cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Terrestrial Atmospheric Structure and Properties of Electromagnetic Waves

Scanning the terrain of Chapter 1 reveals a somewhat “lumpy topography” wherein we discuss some diverse topics including the radio spectrum, atmospheric structure and composition, electrical noise, fundamental properties of electromagnetic waves, and the radar equation, in that order. A logical starting point, then, seems to be a short discussion of the electromagnetic spectrum in general and that particular region of the spectrum employed for ionospheric studies.
Feeling Work at Home: A Transactional Model of Women and Men’s Negative Affective Spillover from Work to Family

Guided by transactional models of emotion (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), this chapter proposes a model of negative affective work-to-family spillover. Throughout our review of the literature, we consider gender as a key antecedent that has downstream effects on the work-to-family spillover process. We begin by briefly introducing the transactional model of emotion. Next, we discuss how negative affective work-to-family spillover fits into the transactional framework and present our conceptual model. Then, we discuss person and environmental factors that may play a role in the emotion process, and consequently in affective spillover, with a specific focus on how these factors may differ for men and women. We also discuss the moderating role of the emotion process on the association between affective states at work and affective states at home. We conclude our review with suggestions for future research.
Medical Image Synthesis with Generative Adversarial Networks for Tissue Recognition

This paper presents an adversarial learning-based approach to synthesize medical images for medical image tissue recognition. The performance of medical image recognition models highly depends on the representativeness and sufficiency of training samples. The high expense of collecting large amounts of practical medical images leads to a demand of synthesizing image samples. In this research, generative adversarial networks (GANs), which consist of a generative network and a discriminative network, are applied to develop a medical image synthesis model. Specifically, deep convolutional GANs (DCGANs), Wasserstein GANs (WGANs), and boundary equilibrium GANs (BEGANs) are implemented and compared to synthesize medical images in this research. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are applied in the GAN models, which can capture feature representations that describe a high level of image semantic information. Then synthetic images are generated by employing the generative network mapping from random noise. The effectiveness of the generative network is validated by a discriminative network, which is trained to detect the synthetic images from real images. Through a minimax two-player game, the generative and discriminative networks can train each other. The generated synthetic images are used to train a CNN classification model for tissue recognition. Through the experiments with the synthetic images, the tissue recognition accuracy achieves 98.83%, which reveals the effectiveness and applicability of synthesizing medical images through the GAN models.
Analytical solution of the finite-length Kitaev chain coupled to a quantum dot

We solve analytically the problem of a finite-length Kitaev chain coupled to a quantum dot (QD) which extends the standard Kitaev chain problem to the quantum dot-semiconductor-superconductor (QD-SM-SC) nanowire heterostructure currently under intense investigation for possible occurrence of Majorana zero modes (MZMs). As a first step we obtain the analytical solution of the finite-length Kitaev chain without the quantum dot which to the best of our knowledge has also not appeared before. Our full solution of the Kitaev chain coupled to a quantum dot reveals the emergence of a robust near-zero-energy Andreev bound state (ABSs) localized in the quantum dot region as the generic lowest energy solution in the topologically trivial phase. By contrast in the Kitaev chain without the quantum dot such a solution does not exist. The robustness of the ABS in the topologically trivial phase is due to a partial spatial decoupling of the component Majorana bound states (MBSs) over the length of the dot potential. As a result the signatures of the ABS in measurements that couple locally to the quantum dot e.g. tunneling measurements are identical to the signatures of topologically protected MZMs which arise only in the topological superconducting (TS) phase of the Kitaev chain.
A Chemical Approach for Profiling Intracellular AKT Signaling Dynamics from Single Cells

We present here a novel chemical method to continuously analyze intracellular AKT signaling activities at single-cell resolution, without genetic manipulations. A pair of cyclic peptide-based fluorescent probes were developed to recognize the phosphorylated Ser474 site and a distal epitope on AKT. A Forster resonance energy transfer signal is generated upon concurrent binding of the two probes onto the same AKT protein, which is contingent upon the Ser474 phosphorylation. Intracellular delivery of the probes enabled dynamic measurements of the AKT signaling activities. We further implemented this detection strategy on a microwell single-cell platform, and interrogated the AKT signaling dynamics in a human glioblastoma cell line. We resolved unique features of the single-cell signaling dynamics following different perturbations. Our study provided the first example of monitoring the temporal evolution of cellular signaling heterogeneities and unveiled biological information that was inaccessible to other m...
Pulse Wave Imaging in Carotid Artery Stenosis Human Patients in Vivo.

Abstract— Carotid stenosis involves narrowing of the lumen in the carotid artery potentially leading to a stroke, which is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Several recent investigations have found that plaque structure and composition may represent a more direct biomarker of plaque rupture risk compared with the degree of stenosis. In this study, pulse wave imaging was applied in 111 (n = 11, N = 13 plaques) patients diagnosed with moderate (>50%) to severe (>80%) carotid artery stenosis to investigate the feasibility of characterizing plaque properties based on the pulse wave-induced arterial wall dynamics captured by pulse wave imaging. Five (n = 5 patients, N = 20 measurements) healthy volunteers were also imaged as a control group. Both conventional and high-frame-rate plane wave radiofrequency imaging sequences were used to generate piecewise maps of the pulse wave velocity (PWV) at a single depth along stenotic carotid segments, as well as intra-plaque PWV mapping at multiple depths. Intra-plaque cumulative displacement and strain maps were also calculated for each plaque region. The Bramwell–Hill equation was used to estimate the compliance of the plaque regions based on the PWV and diameter. Qualitatively, wave convergence, elevated PWV and decreased cumulative displacement around and/or within regions of atherosclerotic plaque were observed and may serve as biomarkers for plaque characterization. Intra-plaque mapping revealed the potential to capture wave reflections between calcified inclusions and differentiate stable (i.e., calcified) from vulnerable (i.e., lipid) plaque components based on the intra-plaque PWV and cumulative strain. Quantitatively, one-way analysis of variance indicated that the pulse wave-induced cumulative strain was significantly lower (p
Efficacy of Sonothrombolysis Using Microbubbles Produced by a Catheter-Based Microfluidic Device in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke

Limitations of existing thrombolytic therapies for acute ischemic stroke have motivated the development of catheter-based approaches that utilize no or low doses of thrombolytic drugs combined with a mechanical action to either dissolve or extract the thrombus. Sonothrombolysis accelerates thrombus dissolution via the application of ultrasound combined with microbubble contrast agents and low doses of thrombolytics to mechanically disrupt the fibrin mesh. In this work, we studied the efficacy of catheter-directed sonothrombolysis in a rat model of ischemic stroke. Microbubbles of 10–20 µm diameter with a nitrogen gas core and a non-crosslinked albumin shell were produced by a flow-focusing microfluidic device in real time. The microbubbles were dispensed from a catheter located in the internal carotid artery for direct delivery to the thrombus-occluded middle cerebral artery, while ultrasound was administered through the skull and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) was infused via a tail vein catheter. The results of this study demonstrate that flow focusing microfluidic devices can be miniaturized to dimensions compatible with human catheterization and that large-diameter microbubbles comprised of high solubility gases can be safely administered intraarterially to deliver a sonothrombolytic therapy. Further, sonothrombolysis using intraarterial delivery of large microbubbles reduced cerebral infarct volumes by approximately 50% vs. no therapy, significantly improved functional neurological outcomes at 24 h, and permitted rtPA dose reduction of 3.3 (95% CI 1.8–3.8) fold when compared to therapy with intravenous rtPA alone.
Radically Early College Entrants on Radically Early College Entrance: A Heuristic Inquiry:

Although acceleration has been studied thoroughly as an educational practice for the gifted, early entrance to college specifically has been overlooked. Furthermore, a large portion of this researc...
The Diverging Impacts of Segregation on Obesity Risk by Nativity and Neighborhood Poverty Among Hispanic Americans

While racial residential segregation is frequently cited as a fundamental cause of racial health disparities, its health impacts for Hispanic Americans remain unclear. We argue that several shortcomings have limited our understanding of how segregation influences Hispanic health outcomes, most notably a failure to assess the possible diverging impacts of segregation by neighborhood poverty level and the conflation of segregation with ethnic enclaves. We use multiple years of restricted geocoded data from a nationally representative sample of the US population (2006-2013 National Health Interview Survey) to investigate the association between metropolitan-level Hispanic segregation and obesity by nativity and neighborhood poverty level. We find segregation to be protective against obesity for Hispanic immigrants who reside in low poverty neighborhoods. For Hispanic immigrants residing in higher neighborhood poverty, no association between segregation and obesity was found. Among US-born Hispanics, we observe an increased risk of obesity-but only for those in high poverty neighborhoods. No association was found for those in low and medium neighborhood poverty. Results provide evidence to indicate that the relationship between segregation and health for Hispanics is not uniform within a metropolitan area. In the case of obesity, the consequences of metropolitan Hispanic segregation can be either protective, null, or deleterious depending not only on local neighborhood context but also on nativity.
Langue de bois, or, Discourse in Defense of an Offshore Financial Center

This article brings together trends in Critical Discourse Analysis dating from the 1980s – which examine how language use and ideologies (re)produce social inequality – with current research in the social sciences on neoliberalism and other emerging politico-economic formations. The article addresses such a problematic with an empirical case: the language strategies, dubbed langue de bois, that people affiliated with Luxembourg’s offshore financial center employ to justify their practices. The contribution herein surveys the political rationality of the country’s financial center by analyzing the langue de bois that its representatives and boosters use. These language strategies, furthermore, enable Luxembourg’s finance elites to socialize the domestic public’s understanding of their activities.
Effects of Autonomous Mobile Robots on Human Mental Workload and System Productivity in Smart Warehouses: A Preliminary Study:

Safety is of critical concern in human-robot collaboration. A human-in-the-loop experiment was conducted to assess the performance of the customized robot control scheme in a smart warehouse settin...
Worker Redeployment in Multi-Business Firms

We examine to what extent and when multi-business firms internally redeploy workers between their units. Research has emphasized that resource redeployment creates value by allowing firms to escape from declining industries to those with better prospects. We find multiple patterns consistent with this mechanism. However, we also find, surprisingly, that more than half of all redeployments occur between establishments in the same five-digit industry. Moreover, redeployment is often not associated with business exit or diversification, but rather, the opening of new establishments in industries that are growing within the firm. We argue that these patterns are consistent with the theoretical notion of "internal inducements" to redeployment. Overall, our findings suggest redeployment creates value not only in the process of diversification but also horizontal growth.
Chapter 6. Antihypertensive Agents

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses an extension of already established leads to antihypertensive agents such as diuretics, reserpine analogs, ganglionic blocking drugs, amino acid enzyme inhibitors, hydralizine analogs, Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (M.A.O.) inhibitors, β-receptor blockers, etc. and miscellaneous antihypertensives. By far the most intensive synthetic effort has been directed toward the preparation of the relatives of guanethidine. This drug has been described as the most satisfactory antihypertensive till date for severe hypertension. Consequently, the quest for even superior variants has been very active. Guanethidine is composed of a heptamethylenimino portion linked through a two-carbon chain to a quanidine moiety. New analogs have been derived from guanethidine by variation of any or all of these three structural features. Clinical results are lacking with some of the new compounds; with others, it is too early to assess the clinical utility relative to that of guanethidine. Other hypertensives, such as Debrisoquin and Bethanidine, have a shorter duration of action than guanethidine, a feature that may make dosage more flexible. Each is less likely to produce the diarrhea seen often with guanethidine. Among miscellaneous antihypertensives, the prostaglandins have been useful but their role in this area is not yet fully elucidated. Among new synthetic types to show antihypertensive properties are the drugs Depreton (claimed to be effective in human hypertension) and diallylmelamine (is hypotensive by virtue of direct action on vascular smooth muscle).
The multimedia video processor (MVP)

In 1987 engineers from Texas Instruments started work on the specification of a device which would become the next generation in its TMS320 Digital Signal Processor and TMS340 Graphics System Processor families, building on the successes and lessons learnt from each. It was to be targeted at a number of graphics applications.
The ion capturing effect of 5° SiOx alignment films in liquid crystal devices

We show that SiOx, deposited at 5° to the interior surface of a liquid crystal cell allows for a surprisingly substantial reduction in the ion concentration of liquid crystal devices. We have investigated this effect and found that this type of film, due to its surface morphology, captures ions from the liquid crystal material. Ion adsorption on 5° SiOx film obeys the Langmuir isotherm. Experimental results shown allow estimation of the ion capturing capacity of these films to be more than an order of 10 000/μm2. These types of materials are useful for new types of very low power liquid crystal devices such as e-books.
Psychotherapeutic trials specific to women with breast cancer : The state of the science

Abstract This state-of-the-science article focuses on psychothera-peutic interventions specific to women with breast cancer that were published between 1995 and 1998. Following a brief synopsis of psy-chotherapeutic interventions for women with breast cancer published between 1974 and 1994, the author highlights what is known and elucidates knowledge gaps in the literature. By crystallizing the focus of scholarly inquiries about therapeutic research on breast cancer since 1994 and by addressing the most salient methodological issues and knowledge gaps, the article addresses the urgent need to identify the treatment modalities most likely to provide the greatest potential for use by clinicians and facilitates the application of research to practice.
The Dickerson-Drew B-DNA Dodecamer Revisited-At Atomic Resolution

Much of what we know about B-form DNA stems from structural studies of the oligodeoxynucleotide CGCGAATTCGCG, the so-called Dickerson-Drew dodecamer (DDD). Its crystal structure provided the first detailed image of a right-handed DNA double helix.1 Among the issues that were addressed based on this structure and those of related dodecamers are the interdependence of base sequence and structure,2 backbone flexibility,3 solvation,4 bending and bendability,3,5 drug binding,6 and the effects of packing forces7 and crystallization conditions8 on DNA structure. Intriguing features of the DDD duplex are the narrowness of the minor groove in the AATT region and the spine of water molecules in that groove.
The Liberalism of the Other

I am flattered that Carolyn Marvin gave Courting the Abyss (CA) such extended attention. Her call for a social history of civil liberties is excellent, as is her stirring defense of the liberal legal framework in the 20 century United States. She productively corrects some oversights in the book, and suggests an outline for a story it didn’t try to tell, the rise of a robust but imperfect legal framework in 20 century America that supports diverse expression. Most original of all, I think, is her expansive reading of the liberal tradition as implying a logic of bodily sacrifice − a very suggestive counterpoint to the book’s more traditional take on liberal self-transcendence. I hope she will yet deliver an extended treatment of her own vision of free speech. It would be a major contribution.
Effect of Mycorrhizal Colonization and Light Limitation on Growth and Reproduction of Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.)

Plants can respond with sink stimulation of photosynthesis when colonized with fungal or bacterial root symbionts, compensating costs of carbohydrate allocation to the microbes. However, constraints may arise under light limitation when plants cannot extensively increase photosynthesis. We hypothesize that under such conditions the costs for maintaining the symbiosis outweigh the benefits, ultimately turning the mutualist microbes into parasites, resulting in reduced plant growth and reproduction. Using lima bean ( Phaseolus lunatus ) as experimental plant, we applied two levels of light (full light, 75% shading) and microbial inoculation (sterile soil, mycorrhizal fungi) and quantified both vegetative and generative plant traits. As expected, shaded plants produced less vegetative biomass and seeds than non-shaded plants. However, individual seeds were significantly heavier in shaded plants and required less time for germination. While under both light conditions mycorrhizal plants showed a significantly reduced belowground biomass, mycorrhizal fungi neither enhanced overall plants performance in terms of total biomass and seed production nor resulted in measurable costs in either light condition. Our study suggest that mycorrhizal colonization neither provided benefits to lima bean plants grown under full light, nor created costs when photosynthesis was limited.
Closure to “Buckling of Rings Subjected to Interacting Loads”

This technical note deals with the interaction effects of multiple external and internal pressure loads, e.g., normal gas pressure, centrally directed pressure, etc., acting on a circular elastic ring buckling in its own plane. Several simple formulas for the critical load are derived and a number of unusual phenomena are discovered. Moreover, a misconception concerning the buckling of a ring subjected to the constant-directional pressure load is clarified.
Why Practice Management

Professional skills are critical to successful lawyering, and practice management is one of the critical skills. As lawyers, we must recognize that we are not prepared for the business side of law practice by education, experience or inclination. At the same time, in order to succeed in our chosen profession, we need to possess the business acumen to deliver the legal work product to our clients consistent with their expectations for quality services and the professional standard of care.
Knockdown of HMGB1 in Tumor Cells Attenuates Their Ability To Induce Regulatory T Cells and Uncovers Naturally Acquired CD8 T Cell-Dependent Antitumor Immunity

Although high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in tumor cells is involved in many aspects of tumor progression, its role in tumor immune suppression remains elusive. Host cell-derived IL-10 suppressed a naturally acquired CD8 T cell-dependent antitumor response. The suppressive activity of tumor-associated Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) was IL-10 dependent. Neutralizing HMGB1 impaired tumor cell-promoted IL-10 production by Treg. Short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of HMGB1 (HMGB1 KD) in tumor cells did not affect tumor cell growth but uncovered naturally acquired long-lasting tumor-specific IFN-γ- or TNF-α-producing CD8 T cell responses and attenuated their ability to induce Treg, leading to naturally acquired CD8 T cell- or IFN-γ-dependent tumor rejection. The data suggest that tumor cell-derived HMGB1 may suppress naturally acquired CD8 T cell-dependent antitumor immunity via enhancing Treg to produce IL-10, which is necessary for Treg-mediated immune suppression.
Deaf Victims’ Experiences With Intimate Partner Violence The Need for Integration and Innovation

While in recent years, intimate partner violence (IPV) has attracted considerable research attention, the experiences of IPV affecting the Deaf community have been understudied. As a linguistic and cultural minority, Deaf victims of IPV encounter significant barriers in accessing information and services designed to address the medical and legal consequences of victimization. The number of Deaf Americans who communicate via American Sign Language (ASL) may well exceed a half-million, yet little is known about Deaf IPV victims’ experiences and the characteristics of persons who perpetrate IPV with ASL users. This study addressed both topics.The current study is based on interviews in ASL with 14 Deaf IPV victims (participants). We explored: the types of abuse participants experienced; characteristics of victims and perpetrators; participants’ help-seeking behaviors; and the availability, use, and helpfulness of various resources. These findings were compared to what is known about IPV in the hearing commun...
The effect of intra-uterine growth restriction on blood lipids and response to exercise training.

Objectives To determine if a small body size at birth is associated with an unfavorable metabolic profile and a reduced response to exercise training in young adults. Methods Thirty-six college students, all singletons born to term, participated. Subjects were defined as either high ponderal index (HIGHPI) or low ponderal index (LOWPI). LOWPI was defined as below the 10th percentile of the PI-for-gestational age distribution. HIGHPI was defined as greater than the 10th percentile. Subject groups were matched pair-wise on age, sex, BMI, and pretraining physical activity level. Subjects completed an 8-week aerobic exercise program. Pre- and post-training measurements included a blood lipid profile. Results The LOWPI group, when compared to the HIGHPI group, exhibited higher total (183.6 mg dl−1 vs. 150.9, P = 0.04) and LDL cholesterol (114.8 mg dl−1 vs. 80.2, P = 0.019) values prior to exercise training. After training, these values decreased in the LOWPI group, eliminating the group difference. Various blood lipid ratios were more favorable for the HIGHPI group, both before and after training. The inclusion of maternal smoking as a covariate attenuated group differences for pretraining TChol, pre-training TG:HDL, and post-training HDL cholesterol. Conclusions An 8-week exercise program corrected some, but not all, of the differences in blood lipid values between the LOWPI and HIGHPI group. The persistent group difference in blood lipid ratios suggests a higher long-term risk of chronic disease in the LOWPI group independent of lifestyle intervention. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 25:844–846, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Too Many Rationales, Not Enough Reason: A Call to Examine the Goals of Including Lay Members on Institutional Review Boards

Every major U.S. commission appointed to review Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) as well as numerous reports and scholarly articles have recommended increasing the number of lay (nonscientist and unaffiliated) members on IRBs. Meanwhile, qualitative studies have shown that lay IRB members experience confusion about their roles, including ambiguity whether their roles are different from other members of the board. Without articulating the unique reasons why unaffiliated and nonscientist members are needed, IRBs have little guidance on how to recruit and train these members, and how many should be at the table. By looking back through the history of IRB regulations, policies, and commentaries we can articulate unique contributions these members can make. Only with these contributions in mind can we make arguments for how to best achieve them and make the case that increasing their numbers is necessary.
Selective Hydrogenation of Acetylene in an Ethylene Rich Flow: Results of Kinetic Simulations

We have performed kinetic simulations of the behavior of acetylene hydrogenation under ethylene rich conditions at a number of temperatures and feed gas compositions employing Pd and Pd/Ag alloy catalysts. The results of these simulations form a clear and consistent picture as to the origins of selectivity, thermal runaway, oligomer formation, the role of CO as a promoter of selectivity and inhibitor of oligomer formation, and the importance of proton transfer among carbonaceous species. The modeling gives insight into mechanistic details and provides an explanation for the influence of alloying catalyst on these phenomena.
The Crisis of Interdisciplinary Historiography

I outline the discursive logic of the two principal ways architectural theory has been conceived: historiographic critique and interdisciplinary historiography. Post-Renaissance theory-making fell into a pattern I call historiographic critique, which centered around the humanist imperative to link historical knowledge, social criticism, and architectural practice. In the 19th century, historiographic critique became increasingly incapable of creating viable conceptions of the past and was replaced by interdisciplinary historiography. The advantages and disadvantages of interdisciplinary historiography can already be seen in the work of Mies van der Rohe. He abolished narrow historicism in favor of consciously created dependencies between philosophy, history, and architectural theory drawn out over various times, cultures, languages, and academic disciplines. Unfortunately, the paradoxes inherent in the discursive logic of interdisciplinary historiography left it open to manipulations by intellectual forma...
Gene therapy to bet on: protecting neurons from stress hormones

Glucocorticoids are adrenal steroid ‘stress' hormones that are important in normal brain function. However, during conditions of excitotoxic injury to neurons, glucocorticoids can exacerbate cell death. A recent study has developed a ‘trifecta' of ingenious viral vector-based approaches to modify the neuronal stress response and to diminish this exacerbation both in vitro and in vivo . Stress hormone gene therapy in the brain is now off and running.
Validation of Automated Scoring of Oral Reading

A two-part experiment is presented that validates a new measurement tool for scoring oral reading ability. Data collected by the U.S. government in a large-scale literacy assessment of adults were analyzed by a system called VersaReader that uses automatic speech recognition and speech processing technologies to score oral reading fluency. In the first part of the experiment, human raters rated oral reading performances to establish a criterion measure for comparisons with the machine scores. The goal was to measure the reliability of ratings from human raters and to determine whether or not the human raters biased their ratings in favor of or against three groups of readers: Spanish speakers, African Americans, and all other native English speakers. The result of the experiment showed that ratings from skilled human raters were extremely reliable. In addition, there was no observed scoring bias for human raters. The second part of the experiment was designed to compare the criterion human ratings with sc...
Social Cues in Animated Conversational Agents

SUMMARY In human-computer interaction people often interpret the interaction with the computer as interactions with humans. The social agency theory suggests that social cues like the face and voice of the agent motivate this interpretation. In two off-line experiments in which comprehension scores and liking ratings were collected, we found that participants preferred natural agents with natural voices, as predicted by the social-cue hypothesis. Although female agents with male voices formed an exception, this was explained by a stereotype effect. These findings support the social-cue hypothesis and the social agency theory that human characteristics are applied in the perception of computational animated conversational agents. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Understanding sexual violence perpetration.

To the Editor It seems unlikely that the 9% of adolescents reported by Ybarra and Mitchell to have coerced sex, or to have attempted or completed rape, made a conscious decision to commit a felony. It is more likely that they made excuses for their behavior because they had not fully understood the lesson that any penetration of the body of a girl (or boy) without free consent is rape—consent being valid only if she or he is capable of giving consent. Somehow, they convinced themselves that the rules did not apply to them. Comments on: Prevalence rates of male and female sexual violence perpetrators in a national sample of adolescents. Ybarra ML, Mitchell KJ. JAMA Pediatr. 2013; 167(12): 1125-1134. Language: en
Dual-channel charge-coupled device for high speed signal acquisition

The paper describes the design and development of a CCD shift register that can take analog samples of an electrical signal at rates up to 1 x 108 samples/s and provide temporary storage for 1024 samples. It is intended for operation in a fast-in, slow-out mode for capturing high speed electrical transients. The requirements of fast clocking and moderate clock driver power led to the choice of a serial-parallel-serial design. The CCD chip contains four storage arrays that form two differential channels. Differential operation provides good linearity. The two channels can be used independently or multiplexed for sampling at the highest rate. The CCD is of the buried-channel type and uses four-phase clocking on all registers. It is fabricated using a modified NMOS process, with two polysilicon layers to provide an overlapping transfer gate structure. Operating characteristics of the CCD are described, together with its behavior in an instrument environment. For optimum performance the CCD chip is mounted on a hybrid, together with clock driver ICs. Such devices are used in the signal acquisition section of a digital storage instrument that was developed recently.
Absorber Performance with High CO2

Abstract Previous studies of CO2 absorption mainly focused on coal-fired flue gas with 12% CO2. However, in a hybrid process combining amine scrubbing with membrane technology, the CO2 concentration in the flue gas may be enriched to 20%. This work simulates absorber performance at 12 to 20% CO2 with the Independence model for piperazine (PZ) in Aspen Plus®. 5 molal (m) PZ was chosen as the solvent with a solvent rate of 1.1*Lmin. To estimate the absorber performance in this range, a factorial design has been used to define the model inputs. Both in-and-out intercooling and pump-around intercooling have been simulated for the absorber. The model calculates the solvent rate, packing height, rich loading, and optimized position of intercooling for each case. Empirical correlations for rich loading and a semi-empirical correlation for normalized packing have been derived. When estimating real absorber performance, KG equals kg measured in wetted wall column times a correction factor φ. For 99% removal, φ varies from 1.6 to 2.6. For 60% removal, φ varies from 0.6 to 0.8.
A virtual restoration stage for real-world objects

In this paper, we introduce a system to virtually restore damaged or historically significant objects without needing to physically change the object in any way. Our work addresses both creating a restored synthetic version of the object as viewed from a camera and projecting the necessary light, using digital projectors, to give the illusion of the object being restored. The restoration algorithm uses an energy minimization method to enforce a set of criteria over the surface of the object and provides an interactive tool to the user which can compute a restoration in a few minutes. The visual compensation method develops a formulation that is particularly concerned with obtaining bright compensations under a specified maximum amount of light. The bound on the amount of light is of crucial importance when viewing and restoring old and potentially fragile objects. Finally, we demonstrate our system by restoring several deteriorated and old objects enabling the observer to view the original or restored object at will.
Hidden risks of hedge accounting in financial institutions: A study of Franklin Savings Association

The hedge accounting standards for financial institutions stipulated in SFAS No. 80 impose ambiguous guidelines whose enforcement can produce detrimental effects on the financial condition of institutions. Combining these standards with the interpretive authority of regulatory agencies can subject institutions to regulatory risk-the risk of an adverse regulatory ruling resulting from disparate interpretations of the accounting standards. The accounting regulations specified in SFAS No. 80 permit financial institutions to defer derivative-contract losses over the life of the underlying asset or liability. If the hedge designation is misused, however, the capital position of the institution may potentially be misstated prior to maturity of the derivative contracts. Further, when a hedging program goes awry, the current hedge accounting standards may actually encourage the shift to what is actually a speculation program by permitting a larger asset base on which to “earn back” a portion of the hedging losses. Thus, institutional programs initially designed to mitigate interest-rate risk can instead become risk-increasing, separate profit centers. Events leading to the RTC conservatorship of Franklin Savings Association are used to illustrate the opportunities and regulatory threats inherent in hedge accounting. Subsequent analysis indicates that similar ordeals could be avoided by a clarification of hedge accounting standards, the consistent application of standards by regulators, or by increasing capital requirements for those institutions that use derivatives as separate profit centers as opposed to hedging risk exposures.
Harmony or Havoc: Can the WTO, Biosafety Protocol and Codex Alimentarius work together?

The international movement of GMOs (genetically engineered organisms) falls under an increasing number of apparently independent legal regimes, each with somewhat different primary goals.
Recommendations for publishing case studies of cell transplantation for spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Cellular transplantation for subacute and chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) continues to proceed around the world, but clinicians and patients have only 10 English language publications of case reports and self-serving Web page anecdotes to guide them. METHODS: Recent publications about the use of olfactory ensheathing, bone marrow stromal, and fetal tissue stem cells in human subjects are examined to assess the adequacy of their designs, conclusions, and interpretation. RESULTS: Case series reports to date reveal adverse responses to cellular therapy when clinicians look for these and no clear functional effects when a matched group that is not treated is compared. Rehabilitation that focuses on potential targets for sensorimotor and functional gains must precede a transplantation until a plateau of change is reached and then continue for at least 6 months if not a year. CONCLUSION: Criteria are listed as the minimum requirements for any further case series reports to be considered by journals in regard to cellular interventions for SCI. Based on available reports, the published interventions should not be given to additional patients. One or two of the strategies can be considered for testing in a randomized trial with blinded assessors and an independent data monitoring committee to examine for biological activity in patients with motor complete SCI of greater than 4 to 6 months duration.
Interaction of Hematopoietic Progenitor Kinase 1 and c-Abl Tyrosine Kinase in Response to Genotoxic Stress

The c-Abl protein tyrosine kinase is activated by certain DNA-damaging agents and regulates induction of the stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK). The hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) has also been shown to act upstream to the SAPK/JNK signaling pathway. We report here that exposure of hematopoietic Jurkat T cells to genotoxic agents is associated with activation of HPK1. The results demonstrate that exposure of Jurkat cells to DNA-damaging agents is associated with translocation of active c-Abl from nuclei to cytoplasm and binding of c-Abl to HPK1. Our findings also demonstrate that c-Abl phosphorylates HPK1 in cytoplasm and stimulates HPK1 activity. The functional significance of the c-Abl-HPK1 interaction is supported by the demonstration that this complex regulates SAPK/JNK activation. Overexpression of c-Abl(K-R) inhibits HPK1-induced activation of SAPK/JNK. Conversely, the dominant negative mutant of HPK1 blocks c-Abl-mediated induction of SAPK/JNK. These findings indicate that activation of HPK1 and formation of HPK1/c-Abl complexes are functionally important in the stress response of hematopoietic cells to genotoxic agents.
Hemostatic laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: initial experience with the radiofrequency coagulation-assisted technique.

Abstract Objectives. The techniques for hemostasis after renal tumor excision have limited the widespread application of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN). To improve hemostasis and aid visualization, we report our experience with a novel radiofrequency coagulation (RFC) technique for LPN. Methods. Ten patients underwent RFC-assisted LPN. The demographic and perioperative data were tabulated. Patients were positioned as for laparoscopic nephrectomy, and laparoscopic ports were placed. The kidney within Gerota’s fascia was mobilized, and the fat overlying the tumor was carefully removed for pathologic evaluation. Under laparoscopic guidance, a radiofrequency probe was percutaneously inserted into the lesion and deployed to coagulate the lesion and a margin of normal parenchyma. Laparoscopic scissors were used to excise the lesion; additional hemostatic maneuvers were used selectively. Results. The mean renal tumor size was 2.1 cm (range 1.0 to 3.2). The median operative time was 170 minutes and the median blood loss was 125 mL. The RFC technique resulted in complete tissue coagulation within the treated volume, thereby facilitating intraoperative visualization, minimizing blood loss, and permitting rapid and controlled tumor resection. The renal architecture was preserved, allowing accurate diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma and angiomyolipoma in 9 and 1 cases, respectively. No perioperative complications occurred. Conclusions. The use of RFC is an effective method to facilitate LPN of both exophytic and endophytic masses. By coagulating a margin of normal parenchyma, the technique minimizes blood loss and improves visualization during LPN. We anticipate this technique will broaden the clinical application for LPN.
693 RESPONSE TO ADENOSINE DEAMINASE (ADA) REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN A CHILD WITH SEVERE COMBINED IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISEASE (SCID) AND ADA DEFICIENCY

A boy was diagnosed to have SCID at age 4½ mos. No thymic shadow, adenoidal tissue or skeletal anomalies were found on X-ray. IgG and IgM were markedly decreased. Lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) revealed a stimulation index (SI) of 0.96 and candida, SK-SD and PPD skin tests were negative. Enzymatic assays for ADA showed only trace amounts in red cells, lymphocytes and granulocytes. Patient was treated with transfusions of irradiated frozen red cells and irradiated frozen plasma according to the method of Polmar, et al. Gradual clinical improvement occurred and he is now 18 mos old and clinically well. After starting therapy his immunoglobulins increased to above normal levels. However, in contrast to the patient reported by Polmar, et al, our patient still has no thymus by chest X-ray and his absolute numbers of lymphocytes have varied markedly, as have his % of T and B cells. Similarly, SI's in response to PHA, ConA, pokeweed and LPS have varied between 0-40% of normal. These variations have occurred in spite of a normal level of ADA in his red cells. No inverse correlation between the nucleotides and ADP levels was noted. These results indicate that replacement therapy has been beneficial clinically. However, because of the fluctuation in the immune responses, the role of replacement therapy with ADA is unclear and further studies are indicated.
Mucinous cystadenoma of ovary in a patient with juvenile polyposis due to 10q23 microdeletion: expansion of phenotype.

Juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) is a hereditary condition characterized by development of gastrointestinal polyps, and caused by mutations in SMAD4 or BMPR1A genes. Juvenile polyps can also be found in a related group of syndromes with multisystemic involvement including Cowden disease, Lhermitte–Duclos disease, Bannayan–Riley–Ruvalcaba syndrome, and Proteus-like syndrome, all grouped as PTEN hamartoma tumor syndromes (PHTS). In all these conditions including JPS, polyps manifest in older childhood or early adulthood. Infantile juvenile polyposis (JPI) is a rare entity, presenting in the first year of life with severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Many of these patients have associated macrocephaly, hypotonia, and congenital anomalies. It was recently recognized that patients with infantile polyposis have a 10q23 microdeletion, involving both BMPR1A and PTEN genes. There is a major risk for gastrointestinal malignancies in these patients, but the risk for development of other tumors is not known. We describe a patient with a history of infantile polyposis, macrocephaly, developmental delay, hypotonia, and a 10q23 microdeletion. At age 14 she presented with bilateral mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary. This type of tumor was not previously reported in association with JPS, 10q23 microdeletion syndrome, or infantile polyposis. We believe that ovarian cystadenomas may be another neoplastic complication of infantile polyposis, and that our report widens the spectrum of the 10q23 microdeletion phenotype. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Single weekly cytosine arabinoside and oral 6-thioguanine in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia

Older patients with RAEB-T or AML are extremely difficult to treat. They are at high risk of infection and/or bleeding complications and have a low probability of cure and short overall survival with conventional treatments. We treated 12 patients with an outpatient low-dose chemotherapy regimen consisting of Ara-C 100 mg subcutaneously on day 1, and 6-thioguanine 80 mg orally on days 2–5, repeated every week. Nine patients had MDS, six RAEB-T, and three RAEB (median age 57 years) and three had de novo AML (median age 73 years). All patients were transfusion dependent. The mean peripheral blast count at the beginning of treatment was 29% (4–51%). The median follow-up is 13 months (2–34 months) for all the patients and 14 months (2–34 months) for those with RAEB-T. Nine of the 12 patients are alive, including seven RAEB-T patients with a median of 18 months (range 6–34+ months). During treatment, the peripheral blast count was markedly reduced to a mean of 5% (0–23%). The mean pre-therapy platelet count, with transfusion support, was 24.0×109/l, while the mean post-therapy platelet count without transfusion support is 95.0×109/l. All patients except two became transfusion independent at some time. Treatment for 6–10 weeks was required to show reduction of blast number and increase in hemoglobin, platelet, and WBC counts. Initial cytopenias were the only side effects of this regimen. One patient had granulocytopenic fever. In conclusion, this low-dose regimen is effective and well tolerated for outpatient palliation in high-risk or elderly patients with RAEB-T or AML.
Combined treatment of acute EAE in Lewis rats with TNF-binding protein and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a term given to describe a collection of animal models representing the human disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Although not fully understood, the involvement of cytokines and the immune system in either EAE or human MS is well established. Past efforts have shown that inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) or interleukin-1 (IL-1) result in amelioration of acute EAE in Lewis rats. The present study examined this model for the effect of concomitant inhibition of both TNF-α and IL-1, which resulted in a modest but significant therapeutic effect that was superior to inhibition of either single agent alone with respect to four of the five variables used to follow the progression of disease in this model, i.e., clinical severity, frequency of disease, loss of body weight, and day of onset. These results are in accordance with the idea that combination treatments are likely to prove superior to single agent therapy in the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory disease.
Gene expression profiling using advanced mass spectrometric approaches

In the era of systems biology, computational and high-throughput experimental biological approaches are increasingly being combined to provide global snapshots of entire genomes and proteomes under tissue- and disease-specific conditions. The aim is to identify proteins changing in concentration and/or post-translational state and/or location, and develop a better molecular level understanding of the operation of biological systems. Here we describe an approach for comparative proteomics that builds upon the combination of high-performance nano-scale separations with the high-mass measurement accuracy, mass-resolving power and sensitivity of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry to provide broad dynamic range, comprehensive and quantitative proteome measurements.