cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theoretical characterization of two reaction pathways for the intramolecular cyclization of 2-(3-benzylaminopropanoylamino)benzamide

During the investigation of the microwave synthesis of compounds related to benzodiazepines by Howard and co-workers, another group of compounds was isolated. First believed to be bicyclic amidines, these compounds were later found to be 4-quinazolinones. In this work, the potential energy surface of the precursor to the observed 4-quinazolinone is explored. The most stable arrangement is found to be a linear conformation of the side chain with the amide group in the Z conformation. Using this structure as the starting point, the reaction pathways for the intramolecular cyclization to form either the 4-quinazolinone or the bicyclic amidine are characterized.
A study on the effectiveness of Trojan detection techniques using a red team blue team approach

As part of the Embedded Systems Challenge, we assess the effectiveness of Trojan detection techniques. The red team inserted different types of Trojans - combinational, sequential, reliability degrading, and performance degrading - into selected variants of a target design; the other variants are Trojan-free. The blue team has to correctly classify the Trojan-free and Trojan-infected variants. Seven different teams from six different universities performed the blue team activity using different types of Trojan-detection techniques, namely activation-based detection, and power- and delay-based side-channels.
CONCENTRATION OF CO2 IN THE AIR ABOVE A SUGAR BEET FIELD

The concentration of CO, in air sampled above a sugar beet crop was measured during July, August, and early September 1966 at Scottsbluff, Nebr. During July the mean daytime concentration decreased from 310 ppm to 283 ppm as the leaf area index increased from 0.8 to 4.0. Only small deviations from the mean daytime Concentration of 283 ppm occurred during the remainder of the season. The mean nocturnal concentration during this period was 320 ppm and was more variable than the daytime concentration. The daily amplitude of concentration averaged 70 ppm and was as great at times as 100 ppm. Regression analysis revealed strong negative correlation between COZ concentration and mean wind speed during the night. Mean concentration was independent of mean temperature, mean incident radiation, and predominant wind direction. During each day the concentration remained constant between 1% hr after sunrise and 1 hr before sunset except for a few cases. These were associated with incident radiation below 0.2 cal cm-2 min-1 and/or wind speeds at 25 cm above the crop of less than 0.3 m sec-l or more than 3 m sec-I. Evidence is presented that the concentrations reported here are at least partially dependent on the flux to and from the sugar beet crop.
Surface and subsurface hydrogen: adsorption properties on transition metals and near-surface alloys.

Periodic, self-consistent DFT-GGA calculations are used to study the thermochemical properties of both surface and subsurface atomic hydrogen on a variety of pure metals and near-surface alloys (NSAs). For surface hydrogen on pure metals, calculated site preferences, adsorption geometries, vibrational frequencies, and binding energies are reported and are found to be in good agreement with available experimental data. On NSAs, defined as alloys wherein a solute is present near the surface of a host metal in a composition different from the bulk composition, surface hydrogen generally binds more weakly than it binds to the pure-metal components composing the alloys. Some of the NSAs even possess the unusual property of binding hydrogen as weakly as the noble metals while, at the same time, dissociating H2 much more easily. On both NSAs and pure metals, formation of surface hydrogen is generally exothermic with respect to H2(g). In contrast, formation of subsurface hydrogen is typically endothermic with res...
A Universal Approach to the Synthesis of Noble Metal Nanodendrites and Their Catalytic Properties

A universal approach is presented for high-yield synthesis of Au, Pt, and Pd nanoflowers using the surfactant sodium N-(4-n-dodecyloxybenzoyl)-L-isoleucinate (SDBIL). The pH-dependent self-assembly using SDBIL is critical for nanoflower growth. The Pt and Pd nanoflowers show superior catalytic activity for Suzuki–Miyaura and Heck coupling reactions over spherical counterparts.
A parametric fitting algorithm for segmentation of cell images

This paper presents a parametric fitting algorithm for segmentation of cervical and breast cell images from cytology smears. A parametric elliptical model for cells is introduced and the parameters adjusted to fit the cell shapes while minimizing a cost function. Segmentation results of noisy human cervical cell and textured breast cell images demonstrate that the proposed parametric fitting algorithm is very successful in segmentation of images of both nonoverlapped and overlapped elliptically shaped cells.
Genome Scan for Blood Pressure in Dutch Dyslipidemic Families Reveals Linkage to a Locus on Chromosome 4p

Genes contributing to common forms of hypertension are largely unknown. A number of studies in humans and in animal models have revealed associations between insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and elevated hypertension. To identify genes contributing to blood pressure (BP) variation associated with insulin-resistant dyslipidemia, we conducted a genome-wide scan for BP in a set of 18 Dutch families exhibiting the common lipid disorder familial combined hyperlipidemia. Our results reveal a locus on chromosome 4 that exhibits a significant lod score of 3.9 with systolic BP. In addition, this locus also appears to influence plasma free fatty acid levels (lod=2.4). After adjustment for age and gender, the lod score for systolic BP increased to 4.6, whereas the lod score for free fatty acid levels did not change. The chromosome 4 locus contains an attractive candidate gene, alpha-adducin, which has been associated with altered BP in animal studies and in some human populations. However, we found no evidence for an association between 2 intragenic alpha-adducin polymorphisms and systolic BP in this sample. We also observed suggestive evidence for linkage (lod=1.8) of diastolic BP to the lipoprotein lipase gene locus on chromosome 8p, supporting a finding previously observed in a separate insulin-resistant population. In addition, we also obtained suggestive evidence for linkage of systolic BP (lod=2.4) and plasma apolipoprotein B levels (lod=2.0) to a locus on proximal chromosome 19p. In conclusion, our genome scan results support the existence of multiple genetic factors that can influence both BP and plasma lipid parameters.
Spectroscopic Methods in Mineralogy and Materials Sciences

(RIMG vol.78), Grant S. Henderson, Daniel R. Neuville and Robert T. Downs, editors. (2014) Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, i–xvii + 569 pages. ISBN 0-939950-84-7; ISBN13 978-0-939950-84-3. http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/RIM/rim78.html Spectroscopic techniques for mineralogical analysis are expanding and improving at an extremely rapid pace. Spectroscopic Methods in Mineralogy and Materials Sciences builds on the foundation presented by its predecessor, Reviews in Mineralogy Vol. 18, Spectroscopic Methods in Mineralogy and Geology , presenting both new techniques and updates to some of those presented in the earlier volume. As a whole, the volume is well organized and related chapters by different authors cross-reference one another, providing complementary information without duplicating background information. Most of the chapters provide an overview of the fundamental physics exploited by their respective techniques, the benefits and limitations, and examples of geological problems to which the techniques are applicable. Thus, this book should be helpful both as a general introduction to the array of spectroscopic methods available to mineralogists and materials scientists and as a more rigorous reference volume describing different techniques for those seeking to address a specific scientific problem. Like many of the other RIMG volumes, Spectroscopic Methods in Mineralogy and Materials Sciences is a valuable resource for graduate students and experienced researchers alike. The volume begins with a series of chapters on X-ray techniques. Chapter 1 introduces X-ray diffraction theory, including the characteristics and advantages of different types of X-ray sources available, from lower energy sources used in local laboratories through high-energy synchrotron sources. This general information provides a foundation for both the X-ray diffraction techniques described in this chapter, as well as for later chapters that focus on different X-ray techniques. It goes on to explain the different methods available …
The value of mentorship

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines a mentor as a trusted counselor, guide, tutor, or coach.[1][1] Instructors, professors, academic advisors, preceptors, residency directors, and others serve as mentors throughout the formal educational process and as guides through our pharmacy degree and
Abstract C22: Identification of candidate microRNAs that correlate with sensitivity to the IGF‐1R/IR inhibitor, OSI‐906, in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small ∼20–22 nucleotide noncoding RNAs, thatwhich function as antisense regulators of gene expression by targeting specific mRNAs, and thereby modulate a variety of cellular signaling pathways. Deregulation of miRNA expression contributes to specific oncogenic events in human cancers and therefore may contribute to have a role in resistance to targeted cancer therapies. This study was based upon the hypothesis Here, we hypothesized that miRNA expression profiles wouldcan predict sensitivity to the novel IGF‐1R tyrosine kinase inhibitor, OSI‐906, in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the sensitivity of CRC cells to OSI‐906, a panel of 27 lines was exposed to increasing concentrations of the drug and assessed for proliferation using the sulforhodamine B assay. Six cell lines were sensitive (S, IC50 1.5 mol/L) to OSI‐906. Baseline total RNA was isolated from 4 S and 4 R cell lines for miRNA and mRNA profiling on Dharmacon miRNA microarray and Affymetrix HG‐U133 Plus 2.0 microarray platforms, respectively. For miRNA microarray data pre‐processing, 342 miRNA probes with relative intensity of p ≤ 0.01 in at least 2 of the 8 experiments were kept for further data analysis. For mRNA microarray analysis, probe sets representing the same gene were collapsed based on maximum values and the expression levels were converted to a rank‐based matrix. Anti‐sense and mimic‐miRNAs were used to study the effects of loss‐ and gain‐of‐function for the identified candidate miRNAs. Results: Significance Analysis of Microarray was used to determine the differentially expressed miRNAs in cell lines S or R to OSI‐906 S vs. R cell lines profiles. Thirteen13 miRNAs were identified which showed a positive correlation with OSI‐906 sensitivity. Three and 10 miRNAs were under‐ orand over‐expressed in OSI‐906 S cell lines, while respectively. gGene expression analysis revealed 78 and 42 genes under‐ orand over‐expressed in OSI‐906 S cell lines (p Conclusion: These results suggest that loss of the candidate miRNA expression can confer OSI‐906 resistance. Restoring the expression of these candidate miRNAs may induce sensitivity to OSI‐906 in resistant CRC cell lines and may have clinical significant application in the targeted therapy of patients with advanced CRC. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):C22.
Transient helium heat transfer phase I—Static coolant

Abstract Transient heat-transfer data have been obtained for flat heating surfaces in static liquid and supercritical helium. Measurements start 2(10) −5 s after step power inputs, and cover a heat flux range of 0.05–20 W/cm 2 , pressures from 0.09–0.3 MPa, and four different heater orientations. Initial heat-transfer coefficients, being limited primarily by the Kapitza resistance, are 10–100 times greater than steady state, and the time to reach steady state varies from 10 −5 to 1s. For heat flux below the steady state peak nucleate boiling limit the temperature follows calculations based on pure conduction to the steady state nucleate boiling level. Above that limit the transient conduction period leads to an apparent metastable nucleation period followed by a transition to film boiling.
Bounds on the performance of message routing heuristics

Let S be a set of messages to be routed on an N*N omega network. In addition, suppose that S contains communication conflicts. One strategy to deal with such conflicts is to partition S into some number of subsets, called rounds, such that each subset is conflict-free. The messages are then routed through the network by successively routing the messages in each subset. The minimum round partitioning problem is the problem of partitioning a given message set into a minimum number of rounds. The author establishes upper and lower bounds on the performance ratio for two heuristics for partitioning message patterns into rounds. For both of these heuristics they give upper and lower bounds of O (log N) and Omega (logN), respectively. >
Ten-year change in plasma amyloid β levels and late-life cognitive decline

Background Plasma levels of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) are potential biomarkers of early cognitive impairment and decline and of Alzheimer disease risk. Objective To relate midlife plasma Aβ measures and 10-year change in plasma Aβ measures since midlife to late-life cognitive decline. Design Prospective study of a population-based sample. Setting Academic research. Participants Plasma Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels were measured in 481 Nurses' Health Study participants in late midlife (mean age, 63.6 years) and again 10 years later (mean age, 74.6 years). Cognitive testing also began 10 years after the initial blood draw. Participants completed 3 repeated telephone-based assessments (mean span, 4.1 years). Multivariable linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate relations of midlife plasma Aβ40 to Aβ42 ratios and Aβ42 levels to late-life cognitive decline, as well as relations of 10-year change in Aβ40 to Aβ42 ratios and Aβ42 levels to cognitive decline. Main Outcome Measures The 3 primary outcomes were the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) findings, a global score averaging the results of all tests (TICS, immediate and delayed verbal recall, category fluency, and attention), and a verbal memory score averaging the results of 4 tests of verbal recall. Results Higher midlife plasma Aβ40 to Aβ42 ratios were associated with worse late-life decline on the global score ( P = .04 for trend). Furthermore, increase in Aβ40 to Aβ42 ratios since midlife predicted greater decline in the global score ( P = .03 for trend) and in the TICS ( P = .02 for trend). There was no association of cognitive decline with midlife plasma Aβ42 levels alone or with change in Aβ42 levels since midlife. Conclusion In this large community-dwelling sample, higher plasma Aβ40 to Aβ42 ratios in late midlife and increases in Aβ40 to Aβ42 ratios 10 years later were significantly associated with greater decline in global cognition at late life.
Tecnologias da informação e comunicação a serviço do trabalho colaborativo, inovações socioeducacionais e desenvolvimento local

Este ensaio compreende a discussao dos conceitos tecnologias da informacao e comunicacao (TICs), trabalho colaborativo, inovacoes socioeducacionais e desenvolvimento local a luz da problematizacao teorica dos pontos de convergencia e divergencia entre o paradigma educacional emergente e a dicotomia global/local. Por meio desta interlocucao sao discutidos as potencialidades e os desafios decorrentes da incorporacao das TICs pelo mundo do trabalho e pelo campo educacional tomando-se como referencia premissas sobre seu papel na inducao do trabalho colaborativo, de inovacoes socioeducacionais e do desenvolvimento local.
Spider assemblages within greenspaces of a deindustrialized urban landscape

Many Midwestern cities in the United States have experienced high levels of economic decline and population loss. This deindustrialization has led to thousands of acres of vacant land maintained as grassy habitats. The communities living within these neighborhoods have conceptualized reutilization strategies for this land, including urban agriculture and the creation of small parks of native plantings. In this 2-year study, we examined the impacts of vacant land conversion on spiders within residential vacant lots, community gardens, and planted prairies within the peri-urban park system. At the time of the study, planted prairies on previously vacant land were not common, so those within the park system may serve as a foundation for future plantings. We found that maintained vacant lots contained the most numerous spider assemblages, which was dominated by disturbance-tolerant habitat generalist species. Community gardens contained numerically fewer spiders but a slightly richer assemblage than vacant lots. Similarly low numbers were also found in planted prairies but the assemblage was the most diverse of the greenspaces examined. We also contrasted results at the family versus genus level in order to assess the taxonomic sufficiency relevant for future studies, and found that genus level was important for elucidating the effects of urban land use on these spider assemblages. From this research, we conclude that spiders are an important indicator group of disturbance when examining urban greenspace management and revitalization, and that alteration in greenspace design will influence biodiversity and assemblage composition.
Driving policy after seizures and unexplained syncope: a practice guide for RI physicians.

Physicians in Rhode Island sometimes find it difficult to advise patients about returning to driving after they present with a seizure or syncopal episode due to lack of statutory or professional guidance on the issue. We provide an overview of the medical literature on public policies and recommendations regarding driving after seizures or syncope. We also present the laws in Rhode Island regarding physician notification of the medical advisory board of the Department of Motor Vehicles, legal obligations, and immunity from prosecution for those who report. Finally, we present the results of a survey of current practice by Rhode Island neurologists when they advise patients who have had a recent seizure or unexplained syncopal event. Based upon this information, we hope local practitioners are empowered in their decision making on driving restrictions and we hope this data informs future public policy efforts. [Full text available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2014-01.asp, free with no login]. Language: en
School-to-Work Transition Programs Within Third-Party Government A Process-Based Organizational Analysis

The authors investigated third-party government, that is, the realignment of public sector agencies from “service providers” to “service managers.” Using a model developed in studies of multinational corporations, the authors examined key processes within school-to-work transition programs for students with developmental disabilities. The findings suggest substantial variations among processes in agencies providing transition services. Transition programs exhibited traditional, hierarchical, bureaucratic structures, as well as flattened, horizontal, and networked structures. The variation and flexibility apparent in these structures are consistent with changes in both the policies that govern the delivery of services as well as the practice of implementing person-centered planning.
Diaper Dermatitis with Psoriasiform ID Eruption

Diaper dermatitis with psoriasiform ID eruption has a distinct clinical presentation. Its etiology and relationship to psoriasis remain uncertain. Previous reports have shown histologic features of subacute to chronic dermatitis. Two cases are presented in which a biopsy of secondary lesions showed features characteristic of psoriasis. It is possible that such cases represent those patients with a psoriatic diathesis.
The incorporation of growth factor and chondroitinase ABC into an electrospun scaffold to promote axon regrowth following spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury results in tissue necrosis in and around the lesion site, commonly leading to the formation of a fluid-filled cyst. This pathological end point represents a physical gap that impedes axonal regeneration. To overcome the obstacle of the cavity, we have explored the extent to which axonal substrates can be bioengineered through electrospinning, a process that uses an electrical field to produce fine fibres of synthetic or biological molecules. Recently, we demonstrated the potential of electrospinning to generate an aligned matrix that can influence the directionality and growth of axons. Here, we show that this matrix can be supplemented with nerve growth factor and chondroitinase ABC to provide trophic support and neutralize glial-derived inhibitory proteins. Moreover, we show how air-gap electrospinning can be used to generate a cylindrical matrix that matches the shape of the cord. Upon implantation in a completely transected rat spinal cord, matrices supplemented with NGF and chondroitinase ABC promote significant functional recovery. An examination of these matrices post-implantation shows that electrospun aligned monofilaments induce a more robust cellular infiltration than unaligned monofilaments. Further, a vascular network is generated in these matrices, with some endothelial cells using the electrospun fibres as a growth substrate. The presence of axons within these implanted matrices demonstrates that they facilitate axon regeneration following spinal cord injury. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential of electrospinning to generate an aligned substrate that can provide trophic support, directional guidance cues and regeneration-inhibitory neutralizing compounds to regenerating axons following spinal cord injury. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Localization and function of Bam protein require the benign gonial cell neoplasm gene product.

Division of a female Drosophila stem cell produces a daughter stem cell and a cystoblast. The cystoblast produces a syncytial cluster of 16 cells by precisely four mitotic divisions and incomplete cytokinesis. Mutations in genes required for cystoblast differentiation, such as bag-of-marbles, block syncytial cluster formation and produce a distinctive "tumorous" or hyperplastic germ cell phenotype. In this paper, we compare the oogenic phenotype of benign gonial cell neoplasm mutations to that of mutations in bam. The data indicate that, like bam, bgcn is required for cystoblast development and that germ cells lacking bgcn become trapped in a stem cell-like state. One indication that germ cells lacking bgcn cannot form cystoblasts is that bgcn stem cells resist genetic ablation by Bam misexpression. Misexpression of Bam eliminates wild-type stem cells, apparently by inducing them to divide as cystoblasts. bgcn stem cells remain active when Bam is misexpressed, probably because they cannot adopt the cystoblast fate. Bgcn activity is not required for Bam protein expression but is essential for the localization of Bam protein to the fusome. Together, the results suggest that Bam and Bgcn cooperatively regulate cystoblast differentiation by controlling localization of Bam protein to the fusome.
Invasive Fungal Infections in the Critically Ill Patient

Invasive fungal infections have become an increasingly prevalent and disturbing problem in critically ill patients. The advent of broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy and immunosuppressant therapy, among other factors such as mechanical ventilation, places the intensive care patient at significant risk for infection with pathogenic fungi. Most patients who become infected with invasive fungi, especially Candida species, have been previously colonized with the offending organism, lending to the notion that colonization precedes infection inmany cases. Despite an ever-increasing array of antifungal therapy for these infections, mortality rates remain extremely high, especially when the bloodstream is the primary site of infection. In addition, a shift toward more resistant pathogens such asCandida glabrata, Candida krusei, and moldswill provide clinicianswith therapeutic challenges for many years. The wide variation in acquisition cost across antifungal agents adds an additional layer of complexity to clini...
Uncooled thermopile infrared detector linear arrays with detectivity greater than 10/sup 9/ cmHz/sup 1/2//W

We have fabricated 63-element linear arrays of micromachined thermopile infrared detectors on silicon substrates. Each detector consists of a suspended silicon nitride membrane with 11 thermocouples of sputtered Bi-Te and Bi-Sb-Te films. At room temperature and under vacuum these detectors exhibit response times of 99 ms, zero frequency D* values of 1.4/spl times/ 10/sup 9/ cmHz/sup 1/2//W and responsivity values of 1100 V/W when viewing a 1000 K blackbody source. The only measured source of noise above 20 mHz is Johnson noise from the detector resistance. These results represent the best performance reported to date for an array of thermopile detectors. A test procedure is described that measures many of the relevant electrical, optical, and thermal properties of the detectors without specialized test structures.
Information storage capacity of crossbar switching networks

In this work we ask the fundamental question: How many bits of information can be stored in a crossbar switching network? The answer is trivial when the switches of the network are in series with diodes (semi-conductive) but it is complicated when the switches are regular contacts. Exact explicit expressions and sim-ple asymptotic bounds of the storage capacity (in bits) are derived for the general crossbar switching network with regular contact switches.
The Responses of Leaf Water Potential and Leaf Diffusive Resistance to Abscisic Acid, Water Stress and Low Temperature in Hibiscus esculentus: The Effect of Water Stress and ABA Pre-Treatments

Eamus, D. 1986. The responses of leaf water potential and leaf diffusive resistance to abscisic acid, water stress and low temperature in Hibiscus esculentus: the effect of water stress and ABA pre-treatments.—J. exp. Bot. 37: 1854-1862. Intact plants of okra (Hibiscus esculentus) were chilled at 6 °C in the light, and leaf diffusion resistance (LDR) and leaf water potential measured. The response of the LDR of excised leaves to fresh weight loss and, separately, exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) supply, was also studied at 6 °C and 30 °C. The influence of two pre-treatments upon these measurements was studied. The two pre-treatments consisted of the imposition of a period of water stress at 30 °C prior to measurement (followed by re-watering) or the spraying of the leaves with ABA. It was found that plants that had been grown in a high humidity environment continuously (designated control plants) had stomata that were very unresponsive to both water loss from the leaves and to exogenous ABA at both temperatures (6 °C and 30 °C). Chilling the control plants resulted in rapid wilting and concomitant decline in leaf water potential. A pre-treatment of water stress prior to chilling did not alter or reduce the rate of development of chilling injury, nor did the pre-treatment increase the responsiveness of stomata at 6°C to water loss or exogenous ABA. However, spraying the leaves with ABA prior to chilling reduced the severity and delayed the onset of chilling injury. Stomatal response to water stress and exogenous ABA was increased by the spraying pre-treatment. These results are discussed in relation to previous studies of the phenomenon of stomatal locking open at low temperature and the effect of pre-treatments upon the development of chill-resistance.
Perceptually Guided Polygon Reduction

The properties of the human visual system are taken into account, along with the geometric aspects of an object, in a new surface remeshing algorithm and a new mesh simplification algorithm. Both algorithms have a preprocessing step and are followed by the remeshing or mesh simplification steps. The preprocessing step computes an importance map that indicates the visual masking potential of the visual patterns on the surface. The importance map is then used to guide the remeshing or mesh simplification algorithms. Two different methods are proposed for computing an importance map that indicates the masking potential of the visual patterns on the surface. The first one is based on the Sarnoff visual discrimination metric, and the second one is inspired by the visual masking tool available in the current JPEG2000 standard. Given an importance map, the surface remeshing algorithm automatically distributes few samples to surface regions with strong visual masking properties due to surface texturing, lighting variations, bump mapping, surface reflectance and inter-reflections. Similarly, the mesh simplification algorithm simplifies more aggressively where the light field of an object can hide more geometric artifacts.
Electrophysiology of the Interictal-Ictal Transition in Humans

Since the discovery of the spike in the EEG by Gibbs and colleagues in 1935, cerebral electrical activity has been the subject of intensive investigation in the study of epilepsy. The focus of most investigators has been upon abnormalities seen in the interictal state, the examination of seizures being limited to relatively few specialized laboratories. Early studies of the transition from the interictal to the ictal state characterized amplitude and frequency changes in the EEG, and while attention was paid to underlying mechanisms, in humans, a decided emphasis has been placed upon localization of a seizure focus for purposes of resective surgery (1,27,29,31,55,67,92). Key features of the ictal state, compared with the interictal state, are the capacity for development of self-sustaining discharges and spread to other cortical and subcortical areas. The purpose of this discussion is to review the electrophysiologic features in focal epilepsy of the transition from interictal to the ictal state.
BERRIOCHLOA GABELI AND BERRIOCHLOA HULETTI (GRAMINEAE: STIPEAE), TWO NEW GRASS SPECIES FROM THE LATE MIOCENE ASH HOLLOW FORMATION OF NEBRASKA AND KANSAS

Berriochloa gabeli n. sp. and Berriochloa huletti n. sp. are described from fossil anthoecia (husks) recovered in late Miocene (Ash Hollow Formation) sediments in central Nebraska and central and western Kansas. Comparisons with other known fossil and living grasses suggest relationships with members of the grass tribe Stipeae and previously described B. intermedia Elias, 1942 from Ash Hollow deposits in north-central Kansas. Berriochloa gabeli and B. huletti were recovered in direct association with, or in the close vicinity, of rich biotas that provide evidence of widespread, probably treeless, grasslands with adjacent moist riparian habitats along streams or around temporary pools of water during deposition. Fossil vertebrates associated with the grasses at some sites suggest that the age of B. gabeli and B. huletti is early to middle Hemphillian.
Understanding the Unpredictability of Cancer using Chaos Theory and Modern Art Techniques

The unpredictability of cancer poses a threat to personalized cures. Although cancer is studied as a chaotic system, the shape of its unpredictability, known as the strange attractor, is unclear. In this article, the author discusses a conceptual model, building on the strange attractor in cancer phase space. Using techniques of cubism, the author defines the 10-dimensional phase space and then, using an abstract expressionist approach, represents the strange attractor, which twists and turns in multi dimensions, indicating the unpredictability of cancer. This conceptual model motivates the identification of specific experiments for a system-level understanding of cancer.
Boundary Integral Equation Method for Free Surface Flow Analysis

As a numerical technique the boundary integral equation method has a number of outstanding advantages. These include: Problems are much easier to set up; it requires less data to define the grid; it is efficient, using less computer time and storage than finite differences and finite elements; approximations are confined to the boundaries giving interior solutions with at least as much accuracy; it has better accuracy than finite differences and finite elements for equal discretization; one can use intuitive grid spacing since derivatives are not approximated; velocities are obtained without inaccurate numerical differentiation; singularities are easily handled; infinite fields are easily handled; universal programs are easy to code; it has geometric flexibility; the grid size is easy to vary; and it can use a variety of approximations to conform to the demands of the problem and the desired degree of continuity. With that list of advantages, it should be a universal method that displaces all other methods. Indeed it would except for one disadvantage: The variety of problems it can solve — or at least the variety of problems it can solve while retaining all those advantages — is small.
PTPN22 deficiency leads to clearance of chronic viral infection (VIR1P.1150)

Mutations in the phosphatase-encoding gene, PTPN22, are associated with a number of autoimmune conditions, including type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. To study how PTPN22 functions in immune cells we have made extensive use of a PTPN22 deficient (KO) mouse. PTPN22 KO mice exhibit increased T cell numbers, activity and function as well as increased germinal center activity and antibody production with no autoimmune phenotype. As such we are currently investigating whether loss of PTPN22 would be of benefit to host immunity against chronic viral infections. To test this hypothesis we infected PTPN22 KO mice with the persistent lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) cl13 virus. LCMV cl13 infection in WT B6 mice leads to chronic infection lasting over 60 days characterized by dysfunctional ‘exhausted’ virus-specific T cells. PTPN22 KO mice were able to clear the cl13 infection whereas WT mice were not. Clearance is associated with increased viral-specific CD4 T cell cytokine production 8 days post infection, as well as increased numbers of Tfh and plasma cells. At later time points after infection, PTPN22 KO mice have increased numbers of functional CD8 T cells that produce IFNγ and TNFα, whereas CD8 cells in WT mice do not. These results suggest that inhibition of PTPN22 may prove beneficial in helping to clear chronic infection.
Light field mapping: efficient representation and hardware rendering of surface light fields

A light field parameterized on the surface offers a natural and intuitive description of the view-dependent appearance of scenes with complex reflectance properties. To enable the use of surface light fields in real-time rendering we develop a compact representation suitable for an accelerated graphics pipeline. We propose to approximate the light field data by partitioning it over elementary surface primitives and factorizing each part into a small set of lower-dimensional functions. We show that our representation can be further compressed using standard image compression techniques leading to extremely compact data sets that are up to four orders of magnitude smaller than the input data. Finally, we develop an image-based rendering method, light field mapping, that can visualize surface light fields directly from this compact representation at interactive frame rates on a personal computer. We also implement a new method of approximating the light field data that produces positive only factors allowing for faster rendering using simpler graphics hardware than earlier methods. We demonstrate the results for a variety of non-trivial synthetic scenes and physical objects scanned through 3D photography.
A scalable hybrid power and energy architecture for unmanned ground vehicles

Currently, the limiting factor in electric vehicle design and performance is the energy source. This problem has been recognized in the automotive industry, and much research has gone into alternatives to batteries, or augmenting them through a hybridization scheme. Very little of this research has gone into doing the same for robots. The research in the robotics field has focused mainly on integrating highly energy dense power sources with little thought applied to optimizing the efficiency of power converter designs and efficient energy management. There has been no effort to standardize the design of robot power systems through the use of a scalable power delivery architecture. The challenge lies in the development of the hardware and control algorithms for a scalable power delivery architecture which satisfies both the power and energy requirements of most unmanned ground vehicles. This thesis proposes a robotic power architecture which is easily scalable and facilitates the use of a wide variety of energy storage/generation devices, while focusing on the system control algorithm and its stability. The experimental results for an example system are presented, demonstrating that the architecture functions properly when faced with real world robotic power demands.
Does Price Efficiency Affect Real Efficiency? Evidence from Innovative Activities

This study finds that exogenous stock mispricing due to mutual fund fire sales/purchases adversely affects innovative efficiency. The adverse effect comes from the disruption of managers' market-learning. Managers glean R&D-relevant information from the stock market's reaction to patent news. When stocks are mispriced, managers continue to react to false signals unless they possess significant information as indicated by insider trading. The adverse effect of mispricing is stronger for firms with less insider information, lower peer stock price informativeness, and the presence of blockholders. Overall, the evidence suggests that price efficiency enhances real efficiency by providing informative signals for real decision-making.
Intravascular Frequency-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Assessment of Atherosclerosis and Stent-Vessel Interactions in Human Carotid Arteries

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Carotid artery–related stroke is largely an embolic disease that has been correlated with inflammation, plaque rupture, and thrombus formation in “vulnerable” atherosclerotic plaque. Nevertheless, current guidelines for carotid revascularization in asymptomatic patients rely on the calculation of stenosis for risk assessment, a parameter that has been viewed with increasing skepticism. Intravascular OCT is an imaging technique that offers high axial resolution (10 μm), allowing an unprecedented micron-level assessment of human carotid plaque morphology. This observational article reports the first successful use of the newest iteration of this technology, FDOCT without balloon occlusion to assess human carotid artery disease and carotid stent-vessel interaction in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients with asymptomatic carotid artery disease and ambiguous noninvasive and/or angiographic data underwent carotid FDOCT to assess risk and to formulate a treatment strategy. RESULTS: Findings include the unexpected demonstration of TCFAs, plaque rupture, thrombus, inflammation, and marked tissue prolapse through stent struts in patients without high-risk factors by conventional criteria, as well as low-risk features in a patient with a high-risk noninvasive study. The procedures were performed without safety issues or special accommodations for vessel occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates the technical feasibility of FDOCT in cervical carotid arteries. As such, this technology holds the promise of not only clarifying ambiguous data in individual patients but of providing data that might call for a future paradigm shift in the assessment of asymptomatic carotid artery disease.
Improved Efficacy of Stem Cell Labeling for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies by the Use of Cationic Liposomes

Labeling stem cells with FDA-approved superparamagnetic iron oxide particles makes it possible to track cells in vivo with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but high intracellular levels of iron ca...
Preparation of Oriented GaAs Bicrystal Layers by Vapor-Phase Epitaxy Using Lateral Overgrowth

This paper describes a novel technique that utilizes vapor-phase epitaxy to grow bicrystal semiconductor layers with predetermined rotation axis, misorientation angle, and grain boundary plane. The geometrical structure of the grain boundary in each layer is therefore completely specified. The technique has been demonstrated by using the AsCl3-GaAs-H2 method to grow a series of GaAs bicrystals, each containing a [110] tilt boundary formed by a grain with a (111)B boundary plane and a grain rotated from (111)B by a selected misorientation angle. The results of initial electrical measurements indicate that the height of the potential barrier associated with each grain boundary varies with the misorientation angle.
Seed Piece Examination: A Method for Sampling Wireworms on Potatoes

Postemergence examination of potato seed pieces was found to be an effective method for detecting economic infestations of wireworms. Measurement of mean number of wireworms per hill (seed piece) was found to be the most accurate method of predicting percentage damage in untreated tubers at harvest. Other parameters measured were wireworms per soil sample (preplant), percent infestation (wireworms present and feeding on seed pieces), and percentage of hills containing wireworms. The ratio of wireworms found in seed piece samples to those found in soil samples was ca. 2.5:1. The seed piece method is advantageous for use in fields containing few or no wireworms present because it eliminates the need for soil sampling and needless applications of insecticides. Diazinon, fensulfothion, fonofos, and phorate applied as postemergence sidedress were found to control low densities of wireworms.
Ethno-epidemiological research challenges: Networks of long-haul truckers in the inner city:

Long-haul truck drivers and members of their social networks in urban locales constitute a hard-to-reach population at risk for acquiring and disseminating STIs/HIV. This paper focuses on the unique logistical, methodological, and ethical challenges faced by population health scientists while studying long-haul truck drivers and members of their sexual networks in inner-city neighborhoods of a major US metropolitan center and the innovative strategies developed to overcome the challenges. Formative research and focus groups with several trucker-centered populations (N?=?28) led to in-depth interviews and serologies with 60 truck drivers and 24 sexworkers. Various difficulties encountered by the research team are discussed, followed by strategies devised to overcome them.
Left ventricular metabolism, function, and sympathetic innervation in men and women with type 1 diabetes.

In type I diabetes (T1DM), alterations in LV function may occur due to changes in innervation, metabolism, and efficiency. We evaluated the association between sympathetic nerve function, oxidative metabolism, resting blood flow, LV efficiency and function in healthy diabetics, and assessed gender differences. Cross-sectional study of 45 subjects with T1DM, 60% females, age 34 ± 13 years, and 10 age-matched controls. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with [11C]acetate and [11C]meta-hydroxyephedrine was performed, in addition to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. There were no significant differences in LV function, innervation, or oxidative metabolism between T1DM and controls. Cardiac oxidative metabolism was positively associated with higher levels of sympathetic activation, particularly in women. Diabetic women had significantly lower efficiency compared with diabetic men. Resting flow was significantly higher in diabetic women compared with diabetic men, and tended to be higher in female controls as well. Measures of myocardial function, metabolism, blood flow, and sympathetic activation were preserved in young, otherwise healthy, T1DM patients. However, T1DM women presented with greater myocardial oxidative metabolism requirements than men. Ongoing studies are evaluating changes over time.
A Self-Adaptive Control for Contactless Charging Load of Electric Vehicles

In contactless electromagnetic-inductive charging system for electric vehicles(EV) the circuit connected to electric energy receiving end needs a constant equivalent load to ensure the system operated at the maximum efficiency point. In allusion to the problem that the equivalent resistance cannot be kept constant during real-time change of the charging power under the constant voltage/constant current charging mode for EV, an adaptive control method of contactless electromagnetic-inductive charging load is proposed. Based on constant voltage/constant current charging mode, by means of drafting a control strategy with two stages, namely the initial matching of parameters and the adaptive regulation of load, the discretized segmented control is applied to the charging voltage and current as well as the power of the battery; through changing output voltage of three-phase rectifying device, the output voltage of contactless charging electric energy conversion device is indirectly changed to implement the real-time change of the charging power; based on the ratio of battery charging voltage to charging current in DC step-down circuit, the duty ratio signal is changed in real-time to make the equivalent load at the electric energy receiving end kept constant. On the basis of considering both battery charging time and safety, the proposed method can ensure the charging system operated at the maximum efficiency point. The correctness and feasibility of the proposed method are validated by simulation results of the example.
Decade in review-epilepsy: edging toward breakthroughs in epilepsy diagnostics and care.

The past decade has yielded a host of important conceptual advances in epilepsy, along with some promising findings related to diagnostics and therapeutics. We are on an upswing where precise identification of the cause of a patient's seizure disorder can be matched to therapy that has a high likelihood of success.