cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crude Protein Fractionation and Degradation Parameters of Limpograss Herbage

Limpograss [Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf & Hubb.] has low crude protein (CP), but little is known about the plant's CP composition and degradation characteristics. Concentration of CP fractions A, B, and C were measured and the lag phase and rate and extent of CP degradation determined for herbage from two layers (upper 25% and next lower 50%) of limpograss canopies grazed at three heights (20, 40, and 60 cm) under continuous stocking. Slowly degradable (Fraction B) CP concentration in the dry matter (DM) was greater for the upper (21 g kg -1 ) than the lower (14 g kg -1 ) layer, and undegradable Fraction C concentration in total CP was greater in the lower (273 g kg -1 ) than in the upper (208 g kg -1 ) layer. Soluble Fraction A concentration was greatest for 20-cm canopies, Fraction B concentration was greatest for the 40-cm height CP basis. Fraction A concentrations in herbage CP were high across canopy heights (440-630 g kg -1 ), and Fraction B concentrations ranged from 190 to 310 g kg -1 . Lag time of CP degradation ranged from 16 (20 cm) to 21 h (60 cm). Data suggest that (i) low total CP in the DM, resulting in low concentrations of Fractions A and B in the rumen, and the long lag phase for degradation of the B fraction contribute to protein deficiencies of cattle (Bos spp.) grazing limpograss and that (ii) grazing intensity affects forage N status, with highest concentration of N fractions that are available for rumen microbial utilization associated with closely (20 cm) grazed canopies.
Stimulation of rat striatal tyrosine hydroxylase activity following intranigral administration of σ receptor ligands

The effects of sigma ligands on turning behavior and striatal tyrosine hydroxylase activity were determined following microinjection of two chemically dissimilar sigma ligands into the rat substantia nigra. Striatal tyrosine hydroxylase activity was monitored by measuring the amount of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) formed following inhibition of DOPA decarboxylase activity with m-hydroxybenzylhydrazine (NSD-1015). The sigma ligands, 1,3-di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG) and (-)-deoxy-N-benzylnormetazocine, produced a significant increase both in contralateral turning and in tyrosine hydroxylase activity. The DTG-induced increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity was not antagonized by intranigral injection of the NMDA receptor antagonist, 3-(2-carboxypiperazine-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP). CPP alone produced significant contralateral turning that was not accompanied by an increase in striatal tyrosine hydroxylase activity, indicating that turning per se is not sufficient to activate striatal tyrosine hydroxylase. The DTG-induced increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity was antagonized by general anesthetics such as halothane and chloral hydrate. These results indicate that occupancy of sigma receptors in the substantia nigra is associated with an activation of dopamine formation in dopaminergic terminals in the striatum and support the concept that sigma activity in the substantia nigra produces an activation of dopamine-mediated responses in the striatum.
Prevention of longitudinal crack propagation around a femoral prosthesis: a study of cerclage wire fixation.

This study examined the effect of single versus triple-wrap cerclage fixation techniques in preventing propagation of a longitudinal fracture around a cementless femoral prosthesis. A proximal filling femoral component was implanted in 14 matched pairs of fresh-frozen bovine femora, following placement of a 45-mm longitudinal crack in the anteromedial cortical wall of the proximal femur. In one group of seven pairs, a single cerclage wire was applied to one specimen of each pair. A triple-wrap of a single cerclage wire was similarly placed in one specimen of each of the other seven pairs. All specimens were axially loaded on a materials testing system machine and the force required to propagate the fracture of the proximal femur was recorded. A triple-wrap cerclage technique required a significant increase in the force to propagate a proximal femur fracture around a non-cemented prosthesis when compared to a single cerclage wire.
The Impedance Plethysmographic Sampling Field in the Human Calf

Impedance plethysmography has been widely used clinically because of its convenience and sensitivity, but its use has been questioned by some investigators because of uncertainty concerning the source of the signal. Quantitative definitions of the sensitivity to conductivity changes as a function of position have been lacking. The present study defines the sampling efficiency for impedance measurements made with four electrodes on a uniform cylinder model of the calf. Predictions based on electric field theory compare favorably with results from an in vitro model (average rms error = 8 percent). These studies demonstrate that for a given voltage electrode separation, the proximity of the current electrodes determines the relative sensitivity to conductivity changes within the sampling field. For voltage and current electrode separations of 10 and 18 cm on a 37 cm circumference calf (typical measurements for clinical testing of the lower leg), the sampling field extends about 3 cm beyond the voltage electrodes and the deep vessels are sampled with at least 80 percent of the efficiency of the superficial vessels. These studies also indicate that it is possible to predict the sampling field associated with various electrode configurations, a possibility which should aid the design of electrode configurations for specific applications of impedance plethysmography.
Negative correlation between alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein plasma level and response to haloperidol in the acute treatment of schizophrenia.

Alpha-one-acid-glycoprotein (orosomucoid, AAG), a serum component elevated during inflammation, and related to various immunological functions (Singh 1989), has only recently begun to receive attention in clinical psychiatric research. Its plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration, which have been the subject of research in the past, have been shown to vary significantly depending on physiological (Parish and Spivey 1991; Routledge 1989) and pathological conditions (Routledge 1989; Kremer et al 1988; Piafsky 1980). AAG's plasma level has also been shown to be increased in patients with psychiatric illnesses such as depression (Nemeroff et al 1990; Healy and Calvin 1991) and schizophrenia (Goodman et al 1961; Bock et al 1971; Seal and Eist 1966). AAG is the major binding protein of basic (cationic) medications such as chlorpromazine, methadone, haloperidol, tricyclic antidepressants, propranolol, and primaquine (Kremer et al 1988; Piafsky 1980; Essassi et al 1989; Eap et al 1990; Amitai et al 1993; Kennedy and Frischer 1990). There have been various papers discussing AAG as an important pharmakokinetic parameter of these medications. However, there are no clinical studies correlating AAG blood level with response to these medications. In this study we investigated how schizophrenic patients
Up-regulation of astrocyte cyclooxygenase-2, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homology protein, glucose-related protein 78, eukaryotic initiation factor 2α, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase by a neurovirulent murine retrovirus

In susceptible strains of mice, infection with the mutant retrovirus MoMuLV-ts1 causes a neurodegeneration and immunodeficiency syndrome that resembles human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV-AIDS). In this study the authors show increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the brainstem tissues of ts1-infected mice. Up-regulated central nervous system (CNS) levels of this enzyme are associated with HIV-associated dementia and other inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. In brainstem sections, the authors find that astrocytes surrounding spongiform lesions contain increased amounts of immunoreactive COX-2. COX-2 is also up-regulated in cultured ts1-infected cells from the C1 astrocytic cell line, which also show activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Markers of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, specifically the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homology protein (CHOP), the glucose-related protein 78 (GRP78), and phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), were also up-regulated in ts1-infected C1 astrocytes. Up-regulation of COX-2 and the above ER signaling factors was reversed by treatment of the infected cells with curcumin which specifically inhibits the JNK/c-Jun pathway. These findings indicate that the JNK/c-Jun pathway is most likely responsible for COX-2 expression induced by ts1 in astrocytes, and that ts1 infection in astrocytes may lead to up-regulation of both inflammatory and ER stress pathways in the central nervous system. Because COX-2 inhibitors are now widely used to treat inflammatory conditions in animals and humans, this finding suggests that these drugs may be useful for therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative syndromes as well.
Solution Properties of Tetramethylrhodamine-Modified G-Actin

In the recently solved structure of TMR-modified ADP-G-actin, the nucleotide cleft is in a closed state conformation, and the D-loop contains an α-helix (L. R. Otterbein, P. Graceffa, and R. Dominguez, 2001, Science, 293:708–711). Subsequently, questions were raised regarding the possible role of the TMR label on Cys374 in determining these aspects of G-actin structure. We show here that the susceptibility of D-loop on G-actin to subtilisin cleavage, and ATP/ADP-dependent changes in this cleavage, are not affected by TMR-labeling of actin. The TMR modification inhibits nucleotide exchange, but has no effect on DNase I binding and the fast phase of tryptic digestion of actin. These results show an absence of allosteric effects of TMR on subdomain 2, while confirming ATP/ADP-dependent changes in D-loop structure. In conjunction with similar results obtained on actin-gelsolin segment 1 complex, this works reveals the limitations of solution methods in probing the putative open and closed nucleotide cleft states of G-actin.
Simulating low vision in high dynamic range scenes

environment is vast • absolute range: ~100,000,000:1 (sunlight to starlight) • dynamic range: >10,000:1 (highlights to shadows) Abstract: Previous work [Peli91] has demonstrated the value of using digital techniques to simulate the appearance of images to low vision observers. However unlike images, real scenes often have high dynamic ranges of intensities that can produce serious visual impairments in people with low vision. Existing simulation techniques do not account for these effects. In this work we present a new algorithm for simulating the appearance of high dynamic range scenes to normal and low vision observers. As input, the algorithm takes a stream of high dynamic range images captured by a digital camera or generated by a computer graphics system. The images are processed through a computational model of vision that accounts for the changes in glare, contrast and color sensitivity, visual acuity, and dark adaptation that occur under varying illumination conditions for normal and low vision observers. The output is a stream of low dynamic range images that simulate for a display observer what the scene looks like to the scene observer. To demonstrate the utility of the method we generate image sequences that simulate the dramatic differences in glare susceptibility and dark adaptation that are experienced by young and old observers in high dynamic range scenes. Simulating low vision in high dynamic range scenes Piti Irawan, James A. Ferwerda, Stephen R. Marschner Program of Computer Graphics, Cornell University
The syntheses of 1-[11C]-D-glucose and related compounds for the measurement of brain glucose metabolism

A new synthesis of 1-[11C]-D-glucose (3) and related compounds from H11CN is described. Reaction of D-arabinose (1) with Na11CN at pH 8 gives 1-[11C]-aldononitriles (2). Reduction of 2 with Raney alloy in 30% formic acid gives 1-[11C]-D-glucose (3) and 1-[11C]-D-mannose (4) in radiochemical yields of ∼ 40–50% (EOB) in a synthesis time of 50 min from EOB. The yield and ratio of 3 and 4 is pH dependent. Compounds 3 and 4 are separated by HPLC. The radiochemical yield of 3 is ∼ 15% (EOB) and the total synthesis time (including HPLC purification) is 70 min from EOB. The same method has also been applied to synthesize 1-[11C]-D-galactose (6) with radiochemical yields of ∼ 30% (EOB) in a synthesis time of 70 min from EOB. The advantages and disadvantages of this synthetic method are discussed.
Second Dissociation Constant of Bis-[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]acetic Acid (BICINE) and pH of Its Buffer Solutions from 5 to 55 °C

The values of the second dissociation constant, K2, and related thermodynamic quantities of the ampholyte bis[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]acetic acid (BICINE) have been determined at temperatures from 5 to 55 ∘C. The pH values of six equimolal buffer solutions, and four buffer solutions having ionic strengths (I = 0.16 mol⋅kg−1) similar to those in blood plasma, have been evaluated at 12 temperatures from 5 to 55 ∘C using the Bates–Guggenheim convention. The liquid junction potentials (Ej) between the buffer solutions of BICINE and saturated KCl solution of the calomel electrode at 25 and 37 ∘C have been estimated by measurement with a flowing junction cell. These values of Ej have been used to ascertain the operational pH values at 25 and 37 ∘C. The pK2 values at 25 and 37 ∘C are 8.333 and 8.156, respectively. The thermodynamic quantities associated with the second acid dissociation have been calculated from the values of pK2 as a function of temperature. The zwitterionic buffer BICINE was shown to be useful as a pH standard in the region close to that of blood serum.
Simplified lansoprazole suspension (SLS) is as effective as intact lansoprazole capsule in reducing gastric acid secretion

Simplified lansoprazole suspension (SLS) is as effective as intact lansoprazole capsule in reducing gastric acid secretion
Supernova neutrino bursts, the SNO detector, and neutrino oscillations

Abstract We provide diagnostics that fruitfully can be employed to extract information concerning neutrino oscillations and the MSW effect from the supernova neutrino burst data that it is anticipated the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory will soon obtain.
Surface modes in air-core photonic band-gap fibers

We present a detailed description of the role of surface modes in photonic band-gap fibers (PBGFs). A model is developed that connects the experimental observations of high losses in the middle of the transmission spectrum to the presence of surface modes supported at the core-cladding interface. Furthermore, a new PBGF design is proposed that avoids these surface modes and produces single-mode operation.
EXTRAPOLATION MODELING OF AEROSOL DEPOSITION IN HUMAN AND LABORATORY RAT LUNGS

AbstractLaboratory test animals are often used as surrogates in exposure studies to assess the potential threat to human health following inhalation of airborne contaminants. To aid in the interpretation and extrapolation of data to man, dosimetric considerations need to be addressed. Therefore, a mathematical model describing the behavior and fate of inhaled particulate matter within the respiratory tracts of man and rats has been developed. In the computer simulations, the CO2 concentrations of inhalation exposure chamber atmospheres are controlled to produce desired breathing patterns in the rat that mimic human breathing patterns as functions of physical activity levels. The Soong et al. (1979) and Yeh et al. (1979) morphologies are used to describe human and rat lungs, respectively Deposition patterns are specifically examined as functions of respiratory intensities and particle parameters. The model is validated with laboratory data from rat inhalation exposure tests. The theoretical model provides ...
Urine based markers of urological malignancy.

Purpose: A number of urine based markers have been and are being investigated for the diagnosis and prognostication of urological conditions. A majority of these markers have been evaluated in urological neoplasms, particularly bladder cancer. The diagnosis of bladder cancer currently relies on identifying malignant cells in the urine and subsequently visualizing the tumor on cystoscopy. This diagnosis is further confirmed by transurethral resection or biopsy. While urine cytology is specific, it is not sensitive, especially for detecting low grade disease. This characteristic has prompted the search for more accurate markers of bladder cancer. In this review we critically examine the results of studies evaluating various markers for bladder cancer.Materials and Methods: The published literature on urine based markers for all urological diseases, particularly bladder cancer, was identified using a MEDLINE search and critically analyzed. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values...
Trigger-based language models: a maximum entropy approach

Ongoing efforts at adaptive statistical language modeling are described. To extract information from the document history, trigger pairs are used as the basic information-bearing elements. To combine statistical evidence from multiple triggers, the principle of maximum entropy (ME) is used. To combine the trigger-based model with the static model, the latter is absorbed into the ME formalism. Given consistent statistical evidence, a unique ME solution is guaranteed to exist, and an iterative algorithm exists which is guaranteed to converge to it. Among the advantages of this approach are its simplicity, generality, and incremental nature. Among its disadvantages are its computational requirements. The model described here was trained on five million words of Wall Street Journal text. It used some 40000 unigram constraints, 200000 bigram constraints, 200000 trigram constraints, and 60000 trigger constraints. After 13 iterations, it produced a language model whose perplexity was 12% lower than that of a conventional trigram, as measured on independent data. >
Fluid phase biopsy for detection and characterization of circulating endothelial cells in myocardial infarction

Elevated levels of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) occur in response to various pathological conditions including myocardial infarction (MI). Here, we adapted a fluid phase biopsy technology platform that successfully detects circulating tumor cells in the blood of cancer patients (HD-CTC assay), to create a high-definition circulating endothelial cell (HD-CEC) assay for the detection and characterization of CECs. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 79 MI patients, 25 healthy controls and six patients undergoing vascular surgery (VS). CECs were defined by positive staining for DAPI, CD146 and von Willebrand Factor and negative staining for CD45. In addition, CECs exhibited distinct morphological features that enable differentiation from surrounding white blood cells. CECs were found both as individual cells and as aggregates. CEC numbers were higher in MI patients compared with healthy controls. VS patients had lower CEC counts when compared with MI patients but were not different from healthy controls. Both HD-CEC and CellSearch® assays could discriminate MI patients from healthy controls with comparable accuracy but the HD-CEC assay exhibited higher specificity while maintaining high sensitivity. Our HD-CEC assay may be used as a robust diagnostic biomarker in MI patients.
Stochastic control of population dynamics using Kalman filtering with applications to artificial muscle recruitment

This paper addresses a problem in distributed control: given a large number of identical hybrid-state agents, control the ensemble behavior of the agents assuming that only limited information is available about the agents' states. This process has relevance to a number of biologically-inspired control problems, such as motor recruitment. In this paper, we describe a stochastic control policy capable of achieving convergent control of the distribution of an ensemble of finite state agents in this way. Using techniques developed for the observation of biological population dynamics, we show that it is possible to observe the state distribution of agents under our control policy using a Kalman filter. Look-ahead control laws based on the Kalman filter estimates are used to achieve a high degree of stability and robustness in systems exhibiting large time delays. An example of control over a hybrid-state, recruitment-like controller for an artificial muscle is presented.
Influence of subtle substrate differences on feeding by shorebirds on intertidal mudflats

Shallow-feeding shorebirds, dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus and L. scolopaceus), western sandpipers (Calidris mauri), dunlin (C. alpina) and American avocets (Recurvirostra americana), reduced the density of their prey in mudflats with little sand but not in mudflats with a moderate admixture of sand. An experiment in Upper Newport Bay, Southern California, during October and November 1979 to explain the difference in density is described. The effect of sand on shorebird feeding was compared in the field by measuring the times spent feeding in plots where sand had or had not been added, respectively. Increasing the sand content to 14% from 2% in the top centimeter decreased the time spent in treated plots by all species compared to adjacent untreated plots. The prey species were small polychaete and oligochaete worms (0.25 to 1.25 mm wide) similar in diameter to sand grains (0.5 to 1.0 mm). In plots where sand had been added, avocets fed by pecking at the surface in addition to scything, the more common method of feeding on muddy substrates. The results suggest that sand interferes with the detection and or capture of prey that are similar in diameter to small sand grains and explains the differences in the effects of predation by these birds seen on mudflats with a moderate admixture of sand compared to the effects on mudflats with little sand. Differential success in prey capture between one microhabitat and the nest (rather than a reduction in competition, as suggested by some authors) might explain the different use of such habitats.
Formal verification of structured analysis and design in HOS

Traditional structured analysis and design methods have been criticized because the methods lack formality to provide a design for rigorous development. Several approaches have been developed for verifying a design by integrating traditional structured analysis and design methods with formal specification languages. However, the integration of traditional structured analysis and design methods with formal specification languages may confuse the problem definition and understanding with the attempt to define system structures and algorithms in the design phase. In addition, formal specification languages may add complexity to the design due to the complexity of the language syntax and semantics. In this paper, we are presenting an approach to verification of a structured design in HOS without using formal specification languages. Rules for the partial and total correctness of the design are also discussed.
The Intricacies of Tax and Globalization

This article reviews Avi-Yonah, Sartori, and Marian’s Global Perspectives on Income Taxation Law (Oxford, 2011). It outlines the book’s key features and strengths in the quest for understanding the effect of globalization on taxation. In this process, the article also looks into available data to explore global trends in taxation over the past three and a half decades to evaluate whether and to what extent globalization leads to convergence or divergence of national tax policies. The article concludes that as Global Perspectives on Income Taxation Law illustrates, while globalization may lead to at least some observed trends in taxation—including the flattening of income tax rates and the move toward the taxation of less mobile sources, and thus more regressive, tax schemes— there is clearly far more than meets the eye. Here, Global Perspectives on Income Taxation Law provides a valuable reference for how different countries confront challenges that are common among tax systems. Keeping in mind that differences among national tax systems nonetheless exist and understanding how tax systems converge and diverge constitutes a vital first step toward crystallizing the necessary actions to better coordinate between multiple tax systems while retaining national sovereignty in tax design. Over the long run, this could also lead to better evaluation of the net benefit or cost of globalization, allowing policymakers to respond effectively to the fiscal challenges that globalization presents.  Sagit Leviner is an associate professor of law at SUNY Buffalo Law School and an overseas affiliated Faculty with Ono Academic College Faculty of Law in Israel. The author is thankful for the insightful contribution of Eric Toder to this review. Valuable comments on and discussions of earlier versions of this review were also offered by Yariv Brauner, Tsilly Dagan, David Gliksberg, Victor Fleischer, Diane Ring, Kirk Stark, Nancy Staudt and the participants of the Interdisciplinary Center Faculty of Law International Tax Symposium, Herzliya, Israel (April 3013), the Hebrew University Faculty of Law Tax Colloquium, Jerusalem, Israel (January 2013), the 6th Annual Joint Conference of Columbia University Law School and Ono Academic College, Kiryat Ono, Israel, (June 2012), and the International Society for New Institutional Economics Annual Conference, USC Gould School of Law, Los Angeles, CA (June 2012). SUNY Buffalo law student Vanessa Glushefski provided excellent research assistance.
Chapter 6 Rapid Gating Events and Current Fluctuations in Gramicidin A Channel

Publisher Summary Gramicidin A (GA) channels display rapid conformational changes. The ionic conductance produced in lipid membranes by GA spontaneously switches on and off according to the kinetics expected for the association and dissociation of two GA molecules. Thus, the “gating” of GA channels has been explained by a simple dimerization reaction, whose rates are sensitive to membrane thickness and surface tension. Temporal changes in the conductance induced by GA has been seen to be quite complex, involving multiple levels of conductance and more kinetic processes than would be expected for a simple dimerization.
Crustal structures and the eastern extent of lower Paleozoic shelf strata within the central Appalachians: A seismic reflection interpretation

Reprocessing of line PR3 proprietary seismic reflection data has delineated Grenvillian, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic structures within the Appalachian foreland, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont of the central Appalachians in Virginia and West Virginia. The eastern portion of PR3 can be correlated along strike with the western portion of line I-64, reprocessed earlier at Virginia Tech. The combined seismic reflection data image the crust from the eastern Valley and Ridge, Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Atlantic Coastal Plain provinces. Within the Piedmont, large (as much as 10 km wide) reflective structures imaged on both lines PR3 and I-64 are interpreted to be thrust sheets that might be composed of deformed Catoctin, Evington Group, and possibly younger metamorphosed rocks. A concealed extension of the Green Springs mafic mass intrudes a thrust sheet imaged along the PR3 profile. The Blue Ridge-Piedmont allochthon was transported north-west along the Blue Ridge thrust, which ramps upward ∼12 km east of the surface exposure of the Mountain Run Fault. Westward along line PR3, the Blue Ridge thrust maintains an undulating geometry; the maximum thickness of the Blue Ridge allochthon is interpreted to be ∼4.5 km. The Blue Ridge allochthon is generally acoustically transparent and overlies lower Paleozoic shelf strata. The maximum thickness of these strata is ∼8 km. Shelf strata are interpreted to extend in the subsurface 5 km east of the surface exposure of the Mountain Run Fault, the northeastward extension of the Brevard Fault Zone, where they are truncated by the Blue Ridge thrust at a depth of 10.5 km (3.5 s). Various folds and blind thrusts are imaged beneath the Appalachian foreland; however, the foreland has not experienced the same degree of deformation as observed in the eastern provinces. A basement uplift ∼45 km wide is imaged beneath the Valley and Ridge province and is interpreted as having formed prior to Late Cambrian time. Farther west, reflections imaged beneath the Glady Fork anticline in the Appalachian Plateau are interpreted as a positive flower structure associated with wrench fault tectonics. Relatively few deep (>9 km) crustal reflections are imaged along line PR3. The majority of reflections that do exist at these depths are observed beneath the Piedmont and eastern Blue Ridge. The high reflectivity associated with the Grenvillian basement in these areas might be the result of the Paleozoic orogenies and extension related to Late Proterozoic and Mesozoic rifting.
The Pedagogical Implications of Diverse Conceptualizations of Internationalization: A U.S.Based Case Study.

This study investigated the impact of a university-wide mission to internationalize on the everyday educational experiences of faculty members and students in two departments of a major research in...
Quality in education

The author highlights the degree of difficulty in adopting total quality in technical education and accentuates the need for such programs in technical education. He points out that application of total quality approach to technical education is a great deal more challenging than might be expected. Attainment and then subsequent maintenance of quality are dependent upon rapid response to changing conditions, clear customer/supplier communication, and reduction of process variation. It is emphasized that the process of providing students with a technical education is challenging in all three of these areas. >
Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Pneumonia with Ceftaroline Fosamil in a Patient with Inhalational Thermal Injury

A 48-year-old female, who was found unresponsive and suffered inhalation injury secondary to a house fire, was transferred to our burn center for definitive treatment. Post tracheostomy, the patient became febrile and tachycardic. On hospital day (HD) 5, the patient expressed thick yellow secretions during suctioning and diffuse rhonchi was noted on physical exam. Blood cultures and a culture from the broncheo-alvelolar lavage grew Gram-positive cocci in clusters and the patient was started on empiric vancomycin. Despite aggressive vancomycin dosing (1750 mg intravenously every 6 h), the patient's status continued to deteriorate. The organism was identified as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with a vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2 mg/L. Based on the potential for drug-drug interactions with linezolid, the patient was started on ceftaroline fosamil (MIC = 0.5 mg/L) 600 mg intravenously every 8 h with a prolonged 2-h infusion to anticipate suboptimal concentrations secondary to thermal burn injury. Post change in antibiotic therapy, a rapid clinical improvement was observed with the patient becoming afebrile at 48 h after initiation of ceftaroline. The patient completed a total of 14 days of ceftaroline therapy and was subsequently weaned from the ventilator on HD 22 and decannulated 2 days later. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of ceftaroline for the treatment of MRSA pneumonia in a patient with thermal injury.
Mucosal Bacille Calmette-Guérin Vaccination of Humans Inhibits Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity to Purified Protein Derivative but Induces Mycobacteria-Specific Interferon-γ Responses

We conducted a placebo-controlled, double-dose-escalation trial of oral bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination in 48 healthy volunteers. Seven of 32 BCG recipients became purified protein derivative (PPD)-positive after dose 1, and only 1 remained positive after dose 2, which suggeststhat oral BCG has inhibitory effects on delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses. Ten of the original placebo recipients and 11 oral BCG recipients were recruited to return for an intradermal BCG booster vaccination. Five of 10 original placebo recipients developed PPD responses ≥10 mm, but none of 11 oral BCG recipients developed PPD induration after they received an intradermal BCG booster (P<.05; Fisher's exact test). These results document persistent inhibitory effects of oral BCG vaccination on mycobacteria-specific DTH responses. Despite inhibition of DTH, oral BCG induced significant increases in mycobacteria-specific interferon (IFN)-γ responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. More detailed studies of cytokine and homing molecule expression indicated that differential mucosal versus cutaneous trafficking may explain the dissociation between IFN-γ and DTH responses.
ATP‐driven proton pumping in two species of Chara differing in salt tolerance

Chara corallina is an obligate freshwater alga, while C. buckellii can be grown in salt and freshwater culture. When grown in fresh water, C. buckellii has electrophysiological properties similar to C. corallina, but when cultured in salt water, it has a less negative membrane potential and has a higher conductance. We show in internally perfused, tonoplast-free cells that the ATP-dependence of the two species cultured in fresh water is similar, although C. buckellii hyperpolarizes at lower ATP concentrations. We determined the pump parameters in perfused and intact cells. Using both techniques, C. corallina and C. buckellii cultured in fresh water show similar values of Ep, Gp and Ip. However, there is a significant difference between the two techniques: Ep is more negative (–400 to –700 mV) in perfused cells than in intact cells (–220 to –260mV); Gp is lower (0·1–0·2 versus 0·3–0·9 S m−2); and Ip is higher (40–60 versus 10–18 mA m−2). Salt-cultured C. buckellii was compared with freshwater C. buckellii using intact cells; Gp and Ep were similar, but Ip was much higher in salt-cultured cells (60 versus 15mA m−2). This higher pump rate is due to the depolarization of the membrane of salt-cultured algae, which is caused by a higher passive conductance. The significance of the less negative membrane potential and the higher rate of proton pumping is discussed with respect to the banding pattern and salt stress.
A cerebellar model of timing and prediction in the control of reaching

A simplified model of the cerebellum was developed to explore its potential for adaptive, predictive control based on delayed feedback information. An abstract representation of a single Purkinje cell with multistable properties was interfaced, using a formalized premotor network, with a simulated single degree-of-freedom limb. The limb actuator was a nonlinear spring-mass system based on the nonlinear velocity dependence of the stretch reflex. By including realistic mossy fiber signals, as well as realistic conduction delays in afferent and efferent pathways, the model allowed the investigation of timing and predictive processes relevant to cerebellar involvement in the control of movement. The model regulates movement by learning to react in an anticipatory fashion to sensory feedback. Learning depends on training information generated from corrective movements and uses a temporally asymmetric form of plasticity for the parallel fiber synapses on Purkinje cells.
Distribution packaging method and storage time effects on the microbiological characteristics and incidence of the pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella in pork

Department of Animal Science and Food Technology Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas 79409-2162 Microbiological and yield characteristics were determined on bone-in pork loins and Boston butts (n = 65 each) that were selected from a commercial facility and subjected to one of three packaging treatments: (1) paper wrapped, (2) modified atmosphere packaging (66% O, 2.26% CO 2 and 8% N 2 ), and (3) vacuum packaging. Cuts were stored up to 21 days at 0 ± 2C for yield characteristics and an added 28 and 35 days for microbiological characteristics. Treatment and storage effects on the incidence of the pathogens Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and numbers of aerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and coliforms were determined The amount of purge was variable (100 to 500 g) among packaging treatments. The vacuum packaged and modified atmosphere packed pork loins and butts had lower aerobic plate counts (P <. 05) compared with the paper wrapped loins and butts. The numbers of Listeria species decreased at a greater rate for the vacuum packaged and modified atmospheric packaged pork loins compared with the paper wrapped loins. No Salmonella were found on meat from any packaging treatment or storage time. The microbial quality ofpork loins and butts can be improved by using vacuum packaging compared with paper wrapping or modified atmosphere packaging.
From discrete event to hybrid systems

Hybrid systems have emerged as a result of combining conventional time-driven dynamics with event-driven dynamics. This provides an opportunity for frameworks and methodologies developed for discrete event systems to enlarge their scope, driven by applications that range from manufacturing to command-control systems. The goal of this paper is to explore this transition from the point of view of discrete event system theory. Many hybrid systems may be viewed as consisting of a lower-level component that corresponds to time-driven physical processes, which a higher-level component with event-driven dynamics is called upon to coordinate by switching between different process operating modes. We concentrate on the formulation of optimization problems that arise in this "hybrid" setting, where the control variables affect both higher and lower level components. We also discuss a natural evolution of perturbation analysis techniques for discrete event systems into similar methodologies for a class of hybrid systems, known as stochastic fluid models, that find wide applicability in the control of communication networks.
Conceptualizing Religious Practices in Psychological Research: Problems and Prospects

This article addresses the problems and prospects that follow from the conceptualization of religious phenomena and practices for scientific investigation in the psychology of religion. Two Western research traditions—instrumentalism and operationalism—are described and their potential contribution to a mismatch between what researchers intend to study and what they actually study is illustrated through two exemplar studies. The exemplar studies show how researchers’ concern with methodological rigor can compromise the rich and thick meanings of religious practices, resulting in the misrepresentation of the practices and misleading both the psychological and religious research consumer. Several suggestions for dealing with these problems are discussed.
Dynamics of Flexible Structures in Orbit under Jet Impingement Loading

Large space structures, such as space station operating in orbital environment, are lightweight and very flexible. These structures consist of flexible beams and plates. They are likely to undergo large orbital displacements and rotations as well as large structural deformation. Furthermore, Their behavior is affected by gravitational force, thermal effects from solar radiation, debris impact and hypersonic jet impingement loadings from docking of space shuttle This paper presents the dynamics of flexible structure in orbit under jet impingement loading. A general finite element program based on absolute coordinate formulation is developed. Finite Element Formulations for gravitational force and jet impingement loading are developed, whose magnitude and direction are changing with time. Large rotations and large deformations of a two dimensional flexible structure system consisting of a main component and two relatively flexible component is investigated. Some pertinent results are presented. .
Analysis of order statistic filters applied to ultrasonic flaw detection using split-spectrum processing

Split-spectrum processing of broadband ultrasonic signals coupled with order statistic filtering has proven to be effective in improving the flaw-to-clutter ratio of backscattered signals. It is shown that an optimal rank can be obtained with a prior knowledge of flaw-to-clutter ratio and the underlying distributions. The order statistic filter performs well where the flaw and clutter echoes have good statistical separation in a given quantile region representing a particular rank (e.g. minimum, median, maximum). Order statistic filters are analyzed for the situation in which the observations do not contain equivalent statistical information. Experimental and simulated results are presented to show how effectively the order statistic filter can utilize information contained in different frequency bands to improve flaw detection. >
Cohn Changes in Serologic Reactivity of Endotoxin Induced by Fraction IV1 xof Normal Human Serum.

SummaryA substantial loss in the ability of endotoxin to be precipitated by homologous antibody occurs following incubation with Fraction IV1 derived from normal human serum by cold ethanol fractionation. Evidence is presented that this loss in serologic reactivity is not associated with release of the major determinant sugar, per se. Rather, immunodiffusion analysis revealed the dispersion of a major antigen, with formation of a more rapidly migrating component. The latter was shown to form a line of identity with the O polysaccharide hapten.
Ensemble SVM Regression Based Multi-View Face Detection System

In this paper, we present a novel learning method for SVM (Support Vector Machine) regression ensemble used in multi-pose face detection. Firstly, several view-specific SVM classifiers are trained by using corresponding positive and negative examples. And then, an ensemble mechanism (SVM regression) is used to combine the results from the view-specific SVCs (Support Vector Classifiers). Experimental results show that the detection accuracy of the ensemble is better than the view-specific SVCs. Moreover, the SVR ensemble does not need extra pose estimation process prior to the classification; it generates pose information in addition to its detection results.
Parametric enrichment adaptivity by the extended finite element method

An adaptive method within the extended finite element method (XFEM) framework which adapts the enrichment function locally to the physics of a problem, as opposed to polynomial or mesh refinement, is presented. The method minimizes a local residual and determines the parameters of the enrichment function. We consider an energy form and a ‘strong’ form of the residual as error measures to drive the algorithm. Numerical examples for boundary layers and solid mechanics problems illustrate that the procedure converges. Moreover, when only the character of the solution is known, a good approximation is obtained in the area of interest. It is also shown that the method can be used to determine the order of singularities in solutions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microarchitectural support for precomputation microthreads

Research has shown that precomputation microthreads can be useful for improving branch prediction and prefetching. However, it is not obvious how to provide the necessary microarchitectural support, and few details have been given in the literature. By judiciously constraining microthreads, we can easily adapt a superscalar machine to support many simultaneous microthreads. The nature of precomputation microthreads also requires efficient usage of resources. Our proposed implementation addresses this issue by dynamically identifying and aborting useless microthreads.
Linear and Nonlinear Ultrasonic Properties of Granular Soils

The ultrasonic pulse transmission method (100-500 kHz) was adapted to measure compressional (P) and shear (S) wave velocities for synthetic soils fabricated from quartz-clay and quartz-peat mixtures. Velocities were determined as samples were loaded by small (up to 0.1 MPa) uniaxial stress to determine how stress at grain contacts affects ave amplitudes, velocities, and frequency content. Samples were fabricated from quartz sand mixed with either a swelling clay or peat (natural cellulose). P velocities in these dry synthetic soil samples were low, ranging from about 230 to 430 m/s for pure sand, about 91 to 420 m/s for sand-peat mixtures, and about 230 to 470 m/s for dry sand-clay mixtures. S velocities were about half of the P velocity in most cases, about 130 to 250 m/s for pure sand, about 75-220 m/s for sand-peat mixtures, and about 88-220 m/s for dry sand-clay mixtures. These experiments demonstrate that P and S velocities are sensitive to the amount and type of admixed second phase at low concentrations. They found that dramatic increases in all velocities occur with small uniaxial loads, indicating strong nonlinearity of the acoustic properties. Composition and grain packing contribute to the mechanical response at grain contacts and the nonlinear response at low stresses.
On linear-quadratic-Gaussian control of systems with uncertain statistics

The problem of linear-quadratic Gaussian control of multivariable linear stochastic systems with uncertain second-order statistical properties is considered. Uncertainty is modeled by allowing process and observation noise spectral density matrices to vary arbitrarily within given classes, and a minimax control formulation is applied to the quadratic objective functional. General theorems proving the existence and characterization of saddle-point solutions to this problem are presented, and the relationship of these results to earlier results on minimax state estimation are discussed.
Quantification of the strain-induced promotion of τ-MnAl via cryogenic milling

Abstract Ferromagnetic τ-MnAl is a promising material for permanent magnetic applications due to its high density-compensated energy product; however, the transformation pathway from its high-temperature parent ϵ-phase remains poorly understood. In this work the evolution of phase composition, microstructure, chemical order and magnetic attributes accompanying the direct (i.e., without annealing) transformation of ϵ-MnAl to τ-MnAl has been quantified as a function of time spent processing via mechanical milling at cryogenic temperatures. These results provide unique and enabling information to better define the processing window for obtaining and optimizing metastable τ-MnAl from the quenched-in ϵ-phase. It is revealed that moderate microstrain level promotes the direct formation of τ-MnAl with a high degree of chemical order, attributed to a previously reported displacive shear mechanism. Higher microstrain levels degrade the chemical order in the τ-phase and attributed to antiferromagnetically coupled Mn–Mn nearest neighbor pairs that donate a complicated evolution of the saturation magnetization. These results provide useful insights for the development of future processing protocols for the manufacture of τ-MnAl as a permanent magnetic material.
The Songs of Dzibalche: A Literary Commentary

La Coleccion de Cantares de Dzitbalche constituye una muestra extraordinaria de la poesia en lengua maya de Yucatan. En 1965 Alfredo Barrera Vasquez publico una traduccion de estos Cantares al castellano. Aqui Munro S. Edmonson ofrece otra traduccion, en este caso al ingles. Al publicarla, reconoce expresamente el valor de la aportacion original de Barrera Vasquez. En su presentacion Edmonson distribuye de manera distinta los poemas, tomando como criterios su contenido y las semejanzas de sus estructuras. Para mayor claridad, senala como referencia el orden adoptado por Barrera Vasquez.