cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alkyl telluraalkanoates CnH2n+1Te(CH2)mCOOR (R = CH3, C2H5 OR H)

Abstract Methyl telluraalkanoates, CnH2n+1Te(CH2)mCOOR (n, m: 4, 7; 6, 4; 6, 7; 6, 9; 7, 4; 8, 7; 11, 2; 11, 5; 18, 11) were synthesized in yields ranging from 33 to 82 percent based on the quantities of the methyl ω-bromoalkanoates substrates. Disodium ditelluride was obtained from tellurium and sodium in ethylenediamine and was treated with alkyl bromides to give dialkyl ditellurides. The crude ditellurides were reduced with NaBH4 to the alkane tellurolates which were coupled with methyl ω-bromoalkanoates to give the methyl telluraalkanoates. Ethyl 4-tellurapentadecanoate was prepared similarly from ethyl 3-bromopropanoate. The telluraalkanoates were characterized by elemental analyses, mass spectrometry, NMR spectrometry, and UV and IR spectrophotometry. Telluraalkanoates radiolabeled with 123mTe or other radioisotopes have been reported elsewhere to be preferentially taken up by the heart and promise to be useful as myocardial imaging agents.
An embedded module for robotized inspection of power lines by using thermographic and visual images

This paper deals with an embedded module for automation of thermographic inspection. The module captures video streams from an infrared camera and from a visible image camera and performs an image processing to detect faults. The protocols used to capture the image streams and the image processing are discussed. The results, with the faults highlighted, are sent through an synthetic image stream to a supervision station.
Insights from Linear Predictions of Aircraft Response to Damaged Airfields

This paper examines the dynamic response of a simplified mathematical model of an aircraft that taxies over two arbitrary disturbances. It produces the idea of the bump multiplier that determines explicitly whether the second discrete disturbance will amplify or attenuate the response from the first disturbance. While the assumptions are very severe, the results can be useful to gain physical insight, to guide more elaborate nonlinear calculations, and to plan test programs. HE problem of aircraft dynamic response to taxiing over rough surfaces has been a subject of analysis and test for many years. For the most part, the work has been limited to predicting and/or measuring the dynamic response of an aircraft due to the (nearly) random roughness of the terrain or by wear and tear on runways and taxiways. Within the last several years, however, concerns have arisen within the de- fense agencies of the NATO countries about the safety of aircraft operations over the discrete disturbances which can arise from bomb-damaged and repaired runways. As a result of those concerns the U.S. Air Force instituted Program HAVE BOUNCE1'2 that performs flight (taxi) tests over simulated, relatively mild runway damage and repairs for several USAF combat and transport aircraft. HAVE BOUNCE also develops computer programs3 to predict the dynamic response to the simulated runway profiles. Other NATO na- tions are performing similar test and analysis programs on their aircraft. HAVE BOUNCE considers the computer programs to be validated when they produce satisfactory comparisons with the experimental results from flight (taxi) tests under relatively mild conditions. Then HAVE BOUNCE uses the validated computer programs to extrapolate from the test conditions to more severe operational cases. Because the taxi test programs have proven to be very expensive and difficult to repeat exactly, the USAF also created the Aircraft Ground-Induced Loads Excitation (AGILE)4 facility that measures the dynamic response of operational aircraft to damaged and repaired runways within the controlled conditions of the laboratory. AGILE supports an operational aircraft on its tires on massive hydraulic shakers and drives the shakers vertically to represent the vertical events of the aircraft taxiing over damaged and repaired runways. Each of the three integrated shakers can sustain a static weight of 50,000 Ib, displace amplitudes of 10 in., impose dynamic forces up to 50,000 Ib, and be driven sinusoidally (frequencies up to 25 Hz), randomly, or to follow prescribed discrete motions. At present, AGILE is limited to providing solely vertical dynamic forces to the aircraft (no lateral or drag forces or rotating wheels). In its first major test, agree- ment between the AGILE tests and HAVE BOUNCE taxi tests for an operational A-7D aircraft was excellent.
Mechanics of blast loading on the head models in the study of traumatic brain injury using experimental and computational approaches

Blast waves generated by improvised explosive devices can cause mild, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury in soldiers and civilians. To understand the interactions of blast waves on the head and brain and to identify the mechanisms of injury, compression-driven air shock tubes are extensively used in laboratory settings to simulate the field conditions. The overall goal of this effort is to understand the mechanics of blast wave-head interactions as the blast wave traverses the head/brain continuum. Toward this goal, surrogate head model is subjected to well-controlled blast wave profile in the shock tube environment, and the results are analyzed using combined experimental and numerical approaches. The validated numerical models are then used to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of stresses and pressure in the human skull and brain. By detailing the results from a series of careful experiments and numerical simulations, this paper demonstrates that: (1) Geometry of the head governs the flow dynamics around the head which in turn determines the net mechanical load on the head. (2) Biomechanical loading of the brain is governed by direct wave transmission, structural deformations, and wave reflections from tissue-material interfaces. (3) Deformation and stress analysis of the skull and brain show that skull flexure and tissue cavitation are possible mechanisms of blast-induced traumatic brain injury.
The Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion in a Patient With Whipple's Disease

We report the case of a patient with central nervous system Whipple's disease who developed the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). The patient did not exhibit any gastrointestinal symptoms and initially was diagnosed based on neurologic findings and a duodenal biopsy that was positive for Tropheryma whippelii by the polymerase chain reaction. Radiologic involvement of the hypothalamus suggested Whipple's disease as the likely etiology of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. With antimicrobial therapy, the patient's serum sodium level and symptoms showed improvement.
Epitaxial Growth of Thin Ge Films on [001] Gaas by Laser Photochemical Vapor Deposition from GeH4

Epitaxial Ge films have been grown on [001] GaAs for substrate temperatures (Ts) as low as 285°C by photodissociating GeH4 at 193 nm in parallel geometry. For a laser fluence of ~15 mJ - cm-2, the film growth rate varies from 0.6 to ~5 nm - min-1, depending upon Ts and gas pressure. Plan and cross-sectional TEM studies of the Ge/GaAs bicrystal demonstrate that the 400–700 A thick Ge films are single crystal and epitaxial with the substrate. The present limitation on epitaxial film thickness appears to be imposed by reduced adatom mobility at the temperatures investigated.
Genetic and morphological study of aggregation in the cellular slime mold Polysphondylium violaceum.

ABSTRACT A system for genetic analysis in the cellular slime mold P. violaceum has been developed. Two growth-temperature-sensitive mutants were isolated in a haploid strain and used to select rare diploid heterozygotes arising by spontaneous fusion of the haploid cells. A recessive mutations to cycloheximide resistance in one strain enables selection of segregants, which often appear to be aneuploid.—Aggregation-defective (ag-) mutants having a wide range of phenotypes were isolated in both temperature-sensitive strains after nitrosoguanidine treatment, and complementation tests were performed between pairs of these mutants. Of 380 diploids isolated, 32 showed defective aggregation and were considered to contain 2 noncomplementing ag-mutations. Among noncomplementing mutants interallelic complementation is common. Noncomplementing mutants fall into 4 complementation groups, and those within each complementation group are phenotypically similar. Statistical analysis of the results suggests that the number of complementation units involved in aggregation is about 50.
Deployment of multi-robot systems under the nonholonomic constraint

This paper introduces a novel distributed algorithm for deploying multi-robot systems, consisting of mobile robots with limited onboard sensing and wireless communication ranges, to approach the desired sensory coverage over targeted environments while maintaining communication connections. A virtual potential energy is defined for each mobile robot according to the difference between the actual and desired configurations in the neighborhood of the robot, which generates the actuating force to move the robot towards the desired local coverage. The Rayleighpsilas dissipation function is adopted to provide the necessary damping mechanism which maintains the stability of the deployment motion for each robot. The equation of deployment motion for each mobile robot is then derived from the Hamiltonpsilas principle using the method of the variational calculus, which efficiently incorporates the nonholonomic constraint arising in wheeled robots. The proposed algorithm decentralizes the multi-robot deployment problem into the motion control of individual robots. Simulation results show the feasibility of the proposed approach in guiding multi-robot deployment.
Optofluidic device for ultra-sensitive detection of proteins using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

An optofluidic device is reported in this paper that can highly improve the robustness of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection and provide fingerprint information of proteins with a concentration in the nanogram per liter range within minutes. Moreover, the conformational change of protein can also be obtained using this device. Fabricated by standard photolithography processes, the optofluidic device has a step microfluidic–nanofluidic structure, which provides robust SERS detection. The sensitivity of the device is investigated using insulin and albumin as target analytes at a concentration of 0.9 ng/L. The ability to detect conformational changes of proteins using this technology is also shown by probing these analytes before and after their denaturation.
Behavioral and Psychological Differences Among Abused Women Who Use Violence in Intimate Relationships

This article examines behavioral and psychological differences among women who used violence in four types of relationships. Nearly all of the women experienced physical abuse from their male partners. Types were compared on the extent of childhood abuse experienced, use of avoidance coping, anger, motivations for using violence, injuries, psychological symptoms, and alcohol use. Women in the Victim type (the partner used more physical violence and coercion against her than she against him) and the Abused Aggressor type (the woman used more violence and coercion against the partner than he against her) had the poorest behavioral and psychological indices. Women in Mixed-Female Coercive relationships (the woman’s use as of coercion was equivalent to or greater than her partner, but the partner used as much or more violence) had the fewest difficulties. Scores for women in Mixed-Male Coercive relationships (the partner was more coercive than the woman, but the woman’s use of violence was equivalent to or gr...
Circadian Variation in the Timing of Stroke Onset A Meta-analysis

Background and Purpose—Acute myocardial infarction and sudden death display a circadian rhythm, with a higher risk between 6 am and noon. Some reports suggest that stroke does not follow such a circadian variation and that hemorrhagic stroke occurs more often during the evening. Methods—A meta-analysis of 31 publications reporting the circadian timing of 11 816 strokes was performed, subdividing (when possible) by the type of stroke, according to the time of onset of symptoms. When precise timing was not given, strokes were distributed evenly (that is, biasing toward the null hypothesis of lack of circadian variation). Results—All subtypes of strokes displayed a significant (P<0.001) circadian variation in time of onset, whether divided into 3-, 4-, or 6-hour time periods. There was a 49% increase (95% confidence interval, 44% to 55%) in stroke of all types between 6 am and noon (compared with expectations if no circadian variation was present), which is a 79% (95% confidence interval, 72% to 87%) increas...
Anwendungen der kernmagnetischen Resonanzspektroskopie in der organischen Chemie

Die Anwendung physikalischer Methoden hat im Lauf der letzten Jahre die Arbeitsweise des organischen Chemikers weitgehend verandert. In diesem Zusammenhang ist besonders die kernmagnetische Resonanzspektroskopie zu nennen. Es gibt so viele Veroffentlichungen, die sich mit ihrer Anwendung auf Probleme der organischen Chemie befassen, das in einer kurzen Ubersicht nur wenige typische Beispiele beschrieben werden konnen. Nach einer allgemeinen Einleitung werden einige besonders interessante Fragen der Struktur und Dynamik organischer Verbindungen diskutiert, die mit Untersuchungen in den Laboratorien des Autors zusammenhangen.
Tomographic imaging with a miniature gamma camera

The feasibility of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using a prototype miniature gamma camera has been investigated. The camera consists of a sodium iodide (NaI(Tl)) crystal coupled to a single position-sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT) and uses a maximum-likelihood algorithm to determine position estimates. The prototype system has been used to obtain projection data from a phantom, filled with technetium-99m (Tc-99m), that simulates a human forearm. Tomographic images were reconstructed via filtered backprojection. Images were also reconstructed from subsets of the projection data to examine the effects of limited-projection and limited-angle tomography. Using all projection data, objects as small as 2 mm are resolved. Larger objects are easily seen, even when the images are reconstructed from as few as 45 projections. In limited-angle reconstructions, large objects are also easily visualized, although artifacts exist. The authors' results indicate that the prototype camera can be adapted for tomographic imaging. >
In Vitro Activity of Calcineurin and Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibitors against Aspergillus fumigatus Azole- and Echinocandin-Resistant Strains

ABSTRACT Due to the limited number of antifungals and the emergence of resistance, new therapies against invasive aspergillosis are needed. We show that calcineurin inhibitors are active in vitro against both azole- and echinocandin-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus strains. The heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor geldanamycin had modest activity when used alone, but its combination with caspofungin or tacrolimus (FK506) resulted in fungicidal activity against azole-resistant strains. Targeting the Hsp90-calcineurin axis is a promising alternative strategy against azole-resistant A. fumigatus strains.
Utility of transesophageal echocardiography for transcatheter occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus in dogs: influence on the decision-making process.

Background: Appropriate device selection for transcatheter occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is essential to procedural success. Objectives: To determine if transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) influences device selection for PDA occlusion and to report benefits, limitations, and complications associated with TEE. Animals: Twenty-two client-owned dogs with left-to-right shunting PDA. Methods: PDA dimensions were obtained via transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and then TEE followed by angiography. Based solely on information from TTE and angiography, an initial device type and size were selected. After initial device selection, TEE measurements were disclosed and changes in device selection were recorded. After device release, angiography, TEE, or both were performed to assess occlusion. Results: An Amplatz canine duct occluder (ACDO) was securely positioned and released in 21 dogs and an embolization coil was deployed in 1 dog. Based on TEE evaluation, initial selected device type was unchanged but ACDO size was changed in 3 dogs. TEE was utilized throughout the procedure allowing real time visualization of device deployment, release and assessment of closure in 17 dogs. No complications occurred related to TEE. Complete PDA closure was achieved in all dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: TEE provided anatomic information regarding PDA morphology that closely approximated angiographic ductal dimensions while aiding in device deployment, release and confirmation of closure. We conclude that TEE provides complementary anatomical and intraprocedural information and is well tolerated in dogs.
Regulatory T Cells: New Keys for Further Unlocking the Enigma of Fetal Tolerance and Pregnancy Complications

The immunological alterations required for successful pregnancy in eutherian placental mammals have remained a scientific enigma since the discovery of MHC haplotype diversity and unique immune signatures among individuals. Within the past 10 years, accumulating data suggest that immune-suppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) confer essential protective benefits in sustaining tolerance to the semiallogeneic fetus during pregnancy, along with their more established roles in maintaining tolerance to self and “extended self” commensal Ags that averts autoimmunity. Reciprocally, many human pregnancy complications stemming from inadequacies in fetal tolerance have been associated with defects in maternal Tregs. Thus, further elucidating the immunological shifts during pregnancy not only have direct translational implications for improving perinatal health, they have enormous potential for unveiling new clues about how Tregs work in other biological contexts. In this article, epidemiological data in human pregnancy and complementary animal studies implicating a pivotal protective role for maternal Tregs are summarized.
Complex partial seizures of frontal lobe origin

Complex partial seizures of medial or orbital frontal origin were documented in 10 of 90 patients with intractable epilepsy who were studied with depth electrodes. The clinical features that, in part, served to distinguish these seizures from complex partial seizures originating elsewhere included brief, frequent attacks, complex motor automatisms with kicking and thrashing, sexual automatisms, vocalization, and frequent development of complex partial status epilepticus. The constellation of clinical characteristics was often bizarre, leading to the erroneous diagnosis of hysteria. Stereotyped attack patterns helped establish the diagnosis of epilepsy. Interictal and ictal scalp electroencephalograms were often not helpful and were sometimes misleading.
Efficient light scattering modeling for alignment, metrology, and resist exposure in photolithography

In previous work, a two-dimensional waveguide model has been developed and examined extensively so that rigorous light scattering calculations for photolithography-related processes, such as stepper alignment, linewidth and overlay measurements, and resist bleaching, can be performed. The computation, however, is expensive if the wafer topography involved is complicated or if resist bleaching problems are involved. Numerical techniques that reduce CPU usage by approximately an order of magnitude are reported. These techniques make the waveguide model more practical to use. Typically, for each polarization state, it takes 10 to 200 s to simulate a static case (e.g. linewidth measurement), and it is projected that it will take 7 to 70 min to simulate a dynamic case (e.g. resist bleaching under 13 incoherent illumination point sources and ten exposure steps) on a high-speed workstation such as an IBM RISC/6000 Model 530. >
Altered cerebellar-cerebral functional connectivity in geriatric depression.

Although volumetric and activation changes in the cerebellum have frequently been reported in studies on major depression, its role in the neural mechanism of depression remains unclear. To understand how the cerebellum may relate to affective and cognitive dysfunction in depression, we investigated the resting-state functional connectivity between cerebellar regions and the cerebral cortex in samples of patients with geriatric depression (n = 11) and healthy controls (n = 18). Seed-based connectivity analyses were conducted using seeds from cerebellum regions previously identified as being involved in the executive, default-mode, affective-limbic, and motor networks. The results revealed that, compared with controls, individuals with depression show reduced functional connectivity between several cerebellum seed regions, specifically those in the executive and affective-limbic networks with the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and increased functional connectivity between the motor-related cerebellum seed regions with the putamen and motor cortex. We further investigated whether the altered functional connectivity in depressed patients was associated with cognitive function and severity of depression. A positive correlation was found between the Crus II–vmPFC connectivity and performance on the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised delayed memory recall. Additionally, the vermis–posterior cinglate cortex (PCC) connectivity was positively correlated with depression severity. Our results suggest that cerebellum–vmPFC coupling may be related to cognitive function whereas cerebellum–PCC coupling may be related to emotion processing in geriatric depression.
Preparation of single crystals of transferrin

Abstract A convenient and reproducible method for the crystallization of transferrin utilizing a collodion membrane ultrafiltration apparatus is presented. The method yields crystals that may be frozen for low-temperature studies without significant loss of crystallinity. Some of the physical properties of the crystallized transferrin are presented.
Behavioral Responses of Laying Hens to Different Alfalfa-Layer Ration Combinations Fed During Molting

Induced molting by feed withdrawal has been a common practice in the commercial layer industry and usually involves the removal of feed for a period of up to 14 d. However, this is a practice that is believed to adversely influence the welfare of the hens and there is a need to examine behavioral responses to alternative molt regimens. The behavioral patterns of hens on 90% alfalfa:10% layer ration, 80% alfalfa:20% layer ration, and 70% alfalfa:30% layer ration molt diets were compared with feed withdrawal (FW) hens, and fully fed (FF) hens. The White Leghorn laying hens were approximately 54 wk old and were placed in 3 identical climate-controlled rooms. The hens were individually housed in 2-tier wire battery cages and provided treatment rations and water ad libitum. Nonnutritive pecking, walking, drinking, feeder activity, preening, aggression, and head movement were quantified during two 10-min periods each day for 6 hens from each treatment. Over the 9-d treatment period, hens in the FW, 70% alfalfa:30% layer ration, and 80% alfalfa:20% layer ration groups spent significantly more time walking than hens in the 90% alfalfa:10% layer ration group. The FF and 70% alfalfa:30% layer ration hens spent half as much time preening, whereas the FW hens displayed nearly twice as much nonnutritive pecking when compared with other treatments. Most differences in head movements occurred at the beginning of the molt period, whereas during the last half of molt, alfalfa-fed hens exhibited feeder activity similar to FF hens, and all were significantly higher than that of FW hens. After some initial adjustment by the hens, consumption of alfalfa molt diets appeared to reduce nonnutritive pecking behavior, which is characteristically associated with FW hens.
Selective protein transport: Identity of the solubilized phosvitin receptor from chicken oocytes

By two independent methods, the solubilized receptor for phosvitin (PV) has a subunit MW of 116K. Affinity chromatography, showed that only 2 of the more than 25 proteins present in the total detergent solubilized oocyte membrane extract were retained on a PV-agarose column. These proteins of MW of 116K and 100K could be eluted from PV-agarose with free PV. By gel exclusion chromatography, the receptor-125I-PV complexes elute in the void volume of a Biogel A-1.5 column. When these void fractions were assayed gy SDS-PAGE only a single protein of MW of 116K was observed in addition to 125I-PV.
Base excision repair of oxidative DNA damage coupled with removal of a CAG repeat hairpin attenuates trinucleotide repeat expansion

Trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion is responsible for numerous human neurodegenerative diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Recent studies have shown that DNA base excision repair (BER) can mediate TNR expansion and deletion by removing base lesions in different locations of a TNR tract, indicating that BER can promote or prevent TNR expansion in a damage location–dependent manner. In this study, we provide the first evidence that the repair of a DNA base lesion located in the loop region of a CAG repeat hairpin can remove the hairpin, attenuating repeat expansion. We found that an 8-oxoguanine located in the loop region of CAG hairpins of varying sizes was removed by OGG1 leaving an abasic site that was subsequently 5′-incised by AP endonuclease 1, introducing a single-strand breakage in the hairpin loop. This converted the hairpin into a double-flap intermediate with a 5′- and 3′-flap that was cleaved by flap endonuclease 1 and a 3′-5′ endonuclease Mus81/Eme1, resulting in complete or partial removal of the CAG hairpin. This further resulted in prevention and attenuation of repeat expansion. Our results demonstrate that TNR expansion can be prevented via BER in hairpin loops that is coupled with the removal of TNR hairpins.
Update on the HACEK Group of Fastidious Gram-Negative Bacilli, Part II

Abstract The HACEK group of bacteria— Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Aggregatibacter species ( Aggregatibacter aphrophilus, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans , and Aggregatibacter segnis ), Cardiobacterium species ( Cardiobacterium hominis and Cardiobacterium valvarum ), Eikenella corrodens , and Kingella species—are fastidious gram-negative bacilli that are found in the human upper respiratory and genitourinary tracts. The HACEK bacteria are particularly associated with bacteremia and endocarditis, along with a variety of other infectious processes. This article describes the taxonomic status of the HACEK group, the types of infections and clinical specimens that may yield such organisms on culture, the phenotypic characteristics that are useful for species identification, and the susceptibility of these organisms to antimicrobial agents used for the treatment of HACEK group infections. Part I of this article addressed the clinical significance of the HACEK group and specifically addressed Haemophilus, Aggregatibacter , and Cardiobacterium . In Part II of this article, Eikenella, Suttonella , and Kingella are discussed as will the susceptibility patterns for all of these organisms.
Aspects of the host response to varicella-zoster virus A review of recent observations

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a human herpesvirus that causes varicella (chickenpox) in susceptible individuals, establishes latent infection in sensory ganglia, and reactivates as herpes zoster (shingles). While varicella is usually uncomplicated in children, it causes significant morbidity and can be life-threatening in healthy adolescents and adults. Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is the most important host response in the modification of severe primary VZV infection and in maintaining protection against reactivation of the latent virus as herpes zoster. Healthy children with mild varicella have circulating T lymphocytes that recognize VZV antigens within 72 hours after the appearance of the initial cutaneous lesions. Recent studies [1] in our laboratory have examined the specific viral proteins recognized by T lymphocytes taken from healthy individuals with natural immunity or with immunity induced by immunization with the live attenuated varicella vaccine (Oka/Merck strain). Natural VZV infection as well as inoculation of live attenuated varicella vaccine (Oka/Merck strain) elicits T lymphocytes that recognize VZV glycoproteins gp1, gp2, gp3, gp4, and gp5 and the immediate-early/tegument protein that is the product of gene 62 (IE62). These responses can be demonstrated using immunoaffinity-purified VZV proteins to stimulate peripheral blood T cells in vitro. Proliferation or cytotoxicity assays performed under limiting dilution conditions to estimate responder-cell frequencies …
Dealing with danger: a fuzzy approach

Danger is an inherently fuzzy concept. To identify dangerous situations, and be able to act accordingly, we also have to take into account the fuzzy nature of the measurement of their properties, especially their probability. We formalize here the concept of danger, and discuss some of the difficulties of making high-stakes decisions under fuzziness.
Reward Design via Online Gradient Ascent

Recent work has demonstrated that when artificial agents are limited in their ability to achieve their goals, the agent designer can benefit by making the agent's goals different from the designer's. This gives rise to the optimization problem of designing the artificial agent's goals—in the RL framework, designing the agent's reward function. Existing attempts at solving this optimal reward problem do not leverage experience gained online during the agent's lifetime nor do they take advantage of knowledge about the agent's structure. In this work, we develop a gradient ascent approach with formal convergence guarantees for approximately solving the optimal reward problem online during an agent's lifetime. We show that our method generalizes a standard policy gradient approach, and we demonstrate its ability to improve reward functions in agents with various forms of limitations.
Design of a Delay-Based Routing Protocol for Multi-Rate Multi-Hop Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

The temporal fluctuations in quality exhibited by the wireless links act as a major challenge in the design of efficient routing protocols in real-world Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs). None of the existing link metrics fully account for the characteristics of data loss and delay on the links of a MANET. This paper provides the design of a novel delay-based link quality metric that uses real-time statistics from the wireless driver to take into account wireless contention, congestion, channel loss and mobility. The proposed delay metric is additive, does not introduce much additional overhead and is reflective of the varying wireless link quality. We design an efficient Link Delay-aware Routing (LDAR) protocol based on the proposed link metric. The proposed protocol has been implemented on a MANET test bed consisting of 5 laptop nodes. The evaluation of our protocol performed through extensive experimentation on the 5-node multi-hop MANET testbed and network simulator NS-2 demonstrate the superior benefits of the new protocol.
The efficacy of pentoxifylline/tocopherol combination in the treatment of osteoradionecrosis.

Background Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is an unfortunate complication of radiation therapy to the head and neck. Treatment has historically centered around hyperbaric oxygen therapy and surgical removal of necrotic bone. Recently, a new theory on the pathogenesis of ORN has proposed treatment with pentoxifylline (PTX) and tocopherol/vitamin E. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of pentoxifylline and tocopherol in the management of patients with ORN. Methods The hospital dentistry group managed 13 patients that presented to our service with exposed bone after cancercidal doses of radiation to the head and neck. The patients were prescribed PTX 400 mg bid and tocopherol 1,000 IU QD. Results Eleven of the 13 patients exhibited improvement and resolution. No adverse events were noted during treatment. Conclusion This medical modality of treating ORN appears safe and effective, inducing bone and mucosal healing.
Concepts and Requirements for ITER X-Ray Diagnostics

X-ray diagnostics are used on present-day tokamaks to measure a variety of plasma parameters. 1,2 Some x-ray diagnostics are not directly adaptable to ITER because of the high sensitivity of the detectors to noise and damage induced by the radiation background from fusion neutrons.3,4 Those diagnostics which use compact, highly efficient solid-state detectors are particularly vulnerable. This work addresses mainly the issues involved in adapting a subset of the existing x-ray instrumentation to ITER, mainly by use of additional x-ray optics to deflect the x-ray beam out of the path of the neutron beam. 5,6,7 The topics discussed will be the required x-ray intensities and energy ranges, the necessary reduction in radiation background, and the x-ray optics and geometries best suited to accomplishing these requirements. Preliminary work on this subject appears in Refs. 5–7. We will be focusing on the x-ray energy range around 5 – 40 keV, and somewhat higher in some cases. The main diagnostics discussed are the XIS (X-Ray Imaging System) or SX arrays, the broad-band PHA (Pulse-Height-Analyzer) continuum and line measurement spectrometer, and the high energy resolution XCS (X-ray Crystal Spectrometer). 2 Other diagnostics suitable for ITER have been discussed by Barnsley. 8,9
Tools for developing a workplace violence prevention program.

This chapter details the efforts of a labor education program to develop a guidebook to provide unions and joint labor-management groups with tools that can be used to assess the risk of violence. The guidebook's hazard assessment checklist and policy checklist are reprinted at the end of the chapter. Language: en
Fission products: Retention and elimination of the parent-daughter radionuclide pair Ruthenium-103-Rhodium-103m by rats

Abstract The retention patterns of 103 Ru- 103m Rh in the rat were studied by whole-body counting techniques. The biological half-time for 103 Ru- 103m Rh in the rat was found to be 4.3 days. The animals lost 50% of the original radioactivity in about 3.6 days. The concentrations of 103 Ru- 103m Rh in tissues at the end of the fourth day (i.e., at the end of about one biological half-time) are reported. The tissues can be arranged in the following order according to the concentrations of 103 Ru- 103m Rh found in them: kidney > liver > bone > muscle. The effective physical half-life (37 days) of 103 Ru- 103m Rh accumulated in kidney, bone, and muscle is equal to that of 103 Ru- 103m Rh in the administered dose. The effective physical half-life of the radionuclides in the liver is 38 days. The major route for the elimination of 103 Ru- 103m Rh in the rat is urinary excretion. About 26–28% of the dose is eliminated in the urine during the first 24 hours. The ratio of 106 Ru: 103 Ru in the urine collected during 1–4 days is higher than that in the administered dose, indicating that the kidney may differentiate between 103 Ru and 106 Ru.
Characterization of KNbO3 Thin Films Deposited by Ion Beam Sputtering using a Computer-Controlled Rotating Target Holder

KNbO3 is a strong candidate as a material for use as channel waveguides due to a high electrooptic figure of merit. High quality single crystals are difficult to obtain due to incongruent melting of the compound. Control of cation concentration and oxygen incorporation are problems encountered in current thin film processing routes. In order to overcome the problems discussed above, an ion beam deposition system featuring a computer-controlled rotatable target holder and quartz crystal resonator (QCR) feedback loop has been developed. Multicomponent films are produced via sputtering from elemental or compound targets sequentially exposed to an ion beam. Initial results are presented on the use of this new technique for the deposition of KNbO3. Pressed KNbO3, Nb2O5, and KO2 powders were used as sputtering targets. By varying the programmed thickness of deposited film from each target being sputtered, the ratio of K:Nb could be reproducibly controlled. The variation in sticking coefficients due to substrate temperature was also compensated for in this manner. Thin films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and TEM to determine phases present and film microstructure. Film morphology and composition has been studied as a function of substrate temperature, layer thickness, and ion beam process parameters. The relation between deposition parameters and film characteristics are discussed.
Utilization of Algal Monocultures by Larvae of Scatella stagnalis

The ability of larvae of Scatella stagnalis Fallen, a widely distributed species of Ephydridae, to utilize monocultures of 17 species of algae belonging to the classes Bacillariophyceae (diatoms), Chlorophyceae (green algae), Xanthophyceae (yellow-green algae), Cyanophyceae (blue-green algae), and Euglenophyceae (euglenoids) was determined. Thirteen of the 17 algal monocultures allowed larvae to attain the adult stage. Only species of Ankistrodesmus (Chlorophyceae), Melosira and Asterionella (Bacillariophyceae), and Cylindrospermum (Cyanophyceae) were completely unsuitable as larval food. However, even among the 13 algal species that were satisfactory foods, there were distinct differences in the egg to adult developmental time. The shortest avg developmental time (12.1 days) was obtained on the diatom Navicula pellieulosa (Brebisson) Hilse; the longest (23.0), on the blue-green alga Nostoe muscorum Agardh. The results indicate that S. stagnalis is a trophic generalist, a fact that explains in part its occurrence in a great variety of wetland habitats.
Seromucoid and albumin syntheses after uninephrectomy and partial hepatectomy in the rat.

SummaryAfter UNX, seromucoid synthesis represents an increasing proportion of total plasma protein synthesis. The increase reaches a sharp peak at 48 hr and rapidly diminishes. This pattern is distinct from those produced by either simple laparotomy or PHX. The seromucoid response is apparently not related to the renal hyperplastic response but is more likely a direct result of the UNX itself. After SO or PHX, relative albumin label drops. This is not observed for the first day after UNX. This may be the result of a transient increase in albumin synthesis. When UNX and PHX are done in the same animal, there is some inhibition of the respective hyperplasias but no interference with the expected restoration of lost tissue.This work was supported, in part, by the Susan B. Thomas Memorial Fund.
Charles Lennox Wyke and the Clayton-Bulwer Formula in Central America, 1852-1860

People here don't care two straws about Central America, or Mosquitia or the Bay Islands or the Honduras boundary,” complained British Foreign Secretary Lord Clarendon to Prime Minister Lord Palmerston in December 1857, “all they wish for is freedom of interoceanic communication and this they believe can be achieved without a quarrel with the U.S.” Clarendon's bitter remark reflected his government's enduring frustration in arranging British holdings in Central America in accord with the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty of 1850. That diplomatic landmark was to have commenced an unprecedented era of Anglo-American cooperation in Central America that would finally fulfill the ancient dream of rapid interoceanic transit through the isthmus. The treaty prohibited colonization or fortification of Central America by either side and provided Anglo-American protection for a U.S. company's canalbuilding venture in Nicaragua. But the unfortunate document had yet to bring about the desired ends. No canal had materialized and the “Central American Question” would not go away. In vain the British government had tried to extricate itself from its embarassingly forward position in Central America. In the meantime, a wave of U.S. filibusters, urged on by the bold words and permissive attitude of their government, threatened to trample underfoot the treaty's prohibitions against foreign colonization. By the end of 1857, the Clayton-Bulwer treaty was in imminent danger of U.S. abrogation, and Palmerston and his cabinet had nearly despaired of ever exiting the isthmian quagmire with British honor intact, without at the same time opening the gates for the “most disageeable” Yankees.
An Approach for Compressive Sampling and Reconstruction of Transient and Short-Time Power Quality Disturbance Signals

Traditional methods for acquisition and compression of power quality signals are faced with such troubles as high sampling rate,waste of sampling resources and high attainable cost for hardware.To solve these problems,based on compressive sensing theory a method for compressive sampling and reconstruction of transient and short-time power quality disturbance signals is proposed for the first time.In the proposed method one-dimensional power quality signals are mapped to two-dimensional signals,and according to the principle of image sparse representation original signals are reconstructed by sampled random projection values and the sampled data to be used in this way is reduced by more than 60% than those used in Nyquist sampling,thus the compressive sampling,the selection of sparse basis in data space and the signal reconstruction based on total variation conjugate gradient minimization method are implemented.Simulation analysis and experimental verification of the proposed method are performed by the most common single disturbances and measured signals of calibration source containing multiple disturbances,simulation and verification results show that when sampling rate of the proposed method is lower than 73% of that for Nyquist sampling,except transient impulse signals the S/N ratios of the reconstructed signals of single disturbances are greater than 35dB,the S/N ratios of the reconstructed signals of multiple disturbances are greater than 22dB,thus the requirement of power quality analysis can be met.
Analysis of outbreaks of hand-foot-mouth disease in Shenbei New District of Shenyang City in 2011

[Objective]To identify the characteristics of hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD) outbreaks and provide evidence for prevention and control in the future.[Methods]Descriptive epidemiology was adopted to analyze epidemiological characteristics of the outbreaks of HFMD in Shenbei New District of Shenyang City in 2011.[Results] A total of 619 cases of HFMD in outbreaks were reported,with attack rate of 16.36‰.Most of the cases were mild,with 9 severe cases and 1 death case.According to pathogen surveillance,the epidemic strain was EV71 virus.Most cases were nursery children at the age of 5 years or younger and scattered children.[Conclusion]Children at the age of 5 or younger are high-risk group of HFMD.It distributes in all parts of this district,with more cases reported in urban area than in rural area and more males than females.
Studies on ZTC1+1 Natural Clarify Agents Used on Yupingfeng Oral Liquid

ObjectiveTo study the optimum process of ZTC1+1-Ⅱ natural clarify agents used on Yupingfeng Oral Liquid.MethodsUsing the remaining rates of polysaccharide,astragaloside Ⅳ and the defecation level as the raw material,the optimum process of removing impurity was investigated with single-factor test.ResultsThe optimum process conditions were: merging the extract solution,condense to 1∶10(hurb:the hurb solution),in the liquid,the concertration of ZTC1+1-Ⅱ natural clarify agents was 5%,the adding sequence of ZTC1+1Ⅱ natural clarify agents was clarifier B before clarifier A and the liquid was mixed at 100 r·min~(-1).ConclusionThe process of removing impurity with ZTC1+1-Ⅱ natural clarify agents can be used as the removing impurity of Yupingfeng Oral Liquid.
A Robust Algorithm for Pitch Marking for Speech Signal Processing

An algorithm for marking pitch at the location of the largest amplitude of continuous speech signal is described, which is based on the finding of glottal closure instants in laryngograph signal. By adjusting the parameters, the algorithm can find the pitch marks automatically. The experiments show that this algorithm is robust to pitch doubling or halving errors, which are typical problems in automatic pitch detection.
Branching of Amylopectin Determined by Viscometry and Ultracentrifugation

In order to explain the solution characteristics of such highly branched natural polymers as amylopectin, dextan etc., a semi-empirical method is proposed. This method depends on the approximate relations that the branching factor of the radius of gyration g is proportional to m-1/2 when the number of branching m are small, and to m-1/2 when m are large, and that the branching factor of frictional coefficient gf is nearly equal to g1/3 . As for the branching factor of intrinsic viscosity g', having examined the exponent of the intrinsic viscosity -molecular weight relationship, and the extension of the Fixman and Ptitsyn type equations of excluded volume effect for a linear polymer to a branched polymer, the assumption of g'=g gives the best results. From these extended equations and the similar equations for the frictional coefficient, the length of subchain can be estimated . By using the above relations, the molecular wght and g of a branched polymer can be obtained from s0 and [n]. The above results were applied to amylopectin to analyze s0 and [n] and then to obtain the relation between m and molecular weight. The high molecular weight amylopectin (more than 5×106, approximately) is "native" amylopectin, as the linear relation is obtained between m and molecular weight, and the length of a subchain of amylopectin corresponds to about 20 of glucose units.
Cervical mucus penetration test for in vitro assay of vaginal contraceptive agents

An in vitro penetration test employing bovine cervical mucosa to evaluate vaginal contraceptives is presented. Its usefulness for the evaluation of the potency of a formulation in preventing sperm penetration was assessed by comparison of five commercially available preparations, with the use of both human and primate spermatozoa. The results were compared with those obtained with a spermicidal test (Sander-Cramer method) and in vivo with the use of the primate Macaca arctoides. Analysis of the two in vitro tests and the one in vivo test showed a significant degree of concurrence. The cervical mucus test much more closely reflected in vivo results than the Sander-Cramer test. A recommendation is made regarding the type and order of in vitro and in vivo methods to be used for the development and/or testing of new formulations.
Development of Epigenetic Targeted Therapies in Hematological Malignancies: From Serendipity to Synthetic Lethality

Hematological malignancies are the group of disease for which epigenetic targeted agents have shown the more striking benefits. Demethylating agents are considered standard of care for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, and several histone deacetylase inhibitors are registered for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. In this chapter, we will describe the clinical development of these agents focusing on success and limitations and outline the preliminary results of the next generation of epidrugs targeting epigenetic regulator genes alteration rather than the epigenetic marks by itself.