cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast IR imaging with sub-wavelength resolution using a transient near-field probe (tipless near-field microscopy)

Microscopy based on the mid-infrared part of the spectrum provides an approach to imaging with a chemically selective contrast mechanism. However, the long wavelength of the mid-IR radiation diffraction limits the spatial resolution to no better than a few microns in conventional IR microscopy. (In practice, commercial IR microscopes rarely do as well as 10 microns). This resolution prevents IR spectroscopy of single sub-cellular or even cellular features routinely observable with conventional visible light microscopes. In this paper we present a technique using conventional IR optics and no near- field tips which enables IR imaging with the resolution of a visible microscope. Photo-induced reflectivity generated by ps pulses of visible light incident on the surface of semiconductor is used to create a transient mirror with dimensions determined by the spot size of the visible light. The IR light scattered by such subwavelength-size mirror is collected after propagating through the sample. As the sample is located on the semiconductor substrate, no near-field distance control is required, and the image can be taken at the speed of a typical laser scanning microscope. And since the near-field probe is generated remotely -- using light -- the sample to be imaged can be covered by, or encased in, a transparent liquid or solid. The resolution of such an IR microscope is determined by the dimensions of the transient mirror, i.e. by the spot size of the visible light and its penetration depth into the substrate. To prevent resolution degradation due to diffusion of the photo-excited carriers in the substrate, the probe (IR) pulse duration should not exceed a few tens of picoseconds. Preliminary results, prospects and limitations are discussed.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Right and left ventricular outflow tract tachycardias: evidence for a common electrophysiologic mechanism.

Right and Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardias. Introduction: "Idiopathic" ventricular arrhythmias most often arise from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), although arrhythmias from the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) are also observed. While previous work has elucidated the mechanism and electropharmacologic profile of RVOT arrhythmias, it is unclear whether those from the LVOT share these properties. The purpose of this study was to characterize the electropharmacologic properties of RVOT and LVOT arrhythmias. Methods and Results: One hundred twenty-two consecutive patients (61 male; 50.9 ± 15.2 years) with outflow tract arrhythmias comprise this series, 100 (82%) with an RVOT origin, and 22 (18%) with an LVOT origin. The index arrhythmia was similar: sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) (RVOT = 28%, LVOT = 36%), nonsustained VT (RVOT=40 %, LVOT=23 %), and premature ventricular complexes (RVOT = 32%, LVOT = 41%) (P = 0.32). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and microvolt T-wave alternans results (normal/indeterminate) were also comparable. In addition, 41% with RVOT foci and 50% with LVOT foci were inducible for sustained VT (P = 0.48), and induction of VT was catecholamine dependent in a majority of patients in both groups (66% and 73%; RVOT and LVOT, respectively; P = 1.0). VT was sensitive to adenosine (88% and 78% in the RVOT and LVOT groups, respectively, P = 0.59) as well as blockade of the slow-inward calcium current (RVOT=70%, LVOT=80%; P = 1.00) in both groups. Conclusions: Electrophysiologic and pharmacologic properties, including sensitivity to adenosine, are similar for RVOT and LVOT arrhythmias. Despite disparate sites of origin, these data suggest a common arrhythmogenic mechanism, consistent with cyclic AMP-mediated triggered activity. Based on these similarities, these arrhythmias should be considered as a single entity, and classified together as "outflow tract arrhythmias."
Constructive training of recurrent neural networks using hybrid optimization

Training of recurrent neural networks (RNNs) is known to be a very difficult task. This work proposes a novel constructive method for simultaneous structure and parameter training of Elman-type RNNs using a combination of particle swarm optimization (PSO) and covariance matrix adaptation based evolutionary strategy (CMA-ES). The proposed method allows the imposition of certain stability conditions, which can be maintained throughout the constructive process. The examples reported show a monotonic decrease in training error throughout the constructive process and also demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method for structure and parameter training of RNNs.
Native Currents in Hepatocytes with Characteristic Properties of Kir2 Channels

We investigated the electrophysiological properties of parenchymal liver cells (hepatocytes) by using the perforated patch-clamp technique with Amphotericin B. We found that dissociated mouse hepatocytes exhibited native currents with characteristic properties of inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channels, subfamily 2, which has not been previously reported. Currents were constitutively active and stable for longer than 30 min during recording, with a current density of −16.2 ± 1.7 pA/pF (Vm = −114 mV, current at [K+]out = 5 mM minus current at [K+]out = 0 mM, n=14 cells). Currents exhibited strong and “steep” inward rectification, with essentially no outward current at voltages more positive than −20 mV, as typically seen with Kir2 channels. The reversal potential approximated the predicted EK (−81.8 ± 0.4 vs. −84.4 mV, [K+]in = 134 mM and [K+]out = 5 mM). Varying [K+]out over a range of 5 to 144 mM showed that Erev was strongly dependent on [K+]out, with a Nernstian slope of 58.8 mV/decade, demonstrating that the currents are highly selective for K+. Currents were fully blocked by external Ba2+, with K1/2 = 2.7 ± 0.2 µM (Vm = −94 mV, [K+]out = 60 mM, n=6 cells). This K1/2 value is in close agreement with published data on Ba2+ block of homomeric Kir2.1 channels (Liu GX et al. J Physiol 2001). The currents were not significantly inhibited by acidification of the bath solution or pipette solution, which argues against a contribution of pH-sensitive Kir2 subunits such as Kir2.2 or Kir2.3. We thus hypothesize that the molecular identity of the observed currents is homomeric Kir2.1. Additional experiments are underway to test this hypothesis and to elucidate the physiological role of native Kir2 channels in hepatocytes.
Measuring factors underlying intendedness of women's first and later pregnancies.

CONTEXT: Unintended pregnancy is associated with poor health outcomes for mothers and infants, and is indicative of gaps in family planning services. Conventional measures of pregnancy intendedness do not reflect the multiple factors affecting a woman's pregnancy-related intentions and attitudes METHODS: Data collected between March 2002 and February 2003 from 701 women in a public family planning clinic and 671 women in a public prenatal clinic in New Orleans were analyzed to examine factors underlying intendedness (including attitudes toward pregnancy and motivations to achieve or avoid pregnancy) RESULTS: In factor analyses, variables measuring pregnancy intendedness were represented by a single latent factor, pregnancy desirability. For first pregnancy, variables that best captured desirability were those measuring happiness, effort in achieving the pregnancy, extent of looking forward to telling friends, whether the pregnancy was intended (i.e., came at the right time or later), and whether the woman wanted to have a baby with her partner. For last or current pregnancies that were second or higher order ones, they were happiness, pregnancy wantedness, effort in achieving the pregnancy, whether the pregnancy was planned and whether the woman wanted to have a baby with her partner. Among women younger than 18 at first pregnancy, happiness and whether a woman wanted a baby with her partner were the only items that captured pregnancy desirability CONCLUSIONS Future surveys on pregnancy intendedness could reduce the number of questions used to capture pregnancy desirability. This should help standardize surveillance systems and permit better assessment of trends in pregnancy desirability over time
The effect of added solvents on soy oil lutein adsorption by silicic acid

It has been reported that addition of isopropanol to a soy oil miscella inhibits the binding of soy lutein to added silicic acid by competitive adsorption. It was suggested that the competition was based on the polarity of the miscella constituents. This investigation studied the effects of a homologous series of lower alcohols to competitively inhibit lutein binding to silicic acid from a soy oil hexane miscella. Lutein binding inhibition by molecules of carbon chains with the same lengths, but with different functional groups, was also examined. Minor differences were found between members of a homologous series of alcohols. A similar result was found with short-chain fatty acids. The ability of various functional groups to displace lutein from silicic acid was dependent on the molecules’ ability to form hydrogen bonds, rather than on polarity.
Generating the XTAG english grammar using metarules

We discuss a grammar development process used to generate the trees of the wide-coverage Lexicalized Tree Adjoining Grammar (LTAG) for English of the XTAG Project. Result of the coupling of Becker's metarules and a simple yet principled hierarchy of rule application, the approach has been successful to generate the large set of verb trees in the grammar, from a very small initial set of trees.
Phase behavior of hybrid dendron-linear copolymers and blends with linear homopolymer

Abstract The phase behavior of novel hybrid diblock copolymers composed of poly(benzyl ether) dendrons of various generations grafted to deuterated polystyrene tails of varying molecular weights are examined by small angle neutron scattering. Blends of these hybrid copolymers with linear polystyrene of two molecular weights are shown to exhibit dissolution, microphase separation and microphase & mesophase separation depending on the relative molecular weights of the dendrons, tails, and matrix homopolymer. The results suggests that there is a strong entropic penalty against mixing polymers of dendritic architecture with linear chains, and that this driving force can be harnessed to create unique, nanostructured polymer materials. To cite this article: C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).
High Somatic Symptom Burdens and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Background & Aims: Unexplained, multi-system somatic symptoms and syndromes, the hallmark features of somatization, are prevalent in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). We studied outpatients attending a gastroenterology clinic to see whether current somatic symptom burdens (a somatization state measure) or number of prior functional diagnoses (a somatization trait measure) could predict the presence of an FGID over structural gastrointestinal disease, and whether the predictive value was dependent on comorbid depression or anxiety disorders. Methods: Clinical data from 327 consecutive new referrals to an outpatient gastroenterology practice were reviewed, 187 with an FGID and 140 with a structural illness. Somatization state and trait were measured by using self-reported current symptoms and functional diagnoses recorded in the medical history, respectively. Psychiatric comorbidity (depression or anxiety disorders) was extracted from chart review. Results: FGID subjects endorsed more somatization state symptoms, had more somatization trait diagnoses, and had greater likelihood of psychiatric comorbidity ( P P Conclusions: Higher burdens of either current somatic symptoms or functional diagnoses in the medical history are strong predictors of an FGID in outpatients presenting with gastrointestinal complaints. The mechanism is not solely dependent on a relationship with affective disorders, which independently predicts FGID, at least in part, through another path.
Effects of short-term culturing on islet phosphoinositide and insulin secretory responses to glucose and carbachol

The ability of glucose and carbachol, alone or in combination, to stimulate islet cell phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis and insulin secretory responses in freshly isolated or in 20-24 h cultured rat islets was assessed. In freshly isolated, 3H-inositol-prelabeled islets, 20 mM glucose alone or 1 mM carbachol alone stimulated significant increments in 3H-inositol efflux and inositol phosphate (IP) accumulation. When stimulated with both agonists, a dramatic and synergistic effect on IP accumulation was noted. Carbachol (1 mM) alone had no sustained stimulatory effect on insulin secretion. Glucose (20 mM) alone induced a biphasic insulin secretory response. When compared to prestimulatory secretory rates of 18 +/- 4 pg/islet/min, peak first and second phase responses now averaged 422 +/- 61 and 1016 +/- 156 pg/islet/min, respectively. In contrast to freshly studied islets, culturing islets for 20-24 h in CMRL-1066 medium attenuated all measured responses. The increases in 3H-inositol efflux rates in response to glucose, carbachol, or their combination were significantly less than those observed with fresh islets. The IP responses were also attenuated. Second phase insulin secretory responses to 20 mM glucose alone 68 +/- 9 pg/islet/min) or the combination of 20 mM glucose plus 1 mM carbachol (358 +/- 85 pg/islet/min) were also significantly decreased when compared with fresh islets. We conclude from these studies that the process of culturing islets for one day in CMRL-1066 significantly decreases islet cell PI hydrolysis and insulin secretory responsiveness. These observations may help to explain the discordant conclusions reached concerning the involvement of PI hydrolysis and protein kinase C activation in the regulation of insulin release from freshly isolated versus cultured islets.
Linkage of cell cycle kinetics between embryonic and adult stroke models: An analytical approach ☆

Abstract In the adult brain, neurogenesis occurs in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle. The proliferating population and the cell cycle kinetics in the ventricular zone regulate cortical neurogenesis during the development. Using the embryonic model, we investigated kinetics of SVZ cells in adult rats after stroke, incorporating migration of SVZ cells to the ischemic boundary. Concurrent linear regressions were considered through iteration to improve precision of parameter estimation. We found no model-fit difference in stroke with and without the migration (p = 0.31), suggesting no migration effect on assessment of the cell kinetics. Stroke increased SVZ cell proliferation (20% in non-stroke and 31% in stroke p
Manganese in seawater and the marine manganese balance

Abstract Surface water samples from the Sargasso Sea, the western North Atlantic, and the northeast Pacific all have manganese concentrations of about 0.1 ppb. Sargasso Sea and northeast Pacific deep water samples have about one-fourth those concentrations; concentrations in the North Atlantic western boundary current appear intermediate. The data suggest that manganese is removed from seawater more rapidly than the general oceanic turnover time of about 1,500 years. Downward transport of manganese in downwelling surface water and falling biogenic debris can supply only a few per cent of the total amount accumulating in pelagic sediments, although it can supply all the manganese accumulating in ferromanganese crusts and nodules. A Sargasso Sea and a northeast Pacific profile show no indication of a deep water manganese maximum, suggesting that submarine volcanism and hydrothermal input is not a major source of manganese to either deep ocean water or normal pelagic sediments. Because the sedimentary manganese is supplied neither by dissolved manganese in seawater nor by hydrothermal inputs, we conclude that the ‘excess’ manganese in pelagic sediments comes from terrigenous particles.
Hepatic inclusions during interferon therapy in chronic viral hepatitis

Two types of cytomembranous abnormalities were identified for the first time in liver biopsies from patients with chronic active type B hepatitis during treatment with recombinant alpha-interferon. Tubuloreticular inclusions were present in the hepatic endothelial cells, Kupffer cells and perisinusoidal cells of liver biopsies from both patients, and they were absent in liver biopsies obtained before treatment. Cylindrical confronting lamellae, having "test tube" or "ring-shape" forms were observed in the cytoplasm both of Kupffer cells and macrophages in the second liver biopsy of one of the patients. The findings suggest that interferon can be involved in the pathogenesis of both cytomembranous abnormalities, but that additional biological factors may play a role in formation of the cylindrical confronting lamellae.
Bliss is Ignorance: The Interpersonal Costs of Being Very Happy

Across four studies, we demonstrate that the magnitude of emotion matters. The same emotion (e.g., happiness) can have very different effects at high levels than it does at moderate levels. In our studies, we show that the magnitude of an emotion expression significantly influences social cognition. Participants perceive very happy individuals to be more naive than moderately happy individuals, and these perceptions are mediated by the belief that very happy individuals shelter themselves from negative information about the world. As a consequence of these inferences, very happy people are taken advantage of more than moderately happy people are.
Dynamics transitions at the outer vestibule of the KcsA potassium channel during gating

In K+ channels, the selectivity filter, pore helix, and outer vestibule play a crucial role in gating mechanisms. The outer vestibule is an important structurally extended region of KcsA in which toxins, blockers, and metal ions bind and modulate the gating behavior of K+ channels. Despite its functional significance, the gating-related structural dynamics at the outer vestibule are not well understood. Under steady-state conditions, inactivating WT and noninactivating E71A KcsA stabilize the nonconductive and conductive filter conformations upon opening the activation gate. Site-directed fluorescence polarization of 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl (NBD)-labeled outer vestibule residues shows that the outer vestibule of open/conductive conformation is highly dynamic compared with the motional restriction experienced by the outer vestibule during inactivation gating. A wavelength-selective fluorescence approach shows a change in hydration dynamics in inactivated and noninactivated conformations, and supports a possible role of restricted/bound water molecules in C-type inactivation gating. Using a unique restrained ensemble simulation method, along with distance measurements by EPR, we show that, on average, the outer vestibule undergoes a modest backbone conformational change during its transition to various functional states, although the structural dynamics of the outer vestibule are significantly altered during activation and inactivation gating. Taken together, our results support the role of a hydrogen bond network behind the selectivity filter, side-chain conformational dynamics, and water molecules in the gating mechanisms of K+ channels.
Can we protect everybody from drinking water contaminants

Dozens of chemicals, both natural and manmade, are often found in drinking water. Some, such as the natural contaminants uranium and arsenic, are well-known toxicants with a large toxicology database. Other chemicals, such as methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) from leaking fuel tanks, we learn about as we go along. For still others, such as the alkyl benzenes, there are very little available data, and few prospects of obtaining more. In some cases, chemicals are purposely added to drinking water for beneficial purposes (e.g., chlorine, fluoride, alum), which may cause a countervailing hazard. Removing all potentially toxic chemicals from the water is virtually impossible and is precluded for beneficial uses and for economic reasons. Determination of safe levels of chemicals in drinking water merges the available toxicity data with exposure and human effect assumptions into detailed hazard assessments. This process should incorporate as much conservatism as is needed to allow for uncertainty in the toxicity and exposure estimates. Possible sensitive subpopulations such as unborn children, infants, the elderly, and those with common diseases such as impaired kidney function must also be considered. However, the range of sensitivity and the variability of toxicity and exposure parameters can never be fully documented. In addition, the validity of the low-dose extrapolations, and whether the toxic effect found in animals occurs at all in humans, is never clear. This publication discusses how these competing needs and uncertainties intersect in the development of Public Health Goals for uranium, fluoride, arsenic, perchlorate, and other highly debated chemicals.
Moderating influences of organizational attitude and compatibility on implementation success from computer-integrated manufacturing technology

Abstract Contextual variables, such as an organization's attitude toward an innovation and the innovation's compatibility with existing operating practices and value systems within the organization, may moderate the relationship between the need for strategic change, and the decision to implement an innovation and the ability to realize the benefits of success from the innovation. In attempting to investigate this relationship within the context of a special category of innovations for the manufacturing process—computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems—this large-scale empirical study finds fairly strong support for the moderating effects of both these variables on the form of relationship within the organizational innovation process. Adopting organizations already holding, or capable of generating, a favourable attitude toward CIM display a much stronger association between their need or pressures for strategic change and the extent to which they are able to exploit the performance potential of the...
How many prognostically significant grades of prostate carcinoma are there

Carcinoma of the prostate (CAP) is often graded as well, moderately or poorly differentiated. We identified 74 well differentiated stage A1 CAP, 58 stage D1 CAP with moderately differentiated metastases, 107 moderately differentiated stage D2 CAP, and 53 poorly differentiated stage D2 CAP and divided each group into 3, 4 or 5 histological patterns. We found that each histological pattern within well, moderately and poorly differentiated prostate carcinoma had similar survival rates. These observations suggest that, using Light microscopy, 3 prognostically significant grades of CAP can be identified - well, moderately and poorly differentiated.
Electrical conductivity and oxygen permeation of Ag/BaBi8O13 composites

Abstract A sharp increase in the electrical conductivity of dual phase Ag/BaBi 8 O 13 composites is observed in compositions with silver contents between 13 and 17 vol.%. Above this percolation threshold, composite membranes have high oxygen permeability in the temperature range 570≤ T ≤700°C. The oxygen flux is 20 times lower for a membrane composition with a conductivity below the percolation threshold. The drop in conductivity in BaBi 8 O 13 at the β 1 to β 2 phase transition at 570°C is apparent in the permeation flux data. The overall permeation rate is limited by the surface reaction kinetics.
Hydrogen adsorption and magnetic behavior of Fen and Con clusters: Controlling the magnetic moment and anisotropy one atom at a time

Theoretical studies to investigate the effect of H absorption on the magnetic moment of small ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{n}$ and ${\mathrm{Co}}_{n}$ clusters have been carried out using gradient corrected density-functional approach. Our studies on clusters containing up to four transition metal and 2 H atoms show that the successive addition of H atoms can lead to monotonic or oscillatory change from the free cluster magnetic moment. A detailed analysis of the density of electronic states shows that the variations in the magnetic moment can be related to the location of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital in the parent cluster. It is shown that the addition of hydrogen can substantially change the magnetic anisotropy. In particular ${\mathrm{Co}}_{3}{\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ is shown to exhibit magnetic anisotropy that is higher than any of the known anisotropies in the molecular nanomagnets.
Talk to Me: Clear Communication Is the Best Protection

Today's legal construct of a registered nurse is an assertive, decisive health care provider, with increasing professional accountability. 1 Over the past 20 years, we have witnessed an increase in the number of nurses named as individual defendants in lawsuits. This is a change from the more historically prevalent practice of holding hospitals directly liable for their employees' actions, a practice known as respondent superior. 2 With this increase in accountability and subsequent increase in malpractice liability, a greater exposure to civil claims of negligence exists for nurses. 3 So what does this mean for the neonatal nurse and how is it changing the way we practice? Is fear of litigation inhibiting our parental communications and information sharing practices? If one assumes it is, does this practice actually help deter legal conflicts or litigation? Within the setting of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), levels of stress run high for parents and families. Oftentimes they find themselves in an unexpected situation and in the extremely alien world of the NICU. The majority of what is occurring to and around their child is foreign. Without consistent and appropriate dialogue between health care providers and families, misunderstandings and mistrust can develop. It is natural and appropriate for parents to be protective of their child: as nurses, we can choose to either embrace this instinct or fight against it. By choosing to embrace it, such as encouraging vigilance for hand washing, both parent and provider are able to come together to work toward a common goal. But when health care providers choose not to work collaboratively with families such as becoming irritated when parents ask for some flexibility in the schedule or why something is done a certain way, animosity between the health care team and family may develop. It is when this breakdown of dialogue and increase in miscommunication occurs that most
Nickel ions inhibit α-actin expression and decrease aspect ratio of rat vascular smooth muscle cellsin vitro

Traditionally, in vitro material biocompatibility studies involved evaluating cell response when cultured in the presence of a sample of the material. In this study, we present a different approach to evaluate the biocompatibility of a metallic biomaterial. Our study is based on estimating what local concentrations of metallic ions are present at the site of implantation of an endovascular stent based on other studies in the literature. We then quantify the concentrations of metallic ions present in our conditioned media in which Nitinol wires were allowed to corrode, and compare cell response to ion concentrations in order to provide better experimental reproducibility. This is important to eliminate the variability of ion release rates from metals (even from the same lot) under similar conditions. Cell culture experiments using vascular smooth muscle cells exposed to clinically significant concentrations of nickel ions released from Nitinol showed two important responses. A decrease in cell aspect ratios showing a morphological change possibly indicating a shift towards a more synthetic phenotype was observed. Secondly, a decrease in α-actin expression was characterized by immunostaining with a fluorescent tag. At the highest concentration tested, average fluorescence decreased by approximately 26%, indicating a loss of the cellular contractile mechanism. However, the ion concentrations utilized in this study did not significantly affect cellular proliferation.
New Approaches to Treatment of Schizophrenia by Enhancing N-methyl-d-aspartate Neurotransmission

ABSTRACTBackground: There is a great need to develop new antipsychotic agents. In addition to dopaminergic neurotransmission, glutamatergic neurotransmission has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The most compelling link between glutamatergic N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) neurotransmission and schizophrenia concerns the mechanism of action of the psychotomimetic drug phencyclidine and the dissociative anesthetic, ketamine; both are NMDA antagonists. The psychosis induced by the NMDA antagonists causes not only positive symptoms similar to the action of dopaminergic enhancers but also negative symptoms and cognitive deficits typical of schizophrenia in normal volunteers and worsening of the psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Accordingly, enhancing NMDA neurotransmission should benefit the symptoms of schizophrenia. Methods: Most clinical trials were done by the addition of the NMDA-enhancing agents, glycine, d-serine, d-alanine, d-cycloserine and sarcosine to the stable regimens of antipsychotics in double-blind, placebo-controlled designs. Results: When taken together, the trials of NMDA-enhancing agents in patients with chronic schizophrenia receiving stable dose of antipsychotics, the NMDA-enhancing agents were effective in the domains of negative symptoms, cognition, depression, positive symptoms and general psychopathology. The agents also significantly improved extrapyramidal symptoms. No significant side-effects or safety concerns emerged. Interpretation: In addition to testing more lead compounds, dose-finding and long-term trials are required to determine the optimal dose and functional improvement capacity of NMDA receptor agonist. The agents may also be applied to prevention and the treatment for prodromal phases of the illness.
Song System Auditory Responses Are Stable and Highly Tuned During Sedation, Rapidly Modulated and Unselective During Wakefulness, and Suppressed By Arousal

We used auditory responsiveness in the avian song system to investigate the complex relationship between behavioral state and sensory processing in a high-order sensorimotor brain area. We present ...
Determination of single fibre strength distribution from fibre bundle testings

The strength of fibres used as reinforcement materials for advanced composites is often assumed to follow the two-parameter Weibull distribution function. However, the experimental process widely used for obtaining the two parameters is tedious and prone to error. In this paper, two simple methods for determining the parameters of the Weibull distribution function are developed based upon the analysis of the tensile curves of fibre bundles. The first method focuses on the relation between the shape of a fibre bundle tensile curve and the survivability of fibres; the second method makes use of the relation between the maximum load point of a fibre bundle tensile curve and the shape parameter of the Weibull distribution of fibre strength. These two methods, in particular the second one, have greatly simplified the fibre testing process. Experimental results on Thornel-300 carbon fibres further demonstrate the validity of these techniques.
Weak convergence of compound stochastic process, I

Abstract Compound stochastic processes are constructed by taking the superpositive of independent copies of secondary processes, each of which is initiated at an epoch of a renewal process called the primary process. Suppose there are M possible k -dimensional secondary processes { ξ v ( t ): t ⩾0}, v =1,2,…, M . At each epoch of the renewal process { A ( t ): t ⩾0} we initiate a random number of each of the M types. Let m l : l ⩾1} be a sequence of M -dimensional random vectors whose components specify the number of secondary processes of each type initiated at the various epochs. The compound process we study is (t)=∑ l=1 A(t) ∑ v=1 M ∑ j=1 M lv ξ lj v (t−T l ), t⩾0 , where the ξ v lj ( ) are independent copies of ξ v , m lv is the v th component of m and { τ l : l ⩾1} are the epochs of the renewal process. Our interest in this paper is to obtain functional central limit theorems for { Y ( t ): t ⩾0} after appropriately scaling the time parameter and state space. A variety of applications are discussed.
Preservice Teachers Perceptions of Mathematics Education in Urban Schools

This article reports findings from a study of preservice mathematics teacher education students and their beliefs about and experiences with students in an urban high school. The preservice teacher education students participated as mentors to a group of peer tutors in a mathematics tutoring program. Data collected from questionnaires and interviews reveal that the mentors had varied perceptions of tutoring program participants’ motivation, interest, and knowledge of mathematics. Mentors held varied perceptions of urban schools and what teaching mathematics in urban settings entails. Further, mentors reported that their work in the tutoring program had an impact on their strategies and plans for future mathematics teaching.
Phenotypic plasticity and contemporary evolution in introduced populations: evidence from translocated populations of white sands pupfish (Cyrpinodon tularosa)

Contemporary evolution has been shown in a few studies to be an important component of colonization ability, but seldom have researchers considered whether phenotypic plasticity facilitates directional evolution from the invasion event. In the current study, we evaluated body shape divergence of the New Mexico State-threatened White Sands pupfish (Cyprinodon tularosa) that were introduced to brackish, lacustrine habitats at two different time in the recent past (approximately 30 years and 1 year previously) from the same source population (saline river environment). Pupfish body shape is correlated with environmental salinity: fish from saline habitats are characterized by slender body shapes, whereas fish from fresher, yet brackish springs are deep-bodied. In this study, lacustrine populations consisted of an approximately 30-year old population and several 1-year old populations, all introduced from the same source. The body shape divergence of the 30-year old population was significant and greater than any of the divergences of the 1-year old populations (which were for the most part not significant). Nonetheless, all body shape changes exhibited body deepening in less saline environments. We conclude that phenotypic plasticity potentially facilitates directional evolution of body deepening for introduced pupfish populations.
ACUTE ACTION OF CHORIOGONADOTROPIN ON LEYDIG TUMOR CELLS : CHANGES IN THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE MITOCHONDRIAL PERIPHERAL-TYPE BENZODIAZEPINE RECEPTOR

We examined the topography of the MA-10 Leydig tumor cell mitochondrial peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR). In previous studies, the 18 kDa PBR was found to be functionally associated with the voltage-dependent anion channel, located in the junctions between outer and inner membranes. Transmission electron (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) of immunogold labeled PBR on Leydig cell mitochondrial preparations showed that the 18 kDa PBR protein is organized in clusters of 4-6 molecules. Addition of hCG to Leydig cells induces a rapid, within 30 sec, increase in PBR ligand binding and morphological changes, namely redistribution of PBR molecules in large clusters (>7 particles). These hCG-induced changes were inhibited by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor and by the benzodiazepine flunitrazepam. AFM further demonstrated the rapid reorganization of the mitochondrial membrane, where the formation of contacts between the outer and the inner mitochondrial membrane may facilitate cholestero...
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Recent studies suggest that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a pleiotropic cytokine, id responaible for some of the systemic and local effects, including tumor-associated cachexia and neoplastic bone destruction, seen in patients with cancer. This study was undertaken to determine if TNF-α is produced by human squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, and, if so, to determine its source and cellular distribution. Tumor specimens from nine patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region were immunohistochemically examined for the presence of TNF-α. TNF-α was localized with antibody to human TNF-α by the immunoperoxidaae method to the tumor and vessel endothelial cells in all nine specimens
When less is more for patients in laboratory testing.

In the quest to improve quality health care and reduce unnecessary and wasteful costs, pathologists and laboratory professionals must always consider patients first. In the laboratory, diagnostic tests are one of our crucial links to patients. Although the analytic quality of a test is important, there must also be a medical reason to justify why a particular test is being ordered and how the results will contribute to effectively guiding patient management. Why is this test necessary for this patient? Are there equal or better alternatives to consider? In these cases, pathologists and laboratory professionals can step forward and help clinicians become better stewards of medical laboratory resources. That is why the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) joined the Choosing Wisely campaign, initiated by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation, to start physicians, patients, and other health care stakeholders thinking and talking about the appropriate utilization for medical tests and procedures that provide little or no benefit and, in some cases, cause harm to patients. A multiyear initiative, the Choosing Wisely campaign will provide resources for consumers and physicians to engage in these important conversations. That means helping patients choose care that is supported by evidence, not duplicative of other tests …
DC Machine Control with Time Delay and a PID Controller

The feedback control system of a DC machine utilizes communication with time delay. A PID controller is also added to the system. The effects of the tuning of PID controller on the DC machine and associated communication system with time-delay are analyzed.
Reflected electro-material signatures for self-sensing passive RFID sensors

In this paper, we evaluate realizations for implementing an RFID reflected electro-material signature (REMS) sensor. REMS sensors allow passive measurement, recording, and reading of environmental data such as temperature in a small, low cost device. This paper presents results from two configurations: a three-section lossless microstrip transmission line and a monopole probe inserted into a lossy medium. A neural network is used to recover the permittivity profile in either case, based on the reflection coefficient of the wave backscattered from an RF tag. The neural network incorporating the Levenberg Marquardt back-propagation algorithm is evaluated in terms of average error, regression analysis and computational efficiency in the presence of realistic noise. A unique contribution of this paper is the exploration of REMS using a dissipative electro-material medium. In the lossy case, two real-valued neural networks are integrated together to reconstruct the complex permittivity from the measured reflection coefficient. The approach is verified over the frequency range 4.0–5.0 GHz and less than 4% error was observed in presence of white Gaussian noise with 10dB SNR.
Efficient Generation of Multi-perspective Panoramas

In this paper, we present an efficient technique for generating multi-perspective panoramic images of long scenes. The input to our system is a video sequence captured by a moving camera navigating through a long scene, and our goal is to efficiently generate a panoramic summary of the scene. This problem has received considerable attention in recent years, leading to the development of a number of systems capable of generating high-quality panoramas. However, a significant limitation of current systems is their computational complexity: most current techniques employ computationally expensive algorithms (such as structure-from-motion and dense stereo), or require some degree of manual interaction. In turn, this limits the scalability of the algorithms as well as their ease of implementation. In contrast, the technique we present is simple, efficient, easy to implement, and produces results of comparable quality to state of the art techniques, while doing so at a fraction of the computational cost. Our system operates entirely in the 2D image domain, performing robust image alignment and optical flow based mosaicing, in lieu of more expensive 3D pose/structure computation. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our system on a number of challenging image sequences.
Hazelden's model of treatment and its outcome

Although the Minnesota Model of treatment for alcohol and drug addiction is a common treatment approach, there are few published reports of its effectiveness. This study describes the Minnesota Model treatment approach as practiced at Hazelden, a private residential alcohol and drug abuse treatment center located in Center City, Minnesota (a founding program of the Minnesota Model) and presents recent outcome results from this program. This study includes 1,083 male and female clients admitted to Hazelden for treatment of a psychoactive substance-use disorder between 1989 and 1991. The outcome study is a one group pretest/posttest design. Data collection occurred at admission to treatment and at 1-month, 6-month, and 12-month posttreatment. At 1-year follow-up, 53% reported that they remained abstinent during the year following treatment and an additional 35% had reduced their alcohol and drug use. These results are similar to those reported by other private treatment programs. The Minnesota Model has consistently yielded satisfactory outcome results, and future research needs to focus on the therapeutic process of this common treatment approach.
A fluorescence lifetime imaging classification method to investigate the collagen to lipid ratio in fibrous caps of atherosclerotic plaque.

Background and Objective This study describes a novel fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) classification method to determine the ratio of collagen to lipid content in the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaques. Additionally, an analytical process to assess risk of plaque rupture based on this ratio is proposed. Collagen to lipid ratio has been shown to be an important parameter to evaluate structural integrity of the fibrous cap. FLIM and other time-resolved fluorescence techniques have recently been applied to the study of atherosclerosis based on the ability to assess biochemical composition. Study Design/Materials and Methods Autofluorescence of specimens retrieved during carotid endarterectomy procedures was measured through three optical filters, F377: 377/50 nm, F460: 460/66 nm, and F510: 510/84 nm (center wavelength/bandwidth). A Laguerre deconvolution technique was used for the evaluation of fluorescence decay dynamics. The resulting decay parameters (average fluorescence lifetime and 4 Laguerre coefficients at each of the recorded bandwidths) were used for sample characterization. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to classify each image into collagen or lipid-rich regions based on these parameters. Ultimately, a risk-level was assigned based on the ratio of collagen to lipid on the surface of the fibrous cap. Results FLIM images were acquired in 18 carotid plaque specimens at 43 locations. Classification of collagen and lipid-rich regions within the fibrous cap was performed with sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 82%, respectively. Conclusions Results from this study show that an LDA method of classifying regions of FLIM images of carotid plaque into collagen and lipid-rich regions is capable of being automated and used to rate the risk of plaque rupture based on autofluorescence decay dynamics and without the need for fluorescence intensity or contrast agents. Lasers Surg. Med. 44: 564–571, 2012. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An incidence-matrix-driven panel system for the IBM PC

A set of programs called TRYLON is discussed which permits the application developer to design and create a set of intelligent full-screen panels. These panels serve as a user interface for application programs. The panels and the linkages between them are uncoupled from the application code, thereby reducing programming effort and development time. An incidence matrix is used to describe the graph of a network composed of the panels. Because the paths among the panels are specified by entries in the incidence matrix at panel creation time, there is no need to program the logical constructs for the network.
Properties of reactively blended soy protein and modified polyesters

The compatibilizing effect of anhydride groups attached to a polyester was examined while blending soy protein and a biodegradable polyester. Three different polyesters grafted with anhydride functional groups were used as compatibilizers for blending with soy protein concentrate, soy flour, and soy isolate. The processing conditions for these blends in a twin screw extruder and injection-molding machine were evaluated and the physical and mechanical properties of these blends were determined. The concentrations of soy protein and compatibilizer were varied to achieve optimum mechanical properties, exploring the various limits of operating conditions. The dynamic mechanical properties were determined using a rheometric mechanical spectrometer (RMS-800). The enthalpy of fusion was determined using a differential scanning calorimeter. Blends containing compatibilizer gave enhanced tensile strength when compared to blends without compatibilizer. The morphology of these blends was investigated with the help of an optical microscope and X-ray diffraction was used for crystallinity studies. Water and oil absorption by these blends were determined for a period of 25 days. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry
Hearing aids: fixed microphone arrays with frequency equalization based on a sliding DFT

Fixed microphone arrays have the ability of spatial filtering in order to cancel any distributed interference. Noise sensitivity constrained by an optimal broadband beamforming provides for more tolerance to uncorrelated noise such as microphone sensor interior noise and environmental competing speech. However, the non-uniform performance of broadband beamforming in the frequency domain, may lead to speech deformation. This paper proposes a frequency equalization method implemented by a sliding DFT array that can be conveniently combined with beamforming.
Design optimization of permanent magnet DC motors

A mathematical model suitable for the design optimization of permanent magnetic (PM) DC motors is presented. The model, which combines the motor electric, magnetic, and physical quantities, takes the armature reaction effects, brush drop characteristics, and magnetic saturation of the iron parts into account. A method for transformation of variables which makes the model applicable to a wide range of motor ratings is presented. The model is utilized in a computer program which systematically determines the optimum design parameters of the motor. The author describes the optimization techniques used and the logical structure of the computer program. A numerical example demonstrating the effectiveness of the program is also given. >