cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reproductive and teratologic studies with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and crude marijuana extract☆☆☆

Abstract Synthetic Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol ( Δ 9 -THC) and crude marijuana extract (CME) containing 16% Δ 9 -THC were administered orally to albino rats at doses of 0.5, 1.5, and 5 mg of Δ 9 -THC from either source/kg body weight. In the general reproductive study, males were dosed from 60 days prior to mating until termination of mating and females were dosed from 14 days prior to mating until 21 days postpartum. Mating and fertility indices were similar for control and treatment groups. No differences between control and treatment groups were seen at an interim sacrifice on gestation Day 14 with respect to corpora lutea, implantation sites, resorption sites, and viable fetuses. The average numbers of pups delivered and viable at birth did not differ among control and treatment groups, and pup survival was unaffected by treatment. In a perinatal/lactation study, females were dosed from gestation Day 15 until lactation Day 21. No adverse effects of treatment were observed directly or in a cross-fostering study. No evidence of teratogenic activity was obtained for either Δ 9 -THC or CME at Δ 9 -THC equivalent doses of 5, 15, and 50 mg/kg on gestation Days 6–15 in rats and 0.5, 1.5, 5, and 15 mg/kg on gestation Days 6–18 in rabbits. Fetal survival and pup survival were reduced at the highest CME treatment level.
Grating based x-ray differential phase contrast imaging without mechanical phase stepping

Grating-based x-ray differential phase contrast imaging (DPCI) often uses a phase stepping procedure to acquire data that enables the extraction of phase information. This method prolongs the time needed for data acquisition by several times compared with conventional x-ray absorption image acquisitions. A novel analyzer grating design was developed in this work to eliminate the additional data acquisition time needed to perform phase stepping in DPCI. The new analyzer grating was fabricated such that the linear grating structures are shifted from one detector row to the next; the amount of the lateral shift was equal to a fraction of the x-ray diffraction fringe pattern. The x-ray data from several neighboring detector rows were then combined to extract differential phase information. Initial experimental results have demonstrated that the new analyzer grating enables accurate DPCI signal acquisition from a single x-ray exposure like conventional x-ray absorption imaging.
Comparison of low-dose gentamicin with minocycline as catheter lock solutions in the prevention of catheter-related bacteremia.

Background: Catheter-restricted antibiotic lock solutions were found to be effective in the prevention of catheter-related bacteremia (CRB), but insufficient data are available about the ideal agent and dose. We hypothesized that a low concentration of gentamicin would be as effective as the high doses studied in the past. Methods: In this prospective, open-labeled, randomized, clinical trial of patients on long-term hemodialysis therapy, patients were randomly assigned to administration of an antibiotic lock solution of gentamicin/citrate (4 mg/mL), minocycline/EDTA, or the control solution of heparin. Patients were followed up until the study end point of CRB was reached or a censoring event occurred. Interim data analysis was performed after 6 months to assess data safety; efficacy was noted and the study was terminated early. Results: Sixty-two patients were enrolled into the study, evenly distributed in 3 arms, with data from 1 patient excluded from analysis. Seven of 20 patients in the heparin group (4.0 events/1,000 catheter days), 1 of 21 patients in the minocycline group (0.4 events/1,000 catheter days), and none of 20 patients in the gentamicin group developed bacteremia. Results were statistically significant by using 2-tailed Fisher exact test; heparin versus gentamicin, P = 0.008, and heparin versus minocycline, P = 0.020. Conclusion: Antibiotic lock solutions are superior to the standard heparin lock alone in the prevention of CRBs, and low-dose gentamicin solution has efficacy similar to that of greater concentrations used in previous studies.
Drug combination therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus

During the past few decades, the survival of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients has steadily improved, so much so that it has become a minor issue with a mortality rate of approximately 1-2% per annum [2, 11]. The main problem today for lupus patients concerns their quality of life and the risk of loss of kidney function. Indeed, too many patients still lose this function (9% after 5 years of disease, 17% after 10 years) [2]. The aim of today’s management of SLE is thus centred on allowing patients a good quality of life in both professional and personal terms, including the possibility of having children.
The Debye-Waller factors for NbC

Abstract X-ray measurements and model calculations of the Debye-Waller factors, or mean-square displacements, for NbC are reported. The models used are the extended-shell model of Weber, Bilz and Schroder and the double-shell model of Weber. Excellent agreement between theory and experiment is achieved.
A Simplified Model for the Melting of Polymer Pellets under Compression in a Twin-Screw Extruder

Plastic energy dissipation (PED) is an important mechanism involving the melting of polymer in a twin-screw extruder. In the present study, the melting behavior of polymer pellets under compression is studied by a simplified model with the finite element method, based on the fact that mechanical energy from the deformation of a single pellet is converted into heat energy. The model shows that the heating of the pellet is not uniform. Under compression, the contact area of the pellet yields first, and the deformation in the pellet depends on the compression ratio and properties of the pellet. The simulated results show that the temperature in the volume around the line passing through the contacting point and the center of the pellet is higher than the temperature further from the contact area.
Efficient calculation of the free-space periodic Green's function

Electromagnetic scattering from periodic structures can be formulated in terms of an integral equation that has as its kernel a periodic Green's function. The periodic Green's function can be derived as a response to an array of line/point sources (spatial domain) or as a response to series of current sheets (spectral domain). These responses are a Fourier transform pair and are slowly convergent summations. The convergence problems in each domain arise from unavoidable singularities in the reciprocal domain. A method is discussed to overcome the slow convergence by using the Poisson summation formula and summing in a combination of spectral and spatial domains. A parameter study is performed to determine an optimum way to weigh the combination of domains. simple examples of scattering from a one-dimensional array of strips and two-dimensional array of plates are used to illustrate the concepts. >
Electrohydrodynamic instability of a thin film of viscoelastic polymer underneath a lithographically manufactured mask

The electrohydrodynamic instability of a thin film of initially static viscoelastic polymer under a mask is studied via a linear analysis. The conducting polymer film is separated from the mask by air. Under a normal electrical field, the initially flat polymer film self-assembles into well organized micro scale patterns. The driving force for the instability is an electrostatic force exerted on the free charges accumulated at the air–polymer interface. The electrical field is either applied externally or generated internally by the contact potentials at the interfaces of different materials. The system is unconditionally unstable. The elasticity of the polymer is found to destabilize the system. When the Deborah number is large enough, a resonant phenomenon appears as a result of the interaction between the two destabilizing mechanisms (the electrostatic force and the polymer elasticity). The resonance introduces two most unstable wave numbers, at which the growth rate of the disturbance is unbounded. The two most unstable wave numbers bifurcate at a minimum Deborah number, below which no resonance is found. The effects of the initial film thickness, the air gap thickness and the electrical properties of the conducting polymer on the instability are also investigated. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Evaluation of measurement limits of transducer mountings in the ground

The distortion of ground vibration measurements by different methods for mounting transducers in the ground is investigated experimentally. The following mountings are considered: (i) tapered stake having cruciform cross-section; (ii) wood plate attached to the ground with threaded thin rods; and (iii) embedded aluminum box of density equivalent to that of soil. The frequency range over which acceptable measurements of ground vibrations can be made is determined for each of these mountings using frequency response tests. These tests are performed by lightly impacting the mounting with a small instrumented hammer. The impact force and the response of the mounting were recorded and analyzed on a two-channel frequency analyzer. Tests were performed at two sites: stiff clay and fine loose sand. Results show that the frequency limit for acceptable accuracy was about 200 Hz for the plate and stake mountings, whereas that for the embedded box mounting was about 120 Hz. The plate and stake mountings were found more convenient to use than the embedded box mounting
Pre-procedure P2Y12 reaction units value predicts perioperative thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications in patients with cerebral aneurysms treated with the Pipeline Embolization Device

Background There is wide variability in the reported incidence of perioperative thromboembolic (0–14%) and hemorrhagic (0–11%) complications after Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) procedures for cerebral aneurysm treatment, which could be partly due to differences in patient response to the P2Y12 receptor antagonist administered while the PED endothelializes. This study aims to identify an optimal pre-procedure P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) value range and determine the independent predictors of perioperative thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications after PED procedures. Methods We recorded patient and aneurysm characteristics, P2Y12 receptor antagonist administered, pre-procedure PRU value with VerifyNow, procedural variables and perioperative thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications up to postoperative day 30 after PED procedures at our institution during an 8-month period. Perioperative complications were considered major if they caused a permanent disabling neurological deficit or death. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of perioperative complications in our cohort. Results Forty-four patients underwent 48 PED procedures at our institution during the study period. There were eight thromboembolic and hemorrhagic perioperative complications in our cohort (16.7%), four of which were major (8.3%). A pre-procedure PRU value of 240 (p=0.02) and a technically difficult procedure (p=0.04) were independent predictors of all perioperative complications. A pre-procedure PRU value of 240 (p=0.004) and a history of hypertension (p=0.03) were independent predictors of major perioperative complications. Conclusions In our cohort, a pre-procedure PRU value of 240 was the strongest independent predictor of all and major perioperative thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications after PED procedures.
Mapping urban growth using Soil and Vegetation Index and Landsat data: The Milan (Italy) city area case study

Remote sensing based on mid-resolution multi-spectral data has proven a powerful tool in urban areas study. This work introduces a novel methodology based on spectral indices ratios for mapping urban changes in terms of impervious surface expansion. At the methodological core, the Soil and Vegetation Index (SVI), a spectral index aimed at discriminating urban from non-urban land cover, has been utilized over Landsat TM-ETM+ satellite data. As a case study, the approach was applied to a multi-temporal dataset, with the aim of mapping the urban growth of Milan, Italy, during 20 years (1984–2003). The multi-step processing framework is composed of: SVI values derivation and normalization, multi-temporal SVI ratios thresholding for identifying urban growth area, and multiscale segmentation of urban change maps produced. Results analysis showed the feasibility of the approach and reliability of urban change maps derived, which reached a value of Overall Accuracy up to 80%, while multi-scale assessment of results revealed the 25 pixels segmentation scale as the optimal one for urban change detection using Landsat data over the study area.
Heuristic sample selection to minimize reference standard training set for a part-of-speech tagger

Part-of-speech tagging represents an important first step for most medical natural language processing (NLP) systems. The majority of current statistically-based POS taggers are trained using a general English corpus. Consequently, these systems perform poorly on medical text. Annotated medical corpora are difficult to develop because of the time and labor required. We investigated a heuristic-based sample selection method to minimize annotated corpus size for retraining a Maximum Entropy (ME) POS tagger. We developed a manually annotated domain specific corpus (DSC) of surgical pathology reports and a domain specific lexicon (DL). We sampled the DSC using two heuristics to produce smaller training sets and compared the retrained performance against (1) the original ME modeled tagger trained on general English, (2) the ME tagger retrained on the DL, and (3) the MedPost tagger trained on MEDLINE abstracts. Results showed that the ME tagger retrained with a DSC was superior to the tagger retrained with the DL, and also superior to MedPost. Heuristic methods for sample selection produced performance equivalent to use of the entire training set, but with many fewer sentences. Learning curve analysis showed that sample selection would enable an 84% decrease in the size of the training set without a decrement in performance. We conclude that heuristic sample selection can be used to markedly reduce human annotation requirements for training of medical NLP systems.
Nested-PCR and a New ELISA-Based NovaLisa Test Kit for Malaria Diagnosis in an Endemic Area of Thailand

Microscopy is considered as the gold standard for malaria diagnosis although its wide application is limited by the requirement of highly experienced microscopists. PCR and serological tests provide efficient diagnostic performance and have been applied for malaria diagnosis and research. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of nested PCR and a recently developed an ELISA-based new rapid diagnosis test (RDT), NovaLisa test kit, for diagnosis of malaria infection, using microscopic method as the gold standard. The performance of nested-PCR as a malaria diagnostic tool is excellent with respect to its high accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and ability to discriminate Plasmodium species. The sensitivity and specificity of nested-PCR compared with the microscopic method for detection of Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, and P. falciparum/P. vivax mixed infection were 71.4 vs 100%, 100 vs 98.7%, and 100 vs 95.0%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA-based NovaLisa test kit compared with the microscopic method for detection of Plasmodium genus were 89.0 vs 91.6%, respectively. NovaLisa test kit provided comparable diagnostic performance. Its relatively low cost, simplicity, and rapidity enables large scale field application.
Submarine volcaniclastic rocks

In this chapter we are concerned with underwater volcaniclastic eruptions and products, as well as pyroclastic flows and debris generated on land and transported by mass flowage into the sea. Submarine fallout deposits derived from land-based eruptions are treated in Chapter 7. Clastic materials redistributed as mass flows or turbidity currents originating from the rapid build-up of tephra and epiclastic volcanic debris along coastal parts of volcanoes are also discussed in various places throughout the text (e.g. Chap. 13).
Computation of Residual Stresses due to Multipass Welds in Piping Systems

In this paper, a computational model is developed to calculate the magnitude and distribution of residual stresses for multipass girth-butt welded pipes. The model consists of two parts, a temperature analysis model and a finite element stress analysis model. Elastic-plastic temperature dependent mechanical properties and unloading due to stress reversals are included in the model. While computational models for predicting residual stress distributions due to one- and two-pass welds have been developed, there are certain difficulties associated with predicting the behavior of multipass welds in an economical way. An approach for handling these types of problems is described. Residual stresses obtained with the model for a seven-pass weld and a thirty-pass weld are compared with residual stresses obtained from laboratory measurements. Good agreement is found between the computed and measured values of residual stresses for for both welds.
Radiotherapy Patterns of Care Study in Lung Carcinoma

Purpose: For the first time, a lung Patterns of Care Study was conducted to determine the national patterns of radiation (RT) practice in patients treated for nonmetastatic lung cancer in 1998 to 1999. Materials and Methods: A national survey of randomly selected RT institutions in the United States was conducted using two-stage cluster sampling, stratified by practice type. Patients with nonmetastatic lung cancer (Karnofsky performance score [KPS] ≥ 60), who received RT as definitive or adjuvant therapy, were randomly selected. To determine national estimates, sample size was weighted by the relative number of institutions per strata and the number of patient records reviewed per the number of patients eligible. Accordingly, 42,335 patient records from 58 institutions were reviewed by trained research associates. The unweighted sample size (or number of patients) was 541. Results: The histologies were small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in 14.5% of patients versus non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in 85.5% of...
Mouse lines with photo-activatable mitochondria to study mitochondrial dynamics

Many pathological states involve dysregulation of mitochondrial fusion, fission, or transport. These dynamic events are usually studied in cells lines because of the challenges in tracking mitochondria in tissues. To investigate mitochondrial dynamics in tissues and disease models, we generated two mouse lines withphoto-activatable mitochondria (PhAM). In the PhAM ^(floxed) line, a mitochondrially localized version of the photo-convertible fluorescent protein Dendra2 (mito-Dendra2) is targeted to the ubiquitously expressed Rosa26 locus, along with an upstream loxP-flanked termination signal. Expression of Cre in PhAM ^(floxed) cells results in bright mito-Dendra2 fluorescence without adverse effects on mitochondrial morphology. When crossed with Cre drivers, the PhAM ^(floxed) line expresses mito-Dendra2 in specific cell types, allowing mitochondria to be tracked even in tissues that have high cell density. In a second line (PhAM ^(excised)), the expression of mito-Dendra2 is ubiquitous, allowing mitochondria to be analyzed in a wide range of live and fixed tissues. By using photo-conversion techniques, we directly measured mitochondrial fusion events in cultured cells as well as tissues such as skeletal muscle. These mouse lines facilitate analysis of mitochondrial dynamics in a wide spectrum of primary cells and tissues, and can be used to examine mitochondria in developmental transitions and disease states.
Module relocation to obtain feasible constrained floorplans

This paper considers the general problem of relocating modules to convert infeasible constrained floorplanner inputs into feasible ones. This is accomplished by placing modules in locations that attempt to minimize the standard deviation of module densities. Efficient geometric algorithms are developed and shown to be successful in obtaining feasible inputs. Experimental results examine the tradeoffs between achieving a good redistribution of density on one hand and minimizing the increase in wire length and the displacement of modules on the other.
Neural networks and knowledge engineering

A brief overview is given of the nature of present day artificial neural net computing and the authors emphasize the theme that in this mode of computing, knowledge is not represented symbolically, but in the form of distributed processing and localized decision rules. The authors propose that in neural-net computing, the processing is the representation. In other words, the very nature of the processing encodes the knowledge. There is no place and no need for a separate body of global rules to be used by the network for inferencing. If rules exist at all, they are in the nature of local processing steps carried out at individual processors in response to stimuli from other neurons. The authors develop this theme together with a theme which is closely related to it. The second notion is that neural networks may also be thought of and implemented in terms of heterogeneous networks, rather than always or only in terms of massive arrays of identical elemental processors. >
Characterization of Mouse Spleen Cells by Subtractive Proteomics

Major analytical challenges encountered by shotgun proteome analysis include both the diversity and dynamic range of protein expression. Often new instrumentation can provide breakthroughs in areas where other analytical improvements have not been successful. In the current study, we utilized new instrumentation (LTQ FT) to characterize complex protein samples by shotgun proteomics. Proteomic analyses were performed on murine spleen tissue separated by magnetic beads into distinct CD45 and CD45 cell populations. Using shotgun protein analysis we identified 2,000 proteins per cell group by over 12,000 peptides with mass deviations of less than 4.5 ppm. Datasets obtained by LTQ FT analysis provided a significant increase in the number of proteins identified and greater confidence in those identifications and improved reproducibility in replicate analyses. Because CD45 and not CD45 cells are able to regenerate functional pancreatic islet cells in a mouse model of type I diabetes, protein expression was further compared by a subtractive proteomic approach in search of an exclusive protein expression profile in CD45 cells. Characterization of the proteins exclusively identified in CD45 cells was performed using gene ontology terms via the Javascript GoMiner. The CD45 cell subset readily revealed proteins involved in development, suggesting the persistence of a fetal stem cell in an adult animal. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 4:1459–1470, 2005. The use of proteomic technologies for global characterization of proteins expressed in cells, tissues, and biological fluids is a key component in furthering our ability to understand biological processes in normal and diseased states. In many proteomic studies, cells or tissues are characterized by profiling and comparing proteins expressed in treated and untreated cells, cancerous versus normal tissues, or various cell populations. A seminal tool in this development has been the application of mass spectrometry technologies to identify proteins and post-translation modifications in complex protein mixtures. The term “shotgun proteomics” is used to de
Multiple-access interference-resistant acquisition for band-limited CDMA systems with random sequences

The problem of estimating the propagation delay of a new user in a coded band-limited DS/CDMA system in the presence of multiple access interference (MAI) is considered. MAI-resistant acquisition schemes are developed for a general CDMA system without the constraint that the spreading sequences of the users repeat every symbol period. It is assumed that the spreading sequences and delays of the interfering users are known. However, knowledge of their amplitudes, which would need estimation, is not assumed, and their unreliable code-symbol estimates are not used. Under this scenario, acquisition schemes are derived based on the maximum-likelihood (ML) criterion. The performance of an approximation to the ML scheme is analyzed using Gaussian approximations and by assuming that the chip boundaries of the new user are known a priori. Simulations show that the analysis is reasonably accurate for parameters in the realm of practical interest.
Outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy: the largest single-institution cohort report.

Cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (cALD) remains a devastating neurodegenerative disease; only allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has been shown to provide long-term disease stabilization and survival. Sixty boys undergoing HCT for cALD from 2000 to 2009 were analyzed. The median age at HCT was 8.7 years; conditioning regimens and allograft sources varied. At HCT, 50% demonstrated a Loes radiographic severity score > 10, and 62% showed clinical evidence of neurologic dysfunction. A total of 78% (n 47) are alive at a median 3.7 years after HCT. The estimate of 5-year survival for boys with Loes score 10 was 60% (P .03). The 5-year survival estimate for boys absent of clinical cerebral disease at HCT was 91%, whereas that for boys with neurologic dysfunction was 66% (P .08). The cumulative incidence of transplantationrelated mortality at day 100 was 8%. Posttransplantation progression of neurologic dysfunction depended significantly on the pre-HCT Loes score and clinical neurologic status. We describe the largest single-institution analysis of survival and neurologic function outcomes after HCT in cALD. These trials were registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00176904, #NCT00668564, and #NCT00383448. (Blood. 2011;118(7):1971-1978)
Thermal Expansion of 12CaO°7Al2O3

Literature data for the 12CaO°7Al2O3 phase show certain discrepancies in the structure, thermal stability, and mean linear thermal expansion obtained by different techniques. Phase-pure, cubic, polycrystallin I2CaO°7Al2O3 was synthesized by annealing a stoichiometric melt in air. Infrared spectrophotometry indicated stabilization by moisture. Differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis showed the cubic phase to be stable up to at least 1200° C. High-temperature X-ray diffraction analysis of a polycrystalline sample and dilatometric measurement of sintered pellets indicated a linear thermal expansion of 41 × 10-7 to 43X10-7/°C in the temperature range 200° to 800°C.
Management of hepatitis C disease among VA patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Rates of hepatitis C (HCV) infection, testing, and treatment were compared among patients with schizophrenia, a substance use disorder, or co-occurring schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and a substance use disorder and a control group. METHODS: Information about 293,445 patients of the Northwest Veterans Healthcare Administration was obtained. RESULTS: The substance use disorder group constituted 13.6 percent of the sample; the schizophrenia group, 1.6 percent; and the co-occurring-disorders group, 1.4 percent. Respectively, these groups were approximately four, two, and six times as likely as the control group to receive HCV testing and about seven, two, and eight times as likely to be infected. The rate of interferon (IFN) therapy was significantly lower for the substance use group and the group with co-occurring disorders. However, the magnitude of the differences was not substantial, suggesting that these high-risk groups were not excluded from IFN therapy.
Ets-1 and Ets-2 Regulate the Expression of MicroRNA-126 in Endothelial Cells

Objective— MicroRNA plays important roles in vascular biology, but the regulation of endothelial-specific microRNA is not well characterized. MicroRNA-126 (miR-126) is highly expressed in endothelial cells, and it regulates angiogenesis and vascular inflammation. Here we show that the transcription factors Ets-1 and Ets-2 regulate miR-126 expression. Methods and Results— A genomic region between −71 and −100 bp upstream of the miR-126 transcriptional start site is critical for transactivation of the gene containing miR-126. This genomic region contains a potential Ets binding site. Mutations within the Ets binding site block transactivation, and Ets-1 and Ets-2 interact with this critical genomic region. Knockdown of endogenous Ets-1 and Ets-2 decreases miR-126 expression. Finally, knockdown of miR-126 alters regulation of an Ets-1 target gene. Conclusion— Taken together, these data show that the transcription factors Ets-1 and Ets-2 play a key role in controlling the expression of miR-126 and suggest that miR-126 may mediate some of their vascular effects.
Cross polarization in beam waveguide-fed Cassegrain reflector antennas

The sensitivity of the cross-polarization level to a deviation from the geometrical condition derived by M. Mizusawa and T. Kitsuregawa (1973) for different geometrical configurations is studied. This condition restricts the number of possible beam waveguide configurations for beam waveguide-fed Cassegrain reflector (BFCR) antennas. For a symmetrical feed, this condition results in a symmetrical aperture distribution with no cross-polarized component. By examining a number of beam waveguide configurations satisfying the condition, it was observed that for a linearly polarized feed, the cross-polarization level is very sensitive to a deviation from this condition. For a circularly polarized feed, deviation from this condition does not increase the cross-polarization level; however, it results in the squinting of the beam for BFCRs. >
Classifying land development in high-resolution Satellite imagery using hybrid structural-multispectral features

It is well known that combining spatial and spectral information can improve land use classification from satellite imagery. Human activity on the ground, such as construction, induces changes in both the photometric structure of the image and in its spectral content owing to, primarily, changes in vegetation density and surface materials. This paper introduces a novel approach to combine spatial (more precisely, structural) information extracted from (1-m resolution) panchromatic Ikonos imagery with the multispectral response (4-m resolution) available from the same sensor. Of the prior work combining spatial and spectral information, none has extracted structural features as we do, and none has combined these information sources as early in the process. The classifier we describe here, discriminating urban and rural regions, is a front-end component of a fairly complete satellite image analysis system that identifies suburban residential areas and extracts their street networks and single-family houses. We extract structural information in the form of photometric straight lines and their spatial arrangement over relatively small neighborhoods. To capture the multispectral information, we turn to the well-known normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and an improved linearized version of our own development (details of the structural analysis and the theoretical development of the linearized NDVI appear elsewhere). This paper addresses the novel combination of these types of features (hybrids) by using the structural features, straight line support regions based on gradient orientation, as cue regions for multispectral analysis. We test the hybrid features in a range of parametric and nonparametric classifiers. We also implement and test a probabilistic relaxation algorithm followed by the maximum a priori decision rule. We report extensive results that indicate significant improvements in classification accuracy using the hybrid features.
Surrogate pollen induction shortens the breeding cycle in loblolly pine.

Summary Surrogate pollen induction (SPI) was evaluated on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) donor scions from 5-year-old progeny that were grafted by topworking into the lower crowns of 16-year-old loblolly pine receptor clones in a seed orchard. On each of 25 study trees, one of three pollen induction treatments (wire girdle, saw girdle or control) was applied to 10 receptor branches below the graft location. Graft survival was 76%. Of the surviving grafts, 57% produced pollen strobili in March 1993, 13 months after grafting. The pollen induction treatments did not decrease graft survival or increase pollen production. Graft survival did not vary significantly among the donor scion genotypes, but the percentage of grafts with pollen was significantly related to the donor scion genotype. The mean number of pollen clusters induced per ramet also differed significantly among the donor scions. There was a tendency for pollen phenology of the grafted scions to be modified by the receptor clone. We conclude that surrogate pollen induction, coupled with accelerated female flower stimulation, can reduce the breeding schedule in loblolly pine to 3 years.
DCE-MRI of hepatocellular carcinoma: perfusion quantification with Tofts model versus shutter-speed model—initial experience

To quantify hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) perfusion and flow with the fast exchange regime-allowed Shutter-Speed model (SSM) compared to the Tofts model (TM). In this prospective study, 25 patients with HCC underwent DCE-MRI. ROIs were placed in liver parenchyma, portal vein, aorta and HCC lesions. Signal intensities were analyzed employing dual-input TM and SSM models. ART (arterial fraction), K trans (contrast agent transfer rate constant from plasma to extravascular extracellular space), v e (extravascular extracellular volume fraction), k ep (contrast agent intravasation rate constant), and τ i (mean intracellular water molecule lifetime) were compared between liver parenchyma and HCC, and ART, K trans, v e and k ep were compared between models using Wilcoxon tests and limits of agreement. Test–retest reproducibility was assessed in 10 patients. ART and v e obtained with TM; ART, v e , k e and τ i obtained with SSM were significantly different between liver parenchyma and HCC (p < 0.04). Parameters showed variable reproducibility (CV range 14.7–66.5 % for both models). Liver K trans and v e ; HCC v e and k ep were significantly different when estimated with the two models (p < 0.03). Our results show differences when computed between the TM and the SSM. However, these differences are smaller than parameter reproducibilities and may be of limited clinical significance.
Dynamic Stiffness Matrices for Viscoelastic Half Planes

Analytical expressions and numerical results are presented for the complex-valued, dynamic (frequency dependent), flexibility influence coefficients for a homogeneous, isotropic, linearly viscoelastic half space in plane strain or generalized plane stress. These influence coefficients, defined for uniformly spaced nodal points at the surface of the half plane, are obtained from solutions of two boundary value problems, associated with harmonically time-varying (e\ui\Uω\N\ut) stresses uniformly distributed between two adjacent nodal points. Numerical values for these coefficients are presented for a viscoelastic half plane of constant hysteretic material. A method is developed to determine from these results the dynamic stiffness matrix, associated with the nodal points at the base of a surface supported structure, for the half plane. The resulting dynamic stiffness matrix is shown to be superior compared to the one determined from an available procedure, which is based on solutions of displacement boundary value problems for the half plane.
Therapeutic Approaches to the Treatment of Rheumatoid Disease

Successful treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis demands an understanding of the rationale, clinical use, and side effects of the various antirheumatic modalities. Most patients can be treated effectively with salicylates or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, although some with more serious disease require the addition of a slow-acting agent such as gold, d-penicillamine, or methotrexate.
Use Of Active Source Seismic Surface Waves In Glaciology

Active source seismic surface wave experiments were performed on Jakobshavn Glacier, Greenland, to evaluate the potential utility of surface wave methods on ice. A sledge hammer source striking a wooden beam, and a receiver line with twelve 28 Hz vertical geophones were used to generate and record surface wave data. We employed the Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) method to obtain dispersion curves and estimate shear wave velocities of firn and shallow ice. The sledge hammer source produced signal with usable frequencies in the 12 to 100 Hz range. Maximum depth of imaging was estimated to approximately 50 m. Firn shear wave velocities progressively increased from 1000 m/s near the surface to the ice velocity of 1950 m/s at around 47 m below the surface. This indicated that the firn-ice transition was at approximately 47 m below surface. We show that surface wave methods can be a viable alternative to traditional refraction surveys in determining firn velocity structure. Surface wave methods can provide continuous shear wave velocity maps of the subsurface which can aid in developing a better understanding of firn mechanical properties and mechanisms of crevasse formation.
Sub-100-fs pulses at watt-level powers from a fiber laser

We report a mode-locked fiber laser that generates 31-nJ chirped pulses at 70-MHz repetition rate, for an average power of 2.2 W. After dechirping outside the cavity, 80-fs pulses, with 200-kW peak power, are obtained.
Strain-associated differences in hypoxic chemosensitivity of the carotid body in rats

Studies in humans indicate genetic effects on the ventilatory response to hypoxia, but the site of these effects is unknown. The present study explores the question of whether there are genetically...
The Neuro-Ophthalmic Examination

A properly performed history and examination are essential to diagnosing correctly neuro-ophthalmic disorders. Aspects of the neuro-ophthalmic history and examination, particularly those dealing with evaluation of visual loss, are reviewed.
Asymmetric responsiveness of disability and health-related quality of life to improvement versus decline in Parkinson’s disease

Clinical trials in Parkinson’s disease commonly employ outcome measures of disability and quality of life. Responsiveness of these outcomes measures to symptomatic decline versus improvement has not been studied. We wanted to study the responsiveness of Schwab & England Activities of Daily Living Scale (SE) and Short Form-12 (SF-12) to symptomatic decline versus improvement in Parkinson’s disease over a 4-year period among a naturalistic cohort of patients. Parkinson’s disease patients (N = 228, disease duration 6.1 years) were followed for 4 years with assessments of disease severity, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), health-related quality of life (SF-12 physical/mental health), and disability (SE). The sample was subdivided into those who declined (N = 118) or improved (N = 102) on total-UPDRS. Responsiveness was assessed with Cohen’s effect size and standardized response mean. At baseline, patients who improved over 4 years had greater disease severity and worse quality of life than decliners (p < .05). Decliners had a 13.5-point worsening on total-UPDRS, 26.3–39.8; p < .001) associated with concomitant decline on the SF-12 (physical health 42.9–39.2, mental health 50.0–46.6; both p < .001) and the SE (85–74 %; p < .001). Improvers had a 13.0-point improvement on total-UPDRS (39.8–26.8; p < .001) associated with minimal change on the SF-12 (physical health 40.8–39.5, mental health 47.1–46.3) and SE (79–79 %). Based on effect size, the rank order of responsiveness of measures for decliners from high to low was SE (−0.78), Short Form-12 mental health (−0.45), and SF-12 physical health (−0.34). Rank order of responsiveness for improvers was Short Form-12 physical health (−0.11), SF-12 mental health (−0.10), and SE (−0.03). Among decliners, measures of disability and quality of life were moderate to highly responsive to change in disease severity. Among improvers, both disability and quality of life were poorly responsive despite UPDRS improvement of comparable magnitude.
Cisplatin-etoposide based chemoradiation treatment for limited small cell lung cancer: the current situation.

Although the role of thoracic radiotherapy in limited small cell lung cancer has been established by two meta-analyses, optimization of radiotherapy with chemotherapy requires a full understanding of the chemotherapeutics used andl the factors involved in administration of thoracic radiotherapy. The Cisplatin-Etoposide (PE) combination has replaced the cyclophosphamide or cloxorubicin as the combination of choice, but it isn't clear whether the addition of the other agents add to benefit or toxicity. New agents continue to be sought to improve systemic failure. This paper focuses on the radiotherapy variables: close, volume, fractionation, temporal sequencing, andl variety of methods of combining the modalities are discussed
Recent advances in understanding neurotrophin signaling.

The nerve growth factor family of growth factors, collectively known as neurotrophins, are evolutionarily ancient regulators with an enormous range of biological functions. Reflecting this long history and functional diversity, mechanisms for cellular responses to neurotrophins are exceptionally complex. Neurotrophins signal through p75 NTR , a member of the TNF receptor superfamily member, and through receptor tyrosine kinases (TrkA, TrkB, TrkC), often with opposite functional outcomes. The two classes of receptors are activated preferentially by proneurotrophins and mature processed neurotrophins, respectively. However, both receptor classes also possess neurotrophin-independent signaling functions. Signaling functions of p75 NTR and Trk receptors are each influenced by the other class of receptors. This review focuses on the mechanisms responsible for the functional interplay between the two neurotrophin receptor signaling systems.
Access to Vagal Projections via Cutaneous Electrical Stimulation of the Neck: fMRI Evidence in Healthy Humans

Abstract Background Stimulation of the vagus nerve via implanted electrodes is currently used to treat refractory epilepsy and depression. Recently, a non-invasive approach to vagal stimulation has demonstrated similar beneficial effects, but it remains unclear whether these effects are mediated via activation of afferent vagal fibers. Objective The present study was designed to ascertain whether afferent vagal projections can be accessed non-invasively by transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the antero-lateral surface of the neck, which overlies the course of the vagus nerve. Methods Thirteen healthy subjects underwent 2 fMRI scans in one session. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation was applied for 2 min to the right postero-lateral surface of the neck during scan #1 (control condition, sternocleidomastoid stimulation: “SCM”) and to the right antero-lateral surface of the neck during scan #2 (experimental condition, non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation: “nVNS”). Two analyses were conducted using FSL (whole-brain and brainstem; corrected, p Results Compared to baseline and control (SCM) stimulation, nVNS significantly activated primary vagal projections including: nucleus of the solitary tract (primary central relay of vagal afferents), parabrachial area, primary sensory cortex, and insula. Regions of the basal ganglia and frontal cortex were also significantly activated. Deactivations were found in the hippocampus, visual cortex, and spinal trigeminal nucleus. Conclusion The present findings provide evidence in humans that cervical vagal afferents can be accessed non-invasively via transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the antero-lateral surface of the neck, which overlies the course of the nerve, suggesting an alternative and feasible method of stimulating vagal afferents.
Optimized measurement of gaps

Gaps are important in a wide range of measurements in manufacturing, from the fitting of critical assemblies too cosmetic features on cars. There are a variety of potential sensors that can measure a gap opening, each with aspects of gap measurements that they do well and other aspects where the technology may lack capability. This paper provides a review of a wide range of optical gages from structured light to passive systems and from line to area measurement. Each technology is considered relative to the ability to accurately measure a gap, including issues of edge effects, edge shape, surface finish, and transparency. Finally, an approach will be presented for creating an optimize measurement off gap openings for critical assembly applications.
Influence of gas compressibility on a burning accident in a mining passage

A recent predictive scenario of a methane/air/coal dust fire in a mining passage is extended by incorporating the effect of gas compressibility into the analysis. The compressible and incompressible formulations are compared, qualitatively and quantitatively, in both the two-dimensional planar and cylindrical-axisymmetric geometries, and a detailed parametric study accounting for coal-dust combustion is performed. It is shown that gas compression moderates flame acceleration, and its impact depends on the type of the fuel, its various thermal-chemical parameters as well as on the geometry of the problem. While the effect of gas compression is relatively minor for the lean and rich flames, providing 5–25% reduction in the burning velocity and thereby justifying the incompressible formulation in that case, such a reduction appears significant, up to 70% for near-stoichiometric methane–air combustion, and therefore it should be incorporated into a rigorous formulation. It is demonstrated that the flame tip v...
Kinetics study of the reactions of NO with FO, ClO, BrO, and IO at 298 K

The kinetics of the four considered reactions were studied by means of the discharge flow/mass spectrometric technique. The discharge flow/mass spectrometer has been described by Sander et al. (1981). The flow velocity in the investigation was varied in the range from 750 to 2100 cm/s, while total pressures in the range from 1.0 torr to 2.1 torr were employed. The results of the study are compared to the values of current literature. With minor exceptions, the new results are in excellent agreement with the data of the previous studies. It is pointed out that the reported results will have a minimal impact on the predictions of atmospheric photochemical model calculations as they have confirmed prior expectations.
Ovulation induction in hypergonadotropic amenorrhea with estrogen and human menopausal gonadotropin therapy

Les auteurs rapportent la possibilite d'obtenir des femmes jeunes presentant un tableau de menopause precoce, une stimulation d'ovulation voir meme d'une grossesse dans 2 cas sur 5. La stimulation ovarienne avec la sequence HMG-HCG n'est cependant possible qu'apres une impregnation prealable par des estrogenes. Ceci pourrait indiquer qu'en presence de taux eleves de FSH, il existe une regulation negative du recepteur de FSH qui empeche l'efficacite de la stimulation par HMG