cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impacts of driving on the beach: Case studies from Assateague Island and Padre Island National Seashores

Abstract There is mounting evidence that driving on the beach has a significant biophysical impact, and it has been suggested in a number of recent studies that driving on the beachface leads to a net loss of sediment from the beach-dune system. Identifying a conclusive link between beach driving and beach erosion is, however, complicated by the natural variability of the environment in both space and time, and it has proven difficult to distinguish the driving signal from this background noise. In this respect, the impacts of beach driving are not clear, making it difficult to develop appropriate management strategies to reduce the impact in either degree or extent. LiDAR data from both Padre Island National Seashore and Assateague Island National Seashore are used in the present study to determine if the differences in beach and dune morphology between restricted and open access sections of the beach are associated with beach driving. Results from Padre Island National Seashore suggest that beach driving does not affect the height and volume of the foredunes, but is responsible for a statistically significant decrease in the elevation of the dune crest and base compared to the control section of beach. The decrease in elevation is ascribed to the compaction and pulverization of seaweed wrack that accumulates along the Texas coast in the spring and summer months, and is responsible for the anchoring of sediment for the growth of new vegetation seaward of the foredune. At Assateague Island National Seashore, driving on the beach is shown to cause a statistically significant change in the beach-dune morphology, with smaller dunes set further back from the shoreline within the open access sections of the beach. Despite the changes in dune morphology at both sites, there is no statistically significant difference in beach-dune volume on either side of the beach access road, which suggests that driving on the beach does not lead to a net loss of sediment from the beach-dune system. Driving on the beach does, however, make the foredune at both sites susceptible to scarping and overwash during tropical storms and hurricanes.
Underreported use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in an outpatient gastroenterology practice: a prospective office-based survey

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most commonly used class of medications worldwide. It is estimated that more than 20 million people take NSAIDs daily. We examined the underreported use of NSAIDs on a standardized office intake assessment questionnaire of patient reported medications. A questionnaire was administered to patients following written and verbal confirmed report of current medications to nursing staff. One hundred consecutive patient intake assessments were evaluated from the patient intake sheets for a busy private gastroenterology specialty practice. After patients listed their current medications , they were given a survey and asked to acknowledge any use of 30 non-prescription formulations that contained NSAIDs. Patients filled these surveys while waiting for the health care provider who then reviewed the response accuracy with the patient during the visit. Changes in the patient‘s initial and subsequently corroborated use or non-use of NSAIDs were recorded and tabulated. The educational level of all participants was also assessed. Of the 100 surveys completed, 6% of patients had not completed high school, 19% had completed high school, 8% had started but not finished college, 54% had completed college, 2% had started but not finished graduate school, and 11% had completed graduate school. The educational level of the patients did not correlate with underreporting of NSAID usage. On the survey, 18% of patients noted use of an NSAID listed that had not been reported verbally to nursing staff; 8% of those patients reported daily use, 15% weekly use and 76% reported use within the last month. Patients were then asked in the questionnaire as to the reason for not reporting medication intake to nurse; 14% stated they were never asked about the specific medication, 22% did not think the medications were important enough to list, 34% bought the medication with prescriptions, and 30% noted their reason as their doctor did not prescribe the medication to them. Using a prospective questionnaire in a private practice gastrointestinal office, these data show that patients underreport use of non-prescription NSAIDs. Based on the data, it is clear that this underreporting can have a detrimental effect on procedure related as well as long-term patient care. Future studies would be needed to examine the incidence of side effects due to underreporting of NSAIDs.
The sublimation and high-temperature thermodynamic properties of solid solutions of MnSe and CdSe☆

Abstract The Knudsen-effusion technique has been employed to derive the activities of CdSe and MnSe in solid solutions of MnSe and CdSe as a function of composition and temperature. In the CdSe-rich phase the system shows ideal behavior. In the MnSe-rich phase the activities of CdSe show positive deviations and the activities of MnSe negative deviations from Raoult's law. Partial molar Gibbs free energies, enthalpies, and entropies were calculated from which the Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of mixing were derived. The experimentally determined entropies are close to the ideal values, suggesting that no preferential ordering of Mn and Cd ions in cation sites occurs.
Surface plasmon resonance reflectance imaging technique for near-field (~100 nm) fluidic characterization

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) reflectance imaging technique is devised as a label-free visualization tools to characterize near-field (100 nm) fluidic transport properties. The key idea is that the SPR reflectance intensity varies with the near-field refractive index (RI) of the test fluid, which in turn depends on the micro/nano-fluidic scalar properties, such as concentrations, temperatures, and phases. The SPR sensor techniques have been widely used in many different areas, particularly in the biomedical and biophysical societies. While flow visualization techniques based on RI detection have been extensively well documented (Merzkirch 1987), the use of SPR imaging for fluidic applications has been introduced only recently since the author’s group presented a series of related studies in the past few years. The primary goal of this review article is two-fold: (1) Introduction of the working principles of the SPR imaging as a fluidic sensor, and (2) Presentation of example measurement applications for various fluidic scalar properties using the SPR imaging sensor technique. Section 1 summarizes the history and the basic principle of SPR by focusing on the Kretschmann’s theory and Sect. 2 describes the laboratory SPR imaging system specifically designed for fluidic applications. Section 3 presents the optical and material properties that affect the SPR measurement capabilities and sensitivity. Section 4 presents example applications of the implemented SPR for different near-field characterization problems, including (1) micromixing concentration field, (2) convective/diffusion of salinity distributions, (3) full-field thermometry, and (4) fingerprinting of crystallized nanofluidic self assembly. Sections 5 and 6 discuss the spatial measurement resolutions of the SPR imaging technique and the overall measurement sensitivities, respectively. Section 7 presents a few suggestions to further enhance the SPR measurement accuracy particularly for near-field fluidic characterization.
Electronic effects of defects in one-dimensional channels

As electronic devices shrink to the one-dimensional limit, unusual device physics can result, even at room temperature. Nanoscale conductors like single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are particularly useful tools for experimentally investigating these effects. Our characterization of point defects in SWNTs has focused on these electronic consequences. A single scattering site in an otherwise quasi-ballistic SWNT introduces resistance, transconductance, and chemical sensitivity, and here we investigate these contributions using a combination of transport and scanning probe techniques. The transport measurements determine the two-terminal contributions over a wide range of bias, temperature, and environmental conditions, while the scanning probe work provides complementary confirmation that the effects originate at a particular site along the conduction path in a SWNT. Together, the combination proves that single point defects behave like scattering barriers having Poole-Frenkel transport characteristics. The Poole-Frenkel barriers have heights of 10 – 30 meV and gate-dependent widths that grow as large as 1 μm due to the uniquely poor screening in one dimension. Poole-Frenkel characteristics suggest that the barriers contain at least one localized electronic state, and that this state primarily contributes to conduction under high bias or high temperature conditions. Because these localized states vary from one device to another, we hypothesize that each might be unique to a particular defect’s chemical type.
Defining and understanding success at smoking reduction: A mixed-methods study

Much is known about the outcomes of different smoking reduction and cessation programs. However there is a lack of information about the degree to which such programs can achieve successes after initial failures. This study evaluated the patterns of success and failure during a smoking reduction intervention with a sample of 164 adult smokers (mean age 62; mean baseline smoking rate 21.2 cigarettes per day) who wanted to reduce their smoking but were not ready to attempt cessation. Success was defined by both self-reported number of cigarettes smoked assessed during counseling calls and carbon monoxide levels at 3 and 12 month follow-ups. There was a strong relationship between initial success/failure and eventual outcome using both assessment methods, and a moderate relationship between success categorization using the different methods (r = .43). Qualitative contextual data identified that types of travel, work and family environmental barriers experienced differed across success categories. This research confirms the importance of initial success in changing addictive behaviors and suggests directions for future research; including ways to enhance initial success, and the suggestion that more study is needed regarding the generalizability of these findings across settings and behaviors.
In Situ Synthesis of Polymer−Clay Nanocomposites from Silicate Gels

Polymer-containing silicate gels were hydrothermally crystallized to form layered magnesium silicate hectorite clays containing polymers that are incorporated in situ. Gels consist of silica sol, magnesium hydroxide sol, lithium fluoride, and the polymer of choice. Dilute solutions of gel in water are refluxed for various lengths of time and then isolated via centrifugation, washed, and air-dried. Polymer loadings up to 86% were attained by adding more polymer to the solutions after 2-day reaction times, reacting for another 24 h, and continuing this process prior to isolation. Polyaniline (PANI)- and polyacrylonitrile (PACN)-clay samples contain up to 57% and 76% polymer, respectively, after just one sequential addition at high polymer loading. Series of PANI-, PACN-, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP)-, and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC)-clays also were prepared by several sequential additions of lower polymer loading to the silicate gel during crystallization. Final polymer loadings were determined by thermal analysis. Basal spacings between clay interlayers were measured by X-ray powder diffraction for all samples. Increases in polymer loadings and basal spacings were observed for all the neutral polymers studied, until or unless delamination occurred. Delamination was evident for PACN- and PANI-clay nanocomposites. The highest loadings were observed for the PACN-clays, up to 86%. For the cationic polymermore » polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride, however, the loading could not be increased beyond about 20%. This is due to electrostatic interactions that balance the negatively charged sites on the silicate lattice with those on the cationic polymer chain. Beyond charge compensation, there is no driving force for further incorporation. Charge compensation in the case of the neutral polymers is attained by interlayer lithium(I) cations.« less
The 2006 Thomas Willis lecture: the adventures of a translational researcher in stroke and migraine.

It is especially meaningful to receive an award honoring Thomas Willis. Besides making seminal contributions to the physiology of the great circle, Willis was the first to assign separate functions to distinct brain regions and the first to number the cranial nerves in the way we identify them today. Willis was also among the earliest translational researchers, although it took >400 years for the term to emerge in our lexicon. Broad in its meaning, translational research can be highly focused and approached from bench to bedside and from bedside to bench. Bidirectional approaches are among the most efficient ways that physician-scientists can participate in the quest to discover new diagnostics and novel treatments. So the Willis lecture will begin by providing a brief historical description of my laboratories’ contributions to research on the circle of Willis. Part 2 will focus on research advances to enhance brain perfusion by targeting the endothelium made by my colleagues and me during the past 15 years. Both areas of investigation suggest the importance of taking approaches that promote bidirectional research. In the late 1970s, we set out to identify the sensory innervation to the circle of Willis in the hope of finding a common pain pathway relevant to migraine and stroke. Penfield, McNaughton, Wolff, and others all wrote about Willis’ circle, but not all agreed about the possibility or the importance of its sensory innervation. However, on the basis of experience in the clinic, I was convinced that the strictly unilateral headaches often reported by patients after proximal middle cerebral artery occlusions, expanding aneurysms, or migraine were sufficient to initiate studies to identify anatomic connections between the trigeminal nerve and the circle of Willis. This research program started in 1979 with a simple hypothesis in which we posited the potential existence and importance of …
Leaflet stress and strain distributions following incomplete transcatheter aortic valve expansion

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an established treatment alternative to surgical valve replacement in high-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. The current guidelines for TAVR are to upsize transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) relative to the native annulus to secure the device and minimize paravalvular leakage. Unlike surgical stented bioprosthetic valves where leaflets are attached to a rigid frame, TAVs must expand to fit within the native annulus. Fully-expanded circular TAVs have consistent leaflet kinematics; however, subtle variations in the degree of stent expansion may affect leaflet coaptation. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of incomplete TAV expansion on leaflet stress and strain distributions. In this study, we developed finite element models of a 23 mm homemade TAV expanded to diameters ranging from 18 to 23 mm in 1mm increments. Through dynamic finite element simulations, we found that leaflet stress and strain distributions were dependent on the diameter of the inflated TAV. After complete expansion of the TAV to 23 mm, high stress and strain regions were observed primarily in the commissures during diastole. However, 2-3mm incomplete TAV stent expansion induced localized high stress regions within the TAV commissures, while 4-5mm incomplete stent expansion induced localized high stress regions within the belly of the TAV leaflets during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. Increased mechanical stress and flexural deformation on TAV leaflets due to incomplete stent expansion may lead to accelerated tissue degeneration and diminished long-term valve durability.
Gas Diffusion in Closed-Cell Foams:

The objective of this paper is to present an engineering model based on fundamentally sound but simplified treatment of mass diffusion phenomena for practical predictions of the effective diffusion coefficient of gases through closed-cell foams. A special attention was paid to stating all assumptions and simplifications that define the range of applicability of the proposed model. The model developed is based on the electrical circuit analogy, and on the first principles. The analysis suggests that the effective diffusion coefficient through the foam can be expressed as a product of the geometric factor and the gas diffusion coefficient through the foam membrane. Validation against experimental data available in the literature gives satisfactory results. Discrepancies between the model predictions and experimental data have been observed for gases with high solubility in the condensed phase for which Henry's law does not apply. Finally, further experimental data concerning both the foam morphology and the diffusion coefficient in the membrane are needed to fully validate the model.
Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 Activation of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and TGF-β1–Type II Receptor Signaling Within the Aged Arterial Wall

Objective— To study matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) effects on transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) activation status and downstream signaling during arterial aging. Methods and Results— Western blotting and immunostaining showed that latent and activated TGF-β1 are markedly increased within the aorta of aged Fisher 344 cross-bred Brown Norway (30 months of age) rats compared with adult (8 months of age) rats. Aortic TGF-β1–type II receptor (TβRII), its downstream molecules p-similar to mad-mother against decapentaplegic (SMAD)2/3 and SMAD4, fibronectin, and collagen also increased with age. Moreover, TGF-β1 staining is colocalized with that of activated MMP-2 within the aged arterial wall and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) in vitro, and this physical association was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation. Incubation of young aortic rings ex vivo or VSMCs in vitro with activated MMP-2 enhanced active TGF-β1, collagen, and fibronectin expression to the level of untreated old counterparts, and this effect was abolished via inhibitors of MMP-2. Interestingly, in old untreated rings or VSMCs, the increased TGF-β1, fibronectin, and collagen were also substantially reduced by inhibition of MMP-2. Conclusions— Active TGF-β1, its receptor, and receptor-mediated signaling increase within the aortic wall with aging. TGF-β1 activation is dependent, in part at least, by a concomitant age-associated increase in MMP-2 activity. Thus, MMP-2–activated TGF-β1, and subsequently TβRII signaling, is a novel molecular mechanism for arterial aging.
The Allure of Aphrodite: How Gender‐Congruent Media Portrayals Impact Adult Women's Possible Future Selves

This study investigated how media exposure affects how noncollege women envision their futures. Over 5 days, a prolonged exposure experiment presented childless women (aged 21–35) with magazine portrayals of females in gender-congruent (mother/homemaker or beauty ideals) or gender-incongruent (professional) social roles. Responses to an open-ended question revealed that 3 days after media exposure, only gender-congruent roles remained salient. Exposure to homemaker portrayals induced more thoughts about possible future selves (PFSs) and fostered concerns about motherhood and career roles; it also produced more positive affective valence compared with exposure to portrayals of professional women, particularly among women with gender-congruent life circumstances. Exposure impacts were mediated by the extent to which women linked the magazine portrayals to their own PFSs.
On the modeling of quantization effects via points of accuracy

A point of accuracy for a sequence of quantizers is defined, and several questions concerning the convergence of quantized estimators are considered based upon that concept. >
What makes a difference between two schools? Teacher job satisfaction and educational outcomes

This article examines the interplay between school factors and teacher job satisfaction that influences educational outcomes by comparing two Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) schools in Cambodia. This small-scale qualitative case study was conducted over a period of eight weeks in 2005 in two NGO schools in a suburb of Phnom Penh. The findings show that teacher job satisfaction is crucially influenced by remunerative incentives such as salary level and welfare conditions. However, job satisfaction is also intertwined with non-remunerative incentives such as school management, principal leadership, professional development, and a meaningful sense of life through teaching. That is, both remunerative and non-remunerative incentives are associated with teacher job satisfaction. However, according to different school conditions, either remunerative or non-remunerative incentive is more prioritised by teachers. Finally, the different job satisfaction between the two faculties seems to result in the educational gap such as student enrolment rates and achievement between the schools. Teacher job satisfaction, school factors, educational outcomes, Cambodia, NGO schools
Neuropsychological and behavioral status of children with complex partial seizures

Neuropsychological and behavioral status were examined in 57 children aged 7 to 16 years with complex partial seizures (CPS) and compared with 27 sibling control children of the same age. Epilepsy had a significant effect on both cognitive and behavioral adjustment measures. Children with CPS had significant impairment across all seven cognitive domains assessed, reflective of a profile of relatively diffuse and generalized cognitive dysfunction. Age at onset of recurrent seizures was the strongest and most consistent predictor of adequacy of cognitive functioning; earlier age at onset was associated with poorer cognitive status. Children with CPS also had more problems compared with sibling control children on measures of social and school competence and internalizing behavior problems, but not externalizing behaviors. Further, frequency of seizure activity in the past year, rather than age at seizure onset, emerged as the strongest predictor of these behavioral difficulties. These findings are discussed in the context of understanding the impact of CPS on cognition and behavioral adjustment, and identifying the contribution of various aspects of the neurodevelopmental course of CPS to these issues.
Clinical Impact of Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis in the Next Decade: Estimates Based on Current Epidemiological Trends in the United States

Background Identifying changes in the epidemiology of liver disease is critical for establishing healthcare priorities and allocating resources to develop therapies. The projected contribution of different etiologies toward development of cirrhosis in the United States was estimated based on current publications on epidemiological data and advances in therapy. Given the heterogeneity of published reports and the different perceptions that are not always reconcilable, a critical overview rather than a formal meta-analysis of the existing data and projections for the next decade was performed. Methods Data from the World Health Organization Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health of 2014, Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients from 1999 to 2012, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were inquired to determine future changes in the epidemiology of liver disease. Results Alcohol consumption has increased over the past 60 years. In 2010, transplant-related costs for liver recipients were the highest for hepatitis C (~$124 million) followed by alcohol-related cirrhosis (~$86 million). We anticipate a significant reduction in incidence cirrhosis due to causes other than alcohol because of the availability of high efficiency antiviral agents for hepatitis C, universal and effective vaccination for hepatitis B, relative stabilization of the obesity trends in the United States, and novel, potentially effective therapies for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The proportion of alcohol-related liver disease is therefore likely to increase in both the population as a whole and the liver transplant wait list. Conclusions Alcohol-related cirrhosis and alcohol-related liver disorders will be the major cause of liver disease in the coming decades. There is an urgent need to allocate resources aimed toward understanding the pathogenesis of the disease and its complications so that effective therapies can be developed.
Introduction: a brief history of capillaries and some examples of their apparently strange behaviour.

SUMMARY 1. Over the past decade, evidence has accumulated challenging the notion that the smallest blood vessels, the capillaries, are static, uniform, semipermeable pipes with no function except as a passive barrier marking the boundary between the vascular compartments from the tissue compartment. 2. Instead, capillaries are dynamic structures that participate in the active regulation of water, waste and nutrient exchange, the formation and destruction of exchange vessels and the sites for initiation of signals to regulate the flow of blood into the exchange vascular network. 3. The following papers will provide insight into the expanded appreciation of the varied nature of capillaries and how their functions are co-ordinated to achieve ‘whole organ’ exchange.
Estructura factorial del inventario multicultural de la depresión, estado-rasgo: Rol de las emociones positivas de la depresión

El proposito de este articulo fue presentar la construccion del inventario multicultural de la depresion, estado-rasgo (Imuder).Tomando en consideracion el marco teorico de Susan Folkman acerca de la coexistencia de emociones positivas y negativas en el proceso de estres severo y depresion, se procedio a la elaboracion de items caracterizando estados y rasgos de emociones que expresan la presencia o ausencia de depresion. En base a una muestra multicultural con participantes de diversos paises latinoamericanos, se realizo el analisis factorial de componentes principales con rotaciones promax, a fin de determinar la validez de constructo y la consistencia interna del instrumento.
Derivation of common impedance coupling from the transmission-line equations

Impedance of the return path common to two circuits can produce a component of crosstalk that is referred to as common impedance coupling. The current of one circuit flowing in this impedance induces a contribution to the crosstalk voltages in the other circuit. This is usually derived on intuitive grounds. The incorporation of the return conductor impedance into the transmission-line equations provides a solution obtained by the author that does not rely on intuition. >
Analytic description of atomic interaction at ultracold temperatures. II. Scattering around a magnetic Feshbach resonance

Starting from a multichannel quantum-defect theory, we derive analytic descriptions of a magnetic Feshbach resonance in an arbitrary partial wave $l$ and the atomic interactions around it. An analytic formula, applicable to both broad and narrow resonances of arbitrary $l$, is presented for ultracold atomic scattering around a Feshbach resonance. Other related issues addressed include (a) the parametrization of a magnetic Feshbach resonance of arbitrary $l$, (b) rigorous definitions of ``broad'' and ``narrow'' resonances of arbitrary $l$ and their different scattering characteristics, and (c) the tuning of the effective range and the generalized effective range by a magnetic field.
Wavelet representations and coding of self-affine signals

A novel model for one-dimensional signal analysis, called a weighted multiresolution process (WiMP), is introduced. The model combines the scale and time-frequency localization properties of the wavelet representation with the self-affine characteristics of signals to be modeled. A WiMP can be viewed as a Markov chain of weighted translations between levels of the wavelet decomposition. Both aperiodic and periodic signals are investigated, and the corresponding decomposition/reconstruction algorithms are presented. >
Large S-section-ring-cavity diode lasers: directional switching, electrical diagnostics, and mode beating spectra

Semiconductor lasers with monolithically integrated ring cavities exceeding 1 cm in perimeter were fabricated and characterized optically and electrically. Directional switching was observed, influenced by S-section seeding of unidirectional operation. The lasing threshold was identified by differential current-voltage measurements, which are also shown to be useful in monitoring directional switching. Mode beating was observed at three radio-frequency bands: 7.6, 15.2, and 22.9 GHz.
Elderly Victimization An Examination Beyond the FBI's Index Crimes

Most of the research on elderly victimization has focused primarily on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI)'s major index crimes of murder, rape, and robbery; however, this restricted approa...
Ecological correlates of range shifts of Late Pleistocene mammals

Understanding and predicting how species' distributions will shift as climate changes are central questions in ecology today. The late Quaternary of North America represents a natural experiment in which we can evaluate how species responded during the expansion and contraction of the glaciers. Here, we ask whether species' range shifts differ because of taxonomic affinity, life-history traits, body size or topographic heterogeneity and whether the species survived the megafaunal extinction. There was no difference in range shifts between victims and survivors of the megafaunal extinction. In general, the change in the size of a species' range is not well correlated with any of the ecological or life-history traits evaluated. However, there are significant relationships between some variables and the movements of the centroids of ranges. Differences in the distances shifted exist among orders, although this is probably a result of body size differences as larger bodied species show larger shifts. Although there are a few exceptions, the distance that species shifted their range was weakly correlated with life-history traits. Finally, species in more topographically heterogeneous areas show smaller shifts than species in less-diverse areas. Overall, these results indicate that when trying to predict species range shifts in the future, body size, lifespan and the topographic relief of the landscape should be taken into account.
Tr: a canine red cell antigen related to the A-antigen of human red cells.

. A canine red cell antigen, Tr, was defined by means of an immune canine antiserum produced by isoimmunization of a dog with canine red cells. The specificity of the antiserum was found to be identical to that of a naturally-occurring canine antiserum which reacted specifically with human group A red cells after absorption with human group O and B red cells. Absorption and agglutination-inhibition studies with human saliva showed that the canine red cell antigen Tr is related to the A antigen of human red cells; its representation on the canine red cell appears to be weaker than that of the A antigen of human A1 red cells. The incidence of the Tr antigen on canine red cells is approximately 50%. No relationships were established between the canine A, B, C and D blood types and the ABH system of man.
Least mean square method for LVDT signals processing

This paper describes an innovative approach for position, velocity and acceleration estimation using traditional inductive sensors such as LVDTs. These transducers have been considered thanks to their diffusions and performances; however, the same algorithm can be applied to any other kind of AC-excited sensor. It overcomes typical limits of traditional processing techniques, such as coherent demodulation or spectral analysis, implementing a least mean squares estimation of interesting variables. Some preliminary simulations have been conducted to evaluate algorithm functionalities. A working prototype, designed around a low-cost DSP from TI, has been realized to perform real world tests.
Relationship of the adrenal medulla to the hyperglycemic effect of glucagon.

The effect of intravenously administered glucagon (0.4 mg./kg.) on the blood glucose level was studied in normal, adreno-demedullated and dihydroergotamine (DHE)-treated rats. Glucagon produced little or no change in blood sugar values among adreno-demedullated rats, in contrast to the distinct rise produced in normal animals. DHE treatment greatly diminished the hyperglyoemic response of normal animals to glucagon injection. The failure of glucagon to induce hyperglycemia in adreno-demedullated or DHE-treated rats was shown not to be due either to lack of initial glycogen stores or to failure of glucagon to induce hepatic glycogenolj'sis. In a replacement experiment, subcutaneously injected epinephrine (.05 mg./kg.) restored the hyperglycemic response of adreno-demedullated animals to glucagon. It is concluded that depression of the rate of peripheral glucose uptake by epinephrine action is a prerequisite for the hyperglycemic effect of glucagon, though not for its glycogenolytic action. Glucagon induced...
Microscopic investigation of RF surfaces of 3 GHz niobium accelerator cavities following RF processing

RF processing of superconducting accelerating cavities is achieved through a change in the electron field emission (FE) characteristics of the RF surface. We have examined the RF surfaces of several single-cell 3 GHz cavities, following RF processing, in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The RF processing sessions included both high peak power (P/spl les/50 kW) pulsed processing, and low power (/spl les/20 W) continuous wave processing. The experimental apparatus also included a thermometer array on the cavity outer wall, allowing temperature maps to characterize the emission before and after RF processing gains. Multiple sites have been located in cavities which showed improvements in cavity behavior due to RF processing. Several SEM-located sites can be correlated with changes in thermometer signals, indicating a direct relationship between the surface site and emission reduction due to RF processing. Information gained from the SEM investigations and thermometry are used to enhance the theoretical model of RF processing. >
Oxytocin enables maternal behaviour by balancing cortical inhibition

Oxytocin is important for social interactions and maternal behaviour. However, little is known about when, where and how oxytocin modulates neural circuits to improve social cognition. Here we show how oxytocin enables pup retrieval behaviour in female mice by enhancing auditory cortical pup call responses. Retrieval behaviour required the left but not right auditory cortex, was accelerated by oxytocin in the left auditory cortex, and oxytocin receptors were preferentially expressed in the left auditory cortex. Neural responses to pup calls were lateralized, with co-tuned and temporally precise excitatory and inhibitory responses in the left cortex of maternal but not pup-naive adults. Finally, pairing calls with oxytocin enhanced responses by balancing the magnitude and timing of inhibition with excitation. Our results describe fundamental synaptic mechanisms by which oxytocin increases the salience of acoustic social stimuli. Furthermore, oxytocin-induced plasticity provides a biological basis for lateralization of auditory cortical processing.
Combined therapy with GABA and proinsulin/alum acts synergistically to restore long-term normoglycemia by modulating T-cell autoimmunity and promoting β-cell replication in newly diabetic NOD mice.

Antigen-based therapies (ABTs) fail to restore normoglycemia in newly diabetic NOD mice, perhaps because too few β-cells remain by the time that ABT-induced regulatory responses arise and spread. We hypothesized that combining a fast-acting anti-inflammatory agent with an ABT could limit pathogenic responses while ABT-induced regulatory responses arose and spread. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration can inhibit inflammation, enhance regulatory T-cell (Treg) responses, and promote β-cell replication in mice. We examined the effect of combining a prototypic ABT, proinsulin/alum, with GABA treatment in newly diabetic NOD mice. Proinsulin/alum monotherapy failed to correct hyperglycemia, while GABA monotherapy restored normoglycemia for a short period. Combined treatment restored normoglycemia in the long term with apparent permanent remission in some mice. Proinsulin/alum monotherapy induced interleukin (IL)-4– and IL-10–secreting T-cell responses that spread to other β-cell autoantigens. GABA monotherapy induced moderate IL-10 (but not IL-4) responses to β-cell autoantigens. Combined treatment synergistically reduced spontaneous type 1 T-helper cell responses to autoantigens, ABT-induced IL-4 and humoral responses, and insulitis, but enhanced IL-10 and Treg responses and promoted β-cell replication in the islets. Thus, combining ABT with GABA can inhibit pathogenic T-cell responses, induce Treg responses, promote β-cell replication, and effectively restore normoglycemia in newly diabetic NOD mice. Since these treatments appear safe for humans, they hold promise for type 1 diabetes intervention.
A Phylogenetic Analysis of the Genus Dahlia (Asteraceae) Based on Internal and External Transcribed Spacer Regions of Nuclear Ribosomal DNA

The genus Dahlia presently consists of 35 species, primarily from Mexico. Species are usually placed in four sections: Pseudodendron, Epiphytum, Entemophyllon, and Dahlia, based largely on morphological characters, supplemented with cytological, geographical, and biochemical data. Combined molecular sequence data from both the internal and external transcribed spacer regions (ITS and ETS), located within the nuclear ribosomal gene repeat unit, are used to infer a phylogeny of the genus. Section Entemophyllon forms a very well-defined clade based on these data. Dahlia merckii and D. tubulata are positioned between sect. Entemophyllon the remaining taxa. Sections Pseudodendron and Epiphytum are closely allied with each other and a few species from sect. Dahlia to form the variable root clade (VRC), which incorporates all species with unusual underground structures, along with some species exhibiting the more typical tuberous type. The remaining species of sect. Dahlia form a well-defined clade, the core Dahlia clade (CDC).
FIGHTING WORDS: TWO PROLETARIAN MILITARY NOVELS OF THE CRIMEAN PERIOD

About a decade after Waterloo, there arose in England a subgenre of fiction that can be called the military novel. George Robert Gleig is credited with originating the genre with a fictionalized autobiography entitled The Subaltern, which appeared serially in Blackwood's Magazine in 1825 and was subsequently published as a book. Military memoirs were appearing from soon after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, and the military novel was an outgrowth of that literature. Many of the authors of military novels had themselves served in the army, but the most notable of them all, Charles Lever, had not been a military man, though he consorted with officers often enough. Beginning with The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer, which was serialized first and then appeared as a single volume in 1839, Lever produced a string of popular novels about the army, with young officers as their heroes. The novels of this subgenre concentrated on officers, though there are amusing rankers, that is, enlisted soldiers, as well in Lever's novels likely to be clever Irishmen. For the most part, though, rankers are background figures and have largely stereotypical lower class ways. There are obligatory romance and inheritance plots in these narratives, with the hero usually ending up married and with an estate of his own, either through direct inheritance, or the discovery of a hitherto unknown fortune. This genre lasted about fifteen years, petering out by mid-century.
"Frontal systems" behaviors in comorbid human immunodeficiency virus infection and methamphetamine dependency.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and methamphetamine (MA) dependence are associated with neural injury preferentially involving frontostriatal circuits. Little is known, however, about how these commonly comorbid conditions impact behavioral presentations typically associated with frontal systems dysfunction. Our sample comprised 47 HIV-uninfected/MA-nondependent; 25 HIV-uninfected/MA-dependent; 36 HIV-infected/MA-nondependent; and 28 HIV-infected/MA-dependent subjects. Participants completed self-report measures of “frontal systems” behaviors, including impulsivity/disinhibition, sensation-seeking, and apathy. They also underwent comprehensive neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric assessments that allowed for detailed characterization of neurocognitive deficits and comorbid/premorbid conditions, including lifetime Mood and Substance Use Disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Antisocial Personality Disorder. Multivariable regression models adjusting for potential confounds (i.e., demographics and comorbid/premorbid conditions) showed that MA dependence was independently associated with increased impulsivity/disinhibition, sensation-seeking and apathy, and HIV infection with greater apathy. However, we did not see synergistic/additive effects of HIV and MA on frontal systems behaviors. Global neurocognitive impairment was relatively independent of the frontal systems behaviors, which is consistent with the view that these constructs may have relatively separable biopsychosocial underpinnings. Future research should explore whether both neurocognitive impairment and frontal systems behaviors may independently contribute to everyday functioning outcomes relevant to HIV and MA.
Validation of a GPU-based Monte Carlo code (gPMC) for proton radiation therapy: clinical cases study

Monte Carlo (MC) methods are recognized as the gold-standard for dose calculation, however they have not replaced analytical methods up to now due to their lengthy calculation times. GPU-based applications allow MC dose calculations to be performed on time scales comparable to conventional analytical algorithms. This study focuses on validating our GPU-based MC code for proton dose calculation (gPMC) using an experimentally validated multi-purpose MC code (TOPAS) and compare their performance for clinical patient cases. Clinical cases from five treatment sites were selected covering the full range from very homogeneous patient geometries (liver) to patients with high geometrical complexity (air cavities and density heterogeneities in head-and-neck and lung patients) and from short beam range (breast) to large beam range (prostate). Both gPMC and TOPAS were used to calculate 3D dose distributions for all patients. Comparisons were performed based on target coverage indices (mean dose, V95, D98, D50, D02) and gamma index distributions. Dosimetric indices differed less than 2% between TOPAS and gPMC dose distributions for most cases. Gamma index analysis with 1%/1 mm criterion resulted in a passing rate of more than 94% of all patient voxels receiving more than 10% of the mean target dose, for all patients except for prostate cases. Although clinically insignificant, gPMC resulted in systematic underestimation of target dose for prostate cases by 1-2% compared to TOPAS. Correspondingly the gamma index analysis with 1%/1 mm criterion failed for most beams for this site, while for 2%/1 mm criterion passing rates of more than 94.6% of all patient voxels were observed. For the same initial number of simulated particles, calculation time for a single beam for a typical head and neck patient plan decreased from 4 CPU hours per million particles (2.8-2.9 GHz Intel X5600) for TOPAS to 2.4 s per million particles (NVIDIA TESLA C2075) for gPMC. Excellent agreement was demonstrated between our fast GPU-based MC code (gPMC) and a previously extensively validated multi-purpose MC code (TOPAS) for a comprehensive set of clinical patient cases. This shows that MC dose calculations in proton therapy can be performed on time scales comparable to analytical algorithms with accuracy comparable to state-of-the-art CPU-based MC codes.
Porphyromonas gingivalis-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Activate JAK2 and Regulate Production of Inflammatory Cytokines through c-Jun

Pathogen-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in host innate immune responses through regulating the quality and quantity of inflammatory mediators. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this effect have yet to be clarified. In this study, we examined the mechanism of action of ROS stimulated by Porphyromonas gingivalis in gingival epithelial cells. P. gingivalis induced the rapid production of ROS, which lead to the phosphorylation of JAK2 and increased levels of secreted proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β. Neutralization of ROS by N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) abrogated the phosphorylation of JAK2 and suppressed the production of IL-6 and IL-1β. ROS-mediated phosphorylation of JAK2 induced the phosphoactivation of c-Jun amino-terminal protein kinase (JNK) and the downstream transcriptional regulator c-Jun. Inhibition of JAK2, either pharmacologically or by small interfering RNA (siRNA), reduced both the phosphorylation of these molecules and the production of proinflammatory cytokines in response to P. gingivalis. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition or siRNA-mediated gene silencing of JNK or c-Jun mimicked the effect of JAK2 inhibition to suppress P. gingivalis-induced IL-6 and IL-1β levels. The results show that ROS-mediated activation of JAK2 is required for P. gingivalis-induced inflammatory cytokine production and that the JNK/c-Jun signaling axis is involved in the ROS-dependent regulation of IL-1β and IL-6 production.