cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diffraction radiation from a charged particle moving through a penetrable sphere

The formal exact solution to the problem of the radiation of a charged particle traveling with a constant velocity through a dielectric sphere is obtained. The electromagnetic field may be expressed in terms of an infinite number of spherical normal modes. It is found that radiation may be emitted for arbitrarily small particle velocities. For larger spheres (i.e., $ka\ensuremath{\gg}1$ when $k$ is the wave number and $a$ is the radius of the sphere) the radiated field is predominantly \ifmmode \check{C}\else \v{C}\fi{}erenkov-type radiation when the velocity of the particle is above the \ifmmode \check{C}\else \v{C}\fi{}erenkov threshold velocity. For small spheres ($ka\ensuremath{\gg}1$) and low particle velocities the radiation is shown to be mainly of transition type. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the behavior of the spectra of the various lower-order radiative modes as the velocity of the particle is varied.
On three-dimensional singular stress field at the front of a planar rigid inclusion (anticrack) in an orthorhombic mono-crystalline plate

A novel eigenfunction expansion technique, based in part on separation of the thickness-variable and partly on the Eshelby–Stroh type affine transformation, is developed to derive three-dimensional asymptotic stress field in the vicinity of the front of a semi-infinite through-thickness anticrack reinforcing an infinite orthorhombic single crystal plate, of finite thickness and subjected to far-field mode I/II loadings. Anticrack-face boundary conditions and those that are prescribed on the top and bottom (free or fixed) surfaces of the plate are exactly satisfied. The present investigation considers six through-anticrack systems reinforcing orthorhombic single crystal plates. Explicit expressions for the singular stresses in the vicinity of the front of a through-thickness anticrack reinforcing an orthorhombic plate, subjected to far-field mode I/II loadings, are presented. Finally, hitherto largely unavailable results, pertaining to the through-thickness variations of stress singularity coefficients corresponding to symmetric and skew-symmetric sinusoidal loads that also satisfy the boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of an orthorhombic mono-crystalline plate under investigation, bridge a longstanding gap in the stress singularity/fracture mechanics literature.
Faculty Selling Desk Copies—The Textbook Industry, the Law and the Ethics

It is a guilty secret that many college professors sell the complimentary desk copies that they receive from textbook publishers for cash. This article attempts to shed light on the undercover practice by looking at the resale of complimentary textbooks by faculty from four perspectives. Part One provides an overview of the college textbook industry, the business reasons that motivate publishers to provide complimentary desk copies to faculty, and the economic consequences of the entry of the textbooks into the used book market. Part Two examines the legal characteristics of complimentary desk copies in terms of their ownership and any contractual duties that may arise from their receipt. Part Three looks at legislative efforts to curb the practice, and Part Four reviews university policies addressing the issue. In Part Five, the ethical implications of faculty selling desk copies are examined, with a special focus on this practice in a business school. The Conclusion considers the future of the sale of complimentary copies in light of the move to e-books and other initiatives by authors and textbook publishers to circumvent the practice.
Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on progestin stimulation of invasive properties in breast cancer.

Clinical studies have shown that progestins increase breast cancer risk in hormone replacement therapy, while we and others have previously reported that progestins stimulate invasive properties in progesterone receptor (PR)-rich human breast cancer cell lines. Based on others’ reports that omega-3 fatty acids inhibit metastatic properties of breast cancer, we have reviewed the literature for possible connections between omega-3 fatty-acid-driven pathways and progestin-stimulated pathways in an attempt to suggest theoretical mechanisms for possible omega-3 fatty acid inhibition of progestin stimulation of breast cancer invasion. We also present some data suggesting that fatty acids regulate progestin stimulation of invasive properties in PR-rich T47D human breast cancer cells, and that an appropriate concentration of the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid inhibits progestin stimulation of invasive properties. It is hoped that focus on the inter-relationship between pathways by which omega-3 fatty acids inhibit and progestins stimulate breast cancer invasive properties will lead to further in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies testing the hypothesis that omega-3 fatty acids can inhibit progestin stimulation of invasive properties in breast cancer, and ameliorate harmful effects of progestins which occur in combined progestin–estrogen hormone replacement therapy.
Mental Health Consequences of Trauma: The Unseen Scars

Psychological issues are common overlays with all forms of illness and injury, but the extent to which these problems are associated with trauma is becoming better understood. Emergency care providers will deal with the causes and consequences of these posttraumatic difficulties. The practice of medicine, such as illness itself, is dynamic and always changing. We must prepare ourselves to the best of our abilities if we are to be successful in facing this challenge. This article offers suggestions for physicians and other acute care providers for ways to accomplish this task by relying on skills we already possess as we increase our level of understanding.
Amphipod (Gammarus minus} responses to predators and predator impact on amphipod density

Recent theoretical work suggests that predator impact on local prey density will be the result of interactions between prey emigration responses to predators and predator consumption of prey. Whether prey increase or decrease their movement rates in response to predators will greatly influence the impact that predators have on prey density. In stream systems the type of predator, benthic versus water-column, is expected to influence whether prey increase or decrease their movement rates. Experiments were conducted to examine the response of amphipods (Gammarus minus) to benthic and water-column predators and to examine the interplay between amphipod response to predators and predator consumption of prey in determining prey density. Amphipods did not respond to nor were they consumed by the benthic predator. Thus, this predator had no impact on amphipod density. In contrast, amphipods did respond to two species of water-column predators (the predatory fish bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus, and striped shiners, Luxilus chrysocephalus) by decreasing their activity rates. This response led to similar positive effects on amphipod density at night by both species of predatory fish. However, striped shiners did not consume many amphipods, suggesting their impact on the whole amphipod “population” was zero. In contrast, bluegills consumed a significant number of amphipods, and thus had a negative impact on the amphipod “population”. These results lend support to theoretical work which suggests that prey behavioral responses to predators can mask the true impact that predators have on prey populations when experiments are conducted at small scales.
Induction of glutamine synthetase in chick embryo retina: effects of serum and of steroid structure.

Glutamine-synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2) activity in chick embryo retina can be prematurely induced in tissue culture by a variety of steroids. A number of these, e.g. prednisolone, and triamcinolone appear to be better inducers of glutamine synthetase than hydrocortisone. One or more other serum factors appear to influence the induction. It is proposed that the steroid binding proteins known to be present in sera may be among these. The influence of steroid structure on the enzyme induction is quite apparent. The C-21 hydroxyl group of the steroid does not seem to be important for induction; a variety of C-21 esters as well as 21-deoxycortisol are active. The A-ring of the steroid appears to be of utmost importance; reduction of the α,β-unsaturated keto group renders the molecule inactive. There is some suggestion that a correlation exists between structural requirements of the steroid for induction and those for optimum binding to serum proteins. In addition to inducing glutamine synthetase, the steroids appear in some way to help preserve the integrity of the retinas in culture.
Global geographies of injustice in traffic-related air pollution exposure.

Havard et al1 have added new evidence to the environmental justice debate with a substantial and well-conducted study from Strasbourg, France. Their study combined advanced dispersion modeling of traffic-related air pollution, a deprivation index, and thoughtful spatial autocorrelation analysis to d
An Introduction to the Community of Professors: The Engineering Education Scholars Workshop

It can be difficult for new faculty to get the information they need on issues such as teaching, advising, and setting up a research program. While some have excellent mentors, others have come to rely on trial and error or word of mouth. In 1996, the NSF Engineering Education Scholars Workshop began at Carnegie Mellon University to address the needs of new and future engineering faculty by: • providing professional teaching development; • offering guidance in supervising graduate students and conducting research; • discussing likely engineering education and research challenges in the 21st century; and • providing intellectual and social support with colleagues. After three years, a significant amount of knowledge and experience has been gathered by the workshop co-chairs. This paper details the structure of the workshop and discusses the underlying principles and implementation to provide guidance for those planning similar workshops.
Camera motion detection for mobile smart cameras using segmented edge-based optical flow

Determining camera motion is a challenging task in applications involving mobile smart cameras. With widespread use of cameras in mobile applications, analyzing motion-based information have become important. Optical flow has been a popular technique in determining camera motion. However, the use of traditional optical flow techniques can be computationally quite expensive and impractical for embedded smart cameras with limited processing power, The aim of this paper is to provide an effective and computationally efficient optical flow technique to determine the camera motion direction. This technique is based on the segmentation of edge features, and has been implemented on an actual embedded platform. We will show that the systematic segmentation of edge features not only reduces computation time drastically, but also provides sufficient details in determining basic camera motion patterns.
Tumour suppression: disruption of HAUSP gene stabilizes p53.

Arising from: Li, M. et al. Nature 416, 648–653 (2002) Ubiquitination of p53 is the principal mechanism through which p53 concentrations in the cell are regulated1,2 in order to maintain its effects on tumori-genesis and normal cell growth. The protein HAUSP (also known as USP7) is a ubiquitin-specific protease (deubiquitinase)3,4 that has been shown by Li et al. to bind to p53 (ref. 5); in overexpression experiments, Li et al. showed that p53 could be stabilized as a result of deubiquitination by HAUSP and suggested that HAUSP may thereby act as a tumour suppressor5,6. Here we use a different approach to investigate the relationship between HAUSP and p53 stability, in which we disrupt the HAUSP gene in human cells by targeted homologous recombination. Instead of the expected increase in ubiquitinated p53 and destabilization of p53, we find that disruption of HAUSP results in the opposite phenotype, leading to stabilization and functional activation of p53 in our system. It may be that HAUSP can deubiquitinate other proteins such as MDM2, another regulator of p53, and that the balance between the deubiquitination of the different targets of HAUSP determines the steady-state level of p53.
Prevention of 2-acetylaminofluorene-induced loss of nuclear envelope cytochrome P450 by the simultaneous administration of 3-methylcholanthrene

Abstract Rats fed a basal diet containing 0.05% (w/w) 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) for 3 weeks showed a 50% loss of hepatic nuclear envelope cytochrome P450, whereas microsomal P450 remained at control levels. A similar dietary treatment with 0.004% (w/w) 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) caused moderate losses (20–25%) of cytochrome P450 in both nuclear envelopes and microsomes. Administration of the basal diet supplemented with a mixture of AAF (0.05%) plus MC (0.004%) resulted in a preservation of control levels of nuclear envelope cytochrome P450 and a 30% elevation of microsomal P450. Immunoblot analysis revealed that AAF alone, or in concert with MC, induced comparable levels of the P450d form. Induction of cytochrome P450c by dietary MC was detected only when MC was fed together with AAF. As previously found for butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), the protective effect of dietary MC against hepatocarcinogenesis in AAF-fed rats correlated with a preservation of nuclear envelope cytochrome P450 content and with the induction of cytochrome P450c.
Photoacoustic imaging for deep targets in the breast using a multichannel 2D array transducer

A photoacoustic (PA) imaging system was developed to achieve high sensitivity for the detection and characterization of vascular anomalies in the breast in the mammographic geometry. Signal detection from deep in the breast was achieved by a broadband 2D PVDF planar array that has a round shape with one side trimmed straight to improve fit near the chest wall. This array has 572 active elements and a -6dB bandwidth of 0.6-1.7 MHz. The low frequency enhances imaging depth and increases the size of vascular collections displayed without edge enhancement. The PA signals from all the elements go through low noise preamplifiers in the probe that are very close to the array elements for optimized noise control. Driven by 20 independent on-probe signal processing channels, imaging with both high sensitivity and good speed was achieved. To evaluate the imaging depth and the spatial resolution of this system,2.38mm I.D. artificial vessels embedded deeply in ex vivo breasts harvested from fresh cadavers and a 3mm I.D. tube in breast mimicking phantoms made of pork loin and fat tissues were imaged. Using near-infrared laser light with incident energy density within the ANSI safety limit, imaging depths of up to 49 mm in human breasts and 52 mm in phantoms were achieved. With a high power tunable laser working on multiple wavelengths, this system might contribute to 3D noninvasive imaging of morphological and physiological tissue features throughout the breast.
Coverage management for mobile targets in visual sensor networks

Visual sensor networks (VSNs) are becoming increasingly popular in a number of application domains. A critical ability of such networks is to self-configure to minimize the need for operator control, improve scalability, and reduce cost. One of the areas of self-configuration is camera coverage control: how cameras adjust their field-of-view to allow automatic tracking of maximum number of targets. The problem is shown to be NP-hard for stationary targets, and efficient centralized, distributed and semi-centralized heuristics exist that perform close to optimal. For stationary targets camera configuration is a one-time activity and can happen offline and before the actual deployment. In contrast, if the targets are mobile, as the targets move away from their recorded positions, the cameras need to configure dynamically and in real-time to ensure coverage accuracy. In this paper, we propose several policies for automatic control of the cameras with a goal of coverage maximization for mobile targets. We study these policies using important performance metrics such as coverage gain, adaptability, scalability, and energy consumption. Our results indicate that factors such as target mobility models, target and camera scales/densities, and target velocities have significant impact on the performance of a given policy. For most of the scenarios, we found that the protocols that take into account non-local information (e.g. neighborhood information) and have self-adapting parameters (e.g. frequency of camera configurations) outperform the protocols that are either purely local or purely global and have non-adaptive parameters.
Interactions of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension in initiation of glomerular injury

Interactions of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension in initiation of glomerular injury. In the Dahl S rat (DS), salt induces systemic and glomerular capillary hypertension associated with progressive glomerulosclerosis, while Dahl R rats (DR) remain normotensive, without glomerular abnormalities. Studies in experimental models have suggested that hypercholesterolemia may play a role in the development of glomerulosclerosis; however, it is unclear whether hypercholesterolemia alone, in the absence of hypertension, can initiate injury. To answer this question we induced hypercholesterolemia in salt-supplemented DS (DSC) and DR (DRC) by feeding a high cholesterol (4%) chow. Control rats (DS, DR) received high-salt, normal cholesterol chow. After eight weeks, DS and DSC developed equivalent hypertension (161 ± 3 vs. 153 ± 3mm Hg, respectively, P=NS), while DR and DRC remained normotensive (138 ± 5 vs. 131 ±5mmHg,/) = NS; P
The persistence of learned behaviors in humans as a function of changes in reinforcement schedule and response

Abstract The present experiments were conducted to investigate the effects which changes in reinforcement schedule and criterion response have on the persistence of learned responses. In Experiment 1, subjects were required to learn concurrently two tasks. Both tasks involved making one of four possible responses for reinforcement. During the first acquisition phase subjects received either continuous (CRF) or partial (PRF) reinforcement for both tasks. At the start of the second acquisition phase, the criterion response for both tasks was changed. In addition, reinforcement schedules were altered such that some subjects experienced (a) the same schedule of reinforcement as in Phase 1 on both tasks, (b) the alternate schedule of reinforcement on both tasks (i.e., CRF to PRF, and PRF to CRF), or (c) a change in schedule of only one task (e.g., CRF on one task and PRF on the other) during Phase 2. Following Phase 2 all reinforcement was withheld, and the persistence of the most recently learned response was monitored. It was found that subjects who had received CRF during Phase 1 evidenced a conventional partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE) when they received only CRF or PRF during Phase 2, whereas subjects receiving both schedules evidenced a generalized PREE. However, there were no significant differences among groups receiving PRF during Phase 1. In the second experiment, a comparison of resistance to extinction was made between continuous and partial reinforcement schedules with and without a change in the criterion response. The results demonstrate that a change in criterion response diminished the level of persistence of the most recently learned response. The data are reviewed with reference to current theories of persistence and to the extinction-induced resurgence phenomenon.
Multiple ionization in single, low-MeV collisions of Kr ions with Kr atoms.

The energy and relative intensities of L-MM Auger lines show that for low-MeV ${\mathrm{Kr}}^{+}$-Kr collisions most of the ionization takes place during the collision, due to the prompt emission of as many as 12 electrons per atom. The later decay of L-shell vacancies contributes in only a minor way to the final ionization state. These results provide insights into a variety of collision phenomena, including shifts in Auger and x-ray energies, fluorescence yields, and equilibrium charge distributions in high-Z foils.
Comparison among the perforation rates of Maloney, balloon, and Savary dilation of esophageal strictures

Abstract Background: Traditionally, mercury-filled rubber bougies are used for dilation of simple or mild-to-moderate esophageal strictures, whereas through-the-scope balloon dilators and wire-guided polyvinyl bougies have become standard for more complex strictures. Because few comparative trials are available, the choice of dilator and technique is largely based on the training and experience of the operator. Methods: We reviewed 348 esophageal dilation procedures performed on a total of 142 patients over a 4-year period (January 1, 1993, to January 1, 1997). The location and cause of stricture, the maximum diameter of the instrument used per session, the rate of perforation, and the rate of fluoroscopy use were recorded. Results: Maloney, balloon (hydrostatic and pneumatic type), and Savary dilations were performed in 102, 156, and 90 sessions, respectively. Perforations occurred in 4 patients. All of these perforations occurred when Maloney dilators were passed blindly into complex strictures (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.011, two-tailed). Three of these four patients had undergone endoscopy with conscious sedation immediately before the dilation. The immediate outcome of surgery was good in all 4 patients with no deaths. Conclusion: Perforation was most commonly associated with the blind passage of Maloney bougies into complex strictures. (Gastrointest Endosc 2000;51:460-2.)
Modeling how Institutional Investors Allocate Business to Brokers

A model of how institutional investors evaluate and allocate business to brokers shows a complex pattern of influences. The broker's ability to execute transactions at appropriate prices is basic, but this combines with research and sales force performance to build a relationship that affects over-time allocation of business. It is difficult to separate relationship and selling performance, and relationship is subject to considerable decay. Research ability has a weak effect on business allocated on the basis of trading, while trading ability does affect business allocated on the basis of research.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF ALLOTMENT GARDENS IN POLAND 1

ABSTRACT Collectively, Polish allotment gardeners represent the largest land managers or users in Poland. Policies that today dedicate the use of this often prime city space reflect a history of social stability that spans the political and economic transformations of the 19th, 20th, and earliest 21st centuries. In 1997, the gardeners celebrated 100 years of formalized urban allotment food production that is rooted in Poland's agrarian past and efforts to move rural labor into urban settings without an infrastructure to meet their basic needs. Poland's allotment garden arrangement provides an important, though fraught, model for food security and urban open space policy. The system combines local and national government policy, administration and management by a non-governmental organization (NGO), and deeded private use by individual gardeners. Today this arrangement produces ongoing tension among the stakeholders and a contentious, even healthy, debate about the private and public uses of urban land.
Effects of Metabolic Syndrome with or without Obesity on Outcomes after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. A Cohort and 5-Year Study

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity are risk factors for cardiovascular disease, however, it remains unclear about effects of MetS with or without obesity on perioperative and long-term morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Methods An observational cohort study was performed on 4,916 consecutive patients receiving isolated primary CABG in Fuwai hospital. Of all patients, 1238 patients met the inclusion criteria and were divided into three groups: control, MetS with obesity and MetS without obesity (n = 868, 76 and 294 respectively). The patient’s 5-year survival and major adverse cerebral and cardiovascular events (MACCE) were studied. Results Among all three groups, there were no significant differences in in-hospital postoperative complications, epinephrine use, stroke, ICU stay, ventilation time, atrial fibrillation, renal failure, coma, myocardial infarction, repeated revascularization, and long-term stroke. The patients in MetS without obesity group were not associated with increased perioperative or long-term morbidities and mortality. In contrast, the patients in MetS with obesity group were associated with significant increased perioperative complications including MACCE (30.26% vs. 20.75%, 16.7%, p = 0.0074) and mortality (11.84% vs. 3.74%, 3.11%, p = 0.0007) respectively. Patients in MetS with obesity group was associated with significantly increased long-term of MACCE (adjusted OR:2.040; 95%CI:1.196–3.481; P＜0.05) and 5-years of mortality (adjusted HR:4.659; 95%CI:1.966–11.042; P＜0.05). Conclusions Patients with metabolic syndrome and obesity are associated with significant increased perioperative and long-term complications and mortality, while metabolic syndrome without obesity do not worsen outcomes after CABG.
Ureteroscopy: effect of technology and technique on clinical practice.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Technical advances in ureteroscopy allow for more aggressive management of upper tract pathology. We evaluate to what extent clinical practice and treatment efficacy have been impacted by improvements in technology and technique.Materials and Methods: In 1998, 176 consecutive patients underwent 182 ureteroscopic procedures at our institution. Retrospective chart review was performed. Factors such as clinical indication, pathology location, type of ureteroscope, procedure duration, procedure success, complication rate and length of stay were evaluated. Data from the 1998 cohort were compared to those obtained from a cohort of patients from 1992. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test.Results: Overall stone extraction rate was 94.4% (1992) vs 88.5% (1998) (p = 0.05). Proximal stones were treated in 13.5% (1998) vs 28.3% (1998) of cases. Distal stone extraction rate was 97.2% (1992) vs 95.1% (1998) (p = 0.43) and proximal stone extraction rate was 76.5% (1992) vs 71.9% (199...
Development And Evaluation Of Fiber Optic Sterilizing System

A fiber optic ultraviolet (UV) sterilizing system, which has the ability to irradiate 10 to 100 times higher germicidal UV light than ordinary germicidal lamps, has been developed. The system consists of two functional parts: one is a light source which emits germicidal UV light, the other is flexible quartz fibers which transmit light with low attenuation. Optical characteristics and biological effects of the system are described.
Monte Carlo reliability modeling by inhomogeneous Markov processes

Markov Monte Carlo methods for reliability calculations are generalized to include inhomogeneous Markov processes. Two new sampling techniques allow the treatment of time-dependent failure rates and of preventive maintenance. Incorporation of periodic testing and repair models allows classes of revealed and unrevealed failures to be combined in problems with wear, periodic maintenance and component dependencies. Numerical illustrations of these phenomena are presented for one, two and multiple component systems.
Practice patterns of SGO members for stage IIIA endometrial cancer

Objective. The purpose of surgical staging is to better determine prognosis and treatment. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIA endometrial cancer is a heterogenous disease, and adjuvant therapy is not well-defined. The aim of this study was to survey the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) members and fellows about their approach to the treatment of patients with stage IIIA endometrial cancer. Methods. All 850 members of the SGO were mailed surveys that asked how they would manage various case scenarios of stage IIIA endometrial cancer. Data were collected using an Internet survey database. Frequency distributions were determined, and nonparametric tests were performed. Results. Fifty-three percent of SGO members and fellows responded. For the treatment of stage IIIA disease with malignant cytology only, adjuvant therapy was recommended 46%, 62%, and 98% of the time for women with grades 1, 2, and UPSC, respectively. Sixty-six percent of respondents would not remove malignant cytology from the current staging criteria. Ninety-nine percent of respondents recommended adjuvant therapy for patients with adnexal or serosal involvement. Eighty-six percent indicated that a hysteroscopy for diagnosis would not alter their treatment recommendations. Conclusions. While most gynecologic oncologists in our survey recommend adjuvant therapy for stage IIIA endometrial carcinoma, our results showed that patients with malignant cytology only would receive different treatments than patients with adenxal or serosal involvement. Histology and grade of the tumor are predictors of therapy recommendations over malignant cytology. Most respondents agreed that patients with malignant cytology should remain in stage IIIA.
Conserved Initiator Proteins in Eukaryotes

The origin recognition complex (ORC), a multisubunit protein identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, binds to chromosomal replicators and is required for the initiation of cellular DNA replication. Complementary DNAs (cDNAs) encoding proteins related to the two largest subunits of ORC were cloned from various eukaryotes. The cDNAs encoding proteins related to S. cerevisiae Orc1p were cloned from the budding yeast Kluyveromyces lactis, the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and human cells. These proteins show similarity to regulators of the S and M phases of the cell cycle. Genetic analysis of orc1+ from S. pombe reveals that it is essential for cell viability. The cDNAs encoding proteins related to S. cerevisiae Orc2p were cloned from Arabidopsis thaliana, Caenorhabditis elegans, and human cells. The human ORC-related proteins interact in vivo to form a complex. These studies studies suggest that ORC subunits are conserved and that the role of ORC is a general feature of eukaryotic DNA replication.
An information-theoretic treatment of fluorescent molecular tomography

Depth-resolved imaging of fluorescent molecules in tissue using a non-invasive optical modality called fluorescent molecular tomography (FMT) has found applications in pre-clinical and clinical studies. While FMT offers unique and affordable functional imaging capabilities, its resolution is limited due to the diffusive nature of light propagation in tissue. In this paper we offer a framework for investigating the resolution of FMT using information-theoretic concepts. Specifically, we analyze the amount of useful information that exists in a set of emission measurements. The information content of the measurements directly affects the actual resolution that can be achieved in the reconstructed threedimensional fluorescence images. The relationship between this information content and the measurement geometry is further discussed where it is shown that expanding the measurement size does not necessarily increase the information content. The concept of capacity as defined for multi-input multi-output channels is applied to the linear model of FMT. Assuming a uniform non-zero a priori probability distribution for the fluorophore concentrations in the volume voxels, we derive an expression for the information capacity of the FMT system matrix. This capacity essentially indicates an upper limit on the amount of data that can be extracted from emission measurements. The capabilities of various detector configurations in resolving fluorescent tubes inserted in a gel-based tissue phantom are analyzed in a continuous-wave FMT system using the proposed framework. It is observed that the information capacity of source-detector configurations of different scales directly affects the performance in terms of resolution in the reconstructed fluorescent images.
An Evaluation of the Newer University Biology Core Curriculum from the Professional Viewpoint and Implications for Secondary Schools An Evaluation of High School and University Biology Instruction 1960–1966

for all undergraduate biology majors, including pre-professional students and prospective high school teachers. It was also agreed that a required core should not include more than 1 or 2 years of work beyond the introductory course, in order to provide adequate time for biology electives, work in related disciplines, and for the acquisition of a liberal education outside of the sciences. CUEBS (1965b, p. 8) notes that a basic assumption which was made in constructing the curriculum was that all undergraduate biology majors, irrespective of future specialization, would profit from having a common core of biological science. This core should offer the student a rigorous and sophisticated introduction to the principles of all important areas of modern biology and to various groups of organisms. Moreover, a sound background in chemistry, physics, and mathematics for all biology majors is also assumed.
Purification and Some Properties of a Castor-oil-hydrolyzing Lipase from Pseudomonas sp.

To obtain a lipase which effectively hydrolyzes castor oil, bacteria were isolated from 500 soil samples. The best strain was examined; its microbiological characteristics suggested that it belongs to the genus Pseudomonas. A lipase from this strain was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatographies on DEAE-cellulose and DEAE-Toyopearl 650 M. The enzyme was purified about 400-fold with a yield of 13%. The purified enzyme was electrophoretically homogeneous and its molecular weight was 30,000. The optimum pH and temperature for the hydrolysis of olive oil emulsion were 7.0 and 60°C. The enzyme was stable up to 35°C at pH 7.0 for 30min and also stable from pH 9.0 to 10.0 at 4°C for 22 hr. The activity was inhibited by Fe3+ , Hg2+ , pCMB, and anionic surfactants, and enhanced by nonionic surfactants and bile salts. The enzyme efficiently hydrolyzed castor oil.
Efficient event-driven simulation approaches to analysis of network reliability and performability

AbstractExactly computing network reliability and performability measures are NP-hard problems, precluding their frequent use in design of large networks. Instead, Monte Carlo simulation has been frequently used by network designers to obtain accurate estimates. This paper focuses on simulation estimation of network reliability and performability. First, a literature survey of existing approaches is given. Then, using a heap data structure, efficient implementation of two previous approaches, dagger sampling and Markov model, are proposed. Two new techniques, geometric sampling (GS) and block sampling (BS), are developed to efficiently sample states of a network. These techniques are event-driven rather than time-driven, and are thus efficient for highly reliable networks. To gauge relative performance, computational experiments are carried out on various types of networks using the existing and the new procedures. These networks include up to 400 nodes and both binary and nonbinary structure functions ar...
Non-asymptotic analysis of compressed sensing random matrices: An U-statistics approach

We apply Heoffding's U-statistics to obtain non-asymptotic analysis for compressed sensing (CS) random matrices. These powerful (U-statistics) tools appear to apply naturally to CS theory, in particular here we focus on one particular large deviation result. We chose two applications to outline how U-statistics may apply to various CS recovery guarantees. Pros, cons, and further directions of the approach, are discussed. Restricted isometries of random matricies have well-regarded importance in CS. They guarantee i) uniqueness of sparse solutions, and ii) robust recovery. The fraction of size-k submatrices (out of all (n/k) of them), that satisfy CS-type restricted isometeries, is an U-statistic. Concentration of U-statistics predict the “average-case” behavior of such isometries. U-statistics related to Fuchs' conditions for l 1 -minimization support recovery, are derived. This leads to bounds on the fraction of recoverable k-supports. Empirically, we observe significant improvement over a recent large deviation (non-asymptotic) bound by Donoho & Tanner, for some practical system sizes with large undersampling. The results apply regardless of column distribution, e.g. Gaussian, Bernoulli, etc. Similar concentration behavior has been empirically observed, when the sampling matrix is constructed using pseudorandom sequences (important in practice).
Stimulation of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) secretion by benzylpenicilloyl (BPO) carrier conjugates in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Abstract The conjugates of the main determinant of penicillin, benzylpenicilloyl (BPO), with various protein carriers can stimulate mononuclear cells from human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to increase PGE2 secretion. Thus, BPO bound to either human γ-globulin (BPO-HGG), bovine γ-globulin (BPO-BGG), and keyhole limpet menocyanin (BPO-KLH) increased the PGE2 level 8–20 times above the level produced by stimulation with the carriers alone. Since in previous studies it was shown that preincubation with BPO-HGG can suppress the thymidine uptake after subsequent stimulation with BPO-KLH, we investigated if the induction of this unresponsiveness could be caused by PGE2. The results of this study show that: (a) although the amount of PGE2 secreted by the stimulation of BPO-HGG was 20-fold greater than the basic level, this amount is not sufficient to suppress significantly the thymidine uptake; (b) preincubation of PBL with higher than physiological concentration of externally added PGE2 caused significant suppression of thymidine uptake after stimulation with BPO-KLH, but the addition of physiological concentration of PGE2 did not show the same effect; (c) preincubation with BPO-HGG had no effect on PGE2 level after subsequent challenge with BPO-KLH; and (d) inhibitor of PGE fails to influence the suppression of BPO-KLH proliferation induced by BPO-KLH.
Clearance of plasma corticosteroids during smoltification of coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch.

Abstract 1. 1. The plasma clearance rate (PCR) of radioactivity after a single intracardial injection of 3 H-Cortisol was elevated during the spring in yearling coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch . 2. 2. Graphical analysis suggested a seasonal correlation between PCR and gill Na/K-ATPase activity. An explanation for this correlation is suggested. 3. 3. The major metabolite of 3 H-cortisol in plasma was 3 H-cortisone. It appeared rapidly following injection of the original radiotracer.
The k-distribution method and correlated-k approximation for a shortwave radiative transfer model.

Absorption cross sections are tabulated for water vapor, including continuum absorption, ozone, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the solar spectral region by adopting the k-distribution method. These tables are generated based on line-by-line code results for ranges of total pressure, temperature and water vapor concentration typical of values throughout the troposphere. These tables are incorporated into a shortwave radiative transfer code, which has 32 wavelength intervals across the solar spectrum, by using the correlated-k approximation in order to evaluate the accuracy in the broad band direct normal irradiance computation. A comparison of the direct normal irradiance with MODTRAN3 demonstrates that these tables can be used for shortwave broad band irradiance computations; the difference in the transmissivity is within 0.01 throughout most of the solar spectral region.
Fetal Programming of Children's Obesity Risk

Summary Objective: Childhood obesity affects nearly 17% of children and adolescents in the United States. Increasing evidence indicates that prenatal maternal stress signals influence fetal growth, child obesity, and metabolic risk. Children exhibiting catch-up growth, a rapid and dramatic increase in body size, within the first two years of life are also at an increased risk for developing metabolic disorder and obesity. We evaluate the potential role of the maternal hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal (HPA) and placental axis in programming risk for child obesity. Method: This prospective longitudinal study measured placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (pCRH) and maternal plasma cortisol at 15, 19, 25, 30, and 37 gestational weeks and collected child body mass index (BMI) at birth, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Participants included 246 mothers and their healthy children born full term. Each child’s BMI percentile (BMIP) was determined using World Health Organization (WHO) standards based on age and sex. Child BMIP profiles from birth to two years of age were characterized using general growth mixture modeling (GGMM). We evaluated whether fetal exposure to placental CRH and maternal cortisol are associated with BMIP profiles. Results: Placental CRH at 30 gestational weeks was highly associated with both BMIP (p < .05) and weight (p < .05) at birth when accounting for gestational age at birth and used as a predictor in modeling BMIP profiles. Maternal cortisol was not associated with child BMIP. GGMM analyses identified four distinct BMIP profiles: typical, rapid increase, delayed increase, and decreasing (See Fig. 2). The typical profile comprised the majority of the sample and maintained BMIP across the first two years. The rapid and delayed increase profiles each exhibit a period of reduced body size followed by BMI catch-up growth. The rapid increase profile exhibited catchup within the first 12 months while the delayed group showed an initial decrease in BMIP at 3 months and a dramatic increase from 12 to 24 months. The decreasing profile exhibited normal
Intralayer versus interlayer pairing in the copper oxide superconductors: response to a magnetic field

We have investigated the response of layered superconductors to an external magnetic field using the semiclassical phase approximation.
Automated visual inspection of bare printed circuit boards using parallel processor hardware

This paper describes the research currently being conducted at Texas A&M University toward the automated visual inspection of bare printed circuit boards (PCBs) using non-referential algorithms. The first phase of the research includes the development of an efficient algorithm to filter the digitised image of the PCB once it has been received from the camera. The filter enhances the acquired image for easier processing by the system. The research is centred around the use of a commercially available parallel processor to perform this function. The reformatted image is then inspected for defects based on the design rules of the circuit board.
Small molecule therapeutic approaches for the treatment of botulinum neurotoxins A and B intoxication

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) are the etiological agents responsible for botulism, a disease characterized by peripheral neuromuscular blockade and a characteristic flaccid paralysis of humans. With the current warfare and terrorist activities around the world, potential bioterrorist weapons are of high-priority. Due to the long paralysis and necessity for intubations and mechanical respiration, the numbers of medical care units capable of proving supportive care for recovery are limited. Countermeasures are urgently needed, in this context; we have concentrated our research efforts upon ways to uncover small molecule inhibitors for BoNT/A and B as they can exhibit sustained intoxication. To accomplish this task we are engaged in a two-prong approach. The first is based on inhibiting the protease of BoNT using a series of small molecule inhibitors that ultimately have the correct characteristics for potential drug development. Our second tact examines Toosendanin a triterpenoid that is has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. We have preformed preliminary studies on the natural product toosendanin using a mouse model, and we will discuss the key features that are central to the antibotulismic properties of toosendanin, and provide insights into its mechanism of action.
Analysis of high spectral resolution coastal ocean imagery: statistical, empirical, and analytical investigations

A combination of towed and stationary shipboard measurements, bio-optical mooring data, and a series of AVIRIS images were acquired near an offshore sewage outfall which services the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The image containing the outfalls and in-situ measurements was examined using statistical techniques to derive the spectral components responsible for salient variations. These computed components agree quite well with spectra which were hand selected to qualitatively represent the scene. Suspended sediment and aquatic vegetation detection were investigated using spectral derivative techniques, which were quite successful in showing the extent of offshore kelp forests and storm-induced resuspension of previously deposited outfall effluent, or the effluent itself. The in-situ and remote sensing measurements were used to constrain a numerical model of the underwater light field, and the scattering properties along a surface transect were investigated using two phase functions. Using a one-term Henyey-Greenstein function with a backscattering ratio of nearly 30%, we were able to reproduce the remotely- sensed radiance, suggesting that the particulates had a size distribution skewed toward small. These investigations show the utility of high spectral resolution in determining the extent and character of several important natural and anthropogenic components of coastal areas, as well as parameterizing models of the inherent optical properties of the underwater light field.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A backward wave amplifier based on an NRI transmission-line metamaterial

Analysis of the coupling between an electron beam and a coaxial negative-refractive-index transmission-line metamaterial is presented. The electron beam is modeled as a spatially dispersive anisotropic permittivity, and the coaxial metamaterial is homogenized to derive its effective material parameters. The homogenized problem lends itself to an analytic coupled-mode dispersion relation. Solutions are obtained for both complex frequency and complex wavenumber, and all analytic results are verified through full-wave simulation. The work will find application in the design of backward wave amplifiers (BWA).
Integral representation and Green's functions for 3D time- dependent thermo-piezoelectricity

Abstract A boundary integral method is developed for 3D time-dependent quasistatic thermo-piezoelectricity. This time domain formulation involves only surface quantities. As a result, volume discretization is completely avoided. Green’s functions are derived by resorting to Radon transform and presented in integral form. Reductions to the case of isotropic dielectric solid have been worked out in detail and its corresponding solutions expressed in explicit form are consistent with the existing solutions.
Conductive surface modification of LiFePO4 with nitrogen-doped carbon layers for lithium-ion batteries

The surface of rod-like LiFePO4 modified with a conductive nitrogen-doped carbon layer has been prepared using hydrothermal processing followed by post-annealing in the presence of an ionic liquid. The conductive surface modified rod-like LiFePO4 exhibits good capacity retention and high rate capability as the nitrogen-doped carbon layer improves conductivity and prevents aggregation of the rods during cycling.