cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mapping forest alliances and associations using fuzzy systems and nearest neighbor classifiers

Abstract The study and management of biological communities depends on systems of classification and mapping for the organization and communication of resource information. Recent advances in remote sensing technology may enable the mapping of forest plant associations using image classification techniques. But few areas outside Europe have alliances and associations described in detail sufficient to support remote sensing-based modeling. Northwestern Montana has one of the few completed plant association classifications in the United States compliant with the recently established National Vegetation Classification system. This project examined the feasibility of mapping forest plant associations using Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus data and advanced remote sensing technology and image classification techniques. Suitable reference data were selected from an extensive regional database of plot records. Fifteen percent of the plot samples were reserved for validation of map products, the remainder of plots designated as training data for map modeling. Key differentiae for image classification were identified from a suite of spectral and biophysical variables. Fuzzy rules were formulated for partitioning physiognomic classes in the upper levels of our image classification hierarchy. Nearest neighbor classifiers were developed for classification of lower levels (alliances and associations), where spectral and biophysical contrasts are less distinct. Maps were produced to reflect nine forest alliances and 24 associations across the study area. Error matrices were constructed for each map based on stratified random selections of map validation samples. Accuracy for the alliance map was estimated at 60%. Association classifiers provide between 54 and 86% accuracy within their respective alliances. Alternative techniques are proposed for aggregating classes and enhancing decision tree classifiers to model alliances and associations for interior forest types.
In vitro release of house fly, Musca domestica l. (Diptera : Muscidae), acrosomal material after treatments with secretion of female accessory gland and micropyle cap substance

Abstract Mature house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera : Muscidae), sperm were treated with female accessory gland secretion and micropyle cap substance to determine their effectiveness in eliciting an acrosome response. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that release of acrosomal material was achieved by treatment of the sperm with a combination of accessory gland secretion and micropyle cap substance but not by gland secretion alone. The gland secretion was utilized to dissolve the cap substance from mature ovarian eggs, and this combined solution was applied to sperm removed from the spermathecae of mated females. The acrosomes of several of the sperm were completely lacking, while others showed a partial effect of the treatment, i.e. extensive acrosomal membrane fragmentation and vesiculation. Most sperm that reacted to the treatment lacked a plasma membrane around the acrosome, suggesting that this membrane, along with the acrosomal membrane, is involved in formation of the vesicles alongside the acrosomal cavity.
Formation of Chiral, Three-Dimensional Aggregates by Self-Assembly of Helical Components

This work describes the self-assembly of millimeter-sized helical componentsfabricated by replica molding from sections of drill bits and boltsinto 3D aggregates via capillary forces. The components form aggregates of different geometry: components derived from drill bits formed regular helices, and those derived from bolts formed irregular warped sheets. Enantioselective interactions between components derived from drill bits resulted in the formation of aggregates with complex structures, including enantiomerically pure helices, aggregates with multiple helical segments, and chiral aggregates formed from achiral components, i.e., spheres.
Gibbs monolayers at the air/water interface: surface partitioning and lateral mobility of an electrochemically active surfactant.

Monolayer films of a water-soluble surfactant, 4-octaneamido-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (C8TEMPO) were investigated at the air/water interface. An electrochemical, horizontal touch method was developed to measure the equilibrium surface concentrations (Γ) of C8TEMPO. The dependence of Γ on the solution concentration followed a Langmuir isotherm and yielded the partition constant K = (2.3 ± 0.2) × 104 M-1. These results were verified by surface tension measurements and Brewster angle microscopy. Within experimental error, the same K values were obtained. The lateral diffusion constants vs surface concentration of this molecule were measured by 2D voltammetry. In these experiments, the component of the oxidation current due to C8TEMPO in the bulk of the solution was subtracted from the total measured current to obtain the component due to the lateral surface diffusion. In the range of mean molecular areas from 120 to 400 A2/molecule, the lateral diffusion constant of C8TEMPO increased from 1.0 × 1...
Isolation of hydrocortisone and corticosterone from human adrenal vein blood.

In view of the widespread therapeutic use of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and adrenocorticosteroids, the need for ascertaining the nature of the human adrenocortical secretion product scarcely requires emphasis. We wish to report the preliminary results of the examination of human adrenal vein blood taken at operation preceding adrenalectomy. A 500-ml. sample of adrenal vein blood was taken from a white male patient with metastatic prostatic carcinoma, who had previously been gonadectomized for this condition. Just previous to operation the patient received 25 I.U. of ACTH intramuscularly and during the course of the operation 50 I.U. of ACTH dissolved in the blood being transfused intravenously. An isopropyl acetate extract of the adrenal vein blood was chromatographed on a silica gel column, using the method of Romanoff et al. (1). The combined ether:ethyl acetate and ethyl acetate eluates were subjected to paper chromatography in a propylene glycol: toluene system (2). Zones containing hydrocorti...
Spatial TDMA: A Collision-Free Multihop Channel Access Protocol

In this paper we define a broadcast channel access protocol called spatial TDMA, which is designed specifically to operate in a multihop packet radio environment where the location of the nodes of the network is assumed to be fixed. The defined protocol assigns transmission rights to nodes in the network in a local TDMA fashion and is collisionfree. Methods for determining slot allocations are developed, and an approximate solution is given for determining the assignment of capacities for the links of the network that minimizes the average delay of messages in the system.
Use of activated charcoal to enhance the germination of botanical seeds of potato

The effect of activated charcoal (AC) on the germination of botanical potato seeds was tested by applying AC to seeds in petri dishes which had been pretreated with gibberellic acid (GA). A diverse sample of accessions including cultivar and cultivated species germplasm, cultivated species hybrids, wild species, and wild species known for their slow germination was tested. The time required from hydration to75% germination was significantly less for all types of seeds tested when AC was present. Cultivated species hybrids reached75% germination an average of four days sooner, wild species two days sooner, and slow germinating wild species 18 days sooner when AC was present. Only slow germinating wild species’ seeds germinated with significantly more uniformity in the presence of AC.
Hazardous cloud imaging: a new way of using passive IR

A Modeling and Simulation study of the limits of remote detection by passive IR has led to a new concept for the remote detection of hazardous clouds. A passive IR signature model was developed using as input the ERDEC IR spectral data bases for chemicals and biologicals, and the atmospheric transmittance model MODTRAN (MODerate resolution TRANSmittance). The cloud travel and dispersion model VLSTRACK (Vapor, Liquid, and Solid TRACKing) was used to simulate chemical and biological clouds. An easily applied spectral discrimination technique was developed using Linear Programming. All of these were melded with MATHEMATICA to produce images of 3 threat clouds: Sarin, mustard and an unnamed biological. (For reasons of space only Sarin is discussed here.) The HAZCI (HAZarous Cloud Imager) is a unique configuration of a spatially scanning Fourier Transform IR on the same level of complexity as the M21, but capable of orders-of-magnitude greater sensitivity and moving operation. The concept provides for automatic detection and operator assisted discrimination for chemical clouds and biological clouds at ranges greater than 50 kms. Both chemical and biological clouds can generally be discriminated from other known battlefield contaminants and from all materials (including biologicals) that are uniformly distributed in the atmosphere; but, specific detection of pathogenic biologicals is not projected at this time.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Life in Recipients of Livers Donated after Cardiac Death

Donation after cardiac death (DCD) has expanded in the last decade in the US; however, DCD liver utilization has flattened in recent years due to poor outcomes. We examined clinical and quality of life (QOL) outcomes of DCD recipients by conducting a retrospective and cross-sectional review of patients from 2003 to 2010. We compared clinical outcomes of DCD recipients (n = 60) to those of donation after brain death (DBD) liver recipients (n = 669) during the same time period. DCD recipients had significantly lower rates of 5-year graft survival (P < 0.001) and a trend toward lower rates of 5-year patient survival (P = 0.064) when compared to the DBD cohort. In order to examine QOL outcomes in our cohorts, we administered the Short Form Liver Disease Quality of Life questionnaire to 30 DCD and 60 DBD recipients. The DCD recipients reported lower generic and liver-specific QOL. We further stratified the DCD cohort by the presence of ischemic cholangiopathy (IC). Patients with IC reported lower QOL when compared to DBD recipients and those DCD recipients without IC (P < 0.05). While the results are consistent with clinical experience, this is the first report of QOL in DCD recipients using standardized measures. These data can be used to guide future comparative effectiveness studies.
Constituents ofCannabis sativa L. XXI: Estrogenic activity of a non-cannabinoid constituent

A non-cannabinoid phenol (4,4,dihydroxy-5-methoxybibenzyl) increased uterine weight in prepubescent female rats, suggesting non-cannabinoids contribute to the estrogenic effects ofCannabis.
Time-dependent response of active composites with thermal, electrical, and mechanical coupling effect

Abstract The mechanical and physical properties of materials change with time. This change can be due to the dissipative characteristic of materials like in viscoelastic bodies and/or due to hostile environmental conditions and electromagnetic fields. We study time-dependent response of active fiber reinforced polymer composites, where the polymer constituent undergoes different viscoelastic deformations at different temperatures, and the electro-mechanical and piezoelectric properties of the active fiber vary with temperatures. A micromechanical model is formulated for predicting effective time-dependent response in active fiber composites with thermal, electrical, and mechanical coupling effects. In this micromechanical model limited information on the local field variables in the fiber and matrix constituents can be incorporated in predicting overall performance of active composites. We compare the time-dependent response of active composites determined from the micromechanical model with those obtained by analyzing the composites with microstructural details. Finite element (FE) is used to analyze the composite with microstructural details which allows quantifying variations of field variables in the constituents of the active composites.
Isolation and synthesis of bishordeninyl terpene alkaloids. Some experiments relating to the natural occurrence of formal Diels-Alder adducts

Abstract Leaves of Zanthozvlum procerum (Rutaceae) yielded two major optically inactive alkaloids, culantraramine and culantraraminol, which were assigned bishordeninyl terpene structures based upon spectral evidence and conversions to known alkaloids. Two minor alkaloids, isomeric with culantraraminol, were also found, along with hordenine and N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Although culantraramine could be viewed as a natural self Diels-Alder adduct of dehydropronylhordenine, when this diene was prepared and reacted, it yielded instead an alternate adduct. This room temperature Diels-Alder reaction does, however, represent a model for the biosynthesis of some other known isolates considered as natural Diels-Alder adducts. A total synthesis of culantraramine and culantraminol was instead achieved in high yield from a prenylalcohol precursor under mild acid conditions. The synthetic reaction also yielded the two minor culantraraminol isomers. All four alkaloids were present in similar amounts in both the synthetic mixture and the crude leaf extract. The reaction used in the synthesis of culantraramine and culantraraminol is suggested to be biomimetic for these and certain other dimeric alkaloids.
VRP immunotherapy targeting neu : treatment efficacy and evidence for immunoediting in a stringent rat mammary tumor model

The ability to overcome intrinsic tolerance to a strict “self” tumor-associated antigen (TAA) and successfully treat pre-existing tumor is the most stringent test for anti-tumor immunotherapeutic strategies. Although this capacity has been demonstrated in various models using complicated strategies that may not be readily translated into the clinical arena, straightforward antigen-specific immunotherapeutic strategies in the most stringent models of common epithelial cancers have largely failed to meet this standard. We employed an immunotherapeutic strategy using an alphavirus-based, virus-like replicon particle (VRP), which has in vivo tropism for dendritic cells, to elicit immune responses to the non-mutated TAA rat neu in an aggressive rat mammary tumor model. Using this VRP-based immunotherapeutic strategy targeting a single TAA, we generated effective anti-tumor immunity in the setting of pre-existing tumor resulting in the cure of 36% of rats over multiple experiments, P = 0.002. We also observed down-regulation of rat neu expression in tumors that showed initial responses followed by tumor escape with resumption of rapid tumor growth. These responses were accompanied by significant anti-tumor proliferative responses and CD8+ cellular tumor infiltrates, all of which were restricted to animals receiving the anti-neu immunotherapy. Together these data, obtained in a stringent “self” TAA model, indicate that the VRP-based antigen-specific immunotherapy elicits sufficiently potent immune responses to exert immunologic pressure, selection, and editing of the growing tumors, thus supporting the activity of this straightforward immunotherapy and suggesting that it is a promising platform upon which to build even more potent strategies.
The Rationale for Intervention to Reduce the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: The Pharmacists' Perspective

The pharmacist can aid individuals using lifestyle strategies for coronary risk reduction. Some of the key methods used by pharmacists include counseling on medication benefits versus risks and compliance. Pharmacists can also assist individuals with lifestyle product selection, which includes a wide variety of items, ranging from appropriate use of nutritional supplements to blood pressure machines, pedometers, or weight loss products.
Capillary force driven primary and secondary unidirectional flow of wetting liquid into porous medium

Abstract The flow dynamics of a unidirectional, spontaneous capillary flow of a wetting liquid into porous medium is investigated numerically and experimentally. With respect to whether the sessile liquid is present or absent at the porous medium surface, the flow within porous medium is referred to as primary and secondary flow, respectively. The primary flow ends once the sessile liquid is imbibed by porous medium, while the secondary flow ceases once the equilibrium liquid distribution in porous medium is achieved. Hence, the wetted volumes of porous medium at the end of the primary and secondary flow can differ significantly. Both primary and secondary flow are solved numerically using a dynamic capillary network model with a micro-force balance, which utilizes the general definition of liquid potential at the liquid free interface. The instantaneous liquid flow quantities, including saturation, flow rate, pressure and capillary pressure at the network pores, are calculated numerically and later averaged to obtain the macroscopic flow characteristics. Three distinct pairs porous medium/liquid: (i) and (ii) flow of two different liquids into the same porous medium, and (iii) flow of one of the previously used liquids into a new porous medium are studied experimentally, and the spatial and time saturation profiles are measured. The capillary network structure is adjusted such that the corresponding numerical and experimental saturation profiles agree. From the numerical solution, the multiphase flow parameters: capillary pressure and relative permeability dependences on the liquid saturation are deduced and referred to as intrinsic properties of the secondary flow. Throughout the secondary flow duration time, each pair of porous medium/liquid shows unique dependences of both capillary pressure and relative permeability as functions of the saturation. Finally, the changes in capillary pressure and relative permeability are compared for distinct pairs of porous medium/liquid.
Importance of oligo-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrates to S. lividans KcsA channel structure and function

In the polyphosphate model of the Streptomyces lividans potassium channel KcsA, four polypeptides, each covalently modified by oligo-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrates (cOHB), surround a core molecule of inorganic polyphosphate (polyP). PolyP attracts, binds, and conducts K+ in response to an electrochemical stimulus whilst the polypeptides govern access to polyP and regulate its selectivity. However, the role of cOHB has remained uncertain. Here we identify cOHB-conjugated residues in the ion pathway, S102 and S129, and mutate them to determine the influence of cOHB on channel properties. We find that the mutations have no discernible effect on tetramer formation or tetramer stability; however, cOHB influences polyP incorporation and/or retention, i.e. single mutants S102G and S129G contain ∼1/3 and double mutant S102G:S129G ≈ 1/2 as much polyP as wild-type. Moreover, planar lipid bilayer studies of wild-type and mutant proteins indicate that cOHB has a critical effect on channel function: at positive potentials, only ∼5% of S102G and S129G currents and <1% of S102G:S129G currents consist of well-structured channels; at negative potentials, S102G and S129G display only irregular conductance and S102G:S129G exhibits no conductance whatsoever. The results indicate that cOHB facilitates the incorporation and/or retention of polyP and plays a critical role in maintaining the flexible polyP molecule in an optimal transbilayer orientation for efficient K+ transport.
Direct observation of nucleation and early stages of growth of GaN nanowires

Abstract We report direct observations of the nucleation and early stages of growth of GaN nanowires. The nanowires were formed by exposing Au+Ga droplets to ammonia. The formation process was observed in situ , and controlled in real time using an environmental transmission electron microscope. Observations show that nuclei forms only at thin region of the Au+Ga, following only the VLS mechanism. The droplet–nanowire interface in the initial stages is multi-faceted, and become planar during the growth. Chemical and structural analysis shows that the resulting nuclei are GaN with the wurtzite structure.
African American Children's Affective Attributions and Consequences Regarding Sociomoral Events

Research Findings: This study examined 56 young (prekindergarten through 2nd grade) urban-dwelling African American children's understanding of the affective attributions and consequences of 3 types of sociomoral rule systems: prosocial, active, and inhibitive morality. It also tested the relationship of affective attributions and consequences to children's behavior. As expected, children's affective responses differed by sociomoral rule system and character role type, supporting the notion of a “happy victimizer” and a subtle attributional shift. Children provided affective attributions that attempted to resolve the dilemmas presented in the different sociomoral vignettes regardless of the affect associated with the vignette. The relationship of children's affective attributions and consequences to their behavior in school was partially supported. Children's affective attributions were significantly associated with their prosocial behavior. However, contrary to predictions, no other significant associati...
The expansion of the universe as a driving mechanism for the evolution of correlations

Abstract Viewed in the average comoving frame, a collection of galaxies evolves under the influence of time-dependent forces, and hence a time-dependent hamiltonian. This time dependence guarantees that, even if the universe were always spatially homogeneous and were completely free of correlations at some initial time, it would eventually develop large-amplitude correlations.
Seventeen years of experience with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in childhood. Is therapy always better

Between 1975 and 1992 450 children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were diagnosed, and of those 100 (22%) developed the chronic form of the disease. Approximately half the patients with chronic ITP presented with mild to moderate hemorrhagic manifestations at the onset of purpura (30 cases) and/or later during the course of the disease (25 cases). The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage was 1%, and the mortality rate due to overwhelming septicemia after splenectomy was also 1%. Overall one-third of the patients received no therapy; two-thirds of them went into spontaneous remission within 8 months to 8 years from the onset of ITP. Steroids given in conventional or high doses (51 cases) achieved a transient (if any) rise in platelet count, but in no case were steroids curative. Remission related to intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy was noticed in 38.5% of the children (10 of 26) after variable courses. The response rate to splenectomy was 95.0%. Ultimately the long-term outcome in children with chronic ITP was as follows: remission, 58 cases (spontaneous, 30; after IVIG therapy, 10; after splenectomy, 18); hemostatic platelet values, 22 cases (spontaneous, 16; after IVIG, 5; after splenectomy, 1). Thirteen children were lost in follow-up, and 7 remain thrombocytopenic but asymptomatic. These data indicate that chronic ITP in childhood runs a benign course in most cases and may remit with or without therapy even several years from onset. Therefore, therapeutic intervention has to be individualized, and splenectomy, which is not always safe, should be reserved for problematic cases that fail to respond to conventional therapeutic modalities.
A review of progress on nano-aperture VCSEL

This paper reviews the progress on nano-aperture vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). The design, fabrication, and polarization control of nano-aperture VCSELs are reviewed. With the nano-aperture evolving from conventional circular and square aperture to unique C-shaped, H-shaped, I-shaped, and bowtie-shaped aperture, both the near-field intensity and near-field beam confinement from nano-aperture VCSELs are significantly improved. As a high-intensity compact light source with sub-100-nm spot size, nano-aperture VCSELs are promising to realize many new near-field optical systems and applications.
Anthropologists and Engineers: Partners in the Field

Occupational subcultures are distinctive patterns of behavior and belief grounded in work-related experiences that are shared by members of an occupational or professional community. For members of such communities, subcultures serve as integrating and orienting frameworks that provide members with an identity, standards of practice, a code of conduct, and a network of colleagues and potential friends (J. Van Maanen and S. Barley, "Occupational Communities: Culture and Control in Organizations," Research in Organizational Behavior 6[1984]:287-365).
Serum IL-6: a candidate biomarker for intracranial pressure elevation following isolated traumatic brain injury

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is a serious, life-threatening, secondary event following traumatic brain injury (TBI). In many cases, ICP rises in a delayed fashion, reaching a maximal level 48-96 hours after the initial insult. While pressure catheters can be implanted to monitor ICP, there is no clinically proven method for determining a patient's risk for developing this pathology. In the present study, we employed antibody array and Luminex-based screening methods to interrogate the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the serum of healthy volunteers and in severe TBI patients (GCS≤8) with or without incidence of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). De-identified samples and ELISAs were used to confirm the sensitivity and specificity of IL-6 as a prognostic marker of elevated ICP in both isolated TBI patients, and polytrauma patients with TBI. Consistent with previous reports, we observed sustained increases in IL-6 levels in TBI patients irrespective of their ICP status. However, the group of patients who subsequently experienced ICP ≥ 25 mm Hg had significantly higher IL-6 levels within the first 17 hours of injury as compared to the patients whose ICP remained ≤20 mm Hg. When blinded samples (n = 22) were assessed, a serum IL-6 cut-off of 128 pg/ml correctly identified 85% of isolated TBI patients who subsequently developed elevated ICP, and values between these cut-off values correctly identified 75% of all patients whose ICP remained ≤20 mm Hg throughout the study period. In contrast, the marker had no prognostic value in predicting elevated ICP in polytrauma patients with TBI. When the levels of serum IL-6 were assessed in patients with orthopedic injury (n = 7) in the absence of TBI, a significant increase was found in these patients compared to healthy volunteers, albeit lower than that observed in TBI patients. Our results suggest that serum IL-6 can be used for the differential diagnosis of elevated ICP in isolated TBI.
Granulosa Cell Tumors of the Equine Ovary

The granulosa cell tumor is the most common ovarian tumor in mares. A clinical diagnosis can be made based on the presence ofa unilaterally enlarged ovary and a small inactive contralateral ovary. Endocrine testing may be beneficial to confirm a diagnosis. Surgical removal of the tumor eliminates the adverse effect on pituitary function and results in resumption of follicular development and ovulation in the opposite ovary over time.
Waiting for Cincinnatus: The role of Pinochet in post-authoritarian Chile

This article explains the persistent influence of General Augusto Pinochet in Chilean politics. After leaving the presidency in 1990, he managed to fuse his personal position with that not only of the institution of the army but of the armed forces as a whole, making Pinochet and the military almost indistinguishable. By doing so Pinochet sought to equate any attack on him with an attack on the institution. The military, in turn, accepted him as its spokesman and defender. He viewed his role as that of Cincinnatus, an emperor twice called to save ancient Rome. Throughout the 1990s Pinochet represented a serious obstacle to democratisation. With his intimate ties to the military institution, his influence - perhaps even after death - can never be discounted.
SoftSig: software-exposed hardware signatures for code analysis and optimization

Many code analysis techniques for optimization, debugging, or parallelization need to perform runtime disambiguation of sets of addresses. Such operations can be supported efficiently and with low complexity with hardware signatures.To enable flexible use of signatures, this paper proposes to expose a Signature Register File to the software through a rich ISA. The software has great flexibility to decide, for each signature,which addresses to collect and which addresses to disambiguate against. We call this architecture SoftSig. In addition, as an example of SoftSig use, we show how to detect redundant function calls efficiently and eliminate them dynamically. We call this algorithm MemoiSE. On average for five popular applications, MemoiSE reduces the number of dynamic instructions by 9.3%, thereby reducing the execution time of the applications by 9%.
Development of a novel hybrid strategy for transcatheter pulmonary valve placement in patients following transannular patch repair of tetralogy of fallot

Background Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (tPVR) is an accepted therapy for treatment of dysfunctional right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) conduits. At present, the majority of Fallot patients who undergo transannular patch (TAP) repair are not candidates for tPVR due to the large irregular nature of their RVOT. Herein, we describe a novel approach to assessing the RVOT in this group, which may then be used to design, test, and carry out hybrid RVOT modification and transcatheter valve implantation in this population. Methods A retrospective analysis of TAP patients who underwent 3D modeling of the RVOT which was then used to develop individualized hybrid procedures designed to modify the RVOT, thereby rendering patients suitable for transcatheter valve implantation. Results Eight consecutive patients underwent 3D RVOT modeling followed by hybrid implantation of a transcatheter valve via a perventricular approach. A landing zone stent was placed in all and four required additional intravascular geometric remodeling of the RVOT prior to valve implant. Transcatheter valves were successfully implanted in all. There were no instances of valve malposition, embolization, or death. There was one minor procedural complication. No patient had more than trivial pulmonary regurgitation at follow-up. Conclusions Using a hybrid approach to remodel the RVOT in TAP patients supported by preprocedural 3D-model planning allows for successful tPVR implantation in this population. A larger cohort and longer follow-up will be needed to determine the ultimate utility of this approach. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The predictive power of empirical relationships describing size selectivity, with application to gadoid fish

Abstract The use of empirical linear relationships between 50% retention length ( L 50% ) and codend mesh size ( MS ) of historical selectivity experiments has been suggested whenever selection data on a particular fish species are not readily available. However, when this procedure has been used in prediction, the predictive power of the fitted regression lines has been largely disregarded. Regression lines with large coefficients of determination (r 2 ) usually significant at α=0.05 or α=0.10, are considered appropriate, and the estimated regression coefficients are used to predict L 50% values for given mesh sizes without any consideration for prediction errors. We analyzed historical data of 689 selectivity experiments for 12 gadoid fish species and calculated an all-gadoids regression line as L 50% =−0.0831 + 0.344 MS ( r 2 =0.739). The predictive power of the regression was assessed by means of the ‘one item out’ cross-validation technique, and was found to be low in spite of the relatively high coefficient of determination. We investigated the effects of more homogeneous data sets on r 2 and predictive power by repeating the regression and cross-validation analyses on subsets including the results of selectivity experiments carried out on the same species, with the same experimental method (alternate-haul or covered codend) and codends of similar material. We found that (1) many simple linear models generally have low predictive powers in spite of their relatively large coefficients of determination, which reduces the value of their predictions for assessment or management purposes, and (2) linear regressions based on more homogeneous data subsets often display smaller prediction errors and larger coefficients of determination. Consequently, we suggest that the predictive power of empirical relationships describing size selectivity should be considered to select the regression line that provides more precise estimates of L 50% .
Blind estimation of OFDM carrier frequency offset via oversampling

Blind deterministic estimation of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) frequency offset via oversampling is proposed in this paper. This method utilizes the intrinsic phase shift of neighboring sample points incurred by the frequency offset that is common among all subcarriers. The proposed method is data efficient - it requires only a single OFDM symbol to achieve reliable estimation, hence making it more suitable to systems with stringent delay requirement and mobility-induced channel variation. The proposed scheme is devised to perfectly retrieve frequency offset in the absence of noise. Quite remarkably, we show that in the presence of channel noise, this intuitive scheme is indeed the maximum likelihood estimate of the carrier frequency offset. The possible presence of virtual carriers are also accommodated in the system model, and some interesting observations are obtained. The Cramer-Rao lower bound is derived for the oversampling-based signal model, and we show through numerical simulation that the proposed algorithm is efficient. Practical issues such as identifiability, the front-end filter bandwidth, and the possible presence of correlated noises are also carefully addressed.
Notes on averaging over acyclic digraphs and discrete coverage control

In this paper, we show the relationship between two algorithms and optimization problems that are the subject of recent attention in the networking and control literature. First, we obtain some results on averaging algorithms over acyclic digraphs with fixed and controlled-switching topology. Second, we discuss continuous and discrete coverage control laws. Further, we show how discrete coverage control laws can be cast as averaging algorithms over discrete Voronoi graphs.
Signal reflection-enabled geographical routing for underwater sensor networks

The 3-D nature of the underwater environment has made geographical-routing a popular choice in underwater acoustic sensor networks (UW-ASNs). A geographical (geo) routing protocol works by using the position information to find the best route from a source to a destination. These algorithms, often try to minimize the line-of-sight (LOS) Euclidean distance between hops, which is not always possible due to blocked LOS paths resulting in voids (or local minimum). Thus, traditional geo-routing algorithms typically employ a face routing recovery scheme that allows for back-tracking when blocked LOS links are encountered, which adds delay to the data delivery time. To overcome this, we propose a geo-routing scheme that does not depend on the LOS and utilize directional antennas to incorporate surface-reflected non-line-of-sight (NLOS) links in the routing process. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm is configured to optimize the route selection to achieve maximum network throughput. Simulation results are provided to validate the performance of the proposed algorithm.
Physical Programming for Production Planning

Hiis paper proposes a model for production planning, and physical programming as an effective method to optimize the production planning process within this model's framework. This model seeks to minimize cost and manufacturing time, while maximizing production rate. The physical programming method is shown to offer an effective setting to address the conflicting nature of these objectives. A numerical example is provided.
Salmonella's Safety Catch

Many pathogenic bacteria disable their host's immune system and thereby protect themselves from destruction by delivering “effector proteins” into the inner, cytosolic compartment of the eukaryotic host cells. Gram-negative bacteria, in particular, have evolved an elaborate “needle complex”—the type III secretion system (T3SS), consisting of more than 20 proteins—to convey an arsenal of effector proteins from their own cytosolic compartment across three membranes directly into the cytosol of the host cell ( 1 ). These bacteria spend much of their lives in transit between eukaryotic hosts, however, and it would be a potentially catastrophic waste of their resources to secrete effector proteins continuously into their environment. On page 1040 of this issue, Yu et al. ( 2 ) describe a system to regulate the secretion process in Salmonella enterica , an important intracellular pathogen of humans and animals.
From conservation to Kirchhoff: getting started in circuits with conservation and accounting

This paper explores the connection between the general "conservation and accounting" approach to engineering science that forms the primary theme of the Foundation Coalition Sophomore Engineering Curriculum at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and the more specialized "Kirchhoff's laws" techniques that are basic for understanding electric circuits. Circuit theory exists as a distinct discipline because of the set of specialized problem-solving techniques that apply to electric circuits. Conservation and accounting techniques provide a powerful set of tools for engineering problem solving, but conservation of charge and conservation of energy are not as useful as Kirchhoff's laws for routine solution of electrical circuit problems. Kirchhoff's laws are not wholly a consequence of the conservation principles. The laws also depend on the "lumped circuit" assumptions that restrict the class of problems to which circuit theory applies. The paper introduces the circuit variables current and voltage, and examines their relation to the conserved quantities of charge and energy. The lumped circuit model is discussed to illustrate the circumstances under which Kirchhoff's laws apply.
Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency: Importance of Proteasomal and Autophagic Degradative Pathways in Disposal of Liver Disease–Associated Protein Aggregates

Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AT) deficiency is the most common genetic cause of liver disease in children. The primary pathological issue is a point mutation that renders an abundant hepatic secretory glycoprotein prone to altered folding and a tendency to polymerize and aggregate. However, the expression of serious liver damage among homozygotes is dependent on genetic and/or environmental modifiers. Several studies have validated the concept that endogenous hepatic pathways for disposal of aggregation-prone proteins, including the proteasomal and autophagic degradative pathways, could play a key role in the variation in hepatic damage and be the target of the modifiers. Exciting recent results have shown that a drug that enhances autophagy can reduce the hepatic load of aggregated protein and reverse fibrosis in a mouse model of this disease.
Sedimentology and Reservoir Architecture of a Synrift Lacustrine Delta, Southeastern Mongolia

Abstract In the East Gobi basin of southeastern Mongolia, non-marine strata fill Jurassic-Cretaceous intracontinental rift basins. Amphitheater-style cliff exposures at Har Hotol on the northern margin of the Unegt subbasin provide more than three kilometers of continuous outcrop, displaying early synrift strata that thicken and coarsen upward from prodelta lacustrine deposits to channelized fluvial sandstone. Outcrop investigations include photopanorama mapping and correlating measured sections, followed by interpretation of lithofacies units and architectural elements. Lithofacies distinctions are based on differences in grain size and bedding style, including massive to planar-bedded mudstone, and lenticular sandstone bodies with erosional bases and common soft-sediment deformation features. Architectural elements are categorized by first-order sedimentary structures (microscale,
INTERMITTENT BURNING AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO PLATEAU BURNING OF COMPOSITE PROPELLANTS

The plateau burning behavior of composite solid propellants consisting of ammonium perchlorate (AP) and hydrocarbon (HC) binder with a bimodal AP particle size distribution (coarse and fine) is examined. The focus is the weak pressure dependence of the propellant burn rate (i.e., a plateau) in an intermediate range of about 2.7-6.9 MPa (-400-1000 psi). The relationship between the appearance of this mid-pressure plateau for a composite propellant and self-extinction during the burning of the corresponding fine AP/binder matrix (i.e., the propellant formulation without the coarse AP particles) is experimentally examined through the study of a compositional array of propellants, sandwiches (two-dimensional propellants) and matrixes. The burning history of the samples was captured with a highspeed digital camera, and surfaces from quenched samples (burning that was self-extinguished or intentionally interrupted) are analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. The combined results indicate the prevalence of intermittent burning of the matrixes as the pressure is varied across the boundary between continuous burning and self-extinction (burn/no-burn boundary). The burning surfaces are marked by extreme threedimensionality coupled with a redistribution of the fine AP particles and the binder. The results point to the need for a more realistic approach to the underlying processes that contribute to plateau burning rate trends in bimodal composite propellants than has been adopted hitherto.
Impact of Assimilating Ocean Velocity Observations Inferred from Lagrangian Drifter Data Using the NCOM-4DVAR

AbstractEulerian velocity fields are derived from 300 drifters released in the Gulf of Mexico by The Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE) during the summer 2012 Grand Lagrangian Deployment (GLAD) experiment. These data are directly assimilated into the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4DVAR) analysis system in a series of experiments to investigate their impact on the model circulation. The NCOM-4DVAR is a newly developed tool for data analysis, formulated for weak-constraint data assimilation based on the indirect representer method. The assimilation experiments take advantage of this velocity data along with other available data sources from in situ and satellite measurements of surface and subsurface temperature and salinity. Three different experiments are done: (i) A nonassimilative NCOM free run, (ii) an assimilative NCOM run that utilizes temperature and salinity observations, and (iii) an assimilativ...
Propagation characteristics of monolithic YBaCuO coplanar strip transmission lines fabricated by laser-writing patterning technique

We report our studies on the propagation characteristics of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/-on-LaAlO/sub 3/ superconducting coplanar strip transmission lines and resonators fabricated with a novel laser-writing patterning technique. The measurements were performed in the 0.1 to 15 GHz frequency range at temperatures between 300 and 24 K. We show that at temperatures below the superconducting critical temperature, the S/sub 21/ parameter of our transmission lines was close to 0 dB at all the frequencies, while the Q-factor of the resonator structure was as high as 5000 at 6 GHz and 24 K. The transmission line propagation velocity was about 10/sup 8/ cm/s. Our results indicate that the laser-writing patterning technique can be effectively used to fabricate high-quality superconducting microwave elements and circuits. >
Measurement of the dc Kerr and electrostrictive phase modulation in silica

We report, to our knowledge, the first polarization-resolved measurement of the frequency dependence of both the electronic and the electrostrictive contributions to the dc Kerr coefficient in silica. At the acoustic resonance the perpendicular polarization phase shift is a factor of 2.3 times greater than in the parallel polarization, confirming the presence of strong electrostriction. We find good agreement between the phase-shift measurements and theoretical models of both the polarization and frequency dependence. The analysis indicates the dc Kerr coefficient χ1111(3)(-ω;ω, 0, 0) to be 1.9×10-22 m2/V2. From these results the electrostrictive contribution to a poled-silica device near the device acoustic resonance is expected to be r33,Es=28 pm/V, over an order of magnitude greater than the electronic Kerr electro-optic coefficient r33,Kerr=0.2 pm/V.
A VLSI architecture for the CCITT G.722 codec

A custom VLSI microcoded architecture for implementing the CCITT G.722 wideband audio coding standard is presented. By tailoring the architecture to the algorithm, an efficient realization is achieved that supports two full duplex channels on a single chip in approximately one-half the chip area of the best reported DSP (digital signal processing) processor based solutions. Simulation of the architecture and its microcode passes all of the G.722 test vectors. >
Emergency Department Patients' Preferences for Technology-Based Behavioral Interventions

Study objective To assess emergency department (ED) patients' preferences for technology-based behavioral interventions, and the demographic factors associated with these preferences. Methods A cross-sectional survey of a random sample of urban ED patients (⩾13 years) from a representative sample of shifts, with oversampling of adolescents/young adults (aged 13 to 24 years). Participants self-administered the survey about baseline technology use, concerns about technology-based interventions, and preferred intervention format for 7 behavioral health topics. We performed descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression (controlling for demographics and then additionally for baseline technology use) to identify factors differentially associated with technology preference for each behavioral topic. Results Of patients presenting during research assistant shifts, 1,429 (≈59%) were screened and 664 (68.2% of eligible) consented to participate. Mean age was 31 years (SD 0.69); 54.5% were female, 64.1% were white, 23.2% were Hispanic, and 46.6% reported low income. Baseline use of computers (91.2%), Internet (70.7%), social networking (66.9%), mobile phones (95.0%), and text messaging (73.8%) was high. Participants reported interest in receiving interventions on each behavioral topic. Ninety percent preferred a technology-based intervention for at least 1 topic. Patients expressed greatest concerns about Internet (51.5%) and social networking (57.6%), particularly about confidentiality. Adjusting for sex, race, ethnicity, and income, younger age associated with preference for technology-based interventions for unintentional injuries (odds ratio 0.63 for technology preference if adult versus youth; 95% confidence interval 0.45 to 0.89) and peer violence (odds ratio 0.63 if adult; 95% confidence interval 0.43 to 0.92). Additionally adjusting for baseline technology usage, only baseline usage was associated with preference for technology-based interventions. Conclusion ED patients reported high baseline technology use, high interest in behavioral health interventions, and varying preferences for technology-based interventions. Future studies should address actual feasibility and acceptability of technology-based interventions in a more generalized population and ways to alleviate concerns about these interventions.