cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A computer activity to encourage facial expression recognition for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) do not recognize emotions in context as quickly as children without ASD. This research explores the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the area of social skills education. The project presents a computer activity that encourages children with ASD to match facial expressions with an emotion based on a story snippet. The activity provides context to children with ASD, facilitates discussion between the child and a teacher or parent, supports various input modes (touch on a mobile device and mouse on a laptop), and uses an imaginative approach to an emotion recognition game. This computer activity represents a step toward an activity that can encourage individuals with ASD to see and better analyze emotion in facial expressions.
Advanced neighborhoods and problem difficulty measures

While different measures of problem difficulty of fitness landscapes have been proposed, recent studies have shown that many of the common ones do not closely correspond to the actual difficulty of problems when solved by evolutionary algorithms. One of the reasons for this is that most problem difficulty measures are based on neighborhood structures that are quite different from those used in most evolutionary algorithms. This paper examines several ways to increase the accuracy of problem difficulty measures by including linkage information in the measure to more accurately take into account the advanced neighborhoods explored by some evolutionary algorithms. The effects of these modifications of problem difficulty are examined in the context of several simple and advanced evolutionary algorithms. The results are then discussed and promising areas for future research are proposed.
Theory of Two-Dimensional Melting

The consequences of a theory of dislocation-mediated two-dimensional melting are worked out for triangular lattices. Dissociation of dislocation pairs first drives a transition into a "liquid crystal" phase with exponential decay of translational order, but power-law decay of sixfold orientational order. A subsequent dissociation of disclination pairs at a higher temperature then produces an isotropic fluid. The critical behavior, as well as the effect of a periodic substrate, is discussed.
Projecting Incidence and Costs of Sprawl in the United States

The purpose of this research is to project historical national development patterns (sprawl, or uncontrolled growth) into the future and measure the impacts of this development compared with a more controlled development future. The costs of sprawl are calculated from 25-year growth projections in which resulting impacts are recorded in each of 3,100 counties nationwide. Unique regional definitions of urban, suburban, rural, and undeveloped counties are formulated according to density and prior levels of development. Then sprawl is defined as significant residential and nonresidential development in rural and undeveloped counties. Sprawl is subsequently controlled both within a region and within a county to contain growth in the most developed portions of each, using the equivalent of urban growth boundaries at the regional level and urban service areas at the county level. A future with and without controls generates the differences in development in particular locations. Differences in counties with respect to land conversion rates, road development requirements, housing unit mix and costs, and public-service availability and costs determine growth impacts under the two scenarios. The difference between the two analyses provides empirical evidence of the likely impact of a future with sprawl as opposed to one in which it is reduced.
Improved experimental cardiac xenograft survival with cyclophosphamide and intrathymic donor cells

: Tolerance to cardiac allografts can be induced by pretreatment of the recipient with antilymphocyte serum (ALS) and intrathymic donor cells. Our previous efforts to extend this observation to experimental cardiac xenografts in a usually concordant species combination led to antibody and complement mediated hyperacute rejection. Hyperacute rejection can be abrogated by the use of cobra venom factor but this agent even in combination with intrathymic pretreatment is not successful in prolonging xenograft survival in this model. In contrast to the immune response to allografts, which is predominately mediated by T cells, a B cell antibody mediated response plays an important role in xenotransplantation. Cyclophosphamide is active against dividing B cells. In the present experiments in a concordant hamster to rat cardiac xenograft model, we used the combination pretreatment of cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg IV) injected on days -19, -16, -13, and-10 prior to heart transplantation, ALS (1 ml intraperitoneally), and hamster spleen cells (25 × 106 intrathymically) given on day -18, 1 day after the first dose of cyclophosphamide. Grafted hearts were assessed by daily palpation of the graft pulse through the abdominal wall of the recipient. In untreated control recipients, graft survival was uniformly 3 days. Significant prolongation of graft survival was seen in pretreated animals whose grafts survived 4, 5, 5, 6, and 6 (mean 5.2) days (P<0.01). These studies show that an anti B cell regimen, when coupled with intrathymic pretreatment, results in prolongation of experimental cardiac xenograft survival. However, in contrast to allotransplantation, permanent tolerance cannot be achieved by this pretreatment protocol.
Vancomycin Treatment Failure Associated with Heterogeneous Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus in a Patient with Endocarditis and in the Rabbit Model of Endocarditis

Heterogeneous resistance to vancomycin is thought to precede emergence of intermediate susceptibility to vancomycin in Staphylococcus aureus, but the clinical significance of heterogeneous resistance is unknown. Paired S. aureus isolates from a patient with endocarditis who relapsed after vancomycin treatment were tested for heterogeneous resistance to vancomycin. The pretreatment and the relapse clinical isolates (strains SF1 and SF2, respectively) were genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Susceptibility to vancomycin was assessed by the broth dilution method, population analysis, and time-kill studies and in the rabbit model of endocarditis. Strains SF1 and SF2 had similar genotypes, and the vancomycin MICs for the strains were ≤2 μg/ml. SF2 exhibited heterogeneous resistance to vancomycin. Vancomycin eradicated SF1 in the rabbit model of endocarditis, while SF2 persisted at pretreatment levels. Vancomycin treatment failure in this patient with endocarditis was attributable to heterogeneous resistance to vancomycin.
Epidemiological and biochemical studies of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis and noma (cancrum oris) in Nigerian children

Abstract Epidemiological and biochemical studies were carried out on Nigerian children during the period 1963–1965. The studies were undertaken to determine the role of oral hygiene and the major indices of socio-economic status in the patterns of distribution of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis and the oro-facial lesion of noma. A total of 1068 children aged 0–10 yr and drawn from educated well-to-do familes, under-privileged village communities and patients hospitalized for treatment of malnutrition and/or cancrum oris formed the sample material. Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, which is very rarely seen in children in developed countries, was frequently encountered in Nigerian children and showed a peak age incidence around 2–6 yr. Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis in Nigeria was found to be a disease of the low socio-economic group. While no case of the lesion was encountered in the high social class children, underprivileged Osegere village children with borderline malnutrition showed an incidence of 15 per cent, and the incidence rose to 27 per cent in hospitalized cases of severe protein-calorie malnutrition. All 69 cases of noma seen were miserably malnourished as revealed by biochemical, clinical and dietary evaluations. The low social group children had poor oral hygiene status compared with their well-fed high socio-economic group counterparts, but there was evidence from some cases of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis and noma that the status of oral hygiene was not enough to explain the presence of these lesions in only the poor underprivileged communities. Findings of this study have been evaluated in light of the high physiological and metabolic activities of oral tissues and the importance of adequate supply of dietary nutrients for the maintenance of structural and functional integrity of oral tissues.
Probing the mechanism of melamine-induced gold nanoparticle aggregation

Detection of melamine in the food has received much attention since several food safety incidents of melamine adulteration occurred in recent years. We previously developed a simple and rapid colorimetric method to detect melamine, which relies on melamine-induced aggregation of gold nanoparticles (GNPs). However, the mechanism behind this method is still not clear. Herein we systematically characterized the melamine-induced gold nanoparticle aggregates. Various experimental studies, including dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were carried out. The results have revealed that melamine is directly adsorbed to the GNP surface, thus decreasing the surface potential of GNPs in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, based on the understanding of the mechanism, we have been able to further improve our previously developed melamine detection method by introducing a critical coagulation concentration (CCC)-based salt titration step. This CCC-based salt titration not only significantly increases the detection sensitivity, but also enables a reliable quantification without any equipment.
Angiotensin-(1–7) Administration Reduces Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Bone Marrow

Diabetics have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, in part due to oxidative stress, resulting in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) dysfunction. Studies have demonstrated that angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)] can activate eNOS activity. Because the bone marrow is a primary source of a number of progenitors important in physiological homeostasis and healing, the goal of this study was to evaluate the in vivo effects of Ang-(1–7) treatment on oxidative stress and the ensuing nitrative stress in diabetic bone marrow and its potential pathways. BKS.Cg-Dock7m +/+ Leprdb/J mice and their heterozygous controls were administered Ang-(1–7) alone or combined with A-779, losartan, PD123,319, nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, or icatibant sc for 14 d. The bone marrow was then collected to measure nitric oxide levels, eNOS phosphorylation, and expression of nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase, and p22-phox. Nitric oxide levels in the bone marrow were significantly decreased in diabetic mice, and Ang-(1–7) treatment was able to significantly increase these measures (P < 0.01). This effect was blocked by the coadministration of PD123,319, A-779, nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, and icatibant. In addition, Ang-(1–7) treatment reversed the paradoxical increase in eNOS and neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression and decreased the phosphorylation of eNOS at Thr495 seen in diabetic mice. Ang-(1–7) also reversed diabetes-induced production of reactive oxygen species by decreasing p22-phox expression and increasing superoxide dismutase 3 expression, leading to a significant reduction in 3-nitrotyrosine formation in diabetic bone marrow (P < 0.05). Our findings demonstrate that Ang-(1–7) administration decreases diabetes-induced oxidative stress in the bone marrow and modifies pathways involved in eNOS dysfunction.
Genetic Variation in ANGPTL4 Provides Insights into Protein Processing and Function

Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a secreted protein that modulates the disposition of circulating triglycerides (TG) by inhibiting lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Here we examine the steps involved in the synthesis and post-translational processing of ANGPTL4, and the effects of a naturally occurring sequence variant (E40K) that is associated with lower plasma TG levels in humans. Expression of the wild-type and mutant proteins in HEK-293A cells indicated that ANGPTL4 formed dimers and tetramers in cells prior to secretion and cleavage of the protein. After cleavage at a canonical proprotein convertase cleavage site (161RRKR164), the oligomeric structure of the N-terminal domain was retained whereas the C-terminal fibrinogen-like domain dissociated into monomers. Inhibition of cleavage did not interfere with oligomerization of ANGPTL4 or with its ability to inhibit LPL, whereas mutations that prevented oligomerization severely compromised the capacity of the protein to inhibit LPL. ANGPTL4 containing the E40K substitution was synthesized and processed normally, but no monomers or oligomers of the N-terminal fragments accumulated in the medium; medium from these cells failed to inhibit LPL activity. Parallel experiments performed in mice recapitulated these results. Our findings indicate that oligomerization, but not cleavage, of ANGPTL4 is required for LPL inhibition, and that the E40K substitution destabilizes the protein after secretion, preventing the extracellular accumulation of oligomers and abolishing the ability of the protein to inhibit LPL activity.
Synthesis and Cyclic Voltammetry Studies of Copper Complexes of Bromo- and Alkoxyphenyl-Substituted Derivatives of Tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine: Influence of Cation−Alkoxy Interactions on Copper Redox Potentials

A combination of host-guest chemistry and coordination chemistry in the design of electrochemical sensors for alkali metal and ammonium ions is described. The sensor molecules are coordination complexes between a copper ion and a functionalized tripodal ligand. Upon presentation of the ion to the sensor molecule, a shift in the redox potential of the copper ion occurs. In the course of the study, three new alkoxyphenyl-substituted derivatives of the ligand tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) were prepared and characterized. The synthesis of the new ligands involved the preparation of bromopyridyl-TPA derivatives followed by Suzuki coupling with substituted phenylboronic acids. Cyclic voltammetry studies of copper complexes of the ligands indicated that steric effects played a dominant role in the overall determination of the copper redox couple. Studies of the alkoxyphenyl ligands indicated that small but reproducible changes in the copper redox couple occurred upon presentation of a guest cation that would be expected to form a complex with the copper-ligand complex.
Geophysical Exploration is Just Beginning: ABSTRACT

What fraction of the yet undiscovered hydrocarbons will ultimately be found and produced? The answer depends on our success in developing and effectively applying the seismic method. Seismic reflection technology is in its infancy, and geophysical exploration is just beginning. We are now going after a three-dimensional quantitative subsurface image, in terms of compressional wave impedance. We are beginning to seek additional elastic properties and Q. Inference of structure from lateral variations in reflection time is being supplemented by inference of fluid content and other rock properties from "lateral" variations in impedance. Details of seismic images should be explained in terms of subsurface geology, unless proved otherwise. If well log data disagree with seismic data, well log data are probably wrong. We have a real need for improved "ground truth" if we are to effectively evaluate and interpret the seismic image. There are many limitations to current image quality, highly variable from one prospect to the next, and for the most part amenable to foreseeable technology improvements. In most areas, the only fundamental limitations on our ultimate seismic image quality are high frequency loss, and geologic noises--and we do not understand either one. End_of_Article - Last_Page 673------------
1420 PULMONARY SURFACTANT (PS): WHAT PROPERTIES ARE IMPORTANT?

PS can lower surface tension (ST) to <10 dynes/cm (d/c). This is believed to be essential for normal lung function. We tested a detergent, Tween 20 (T), which cannot lower ST to less than 25 d/c, for its effect on the respiratory failure due to respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in lambs (L) at 120-124 days gestation. L were delivered by cesarean section and each received one of three solutions intratracheally prior to the 1st breath: 1) 0.45% saline (saline); 2) 5% in 0.45% saline; or 3) PS in 0.45% saline. Each L was mechanically ventilated using 100% O2. Only the peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) was adjusted in an attempt to maintain a normal arterial pCO2. Values given are mean ± SEM at 30 min of age. N = 5 to 7 in each group. Gas exchange in L given T was much better than in L given saline and at a lower PIP. It approached that in L given PS. This occurred while the AW ST of L given T was the same as the AW ST of L given saline. Thus the ability of PS to lower ST to <10 d/c is less critical than previously believed.
Large calcifications in ovaries otherwise normal on ultrasound.

Objective To evaluate calcifications ≥ 5 mm in length in ovaries that are otherwise normal on ultrasound, and to determine whether such large ovarian calcifications are an indicator of ovarian neoplasm. Methods This was a retrospective study reviewing pelvic ultrasound results at our unit between October 1994 and April 2002 to identify patients with ovarian calcifications that were ≥ 5 mm in maximum length in otherwise normal ovaries, and who also had follow-up imaging studies. Patient medical histories were reviewed, calcification characteristics, including number, size, shape and laterality of calcifications, were recorded and follow-up imaging studies were reviewed to assess change in size of the calcification and to see if a neoplasm had developed. Results The study group consisted of 28 patients. The mean length of imaging follow-up was 35.2 ± 30.7 months. The mean size of the calcifications was 7.4 ± 2.3 (range, 5–13) mm. The calcification remained stable in all 28 patients and no ovarian neoplasms developed in any of the patients. Histological confirmation was available in one patient and this revealed dystrophic calcification in a corpus albicans. Conclusion Calcifications ranging from 5 to 13 mm in length in otherwise normal ovaries remain stable on follow-up imaging and are not an indicator of current or future ovarian neoplasm. Copyright © 2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gold Nanocages for Biomedical Applications

Nanostructured materials provide a promising platform for early cancer detection and treatment. Here we highlight recent advances in the synthesis and use of Au nanocages for such biomedical applications. Gold nanocages represent a novel class of nanostructures, which can be prepared via a remarkably simple route based on the galvanic replacement reaction between Ag nanocubes and HAuCl4. The Au nanocages have a tunable surface plasmon resonance peak that extends into the near-infrared, where the optical attenuation caused by blood and soft tissue is essentially negligible. They are also biocompatible and present a well-established surface for easy functionalization. We have tailored the scattering and absorption cross-sections of Au nanocages for use in optical coherence tomography and photothermal treatment, respectively. Our preliminary studies show greatly improved spectroscopic image contrast for tissue phantoms containing Au nanocages. Our most recent results also demonstrate the photothermal destruction of breast cancer cells in vitro by using immuno-targeted Au nanocages as an effective photo-thermal transducer. These experiments suggest that Au nanocages may be a new class of nanometer-sized agents for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
O ato de testemunhar: violência, gênero e subjetividade

O contexto e a Particao da India em 1949, que levou a criacao do Paquistao, visto a partir da cultura punjabi (o Punjab era a provincia mais proxima da fronteira com o novo estado) e, particularmente, atraves dos olhos de Asha que, aos 21 anos, em 1941, ficara viuva e passara a viver com a familia do falecido marido. As transformacoes impostas pela Particao alteraram essa situacao e levaram Asha as seguintes reflexoes. A comida de uma filha nunca e pesada para os pais. Mas quanto viverao nossos pais? Quando ate dois pedacos de pao sao sentidos como "pesados" por nosso proprio irmao... e melhor manter a honra ... e fazer sua paz... e viver onde se esta destinada a viver. A exegese dessas reflexoes constitui o nucleo analitico do texto. E, sobre a particao, a autora nao se pergunta como os acontecimentos estavam presentes nas consciencias como acontecimentos passados, mas como vieram a ser incorporados na estrutura temporal das relacoes.
Antagonists of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) given before whole body radiation lead to modulation of radiation response and organ-specific changes in the expression of angiogenesis

Purpose This study seeks to determine if growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) antagonist, JMR-132, increases survival when given before whole body radiation.
A model of Martian slope winds - Implications for eolian transport

Observations of dark Martian wind streaks not associated with visible topographic points of origin (coalesced dark streaks) show these features to favor regions with slopes of 1-10 deg. To investigate the circulation over such slopes, a Boussinesq fluid is adopted and a constant eddy diffusivity parameterization is assumed for small-scale mixing. The equations of motion are scaled to determine the range of slopes over which a strong local circulation due to slope winds can exist. For nighttime conditions, the estimated range compares well with the observed range of slopes favored by coalesced dark streaks. For daytime conditions, the slope wind solution is not valid. A simple one-dimensional analytic model is solved to determine friction velocities and velocity and temperature profiles. For reasonable choices of the input parameters, friction velocities and wind velocities suggestive of active downslope eolian transport on slopes of 1-10 deg are found. Friction velocities are largest over surfaces with low thermal inertia and large roughness length.
Interdisciplinary computational mechanics?some computational problems in naval ship design

This paper addresses the future directions of computational mechanics in Naval ship design. It discusses future capabilities in sea loads, ship reliability, ship response and damage assessment due to underwater explosion and shock, and optimization of naval ships for structural and signature control. Published in 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Growth inhibition of Cryptococcus neoformans by cloned cultured murine macrophages.

Cloned and unselected bone marrow-derived macrophage cell lines were obtained from A/J, AKR/J, BIO.A(5R), CBA/J, DBA/2, HPC, NZW, and [NZB X NZW]F1 mice, and their interactions were studied in vitro with a lightly encapsulated natural serotype A isolate of Cryptococcus neoformans. Growth inhibition of C. neoformans was seen with all of the cell lines, as determined by enumeration of colony-forming units. Inhibition was enhanced by a high concentration (8%) of fresh mouse serum and was the same for serum obtained from AKR/J (C5 deficient) and BIO.A (C5 normal) mice. Macrophage incubation with fresh AKR/J serum which had been absorbed with heat-killed Cryptococcus cells also inhibited C. neoformans growth. Heat-inactivation, EDTA addition or anti-C3 antibody treatment of fresh serum abolished the opsonic activity for C. neoformans, while EGTA addition to fresh serum was without effect on opsonization. In addition, neither IgM nor IgG1 murine monoclonal antibodies specific for C. neoformans enhanced phagocytosis or killing of the yeast by macrophages. These findings are consistent with the interpretation that C3b is an important modulator of interactions between macrophages and C. neoformans.
Toward an epistemology of “addictive disease”

This article examines the social perception of disease. Understanding medical perceptions provides an opportunity to gain insight into factors that influence health care seeking behavior patterns, treatment compliance and social policy. This paper views addictive disease models as metaphorical substitutes for moral turpitude models. This conclusion suggests that it is important for health care providers to carefully and instrumentally apply their language to facilitate patient compliance with treatment protocols, in general, and psychotherapy in particular.
Antigen specificity and activity of ovine antibodies induced by immunization with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis culture filtrate.

Abstract Sheep were immunized three times with a vaccine composed of filtrate from a 36 h culture of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and a block polymer adjuvant. Immunization resulted in the development of exotoxin-neutralizing antibody. This corresponded to the recognition of a 31.6 kDa protein on sequential immunoblots of ammonium sulfate-precipitated filtrate. In addition, sera from vaccinated sheep recognized at least eight bacterial cellular antigens on immunoblots of ether-extracted C. pseudotuberculosis, including bands of 12, 25.1, 31.6, 36.3, 39.8, 63.1, 70, 75 or 79.4 kDa. Sera from these sheep altered the colony growth characteristics of C. pseudotuberculosis in vitro. These results indicate that immunization with soluble C. pseudotuberculosis antigen preparations that have been used in toxoid vaccines induces antibody responses to numerous cellular antigens in addition to exotoxin and suggest that serologically mediated antibacterial effects could be an important component in the protection from disease that has been reported following immunization with C. pseudotuberculosis toxoids.
α-Ethoxycarbonyl and α-methoxy substituted radical clocks

Abstract Rate constants and Arrhenius functions for 5-exo cyclizations of the 1-(ethoxycarbonyl)-5-hexenyl radical, the 1-(ethoxycarbonyl)-1-methyl-5-hexenyl radical and the 1-methoxy-5-hexenyl radical were determined by indirect kinetic methods.
Multisite on-line process control using a CCD detector system

Recent advances in both imaging spectrometers and CCD based multichannel detection systems have made possible optical process monitoring and control of several sites simultaneously using a single system. Developments in optical monitoring leading to the present state of technology are reviewed. The benefits of these new multisite systems are discussed both in terms of advances in process control they make possible and the cost reduction they represent.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Foraging ecology of jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) in hunted and non‐hunted sites within the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala

Subsistence hunting and commercial exploitation directly influence wildlife populations in many regions of Central and South America. Where prey populations are exploited, the foraging ecology of top-level predators can be effected negatively. This study assessed the food habits and prey selection of jaguar Panthera onca and puma Puma concolor within hunted and non-hunted segments of the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR), Guatemala. Food habits were determined from analysis of 76 jaguar and 145 puma scats collected within hunted and non-hunted areas of the MBR from February 2000 to August 2001. Diets of jaguar and puma were compared (1) within species between areas with and without hunting to evaluate effects of subsistence hunting, and (2) between species to evaluate resource partitioning between these sympatric carnivores. Origin of predator scats was determined from mitochondrial DNA, diets were determined from prey remnants found within scats, and frequency of prey in scats was compared to expected values based on prey density estimates to test the hypothesis that diets of jaguar and puma were selective. Densities of major prey species were estimated using line-transect sampling. White-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari, collared peccary Tayassu tajacu and brocket deer Mazama sp. were less abundant, and coatis Nasua nasua more abundant, in the hunted area than in the non-hunted area. Jaguar and puma in both hunted and non-hunted sites obtained similar dietary contributions from large prey to their respective diets despite differences in the abundance of these prey species. Diets of jaguar and puma, as measured by percentage biomass occurrence of prey species, did not differ between hunted and non-hunted areas. Jaguar diets were dominated by medium-sized prey, particularly armadillos Dasypus novemcinctus and coatis, in both hunted and non-hunted areas. Medium-sized mammals also were prominent in puma diets, but large mammals constituted approximately 50% of prey biomass in both hunted and non-hunted areas. Deer Odocoileus virginianus and Mazama sp. and large rodents Agouti paca and Dasyprocta punctata were the most important prey of puma. Dietary overlap between jaguar and puma in both hunted and non-hunted areas was low.
Deconvolution of Seismic Data using Homomorphic Filtering

Abstract : Nonlinear systems which obey a principle of superposition under some operation have been termed homomorphic. A class of homomorphic systems which has found wide application is that involving the filtering of signals that have been combined by convolution. The use of homomorphic systems to deconvolve both seismic reflection and teleseismic data has been proposed and explored by a number of researchers with varying success. The resultant strategies may be globally characterized as a deterministic approach to signal analysis in that no account is made for realistic deviations of the data from the idealized time- invariant seismic models. Several novel results are presented in this paper. A new class of systems, called band-pass homomorphic systems, is discussed, which are matched to the band-pass nature of seismic signals. The implementation of homomorphic systems is improved and made more reliable, through the use of a new phase unwrapping technique. Finally, the concept of short-time homomorphic analysis is introduced and new strategies for wavelet estimation by homomorphic filtering are proposed.
Chemical force microscopy of chemical and biological interactions

Interactions between chemical functionalities define outcomes of the vast majority of important events in chemistry, biology and materials science. Chemical Force Microscopy (CFM)--a technique that uses direct chemical functionalization of AFM probes with specific functionalities--allows researchers to investigate these important interactions directly. We review the basic principles of CFM, some examples of its application, and theoretical models that provide the basis for understanding the experimental results. We also emphasize application of modern kinetic theory of non-covalent interactions strength to the analysis of CFM data.
Weighted Proportional Fairness Capacity of Gaussian MIMO Broadcast Channels

Recently, there has been tremendous interest in exploring the capacity region of multiple-input multiple-output broadcast channels (MIMO-BC). However, fairness, a very important performance measure of multi-user communications systems and networks, has not been addressed for MIMO-BC in the literature. In this paper, we study how to determine the weighted proportional fairness (WPF) capacity of MIMO-BC. The difficulty of finding the WPF capacity of MIMO-BC lies in that it contains two difficult subproblems: 1) a complex combinatorial optimization problem to determine the optimal decoding order in the dual MIMO multiple access channel (MEMO-MAC) and 2) a nonconvex optimization problem in computing the optimal input covariance matrices to achieve WPF capacity. To circumvent the difficulty in the first subproblem, we derive a set of optimality conditions that the optimal decoding order must satisfy. Based on these optimality conditions, we design an efficient algorithm called iterative gradient sorting (IGS) to determine the optimal decoding order by iteratively sorting the gradient entries and moving across corner points. We also show that this method can be geometrically interpreted as sequential gradient projections. For the second subproblem, we propose an efficient algorithm based on conjugate gradient projection (CGP) technique, which employs the concept of Hessian conjugate. We also develop a polynomial time algorithm to solve the projection subproblem.
Do trauma center levels matter in older isolated hip fracture patients

Abstract Background Younger, multi-trauma patients have improved survival when treated at a trauma center. Many regions now propose that older patients be triaged to a higher level trauma centers (HLTCs—level I or II) versus lower level trauma centers (LLTCs—level III or nondesignated TC), even for isolated injury, despite the absence of an established benefit in this elderly cohort. We therefore sought to determine if older isolated hip fracture patients have improved survival outcomes based on trauma center level. Methods A retrospective cohort of 1.07 million patients in The Nationwide Emergency Department Sample from 2006–2010 was used to identify 239,288 isolated hip fracture patients aged ≥65 y. Multivariable logistic regression was performed controlling for patient- and hospital-level variables. The main outcome measures were inhospital mortality and discharge disposition. Results Unadjusted logistic regression analyses revealed 8% higher odds of mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.16) and 10% lower odds of being discharged home (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.80–1.00) among patients admitted to an HLTC versus LLTC. After controlling for patient- and hospital-level factors, neither the odds of mortality (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.97–1.15) nor the odds of discharge to home (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.85–1.12) differed significantly between patients treated at an HLTC versus LLTC. Conclusions Among patients with isolated hip fractures admitted to HLTCs, mortality and discharge disposition do not differ from similar patients admitted to LLTCs. These findings have important implications for trauma systems and triage protocols.
Comparison of XAD with other dissolved lignin isolation techniques and a compilation of analytical improvements for the analysis of lignin in aquatic settings.

This manuscript highlights numerous incremental improvements in dissolved lignin measurements over the nearly three decades since CuO oxidation of lignin phenols was first adapted for environmental samples. Intercomparison of the recovery efficiency of three common lignin phenol concentration and isolation techniques, namely XAD, C18 with both CH3OH (C18M) and CH3CN (C18A) used independently for priming and elution steps, and tangential flow filtration (TFF) for a range of aquatic samples including fresh, estuarine and marine waters, was undertaken. With freshwater samples XAD8-1, C18M and TFF were all observed to recover ca. 80–90% of the lignin phenols and showed no fractionation effects with respect to diagnostic lignin parameters. With estuarine and marine samples more lignin phenols were recovered with C18M and XAD8-1 than TFF because of the increased prevalence of low molecular weight lignin phenols in marine influenced samples. For marine systems, differences were also observed between diagnostic lignin parameters isolated via TFF vs. C18M and XAD8-1 as a result of the high molecular weight lignin phenols being less degraded than the bulk. Therefore, it is recommended for future studies of marine systems that only one technique is utilized for ease of intercomparison within studies. It is suggested that for studies solely aimed at recovering bulk dissolved lignin in marine environments that C18M and XAD8-1 appear to be more suitable than TFF as they recover more lignin. Our results highlight that, for freshwater samples, all three common lignin phenol concentration and isolation techniques are comparable to whole water concentrated by rotary evaporation (i.e. not isolated) but, that for marine systems, the choice of concentration and isolation techniques needs to be taken into consideration with respect to both lignin concentration and diagnostic parameters. Finally, as the study highlights XAD8-1 to be a suitable method for the isolation of dissolved lignin phenols from aquatic systems (statistically indistinguishable from C18M, P < 0.1), lignin data representative of whole waters can be produced for IHSS reference materials or other XAD sample archives.
Lobeline and reduction of cigarette smoking.

An empirical and logical analysis of research employing lobeline sulfate in reducing cigarette smoking raises serious doubts as to the utility of this chemical “nicotine substitute.” An experiment ...
Scaling queries over big RDF graphs with semantic hash partitioning

Massive volumes of big RDF data are growing beyond the performance capacity of conventional RDF data management systems operating on a single node. Applications using large RDF data demand efficient data partitioning solutions for supporting RDF data access on a cluster of compute nodes. In this paper we present a novel semantic hash partitioning approach and implement a Semantic HAsh Partitioning-Enabled distributed RDF data management system, called Shape. This paper makes three original contributions. First, the semantic hash partitioning approach we propose extends the simple hash partitioning method through direction-based triple groups and direction-based triple replications. The latter enhances the former by controlled data replication through intelligent utilization of data access locality, such that queries over big RDF graphs can be processed with zero or very small amount of inter-machine communication cost. Second, we generate locality-optimized query execution plans that are more efficient than popular multi-node RDF data management systems by effectively minimizing the inter-machine communication cost for query processing. Third but not the least, we provide a suite of locality-aware optimization techniques to further reduce the partition size and cut down on the inter-machine communication cost during distributed query processing. Experimental results show that our system scales well and can process big RDF datasets more efficiently than existing approaches.
Kinetics of cells producing antibodies to penicillin studied by plaque assay.

Abstract The Jerne plaque assay technique was used for the detection and examination of the kinetics of antibody production to penicillin in mice. Potassium penicilln G (KPG) was linked to hemocyanin (KLH). Swiss mice were given KPG-KLH intravenously. Spleens were removed one to ten days after immunization. Sheep red blood cells (S.R.B.C.) were sensitized with KPG. The spleen cells and KPG-S.R.B.C. were mixed and plated as in Jerne's method. After incubation and overlaying with guinea pig complement, plaques of immune hemolysis were counted. Controls consisted of spleen cells from nonimmunized mice or from animals given KLH only. Peak numbers of plaques with KPG-S.R.B.C. occurred on the fourth day after immunization. There was a thirty- to fortyfold increase in numbers of plaque-forming cells (PFC) in KPG-KLH immunized animals compared with background PFC in nonimmunized mice. A four- to eightfold increase over background was observed in PFC in KLH immunized mice. With this method, it appears possible to study the kinetics of antibody formation to a haptenic allergen such as penicillin.
Effects of amphetamine on retrieval of memory for emotional stimuli

Aims: Drugs of abuse have been shown to affect memory in both animals and humans. However, little is known about drug effects specifically on emotional memory in humans. Stimulant drugs increase positive mood, and as such it is possible that they could preferentially enhance either encoding or retrieval memory for positive emotional stimuli. In this study we investigated the effects of d-amphetamine (AMP) on retrieval of memory for emotional material in humans. We hypothesized that AMP would enhance retrieval of emotional material, particularly for positive emotional stimuli, possibly through its effects on mood. Methods: Participants attended an encoding session in which they viewed standardized positive, neutral, and negative pictures from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS; Lang et al., 1999). Exactly 48h later they attended a retrieval session testing their memory of these stimuli. A between-subject design was utilized in which participants were randomly assigned to receive either AMP (20mg) or placebo (PL) during encoding and either AMP or PL during retrieval. Results: The results presented here are limited to the AMP or PL at retrieval. Data collection is currently ongoing, and to date 22 participants have received AMP in the retrieval session and 13 participants have received PL. Preliminary results show that, regardless of drug administered at encoding, participants receiving AMP at retrieval showed enhanced memory for studied items (p= .036), as well as increased false memory (p= .019), but thus far these effects are not specific to emotional stimuli. Conclusions: As data collection progresseswewill testwhether AMPpreferentially altersmemory for positive stimuli, andwhether memory is related to subjective mood response to AMP. We hypothesize that greater AMP-induced positive moodwill be associatedwithpreferentialmemory forpositive stimuli, thusproviding a potentialmechanism throughwhichAMPeffects onmemorymay promote further use. Financial support: Research supported by NIDA grants R21 DA031796 and F32 DA033756.
Update on Mathematical Modeling Research to Support the Development of Automated Insulin Delivery Systems

One year after its initial meeting, the Glycemia Modeling Working Group reconvened during the 2009 Diabetes Technology Meeting in San Francisco, CA. The discussion, involving 39 scientists, again focused on the need for individual investigators to have access to the clinical data required to develop and refine models of glucose metabolism, the need to understand the differences among the distinct models and control algorithms, and the significance of day-to-day subject variability. The key conclusion was that model-based comparisons of different control algorithms, or the models themselves, are limited by the inability to access individual model-patient parameters. It was widely agreed that these parameters, as opposed to the average parameters that are typically reported, are necessary to perform such comparisons. However, the prevailing view was that, if investigators were to make the parameters available, it would limit their ability (and that of their institution) to benefit from the invested work in developing their models. A general agreement was reached regarding the importance of each model having an insulin pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile that is not different from profiles reported in the literature (88% of the respondents agreed that the model should have similar curves or be analyzed separately) and the importance of capturing intraday variance in insulin sensitivity (91% of the respondents indicated that this could result in changes in fasting glucose of ≥15%, with 52% of the respondents believing that the variability could effect changes of ≥30%). Seventy-six percent of the participants indicated that high-fat meals were thought to effect changes in other model parameters in addition to gastric emptying. There was also widespread consensus as to how a closed-loop controller should respond to day-to-day changes in model parameters (with 76% of the participants indicating that fasting glucose should be within 15% of target, with 30% of the participants believing that it should be at target). The group was evenly divided as to whether the glucose sensor per se continues to be the major obstacle in achieving closed-loop control. Finally, virtually all participants agreed that a future two-day workshop should be organized to compare, contrast, and understand the differences among the different models and control algorithms.
Response to Letter Regarding Article: “Developing DCE-CT to Quantify Intra-Tumor Heterogeneity in Breast Tumors With Differing Angiogenic Phenotype”

In this response letter, technical issues raised by the comments concerning determination of arterial input function, cardiac and respiratory related motion artifacts, contrast agent application, and compartmental model fitting in our work are addressed in detail, and a discussion on identifying causes of uncertainty in physiological measurement and how to minimize their contribution is presented.
Natural-field dictator game shows no altruistic giving

Abstract Economic experiments are increasingly being used in a number of research areas and are a major source of data guiding the debate surrounding the nature of human prosociality. The degree to which experiment behavior accurately reflects external behavior, however, has long been debated. A number of recent studies have revealed just how remarkably sensitive participants are to cues of a lack of anonymity. Similarly, others have suggested that the very structure of the experimental context induces participants to choose prosocial options. In order to truly create anonymous conditions and to eliminate the effects of experimental contexts, participants must not be aware of their participation. Here, I present the results of a natural-field Dictator Game in which participants are presented with a believable endowment and provided an opportunity to divide the endowment with a stranger without knowing that they are taking part in an experiment. No participants gave any portion of the endowment to the stranger. Baseline frequencies of prosocial behaviors exhibited under experimental contexts might therefore be substantially inflated compared to those exhibited under natural contexts.
Daily Calorie and Fluid Calculations in the Intensive Care Nursery Using a Pocket Computer

A computer program, run on a hand-held printing pocket computer, that simplifies routine calorie and fluid calculations on high-risk neonates in the intensive care nursery is described. It is useful in performing these calculations on patients with parenteral nutrition, diluted feedings, other intravenous fluids, and medium-chain triglyceride oil supplements, all of which make calorie and fluid calculations by hand very difficult. Both physician and nonphysician personnel can be taught to use this program, allowing them to quickly and easily perform the otherwise laborious fluid and calorie calculations, even on complicated patients.
Role of guanylate cyclase-activating proteins (GCAPs) in setting the flash sensitivity of rod photoreceptors.

The retina's photoreceptor cells adjust their sensitivity to allow photons to be transduced over a wide range of light intensities. One mechanism thought to participate in sensitivity adjustments is Ca2+ regulation of guanylate cyclase (GC) by guanylate cyclase-activating proteins (GCAPs). We evaluated the contribution of GCAPs to sensitivity regulation in rods by disrupting their expression in transgenic mice. The GC activity from GCAPs−/− retinas showed no Ca2+ dependence, indicating that Ca2+ regulation of GCs had indeed been abolished. Flash responses from dark-adapted GCAPs−/− rods were larger and slower than responses from wild-type rods. In addition, the incremental flash sensitivity of GCAPs−/− rods failed to be maintained at wild-type levels in bright steady light. GCAP2 expressed in GCAPs−/− rods restored maximal light-induced GC activity but did not restore normal flash response kinetics. We conclude that GCAPs strongly regulate GC activity in mouse rods, decreasing the flash sensitivity in darkness and increasing the incremental flash sensitivity in bright steady light, thereby extending the rod's operating range.