cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extracellular matrix remodeling and cell phenotypic changes in dysplastic and hemodynamically altered semilunar human cardiac valves.

Abstract Introduction Congenital cardiac valve disease is common, affecting ∼1% of the population, with substantial morbidity and mortality, but suboptimal treatment options. Characterization of the specific matrix and valve cell phenotypic abnormalities in these valves could lend insight into disease pathogenesis and potentially pave the way for novel therapies. Methods Thirty-five human aortic and pulmonic valves were categorized based on gross and microscopic assessment into control valves ( n =21); dysplastic valves, all except one also displaying hemodynamic changes (HEMO/DYSP, n =6); and hemodynamically altered valves (HEMO, n =8). Immunohistochemistry was performed on valve sections and flow cytometry on valvular interstitial cells. Results While both hemodynamically altered aortic and pulmonic valves demonstrated increased collagen turnover and cell activation, prolyl 4-hydroxylase and hyaluronan increased in hemodynamically altered aortic valves but decreased in hemodynamically altered pulmonic valves relative to control valves ( P P P P Conclusions Dysplastic semilunar valves displayed alterations in collagen and elastic fiber turnover that were distinct from valves similarly exposed to altered hemodynamics as well as to control valves. These results demonstrate that dysplastic valves are not simply valves with gross changes or loss of leaflet layers, but contain complex matrix and cell phenotype changes that, with future study, could potentially be targets for novel nonsurgical treatments.
The biological effects of magnetic fields on man

The biological effects of the interaction of stationary magnetic fields (SMF) with man and other animals have been reviewed. The lowest detectable limit of interaction between higher animals and a SMF is 80 to 100 G. The recommended limit on an extended-period basis for whole-body or head exposure is 200 G. Higher limits of magnetic-field exposure for limited periods of time are contained within this report.
Optimal flowshop schedules with no intermediate storage space

In this paper the problem of finding an optimal schedule for the n-job, M-machine flowshop scheduling problem is considered when there is no intermediate space to hold partially completed jobs and the objective function is to minimize the weighted sum of idle times on all machines. By assuming that jobs are processed as early as possible, the problem is modeled as a traveling salesman problem and solved by known solution techniques for the traveling salesman problem. A sample problem is solved and a special case, one involving only two machines, is discussed.
To constrain or not to constrain, and other stories of intensive upper extremity training for children with unilateral cerebral palsy

Impaired hand function is among the most functionally disabling symptoms of unilateral cerebral palsy. Evidence-based treatment approaches are generally lacking. However, recent approaches providing intensive upper extremity training appear promising. In this review, we first describe two such approaches, constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and bimanual training (hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy). We then summarize findings across more than 100 participants in our CIMT/bimanual training studies since 1997. We show that (1) at high intensities, CIMT and bimanual training improve dexterity and bimanual upper extremity use; (2) bimanual training may allow direct practice of functionally meaningful goals, and such practice may transfer to unpracticed goals and improve bimanual coordination; (3) 90 hours of CIMT and bimanual training leads to greater improvements than 60 hours of the same treatments; (4) higher doses may be required for bimanual training; (5) increased dosing frequency and shaping may be needed for older children; and (6) combined CIMT/bimanual approaches may be useful, but require sufficient intensity. Together these findings suggest that dosage (treatment amount and frequency), more so than ingredients, may well be the key to successful training protocols, especially for older children. Such rehabilitation efforts should be 'child-friendly', and as least invasive as possible, especially because these approaches may be provided throughout development.
Sewing needles in the brain: infanticide attempts or accidental insertion?

BACKGROUND:: Placing of sewing needles in the brain through the anterior fontanelle was first described in Germany in 1914. Forty cases have been reported in the scientific literature; most of them were identified in Turkey and Iran, with only a few cases in the Far East, North and Eastern Europe, and the United States. The only case observed in Italy was recorded in 1987. In nonmedical literature, this practice was frequently described in Persian novels, and it has been thought that this ritual could have been diffused with the Persian Empire domination over the centuries. OBJECTIVE:: We report on a new Italian case of an 82-year-old woman admitted for progressive right hemiparesis and gait disturbance. METHODS:: Brain computed tomography scan showed a left frontoparietal chronic subdural haematoma and, surprisingly, three 4-cm-long sewing needles inserted through the region of the anterior fontanelle. The patient and her friends and family did not remember any event justifying their presence. RESULTS:: Subdural collection was evacuated by craniotomic approach, and the sewing needles were left in place and followed up. CONCLUSION:: The rare cases of intracranial needling reported in the literature may represent only the tip of the iceberg. The phenomenon is usually reported as an incidental finding in asymptomatic adults, whereas many babies could not have been diagnosed because they died. The therapy remains controversial, although many authors suggest only follow-up for asymptomatic patients. In this article, all the pertinent literature is reviewed and the most important clinical aspects are discussed, along with a historical assessment of the problem. Language: en
Variables associated with peripartum traits in dairy cows. V. Hormonal profiles associated with retained fetal membranes

Abstract Profiles of certain hormones measured by radioimmunoassay in 41 Holstein cows and heifers with retained fetal membranes (RFM; >12 hr postpartum) were compared to 41 peers without RFM (NRFM). Peers were matched by parity, season of calving, gestation length, dystocia and parturient paresis within prepartum diet group. Linear covariates of natural photoperiod, mean daily temperature, calf birth weight, length of gestation, and age and body weight of cow were included in the leastsquares analyses of data. Plasma profiles of prolactin and estrone were nearly identical from day 8 prepartum to day 2.5 postpartum. Plasma estradiol-17α was approximately one-third higher each day in group RFM (P Relationships between plasma P and Eβ were indicative of subsequent RFM (>24 hr rather than >12 hr), but only on day 6 prepartum. Three of four cases of 12 to 24 hr RFM had P and Es profiles similar to NRFM. Either a combination of low P ( 7.9 ng/ml) were associated with a ten-fold higher rate of RFM (>24 hr) than when P was intermediate (4 to 8 ng/ml) and Es exceeded 99 pg/ml. These results are in agreement with prior data wherein RFM were induced at premature births either by ovariectomy during pregnancy or by glucocorticoids.
Ideal fluid flow in an enclosure of toroidal geometry

Abstract Ideal fluid flow in a space of toroidal geometry is studied with the goal of obtaining steady state solutions for flow patterns useful in the design of turbomachinery. Potential flow solutions of Laplace's equation referred to a bi-polar toroidal coordinate system are shown to be inadmissible for application in the turbomachinery field since such solutions do not include the possibility of momentum transfer. Attention is, therefore, focused on rotational flow. The governing equations are referred to a “polar toroidal” coordinate system. The problem is reduced to the solution of a homogeneous, non-linear, third order partial differential equation for a stream function with an associated set of boundary conditions. An inner boundary (the core) is determined by prescribing a suitable fluid velocity distribution at the outer boundary (the shell). Solutions of the stream function equation are obtained by a power series representation valid in some neighborhood of the outer boundary. This results in a set of linear first order ordinary differential equations which can be solved consecutively, and exhibits explicitly the connection between the fluid velocity and the body forces. Some numerical examples of particular flows are presented. When the velocity distribution at the outer boundary (the shell) is uniform a singular flow region appears around the center of the meriodional section, bounded by a critical streamline; only a small portion of the flow circulates completely around the meridional section.
A sequential filter used for parameter estimation in a passive solar system

Abstract The use of a sequential least squares filter for estimating passive solar system parameters is presented as it applies to certain types of systems. The method given is used to identify parameters in a particular existing system, and the results are given. A discussion is also included on a comparison of various sampling rates used by the filter, with a view toward selecting a “reasonable” sampling rate.
Oriented eutectic microstructures in the system Al2O3/ZrO2

Oriented eutectic microstructures have been produced in the system Al2O3/ZrO2 using a Bridgman-type crystal-growing furnace. Ingots consisted of elongated columnar grains or colonies. Inside the colonies a rod-type eutectic microstructure consisting of rods of ZrO2 surrounded by an Al2O3 matrix was observed. The eutectic point was re-established at 63 mol % Al2O3/37.0 mol % ZrO2 and 1870±5° C. Al2O3 is the first phase to nucleate when eutectic growth occurs.
Stem cells for skin tissue engineering and wound healing

The tremendous ability of the skin's epidermis to regenerate is due to the presence of epidermal stem cells that continuously produce keratinocytes, which undergo terminal differentiation to a keratinized layer that provides the skin's barrier properties. The ability to control this process in vitro has made it possible to develop various types of tissue-engineered skin grafts, some of which are among the first tissue-engineered products to ever reach the market. In the past 30 years, these products have been applied with some success to the treatment of chronic skin wounds such as diabetic and venous ulcers and deep, acute wounds such as burns. Current technologies remain partially effective in their ability to restore other skin structures, for example, the dermis, which is critical to the overall long-term appearance and function of the skin. As yet, none of these approaches can regenerate skin appendages (e.g. hair follicles and sweat glands). The use of earlier progenitor and stem cells, including embryonic stem cells, is gaining interest in the attempt to overcome such limitations. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that "adult" stem cells, which are present in the circulation, target areas of injury and likely participate in the wound-healing process. In this paper, we start with an overview of the wound-healing process and current methods used for wound treatment, both conventional and tissue-engineering based. We then review current research on the various types of stem cells used for skin tissue engineering and wound healing, and provide future directions.
A Sulfhydryl Oxidase from Chicken Egg White

A dimeric glycoprotein containing one FAD per ∼80,000 Mr subunit has been isolated from chicken egg white and found to have sulfhydryl oxidase activity with a range of small molecular weight thiols. Dithiothreitol was the best substrate of those tested, with a turnover number of 1030/min, a Km of 150 μM, and a pH optimum of about 7.5. Oxidation of thiol substrates generates hydrogen peroxide in aerobic solution. Anaerobically, the ferricenium ion is a facile alternative electron acceptor. Reduction of the oxidase with dithionite or dithiothreitol under anaerobic conditions yields a two-electron intermediate (EH2) showing a charge transfer band (λmax 560 nm; ϵobs 2.5 mM−1 cm−1). Complete bleaching of the flavin and discharge of the charge transfer complex require a total of four electrons. Borohydride and catalytic photoreduction give the same spectral changes. EH2, but not the oxidized enzyme, is inactivated by iodoacetamide with alkylation of 2.7 cysteine residues/subunit. These data indicate that the oxidase contains a redox-active disulfide bridge generating a thiolate to oxidized flavin charge transfer complex at the EH2 level. Sulfite treatment does not form the expected flavin adduct with the native enzyme but cleaves the active site disulfide, yielding an air-stable EH2-like species. The close functional resemblance of the oxidase to the pyridine nucleotide-dependent disulfide oxidoreductase family is discussed.
Encapsulation of Single Quantum Dots with Mesoporous Silica

A new generation of silica encapsulated single quantum dots (QDs) was synthesized based on recent breakthroughs made in coating magnetic nanoparticles and their clusters. In comparison with the traditional Stober sol-gel method, this new approach is significantly simpler, resulting in QDs with excellent luminescence, stability, size monodispersity, and tunable silica shell thickness. An important finding was that unlike previous reported magnetic and metallic nanoparticles, the QDs coated with only a layer of surfactant molecules were highly unstable and sensitive to the environment. As a consequence, the surfactant stabilized QDs must be prepared fresh and stored in dark before silica coating. The QDs became stable once silica shell formed on their surface and excess surfactants were removed. Further development of this technology particularly by incorporating drugs into the mesosized silica pores will open exciting opportunities in traceable delivery and controlled release of therapeutic agents.
Metastatic patterns in adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Unique metastatic patterns cited in the literature often arise from anecdotal clinical observations and autopsy reports. The authors analyzed clinical data from a large number of patients with histologically confirmed, distant-stage adenocarcinoma to evaluate metastatic patterns. METHODS Tumor registry data were collected between 1994-1996 on 11 primary tumor sites and 15 metastatic sites from 4399 patients. The primary and metastatic sites were cross-tabulated in various ways to identify patterns, and the authors developed algorithms by using multinomial logistic regression analysis to predict the locations of primary tumors based on metastatic patterns. RESULTS Three primary tumors had single, dominant metastatic sites: ovary to abdominal cavity (91%), prostate to bone (90%), and pancreas to liver (85%). The liver was the dominant metastatic site for gastrointestinal (GI) primary tumors (71% of patients), whereas bone and lung metastases were noted most frequently in non-GI primary tumors (43% and 29%, respectively). In a study of combinations of liver, abdominal cavity, and bone metastases, 86% of prostate primary tumors had only bone metastases, 80% of ovarian primary tumors had only abdominal cavity metastases, and 74% of pancreas primary tumors had only liver metastases. A single organ was the dominant source of metastases in 7 sites: axillary lymph node from the breast (97%), intestinal lymph node from the colon (84%), thoracic lymph node from the lung (66%), brain from the lung (64%), mediastinal lymph node from the lung (62%), supraclavicular lymph node from the breast (51%), and adrenal gland from the lung (51%). CONCLUSIONS The algorithms that the authors developed achieved a cross-validated accuracy of 64% and an accuracy of 64% on an 1851-patient independent test set, compared with 9% accuracy when a random classifier was used. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
The energy spectrum of the decay particles and the mass and spin of the mesotron

Energy values determined from curvature measurements of 75 cloud-chamber tracks of decay particles of cosmic-ray mesotrons at sea level, in a magnetic field of 7250 gauss, are here reported. The observed spectrum extends from 9 Mev to 55 Mev with an apparently continuous distribution of intermediate energy values and a mean energy of 34 Mev. The shape of the spectrum and the value of its upper limit are strong evidence that the mesotron disintegrates into an electron and two neutrinos. It is concluded that the mesotron has half-integral spin. The value of the observed upper limit of the energy spectrum corresponds to a mass value of the mesotron equal to 217±4 electron masses.
Valence and valence–core interactions in transition‐metal diatomic molecules

In this study, the correlation between open-shell valence and closed-shell valence-core electrons is shown to be significant, with regard to an adequate description of the bonding in transition metal diatomic molecules. The SCMEH-MO (self-consistent modified extended Huckel molecular orbital) method is well suited for partitioning these two influences, in terms of their independent and collective effects on the electrons within the occupied mo-s. Two test cases, Cr2 and Mo2 are presented to demonstrate the nature and magnitude of these valence/valence-core interactions. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
PARTICLE DEPOSITION IN BIFURCATING AIRWAY MODELS WITH VARYING AIRWAY GEOMETRY

Abstract Local deposition efficiencies and deposition patterns of aerosol particles were studied experimentally in single bifurcation tube models with varying geometry. The diameter ratio (DR) of the daughter to parent tube was varied from 0.64 to 1.0 and a local obstruction was also imposed in some of the models. Monodispersed oil particles (size range =3–7 μm dia.) tagged with uranine were generated as test aerosols and were drawn through the model at flow rates corresponding to Reynolds number (Re) of 283–3397. It was found that deposition of particles took place mainly on and in the immediate vicinity of the bifurcation ridge for Stokes number (Stk) ≥0.03 regardless of tube geometries used. Deposition efficiency (DE) in the bifurcation region increased with increasing Stk but did not change with branching angles between 30° and 45°. The diameter ratio showed only a minor effect on DE. The results suggest that Stk may be the single most important factor for particle deposition in the bifurcating airways in the inertial regime.
Oleic acid desaturation in Tetrahymena pyriformis

The desaturation of oleoyl-CoA by a microsomal preparation from Tetrahymena has been studied. Desaturation of oleoyl-CoA required oxygen and NADH, and was inhibited by cyanide. HPLC analysis of fatty acid phenacyl esters, prepared from TLC-purified phospholipid, confirmed that radioactivity appeared in oleate, linoleate and gamma-linolenate. Both the time course of desaturation and the apparent desaturation of 1-palmitoyl-2-[14C]oleoylphosphatidylcholine suggested that phospholipid-bound oleate could be a substrate for desaturation. In the crude microsomal preparation, acylation of oleoyl-CoA to give oleoyl phospholipid was rapid. Therefore, preincubation in the absence of NADH was employed to create [14C]oleoyl phospholipids, and kinetic studies were carried out upon subsequent addition of NADH. When data were plotted in a double reciprocal form, a linear function was observed.
Macrophages in Alzheimer’s disease: the blood-borne identity

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and incurable neurodegenerative disorder clinically characterized by cognitive decline involving loss of memory, reasoning and linguistic ability. The amyloid cascade hypothesis holds that mismetabolism and aggregation of neurotoxic amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, which are deposited as amyloid plaques, are the central etiological events in AD. Recent evidence from AD mouse models suggests that blood-borne mononuclear phagocytes are capable of infiltrating the brain and restricting β-amyloid plaques, thereby limiting disease progression. These observations raise at least three key questions: (1) what is the cell of origin for macrophages in the AD brain, (2) do blood-borne macrophages impact the pathophysiology of AD and (3) could these enigmatic cells be therapeutically targeted to curb cerebral amyloidosis and thereby slow disease progression? This review begins with a historical perspective of peripheral mononuclear phagocytes in AD, and moves on to critically consider the controversy surrounding their identity as distinct from brain-resident microglia and their potential impact on AD pathology.
A study of the reactions Be9(He3,n)C11, Li7(He3,n)B9 and C13(He3,n)O15

Abstract Time-of-flight techniques with time resolution capabilities of 4 ns for neutrons have been used to study (He 3 ,n) reactions with the following targets: Be 9 , Li 7 and C 13 . The angular distributions of neutrons to the ground state and the first four excited states (2.00, 4.32, 4.81 and the unresolved doublet at 6.35 and 6.49 MeV) of C 11 have been measured for the reaction Be 9 (He 3 ,n)C 11 at an incident He 3 energy of 2.1 MeV. Excitation functions were measured for these states for E He 3 from 1.2 to 2.7 MeV at laboratory angles of 0° and 81.5°. For the Li 7 (He 3 ,n)B 9 reaction an angular distribution was measured at E He 3 =2.1 MeV for the ground state neutron group from B 9 and the yield curve was measured for this group from 1.2 to 2.7 MeV at 0°. For the C 13 (He 3 ,n)O 15 reaction resolved neutron groups were seen for transitions to the ground and third excited states (6.15 MeV) in O 15 . Excitation functions were measured at laboratory angles of 0° and 90° for this reaction for E He 3 from 1.2 to 2.7 MeV and angular distributions were measured at E He 3 =2.66 MeV. Distorted wave calculations have been made in an attempt to describe all of the reactions. In general, the calculations can be made to fit the angular distributions quite well in the forward direction but the back angle cross sections predicted by the calculations are usually much lower than the measured values. Tentative spin and parity assignments are given for the resolved groups.
Paramilitaries and Electoral Support

This paper examines the tactical redistribution of public resources by an incumbent seeking reelection in a country in the midst of an armed conflict. The illegal armed groups in Colombia are known to have extreme ideological beliefs; the guerrillas lean far to the Left, and the paramilitaries, far to the Right. The model and the empirical results show that regions with powerful groups who have a defined political ideology are less strategically attractive when it comes to the distribution of government resources. Nevertheless, when an illegal group can coerce voters to support a candidate and decide between candidates, as in the case of paramilitaries, redistribution is targeted to the illegal group. As a natural experiment, this paper empirically tests the effect of a policy to demobilize and reintegrate the members of paramilitary groups into society, so as to show the decisions on redistribution change when paramilitary forces do not exercise control in the municipalities.
A Winner-Take-All circuit with improved accuracy and tolerance to mismatch and process variations

Winner-Take- All (WTA) circuit chooses a winner input from a set of input signals. WTA circuits employ transistors that operate in the sub-threshold or weak inversion region. With technology scaling, sub-threshold circuits are prone to mismatch and process variations which degrade the performance of these circuits. This paper presents a novel WTA circuit that employs a CMOS double pair transistor as a translinear element that is more tolerant to mismatch and process variations. Monte Carlo simulations are used to compare the performance of the existing and the proposed topologies to estimate the effects of process and mismatch variations. Results show that the proposed circuit is able to reduce the range of variations by three orders of magnitude compared to original one for similar variations in the transistor parameters. The proposed element also shows better accuracy in replicating the maximum input current compared to the original circuit.
Systemic diseases involving the orbit

A variety of systemic pathological processes may involve the eye and the surrounding orbital adnexae. CT and MRI of the orbit have become useful clinical adjuvants, not only in establishment of the diagnosis, but also in suggesting the appropriate clinical treatment, sometimes preventing needless biopsy. Grave's disease, Wegener's granulomatosis, and sarcoidosis may all present initially with orbital disease before the onset of systemic manifestations. Idiopathic inflammatory disease of the orbit and lymphoproliferative disease of the orbit continue to remain radiological and clinical challenges. The article discusses the CT and MRI appearance of many of the common systemic diseases in adults with attention to features useful in clinical practice as well as in differential diagnosis.
Comparative Study of Continuous and Pulsatile Left Ventricular Assist Devices on Hemodynamics of a Pediatric End-to-Side Anastomotic Graft

Although there are many studies that focus on understanding the consequence of pumping mode (continuous vs. pulsatile) associated with ventricular assist devices (VADs) on pediatric vascular pulsatility, the impact on local hemodynamics has been largely ignored. Hence, we compare not only the hemodynamic parameters indicative of pulsatility but also the local flow fields in the aorta and the great vessels originating from the aortic arch. A physiologic graft anastomotic model is constructed based on a pediatric, patient specific, aorta with a graft attached on the ascending aorta. The flow is simulated using a previously validated second-order accurate Navier–Stokes flow solver based upon a finite volume approach. The major findings are: (1) pulsatile support provides a greater degree of vascular pulsatility when compared to continuous support, which, however, is still 20% less than pulsatility in the healthy aorta; (2) pulsatile support increases the flow in the great vessels, while continuous support decreases it; (3) complete VAD support results in turbulence in the aorta, with maximum principal Reynolds stresses for pulsatile support and continuous support of 7081 and 249 dyn/cm2, respectively; (4) complete pulsatile support results in a significant increase in predicted hemolysis in the aorta; and (5) pulsatile support causes both higher time-averaged wall shear stresses (WSS) and oscillatory shear indices (OSI) in the aorta than does continuous support. These findings will help to identify the risk of graft failure for pediatric patients with pulsatile and continuous VADs.
The Structure of a Mixed LNA/DNA:RNA Duplex Is Driven by Conformational Coupling between LNA and Deoxyribose Residues as Determined from 13C Relaxation Measurements

A study of the internal dynamics of an LNA/DNA:RNA duplex has been performed to further characterize the conformational changes associated with the incorporation of locked nucleic acid (LNA) nucleotides in a DNA:RNA duplex. In general, it was demonstrated that the LNA/DNA:RNA duplex has a very high degree of order compared to dsDNA and dsRNA duplexes. The order parameters of the aromatic carbon atoms in the LNA/DNA strand are uniformly high, whereas a sharp drop in the degree of order was seen in the RNA strand in the beginning of the AUAU stretch in the middle of the strand. This can be related to a return to normal dsRNA dynamics for the central A:U base pair. The high order of the heteroduplex is consistent with preorganization of the chimera strand for an A-form duplex conformation. These results partly explain the dramatic increase in Tm of the chimeric heteroduplex over dsDNA and DNA:RNA hybrids of the same sequence.
Direct correlation of radiologic and cadaveric structures in a gross anatomy course

Background: Radiologic imaging is increasingly utilized as supplemental material in preclinical gross anatomy courses, but few studies have investigated its utility as a fully integrated instructional tool. Aims: Establish the benefit of a teaching method that simultaneously correlates cadaveric and radiologic structures for learning human anatomy. Method: We performed a mixed-methods randomized controlled trial and one-way cross-over study comparing exam grades and subjective student perception in a gross anatomy course. The intervention consisted of daily direct correlation small group sessions in which students simultaneously identified and correlated radiologic and cadaveric structures. The control method utilized identical laboratory and teaching conditions but students did not simultaneously correlate structures. Spatial relationships of structures within each respective media (gross or radiologic) were emphasized in both groups. Results: No significant differences in radiology, gross, or written exam scores were observed between the intervention and control groups. The cross-over group preferred the intervention and control methods equally. The correlation teaching sessions ranked equally with active dissection as the most important instructional components of the course. Conclusion: Direct, simultaneous correlation of radiologic and cadaveric structures did not affect exam scores or student preference but helped students understand anatomical concepts in comparison with other course components.
Seismic focusing by a single planar fracture

[1] A single plane fracture with an axially symmetric stress distribution behaves as a seismic lens that focuses seismic energy to a beam “waist” at a focal plane. Both phase and amplitude effects on a seismic wave propagating across the fracture contribute to the lensing behavior. Radial gradients in the fracture specific stiffness cause wave refraction through a radially varying group time delay, while the fracture transmission amplitude approximates a Fresnel zone plate. This work demonstrates that a two-dimensional planar fracture, contrasted with three-dimensional geologic structures such as basins and domes, can focus seismic waves. Focusing of seismic waves by fractures should be considered in the interpretation of seismic data from fractured strata with heterogeneous stress distributions.
"Silver dust"--a tool to study growth interrelationships between bone, periosteum and muscle.

A cylinder of gelatin containing silver spongy granules was placed in and lay within the masseter muscle, the periosteum, and the mandible, and terminated in the medial pterygoid muscle of young (3 month-old) growing miniature pigs. On the basis of an animal sacrificed one week after placement of the cylinder, it was found that the suspending gelatin was removed by cellular activity. Nine months later the remaining animals were sacrificed. Periodic X-rays were taken during the course of the experiment. After sacrifice, the mandible and associated tissues were histologically examined. The results of this study suggest that the silver granules in the muscles maintained their location during growth; the silver granules in the mandible moved forward with mandibular growth. “Slippage” appeared to occur external to the fibrous layer of the periosteum; the site of movement was revealed by the trail of the silver granules. The described method should prove of value in studying the growth interrelationships between bone, periosteum, and muscle.
Exploiting azimuthal variance of scatterers for multiple-look SAR recognition

The focus of this paper is optimizing the recognition of vehicles in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery using multiple SAR recognizers at different look angles. The variance of SAR scattering center locations with target azimuth leads to recognition system results at different azimuths that are independent, even for small azimuth deltas. Extensive experimental recognition results are presented in terms of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to show the effects of multiple look angles on recognition performance for MSTAR vehicle targets with configuration variants, articulation, and occlusion.
Raman longitudinal acoustic mode (LAM) studies of folded‐chain morphology in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). II. Normal mode analysis of folded‐chain structures of PEO

Normal mode calculations were carried out on model folded-chain molecules to determine the effect of a fold on the LAM of PEO. The presence of a chain fold results in a decrease in the LAM frequency and intensity, the change in frequency being very much smaller than the change in intensity. End interactions do not seem to have much effect on the LAM when a fold is present at the chain ends. The effective chain length for determining the LAM frequency was found to be that part of the chain experiencing interchain interactions.
The relationship of clinical psychopathologic rating and cognitive factors to clinical dementia staging

Abstract Kennedy, John S., Milton E. Strauss, Kathleen A. Smyth and Peter J. Whitehouse: The Relationship of Clinical Psychopathologic Rating and Cognitive Factors to Clinical Dementia Staging. Prog. Neuro-Psychopharmacol. & Biol. Psychiat. 1993, .17(5): 775–779. 1. 1. Sixty-six patients were assessed by one of three physicians employing CERAD assessment and were staged by CDR criteria. 2. 2. The same day, trained raters completed the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia and the Mini-mental State Examination. 3. 3. Clinician's Global Rating of the CDR is strongly related to the Mini-mental State Examination Score. 4. 4. The CDR is insensitive to mild psychopathology in this population.
Unsupervised Induction of Modern Standard Arabic Verb Classes

We exploit the resources in the Arabic Treebank (ATB) for the novel task of automatically creating lexical semantic verb classes for Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Verbs are clustered into groups that share semantic elements of meaning as they exhibit similar syntactic behavior. The results of the clustering experiments are compared with a gold standard set of classes, which is approximated by using the noisy English translations provided in the ATB to create Levin-like classes for MSA. The quality of the clusters is found to be sensitive to the inclusion of information about lexical heads of the constituents in the syntactic frames, as well as parameters of the clustering algorithm. The best set of parameters yields an Fβ=1 score of 0.501, compared to a random baseline with an Fβ=1 score of 0.37.
Sources of Professional Employees’ Job Involvement: An Empirical Assessment in a Government Agency

The purpose of the current study was to investigate antecedents of job involvement of professional employees working in government work settings. In that effort, this study examined whether four ke...
Locating day-labor employment: toward a geographic understanding of day-labor hiring site locations in the San Diego metropolitan area

Day-labor hiring sites are common features of the contemporary North American landscape. These are public and semi-public spaces where mostly male residents congregate daily in hopes of being hired for short-term work. Research on contemporary day-labor markets in the United States to date tends to be policy-oriented, intended to reduce the injustices that are a common part of life as a day laborer. Unfortunately, very little is understood about the spatial organization of day-labor markets. Drawing on more than five years of mixed-methods research in the San Diego Metropolitan Area (SDMA), this paper takes two important steps toward a spatial understanding of day-labor hiring sites. First, it demonstrates that informal hiring sites are established in locations that maximize laborers’ chances of finding employment. Second, it establishes a geo-spatial typology of hiring sites for the SDMA that can be used to better tailor day-labor support efforts and policy to site-level context.
Extraction of informative cell features by segmentation of densely clustered tissue images

This paper presents a fast methodology for the estimation of informative cell features from densely clustered RGB tissue images. The features estimated include nuclei count, nuclei size distribution, nuclei eccentricity (roundness) distribution, nuclei closeness distribution and cluster size distribution. Our methodology is a three step technique. Firstly, we generate a binary nuclei mask from an RGB tissue image by color segmentation. Secondly, we segment nuclei clusters present in the binary mask into individual nuclei by concavity detection and ellipse fitting. Finally, we estimate informative features for every nuclei and their distribution for the complete image. The main focus of our work is the development of a fast and accurate nuclei cluster segmentation technique for densely clustered tissue images. We also developed a simple graphical user interface (GUI) for our application which requires minimal user interaction and can efficiently extract features from nuclei clusters, making it feasible for clinical applications (less than 2 minutes for a 1.9 megapixel tissue image).
You Have to Show Strength: An Exploration of Gender, Race, and Depression

Investigating the possible overlap between depressed and presumably strong Black women, this article maintains that women's experiences of depression are both gendered and raced. A review of clinical and popular literatures examining Black women's experiences of depression as well as findings from an interview study with a nonclinical sample of 44 Black women suggest that the discourse of being strong may normalize a distressinducing level of selflessness and powerlessness among such women. Implications of this study include the need to consider the racially specific ways in which women are placed at risk for and experience depression.
Teaching Sight Vocabulary with and without Context before Silent Reading: A Field Test of the “Focus of Attention” Hypothesis

This study examines the role of written context and word meaning-emphasis procedures in teaching children sight vocabulary. It serves as a field test of Samuels' (LaBerge & Samuels, 1974; Samuels, 1967; Singer, Samuels, & Spiroff, 1973-74) "focus of attention" hypothesis. This hypothesis argues that introducing sight vocabulary in the presence of written context or pictures distracts learners, and precludes their focusing all of their attention on the important visual or graphic characteristics of the word. This position is in conflict with the traditional, context approach to teaching sight vocabulary, which advocates presenting the words in the context of a written sentence, discussing the word's meaning, or presenting the word in association with a picture. Previous research in this area is limited by such factors as presenting words printed in artificial alphabets; not teaching words, but simply exposing and pronouncing them; and isolated word instruction not followed by meaningful, silent reading. In the present study, 16 disabled readers were taught sight words by one of two methods: context, which emphasized context, meaning, usage, and the visual characteristics of the words; and minimal-context, which emphasized only the visual characteristics. Each subject was taught 80 words during 4 weeks of individual remedial instruction. Using number of words learned or retained per minute of instruction as the dependent variable, children in the minimal-context method learned at twice the rate, though there was no significant difference between the two groups in actual number of words learned or retained. It was concluded from this field study, that sight vocabulary teaching procedures that emphasize context, meaning and usage do not facilitate learning sight vocabulary. The findings are interpreted as supporting Samuels' "focus of attention" hypothesis.
On the hand-off arrival process in cellular communications

Hand-offs in cellular communication systems cause interactions among cells that can be modeled using multi-dimensional birth-death process approaches and the concept of system state. However, exact numerical calculation of traffic performance characteristics is hindered by unmanageably large system state spaces even for systems of modest size. Previous analytical models get around the difficulty by isolating a cell of interest and invoking a Poisson process assumption for hand-off arrivals to the cell. The current paper seeks to explore the interactions in more detail. Two additional approximate analytical models are developed for this purpose. Each of these is more complicated than the simple Poisson process model, but is analytically tractable-at least for small system sizes. One model isolates a cluster of cells (rather than just the cell of interest) from the system and invokes a Poisson process assumption for cells on the cluster periphery. Performance is calculated for the central cell. The second model also isolates a cluster of cells surrounding the cell of interest, but uses an equivalent two-state Markov modulated Poisson process (MMPP) to characterize hand-off arrival processes to the cell of interest from each of the neighboring cells. Poisson hand-off arrivals to cells on the cluster periphery are assumed. This approach has fewer states than the cluster approach. It was found that all are in close agreement with the original "single isolated cell, Poisson hand-off arrival model", which requires the least states.
Suspended hydration and loss of freezable water in cement pastes exposed to 90% relative humidity

Abstract Degree of hydration (DOH) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements are used to characterize the effect of early exposure to a 90% relative humidity (RH) environment on cement paste hydration. Early exposure to a 90% RH environment can lead to the consumption of freezable water and altered microstructural development. The minimum duration of 100% RH curing required to eliminate the effects of an unsaturated environment on microstructural development coincides with the appearance of a DSC peak near −30 °C that occurs in the range 1–14 days for the pastes studied. The Jennings colloidal microstructural model is used to argue that the −30 °C peak coincides with the cessation of capillary pore percolation. Alternatively, all samples cured under 100% RH conditions for 7 days prior to 90% RH exposure hydrated at the same rate as those continuously exposed to 100% RH. The application of these results to the formulation of separate curing practices for durability and strength is discussed.
Roles of Bioelectronics for Quality of Life

Bioelectronics is an important technology in enhancing the quality of life, especially for those who are suffering from physiological difficulties. Novel biomimetic microelectronic systems will enable treatment of some of presently incurable human handicaps such as hearing loss, blindness (retinal prosthesis), paralysis (neuron-muscular prosthesis), and memory loss (cortical prosthesis). With advancement of bionanotechnology and quantitative medical research, the potential application of biomimetic systems is highly promising. In this paper we review the current status of biomimetic microelectronic systems and challenging issues in basic interface between electrodes and neuronal network, laboratory on a chip (LoC), and generation of power for implantable devices. For laboratory-on-a-chip (LoC), we examine a new way of detecting and sensing molecules on a chip with single molecule/particle sensitivity by fusing integrated optics with microfluidics, based on integrated hollow-core antiresonant reflecting optical waveguides (ARROW) waveguides. With multilayer dielectric confinement, the light is guided through hollow channels with cross sections of a few microns squared. We have demonstrated efficient light guiding in liquid-core ARROWs, single-molecule fluorescence sensitivity in fully planar beam geometry, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, fluorescence from live ribosomes in buffer solution, and electrical fluorescence control by applying a voltage between fluidic reservoirs connected to the waveguide channels. For electrical power sourcing of implantable biomimetic devices and systems, we illustrate the potential of the diffusion potential differences established between two half-cells of electrolyte solutions of different concentrations to generate directly an electric current. This concentration cell operates solely on a salt concentration gradient. The future advancement of biomimetic systems design will critically depend on computer aids as in VLSI developments. Thus we will present our view on the development of computer-aided analysis and synthesis tools. In particular, the development of CAD models and simulation tools for biological circuits, biomimetic systems and their hybrid structures
From Innovation to Transformation

This paper reviews the leading trends in and contributions to the peer-reviewed and professional literature of serials librarianship published in 2006 and 2007. The review shows that a central topic in the literature is the nature and effect of libraries’ ongoing transition from acquiring serials in print to providing access electronically. Propelled forward by user preferences, this transition is reflected in publications that reconceptualize collections and describe innovative initiatives and strategies for acquisition, access, and management. Throughout the literature, the review traces a prevailing sentiment that libraries are advancing well beyond the confines of print-centered models and are assuming new roles, imagining new possibilities, and developing new solutions.
Significance of the sinus-node recovery time.

The phenomenon of postpacing depression of cardiac pacemakers was utilized to evaluate the sinus-node function in 56 patients by analyzing the sinus-node recovery time (SRT), that is, the interval between the last paced P wave and the following sinus P wave. Corrected SRT (CSRT) is defined as the recovery interval in excess of the sinus cycle (SRT — sinus cycle length). The SRT was measured following sinus-node suppression by (1) isolated premature beats (PABs) and (2) atrial pacing (AP) at rates of 100 to 140/min for periods of 2 to 5 min at each level. Twenty-eight patients had normal heart rates (group A), and 28 patients had sinus bradycardia (SB; group B). Ten of the 28 patients with SB were restudied after receiving atropine (2 mg intravenously). The CSRT with PABs was similar in both group A and group B patients and remained essentially unchanged after atropine despite a decrease in sinus cycle length. The phenomenon of interpolated PABs was demonstrated in seven of the 56 patients. In 27 of the 28...
Optimization and sensitivity analysis of multiconductor transmission line networks

This paper describes a numerical approach and a design methodology of using a frequency domain technique for the optimization and sensitivity analysis of high speed multiconductor transmission line systems. To demonstrate the usefulness of this technique, the numerical frequency domain results have been validated by time domain simulations. The technique has also been used to demonstrate the superiority of closed loop topologies in terms of their electrical performance. Such topologies were thought to be troublesome and were generally avoided in most of the electronics industry. >