cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Colony-Level 3D Photogrammetry Reveals That Total Linear Extension and Initial Growth Do Not Scale With Complex Morphological Growth in the Branching Coral, Acropora cervicornis

The ability to quantify changes in the structural complexity of reefs and individual coral colonies that build them is vital to understanding, managing, and restoring the function of these ecosystems. However, traditional methods for quantifying coral growth in situ fail to accurately quantify the diversity of morphologies observed both among and within species that contribute to topographical complexity. Three-dimensional (3D) photogrammetry has emerged as a powerful tool for the quantification of reefscape complexity but has yet to be broadly adopted for quantifying the growth and morphology of individual coral colonies. Here we debut a high-throughput method for colony-level 3D photogrammetry and apply this technique to explore the relationship between linear extension and other growth metrics in Acropora cervicornis. We fate-tracked 156 individual coral transplants to test whether initial growth can be used to predict subsequent patterns of growth. We generated photographic series of fragments in a restoration nursery immediately before transplanting to natural reef sites and re-photographed coral at 6 months and 1 year post-transplantation. Photosets were used to build 3D models with Agisoft Metashape, which was automated to run on a high-performance computing system using a custom script to serially process models without the need for additional user input. Coral models were phenotyped in MeshLab to obtain measures of total linear extension, surface area, volume, and volume of interstitial space (i.e. the space between branches). 3D-model based measures of total linear extension were highly similar to by-hand measurements made in the field (r = 0.98), demonstrating that this method is compatible with established techniques without additional in water effort. However, we identified an allometric relationship between the change in total linear extension and the volume of interstitial space, indicating that growth in higher order traits is not necessarily a linear function of growth in branch length. Additionally, relationships among growth measures weakened when comparisons were made across time points, implying that the use of early growth to predict future performance is limited. Taken together, results show that 3D photogrammetry is an information rich method for quantifying colony-level growth and its application can help address contemporary questions in coral biology.
Automating Information Extraction from Large Historical Topographic Map Archives: New Opportunities and Challenges

Historical maps constitute unique sources of retrospective geographic information. Recently, several archives containing historical map series covering large spatial and temporal extents have been systematically scanned and made available to the public. The spatial-temporal information contained in such archives represents valuable information for a myriad of scientific applications. However, this geographic information needs to be unlocked and provided in analysis-ready geospatial data formats using adequate extraction and recognition techniques that can handle the typically very large volumes of complex data and thus, requiring high degrees of automation. Whereas traditional approaches for information extraction from map documents typically involve a certain degree of user interaction, recently, a number of methods has been proposed aiming to overcome such shortcomings and to fully automate these information extraction tasks based on machine learning methods and the automated generation of training data, among others. In this chapter, we provide an overview of these recent trends, on existing, publicly available map archives, and the opportunities and challenges associated with these developments.
EEG hyperscanning in motor rehabilitation: a position paper

Studying the human brain during interpersonal interaction allows us to answer many questions related to motor control and cognition. For instance, what happens in the brain when two people walking side by side begin to change their gait and match cadences? Adapted from the neuroimaging techniques used in single-brain measurements, hyperscanning (HS) is a technique used to measure brain activity from two or more individuals simultaneously. Thus far, HS has primarily focused on healthy participants during social interactions in order to characterize inter-brain dynamics. Here, we advocate for expanding the use of this electroencephalography hyperscanning (EEG-HS) technique to rehabilitation paradigms in individuals with neurological diagnoses, namely stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). We claim that EEG-HS in patient populations with impaired motor function is particularly relevant and could provide additional insight on neural dynamics, optimizing rehabilitation strategies for each individual patient. In addition, we discuss future technologies related to EEG-HS that could be developed for use in the clinic as well as technical limitations to be considered in these proposed settings.
Real-time fluctuations in mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity, and their associations with craving and dietary lapse among those seeking weight loss

Abstract Background Mindful awareness, willingness and values clarity have been examined as protective factors across a wide range of problems, including overweight/obesity. However, these variables have almost exclusively been examined at the trait-level. It is possible that these variables also fluctuate within individuals in daily life, and that these intraindividual fluctuations may in turn be related to food craving and dietary lapse. The current study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine the extent to which momentary mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity varied within-person, and were associated with craving and likelihood of dietary lapse among weight-loss seeking individuals with overweight/obesity prior to starting a weight loss program. We also examined the extent to which craving was associated with dietary lapse. Methods Adults with overweight/obesity (N = 126) completed one week of EMA prior to enrolling in a randomized controlled trial of behavioral weight loss treatments. They responded to EMA questions assessing dietary lapses, craving, mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity six-times per day. Results Mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity demonstrated substantial within-person variability, and higher within-person mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity were concurrently (but not prospectively) associated with lower craving and likelihood of dietary lapse. Higher craving was concurrently (but not prospectively) associated with higher likelihood of dietary lapse. Between-person, higher mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity were associated with lower craving and likelihood of dietary lapse, and higher craving was associated with greater frequency of dietary lapses. Conclusion Mindful awareness, willingness, and values clarity vary substantially at the daily level, and may be important mechanisms to target to reduce craving and dietary lapses in the daily lives of individuals with overweight/obesity.
CPM–Cost Control by Computer

The background of construction cost control using network techniques is presented step by step. The computer aid in handling various categories of construction costs for making decisions is illustrated. Several cost control computer packages are presented to expose the reader to advantages and disadvantages in using a computer systems for construction cost control.
Alternate Plans for Waste Disposal

Several alternate plans for radwaste disposal have been presented over the last two decades, and the major alternatives are presented herein. Subseabed disposal is again receiving a high degree of interest, and will be examined in more detail than the other alternate methods.
Interactions Between Studies

As the Roundsman project evolved, it became increasingly clear that the issue of interaction between different studies was both clinically important and technically challenging. In the current Roundsman system, there is no representation of interstudy relationships. Although Roundsman does not currently deal with such interactions, I have devoted this chapter to setting down my current thoughts on the subject in an organized fashion. Thus, this chapter provides a preliminary skeleton upon which future research can build.
Exhaustive Enumeration and Bayesian Phase Inference

A strategy for haplotype inference will be described using graph-theoretic approaches to enumeration of admissible haplotype phases, coupled with Bayesian statistical inference for assessing likelihoods of alternative phasings. An application to the special problem of inference of phase from trisomic data (Down syndrome) will be presented.
Urban forest cover of the Chicago region and its relation to household density and income

Urban forests and herbaceous open space play a vital role in the environmental and aesthetic “health” of cities, yet they are rarely identified in land-use inventories of urban areas. To provide information on urban forests and other vegetative land cover in Illinois cities, Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data from June 27, 1988, were classified for the Chicago metropolitan region (9,717 km2). Ten land-cover classes were identified, including two types of forestland (occupying 5.8% of the total area), residential land with trees (14.6%) or without trees (7.8%), cropland (37.5%), two types of grassland (7.7%), urban with impervious surfaces (23.1%), water (1.6%), and miscellaneous vegetation (2.1%). Correlation analyses indicated that household income and household density are strongly related to land covers in the region, particularly those with tree cover and urbanized land. Population changes for 1980–1985 and 1985–2010 (projected) show a pattern of increasing density in the urbanized zone concurrent with continued urban sprawl, primarily into current cropland.
Nutrition Ad Claims and Disclosures: Interaction and Mediation Effects for Consumer Evaluations of the Brand and the Ad

The effects of ad disclosure information on evaluations of the brand, the advertisement, and purchase intentions are postulated to vary across different ad claim types. In addition, consumers' product health perceptions are hypothesized to mediate the effects of the disclosure information and ad claim type on brand and ad-related evaluations. Results from a between subjects' experiment show that the health perception measure mediates the effect of the disclosure on brand and ad evaluations, but the interaction between the ad claim type and the disclosure is not mediated by the inclusion in the model of consumers' product health perceptions.
Crisis vs. Controversy

Communication is a response that can mitigate and even restore the damage resulting from organizational crisis. Yet what is often asserted in most of the research is that organizations are in a state of crisis and that they are indeed engaging in crisis communication. Sometimes organizations are in controversy as opposed to crisis. The distinction between controversy and crisis, in turn, has implications for the practice of communication. The current paper takes the opportunity to show the fruitful directions to be taken up based on the differences between crisis and controversy and how these differences impact organizational communication.
Bis-(disubstitutedphosphinyl)-alkanes—V: Solvation of uranyl nitrate by bis-(di-n-hexylphosphinyl) -methane, -ethane, -propane, -butane, and by tri-n-octylphosphine oxide☆

Abstract The nature of the complexes existing in solutions of uranyl nitrate and various bifunctional phosphine oxides in several organic diluents (1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, nitrobenzene, and acetonitrile) was investigated. The bifunctional phosphine oxides studies have the general structure, R2-P(O)-(CH2)n-P(O)-R2, where R = n-hexyl group and n = 1, 2, 3, 4 for HDPM, HDPE, HDPP and HDPB, respectively. These compounds, like tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO), are all powerful extractants for many cations. Infra-red spectroscopic, partition, conductivity and viscosity data are given. These data show that the bifunctional compounds all form monosolvates with uranyl nitrate which appear to be similar to the disolvate formed by TOPO. In both cases the nitrate groups are strongly coordinated to uranium. Higher solvates are readily formed by the bifunctional compounds with the displacement of one or both nitrate groups from the coordination sphere of uranium. In the case of HDPM and HDPE it appears that disolvates are formed in which all four phosphoryl groups are symmetrically bonded to the uranyl ion. The appearance of ionic nitrate in solutions containing TOPO in excess of a 2:1 ligand to uranium ratio and of HDPP or HDPB in excess of a 1:1 ratio also indicates higher solvates in these cases. HDPB appears to form a 3:2 species. Loading capacity data indicate that if the organic phase is equilibrated with an aqueous phase containing a large excess of uranium, the lowest solvates are a disolvate for TOPO and a monosolvate for the bifunctional compounds. If solid uranyl nitrate dihydrate is added to the dry organic phase, the loading capacity indicates that a monosolvate is formed with TOPO and a hemisolvate with the bifunctional compounds. Hemisolvate formation is most extensive with HDPP and HDPB (n = 3, 4).
A correspondence metric for imitation

Learning by imitation is a powerful form of learning. Different forms of imitation, like mimicry, copying, response facilitation, etc. have been studied extensively (Miklosi 1999). Recent research in robotics has begun to explore imitation as a means to allow complex robots, like humanoid robots, acquire new skills (Swinson & Bruemmer 2000). One of the key issues in imitation learning is the correspondence problem. This problem concerns the answer to the question: what action sequence of the imitator is similar to that of the demonstrator and how similar it is? The notion of “similarity” has remained subjective thus far. Robotics research in imitation has mostly focussed on action learning and classification, and not on the correspondence problem. Our aim is to develop a generalized metric that provides a scalar measure of dissimilarity/distance between any given pair of action sequences. This, we expect would be a uniform means to evaluate imitation in agents. The metric can also be used as a part of the action selection mechanism in an imitator agent.
Vaccination Produces CD4 T Cells with a Novel CD154–CD40-Dependent Cytolytic Mechanism

The discovery of new vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer requires the development of novel adjuvants with well-defined activities. The TLR4 agonist adjuvant GLA-SE elicits robust Th1 responses to a variety of vaccine Ags and is in clinical development for both infectious diseases and cancer. We demonstrate that immunization with a recombinant protein Ag and GLA-SE also induces granzyme A expression in CD4 T cells and produces cytolytic cells that can be detected in vivo. Surprisingly, these in vivo CTLs were CD4 T cells, not CD8 T cells, and this cytolytic activity was not dependent on granzyme A/B or perforin. Unlike previously reported CD4 CTLs, the transcription factors Tbet and Eomes were not necessary for their development. CTL activity was also independent of the Fas ligand–Fas, TRAIL–DR5, and canonical death pathways, indicating a novel mechanism of CTL activity. Rather, the in vivo CD4 CTL activity induced by vaccination required T cell expression of CD154 (CD40L) and target cell expression of CD40. Thus, vaccination with a TLR4 agonist adjuvant induces CD4 CTLs, which kill through a previously unknown CD154-dependent mechanism.
Distribution of photoreceptor subtypes in the retina of diurnal and nocturnal primates

We have used antibodies specific to either the red/green-or blue-sensitive cones in order to compare their ratio and distributions to that of the rods in the retinae of 3 primate species that differ in their capacity for color vision. We have found that the monoclonal antibody CSA-1 (Johnson and Hageman, 1988) and the polyclonal antibody 4942A, specific to the red- and green-cone opsin (Lerea et al., 1989), applied to retinal whole-mounts labeled approximately 90% of all cones in the diurnal Old-World rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) and all of the cones in the nocturnal New-World owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) and nocturnal prosimian bushbaby (Galago garnetti). The polyclonal antibody 108B, specific to the blue-cone opsin (Lerea et al., 1989), labeled about 10% of the cones across the entire surface of the rhesus monkey retina, but failed to label any cones in the retina of the 2 nocturnal species. Only the retina of the rhesus monkey possessed an all-cone foveola in which the density of cone inner segments was 17-fold greater than that in the fovea of the owl monkey or bushbaby retina. Surprisingly, the density of cones per unit area outside of the fovea was comparable in all 3 species. Rod density in the dorsal retina was elevated in all animals examined, but was 2-3 times greater in the nocturnal species than in the rhesus monkey retina. Application of the photoreceptor-class-specific antibodies may provide further insights into the evolution and development of wavelength sensitivity in the retina, as well as enhance our understanding of normal and abnormal color vision in humans.
Addressing Open Questions about Phosphate Hydrolysis Pathways by Careful Free Energy Mapping

The nature and mechanism of phosphate hydrolysis reactions are of great interest in view of the crucial role of these reactions in key biological processes. Although it is becoming clearer that the ultimate way of resolving mechanistic controversies must involve reliable theoretical studies, it is not widely realized that such studies cannot be performed at present by using most existing automated ways and that only careful systematic studies can lead to meaningful conclusions. The present work clarifies the above point by considering the hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters. The clarification starts by defining the actual issues that should be addressed in careful studies and by highlighting the problems with studies that ignore the need for unique mechanistic definitions (e.g., works that confuse associative and dissociative pathways). We then focus on the analysis of the proton transfer (PT) pathways in phosphate hydrolysis and on recent suggestions that PT involves more than one water molecule. Here we point out that most of the studies that found a proton transfer through several water molecules have not involved a sufficient systematic search of the relevant reaction coordinates. This includes both energy minimization approaches as well as a recent metadynamics (MTD) simulation study. To illustrate the crucial need of exploring the potential surfaces reliably, rather than relying on automated approaches, we present here a very careful study of the free energy landscape along a 3D reaction coordinate (RC) exploring both the standard 2D RC, comprised of the attacking and leaving group reaction coordinates, as well as of the proton transfer (PT) coordinate. Our study points out that QM/MM minimization or MTD studies that concluded that the hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters involves a PT through several water molecules, have not explored carefully the single water (1W) path (that involves a direct PT form the attacking water molecule to the phosphate oxygen). Furthermore, we identified the most likely reason for the difficulty in finding the 1W path by QM/MM minimization methods, as well as by the current MTD simulations. We also discuss the problems with current studies that challenge the phosphate as a base mechanism and emphasize that all recent studies found associative/concerted paths (although many have not realized the meaning of their results). Finally, although we clearly do not have the last word about the 1W versus 2W paths we believe that we illustrated that the crucial mechanistic problems with alternative pathways should not be resolved by just running black box search approaches.
CT evaluation of the equivocal pulmonary nodule

In the setting of a questionable pulmonary nodule demonstrated by conventional radiographs, the place of CT in the diagnostic algorithm is not well established. We reviewed our experience in 50 consecutive patients referred to CT for a "possible pulmonary nodule." From the chest radiographs we noted nodule location, maximum dimension, presence on one or both views, and presence on a previous radiograph (greater than 1 year old), and nodules were categorized as "likely" or "unlikely" to be real parenchymal lesions based on radiographic appearance. Of a total of 56 questionable nodules, CT demonstrated no abnormality in 21 cases, parenchymal nodules in 16, scarring, atelectasis, or infiltrate in 11, and normal structural variants in 8. True pulmonary nodules were statistically significantly more frequently categorized as "likely" lesions than normal variants or no disease, but this was not of a magnitude to be clinically useful. Based on analysis of various radiographic features of equivocal nodules and their subsequent outcomes, we suggest a radiologic approach to the equivocal pulmonary nodule.
The strategy effectiveness chart

Abstract Professionals in the field of emergency response and risk management are frequently unable to assess the cost-effectiveness of alternative earthquake mitigation strategies. This is partly because such strategies vary widely by type, target group and method of implementation, and also because a simple and readily usable evaluation tool does not currently exist. In addition to shedding light on cost-effectiveness, a good evaluation tool would address a variety of other issues such as: who benefits and who pays; and how much safety does a given investment provide? This paper describes a decision support tool, the Strategy Effectiveness Chart (SEC), which is currently being formulated to assist in answering these questions. The construction of an SEC and the results of applying it to the residential sector of Los Angeles, California, are discussed to show the utility of this approach.
Trade Efficiency and Trade Points: Small Versus Large Players

The impact of Trade Points on corporate performance depends on assumptions about returns to scale, types of games played, and size of gains in demand and revenues vis-$aacute;-viscosts. Specifically: (i) in a world of profit- maximizing firms, when the contribution of Trade Points to total revenues exceeds the additional costs, Trade Points help both small firms and Large ones with the size of gains depending on the types of returns to scale and the size of demand change: and (ii) whether to connect to Trade Points depends on the type of games assumed and the size of demand gains vis-$aacute;-viscosts. [F12, D00, L13, L86]
Comparison of microwave brightness temperatures and radar reflectivity measurements

Satellite-sensor based microwave brightness temperatures are compared with radar based reflectivities for a three-dimensional mining cloud. The brightness temperatures are computed using a radiative transfer model based on the discrete-ordinates method. The synthetic reflectivities are generated from a three-dimensional physically based radar simulation. Comparisons between the brightness temperature and reflectivity fields at matched resolutions appear to be well correlated and may indicate that reflectivity measurements could be combined with brightness temperature observations in order to estimate rainrates. Results of a simulation examining the relationship between surface rainfall rate, reflectivity, and brightness temperature measurements are reported. The stochastic framework of this study allows the variance of remotely sensed quantities to be described in terms of variations that might occur in realistic precipitation events, and provides a framework for calibrating satellite-based rainfall estimation methods using radar measured refiectivities.
Beyond the interpersonal circumplex in group psychotherapy: the structure and relationship to outcome of the Individual Group Member Interpersonal Process Scale.

Development of a new scale to measure patient behavior in group psychotherapy, the Individual Group Member Interpersonal Process Scale (IGIPS), is described. This scale captures clinically important aspects of how patients act in group, including how they respond to the other group members. The IGIPS was applied to videotapes of the first four sessions of seven 15-session outpatient therapy groups (52 patients) in the Mental Heatlh Department of a health maintenance organization. The scale was found to have five factors (Activity, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Comfort with Self, Self-Focus, and Psychological Mindedness). Patient behavior that was moderate on two IGIPS dimensions was connected with better outcome than was that of patients with more extreme behavior in either direction. Portions of this work were presented to the meeting of the North American Society for Psychotherapy Research, Panama City, FL, November 1991. This work was supported by grant R01-MH40131-04 from the National Institute of Mental Health and by support from the Harvard Community Health Plan Foundation.
Design and development of a 5.25 GHz software defined wireless OFDM communication platform

With growing interest in broadband wireless communication systems, a research platform for evaluating various communication schemes becomes essential. Such a system can be used to validate the assumptions and results of various theoretical and simulation-based studies. This article discusses the design and development of a multicarrier multi-antenna software defined radio, operating at 5.25 GHz in a 25 MHz bandwidth. The calibration process is described in detail along with a discussion of all the issues such as I/Q mismatch and phase noise that degrade and limit the performance of the system. Hardware and software solutions to these problems are described. Results of the calibration process and wireless experiments on the system are presented as well.
Agarose Gel Electrophoresis Reveals Structural Fluidity of a Phage T3 DNA Packaging Intermediate

We find a new aspect of DNA packaging-associated structural fluidity for phage T3 capsids. The procedure is (i) glutaraldehyde cross-linking of in vivo DNA packaging intermediates for the stabilization of structure and then (ii) determining effective radius by two-dimensional agarose gel electrophoresis (2D-AGE). The intermediates are capsids with incompletely packaged DNA (ipDNA) and without an external DNA segment; these intermediates are called ipDNA-capsids. We initially increase the production of ipDNA-capsids by raising NaCl concentration during in vivo DNA packaging. By 2D-AGE, we find a new state of contracted shell for some particles of one previously identified ipDNA-capsid. The contracted shell-state is found when the ipDNA length/mature DNA length (F) is above 0.17, but not at lower F. Some contracted-shell ipDNA-capsids have the phage tail; others do not. The contracted-shell ipDNA-capsids are explained by premature DNA maturation cleavage that makes accessible a contracted-shell intermediate of a cycle of the T3 DNA packaging motor. The analysis of ipDNA-capsids, rather than intermediates with uncleaved DNA, provides a simplifying strategy for a complete biochemical analysis of in vivo DNA packaging.
Object classifiction with recurrent feedback neural networks

We present a mathematical model of interacting neuron- like units that we call Recurrent Feedback Neuronal Networks (RFNN). Our model is closer to biological neural networks than current approaches (e.g. Layered Neural Networks, Perceptron, etc.). Classification and reasoning in RFNN are accomplished by an iterative algorithm, and learning changes only structure (weights are fixed in RFNN). Thus it emphasizes network structure over edge weights. RFNNs are more flexible and scalable than previous approaches. In particular, integration of a new node can affect the outcome of existing nodes without modifying their prior structure. RFNN can produce informative responses to partial inputs or when the networks are extended to other tasks. It also enables recognition of complex entities (e.g. images) from parts. This new model is promising for future contributions to integrated human-level intelligent applications due to its flexibility, dynamics and structural similarity to natural neuronal networks.
Bacteriophage P22 tail accessory factor gp26 is a long triple-stranded coiled-coil

Abstract P22 is a well characterized tailed bacteriophage that infects Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. It is characterized by a “short” tail, which is formed by five proteins: the dodecameric portal protein (gp1), three tail accessory factors (gp4, gp10, gp26), and six trimeric copies of the tail-spike protein (gp9). We have isolated the gene encoding tail accessory factor gp26, which is responsible for stabilization of viral DNA within the mature phage, and using a variety of biochemical and biophysical techniques we show that gp26 is very likely a triple stranded coiled-coil protein. Electron microscopic examination of purified gp26 indicates that the protein adopts a rod-like structure ∼210 A in length. This trimeric rod displays an exceedingly high intrinsic thermostability (Tm ∼85 °C), which suggests a potentially important structural role within the phage tail apparatus. We propose that gp26 forms the thin needle-like fiber emanating from the base of the P22 neck that has been observed by electron microscopy of negatively stained P22 virions. By analogy with viral trimeric coiled-coil class I membrane fusion proteins, gp26 may represent the membrane-penetrating device used by the phage to pierce the host outer membrane.
A paleo-Brahmaputra? Subsurface lithofacies analysis of Miocene deltaic sediments in the Himalayan–Bengal system, Bangladesh

Abstract The Bengal foreland basin contains a succession of up to 16+ km of dominantly deltaic deposits, eroded from the eastern Himalayas and the Indo–Burman ranges and carried by major river systems similar to the present-day Ganges and Brahmaputra. Analysis of electric logs and core descriptions acquired during oil and gas exploration in Bangladesh allows construction of lithofacies maps, which constrain depositional patterns of Miocene strata. Compilations of sand thickness and sand/shale ratio of the Miocene Surma Group show that Lower to Middle Miocene strata of the Bhuban Formation accumulated in a large, elongate trough. Sand thickness and percentage both decrease markedly away from this depocenter, which describes a large-scale bend, running initially westward from Rashidpur (northeast Bengal basin) and curving southward toward the Bengal fan. Middle to Upper Miocene strata of the Boka Bil Formation show a similar geographic trend in deposition of coarsest and thickest sediment, but the major depocenter had shifted northward relative to that of the Bhuban Formation by some 30 km, passing near Beani Bazar. These trends suggest that deltaic deposits of the Surma Group filled the Sylhet trough of the northeast Bengal basin from the east. Published seismic data from western Bangladesh show that additional large channels also contributed materials to the Bengal basin from the northwest during the Late Miocene, but these channels resulted in very little accumulation in the northwestern part of the basin, probably due to restricted subsidence of underlying continental crust. This study suggests that there was a major drainage system similar to the modern Brahmaputra River during Miocene time, which carried orogenic sediments eroded from the uplifted terranes of the eastern Himalayas and Indo–Burman ranges to the eastern Bengal delta.
A versatile method for planning stereotactic brain implants

Our approach to planning stereotactic 125I brachytherapy of braintumors has involved least‐squares optimization of individual seed positions within the target contour, followed by repeated combining of seeds from nearest‐neighbor catheters in order to achieve an acceptably low number of catheters and an acceptable separation of entry points. In one option, the catheters diverge from an extra‐cranial point that can be close to the skull if all catheters are to be placed through a small craniectomy to treat a larger‐diameter target. In another option, catheters converge toward a point beyond the target, to facilitate perpendicularity at the skull surface if a separate opening is to be drilled for each catheter. In either case, the fact that seed orientations are known, permits including anisotropy in dose calculations. Trial seed locations are constrained to a target region defined on a 1‐mm mesh, both in the initial optimization of single‐seed catheters and in subsequent combinations followed by tune‐up optimizations. In the optimization process, sum‐of‐squares contributions are weighted more heavily when the dose rate is lower than the target dose rate; the weighting imbalance falls short of keeping all target points above the target dose rate and requires targeting on a dose rate about 25% higher than the desired minimum dose rate.
Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Fluid Distribution and Movement in Textiles

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to characterize fluid distribution and movement in textiles. The standard spin-echo sequence commonly used in the medical field is not suitable for quantita...
Grasshopper Community Response to Climatic Change: Variation Along an Elevational Gradient

Background The impacts of climate change on phenological responses of species and communities are well-documented; however, many such studies are correlational and so less effective at assessing the causal links between changes in climate and changes in phenology. Using grasshopper communities found along an elevational gradient, we present an ideal system along the Front Range of Colorado USA that provides a mechanistic link between climate and phenology.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Management of Atypical Osseous Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma

Hemangioendothelioma is a rare vascular tumor of intermediate malignant potential. Though epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EH) is commonly found in soft tissues, it has been known to be present in skeletal tissues. The authors present a case of a 50-year-old woman diagnosed with EH of the iliac bone and acetabulum, who experienced pathological fracture at presentation. This report describes a multidisciplinary approach to the management that includes initial incisional biopsy, curettage, and bone grafting, followed by Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. The patient finally underwent hemipelvic resection with allograft reconstruction after recurrence. Histopathological study revealed osseous EH of low mitotic activity that stained positively for CD31, CD34, vimentin, and Factor VIII. Herein, the authors discuss the imaging characteristics, histopathological aspects, cytogenetic findings, and the radiobiological behavior of osseous EH. After an aggressive multidisciplinary intervention, the patient is able to achieve local control with no evidence of distal metastatic disease.
Fluctuation of a planar Brownian loop capturing a large area

We consider a planar Brownian loop B that is run for a time T and conditioned on the event that its range encloses the unusually high area of πT 2 , with T ∈ (0, ∞) being large. The conditioned process, denoted by X, was proposed by Senya Shlosman as a model for the fluctuation of a phase boundary. We study the deviation of the range of X from a circle of radius T. This deviation is measured by the inradius R in (X) and outradius R out (X), which are the maximal radius of a disk enclosed by the range of X, and the minimal radius of a disk that contains this range. We prove that, in a typical realization of the conditioned measure, each of these quantities differs from T by at most T 2/3+e .
Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Type 1 Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor Ubiquitination

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors form tetrameric channels in endoplasmic reticulum membranes of mammalian cells and mediate IP3-induced calcium mobilization. In response to various extracellular stimuli that persistently elevate IP3 levels, IP3 receptors are also ubiquitinated and then degraded by the proteasome. Here, for endogenous type 1 IP3 receptor (IP3R1) activated by endogenous signaling pathways and processed by endogenous enzymes, we sought to determine the sites of ubiquitination and the composition of attached ubiquitin conjugates. Our findings are (i) that at least 11 of the 167 lysines in IP3R1 can be ubiquitinated and that these are clustered in the regulatory domain and are found in surface regions, (ii) that at least ∼40! of the IP3R1-associated ubiquitin is monoubiquitin, (iii) that both Lys48 and Lys63 linkages are abundant in attached ubiquitin chains, and (iv) that Lys63 linkages accumulate most rapidly. Additionally, we find that not all IP3R1 subunits in a tetramer are ubiquitinated and that nontetrameric IP3R1 complexes form as degradation proceeds, suggesting that ubiquitinated subunits may be selectively extracted and degraded. Overall, these data show that endogenous IP3R1 is tagged with an array of ubiquitin conjugates at multiple sites and that both IP3R1 ubiquitination and degradation are highly complex processes.
Studies of α-Helicity and Intersegmental Interactions in Voltage-Gated Na+ Channels: S2D4

Much data, including crystallographic, support structural models of sodium and potassium channels consisting of S1–S4 transmembrane segments (the “voltage-sensing domain”) clustered around a central pore-forming region (S5–S6 segments and the intervening loop). Voltage gated sodium channels have four non-identical domains which differentiates them from the homotetrameric potassium channels that form the basis for current structural models. Since potassium and sodium channels also exhibit many different functional characteristics and the fourth domain (D4) of sodium channels differs in function from other domains (D1–D3), we have explored its structure in order to determine whether segments in D4 of sodium channels differ significantly from that determined for potassium channels. We have probed the secondary and tertiary structure and the role of the individual amino acid residues of the S2D4) of Nav1.4 by employing cysteine-scanning mutagenesis (with tryptophan and glutamine substituted for native cysteine). A Fourier transform power spectrum of perturbations in free energy of steady-state inactivation gating (using midpoint potentials and slopes of Boltzmann equation fits of channel availability, h∞-V plots) indicates a substantial amount of α-helical structure in S2D4 (peak at 106°, α-Periodicity Index (α-PI) of 3.10), This conclusion is supported by α-PI values of 3.28 and 2.84 for the perturbations in rate constants of entry into (β) and exit from (α) fast inactivation at 0 mV for mutant channels relative to WT channels assuming a simple two-state model for transition from the open to inactivated state. The results of cysteine substitution at the two most sensitive sites of the S2D4 α-helix (N1382 and E1392C) support the existence of electrostatic network interactions between S2 and other transmembrane segments within Nav1.4D4 similar to but not identical to those proposed for K+ channels.
Properties of vibrating skrymions

After a remotivation of the model, it is shown that it is possible to incorporate vibrational effects in calculating the properties of the solitons of the Skyrme model. This formalism is applied to the calculation of properties of the low-lying baryonic solitons of the Skryme model. The only parameters entering in the theory are Fπ and mπ. The mass of the proton in the massless pion limit is 5.62 Fπ = 1045 MeV.
Mobilization of soil organic matter by complexing agents and implications for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon desorption

Complexing agents are frequently used in treatment technologies to remediate soils, sediments and wastes contaminated with toxic metals. The present study reports results that indicate that the rate and extent of soil organic matter (SOM) as represented by dissolved natural organic carbon (DNOC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) desorption from a contaminated soil from a manufactured gas plant (MGP) site can be significantly enhanced with the aid of complexing agents. Desorption of DNOC and PAH compounds was pH dependent, with minimal release occurring at pH 2-3 and maximal release at pH 7-8. At pH-6, chelate solutions were shown to dissolve large amounts of humic substances from the soil compared to controls. The complexing agents mobilized polyvalent metal ions, particularly Fe and Al from the soil. Metal ion chelation may disrupt humic (metal ion)-mineral linkages, resulting in mobilization of SOM and accompanying PAH molecules into the aqueous phase; and/or reduce the degree of cross-linking in the soil organic matter phase, which could accelerate PAH diffusion.
Digital image processing of chest radiographs to compensate for the limitations of video displays

The acceptance of digital workstations as primary diagnostic devices for chest radiographs will be precluded if there is a reduction in the radiologist's accuracy of diagnosis compared to that achieved with conventional screen-film images. Reduction in diagnostic efficacy is believed to be partially due to a reduction in contrast resolution on video monitors. We present the results of a pilot study that tests the ability of the contrast-enhancement algorithm artifact-suppressed adaptive histogram equalization (ASAHE) to compensate for reduced contrast resolution. The ASAHE algorithm is compared to a computed radiographic algorithm that previously delivered observer performance inferior to conventional screen-film images. The algorithms are compared on the basis of five readers interpreting an image set consisting of 45 dllnical cases, 23 of which are confirmed as demonstrating pneumothoraces. Detection efficacy, measured by the area under a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, is not significantly different for the two algorithms. The average ROC curves for the algorithms have different shapes, suggesting that the ASAHE algorithm is affecting diagnostic performance in a way that is not well understood. The results of the pilot study indicate that a test with higher statistical power would need to be performed using this algorithm to form a final estimate of its usefulness.
Across the divide: religious objections to brain death.

This article reviews the evolution of the medical-legal definition of brain death, as well as the normative debate surrounding this reconceptualization. It offers a clinical approach to address religious objections to brain death, which prefers negotiation over confrontation when families and practicitioners must discern the boundaries between life and death.
μl Na+ channels expressed transiently in human embryonic kidney cells: Biochemical and biophysical properties

Abstract We describe the transient expression of the rat skeletal muscle μl Na + channel in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. Functional channels appear at a density of ∼30 in a 10 μm 2 patch, comparable to those of native excitable cells. Unlike pl currents in oocytes, inactivation gating is predominantly (∼97%) fast, although clear evidence is provided for noninactivating gating modes, which have been linked to anomalous behavior in the inherited disorder hyperkalemic periodic paralysis. Sequence-specific antibodies detect a ∼230 kd glycopeptide. The majority of molecules acquire only neutral oligosaccharides and are retained within the cell. Electrophoretic mobility on SDS gels suggests the molecules may acquire covalently attached lipid. The channel is readily phosphorylated by activation of the protein kinase A and protein kinase C second messenger pathways.
Symptom Management for Cancer Patients: A Trial Comparing Two Multimodal Interventions

The results of a randomized controlled trial that tested the effects of eight-week, six-contact multidimensional interactive interventions for symptom management are presented. Four hundred and thirty-five cancer patients with solid tumors undergoing chemotherapy were randomized to receive either nurse-assisted symptom management (NASM) or automated telephone symptom management (ATSM). A prior trial established the effectiveness of NASM compared with conventional care. Seventeen symptoms commonly experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy were rated on a scale from 0 to 10 and were evaluated at baseline, at each of the six intervention contacts, and postintervention observation at 10 weeks. Both groups achieved significant reduction in symptom severity over baseline, and there was no difference between groups on symptom severity at 10 weeks. Randomization accounted for possible reductions in severity due to response shifts. Severity of symptoms reported by patients at each of the six intervention contacts was measured using a Rasch model. Symptom pattern was different for lung and non-lung cancer patients, and they were analyzed separately. Longitudinal analyses revealed that lung cancer patients with greater symptom severity withdrew from later intervention contacts of the ATSM. The results suggest that both NASM and ATSM achieved a clinically significant reduction in symptom severity. The NASM may be more effective than ATSM in retaining lung cancer patients in the intervention. Further testing of ATSM supplemented by NASM for patients with severe symptoms is warranted.
Effects of Support on Sulfur Tolerance and Regeneration of Pt Catalysts Measured by Ethylene Hydrogenation and EXAFS

The effect of support on sulfur tolerance and regenerability under reducing environments was investigated by rate measurements for ethylene hydrogenation, hydrogen chemisorption, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). Catalysts, 1 % Pt/Al2O3 and 1 % Pt/P25 (TiO2), were tested after sulfidation in H2S/H2 at 250 °C followed by regeneration treatments in H2 at 250, 350 and 450 °C. Our combined results showed a 20–27 times decrease in the rate of ethylene hydrogenation on both sulfided catalysts, accompanied by a 4–6 times drop in the Pt surface area. Regenerations up to 450 °C were unable to remove all the sulfur, as evidenced by the presence of Pt–S bonds by EXAFS at about 2.25–2.33 A, characteristic lengths for chemisorbed sulfur and bulk-type PtS. However, a partial recovery of the hydrogenation rate per mole of Pt was observed on sulfided Pt/Al2O3 after reduction at 450 °C, while the induction of strong metal support interactions (SMSI) at reduction temperature above 350 °C was observed on Pt/P25, regardless of the presence of sulfur. For Pt/P25, the reversal of the SMSI state together with sulfur removal by mild oxidation suggests that sequential reduction/oxidation treatments may be more effective in restoring the S-free state of TiO2-supported catalysts. Pt/Al2O3 and Pt/TiO2 (P25) sulfur tolerance and regenerability were evaluated after reduction treatments in H2. Both catalysts were equally poisoned by sulfur based on C2H4 hydrogenation. Reduction treatments up to 450 °C were not able to remove sulfur on either catalyst. Sulfur on Pt may inhibit the formation of the SMSI state on Pt/TiO2, especially below 350 °C.
Effects of imipramine on responding reduced by methadone

Interactions between methadone and acute and chronic imipramine were studied in pigeons key pecking under a multiple variable interval 15-sec variable interval 150-sec schedule of food presentation. Both drugs decreased response rates at the highest doses. The VI 15-sec schedule was slightly more sensitive to acute drug administration than was the variable interval 150-sec schedule. Acute combinations of the two drugs neither ameliorated nor exacerbated the effects of either drug alone. Chronic imipramine alone had no lasting effect on responding. Unlike acute combinations, chronic imipramine lessened the rate reducing effect of methadone.