cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of hydridosilsesquioxane-based silicon oxide deposition on Si(111)-7 × 7

X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), reflection−absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) have been used to characterize the discontinuous oxide films formed following exposure of gaseous H8Si8O12 hydridosilsesquioxane clusters to Si(111)-7 × 7. Collectively, the four surface characterization techniques support a reaction involving cluster decomposition on the Si(111)-7 × 7 surface. The decomposition of H8Si8O12 upon reaction with Si(111)-7 × 7 is in stark contrast with that of the reaction of H8Si8O12 with Si(100)-2 × 1 in which the cluster cage remains intact.
An object-oriented APL2

Object oriented programming has become an important and accepted part of the computer software industry. Nearly every new operating system that has recently arrived or is scheduled to arrive soon is object oriented in nature. If APL2 is to continue to be a mainstream computational environment, it is very important that it becomes object oriented.Finding a way that APL2 may sit comfortably in these new operating systems is important. Unfortunately, in both implementation and current programming teaching philosophy, existing APL2 does not easily offer the end user the ability to adopt this new approach. This paper proposes some small changes to the basic APL2 language definition which will permit objects to be defined and used. It also suggests some major changes to the end user's programming methodology.
Semantic congruence is a critical factor in multisensory behavioral performance

It has repeatedly been demonstrated that the presence of multiple cues in different sensory modalities can enhance behavioral performance by speeding responses, increasing accuracy, and/or improving stimulus detection. Despite an extensive knowledge base as to how the spatial, temporal, and physical (e.g., intensity) characteristics of multisensory stimuli influence such enhancements, little is known about the role of semantic or contextual congruence. Our hypothesis was that semantically congruent multisensory stimuli would result in enhanced behavioral performance, and that semantically incongruent multisensory stimuli would result in either no enhancement or a decrement in behavioral performance. The results from a redundant cue feature discrimination task clearly demonstrate that congruent cross-modal stimulation improves behavioral performance. This effect is specific to the multisensory stimuli, as no improvements are seen in the presence of redundant unimodal stimulus pairs. In contrast, incongruent stimulus pairs result in behavioral decrements for both multisensory and paired unimodal stimuli. These results highlight that in addition to such simple stimulus features as space, time and relative effectiveness, the semantic content of a multisensory stimulus plays a critical role in determining how it is processed by the nervous system.
Regulation of TGF-beta1 gene transcription in human prostate cancer cells by nitric oxide.

Background Overexpression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is associated with advanced prostate cancer. Our previous studies showed an inverse correlation between the expressions of TGF-β1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in prostatic tumors in mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate regulation of TGF-β1 expression in human prostate cancer cells by nitric oxide (NO). Methods Expression of TGF-β1 in the three well-characterized lines of human prostate cancer cells (PC-3MM2, LNCaP, and DU145) was determined by using the enzyme-linked immunoabsorbance assay (ELISA), real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), nuclear run-on, and promoter activity analyses. Results Expression of both TGF-β1 protein and mRNA was inhibited in both dose- and time-dependent manners by NO donors sodium nitroprusside (SNP), S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicilamine (SNAP), S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), and (±)-(E)-methyl-2-[(E)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-6-methoxy-3-hexeneamide (NOR-1) and by transfection of iNOS. The inhibitory effects of SNP and iNOS on TGF-β1 expression were reduced in cells treated with NO scavengers N-dithiocarboxysarcosine (DTCS), 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO), and hemoglobin, or with the iNOS inhibitor N-methyl-arginine (NMA). SNP downregulated the in vitro transcription of TGF-β1 mRNA, inhibited TGF-β1 promoter activity, but had no significant effects on TGF-β1 mRNA stability. Conclusion These results show that NO downregulates TGF-β1 expression in prostate cancer cells at transcription level by suppressing the de novo synthesis of TGF-β1 mRNA. Prostate 67: 1825–1833, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Construction and testing of the 2.5m mass driver

Presented are the designs used in the construction of the 2.5 m mass driver and the results of the initial testing program. The mass driver consists of equal length sections of acceleration and deceleration each containing 59 drive coils of 13.1 cm caliber. Intermediate energy storage is provided by sector capacitors which are recharged every half cycle by an external power source. The drive coils are individually energized through SCR's with timing supplied by position sensing optical detectors. The drive consists of two phases which operate in quadrature. The initial bucket to be propelled through the mass driver contains two coils of aluminum wire chilled to liquid nitrogen temperatures to momentarily sustain superconducting field intensities. Magnetic flight is generated by eddy current repulsion from six copper guide strips lining the mass driver. Nominal acceleration is 5000 m/sec per sec giving a maximum bucket velocity of 112 m/s.
THE NUCLEIC ACID CONTENT OF TISSUES OF CECROPIA SILKMOTH PUPAE. RELATIONS TO BODY SIZE AND DEVELOPMENT.

Abstract 1. 1. The levels of DNA and total nucleic acid, giving RNA by difference, have been determined in the wing tissue and fat body of a series of pupae of the cecropia silkmoth in diapause and at an early stage of imaginal development. Exhaustive dialysis of the fat body tissue residue was essential to remove uric acid and facilitate extraction of nucleic acids. 2. 2. In the fat body, the ratio of tissue-residue weight to DNA varies in proportion to the fresh weight of the individual pupae. This is interpreted on the basis of the correlation of cell size with animal size. The wing tissue does not show such a relationship. 3. 3. In the wing tissue, the level of DNA approximately doubles, and that of RNA rises some four-fold, during the transition from diapause to the second day of adult development. In the fat body, there is no significant change in the level of either type of nucleic acid.
A study of the separation behavior of different membrane columns with respect to ternary gas mixtures

Abstract The simulation model of the continuous membrane column (CMC) and the two-membrane column (TMC), including the axial diffusion effects, has been extended for multicomponent gas mixtures. The model equations have been solved with the orthogonal collocation method and the simulation results have been verified by experimental data. By introducing a measure specifying the extent of mixing at the feed location, it has been demonstrated that maximum separation using the CMC can be achieved by minimizing the mixing at this point. A parametric study of the effect of a third species on the separation behavior has been carried out for the TMC. It has been shown that the third species is mainly concentrated in one product stream, if the two membranes possess reverse selectivities towards this component. If the third species is most permeable in both membranes, a ternary gas mixture can be separated in this column.
Ultrafast optical generation of carriers in a dc electric field: Transient localization and photocurrent.

Recent experimental observations of terahertz radiation produced by the ultrafast optical excitation of surface depletion layers of GaAs and InP have generated a lot of interest but its physical origins are still not fully understood. The source of the radiation is believed to be either the time-dependent transport current produced by the optically generated carriers in the depletion field, or the displacement current due to creation of polarized electron-hole pairs. We show that, in general, both mechanisms must be included. The ultrafast optical generation in a dc field is shown to result in the creation of carriers in transiently localized states that evolve into delocalized states, causing transport current in the process. By calculating the dipole moments of these localized states, we are able to determine the time-dependent polarization and photocurrent including both transport and displacement contributions. We find that the displacement contribution comes mainly from the virtual carriers while the real carriers are responsible for the transport current. The competition between transport and displacement current leads to a nontrivial dependence of the overall signal on the dc field strength, the excitation duration, and the detuning. In particular, we predict a sign reversal of the signal at sufficiently high detunings in agreement with recent experimental findings.
Direct thrombin inhibitors for treatment of heparin induced thrombocytopenia, deep vein thrombosis and atrial fibrillation

Thrombin is a central enzyme in hemostasis, exerting potent procoagulant effects and activating platelets. Recently, several small molecule direct thrombin inhibitors (DTI's) with important clinical applications have been developed. Both lepirudin and argatroban are effective in treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia resulting in rapid normalization of platelet counts and a reduction in thrombotic events. Because of differences in clearance mechanisms, argatroban is preferable in patients with renal insufficiency and lepirudin if there is hepatic impairment. DTI's have also been evaluated in treatment of venous thromboembolism. Small studies with recombinant hirudin have shown promise. Ximelagatran is a new DTI in late-stage clinical trials with advantages for treatment of venous thromboembolism including oral administration and fixed dosing, making it convenient for long-term treatment. A Phase III trial demonstrated that ximelagatran was superior to placebo for preventing recurrent thrombosis in patients who had undergone six months of standard anticoagulant therapy for venous thromboembolism. Another large trial compared ximelagatran to standard treatment with enoxaparin and warfarin for treatment of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis in a Phase III trial of 2,528 patients. The results showed that ximelagatran administered twice daily was as effective as standard treatment in preventing recurrence with no increase in bleeding complications. Ximelagatran has also been evaluated in two Phase III trials in patients with atrial fibrillation. The primary analysis of both showed that ximelagatran was non-inferior to warfarin for preventing stroke and other embolic events with no increase in bleeding complications. Unexpectedly, elevated serum transaminase levels were observed in 5-10% of patients receiving ximelagatran for over 1 month, and routine monitoring may be necessary. The introduction of DTIs represents an important advance in treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The oral direct thrombin inhibitor, ximelagatran, shows promise in providing simplified, effective therapy for venous thromboembolism and atrial fibrillation.
Toying with the moon illusion

We propose that the correct interpretation of the moon illusion is that the zenith moon appears small, not that the horizon moon appears large. This illusion is caused by the visual gap between the observer and the overhead moon. Because of the gap, the observer has no or little optical information about the distance of the moon. This results in empty field myopia where the moon is neurally, although not necessarily cognitively, processed as being at about arm’s length. When the moon is seen on the horizon, there usually is optical information about distance. That results in reduced accommodation, and so the moon is processed as at a greater distance. Consistent with the size-distance-invariance hypothesis, the moon is then judged as large. This is a specific example of the more general fact that all distant objects appear small in the absence of a stimulus for accommodation to be distant. This outcome produces the toy illusion.
Determination of the handedness of the crossbridge helix ofLimulus thick filaments

Thick filaments, isolated in their long conformation from unstimulatedLimulus telson muscles, were shadowed with platinum or platinum-carbon and examined using electron microscopy and optical diffraction techniques. All filaments showed evidence of a right-handed surface helix, which had a major repeat at approx. 43 nm. In fortuitously oriented specimens the subunits, presumably crossbridges, which comprised the helical strands were clearly delineated. Optical transforms obtained from images of shadowed filaments confirmed the helical repeat at approx. 43 nm and could be readily interpreted as patterns expected from a one-surface view of the four-stranded filament structure we have previously reported.
Processing speed impairment in schizophrenia is mediated by white matter integrity.

Background Processing speed predicts functional outcome and is a potential endophenotype for schizophrenia. Establishing the neural basis of processing speed impairment may inform the treatment and etiology of schizophrenia. Neuroimaging investigations in healthy subjects have linked processing speed to brain anatomical connectivity. However, the relationship between processing speed impairment and white matter (WM) integrity in schizophrenia is unclear. Method Individuals with schizophrenia and healthy subjects underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and completed a brief neuropsychological assessment that included measures of processing speed, verbal learning, working memory and executive functioning. Group differences in WM integrity, inferred from fractional anisotropy (FA), were examined throughout the brain and the hypothesis that processing speed impairment in schizophrenia is mediated by diminished WM integrity was tested. Results WM integrity of the corpus callosum, cingulum, superior and inferior frontal gyri, and precuneus was reduced in schizophrenia. Average FA in these regions mediated group differences in processing speed but not in other cognitive domains. Diminished WM integrity in schizophrenia was accounted for, in large part, by individual differences in processing speed. Conclusions Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia was mediated by reduced WM integrity. This relationship was strongest for processing speed because deficits in working memory, verbal learning and executive functioning were not mediated by WM integrity. Larger sample sizes may be required to detect more subtle mediation effects in these domains. Interventions that preserve WM integrity or ameliorate WM disruption may enhance processing speed and functional outcome in schizophrenia.
Bacterial Toxin Fusion Proteins Elicit Mucosal Immunity against a Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Antigen When Administered Intranasally to Guinea Pigs

Peptides corresponding to the foot-and-mouth disease virus VP1 G-H loop are capable of inducing neutralizing antibodies in some species but are considered relatively poor immunogens, especially at mucosal surfaces. However, intranasal administration of antigens along with the appropriate delivery vehicle/adjuvant has been shown to induce mucosal immune responses, and bacterial enterotoxins have long been known to be effective in this regard. In the current study, two different carrier/adjuvant approaches were used to augment mucosal immunity to the FMDV O1 BFS G-H loop epitope, in which the G-H loop was genetically coupled to the E. coli LT-B subunit and coexpressed with the LTA2 fragment (LTA2B-GH), or the nontoxic pseudomonas exotoxin A (ntPE) was fused to LTA2B-GH at LT-A2 to enhance receptor targeting. Only guinea pigs that were inoculated intranasally with ntPE-LTA2B-GH and LTA2B-GH induced significant anti-G-H loop IgA antibodies in nasal washes at weeks 4 and 6 when compared to ovalbumin or G-H loop immunized animals. These were also the only groups that exhibited G-H loop-specific antigen-secreting cells in the nasal mucosa. These data demonstrate that fusion of nonreplicating antigens to LTA2B and ntPE-LTA2B has the potential to be used as carriers/adjuvants to induce mucosal immune responses against infectious diseases.
Subsalt Event Regularization With Steering Filters

The difficulties of imaging beneath salt bodies where illumination is poor are well known. In this paper, we present an angle-domain least-squares inversion scheme that regularizes the seismic image, tending to smooth along specified dips. This smoothing is accomplished using steering filters. We show the results of using the regularized inversion with smoothing along the angle axis and along both the angle and common midpoint axes. Additionally, the ramifications of specifying incorrect dips to smooth along will be examined. The results show that this regularized least-squares inversion does produce a cleaner, more continuous result under salt bodies. The inversion will reject incorrectly chosen dips used for the regularization.
Social and linguistic input in low-income African American mother-child dyads from 1 month through 2 years: Relations to vocabulary development

The relation of social and linguistic input measures to early vocabulary development was examined in 30 low-income African American mother–infant pairs. Observations were conducted when the child was 0 years, 1 month (0;1), 0;4, 0;8, 1;0, 1;6, and 2;0. Maternal input was coded for word types and tokens, contingent responsiveness, and directiveness. Children's outcome measures included productive vocabulary at 1;6 and 2;0. Patterns of social and linguistic input were highly consistent over time. Significant positive relations were found between linguistic input measures and child vocabulary development. Findings for social input measures included positive relations between directive input and child word types, which differs from previous research with European American middle-class samples.
Detecting Motor Vehicle Travel in Accelerometer Data

AbstractChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) frequently has a significant impact on patients’ everyday activity. Because of this, accurate measurement of daily activity is of particular interest. Although accelerometers are an objective means of measuring daily activity, these devices sense vibrations and erroneously score motor vehicle travel (MVT) as moderate physical activity. It is the objective of this study to develop a new method to analyze accelerometry data that would accurately classify MVT as non-acceleration, or sitting/standing. As sitting/standing has a different pattern of count-to-count variability than walking, we hypothesized that a rolling standard deviation (RSD), which is a measurement of volatility in the data, would more accurately classify periods of MVT than analysis based on activity counts alone. Twenty-two subjects with COPD were studied. A training set of 15% of the dataset was used to establish an RSD-threshold during MVT based on the upper 95%-confidence interval. Th...
Defining the Specialization of Pediatric Occupational Therapy

OBJECTIVES Occupational therapists who work primarily with children were surveyed regarding their skill levels in competencies that define pediatric practice. METHOD The subjects were 90 advanced practitioners who received specialty certification in pediatric occupational therapy in 1992 and 52 inexperienced practitioners with 5 or fewer years' experience. Respondents rated themselves from needs assistance to highly skilled on 94 competencies. RESULTS A principle components analysis of the 142 surveys identified six primary constructs that described related areas of skill in the respondents: child evaluation, communication and consultation, working with families, understanding service provision systems, use of assistive technology, and neonatology and feeding. Child evaluation, with emphasis on developmental framework, analysis of sensory integration, and neuromotor function, was the strongest construct; respondents rated it the highest. Communication and consultation with team and family members also received high ratings. The advanced practitioner respondents rated themselves higher than the inexperienced practitioner respondents in 73 of the 80 competencies in the factors identified. The differences were greatest in the competencies of analysis of sensory processing and integration, analysis of neuromotor components, and consultation with other professionals. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that advanced practitioners develop expertise in sensory integration and neuromotor analysis, and that evaluation and consultation are important skill areas in advanced occupational therapy practice.
Learning Causes: Psychological Explanations of Causal Explanation ^1

I argue that psychologists interested in human causal judgment should understand and adopt a representation of causal mechanisms by directed graphs that encode conditional independence (screening off) relations. I illustrate the benefits of that representation, now widely used in computer science and increasingly in statistics, by (i) showing that a dispute in psychology between ’mechanist‘ and ’associationist‘ psychological theories of causation rests on a false and confused dichotomy; (ii) showing that a recent, much-cited experiment, purporting to show that human subjects, incorrectly let large causes ’overshadow‘ small causes, misrepresents the most likely, and warranted, causal explanation available to the subjects, in the light of which their responses were normative; (iii) showing how a recent psychological theory (due to P. Cheng) of human judgment of causal power can be considerably generalized: and (iv) suggesting a range of possible experiments comparing human and computer abilities to extract causal information from associations.
Supply Chain Coordination Under Channel Rebates with Sales Effort Effects

A channel rebate is a payment from a manufacturer to a retailer based on retailer sales to end consumers. Two common forms of channel rebates are linear rebates, in which the rebate is paid for each unit sold, and target rebates, in which the rebate is paid for each unit sold beyond a specified target level. When demand is not influenced by sales effort, a properly designed target rebate achieves channel coordination and a win-win outcome. Coordination cannot be achieved by a linear rebate in a way that is implementable. When demand is influenced by retailer sales effort, a properly designed target rebate and returns contract achieves coordination and a win-win outcome. Other contracts, such as linear rebate and returns or target rebate alone, cannot achieve coordination in a way that is implementable. Contrary to the view expressed in the literature that accepting returns weakens incentives for retailer sales effort, we find that the provision of returns strengthens incentives for effort.
Grain boundary character dependence of radiation-induced segregation in a model Ni–Cr alloy

Ni-based fcc alloys are frequently used as critical structural materials in nuclear energy applications. Despite extensive studies, fundamental questions remain regarding point defect migration and solute segregation as a function of grain boundary character after irradiation. In this study, a coupled experimental and modeling approach is used to understand the response of grain boundary character in a model Ni–5Cr alloy after high temperature heavy-ion irradiation. Radiation-induced segregation and void denuded zones were experimentally examined as a function of grain boundary character, while a kinetic rate theory model with grain boundary character boundary conditions was used to theoretically model Cr depletion in the alloy system. The results highlight major variations in the radiation response between the coherent and incoherent twin grain boundaries, but show limited disparity in defect sink strength between random low- and high-angle grain boundary regimes.
Regulation of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Expression by Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony-Stimulating Factor in Leiomyoma and Myometrial Smooth Muscle Cells

Human myometrium and leiomyomas express granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), and their receptors. Overexpression of TGFβ and, to a limited extent, GM-CSF has been associated with tissue fibrosis throughout the body, including leiomyomas. The objective of the present study was to determine the action of GM-CSF on leiomyoma and myometrial smooth muscle cells (LSMC and MSMC) and examine whether the action of GM-CSF is mediated through the induction of TGFβ1 expression. Using competitive quantitative RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we found that LSMC express significantly higher GM-CSF messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA; 0.6 ± 0.1 × 103 copies of mRNA/μg total RNA) and protein (0.75 ± 0.2 ng/mL) than MSMC (0.5 ± 0.1 × 102 copies of mRNA and 0.45± 0.07 ng/mL protein; P < 0.05). In addition, LSMC expressed significantly higher TGFβ1 mRNA (1.6 ± 0.3× 104 copies of mRNA/μg total RNA) than MSMC (2.4± 0.4 × 103 copies) and synthesized and secret...
Dynamic modeling, design, and simulation of a combined PEM fuel cell and ultracapacitor system for stand-alone residential applications

The available power generated from a fuel cell (FC) power plant may not be sufficient to meet sustained load demands, especially during peak demand or transient events encountered in stationary power plant applications. An ultracapacitor (UC) bank can supply a large burst of power, but it cannot store a significant amount of energy. The combined use of FC and UC has the potential for better energy efficiency, reducing the cost of FC technology, and improved fuel usage. In this paper, we present an FC that operates in parallel with a UC bank. A new dynamic model and design methodology for an FCand UC-based energy source for stand-alone residential applications has been developed. Simulation results are presented using MATLAB, Simulink, and SimPowerSystems environments based on the mathematical and dynamic electrical models developed for the proposed system
Profitability of Willow Biomass Crops Affected by Incentive Programs

The economics of willow biomass crops are strongly influenced by yield, production, and harvesting costs and the delivered price for biomass. Under current management practices, willow biomass crops with yields of 12 oven-dried metric tons (odt) ha−1 year−1 and a delivered price of $60 odt−1 have an internal rate of return (IRR) of about 5.5 %. Yields below 9 odt ha−1 year−1 have an IRR <0 %. We examined the impact of different incentive programs on the returns from willow biomass crops and the hectares or tons of willow biomass supported across a range of yields. Incentive programs examined included establishment grants (EG), annual payments (AIP), low cost startup loans, and matching payments offered by two existing programs, the Conservation Resource Program (CRP) and more recently the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). EGs covering 75 % of the establishment costs provide high returns for growers on medium to high-productivity sites. Stand-alone AIPs with payments of $124 ha−1 year−1 paid over 5–15 years had little impact on profitability for growers but were costly for a funding agency. Low-cost loans with an interest rate of 2–4 % are one of the least expensive approaches ($1.3–6.6 odt−1) and improve profitability for medium- and high-yielding (8–16 odt ha−1 year−1) sites. A matching payment incentive providing $50 per odt delivered was the only individual incentive approach that made low-yielding sites (6 odt ha−1 year−1) profitable but was costly per odt compared to other incentives. Current CRP incentives made willow profitable across all productivity scenarios. The BCAP program generates higher profits for all productivity scenarios but comes at a higher cost. Effective financial incentives need to be well designed and monitored so that the target audience is reached and the intended policy goals are attained.
THE IMPACT OF SEEKER ANGULAR RESOLUTION ON THE MISS DISTANCE OF TACTICAL MISSILES

This paper models the engagement between a tactical missile and dual targets. The model provides the information necessary to assess the impact on the engagement of the resolution constraints of the missile seeker, the acceleration constraints of the missile and aircraft, and the response times of the missile flight control system. An analytical study is first performed using a simplified problem amenable to exact solution, The exact results show that the miss distance between the missile and the resolved target depends on the missile acceleration limits, time lag, navigation gain, and target acceleration. These expressions allow interpretation of a nonlinear simulation that account for these effects. Based on the results of the nonlinear simulation, there is a maximum beam width above which relatively large miss distances occur. Increasing the missile response time, decreasing the acceleration limit, shallower intercept angles, and increased target acceleration require a narrower beam for a given miss distance. Introduction In engagements between a tactical missile and a target aircraft, an apparent shift in target position can produce unacceptable miss distances. This instantaneous shift in position can occur with multiple targets or combinations of targets and decoys. For example, flares ejected from the target aircraft attempt to divert an infrared missile seeker towards the flare and away from the aircraft. If at some point the seeker discriminates between the flare and the target, the seekers issues a step change in target position to the flight control system to alter the trajectory for intercept with the target aircraft. Not only must the seeker have sufficient angular resolution, but the missile flight control system must also provide sufficient lateral acceleration to correct its trajectory and intercept the target. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the general problem of the engagement of a tactical missile against two targets subject to the resolution constraints of the missile seeker, the acceleration constraints of the mis’ Senior Research Engineer, Senior Member AIAA, Phone: 404-8947481, FAX: 404-894-0702. email: bill.bell@gtri.gatech.edu + Senior Research Scientist Copyright
Anterior Capsular Opacities (Spurious Cataracts) in Beagle Dogs

Small, punctate, anterior capsular opacities were detected in 24 of 1314 Beagle dogs. In the area adjacent to the punctate lesion, the lens often had a ground-glass ap­ pearance. The opacities were always centrally located and produced no obvious clinical loss of vision. They were composed primarily of fibrous tissue and nuclei, and sometimes there was also brown pigment. The lesions were intimately associated with the zonular lamella of the anterior lens capsule but did not appear to affect the cuticular part of the capsule nor to be a proliferation of the capsular epithelium. The opacities were considered to represent remnants of the embryonic, fibrovascular pupillary membrane.
An Adaptive Noise Canceller Using Error Nonlinearities in the LMS Adaptation

This paper introduces a new adaptive noise canceller (ANC) using a modified least mean-square (LMS) algorithm that applies nonlinearities to the error signal in the LMS update equation. The proposed algorithm for ANCs can be viewed as a variable step-size LMS algorithm, in which the step-size is inversely proportional to the square norm of the error vector which has an increasing length. With an appropriate choice of the dimensionless adaptation constant step-size, a trade-off between speed of convergence and misadjustment can be achieved. The proposed algorithm is simulated using different noise power levels for both stationary and nonstationary noise environments. Simulation results, carried out using a real speech, clearly demonstrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm over many other algorithms in achieving small values of steady-state excess mean-square error with high rates of convergence in stationary as well as nonstationary noise environments.
Factors which Influence the Sedimentation Properties of Mammalian Cell DNA: Effect of Two-Dose X-Irradiation†

The sedimentation behavior of DNA extracted from mammalian cells was studied after fractionated irradiation. Our results show that the injury registered by a second X-ray dose is not additive to that registered by the first, and that DNA, having repaired its initial radiation damage, is less susceptible to a subsequent irradiation. The following hypothesis is suggested. Repair processes of DNA begin with unmasking of “initiation sites” and that, in time, these become associated with membrane material within the nucleus.
Resonance-Rayleigh Scattering and Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy of Silver Nanocubes

The Fano interference phenomenon between localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of individual silver nanocubes is investigated using dark-field optical microscopy and electron-energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). By computing the polarization induced by the electron beam, we show that the hybridized modes responsible for this Fano interference are the same as those present in the resonance-Rayleigh scattering spectrum of an individual nanocube on a substrate.
Images in clinical medicine. Amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity.

Figure 1. Osteomyelitis of a toe developed in a 59-year-old man with diabetes, coronary artery disease, and a cardioverter–defibrillator, which had been implanted three years earlier. The infection, which was caused by group B streptococcus, spread to the cardioverter–defibrillator. Computed tomography of the chest revealed no abnormalities (Panel A). The grossly infected cardioverter–defibrillator and epicardial patches were removed, and the patient was treated with amiodarone at a dose of 400 mg per day. Two months later, cough and dyspnea developed and the partial pressure of oxygen plummeted. The measured diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide dropped below 20 percent of the . . .
Potential role of Arabidopsis PHP as an accessory subunit of the PAF1 transcriptional cofactor

Paf1C is a transcriptional cofactor that has been implicated in various transcription-associated mechanisms spanning initiation, elongation and RNA processing, and is important for multiple aspects of development in Arabidopsis. Our recent studies suggest Arabidopsis Paf1C is crucial for proper regulation of genes within H3K27me3-enriched chromatin, and that a protein named PHP may act as an accessory subunit of Paf1C that promotes this function.
A Case of Parental Care in the Heteroptera

Parental care is well known in certain insects with complete metamorphosis, especially the Hymenoptera, but it is not common in insects with incomplete metamorphosis, except in the Isoptera. The Dermaptera, Embiidina and a European mole cricket care for their young and are said to be incipiently social or subsocial. Kirkaldy (1903) summarizes the subject of parental care in non-social insects especially the Rhynchota. In the lace bugs (Tingitidae) groups of nymphs are frequently found with females on the under surfaces of their respective hosts, but associations of this sort are not cases of parental care; the nymphs and the adults are together only because the females continue to lay eggs over a comparatively long period.
The Effects of Lente Glucocorticoid on Serum Cortisol and ACTH in Patient with Non-Frequently Relapsing Nephrotic Syndrome

Objective To study the effects of different types of glucocorticoid (GC) on the serum cortisol (COR) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in patients with non-frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome (PNS). Methods Sixty patients with non-frequent relapses PNS were randomly divided into prednisone group (Ⅰ group), triamcinolone group (Ⅱ group) and methylprednisolone group (Ⅲ group). Each of them was treated with standard glucocorticoid therapy. The serum levels of cortisol and ACTH were observed before treatment (A phase), the end of remission phase (B phase), the day after us ing 1 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 prednisone (C phase), the day after using 0.25 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 prednisone (D phase) and 4 weeks after the end of glucocorticoid therapy (E phase). Results There were significant differences in the serum COR levels in the B phase be tween three groups (P0.05). There were also significant differences in the serum COR levels of Ⅰgroup between A phase and B phase, C phase and D phase (P0.05 or P0.01), and there was significant difference between B phase and D phase (P0.05). There were no significant differences in the serum COR levels between D phase and A phase of Ⅱ group, and be tween C phase and A phase of Ⅲ group (P 0.05). There were significant differences in the serum ACTH levels between B phase and A phase of three groups (P0.05). The serum ACTH levels were higher in D phase than those in A phase of Ⅰ group and Ⅱ group. The serum ACTH level was higher in C phase than that of A phase in Ⅲgroup (P0.05). The serum ACTH level was still higher in E phase than that of A phase in Ⅰgroup, but the level returned to A phase from E phase in Ⅱ group and Ⅲ group. Conclusion Triamcinolone is the most obvious impact on the serum COR level. Prednisone affects the smallest and is the slowest recovery. Methylprednisolone shows the fastest recovery. The inhibitory effect of prednisone on pi tuitary function is longer than that of triamcinolone and methylprednisolone.
Impact of Type of Health Insurance on Infection Rates among Young Trauma Patients

Abstract Background: Many studies have described the detrimental effect of lack of health insurance on trauma-related outcomes. It is unclear, though, whether these effects are related to pre-injury health status, access to trauma centers, or differences in quality of care after presentation. The aim of this study was to determine if patient and insurance type affect outcomes after trauma surgery. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of prospectively collected data at the American College of Surgeons level 1 trauma registry in Rhode Island. All blunt trauma patients aged 18–45 observed from 2004 to 2014 were included. Patients were divided into one of four groups on the basis of their type of insurance: Private/commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured. Co-morbidities and infections were recorded. Analysis of variance or the Mann-Whitney U test, as appropriate, was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 8,018 patients were included. Uninsured patients were more likely to be male a...
Lipoid Pneumonitis in a Commercial Abalone Diver

This report describes the clinical and pulmonary function manifestations found in a 37-yr-old commercial abalone diver who developed diffuse lipoid pneumonitis due to inhalation of aerosolized mineral oil contained in the unfiltered air generated from his surface air compressor. Four years later, the patient continued to be symptomatic with shortness of breath and dyspnea during exertion, and repeat physiologic evaluation continued to demonstrate findings of a restrictive ventilatory defect.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina is one of the least understood malignant tumors of the female genital tract. Its intermediate position in the pelvis makes it a difficult site to which to apply conventional methods of treatment without associated morbidity, and its variegated presentations invite individualization as the only therapeutic approach.
Feasibility of an Emotion Regulation Intervention to Improve Mental Health and Reduce HIV Transmission Risk Behaviors for HIV-Positive Gay and Bisexual Men with Sexual Compulsivity

Gay and bisexual men (GBM) report high rates of sexual compulsivity (SC), yet no empirically based treatments exist. An intervention based on the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders was pilot tested in a sample of 13 HIV-positive GBM with SC. Participants completed a baseline interview, and were offered up to ten intervention sessions. Of those, 11 completed a 3-month follow-up assessment. Despite problems with session attendance (only 4 men completed all 10 sessions), improvements were observed in all psychological outcomes, including SC, depression, and anxiety. Decreases were observed in drug use and HIV risk. The Unified Protocol may be useful in improving the health of HIV-positive GBM, however challenges with session attendance must be addressed. Future work should consider if fewer sessions produce similar results, whether barriers to attending all sessions could be alleviated, and how the intervention would perform compared to treatments.
The global burden of diabetes: An overview

Diabetes is an enormous and growing clinical and public health problem. In 2015, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated that 415 million adults had diabetes and that, by 2040, the number will increase to 642 million. The financial burden of diabetes is also huge. In 2015, the IDF estimated that most countries devote 5–20 % of total healthcare expenditures to diabetes. Global spending to treat diabetes and its complications was estimated to be $673 billion in 2015 and is projected to increase to $802 billion by 2040. Population-level interventions are needed to address the obesogenic and diabetogenic environment and targeted lifestyle, and possibly medication interventions are needed for diabetes prevention. The relative benefits and costs of interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes, to treat people with diabetes, and to address long-term complications and comorbidities must be assessed at international, national, and local levels. Research must focus on how best to implement diabetes prevention and treatment with limited resources in diverse populations and settings.
The Intracortical Visual Prosthesis Project

The possibility of engineering, testing, and deploying a cybernetic interface to the visual areas of the human brain has inspired scientists, biomedical engineers, clinicians, and science fiction writers. Implemented as a cortical visual prosthesis, visual perception might be provided to individuals with blindness. Based upon pioneering work in the late 1960’s, and the development of significant technology throughout the remainder of the twentieth century, the Intracortical Visual Prosthesis (ICVP) is being planned for clinical trial. Autonomous, wireless, 16-channel stimulator modules will be used to tile the dorsolateral surface of the human occipital lobe. Each module will contain 16 intracortical electrodes that penetrate the cortical surface and provide simulation currents to visual processing areas of the brain. Through the use of spatial and temporal integration, the expectation is that the brain will convert the artificial visual information into useful visual perceptions. While it is not expected that the ICVP will produce normal vision, prior work strongly suggests that the artificial visual perception may notably enhance the user’s ability to recognize objects and navigate, and improve overall quality of life.
Optimal Device for Children and Closure Indications in Pediatric Population

Transcatheter patent foramen ovale closure has evolved into one of the most commonly performed structural interventions worldwide. Although the prevalence of patent foramen ovale may even be greater in children than adults, closure is rarely performed in this group despite susceptibility to similar defect-related morbidity. Despite an association with arterial ischemic stroke in approximately 5 % of cases and an overall stroke recurrence rate of 20 %, proof that device closure is superior to medical therapy will be significantly more challenging to prove than it has been in adult patients. Therefore as with many circumstances in interventional pediatric cardiology, treatment of patent foramen ovale in children lacks supportive data and practice varies considerably. This chapter will outline some of the indications for closure in a pediatric population, methods to circumvent some of the diagnostic challenges and a technical approach to closure in this age group.
Thermonuclear micro-explosions with intense ion beams

HIGH density pellet compression may be important in laser fusion1. In this way the minimum energy input for breakeven can be substantially reduced to levels within reach of expected future laser technology. Further2 when this concept is applied to a fissionable pellet surrounded by a small neutron reflector, preferably TD, which is compressed together with the reflector, to high densities, very small critical masses become possible; in addition the fission process could ignite a thermonuclear reaction in the TD reflector. In these proposals very large laser energies of ∼ 1 MJ, which may be difficult to reach, are required. As an alternative to laser fusion I have proposed the use of intense relativistic electron beams3, but here the beam pulse length is longer than for laser beams, and the electron stopping range may be too long.
Exploitation of Novel Molecular Targets to Treat Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Drug Discovery Perspective.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common fibrosing lung disease and is caused by excessive lung scarring. IPF-associated severe mortality can be attributed to late diagnosis due to its generic symptoms, and more importantly, due to the lack of effective therapies available. Despite extensive research in past decades, lung transplant still remains the most effective treatment for IPF. Though two drugs recently approved by FDA, Pirfenidone and Nintedanib, have shown an ability to reduce the progression of disease. However, they have shown minimal survival benefits to patients. Methods: IPF is a multifaceted disorder with poorly understood pathophysiology. We believe that there are better therapeutic targets veiled in IPF pathophysiology, exploitation of which may improve current therapeutic approaches to the disease. We have performed an extensive literature search using several bibliographic databases for peer reviewed articles discussing molecular targets/pathways involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Furthermore, studies involving exploitation of these therapeutic targets and potential therapeutic agents were identified. Results: Recently, new and promising targets have been revealed from GWA studies and genetic microarrays of IPF patients. In this review, we discuss the efficacy and feasibility of several novel molecular targets including Semaphorin (SEMA) 7A, connective tissue growth factor, integrin αvβ6, caveolin-1, let 7-d, calcium activated potassium channel KCa3.1, matrix metalloproteinase-19, lysocardiolipin acetyltransferase, dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase, and transglutaminase 2. These targets have all shown the potential to modulate IPF pathophysiology, thereby inhibiting disease progression. Conclusion: Information gained from this review will be valuable to this field, enabling the design and development of novel therapeutics for IPF.
Weight Theory in Geometric Invariant Theory

In the previous chapter the emphasis was on studying closed orbits in reductive group actions on affine varieties. We saw that this was essentially the same as studying orbits under regular representations. In most examples that we considered the generic orbits were usually closed. In this chapter, we consider similar questions for projective varieties and in particular for the projective quotient of a regular representation. If that representation is irreducible, then there is exactly one closed orbit, the unique minimal orbit. Kostant has given a set of quadratic generators for the homogeneous ideal of polynomials vanishing on this orbit. Much of the exposition in this chapter explains the analogous results for the case of reducible representations (based on Kostant’s methods and including some results of Brion). To carry out Kostant’s ideas we need to recall the theory of roots and weights.