cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variation-iteration principle for wave functions

A simple variation-iteration principle for the wave function is given that is stationary at every value of the coordinate r. Both analytical and numerical applications are discussed using a popular charmonium potential as an example.
Acupuncture Points of the Horse’s Distal Thoracic Limb: A Neuroanatomic Approach to the Transposition of Traditional Points

Veterinary acupuncture charts were developed based on the concept of transpositional points whereby human acupuncture maps were adapted to animal anatomy. Transpositional acupuncture points have traditionally been placed in specific locations around the horse's coronet and distal limb believed to be the closest approximation to the human distal limb points. Because the horse has a single digit and lacks several structures analogous to the human hand and foot, precisely transposing all of the human digital points is not anatomically possible. To date there is no published research on the effect of acupuncture treatment of the equine distal limb points. This paper presents a modified approach to equine distal limb point selection based on what is known from research on other species about the neuroanatomic method of acupuncture. A rationale is presented for modification of traditional equine ting points as well as additional points around the hoof and distal limb that do not appear in the standard textbooks of equine acupuncture. The anatomy and physiology of the equine foot likely to be affected by acupuncture are briefly reviewed. Modified neuroanatomic points are proposed that may be more accurate as transpositional points. As an example of clinical application, a neuroanatomic approach to acupuncture treatment of equine laminitis is presented.
Stainless‐steel elastic constants at low temperatures

For stainless steels 304, 310, and 316, longitudinal and transverse ultrasonic velocities were measured by a pulse‐echo method between 295 and 4 K. From these velocities were computed five elastic constants: longitudinal modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, bulk modulus, and Poisson’s ratio. All three steels show low‐temperature elastic‐constant anomalies, which arise from magnetic phase transitions.
Instantiating the art of war for effects-based operations

Effects-Based Operations (EBO) is a mindset, a philosophy and an approach for planning, executing and assessing military operations for the effects they produce rather than the targets or even objectives they deal with. An EBO approach strives to provide economy of force, dynamic tasking, and reduced collateral damage. The notion of EBO is not new. Military Commanders certainly have desired effects in mind when conducting military operations. However, to date EBO has been an art of war that lacks automated techniques and tools that enable effects-based analysis and assessment. Modeling and simulation is at the heart of this challenge. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) EBO Program is developing modeling techniques and corresponding tool capabilities that can be brought to bear against the challenges presented by effects-based analysis and assessment. Effects-based course-of-action development, center of gravity/target system analysis, and wargaming capabilities are being developed and integrated to help give Commanders the information decision support required to achieve desired national security objectives. This paper presents an introduction to effects-based operations, discusses the benefits of an EBO approach, and focuses on modeling and analysis for effects-based strategy development. An overview of modeling and simulation challenges for EBO is presented, setting the stage for the detailed technical papers in the subject session.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
F-18 Stilbenes as PET Imaging Agents for Detecting β-Amyloid Plaques in the Brain

Imaging agents targeting β-amyloid (Aβ) may be useful for diagnosis and treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Compounds 3e and 4e are fluorinated stilbene derivatives displaying high binding affinities for Aβ plaques in AD brain homogenates (Ki = 15 ± 6 and 5.0 ± 1.2 nM, respectively). In vivo biodistributions of [18F]3e and [18F]4e in normal mice exhibited excellent brain penetrations (5.55 and 9.75% dose/g at 2 min), and rapid brain washouts were observed, especially for [18F]4e (0.72% dose/g at 60 min). They also showed in vivo plaque labeling in APP/PS1 or Tg2576 transgenic mice, animal models for AD. Autoradiography of postmortem AD brain sections and AD homogenate binding studies confirmed the selective and specific binding properties to Aβ plaques. In conclusion, the preliminary results strongly suggest that these fluorinated stilbene derivatives, [18F]3e and [18F]4e, are suitable candidates as Aβ plaque imaging agents for studying patients with AD.
Linear differential operators on bivariate spline spaces and spline vector fields

We consider the application of standard differentiation operators to spline spaces and spline vector fields defined on triangulations in the plane. In particular, we explore the use of Bernstein–Bezier techniques for answering questions such as: What are the images or the kernels, and their dimensions, of partial derivative, gradient, divergence, curl, or Laplace, operators. We also describe a particular continuous piecewise quadratic finite element whose nodal parameters are function and divergence (or curl) values.
High-sensitivity visible and IR (1550nm) Si nanowire photodetectors

Vertical silicon nanowire detectors with high phototransistive gain have been demonstrated and the principles responsible for the high gain have been reported in recent publications. The emphasis of this paper is (a) the fabrication technology of silicon nanowire array detectors that can be integrated with Si VLSI and (b) the ability of sub-bandgap detection to achieve ultrawide band (from UV to IR) responsivity. We have demonstrated responsivity of greater than 100 A/W at 1550 nm for single crystal silicon nanowires to detect picowatts of IR light, the highest record ever reported for single crystal silicon detectors.
Dynamic k-space filling for bolus chase 3D MR digital subtraction angiography

A bolus chase three-dimensional (3D) MR digital subtraction angiography (MRDSA) technique was implemented using dynamic k-space filling. This technique permits rapid 3D arterial imaging of the entire lower extremity at multiple stations using a single intravenous injection. Image acquisition at the first (most proximal) station starts from the edge of k-space and ends in the center of k-space (edge-center order). Image acquisition for middle stations starts from the edge of k-space, arrives at the center of k-space at the middle of data acquisition, and ends at the edge of k-space (edge-center-edge order). Image acquisition for the last station starts from the center of k-space and ends at the edge of k-space (center-edge order). This dynamic k-space filling minimizes contrast dose and motion artifacts. Bolus chase 3D MRDSA was performed on four normal volunteers and three patients using a multiple-phase 3D fast gradient-echo sequence, 25-ml gadolinium dose, and a prototype stepping table. Total bolus chase 3D acquisition time was 46 s. Mask subtraction using both complex and magnitude subtraction was performed. Complex subtraction was found to be necessary for proper delineation of arteries below the aortic bifurcation. Diagnostic results were consistently obtained for all subjects.
Ionic adsorption and the conductance of ultrathin lipid membranes

Abstract Adsorption of ions at the membrane/water interfaces changes the aqueous space charge layers. The resultant effects on ion conductance are discussed in terms of a simple adsorption isotherm, which is also applicable to the mercury/water interface.
Functional Interaction of DFF35 and DFF45 with Caspase-activated DNA Fragmentation Nuclease DFF40

DNA fragmentation factor (DFF) functions downstream of caspase-3 and directly triggers DNA fragmentation during apoptosis. Here we described the identification and characterization of DFF35, an isoform of DFF45 comprised of 268 amino acids. Functional assays have shown that only DFF45, not DFF35, can assist in the synthesis of highly active DFF40. Using the deletion mutants, we mapped the function domains of DFF35/45 and demonstrated that the intact structure/conformation of DFF45 is essential for it to function as a chaperone and assist in the synthesis of active DFF40. Whereas the amino acid residues 101–180 of DFF35/45 mediate its binding to DFF40, the amino acid residues 23–100, which is homologous between DFF35/45 and DFF40, may function to inhibit the activity of DFF40. In contrast to DFF45, DFF35 cannot work as a chaperone, but it can bind to DFF40 more strongly than DFF45 and can inhibit its nuclease activity. These findings suggest that DFF35 may function in vivo as an important alternative mechanism to inhibit the activity of DFF40 and further, that the inhibitory effects of both DFF35 and DFF45 on DFF40 can put the death machinery under strict control.
Disparities in the Population Distribution of African American and Non-Hispanic White Smokers Along the Quitting Continuum

Purpose. To examine disparities and changes over time in the population-level distribution of smokers along a cigarette quitting continuum among African American smokers compared with non-Hispanic Whites. Methods. Secondary data analyses of the 1999, 2002, 2005, and 2008 California Tobacco Surveys (CTS). The CTS are large, random-digit-dialed, population-based surveys designed to assess changes in tobacco use in California. The number of survey respondents ranged from n = 6,744 to n = 12,876 across CTS years. Current smoking behavior (daily or nondaily smoking), number of cigarettes smoked per day, intention to quit in the next 6 months, length of most recent quit attempt among current smokers, and total length of time quit among former smokers were assessed and used to recreate the quitting continuum model. Results. While current smoking rates were significantly higher among African Americans compared with non-Hispanic Whites across all years, cigarette consumption rates were lower among African American...
The validity of using multiple imputation for missing out-of-hospital data in a state trauma registry.

OBJECTIVES: To assess 1) the agreement of multiply imputed out-of-hospital values previously missing in a state trauma registry compared with known ambulance values and 2) the potential impact of using multiple imputation versus a commonly used method for handling missing data (i.e., complete case analysis) in a typical multivariable injury analysis. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort analysis. Multiply imputed out-of-hospital data from 1998 to 2003 for four variables (intubation attempt, Glasgow Coma Scale score, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate) were compared with known values from probabilistically linked ambulance records using measures of agreement (kappa, weighted kappa, and Bland-Altman plots). Ambulance values were assumed to represent the "true" values for all analyses. A hypothetical multivariable regression model was used to demonstrate the impact (i.e., bias and precision of model results) of handling missing out-of-hospital data with multiple imputation versus complete case analysis. RESULTS: A total of 6,150 matched ambulance and trauma registry records were available for comparison. Multiply imputed values for the four out-of-hospital variables demonstrated fair to good agreement with known ambulance values. When included in typical multivariable analyses, multiple imputation increased precision and reduced bias compared with using complete case analysis for the same data set. CONCLUSIONS: Multiply imputed out-of-hospital values for intubation attempt, Glasgow Coma Scale score, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate have fair to good agreement with known ambulance values. Multiple imputation also increased precision and reduced bias compared with complete case analysis in a typical multivariable injury model, and it should be considered for studies using out-of-hospital data from a trauma registry, particularly when substantial portions of data are missing. Language: en
R69-33 Applications of Functional Optimization Techniques for the Serial Hybrid Computer Solution of Partial Differential Equations

The essential premise of this paper is that hybrid computing systems can be made superior to purely analog or purely digital systems in the solution of certain partial differential equations. The reasoning behind such a premise needs to be better delineated. We are reminded, barely in paassing, of the anolag speed, although we don't get even typical comparisons with digital speed. More importantly, however, the motivation for selectively using the digital computer is incomplete.
Helium ion stopping cross sections in gold

Abstract The stopping cross section of He ions in gold has been measured at incident energies from 0.4 MeV–1.9 MeV. A backscattering technique was used to measure the energy loss in gold films which had been vacuum evaporated on sapphire substrates. The stopping cross section results are compared with the previous data of Wilcox, Gobeli and Nakata. Brice's semi-empirical formula has been fit to the data with a resultant root-mean-square percentage deviation of 0.6 per cent.
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin inhibition of 17β-estradiol-induced increases in rat uterine epidermal growth factor receptor binding activity and gene expression

Abstract Treatment of immature female Sprague-Dawley rats with 17β-estradiol (5 μg/animal) resulted in an increase in uterine epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor binding activity. Moreover, in a separate study it was also shown that 17β-estradiol increased steady-state levels of rat uterine EGF receptor mRNA as determined by Northern analysis. In contrast, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD) caused a dose-response decrease in constitutive rat uterine EGF receptor binding activity and this was paralleled by a decrease in steady-state levels of uterine EGF receptor mRNA. Cotreatment of the animals with both TCDD (16 nmol/kg) and 17β-estradiol (5 μg/rat) gave results which showed that TCDD significantly inhibited the estrogen-induced increases in rat uterine EGF receptor binding activity and EGF receptor mRNA levels. These results further extend the range of antiestrogenic properties of TCDD and suggest that the inhibition of growth factor expression may play a role in the growth-inhibiting properties of TCDD in estrogen-responsive tissues or cells.
Sorting with expensive comparands

Suppose each key, of an n element list to be sorted, has a price associated with it. The cost of a comparison is the sum of the prices and the cost of a computation is the total of the comparison costs. What sorting algorithm should we use so that the worst case cost is minimized. We present two approaches to form a census of all sorting algorithms that are optimal for some set of prices. We implemented these approaches and obtained limited results for small n. We also investigated other order statistics.
Notes on the American Fascination with the English Tradition of School Inspection

Abstract The paper briefly explores the dynamics of the American school reform movement to explain the current American interest in English school inspection. The main explanation suggested is that...
Three Dialogs: A Framework for the Analysis and Assessment of Twenty-First-Century Literacy Practices, and its Use in the Context of Game Design within Gamestar Mechanic

This article discusses a framework for the analysis and assessment of twenty-first-century language and literacy practices in game and design-based contexts. It presents the framework in the context of game design within Gamestar Mechanic, an innovative game-based learning environment where children learn the Discourse of game design. It identifies three dialogic interactions (the material, the ideal player and the real player dialog) that a student must participate in in order to effectively learn the meaning production and interpretation practices germane to good game designs. These dialogs provide the syntactic, semantic and pragmatic components necessary for students to gain fluency in the game designer Discourse. The article illustrates the framework in practice by analyzing two language samples collected in an after-school game design workshop structured around Gamestar Mechanic. Its implications for the research and assessment of game-based learning environments are discussed.
Ten-year study of a Wilson's disease dysarthric

Abstract This case study presents a ten-year speech treatment history of a young adult Wilson's disease patient in whom a severe dysarthria persisted despite drug and dietry controls. The patient was initially classified as “100% disabled” and was compensated because of his severe communication disorder. As he progressed, he ultimately secured full-time employment (involving verbal communication) which affords him economic independence. One aspect of therapy that played a critical role in the transfer of intelligible speech to situations outside the clinical setting was the use of a protocol for systematic client self-evaluation and for systematic elicitation and use of listener feedback. Methods that may prove helpful in the study of intelligibility maintenance in other dysarthric clients are presented. This report suggests that in some instances long-term therapy for dysarthria is both beneficial and economically justifiable.
Hyperthermophiles: taking the heat and loving it.

Hyperthermophiles, a recently discovered group of microorganisms, are operationally defined as having an optimum growth temperature of at least 80°C and a maximum growth temperature of over 90°C. Most of the enzymes isolated so far from such organisms exhibit correspondingly enhanced thermostability. This property has been used both for investigation of fundamental biological questions of protein structure and stability, and for the development of technological applications that require protein stability at high temperatures. Examples of such applications of thermostable proteins include their use in biocatalysts, in various materials and in crystallization methods. The use of DNA polymerases from hyperthermophilic microorganisms in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is another of the more practical examples of the recent impact on biochemistry and molecular biology of enzymes isolated from hyperthermophilic organisms. To date, the maximum growth temperatures observed for a hyperthermophilic organism is about 110°C. Whether this is the upper limit for life is unknown; some workers estimate that the maximum growth temperature for, as yet, uncultured organisms may approach, or even exceed 150°C [1]. In any event, it is clear that the surface has barely been scratched in the study of extremely thermostable proteins from known hyperthermophiles. Two basic questions often come to mind when considering these enzymes: the practically motivated, how can I get some of these enzymes and the more fundamental question, how do these enzymes achieve extreme thermostability? Aspects of both of these issues are briefly discussed below. More detailed discussions of hyperthermophiles and their proteins may be found in review articles [2], [3], [4] and [5].
Nucleon elastic scattering and the isospin dependence of the optical model potential

Abstract The analysis of elastic scattering of neutron and proton data on the same nuclei at En = Ep and Ep = En + ΔE c in terms of the optical model, has yielded isospin dependent potentials with isospin parameters V1R = 22.7 ± 0.6 MeV and W1D = 12.7 ± 0.8 MeV.
Riparian vegetation and channel morphology impact on spatial patterns of water quality in agricultural watersheds

A model based on theKLS factors of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) accurately predicted temporal dynamics and relative peak levels of suspended solids, turbidity, and phosphorus in an agricultural watershed with well-protected streambanks and cultivation to the stream edge. Fine suspended solids derived from surface runoff appeared to be a major component of the suspended solids in this stream. The model did not predict the same parameters in a watershed with unstable channel substrates, exposed streambanks, and heterogeneity in riparian vegetation and channel morphology. The rate of increase in concentration of the water quality parameters was higher than predicted in areas without riparian vegetation and with unstable substrates. Peak levels were higher than predicted where unstable channel substrates occurred, and potential energy of the stream was high because of stream alterations (removal of near-stream vegetation and creation of a uniform, straight channel). Timing of the peak levels of suspended solids, turbidity, and phosphorus in these areas seemed related to major flushes of discharge due to delayed inputs from the surface or subsurface or both or to rapid urban drainage. Higher suspended solids concentration in this stream seemed to involve larger quantities of large particles.
ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN HYPERTROPHIC SUBAORTIC STENOSIS WHICH SIMULATE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION.

Abstract Electrocardiographic findings simulating myocardial infarction are reported in 4 young persons in whom a diagnosis of hypertrophic subaortic stenosis was proved or considered clinically. The pathology of this condition is reviewed. Although the electrocardiographic abnormalities may be helpful in making the diagnosis, their association with it remains speculative.
An all carbon counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells

This article describes the design and operation of a dye sensitized solar cell with an all carbon counter electrode and plastic electrolyte. For the construction of the counter electrode, the conventional thin platinum catalytic layer was replaced by a novel large-effective-surface-area polyaromatic hydrocarbon (LPAH) film, and the fluorine doped tin oxide substrate was replaced by a graphite film. In this way the internal resistance of the cell was substantially reduced and the cell efficiency can reach nearly 9% using the masked frame measurement technique. To achieve such an efficiency, a series of experiments was carried out to assure that the LPAH layer possesses superior catalytic activity and energy efficiency compared to the commonly used carbon black. To this end a unique LPAH layer synthesis technique was developed. It involved the production of LPAH from a hydrogen arc along with the use of an amphiphilic triblock copolymer (P123) to improve the suspendability of LPAH to form a homogeneous catalytic layer. This layer was then attached to a graphite film to form the counter electrode for the dye sensitized solar cell. Details of the properties of the LAPH and the newly designed solar cell are reported herein.
Somatic Mutation: Early Cancer Steps Depend on Tissue Architecture

Cells progress from a normal to a cancerous state by accumulating mutations. Recent mathematical studies show how the size of the cellular population in a local patch of tissue influences the spread of cancer-promoting mutations.
Mean Field Theory, Topological Field Theory, and Multi-Matrix Models

Abstract We show that the genus zero correlation functions of an arbitrary topological field theory coupled to two-dimensional topological gravity are determined by an appropriate Landau-Ginzburg potential. We determine the potentials that arise for topological sigma models with CP 1 or a Calabi-Yau manifold for target space. We present substantial evidence that the multi-matrix models that have been studied recently are equivalent to certain topological field theories coupled to topological gravity. We also describe a topological version of the general “string equation”.
Analysis of Component Reliability Data

This article organizes and classifies various types of quantitative analyses that can be performed on component reliability data gathered within the Nuclear Power Industry. The analyses are keyed to the form of the available data and to the purpose of the analysis.
Exposure to androgens during in vitro maturation does not affect the developmental potential of porcine oocytes

Abstract Administration of exogenous androgens to pigs during the period of follicular development has been shown to positively affect ovulation rate and embryonic survival. The mechanisms of these actions are not known, but may include direct effects of androgens on the cumulus–oocyte complex (COC). The objective of this experiment was to assess the effects on embryonic development in vitro of exposure of COC to 0.26 and 2.6 μM testosterone (T) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) during IVM. For IVM, COC were cultured for 44–46 h in protein-free tissue culture medium (TCM) 199 containing 10 IU/ml hCG and eCG and 10 ng/ml EGF. Oocytes were then stripped of cumulus cells, coincubated with 1×10 5 sperm/ml in modified TALP for 6 h, and cultured for 8 days in NCSU23. The proportions of oocytes that cleaved (Day 2) or developed to the morula (Day 6) or blastocyst (Day 6–8) stage were not different ( P >0.20) between oocytes exposed to androgens and oocytes not exposed to androgens. These results indicate that exposure to androgens during IVM does not affect the ability of oocytes to cleave or develop up to the blastocyst stage in vitro.
Oilseed Volatile Analysis by Supercritical Fluid and Thermal Desorption Methods

A knowledge of the volatile components present in an oil sample can provide important information relative to supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) process design, the current oxidative state of the oil, as well as the concentration and presence of important flavor volatiles in the oil. Volatile compounds from supercritical fluid-extracted oils were analyzed by headspace gas chromatography (GC) methods to determine if there were differences in the volatile profiles when two different methods of desorption were used. Canola, corn, soybean and sunflower seeds were extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide at 8000 psi and 50°C. Tenax porous polymer traps, attached at the exhaust port of the SFE apparatus, were utilized to collect the volatile components during the extractions. The volatile compounds on the Tenax trap were desorbed onto a GC column by both thermal and supercritical fluid techniques. Desorption temperature for the thermal method was 150°C, while conditions for the SFE technique were 50°C and 2000 psi. The lower-boiling volatiles from each oilseed were greater when desorbed by thermal means from the Tenax than by SFE; however, SFE desorbed the highermolecular weight compounds that were not removed by the thermal desorption method. Hexanal tended to be desorbed in comparable amounts by both methods. The SFE-based desorption technique provides a unique analysis method for the determination of both volatile and semivolatile compounds, as well as executing desorption under nonoxidative, low-temperature conditions that do not contribute to the degradation of lipid components.
On spatial population dynamics

Abstract The dynamics of population reproduction and spatial distribution is studied in terms of a two-dimensional continuous flow model. A second order non-linear partial differential equation is formulated, but no analytical solution has been found for the history of flows over time. Equilibrium solution with spatially uniform population density exists. Stability, and for the case of pure diffusion, uniqueness are examined.
Assessment of digital EEG, quantitative EEG, and EEG brain mapping: Report of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society*

Digital EEG techniques have grown rapidly in popularity for recording, reviewing, and storing EEG. Digital EEG recordings are flexible in the way they display the EEG tracings, unlike analog paper EEG. Montage, filter, and gain settings can be changed retrospectively during record review. Quantitative EEG (QEEG) analysis techniques can provide additional measurements or displays of EEG in ways not available with analog paper EEG recordings. Several QEEG techniques, commonly called "EEG brain mapping," include topographic displays of voltage or frequency, statistical comparisons to normative values, and discriminant analysis. Although much scientific literature has been produced after decades of research in this field, there remains controversy about the clinical role of QEEG analysis techniques. This assessment is meant to help the clinician by providing an expert review of the current clinical usefulness of these techniques. Evaluation process. Previous assessments on this subject were published by the American Electroencephalographic Society (American EEG Society, AEEGS) in 1987 and by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in 1989.1,2 Members of both societies were notified by newsletter to solicit their opinions with supporting information for this assessment. Commercial digital EEG vendors were identified by their participation in society meeting exhibits or by their known interests in this field, and they were asked to submit relevant scientific publications supporting clinical use. Many experts in the field were also contacted to request their opinions and to cite relevant scientific publications. A literature search was conducted using the Medline database, covering the years 1984-1995. Searched topics included EEG and evoked potentials , among others, and the identified citations were manually screened for relevance to this assessment. Review articles and published literature reference sections were also screened for relevant information. When outside reviewers and other experts presented viewpoints differing from circulated drafts of this assessment, their opinions and …
Interleukin-1 blockade in rheumatoid arthritis and heart failure: A missed opportunity?

a VCU Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States b Department of Physical Therapy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States c Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcome Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States d Division of Rheumatology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States e Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
Fire and phantoms after spinal cord injury: Na+ channels and central pain.

Neuropathic pain and phantom phenomena occur commonly after spinal cord injury (SCI) but their molecular basis is not yet fully understood. Recent findings demonstrate abnormal expression of the Nav1.3 Na + channel within second-order spinal cord dorsal horn neurons and third-order thalamic neurons along the pain pathway after SCI, and suggest that this change makes these neurons hyperexcitable so that they act as pain amplifiers and generators. Delineation of molecular changes that contribute to hyperexcitability of pain-signaling neurons might lead to identification of molecular targets that will be useful in the treatment of neuropathic pain after SCI and related nervous system injuries.
Stochastic event reconstruction of atmospheric contaminant dispersion using Bayesian inference

Environmental sensors have been deployed in various cities for early detection of contaminant releases into the atmosphere. Event reconstruction and improved dispersion modeling capabilities are needed to estimate the extent of contamination, which is required to implement effective strategies in emergency management. To this end, a stochastic event reconstruction capability that can process information from an environmental sensor network is developed. A probability model is proposed to take into account both zero and non-zero concentration measurements that can be available from a sensor network because of a sensor's specified limit of detection. The inference is based on the Bayesian paradigm with Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. Fast-running Gaussian plume dispersion models are adopted as the forward model in the Bayesian inference approach to achieve rapid-response event reconstructions. The Gaussian plume model is substantially enhanced by introducing stochastic parameters in its turbulent diffusion parameterizations and estimating them within the Bayesian inference framework. Additionally, parameters of the likelihood function are estimated in a principled way using data and prior probabilities to avoid tuning in the overall method. The event reconstruction method is successfully validated for both real and synthetic dispersion problems, and posterior distributions of the model parameters are used to generate probabilistic plume envelopes with specified confidence levels to aid emergency decisions.
Contributions of the mouse UV photopigment to the ERG and to vision

The mouse retina contains two classes of cone photopigment with respective peak sensitivities in the middle (M) wavelengths and in the ultraviolet (UV) portion of the spectrum. To examine the functional roles subserved by the UV pigment, the absorption of light by the mouse lens was measured and voltage versus intensity (V-log I) functions were derived from recordings of the flicker ERG made under test conditions designed to maximize the relative sensitivities of the two pigment types. These V-log I data accurately predict ERG-based spectral sensitivity functions, but they fail to provide a similarly accurate account of behaviorally based measurements of spectral sensitivity in that the ERG spectral sensitivity function has much higher sensitivity in the UV wavelengths than does the behavioral spectral sensitivity function. The disparity between these two is argued to be a consequence of the widespread receptor co-expression of the two types of cone pigment in the mouse and of the pattern of retinal wiring that is thought to be characteristic of all mammalian retinas.
Niche Overlap and Diet Breadth: Can bumble bee (Bombus spp.) foraging behavior reveal species vulnerabilities?

Within the last two decades, notable shifts have taken place within the bumble bee (Bombus spp.) communities of North America: some species have experienced substantial, rapid declines, while others appear to be stable or even experiencing range expansion. Studies from the UK and Europe implicate the loss of natural habitat and associated floral resources in overall bumble bee declines and species losses. Research also indicates that loss of host plants disproportionately impacts species with narrower diet breadths, and that these species are more likely to be long-tongued (presumably due to the reduction of long-tubed floral hosts). In contrast, species with more generalized diets have been shown to be more abundant. In this study we examined resource utilization by the bumble bee community at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce, VA in order to evaluate (1) whether the diet of a potentially declining long-tongued species (B. fervidus) overlaps strongly with a more competitive, expanding species (B. impatiens), (2) whether the potentially declining species specializes on host plants relative to the other bumble bee species in the community, and (3) if bumble bee species abundance is associated with diet breadth or the relative abundance of preferred host plants. We surveyed and quantified all mass flowering species in two large meadows on a weekly basis from June 1 to August 15, 2010. Collections of bees were then carried out on these plants for a minimum of one person-hour per week per plant species. For each bee species, Simpson’s index was used to assess diet breadth.Six bumble bee species were observed at Blandy Experimental Farm in total. The potentially declining and expanding species (B. fervidus and B. impatiens) possessed the narrowest and widest diet breadths respectively. In addition to possessing specialist tendencies, B. fervidus had little niche overlap with other species in the community (i.e. it visited plants other species were not visiting). Although B. impatiens had the widest diet breadth and was also the most abundant species (50% total collections), diet breadth, overall, was not associated with abundance (Spearman’s rho = 0.37, p = 0.46). However, we found that species abundance was positively correlated with abundance of most preferred host plant (Spearman’s rho = 0.97, p = 0.0012). The results of this study indicate that resource limitation may put B. fervidus at risk of decline when preferred host plants are reduced or lost, whereas B. impatiens may be resistant to extirpation due to its “super-generalist” tendencies.
Klossiella equi induced tubular nephrosis and interstitial nephritis in a pony

Heavy renal infection in a pony with Klosiella equi resulted in moderate diffuse tubular nephrosis and tubular rupture. Multifocal non-suppurative interstitial nephritis was associated with ruptured tubules. Ultrastructural examination of sporoblasts demonstrated both the presence of a bilaminated membrane encasing organisms and nuclear budding. Endogenous corticosteroid production probably led to the development of an immune-compromized state and subsequent extensive parasitic replication.
Geochemistry and hydrology of a calcareous fen within the Savage Fen wetlands complex, Minnesota, USA

Abstract Savage Fen is a wetlands complex at the base of north-facing bluffs in the Minnesota River Valley. The complex includes 27.8 hectares of calcareous fen that host rare calciphile plants whose populations are declining in Minnesota. Water and sediment compositions in the calcareous fen were studied to gain a better understanding of the hydrologie System that sustains the rare vegetation. Groundwater in the fen is a calcium-magnesium-bicarbonate type with circumneutral pH values. The groundwater composition is the resuit of interactions among water, dissolved and gaseous carbon species, carbonates, and ion exchangers. Shallow groundwater is distinguished from deep groundwater by smaller concentrations of chloride, sulfate, magnesium, and sodium, and larger concentrations of calcium, bicarbonate, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonium. Magnesian calcite is the prevalent carbonate in unconsolidated sedimentary fill beneath the fen and is an important source and sink for dissolved calcium, magnesium, and inorganic carbon. Calcite concentrations just below the water table are small because aerobic and anaerobic oxidation of organic matter increase the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), decrease pH, and cause calcite to dissolve. Thick calcite accumulations just above the water table, in the root zone of calciphile plants, resuit from water table fluctuations and attendant changes in PCO2. Groundwater beneath Savage Fen recharges in lakes and ponds south of the fen and upwells to the surface within the fen. Water at the water table is a mixture of upwelling groundwater and water near the surface that flows downslope from higher elevations in the fen. Changes in oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions of shallow groundwater indicate that the proportion of upwelling groundwater in shallow groundwater decreases downgradient in the calcareous fen. Encroachment of reed grasses into the calcareous fen may reflect human-caused disturbances in the recharge area.
Stress-Induced Martensitic Phase Transformation in Nitinol Under Hard Cyclic Loading

This paper describes an experimental study of stress-induced martensitic phase transformation in the shape memory alloy Nickel-Titanium, also known by the trade name Nitinol. The rich local thermo-mechanical interactions that underlie phase transformation are examined using three-dimensional Digital Image Correlation (to determine local strain fields) and infrared imaging (to determine local thermal fields). We quantify the complex local interactions between released/absorbed latent heat and the extent of transformation, and explore the characteristics of the phase fronts. There exists a remarkable amount of memory in the pattern of the martensitic formation from cycle to cycle. The initial pattern in which the martensite nucleates and propagates in the first cycle strongly dictates how the martensite nucleates and propagates in future cycles. The presence of this cycle-to-cycle strain pattern memory indicates that the local elastic stress fields in the martensite are driven by a dislocation structure and martensitic nuclei that largely stabilize during the first loading cycle.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Robust surface reconstruction based on local estimation and refinement: 1-D results

The problem of surface reconstruction from sparse visual depth data is studied. Because of the difficulties caused by outliers in the depth data and by overlapping data points from multiple surfaces, the reconstruction problem is posed as a data clustering problem. This problem is approached using a two phase technique. The first phase is a new robust fitting algorithm that overcomes some of the limitations of the Least Median of Squares robust technique. The second phase is an efficient relaxation style algorithm to refine the linear segments provided by the first phase to make second order estimates of the surface, and cluster estimates whose positions, orientations and curvatures make them consistent. Preliminary experimental results on one-dimensional synthetic data demonstrate the promise of the approach.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Conformational analysis of the isomers of lewisite

Chlorovinyldichloroarsine, also known as lewisite, is a powerful vesicant that has been used in the past as a chemical weapon. Its extreme toxicity makes obtaining experimental data to characterize this notorious chemical system very challenging. In this work, ab initio calculations were carried out on the geminal, cis and trans isomers of lewisite at a variety of levels of theory employing both all-electron and effective-core potential basis sets. The aims were to ascertain the relative stability of these three isomeric forms of lewisite and to characterize their structures, dipole moments and conformational preferences. The trans isomer of lewisite was found to be the most stable and the geminal isomer the least stable. This is consistent with the experimental data available on the compositions of lewisite mixtures. Copyright  1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemical approaches to therapeutically target the metabolism and signaling of the endocannabinoid 2-AG and eicosanoids.

The endocannabinoid system, most popularly known as the target of the psychoactive component of marijuana, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is a signaling network that modulates a diverse range of physiological processes including nociception, behavior, cognitive function, appetite, metabolism, motor control, memory formation, and inflammation. While THC and its derivatives have garnered notoriety in the eyes of the public, the endocannabinoid system consists of two endogenous signaling lipids, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide), which activate cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 in the nervous system and peripheral tissues. This review will focus on the recent efforts to chemically manipulate 2-AG signaling through the development of inhibitors of the 2-AG-synthesizing enzyme diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL) or the 2-AG-degrading enzyme monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), and assessing the therapeutic potential of DAGL and MAGL inhibitors in pain, inflammation, degenerative diseases, tissue injury, and cancer.
The Declining Significance of Neighborhoods? Marital Transitions in Community Context

Recent theories addressing the impact of neighborhood socioeconomic status on family formation are integrated with a broader theoretical literature specifying the conditions under which local neighborhood conditions influence social behavior in order to develop hypotheses relating neighborhood disadvantage to the timing offirst marriage. Event-history analyses ofdata from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics for 1969-93 show that, among whites, residing in a disadvantaged neighborhood hastens the entry into first marriage, while among blacks, neighborhood disadvantage delays marital entry. Among whites, the positive impact of neighborhood disadvantage on marriage probabilities declines with age. Among blacks, the inverse effect of neighborhood disadvantage on marital timing declines with length of residence in the neighborhood. Only among white males does the impact of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage decline significantly between 1969 and 1993. Moreover, for white males, the effect of neighborhood SES is weaker for metropolitan than for nonmetropolitan residents and is stronger for long-term than for short-term neighborhood residents
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Mediates Endogenous Protection Against Subarachnoid Hemorrhage-Induced Cerebral Vasospasm

Background and Purpose—Vasospasm-induced delayed cerebral ischemia remains a major source of morbidity in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We hypothesized that activating innate neurovascular protective mechanisms by preconditioning (PC) may represent a novel therapeutic approach against SAH-induced vasospasm and neurological deficits and, secondarily, that the neurovascular protection it provides is mediated by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Methods—Wild-type mice were subjected to hypoxic PC or normoxia followed 24 hours later by SAH. Neurological function was analyzed daily; vasospasm was assessed on post-surgery Day 2. Nitric oxide availability, eNOS expression, and eNOS activity were also assessed. In a separate experiment, wild-type and eNOS-null mice were subjected to hypoxic PC or normoxia followed by SAH and assessed for vasospasm and neurological deficits. Results—PC nearly completely prevented SAH-induced vasospasm and neurological deficits. It also prevented S...
4.4.1 A System-of-Systems Framework for the Future Hydrogen-Based Transportation Economy

Today, almost 60% of the petroleum consumed in the United States is imported. The nation's current transportation system of systems (SoS) relies almost exclusively on refined petroleum products, accounting for over two-thirds of the oil used in the United States each day. As a nation, we must work to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil in a manner that is affordable, ensures national energy security, and preserves environmental quality. In the long term, a potential solution to the nation's transportation energy problems is an operational hydrogen-based transportation economy. Transitioning to any alternative transportation fuel on a national scale will require the creation of a robust and cost-effective system of systems that operates in concert with the dynamics of today's mature and highly-networked transportation infrastructure. Using a supply-chain point of view to trace the flow of transportation fuels through the necessary SoS, this paper addresses the current petroleum-based economy for transportation, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) vision for a future hydrogen-based transportation economy, and the significant challenges associated with such a massive market and infrastructure transformation.
The Structure of Ellipsoidal Distributions I. Canonical Analysis

This study is concerned with the structure of variables having ellipsoidal distributions. In Part I it is shown that many normal-theory results in canonical analysis are exact for all ellipsoidal distributions under a specified model for sampling. In Part II similar conclusions are drawn regarding the use of principal components. These findings suggest using normal-theory procedures in canonical and principal components analyses as approximate large-sample procedures for distributions attracted to ellipsoidal stable laws.