cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Skin sympathetic nerve activity as a biomarker for neurologic recovery during therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac arrest

Background Targeted temperature management (TTM) improves neurologic outcome after cardiac arrest. However, better neurologic prognostication is needed. Objective The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that noninvasive recording of skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) and its association with heart rate (HR) during TTM may serve as a biomarker of neurologic status. Methods SKNA recordings were analyzed from 29 patients undergoing TTM. Patients were grouped based on Clinical Performance Category (CPC) score into group 1 (CPC 1–2) representing a good neurologic outcome and group 2 (CPC 3–5) representing a poor neurologic outcome. Results Of the 29 study participants, 18 (62%) were deemed to have poor neurologic outcome. At all timepoints, low average skin sympathetic nerve activity (aSKNA) was associated with poor neurologic outcome (odds ratio 22.69; P = .002) and remained significant (P = .03) even when adjusting for presenting clinical factors. The changes in aSKNA and HR during warming in group 1 were significantly correlated (ρ = 0.49; P Conclusion Neurologic recovery was retrospectively associated with SKNA. Patients undergoing TTM who did not achieve neurologic recovery were associated with low SKNA and lacked a significant correlation between SKNA and HR. These preliminary results indicate that SKNA may potentially be a useful biomarker to predict neurologic status in patients undergoing TTM.
Explainable Sleep Stage Classification with Multimodal Electrophysiology Time-series

Abstract Many automated sleep staging studies have used deep learning approaches, and a growing number have used multimodal data to improve their classification performance. However, few studies using multimodal data have provided model explainability. Some have used traditional ablation approaches that “zero out” a modality. However, the samples that result from this ablation are unlikely to be found in real electroencephalography (EEG) data, which could adversely affect the importance estimates that result. Here, we train a convolutional neural network for sleep stage classification with EEG, electrooculograms (EOG), and electromyograms (EMG) and propose an ablation approach that replaces each modality with values that approximate the line-related noise commonly found in electrophysiology data. The relative importance that we identify for each modality is consistent with sleep staging guidelines, with EEG being important for most sleep stages and EOG being important for Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and nonREM stages. EMG showed low relative importance across classes. A comparison of our approach with a “zero out” ablation approach indicates that while the importance results are consistent for the most part, our method accentuates the importance of modalities to the model for the classification of some stages like REM (p
The Shock of Evaluation: Examining the Impact of Efficiency Metrics on Nonprofits’ Reporting and Revenues

Despite the constant battle over financial ratios, the existing literature has failed to converge on how these overhead expenditures actually impact nonprofit revenues and behavior. With improved analysis, this paper addresses the issues through two models that more accurately account for the mechanism of third-party ratings in the overhead debate. Using data from Charity Navigator and the IRS Form 990, a series of fixed effects models assess how third-party ratings impact how nonprofit organizations report their administrative costs and how both ratings and overhead ratios impact private contributions and grants. Most notably, the results show that after the expansion of Charity Navigator in 2011, firms report overhead ratios approximately 9.2 percent lower when they become eligible to be rated. Regarding revenues, within firm changes to overhead ratios have no impact on either rated or non-rated firms. While, for rated firms, controlling for overhead ratios, third party ratings have a positive effect on public support revenues.
Homegrown: ISIS in America

Homegrown: ISIS in America (2020) examines American participation and support of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, using both quantitative and qualitative data to develop a story about the ...
Physics-informed machine-learning for modeling aero-optics

We demonstrate the use of physics-informed machine learning algorithms for the adaptive, real-time characterization of aero-optical systems. From deep learning algorithms to nonlinear control methods, the optical sciences are an ideal platform for integrating data-driven control and machine learning for robust characterization and system identification. For the specific case of aero-optics, the ability to extract dominant coherent structures, transients and turbulent behaviors is critical for a diverse number of applications, including the complex and dynamic aero-optic effects on airborne-based laser platforms. Specifically, aero-optical beam control relies on the development of low-latency predictors that can quickly predict aberrated wavefronts to feed into an adaptive optic control loop. We propose develop a number of data-driven methods, including the dynamic mode decomposition (DMD), for real-time forecasting and control.
The effect of disinfectants on the microbial community on environmental healthcare surfaces using next generation sequencing

Abstract Background Healthcare-associated infections are a significant economic burden and cause of avoidable morbidity and mortality within healthcare systems. The contribution of environmental contamination to healthcare-associated infection transmission has been recognized, but the mechanisms by which transmission occurs are still being investigated. The objective of this study was to characterize the microbial communities of disinfected, non-critical healthcare surfaces using next generation sequencing technology. Methods Composite environmental surface samples were from high-touch surfaces in rooms of patients isolated for infections with multidrug-resistant organisms during their hospitalization. Information on the disinfectant product used and cleaning type (routine or terminal) was collected. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and analysis were performed. Community analysis was conducted to determine the bacterial composition and compare the detection of target pathogens by culture from 94 Contact Precaution rooms. Results Overall percent agreement between culture and sequence methods ranged from 52%-88%. A significant difference was observed in bacterial composition between rooms cleaned with bleach and those cleaned with a quaternary ammonium compound for composite 2 (overbed table, intravenous pole, and inner room door handle) (ANOSIM R = 0.66, P = .005) but not composite 1 (bed rails, television remote control unit, call buttons, and telephone). Conclusions Surfaces in bleach-cleaned rooms contained a higher proportion of gram-positive microbiota, whereas rooms cleaned with quaternary ammonium compound contained a higher proportion of gram-negative microbiota, suggesting disinfectant products may impact the healthcare environment microbiome.
De soldados, geógrafos e historiadores. Un comentario sobre "Trazando paisajes, imaginando la nación" de Consuelo Figueroa

About “Trazando paisajes, imaginando la nacion: La Guerra del Pacifico y la Pacificacion de la Araucania en perspectiva comparada” by Maria Consuelo Figueroa Garavagno.
Web Site Interface Design: External and Internal Factors

There has been tremendous growth in electronic commerce over the past few years. This growth is expected to sustain momentum in the future. Hence, the Internet has become an essential tool for business and customers. However, unlike traditional retailers, it lacks key aspects of a shopping experience like interacting with customer sales people and being physically in a store. A well-designed user interface can overcome some of these limitations and aid customers in their search of products and services. This paper examines both the internal (to the web design) and external (to the user's environment) factors that affect user interface design on the World Wide Web. These five factors are the user's mental model, level of expertise of the user, the user's learning style, richness of the media used, and the organizational image and message. Since all factors are external with the exception of the richness of the media used, the emphasis in the paper is on external factors.
Adaptive Choice of Information Sources (Extended Abstract)

We present a number of learning approaches by which agents can adapt to select information sources that satisfy performance requirements. Performance can be interpreted both in terms of the quality of information provided by the sources, as well as the response time to process information requests. We first present a couple of approaches by which self-motivated agents can learn to choose lightly-loaded resources. The resultant load balancing effect results in increasing throughput for the entire system as well as faster response times for individual agents. We also present an expected utility maximization approach to selecting information sources that are likely to deliver better quality information to different classes of queries.
Cell apoptosis induced by carcinogenic metals

Well-documented evidence suggests that environmental and occupational exposure of toxic metals or metal-containing compounds can cause a number of human diseases, including inflammation and cancer, through DNA damage, protein modifications, or lipid peroxidation. This mini-review addresses the mechanisms of cell death induced by some carcinogenic metals, including arsenic (III), chromium (VI) and vanadium (V). A possible contribution of reactive oxygen species to metal-induced cell death is also discussed.
Novel Ammonia-Lowering Agents for Hepatic Encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common complication of cirrhosis, leading to frequent hospitalizations. Because ammonia is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of HE, therapies specifically aimed at reducing ammonia levels have been developed for conditions causing hyperammonemia, including HE. Ammonia scavengers have been used in HE patients, leading to improvements in symptoms. Bowel cleansing with polyethylene glycol has also been studied recently, resulting in more rapid improvement in acute HE compared with lactulose. Extracorporeal devices have been used in cases of refractory HE but currently are used primarily in research settings and not approved for clinical management for HE.
Verapamil: An Effective Calcium Blocking Agent for Pediatric Patients

Verapamil is a slow-channel calcium-blocking agent that has been released recently by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of cardiac dysrhythmias in all age groups. Its primary action is to slow conduction in the atrioventricular node, thereby abolishing those types of supraventricular tachycardia using the atrioventricular node as a part of the reentry circuit or slowing the ventricular rate in someone with atrial flutter. Other investigations have shown that it is likely to relieve left ventricular outflow obstruction in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Because of its potential widespread usefulness in the pediatric population, all pediatricians should be more aware of how it is used and the potential hazards. The methods of administration and treatment of overdoses as well as indications for usage, contraindications, and adverse reactions will be explained.
High-performance computing applied to semantic databases

To-date, the application of high-performance computing resources to Semantic Web data has largely focused on commodity hardware and distributed memory platforms. In this paper we make the case that more specialized hardware can offer superior scaling and close to an order of magnitude improvement in performance. In particular we examine the Cray XMT. Its key characteristics, a large, global sharedmemory, and processors with a memory-latency tolerant design, offer an environment conducive to programming for the Semantic Web and have engendered results that far surpass current state of the art. We examine three fundamental pieces requisite for a fully functioning semantic database: dictionary encoding, RDFS inference, and query processing. We show scaling up to 512 processors (the largest configuration we had available), and the ability to process 20 billion triples completely in-memory.
Subtilisin Carlsberg: III. ISOLATION AND AMINO ACID COMPOSITION OF CHYMOTRYPTIC PEPTIDES

From a chymotryptic digest of diisopropylphosphoryl subtilisin Carlsberg, 44 peptides were isolated by fractionation on a column of Dowex 50, followed by purification by various methods. The amino acid compositions of these peptides are reported. The peptides account for 272 of the 274 residues present in the single peptide chain of this protein. Six of the peptides represented segments of incomplete hydrolysis by chymotrypsin.
AMINO ACID DECARBOXYLATION STEPS IN THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF NOREPINEPHRINE, SEROTONIN, AND HISTAMINE.

Publisher Summary Norepinephrine, serotonin, histamine, and acetylcholine are the most important of these agents, and this chapter discusses the decarboxylation steps involved in the biosynthesis of the first three. In each case the decarboxylation reaction are discussed as to whether it is rate limiting and amenable to regulatory mechanisms. It is apparent that amino acid decarboxylations are important in the production of norepinephrine, serotonin, and histamine. However, only in the case of histamine production is the decarboxylation step rate limiting with respect to production of the humoral agent arid also under regulatory control by other hormonal agents. In the case of norepinephrine, evidence has been obtained that the decarboxylase may be coupled with the other two enzymes in a norepinephrine-synthesizing particle. This may also be true for the decarboxylase involved in serotonin production.
Conservative management of uterine rhabdomyosarcoma.

Abstract Background: Rhabdomyosarcomas are rare, malignant tumors derived from primitive myogenic precursors and are the most common soft tissue neoplasms in children and adolescents. We used primary chemotherapy and subsequent removal of the residual polypoid mass to treat an adolescent female with uterine rhabdomyosarcoma. Case: A 15-year-old white adolescent who presented with a polypoid uterine rhabdomyosarcoma was treated with vincristine, etopside, and ifosfamide, after which the residual polypoid mass was removed. Conclusion: Treating adolescent females with a polypoid uterine rhabdomyosarcoma with primary chemotherapy followed by removal of the residual mass preserves reproductive function and should be considered.
High self-esteem and identification with adult models among economically deprived children.

Data from 120 kindergarten and first-grade children on the Self Social-constructs Scale and the Behavioral Maturity Scale suggest caution in interpreting intended meaning of economically deprived children when responding to the former scale.
INTEGRATED MODELING APPROACH TO TOTAL INCIDENT DELAY

In congestion management, total traffic delay is typically derived based on look-up tables for incident duration, capacity reduction, and frequency that are determinants of total incident delay. The studies that adopted this approach indicate that some factors, such as weather, may not be included in the look-up tables because of their limited size and the lack of rigorous identification of influencing factors to be included in the tables. In addition, the marginal effect of the influencing factors on total traffic delay cannot be analyzed. In this study, statistical models with identified influencing factors for incident duration, lane blockage, and frequency were developed and then integrated into the queuing-based delay equation. Through the development of advanced statistical models, the variables or factors that significantly influence incident duration, lane blockage, and frequency can be identified. When these statistical models are plugged into the queuing-based delay equation, the marginal effect of the identified factors on total delay can then be derived analytically. On the basis of incident data collected in New York City, the proposed approach was demonstrated to be successful.
Compensation for auditory re-arrangement following exposure to auditory-tactile discordance.

15 Os presented with discordant auditory and tactile information about the location of the same object, compensated rapidly for an auditory re-arrangement when asked to point at an unseen auditory target. Unlike most perceptual compensation studies, movement by O was not permitted. It is suggested that discordance between or among different kinds of spatial information may be the condition that leads to compensation for re-arrangement.
Novel terahertz electric metamaterials

Planar electric metamaterials and their inverse structures are demonstrated to show complementary electrical resonant behavior in terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Simulations and measured data agree well and illustrate potential applicability of these materials for terahertz devices.
Quantitative studies of cell size in the cat's dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus following visual deprivation†

The effects of visual deprivation upon dorsal lateral geniculate (DLG) cell size were compared for seven kittens reared with monocular lid-suture (MD), seven with binocular lid-suture (BD), and six with one eye lid-sutured and the other eye enucleated soon after birth (MD-E). Six additional kittens were reared normally for comparison. For each kitten the cross-sectional areas of 300 cells were measured in one or both nuclei. Measurements were taken from the binocular segment of laminae A and A1 and the monocular segment of lamina A. In agreement with previous studies, cells in the binocular segment of the deprived laminae of MD cats were smaller (33-34%) than those in the non-deprived laminae. Comparisons with normal animals indicated that this difference was due to an increase (10-15%) in size of cells in the non-deprived laminae as well as a decrease (23-25%) in size of cells in the deprived laminae. Cells in the monocular segment also were affected by deprivation in MD cats, and this effect increased with the age (and duration of the deprivation) of the animal. However, it was always smaller than the decrease in cell size in the binocular portion of the DLG. In BD kittens, DLG cells were smaller (7-12%) than normal in all portions of the nucleus, including both the binocular and monocular segments. Direct comparisons between the deprived laminae of MD and BD kittens indicated that the decrease in cell size was greater for MD kittens in the binocular segment, but tended to be greater for BD kittens in the monocular segment. In MD-E kittens, DLG cells in the deprived laminae were smaller (11-17%) than normal in all portions of the nucleus, including both the binocular and monocular segments. Thus, the effects of deprivation were similar to those in BD kittens, even though inputs from the deprived eye had been placed at a competitive advantage in MD-E kittens. These results indicate that two factors may affect cell size in the DLG of visually deprived cats: deprivation per se and abnormal binocular competition. Finally, separate analyses for the ten largest and the ten smallest cells in each lamina of each cat were carried out in an attempt to determine if the changes in cell size were limited to the largest cells. In every case, differences observed for the total sample of cells were paralleled by differences from normal of both the largest cells present and the smallest cells present in the deprived laminae. Since at least two alternative interpretations can account for this finding, the question of whether the large cells are selectively affected by visual deprivation remains unanswered in the cat.
A HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE GRADIENT IN THE PLEURAL SAC.

Abstract Pressures at various sites in the pleural cavity were measured directly in dogs and estimated from intraesophageal pressures in man. The results show that intrapleural pressure increases with dependency, essentially according to a hydrostatic gradient. These results are discussed in terms of the effect of such an intrapleural pressure gradient on esophageal pressure, the production and resorption of pleural fluid, transpulmonary pressure, and the ventilation of various elevations of the lung.
ATPase Domain of Eukaryotic DNA Topoisomerase II INHIBITION OF ATPase ACTIVITY BY THE ANTI-CANCER DRUG BISDIOXOPIPERAZINE AND ATP/ADP-INDUCED DIMERIZATION

We have prepared full-length Drosophila and human topoisomerase II and truncation constructs containing the amino-terminal ATPase domain, and we have analyzed their biochemical properties. The ATPase activity of the truncation proteins, similar to that of the full-length proteins, is greatly stimulated by the presence of DNA. This activity of the truncation proteins is also sensitive to the inhibition by the drug bisdioxopiperazine, ICRF-193, albeit at a much lower level than the full-length protein. Therefore, bisdioxopiperazine can directly interact with the NH(2)-terminal ATPase domain, but the drug-enzyme interaction may involve other domains as well. The ATPase activity of the ATPase domain protein showed a quadratic dependence on enzyme concentration, suggesting that dimerization of the NH(2)-terminal domain is a rate-limiting step. Using both protein cross-linking and sedimentation equilibrium analysis, we showed that the ATPase domain exists as a monomer in the absence of cofactors but can readily dimerize in the presence of a nonhydrolyzable analog of ATP, 5'-adenylyl-beta,gamma-imidodiphosphate. More interestingly, both ATP and ADP can also promote protein dimerization. This result thus suggests that the protein clamp, mediated through the dimerization of ATPase domain, remains closed after ATP hydrolysis and opens upon the dissociation of ADP.
Development of iron-base long-range ordered (LRO) alloys for fusion reactor first wall and blanket applications

Iron-base LRO alloys with base compositions (Fe,Ni)3V are being developed for fusion reactor applications. The phase relationships in the LRO alloys depend strongly on the nickel concentration in the range of 31 to 40%. The a phase field existing in the low nickel alloys at temperatures above their critical ordering temperature (Tc), can be eliminated by increasing nickel content to 40%. Tensile tests as a function of temperature indicate that the LRO alloys have superior high-temperature strength. Unlike conventional alloys, the yield strength of the LRO alloys increases with temperature and reaches a maximum around Tc. Titanium additions (< 1%) improve the ductility of the LRO alloys at elevated temperatures. The alloys show excellent creep resistance and structural stability. Long-term aging at 550°C does not cause any significant change in tensile properties. The formation of long-range order lowers the creep rate by more than two orders of magnitude.
Relationship of native tibial plateau anatomy with stability testing in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee

Purpose Recent attention has been drawn to tibial plateau slope and depth with relation to both risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and kinematics in the cruciate-deficient knee. The purpose was to evaluate the relationship between native proximal tibial anatomy and knee kinematics in the anterior cruciate-deficient knee.
Severe hypertension without urinary abnormalities in a patient with Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Hypertension as a complication of Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is almost uniformly accompanied by evidence of renal involvement, either decreased renal function or urinary abnormalities. We report a 4.5-year-old male with HSP who developed severe hypertension without other manifestations of glomerulonephritis, including no decline in renal function and no development of urinary abnormalities. Extensive evaluation for other identifiable causes for his hypertension was not productive. His hypertension resolved with the resolution of his HSP. This case demonstrates that patients with HSP may on occasion develop severe hypertension without other evidence of nephritis. An extensive evaluation for other causes of severe hypertension may be deferred in this setting until well after all other manifestations of HSP have resolved.
Human Action Recognition Using Temporal Sequence Alignment

In this paper, we address the problem of recognizing human actions from videos. Human actions recognition is a challenging task in computer vision. We propose a method to solve this problem using Longest Common Sub-Sequence (LCSS) algorithm and Shape Context (SC). Our contributions in this paper are twofold. First, we show the applicability of the SC as a pairwise shape-similarity measurement for generating a sequence that defines a specific motion. Secondly, we demonstrate the usability of LCSS to classify human actions. Experiments were performed on two action datasets to compare the result to the related methods.
A Prescription Analysis Exercise in a Pharmaceutical Care Laboratory Course

Objective. To assess the impact of a new prescription analysis exercise in a second-year pharmaceutical care laboratory course. Design. A new prescription analysis exercise was created and implemented that shifted the focus from strictly identifying errors and omissions to identifying and correcting them. Students used electronic label templates and mock prescription materials to correct various errors and omissions commonly seen in practice. Assessment. Forty-one percent of students received full credit for the exercise using the new method compared to the previous method where 9.1% of students received full credit. Ninety-four percent of respondents preferred the new method versus the original method, with reasons given including the new method seemed more practical, applicable, and realistic. Conclusion. The new prescription analysis exercise addressed many inconsistencies noted with the original method. Students performed better on graded assessments using the new method and preferred it over the old method of prescription analysis.
Irreversible androgen induced growth in seminal vesicle smooth muscle.

Abstract The dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-sustained normal pubertal development of the guinea pig seminal vesicle epithelium proved to be highly reversible in that 4 weeks after cessation of hormone treatment there were significant reductions in epithelial wet weight, DNA content, and collagen content. in contrast, the DHT-induced prepubertal development of smooth muscle DNA and collagen contents were not significantly reduced following hormone withdrawal. in adult animals treated daily with DHT for 4 weeks, there was an increase in collagen content of approx 80% above either castrate or normal controls, which also proved to be irreversible. These findings indicate that the autophagic mechanisms, which are activated upon withdrawal of the androgenic stimulus and serve to degrade epithelial cells and the associated collagenous matrices, are not operant in the smooth muscle of the organ.
5-Lipoxygenase gene transfer worsens memory, amyloid, and tau brain pathologies in a mouse model of alzheimer disease

The lipoxygenases (LOs) are a group of lipid-peroxidizing enzymes which insert molecular oxygen into esterified and free polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid, generating bioactive lipid moieties 1. Among them, the 5LO is widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), where it localizes in neurons and other cell types. Its presence has been shown in various brain regions, including hippocampus and cortex, where its levels seem to increase in an age-dependent fashion 2,3. Since aging is one of the strongest risk factors for developing sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD), this pathway has been involved in its pathogenesis. To this end, 5LO immunoreactivity is increased in hippocampi of AD patients versus controls 4; 5LO-targeted gene disruption or its pharmacologic inhibition resulted in a significant reduction of Aβ levels and deposition in the brains of the Tg2576 mice, an animal model of AD-like amyloidosis 5,6. Recently, we demonstrated that over-expression of this protein in the same model resulted in a worsening of the AD-like phenotype 7. However, since the Tg2576 mice manifest only brain amyloidosis it would be of great interest to investigate the role that 5LO may have on the other AD hallmark lesion, tau neuropathology. With this goal in mind, in the present paper we evaluated the biologic consequences of its brain over-expression in the triple transgenic (3xTg-AD) mice, which develop amyloid plaques and tau tangles 8, by an adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene transfer approach. At the end of the study, we observed that AAV-mediated 5LO brain gene transfer results in an exacerbation of their behavioral deficits and a significant increase in the amount of brain Aβ plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles. The changes in Aβ were associated with an up-regulation of the γ-secretase proteolityc pathway, whereas hyperphosphorylation of tau was secondary to a selective activation of the kinase Cdk5. In vitro data corroborated these findings since they showed that 5LO-dependent tau hyperphosphorylation was specifically dependent on this kinase activation. Further, we demonstrated that the effect on tau was independent on the effect on Aβ by showing that pharmacologic suppression of Aβ formation with a specific gamma-secretase inhibitor did not alter the 5LO effect on tau. Taken together, our findings show for the first time the pleiotropic effect of 5LO on all three major AD pathological features: behavior, Aβ and tau. They provide critical preclinical evidence to justify testing selective 5LO inhibitors for AD treatment as disease-modifying agents.
Can visible cues in search results indicate vendors' reliability?

Search engines play a critical role in the diffusion of online information because they determine what content is easily visible to Web users. Major search engines, such as Google, Microsoft Live Search, and Yahoo!, provide two distinct types of results, organic and paid, each of which uses different mechanisms for selecting and ranking relevant Web pages. Using a third-party trust assurance program from BBB (Better Business Bureau) Online we find that vendors represented by websites in organic and paid results have varying reliability ratings. These ratings, based on overall customer experiences, may range from satisfactory to unsatisfactory. We empirically examine how vendors' reliability ratings from BBB Online are associated with cues (such as type of search result, relative price of a product, and number of sites selling the product) that can be observed or derived from organic and paid search results. Further, we apply a data mining technique to predict the vendors' BBB reliability ratings using those cues and achieve good performance.
Inclusion Of Sensor Noise In Radiometric Models For Generation Of Synthetic Longwave Infrared Images

A radiometric model has been developed for modeling the effects of self emission, reflection of downwelled radiance, atmospheric transmission and path radiance on the radiance reaching an airborne or satellite sensing system. The model, which incorporates LOWTRAN 6, includes angular emissivity effects and will account for either specular or diffuse reflectance from targets and backgrounds. The model has been refined to facilitate its use in generating primitive synthetic images to study LWIR phenomena. In particular, various types of sensor related noise have been included in the imaging process. Images are presented simulating the effects of target-to-background contrast as a function of view angle, range, emissivity variation, and atmospheric effects. The potential for use of LWIR models in sensor and algorithm development is discussed.
MDM2 Promotes Proteasomal Degradation of p21Waf1 via a Conformation Change

MDM2 plays a major role in cancer development and progression via both p53-dependent and -independent functions. One of its p53-independent functions is the induction of the ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation of p21Waf1. The present study was designed to characterize the mechanism(s) by which MDM2 induces p21Waf1 degradation. We first determined the regions of MDM2 required for p21Waf1 degradation using pulldown assays and Western blotting and then examined the mechanisms using limited proteolysis and fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays. We found that the MDM2-p21Waf1 interaction depended on the central domain of MDM2 and that nuclear localization of both proteins was necessary for p21Waf1 degradation. Specifically, amino acids 226–250 of MDM2 were required for p21Waf1 binding and degradation, and amino acids 251–260 were necessary for p21Waf1 degradation. The latter region induced a conformation change in p21Waf1, increasing its interaction with the C8 subunit of the proteasome, leading to its degradation. When MDM2 lacked either segment (aa 226–250 or aa 251–260), its capacity to promote p21Waf1 degradation and cell cycle progression was significantly reduced. In summary, the present study elucidated a previously unknown mechanism by which MDM2 promotes the degradation of an intact protein (p21Waf1) through an ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation pathway. Because MDM2 also increases the degradation of other proteins in a ubiquitin-independent manner, this mechanism may underlie part of its tumorigenic properties.
Solubility of Metals in Substoichiometric TiC1-x

Twenty-one elements were screened for solubility in selected titanium-carbide compositions at 1600°C. Tin, lead, and aluminum were found to dissolve to an appreciable extent only in carbide compositions very near the titanium-titanium carbide phase boundary. Small additions of Sn caused a substantial shift in this boundary in the direction of reduced carbon content, accompanied by reduced microhardness, indicating reduced flow stress. The degree of solubility of the alloying additions and/or excess Ti in the carbide is lower at T<1400°C, as evidenced by the appearance of fine metallic precipitates on aging or slow cooling. However, a single-phase alloyed carbide can be retained by quenching. In contrast, the solubility of Cr in TiC was found to decrease with decreasing carbon content, and the flow stress, as indicated by microhardness, to increase with increasing Cr content.
Prostaglandins protect kidneys against ischemic and toxic injury by a cellular effect.

Prostaglandins protect kidneys against ischemic and toxic injury by a cellular effect. The ability of prostaglandins to protect the kidney against ischemic and toxic renal injury was evaluated by in vivo and in vitro models of renal ischemia. The prostaglandin E 1 analogue, misoprostol, was found to provide significant protection against ischemia-induced renal dysfunction in rats subjected to 40 minutes of renal artery occlusion. Misoprostol-treated rats had glomerular filtration rates almost threefold greater than control animals, although renal blood flow and renal vascular resistance were not significantly different. Improved tubular function was reflected in a lower fractional excretion of sodium and a higher urine-to-plasma creatinine ratio. Misoprostol also provided similar protection in a model of toxic renal injury produced by mercuric chloride. In an in vitro model employing primary cultures of proximal tubule epithelial cells subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation, misoprostol limited cell death. Posthypoxic cells had apical membrane disruption and loss of microvilli when examined by transmission electron microscopy. These changes were not seen in misoprostol-treated cells. The "cytoprotective" effect was also produced by prostaglandin E 2 and prostacyclin. The ability of prostaglandin E to protect against toxic and ischemic renal injury did not appear to be due to an antioxidant effect because misoprostol did not limit lipid peroxidation in vivo and did not protect against oxidant injury by tert-butyl hydroperoxide in vitro. Although the exact mechanism of prostaglandin protection was not revealed, these studies demonstrate that prostaglandins protect renal tubule epithelial cells from hypoxic injury at the cellular level independent of hemodynamic factors or inflammatory responses. Such a "cytoprotective" effect of prostaglandins may be a generalized phenomenon since it has also been demonstrated in gastrointestinal epithelium.
Molecular recognition: preparation and characterization of two tripodal anion receptors

Two new tripodal hydroxyl-based anion receptors (1 and 2) are reported and their 1:1 molecular complexes with Cl−, H2PO4−, and OAc− along with the (M − 1)− ion of 1 were characterized by negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy in the gas phase and by binding constant determinations in four solvents (i.e., CDCl3, CD2Cl2, CD3COCD3, and CD3CN). An intramolecular hydrogen bond network (HBN) in hexaol 1 was found to diminish its binding whereas the triol 2 is the strongest aliphatic hydroxyl-based receptor to date.
Recombinant human activated protein C inhibits integrin-mediated neutrophil migration

Integrin-mediated cell migration is central to many biologic and pathologic processes. During inflammation, tissue injury results from excessive infiltration and sequestration of activated leukocytes. Recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) has been shown to protect patients with severe sepsis, although the mechanism underlying this protective effect remains unclear. Here, we show that rhAPC directly binds to β1 and β3 integrins and inhibits neutrophil migration, both in vitro and in vivo. We found that human APC possesses an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence, which is critical for the inhibition. Mutation of this sequence abolished both integrin binding and inhibition of neutrophil migration. In addition, treatment of septic mice with a RGD peptide recapitulated the beneficial effects of rhAPC on survival. Thus, we conclude that leukocyte integrins are novel cellular receptors for rhAPC and the interaction decreases neutrophil recruitment into tissues, providing a potential mechanism by which rhAPC may protect against sepsis.
Hydrogen bonding studies of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Abstract Infrared and NMR spectra of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene have been recorded in various solvents. Evidence is obtained for both intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonding. AM1 calculations are used to predict the fundamental vibrational frequencies of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene.
Analysis of an internally radially cracked ring segment subject to three-point radial loading

The boundary collocation method was used to generate Mode 1 stress intensity and crack mouth opening displacement coefficients for externally radially cracked ring segments subjected to three point radial loading. Numerical results were obtained for ring segment outer-to-inner radius ratios (R sub o/R sub i) ranging from 1.10 to 2.50 and crack length to segment width ratios (a/W) ranging from 0.1 to 0.8. Stress intensity and crack mouth displacement coefficients were found to depend on the ratios R sub o/R sub i and a/W as well as the included angle between the directions of the reaction forces. Previously announced in STAR as N83-35413
Online model reconstruction for interactive virtual environments

We present a system for generating real-time 3D reconstructions of the user and other real objects in an immersive virtual environment (IVE) for visualization and interaction. For example, when parts of the user's body are in his field of view, our system allows him to see a visually faithful graphical representation of himself, an avatar. In addition, the user can grab real objects, and then see and interact with those objects in the IVE. Our system bypasses an explicit 3D modeling stage, and does not use additional tracking sensors or prior object knowledge, nor do we generate dense 3D representations of objects using computer vision techniques. We use a set of outside-looking-in cameras and a novel visual hull technique that leverages the tremendous recent advances in graphics hardware performance and capabilities. We accelerate the visual hull computation by using projected textures to rapidly determine which volume samples lie within the visual hull. The samples are combined to form the object reconstruction from any given viewpoint. Our system produces results at interactive rates, and because it harnesses ever-improving graphics hardware, the rates and quality should continue to improve. We further examine realtime generated models as active participants in simulations (with lighting) in IVEs, and give results using synthetic and real data. Additional
The spacelab Lyman alpha and white light coronagraphs program

The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the High Altitude Observatory have defined a joint coronagraphs experiment for a future Spacelab mission. The instrumentation package would include an ultraviolet light coronagraph to measure the intensity and profiles of spectral lines formed between 1.2 and 8 solar radii from Sun center and a white light coronagraph to measure the intensity and polarization of visible light. The overall goals of the joint program are to use new coronal plasma diagnostic techniques to understand the physical processes and mechanisms operating in the solar corona, to understand the acceleration of high-speed and low-speed solar wind streams and to extrapolate this knowledge to other stars in order to help understand the physics of stellar coronae and stellar mass loss.
The Portwashingtonian warm interval in the northern Atlantic coastal plain

Stratified and deformed masses of marine sediment that range in age from 43,800 to 21,750 yr were deposited in the Woodfordian moraine on western Long Island, New York. Reconstruction of the geologic history of these sediments provides further evidence of a mid-Wisconsinan warm interval, the Portwashingtonian warm interval (new name), that is represented by warm climate, temperate forests, and relative sea level comparable to modern sea level.
Prognostic importance of the length of ventricular tachycardia in patients with nonischemic congestive heart failure

In patients with congestive heart failure the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias poorly predicts mortality. It is unknown whether the length of ventricular tachycardia is a better predictor of mortality in these patients. We therefore investigated the prognostic importance of the length of the longest run of ventricular tachycardia, the frequency of ventricular tachycardia, and the frequency of ventricular premature depolarizations with 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings in 122 patients with heart failure. We also determined whether the cause of heart failure affects the prognostic importance of these parameters. Each ambulatory electrocardiographic recording was evaluated for the frequency of ventricular premature depolarizations and ventricular tachycardia and for the length of the longest run of ventricular tachycardia. For each electrocardiographic parameter patients were divided into groups based on the median value of that parameter. Mortality among groups was compared in all patients and then separately for nonischemic and ischemic patients. Neither the frequency of ventricular premature depolarizations nor the frequency of ventricular tachycardia predicted mortality whether or not cause was considered. When all patients were examined, the length of ventricular tachycardia did predict an increased risk of death. However, when cause was considered, length of ventricular tachycardia predicted mortality only in the nonischemic patients and not in the ischemic patients. We conclude that the length of ventricular tachycardia may be the best electrocardiographic predictor of mortality in patients with nonischemic heart failure.
Yields of Clustered DNA Damage Induced by Charged-Particle Radiations of Similar Kinetic Energy per Nucleon: LET Dependence in Different DNA Microenvironments

Abstract To determine the linear energy transfer (LET) dependence of the biological effects of densely ionizing radiation in relation to changes in the ionization density along the track, we measured the yields and spectrum of clustered DNA damages induced by charged particles of different atomic number but similar kinetic energy per nucleon in different DNA microenvironments. Yeast DNA embedded in agarose in solutions of different free radical scavenging capacity was irradiated with 1 GeV protons, 1 GeV/nucleon oxygen ions, 980 MeV/nucleon titanium ions or 968 MeV/nucleon iron ions. The frequencies of double-strand breaks (DSBs), abasic sites and oxypurine clusters were quantified. The total DNA damage yields per absorbed dose induced in non-radioquenching solution decreased with LET, with minor variations in radioquenching conditions being detected. However, the total damage yields per particle fluence increased with LET in both conditions, indicating a higher efficiency per particle to induce clustered...
Social support and responsiveness in online patient communities: impact on service quality perceptions

Background Hospitals frequently evaluate their service quality based on the care and services provided to patients by their clinical and non-clinical staff.1,2 However, such evaluations do not take into consideration the many interactions that patients have in online patient communities with the health-care organization (HCO) as well as with peer patients. Patients' interactions in these online communities could impact their perceptions regarding the HCO's service quality. Purposes The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of social support and responsiveness that patients experience in an HCO's online community on patients' perceptions regarding the HCO's service quality. Method The study data are collected from CHESS, a health-care programme (Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System) run by the Centre for Health Enhancement System Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Findings Findings show that the social support and the responsiveness received from peer patients in the online patient communities will impact patients' perceptions regarding the service quality of the HCO even when the organizational members themselves do not participate in the online discussions. Practice implications The results indicate that interactions in such HCO-provided online patient communities should not be ignored as they could translate into patients' perceptions regarding HCOs' service quality. Ways to improve responsiveness and social support in an HCO's online patient community are discussed.
Stand-alone portable digital body sound data acquisition device

This paper discusses the design and implementation of a new generation of digital stethoscopes capable of collecting and processing body sound without the need of a personnel computer and hardware interface. The cost of the proposed device is a fraction of that of the data acquisition system used with current digital stethoscopes to collect body sound in a digital format. The new design uses system-on-chip technology and hardware-software co-design to integrate all the functions needed by this application into a single field programmable gate array (FPGA). The new design strategy saves hardware, space, and power consumption. It also allows for signal processing and data interpretation in the same device. The body sound device has been implemented and tested. Its performance compares very favourably to that of existing PC-based digital stethoscope.