cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of TNFα in Ulcerative Colitis

Standard of care for ulcerative colitis involves long-term pharmacotherapy or colectomy. Approximately 20% to 30% of patients eventually require a colectomy because patients either do not respond or cannot tolerate the currently available pharmacotherapies. Advances in our knowledge of the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis have highlighted the importance of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in the inflammatory process. TNFalpha is a proinflammatory mediator that plays an integral role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, mounting evidence indicates a genetic association between TNFalpha and ulcerative colitis. Furthermore, increased TNFalpha levels have been demonstrated in studies of patients with ulcerative colitis. TNFalpha is likely an important component in the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis, and thus agents targeting TNFalpha in ulcerative colitis have been studied. Recent randomized controlled trials have confirmed that biologic anti-TNFalpha therapy is effective in ulcerative colitis. Soluble TNFalpha receptors or biologic agents that suppress or inhibit TNFalpha production may also show therapeutic promise.
Acoustic Similarity and Release from Proactive Inhibition

Previous studies have reported acoustic factors to be of little importance in the release from proactive-inhibition methodology. 96 Ss were run to investigate whether words are encoded acoustically in the release from proactive-inhibition paradigm. Half of the Ss experienced acoustically similar triads for 4 trials; the other half were shifted to an acoustically different triad on the fourth trial. Proactive inhibition increased for both groups during the first 3 trials. Release from proactive inhibition was obtained on the fourth trial for the shifted group. The changes in proactive inhibition were interpreted as encoding along the acoustic dimension.
An ultralow-power CMOS transconductor design with wide input linear range for biomedical applications

This paper presents an ultralow-power CMOS linear transconductor design operating in weak inversion for low frequency g m -C filter design for potential biomedical applications, where the transconductance should be low to reduce the capacitor size, and linear to minimize distortion. Bulk-driven and degeneration techniques are used, and we have adopted this G m cell as a linear source degeneration resistor to achieve a 91% reduction in the transconductance value. In addition, a fourth-order Butterworth bandpass filter was designed in a proprietary 0.35-µm BCD (bipolar-CMOS-DMOS) process by Texas Instruments (TI). The SPICE simulation results indicate that the total harmonic distortion is greatly reduced to less than −71 dB at an input of 100 mV. The power consumption is only 750 nW at a 3-V supply voltage.
The size effect in the Mexican stock market

Abstract This paper tests for a firm size effect in the Mexican stock market using data from January 1987 to December 1992. Our initial tests indicate that average stock returns are positively related to market betas. We also find, however, that average returns are negatively related to firm size. To measure the effects on average return of betas that are unrelated to firm size, we examine portfolios formed on the basis of size and beta We find that beta is priced in addition to firm size for the Mexican stock market, even after carefully separating the effects of beta and size.
Glyconamides as inhibitors of human β-glucosidases and β-galactosidases

Abstract d -Gluconamide, d -gluconyl hydrazide, and N -(6-aminohexyl)- d -gluconamide were prepared from d -glucono-1,5-lactone by treatment with ammonia, hydrazine, and 1,6-diaminohexane, respectively. These d -gluconamide derivatives were tested for their inhibitory action on human liver lysosomal glucocerebrosidase and human spleen neutral aryl β-glucosidase. Analogous d -galactonamide derivatives were evaluated for their inhibition of human spleen galactocerebrosidase and G M1 -ganglioside β-galactosidase. d -Gluconyl hydrazide and d -gluconamide were effective inhibitors of the lysosomal glucocerebrosidase, attaining 50% inhibition at 5 and 12 m m , respectively. In contrast, N -(6-aminohexyl)- d -gluconamide did not inhibit the glucocerebrosidase. d -Gluconyl hydrazide was also the most effective inhibitor of human liver and spleen aryl β-glucosidase, 50% inhibition being achieved at 4 m m concentration (competitive inhibition, K i = 0.4–0.9 mM). d -Galactonamide was the most effective inhibitor of spleen galactocerebrosidase; 4 m m d -galactonamide caused 50% inhibition of the enzyme activity (noncompetitive inhibition). N -(6-Aminohexyl)- d -galactonamide is a potent inhibitor (90% inhibition, 5 m m ) of G M1 -ganglioside β-galactosidase but is without effect on galactocerebrosidase. It has, therefore, the potential usefulness in distinguishing between two of the galactosphingolipid β-galactosidases.
Comparison of Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Heart Failure Preserved Ejection Fraction Versus Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in an Urban Cohort

Despite significant advances in therapies for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), there are no evidence-based therapies for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), also known as diastolic heart failure (HF). Differences in pathophysiologic mechanisms are touted as to why patients with HFpEF purportedly do not derive similar therapeutic benefits compared with HFrEF. Similarly, the relative frequencies of HFpEF and HFrEF may differ between hospitalized and ambulatory settings. There are limited data on the prevalence, characteristics, treatment, and short-term outcomes of patients hospitalized with HFpEF. We sought to investigate these in patients hospitalized with HFpEF in an urban, hospitalized setting using the Get With The Guidelines registry. We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive discharges (n = 1,701) with a diagnosis of acute decompensated HF from December 1, 2006 to September 30, 2008. Patients with HFpEF (n = 499) were older, overweight, predominantly women, and had underlying hypertension and dyslipidemia. Presenting blood pressure and levels of creatinine were higher, with lower brain natriuretic peptide levels compared with patients with HFrEF (n = 598). Length of stay and 30-day mortality were comparable between patients with HFpEF and HFrEF. Thirty-day readmission was initially lower in patients with HFpEF. However 30-day mortality from any cause after the index HF hospitalization and survival curve at 1-year was no different between patients with HFpEF and HFrEF. In conclusion, lower 30-day readmissions do not translate into improved long-term outcome in patients with HFpEF.
Category-specific effects in semantic memory: category-task interactions suggested by fMRI.

Abstract Much work has investigated the neural representation of specific categories of knowledge, but relatively scant attention has been paid in the cognitive neuroscience literature to the semantic processes that contribute to semantic memory. In this study, we monitored regional cortical activity with fMRI while healthy young adults evaluated visually displayed NATURAL KIND, ARTIFACT, and ABSTRACT nouns with two standard tasks: Typicality judgments and Pleasantness judgments. We observed a significant interaction effect between the category of knowledge and the type of judgment used to evaluate members of these semantic categories. Typicality judgments recruited greater temporal–occipital activation relative to Pleasantness judgments of the same category, and this was seen for comparisons of all three semantic categories. However, when contrasted with Typicality judgments, Pleasantness judgments activated a different anatomic distribution for each semantic category. These findings are consistent with a dynamic approach to semantic memory that includes at least two components: semantic knowledge and semantic processes that interpret this knowledge in several ways depending on the particular semantic challenge.
Kinetic Equations And Type Curves For Predicting The Precipitation Of Amorphous Silica From Geothermal Brines

The kinetics of amorphous silica precipitation from aqueous solution up to 100/sup 0/C and containing up to 1M NaCl were studied experimentally. Empirical equations for the rate of molecular deposition on surfaces as a function of temperature, dissolved silica concentration, pH and salinity are presented. Empirical type curves which depict the decrease in dissolved silica concentration through homogeneous nucleation of colloidal silica are also presented. Two practical examples related to geothermal practice are given.
Antenna radiation in the presence of a chiral sphere

The radiation emitted by electromagnetic sources placed both inside and outside of a homogeneous sphere of chiral media is studied using an exact formulation. For both cases, dyadic Green’s functions are found in terms of spherical vector wave functions. The radiated fields and radiation resistance are examined for a dipole located at the center of the chiral sphere. For this case, it is shown that by choosing the sphere’s size and material parameters properly, purely circular polarization can be achieved in the far field. It is also demonstrated that the radiation resistance of the dipole can be increased.
Likely gains from market timing in Japan

This paper explores the potential gains and required predictive ability of market timing in Japan and then compares the results to previously reported findings from another developed financial market — the United States — and a developing Asia Pacific financial market — Singapore. Shifts between cash equivalents and common stocks are evaluated. The results demonstrate that the potential gains from market timing in Japan are quite attractive and that the minimum predictive accuracy required for successful market timing may be attainable by some portfolio managers. However, for the period examined, the results also indicate that larger incremental gains result from market timing Singapore stocks and cash equivalents.
A role for message TV in education

The role of message TV in education will change with advancing technology and improving instructional design. As a stand alone activity, message TV may be too subjective an experience with too short a duration to expect enduring attitude and value changes. More research into the use of the medium as a stand alone activity is required. However, since message TV is a more effective medium for impressing with images than transmitting abstract data, it can play the affective instructional role as the strategic component within a program that uses a variety of activities to facilitate attitude and value cultivation. Message TV is a very powerful tool for persuasion that illustrates, dramatizes, and makes concrete the program’s objectives.
Acute splenic sequestration crisis in adults with hemoglobin S-C disease: a report of nine cases

Acute splenic sequestration crisis (ASSC) is a potentially life-threatening complication and one of the leading causes of death in children with sickle cell disease. It is rarely reported in adults with hemoglobin S-C disease and its natural history in these patients has not been well studied. We describe here the clinicopathological features of ASSC in nine adults with hemoglobin S-C disease treated between 1972 and 2000 and followed for a mean period of 9 years (range 0-21 years). ASSC was characterized by acute left upper quadrant abdominal pain, splenomegaly, fever, and a rapid decrease in hematocrit with active erythropoiesis. The hemoglobin decreased by a mean of 4.8 g/dl from the steady state value (range 3.0 to 6.7 g/dl) during ASSC. Two patients failed to respond to transfusion of packed erythrocytes and required urgent splenectomy. There was one fatality-a 76-year-old woman, who died 36 h after admission. There was no recurrence of ASSC in five patients followed for 2, 3, 16, 18, and 21 years, respectively. ASSC in adults is a serious and occasionally, fatal complication of hemoglobin S-C disease. Patients with hemoglobin S-C disease may remain at risk of ASSC into their eighth decade.
CANNIBALISM BY CULTURED TOPMINNOWS (FAMILY POECILIIDAE)1

Two topminnows (Poecilia vittata and P. mexicana) were investigated to determine rate of cannibalism and infanticide on conspecific young. Studies demonstrated cannibalism ranged from 0 to 100%. Fry are usually released during hours of darkness, are photonegative, show little color preference, aggregate in aquaria at greatest distance from adults for 24 to 36 hours, and seek cover when available. Use of plastic raffia with submersible screened fry traps significantly improved harvesting success.
Preprocessing and compression of digital holographic images

Digital hologram compression has recently received increasing attention due to easy acquisition and new applications in three-dimensional information processing. Standard compression algorithms perform poorly on complex-valued holographic data. This paper studies quantization techniques for lossy compression of digital holographic images, where three commonly used quantizers are compared. Our observations show that the real and imagery components of holograms and their corresponding Fourier transform coefficients exhibit a Laplacian and Gaussian distribution, respectively. It is therefore possible to design an optimal quantizer for holographic data compression. To further increase the compression ratio, preprocessing techniques to extract the region of interest are presented. These include Fourier plane filtering and statistical snake image segmentation.
A Versatile One-Dimensional Distribution Plot: The BLiP Plot

Abstract A versatile graphical tool, the BLiP plot, was developed for displaying one-dimensional data. The basic building blocks are boxes, lines, and points. Like many standard one-dimensional distribution plots, the BLiP plot is capable of displaying individual data values in points or lines and grouped information in lines or boxes. In addition, the BLiP plot includes many new features such as variable-width plots and several choices of point patterns. The main advantage of the BLiP plot is that it provides users with basic graphical elements in a friendly and flexible environment so that users can, according to their needs, construct anything from a simple, standard plot to a complex, customized plot to best present their data.
Radar Returns from the Sea Surface—Bragg Scattering and Breaking Waves

Abstract Recent ideas on the structure of the equilibrium range of wind-generated ocean waves are applied to the question of radar backscattered returns from the sea surface. It is shown that the backscattering cross section can be represented as the sum of separate contributions from Bragg-scattering and from individual breaking events:where θ is the angle of incidence, ϕ is the direction of observation relative to the wind, u* is the friction velocity and κ the radar wavelength; the Bragg-scattering contribution increases linearly with u* and the sea spike contribution cubically. The number of sea spikes per unit time per unit surface area for a given threshold of spike intensity or duration is proportional to g−1u*3. Calibrated radar measurements of median values of σ0, which tend to suppress sea spike contributions, have been made by Guinard et al. over a range of radar wavelengths from 70 to 3.4 cm. These scale consistently with the parameter (u*2κ/g)½ over angles of incidence greater than 30°, and a...
(p, Vm, T) and phase equilibrium measurements for a natural gas-like mixture using an automated isochoric apparatus

Abstract We have developed an automatic apparatus for measuring phase equilibrium and (p, Vm, T) properties of gas mixtures in our laboratory. Based upon the isochoric method, the apparatus can operate at temperatures ranging from 100 K to 500 K at pressures up to 35 MPa, and yield absolute results in fully automated operation. Temperature measurements are accurate to 0.01 K and pressure measurements are accurate to 0.002 MPa. The isochoric method utilizes pressure versus temperature measurements along an isomole (near isochore) and detects phase boundaries by locating the change in the slope of the isomoles. We also have developed a strategy that allows us, when using the above isochoric method together with a second apparatus capable of isothermal density measurements, to collect derived densities that are competitive in accuracy with those of the densimeter, but with a procedure and design that is easy to automate. We present data on a natural gas-like mixture. The experimental data indicate that prediction of the dew point curve with current equations of state is unreliable.
X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) single-nucleotide polymorphisms and the risk of salivary gland carcinomas

BACKGROUND. X-ray repair cross complementing group 1 (XRCC1) is important in the repair of single-strand DNA breaks caused by endogenous oxidative species and exogenous carcinogens. METHODS. This tertiary cancer center-based, case-control association study included 138 patients with salivary gland carcinoma (SGC), 50 patients with benign salivary gland tumors, and a group of 503 cancer-free control participants. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping assays were performed on 6 XRCC1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated in multivariate logistic regression analyses, and haplotype distributions were estimated. RESULTS. The XRCC1 genotype distributions of patients with SGC and control participants differed significantly for both the T1915C promoter SNP (P = .047) and the Arg194Trp coding region SNP (P = .037). The polymorphic 1915C allele was significantly less frequent in patients with SGC than in the controls (34% vs 42%; P = .031). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that individuals who had the 1915 polymorphic homozygous CC genotype (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.9; P = .017) had a significantly lower risk of SGC, and individuals who had the Arg194Trp heterozygous CT genotype (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.6; P = .059) had a higher, borderline significant risk. The CGTTGG haplotype was associated with a higher SGC risk (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.1-11.3; P = .036). No findings were significant for the patients who had benign salivary gland tumors. CONCLUSIONS. In this study, the XRCC1 1915C allele was associated with a lower SGC risk, and the XRCC1 194Trp allele was associated with a higher SGC risk. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Friction Stir Weld Failure Mechanisms in Aluminum-Armor Structures Under Ballistic Impact Loading Conditions

A critical assessment is carried out of the microstructural changes in respect of the associated reductions in material mechanical properties and of the attendant ballistic-impact failure mechanisms in prototypical friction stir welding (FSW) joints found in armor structures made of high-performance aluminum alloys (including solution-strengthened and age-hardenable aluminum alloy grades). It is argued that due to the large width of FSW joints found in thick aluminum-armor weldments, the overall ballistic performance of the armor is controlled by the ballistic limits of its weld zones (e.g., heat-affected zone, the thermomechanically affected zone, the nugget, etc.). Thus, in order to assess the overall ballistic survivability of an armor weldment, one must predict/identify welding-induced changes in the material microstructure and properties, and the operative failure mechanisms in different regions of the weld. Toward this end, a procedure is proposed in the present study which combines the results of the FSW process modeling, basic physical-metallurgy principles concerning microstructure/property relations, and the fracture mechanics concepts related to the key blast/ballistic-impact failure modes. The utility of this procedure is demonstrated using the case of a solid-solution strengthened and cold-worked aluminum alloy armor FSW-weld test structure.
Indirect agree in Lubukusu complementizer agreement

This paper introduces a new complementizer agreement relation to the theoretical literature from Lubukusu (Bantu, Kenya), in which a declarative-embedding complementizer agrees in an upward orientation with the subject of its selecting clause. The agreement relation is extensively documented in a wide variety of syntactic contexts including ditransitives, causatives, passives, and multiple embeddings, establishing the empirical generalization that the complementizer agrees with the most local superordinate subject. The paper proposes that this agreement relation is not a direct Agree relation, but is instead the result of local agreement between the complementizer and a null subject-oriented anaphor (whose antecedent is necessarily the superordinate subject). This is termed an Indirect Agree relation, defined as an instance of agreement between a head and an agreement trigger that is mediated by a different syntactic element (a null anaphor, in this case). A variety of evidence is given in support of this conclusion, including mismatched agreements between the complementizer and matrix subject agreement, lack of split anaphora, the properties of raising constructions, (tensed) clause-boundedness, and the intervention of specified subjects. A number of issues for future research are noted as well, including various complementation patterns relating to evidentiality, factivity, and sentience as they intersect with the properties of the agreeing complementizer.
A Systematic Approach to Blind-Speed Elimination

In radars that achieve a high subclutter visibility by coherent processing over several pulses, a serious problem appears in the form of blind Dopplers, or "speeds," at which target detection is impossible. Of the possible methods of eliminating these blind speeds, the most basic one that is employed when the performance requirements are high involves the use of several PRF's. These PRF's are chosen so that coverage is obtained at any Doppler with at least one PRF. The problem faced by the radar designer is to select the set of PRF's and the pulse numbers for each PRF so that the search frame time is minimized. This paper evolves a systematic method for the design of the blind-speed elimination scheme. A formalized approach is offered that shows the possible combinations of wavelength, PRF, and pulse number and the tradeoffs involved, without introducing the confusion ordinarily associated with multiparameter choices.
Slowing DNA Translocation through Nanopores using Organic Salt Solutions

One of the key challenges to nanopore DNA sequencing is to slow down DNA translocation. Here, we report that the translocation velocities of various DNA homo- and co-polymers through protein pores could be significantly decreased by using electrolyte solutions containing organic salts. Using a butylmethylimidazolium chloride solution instead of the commonly used KCl solution, DNA translocation rates on the order of hundreds of microseconds per nucleotide base were achieved. The much enhanced resolution of the nanopore coupled with the different event blockage amplitudes produced by different nucleotides permits the convenient differentiation between various DNA molecules.
Mechanisms by which Thiazolidinediones Enhance Insulin Action.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are an exciting new class of insulin-sensitizing drugs being used currently for the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The molecular target of these compounds is thought to be the nuclear hormone receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). PPARγ is expressed predominantly in adipose tissue, yet a major site of TZD-responsive glucose disposal is skeletal muscle. Potential explanations for this paradox are discussed in this review.
STOCHASTIC MODELING OF NON-LINEAR SIEVING KINETICS

The feed to a sieve is classified as oversize particles, undersize particles, and near mesh size particles. The sizes of the near mesh size particles vary around that of the sieve opening; the passage of these particles through the sieve effects the separation. A stochastic approach is employed for analyzing and modeling the sieving kinetics of the near mesh size particles, usually constituting the bulk of the material required to be separated. The master equation of the process is formulated based on probabilistic considerations, describing the passage of the particles in the presence of sieve blinding. However, an analytical solution cannot be obtained directly and hence a rational approximation technique, the system size expansion, is utilized to solve the master equation. This results in a system of non-linear, coupled, ordinary differential equations for the various statistical quantities characterizing the number of particles retained on the sieve and the number of blinded apertures. These equations...
Interactions of erythro-ifenprodil, threo-ifenprodil, erythro-iodoifenprodil, and eliprodil with subtypes of σ receptors

Observations of sigma (sigma) receptor heterogeneity have prompted interest in identifying ligands for sigma receptor subtypes. Selective ligands for the sigma-2 are unavailable, but [3H]ifenprodil labels sigma-2 sites. Therefore, isomers and analogues of ifenprodil were compared as potential sigma-2 ligands. Threo-ifenprodil and erythro-ifenprodil had high affinity (Ki congruent to 2 nM) for sigma-2 sites; erythro-iodoifenprodil had moderate affinity (Ki congruent to 46 nM); eliprodil had lowest affinity (Ki congruent to 630 nM). Threo-ifenprodil, which has less affinity for alpha 1-adrenoceptors than erythro-ifenprodil, was slightly more selective than erythro-ifenprodil for sigma-2 sites. These results identify threo-ifenprodil as potentially useful for studies of sigma-2 receptors.
Comparing Locomotion With Lever-press Travel In An Operant Simulation Of Foraging.

An operant model of foraging was studied. Rats searched for food by pressing on the left lever, the patch, which provided one, two, or eight reinforcers before extinction (i.e., zero reinforcers). Obtaining each reinforcer lowered the probability of receiving another reinforcer, simulating patch depletion. Rats traveled to another patch by pressing the right lever, which restored reinforcer availability to the left lever. Travel requirement changed by varying the probability of reset for presses on the right lever; in one condition, additional locomotion was required. That is, rats ran 260 cm from the left to the right lever, made one response on the right lever, and ran back to a fresh patch on the left lever. Another condition added three hurdles to the 260-cm path. The lever-pressing and simple locomotion conditions generated equivalent travel times. Adding the hurdles produced longer times in patches than did the lever-pressing and simple locomotion requirements. The results contradict some models of optimal foraging but are in keeping with McNair's (1982) optimal giving-up time model and add to the growing body of evidence that different environments may produce different foraging strategies.
December 1941: Twelve Days that Began a World War. By Evan Mawdsley. (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2011. Pp. ix, 347. $30.00.)

The bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Soviet repulse of the Wehrmacht outside of Moscow, and the Japanese invasion of Malaysia—three pivotal moments in the Second World War—all occurred within hours of ...
Signal transduction by the platelet-derived growth factor receptor

When platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) binds to its receptor on a quiescent fibroblast or smooth muscle cell, it stimulates a remarkably diverse group of biochemical responses, including changes in ion fluxes, activation of several kinases, alterations in cell shape, increased transcription of a number of genes, and stimulation of enzymes that regulate phospholipid metabolism. These and other reactions culminate, hours later, in DNA replication and cell division. How does the receptor for PDGF recognize and bind its specific ligand and then transduce this signal across the cell membrane via a single membrane-spanning region? Which of the immediate cellular responses are directly involved in the biochemical pathways that lead to DNA synthesis? How does the PDGF receptor trigger a diverse group of responses? Recent studies of the PDGF receptor have provided insight into these issues.
Impact of Charrettes and Their Characteristics on Achieved LEED Certification

AbstractCharrettes are collaborative, interdisciplinary workshops commonly used in the programming and or design phases of sustainable building projects and often utilized in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) projects. Charrettes are implemented to increase collaboration and communication across diverse building professionals and stakeholders. However, minimal empirical research documenting the outcomes or impact of charrette processes or identifying whether specific charrette characteristics or combinations of characteristics actually contribute to an overall increase of LEED points exists. The purpose of this research project was to research salient characteristics of charrette processes and to observe their impact on the LEED points achieved. Methodology included a focus group of nine building professionals and a survey of 66 building professionals who had participated in a LEED-certified project(s). Characteristics derived from the focus group discussion were used to develop the sur...
Identical karyotypes in synchronous bilateral clear cell renal cell carcinomas.

Although reliable data are scarce, about 5% of all patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have bilateral tumors at the time of presentation. A disproportionate fraction of these are nonclear cell carcinomas (e.g., papillary RCC) [1]; however, the presence of bilateral clear cell RCC is not a rare finding. Management of such cases is more complex than when a tumor involves a single kidney, and knowledge of whether the two tumors arose independently or if one is a metastasis from the other is of considerable clinical interest. Therefore, comparison of the karyotypes of bilateral RCC can be clinically important. Most of the bilateral solitary RCC that have been investigated cytogenetically thus far have been classified histologically as nonpapillary. Within each pair, the karyotypes of the two tumors have differed, suggesting independent primary tumors [2]. We herein report the finding of an apparently identical unbalanced chromosomal rearrangement between chromosomes 3 and 6 in bilateral RCC of a 74-year-old male who presented with gross hematuria. The patient elected to undergo consecutive bilateral partial nephrectomies. The right kidney mass was present in the upper pole and measured 6.0 cm in greatest dimension. It was grossly described as a yellow/tan mass without discernable areas of hemorrhage or necrosis. Cytomorphologically, there were solid nests of cells that had clear cytoplasm and slightly irregular nuclei with evident nucleoli at medium magnification. There was a delicate branching vascular pattern associated with the epithelial tumor cells. These findings were diagnostic of clear-cell RCC, Fuhrman nuclear grade 2 of 4. The contralateral left renal mass was present in the lower pole and measured 4.5 cm in greatest dimension. In contrast to the tumor in the right kidney, there was gross evidence of hemorrhage and necrosis in the left kidney mass. Clear cells with low nuclear grade that were similar to those observed in the right kidney were present adjacent to foci of cells with larger nuclei and more prominent nucleoli that could be seen at lower magnification. These cytological findings, in addition to the delicate branching network of blood vessels, were consistent with a clear cell RCC, Fuhrman nuclear grade 3 of 4. In both kidneys, the tumor was confined to the renal parenchyma, and
Media processing workflow design and execution with ARIA

Recently, we introduced a novel ARchitecture for Interactive Arts (ARIA) middleware that processes, filters, and fuses sensory inputs and actuates responses in real-time while providing various Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees. The objective of ARIA is to incorporate realtime, sensed, and archived media and audience responses into live performances, on demand. An ARIA media workflow graph describes how the data sensed through media capture devices will be processed and what audio-visual responses will be actuated. Thus, each data object streamed between ARIA processing components is subject to transformations, as described by a media workflow graph. The media capture and processing components, such as media filters and fusion operators, are programmable and adaptable; i.e, the delay, size, frequency, and quality/precision characteristics of individual operators can be controlled via a number of parameters. In [1, 4, 5], we developed static and dynamic optimization algorithms which maximize the quality of the actuated responses, minimize the corresponding delay and the resource usage. In this demonstration, we present the ARIA GUI and the underlying kernel. More specifically, we describe how to design a media processing workflow, with adaptive operators, using the ARIA GUI and how to use the various optimization and adaptation alternatives provided by the ARIA kernel to execute media processing workflows.
Therapeutic factors in dysphoric disorders

The working group on the treatment of dysphoric disorders focused on ways to integrate variables and qualities that optimize treatment effects for this clinical population. The variables examined represent three aspects or domains of the treatment context that effect positive change. These included aspects of the patient and therapist (participant factors), those relating to the development and role of the therapeutic relationship (relationship factors), and those that defined the application of formal interventions that are implemented by the therapist (techniques factors). The treatment literature on dysphoric populations was reviewed and a variety of relationships was identified, which then were translated into principles that are thought to enhance treatment effects. The principles representing the three domains of this review are then collected, in this article, into a set of cohesive suggestions for treating patients whose problems are characterized by major or minor depression, alone or as a comorbid condition.
Bio-oil from Jackfruit Peel Waste

Abstract Fossil fuels such as petroleum, charcoal, and natural gas sources are the main energy sources at present, but considering their natural limitation in availability and the fact that they are not renewable, there exists a growing need of developing bio-fuel production. Biomass has received considerable attention as a sustainable feedstock that can replace diminishing fossil fuels for the production of energy, especially for the transportation sector. JackfruitwasteisabundantinIndonesiamake itpotentiallyas one of thegreenrefineryfeedstockforthe manufacture ofbio-fuel.As intermediate of bio-fuel,jackfruitpeelsisprocessed intobio-oil. Pyrolysis, a thermochemical conversion process under oxygen-absent condition is an attractive way to convert biomass into bio- oil.In this study, the pyrolysis experiments were carried out ina fixed-bedreactor at a range of temperature of400-600 °C, heating rate range between 10-50 °C/min, and a range of nitrogen flow between 2-4litre/min. The aims of this work were to explore the effects of pyrolysis conditions and to identify the optimum condition for obtaining the highest bio-oil yield.The effect of nitrogen flow rate and heating rate on the yield of bio-oil were insignificant. The most important parameter in the bio-oil production was the temperature of the pyrolysis process.The yield of bio-oil initially increased with temperature (up to 550 °C) then further increase of temperature resulting in the decreased of bio-oil yield. Results showed that the highest bio-oil yield (52.6%)wasobtainedat 550 °C with nitrogen flow rate of 4L/min and heating rate of 50 °C/min. The thermal degradation of jackfruit peel was also studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Gas chromatography (GC-MS) was used to identify the organic fraction of bio-oil. The water content in the bio-oil product was determined by volumetric Karl-Fischer titration. The physicochemical properties of bio-oil produced from pyrolysis of jackfruit peels such as gross calorific value, pH, kinematic viscosity, density, sulfur content, ash content, pour point and flash point were determined and compared to ASTM standard of bio-oil (ASTM 7544).
Sample nebulization for minimization of transition metal interferences with selenium hydride generation ICP-AES

Abstract A new hydride generation approach was devised with the aim of minimization of transition element interferences. A Meinhard nebulizer was modified by insertion of a capillary tube into the sample introduction channel. The acidic sample, introduced through the inserted capillary, and the tetrahydroborate solution through the normal sample introduction channel of the nebulizer were mixed just prior to nebulization. Gas–liquid phase separation took place in a conventional Scott double-pass spray chamber with the aid of the nebulization gas. Due to the extremely short reaction time and fast gas–liquid separation, 50 g l−1 Ni2+, 25 g l−1 Co2+ and 20 mg l−1 Cu2+ could be tolerated in a selenium sample solution without interference. The precision of 10 replicate measurements at 500 μg l−1 Se was less than 2% and a detection limit of 2 μg l−1 (3σb) was achieved using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The system was successfully applied to the determination of selenium in NIST certified reference material nickel oxide using a standard calibration curve. This hydride generation system was also interfaced to an electrically heated quartz atomizer and a graphite furnace (with in situ collection) for atomic absorption spectrometric measurements.
Radiometric and spectral calibrations of the Geostationary Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) using principle component analysis

The ultimate remote sensing benefits of the high resolution Infrared radiance spectrometers will be realized with their geostationary satellite implementation in the form of imaging spectrometers. This will enable dynamic features of the atmosphere's thermodynamic fields and pollutant and greenhouse gas constituents to be observed for revolutionary improvements in weather forecasts and more accurate air quality and climate predictions. As an important step toward realizing this application objective, the Geostationary Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) Engineering Demonstration Unit (EDU) was successfully developed under the NASA New Millennium Program, 2000-2006. The GIFTS-EDU instrument employs three focal plane arrays (FPAs), which gather measurements across the long-wave IR (LWIR), short/mid-wave IR (SMWIR), and visible spectral bands. The raw GIFTS interferogram measurements are radiometrically and spectrally calibrated to produce radiance spectra, which are further processed to obtain atmospheric profiles via retrieval algorithms. The radiometric calibration is achieved using internal blackbody calibration references at ambient (260 K) and hot (286 K) temperatures. The absolute radiometric performance of the instrument is affected by several factors including the FPA off-axis effect, detector/readout electronics induced nonlinearity distortions, and fore-optics offsets. The GIFTS-EDU, being the very first imaging spectrometer to use ultra-high speed electronics to readout its large area format focal plane array detectors, operating at wavelengths as large as 15 microns, possessed non-linearity's not easily removable in the initial calibration process. In this paper, we introduce a refined calibration technique that utilizes Principle Component (PC) analysis to compensate for instrument distortions and artifacts remaining after the initial radiometric calibration process, thus, further enhance the absolute calibration accuracy. This method is applied to data collected during an atmospheric measurement experiment with the GIFTS, together with simultaneous observations by the accurately calibrated AERI (Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer), both simultaneously zenith viewing the sky through the same external scene mirror at ten-minute intervals throughout a cloudless day at Logan Utah on September 13, 2006. The PC vectors of the calibrated radiance spectra are defined from the AERI observations and regression matrices relating the initial GIFTS radiance PC scores to the AERI radiance PC scores are calculated using the least squares inverse method. A new set of accurately calibrated GIFTS radiances are produced using the first four PC scores in the regression model. Temperature and moisture profiles retrieved from the PC-calibrated GIFTS radiances are verified against radiosonde measurements collected throughout the GIFTS sky measurement period.
Bayesian iterative binary filter design

Optimal translation-invariant binary windowed filters are determined by probabilities of the form P(Y = 1|x), where x is a vector (template) of observed values in the observation window and Y is the value in the image to be estimated by the filter. The optimal window filter is defined by y(x) = 1 if P(Y = 1|x) > 0.5 and y(x) = 0 if P(Y = 1|x) ≤ 0.5, which is the binary conditional expectation. The fundamental problem of filter design is to estimate P(Y = 1|x) from data (image realizations), where x ranges over all possible observation vectors in the window. A Bayesian approach to the problem can be employed by assuming, for each x, a prior distribution for P(Y = 1|x). These prior distributions result from considering a range of model states by which the observed images are obtained from the ideal. Instead of estimating P(Y = 1|x) directly from observations by its sample mean relative to an image sample, P(Y = 1|x) is estimated in the Bayesian fashion, its Bayes estimator being the conditional expectation of P(Y = 1|x) given the data. Recently the authors have shown that, with accurate prior information, the Bayesian multiresolution filter has significant benefits from multiresolution filter design. Further, since the Bayesian filter is trained over a wider range of degradation levels, it inherits the added benefit of filtering a degraded image at different degradation levels in addition permitting iterative filtering. We discuss the necessary conditions that make a binary filter a good iterative filter and show that the Bayesian multiresolution filter is a natural candidate. The basic idea behind Bayesian iterative filtering is that, since the prior distribution covers a wide range of degradation levels, an application of the filter converts the degraded image to an image of less degradation for which the prior distribution is sufficiently robust to still be effective. Further application of the filter leads to further reduction of degradation. We consider edge noise in the experiments, with an emphasis on realistically degraded document images.
Fast, Performance-Optimized Partial Match Address Compression for Low-Latency On-Chip Address Buses

The influence of interconnects on processor performance and cost is becoming increasingly pronounced with technology scaling. In this paper, we present a fast compression scheme that exploits the spatial and temporal locality of addresses to dynamically compress them to different extents depending upon the extent to which they match the higher-order portions of recently-occurring addresses saved in a very small "compression cache" of capacity less than 500 bits. When a maximal match occurs, the address is compressed to the maximum extent and is transmitted on a narrow bus in one cycle. When a partial match occurs, one or more extra cycles are required for address transmission depending upon the extent of the partial match. To minimize this transmission cycle penalty (TCP), we use an efficient algorithm to determine the optimal set of partial matches to be supported in our partial match compression (PMC) scheme - we refer to this scheme as performance-optimized PMC (PO-PMC). A previously-proposed scheme called bus expander (BE) supports only a single, fixed-size match for compression. We show that all addresses that result in (maximal) matches in BE also result in the same in PMC, but the remaining addresses that are considered "no matches" in BE frequently result in partial matches in PMC, thus helping curtail the latter's TCP significantly. Across many SPEC CPU2000 integer and floating-point benchmarks, we find that average program performance improves by 3% when using PO-PMC compared to that when using BE. Further, we investigate how area slack arising from compression can be exploited for bus latency improvement by increasing inter-wire spacing. We find that, on the average, it can reduce bus latency by up to 84.63% and thereby improve program performance by about 16%.
Diffraction spreading of surface waves on LiNbO3

The far-field diffraction spreading of surface acoustic waves on y cut LiNbO3, has been measured in two directions. For propagation along z, the beam is much narrower than for the isotropic case, and along a direction at 21.9° to z it is broader; both observations are in semiquantitative agreement with an analysis based on a parabolic approximation for the velocity surface in the neighbourhood of these directions.
Processing and Memory of Color, Contour, and Pattern Found in Computer Digitized Color Pictures for Elementary Children:

Children in grades one, three, and five participated in three experiments which examined the active processing and short-term memory (STM) of color, contour, and interior pattern of shapes found in computer digitized pictures. No age-related differences were found at the level of active processing and at the onset of STM (10 msec delay) for the three dimensions, while age-related differences occurred for color and contour information at a longer memory lag time (100 msec delay). The study provides insights to the role of processing and memory for specific types of information found in color pictures, which has implications for effecting higher order cognitive behaviors.
Prophylactic or simultaneous administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor in the treatment of group B streptococcal sepsis in neonatal rats.

Prophylactic or Simultaneous Administration of Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor in the Treatment of Group B Streptococcal Sepsis in Neonatal Rats
Experimental confirmation of thermal plasma CVD of diamond with liquid feedstock injection model

Abstract A three-dimensional model of diamond chemical vapor deposition in a thermal plasma system has been compared with experimental results to confirm the validity of the model in simulating reactor flow patterns and deposit characteristics. Model and experimental cases were tested with the same boundary and operating conditions. Several sets of operating conditions were analyzed to confirm the validity of the model. Trends in the diamond chemical vapor deposition system based on the effects of droplet size, injection probe to substrate offset, the addition of an inert carrier gas, and the differences associated with the use of liquid or gaseous precursor feedstock were investigated. To test the validity of flow patterns predicted by the model, a laser strobe video system was used to map droplet trajectories in the reactor. Experimental results were found to support the calculated droplet trajectories and flowlines in the reactor. Deposition characteristics such as the mass deposition rate and the area of deposit were examined in the model and experimental cases. General trends, with respect to deposition characteristics, produced by altering the operating conditions in the experiment, and respectively the boundary conditions in the model were found to be similar. Differences between model and experimental results are probably due to the use of an overly simplified surface chemistry model, which does not take into account graphite deposition. In addition, modeling of radial droplet injection does not take into account non-radial perturbations.