cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of segmentation in localized MR chemical shift imaging and MR spectroscopy

Since the discovery of NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) half a century ago, biophysical NMR approaches to brain imaging have shifted to non-invasive methods. Mainly brain segmentation, metabolic mapping and steady-state biochemical approaches are now being explored for normal and developmental neurochemistry with an exposure to common disorders of brain functions. Basically, NMR detects frequency dependent signals from individual odd numbered atomic nuclei. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) detects signals from populations of these nuclei at different locations in the tissues. Major advancements have been made in non-invasive MR imaging in two directions. Spatial information with good resolution in different tissue locations was achieved primarily by segmentation. Spatial information of metabolites and the peak sensitivity of metabolites were achieved by Chemical Shift Imaging (CSI). There exists a trade-off between these two informations. The highest quality of spatial chemical information by the MR technique is affected by the trade-off due to several physical and chemical factors. Localized MR Spectroscopy still remains a powerful tool to identify neuro-chemicals and metabolite concentrations precisely in relative or absolute terms in different locations in the brain. The latest major emphasis was concentrated on neurochemicals and their spectral peaks referenced with abundant tissue water at very short intervals. MR Spectroscopy (MRS) and MR Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) methods are used to define regional differences of peaks within the tissue.
The motor of amoeboid leucocytes.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview on the motor of ameboid leukocytes. Ameboid leukocytes are the polymorphonuclear leukocytes, the lymphocytes, and mononuclear phagocytes. The important work done by the motor of ameboid leukocytes is to drive locomotion, endocytosis, secretion, and cell division. The motor of ameboid leukocytes is an actin lattice in the cell cortex. The force-generating mechanism is a superprecipitation of actin and myosin filaments, a process requiring hydrolysis of ATP. This energy-dependent mechanism may be a major consumer of the ameboid leukocyte's metabolic activity and accounts for the susceptibility of motile functions of ameboid leukocytes to inhibition by metabolic poisons. Directionality and amplification of the force generated derives from controlled focal changes in the cross-linking of actin filaments. Gelsolin, a calcium-activated protein, controls the lattice rigidity of actin by severing actin filaments between points of cross linking by actin-binding protein. The cytoplasm and the membrane then move from domains of less to those of more cross linked filaments. Calcium is therefore the ignition or signal that regulates movement in the ameboid leukocyte.
Swallowing exercise for upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction in stroke patient with dysphagia: A systematic review

Introduction/Background Dysphagia is common in patients with stroke. Patients may experience deficits in oral, pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) function, including insufficiency in chewing and mastication, weak pharyngeal constriction, UES and pharyngeal incoordination, and abnormal UES relaxation. The UES is usually closed except during swallowing phase. The suprahyoid muscles make the larynx move upward and forward to open the UES. Many studies have reported the swallowing exercise for the UES dysfunction, this systematic review aims to appraise the evidence of the swallowing exercise to facilitate the suprahyoid muscle and open the UES for stroke patients with dysphagia. Material and method A systematic search of Pubmed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, and ProQuest databases was conducted from January 2007 to December 2017. The following four areas of research were reviewed: –(1) studies including specific swallowing exercise for improving suprahyoid muscles activity; –(2) studies examining the efficacy of each swallowing exercise with a device in healthy adults; –(3) studies examining the efficacy of specific swallowing exercise with a device as a dysphagia treatment in stoke patients with dysphagia; –(4) studies comparing the difference between those swallowing exercise in healthy adults and stroke patients. Results A narrative analysis of the results was conducted. Five types of swallowing exercise including Shaker Exercise, Chin tuck against resistance, Jaw open Exercise, Modified Jaw open Exercise and Head extension Exercise may facilitate the suprahyoid muscle and the opening of the UES. With the strengthened suprahyoid muscles, the amount of upward and forward movement was increased to facilitate the opening of UES and decrease the time of pharynx passage. Conclusion Though many studies have reported the swallowing exercise is efficacious for suprahyoid muscles, the Modified Jaw Opening Exercise holds more potential in training the suprahyoid muscle among the five swallowing exercise for stroke patients with dysphagia.
MUCUS EXTRAVASATION PHENOMENON HIDING A MUCOEPIDERMOID CARCINOMA IN THE FLOOR OF MOUTH

Background Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common salivary gland malignancy. Approximately more than half these tumors present in the major salivary glands, the parotid gland being the most frequent location.1 The others occur in the minor salivary glands, primarily in the palate.2 The submandibular gland is rarely involved, about less than 10% of all other major salivary glands.1 This tumor develops over a wide age range—from the second to the seventh decades of life.3 Histologically, mucoepidermoid carcinoma is classified, on the basis of its aggressiveness, into 3 grades: low, intermediate, or high grade.1,2 Clinical and Radiologic Findings A 49-year-old female with a mass on the left side of the floor of the mouth was complaining of neck pain for the last 2 to 3 days and had noticed the mass growing in size and becoming tender to palpation. There was no exacerbation of pain during eating, drinking, or opening of mouth. Clinical examination showed no external signs of infection or inflammation. The patient denied any medical disease or history of surgeries. A multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scan was made. Definitive Interpretation The radiographic examination revealed a mostly well-defined hypodense area suggestive of mucus extravasation phenomenon (“ranula”), which was corroborated by the clinical findings. The treatment of choice was complete excision of the ranula and the left submandibular salivary gland. The histopathologic examination surprisingly revealed low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. No further treatment was recommended; however, a follow-up was scheduled in 4 months. Discussion/Conclusions This atypical location of mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the floor of the mouth simulated the clinical and radiographic features of a mucus extravasation phenomenon. This case highlights the value and importance of using all the available diagnostic tools and modalities for optimal patient management because histopathologic analysis played an important role in confirming the diagnosis.
Tax Reform's Contribution to #Metoo

This article considers the 2017 tax reform provision that disallows tax deductions for sexual harassment settlements subject to nondisclosure agreements. It examines the possible effects on sexual harassment in the workplace, as well as remaining questions about the tax provision itself.
Self-assessment: How reliable is it in assessing oral proficiency over time?

Second language (L2) learners can assess their oral skills with some accuracy. A question is whether learners can reliably use self‐assessment to track their language gains over time. During the spring of two subsequent years, 80 university L2 Chinese learners completed an oral skills self‐assessment based on the NCSSFL‐ACTFL Can‐Do Statements (ACTFL, 2015) and took the computerized Oral Proficiency Interview (OPIc). Results were compared to see how accurate the self‐assessments were and to determine if the students’ self‐assessment skills improved. Most students’ OPIc gains were reflected in their self‐assessment gains; meanwhile, learners tended to underassess rather than overassess their skills. Students at the Novice and Advanced proficiency levels were more accurate self‐assessors than were Intermediate‐level learners. There was no difference in self‐assessment rating accuracy between Years 1 and 2. The findings suggest that self‐assessment based on the Can‐Do Statements is valuable for low‐stakes assessments: for example, to monitor students’ proficiency gains and to globally track the way in which language programs promote proficiency growth.
Who Benefits from the GED? New Regression Discontinuity Evidence from Massachusetts

A mature body of research has examined the labor market returns to passing the GED, typically finding modest (or negligible) benefits for the individual. In this study, we use a regression discontinuity research design to estimate the impact of obtaining the GED on postsecondary outcomes for two self-selected groups of test-takers in Massachusetts: high school dropouts who do and do not enroll in publicly funded adult basic education (ABE) classes. In contrast with previous work, we find that earning a GED credential substantially increases enrollment and persistence in postsecondary education for ABE students who marginally pass the GED, but find no such effects for dropouts who do not participate in ABE. Specifically, our IV estimates indicate that earning a GED increases the likelihood that ABE participants ever enroll in college by 33.4-55.8 percentage points and increases enrollment for four or more quarters by 25.4-33.7 percentage points, depending on the specification. We hypothesize that although ABE students are negatively selected in terms of academic skills, they are positively selected on dimensions of non-cognitive skills and motivation relative to non-ABE test-takers. Our findings highlight a policy-relevant population of GED test-takers for whom earning a GED may be particularly beneficial and furthers our understanding of who does and does not benefit from this credential.
African American Stories: “To be self-sufficient and responsible in society”

For nearly 400 years, all rights were stripped from African Americans’ personhood, catapulting members of this community into the second highest prevalence of obesity, ones who are significantly more likely to report major depression, live in poor, segregated neighborhoods, and in inadequate housing. Well-being was supported by a wall covered with Black history posters, positioning a war veteran as an activist in challenging the status quo; a single-family house that allowed a woman to be “loud”; a first-floor bedroom and bathroom where an 85-year-old elder could be independent; a library that showcased the family’s worldview; and a table used to teach teenagers sufficiency and responsibility. Straining well-being were a tight kitchen space that limited a mother’s ability to demonstrate healthy eating practices and storage for keeping a house orderly.
1975 Sex and evolution

Abstract George Williams (1975) confronted the long-standing problem of why organisms should reproduce sexually given the 50% fitness cost of sexuality. Williams does not believe there is one single answer but many which depend on organismal specifics like the mating system, relative levels of competition and other special life history features. Williams (1975) lays out four different general models applicable to a wide variety of organisms.
Sputum susceptibilities in a nationwide veteran cohort

Background Respiratory infections are one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality. This study examined antimicrobial susceptibility of common respiratory isolates from veterans. Methods Sputum culture data from the Veteran Health Administration were obtained retrospectively between January 2009 and 2019. Cumulative antibiograms were constructed for bacterial isolate susceptibility. Results Sputum and bronchial cultures from approximately 10,345 veterans were included each year. Haemophilus influenzae has maintained high levels of susceptibility to third generation cephalosporins from 2009 (99.7%) to 2018 (97.2%). Third generation cephalosporin susceptibilities amongst Klebsiella pneumoniae have trended upward from 2009 to 2018 as well (79.1% vs 86.4%). In Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, there has been an increase in susceptibility rates to cefepime from 2009 to 2018 (79.6%, to 86.6%), gentamicin (81.5% to 89.1%), and piperacillin/tazobactam (86.5% to 90%). Fluoroquinolone susceptibilities amongst Escherichia coli have remained low but stable between 2009 and 2018. Third generation cephalosporin susceptibilities for S. pneumoniae improved slightly from 92.2% to 95% between 2009 and 2018 while susceptibility to azithromycin trended down slightly from 56.8% in 2009 to 51.7% in 2018 for S. pneumoniae. Discussion The antibiogram of sputum isolates from the VA Healthcare System were examined to determine changes in patterns of resistance over a decade of use. Conclusions This large-scale study investigated nationwide sputum culture susceptibility trends. Avoidance of macrolides for empiric treatment of community acquired pneumonia and avoidance of fluoroquinolones for empiric treatment of hospital acquired or ventilator associated pneumonia may be warranted based on susceptibility trends.
Progress and application in the digestion technology of trace heavy metal elements determination in food

The digestion technology in determination of trace heavy metal elements in food was the key step in the analysis process, which was directly related to the quality of the determination method. The principles and characteristics of dry ashing digestion, wet digestion, microwave digestion and high-pressure tank digestion methods were summarized in this paper. According to the characteristics of heavy metal element, applicable scope, application characteristics, the latest progress and applicability on detection instruments of various digestion methods were discussed. This conclusion was as follows: Controlling the pollution of digestion process and reducing the sample blank value were the key points of quality control of trace heavy metal elements determination; Sample blank values for high-pressure tank digestion and microwave digestion were lower than those for wet digestion and dry ashing digestion; According to the characteristics of elements, objective of detection and sample blank values, appropriate digestion methods were selected: Determination of mercury in food should adopt high pressure digestion or microwave digestion method; The determination of arsenic in food should adopt wet digestion; In addition, the assessment of the quality control for the determination of lead, cadmium, copper, nickel, aluminum and boron in food or the background value determination could adopt high pressure tank digestion and microwave digestion, and daily test or semi-quantitative determination could adopt wet digestion.
CHARACTERISTIC PARAMETERS IN SUPERPLASTIC DEFORMATION

The change of the characteristic parameters, strain rate sensiti-vity m, activation energy Q_a and grain size exponent P with changing strain rateand temperature and their physical reason have be n analysed according to the mul-tiple machanism effect in superplastic deformation. Their quantitative expressionshave also been given.
Mapping and ablation of post-AF atrial tachycardias.

Atrial tachycardias (AT) are commonly encountered in patients undergoing catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Unlike typical atrial flutter that can be readily recognized and ablated, these post-AF tachycardias can arise from a wide variety of locations and involve a multiplicity of mechanisms. Apart from diagnostic challenges, radiofrequency ablation to eliminate the tachycardias may require multiple approaches. In addition, specialized techniques such as epicardial and chemical ablation may be required for definitive treatment. This review describes the various mechanisms and approaches to mapping and ablation of these challenging tachycardias This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Marginalizable Density Models.

Probability density models based on deep networks have achieved remarkable success in modeling complex high-dimensional datasets. However, unlike kernel density estimators, modern neural models do not yield marginals or conditionals in closed form, as these quantities require the evaluation of seldom tractable integrals. In this work, we present the Marginalizable Density Model Approximator (MDMA), a novel deep network architecture which provides closed form expressions for the probabilities, marginals and conditionals of any subset of the variables. The MDMA learns deep scalar representations for each individual variable and combines them via learned hierarchical tensor decompositions into a tractable yet expressive CDF, from which marginals and conditional densities are easily obtained. We illustrate the advantage of exact marginalizability in several tasks that are out of reach of previous deep network-based density estimation models, such as estimating mutual information between arbitrary subsets of variables, inferring causality by testing for conditional independence, and inference with missing data without the need for data imputation, outperforming state-of-the-art models on these tasks. The model also allows for parallelized sampling with only a logarithmic dependence of the time complexity on the number of variables.
Elastic Softening in Zirconia During Stage III of Flash Experiments

We report in-situ measurements of the elastic modulus of dense polycrystalline zirconia held in a constant state of flash, i.e. during Stage III of flash experiments. The modulus, measured with and without flash, is lowered by 10 - 35 %, in the temperature range of 1100-1400 oC. The specimen temperature, measured with a pyrometer, was consistent with the estimate from a black body radiation model. These measurements echo recent publications on the role of phonons in the onset of flash, namely the Debye temperature as a lower bound for flash, and the formation of Frenkel pairs in molecular dynamics calculations by the proliferation of phonons above the Debye temperature. However, several questions remain, for example, the rise in electrical conductivity, and electroluminescence that are nearly universal signatures of the flash phenomenon.
Surgery for Urolithiasis

Urolithiasis is an important disease of male ruminants of all species. It is an especially prevalent disease of castrated males, but is probably much more devastating in the breeding male. The immediate problem is the complete obstruction of the urethra and the inability to urinate, however, one must always remember the secondary sequallae such as skin sloughs, chemical peritonitis, abdominal adhesions and hydronephrosis or hydroureter. Although agents such as aminopromazine have been used to relax urethral spasm with some degree of success, the primary treatment for obstructive urolithiasis is surgical intervention. For any degree of success with medical therapy the animal must not be completely obstructed and must still be dripping some urine.
Pediatric to Adult Transition Care Gaps for Youth with Epilepsy with Comorbid Intellectual or Developmental Disability (S9.002)

Objective: To measure receipt of transitional care (adult to pediatric) services for youth with epilepsy, including those with comorbid intellectual and/or developmental disability, compared to youth without epilepsy. Background: Many youth with epilepsy (YWE), including those with intellectual and/or developmental disability (ID/DD), continue to have active seizures, require chronic anti-seizure medications or have comorbidity requiring ongoing adult epilepsy care. Design/Methods: We analyzed data for the 2009–2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, a nationally representative sample with 17114 parent respondents of youth ages 12–17 with special health care needs (any medical, behavioral or other health condition ≥12 months). We compared receipt of transitional care services for youth with current epilepsy (YWE) or “epilepsy plus” (YWEP; epilepsy with ID/DD) compared to youth without epilepsy (YWOE). Sample weights reflect population totals. Results: 519 (3.1%; weighted mean age 14.4 years) YWE, 275 (1.7%; 14.4 years) YWEP and 16570 (96.8%; 14.5 years) YWOE were examined. No differences were identified in age, gender, race/ethnicity, education and metropolitan residence between YWE/YWEP compared to YWOE. YWE and YWEP were more likely to have public insurance versus private compared to YWOE (p Conclusions: While over two-thirds of YWE have transitional care gaps (did not receive care), such transition gaps are most profound for YWEP. Disclosure: Dr. Baca has nothing to disclose. Dr. Barry has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kuo has nothing to disclose. Dr Drees has nothing to disclose. Dr. Knupp has nothing to disclose.
A brief summary of biologically active compounds from Magnolia spp.

Abstract The phytochemistry of the genus Magnolia Magnoliaceae has provided a variety of compounds of diverse structure and biological activity. Among these compounds, principally lignans, neolignans, phenylpropanoids, terpenes, and some alkaloids have been isolated and determined to have biological activity. Compounds occurring in Magnolia spp. are known to have cytotoxic, antitumor, antioxidant, antimicrobial, allelopathic, insecticidal, and antifeedant activities and to specifically inhibit/stimulate certain enzymes. Other physiological activities of the natural products isolated from Magnolia spp. have been documented as well. This brief review presents an ethnopharmacological and ethnobotanical perspective of Magnolia, its uses and summarizes the biologically active compounds from Magnolia spp. The body of the text has been divided into three sections dealing with pharmacologically active compounds or those that show potential medicinal uses, compounds demonstrating pesticidal, ecological, agricultural, or other related biological activities, and bioassay procedures performed at the Bioactive Natural Products Laboratory (BNPL) at Michigan State University.
Comparison of Pancreatic Changes Induced in Rats by Soybean and Egg-white Trypsin Inhibitors Fed with Different Levels of Nitrogen

The object of these experiments was to compare effects of tryp- sin inhibitors, soybean (SBTI) and egg white (EWTI), on relative rates of pancreatic enzyme biosynthesis and on pancreatic response to various levels of dietary nitrogen. Groups of rats were meal-fed a 15% casein diet for 1 week and then were fed experimental diets for an additional week. In the first study, 1% EWTI or 0.87% SBTI was fed with a 15% casein diet; rats were injected with valine-U-14C or L-methionine-methyl-14C 2 hours after receiving the last meal. Compared to the control group, rats fed SBTI incorporated more label into chymotrypsinogen and less into amylase whereas rats fed EWTI incorporated more label into both enzymes. Next, rats were fed inhibitors with 8% casein, 8% casein + methionine, or 30% casein diets. The reaction, particularly of tryp- sinogen and amylase, to SBTI and EWTI was dependent on dietary nitrogen level. The two inhibitors often had opposite effects on trypsinogen and amylase in rats fed lower levels of protein indicating that mechanisms mediating their action may not be identical. SBTI but not EWTI appeared to influence methionine utili zation. However, changes produced by varying methionine levels in amino acid diets did not mimic effects of SBTI. J. Nutr. 102: 469^178, 1972.
Making the Most of Your Undergraduate Experience

Preparing to write this chapter on how to make the most of an undergraduate experience, the take-home message from an enrichment retreat I attended as a student came rushing to mind. After a week spent exploring our professional passions and our personal strengths and challenges, the retreat facilitator wrapped up by giving each participant a foot long, brightly colored bungee cord.
Waves and Run-Up Generated By a Three-Dimensional Sliding Mass

Large-scale laboratory experiments were conducted measuring the waves generated by two wedge-shaped bodies sliding down a 2:1 slope. The waves near the body propagating offshore and the run-up generated on the slope were measured. It was determined that the maximum “draw-down” wave over the body was essentially generated before the body had moved more than one-half its length downslope. In addition to shape, the important parameters that controlled the run-up were the initial submergence and the initial acceleration of the body.
Improving Business Students Oral Communication Skills

This study empirically examines a model for improving the oral communication skills of business students. First, the researchers worked to identify the elements of effective oral communication in a business setting, and to enumerate the related oral communication skills that potential employers hope to find in new employees. Next we endeavored to gauge the degree to which an intensive program of instruction in oral communication within an existing business course can improve these skills and abilities among college seniors. The study utilized a pre/post test quasi-experimental design and provides evidence that by redesigning one of the senior level business courses to include an intense oral communications element it is possible to improve a student's oral communication skills.
Ritual Making Women: Shaping Rites for Changing Lives

In Ritual Making Women, Jan Berry examines the process of creating and enacting rituals by and for women. She invites readers to explore contemporary ritual making activities through twelve case studies, presented in the book as individual vignettes and through quotes woven into the remainder of the text. In addition to her interviews with women, Berry’s ethnographic studies draw on her personal observations and reflections on collaborating with women in their ritual making. The author is particularly interested in rituals marking life events that are not recognized within church liturgies and ritual practices, and the case studies demonstrate the need for new rituals that are relevant for women today. By attending to women’s needs that remain unacknowledged within faith communities, Berry helps advance the work of Anderson and Foley (1998), who articulated the need for greater attention to ritual as a dimension of pastoral care. Berry augments her qualitative methods by using feminist theology, social anthropology, psychology, and pastoral care literature to further illuminate women’s contemporary ritual development and performance.
The Application of Acoustic Impedance Measurements to Pediatric Clinical Practice

This article provides background information on acoustic impedance testing and illustrates utilization of test results in pediatric clinical practice. Acoustic impedance measurement devices are presently being used successfully by hearing screening programs and by otorhinolaryngologists in clinical and hospital settings. As a diagnostic tool, the acoustic impedance bridge can have particular applicability in dealing withe young children and other difficult-to-test populations. Impedance measurements can provide physicians with objective information about the condition of the middle ear, oftentimes more accurately than either otoscopic examination or standard audiometry. The technique described can assist physicians in diagnosing middle-ear diseases and in monitoring the effects of otological treatment.
FACTORS PREDICTING OUTCOME OF NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE IN DETROIT

18 infants <1800 Gms who were discharged from our NICU between July 1972 and July 1973, returned for evaluation of growth and development (mean age 3.55 yrs). A physical examination and general cognitive index (GCI), using the abbrev. McCarthy scales, were administered. Mean B.W. of the group was 1267 Gms, G.A. 31.5 wks, SGA 5/18, males 13/18, black 10/18, 5 min. Apgar score ≤4 5/18, major neonatal disease 7/18, low socioeconomic class 8/18, single parent home 7/18, no medical follow-up 8/18. Results: One patient was ≤3rd percentile in ht, wt, and H.C. 3 others were ≤3rd percentile only in wt. One patient had hemiparesis. Neurological status did not correlate with neonatal disease. Mean GCI was 87 (<I.S.D. below expected mean). An age-adjusted analysis of covariance revealed: Sex, gestational age category, hospital course and Apgar score were less significant. Economic status proved to be a consistently high predictor for the McCarthy score. Thus, factors other than Apgar score and neonatal disease played a part in predicting outcome of these high risk, low birth weight infants.
Rapid thermal processing for strained-layer semiconductor devices

Strained-layer semiconductors have revolutionized modern heterostructure devices by exploiting the modification of semiconductor band structure associated with the coherent strain of lattice-mismatched heteroepitaxy. The modified band structure improves transport of holes in heterostructures and enhances the operation of semiconductor lasers. Strained-layer epitaxy also can create materials whose band gaps match wavelengths (e.g. 1.06 {mu}m and 1.32 {mu}m) not attainable in ternary epitaxial systems lattice matched to binary substrates. Other benefits arise from metallurgical effects of modulated strain fields on dislocations. Lattice mismatched epitaxial layers that exceed the limits of equilibrium thermodynamics will degrade under sufficient thermal processing by converting the as-grown coherent epitaxy into a network of strain-relieving dislocations. After presenting the effects of strain on band structure, the authors describe the stability criterion for rapid-thermal processing of strained-layer structures and the effects of exceeding the thermodynamic limits. Finally, device results are reviewed for structures that benefit from high temperature processing of strained-layer superlattices.
Distributed algorithms for bottleneck identification and segmentation in 3D wireless sensor networks

Segmentation decomposes a network with complex and irregular shape into a set of subnetworks, each under a simple boundary condition without bottlenecks. It has a wide spectrum of applications in routing, coverage, localization, backbone construction and maintenance, and in-network data centric storage and retrieval. To our best knowledge, this is the first work that tackles the segmentation problem in 3D wireless sensor networks. We propose a fully distributed 3D segmentation scheme with mere network connectivity information. Each node on boundary computes its injectivity radius, which reflects the narrowness of the corresponding boundary area and thus is employed to locate the undesired bottlenecks. A cluster of connected boundary nodes with similar smallest injectivity radii form a bottleneck segment. A recursive process is applied to identify a set of such bottlenecks, which together divide the network boundary into segments. An internal non-boundary node simply joins the nearest segment, thus completing the segmentation of the entire 3D sensor network. Our simulations show that the proposed algorithm works efficiently under various sensor network models with different boundary conditions and noise levels, always yielding appropriate segmentation results. We further demonstrate that segmentation can effectively promote the performance of a range of applications in 3D wireless sensor networks.
Near-real time motion analysis for APLIS 2007: a systems modeling perspective

This paper describes the modeling of a near real time geophysical motion analysis system for the Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station (APLIS '07) that was held as part of the International Polar Year (IPY 2007-2009). One of the important aspects of the motion analysis system was to help field scientists to plan instrumentation based on the large scale dynamics taking place in the scene. This required that the data flow architecture be simultaneously efficient and accurate. Therefore, in order to provide for an efficient and robust method of analysis, the system was designed within the Unified Modeling Language framework and developed as modules that could be easily scaled to subsequent stages of research. This design-development framework helped in the successful use of the product for ground instrumentation deployment.
Synthesis and visualization of a membrane-permeable MRI contrast agent.

The study of in vivo developmental events has undergone significant advances with the advent of biological molecular imaging techniques such as computer enhanced light microscopy imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), micro-CT, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI has proven to be a particularly powerful tool in clinical and biological settings. Images can be acquired of opaque living animals, with the benefit of tracking events of extended periods of time on the same specimen. Contrast agents are routinely used to enhance regions, tissues, and cells that are magnetically similar but histologically distinct. A principal barrier to the development of MR contrast agents for investigating developmental biological questions is the ability to deliver the agent across cellular membranes. As part of our research, we are investigating a number of small molecules that facilitate transport of charged and uncharged species across cell membranes. Here we describe the synthesis and testing of a Gd(III)-based MR contrast agent conjugated to polyarginine that is able to permeate cell membranes. We confirmed cellular uptake of the agent using two-photon laser microscopy to visualize a Eu(III) derivative of the contrast agent in cell culture, and verified this uptake by T1 analysis of the Gd(III) agent in cells.
The role of a real-time flight support facility in flight research programs

This paper presents some of the approaches taken by the NASA Western Aeronautical Test Range (WATR) of Ames Research Center to satisfy the ever-increasing real-time requirements of research projects such as the F-14, F-15, advanced fighter technology integration (AFTI) F-16, YAV-88, and the X-29A. The approaches include the areas of data acquisition, communications (video and audio), real-time processing and display, data communications, and tracking.
The Effect of Biological Variability on Monitoring Strategies: Metallothioneins as AN Example

: An increasing need exists to determine the relative health of estuarine and coastal systems with respect to their ability to support populations of fishery organisms. Many monitoring programs developed for this purpose utilize physiological and biochemical techniques to determine if marine organisms axe stressed by contaminant exposure. The use of the low molecular weight, metal-binding protein, metailothionein, is used as a model technique to detect non-lethal stress in aquatic organisms. Test organisms were the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica, the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, and the beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus. The data presented illustrates how natural environmental and physiological factors can affect the mobilization and partitioning of metals by organisms and contribute to observed variability in data sets. The processes that affected trace metal partitioning and accumulation were: in oysters, the reproductive cycle/season of the year; in blue arabs, growth and the molt cycle; and in the whale, the type of food and habitat. To effectively monitor populations of fishery organisms, therefore, it is necessary to identify those factors that control survival, growth, and reproduction so that better predictive models can be formulated that will not be confounded by uncontrolled variables.
Design and fabrication of multilayer thin film coated hollow waveguides for enhanced infrared radiation delivery

Metal coated Hollow Glass Waveguides (HGWs) incorporating single dielectric thin films have been widely used for the low-loss transmission of infrared radiation in applications ranging from surgery to spectroscopy. While the incorporation of single dielectric film designs have traditionally been used in metal/dielectric coated HGWs, recent research has focused on the development of alternating low/high refractive index multilayer dielectric thin film stacks for further transmission loss reduction. Continuing advances in the deposition of optically functional cadmium sulfide and lead sulfide thin films in HGWs have allowed for the simultaneous increase in film quality and greater film thickness control necessary for the implication of such multilayer stack designs for enhanced reflectivity at infrared wavelengths. This study focuses on the theoretical and practical considerations in the development of such multilayer stack coated waveguides and presents novel results including film growth kinetics of multilayer stack thin film materials, IR spectroscopic analysis, and IR laser attenuation measurements. The effects of incorporating progressive alternating cadmium sulfide and lead sulfide dielectric thin films on the optical properties of next generation dielectric thin film stack coated HGWs in the near and mid infrared regions are thoroughly presented. The implications of incorporating such dielectric multilayer stack coatings based on metal sulfide thin films on the future of IR transmitting hollow waveguides for use in applications ranging from spectroscopy, to high laser power delivery are briefly discussed.
Artificial gravity as a countermeasure in long‐duration space flight

Long-duration exposure to weightlessness results in bone demineralization, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular deconditioning, altered sensory-motor control, and central nervous system reorganizations. Exercise countermeasures and body loading methods so far employed have failed to prevent these changes. A human mission to Mars might last 2 or 3 years and without effective countermeasures could result in dangerous levels of bone and muscle loss. Artificial gravity generated by rotation of an entire space vehicle or of an inner chamber could be used to prevent structural changes. Some of the physical characteristics of rotating environments are outlined along with their implications for human performance. Artificial gravity is the centripetal force generated in a rotating vehicle and is proportional to the product of the square of angular velocity and the radius of rotation. Thus, for a particular g-level, there is a tradeoff between velocity of rotation and radius. Increased radius is vastly more expensive to achieve than velocity, so it is important to know the highest rotation rates to which humans can adapt. Early studies suggested that 3 rpm might be the upper limit because movement control and orientation were disrupted at higher velocities and motion sickness and chronic fatigue were persistent problems. Recent studies, however, are showing that, if the terminal velocity is achieved over a series of gradual steps and many body movements are made at each dwell velocity, then full adaptation of head, arm, and leg movements is possible. Rotation rates as high as 7.5-10 rpm are likely feasible. An important feature of the new studies is that they provide compelling evidence that equilibrium point theories of movement control are inadequate. The central principles of equilibrium point theories lead to the equifinality prediction, which is violated by movements made in rotating reference frames. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Integrative outpatient treatment for returning service members

Veterans returning from Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) frequently present with multiple psychological and physical symptoms. The authors propose an innovative approach in which primary care providers, polytrauma specialists, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and mental health clinicians work together to provide care that is not simply concurrent, but truly integrated. All members of this interdisciplinary team must provide a consistent message that supports treatment engagement and progress. The authors illustrate this approach with a case report of a soldier deployed to both OEF and OIF, requiring subsequent treatment for joint pain, headaches, mild traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance abuse. Despite the emphasis on early intervention, treatment engagement and retention remain challenges in this population.
How early do airway inflammation and remodeling occur

Eosinophilic airway inflammation and structural airway changes are present in school age asthmatics. When these changes occur, and their relationship, are controversial. Some structural airway changes, up-regulation of collagens 1 and 111, and increased distance between alveolar tethering points, may be antenatal, and independent of inflammation. We have established that there is no eosinophilic inflammation or reticular basement membrane thickening in wheezing infants median age one year; but by age three years, both are present. This accords with cohort studies, showing that children who become persistent wheezers have a drop in lung function in the pre-school years. Thereafter, lung function tracks into middle age, so the preschool years represent window during which an intervention might have long term benefit. Supportive are measurements in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, implicating the neutrophil as the key inflammatory cell in early wheeze. Models of the pathophysiology of asthma include (1) that eosinophilic inflammation is the primary event, and leads to remodelling as a secondary event, which itself results in progressive airflow obstruction (the least likely model); (2) eosinophilic inflammation is the primary event, but remodelling is protective, preventing worsening AHR. It should be noted that these first two are not mutually exclusive; rbm thickening may be protective, but other components of remodeling, for example increased ASM, may have adverse effects; (3) eosinophilic inflammation and airway remodelling are parallel processes, driven by some underlying 'asthma factor'; and (4) the primary abnormality is not airway inflammation, but some form of disordered airway repair.
Reynolds Stress Transport Model Predictions and Large Eddy Simulations for Film Coolant Jet in Crossflow

Predictions of a film coolant jet in a crossflow for turbine blade cooling applications have traditionally employed k-e and k-ω closure models of turbulence. An evaluation of several such models (Hoda and Acharya, 1999) revealed that the existing two equation models fail to resolve the highly complex flow field in the vicinity of the jet created by the jet-crossflow interaction. The eddy viscosity approximation used to obtain closure for the Reynolds stress terms in the time-averaged Navier Stokes equation is unable to represent the anisotropy of the flow and does not model the wake region created behind the jet adequately. A more accurate prediction of the stress field can be obtained by the Reynolds stress transport (RST) equations, which represent a higher level of closure for the turbulent stresses. In this paper, two formulations of the RST model have been employed to predict the flow behind a row of jets discharging normally into a crossflow. The flow field predictions and turbulent statistics are compared with the experimental data of Ajersch et al. (1995) and with k-e predictions using the model of Lam and Bremhorst (1981). Predictions using Large Eddy Simulations (LES) are also presented to show the predictive capability of LES.© 2000 ASME
A test for global maximum

Abstract We give simple necessary and sufficient conditions for consistency and asymptotic optimality of a root to the likelihood equation. Based on the results, a large-sample test is proposed for detecting whether a given root is consistent and asymptotically efficient, a property often possessed by the global maximizer of the likelihood function. A number of examples, and the connection between the proposed test and the test of White for model misspecification, are discussed. Monte Carlo studies show that the test performs quite well when the sample size is large but may suffer the problem of overrejection with relatively small samples.
Music, emotion, and autobiographical memory: They’re playing your song

Very long-term memory for popular music was investigated. Older and younger adults listened to 20-sec excerpts of popular songs drawn from across the 20th century. The subjects gave emotionality and preference ratings and tried to name the title, artist, and year of popularity for each excerpt. They also performed a cued memory test for the lyrics. The older adults' emotionality ratings were highest for songs from their youth; they remembered more about these songs, as well. However, the stimuli failed to cue many autobiographical memories of specific events. Further analyses revealed that the older adults were less likely than the younger adults to retrieve multiple attributes of a song together (i.e., title and artist) and that there was a significant positive correlation between emotion and memory, especially for the older adults. These results have implications for research on long-term memory, as well as on the relationship between emotion and memory.
Taking Another's Perspective: Role-taking Development in Early Childhood.

SELMAN, ROBERT L. Taking Another's Perspective: Role-taking Development in Early Childhood. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1971, 42, 1721-1734. 60 middle-class subjects (10 boys and 10 girls each of ages 4, 5, and 6) were administered a role-taking task specifically designed to enable the S (role taker) to make and explain predictions about a peer's responses in a situation in which S has information not available to the peer. Results suggested a 4-level progression in role-taking skill across the age range examined. The significant correlation between the role-taking levels and both chronological age and another age-related role-taking measure supported the hypothesis that conceptual role taking is an age-related social-cognitive skill and implied the possible existence of an ontogenetic sequence of roletaking stages.
Prediction of a phase transition to a hydrogen bond ordered form of ice VI.

Ice VI is a hydrogen bond disordered crystal over its known region of stability. In this work, we predict that ice VI will transform into a hydrogen bond ordered phase near 108 K, and have identified the likely low-temperature phase as ferroelectric (space group Cc) with an antiferroelectric structure (space group P2 1 2 1 2 1 ) close by in energy. Electronic density functional theory calculations provide input to our calculations, which are extended to cells large enough for statistical simulations by using graph invariants. A significant decrease in the configurational entropy is predicted as hydrogen bonds exhibit partial order above the transition, provided that the hydrogen bonds can equilibrate on an experimental time scale. Conversely, partial disorder is predicted at temperatures below the transition. Although some evidence for ordering of ice VI has been observed in experiments, a low-temperature proton ordered phase has not been identified experimentally.
Veal heart ribonuclease P has an essential RNA component

Abstract The activity of RNase P (EC 3.1.26.5) from veal heart can be abolished by pretreatment of the enzyme preparation with micrococcal nuclease, pancreatic RNase A, or RNase T1. This indicates that veal heart RNase P contains an RNA component essential for function of the enzyme as has also been shown for E. coli RNase P (1–3). Additionally, veal heart RNase P has a buoyant density in Cs2SO4 of 1.33 g/cm3, which is intermediate between that of protein and nucleic acid.
Visualization Study of Flooding and Entrainment in a Closed Two-Phase Thermosyphon

The current study focuses on the onset of flooding and entrainment limitations of thermosyphons caused by viscous shear forces at liquid-vapor interface