cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conformal Parametrization of Surfaces of Genus Zero and 3D Reconstruction of Nuclear Fusion Hotspots

Author(s): Wong, Ka Wai | Advisor(s): Hass, Joel | Abstract: The first part of this thesis studies a modified version of mean curvature flow, the ``conformalized mean curvature flow" (cMCF), developed by Kazhdan, Solomon, and Ben-Chen. The cMCF is a conformal mapping algorithm but it runs into numerical issues when it is applied on meshes with protrusions. We improve the cMCF with an initialization step which first maps the initial mesh onto a sphere. This initialization step is shown to improve the performance of cMCF so that it can be applied on meshes with long protrusions. More importantly, we give the first algorithm named ``Sphericalized cMCF" to construct a homotopy from a degree one map to a homeomorphism from a unit sphere onto a unit sphere. We provide results from numerical experiments of applying this algorithm to closed surfaces of genus zero that are embedded in $\Rl^3$, on which we construct a homotopy from a degree one map to a conformal homeomorphism onto a unit sphere.The second part of this thesis focuses on my work in x-ray emission tomography at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This project is conducted over eighteen months of a student internship and within the framework of the inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments performed at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). We present a novel approach to reconstruct the 3D electron temperature distribution of ICF hotspots. Using very limited number of 2D x-ray projection images, we reconstruct 3D x-ray emission distributions of an ICF hotspot from different x-ray energy channels ranging from 20 to 30 keV. The x-ray input images are processed using the algebraic reconstruction technique (ART) to reconstruct 3D x-ray emission distributions in different energy channels, which can characterize and compare the thermophysical states of the fusion plasma such as its electron temperature. We compute the 3D electron temperature using the energy channel ratios. We present both synthetic and experimental results showing high accuracy and applicability of our method on different complex hotspot geometries.
Hip Flexion Angles During Supine Range of Motion and Bodyweight Squats

During the lowering phase of a squat, it has been observed that a posterior pelvic tilt (PPT) may occur when squatting to full depth. Research suggests that defaulting to compensatory movement strategies, such as PPT, during the squat may correlate with risk of lower extremity and trunk pathology. The purpose of this study was to examine hip flexion (HF) angles at the point when PPT occurs among three conditions: standard squats, heel raise squats, and supine passive HF; analyzing the differences in depth between standard and heel raise squats; and calculating differences in knee angles and ankle excursion between standard and heel raise squats. 28 participants performed bodyweight squats and underwent supine passive HF while outfitted with 32 retroreflective motion capture markers. Hip, knee, and ankle joint angles were extracted at the point of PPT. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine differences in hip joint angles between conditions, and a paired sample t-test was used to compare knee angles, ankle excursion, and squat depth between standard and heel raise squats. HF angles at PPT remained unchanged across all conditions. However, significantly greater knee flexion, ankle excursion, and squat depth were observed in the heel raise squats compared to the standard squats. Results suggest that PPT is a compensatory movement that occurs as the femur compresses into the acetabulum once hip flexion has been exhausted.
Assessment of the impact of age and of blood-derived inflammatory markers in horses with colitis.

OBJECTIVES To determine the impact of age on survival in horses with colitis and to elucidate whether a lower type-1/type-2 cytokine ratio or an exaggerated inflammatory state contribute to reduced survival in aged horses. DESIGN Part 1: Retrospective cohort analysis. Part 2: Analytic observational study. ANIMALS Part 1: One hundred twenty-four adult horses with colitis. Part 2: Twenty-nine adult horses with new diarrhea onset while hospitalized. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Part 1: Patient signalment, select clinicopathological data, diagnoses, treatment, hospitalization length, and invoice were compared between survivors (n = 101) and nonsurvivors (n = 23). Only age and plasma transfusion retained statistical significance in the final multivariate outcome model, with 8.5 times lower odds of survival in transfused horses (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6-27.2%). Additionally, the likelihood of nonsurvival increased by 11.8% (95% CI, 4-20.2%) for every year the horse aged (P = 0.002). Similarly, geriatric horses (≥20 years) were 15.2 times more likely to die than young-adults (2-12 years, P = 0.03), independent of financial investment, documented comorbidities, and duration of hospitalization. Part 2: Select cytokine analyses were performed on serum collected from hospitalized horses within 1 hour of diarrhea onset (T0) and 6 hours later. At T0, all recorded clinicopathological variables were comparable between geriatric and young-adult horses, suggesting a similar degree of systemic illness. The median concentration of type-2 cytokines interleukin-4 and interleukin-10, and type-1 cytokine interferon-γ did not differ between age groups. Inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly higher in geriatric compared to young-adult horses at both sampling time points. CONCLUSIONS Outcome of colitis was less favorable in aging horses and patients receiving a plasma transfusion. Although an exaggerated inflammatory state, based on increased interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations, in geriatric horses may contribute to reduced survival, a lower type-1/type-2 cytokines ratio was not identified in our geriatric population.
Observations from the Manhigh II Balloon Capsule at 30 Kilometers

This paper is a companion to the paper “Operation Manhigh,” presented by Mr. Otto C. Winzen (p. 460). Mr. Winzen describes the preparation of the capsule and the flight operation as seen from the outside. This paper describes the flight as experienced by the pilot from inside the capsule.
CIB working commission W55

Harold E. Marshall, Leader of the Applied Economics Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the United States and Rapporteur of economic methods in W55, reviews technically correct methods and techniques that W55 recommends for helping many countries evaluate the economic performance of buildings.
Impulse Noise Hazard as a Function of Level and Spectral Distribution

Given an interest in impulse noise, there are many research issues that could be addressed, but for practical application, two of them are especially important. Specifically, they are the roles played by level and spectral distribution of energy. So far as the auditory system is concerned, there must be some internally consistent answers. The practical problem is that the damage-risk criteria (DRC) in use in the world differ in their treatment of these two critical issues. Furthermore, the present research program is producing data that indicate that the current DRCs are fundamentally incorrect and that traditional theoretical approaches don’t work.
Reversible Polymerization of Histidine Ammonia Lyase THE ROLE OF SULFHYDRYL GROUPS IN THE ACTIVITY AND POLYMERIC STATE OF THE ENZYME

Abstract Histidine ammonia lyase, obtained by a modification of the purification procedures previously described, is shown to be a mixture of enzymatically active polymeric species which undergo depolymerization on treatment with thiols. The monomeric unit of molecular weight 213,000 is itself composed of four subunits of molecular weight 55,000. The sulfhydryl groups on the enzyme play a role in catalysis as well as in polymerization. Spectrophotometric and circular dichroism measurements have revealed the presence of a hitherto undetected chromophore absorbing near 315 mµ. Inactivation of the enzyme with sodium borohydride or l-cysteine markedly changes the absorption of the protein in this spectral region.
Vaginal cancer in patient presenting with advanced pelvic organ prolapse: case report and literature review

Background: Vaginal cancer presenting concurrently with stage 4 uterovaginal prolapse is a rare occurrence, representing less than 1% of all gynecologic malignancies. Case: We review the case of an 82-year-old woman who presented for care of prolapse. Examination demonstrated complete uterovaginal prolapse and a vaginal ulcer, later confirmed to be vaginal cancer. Conclusion: The management of these complicated patients is limited by a lack of data available to guide treatment. This case and the literature review highlight the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment and a high level of clinical suspicion for diagnosis of these very challenging cases.
Managerial competition, information costs, and corporate governance: The use of accounting performance measures in proxy contests☆

Abstract This paper reports evidence that dissident stockholders who wage a proxy contest for board seats typically site poor earnings rather than poor stock price performance as necessitating the proposed hostile management change. Consistent with this finding, sample firms' pre-contest accounting returns are systematically below-market, whereas their pre-contest stock returns are not. During an election campaign, incumbent managers apparently exercise their accounting discretion to paint a favorable picture of their own performance to voting stockholders. If elected, dissidents tend to take an immediate earnings ‘bath’ which they typically blame on the poor decisions of prior management.
Regional Peculiarities of the Municipal Reform in the Period of Transition

Organizational and financial issues related to the governance of municipalities were examined in this work with the aim to analyze regional peculiarities of municipal reform during transition period. Analysis was conducted with the help of budget statistics for the first half of 2006 and regional budgetary legislation, as well as with the help of the data received during research in the pilot regions and municipalities.
Alveolar Macrophage Ingestion and Phagosome-Lysosome Fusion Defect Associated with Virus Pneumonia

Virus-induced suppression of pulmonary phagocytic defenses is associated with defects in the intracellular processing of bacteria by alveolar macrophages. To determine whether the intracellular defect is related to a failure in phagosomelysosome fusion, mice were infected with a sublethal dose of Sendai virus, and the capacity of phagocytic cells, obtained by lung lavage, to exhibit phagosomelysosome fusion was quantitated during the course of the viral infection. Lysosomes of alveolar macrophages were prelabeled with acridine orange, the cells were challenged with Candida krusei, and fusion was determined with fluorescence microscopy by the discharge of the dye into the yeast-containing phagosome. Ultrastructural cytochemical studies verified the validity of the fluorescent fusion assay. Simultaneous experiments were performed to determine whether the viral infection also suppressed phagocytic ingestion by alveolar macrophages. Phagosome-lysosome fusion was progressively inhibited during the viral infection, reaching a low at day 7 when only 13 ± 3% of the phagocytic cells fused as compared with 97 ± 3% in cells from uninfected control animals; respectively, 55 ± 5% as compared with 74 ± 2% of the phagocytic cells contained yeasts. Thereafter, phagosome-lysosome fusion progressively increased reaching near normal levels (92 ± 3%) on day 17 of the infection. At the same time period, phagocytic uptake was enhanced to a level where 97 ± 3% of the cells contained yeasts. These data demonstrated that virus-induced suppression of intrapulmonary killing of bacteria involves functional lesions that retard the ingestion of inhaled organisms by alveolar macrophages and inhibit intracellular processing by degradative lysosomal enzymes by interfering with phagosome-lysosome fusion.
Reconceptualizing "Wolfian" Anthropology and the Peasantry

Articulating Hidden Histories: Exploring the Influence of Eric R. Wolf. Jane Schneider and Rayna Rapp. eds. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995.400 pp. Reconceptualizing the Peasantry: Anthropology in Global Perspective. Michael Kearney. Boulder, CO. Westview Press, 1996. 210 pp.
Holistic Approach for Assessing the Vulnerability of Buried Pipelines to Earthquake Loads

Emergency preparedness agencies are promoting community resiliency in the face of disasters through community involvement and planning. One aspect of such programs is the incorporation of disaster planning into the community normal operational activities. This paper presents a framework for a screening tool developed using the analytical hierarchy process and commonly used statistical tools to obtain a first-order estimate of the relative resilience of buried lifeline networks to earthquake loads. It is envisioned that the results will be incorporated into a municipality or utility prioritization scheme for the rehabilitation/replacement of its buried assets, as well as provide a basis for emergency response teams to prioritize their efforts following an earthquake event. A preliminary verification of the proposed model was conducted by comparing predictions with data collected during the aftermath of the Loma Prieta and Kobe earthquakes. It was shown that the proposed holistic approach is a viable method for tackling this complex, multivariable problem. The proposed model can be codified to run under standard geographical information system platforms, enabling access to existing electronic databases.
Defective Micronuclei and Genomic Exclusion in Selected C* Subclones of Tetrahymena1

SYNOPSIS. C* is a structurally heterogeneous clone containing normal and crinkled cells which are amicronucleate. Selection for structurally normal subclones did not result in the genesis of a diploid cell line. The stem cell of C* appears to be aneuploid with about 4 chromosomes instead of the usual 10, and from this line cells with fewer chromosomes or without micronuclei are generated. Only cells containing a portion of the micronucleus are viable. Amicronucleate cells die. They also mate very poorly. Consequently, little difference is observed between subclones having different proportions of amicronucleate cells in their ability to generate viable offspring by genomic exclusion. Our observations are discussed in terms of the separate functions of micronucleus and macronucleus and ways in which the nuclei seem to interact.
Separate and Distinct: A Comparison of Scholarly Productivity, Teaching Load, and Compensation of Chiropractic Teaching Faculty to Other Sectors of Higher Education

Background: Faculty scholarship, teaching load, and compensation can be indicators of institutional health and can impact curricular quality. Periodic data are published by the US Department of Education for all sectors of higher education, but do not list chiropractic colleges as a separate category.
Transient ischemia cannot precondition the rabbit heart against postischemic contractile dysfunction.

Background. The rat heart is preconditioned against postischemic contractile dysfunction by a brief period of transient ischemia before a prolonged ischemic period. However, the rabbit heart does not receive such cardioprotection from pretreatment with a single transient ischemia periods. We hypothesized that in the rabbit heart, a multiple cycle of transient ischemia is required to reach a threshold necessary to precondition against postischemic contractile dysfunction. Methods. To test this hypothesis, we subjected isolated, perfused rabbit hearts to either one 5-minute transient ischemic period or three 5-minute transient ischemic periods followed by a 40-minute period of warm ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion. Control hearts (no pretreatment with transient ischemia) were examined simultaneously. Left ventricular developed pressure was measured with an intraventricular balloon. Results. Postischemic recoveries (expressed as percent of preischemic values) of left ventricular developed pressure for the group with one ischemic period and the group with three ischemic periods were 43% ± 5% (n = 5) and 38% ± 6% (n = 6), respectively. These values were not significantly different from control values. Conclusions. Neither one nor three periods of transient ischemia protect the isolated, perfused rabbit heart from postischemic contractile dysfunction. Therefore, the rabbit heart may not have the capacity to be ischemically preconditioned against postischemic contractile dysfunction.
Alternative catalytic approach for reduction of cold-start hydrocarbon emissions

This paper describes an alternative approach to reduction of cold-start hydrocarbon emissions that allows the engine to operate under rich conditions for stable operation, and makes use of that rich condition to reduce overall hydrocarbon emissions. The approach requires only the addition of a small catalyst with particular catalytic properties. No additional hardware is required, and secondary air pumps, hydrocarbon adsorbers, electrically heated catalysts, heat storage devices, etc. can be removed from the vehicle. Reductions of 30–40% in hydrocarbon emissions were realized over the US FTP-75 test, without changes in calibration, when compared to the base catalyst systems.
The thermal conductivity of alumina nanofluids in water, ethylene glycol, and ethylene glycol + water mixtures

We present new data on the thermal conductivity of nanofluids consisting of alumina nanoparticles dispersed in water, ethylene glycol, and ethylene glycol + water mixtures. We also demonstrate that our previously published model is able to describe the temperature, particle size, and particle volume fraction dependence of these nanofluids without any adjustable parameters, irrespective of the base fluid used (water, ethylene glycol, or water + ethylene glycol mixtures). Furthermore, we demonstrate how the model may be used to check the consistency of literature data on all alumina nanofluids.
An imaging-in-flow system for automated analysis of marine microplankton

Present automated systems for counting and measunng marine plankton include flow cytometers and in situ plankton video recorders. Neither of these approaches are optimal for the microplankton cells which range in size from 20 to 200 pm and can be fewer than 104 1". We describe here an instrument designed for rapid counting, imaging and measuring of individual cells and particles in the microplankton size range from cultures and natural populations. It uses a unlque optical element to extend the depth of focus of the imaging lens, allowing a sample stream flow rate of 1 rnl min-'. The instrument stores a digital image of each particle along with real time fluorescence and size measurements. An interactive cytogram links a dot-plot of the size and fluorescence data to the stored cell images, allowing rapid characterization of populations. We have tested the system on live phytoplankton cultures and bead standards, proving the system counting and slzlng accuracy and precision. The system provides Images and size distributions for cultures or natural manne samples. It has been used successfully at sea to continuously monitor particles while underway. It may prove useful in s tud~es of plankton community structure, ocean optics and monitoring for harmful algal species.
Interactions between the reinforcing effects of cocaine and heroin in a drug-vs-food choice procedure in rhesus monkeys: a dose-addition analysis

Concurrent abuse of cocaine and heroin is a common form of polydrug abuse, but the interactions between the reinforcing effects of cocaine and heroin are poorly understood. Dose-addition analysis is a tool for the quantitative assessment of drug interactions, but this analysis has not been applied to evaluation of the reinforcing effects of cocaine and heroin. To evaluate interactions between the reinforcing effects of cocaine and heroin using dose-addition analysis. Rhesus monkeys were trained under a concurrent-choice schedule of food delivery (1 gm pellets) and drug injections (cocaine or heroin, 0–0.1 mg kg−1 injection−1). Full dose–effect curves were determined for cocaine alone and heroin alone. Subsequently, full dose–effect curves were determined for three fixed-proportion mixtures of cocaine and heroin (fixed proportions of 1:3.2, 1:1 and 3.2:1 cocaine/heroin). Dose-addition analysis was used to assess whether cocaine/heroin interactions were super-additive, additive, or sub-additive. Cocaine, heroin, and all cocaine/heroin mixtures maintained dose-dependent and monotonic increases in drug choice and dose-dependent decreases in response rates. Choice dose–effect curves for cocaine/heroin mixtures were shifted to the left of dose–effect curves for cocaine or heroin alone, and dose-addition analysis indicated that cocaine/heroin interactions on drug choice were sub-additive or additive. Cocaine/heroin interactions on response-rate measures were also sub-additive or additive. These results confirm that mixtures of cocaine and heroin produce reinforcing effects in rhesus monkeys; however, cocaine/heroin interactions were only or sub-additive or additive. Thus, these results do not support the hypothesis that simultaneously delivered cocaine and heroin produces super-additive reinforcing effects.
JAKing up hematopoietic proliferation

Mutations that deregulate proliferation and survival pathways have emerged as a common molecular theme in the pathogenesis of myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs). Three studies now report an amino acid substitution in the JAK2 kinase in most patients with polycythemia vera as well as in some cases of essential thrombocythemia and chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis. Functional analysis demonstrates that this mutation confers erythropoietin-independent growth in vitro, deregulates signaling pathways downstream of JAK2, and causes polycythemia in mice. These results open new avenues for diagnosing and classifying patients with these disorders, and identify a new molecular target for drug discovery.
Electrochemical measurements of biofilm development using polypyrrole enhanced flexible sensors

Abstract Bacterial biofilms can be beneficial or detrimental, and are capable of forming on virtually any surface. There is a great need for an in situ sensor able to detect and characterize the developmental stages of bacterial biofilms. We have developed an electrochemical approach to detect and characterize bacterial biofilms using polypyrrole (PPy) enhanced flexible biofilm sensors based on organic substrates of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PPy films act as a functionalization material on gold electrodes to reduce their electrical impedance thereby enhancing the detection of electrochemical signals. Flexible PET substrates enable sensors to be placed in systems with complex geometries and to be produced using low cost roll-to-roll manufacturing. Measurements of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) using the PET flexible biofilm sensors were correlated with fluorescence microscopy using bacteria that express green fluorescent protein (GFP). The biofilm sensors successfully detected the changes of charge transfer resistance and capacitance corresponding to the maturing stages of biofilm development. The charge transfer resistance increases during the early stages of biofilm maturation and decreases in the later stages of development.
Improved guanide compounds which bind the CXCR4 co-receptor and inhibit HIV-1 infection

The G-protein coupled receptor CXCR4 is a co-receptor for HIV-1 infection and is involved in signaling cell migration and proliferation. In a previous study of non-peptide, guanide-based CXCR4-binding compounds, spermine and spermidine phenylguanides inhibited HIV-1 entry at low micromolar concentrations. Subsequently, crystal structures of CXCR4 were used to dock a series of naphthylguanide derivatives of the polyamines spermidine and spermine. Synthesis and evaluation of the naphthylguanide compounds identified our best compound, spermine tris-1-naphthylguanide, which bound CXCR4 with an IC(50) of 40 nM and inhibited the infection of TZM-bl cells with X4, but not R5, strains of HIV-1 with an IC(50) of 50-100 nM.
Constitutive activation of muscarinic receptors by the G-protein Gq

In the absence of ligands, G-protein coupled receptors interconvert between active and inactive conformations. These conformations are stabilized by agonists and antagonists, respectively. Like agonists, G-proteins are thought to preferentially associate with receptors in the active conformation and should therefore be able to promote their formation in the absence of agonist. We show that over-expression of Gq induces constitutive activation of compatible muscarinic receptors and that this activity is blocked by muscarinic antagonists. Gq also increases the potency and efficacy of agonists. These results indicate that regulation of G-protein levels has a profound impact on receptor control of cellular physiology, even in the absence of agonist ligands.
Evidence for ubiquitin-regulated nuclear and subnuclear trafficking among Paramyxovirinae matrix proteins

The paramyxovirus matrix (M) protein is a molecular scaffold required for viral morphogenesis and budding at the plasma membrane. Transient nuclear residence of some M proteins hints at non-structural roles. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms that regulate the nuclear sojourn. Previously, we found that the nuclear-cytoplasmic trafficking of Nipah virus M (NiV-M) is a prerequisite for budding, and is regulated by a bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLSbp), a leucine-rich nuclear export signal (NES), and monoubiquitination of the K258 residue within the NLSbp itself (NLSbp-lysine). To define whether the sequence determinants of nuclear trafficking identified in NiV-M are common among other Paramyxovirinae M proteins, we generated the homologous NES and NLSbp-lysine mutations in M proteins from the five major Paramyxovirinae genera. Using quantitative 3D confocal microscopy, we determined that the NES and NLSbp-lysine are required for the efficient nuclear export of the M proteins of Nipah virus, Hendra virus, Sendai virus, and Mumps virus. Pharmacological depletion of free ubiquitin or mutation of the conserved NLSbp-lysine to an arginine, which inhibits M ubiquitination, also results in nuclear and nucleolar retention of these M proteins. Recombinant Sendai virus (rSeV-eGFP) bearing the NES or NLSbp-lysine M mutants rescued at similar efficiencies to wild type. However, foci of cells expressing the M mutants displayed marked fusogenicity in contrast to wild type, and infection did not spread. Recombinant Mumps virus (rMuV-eGFP) bearing the homologous mutations showed similar defects in viral morphogenesis. Finally, shotgun proteomics experiments indicated that the interactomes of Paramyxovirinae M proteins are significantly enriched for components of the nuclear pore complex, nuclear transport receptors, and nucleolar proteins. We then synthesize our functional and proteomics data to propose a working model for the ubiquitin-regulated nuclear-cytoplasmic trafficking of cognate paramyxovirus M proteins that show a consistent nuclear trafficking phenotype.
Professional life cycle changes and their effect on knowledge level of dental practitioners

Abstract Utilizing a national data set (U.S.A.), the effect of age and age-related professional characteristics on dentists' knowledge with regard to prevention of infective endocarditis was examined. The following research questions were addressed: (1) Do age-related characteristics produce different effects on knowledge level at various stages of professional careers?; (2) What are the key changes in these age-related characteristics and what processes are suggested by these changes? Multiple regression analysis assessed the influence of potential predictors of variation in knowledge level with regard to prevention of infective endocarditis for the entire sample. Using these findings as a guide, variation in the effect of significant predictor variables was then analyzed for three time segments of approximately equal duration: early professional life . Age had a profoundly negative effect on knowledge level, i.e. the level progressively declines as clinicians grow older. The impact of the age-related characteristics on knowledge level of infective endocarditis prevention also varied according to the stage of the professional life cycle. Indices measuring the size or extent of theoretical understanding, in-office networks, institutional affiliations, and consulting networks were significant predictors of endocarditis prevention knowledge for younger clinicians. For those 40–54, only practice organization (office business and staff size and diversity) was a significant predictor, while for older clinicians theoretical understanding was the only significant predictor. Differences in the mean levels of these predictor (independent) variables across age groups were also examined via ANOVA. Level of activity, or extent of professional practice characteristics, varied from high to low with increased age on subject dentists. It is not necessarily age qua age which is responsible for the decline in knowledge level, but also age-related changes in professional life cycle attributes. Efforts to increase knowledge with regard to infective endocarditis prevention should focus on encouraging increased levels of activities on age-specific statistically significant predictor variables, with particular emphasis on increasing the level of theoretical understanding for the oldest and most deficient group.
Relationship between iron-meteorite composition and size: Compositional distribution of irons from North Africa

Abstract During the past three decades many iron meteorites have been collected from the deserts of North Africa. Almost all are now characterized, and the distribution among classes is found to be very different from those that were in museums prior to the collection of meteorites from hot and cold (Antarctica) deserts. Similar to the iron meteorites from Antarctica, the irons from Northwest Africa include a high fraction of ungrouped irons and of minor subgroups of group IAB. The different distribution is attributed to the small median size of the desert meteorites (∼1.3 kg in North African irons, ∼30 kg in non-desert irons). It appears that a sizable fraction of these small (several centimeter) masses constitute melt pockets produced by impacts in chondritic regoliths; they were never part of a large (meter-to-kilometer) magma bodies. As a result, a meter-size fragment ejected from the regolith of the asteroid may contain several of these small metallic masses. It may be that such stochastic sampling effects enhanced the fraction of IAB-sHL irons among the irons from Northwest Africa. The variety observed in small meteoroids is also enhanced because (relative to large) small fragments are more efficiently ejected from asteroids and because the orbital parameters of small meteoroids are more strongly affected by collisions and drag effects, they evolve to have Earth-crossing perihelia more rapidly than large meteoroids; as a result, the set of small meteoroids tends to sample a larger number of parent asteroids than does the set of larger meteoroids.
Effects of a Survival Training Experience Upon Evaluation of Self and Others for Underachieving High School Students.

Underachieving male high school students were involved in a 3-wk. survival training experience designed to raise (a) self-esteem, (b) evaluation of parents, and (c) evaluation of friends. A semantic differential administered in a pre- and posttest design indicated a significant increase in self-esteem and evaluation of parents.
Effect of various vehicles and vehicle volumes on oral absorption of triamterene in rats

The oral bioavailability of triamterene in rats was investigated after its administration as a suspension in lipid and aqueous vehicles in addition to a lactic acid solution. Triamterene is poorly soluble in both aqueous and lipid vehicles. A 1-ml oral dose volume showed that lipid vehicles may provide some enhancement of oral availability compared with aqueous suspensions. However, when the vehicle volume was reduced to a realistic dosage form volume for the rat, peanut oil and aqueous suspensions were indistinguishable from each other with respect to peak height, peak time, and overall bioavailability. For a given vehicle small vehicle volumes resulted in a better relative oral availability than did large vehicle volumes.
Cultivating community, promoting inclusivity: collections as fulcrum for targeted outreach

Purpose – This paper aims to describe the implementation and analyze the outcomes of the Diversity Book Display initiative at the University of the Pacific's Library. Through this program, curated displays were used to promote multicultural learning and inclusivity, as well as to build intra‐institutional relationships with curricular and co‐curricular units engaged in diversity work on campus.Design/methodology/approach – The paper places the University of the Pacific's program within the context of academic library outreach through displays and exhibits, as well as situating it in relation to recent trends regarding library outreach to and collaboration with student services. An overview of the development and implementation is provided along with the results of a multi‐year assessment of the initiative.Findings – The mindful leveraging of collections not only provides opportunities for student learning regarding diversity and inclusion, but also can be a platform to build collaborative campus relations...
Epistemology as engineering

: According to a common objection to epistemological naturalism, no empirical, scientific theory of knowledge can be normative in the way epistemological theories need to be. In response, such naturalists as W.V. Quine have claimed naturalized epistemology can be normative by emulating engineering disciplines and addressing the relations of causal efficacy between our cognitive means and ends. This paper evaluates that “engineering reply” and finds it a mixed success. Based on consideration of what it might mean to call a theory “normative,” seven versions of the normativity objection to epistemological naturalism are formulated. The engineering reply alone is sufficient to answer only the four least sophisticated versions. To answer the others, naturalists must draw on more resources than their engineering reply alone provides.
Relationship of adsorption mechanism of antigens by aluminum-containing adjuvants to in vitro elution in interstitial fluid

The objective of this research was to determine how the mechanism by which antigens adsorb to aluminum-containing adjuvants affects the elution upon exposure to interstitial fluid. Antigens (alpha lactalbumin, bovine serum albumin, lysozyme and myoglobin) that adsorb to aluminum-containing adjuvants principally by electrostatic attraction were found to elute readily in vitro when exposed to interstitial fluid. Phosphorylated antigens (alpha casein, hepatitis B surface antigen and phosphorylated bovine serum albumin) that adsorb to aluminum-containing adjuvants principally by ligand exchange exhibit little if any elution during 12-24 h in vitro exposure to interstitial fluid. Dephosphorylated alpha casein, which contains less than two phosphate groups, was less strongly adsorbed by ligand exchange in comparison to alpha casein, which contains eight phosphate groups. Dephosphorylated alpha casein was completely eluted when exposed to interstitial fluid. The results of this study lead to the generalization that antigens that adsorb to aluminum-containing adjuvants by electrostatic attraction are more likely to elute upon intramuscular or subcutaneous administration than antigens that adsorb by ligand exchange.
Granular Element Method for Computational Particle Mechanics

This paper presents a method within the family of the discrete element method (DEM) capable of accurately capturing grain shape by using Non-Uniform Rational Basis-Splines (NURBS). The new method, called GEM, bypasses one of the current bottlenecks in computational discrete mechanics of granular materials by allowing discrete elements to take realistic and complex granular shapes encountered in engineering and science (e.g., sand grains). More than a new method, this paper presents a new concept for DEM: using NURBS to seamlessly transition from advanced visualization tools (e.g., X-ray CT) to physics-based computational models where particle shape is realistically modeled. It is expected that, with the rapid advancement of computational power, combining high-fidelity characterization with physics-based computations will lead to more predictive modeling approaches. The granular element method may help transition from characterization to modeling and could lead to more realistic predictions at the grain scale.
An overview of diseases of the pleura

T MERE IS no doubt that roentgen examination is by far the most valuable single method for diagnosis of diseases of the pleura, but it also has very sharp limitations. Changes in the pleura may indicate abnormalities in other structures, particularly the lungs, mediastinum, heart, and certain subdiaphragmatic organs. Because early abnormal changes in the pleura may be well exhibited roentgenographically before other specific signs are evident, the method is excellent for detection of those conditions that manifest themselves by pleural reaction. A striking example is our ability to find pleural edema or a minimal amount of pleural effusion as one of the earliest signs of left heart failure, often before there is obvious evidence of interstitial edema or even before clear-cut symptoms appear. On the other hand, determination of the nature of the process that is affecting the pleura may be far more difficult. This is especially true in determining the etiology or background of a pleural effusion, the most common abnormality of the pleura. The pleura is also affected by primary diseases, i.e., those that arise in the membrane itself. These, too, can be detected at an early stage by roentgen examination, but again the problem of etiology arises, and it may be extraordinarily difficult to determine their exact nature.
The use of fluoroscopy to guide needle placement in interstitial gynecological brachytherapy.

Purpose: Interstitial brachytherapy is generally performed for gynecological malignancies with extensive parametrial involvement, by inserting the needles through a transperineal template. Often, the implanted needles are not parallel, and the multiple sources can be difficult to identify on localization radiographs, especially if obtained with a portable X-ray unit. We have used fluoroscopy to guide the needles for interstitial brachytherapy to treat various gynecological malignancies. Because the resultant needles are parallel, dosimetry can be performed based on the template hole positions used, rather than identifying individual sources. This report focuses on the technique; the outcome of patients implanted with this technique will be reported separately. Methods: Seventy-one patients were implanted transperineally with l92 iridium using a Syed template under fluoroscopic guidance, from September 1989 to May 1995, for bulky parametrial disease, narrow vagina, extensive vaginal involvement, recurrent disease after previous course of pelvic radiation therapy, or in cases in which the patient had previously undergone hysterectomy. 137 Cesium was added in a central tandem in cases with a cervical os. Thirty patients were treated for primary cervical or vaginal carcinoma; 41 patients were treated for recurrent disease from endometrial or cervical cancers. The brachytherapy dose (prescribed to the periphery of the implant) was 40 to 55 Gy when used alone (15 patients) and 22-40 Gy when used as a boost to 34.2 to 59.4 Gy of pelvic external-beam radiotherapy (56 patients). The patients were followed for 6 to 63 months. Results: In all cases, some of the needles had to be repositioned to improve the alignment. Hence, the use of fluoroscopy aided in achieving parallel placement of the needles in all implants as seen on anterior-posterior radiographs. Because the 192 iridium sources were ordered beforehand based on the preplan, and the dosimetry was based on idealized geometry of the template hole positions, all patients were loaded on the same day of implant. Conclusion: Fluoroscopically guided perineal interstitial brachytherapy is a feasible technique for use in various gynecological malignancies. The use of fluoroscopic guidance helped to achieve parallel needle placement in all of our implants, but it required repositioning of some of the needles in all cases. The parallel positioning allowed the use of preplanned dosimetry, minimizing the delay in loading of the patients. The outcome of the patients treated using this technique is currently undergoing analysis and will be reported separately.
Bandwidth analysis of low-complexity decoupling networks for multiple coupled antennas

In MIMO communication systems where coupled antennas are driven by independent amplifiers, a decoupling network is often used to eliminate power reflection from the antennas. The realization of the decoupling network is not unique, and different realizations have major differences in complexity and bandwidth. Recent designs for low-complexity networks show that a minimum of N2 + N impedances are generally needed to achieve decoupling for N antennas. This paper provides a perturbation analysis of the bandwidth, and shows that a decoupling network with N2 +2N impedances can often achieve a much wider bandwidth than N2 +N impedances. We illustrate using a three-antenna example.
Evaluation of extraction schemes for organic matter in anoxic estuarine sediments

Abstract A persistent criticism of studies of organic matter in sediments and soils has been that the extracted products used in these investigations may not resemble the original material, particularly if harsh extractants such as NaOH, Na 4 P 2 O 7 or HCl are employed. To minimize chemical changes, a mild separation procedure has been developed for obtaining soluble organic matter from anoxic estuarine sediments. The resulting complex mixture of organic compounds can be analyzed by reversed-phase liquid and size-exclusion chromatographic methods, which monitor the relative molecular polarity and size, respectively. The effects of the strong reagents NaOH, Na 4 P 2 O 7 and HCl, as well as exposure to the atmosphere and bacterial activity on this anoxic sedimentary extract has been investigated. In each instance, significant degradation of anoxic organic matter occurs, producing molecules of increased polarity and reduced molecular weight. These data indicate that extreme care is necessary to avoid artifacts in preparation and handling of samples.
Modification of Solidification Structures by Pulse Electric Discharging

A new process using pulse electric discharging for modification of solidification structures was investigated. If an extremely high voltage or high current is applied to solidifying metallic alloys by discharging a capacitor bank, large pressure gradients result, which produce strong local shear, and can be expected to significantly modify structures.Experiments were conducted on Sn-15wt%Pb alloy and the appropriate conditions to modify solidification structures were examined, including cooling rate, initial capacitor bank voltage, and time to discharge after onset of solidification. Solidification structures were modified from dendritic to globular (with fine grain size) under appropriate operating conditions. The critical conditions to attain the globular structures in these experiments can be expressed in terms of initial capacitor bank voltage and the fraction solid when discharging was carried out.
Diversity-multiplexing tradeoff of MIMO linear precoding

This work characterizes the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) of MIMO systems with linear precoders. We analyze the cases of zero-forcing (ZF), regularized ZF (RZF), matched filtering and Wiener filtering precoded MIMO systems. We show that MIMO systems with ZF precoding achieve the same DMT as that of MIMO systems with ZF equalizer. When a regularized ZF (RZF) or Matched filter (MF) precoder is used, the DMT implies an error floor at all rates. However, we observe that in the fixed rate regime (i.e. zero multiplexing gain) both RZF and the MF precoded systems can sometimes achieve the maximum spatial diversity. When the regularization factor in the RZF precoder is optimized in the MMSE sense, the DMT implies low diversity gain in the fixed rate regime; however the diversity in this regime is function of the spectral efficiency and can be as large as the maximum spatial diversity.
Increased glycosylation of glomerular basement membrane collagen in diabetes

Abstract Basement membrane was purified from glomeruli isolated from normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. After extraction of non-collagen protein with 8M urea, the extent of glycosylation in glomerular basement membrane collagen was determined with a specific colorimetric reaction that detects carbohydrate in ketoamine linkage with proteins. The level of glycosylation of glomerular basement membrane collagen purified from diabetic rats was significantly greater than that in non-diabetic animals. Increased basement membrane glycosylation may alter structure-function relationships of the capillary filtration barrier.
Outcomes After Rotator Cuff Repair: Does Healing Matter?

Controversy surrounds the subject of whether rotator cuff healing after repair affects clinical outcome. Based on current evidence, improved pain and functional outcome does not always correlate with repair integrity. However, patients who heal generally have a better chance to improve clinically. Pain relief is achieved more predictably than functional return. Fatty degeneration progresses and does not always correlate with healing. Strength improvement may correlate with healing in young patients. As there is significant improved long-term outcome after repair versus debridement, surgical repair is recommended, especially in young patients who have the best healing potential.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of a Tissue/Implanted Device Biointerface Using in Vivo Microdialysis Sampling

Real-time in vivo images of magnetic resonance contrast agent diffusion from implanted microdialysis probes were obtained by magnetic resonance (MR) microscopy. A gadolinium-containing contrast agent (Gd-DTPA) was infused through microdialysis probes implanted into the subcutaneous space of male Sprague−Dawley rats. The infusion of Gd-DTPA alters the T1 relaxation time for water protons near the microdialysis probe, thus causing an increase in brightness around the probe. Steady state concentration profiles of Gd-DTPA around the microdialysis probe were attained within 10 min. The distance for the diffusion of Gd-DTPA away from the probe was calculated to be ∼1400 μm on the basis of an image intensity analysis. A 5-cm field of view was used with a 256 × 256 matrix, giving a voxel volume of 0.190 mm3 (195 μm × 195 μm × 5,000 μm). These experiments demonstrate the ability of magnetic resonance microscopy to obtain real-time images of Gd-DTPA diffusion around implanted microdialysis probes. This noninvasive ...
Do librarians dream of electronic serials? A beginner’s guide to format selection

In this beginner’s guide, the authors review considerations for format selection decisions. There is no one‐size‐fits‐all solution when it comes to how libraries make format choices. Ultimately, these decisions will vary depending on a library’s specific needs as outlined by its mission statement and collection development policy. Factors such as content, functionality, longevity, users, and cost play important roles in determining the most suitable option.