cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast video target tracking in the presence of occlusion and camera motion blur

This paper addresses the issue of tracking partially occluded targets in videos recorded by moving cameras of either handhold or airborne. We propose a fast geometric constraint global motion algorithm to reduce the computation overhead dramatically and the effect caused by outliers from moving targets. A recursive least-squares filter with forgetting factor is utilized to filter out disturbances and to provide a better estimation of the target's position in the current frame as well as the prediction of the position and velocity for the next frame. The filter uses the affine model and the primary search result to construct a kinetic model. After that, a compact search region is formed based on the prediction to reduce mismatch and improve computation speed. The adaptive template matching is applied to improve the performance further. With these important steps, a tracking algorithm is developed and tested on real video sequences.
Role of optics in virtual environments

While computer graphics play a significant component in the development of virtual environments, optics and its interface to the computer graphics software play an essential role as well because they are both required for the effective visualization of virtual environments. Moreover, optical technology is often a component in satisfying stringent tracking requirements. We shall focus in this paper on aspects of virtual environments where optics play a part, describe the development of the VRDA tool for visualization of anatomy, and summarize recent investigations of visual optics for improved head-mounted displays.
Transport properties in polyurethane/clay nanocomposites as barrier materials: Effect of processing conditions

Polyurethane/clay nanocomposites were fabricated in solution and tested as gas barrier membranes. Natural montmorillonite was modified with various alkylammonium surfactants and incorporated into a polyurethane matrix. Permeation properties of the nanocomposites were studied as a function of processing methodology. Pre-processing clay samples with sonication instead of plain stirring led to significantly better barrier properties, suggesting that dispersion of the clay particles is a critical factor. Fitting the experimental permeabilities with phenomenological models, which predict the effective permeability of polymer systems filled with barrier flakes as a function of flake concentration, led to unrealistically low values of calculated aspect ratios of the clay layers.
Pilot Studies of Robotics Suggest Efficacy, but Randomized Clinical Trials Reveal Little: Why?

Robotic assistive devices to aid retraining an upper extremity or enable walking have led to gains in pilot studies of patients with spinal cord injury, as well as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy. When tested scientifically in a randomized clinical trial with blinded assessments and an active control intervention, the results usually reveal equivalent efficacy at best. Confounders in pilot studies play a role in these disappointing results. The conceptual basis for robotic training-induced motor learning may also require examination, if the future of robotics is to produce better interventions for highly impaired patients.
PAHs in sediments of the Black River and the Ashtabula River, Ohio: source apportionment by factor analysis.

Sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Black River and Ashtabula River sediments were apportioned using a factor analysis (FA) model with nonnegative constraints. Source profiles, contributions (μg/g) and percent contributions are determined with no prior knowledge of sources. The FA model includes scaling and backscaling of data with average PAH concentrations, without sample normalization. The present work is a follow-up to studies that used a chemical mass balance model to apportion sources to the same data sets. Literature source profiles, modified based on gas/particle partitioning of individual PAHs, from nine PAH sources were considered for comparison. FA results for a three-source solution indicate traffic (58%), coke oven (26%), and wood burning/coal tar (16%) are the primary PAH sources to Black River sediments. The primary PAH sources to the Ashtabula River sediments are traffic (51%), coke oven (44%), and wood burning (5%). This work supports the previous studies of Black River and Ashtabula River PAHs by CMB model. In addition, FA provides a more realistic fit to Ashtabula River model data by eliminating 100% contributions from one source.
Effects of starvation on the cardiovascular system of the chicken.

SummaryAcute starvation of chickens produces a drop in heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac output. The decline in heart rate, which is influenced by excitement and handling of the bird, may be due to enhanced vagal tone.
Early experience with endoscopic percutaneous gastrostomy.

• We performed endoscopic percutaneous gastrostomy (EPG) on 22 patients. All procedures were performed using local anesthesia with intravenous diazepam sedation. Formal laparotomy was not required. The mean patient age was 58 years (range, 21 to 83 years). indications for EPG placement included neurologic disorders in 17 patients, head and neck tumors in four patients, and esophageal disease in one patient. The mean operative time for EPG was 27.5 minutes, with a range of 11 to 60 minutes. Two major complications, a gastrocolic fistula and an intraperitoneal gastric leak, occurred early in the series. The technique has been modified with no similar complications. Pneumoperitoneum after EPG was demonstrated in eight patients without sequelae. Ileus following EPG was not observed in any patient, and enteral feedings were uniformly resumed 48 hours after tube placement. Our early experience with EPG suggests that this technique is a safe, cost-effective, and time-saving alternative to traditional gastrostomy tube placement. (Arch Surg1983;118:449-453)
Product Customization on the Web: An Empirical Study of Factors Impacting Choiceboard User Satisfaction

Choiceboards are Web-based systems that allow consumers to customize their orders. The study investigated factors that affect consumers' intention to use choiceboards. The research is based on Masons' theory and DeLone and McLean's model of information system use. It was found that intention to use is affected by overall satisfaction. In turn, these two factors are positively impacted by factors such as system quality and information quality. In spite of support from theory, the evidence for the factor, information presentation was weak.
Protective effect of the calcium channel blocker diltiazem on hepatic function following warm ischemia.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of a calcium channel blocker diltiazem (DTZ) on hepatic ischemic injury using a canine model. Hepatic ischemia was induced by temporary clamping of hepatic afferent blood vessels for 60 min with establishment of a portojugular bypass. The administration of DTZ at a dose of 70 μg/kg bolus iv injection before hepatic ischemia and thereafter via the portal vein at a dose of 10 μg/kg/min well restored the hepatic blood flow (HBF, 92 ± 5%; P P P
Operational Concepts in Psychiatric Hospital Management

The psychiatric hospital has traditionally been viewed as a refuge. In general, the concept held to is the one which emphasizes that the people who should be in the hospital are the ones who are suicidal or are a danger to other people or who cannot function even in the most simple non-tension provoking situations that are offered by the community. Recently, however, the mental hospital as described by Stanton and Schwartz may be seen to serve in another capacity, essentially by being a place in which long-term intensive psychotherapy can be administered under conditions of some control and with the advantages of numerous and insightful observations. In the paper presented here, the position is taken that there is yet another way in which an in-patient psychiatric facility may be gainfully used, namely by a situation being formulated, using the particular patient as a reference point, in which experimental findings in behavior and principles gleaned by research may be used to formulate a hospital environm...
A new phase-controlled parallel resonant converter

A phase-controlled resonant converter was obtained by connecting in parallel the AC loads of two identical parallel resonant inverters. A phase shift between the drive signals of the two inverters controls the amplitude of the output voltage of the new inverter. A voltage-driven rectifier is used as an AC load of the inverter, which results in a phase-controlled parallel resonant DC-DC converter. A frequency-domain analysis is performed for the steady-state operation of the inverter, and two types of voltage-driven rectifiers and design equations are derived. The converter can be operated at a constant switching frequency, which reduces EMI problems. It is found that for switching frequencies higher than the resonant frequency by a factor of 1.07, the load of each switching leg is inductive. The converter is capable of regulating the output voltage in the range of load resistance from full-load to no-load. Experimental results are presented for a prototype of the phase-controlled parallel resonant converter with a center-taped rectifier tested at an output power of 50 W and a switching frequency of 116 kHz. >
The Incumbent in the Living Room: The Rise of Television and the Incumbency Advantage in U.S. House Elections

This study shows that the growth of television contributed to the rise in the incumbency advantage in U.S. House elections during the 1960s. Incumbents received positive coverage throughout their term and were generally more newsworthy and better funded than their challengers during the campaign. Less-educated voters, for whom television presented a new, less demanding source of news, were most affected by local television. Analysis of National Elections Studies data reveals that less-educated respondents were more knowledgeable about the incumbent and more likely to vote for the incumbent in districts with television stations. Aggregate analysis shows that incumbents' vote margins increased in proportion to the number of television stations in their districts.
An image-guided technique for planning and verification of supine craniospinal irradiation

We present a technique for planning and verification of craniospinal treatment with the patient in the supine position. Treatment delivery and verification is streamlined through the use of modern imaging techniques. Treatments use two lateral brain fields abutted to a single or pair of posterior spine fields. Treatment delivery is simplified by aligning all isocenters in the anterior-posterior and lateral directions. Patient positioning is accomplished via on-board kV imaging. Verification of field shape and junctions is accomplished with BB placement and MV portal imaging. Daily treatment is simplified by using only longitundinal couch shifts, which are recorded in the patient chart and RV database. The technique is simple to implement in a clinic that is already using a similar beam arrangement with the patient prone. It requires no additional devices to be fabricated (for immobilization or QA), and it takes advantage of all the existing elements of a modern linac.
Desire for fertility among HIV seroconcordant and discordant couples in Lusaka, Zambia

Pregnancy rates and the desire to conceive are increasing among women living with HIV in Africa. However, attempts to conceive may increase the risk of HIV transmission or reinfection. A better understanding of factors influencing fertility desires would significantly contribute to programmes to meet the reproductive needs of women living with HIV. Using a couples-based approach, this paper explored fertility desires among HIV-seroconcordant and -discordant couples in Lusaka, Zambia. Participants were 208 heterosexual couples recruited from community health clinics and their respective catchment areas. Couples completed assessments on demographics, condom use, relationship quality and communication. Desire for children was often shared among couple members, and the strongest predictor of participants' desire for children was having a partner who wanted children. Additionally, the number of children participants had, their own reports of positive communication, and their partner's HIV serostatus influenced...
Microsolvation of Co2+ and Ni2+ by acetonitrile and water: photodissociation dynamics of M2+(CH3CN)n(H2O)m

The microsolvation of cobalt and nickel dications by acetonitrile and water is studied by measuring photofragment spectra at 355, 532 and 560–660 nm. Ions are produced by electrospray, thermalized in an ion trap and mass selected by time of flight. The photodissociation yield, products and their branching ratios depend on the metal, cluster size and composition. Proton transfer is only observed in water-containing clusters and is enhanced with increasing water content. Also, nickel-containing clusters are more likely to undergo charge reduction than those with cobalt. The homogeneous clusters with acetonitrile M2+(CH3CN)n (n = 3 and 4) dissociate by simple solvent loss; n = 2 clusters dissociate by electron transfer. Mixed acetonitrile/water clusters display more interesting dissociation dynamics. Again, larger clusters (n = 3 and 4) show simple solvent loss. Water loss is substantially favored over acetonitrile loss, which is understandable because acetonitrile is a stronger ligand due to its higher dipole moment and polarizability. Proton transfer, forming H+(CH3CN), is observed as a minor channel for M2+(CH3CN)2(H2O)2 and M2+(CH3CN)2(H2O) but is not seen in M2+(CH3CN)3(H2O). Studies of deuterated clusters confirm that water acts as the proton donor. We previously observed proton loss as the major channel for photolysis of M2+(H2O)4. Measurements of the photodissociation yield reveal that four-coordinate Co2+ clusters dissociate more readily than Ni2+ clusters whereas for the three-coordinate clusters, dissociation is more efficient for Ni2+ clusters. For the two-coordinate clusters, dissociation is viaelectron transfer and the yield is low for both metals. Calculations of reaction energetics, dissociation barriers, and the positions of excited electronic states complement the experimental work. Proton transfer in photolysis of Co2+(CH3CN)2(H2O) is calculated to occur via a (CH3CN)Co2+–OH−–H+(NCCH3) salt-bridge transition state, reducing kinetic energy release in the dissociation.
iDASH: integrating data for analysis, anonymization, and sharing

iDASH (integrating data for analysis, anonymization, and sharing) is the newest National Center for Biomedical Computing funded by the NIH. It focuses on algorithms and tools for sharing data in a privacy-preserving manner. Foundational privacy technology research performed within iDASH is coupled with innovative engineering for collaborative tool development and data-sharing capabilities in a private Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-certified cloud. Driving Biological Projects, which span different biological levels (from molecules to individuals to populations) and focus on various health conditions, help guide research and development within this Center. Furthermore, training and dissemination efforts connect the Center with its stakeholders and educate data owners and data consumers on how to share and use clinical and biological data. Through these various mechanisms, iDASH implements its goal of providing biomedical and behavioral researchers with access to data, software, and a high-performance computing environment, thus enabling them to generate and test new hypotheses.
Sparse Representations for Hyperspectral Data Classification

We investigate the use of sparse principal components for representing hyperspectral imagery when performing feature selection. For conventional multispectral data with low dimensionality, dimension reduction can be achieved by using traditional feature selection techniques for producing a subset of features that provide the highest class separability, or by feature extraction techniques via linear transformation. When dealing with hyperspectral data, feature selection is a time consuming task, often requiring exhaustive search of all the feature subset combinations. Instead, feature extraction technique such as PCA is commonly used. Unfortunately, PCA usually involves non-zero linear combinations or 'loadings' of all of the data. Sparse principal components are the sets of sparse vectors spanning a low-dimensional space that explain most of the variance present in the data. Our experiments show that sparse principal components having low-dimensionality still characterize the variance in the data. Sparse data representations are generally desirable for hyperspectral images because sparse representations help in human understanding and in classification.
The Blocking Option in Routing Protocols

Routing protocols are designed under the assumption that each node in a network should be able to reach (i.e. send or forward packets to) every other node in the network. Unfortunately, adopting this assumption in a routing protocol does allow adversary nodes to launch spam or DoS attacks against the other nodes in the network. In this paper, we introduce the "blocking option" in routing protocols; this option allows a node u to block a specified set of nodes {v,..,w} and prevent each of them from reaching node u. It turns out that if node u blocks a large number of nodes, then u may end up blocking other nodes as well. We refer to these unintentionally blocked nodes as blind_to u nodes. Clearly, a node u cannot communicate with its blind nodes in a regular manner. Thus, we extend the routing protocol to allow each node u to communicate with its blind nodes via some special node, called the joint node. To perform its intended function, the joint node needs to be neither blocked by any node nor blind to any node in the network. We give an algorithm for identifying the node that is best suited to be the joint node in a network. Finally, we show, through extensive simulation, that the average number of blind nodes is close to zero when the average number of blocked nodes is small (
Characterization of Murine Glioma by Magnetic Resonance Elastography: Preliminary Results

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a non-invasive imaging technique that permits quantitative measurement of the mechanical properties of biological tissue. In MRE, coherent tissue displacements are induced by a mechanical actuator and images are collected in synchrony with these mechanical motions. Components of displacement in any direction can be measured by applying the motion-encoding gradients along that direction. The mechanical properties of tissue are derived by fitting measured displacement data to the equations governing wave propagation. A number of groups have explored the diagnostic value of MRE in the clinical setting, driven largely by the empirically observed relationship between tissue health and stiffness. The investigation of MRI methods as biomarkers of tumor progression and early therapeutic response remains an extremely active and important area of research. In this regard, MRE has considerable potential for staging cancer and monitoring the effects of therapy. We seek to demonstrate the utility of MRE for cancer staging by tracking the viscoelastic properties of brain tumor in a mouse model of high-grade glioma. Brain tissue viscoelasticity cannot be probed in vivo by any other known imaging technique, yet is suspected to contain valuable information about tissue health. Preliminary results indicate elastographic sensitivity to the presence of brain tumors in the living mouse.
Innovative faculty evaluation criteria for incentivizing high-impact interdisciplinary collaboration

This paper presents five innovative practices in the evaluation of engineering faculty that work collaboratively across disciplines: i) use of a four category meta-matrix for calibrating evaluation standards across diverse research outcomes and practices, ii) replacing the traditional author hierarchy with group authoring practices for collective research products, iii) evaluating and rewarding the size, strength and diversity of a faculty member's network of collaborators, iv) establishing guidelines for balancing interdisciplinary and disciplinary components of the evaluation across collaborating departments and v) using interdisciplinary evaluation committees at all levels of evaluation. These practices are key components of the interdisciplinary evaluation criteria of the School of Arts, Media and Engineering at Arizona State University. This paper presents the development and implementation process of these criteria as well as preliminary results from their use for faculty evaluations over the past five years. It discusses how these practices incentivize substantial interdisciplinary collaborations and related high impact results.
Expression of different molecular mass forms of inhibin in atretic and nonatretic follicles during the early luteal phase and altrenogest-synchronized follicular phase in pigs.

This experiment characterized changes in amounts and proportions of different molecular forms of inhibin in porcine follicular fluid as related to stage of follicular development. Thirty-seven follicles (2-4 per pig) were dissected from 12 pigs during early luteal phase of the estrous cycle on Days 5, 6, and 7 of the estrous cycle, whereas 34 follicles (2-4 per pig) were dissected from 11 pigs on Days 1, 3, 5, and 7 of a follicular phase synchronized by altrenogest. Follicles were designated atretic if incidence of apoptotic granulosa cells was > or = 10% as determined by DNA fluorescence flow cytometry. Porcine follicular fluid was fractionated on 12% SDS-PAGE gels under non-reducing conditions and electroblotted to Immobilin P membranes. Inhibin forms were detected by immunoblot analysis using a mink anti-bovine inhibin alpha C1-26 gly.tyr antiserum and quantified. Immunoblots detected seven bands corresponding to inhibin forms of 44, 49, 58, 69, 121, 227, and > 227 kDa in > 91% of porcine follicular fluid samples. Three additional forms of 27, 29, and 32 kDa were detectable in only 52%, 64%, and 48% of samples, respectively. Forms > or = 69 kDa represented 83% of total inhibin immunoblot activity. The 121-kDa form was most abundant, with 39% of the total immunoblot activity in nonatretic follicles. The proportions of individual forms and total immunoblot activity pooled over days did not differ between early luteal and follicular phase follicles. Total inhibin immunoblot activity was 59% less in atretic than in nonatretic follicles. Amounts of the 44-, 49-, 69-, 121-, and 227-kDa forms were 50-80% lower (p < or = 0.05) in atretic than in nonatretic follicles. Total inhibin immunoblot activity in nonatretic follicles decreased (p < or = 0.05) by 60% during the early luteal phase but did not change significantly during the follicular phase. In nonatretic follicles, the 121-kDa form decreased (p < 0.05) during the early luteal and follicular phases. During the early luteal phase, amounts of the other forms did not change, whereas during the follicular phase the 44-kDa form increased (p < 0.05) 10-fold. In atretic follicles, neither amount nor proportion of inhibin forms differed among days. We conclude that follicular production and/or intracellular processing of inhibin dimer and/or inhibin alpha subunits changes during different phases of follicular development, supporting the notion of physiological roles for these peptides.
Gain normalization in a 4200 bps homomorphic vocoder

The authors describe a novel technique for coding the gains in a vector excitation homomorphic vocoder. In this system, the excitation signal, which is obtained by analysis-by-synthesis, consists of a part derived from a Gaussian codebook and a part derived from the past excitation. The authors show how the correlation between the two gain parameters of the excitation can be increased and how they can be jointly coded at a lower bit rate. This approach makes it possible to reduce the bit rate of the homomorphic vocoder from 4800 b/s to 4200 b/s with essentially no degradation in speech quality. >
Impact of the Tropopause Temperature on the Intensity of Tropical Cyclones: An Idealized Study Using a Mesoscale Model

This study investigates the impact of the tropopause temperature on the intensity of idealized tropical cyclones (TCs) superimposed on background states of radiative‐convective equilibrium (RCE) in a threedimensional (3D) mesoscale model. Simulations are performed with constant sea surface temperature and an isothermal stratosphere with constant tropopause temperature. The potential intensity (PI) computed from thethermodynamicprofilesoftheRCEstate(beforetheTCsaresuperimposedonit)increasesby0.4‐1ms 21 for each 1 K of tropopause temperature reduction. The 3D TC experiments yield intense tropical cyclones whose intensities exceed the PI value substantially. It is further shown that the discrepancy may be largely explained by the supergradient wind in the 3D simulations. The intensities of these 3D TCs increase by ;0.4ms 21 per 1 K of cooling in the tropopause temperature in RCE, on the low end of the PI dependence on thetropopausetemperature.Sensitivityexperimentswithalargerhorizontalgridspacingof8kmproduceless intense TCs, as expected, but similar dependence (;20.5ms 21 K 21 ) on tropopause temperature. Equilibrium TC solutions are further obtained in 200-day experiments with different values of constant stratospheric temperature. Similar relationships between TC intensity and tropopause temperature are also found in these equilibrium TC solutions.
A stochastic model for predicting the service life of photolytically degraded poly(methyl methacrylate) films

A stochastic model has been proposed and partially validated for predicting the service life of a nominal population of polymethyl methacrylate films subjected to photolytic degradation. Here, service life is defined as the time after which an unacceptable portion of a nominal population of PMMA films subjected to photodegradation have failed; failure occurs when a performance property of the film falls below a predesignated minimum value. The stochastic model has two parts. The first part uses a Poisson distribution in computing the probability that exactly K photon related chain scissions will occur in the film in the interval [0, t). The parameter of the Poisson distribution is made functionally dependent on temperature and the intensity of radiation absorbed. The second part determines the probability that a performance property will be greater than a minimum value after K chain scissions. This part is called the damage process. Together, the two parts of the model form a compound Poisson process. The main points of the models are validated against 25 published data sets. The plausibility of the Poisson process was substantiated for modeling the number of chain scissions occurring in the interval [0, t). Also, it was demonstrated that the expected change in two performance properties of the films was functionally related to the expected number of chain scissions.
Barack Obama Meets Celebrity Metaphor

Common knowledge suggests that elections are won or lost based on demographics, finances, and other structural elements. Whether candidates win or lose, however, is a matter of action. Symbolic identification, metaphor, and an unfolding narrative—and how they are managed and interpreted in the flow of events—determine who will emerge victorious from the democratic struggle for power. The McCain campaign’s effort to cast Obama as a celebrity, with the hollow trivialities and self-aggrandizement of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, proves to be one of the most dangerous episodes for the Obama campaign. In response, the Democrats must adjust the staging of Obama’s Thursday night acceptance speech in Denver as a performance of purpose and gravitas, rather than glitz and adoration.
Synaptic Activation Causes the mRNA for the IEG Arc to Localize Selectively near Activated Postsynaptic Sites on Dendrites

Polyribosomal complexes beneath postsynaptic sites on dendrites provide a substrate for local translation of particular mRNAs, but the signals that target mRNAs to synapses remain to be defined. Here, we report that high frequency activation of the perforant path projections to the dentate gyrus causes newly synthesized mRNA for the immediate-early gene (IEG) Arc to localize selectively in activated dendritic segments. Newly synthesized Arc protein also accumulates in the portion of the dendrite that had been synaptically activated. The targeting of Arc mRNA was not disrupted by locally inhibiting protein synthesis, indicating that the signals for mRNA localization reside in the mRNA itself. This novel mechanism through which newly synthesized mRNA is precisely targeted to activated synapses is well suited to play a role in the enduring forms of activity-dependent synaptic modification that require protein synthesis.
Modulation by ellagic acid of DCA-induced developmental toxicity in the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The ability of ellagic acid (EA) to modulate dichloroacetic acid (DCA)-induced developmental toxicity and oxidative damage was examined in zebrafish embryos. Embryos were exposed to 20 mM EA administered concomitantly with 32 mM DCA at 4 hours postfertilization (hpf) and 20 h later. Embryos were observed through 144 hpf for developmental malformations, and production of superoxide anion (SA) and nitric oxide (NO) was determined in embryonic homogenates. DCA was shown to produce developmental abnormalities and significant levels of SA and NO in zebrafish embryos. EA exposure alleviated the developmental malformations observed in treated embryos and decreased the levels of SA and NO in those same embryos. Less than 10% of DCA + EA exposed embryos showed developmental malformations compared to 100% of embryos treated with DCA alone. Animals in this group that developed malformations were shown to have fewer defects than those treated with DCA only. Taken together, the results confirm the involvement of oxidative stress in the developmental toxicity of DCA in zebrafish embryos, and suggest possible protection against those effects with the use of antioxidants.
Chronically Increased Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Strongly Inhibits Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Aged Mice

There is increasing evidence that hippocampal learning correlates strongly with neurogenesis in the adult brain. Increases in neurogenesis after brain injury also correlate with improved outcomes. With aging the capacity to generate new neurons decreases dramatically, both under normal conditions and after injury. How this decrease occurs is not fully understood, but we hypothesized that transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, a cell cycle regulator that rapidly increases after injury and with age, might play a role. We found that chronic overproduction of TGF-β1 from astrocytes almost completely blocked the generation of new neurons in aged transgenic mice. Even young adult TGF-β1 mice had 60% fewer immature, doublecortin-positive, hippocampal neurons than wild-type littermate controls. Bromodeoxyuridine labeling of dividing cells in 2-month-old TGF-β1 mice confirmed this decrease in neuro-genesis and revealed a similar decrease in astrogenesis. Treatment of early neural progenitor cells with TGF-β1 inhibited their proliferation. This strongly suggests that TGF-β1 directly affects these cells before their differentiation into neurons and astrocytes. Together, these data show that TGF-β1 is a potent inhibitor of hippocampal neural progenitor cell proliferation in adult mice and suggest that it plays a key role in limiting injury and age-related neurogenesis.
Copper catalysis in organic synthesis.

Copper is a very versatile transition metal that has been used as a building material by human civilizations for over 6000 years. Copper is also an essential element, responsible for important biological processes. The title of this Thematic Series published in the Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry is “Copper catalysis in organic synthesis”. A web of scienceTM topic search of “copper-catalyzed synthesis” indicated over 500 papers had been published in 2014. In point of fact, there has been a steady increase in publications on this topic since 1988. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the topics centered on copper nitrene reactivity (e.g., aziridination), copper carbene chemistry, conjugate additions and cross-coupling reactions. Some of the most highly cited papers of all time on this topic are reviews on conjugate addition, cross-coupling, and [3 + 2] “Click” reaction applied to bioconjugation. The growth in copper-catalyzed organic reactions may be driven by a couple of factors. First, copper chemistry is incredibly diverse. Depending on its oxidation state, this metal can efficiently catalyze reactions involving both one and two-electron (radical and polar) mechanisms, or both. Copper coordinates easily to heteroatoms and to π-bonds and is well-known to activate terminal alkynes. The Ullman and Goldberg C–C and C–N cross-coupling reactions were discovered over a century ago and their development has really blossomed over the past twenty years. Second, copper is an earth-abundant metal, making its use more cost effective and more sustainable than precious transition metal catalysts. Over 25 contributions from leaders in the field of copper-catalysis from 7 countries make up this Thematic Series, “Copper catalysis in organic synthesis”. Contributions include authoritative reviews on the latest developments in copper-catalyzed Click applications, C–N cross-coupling, C–H functionalization, trifluoromethylations, asymmetric Ullmann and Goldberg couplings, asymmetric acetylide additions to carbonyl groups, radical alkylations and asymmetric conjugate additions as well as original contributions in the area of copper-catalyzed C–C cross-coupling, conjugate additions, allylic alkylations, alkene difunctionalizations, heterocycle synthesis, amide bond formation and photochemical Click reaction development. I am grateful to the contributors and the reviewers who participated in the production of this Thematic Series. It is clear from the impact copper catalysis has had on organic synthesis that copper should be considered a first line catalyst for many organic reactions. I anticipate further growth in the field in the years to come. Sherry R. Chemler Buffalo, November 2015
Ventricular Tachycardia from a Central Line Fracture Fragment Embolus: A Rare Complication of a Commonly Used Procedure—A Case Report and Review of the Relevant Literature

A 22-year-old male admitted with multiple gunshot wounds (GSW) had central line placed initially for hemodynamic monitoring and later for long term antibiotics and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). On postoperative day 4 he presented with bouts of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia; the cause was unknown initially and later attributed to a catheter fragment accidentally severed and lodged in the right heart. Percutaneous retrieval technique was used to successfully extract the catheter fragment and complete recovery was achieved.
Augmented Water Law

There are two possible broad strategies to address the challenge of water scarcity – limit water demand through conservation, or augment water supply. With respect to increasing supply, there are several possible approaches, including traditional approaches such as drilling more wells, increasing reservoir capacity, rainwater harvesting, or seawater desalination. But these approaches may only ultimately exacerbate water scarcity or result in unacceptable environmental impacts. This essay focuses on three non-traditional approaches to water augmentation – bulk water imports, watershed management, and cloud seeding. This essay evaluates the viability of each of these approaches within the context of existing legal regimes and proposes three possible reforms that could facilitate responsible non-traditional water augmentation projects when appropriate.
Efficient Discrimination of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) Using Oligonucleotides Modified with C5‐Pyrene‐Functionalized DNA and Flanking Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) Monomers

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides modified with 5-[3-(1-pyrenecarboxamido)propynyl]-2'-deoxyuridine monomer X and proximal LNA monomers display higher affinity for complementary DNA, more pronounced increases in fluorescence emission upon DNA binding, and improved discrimination of SNPs at non-stringent conditions, relative to the corresponding LNA-free probes across a range of sequence contexts. The results reported herein suggest that the introduction of LNA monomers influences the position of nearby fluorophores via indirect conformational restriction, a characteristic that can be utilized to develop optimized fluorophore-labeled probes for SNP-discrimination studies.
Entomology in the American Institute of Biological Sciences

Our leaders during World War II and the immediate-post-war period realized that the biological sciences were so fractionated they could never fully serve mankind or even promote their own welfare in meeting their future responsibilities to a dynamic industrialized society. The need for skillful, progressive collaboration among the disciplines of biology had never before been so obvious.
A mathematical model studying mosquito-stage transmission-blocking vaccines

A compartmental deterministic model is proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of transmission-blocking vaccines of malaria, which targets at the parasite stage in the mosquito. The model is rigorously analyzed and numerical simulations are performed. The results and implications are discussed.
A Comparison of the Effect of Two Force Molting Methods on Performance of Two Commercial Strains of Laying Hens

A low-sodium diet (.08% Na) was used to force molt 409 hens. Another 421 hens were force molted by conventional water and feed restrictions. Birds were 68 weeks of age at that time, and two strains were about equally represented in each treatment group. These strains were: A, DeKalb; and B, Hisex. The low-sodium diet and water were provided ad libitum to the first group for the entire period of molt (42 days). The second group received no water for 3 days, and no feed for 4 days, after which incremental amounts of whole oats were provided as the only feed until Day 18. After Day 18, incremental amounts of a regular laying mash and decremental amounts of whole oats were provided through Day 26, when laying mash only was given ad libitum. Both treatment groups were in the same building and received the same lighting program during the force-molt period. This program consisted of: Days 1 to 3, no light; Days 4 to 18, 8 hr/day; Days 19 to 25, 9 hr/day; Day 26, 10 hr; then, light was increased 30 min weekly until 14 hr daily was attained. The low-sodium group ceased laying after 28 to 31 days, lost 8.7% of their premolt body weight, reduced feed consumption by 35%, and decreased egg production from 62.3% (in the 28 days preceding the molt) to 19% in the 42 days of molt; their mortality rate was 3.4%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Chromosomes of "mongoloid" hamsters.

SummaryThe chromosomes were studied in 8 adult Syrian hamsters which had developed “mongolism” following an intracerebral inoculation of virus in the neonatal period. No significant chromosome abnormalities were detected. It is concluded that viral-induced “mongolism” in the hamster is an example of selective postnatal developmental arrest and that the particular manifestations of the condition can be accounted for on the basis of cell depletion due to the lethal effect of virus on dividing cells.
Risk Factors Affecting the Low Cost Carriers Industry of ASEAN

The purpose of this research was to study the risk factors affecting the low cost carrier industry and also to provide guidelines to reduce the risk. The research was conducted by studying the documents, in depth interviews with personnel at the airports in Thailand, staff of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand and 30 executives from low cost carriers of which 25 executives gave main information. It was found that the risk affecting the low cost carriers industry consists of 2 main factors: Risks in aviation industry and risks in operating the business. Guidelines were provided to reduce the risks. The application of Porter’s 5 Force Model would help to manage low cost carriers industry effectively.
885nm diode pumped Nd∶YAG laser

In diode pumped Nd∶YAG lasers,the quantum defect is the most important parameter determining the thermal load of the laser crystal.This can be reduced dramatically by direct pumping into the upper laser level.A bar diode stack with central wavelength of 885nm was used to pump a Nd∶YAG crystal with 55mm in length and 5.5mm in diameter.Compared several output-couplers,the maximum static pulse energy of 138mJ was obtained with 58% transmittance and the corresponding optical-to-optical efficiency was 12%.The results show the possibility of 885nm diode direct pump,also it is helpful for the project's process.
Community structure and regeneration types of Neolitsea sericea in Tiantong, Zhejiang Province.

Neolitsea sericea,a rare tree species,is mainly distributed in the Zhoushan Archipelago Region.In Tiantong of Ningbo,the natural distribution of the N.sericea community (1 200 m2) was found within surveying ecological service forests.To determine the structure and quantify the N.sericea community,all woody species within 30 m×30 m quadrats were identified and measured.Then,based on size-class and frequency distribution patterns,woody plant species were categorized into regeneration types.Forty-one species of plants,belonging to 21 families,were recorded in the woody layer with four dominant species.Woody species regeneration was categorized into four types:Inverse-J,Unimodal,Unibar,and L (layering) type,with N.sericea being an Inverse-J type species.Thus,N.sericea,which regenerated through new stems and sprouts,was a long-lived,dominant woody species in the community.The habitat of this shrub community was similar to that of Damao Island,whereas its leaves were mostly like those of Putuo Island.
Rules for Counting Warships, 1494–1860

Earlier mention has been made in Chapter 2 of the analytical convenience provided by the tendencies toward standardising warships which resulted in the development of the ship-of-the-line, the capital warship of the mid-seventeenth to the first half of the nineteenth centuries. Nevertheless, this period constitutes less than half and closer to a third of the five centuries in question. Clearly, the operationalisation procedures will have to go beyond simply indicating an intention to count ships-of-the-line. For that matter, there are also some comparability problems ‘hidden’ in the ship-of-the-line concept. The procedures will also have to be sufficiently flexible to be able to take into account changes in naval technology — predominantly in terms of gunnery.
Empirical Scholarship on the Prosecution Process at the Patent Office (PTO)

In this book chapter, we summarize empirical scholarship examining the patent prosecution process at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Altered microtubule dynamics in neurodegenerative disease: Therapeutic potential of microtubule-stabilizing drugs

Many neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by deficiencies in neuronal axonal transport, a process in which cellular cargo is shuttled with the aid of molecular motors from the cell body to axonal termini and back along microtubules (MTs). Proper axonal transport is critical to the normal functioning of neurons, and impairments in this process could contribute to the neuronal damage and death that is characteristic of neurodegenerative disease. Although the causes of axonal transport abnormalities may vary among the various neurodegenerative conditions, in many cases it appears that the transport deficiencies result from a diminution of axonal MT stability. Here we review the evidence of MT abnormalities in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and traumatic brain injury, and highlight the potential benefit of MT-stabilizing agents in improving axonal transport and nerve function in these diseases. Moreover, we discuss the challenges associated with the utilization of MT-stabilizing drugs as therapeutic candidates for neurodegenerative conditions.
Method for Measuring Macrophage Iron Efflux in Vitro and in Vivo Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract Anemia of inflammation (AI) is the disturbance of iron homeostasis manifest by a decrease in absorption of dietary iron from the gastrointestinal tract and by iron sequestration by reticuloendothelial macrophages. It is widely recognized that elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines and other mediators from activated immune cells are the primary causes of AI. More specifically, it is the abnormally decreased rate of iron efflux from macrophages and enterocytes that appear to be the crucial pathophysiology. Increasingly, the central role of the liver-derived factor hepcidin is recognized in mediating the disturbances of iron absorption, sequestration and utilization that characterize AI. Hepcidin decreases iron absorption from the duodenal enterocytes and promotes the sequestration of iron in the reticuloendothelial macrophages by down regulating the transmembrane iron export protein, ferroportin. Thus the regulation of hepatic hepcidin expression becomes of paramount interest in the study of AI. We have shown that bone morphogenetic protein is critical for the regulation of hepcidin expression. The aim of our study is to develop a model to study iron efflux both in vitro and in vivo using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This was done by experimentally measuring spin-spin relaxation times (T2 measured in sec-1) through multi-echo, spin-echo technique (16 echoes) on a 4.7 T Bruker pharmacan experimental MRI imager. Iron loaded cells exhibit lower T2 values than normal control cells. In vitro, hepatomas Hep3B and macrophages J774 and Raw 264.7 were loaded with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MION) overnight. The next morning (baseline), the intracellular and extracellular iron content was serially measured for up to 24 hours using MRI. As expected, both J774 and Raw 264.7 cells lines displayed lower intracellular T2 values in comparison to baselines. In addition, both ferroportin and the iron storage protein ferritin were modulated following overnight MION treatment and 24 hours post baseline. In contrast, Hep3B cells did not take up any significant MION following overnight treatment. In vivo, normal mice on a normal diet were given an intravenous MION injection dosed at 10mg/kg iron. MRI was performed at baseline, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs post injection. 24 hours post injection, T2 increased in both liver and spleen (liver > spleen). Following the 24 hour spike, the T2 values in the mice decreased for up to 72 hours after injection with a rate in the liver mildly increased relative to the rate of decrease in the spleen.