cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An efficient algorithm for one-step planar complaint motion planning with uncertainty

Uncertainty in the execution of robot motion plans must be accounted for in the geometric computations from which plans are obtained, especially in the case where position sensing is inaccurate. We give an O(n2 log n) algorithm to find a single commanded motion direction which will guarantee a successful motion in the plane from a specified start to a specified goal whenever such a one-step motion is possible. The plans account for uncertainty in the start position and in robot control, and anticipate that the robot may stick on or slide along obstacle surfaces with which it comes in contact. This bound improves on the best previous bound by a quadratic factor, and is achieved in part by a new analysis of the geometric complexity of the backprojection of the goal as a function of commanded motion direction.
Evaluation of anticyclin B1 serum antibody as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for lung cancer

The primary aims of this study were to establish a high-throughput assay and analytic procedures that would allow us to assess with accuracy and reproducibility the presence of anti-cyclin B1 antibodies in a large cohort of subjects at-risk for development of lung cancer. The overall goal is to identify factors significantly associated with immune responses against this lung tumor antigen and to evaluate the relationship between anticyclin B1 antibodies and lung cancer risk in a prospective cohort. Successful cancer treatment relies on early detection. The immune system could respond to tumor antigens arising from altered host factors and provide an early readout for cancer presence. This study examines immune responses to the tumor antigen cyclin B1. Lung cancer patients have antibodies against cyclin B1. Unscheduled overexpression of this cell cycle regulator occurs early in tumorigenesis and might be detected by the immune system long before clinical diagnosis of cancer. Antibodies recognizing cyclin B1 were measured using semiautomated ELISAs in sera samples from subjects without detectable lung cancer enrolled in the Pittsburgh Lung Screening Study (PLuSS), a longitudinal study of long-term smokers over age 50. Factors significantly associated with antibody presence were identified using linear regression analysis. We have established a highly reproducible, semiautomated ELISA-based assay for the high-throughput assessment of serum antibody titers. Using this technology and a small subset of PluSS subjects, cyclin B1 antibody levels were found to be high in a small proportion of subjects tested. Regression analysis identified gender as well as age in women smokers to be significant determinants of cyclin B1 antibody levels, association not seen in male subjects. This work represents an important first step toward defining the importance of the presence of anticyclin B1 antibodies in an at-risk population and assessing the predictive value of serum cyclin B1 antibody as relates to lung cancer risk.
Masses and mixing in unified theories

Abstract We discuss quark and lepton masses and the weak mixing angle with particular emphasis on O(10) unified theories of strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions. We find that a quark-lepton mass relation which predicts if m μ m e = 9m s m d can be implemented in O(10) and agrees with data. We discuss the possibility of modifying the gauge hierarchy structure in O(10) to obtain sin2θW = 0.23. The most attractive such scheme gives a good prediction for m b m τ with a realistic value for the strong coupling constant. In this case, the prediction for the proton lifetime is the same as in an SU(5) theory.
MOS Circuit Models in Network C

Network C is a programming language designed for constructing simulation models of VLSI circuits and systems. The language, which is a superset of C, supports a range of modeling capabilities including approximate solution of Kirchoff equations at the circuit level and discrete event functional simulation at the system level. When used to model a MOS circuit, the system first decomposes the circuit into a set of independent stages. The values of nodes, represented by piece-wise linear functions, are communicated between stages using discrete event scheduling. The determination of these piece-wise linear functions is based on continuous time calculations. The result of this hybrid approach is a fast simulation capability which maintains enough accuracy to capture both the digital and analog aspects of a circuit's behavior.
Active-site residues of a plant membrane-bound fatty acid elongase β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase, FAE1 KCS

Abstract The fatty acid elongase-1 β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase, FAE1 KCS, a seed-specific elongase condensing enzyme from Arabidopsis, is involved in the production of eicosenoic (C20:1) and erucic (C22:1) acids. Alignment of the amino acid sequences of FAE1 KCS, KCS1, and five other putative elongase condensing enzymes (KCSs) revealed the presence of six conserved cysteine and four conserved histidine residues. Each of the conserved cysteine and histidine residues was individually converted by site-directed mutagenesis to both alanine and serine, and alanine and lysine respectively. After expression in yeast cells, the mutant enzymes were analyzed for their fatty acid elongase activity. Our results indicated that only cysteine 223 is an essential residue for enzyme activity, presumably for acyl chain transfer. All histidine substitutions resulted in complete loss of elongase activity. The loss of activity of these mutants was not due to their lower expression level since immunoblot analysis confirmed each was expressed to the same extent as the wild type FAE1 KCS.
A new acoustic transducer with a pressure-deformed piezoelectric diaphragm

Abstract A new design for wide-band acoustic transducers is described. Radial tension is applied to a thin piezoelectric diaphragm with conductive electrodes on the upper and lower surface. One side of the diaphragm is pressurized, elastically deforming the diaphragm into a slightly curved shape. The in-plane static tension is modulated by applying a time-dependent voltage across the electrodes of the piezoelectric diaphragm. The tension modulation causes transverse displacement oscillations of the diaphragm. This actuation takes place in spite of the fact that the piezoelectric diaphragm does not contain a passive elastic layer, which is necessary for actuation by flexure in planar diaphragms. A theoretical quasi-static model using hexagonal symmetry for the piezoelectric material was developed to predict the electromechanical actuation mechanism, and the mode for optimal operation in non-resonant conditions. Piezoelectric diaphragms were fabricated from PVDF film of nominal thickness 40 μm into circular diaphragms 1 cm in diameter. For the pressure-deformed transducers fabricated from PVDF film, displacement amplitudes of 9–14.5 nm/V were observed, and the maximum displacement amplitude took place at the applied tension and static pressure predicted by the model. Additional measurements with conventional flexure-type transducers containing a diaphragm consisting of a layer of PZT and a passive elastic material fabricated using MEMS processes were performed to compare with the transducers fabricated from PVDF film. The displacement amplitude per unit electric field measured for the transducers fabricated from PVDF film was comparable to those measured from conventional PZT flexure-type transducers, despite the fact that the piezoelectric coupling coefficient for PVDF was approximately 100 times smaller than that for PZT.
A solar energy collector for heating air

Abstract This paper describes a study of a solar-energy collector that heats air. Solar energy is collected in an absorber consisting of 96 parallel fins of aluminum that are spaced 0·635 cm apart, are 61·0 cm long and are 6·35 cm high. The absorber is installed in a glass covered box so that air can be pumped past the aluminum fins for heating. One objective of the study is to determine the efficiency that can be obtained with this collector when the absorber fins reflect specularly. A second objective is to evaluate changes in efficiency when different parts of the fins are made diffuse. To determine the performance of the collector, known quantities of air ranging from 65 to 150 g/hr/cm −2 of collector area were passed through the absorber and the temperature rise of the air from the inlet to the outlet of the collector was measured. From these data and a measurement of the solar energy received by the collector, efficiency was calculated. Results indicated that efficiencies of more than 80 per cent could be obtained with an absorber having specular fins when the ambient air was calm. When the fins of the absorber were made diffuse, the collector efficiency decreased by about 50 per cent. This result is in agreement with theory.
Few-body reactions in hadronic systems at low energies

Abstract Results obtained from reactions involving few nucleon systems at low energies are reviewed. The main focus of the paper is on the question of what one learns from the comparison of high precision experimental results with exact calculations that employ modern, realistic NN forces. The role of three-body forces in nuclear reactions at low energies is also emphasized.
Field‐text process analysis: the Brown v. Board of Education ruling

The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling remains a most prominent and influential event in one's perceptions of educational (in)equality. This research focuses on identity politics in education, paying special attention to whiteness as it manifests in a student‐centered university‐sponsored open‐forum public speaking event centering on the 50th anniversary of this landmark case. To this end, the authors develop and utilize the method of field‐text process analysis. By combining ethnography and rhetorical/textual criticism to form field‐text process analysis, they are able to scrutinize the process and event of the forum for the ways it both perpetuates and works against whiteness in its many manifestations.
Electron diffraction RDF analysis of amorphous As2Se3,AAs2Se2Te, As2SeTe2 and As2Te3 films

Abstract The local order in amorphous films of As2Se3, As2Se2Te, As2SeTe2, and As2Te3 has been examined by scanning electron diffraction with direct recording of the intensity of the elastically scattered electrons. The radial distribution functions indicate that there is a systematic increase in mean nearest neighbor distance as the Te concentration is increased, butthe mean coordination number increases slightly around 2.4. Pair function calculation of models shows that the 3-aand 2-fold coordinations of arsenic and chalcogens are retained in these glasses and the interatomic distances are close to those predicted from the Pauling covalent atomic radii of the constituent atomic species. The short range order appears to be similar in amorphous and crystalline As2Se3, but different in the case of As2Te3 as found by previous workers on bulk materials.
Geography and Feminism: Worlds in Collision?

Abstract Geography and feminism are two powerful intellectual forces at large today. Are they forces that can communicate effectively with each other to build a richer understanding of life on earth or are they two alien worlds in collision? I explore three core analytic traditions that I see as common to geography and feminism: finding significance in everyday life, appreciating the importance of context, and thinking about difference. With examples from local labor market studies, I then illustrate how the collision between geography and feminism has not ignited a destructive explosion but instead has illuminated how we think about gender, how we think about place, and how we think about work. I argue that because geography and feminism share certain intellectual traditions, the two areas of inquiry should, once they begin to open up to and learn from each other, not only transform each other but also contribute powerful new insights about the world.
A Rapid Transient Increase in Hyaluronan Synthase-2 mRNA Initiates Secretion of Hyaluronan by Corneal Keratocytes in Response to Transforming Growth Factor β *

Keratocytes of the corneal stroma produce transparent extracellular matrix devoid of hyaluronan (HA); however, in corneal pathologies and wounds, HA is abundant. We previously showed primary keratocytes cultured under serum-free conditions to secrete matrix similar to that of normal stroma, but serum and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) induced secretion of fibrotic matrix components, including HA. This study found HA secretion by primary bovine keratocytes to increase rapidly in response to TGFβ, reaching a maximum in 12 h and then decreasing to 10- and >50-fold, respectively, in 4–6 h, decreasing to near original levels after 24–48 h. Small interfering RNA against HAS2 inhibited the transient increase of HAS2 mRNA and completely blocked HA induction, but small interfering RNA to HAS1 had no effect on HA secretion. HAS2 mRNA was induced by a variety of mitogens, and TGFβ acted synergistically to induce HAS2 by as much as 150-fold. In addition to HA synthesis, treatment with TGFβ induced degradation of fluorescein-HA added to culture medium. These results show HA secretion by keratocytes to be initiated by a rapid transient increase in the HAS2 mRNA pool. The very rapid induction of HA expression in keratocytes suggests a functional role of this molecule in the fibrotic response of keratocytes to wound healing.
Selection of donors for living donor liver transplantation.

Key points 1. The donor evaluation is performed in three staged phases to disqualify inappropriate candidates as early as possible in the process. 2. Approximately half the potential transplant recipients are unable to identify a suitable donor for evaluation. 3. Approximately half the individuals evaluated for living donation are found suitable. 4. The donor pool in many parts of the country is significantly limited by the high prevalence of obesity.
Christiansen-Bragg filters

Abstract A new type of wide field-of-view filter is proposed and analyzed. Coupled mode theory and matrix methods are applied to investigate the transmission characteristics of the Christiansen-Bragg filter. This filter consists of a multilayer stack of two dielectric media such that the dispersion curves of these two media intersect at a particular wavelength. The results are presented and discussed.
Static electric field gradients and associated magnetic-resonance line-shape changes due to a random distribution of point defects

The distribution function for static electric field gradients arising from a random distribution of point defects in a crystal is studied. Results are obtained which include the magnitude as well as angular, concentration, and sample shape dependences for field gradients due to low concentrations of different types of point defects. The induced changes in frequency and time-domain spin-resonance line shapes are particularly simple if the only effect of the field gradients is to locally shift the spin energy levels. In this limit different types of defects cause characteristic line-shape changes which should be distinguishable.
Microcavities combining a semiconductor with a fused-silica microsphere.

We report studies of a novel microcavity system that combines a semiconductor quantum well with a fused-silica microsphere. We show that excitonic photoluminescence from the quantum well couples efficiently into whispering-gallery modes. Using a resonant light-scattering technique, we demonstrate that the Q factor of the combined system exceeds 105. Our studies also point to the necessity of using semiconductor nanostructures with a capping layer no more than a few nanometers thick.
Convexity and log convexity for the spectral radius

Abstract The starting point of this paper is a theorem by J. F. C. Kingman which asserts that if the entries of a nonnegative matrix are log convex functions of a variable then so is the spectral radius of the matrix. A related result of J. Cohen asserts that the spectral radius of a nonnegative matrix is a convex function of the diagonal elements. The first section of this paper gives a new, unified proof of these results and also analyzes exactly when one has strict convexity. The second section gives some very simple proofs of results of Friedland and Karlin concerning “min-max” characterizations of the spectral radius of nonnegative matrices. These arguments also yield, as will be shown in another paper, min-max characterizations of the principal eigenvalue of second order elliptic boundary value problems on bounded domains. The third section considers the cone K of nonnegative vectors in R n and continuous maps f : K → K which are homogeneous of degree one and preserve the partial order induced by K . The (cone) spectral radius of such maps is defined and a direct generalization of Kingman's theorem to a subclass of such nonlinear maps is given. The final section of this paper treats a problem that arises in population biology. If K 0 denotes the interior of K and f is as above, when can one say that f has a unique eigenvector (to within normalization) in K 0 ? A subtle point to be noted is that f may have other eigenvectors in the boundary of K . If u ϵ K 0 is an eigenvector of f , | u | = 1, and g ( x ) = f ( x )/| f ( x )|, when can one say that for any x ϵ K 0 , g p ( x ), the p th iterate of g acting on x , converges geometrically to u ? The fourth section provides answers to these questions that are adequate for many of the population biology problems.
Retrograde technique for catheterization of the pulmonary artery in transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect

Abstract In patients with transposition of the great arteries associated with ventricular septal defect, passage of the prograde venous catheter into the pulmonary artery can sometimes be difficult and is not always successful. Retrograde femoral arterial catheterization by the percutaneous sheath technique proved to be a safe, rapid and effective method of entering the pulmonary artery in 10 patients after failure of the prograde venous approaches. The retrograde approach is especially advantageous in patients with transposition of the great arteries associated with ventricular septal defect and an intact interatrial septum as well as in patients with I-transposition of the great arteries and ventricular septal defect.
A re-examination of the fundamental limits on the radiation Q of electrically small antennas

An exact method, which is more straightforward than those previously published, is derived for the calculation of the minimum radiation Q of a general antenna. This expression agrees with the previously published and widely cited approximate expression in the extreme lower limit of electrical size. However, for the upper end of the range of electrical size which is considered electrically small, the exact expression given here is significantly different from the approximate expression. This result has implications on both the bandwidth and efficiency limitations of antennas which fall into this category.
Can the built environment influence nonwork activity participation? An analysis with national data

Most of the research on the influence of the built environment on travel has focused on reducing the impacts of travel, but one of the primary benefits of travel is the opportunity to engage in activities. This study examines a national travel data set to see if variation in the built environment can facilitate participation in out-of-the-home, nonwork activities for households. Although several studies have examined the relationship between the built environment and nonwork trip generation in the past, none have looked at such a wide range of built environments as a national data set can provide. Built environment variables are associated with higher than expected impacts on household participation in nonwork activities, increasing or decreasing activity levels in the range of 8–47 %, depending largely upon the level of household vehicle ownership. For households without vehicles, high residential and employment densities appear to support greater nonwork activity. Households with full access to vehicles appear to be supported by higher than average residential and employment densities and mid-range urban and metropolitan area sizes. Interestingly, activity participation in households with limited vehicle access is for the most part not affected by the built environment in a statistically significant way. In sum, these results suggest that the built environment may play a larger role in facilitating activity participation than previously presumed.
NASA Glenn Combustion Research for Aeronautical Propulsion

AbstractNASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has been involved in a wide range of combustion research topics in combustor concept research, component technology development, and enabling technology development to provide enabling technologies for flight regimes from subsonic to hypersonic. These research efforts were carried out by NASA and industrial and academic partners through a range of NASA fundamental research and focused programs. These synergistic efforts in fuel injection, flame stabilization, combustion physics, and ignition studies have resulted in combustor concept changes that resulted in much cleaner-burning modern jet engines. New computational tools, optical diagnostics, fuels, and fuel conditioning technology are being currently used to develop a better understanding of the complex processes occurring in combustion systems for a range of future propulsion systems.
A Multistep Synthesis Featuring Classic Carbonyl Chemistry for the Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory.

A multistep synthesis of 5-isopropyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione is carried out from three commodity chemicals. The sequence involves an aldol condensation, Dieckmann-type annulation, ester hydrolysis, and decarboxylation. No purification is required until after the final step, at which point gravity column chromatography provides the desired product in good overall yield. This synthesis sequence allows students to put into practice many of the fundamental acid- and base-catalyzed transformations of carbonyls presented in the second semester of a traditional introductory organic chemistry sequence. Importantly, this synthesis has been optimized to fit entirely within a series of five 4 h laboratory periods and requires no specialized equipment. Furthermore, the intermediates and product of the synthesis exhibit proton NMR spectra that illustrate many important concepts in introductory spectroscopic analysis.
An evaluation of the tapered element oscillating microbalance method for measuring diesel particulate emissions

We determined the usefulness of tapered element oscillating microbalances (TEOMs) for researchers and engineers involved with measuring diesel particulate mass. Two different test facilities were used for generating diesel particulates and comparing the TEOM to the commonly used U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) manual filter method. The EPA method is very labor-intensive and requires long periods of time to complete. The TEOM is an attractive approach because it has the potential to reduce the amount of time and labor required in diesel testing, as well as to provide real-time particulate-mass data that are not obtainable with the EPA method. It was found that the TEOM was a precise and easy-to-operate instrument that could measure the mass concentration (MC) of diesel particulate emissions in real time. Although the TEOM diesel particulate MC measurements were highly correlated with the manual filter measurements, the two techniques were not equivalent because the TEOM consistently reported MC results that were 20-25% lower than those obtained using the manual filter technique. In conclusion, the TEOM can be used to increase test-cell throughput and to measure transient values of diesel particulate emissions at sites performing diesel-engine testing. However, unless EPA is able to certify the TEOM as an equivalent method, it cannot replace the manual filter method for diesel certification work.
Microscopic quantum dynamics study on the noise threshold of fault-tolerant quantum error correction

Quantum circuits implementing fault-tolerant quantum error correction (QEC) for the three-qubit bit-flip code and five-qubit code are studied. To describe the effect of noise, we apply a model based on a generalized effective Hamiltonian where the system-environment interactions are taken into account by including stochastic fluctuating terms in the system Hamiltonian. This noise model enables us to investigate the effect of noise in quantum circuits under realistic device conditions and avoid strong assumptions such as maximal parallelism and weak storage errors. Noise thresholds of the QEC codes are calculated. In addition, the effects of imprecision in projective measurements, collective bath, fault-tolerant repetition protocols, and level of parallelism in circuit constructions on the threshold values are also studied with emphasis on determining the optimal design for the fault-tolerant QEC circuit. These results provide insights into the fault-tolerant QEC process as well as useful information for designing the optimal fault-tolerant QEC circuit for particular physical implementation of quantum computer.
Bacterial die-off and stream transport studies

Abstract Two approaches to bacterial die-off studies are reported. In one study the tracer Serratia marcescens was released into a small stream, was recovered for 22 days and traced for a total distance of 20 km. The other study was carried out in Lake Ontario and Hamilton Bay using membrane filter chambers and E. coli, Streptococcus faecalis and Salmonella thompson . The chamber study indicated that these three organisms could survive for a minimum of 28 days and that E. coli had a much slower die-off rate than Strep. faecalis . The data imply that infrequent point discharges of fecal material may have overlapping and possible cumulative effects so that downstream or receiving waters will always contain pathogens and thus potential health hazards.
Finite-Element Solution of the Eddy-Current Problem in Magnetic Structures

Analysis of the eddy-currentproblem in magnetic structures by the method of Finite-elements is presented. The linear diffusion equation representing the appropriate energy functional is described. The field region is discretised by triangular Finite-elements and the solution to the field problem is obtained by minimizing the energy functional with respect to each of the vertex values of the vector potential. Expressions for the magnetic field, electric field and eddy-current losses are presented. The method is applied to a few cases of engineering interest and compared with results of classical analysis and tests.
Bodily Influences on Emotional Feelings: Accumulating Evidence and Extensions of William James’s Theory of Emotion

William James’s theory of emotion has been controversial since its inception, and a basic analysis of Cannon’s critique is provided. Research on the impact of facial expressions, expressive behaviors, and visceral responses on emotional feelings are each reviewed. A good deal of evidence supports James’s theory that these types of bodily feedback, along with perceptions of situational cues, are each important parts of emotional feelings. Extensions to James’s theory are also reviewed, including evidence of individual differences in the effect of bodily responses on emotional experience.
Flea-Associated Bacterial Communities across an Environmental Transect in a Plague-Endemic Region of Uganda

The vast majority of human plague cases currently occur in sub-Saharan Africa. The primary route of transmission of Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is via flea bites. Non-pathogenic flea-associated bacteria may interact with Y. pestis within fleas and it is important to understand what factors govern flea-associated bacterial assemblages. Six species of fleas were collected from nine rodent species from ten Ugandan villages between October 2010 and March 2011. A total of 660,345 16S rRNA gene DNA sequences were used to characterize bacterial communities of 332 individual fleas. The DNA sequences were binned into 421 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) based on 97% sequence similarity. We used beta diversity metrics to assess the effects of flea species, flea sex, rodent host species, site (i.e. village), collection date, elevation, mean annual precipitation, average monthly precipitation, and average monthly temperature on bacterial community structure. Flea species had the greatest effect on bacterial community structure with each flea species harboring unique bacterial lineages. The site (i.e. village), rodent host, flea sex, elevation, precipitation, and temperature also significantly affected bacterial community composition. Some bacterial lineages were widespread among flea species (e.g. Bartonella spp. and Wolbachia spp.), but each flea species also harbored unique bacterial lineages. Some of these lineages are not closely related to known bacterial diversity and likely represent newly discovered lineages of insect symbionts. Our finding that flea species has the greatest effect on bacterial community composition may help future investigations between Yersinia pestis and non-pathogenic flea-associated bacteria. Characterizing bacterial communities of fleas during a plague epizootic event in the future would be helpful.
Analysis of growth of multicellular tumour spheroids by mathematical models.

We wished to determine the applicability of previously proposed deterministic mathematical models to description of growth of multicellular tumour spheroids. The models were placed into three general classes: empirical, functional and structural. From these classes, 17 models were applied systematically to growth curves of multicellular tumour spheroids used as paradigms of prevascular and microregional tumour growth. The spheroid growth curves were determined with uniquely high density of measurements and high precision. The theoretical growth curves obtained from the models were fitted by the weighted least-squares method to the 15 measured growth curves, each corresponding to a different cell line. The classical growth models such as von Bertalanffy, logistic and Gompertz were considered as nested within more general models. Our results demonstrate that most models fitted the data fairly well and that criteria other than statistical had to be used for final selection. The Gompertz, the autostimulation and the simple spheroid models were the most appropriate for spheroid growth in the empirical, functional and structural classes of models, respectively. We also showed that some models (e.g. logistic, von Bertalanffy) were clearly inadequate. Thus, contrary to the widely held belief, the sigmoid character of a three or more parameter growth function is not sufficient for adequate fits.
Rare Red Cell Phenotype in a 37-Year-Old Woman

Patient: 37-year-old woman. Case History: This was a 37-year-old woman with history of anemia, sickle cell trait and recurrent abortions. An antibody was initially identified 18 years ago during a crossmatch at the time of miscarriage of her third pregnancy. The rest of her clinical history is non-contributory. Obstetric History: Gravida 5/Para 2-0-3-1 Transfusion History: No history of red cell transfusion. Principal Laboratory Findings: See antibody panels below. 1. What is the patient’s red blood cell (RBC) antigen phenotype? 2. What is unusual about this patient’s RBC antigen phenotype? 3. What antibody is present in the serum and what is its significance? 4. What is the significance of this antibody in pregnancy? 5. How can we find compatible blood? 1. D+C−E−c+e+, K−, Fy(a−b−), Jk(a+b−), M+N+S−s+, P1+,Vel+, Js(b+), Tc(a+), Hy−, Cr(a−). 2. The red cells of this African-American patient lack Cra, which is a high-frequency antigen. The incidence of the Cr(a−) phenotype is 2 in 12,858 (0.015%) randomly-tested African-Americans.1 This phenotype is caused by a mutation in the complement regulatory protein, decay-accelerating factor (DAF, CD55).2 The Cromer (Cr) locus resides on chromosome 1 and is carried on Decay-accelerating factor …
Attitudes About Aging Well Among a Diverse Group of Older Americans: Implications for Promoting Cognitive Health

Purpose: To examine perceptions about aging well in the context of cognitive health among a large and diverse group of older adults. Design and Methods: Forty-two focus groups were conducted with older adults living in the community (N = 396; White, African American, American Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Hispanic). Participant descriptions of ?someone who you think is aging well? were analyzed. Constant comparison methods examined themes by race/ethnicity. Results: There were notable race/ethnicity differences in perceptions of aging well. Compared with other racial/ethnic groups Chinese participants were more likely to emphasize relationships between mental outlook and physical abilities, Vietnamese participants were less likely to emphasize independent living. American Indians did not relate aging well to diet or physical activity. Important themes that emerged about aging well for all racial/ethnic groups were as follows: living to advanced age, having good physical health, having a positive mental outlook, being cognitively alert, having a good memory, and being socially involved. Implications: To promote cognitive health among diverse populations, communication strategies should focus on shared perceptions of aging well, such as living to an advanced age with intact cognitive function, having a positive attitude, and being mobile. Health promotions may also create a range of culturally sensitive messages, targeted to views that are more salient among some racial/ethnic groups.
Genomic Alterations in Advanced Esophageal Cancer May Lead to Subtype-Specific Therapies

The development of targeted agents for metastatic esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) tumors has been limited when compared with that for other common tumors. To date, the anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) antibody, trastuzumab, in combination with chemotherapy, is the only approved novel agent for these cancers, and its use is limited to the small population of patients whose tumors overexpress HER-2. Despite recent progress in the field, median overall survival remains only 8–12 months for patients with stage IV esophageal or GEJ cancer. In this article, we examine the molecular aberrations thought to drive the development and spread of esophageal cancer and identify promising targets for specific tumor inhibition. Data from clinical studies of targeted agents are reviewed, including epidermal growth factor receptor antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, HER-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor-directed therapy. Current and future targets include MET, fibroblast growth factor receptor, and immune-based therapies. Evidence from trials to date suggests that molecularly unselected patient cohorts derive minimal benefit from most target-specific agents, suggesting that future collaborative investigation should focus on preselected molecular subgroups of patients with this challenging heterogeneous disease.
Design optimization of electromagnetic devices using artificial neural networks

A new method for the optimal design of the electromagnetic devices is presented. The method utilizes artificial neural networks (ANNs) in a design environment which encompasses numerical computations and expert's input for generating a variety of ANN training data. Results of two implementation examples are provided. The optimal design is obtained quickly (in a matter of milliseconds) once the ANNs are trained with a variety of geometrical topologies. The procedure explained in this paper can be used to provide good initial designs for use with iterative search techniques (currently used) to reduce searching time. This aspect is highly desirable to increase the effectiveness of the optimal design procedure. >
AN APPRAISAL OF PARTICLE RADIATION THERAPY RESEARCH

Biomedical particle radiation research was made possible by the development of the cyclotron by Lawrence and Livingstone2’ nearly simultaneously with the identification of the neutron by Chadwick’ in 1932. Studies of the biological effects of neutrons began immediately and by 1938 a clinical trial of the treatment of humans with cancer began in Berkeley, California, under the direction of Robert Stone. 3o This trial was doomed to fail for, as later noted by Sheline et af.,” unacceptable late-damage to normal tissues resulted from inadvertant overdosage because of: a lack of understanding that the relative biologic effects of neutrons compared to x and gamma rays increase with decreasing dose increment size: primitive dosimetry; unawareness of the contributions of exitdoses; and failure to comprehend the importance of residual damage from previous radiation treatment. Thus, in the Janeway Lecture of 1947, Stone29 concluded that “neutron therapy, as administered by us, has resulted in such bad late sequelae in proportion to the few good results that it should not be continued” and so deterred further clinical application for over 20 years. The re-birth of biomedical particle radiation research was based on radiobiology and physics studies made possible by Medical Research Council sponsorship of a dedicated cyclotron installed in the Hammersmith Hospital, London, in 1955.”
Quantification of Several Acidic Drugs in Equine Serum Using LC–MS-MS

The use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in racehorses is allowed under most jurisdictions. Furosemide is administered to treat exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. To help distinguish between therapeutic and illegal uses, racing regulatory bodies have set thresholds in serum for several drugs. The method for the simultaneous detection and quantification of furosemide, flunixin, ketoprofen, phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone using 500 µL of serum, and liquid extraction using diethyl ether : hexanes : dichloromethane followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry quantitation, was developed and validated. Method validation included inter- and intraday precision and accuracy. Method validation also included bench-top, freeze-thaw, processed and long-term storage stability testing. For all stability testing, the compounds showed a breakdown of <15%. Inter- and intraday precision for all compounds was found to be within the acceptance interval of ±15% [±20% at the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ)]. Accuracy data for all compounds were within the acceptance interval of ±15% (±20% at the LLOQ). Uncertainty was calculated using the simplified Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement approach and was <30% for all drugs at 95% confidence level. The method was found to be both robust and accurate for all tested drugs.
Pretreatment Blood–Brain Barrier Damage and Post-Treatment Intracranial Hemorrhage in Patients Receiving Intravenous Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator

Background and Purpose—Early blood–brain barrier damage after acute ischemic stroke has previously been qualitatively linked to subsequent intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). In this quantitative study, it was investigated whether the amount of blood–brain barrier damage evident on pre–tissue-type plasminogen activator MRI scans was related to the degree of post–tissue-type plasminogen activator ICH in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods—Analysis was performed on a database of patients with acute ischemic stroke provided by the Stroke Imaging Repository (STIR) and Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive (VISTA) Imaging Investigators. Patients with perfusion-weighted imaging lesions >10 mL and negative gradient-recalled echo imaging before intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator were included. Postprocessing of the perfusion-weighted imaging source images was performed to estimate changes in blood–brain barrier permeability within the perfusion deficit relative to the unaffected hemisphere. F...
Colitis ulcerosa und Morbus Crohn

Die Colitis ulcerosa und der M. Crohn sind eng verwandt [20, 21, 50]. Durch die klinische Symptomatologie und die spatere Bestatigung aufgrund der pathologischen Untersuchung kann in etwa 3/4 der Falle zwischen beiden Erkrankungen eine Unterscheidung getroffen werden. In den ubrigen Fallen kann eine Unterscheidung sehr schwierig oder gar unmoglich sein. Die diagnostischen Kriterien wurden von Schachter und Mitarbeitern zusammengestellt [42].
Triangulation Based Multi Target Tracking with Mobile Sensor Networks

We study the problem of designing motion-planning and sensor assignment strategies for tracking multiple targets with a mobile sensor network. We focus on triangulation based tracking where two sensors merge their measurements in order to estimate the position of a target. We present an iterative and distributed algorithm for the tracking problem. An iteration starts with an initialization phase where targets are assigned to sensor pairs. Afterwards, assigned sensors relocate to improve their estimates. We refer to the problem of computing new locations for sensors (for given target assignments) as one-step tracking. After observing that one-step tracking is computationally hard, we show how it can be formulated as an energy-minimization problem. This allows us to adapt well-studied distributed algorithms for energy minimization. We present simulations to compare the performance of two such algorithms and conclude the paper with a description of the full tracking strategy. The utility of the presented strategy is demonstrated with simulations and experiments on a sensor network platform
Architecture of a home gateway for three-screen TV

This paper describes the design and implementation of a multimedia home gateway for three-screen TV service. The proposed in-home wireless network uses scalable video coding (SVC) and unequal error protection with Raptor forward error correction (FEC) for maximizing the quality of experience (QoE) over the variable-bandwidth, error-prone wireless network. The gateway incorporates (a) dynamic SVC layer-switching, which enables the server to perform selecting appropriate layers from SVC bitstreams, (b) adaptive Raptor FEC, which controls the overhead of Raptor FEC according to packet loss rate (PLR), (c) an efficient combination of (a) and (b). The paper explains the home gateway architecture as well as experiments for performance evaluation as compared to that of traditional SVC streaming. In the experiments conducted, gains in video quality vary from 2 to 5 dB in peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), with corresponding subjective improvements. Overall reductions of bit rate at the input to the home gateway vary from 28% to 36%.
The synaptic vesicle cycle

▪ Abstract Neurotransmitter release is mediated by exocytosis of synaptic vesicles at the presynaptic active zone of nerve terminals. To support rapid and repeated rounds of release, synaptic vesicles undergo a trafficking cycle. The focal point of the vesicle cycle is Ca2+-triggered exocytosis that is followed by different routes of endocytosis and recycling. Recycling then leads to the docking and priming of the vesicles for another round of exo- and endocytosis. Recent studies have led to a better definition than previously available of how Ca2+ triggers exocytosis and how vesicles recycle. In particular, insight into how Munc18-1 collaborates with SNARE proteins in fusion, how the vesicular Ca2+ sensor synaptotagmin 1 triggers fast release, and how the vesicular Rab3 protein regulates release by binding to the active zone proteins RIM1α and RIM2α has advanced our understanding of neurotransmitter release. The present review attempts to relate these molecular data with physiological results in an emerg...
Sediment, erosion and water intake in furrows

Observations and studies were conducted on the origin and destination of sediment in irrigation water, and the effects of sediment adsorbed on the wetted perimeter of furrows on water intake and erosion. Fine sediment adsorbed on the perimeter reduced intake and increased soil water tension which was the primary mechanism holding the sediment on the perimeter. This self enhancing effect causes this thin seal to decrease erosion and intake rates. In contrast, removal of a few square centimeters of this seal by chance events after water velocities and shear forces have increased often causes reduced tensions, exfoliation of the surface seal and erosion pits which develop into head cuts.
Behavior and Design of Buried Very Flexible Plastic Pipes

Spangler's equation and Watkins' formula, when used in the current form for very flexible pipes, give poor results. Modifications are necessary to extend their use to very flexible plastic pipes. S...
Thermal and photocatalytic stability enhancement mechanism of poly(propylene carbonate) due to Cu(I) impurities

The thermal and photolytic decomposition of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) in the presence of a photoacid generator (PAG) was studied. The mechanism of previously observed shifts in the decomposition temperature of PPC was investigated. The decomposition temperature of PPC can be altered when PPC/PAG films contact copper metal. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that a small amount Cu(I) was incorporated into the PPC/PAG film causing the increased stability and the Cu(I) concentration was similar to that of the PAG. PPC/PAG temperature stability was studied for a number of iodonium and sulfonium-based PAGs. Every iodonium-based PAG showed a PPC decomposition temperature shift and no sulfonium-based PAG showed the thermal stability effect. It appears that Cu(I) interacts with iodonium in the cation of the PAG causing a change in the acid creation mechanism of the PAG.
Government Planning in the South

Governmental planning is as complex a subject in the South as elsewhere in the United States. There are, however, two unique characteristics in this region. First, the South has a more homogeneous economy which may lend itself somewhat more readily to governmental planning. Secondly, there is in the South a stronger "courthouse" or "statehouse" tradition which may permit, more than elsewhere, the use of governmental institutions for planning purposes. Before these distinctive features of planning can be established for the South, the term itself must be defined. Governmental planning, as it has developed in the last 10 or 15 years in the United States, can be taken to cover the following subjects: (1) The designing of a "master plan" of public works and the programming or scheduling of public improvements. (2) The controlled and classified use of private property, that is zoning, in accordance with some master plan. k3) The formulation of a scheme for the conservation or exploitation of natural resources like land, water and minerals, along with the power arising therefrom. (4) The scheduling of public or social services, which stimulate the fuller utilization of private or human resources, including such services as education, recreation, and health; especially, but not exclusively, by planning their required physical facilities. (5) The development and promotion, within some kind of an economic framework, of agricultural, industrial, and commercial enterprises, other than through (3) and (4). (6) The design of governmental systems, including fiscal programs, organizational controls and administrative procedures. Whether all of these are legitimately part of the governmental planning process is another question. Many experts in planning feel that point 5, industrial development or economic promotion, as well as point 6, management planning and fiscal controls, should for the most part be excluded from the field of governmental planning, since