cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TU-F-BRF-06: 3D Pancreas MRI Segmentation Using Dictionary Learning and Manifold Clustering

Purpose: The recent advent of MRI guided radiotherapy machines has lent an exciting platform for soft tissue target localization during treatment. However, tools to efficiently utilize MRI images for such purpose have not been developed. Specifically, to efficiently quantify the organ motion, we develop an automated segmentation method using dictionary learning and manifold clustering (DLMC). Methods: Fast 3D HASTE and VIBE MR images of 2 healthy volunteers and 3 patients were acquired. A bounding box was defined to include pancreas and surrounding normal organs including the liver, duodenum and stomach. The first slice of the MRI was used for dictionary learning based on mean-shift clustering and K-SVD sparse representation. Subsequent images were iteratively reconstructed until the error is less than a preset threshold. The preliminarily segmentation was subject to the constraints of manifold clustering. The segmentation results were compared with the mean shift merging (MSM), level set (LS) and manual segmentation methods. Results: DLMC resulted in consistently higher accuracy and robustness than comparing methods. Using manual contours as the ground truth, the mean Dices indices for all subjects are 0.54, 0.56 and 0.67 for MSM, LS and DLMC, respectively based on the HASTE image. The mean Dices indices are 0.70,more » 0.77 and 0.79 for the three methods based on VIBE images. DLMC is clearly more robust on the patients with the diseased pancreas while LS and MSM tend to over-segment the pancreas. DLMC also achieved higher sensitivity (0.80) and specificity (0.99) combining both imaging techniques. LS achieved equivalent sensitivity on VIBE images but was more computationally inefficient. Conclusion: We showed that pancreas and surrounding normal organs can be reliably segmented based on fast MRI using DLMC. This method will facilitate both planning volume definition and imaging guidance during treatment.« less
Pale, poor, and 'pretubercular' children: a history of pediatric antituberculosis efforts in France, Germany, and the United States, 1899-1929.

An international consensus emerged in the years between 1900 and 1910 regarding the need to refocus antituberculosis efforts away from treating tuberculosis in adults and toward preventing active disease in children. This paper uses social history as a framework to explore pediatric health experiments in France (foster placement of city children with rural farm families), Germany (open-air schools), and the United States (preventorium) for children considered ‘pretubercular’. The scientific, social, and political variables that reshaped prevailing ideas and practice with regard to TB prevention during those years are described. The creation of the first preventorium in the United States is explained and the way in which French and German pediatric prevention strategies were adapted to address a specific population considered at high risk in the United States, indigent immigrants, is detailed. For each of these three nations, nurses were central actors. Their efforts provide a unique vantage point to study the cultural dimensions of risk and prevention embedded in nursing care and the interplay between science, culture, nurses, and the state.
IODINATION OF BACTERIA: A BACTERICIDAL MECHANISM

Myeloperoxidase, iodide, and H2O2 have a bactericidal effect on Escherichia coli. Myeloperoxidase can be replaced in this system by lactoperoxidase or by a guinea pig leukocyte particulate preparation, H2O2 by an H2O2-generating system such as glucose and glucose oxidase, and iodide by thyroxine or triiodothyronine. The bactericidal effect was high at pH 5.0 and fell as the pH was increased. Preincubation of myeloperoxidase, iodide, and H2O2 for 30 min before the addition of the bacteria largely prevented the bactericidal effect. Thus, the organisms must be present in the reaction mixture during iodide oxidation for maximum killing, which suggests the involvement of labile intermediates of iodide oxidation rather than the more stable end products of oxidation such as iodine. Iodination of the bacteria by the myeloperoxidase-iodide-H2O2 system was demonstrated chemically and radioautographically. Iodination and the bactericidal effect were similarly affected by changes in experimental conditions in all the parameters tested (effect of preincubation, pH, and inhibitors). Phagocytosis of bacteria by guinea pig leukocytes was associated with the conversion of iodide to a trichloroacetic acid-precipitable form. Iodide was localized radioautographically in the cytoplasm of human leukocytes which contained ingested bacteria. Iodide fixation was not observed in the absence of phagocytosis or in the presence of Tapazole.
National Toxicology Program Studies: Principles of Dose Selection and Applications to Mechanistic Based Risk Assessment

A workshop entitled "NTP Studies: Principles of Dose Selection and Applications to Mechanistic Based Risk Assessment" was held at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology in Baltimore, Maryland. The purpose of the workshop was to provide an overview of factors currently considered important in the selection of doses for NTP studies, to describe some of the confounding factors that can result from the indiscriminate use of bioassay data in quantitative risk assessment, and to suggest ways in which information from mechanistic studies or studies of biomarkers of exposure or effect might be used to better advantage in risk assessment.
An object boundary detection system based on a 3D stereo monitor

In this paper we present an object boundary detection system using an off-the-shelf available 3D stereo monitor. Instead of implementing algorithms, the system’s image processing is based on utilizing the polarization feature of liquid-crystal display and the way the image is displayed on the 3D monitor to enhance object boundary. The users can view the enhanced object contour through a polarization glasses in real-time, which can be also recorded using a camera for further processing. A software is developed for user interaction and providing feedback to obtain the best detection results. The effectiveness of the proposed system is demonstrated using some medical and biological images. The proposed system has the advantages of real-time high speed processing, almost no numerical computation, and robustness to noise over the traditional methods using image processing algorithms.
Biotemplated Palladium Catalysts Can Be Stabilized on Different Support Materials

The authors would like to acknowledge John Cantolina in the Huck Institutes of Life Sciences for his assistance with the SEM. This research was supported by an award KUS-I1-003-13 from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and by an award DGE-1255832 to M.D.Y. by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Student Fellowship Program.
Differences in G-protein activation by μ-and δ-opioid, and cannabinoid, receptors in rat striatum

Receptor activation of G-proteins can be measured by agonist-stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding in the presence of excess guanosine diphosphate (GDP). To determine whether opioid and cannabinoid receptor-mediated G-protein activation correlate with their receptor densities, this study compared opioid- and cannabinoid-stimulated [35S]guanylyl-5'-O-(gamma-thio)-triphosphate (GTP gamma S) binding with the corresponding Bmax values of receptor binding in rat striatum. Scatchard analysis revealed that the Bmax of cannabinoid receptor binding was approximately ten times higher than that of mu- or delta-opioid receptor binding. However, comparable levels of cannabinoid- and mu- and delta-opioid-stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding were observed in the caudate-putamen by [35S]GTP gamma S autoradiography in brain sections. Scatchard analysis of net agonist-stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding in membranes showed that the Bmax of cannabinoid-stimulated binding was only twice that of mu- or delta-opioid-stimulated binding. Thus, the calculated amplification factors for mu- and delta-opioid receptors are seven times that of cannabinoid receptors.
Central venous stenosis is more often symptomatic in hemodialysis patients with grafts compared with fistulas.

Abstract Purpose To determine whether hemodialysis patients with central venous stenosis (CVS) are more frequently symptomatic if they have grafts versus fistulas. Materials and Methods A retrospective review was performed of 500 consecutive discrete patients, half with fistulas and half with grafts, who had fistulograms performed over a 4-year period. All fistulograms were evaluated for CVS, which was graded into quartiles. The presence of collaterals was noted and graded. Patient records were analyzed for symptoms of CVS, including face, neck, breast, or limb swelling. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the association between access type, degree of stenosis, location of stenosis, and symptoms. Results Of 500 fistulograms, 31 were excluded because of inadequate or absent central imaging. Of the remaining 469 patients, 235 had fistulas and 234 had grafts. CVS was present in 51% of patients with fistulas (119 of 237) and 51% of patients with grafts (118 of 237). When CVS was present, 29% (35 of 119) of patients with fistulas were symptomatic versus 52% (62 of 118) of patients with grafts ( P = .0005). Overall, only 15% of patients with fistulas in the entire cohort were symptomatic compared with 27% of patients with grafts ( P = .002). Sex, access side, and transposition did not influence symptoms; however, patients with upper arm access were more likely than patients with forearm access to be symptomatic ( P Conclusions CVS is more likely to be symptomatic in patients with grafts versus fistulas, and patients with upper arm access are more likely than patients with forearm access to be symptomatic.
Protein Conformation Ensembles Monitored by HDX Reveal a Structural Rationale for Abscisic Acid Signaling Protein Affinities and Activities

Summary Plants regulate growth and respond to environmental stress through abscisic acid (ABA) regulated pathways, and as such these pathways are of primary interest for biological and agricultural research. The ABA response is first perceived by the PYR/PYL/RCAR class of START protein receptors. These ABA activated receptors disrupt phosphatase inhibition of Snf1-related kinases (SnRKs), enabling kinase signaling. Here, insights into the structural mechanism of proteins in the ABA signaling pathway (the ABA receptor PYL2, HAB1 phosphatase, and two kinases, SnRK2.3 and 2.6) are discerned through hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry. HDX on the phosphatase in the presence of binding partners provides evidence for receptor-specific conformations involving the Trp385 "lock" that is necessary for signaling. Furthermore, kinase activity is linked to a more stable "closed" conformation. These solution-based studies complement the static crystal structures and provide a more detailed understanding of the ABA signaling pathway.
Animal Fat in Combination with Various Other Ingredients in Broiler Rations

Abstract THE use of detergents in the place of soap has caused a surplus of animal fat to accumulate. Kraybill (1953) reported that this surplus amounted to approximately one billion pounds at the end of 1953, and he quoted R. H. Ewell of the Stanford Research Institute as predicting an annual surplus of 1.1 billion pounds by 1957. This surplus fat should be a satisfactory ingredient in formula feeds, but only a limited number of feeding experiments have been reported which demonstrate the actual value of the particular types of fat available for use at the present time. Siedler and Schweigert (1952) fed 2, 4 and 8 percent levels of stabilized choice white grease to New Hampshire and White Rock chicks in separate battery feeding trials to 9 weeks of age. None of the levels of grease fed affected body weight, but feed efficiency was improved in all instances. The improvement …
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy without Local Anesthesia for Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis

Background: The use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis is controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy without local anesthesia to treat chronic lateral epicondylitis. Methods: One hundred and fourteen patients with a minimum six-month history of lateral epicondylitis that was unresponsive to conventional therapy were randomized into double-blind active treatment and placebo groups. The protocol consisted of three weekly treatments of either low-dose shock wave therapy without anesthetic or a sham treatment. Patients had a physical examination, including provocation testing and dynamometry, at one, four, eight, and twelve weeks and at six and twelve months after treatment. Radiographs, laboratory studies, and electrocardiograms were also evaluated prior to participation and at twelve weeks. A visual analog scale was used to evaluate pain, and an upper extremity functional scale was used to assess function. Crossover to active treatment was initiated for nonresponsive patients who had received the placebo and met the inclusion criteria after twelve weeks. Results: A total of 108 of the 114 randomized patients completed all treatments and the twelve weeks of follow-up required by the protocol. Sixty-one patients completed one year of follow-up, whereas thirty-four patients crossed over to receive active treatment. A significant difference (p = 0.001) in pain reduction was observed at twelve weeks in the intent-to-treat cohort, with an improvement in the pain score of at least 50% seen in 61% (thirty-four) of the fifty-six patients in the active treatment group who were treated according to protocol compared with 29% (seventeen) of the fifty-eight subjects in the placebo group. This improvement persisted in those followed to one year. Functional activity scores, activity-specific evaluation, and the overall impression of the disease state all showed significant improvement as well (p < 0.05). Crossover patients also showed significant improvement after twelve weeks of active treatment, with 56% (nineteen of thirty-four) achieving an improvement in the pain score of at least 50% (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that low-dose shock wave therapy without anesthetic is a safe and effective treatment for chronic lateral epicondylitis. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
PC/FRAM plutonium isotopic analysis of CdTe gamma-ray spectra

This paper reports the results of isotopics measurements of plutonium with the new CdTe gamma-ray spectrometer. These are the first wide-range plutonium gamma-ray isotopics analysis results obtained with other than germanium spectrometers. The CdTe spectrometer measured small plutonium reference samples in reasonable count times, covering the range from low to high burnup. The complete experimental hardware included the new, commercial, portable CdTe detector and two commercial portable multichannel analyzers. Version 4 of FRAM is the software that performed the isotopics analysis.
A statistical estimate of variation encountered in studying dispersion of radioactive phosphorus in embryonated chicken eggs.

Summary The magnitude of variation shown by the radiochemical method depends largely on the biological variation among chicken embryos and to a lesser extent on the fractionation procedures. Despite all variables, the specific activity ratios are reasonably constant and constitute a dependable expression of certain aspects of the phosphorus metabolism of the chick embryo.
Comparing Twentieth- and Twenty-First-Century Patterns of Interannual Precipitation Variability over the Western United States and Northern Mexico*

AbstractThe ability of coupled climate models to simulate the patterns of interannual precipitation variability over the western half of the United States and northern Mexico is investigated by applying principal component analysis to observations and model output. Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) observations are compared to the pooled twentieth-century warm- and cold-season precipitation averages simulated by five coupled global climate models included in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report. The pooled model spatial structures (EOFs) closely match those of the GPCC observations for both halves of the year. Additionally, the twenty-first-century model pooled EOFs are almost identical in spatial extent and amplitude to their twentieth-century counterparts. Thus, the spatial characteristics of large-scale precipitation variability in the western United States are not projected to change in the twenty-first century. When global observed and modeled seasonally...
Physiological identification and infralimbic responsiveness of rat intercalated amygdala neurons

Intercalated (ITC) amygdala neurons are thought to play a critical role in the extinction of conditioned fear. However, several factors hinder progress in studying ITC contributions to extinction. First, although extinction is usually studied in rats and mice, most ITC investigations were performed in guinea pigs or cats. Thus it is unclear whether their connectivity is similar across species. Second, we lack criteria to identify ITC cells on the basis of their discharge pattern. As a result, key predictions of ITC extinction models remain untested. Among these, ITC cells were predicted to be strongly excited by infralimbic inputs, explaining why infralimbic inhibition interferes with extinction. To study the connectivity of ITC cells, we labeled them with neurobiotin during patch recordings in slices of the rat amygdala. This revealed that medially located ITC cells project topographically to the central nucleus and to other ITC clusters located more ventrally. To study the infralimbic responsiveness of ITC cells, we performed juxtacellular recording and labeling of amygdala cells with neurobiotin in anesthetized rats. All ITC cells were orthodromically responsive to infralimbic stimuli, and their responses usually consisted of high-frequency (~350 Hz) trains of four to six spikes, a response pattern never seen in neighboring amygdala nuclei. Overall, our results suggest that the connectivity of ITC cells is conserved across species and that ITC cells are strongly responsive to infralimbic stimuli, as predicted by extinction models. The unique response pattern of ITC cells to infralimbic stimuli can now be used to identify them in fear conditioning experiments.
Beta endorphin levels in CSF during methadone maintenance

Recent studies have shown that plasma beta endorphin levels of patients on methadone maintenance are comparable to controls. Furthermore, CSF levels of related peptides in methadone patients also do not differ from controls, although CSF levels of beta endorphin have not been specifically measured. In the current study we compared both CSF and plasma levels of beta endorphin in 11 patients on methadone maintenance for at least 10 months to levels in 13 controls getting spinal anesthesia for surgery. The CSF beta endorphin levels of the methadone maintained patients were significantly higher than the controls (52.3 vs 21.7 pg/ml), while plasma levels of beta endorphin (29.6 vs 31.1 pg/ml) and cortisol (13.8 vs 12.6 micro g/dl) [corrected] did not differ. Covarying for age differences between the samples, slightly increased the magnitude of this difference in CSF beta endorphin levels. Plasma levels of beta endorphin did not correlate with CSF levels, but did correlate with plasma levels of cortisol (r = 0.51, P less than 0.02). These findings supported previous studies of plasma beta endorphin levels. However, the dissociation of beta endorphin levels in plasma and CSF within this patient population was a new finding.
EFL logic family for LSI

A highly-efficient LSI logic family combining the advantages of multi-emitter structures with the performance of ECL logic will be discussed. Simplified gate structure has been found to reduce propagation delay, power and number of logic levels required for logic function realization. Conventional processing affords 2-5 pJ performance.
New derivation reduces bias and increases power of Ripley’s L index

The development of distance-dependent growth and survival models depends on an understanding of the spatial distribution of the population in question. Ripley’s L index (LR) has found wide application for examining the spatial dispersion of plants. LR is calculated as the square root of a weighted sum of the number of observed plant pairs that are less than a certain distance apart. The weighting used by LR inflates the pair count sum to compensate for reduced pair counts for plants near the plot boundary. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the variance in the observed number of tree pairs is not stabilized by the square root transformation at low expected counts. The non-linearity of the square root transformation introduces a consistent bias in both the first and second moments of the tree pair distribution. We present a derived estimator for Ripley’s analytical L index (LA) that provides a more accurate estimate of variance and mean. This new approach, based on a true Poisson variate, includes a modification of the previous edge correction method that incorporates a global estimate of mean pair density, rather than local values. This reduces variance caused by stochastic placement of point pairs near the boundary. Monte Carlo simulations verified the predictions of this model over a wide range of population sizes (25–1400). Simulation results showed that the LR numerical estimate of the confidence limit was overly conservative by nearly a factor of two. The improved power and accuracy provided by LA suggest that it would be fruitful to reexamine population spatial dispersion data in the literature using the analytical estimator (LA). As an illustration, the power and accuracy of LR and LA to detect non-random spatial dispersions is compared using generated populations and six stands of mapped trees in Connecticut.
The ellipsis of prognosis in modern medical thought

Abstract Contemporary textbooks of internal medicine give scant attention to the prognosis of diseases. Has this always been the case? If not, when and why did prognosis come to be de-emphasized? Using a highly regarded, standard medical textbook initially authored by William Osler, The Principles and Practice of Medicine , I performed qualitative and quantitative content analysis of entries regarding lobar pneumonia in selected editions published between 1892 and 1988, with special attention to the period between 1892 and 1947. I chose lobar pneumonia because it was a leading cause of death throughout this period and because it is recognizable across time, thus making it possible to follow the evolution in clinical thinking about prognosis while holding constant the diagnosis. I argue that two powerful forces converged to lead to the ellipsis of prognosis: (1) the emergence of effective therapy, and (2) a fundamental change in the cognitive basis of medicine. With respect to the former, I show that there is a complementary, inverse relationship between the clinical acts of prognostication and therapy; as one increases in salience in the management of a disease, the other decreases. With respect to the latter, I argue that the particular clinical facts deemed to be important about a patient's case have shifted over time, and I explore changes in the clinical and cognitive foundations of physicians' estimation of patients' prognoses—in particular, “symptoms” and “complications.” I conclude that, concurrent with a shift in clinical thought from an individual-based to a diagnosis-based conceptualization of disease, prognosis came to be seen as intrinsic to diagnosis and therapy, and explicit attention to prognosis consequently diminished.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency due to Chlorofluorocarbon: A Case Report

Background. Vitamin B12 is vital for optimal functioning of various organ systems but more importantly the central nervous system and the hematological system. Deficiency of vitamin B12 clinically manifests as excessive daytime fatigue, memory difficulties, encephalopathy, myelopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and optic neuropathy. In occupational medicine, vitamin B12 deficiency has been reported with exposure to nitrous oxide in health care workers. However, not much is known about exposure to Freons in other industries and vitamin B12 deficiency. Aim. We are reporting a case of vitamin B12 deficiency in the setting of exposure to chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases. Case Report. A 55-year-old male refrigerator mechanic experienced recurrent visual symptoms, which included diplopia and blurring. A complete workup was done and was significant of vitamin B12 deficiency. However, his B12 levels were refractory to supplementation. Appropriate precautions at workplace improved patient's symptoms and were associated with significant improvement in B12 levels. Conclusion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of vitamin B12 deficiency (that remains refractory to supplementation) in the setting of exposure to Freon gases.
Focus on Processing Problems in Jet Engines

An effective cost improvement program should be an integral part of the product and profit planning activity. The ideal product design configuration incorporates the functional requirements in a manner that will allow minimum manufacturing cost. Close integration of both the customer requirements and minimum manufacturing cost requirements develops a much desired philosophy of low cost design, necessary for the operation of a competitive business. This paper provides a brief summary of the product, functional requirements, design/cost philosophy, cost improvement facets, and examples of results of this concept in the General Electric jet engine business.Copyright © 1969 by ASME
Displaying Neutrality in Television News Interviews

This paper examines the nature and practice of journalistic neutrality in television news interviews. The aim is to describe the underlying speaking practices through which neutrality is regularly conveyed by news interviewers in interaction with their guests. Data are drawn from a variety of U.S. news interview programs, emphasizing Nightline and The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. Three procedures are analyzed: 1) embedding statements within questions, 2) attributing statements to third parties, and 3) mitigating. While interviewers use these procedures routinely, they also invoke the first two in specifically hostile environments, suggesting that they serve a significant defensive function. Throughout this analysis, attention is also directed to the actions of interviewees to determine how they may preserve or undermine the interviewer's neutral stance. I conclude that neutrality is not inherent in interviewers or their actions considered in isolation, for the visibility of this “trait” is a collaborative achievement in which interviewees play a significant role.
Ecological Role of Lactobacilli in the Gastrointestinal Tract: Implications for Fundamental and Biomedical Research

Bacteria belonging to the genus Lactobacillus are members of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB), a broadly defined group characterized by the formation of lactic acid as the sole or main end product of carbohydrate metabolism. They can be found in plants or material of plant origin, silage, fermented food (yogurt, cheese, olives, pickles, salami, etc.), as well as in the oral cavities, gastrointestinal tracts (GIT), and vaginas of humans and animals (31). In particular, the Lactobacillus species found in the GIT have received tremendous attention due to their health-promoting properties. They are commonly used as probiotics, which are defined by the FAO/WHO as live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. The economic success and exciting prospects of probiotic products have accelerated research on intestinal lactobacilli. Genomics of Lactobacillus species is booming, and the genomes of five strains that belong to species commonly found in human fecal samples have recently been sequenced (50). Several comparative and functional genomic investigations have been conducted to gain information about the functionality of lactobacilli in the GIT (69). Unfortunately, a major misconception regarding the ecological role of lactobacilli in the intestinal tract has been embraced by many scientists working in the field. Specifically, there has been a general and persistent assumption that a large number of Lactobacillus species form stable and numerically significant populations in the human intestinal tract, especially in the small intestine, where they are presumed to form epithelial associations (101). Considering how widespread and accepted this perception is, there is surprisingly little experimental evidence that supports it. Ecological observations for the prevalence and dynamics of fecal Lactobacillus populations and the findings obtained with comparative genomics do indicate now that the ecological role of most types of intestinal lactobacilli, and their relationship with the human host, should be reconsidered. In this review, evidence is summarized that suggests that only a small number of Lactobacillus species are true inhabitants of the mammalian intestinal tract and that most lactobacilli present are allochthonous members derived from fermented food, the oral cavity, or more proximal parts of the GIT. It is further explained why this knowledge provides information valuable for selecting strains for fundamental research of the ecological role of lactobacilli in the GIT, for their use as probiotics in foods and supplements, and for pharmaceutical applications.
Sixth US/Russian Space Surveillance Workshop

Since 1994 US and Russian space surveillance experts have held six space surveillance workshops. The 1994, 1998 and 2000 workshops were held at the US Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, the 1996 workshop was held in Poznan, Poland (in conjunction with the IAU Dynamics and Astrometry of Natural and Artificial Celestial Bodies Colloquium) and the 2003 and 2005 workshops were held at the Pulkovo Observatory in St. Petersburg, Russia. The intent of the workshops has been to further communication between the US and Russian space surveillance communities and to mutually learn from the knowledge, methods, and experience of the other. It is recognized that the two countries are trying to solve the same problems and the truth is unique. There has been significant overlap in the people participating in the workshops, which has contributed to the development of a friendly and cooperative atmosphere at the workshops. One result of these workshops has been joint research projects. Two papers resulting from the joint research program have been selected as Best Conference Papers and a team of the organizers of the workshops and joint research program received the 2005 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) International Scientific Cooperation Award. Several quality papers by Russian authors describing the algorithms used in Russia for maintaining the Russian space object catalog have been published in the AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics.
Architectural support for protecting user privacy on trusted processors

Recently proposed trusted processor model is a promising model for building secure applications. While effective designs have been proposed for protecting data confidentiality and data integrity in such environments, an important security criterion -- user privacy is usually neglected in current designs. Due to the increasing concern of privacy protection in the Internet era, such deficiency can hinder the adoption of the new model.In this paper, we identify the threat model to user privacy and propose a new scheme for user privacy protection. In addition to providing the same ability in protecting data confidentiality and data integrity, the new scheme effectively protects user privacy and only introduces very low overhead.
What Have We Not Learned about Teaching Programming

We need to look seriously at how we teach programming. The purpose of an education should not simply be to pour facts into students, but rather to teach them to think. The topics we need to teach more effectively include correctness concerns; the program development process, not only simplifying but also not "complifying" in the first place; how notation can help or hinder; problem solving; and how to find bugs
Tuning a Polar Molecule for Selective Cytoplasmic Delivery by a pH (Low) Insertion Peptide

Drug molecules are typically hydrophobic and small in order to traverse membranes to reach cytoplasmic targets, but we have discovered that more polar molecules can be delivered across membranes using water-soluble, moder- ately hydrophobic membrane peptides of the pHLIP (pH low insertion peptide) family. Delivery of polar cargo molecules could expand the chemical landscape for pharmacological agents that have useful activity but are too polar by normal drug criteria. The spontaneous insertion and folding of the pHLIP peptide across a lipid bilayer seeks a free energy minimum, and insertion is accompanied by a release of energy that can be used to translocate cell-impermeable cargo molecules. In this study, we report our first attempt to tune the hydrophobicity of a polar cargo, phallacidin, in a systematic manner. We present the design, synthesis, and characterization of three phallacidin cargoes, where the hydrophobicity of the cargo was tuned by the attachment of diamines of various lengths of hydrophobic chains. The phallacidin cargoes were conjugated to pHLIP and shown to selectively inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner at low pH.
Additive pulse mode locking

A new principle of mode locking is analyzed: additive pulse mode locking. It is shown to be operative in two-cavity soliton lasers, but it also permits mode locking with fibers in the positive dispersion regime. A simple model is developed that displays the pulse-shortening mechanism. Parameter ranges, within which this principle can be exploited, are given. Comparisons with experiments are made.
Effect of Estradiol on Calcium and Calcium Binding in Serum of Thick and Thin-Shell Lines of Chickens

Abstract Estradiol (10 mg/bird) was injected intramuscularly into hens of a thick-shell line and a thin-shell line as well as into roosters of both lines on day 0. Serum levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and Ca binding involving the proteins vitellogenin (a phosphoprotein) and albumin were measured on day 0 and day 6 or 7. Serum levels of all measured Ca and P parameters and vitellogenin binding of both sexes were significantly greater, while levels of albumin binding were significantly less on day 6 or 7 than on day 0. Serum levels of non-diffusible Ca in hens and vitellogenin binding in both sexes were significantly greater in the thick-shell than in the thin-shell line. There were no significant differences between lines for total serum P of either sex. A study of the hens only revealed that the change in nondiffusible Ca and vitellogenin binding from day 0 to day 6 or 7 was significantly greater for the thick than for the thin-shell line but percent change was not significantly different between lines. The correlations between vitellogenin binding and total P, expressed as either change or percent change, were greater than .8.
Declining-dose Study of Reteplase Treatment for Lower Extremity Arterial Occlusions

PURPOSE To prospectively determine the technical success and complication rates of three different reteplase dosing regimens during catheter-directed arterial thrombolysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Prospective data were obtained from three groups of patients who underwent lower extremity arterial thrombolysis with three different regimens of reteplase: 0.5 U/h, 0.25 U/h, and 0.125 U/h. A total of 101 thrombosed lower extremity arterial occlusions in 87 patients were treated. A subtherapeutic intravenous heparin dose of 400–500 U/h was administered. All limbs were viable at presentation. Thrombolytic success was defined as 95% thrombolysis of the occluded artery or graft with restored distal antegrade flow. Thirty-day mortality and amputation rates were calculated. Bleeding complications and need for transfusions were recorded. Laboratory values recorded included fibrinogen level, platelet count, hematocrit level, hemoglobin level, and prothrombin time. RESULTS Thrombolytic success was achieved in 86.7% of patients in the 0.5-U/h dose group, 83.8% of patients in the 0.25-U/h dose group, and 85.3% of patients in the 0.125-U/h dose group. The major bleeding and transfusion rates were 13.3% in the 0.5-U/h dose group, 5.4% in the 0.25-U/h dose group, and 2.9% in the 0.125-U/h dose group. The 30-day amputation-free survival rates were 90% in the 0.5-U/h dose group, 97.3% in the 0.25-U/h dose group, and 94.1% in the 0.125-U/h dose group. Pre- and postprocedural fibrinogen levels and the fibrinogen nadir were not statistically different between the groups. No differences in total infusion times were found between the 0.5-U/h dose and 0.25-U/h dose groups. However, the infusion time in the 0.125-U/h dose group was significantly longer than in the other two groups (42 h vs 30 h; P CONCLUSION All dosing regimens were equally effective in the treatment of acute lower extremity occlusions. The infusion times were longer with the 0.125-U/h dose. Significantly fewer major bleeding complications were encountered with the 0.25-U/h and 0.125-U/h dose regimens than with the 0.5-U/h dose regimen.
An Assessment of Technologies for In-Home Entertainment

Technological advancements are constant. When newer technologies such as UWB, WiMAX and LTE were introduced there was great anticipation that these technologies would fulfill the need for greater reach at higher data rates. Compared to Wi-Fi rates these three technologies offered much higher data rates. However, some of the applications essential for wireless home entertainment require video transmission with low latency. This new demand on technology is easily met by wired systems. The focus is on providing the same experience by wireless means through interconnection of several of the existing devices such as laptop, TV and cell phone. The newer technologies that are emerging for high speed wireless video delivery are WiHD, WHDI and WiDi. In this paper we will analyze where the technology stands today with respect to these three technologies as well as UWB, WiMAX and LTE.
Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in a pregnant patient

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is a rare occurrence during pregnancy with only five cases described in the literature since 1900. Even in the general population, the frequency of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is extremely low and the etiology unclear. Several theories exist for the cause of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma, however, none has gained uniform acceptance. A case of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma during pregnancy in a 27-year-old, gravida 2, para 1, female at term with 36 hours duration of both paresthesia and progressive weakness of the lower extremities is presented. In addition, all previous known cases are summarized, including outcome. We hypothesize that the cause of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is multifactorial, and pregnancy-induced structural changes in arterial walls and hemodynamic changes may play a role. In addition, we postulate that the origin of the bleeding is arterial, rather then venous. Lastly, the symptoms, diagnosis, and management of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma during pregnancy are discussed.
Comparative analysis of the alphavirus-based vectors expressing Rift Valley fever virus glycoproteins

During the last decade, alphaviruses became widely used for expression of heterologous genetic information and development of recombinant vaccines against a variety of human and animal pathogens. In this study, we compared a number of vectors based on the genome of Sindbis (SINV) and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEEV) viruses for their ability to express the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) envelope glycoprotein Gn and induce a protective immune response against RVFV infection. Our results suggest that (i) application of VEEV-based expression systems appears to be advantageous, when compared to similar systems designed on the basis of the SINV genome. (ii) Alphavirus-specific E3 and E2 proteins and furin-specific cleavage sites can be used for engineering secreted forms of the proteins. (iii) Alphaviruses can be modified for expression of the large fragments of heterologous proteins on the surface of chimeric, infectious viral particles. Thus, alphavirus-based expression systems may have the potential for a broader application beyond their current use as replicons or double-subgenomic vectors.
Does foot placement affect the reliability of static foot posture measurements

Background: Previous studies have reported conflicting results on whether different foot placements in standing can affect static measurements of foot posture. We sought to determine whether three measurements of static foot posture could be consistently measured in three different foot placements while standing. Methods: Twenty individuals, 12 women and eight men, with a mean age of 24.8 years consented to participate. Two raters assessed the dorsal arch height, midfoot width, and heel width of each foot while the participant stood in the following three foot placements: a standardized placement, a participant-determined placement after marching in place, and a rater-determined foot placement based on observation of the participant’s angle of gait and base of support while walking. Results: All three measurements of static foot posture were shown to have high levels of intrarater and interrater reliability. Significant differences in the measurements of dorsal arch height, midfoot width, and heel width were found among all three of the foot placements. There were no differences between the two raters for any of the three measurements of foot posture. Conclusions: Based on these findings, we recommend that clinicians perform measurements of static foot posture using the same standing foot placement between sessions to ensure a high level of measurement consistency. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 104(1): 34-42, 2014) The clinical assessment of foot posture is frequently used to categorize an individual’s foot type and to guide the selection of appropriate interventions, including footwear and foot orthoses. One of the most common methods described in the literature for the categorization of an individual’s foot type is classification of the vertical height of the medial longitudinal arch. Previous researchers have attempted to classify the vertical height of the medial
Thermal Circuit for SOI MOSFET Structure Accounting for Nonisothermal Effects

An accurate thermal circuit model for 2-D silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MOSFETs is presented to account for nonisothermal effects. The circuit model is modified from an approach developed earlier for the temperature distribution in 2-D SOI MOSFETs. A generalized approach to establishing a nonisothermal circuit and its circuit elements is presented for different SOI structures, such as multidevices on a single island and multifinger structure. The developed circuit model is verified with the finite-element method (FEM) in different SOI structures, including a structure coupled with interconnects. Heat flow to the contacts, poly gate, and buried oxide (BOX)/field oxide (FOX) is examined. Heat exchange via FOX between neighboring islands is carefully investigated, as compared to the FEM. It is shown from the developed model and FEM simulations that heat exchange via FOX between two thin islands is negligible if the distance between the islands is near or greater than the island thickness plus the BOX thickness.
Protein kinase Cβ regulates heterologous desensitization of thrombin receptor (PAR-1) in endothelial cells

We studied the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) activation on endothelial cell surface expression and function of the proteolytically activated thrombin receptor 1 (PAR-1). Cell surface PAR-1 expr...
Why is the Japanese Sword Curved

The history and methodology of Japanese swordmaking are reviewed with particular reference to materials and processes. In order to gain a better understanding of the structure/property relationships in Japanese swords, a 16th century katana was analyzed metallographically and by attaching strain gages and cutting to relieve the residual stresses in the blade. The results indicate that the curve in the blade can be attributed to the volumetric expansion of the untempered martensite on the cutting edge, which also causes the edge to be in a state of residual compression. The residual compressive stresses are one of the key elements of the Japanese sword which give it superior toughness and cutting ability.
Thermocapillary bubble migration—thermal boundary layers for large Marangoni numbers

The migration of an isolated gas bubble in an immiscible liquid possessing a temperature gradient is analyzed in the absence of gravity. The driving force for the bubble motion is the shear stress at the interface which is a consequence of the temperature dependence of the surface tension. The analysis is performed under conditions for which the Marangoni number is large, i.e. energy is transferred predominantly by convection. Velocity fields in the limit of both small and large Reynolds numbers are used. The thermal problem is treated by standard boundary layer theory. The outer temperature field is obtained in the vicinity of the bubble. A similarity solution is obtained for the inner temperature field. For both small and large Reynolds numbers, the asymptotic values of the scaled migration velocity of the bubble in the limit of large Marangoni numbers are calculated. The results show that the migration velocity has the same scaling for both low and large Reynolds numbers, but with a different coefficient. Higher order thermal boundary layers are analyzed for the large Reynolds number flow field and the higher order corrections to the migration velocity are obtained. Results are also presented for the momentum boundary layer and the thermal wake behind the bubble, for large Reynolds number conditions.
α4 integrin increases anoikis of human osteosarcoma cells

Cell motility, growth, and proliferation are regulated by adhesion to the extracellular matrix. Detachment of adherent cells from extracellular matrix results in induction of apoptosis ("anoikis"). Transformed cells often show an anchorage-independent growth that enables them to acquire a motile, invasive phenotype. This phenotype has been associated with the altered expression and function of the integrin family of transmembrane proteins that mediate cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix. Although alpha4 integrin is normally expressed on leukocyte subpopulations, a number of metastatic melanomas and sarcomas express it as well. In this study, we demonstrated the expression of alpha4 integrins on the human osteosarcoma cell line SAOS and on metastatic osteosarcoma lesions from the lung and pericardium. We further demonstrated that alpha4 integrin is coupled to the beta1 subunit by biochemical analysis and by using a mAb directed against a combinatorial epitope unique to the alpha4beta1 molecule. SAOS cells undergo anoikis when adherence is denied. Anoikis involved the activation of caspase 3 and the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. Treatment of non-adherent SAOS with an anti-alpha4 mAb increased anoikis while anti-beta1 integrin mAbs did not alter anoikis, thus indicating a novel function for the alpha4 subunit in the control of cell death. Since integrins can control cell migration, proliferation, and apoptosis these results demonstrate a potential role for alpha4 integrin during multiple aspects of osteosarcoma metastasis.