cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Echocardiographic imaging of technically difficult patients in the intensive care unit: use of optison in combination with fundamental and harmonic imaging.

Abstract Previous studies of intravenous contrast agents have excluded patients in the intensive care unit. These patients remain among the most technically difficult to image with ultrasound. We studied the effect of different imaging modalities with and without intravenous contrast (Optison) on endocardial border visualization during echocardiography. Fifty patients in the intensive care unit (32 men, 24 on mechanical ventilator, 10 with chest bandages; mean age, 59 years; mean weight, 91.7 kg; mean height, 67.6 inches) were considered to have technically difficult images when the endocardium could not be visualized in at least 2 of the 6 segments in either apical view. Each patient was studied with the use of fundamental (F), harmonic (H), fundamental + Optison (F + O), and H + O techniques, with standard long-axis, short-axis, and apical 4- and 2-chamber views. Intravenous Optison (0.5 to 1.5 mL) was given before F + O and H + O imaging. There were no contrast-related side effects noted. All images were stored digitally in a quad-screen format. For each set of images, segments (n = 22) were given an endocardial border visualization score of 0 if not visualized, 1 if visualized in either systole or diastole, and 2 if visualized in both. There was stepwise improvement in endocardial border visualization, with mean endocardial border visualization score of 1.09 ± 0.83 (F), 1.33 ± 0.81 (H), 1.64 ± 0.62 (F + O), and 1.90 ± 0.35 (H + O). There was a statistically significant difference between each group ( P P (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2001;14:917-20.)
FIR polarimetry diagnostic for the C-Mod tokamak

A three-chord polarimeter on Alcator C-Mod will make measurements of the poloidal magnetic field and plasma fluctuations. The beams from two frequency-offset, 200 mW, FIR lasers operating at 117.73 ?m are combined to produce collinear, counter-rotating, circularly polarized beams. The beams are divided into three chords which are directed into the plasma at one toroidal location. Corner cube retro-reflectors mounted on the inside wall return the beam for a double pass. The mixing product of the two beams is detected both before (reference) and after (signal) the plasma using polarization sensitive detectors that produce a beat signal at ~ 4 MHz. During the plasma discharge, the phase delay of the signal mixer, which depends on the Faraday effect, is evaluated with respect to the reference and produces line-integrated information on the poloidal magnetic field. Measurements on C-Mod require the phase error to be at the 0.1 degree level, and great care in the design of optical mounts, polarizers, beam-splitters, focusing optics, and acoustic and magnetic shielding was required. Development of new planar diode Schottky detectors was necessary to provide high sensitivity for a diagnostic that will eventually have at least six chords. Absorption of the FIR laser light by water vapor requires that the entire beam path be purged with dry air. Six retro-reflectors on the inner wall arranged in an ITER-like configuration provide poloidally viewing chords from near the mid-plane to well into the plasma scrape off layer. A pneumatically controlled shutter protects the in-vessel optics during boronizations and during limited discharges that might accelerate damage to the retro-reflector surfaces. Tests indicate there is no measurable signal contamination from the toroidal magnetic field due to the Cotton-Mouton effect. Polarization sensitivity of the wire mesh beamsplitters necessitated system calibration. Good agreement to EFIT reconstructions has been observed along with plasma fluctuations up to 400 kHz.
From Association to Conference

N THE field of education, as in nearly every other aspect of American life, the past quarter-century has produced truly significant changes. The same pressures which urged us on with desperation in the areas of science and mathematics have been at work also-though with somewhat less urgency-in the field of foreign language teaching and learning. Vast sums of money have been expended by the federal government through the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) and its successor the Education Professions Development Act (EPDA) in efforts to up-grade our profession and to provide truly meaningful and relevant foreign language learning experiences for the children of our nation. The ultimate success or
The DNA Damage Response: Ten Years After

The DNA damage response (DDR), through the action of sensors, transducers, and effectors, orchestrates the appropriate repair of DNA damage and resolution of DNA replication problems, coordinating these processes with ongoing cellular physiology. In the past decade, we have witnessed an explosion in understanding of DNA damage sensing, signaling, and the complex interplay between protein phosphorylation and the ubiquitin pathway employed by the DDR network to execute the response to DNA damage. These findings have important implications for aging and cancer.
Surface tension driven jet break up of strain-hardening polymer solutions

Experimental studies attempting to ascertain the influence of viscoelasticity on the atomization of polymer solution are often hindered by the inability to decouple the effect of shear thinning from the effect of extensional hardening. Here, the influence of viscoelasticity on the jet break up of a series of non-shear-thinning viscoelastic fluids is quantified. Previous characterization using an opposed-nozzle rheometer identified the critical extensional rates for strain hardening of these model fluids. The strain hardening fluids exhibit a beads-on-string structure with reduction or elimination of satellite drops. Capillary instabilities grow on the filaments connecting the spheres and eventually break the filaments up into a string of very small drops about one order of magnitude smaller than the satellite drops formed by a Newtonian fluid with the same shear viscosity, surface tension, and density. These results confirm that strain hardening is the key rheological property in jet break up and that the critical extensional rate of a fluid is pertinent in determining the final characteristics of break up. Results suggest that the opposed-nozzle rheometer does probe extensional behavior in the range of extensional rates that are relevant to jet break up, providing a tool to roughly predict jet break up.
Intraorganizational mobility and work related attitudes

Summary Survey responses of 690 employees of a state agency were used to investigate the idea that internal mobility experiences 'spill over' to affect a variety of job attitudes and perceptions. Having one's internal mobility expectations met, as opposed to unmet, was associated with more favorable work-related attitudes, a finding not moderated by demographic factors. Furthermore, employees denied a job change for 'fair' reasons generally exhibited more favorable work-related attitudes than those denied for a reason construed as 'unfair' (e.g. sex discrimination, reverse discrimination). Demographic characteristics were again observed to moderate few relationships.
EFFECT OF AROUSAL AND INTELLIGENCE ON BINOCULAR RIVALRY RATE.

Variation in rate of binocular rivalry alternation was measured in 40 undergraduate males as a function of physiological arousal induced by threat of shock and as a function of differences in verbal intelligence. Neither variable was related to changes in rate. Visual acuity and phoria were not correlated with rate. Temporal reliability of rate was on the order of .90. For all Ss rate increased significantly over trials (p < .01). Interpretations of these data are discussed.
Organotropism and prognostic marker discordance in distant metastases of breast carcinoma: fact or fiction? A clinicopathologic analysis

Prior studies have suggested that the type of breast cancer influences the location of distant metastases ("organotropism") and that there may be discordance of estrogen receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) expression between primaries and metastases. Our aims were to investigate the relationship between tumor type and metastatic site and to compare biomarker expression between primary and metastatic tumors. We retrospectively reviewed 102 biopsy-proven cases of breast cancer metastatic to distant sites from 2000 to 2010 and 34 corresponding primaries for histologic subtype, grade, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and expression of estrogen receptor and Her2. Most metastases were of ductal (88) and lobular (11) histologic types. Available data on primaries indicated that the majority were grade III with positive lymph node metastasis and lymphovascular invasion. Biomarkers on 73 metastases showed 37 estrogen receptor positive/Her2-, 6 estrogen receptor positive/Her2+, 8 estrogen receptor negative/Her2+, and 22 estrogen receptor negative/Her2-. The most common metastatic sites were the lung (26%), bone (32%), and liver (21%). We found no association between estrogen receptor/Her2 profile and metastatic site (P = .16). When compared with ductal carcinoma, lobular carcinoma showed a unique metastatic pattern to gastrointestinal tract/gynecologic sites (P = .014). Of 34 cases with paired prognostic markers for primary and metastatic sites, 7 (20%) demonstrated discordance in estrogen receptor-positive/Her2 profile between the primary and the metastasis. Because the estrogen receptor-positive/Her2 profile of metastatic breast cancer did not always match that of the primary tumor, it is important to repeat the prognostic markers of metastasis.
Impact of R-parity violation on supersymmetry searches at the Fermilab Tevatron.

We evaluate cross sections for [ital ];sE[sub [ital T]], 1[ital l], and various dilepton and multilepton event topologies that result from the simultaneous production of all sparticles at the Fermilab Tevatron collider, both within the minimal model framework as well as in two different [ital R]-parity-violating scenarios. Our analysis assumes that these [ital R]-violating couplings are small, and that their sole effect is to cause the lightest supersymmetric particle to decay inside the detector. We reassess future strategies for sparticle searches at the Tevatron, and quantify by how much the various signals for supersymmetry could differ from their minimal model expectations, if [ital R] parity is not conserved due to either baryon-number- or lepton-number-violating operators. We also evaluate the Tevatron reach in [ital m][sub [ital [tilde g]]] for the various models, and find that rate-limited multilepton signals ultimately provide the largest reach for both [ital R]-parity-conserving and [ital R]-parity-violating cases.
Evidence for toxic anthropogenic chemicals in human thrombogenic coronary plaques.

Thrombogenic coronary plaques are characteristic lesions associated with the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis and result from the progressive degeneration in the structure of the intima of the large elastic blood vessels. This disease accounts for nearly half of all human deaths in advanced industrial societies.
Control of Ia afferent input to triceps surae (soleus) locomotor nucleus precedes agonist muscle activation during gait

Modulation of the triceps surae (soleus) H-reflex was investigated during treadmill walking to elucidate the temporal relationship between reflex facilitation and initiation of agonist muscle activation. Constant effective stimulation of the tibial nerve evoked the H-reflex. Contact foot switches monitored phases of the gait cycle. H-reflex changes were assessed at predetermined intervals across a window that anticipated the onset of soleus muscle electromyographic (EMG) activation. In five of six healthy subjects, multiphase statistical models revealed a 'breakpoint', reflecting a significant rise in H-reflex amplitude, beginning with stimuli delivered 144.1, 142.9, 148.8, 186.4 and 140.5 ms, respectively, prior to mean onset of EMG activity in the soleus muscle. In the sixth subject, no breakpoint was identified although the H-reflex amplitude gradually increased across the analysis window. These findings suggest that facilitation of the H-reflex is established well in advance of the descending corticomotoneuronal command to recruit spinal motoneurons in the motor act (i.e. prior to threshold spinal motoneuron depolarization). It is argued that a central programme controlling afferent input to the locomotor nuclei is part of the 'preparatory set' which precedes execution of the motor act.
Environmental and physiological factors influencing phototactic flight of Bemisia tabaci

. Experiments were conducted in a glasshouse and in the laboratory to determine the environmental and physiological parameters that affect flight behaviour of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). The number of whiteflies taking off and exhibiting a positive response to sky light in the glasshouse was greatest from 08.30 to 10.00 hours. During peak flight activity less than 5% of the population engaged in phototactic orientation. Temperature was the best single predictor for the phototactic response, accounting for 75% of the variability in whitefly ascent. Sex ratios were determined for individuals remaining on poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima (Willd.), and for individuals that exhibited phototactic orientation; both groups deviated from an expected 1:1 ratio. Males were more prevalent on the plants (1:0.76), whereas females were much more prevalent (1:3.02) among the whiteflies responding to sky light. A higher percentage of the females displaying a phototactic response contained eggs when compared to females remaining on poinsettia (87 v 65%). The two groups of females did not differ significantly in their weights, but males that remained on the plants were heavier than males that responded to sky light. Mark–recapture studies and experiments where phototactic individuals were removed from the population established that the response was short-lived. Whiteflies exhibiting a phototactic response in the glasshouse were more likely to exhibit long-duration, phototactic flights in a vertical flight chamber when compared to individuals that remained on poinsettia (80.7 ± 6.7 v 36.0 ± 5.8% phototactic response; 7.0 ±3.2 v 0.7±0.2min flights). There was also less deviation in flight across the horizontal plane among the individuals that exhibited a positive response to sky light in the glasshouse in comparison to individuals that remained on their host. However, initial rates of climb were not significantly different between the two groups of whiteflies.
Finite-amplitude solitary states in viscoelastic shear flow : computation and mechanism

Starting from stationary bifurcations in Couette-Dean flow, we compute stationary nontrivial solutions in the circular Couette geometry for an inertialess finitely extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE-P) dumbbell fluid. These solutions are isolated from the Couette flow branch arising at finite amplitude in saddle-node bifurcations as the Weissenberg number increases. Spatially, they are strongly localized axisymmetric vortex pairs embedded in an arbitrarily long far field' of pure Couette flow, and are thus qualitatively, and to some extent quantitatively, similar to the diwhirl (Groisman & Steinberg) and flame patterns (Baumert & Muller) observed experimentally. For computationally accessible parameter values, these solutions appear only above the linear instability limit of the Couette base flow, in contrast to the experimental observations. Correspondingly, they are themselves linearly unstable
Surface layer carbon budget for the subtropical N. Pacific: constraints at station ALOHA

Abstract The rate of biological organic carbon export at the time series station ALOHA in the subtropical N. Pacific (23° N 158° W ) has been estimated from monthly measurements of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and the δ 13 C of the DIC in the surface layer between 1994 and 1999. The most consistent feature of the annual DIC and δ 13 C cycles occurs during summer (April–September) when there is a 14 μmol kg −1 decrease in DIC and a 0.1‰ increase in δ 13 C . During this period, when the mixed layer depth is ∼50 m , the DIC decrease corresponds to a loss of 4.9 mmol m −2 d −1 . The mean p CO 2 of the surface ocean during the summer is ∼10 μatm lower than atmospheric p CO 2 yielding a net air–sea CO 2 invasion of 1.6±1.0 mmol m −2 d −1 . Horizontal advection, as a result of Ekman and geostrophic velocities, yields a DIC loss of 1.1±0.7 mmol m −2 d −1 . Insignificant alkalinity changes indicate that CaCO 3 loss is negligible. Surface layer DIC and DI 13 C budgets were used to solve for two carbon fluxes, the net community production (NCP) and the upward supply of DIC resulting from vertical mixing at the base of the mixed layer. During the summer, the calculated rates of NCP and upward DIC supply are 7.2±2.9 and 1.8±3.9 mmol m −2 d −1 , respectively. Thus the measured DIC and δ 13 C changes during the summer at ALOHA indicate that the DIC draw down is primarily the result of NCP exceeding DIC supplied via air–sea CO 2 exchange and vertical diffusion. Over an annual cycle, the DIC and DIC 13 budgets indicate that NCP at 6.8±3.4 mmol m −2 d −1 is approximately balanced by the upward DIC flux of 6.5±4.8 mmol m −2 d −1 resulting from vertical mixing. These NCP rates agree well with previously published estimates at ALOHA of 6– 7.4 mmol m −2 d −1 . Extrapolating a NCP rate of 7 mmol m −2 d −1 at ALOHA to the global subtropical ocean yields a rate of 6.3 Gt C yr −1 that represents more than half of the estimated global ocean organic carbon export rate of ∼11 Gt C yr −1 .
Apocalypses Real and Alleged in the Mani Codex

Summary The florilegium of revelations that Mani adduces as proof of his own authority in the Cologne Mani Codex has stimulated research into the circulation and influence of Jewish apocalypses among the various Jewish-Christian sects of late antiquity. But it has also proved frustrating, since not one of the apocalyptic "texts" that Mani quotes matches extant apocalypses in the name of Enoch, Adam, Seth, or Enosh. Considering the breadth of the Enoch literature now known from textual and patristic sources, including Manichaean literature, the absence of a parallel for Mani's Enoch-"quotation" may be reason to suspect that Mani invented this quotation as well as the others. This paper proposes an interpretation of Mani's apocalyptic florilegium that depends not on the historical existence of the putative texts but on Mani's own distinctive scheme of prophetic lineage and authority. It is argued that Mani's universalist view of mission and religion led him to revise existing schemes of Jewish revelatory heroes that were traditional to Jewish and Jewish-Christian sects and that invoked the patriarchs constitutive of Jewish identity, like Abraham, Moses, and Elijah. In contrast, Mani promotes his relevation's ecumenical appeal by casting himself in a line of biblical figures who in the late antique world had especially universalist significance: Adam, Seth, and Enoch (all antediluvian and therefore pre-covenantal) and Paul (Mani's model of an ecumenical missionary).
Dissolved Silicate and Particulate Iron Content in Different Water Types

CONSIDERABLE information regarding the complex circulation pattern which exists in the waters surrounding the Hawaiian island chain has been obtained through the analysis of surface waters at a station near Koko Head on the Island of Oahu which has been monitored by the U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries since 1956. Temperature and salinity data, together with information gathered in six oceanographic surveys made since 1949 in the vicinity of the high islands of the Hawaiian archipelago, have shown that the islands are surrounded by the cooler and more saline water of the Western North Pacific in winter and by the warmer and intermediate salinity water of the California Current Extension in the summer1. The boundary between these two layers of water as shown by a relatively high salinity gradient moves north and south through the island chain and is responsible for the seasonal variations in water type. The Hawaiian waters, being subtropical in nature, are not normally subject to appreciable changes in standing crops of phytoplankton. Consequently, it seemed of interest to investigate the possibility that variations in trace metals and other chemical species might reflect changes in water type.
On the existence of a phase transition for QCD with three light quarks.

We report full QCD simulations on a 16{sup 3}{times}4 lattice. For two degenerate flavors no finite-temperature phase transition is found for quark masses of {ital ma}=0.01 and 0.025, where {ital a} is the lattice spacing, while for three degenerate flavors a first-order transition is easily seen for {ital ma}=0.025. Nature, with nearly massless up and down quarks and one heavier strange quark, lies between these two cases. For {ital m}{sub {ital u}},{ital d}{ital da}=0.025 and {ital m}{sub {ital s}}{ital a}=0.1 we find that {ital m}{sub {ital K}}/{ital m}{sub {rho}}=0.46(1) and that no transition occurs, calling into question the existence of a QCD phase transition.
Drug-motivated behavior: The effect of morning glory seeds on motor activity of chicks

Chicks exhibited a higher rate of motor activity in an open-field situation after ingesting morning glory seeds than did a control group that did not receive the seeds. It is felt the increased activity is due to the psychomimetic compounds contained in morning glory seeds.
The role of 3-D collagen organization in stromal elasticity: a model based on X-ray diffraction data and second harmonic-generated images

Examining the cross-section of the human cornea with second harmonic-generated (SHG) imaging shows that many lamellae do not lie parallel to the cornea's anterior surface but have inclined trajectories that take them through the corneal thickness with a depth-dependent distribution. A continuum mechanics-based model of stromal elasticity is developed based on orientation information extracted and synthesized from both X-ray scattering studies and SHG imaging. The model describes the effects of inclined lamella orientation by introducing a probability function that varies with depth through the stroma, which characterizes the range and distribution of lamellae at inclined angles. When combined with the preferred lamellar orientations found from X-ray scattering experiments, a fully 3-D representation of lamella orientation is achieved. Stromal elasticity is calculated by a weighted average of individual lamella properties based on the spatially varying 3-D orientation distribution. The model is calibrated with in vitro torsional shear experiments and in vivo indentation data and then validated with an in vitro inflation study. A quantitative explanation of the experimentally measured depth dependence of mechanical properties emerges from the model. The significance of the 3-D lamella orientation in the mechanics of the human cornea is demonstrated by investigating and contrasting the effects of previous modeling assumptions made on lamella orientation.
Undertriage, overtriage, or no triage? In search of the unnecessary emergency department visit.

Abstract [Asplin BR. Undertriage, overtriage, or no triage? In search of the unnecessary emergency department visit. Ann Emerg Med. September 2001;38:282-285.]
Extending the Arp2/3 complex and its regulation beyond the leading edge

Two studies characterizing Drosophila Arp2/3 complex and Scar mutants demonstrate that assembly of some actin structures in nonmotile cells of multicellular organisms utilizes the same proteins as are important for actin assembly in motile cells. These studies also show that assembly of other actin structures is independent of these proteins, suggesting that alternative mechanisms also exist.
Reactor-irradiated phosphoryl chloride

Abstract Samples of POCl3 were reactor irradiated for varying periods of time in a thermal neutron flux of approximately 6 × 1011 n cm−2 sec−1. The irradiated samples were examined by carrier distillation techniques which showed the presence of 32PCl3, 32POCl3 and a labelled high-boiling component. A changing distribution of 32P in the products was observed. The percentage of total 32P found in combination as 32PCl3 decreased from about 60 per cent to less than 10 per cent to less than 10 per cent with increasing irradiation time while that found as 32POCl3 increased from about 30 per cent to greater than 80 per cent. Phosphorus exchange in the system PCl332POCl3 was investigated and appeared to be negligible for the distillation conditions used in this study.
Vertical movement of weed seed surrogates by tillage implements and natural processes

Abstract Vertical position of weed seeds in the soil column is one of the critical factors governing the density of emerged seedlings, but data on movement of subsurface seeds and seed surrogates by tillage are limited. In this experiment ceramic beads were seeded at 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 cm using specially constructed equipment. Plots were then tilled at right angles to the bead slots with either a moldboard plow, a chisel plow with curved blades, a chisel plow with straight blades, heavy tandem disks, a rotary tiller, or left untilled. Soil was sampled to determine bead positions. The probability matrix describing movement of beads from each soil layer to any other was estimated for each tillage regimen by maximum likelihood. Movement patterns for moldboard plow, the two chisel plow treatments, and disk and rotary tillage differed significantly. The difference between disking and rotary tillage was only marginally significant (0.05 80% probability of remaining in at their original depth. Tillage by moldboard plow showed the expected soil inversion, but burial of surface beads was greater than return of buried beads to the surface. For example, the probability of a surface bead ending up below 10 cm was over 77% whereas the probability of a bead originally in the 14–18 cm layer moving to the top 10 cm was only 44%. Sampling of the no tillage and moldboard plow treatments the following spring showed an upward movement of beads by natural causes for beads below 14 cm. To allow flexibility in vertically structured population models, the movement probability matrices were fitted with a continuous model based on the beta distribution. The model showed that for a hypothetical uniformly distributed seed bank, 97% of seeds in the top 4 cm following moldboard plowing had arrived there from greater depths. In contrast, only about one third of seeds in the top 4 cm of soil after tillage by chisel, disk or rotary tiller arrived from deeper layers.
Near-source particulate emissions and plume dynamics from agricultural field operations

Particulate matter emissions generated by agricultural field preparation and harvesting operations were measured remotely via aerosol lidar and sampled simultaneously with a variety of aerosol point samplers in order to quantify dust plume space and time dynamics and particulate mass and number concentrations. Data for two cotton operations (disking, harvesting) in a flood-irrigated field in New Mexico are presented. Dust plume dynamics varied with boundary layer meteorological conditions, especially atmospheric stability, with plume maximum height significantly lower under stable conditions. Plume tracking indicated little change in plume area with height under unstable conditions and plume movement depended on wind speed and direction. Particle mass distributions indicate approximately 50% of the measured PM10 mass was PM2.5, significantly higher than previously reported values, possibly due to the near-source nature of the samples collected here. Variability in plume movement matched the variability in short-term wind fluctuations and this variability helps explain why models that utilize long-term averages perform poorly when trying to capture plume dynamics for nonsteady sources such as tractor operations.
Pharmacokinetics and toxicity of 120-hour continuous-infusion hydroxyurea in patients with advanced solid tumors

A group of 18 patients with advanced cancer were entered on a phase I study of a 120-h continuous intravenous infusion of hydroxyurea. The dose of hydroxyurea was escalated in cohorts of patients from 1 to 2 to 3.2 g/m2 per day. The primary dose-limiting toxicity was neutropenia, often accompanied by leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and generalized skin rash. Prophylactic treatment of patients with dexamethasone and diphenhydramine hydrochloride prevented the skin rash, but not the hematopoietic toxicities. The pharmacokinetics of hydroxyurea were studied in all patients. The steady-state concentrations of hydroxyurea were linearly correlated with the dose (R2 = 0.71, n = 18, P 200 μM in all nine patients treated at 2 g/m2 per day, a dose which was well tolerated for 5 days. We recommend this dose for phase II trials in combination with other antineoplastic agents.
Multidimensional DFT IP Generator for FPGA Platforms

Multidimensional (MD) discrete Fourier transform (DFT) is a key kernel algorithm in many signal processing applications. In this paper we describe an MD-DFT intellectual property (IP) generator and a bandwidth-efficient MD DFT IP for high performance implementations of 2-D and 3-D DFT on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) platforms. The proposed architecture is generated automatically and is based on a decomposition algorithm that takes into account FPGA resources and the characteristics of off-chip memory access, namely, the burst access pattern of the synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM). The IP generator has been integrated into an in-house FPGA development platform, AlgoFLEX, for easy verification and fast integration. The corresponding 2-D and 3-D DFT architectures have been ported onto the BEE3 board and their performance measured and analyzed. The results shows that the architecture can maintain the maximum memory bandwidth throughout the whole procedure while avoiding matrix transpose operations used in most other MD DFT implementations. To further enhance the performance, the proposed architecture is being ported onto the newly released Xilinx ML605 board. The simulation results show that 2 K × 2 K images with complex 64-bit precision can be processed in less than 27 ms.
Quality assurance in high volume document digitization: a survey

Quality assurance (QA) plays a critical role in high volume document digitization projects by making sure that the specified quality standard is reached under cost and time constraints. This paper takes a systematic view on this issue by summarizing and abstracting related existing work: quality bottlenecks and technical solutions throughout the whole processing pipeline, including cataloging, capture, image analysis and recognition, and error cascading; various strategies to conduct cost-effective QA, such as combination of auto-QA and manual QA, batch QA, special QA user interface, and open source QA.
House dust mite allergen Der p 1 effects on sinonasal epithelial tight junctions

Background Epithelial permeability is highly dependent upon the integrity of tight junctions, which are cell-cell adhesion complexes located at the apical aspect of the lateral membrane of polarized epithelial cells. We hypothesize that sinonasal epithelial exposure to Der p 1 house dust mite antigen decreases expression of tight junction proteins (TJPs), representing a potential mechanism for increased permeability and presentation of antigens across the sinonasal epithelial layer. Methods Confluent cultured primary human sinonasal epithelial cells were exposed to recombinant Der p 1 antigen vs control, and transepithelial resistance measurements were performed over 24 hours. Antibody staining for a panel of TJPs was examined with immunofluorescence/confocal microscopy and Western blotting. Tissue for these experiments was obtained from 4 patients total. Results Der p 1 exposed sinonasal cells showed a marked decrease in transepithelial resistance when compared to control cells. In addition, results of Western immunoblot and immunofluorescent labeling demonstrated decreased expression of TJPs claudin-1 and junction adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) in Der p 1–exposed cultured sinonasal cells vs controls. Conclusion Der p 1 antigen exposure decreases sinonasal epithelium TJP expression, most notably seen in JAM-A and claudin-1 in these preliminary experiments. This decreased TJP expression likely contributes to increased epithelial permeability and represents a potential mechanism for transepithelial antigen exposure in allergic rhinitis.
Evaluation of the Monell Forced-Choice, Paired-Comparison Tracking Procedure for Determining Sweet Taste Preferences across the Lifespan

Lack of methodology to assess taste in children limits its measurement in research studies that include pediatric populations. We used the Monell 2-series, forced-choice tracking method to measure sucrose preferences of a racially/ethnically diverse sample ( n= 949) of children, adolescents, and adults. Reliability was assessed by comparing the results of the first series with the second series. Validity was assessed by relating participants’ sucrose preferences to their preferences for foods varying in sweetness. The task required, on average, 7 presentations of aqueous sucrose solution pairs. Children and adolescents preferred more concentrated sweetness than adults (P < 0.001). Black children/adolescents preferred a more concentrated sucrose solution than did White children/adolescents even when gender, parental education level, and family income were used as covariates. Data from a single series were sufficient to detect age-related differences but insufficient to detect racial/ ethnic differences in sweet preferences. Level of sweetness preferred significantly correlated with the sugar content of favorite cereals (P < 0.001) and beverages (P < 0.02). This method is brief and has evidence of reliability and external validity. Although a single series will yield useful information about age-related differences in taste preferences, the 2-series version should be considered when differences in race/ethnicity are of interest.
Focus, fiddle, and friends: Experiences that transform knowledge for the implementation of innovations

Although knowledge has been linked to productivity within and between organizations, little is known about how knowledge flows into schools and then diffuses from teacher to teacher within schools. Here, the authors hypothesize that the value of different sources of knowledge depends on a teacher’s current level of implementation. The authors test their theory using longitudinal network data from 470 teachers in 13 schools. From models of change (i.e., first differences) in teachers’ use of computers over a one-year period, the authors infer that the more a teacher at the lowest initial levels of implementing an innovation is exposed to professional development focused on student learning, the more she increases her level of implementation (focus); the more a teacher at an intermediate initial level of implementation has opportunities to experiment and explore, the more she sustains her level of implementation (fiddle); and the more a teacher at a high initial level of implementation accesses the knowledg...
The Cocaine-Abused Heart

Recreational use of cocaine dates back to the Incas in South America 5000 years ago. Cocaine is derived from the leaves of Erythroxylon coca, a shrub native to South America. In the late 1800s, Sigmund Freud popularized the drug in Europe. He used cocaine to treat depression, asthma, cachexia, and for overcoming morphine addiction. Also in this period cocaine rapidly gained acceptance in surgical procedures as a local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor. Cocaine reached the United States in the early 1900s, and its popularity led President Taft to declare it public enemy number one in 1910. Cocaine became popular again in the 1980s. Currently cocaine use is responsible for more ED visits then any of the other illicit drugs. Because most cocaine users are young, they are at a lower risk for coronary artery atherosclerotic disease. An estimated 25 million people between the ages of 26 and 34 years have used cocaine at least once, 20% were women and 30% men. Habitual users of cocaine are estimated to number 1.5 million. Most cocaine-induced chest pains do not progress to MI, and in fact many originate in the chest wall. The chest pains due to cocaine, however, are induced by myocardial ischemia, a result of vasospasm and not a thrombotic occlusion of a coronary artery that has a ruptured atheromatous plaque. ECG findings can be misleading in the diagnosis because the early repolarization syndrome, a normal variant, is a frequent finding in young African American men. Measurement of cardiac troponin levels is the most reliable diagnostic test. Percutaneous coronary intervention and angioplasty, rather than thrombolysis, is the treatment of choice because intense coronary vasospasm is the primary pathophysiology in cocaine-induced MI.
Testing the performance of three-phase induction watthour meters in the presence of harmonic distortion

The authors deal with computer-based testing of a three-phase induction watthour meter in the presence of harmonic distortion. Two three-phase harmonic generators produce the distorted current and voltage waveforms. Each waveform has a prespecified harmonic magnitude and phase. Therefore, balanced or unbalanced conditions can be simulated in the testing. A fiber-optic sensor is designed to convert the rotation of the disk of the meter into digital signals to be stored in an IBM PC/AT. A data acquisition system transfers the samples of current and voltage waveforms so that the power and energy can be computed for comparison. Induction watthour meters are shown to be affected by harmonic distortion. The error increases at light loading conditions. For a three-element watthour meter, the maximum negative error was observed when the harmonic current was in phase with the harmonic voltage. This applies to all harmonic orders. The maximum positive error was observed when the harmonic current was shifted by 180 degrees . >
Studies concerning the relationship of phenylbutazone to pituitary-adrenal cortical function and metabolism of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids.

Measurements of the effects of phenylbutazone on the adrenal cortex and on corticosteroid metabolism of experimental animals have indicated that therapeutic activity of this drug is probably not related to changes in adrenocortical function. Additional data concerning the influence of phenylbutazone on renal excretory activity were obtained which with previously reported observations suggested that the physiologic effects on the kidney are a result of changes in the binding capacity of body protein systems. Mesurationes del effectos de phenylbutazona super le cortice adrenal e super le metabolitmo corticosteroide de animales experimental ha indicate que le activitate therapeutic de iste droga es probabilemente sin relation a alterationes del function adrenocortical. Datos additional in re le influentia de phenylbutazona super le activitate excretori del renes esseva obtenite e suggere—insimul con previemente reportate observationes —que le effectos physiologic super le renes es un resultato de alterationes in le capacitate ligatori del systemes proteinas corporal.
Optimal hardware and software design of an image-based system for capturing dynamic movements

In contrast to conventional image-capture systems, which attempt to minimize the amount of data collected during capture, typically by using hardware filters, the more general condition of using all information captured on a camera sensor is much more challenging and requires rigorous consideration of the hardware and software pipelines to obtain accurate tracking results. In this paper, this issue is specifically addressed by describing a unique hardware and software design implemented for use as a fully image-based capture system. An attempt is made to minimize the cost of this system by maximizing hardware control through software implementation. The hardware and software requirements are described in the context of the desired high-speed capture suitable for earthquake motions or other dynamic movements in a scene. Experiments are conducted and presented illustrating the good performance and stability of the system. This system is deemed suitable for the general condition of a building interior.
Plasma C-Peptide Is Inversely Associated with Calcium Intake in Women and with Plasma 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D in Men

The consumption of calcium, vitamin D, and dairy products may be associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, whether this reduction is due to calcium, vitamin D, or other components of dairy products is not clear. We examined intakes of total calcium and vitamin D, and plasma concentrations of 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in relation to fasting plasma concentrations of C-peptide in 2 cross-sectional studies among healthy men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and among healthy women from the Nurses' Health Study I. Intake of total calcium was modestly inversely associated with C-peptide concentration in women (P-trend = 0.05); however, the inverse association was not significant in men (P = 0.7). Concentrations of C-peptide were 20% lower among men who had plasma concentrations of 25(OH)D in the highest quartile compared with those in the lowest quartile (P-trend = 0.08); there was no association in women (P = 0.3). The inverse association between calcium intake and the plasma C-peptide concentration was stronger in hypertensive individuals of both sexes. The difference in the C-peptide concentrations between extreme quartiles of calcium intake was 17% in men and 20% in women. Plasma concentrations of C-peptide for the combination of the highest tertiles of calcium intake and plasma 25(OH)D compared with the opposite extreme were 35% lower (P = 0.03) in men and 12% lower (P = 0.01) in women. The results suggest that calcium intake or systemic vitamin D status, after adjustment for intake of dairy products, is associated with decreased insulin secretion.
Identification of a hard surface contact-induced gene in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides conidia as a sterol glycosyl transferase, a novel fungal virulence factor

Hard surface contact has been known to be necessary to induce infection structure (appressorium) formation in many phytopathogenic fungi. However, the molecular basis of this requirement is unknown. We have used a differential display approach to clone some of the genes induced in the conidia by hard surface contact. We report that one of the genes induced by hard-surface contact of the conidia of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, chip6, encodes a protein with homology to sterol glycosyl transferases. chip6 expressed in E. coli catalyses glucosyl transfer from UDP-glucose to cholesterol. Disruption of chip6 causes a marked decrease in the transferase activity and a drastic reduction in virulence on its natural host, avocado fruits, although the mutant is capable of normal growth and appressorium formation. The requirement for sterol glycosyl transferase for pathogenicity suggests a novel biological function for this transferase.
Immediate effects of acupuncture and cryotherapy on quadriceps motoneuron pool excitability: randomised trial using anterior knee infusion model

Objective The authors asked the following research questions: will an anterior knee infusion model induce constant pain? will perceived pain alter motoneuron pool (MNP) excitability? and will treatments alter perceived pain and/or MNP excitability? Methods Thirty-six neurologically healthy volunteers participated in this randomised controlled laboratory study. To induce anterior knee pain (AKP), 5% hypertonic saline (0.12 ml/min with a total volume of 8.5 ml over 70 min) was injected into the infrapatellar fat pad of the dominant leg. One of four 30-min treatments was randomly assigned to each subject after pain was induced (acupuncture, cryotherapy, sham cryotherapy and no treatment). Five acupuncture needles (SP9, SP10, ST36, GB34 and an ah shi point) were inserted to a depth of 1 cm. Vastus medialis (VM) maximum Hoffmann reflexes normalised by maximum motor response were recorded from each subject at baseline, 20 min post-injection, 50 min post-injection and 70 min post-injection. To record pain perception, a visual analogue scale was used every 5 min after injection. Results An anterior knee infusion pain model increased perceived pain (p Conclusions A pain model may be used in other neurophysiological intervention studies related to AKP. AKP alone may not directly alter quadriceps activation. None of the treatments altered VM MNP excitability. Cryotherapy reduced pain while a single session of acupuncture and sham treatments did not.
Assessment of regional myocardial performance from biplane coronary cineangiograms.

Abstract Bifurcations of coronary arteries provide a myriad of natural landmarks on the epicardial surface. With biplane coronary cineangiograms, these bifurcations can be located in space and followed in time. By calculating the spatial distances between bifurcations on successive cine frames, multiple epicardial segment lengths and their dynamic changes during the cardiac cycle can be determined. In 5 animals with epicardial metal markers sutured near the coronary bifurcations, epicardial segment lengths measured from opacified bifurcations correlated closely with those obtained from metal markers (SEE = 2.2%). Epicardial segment lengths were not affected by intracoronary injection of contrast medium in the first 5 to 6 cardiac cycles. Biplane coronary Cineangiograms of 11 patients were analyzed. Measurements of individual segment lengths yielded reproducible curves reflecting various phases of ventricular contraction and filling. These curves allowed quantitation and simultaneous comparison of the onset, duration, extent and rate of segment shortening in multiple and selected areas of the heart. In 5 patients, the extent of shorteing was 1 to 19 percent along the septum, 17 to 27 percent on the free wall and 10 to 15 percent at the base of the left ventricle. Mechanical activation of the left ventricle began from the antereoseptal area at the apex and progressed toward the base and the posterior surface. In 5 of 6 patients with coronary artery disease, localized abnormalities of contraction were found in areas of previous myocardial infarction or at regions supplied by the stenotic arteries. The diseased segments showed either systolic lengthening or marked reduction in rate and extent of shortening. The onset of shortening was frequently delayed. In addition to defining the anatomic details of the coronary circulation, biplane coronary cineangiograms provide a wealth of physiologic information regarding the dynamic changes in geometry, dimensions and movements of the heart. As the first step to utilizing this physiologic information, this study has demonstrated the validity, feasibility and clinical usefulness of this technique in assessing regional myocardial performance in man.