cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The principles of esophageal electrocardiography.

Abstract Our recent experiences with unipolar and bipolar esophageal leads have impressed us with the need for developing and clarifying the heart-lead relationships which apply to that particular area of clinical electrocardiography. Accordingly, we undertook such a study in the light of modern concepts, and report here the fundamental principles which were found to underlie esophageal electrocardiography. Largely on the basis of the lead-field and lead-vector concepts, together with a consideration of effects produced by the intracardiac phase-inhomogeneity, this study offers a rational explanation of why P waves appear in greatly amplified form in esophageal leads as compared to the relatively minor amplification of QRS complexes. The bipolar esophageal lead is shown to possess at least three unique properties, the latter two of which have already proved to be of special clinical value: (1) In the registration of atrial depolarization it is more truly a proximity lead than the unipolar connection. (2) In recording from the level of atrial transition it is strikingly sensitive to even minor variations in the time-course of atrial depolarization. (3) It greatly facilitates determination of the timing and direction of atrial activation in situations in which such information would ordinarily be obscured by the concomitant occurrence of ventricular depolarization. It is hoped that the theoretical principles developed here will eventually prove to be a reliable foundation for the clinical evaluation of present and future studies in esophageal electrocardiography.
Protein denaturing conditions in beef deep semimembranosus muscle results in limited μ-calpain activation and protein degradation.

The objective was to determine the effect of muscle location on protein solubility and protein degradation in deep (DSM) and superficial (SSM) portion of beef semimembranosus. At 24 h postmortem, the semimembranosus was removed from beef carcasses (n = 10), packaged in high-oxygen modified atmosphere (80% O2 + 20% CO2), and displayed for 7 d at 1 °C. DSM had higher (P < 0.05) L*, a*, b*, and hue values than SSM throughout display. DSM had significantly higher protein denaturation and less protein concentration than SSM. Western blotting for μ-calpain autolysis revealed that DSM maintained more (P < 0.05) unautolyzed μ-calpain than SSM. This result coincided with less desmin and troponin-T degradation in samples from the DSM. These results confirm the hypothesis that increased protein denaturation in DSM results in minimal proteolysis by negatively affecting μ-calpain activation. This demonstrates a potential to alter progression of proteolysis and improvement in tenderness associated with postmortem storage.
Piezoelectric-electrostrictive monolithic bi-layer composite flextensional actuator

We propose a new type of flextensional actuator comprised of an electromechanically active element which is a piezoelectric-electrostrictive monolithic bi-layer composite (PE-MBLC) capped by truncated thin brass sheets. The PE-MBLC contains equal amounts of 0.65{Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3}-0.35PbTiO3 and 0.9{Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3}-0.1PbTiO3 by volume, and is obtained by a co-sintering process. With applied Emax = 10 kV/cm unipolar drive, the maximum axial displacement (u33) produced by the uncapped and capped PEMBLC is 11 and 21 mum, respectively. The hysteresis in unipolar u33 at 0.5 Emax is 4.6% for the uncapped PE-MBLC, while that for the capped one is 11%. Under bipolar excitation, the maximum u33 for uncapped is 11.6 mum at +Emax and 6.6 mum at -Emax with an asymmetry factor (xi)of 1.75 for which u33 0 at +Emax but is smaller than the u33 at +Emax. The origins of the observed asymmetry in u33 are discussed in the context of symmetry superposition and deformation mechanics of the endcaps.
The discovery of the regular solids

Once upon a time there was no problem in the history of the regular solids. According to Proclus, the discoveries of Pythagoras included "the construction of the cosmic solids/'1 and early historians could only assume that the subject sprang full-grown from his head.2 But a better-developed picture of the growth of Greek geometry made such an early date seem questionable, and evidence was uncovered suggesting a different attribution. A thorough study of the testimony was made by E. Sachs,3 and her conclusion is now generally accepted : the attribution to Pythagoras is a later misunderstanding and/or invention. The history of the regular solids thus rests almost entirely on a scholium to Euclid which reads as follows :
Antiviral Properties of Neonatal and Adult Human Neutrophils

The antiviral properties of neonatal and adult human neutrophils were investigated by their ability to inhibit the formation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) plaques using an extrinsic viral resistance (EVR) assay. The EVR assay was performed by incubating neutrophils or mononuclear cells (MNC) with HSV-infected Vero or CEM tumor cells for 48 h. The cells were then frozen and viable HSV was quantitated by the ability of the lysate to form viral plaques. Activation of neutrophils from normal adults with phorbol myristate acetate increased their ability to inhibit HSV plaque formation more than 10-fold
The spectrum of maximal independent subsets of a Boolean algebra

Abstract Recall that a subset X of a Boolean algebra (BA) A is independent if for any two finite disjoint subsets F,G of X we have ∏ x∈F x ∏ y∈G −y≠0. The independence of a BA A, denoted by Ind(A), is the supremum of cardinalities of its independent subsets. We can also consider the maximal independent subsets. The smallest size of an infinite maximal independent subset is the cardinal invariant i (A) , well known in the case A= P (ω)/ fin . In this article we consider the collection of all cardinalities of infinite maximal independent subsets of a BA A; we call this set the spectrum of infinite maximal independent subsets, denoted by Spind(A). Note that infinite maximal independent subsets exist in any BA which is not superatomic. The main result is that any set of infinite cardinals can occur as Spind(A) for some infinite BA A. Beyond this we give results concerning the way that Spind(A) changes under various algebraic operations. However, the basic components of most algebras that we deal with are free algebras.
Permeability tensor of spherical magnetic particles dispersed symmetrically: An exact solution in multipole expansion.

The permeability values of uniformly magnetized spherical particles dispersed periodically in three-dimensional lattices have been calculated. The static potential associated with particle-particle interactions is expanded in multipoles and the results are expressed analytically as a function of the particle loading volume and particle polarizability.
Human Papillomavirus in the HIV-Infected Host: Epidemiology and Pathogenesis in the Antiretroviral Era

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with essentially all cervical cancers, 80–90 % of anal cancers, and a high proportion of oropharyngeal, vaginal, penile, and vulvar cancers. Malignancy is preceded by the development of precancerous lesions termed high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). Men and women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are at high risk of HPV-related malignancies. The incidence of anal cancer in particular has markedly risen during the antiretroviral era due to the increased longevity of patients with HIV and the absence of anal malignancy screening programs. HIV infection may facilitate initial HPV infection by disrupting epithelial cell tight junctions. Once infection is established, HIV may promote HSIL development via the up-regulation of HPV oncogene expression and impairment of the immune response needed to clear the lesion. HIV-infected women should be screened for cervical HSIL and cancer, and HIV-infected men and women should be considered for anal screening programs.
The Control and Dynamical Analysis on Magnetic Bearing Flexible Rotor System Combining the Whirling with Swing

Considering gyroscopic effect and flexibility of the shaft, the eight freedoms dynamic model is established. The dynamic characteristic and control quantity in different bearing rigidity and rotation axis are studied and discussed by optimal control theory. Furthermore, the controlling and the responding are discussed. The simulation results show that the bearing rigidity has great effect on the control quantity so that the elasticity of bearing must be considered. The asymmetry rigidity of rotational axis has little influence on stability. The conclusion may bring up theoretical references for precision control for rotor magnetic bearing system.
The cobalt hydrocarbonyl-catalyzed isomerization of allylbenzene

The HCo(CO)4-catalyzed isomerization of PhCD2CHCH2 carried out in the presence of an excess of p-allyltoluene gave principally trans-PhCDCHCH3. This result rules out a catalyzed [1,3] sigmatropic shift but is consistent with a 1,2-addition-elimination mechanism.
Development of Novel, Potent, and Selective Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors through Alteration of the Piperazine Ring of 1-[2-(Diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]- and 1-[2-[Bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazines (GBR 12935 and GBR 12909)

The design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of compounds related to the dopamine (DA) uptake inhibitors: 1-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine (1) and 1-[2-[bis(4-fluoroph...
Effect of Wing Flexibility on Lift and Thrust Production in Flapping Flight

In bird and insect flight, wing deformation plays an important role in aerodynamic performance. The wing deformation is produced by neuromuscular control and/or by aeroelastic effects. The focus of the current study is to evaluate the effects of wing deformation by coupling a large-eddy simulation solver with a linear elastic membrane model. Different membrane prestresses are investigated to give a desired camber in response to the aerodynamic pressure. All simulations are carried out at Re = 10, 000 for forward flight with an advance ratio of 0.5. The results show that the camber introduced by a flexible wing increases the thrust and lift production considerably. An analysis of flow structure reveals that, for flexible wings, the leading-edge vortex stays attached on the top surface of the wing and glides along the camber and covers a major part of the wing, which results in high force production. On the other hand, for rigid wings, the leading-edge vortex lifts off from the surface resulting in lower force production. Further, introduction of the camber also increases the force component contributing to thrust, leading to a high thrust-to-lift ratio. In comparison to a rigid wing, a 40% increase in thrust is observed for the low-prestress case, which results in a camber of 0.25 chord. Further, the results also show that the wing with high spanwise prestress and low chordwise prestress offers better performance both in terms of force production and uniformity in the force-induced cambering.
Electron attachment and detachment: cyclo-C4F4Cl2

Abstract Electron attachment to 1,2-dichlorotetrafluorocyclobutene (c-C4F4Cl2) and electron detachment from the parent anion (c-C4F4Cl2−) have been studied over a temperature range from 295 to 556 K in a flowing-afterglow Langmuir-probe (FALP) apparatus. Electron attachment to c-C4F4Cl2 over this temperature range yields only the parent anion in a helium buffer gas at 80–160 Pa pressure. The electron attachment rate constant was found to be independent of temperature over the range studied, at a value of (2.4±0.8)×10−7 cm3 s−1, that is, essentially upon every collision. The rate constant for electron detachment from c-C4F4Cl2− is strongly temperature dependent, being imperceptible at room temperature and climbing to a value of 3100±1200 s−1 at 511 K. The equilibrium constant obtained from these data yields the electron affinity (EA) of c-C4F4Cl2 of 0.87±0.08 eV. G3(MP2) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out for the C4F4Cl2 neutral, anion, and fragments in order to aid in interpreting the experiments. Both the G3(MP2) and DFT calculations yield values for EA(c-C4F4Cl2), 0.79 and 0.93 eV, respectively, that are in good agreement with the experimental value. The calculations also show that there are no open exothermic dissociative electron attachment channels for c-C4F4Cl2. Further, we present structures, atomic charges, dipole moments, heat capacities, and polarizabilities for these molecules. The results are contrasted with previous results on 1,2-dichlorooctafluorocyclohexene (c-C6F8Cl2) and 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclopentene (c-C5F6Cl2), both of which possess larger EAs.
Evaluation of the chronic low back pain patient: Conceptual and clinical considerations☆

Abstract The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the surprising and substantial breadth of currently available biomedical, physiological, and psychometric assessment methods for chronic low back pain (CLBP). Biomedical methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance may so revolutionize medical diagnosis that cases previously assumed to have psychogenic etiology may in fact be found to have been caused by spinal degenerative conditions, nerve compression, or spinal stenosis. The reviewers suggested that the traditional psychometric instrument, the MMPI, may be of dubious value in making treatment relevant diagnoses, in discriminating between organic and psychogenic etiologies, and in the prediction of treatment outcome. Several recent approaches in admittedly early stages of development seem to offer substantially more promise. To measure dimensions of cognition that may be important, investigators have assessed the kinds of coping styles patients employ to deal with pain and the attitude dimensions that may be affected by the chronic pain experience. The measurement of sensory, affective, and evaluative pain dimensions has been achieved via the McGill Pain Questionnaire, though a simple self-rating of pain intensity along a 100mm line may turn out to be just as useful clinically. Psychophysical scaling methods appear to be the most innovative to date, and quantify pain descriptors in terms of a patient's idiographic physiological response. Attempts to isolate physiological markers of chronic pain have been disappointing, but recent work suggests that the difference between right and left paraspinal EMG may be of diagnostic value in CLBP. Direct measures of pain behavior show great promise and include measurement of pain medication intake, “up time,” verbal complaints, and observer ratings of the frequency of grimacing, bracing and guarded movements. The construct validity of such behavioral measures has been demonstrated by successfully relating them to medical status variables (i.e., lumbar spine mobility limitation, hypalgesia). The authors conclude that further attempts to demonstrate the psychological involvement of the CLBP patient are redundant, and suggest that a multidimensional assessment strategy across physiological, cognitive, and behavioral domains may soon provide a treatment-relevant diagnostic and prognostic schema.
The use of inhaled corticosteroids in asthma.

Inhaled corticosteroids are the most important therapeutic agents for the pharmacological control of pulmonary inflammation in asthma. There is concern, however, about the occurrence of side effects with the long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids. Because of the potential seriousness of some of these side effects, patients should be monitored carefully and preventively treated for the side effects. Various noncorticosteroid medications have been recommended in guidelines as substitutes for inhaled corticosteroids for daily use as long-term controllers in asthma, e.g., sustained-release theophylline, long-acting beta-agonists, leukotriene modifiers, cromolyn, and nedocromil. However, of the long-term controller medications recommended in the guidelines, only inhaled corticosteroids have to date, been shown clinically to reduce asthma fatalities and to prevent asthma induced lung remodeling.
Cell biology: Porter and sorter

Clathrin is a protein familiar for its ability to import material into cells. But it also seems to mediate another crucial process — helping newly made proteins to pick the right destination on the cell surface.
Effect of a freeze-dried CMC/PLGA microsphere matrix of rhBMP-2 on bone healing

The hypothesis of this research was that implants of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres loaded with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and distributed in a freeze-dried carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) matrix would produce more new bone than would matrix implants of non-protein-loaded microspheres or matrix implants of only CMC. To test this hypothesis it was necessary to fashion microsphere-loaded CMC implants that were simple to insert, fit precisely into a defect, and would not elicit swelling. Microspheres were produced via a water-in-oil-in-water double-emulsion system and were loaded with rhBMP-2 by soaking them in a buffered solution of the protein at a concentration of 5.4 mg protein per gram of PLGA. Following recovery of the loaded microspheres by lyophilization matrices for implantation were prepared by lyophilizing a suspension of the microspheres in 2% CMC in flat-bottom tissue culture plates. Similar matrices were made with 2% CMC and with 2% CMC containing blank microspheres. A full-thickness calvarial defect model in New Zealand white rabbits was used to assess bone growth. Implants fit the defect well allowing for direct application. Six weeks postsurgery, defects were collected and processed for undecalcified histology. In vitro, 60% of the loaded rhBMP-2 released from devices or microspheres in 5 to 7 days. With the unembedded microspheres releasing faster than those embedded in CMC In vivo. the rhBMP-2 microspheres greatly enhanced bone healing, whereas nonloaded PLGA microspheres in the CMC implants had little effect. The results showed that a lyophilized device of rhBMP-2 PLGA microspheres in CMC was an effective implantable protein-delivery system for the use in bone repair.
Malignant Pleural Effusions: Recent Advances and Ambulatory Sclerotherapy

Malignant pleural effusions are a common problem in cancer patients with advanced disease. Patients typically present with progressive dyspnea, cough, and/or chest pain that significantly compromises their quality of life. Treatment is often palliative, usually consisting of sequential thoracenteses or tube thoracostomy with or without sclerotherapy. The traditional method of treatment—tube thoracostomy with large-bore chest tubes connected to continuous wall suction—requires hospitalization, is expensive, limits patient mobility, and can cause significant patient discomfort. More recent trials have explored new techniques, including thoracoscopic insufflation of talc and small-bore catheters. Most of these studies have been performed on inpatients, although a recent multi-institutional trial was initiated to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of ambulatory (outpatient) pleural drainage and sclerotherapy using small-bore catheters. All patients fulfilling eligibility criteria had a small-bore catheter placed in the pleural space that was then connected to a closed gravity drainage bag system. When daily tube drainage was
Leaching of taurine from commercial type aquaculture feeds

Leaching of soluble compounds from pelleted feeds is an issue for the aquaculture industry through increased environmental impact and reduced ingestion essential components. This study was undertaken to examine the leaching rates of taurine, a non-protein amino acid with critical physiological roles in teleosts. To this end we adapted a new liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for quantifying taurine. Twelve different feeds (4 mm dia.) varying in protein source and taurine levels were examined. Fishmeal content ranged from 0.0% to 45.5% with taurine supplementation ranging from 0.0% to 5.0%. Taurine was extracted and quantified from individual pellets in triplicate at six time points (0, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 min). Leaching rates ranged from 0.026 ! 0.005 to 0.826 ! 0.121 mg min " 1 over 40 min at 27°C and were strongly correlated to initial taurine content of the feeds (for distilled water n = 12, P < 0.001, R 2 = 0.91 for artificial seawater, 25 ppt, n = 4, P = 0.020, R 2 = 0.96). Loss of taurine from feeds was 59.5 ! 16.5% after 40 min. This study showsthatasignificantamountoftaurineislostover time from uneaten feed and that taurine supplementation should exceed requirement levels for slow consumersorfeedbeingdeliveredasmultipleadditions.
Characterization of acrolein-glycerophosphoethanolamine lipid adducts using electrospray mass spectrometry.

Acrolein is a toxic, highly reactive α,β-unsaturated aldehyde. In the current study, the products of acrolein after reaction with glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPEtn) lipids have been characterized using electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. The major product formed involves the addition of two acrolein molecules to the primary amine of GPEtn lipids and subsequent aldol condensation to form 1,2-diradyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol-(3-formyl-4-hydroxy)piperidine (FHP) lipids. Upon sodium borohydride reduction, 1,2-diradyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol-(3-hydroxymethyl-4-hydroxy)piperidine (HMHP) lipids and 1,2-diradyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol-(3-hydroxymethyl-3,4-dehydro)piperidine (HMDP) lipids were selectively detected using electrospray tandem mass spectrometry by employing precursors of m/z 256.1 and 238.1 scans, respectively. HMHP lipid and HMDP lipid molecular species were detected upon treatment of HL-60 cells with concentrations of acrolein as low as 10 μM. While the biological implications of these acrolein GPEtn adducts have yet to be established, these structural characterization studies reported herein reveal the facile formation of acrolein GPEtn lipid adducts in vitro, which could influence subsequent biochemical events within the cell.
A reduced-field design concept for high-performance bipolar transistors

A device profile design concept that reduces the junction field, and thus the high-field induced leakage currents as well as the avalanche current, is described. The insertion of an i-layer of thickness equal to the depletion-layer width of the original n/sup +/-p/sup +/ junction can lower the junction field by about a factor of two. Computer studies show that using this design, the collector avalanche current can be reduced by more than one order, while compromising little in the switching speed of the transistor. >
Accelerating Gallstone Dissolution

The dissolution rates of cholesterol in model bile salt solutions are controlled by diffusion in slowly flowing bile and by interfacial kinetics in rapidly flowing bile. At low flow, dissolution varies with the square root of bile flow and can be predicted, a priori, from existing correlations of mass transfer. At high bile flow, dissolution is independent of bile flow and is probably dominated by the rate of micelle adsorption. These results show that cholesterol gallstone dissolution, a potential nonsurgical therapy for cholelithiasis, can be accelerated little in slow bile, but more significantly in rapidly flowing bile.
Dimensions of counselor functioning

In 1957 the editor of the Journal of Counseling Psychology rejected an article on group counseling because, by definition, “Counseling is a process in which two persons….” Since then the functions of a counselor have broadened to include working with groups in many ways. Some will maintain that we have expanded far beyond our domain into that of the organizational psychologist. The authors of this article assume that the counselor's functions should include a wide range of interventions and have organized them within a “Cube.” This model provided the structure for this Special Issue. The three dimensions of the Cube are: (a) the target of the intervention, (b) the purpose of the intervention, and(c) the method of intervention. We think this model has great heuristic potential as a tool for both research and practice.
Clinical Image Subtraction Using Liquid Crystal Light Valves (LCLVs)

This paper describes a device capable of image processing, including subtraction using LCLV's and discusses its feasibilty as a clinical image processor. Intensity subtraction may be accomplished by the superimposition of two image; one a negative, and one a positive. The negative and positive images necessary for subtraction are produced by the LCLVs . It is also possible to perform " color subtraction " in which the difference image is represented as a pseudo-color distribution. Other image " operators " and their applications are discussed.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A method for static analysis of variable thickness sandwich plates

The bending problem of variable thickness sandwich plates that are symmetric about a middle surface has been investigated by a new method. The general solution is obtained, indicated in the title. Furthermore, we give numerical illustrations to compare with the available data. The comparisons show that the new method is easier and more effective.
Hypothalamic hyperphagia: Loss of weight through voluntary exercise

Six hypothalamic hyperphagic rats were housed in activity cages for periods ranging from 14 to 28 days. Five Ss lost weight during the period, and rate of gain of the sixth was sharply attenuated. On return to their home cages, Ss’ weight gain returned to above-normal levels. It is suggested that in a free environment the static phase of hypothalamic hyperphagia might not be attained and that it is an artifact of the manner in which the animals are housed.
Factors Governing the Mass Loading of Aerosolized Carbon Black Particles with Acid Sulfates, Inhalation Exposure, and Alveolar Macrophage Phagocytic Function

AbstractA flow-past nose-only inhalation system is described for the coexposure of animals to carbon black aerosols (CBA) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) at varying relative humidities (RH). The conversion of (SO2 to sulfate (SO42-) on the CBA, at a fixed aerosol concentration, was dependent on RH and SO2 concentration. The effect of the aerosol-gas mixture on alveolar macrophage (AM) phagocytosis was assessed 3 days following nose-only exposure of mice for 4 h. Exposure to 10 mg/m3 CBA alone at low RH (10%) and high RH (85%), to 10 ppm SO2 alone at both RH, and to the mixture at low RH had no effect on AM phagocytosis. In contrast, AM phagocytosis was significantly suppressed following coexposure at 85% RH, the only circumstance in which significant chemisorption of the gas and oxidation to SO42- occurred. The results suggest that fine carbon particles are an effective vector for the delivery of toxic amounts of SO42- to the periphery of the lung under conditions of elevated RH.
Causal Generalizations and Good Advice

In this essay, I focus on the convergence of two problems. The first is our old nemesis, the reference-class problem. The second is the problem of interpreting causal generalizations such as 'smoking causes lung cancer'. This problem has been with us since the time of Hume. Within the framework of the probabilistic theory of causation (which I have been exploring since the early '90s), this problem takes on a very precise form. All parties to the dispute agree that the truth of such a generalization depends upon certain conditional probabilities; they disagree about the configuration of these probabilities that must obtain in order for the claim to be true. The key to solving this second problem rests in the observation that causal generalizations can serve as guides to life: if I know that smoking causes lung cancer, that gives me a good reason not to smoke. Here is where the two problems converge. One way to formulate the reference-class problem is as follows: which objective, conditional probabilities should guide my decisions? I answer that one should be (partly) guided by the conditional probabilities that figure in the probabilistic theory of causation. This, in turn, helps us to solve the second problem. 'Smoking causes lung cancer' describes a configuration of objective, conditional probabilities, such that if the agent were guided by those probabilities, it would be rational for her to refrain from smoking. Like Hume, I conclude that the truth of a causal generalization is partly a subjective matter.
Conversation, grammar, and fixedness: Adjectives in Mandarin revisited

The categoriality of ‘adjectives’ has been a favorite topic of discussion in functional Chinese linguistics. However, the literature leaves us with no clear picture of the ‘adjective’ category for Mandarin. In this paper, we take a usage-based approach to revisit the issue of adjectives in Mandarin. Our investigation of a corpus of face-to-face conversations shows that conversational Mandarin favors Predicate Adjectives over Attributive Adjectives. This pattern is explained by two facts: people primarily use Predicate Adjectives in conversation to assess the world around them, and these assessments (including reactive tokens) are a primary way for people to negotiate stance, alignment, and perspective, while Attributive Adjectives are used to introduce new participants into the discourse, which is a less prominent function in everyday conversation. We also argue that whether predicative or attributive, an understanding of adjectives in everyday Mandarin talk involves various facets of fixedness. This is substantiated by the fact that predicate vs. attributive positions attract different types of adjectives, kinds of collocation patterns, kinds of constructions, and pathways to lexicalization. Thus, this paper demonstrates that (1) interactional data can tell us much about the ‘psychological reality’ of the category ‘adjective’ for speakers; and (2) frequency and ongoing prefab creation are crucial to characterizing the categoriality and mental representation of ‘adjectives’ in Mandarin.
Direct Staining with Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Dextramers Permits Detection of Antigen-Specific, Autoreactive CD4 T Cells In Situ

We report here the utility of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II dextramers for in situ detection of self-reactive CD4 T cells in two target organs, the brain and heart. We optimized the conditions for in situ detection of antigen-specific CD4 T cells using brain sections obtained from SJL mice immunized with myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) 139–151; the sections were costained with IAs/PLP 139–151 (specific) or Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) 70–86 (control) dextramers and anti-CD4. Analysis of sections by laser scanning confocal microscope revealed detection of cells positive for PLP 139–151 but not for TMEV 70–86 dextramers to be colocalized with CD4-expressing T cells, indicating that the staining was specific to PLP 139–151 dextramers. Further, we devised a method to reliably enumerate the frequencies of antigen-specific T cells by counting the number of dextramer+ CD4+ T cells in the ‘Z’ serial images acquired sequentially. We next extended these observations to detect cardiac myosin-specific T cells in autoimmune myocarditis induced in A/J mice by immunizing with cardiac myosin heavy chain-α (Myhc) 334–352. Heart sections prepared from immunized mice were costained with Myhc 334–352 (specific) or bovine ribonuclease 43–56 (control) dextramers together with anti-CD4; the sections showed the infiltrations of Myhc-specific CD4 T cells. The data suggest that MHC class II dextramers are useful tools for enumerating the frequencies of antigen-specific CD4 T cells in situ by direct staining without having to amplify the fluorescent signals, an approach commonly employed with conventional MHC tetramers.
Congenital genitourinary anomalies. Is there a predilection for multiple primary malignant neoplasms

Abstract A case of simultaneous uterine and renal cell carcinoma in an elderly woman who had a septate vagina, double cervix, uterus didelphys, and a single kidney secondary to contralateral renal agenesis is reported. She was treated for a period of 8 months, first with pelvic irradiation followed by total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and subsequently with heminephrectomy. Her renal function was normal postoperatively. The patient died of congestive heart failure in June 1990 after being free of carcinoma for approximately 18 years. The authors believe that this is the only case of its kind currently reported in the literature. Four of her family members died of either gastric (n = 3) or lung (n = 1) cancer, and one sister is alive with colon cancer. Only 19 proven cases of this constellation of congenital anomalies have been reported in the literature, and none have been associated with genitourinary (GU) carcinomas. There is a 50% to 70% incidence rate of genital tract anomalies in female patients with unilateral renal agenesis, secondary to the intimate association of the mesonephric and mullerian ducts. It has been suggested that the GU tract is prone to multiple primary malignant neoplasms, and there are families genetically predisposed to the development of large bowel and GU carcinomas. No conclusions can be drawn concerning the development of carcinoma in patients with congenital GU anomalies because of the small number of patients and the lack of follow-up in the literature.
Information overload in non-visual web transaction: context analysis spells relief

Visually disabled individuals use screen readers to browse the Web. Sequential processing of screen readers makes Web browsing time-consuming and strenuous. The problem is further exacerbated when conducting Web transactions (e.g. buying books, paying utility bills, etc.), which typically involve a number of steps spanning several pages. Thus browsing becomes fatigue inducing and causes significant information overload. But usually one needs only small segments of Web pages for completing a Web transaction. Identifying and presenting such segments from Web pages can reduce information overload. An interesting idea is to use context surrounding a link to identify relevant information on the next Web page. I describe how context analysis coupled with Web content analysis can identify relevant content segments. Preliminary results based on my system incorporating this idea, show a lot of promise in combating the information overload problem encountered by visually disabled individuals when they do transactions over the Web.
Automated 3D IR defect mapping system for CZT wafer and tile inspection and characterization

In this paper, the design and evaluation of a 3D stereo, near infrared (IR), defect mapping system for CZT inspection is described. This system provides rapid acquisition and data analysis that result in detailed mapping of CZT crystal defects across the area of wafers up to 100 millimeter diameter and through thicknesses of up to 20 millimeter. In this paper, system characterization has been performed including a close evaluation of the bright field and dark field illumination configurations for both wafer-scale and tile-scale inspection. A comparison of microscope image and IR image for the same sample is performed. As a result, the IR inspection system has successfully demonstrated the capability of detecting and localizing inclusions within minutes for a whole CZT wafer. Important information is provided for selecting defect free areas out of a wafer and thereby ensuring the quality of the tile. This system would support the CZT wafer dicing and assembly techniques that enable the economical production of CZT detectors. This capability can improve the yield and reduce the cost of the thick detector devices that are rarely produced today.
Epidemiological Parameters of White Spot Syndrome Virus Infections in Litopenaeus vannamei and L. setiferus

An experimental protocol based on a mathematical epidemiology model was developed to study the transmission, virulence, and recovery rates of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV). Two modes of transmission were compared for WSSV in Litopenaeus vannamei. We compared transmission by ingestion of infected cadavers to transmission by cohabitation with infected animals. In addition, we compared the ingestion transmission of WSSV in L. vannamei and in L. setiferus. Finally, we compared the virulence and recovery rates of WSSV in L. vannamei and L. setiferus. The transmission rate of WSSV to L. vannamei by cohabitation was 0.01. The transmission rate by ingestion of infected cadavers was over an order of magnitude larger at 0.46, suggesting that cohabitation is a much less important mode of transmission for WSSV. A statistically significant difference was detected between the estimates of ingestion transmission of L. vannamei (0.46) and those of L. setiferus (0.84), yet no differences in the virulence or recovery rates were detected between hosts. The overall estimated virulence rate was 0.34, and the overall estimated recovery rate from a WSSV infection was 0.007 for both species. According to epidemiological theory the threshold density of hosts necessary for an epidemic to occur is directly related to the virulence and recovery rates and inversely related to the transmission rate. Therefore, the epidemic threshold density may be lower for ingestion transmission than cohabitation transmission and lower for L. setiferus than for L. vannamei.
A wireless electric field sensor based on a langasite resonator

Electric field measurement is not only important for the lift-off of guided missiles, rockets or spacecraft, but is also widely used for safety in urban environments (preventing pollution), super clean labs, oil refineries, bunker stations, explosive plants, wallpaper factories, mining, and in forest fire prevention Various electric field sensors have been developed to monitor electric field intensity on the ground or in the air, to implement effective survey and analysis, to provide reliable methods and basis for meteorological support and to avoid the destructive effect of a high electric field. This article presents a wireless field sensor system based on a langasite resonator. By using frequency conversion techniques the system converts the ultrasonic signal of the sensor to a microwave signal, so that it can transmit the signal wirelessly without digitization. The sensor uses passive components which modulate and transmit the full wave form of the ultrasound signal. A high voltage circuit is constructed in order to measure the frequency shifts of the langasite resonator caused by the applied high voltage. A doubly-rotated plano-plano langasite resonator (ΥXlw)θ/Φ 45°/85°operating on its third overtone (6.304844 MHz) was used as the sensor core in the test of wireless transmission system. A network analyzer was used to test wireless system data and compare it with similar wired system data. The comparison shows a good agreement This system has many potential applications and can also be transformed to other types of sensor s.
Patients' Status at Home Care Discharge

This study describes patients' status following home care nursing discharge, and explores the relationship of sociodemographic characteristics, medical conditions and nursing needs to patients' status at discharge. The sample consisted of 367 adult patients receiving nursing services from a certified home health agency. The majority (61 percent) of patients could manage independently or only with the help of family providers at home care nursing discharge. The rest (39 percent) required at least some help from community service providers, were institutionalized or had died. Patients' discharge status was more closely related to nursing needs such as nursing problems, functional status and coping ability than to medical conditions.
Digital signatures: can they be accepted as legal signatures in EDI?

Digital Signature (DS) technology may be employed to produce legally enforceable signatures in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) among computer users within the same general guidelines and requirements as those developed for handwritten signatures on paper. Digital signature technology promises assurance at least equal to written signatures. From a legal standpoint, this assurance remains to be tested in the evidentiary process. Business policies for organizational use of this technology are being created as the use of digital signature technology is adopted. Standard industry practice serves to create and document a legal precedent. Digital signatures are especially applicable to interpretations of contracts and statute of fraud law. Digital signatures may be used to provide assurances in distributed and networked computer environments where electronic transactions require a high degree of trust.
Implementation of statistical process control in an Indian tea packaging company

A major quality problem faced by tea packaging units is control of weight variation in the tea packets. When the weight variation in tea packets is high, it is likely that buyers get under weight packets in some segments of the market and over weight packets in some other segments. Although an average consumer may not notice the difference, packet weight below certain limit may require the company to pay a substantial amount as fine to the government regulating agencies that conduct such audits. At the same time over weight packets constitute an additional loss to the company. Although control charts are well suited to help control such weight variation, their successful implementation at the machine requires a user-friendly approach for the operators who need to maintain it on a daily basis. This paper discusses one such application where using X-sum control chart, out-of control situations are reduced from over 66% to about 4%.
ANALYSIS OF STIFFENED PLATES UNDER LATERAL LOADING USING SEQUENTIAL QUADRATIC PROGRAMMING (SQP)

Abstract The paper presents a methodology for the analysis of multi-stiffened plates under lateral loading. The structure is idealized as assembled plate and beam elements, rigidly connected at their junctions. The strain energy of the idealized structure is then derived in terms of generalized in- and out-of-plane displacement functions. Treating the coefficients of these functions as design variables, sequential quadratic programming is then used to determine the magnitudes of these coefficients that minimize the total potential of the system. Numerical results are then presented, using the described procedure, for the computation of the deflection of stiffened and unstiffened panels. The efficiency of various stiffening configurations is also illustrated.
Avian hosts for West Nile virus in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana 2002

West Nile virus (WNV) infections in free-ranging birds were studied in Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, after a human encephalitis outbreak peaked there in July 2002. Seroprevalence in resident, free-ranging wild birds in one suburban site was 25% and 24% in August and October, respectively, indicating that most transmission had ceased by early August. Mortality rates, seroprevalence rates, host competence, and crude population estimates were used in mathematical models to predict actual infection rates, population impacts, and importance as amplifying hosts for several common passerine birds. Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) and house sparrow (Passer domesticus) were the principal amplifying hosts, but blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) and northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) also contributed. The blue jay population was reduced by an estimated 47%. A variety of passerine bird species combined to play an important role as amplifying hosts in the WNV transmission cycle.
The pathophysiology of autoimmune blistering diseases

Knowledge of the pathophysiology of immunobullous diseases has been advanced by the demonstration that passive transfer of antibodies against skin autoantigens can induce blisters in experimental animals with clinical, histologic, and immunopathologic features similar to those seen in human patients. In this issue of the JCI, Liu et al. extend their earlier observations regarding an experimental murine model of bullous pemphigoid by showing that the plasminogen/plasmin signaling cascade synergizes with MMP-9 during the early phase of antibody-induced blister formation in vivo. In a separate study, Sitaru et al. show for the first time to my knowledge that passive transfer of experimental antibodies against type VII collagen create subepidermal blisters in mice that mimic those seen in patients with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (see the related article beginning on page 870). While the articles by Liu, Sitaru, and their colleagues identify pathways of inflammation and tissue injury that, if interrupted, may abrogate blister formation, in a third study, Payne et al. utilized phage display technologies to isolate human anti-desmoglein monoclonal antibodies from a patient with pemphigus vulgaris and show that such antibodies have restricted patterns of heavy and light chain gene usage - findings suggesting that autoantibodies may represent an additional target for therapeutic interventions in patients with immunobullous diseases (see the related article beginning on page 888).
Modeling radial collimators for use in stress and texture measurements with neutron diffraction

Radial collimators have been recently introduced to define the sampling volume during neutron diffraction stress and texture mapping experiments. This paper presents both analytical and Monte Carlo numerical models for the calculation of the spatial distribution of neutron transmission through a radial collimator. It is shown that the effective size of the scattered neutron beam as seen by detectors behind the collimator is quite sensitive to the collimator length and the number of blades. For a given radius of a collimator, the effective beam width increases sharply as the length is shortened. Due to the finite blade thickness, the center of gravity of the sampling volume is shifted away from the collimator. In contrast, attenuation of the neutron beam by the sample brings the center of gravity of the sampling volume closer to the collimator.
Notes on a variety of problems of differential systems

Abstract : A variety of problems of differential systems are considered. The results cover global existence, boundedness and stability with respect to origin, a set and another system, uniqueness and the existence of periodic solutions. (Author)
Test data compression and test resource partitioning for system-on-a-chip using frequency-directed run-length (FDR) codes

Test data compression and test resource partitioning (TRP) are necessary to reduce the volume of test data for system-on-a-chip designs. We present a new class of variable-to-variable-length compression codes that are designed using distributions of the runs of 0s in typical test sequences. We refer to these as frequency-directed run-length (FDR) codes. We present experimental results for ISCAS 89 benchmark circuits and two IBM production circuits to show that FDR codes are extremely effective for test data compression and TRP. We derive upper and lower bounds on the compression expected for some generic parameters of the test sequences. These bounds are especially tight when the number of runs is small, thereby showing that FDR codes are robust, i.e., they are insensitive to variations in the input data stream. In order to highlight the inherent superiority of FDR codes, we present a probabilistic analysis of data compression for a memoryless data source. Finally, we derive entropy bounds for the benchmark test sets and show that the compression obtained using FDR codes is close to the entropy bounds.