cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Nonlinear Strain-Curvature-Displacement Relationships for Thin Elastic Shells

T N RECENT YEARS a large number of investigations have been made in problem areas involving the nonlinear, large-deflection theory for the static deflection, vibration, and buckling of shells. These investigations require the use of the nonlinear relationships between the strains and curvatures and the displacements. For example, a very good approach to these problems is by means of the Rayleigh-Ritz technique. Using this technique one can readily avoid the solution of the difficult nonlinear differential equations by choosing combinations of deflection functions with undetermined coefficients which satisfy the boundary conditions exactly. The coefficients are then determined so as to make the total energy of the elastic system a minimum, thereby giving the best approximation—e.g., deflection, vibration frequency, buckling load—to the exact solution as is obtainable with the functions chosen. The strain energy stored in a shell is given by. 2
Raman oscillation, frequency upconversion, and Raman amplification at phonon-polariton resonance

We have shown that Raman oscillation, frequency upconversion, and Raman amplification can be achieved in a second-order nonlinear medium at the phonon-polariton resonance.
Mid-infrared ultrafast and nonlinear spectroscopy of semiconductors

Our recent experiments using 140 fs pulses of intense, coherent, and tunable mid-infrared (MIR) radiation produced by an optical parametric amplifier are described. These experiments explored MIR ultrafast and nonlinear optical phenomena in bulk semiconductors, InMnAs/GaSb ferromagnetic heterostructures, and single-wall carbon nanotubes.
Novel Pharmacological Strategies in the Treatment of Life‐Threatening Cytomegalovirus Infections

Two novel antiviral pharmacologic strategies were used for therapy of life- and sight-threatening cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection; these were continuous drug infusion by portable pump and individualized patient regimen. 9-(1,3-Dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)-guanine (DHPG), an active and recently licensed antiviral drug against cytomegalovirus infection, was administered to five immunocompromised patients with chorioretinitis (all patients), colitis (two), and pneumonitis (three). Through dosage escalation, correlations between plasma levels, toxicity (i.e., myelosuppression), and clinical benefit were ascertained for therapy of acute disease (pneumonitis) as well as long-term therapy (chorioretinitis). Resolution of viremia, pneumonitis, colitis, and chorioretinitis was accomplished with steady-state plasma levels of DHPG approximating the mean ID50 of CMV isolates. The most notable clinical benefit was survival from CMV pneumonia and stabilization of vision. Although no adverse toxicity occurred during the DHPG continuous long-term therapy, survival was limited by the underlying disease.
CHAPTER 9 – Calcium-Regulating Hormones: Vitamin D, Parathyroid Hormone, Calcitonin

This chapter provides an overview of the calcium-regulating hormones. For optimal growth and function, living organisms require an adequate supply of calcium and phosphate to meet their metabolic and structural needs. Higher organisms must be dietarily supplied with calcium and phosphorus on a continual basis. The plasma concentrations of these substances are maintained within a surprisingly narrow limit by an endogenous control mechanism, often of great subtlety and elegant precision. The principal organs of the body involved in the maintenance of calcium and phosphate homeostasis are the intestine, kidney, and bone. The three principal endocrine regulators of calcium and phosphorus metabolism are the two peptide hormones, parathyroid hormone and calcitonin, and vitamin D and its metabolites. The interdependent actions of these three hormones of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis reflect the crucial roles of both calcium and phosphate in the biological processes of higher animals. It is vital that the extracellular calcium ion concentration is maintained within narrow limits; accordingly, the higher the phylogenetic order, the greater the complexity of endocrinological interrelationships and mechanisms developed to insure ion homeostasis.
A Technique for the Measurement of Electron Attachment to Short–Lived Excited Species

A technique is described for the measurement of electron attachment to short—lived (≲ 10-9 s) excited species. Preliminary results are presented for photoenhanced electron attachment to short—lived electronically—excited states of triethylamine molecules produced by laser two—photon excitation. The attachment cross sections for these excited states are estimated to be > 10-11 cm2 and are ~ 107 larger compared to those for the unexcited (ground—state) molecules.
Clinical Utility of Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody Testing in Ocular Myasthenia Gravis

Importance The sensitivity of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody testing is thought to be lower in ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) compared with generalized disease, although estimates in small-scale studies vary. There is little information in the literature about the implications of AChR antibody levels and progression from OMG to generalized myasthenia gravis. Objectives To test the hypothesis that serum AChR antibody testing is more sensitive in OMG than previously reported and to examine the association between AChR antibody levels and progression from OMG to generalized myasthenia gravis. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective, observational cohort study was conducted of 223 patients (mean [SD] age, 59.2 [16.4] years; 139 [62.3%] male) diagnosed with OMG between July 1, 1986, and May 31, 2013, at 2 large, academic medical centers. Main Outcomes and Measures Baseline characteristics, OMG symptoms, results of AChR antibody testing, and progression time to generalized myasthenia gravis (if this occurred) were recorded for each patient. Multiple logistic regression was used to measure the association between all clinical variables and antibody result. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to examine time to generalization. Results Among the 223 participants, AChR antibody testing results were positive in 158 participants (70.9%). In an adjusted model, increased age at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04; P = .007) and progression to generalized myasthenia gravis (OR, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.18-7.26; P = .02) were significantly associated with positive antibody test results. Women were less likely to have a positive antibody test result (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.19-0.68; P = .002). Patients who developed symptoms of generalized myasthenia gravis had a significantly higher mean (SD) antibody level than those who did not develop symptoms of generalized myasthenia gravis (12.7 [16.5] nmol/L vs 4.2 [7.9] nmol/L; P = .002). Conclusions and Relevance We demonstrate a higher sensitivity of AChR antibody testing than previously reported in the largest cohort of patients with OMG available to date. Older age, male sex, and progression to generalized myasthenia gravis were significantly associated with a positive antibody test result. In addition, to our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between high AChR antibody levels and progression from OMG to generalized disease.
Effects of Pulse Distortion on Phase Velocity Measurements Using the Zero-Crossing Shift Technique

One of the technique that is often used in the measurement of phase velocities of guided elastic modes is the zero-crossing shift technique. Using this technique, one measures time delays (usually through a counter) of a specific zero-crossing for a number of different separation distances of two transducers. The phase velocity Vp is computed as the slope of the distance-delay plot. For non-dispersive waves, this produces no problem as the pulse retains its shape as it propagates.
Cotton Sector Strategies in West and Central Africa (English Version)

Cotton production is truly a success story in West and Central Africa. The region is now the second largest exporter of lint, after the United States, with a world market share of 15 percent. Despite its strong performance in the past, the sector is characterized by several institutional and structural weaknesses that jeopardize its viability in an era of increasing globalization of the cotton industry. The sector's future performance will also depend on the implications of cotton sector policies in major producing countries such as the United States, the European Union, and China. This paper examines how the above factors may affect future growth of the region's cotton industry. It also identifies the changes that are required to enable countries in the region to fully exploit the sector's significant growth potential . This paper - a product of Rural Development 2, Africa Technical Families -is part of a larger effort in the region to contribute to the debate on development strategies in West and Central Africa. The authors may be contacted at obadiane@worldbank.org, dghura@limf.org, or pmasson@imf.org.
Pyostomatitis vegetans: Report of a case

Abstract The case history of a patient with pyostomatitis vegetans has been presented. The condition was characterized in its early stage by painless minute miliary abscesses; later, the lesions became verrucous in character. Microscopically, there was a marked acanthosis and keratosis. Microscopic abscesses were present in the epithelium. There was a dense cellular infiltration of the tunica propria, with the cosinophil predominating.
Role strain in occupational therapy fieldwork educators.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if occupational therapy fieldwork educators are experiencing role strain. PARTICIPANTS: Were recruited from a convenience sample of a university database of 315 fieldwork sites. METHODS: The Role Strain in Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Educators Inventory was used to gather qualitative and quantitative data about practice. RESULTS:The overall mean for role strain was 2.34/5 with a 73% return rate. The majority of participants fell into the moderate to low role strain category. Individuals with 5–10 years of practice had the greatest amount of role strain (2.43, SD 0.51, n=60). Participants working in pediatric settings had role strain in the moderate range. CONCLUSIONS: Nine items emerged with the highest amount of role strain, such as coping with job expectations and inadequate time to meet role expectations. Creation of strategies to reduce role strain should be a priority in our changing healthcare environment.
On the origin of the second-order nonlinearity in strained Si–SiN structures

The development of efficient low-loss electro-optic and nonlinear components based on silicon or its related compounds, such as nitrides and oxides, is expected to dramatically enhance silicon photonics by eliminating the need for non-CMOS-compatible materials. While bulk Si is centrosymmetric and thus displays no second-order (χ(2)) effects, a body of experimental evidence accumulated in the last decade demonstrates that when a strain gradient is present, a significant χ(2) and Pockels coefficient can be observed. In this work we connect a strain-gradient-induced χ(2) with another strain-gradient-induced phenomenon, the flexoelectric effect. We show that even in the presence of an extremely strong strain gradient, the degree by which a nonpolar material like Si can be altered cannot possibly explain the order of magnitude of observed χ(2) phenomena. At the same time, in a polar material like SiN, each bond has a large nonlinear polarizability, so when the inversion symmetry is broken by a strain gradient, a small (few degrees) reorientation of bonds can engender χ(2) of the magnitude observed experimentally. It is our view therefore that the origin of the nonlinear and electro-optic effects in strained Si structures lies not in the Si itself but in the material providing the strain: the silicon nitride cladding.
Measurement of Steady-State Growth Rates of a Thermophilic Alga Directly in Nature

Steady-state growth rates of thermophilic algae can be determined directly in nature in the flowing waters of a hot spring channel by measuring the rate of loss of algal cells when the channel is darkened. The half time of the loss rate in the steady state is identical to the generation time. We studied the unicellular blue-green alga Synechococcus in Yellowstone National Park. Temperature and flow rate remained relatively constant throughout the experiment. Quantitative cores were taken and homogenized; the algal cells were then counted by use of a Petroff-Hausser counting chamber. After ascertaining that the algal population was in a steady state, the channel was darkened in such a way that neither flow rate nor temperature was altered. The population began to decrease within 1 day; the loss rate was exponential with time for 2 to 3 decades. Half times were then calculated from these loss rates. The growth rates found were considerably lower than those for the same organism in laboratory culture. The results suggest that in nature the organism may be an obligate phototroph. In two cases, after the algal populations decreased to an undetectable level, the dark covers were removed and the rate of recolonization was measured. The kinetics of recolonization were different from the kinetics of washout.
Rapid colorimetric determination of free fatty acids

In 1964, a method was described for the determination of free fatty acids (FFAs) in vegetable oil. This paper describes an expansion of that work, improving the sensitivity and reproducibility of the method, as well as examination of solubilities of the copper soaps as a function of chain length and unsaturation. Involvement of the micellar structure was reviewed. Finally, a procedure is described that permits very rapid determination of FFA at the 2.0–14.0 µmol (0.5–4.0 mg oleic acid) level, and the results with several oils are given. Particular attention was given to evaluation of solvent systems which would extract the copper complexes.
Communication structure and the locus of the reinforcing function of speaking in reply

The communication structure of experiments on the reinforcing function of speaking in reply is designed to permit the subject to reply to the other person while rigorously excluding information feedback, and consequently it is unlikely that a social influence mechanism could be the locus of the reinforcing effect. It is possible to design a communication structure which increases the opportunity for social influence within the no-feedback structural constraint. An experimental group having such a structure (N = 50) was compared with a control group which followed the standard reply procedure (N = 50), and the results unambiguously confirmed that the locus of the reinforcement effect does not lie in social influence or the opportunity for social influence.
Classroom Quality, Concentration of Children with Special Needs, and Child Outcomes in Head Start

The associations among classroom quality, classroom percentage of children with special needs, and child outcome measures were tested in low- and high-quality classrooms using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). No main effect on child outcomes for the classroom concentration of children with special needs was observed. However, an interaction between classroom quality and the percentage of children in the classroom who had special needs was found. A high-quality classroom environment serving no children with special needs was associated with more favorable classroom mean scores on social behaviors for typically developing children. Inversely, the combination of high-quality classroom environment and more than 20% children with special needs was associated with more problem behaviors and lower scores in print concepts for typical children.
Comparison of Standard-Dose and Reduced-Dose Expiratory MDCT Techniques for Assessment of Tracheomalacia in Children

Rationale and Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the effects of radiation dose reduction on the assessment of the tracheal lumen on expiratory multidetector computed tomographic (MDCT) images of pediatric patients referred for evaluation for tracheomalacia (TM). Materials and Methods The hospital information system was used to retrospectively identify 20 standard-dose and 20 reduced-dose paired inspiratory and expiratory MDCT studies performed for the evaluation of suspected TM in pediatric patients (aged ≤ 18 years). The reduced-dose technique used a 50% reduction of the tube current for the expiratory portion of the study compared to the standard-dose technique. Two experienced pediatric radiologists, who were blinded to the tube current of the study, reported their levels of confidence for measuring the tracheal lumen using a four-point scale ranging from zero (no confidence) to three (highest level of confidence). The difference in confidence level between the two groups of studies was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The percentage of radiation dose reduction using the reduced-dose technique in comparison to the standard-dose technique was estimated using anthropomorphic thorax phantoms. The presence or absence of TM (≥50% expiratory reduction in tracheal cross-sectional luminal area) on MDCT imaging was compared to bronchoscopic results for the subset of 32 patients who underwent both procedures. Results A high level of confidence was reported for measuring the tracheal lumen on MDCT imaging for both standard-dose (median, 3.0) and reduced-dose (median, 3.0) expiratory sequences (P = .80). The total radiation dose of the paired inspiratory-expiratory computed tomographic (CT) exam was decreased by 23% with the reduced-dose technique. TM was diagnosed by CT imaging in seven patients who underwent standard-dose and six patients who underwent reduced-dose paired inspiratory and expiratory MDCT studies. CT results for the presence or absence of TM were concordant with the results of bronchoscopy in all 32 patients who underwent both procedures. Conclusion The radiation dose of paired inspiratory-expiratory CT imaging can be reduced by 23% while maintaining similar diagnostic confidence for assessment of the tracheal lumen compared to a standard-dose technique in pediatric patients. Thus, a reduced-dose technique is recommended for evaluating TM in children.
Circuitry and functional aspects of the insular lobe in primates including humans

The progress made in understanding the insula in the decade following an earlier review (Augustine, Neurol. Res., 7 (1985) 2-10) is examined in this review. In these ten years, connections have been described between the insula and the orbital cortex, frontal operculum, lateral premotor cortex, ventral granular cortex, and medial area 6 in the frontal lobe. Insular connections between the second somatosensory area and retroinsular area of the parietal lobe have been documented. The insula was found to connect with the temporal pole and the superior temporal sulcus of the temporal lobe. It has an abundance of local intrainsular connections and projections to subdivisions of the cingulate gyrus. The insula has connections with the lateral, lateral basal, central, cortical and medial amygdaloid nuclei. It also connects with nonamygdaloid areas such as the perirhinal cortex, entorhinal, and periamygdaloid cortex. The thalamic taste area, the parvicellular part of the ventral posteromedial nucleus, projects fibers to the ipsilateral insular-opercular cortex. In the past decade, confirmation has been given to the insula as a visceral sensory area, visceral motor area, motor association area, vestibular area, and language area. Recent studies have expanded the role of the insula as a somatosensory area, emphasizing its multifaceted, sensory role. The idea of the insula as limbic integration cortex has been affirmed and its role in Alzheimer's disease suggested.
Influence of impurities on two-level systems in amorphous ice

High-density amorphous (HDA) ice has a two-level system (TLS) optical density of states with a strength comparable to that found in many conventional glasses, whereas for the low-density amorphous (LDA) phase the TLS strength is at least 30 times smaller. Isotopic substitution resulting in 50% of the molecules having lower symmetry fails to change this strength ratio suggesting that the observed difference is not due to a breaking of the tetrahedral selection rule in the HDA phase. By doping the samples with different concentrations of LiCl, methanol, HF, NaCl, LiOH, and NaOH we have explored both the defect-induced TLS optical density of states and the glass transition characteristics in the LDA ice phase.
Phase I/II randomized trial of aerobic exercise in Parkinson disease in a community setting.

Objectives: To (1) investigate effects of aerobic walking on motor function, cognition, and quality of life in Parkinson disease (PD), and (2) compare safety, tolerability, and fitness benefits of different forms of exercise intervention: continuous/moderate intensity vs interval/alternating between low and vigorous intensity, and individual/neighborhood vs group/facility setting. Methods: Initial design was a 6-month, 2 × 2 randomized trial of different exercise regimens in independently ambulatory patients with PD. All arms were required to exercise 3 times per week, 45 minutes per session. Results: Randomization to group/facility setting was not feasible because of logistical factors. Over the first 2 years, we randomized 43 participants to continuous or interval training. Because preliminary analyses suggested higher musculoskeletal adverse events in the interval group and lack of difference between training methods in improving fitness, the next 17 participants were allocated only to continuous training. Eighty-one percent of 60 participants completed the study with a mean attendance of 83.3% (95% confidence interval: 77.5%–89.0%), exercising at 46.8% (44.0%–49.7%) of their heart rate reserve. There were no serious adverse events. Across all completers, we observed improvements in maximum oxygen consumption, gait speed, Unified Parkinson9s Disease Rating Scale sections I and III scores (particularly axial functions and rigidity), fatigue, depression, quality of life (e.g., psychological outlook), and flanker task scores ( p p p Conclusions: Our preliminary study suggests that aerobic walking in a community setting is safe, well tolerated, and improves aerobic fitness, motor function, fatigue, mood, executive control, and quality of life in mild to moderate PD. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class IV evidence that in patients with PD, an aerobic exercise program improves aerobic fitness, motor function, fatigue, mood, and cognition.
Self-organizing economic activity with costly information

We describe a multi-agent simulation in which individual boundedly rational agents learn and adapt while competing to capture a complex resource. Our purpose is to explore the fine scale dynamics that emerge as aggregate social structure and dynamics. We use a biophysical model of the Maine lobster fishery to create a complex, dynamic environment. Agents compete by learning how to search for and harvest lobsters. We simulate individual learning with a modified version of John Holland's learning classifier system. At each iteration an agent must decide whether to continue fishing using already acquired knowledge about the resource or whether to acquire new knowledge by exploring on its own or by learning from another agent. Each agent's information about its environment has an opportunity cost that is created by limited time and by restricted (local) observation capabilities. Agents can communicate with and learn by imitating other agents but the cost of communicating with each other agent is an inverse function of the frequency with which the agents encounter one an-other. This 'familiarity' effect generates positive feedback and communication efficiencies that lead to the formation of persistent groups. The sharing of information within these groups gives agents the ability to avoid being trapped in local optima and increases both individual and collective efficiency. Agents develop search strategies that continuously switch between cooperative and autonomous search according to changing conditions of the resource and the costs of communication. We compare the aggregate outputs of the model with those observed in a large data set that tracks the time, location and catch of nearly a million lobster traps.
Parent and Child Reporting of Corporal Punishment: New Evidence from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study

This paper provides new evidence on parent and child reporting of corporal punishment, drawing on data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a birth cohort study of families in 20 medium to large US cities. In separate interviews, 9 year olds and their mothers (N = 1,180 families) were asked about the frequency of corporal punishment in the past year. Mothers and children were asked questions with slightly different response categorize which are harmonized in our analysis. Overall, children reported more high frequency corporal punishment (spanking or other physical punishment more than ten times per year) than their mothers did; this discrepancy was seen in both African-American and Hispanic families (but not White families), and was evident for both boys and girls. These results suggest that the reporting of the frequency of corporal punishment is sensitive to the identity of the reporter and that in particular child reports may reveal more high frequency punishment than maternal reports do. However, predictors of high frequency punishment were similar regardless of reporter identity; in both cases, risk of high frequency punishment was higher when the child was African-American or had high previous levels of behavior problems.
Evaluation of Manual Methods of Resuscitation

A comparative evaluation of manual methods of resuscitation has been made possible by the development of a method for producing prolonged drug-induced apnea in normal human volunteers, using varying amounts of sodium pentothal and curare drugs. This renders the subject unconscious and unable to breathe, in which state he closely resembles the victim who requires artificial respiration. Tests on lung ventilation have revealed that all of the ``push-pull'' manual methods are two to three times as effective, as regards getting air in and out of the lungs, as the commonly used Schafer Method. Use of ``back-pressure'' instead of prone pressure almost doubles the ventilation with the Schafer Method. The Eve Rocking Method, a mechanical method, gives ventilatory volumes intermediary between the Schafer and the ``push-pull'' methods. The Pole-Top Method gives adequate ventilation and should be started immediately when a lineman requires artificial respiration. However, he should be lowered to the ground as soon as possible and one of the more efficient prone methods should be started. Tests on the circulatory effects of the methods have indicated that the Schafer Method was so inadequate that it had to be stopped in three out of nine cases because of the deteriorating condition of the subject. In each case one of the ``push-pull'' techniques was able to adequately sustain the subjects for full 15-minute test periods immediately before and after the Schafer test period which failed.
Intracellular Signaling Mechanisms of Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Cell Death

Acetaminophen hepatotoxicity is the leading cause of drug-induced liver failure. Despite substantial efforts in the past, the mechanisms of acetaminophen-induced liver cell injury are still incompletely understood. Recent advances suggest that reactive metabolite formation, glutathione depletion, and alkylation of proteins, especially mitochondrial proteins, are critical initiating events for the toxicity. Bcl-2 family members Bax and Bid then form pores in the outer mitochondrial membrane and release intermembrane proteins, e.g., apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G, which then translocate to the nucleus and initiate chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation, respectively. Mitochondrial dysfunction, due to covalent binding, leads to formation of reactive oxygen and peroxynitrite, which trigger the membrane permeability transition and the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition to the diminishing capacity to synthesize ATP, endonuclease G and AIF are further released. Endonuclease G, together with an activated nuclear Ca2+,Mg2+-dependent endonuclease, cause DNA degradation, thereby preventing cell recovery and regeneration. Disruption of the Ca2+ homeostasis also leads to activation of intracellular proteases, e.g., calpains, which can proteolytically cleave structural proteins. Thus, multiple events including massive mitochondrial dysfunction and ATP depletion, extensive DNA fragmentation, and modification of intracellular proteins contribute to the development of oncotic necrotic cell death in the liver after acetaminophen overdose. Based on the recognition of the temporal sequence and interdependency of these mechanisms, it appears most promising to therapeutically target either the initiating event (metabolic activation) or the central propagating event (mitochondrial dysfunction and peroxynitrite formation) to prevent acetaminophen-induced liver cell death.
31P chemical shifts and 31P—−13C coupling effects in the stereochemical analysis of benzo-7-phosphanorbornene derivatives

The first phosphines based on the benzo-7-phosphanorbornene system have been prepared and found to have extremely deshielded 31P nuclei. The phosphine with a P-tert-butyl group gives the most downfield value (δ +152.5) ever recorded for a tertiary phosphine. The lone-pair orientation in phosphines controls the magnitude of 2J (PC) and 3J (PC), and these effects were used to determine stereochemical features of the phosphines. These compounds were formed by HSiCl3pyridine reduction of the Diels—Alder adducts of isophosphindole oxides with norbornadiene. 13C NMR was also used to confirm the assignment of these phosphine oxides.
Soft X-ray absorption by manganese and manganese oxide

Abstract Experimental curves are given which show the absorption of manganese and manganese oxide in the soft X-ray region between 45 and 60 eV. Both substances show an absorption edge near 50 eV. On the low-energy side of the edge, the oxide has a larger absorption coefficient than the metal.
Energy-based architecture for classification of publication figures

We present an implementation of the experimental and theoretical results obtained in the analysis of text and image content of biomedical publications. Particularly, we propose a novel optical recognition system using an adaptive algorithm for the classification and analysis of highly heterogeneous images in research papers. When compared with conventional algorithms, our technology substantially increases the probability of detection and classification of images buried in text or obscured by other images. We report successful testing of the new architecture using PubMed publications.
Anatomy of the larva of Amathia vidovici (Bryozoa: Ctenostomata) and phylogenetic significance of the vesiculariform larva.

Amathia vidovici (Vesiculariidae) has a lecithotrophic coronate larva. The apical disc of A. vidovici larvae is more complex than that of other vesiculariids and includes a new cell type, which may be glial-like in function. A massive nerve nodule consists only of neural processes; as no ganglia or other evidence of interneurons were found, sensory cells apparently innervate their effectors directly. Putative synaptic junctions within the nerve nodule indicate that both receptor and effector cells send processes to this neuropile. Some 44 intercoronal cells of three types, two of which are new, are interspersed among the approximately 40 coronal cells. Juxtapapillary bodies, a unique sensory complex previously known only from Bowerbankia gracilis larvae, also occur in A. vidovici. A large refractile body, which is of uncertain function and is positioned near the center of the larva, is described for the first time. A comparison of vesiculariid larvae that have been studied at the ultrastructural level reveals that larvae of Amathia vidovici and Bowerbankia gracilis are more similar to each other than either is to B. imbricata. Differences between the two Bowerbankia species, however, may reflect relative detail of their study and differences in interpretation rather than intergenic plasticity. Nevertheless. a distinctive suite of larval characteristics are shared by other members of the family Vesiculariidae, justifying a specific name—vesiculariform—for their larvae. A number of the defining characteristics of vesiculariform larvae also appear in the carnosan superfamily Victorelloidae. This finding is consistent with arguments based on adult characteristics that the Victorelloidea are ancestral to the Vesicularioidea. If this geneology is correct, one can predict that those vesiculariform traits which originated in the victorellids are plesiomorphic not only to the Family Vesiculariidae but to all sister taxa placed in the Vesicularioidea. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The safety and security of U.S. Hotels A Post-September-11 Report

Abstract U.S. hotels have a reasonably solid panoply of safety and security equipment—but there also are surprising gaps.
Structure of ordered and disordered In x Ga 1 x P(0 0 1) surfaces prepared by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy

Abstract Ordered and disordered InGaP(0 0 1) films were grown by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy and studied by low energy electron diffraction, reflectance difference spectroscopy, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Both alloy surfaces were covered with a monolayer of buckled phosphorus dimers, where half of the phosphorus atoms were terminated with hydrogen. Ordered InGaP(0 0 1) appeared indium rich, and exhibited a reflectance difference spectrum like that of InP(0 0 1). These results support a model whereby the strain energy on the ordered InGaP surface is reduced by aligning the group III atoms in alternating [1 1 0] rows, with the indium and gallium bonding to the buckled-down and buckled-up phosphorus atoms, respectively.
Binaural suppression of nonechoes.

A brief diotic conditioner has been shown to effectively disrupt lateralization of a brief dichotic probe presented after a short interval (4–10 ms, onset to onset) with an interaural time delay that is clearly discriminable in the absence of the conditioner [e.g., P. M. Zurek, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 66, 1750–1757 (1980)], even when the conditioner and the probe are different sounds [P. L. Divenyi and J. Blauert, in Auditory Processing of Complex Sounds, edited by W. A. Yost and C. S. Watson (Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ, 1987), pp. 146–155]. The present experiments investigated lateralization suppression of a narrow‐band dichotic probe centered at 2 kHz by a narrow‐band diotic conditioner, in situations in which the probe could not be regarded as an echo of the conditioner. In one case, the conditioner was identical to the probe but was presented in opposite phase; in other conditions, the center frequency of the conditioner was different, with the center frequency to bandwidth ratio remaining constant. The effec...
Optofluidic electrical manipulation of individual biomolecules with nm-scale precision

We design and demonstrate electrically controlled optical trapping of individual microparticles and manipulation of biomolecules with nm-scale precision for high throughput applications. This has been realized by integration of photonics, fluidics, and electronics, on-chip.
Note on tidal diffraction by a coastal barrier

Abstract Making use of Buchwald's theory on tidal diffraction by a channel, we study the effects of a coastal barrier, which has been proposed as a source of tidal power.
Ultrasonic Imaging Using Two-Dimensional Transducer Arrays

Instrumentation for echocardiography has progressed through the first generation with single-transducer TM-mode scanning, into the second generation with real-time B-mode imaging using linear arrays of transducers. A third generation with great future potential is represented by two-dimensional piezoelectric transducer arrays which are inherently capable of imaging in a three-dimensional volume as illustrated schematically in Fig. 1. The volume is shown divided into basic depth elements that project through the region with width equal to the lateral resolution. Depth information is obtained by insonifying one or more depth elements with acoustic pulses and receiving echoes from reflecting and scattering objects. Practical methods of displaying real-time three-dimensional information are unavailable, and consequently the most significant capability is the electronic selectability of image data in three dimensions. A scanned system, where electronically selected depth elements are processed sequentially using the same transducers for both insonification and echo reception, is particularly well suited to this use.
Relationship between the Indian monsoon rainfall and the tropospheric temperature over the Eurasian continent

Based on climatological data such as the all-India rainfall (AIR) for 1949-98, air temperatures in the troposphere and at the land surface for 1949-98 as well as precipitation and outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR) for 1979-98, the statistical relationship between the Indian monsoon rainfall and tropospheric temperature (TT) over the Eurasian continent is examined by using the correlation analysis and singular value decomposition (SVD) analysis methods. The main results are summarized as follows. (1) The June-September (JJAS) AIR has significant positive correlations with the 200-700 hPa TT averaged for Eurasia in JJAS. The area with the highest simultaneous correlation of upper TT with AIR for JJAS is located in western Eurasia. There is also a region with positive simultaneous correlations in the southern subtropics covering southern Africa. The JJAS AIR also shows significant positive correlations with TT over the Eurasian continent in March-May (MAM) and with the TT averaged over the Tibetan Plateau in September and October. Although some precursory springtime temperature signals for the anomalous summer monsoon are found in the upper TT over Eurasia, the variation in the upper TT appears mostly independent from that of the land surface temperature. (2) The anomalies of upper TT in JJAS are closely coupled with the variations in OLR related to the monsoon rainfall over tropical Asia and Africa. The spatial structure of the first SVD mode for OLR anomalies shows the coherent variations in convective activity from northern tropical Africa to India, while the pattern of the first SVD mode for 300 hPa temperature anomalies shows a distribution which is nearly symmetric with respect to the equator, with variations of the same sign over subtropical areas in both hemispheres and variations of the opposite sign around equatorial Africa. This pair of coupled patterns suggests that when the monsoon rains from tropical Africa to India become more intense, the upper troposphere from northern Africa to western Asia and over southern Africa becomes warmer. (3) The observed temperature variation in the upper troposphere over the Eurasian continent (especially western Eurasia) during the summer monsoon season is considered to be a result of the anomalous subsidence and thermal advection, dynamically induced by anomalous tropical heating associated with the enhanced monsoon rainfall. This study suggests that the tropical convective activity linked to the Indian monsoon rainfall has an impact on the atmospheric variability on a global scale.
Self-assembly of a swarm of autonomous boats into floating structures

This paper addresses the self-assembly of a large team of autonomous boats into floating platforms. We describe the design of individual boats, the systems concept, the al- gorithms, the software architecture and experimental results with prototypes that are 1:12 scale realizations of modified ISO shipping containers, with the goal of demonstrating self- assembly into large maritime structures such as air strips, bridges, harbors or sea bases. Each container is a robotic module capable of holonomic motion that can dock in a brick pattern to form arbitrary shapes. Over 60 modules were built of varying capability. The docking mechanism is designed to be robust to large disturbances that can be expected in the high seas. The docking mechanism also incorporates adjustable stiffness so that the conglomerate can comply to waves representative of sea state three, and have the ability to dynamically stiffen as required. The component modules for autonomous assembly, docking and simultaneous collision-free planning as well as the software architecture are presented along with the description of experimental verification.
Identification of an L-phenylalanine binding site enhancing the cooperative responses of the calcium-sensing receptor to calcium.

Functional positive cooperative activation of the extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]o)-sensing receptor (CaSR), a member of the family C G protein-coupled receptors, by [Ca2+]o or amino acids elicits intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) oscillations. Here, we report the central role of predicted Ca2+-binding site 1 within the hinge region of the extracellular domain (ECD) of CaSR and its interaction with other Ca2+-binding sites within the ECD in tuning functional positive homotropic cooperativity caused by changes in [Ca2+]o. Next, we identify an adjacent l-Phe-binding pocket that is responsible for positive heterotropic cooperativity between [Ca2+]o and l-Phe in eliciting CaSR-mediated [Ca2+]i oscillations. The heterocommunication between Ca2+ and an amino acid globally enhances functional positive homotropic cooperative activation of CaSR in response to [Ca2+]o signaling by positively impacting multiple [Ca2+]o-binding sites within the ECD. Elucidation of the underlying mechanism provides important insights into the longstanding question of how the receptor transduces signals initiated by [Ca2+]o and amino acids into intracellular signaling events.
Singularities of Jacobi series on C2 and the Poisson process equation

Abstract A classical theorem of Gabor Szego relates the singularities of real zonal harmonic expansions with those of associated analytic functions of a single complex variable. Zeev Nehari developed the counterpart for Legendre series on the C -plane by generalizing Szego's theorem. This paper function theretically identifies the singularities of analytic symmetric Jacobi series on C 2 with those of analytic functions on the C -plane. One feature is that information about the singularities of solutions of Solomon Bochner's Poisson process equation flow from the expansion coefficients. Others are that the Szego and Nehari theorems appear on characteristic subspaces. And, that this PDE, unlike those normally encountered in function theory, is hyperbolic in the real domain.
A novel optical imaging system for investigating sarcomere dynamics in single skeletal muscle fibers

The protein substructure of skeletal muscle fibers forms a diffraction grating with repeating units, termed 'sarcomeres'. A laser scanning system is described that maps the lengths of sarcomeres (SL) and the widths of the first-order diffraction lines (DLW) of permeabilized single fibers in real-time. The apparatus translates a laser beam (λ = 670 nm and w0 = ~75 μm) along the length of a fiber segment through 20 contiguous regions per sweep at 500 sweeps/s. The fiber segments (~1 mm long) were obtained from vastus lateralis muscles of humans by needle biopsy. During both passive stretches and maximum fixed-end activations, the mappings of SL and DLW of the fibers were extracted from the diffraction spectra. Heterogeneity of SLs was evaluated by computing the standard deviation ( σSL) of the 20 SLs measured during a single sweep. Compared with the σSL before a passive stretch, the increase of 5±0.5% in σSL after the passive stretch, indicated differences in passive length-tension relationships along the fiber. In contrast, no change, ~0.5±0.1%, was observed in DLW. Within 10s after the fiber was returned to its initial length, the shape of the SL profile returned close to pre-stretch conditions ( σSL = 1± 0.2%). Following maximum Ca2+ - activation of the fiber, the heterogeneity of the steady state SLs increased greatly (DLW up by ~300% and σSL up by ~100%). The scanning system provided high resolution tracking of sarcomere behavior single muscle fibers. Potential applications are for studies of the mechanisms of muscle fiber injury and injury propagation.
Association of TLR4 mutations and the risk for acute GVHD after HLA-matched-sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 has been recently identified as a major receptor for LPS. Mutations of TLR4 have been associated with LPS hyporesponsiveness. We hypothesized that TLR4 mutations reduce the risk of acute GVHD in allogeneic marrow transplant recipients. In a preliminary study to determine the frequency of TLR4 mutations and their possible association with GVHD, we tested 237 patients and their HLA-identical sibling donors for 2 TLR4 polymorphisms. All patients received methotrexate and cyclosporine for GVHD prophylaxis. One or more mutants were detected in 10.8% of patients and 10.6% of donors. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between TLR4 mutations and probability (1-sided) of GVHD. The odds ratio (adjusted for advanced disease, total body irradiation dose, and patient age) for development of grades II to IV GVHD when a mutation was present in the recipient was 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25-1.60; P=.16). When a mutation was present in the donor, the adjusted odds ratio was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.36-2.17; P=.40). When a mutation was present in both recipient and donor, the odds ratio was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.22-2.32; P=.29). Among 24 patients with TLR4 mutations in either donor or recipient, 4 (16.7%) developed gram-negative bacteremia. Among 213 patients without mutations, 14 (6.6%) developed gram-negative bacteremia (P = .09). The data indicate that a reduced risk of acute GVHD is associated with TLR4 mutations and that TLR4 mutations may increase the risk for gram-negative bacteremia. However, these associations are not statistically significant in recipients of HLA-matched sibling marrow transplants who are prophylactically treated for infections and GVHD. A much larger study population would be needed to confirm the role of LPS in the pathogenesis of GVHD in humans. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2001;7(7):384-7.