cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TU‐C‐ValA‐07: Intra‐ and Inter‐Modality Registration of Four‐Dimensional (4D) Images

Purpose: 4D‐imaging techniques such as 4D‐CT/MRI/PET reveal spatial and temporal details of patient's anatomy. Here we develop a 4D‐4D registration method to utilize the 4D data acquired under different conditions or using different modalities. Method: A 4D input (model or reference) consists of a number of 3D sets of images, each representing the patient's anatomy at a phase point. When the patient's breathing pattern is repeatable, the task of 4D‐4D matching is to find the appropriate 3D dataset in the model input for each phase in reference. Instead of exhaustively searching for the best match for each phase, a search algorithm was implemented, which can simultaneously find the matches for all phases with consideration of temporal relationship between the 3D image sets in the inputs. An interpolation scheme capable of deriving an image set based on two temporally adjacent 3D‐datasets was implemented to deal with the situation where the discrete temporal points of the two inputs do not coincide. Digital phantom and patient studies were performed to illustrate the inter‐/intra‐modality 4D‐4D registration technique. Results: In the phantom study where the optimal match is known, the proposed technique was able to reproduce the “ground truth” with high spatial fidelity (<1.5mm). In addition, the technique regenerated all deliberately introduced “missing” 3D images at different phase points in one of the inputs because of the temporal interpolation. In a registration of gated‐MRI and 4DCT, the technique enabled us to optimally select the corresponding CT phase. The technique was also found useful for the registration of two sets of 4DCTs acquired at different time points. In this situation, a spatial accuracy of less than 2.5mm was achieved in all three cases. Conclusions: Automated 4D‐4D registration can find the best possible spatio‐temporal match between the two 4D datasets and may have significant implication for IGRT.
Fashionable Versus Out-of-Date Clothing and Interpersonal Distance

Affiliative conflict theory states that interpersonal situations involve avoidance tendencies which are induced by the presence and characteristics of others. The purpose of this study was to show ...
Low Birth Weight Rates in Two Counties of South Florida: Small-Area Variation and Temporal Trends

Purpose Low birth weight (LBW) is a primary cause of infant mortality and morbidity. The main hypothesis is that infant LBW rates would decrease annually by 9% to meet Health People 2010 goal of 5% by 2010. Moreover, observed LBW rates would be comparable over geographical areas in the counties and among race/ethnic groups. This study focused on LBW rates over 8 years at the small area level, the zip code, within each county. The purpose is to estimate the trends, quantify the magnitude of the small area variation and identify geographic area with high rates. Methods This study utilized data from Florida Department of Health extracted from birth records for residents of Miami-Dade and Broward counties born in calendar years 1998 to 2005. For each zip code area within the counties, the number of LBW cases and the total number of births were provided yearly. The Poisson approximation to the Binomial distribution was used for statistical analyses and inference. Spatial statistical methods included the spatial scan statistic to detect clusters. Maps were used to highlight geographical variation and clusters of areas with high LBW rates. Results Descriptive results showed that for Miami-Dade County, LBW rates varied over time from 74.1 ± 26.9 to 100.1 ± 108.2 cases per 1000 births while in Broward County, they varied from 78.1 ± 21.9 to 87.5 ± 29.6 cases per 1000 births. There was no decreasing trend over both counties. For both counties, LBW rates exhibited non-negligible amount of small-area variation as captured by the coefficients of variation (CV). CV values ranged from 34.5% to 124.7% for Miami-Dade, and from 21.0% to 33.8% for Broward, with less variation within Broward County areas. Conclusion In this multi-ethnic population of South Florida, LBW rates vary significantly at the small-area level and over time. There is no decrease in rates over time as expected. The rationale of this study is to focus further analysis on factors such as poverty, maternal social support, and smoking levels at the zip code level to explain the observed variation and the area-specific temporal trends.
Patient selection, evaluation, and preoperative management for lung transplant candidates

The selection process to assess candidacy for transplant is based on medical and psychosocial criteria and surgical considerations. The degree of disease severity requiring transplantation for survival has become more apparent as the disparity in survival outcome widens between patients with and without transplant. The contraindications to transplant surgery have been modified over time. Candidate selection is considered in the context of the risks and benefits of the surgical procedure on a case by case basis. The wait for transplant has increased as the growth in the number of candidates for transplant exceeds available donors. As much as 30% of patients die on the UNOS waiting list.
Four-dimensional analysis of cyclic changes in coronary artery shape.

The objective of this study was to derive a method for quantifying the dynamic geometry of coronary arteries. Coronary artery geometry plays an important role in atherosclerosis. Coronary artery geometry also influences the performance of coronary interventions. Conversely, implantation of stents may alter coronary artery geometry. Clinical tools to define vessel shape have not been readily available. Using a Frenet-Serret curvature analysis applied to 3D reconstruction data derived from standard coronary angiograms, 21 coronary arteries were analyzed at end-diastole (ED) and end-systole (ES). Vessels were divided anatomically: type 1 consisted of vessels lying in the AV groove (left circumflex, right coronary) and type 2 consisted of vessels overlying actively contracting myocardium (left anterior descending, diagonal, obtuse marginal, right ventricular marginal, posterior descending, posterolateral). Vessel segments were analyzed by assessing the changes in curvature, torsion, and discrete flexion points (FPs), areas of systolic bending in the arterial contour. The curvature from ED to ES of type 1 vessels was unchanged (-0.02 +/- 0.03 cm(-1)), while the curvature change of type 2 vessels showed a 38% increase (0.33 +/- 0.04 cm(-1); P < 0.001). Type 1 vessels had fewer FPs per vessel than type 2 vessels (0.38 +/- 0.18 and 2.40 +/- 0.23 FP/vessel, respectively; P < 0.001). FPs were more common in distal segments and branch vessels. A method to quantify cyclic changes in coronary artery shape was applied to 3D data sets derived from standard coronary angiograms. Coronary arteries undergo a cyclic change in shape resulting in changes in overall curvature as well as formation of discrete flexion points. These changes in vessel shape are asymmetrically distributed in coronary arteries.
A ‘shiftless’ relaxation reagent for metal nuclide and nitrogen-15 magnetic resonance in aqueous solution†

Addition of small amounts of [Gd(2 : 2 : 1)]^(3+) cryptate to aqueous solutions containing ^(111)Cd^(2+) or formamide decreases metal nuclide or nitrogen-15 spin-lattice (T_1) relaxation times without affecting cadmium or nitrogen chemical shifts. This cryptate is thereby demonstrated to have substantial promise for greatly decreasing the time necessary to obtain natural abundance metal nuclide or ^(15)N NMR spectra with satisfactory signal-to-noise ratios for many compounds with long metal or ^(15)N relaxation times.
The immediate impact of aggressive cartoons on emotionally disturbed and learning disabled children.

Abstract The immediate impact of viewing aggressive cartoons on emotionally disturbed (ED) and learning disabled (LD) children's willingness to hurt another child was assessed. Fifteen ED and 23 LD children (M = 7.25 years old) viewed either an aggressive or a comparison cartoon and then played the Help-Hurt game. The children who watched the aggressive cartoon pressed the Hurt button for significantly more time than did those who were exposed to the comparison cartoon. Across cartoon conditions, the ED children pressed the Hurt button significantly longer than did their LD peers.
Intercultural communication competence revisited: Linking the intercultural and multicultural fields

Abstract The present article identifies three significant trends in intercultural communication competence (ICC). These trends include: intercultural competence, measurement of ICC, and linkages between multicultural competence/social justice initiatives and ICC. Implications for future research and practice were discussed.
Deuterium Isotope Effect on the Excited-State Photophysics of Hypocrellin: Evidence for Proton or Hydrogen Atom Transfer

A deuterium isotope effect of 1.4 is observed in the excited-state proton or atom transfer of hypocrellin A in methanol and methanol-O-d. This is the most direct and convincing evidence to date that excited-state intramolecular proton or atom transfer occurs in hypocrellin. It is consistent with previous proposals (e.g., Chem. Rev. 1996, 96, 523) that such excited-state intramolecular processes occur generally in the class of polycyclic quinones possessing light-induced antiviral activity, of which hypocrellin and the related compound hypericin are members. The transfer reaction in these compounds is discussed in terms of being in the adiabatic limit in the proton stretch coordinate. We discuss the possibility of presenting a unified picture of the hypericin and hypocrellin photophysics.
Microfibrous Entrapped Catalysts for Low Temperature CO Oxidation

Low temperature CO oxidation is characterized by slow reaction kinetics and CO self-poisoning of the catalyst, which compete with each other. A platinum catalyst with ceria as a promoter supported on a high surface area silica support has been developed. The catalyst has a significant activity for CO oxidation even in the presence of moisture. The catalyst showed a significant increase in activity with decreasing particle size (η In case of larger catalyst particles the diffusional resistances affect the reaction kinetics, leading to greater rates of CO self-poisoning causing deactivation of the catalysts. However, conventional packed bed of smaller particles poses problems such as high pressure drop, packing issues, bed channeling, flow maldistributions, and dead zones in the reactor bed, which result in poor inter-phase heat and mass transfer rates. Most of these problems are related to poor packaging of smaller particles, strongly suggesting the need for immobilization of small particles. A new class of micro-structured materials consisting of sorbents/catalysts entrapped in metal, ceramic, or polymer microfibers (MFES/MFEC) has been developed at Auburn University. These materials immobilize the small particles by sinter-locking them in fiber mesh. The immobilization of particles results in better heterogeneous contacting efficiency. Additional studies have shown that the high voidages and structural uniformity of the MFES lowered the flow maldistributions, eliminated the peaking flows between particles, and helped achieve better radial dispersion. Thus MFEC/MFES improved inter-phase transport rates. The Pt-CeO2/SiO2 catalyst entrapped in metal microfibers demonstrated a significant improvement in CO conversion compared to a conventional packed bed configuration while maintaining a lower pressure drop. Further catalyst entrapment in metal microfibers minimized cold spots in the reactor bed due to better intra-phase heat transfer rate. Higher effective thermal conductivity of MFEC improved the activity of the catalyst, which was particularly visible at high CO concentration wherein the CO inhibition kinetics takes over. For example, MFEC with 1/3 rd of catalyst loading as that of packed bed of same particle size, outperformed packed bed configuration. The catalysts were prepared by incipient wet impregnation. Surface characterization of catalysts was carried out using CO, H2, O2 chemisorption, O2 – H2 titration, N2 physisorption, powder XRD, and was correlated with catalytic activity. This microfibrous entrapped catalyst demonstrated a great potential for low temperature CO oxidation. These MFEC can be used in air purification, emergency escape products, and as a cathode air filter for PEM fuel cells.
Development Interdependency Modeling for System-of-Systems (SoS) using Bayesian Networks: SoS Management Strategy Planning☆

Abstract Managing the development and evolution of a system-of-systems (SoS) capability remains a challenge due to, among other reasons, the complex interdependencies between participating systems. One form of complexity stems from the tendency of interdependencies to propagate between systems; disruptions in the development of one system may propagate to other dependent systems in successive cycles, creating schedule and cost overruns. Event tree methods and Bayesian Networks (BNs) are used in this paper to quantify development interdependencies between systems and assess cascading development risks. In addition the approach also allows inputs (e.g. development failure rates of participating systems) to be updated automatically for better decision-making. A primary output of the approach is the quantification of development interdependencies and the identification of critical systems with respect to propagating effect levels. This method when applied to a synthetic problem, as a proof-of- concept, demonstrates the robustness of the proposed approach in tackling risk interaction that arises from the cascading effects of development disruptions and clearly illustrates that the propagating effects depend not only on SoS architecture, but on development failure rates of participating systems as well. The outcomes of the analysis provide a support for decision makers to manage risk in development of a SoS with complex interdependencies.
A Sequence of Servers with Arbitrary Input and Regular Service Times Revisited: In Memory of Micha Yadin

The March 1965 issue of Management Science saw a sequence of two papers by Avi-Itzhak and Yadin, the first presenting analysis of a two-server tandem system, with manufacturing blocking and no intermediate queue, leading to the second paper, which analyzes an arbitrary number of tandem servers with manufacturing blocking. In this work we present generalized results for the same systems under k-stage blocking. One-stage blocking is the so-called manufacturing blocking in which a job entering the jth service position in the sequence requires attendance by the jth server only. Upon completion of service the job will move to position j + 1 if that position is not occupied. Otherwise, it will continue to stay in position j, blocking it, until the next position is vacated. Two-stage blocking is the so-called communication blocking in which a job entering the jth position needs simultaneous attendance by the jth and the j + 1-th servers. Thus, start of service may be delayed until the j + 1-th server is freed. In k-stage blocking, the job requires at each position in the sequence the joint attendance of the server of that position together with the servers of the next k-1 positions. One interesting result is that for k > 1 the waiting times are not order-insensitive while the G/D/1 equivalence is maintained.
Regulation of the calcium-activated neutral proteinase (CANP) of bovine brain by myelin lipids

Abstract Since calcium-activated neutral proteinase (CANP; calpain) activation occurs at the plasmalemma and the enzyme is found in myelin, we examined myelin lipid activation of brain CANP. Purified lipids were dried, sonicated and incubated with purified myelin CANP. The CANP was assayed using [ 14 C]azocasein as substrate and the Ca 2+ concentration ranged from 2 μM for μCANP to 5mM for mCANP. Phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS) and dioleoylglycerol stimulated the mCANP activity by 193, 89 and 78%, respectively. PI stimulated both m- and μCANP in a concentration-dependent manner, while phosphatidylcholine was least effective. Cerebroside and sulfatide at higher concentrations (750 μM) were stimulatory. The phospholipid (PL)-mediated activation was inhibited by the PL-binding drug trifluoperazine. PI reduced the Ca 2+ requirement for CANPs significantly (20-fold). These results suggest that acidic lipids and particularly acidic phospholipids activate membrane CANP.
Crystal structure of the Marburg virus GP2 core domain in its postfusion conformation.

Marburg virus (MARV) and Ebola virus (EBOV) are members of the family Filoviridae ("filoviruses") and cause severe hemorrhagic fever with human case fatality rates of up to 90%. Filovirus infection requires fusion of the host cell and virus membranes, a process that is mediated by the envelope glycoprotein (GP). GP contains two subunits, the surface subunit (GP1), which is responsible for cell attachment, and the transmembrane subunit (GP2), which catalyzes membrane fusion. The GP2 ectodomain contains two heptad repeat regions, N-terminal and C-terminal (NHR and CHR, respectively), that adopt a six-helix bundle during the fusion process. The refolding of this six-helix bundle provides the thermodynamic driving force to overcome barriers associated with membrane fusion. Here we report the crystal structure of the MARV GP2 core domain in its postfusion (six-helix bundle) conformation at 1.9 A resolution. The MARV GP2 core domain backbone conformation is virtually identical to that of EBOV GP2 (reported previously), and consists of a central NHR core trimeric coiled coil packed against peripheral CHR α-helices and an intervening loop and helix-turn-helix segments. We previously reported that the stability of the MARV GP2 postfusion structure is highly pH-dependent, with increasing stability at lower pH [Harrison, J. S., Koellhoffer, J. K., Chandran, K., and Lai, J. R. (2012) Biochemistry51, 2515-2525]. We hypothesized that this pH-dependent stability provides a mechanism for conformational control such that the postfusion six-helix bundle is promoted in the environments of appropriately mature endosomes. In this report, a structural rationale for this pH-dependent stability is described and involves a high-density array of core and surface acidic side chains at the midsection of the structure, termed the "anion stripe". In addition, many surface-exposed salt bridges likely contribute to the stabilization of the postfusion structure at low pH. These results provide structural insights into the mechanism of MARV GP2-mediated membrane fusion.
A woman with multiple congenital anomalies, mental retardation and mosaicism for an unusual translocation chromosome t (6;19)

A mentally retarded woman with multiple congenital anomalies is described. Her fibroblasts had a normal female chromosome complement, but in virtually all lymphocytes there were only 45 chromosomes, one no. 6 and one no. 19 having joined with their short arms. The two terminal deletions may have been submicroscopically small. Whether they had caused the clinical anomalies remains an open question. The translocation chromosome had only the primary constriction of no. 19, although no deletion in the centromere region of no. 6 could be detected even with centric staining. This appears to be the fourth well analyzed case of a large translocation chromosome that Seems to be dicentric with one centromere inactivated. The point of union of nos. 6 and 19 sometimes showed very unusual features: conspicuous bending of chromatids, a change in their thickness from the thinner no. 19 to the no. 6 component, and (to be described in detail elsewhere) chromatid breakage separating the two components (about once in 730 cells). Conceivably, the original breaks may both have occurred within telomeres.
Development of a Novel Fluorescence Polarization–Based Assay for Studying the β-Catenin/Tcf4 Interaction

Aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is associated with a wide range of human cancers. The interaction of β-catenin with T cell factor (Tcf) is a key step in activation of proliferative genes in this pathway. Interruption of this interaction would be a valuable strategy as a tumor therapy. In this study, we developed a novel fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)–labeled Tcf4-derived probe for identification of inhibitors of the β-catenin/Tcf4 interaction using a fluorescence polarization assay. This assay shows high potential for use in high-throughput screening for the discovery of inhibitors of the β-catenin/Tcf4 interaction.
Effects and bioassay of Escherichia coli enterotoxin (heat-stable fraction) on smooth muscle

Abstract Heat-stable E. coli and V. cholerae enterotoxins and E. coli endotoxin were tested on the following smooth muscle preparation: vascular; rabbit aorta; rat mesenteric arterioles, and intestinal, rabbit jejunum; pig duodenum; dog jejunal lamina propria smooth muscle. The results indicated that in most preparations used, the prime action of heat-stable enterotoxin from pathogenic strains of E. coli consisted in neutralizing the effects of both alpha or beta adrenergic agonists. In this respect the effect of enterotoxin appeared similar to that of alpha or beta adrenergic blockers. Using the same models, it was found that this enterotoxin did not interfere with the effects of cholinergic agonists or of biogenic amines. Control heat-stable enterotoxin preparations and other tested substances proved inactive, suggesting that different receptor sites might exist for these agents in our models. It appears that smooth muscle preparations are well suited for bioassay of active heat-stable E. coli enterotoxin.
Particle–dendrite interaction during undercooled liquid solidification of metal–matrix composites

Abstract The attainable undercooling and the solidification microstructures of several combinations of liquid Cu and liquid Ni with different nonmetallic particle dispersions have been studied with respect to the process of particle incorporation. The interaction between the particles and an advancing smooth solidification front is theoretically described by several models, which consider different materials parameters of the liquid and the dispersoids. The results show, that some of the model predictions qualitatively hold also for the case of a dendritic solidification front – as present during the solidification process of an undercooled liquid, but that especially the critical velocities for particle engulfment are more than three orders of magnitude larger than predicted.
SEQUENCES OF THE LARGEST SUBUNIT OF RNA POLYMERASE II FROM TWO RED ALGAE AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR RHODOPHYTE EVOLUTION

The Rhodophyta are a widespread group of multicellular eukaryotes that occupy a range of habitats and exhibit a broad variety of morphologies and life histories. Unlike green plants, animals, and even brown algae, the red algae have attained this diversity without having evolved true tissue differentiation. Moreover, the relationship of red algae to other multicellular lineages remains controversial, and the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of their development are largely unexplored. We have isolated the 3′ end of the gene encoding the largest subunit (RPB1) of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) from two divergent red algae, Porphyra yezoensis Ueda and Bonnemaisonia hamifera Heriot. The Pol II largest subunit lies at the catalytic center of the enzyme responsible for mRNA transcription in eukaryotic cells. In plants, animals, and fungi, the 3′ distal region of the RPB1 gene encodes a carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) that is the organizing center for assembly of the RNA Pol II holoenzyme essential for developmentally regulated transcription. Examination of rhodophyte RPB1 C-terminal regions as well as phylogenetic analyses based on conserved gene sequences suggest that the red algae emerged in the course of eukaryotic evolution before the CTD had been codified in the remaining crown taxa. The possibility that a causal relationship underlies the correlated lack of a CTD and absence of tissue differentiation in red algae is proposed as an intriguing subject for further study.
The Asiatic clam, Corbicula spp., as a biological monitor in freshwater environments.

Asiatic clams, Corbicula spp., are filter-feeding freshwater bivalves that are widely distributed, abundant, and fast growing with a lifespan of 1–3 yrs. A review of the existing literature demonstrates that Asiatic clams can concentrate organic pollutants from both water and sediment and heavy metals from water. In conjunction with these traits, they exhibit a high tolerance for the effects resulting from exposure to toxic substances. While an organism must possess these traits to serve as an effective biological monitor, they have also permitted the Asiatic clam to rapidly colonize natural and industrial environments resulting in purported ecological disturbances and severe economic repurcussions, respectively. Its invasive biofouling attributes therefore restrict the use of Asiatic clams for biomonitoring purposes from Corbicula-free drainage systems.
A Visual Anthropological Approach to the “Edutainment” of BODY WORLDS

The first of three questions Burns (2007) raises regarding maintaining the dignity of the subjects/objects of BODY WORLDS concerns the educational utility of Gunther von Hagens' use of human cadave...
Cyclooctatetraene dianion from 1,5-cyclooctadiene. A synthesis in the presence of naphthalene radical anion

Abstract A novel synthesis of cyclooctatetraene dianion from 1,5-cyclooctadiene (1,5-COD) is described. The reaction of the potassium–naphthalene adduct with 1,5-COD proceeds at room temperature over 3 days in heptane/tetrahydrofuran to produce the target compound.
In Search of Holistic Family Assessment: An Investigation of a Clinical Instrument

(1984). In Search of Holistic Family Assessment: An Investigation of a Clinical Instrument. Issues in Mental Health Nursing: Vol. 6, No. 1-2, pp. 105-115.
Mesoscale modeling and satellite observation of transport and mixing of smoke and dust particles over northern sub-Saharan African region

[1] The transport and vertical distribution of smoke and dust aerosols over the northern sub-Saharan African region are simulated in the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem), which uses hourly dynamic smoke emissions from the Fire Locating and Modeling of Burning Emissions database derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) fire products. Model performance for February 2008 is evaluated using MODIS true color images, aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements from the Aerosol Robotic Network, MODIS AOD retrievals, and the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar data with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) atmospheric backscattering and extinction products. Specification of smoke injection height of 650 m in WRF-Chem yields aerosol vertical profiles that are most consistent with CALIOP observations of aerosol layer height. Between the equator and 10°N, Saharan dust is often mixed with smoke near the surface, and their transport patterns manifest the interplay of trade winds, subtropical highs, precipitation associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone, and the high mountains located near the Great Rift Valley region. At the 700 hPa level and above, smoke layers spread farther to the north and south and are often above the dust layers over the Sahel region. In some cases, transported smoke can also be mixed with dust over the Saharan region. Statistically, 5% of the CALIOP valid measurements in February 2007–2011 show aerosol layers either above or between the clouds, reinforcing the importance of the aerosol vertical distribution for quantifying aerosol impact on climate in the Sahel region.
Manual Aspiration Thrombectomy in Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Clinical Experience.

Multiple clinical studies have failed to establish the role of routine use of thrombectomy in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. There is a paucity of data on the impact of thrombectomy in unselected STEMI patients outside clinical trials. We sought to evaluate the clinical variables and outcomes associated with the performance of thrombectomy in STEMI patients. We retrospectively examined the clinical outcomes in all STEMI patients who underwent successful percutaneous intervention (PCI) at our center. Patients were divided into two groups, one with patients who underwent conventional PCI and another with patients who had thrombus aspiration in addition to conventional PCI. We compared the baseline clinical characteristics, laboratory investigations, re-infarction rates, and all-cause mortality. Total 477 consecutive STEMI patients were identified. Overall, 29% (139) of the patients underwent conventional PCI and 71% (338) of the patients were treated with aspiration thrombectomy and PCI. In addition to the presence of thrombus, patients with nonanterior infarction, and patients with hemodynamic instability requiring intra-aortic balloon pump support were more likely to undergo thrombectomy. Thrombectomy was associated with higher enzymatic infarction (creatine kinase: 2,796 [2,575] vs. 1,716 [1,662]; p
Probing Interdomain Mixing Effects via Specific Interactions: A Model System Approach

The feasibility of applying specific interactions to promote interdomain adhesion in multicomponent materials was investigated using a model bicomponent system. Polystyrene (with either phenolic or sulfonic functionality at variable levels) and poly(ethyl acrylate) form the basis of our system, with adhesion arising from intercomponent mixing at the domain interface. The driving force for mixing was confirmed via IR spectroscopy to be hydrogen bonding between the styrene acidic functions and the acrylate carbonyl. It is shown that the degree of mixing can be varied continuously in these multiphase materials via systematic control of the polystyrene functionalization level
Comparison of Auditory, Somatosensory, and Visually Instructed and Internally Generated Finger Movements: A PET Study

We sought to determine how the pattern of cerebral activation, and in particular in frontal motor areas, during the performance of conditional motor tasks is dependent upon the modality of instruction (visual, auditory, or somatosensory). Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) changes with externally instructed movements were also compared with internally generated, self-paced, movements. We used positron emission tomography (PET) with the tracer H215O to measure rCBF in 22 healthy volunteers. External stimuli consisted of the randomized presentation of single or double impulses using a single modality for each condition. In the movement scans, the subjects used the index and middle fingers of their right hands to press a left button for a single and a right button for a double impulse, respectively. In the control scans, subjects were required to covertly distinguish a single from a double stimulus without a motor response. Data were analyzed using conventional subtraction techniques with a statistical threshold of Z > 2.33 with corrections for multiple comparisons. When the activation differences between the three externally instructed movement conditions were statistically compared, nonsignificant trends toward increased rCBF in the sensory cortex of the modality of the cue were observed but no differential activity in cortical motor areas. Internally generated movements, when compared to externally triggered movements, were associated with enhanced activation in bilateral medial and lateral premotor, dorsolateral prefrontal and superior parietal regions, largely confirming previous reports. The data indicate that, on a regional level, modality-specific processing in a conditional motor task does not occur in frontal motor areas and is probably confined to sensory areas.
Nuclear behavior in multinucleate Schizophyllum commune Germlings.

The ultrastructure of a “fir” morphological mutant containing multinucleate cells is described in Schizophyllum commune. The germlings of basidiospores which arose from mating “fir” with wild-type mycelium were studied in culture by phase contrast microscopy to elucidate behavior of multinucleate cells. Nuclear division appeared synchronous from two nuclei yielding four progeny through six nuclei producing twelve products, beyond which loss of synchrony was indicated. Compensatory nuclear migration into an anucleate cell was presumed during synchronous division of nuclear aggregates in the adjacent cell of an individual germling. The migrant nucleus eventually returned to the cell of origin. However, the return route was not via the central pore of the septum but rather occurred at the juncture of the cross-wall with the germling-periphery. Ultrastructure of a partial septum in “fir” which could accommodate nuclear passage of this sort is described.
Dynamics and Performance of a Harmonically Excited Vertical Impact Damper

Particle impact dampers (PIDs) have been shown to be effective in vibration damping. However, our understanding of such dampers is still limited, based on the theoretical models existing today. Predicting the performance of the PID is an important problem, which needs to be investigated more thoroughly. This research seeks to understand the dynamics of a PID as well as those parameters which govern its behavior. The system investigated is a particle impact damper with a ceiling, under the influence of gravity. The base is harmonically excited in the vertical direction. A two-dimensional discrete map is obtained, wherein the variables at one impact uniquely dictate the variables at the next impact. This map is solved using a numerical continuation procedure. Periodic impact motions and "irregular" motions are observed. The effects of various parameters such as the gap clearance, coefficient of restitution, and the base acceleration are analyzed. The dependence of the effective damping loss factor on these parameters is also studied. The loss factor results indicate peak damping for certain combinations of parameters. These combinations of parameters correspond to a region in parameter space where two-impacts-per-cycle motions are observed over a wide range of nondimensional base accelerations. The value of the nondimensional acceleration at which the onset of two-impacts-per-cycle solutions occurs depends on the nondimensional gap clearance and the coefficient of restitution. The range of nondimensional gap clearances over which two-impacts-per-cycle solutions are observed increases as the coefficient of restitution increases. In the regime of two-impacts-per-cycle solutions, the value of nondimensional base acceleration corresponding to onset of these solutions initially decreases and then increases with increasing nondimensional gap clearance. As the two-impacts-per-cycle solutions are associated with high loss factors that are relatively insensitive to changing conditions, they are of great interest to the designer.
Elastography Using Multi-Stream GPU: An Application to Online Tracked Ultrasound Elastography, In-Vivo and the da Vinci Surgical System

A system for real-time ultrasound (US) elastography will advance interventions for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer by advancing methods such as thermal monitoring of tissue ablation. A multi-stream graphics processing unit (GPU) based accelerated normalized cross-correlation (NCC) elastography, with a maximum frame rate of 78 frames per second, is presented in this paper. A study of NCC window size is undertaken to determine the effect on frame rate and the quality of output elastography images. This paper also presents a novel system for Online Tracked Ultrasound Elastography (O-TRuE), which extends prior work on an offline method. By tracking the US probe with an electromagnetic (EM) tracker, the system selects in-plane radio frequency (RF) data frames for generating high quality elastograms. A novel method for evaluating the quality of an elastography output stream is presented, suggesting that O-TRuE generates more stable elastograms than generated by untracked, free-hand palpation. Since EM tracking cannot be used in all systems, an integration of real-time elastography and the da Vinci Surgical System is presented and evaluated for elastography stream quality based on our metric. The da Vinci surgical robot is outfitted with a laparoscopic US probe, and palpation motions are autonomously generated by customized software. It is found that a stable output stream can be achieved, which is affected by both the frequency and amplitude of palpation. The GPU framework is validated using data from in-vivo pig liver ablation; the generated elastography images identify the ablated region, outlined more clearly than in the corresponding B-mode US images.
Purification of pig and rat liver squalene epoxidase by affinity chromatography

Abstract Three novel affinity columns were evaluated for purification of rat and pig squalene epoxidase (SE). Pig SE was adsorbed to a resin bearing an N -cyclopropyl- N -trisnorsqualenamine (TNS-CPA) type functionality, and eluted with 25 mM KCl to give a 55–56 kDa doublet, whereas rat SE required the use of N -methyl- N -trisnor-squaleneamine (TNS-MA) affinity resin. Rat SE could be eluted with 0.5M KCl, to give a single band at 52 kDa.
Laser frequency dependent kinetics of cw laser induced reactions

CF2ClCF2Cl and ethyl acetate have absorption bands of similar width centered at the same frequency. Kinetics of the decompositions of these compounds by a cw CO2 laser have been studied over a range of laser frequencies extending to 25 cm−1 below band center. At constant translational temperature and pressure, the CF2ClCF2Cl rate constant changes by more than 200 with frequency, while the corresponding change for ethyl acetate is at most 3. The effect of laser frequency increases with increasing CF2ClCF2Cl pressure, while the reverse is true in ethyl acetate. Arrhenius plots show activation energies independent of both frequency and pressure.
Respiratory effects of 0.75 ppm sulfur dioxide in exercising asthmatics: Influence of upper-respiratory defenses

To determine the influence of mouthpiece breathing on respiratory responses to sulfur dioxide (SO2), 23 young adult asthmatic volunteers were exposed in a chamber to 0.75 ppm SO2 during heavy exercise, once with breathing unencumbered and once while they wore noseclips and mouthpieces. These conditions (more severe than in typical ambient exposures) were deliberately chosen to produce significant physiological and clinical responses. Similar exposures to clean air served as controls. Exposure studies were separated by 1-week intervals and order was randomized. The protocol consisted of 10 min on a bicycle ergometer (mean load 650 kg-m/min, mean ventilation 40 liter/min), preceded and followed by response testing (body plethysmography, symptom questionnaires, and forced expiratory function tests; the last were performed only postexposure). During clean-air exposures, specific airway resistance (SRaw) and symptoms increased significantly, but no meaningful differences between mouthpiece breathing and unencumbered breathing were observed. Exposures to SO2 under these relatively severe conditions produced greater increases in SRaw than clean-air exposures regardless of the mode of breathing, but the excess increase was significantly greater with mouthpiece than with unencumbered breathing. Symptom changes and postexposure forced expiratory function showed qualitatively the same pattern of decrements with SO2 ad did SRaw, but the excess responses attributable to mouthpiece breathing did not attain statistical significance. Mouthpiece breathing can compromise upper-respiratory defenses against SO2 to the extent that responses are greater than with more natural breathing. The mode of breathing should be taken in account when applying laboratory human exposure data to air-quality risk assessment.
Recent refinements and increased capabilities in balloon vertical performance analysis

The NASA Thermal Trajectory analysis model for predicting the vertical performance of balloons is described in terms of two critical refinements and recent results. The model employs heat-balance equations and a vertical equation of motion, and revised methods are employed to predict maximum balloon volume, balloon shape, and the continuous computation of gas loss. Also incorporated are modeling techniques for assessing the solar radiation input that can affect the load tapes, and autoballast control algorithms are employed. The model permits the evaluation of the presence of cap layers as well as the effects of small leaks and programmed venting. The revised model is shown to give good predictions of balloon performance during flight in terms of altitude changes, descent rates, gas-mass flow, and leak potential. The model is found to be more versatile due to autoballasting and leak analysis, and good prediction are possible for the float phase and descent of current balloon shapes.
Do group-specific or national unemployment rates influence perceptions?

Abstract We show that disaggregated social preference functions between inflation and unemployment may be modelled using the national unemployment rate rather than group-specific rates. We reach this conclusion by fitting presidential popularity functions to groups classified by age, region, sex and race.
Psychosocial risk factors for depressive disorders in late life

This article summarizes research findings on psychosocial risk factors for late life depressive disorders. The article draws heavily on longitudinal cohort studies of well-defined, population-based samples with diagnostic measures that assess the risk of incident or new-onset depressive episodes. These studies have identified a number of significant psychosocial risk factors for late life depressive disorders, including life events and ongoing difficulties; death of a spouse or other loved one; medical illness and injuries; disability and functional decline; and lack of social contact. Additional evidence suggests that the impact of these psychosocial risk factors on depression can be enhanced or buffered by personal or environmental factors. Although many of these psychosocial risk factors are more prevalent among older than younger adults, it is not clear that their impact on the risk of depression differs by age. Methodological challenges to advancing research on psychosocial risk factors for late life depression are reviewed, including problems related to study designs, sample selection, and measurement.
Reversal of Fortune? Strategy Change and Counterinsurgency Success by Foreign Powers in the Twentieth Century

Will a strategy change toward one of “hearts and minds” alter the eventual outcome of the American-led allied war effort in Afghanistan? We investigate this question by analyzing 66 cases of counterinsurgency warfare from the twentieth century in which a foreign power seeks to defend a central authority in a state or colonial territory against an insurgency. We identify whether and when a foreign power implemented a change in its counterinsurgency strategy, whether said change involved a shift toward a strategy reflecting a hearts and minds emphasis, as well as the foreign power's eventual success or failure in prevailing over insurgents. We find that while shifting toward a strategy of hearts and minds increases the chances for success, the improvement is modest and requires nearly a decade to produce. Furthermore, we find that the impact of a strategy change is conditional on the timing of the change, with a “window of opportunity” associated with success closing after approximately eight years of war. Our findings bode poorly for allied efforts in contemporary Afghanistan.
Structure analysis of continuous cultures subject to periodic medium tuning

Abstract Continuous bioprocesses subject to time-invariant external influences are attractive due to ease of operation and control. In many bacterial, plant and animal cell cultures, culture conditions that favor high growth rates of cells or cell aggregates are frequently not conducive for formation of valuable metabolites and vice versa. A plausible solution to the problem of maximization of bioprocess productivity in such situations is a forced periodic operation of continuous bioreactors with cell growth being promoted over a portion of each cycle and formation of the desired product(s) being promoted over the remainder of the cycle. Such shift from cell growth stage to product formation stage and vice versa can be accomplished by altering a key culture parameter. A systematic analysis of dynamics of continuous bioreactors subject to periodic medium tuning is presented in this article. The limiting substrate is considered to be utilized partly for cell growth and partly for synthesis of desired metabolites. Periodic solutions are classified on the basis of their stability characteristics and other properties of these and conditions for their admissibility are identified. Existence of and stability characteristics of various types of periodic states are examined in detail for few specific examples and the transient behavior arising for each example is classified. Structural changes such as bifurcation of periodic states (limit, Hopf and period-doubling bifurcations) and appearance/disappearance of periodic states resulting from variations in operating parameters are examined for each specific example. The superiority of forced periodic operation of continuous cultures over steady-state operations of continuous cultures is demonstrated via appropriate numerical illustrations.
Neurological aspects of multiple myeloma and related disorders

The spectrum of neurologic complications of multiple myeloma (MM) and related conditions is as diverse as the conditions themselves. Complications range from direct compression (radiculopathy, spinal cord compression, base-of-the-skull tumor) to the infiltrative (amyloid, peripheral neuropathies, and numb chin syndrome of myeloma), the metabolic (slowed mentation from hyperviscosity, hypercalcemia, or uremia), and to autoimmune or cytokine-mediated (peripheral neuropathy). The two most common presentations are the compressive radiculopathy one sees in multiple myeloma and the peripheral neuropathies associated with many of the other disorders. The authors will review the neurologic complications of MM, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), POEMS syndrome, amyloidosis, and cryoglobulinemia.
Type inference for records in natural extension of ML

We describe an extension of ML with records where inheritance is given by ML generic polymorphism. All operations on records introduced by Wand in [Wan87] are supported, in particular the unrestricted extension of a field, and other operations such as renaming of fields are added. The solution relies on both an extension of ML, where the language of types is sorted and considered modulo equations [Rem9Ob], and on a record extension of types [Rem9Oc]. The solution is simple and modular and the type inference algorithm is efficient in practice. Comments University of Pennsylvania Department of Computer and Information Science Technical Report No. MSCIS-90-73. This technical report is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/cis_reports/641 Type Inference For Records In A Natural Extension Of ML MS-CIS-90-73 LOGIC & COMPUTATION 24