cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A modified nomogram for ramp treadmill testing using the Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire.

Studies performed over the past 2 decades have supported the recommendation that the exercise test protocol be individualized and that a targeted duration of 8 to 12 minutes is optimal. However, this is not always implemented clinically because of the complication of having to choose a specific ramp to match a patient. We present a simple nomogram based on a questionnaire to choose 1 of 4 possible ramp protocols that provide individualized ramp rates for subjects undergoing clinical exercise testing.
LDORA: a novel laser communications receiver array architecture

We present a new laser communications receiver architecture. It consists of an array of individually mounted telescopes, each with a Geiger-mode photon counting detector array. The detector outputs are sent to a central processor using standard digital networking hardware. The concept has many benefits including low cost and scalability.
Has the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) Become a Commodity

The Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) market has been transformed by disruptive innovations from the information technology industry. The cost of storage alone has dropped by a factor of 100 within the past 10 years. Improvements in display, processing, and networking have likewise enabled PACS to be a capable replacement for film. The maturity of PACS has permeated the US healthcare industry from large academic hospitals to small outpatient imaging centers. Can PACS continue to be a platform for innovation or has it become a commodity?
A comparison between 45Ca2+ and atomic absorption in calcium flux determinations in perfused rat liver

Abstract Calcium efflux from perfused rat liver following the administration of Ca2+ releasing agents was measured with two methods, 45Ca2+ labeling and atomic absorption. The values obtained with atomic absorption were usually higher than the values obtained with 45Ca2+. These indicate that the intracellular Ca2+ did not equilibrate with the perfusate Ca2+ during the 90-minute labeling period. A similar conclusion was reached by measuring the liver 45Ca2+ and 40Ca2+ content. In addition, the types of albumin added to the perfusate influenced the amounts of Ca2+ released.
Electrocautery-induced ignition of spark showers and self-sustained combustion of onyx ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer.

OBJECTIVE: Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer mixed with micronized tantalum (Ta) as radiopacifier (Onyx; Micro Therapeutics Inc., Irvine, CA) has emerged as a useful liquid embolic agent for vascular malformations. We describe intraoperative ignition of Onyx-embolized tissue and undertake an in vitro investigation to reproduce and characterize this hazard. METHODS: Samples of Onyx, Ta-depleted Onyx, Ta-n-butylcyanoacrylate (Ta-NBCA), and Ta powder were exposed to monopolar and bipolar electrocautery in cut and coagulation modes at different power settings to reproduce the intraoperative findings. Recordings of sparking and combustion events were analyzed to characterize duration and relative frequency. RESULTS: Spark showers and self-sustained combustion were observed intraoperatively when an Onyx-embolized artery was coagulated with the monopolar electrocautery. Sparking covered a radius greater than 10 cm, and combustion lasted a median of 1.65 seconds (range, 0.3-12.3 s). Sparking and sustained combustion were reproduced in vitro by both cut and coagulation monopolar modes in Onyx casts and free Ta powder but not in samples of Ta-depleted Onyx or casts of Ta-NBCA. Ignition was similarly observed when using bipolar electrocautery but only at higher energy settings. CONCLUSION: Electrocautery use on tissue containing Onyx results in potentially dangerous uncontrolled sparking and combustion in a process that is Ta dependent. It is recommended that Ta-NBCA be used instead of Onyx in situations mandating the use of a liquid embolic and high-energy electrocautery, pending the development of a safer radiopacifier for use with ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer.
Predation by Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) on Young‐of‐the‐Year Alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) in the Great Lakes

(1974). Predation by Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) on Young-of-the-Year Alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) in the Great Lakes. The Progressive Fish-Culturist: Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 223-224.
Frontal brain asymmetry and emotional reactivity: A biological substrate of affective style

Individuals differ dramatically in the quality and intensity of their response to affectively evocative stimuli. On the basis of prior theory and research, we hypothesized that these individual differences are related to variation in activation of the left and right frontal brain regions. We recorded baseline brain electrical activity from subjects on two occasions 3 weeks apart. Immediately following the second recording, subjects were exposed to brief positive and negative emotional film clips. For subjects whose frontal asymmetry was stable across the 3-week period, greater left frontal activation was associated with reports of more intense positive affect in response to the positive films, whereas greater right frontal activation was associated with more intense reports of negative affect in response to the negative film clips. The methodological and theoretical implications of these data are discussed.
Analysis of Wave Propagation in 1D Inhomogeneous Media

In this paper, we consider the one-dimensional inhomogeneous wave equation with particular focus on its spectral asymptotic properties and its numerical resolution. In the first part of the paper, we analyze the asymptotic nodal point distribution of high-frequency eigenfunctions, which, in turn, gives further information about the asymptotic behavior of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. We then turn to the behavior of eigenfunctions in the high- and low-frequency limit. In the latter case, we derive a homogenization limit, whereas in the first we show that a sort of self-homogenization occurs at high frequencies. We also remark on the structure of the solution operator and its relation to desired properties of any numerical approximation. We subsequently shift our focus to the latter and present a Galerkin scheme based on a spectral integral representation of the propagator in combination with Gaussian quadrature in the spectral variable with a frequency-dependent measure. The proposed scheme yields accura...
Cerebral cortical morphology and behavior in rats following acute prenatal ethanol exposure

Cerebral cortical morphology and early motor development were evaluated in offspring from ethanol-exposed mothers, pairfed control mothers and ad libitum control rats. Ethanol-exposed rats received a total dose of 18 g/kg of ethanol by intubation on gestational Days 14 and 15, a critical period of development of the cerebral cortex. Pairfed control mothers received isocaloric sucrose on gestational Days 14 and 15 and were pairfed to ethanol-exposed animals from gestational Day 12 through gestational Day 20. Ethanol-exposed offspring weighed significantly less than control offspring from postnatal Day 7 through postnatal Day 28. Ethanol-exposed offspring also showed significant delays in reflex suspension (time an animal maintained its grip on a crossbar) and continuous corridor (number of turns in 5 min). The thickness of the cerebral cortex of ethanol-exposed offspring was significantly different from ad libitum and pairfed control offspring on postnatal Day 1. However, only Layer V and total cortical thickness were affected in ethanol-exposed offspring on postnatal Day 28. The results of this study indicate that ethanol exposure during a critical period of development causes alterations in central nervous system development and developmental delays.
The adenovirus E4 11 k protein binds and relocalizes the cytoplasmic P-body component Ddx6 to aggresomes

The adenovirus E4 11 k protein, product of E4 ORF3, is required in infection for processes including normal accumulation of viral late mRNAs. 11 k restructures both the nucleus and cytoplasm of infected cells by relocalizing specific host cell target proteins, most strikingly components of nuclear PML oncogenic domains. It is likely that in many cases relocalization inactivates target proteins to produce 11 k's effects, although the mechanism and targets for stimulation of late mRNA accumulation is unknown. We have identified a new set of proteins relocalized by 11 k: at least five protein components of cytoplasmic mRNA processing bodies (p-bodies) are found in 11 k-induced cytoplasmic aggresomes, sites where proteins are inactivated or destroyed. One of these p-body proteins, RNA helicase Ddx6, binds 11 k, suggesting a mechanism for relocalization. Because p-bodies are sites for mRNA degradation, their modification by 11 k may provide an explanation for the role of 11 k in viral late mRNA accumulation.
Sediment deposition in the Late Holocene abyssal Black Sea with climatic and chronological implications

The temporal sedimentary patterns in the Late Holocene central eastern and western Black Sea are very similar. The sedimentary history was most visibly affected by the coccolithophorid species Emiliania huxleyi which briefly invaded the Black Sea for the first time (“First Invasion Period”), nearly disappeared again shortly afterwards (“Transition Sapropel”), but returned permanently several centuries later (“Final Invasion Period”). The temporary near-disappearance of E. huxleyi was probably caused by a temporary drop in salinity. Accumulation of E. huxleyi was on average about 40% higher in the western than in the eastern Black Sea. Highest coccolithophorid production occurred basin-wide during part of the Little Ice Age. The accumulation of terrigenous matter was generally higher in the eastern than in the western Black Sea by about 20%.
Corrosion/Corrosion Fatigue and Life-Cycle Management

Corrosion and corrosion fatigue are well recognized as principal causes for the aging of engineered systems and the attendant reduction in their reliability and safety. To meet the challenges of designing for a modern, competitive global market and for the life-cycle management of aging systems, it is essential to develop science-based methods for predicting the evolution of damage through corrosion and corrosion fatigue, and other time-dependent mechanisms, and incorporating them into a new paradigm for design. To this end, the use of a mechanistically based probability (versus statistically based parametric) approach is presented, and illustrated through considerations of corrosion and corrosion fatigue in airframe aluminum alloys. Its efficacy in predicting damage evolution and distribution is demonstrated through a comparison with long-term service data from an aircraft that had been in commercial service for 24 years.
Sugar Alcohols. XXV. Sorbitol and Sorbitan as Precursors of Liver-Glycogen in the Rat.∗

ConclusionThe data in Table I show that sorbitol and sorbitan behave like their isomers mannitol and mannitan with respect to glycogen storage in the liver of the white rat. Mannitol and sorbitol are precursors of glycogen whereas their anhydrides are not.
What's So Special about STEM? A Comparison of Women's Retention in STEM and Professional Occupations

We follow female college graduates in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 and compare the trajectories of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related occupations to other professional occupations. Results show that women in STEM occupations are significantly more likely to leave their occupational field than professional women, especially early in their career, while few women in either group leave jobs to exit the labor force. Family factors cannot account for the differential loss of STEM workers compared to other professional workers. Few differences in job characteristics emerge either, so these cannot account for the disproportionate loss of STEM workers. What does emerge is that investments and job rewards that generally stimulate field commitment, such as advanced training and high job satisfaction, fail to build commitment among women in STEM.
Radiation Risk Issues for Long-Term Exposure to Ionizing Space Radiation

NASA is focused on the agency's vision for space exploration encompassing a broad range of human and robotic missions including missions to Moon, Mars and beyond. As a result, there is a focus on long duration human space missions. Exposure from the hazards of severe space radiation in deep space and/or long duration missions is 'the show stopper.' Thus, protection from the hazards of severe space radiation is of paramount importance to the new vision. NASA is committed to the safety of the missions and the crew, and there is an overwhelming emphasis on the reliability issues for space missions and the habitat. It is envisioned to have long duration human presence on the Moon for deep space exploration. As NASA is looking forward to exploration in deep space, there is a need to go beyond current technology to the technology of the future. Faced with a limited budget and an expanding space exploration program, the old way of doing business is inadequate, and NASA requires revolutionary technologies to make advances. The technology of today is adequate for short-term human exposure to space radiation in low earth orbit (LEO) missions. We have developed methodology and concomitant technology for probabilistic reliability based risk assessment from exposure from space radiation for long duration and/or deep space missions. Risk issues for long-term exposure to ionizing space radiation are highlighted.
Dietary Calcium, But Not a Glutathione Inhibitor, Affects Bib Size in Juvenile Male House Sparrows

Abstract. We tested whether the expression of melanin-based plumage traits reflects their bearer's levels of circulating antioxidants by repeatedly injected molting juvenile male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) with a low or high dose of a substance (DL-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine, hereafter BSO) that reduces the levels of cellular glutathione, a key antioxidant that inhibits melanin production. We predicted that birds with progressively lower glutathione levels would produce a progressively larger bib, a melanin-based trait present in males and related to their competitive ability. These injections were combined with dietary calcium supplements because we had found in a previous study that dietary calcium had a negative effect upon bib size in this species, perhaps because calcium level and glutathione level covary. We found that bib size was negatively related to dietary calcium but was unaffected by BSO injections. We also found no effect of BSO injections on the reflectance of bib feathers, although...
Commutativity analysis: a new analysis technique for parallelizing compilers

This article presents a new analysis technique, commutativity analysis, for automatically parallelizing computations that manipulate dynamic, pointer-based data structures. Commutativity analysis views the computation as composed of operations on objects. It then analyzes the program at this granularity to discover when operations commute (i.e., generate the same final result regardless of the order in which they execute). If all of the operations required to perform a given computation commute, the compiler can automatically generate parallel code. We have implemented a prototype compilation system that uses commutativity analysis as its primary analysis technique. We have used this system to automatically parallelize three complete scientific computations: the Barnes-Hut N-body solver, the Water liquid simulation code, and the String seismic simulation code. This article presents performance results for the generated parallel code running on the Stanford DASH machine. These results provide encouraging evidence that commutativity analysis can serve as the basis for a successful parallelizing compiler.
Vectorless Analysis of Supply Noise Induced Delay Variation

The impact of power supply integrity on a design has become a critical issue, not only for functional verification, but also for performance verification. Traditional analysis has typically applied a worst case voltage drop at all points along a circuit path which leads to a very conservative analysis. We also show that in certain cases, the traditional analysis can be optimistic, since it ignores the possibility of voltage shifts between driver and receiver gates. In this paper, we propose a new analysis approach for computing the maximum path delay under power supply fluctuations. Our analysis is based on the use of superposition, both spatially across different circuit blocks, and temporally in time. We first present an accurate model of path delay variations under supply drops, considering both the effect of local supply reduction at individual gates and voltage shifts between driver/receiver pairs. We then formulate the path delay maximization problem as a constrained linear optimization problem, considering the effect of both IR drop and LdI/dt drops. We show how correlations between currents of different circuit blocks can be incorporated in this formulation using linear constraints. The proposed methods were implemented and tested on benchmark circuits, including an industrial power supply grid and we demonstrate a significant improvement in the worst-case path delay increase.
Sphagnum lindbergii Schimp. in Lindb. and Other New Records of Sphagnum in Geothermal Fens, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

Abstract. Fens that formed over acidic geothermal springs in Yellowstone National Park support species of Sphagnum previously unknown or rare in the Rocky Mountain region of the US. These taxa are more common in boreal regions of North America. During our research on the biodiversity of fens in Yellowstone we identified four species of Sphagnum new to the state of Wyoming: Sphagnum lindbergii Schimp. in Lindb., Sphagnum riparium Angstr., Sphagnum fimbriatum Wils. & Hook. in Hook., and Sphagnum capillifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw. Acidic geothermal fens are similar to iron fens reported in other parts of the Rocky Mountains; they support many rare and disjunct Sphagnum species. Acid geothermal fens and iron fens appear to function as links between floras of the southern Rocky Mountains and boreal regions.
Fear: Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Specific Phobia

This chapter examines the diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and specific phobia, their potential comorbidity, and assessment and treatment recommendations. Fear is an appropriate emotional response in certain situations. Problematic fear, however, in the form of a specific phobia is not. At times, it can be difficult to diagnose specific phobia in those with ASD, given the unique sensory experiences, rigidity, verbal deficiencies, and social, communication, and intellectual challenges frequently associated with an ASD diagnosis. For context, an overview of normal, healthy fear development is contrasted against the development and phenomenology of specific phobias in otherwise neurotypical individuals, followed by what is currently known about the development and phenomenology of specific phobia in individuals with ASD. Following brief recommendations for assessing and treating individuals with specific phobia comorbid with ASD, we conclude with commentary and thoughts on the future of these two diagnoses in the newly available Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th edition (DSM-5; Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders).
Microstructure and Deformation of Ti−22Al−23Nb Orthorhombic-Based Monolithic and Composite Titanium Aluminides

A new class of intermetallic matrix composites (IMC’s) based on orthorhombic titanium aluminides offer attractive properties for high-temperature structural components at temperatures up to 760°C. Results from an ongoing study on the microstructural stability and mechanical properties of the orthorhombic-based alloy Ti-22Al-23Nb (at%), in both monolithic and composite forms, are discussed. Oxygen acquired during processing or as a result of high-temperature exposure in air or vacuum has a pronounced influence on the microstructure of the monolithic and composite materials. Two-phase lath microstructures of ordered beta (βo) + orthorhombic (O) phases produced by processing low oxygen material above the beta transus are morphologically stable at 760°C. Conversely, in higher-oxygen three-phase microstructures containing O+βo+ α2(Ti3Al), lath coarsening and additional precipitation of α2 in oxygen-enriched sheet surface regions is observed. At 760°C/69MPa the two-phase lath microstructure has a higher creep resistance and lower tensile strength compared to the three-phase α2- containing microstructures of the higher oxygen material.
Tides on Europa, and the thickness of Europa's icy shell

[1] It has been shown previously that measurements of tides on Jupiter's moon Europa can be used to determine whether there is a liquid ocean beneath this moon's icy outer shell. In this paper we examine the further possibility of constraining the thickness of the icy shell in the case where a liquid ocean exists, by combining measurements of tidal gravity obtained from tracking an orbiting spacecraft with measurements of vertical tidal surface displacements obtained from a precise onboard altimeter. By simulating a 1-month Europa mapping mission we demonstrate that this combination of tidal measurements would provide a much better estimate of ice thickness than could be obtained using either tracking or altimeter measurements alone. The thickness value inferred from the combined data would also require an estimate of the shear modulus of Europa's icy shell. This introduces an additional uncertainty in the thickness estimate that is approximately proportional to the uncertainty in the inverse of the shear modulus.
Examining the value PSA=10ng/ml as a cutoff for predicting metastatic bone disease in NaF18 PET/CT bone scans: a pilot study

Objectives: NaF18 PET/CT is considered to be more sensitive than Tc99m-MDP bone scan in detecting osseous metastasis. Some studies have suggested that for newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients with PSA<10ng/ml, a Tc99m-MDP bone scan is unnecessary. The main goal of this study is to assess if PSA= 10ng/ml is a good cutoff value to predict metastatic bone disease in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients imaged with NaF18 PET/CT. Methods: From the NaF18 PET/CT ordered to evaluate for prostate cancer metastasis between January 2010 and April 2011 (n=91), newly diagnosed biopsy proven prostate cancer cases before treatment were chosen (n=28). The sample was divided into two groups: group I (bone metastasis) and group II (no bone metastasis). PSA values were also reviewed. Results: Group I (n=4) had mean PSA 121.29ng/ml, range 8.9-297.55ng/ml, mean age 74.5 years) and group II (n=24) had (mean PSA 27.43ng/ml, range 0.05- 348.68ng/ml, mean age 69.6 years). In our sample, 1 patient (25%) from group I with PSA<10ng/ml had bone metastasis. PSA cutoff value of 10ng/ml has a negative predictive value of 92.86% (odds ratio=3.55, 95% confidence interval 0.32 to 39.14, P =0.596). Conclusions: For our study with veterans, there appears to be no significant relationship between PSA of < 10ng/ml and negative bone metastasis in newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases. 1 in 4 patients with PSA<10ng/ml from group I had bone metastasis. With the new introduction of NaF18 PET/CT as a more sensitive technique than MDP-99m whole body bone scans, we question the strict use of PSA=10ng/ml as a cutoff value. Age, race and region specific guidelines for bone scan use need to be developed. Both retrospective and prospective studies involving multiple institutions and larger sample sizes are needed to further confirm the association between PSA value alone and positive NaF18 PET/CT bone scans.
On distributed compression of linear functions

We consider distributed compression of a pair of Gaussian sources in which the goal is to reproduce a linear function of the sources at the decoder. It has recently been noted that lattice codes can provide improved compression rates for this problem compared to conventional, unstructured codes. We show that by including an additional linear binning stage, the state-of-the-art lattice scheme can be improved, in some cases by an arbitrarily large factor. We then describe a lower bound on the optimal sum rate for the case in which the variance of the linear combination exceeds the variance of one of the sources. This lower bound shows that unstructured codes achieve within one bit of the optimal sum rate at any distortion level. We also describe an outer bound on the rate-distortion region that holds in general, which for the special case of communicating the difference of two positively correlated Gaussian sources shows that the unimproved lattice scheme is within one bit of the rate region at any distortion level.
Cytological studies on the spinning glands of the larva of Galleria mellonella: Respective rôles played by the nucleus, the Golgi apparatus, and the mitochondria during secretion

Spining in Galleria begins shortly after hatching and continues throughout larval life. The gland cells secrete continuously, irrespective of the act of spinning. The nucleus plays a direct and an importnat role in silk secretion by the migration of nucleoli into the cytoplasm, where they enlarge and synthesize a fatty material in the center; the fatty material is transformed into a non-soluble basophllic substance, which then changes into the secretory product in its final form. The processes of converting the fat into non-soluble substance and of converting the latter into the secretory product progress inwardly from the periphery of each secretory body. The secretory bodies or masses of secretory material break up into smaller and smaller masses and eventually into a fine dispersed state before their entrance into the lumen of the gland. The mitochondria are granular in the cells of the conductive portion and filamentous in those of the reservoir and secretory portions of the gland. In the secretory portion they are orientated with the long axis toward the gland lumen. Their rǒle in silk secretion is negligible or at most a minor one. The Golgi apparatus is in the form of discrete ring- and half-ring-shaped bodies and remains so during all stages of secretion. If it plays any rǒle in silk secretion, the fact has not been detected by the author.
Narcotic of the Narrative

Abstract Artist Ward Shelley works with charts and diagrams. In this article he describes his relationship to the work of Alfred Barr and to Barr's use of narrative structures to claim cultural authority for modern art.
Predictors of outcome in LAAM, buprenorphine, and methadone treatment for opioid dependence

This study examined (1) predictors of treatment outcome for opioid-dependent participants in a single-site controlled trial comparing methadone, buprenorphine, and LAAM treatments and (2) the extent to which various subpopulations of patients may have more successful outcomes with each medication. The relationships between patient demographics, drug use history, and psychological status and outcome measures of treatment retention, opiate use, and cocaine use were assessed. We believe this study to be the first to demonstrate that predictors of treatment success appear to be largely similar in LAAM, buprenorphine, and methadone treatment for opioid dependence. We did not find any factors that would strongly guide selection of one medication over others.
Metal Accumulation in Crayfish,Procambarus clarkii,Exposed to a Petroleum-Contaminated Bayou in Louisiana

Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) were placed for a period of 7 days in Bayou Trepagnier, a Louisiana waterway which received petroleum-laden effluents from a manufacturing complex several decades ago. However, coolant water from the plant continued to be released into the bayou until 1995. Analyses of sediments at the exposure site revealed heavy contamination by lead, chromium, and copper, while concentrations of arsenic and cadmium were very low. Significant bioaccumulation of lead was observed in the hepatopancreas and gills of 7-day-exposed crayfish, whereas chromium accumulated the most in the gills and blood. Concentrations of copper in the crayfish did not change during the course of the study, suggesting that this essential metal constituent of the respiratory pigment is successfully regulated even when crayfish are exposed to relatively high levels of copper in the sediments. There was no metal accumulation in the abdominal muscle of the crayfish. That damage to the hepatopancreas occurred during the exposure is suggested by histopathological studies which revealed swollen and vacuolated R cells and an increase in the pH of the digestive juices. Blood glucose levels, as well as ovarian and hepatopancreatic indices, were unchanged. This study demonstrates that accumulation of nonessential metals in crayfish tissues in a wetland environment contaminated by mixed pollution (metals and hydrocarbons) reflects the concentrations of metals in the sediment.
Aspects of procedural memory are differentially impaired in huntington's disease

Procedural memory encompasses several phenomena, including motor and perceptual learning, cognitive rule learning and priming. These subclasses are differentially affected by differing neuropathologies, suggesting their functional independence and reliance upon different neural substrates. To test this hypothesis, performance on a maze learning task was compared in 15 Huntington's disease (HD) patients and 15 normal controls (NC) to assess specific route learning, cognitive skill learning and the effects of route predictability on performance. Results revealed that the HD group: (1) showed normal learning curves for a specific maze route; (2) are deficient in generalizing the cognitive skills across mazes; and, (3) fail to improve performance on a maze with a predictable route relative to mazes with unpredictable routes. These results are interpreted as supporting the independence of procedural memory subclasses. The basal ganglia are suggested as important structures in mediating the ability to generalize skills and appreciate patterned organization in to-be-acted-upon stimuli.
Integration of Ground-Penetrating Radar and Laser Position Sensors for Real-Time 3-D Data Fusion

Full-resolution 3-D ground-penetrating radar (GPR) imaging of the near surface should be simple and efficient. Geoscientists, archeologists, and engineers need a tool capable of generating interpretable subsurface views at centimeter-to-meter resolution of field sites ranging from smooth parking lots to rugged terrain. The authors have integrated novel rotary laser positioning technology with GPR into such a 3-D imaging system. The laser positioning enables acquisition of centimeter accurate x, y, and z coordinates from multiple small detectors attached to moving GPR antennas. Positions streaming with 20 updates/s from each detector are fused in real time with the GPR data. The authors developed software for automated data acquisition and real time 3-D GPR data quality control on slices at selected depths. Industry standard (SEGY) format data cubes and animations are generated within an hour after the last trace has been acquired. Such instant 3-D GPR can be used as an on-site imaging tool supporting field work, hypothesis testing, and optimized excavation and sample collection in the exploration of the static and dynamic nature of the shallow subsurface
Structure of the protein kinase Cβ phospholipid-binding C2 domain complexed with Ca2+

Abstract Background: Conventional isoforms ( α , β and γ ) of protein kinase C (PKC) are synergistically activated by phosphatidylserine and Ca 2+ ; both bind to C2 domains located within the PKC amino-terminal regulatory regions. C2 domains contain a bipartite or tripartite Ca 2+ -binding site formed by opposing loops at one end of the protein. Neither the structural basis for cooperativity between phosphatidylserine and Ca 2+ , nor the binding site for phosphatidylserine are known. Results: The structure of the C2 domain from PKC β complexed with Ca 2+ and o-phospho-L-serine has been determined to 2.7 a resolution using X-ray crystallography. The eight-stranded, Greek key β -sandwich fold of PKC β -C2 is similar to that of the synaptotagmin I type I C2 domain. Three Ca 2+ ions, one at a novel site, were located, each sharing common aspartate ligands. One of these ligands is donated by a dyad-related C2 molecule. A phosphoserine molecule binds to a lysine-rich cluster in C2. Conclusions: Shared ligation among the three Ca 2+ ions suggests that they bind cooperatively to PKC β -C2. Cooperativity may be compromised by the accumulation of positive charge in the binding site as successive ions are bound. Model building shows that the C1 domain could provide carboxylate and carbonyl ligands for two of the three Ca 2+ sites. Ca 2+ -mediated interactions between the two domains could contribute to enzyme activation as well as to the creation of a positively charged phosphatidylserine-binding site.
Static Stress Measurements in Silicate Cement

SYNOPSIS IN INTERLINGUA MESURATIONES DEL STRESS STATIC IN CEMENTO A SILICATO.—Un recentemente disveloppate microtransductor de un diametro externe de 0,05 pollices esseva includite in specimens de proba a silicato standard. Le stress interne del silicato esseva registrate e notate in papiro graphic ab le microtransductor. Illo esseva (in le caso de silicato) equal al resistentia a compression in le specimen. Differente revestimentos superficial esseva applicate al specimens, e il esseva trovate que le stress interne e le resistentia a compression variava grandemente con le varie revestimentos. Interne stresses pote esser mesurate sin sacrificar le specimen. Il pare justificate predicer extense possibilitates de applicar iste micre dispositivo de registration pressural al examine de altere materiales de restauration dental.
Effect of a state definition of an “emergency medical condition” legislation on medicaid managed care organization reimbursement☆

Abstract Study objective: The state of Michigan passed Public Act 136 of 1997 requiring Medicaid managed care organizations (MMCOs) to pay for emergency services whenever presenting symptoms constituted an "emergency medical condition." The objective of this study was to evaluate MMCO reimbursement before and after enactment of this state law. Methods: We conducted a retrospective comparison of reimbursement for lacerations needing repair (identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes from computerized billing data) for 2 time periods (before the state law was applicable [January through March 1998] and after the state law was applicable [April through June 1998]) from MMCO enrollees in 7 different MMCOs presenting to 4 urban emergency departments. Three months after billing submission was allowed for payment. Only refusal of reimbursement was evaluated. Data were analyzed using χ 2 and Fisher's exact test (values of P Results: The total number of MMCO patients evaluated/total number of ED patients evaluated for the 2 periods was 1,769/32,646 and 3,376/30,901, respectively ( P P Conclusion: Reimbursement by MMCOs for a procedure chosen to reflect a state-defined "emergency medical condition" is inadequate and significantly decreased during the 2 periods, with a significant increase in MMCO patients evaluated. [Irvin CB, Fox JM. Effect of a state definition of an "emergency medical condition" legislation on Medicaid managed care organization reimbursement. Ann Emerg Med. March 2000;35:283-286.]
2-D/3-D registration of C-Arm CT volumes with fluoroscopic images by spines for patient movement correction during electrophysiology

Registration between 3-D volumes and 2-D fluoro images for Electrophysiology (EP) is a challenging task due to the lack of corresponding features between 2-D and 3-D data. This paper presents an automatic, accurate and workflow-friendly 2-D/3-D registration method specially designed for patient movement correction during EP procedures. Firstly, 2-D spines are enhanced by exploiting the temporal information in the EP fluoro sequence and by removing the moving structures (i.e. catheters) that can negatively affect the registration accuracy. Secondly, digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) are computed efficiently from the segmentation of the 3-D spines using GPU-based method. Thirdly, special 2-D/3-D registration scheme is proposed, including an initial pose adjustment of the 3-D volume via automatic estimation of the spine orientation, a nonlinear histogram mapping between DRRs and X-ray images that maximizes their similarity in intensity distributions, and a gradient difference-based similarity measure that is tailored for comparing spine structures. Experiments on real clinical data demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method.
Splicing of messenger RNA precursors

The splicing of pre-mRNAs in vitro is accomplished by formation of RNA intermediates in a lariat form. Lariat RNAs have been recently identified in vivo supporting the validity of the proposed pathway for processing pre-mRNAs in vitro. We have recently reported20 a partial purification scheme for a pre-mRNA splicing activity. Purification of the individual components and eventually reconstitution of the reaction with purified activities will firmly establish the pathways for pre-mRNA splicing and help to elucidate the detailed biochemical mechanism of the several reactions involved in mRNA splicing.
Diagnosing cellular defects in an unexplained case of total fertilization failure

Despite the advent of ICSI, cases of total fertilization failure (TFF) often lead to cycle cancellation with limited diagnostic and therapeutic strategies currently available. We report on the case of an infertile couple who failed to conceive after repeated IVF and ICSI. Sperm of the husband were morphologically normal and passed a functional test assessing their ability to activate mouse oocytes. Whether oocytes were activated artificially with calcium ionophore after injection of husband's or with donor sperm, all oocytes failed to fertilize. Multiple polar bodies and two disorganized spindle structures were predominantly observed, pointing towards a cytoplasmic defect in the oocytes as the primary cause of the couple's infertility. In fact, injection of husband's sperm into donor oocytes resulted in the delivery of healthy twins. This report describes a course of action that may be applied for couples with TFF after both IVF and ICSI.
On the meaning of work: A theoretical integration and review

Abstract The meaning of work literature is the product of a long tradition of rich inquiry spanning many disciplines. Yet, the field lacks overarching structures that would facilitate greater integration, consistency, and understanding of this body of research. Current research has developed in ways that have created relatively independent domains of study that exist in silos organized around various sources of meaning and meaningfulness. In this paper, we review the meaning of work literature in order to propose new frameworks within which to classify existing work and to seed new work. Our review is organized by the major sources of the meaning of work on which extant research has focused, and by the mechanisms through which work is proposed to become meaningful. We analyze the evolution and current state of meaning of work research, identifying core patterns and assumptions that have defined research in this area to date, and offer a theoretical framework based on this body of research that illuminates the main pathways to meaningful work. Throughout, we outline several promising directions for future research that we hope will stimulate further generative inquiry in this rich area of study.
Single-cell ChIP-seq reveals cell subpopulations defined by chromatin state

Chromatin profiling provides a versatile means to investigate functional genomic elements and their regulation. However, current methods yield ensemble profiles that are insensitive to cell-to-cell variation. Here we combine microfluidics, DNA barcoding and sequencing to collect chromatin data at single-cell resolution. We demonstrate the utility of the technology by assaying thousands of individual cells and using the data to deconvolute a mixture of ES cells, fibroblasts and hematopoietic progenitors into high-quality chromatin state maps for each cell type. The data from each single cell are sparse, comprising on the order of 1,000 unique reads. However, by assaying thousands of ES cells, we identify a spectrum of subpopulations defined by differences in chromatin signatures of pluripotency and differentiation priming. We corroborate these findings by comparison to orthogonal single-cell gene expression data. Our method for single-cell analysis reveals aspects of epigenetic heterogeneity not captured by transcriptional analysis alone.
Shallow Seismic Methods

This chapter covers the fundamentals of near-surface seismic techniques, including refraction, reflection, borehole, and surface-wave methods. Typical seismic applications to hydrogeology include examining sedimentology and stratigraphy, detecting geologic faults, evaluating karst conditions, and mapping the top of bedrock and the base of landslides. Other less common but promising applications include mapping hydrogeological features, assessing hydrological characteristics, measuring the depth to the water table, and assessing the decay of infrastructure (e.g., leaking pipes, storage tanks, and disposal containers).
Feasibility of Telephone Support Groups for Spouses of Returning Iraq and Afghanistan Service Members

Reintegration of the returning service member and the family can be difficult, especially for families that are not near military resources. We tested a telephone support group intervention targeted to spouses, providing them with information about combat consequences and reintegration concerns, skills to manage the tasks of reintegration such as role negotiation and to take care of themselves such as stress management, and support from other spouses. Our strategy was to focus on the spouse as the lynchpin of the family who would manage the transition and reintegration process and to provide the intervention using a low cost, established, and widely accessible technology. Telephone support groups proved feasible for this group of spouses, and they learned skills to help their families and themselves with reintegration tasks.
Does Limiting Salt Intake Prevent Heart Failure? A Critical Appraisal

Reducing the incidence of heart failure (HF) and its associated morbidity is a major goal for public health authorities. In this review, we evaluate the evidence supporting sodium restriction as a means to prevent HF. High dietary sodium intake is associated with several factors that promote the development of HF including systemic hypertension, ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, vascular stiffness, and endothelial dysfunction. Some argue that sodium restriction actually may contribute to the development of HF through increased neurohormonal activation. The effect of sodium intake on HF risk may depend on an individual’s “salt-sensitivity.” Due in part to methodological limitations, currently available cohort studies have not fully clarified the links between sodium intake and incident HF. Future research is needed to determine accurate and reproducible methods of measuring sodium intake and to identify factors which may make specific individuals more vulnerable to developing HF in the setting of high sodium intake.
SOLAR ELECTRIC PROPULSION FOR TERMINAL FLIGHT TO RENDEZVOUS WITH COMETS AND ASTEROiDS

A guidance algorithm that provides precise rendezvous in the deterministic case while requiring only relative state information is developed. A navigation scheme employing only onboard relative measurements is built around a Kalman filter set in measurement coordinates. The overall guidance and navigation procedure is evaluated in the face of measurement errors by a detailed numerical simulation. Results indicate that onboard guidance and navigation for the terminal phase of rendezvous is possible with reasonable limits on measurement errors.
Optical square-wave generation using directional switching in a diode laser array

An optical square-wave source is useful for applications in optical communication, optical computing, and signal processing. To date, most techniques for generating optical square-wave pulse trains rely on the use of externa1 modulators, rf oscillators, or electrical feedback schemes.1 Passive generation of square-wave optical pulse trains has recently been demonstrated by polarization switching of diode lasers.2 We report a new technique for passive generation of optical square waves based on directional switching with a diode laser array in an external cavity. Square waves with frequencies ranging to250MHz have been generated with rise times faster than 200 ps. These rise times surpass results reported for SEEDS' and polarization switching2
A Semi-Empirical Methodology to Study Bulk Silica System

A semi-empirical methodology [1,2] developed to model and simulate covalently bonded networked systems is modified to study the heteroatomic mixtures of silica. This methodology is capable of grasping the essential qualitative and quantitative features of the coupling between the electronic coordinates and the geometric structure. The methodology is used to simulate and to probe the structural and thermodynamic properties of the bulk crystalline, amorphous solid and the melt states of silica.
N-Acetylneuraminic Acid Deficiency in Erythrocyte Membranes: Biophysical and Biochemical Correlates

The electrochemical and rheologic behaviors of red blood cells (RBCs) from a patient with acquired polyagglutinability were studied. The N-acetylneuraminic acid content of the RBCs averaged less than one-half normal. The majority of the patient’s RBCs (over 90%) showed a reduction in electrophoretic mobility and a decrease in binding of positively charged colloid with a widening of the charge-free areas, but a small population exhibited normal surface charge density. Dextran 40, which does not induce significant aggregation of normal RBCs, caused the patient’s RBCs to form rouleaux. Dextran 80 induced a stronger aggregation of the patient’s RBCs than that of normal RBCs. The increased tendency of the patient’s RBCs to be aggregated by macromolecules was associated with an elevation of blood viscosity. This study on a clinical patient has provided evidence for the conclusions previously derived from experimental studies that the stability of RBC aggregation depends upon a balance between macromolecular bridging force and electrostatic repulsive force and that alterations in RBC surface charge may affect cell aggregation and blood viscosity.
Application of particle image velocimetry to dusty plasma systems

Particle image velocimetry is a fluid measurement technique that has been used for more than 20 years to characterize the particle transport and thermal state of dusty plasma systems. This manuscript provides an overview of this diagnostic technique, highlighting the strengths and limitations that are associated with its use. Additionally, the variations of this technique that have been applied in the study of dusty plasma systems will be discussed, along with a small selection of measurements that can be made with the technique. Potential future directions for this diagnostic tool within the dusty plasma community will also be discussed.