cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cross-linking characteristics of collagen from porcine intramuscular connective tissue: Variation between muscles

Abstract 1. 1. The intramuscular connective tissues were isolated in the native state from porcine l. dorsi and semimembranosus muscles. 2. 2. This tissue was obtained in yields of about 1.3% of total muscle mass, and was composed of approx. 82% collagen. 3. 3. Significantly higher yields of both salt- and acid-soluble collagen were obtained from the intramuscular connective tissues of the l. dorsi muscles than in that from the semimembranosus . 4. 4. The salt-soluble collagen from the semimembranosus had a markedly lower content of β 12 -components and a correspondingly higher content of α-components. 5. 5. A comparable relationship was also observed in the acid extracts, however, in this case the β 11 - and β 12 -components were both decreased in comparison to the l. dorsi muscle. 6. 6. No marked differences in amino acid composition of intramuscular connective tissue collagen were evident between the two muscles.
Management of lower urinary tract dysfunction: a stepwise approach.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate management patterns of lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction and establish a treatment algorithm to guide pediatric healthcare providers. Methods 390 children with non-neurogenic LUT dysfunction were followed over 7 months; 115 patients were excluded due to incomplete data. Children were categorized based on presenting complaints and pelvic ultrasound into three groups: daytime urinary incontinence (UI) with complete emptying (CE), UI with incomplete emptying (IE), or IE without UI. Every child underwent behavioral modification (BM) including timed voiding, double voiding, deep breathing, and treatment of constipation if present. BM failures received secondary treatment including medications (alpha blockers, anticholinergics), physical therapy, and/or botulinum toxin type A injection of the external sphincter at a dose of 100 units. Results BM improved symptoms in 152 (55%): 68% (46% dry), 49% (27% dry), and 59% (29% dry) from the three groups, respectively. Of the 45% who showed no change in symptoms, 98 (80%) improved with addition of medication, the majority (89) after starting alpha blocker therapy. Children with IE responded better to alpha blockers, 83 (77%) compared to 38% with CE, whereas those with CE demonstrated more symptom resolution with anticholinergics, 6 (38%) compared to 13% of those with IE. Only 6 (2%) patients were refractory to non-operative treatment with all showing improvement after injection of botulinum toxin type A, 4 (67%) of whom became completely dry. Conclusion Diagnosis of UI and/or IE with stratification of children into particular symptom groups appears beneficial in determining the appropriate therapy for children with LUT dysfunction.
Contesting Commerce: Gibbons v. Ogden, Steam Power, and Social Change

The U.S. Supreme Court case Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)1 represents one of the most significant yet least understood cases in the history of American jurisprudence. Most accounts depict the case as a constitutional showdown between former New Jersey Governor Aaron Ogden and his estranged business partner, a Georgian businessman and planter named Thomas Gibbons. Ogden charged Gibbons with operating a steamboat on the Hudson River in violation of the Fulton–Livingston Steamboat monopoly that controlled steam travel in the state of New York. In March 1824, Chief Justice John Marshall ruled for the Supreme Court that Gibbons' federal coasting license trumped a state grant issued to Ogden by the Fulton–Livingston syndicate.2
Response of infant and adult rat choroid plexus potassium transporters to increased extracellular potassium.

Abstract The choroid plexus (CP) has an important role in regulating ion concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Maintenance of potassium concentration ([K]) in brain extracellular fluids lower than in serum is critical to proper neuronal function. We studied K (86Rb) transport by the isolated, lateral CP from infant and mature rats to determine the nature and development of CSF [K] regulation. Comparison of transport characteristics in media with 3–11 mM [K] showed that the adult CP increased uptake in a stepwise fashion with each 2 mM increase in [K], up to a 90% increase with 9 mM [K] over control (3 mM [K]). In contrast, 3-day CP increased uptake in 5 mM, but could not increase K uptake further with higher [K]. One-week tissues showed an intermediate response. Kinetic analysis of the ouabain-inhibitable component suggested that the immature tissues may express a different isoform of the catalytic (α) subunit of the Na,K-ATPase. These data may explain the previously established inability of neonatal rats to regulate CSF [K] when serum [K] is elevated, and they indicate that active K transport by the CP cells plays an integral role in CSF [K] regulation.
Adhesion and fusion efficiencies of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) surface proteins

In about half of patients infected with HIV-1 subtype B, viral populations shift from utilizing the transmembrane protein CCR5 to CXCR4, as well as or instead of CCR5, during late stage progression of the disease. How the relative adhesion efficiency and fusion competency of the viral Env proteins relate to infection during this transition is not well understood. Using a virus-cell fusion assay and live-cell single-molecule force spectroscopy, we compare the entry competency of viral clones to tensile strengths of the individual Env-receptor bonds of Env proteins obtained from a HIV-1 infected patient prior to and during coreceptor switching. The results suggest that the genetic determinants of viral entry were predominantly enriched in the C3, HR1 and CD regions rather than V3. Env proteins can better mediate entry into cells after coreceptor switch; this effective entry capacity does not correlate with the bond strengths between viral Env and cellular receptors.
Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase in developing rat brain.

Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase from rat brain has been found to be similar to the same enzyme isolated from other rat tissues in regard to kinetic parameters, pH optimum, putrescine requirement, and subcellular location. Evidence is presented that pyridoxal phosphate is not the functional cofactor in enzymatic decarboxylation by the rat brain preparation. The capacity for spermidine synthesis in developing rat brain was determined by measurement of the activity of adenosylmethionine decarboxylase. The activity increased dramatically after 10 days of postnatal age. This increase occurred after the period of maximum nucleic acid synthesis, an observation which suggests that spermidine may have a role in the functional development of the brain.
Involvement of α- and β-adrenoreceptors in the central action of norepinephrine on temperature, metabolism, heart and respiratory rates of the conscious primate

Abstract The effect of the central blockade of α- and β-adrenoreceptors on the action of norepinephrine (NE) infused by the intracerebroventricular (ICV) route was examined in the unanesthetized primate. After cannulae for ICV infusion were implanted stereotaxically, each monkey ( Macaca fasicularis ) was placed in a restraint chair fitted with a transparent dome for measurement of O 2 uptake. During an experiment, the following responses were monitored simultaneously on a polygraph: skin and colonie temperatures, heart and respiratory rates, and metabolic rate as reflected by O 2 uptake. Following an ICV infusion of 150 μg NE, colonic temperature, heart and metabolic rates declined while skin temperature increased and respiratory rate remained unchanged. Pretreatment with ICV phentolamine (100 μg), an α-adrenoreceptor antagonist, attenuated the changes in temperature, heart and metabolic rates and reduced respiratory rate. Similar ICV infusion of 100 μg propranolol, a β-adrenoreceptor antagonist, tended also to attenuate the responses induced by NE, but overall was much less efficacious than phentolamine. Our results indicate that although catecholaminergic neurons mediate these vital physiological processes principally by central α-adrenoreceptors, a substantial β-adrenoreceptor component also participates in the mechanism responsible for specific functional changes.
Hyperbolic exterior differential systems and their conservation laws, part II

This research was supported in part by NSF Grant DMS 9205222 (Bryant), an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (Hsu), and the Institute for Advanced Study (Griffiths and Hsu).IAS Preprint: 1/25/94. Part II will appear in Vol. 1, No. 2 of this journal.
Preference for Comfort Care Does Not Affect the Pain Experience of Seriously Ill Patients

Abstract The principles of medical decision-making suggest that values and preferences of patients should be important determinants of the use of treatments. From data collected during the SUPPORT study, we determined whether seriously ill patients' preferences for pain control expressed earlier in their hospitalization were associated with later pain. Of the 2820 patients who gave both earlier interviews about their pain care preferences and willingness to live permanently in pain, and later interviews about pain, 1388 (49.2%) told us that they preferred a course of care aimed at relieving pain, and 1426 (50.6%) were very unwilling or would rather die than be permanently in pain. At the later interview, 655 (23.2%) reported that they had extremely severe or moderately severe pain. After adjustment for other variables associated with later pain, neither preference for pain control nor willingness to live permanently in pain was associated with later pain.
A comprehensive set of coded chief complaints for the emergency department.

Objective: To develop a generally applicable set of coded chief complaints for the computerized patient records of emergency departments (EDs). Methods: At an urban teaching ED the chief complaints of more than 50,000 patients were analyzed retrospectively during a 29-month period (June 1995—October 1997). Applying continuous quality improvement methods, a multidisciplinary team examined the current process documenting the patient's chief complaint. During two prospective periods (November 1997—December 1998; January 1999—June 1999), more than 34,000 chief complaints were analyzed. To reduce free-text charting practices, a variety of interventions on individual and team level were applied. Quantitative analysis was performed with statistical process control charts, and a qualitative evaluation was performed with a questionnaire. Results: The charting of chief complaint in free-text format decreased from 23% to 1%. The range among individual ED staff members narrowed from 45% to 9%. During the refinement of the set of coded chief complaints, six infrequently charted items were removed. Five new chief complaints identified by analysis of free-text entries during the second study period were added. The current set of chief complaints consists of 54 codable and the three original free-text items. The ED staff members perceived all the interventions beneficial. A poster displaying all available terms as a visual aid, however, had the largest impact on charting the patient's chief complaint in coded format. Conclusions: Applying continuous quality improvement methods, the authors created a clinically developed and applicable set of codable chief complaints that can be easily integrated into a computerized patient record of an ED.
Unloading arterial baroreceptors causes neurogenic hypertension.

We developed a new model to examine the role of arterial baroreceptors in the long-term control of mean arterial pressure (MAP) in dogs. Baroreceptors in the aortic arch and one carotid sinus were ...
The Combination of Novel Targeted Molecular Agents and Radiation in the Treatment of Pediatric Gliomas

Brain tumors are the most common solid pediatric malignancy. For high-grade, recurrent or refractory pediatric brain tumors, radiation therapy (XRT) is an integral treatment modality. In the era of personalized cancer therapy, molecularly targeted agents have been designed to inhibit pathways critical to tumorigenesis. Our evolving knowledge of genetic aberrations in low-grade gliomas is being exploited with targeted inhibitors. These agents are also being combined with XRT to increase their efficacy. In this review, we discuss novel agents targeting three different pathways in low-grade gliomas, and their potential combination with XRT. B-Raf is a kinase in the Ras/Raf/MAPK kinase pathway, which is integral to cellular division, survival and metabolism. In low-grade pediatric gliomas, point mutations in BRAF (BRAF V600E) or a BRAF fusion mutation (KIAA1549:BRAF) causes overactivation of the MEK/MAPK pathway. Pre-clinical data shows cooperation between XRT and tagrgeted inhibitors of BRAF V600E, and MEK and mTOR inhibitors in the gliomas with the BRAF fusion. A second important signaling cascade in pediatric glioma pathogenesis is the PI3 kinase (PI3K)/mTOR pathway. Dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors are poised to enter studies of pediatric tumors. Finally, many brain tumors express potent stimulators of angiogenesis. Several inhibitors of immunomodulators are currently being evaluated in in clinical trials for the treatment of recurrent or refractory pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors. In summary, combinations of these targeted inhibitors with radiation are currently under investigation in both translational bench research and early clinical trials. We summarize the molecular rationale for, and the pre-clinical data supporting the combinations of these targeted agents with other anti-cancer agents and XRT in pediatric gliomas. Parallels are drawn to adult gliomas, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the efficacy of these agents is discussed
Stokes flow of a cylinder and half-space driven by capillarity

The coalescence of a cylinder with half-space by creeping viscous flow driven solely by surface tension is analysed using methods developed previously. The evolution of the shape with time is described, exactly, in terms of a time-dependent mapping function z = ω(ζ,t) of the upper half-plane, conformal on Im ζ [Gt ] 0. The results are in closed analytic form except for the time, which requires a quadrature. The height of the figure decays as t−1 as t → ∞, which is consistent with Kuiken's analysis of an isolated disturbance. (Previously, the author reported an erroneous solution which behaved otherwise.) The results are compared with the coalescence of equal cylinders obtained previously. For a modest degree of coalescence, the shapes are rather alike. In the limit as t → 0. the time dependence of the minimum widths (necks) are the same. At the times when the minimum widths disappear, the heights of the two shapes are equal.Appended is a note providing a counter-example to earlier conjecture. A simply connected region undergoing this type of flow need not remain so.
In Vitro Interactions Between Dietary Fiber and 14C‐Vitamin D or 14C‐Vitamin E

Free 14C-vitamin D3 decreased between 86.8–92.9% when incubated at 37°C with various fibers in the presence of 0.84% saline. The addition of bile as sodium taurocholate reversed the decrease in free vitamin D3 and was related directly to the concentration of the bile salt. Free 14C-vitamin E was also decreased in saline solutions with the fiber sources of hard red spring (HRS), soft white winter (SWW) wheat brans or alphacel cellulose (AC). In turn the decrease in free 14C-tocopherol was reversed by the addition of bile. Citrus pectin (CP) had no influence on the 14C-vitamin E.
Characterizing the high-level content of natural images using lexical basis functions

The performance of content-based image retrieval using low-level visual content has largely been judged to be unsatisfactory. Perceived performance could probably be improved if retrieval were based on higher-level content. However, researchers have not been very successful in bridging what is now called the "semantic gap" between low-level content detectors and higher-level visual content. This paper describes a novel "top-down" approach to bridging this semantic gap. A list of primitive words (which we call "lexical basis functions") are selected from a lexicon of the English language, and are used to characterize the higher-level content of natural outdoor images. Visual similarity between pairs of images are then "computed" based on the degree of similarity between their respective word lists. These "computed" similarities are then shown to correlate with subjectively perceived similarities between pairs of images. This demonstrates that the chosen set of lexical basis functions is able to characterize the multidimensional content (and similarity) of these image pairs in a manner that parallels their subjectively perceived content (and similarity). If a retrieval system could be designed to automatically detect the visual content represented by these basis functions, it could compute a similarity measure that would correlate with human subjective similarity rankings.
Relative Binding Energies of Gas-Phase Pyridyl Ligand/Metal Complexes by Energy-Variable Collisionally Activated Dissociation in a Quadrupole Ion Trap

The relative binding energies of a series of pyridyl ligand/metal complexes of the type [MIL2]+ and [MIIL3]2+ are investigated by using energy-variable collisionally activated dissociation in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The pyridyl ligands include 1,10-phenanthroline and various alkylated analogues, 2,2‘-bipyridine, 4,4‘-dimethyl-2,2‘-bipyridine, and 2,2‘:6‘,2‘ ‘-terpyridine, and the metal ions include cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, calcium, magnesium, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium. The effect of the ionic size and electronic nature of the metal ion and the polarizability and degree of preorganization of the pyridyl ligands on the threshold activation voltages, and thus the relative binding energies of the complexes, are evaluated. Correlations are found between the binding constants of [MIIL3]2+ complexes in aqueous solution and the threshold activation voltages of the analogous gas-phase complexes determined by collisionally activated dissociation.
Effects of Graded Taurine Levels on Juvenile Cobia

AbstractTaurine, which has multiple important physiological roles in teleost fish and mammals, is an amino acid not found in alternative protein sources not derived from animals. Although taurine is found in fish-meal-based feeds, its high water solubility leads to lower taurine levels in reduction-process-based feeds, which marine carnivores such as Cobia Rachycentron canadum are adapted to in their natural diets. Graded taurine supplementation (0, 0.5, 1.5, and 5.0%) added to a traditional fish-meal-based formulation was examined in two growth trials with Cobia: one initiated with 10-g individuals and the second initiated with 120-g individuals. During the first trial, in which growth as weight gain ranged from 123 to 139 g per fish, there was an increase in dietary taurine and a decrease in the feed conversion ratio from 1.04 to 0.99. During the second trial, in which growth ranged from 227 to 313 g gained per fish, there was no significant difference in performance characteristics between dietary trea...
PerCCS: person-count from carbon dioxide using sparse non-negative matrix factorization

Occupancy count in rooms is valuable for applications such as room utilization, opportunistic meeting support, and efficient heating-cooling operations. Few buildings, however, have the means of knowing occupancy beyond simple binary presence-absence. In this paper we present the PerCCS algorithm that explores the possibility of estimating person count from CO2 sensors already integrated in everyday room air-conditioning infrastructure. PerCSS uses task-driven Sparse Non-negative Matrix Factorization (SNMF) to learn a nonnegative low-dimensional representation of the CO2 data in the preprocessing stage. This denoised CO2 acts as the predictor variable for estimating occupancy count using Ensemble Least Square Regression. We tested the algorithm to estimate 15 minutes average occupancy count from a classroom of capacity 42 and compared its performance against existing methods from the literature. PerCSS estimates occupancy with a normalized mean squared error (NMSE) of 0.075 and outperformed our comparative methods in predicting occupancy count with 91 % and 15 % for exact occupancy estimation, when the room was unoccupied and occupied respectively, whereas the competing methods failed mostly.
The Phylogenetic Position of the Pterobranch Hemichordates Based on 18S rDNA Sequence Data

Abstract Pterobranchs are a class of deuterostome metazoans that are sessile marine suspension feeders. Although this group has been poorly studied, understanding their phylogenetic affinities is central to understanding early metazoan evolution. Sequence data from the 5′ end of the 18S rDNA gene was collected from a pterobranch, Rhabdopleura normani, and combined with other available 18S sequences. Using standard phylogenetic methods, the evolutionary relationships of deuterostome metazoans were reconstructed. The pterobranchs are most closely related to the enteropneust hemichordates. This was confirmed by bootstrap analyses and a topology-dependent cladistic permutation tail probability (T-PTP) test. My analysis agrees with Turbeville et al.′s (1994) and Wada and Satoh′s (1994) finding that hemichordates are more closely related to echinoderms than to chordates, and it is proposed that Metschnikoff′s (1881) name Ambulacraria be adopted for the clade defined by the last common ancestor of the hemichordates and echinoderms. These findings suggest that ciliated gill slits and the dorsal hollow nerve chord are pleisomorphic features of the Deuterostomia.
Technology Review: Application of Whole-Body Autoradiography in Toxicology

Whole-body autoradiography (WBA) is a technique that has been available for many years for studying the biological fate of chemicals. This technique, which is most frequently employed with radiolabeled chemicals, provides a visual analysis of tissue distribution. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in using this technique in studies of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) of chemicals. An important factor in the increasing use of WBA is the ability to utilize image analysis technology to quantitate WBA data. In this article, the status of quantitative WBA is discussed. In addition, this article discusses recent developments in the application of WBA in the field of toxicology.
Identification of phenylbutyrate-generated metabolites in Huntington disease patients using parallel liquid chromatography/electrochemical array/mass spectrometry and off-line tandem mass spectrometry

Oral sodium phenylbutyrate (SPB) is currently under investigation as a histone deacetylation (HDAC) inhibitor in Huntington disease (HD). Ongoing studies indicate that symptoms related to HD genetic abnormalities decrease with SPB therapy. In a recently reported safety and tolerability study of SPB in HD, we analyzed overall chromatographic patterns from a method that employs gradient liquid chromatography with series electrochemical array, ultraviolet (UV), and fluorescence (LCECA/UV/F) for measuring SPB and its metabolite phenylacetate (PA). We found that plasma and urine from SPB-treated patients yielded individual-specific patterns of approximately 20 metabolites that may provide a means for the selection of subjects for extended trials of SPB. The structural identification of these metabolites is of critical importance because their characterization will facilitate understanding the mechanisms of drug action and possible side effects. We have now developed an iterative process with LCECA, parallel LCECA/LCMS, and high-performance tandem MS for metabolite characterization. Here we report the details of this method and its use for identification of 10 plasma and urinary metabolites in treated subjects, including indole species in urine that are not themselves metabolites of SPB. Thus, this approach contributes to understanding metabolic pathways that differ among HD patients being treated with SPB.
How do you treat an abscess in the era of increased community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)?

Abstract Background In the era of increased prevalence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), there have been a number of questions and several recent studies that address the clinical management of uncomplicated abscesses in the emergency department (ED). Discussion We examine the historical and clinical predictors for MRSA in patients with an uncomplicated abscess and review the evidence behind the use of wound cultures, decolonization, antibiotics, irrigation, and packing after incision and drainage. We found that current recommendations and treatment guidelines are often based on limited data, expert opinion, and anecdotal experience. Conclusion In light of the data currently available, antibiotics and decolonization should be used selectively, not routinely, for treatment of most uncomplicated abscesses. Wound cultures are generally not necessary in the ED, and all patients should be given return precautions for worsening symptoms.
Seeking the middle way: G. Alan Marlatt and harm reduction

G. Alan Marlatt's research and other professional efforts have profoundly influenced the science and practice of harm reduction. Marlatt's balanced placebo drinking research challenged prevailing attitudes about the loss of control and illustrated the potency of beliefs in predicting drinking behavior. His courageous defense of the Sobells during the controlled drinking controversy was a first step toward legitimizing harm reduction goals. His harm reduction interventions are best practices for college student drinking, and the excellence of those programs has elevated the stature of harm reduction interventions in the US. He developed mindfulness-based harm reduction strategies for those managing relapse or seeking moderation goals in treatment. His interpretation of the science of harm reduction compelled him to speak on behalf of consumers, advocating for alternative forms of treatment rather than a one-size-fits-all model. He collaborated with community stakeholders to extend culturally relevant harm ...
Excitation-emission fluorimeter based on linear interference filters

We describe the design, properties, and performance of an excitation-emission (EE) fluorimeter that enables spectral characterization of an object simultaneously with respect to both its excitation and its emission properties. Such devices require two wavelength-selecting elements, one in the optical path of the excitation broadband light to obtain tunable excitation and the other to analyze the resulting fluorescence. Existing EE instruments are usually implemented with two monochromators. The key feature of our EE fluorimeter is that it employs lightweight and compact linear interference filters (LIFs) as the wavelength-selection elements. The spectral tuning of both the excitation and the detection LIFs is achieved by their mechanical shift relative to each other by use of two computer-controlled linear step motors. The performance of the LIF-based EE fluorimeter is demonstrated with the fluorescent spectra of various dyes and their mixtures.
Factors affecting the electrical resistivity of soybean oil

The electrical resistivity of soybean oil that had been purified to remove polar constituents was determined, and the effect of measuring conditions and the addition of polar constituents (free fatty acids, phospholipids, monoglyceride, α-to-copherol, β-sitosterol, β-carotene, peroxides, and water) on resistivity was investigated. For reproducible resistivity measurements, voltages in excess of 50 volts and charging times greater than 120 s were necessary. As temperature was increased linearly, the resistivity of the oil decreased logarithmically. For making comparisons, a temperature of 24°C, a potential of 50 volts, and 120 s charging times were chosen. All polar constituents decreased the resistivity of the purified soybean oil, but water, phospholipids, and monoglycerides had the greatest effects. Water increased the resistivity-lowering effects of all other constituents except for free fatty acids, which were affected by water only slightly. The synergistic effect of water was much greater for phospholipids and monoglyceride than for other constituents.
Item Position and Item Difficulty Change in an IRT-Based Common Item Equating Design

In operational testing programs using item response theory (IRT), item parameter invariance is threatened when an item appears in a different location on the live test than it did when it was field tested. This study utilizes data from a large state's assessments to model change in Rasch item difficulty (RID) as a function of item position change, test level, test content, and item format. As a follow-up to the real data analysis, a simulation study was performed to assess the effect of item position change on equating. Results from this study indicate that item position change significantly affects change in RID. In addition, although the test construction procedures used in the investigated state seem to somewhat mitigate the impact of item position change, equating results might be impacted in testing programs where other test construction practices or equating methods are utilized.
Contingency and contradiction: The place(s) of the library at the dawn of the new millennium

Quels sont les objectifs des services d'information dans ce nouveau millenaire ? etre neutres, objectifs, pragmatiques, avoir la confiance des utilisateurs, utiliser la rhetorique, faire acceder chacun a l'information. Quels genres de services proposerons les bibliotheques ? L'A. propose trois niveaux de service pour chacun desquels il decrit les aspects objectifs et subjectifs : le niveau geographique (conception et utilisation de l'espace physique), le niveau topique (topic, possibilite de trouver quelque chose), le niveau situationnel
Identification and detection of gaseous effluents from hyperspectral imagery using invariant algorithms

The ability to detect and identify effluent gases is, and will continue to be, of great importance. This would not only aid in the regulation of pollutants but also in treaty enforcement and monitoring the production of weapons. Considering these applications, finding a way to remotely investigate a gaseous emission is highly desirable. This research utilizes hyperspectral imagery in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum to evaluate an invariant method of detecting and identifying gases within a scene. The image is evaluated on a pixel-by-pixel basis and is studied at the subpixel level. A library of target gas spectra is generated using a simple slab radiance model. This results in a more robust description of gas spectra which are representative of real-world observations. This library is the subspace utilized by the detection and identification algorithms. The subspace will be evaluated for the set of basis vectors that best span the subspace. The Lee algorithm will be used to determine the set of basis vectors, which implements the Maximum Distance Method (MaxD). A Generalized Likelihood Ratio Test (GLRT) determines whether or not the pixel contains the target. The target can be either a single species or a combination of gases. Synthetically generated scenes will be used for this research. This work evaluates whether the Lee invariant algorithm will be effective in the gas detection and identification problem.
Morphological and physiological studies of the silkmoth ovary I. The general histology and some histochemical properties of the ovary of Samia Cynthia (Drury).

Ovaries of the giant silkmoth Samia cynthia Drury have been studied histologically and histochemically during diapause, adult development, and after injury to the diapause animal. In addition to cellular changes involved in follicular growth and vitellogenesis, changes in the intermediate layer cells are very striking, showing a distinct pattern during ovarian development and after injury. Two types of granules, one periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive, the other paraldehyde-fuchsin (PF) positive, change in their number and distribution in the intermediate cells during development and after injury. The PAS-positive granules appear during the first one-third of development, increase in number and size until the tenth day, then gradually dwindle in number and size, and disappear in the adult cells. The PF-positive granules, present in moderate numbers in the diapause animal, decrease in number until the tenth day of adult development, then reappear, and are present again in adult intermediate cells. After injury to a diapause pupa, intermediate cells show a greatly increased number of PF-positive granules, but none that are PAS-positive. The PAS-positive granules are a neutral or mildly acidic mucosubstance, and may correspond to lysosomal activity, while the PF-positive granules may be a neurosecretory-like substance or the product of hormone-dependent protein synthesis, since the patterns of granule distribution in the intermediate cells seem to reflect both general metabolic and hormone-related events.
Interaction Effects on Rural Financial Intermediaries of Financial Stress and Deregulation

The events of the last decade and a half clearly signify the close relationship that rural financial intermediaries in the United States have to the combination of forces in financial markets and agriculture. This relationship has a long history, but the recent times have accentuated it. The 1970s witnessed a generally strong, although uneven, performance in agriculture and significant growth in loan demand by farmers. The lending capacities of agricultural banks and other lenders experienced heavy pressure, and fund availability for agriculture received much attention. Along with high inflation, financial innovations, and other factors, these conditions contributed to the significant regulatory changes affecting financial markets (Barry). Then, in the 1980s came the increasing financial adversities of agriculture, in part from financial market forces, and subsequent adversities for rural intermediaries, especially the more specialized ones of smaller size located in geographically limited markets. By the mid-1980s many rural intermediaries had joined the plight of farmers in seeking responses to these adverse conditions. In this paper we begin by reviewing the joint effects of interest rate deregulation and borrower stress on a financial intermediary using a portfolio theory framework. Then we consider the options for countering these risks, emphasizing the possible gains in risk bearing from broadening the geographic scope of agricultural lending markets. Empirical data on variability of net farm income are used to illustrate these gains and to consider their implications. Effects of Deregulation and Stress
Interpolation/Extrapolation Technique with Application to Hypervelocity Impact of Space Debris

A new technique for the interpolation/extrapolation of engineering data is described. The technique easily allows for the incorporation of additional independent variables, and the most suitable data in the data base is automatically used for each prediction. The technique provides diagnostics for assessing the reliability of the prediction. Two sets of predictions made for known 5-degree-of-freedom, 15-parameter functions using the new technique produced an average coefficient of determination of 0.949. Here, the technique is applied to the prediction of damage to the Space Station from hypervelocity impact of space debris. A new set of impact data is presented for this purpose. Reasonable predictions for bumper damage were obtained, but predictions of pressure wall and multilayer insulation damage were poor.
Microstructure of epitaxial Ag/Si(111) and Ag/Si(100) interfaces

Abstract The Ag/Si(111) and Ag/Si(100) interfaces have been investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Flat-on-micrographs show that Ag is epitaxial on both Si(111) and Si(100), when deposited at room temperature and then annealed to 400°C. Cross-sectional lattice images show that two types of interface are possible for the Ag/Si(111) interface, one being related to the other by a 180° rotation of Ag around the Si[111] axis. By custom, these two orientations are called A and B, with A corresponding to Si(111)//Ag(111) with Si[110]//Ag[110], and B corresponding to Si(111)//Ag(111) with Si[114]//Ag[110]. As with the A1/Si(111) case, the interface is seen to be partially coherent, with one misfit dislocation every four Ag lattice planes. There is no apparent amorphous or disordered layer at the interface. Lattice images of the Ag/Si(100) interface are also presented, where two epitaxial orientations are observed: Ag(111)//Si(100) with Ag [011]//Si[011], and Ag(100)//Si(100) with Ag[011...
A nonhypnotic failure to replicate mood-dependent recall

Subjects’ moods of accomplishment or frustration were induced nonhypnotically by varying their goals on a pursuit rotor task. Immediately after mood induction, subjects learned a word list. After a second mood induction, subjects learned a second word list. Later they were asked to recall both word lists after a third mood induction. The results showed that moods were manipulated significantly, but subjects’ recall performance was not significantly related to the match or mismatch of their learning and recall moods. Thus, recall was not mood-dependent.
Toward Improved Syntheses of Dendrimer-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents: New Bifunctional Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic Acid Ligands and Nonaqueous Conjugation Chemistry

Two different fourth-generation (G4) polyaminonamido dendrimer-based magnetic resonsance (MR) agents were prepared by a new synthetic approach wherein tert-butyl-protected forms of 2-(4-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-6-methyldiethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (1B4M-DTPA), bearing either an isothiocyanate or a succinimidyl ester moiety, respectively, were conjugated to the primary amines of the dendrimer. Purification was facilitated using a solid phase, N-(2-aminoethyl)aminomethyl polystyrene. After Gd(III) incorporation, molar relaxivity measurements of both new dendrimer-based agents as compared to a G4 agent prepared by an aqueous chemistry route indicated no significant changes in relaxivity. Comparative MR imaging revealed equivalent enhancement of the vessels and organs such as the kidney and liver, although slightly different vascular clearance rates were observed. This general synthesis provides a procedure for preparation of dendrimer-based MR agents for clinical applications with higher yields and efficiency while enhancing versatility. The latter aspect is further demonstrated by preparation of a novel maleimide analog of 1B4M-DTPA from a key synthetic intermediate aniline derivative.
Intermediate Term Outcomes Associated With the Surveillance of Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction in Adults

Purpose: We determined the outcome of minimally symptomatic adult ureteropelvic junction obstruction in a group of patients treated conservatively with an active surveillance regimen.Materials and Methods: A total of 27 patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic ureteropelvic junction obstruction were treated conservatively. All patients were evaluated with diuretic renograms. Ureteropelvic junction obstruction was defined by an obstructive pattern of the clearance curve and/or T1/2 greater than 20 minutes. Followup consisted of an office visit and renogram every 6 to 12 months. Cases of greater than 10% loss of relative renal function of the affected kidney, development of pyelonephritis and/or more than 1 episode of acute pain were considered active surveillance failures, and treatment was recommended.Results: Of the 27 patients 6 were lost to followup, leaving 21 (median age 47 years) with sufficient followup for analysis. In the 4 patients (19%) who initially presented with mild pain that led...
Bishops and Scottish Representative Peers in the House of Lords, 1760-1775 *

Despite all the attention lavished on the mid-eighteenth-century parliament, the House of Lords has been largely ignored by historians. The Whig historians of the nineteenth century were concerned with tracing the development of the House of Commons as the principal vehicle of constitutional progress, and in this century Namierites and neo-Whigs have alternately challenged and defended the Whig position, basing their arguments almost entirely on their views of proceedings in the lower chamber.1 The House of Lords was easy to neglect, one suspects, because most historians assumed that the upper House could be conveniently explained away as an appendage of the crown where an institutionalized majority of bishops, Scottish representative peers, placeholders, and newly-created peers could easily maintain a ministry.2 This, in turn, has led to a tendency to explain events in the House of Lords at any point in the century in terms of a static political structure, largely without regard to current issues or changes in the "structure of politics" at the national level.3
Crosscutting Airborne Remote Sensing Technologies for Oil and Gas and Earth Science Applications

Airborne imaging spectroscopy has evolved dramatically since the 1980s as a robust remote sensing technique used to generate 2-dimensional maps of surface properties over large spatial areas. Traditional applications for passive airborne imaging spectroscopy include interrogation of surface composition, such as mapping of vegetation diversity and surface geological composition. Two recent applications are particularly relevant to the needs of both the oil and gas as well as government sectors: quantification of surficial hydrocarbon thickness in aquatic environments and mapping atmospheric greenhouse gas components. These techniques provide valuable capabilities for petroleum seepage in addition to detection and quantification of fugitive emissions. New empirical data that provides insight into the source strength of anthropogenic methane will be reviewed, with particular emphasis on the evolving constraints enabled by new methane remote sensing techniques. Contemporary studies attribute high-strength point sources as significantly contributing to the national methane inventory and underscore the need for high performance remote sensing technologies that provide quantitative leak detection. Imaging sensors that map spatial distributions of methane anomalies provide effective techniques to detect, localize, and quantify fugitive leaks. Airborne remote sensing instruments provide the unique combination of high spatial resolution (<1 m) and large coverage required to directly attribute methane emissions to individual emission sources. This capability cannot currently be achieved using spaceborne sensors. In this study, results from recent NASA remote sensing field experiments focused on point-source leak detection, will be highlighted. This includes existing quantitative capabilities for oil and methane using state-of-the-art airborne remote sensing instruments. While these capabilities are of interest to NASA for assessment of environmental impact and global climate change, industry similarly seeks to detect and localize leaks of both oil and methane across operating fields. In some cases, higher sensitivities desired for upstream and downstream applications can only be provided by new airborne remote sensing instruments tailored specifically for a given application. There exists a unique opportunity for alignment of efforts between commercial and government sectors to advance the next generation of instruments to provide more sensitive leak detection capabilities, including those for quantitative source strength determination.
Synthesis and Characterization of Narrow Molecular Weight Distribution AB and ABA Poly(vinylpyridine)−Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Block Copolymers via Anionic Polymerization

The synthesis is described of AB and ABA narrow molecular weight distribution poly(2-vinylpyridine)−poly(dimethylsiloxane) (P2VP−PDMS) and poly(4-vinylpyridine)−poly(dimethylsiloxane) block copolymers. Three synthesis methods were explored. The first and most general procedure (method 1) involves the anionic polymerization of 2VP or 4VP initiated by an acetal-functionalized alkyllithium. Acid hydrolysis of the acetal and titration of the resulting hydroxyl group with triphenyllithium gave a lithium alkoxide end group. This functionality was used to initiate hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3), giving the living P2(4)VP-b-PDMSLi block copolymers that were terminated or coupled with trimethylchlorosilane and dimethyldichlorosilane, respectively, to give the AB and ABA block copolymers. An alternative synthesis (method 2) applicable only to the synthesis of P2VP-b-PDMS or P2VP-b-PDMS-b-P2VP involved alkylation of the lithium P2VP anion with a bromo-functionalized acetal. Acetal hydrolysis and titration with trip...
Monoclonal antibody analysis of ocular basement membranes during development.

Abstract As a first step in a study of the role(s) of basement membranes in ocular morphogenesis, we have produced a variety of monoclonal antibodies against native lens capsule from adult chicks, and have used these reagents to stain histologica sections of ocular tissues from 4 1 2 - to 18-day-old chicken embryos. Four different patterns of immunofluorescence were observed in sections of corneas of 18-day-old chicken embryos stained with these antibodies. The antibodies in group 1 stained the basement membranes of both the corneal epithelium and the endothelium (as well as Descemet's membrane). Those in groups 2 and 3 stained only the epithelial or endothelial basement membranes, respectively. The group 4 antibody stained the corneal stroma as well as Bowman's membrane and Descemet's membrane. The antibodies in group 1 could be further subdivided into groups 1a and 1b on the basis of temporal differences in the onset of staining in corneas from 4 1 2 - to 7-day-old embryos. Thus, this series of monoclonal antibodies appears to recognize at least five different antigenic determinants. When these antibodies were used to stain sections of eyes at different stages of development, we found that the characteristic differential staining of some basement membranes was maintained throughout development, while the staining properties of others changed. This indicates that many of the ocular basement membranes may differ from one another in composition or conformation, and that at least some of them may undergo developmental changes. We also noticed a similarity in the pattern of fluorescence associated with the basement membranes of the limbal blood vessels and the corneal endothelium that is consistent with the hypothesis that the corneal endothelium is derived from the early periocular vascular endothelium. Our observations of developing corneas also revealed that the antigen recognized by the group 4 antibody may be produced by both the corneal epithelium and the stromal fibroblasts. The suitability of monoclonal antibodies for probing basement membrane heterogeneity is discussed.
Care of the self and patient participation in genetic discourse: a Foucauldian reading of the surgeon general's "my family health portrait" program.

Critics of genetic discourse are concerned that deterministic and discriminatory views of genetics are increasingly becoming adopted. These views argue that current genetic discourse becomes a source of power whereby powerful institutions harm people with so-called “bad” genes. This essay argues that current analyses of the power of genetics discourse are grounded in an improper reading that disempowers patients. Deploying Michel Foucault's concept “care of the self,” this essay claims that genetics discourse is better understood as a way that patients take on power through rhetoric rather than a force that has power over patients. Through a close reading of the “My Family Health Portrait” program, this paper argues that patients experience a process of “subjection” wherein they become agents of and objects of genetics discourse both. This alternative mode of analyzing the power of genetics discourse has implications for our collective understanding of the operations of the care of the self and the uses of genetic information that we propose.