cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Tillage Systems and Nitrogen Source on Corn Yield

Introduction Corn producers in Iowa adopt different tillage systems for commercial fertilizer or liquid swine manure. The cost of commercial nitrogen fertilizers continues to rise due to the increasing cost of natural gas, which is the raw product of commercial nitrogen fertilizers. Liquid swine manure is a good source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and can be a potentially viable substitute for the more expensive commercial fertilizers. The effects of tillage systems on crop yield are functions of several factors including soil and climatic conditions. Determining the most appropriate combination of tillage systems and nitrogen rates for corn production leads to profitability for corn producers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the responses of corn to three tillage systems and four nitrogen rates of swine manure and commercial nitrogen.
Antitrust's Unconventional Politics

For the first time in a generation, political pressure is growing to reform antitrust in a considerably more interventionist direction. To the bafflement of many observers, these political pressures are emerging simultaneously from both wings of the political spectrum. Although unconventional in presentist right/left terms, antitrust's ideological ambiguity has longstanding historical roots. This Essay examines three historical friction points that help explain the current political dislocations around antitrust reform: (1) the coupling of ideological aversion to large scale in government and business; (2) the shifting meaning of the word "monopoly," from exclusive governmentally granted privilege to privately obtained market power; and (3) pragmatic concerns that antitrust enforcement is necessary to the survival of the capitalist order.
Body-worn cameras and officer perceptions: a mixed-method pretest posttest of patrol officers and supervisors

The adoption of police body-worn cameras (BWCs) is likely inevitable. This technology has significant implications for police–community relations, enhanced trust and transparency, and complaint inv...
The Role of Cytoplasmic Determinants in Embryonic Development

Many different types of cells arise from the totipotent egg during embryonic development. Two distinct concepts have been formulated to explain how this diversity of cell types is generated. The first is that the egg already contains regionalized components known as cytoplasmic determinants that influence cell fate as a consequence of their differential segregation into various blastomeres during cleavage. The second is that certain embryonic cells, whose unique properties were established earlier by the action of localized determinants, influence the development of adjacent cells by induction. Thus, the diversification of embryonic cells is thought to be the result of differential gene expression mediated by the combined activity of cytoplasmic determinants and inductive processes.
Atrophied brain lesion volume, a magnetic resonance imaging biomarker for monitoring neurodegenerative changes in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that is characterized by inflammation, demyelination and axonal loss (1). Since its discovery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revolutionized the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with MS (2). Conventional MRI measures, like T2 hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted images (WI) and contrast enhancing (CE) lesions on post-contrast T1-WI are now routinely used to detect therapeutic effects and extend clinical observations (3).
A Novel Transgenic Rat Model of Robust Cerebral Microvascular Amyloid with Prominent Vasculopathy

Accumulation of fibrillar amyloid β protein in blood vessels of the brain, a condition known as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), is a common pathology of elderly individuals, a prominent comorbidity of Alzheimer disease, and a driver of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia. Although several transgenic mouse strains have been generated that develop varying levels of CAA, consistent models of associated cerebral microhemorrhage and vasculopathy observed clinically have been lacking. Reliable preclinical animal models of CAA and microhemorrhage are needed to investigate the molecular pathogenesis of this condition. Herein, we describe the generation and characterization of a novel transgenic rat (rTg-DI) that produces low levels of human familial CAA Dutch/Iowa E22Q/D23N mutant amyloid β protein in brain and faithfully recapitulates many of the pathologic aspects of human small-vessel CAA. rTg-DI rats exhibit early-onset and progressive accumulation of cerebral microvascular fibrillar amyloid accompanied by early-onset and sustained behavioral deficits. Comparable to CAA in humans, the cerebral microvascular amyloid in rTg-DI rats causes capillary structural alterations, promotes prominent perivascular neuroinflammation, and produces consistent, robust microhemorrhages and small-vessel occlusions that are readily detected by magnetic resonance imaging. The rTg-DI rats provide a new model to investigate the pathogenesis of small-vessel CAA and microhemorrhages, to develop effective biomarkers for this condition and to test therapeutic interventions.
A NOVEL “PRESUMED” CARDIAC SARCOIDOSIS CATEGORIZATION IDENTIFIES A HIGH RISK COHORT NOT OTHERWISE MEETING PUBLISHED CRITERIA

Current Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) guidelines regarding the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) require histologic evidence of sarcoidosis. Due to limitations of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) and variable extra-cardiac involvement, CS may be under-diagnosed. Patients evaluated for CS (n=277) were
Ruminal peptide concentration required to optimize microbial growth and efficiency

Experimentation, with a single-phase continuous culture system operated at fractional dilution rates of 0.03 and 0.09 per hour and four cannulated crossbred steers (260 +/- 20 kg) used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design, was conducted to determine the level of ruminally degradable protein (RDP) that maximized microbial efficiency (MOEFF), microbial nitrogen flow, and nutrient digestibility in the rumen. Treatments consisted of increasing diet RDP levels (from 3.5 to 17.5% RDP on a DM basis). The basal diet was corn with casein or soybean meal used as the source of RDP in the continuous culture experiment and animal study, respectively. Dietary nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) ranged from 52 to 75% on a dry matter basis. Urea was added to ensure an adequate ammonia nitrogen source for microbial growth. The RDP levels did not affect true digestibility of dry matter and organic matter, ruminal pH, particulate passage rate, or liquid passage rate in the animal study. As RDP increased, bacterial nitrogen production increased linearly (P 2 mg/dL). We concluded from this research that the RDP requirement of NSC-fermenting bacteria was lower than that currently fed in many diets.
Patient-generated health data and electronic health record integration: a scoping review

Objectives Patient-generated health data (PGHD) are clinically relevant data captured by patients outside of the traditional care setting. Clinical use of PGHD has emerged as an essential issue. This study explored the evidence to determine the extent of and describe the characteristics of PGHD integration into electronic health records (EHRs). Methods In August 2019, we conducted a systematic scoping review. We included studies with complete, partial, or in-progress PGHD and EHR integration within a clinical setting. The retrieved articles were screened for eligibility by 2 researchers, and data from eligible articles were abstracted, coded, and analyzed. Results A total of 19 studies met inclusion criteria after screening 9463 abstracts. Most of the study designs were pilots and all were published between 2013 and 2019. Types of PGHD were biometric and patient activity (57.9%), questionnaires and surveys (36.8%), and health history (5.3%). Diabetes was the most common patient condition (42.1%) for PGHD collection. Active integration (57.9%) was slightly more common than passive integration (31.6%). We categorized emergent themes into the 3 steps of PGHD flow. Themes emerged concerning resource requirements, data delivery to the EHR, and preferences for review. Discussion PGHD integration into EHRs appears to be at an early stage. PGHD have the potential to close health care gaps and support personalized medicine. Efforts are needed to understand how to optimize PGHD integration into EHRs considering resources, standards for EHR delivery, and clinical workflows.
Biosynthesis of the Purines XXXIII. CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF THE GLUTAMINE SITE OF FORMYLGLYCINAMIDE RIBONUCLEOTIDE AMIDOTRANSFERASE FROM CHICKEN LIVER

Abstract From studies with a large number of l-γ-glutamyl derivatives, it has been found that formylglycinamide ribonucleotide (FGAR) amidotransferase can catalyze the hydrolysis of esters, thioesters, and substituted amides in addition to the amide bond of glutamine. The hydrolytic reactions are dependent on the presence of FGAR, ATP, and Mg2+; however, in contrast to the reaction of glutamine they are not accompanied by the stoichiometric formation of ADP in the case of amides and there is no ADP formation when esters and thioesters are substrates. Km and Vm values are reported for l-γ-glutamylmethoxyamide, l-γ-glutamylhydroxamate, l-γ-glutamylhydrazide, γ-methyl l-glutamate, and γ-ethyl l-glutamate. Km values of FGAR and MgATP2- for these l-γ-glutamyl derivatives are also reported. In the case of the hydrolysis of l-γ-glutamyl esters and thioesters, only a catalytic amount of FGAR is needed. In the reaction catalyzed by FGAR amidotransferase ethanol is released from γ-ethyl l-glutamate in amounts equal to the glutamate formed. Thus, when l-γ-glutamyl esters or thioesters were used as substrates, the reactions of the glutamine site can be separated from those of the whole FGAR-amidotransferase complex. Both glutamine and NH4Cl inhibit the enzymatic reaction with respect to γ-ethyl l-glutamate as substrate. Hydrazine and methylamine are competitive and mixed type inhibitors of the reaction, respectively, with glutamine as substrate. On the other hand, l-γ-glutamylmethylamide, l-γ-glutamylhydroxamate, and γ-methyl l-glutamate all acted as mixed type inhibitors of the reaction relative to NH4Cl. The effect of a number of monovalent cations on the enzyme activity is examined. Potassium ion is required for maximum activity whereas sodium ion inhibits the enzyme probably at the FGAR-MgATP site.
Body fat predicts exercise capacity in persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A machine learning approach

Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) related morbidity, mortality and death. Exercise capacity in persons with type 2 diabetes has been shown to be predictive of cardiovascular events. In this study, we used the data from the prospective randomized LOOK AHEAD study and used machine learning algorithms to help predict exercise capacity (measured in Mets) from the baseline data that included cardiovascular history, medications, blood pressure, demographic information, anthropometric and Dual-energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) measured body composition metrics. We excluded variables with high collinearity and included DXA obtained Subtotal (total minus head) fat percentage and Subtotal lean mass (gms). Thereafter, we used different machine learning methods to predict maximum exercise capacity. The different machine learning models showed a strong predictive performance for both females and males. Our study shows that using baseline data from a large prospective cohort, we can predict maximum exercise capacity in persons with diabetes mellitus. We show that subtotal fat percentage is the most important feature for predicting the exercise capacity for males and females after accounting for other important variables. Until now, BMI and waist circumference were commonly used surrogates for adiposity and there was a relative under-appreciation of body composition metrics for understanding the pathophysiology of CVD. The recognition of body fat percentage as an important marker in determining CVD risk has prognostic implications with respect to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Global Accelerometer-Derived Physical Activity Levels from Preschoolers to Adolescents: A Systematic Review, Subgroup Analysis, and Meta-Analysis

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine global accelerometer-measured daily MVPA changes from preschool age to adolescence as well as gender differences in MVPA while controlling for the continents and cut points. Methods: A comprehensive electronic search was conducted through August 2020 that includes 30 databases such as Academic Search Ultimate, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, Education Full Text, ERIC, General Science, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, and SPORTDiscuss (PROSPERO registration No CRD42020172495). We included either cross-sectional or longitudinal MVPA tracking studies with daily MVPA being measured by waist-worn accelerometers and determined by either Freedson 3 METs, 4 METs, or Everson cut points for preschoolers, children, and adolescents. Systematic review with meta-analysis was used. Results: Researchers analyzed 124 studies with a total of 57,587 participants were analyzed. The combined data showed significant MVPA differences among various continents (p < .001) or cut points (p < .05 to .001) for both preschoolers, children, and adolescence. Globally, when continents and cut points were controlled, individuals’ daily MVPA time decreased every year by 6.88, 8.02, and 6.01 minutes from preschool age to adolescence, preschool age to children, and children to adolescence, respectively. When cut points and continents were controlled, boys had significantly higher daily MVPA than girls for all three age groups (p < .05 to p < .0001). Conclusions: Globally, individuals’ daily MVPA time tends to decrease dramatically each year from preschool age to adolescence. The decline is faster from preschool age to children. Systematic Review Registration Number: CRD42020172495 Funding Statement: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Combinatorial phosphorylation modulates the structure and function of the G protein γ subunit in yeast

Intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in proteins are often targets of combinatorial posttranslational modifications, which serve to regulate protein structure and function. Emerging evidence suggests that the N-terminal tails of G protein γ subunits, which are essential components of heterotrimeric G proteins, are intrinsically disordered, phosphorylation-dependent determinants of G protein signaling. Here, we found that the yeast Gγ subunit Ste18 underwent combinatorial, multisite phosphorylation events within its N-terminal IDR. G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activation and osmotic stress induced phosphorylation at Ser7, whereas glucose and acid stress induced phosphorylation at Ser3, which was a quantitative indicator of intracellular pH. Each site was phosphorylated by a distinct set of kinases, and phosphorylation of one site affected phosphorylation of the other, as determined through exposure to serial stimuli and through phosphosite mutagenesis. Last, we showed that phosphorylation resulted in changes in IDR structure and that different combinations of phosphorylation events modulated the activation rate and amplitude of the downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase Fus3. These data place Gγ subunits among intrinsically disordered proteins that undergo combinatorial posttranslational modifications that govern signaling pathway output.
Filter Design for Optically Recorded Cardiac Electrical Activity Recorded During Ischemia

Optical mapping provides two-dimensional recordings of cardiac electric activity that vary in time. If it is employed to study ischemia, filters should be designed to preserve the maximum slope of the action potential as much as possible. We evaluate temporal filters (low-pass and temporal averaging with different radii) and find that the. Spatial filters (spatial averaging with different radii and constant or Gaussian weights) generally gave good results both for maximum slope preservation and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) increase. Spatial averaging with radius 2, in particular achieved a SNR of 65 for synthetic data and 40 for real data while reducing the maximum slope by less than 20%; it also results in high-quality action potential waveform, activation map, and action potential duration map. We conclude that spatial averaging with radius 2 is an appropriate filter for optical mapping with our system.
Organization and Programming of Motor Activity during Posture Control

Publisher Summary This chapter aims to synthesize a hierarchical model of posture control from experimental observations of stance posture control of normal human subjects. A conceptual synthesis of human experimental observations enhances knowledge about sensorimotor controls derived from the study of animal preparations in several important ways. Studies of chronic and acute cat preparations have revealed much detail about the neural mechanisms within the spinal cord that generate the basic locomotor movement patterns. However, the interruption of many central nervous system functions in these preparations has thus far prevented any study of the adaptive and postural balance controls, which under normal conditions are integrated into the ongoing movement behaviors. The postural adjustments are functionally useful responses elicited by the unexpected movements of a platform upon which a subject stood. Results show that these adjustments are too complexly interwoven into an organizational structure involving many leg muscles to be characterized simply as the response of each individual muscle to its own stretch input. In place of the concept of stretch responses, the hierarchical model suggests that the response activity of each muscle is stereotypically organized into a structure controlled by the pattern of movement inputs from the entire leg.
APPLICATIONS TO PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

The applications of integral equations are not restricted to ordinary differential equations. In fact, the most important applications of integral equations arise in finding the solutions of boundary value problems in the theory of partial differential equations of the second order. The boundary value problems for equations of elliptic type can be reduced to Fredholm integral equations, whereas the study of parabolic and hyperbolic differential equations leads to Volterra integral equations. We confine our attention to the linear partial differential equations of the elliptic type, specifically, to the Laplace, Poisson, and Helmholtz equations wherein lie the most interesting and important achievements of the theory of integral equations.
Microscopic analysis of characteristic surface features of a set of retrieved total hip implants (922.13)

Introduction: Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) is considered one of the most successful orthopaedic interventions used for joint replacement. The purpose of this study was to characterize the particular surface features common to retrieved THA implants, in order to point out principal characteristics that lead to their failure. Methods: A set of fourteen retrieved implants was studied, their designs varying from metal-on-polyethylene (MoP), ceramic-on-polyethylene (CoP) and metal-on-metal (MoM). All specimens were analyzed using digital microscopy (Keyence VHX2000). Particularly corroded and scratched areas were further analyzed under Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM, JEOL 5600), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (EDS, JEOL 5600). Results: The surface analysis revealed certain patterns of features. The implants were divided in their components (cup, liner, head and stem), each of which was studied for common characteristics. Large amount of scratching was found throughout all of the heads and cups, fo...
Thin films of the spinel Cd1+xIn2−2xSnxO4 transparent conducting oxide solution

Thin films of a transparent conducting oxide solid solution Cd1+xIn2−2xSnxO4 (x=0.15, 0.45, and 0.70) were deposited via rf magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction indicated the films consisted of a polycrystalline spinel phase. Atomic force microscopy measurements revealed a surface root mean square roughness between 1.3 and 6.0 nm. Optical absorption was 10% or less in the visible for x=0.15, 0.45, and 0.70. Optical gaps averaged near 3.5, 3.70, and 3.65 eV for films annealed in Ar/CdS of compositions corresponding to x=0.15, 0.45, and 0.70. Conductivity exceeded 2000 S/cm for x=0.15 and 4000 S/cm for x=0.45 and 0.70. Mobilities of 43, 50, and 56 cm2/V s were measured for films annealed in Ar/CdS of compositions corresponding to x=0.15, 0.45, and 0.70, respectively. Composition data obtained via electron probe microanalysis indicate the films are becoming Cd deficient during the annealing process. This suggests an excess of In+3 and/or Sn+4 on Cd+2 sites may play a role in carrier production in these fi...
Drosophila Neural Development

Recent advances in developmental neurobiology have confirmed that the molecules that make the nervous system have been conserved through evolution. The study of Drosophila melanogaster has been decisive for our understanding of this process. Keywords: fruit fly; genetics; neurogenesis; axon guidance; synaptogenesis
Lévy Processes, Simulation of

Simulation methods of Levy processes based on random walk approximation, series representations of Levy processes, and Poisson and Gaussian approximations are reviewed. Formulas for simulation of some Levy processes are given as examples. Keywords: stochastic simulation; Levy process; Brownian motion; compound poisson process; series representations of Levy processes; Gaussian approximation of Levy processes
Assessment of polymer-polymer interactions in blends of HPMC and film forming polymers by modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry.

Purpose. To assess the miscibility and phase behavior of binary blendsof hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) with hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), methylcellulose (MC), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).
Treatment of iron deficiency anemia with ferrous fumarate.

F o R over 100 years the treatment of iron deficiency anemia has classically consisted of the oral administration of ferrous sulfate. Therapeutically, results with this inorganic salt have been excellent once the underlying cause of the anemia has been uncovered and eradicated. From the inception of this treatment, however, it has been recognized that the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects has been relatively high. The sequelae may range from the epigastric discomfort, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea of therapeutic doses to death in children who have taken toxic amounts of the drug. Deaths of children have been studied by Luongol and found to be caused by a hemorrhagic periportal necrosis. He states that the susceptibility of these areas of the liver is probably due to the proximity of hepatic cells to the portal vein branches which carry the absorbed ferrous sulfate to the liver. He notes further that in sublethal dosage ferrous sulfate toxicity may cause a portal cirrhosis when healing of the damaged liver cells occurs. He also believes that previously diseased liver cells are most susceptible to the toxic action of ferrous sulfate. Recently Berenbaum and co-worker? have performed studies of ferrous fumarate on animals and human beings. Ferrous fumarate is a new organic iron complex which contains a higher iron content than any of the
The Legionella IcmS-IcmW protein complex is important for Dot/Icm-mediated protein translocation.

Summary The intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila can infect and replicate within macrophages of a human host. To establish infection, Legionella require the Dot/Icm secretion system to inject protein sub- strates directly into the host cell cytoplasm. The mechanism by which substrate proteins are engaged and translocated by the Dot/Icm system is not well understood. Here we show that two cytosolic compo- nents of the Dot/Icm secretion machinery, the pro- teins IcmS and IcmW, play an important role in substrate translocation. Biochemical analysis indi- cates that IcmS and IcmW form a stable protein com- plex. In Legionella , the IcmW protein is rapidly degraded in the absence of the IcmS protein. Sub- strate proteins translocated into mammalian host cells by the Dot/Icm system were identified using the IcmW protein as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen. It was determined that the IcmS-IcmW complex inter- acts with these substrates and plays an important role in translocation of these proteins into mammalian cells. These data are consistent with the IcmS-IcmW complex being involved in the recognition and Dot/ Icm-dependent translocation of substrate proteins during Legionella infection of host cells.
Provisioning Requirements in Latin America: Where Does the Region Stand?

This policy note focuses on provisioning practices in Latin America, a supervisory tool that if well designed can contribute to strengthen both micro and macro prudential regulation. For that purpose this note briefly explains the importance of an adequate regulatory regime for provisioning requirements and identifies key features of an adequate provisioning regime, describes the most salient characteristics of provisioning regimes in Latin America, and constructs an index to assess the quality of the provisioning regimes in the selected countries.
Target discriminability in complex search situations

Stimuli from Bloomfield's (1979) embedded-target visual search study were used in a series of experiments. The targets differed in color mixture from the nontargets. Target discriminability was measured in several ways: by limiting exposure time, by optical blurring and by introducing neutral density filters. The discriminability measurements were compared to the previously-obtained data in order to discover the best predictor of search performance. Language: en
Role Strain and Incarcerated Mothers

Abstract A survey was administered to 109 mothers incarcerated at a minimum-security prison. The purpose of this study was to examine a variety of variables associated with being a mother in prison to determine whether these factors affected the maternal role strain of incarcerated women. The findings suggest that women in prison experience high levels of role strain as a whole. However, white women, women who had served longer sentences, women who had not lived with their children prior to incarceration, and women who did not approve of their children's custody arrangements were found to have significantly higher levels of role strain. The study also indicates that women in prison will experience less role strain if they are allowed to engage in mothering activities rather than simply maintaining this prescribed status.
Leptin and the Central Nervous System Control of Glucose Metabolism

The regulation of body fat stores and blood glucose levels is critical for survival. This review highlights growing evidence that leptin action in the central nervous system plays a key role in both processes. Investigation into underlying mechanisms has begun to clarify the physiological role of leptin in the control of glucose metabolism and raises interesting new possibilities for the treatment of diabetes and related disorders.
Reactions of organic nitroso compounds with disodium decacarbonyldichromate

The sodium salt Na2Cr2(CO)10 reacts with nitrosobenzene to give azobenzene in excellent yield. However, a similar reaction of Na2Cr2(CO)10 with 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane dimer gives the t-butylamine complex (CH3)3CNH2Cr(CO)5.
Excitation Wavelength and Saturation Effects on Gallium Nitride Photoluminescence

We report on the excitation wavelength and power dependence of LPMOCVD grown GaN photoluminescence (PL). A mode-locked Ti:Sapphire laser that is doubled to provide a tunable wavelength range of 350-500 nm is used to pump the GaN samples. Special attention has been paid to the “yellow” (∼567 nm) luminescence. Different power dependence characteristics of the yellow emission are observed when pumping above and below the bandgap. A measurement of the photoluminescence excitation spectrum of the yellow peak (∼567 nm) is also performed and this spectrum shows a peak at room temperature at 3.36 eV (369 nm), an additional broad peak at 77 K and only the broad peak at 7 K. An excitation model is used to explain the behavior of the yellow emission, suggesting the neutral donor serves as a key species for the yellow emission.
Morphological evolution in ballistic deposition

Ballistic deposition model has been employed to simulate the morphological evolution of thin-film growth under non-normal incident flux that occurs frequently in realistic physical vapor deposition. We show that the growth front clearly deviates from the Kardar, Parisi, and Zhang universality class and the growth front exhibits a characteristic length scale that gives rise to a wavelength selection. The implication is that under realistic physical vapor deposition conditions, the growth front morphology is expected not to obey the well-established dynamic scaling hypothesis.
Validated robotic laparoscopic surgical training in a virtual-reality environment

A robotic virtual-reality (VR) simulator has been developed to improve robot-assisted training for laparoscopic surgery and to enhance surgical performance in laparoscopic skills. The simulated VR training environment provides an effective approach to evaluate and improve surgical performance. This study presents our findings of the VR training environment for robotic laparoscopy. Eight volunteers performed two inanimate tasks in both the VR and the actual training environment. The tasks were bimanual carrying (BC) and needle passing (NP). For the BC task, the volunteers simultaneously transferred two plastic pieces in opposite directions five times consecutively. The same volunteers passed a surgical needle through six pairs of holes in the NP task. Both tasks require significant bimanual coordination that mimics actual laparoscopic skills. Data analysis included time to task completion, speed and distance traveled of the instrument tip, as well as range of motion of the subject’s wrist and elbow of the right arm. Electromyography of the right wrist flexor and extensor were also analyzed. Paired t-tests and Pearson’s r were used to explore the differences and correlations between the two environments. There were no significant differences between the actual and the simulated VR environment with respect to the BC task, while there were significant differences in almost all dependent parameters for the NP task. Moderate to high correlations for most dependent parameters were revealed for both tasks. Our data shows that the VR environment adequately simulated the BC task. The significant differences found for the NP task may be attributed to an oversimplification in the VR environment. However, they do point to the need for improvements in the complexity of our VR simulation. Further research work is needed to develop effective and reliable VR environments for robotic laparoscopic training.
Parallel digital and symbolic optical computation via optical phase conjugation.

The use of the optical phase conjugation (OPC) process for parallel digital and symbolic optical computing is described. Using spatially encoded logic and symbolic variables, various OPC-based parallel ultrafast optical logic, symbolic as well as interconnect processors are detailed. The proposed devices are experimentally verified using picosecond pulses from a mode-locked Nd3+:YAG laser. Based on these processors, an OPC-based ultrafast optical computing architecture is proposed.
Zeolite-coated optical fiber sensors for in situ detection of organics in gas and liquid phases

Polycrystalline MFI zeolite thin films have been grown on the surface of optical fibers by in-situ crystallization method. The zeolite-coated optical fibers were investigated for detection of trace organic compounds in gas and liquid phases. The reflectivity of the zeolite-coated fibers responded to the change in organic concentration monotonically and reversibly. The effect of zeolite material chemistry of the zeolite crystals on the sensor behavior was also studied.
New culture medium for maintenance of tsetse tissues and growth of trypanosomatids.

SYNOPSIS. A new culture medium (SM), based on the amino-acid composition of tsetse hemolymph and containing fetal bovine serum, was designed for the maintenance of tsetse organs and the cultivation of various trypanosomatids. For optimum growth 20% (v/v) serum was required. The medium supported prolonged peristalsis of the alimentary tract and salivary glands of pre-emerged Glossina morsitans morsitans. In established cultures, derived from bloodstream forms of pleomorphic Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense strains, inocula of ∼ 106 procyclics/ml yielded 4–5 × 107 organisms/ml after 4 or 5 days of incubation at 28 C. Bloodstream forms of a cloned monomorphic T. b. brucei strain were also able to transform into procyclics, which, however, multiplied at a lower rate, with maximum yields of ∼ 2 × 107 after 5 days. Cultures of Trypanosoma congolense and of a nearly monomorphic Trypanosoma brucei gambiense strains could be established in SM medium only in the presence of tsetse alimentary tract. The procyclic trypomastigotes of these species, adapted to SM medium and able to grow in it without Glossina organs, gave maximum populations of ∼ 4.5 × 107 cells/ml. Promastigotes of Leishmania donovani, cultivated routinely in a diphasic Table's medium, multiplied actively upon being transferred into SM medium, producing yields of ∼ 4 × 107 cells/ml.
Database Fragmentation with Confidentiality Constraints: A Graph Search Approach

Database fragmentation is a promising approach that can be used in combination with encryption to achieve secure data outsourcing which allows clients to securely outsource their data to remote untrusted server(s) while enabling query support using the outsourced data. Given a set of confidentiality constraints, it vertically partitions the database into fragments such that the set of attributes in each constraint do not appear together in any one fragment. The optimal fragmentation problem is to find a fragmentation with minimum cost for query support. In this paper, we propose an efficient graph search based approach which obtains near optimal fragmentation. We model the fragmentation search space as a graph and propose efficient search algorithms on the graph. We present static and dynamic search strategies as well as a novel level-wise graph expansion technique which dramatically reduces the search time. Extensive experiments showed that our method significantly outperforms other state-of-the-art methods.
Synthesis of 4-alkyl-3-pyridinols from 3-benzyloxypyridine

The addition of Grignard reagents to the 1-phenoxycarbonyl salt of 3-benzyloxypyridine and a catalytic amount of cuprous iodide afforded 4-alkyl-3-benzyloxy-1-phenoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydropyridines in good yield. The crude dihydropyridines were aromatized with o-chloranil to give 4-alkyl-3-benzyloxypyridines, which were debenzylated with hydrogen and 10% palladium on carbon to provide 4-alkyl-3-pyridinols.
Conversion of Mesophilic to Psychrophilic Bacteria

The minimum temperature of growth of the mesophilic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been significantly lowered from approximately 11 degrees to 0 degrees C. This shift in the minimum temperature of growth was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in the maximum temperature of growth. Transfer of this genetic characteristic by a transducing phage grown on a psychrophile or by ultraviolet mutagenesis was used to accomplish these shifts in range of growth temperature.
Nonparametric Rank‐Based Methods for Group Sequential Monitoring of Paired Censored Survival Data

Summary. This research gives methods for nonparametric sequential monitoring of paired censored survival data in the two-sample problem using paired weighted log-rank statistics with adjustments for dependence in survival and censoring outcomes. The joint asymptotic closed-form distribution of these sequentially monitored statistics has a dependent increments structure. Simulations validating operating characteristics of the proposed methods highlight power and size consequences of ignoring even mildly correlated data. A motivating example is presented via the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study.
Electrical pacing of the stomach in dogs

Motor function in the stomach is regulated by an intrinsic electrical activity. Therefore, external intervention with an electrical signal is a possible remedy for gastric motor dysfunction. This paper presents a canine model for the systematic investigation of electrical pacing of the stomach. The results confirm that pacing can improve gastric motility. Higher frequency pacing signals have more efficacy.
Analysis of steering shimmy accompanied by sprung mass vibration on light duty truck - fundamental mechanism

Steering shimmy phenomena are classified into two groups according to vehicle speeds. One is self-excited vibration at low vehicle speeds, and the other is forced vibration at high speeds. Shimmy on a light duty truck has been considered as that of self-excited vibration. However, it causes vibration not only on the steering system but also on the cabin, with a large amplitude at relatively high speeds. The phenomenon was analyzed by performing vehicle tests and numerical simulations using simplified models. As a result, the phenomenon was found to be self-excited vibration basically caused by two closed-loop vibration mechanisms.
Bacillus thuringiensis CryIA(c) δ-endotoxin binding aminopeptidase in the Manduca sexta midgut has a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor

Abstract Bacillus thuringiensis CryIA(c) toxin binds to aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2), a 120-kDa glycoprotein located on the Manduca sexta midgut brush border membrane. We report that the CryIA(c) binding protein is anchored in the membrane by a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, and that toxin also binds to the hydrophilic form of the protein released by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC). The 120-kDa toxin binding protein, along with other brush border membrane proteins, was solubilized in Triton X-114 and then fractionated by phase separation into the detergent-rich phase. After cleavage by PIPLC and a second Triton X-114 phase separation, GPI-anchored proteins were converted to a hydrophilic form that partitioned into the detergent-poor phase. Cleaved GPI-anchored proteins were detected by probing protein blots with a polyclonal antiserum against the cross-reacting determinant of trypanosomal variant surface glycoprotein. Proteins of 115, 110, 106, 72 and 60 kDa had cross-reacting determinants, and [ 125 I]CryIA(c) recognized the 115-kDa protein. Exhaustive PIPLC digestion released approx. 61% of the 120-kDa toxin binding protein, 46% of the aminopeptidase and 96% of the alkaline phosphatase. These results indicate that the majority of the 120-kDa toxin binding aminopeptidase is anchored in the brush border membrane through a glycolipid structure.
Advantages and limitations of the MACS lift for facial rejuvenation.

Introduction Minimal access cranial suspension (MACS) facelifts provide the potential advantage of less invasiveness with quicker recovery. However, there is deficient literature documenting its usefulness and limitations. Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the MACS lift for effectiveness in facial rejuvenation. Methods Institutional review board approved record review of all facelift patients treated August 2006 to October 2011 by a single surgeon. Results Eighty-eight facelifts were done, 8 conventional and 80 MACS. Average age was 59 years with 97% being women. Average body mass index and American Society of Anesthesiology classification score were 25 and 1.6 Kilograms per meter squared, respectively. The only significant complications noted were 3 hematomas that required drainage: all in the MACS group (3.41%); and 1 temporary buccal branch paresis. Other facial procedures were done on all the conventional patients and 59 (74%) of the MACS patients. Notably 8 (10%) of the MACS patients had a nonfacial procedure done concurrently. Average operative times were significantly longer for the conventional lifts at 4:03 compared to 2:39 for all the MACS lifts (: -0.002); 2:05 for MACS alone. Follow-up averaged 6 months (4 to 49). Average return to work in the MACS group was 2 weeks. All conventional lift patients had a high level of satisfaction. Of the MACS patients, 3 expressed disappointment due to residual facial skin laxity or inadequate neck contouring. Conclusions MACS lift is effective, providing a high level of patient satisfaction due to aesthetic results, combined with rapid recovery and return to normal activities. Compared to conventional facelift, the reduced operative time makes concurrent nonfacial procedures more feasible. Effectiveness has limitations in those with marked skin laxity and/or marked cervical lipodystrophy.
EEG correlates of visual-motor practice in man.

Abstract Special analysis of EEG signals was performed for 15 subjects engaged in three motor tasks of differing difficulty. A measure of average weighted coherence (C) was computed between the six possible combinations of four scalp areas: O z , C 3 , C 4 and F z . In all subjects, regardless of task, scalp recordings over cortical areas known to have relatively dense fiber connections had significantly greater C values. However, the effects of task difficulty and practice were superimposed upon this basic pattern. Thus, the most difficult task (pursuit-rotor tracking) resulted in the highest coherence levels, while the least difficult task (visual tracking only of the pursuit-rotor disk) resulted in the lowest coherence levels. Practice, on the other hand, was associated with a significant decrease in overall level of coherence. This decrease is consistent with an interpretation of reduced task difficulty due to visual-motor learning. The results of the present study suggest that patterns of scalp EEG coherence may reflect some aspects of the underlying pattern of anatomical pathways, as well as the more dynamic properties of task difficulty and visual-motor practice.
Comments on “Rigorous bounds on the radiative interaction between real gases and scattering particles” by D. G. Goodwin and J. L. Ebert

Abstract Claims are made by Goodwin and Ebert that the work by Skocypec and Buckius 1 is “erroneous.” This claim is shown to be inappropriate and incorrect. The analytical technique, exact results and charted solutions as presented in Ref. [1] are correct and the claims by Goodwin and Ebert 2 are not legitimate. The form of the presentation of the charted solutions in Ref. [1]is misleading and results are presented in this paper to interpret these charted solutions more fairly. These results predict the interaction of gaseous emission with scattering and the bounds are in qualitative agreement with that obtained by standard spectral analysis. The spectral analysis presented in Ref. [2]has been available in the literature for some time. To be able to predict radiative heat transfer in a real gas and scattering medium (not only predict the maximum interaction), detailed real gas and scattering analyses as presented in Ref. [1] are required since total real gas effects are accurately modeled.
Core polarization revisited

The core-polarization process which has been so important in determining the twoparticle effective shell-model interaction is re-examined so as to include effects not present in previous calculations as well as to consolidate effects included in separate calculations. The effects considered here are (i) using reaction matrix elementsG with the proper starting energy for their position in the diagram, (ii) summing to intermediate excitations of 10ħΩ so as to saturate the effect due to the tensor force and (iii) treating the intermediate-state spectrum consistently in calculating bothG and the core polarization. Our calculations are performed in a shifted harmonic oscillator basis, and we discuss the importance of the choice of the unperturbed Hamiltonian used in the calculations. Our results indicate that the core polarization is significantly changed from the lowest-order results when the correct starting energies and higher intermediate-state summations are included. We present our results as a function of the shift and find that agreement with experiment is better for a small shift. We conclude that at the very least one should always include the correct starting energy effect in computing the higherorder terms.
Spin and parity of the diffractively produced Nπ system from its interference with the Δ(1236) isobar

We perform an isospin and partial-wave analysis of the low-mass Nπ system in πN → π(Nπ) using new data at 14 GeV/c in the interval 0.02 < tππ < 0.5 GeV2. We study the diffractive background by means of its interference with the Δ and find that a considerable fraction of this background has spin-parity 12− and does not obey the Gribov-Morrison rule. Using a model for Δ production the helicity amplitudes for diffractive production and their phases can be estimated.
Doubly-periodic sequences and a class of two-dimensional cyclic codes

In this paper we continue our study of doubly-periodic sequences. It is shown that the set of eventually doubly-periodic sequences over a finite field has the structure of a Hopf algebra and that it factors as the tensor product of the Hopf algebra of eventually singly periodic sequences with itself. As an application of this result, we generalize a previous theorem by introducing a coalgebra structure for a space of doubly-periodic sequences (which solve a two-dimensional recurrence) and decomposing it as a sum of products of coalgebras of singly periodic sequences. The result is further applied to the well-known construction of two-dimensional cyclic product codes using cyclic ordering yielding an induced coalgebra structure for these codes.
Lightness models, gradient illusions, and curl.

Gradient illusions require that models of suprathreshold appearance include a spatial integration that fills areas between edges. We describe a structural problem inherent in such models; for many scenes there are inconsistencies (nonzero curl) in thresholded derivatives that prevent simple spatial integration. Our experiments show that the human visual system does encounter curl problems and that it uses two different types of perceptual solution: field segmentation and lightness-gradient manipulation. The latter occurs under conditions where field segmentation is impossible. At least two such conditions can occur: failure to form a segmenting contour and topological problems in potential segmenting contours.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Perylene and Tetracene Librations: Comparison With Femtosecond Upconversion Data

In a prior manuscript by Xu et al. [Xu, J.; Shen, X.; Knutson, J. R. J. Phys. Chem. A 2003, 107, 8383], time-resolved fluorescence emission anisotropy measurements were performed on perylene and tetracene in hexadecane using an upconversion technique with ∼100 fs resolution. The anisotropy transients contained previously unseen decay terms of ∼300 fs. In perylene, their amplitude corresponded to the “ro defect” that has gathered interest over decades. We ascribed this term to a predominantly in-plane libration. In this manuscript, we present molecular dynamics simulations for the motions of perylene and tetracene using the CHARMm molecular dynamics program (version c29b2). Both rotational correlation functions contain subpicosecond decay terms that resemble experimental anisotropy decays. It was suggested that the ro defect might arise from excited-state distortions of perylene, so we conducted quantum mechanical calculations to show that such distortion does not significantly displace the oscillators. We...