cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TH‐E‐L100F‐01: Advances in Simulation Tools and Their Applications to CT, PET/CT and SPECT/CT

In CT, PET/CT and SPECT/CT imaging research, we are often involved in the design, development and evaluation of instrumentation, data acquisition methods, and image reconstruction and processing techniques. Ideally, clinical trials using patient images from actual imaging systems should be used in the evaluation studies. In practice, clinical trials are difficult to perform due to the difficulties and the high costs in acquiring ‘good quality’ clinical images and physicians' time to read them. Most importantly, there is a lack of known ‘truth’ in most clinical images. In the past, although computer simulation methods allowed generation of a large number of images with known ‘truth’, they suffered from the availability of computergenerated phantoms that realistically model human anatomy and physiological functions and the ability to generate simulate data that accurately represent data acquired from actual medical imaging systems. We have developed a 4D computergenerated phantom that are based on the Visible Human data and cardiac and respiratory gated MRI and CT data from normal human subjects. The non‐uniform rational b‐splines (NURB) computer graphics tools were used to allow accurate modeling of the shapes of 3D anatomical structures and generation of collections of phantoms that represent variations in anatomical structures and physiological functions found in different patient populations. Also, analytical and Monte Carlo simulation methods have been developed to provide data that accurately model the imaging system geometry, and photon interactions in the phantom and within the imaging system. Applications of the simulation tools to CT, PET/CT and SPECT/CT imaging research will be demonstrated with sample research projects. They demonstrate the potential utility of the simulation tools in a wide variety of applications in the research and development of instrumentation, image reconstruction and processing methods of different medical imaging modalities in the years to come.
Type B epitaxy of Ge on CaF2(111) surface

Abstract It was known experimentally that type B orientation, which is rotated 180° about the [111] axis, dominated the heteroepitaxial growth of Ge(111) on a CaF2(111) substrate at an elevated temperature. We performed first principles calculations using density functional theory to determine the energetics of the Ge(111)/CaF2(111) interface and found that the type B orientation of the Ge film is most likely a result of a direct bonding between Ge atoms and Ca2+ at the CaF2 surface with the top F− layer depleted. Our theoretical prediction is supported by our X-ray diffraction experiments on {111} biaxially textured Ge/CaF2 samples.
Numerical Simulation of Dendritic Growth of Continuously Cast High Carbon Steel

Considering the influence of the latent heat released during the solidification of high carbon liquid steel, a cellular automaton (CA) model coupled with the heat transfer was developed to investigate the growth of equiaxed dendrites which is controlled by the solute diffusion during the continuous casting process. Additionally, the growth of columnar dendrites and primary dendrite arm spacings were predicted and measured. The results show that the CA model is able to describe the growth behavior of equiaxed dendrites, especially at 5 K to 7 K melt undercoolings, and the approach adjusting the cooling medium temperature is reliable to keep the undercooling condition stable for equiaxed dendrites although its hysteresis is reinforced as the pre-set undercooling increases. With the increase of the melt undercooling, the growth of equiaxed dendrites becomes faster, and the thickness of dendritic arms increases slightly, however, the thickness of the diffusion layer in front of dendritic tips keeps constant. The growth of thin and tiny columnar dendrites will be confined due to the competition and absorbed by neighboring strong columnar dendrites, giving rise to the coarsening of columnar dendrites, which is observed both from the experimental observation and the numerical simulation. With the decrease of the cooling intensity, columnar dendrites get sparser, primary dendrite arm spacings increase, and secondary dendritic arms become undeveloped.
Optical design of the SIM system testbed III

The SIM system testbed III (STB3) is a 3-baseline interferometer mounted on a full-scale flexible structure developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The goal of the testbed is to demonstrate angle and fringe tracking of a dim star by feeding-forward the information from two interferometers looking at bright guide stars. This paper presents the optical architecture of STB3 and the first results obtained with the first interferometers running.
Simulation of the structure of vacancies in high angle grain boundaries

Since the modeling approach used in an earlier work is used at an atomic level, this is the most appropriate and reliable technique available. To complement this study, however, we have also employed a hard sphere dynamic model and a bubble raft model because in the past they have provided useful qualitative insight into the structure of a variety of defects in two-dimensional crystalline and amorphous systems. The computed results form part of a wider investigation of vacancies and interstitials in various grain boundaries in which the binding energies are analyzed and related to the defect structure and form of the interatomic potential.
High Production and Highstand Shedding from Deeply Submerged Carbonate Banks, Northern Nicaragua Rise

ABSTRACT Because the shallow isolated carbonate banks on the northern Nicaragua Rise, the Nicaragua/Honduras and southern Jamaica carbonate shelves, and many other modern carbonate banks worldwide, are covered by an average of 20 to 30 m of water and by a thin blanket of coarse carbonate sediments, other carbonate sedimentologists have considered these banks good examples of "incipiently drowned", or even "drowned" carbonate banks. However, based on recent research on the northern Nicaragua Rise, we can demonstrate that these banks currently are healthy producers of large volumes of periplatform sediments (fine aragonite and magnesian calcite), which are exported almost entirely to the deep surrounding slopes. These sediments, which were deposited during the past 9000-10,000 years, form peripl tform wedges on the middle and upper slopes, which are seen clearly on 3.5 kHz seismic profiles. Radiocarbon ages of the wedge surface sediment range between 230 and 610 YBP and provide clear evidence for the contemporaneous production of sediments on the shallow bank and shelf and their instantaneous export to the upper slopes. For the last 5000 years, sedimentation rates ranged from 2000 mm/ky off Pedro Bank to 1300 mm/ky off Jamaica. These rates are somewhat lower than, but of the same order of, magnitude as sedimentation rates on the western (leeward) slopes of Great Bahama Bank. Deposition of the metastable carbonate sediments discussed in this paper occurred as soon as sea level rose to flood the bank and shelf which flank Walton Basin, following the last glacial lowstand. They com rise a wedge-shaped package of transgressive and highstand sediments on the upper and middle slopes of Pedro Bank and the southern Jamaica shelf.
Comparison of Digestion Media for Speciation of Mercury in the Seagrass Zostera marina L. Followed by Quantitation by Hydride Generation−Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

Despite many studies of mercury speciation in marine sediments, fish, and waters, studies on the very important aquatic plants are rare. This paper describes use of the same digestion regime to compare three reagents for their ability to quantitate inorganic mercury (Hg(II)) and monomethylmercury cation (MeHg + ) in estuarine eelgrass. The study highlights excellent results with the new hydrophobic digestion reagent alkaline tetrabutylammonium bromide (KOH/Bu 4 NBr). Because scientists must be particularly careful in evaluating new speciation methods in the absence of a certified reference material, we confirmed the accuracy of the speciation results in several ways. The confirming results include high recoveries of spiked samples, finding only traces of mercury upon redigestion of solid residue from the speciation procedure with concentrated HNO 3 , excellent agreement between sums of Hg(ll) plus MeHg + concentrations from speciation experiments and total mercury (Hg tot ) concentrations from digestions in concentrated HNO 3 , and good agreement between quantitation of MeHg + by vacuum distillation and KOH/Bu4NBr digestion. Digestions in KOH/Bu 4 NBr yielded average eelgrass concentrations (dry weight) of 39.7 ng/g for Hg(ll) and 2.78 ng/g for MeHg + . The 42.5 ng/g sum agreed well with Hg tot of 44.7 ng/g from HNO 3 digestion.
Source and loss rates of radiation belt relativistic electrons during magnetic storms

[1] A numerical model of the radiation belt electron distribution as a function of equatorial pitch angle, longitude, and time is combined with data from a low-altitude satellite to estimate the source and loss rates of ∼0.5 to 3 MeV electrons during magnetic storms. The relative intensity levels in the stable trapping and drift loss cone regions provide a measure of the loss rate and associated pitch angle diffusion coefficient. The source rate is that required to maintain the observed stably trapped component. The source mechanism is unspecified and may include a combination of radial diffusion and local acceleration. Adiabatic effects are treated separately and are found to have a minimal influence on parameter estimation in the presence of pitch angle diffusion. Two sample storm periods provide examples of the varying source and loss rates estimated with this method. They show that significant losses during the storm main phase deplete the prestorm radiation belt on a timescale ∼1 hour. It is replenished by a source that acts concurrently or at somewhat later times. Significant but variable source and loss processes may continue during the storm recovery phase. The storm time source and loss rates may result in a net increase or decrease in the stably trapped population relative to the prestorm level. These conclusions are supported by source and loss indices that are defined to provide rough estimates of the fractional source and loss rates from several additional magnetic storms and are readily calculated from the data alone.
Effects of light on phospholipid metabolism in DunaUella salina

Dunalliella salina (Teodoresco) is a unicellular, wall-less, halotolerant green alga. Previous work has shown that levels of inositol phospholipiils in whole cells of D. salina fluctuate in response to hyper- and hypo-osmotic shock. In this paper, we report the effects of changes in the light environment on levels of phospholipids, including inositol phospholipids, in D. scilina. Utilizing both short-term and long-term labeling of phospholipids with 32PO4, we were able to compare both immediate and long-term changes in lipid metabolism during changes in the light environment. Relative to the other phospholipids. phosphotidic acid and the inositol phospholipids phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate were rapidly labeled, even in the dark, suggesting that the metabolism of these compounds is more active than that of the bulk cellular phospholipids. There was little change in inositol phospholipid metabolism when cells were illuminated following a 1 h dark adaptation period, Furthermore, the inositol phospholipid signal transduction pathway did not respond to severe photoinhibition treatment. Apparently this plasma-membrane-based signal transduction pathway, which responds to changes in the external environment, is relatively insensitive to major changes in chloroplast metabolism.
Neuropsychological processes associated with normal aging

This study reports cross‐sectional data on 156 normal older adults, aged 57–85 years old, who were enrolled in a study that addressed the neuropsychological processes associated with normal aging. The results based on a factor analysis of 12 key neuropsychological measures assessing a broad range of cognitive domains revealed three primary factors: (a) a Verbal Cognitive/Verbal Memory factor; (b) a Nonverbal Cognitive/Nonverbal Memory factor; and (c) a timed, Speed of Processing factor. This analysis accounted for 62% of the overall variance. Univariate regression analyses revealed that, consistent with prior research, tests comprising the third factor (speed of processing) were the most sensitive to changes associated with normal aging.
Varied signature splitting phenomena in odd proton nuclei

Varied signature splitting phenomena in odd proton rare earth nuclei are investigated. Signature splitting as functions of K and j in the angular momentum projection theory is explicitly shown and compared with those of the particle rotor model. The observed deviations from these rules are due to the band mixings. The recently measured $^{169}\mathrm{Ta}$ high spin data are taken as a typical example where fruitful information about signature effects can be extracted. Six bands, two of which have not yet been observed, were calculated and discussed in detail in this paper. The experimentally unknown band head energies are given.
Symbolic logic analysis of cause of dealth in humans: Application to 108 patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery☆

Abstract Over the past two decades there has been increasing interest in the development of an objective, or formalized “medical logic”, and many authors have employed classical symbolic logic as a part of their approach. On the other hand, it has become clear that certain patterns of reasoning which are commonplace in evaluating patients clinicopathologically are awkward to handle in classical symbolic logic. The present paper proposes an extension of classical symbolic logic which addresses three problems in medical reasoning: (i) the problem of provisional diagnosis, (ii) the problem of inaccessible data, and (iii) the problem of the adequate discharge summary. It is proved mathematically that with a suitably constructed logic, the system “complains” until all questions involving threats to the patient's health are either answered or shown to be unanswerable because of inaccessibility of data. To illustrate this method, the cause of death was studied in 108 patients who had been autopsied at The Johns Hopkins Hospital after coronary artery bypass surgery. The analysis disclosed that 46% of patients suffered a fatal complication which could be attributed to events in the perioperative period; in 15% of patients the cause of death was unexplained by the analysis. Computerized symbolic logic analysis is a useful supplement to intuitive reasoning in assigning cause of death to patients with complex medical histories.
SPECIFICATION OF SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE

Over the past several years, software architecture representation and analysis has become an active area of research. However, most approaches to software architecture representation and analysis have been informal. We postulate that through formality, the term "architecture" can be precisely defined and important properties of systems, such as semantic compatibility between connected entities, can be investigated with precision. In this paper, we use category theory and algebraic specifications to develop a formal definition of architecture and show how architecture theory can be used in the construction of software specifications.
Immunoperoxidase staining of α-bungarotoxin binding sites in muscle endplates shows distribution of acetylcholine receptors

Immunoperoxidase staining of α-bungarotoxin binding sites in muscle endplates shows distribution of acetylcholine receptors
Neutral Ligands for Selective Chloride Anion Complexation: (α,α,α,α)-5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(2-(arylurea)phenyl)porphyrins

A series of neutral, urea-appended, free-base porphyrins and their Zn(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. The (α,α,α,α)-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2-(arylurea)phenyl)porphyrins bind strongly (K (M-1) > 103−105) to chloride anion in DMSO-d6 and also in the more competitive solvent system DMSO-d6/D2O (88:12, v/v) and bromide anion in DMSO-d6, as revealed by 1H NMR titration studies. The porphyrin derivatives exhibited significant binding selectivity since they complexed with the spherical Cl- and Br- to a much greater extent than with the tetrahedral H2PO4- and HSO4- and the trigonal NO3- anions in DMSO-d6. Indeed, the selectivity trend Cl- > Br- ≫ H2PO4- > HSO4- > NO3- is novel for any neutral urea-anion binding system. On the other hand, the corresponding metalloporphyrins exhibited a decrease in binding strength and selectivity in DMSO-d6. The stoichiometry of binding for the anions and porphyrins was determined to be 1:1. The enthalpy of complexation was determined to be highly favorable and...
Optical scattering as a contrast mechanism in confocal imaging

Reflectance-mode confocal microscopy can distinguish and measure the scattering coefficient (μ s [cm−1]) and the anisotropy of scattering (g) of in vivo biological tissues, which characterize the ultrastructure of a tissue.
Evaluation of a School-based Teen Obesity Prevention Minimal Intervention

Abstract Objective A school-based nutrition education minimal intervention (MI) was evaluated. Design The design was experimental, with random assignment at the school level. Setting Seven schools were randomly assigned as experimental, and 7 as delayed-treatment. Participants The experimental group included 551 teens, and the delayed treatment group included 329 teens. Intervention The minimal intervention was Present and Prevent , a commercially available PowerPoint program presented in two 30-minute time slots over 1 week. Main Outcome Measures The dependent variables were nutrition knowledge, attitudes, peer and family influences, behavioral intentions, and program satisfaction. The independent variable was group assignment. Analyses A matched-pairs and 2-sample t test were used respectively to assess within-group and between-group changes. Results Significant experimental posttest improvements occurred in the following: knowledge ( P P P Conclusions and Implications The MI teen obesity prevention program made an impact on nutrition knowledge and positive behavioral intentions in only 2 classroom sessions and was well received by participants.
Anisotropic magnetization, resistivity and heat capacity of single crystalline R3Ni2−xSn7 (R=La, Ce, Pr and Nd)

Abstract We present a detailed study of R3Ni2−xSn7 (R=La, Ce, Pr and Nd) single crystals by measurements of crystal structure, stoichiometry, temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance and specific heat. This series forms with partial Ni occupancy with x varying from ∼ 0.1 for R=La to ∼ 0.7 for R=Nd. The electrical resistivity of this series follows metallic behavior at high temperatures. Determination of clear anisotropies as well as antiferromagnetic ordering temperatures for R3Ni2−xSn7 (R=Ce, Pr and Nd) have been made. For Pr3Ni1.56Sn7 and Nd3Ni1.34Sn7, multiple magnetic transitions take place upon cooling. Metamagnetic transitions in this family (R=Ce, Pr and Nd) were detected for applied magnetic fields below 70 kOe. An H − T phase diagram of Ce3Ni1.69Sn7 was assembled to shed light on its low field properties and to rule out possible quantum critical effects.
Impedance profile inversion via the first transport equation

Abstract The subject of this paper is the inverse reflection problem for a stratified elastic half-space. That is, a linear elastic medium, whose elastic properties depend only on depth from a planar free surface, is stimulated at t = 0 by a plane wave impulsive source. The motion of a typical surface element is recorded for 0 ⩽ t ⩽ 2T. It is shown that this surface trace determines the acoustic impedance of the medium as a function of travel time, to (travel-time) depth T. Moreover, we give a precise characterization of those functions which may appear as surface traces, and show uniqueness, existence, and continuous dependence of the logarithm of the impedance as a function of the surface trace in the Sobolev H1 topology.
Comparison of the Family Therapy Educational and Experience Requirements for Licensure or Certification in Six Mental Health Disciplines

In a review of literature on clinical licensure programs and certified mental health disciplines, no studies specifically compared didactic methods and clinical training standards for family-based interventions. Consequently, consumers and insurers of these services have no basis from which to evaluate the relative competency of each of the mental health disciplines in providing family-based interventions. This study used content analysis to examine the amount of family based training that is required by six core mental health disciplines (Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry, Psychiatric Nursing, Professional Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Social Work) in each of the 50 United States. Results indicate that a marriage and family therapist is required to have three times more family therapy coursework than any other professional mental health discipline. Also, before becoming licensed a marriage and family therapist, must complete 16 times more face-to-face family therapy hours than a mental healt...
Toxicity and sublethal effects of No. 2 fuel oil on the supralittoral isopod Lygia exotica.

1. No. 2 fuel oil was of relatively low toxicity to the intertidal isopod Lygiaexotica as indicated by the TLm values of over 100% for the WSF and 73 ppm at 24 and 48 hours and 36.5 ppm at 96 hours for the OWD. 2. Respiration was not significantly affected by short term exposure to several concentrations of No.2 fuel oil prepared as either a WSF or OWD. 3. Lygia contaminated by a spill of No. 2 fuel oil and Bunker C residual oil contained high concentrations of dibenzothiophenes. It is not known whether the dibenzothiophenes were accumulated by theLygia tissues or adsorbed to the exoskeleton. Therefore, the high mortality ofLygia following the spill cannot yet be attributed to the dibenzothiophenes.
The Mediating Role of Communication in Interorganizational Channels

Abstract The overall objective of this article is to examine the impact of interorganizational channel bureaucratic structure on boundary interpersonal trust. The authors present a model where the bureaucratic structure (viz., formalization, participation and centralization) influences interpersonal communication, which functions as a mediator determining the level of interpersonal trust in the supply chain. The authors conceptualize communication as a multidimensional construct, reflective of both instrumental and social communications. The empirical study, conducted in a farm equipment supply chain, indicates that formalization and participation facilitate whereas centralization inhibits communication, which in turn enhances interpersonal trust. Theoretical and managerial implications as well as directions for further research are discussed at the end of the paper.
Overexpression of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in the mouse brain reduces ischemic brain injury.

It has been reported that middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats causes overexpression of interleukin-1, and that administration of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1ra) reduces ischemic brain injury. The aim of the present study is to determine whether a recombinant adenovirus vector carrying human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist cDNA (Ad.RSVIL-1ra) could be used to overexpress IL-1ra in mouse brain and to evaluate its effect on brain edema formation and infarction after permanent focal ischemia in mice. Ad.RSVIL-1ra, control adenovirus containing the lacZ gene (Ad.RSVlacZ), or saline was injected into the right cerebral ventricle in mice. Brain IL-1ra concentrations were measured 1 to 13 days later. On the fifth day after virus injection, the middle cerebral artery was occluded for 24 h. Brain water content was determined and a histological technique was used to measure the infarction size. Overexpression of human IL-1ra protein in whole brain was confirmed by immunoassay in the Ad.RSVIL-1ra injected mice. It began on the first day, peaked at 5-7 days, and was sustained for 13 days. Brain edema and cerebral infarct volume were significantly reduced following 24 h of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice transfected with Ad.RSVIL-1ra compared to Ad.RSVlacZ or saline 5 days earlier. These studies demonstrate that adenoviral vectors can be used to deliver genes to small animals such as mice and also suggest the feasibility of gene therapy for stroke and other neurological diseases. Overexpression of human IL-1ra attenuated ischemic brain injury, suggesting that IL-1 may play an important role in cerebral ischemia.
Properties of injection moulded starch/synthetic polymer blends—III. Effect of amylopectin to amylose ratio in starch

Abstract Corn starch with different contents of amylopectin to amylose ratio were melt blended in a corotating twin-screw extruder with the synthetic polymers, ethylene–vinyl acetate, low density polyethylene and high density polyethylene having anhydride functionality. Four different starches were used: unmodified waxy maize, containing 100% amylopectin; industrial corn, containing approximately 70% amylopectin and 30% amylose; common corn, possessing approximately 50% amylopectin and 50% amylose and an unmodified high amylose starch, consisting of approximately 30% amylopectin and 70% amylose. The concentration of starch in the blends was kept at 70% by weight. The influence of starch type on processing parameters (pressure, torque and energy), tensile strength, percent elongation, flexural strength and water absorption was investigated. Torque and energy data showed that the blends with starch containing high amylopectin content had the maximum value while the blend containing the highest amylose content required the lowest torque. Degradation or debranching of the branched macromolecular components of the starch during the thermomechanical processing treatment was observed from a gel-permeation chromatograph. Tensile strength and water absorption were correlated with the torque generated during blending. The effect of amylose to amylopectin in starch on tensile properties, flexural properties and storage time are discussed. The tensile and flexural strength increased at the amylose content of 70% and it is higher in waxy maize starch (highly branched) blends, presumably due to more crosslinking. Samples with weldline had a lower tensile strength, flexural modulus and percent elongation. Influence of starch type on water absorption is also discussed. Blends containing waxy maize starch absorb more water than those containing high amylose content of 70%. In most of the samples, the equilibrium water uptake was between 20 to 24% over the period of 80 days.
Constitutive Association of c-N-Ras with c-Raf-1 and Protein Kinase Cε in Latent Signaling Modules

Phorbol ester stimulation of the MAPK cascade is believed to be mediated through the protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent activation of Raf-1. Although several studies suggest that phorbol ester stimulation of MAPK is insensitive to dominant-negative Ras, a requirement for Ras in Raf-1 activation by PKC has been suggested recently. We now demonstrate that in normal, quiescent mouse fibroblasts, endogenous c-N-Ras is constitutively associated with both c-Raf-1 and PKCe in a biochemically silent, but latent, signaling module. Chemical inhibition of novel PKCs blocks phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-mediated activation of MAPKs. Down-regulation of PKCe protein levels by antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides blocks MAPK activation in response to PMA stimulation, demonstrating that PKCe activity is required for MAPK activation by PMA. c-Raf-1 activity in immunoprecipitated c-N-Ras·c-Raf-1·PKCe complexes is stimulated by PMA and is inhibited by GF109203X, thereby linking c-Raf-1 activation in this complex to PKC activation. These observations suggest that in quiescent cells Ras is organized into ordered, inactive signaling modules. Furthermore, the regulation of the MAPK cascade by both Ras and PKC is intimately linked, converging at the plasma membrane through their association with c-Raf-1.
Left ventricular mass and systolic performance in chronic systemic hypertension.

Abstract This study was undertaken to define the relation between the extent of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and ventricular systolic performance in patients with chronic systemic hypertension. Ninety patients with chronic systemic hypertension were compared with. 41 normal subjects as determined by anglography. LV mass was estimated from the M-mode echocardiogram. Patients were separated into 3 groups: those with LV mass of less than 2 (group I, n = 58), 2 to 4 (group II, n = 21) and more than 4 (group III, n = 11) standard deviations above mean normal. The ratio of preelection period to LV ejection time (PEP/LVET), percent shorten of the echocardiographic Internal diameter (% Δ D) and velocity of circumferential shortening (Vcf) were used as Indexes of LV systolic performance. The frequency of abnormality, expressed as percent of patients in groups I, II and III, was 33%, 55% and 85% for PEP/LVET, 15%, 35% and 72% for % Δ D, and 0%, 15% and 55% for Vcf. For each group PEP/LVET was the most frequently abnormal measure and Vcf was the least frequent abnormality. Calculation of speak and end-systolic wall stress was used as an index of the adequacy of LV hypertrophy. This index was significantly reduced in group I, did not differ from control in group II and was significantly increased in group III, indicating that hypertrophy was appropriate to wall tension in groups I and II. It is concluded that the occurrence of LV dysfunction with increasing LV mass in patients with moderate LV hypertrophy (group I and II) reflects a deficiency in intrinsic contractile performance of the hypertrophied myocardium. With a marked increased in LV mass (group III), inadequacy in LV hypertrophy relative to wall tension may also contribute to LV dysfunction.
Effect of Sagittal Sawing Parameters on Histopathology of Bone

A sagittal saw is used for resection of bone during joint replacement surgery. During sawing, tissue at the cut surface can be damaged by high temperatures, which may lead to aseptic loosening of implants. To date, there have been no studies relating sagittal sawing parameters to the level of tissue necrosis. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of using histopathological analysis in assessing the severity of thermal necrosis due to sawing. All sawing experiments were performed on cortical bone taken from fresh bovine femur. A two factor, two level design of experiments was performed looking at applied thrust force from 15 N to 30 N and blade oscillation speed from 12,000 cpm to 18,000 cpm. Each cut was subjected to standard histological preparation and the depth of empty lacunae was measured. Both experimental factors, force and speed, showed a statistically significant effect on the depth of thermal necrosis (p< 0.05). However, the interaction of speed and force did not prove to be statistically significant (p = 0.22). From a clinical perspective, the results indicate that choosing higher blade speeds and applying greater force can reduce the amount of thermal damage during sagittal sawing.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry with a curved field reflectron.

The unique focusing properties of the curved-field reflectron provide a simple solution to the problem of compensating for the broad range of energies of product ions produced postsource in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. This has been shown previously for the technique known as postsource decay, but in this report we demonstrate its use for tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a high-performance MALDI time-of-flight instrument modified by the addition of a collision chamber to enable the recording of mass-selected product ions formed by collision-induced dissociation (CID). In particular, the curved-field reflectron enables the use of the full 20-keV kinetic energy provided by the ion source extraction voltage as the collision energy in the laboratory frame and obviates the need to reaccelerate the product ions, using a second “source” or “lift” cell. Results are presented for the collision-induced dissociation of fullerenes over a range of collision gas pressures and precursor ion attenuati...
Nonlinearity estimation for Specific Emitter Identification in multipath environment

We propose an algorithm based on the knowledge of training sequences to obtain an asymptotically unbiased estimator of the Radio Frequency (RF) front-end nonlinearity to perform Specific Emitter Identification (SEI). In most SEI literature Inter Symbol Interference (ISI) is seldom considered; however, it is a major limiting factor in SEI systems and should be suppressed to achieve reliable identification. In this paper we develop a nonlinearity estimator that can overcome ISI and provide reliable estimation. The method is shown to achieve nonlinearity estimation and radio emitter identification over an empirical indoor channel model using an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system.
Patterns and Levels of Hypoxia in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Their Relationship to Patient Outcome

Purpose EF5, a 2-nitroimidazole hypoxia marker, was used to study the presence, levels, and prognostic significance of hypoxia in primary head and neck squamous cell tumors. Methods and Materials Twenty-two patients with newly diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or larynx with at least 2 years of clinical follow-up were included in this study. Quantitative analyses of EF5 immunofluorescence was carried out, and these data were compared with patient outcome. Results EF5 immunostaining showed substantial intra- and intertumoral hypoxic heterogeneity. The majority of cells in all tumors were well oxygenated. Three patterns of EF5 binding in cells were identified using criteria based on the cellular region that was stained (peripheral or central) and the relationship of binding to necrosis. We tested the association between EF5-binding levels with event-free and overall survival irrespective of the pattern of cellular binding or treatment regimen. Patients with tumors containing EF5-binding regions corresponding to severe hypoxia (≤0.1% oxygen) had a shorter event-free survival time than patients with pO 2 values greater than 0.1% ( p = 0.032). Nodal status was also predictive for outcome. Conclusions These data illustrate the potential utility of EF5 binding based on quantitative immunohistochemistry of tissue pO 2 and provide support for the development of noninvasive hypoxia positron emission tomographic studies with fluorine 18–labeled EF5.
Effects of computer system components on the price of notebook computers

Abstract Several studies have been conducted to quantify the relationship between price and power of computer systems. Among the earliest and well known is that of Grosch, which dealt with mainframes. Recently, authors have made similar studies for desktop computers. However, some of the latest technology is in notebook computers. They are becoming more powerful, while size, weight, and prices continue to drop, and they are becoming one of the fastest growing segments of the computer market. This paper develops a model that identifies the computer characteristics that most significantly influence their price. The model can be utilized to perform price comparisons and in purchasing decisions for managers buying notebook computers.
Financial innovation and first-mover advantages

This paper uses a database of 58 financial innovations from 1974–1986 to examine how investment banks are compensated for their investments in developing new products. Investment banks that create new products do not charge higher prices in the brief period of ‘monopoly’ before imitative products appear, and in the long-run charge prices below, not above, those charged by rivals offering imitative products. However, banks capture a larger share of underwritings with innovations than with imitative products. One interpretation of the price and quantity evidence is that innovators become inframarginal rivals that enjoy lower costs of trading, underwriting, and marketing.
Transition from Shelf to Basinal Carbonates in Middle Cambrian Marjum Formation of House Range, Western Utah--Paleoenvironmental Analysis: ABSTRACT

Lithofacies of the Marjum Formation in the House Range of west-central Utah indicate that a rather abrupt transition from shallow-shelf to basinal depositional environments persisted in this locality during much of the Middle Cambrian. The beginning of Marjum deposition was marked by the accumulation of deep-water limestones and shales throughout the area, but this pattern soon was disrupted by shoaling and development of shelf conditions in the vicinity of the central and northern House Range. Supratidal to shallow subtidal carbonates formed on the shelf as deposition of slope and basinal sediments continued a few miles south for the remainder of Marjum time. Algal-laminated and pelletal dolomitic mudstones accumulated in the extensive supratidal and intertidal areas that existed on the shelf. Some stromatolitic units are evenly laminated, whereas others have laminae that are irregular and discontinuous. The pelletal mudstones exhibit fenestral fabrics and contain intraformational conglomerate lenses, commonly including clasts reworked from the stromatolitic units. Wave ripples and desiccation features associated with these lithologies are further evidence of their shoal-water origin and periodic exposure. Pelleted, intraclastic wackestones and packstones characterize the shallow subtidal environments of the shelf and shelf-slope. Interspersed with the slope sediments are units containing both algal-coated and uncoated intraclasts. The coated grains are on the upper part of the slope and were derived from the shelf edge, whereas the uncoated clasts were largely reworked from slope deposits. In addition, the coated grains have undergone little transport, but the uncoated clasts are well sorted and rounded, and are commonly graded. Fossiliferous wackestones and laminated mudstones with interbedded shales represent the deeper water toe-of-slope and basinal sediments. The fossiliferous units have been moderately bioturbated, but the finely laminated mudstones, which were deposited well below wave base, are essentially undisturbed. The presence of sponge spicules and presence of small-scale cross laminations and microscopic cut-and-fill structures are typical of these dark, thin-bedded limestones. Depositional slopes in this part of the basin are indicated by penecontemporaneous slump structures and debris lenses deposited by submarine slides. End_of_Article - Last_Page 771------------
Hemoglobin Beta Chain Structural Variation in Mice: Evolutionary and Functional Implications

The Hbbdallele at the hemoglobin beta chain locus of Mus musculus is composed of two linked genes, coding for structurally different beta chains, βdmin and βdmaj. Mus caroli has only one beta chain, which combines structural features of both βdmin and βdmaj and thus may be a Lepore type of beta chain. Sequence data suggest that selection may have been important in the evolution of the mouse beta chains.
Suprathermal ions observed upstream of the Venus bow shock

Suprathermal ions with arrival directions quite distinct from those of the solar wind have been detected upstream of the Venus bow shock. The possibility that these events could be caused by instrumental or spacecraft effects or that they could be either solar wind disturbances, planetary pickup ions, or suprethermal ions upstream of the Venus bow shock is examined. It is concluded that they are consistent with upstream suprathermal ions associated with the bow shock that are observed downstream from the points of intersection of their extrapolated trajectories with the shock.
A-Diagnosis: A Complement to Z-Diagnosis

Z-diagnosis was proposed for speeding up diagnostic fault simulation by identifying in an efficient manner fault pairs that are guaranteed to be distinguished by a fault detection test set. Z-diagnosis is based on z-sets, which capture information about the outputs to which fault effects may be propagated. We introduce a dual concept of a-diagnosis that is based on a-sets, which capture fault activation conditions. More generally, a-sets include necessary assignments for the detection of target faults. We use a -sets to speed up diagnostic fault simulation in two ways, as part of a test set independent process and as part of a test set dependent process. The test set dependent process uses only logic simulation of the test set to identify fault pairs that are guaranteed to be distinguished by the test set. We present experimental results to demonstrate the speed up in diagnostic fault simulation obtained by using a -sets in addition to z-sets.
Computable Error Estimators and Adaptive Techniques for Fluid Flow Problems

The present paper reviews several methods for a posteriori error estimation of finite element approximations. The first part (Section 1) is concerned with global error estimators which provide for estimates and bounds in global norms (so-called energy norms). In particular, explicit and implicit residual methods are described in detail. The second part of the paper (Section 2) deals with a more recent technique, in which the numerical error in finite element approximations of general problems are estimated in terms of quantities of interest. The concept of goal-oriented adaptivity which embodies mesh adaptation procedures designed to control error in specific quantities is also described. Both global and goal-oriented error estimation methods are illustrated on model problems based on the Poisson, convection-diffusion, Stokes and steady-state Navier-Stokes equations. The third part of the paper (Section 3) presents preliminary work on a posteriori error estimation for time-dependent problems, namely the parabolic heat equation and the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The methods deal with estimating the approximation errors due to the discretization in space using either explicit or implicit error estimators.
Sources of Pollutants in Wisconsin Stormwater

aod nmoff volumes estimated by tbe Source Logd and Managrmcnt ModeL Somz areas with relatively large aoormixmt loads were identifled as critical source anas for each land use. Stfee& ate aitical source artas fa mt contaminants m all the kod uses. Parking Lots are critical m the commercial and industrial land uses. Lawns and driveways cootribute krge pbosphaus loads in the midential land use. Roofs prodocc significant zinc loads m the commaciai and mdustrial land laes Ideotificatim of aitical same anas could reduce the amount of area oeeding best-rmmaga~~t practices in two of Madison, W-m. Targeting best-mmgma~t pracficts to 14% of the nsideotial ma and 40% of the industrial area could signifiitly reduce coataminant loads by up to 75%.
Comparison of optical and video see-through, head-mounted displays

One of the most promising and challenging future uses of head-mounted displays (HMDs) is in applications where virtual environments enhance rather than replace real environments. To obtain an enhanced view of the real environment, the user wears a see-through HMD to see 3D computer-generated objects superimposed on his/her real-world view. This see-through capability can be accomplished using either an optical or a video see-through HMD. We discuss the tradeoffs between optical and video see-through HMDs with respect to technological, perceptual, and human factors issues, and discuss our experience designing, building, using, and testing these HMDs.
Adrenal Weight, Adrenal Ascorbic Acid, Adrenal Cholesterol and Differential Leucocyte Counts as Physiological Indicators of “Stressor” Agents in Laying Hens

Abstract IT IS thought that the adrenal cortex assumes an important role in an animal’s ability to overcome environmental influences. Therefore, assays capable of indicating adrenal cortical function following changes in management, feed, lighting schedules and weather, among other factors, would possibly be a step toward the elimination of production decreases. Research with rats and guinea pigs (reviewed by Sayers, 1950) has shown that depletion of adrenal ascorbic acid, cholesterol and lipid contents occurs following an injection of pituitary adrenotropic hormone and following stressful conditions such as excessive muscular work or a non-fatal hemorrhage. Reports involving “stressor” agents and their influence on the avian adrenal have been more inconsistent than the reported influence on the mammalian adrenal. Howard and Constable (1958) and Siegel and Beane (1961) produced adrenal cholesterol depletion in chickens following ACTH injection; however, Elton et al. (1959) reported that adrenal cholesterol remained unchanged following ACTH and cold (0–5 …
Effects of phorbol ester on contraction, intracellular pH and intracellular Ca2+ in isolated mammalian ventricular myocytes.

1. We have investigated the actions of certain phorbol esters on the intracellular pH, intracellular Ca2+ and contractility of isolated rat and guinea-pig cardiac myocytes. Intracellular pH was measured using 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) and intracellular Ca2+ was measured using Fura-2. 2. Application of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (also called phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) (TPA) (which activates protein kinase C) to rat cardiac myocytes significantly increased cell shortening by 116 +/- 34% (n = 8) (p less than 0.02). The rate of change of cell length during contraction (i.e. +dL/dt) increased from 67.2 +/- 8.7 microns/s to 127.7 +/- 14.1 microns/s (n = 7). The rate of change of cell length during relaxation (-dL/dt) increased from 55.8 +/- 7.4 microns/s to 118.9 +/- 12.1 microns/s (n = 7). Time to peak shortening was unchanged. 3. Application of 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, which does not activate protein kinase C, did not affect rat myocyte contractility. An insignificant decrease in contractility (by 7.5 +/- 7.5%) was observed (n = 5). The positive inotropic effect of TPA may therefore be evoked through an activation of protein kinase C. 4. In rat myocytes we have measured the changes of pHi and contractility (cell shortening) during an alkalosis and acidosis induced by exposure to and subsequent removal of NH4Cl both in the presence and absence of TPA. Recovery times from an acid load were significantly (p less than 0.05) enhanced by 15.1 +/- 6.9% (n = 13) in the presence of TPA. Recovery times of cell shortening were also more rapid (p less than 0.05) by an average of 59.1 +/- 10.6% (n = 5) in the presence of TPA. Recovery times were unchanged in the presence of 4-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (which does not activate protein kinase C). 5. Since pHi recovery of an isolated myocyte from an acid load is partially inhibited by the presence of 1 mM-amiloride and inhibited by removing extracellular Na+ then it is suggested that, like pHi regulation in sheep heart Purkinje fibres, pHi recovery in rat cardiac ventricular myocytes is mainly through sarcolemmal Na(+)-H+ exchange. We suggest that in the presence of TPA the Na(+)-H+ exchange is stimulated. 6. The relationship between pHi and cell shortening is non-linear as has been observed by others in whole tissue preparations. The presence of TPA shifts the relationship upwards such that at any one pHi, cell shortening is greater.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)