSULINOTROPIC PEPTIDE RECEPTOR MEDIATES ITS CHRONIC DESENSITIZATION AND DOWN-REGULATION

Abstract The glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide receptor (GIP-R) is a member of G-protein-coupled, seven transmembrane-spanning receptors. Recent studies have shown that elevated serum GIP level in diabetic patients may induce chronic desensitization of the GIP-R, and that this mechanism could contribute to impaired insulin secretion. The cellular basis of down-regulation and chronic desensitization of GIP-R is unclear. To explore the role of the carboxyl terminus of the GIP-R in mediating these processes, five truncated GIP-Rs (T395, T399, T420, T431, T455) were created to delete consecutive serines from the carboxyl end. All mutants except T395 exhibit an identical ligand-binding affinity to the WT receptor. The T395 mutant, which had the entire carboxyl tail removed, does not bind to ligand. Down-regulation and desensitization was assessed by measuring the receptor number and the ability of agonist-induced cAMP or [Ca2+] generation after pre-exposure to 10−7 M GIP for 24 h. The wild-type (WT) and T420, T431, T455 mutant GIP-Rs are maximally down-regulated by GIP preincubation, whereas T399 mutant does not, indicating that the sequence between amino acids 399 and 420 is critical for this process. Mutation analysis of this area by alanine scanning mutagenesis reveals two critical residues: serine 406 and cysteine 411. Replacement of serine 406 with arginine (S406R) or alanine (S406A) partly attenuates agonist-induced down-regulation and desensitization. In contrast, mutation of the cysteine 411 to glycine (C411G) or alanine (C411A) markedly attenuates both processes. Mutant SCRG, in which both serine 406 and cysteine 411 are mutated, behaves similar to C411G or C411A. The data suggest that chronic desensitization and down-regulation of the GIP-R may be mediated by similar mechanisms, and that the cysteine in the carboxyl terminus plays an essential role in regulating both processes.
Direct Relationship of Fetal Carboxyhemoglobin with Hemolysis in Alloimmunized Pregnancies

ABSTRACT: Because carbon monoxide (CO) is a byproduct of heme degradation and because placental diffusing capacity of CO is limited, we hypothesized that the concentration of CO transported in fetal blood as carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) would correlate with the severity of fetal hemolytic disease. Fetal blood was obtained by cordocentesis and HbCO was measured by gas chromatography. The two primary study groups included control fetuses (n = 26) and fetuses of Coombs-positive mothers before in utero transfusion (n = 15). Compared with controls, fetuses with hemolytic disease had higher HbCO levels (0.0111 ± 0.0014 versus 0.0159 ± 0.0072 fraction of total Hb, mean SD, p < 0.002). In contrast, HbCO levels in simultaneously sampled maternal blood samples were not different in the control and alloimmune groups [0.0110 ± 0.0025 (n = 20) versus 0.0115 ± 0.0021 (n = 11)]. There was a significant inverse correlation observed between fetal HbCO and Hb concentrations in the group with hemolytic disease (r =-0.73, p < 0.002) but not in controls. In fetuses with hemolytic disease, HbCO and bilirubin were highly correlated (r = 0.88, p < 0.0001). Data from four anemic fetuses who were Coombs negative, three of whom had no evidence of hemolysis, indicated normal HbCO and normal plasma bilirubin levels. A fourth fetus with anemia had viral sepsis and elevated HbCO and plasma bilirubin levels. We conclude that elevated HbCO levels detected in fetuses of nonsmoking mothers with erythrocyte alloimmunization are likely the result of accelerated hemolysis.
Developments in simulations and software for a near-infrared precision radial velocity spectrograph

We present developments in simulations and software for the Habitable Zone Planet Finder (HPF), an R~50,000 near-infrared cross-dispersed radial velocity spectrograph that will be used to search for planets around M dwarfs. HPF is fiber-fed, operates in the zYJ bands, and uses a 1.7μm cutoff HAWAII-2RG (H2RG) NIR detector. We have constructed an end-to-end simulator that accepts as input a range of stellar models contaminated with telluric features and processes these through a simulated detector. This simulator accounts for the characteristics of the H2RG, including interpixel capacitance, persistence, nonlinearities, read noise, and other detector characteristics, as measured from our engineering-grade H2RG. It also implements realistic order curvature. We describe applications of this simulator including optimization of the fiber configuration at the spectrograph slit and selection of properties for a laser frequency comb calibration source. The simulator has also provided test images for development of the HPF survey extraction and RV analysis pipeline and we describe progress on this pipeline itself, which will implement optimal extraction, laser frequency comb and emission lamp wavelength calibration, and cross-correlation based RV measurement.
A multiphoton spectrum of the Rydberg region of CCl

Abstract We present the three-photon spectrum of the Rydberg state region of the CCl radical. The molecule is produced by an electric discharge in a supersonic beam and the transitions detected as part of a four-photon ionization process. A major Rydberg series with a quantum defect of 0.6 is identified, extrapolating to an ionization potential of 10.6 eV.
New Concepts in Intestinal Imaging for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

In the last decade, multiple imaging technologies have been developed that improve visualization of the mucosal, mural, and perienteric inflammation associated with inflammatory bowel diseases. Whereas these technologies have traditionally been used to detect and stage suspected enteric inflammation, we review new, emerging roles in detecting clinically occult inflammation (in asymptomatic patients) and inflammatory complications, predicting response prior to therapy, assessing response after therapy, and enteric healing. We compare the relative performance of these technologies in detecting inflammation, focusing on their advantages and disadvantages and how they might complement each other. We also discuss their potential benefits for patients and clinical trials, reviewing technologic developments and areas of research that could provide important insights into the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel diseases-related enteric inflammation.
Acute stimulant response prediction of chronic trazodone effects

1. Depressed patients who acutely improve after taking a stimulant drug have a better eventual response to chronic antidepressant treatment than do stimulant non-responders. Unlike the stimulants and most antidepressants, trazodone (TRZ) is not a potent monoamine reuptake inhibitor. 2. The authors tested the hypothesis that acute methylphenidate (MPH) and d-amphetamine (d-AMP) response would not correlate with eventual trazodone response because its site of action was different from other antidepressants. 3. It was found that acute MPH-induced improvement correlated with eventual TRZ-induced improvement to a limited degree. 4. This correlation might reflect serotonin reuptake inhibition by trazodone and suggests that this effect is therapeutically relevant.
PC-SAFT modeling of asphaltene phase behavior in the presence of nonionic dispersants

Abstract This study introduced a new method to characterize asphaltenes in PC-SAFT equation of state (EOS) and correctly model the effect of nonionic dispersants on the thermodynamic behavior of asphaltenes. Our approach is to combine microscale parameters from Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations with Perturbed Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (PC-SAFT) to develop a comprehensive model that enables the prediction of macroscopic behavior such as the amount and onset of asphaltene precipitation at various pressures, temperatures, and fluid compositions. More specifically, association parameters were considered for asphaltene molecules and determined by equating the Gibbs energy of association calculated by PC-SAFT EOS to the one obtained from MD simulations. A correlation was derived to relate the association energy parameter ( ɛ AB ) of asphaltenes to the molar weight of their aromatic cores. Our model showed that asphaltene association energy is affected by temperature and solvent type and is inversely proportional to the solubility parameter of the medium. The hetero-segment approach in PC-SAFT EOS was adopted to accurately characterize asphaltene molecules and their non-association parameters in PC-SAFT were determined based on the molecular weight and aromaticity factor of asphaltenes. Moreover, the average aggregation number of asphaltene nanoaggregates was calculated using the Wertheim association theory. This model was applied to predict asphaltene precipitation envelopes for three different live crude oils and showed excellent agreement with experimental data in the literature. Additionally, the model could correctly predict the amount of asphaltene precipitation upon addition of nonionic dispersants.
Spectrally encoded confocal microscopy of esophageal tissues at 100 kHz line rate

Spectrally encoded confocal microscopy (SECM) is a reflectance confocal microscopy technology that uses a diffraction grating to illuminate different locations on the sample with distinct wavelengths. SECM can obtain line images without any beam scanning devices, which opens up the possibility of high-speed imaging with relatively simple probe optics. This feature makes SECM a promising technology for rapid endoscopic imaging of internal organs, such as the esophagus, at microscopic resolution. SECM imaging of the esophagus has been previously demonstrated at relatively low line rates (5 kHz). In this paper, we demonstrate SECM imaging of large regions of esophageal tissues at a high line imaging rate of 100 kHz. The SECM system comprises a wavelength-swept source with a fast sweep rate (100 kHz), high output power (80 mW), and a detector unit with a large bandwidth (100 MHz). The sensitivity of the 100-kHz SECM system was measured to be 60 dB and the transverse resolution was 1.6 µm. Excised swine and human esophageal tissues were imaged with the 100-kHz SECM system at a rate of 6.6 mm2/sec. Architectural and cellular features of esophageal tissues could be clearly visualized in the SECM images, including papillae, glands, and nuclei. These results demonstrate that large-area SECM imaging of esophageal tissues can be successfully conducted at a high line imaging rate of 100 kHz, which will enable whole-organ SECM imaging in vivo.
Adult Child Perceptions of Communication and Humor When the Parent Is Diagnosed with Cancer: A Suggestive Perspective from Communication Theory

This study examines the function of communication and humor in the older adult parent-adult child dyad when the parent has been diagnosed with cancer. Qualitative data of open-ended data from 46 adult children of a parent recently diagnosed with cancer revealed that discussing diagnosis and treatment procedures was perceived to be a satisfying conversation, whereas withholding information had an adverse affect. The discussion of the parents' feelings during the cancer period was a difficult and complex communicative experience. The Meta-Humorous Interaction Theory (MetaHIT) was used as a conceptual framework to understand the function of appropriate and inappropriate uses of humor in terms of cognitive, affective, and behavioral elements of humor. Humor was often used as a coping or relief function for discussing side effects of cancer treatment. This investigation underscores the importance of understanding how adult children use humorous communication to cope with the unknown conversational territory of...