cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Electron Microscopic India Ink Technique for Demonstrating Capsules on Microorganisms: Studies with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae

A technique using India ink in electron microscopic preparations was used to study bacterial capsules. Capsules were demonstrated on Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus (strain M and the Smith diffuse variant) from in vitro cultures. Two types of false capsules were observed on Neisseria gonorrhoeae grown in vitro or obtained from human urethral exudates. No true capsules were definitively identified on gonococci from these sources. The technique described does not require the use of specific anticapsular antibody or specific polysaccharide stains and permits the detection of artifacts that may, by the use of light microscopic methods, be misinterpreted as capsules.
Epicondylectomy versus denervation for lateral humeral epicondylitis.

Background Traditional management of lateral humeral epicondylitis (“tennis elbow”) relies upon antiinflammatory medication, rehabilitation, steroid injection, counterforce splinting, and, finally, surgery to the common extensor origin. The diversity of surgical approaches for lateral humeral epicondylitis (LHE) suggests perhaps that the ideal technique has not been determined. Denervation of the lateral humeral epicondyle is the concept of interrupting the neural pathway that transmits the pain message. Epicondylectomy may accomplish its relief of LHE by denervating the epicondyle.
Feasibility to Control Launch Vehicle Internal Acoustics Using Piezoelectric Actuators

Future launchvehicle payload fairings will be manufactured from advanced lightweight composite materials. The loss of distributed mass causes a significant increase in the internal acoustic environment, causing a severe threat to the payload. Using piezoelectric (PZT) actuators to control the fairing vibration and the internal acoustic environment has been proposed. To help determine the acoustic control authority of piezoelectric actuators mounted on a rocket fairing, the internal acoustic response created by the actuators needs to be determined. In this work the internal acoustic response of a closed simply-supported (SS) cylinder actuated by PZT actuators is determined using an impedance model for the actuator and boundary element analysis. The experimentally validated model is used to extrapolate results for a SS cylinder that emulates a Minotaur payload fairing. The internal cylinder acoustic levels are investigated for PZT actuation between 35 and 400 Hz. Significant reductions in the structural res...
Child Care Responsibility in Gay Male-Parented Families: Predictive and Correlative Factors

Although the frequency of gay male parented families is increasing, little is known about child care responsibility in these families. A purposive and snowball-sampled, Internet-based survey of 76 gay male parented families who brought children into their families after the primary relationship had been formed were the study participants. A modified version of Cowan and Cowan's (1988) “Who Does What” measure was utilized to determine divisions of child care responsibility. It was determined that, to a statistically significant degree, fathers with greater child care responsibility made less money and had a greater desire to have a child before the arrival of the child. After the arrival of the child they also fulfill more of a “mothering role,” make less money, and have lower career importance after the arrival of the child than their partners. These findings build upon the qualitatively derived knowledge of parenting responsibilities in these families by providing a quantitative lens for understanding a ...
Identity, Causality, and the Regressiveness of Micro‐Explanations

Summary The traditional account of micro-reductive explanations, in terms of bridge-law derivations and attribute-identities, is subjected to critical analysis. Formal expositions of this approach especially those of R. L. Causey, are shown to have oversimplified certain relations between micro-parts and wholes, and between identities and explanations, and to have neglected a key difference between homogeneous and heterogeneous micro-explanatory contexts. An alternative treatment of part-explanation adequacy is outlined and illustrated. Resume La doctrine traditionnelle des explications par micro-reduction, avec ses derivations a l'aide de lois-ponts et ses identites d'attribut, est soumise a une analyse critique. On montre que certains exposes formels de cette conception, et en particulier celui de R. L. Causey, ont trop simplifie certaines relations entre les micro-parties et le tout et ont neglige la difference fondamentale entre des contextes micro-explicatifs homogenes et heterogenes. L'auteur esquisse et applique a quelques exemples une autre facon de juger l'adequation de l'explication par les parties. Zusammenfassung Die traditionelle Darstellung von mikro-reduktiven Erklarungen auf Grund von Bruckengesetz-Ableitungen und Identitaten von Attributen wird einer kritischen Analyse unterzogen. Es wird gezeigt, dass gewisse formate Darstellungen dieser Auffassung, vor allem diejenigen von R. L. Causey, gewisse Relationen zwischen Mikro-Teilen und Ganzen und zwischen Identitaten und Erklarungen allzu sehr vereinfachen und daher einen entscheidenden Unterschied zwischen homogenen und heterogenen mikro-erklarenden Kontexten vernachlassigen. Eine alternative Behandlungsweise der Adaquatheit von Teil-Erklarungen wird skizziert und an Beispielen erlautert.
Intracellular calcium puffs in osteoclasts.

We studied intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) in acid-secreting bone-attached osteoclasts, which produce a high-calcium acidic extracellular compartment. Acid secretion and [Ca(2+)](i) were followed using H(+)-restricted dyes and fura-2 or fluo-3. Whole cell calcium of acid-secreting osteoclasts was approximately 100 nM, similar to cells on inert substrate that do not secrete acid. However, measurements in restricted areas of the cell showed [Ca(2+)](i) transients to 500-1000 nM consistent with calcium puffs, transient (millisecond) localized calcium elevations reported in other cells. Spot measurements at 50-ms intervals indicated that puffs were typically less than 400 ms. Transients did not propagate in waves across the cell in scanning confocal measurements. Calcium puffs occurred mainly over regions of acid secretion as determined using lysotracker red DND99 and occurred at irregular periods averaging 5-15 s in acid secreting cells, but were rare in lysotracker-negative nonsecretory cells. The calmodulin antagonist trifluoperazine, cell-surface calcium transport inhibitors lanthanum or barium, and the endoplasmic reticulum ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin had variable acute effects on the mean [Ca(2+)](i) and puff frequency. However, none of these agents prevented calcium puff activity, suggesting that the mechanism producing the puffs is independent of these processes. We conclude that [Ca(2+)](i) transients in osteoclasts are increased in acid-secreting osteoclasts, and that the puffs occur mainly near the acid-transporting membrane. Cell membrane acid transport requires calcium, suggesting that calcium puffs function to maintain acid secretion. However, membrane H(+)-ATPase activity was insensitive to calcium in the 100 nM-1 microM range. Thus, any effects of calcium puffs on osteoclastic acid transport must be indirect.
ROADM Deployment, Challenges, and Applications

In this paper, we discuss deployment challenges for reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs). After an overview of the architecture, we discuss the issues we have experienced in the course of our deployments. We end with recommendations for those planning to deploy ROADM in the future.
Using An Authoring System To Create Language Lessons For The Microcomputer

This paper first presents some general background information about Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), for the benefit of those readers who have little knowledge of the field. It then gives an extended example of an educational authoring system which is currently under development, describing how a teacher will use it to construct a lesson, and how a student will interact with the lessons that his teacher has constructed for him. The paper concludes with a list of some of the general design features incorporated in the authoring system.
Conditional Survival Estimates Improve Over 5 Years for Melanoma Survivors with Node-Positive Disease

Conditional survival estimates provide useful prognostic information for cancer survivors. The objective of this study was to determine conditional survival estimates for melanoma patients with substages of stage III disease. A retrospective analysis of 760 patients who underwent lymphadenectomy for node-positive melanoma was conducted, and patients were stratified into substages: IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. The 5-year conditional disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were calculated following lymphadenectomy using the methods of Kaplan and Meier and were reassessed for survivors on an annual basis. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to calculate adjusted conditional DFS and DSS accounting for age, gender, tumor histology, and extracapsular extension. For patients with IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC disease, 5-year conditional DSS from treatment to year 5 improved from 78% to 90%, 54% to 79%, and 39% to 78%, respectively. For 5-year conditional DFS over the same period, the estimates increased from 65% to 79%, 37% to 81%, and 26% to 92%, respectively. Male patients experienced decreased 5-year conditional DSS and DFS across all substages, with the most pronounced effect on DSS in stage IIIC. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that survival differences among stage IIIC patients based on histologic subtype and extracapsular extension decreased over time. Conditional survival estimates are more optimistic and realistic for cancer survivors than traditional survival estimates over time. For node-positive melanoma survivors, 5-year conditional DFS and DSS improve significantly over time. These estimates are critical to treatment decisions and non-treatment-related planning for both clinicians and patients.
Efficient sampling for spatial uncertainty quantification in multibody system dynamics applications

We present two methods for efficiently sampling the response (trajectory space) of multibody systems operating under spatial uncertainty, when the latter is assumed to be representable with Gaussian processes. In this case, the dynamics (time evolution) of the multibody systems depends on spatially indexed uncertain parameters that span infinite-dimensional spaces. This places a heavy computational burden on existing methodologies, an issue addressed herein with two new conditional sampling approaches. When a single instance of the uncertainty is needed in the entire domain, we use a fast Fourier transform technique. When the initial conditions are fixed and the path distribution of the dynamical system is relatively narrow, we use an incremental sampling approach that is fast and has a small memory footprint. Both methods produce the same distributions as the widely used Cholesky-based approaches. We illustrate this convergence at a smaller computational effort and memory cost for a simple non-linear vehicle model.
Intrathecal dynorphin(1-13) results in an irreversible loss of the tail-flick reflex in rats.

Abstract Intrathecal injection of dynorphin produced a loss of the tail-flick reflex that lasted throughout the 14-day experimental period whereas, the inclined plane test of motor function and tail-shock vocalization recovered within an hour. An important aspect of the loss of the tail-flick reflex was that it was an all-or-none event. At any dose the tail-flick latency either remained unchanged when compared with pre-injection latencies or the latency was elevated to the cut off time of 14 s. The ED 50 's ± S.E.M. for tail-flick, inclined plane and tail-shock vocalization were 65.4 ± 5.0, 67.7 ± 5.0 and 68.0 ± 3.9 nmol respectively. Results from the hot-plate test revealed no statistical difference between saline and dynorphine injected animals one day following the injection. Animals injected with morphine sulphate s.c. lost the tail-flick reflex but completely recovered by 24 h. Histology of the spinal cord of animals treated with dynorphin 24 h prior to sacrifice revealed dead neurons primarily in the ventral horn with little or no damage in the dorsal horn. These data demonstrate that dynorphin (1–13) injected intrathecally results in a rather specific neurotoxic action in the spinal cord.
Mechanisms underlying immunosuppression induced by Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypansoma cruzi affects immune responsiveness in mammalian hosts. Studies with patients and infected animals have defined some of the immunological dysfunctions but not the underlying mechanisms. Recent work using an in vitro model system of T. cruzi-human lymphocyte interactions has made it possible to uncover specific alterations in human lymphocyte activation induced by this parasite. Felipe Kierzenbaum and Marcelo Sztein discuss recent advances in our understanding of the processes that lead to impaired human lymphocyte function and that might be involved in the immunosuppression seen in the acute phase of Chagas disease.
Interpretations of the friction and wear break-in behavior of metals in sliding contact

Abstract Despite their complexities, friction and wear break-in behavior can provide important clues to the individual mechanistic contributions which interact to bring about longer-term sliding conditions. Because more than one mechanism could be responsible for given break-in curve shapes, more extensive experimentation in the effects of materials on the early stages of sliding needs to be undertaken. One method of relating friction and wear break-in behavior is the “break-in map” in which the duration ( i.e. time, number of cycles or sliding distance) required for the attainment of a constant average friction coefficient is simply plotted against the duration required for the achievement of a constant wear rate under the same conditions. A method of portraying frictional break-ins is to plot the difference in the friction between initial sliding and steady state sliding against the break-in duration. The friction-wear method may facilitate wear-in monitoring in machinery while the friction difference-break-in duration method may lead to a better understanding of sliding friction mechanisms.
Intermediate structure in the photofission cross section of /sup 232/Th

Intermediate structure has been observed in the photofission cross section of /sup 232/Th measured with a photon energy resolution <500 eV. The gamma rays, variable in energy, were obtained from the (p,..gamma..) reaction on several nuclei. The average spacing of the observed photofission resonances at an excitation energy of 6.16 MeV is 1.6 +- 0.4 keV. The average areas of the resonances are compared with theoretical expectations for a double-humped and a triple-humped barrier.
Sylvia Plath: Three Bee Notes

(2003). Sylvia Plath: Three Bee Notes. ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews: Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 49-51.
Overexpression of PDGF-A in the Lung Epithelium of Transgenic Mice Produces a Lethal Phenotype Associated with Hyperplasia of Mesenchymal Cells

Transgenic mice expressing platelet-derived growth factor A chain (PDGF-A) in the distal lung epithelium from the surfactant protein C (SPC) promoter were generated to investigate the role of this growth factor in lung development. Expression of the SPC-PDGFA transgene resulted in an enlarged, nonfunctional lung and perinatal lethality caused by failure to initiate ventilation. Histologic analysis of embryonic day (E) 16.5 lungs revealed increased mesenchymal cells and acinar buds and decreased bronchioles and dilated airspaces in SPC-PDGFA transgenic mice. At E18.5, nontransgenic lungs exhibited lung morphology typical of the saccular stage of lung development, including dilated airspaces, thin respiratory epithelium and mesenchyme, and elastin fiber deposition in primary septa. In contrast, E18.5 transgenic lungs retained many features of the canalicular stage of lung development, including undilated airspaces, cuboidal respiratory epithelium, thickened mesenchyme, and lack of parenchymal elastin deposition. These results indicate that PDGF-A is a potent growth factor for mesenchymal cells in the developing lung and that the downregulation of PDGF-A expression that normally occurs in the lung during late gestation is required for transition from the canalicular to the saccular stage of lung development.
Control of Plasma Collision Frequency for Alleviation of Signal Degradation

The control of electromagnetic-plasma interaction may be accomplished through the judicious control of signal frequency, plasma frequency, and collision frequency. Collision frequency control, effected by charged particle seeding, is being investigated as a possible technique to alleviate signal degradation. Since collision frequency is proportional to charge squared, highly charged micron-size particles are very effective.
La Marcha Violenta? Railroads and Land in 19th-century Mexico

Abstract The impact of railroad development on land tenure and use in 19th-century Mexico has long been central to interpretations of Mexico's rural history, in particular of the grievances culminating in the Revolution (1910–20). The prevailing interpretation, that railroads displaced Mexican peasants and smallholders from the land, has intuitive appeal but lacks empirical support. This article treats the question of the railroads’ impact by studying the terms of the railroads’ acquisition of land in southern Mexico. It argues that railroads failed to displace owners and occupants of the land, despite the governments's new laws and handpicked agents intended to oust recalcitrant residents with minimal delay and expense.
Geocasting in cellular ad hoc augmented networks

Delivering information to every user on a pre-specified geographic area via the Internet can be accomplished by geocasting in single-hop cellular networks. Geocasting is the mechanism to multicast messages to the network nodes whose physical locations lie within a given geographic area, termed the target area. In this paper, we propose the use of cellular ad hoc augmented network (CAHAN) architecture to improve total transmitted power expended for geocast services in cellular networks. CAHAN, in which ad hoc relaying technology is applied, is an evolutionary approach to conventional single-hop cellular networks. CAHAN regulates the number of hops between the base station and the mobile terminals (MTs) given a delay constraint. Notice that when the ad hoc communication range of each MT is zero, CAHAN simplifies to a conventional cellular network. We describe the CAHAN architecture, geocast session setup, geocast routing strategy, and power consumption models. The proposed architecture also implements a simple minimum-power path search scheme that can further reduce the total geocast energy in CAHAN. The advantages of CAHAN are demonstrated by comparing the geocasting performance of CAHAN with pure cellular networks in terms of total transmitted energy. We show that by using CAHAN for geocasting, saving in total transmitted energy can be achieved as compared to the case of pure cellular networks. When the size of geocast target area is large, CAHAN can save larger transmitted energy. Finally, we show that the dense target area in CAHAN would save more transmitted energy in general.
Compressive Oversampling for Robust Data Transmission in Sensor Networks

Data loss in wireless sensing applications is inevitable and while there have been many attempts at coping with this issue, recent developments in the area of Compressive Sensing (CS) provide a new and attractive perspective. Since many physical signals of interest are known to be sparse or compressible, employing CS, not only compresses the data and reduces effective transmission rate, but also improves the robustness of the system to channel erasures. This is possible because reconstruction algorithms for compressively sampled signals are not hampered by the stochastic nature of wireless link disturbances, which has traditionally plagued attempts at proactively handling the effects of these errors. In this paper, we propose that if CS is employed for source compression, then CS can further be exploited as an application layer erasure coding strategy for recovering missing data. We show that CS erasure encoding (CSEC) with random sampling is efficient for handling missing data in erasure channels, paralleling the performance of BCH codes, with the added benefit of graceful degradation of the reconstruction error even when the amount of missing data far exceeds the designed redundancy. Further, since CSEC is equivalent to nominal oversampling in the incoherent measurement basis, it is computationally cheaper than conventional erasure coding. We support our proposal through extensive performance studies.
Search for complex order parameters in grain boundary junctions

Abstract We are measuring the critical current of grain boundary Josephson junctions fabricated from pure and magnetically doped cuprate films to search for the onset of subdominant superconducting phases. Complex order parameters dx2−y2+is or dx2−y2+idxy are predicted to arise near interfaces and magnetic impurities due to a suppression of the d-wave state by Andreev reflection from the strongly anisotropic order parameter. Simulations indicate that this should significantly alter the variation of the critical current with temperature and magnetic field.
A single-layer PDMS-on-silicon hybrid microactuator with multi-axis out-of-plane motion capabilities-part II: fabrication and characterization

This paper reports on fabrication and characterization of a new electrostatic microactuator that achieves out-of-plane multi-axis motion with a single silicon device layer. The multi-axis motion with the simple actuator design is possible by incorporating a three-dimensional (3-D) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microstructure. This paper develops a new device processing method named "Soft-Lithographic Lift-Off and Grafting (SLLOG)" to fabricate the previously designed PDMS-on-silicon hybrid actuator structure. SLLOG is a low-temperature (less than 150/spl deg/C) process that allows replica molded PDMS microstructures to be integrated in silicon micromachined device patterns. The fabricated actuator is characterized using laser vibrometry. The experimental results demonstrate actuation motions achieved in three independent axes with fast dynamic response reaching a bandwidth of about 5 kHz. The fabricated PDMS-on-silicon actuator yields a vertical displacement up to 5 /spl mu/m and rotational motions with a 0.6-/spl deg/ tilting angle at a 40-V peak-to-peak ac actuation voltage.
Bone Marrow Plasma Cells Are a Primary Source of Serum HIV-1–Specific Antibodies in Chronically Infected Individuals

Several potent and broadly neutralizing Abs to HIV-1 have been isolated recently from peripheral blood B cells of infected individuals, based on prescreening of Ab activity in the serum. However, little is known regarding the cells that make the Abs that circulate in the blood. Accordingly, we investigated the most likely source, the bone marrow, of chronically HIV-1–infected individuals who were not receiving antiretroviral therapy. Increased frequencies of plasma cells, as well as B cell precursors, namely preB-I and preB-II, and decreased frequencies of mature B cells were observed in bone marrow aspirates of these individuals compared with HIV-negative counterparts. Increased frequencies of bone marrow plasma cells are consistent with known hallmarks of HIV-1 infection, namely hypergammaglobulinemia and increased frequencies of peripheral blood plasmablasts. Levels of HIV-1 envelope (Env)-binding and HIV-1–neutralizing Abs were measured in serum, and corresponding frequencies of Ab-secreting or Env-binding cells were measured in the blood (plasmablasts and memory B cells) and in the bone marrow (plasma cells). A strong correlation was observed between serum HIV-1–specific Abs and Env-specific bone marrow–derived plasma cells, but not circulating plasmablasts or memory B cells. These findings demonstrate that, despite HIV-1–induced phenotypic and functional B cell dysregulation in the peripheral blood and secondary lymphoid tissues, bone marrow plasma cells remain a primary source for circulating HIV-1–specific Abs in HIV-1–infected individuals.
Regional ecological risk assessment for the introduction of Gambusia affinis (western mosquitofish) into Montana watersheds

Qualitative risk assessment methodologies were used to assess the risk of establishment and consequent impacts on native minnows and species of concern (SOC) associated with the intentional or unintentional introduction of the mosquito biological control agent, Gambusia affinis, to various Montana watersheds. Gambusia affinis introductions for mosquito control have been made throughout the world; some introductions have resulted in deleterious effects on native species. We used average January water temperatures, the presence of dams, and the presence of native minnows and SOC to define endpoints for our assessment. Our results suggest that a section of the Missouri River running between Wolf Creek and Landusky had the highest overall risk score, which corresponds to the highest likelihood of establishment and effects on native minnows and SOC. We also demonstrate how rivers with the highest temperatures are not necessarily at the highest risk of having deleterious effects on minnows and SOC; conversely, these rivers were found to be at highest risk of a population of G. affinis establishing.
Effect of literacy on neuropsychological test performance in nondemented, education-matched elders

The current investigation compared neuropsychological test performance among nondemented literate and illiterate elders. The sample included participants in an epidemiological study of normal aging and dementia in the Northern Manhattan community. All participants were diagnosed as nondemented by a neurologist, and did not have history of Parkinson's disease, stroke, or head injury. Literacy level was determined by self-report. MANOVAs revealed a significant overall effect for literacy status (literate vs. illiterate) on neuropsychological test performance when groups were matched on years of education. The overall effect of literacy status remained significant after restricting the analyses to elders with no formal education, and after controlling for the effects of language of test administration. Specifically, illiterates obtained lower scores on measures of naming, comprehension, verbal abstraction, orientation, and figure matching and recognition. However, tests of verbal list delayed recall, nonverbal abstraction, and category fluency were unaffected by literacy status, suggesting that these measures can be used to accurately detect cognitive decline among illiterate elders in this sample. Differences in organization of visuospatial information, lack of previous exposure to stimuli, and difficulties with interpretation of the logical functions of language are possible factors that contribute to our findings. (JINS, 1999, 5, 191–202.)
Functional Insights from Glutamate Receptor Ion Channel Structures

X-ray crystal structures for the soluble amino-terminal and ligand-binding domains of glutamate receptor ion channels, combined with a 3.6-A-resolution structure of the full-length AMPA receptor GluA2 homotetramer, provide unique insights into the mechanisms of the assembly and function of glutamate receptor ion channels. Increasingly sophisticated biochemical, computational, and electrophysiological experiments are beginning to reveal the mechanism of action of partial agonists and suggest new models for the mechanism of action of allosteric modulators. Newly identified NMDA receptor ligands acting at novel sites offer hope for the development of subtype-selective modulators. The many unresolved issues include the role of the amino-terminal domain in AMPA receptor signaling and the mechanisms by which auxiliary proteins regulate receptor activity. The structural basis for ion permeation and ion channel block also remain areas of uncertainty, and despite substantial progress, molecular dynamics simulations have yet to reveal how glutamate binding opens the ion channel pore.
Pediatric Deaths Attributable to Complex Chronic Conditions: A Population-Based Study of Washington State, 1980–1997

Objectives. Advances in medical technology and public health are changing the causes and patterns of pediatric mortality. To better inform health care planning for dying children, we sought to determine if an increasing proportion of pediatric deaths were attributable to an underlying complex chronic condition (CCC), what the typical age of CCC-associated deaths was, and whether this age was increasing. Design. Population-based retrospective cohort from 1980 to 1997, compiled from Washington State annual censuses and death certificates of children 0 to 18 years old. Main Outcome Measures. For each of 9 categories of CCCs, the counts of death, mortality rates, and ages of death. Results. Nearly one-quarter of the 21 617 child deaths during this period were attributable to a CCC. Death rates for the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), CCCs, and all other causes each declined, but less so for CCCs. Among infants who died because of causes other than injury or SIDS, 31% of the remaining deaths were attributable to a CCC in 1980 and 41% by 1997; for deaths in children 1 year of age and older, CCCs were cited in 53% in 1980, versus 58% in 1997. The median age of death for all CCCs was 4 months 9 days, with substantial differences among CCCs. No overall change in the age of death between 1980 to 1997 was found (nonparametric trend test). Conclusions. CCCs account for an increasing proportion of child deaths. The majority of these deaths occur during infancy, but the typical age varies by cause. These findings should help shape the design of support care services offered to children dying with chronic conditions and their families.
Determination of watermelon volume using ellipsoid approximation and image processing

Abstract Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) volume was measured using water displacement, ellipsoid approximation and image processing methods. The length and major and minor diameters of each watermelon were used in the ellipsoid approximation method. Eight-bit surface images of each watermelon, captured with a low-cost CMOS camera, were utilized in the image processing method. The volume obtained from ellipsoid approximation and image processing was compared to the volume determined by the water displacement method using the paired t-test and the Bland–Altman approach. The volume estimated by ellipsoid approximation was significantly different from the volume determined by water displacement (P 0.05). There was a mean difference of −0.467 L (95% confidence interval: −0.625 and −0.310 L; P
Differential phototoxicity of fluorescent dye-labeled albumin conjugates.

Objective:Fluorescent dyes are commonly used as probes for assessment of macromolecular permeability. Despite numerous examples of light-dye induced toxicity in the microvasculature, little is known regarding the relative phototoxicity of commonly used fluorescent conjugates. We, therefore, compared the phototoxicity of four fluorescent conjugates of bovine serum albumin (BSA) available commercially. Methods:An in vitrophotohemolysis assay was used, in which rat erythrocytes were incubated with fluorescently labeled BSA and exposed to epi-illumination, using an inverted microscope designed for microvascular permeability experiments. Photohemolysis was quantified by monitoring light transmission across the cells. Results:Photohemolysis was dependent on excitation light intensity and fluorochrome concentration. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled BSA was the most phototoxic compound tested, inducing 50% of maximum response in 14 min. The relative phototoxicity of the BSA conjugates was: FITC > BODIPYF...
A Model for Theological Reflection in Clinical Pastoral Education

Describes how a Clinical Pastoral Education group carried out a project focusing on theological reflection with a key goal of having some fun in the process. Concludes from the experience that such...
Cavity tone suppression using a rod in cross ∞ow{investigation of shear layer stability mechanism

The use of a rod in cross ∞ow is a well known technique known for its simple and efiective means of suppressing cavity tones. Despite several studies regarding its performance as an actuator, there is still no consensus in scientiflc community regarding the mechanism by which it suppresses cavity resonance. Several hypotheses have been put forward, but very little investigation has been done in order to check their validity. according to one of these hypotheses, the cylinder, through its wake, changes the stability characteristics of the shear layer that develops over the cavity. It is this hypothesis that we focus on in this study. Some of the speciflc questions we attempt to answer are (i) for the ’shear layer + wake’ proflle, as observed behind the cylinder, how many unstable modes exist? (ii) does the presence of the wake in∞uence the stability of any of these modes? We seek answers to these questions by studying the stability of artiflcial, parametrically controlled velocity proflles, referred to as synthetic proflles, prototypical of the actual velocity proflles measured behind the cylinder. We also evaluate the stability characteristics of the real, i.e., experimentally measured, proflles behind the cylinder placed at difierent locations. For corresponding locations of the cylinder, we also measured acoustic suppression of the cavity tones. Comparing the suppression results with the linear stability results we attempt to shed light on the working principle of the cylinder.Our results suggest that while the shear layer stability characteristics are altered by the cylinder, we don’t have su‐cient grounds to conclude that the changes in the growth rate are responsible for cavity noise suppression.
A Multifunctional Reconfigurable Pixeled Antenna Using MEMS Technology on Printed Circuit Board

A multifunctional reconfigurable pixeled antenna that uses microelectromechanical switches (MEMS) and operates within the 4-7 GHz frequency band is presented. The proposed antenna is a highly reconfigurable planar surface radiator composed of an npx × npx matrix of metallic pixels interconnected through MEMS switches. The antenna can be reconfigured to perform multiple functions such as: frequency tuning, pattern diversity, and polarization adaptation. A functional prototype using integrated MEMS switches was fabricated on a printed circuit board substrate, to show its feasibility and the impact of MEMS switches during operation. Simulated and measured data of the return loss and radiation characteristics of the antenna are presented.
Bias in disk drive rotary actuators: characterization, prediction, and compensation

This paper examines bias, which is the average torque (or current) required to maintain a set actuator position in a disk drive. In this paper, we show that in a disk drive the value of bias depends on several factors including the actuator position, the length of time at the set position, the direction of the actuator motion, the distance traveled by the actuator, the proximity of the set position to locations at which the actuator changed direction, and the proximity of the set position to locations at which the actuator rested. With an adequate prediction of bias, the settling time of a seek can be reduced by properly selecting the initial conditions of the track following controller at the handoff between track seek and track settle. Two prediction algorithms for bias are shown: one based on a series of calibration tests and one based on Dahl's friction model. A method for choosing the initial condition of the integrator of an integral action controller to minimize settling time based on the bias prediction is developed.
On the relationship between subducted slab age and arc basalt petrogenesis, Cascadia subduction system, North America

Abstract Olivine-normalized ≤2.0 Ma magnesian basalts erupted close to the volcanic axis of the Cascadia subduction system exhibit arc-parallel compositional variations compatible with a northward decrease in slab-derived components in the underlying mantle wedge. Inferred decreases in slab input correlate strongly with a systematic decrease in age of the oceanic crust along the convergent margin. Geochemical trends are most pronounced in southwestern British Columbia and northern Washington basalts, where the Garibaldi belt strikes obliquely to the trend of isochrons on the subducted plate. From southern Washington to northern California, High Cascades arc segments trend nearly parallel to subducted plate isochrons, and basalts show more subdued arc-parallel variations. These observations support a model in which temperature and depth of melting in the mantle wedge beneath the arc are influenced by the age of the subducted plate. Where the arc is underlain by relatively young and hot oceanic crust, only a minor amount of heating during subduction is required before dehydration reactions begin in the subducted plate. The slab loses much of its volatiles trenchward of the arc, and the volatile budget in the mantle wedge beneath the arc is relatively low. In the Garibaldi belt, which overlies very young oceanic crust, this produces progressively more alkalic basalts to the north. The High Cascades overlies older oceanic lithosphere which was cooler at the time of subduction. As a result, dehydration reactions are delayed and a greater amount of volatiles are released beneath the arc. This results in lower melt temperatures and higher degrees of melting, producing predominantly low-K tholeiite and LILE-enriched HFSE-depleted calc-alkaline basalt magmas.
Estimating and interpreting latent variable interactions: A tutorial for applying the latent moderated structural equations method

Latent variables are common in psychological research. Research questions involving the interaction of two variables are likewise quite common. Methods for estimating and interpreting interactions between latent variables within a structural equation modeling framework have recently become available. The latent moderated structural equations (LMS) method is one that is built into Mplus software. The potential utility of this method is limited by the fact that the models do not produce traditional model fit indices, standardized coefficients, or effect sizes for the latent interaction, which renders model fitting and interpretation of the latent variable interaction difficult. This article compiles state-of-the-science techniques for assessing LMS model fit, obtaining standardized coefficients, and determining the size of the latent interaction effect in order to create a tutorial for new users of LMS models. The recommended sequence of model estimation and interpretation is demonstrated via a substantive example and a Monte Carlo simulation. Finally, extensions of this method are discussed, such as estimating quadratic effects of latent factors and interactions between latent slope and intercept factors, which hold significant potential for testing and advancing developmental theories.
Characterization of the time-evolution of a microsecond electron beam diode with anode effects

Summary form only. The time evolution of a low-aspect-ratio, microsecond-pulse-length, electron beam diode with anode plasmas, operating at initial current densities of approximately=100 A/cm/sup 2/, has been studied using a variety of experimental and empirical techniques. Of particular interest in this study was the observation of a transition to a roughly constant impedance regime. Very rapid cathode plasma closure velocities from 8-11 cm/s were observed. This expansion led to rapid self-filling of the diode, principally on-axis, causing dense plasma formation from the anode and resulting in the observed impedance characteristics. Due to the low-aspect-ratio diode design, many kiloamperes of electron current were still emitted, which interacted with the plasma that filled the diode from both the cathode and anode. Before self-filling, a low-effective-charge cathode plasma was observed, consisting almost exclusively of components derived from the hydrocarbon surface impurities. Evidence for cathode plasma instabilities was also noted. After self-filling, evidence for a beam-plasma interaction leading to RF emission, beam filamentation, and collective effects was suggested. >
Women and the Reformations: Reflections on Recent Research

Scholarship on women and the Protestant and Catholic Reformations over the last quarter-century has stressed diversity, difference, and complexity. It has developed new theoretical and methodological directions, and also presented new ways to look at more “old-fashioned topics,” such as the lives of great women and the ideas of great men. Many studies have explored women's actions in support of or in opposition to the Protestant and Catholic Reformations and women's spirituality more broadly; among these, research on convents and female religious has been especially innovative. Studies of the ideas of the reformers and the effects of the Reformations on women, the family, and notions of gender have focused particularly on the process of social discipline, noting continuities with medieval patterns as well as new emphases. The focus on the “long Reformation” and increased attention to the expansion of Christianity beyond Europe, represent burgeoning areas of current research.
Social networks and substance use among at-risk emerging adults living in disadvantaged urban areas in the southern United States: a cross-sectional naturalistic study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Substance use and risk-taking are common during emerging adulthood, a transitional period when peer influences often increase and family influences decrease. Investigating relationships between social network features and substance use can inform community-based prevention programs. This study investigated whether substance use among emerging adults living in disadvantaged urban was influenced by peer and family social network messages that variously encouraged and discouraged substance use. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, naturalistic field study. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Lower income neighborhoods in Birmingham, Alabama, USA with 344 participants (110 males, 234 females ages 15 to 25 years; M = 18.86), recruited via Respondent Driven Sampling. MEASUREMENTS: During structured interviews conducted in community locations, the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test assessed substance use and related problems. Predictor variables were network characteristics, including presence of substance-using peers, messages from friends and family members about substance use, and network sources for health information. FINDINGS: Higher substance involvement was associated with friend and family encouragement of use and having close peer network members who used substances (ps CONCLUSIONS: Social networks appear to be important in both promoting and preventing substance use in disadvantaged young adults in the USA. Language: en
The Fertility Effects of Pericentric Inversions in Drosophila melanogaster

Heterozygotes for pericentric inversions are expected to be semisterile because recombination in the inverted region produces aneuploid gametes. Newly arising pericentric inversions should therefore be quickly eliminated from populations by natural selection. The occasional polymorphism for such inversions and their fixation among closely related species have supported the idea that genetic drift in very small populations can overcome natural selection in the wild. We studied the effect of 7 second-chromosome and 30 third-chromosome pericentric inversions on the fertility of heterokaryotypic Drosophila melanogaster females. Surprisingly, fertility was not significantly reduced in many cases, even when the inversion was quite large. This lack of underdominance is almost certainly due to suppressed recombination in inversion heterozygotes, a phenomenon previously observed in Drosophila. In the large sample of third-chromosome inversions, the degree of underdominance depends far more on the position of breakpoints than on the inversion's length. Analysis of these positions shows that this chromosome has a pair of "sensitive sites" near cytological divisions 68 and 92: these sites appear to reduce recombination in a heterozygous inversion whose breakpoints are nearby. There may also be "sensitive sites" near divisions 31 and 49 on the second chromosome. Such sites may be important in initiating synapsis. Because many pericentric inversions do not reduce the fertility of heterozygotes, we conclude that the observed fixation or polymorphism of such rearrangements in nature does not imply genetic drift in very small populations.
Current concepts in chicken B cell development.

B lymphocytes produce antibody molecules that provide the basis for humoral immune responses. In addition, antibodies in secretions are critical in immune defense. Maternal transmitted antibody plays an important role in immunoprotection of newborns with developing immune systems. An effective humoral immune repertoire has been estimated to require the production of 109 distinct antibody molecules. However, most B cells only produce a single antibody specificity. Thus, an effective immune repertoire requires the maintenance of a vast repertoire of B cells, only a few of which will ever encounter their cognate antigen in any given time period. How such diversity is created during B cell development has been a central question in the field of immunology.
Using Internet to Disseminate an Expert System of Chemical Information Resources

Chemistry and related information abound on the Internet in the form of software, library catalogs, expert systems, etc. This paper investigates the availability of chemical information on the Internet and explores ways of finding and making it available on this international network. We chose ftp as the means of distributing a chemical reference resource developed at San Diego State University Library. Our expert system, Chemistry Information, was placed on the ftp directory of the local internet node, enabling others to access and retrieve both source and executable code. We describe the means by which this was done and some of the challenges we encountered. Finally we briefly discuss a model of the Internet as a mode of intellectual participation of all peoples throughout the world. We hope this paper encourages both the Internet novice and intermediate user to share their reference expertise through the use of ftp.
Global Portfolio Investment Network and Stock Market Co-Movement

We construct a global portfolio investment network by employing network analysis and using bilateral cross-border portfolio holdings data and show that a country’s network centrality within this global network has a positive relationship with stock market co-movement. Moreover, network centrality based on total portfolio holdings matters more for stock market co-movement than centrality based on equity linkages alone. In addition, incoming linkages of foreigners investing in a country has a more significant effect on co-movement than outgoing linkages of domestic investors investing in foreign countries.