cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ferumoxytol magnetic resonance imaging detects joint and pleural infiltration of bone sarcomas in pediatric and young adult patients.

The diagnosis of joint infiltration by a malignant bone tumor affects surgical management. The specificity of standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosing joint infiltration is limited. During our MRI evaluations with ferumoxytol nanoparticles of pediatric and young adult patients with bone sarcomas, we observed a surprising marked T1 enhancement of joint and pleural effusions in some patients but not in others. To evaluate if nanoparticle extravasation differed between joints and pleura with and without tumor infiltration. We retrospectively identified 15 pediatric and young adult patients (mean age: 16±4 years) with bone sarcomas who underwent 18 MRI scans at 1 h (n=7) or 24 h (n=11) after intravenous ferumoxytol infusion. Twelve patients also received a gadolinium-enhanced MRI. We determined tumor invasion into the joint or pleural space based on histology (n=11) and imaging findings (n=4). We compared the signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) of the joint or pleural fluid for tumors with and without invasion using a Mann-Whitney U test. MRI scans 24 h after intravenous ferumoxytol infusion demonstrated a positive T1 enhancement of the effusion in all joints and pleural spaces with tumor infiltration and no joint or pleural space without infiltration. Corresponding SNR (P=0.004) and CNR (P=0.004) values were significantly higher for joints and pleural spaces with tumor infiltration than without. By contrast, unenhanced MRI, gadolinium-enhanced MRI and 1-h post-contrast ferumoxytol MRI did not show any enhancement of the joint or pleural effusion, with or without tumor infiltration. This pilot study suggests that 24-h post-contrast ferumoxytol MRI scans can noninvasively differentiate between joints with and without tumor infiltration.
Geometry-aware multi-task learning for binaural audio generation from video

Binaural audio provides human listeners with an immersive spatial sound experience, but most existing videos lack binaural audio recordings. We propose an audio spatialization method that draws on visual information in videos to convert their monaural (single-channel) audio to binaural audio. Whereas existing approaches leverage visual features extracted directly from video frames, our approach explicitly disentangles the geometric cues present in the visual stream to guide the learning process. In particular, we develop a multi-task framework that learns geometry-aware features for binaural audio generation by accounting for the underlying room impulse response, the visual stream's coherence with the sound source(s) positions, and the consistency in geometry of the sounding objects over time. Furthermore, we introduce a new large video dataset with realistic binaural audio simulated for real-world scanned environments. On two datasets, we demonstrate the efficacy of our method, which achieves state-of-the-art results.
Production of ‘Safe’ Spaces for Adivasi Children and the Armed Conflict of Bastar, India

“Children need to be safe within school and en route to schools.” This was one of the many recommendations of a 2013 report by Save the Children (Chaudhary et al. Save the Children. 2013) on conditions of children’s education in India in the regions affected by civil strife. Schools and classrooms present themselves as uncritical ‘safe’ spaces that create a dialectical separation between the worlds inhabited by adults and children, where adults’ spaces—from which children need to be ‘protected’—are violent.
Model Invariance Across Genders of the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire

ASD is one of the most heritable neuropsychiatric disorders, though comprehensive genetic liability remains elusive. To facilitate genetic research, researchers employ the concept of the broad autism phenotype (BAP), a milder presentation of traits in undiagnosed relatives. Research suggests that the BAP Questionnaire (BAPQ) demonstrates psychometric properties superior to other self-report measures. To examine evidence regarding validity of the BAPQ, the current study used confirmatory factor analysis to test the assumption of model invariance across genders. Results of the current study upheld model invariance at each level of parameter constraint; however, model fit indices suggested limited goodness-of-fit between the proposed model and the sample. Exploratory analyses investigated alternate factor structure models but ultimately supported the proposed three-factor structure model.
Asparagine rearrangements in two isoforms of erythropoietin receptor

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the asparagine rearrangements in two isoforms of erythropoietin receptor (EPOr). The two isoforms of the EPO receptor—EPOr-1 and EPOr-2—differ in charge from each other because of a modification in EPOr-2 of Asn-163 to isoaspartate. This modification demonstrated that a small portion of EPOr-1 contained a cyclic imide. Asparagine, followed by a glycyl residue, may form a succinimide or cyclic imide at a high rate. EPOr contains one Asn-Gly combination at residues 163–164. To discern if modification of Asn-163 was the difference between these two isoforms, both EPOr-1 and EPOr-2 were examined by hydroxylamine cleavage using conditions that would cleave a cyclic imide only. A portion of EPOr-1 was cleaved, but EPOr-2 alone was not cleaved, indicating the presence of a cyclic imide in EPOr-1. Tryptic peptide mapping on reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was followed by matrix assisted laser desorption/ ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI/MS) of the peptides. A peptide from each isoform with a mass consistent with the mass of residues 155–170 was identified. N-terminal sequencing of these two peptides revealed that the major part of EPOr-1 had an Asn at residue 163. This residue in EPOr-2 was not detected by N-terminal sequencing, indicating that a modification of residue 163 had occurred that would block further sequencing. Rearrangement of asparagine to an isoaspartate would be such a modification.
Good Reductions of Shimura Varieties of Preabelian Type in Arbitrary Unramified Mixed Characteristic, I

We prove the existence of weak integral canonical models of Shimura varieties of Hodge type in arbitrary unramified mixed characteristic (0, p). As a first application we solve a conjecture of Langlands for Shimura varieties of Hodge type. As a second application we prove the existence of integral canonical models of Shimura varieties of preabelian (resp. of abelian) type in mixed characteristic (0, p) with p ≥3 (resp. with p = 2) and with respect to hyperspecial subgroups; if p = 3 (resp. if p = 2) we restrict in this part I either to the An, Cn, D H n (resp. An and Cn) types or to the Bn and D R (resp. Bn, D H and D R ) types which have compact factors over R (resp. which have compact factors over R in some p-compact sense). Though the second application is new just for p ≤3, a great part of its proof is new even for p ≥5 and corrects (Va1, 6.4.11) in most of the cases. The second application forms progress towards the proof of a conjecture of Milne. It also provides in arbitrary mixed characteristic the very first examples of general nature of projective varieties over number fields which are not embeddable into abelian varieties and which have Neron models over certain local rings of rings of integers of number fields.
EFFECT OF ENDOTOXIN ON CELLS AND ON THEIR RESPONSE TO INFECTION BY POLIOVIRUSES

Abstract Murphy, W. H. (The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) and C. Wisner. Effect of endotoxin on cells and on their response to infection by polioviruses. J. Bacteriol. 83:649–662. 1962.—The effect of lipopolysaccharide on HeLa-S3, HeLa-Gey, Chang-liver, Maben, and L strain mouse fibroblasts was studied. The liminal dose of endotoxin for the human epithelial cell strains was approximately 250 μg/ml, and their order of sensitivity to endotoxin was: Chang-liver, HeLa-Gey, HeLa-S3, and Maben, the latter being the most resistant. Endotoxin at concentrations exceeding 100 μg/ml was cytotoxic to the L strain of mouse fibroblasts and caused them to markedly agglutinate. Cytotoxic response of cells to endotoxin was not characterized by cell lysis, but by distinctive nuclear changes. In an attempt to demonstrate the metabolic induction of the latent infection of cell cultures by a noncytopathic variant of poliovirus, endotoxin was added at maximal subliminal concentration to cell cultures totally, partially, or fully susceptible to virus. Endotoxin caused a slight but consistent accelerative cytopathic response of cells to infection by cytopathic poliovirus, but failed to induce cytopathic response to infection by submoderate (noncytopathic) poliovirus. Although endotoxin slightly suppressed yields of poliovirus from cells, it did not affect the plating efficiency of virus on cell monolayers.
A conserved XIAP-interaction motif in caspase-9 and Smac/DIABLO regulates caspase activity and apoptosis

X-linked inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein (XIAP) interacts with caspase-9 and inhibits its activity, whereas Smac (also known as DIABLO) relieves this inhibition through interaction with XIAP. Here we show that XIAP associates with the active caspase-9-Apaf-1 holoenzyme complex through binding to the amino terminus of the linker peptide on the small subunit of caspase-9, which becomes exposed after proteolytic processing of procaspase-9 at Asp315. Supporting this observation, point mutations that abrogate the proteolytic processing but not the catalytic activity of caspase-9, or deletion of the linker peptide, prevented caspase-9 association with XIAP and its concomitant inhibition. We note that the N-terminal four residues of caspase-9 linker peptide share significant homology with the N-terminal tetra-peptide in mature Smac and in the Drosophila proteins Hid/Grim/Reaper, defining a conserved class of IAP-binding motifs. Consistent with this finding, binding of the caspase-9 linker peptide and Smac to the BIR3 domain of XIAP is mutually exclusive, suggesting that Smac potentiates caspase-9 activity by disrupting the interaction of the linker peptide of caspase-9 with BIR3. Our studies reveal a mechanism in which binding to the BIR3 domain by two conserved peptides, one from Smac and the other one from caspase-9, has opposing effects on caspase activity and apoptosis.
The evolution of disease resistance and tolerance in spatially structured populations

The ubiquitous challenge from infectious disease has prompted the evolution of diverse host defenses, which can be divided into two broad classes: resistance (which limits pathogen growth and infection) and tolerance (which does not limit infection, but instead reduces or offsets its negative fitness consequences). Resistance and tolerance may provide equivalent short-term benefits, but have fundamentally different epidemiological consequences and thus exhibit different evolutionary behaviors. We consider the evolution of resistance and tolerance in a spatially structured population using a stochastic simulation model. We show that tolerance can invade a population of susceptible individuals (i.e., neither resistant nor tolerant) with higher cost than resistance, even though they each provide equivalent direct benefits to the host, because tolerant hosts impose higher disease burden upon vulnerable competitors. However, in spatially structured settings, tolerance can invade a population of resistant hosts only with lower cost than resistance due to spatial genetic structure and the higher local incidence of disease around invading tolerant individuals. The evolution of tolerance is therefore constrained by spatial genetic structure in a manner not previously revealed by nonspatially explicit models, suggesting mechanisms that could maintain variation or limit the occurrence of tolerance relative to resistance.
Studies on Resistance Transfer Factor Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Escherichia coli

A variant of the derepressed R factor, R1, which does not contain any of the drug resistance markers, and represents, in large part, the resistance transfer factor (RTF) was studied in Escherichia coli. RTF deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was specifically labeled in a female cell after conjugation. Physical characterization of the molecule showed that RTF possessed an average molecular weight of 50 × 106 daltons and a buoyant density of 1.709 g/cm3. By comparison to R1, we calculate that the region of DNA carrying the drug resistance genes is therefore about 20% of the R1 molecule and has a buoyant density of approximately 1.716 g/cm3. These results support the hypothesis that the single species of R-factor DNA observed in E. coli represents a composite of the 1.709 and 1.716 g/cm3 replicons seen in Proteus.
A “Sorted” America? Geographic Polarization and Value Overlap in the American Electorate*

Objective Geographic political polarization is an increasingly salient topic of academic and popular discourse. Using Bill Bishop's bestseller The Big Sort as a foil, this article tests the claim that America has split into “ideologically inbred” “red” and “blue” communities. Method Drawing on Bishop's concept of “landslide” Democratic and Republican counties, the article uses survey data to measure the overlap in opinion between respondents from opposing “landslide” counties. This is done both graphically and with a quantitative measure developed by Levendusky and Pope (2011). Results Across economic, social, and cultural value dimensions, there is vastly more common ground than difference between respondents from “landslide” Democratic and Republican counties. Conclusion Hyperbolic claims of a “sorted” country aside, geographic polarization in the United States is limited at best. Partisan polarization could be a real and consequential phenomenon in the electorate, but it has little geographic, “red versus blue” manifestation.
Prostaglandin H synthases, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and colon cancer.

Members of the structurally diverse class of drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have the ability to prevent or reduce the occurrence of colorectal, certain other gastrointestinal, and perhaps other cancers. The anticarcinogenic property of NSAIDs has been shown in epidemiological studies with humans and in experimental carcinogenesis studies with animals. In addition, clinical studies of the human disease familial adenomatous polyposis have demonstrated the efficacy of NSAIDs in mediating regression of colorectal adenomas. The mechanism of the anticarcinogenic effect of these drugs is not known, but most hypotheses have involved the common property of the NSAIDs to inhibit prostaglandin synthase (PHS) enzymes and thereby cause a subsequent reduction in levels of prostaglandins (PG) in tissue. Recent reports have questioned the role of PHS inhibition in the anticarcinogenic activity of NSAIDs by showing that some NSAID-related compounds that are not PHS inhibitors can induce the s...
High HIV Prevalence and Diagnosis Rates in New York City Black Men

We sought to identify population and subpopulation disparities in rates of HIV diagnosis and prevalence among black males 13 years and older in New York City. We used population-based data from the New York City HIV/AIDS surveillance registry and US Census 2000 to calculate HIV prevalence in 2006 and HIV diagnosis rates in 2007. Black males were the largest demographic group of new HIV diagnoses (n = 1,161, 33%) and persons living with HIV/AIDS in New York City (n = 24,294, 29%) and had the highest diagnosis rates (1.7 per 1,000 population) and prevalence (3.7%). Prevalence and diagnosis rates among black males were higher in higher-poverty neighborhoods than in lower-poverty neighborhoods (p < 0.01). However, very high prevalence (19.3%) was found among black males in three adjacent Manhattan neighborhoods with relatively low poverty rates, and where overall diagnosis rates among black males (7.4 per 1,000) and proportions attributable to men who have sex with men (60.0%) were high. HIV-related disparities exist not only between black males and other groups but also within black males. Success addressing the citywide HIV epidemic will be linked to success in the various portions of this highly affected, heterogeneous population.
Molecular Engineering of Peptides

Abstract Deeper understanding of the role of short peptides in lipid layers has revealed potential applications for rationally designed synthetic replacements. A recent report illustrates the succesful design of a peptoid mimic of SP-C, a protein linked to respiratory distress syndrome.
TU‐C‐213CD‐08: Investigation of Gated Cone‐Beam CT to Reduce Respiratory Motion Blurring in Images of Thorax and Abdomen

Purpose: Methods of reducing respiratory motion blurring in cone‐beam CT(CBCT) have been limited to lung where soft tissuecontrast is large. Respiration‐correlated cone‐beam CT (RC‐CBCT) uses slow continuous gantry rotation but image quality is limited by uneven projection spacing. This study investigates efficacy of a novel gated CBCT technique. Methods: In gated CBCT, the linac (Varian TrueBeam) is programmed such that gantry rotation and kV image acquisition occur within a gate around end expiration (EE) and are triggered by an external respiratory monitor. Standard CBCT and gated CBCT scans are performed in 14 patients (8 thoracic, 6 abdominal) and a respiration correlated CT (RCCT) scan from the same day serves as ground truth. Image quality is compared by calculating contrast‐to‐noise ratios (CNR) for tumors in lung, gastro‐esophageal junction (GEJ) tissue, and livertissue, relative to surrounding background tissue.Results: Gated CBCT results in reduced motion artifacts relative to standard CBCT, with better visualization of tumors in lung, and of abdominal organs including GEJ, stomach, liver, kidney, and spleen. CNR of lungtumors is larger in gated CBCT in 5 of 8 cases relative to standard CBCT with mean increase 8.8% (range −8.6%–+30.1%). In cases where CNR is not increased, lungtumor motion observed in RCCT is small (range 3.2–5.3 mm). For GEJ images,CNR is larger in gated CBCT in all 3 cases (mean increase 45%, range 24.7%–64.4%). For liverimages,CNR is larger in gated CBCT in all 4 cases (mean increase of 73.8%, range 5.4%–119.9%). Conclusions: Gated CBCT reduces image blurring caused by respiratory motion. The gated gantry rotation yields uniformly and closely spaced projections resulting in improved reconstructed image quality. The technique is shown to be applicable to abdominal sites, where imagecontrast of soft tissues is low. NIH/NCI award R01 CA126993, research grant from Varian Medical Systems
Development of osteopenia in ovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

Spinal osteopenia that is due in part to failure to gain bone has previously been reported in ovariectomized nonhuman primates. In these studies, development of osteopenia over one year was followed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in both domestically-reared and feral ovariectomized (OVX) and sham-ovariectomized (SHAM) cynomolgus monkeys. To promote development of absolute osteopenia, the domestically-reared animals were all older than nine years and were fed a diet containing 0.14% calcium for most of the experimental period. Both SHAM and OVX feral animals fed 0.6% calcium gained bone mass, with significantly lower rates of gain in SHAM monkeys. OVX domestically-reared monkeys lost bone during one year, while SHAM domestically-reared animals showed no significant change from baseline. Thus, relative osteopenia developed in both experiments, but only the domestically-reared animals developed absolute osteopenia. Nonhuman primates are the only animal model shown to develop absolute osteopenia after ovariectomy. These data suggest that absolute osteopenia develops after ovariectomy in monkeys with stable pre-ovariectomy bone mass which are fed a level of calcium comparable to that consumed by American women.
Improvement of statistical potentials and threading score functions using information maximization.

We show that statistical potentials and threading score functions, derived from finite data sets, are informatic functions, and that their performance depends on the manner in which data are classified and compressed. The choice of sequence and structural parameters affects estimates of the conditional probabilities P(C|S), the quantification of the effect of sequence S on conformation C, and determines the amount of information extracted from the data set, as measured by information gain. The mathematical link between information gain and mean conformational energy, established in this work using the local backbone potential as model, demonstrates that manipulation of descriptive parameters also alters the “energy” values assigned to native conformation and to decoy structures in the test pool, and consequently, the performance of such statistical potential functions in fold recognition exercises. We show that sequence and structural partitions that maximize information gain also minimize the mean energy of the ensemble of native conformations. Moreover, we establish an informatic basis for the placement of the native score within an energy spectrum given by the decoy pool in a threading exercise. We discover that, among all informatic quantities, information gain is the best predictor of threading success, even better than the standard Z-score. Consequently, the choices of sequence and structural descriptors, extent of compression, and levels of discretization that maximize information gain must also produce the best potential functions. Strategies to optimize these parameters with respect to information extraction are therefore relevant to building better statistical potentials. Last, we demonstrate that the backbone torsion potential, defined by the trimer sequence, can be an effective tool in greatly reducing the set of possible conformations from a vast decoy pool. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evolution of nitrogen species air pollutants along trajectories crossing the Los Angeles area.

Ambient aerosol sampling was conducted in Diamond Bar, Mira Loma, and Riverside, CA, to observe at close range the effects of ammonia emissions on air quality. These sites are located upwind, within, and downwind, respectively, of the Chino dairy area, the largest single source of ammonia emissions in the Los Angeles area. Inertial impactors and bulk filter samplers provided 4−7-h measurements of aerosol chemical composition and size distribution. Daily average fine particle mass concentrations were in the range 22.4−143.0 μg m^(-3). On some days the fine particulate matter concentrations were more than two times greater than the proposed 24-h Federal standard of 65 μg m^(-3). Ammonium nitrate was the largest component of fine particle mass at all three sites; 24-h average fine particulate ammonium plus nitrate concentrations ranged from 11.7 to 75.4 μg m^(-3). A single air mass was studied as it passed the Diamond Bar air monitoring site in the morning and stagnated near Mira Loma in the evening of the same day. Between these two sites NO was oxidized to NO_2, and the ammonia concentration increased by a factor of 5. A second air parcel trajectory, which stagnated near Mira Loma during the early morning and passed near the Riverside site approximately 24 h later, showed a decrease in ammonia concentration over time that is consistent with dilution as the air mass moved downwind from the source of ammonia in the dairy area. Particulate NH_4NO_3 concentration in that air parcel remained approximately constant over time, consistent with a continued excess of NH_3 relative to HNO_3 downwind of the dairy area.
Metacontrast target detection under light and dark adaptation

Two experiments investigated the influence of light and dark adaptation on forced-choice target detection under conditions of metacontrast. U-shaped masking functions were found under both adaptation conditions. The U minimum occurred at shorter Δt values under dark adaptation than under light adaptation. Light adaptation increased target detection under some conditions.
Initial Assessment and Management of the Newborn

This article summarizes the initial assessment of normal newborns and describes a few of the common variations that may occur. These variations require a pediatric provider to reassure anxious new parents and provide follow-up communication with the subsequent primary care provider.
Functional genomic studies of aldo–keto reductases

Abstract Aldose reductase (AR) is considered a potential mediator of diabetic complications and is a drug target for inhibitors of diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy in clinical trials. However, the physiological role of this enzyme still has not been established. Since effective inhibition of diabetic complications will require early intervention, it is important to delineate whether AR fulfills a physiological role that cannot be compensated by an alternate aldo–keto reductase. Functional genomics provides a variety of powerful new tools to probe the physiological roles of individual genes, especially those comprising gene families. Several eucaryotic genomes have been sequenced and annotated, including yeast, nematode and fly. To probe the function of AR, we have chosen to utilize the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a potential model system. Unlike Caenorhabditis elegans and D. melanogaster , yeast provides a more desirable system for our studies because its genome is manipulated more readily and is able to sustain multiple gene deletions in the presence of either drug or auxotrophic selectable markers. Using BLAST searches against the human AR gene sequence, we identified six genes in the complete S. cerevisiae genome with strong homology to AR. In all cases, amino acids thought to play important catalytic roles in human AR are conserved in the yeast AR-like genes. All six yeast AR-like open reading frames (ORFs) have been cloned into plasmid expression vectors. Substrate and AR inhibitor specificities have been surveyed on four of the enzyme forms to identify, which are the most functionally similar to human AR. Our data reveal that two of the enzymes (YDR368Wp and YHR104Wp) are notable for their similarity to human AR in terms of activity with aldoses and substituted aromatic aldehydes. Ongoing studies are aimed at characterizing the phenotypes of yeast strains containing single and multiple knockouts of the AR-like genes.
Heroin addict responses to six weeks of detoxification with LAAM.

Abstract This paper describes the range of experience of 28 heroin addicts who received LAAM instead of methadone over six weeks in an outpatient detoxification program. Four patients are singled out to illustrate the variety of response during withdrawal, temporary abstinence from drugs, and social adjustment. The paper explores the motivation of patients and both their physical and subjective responses to the detoxification attempt. By describing a variety of patients, the paper documents clinical responses that cannot be communicated in statistical summaries or single-case reports. Overall, the cases illustrate the difficulties of brief-stay outpatient detoxification from heroin. Clinicians should expect to see only small steps toward rehabilitation during a patient's attempt to taper from opiates, but even minimal progress may justify the use of detoxification programs as a link between ‘street life’ and the decision to enter long-term treatment.
Molecular surface tailoring of biomaterials via pulsed RF plasma discharges

A pulsed RF plasma glow discharge is employed to demonstrate molecular level controllability of surface film deposits. Molecular composition of plasma deposited films is shown to vary in a significant manner with the RF duty cycle. Three fluorocarbon monomers are used to illustrate the process. All three exhibit a trend towards increased surface CF2 content with decreasing pulsed RF duty cycle, including exclusion of oxygen. Significant variations in carbon-fluorine surface functionalities are obtained over a controllable range of film thickness. Film growth rate measurements reveal the occurrence of surface reactions during significant portions of the off portion of the duty cycle. Albumin adsorption on fluorocarbon-treated PET films is unchanged from PET controls for a 100-fold range of bulk concentrations and 60-fold range of adsorption times. However, increased retention of albumin is observed following incubation with protein-denaturing sodium dodecyl sulfate solution, the retention decreasing with i...
Optofluidically driven micro- and nano-fluidic devices

In this work we explore the possibility of developing micro-/nano-fluidic devices which exploits the intense electromagnetic fields present in nanophotonic structures as the primary transport mechanism. This transport mechanism is based on exploiting the near-field optical gradients (which serve to confine particles through a Lorenz force) and concentrated optical energy (resulting in intense scattering and absorption forces for propulsion through photon momentum transfer) present in these devices to perform a series of particle handling operations including transport, concentration and separation. Nanophotonic transport offers unique properties which give it several advantages over traditional techniques including: favorable transport scaling laws, extremely strong velocity dependence on particle size, insensitivity to surface/solution conditions and indefinitely long interaction lengths. In this work we detail the theory behind photonic transport and outline in detail the major advantages. Some of our initial experimental results on transport in liquid core photonic crystal devices and developing numerical simulation techniques describing photonic transport in such devices.
Voltage in-situ electrical metrology for test-to-failure BGA component shock margin assessment

As customers embrace new mobile market segments, electronic systems containing direct ball grid array (BGA) components will inevitably experience greater stresses resting from shock and drop events during their use. These events can result in BGA field failures especially when the product is exposed to solder joint or material excursions. Such issues could result in significant loss to the manufacturer in terms of line downtime or warranty returns. The current screening metrologies used for detection of BGA product solder joint failures are either time consuming, unreliable, or inefficient. Some of these methods can only be used with traditional daisy chain (DC) test packages and do not readily enable electrical monitoring of individual joints (or ball-level). To address the above problems, an innovative solution is required. This paper introduces a new cost-effective, efficient and reliable metrology also called voltage metrology to electrically detect ball-level failures in-situ on live product BGA components during the shock event. First, the metrology validation results collected on the product components are reviewed to demonstrate robustness. The benefits of this metrology are highlighted using drops-to-failure probability approach which is commonly used in the cell-phone industry. The data is used to compare the relative performance across different products, which is a common query from original design manufacturers (ODMs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This paper also presents examples showing how ball-level damage progression can help enable board design optimization through better printed circuit board (PCB) pad design and sacrificial pin definition. In addition, a case study is presented to demonstrate metrology effectiveness towards development of shock acceleration models. Finally, the paper shares necessary test vehicle (TV) design modifications to activate ball-level monitoring feature on traditional DC test coupons.
The role of calcium in the control of vascular tone as assessed by the Ca2+ indicator aequorin

An overview is given of the current understanding of the mechanism of contraction of vascular smooth muscle. The regulation of vascular tone by intracellular ionized calcium levels appears to occur primarily through calciumdependent phosphorylation of the myosin light chains by the enzyme myosin light chain kinase. Evidence is presented that additional relatively calcium-independent processes also exist and contribute to the regulation of vascular tone. A scheme is presented whereby vasoconstriction may occur in the absence of any change in cytoplasmic ionized calcium levels. The multiplicity of excitation-contraction coupling pathways in vascular smooth muscle predicts a multitude of rational therapeutic approaches to vascular pathologies.
Comparison of ramp versus step protocols for exercise testing in patients ≥60 years of age

Abstract To evaluate whether individualized ramp protocols may be better than step protocols in patients ≥60 years of age referred for exercise testing, peak cardiopulmonary responses and accuracy in prediction of oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) for individualized ramp and step protocols (Bruce or modified Bruce) were compared. Twenty-four subjects (67 ± 3 years) with known or suspected coronary artery disease performed both tests in random order. Protocols were selected based on estimated exercise capacity using a pretest activity questionnaire. No differences were observed between peak VO 2 (19.3 ± 6.3 and 19.1 ± 6.4 ml/kg/min), heart rate (127 ± 15 and 126 ± 16 beats/min), rate–pressure product (24.0 ± 4.8 and 23.4 ± 4.9 beats/min × mm Hg × 10 3 ) and anaerobic threshold (16.6 ± 3.7 and 16.0 ± 4.7 ml/kg/min) for the ramp and step protocols, respectively. The relation between measured submaximal VO 2 and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)-predicted VO 2 during the ramp protocol is demonstrated by the regression coefficient (β), where β = 0.92 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.85 to 0.99) and for the step protocols where β = 1.02 (95% CI 0.84 to 1.20). Peak cardiopulmonary responses in the elderly are similar during individualized ramp and step protocols when appropriately selected based on a pretest activity questionnaire. Both protocols appear to provide clinically reasonable estimates of VO 2 when gas exchange analysis is not used.
Plasma Diagnostics for a Low-Pressure Plasma Spray Deposition System

Measured plasma temperature and particle velocity distributions in a Low-Pressure Plasma Spray (LPPS) system show a strong dependence on process chamber pressure over the range of 50 to 600 Torr. Plasma temperatures of 3000 to 12,000 K were calculated from argon atomic emission spectra by the Boltzmann slope method. Peak particle velocities up to 365 m/s were measured with a laser velocimeter for 44 ..mu..m Al/sub 2/O, spray particles. Our results indicate that there may be potential benefits to operating a LPPS system at pressures on the order of 300 Torr.
A Study on Psychophysics of Weight Holding in Hand

This paper describes a research study conducted to investigate the human perception of a weight held in hand. Twenty male subjects participated in the study. Subject was blindfolded and was asked to guess the weight of a bag placed over his upper extremity by the experimentor. The objectives were twofold; firstly, to determine the ability of the subject to correctly guess the weight and secondly, to determine whether the location of placement of weight along the forearm influences this ability. The results suggest a linear relationship between the actual weight and guessed weight in the range studied. Also the locations along the forearm did not result in any significant difference.
Ear asymmetry for recall of monaurally presented words.

Abstract In order to test for ear asymmetry using monaural stimulation, 30 adult listeners were presented a series of ten-word lists and asked to recall words from early (position three) and late (position eight) positions in each list. Significantly better performance was obtained when the word lists were presented to the right ear of the subjects. Words occuring in position eight were recalled more accurately than words that occurred in position three. Ear asymmetry during monaural stimulation appeared to be related, at least in part, to competition between incoming and rehearsed stimuli during central memory processing.
Comparative efficacy of antihistamines in allergic rhinitis and urticaria

Abstract The efficacy of antihistamines in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and urticaria is compared. In treating allergic rhinitis, the new second-generation antihistamines have multiple advantages including rapid onset of action, extended duration of action and efficacy for nearly all the symptoms that are produced by allergen sensitization. These include non-nasal as well as nasal symptoms. These agents are generally non-sedating. They can be administered either once or twice a day. There is minimal potentiation for QTC prolongation, and they are safe and effective as first line therapies for seasonal allergic rhinitis. They are especially effective when combined with topical corticosteroids in reducing the whole constellation of symptomatology of allergic rhinitis. The treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria should include second-generation antihistamines as primary therapy. Additional therapy may include H 2 antagonists, antihistamine–decongestant combinations, tricyclic anti-depressants such as doxepin, beta-adrenergic agonists including albuterol and epinephrine for acute angioedema. Corticosteroids may be required to treat significant exacerbations of chronic urticaria and/or to break a long-standing cycle of urticaria. Miscellaneous agents include leukotriene antagonists combined with H 1 , H 2 antagonists, calcium channel antagonists, plasmapheresis, cyclosporin and methotrexate.
Biochemical regulation during the mid-day decline of photosynthesis in field-grown sunflower

Abstract Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) was raised according to common agricultural practices except that drought was imposed from the 20th day after planting in order to accentuate the natural daily cycling in leaf water potential (Ψ leaf ). The nature of the processes involved in regulating assimilation on a diurnal time scale was then investigated using techniques of gas exchange analysis. Although Ψ leaf decreased from −0.5 to −1.1 MPa between predawn and mid-afternoon, autoradiographs of recent 14 C-photoassimilation in leaves showed no evidence for inhomogeneities in stomatal apertures at any time off the day. Only by severing the tap root and allowing the shoot to dry rapidly could ‘patchiness’ be induced. A significant diurnal decline in assimilation (A) (from ∼ 31 to 25 μ molCO 2 m −2 s −1 ) was accompanied by declining leaf conductance but, since there was no significant change in intercellular [CO 2 ] (C i ), it is unlikely that A was being limited by the supply of CO 2 for carboxylation. Instead, a decrease in the initial slope of A/C i curves taken over the course of the day showing a decreased apparent affinity of the CO 2 reductive processes for CO 2 , indicating chloroplast-level control. By briefly treating the leaf with intercellular CO 2 levels near the CO 2 compensation point, the relationship between A and C i could be significantly shifted. These experiments revealed a strong biochemical element contributing to the lowre photosynthetic rates that develop over the course of a day in field-grown sunflower. In addition, it was seen that rapid adjustments could be made in the level of the biochemical control and that they were probably initiated by changes in the intercellular CO 2 levels.
Inhibition of the Na,K-ATPase of canine renal medulla by several local anesthetics

Abstract The ATPase activity of Na,K-ATPase-enriched membranes from canine renal medulla was determined in the absence of local anesthetic and in the presence of procaine, chloroprocaine, bupivacaine, mepivacaine, lidocaine, and two quaternary derivatives of lidocaine (QX-222 and QX-314) at 37 ∘ C. Chloroprocaine (IC 50 = 13 mM) had slightly greater potency than procaine (IC 50 = 17.7 mM). Bupivacaine (IC 50 = 6.7 mM) was more potent than its congener mepivacaine (IC 50 > 10 mM, the solubility limit). QX-222 ( IC 50 > 600 mM ) and QX-314 ( IC 50 = 132 mM ) had less potency than lidocaine (IC 50 = 30.4 mM). This study supports the interpretation that the uncharged forms of local anesthetics are much more potent inhibitors of Na,K-ATPase activity than the cationic forms.
Race-related PTSD: The Asian American Vietnam veteran

This article presents a conceptual framework by which to understand race-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for the Asian American Vietnam veteran. The framework draws from cognitive schema theory, social behaviorism, the notion of cumulative racism as trauma, and the assumption that bifurcation and negation of one's bicultural identity is injurious. Classifications of race-related stress or trauma that may be experienced by Asian American Vietnam veterans, with exemplifying clinical case material, are presented. These types of stressors include being mistaken for Vietnamese, verbal and physical assaults that are race-related, death and near-death experiences that are race-related, racial stigmatization, dissociation from one's Asian identity, and marginalization. As studies of combat trauma and sexual assault forced the psychological stresses attendant to war and sexist oppression into public consciousness, so this article addresses psychological stress and trauma attendant to racism.
Novel approaches to CS 0 with app inventor for android

1. SUMMARY Google's App Inventor for Android (AIA) is a visual programming environment for creating mobile phone applications that is designed to be accessible and appealing to college nonmajors taking introductory courses in computer science. Specifically, AIA provides a development environment similar to StarLogo TNG [7], Scratch [5], and Alice [2] but enabling users to create mobile applications incorporating social networking, location awareness, and Web-based services for Google's Android platform [1].
Elections for AGU leadership positions: What you can expect in the months to come

It's hard to believe that it is again time to consider elections for AGU leadership positions. Just over 18 months ago, AGU launched a new governance model and strategic plan. Since then, the AGU Board of Directors, the AGU Council, and staff leaders have partnered with us, the members of the Governance Committee, to move AGU forward in the positive direction set by members. Much has been accomplished in a short time, and much is left to do to achieve AGU's envisioned future (see http://www.agu.org/about/mission.shtml). We need to elect the next set of leaders who can carry on the direction and vision set in motion by the Future Focus Task Force and the first group of Board and Council members tasked with guiding this new plan. This year, AGU members will elect leaders for the next term (2013–2014). Below is a synopsis of what we've been doing, along with a timeline for nominations and elections.
UMAPRM: Uniformly sampling the medial axis

This research supported in part by NSF awards CNS-0551685, CCF-0833199, CCF-0830753, IIS-0916053, IIS-0917266, EFRI-1240483, RI-1217991, by NIH NCI R25 CA090301-11, by Chevron, IBM, Intel, Oracle/Sun and by Award KUS-C1-016-04, made by King Abdullah Universityof Science and Technology (KAUST). J. Denny supported in part by anNSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
Taiwan's paradigm of integrated industrialization with optimum macroeconomic parameters

Abstract The world happily welcomed the US–China Shanghai Communique of 1972, which was anchored to One China Policy. Taiwan's status as a sovereign nation state became a sub-optimal issue. However, USA offered Taiwan a special diplomatic status under its Defense Umbrella and offered an open economic engagement, albeit an official Free Trade Area (FTA) continued to remain not on the road map. The People's Republic of China, considered Taiwan a province of China, albeit renegade, but offered robust economic engagement, welcoming massive inflow of investment from Taiwan. Indeed, PRC did not treat Taiwan's investments in the mainland as foreign investment. Taiwan used its economic participations in China and in the USA and successfully maximized its economic gains. In the process, the peoples of China, USA and the rest of the world optimized their economic prosperity. Taiwan has become a mature industrialized economy.
NMR diffusion and flow measurements and an introduction to spin phase graphing

Diffusion and flow can be measured very delicately and accurately using an NMR system. The essence of the method is that motion of magnetic nuclei in a magnetic field and a magnetic gradient results in those nuclei changing their Larmor precession frequency and their phase angle in the field. Since NMR can be set up to measure the number of nuclei at specific phase angles, the motion of groups of nuclei can be determined very accurately. Self-diffusion of molecules was first measured by Hahn in 1950. Self-diffusion of molecules and flow of molecules can be separated in an NMR measurement as was shown by Carr and Purcell in 1954. This review describes some techniques of NMR diffusion and flow measurements, and a method of plotting phase angles of isochromatic spin groups for theoretical analyses and simulations of NMR experiments.
X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy studies of platinum-tin-silica catalysts

Abstract Platinum and tin were added to a silica support by impregnation. The platinum content was kept constant at 1.0 wt.-%, and the amount of tin varied. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron microdiffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) data revealed that the dominant fraction of the crystalline platinum was present as metallic platinum for Catalysts containing Pt : Sn = 1:0.5 mol ratio, PtSn alloy for Catalysts containing Pt : Sn = 1:5 and non-crystalline platinum or Pt/Sn alloy and metallic tin for Catalysts containing Pt : Sn = 1:8. It appears that the presence of tin in this bimetallic system aids the dispersion of platinum particles. However, the form of platinum depends upon the Sn/Pt ratio, and no single structure will adequately describe all Pt-Sn-SiO2 Catalysts.
Molecular dynamics simulation of sodium dodecyl sulfate micelle in water: Micellar structural characteristics and counterion distribution

An all-atom 5 nanosecond molecular dynamics simulation of a water-solvated micelle containing 60 sodium dodecyl sulfate monomers was performed. Structural properties such as the radius of gyration, eccentricity, micellar size, accessible surface area, dihedral angle distribution, carbon atom distribution, and the orientation of the monomers toward the micelle center of mass were evaluated. The results indicate a stable micellar system over the duration of the simulation. Evaluation of the structure and motion of the sodium counterions show (1) a long equilibration time (1 nanosecond) is required to achieve a stable distribution of counterions and (2) approximately 25% of the sodium ions are located in the first shell and 50% are located in the first two shells of the micelle during the course of the simulation. The structure of the micelle oxygen−sodium ion radial distribution function reveals two distinct peaks which divide the counterions into those close to the micelle (first shell) those far from the ...