cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting Theropod Hunting Tactics using Machine Learning

The use of machine learning in different fields is becoming a more common practice thanks to Big Data and better granularity in data being collected. The application of machine learning to animal behavioral pattern analysis is becoming more popular due to the increase in size, types, and quality of data that can be gathered. Machine learning can even be used to predict the actual behavior of animals based off of certain features. This approach can also be used for predicting the behavior of extinct animals. This paper is the goal is to explore the possibility of using machine learning techniques to predict the hunting habits of dinosaurs based solely off of physical characteristic of the animal. By using the biomechanical features, a model can be created to aid in the classification of animals into either a scavenger or hunter roles. The results from the test show that there is a strong correlation between the physical characteristics and potential hunting habits. The models used here can then be used as a good baseline in predicting other theropods based solely on their bodies. The T-Rex was used as the test subject and was correctly classified as a primary hunter in most of the models.
Optimum design of composite pressure vessel structure based on 3-dimensional failure criteria

Anisotropic composite cylinders and pressure vessels have been widely employed in automotive, aerospace, chemical and other engineering areas due to high strength/stiffness-to-weight ratio, exceptional corrosion resistance, and superb thermal performance. Pipes, fuel tanks, chemical containers, rocket motor cases and aircraft and ship elements are a few examples of structural application of fiber reinforced composites (FRCs) for pressure vessels/pipes. Since the performance of composite materials replies on the tensile and compressive strengths of the fiber directions, the optimum design of composite laminates with varying fiber orientations is desired to minimize the damage of the structure. In this study, a complete mathematical 3D elasticity solution was developed, which can accurately compute stresses of a thick multilayered anisotropic fiber reinforced pressure vessel under force and pressure loadings. A rotational variable is introduced in the formalism to treat torsional loading in addition to force and pressure loadings. Then, the three-dimensional Tsai-Wu criterion is used based on the analytical solution to predict the failure. Finally, a global optimization algorithm is used to find the optimum fiber orientations and their best combination through the thickness direction.
Cost Optimization of Hybrid Islanded Microgrid for Rural Electrification

Energy poverty is a big enigma, that needs to be considered for millions of people suffering in remote rural communities without electricity access. As the grid extension is cost prohibitive, the renewable energy sources (RES) are an optimal solution for off-grid communities. In this paper, a hybrid microgrid system is designed and simulated in Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) based on the estimated load demand and available energy resources. Three different rural villages from Ethiopia, Uganda, and Brazil are considered for a comparative performance analysis based on the least cost of energy (LCOE). Two different dispatch strategies, i.e., i) Load following and ii) Cycle charging are modeled with the different scheduled operation of the diesel generator and bio generator. The solar and wind resource data are obtained from the National Solar Radiation Database (prediction of the worldwide database) [1] and the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) [2] respectively. The results of sensitivity analysis, techno-economic analysis and cost optimization based on LCOE verify the feasibility of the proposed microgrid system.
Common factors in prices, order flows, and liquidity

Abstract How important are cross-stock common factors in the price discovery/liquidity provision process in equity markets? We investigate two aspects of this question for the 30 Dow stocks. First, using principal components and canonical correlation analyses we find that both returns and order flows are characterized by common factors. Commonality in the order flows explains roughly two-thirds of the commonality in returns. Second, we examine variation and common covariation in various liquidity proxies and market depth (trade impact) coefficients. Liquidity proxies such as the bid–ask spread and bid–ask quote sizes help explain time variation in trade impacts. The common factors in these liquidity proxies are, however, relatively small.
Associations of time-varying obesity and metabolic syndrome with risk of incident heart failure and its subtypes: Findings from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Abstract Objective Most previous studies have examined associations between metabolic disorders measured at a single point in time and risk of heart failure (HF). However, there are many situations where the values of exposures vary over time before HF occurs. We aimed to examine the associations of time-varying obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) measured at multiple points in time with HF. Methods A total of 6750 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis from 2000 were included in the study. Follow-up was completed through December 2015. MetSyn was defined using the American Heart Association criteria. Incident HF was diagnosed by clinical criteria. Subtypes HF (reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and preserved (HFpEF) were classified by left ventricular EF. Results A total of 331 HF cases were identified during 82,609 person-years of observation. The incidence (95%CI) of total HF was 4.0 (3.4–4.4) per 1000 person-years. Of the total HF cases, 45.6% were HFrEF (n = 151), 40.8% HFpEF (n = 135), and 13.6% were unclassified HF subtypes (n = 45). After adjusting for key covariates, time-varying obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and MetSyn were significantly associated with HF, with a stronger association for HFpEF than for HFrEF. The corresponding hazards ratios (HR, 95%CI) were 1.97 (1.43–2.72) and 1.86 (1.43–2.42) for HFpEF, and 1.46 (1.07–1.98), and 1.39 (1.06–1.82) for HFrEF respectively. Time-varying large waist circumference was significantly associated with for HFpEF, but not with HFrEF. Conclusion Time-varying obesity and MetSyn were significantly associated with HF risk, with a stronger association with HFpEF than with HFrEF. Continued effort to control these risk factors is recommended.
Enteric Nervous System in Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Background The pathophysiology of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is not clear, but increasing information suggests that the risk and severity of NEC may be influenced by abnormalities in the enteric nervous system (ENS). Objective The purpose of this review was to scope and examine the research related to ENS-associated abnormalities that have either been identified in NEC or have been noted in other inflammatory bowel disorders (IBDs) with histopathological abnormalities similar to NEC. The aim was to summarize the research findings, identify research gaps in existing literature, and disseminate them to key knowledge end-users to collaborate and address the same in future studies. Methods Articles that met the objectives of the study were identified through an extensive literature search in the databases PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus. Results The sources identified through the literature search revealed that: (1) ENS may be involved in NEC development and post-NEC complications, (2) NEC development is associated with changes in the ENS, and (3) NEC-associated changes could be modulated by the ENS. Conclusions The findings from this review identify the enteric nervous as a target in the development and progression of NEC. Thus, factors that can protect the ENS can potentially prevent, and treat NEC and post-NEC complications. This review serves to summarize the existing literature and highlights a need for further research on the involvement of ENS in NEC.
Limits on Antarctic Ice Sheet Temperature Estimation using 0.5-2 GHz Ultra-Wideband Radiometry

Vertical ice sheet temperature profiles are affected by processes such as snow accumulation rates, geothermal effects, the properties of the ground over which the ice column is sitting. These internal ice sheet temperatures and their variations both with depth and location are crucial in understanding ice sheet evolution. The temperature profile in depth plays an important role in influencing stress-strain relationships in the ice sheet volume, and therefore impacts ice sheet dynamics including deformation and flow across the ice sheet base. There are currently no instruments for remote sensing the entire vertical ice sheet temperature profile. Most current information about the depth and spatial variation in ice sheet temperatures comes from borehole measurements [1].
Religious coping, perceived discrimination, and posttraumatic growth in an international sample of forcibly displaced Muslims

Displaced persons are exposed to trauma and experience posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS). Many displaced Muslims come from communities that rely on religious practices to cope with traumatic expe...
A family of Schmitt-Trigger-based arbiter-PUFs and selective challenge-pruning for robustness and quality

Physically Unclonable Functions (PUF) are security primitives to combat Integrated Circuit (IC) cloning and counterfeiting. The response of the PUF is expected to be stable under environmental fluctuations (e.g., temperature and voltage fluctuation). Our analysis indicate that conventional arbiter PUF experiences significant variations due to environmental fluctuation degrading quality. In this paper we propose a novel Schmitt-Trigger (ST) based PUF that exploits the susceptibility of ST to process variations to realize high-quality robust arbiter type PUF. Extensive simulations show significant improvement of quality metrics e.g., inter and intra-die hamming distance and NIST tests with the proposed ST-PUF at the cost of area, power and throughput overhead. Based on this observation, we propose a family of low-overhead ST-PUF flavors that amplify the effect of process variations and achieve similar quality as ST-PUF. We also propose the concept of selective challenge pruning to screen the unstable challenge-response pairs for improving the quality and stability further.
Review for NCCAM Is Overdue

Political influences and the basic structure of The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine have compromised its quality.
Acetylation as a mechanism that regulates axonal regeneration.

The capacity for adult axons to regenerate after injury is diminished compared with developing axons.In the case of central nervous system(CNS)axons,injury causes a total failure to regenerate.This failure is due to both the intrinsic developmental decrease in growth capacity and the extrinsic inhibitory environment formed because of the injury.One way to re-invigorate mature axons into a regrowth state is to induce regenerative gene expression in the nucleus to increase the intrinsic growth state of the neuron.One potential mechanism is through changes in epigenetic factors.Another possible method is to alter posttranslational modifications in axonal and growth cone microtubules of the axonal cytoplasm(Trakhtenberg and Goldberg,2012;Cho and
Precision in Statutory Drafting: The Qualitech Quagmire and the Sad History of Section 365(h) of the Bankruptcy Code

The article deals with the Seventh Circuit Qualitech decision (Precision Industries, Inc. v. Qualitech Steel SBQ, 327 F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 2003), which held that notwithstanding clear efforts by Congress to protect the tenant's estate over many years, a landlord may sell property free and clear of a lease under Section 363(f) of the Bankruptcy Code, thus avoiding the protections for the tenant's estate built into Section 365(h). The article, which was written as part of the 2004 Kratovil Symposium (Real Estate in Bankruptcy: A Look Backwards for a Better Look Forwards) discusses the very difficult history and development of Section 365(h) of the Bankruptcy Code and finds that the Qualitech result, while it may be technically correct, is clearly contrary to the intent of Congress and the philosophy behind Section 365(h). The study finds that the protection provided for under Section 363 for an interest affected by a sale free and clear may be ineffective in several respects, and concludes that amendment to the Bankruptcy Code is required to prevent serious dislocation in the leasehold investment community.
Reversal of pupal diapause in Sarcophaga argyrostoma by temperature shifts after puparium formation

Abstract Puparia from Sarcophaga argyrostoma larvae reared under short days were collected daily within 24 hr of their formation and divided into two groups: one which remained at the larval rearing temperature, and one which was transferred to a different temperature. Such temperature shifts after puparium formation can modify the subsequent incidence of pupal diapause. Temperature step-ups decrease the percentage of diapause; temperature step-downs increase it. The degree of this effect increases with the size of the temperature step. The effectiveness of a temperature step-up declines with increasing time after puparium formation. The percentage of diapause finally achieved in any group is a function of both the number of inductive (short-day) photoperiods experienced during larval life and the magnitude and direction of the subsequent temperature step. Temperature step-ups can permit the expression of photoperiodic information which would otherwise be masked. A model is presented to account for these findings.
Assessing Sources of Error in Structural Equation Models: The Effects of Sample Size, Reliability, and Model Misspecification.

This study used Monte Carlo methods to investigate the accuracy and utility of estimators of overall error and error due to approximation in structural equation models. The effects of sample size, indicator reliabilities, and degree of misspecification were examined. The rescaled noncentrality parameter (McDonald & Marsh, 1990) was examined as a measure of approximation error, whereas the one‐ and two‐sample cross‐validation indices and a sample estimator of overall error (EFo) proposed by Browne and Cudeck (1989, 1993) were presented as measures of overall error. The rescaled noncentrality parameter and EFo provided extremely accurate estimates of the amounts of approximation and overall error, respectively. However, although models with errors of omission produced larger estimates of approximation and overall error, the presence of errors of inclusion had little or no effect on estimates of either type of error. The cross‐validation indices and sample estimator of overall error reached minimum values fo...
Structure of the ATP Binding Domain from the Archaeoglobus fulgidus Cu+-ATPase

The P-type ATPases translocate cations across membranes using the energy provided by ATP hydrolysis. CopA from Archaeoglobus fulgidus is a hyperthermophilic ATPase responsible for the cellular export of Cu+ and is a member of the heavy metal P1B-type ATPase subfamily, which includes the related Wilson and Menkes diseases proteins. The Cu+-ATPases are distinct from their P-type counter-parts in ion binding sequences, membrane topology, and the presence of cytoplasmic metal binding domains, suggesting that they employ alternate forms of regulation and novel mechanisms of ion transport. To gain insight into Cu+-ATPase function, the structure of the CopA ATP binding domain (ATPBD) was determined to 2.3 A resolution. Similar to other P-type ATPases, the ATPBD includes nucleotide binding (N-domain) and phosphorylation (P-domain) domains. The ATPBD adopts a closed conformation similar to the nucleotide-bound forms of the Ca2+-ATPase. The CopA ATPBD is much smaller and more compact, however, revealing the minimal elements required for ATP binding, hydrolysis, and enzyme phosphorylation. Structural comparisons to the AMP-PMP-bound form of the Escherichia coli K+-transporting Kdp-ATPase and to the Wilson disease protein N-domain indicate that the five conserved N-domain residues found in P1B-type ATPases, but not in the other families, most likely participate in ATP binding. By contrast, the P-domain includes several residues conserved among all P-type ATPases. Finally, the CopA ATPBD structure provides a basis for understanding the likely structural and functional effects of various mutations that lead to Wilson and Menkes diseases.
The Impact of Time on Parent Perspectives on the Barriers to Services and the Service Needs of Youths in the Juvenile Justice System

The purposes of this study were: 1) to assess the overall perspectives of parents (N = 115) of youths in the juvenile justice system on the barriers to and services needs of youths in the juvenile justice system; and 2) to assess the strength of the relationship between duration of time the youth has been involved in the juvenile justice system and parent perceptions of barriers and service needs. The top service need was case management. Statistically significant moderate negative correlations were found between duration of time in the juvenile justice system and Total Barrier score, and all composite barrier scores (i.e., Mismatch, Red Tape, and Inaccessibility). Statistically significant small negative correlations were found between duration of time in the juvenile justice system and the Total Service Needs score and two composite scores: Substance Abuse Services and Out-of-Home Services. Language: en
The impact of transactions activities on U.S. productivity growth

Abstract This study modifies a standard growth model to control for transactions activities. For 1950–1989, we estimate productivity growth for GNP and for GNP excluding transactions. The results show that failure to control for transactions can cause systematic overestimates of productivity growth.
Edge property from end-points for scattering Hurwitz polynomials

The counterparts of recent results on growth conditions and convex directions for univariate polynomials and quasipolynomials are obtained for multivariate polynomials with respect to the scattering Hurwitz property. The technical devices employed to develop the machineries leading to the main result are the bijective relationship between multivariate scattering Hurwitz polynomials and multivariate reactance functions and a certain representation of such functions.
PREPARATION OF SCANDIUM COMPLEXES WITH BENZAMIDINATE LIGANDS : SYNTHESIS AND REACTIVITY OF ALKYL AND HYDRIDO DERIVATIVES

A range of new scandium complexes incorporating N,N‘-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinato ligands has been prepared. Addition of [PhC(NSiMe3)2]Li(TMEDA) to ScCl3(THF)3 in THF gives [PhC(NSiMe3)2]2Sc(μ-Cl)2Li(TMEDA) in moderate yield. Alternatively, the use of [RC(NSiMe3)2]Na(Et2O)n (R = Ph, Tol) gives good yields of the lithium-free halide [RC(NSiMe3)2]2ScCl(THF). The latter is a useful starting material for the preparation of a number of derivatives, including [PhC(NSiMe3)2]2ScR‘ (R‘ = CH2SiMe3, Mes), [PhC(NSiMe3)2]2ScMe(THF), [TolC(NSiMe3)2]2Sc(BH4)(THF), and [PhC(NSiMe3)2]2ScNHC6H3-2,6-Pri2, which were obtained by salt metathesis reactions from the corresponding alkali-metal reagents. Reaction of [PhC(NSiMe3)2]2ScCH2SiMe3 with Me3SiCCH gives the σ-alkyne [PhC(NSiMe3)2]2ScCCSiMe3 and Me4Si. [PhC(NSiMe3)2]2ScCH2SiMe3 reacts readily with H2 to form {[PhC(NSiMe3)2]2ScH}2. The hydride reacts with Ph2C2 in refluxing benzene to give the monoinsertion product [PhC(NSiMe3)2]2ScC(Ph)C(Ph)H. Two derivatives have been...
Positive and negative regulation of t-cell activation by adaptor proteins

Adaptor proteins, molecules that mediate intermolecular interactions, are now known to be as crucial for lymphocyte activation as are receptors and effectors. Extensive work from numerous laboratories has identified and characterized many of these adaptors, demonstrating their roles as both positive and negative regulators. Studies into the molecular basis for the actions of these molecules shows that they function in various ways, including: recruitment of positive or negative regulators into signalling networks, modulation of effector function by allosteric regulation of enzymatic activity, and by targeting other proteins for degradation. This review will focus on a number of adaptors that are important for lymphocyte function and emphasize the various ways in which these proteins carry out their essential roles.
In Vivo Dissection of Lymphocyte Signaling Pathways

Attempts to dissect signaling pathways leading from the T cell antigen receptor to the cell interior rely primarily on careful biochemical analysis of changes in cellular metabolism provoked by ligand. An alternative approach tests hypotheses regarding the mechanism of T cell activation by altering the representation of putative signaling molecules in otherwise normal lymphocytes using gene manipulation techniques. Rigorous implementation of this strategy has defined crucial roles for two protein tyrosine kinases, p56lck and p59fyn, in T cell signaling pathways. Working from this strong foundation, a molecular description of the T cell activation sequence may now be achievable.
Thermal decomposition of methyl butanoate: ab initio study of a biodiesel fuel surrogate.

In this paper, we report a detailed analysis of the breakdown kinetic mechanism for methyl butanoate (MB) using theoretical approaches. Electronic structures and structure-related molecular properties of reactants, intermediates, products, and transition states were explored at the BH&HLYP/cc-pVTZ level of theory. Rate constants for the unimolecular and bimolecular reactions in the temperature range of 300−2500 K were calculated using Rice−Ramsperger−Kassel−Marcus and transition state theories, respectively. Thirteen pathways were identified leading to the formation of small compounds such as CH3, C2H3, CO, CO2, and H2CO. For the initial formation of MB radicals, H, CH3, and OH were considered as reactive radicals participating in hydrogen abstraction reactions. Kinetic simulation results for a high temperature pyrolysis environment show that MB radicals are mainly produced through hydrogen abstraction reactions by H atoms. In addition, the C(O)OCH3 = CO + CH3O reaction is found to be the main source of C...
High Efficieny, High Speed Optical Modulation at a Telecom Wavelength Using the Quantum Zeno Effect in a Ladder Transition in Rb Atoms

We show, theoretically and experimentally, how a high efficiency, high speed optical modulator can be realized at a telecommunication wavelength using the quantum Zeno effect in a ladder transition in Rb atoms at room temperature.
Efficient localization for large-scale underwater sensor networks

In this paper, we study the localization problem in large-scale underwater sensor networks. The adverse aqueous environments, the node mobility, and the large network scale all pose new challenges, and most current localization schemes are not applicable. We propose a hierarchical approach which divides the whole localization process into two sub-processes: anchor node localization and ordinary node localization. Many existing techniques can be used in the former. For the ordinary node localization process, we propose a distributed localization scheme which novelly integrates a 3-dimensional Euclidean distance estimation method with a recursive location estimation method. Simulation results show that our proposed solution can achieve high localization coverage with relatively small localization error and low communication overhead in large-scale 3-dimensional underwater sensor networks.
Attitudes toward Interdependence among Persons and Psychological Health

Although a variety of psychological theorists have posited that a central aspect of psychological health is the ability to join with other persons in cooperative efforts to achieve mutually desired goals, there is little direct evidence linking the social psychological literature on cooperation with the personality literature on psychological health. An exploratory study was conducted to examine the relationship between attitudes toward cooperation, competition, and individualism and psychological health as indicated by the MMPI. Subjects were 70 white, middle-class, high-school seniors in a midwestern suburban community. Attitudes toward cooperation were significantly negatively correlated with 8 of the 10 clinical MMPI scales and with a variety of the research MMPI scales. Attitudes toward competition were significantly negatively correlated with 7 of the 10 clinical MMPI scales and with a variety of the research MMPI scales. Attitudes toward individualism were positively correlated with 9 of the 10 cli...
Effects of chlordiazepoxide, morphine and amphetamine on responding suppressed by different levels of electric shock in the pigeon are rate dependent.

In general, chlordiazepoxide (CDP) and amphetamine reduce high rates of responding and increase low rates (rate-dependent effect). However, unlike CDP, amphetamine does not typically increase low rates resulting from suppression of responding by noxious stimuli. In the present experiment, key pecking by pigeons was reinforced under a random ratio schedule of food presentation. This responding was then suppressed by stimuli correlated with electric shocks of varying intensity (2 or 4 mA) or reduced by the omission of the food (extinction). Treatment with CDP (0.3–10.0 mg/kg) and morphine (0.3–10.0 mg/kg) increased the rate of suppressed responding: lower rates being increased to a proportionately greater extent than high rates.d-Amphetamine (0.1–1.0 mg/kg) further reduced the rate of suppressed responding: the lower rates being reduced proportionately more than the higher rates. Thus the effects of all three drugs depended upon the control rates of responding, but the effects of amphetamine were the inverse of those of CDP and morphine. The effects of amphetamine on low, suppressed or punished response rates are therefore not an exception to the generality of rate-dependency, but a different aspect of the same principle — “inverse rate-dependency”.
Cholesterol and total fat content in farm-raised channel catfish cultured in North Carolina

Six batches of channel catfish, obtained from six different farms in North Carolina, were analyzed for lipid and cholesterol content. A total of 70 catfish were studied by high-performance liquid chromatography for cholesterol estimation. The mean cholesterol value was 33.00 mg/100 g of edible fish portion. The mean fat content was 4.93 g/100 g of sample. Cholesterol content increased with fat, and fat increased with weight, whereas moisture decreased with increasing fat.
Psychometric assessment of the Craving to Tan Questionnaire

AbstractBackground: Researchers and clinicians suggest that excessive tanning may be a behavioral addiction. Given the significance of craving in substance use, craving may be a useful construct to assess in those who tan. Objective: We designed this study to assess the psychometric properties of an alcohol craving measure adapted to measure past-week craving to tan. Methods: Undergraduate students (n = 421) who reported past-month tanning completed a battery of questionnaires that assessed demographics, tanning-related characteristics, and psychopathology, in addition to the Craving to Tan Questionnaire (CTQ). Results: Analyses provided support for a single factor CTQ with good internal consistency, construct validity and convergent validity. CTQ scores were significantly higher among problematic versus non-problematic and dependent versus non-dependent tanners. CTQ scores were also associated with several tanning-related characteristics, such money spent on tanning in a typical month, frequency of tanni...
Metaphors of Control Toward a Language of Peace: Recent Self‐Defining Rhetorical Constructs of Helen Caldicott

Examining the metaphoric configurations of Australian physician Helen Caldicott is crucial when attempting to discover her particular language of peace and its effectiveness. The symbols present in much of Caldicott's language can be organized into three power-related categories: physician, mother, and deity. These categories, which traditionally represent positions of authority, seem at odds with her implicit goals of giving voice to the marginalized peace-seekers crusading for the voiceless natural world. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the recent metaphors used by Helen Caldicott with specific attention to dominant power images. Commentaries follow by April Gordon, Cynthia A. Brincat, Simona Sharoni, and Ralph Summy/Hilary Neil.
Comparison of the stable-isotopic composition of soil water collected from suction lysimeters, wick samplers, and cores in a sandy unsaturated zone

Abstract Soil water collected from suction lysimeters and wick samplers buried in the unsaturated zone of a sand and gravel aquifer and extracted from soil cores were analyzed for stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope values. Soil water isotopic values differed among the three sampling methods in most cases. However, because each sampling method collected different fractions of the total soil-water reservoir, the isotopic differences indicated that the soil water at a given depth and time was isotopically heterogeneous. This heterogeneity reflects the presence of relatively more and less mobile components of soil water. Isotopic results from three field tests indicated that 95–100% of the water collected from wick samplers was mobile soil water while samples from suction lysimeters and cores were mixtures of more and less mobile soil water. Suction lysimeter samples contained a higher proportion of more mobile water (15–95%) than samples from cores (5–80%) at the same depth. The results of this study indicate that, during infiltration events, soil water collected with wick samplers is more representative of the mobile soil water that is likely to recharge ground water during or soon after the event than soil water from suction lysimeters or cores.
Comparative analysis of renal flow using contrast power Doppler and gray-scale ultrasound

Our previous studies have shown that renal perfusion can be visualized by imaging the transit of a contrast agent through the parenchyma of the organ using gray scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) ultrasound.However, the relative merits and the sensitivities of the two imaging methods are not known. This study compares the effectiveness of the two modes in visualizing kidney perfusion at the clinical dose of contrast agents. GS and PD images of the dog kidneys were recorded using a clinical ultrasound scanner at 4-7 MHz. A fixed longitudinal plane of the kidney was imaged by mounting the transducer on the animal with a specially designed holder. A dose of 0.1 m1/kg of Echogen was injected intravenously and GS and PD images were recorded simultaneously on two separate time-encoded video tapes during the passage of the contrast agent through the kidneys. The enhancement of GS and PD images was assessed qualitatively by three radiologists. The quantitative assessment was made by measuring the regional and global enhancements of digitized B-scan and PS images. Regional measurements were made by comparing brightness of the post contrast images with that of a pre-contrast reference image pixel by pixel. Student t-test was used to determine the statistical significance of the change. The regions representing statistically significant differences were encoded on the image in color with brightness proportional to the magnitude of change. The regions with no significant change were represented in GS. This generated a series of new images, referred to as StatMap, with color representing regions of perfusion. Changes in power Doppler images were visually detectable with high confidence in all five dogs by al three radiologists. There was no perceptible changes in B-scans. Computer analysis of PD images yielded characteristic indicator dilution curves in all five dogs with an initial rise time of 2-5 sec and a peak at 7-20 sec. The enhancement in PD lasted for 97-400 seconds. The peak to pre-injection Doppler power ratio was 2.41 +/- 0.85. There were not detectable changes in gray scale images except in one dog which exhibited a small change. The StatMap images of PD exhibited perfusion over the entire kidney, whereas the GS images showed perfusion to be sparsely distributed.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Core competencies for the acquisitions librarian

Position announcements for acquisitions-related jobs were analyzed to determine what knowledge and skills were sought by employers in 1999, 1987, and 1975. The competencies identified from the position announcements were compared with other input regarding competencies for acquisitions and collection development work, and a good deal of similarity was found to exist. From this, a list of core competency areas is presented.
Real-Time Obstacle-Avoiding Path Planning for Mobile Robots

In this paper a computationally effective trajectory generation algorithm of mobile robots is proposed. The algorithm plans a reference path based on Voronoi diagram and Bcurves, that meet obstacle avoidance criteria. B´ ezier curves defining the path are created such that the circumference convex polygon of their control points miss all obstacles. To give smoothness, they are connected under C1 continuity constraint. In addition, the first B´ ezier curve is created to satisfy the initial heading constraint and to minimize the maximum curvature of the curve. For the mission, this paper analyzes the algebraic condition of control points of a quadratic Bcurve to minimize the maximum curvature. The numerical simulations demonstrate smooth trajectory generation with satisfaction of obstacle avoidance in an unknown environment by applying the proposed algorithm in a receding horizon fashion.
An Evaluation of Methods for Neuromagnetic Image Reconstruction

In this paper, we discuss several aspects of a potential new medical imaging modality for producing a quantitative three-dimensional map of neuron current densities associated with brain function. The neuromagnetic image is produced by reconstructing a current dipole field from external magnetic field measurements made with an array of superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) detectors. This field is produced by numerical inversion of the Biot-Savart equation. The purpose of the work is to investigate fundamental limits on the feasibility of the proposed system under ideal conditions. The following problems are addressed: 1) What are the factors limiting resolution of the system? 2) What is a suitable model for neural activity in the brain? 3) What classes of algorithms are suitable for estimating the model parameters? The major conclusion of this work is that the inversion problem is severely ill-posed and the choice of model and estimation algorithm are crucial in obtaining reasonable solutions. A class of solutions, termed minimum dipole, is proposed as a means of obtaining more acceptable results.
Electronic techniques for radiological image processing.

A television image processing system for diagnostic radiology using the techniques of contrast enhancement, aperture correction, and highlight inversion is described together with a method for objectively evaluating its usefulness. The evaluation is done by comparing error rates of observers viewing a specially prepared set of chest radiographs through the image processor with error rates using a conventional viewbox. The error rates of different processing techniques are given and conclusions about the causes of these error rates are drawn. These conclusions, in turn, yield guides for the future design of circuits to improve the performance of image processors.
Early vitamin K deficiency bleeding after maternal phenobarbital intake: management of massive intracranial haemorrhage by minimal surgical intervention

Vitamin K deficiency bleeding within the first 24 h of life is caused in most cases by maternal drug intake (e.g. coumarins, anticonvulsants, tuberculostatics) during pregnancy. Haemorrhage is often life-threatening and usually not prevented by vitamin K prophylaxis at birth. We report a case of severe intracranial bleeding at birth secondary to phenobarbital-induced vitamin K deficiency and traumatic delivery. Burr hole trepanations of the skull were performed and the subdural haematoma was evacuated. Despite the severe prognosis, the infant showed an unexpected good recovery. At the age of 3 years, neurological examinations were normal as was the EEG at the age of 9 months. CT showed close to normal intracranial structures.
Effect of an Antisense Pectin Methylesterase Gene on the Chemistry of Pectin in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Juice

Pectins in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) juice processed from transgenic fruits with reduced levels of pectin methylesterase activity and from control fruits were characterized for total uronic acid, degree of methoxylation (DOM), and molecular mass. The molecular weights of pectins isolated from transgenic fruit juice are much higher than the molecular weights of pectins isolated from control fruit juice under all processing conditions. Depending on processing conditions, juice from transgenic fruits contained 30-50% higher amounts of total uronic acids and had 25-250% higher DOM compared to juice from control fruits.
Order of recall in short-term memory

Short-term recall of letter sequences, color-coded into two halves, was measured as a function of color presented first, alphabet half presented first, order of report, and blocks of trials. Analysis of the first half of Ss’ reports suggested that reports which reversed the colored halves were superior to an ordered report of the colors except in trial block one when the letters presented first in a sequence were from the first half of the alphabet. Trends from the second half of a report were in the direction of more accurate recall with reversed as compared to ordered reports.
Emerging paradigms of integrin ligand binding and activation

Emerging paradigms of integrin ligand binding and activation. Adhesion of cells to each other or to the extracellular matrix provides essential signals that regulate many cellular functions including cell migration, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The integrin superfamily orchestrates many of these complex adhesive events through regulated interactions with a large variety of ligands. Crystallization of some ligands and of a ligand-binding integrin domain, reviewed here, together with extensive mutagenesis studies are beginning to shed light on the inner workings of these receptors.
Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in patients with neoplasia in a solitary kidney

Abstract Objectives To assess the renal function and describe our operative experience with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in patients with solitary kidneys. Methods The medical records were analyzed to find patients with a solitary kidney and renal neoplasms who underwent LPN. Demographic, operative, pathologic, and follow-up data were obtained. Results Four patients were identified with solitary kidneys who had undergone LPN. The mean operative time was 251 minutes, mean warm ischemic time 15 minutes, mean estimated blood loss 395 mL, and mean hospitalization stay 3 days. The mean preoperative creatinine was 1.5 mg/dL and the mean peak creatinine 2.0 mg/dL. All patients returned to their baseline creatinine levels in the follow-up period. The final pathologic finding was Stage pT1 in 1, pT3a in 2, and angiomyolipoma in 1 patient. All surgical margins were negative. No cancer recurrence developed in the patients, with a mean follow-up of 17 months (range 3 to 35). Conclusions LPN in patients with a solitary kidney is feasible and a reasonable treatment alternative to open partial nephrectomy.
Auditory vocabulary of the right hemisphere following brain bisection or hemidecortication.

Summary Unilateral scores of two commissurotomy and three (one left and two right) hemispherectomy patients were obtained on standardized auditory language comprehension tests which use pointing responses to a pictorial array. Unilateral performance by the commissurotomy patients was achieved by restricting the pictorial array to one visual half field, using a novel contact lens system which permits ocular scanning of the lateralized stimulus and self-monitoring of task performance. Using the Peabody and Ammons Picture Vocabulary Tests, the auditory vocabulary in the disconnected or isolated right hemispheres was found to be equivalent to that of normal subjects of ages 8:1 to 16:3 with a mean of 11:7 (eleven years and seven months old). At the same time, standardized aphasia tests showed that the picture vocabulary in the right hemispheres is similar to that of a heterogeneous population of aphasics, even though the right hemispheres did not behave quite like any classical aphasic diagnostic group. No significant differences were found between right hemisphere comprehension of object vs. action names. Results indicated that vocabulary as a function of word frequency followed the same pattern in the right and left hemisphere, although the right hemisphere was consistently lower. This parallel between the two hemispheres was conjectured to reflect some similar or even shared lexical structures in the two hemispheres. Together with other data on the performance of the right hemisphere on the Token Test (Zaidel, 1976), the results suggest a complex model of the development of language laterality in the brain, in which some, but not all, auditory language functions continue to develop in the right hemisphere past what is generally regarded as the critical period for language acquisition. In general, auditory language comprehension is better characterized as that of an “average aphasic” than that of a child of a specific age.
Do leukocytes contribute to impaired microvascular tissue perfusion after arterial repair

Impaired capillary perfusion may result in flap failure. Platelet emboli, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), and/or vasospasm have been identified as possible causes. This study investigates the role of PMNs in causing impaired capillary perfusion in a free flap model. PMN concentrations were depleted using antineutrophil serum. The cremaster muscles of 20 Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated on a single neurovascular pedicle and after a simulated technically poor arterial anastomosis upstream and reperfusion, capillary perfusion was measured each hour for 6 hours. Even though the number of PMNs was significantly reduced in the animals treated with antineutrophil serum, capillary perfusion was not changed compared with controls. These results demonstrate that depleting circulating PMNs does not protect capillary perfusion in our model. These findings suggest that reduced capillary perfusion downstream from an anastomotic repair is not mediated by the presence of PMNs in the microcirculation.
Alcohol advertising bans and alcohol abuse: Comment

Abstract Henry Saffer [Saffer (1991) Journal of Health Economics 10, 65–79] concludes that bans on broadcast advertising for alcoholic beverages reduce total alcohol consumption, motor vehicle fatalities, and cirrhosis deaths. A reexamination of his data and procedures reveals a number of flaws. First, there is evidence of reverse causation: countries with low consumption/death rates tend to adopt advertising bans, creating a (spurious) negative correlation between bans and consumption/death rates. Second, even this correlation largely disappears when the estimates are corrected for serial correlation. Third, estimates based on the components of consumption — spirits, beer and wine — mostly indicate that bans are associated with increased consumption.
Advance technical program

Of central importance to the economic realization of minicomputer applications is the realtime executive. Applications such as data acquisition, process control, communications, and business data processing will be briefly discussed to identify their needs in a realtime executive. The main elements of these executives discussed include memory management, scheduling, data structuring and file handling, inter-program communication, and control structures. The characteristics of any realtime executive are mainly determined by the selection of alternatives for the realization of each of these elements. Various realtime executives will be discussed from this point of view with emphasis on the way the choice of design of the various key elements affect the application of the system.
Computational Modeling in Complex Multinational Domains

Computational modeling faces two major challenges. First, because modeling has demonstrated its value for relatively simple tasks, practitioners are asking for help with tasks in increasingly complex domains. Second, as international interchanges increase in importance, military, corporate, and humanitarian leaders urgently need to capture and better understand national and regional differences. Computational modeling promises to be a powerful tool for representing complex tasks and testing the validity of these representations. Models might also support decision aids and serve as platforms for training. It's time to extend modeling to better accommodate complexity and to include the variations in behavior, roles, values, and cognition that influence international interchange.
Axis I Psychopathology in Bariatric Surgery Candidates with and without Binge Eating Disorder: Results of Structured Clinical Interviews

Prior studies have reached contradictory conclusions concerning whether binge eating disorder (BED) is associated with greater psychopathology in extremely obese patients who seek bariatric surgery. This study used the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Diagnoses (SCID) to compare rates of axis I psychopathology in surgery candidates who were determined to have BED or to be currently free of eating disorders. The relationship of BED to other psychosocial functioning and weight loss goals also was examined. One hundred ninety five bariatric surgery patients completed the Weight and Lifestyle Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and were later administered the Eating Disorder Examination. Of these 195, 44 who were diagnosed with BED, and 61 who were currently free of eating pathology, completed a telephone-administered SCID. Significantly more BED than non-BED participants had a current mood disorder (27.3% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.002) as well as a lifetime history of this condition (52.3% vs. 23.0%, p = 0.003). More BED than non-BED participants also had a current anxiety disorder (27.3% vs. 8.2%, p = 0.014) and lifetime anxiety disorder (36.4% vs. 16.4%, p = 0.019). BED also was associated with greater symptoms of depression, as measured by the BDI-II, as well as with lower self-esteem. BED and non-BED groups, however, did not differ in their desired weight loss goals following surgery. The present findings indicate that the presence of BED, in patients who seek bariatric surgery, is associated with an increased prevalence of axis I psychopathology, beyond the already elevated rate observed with severe (i.e., class III) obesity.
Is it time to translate ischemic preconditioning's mechanism of cardioprotection into clinical practice?

After three decades of intense research on cardioprotection, we still do not have an approved intervention for limiting infarct size in the patient with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) aside from reperfusion therapy. Yet approximately 25% of patients with AMI that are reperfused are still at risk for heart failure because of excessive muscle necrosis. This article will try to make the case that ischemic preconditioning (IPC), still the most potent anti-infarct intervention ever described, is ready for serious clinical testing now. Over the past 25 years, IPC’s mechanism has been largely elucidated and targets a reperfusion injury. Ischemic preconditioning was never considered an intervention for AMI because of its need for pretreatment. However, knowledge of IPC’s mechanism has revealed a large number of drugs and interventions that will activate IPC’s signaling pathway at the time of reperfusion. Several small clinical trials suggest that they can be quite effective, but so far industry seems to have l...