cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The impact of pulmonary nodule size estimation accuracy on the measured performance of automated nodule detection systems

The performance of automated pulmonary nodule detection systems is typically qualified with respect to some minimum size of nodule to be detected. Also, an evaluation dataset is typically constructed by expert radiologists with all nodules larger than the minimum size being designated as true positives while all other smaller detected "nodules" are considered to be false positives. In this paper, we consider the negative impact that size estimation error, either in the establishment of ground truth for the evaluation dataset or by the automated detection method for the size estimate of nodule candidates, has on the measured performance of the detection system. Furthermore, we propose a modified evaluation procedure that addresses the size estimation error issue. The impact of the size measurement error was estimated for a documented research image database consisting of whole-lung CT scans for 509 cases in which 690 nodules have been documented. We compute FROC curves both with and without size error compensation and we found that for a minimum size limit of 4 mm the performance of the system is underestimated by a sensitivity reduction of 5% and a false positive rate increase of 0.25 per case. Therefore, error in nodule size estimation should be considered in the evaluation of automated detection systems.
Vibrational analysis of infrared spectra of matrix-isolated transient silenes on basis of density functional theory calculations

Abstract The infrared spectra of matrix-isolated transient silenes, R 2 SiC R 2 , with the substituents R such as H, D, Cl, CH 3 , CD 3 at Si and H, D, CH 3 at C, have been interpreted by comparison with the density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP/6-311G(d,p), calculated harmonic vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities and additional computation of potential energy distribution for normal modes. The calculated unscaled frequencies deviate only by 2%–3% from the experimental ones and thus demonstrate the high reliability of the DFT approximation in predicting the spectra of silenes, out-performing the ab initio methods in accuracy. The DFT-based vibrational analysis confirms the previous CI/DZ + P normal mode description given for parent silene H 2 SiCH 2 by Schaefer, and substantially changes the MNDO or force field approximated assignments for observed IR absorptions in all other studied silenes, in particular, those of the CH 2 (CD 2 ) wagging modes. These “olefinic” frequencies are found to be red-shifted by 200–250 cm −1 , relative to those in corresponding alkenes. The SiC force constants in internal coordinates and π-bond orders, calculated to be within 5.36–5.75 and 1.62–1.71 mdyn/A, respectively, are in line with the changes in the SiC bond lengths depending on the substituents.
Charge Transfer Between Polypyrrole Coated n-Si Electrodes And Solid Polymer Electrolytes

Abstract We have developed photoelectrochemical cells based on rectifying junctions between n-Si and thin film polymer solid electrolytes. We describe various surface modifications applied to the n-Si electrodes which overcome a high activation energy barrier for efficient charge transfer to redox ions in the polymer solid electrolytes. Solvent free solid polymer electrolytes represent an important new class of ionically conducting materials (1). Their compatibility with thin film technology makes them potential candidates for a wide variety of technological applications. We have developed a new type of photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) based on rectifying junctions between semiconductor electrodes and thin film polymer solid electrolytes. This holds out the hope of being able t o manufacture all thin film solid state PEC's without the semiconductor surface corrosion problems associated with liquid electrolyte PEC's. In addition, it allows easy construction of multispectral thin film cells based on more tha...
Retained nail in the heart.

![Figure][1] We report an amazing case of a 69-year-old man who accidently shot himself with a power-driven nail gun and ended up having 16 finishing nails (2.5-inch) in his left chest. Panel A is a computed tomography (CT) scan of his chest showing the multiple nails embedded in the heart.
A dynein-like protein from brain

Dynein forms the arms on the microtubule doublets of cilia and flagella [l-3] , has a monomeric sedimentation coefficient of approximately 14 S [l-S] , and separates on SDSpolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into two high molecular weight components [S, 61. In the presence of Mg2+ or Ca2+, dynein catalyzes the hydrolysis of ATP [3-5,7]. The bending of cilia and flagella is thought to result from the sliding of adjacent microtubule doublets [8, 91, affected by the dynein-dependent hydrolysis of ATP [lo, 111. We have detected a brain protein with physical properties similar to those of one of the Spisu2a sperm tail dyneins, although the isolated brain protein has little or no ATPase activity. This dynein-like protein is associated with microtubules reassembled in vitro.
The future's poor: Projecting the population eligible for federal housing assistance

Abstract Microanalytic simulation techniques are used to show that, under a reasonable set of assumptions, the real income of elderly households can be projected to grow at a rate higher than that of other population groups over the next several decades. Simulation modeling also shows that current low marriage and fertility rates and high divorce rates, if continued, will lead to a future population that is proportionately more elderly and of smaller average family size. A number of federal, state, and local assistance programs restrict eligibility to low-income households. In an application to the major federal housing assistance program, it is shown that future growth in the number of elderly households may well be offset by their relatively high income growth, leaving the proportion elderly among those eligible for assistance essentially unchanged over the next 40 years. The findings imply that future changes in the demographic composition of the U.S. population may not be reflected in the composition of the low-income population. This possibility should be considered in planning assistance programs targeted on the poor.
A method for the evaluation of radiographic opaques.

A method for the preliminary evaluation of radiographic opaques in vitro has been developed. The method employs a device holding X-ray film, photometric absorption cells containing opaque media, and aluminum strips of varying density as reference standards. The method eliminates sources of error such as thickness of solution layer and exposure and developing times. No relationship between chemical structure and opacity was found in a series of compounds. A relationship between chemical composition and opacity has been found.
σ-Receptor Regulation of [3H]Arachidonic Acid Release from Rat Neonatal Cerebellar Granule Cells in Culture

Sigma receptors have been identified in many brain areas and are especially abundant in those regions known to be involved in control of movement. Sigma receptors have been located autoradiographically in the granule cell layer of cerebellum in adult rat brain. In the current study, we identified sigma receptors in rat neonatal granule cells in culture using radioligand binding. The tritium labeled form of the putative sigma antagonist haloperidol bound with high affinity to membranes prepared from these cells, and ligands selective for sigma receptors competed well against [3H]haloperidol binding. The excitatory amino acid N-methyl-D-aspartate and the direct phospholipase A2 activator melittin stimulated the release of [3H]arachidonic acid from cerebellar granule cells. The N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated, but not the melittin-stimulated, release was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by the sigma-selective agonist (+)-pentazocine. In addition, the novel sigma 1 agonist BD737 inhibited N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated release. Pentazocine inhibition was almost completely reversed by the sigma antagonists NPC-16377 and opipramol. A 1 microM concentration of the phencyclidine receptor-selective ligand MK-801 inhibited approximately 65% of N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated release. These results suggest that sigma receptors may play a role in modulating arachidonic acid release in cerebellar granule cells.
Self-Categorization With a Novel Mixed-Race Group Moderates Automatic Social and Racial Biases:

People perceive and evaluate others according to social categories. Yet social perception is complicated by the fact that people have multiple social identities, and selfcategorization with these identities shifts from one situation to another. Two experiments examined whether self-categorization with a novel mixed-race group would override automatic racial bias. Participants assigned to a mixed-race group had more positive automatic evaluations of Black ingroup than Black outgroup members. Comparing these evaluations to Black and White faces unaffiliated with either group indicated this preference was driven by ingroup bias rather than outgroup derogation. Moreover, both outgroup and unaffiliated faces elicited automatic racial bias (White > Black), suggesting that automatic evaluations are sensitive to both the current intergroup context (positive evaluations of novel ingroup members) and race (racial bias toward outgroup and unaffiliated faces). These experiments provide evidence that self-categorization can override automatic racial bias and that automatic evaluations shift between and within social contexts.
Evidence in Support of Signaling Endosome-Based Retrograde Survival of Sympathetic Neurons

The mechanism by which target-derived Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) signaling is propagated retrogradely, over extremely long distances, to cell bodies to support survival of neurons is unclear. Here we show that survival of sympathetic neurons supported by NGF on distal axons requires the kinase activity of the NGF receptor, TrkA, in both distal axons and cell bodies. In contrast, disruption of TrkA activity exclusively in proximal axonal segments affects neither retrograde NGF-TrkA signaling in cell bodies nor neuronal survival. Ligand-receptor internalization is necessary for survival of neurons supported by NGF on distal axons. Furthermore, antibody neutralization experiments indicate that retrogradely transported NGF, within cell bodies, is critical for neuronal survival but not for growth of distal axons. Taken together, our results indicate that retrogradely transported NGF-TrkA complexes promote sympathetic neuron survival.
Selection for Reduction of Beak-Inflicted Injuries Among Caged Hens,

Abstract The effectiveness of selection for hen-days without beak-inflicted injuries was studied. The base population was known to have a high incidence of beak-inflicted injuries when pullets' beaks were intact. Data from the foundation stock yielded nonsignificant family heritability estimates ranging from .05 to .17, depending on length of the test period (varying from 16 to 28 to 16 to 40 wk of age) and number of six-hen cages per family (one to three). Selection was practiced on sire family groups of either 30 or 36 pullets. Birds used for selection were housed six birds per cage and had intact beaks. The criterion of selection was mean hen-days without beak-inflicted injuries from 16 to 40 wk of age. Three selected and three unselected strains were involved. After two generations, mean hen-days without beak-inflicted injuries from 16 to 40 wk of age were 164.8 and 155.3 for selected and unselected stocks, respectively, yielding a realized family heritability of .65 ± .13 (SE). Selection did not appear to alter the relative frequency of beak-inflicted injuries by body regions affected; about 30% of all injuries involved the vent-cloacal area. Egg production traits were measured also. No differences were detected in Generation 1, but selected pullets had higher hen-housed rates of lay and egg mass in Generation 2. It is tentatively concluded that stocks having high levels of cannibalism when kept with intact beaks can benefit from selection against beak-inflicted injuries when evaluated by techniques similar to those used in the present study.
Response to Comment on: Cryer. Severe Hypoglycemia Predicts Mortality in Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2012;35:1814–1816

I am pleased that Kerner and Volzke (1) believe, based on their experience and assumptions, that the death rate from hypoglycemia in their patients with type 1 diabetes is lower than in the published literature. In my commentary (2) on the report of McCoy et al. (3) of a 3.4-fold higher mortality in patients with diabetes who self-reported severe hypoglycemia …
Video Relighting Using Infrared Illumination

Inappropriate lighting is often responsible for poor quality video. In most offices and homes, lighting is not designed for video conferencing. This can result in unevenly lit faces, distracting shadows, and unnatural colors. We present a method for relighting faces that reduces the effects of uneven lighting and color. Our setup consists of a compact lighting rig and a camera that is both inexpensive and inconspicuous to the user. We use unperceivable infrared (IR) lights to obtain an illumination bases of the scene. Our algorithm computes an optimally weighted combination of IR bases to minimize lighting inconsistencies in foreground areas and reduce the effects of colored monitor light. However, IR relighting alone results in images with an unnatural ghostly appearance, thus a retargeting technique is presented which removes the unnatural IR effects and produces videos that have substantially more balanced intensity and color than the original video.
Clinical and Economic Impact of Empirical Extended-Infusion Piperacillin-Tazobactam in a Community Medical Center

Background: Current medical center practice allows for the automatic conversion of all piperacillin/tazobactam orders from intermittent to extended infusion (EI). Objective: To compare the clinical and cost impact of empirical extended-infusion piperacillin/tazobactam. Methods: All consecutive patients treated with piperacillin/tazobactam for >48 hours were reviewed for inclusion. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: (1) traditional infusion (TI), preprotocol implementation, and (2) EI, postprotocol implementation. Patient demographics and primary and secondary diagnoses were extracted from the hospital discharge database. All patients were assessed for the primary end point of all cause 14-day in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay, duration of antibiotic therapy, cost per treatment course, and occurrence of Clostridium difficile infection. Results: A total of 2150 patients were included (EI = 632; TI = 1518). After adjusting for comorbidity, length of stay, and age...
Endovascular repair of thoracic aortic pathology.

Endovascular repair of thoracic aortic pathology is an evolving and increasingly attractive alternative to open repair. Endograft technology and delivery systems have improved rapidly since their introduction in the 1990s, and early and mid-term results for currently available devices are promising. No individual device has proven to be superior as no comparative trials have been performed. However, each available device is unique in its characteristics to treat aortic disease: GORE® TAG® (WL Gore and Associates, AZ, USA), Zenith® (TX1® and TX2®, Cook, IN, USA), and Talent™ (Medtronic Vascular, CA, USA). In addition to a prerequisite set of endovascular skills, a detailed knowledge of different graft designs and an understanding of aortic pathology significantly affect the efficacy of endovascular repair of thoracic aortic disease. This article focuses on the currently available devices, their characteristics and pivotal clinical trial results.
Interactions between limb and environmental mechanics influence stretch reflex sensitivity in the human arm.

Stretch reflexes contribute to arm impedance and longer-latency stretch reflexes exhibit increased sensitivity during interactions with compliant or unstable environments. This increased sensitivity is consistent with a regulation of arm impedance to compensate for decreased stability of the environment, but the specificity of this modulation has yet to be investigated. Many tasks, such as tool use, compromise arm stability along specific directions, and stretch reflexes tuned to those directions could present an efficient mechanism for regulating arm impedance in a task-appropriate manner. To be effective, such tuning should adapt not only to the mechanical properties of the environment but to those properties in relation to the arm, which also has directionally specific mechanical properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the specificity of stretch reflex modulation during interactions with mechanical environments that challenge arm stability. The tested environments were unstable, having the characteristics of a negative stiffness spring. These were either aligned or orthogonal to the direction of maximal endpoint stiffness for each subject. Our results demonstrate preferential increases in reflexes, elicited within 50–100 ms of perturbation onset, to perturbations applied specifically along the direction of the destabilizing environments. This increase occurred only when the magnitude of the environmental instability exceeded endpoint stiffness along the same direction. These results are consistent with task-specific reflex modulation tuned to the mechanical properties of the environment relative to those of the human arm. They demonstrate a highly adaptable, involuntary mechanism that may be used to modulate limb impedance along specific directions.
Intrinsic Rewards in School Crime

The systemic structure of a school provides opportunities for both prosocial and antisocial behavior. Actions in a school may be motivated by (1) the extrinsic mechanisms of discipline and grades, (2) the means-end relationship of school behavior to students’ long-term goals, and (3) the immediate intrinsic satisfactions obtainable in different activities. This chapter treats the third type, intrinsic motivation. Using previous research, the authors propose that the state of enjoyment occurs when a person is challenged at a level matched to his level of skills. According to the model, the experience of meetable challenges requires the perception of a constrained set of possible actions, clearly defined goals, and opportunities for unambiguous feedback. The system of rules in a formal game provides these prerequisites. The systemic structure of a school can also provide the conditions of enjoyable involvement. Ideally, learning should involve systemic involvement in sequences of challenges internalized by students. However, evidence indicates that such involvement is rare and is often subverted by the school itself. Without such opportunities, antisocial behavior provides an alternate framework of challenges for bored students. Disruption of classes, vandalism, and violence in schools are, in part, attempts by adolescents to obtain enjoyment in otherwise lifeless schools. Restructuring education in terms of intrinsic motivation would not only reduce school crime but would also accomplish the goal of teaching youths how to enjoy life constructively.
Toward sustainable dairy waste utilization: enhanced VFA and biogas synthesis via upcycling algal biomass cultured on waste effluent

BACKGROUND In 2012, 9.3 million head of dairy cows in the USA produced an estimated 20 million metric tons of manure solids, but little value was gained from this manure. There is a pressing need to enhance manure resource recovery efforts, as dairy manure has potentially significant environmental impacts. This study evaluated components of an integrated suite of biological processes designed to maximize resource recovery from dairy manure, in which algae grown on polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production effluent (PHA-algae) were fermented and anaerobically digested to determine process impacts. RESULTS A 10% PHA-algae supplement produced 11% more volatile fatty acids (VFA) during fermentation and 11% more methane during anaerobic digestion (AD) (vs. dairy manure); the PHA-algae biogas also contained a higher percentage (62.7 vs. 59.1%) of methane than manure biogas. Algal augmentation exhibited no negative effect on fermenter or AD operation. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that the ADs contained substantial populations of both acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogens, which, given the heterogeneous substrate, enhanced process stability. There were significant differences between PHA-algae batches, and large quantities of COD were released during algae freezing. CONCLUSION PHA-algae yielded more VFA during fermentation, and a more methane-rich biogas following AD than dairy manure. A 10% PHA-algae supplement caused no process disturbance in normal manure flora. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Transfer of metal MEMS packages using a wafer-level solder transfer technique

This paper presents a modular, low profile, wafer-level encapsulation technology for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) packaging. Electroplated caps are formed on top of a solder transfer layer previously deposited on a carrier wafer, then simultaneously transferred and bonded to a device wafer by a novel solder transfer method and transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding technology. The solder transfer method is enabled by the dewetting of the solder transfer layer from the carrier wafer and TLP bonding of the cap to the device wafer during bonding. The bond and transfer cycle has a maximum temperature of 300/spl deg/C and lasts about 2.5 h. This approach has been demonstrated with nickel (Ni) caps as thin as 5 microns, with thicker caps certainly possible, ranging in size from 200 /spl mu/m to 1 mm. They were transferred with a lead-tin (Pb-Sn) solder layer and bonded with nickel-tin (Ni-Sn) TLP bonding with greater than 99% transfer yield across the wafer.
Challenges to Hospital Discharge Planning for Older Adults

Hospital discharge planning for older adults is an essential component to successful transitional care and will become increasingly important as hospitals face financial penalties for avoidable readmissions. This study reports a cross-sectional descriptive web-based survey study about challenges to discharge planning experienced by hospitals in the Midwestern state of Missouri. Problems identified by respondents included difficulties finding placement for patients requiring ventilator care, hemodialysis, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, wound vacuums, or who have mental health care needs. In general, urban hospitals reported more problems with finding postacute discharge destinations for patients than did rural hospitals. It is essential that nursing homes, residential care facilities, and home health agencies be adequately reimbursed to manage complex patients. It may be equally important to identify ways to develop critical assessment and care management skills that are needed in postacute staff to increase the likelihood that patients will be accepted at the time of hospital discharge.
Research in Special Education: A Commentary

Special educators have given little attention to the historical roots of their practice or research. The history of special education suggests that interventions become disabling when they are based on improbable extrapolations from initial data and when advocates' interpretations are naively literal. Similarities are noted between nineteenth century efforts to educate students with mental retardation and current efforts to accommodate all mildly handicapped students in regular classes. Alternatives to special education research in the natural science tradition, including holism and qualitative research, are discussed. Findings from quantitative research are concluded to be a necessary though not sufficient guide for competent practice. Educational research in the scientific tradition, including articles in this issue, can contribute to humane decisions about students.
Texture classification using wavelet packet and Fourier transforms

A new texture classification algorithm using wavelet packet transform is proposed. It uses principal component analysis technique and statistical distance measurement to combine and select frequency channel features to give improved classification performance. Comparison is also made between wavelet packet transform features and Fourier transform features on a set of eight optical texture images with several level of white noise added. Both algorithms are successfully applied to the classification of under-ice sidescan sonar images.
Overactive Bladder: A Better Understanding of Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Management

Purpose: We reviewed current information regarding the updated definitions, prevalence, etiologies, disease burden, and management of OAB from a number of perspectives, including professional impact and patient quality of life.Materials and Methods: Published literature and current treatment concepts were reviewed regarding the understanding and management of OAB.Results: OAB is a symptom syndrome including urinary urgency with or without urinary incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia. Approximately 17% of the adult population experience OAB. There are evolving theories regarding its pathophysiology and the mechanism of action of the most commonly prescribed pharmacological therapy (antimuscarinic agents). Treatment primarily revolves around improving quality of life.Conclusions: Behavioral therapy combined with pharmacological therapy often will bring about acceptable outcomes for patients with OAB. Modalities such as botulinum toxin injections, neuromodulation, and various surgical interventi...
The Weathered Corrugations of His Face: A Performative Reflection on Nelson Mandela, Self, and the Call for Racial (Un)Becoming

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the death of Nelson Rolihlahla MANDELA, this self-exploratory narrative study utilizes a Butlerian performative theoretical framework to both uncover discursively regulated social practices as generative of raced identity ensconced in belonging , and the undoing of such identity through the redeployment of social practices predicated instead on a Weltanschauung of becoming . While the accountable subject of autoethnographic work is concomitantly problematized, fluid subjectivity is itself demonstrated as crucial to historical accountability. A resultant appeal for white South Africans to actively begin the work of defamiliarizing themselves with the sanitized dominant popular culture representation of the peace icon , this research ultimately calls for new existential reflection upon the face of Nelson MANDELA so as to begin uncovering its deeper historical significance, contemporary relevance, and the future ethical imperative it demands of those who come from a liminal position of, as J.M. COETZEE once wrote, "no longer European, not yet African" (1988, p.11). In short, it is argued that white South Africans need to move from a condition of belonging predicated on raced identity to one of transracial—and even interracial—African becoming . URN: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs150223
Ethanol Inhibits Antigen Presentation by Dendritic Cells

Previous studies suggest that altered virus-specific T-cell responses observed during chronic ethanol exposure may be due to abnormal functioning of dendritic cells (DCs). Here we explored the effects of ethanol on exogenous antigen presentation by DCs. BALB/c, C57BL/6, and CBA/caj mice were fed ethanol or an isocaloric control diet for 8 weeks. The splenic DC population was expanded using an Flt3L expression plasmid via tail vein injection. DCs were purified and assessed for antigen presentation and processing and for peptide-major histocompatibility complex class I and II (MHCI and MHCII) formation on the cell surface. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was measured as an indicator of antigen-specific T-cell activation by DCs in coculture. Antigen processing and peptide-MHCII complexes were evaluated by flow cytometry. We observed that ethanol not only suppressed allogeneic peptide presentation to T cells by DCs but also altered presentation of exogenous ovalbumin (OVA) peptide 323-339 to an OVA-specific DO11 T-cell line as well as to OVA-sensitized primary T cells. Smaller amounts of peptide-MHCII complexes were found on the DCs isolated from the spleens of ethanol-fed mice. In contrast to MHCII presentation, cross-presentation of exogenous OVA peptide via MHCI by DCs remained intact. More importantly, ethanol-exposed DCs had reduced B7-DC and enhanced ICOS-L (inhibitory) costimulatory molecule expression. Ethanol inhibits exogenous and allogeneic antigen presentation and affects the formation of peptide-MHCII complexes, as well as altering costimulatory molecule expression on the cell surface. Therefore, DC presentation of peptides in a favorable costimulatory protein environment is required to subsequently activate T cells and appears to be a critical target for the immunosuppressive effects of ethanol.
Mass gap in quantum energy-mass spectrum of relativistic Yang-Mills fields

A non-perturbative relativistic quantum Yang-Mills theory with a semisimple compact gauge Lie group on the four-dimensional Minkowski spacetime is set up in a Schroedinger representation with infinite-dim ensional differential operators in the framework of sesqui-holomorphic nuclear Kree-Gelfand triples. The linear quantum Yang-Mills energy-mass operator H is defined as the anti-normal quantization of the non-linear Yang-Mills energy-mass functional of Cauchy data supported by a ball B(R) with the center at the origin of R 3 and the variable radius R > 0. The general global solution of the non-linear YangMills system of partial differential equations (with no res trictions at infinity) is reduced to the solution of the initial value problems in the t emporal gauge with the Cauchy data supported by the balls B(R). It is shown that H dominates the number operator N. Since 0 is the spectral infimum of H and, simultaneously, the simple fundamental eigenvalue of N, variational spectral principles imply that 0 is the simple fundamental eigenvalue of N as well. Thus H has a positive mass gap. The domination proof depends crucially on the magic of the Killing quadratic form that reveals a mass quadratic form in the Weyl symbol of H. With a dimensional transmutation of the coupling constant, the mass gap is proportional to 1/R and the running coupling constant is proportional to √ R. The inverse dependence demonstrates an asymptotic freedom for quantum Yang-Mills self-interaction at short distances. The mathematically rigorous theory is non-perturbative and provides a solution for the 7th Clay Institute Millennium problem.
Thermodynamic Properties of Mesoscale Convective Systems Observed during BAMEX

Dropsonde observations from the Bow Echo and Mesoscale Convective Vortex Experiment (BAMEX) are used to document the spatiotemporal variability of temperature, moisture, and wind within mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). Onion-type sounding structures are found throughout the stratiform region of MCSs, but the temperature and moisture variability is large. Composite soundings were constructed and statistics of thermodynamic variability were generated within each subregion of the MCS. The calculated air vertical velocity helped identify subsaturated downdrafts. It was found that lapse rates within the cold pool varied markedly throughout the MCS. Layered wet-bulb potential temperature profiles seem to indicate that air within the lowest several kilometers comes from a variety of source regions. It was also found that lapse-rate transitions across the 0°C level were more common than isothermal, melting layers. The authors discuss the implications these findings have and how they can be used to validate future high-resolution numerical simulations of MCSs.
A Length–Weight Relationship for Channel Catfish Grown under Commercial Conditions in Mississippi

Abstract A length-weight relationship was developed for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), 13–67 cm total length, grown under commercial conditions in Mississippi. In total, 8,885 fish were sampled from ponds stocked at 11,100 to 19,800 fish/hectare. Predicted weight from total length is based on the equation log e (weight, g) = 0.27357209 + 0.25646117 cm – 0.003298348 cm2 + 0.0000184 cm3 (r 2 = 0.9885). This relationship is very similar to that found for pond-raised channel catfish in Kansas, but weights for pond-raised fish up to 55 cm total length were greater than those for wild channel catfish in Alabama.
Evidence for processivity and two-step binding of the RNA substrate from studies of J1/2 mutants of the Tetrahymena ribozyme.

J1J2 of the Tetrahymena ribozyme, a sequence of three A residues, connects the RNA-binding site to the catakflic core. Addition or deletion of bases from J1/2 improves turnover and substrate specificity in the site-specific endonuclease reaction catalyzed by this ribozyme: G2CCCUCUA5 (S) + G + GzCCCUCU (P) + GAS. These paradoxical enhancements are caused by decreased affinity of the ribozyme for S and P (Young, B., Herschlag, D., & Cech, T. R. (1991) Cell 67, 10071. An additional property of these mutant ribozymes, decreased fidelity of RNA cleavage, is now analyzed. (Fidelity is the ability to cleave at the correct phosphodiester bond within a particular RNA substrate.) Introduction of deoxy residues to give "chimeric" ribo/deoxyribooligonucleotides changes the positions of incorrect cleavage. Previous work indicated that S is bound to the ribozyme by both base pairing and tertiary interactions involving 2'-hydroxyl groups of S. The data herein strongly suggest that the P1 duplex, which consists of S base-paired with the 5' exon binding site of the ribozyme, can dock into tertiary interactions in different registers; different 2'-hydroxyl groups of S plug into tertiary contacts with the ribozyme in the different registers. It is concluded that the mutations decrease fidelity by increasing the probability of docking out of register relative to docking in the normal register, thereby giving cleavage at different positions along S. These data also show that the contribution of J1/2 to the tertiary interactions is indirect, not direct. Thus, a structural role of the nonconserved J1/2 is indicated: this sequence positions S to optimize tertiary binding interactions and to ensure cleavage at the phosphodiester bond corresponding to the 5' splice site. Substitution of sulfur for the nonbridging pro-Rp oxygen atom at the normal cleavage site has no effect on (kCat/K,,Js but decreases the fraction of cleavage at the normal site in reactions catalyzed by the -3A mutant ribozyme, which has all three A residues of J1/2 removed, Thus, the ribozyme chooses where to cleave S after rate-limiting binding of S, indicating that docking can change after binding and suggesting that the ribozyme could act processively. Indeed, it is shown that the +2A ribozyme cleaves at one position along an RNA substrate and then, before releasing that RNA product, cleaves it again. The ability of the substrate helix to move from one binding register to another without dissociation leads to a two-step model for RNA binding to the ribozyme: an "open" complex, in which S is held only by base-pairing interactions, precedes a "closed" complex, in which the base-paired duplex is docked into tertiary interactions. The change from the open to the closed complex can be described as an induced-fit conformational change, one which is able to contribute to specificity.
Adhesion of benzocyclobutene-passivated silicon in epoxy layered structures

Adhesion and subcritical debonding at interfaces between a silica-filled epoxy underfill and a silicon die passivated by silicon nitride and benzocyclobutene (BCB) layers were investigated. Adhesion was measured in terms of a critical value of the applied strain energy release rate, G (J/m2 ). Subcritical debond-growth rates in the range of 10−9 to 10−3 m/s were characterized as a function of applied G. Adhesion and subcritical debonding were affected by changes in interfacial chemistry and environment. The surprisingly large effect of adjacent layer elastic properties on interfacial adhesion was demonstrated with simulations of interfacial fracture using a mechanics of materials approach. Interfacial chemistry was modified by using different adhesion promoters, by varying the BCB cure state, and by using different epoxy underfill resins. The effects of environmental variables were studied with temperature- and humidity-controlled environments in order to determine the separate roles of moisture activity and temperature.
Discourse markers and global coherence in conversation

Abstract How do conversationalists manage to understand each other? Close analysis of British and American conversations (from the London-Lund-Corpus and the Santa Barbara Corpus of Spoken American English) reveals clearly that we use structural items that reach beyond the scope of discourse markers as were analyzed by Schiffrin (1987). I call these global discourse markers because of their global orientation within the discourse. It seems that global discourse markers mostly occur at the beginning and at the end of digressions, as well as with topic shifts and topic drifts. In this paper, two of these items, however and still, are described in their structuring functions within ongoing discourse, and examples from the corpora are given, indicating that differences in global coherence strategies exist between the two large varieties of English.
Managing weather and climate risks to agriculture in North America, Central America and the Caribbean

Abstract In recent decades, numerous weather- and climate-related natural disasters have impacted North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, repeatedly demonstrating how vulnerable local agriculture is to extreme episodic events. Given this recent history, and expectations that the frequency and intensity of some episodic events will increase with climate change, it is becoming increasingly important for farmers to proactively manage weather and climate risks to agriculture to protect their livelihoods. Some farmers in this region already apply various strategies to help reduce weather and climate risks and uncertainties, including farming in multiple locations, diversifying crops and varieties, seeking alternative sources of income, and purchasing crop insurance. Such efforts often help farmers maintain a more stable income while also protecting and preserving the productivity of the land. Other farmers, however, have failed to implement basic risk management strategies despite the clear benefits. Reasons for these failures can be attributed to inadequate farmer education and training, a lack of tools to help facilitate the practical application of risk management concepts, and poor communications between the agrometeorological and farming communities. The agrometeorological community can help overcome these obstacles by building upon existing efforts that have successfully educated farmers about weather and climate risks to agriculture and have equipped farmers with the data, tools, and applications necessary to manage these risks. Farmer input is critical to preparing effective educational and training materials and developing user-friendly risk management tools. The agrometeorological community should solicit input from farmers regularly to ensure that farmers are obtaining the information necessary to effectively manage weather and climate risks to agriculture.
Developmental Defects of Caenorhabditis elegans Lacking Branched-chain α-Ketoacid Dehydrogenase Are Mainly Caused by Monomethyl Branched-Chain Fatty Acid Deficiency

Branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKDH) catalyzes the critical step in the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolic pathway and has been the focus of extensive studies. Mutations in the complex disrupt many fundamental metabolic pathways and cause multiple human diseases including maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), autism, and other related neurological disorders. BCKDH may also be required for the synthesis of monomethyl branched-chain fatty acids (mmBCFAs) from BCAAs. The pathology of MSUD has been attributed mainly to BCAA accumulation, but the role of mmBCFA has not been evaluated. Here we show that disrupting BCKDH in Caenorhabditis elegans causes mmBCFA deficiency, in addition to BCAA accumulation. Worms with deficiency in BCKDH function manifest larval arrest and embryonic lethal phenotypes, and mmBCFA supplementation suppressed both without correcting BCAA levels. The majority of developmental defects caused by BCKDH deficiency may thus be attributed to lacking mmBCFAs in worms. Tissue-specific analysis shows that restoration of BCKDH function in multiple tissues can rescue the defects, but is especially effective in neurons. Taken together, we conclude that mmBCFA deficiency is largely responsible for the developmental defects in the worm and conceivably might also be a critical contributor to the pathology of human MSUD.
Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk – Launch of a New Journal

Natural hazards are related to land, ocean and atmosphere and are observed throughout the globe. Frequent occurrence of natural hazards is common and can take place at any time, day and season and ...
Finding vibrations of inclined cable structures by approximately solving governing equations for exterior matrix

In this paper, how to compute the eigenfrequencies of the structures composed of a series of inclined cables is shown. The physics of an inclined cable can be complicated, so solving the differential equations even approximately is difficult. However, rather than solving the system of 4 first-order equations governing the dynamics of each cable, the governing equations are instead converted to a set of equations that the exterior matrix satisfies. Therefore, the exterior matrix method (EMM) is used without solving the original governing equations. Even though this produces a system of 6 first-order equations, the simple asymptotic techniques to find the first three terms of the perturbative solution can be used. The solutions can then be assembled to produce a 6 × 6 exterior matrix for a cable section. The matrices for each cable in the structure are multiplied together, along with the exterior matrices for each joint. The roots of the product give us the eigenfrequencies of the system.
Chairman’s Introduction: Specialized Functions

The final session on specialized functions was concerned with studies of plasmids that determine virulence in plants and humans and others that specify antibiotic resistance in human bacterial pathogens.
Estimating survival probability in stage III melanoma: A multivariable individualized patient risk assessment nomogram

8020 Background: Recent revisions in the AJCC staging system have increased its complexity without comparable improvement in prognostic accuracy for patients with Stage III melanoma. Furthermore, t...
Association of parathyroid hyperplasia with neoplasia.

A case of parathyroid tumor in association with chief-cell hyperplasia of the other three glands is presented. The literature concerning the synchronous association of hyperplasia and neoplasia is reviewed. It is concluded that long-continued hyperactivity of the parathyroids, in the form of either primary or secondary hyperplasia, may result in the formation of an adenoma.
32. The spectrum of paediatric liver disease seen in a children's hospital

Background The spectrum of hepatobiliary disease in infancy and childhood has not been reported in our population. Ours is an 830-bed hospital and academic healthcare institution for women and children in the country and the region. Aims The aim is to study the histological spectrum of paediatric hepatobiliary diseases encountered in this children's hospital. Methods The electronic histopathology record was retrospectively reviewed to identify all surgical specimens from liver, including biopsies and resection specimens, from patients under the age of 18 years over a 5-year period (from January 2009 to December 2013). Results There were 83 liver specimens over the 5-year period. 85.5% of cases were biopsies. The diagnoses of 18 cases (21.7%) were neoplasms, of which 10 were primary liver tumours (hepatoblastoma 8, hepatocellular carcinoma 1, mesenchymal hamartoma 1) and 8 were metastases (metastatic neuroblastoma 6, desmoplastic small round cell tumour 1 and germ cell tumour 1). 51.6% of cases were from infants under the age of 1 year. Non neoplastic cases accounted for 88.4% and included 25 cases of extrahepatic biliary atresia, 5 cases of choledochal cyst and 4 cases of neonatal hepatitis. 24.1% of cases were from children aged 1 to 5 years. Non neoplastic cases accounted for 50% and included 4 cases of choledochal cyst and 2 cases of autoimmune hepatitis. 24.1% of cases were from children aged 6 to 18 years. There were 3 neoplasms and three cases each of choledochal cyst, autoimmune hepatitis and graft-versus-host disease. Conclusions The most common diagnosis was extrahepatic biliary atresia (30.1%), followed by choledochal cyst (14.5%). 21.7% of cases were neoplasms, with hepatoblastoma being the most common (9.6 %), followed by metastatic neuroblastoma (7.2%).
SUCCINIC DEHYDROGENASE AND RNA IN THE SUPRAOPTIC NUCLEUS AND HYPOTHALAMIC ANTERIOR AREA IN DEHYDRATED RATS.

SummaryA quantitative method that combines an analysis for succinic dehydrogenase activity (SDH) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) content in nerve cells was applied to the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and the anterior area (AA) of the hypothalamus of normal and dehydrated rats. Dehydration resulted in a significant increase in RNA in the SON but not in SDH. In the AA both SDH and RNA increased significantly.We thank Carolyn Dansie for her technical assistance.
Nonlinear Aircraft Model Identification and Validation for a Fault-Tolerant Flight Control System

This paper presents the results of a parameter identification study for determining a mathematical model of the WVU YF-22 unmanned research aircraft under both nominal and actuator failure conditions to simulate malfunctions on primary control surfaces. Specifically, both linear and nonlinear mathematical models were derived from measured flight data acquired from pilot and automated computer-injected maneuvers under nominal and failure conditions. From analysis, the stability and control derivatives were extracted to determine the aerodynamic forces and moments. The aerodynamic derivatives were then introduced into a simulation model implemented within a Simulink-based environment, and studies were conducted to validate the accuracy of the identified models. Additionally, “Empirical” and DATCOM analyses were conducted for the WVU YF-22 to further validate the nonlinear model obtained through the parameter identification study.
An Operation to Create a Continent Catheterizable Urinary Sphincter from a Short Intestinal Segment: Experimental Observations

AbstractWe describe a new operation to create a continent, catheterizable urinary sphincter from a short segment of ileum. The sphincter has provided continence over a wide range of bladder pressures in dogs and it may be adapted to a variety of clinical continence requirements
Transcendence: The Poetry of Maya Angelou:

Maya Angelou's autobiographies present a dislocated self image, one which becomes new and assertive as she transcends the singular self through a wide and compassionate direct assertion of her stat...