cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mobile megafaunal activity monitored with a time-lapse camera in the abyssal North Pacific

Abstract Epibenthic megafauna comprise a large fraction of the deep-sea benthic biomass and are considered important in bioturbation and sediment mineralization processes. However, the sparse and often patchy distribution of these animals makes them difficult to study on meaningful spatial and temporal scales. We used a new time-lapse camera system to measure the movements of mobile megafauna over a 3-month period across a 20 m2 area of the abyssal sea floor in the eastern North Pacific. This free-vehicle camera system consisted of a time-lapse camera mounted in a tripod frame with a field marker, time releases and flotation assembly. Time-lapse photographs of the sea floor were taken hourly from March to June 1991 at a station off the central California coast (34°50′N, 123°00′W) at a depth of 4100 m. Megafaunal density reached a peak in April, immediately preceding inceased fluxes of particulate organic carbon (POC) and chlorophyll a measured in sediment traps at 50 m above bottom. Mobile megafauna were numerically dominated by the holothuroids, Abyssocucumis abyssorum, Peniagone vitrea and Elpidia minutissima. The total area traversed by the megafauna each day was estimated by summing the distance traveled between hourly photographs multiplied by the body width of each animal. Area traversed by the megafauna reached a peak in early May following the peak in faunal density and preceding the peak in POC flux in mid-May. The mobile megafauna traversed 88% of the 20 m2 area of the sea floor over the 3-month period. Estimates of oxygen consumption for the dominant mobile megafauna revealed that these animals would consume only 1.6% of the particulate organic carbon flux entering the benthic boundary layer. However, the extensive area traversed by the mobile megafauna in a 3-month interval suggests that these animals are important as modifiers of the surface sediment, either through mixing or repackaging of material.
Intraoral papillary squamous cell tumor of the soft palate with features of sialadenoma papilliferum‐? malignant sialadenoma papilliferum

An unusual, recurring, squamous papillary tumor involving and possibly arising from minor salivary gland excretory ducts in the palate is presented. Similarity to sialadenoma papilliferum and upper respiratory tract papillomatosis is noted. A paraglandular cystic mass with some resemblance to the palatal lesion, and a solitary lymph node with papillary squamous epithelial deposits was found in a radical neck dissection. We suggest that the lymph node lesion represents a metastasis which may have arisen from the palatal lesion, and therefore propose the concept of a possible malignant analogue of sialadenoma papilliferum.
Cross-language program slicing for dynamic web applications

During software maintenance, program slicing is a useful technique to assist developers in understanding the impact of their changes. While different program-slicing techniques have been proposed for traditional software systems, program slicing for dynamic web applications is challenging since the client-side code is generated from the server-side code and data entities are referenced across different languages and are often embedded in string literals in the server-side program. To address those challenges, we introduce WebSlice, an approach to compute program slices across different languages for web applications. We first identify data-flow dependencies among data entities for PHP code based on symbolic execution. We also compute SQL queries and a conditional DOM that represents client-code variations and construct the data flows for embedded languages: SQL, HTML, and JavaScript. Next, we connect the data flows across different languages and across PHP pages. Finally, we compute a program slice for a given entity based on the established data flows. Running WebSlice on five real-world, open-source PHP systems, we found that, out of 40,670 program slices, 10% cross languages, 38% cross files, and 13% cross string fragments, demonstrating the potential benefit of tool support for cross-language program slicing in dynamic web applications.
The roles of CARMA1, Bcl10, and MALT1 in antigen receptor signaling

Lymphocyte activation plays a critical role in immune responses. Dysregulation of lymphocyte activation can cause autoimmune, immunodeficient diseases, or leukemia/lymphoma. Lymphocyte activation is triggered by stimulation of antigen receptors, T cell receptors (TCR) or B cell receptors (BCR), on the surfaces of T or B lymphocyte, respectively. Stimulation of TCR or BCR induces a series of signal transduction cascades leading to activation of multiple transcription factors including NF-kappaB. Recent studies demonstrate that CARMA1, a scaffold protein, plays an essential role in mediating TCR- or BCR-induced NF-kappaB activation by recruiting two adaptor proteins, Bcl10 and MALT1, to lipid rafts following stimulation of antigen receptors. In this review, we will discuss the mechanism by which proximal signaling components connect antigen receptor signaling to CARMA1, and how CARMA1 regulates Bcl10 and MALT1, leading to activation of NF-kappaB. In addition, the roles of CARMA1, Bcl10, and MALT1 in lymphocyte activation and development will also be discussed.
Wave-Mean Flow Interaction during the Life Cycles of Baroclinic Waves

Abstract A two-layer quasigeostrophic β-plane channel model is used to examine the role of the wave-mean flow interaction during the life cycles of baroclinic waves. Two cases are examined: a wide and a narrow jet limit. These two limits are required to satisfy the property that their instability lead to a realistic baroclinic life cycle consisting of baroclinic growth and barotropic decay. In order to characterize the properties of the zonal-wind tendency in the two cases, scaling arguments based on a study by Andrews and McIntyre are used. This scaling procedure is then used to explain the nonlocal (local) zonal-wind tendency during the realistic baroclinic life cycle for the wide (narrow) jet limit.Several differences between the properties of the two jet limits are found. For the wide jet limit, the acceleration at the center of the jet is confined to the growth stage. This contrasts the narrow jet limit where the jet is accelerated throughout the entire life cycle. These differences depend upon the l...
Sterols in the western North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract The sterol concentrations in fourteen surface and nine deep water samples collected from the continental shelf and slope waters of the western North Atlantic and Sargasso Sea ranged from 0.1 to 1.3μ/l seawater. Isolation and structural elucidation by gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry show that cholesterol and β-sitosterol (or clionasterol) are the major free sterols in both the surface and deep water. Fucosterol, brassicasterol, 22-dehydrocholesterol, campesterol (or 22,23-dihydrobrassicasterol), 22-methylenecholesterol, norcholestadienol, and stigmasterol (or poriferasterol) are found in lower concentrations at the surface and in the deep sea. Cholesterol is the major sterol ester in both the surface and deep water, while very low concentrations of other sterol esters were found. The ratio of total free sterols to total esterified sterols is approximately two in both the surface and deep water. Marine sources of sterols in seawater include phytoplankton, yeasts, and marine animals such as Crustacea and molluscs. Terrestrial plants also may contribute. Sterol transport to the deep sea may occur by convective overturn and vertical diffusion or from vertical fluxes of large particles from the surface.
Biologic action of proinsulin on ventral toad skin in vitro.

Insulin increases active sodium transport across isolated skin segments and urinary bladder of the toad, Bufo marinus, and this response can be diiectly and continuously monitored by measuring the short-circuit current. In this study proinsulin was found to stimulate sodium transport in toad skin preparations. Proinsulin and insulin were equipotent on a molar basis with concentrations from 5 × lO-10 to 10-6M, and the short-circuit response to either agent at maximally effective concentrations was similar with respect to time of onset, rate of development and time of peak effect. Preincubation with Kunitz pancreatic trypsin inhibitor resulted in inhibition of the effect of proinsulin, but did not affect the response to insulin. Although this finding lends support to the hypothesis that the biological activity of proinsulin is dependent upon its prior proteolytic conversion to insulin, it is difficult to reconcile this hypothesis with the equipotent activity and similar time-iesponse patterns of the 2 prote...
Cultures as Learning Laboratories: What Makes Some More Effective Than Others?

With a mandate to globalize, business school educators have increasingly embraced global service learning as an important technique for creating global mind-sets and enhancing cultural understandin...
Potential for preservation of halobacteria and their macromolecular constituents in brine inclusions from bedded salt deposits

Halobacteria cultured from salt deposits as old as 200 m.y. are assumed to be dormant halobacteria entombed in the brine inclusions that formed during deposition of the salt crystals. Hypersaline lakes may have also existed on early Mars. If so, evaporite minerals containing frozen brine inclusions may occur on the surface of Mars today. Analyses of samples of recently-deposited salt from Laguna Grande de la Sal in New Mexico revealed the presence of viable halobacteria. 16S rDNA from archae and eubacteria was also detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of directly-extracted DNA from Laguna Grande de la Sal sal. In contrast, no halophilic bacteria were cultured from 200 my polyhalite from the Salado Formation in New Mexico nor was archaea 16S rDNA detected by PCR amplification of DNA extracts from salt. A combination of microbiological, molecular, and geochemical approaches are being used to probe bedded salt deposits for evidence of microbial entrapment in primary fluid inclusions. A chronosequence of bedded salts from Death Valley, California that range in age from 0 to 200 kyr is the subject of current investigations to constrain the length of time that viable halophilic bacteria and associated macromolecules can be detected in bedded salts.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Scientific Integrity and Media Policies Assessed at U.S. Federal Agencies

Two new reports from the nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) provide analyses of U.S. government agencies’ policies on scientific integrity and media. An 8 March report, “Federal Agency Scientific Integrity Policies: A Comparative Analysis,” found that many of those policies at 22 agencies and departments that were written following a 2009 presidential directive “actively promote and support a culture of scientific integrity,” but a number of the policies have significant flaws.
Gravitational lensing effects on the gamma-ray burst Hubble diagram

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) offer a potential way to extend the Hubble diagram to very high redshifts and to constrain the nature of dark energy in a way complementary to distant type Ia supernovae. However, gravitational lensing systematically brightens distant GRBs through the magnification bias, in addition to increasing the dispersions of distance measurements. We investigate how the magnification bias limits the cosmological usage of GRBs. We perform Monte-Carlo simulations of Swift GRBs assuming a cosmological constant dominated universe and then constrain the dark energy equation of state neglecting gravitational lens effects. The originally assumed model is recovered with 68% confidence limit even when the dispersion of inferred luminosities is comparable to that of type Ia supernovae. This implies that the bias is not so drastic for Swift GRBs as to change constraints on dark energy and its evolution. However, the precise degree of the bias in cosmological parameter determinations depends strongly on the shape of the luminosity function of GRBs. Therefore, an accurate determination of the shape of the luminosity function is required to remove the effect of gravitational lensing and to obtain an unbiased Hubble diagram.
Exon-based mapping of microarray probes: Recovering differential gene expression signal in underpowered hypoxia experiment

There is an immense collection of underpowered Affymetrix gene array experiments. Although a majority of these experiments generated biologically feasible results, the considerable fraction of assays failed to identify expected transcriptional changes. There is an unused potential of Affymetrix probe-set redundancy for common exonic and UTR regions. We hypothesized that group analysis of multiple probe-sets which hybridize to the same exon or UTR will increase array discriminating power of transcriptional changes. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed Affymetrix mouse probe-sets that share the same exon using blocking feature of the Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM). Two-thousand two-hundred one exon-sharing probe-sets targeting 1011 transcripts were identified by mapping 36701 MG-U74v2 probe-sets to genomic alignments of 3,971,086 known mouse transcripts. Using the blocking feature of SAM with an underpowered (two microarrays per experimental condition) mouse hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension model, we identified 24 genes that were significantly (FDR<5%) affected by hypoxia but were not detected by regular SAM. The relevance of the four newly identified genes (Mig6, F3, Bmp6, and Ndrg1) to known hypoxia-associated responses was confirmed by PubMatrix; and hypoxia-induced up-regulation of Mig6 expression was validated by real-time RT-PCR. We demonstrated that analysis of exon-sharing probe-sets allowed discovery of additional hypoxia-affected genes in an underpowered array experiment. This method will facilitate re-evaluation of existing underpowered Affymetrix gene expression profiles.
Interconnect performance limits on gigascale integration (GSI)

Future opportunities for gigascale integration (GSI) will be governed by a hierarchy of limits whose levels can be codified as: (i) fundamental, (ii) material, (iii) device, (iv) circuit and (v) system. Performance limits on interconnects at all levels of this hierarchy are elucidated by plotting the square of reciprocal length of the interconnect versus the response time of the interconnect circuit. Fundamental and material limits are defined essentially by the time of flight of a lossless transmission line. The response time of a canonical distributed resistance-capacitance network imposes the principal device limit, while the dominant circuit limit is imposed by the response time of a driver-interconnect-load circuit. System limits are determined by the response time required from the longest global interconnect and hence chip size.
Cardiac Conduction Disturbances Seen After Transcatheter Device Closure of Muscular Ventricular Septal Defects With the Amplatzer Occluder

This study examined the incidence of cardiac conduction abnormalities and ventricular arrhythmias after the transcatheter closure of muscular ventricular septal defects (MVSDs) using the Amplatzer device occluder. From the records of 27 patients who underwent 33 consecutive MVSD device closures, a low incidence of permanent and transient cardiac conduction disturbances was observed. Heart rate variability was less after the closure of multiple MVSDs compared with single MVSDs.
The ramp unloading case of transient axially-symmetric excitation of a circular elastic rod in plane strain

Abstract This paper, an extension of an earlier work (1), deals with a long cylindrical bar (of homogeneous, isotropic, and linearly elastic material) that is initially in static equilibrium under the action of uniform radial pressure on its cylindrical surface and axial stress as required to maintain plane strain. In (1), the radial pressure was assumed to be suddenly removed at zero time, with plane-strain conditions being maintained thereafter. In this paper, initial conditions are the same, but the radial pressure is removed gradually and uniformly over a certain time interval (ramp unloading). Equations for the radial displacement and for the radial, circumferential, and axial stresses due to ramp unloading are derived from the sudden unloading solution by superposition. Variations of these quantities with the radial coordinate and time are shown graphically for Poisson's ratio equal to 0·3 and one rate of unloading.
Myotendinous lengthening of the elbow flexor muscles to improve active motion in patients with elbow spasticity following brain injury

Background The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of a novel technique of fractional myotendinous lengthening of the elbow flexors in patients with volitional motor control and spastic elbow flexion deformities after brain injury. Methods A retrospective review of 42 consecutive patients with spastic elbow flexion deformities and upper motor neuron (UMN) syndrome was performed. Each patient had volitional motor control but limited elbow extension and underwent myotendinous lengthening of the elbow flexor muscles. Outcome measures included pre and post-operative active and passive arc of motion, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) of spasticity, and complications. Results There were 26 men and 16 women. The etiologies of UMN syndrome were stroke (30 patients), traumatic brain injury (11 patients), and cerebral palsy (1 patient). Average duration between injury and surgery was 6.6 years. At an average follow-up of 14 months, improvements were noted in active extension (42° to 20°; P P P P Conclusion In patients with spastic elbow flexion deformities and active motor control, fractional myotendinous lengthening of the elbow flexors safely improves active extension and the overall arc of motion while affording immediate postoperative elbow motion.
DRUG INTERACTIONS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

The intensive care unit (ICU) patient is particularly predisposed to the development of complications resulting from medication use, including drug interactions (DIs). Because of the multiple medications that these patients are usually prescribed, the likelihood of DIs occurring in the ICU is more frequent than with most acute care patients. Other factors including severity of illness, multisystem organ failure, and age can put the ICU patient at higher risk for DIs. In a review of 9900 patients, 83,200 drug exposures occurred with 3600 adverse drug effects noted. Of those adverse drug effects, 234 (6.5%) were caused by drug interactions. 25 The incidence of potential DIs has been estimated to be approximately 17% of surgical patients, 22% of medicine patients, 19% of skilled nursing home patients, and 23% of outpatient clinic patients. 25 In one small study conducted over a 5-month period in a six-bed ICU, 102 potential DIs were identified in 44.3% of patients. 22 Factors associated with increased potential for interactions included advanced age, number of concomitant drugs, severity of illness, and length of ICU stay. Today's critical care practitioners must familiarize themselves with the variety of possible mechanisms for DIs and various important factors including time course, dosage, routes, and individual patient risk factors that can lead to significant interactions. By enhancing knowledge in the prediction of interactions, the practitioner can minimize the negative impact and even take advantage, on occasion, of these sometimes unavoidable combinations, to provide the safest and optimal medication therapy for the ICU patient.
Calculation of the hadron spectrum in lattice QCD

Abstract We present Monte Carlo results for the hadron mass-spectrum in lattice SU(3) using the Wilson action and the quenched approximation. We show that on a 6 3 · 10 lattice at β =6.0, there exist long-lived metastable states of the gauge-field, characterized by the eigenvalues of Z(3) and associated with the first-order deconfining phase transition. The hadron masses are very different in these state if the quark paths that wind around the lattice are not removed. We demonstrate two methods which eliminate a significant fraction of such quark paths. The final results for hadron masses do not agree with the experimental values. We find that the π and ϱ, as well as the proton and the Δ are degenerate.
Incorporating physical demand criteria into assembly line balancing

Many assembly line balancing algorithms consider only task precedence and duration when minimizing cycle time. However, disregarding the physical demands of these tasks may contribute to the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the assembly line workers. Three line balancing heuristics that incorporate physical demand criteria were developed to solve the problem of finding assembly line balances that consider both the time and physical demands of the assembly tasks: a ranking heuristic, a combinatorial genetic algorithm, and a problem space genetic algorithm. Each heuristic was tested using 100 assembly line balancing problems. Incorporating physical demands using these algorithms does impact the assembly line configuration. Results indicated that the problem space genetic algorithm was the most adept at finding line balances that minimized cycle time and physical workload placed upon participants. Benefits of using this approach in manufacturing environments are discussed.
Induction of human monocyte motility by lysyl oxidase

Lysyl oxidase highly purified from calf aorta was found to be a potent chemotactic agent for unstimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, determined in in vitro assays in Boyden chambers. A typical chemotactic bell-shaped curve was observed, with a maximal migratory response of 237% of control occurring at 10(-10) M lysyl oxidase. The chemotactic response was prevented by prior heat inactivation of the enzyme, by treatment of the enzyme with beta-aminopropionitrile or ethylenediamine, which are active site-directed inhibitors of lysyl oxidase, and by a competing, lysine-containing peptide substrate of lysyl oxidase. The chemoattractant response to lysyl oxidases was characterized by both chemokinetic and chemotactic components. These results raise the possibility that extracellular lysyl oxidase may have important roles to play in biology in addition to its established function in the crosslinking of elastin and collagen.
TGA modeling of the thermal decomposition of CCA treated lumber waste

To guide the development of thermal decomposition methods for disposal of CCA treated wood, reactions during the thermal decomposition of CCA treated wood were modeled using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), with special focus placed on arsenic volatilization. Simple inorganic compounds, such as As2O5, CuO, and Cr2O3, were used to model the thermal behavior of the inorganics in CCA treated wood. In air and nitrogen, arsenic (V) oxide began to volatilize at 600 °C during temperature ramps at 5 °C/min. During a 5 °C/min ramp in a hydrogen mix, arsenic (V) oxide began decomposition at 425 °C. Arsenic volatile loss from CCA treated wood can depend strongly on the gases produced by wood thermal decomposition. In the presence of As2O5, chromium (III) oxide and copper (II) oxide formed arsenates in air and nitrogen. Chromium arsenates began decomposition as low as 790 °C. This suggested that chromium arsenates in CCA treated wood formed during original preservative fixation may decompose as low as 790 °C. Copper arsenates were stable up to 900 °C in air, but showed only a limited range of stability in nitrogen. Depending on process conditions, the formation of copper arsenates may limit arsenic loss during thermal decomposition of CCA treated wood up to 900 °C. The thermal decomposition of inorganic oxides was influenced by interactions with wood and wood decomposition products. In a dry YP sawdust/As2O5 mix, arsenic (V) oxide volatilized at 370 °C during inert pyrolysis at 5 °C/min and at 320 °C during smoldering combustion at 5 °C/min. Thermal dwells of a dry YP/As2O5 mix showed no arsenic loss at 250 °C, but significant loss occurred during higher temperature dwells. During inert pyrolysis at 5 °C/min, the formation of complexes and hydrates were shown to prevent arsenic loss up to 400 °C.
The effects of choline on soman-induced analgesia and toxicity.

Abstract The effects of acute choline (Ch) administration on the hot plate (HP) analgesia produced by soman and by morphine and on the toxicity produced by soman were examined in male rats. Morphine (9.0 mg/kg, IP) and soman (80 μg/kg, SC), but not Ch (60 mg/kg, IP), produced HP analgesia. Pretreatment with Ch (100 mg/kg, IP; given 20 min earlier) reduced morphine and soman analgesia by 68% and 38% respectively. Ch (LD50=405.8 mg/kg, IP) at doses above 200 mg/kg rapidly produced signs of cholinergic stimulation which disappeared by one hr. A fixed dose of Ch (100 mg/kg) altered neither the expression of toxic cholinergic signs produced by varying doses (from 75.9 to 151.4 μg/kg) of soman, nor the 24-hr LD50 (124.0 μg/kg, SC) of soman. Doses of Ch ranging from 213.8 to 269.2 mg/kg when given 40 min prior to a fixed dose (93.3 μg/kg) of soman resulted in persistent signs of cholinergic hyperstimulation, but again, did not affect the mortality produced by soman. The results demonstrate that acute Ch pretreatment increased the severity of cholinergic stimulation and reduced the HP analgesia, but were not accompanied by potentiation or antagonism of the lethal action of soman.
The Green's function method for effective multiplication benchmark calculations in multi-region slab geometry

Abstract There are relatively few benchmark-quality solutions for effective multiplication calculations in multi-region multiplying systems. The purpose of this paper is to describe and add a benchmark-quality calculation for such test problems. Green's functions are used to model a multi-region, one-group, isotropically scattering, multiplying system in Cartesian geometry to obtain boundary flux values for an eigenvalue search and subsequent eigenfunction calculation. As usual with multi-region Cartesian systems, the solution is facilitated using (1) Placzek's lemma, which allows us to consider a multi-region system one region at a time as an infinite medium, and (2) the calculation of the Green's function solution for a nonphysical infinite multiplying medium. The Green's function method is aesthetically pleasing both for its calculational efficiency and pedagogical clarity, and can, under certain circumstances, perform better than a discrete ordinates code.
The Problem of Artifacts in Patient Monitor Data During Surgery: A Clinical and Methodological Review

Artifacts are a significant problem affecting the accurate display of information during surgery. They are also a source of false alarms. A secondary problem is the inadvertent recording of artifactual and inaccurate information in automated record keeping systems. Though most of the currently available patient monitors use techniques to minimize the effect of artifacts, their success is limited. We reviewed the problem of artifacts affecting patient monitor data during surgical cases. Methods adopted by currently marketed patient monitors to eliminate and minimize artifacts due to technical and environmental factors are reviewed and discussed. Also discussed are promising artifact detection and correction methods that are being investigated. These might be used to detect and eliminate artifacts with improved accuracy and specificity.
Selective Changes in White Matter Integrity in MCI and Older Adults with Cognitive Complaints

Abstract Background White matter changes measured using diffusion tensor imaging have been reported in Alzheimer's disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment, but changes in earlier pre-mild cognitive impairment stages have not been fully investigated. Methods In a cross-sectional analysis, older adults with mild cognitive impairment (n = 28), older adults with cognitive complaints but without psychometric impairment (n = 29) and healthy controls (n = 35) were compared. Measures included whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging, T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging, and neuropsychological assessment. Diffusion images were analyzed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics. Voxel-wise fractional anisotropy and mean, axial, and radial diffusivities were assessed and compared between groups. Significant tract clusters were extracted in order to perform further region of interest comparisons. Brain volume was estimated using FreeSurfer based on T1 structural images. Results The mild cognitive impairment group showed lower fractional anisotropy and higher radial diffusivity than controls in bilateral parahippocampal white matter. When comparing extracted diffusivity measurements from bilateral parahippocampal white matter clusters, the cognitive complaint group had values that were intermediate to the mild cognitive impairment and healthy control groups. Group difference in diffusion tensor imaging measures remained significant after controlling for hippocampal atrophy. Across the entire sample, diffusion tensor imaging indices in parahippocampal white matter were correlated with memory function. Conclusions These findings are consistent with previous results showing changes in parahippocampal white matter in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment compared to controls. The intermediate pattern found in the cognitive complaint group suggests the potential of diffusion tensor imaging to contribute to earlier detection of neurodegenerative changes during prodromal stages. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Imaging Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative disease.
Dominant Texture and Diffusion Distance Manifolds

Texture synthesis techniques require nearly uniform texture samples, ho wever identifying suitable texture samples in an image requires significant data preprocessing. To eliminate this work , we introduce a fully automatic pipeline to detect dominant texture samples based on a manifold generated using the diffusion distance. We define the characteristics of dominant texture and three different types of outliers th at allow us to efficiently identify dominant texture in feature space. We demonstrate how this method enables the analys is/synthesis of a wide range of natural textures. We compare textures synthesized from a sample image, with and w dominant texture detection. We also compare our approach to that of using a texture segmentation techniq ue alone, and to using Euclidean, rather than diffusion, distances between texture features.
Cystatin C and risk of heart failure in the Physicians' Health Study (PHS).

Background Chronic kidney disease is a risk factor for heart failure (HF). Although cystatin C can detect early kidney dysfunction, limited data are available on the association between cystatin C and HF. Methods In a prospective nested case-control study design, we examined whether cystatin C is associated with an increased risk of HF in the PHS and whether such an association is stronger in hypertensive subjects. We selected 220 cases of incident HF and 220 controls, matched on age, year of birth, and time of blood collection. Plasma cystatin C was measured using an immunonephelometry method. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate relative risks (RRs). Results Compared with the lowest tertile, the multivariable adjusted RR (95% CI) for HF was 1.15 (0.69-1.89) and 1.78 (1.01-3.13) for the second and third tertiles of cystatin C, respectively. Additional adjustment for systolic blood pressure and history of hypertension attenuated this association (RR = 1.0, 1.23 [0.73-2.09], and 1.61 [0.90-2.88] from the lowest to the highest tertile, respectively). Furthermore, we observed a 4-fold increased risk of HF in the second and third tertiles of cystatin C among hypertensive individuals and no meaningful effects of cystatin C on HF among nonhypertensive subjects. Conclusions Our data demonstrated that higher levels of cystatin C are associated with an increased risk of HF and that such association may be limited to hypertensive individuals. Additional studies are warranted to further examine the relationship between hypertension and cystatin C on the risk of HF.
Biochemical Prototype for Familial Thrombosis A Study Combining a Functional Protein C Mutation and Factor V Leiden

Resistance to activated protein C (APC) is associated with a single amino acid substitution in factor V (Arg506-->Gln, factor V Leiden) that results in delayed inactivation of the molecule by APC. The mutation is present in 20% of patients with a first episode of deep venous thrombosis. Arterial and venous thromboses are also associated with the type II protein C deficiency (protein CVermont). In protein CVermont, the substitution Glu20-->Ala alone (rPC gamma 20A) is responsible for the defective anticoagulant properties of PCVermont. It was recently established that a thrombotic episode occurred in 73% of family members who are heterozygous for both a functional protein C gene mutation and the factor V Leiden mutation. We evaluated the molecular defect that would accrue in the combined deficiency state of factor VR506Q/VaR506Q and rAPC gamma 20A using recombinant APC and natural purified factor VR506Q from patients homozygous for the Arg506-->Gln substitution. While wild-type recombinant APC (rAPC) slowly cleaves and inactivates factor VR506Q and factor VaR506Q, minimal cleavage of membrane-bound factor VR506Q and VaR506Q by rAPC gamma 20A at Arg306 and Arg679 occurs, and no loss in cofactor activity is observed. Our data demonstrate that rAPC gamma 20A cannot inactivate either factor VR506Q or factor VaR506Q at biologically relevant rates because of impaired cleavage at Arg306 and Arg679.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Photoneutron Production Excitation Functions to 320 Mev

Photoneutron yields from eleven elements were obtained from bremsstrahlung of maximum energy 13.5 to 320 Mev with the reaction, ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{63}(\ensuremath{\gamma}, n){\mathrm{Cu}}^{62}$, as a monitor. The yield data were analyzed by a photon difference method to give the excitation functions for photoneutron production. Most of these excitation functions showed the typical resonance shape in the 20-Mev region, a low but finite "tail" to about 80 Mev and a large rise from there to 320 Mev. With the use of a calculated neutron multiplicity $\ensuremath{\int}{0}^{80}\ensuremath{\sigma}\mathrm{dE}$ for tantalum was found to be 5.1 Mev-barns, somewhat higher than $\ensuremath{\int}{0}^{\ensuremath{\infty}}\ensuremath{\sigma}\mathrm{dE}$ predicted by Levinger and Bethe for the electric dipole interaction. The rise above 80 Mev is probably due to mesonic interactions. At the meson threshold, with data for the neutron multiplicity from ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ absorption, the photon absorption cross section was found to obey the relation, $\ensuremath{\sigma}=0.32{A}^{1.3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}28} {\mathrm{cm}}^{2}.$
Distinct features between longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis presenting with and without anti-Aquaporin 4 antibodies

Objectives:Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) with spinal cord lesions spanning three or more vertebral segments is a key feature of neuromyelitis optica (NMO). However, the role of anti-aquaporin 4 (anti-AQP4) antibody, a sensitive biomarker of NMO, in the conversion of LETM to NMO remains uncertain.Methods:Thirty first-ever LETM patients were retrospectively analysed and divided into two groups according to the presence of anti-AQP4 antibodies.Results:Eighteen (60%) patients presented with anti-AQP4 antibodies. Fifteen (83.33%) anti-AQP4 (+) LETM patients converted to NMO, while only three of 12 (25%, p = 0.002) anti-AQP4 (-) LETM patients progressed to NMO, over a mean follow-up period of 5.63 years. Seven (38.89%) anti-AQP4 (+) and one (8.33%) anti-AQP4 (-) LETM patients received interferon-β1a treatment, respectively. Anti-AQP4 (+) LETM patients demonstrated a higher immunogamma globulin (IgG) index (0.68 ± 0.43 versus 0.47 ± 0.19, p = 0.018), annual relapse rate (0.72 ± 0.31 versus ...
New family of reflective spectrometers

Three kinds of spectrometers based on off-axis Schmidt and Schmidt-Cassegrain cameras are presented; they have been used for several instruments studies, mainly for European Space Agency and Agenzia Spaziale Italiana. Both dispersive prism and grating based configurations have interesting characteristics, such as: simplicity, low cost, high efficiency, small volume and weight, very low sensitivity to polarization and great flexibility also in multichannel (wavebands) configurations. The image quality is high, even with low relative apertures and great fields of view, allowing a very good correction of smile and keystone. The compensation of the slit curvature induced by a prism disperser is also demonstrated. This family of spectrometers was the topic of three patents, belonging to Selex-Galileo, while the intellectual property belongs to A. Romali et al.
Contextual web history: using visual and contextual cues to improve web browser history

While most modern web browsers offer history functionality, few people use it to revisit previously viewed web pages. In this paper, we present the design and evaluation of Contextual Web History (CWH), a novel browser history implementation which improves the visibility of the history feature and helps people find previously visited web pages. We present the results of a formative user study to understand what factors helped people in finding past web pages. From this, we developed CWH to be more visible to users, and supported search, browsing, thumbnails, and metadata. Combined, these relatively simple features outperformed Mozilla Firefox 3's built-in browser history function, and greatly reduced the time and effort required to find and revisit a web page.
The Nematode Parasites and Associates of Dendroctonus adjunctus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in New Mexico

Parasitylenchus stipatus and Parasitaphelenchus dendroctoni, internal parasites of Dendroctonus adjunctus Blandford, are described and illustrated. The life cycle of each was found to be synchronized with the host, which is a primary pest of ponderosa pine in the Southwest. Twenty-five other neniatode species were found associated with D. adjunctus . Of these, 16 are merely listed, while 9 are described and illustrated as new: GERTHORNUS balaenus, Mikoletskya cervicula, Mononchoides adjunctus , Santafea damalis, Scinura pini, Laimaphelenchus pannocaudus, L . pensobrinus, Bursaphelenchus corneolus, aid Pseudhalenchus damnatus.
FOSTERING READING COMPREHENSION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

ABSTRACT Four college students participated in a five‐week intervention designed to improve reading comprehension. The intervention evolved primarily from information‐processing theory and incorporated three major treatment components: (a) training in expert reading strategies; (b) training in metacognitive awareness; and (c) enhancing self‐efficacy. The effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated using a multiple‐baseline design across four targeted reading strategies, as well as an analysis of pre‐ to post‐intervention change in reading comprehension, metacognitive skills, and self‐efficacy. The results showed that all participants improved on the targeted reading strategies and made significant gains in reading comprehension as measured by both a standardized test and experimental measures. In addition, all participants reported high satisfaction with the training program and higher academic / reading self‐efficacy. The results lend support for a strategy‐based model of text comprehension.
Morphological and biochemical heterogeneity in facial and vagal nerve innervated taste buds of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus.

In catfish, the facial nerve innervates taste buds distributed over the entire body including the barbels, while the glossopharyngeal and vagal nerves innervate oropharyngeal taste buds. Facial nerve innervated taste buds (FITBs) are thought to be involved in food detection and localization, while glossopharyngeal and vagal nerve innervated taste buds (VITBs) evaluate the palatability of food prior to ingestion. Physiological studies indicate that both oral and extra-oral taste buds detect sapid substances such as amino acids and nucleotides, but the facial taste system is more sensitive to some of these substances. The anatomical, molecular, and/or physiological mechanisms underlying the functional differences in these two gustatory pathways remain to be identified. In the current investigation we compare the basic morphological features of FITBs and VITBs and the distribution of the following metabolites: γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, aspartate, alanine, taurine, and glutathione. Vagal innervated taste buds are significantly longer and narrower than FITBs, with fewer taste cells and a smaller nerve plexus. Each of the metabolites examined was heterogeneously distributed in taste cells with notably more GABA positive cells present in the VITBs. Patterns of metabolite colocalization suggest the presence of several taste cell subtypes. The morphological and metabolite differences noted between FITBs and VITBs provide a potential anatomical basis for the previously noted differences in physiological sensitivity. J. Comp. Neurol. 486:132–144, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Strengthened ties between industry and academia are historical, productive, and crucial

Scientific collaboration between academia and industry has a long history in the United States and abroad. Initially U.S. companies took responsibility for patenting and licensing discoveries made in collaborating universities. A publicly funded “middle man”, The Research Corporation, was the next paradigm and had the advantages of neutrality and centralization, but proved ultimately unworkable. More recently, universities have negotiated their own patenting and licensing activities. The ethical pitfalls of scientists and physicians dealing directly with industry stimulated much public discussion in the past decade, with a resultant backlash discouraging collaboration. I discuss this evolution, and recent developments with models of possible productive collaboration and rules of engagement.
A Library Approach to the Discovery of Small Molecules That Recognize RNA: Use of a 1,3-Hydroxyamine Motif as Core

A library of compounds based upon an aminoglucopyranoside core has been developed and screened for binding to RNA and specifically to 16S ribosomal RNA. The title molecules simplify the complexity of naturally occurring aminoglycoside antibiotics by embodying a putative recognition motif found within these structures, namely, a 1,3-hydroxyamine. The core pyranoside bearing the hydroxyamine motif was structurally varied at two points through a combinatorial approach utilizing acylation and reductive amination protocols. The aminoglycoside mimetics were screened in an automated assay based upon surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and some were found effective at binding a 27-nucleotide model (AS-wt) of A-site 16S RNA as well as a drug-resistant mutant RNA in the micromolar range.
Effect of year and cutting on equations for estimating net energy of alfalfa forage

The net energy of lactation (NEL) concentration of forages is important for formulating diets. The equations presently used to estimate NEL of alfalfa are based on limited data. Our objective was to determine whether a larger database would provide more relevant equations. One hundred eighty samples of alfalfa were taken over four cuttings and 2 yr, combined into 45 composites and analyzed for neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and in vitro true digestibility. Finally, NEL values were estimated using neutral detergent fiber and in vitro true digestibility. Prediction equations were obtained by regressing NEL upon ADF concentration. Changes in NEL with age of alfalfa at harvest differed with year and cutting. Estimation of NEL would be more accurate with equations specific for cutting and year, but such an approach would be difficult to use in practice. When data were pooled across years, four cutting-specific equations were obtained; these had different intercepts and slopes and gave different NEL values for a given ADF content. Differences among estimates of NEL increased as ADF increased. Data were combined across years and cuttings to give an overall equation that was similar to published prediction equations. Compared with NEL values from the cutting-specific equations, the overall equation underestimated NEL for first cutting alfalfa and overestimated NEL of second cutting alfalfa. A lack of precision in estimating NEL could equate to 1.5 to 2.5 kg of milk/d. Cutting specific equations should be used to estimate the NEL of first- and second-cutting alfalfa; NEL of the third and fourth cuttings could be estimated using an overall equation.
Load testing, structural reliability and test evaluation

Abstract A brief review of the history and types of load testing is followed by an examination of the effects of load test and other information on structural reliability. Two aspects are studied. (1) Multi-mode proof testing is posed as a system relability problem with one or more inequality conditions on structural performance. After-test reliability can then be found using standard system reliability methods from the reliability of the system augmented in “series” with the test mode, divided by the reliability in the test mode alone. (2) Test evaluation procedures for several applications are analysed using simulation of destructive sample tests, including strength uncertainty discoverable by testing and other non-test uncertainties in strength and loading. Evaluation rules are found to have a significant effect on the achieved reliability of test-based design.
An introduction to entrepreneurial separation to transfer technology programs

Abstract There is an ever increasing interest in the development of within firm mechanisms to augment the transfer of intellectual property from laboratory environments to commercialization. The Federal Laboratory System is an example of where policy has recently been developed to strengthen their efforts in the technology transfer process. Entrepreneurial separation to transfer technology programs (ESTT) represent one mechanism that laboratories have to assist with the transfer of intellectual property across boundaries, especially in situations where initial efforts at commercialization have failed. However, no formal research exists on the effectiveness of these programs as a boundary spanning device. This work is based on a preliminary study in the ESTT domain placed in the technology transfer body of literature. In depth interviews were conducted with four organizations, along with a review of more than fifty organizational policies in order to develop an initial framework of ESTT programs. We introduce the concept of ESTT programs and discuss how inventor motivations and characteristics of the invention itself might influence the success of ESTT.
Nanoindentation stress–strain curves of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited silicon oxide thin films

Abstract Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited (PECVD) silicon oxide (SiO x ) thin films have been widely used in Micro/Nano Electro Mechanical Systems to form electrical and mechanical components. In this paper, we explore the use of nanoindentation techniques as a method of measuring equivalent stress–strain curves of the PECVD SiO x thin films. Four indenter tips with different geometries were adopted in our experiments, enabling us to probe the elastic, elasto-plastic, and fully plastic deformation regimes of the PECVD SiO x thin films. The initial yielding point ( σ I ) and stationary yielding point ( σ II ) are separately identified for the as-deposited and annealed PECVD SiO x thin films, as well as a standard fused quartz sample. Based on the experimental results, a shear transformation zone based amorphous plasticity theory is applied to depict the plastic deformation mechanism in the PECVD SiO x .