cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Up-graded RHIC injection kicker system

The design of the RHIC injection systems anticipated the possibility of filling and operating the rings with a 120 bunch pattern, corresponding to 110 bunches after allowing for the abort gap. Beam measurements during the 2002 run confirmed the possibility, although at the expense of severe transverse emittance growth and thus not on an operational basis. An improvement program was initiated with the goal of reducing the kicker rise time from 110 to /spl sim/95 ns and of minimizing pulse timing jitter and drift. The major components of the injection system are 4 kicker magnets and Blumlein pulsers using thyratron switches. The kicker terminating resistor and operating voltage was increased to reduce the rise time. Timing has been stabilized by using commercial trigger units and extremely stable dc supplies for the thyratron reservoir. A fiber optical connection between control room and the thyratron trigger unit has been provided, thereby allowing the operator to adjust timing individually for each kicker unit. The changes were successfully implemented for use in the RHIC operation.
Low Cost Nitrogen Laser Design for Dye Laser Pumping

A pulsed cross-field molecular nitrogen laser (3371 A) has been simply constructed from two plate glass strips 5 cm by 1.2 m. During operation twenty 500-pF capacitors evenly spaced along the channel are charged from a 0.012-μF storage capacitor by a thyratron at up to 30 Hz. This distributed charge is available for discharge when the gas breakdown starts. The flowing gas laser produces a 160-kW, 10-nsec (full-width half-maximum) light pulse when operated at 15 kV and at a pressure of 20 Torr. The laser has successfully pumped a tunable dye laser.
Benedict XVI, the Jewish people and the State of Israel

Benedict XVI has had to contend with invidious comparisons to his predecessor from the outset of his pontificate and this has been reflected in Jewish attitudes towards him as well. At the same time a selective loss of memory has occurred in relation to Pope John Paul II. By examining the documents and initiatives of Cardinal Ratzinger, as well as Pope Benedict XVI, this article shows that the idea that Benedict XVI is lacking commitment to the Catholic–Jewish relationship could not be further from the truth.
Organ concentration quantification for small animal PET images by registration with a statistical mouse atlas

This study focuses on quantification of probe concentration in major organs of small animal micro-PET images. In order to delineate organ ROIs, a statistical mouse atlas is registered to the micro-PET image. This statistical atlas is trained from 22 organ-labeled micro-CT images using Principle Component Analysis (PCA). By tuning the shape-controlling parameters of the atlas, we are able to adapt the atlas anatomy to fit the individual subject of the micro-PET image. To reduce the spillover effect, voxel confidence values are computed and are used to calculate confidence-weighted mean concentration of each organ. Experiments were performed on both simulated images and in-vivo micro-PET emission images. Results showed that the registration-based yielded comparable accuracy to the quantification based-on ground truth organ regions, and the confidence-weighted averaging obtains more accurate results than direct averaging of organ concentrations.
An EM-based beamforming algorithm for WCDMA downlink signals

Multipath propagation causes intersymbol interference and results in a loss of orthogonality between the pilot channel and the user signals in wideband code-division multiple-access (WCDMA) systems. Consequently, an adaptive beamformer using only the pilot signal as the training sequence may not provide adequate error-rate performance. Although a conventional maximum likelihood (ML) beamformer gives improved performance, its computational complexity is relatively high. In this paper, we present a reduced-complexity ML beamformer based on the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm that utilizes information about the unknown user signals. For comparison purposes, we describe another reduced-complexity ML beamformer based on a Gaussian model for base station self-interference. These beamformers improve the performance of the pilot-only beamformer as demonstrated in a computer simulation example.
Meaning Structures of Language

There are two reasons why the present fragment has been chosen as the opening piece of Part II. First of all, its topic is everyday language, the ordinary and universal means of communication. As such, it is the foundation of all other uses of language, be they scienti fi c or philosophical, or else—as in the case of the other two pieces of this part—artistically expressive, narrative, and dramatic. The second reason is that of continuity. Speaking roughly, it picks up the discussion of the life forms at about the point it broke off in the un fi nished fi rst part. After a few general considerations about his approach, Schutz gave initially a repetition and continuity of his considerations of the acting I. Next, he introduces the Thou within the framework of the life form of the speaking I—the fi rst of the last two life forms not treated in the fi rst part. Finally, he introduces the other and last one: the life form of conceptual thinking. In this fashion, then, the theory of the life forms is fi nished at least in its basic outlines. These considerations fi ll nearly one quarter of the manuscript. The rest is taken up by the consideration of the basic structural elements of language. However, of the main forms noun, adjective, verb, only the fi rst two are treated. Even so, the development of Schutz’s ideas about grammar catch our attention for the way in which he links grammatical forms to experience and intercommunicative requirements, laying the groundwork for what had the making .of a phenomenology of grammatical forms. Subdivisions and subtitles have been provided by the editor. Meaning Structures of Language
An inexpensive pneumatic manipulator for rehabilitation robotics

Important considerations in the design of a low-cost wheelchair-mounted robot arm for motor-disabled children are discussed. The pneumatic actuation system for each joint consists of a four-bar transmission mechanism driven by two Flexator actuators. Modeling and control of the actuation system are discussed, and experimental results on the dynamic performance characteristics are presented. The preliminary design of two joints of the robot is described. Ongoing and future work is discussed. >
Eigenfaces for recognition

We have developed a near-real-time computer system that can locate and track a subject's head, and then recognize the person by comparing characteristics of the face to those of known individuals. The computational approach taken in this system is motivated by both physiology and information theory, as well as by the practical requirements of near-real-time performance and accuracy. Our approach treats the face recognition problem as an intrinsically two-dimensional (2-D) recognition problem rather than requiring recovery of three-dimensional geometry, taking advantage of the fact that faces are normally upright and thus may be described by a small set of 2-D characteristic views. The system functions by projecting face images onto a feature space that spans the significant variations among known face images. The significant features are known as "eigenfaces," because they are the eigenvectors (principal components) of the set of faces; they do not necessarily correspond to features such as eyes, ears, and noses. The projection operation characterizes an individual face by a weighted sum of the eigenface features, and so to recognize a particular face it is necessary only to compare these weights to those of known individuals. Some particular advantages of our approach are that it provides for the ability to learn and later recognize new faces in an unsupervised manner, and that it is easy to implement using a neural network architecture.
Reactive sink mobility in wireless sensor networks

The ability of a sink node to move can greatly improve the fault tolerance and load balancing properties of a sensor network. Rather than assuming extensive mobility and trying to minimize the large-scale path loss between the mobile sink and the nodes, we focus on limited-scope, arbitrary mobility triggered in response to a form of network feedback. Due to multipath fading effects, limited mobility dynamically modifies the set of sink neighbors and distributes network traffic over a larger number of nodes. We illustrate the impact of this reactive sink mobility concept on data collection by implementing it on top of a novel gradient-based routing protocol. We use Berkeley motes to present a proof of concept as well as a performance evaluation of our approach, with a particular emphasis on the advantages in terms of robustness and lifetime.
Observed radar reflectivity in convectively coupled Kelvin and mixed Rossby‐gravity waves

[1] Propagating disturbances in the tropical atmosphere exhibiting characteristics of linear equatorial waves have been shown to be ‘‘coupled’’ to convection. In some cases, a rain event at a specific location can be associated with a particular wave of sufficiently large amplitude. Rain events spanning three years at Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, 8.72N 167.73E, are classified by associated wave type (i.e. Kelvin or mixed Rossby-gravity (MRG)) using space-time spectral-filtered outgoing longwave radiation (OLR). Contoured frequency by altitude diagrams (CFADs) of radar for the classified dates were compared between the two groups. The Kelvin wave accumulated CFAD has a distribution shifted to lower reflectivities compared to MRG suggesting that Kelvin storms likely contain a larger fraction of stratiform to convective area compared to MRG storms. Citation: Swann, A., A. H. Sobel, S. E. Yuter, and G. N. Kiladis (2006), Observed radar reflectivity in convectively coupled Kelvin and mixed Rossby-gravity waves, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L10804, doi:10.1029/2006GL025979.
Are polyglutamine diseases expanding

It remains a matter of speculation as to whether the sense CUG-containing RNA and/or the antisense CAG-encoding polyglutamine peptide serves as the pathogenic moiety in Huntington's disease like-2 (HDL2). In this issue of Neuron , Wilburn et al. show that in a HDL2 mouse model, the polyglutamine peptide drives disease progression.
Vision-based navigation through urban canyons

We address the problem of navigating unmanned vehicles safely through urban canyons in two dimensions using only vision-based techniques. Two commonly used vision-based obstacle avoidance techniques (namely stereo vision and optic flow) are implemented on an aerial and a ground-based robotic platform and evaluated for urban canyon navigation. Optic flow is evaluated for its ability to produce a centering response between obstacles, and stereo vision is evaluated for detecting obstacles to the front. We also evaluate a combination of these two techniques, which allows a vehicle to detect obstacles to the front while remaining centered between obstacles to the side. Through experiments on an unmanned ground vehicle and in simulation, this combination is shown to be beneficial for navigating urban canyons, including T-junctions and 90-deg bends. Experiments on a rotorcraft unmanned aerial vehicle, which was constrained to two-dimensional flight, demonstrate that stereo vision allowed it to detect an obstacle to the front, and optic flow allowed it to turn away from obstacles to the side. We discuss the theory behind these techniques, our experience in implementing them on the robotic platforms, and their suitability to the urban canyon navigation problem. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ALETHIC PLURALISM, GENERIC TRUTH AND MIXED CONJUNCTIONS

A difficulty for alethic pluralism has been the idea that semantic evaluation of conjunctions whose conjuncts come from discourses with distinct truth properties requires a third notion of truth which applies to both of the original discourses. But this line of reasoning does not entail that there exists a single generic truth property that applies to all statements and all discourses, unless it is supplemented with additional, controversial, premises. So the problem of mixed conjunctions, while highlighting other aspects of alethic pluralism worth investigating further, does not constitute an effective objection to it.
Aerodynamics of a Gulfstream G550 Nose Landing Gear Model

In this paper we discuss detailed steady and unsteady aerodynamic measurements of a Gulfstream G550 nose landing gear model. The quarter-scale, high-fidelity model includes part of the lower fuselage and the gear cavity. The full model configuration allowed for removal of various gear components (e.g. light cluster, steering mechanism, hydraulic lines, etc.) in order to document their effects on the local flow field. The measurements were conducted at a Reynolds number of 7.3 x 10(exp 4) based on the shock strut (piston) diameter and a freestream Mach number of 0.166. Additional data were also collected at lower Mach numbers of 0.12 and 0.145 and correspondingly lower Reynolds numbers. The boundary layer on the piston was tripped to enable turbulent flow separation, so as to better mimic the conditions encountered during flight. Steady surface pressures were gathered from an extensive number of static ports on the wheels, door, fuselage, and within the gear cavity. To better understand the resultant flow interactions between gear components, surface pressure fluctuations were collected via sixteen dynamic pressure sensors strategically placed on various subcomponents of the gear. Fifteen of the transducers were flush mounted on the gear surface at fixed locations, while the remaining one was a mobile transducer that could be placed at numerous varying locations. The measured surface pressure spectra are mainly broadband in nature, lacking any local peaks associated with coherent vortex shedding. This finding is in agreement with off-surface flow measurements using PIV that revealed the flow field to be a collection of separated shear layers without any dominant vortex shedding processes.
Effects of soy fiber, salt, sugar and screw speed on physical properties and microstructure of corn meal extrudate

Abstract The physical properties and microstructure of corn meal extruded with soy fiber, salt, and sugar were studied using an intermeshing and co-rotating twin-screw extruder. The effects of fiber, sugar and screw speed on water absorption index (WAI) and water solubility index (WSI) correlated well with bulk density and specific volume of extrudates. Increasing screw speed decreased WAI but increased WSI. Increasing fiber content from 0–20% lowered the WAI, but increased the WSI. The trends were reversed with further increases in fiber content. An increase in the sugar content reduced WSI. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that increasing fiber, sugar contents, and screw speed resulted in less expanded extrudates with smaller air cell size and thicker cell walls. The breaking strength increased with increasing sugar and fiber contents and was negatively correlated with the radial expansion of extrudates. Salt (0–2%) had no significant effects on the WAI, WSI, and microstructure of extrudates.
Evaluation of the Dark-Medium Objective Lens in Counting Asbestos Fibers by Phase-Contrast Microscopy

A Japanese round-robin study revealed that analysts who used a dark-medium (DM) objective lens reported higher fiber counts from American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) chrysotile samples than those using a standard objective lens, but the cause of this difference was not investigated at that time. The purpose of this study is to determine any major source of this difference by performing two sets of round-robin studies. For the first round-robin study, 15 AIHA PAT samples (five each of chrysotile and amosite generated by water-suspended method, and five chrysotile generated by aerosolization method) were prepared with relocatable cover slips and examined by nine laboratories. A second round-robin study was then performed with six chrysotile field sample slides by six out of nine laboratories who participated in the first round-robin study. In addition, two phase-shift test slides to check analysts’ visibility and an eight-form diatom test plate to compare resolution between the two objectives were examined. For the AIHA PAT chrysotile reference slides, use of the DM objective resulted in consistently higher fiber counts (1.45 times for all data) than the standard objective (P-value < 0.05), regardless of the filter generation (water-suspension or aerosol) method. For the AIHA PAT amosite reference and chrysotile field sample slides, the fiber counts between the two objectives were not significantly different. No statistically significant differences were observed in the visibility of blocks of the test slides between the two objectives. Also, the DM and standard objectives showed no pattern of differences in viewing the fine lines and/or dots of each species images on the eight-form diatom test plate. Among various potential factors that might affect the analysts’ performance of fiber counts, this study supports the greater contrast caused by the different phase plate absorptions as the main cause of high counts for the AIHA PAT chrysotile slides using the DM objective. The comparison of fiber count ratios (DM/standard) between the AIHA PAT chrysotile samples and chrysotile field samples indicates that there is a fraction of fibers in the PAT samples approaching the theoretical limit of visibility of the phase-contrast microscope with 3-degree phase-shift. These fibers become more clearly visible through the greater contrast from the phase plate absorption of the DM objective. However, as such fibers are not present in field samples, no difference in counts between the two objectives was observed in this study. The DM objective, therefore, could be allowed for routine fiber counting as it will maintain continuity with risk assessments based on earlier phase-contrast microscopy fiber counts from field samples. Published standard methods would need to be modified to allow a higher aperture specification for the objective.
Improving Network Processing Concurrency using TCPServers

Exponentially growing bandwidth requirements and slowing gains in processor speeds have led to the popularity of multiprocessor architectures. Network stack parallelism is increasingly important to support such architectures. In this paper, we present techniques to improve network stack concurrency using our previous work, TCPServers, a system architecture for offloading network processing within an SMP system. TCPServers dedicates a subset of processors as packet processing engines (PPEs), which handle all asynchronous network events and perform receive processing. We introduce Receive Queues, data structures associated with each socket that store incoming network packets and are accessed exclusively at the PPEs. Using Receive Queues, we modify TCPServers based network stacks to incorporate early packet demultiplexing. We also present an efficient proportional fair scheduling algorithm, which processes incoming packets at the priority of the destination socket. Our experimental evaluation demonstrates that our modifications reduce the scheduling and synchronization overheads and improve the aggregate TCP/IP throughput by up to 75% compared against the default SMP stack. We also show that our system sustains this throughput, even when a large number of short lived connections are present.
Helicon modes in uniform plasmas. I. Low m modes

Helicons are whistler modes with azimuthal wave numbers. They arise in bounded gaseous and solid state plasmas, but the present work shows that very similar modes also exist in unbounded uniform plasmas. The antenna properties determine the mode structure. A simple antenna is a magnetic loop with dipole moment aligned either along or across the ambient background magnetic field B0. For such configurations, the wave magnetic field has been measured in space and time in a large and uniform laboratory plasma. The observed wave topology for a dipole along B0 is similar to that of an m = 0 helicon mode. It consists of a sequence of alternating whistler vortices. For a dipole across B0, an m = 1 mode is excited which can be considered as a transverse vortex which rotates around B0. In m = 0 modes, the field lines are confined to each half-wavelength vortex while for m = 1 modes they pass through the entire wave train. A subset of m = 1 field lines forms two nested helices which rotate in space and time like cor...
Electrophysiological approaches to gonadotrophin releasing hormone pulse generator activity in the rhesus monkey

Precipitous increases in multi-unit electrical activity (MUA volleys) can be recorded from the mediobasal hypothalamus of the rhesus monkey that are invariably synchronous with the initiation of luteinizing hormone (LH) pulses and thus serve as markers of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator activity. Continuous radiotelemetric monitoring of this activity throughout the menstrual cycle confirmed a lower pulse generator frequency during the luteal phase than in the follicular phase. Unexpectedly, however, just before the initiation of the LH surge an abrupt reduction in frequency was observed, followed, on occasion, by a total arrest of GnRH pulse generator activity for a day or two. This monitoring technique also revealed a reduction of pulse generator frequency at night. This appeared to be an acute phenomenon observable in the first MUA volleys after the lights are turned off, as is the increase in frequency when the lights are turned on in the morning suggesting a direct action of light, a conclusion that was verified using lighting periods other than the customary ones. This action of light, however, is superimposed upon a diurnal rhythm, as shown by a reduction in pulse generator frequency during the subjective night when the monkeys are kept in constant light or darkness. The duration of the MUA volley in the intact monkey is 1-3 min, compared with some 20 min in the ovariectomized female. While oestradiol reduces the volley duration in the ovariectomized female to that of intact monkeys within 6 h, it takes some 6 weeks following ovariectomy for the duration characteristic of castrates to be re-established.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Identification of the Active Site Nucleophile in Nucleoside 2-Deoxyribosyltransferase as Glutamic Acid 98 (∗)

2′-Fluoro-2′-deoxyarabinonucleosides are time-dependent inhibitors of nucleoside 2-deoxyribosyltrans-ferase. 2,6-Diamino-9-(2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-β-D-arabino-furanosyl)-9H-purine (dFDAP) inhibited the enzyme by formation of a primary complex (Kd = 140 μM) that isomerized to a secondary complex with a first-order rate constant of 0.2 min-1. Inhibited enzyme contained stoichiometric amounts of covalently bound 2′-fluoro-2′-deoxyarabinosyl moiety, recovered less than 5% of its activity after storage for a week at 5°C, but regained over 70% of the lost activity by treatment with 600 μM Ade. 6-Amino-9-(2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)-9H-purine (dFAdo) was a product of the reactivation reaction. Proteolysis of inhibited enzyme identified a modified fragment that spanned residues 82-107 which could not be sequenced past Gly-96. dFDAP-inhibited enzyme and enzyme reacted with normal substrates (i.e. dThd and dAdo) were hydrolyzed between Met-97 and Glu-98 by 0.1 M NaOH. These findings and model studies on the base lability of peptides containing glutamyl esters suggested that the γ-carboxylate of Glu-98 was esterfied during catalysis. The role of Glu-98 was confirmed by changing this residue to alanine. The specific activity of wild-type enzyme was 3 orders of magnitude greater than that of the mutant enzyme. Collectively, chemical modification and mutagenesis studies have identified Glu-98 as the active site nucleophile of nucleoside 2-deoxyribosyltransferase.
FACTS Technology - State of the Art, Current Challenges and the Future Prospects

This contribution to the Panel on "Intelligent Techniques Applied to Transmission Systems" the FACTS technology, its principle power electronics controllers, state of the art and planning issues.
Source Identification and Apportionment of Fine Particulate Matter in Houston, TX, Using Positive Matrix Factorization

Samples of airborne fine particulate matter were collected at three sites in Houston, TX, and were analyzed for elemental concentrations by X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) was applied to the elemental concentration data for source identification and apportionment. PMF resolved five physically interpretable factors at each site, of which four were found to be common at all sites: Crustal material, road dust, wood burning, and sea salt. The composition of the remaining factor was similar, but not identical, at the three sites, and had an elemental composition similar to industrial combustion. Crustal material was found to be the most important contributor at each site. All other sources contributed less to the total mass, although road dust source was the second major contributor to the total mass at one site. The sea salt factor was resolved at each site with the highest contribution at the closest site to the coast.
Social Control Theory as a Theory of Conformity: The Case of Asian/Pacific Drug and Alcohol Nonuse

This study uses data from the Asian Student Drug Survey to examine the extent to which social control and peer cluster theories explain drug and alcohol use among students of various Asian American subgroups. The data suggest that drug and alcohol use differs significantly among the various subgroups. Pacific Islander and Filipino American youths have the highest rates, whereas Chinese American youths have the lowest rates of use. Among some ethnic groups, families, friends, and teachers are unable to keep youths from using drugs and alcohol. Even so, families play an important role for Chinese and Asian Indians, and teachers are important in keeping Southeast Asians from drug and alcohol use. Commitment to school and to high moral standards also insulates youths from drug and alcohol use. Contrary to social control theory, however, use of drugs and alcohol by peers strongly affects alcohol and drug use. The data suggest that youths of all ethnic groups tend to use drugs and alcohol when their peers have ...
P3-18-05: Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Stem Cells, Cancer and New Treatment Strategy.

Background: Women with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) have a worse prognosis compared with other breast cancer subtypes. Hormonal or Herceptin-based therapies were found to be ineffective because of the loss of target receptors such as ER, PR and HER-2 amplification. TNBC has increased recurrence and poor survival, despite initial response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine whether current drug treatment(s) eliminates bulk of tumor cells, but it has a minimal effect on cancer stem cells (CSCs) leading to tumor recurrence. Materials and Methods: Cancer stem cells were identified by ALDH-positive population by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. CSCs ability to form mammospheres, are generated in nonadherent and nondifferentiated conditions. Apoptosis was assessed using the Cell Death Detection ELISA PLUS kit. Xenograft tumor formation was evaluated using Nod/Scid mice. Cancer stem cell levels in human TNBC and ER + , PR + and HER2 − tumors were obtained by CD44 + / CD24 low/− immunohistochemistry. Results: TNBC tumors express relatively higher levels of cancer stem cells compared to ER-positive, PR-positive and HER2−negative breast tumors. We studied the effects of PARP inhibitors (AZD2281 and BSI-201), paclitaxel, docetaxel, cisplatin and cisplatin plus TRAIL on CSCs derived from CRL-2335 and MDA-MB-468 TNBC cells in vitro. The in vitro data indicates that cisplatin plus TRIAL treatment was most effective in eliminating CSCs compared to PARP inhibitors, cisplatin, paclitaxel and docetaxel. Treatment with cisplatin plus TRAIL also inhibits Wnt-1 signaling and its downstream target, β-catenin, phospho β-catenin, cyclin D1, increased apoptosis, reduced proliferation and mammosphere formation. Inhibition of Wnt-1 by siRNA significantly reduced the ability of CSCs to form mammospheres compared to control. However, maximum effect was seen in cisplatin plus TRAIL treated cells. The combination of cisplatin/TRAIL also inhibited the growth of CRL-2335 Xenografts. Discussion: We demonstrate for the first time that cisplatin plus TRAIL is highly effective in reducing CSCs compared to PARP inhibitors, docetaxel or paclitaxel in TNBC cells in vitro. Inhibition of Wnt-1 signaling pathways by siRNA or cisplatin plus TRAIL reduces cell proliferation and increases apoptosis in CSCs. Taken together the data suggests that cisplatin plus TRAIL treatment has the potential of providing a new strategy for improving the therapeutic outcome in TNBC patients. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-18-05.
5D anti-aliasing interpolation: Application on an unconventional shale play

Fourier-based minimum weighted norm interpolation (MWNI) has been widely used to regularize land seismic data. It is relatively fast computationally, and easily extends to higher dimensions. However, it has difficulty interpolating regular missing data that are spatially aliased. Chiu and Anno (2012) proposed a new anti-aliasing MWNI method to overcome the aliasing artifacts in MWNI. Their interpolation scheme expands the capability of the conventional MWNI to handle aliased data that are often associated with steeply dipping structures, and produces more reliable interpolation results. A 2D synthetic data example clearly shows that anti-aliasing MWNI outperforms the conventional MWNI method. We apply it to a field data acquired from an unconventional shale play and carry out a comprehensive evaluation of interpolated data through the processes of pre-stack analyses, pre-stack time migration, and pre-stack depth migration. The 5D interpolation yields considerable uplifts to the improvements of image qualities. The pre-stack gathers after the 5D interpolation are more suitable for azimuthal AVO and velocity analysis.
Hormonal activation of mammary gland peroxidase.

ABSTRACT Ultrastructural cytochemistry was used to detect an endogenous peroxidase in the rat mammary gland. The enzyme was identified only during the latter half of pregnancy and during lactation, indicating its possible dependence upon hormones. To test this hypothesis, specific hormones associated with the development and differentiation of the mammary gland were used both in vivo and in vitro in an effort to induce, or unmask, the activity of the enzyme. Estrogen injected into non-pregnant rats induced some peroxidase activity in the mammary glands of a few animals. Two hormone combinations tested in organ cultures of mouse mammary gland were able to activate the enzyme: (1) dexamethasone+insulin and (2) dexamethasone+insulin+prolactin.
A modified breathing exercise program for asthma is easy to perform and effective.

AbstractObjectives: Breathing exercises are used by some asthmatic patients, yet are often difficult to perform and time-consuming. This study evaluated a simple, modified breathing exercise program regarding ease to perform and effectiveness as an adjunctive therapy. Methods: Subjects age 18 to 65 with a current diagnosis of persistent asthma were enrolled. A program that incorporated three different breathing exercises (yoga pranayama techniques, diaphragmatic breathing and pursed lip breathing) was taught to subjects. The program was designed to be completed in less than 10 minutes per day. Subjects completed the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and mini-Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) at baseline and at 1-month follow-up. They also completed a survey that asked them to rate the effectiveness and difficulty of the exercises, and whether they would recommend them in the future. Results: A total of 74 subjects were enrolled in this study. The intervention improved breathing for 52.9% of the subjects...
Perioperative Methotrexate, Vinblastine, Doxorubicin and Cisplatin (M-VAC) for Poor Risk Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder: An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Pilot Study

AbstractA total of 18 patients with locally advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder underwent 2 preoperative cycles of chemotherapy with methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cispl...
Transient Flow to Finite Well in Unconfined Aquifer

The problem of a nonsteady radial flow toward a finite well in an unconfined aquifer is solved by a form of the Galerkin method. The equations are reduced to a set of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations in the time-dependent Galerkin coefficients, with a constraint equation due to the nonlinear well bore boundary condition. These are solved numerically by the Adams method for a range of forcing. An eight term approximation proves sufficient to yield good results for the trial functions used. Where comparison is possible, there is good agreement with other results and other solution methods. Response of the flow system depends strongly on the parameters characterizing the aquifer. Time to maximum drawdown at the well is very sensitive to production rate and well radius. A similarity transformation for this problem, with a singularity at r = O , has frequently appeared. Retransformation to remove the singularity yields a more thorough understanding of the range of validity of the solution.
Chapter 1 Skepticism, Politics, and a Philosophical Foundation

Cicero’s skepticism is explored as well as the fact that it need not undermine the search for wisdom. It is the basis for a genuine and honest search for wisdom and thus consistent with the love of philosophy manifested by Cicero from his earliest years. Antiochus, Philo, Carneades, and the New Academy with its Socratic roots are introduced. The importance of the criterion of truth beneath probable judgments is presented, as well as what that criterion consists in for Cicero. The focus on the supreme good and the testing of various conceptions is pursued as the basis for assurance in living the good life. The Academica and the De Legibus are the primary texts of Cicero used in developing this chapter.
Compatible CAD-CAM titanium abutments for posterior single-implant tooth replacement: A retrospective case series.

Abstract Statement of problem In addition to the original abutments provided by implant companies, compatible computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) abutments are also available from different manufacturers. However, the combination of abutments and implant systems from different manufacturers may lead to mechanical problems between components. Little has been reported on the clinical performance of this treatment option. Purpose The purpose of this retrospective case series was to evaluate the outcome of compatible CAD-CAM titanium abutments (TiAs) for posterior single-implant tooth replacement (PSITR) up to 6 years after insertion. Material and methods Eighty-one patients (34 men, 47 women) who received PSITR restored with compatible CAD-CAM TiAs and had a final recall examination between May 2014 and April 2015 were included in this study. Clinical and radiographic examinations were documented. Retrospective evaluation of the patient records was also performed. Correlations between bone-level changes and variables were calculated using the Spearman correlation. Results Implant and prosthesis survival rates were 100%. Twenty technical complications were observed, including 9 decementations of the crown, 6 screw loosenings, and 5 ceramic fractures. Periimplant mucositis was diagnosed in 36 patients (44.4%) and periimplantitis in 6 patients (7.4%). Correlation analysis showed a significant effect of the extent of periodontal bone loss of the remaining teeth on the marginal bone-level changes around implants ( r =0.548, P Conclusions Compatible CAD-CAM TiAs provide a viable treatment option for PSITR. However, in light of relatively high screw-loosening and decementation rates, choosing appropriate cements and abutment manufacturers is essential to improve the clinical performance of this treatment option.
Inhibition of RARα2 or Its Downstream Signaling Pathways Decreases Drug Resistance in Myeloma

Abstract 989 Background: We have previously reported that the 30% of newly diagnosed myeloma (MM) patients expressing RARα2, had a significantly inferior outcome. RARα2 expression was also significantly increased in rapidly relapsing myelomas compared to paired baseline samples, indicating the existence at diagnosis of a RARα2 subclone, which is drug-resistant. We further demonstrated that RARα2 expression was significantly higher in MM cell line-derived and primary MM stem cells (MMSC) than in CD138+ bulk MM cells. In this study, we further explore the role of RARα2 in myeloma drug resistance. Materials and methods: RARα2 related drug resistance was evaluated by clonogenic formation assays, using 20,000 MM cells from the RARα2 high-expressing ARK and KMS11 MM cell lines, treated with all- trans retinoic acid (ATRA) (1nM, 10nM), Wnt inhibitor CAY10404 (1 nM, 10nM), Hedgehog inhibitor cyclopamine (1nM, 10nM), bortezomib (1nM, 10nM), as well as doxorubicin (50nM, 100nM), etoposide (50nM, 100nM), and verapamil (50nM). To determine whether inhibition of RARa2 decreased drug resistance, 1.0 × 10 6 KMS11 cells, made resistant to bortezomib, were transfected with RARα2 shRNA and injected subcutaneously into 20 NOD/SCID mice. The 5TGM1 myeloma mice were used to determine whether targeting RARa2 or its signaling pathways could eliminate MMSC. Results: After serial replating for 6 weeks, MMSCs (CD138- fraction) exhibited greater clonogenic expansion than the control CD138+ fraction, while ATRA, an inhibitor of RARα2, induced potent clonogenic inhibition on MMSC. We also showed in vitro that over-expression of RARα2 in low-expressing MM cell lines, ARP1 and OCI-MY5 resulted in increased clonogenic potential and drug-resistance. In a xenograft myeloma mouse model, knockdown of RARα2 in the KSM11bortezomib-resistant cells decreased resistance to bortezomib. We further identified that RARα2 induced drug resistance by activating the drug efflux pump gene ABCC3 through Wnt and Hedgehog signaling. Inhibition of Wnt (CAY10404) signaling or the ABC transporter by verapamil overcame the drug-resistance in ARP1 and OCI-MY5 cells caused by RARα2 over-expression. Finally, targeting RARa2 or its pathways using ATRA, CAY10404 and cyclopamine significantly reduced the tumor burden as determined by idiotype IgG2 protein levels and increased survival compared to untreated controls ( P Conclusion: Over-expression of RARa2 induces drug resistance by activating the drug efflux pump gene ABCC3 through activation of the Wnt and Hedgehog pathways, while inhibition of RARα2 decreases drug resistance. We also provide a possible strategy to eliminate MMSC by targeting RARa2 and/or its downstream targets, such as the Wnt and Hedgehog pathways. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Studies on human spermatozoa with round head syndrome

The ability of spermatozoa with round head syndrome to penetrate zona pellucida-free hamster ova and to undergo nuclear decondensation was studied in three infertile patients. Whereas spermatozoa from pregnancy-proven donors bound to hamster ova and achieved a penetration rate of 100%, those with round heads did not bind to or penetrate any ova. While spermatozoa nuclear decondensation occurs after ovum penetration and indicates a positive result, it has now been demonstrated that this phenomenon can also be induced by incubating spermatozoa with crushed hamster ova. In addition, nuclei from normal and round-headed spermatozoa decondense in the presence of these ova to a similar degree. These observations suggest that infertility related to round head sperm morphology is associated with an inability to interact with and penetrate the oolemma, rather than dysfunctional spermatozoan changes following penetration.
The ambiguous mirror: The reflective‐projective theory of broadcasting and mass communications

FCC Commissioner Lee Loevinger has written in the Journal of Broadcasting on such varied topics as “The Role of Law in Broadcasting,” “Broadcasting and Religious Liberty” “The Limits of Technology in Broadcasting,” and “The Lexonomics, of Telecommunications.” The present article, reviewing existing theories of broadcasting and proposing a new one, originally was presented at the NAB Fall Regional Conference in Atlanta in October, 1967. A related but opposed article by Commissioner Kenneth Cox appears on pp. 117‐130. Commissioner Loevinger, a former Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, has served on the Federal Communications Commission since 1963.
T-regulatory cell function analysis in locally/regionally advanced melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab.

3041 Background: We conducted an immunogenicity and biomarker analysis in stage IIIB-C melanoma patients treated with neoadjuvant ipilimumab (ipi) and reported a significant increase in the frequency of circulating T-regulatory cells (T-reg) (CD4+CD25hi+ Foxp3+; p=0.02 CD4+CD25hi+CD39+; p=0.001) from pre-ipi (baseline) to post-ipi (6 weeks) in treated patients (Tarhini et al., ASCO 2012). Also, increases in T-reg were associated with improved PFS (p=0.034; HR=0.57). We hypothesized that ipi induces its clinical activity in part through its effect on T-reg, and despite the observed increase in circulating T-reg frequency; their suppressor function is reduced. Methods: Patients were treated with ipi (10 mg/kg IV q3weeks x 2doses) bracketing definitive surgery. PBMC were collected at baseline and at 6 weeks. T-reg were isolated from pre-ipi (baseline) and post-ipi (6 weeks) PBMC samples utilizing Miltenyi Biotec T regulatory isolation kit (CD4+CD25+CD127dim/-). Isolated T-reg were incubated with OKT3/IL-2/CD...
Aquatic biogeochemistry: Cleaner Chinese lakes

Phosphorus loading can cause eutrophication of lakes. Analyses of lake chemistry in China reveal that policies have led to lower phosphorus levels overall, but increasing trends in some lakes suggest that expanded policies may be needed.
Elucidating the interaction of sulindac with calf thymus DNA: biophysical and in silico molecular modelling approach

Sulindac is one of the most effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and belongs to the arylalkanoic acid class. DNA is the major target for a wide range of therapeutic small molecules. Thus, deciphering the interaction of drugs with DNA not only offers insights into the rational design of novel and more efficient drugs targeted to DNA, but it also gives an opportunity for developing effective therapeutic agents for the control of gene expression. In the present study, we have attempted to establish the mode of binding of sulindac with calf thymus DNA (Ct-DNA) through various spectroscopic studies and molecular modelling. UV-visible absorbance and steady state fluorescence experiments revealed a binding constant in the order of 103 L mol−1, which is consistent with well-known groove binders. A series of experiments such as competitive displacement assays, iodide quenching, DNA melting study, CD spectral analysis and viscosity measurements were performed to confirm the binding mode. The isothermal calorimetry results were consistent with the groove binders and confirmed that the formation of the sulindac–Ct-DNA complex is spontaneous and enthalpy (ΔH < 0) driven. This is further supported by the consistent results obtained from the in silico molecular docking studies.
Acceptability and effects of values-based outpatient advance care planning (ACP) in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.

9Background: We developed and validated the values questions for the Person-Centered Oncologic Care and Choices (P-COCC) ACP intervention, which combines an informational care goals video with a pa...
Catholicism in Prisons

The prison as we know it today is in significant respects an innovation begun by the Catholic Church. This entry discusses the roots of the contemporary prison in the practice of penance during the first centuries of the Christian era, in the development of monasticism, and in the formation of the world's first modern legal system, canon law, early in the second millennium. It also discusses efforts in current Catholic teaching to reform the practice of confinement in terms of its formative influences. Keywords: prison; religion; sin
Supraglottoplasty surgery types 1-3: A practical classification system for laryngomalacia surgery.

Abstract Objective The objective of this study is to review the published literature on supraglottoplasty techniques for correcting laryngomalacia, and to subsequently provide a standardized classification system. Methods Three authors independently and systematically searched Pubmed/MEDLINE and six additional databases for all studies that included descriptions of supraglottoplasty techniques for correcting laryngomalacia. Sub-sites operated on and specific technique descriptions were reviewed, cataloged and subsequently categorized. This data was then used to develop a new classification system. Results 231 articles were identified, downloaded and reviewed in full text. 53 articles with 1669 patients from the included articles described in detail the supraglottoplasty procedure. 84 articles with 5731 patients had to be excluded secondary to not providing detail about the supraglottoplasty procedure. The resultant data identifies the need for a more standardized reporting of the supraglottoplasty procedure in order to more accurately evaluate technique specific outcomes. Currently 77% of the patients in the literature cannot be assessed for outcomes as they did not describe the details for the procedures. Eight variations of supraglottoplasty and four variations of epiglottis surgery were described. Based on the literature, we consolidated the surgery into the following types: Type 1: Debulking of arytenoids, Type 2: Division of aryepiglottic folds, Type 3: Epiglottis surgery. Conclusion This descriptive review identified 53 articles with 1669 patients from the included articles detailing multiple variations of supraglottoplasty techniques. The new classification supplements a previously established system describing laryngomalacia, and simplifies the supraglottoplasty into three descriptive and logical types of categories. Our classification system would give surgeons a universal language to describe the supraglottoplasty performed, which could improve reporting of techniques, and facilitate future communication and research.
Oxidation by Oxochromium(VI) Compounds

Oxochromium(VI) reagents are some of the most extensively used oxidants for introducing oxygen into organic molecules.1–16 These versatile, sometimes selective, and synthetically useful oxidants react with almost all types of oxidizable groups. This chapter will discuss mechanisms, scope and limitations, and experimental procedures for chromic acid (1), chromyl acetate (2), 17–19 chromyl chloride (3), 13, 15, 20–22 tert-butyl chromate (4), 23, 24 chromium trioxide-pyridine complex (Sarett reagent, 5), 23, 25–28 dipyridine chromium(VI) oxide (Collins reagent, 6), 29–31 pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC, 7), 32 pyridinium dichromate (PDC, 8), 33–35 2, 2′-bipyridinium chlorochromate (BiPy · HCrO3Cl, 9), 36, 37 tetraalkylammonium chromates, 38 supported chromium(VI) oxidants, 39–41 and other chromium(VI) oxidants. A short background review, which describes in general terms the characteristics of some of the more commenly used oxochromium(VI) oxidants, is given below.