cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal hydrology and heat flow of Beowawe geothermal area, Nevada

Inflections in temperature‐depth profiles from forty 150 m thermal gradient holes define a shallow thermal flow system in the Whirlwind Valley near the Beowawe Geysers. U.S. Geological Survey hydrologic data reveal the vertical and west‐to‐east components of cold water flow at the water table above the thermal flow system. The temperature inflections break most abruptly in areas with a downward component of flow at the water table. The inflections are thought to indicate the level where the buoyant thermal water maintains a dynamic equilibrium with the overlying cold water. Combining these geophysical and hydrologic data suggests areas away from The Geysers where thermal water may rise from the deep reservoir into the alluvium. These leakage areas may be viable geothermal exploration targets. Even if the temperatures of the leakage were subeconomic, knowledge of where upwelling occurs could be helpful in assessing the potential for energy production. The systematic acquisition of hydrologic data is recomm...
On matching altered fingerprints

Fingerprint alteration refers to changes made in a person's finger ridge structure by means of abrading, cutting, or performing plastic surgery on the fingertips. Fingerprint alteration is a serious attack on Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) since it can reduce the similarity between fingerprint impressions from the same finger due to the loss of genuine minutiae, increase in spurious minutiae and distortion in spatial distribution of the minutiae. We investigate the capability of a state-of-the-art commercial fingerprint matcher to match altered fingerprints to their pre-altered mates by removing spurious minutiae in the altered region. We also attempt to restore minutiae structure in a well-known type of fingerprint alteration, called ‘Z’-cut, which tears local skin patches of a finger and switches them with each other. Nonrigid skin distortion introduced during switching of local patches is modeled by thin-plate spline (TPS). Experimental results show that removing spurious minutiae in the altered region and relocating the minutiae in the restored local patches improve the matching performance and help to retrieve correct mates from a large background fingerprint database.
Outcomes of T1b esophageal adenocarcinoma patients

Background Esophagectomy is usually recommended for patients with submucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma (T1b EAC) because of the potential for lymph node metastasis (LNM). Endoscopic management often differs based on the risk of metastasis. There is limited information on the difference in outcomes for T1b-EAC with and without esophagectomy. Objectives To investigate (1) the outcomes of T1b EAC treatments with and without esophagectomy and (2) the percentage of LNM at esophagectomy for T1b-EAC. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting A tertiary Barrett's esophagus unit. Patients Sixty-eight T1b EAC patients based on EMR histology. Interventions Esophagectomy and endoscopic therapies. Main Outcome Measurements Survival duration and mortality rate. Results A total of 68 patients had T1b EAC; cumulative mortality rate was 30.9% and median survival duration was 39.5 months. Thirty-nine underwent esophagectomy and 29 did not. Among patients who underwent esophagectomy, 13 (33.3%) had LNM, and the mortality rate was 50.0% and 11.1% for those with and without LNM, respectively ( P P = .21). Limitations Retrospective, nonrandomized small sample size cohort. Conclusion Among the patients with T1a EAC found in EMR specimens who underwent esophagectomy, one third had regional LNM. In our small series, patients who underwent esophagectomy did not have a significantly different survival duration from that of those who did not, indicating that these patients may have similar outcomes.
Transvaginal retropubic sling systems: efficacy and patient acceptability.

Stress urinary incontinence is a common, disabling, and costly medical problem that affects approximately 50% of women with urinary incontinence. Suburethral retropubic slings have been developed as a minimally invasive and effective surgical option, and they have been used as a first-line treatment for stress urinary incontinence since 1995. However, complications including vaginal extrusion, erosion, pain, bleeding, infections, lower urinary tract symptoms, urinary retention, and incontinence have been reported with use of the slings. Several companies manufacture sling kits, and the sling kits vary with regard to the composition of the mesh and introducer needle. The aim of this review was to determine which sling kit was most effective for patients, had minimal reported side effects, and was best accepted by patients and surgeons. In a review of the literature, it was found that a total of 38 studies were published between 1995 and 2014 that reported on eight tension-free retropubic sling kits: SPARC, RetroArc, Align, Advantage, Lynx, Desara, Supris, and Gynecare TVT. The Gynecare TVT was the most cited sling kit; the second most cited was the SPARC. This review provides a summary of the studies that have examined positive and negative outcomes of the retropubic tension-free suburethral sling procedure using various sling kits. Overall, the results of the literature review indicated that data from comparisons of the available sling kits are insufficient to make an evidenced-based recommendation. Therefore, the decision regarding which sling kit is appropriate to use in surgery is determined by the medical provider’s preference, training, and past experience, and not by the patient.
Human Papillomavirus and Pap Smear: A Review

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and viral persistence is a major risk factor in the development of squamous intraepithelial lesions and invasive carcinoma of the cervix. In the Unite...
Stimulation of myenteric plexus neurite outgrowth by insulin and insulin-like growth factors I and II.

Abstract A defined culture medium containing insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) or insulin-like growth II (IGF-II) supported morphological development of myenteric plexus neurons derived from neonatal guinea pigs. Insulin increased neurite outgrowth 3-fold at concentrations as low as 0.2 nM. Similar significant and dose-dependent increases in neurite outgrowth were noted with IGF-I and IGF-II. Stimulation of neurite outgrowth was abolished by exposure to cytosine arabinofuranoside, an agent toxic to non-neuronal cells, implying that trophic effects of insulin or insulin-like growth factors require the presence of non-neuronal elements in culture.
The social and family correlates of successful reunification of children in foster care

Abstract The research reported in this paper is an exploratory effort to describe the social and environmental characteristics of families that prevent successful reunification efforts. Social and environmental include income, economic, housing, social support, and family structure variables. It was hypothesized that these variables would show significant associations with reunification outcomes. Study data were derived from case record review and from computerized data files at DSS. The database contained extensive status information on all children, ages birth to 12, removed from their homes for more than 72 hours by DSS from 4/29/90 to 10/1/91. Target children were followed during the period they received services and, for nine months after they were reunified with their parents. Analysis focused on identifying factors that predicted reinvolvement with the service system. The final sample consisted of 445 Findings were that poverty and economic deprivation, as expressed by inadequate housing, might be the greatest risk from the social environment for successful reunification. Most notable among the social variables in determining outcomes are the receipt of AFDC and removal from a home with inadequate housing. The number of parents in the household did not predict either a referral or a reentry into foster care. A child with medical or behavioral problems was more likely to reenter foster care. Non-white children were more likely to re-enter out-of-home care. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Changes in compound specific δ15N amino acid signatures and d/l ratios in marine dissolved organic matter induced by heterotrophic bacterial reworking

Abstract Compound-specific δ 15 N analysis of individual amino acids (δ 15 N-AA) represents a potentially important new tool which may reveal the molecular-level basis for δ 15 N signature of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in the ocean, as well indicate DON sources and specific mechanisms of alteration. Past work has indicated that δ 15 N-AA may be effective at indicating the effects of microbial heterotrophy, however the influence of bacterial degradation on δ 15 N-AA patterns has never been directly investigated. Here we measured molecular-level changes in δ 15 N-AA patterns in freshly produced algal high molecular weight (HMW) DON due to heterotrophic bacterial reworking, together with linked changes in enantiomeric (D vs. L) AA ratios and also the AA molar percentage-based degradation index (DI). Our results show a strong increase in degradation with microbial consumption of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), consistent with previous studies. The δ 15 N-AA data show systematically higher δ 15 N values for most individual AA after DOC bacterial reworking, resulting in average increases of 3–6‰ in δ 15 N of total proteinaceous material. The average deviation in the δ 15 N values of all AA (ΣV parameter) also increased with degradation, indicating an increase in δ 15 N-AA pattern complexity, most likely due to selected microbial resynthesis of specific AA. These results show that δ 15 N-AA patterns have the ability to directly track the effects of microbial resynthesis in DON. They indicate that δ 15 N-AA represents a highly specific tracer that provides independent, and yet strongly complimentary, information vs. existing AA-based degradation indicators. Together, our data suggests that heterotrophic microbial degradation in the ocean would be expected to increase δ 15 N values of the oceanic DON pool vs. autotrophic sources. This conclusion is consistent with recent results on δ 15 N signatures of total and HMWDON pool in the open sea, however it also strongly implicates bacterial sources as the likely mechanism for δ 15 N-DON changes. Reevaluating existing DON isotopic data in light of these results may improve our understanding of the influence and mechanism of bacterial reworking on DON long-term preservation in the marine water column.
Relationship of agonist efficacy to changes in GABA sensitivity and anticonvulsant tolerance following chronic benzodiazepine ligand exposure.

Abstract Benzodiazepine ligands of differing efficacy including the agonist, diazepam, the partial agonist, Ro 16–6028 and the antagonist, Ro 15–1788, were administered in vivo to rats continuously for 3 weeks. The magnitude of change in various measures of GABA sensitivity could be correlated directly with increasing agonist efficacy: maximal changes were seen following chronic treatment with diazepam, intermediate changes were seen following the partial agonist Ro 16–6028 and no changes were observed following chronic Ro 15–1788 administration. The magnitude of change could also be correlated with increasing potential for tolerance development to anticonvulsant efficacy following chronic exposure to these benzodiazepine ligands.
Detection of influential observations in multivariate regression

Several methods have been suggested, in the literature, to detect influential observations from the data fitting usual linear model y=X∗∗∗+∗∗∗, ∗∗∗∽N(0, ∗∗∗2I). Recently, Chatterjee & Hadi (1986) have reviewed most of these available methods and described the inter-relationships between them. In this article, we extend some of these methods to the case of multivariate regression data. We consider several data sets to illustrate the methods.
Characterization of indium-111 labeled recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for the imaging of thrombi.

The in vitro functional properties of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), its biodistribution in mice, and its pharmacokinetics and clot localization properties in dogs have been investigated after labeling rt-PA with 111In. The rt-PA was coupled with the bicyclic anhydride of DTPA using standard methodology. Amidolytic and fibrinolytic assays showed retention of protein activity when rt-PA was conjugated with an average of one DTPA group or less per molecule. Size exclusion HPLC showed each preparation to be radiochemically pure with 111In bound exclusively to the attached DTPA groups. Biodistribution in mice showed major accumulation of activity in the liver and kidneys. After administration of 0.5–1.0 mg of the labeled protein to dogs, blood activity decreased with a half time of approximately 5 min in agreement with previous reports of rapid blood clearance. Largely because of decreased blood levels, clot: blood ratios of labeled protein increased rapidly, in one study reaching 6.3 after 31 min, and satisfactory images of fibrin thrombi were obtained. The rt-PA may be labeled with 111In without destroying the ability of the protein to localize in clot and images of forming clot can be obtained with this agent within 1 h after administration.
pRb is required for MEF2-dependent gene expression as well as cell-cycle arrest during skeletal muscle differentiation.

Abstract Background: The onset of differentiation-specific gene expression in skeletal muscle is coupled to permanent withdrawal from the cell cycle. The retinoblastoma tumor-suppressor protein (pRb) is a critical regulator of this process, required for both cell-cycle arrest in G0 phase and high-level expression of late muscle-differentiation markers. Although the cell-cycle defects that are seen in pRb-deficient myocytes can be explained by the well-described function of pRb as a negative regulator of the transition from G1 to S phase, it remains unclear how pRb positively affects late muscle-gene expression. Results: Here, we show that the myogenic defect in Rb −/− cells corresponds to a deficiency in the activity of the transcription factor MEF2. Without pRb, MyoD induces the accumulation of nuclear-localized MEF2 that is competent to bind DNA yet transcriptionally inert. When pRb is present, MyoD stimulates the function of the MEF2C transcriptional activation domain and the activity of endogenous MEF2-type factors. Co-transfection of MyoD together with an activated form of MEF2C containing the Herpesvirus VP16 transcriptional activation domain partially bypasses the requirement for pRb and induces late muscle-gene expression in replicating cells. This ectopic myogenesis is nevertheless significantly augmented by co-expression of an E2F1–pRb chimeric protein that blocks the cell cycle. Conclusion: These findings indicate that pRb promotes the expression of late-stage muscle-differentiation markers by both inhibiting cell-cycle progression and cooperating with MyoD to promote the transcriptional activation activity of MEF2.
Dynamic operation and feasibility study of a self-sustainable hydrogen fueling station using renewable energy sources

Abstract To evaluate the dynamic operation and feasibility of designing and operating a self-sustainable hydrogen fueling station using renewable energy sources, dynamic system models have been developed for a hydrogen fueling station utilizing a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer and fuel cell. Using fueling and power demand data from an existing public hydrogen station in Irvine, California, dynamic analyses of the self-sustainable station have been carried out. Various control strategies are developed and evaluated to determine the impacts of control strategies and renewable capacity factors on the efficiency and other performance characteristics of the station. The simulation results and analysis suggest that with careful sizing and system design, a self-sustainable hydrogen fueling station that relies completely upon renewable sources for hydrogen production, storage and dispensing is feasible. Moreover, a cost and sensitivity analysis is carried out to evaluate the levelized hydrogen cost for different station designs. The cost of the hydrogen is determined to be as low as $6.71 per kg or $9.14 per kg when the station is powered by 200 kW of wind turbines or 360 kW of PV arrays, respectively.
Gas Turbine Combustion of a Minimally Cleaned, Coal-Derived Low-BTU Gas

As part of the joint GE/DoE Water-Cooled Components Test Program,/sup 1/ a series of tests were performed involving the combustion of a minimally cleaned low-Btu coal gas in a pressurized gas turbine simulator. The fuel gas was produced in a 1-ton/hr advanced fixed-bed gasifier using Illinois number6 coal, and filtered of particulate in a full-pressure, full-temperature cyclone separator. The resulting product had a gross heating value of approximately 5000 kJ/kg at a temperature of 540/sup 0/C and a pressure of 22 bar. Numerous contaminants also remained in the fuel gas, including approximately 100 ppmw particulate matter (coal dust of 3 ..mu..m average size), 20004000 ppmv ammonia, 2000-2500 ppmv H/sub 2/S, and 0.5 - 1.0% vaporized tars, oils, phenols, and other condensible hydrocarbons. The fuel gas was burned with air at 6-7 bar pressure and 400/sup 0/C temperature in a gas turbine combustion system at overall fuel-air ratios up to 0.25 (overall equivalence ratio 0.36). Gaseous emissions were sampled in the exhaust stream and measurements made for O/sub 2/, CO/sub 2/, CO, unburned hydrocarbons, NO /sub x/ , and SO /sub x/ . The CO and unburned hydrocarbon emissions were both below 20 ppmv at full firing conditions, indicating acceptable combustionmore » efficiency. The NO /sub x/ levels measured were up to 500 ppmv, and were due to the of conversion of fuel-bound nitrogen (ammonia principally). The SO /sub x/ emissions directly followed the oxidation of fuel-bound sulfur (H/sub 2/S principally). At part-load conditions, emissions of CO and unburned hydrocarbons were observed to increase, as expected. Stable operation was maintained down to a combustion system temperature rise of approximately 350/sup 0/C.« less
Exact solution of the non-crossing approximation for the strong coupling limit of the half-filled Hubbard model

Abstract We present an analytic solution of the self consistent random phase approximation equations for the half-filled Hubbard model, in the strong coupling limit. In the half-filled limit the Hubbard model shows antiferromagnetic ordering. The self energy is calculated by considering processes whereby the electrons emit and absorb low frequency spin waves, which are the Goldstone modes of the broken symmetry phase. We examine the electronic spectrum, which is dominated by the broad incoherent portions of the spectrum associated with the upper and lower Hubbard bands. The quasi-particle spectrum has a divergent wave function renormalization, indicating a divergent renormalization of the quasi-particle mass and zero quasi-particle weight, as in a non-Fermi liquid. The self consistency equation determined from the Goldstone modes in the susceptibility shows that the antiferromagnetism is prohibited in one and two dimensions but not in three. The magnetic ordering temperature is determined by dimensionalit...
Use of Premarital Assessment Questionnaires by Clergy in Marriage Preparation

Clergy provide the majority of marriage preparation in the United States; however, little is known about the use of premarital assessments and their relationship to clergy effectiveness in providing premarital education. A nationwide survey investigated the use of premarital assessment questionnaires (PAQs), specifically Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding, and Study (FOCCUS), PREmarital Personal and Relationship Evaluation (PREPARE), and RELATionship Evaluation (RELATE), in marriage preparation provided by clergy. Three demographic variables positively predicted whether clergy use these instruments: the number of annual weddings performed, the number of continuing education opportunities related to marriage preparation, and the size of church membership. An ANOVA revealed that clergy who used a PAQ had significantly higher perceived effectiveness than clergy who did not use any premarital inventory. These findings suggest that training clergy to use premarital assessments can increase c...
Nafion‐coated carbon fiber electrodes for neurochemical studies in brain tissue

Extensive studies of the characteristics of electrochemically pretreated, Nafion-coated carbon fibers used for in vivo electrochemistry are summarized. While electrochemical pretreatment provides high sensitivity for the monitoring of catecholamine neurotransmitters, it causes fibers to respond slowly. The ionomer film, which confers selectivity, adds relatively little to the electrode time constant. In terms of sensitivity and time constant changes, serious interactions occur during the course of the in vivo experiments while the electrodes are exposed to brain tissue. Fortunately, selectivity characteristics do not change during in vivo experiments. Postcalibration procedures and other measurement techniques that provide reliable experimental measurements are discussed.
Bacterial Colonization, Tracheobronchitis, and Pneumonia following Tracheostomy and Long-Term Intubation in Pediatric Patients

Serial tracheal cultures for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were obtained from 27 pediatric patients during one year of follow-up. The patients had required tracheostomy and prolonged intubation for periods ranging from 3 to 12 months (average, 7½ months). Cultures of tracheal aspirates yielded 1,508 isolates of pathogenic aerobic (969 isolates) and anaerobic (539 isolates) bacteria. The most frequent aerobic isolates were Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. The predominant anaerobes were anaerobic gram-positive cocci, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Becteroides fragilis. Replacement of one pathogen by another occurred frequently. Tracheobronchitis occurred in 24 patients, all of whom had episodes of pneumonia. The data suggest that anaerobic bacteria are a part of the bacterial flora in colonization, tracheobronchitis, and pneumonia in patients with tracheostomy and prolonged intubation.
Earth science Cracking the Himalaya

The collision of India with Asia causes large earthquakes and active faults along the southern margin of the Himalaya. But has localized erosion by monsoon rains created new faults in the interior of the range?
MicroRNAs as a potential magic bullet in cancer

Genes that control cell differentiation and development are frequently mutated in human cancer. Micro (mi)RNAs are small regulatory RNAs that are emerging as important regulators of cell division/differentiation and human cancer genes. In this review, the miRNA cancer connection is discussed and the possibility of using this novel, but potentially powerful new therapy, involving miRNAs, to treat cancers is speculated on. For example, lung cancer is the major cause of cancer deaths in the USA, but existing therapies fail to treat this disease in the overwhelming majority of cases. The let-7 miRNA is one of a number of ‘oncomirs’, natural miRNA tumor suppressors in lung tissue, which may prove useful in treating lung cancer or enhancing current treatments for lung cancer.
Alternative modes of questioning in the analytic hierarchy process

The standard mode of questioning in the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) requires the decision maker to complete a sequence of positive reciprocal matrices by answering n(n − 1)2 questions for each matrix, each entry being an approximation to the ratio of the weights of the n items being compared. This paper presents two extensions of the eigenvector approach of the AHP which allows the decision maker to say “I don't know” or “I'm not sure” to some of the questions being asked, and to approximate nonlinear functions of the ratios of the weights. In this way, the questioning process can be substantially shortened and better representations of the responses to certain stimuli may be derived.
Efficacy and safety of CyberKnife radiosurgery for acromegaly.

Acromegaly is a disease characterized by GH hypersecretion, and is typically caused by a pituitary somatotroph adenoma. The primary mode of therapy is surgery, and radiotherapy is utilized as an adjuvant strategy to treat persistent disease. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery in acromegaly. A retrospective review of biochemical and imaging data for subjects with acromegaly treated with CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery between 1998 and 2005 at Stanford University Hospital. Nine patients with active acromegaly were treated with radiosurgery using the CyberKnife (CK). Biochemical response based on serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), anterior pituitary hormone function, and tumor size with MRI scans were analyzed. After a mean follow up of 25.4 months (range, 6–53 months), CK radiosurgery resulted in complete biochemical remission in 4 (44.4%) subjects, and in biochemical control with the concomitant use of a somatostatin analog in an additional subject. Smaller tumor size was predictive of treatment success: baseline tumor volume was 1.28 cc (± 0.81, SD) vs. 3.93 cc (± 1.54) in subjects with a normal IGF-1 vs. those with persistent, active disease, respectively (P = 0.02). The mean biologically effective dose (BED) was higher in subjects who achieved a normal IGF-1 vs. those with persistent, active disease, 172 Gy3 (±28) vs. 94 Gy3 (±17), respectively (P < 0.01). At least one new anterior pituitary hormone deficiency was observed after CK in 3 (33%) patients: two developed hypogonadism, and one developed panhypopituitarism. CK radiosurgery may be a valuable adjuvant therapy for the management of acromegaly.
Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in self-administered vaginal swabs as compared to cervical swabs:

The primary risk factor for cervical cancer is infection with high-risk genotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV). This study compared HPV DNA detection between cervical swabs (CX) and self-administered vaginal swabs (SV). Phase I participants were 199 women chosen from a study comparing the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis from various anogenital sites. Phase II participants were 135 women from either the Colposcopy or HIV Outpatient Clinic. HPV DNA testing was performed using polymerase chain reaction and Roche reverse line blot hybridization. In Phase I samples, more CX samples amplified and more HPV genotypes (P < 0.05) were detected in CX. Genotype 52 were seen more in the cervix, whereas genotype 82 (MM4) was detected solely in the vagina. The presence of high-risk HPV genotypes in the cervix was a predictor of an abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smear. In Phase II samples, CX samples amplified more, but similar rates of HPV genotypes were seen in SV and CX samples. Higher concordance rates of high-risk genotypes were seen in Phase II compared to Phase I samples. Phase II demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing SV sampling to reflect cervical status. If validated, a self-vaginal swab method to detect cervical HPV DNA status could be utilized to triage women with indeterminate Pap smears and be a useful method to collect epidemiological data from large populations.
Max-end invariance under (\Phi ,\Psi )-mutations of free commutative monoids

In this paper we continue the investigation of properties of mutations of commutative monoids. In particular, we consider mutation semigroups, $$M$$ , of free $$2$$ -generated commutative monoids and show that the semirings of endomorphisms of $$M$$ are maximal semirings in the collection of selfmaps of $$M$$ .
Does the combination of fronto-maxillary facial angle and nasal bone evaluation improve the detection of Down syndrome in the second trimester?

Objective To determine if the combination of fronto-maxillary facial (FMF) angle and nasal bone (NB) evaluation improves the detection of Down syndrome (DS) in the second trimester. Study Design We compared the FMF angle measurements in euploid and DS fetuses seen between 2005 and 2008. The FMF angles were measured from stored two-dimensional (2-D) images by investigators blinded to the DS status of the fetus. All NB measurements were obtained prospectively. Receiver operator characteristic curve plot was used to determine the optimal definition for abnormal FMF angle. The detection and false positive rates and likelihood ratios positive and negative for the DS markers and their combinations were compared. Results Of 22 fetuses with DS seen between 16 and 22 weeks over the study period, NB and FMF angle evaluation was available for 21. These were compared with a control group of 201 fetuses seen at similar gestational age ranges without DS. NB alone identified 10/21 (47.6%) of Down syndrome while FMF angle identified 2/21 (9.5%). The combination of FMF angle and NB identified only one additional case of Down syndrome. Conclusions While FMF angle and NB are independent markers for DS, their combination resulted in a minimal but nonsignificant improvement in DS detection. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Use of Glandless Cottonseed and Sunflower Seed Products in Batter/Breading for Fried Beef Patties

This study indicates that defatted glandless cottonseed flour (GCF) 01 sunflower seed protein isolate (SI) incorporated in the batter/breading system can impart their antioxidant effect to the meat of fried beef patties. Coarsely ground lean beef patties were coated consecutively with dry ingredient (wheat flour for control and 1:1 mixture of wheat flour-GCF or wheat flour-SI for experimental samples), batter made of 1 part of dry ingredient and 2 parts of water, and finally dry ingredient. Ground beef and dry ingredients each contained 1% salt. Use of GCF or SI in the coating mixes greatly reduced the thiobarbituric acid values of the meat when the coated patties were fried and stored at 4°C for 5 days.
Submicron InP-based HBTs for Ultra-high Frequency Amplifiers

Transistor bandwidths are approaching terahertz frequencies. Paramount to high speed transistor operation is submicron device scaling. High bandwidths are obtained with heterojunction bipolar transistors by thinning the base and collector layers, increasing emitter current density, decreasing emitter contact resistivity, and reducing the emitter and collector junction widths. In mesa HBTs, minimum dimensions required for the base contact impose a minimum width for the collector junction, frustrating device scaling. We have fabricated HBTs with narrow collector junctions using a substrate transfer process. HBTs with submicron collector junctions exhibit extremely high fmax and high gains in mm-wave ICs. Transferred-substrate HBTs have obtained record 21 dB unilateral power gain at 100 GHz. Recently-fabricated devices have shown unbounded unilateral power gain from 40-110 GHz, and fmax cannot be extrapolated from measuremente. However, these devices exhibited high power gains at 220 GHz, the frequency limit of presently available microwave network analyzers. Demonstrated amplifier ICs in the technology include reactively tuned amplifiers at 175 GHz, lumped and distributed amplifiers with bandwidths to 85 GHz, and W-band power amplifiers.
A prediction error-based hypothesis testing method for sensor data acquisition

We present a statistical method that uses prediction modeling to decrease the temporally redundant data transmitted back to the sink. The major novelties are fourfold: First, a prediction model is fit to the sensor data. Second, prediction error is utilized to adaptively update the model parameters using hypothesis testing. Third, a data transformation is proposed to bring the sensor sample series closer to weak stationarity. Finally, an efficient implementation is presented. We show that our proposed preDiction eRror bASed hypoThesis testInG (DRASTIG) method achieves low energy dissipation while keeping the prediction errors at user-defined tolerable magnitudes based on real data experiments.
“Pseudoseptum” of the uterine cervix on MRI

Purpose To determine the prevalence of a longitudinal “pseudoseptum” on T2-weighted MR images within the cervices of women who do not have a uterine anomaly. Materials and Methods We reviewed 317 consecutive female pelvic MR examinations performed at a single institution over a four-month period. All examinations included T2-weighted sequences in at least two orthogonal planes. Of the 317 studies, 57 were excluded due to prior radical hysterectomy. Axial and coronal T2-weighted images of the remaining 260 examinations were evaluated for the presence of a longitudinal low T2 signal intensity structure within the endocervical lumen that mimicked the appearance of a septum. Interpretations were performed independently by two MR radiologists and kappa analysis of interobserver agreement was performed. Results In 50 (19%) of the 260 women, both readers noted the presence of a pseudoseptum on at least one imaging plane. In 162 (62%), neither reader noted a pseudoseptum. Overall, there was 81% agreement between the readers. Kappa analysis yielded a value of 0.55, indicating a moderate degree of interobserver agreement beyond chance. Conclusion A pseudoseptum was depicted in 20% to 30% of women's cervices on T2-weighted imaging. We hypothesize that chance long-axis depiction of the endocervical folds can mimic a cervical septum. The presence of a pseudoseptum on MRI should be considered a normal finding and not a feature of a developmental anomaly of the uterus or cervix. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:963–965. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Differentially Flat Designs of Underactuated Open-Chain Planar Robots

A fully actuated system can execute any joint trajectory. However, if the system is underactuated, not all joint trajectories are attainable. For such systems, it is difficult to characterize attainable joint trajectories analytically. Numerical methods are generally used to characterize these. This paper investigates the property of differential flatness for underactuated planar open-chain robots and studies dependence on inertia distribution within the system. It is shown that certain choices of inertia distributions make an underactuated open-chain planar robot with revolute joints feedback linearizable, i.e., also differentially flat. Once this property is established, trajectory between any two points in the state space can be planned, and a controller can be developed to correct for errors. To demonstrate the proposed methodology in hardware, experiments with an underactuated 3-DOF planar robot are also presented.
Lymphoreticular alterations in neonatally thymectomized and antilymphocyte globulin treated Holstein-Friesian calves

Abstract Neonatal calves were thymectomized when 4 to 10 days old and treated briefly with antilymphocyte globulin. Non-thymectomized calves were treated with normal horse globulin or not treated with antilymphocyte globulin. The lymph nodes were examined at selected times by light microscopy and immunofluorescence and after necropsy. The prescapular lymph nodes at 5 weeks represented normal, normally reactive and abnormally reactive structure. Peripheral lymph nodes from 5-week-old calves not treated by thymectomy or antilymphocyte globulin had a low level of lymphopoietic activity. The thymus intact calves treated with normal horse globulin had reactive lymphoid hyperplasia primarily of the cortex. The thymectomized, antilymphocyte globulin treated calves at this age had increased primary follicle activity and depletion of paracortical areas in peripheral lymph nodes. The degree of lymphoid hyperplasia corresponded to the relative frequency of cells with surface immunoglobulin at 5 weeks of age. The lymph nodes and spleen collected at necropsy at 16 to 26 weeks did not segregate into three distinct categories, probably a reflection of the additional stimulation on the immune system by experimental and natural antigen exposure. The differences between treatments were not observed at the time of necropsy. These morphological observations strongly support the conclusion that the calves were affected by neonatal thymectomy, but had recovered from the effect of thymectomy by 16 to 26 weeks of age.
Loss of HLA-C locus specificities from stored lymphocytes1 and de novo synthesis following incubation at 37°C

The variable expression of the C locus specificities at the cell surface is a major problem in HLA typing and the phenomenon was clearly documented by the International Cell Exchange Program. In contrast with HLA-A and -B, the C locus specificities are readily lost from cells following storage at room temperature for a few days or in overnight incubation at 37 degrees C in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitors. These specificities can be made to reappear by making the cells metabolize at 37 degrees C for 8 to 20 h in nutrient medium. Sixty-nine per cent of the positive C locus reactions lost after 7-day storage at room temperature were recovered after overnight incubation at 37 degrees C. The reappearance was dependent on protein synthesis since presence of cyclohexamide during incubation completely blocked the recovery. A simple overnight incubation is very useful in enhancing C locus expression on older cells.
Editorial (Part II) Assessing the Technology of Developing Health Occupations: Obstacles, Risks, and Strategies for Future Work

Efforts to expand technology assessment in developing fields, such as physical therapy, face major obstacles. These impediments include scarcity of assessment tools, weak organizational structure for research, and clinicians' reluctance to assess economic factors. Risks that could accompany future work and strategies for reducing problems are discussed.
Transcriptional regulation by the estrogen receptor of antioxidative stress enzymes and its functional implications.

We previously reported that antiestrogen-liganded estrogen receptor β (ERβ) transcriptionally activates the major detoxifying enzyme quinone reductase (QR) (NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase). Our studies also indicate that upregulation of QR, either by overexpression or induction by tamoxifen, can protect breast cells against oxidative DNA damage caused by estrogen metabolites. We now report on the upregulation of glutathione S-transferases Pi (GST-Pi) and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase heavy subunit (GCSh) expression by antiestrogens. Studies indicate the regulation of GST-Pi and GCSh transcriptional activity by ER. While ER regulation is mediated by an electrophile response element (EpRE), we identified mechanistic differences in the involvement of other transcription factors. Regardless of these differences, ERβ-mediated regulation of GST-Pi and GCSh point towards an important role for ERβ in cellular protection against oxidative stress. A protective role is supported by our observation of inhibition of estrogen-induced DNA damage upon upregulation of GST-Pi and GCSh expression.
Flattening Supervoxel Hierarchies by the Uniform Entropy Slice

Supervoxel hierarchies provide a rich multiscale decomposition of a given video suitable for subsequent processing in video analysis. The hierarchies are typically computed by an unsupervised process that is susceptible to under-segmentation at coarse levels and over-segmentation at fine levels, which make it a challenge to adopt the hierarchies for later use. In this paper, we propose the first method to overcome this limitation and flatten the hierarchy into a single segmentation. Our method, called the uniform entropy slice, seeks a selection of supervoxels that balances the relative level of information in the selected supervoxels based on some post hoc feature criterion such as object-ness. For example, with this criterion, in regions nearby objects, our method prefers finer supervoxels to capture the local details, but in regions away from any objects we prefer coarser supervoxels. We formulate the uniform entropy slice as a binary quadratic program and implement four different feature criteria, both unsupervised and supervised, to drive the flattening. Although we apply it only to supervoxel hierarchies in this paper, our method is generally applicable to segmentation tree hierarchies. Our experiments demonstrate both strong qualitative performance and superior quantitative performance to state of the art baselines on benchmark internet videos.
Recent Advances in the Design and Analysis of Material Handling Systems

We present an overview of recent research in the design and control of material handling systems. Research in both shopfloor transportation systems and storage systems is covered. The issues studied range from the integrated design of manufacturing facilities and material handling systems to the performance analysis of operating policies in these systems. In general, the design and control problems in material handling systems are very hard, but analytical results can be obtained for specific configurations and relaxations of the problem.
Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase in akr leukemic cells and lack of relation of enzyme activity to cell cycle phase.

Summary Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity in mice, as in other animals, is normally confined to the thymus and the bone marrow (5, 7). In leukemic AKR mice, terminal transferase activity was also detected in leukemic cells. The specific activity of terminal transferase in these cells as a function of cell cycle phase was determined using AKR leukemic cells separated according to their position in the cell cycle by velocity sedimentation through a sucrose gradient at unit gravity. Normalization of enzyme activity to either total number of cells or to total protein in the crude homogenate failed to reveal a relationship of enzyme activity to cell cycle phase.
Possible effects of breaking gravity waves on the circulation of the middle atmosphere of Mars

The possible effect of breaking internal gravity waves on the circulation in the middle atmosphere of Mars was investigated using a quasi-geostrophic delta-plane dynamical model of the zonal-mean flow. The results of model simulations show that breaking gravity waves of intermediate horizontal scales (100-1000 km wavelengths) could act to 'close off' the winter westerly circumpolar jet in the 40-80 km altitude region and induce strong high-latitude warming at these levels, in accordance with recent thermal measurements indicating that Martian winter polar latitudes may be very warm in this middle atmospheric region. It was also found that, below about 40 km, wave breaking does not induce much warming, consistent with available data showing that winter high altitudes are normally very cold at lower levels.
The connection between uterine contractions and cervical dilation: The biomechanics of cervical deformation

THE BIOMECHANICS OF CERVICAL DEFORMATION MICHAEL HOUSE, ANASTASSIA PASKALEVA, KRISTIN MYERS, SABRINA CRAIGO, SIMONA SOCRATE, Tufts University, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Boston, Massachusetts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Cambridge, Massachusetts OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that mechanical modeling theory explains the physical interaction between the uterus and cervix. According to mechanics theory, mechanical stresses cause solid body deformation. Our objective was to use a three-dimensional (3D), solid body, computer-based model of the pelvic organs during pregnancy to demonstrate the way uterine contractions and uterine growth cause cervical effacement and dilation. STUDY DESIGN: Mathematical equations that model the mechanical responses of the pelvic organs were combined with 3D anatomic geometry in a finite element framework. Uterine tissue was modeled such that it could generate active contractile force. The cervix was modeled as a passive organ. We assumed that the stroma was the load bearing tissue within the cervix. Representative anatomic geometry was derived from 3D pelvic magnetic resonance images during pregnancy. Effacement and dilation were modeled as the process of nonlinear, viscoelastic cervical deformation. Static and active loading conditions were simulated using finite element methodology. RESULTS: The internal stress distribution of the cervix arose from two separate sets of loading conditions: static loading and active loading. Static loading arose primarily from intrauterine pressure and hydrostatic forces. Active loading was superimposed on the static load. Active forces arose most commonly from uterine contractions but also from temporary increases in intraabdominal pressure, such as coughing, valsalva or emesis. Whether effacement or dilation occurred depended on the degree of static loading, the strength of contractions and the strength of the cervical stroma. The specific pattern of deformation arose from the stress distribution within the cervix. CONCLUSION: Uterine contractions caused active cervical loading that was superimposed on a constant static load. Both sets of loading conditions created a characteristic stress distribution in the cervix that caused cervical deformation.
Binding of an Alpha Globulin to Hyaluronateprotein in Pathological Synovial Fluids

Rabbits were immunized with hyaluronateprotein isolated from normal or pathological synovial fluids. Immunoelectrophoresis of hyaluroni-dase-digested pathological hyaluronateprotein and its antiserum showed a single precipitin arc extending through both alpha globulin zones. Digested normal hyaluronateprotein formed no lines with either its antiserum or with that to pathological hyaluronateprotein. The antigenic component present in pathological hyaluronateprotein formed a reaction of complete fusion with a serum protein which was identified by immunoelectrophoresis as an alpha globulin.
Fiber diffraction as a useful supplement to single-crystal electron diffraction data in the direct three-dimensional structure analysis of polymers

Abstract When zonal electron diffraction data from chain-folded lamellae are combined with the three-dimensional (3-D) information from a microfiber, it is possible to determine a polymer crystal structure by direct methods to visualize the atomic arrangement in the unit cell. An analysis of the polyethylene sulfide) structure (space group Pbcn, a = 8.51, b = 4.94, c = 6.69 A) is presented as an example of such a determination. The crystallographic phases—including 17 of 20 unique zonal hkO data collected earlier from chain-folded lamellae, as well as two other phases permitted for origin definition in three dimensions—served as a basis set for extension into three dimensions by the Sayre equation. The phase extension into the 3-D indices of the fiber diffraction set (39 unique amplitudes including 32 estimated from 14 overlapped maxima) was quite accurate, especially for the most intense reflections. Combination of these phases with amplitude values to generate the three-dimensional potential map allowed...
Novel Agents and Emerging Treatment Strategies in Multiple Sclerosis. What Role for Cladribine

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory-degenerative illness of the central nervous system (CNS), remains at the moment a treatable but incurable disease. Currently available disease-modifying agents (DMA-s), the majority of which are being injected, mainly relieve the inflammatory phase of MS with little beneficial effect, if any, in halting neurodegeneration. Cladribine is an immunosuppressive agent that can be administered orally and by cycles of short-course dosing as opposed to continuous administration. Cladribine has been shown to be effective in reducing inflammatory activity of MS but much remains unknown regarding its potential beyond the control of CNS inflammation. In addition, knowledge on the safety profile of cladribine in MS is limited. Data from on going clinical studies and registries on its safety profile will shed more light on the actual benefit/risk ratio of cladribine.