cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Streaming Algorithms for Halo Finders

Cosmological N-body simulations are essential for studies of the large-scale distribution of matter and galaxies in the Universe. This analysis often involves finding clusters of particles and retrieving their properties. Detecting such "halos" among a very large set of particles is a computationally intensive problem, usually executed on the same super-computers that produced the simulations, requiring huge amounts of memory. Recently, a new area of computer science emerged. This area, called streaming algorithms, provides new theoretical methods to compute data analytics in a scalable way using only a single pass over a data sets and logarithmic memory. The main contribution of this paper is a novel connection between the N-body simulations and the streaming algorithms. In particular, we investigate a link between halo finders and the problem of finding frequent items (heavy hitters) in a data stream, that should greatly reduce the computational resource requirements, especially the memory needs. Based on this connection, we can build a new halo finder by running efficient heavy hitter algorithms as a black-box. We implement two representatives of the family of heavy hitter algorithms, the Count-Sketch algorithm (CS) and the Pick-and-Drop sampling (PD), and evaluate their accuracy and memory usage. Comparison with other halo-finding algorithms from [1] shows that our halo finder can locate the largest haloes using significantly smaller memory space and with comparable running time. This streaming approach makes it possible to run and analyze extremely large data sets from N-body simulations on a smaller machine, rather than on supercomputers. Our findings demonstrate the connection between the halo search problem and streaming algorithms as a promising initial direction of further research.
Reducing False Intracranial Pressure Alarms Using Morphological Waveform Features

False alarms produced by patient monitoring systems in intensive care units are a major issue that causes alarm fatigue, waste of human resources, and increased patient risks. While alarms are typically triggered by manually adjusted thresholds, the trend and patterns observed prior to threshold crossing are generally not used by current systems. This study introduces and evaluates, a smart alarm detection system for intracranial pressure signal (ICP) that is based on advanced pattern recognition methods. Models are trained in a supervised fashion from a comprehensive dataset of 4791 manually labeled alarm episodes extracted from 108 neurosurgical patients. The comparative analysis provided between spectral regression, kernel spectral regression, and support vector machines indicates the significant improvement of the proposed framework in detecting false ICP alarms in comparison to a threshold-based technique that is conventionally used. Another contribution of this work is to exploit an adaptive discretization to reduce the dimensionality of the input features. The resulting features lead to a decrease of 30% of false ICP alarms without compromising sensitivity.
Differential sensitivity of the three ASI factors in predicting panic disorder patients' subjective and behavioral response to hyperventilation challenge

The overall aim of the present investigation was to examine the association between the subscales of the ASI and emotional responding to voluntary hyperventilation challenge in a panic disorder population. Based on findings from [J. Abnorm. Psychol. 110 (2001) 372.], we predicted that the AS-Physical Concerns subscale would best predict the fear response to hyperventilation. We also examined the relative contribution of each of the three ASI subscales in predicting behavioral tolerance to hyperventilation. Participants (N=192) meeting DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia completed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) and underwent a voluntary hyperventilation challenge. Consistent with prediction, the AS-Physical subscale significantly predicted subjective fear during the hyperventilation challenge (12% of variance accounted for); whereas only the AS-Social subscale accounted for significant variance (4%) in patients’ behavioral tolerance to the hyperventilation challenge.
The H-reflex modulation in lying and a semi-reclining (sitting) position

Abstract Objective : The purpose of this study was to compare motor pool excitability as measured by the H-reflex during lying prone and sitting in a semi-reclining position. Design and method : Twelve volunteer subjects were measured for maximum M-wave and H-wave during sitting and prone lying to determine an H/M ratio. Latency of each H-reflex was also measured. H-reflex responses were recorded during a control and a vibration condition in the two positions. A double-stimuli H-reflex recovery curve was also plotted for each subject in each relaxed position of sitting and lying. Results : No significant differences were observed between the prone lying and sitting positions for the any of the variables measured. Conclusions : The present results showed no difference in H-reflex responses between sitting or lying and it is suggested that the subject/patient should be tested in a position which is most comfortable.
A radial void fraction correlation for packed bed tubes

The radial void fraction distribution of equal sized spheres in cylindrical packed bed tubes with low diameter aspect ratios (1 ≤ D/d ≤ 2) is determined from the spheres' center coordinates, the local radial void faction and the radial positions within the tubes. A correlation that closely predicts the local radial void fraction at a radial position is determined from the radial void fraction distributions. The correlation is a function of the diameter aspect ratio and the radial position in the cylindrical packed bed tubes. La distribution de fraction de vide radiale de spheres de taille egale dans des tubes a lits garnis cylindriques d'elancement de petit diametre (1 ≤ D/d ≤ 2) est determinee a partir des coordonnees de centre des spheres, de la fraction de vide radiale locale et des positions radiales a l'interieur des tubes. Une correlation qui predit de maniere proche la fraction de vide radiale locale a une position radiale est determinee a partir des distributions de fraction de vide radiale. La correlation est une fonction de l'elancement de diametre et de la position radiale dans les tubes a lits garnis cylindriques.
Aircraft antenna system analysis

Diffraction techniques in conjunction with classical geometrical optics methods have been used to analyse the elevation plane patterns of antennas mounted on different locations of an aircraft. The frame of the aircraft has been modelled using wedged and curved surfaces. Computed results have been compared with scaled-model measurements and are in very good agreement. Antenna locations examined are typical for communication and landing systems on an airframe.
Influence of three-dimensional scaffold on the expression of osteogenic differentiation markers by human dermal fibroblasts.

Abstract Current research in the field of tissue engineering utilizes biomaterial scaffolds, cells, and growth factors for the creation of a functional, biologically active tissue. This study examined the effect of two commercially available, three-dimensional scaffolds, ultraporous β -tricalcium phosphate ceramics ( β -TCP, Vitoss) and open-celled poly(lactic acid) foams (OPLA, Drilac), on the osteogenic differentiation potential of human dermal fibroblasts. Serum-free, chemically-defined medium containing the metabolic factor 1 α ,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 was used to promote an osteogenic phenotype in these cells. Osteoblast differentiation was assessed using PCR and immunohistochemical methods to detect gene and protein expression for the osteoblast markers alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, and osteocalcin. Dermal fibroblasts cultured on β -TCP scaffolds in chemically-defined medium with vitamin D 3 exhibited up-regulated gene and protein expression compared to cells cultured on OPLA scaffolds. These results suggest that Vitoss ( β -TCP) scaffolds seeded with dermal fibroblasts and maintained in chemically-defined medium with vitamin D 3 are better suited for bone tissue engineering applications than Drilac (OPLA) foams.
Transcatheter device closure of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return with "intrapulmonary duplicating drainage"--a newly described entity and a single center experience.

We are grateful for the interesting article by Luciano et al. [1] describing a series of 10 cases from 5 different institutions of successful transcatheter closure of the partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR). Their observations also included characteristics of patients with PAPVR in previously published 8 case reports. Two anatomic types of anomalous partial venous were described; the vertical vein (VV) type in which an abnormal left upper pulmonary vein connects to the innominate trunk via the VV and the scimitar vein (SV) type in which anomalous pulmonary venous connections from the middle and/or lower right pulmonary vein connect to the inferior vena cava (Fig.1a and b). It should be noted that both types are “extrapulmonary” dual drainage types of PAPVR. We hereby describe our own experience and follow-up of 4 patients (from 2004 to 2013) with PAPVR. Unlike Luciano et al., our patients had “intrapulmonary” duplicating pulmonary venous return in which a single lobar segment has separate venous channels draining to the left atrium as well as to a systemic vein (Fig. 1c and d). This remained undetected via preprocedural MRI but was successfully delineated in the catheterization lab using balloon occlusion angiography leading to successful device embolization. The clinical characteristics of these cases are shown in Table 1. Similar to the cases described by Luciano et al., we have closed the “extrapulmonary” PAPVR in few other patients which are not being described here. Previously, Snellen et al. [2] had elegantly described various patterns of anomalous pulmonary venous connections verified at surgery or autopsy in 124 patients. Even in that large series, therewas nodescription of intra-pulmonary anomalous pulmonary venous connections. Therefore, we believe that our cases may represent a unique and newly described entity. The embryological explanation of abnormal pulmonary venous connection based upon the differential time of development of primitive pulmonary vein and the atrial septum and the principle of preference of shortest path to the anastomosis between pulmonary veins and splanchnic complexes may also be applicable to “intrapulmonary” anomalous pulmonary venous connections as well. This newly described entity may remain underdiagnosed even with advanced imaging modalities and high index of suspicion is warranted in appropriate clinical settings.
New out‐of‐plane angle and bond angle internal coordinates and related potential energy functions for molecular mechanics and dynamics simulations

With currently used definitions of out-of-plane angle and bond angle internal coordinates, Cartesian derivatives have singularities, at "pr 2i n the former case and p in the latter. If either of these occur during molecular mechanics or dynamics simulations, the forces are not well defined. To avoid such difficulties, we provide new out-of-plane and bond angle coordinates and associated potential energy functions that inherently avoid these singularities. The application of these coordinates is illustrated by ab initio calculations on ammonia, water, and carbon dioxide. Q 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 20: 1067)1084, 1999
Retroviral infection coupled with tissue transplantation limits gene transfer in the chicken embryo.

Abstract Gene transfer into early embryos is a powerful methodology for unraveling the molecular bases of developmental processes. One can attempt to minimize widespread effects of an exogenous gene by using tissue- or region-specific promoters in the few instances where they are available. We have developed a method that bypasses the requirement for specific targeting sequences to achieve regionally restricted gene transfer. Intraspecific chimeras have been created by transplantation of restricted portions of a chicken embryo from a donor strain to a host strain. The donor cells are infectable with a recombinant retroviral vector that carries the exogenous gene, whereas the host cells are not. We have demonstrated the feasibility of this approach using a histochemically distinct reporter gene, human placental alkaline phosphatase. The expression of retrovirally transduced alkaline phosphatase was limited to a transplanted hemiprosencephalon (forebrain and eye) in embryonic chickens. This technique can be applied to many other organ systems during avian embryogenesis to test the function(s) of molecules that are normally controlled through spatial and/or temporal regulation, such as many of the growth factor receptors or homeobox-containing proteins.
Pragmatic trellis coded modulation: a simulation using 24-sector quantized 8-PSK

Pragmatic trellis coded modulation (TCM) uses the industry standard, 64-state, binary convolutional code. The authors present the logic design and simulation results for a system which effectively implements pragmatic TCM for rate 2/3 encoded 8 phase shift keying (PSK). This system associates each sector of a quantized phase receiver with a pair of weights to be used as soft decision inputs of the Viterbi decoder. This system approaches 3 dB of coding gain at bit error rates of 10/sup -5/ and less. >
Avoiding Default: The Role of Credit in the Consumption Collapse of 1930

High consumer indebtedness threatens future consumption spending if default is expensive. Consumer spending collapsed in 1930, turning a minor recession into the Great Depression. Households were shouldering an unprecedented burden of installment debt. Down payments were large. Contracts were short. Equity in durable goods was therefore acquired quickly. Missed installment payments triggered repossession, reducing consumer wealth in 1930 because households lost all acquired equity. Cutting consumption was the only viable strategy in 1930 for avoiding default. Institutional changes lowered the cost of default by 1938. When recession began again, indebted households chose to default rather than reduce consumption.
Affinity and specificity of trp repressor-DNA interactions studied with fluorescent oligonucleotides.

Fluorescence-based solution methods have been used to study the binding of the trp repressor of Escherichia coli to a series of oligonucleotides bearing all or partial determinants for high affinity specific binding. The tryptophan, salt concentration and competitor DNA dependence of the binding affinities was examined for these targets. Binding to a fluorescein-labeled 20 base-pair hairpin structure oligonucleotide, which contains a palindromic repressor binding site (GAACTAGTTAACTAGTAC) and is known to bind repressor in a 1 : 1 dimer-DNA complex, resulted in a protein concentration-dependent, competable static quenching of fluorescence in presence of co-repressor, l-tryptophan. The affinity recovered from the fits of these intensity profiles at 100 mM KCl was on the order of 4 × 108M−1. In absence of co-repressor an increase in intensity at high repressor concentration (>10−7M) was observed. The salt concentration dependence of the specific binding of the holo-repressor to this oligonucleotide was approximately half as large as what would be predicted by the number of phosphate contacts in the crystal structures of the complex. Repressor binding to the fluorescein-labeled hairpin 20mer was compared with binding to a rhodamine-labeled 36 base-pair oligonucleotide bearing two inverted structural half-sites GNACT separated by an eight base-pair spacer containing none of the natural intervening sequence. The rather low affinity observed for the 36mer revealed that the intervening sequence in the natural operators contains energetic specificity determinants. Binding to a rhodamine-labeled oligonucleotide bearing a completely non-specific sequence was shown to occur over the same concentration range (>100 nM), regardless of tryptophan concentration, whereas binding to sequences bearing partial specificity ratio between 100 and 1000, depending upon the salt concentration. Even in abscence of added KCl, the specificity ratio of trp repressor was greater than 100, implicating a significant free energy contribution from non-electrostatic interaction forces.
Transport of L-Cystine by Cultivated Skin Fibroblasts of Normal Subjects and Patients with Cystinosis

Extract: Uptake of L-cystine at the plasma membrane of fibroblasts derived from normal and cystinotic subjects was studied. L-Cystine accumulation after a 20-min period was increased in cystinotic fibroblasts incubated in 0.08 mM L-cystine. This effect appeared to be concentration-dependent since accumulation after 20 min at 0.004 mM concentration was decreased in cystinotic cells. Kinetic data suggested that at least two nondiffusional saturable processes with widely different substrate affinities mediate initial L-cystine uptake in skin fibroblasts. In addition, the transport process with high affinity for L-cystine may itself be a two-component system, as suggested by (1) additive inhibtory effect of other neutral amino acids, and (2) preincubation studies in which preincubation with cystathionine enhanced subsequent L-cystine uptake, whereas preincubation with other neutral amino acids depressed subsequent uptake. Affinity constants and maximal velocities of initial uptake did not appear to be altered in cells derived from patients with cystinosis. After 60-sec incubation with L-[35S]cystine, cystinotic cells retained more label as cystine than did normal cells at each concentration studied. These data indicate that initial L-cystine uptake in fibroblasts of patients with cystinosis proceeds at a normal rate by means of all transport systems currently shown to be present in normal cells. Speculation: L-Cystine may accumulate in cells of patients with cystinosis because of an alteration in a transport system for L-cystine which is, as yet, undescribed. Alternatively, L-cystine accumulation may occur because of a transport defect at the lysosomal membrane which is not expressed at the plasma membrane.
Monoaminergic-cholinergic relationships and the chemical communication matrix of the substantia nigra and neostriatum.

Abstract The historical development of histochemical methods for monoamines and chemicals involved with cholinergic function is reviewed. The use of these methods to elucidate neurochemical interactions in the substantia nigra and caudate-putamen complex is then discussed. Three hypotheses accounting for the localization of acetylcholinesterase within and/or on substantia nigra, pars compacta neurons are presented and evaluated: 1. (a) to catabolize acetylcholine released from afferent cholinergic fibers, 2. (b) to catabolize substance P released from some neostriato-nigral axon terminals, and/or 3. (c) to serve as a communication link with nigral vasculature. Despite experimental evidence in favor of each of these possibilities, none have met with unqualified acceptance. Possible mechanisms and morphologic substrates accounting for dopaminergic-cholinergic, serotonergic-cholinergic, GABAergic-cholinergic, enkephalinergic-cholinergic, and cholinergic-cholinergic interactions in the caudate-putamen complex are discussed. These include synaptic and non-synaptic relationships, dendroaxonic information flow, and mutual regulatory processes.
Fatigue Crack Growth Predictions in Aging Aircraft Panels Using Optimization Neural Network

An optimization-based neural network method is developed to predict fatigue crack growth and fatigue life of multiple site damage panels found in aging aircraft. The method utilizes an optimization solution to predict the probable crack path based upon the initial panel cone guration and accounts for lead crack spanning, small multiple site damage, and plasticity zones. The approach of the neural network was motivated by the optimization analysis and the time-consuming computational analyses for multiple site damage problems. The present neural network method was able to predict crack propagation and fatigue life and compares well with the experimental data of fatigue tests on the 2024-T3 aluminum panels.
Binding of Polymyxin B to Rat Alveolar Macrophages

The specific binding of radiolabeled polymyxin B (PmB) to rat alveolar macrophages was investigated. PmB retained its ability to inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor production by macrophages as long as one of five amino groups on PmB was unbound. Binding was saturable and temperature- and time-dependent, reaching steady state by 30 min at 37 degrees C and by 18 h at 4 degrees C. Macrophages had approximately 1.6 X 10(7) (Kd = 0.28 nM) PmB binding sites per cell. Lipid A had no appreciable effect on the number of sites. Binding did not occur to rat platelets, L929 fibroblast cells, a rat thymoma cell line, or precursor monocytic and myeloid cell lines. Precursor cells activated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate acquired binding similar to that seen in alveolar macrophages, but L929 fibroblasts did not. Binding sites were sensitive to trypsin but not to phospholipase C. PmB may interact with specific binding sites involved in lipopolysaccharide-induced activation, production, or release of tumor necrosis factor by macrophages, inhibiting the effects of lipopolysaccharide on macrophages.
Independence and separability in the perception of complex nonspeech sounds

All sounds are multidimensional, yet the relationships among auditory dimensions have been studied only infrequently. General recognition theory (GRT; Ashby & Townsend, 1986) is a multidimensional generalization of signal detection theory and, as such, provides powerful tools well suited to the study of the relationships among perceptual dimensions. However, previous uses of GRT have been limited in serious ways. We present methods designed to overcome these limitations, and we use these methods to apply GRT to investigations of the relationships among auditory perceptual dimensions that previous work suggests are independent (frequency, duration) or not (fundamental frequency [ f0], spectral shape). Results from Experiment 1 confirm that frequency and duration do not interact decisionally, and they extend this finding with evidence of perceptual independence. Results from Experiment 2 show that f0 and spectral shape tend to interact perceptually, decisionally, or both, and that perceptual interactions occur within, but not between, stimuli (i.e., the interactions suggest correlated noise across processing channels corresponding to perceptually separable dimensions). The results are discussed in relation to lower level sensory modeling and higher level cognitive and linguistic issues.
Optical tweezers in colloid and interface science

The controlled manipulation of matter using radiation pressure, otherwise known as optical trapping, has emerged as a powerful experimental tool in the physical sciences. One particular trapping technique is known colloquially as the ‘optical tweezer’. Even though the theory of optical tweezer operation is still evolving, its use has provided exciting new insights into fundamental processes in colloid and interface science. From measurement of thermal-scale forces in colloidal suspensions to manipulation of membrane structures, optical tweezers provide pin-point access to the mesoscopic world. The development of novel optical tweezer techniques promises to extend this facility to the broadest class of soft condensed matter systems.
Techniques for searching the CINAHL database using the EBSCO interface.

Abstract • THE CUMULATIVE INDEX to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) is a useful research tool for accessing articles of interest to nurses and health care professionals. • MORE THAN 2,800 JOURNALS are indexed by CINAHL and can be searched easily using assigned subject headings. • DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS about conducting, combining, and saving searches in CINAHL are provided in this article. • ESTABLISHING AN ACCOUNT at EBSCO further allows a nurse to save references and searches and to receive e-mail alerts when new articles on a topic of interest are published. AORN J 85 (April 2007) 779–791.
Multiprocessor Systems For High Performance High Reliability Applications

The paper describes results of recent research on the design, testing, and evaluation of high performance, high reliabilty mutiprocessor systems at the University of Michigan. This work is aimed at the fundamental problem of realizing systems which perform extremely well and, moreover, are able to sustain satisfactory performance in the presence of faults. In our view, such work, if it is to be successful, must deal simultaneously with a variety of related issues. The presentation supports this position and, thus, covers a relatively broad range of topics. More detailed descriptions of these results are available in most instances and are referenced as part the discussion.
Biography as high adventure : life-writers speak on their art

In this volume ten distinguished biographers discuss the principles and practices of their craft.
Cognitive style and performance under distraction: a partial replication.

This study is a partial test of a hypothesis advanced by Broverman (1960a, 1960b) that performance under distraction is a function of the degree of match between the requirements of the task and th...
Coherence length and holography

The development of the field of holography has depended on the coherence of laser light. The most meaningful attribute of coherence for holographers is the coherence length. Commonly, coherence length is regarded as the maximum optical path difference between two beams, such as those in a Michelson interferometer, that results in a discernable interference pattern. Herein we discuss two direct holographic methods of measuring coherence length, each yielding visually observable results. We begin by examining several theoretical models for laser spectral line-widths and the corresponding derivation of coherence lengths.
Correlation of forced convection boiling heat transfer data

Abstract The method of superposition for correlating forced convection boiling heat transfer data is extended to cover subcooled to high quality ranges using single phase and two phase forced convection equations, a pool boiling equation, and an incipient boiling criterion. Only one empirically determined coefficient is needed. Agreement with water data is better than that provided by the Chen correlation.
Research Collaboration With Community Organizations: A Case Example

This case example details a collaborative research experience between an urban state university and a community-based organization. The project combined the author’s interest in midlife volunteering with the organization’s need for long-term planning in volunteer and program development. Important components of this endeavor mirror those previously reported in the literature as necessary for collaborative success, including shared concerns, good timing, strong stakeholder groups, involvement of high-level visible leaders, and development of respect and trust. In addition, the author found that prior involvement between the university and the organization helped, as did the author’s prior experience with collaborative efforts. Also discussed are the positive outcomes and challenges of undertaking academic research with community organizations.
Interaction of the two cytosolic domains of mammalian adenylyl cyclase.

Abstract Adenylyl cyclase activity can be reconstituted by simple mixture of the two cytosolic domains of the enzyme after their independent synthesis in Escherichia coli. We have synthesized and purified the C1a domain of type I adenylyl cyclase and the C2 domain of the type II enzyme to assess their interactions with each other and with the activators Gsalpha and forskolin. In the absence of an activator, the fragments associate with low affinity and display low catalytic activity. This basal activity can be stimulated more than 100-fold by either forskolin or activated Gsalpha. Further, the addition of these activators increases the apparent affinity of the fragments for each other. Stimulation of catalysis by Gsalpha and forskolin is synergistic. These data suggest a model wherein either Gsalpha or forskolin enhances association of the other activator with adenylyl cyclase, as well as facilitating the interaction between the C1 and C2 domains of the enzyme.
Anomalous current-dependence of kinetic inductance in ultrathin NbN meander lines

We have measured the rf impedance of 10-nm thick superconducting granular NbN meander lines between 5 /spl mu/m and 20 /spl mu/m wide. The complex reflection coefficient was obtained directly using a vector network analyzer. The impedance (at 10 MHz for a 5 /spl mu/m wide line) is dominated by the large kinetic Inductance of the film, with a sheet inductance of order 1 nH, giving a total inductance of 400 nH for a 5 /spl mu/m/spl times/2 mm line. The kinetic inductance diverges as T/spl rarr/T/sub c/=6.5 K, as expected from Ginzburg-Landau theory (GL). Of particular interest is a substantial decrease of measured inductance with increasing dc current, contrary to the dependence expected from GL. This anomalous current dependence is not well understood, but may be related to vortex dynamics and Josephson effects in these granular films, as supported by preliminary Josephson array simulations. These results have important implications for potential devices such as tunable rf phase shifters and kinetic inductance photodetectors.
Effects of verapamil, diltiazem, nisoldipine and felodipine on sarcoplasmic reticulum

Abstract Verapamil, diltiazem, nisoldipine and felodipine, calcium antagonist drugs with different chemical structures, were studied for their effects on activities of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) isolated from dog cardiac and rabbit skeletal muscles. Nisoldipine and felodipine exerted biphasic actions on both cardiac and skeletal SR Ca 2+ -ATPase with maximum activation of 40–60% occurring at 20–40 μM for nisoldipine and 30–40% occurring at 15–30 μM for felodipine. At higher drug concentrations, Ca 2+ -ATPase was inhibited. In the presence of oxalate the maximum activation of the Ca 2+ uptake rates at 5–20 μM nisoldipine were 30–50% for cardiac SR and 80–100 μM of the drug were 300–500% for skeletal SR. Felodipine inhibited the rate of Ca 2+ uptake by dog cardiac SR, but activated Ca 2+ uptake by rabbit skeletal SR with a maximum of 30–50% at 12–25 μM. At higher concentrations of the two drugs the rate of Ca 2+ uptake was inhibited. In the absence of oxalate, i.e., limited tranport, nisoldipine shortened the duration of time that Ca 2+ was bound to the cardiac and skeletal SR, while the rate of release of Ca 2+ from skeletal SR was stimulated. Felodipine at low concentrations similarly caused a premature release of Ca 2+ from skeletal SR at a rapid rate; at high concentrations both drugs did not alter Ca 2+ binding but delayed Ca 2+ release. Unlike nisoldipine and felodipine, verapamil and diltiazem inhibited the rates of Ca 2+ transport both in cardiac and skeletal SR. The two drugs inhibited Ca 2+ -ATPase in cardiac SR but activated the enzyme in skeletal SR. Thus, these drugs caused complex and different effects on cardiac and skeletal SR, possibly resulting from perturbations of the lipid environment of the SR Ca 2+ -ATPase.
The News and the Myth of Spat-Upon Vietnam Vets: What Can We Learn from the Slate.com File

Dans cet aricle, l'A fait part de ses recherches concernant l'image et le mythe vehicule par la nouvelle presse americaine des veterans du Vietnam. L'A s'interesse ici a l'image donnee des mouvemnents anti guerres et des histoires sur les veterans notamment sur le site slate.com
SILK: Scale-space integrated Lucas-Kanade image registration for super-resolution from video

Registration between low-resolution images is a crucial step in super-resolution. Conventional methods tend to separate scale estimation from translation and rotation estimation. This is because the scale parameter is inherently related to the image resolution. In this paper, we present an area-based image registration technique that can simultaneously estimate translation, rotation, and scale parameters and also take into account differences in resolution between two images. We first develop a scale-space model that relates each reference pixel to a single observation pixel with a scale parameter. This model is then easily generalized to include x-y shift and rotation parameters. By integrating the scale-space model into a non-linear least squares method, the method can iteratively estimate the transformation (x-y shift, rotation, and scale) in an accurate and efficient manner. We compare our proposed scale-space integrated Lucas-Kanade's method (SILK) against Lucas-Kanade's optical flow and scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) matching and show that our method is suitable for super-resolution from very low resolution image sequences.
CH3NO2 decomposition on Pt(111)

Abstract The adsorption and decomposition of CH 3 NO 2 on Pt(111) have been studied using TPD, XPS and AES. TPD following adsorption at 300 K produces complete decomposition with > 85% of the C and N desorbing as C 2 N 2 ≈10% as CO and NO, 1–2% as HCN, CH 4 and CO 2 and 2 , NH 3 , or NO 2 . The major decomposition path of adsorbed CH 3 NO 2 on Pt(111) is therefore dissociation of CH bonds (which forms H 2 and H 2 O) and NO bonds (which forms H 2 O, CO and NO) to leave adsorbed CN which desorbs as C 2 N 2 between 750 and 1200 K. Adsorption at 100 K produces monolayer and multilayer peaks of CH 3 NO 2 at 165 and 141 K respectively, but decomposition products and product distributions are nearly identical to those following adsorption at 300 K. Hydrogen from CH 3 NO 2 desorbs as several peaks at 520–700 K, while H 2 alone desorbs at ≈ 400 K which suggests that the hydrogen dissociation in CH 3 NO 2 occurs mostly above 500 K. CO 2 and H 2 O also desorb as reaction limited peaks at 400–600 K. No carbon or other residues are left on the surface after heating above 1200 K. Calibration of TPD peak areas, AES C and N peak heights and XPS N(1s) peak area give a saturation monolayer density of (2.2 ± 0.4) × 10 14 molecules/cm 2 . The adsorption and decomposition behavior of CH 3 NO 2 is thus very similar to CH 3 NH 2 on Pt(111) but quite different to these molecules on Ir, Ru and W which give almost complete C−N bond cleavage to yield mostly total dissociation products and carbon residues.
Continued proliferation of mitogen-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes: requirement for the restimulation of progeny.

Abstract The nature and specificity of the stimuli required for the continued proliferation of lymphocytes has been studied by DNA density transfer experiments in which restimulated cells were incubated in medium containing bromodeoxyuridine and also by double label autoradiography. The progeny of cells stimulated first by concanavalin A require an additional stimulus with concanavalin A to replicate. The majority of cells stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, streptolysin O, or staphylococcal filtrate must be restimulated with mitogen in order to replicate. We attribute the quantitative difference between concanavalin A and other mitogens in our experiments to the availability of the competitor, methyl-α- d -mannoside, which permits complete removal of concanavalin A. The progeny of cells stimulated by streptolysin O or staphylococcal filtrate can be restimulated by other mitogens, although in both cases slightly greater stimulation was obtained with the homologous mitogen.
Pulsed-gradient spin-echo measurements of anisotropic diffusion by dipole-decoupled 13C nuclear magnetic resonance

Abstract A new approach for monitoring diffusion in anisotropic phases is proposed and demonstrated. The method relies on the observation of dilute spins (e.g., 13C) in the presence of heteronuclear high-power dipolar decoupling, a procedure which can yield time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals lasting over three orders of magnitude longer than their 1H counterparts. This allows one to apply conventional 90–180 ° pulsed-gradient spin-echo (PGSE) schemes on organic systems without having to employ complex and highly sensitive multiple-pulse 1H irradiation schemes. Instrumental aspects of this 13C method are discussed, and an application to the variable-temperature determination of anisotropic self-diffusion in a thermotropic liquid crystal is illustrated.
Ethereal: a toolkit for spatially adaptive augmented reality content

In this poster, we describe a framework and toolkit (Ethereal) for creating spatially adaptive content based on complex spatial and visual metrics in augmented reality, and demonstrate our approach with an illustrative example.
A genetically specified connectomics approach applied to long-range feeding regulatory circuits

Synaptic connectivity and molecular composition provide a blueprint for information processing in neural circuits. Detailed structural analysis of neural circuits requires nanometer resolution, which can be obtained with serial-section electron microscopy. However, this technique remains challenging for reconstructing molecularly defined synapses. We used a genetically encoded synaptic marker for electron microscopy (GESEM) based on intra-vesicular generation of electron-dense labeling in axonal boutons. This approach allowed the identification of synapses from Cre recombinase-expressing or GAL4-expressing neurons in the mouse and fly with excellent preservation of ultrastructure. We applied this tool to visualize long-range connectivity of AGRP and POMC neurons in the mouse, two molecularly defined hypothalamic populations that are important for feeding behavior. Combining selective ultrastructural reconstruction of neuropil with functional and viral circuit mapping, we characterized some basic features of circuit organization for axon projections of these cell types. Our findings demonstrate that GESEM labeling enables long-range connectomics with molecularly defined cell types.
An elliptic BCn Bailey Lemma, multiple Rogers-Ramanujan identities and Euler's Pentagonal Number Theorems

An elliptic BC n generalization of the classical two parameter Bailey Lemma is proved, and a basic one parameter BC n Bailey Lemma is obtained as a limiting case. Several summation and transformation formulas associated with the root system BC n are proved as applications, including a 6φ5 summation formula, a generalized Watson transformation and an unspecialized Rogers-Selberg identity. The last identity is specialized to give an infinite family of multilateral Rogers-Selberg identities. Standard determinant evaluations are then used to compute B n and D n generalizations of the Rogers-Ramanujan identities in terms of determinants of theta functions. Starting with the BCn 6φ5 summation formula, a similar program is followed to prove an infinite family of D n Euler Pentagonal Number Theorems.
Verifying cache coherence protocols

The shared-memory multiprocessor architecture is becoming prevalent in high-end servers designed to handle many users or large parallel computations. In such a machine, several parallel processors share a common store. To avoid communications bottlenecks, each processor has its own local cache memory that stores recently accessed data from the shared memory. One of the machine's most complex parts is its cache coherence protocol, a system of messages implemented in hardware, by which the processors ensure that their local caches are consistent. Simulation of such systems is particularly unreliable because of their highly asynchronous nature: the exact time at which a given processor will access a given memory location and the exact time delay of messages are unpredictable. As a result, many "race conditions" must be considered in the design and test of the protocol.
Functional properties of WT1

WT1 encodes a zinc finger transcription factor that is inactivated in a subset of Wilms' tumors. We have recently shown that introduction of wild-type WT1 into a Wilms' tumor-derived cell line, RM1, results in growth suppression, consistent with its function as a tumor suppressor gene. WT1-mediated growth suppression was also observed in other cells derived from embryonal tumors, including two osteosarcoma cell lines, U2OS and Saos-2, notable for the respective presence or absence of wild-type p53. To further characterize the functional properties of WT1, multiple U2OS and Saos-2 cell lines were established, expressing either wild-type WT1 splicing variants or naturally occurring mutants under control of a tightly regulated tetracycline repressable promoter. Induction of WT1 in these cells resulted in programmed cell death. This effect was preferentially mediated by WT1 isoform B (encoding alternative splice I, lacking alternative splice II "KTS"), and it was independent of p53, occurring in both U2OS and Saos-2 cells. WT1-mediated apoptosis was associated with transcriptional repression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and reduced synthesis of endogenous EGFR protein synthesis. Constitutive expression of EGFR abrogated WT1-mediated cell death. We conclude that wild-type WT1 can induce apoptosis in embryonal cancer cells, presumably through the withdrawal of required growth factor survival signals, and that EGFR is a physiological target gene for WT1.
Blind-ending branches of bifid ureters.

Abstract Three new cases are utilized to illustrate the anatomy, embryology, and symptomatology of blind-ending branches of bifid ureters. Diagnosis can usually be made by intravenous pyelogram. The complications are recurrent urinary tract infections, calculi, and hydroureteronephrosis. Selection of management by observation, resection, nephroureterectomy, or ureterolithotomy is discussed. The specific technique for simple resection is stressed.
Real-time Quantitative Endogenous Molecular Contrast Imaging for Surgery

There is a pressing clinical need to provide image guidance during surgery. In this presentation, we will review our efforts in image-guided surgery using diffuse NIR light. Article not available.
Reconstitution of α2D-Adrenergic Receptor Coupling to Phospholipase D in a PC12 Cell Lysate

We have previously shown that α2-adrenergic receptor-mediated coupling to phospholipase D (PLD) in vascular tissues requires a tyrosine kinase activity (Jinsi, A., Paradise, J., and Deth, R. C. (1996) Eur. J. Pharmacol. 302, 183–190). To further clarify this mode of regulation we reconstituted α2A/D-adrenergic receptor-stimulated PLD activity in PC12 cells expressing the cloned receptor. [3H]Myristic acid-labeled cells were lysed by nitrogen cavitation, and aliquots of subnuclear fraction were utilized in the PLD assay. Agonist-stimulated PLD activity was measured in the presence of 0.4% butanol as [3H]phosphatidylbutanol formation. Both GTP and its non-hydrolyzable analog guanosine 5′-O-(thiotriphosphate) stimulated PLD activity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner that required co-activation of protein kinase C by phorbol dibutyrate. Addition of epinephrine produced a 3-fold stimulation of PLD activity in the presence of GTP and GDP. This agonist-stimulated PLD activity was completely blocked by the α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist rauwolscine and by Clostridium botulinumtoxin as well as by antibodies directed against either pp60src, RhoA, or Ras GTPase-activating protein. These results indicate that coupling of the α2A/D-adrenergic receptor to PLD is complexly regulated by both the tyrosine kinase pp60src and the low molecular weight G protein RhoA.
Antiemetic use in acetaminophen poisoning: How does the route of N-acetylcysteine administration affect utilization?

Introduction We sought to compare antiemetic use after acetaminophen poisoning in patients treated with oral or intravenous (IV) N-acetylcysteine (NAC).
Biochemical Estimation of Noncompliance with Smoking of Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes

Background:Thereductionofthenicotinecontentofcigarettes to nonaddicting levels is a potential federal regulatory intervention to reduce the prevalence of cigarette smoking and related disease. Many clinical trials on the effects and safety of nicotine reduction are ongoing. An important methodologic concern is noncompliance with reduced nicotine content cigarettes in the context of freely available conventional cigarettes. We propose two approaches using biomarkers to estimate noncompliance in smokers of very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes in a clinical trial. Methods: Data from 50 subjects in a study of gradual nicotine reduction were analyzed. Using plasma cotinine concentrations measured at baseline and while smoking VLNC cigarettes, we compared within-subject ratios of plasma cotinine comparing usual brand to VLNC in relation to nicotine content of these cigarettes. In another approach, we used nicotine pharmacokinetic data to estimate absolute plasma cotinine/cigarettes per day (CPD) threshold values for compliance based on the nicotine content of VLNC. Results: The two approaches showed concordance, indicating at least 60% noncompliance with smoking VLNC. In a sensitivity analysis assuming extreme compensation and extreme values for nicotine metabolic parameters, noncompliance was still at least 40%, much higher than self-reported noncompliance. Conclusion: Biomarker analysis demonstrates a high degree of noncompliance with smoking VLNC cigarettes, indicating that smokers are supplementing these with conventional cigarettes. Impact: We propose a practical approach to assessing compliance with smoking VLNC in clinical trials of nicotine reduction.
Development of sputter coatings for the gravity probe B gyroscope housings

Cu/Ti coatings have been applied by sputter deposition to fused quartz housings to serve as the electrodes and lands of electrostatically supported gyroscopes. Niobium-coated fused quartz gyro rotors have been successfully suspended and spun up in those housings. The Cu/Ti bilayer coating and alternative multilayer coatings (Cu/Mo, Mo/Cu/Ti and Mo/Cu/Mo) with 2-micron thickness produced by sputter deposition on flat, fused quartz substrates have been examined with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and four-point resistivity measurement techniques. The multilayer coatings with a molybdenum bonding layer appear to produce smoother surfaces than those with a titanium bonding layer. All multilayer coatings survived thermal cycling to 77 K without adhesion failure.
Benchmarking Quickpalm and Other Molecule Localization Software for Super-Resolution Microscopy

Image processing software is used to estimate the positions of fluorescent molecules in super-resolution microscopy images. The rejection methods (for distinguishing single-molecule and multi-molecule images) and fitting algorithms (for estimating molecular positions) used determine the quality and reliability of the reconstructed images. We benchmarked and analyzed the ImageJ plug-in called QuickPALM. To do this, we used simulations of two-molecule images (with realistic point spread functions and Poisson noise model) as input. These images were generated with known molecule positions, to test the predictions of QuickPALM against the actual images. Our analysis showed that the accuracy dropped significantly when molecules were less than one wavelength apart, as there was rejection of multiple molecules in close proximity. With our results, we were also able to show that localization bias occurred towards the center of each pixel, distorting the overall image. The result was confirmed by simulating a PALM experiment on the US Air Force Test Pattern. We also wrote our own molecule localization plug-in (for ImageJ) utilizing second-moments (as a rejection criterion) and a fast maximum likelihood estimator (for estimating molecular positions), to compare with QuickPALM. We were able to show that the new plug-in had improved precision and accuracy when using the same single-molecule and two-molecule images. We also showed that the maximum likelihood estimator had no bias towards the center of each pixel when processing the US Air Force Test Pattern.