cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Catalytic hydrogen evolution from a covalently linked dicobaloxime

A dicobaloxime in which monomeric Co(III) units are linked by an octamethylene bis(glyoxime) catalyzes the reduction of protons from p-toluenesulfonic acid as evidenced by electrocatalytic waves at -0.4 V vs. the saturated calomel electrode (SCE) in acetonitrile solutions. Rates of hydrogen evolution were determined from catalytic current peak heights (kapp = 1100 ± 70 M-1 s-1). Electrochemical experiments reveal no significant enhancement in the rate of H2 evolution from that of a monomeric analogue: The experimental rate law is first order in catalyst and acid consistent with previous findings for similar mononuclear cobaloximes. Our work suggests that H2 evolution likely occurs by protonation of reductively generated CoIIH rather than homolysis of two CoIIIH units.
Brecht and Exile: Poetry after Weimar, Poetics during Blitzkrieg

In exile, Brecht's increasingly acute sense of writing's ethical transgressions spurred a reconceptualization of literary transmission and duration. This reconceptualization had to address two splits: a divorce of the emotional and the intellectual, pursued in the neusachlich cultivation of Kalte during the Weimar years, that left its proponents ill-equipped to respond to the fascist dynamization of the masses in the 1930s; and a divorce of poetics from history, which ended the fantasy of direct social infl uence through literary writing. Recognizing the impossibility of shaping society via his texts, Brecht began to experiment with paradigms of literary communication that would not compel antifascist action, but could nonetheless foster an intellectual and sentimental profi le less compatible with the modes of aesthetic and political organization employed by the National Socialists. Analytical focus on these experiments reveals dimensions of Brecht's exile poetry and journal entries that exceed the scope of Marxist antifascism.
Relative effects of cooling and warming rates on mammalian cells during the freeze-thaw cycle

Abstract The relative roles of cooling and warming rates on cell survival during a freeze-thaw cycle were investigated. Basically the faster the warming rate, the better the cells survive. One of the factors influencing this is the extended phase transition period at the slower thawing rates. The warming rate had a significant effect on cell damage and recovery, but this was not as great as comparative changes in the cooling rate were. This investigation also showed that under certain freeze-thaw conditions there was a lack of correlation between the two methods used for quantifying cell recovery (RI) and cell damage (PCR) as measured by radiochromate release. The analysis of the relationship between RI and PCR showed that PCR could be used to measure both lethal and nonlethal damage and enabled a clearer interpretation of cellular damage during cooling and thawing to be made.
Regulatory T cells induced by GM-CSF suppress ongoing experimental myasthenia gravis.

We had previously observed that treatment utilizing granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) had profound effects on the induction of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG), a well-characterized antibody-mediated autoimmune disease. In this study, we show that EAMG induced by repeated immunizations with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) protein in C57BL6 mice is effectively suppressed by GM-CSF treatment administered at a stage of chronic, well-established disease. In addition, this amelioration of clinical disease is accompanied by down-modulation of both autoreactive T cell, and pathogenic autoantibody responses, a mobilization of DCs with a tolerogenic phenotype, and an expansion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) that potently suppress AChR-stimulated T cell proliferation in vitro. These observations suggest that the mobilization of antigen-specific Tregs in vivo using pharmacologic agents, like GM-CSF, can modulate ongoing anti-AChR immune responses capable of suppressing antibody-mediated autoimmunity.
RELIGION AND THE THEORIES OF SCIENCE: A RESPONSE TO BARBOUR

La relation entre la religion et les theories scientifiques est demontree a travers le theoreme de Bell dans la theorie quantique, la metaphysique avec la theorie de la relativite et la thermodynamique, le probleme de la temporalite et de la causalite, ainsi que les arguments concernant l'origine et l'univers et de la creation
Ion and water transport through permselective membranes

Abstract Electroosmotic transport of water accompanying ion transport across an anion-selective membrane has been measured at 25°C using 0.01 N NaC1 solution. Also electrical conductance, self-diffusion coefficient of counterion, and hydrodynamic permeability of the membrane have been measured. These data and others, such as water content and exchange capacity, have been used in the relations derived by Scattergood and Lightfoot employing the generalized Stefan-Maxwell equations to obtain values for the diffusivity coefficients D 1*1, D 13, D 14, and D34. The isotope interaction term D 1*1 was the lowest. Assuming the applicability of the Nernst-Einstein relation to the membrane system, the number of moles of water transported by electroconvection has been evaluated. The difference between the moles of total water transport and the moles of water moved electro-convectively has been assigned as the moles of water firmly associated with a mole of the moving ion. This way a value of 0.58 mole has been derive...
Quantification of rebound edema after steroid treatment.

Abstract Objective: Return of edema after abrupt discontinuation of steroid treatment has never been studied or quantified. The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of abrupt cessation and tapering doses of steroids on tissue water content (TWC) in a rat skin flap model. Design: A randomized controlled animal trial was designed to study the effects of discontinuation of steroid on skin flap edema. The animals were assigned to a control group (C), a steroid group (S), an abrupt steroid cessation (SC) group, or a tapering steroid (ST) group. Main Outcome Measures: In each group the skin flaps were biopsied at 30 and 36 hours. TWC was determined by a biopsy-drying technique. Results: A significant difference ( P = 0.05) was found between the C and S groups and between the SC and S groups at both 30 and 36 hours, with the C group having the highest TWC. No significant difference was noted between the SC and C groups. The ST group had significantly less edema than the C group and similar TWC to that of the S group. Conclusion: Edema rebounded in the skin flaps after abrupt cessation of steroids (SC was not different from C), presumably because of destabilization of inflammatory mediators. The rebound effect was not observed in the ST group. The control of rebound edema by a tapering steroid protocol may be important in skin flap survival and may have implications for the management of airway edema. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;123:44-7.)
Domain-final lengthening and foot-level shortening in spoken English.

The literature describes two kinds of durational influence on the syllables of an utterance. They are a lengthening of syllables before many syntactic boundaries (‘domain-final lengthening’) and a sho
A geometric property of level sets of solutions to semilinear elliptic dirichiet problems

It is shown that under certain geometrical assumptions on a domain any positive solution of △u+f(u)=0 in D, u=0 on ∂D has level Sets with the same geometrical properties as D. This implies that u has only one critical point and externds results of PAYNE1 and SPERs2.
What is good for General Motors: the contributions and influence of Alfred P. Sloan, Jr

Purpose – This paper seeks to provide a review and analysis of the contributions and influence of Alfred P. Sloan, Jr, to contemporary business practices and management thought.Design/methodology/approach – The paper begins with an introduction and brief biographical sketch followed by an overview of Sloan's administrative principles as applied at GM. The paper continues with a review of empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of Sloan's principles along with some theoretical explanations for their success. The paper then examines some criticisms surrounding Sloan's contributions before concluding with a discussion of the impact that Sloan's ideas have had on organizational and managerial thought in the context of today's rapidly evolving organizational realities.Findings – Although he was not a management scholar, Sloan's applied work at General Motors resulted in significant and enduring contributions to business practices and management theory. Yet Sloan's contributions are somewhat overlooked today...
Demographic characteristics, fire experiences, and distress of residential fire survivors

The United States has one of the highest per capita fire death rates in the world. Death rates alone, however, fail to reflect the breadth of loss experienced by residential fire survivors. Despite the frequency of home fires and the potential for loss, little is known about this vulnerable population. Interviews were conducted with 440 fire survivors 14 weeks after fires. Demographic characteristics of residential fire survivors, survivors' fire experiences, psychological distress after fires and the interrelationships among these variables were examined. This sample of urban fire survivors largely comprised poor, middle-aged African American women. Psychological distress was measured by the General Severity Index of the Brief Symptom Inventory, and the results showed that survivors were highly distressed, even in the absence of fire-related death or physical injury.
SOLAR (BRACHIORADIAL) PRURITUS—RESPONSE TO CAPSAICIN CREAM

Background. Solar (brachioradial) pruritus is an enigmatic condition affecting the lateral aspects of the arm(s) and is primarily seen in Caucasian people living in the tropics or subtropics. Methods. Over a 5-year period we prospectively evaluated 68 patients with solar pruritus seen in an outpatient dermatology clinic. Clinical, biochemical, and microscopic and ultramicroscopic studies were performed. An open-label trial of capsaicin cream application was initiated in 15 patients. Results. An almost equal number of men and women were seen with an average age of 44 years. Brown-eyed and blue-eyed patients were seen with equal frequency. Most patients (86%) had outdoor occupations or avocations. The pruritus was intense, usually bilateral (72%) and invariably affected the lateral (as opposed to medial) aspects of the arm(s) in the absence of primary lesions. The most commonly affected area was the elbow area superficial to the brachioradialis and extensor carpi longus muscles, but extension of the pruritus to include the forearm and/or upper arm was common. Biopsy specimens (stained with hematoxylin and eosin) were normal or showed mild actinic elastosis in 15 patients tested. Ultramicroscopy showed myelin sheath splitting in all four patients studied. This is a nonspecific finding that may also be found in diabetic or alcoholic neuropathy. Ten of thirteen patients completing the capsaicin-cream study found significant relief (itching much improved or gone) after 3 weeks compared with the untreated control arm. Conclusions. The cause of solar pruritus remains unknown, but circumstantial evidence implicates chronic exposure to solar radiation. Capsaicin may offer relief to these patients, but the patients need to be cautioned about the burning sensation that occurs with capsaicin cream.
Structural features of MHC class I molecules that might facilitate alternative pathways of presentation

Abstract Comparisons of the structures of different mouse MHC class I molecules define how polymorphic residues determine the unique structural motif and atomic anchoring of their bound peptides. Here, Ted Hansen and colleagues speculate that quantitative differences in how class I molecules interact with peptide, β 2 -microglobulin and molecular chaperones that facilitate peptide loading might determine their relative participation in different pathways of antigen presentation.
Cell-cell junctions: a target of acoustic overstimulation in the sensory epithelium of the cochlea

Exposure to intense noise causes the excessive movement of the organ of Corti, stretching the organ and compromising sensory cell functions. We recently revealed changes in the transcriptional expression of multiple adhesion-related genes during the acute phases of cochlear damage, suggesting that the disruption of cell-cell junctions is an early event in the process of cochlear pathogenesis. However, the functional state of cell junctions in the sensory epithelium is not clear. Here, we employed graded dextran-FITC, a macromolecule tracer that is impermeable to the organ of Corti under physiological conditions, to evaluate the barrier function of cell junctions in normal and noise-traumatized cochlear sensory epithelia. Exposure to an impulse noise of 155 dB (peak sound pressure level) caused a site-specific disruption in the intercellular junctions within the sensory epithelium of the chinchilla cochlea. The most vulnerable sites were the junctions among the Hensen cells and between the Hensen and Deiters cells within the outer zone of the sensory epithelium. The junction clefts that formed in the reticular lamina were permeable to 40 and 500 but not 2,000 kDa dextran-FITC macromolecules. Moreover, this study showed that the interruption of junction integrity occurred in the reticular lamina and also in the basilar membrane, a site that had been considered to be resistant to acoustic injury. Finally, our study revealed a general spatial correlation between the site of sensory cell damage and the site of junction disruption. However, the two events lacked a strict one-to-one correlation, suggesting that the disruption of cell-cell junctions is a contributing, but not the sole, factor for initiating acute sensory cell death. Impulse noise causes the functional disruption of intercellular junctions in the sensory epithelium of the chinchilla cochlea. This disruption occurs at an early phase of cochlear damage. Understanding the role of this disruption in cochlear pathogenesis will require future study.
Adaptive Capacity to Bacterial Diet Modulates Aging in C. elegans

Diet has a substantial impact on cellular metabolism and physiology. Animals must sense different food sources and utilize distinct strategies to adapt to diverse diets. Here we show that Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan is regulated by their adaptive capacity to different diets, which is controlled by alh-6, a conserved proline metabolism gene. alh-6 mutants age prematurely when fed an Escherichia coli OP50 but not HT115 diet. Remarkably, this diet-dependent aging phenotype is determined by exposure to food during development. Mechanistically, the alh-6 mutation triggers diet-induced mitochondrial defects and increased generation of ROS, likely due to accumulation of its substrate 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate. We also identify that neuromedin U receptor signaling is essential for diet-induced mitochondrial changes and premature aging. Moreover, dietary restriction requires alh-6 to induce longevity. Collectively, our data reveal a homeostatic mechanism that animals employ to cope with potential dietary insults and uncover an example of lifespan regulation by dietary adaptation.
INTERFACIAL CHARGE-TRANSFER PATHWAYS : EVIDENCE FOR MARCUS-TYPE INVERTED ELECTRON TRANSFER IN METAL OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR/INORGANIC DYE SYSTEMS

Under high driving force conditions, solution-phase chargetransfer processes are often characterized by Marcus-type inverted reactivity, i.e., a decrease in rate with an increase in thermodynamic driving force.1 In contrast, interfacial charge-transfer reactions tend to exhibit either Marcus normal region behavior or asymptotically constant rate behavior.2 The usual explanation for such behavior, at least at metal/solution interfaces, is the availability of a range of filled states below the Fermi level and a range of empty states above the Fermi level of the electrode, such that lower driving force reaction pathways are always available. If the lower driving force pathways are faster, then asymptotic rather than inverted kinetic behavior will be encountered. With semiconductor/solution interfaces, however, the existence of a finite band gap eliminates states immediately above the Fermi level (p-type semiconductors) or immediately below the Fermi level (n-type semiconductors) and opens up the possibility of inverted interfacial reactivity. Indeed, inverted behavior has often been invoked to explain the otherwise surprisingly slow back-electron-transfer reactivity typically encountered at inorganic-dye-sensitized metal oxide semiconductor/ solution interfaces.3 Nevertheless, in the few cases where driving force effects at the semiconductor/dye interface have been systematically investigated, either by manipulating band edge energetics or by manipulating molecular dye redox potentials, either Marcus normal region behavior or driving-force-independent kinetic behavior has been observed.2,4-7 We now report the direct observation of inverted interfacial electron-transfer reactivity at a molecular-dye-modified semiconductor/solution interface. The systems examined were classic ruthenium tris(polypyridine) complexes (homoleptic complexes), electrostatically bound to tin dioxide nanoparticles.8 Photoexcitation of the complexes leads to rapid electron injection into the semiconductor particle, followedsin the absence of an external electrical connections by back electron transfer, as shown in eqs 1 and 2.
Use of a Custom Stemless Anatomic Femoral Component for an Incarcerated Femoral Reamer

Most modern femoral components used in total hip arthroplasty have stems that engage a certain length of the femoral diaphysis. Retained hardware can pose a problem with placement of the femoral component during total hip arthroplasty and often require removal. A patient presented for total hip arthroplasty with a retained reamer in the proximal femur from a previous revision knee arthroplasty. The reamer's position precluded placement of a standard femoral component without removal of the reamer. We report the use of a stemless anatomical femoral component, which avoided having to remove the retained reamer.
Single-pulse picosecond determination of 735 nm fluorescence risetime in spinach chloroplasts

1. Introduction Within the last few years there have been extensive investigations of the fluorescence from photosynthetic systems using picosecond lasers as excitation sources [l-l 11. Such studies have established that the quenching of the prompt fluorescence, with increasing incident excitation intensity employing a single pulse, arises primarily from singlet--singlet exciton annihila- tion [2,3,7-91. When the mode of excitation consists of a train of pulses or of a microsecond laser pulse, there exists additional quenching of the fluorescence quantum yield arising from long-lived quenchers, presumably triplet excitons [2,3,10] , which either arise from intersystem crossing from the singlet mani- fold or from random recombination of electrons and holes formed from the autoionization final state channel of singlet fusion [8]. Recently, Geacintov et al. [8] have shown that the quantum yield quenching at emission wavelengths of 685 nm and 735 nm were identical, within experimental error, when single picosecond excitation pulses were employed. This identity in the quenching curves was interpreted in terms of the tripartite fluorescence model with bimolecular singlet fusion occurring exclusively within the light harvesting antenna system. Strong support for this interpretation was provided by the observation of an intensity-independent (for intensities below 10” photons cm-* per pulse) 316 lifetime for the 735 nm emission [l 1] . Presumably, singlet fusion reactions are either inoperative or inefficient within the PS I antenna chlorophyll molecules, at least for intensities below lo’* photons cm-’ per pulse. Within the light harvesting and PS II antenna pigments which give-rise to the 685 nm emission, singlet exciton fusions do give rise to a strong decrease of the fluorescence lifetime with increasing intensity. It was concluded that the pigments which are responsible for the 735 nm emission derive their energy by singlet exciton transfer from the light harvesting system and not by direct photon absorp- tion at 530 nm. In this paper we measure the risetime for the 735 nm emission and identify this time lag with the transfer rate from the light harvesting system to the PS I pigment molecules which give rise to the 735 nm fluorescence band at low temperatures. 2. Materials and methods The experimental arrangement for fluorescence lifetime measurements was similar to that reported previously [3] . A 1060 nm, 30 ps pulse was selected from the pulse train emitted by a modelocked Nd:YAG laser, frequency shifted to 530 nm by passage through a KDP crystal, and then was allowed to excite the spinach samples. The samples, chloroplasts prepared from spinach leaves as described in [ 121 , were
Sterol transfer by ABCG5 and ABCG8: in vitro assay and reconstitution.

ATP-binding cassette transporters G5 and G8 are half-transporters expressed on the apical membranes of enterocytes and hepatocytes that limit intestinal uptake and promote secretion of neutral sterols. Genetic defects that inactivate either half-transporter cause accumulation of cholesterol and plant sterols, resulting in premature coronary atherosclerosis. These observations suggest that G5 and G8 promote the translocation of sterols across membranes, but the primary transport substrate of the G5G8 complex has not been directly determined. Here we report the development of a sterol transfer assay using “inside-out” membrane vesicles from Sf9 cells expressing recombinant mouse G5 and G8. Radiolabeled cholesterol or sitosterol was transferred from donor liposomes to G5- and G8-containing membrane vesicles in an ATP-dependent and vanadate-sensitive manner; net transfer of cholesterol was associated with an increase in vesicular cholesterol mass. CTP, GTP, and UTP, as well as ATP, supported transfer but with lesser efficiency (ATP ≫ CTP > GTP > UTP). Transfer was specific for sterols and was stereoselective; minimal ATP-dependent and vanadate-sensitive transfer of cholesteryl oleate, phosphatidylcholine, or enantiomeric cholesterol was observed. These studies indicate that G5 and G8 are sufficient for reconstitution of sterol transfer activity in vitro and provide the first demonstration that sterols are direct transport substrates of the G5 and G8 heterodimer.
Breaking up land oligopolies in the USA

Abstract The practices of the State of Hawaii and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico providing for compulsory acquisition and distribution of land to break up oligopolies have been upheld by the Supreme Court of the USA. The procedures of these governments may be instructive to agencies in other areas of the world where concentration of land in the hands of a few owners interferes with a free market for land. The holdings of American courts provide guidance on the permissible scope for determinations of public purpose by legislatures and of judicial deference to such determinations.
Research Note: Anamnestic Response of Neonatal Chickens to Sheep Red Blood Cells as Influenced by the Number of Weeks Between the First and Second Injections

Abstract In two experiments primary and secondary hemagglutination titers of chickens were determined in response to intravenous injections of 1 mL of a 5% suspension of sheep red blood cells (SRBC). All birds received the primary injection at 4 wk of age. In the first experiment, equal numbers of male and female birds were randomly selected to receive the secondary injection at 2, 4, 6, and 8 wk following the initial injection. Based on the level of IgG antibody to SRBC, all postprimary injections affected an anamnestic response. Furthermore, the anamnestic response obtained following the 6 and 8-wk postprimary injection was significantly higher than those obtained with injections 2 or 4 wk after the primary injection. In the second experiment, secondary injections were administered either 3 or 6 wk after the primary injections. The anamnestic response of birds receiving the 6-wk postprimary injection was higher than those injected 3-wk after the primary injections.
The analysis of a nested dissection algorithm

Nested dissection is an algorithm invented by Alan George for preserving sparsity in Gaussian elimination on symmetric positive definite matrices. Nested dissection can be viewed as a recursive divide-and-conquer algorithm on an undirected graph; it usesseparators in the graph, which are small sets of vertices whose removal divides the graph approximately in half. George and Liu gave an implementation of nested dissection that used a heuristic to find separators. Lipton and Tarjan gave an algorithm to findn 1/2-separators in planar graphs and two-dimensional finite element graphs, and Lipton, Rose, and Tarjan used these separators in a modified version of nested dissection, guaranteeing bounds ofO (n logn) on fill andO(n 3/2) on operation count. We analyze the combination of the original George-Liu nested dissection algorithm and the Lipton-Tarjan planar separator algorithm. This combination is interesting because it is easier to implement than the Lipton-Rose-Tarjan version, especially in the framework of existing sparse matrix software. Using some topological graph theory, we proveO(n logn) fill andO(n 3/2) operation count bounds for planar graphs, twodimensional finite element graphs, graphs of bounded genus, and graphs of bounded degree withn 1/2-separators. For planar and finite element graphs, the leading constant factor is smaller than that in the Lipton-Rose-Tarjan analysis. We also construct a class of graphs withn 1/2-separators for which our algorithm does not achieve anO(n logn) bound on fill.
Copepod Aggregations: Influences of Physics and Collective Behavior

Dense copepod aggregations form in Massachusetts Bay and provide an important resource for right whales. We re-examine the processes which might account for the high concentrations, investigating both horizontally convergent flow, which can increase the density of depth-keeping organisms, and social behavior. We argue that the two act in concert: social behavior creates small dense patches (on the scale of a few sensing radii); physical stirring brings them together so that they merge into aggregations with larger scales; it also moves them into areas of physical convergence which retain the increasingly large patch. But the turbulence can also break this apart, suggesting that the overall high density in the convergence zone will not be uniform but will instead be composed of multiple transient patches (which are still much larger than the sensing scale).
Orthodeoxia-platypnea due to intracardiac shunting relief with transcatheter double umbrella closure

The safety and efficacy of transcatheter clamshell occlusion of patent foramen ovale for relief of severe arterial desaturation and dyspnea in the upright position due to intracardiac shunting were examined in eight patients with excessive risk of surgical patent foramen ovale closure. All patients had successful reduction of intracardiac shunting with an immediate rise in oxygen saturation −95% by implantation of a clamshell device on the atrial septum. Despite two early incidents of device embolization, retrieval and immediate re-implantation, and one patient with nonsustained atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, there were no adverse clinical sequelae. In follow-up evaluation transcatheter clamshell closure of patent foramen ovale has provided persistent relief from shuntrelated arterial desaturation and symptomatology in all living patients. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Modeling and Mitigation of Faults in Cyber-physical Systems with Binary Sensors

This paper presents an analysis framework for correct system operation (i.e. system success) of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) that deploy binary sensors with possible faults. We discuss potential faults in the interface part of such systems and address solutions for those faults in order to build dependable and reliable CPS applications. As a practical tool, we present a set of models in SIMULINK to help system designers extend simulations of general CPS applications that deploy binary sensor networks. We provide methodologies to add well-defined fault behaviors and offer assessment tools to measure the effects of possible faults on the overall system success. We demonstrate the feasibility of our contributions using a CPS application and explore various architectures for fault mitigation in a holistic design space exploration environment. With the ability to help system designers analyze and assess a non-trivial design space, the presented approach contributes to the design of fault-tolerant CPSs.
The morphology of the developing canine conducting system: bundle branch and Purkinje cell architecture from birth to week 12 of life.

Abstract This is a qualitative and quantitative study of dog bundle branch and Purkinje cell development from day 0 to week 12 of life; we correlate the morphologic data with changes observed in the functional properties of developing dog Purkinje tissue. The bundle branch itself has a roughly cylindrical shape and is surrounded by a collagen sheath covered with endocardium. Within the bundle, Purkinje cells are packed closely together in fascicles distributed evenly around a central artery. Cross-sectional area doubles in the right bundle and increases 5-fold in the left bundle system between day 0 and week 12 of life. About one third of the bundle by volume is Purkinje tissue; the rest is extracellular space containing an increasing amount of collagen as the animal ages. Purkinje cell cross-sectional area is constant during the first week of life, but its length doubles and the cell changes from a relatively round to a more cylindrical shape. Between day 7 and week 12, cell diameter doubles; Purkinje cell surface area increases 5-fold and its volume almost 10-fold. As a consequence, the surface to volume ratio halves and approaches the value reported for adult dogs by week 12 of life. The percent of the intercalated disc occupied by nexal junctions virtually doubles by week 12, the same period over which Purkinje fiber conduction velocity increases. The disc itself becomes less dominant as the cell enlarges; the total percent of sarcolemma involved in its formation decreases by a fourth and has achieved the adult value by week 12 of life. As this happens, the percent of cell membrane facing on clefts increases almost 6-fold, so that the total percent of sarcolemma facing on small spaces (approximately 340A wide) is constant over the age period studied. The paucity of clefts in newborn tissue compared with the value reported for the adult dog may help explain the relative lack of responsiveness to extracellular potassium concentration of the resting membrane potential described for fetal Purkinje tissue. Within the Purkinje cell itself, the percent by volume occupied by mitochondria remains relatively constant over the age span studied, while sarcomeric mass increases 3-fold over the same period of time; these data are consonant with the relative resistance of this tissue to hypoxia.
Tissue characterization of atherosclerotic plaques by intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency signal analysis: an in vitro study of human coronary arteries.

Background Conventional gray-scale images of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) cannot accurately differentiate histologic subtypes of sonolucent coronary plaques with or without a lipid core. Methods We analyzed radiofrequency signals obtained in vitro from 24 regions of interest (ROI) of noncalcified (sonolucent) plaques in 10 atherosclerotic coronary artery specimens pressure-fixed by formalin. Radiofrequency signals were sampled with a 30-MHz IVUS catheter and digitized at 500 MHz in 8-bit resolution. The ROIs were histologically categorized into 12 plaques with a lipid core and 12 plaques without it. Integrated backscatter and statistical parameters of the radiofrequency envelope (mean/SD ratio [MSR], skewness, and kurtosis) within the ROI were calculated offline, and their ability to detect a lipid core was compared with visual analysis of the IVUS video images. In the group with lipid cores, percent area of a lipid core in each ROI was measured in a digitized histologic image by a computerized planimeter. Results Sensitivity and specificity of MSR, skewness, and kurtosis for lipid core detection were substantially greater than visual video image analysis (83.3% and 91.7%, 100% and 91.7%, 100% and 91.7% vs 53.3% and 71.7%). Furthermore, the parameters of integrated backscatter, MSR, skewness, and kurtosis were significantly correlated to percent of core area (r = –0.64, –0.73, 0.78, and 0.63, respectively; P < .05). Conclusions Compared with IVUS video images, the parameters of radiofrequency signal analysis may be used to aid in more accurate detection and quantitative evaluation of a lipid core, which is one of the major factors of a vulnerable coronary plaque. (Am Heart J 2000;140:565-74.)
Threshold Effect on Error Probability in QAM Systems

This paper considers the effect of the carrier phase error on the probability of error in a binary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) data transmission system in the presence of intersymbol interference and additive Gaussian noise. The analysis shows that there exists a threshold value of the carrier phase error such that the error probability remains almost unchanged as long as the carrier phase error is less than that threshold value, but increases rapidly once the threshold is exceeded. Good agreement between theory and computer simulations is obtained. Some practical implications of this threshold effect are discussed.
Design in the Power-Limited Scaling Regime

Technology scaling has entered a new era, where chip performance is constrained by power dissipation. Power limits vary with the application domain; however, they dictate the choices of technology and architecture and necessitate implementation techniques that tradeoff performance for power savings. This paper examines technology options in the power-limited-scaling regime and reviews sensitivity-based analysis that can be used for the optimal selection of optimal architectures and circuit implementations to achieve the best performance under power constraints. These tradeoffs are examined in the context of power minimization at the technology, circuit, logic, and architecture levels, both at the design and run times.
Low-profile planar rectenna for batteryless RFID sensors

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is highly desirable for sensing applications, where form-factor, unit price and lifetime are most important. However, current passive RFID technology is mostly limited to only identifying and inventorying items placed near the reader.
Generalized, efficient array decision procedures

The theory of arrays is ubiquitous in the context of software and hardware verification and symbolic analysis. The basic array theory was introduced by McCarthy and allows to symbolically representing array updates. In this paper we present combinatory array logic, CAL, using a small, but powerful core of combinators, and reduce it to the theory of uninterpreted functions. CAL allows expressing properties that go well beyond the basic array theory. We provide a new efficient decision procedure for the base theory as well as CAL. The efficient procedure serves a critical role in the performance of the state-of-the-art SMT solver Z3 on array formulas from applications.
The 2‐D magnetotelluric inverse problem solved with optimization

SUMMARY The practical 2-D magnetotelluric inverse problem seeks to determine the shallow-Earth conductivity structure using finite and uncertain data collected on the ground surface. We present an approach based on using PLTMG (Piecewise Linear Triangular MultiGrid), a special-purpose code for optimization with second-order partial differential equation (PDE) constraints. At each frequency, the electromagnetic field and conductivity are treated as unknowns in an optimization problem in which the data misfit is minimized subject to constraints that include Maxwell's equations and the boundary conditions. Within this framework it is straightforward to accommodate upper and lower bounds or other conditions on the conductivity. In addition, as the underlying inverse problem is ill-posed, constraints may be used to apply various kinds of regularization. We discuss some of the advantages and difficulties associated with using PDE-constrained optimization as the basis for solving large-scale nonlinear geophysical inverse problems. Combined transverse electric and transverse magnetic complex admittances from the COPROD2 data are inverted. First, we invert penalizing size and roughness giving solutions that are similar to those found previously. In a second example, conventional regularization is replaced by a technique that imposes upper and lower bounds on the model. In both examples the data misfit is better than that obtained previously, without any increase in model complexity.
Variational methods in surface parameterization

A surface parameterization is a function that maps coordinates in a 2-dimensional parameter space to points on a surface. This thesis investigates two kinds of parameterizations for surfaces that are disc-like in shape. The first is a map from a region of the plane to the surface. The second is a mapping from one surface to another, which defines a correspondence between them. The main challenge in both cases is the construction of a smooth map with low distortion. In this thesis we present a variational approach to surface parameterization that addresses these challenges. The first contribution of this thesis is the development of a variational framework for parameterizations. This framework encompasses the mapping of a region of the plane to a surface that is isomorphic to a disc, and the mapping between such surfaces. Our parameterizations are guaranteed to be smooth and locally bijective, and optimal parameterizations which minimize a variational energy are known to exist. Our second contribution is a set of algorithms to construct parameterizations for surface triangulations. We describe in detail free-boundary methods that use standard numerical optimization algorithms for the computation of optimal parameterizations. A flexible set of parameters is offered to the user to formulate preferences for the trade-off between angle, area and length distortion in parameterizations in the plane. In the specification of a correspondence between surfaces, we provide user control through feature lines which are mapped as sets onto corresponding feature lines. Additionally we allow for a partial correspondence of the surfaces. Our third contribution is an analysis of the performance of the algorithms based on our implementations. The efficiency of our methods is measured by analyzing the rate of convergence of the energy minimization, and execution times are shown to be quite reasonable. Robustness is established in the presence of large deformations and stability is demonstrated under different discretizations of the surfaces. Our fourth contribution is a set of concrete, compelling applications of surface parameterization. Non-trivial examples which draw from texture mapping, morphing and facial animation provide further evidence and insight into the versatility of our parameterization framework.
Three-dimensional computed tomographic analysis of the normal temporomandibular joint.

Abstract Ten temporomandibular joints, obtained from three asymptomatic patients and two cadavers, were examined by three-dimensional computed tomography. The osseous components of the condylar process of the mandible and the glenoid fossa of the temporal bone were well visualized. The meniscus was visualized in both the closed- and the open-mouth positions. Advantages and disadvantages of the technique are discussed.
A minislot access protocol for CDMA packet radio networks with positive acknowledgement

The author presents and analyzes a minislotted channel-access protocol for code-division multiple-access (CDMA) packet radio networks that provides a number of distinct advantages. First, the protocol accomplishes active acknowledgement with very high reliability, while consuming only a small fraction of overhead channel bandwidth for the positive acknowledgement transmissions. Second, the minislot architecture reduces the vulnerability of the network to intelligent jammers, who may attempt to attack the acquisition preamble selectively. This is accomplished with only a modest reduction in overall network capacity. Finally, the minislot architecture provides a mechanism by which variable-length data packets may be accommodated without significant increase in design complexity, thereby improving the efficiency of the network. This protocol is analyzed by means of a discrete-time Markov chain model, and throughput performance is derived for a wide range of potential minislot sizes. A fundamental limit on the throughput of perfect CDMA networks is derived for both slotted and unslotted channels and is a consequence of the burstiness of traffic and the random pairing of transmitters and receivers. >
Constructing precise object relation diagrams

The object relation diagram (ORD) of a program is a class interdependence diagram which has applications in a wide variety of software engineering problems (e.g., integration testing, integration coverage analysis, regression testing, impact analysis, program understanding, and reverse engineering). Because the imprecision of the ORD directly affects the practicality of its usage, it is important to investigate techniques for constructing precise ORDs. This paper makes three contributions. First, we develop the extended object relation diagram (ExtORD), a version of the ORD designed for use in integration coverage analysis. The ExtORD shows the specific statement that creates an interclass dependence, and can be easily constructed by extending techniques for ORD construction. Second, we develop a general algorithm for ORD construction, parameterized by class analysis. Third, we demonstrate empirically that relatively precise class analyses can significantly improve diagram precision compared to earlier work, resulting in average size reduction of 55% for the ORD and 39% for the ExtORD.
Subscription-aware publish/subscribe tree construction in mobile ad hoc networks

A publish/subscribe system consists of publishers, subscribers, and a delivery infrastructure, where publishers produce events, subscribers declare their interests in receiving events via subscriptions, and the delivery infrastructure forwards subscribed events from publishers to corresponding subscribers. The paper describes a distributed, subscription-aware publish/subscribe tree (PST) construction protocol, termed DSAPST, for MANET. DSAPST specifically takes subscribers' subscriptions into account so that subscribers sharing common subscriptions that are closer in terms of hop count would be connected together in the constructed PSTs, resulting in lower event delivery overhead in terms of the number of wireless transmissions. In addition, DSAPST adapts to mobility of nodes, allows existing nodes to join and leave as subscribers, and accommodates brand new nodes joining a MANET as subscribers. Simulation results show that DSAPST outperforms a MAODV-based PST construction protocol which is not subscription-aware.
Remote sensing applications for sustainable aquaculture in Africa

The authors review the current state of the science with respect to remote sensing applications for aquaculture, including site location, aquaculture facility mapping, market proximity analysis and associated roadway infrastructure, epizootic mitigation, meteorological event and flood early warning, environmental pollution monitoring, and aquatic ecosystem impact, primarily for catfish (Clarias spp.) and tilapia (Tilapia spp.; Oreochromis spp.), inter alia. The potential of technology transfer from the controlled environment aquaculture research facilities at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA to partnering institutions in Ghana and Kenya are explored. The potential for multi-sensor remote sensing deployment to support sustainable fish production in these environments and subsequently in other African countries is evaluated.
Mobile social networks and urban public space

The development and proliferation of mobile social networks have the potential to transform ways that people come together and interact in public space. These services allow new kinds of information to flow into public spaces and, as such, can rearrange social and spatial practices. Dodgeball is used as a case study of mobile social networks. Based on a year-long qualitative field study, this article explores how Dodgeball was used to facilitate social congregation in public spaces and begins to expand our understanding of traditional notions of space and social interaction. Drawing on the concept of parochial space, this article examines how ideas of mobile communication and public space are negotiated in the everyday practice and use of mobile social networks.
Perceptual constraints and phonological change: a study of nasal vowel height

To address the claim that listener misperceptions are a source of phonological shifts in nasal vowel height, the phonological, acoustic and perceptual effects of nasalisation on vowel height were examined. We show that the acoustic consequences of nasal coupling, while consistent with phonological patterns of nasal vowel raising and lowering, do not always influence perceived vowel height. The perceptual data suggest that nasalisation affects perceived vowel height only when nasalisation is phonetically inappropriate (e.g. insufficient or excessive nasal coupling) or phonologically inappropriate (e.g. no conditioning environment in a language without distinctive nasal vowels). It is argued that these conditions, rather than the inherent inability of the listener to distinguish the spectral effects of velic and tongue body gestures, lead to perceptual misinterpretations and potentially to sound change.
Ensuring the statistical soundness of competitive gene set approaches: gene filtering and genome-scale coverage are essential

In this article, we focus on the analysis of competitive gene set methods for detecting the statistical significance of pathways from gene expression data. Our main result is to demonstrate that some of the most frequently used gene set methods, GSEA, GSEArot and GAGE, are severely influenced by the filtering of the data in a way that such an analysis is no longer reconcilable with the principles of statistical inference, rendering the obtained results in the worst case inexpressive. A possible consequence of this is that these methods can increase their power by the addition of unrelated data and noise. Our results are obtained within a bootstrapping framework that allows a rigorous assessment of the robustness of results and enables power estimates. Our results indicate that when using competitive gene set methods, it is imperative to apply a stringent gene filtering criterion. However, even when genes are filtered appropriately, for gene expression data from chips that do not provide a genome-scale coverage of the expression values of all mRNAs, this is not enough for GSEA, GSEArot and GAGE to ensure the statistical soundness of the applied procedure. For this reason, for biomedical and clinical studies, we strongly advice not to use GSEA, GSEArot and GAGE for such data sets.