cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of a Novel Basement Membrane Antigen (p84) Defined by Sera with Antibodies to Both the Epidermal and Dermal Side of Split Skin

Abstract The diagnosis of autoimmune blistering skin disease is increasingly based on the skin antigen(s) that is the target of the autoimmune process. Some patients with bullous diseases have unusual basement membrane autoantibodies that react to antigens present in both the epidermal and dermal sides of skin split with 1 M NaC1. This combined staining pattern is due to antibodies directed in part to a 160-kilodalton (kD) basement membrane antigen present on the epidermal side of the split skin and to different antigen(s) present on the dermal side. The identity of the current antigen(s), and the significance of this unusual type of combined staining antibody response is not known. Sera of five patients with combined staining antibodies, 19 patients with other types of basement membrane antibodies (15 directed only to the epidermal and four only to the dermal side of split skin), and 23 patients without basement membrane antibodies were tested by Western immunoblot for reactivity to 4% sodium dodecyl sulfate + 2 M urea extracts of dermal and epidermal side of salt-split skin. Three (60%) of the combined staining sera had antibodies to an 82–84-kD antigen (p84) reproducibly present in dermal, but not epidermal, extracts of normal human skin. Antibodies to this antigen were absent in the 42 control sera. Western blot affinity-purified antibody to p84 bound only to the basement membrane, on the dermal side of 1 molar salt-split skin. By co-migration experiments, p84 differed from other basement membrane antigens including the major and minor bullous pemphigoid, cicatrizing pemphigoid, and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita antigens, types III and IV collagen, laminin, and epiligrin. Thus, combined staining antibodies are directed in part to an 82–84-kD antigen (p84), a normal but previously undescribed component of the basement membrane of human skin. This antigen differs from the basement membrane antigens recognized by autoantibodies in other subepidermal bullous diseases. The antibody response to p84 provides a specific marker for a novel autoimmune subepidermal blistering skin disease.
MODEL-BASED FAULT DIAGNOSIS OF INDUCTION MOTORS USING NON-STATIONARY SIGNAL SEGMENTATION

Abstract Effective detection and diagnosis of incipient faults is desirable for on-line condition assessment, product quality assurance and improved operational efficiency of induction motors running off the power supply mains. In this paper, an empirical model-based fault diagnosis system is developed for induction motors using recurrent dynamic neural networks and multiresolution signal processing methods. In addition to nameplate information required for the initial set-up, the proposed diagnosis system uses measured motor terminal currents and voltages, and motor speed. The effectiveness of the diagnosis system is demonstrated through staged motor faults of electrical and mechanical origin. The developed system is scalable to different power ratings and it has been successfully demonstrated with data from 2.2, 373 and 597 kW induction motors. Incremental tuning is used to adapt the diagnosis system during commissioning on an new motor, significantly reducing the system development time.
Influence of Unbalanced Currents on the Design and Operation of Large Turbine Generators

The influence ofunbalanced currents onthe design and operation of large turbine generators is described beginning with a summary of factory unbalanced current tests. Generator design considerations are discussed, including: rotor design features and practice, effects of short time and continuous unbalanced loading, and influence of unbalanced fault capability on major generator parameters. These considerations plus a summary of operating experience confirm that provision for unbalanced fault capability should not be an overriding consideration in the design of large generators, and support the need for industry standards revision.
Rat lymphoma cell bioassay for prolactin: observations on its use and comparison with radioimmunoassay

The rat Nb2 node lymphoma cell bioassay (BA) for prolactin (PRL) was validated for use in our laboratories. During the course of this validation we observed that rat prolactin (NIAMDD-RP-1) stimulated cell division by as much as 16.5 fold over the range of 0.04 to 40.0 ng/ml at the end of 72 hours of incubation. We also observed a dose related increase in the size of the lymphoma cells. Prolactin concentrations in rat plasma, serum, anterior pituitary (AP) homogenates and milk were measured by both radioimmunoassay (RIA) and BA. In individual BA's there was parallelism between samples and standard; but when several dilutions of the same plasma and pituitary homogenates were assayed repeatedly, higher PRL levels were consistently observed for the more concentrated samples. At low or moderate levels of plasma PRL there was excellent agreement between RIA and BA; however, at high levels plasma PRL bioactivity exceeded radioimmunoactivity by a small, but significant, amount. A comparison of pituitary PRL concentrations measured by RIA and BA were in good agreement when homogenization was done at pH 10.6. However, when homogenization was done at pH 7.6, slightly but significantly more PRL was extracted when assayed by BA than when assayed by RIA.
Skew cone beam lambda tomography

In this paper, we for the first time define the concept of 3D skew lambda tomography (SLT) based on the 3D Calderon Operator, and formulate an approximate local reconstruction algorithm for cone beam data collected along an arbitrary scanning curve. The main idea is to rewrite the filtering operator in an exact filtered-backprojection reconstruction formula as a local projection. While the practical cone-beam lambda tomography works well for spirals with small pitches, the proposed SLT is more suitable to the spirals with large pitch. Simulation using the 3D differentiable Shepp- Logan phantom is performed to demonstrate the utility of this new technique.
Carbon-containing single-crystal nickel-based superalloys: Segregation behavior and carbide formation

Carbon is added to large single-crystal nickel-based superalloy components to reduce grain defects. In this study, the effect of carbon additions on the microstructure of a model nickel-based superalloy, LMSX-1, was examined. Previous results have shown that as carbon content increased, the tendency of the alloy to form all types of solidification defects decreased. In addition, as the carbon content increased, the as-cast microstructures exhibited a decrease in the amount of γ-γ′ eutectic structure and an increase in the volume fraction of carbides and porosity. The carbides formed in these alloys were mostly script-type MC carbides which formed continuous, dendritic networks in the interdendritic region. Microprobe analysis of the as-cast structures showed that the partitioning coefficients did not change with carbon additions. Therefore, the reduction in defect formation with increasing carbon content could not be attributed to changes in segregation behavior of alloying elements. Instead, the presence of these carbides in the interdendritic regions of the alloy appeared to have prevented the thermosolutal fluid flow.
Amenability to rehabilitation among prison inmates

Abstract In the face of studies criticizing the effectiveness of rehabilitation, several researchers proposed in the 1970's that certain public offenders were more suited to treatment than others. This amenable offender was described as anxious, intelligent, and less involved in crime. The purpose of this study was to determine if and by what means inmates participating in a voluntary counseling program at the Hamilton, Alabama Correctional Facility could be distinguished from those not volunteering for counseling. Results showed that it was possible to discriminate between these two groups of inmates based upon IQ, certain demographic factors, and two personality variables.
A compendium of placebo-controlled trials of the risks/benefits of pharmacological treatments for insomnia: The empirical basis for U.S. clinical practice

For many years practitioners have had limited data from double-blind, placebo-controlled studies to guide the types of decision-making needed to optimally manage patients with insomnia in clinical practice. However, in recent years there has been a great increase in insomnia research studies that address issues of clinical importance. This body of work represents an increasingly useful empirical basis for making clinical practice decisions. The purpose of this article is to compile the body of work on the pharmacological management of insomnia to make it available in as accessible form as possible for optimal application in clinical practice with the hopes that doing so will decrease the gap separating the available research and the clinical management of insomnia and, thereby, improve the care of the many individuals who suffer from this condition. The review of studies consists of the following sections: 1) basic pharmacology; 2) double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in adults with primary insomnia; 3) double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in elderly patients with primary insomnia; 4) adverse effects reported in placebo-controlled trials in elderly primary insomnia patients; 5) double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in adults and the elderly as a function of treatment duration; 6) double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of the treatment of comorbid insomnia. Issues related to the application of these data to clinical practice are discussed in the text.
Electrochromic switching in ionically self-assembled nanostructures

Ionically self-assembled monolayers (ISAMs), fabricated by alternate adsorption of cationic and anionic components, yield exceptionally homogeneous thin films with sub- nanometer control of the thickness and relative special location of the component materials. Using organic electrochromic materials such as polyaniline, we report studies of electrochromic responses in ISAM films. Reversible changes in the absorption spectrum are observed with the application of voltages on the order of 1.0 V. Measurements are made using both liquid electrolytes and in all-solid state devices incorporating solid polyelectrolytes such as poly(2-acylamido 2-methyl propane sulfonic acid) (PAMPS). Due to the precise nanometer scale control of thickness and composition of the electrochromic composite system, switching times faster than 50 ms have been demonstrated.
Decay of 63Co and 64Co

Abstract A new 0·40 ± 0·05 sec activity which was observed to have a β end point energy of 7·0 ± 0·5 MeV was assigned to 64 Co. The assignment of a 26 ± 1 sec activity with a single γ-ray of 86·3 ± 0·7 keV and a coincident β-ray of 3·6 ± 0·2 MeV was made to 63 Co.
Averaging and derivative estimation within stochastic approximation algorithms

Stochastic Approximation (SA) is arguably the most investigated amongst algorithms for solving local continuous simulation optimization problems. Despite its enduring popularity, the prevailing opinion is that the finite-time performance of SA-type algorithms is still not robust to SA's sequence of algorithm parameters. In the last two decades, two major advances have been proposed toward alleviating this issue: (i) Polyak-Ruppert averaging where SA is executed in multiple time scales to allow for the algorithm iterates to use large (initial) step sizes for better finite time performance, without sacrificing the asymptotic convergence rate; and (ii) efficient derivative estimation to allow for better searching within the solution space. Interestingly, however, all existing literature on SA seems to treat each of these advances separately. In this article, we present two results which characterize SA's convergence rates when both (i) and (ii) are be applied simultaneously. Our results should be seen as simply providing a theoretical basis for applying ideas that seem reasonable in practice.
Sexually Explicit Online Media and Sexual Risk among Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States

This study aimed to describe sexually explicit online media (SEOM) consumption among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States and examine associations between exposure to unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) in SEOM and engagement in both UAI and serodiscordant UAI. MSM in the U.S. who accessed a men-seeking-men website in the past year (N = 1,170) were recruited online for a cross-sectional, Internet-based survey of sexual risk and SEOM consumption. In the 3 months prior to interview, more than half (57 %) of the men reported viewing SEOM one or more times per day and almost half (45 %) reported that at least half of the SEOM they viewed portrayed UAI. Compared to participants who reported that 0–24 % of the SEOM they viewed showed UAI, participants who reported that 25–49, 50–74, or 75–100 % of the SEOM they viewed portrayed UAI had progressively increasing odds of engaging in UAI and serodiscordant UAI in the past 3 months. As SEOM has become more ubiquitous and accessible, research should examine causal relations between SEOM consumption and sexual risk-taking among MSM as well as ways to use SEOM for HIV prevention.
Harnessing the reliability of outcome measures.

Abstract A method is presented for engineering the necessary levels of measurement reliability for evaluating ongoing programs. Two studies of levels of client functioning at a community mental health center (CMHC), in which an outcome measure, the Global Assessment Scale (GAS), did not perform as expected, drew attention to the need for better control of outcome measure reliabilities. Drawing from generalizability theory, a study was conducted of three sources of GAS score variance — clients, raters, and training in the use of the scale. Several estimates of reliability (ERs) were developed, depending on the manner in which the GAS ratings were, or would be, obtained in the CMHC. The differences among these ERs clarified why the GAS had lower reliability when used in our setting. Finally, two hypothetical examples are described to illustrate the utility of applying generalizability theory to achieve higher reliabilities for outcome measures.
Spatial representation of agroclimatology in a study of agricultural drought

Agricultural drought is the leading cause for crop failure throughout the world. In the USA, significant impacts of re cent droughts on agricultural production indicate the continuing vulnerability of the country to drought. This paper presents a methodology for spatial representation of the agroclimatic component of agricultural drought vulnerability. This methodology was developed as a part of an integrated assessment of drought vulnerability. For the spatial analysis, the state of Nebraska was selected as a study area because of the considerable variation in climatology, soil characteristics, land use, and cropping patterns. The underlying approach assumes that the best spatial characterization of the state’s agroclimatology from the agricultural drought vulnerability perspective is the probability of seasonal crop moisture deficiency. Seasonal crop water-use thresholds for well-watered crops (e.g. corn, soybean, and sorghum) were estimated using the evapotranspiration (ET) mathematical model. For wheat and grass, ET values were estimated based on the relationship between ET, water-use efficiency, and crop yield. Historical grain yield data were analyzed to define an economically viable threshold for wheat. Seasonal ET thresholds determined for the crops were used to calculate area-weighted mean ET for the combination of crops in every county. The threshold values and long-term precipitation data were used for calculating statistical probabilities of seasonal crop moisture deficiency. Probability values were analyzed at 112 weather stations across Nebraska, spatially interpolated and classified us ing geographic information systems. The spatial pattern of probabilities of seasonal crop moisture deficiency reflected both seasonal precipitation across Nebraska and the distribution of crops and grasses.
Simple technique for precise determinations of counting losses in nuclear pulse processing systems

Abstract A new technique has been developed to determine precisely the fraction of all counting losses suffered in counting and pulse height analysis systems. Of particular significance is the applicability of this method to time-dependent counting rates. The method is based on a technique in which the rate of radiation incident upon the detector is sampled continually. Upon the detection of a preset number of counts, a pulser signal is injected into the preamplifier. At the end of the experiment, the total number of injected pulses is compared with the number of these pulses that are recorded in the multichannel analyzer or scaler. Since the pulser peak suffers the same fractional losses as the spectral components of the detected nuclear events, such a comparison provides an accurate representation of the counting losses due to all loss-producing effects. These include losses incurred in ADCs, computers, pileup rejectors, etc. Losses suffered due to pileup may not be negligible compared with those due to the ADC and memory of fast multichannel analyzers. The application of this technique to constant counting rates, and to varying counting rates encountered in charged-particle-induced reactions and in radioactive-decay studies are treated in detail.
Origin of a repose angle: kinetics of rearrangement for granular materials.

A microstructural theory of dense granular materials is presented, based on two main ideas: first, that macroscopic shear results from activated local rearrangements at a mesoscopic scale; second, that the update frequency of microscopic processes is determined by granular temperature. In a shear cell, the resulting constitutive equations account for Bagnold's scaling and for the existence of a Coulomb criterion. In a granular flow down an inclined plane, they account for the rheology observed in experiments [Phys. Fluids 11, 542 (1999)] and for temperature and velocity profiles measured numerically [Europhys. Lett. 56, 214 (2001)] [Phys. Rev. E 64, 051302 (2001)].
Treatment of late life depression : A response to the NIH Consensus Conference

Conclusions of the NIH Consensus Conference on treatment of late life depression, particularly with regard to their recommendations regarding cognitive behavioral therapies as those compare to a review of empirical findings, are examined. In contrast to the NIH recommendations, research demonstrates that psychotherapy is at least of equal effectiveness as compared to antidepressant medication for older depressed patients. Cognitive and behavioral approaches have not been shown to be more effective than other brief therapies, particularly interpersonal therapy and brief psychodynamic therapy. There are more studies, however, demonstrating the effectiveess of cognitive and behavioral therapies than any other approach. Older adults hold generally positive attitudes towards such treatments and may prefer them to medication treatment. Offering cognitive or behavioral therapy as a first line intervention for mild to moderately depressed older adults could be the most cost-effective approach in most settings. Promotion of cognitive and behavioral therapies for older depressed patients would be supported by involvement in the development of treatment guidelines at the national level, expansion of the work of the APA task force on empirically validated treatments to include therapies for older adults, and by the efforts of individuals to present information to older adults in the community on the potential benefits of cognitive and behavioral treatments for depression.
Variational treatment of hard-core interactions

Abstract The problem of constructing variational trial wave functions for hard-core interactions is investigated using simple radial functions whose form is suggested by perturbation theory. Application is made to the harmonic oscillator with a hard core replacing the centre of attraction and to the deuteron using interactions of the Gammel-Thaler type. Results are compared with functions of the type used by Blatt, Derrick and Lyness in calculating the triton and indicate that some improvement in these calculations might be obtained by a simple modification in the radial functions.
Insulin signaling in the central nervous system a critical role in metabolic homeostasis and disease from C. elegans to humans

Insulin and its signaling systems are implicated in both central and peripheral mechanisms governing the ingestion, distribution, metabolism, and storage of nutrients in organisms ranging from worms to humans. Input from the environment regarding the availability and type of nutrients is sensed and integrated with humoral information (provided in part by insulin) regarding the sufficiency of body fat stores. In response to these afferent inputs, neuronal pathways are activated that influence energy flux and nutrient metabolism in the body and ensure reproductive competency. Growing evidence supports the hypothesis that reduced central nervous system insulin signaling from either defective secretion or action contributes to the pathogenesis of common metabolic disorders, including diabetes and obesity, and may therefore help to explain the close association between these two disorders. These considerations implicate insulin action in the brain, an organ previously considered to be insulin independent, as a key determinant of both glucose and energy homeostasis.
Modeling the electrophoresis of rigid polyions: application to lysozyme

An algorithm is developed to determine the electrophoretic mobility of a rigid polyion modeled as a low dielectric volume element of arbitrary shape containing an arbitrary charge distribution. The solvent is modeled as a high dielectric continuum with salt distributed according to the linearized Poisson Boltzmann equation. Account is also taken of a Stern layer that separates the molecular surface and the surface of hydrodynamic shear, or Stern surface. Relaxation of the ion atmosphere because of the presence of the external field is ignored. The electrostatic and hydrodynamic problems are both solved by boundary element methods. The procedure is first applied to spherical polyions containing monopolar, dipolar, and quadrupolar charge distributions, and calculated mobilities are found to be in excellent agreement with the theory of Yoon and Kim. It is then applied to lysozyme by using models that account for the detailed shape and charge distribution of the enzyme. For reasonable choices of the molecular and Stern surfaces, calculated and experimental mobilities are found to be in fair agreement with each other. However, if a pH independent Stern layer (or, equivalently, translational diffusion constant, Dt) is assumed, the calculated mobilities exhibit a stronger pH dependence than is observed experimentally. A small increase in Dt with increasing pH could correct this discrepancy.
Resource Letter CP-2: Computational Physics

This Resource Letter provides a guide to print and electronic literature relevant to a computational physics course. The multidisciplinary aspect of computational physics and its relation to computational science is reflected in the sections Courses, Programs and Reviews, Journals, Conferences and Organizations, Books, Tools, Languages and Environments, Parallel Computing, and Digital Libraries.
Circadian rhythms have insignificant effects on plant gas exchange under field conditions

Circadian rhythms in photosynthesis and stomatal conductance have been widely observed, but their possible adaptive significance is unknown. To determine whether such rhythms have a significant effect on the daily courses of carbon gain and/or water loss under field conditions, we obtained laboratory data on circadian rhythms in gas exchange of Saururus cernuus L., a wetland perennial. Using these data we modified a widely used mathematical model of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance by introducing the observed circadian-rhythmic variation into the maximum rates of electron transport and carboxylation. We measured photosynthesis and stomatal conductance hourly on the same species growing naturally in the field and compared measured daily courses of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance with daily courses calculated using the model as originally formulated and also as modified to include circadian rhythms. The model fit the field data only slightly better when rhythms were included: the rhythms accounted for only about 1% of the observed daily carbon gain. Thus, these rhythms probably do not affect photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in the field.
Simulation of Residual Stress in Lens Deposited H13 Tool Steel on Copper Substrate

Solidification cracking represents a significant scientific and technical challenge in the rapid fabrication of bimetallic parts involving Cu and H13 tool steel. The main cause of the cracking formation is attributed to the residual stress accumulation, which depends on the thermal history and phase transformation during the deposition. In this research, a thermomechanical three-dimensional finite element model is developed to determine the temperature history and residual stress in Cu-H13 samples deposited by the Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) process. The development of the model was carried out using the SYSWELD software package. The metallurgical transformations are taken into account using the temperature dependent material properties and the continuous cooling transformation diagram. Two different scanning strategies — alternative and unidirectional — are studied. The same model is also applied to a H13-H13 sample to compare the results. The input laser power is optimized for each layer and three different scanning speeds to maintain a steady molten pool size. It is observed that for a constant scanning speed the required laser power decreases with addition of more layers, and with the increase of scanning speed the laser power needs to be increased. The residual stress is found to be compressive near the center of the deposited wall and tensile at the free edges, which is consistent with the published experimental results in the literature. Similar stress distributions are obtained for both scanning strategies with higher stress concentration at the free edges of the interface between the substrate and the first layer. In these regions, the use of H13 substrate results in a higher stress accumulation than the Cu substrate.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Report on the NSF major educational funding initiative for a National Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Digital Library (NSDL) with special emphasis on the Computing Education component

The NSDL consists of collections of materials accessible online, as well as many tools and services intended to enhance learning. Tools and services will support students and as well as faculty. This session will provide a status report on the state of the NSDL, its content, tools, and services. The session includes specific presentations of several services included in the NSDL. Session attendees discuss current and proposed initiatives, and offer suggestions about needs of highest priority.
Dipolar interactions between dangling bonds at the (111) Si-SiO2 interface.

In this paper a computational model is developed which allows one to calculate the contribution to the Zeeman linewidth arising from magnetic dipole-dipole interactions between unpaired electrons in the dilute limit, which in our specific application correspond to dangling bonds (${P}_{b}$ centers) localized at the (111) Si-${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ interface. Transmission-electron-microscopy studies of the samples we studied with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) indicate that the interface between the silicon and the thermally grown oxide was chemically abrupt and atomically flat over distances ranging from 15 to 300 A\r{}. The atomic flatness of the silicon ``surface'' at the interface was interrupted by steps from one atomic (111) silicon plane to the next. Thus, the dangling bonds observed by EPR are believed to be essentially localized on a two-dimensional plane. The density of dangling bonds is between 3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{12}$ and 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{12}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2}$, which suggests that resolved fine structure might be detectable as well as broadening of the ${P}_{b}$ Zeeman resonance.
Lymphangioma of the forearm and hand

Cases of cavernous lymphangioma of the forearm and hand were reviewed in five female and four male patients. The tumor was first observed at a median age of 2 weeks, and tissue diagnosis confirmed at a median of 1.75 years. At a median follow-up of 11 years, all patients were symptomatic, describing pain when the affected area was bumped, pain with use, swelling, and extremity weakness. Five patients had experienced a previously undescribed episodic pain syndrome of simultaneous pain, swelling, induration, erythema, and fever. All cases responded favorably to elevation, analgesics, and antibiotics. Nine patients underwent a total of 18 operative procedures, including incisional biopsy, excisional biopsy, and excision of recurrent tumor, with a 33% complication rate. In only one case did surgery eliminate a small superficial tumor of the thumb; all other patients had recurrence of the tumor. Following attempted excision of cavernous lymphangioma of the forearm and hand, tumor recurrence, hypertrophic scars, and persistence of symptoms may be anticipated.
MR diffusion tensor and perfusion-weighted imaging in preoperative grading of supratentorial nonenhancing gliomas.

We evaluate the value of MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast material-enhanced perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) in preoperative grading of supratentorial nonenhancing gliomas. This institutional review board–approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act– compliant retrospective study involved 52 patients: 37 with low-grade gliomas (LGGs) and 15 with highgrade gliomas (HGGs). The mean trace apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), minimal ADC, mean fractional anisotropy (FA), maximal FA, and maximal relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) ratio of the lesions were measured and compared between LGG and HGG. The efficacy of the above parameters in grading supratentorial nonenhancing gliomas was evaluated. There was no significant difference in rCBV ratio, minimal ADC, and mean ADC between LGG and HGG (p > 0.05). The mean and maximal FA values of LGG were significantly lower than the values of HGG (p < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the mean FA with a cutoff value of 0.129 and the maximal FA with a cutoff value of 0.219 could differentiate between LGG and HGG with specificity of 69.2% and 76.9%, respectively, and sensitivity of 93.3% and 100.0%, respectively. The combination of mean FA and maximal FA based on the linear discriminant analysis improved the diagnostic accuracy with specificity of 92.3% and sensitivity of 86.7%. These findings were better than maximal rCBV ratio, mean ADC, and minimum ADC. The mean FA and maximal FA, used individually or combined, may be useful in preoperative grading of supratentorial nonenhancing gliomas.
Interpreting Polynomial Regression

This paper focuses on the interpretational difficulties that confound polynomial regression analysis. While polynomial regression is statistically sound, it produces awkward equations which "describe" a curve with a series of linear slopes. An example illustrates the technique and the awkward properties of regression coefficients in the quadratic case. Finally, the paper briefly outlines an algebraic manipulation that transforms polynomial regression equations into a format that is readily interpretable.
Fast wavelength tuning of external cavity quantum cascade lasers

We present a fast wavelength tuning of a Littrow-type EC-QCL. This configuration allows for coarse broadband and high resolution mode-hop-free wavelength scanning at ≫1kHz rates. Example EC-QCL measurements of mid-infrared ammonia spectra are demonstrated.
CPUs, GPUs, and Hybrid Computing

This introduction to the special issue discusses advances and challenges in the field of hybrid CPU/GPU computing.
Surgical Cure of Prolactinoma Reverses Abnormal Prolactin Response to Carbidopa/L-Dopa*

To determine whether the abnormalities in dopaminergic regulation of PRL secretion in patients with prolactinomas persist after resection of the adenoma, we evaluated PRL inhibitory responses to L-dopa alone and L-dopa given after pretreatment with the dopa decarboxylase inhibitor carbidopa before and after transsphenoidal selective resection of prolactinomas in 23 women. Eighteen women were cured by surgery (normal PRL, menses, no galactorrhea), while 5 women were not cured. Preoperatively, the PRL inhibitory responses to L-dopa cured, 4 .3 +/- 3.8%; uncured, 50.1 +/- 5.5% of baseline) was blunted by pretreatment with the decarboxylase inhibitor carbidopa (cured, 79.1 +/- 4.1%; uncured, 76.8 +/- 9.2%). Postoperatively, this blunting disappeared in the cured patients (L-dopa, 49.1 +/- 3.5%; carbidopa/L-dopa, 56.3 +/- 5.1%), but the blunting persisted in the uncured patients (L-dopa, 49.3 +/- 7.9%; carbidopa/L-dopa, 69.3 +/- 4.2%). The return to normal of the carbidopa/L-dopa test in cured prolactinoma patients after surgery is evidence that in these individuals, preoperative abnormalities of secretion are due to either intrinsic abnormalities of the tumor or alteration of hypothalamic function secondary to tumor secretion. In those patients not cured by surgery, dynamic tests of function remain abnormal, findings attributable to either incomplete tumor resection or the presence, in some patients, of underlying hypothalamic dysregulation.
PAR-4 as a possible new target for pancreatic cancer therapy

Importance of the field: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a deadly disease that is intractable to currently available treatment regimens. Although well described in different tumors types, the importance of apoptosis inducer prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) in PC has not been appreciated. PC is an oncogenic kras driven disease, which is known to downregulate Par-4. Therefore, this review highlights its significance and builds a strong case supporting the role of Par-4 as a possible therapeutic target in PC.Areas covered in this review: Literature-based evidence spanning the last 15 years on Par-4 and its significance in PC.What the reader will gain: This review provides comprehensive knowledge of the significance of Par-4 and its association with kras status in PC, along with the crosstalk with crucial resistance and survival molecules NF-κB and Bcl-2 that ultimately are responsible for the overall poor outcome of different therapeutic approaches in this disease.Take home message: Par-4 holds promise as a p...
An approach for evaluating the residual strength of fire exposed bridge girders

Abstract This paper presents an approach for evaluating residual strength of fire exposed steel bridge girders. The approach involves three stages of analysis that is to be carried out at ambient conditions, during exposure to fire, and after cooling of the fire exposed bridge girder. In the first stage, load carrying capacity of the girder is evaluated at room temperature. In the second stage of analysis, thermal and structural response of the bridge girder is traced under specified fire exposure and loading conditions. In the third stage (after the bridge girder has cooled down), residual capacity of the girder is evaluated by incrementing load on the girder till failure occurs. The proposed approach is applied to carry out a set of numerical studies on a typical steel girder using finite element computer program ANSYS. Results from numerical studies indicate that the maximum fire temperature (and associated temperature in steel) is the most critical factor that influences residual strength of a fire exposed bridge girder. A girder exposed to typical “external” fire conditions, with maximum fire temperatures reaching to 600–700 °C, retains about 70 to 80% of its strength on cooling. On the other hand, a steel bridge girder exposed to hydrocarbon fire, with a maximum temperature of about 1100 °C, looses most of its strength during heating phase of the fire and experiences failure.
Resistance to Intestinal Entamoeba histolytica Infection Is Conferred by Innate Immunity and Gr-1^+ Cells

Establishment of intestinal infection with Entamoeba histolytica depends on the mouse strain; C57BL/6 mice are highly resistant, and C3H/HeJ mice are relatively susceptible. We found that resistance to intestinal infection was independent of lymphocyte activity or H-2 haplotype and occurred in the first hours to days postchallenge according to in vivo imaging. At 18 h postchallenge, the ceca of resistant C57BL/6 mice were histologically unremarkable, in contrast to the severe inflammation observed in susceptible C3H/HeJ mice. Comparison of cecal gene expression in C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6 mice demonstrated that there was parasite-induced upregulation of proinflammatory and neutrophil chemotaxis transcripts and there was downregulation of transforming growth factor β signaling molecules. Pretreatment with dexamethasone abrogated the partial resistance of C3H/HeJ or CBA mice through an innate, lymphocyte-independent mechanism, but it had no effect on the high-level resistance of C57BL/6 mice. Similarly, administration of a neutrophil-depleting anti-Gr-1 monoclonal antibody (RB6-8C5) decreased the partial resistance of CBA mice and led to severe pathology compared to control antibody-treated mice, but it had no effect on C57BL/6 resistance. These data indicate that there are discrete mechanisms of innate resistance to E. histolytica depending on the host background and, in contrast to other reports, imply that neutrophils are protective and not damaging in intestinal amebiasis.
Synthesis, characterization, and properties of novel aromatic bispropenyl ethers

La polymerisation cationique de ces nouveaux monomeres donne des polymeres reticules par utilisation de sels diaryliodonium comme amorceurs photo et thermiques
Photosensitive Poly(Dimethylsiloxane) (Photopdms) for Rapid and Simple Polymer Fabrication

In this paper, we report a new and simple method of patterning polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) directly under normal ambient light for rapid prototyping of disposable microfluidic lab-on-a-chips (LOCs). The photodefinable PDMS (photoPDMS) is positive-acting and only sensitive to light below 365 nm, which permits processing outside a gold room. A parametric study was conducted to optimize this novel fabrication technique. Features as small as 100 mum were successfully fabricated using photoPDMS. To further demonstrate the potential of this novel technique, thin (< 30 mum) free-standing patterned PDMS films. Successful demonstration of this novel process presents a feasibly simpler alternative approach for rapid prototyping of disposable microfluidic biochips for lab-on-a-chip applications.
The association of pre-treatment neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio with response rate, progression free survival and overall survival of patients treated with sunitinib for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Background Sunitinib is a standard treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an index of systemic inflammation, is associated with outcome in several cancer types.
Correlates of stress in free-ranging male chacma baboons, Papio hamadryas ursinus

In male baboons, social instability is known to increase concentrations of glucocorticoids (GCs), a class of steroid hormones associated with the vertebrate stress response. The stress response may be particularly marked among male chacma baboons, whose social groups often demonstrate a strong mating skew and high rates of infanticide. Here we test this prediction and explore additional correlates of variation in concentrations of GCs measured in faeces. We collected 482 faecal samples from 13 males over 14 months. Changes in the male hierarchy were the major source of GC variation. Such instability occurred as the result of a new immigrant male's take-over of the alpha position, a resident male's rise to the alpha position, and the rise in rank of a young natal male. All three events were correlated with elevated GCs among all males and higher rates of male–male aggression than were found during periods of stability. The interaction between rank and instability had a significant effect on GC concentrations; low-ranking males had higher GCs during stable periods, whereas high-ranking males had higher GCs during unstable periods. Males that dispersed had elevated GCs in the month following immigration but not at other times, including the month preceding emigration. Finally, entering into a sexual consortship led to a temporary increase in a male's GC measures. By contrast, seasonal changes and a male's age were unrelated to GCs. GC variation in chacma males was primarily explained by temporary elevations following events that relate to reproductive fitness.
Land use and geologic controls on the major elemental and isotopic (δ15N and 87Sr/86Sr) geochemistry of the Connecticut River watershed, USA

Abstract We studied the relationship between land use, geology and water chemistry in the Connecticut River watershed of northeastern USA by combining Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with nitrogen and strontium isotopic analyses and major cation and anion geochemistry. River water was sampled at 35 sites in the summer and fall of 1998 and the spring of 1999 in an attempt to distinguish spatial and temporal changes in geochemical signatures related to land use and bedrock geology. We coupled 87Sr/86Sr values and major element concentrations from river water to quantify the relationship between bedrock geology and riverine geochemistry. The results in our study show that strontium isotopes of tributary waters reflect their catchment bedrock lithology. Our results also suggest that major cations in the Connecticut River water are dominated by carbonate weathering despite the limited presence of calcareous metasedimentary rocks (∼10% of watershed bedrock). In addition, the relative contribution of carbonate to silicate weathering increases downriver as a result of input from tributaries draining Paleozoic carbonate-bearing rocks. In contrast, nitrate concentrations and nitrogen isotopic ratios of nitrate in water were highly variable. Nitrate concentrations were highest for tributaries draining developed and agricultural sites, suggesting anthropogenic inputs. However, it was difficult to determine the source of nitrate because of the wide scatter in the nitrogen isotopic data, which for the most part did not correlate with land use. The only systematic trends in nitrogen isotopic values are found in waters collected in the summer. However, these data show that δ15N values of nitrate from agricultural sites were lower than δ15N values of nitrate from forested sites, a result that is inconsistent with previous studies. Our study suggests that strontium isotopes provide a better biomarker for tracking Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) than nitrogen isotopes because unlike 15N/14N ratios, 87Sr/86Sr ratios are both predictable and seasonally constant in water.
Convergent Expansions for Solutions of Linear Ordinary Differential Equations Having a Simple Turning Point, with an Application to Bessel Functions

Second-order linear ordinary differential equations with a large parameter u are examined. Classic asymptotic expansions involving Airy functions are applicable for the case where the argument z lies in complex domain containing a simple turning point. In this article, such asymptotic expansions are converted into convergent series, where u appears in an inverse factorial, rather than an inverse power. The domain of convergence of the new expansions is rigorously established and is found to be an unbounded domain containing the turning point. The theory is then applied to obtain convergent expansions for Bessel functions of complex argument and large positive order.
TTF-1 regulates α5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits in proximal and distal lung epithelium.

Background Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels comprised of five similar subunits that influence signal transduction and cell turnover. α5 is a structural subunit detected in many non-neuronal tissues; however, its function during pulmonary development is unknown.
Operative treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus.

➤ Osteochondral lesions of the talus are common injuries in recreational and professional athletes, with up to 50% of acute ankle sprains and fractures developing some form of chondral injury. Surgical treatment paradigms aim to restore the articular surface with a repair tissue similar to native cartilage and to provide long-term symptomatic relief. ➤ Arthroscopic bone-marrow stimulation techniques, such as microfracture and drilling, perforate the subchondral plate with multiple openings to recruit mesenchymal stem cells from the underlying bone marrow to stimulate the differentiation of fibrocartilaginous repair tissue in the defect site. The ability of fibrocartilage to withstand mechanical loading and protect the subchondral bone over time is a concern. ➤ Autologous osteochondral transplantation techniques replace the defect with a tubular unit of viable hyaline cartilage and bone from a donor site in the ipsilateral knee. In rare cases, a graft can also be harvested from the ipsilateral talus or contralateral knee. The limitations of donor site morbidity and the potential need for an osteotomy about the ankle should be considered. Some anterior or far posterior talar lesions can be accessed without arthrotomy or with a plafondplasty. ➤ Osteochondral allograft transplantation allows an osteochondral lesion with a large surface area to be replaced with a single unit of viable articular cartilage and subchondral bone from a donor that is matched to size, shape, and surface curvature. The best available evidence suggests that this procedure should be limited to large-volume cystic lesions or salvage procedures. ➤ Autologous chondrocyte implantation techniques require a two-stage procedure, the first for chondrocyte harvest and the second for implantation in a periosteum-covered or matrix-induced form after in vivo culture expansion. Theoretically, the transplantation of chondrocyte-like cells into the defect will result in hyaline-like repair tissue.
Community Dynamics and Functional Stability: A Recipe for Cultural Adaptation and Continuity

This paper applies the methodology of an ecological community analysis framework to the evaluation of a culturally important food recipe found in Vietnamese cookbooks from Vietnam (VN) and the United States (US). The recipe is for the popular Vietnamese dish sweet-sour snake-head mullet soup. The results show that the assemblage of plant species used in the recipes of the VN and US cookbooks are not identical with significant differences in the frequency of some plant-based ingredients. Re-evaluating the species composition of the dish to include the functions of flavor and texture used to create the structure of the dish shows that although the plant assemblage used in the United States is different, all of the traditional functions are maintained and the dish is perpetuated by being adapted for the new environment. The ecological community analysis framework allows for the identification of indicator species that contribute to the structure of dishes. The methodology may be used to design cookbooks for cultural groups living where their traditional food plants are rare or unavailable.