cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
2-D Path Planning for Direct Laser Deposition Process

The zigzag and offset path have been the two most popular path patterns for tool movement in machining process. Different from the traditional machining processes, the quality of parts produced by the metal deposition process is much more dependent upon the choice of deposition paths. Due to the nature of the metal deposition processes, various tool path patterns not only change the efficiency but also affect the deposition height, a critical quality for metal deposition process. This paper presents the research conducted on calculating zigzag pattern to improve efficiency by minimizing the idle path. The deposition height is highly dependent on the laser scanning speed. The paper also discussed the deposition offset pattern calculation to reduce the height variation by adjusting the tool-path to achieve a constant scanning speed. The results show the improvement on both efficiency and height.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Lagrangian formulation of turbulent premixed combustion.

The Lagrangian point of view is adopted to study turbulent premixed combustion. The evolution of the volume fraction of combustion products is established by the Reynolds transport theorem. It emerges that the burned-mass fraction is led by the turbulent particle motion, by the flame front velocity, and by the mean curvature of the flame front. A physical requirement connecting particle turbulent dispersion and flame front velocity is obtained from equating the expansion rates of the flame front progression and of the unburned particles spread. The resulting description compares favorably with experimental data. In the case of a zero-curvature flame, with a non-Markovian parabolic model for turbulent dispersion, the formulation yields the Zimont equation extended to all elapsed times and fully determined by turbulence characteristics. The exact solution of the extended Zimont equation is calculated and analyzed to bring out different regimes.
TEM-induced gene mutations at enzyme loci in the mouse.

Strain DBA/2J male mice were treated with triethylenemelamine (TEM) and subsequently mated to strain C57BL/6J females. Tissues from F1 progeny produced in these crosses were then examined using starch gel electrophoresis for the presence of presumed induced mutations at a series of 11 specific enzyme loci. In the course of this study, four heritable mutations were identified at the following loci: Es-1, Ldh-1, Pgm-1, and Gpi-1. Of these four, the first two were apparently segregating in parental males and were not TEM-induced. Both of these are viable and fertile in the heterozygous and homozygous condition, and neither confers any readily apparent deleterious effect to the animal. The latter mutations (Pgm-1 and Gpi-1) are presumably induced. Although viable and fertile in the heterozygous state, we have not yet recovered any offspring homozygous for either of these two mutations.
Vibrational spectrum of CO2/-/ in an argon matrix

Ar:CO:N2O samples of mole ratio 250:1:1 and 500:1:1 were codeposited at 14 K with an atomic beam of sodium or potassium. The infrared spectrum of the resulting deposit was basically identical to that for CO and N2O isolated in an argon matrix in the absence of alkali metal atoms. Spectral absorption features were studied of Ar:CO2 samples of mole ratio ranging from 250 to 500 codeposited with an atomic beam of potassium. Ar:CO2 samples with a mole ratio in the range from 250 to 1000, which had been codeposited with an atomic beam of cesium, were also investigated.
Risperidone pretreatment prevents elevated locomotor activity following neonatal hippocampal lesions.

Long-standing behavioral abnormalities emerge after puberty in rats following neonatal hippocampal lesion, providing a developmental model of abnormal rat behavior that may have predictive validity in identifying compounds effective in treating symptoms of schizophrenia. We sought to test the predictive validity of the neonatal hippocampal lesion model in identifying preventive treatment for first-episode psychosis. We determined the effect of risperidone, recently studied for prevention of first-episode psychosis, on the development of elevated locomotor activity following neonatal hippocampal lesions. Rat pups received hippocampal or sham lesions on postnatal day 7, followed by treatment with risperidone or vehicle from postnatal days 35 to 56. Locomotor activity in response to novelty, amphetamine, and nocturnal locomotion were determined on postnatal day 57. Low-dose risperidone (45 μg/kg) pretreatment prevented elevated locomotor activity in some, but not all, of the behavioral tasks following neonatal hippocampal lesions. In contrast, higher risperidone pretreatment was less effective in preventing elevated locomotor activity following neonatal hippocampal lesions. Because low risperidone dosages were also found to be effective in preventing first-episode psychosis in human studies, these data support the predictive validity of the hippocampal lesion model in identifying medications for prevention of first-episode psychosis. Additionally, these data support the use of low-dose risperidone in psychosis prevention, and suggest the possibility that higher risperidone doses could be less effective in this application.
SYNTHESIS AND GROWTH‐PROMOTING ACTIVITY OF N α‐ACETYL‐HGH‐(95–136)*

An N α-acetyl peptide with 42 amino acids corresponding to the amino acid sequence in residues 95–136 of the HGH molecule has been synthesized by the solid phase method. The synthetic product was found to possess some growth-promoting activity as revealed by the rat tibia test.
Callous-Unemotional Traits, Behavior Disorders, and the Student–Teacher Relationship in Elementary School Students:

Mental health research demonstrates that children with conduct problems (CP) and callous-unemotional (CU) traits differ in important ways from children with CP alone, including differences in primary caregiver attachment quality. This research suggests CU may also influence the quality of attachment between children with CP and their teachers. This study compared children with CP alone (CP), CU alone (CU), both CP and CU (CPCU), and neither CP nor CU (comparison) on measures of the student–teacher relationship (STR). Participants were 1,554 students from seven elementary schools. Teachers completed ratings of STR, behavior (CP, CU, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]), and impairment approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the start of the school year, and again 4 to 6 weeks before the school year’s end. Random intercept hierarchical linear models (HLMs) showed that (a) children with CPCU had the highest conflict and lowest closeness with teachers at the start of the school year and the greatest end-of- year impairment, (b) higher conflict and lower closeness with teachers at the school year’s start were associated with greater end-of-the-year impairment, (c) there was no interaction between group (CP, CU, CPCU, or comparison) and STR in predicting end-of-the-year outcomes, and (d) ADHD was robustly associated with end-of-the-year impairment.
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Regulatory Subunit Type IIβ ACTIVE SITE MUTATIONS DEFINE AN ISOFORM-SPECIFIC NETWORK FOR ALLOSTERIC SIGNALING BY cAMP

Abstract cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK) contains a regulatory (R) subunit dimer bound to two catalytic (C) subunits. Each R monomer contains two cAMP-binding domains, designated A and B. The sequential binding of two cAMPs releases active C. We describe here the properties of RIIβ and two mutant RIIβ subunits, engineered by converting a conserved Arg to Lys in each cAMP-binding domain thereby yielding a protein that contains one intact, high affinity cAMP-binding site and one defective site. Structure and function were characterized by circular dichroism, steady-state fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance and holoenzyme activation assays. The Ka for RIIβ is 610 nm, which is 10-fold greater than its Kd(cAMP) and significantly higher than for RIα and RIIα. The Arg mutant proteins demonstrate that the conserved Arg is important for both cAMP binding and organization of each domain and that binding to domain A is required for activation. The Ka of the A domain mutant protein is 21-fold greater than that of wild-type and the Kd(cAMP) is increased 7-fold, confirming that cAMP must bind to the mutated site to initiate activation. The domain B mutant Ka is 2-fold less than its Kd(cAMP), demonstrating that, unlike RIα, cAMP can access the A site even when the B site is empty. Removal of the B domain yields a Ka identical to the Kd(cAMP) of full-length RIIβ, indicating that the B domain inhibits holoenzyme activation for RIIβ. In RIα, removal of the B domain generates a protein that is more difficult to activate than the wild-type protein.
Preparation and structure of [RuII/III2(O2CMe)4]2[Fe(CN)5NO] and magnetically ordered Hx[RuII/III2(O2CMe)4]3−x[Cr(CN)5NO] possessing interpenetrating lattices

Abstract Reaction of [Ru2(O2CMe)4]Cl with K3[Cr(CN)5NO] in water forms Hx[RuII/III2(O2CMe)4]3−x-[Cr(CN)5NO]·zH2O (x = 0.2) that magnetically orders at 4.0 K and possesses an interpenetrating body centered cubic [a = 13.2509(2) A] structure with random locations of the bridging nitrosyl ligands, and x/3 vacant cation sites. Similarly, the aqueous reaction of [Ru2(O2CMe)4]Cl with Na2[Fe(CN)5NO] forms paramagnetic [Ru2(O2CMe)4]2[Fe(CN)5NO]·H2O, which has a similar tetragonal interpenetrating structure [a = 13.0186(1) A, c = 13.0699(2) A] where the NO ligands are presumably nonbridging and 1/3 of the expected cation sites are unoccupied. The presence of uncoordinated NO sites in addition to missing neighboring [Ru2(O2CMe)4]+ units, results in significant vacancies (or holes) in the lattice.
Narratives in action

In various professional fields today, a profusion of practices are inspired by or draw sustenance from narrative inquiry; similarly, narrative inquiry must attend to these practices as they are vital to its future. Ultimately a full fledged dialogue between scholars and practitioners is to be sought. We review three major domains in which narratives are in action: psychotherapy, organizational change, and conflict reduction. We conclude by taking up theoretical issues raised by these practices. Of particular concern are questions of why narratives are effective in social change, and what theoretical orientations are most adequate to the challenge of practice.
Hormone replacement therapy increases renal kallikrein excretion in healthy postmenopausal women.

Hypertension and its related increase in cardiovascular morbidity in postmenopausal women is a major public health problem. The hypotensive property of urinary kallikrein has been described since 1909. Despite the controversy surrounding the effects of hormone replacement therapy on blood pressure regulation, its mechanisms remain incompletely understood, and no evidence has yet been provided for its effects on renal kallikrein excretion in postmenopausal women. In a double-blind, randomized study we examined the effects of hormone replacement therapy in the form of 2 mg 17-beta estradiol (ERT) or 2 mg 17-beta estradiol combined with continuous 5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (HRT) on urinary kallikrein excretion in postmenopausal women. Thirty-nine postmenopausal women collected their urine for 24 hours on two separate occasions 3 months apart. During the 3 month period women were randomized to placebo, ERT, or HRT. Urine samples were assayed for kallikrein activity, normalized to urine creatinine and expressed as mU/gm creatinine. Urinary kallikrein excretion increased significantly after 3 months in the ERT (p 0.06). There were no significant blood pressure changes after 3 months of therapy. The findings demonstrate that hormone replacement therapy in the form of estrogen or estrogen combined with continuous medroxyprogesterone is effective in increasing urinary kallikrein excretion. Given that a decrease in kallikrein excretion may mark risk for development of hypertension, the findings of this study are of value in demonstrating a novel mechanism underlying cardioprotective properties of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy in women without pre-existing coronary disease.
The Effect of Tool Flexibility on Back-Cutting in End Milled Surfaces

End milled surface texture is inhomogeneous and often exhibits complex lay patterns. An important contributing factor to these surface characteristics is the back-cutting effect. This effect causes cutter tooth mark patterns on the surface in the forward and reverse tool feed directions. In this paper, the dependence of back-cutting on end mill flexibility and its influence on the slot Poor surface texture are modeled and experimentally verified, It is shown that the extent to which tool flexibility affects back-cutting is determined by the resultant cutting force system and not the feed force alone. The variation in the amount of back-cutting typically observed across the width of a milled slot is also explained by this model. The model, although simple in form, yields reasonably good agreement with the measured surface profiles.
Differences between acute and long‐term metabolic and endocrine effects of oral beta‐adrenoceptor agonist therapy with pirbuterol for cardiac failure.

The metabolic, hormonal and haemodynamic effects of oral pirbuterol, a new beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, were studied acutely (n = 19) and after 3 months treatment (n = 11) in patients with severe heart failure receiving chronic frusemide therapy. In the acute study fasted patients (n = 10) showed reductions in plasma K+ (P less than 0.005) and cortisol (P less than 0.01) and increases in plasma glucose (P less than 0.005), insulin (P less than 0.01), lactate (P less than 0.005) and pyruvate (P less than 0.0025). These acute changes were less in unfasted subjects (n = 9). Maximal increase in stroke volume occurred at approximately half the plasma pirbuterol concentration required for maximal effect on plasma insulin. Treatment with pirbuterol for 3 months was associated with sustained increases in stroke volume and fasting plasma glucose and insulin, but there was loss of all other acute metabolic effects. Despite concurrent frusemide and digoxin therapy acute hypokalaemia caused no adverse effects. Hypokalaemia did not occur with chronic pirbuterol administration.
Prostaglandins: modulators of inflammation and cardiovascular risk.

Abstract: Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-specific drugs such as rofecoxib and celecoxib and the newer agents, etoricoxib and valdecoxib, were developed to provide a safer alternative to traditional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (tNSAIDs). These drugs have been shown significantly to reduce endoscopically visualized gastrointestinal ulcers, and one of them, rofecoxib, has demonstrated a 50% reduction in clinically important gastrointestinal outcomes compared with a tNSAID. However, COX-derived prostaglandins also have complex interactions with the cardiovascular system. This article briefly reviews our current understanding of the interactions between prostaglandins and cardiovascular physiology, and addresses some of the concerns that recently have been raised regarding coxibs and the risk of cardiovascular events.
Blood Conservation in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (ECMO) typically requires multiple blood transfusions and is associated with frequent bleeding complications. Blood transfusions are known to increase morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients, which may extend to patients receiving ECMO. Aiming to reduce transfusion requirements, we implemented a blood conservation protocol in adults with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) receiving ECMO. Methods This was a retrospective study of adults receiving ECMO for ARDS after initiation of a blood conservation protocol that included a transfusion trigger of hemoglobin of less than 7.0 g/dL, use of low-dose anticoagulation targeting an activated partial thromboplastin time of 40 to 60 seconds, and autotransfusion of circuit blood during decannulation. The primary objective was to evaluate transfusion requirements during ECMO support. Clinical outcomes included survival, neurologic function, renal function, bleeding, and thrombotic complications. Results The analysis included 38 patients; of these, 24 (63.2%) received a transfusion while receiving ECMO. Median hemoglobin was 8.29 g/dL. A median of 1.0 units (range, 250 to 300 mL) was transfused during ECMO support over a median duration of 9.0 days, equivalent to 0.11 U/d (range, 27.5 to 33.3 mL/d). The median activated partial thromboplastin time was 46.5 seconds. Bleeding occurred in 10 patients (26.3%); severe bleeding occurred in 2 patients (5.3%). Twenty-eight patients (73.7%) survived to hospital discharge. Conclusions Implementation of a blood conservation protocol in adults receiving ECMO for ARDS resulted in lower transfusion requirements and bleeding complications than previously reported in the literature and was associated with comparable survival and organ recovery.
Localization of protein phosphokinase activities in the nucleolus distinct from extra-nucleolar regions in rat ventral prostate nuclei.

Abstract Rat ventral prostate nucleoli contain protein phosphokinase(s) which have distinctly different characteristics from protein phosphokinase(s) localized in the extra-nucleolar regions of the nucleus. The differences pertain to pH vs activity profiles and activation by divalent cations, utilizing dephospho-phosvitin as substrate. Lysine-rich and arginine-rich F3 histones are also phosphorylated by nucleolar protein phosphokinase(s). Phosphorylation of histones by either nucleolar or extra-nucleolar fractions was not stimulated by cAMP, whereas that of phosvitin was slightly inhibited.
Moving from cohabitation to marriage: effects on relationship quality

Abstract Data from both waves of the National Survey of Families and Households are used to test whether marriage is associated with an improvement in the relationship quality of cohabitors. Cohabitors who marry report higher levels of relationship happiness as well as lower levels of relationship instability, disagreements, and violent conflict resolution than those who remain cohabiting, net of time one relationship quality and sociodemographic controls. Relationship fairness and interaction are not significantly associated with marriage. However, the one-third of long-term cohabitors who report marriage plans at reinterview enjoy levels of relationship quality that do not significantly differ from those of cohabitors who marry. Thus, marriage per se does not spur increases in relationship quality.
Effect of EDTA on the Solid Phase Clq Immune Complex Assay

A solid-phase Clq immune complex (IC) assay (C1q-SP) is described. Wells of microtiter plates are coated with Clq, sera diluted 1:40 are added, and complexed IgG bound to the solid phase is detected b
A test of electronegativity equalization during fluorinated ethanol decomposition on Pt(331)

Abstract In previous studies there has been considerable interest in the use of fluorination to probe the transition state for hydrogen transfer reactions on metal surfaces. In this paper we note that based on a principle called “electronegativity equalization,” fluorine can speed up reactions under some conditions, and slow the reactions down under other conditions. In this paper, we test this theoretical prediction. The adsorption and decomposition of monofluoro-, difluoro- and trifluoro-ethanol has been studied on a clean Pt(331) surface and on an oxygen-covered Pt(331) surface using TPD, LEED and AES. It has been found that on a clean Pt(331) sample, the fluorinated ethanols are considerably less reactive than unfluorinated ethanol. The formation of ethoxy is progressively suppressed as we fluorinate the molecule and the CC bond scission process disappears. We also find that the activation barrier for β-hydride elimination grows as we fluorinate the molecule. Interestingly, if we switch conditions and use excess oxygen, we see the opposite effect. In the presence of excess oxygen, ethoxy formation is instantaneous with the fluorinated ethanols and the activation barrier for β-hydride elimination is substantially reduced. We also see evidence for formation of an acetate ligand at large excesses of oxygen. These results show that the role of fluorine is much more complex than people had previously supposed. Fluorine can both activate a molecule under some conditions and deactivate the same molecule under other conditions. Interestingly, the effects are exactly as expected from the principle of electronegativity equalization.
ASYMMETRIC, SPEED DEPENDENT TENSIONING OF CIRCULAR ROTATING DISKS

Abstract This paper examines the effect of asymmetry on a novel, speed dependent, in-plane stress induction technique for rotating circular disks. Residual, in-plane stresses are frequently introduced into circular saws to extend the range of stable rotation speed. The new speed dependent technique considered here is theoretically twice as effective as traditional techniques. However, practical realization of this new technique can introduce asymmetry into the in-plane stress field, an effect that is normally not considered. In this paper, these asymmetries are explicitly examined in order to formulate design rules for the new stress induction technique. Finite element analysis indicates that at least five, evenly spaced, concentrated, in-plane loads are required along the inner radius of the disk to produce results identical to an equipollent, uniformly distributed load; four or fewer concentrated loads produce noticeably poorer results due to asymmetry. In performing these calculations, it was discovered that symmetry of the finite element mesh is essential for accurate prediction of small and vanishing natural frequencies. The viability of the new stress induction technique and the finite element predictions were both then confirmed experimentally.
Asymptotics of an Efficient Monte Carlo Estimation for the Transition Density of Diffusion Processes

Discretized simulation is widely used to approximate the transition density of discretely observed diffusions. A recently proposed importance sampler, namely modified Brownian bridge, has gained much attention for its high efficiency relative to other samplers. It is unclear for this sampler, however, how to balance the trade-off between the number of imputed values and the number of Monte Carlo simulations under a given computing resource. This paper provides an asymptotically efficient allocation of computing resource to the importance sampling approach with a modified Brownian bridge as importance sampler. The optimal trade-off is established by investigating two types of errors: Euler discretization error and Monte Carlo error. The main results are illustrated with two simulated examples.
Elevation of Vernier thresholds during image motion depends on target configuration

Previously we showed that thresholds for abutting Vernier targets are unaffected by motion, as long as the targets are processed by the same spatial-frequency channel at each velocity and remain equally detectable [Invest. Ophthalmol. Visual Sci. (Suppl.)37, S734 (1996)]. In this study we compared Vernier thresholds for stationary and moving abutting and nonabutting targets (gaps = 0, 18, and 36 arc min) for velocities of 0–16 deg/s. The Vernier targets were spatially filtered vertical lines (peak spatial frequency = 3.3 or 6.6 c/deg), presented at contrast levels of two, four, and eight times the detection threshold of each component line. Unlike the results for abutting targets, Vernier thresholds for nonabutting targets worsen with velocity as well as gap size. The results for abutting Vernier targets are consistent with the hypothesis that thresholds are mediated by oriented spatial filters, whose responses increase proportionally with the stimulus contrast. The velocity-dependent thresholds found for nonabutting Vernier targets can be explained on the basis of local-sign comparisons if the comparison process is assumed to include a small amount of temporal noise.
Octane: A New Heuristic for Pure 0-1 Programs

We propose a new heuristic for pure 0--1 programs, which finds feasible integer points by enumerating extended facets of the octahedron, the outer polar of the unit hypercube. We give efficient algorithms to carry out the enumeration, and we explain how our heuristic can be embedded in a branch-and-cut framework. Finally, we present computational results on a set of pure 0--1 programs taken from MIPLIB and other sources.
Domoic acid exposure and associated clinical signs and histopathology in Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii)

A B S T R A C T Domoic acid (DA) is a potent neurotoxin that has caused strandings and mortality of seabirds and marine mammals off the California coast. Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) are an abundant, nearshore species in California; however, DA exposure and toxicosis have not been documented for harbor seals in this region. To investigate DA exposure in harbor seals, samples were collected from freeranging and stranded seals off California to assess exposure, clinical signs of toxicosis, and brain lesions in harbor seals exposed to DA. Domoic acid was detected in 65% (17/26) of urine samples collected from apparently healthy free-ranging seals, with concentrations of 0.4–11.7 ng/ml. Domoic acid also was detected in feces (2.4–2887 ng/g), stomach contents (1.4 ng/g; stranded only), milk (2.2 ng/ml; stranded only), amniotic fluid (9.7 ng/ml; free-ranging only), fetal meconium (14.6–39.8 ng/g), and fetal urine (2.0–10.2 ng/ml). Clinical signs indicative of DA toxicosis were observed in two live-stranded seals, and included disorientation, seizures, and uncoordinated movements. Histopathology revealed the presence of brain lesions consistent with DA toxicosis in two live-stranded seals, and one free-ranging seal that died during capture. Results indicated that harbor seals were exposed to DA, exhibited clinical signs and histological lesions associated with DA exposure, and that pups were exposed to DA in utero and during lactation via milk. Future investigation is required to determine the magnitude of impact that DA has on the health and mortality of harbor seals.
Benchmark study on glyphosate-resistant cropping systems in the United States. Part 7: Effects of weed management strategy (grower practices versus academic recommendations) on the weed soil seedbank over 6 years.

BACKGROUND Shifts in weed species composition and richness resulting from near-exclusive reliance on herbicides in glyphosate-resistant (GR) cropping systems has necessitated the implementation of alternative weed management tactics to reduce selection pressures of herbicides. We contrasted the response of the weed soil seedbank to effects of weed management strategy, comparing grower practices with academic recommendations for best management practices (BMPs) over 6 years and across five weed hardiness zones in the US Midwest at sites subject to GR cropping systems. RESULTS Total weed population density and species richness varied according to cropping system, location and prior year's crop, but less so to weed management strategy. The seedbank population density for 11 of the 14 most frequent weed species was affected by weed management strategy either alone or in an interaction with hardiness zone or year, or both. In only 29% of comparisons was weed population density lower following academic recommendations, and this depended upon prior crop and cropping system. The population density of high-risk weed species was reduced by academic recommendations, but only in two of six years and under continuous GR maize. Overall, the weed population density was decreasing in field halves subject to the BMPs in the academic recommendations relative to grower practices. CONCLUSION The soil seedbank is slow to respond to academic recommendations to mitigate glyphosate-resistant weeds, but represents a biological legacy that growers need to keep in mind even when management practices reduce emerged field weed population densities. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
When right may not be right: right bundle-branch block and response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in appropriately selected patients has been shown to improve cardiac function, heart failure symptoms, and survival. 1,2 On the basis of results of large, randomized trials, current American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Rhythm Society guidelines recommend consideration of CRT in patients with cardiomyopathy on optimal medical therapy with left ventricular ejection fraction 35%, New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms, and QRS duration 120 ms. 3 The idea of resynchronization therapy was derived from the seminal observations that intraventricular conduction abnormalities, extensively characterized in patients with left bundle-branch block (LBBB), adversely affect left ventricular mechanics. LBBB produces predictable changes in the left ventricular activation sequence.4,5 Abnormal activation of the interventricular septum and markedly delayed activation of the lateral left ventricle are typically seen in patients with LBBB. However, left ventricular activation patterns may be highly variable and more complex in patients with underlying cardiomyopathy.6 Delayed, dyssynchronous electromechanical activation in these segments leads to increased cardiac work, less efficient cardiac contraction, and lower cardiac output. 7 Electric (and mechanical) preactivation of the late-activating left ventricular region with CRT has been accepted to be prerequisite for successful clinical response. 8 Although remarkable symptomatic improvement is seen in many patients, up to 30% of subjects who participated in CRT trials failed to respond to therapy or may have worsened.2 Several clinical features have been identified that carry adverse clinical prognosis and predict less response to CRT therapy (Table). Despite extensive efforts, preimplant identification of nonresponders remains a significant problem and erodes the overall clinical (and cost) effectiveness of CRT therapy.
Stereo correspondence with compact windows via minimum ratio cycle

One of the earliest and still widely used methods for dense stereo correspondence is based on matching windows of pixels. The main difficulty of this method is choosing a window of appropriate size and shape. Small windows may lack sufficient intensity variation for reliable matching, while large windows smooth out disparity discontinuities. We propose an algorithm to choose a window size and shape by optimizing over a large class of "compact" windows. The word compact is used informally to reflect the fact that the ratio of perimeter to area of our windows is small. We believe that this is the first area based method which efficiently constructs nonrectangular windows. Fast optimization over compact windows is achieved via the minimum ratio cycle algorithm for graphs. The algorithm has only a few parameters which are easy to fix.
Adaptive multi-feature motion estimation

A general discrete-time, adaptive, model-based motion estimation framework is introduced. The model is built to describe the dynamics of a set of points belonging to the same object over long periods of time. It incorporates two motion components, one for capturing the slowly-varying motion modes of the object and the second for accounting for the external forces and any other rapidly-changing motion modes, respectively. Time-varying mechanisms are also provided to handle occlusions or exits from the field of view. Applications of the motion model include temporal decimation/interpolation and noise filtering. In particular it is shown that the model provides a flexible framework for filtering out uncertainties in the feature matches. >
Plasma Coating of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Bio-Probe Applications

For bio-probe applications, a bio-film has to be attached to the nanoparticle surfaces to react with virus. However, the surfaces of many nanoparticles are not ideal for these particular bio-films. To provide an adhesive interface between the bio-film and the nanoparticle substrate, an ultrathin polymer film such as polystyrene and acrylic acid was deposited on several nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes using a plasma polymerization treatment. High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) experiments showed that an extremely thin polymer film was uniformly deposited on the surfaces of these nanoparticles and nanotubes. The deposited films were characterized by depressive energy spectrum (EDS) and infrared spectrum (FTIR). The deposition mechanism is discussed.
Hospital patient safety grades may misrepresent hospital performance

Nationally, there is strong interest in measuring hospital performance in patient safety. The Leapfrog Group uses a survey, along with other data sources, to calculate patient safety scores for 2600 hospitals across the United States. Under this methodology, every hospital is assigned 1 of 5 letter grades (A, B, C, D, F) depending on how the hospital stands in safety performance relative to all other hospitals. The results have been widely marketed and disseminated to employers, payors, and the public. Leapfrog strongly encourages employers and payors to negotiate hospital reimbursement rates based on the safety grade the hospital receives. Leapfrog's effort to develop a standardized method to provide patient safety information should be commended. However, less than one-half of the 2600 hospitals participated in the Leapfrog survey. For those nonparticipating hospitals, certain safety measures were absent and alternative measures were used to calculate the safety score. A sample of the nation's most prestigious hospitals (n = 35) was drawn from the U.S. News & World Report's “Best Hospitals.” Overall, the group of participating hospitals (n = 18) received an average grade of A (mean safety score = 3.165), whereas the group of nonparticipating hospitals received an average grade of B (mean safety score = 3.012). These nonparticipating hospitals were rescored using the methodology for participating hospitals. The results show that the majority of nonparticipating hospitals would have received a better safety grade. This demonstrates a potential shortcoming of Leapfrog's method and its tendency to discriminate against nonparticipating hospitals. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014;9:111–115. © 2014 Society of Hospital Medicine
Relativity, Pulsar Time, and Atomic Time

Imagine a solar mass of self-gravitating nuclear matter in free space, with a radius of 10 km and a frozen-in magnetic field of 3 × 108 gauss, spinning at hundreds of revolutions per second and emitting a highly directive beam of broadband radio noise easily detectable over interstellar distances. Eight such millisecond pulsars have now been detected in our Galaxy, and many more undoubtedly exist. The remnants of supernovae which probably exploded 108 y or more ago, these pulsars are fascinating objects for a host of astrophysical reasons. In this paper I will focus on one particular characteristic which they all appear to share: they are natural clocks of astonishing stability, apparently exceeding that of the very best man-made frequency standards. This trait makes them exquisite tools for use in diverse experiments in cosmology, relativity, fundamental astrometry, and metrology.
Antimicrobial regenerated cellulose/nano-silver fiber without leaching:

The formation of antimicrobial regenerated cellulose fibers using an ionic liquid solvent, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, and silver nanoparticles was studied. The cellulose preparation and dispersion efficiency of the silver nanoparticles in the solvent were evaluated via scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscopy in terms of different processing conditions. The influence of silver nanoparticles on regenerated cellulose fiber crystallization and strength was examined using a wide angle X-ray diffractometry and tensiometry, respectively. The bioactive efficacy of the cellulose/nano-silver fiber was tested in accordance with the standard method of ASTM E 2149-10. The cellulose/nano-silver fibers were bioactive and killed Escherichia coli almost completely without any leaching problems. The addition of nano-silver significantly increased the cellulose fiber tensile strength and modulus with an insignificant reduction in fiber elongation, and a slower thermal decomposition rate,...
Major surgery to manage definitively severe complications of salvage cryotherapy for prostate cancer

Purpose: Severe complications of salvage cryotherapy may be debilitating and chronic but these complications may be managed by definitive extirpative surgical procedures. We evaluated the effectiveness of the major surgical procedures performed to manage these complications, and assessed patient survival and complications after extirpative surgery.Materials and Methods: Between 1992 and 1995 salvage cryotherapy was performed in 150 men with biopsy proved, locally recurrent prostate cancer after radiotherapy and/or systemic therapy. We retrospectively reviewed patient charts to assess the complications managed by extirpative surgery.Results: Extirpative surgery was performed in 6 of the 150 patients for serious complications, including uncontrollable hematuria, osteitis pubis, rectourethral fistula, refractory perineal pain, bladder outlet obstruction and complete urinary incontinence. Cystoprostatectomy was done in 4 patients, of whom 3 also underwent en bloc pubic symphysectomy. In the remaining 2 men sa...
Synaptic interactions among excitatory afferents to nucleus accumbens neurons: hippocampal gating of prefrontal cortical input

The interactions among excitatory inputs arising from the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus, and innervating nucleus accumbens neurons were studied using in vivo intracellular recording techniques. Neurons recorded in the accumbens displayed one of three activity states: (1) silent, (2) spontaneously firing at low, constant rates, or (3) a bistable membrane potential, characterized by alternating periods of activity and silence occurring in concert with spontaneous transitions between two steady-state membrane potentials (average, -77.3 +/- 7.1 mV base, -63.0 +/- 7.4 mV plateau). These neurons also exhibited a high degree of convergence of responses elicited by stimulation of each of the three excitatory inputs tested. Activation of hippocampal afferents, but not cortical, amygdaloid, or thalamic afferents, induced bistable cells to switch to the depolarized (active) state. In contrast, no bistable cells were encountered in the nucleus accumbens following an acute transection of the fornix. Furthermore, microinjection of lidocaine in the vicinity of the hippocampal afferents at the level of the fornix caused a reversible elimination of the plateau phase in bistable cells. These data suggest that hippocampal input is necessary for accumbens neurons to enter a depolarized, active state. Furthermore, activation of prefrontal cortical inputs fail to evoke spike firing in accumbens neurons unless they are in this active state. Consequently, the hippocampus appears to be capable of gating prefrontal corticoaccumbens throughput.
Investment spending and interest rate policy: The case of financial liberalisation in Turkey

The purpose of the present study is to analyse the impact of interest rate policy on investment spending in Turkey over a period which covers years of both financial repression and financial liberalisation. The model presented suggests that investment will be positively correlated with below‐equilibrium interest rates and negatively correlated with above‐equilibrium rates. The model is tested using a switching regime model with an unknown equilibrium rate of interest. The results suggest that setting interest rates too high may be as detrimental to economic health as setting them too low. Moreover there is evidence of an autonomous downward shift in the investment function during the liberalisation period which may have resulted from heightened uncertainty during the period.
A feasibility study of gene gun mediated immunotherapy for renal cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Gene modified autologous tumor cell vaccines have demonstrated a protective and therapeutic effect in murine tumor model systems. The majority of trials to date have used viral methods of gene transfer for vaccine construction. An alternative approach to transfer genes into tumor cells is to use the gene gun, which is a physical method of gene transfection that produces high levels of gene expression without viral agents. We establish the feasibility of generating cytokine secreting autologous renal tumor cell vaccines for use in gene therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.Materials and Methods: We obtained 1 cm.3 tumor tissue from 12 patients undergoing resection of primary or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The tumor was disaggregated and placed in culture. The phenotype of the primary renal cell lines was established by microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The 1 × 107 lethally irradiated tumor cells were transfected with plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid containing the human (h) gran...
Lymphangioma tuberosum multiplex: an unusual variant of lymphangioma.

: Lymphangioma tuberosum multiplex is a variant of lymphangioma in which there is an abundant proliferation of endothelial cells and dilated lymphatic vessels forming a large, lobulated tumor. A 57-year-old black man developed lymphangioma tuberosum multiplex progressively over a 30-year period following the removal of a smaller tumor from the right posterior flank.
Loss of functional NADPH oxidase 2 protects against alcohol-induced bone resorption in female p47phox-/- mice.

Background In bone, NADPH oxidase (NOX)-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide are an important stimulus for osteoclast differentiation and activity. Previously, we have demonstrated that chronic ethanol (EtOH) consumption generates excess NOX-dependent ROS in osteoblasts, which functions to stimulate nuclear factor kappa-β receptor ligand (RANKL)–RANK signaling, thus increasing osteoclastogenesis and activity. This activity can be blocked by co-administration of EtOH with the pan-NOX inhibitor diphenylene idonium (DPI). Methods To test whether EtOH-induced bone loss is dependent on a functional NOX2 enzyme, 6-week-old female C57BL/6J-Ncf1/p47phox−/− (p47phox KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were pair-fed EtOH diets for 40 days. Bone loss was assessed by 3-point bending, micro-computed tomography and static histomorphometric analysis. Additionally, ST2 cultured cells were co-treated with EtOH and NOX inhibitors, DPI, gliotoxin, and plumbagin, after which changes in ROS production, and in RANKL and NOX mRNA expression were analyzed. Results In WT mice, EtOH treatment significantly reduced bone density and mechanical strength, and increased total osteoclast number and activity. In EtOH-treated p47phox KO mice, bone density and mechanical strength were completely preserved. EtOH p47phox KO mice had no changes in osteoclast numbers or activity, and no elevations in serum CTX or RANKL gene expression (p < 0.05). In both WT and p47phox KO mice, EtOH feeding reduced biochemical markers of bone formation (p < 0.05). In vitro EtOH exposure of ST2 cells increased ROS, which was blocked by pretreating with DPI or the NOX2 inhibitor gliotoxin. EtOH-induced RANKL and NOX2 gene expression were inhibited by the NOX4-specific inhibitor plumbagin. Conclusions These data suggest that NOX2-derived ROS is necessary for EtOH-induced bone resorption. In osteoblasts, NOX2 and NOX4 appear to work in tandem to increase RANKL expression, whereas EtOH-mediated inhibition of bone formation occurs via a NOX2-independent mechanism.
PEER TUTORING AMONG ELEMENTARY STUDENTS: EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO THE TUTOR

To determine whether tutoring might be academically beneficial to the tutor, this study investigated the acquisition of spelling words by three elementary students in a peer tutoring program. The experimental design allowed a simultaneous comparison of each child's gain in performance on comparable word lists on which the child tutored another child, was tutored by another child, or neither gave nor received tutoring. The children's spelling improved nearly an equivalent amount on those words on which they tutored another child as on the words on which they were tutored; no such change was noted on the words on which they neither gave nor received tutoring. These findings, that peer tutoring is profitable for the tutor as well as the tutee, provide a basis for recommending peer tutoring as one method of individualizing education.
Orientation-dependent fluorescence studies and spectroscopic analysis of doped barium yttrium fluoride upconversion laser crystals (BaY 2−x−y Yb x Tm y F 8 )

Crystals of BaY1.75Yb0.24Tm0.01F8,BaY1.50Yb0.49Tm0.01F8, and BaY1.00Yb0.99Tm0.01F8 grown by the gradient-freeze method under a hydrogen fluoride atmosphere operate as lasers at 348, 456, 482, 512, and 649 nm when upconversion pumped at 960 nm. The 649-nm red lasers show a clear orientation dependence; lasing is observed only when propagation is perpendicular to the crystallographic [010] direction. The orientation dependence of the red fluorescence confirms that the laser transition is exclusively polarized parallel to [010]. Ellipsoidal representations of intensities are determined from fluorescence data for several red and blue transitions. A crystal with composition BaY1.75Yb0.20Tm0.05F8 is considered as representative of the upconversion laser media. Stark levels for the 3H6,3F4,3H5,3H4,3F3,3F2,1G4,1D2, and 1I6 states are determined from absorption and fluorescence over a range of temperatures from 10 to 298 K. A Judd–Ofelt analysis that averages data for three orthogonal polarizations is also performed.
Language Models for Expert Finding -UIUC TREC 2006 Enterprise Track Experiments

In this paper, we report our experiments in the TREC 2006 Enterprise Track. Our focus is to study a language model for expert finding. We extend an existing language model for expert retrieval in three aspects. First, we model the document-expert association using a mixure model instead of name matching heuristics as in the existing work; such a mixture model allows us to put different weights on email matching and name matching. Second, we propose to model the prior of an expert based on the counts of email matches in the supporting documents instead of using uniform prior as in the previous work. Finally, we perform topic expansion and generalize the model from computing the likelihood to computing the cross entropy. Our experiments show that the first two extensions are more effective than the third extension, though when optimized, they all seem to be effective.