cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advanced technology in the VATT

The Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT) now being fabricated differs from traditional telescopes in many ways. The altitude over azimuth mount will be direct driven by large diameter motors. The cell for the f/1 borosilicate honeycomb primary mirror incorporates a thermal control system to stabilize the mirror temperature. The f/9 Gregorian secondary will be mounted on a six-axis stage and controlled to submicron resolution in order to maintain the strict collimation tolerances needed for the fast optical system. Though only 1.83 m in aperture, VATT incorporates many of the design features of larger projects in the 8 m class.
Collaborative mobility: using geographic information science to cultivate cooperative transportation systems

Abstract It is increasingly clear that many of the existing transportation systems in the world are inefficient, inequitable and unsustainable. In many places, we have evolved a rigid transportation monoculture that forces people to adapt to the system rather than a flexible, responsive and user-friendly transportation polyculture that can adapt more easily to people and their activities. However, creating a flexible and responsive transportation system will require more coordination and cooperation across a variety of spatial scales and time horizons than is evident in our current, competitive systems. This lecture will discuss the role of collaboration in developing the next generation of transportation systems, and the role of geographic information science in facilitating cooperation across space and time for strategic, tactical and operational decision-making in transportation.
3,4:9,10-Perylenebis(dicarboximide) chromophores that function as both electron donors and acceptors

Abstract Five green 3,4:9,10-perylenebis(dicarboximide) dyes that both donate and accept electrons have been synthesized under mild conditions in high yields. These chromophores undergo reversible one-electron oxidation and reduction in butyronitrile at modest potentials.
Effect of Blurring on Perception of a Simple Geometric Pattern

FIG. 1 is a modification of the Poggendorff illusion which has been drawn so that it is clearly visible at large distances. When viewed from a distance the central bar is perceived as being more horizontal and wider than it is drawn. This distortion increases as distance from the figure increases so that distortions of 15° can be found in most subjects. (Similar but much less striking distance and size effects have been noted in standard illusion figures1–5.) The distortion is greater in subjects with poor visual acuity; and it can be increased by artificially increasing the blurring by optical means. The effect does not depend on accommodation, and can also be observed by placing a hair on a fine grating.
K x-ray production in H-like Si 1 3 + , S 1 5 + , and Ar 1 7 + ions colliding with various atom and molecule gas targets at low collision energies

K x rays have been observed in electron capture processes of H-like ${\mathrm{Si}}^{13+},$ ${\mathrm{S}}^{15+},$ and ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{17+}(1s)$ ions colliding with various atom and molecule gas targets over the collision energy of $1--70$ $\mathrm{keV}/u.$ These K x rays are the final results of cascade-down to the ground ${(1s}^{2})$ state from highly excited states formed through electron capture. It has been found that at low energies $(l10$ $\mathrm{keV}/u)$ the cross sections for the production of K x rays are nearly constant, and decrease slowly when the collision energy is increased. The cross sections also have been found to increase roughly with the inverse square of the ionization energy of the targets. It is also noted that the intensity ratios of the $K\ensuremath{\beta}$ line to the $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ line increase slightly as the ionization energy of the target increases, suggesting that an electron is captured in different $(n/)$ states in different targets. These ratios are found to decrease slightly as the collision energy increases. The measured K x-ray production cross sections also have been compared with total electron-capture cross sections based upon an empirical formula, and it has been found that, on average, roughly two-third of total electron capture processes result in K x-ray emission, with the remaining one-third ending at the metastable state level after electron capture without emitting K x rays.
Effect of cytokine-induced migration of Langerhans cells on corneal allograft survival.

The unique paucity of Ia+ Langerhans cells (LCs) in the central cornea contributes to the immunological privilege of corneal allografts. A variety of stimuli can induce the centripetal migration of peripheral LCs. At least one of these stimuli (i.e. latex bead instillation) induces interleukin-1 (IL-1) secretion by corneal cells which acts as a potent chemoattractant for LCs. Within 30 minutes of intracorneal injection of IL-1, centripetal migration of LCs can be detected. The presence of donor-derived LCs in corneal allografts doubles the incidence of rejection of fully allogeneic corneal allografts as well as MHC matched, multiple minor H mismatched corneal allografts. Although the presence of donor-specific LCs greatly jeopardises corneal allograft survival, migration of host-derived LCs into corneal allografts does not appear to increase the risk of rejection.
High-precision timing of millisecond pulsars. II - Astrometry, orbital evolution, and eclipses of PSR 1957 + 20

Pulse time-of-arrival measurements have been acquired for PSR 1957 + 20 on 61 days over a 2.7 yr interval, including the times of 44 eclipse disappearance or reappearance events. The timing data provide a reliable measurement of the pulsar's proper motion, 29 +/- 3 mas/yr, at position angle 216 +/- 6 deg; this direction is in excellent agreement with that suggested by the cometlike shape of a surrounding optical emission nebula. The rate of change of the orbital period has been measured: a surprisingly large (-3.9 +/- 0.9) x 10 exp -11, implying that significant orbital evolution must take place on a time scale of 30 Myr. Finally, the present observations extend the eclipse measurements to higher frequencies and provide better statistics for these highly variable phenomena. The eclipse data are used to compute a column-density profile of free electrons in the outer parts of the eclipsing region, and thereby provide an important glimpse into the material being ablated from the companion star.
Botulinum Toxin in the Treatment of Spasticity in Children with Cerebral Palsy

The use of botulinum toxin A is a relatively new and innovative therapeutic intervention for children with cerebral palsy. The purpose of this review is to summarize nine articles, all published since 1993, that relate specifically to the use of botulinum toxin A in the management of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. A range of outcome measures were employed in these studies including assessment of muscle tone, range of motion, appearance, gait analysis, gross or fine motor functional status, and parent or guardian questionnaire. In general, the findings demonstrated significant improvements, especially in muscle tone, range of motion, and functional motor status.
Advanced mine detection radar

The objective of the Advanced Mine Detection Radar Program is to demonstrate the capability of the vehicular-mounted, frequency agile radar to detect, identify and locate metallic and nonmetallic, buried and surface land mines at a stand-off distance of about 10 meters (m). This wideband, operating frequency system consists of one transmit and two receive horns, transmit and receive circuitries, an IBM-compatible computer (PC), and a Sun computer. The transmit horn generates a train of pulsed continuous-wave (CW) signals in 36 stepped operating frequencies. These frequencies are used to resonate all nonmetallic and metallic mines. At each cycle of these pulses, while the signal of the transmit horn is off, the receive horns receive the echo, the signal of soil, roots, rocks, and targets. This echo is then mixed with the two I/Q circuits to produce the in-phase and quadrature-phase signals. These signals are then low-pass filtered, amplified, and digitized signals while the PC is acquiring a new data set at the next operating frequency. At each frequency, the system noise and the clutter of the digitized signals will be reduced by the averaging and smoothing algorithms. After all 36 frequencies have been transmitted and the data preprocessed, an anomaly will be detected, located and identifies by the data processing algorithms. The results from the final field test of this program shows a 100 percent detection with an average of 36 percent identification and 17 false alarms per 78 m2 in a condition of nearly 5 percent of the moisture content in the soil.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
American canine hepatozoonosis

Hepatozoon americanum infection is an emerging tickborne disease in the southern United States. This organism causes a very different and much more severe disease than does Hepatozoon canis, the etiologic agent of canine hepatozoonosis in the rest of the world. H americanum is transmitted through ingestion of the definitive host, Amblyomma maculatum (the Gulf Coast tick). Clinical signs of American canine hepatozoonosis tend to wax and wane over time and may include lameness, weakness, pain, muscle atrophy, fever, and mucopurulent ocular discharge. Radiographs typically reveal periosteal proliferation of various bones. Extreme leukocytosis is the most common laboratory finding, along with a mild elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase. Diagnosis is made by visualization of gamont-containing neutrophils or monocytes on examination of blood smears; observation of typical cysts, meronts or pyogranulomas on muscle biopsy; or detection of serum antibodies against H americanum sporozoites. Common complications of chronic infection include glomerulopathies, amyloidosis, and vasculitis. Although the prognosis for this disease in the past was guarded to poor, recent advances in treatment have increased the long-term survival rate of infected dogs.
The circulatory effects of squatting.

Abstract Squatting from the standing position increases arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, and “central blood volume” in normal subjects. Squatting in the lying position or in water has no effect. Squatting exerts its action on the circulation, not by kinking arteries and veins to the legs, but by bringing the heart closer to the level of the feet. Patients with Fallot's tetralogy have an increase in arterial oxygen saturation when they squat, whether at rest or after exercise. The rise in saturation is associated with a reduction in the right-to-left shunt. We suggest that the reason for the increase in saturation in patients with Fallot's tetralogy is anatomical and related to a shunt from the right ventricle to the aorta.
Zero temperature magnetic phase diagram of Wigner crystal in anisotropic two-dimensional electron systems

Abstract We study the effect of mass anisotropy on the magnetic ordering of the Wigner crystal phase of low density electron systems in two dimensions at T = 0 . We apply the instanton approximation to various ring exchange processes, which includes the lowest order Gaussian fluctuations beyond the WKB approximation. The multi-particle exchange frequencies are calculated with effective mass anisotropy, both with and without ensuing lattice distortions. We find that when sufficient mass anisotropy is present, the two-spin exchange process between the nearest neighbors becomes more frequent than the three particle processes. Therefore, its corresponding antiferromagnetic exchange exceeds the ferromagnetic exchange from the three-spin process and becomes dominant. Numerical diagonalization of small clusters with two, three, and four-spin exchange terms shows a transition from a ferromagnetic to an antiferromagnetic ground state with increasing mass anisotropy.
Interaction of exogenous steroids in the developing rat brain.

The cellular and subcellular localization of radioactivity in the brain of 2-day-old female rats was investigated autoradiographically 2 hr after sc injection of 1.0 µg of l,2,6,7-3H-testosterone per 100 g body wt. A specific topographic pattern of nuclear concentration of testosterone or its metabolites was obtained in neurons of the basal hypothalamus, preoptic region, and amygdala. This pattern was similar, but not identical, to that seen in the adult male rat. Pretreatment with either unlabeled testosterone or estradiol-17β inhibited the nuclear concentration of radioactivity in all areas while 5α-dihydrotestosterone had little or no effect. Possible mechanisms for this interaction of exogenous steroids in the neonatal rat brain are discussed. (Endocrinology 95: 1749, 1974)
DNA binding, annealing, and strand exchange activities of Brh2 protein from Ustilago maydis.

Brh2 is the Ustilago maydis ortholog of the BRCA2 tumor suppressor. It functions in repair of DNA by homologous recombination by controlling the action of Rad51. A critical aspect in the control appears to be the recruitment of Rad51 to single-stranded DNA regions exposed as lesions after damage or following a disturbance in DNA synthesis. In previous experimentation, Brh2 was shown to nucleate formation of the Rad51 nucleoprotein filament that becomes the active element in promoting homologous pairing and DNA strand exchange. Nucleation was found to be initiated at junctions of double-stranded and single-stranded DNA. Here we investigated the DNA binding specificity of Brh2 in more detail using oligonucleotide substrates. We observed that Brh2 prefers partially duplex structures with single-stranded branches, flaps, or D-loops. We found also that Brh2 has an inherent ability to promote DNA annealing and strand exchange reactions on free as well as RPA-coated substrates. Unlike Rad51, Brh2 was able to pro...
The load capacity of a kagome based high authority shape morphing structure

A protocol for optimizing a high authority shape morphing plate is described. The design incorporates an active Kagome back-plane capable of changing the shape of a solid face by transmitting loads through a tetrahedral truss core. The optimization assesses the required geometric dimensions and actuator specifications in order to maximize the permissible shape changes and load capacity. The critical external loads for all failure mechanisms of the individual components are calculated and used as constraints in the optimization. Resistance of the structure to actuation is presented as an additional constraint. The ensuing relations are subsequently used to choose the best material for a given application. Numerical examples of the procedure are given for a defined structure.
Performance Comparisons of Conventional and Line-Focused Surface Raman Spectrometers

Four Raman spectrometer configurations were compared for obtaining spectra of surface monolayers, including a new design that employed a line rather than point focus. Each spectrometer used a 514.5 nm laser and charge-coupled device (CCD) detector, but they differed in collection efficiency and sampling optics. Previously defined figures of merit for Raman signal and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were determined for each spectrometer, to aid quantitative comparison. The figure of merit for SNR, FSNR, is demonstrated to be useful for comparisons because it permits prediction of SNR for a given spectrometer, sample, and measurement conditions. A rigorous definition of FSNR is based on power density and takes into account the laser damage threshold of the sample. A simpler but less rigorous definition is based on laser power at the sample rather than power density and may be more useful to users who rarely determine the laser spot size. A new spectrometer design employing line focusing and collection is presented, with f/2 optics and a 6 mm slit image at the CCD. A proprietary aberration correction prevents slit image curvature common to most spectrographs with low f/#, and permits full height binning of the CCD. The line-focused spectrometer yielded an SNR and FSNR which are comparable to those for a point focus using the same collection optics and slightly lower than those for the most efficient spectrograph examined. However, the line focus permitted much lower power densities to be employed, or yielded much larger signal for the same power density at a point focus. In quantitative terms, the new line-focused design yielded an SNR which is 67 times that of the best point-focused system, for the same sample, measurement time, and laser power density.
Using Strassen's matrix multiplication in high performance solution of linear systems

Abstract Performance characteristics of dense and structured blocked linear system solvers are studied when Strassen's matrix multiplication is used in the update step. Results of experiments on a multiprocessor Cray Y-MP are presented and discussed.
Erasmus King: Eighteenth-century experimental philosopher

Summary Well-known in his day, but overlooked since, Erasmus King lectured in natural and experimental philosophy from the 1730s until 1756 at his Westminster home and twenty other venues, publicizing his frequent courses exclusively in the Daily Advertiser. In 1739 he escorted Desaguliers's youngest son to Russia, hoping to demonstrate experimental philosophy to the Russian empress. En route, he conducted trials with a sea-guage in the Baltic which were reported by Stephen Hales in his Statical Essays. Various sources testify to King's subsequent experimental research for Hales in the fields of anatomy, respiration and electricity. There is recorded evidence for the exceptional range and quality of King's scientific apparatus and models.
EMPIRICAL EVALUATION OF EXPONENTIAL AND INDEPENDENCE ASSUMPTIONS IN QUEUEING MODELS OF MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

This paper presents actual data (processing times, interarrival times, cycles-between-failures, and time-to-repair) from two automotive body welding lines. The purpose is twofold. First, to help researchers focus their work on realistic problems, we exhibit the nature of randomness actually found in two industrial manufacturing systems and provide a data source for realistic probability distributions. Second, we assess the validity of two common assumptions regarding this randomness in automotive manufacturing. Many queueing network models assume that certain random variables are independent and exponentially distributed. Though often reasonable, the primary motivation for the independence and exponentiality assumptions is mathematical tractability.
Caregivers' readiness for change: predictive validity in a child welfare sample.

Abstract Objective: To assess the predictive validity of continuous measures of problem recognition (PR), intentions to change (ITC), and overall readiness for change (RFC) among primary caregivers who received in-home services following substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect. Method: A modified version of the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment scale was included in interviews with a sample of 353 primary caregivers at 4 weeks, 16 weeks, and 1 year after referral for in-home services. Additional data were obtained from administrative records and caseworker surveys. Hierarchical linear and nonlinear models were used to assess relationships between PR, ITC, RFC and changes over time in measures of individual and family functioning (e.g., parenting behaviors, children's behaviors, housing and economic problems, social support, and life events). Bivariate probit regression analysis was used to examine relationships between PR, ITC, RFC and the likelihood of subsequent reports of child maltreatment and out-of-home placements within 1 year after referral. Results: Initial problem recognition and intentions to change predict a few improvements in individual and family functioning, along with significant reductions in the likelihood of additional reports of child maltreatment within 1 year. Initial intentions to change also predict reductions in the substantiation of subsequent reports of maltreatment. An overall measure of readiness for change predicts reductions in the likelihood of out-of-home placement. Conclusions: Problem recognition and intentions to change predict somewhat different outcomes; hence, there are few advantages of a combined measure of readiness for change. Further inquiry is needed to determine whether and how these associations are mediated by intervention processes or other factors in child welfare services populations.
Control of cereal rye with a roller/crimper as influenced by cover crop phenology

Adoption of reduced tillage practices have been driven by the need to enhance soil quality, minimize fi eld labor time, and scale up farm size. However, concerns about increased reliance on herbicides and demand for organically grown foods call for adoption of production practices that can reduce both tillage and herbicide use. Th is research study assessed the infl uence of planting and termination dates on mechanical cover crop control effi cacy to limit tillage and herbicide use using a roller/crimper. A thermal-based phenological model using growing degree days (GDD; base 4.4°C) was developed to predict cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) growth stage. Mechanical control of cereal rye increased as rye matured. Variations in cereal rye cultivar growth rates were observed; however, they responded similarly to rolling when terminated at the same growth stage. Consistent control was achieved at a Zadoks growth stage 61 (rye anthesis). A thermal-based phenological model separating the eff ects of heat units accumulated in the fall (Fall GDD ) from those accumulated in the spring (Spring GDD ) best predicted the phenological development of cereal rye. Predicting when cereal rye can be successfully controlled using a roller/crimper along with the use of the thermalbased phenological model should aid growers in decision-making regarding cereal rye planting and termination dates.
SU-E-T-211: Peer Review System for Ensuring Quality of Radiation Therapy Treatments.

Purpose: To demonstrate a Web‐based electronic peer review system that has the potential to improve quality of care for radiation therapy patients. The system provides tools that allow radiation oncologists to seek peer review of target and critical structure delineation, treatment plans, and share clinical data with peers to optimize radiation therapytreatments.Material and Methods: Peer review of radiation therapytreatment planning data prior to its initiation improves the quality of radiation therapy and clinical outcomes. Web‐based access to radiation therapytreatment planning data and medical records mitigate existing geographical and temporal constraints. With internet access, the healthcare provider can access the data from any location and review it in an interactive and collaborative manner. Interoperability standard like DICOM‐RT and IHE‐RO compliant RT Systems have facilitated the design and implementation of PRS with Silverlight Web technology, .net Framework and SQL Server. Local DICOM‐RT archive and cloud based services are deployed to facilitate remote peer reviews. Results: To validate the PRS system, we tested the system for 100 patients with Philips Pinnacle v 9.0 and Varian Eclipse v 8.9 treatment planning system (TPS). We transmitted the DICOM RT data from the TPS to the cloud based services via the PRS local DICOM RT Archive. Various CT simulation based parameters such as orientation of CT, properties of RT structures etc. were compared between the TPS and PRS system. Data integrity of other parameters such as patient demographics (patient name, ID, attending physician etc.) and dose volume related parameters were also evaluated. Such rigorous testing allowed us to optimize the functionalities and clinical implementation of the PRS. Conclusions: We believe that the PRS will improve the quality and safety of a broad spectrum of radiation therapy patients treated in underserved areas while discouraging the overutilization of expensive radiation treatment modalities. This research and development project is supported by the James and Ester King Biomedical Research Program grant # RC1‐09KW‐09‐26829
Bleomycin‐induced DNA damage and repair in Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis

Microgel cell electrophoresis has been used with various species to measure breakage of DNA and DNA repair following exposure to the radiomimetic antibiotic, bleomycin. With humans, a high degree of DNA damage is considered to be predictive of cancer susceptibility. Non-isogeneic Xenopus laevis, the South African clawed toad, rarely develop spontaneous or induced cancers. Here, we investigate bleomycin-induced DNA damage and repair in splenic lymphocytes of this species to test consistency with cancer predictability. As X. laevis is pseudotetraploid in nature, while Xenopus tropicalis is diploid, we additionally explore the effect of polyploidy on DNA damage and repair in these vertebrates. The results show that higher doses of bleomycin are required to induce comparable levels of DNA damage in both Xenopus species, than in humans. X. tropicalis, the diploid, is more bleomycin-sensitive than is X. laevis. Additionally, repair rates of damaged DNA of X. laevis lymphocytes are more rapid than those of X. tropicalis, although both are hours slower than human leukocytes. While no data exist on cancer susceptibility in X. tropicalis, the results suggest greater susceptibility to cancer than X. laevis, but less than in humans. Thus, polyploidy serves as a protection against DNA damage and allows more rapid repair.
Half Space and Quarter Space Dirichlet Problems for the Partial Differential Equation

A customary, heuristic, method, by which the Poisson integral formula for the Dirichlet problem, for the half space, for Laplace's equation is obtained, involves Green's function, and Kelvin's method of images. Although this heuristic method leads one to guess the correct result, this Poisson formula still has to be verified directly, independently of the method by which it was arrived at, in order to be absolutely certain that a solution of the Dirichlet problem for the half space, for Laplace's equation, has been actually obtained. A similar heuristic method, as seems to be generally known, could be followed in solving the Dirichlet problem, for the half space, for the equation where is a real constant. However, in Part 1, a different, labor-saving, method is used to study Dirichlet problems for the equation. This method is essentially based on what Hadamard called the method of descent. Indeed, it is shown that he who has solved the half space Dirichlet problem for Laplace's equation has already solved...
Performance of microbial fuel cells with and without Nafion solution as cathode binding agent.

article i nfo The performance of tubular microbial fuel cells (MFC) with and without Nafion solution as binding agent for the cathode catalyst preparation was investigated using different electrochemical techniques. The current outputofbothtypesofMFCswas monitoredasafunction oftimeusinganexternal resistor.Thecurrentdidnot change much with time and was higher for the water cell (WC) than for the Nafion cell (NC). Cell voltage (Uc)- current (I) curves were recorded using a potentiodynamic technique. From the Uc-I curves power concentration (P)-I and P-Uc curves were constructed. The water cell (without Nafion) also achieved a highermaximum poweroutput.Theinternalresistance thatwas determinedfromthecellvoltageatwhich the power concentration reached its maximum value was higher for the NC than that for the WC, possibly due to the higher cathodic polarization resistance of the NC cell. The impedance for the cathodes decreased with exposure time for both cells due to increased porosity of the surface layers covering the cathode materials. No changes of the impedance were observed for the WC anode. For the NC anode the impedance spectra changed from a one-time constant system to a two-time constant system at the longer exposure time.
Evidence for an accelerated adaptation to starvation in chronic uremia

During a 72-hr period of starvation plasma levels of glucose and immunoreactive insulin fell to a greater extent, and alanine, free fatty acid, and glycerol concentrations were higher in fasted chronically uremic rats than in nonuremic controls. These changes, in conjunction with a significant increase in the uremic group's activity of phosphoenolypyruvate-carboxykinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in hepatic gluconeogenesis, after only 12 hr of fasting suggest that alterations in glucose metabolism in uremia may contribute to an exaggeration and acceleration of the metabolic consequences of starvation.
BETWEEN-YEAR BREEDING DISPERSAL IN RED-COCKADED WOODPECKERS: MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ESTIMATED COST

We studied between-year dispersal of adult females within a population of cooperatively breeding Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) in the Sandhills of North Carolina, using data collected between 1980 and 1995. We tested four hypotheses about the cause of breeding dispersal: inbreeding avoidance, mate choice, site choice, and social constraints. In addition, we assessed relationships among age, reproductive failure, and breeding dispersal, and we estimated cost of breeding dispersal by plotting mortality against dispersal rate as a function of circumstance. Breeding dispersal in the population that we studied is associated with multiple factors. Inbreeding avoidance influences dispersal of females whose sons inherit their natal terri- tories. Mate choice influences dispersal of females whose mates have died; these females acquire older, higher quality mates by dispersing. In this study, there was no clear rela- tionship between site choice and breeding dispersal. Social constraints do not appear to affect breeding dispersal in this population: no evidence was found to suggest that dispersal is associated with female-female competition, within-group competition for resources, or reproductive competition between mothers and helper sons. The effect of reproductive failure on breeding dispersal changes with female age. Re- productive failure is associated with breeding dispersal in young females only (those <3 yr old). Estimated mortality rates for breeding females that attempt to disperse vs. those that do not attempt to disperse were 59% and 26%, respectively; the difference between those rates is the estimated cost of breeding dispersal in this population, an additional 33% probability of mortality. Thus, breeding females more than double their risk of mortality by dispersing.
Aganglionosis and related disorders

Congenital aganglionosis or Hirschsprung's disease (HD) characteristically presents with involvement of the sigmoid colon and rectum. There is an associated increase in cholinergic and adrenergic innervation in the affected bowel wall. Diagnosis of HD in the neonatal period is readily achieved via submucosal rectal biopsy with recognition of the immaturity of ganglion cells within the first year of life, use of a standardized protocol, and supplemental acetylcholinesterase stain. Morbidity and mortality from HD occur caused by Hirschsprung's-associated enterocolitis (HAEC); the pathologist can alert the clinician to the presence of HAEC. The HD variant to be aware of is total colonic aganglionosis, which may lack hypertrophic nerves and increased cholinergic nerve endings and contain zonal areas of some ganglion cells. Pseudo HD includes intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND), chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo obstruction (CIIP), and chronic constipation in children. Intestinal neuronal dysplasia is characterized by hyperganglionosis, whereas CIIP and chronic constipation in children share a common, newly described myopathic pathology. In this review investigation into peptidergic (VIPergic) innervation in pseudo HD and HD shows increased VIPergic immunostaining in CIIP, chronic constipation, and the ganglionic portion of HD; however, the VIPergic pattern is not diagnostically selective. Until the advent of new molecular biological techniques, histopathology remains the diagnostic gold standard in HD.
Dynamics of nuclear fluid. V. Extended time-dependent Hartree-Fock approximation illuminates the approach to thermal equilibrium

In the time-dependent Hartree-Fock approximation, the fermions are assumed to interact only through the mean field and the collisions between particles are neglected. We formulate an extended time-dependent Hartree-Fock approximation which incorporates particle collisions due to the residual interaction, with the usual time-dependent Hartree-Fock approximation as the collisionless limit. It is obtained by a truncation of the Martin-Schwinger hierarchy at the second level and by using a simple representation of the one-body Green's function in terms of time-dependent occupation numbers. The final set of coupled equations consists of a modified time-dependent Hartree-Fock equation and a master equation for the occupation numbers. These results are physically transparent and describe properly the physics of the collision process. They may also be simple enough to be of practical use to study heavy-ion collisions or the dynamics of other fermion systems. Furthermore, as the configuration-space analog of the quantum Boltzmann equation, many important results concerning statistical dynamics are obtained. Concepts such as entropy, temperature, and local and thermal equilibrium can be quantitatively introduced. The well-known $H$ theorem that entropy never decreases can be readily recovered. With the collision term explicitly exhibited, the macroscopic equations (equations of continuity, momentum flux, and energy) and their associated conservation theorems can also be derived. Analytic solutions for the master equation for simple cases lead to new "level crossing" formulas having characteristics distinctly different from the Landau-Zener level-crossing formula and illuminate the salient features as to how a nonequilibrium fermion system approaches thermal equilibrium.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Extension of time-dependent Hartree-Fock approximation. Collisions between particles. Master equation for occupation probabilities. Entropy, temperature, and thermal equilibrium. $H$ theorem. Analytic solution of the master equation. New types of level crossing formula.
Lateral-torsional structural response from free-field ground motion

Abstract Lateral-torsional responses of structures subjected to the action of both the free-field ground inputs and external forces and moments are investigated. By expanding the work of Scanlan [1], both lateral and torsional foundation inputs due to a travelling shear wave are derived from the free-field point motions. The free-field torsional motions are used as the basis of numerical studies. Responses for different soil stiffness and structural characteristics are studied, as well as different dynamic models. In one dynamic model, the effects of interaction between lateral inertial force and lateral foundation motion are considered. And in the second model, the structure is excited by the external torque and torsional inputs. Both models are coupled to an elastic half-space. Finally, torsional structural response caused by torsional inputs is compared with lateral response caused by lateral inputs to determine the significance of torsional excitation on the seismic response of building structures. Numerical results show that these torsional seismic loads may be as large or larger than those from lateral excitations.
Evaluation of the vertebral arteries with duplex sonography

Using duplex sonography, we have routinely evaluated the vertebral arteries as part of the carotid artery examination in 453 consecutive patients over a 6-month period. Sixty-two of these 906 vessels could not be adequately evaluated, primarily because these vessels lay too deep within the vertebral structures, resulting in a technical failure rate of 6.8%. For the remaining 844 vessels, 74.4% were considered normal by Doppler flowmeter spectral analysis. Angiographic correlation was available for 224 vessels; of 155 judged normal by duplex sonography, 144 (93%) were shown to be normal or have only mild atherosclerotic disease. Eleven vessels were considered either occluded or to have severe disease by duplex sonography, and angiography showed this to be the case in 10 (91%) vessels. Unusually strong vertebral artery flow was associated with hemodynamically significant carotid or contralateral vertebral atherosclerotic disease or subclavian steal 82% of the time. Twelve cases of subclavian steal, only one of which was symptomatic, were identified by duplex sonography; four of these were confirmed by angiography. Angiographic correlation was available for 229 vessels in which duplex evaluation showed vertebral artery flow to be moderately damped. In 11 of these (38%), angiography showed greater than 50% stenosis. Angiography judged the remaining 18 vessels in this group normal; these vessels may represent a small subgroup of patients with normal anatomy or only mild atherosclerotic disease, but with hemodynamic dysfunction that can be identified with the duplex technique.
Chronic exposure to everyday discrimination and coronary artery calcification in African-American women: the SWAN Heart Study.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to discrimination may be associated with atherosclerosis in African-American women, although research in this area focused on short-term rather than chronic exposure to discriminatory events. Methods: We examined the relationship between chronic exposure to multiple types of discrimination (self-reported and averaged over 5 years) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in a sample of 181 middle-aged African-American women. Discrimination was assessed at each time point, and the presence/absence of CAC was assessed at the fifth annual follow-up examination by electron beam tomography. We hypothesized that chronic discrimination would be more strongly associated with CAC than recent discrimination and that racial/ethnic discrimination would be more strongly associated with CAC than other types of discrimination. Results: Chronic exposure to discrimination was significantly associated with the presence of CAC in unadjusted logistic regression analyses (p = .007) and after adjustment for demographics (p = .01), standard cardiovascular risk factors (p = .02), and Body Mass Index (BMI) (p = .05). In contrast, recent discrimination was only marginally associated with the presence of CAC in both unadjusted (p = .06) and fully adjusted logistic regression models (p = .08). Persistent exposure to racial/ethnic discrimination was not more strongly associated with CAC compared with other types of discrimination in either unadjusted or adjusted models. Conclusion: Chronic exposure to discrimination may be an important risk factor for early coronary calcification in African-American women. This association appears to be driven by exposure to discrimination from multiple sources, rather than exposure to racial/ethnic discrimination alone.
Two polyisoprenylated benzophenones from the trunk latex of Clusia grandiflora (Clusiaceae)

The polyisoprenylated benzophenones, chamones I and II, were isolated from the trunk latex of Clusia grandiflora (Clusiaceae) growing in southeastern Venezuela. A third benzophenone, nemorosone II, was isolated from the pollinator reward resin of the female flowers of the same plant. Chamone I and nemorosone II are structurally similar, differing only in the degree of prenylation. Bioassays of chamone I and nemorosone II using the honeybee pathogens, Paenibacillus larvae and Paenibacillus alvei, demonstrate that both have potent antibacterial activity, and that their structural differences affect both their bactericidal efficacies and their aqueous mobilities.
Low-fat frankfurters with elevated levels of water and oleic acid.

The effects of simultaneous incorporation of maximum allowable levels of water and high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) on frankfurter properties were investigated. The formulation changes generally had little effect on processing yield. Frankfurters formulated with HOSO were 180-241% higher in the ratio of total monounsaturated fatty acids to total saturated fatty acids when compared to control products with similar total fat levels. Consumer-panel sensory data and instrumental texture profile data indicated that low-fat (14-16%), high-water, HOSO frankfurters- were as acceptable as control frankfurters with 28% fat (all-animal fat) and did not have the texture problems observed previously with low-fat, HOSO frankfurters without extra added water.
Ordinal aggregation and quantiles

Abstract Consider the problem of aggregating a profile of interpersonally comparable utilities into a social utility. We require that the units of measurement of utility used for agents is the same as the units of measurement for society (ordinal covariance) and a mild Pareto condition (monotonicity). We provide several representations of such social aggregation operators: a canonical representation, a Choquet expectation representation, a minimax representation, and a quantile representation (with respect to a possibly non-additive set function on the agents). We also isolate an additional condition that gives us a quantile representation with respect to a probability measure, in both the finite and infinite agents case.
Restrictive pattern of lung function following psittacosis treated with corticosteroids.

Abstract Psittacosis is a well recognized cause of pneumonia, although in most cases infection remains mild or subclinical. Some patients are more severely ill with involvement of the respiratory, cardiovascular and central nervous systems. The chest radiograph often shows areas of consolidation greater than the physical signs would suggest. Recovery may be prolonged. A case of severe pneumonia due to psittacosis is reported in which a severe restrictive pattern of lung function complicated recovery. This has been described following mycoplasma pneumonia with evolution into diffuse interstitial fibrosis (Kaufman et al. 1980) but not as far as we can discover following psittacosis. Treatment with corticosteroids was associated with complete resolution of the lung function and chest radiograph abnormalities after nine months.
Phonon interactions in zeolites mediated by anharmonicity and adsorbed molecules

There is increasing evidence that thermal conductivity of nanoporous materials can be significantly affected by adsorption of guest molecules. These molecules serve as moving defects and provide additional scattering centres for heat-carrying phonons. In order to understand the sorbate–phonon interactions, we perform molecular dynamics simulations of a model system, namely sodalite zeolite with small molecules (argon, xenon and methane) encapsulated in its cages. We measure effects of sorbates on several important characteristics of phonon dynamics, such as correlations between different phonon modes and the phonon frequency and lifetime. The dominant effect of the sorbate–phonon interactions is observed to be a change of phonon lifetime. The phonon lifetime often increases upon encapsulation of a sorbate into the zeolite which suggests that the sorbate–phonon interactions are qualitatively different from phonon scattering by point defects fixed in the lattice.
Development of a novel plasmid as a shuttle vector for heterologous gene expression in Mycoplasma yeatsii

Abstract A circular plasmid, pMyBK1, was detected in Mycoplasma yeatsii strain GIHT. Analysis of the sequence of the 3432-bp replicon identified two predicted open reading frames (ORFs), one with sequence similarity to multiple plasmid mobilization proteins and one that matches only to hypothetical ORFs encoded by integrated chromosomal elements in the sequenced genomes of two Mycoplasma species. Shuttle vectors were constructed in Escherichia coli which could be introduced into M. yeatsii at high efficiency (104–105 per μg DNA) by electroporation. Independent deletion analysis of the two ORFs disclosed that whereas mob was dispensable, orf2 was necessary for plasmid replication or maintenance. The absence of plasmid-encoded database matches for ORF2 indicates that pMyBK1 represents a novel plasmid family. One shuttle vector was used to demonstrate heterologous expression of the Mycoplasma fermentans malp gene and was stable during multiple passages. The host–plasmid system described has potential application for genetic manipulation in a genus for which few replicative vectors are available.
Highly Fault-tolerant NoC Routing with Application-aware Congestion Management

Silicon devices are becoming less and less reliable as technology moves to smaller feature sizes. As a result, digital systems are increasingly likely to experience permanent failures during their life-time. To overcome this problem, networks-on-chip (NoCs) should be designed to, not only fulfill performance requirements, but also be robust to many fault occurrences. This paper proposes a fault- and application-aware routing framework called FATE: it leverages the diversity of communication patterns in applications for highly faulty NoCs to reduce congestion during execution. To this end, FATE estimates routing demands in applications to balance traffic load among the available resources. We propose a set of novel route-enabling rules that greatly reduce the search for deadlock-free, maximally-connected routes for any faulty 2D mesh topology, by preventing early on the exploration of routing configuration options that lead eventually to unviable solutions. Our experimental results show a 33% improvement on average saturation throughput for synthetic traffic patterns, and a 59% improvement on average packet latency for SPLASH-2 benchmarks, over state-of-the-art fault-tolerant solutions. The FATE approach is also beneficial in the complete absence of faults: indeed, it outperforms prior fully-adaptive routing techniques by improving the saturation throughput by up to 33%.
Simulating patient flow through an Emergency Department using process-driven discrete event simulation

This paper suggests an architecture for supporting discrete event simulations that is based upon using executable process definitions and separate components for specifying resources. The paper describes the architecture and indicates how it might be used to suggest efficiency improvements for hospital Emergency Departments (EDs). Preliminary results suggest that the proposed architecture provides considerable ease of use and flexibility for specifying a wider range of simulation problems, thus creating the possibility of carrying out a wide range of comparisons of different approaches to ED improvement. Some early comparisons suggest that the simulations are likely to be of value to the medical community and that the simulation architecture offers useful flexibility.