cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of alloimmune injury on contraction and relaxation in cultured myocytes and intact cardiac allografts

Abstract Objectives . This study was performed to determine the mechanisms by which allosensitized lymphocytes cause contractile dysfunction in cultured ventricular myocytes and to compare the effects on isolated myocytes with those observed in an intact heart preparation during allograft rejection. Background . Allograft rejection may be associated with reversible abnormalities of both systolic and diastolic function. The immunologic mechanisms that cause ventricular dysfunction are poorly understood. Methods . Vascularized heterotopic abdominal heart transplantation was performed in mice. Contractile function of excised allografts undergoing rejection was assessed using a Langendorff perfusion apparatus and a strain gauge. Spontaneously beating monolayers of cultured ventricular myocytes from donor strain fetal mice were exposed to the allosensitizcd cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and the effects on myocyte motion, intracellular calcium transients, relaxation half-time, membrane potential and myocyte lysis (chromium-51 release) were measured. Results . In intact hearts, histologically mild rejection without myocyte necrosis was associated with decreased systolic function without slowing of relaxation. In cultured fetal myocytes, sensitized lymphocytes induced a progressive decrease in the amplitudes of myocyte motion and calcium transients, with cessation of beating within 40 min. Also, the diastolic membrane potential and amplitude of the action potential decreased. Relaxation half-time, as estimated by measurement of cell motion, was unchanged. The effect was allospecific and was reversible with early removal of lymphocytes from the myocyte monolayer. Pretreatment of lymphocytes with the degranulation inhibitor 4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-disulfonic acid stilbene blocked both the negative inotropic effect and myocyte lysis. Conclusions . We conclude that impaired relaxation is not a prominent feature of contractile dysfunction caused directly in myocytes by alloimmune injury from cytotoxic lymphocytes. Allosensitized lymphocytes can cause reversible systolic dysfunction in myocytes by means of a direct cell-cell interaction. This effect may be in part responsible for the reversible systolic dysfunction associated with allograft rejection.
Studies on the use of thyroid hormone and a thyroid hormone analogue in the treatment of congestive heart failure

Abstract In heart failure, cardiac output is insufficient to meet the needs of the body for oxygen delivery. Available data suggest that alterations in thyroid hormone metabolism may contribute to defective myocardial performance. Accordingly, thyroid hormone or a thyroid hormone analogue that improves cardiac performance might be useful in the treatment of heart failure and has been studied. Experimental and theoretical results of these studies are reviewed and indicate that thyroid hormone increases cardiac output by a combination of effects on the heart and peripheral circulation, specifically by increasing myocardial contractile performance and decreasing venous compliance. In the rat postinfarction model of heart failure, treatment with low doses of thyroxine (1.5 μg/100 g) for 3 days produced a positive inotropic response, including an increase in rate of change of left ventricular pressure and a decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. These changes could be attributed to conversion to triiodothyronine, the active intracellular form of thyroid hormone. When treatment with thyroxine was continued at the same or higher doses (3 to 15 μg/100 g) for 10 to 12 days, heart rate increased and improvement in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was not sustained. More favorable results were obtained with 3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid, a cardiotonic thyroid hormone analogue administered at doses of 375 μg/100 g, given in combination with captopril. Thus, triiodothyronine or a thyroid hormone analogue may be a useful adjunct to other measures in the treatment of heart failure.
What are chimpanzees telling us about language

Abstract The divergent views expressed in the literature on the linguistic competence of chimpanzees is due in large part to the lack of a common framework in which.to compare human and chimpanzee signing. Working for the most part within a Saussurian semiological framework, several distinct `tactic' sign types, including: ataxis, lexical parataxis and syntax, are introduced for the purpose of comparison. These types are then illustrated through the ontological development of human signing behavior. Next, the data on the signing behavior of chimpanzees, both wild and captive, are analyzed with the conclusion that, while chimpanzees do show evidence of true semiological communication, their tactic ability does not appear to exceed that of lexical parataxis. This conclusion draws attention to the significance of the difference between syntax and lexical parataxis which in turn tells us something more about the nature of human language.
Intermixing at the CdS/CdTe Interface and its Effect on Device Performance

A study of the CdS/CdTe interface was performed on glass/SnO 2 /CdS/CdTe device structures. CdS layers were deposited by chemical solution growth to a thickness of 80–100 nm, and CdTe was deposited by close-spaced sublimation at substrate temperatures of 500°, 550°, and 600°C. Post-deposition CdCl 2 heat treatment was performed at 400°C. Samples were analyzed by optical spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), spectral response, and current-voltage measurements. SIMS analysis shows that the intermixing of CdS and CdTe is a function of substrate temperature and post-deposition CdCl 2 heat treatment. The degree of intermixing increases with increases in substrate temperature and the intensity of CdCl 2 heat treatment. Optical analysis and X-Ray diffraction data show that the phases of CdS x Te 1-x are also a function of the same parameters. Formation of a Te-rich CdS x Te 1-x alloy is favored for films deposited at higher substrate temperatures. Spectral response of the devices is affected by the degree of alloying at the interface. The degree of alloying is indicated by simultaneous changes in long wavelength response (due to the formation of lower bandgap intermixed CdS x Te 1-x ) and the short wavelength response (due to the change in CdS thickness). Device performance is heavily influenced by alloying at the interface. With optimized intermixing, improvements in V oc , and diode quality factors are observed in the resulting devices.
Exercise-induced ST segment elevation in a patient with effort angina pectoris and normal coronary arteries.

A 32 year old woman who complained of exercise-induced chest pain was found to have widespread elevation of the ST segment of the electrocardiogram during exercise testing. Coronary angiography demonstrated no obstructive lesions and no evidence of coronary artery spasm despite ergonovine administration, bicycle ergo-metry and rapid atrial pacing. Exercise thallium-201 cintigraphy demonstrated no perfusion defects despite ST segment elevation. Radionuclide blood pool imaging revealed a slight decrease in ejection fraction with exercise. The available evidence raises the possibility of small vessel coronary artery disease, either structural or vasotonic, as a cause of this patient's symptoms.
Exciton localization dynamics in AlxGa1-xN alloys

The optical properties of AlxGa1-xN alloys with x varied from 0 to 0.35 have been investigated by picosecond time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Our results revealed that while the PL intensity decreases with an increase of Al-content, the low temperature PL decay lifetime increases with Al-content. These results can be understood in terms of the effects of tail states in the density of states due to alloy fluctuation in the AlxGa1-xN alloys. The Al content dependence of the energy tail state distribution parameter, E0, which is an important parameter for determining optical and electrical properties of the AlGaN alloys, has been obtained experimentally. The PL decay lifetime increases with the localization energy and consequently increases with Al content. The implications of our findings to III-nitride optoelectronic device applications are also discussed.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Geography Inside Out

Richard Symanski. Syracuse, NY: Blackwell Publishing, 2002. xix and 277 pp., photos., notes, and index. $29.95 cloth (ISBN 0-8156-0732-6). Richard Symanski has a chip on his shoulder—a really big o...
The design of an automatic analysis program for L2 text research: Necessity and feasibility

Abstract Several first and second language (L1 and L2) text researchers have recently utilized automatic analysis programs and computerized corpora to facilitate large-scale multivariate analyses of written discourse (e.g., Biber, 1988; Connor, 1990; Connor & Biber, 1989; Grabe, 1987; Grobe & Biber, 1987; Reid, 1990). Although it is clear that automated analyses moke important quantitative research much more feasible, there is a potential problem with applying computer programs to L2 texts: Many lexical and syntactic features of L2 writing are in varying developmental stages, and programs created to analyze L1 texts in “target” form may underestimate and/or mislabel structures in L2 writing. This article explores the necessity for and feasibility of the design of a computer program specifically for the analysis of L2 texts. Using data from a large L2 text analysis (160 texts; 62 variables) in which automatic analysis was not used, it is demonstrated that a program designed for L1 texts would not be accurate enough to capture completely the structures used by L2 writers. Following this analysis, suggestions are mode as to how an L2 text analysis program could be created and applied.
Commitment in a partitioned distributed database

Network partition is among the hardest failure types in a distributed system even if all processors and links are of fail-stop type. We address the transaction commitment problem in a partitioned distributed database. It is assumed that partitions are detectable. The approach taken is conservative - that is, the same transaction cannot be committed by one site and aborted by another.A new and very general formal model of protocols operating in a partitioned system is introduced and protocols more efficient than the existing ones are constructed.
A simulation-based fuzzy multi-attribute decision making for prioritizing software requirements

It is well known that most of the approaches proposed in recent research to prioritize software requirements have not been widely adopted. These approaches are too complex and time consuming, or inconsistent and difficult to implement. This paper proposes a new approach to prioritize requirements that is practical and easily implementable. Whereas most proposed approaches quantify requirements in precise and crisp parameters, this paper takes in consideration the imprecise nature of requirements by modeling their attributes as fuzzy variables. As such, these variables are integrated into a fuzzy multi-attribute decision making problem in which the requirements represented as attributes are ranked via the expected value operator of a fuzzy variable. The expected values of the attributes in the problem are computed by numerical simulation. This approach is easily extendable to include other attributes and can be easily customized as a decision making tool for software project managers.
Evidence for Ag cluster vibrations in enhanced Raman scattering from the Ag/electrolyte interface

Abstract Low-frequency vibrational features are observed in the enhanced Raman spectra from an electrochemically roughened Ag electrode. Evidence is found that these features are related to resonant Raman scattering from the internal vibrations of small Ag clusters stabilized on the surface. Comparison of the experimental data with the results of a simple normal mode calculation suggests that a possible identity for such clusters is pyramidal Ag+4. These clusters may be responsible for some of the “chemical” factor in SERS from coadsorbed molecules.
Dynamics of MEMS Arches of Flexible Supports

We present an investigation into the dynamics of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) arches when actuated electrically including the effect of their flexible supports. Using a shallow-arch model with rotational and transversal springs at its boundaries, a reduced-order model is developed. Shooting technique is utilized to find periodic motions. The stability of the captured periodic motion is examined using the Floquet theory. Simulation results are shown for the forced-vibration response of an arch when excited by a dc electrostatic force superimposed to an ac harmonic load. The results show softening behavior and several jumps in the response during snap-through motion and pull-in. It is demonstrated that nonideal boundary conditions can have significant effect on the qualitative dynamical behavior of the MEMS arch. This may include lowering its natural frequencies from the expected range of operation and causing unpredictable snap through or dynamic pull-in. Simulation results are compared to experimental data obtained for an imperfect microfabricated clamped-clamped beam with initial curvature actuated electrically for the cases of primary and superharmonic resonances.
g as a consequence of shared genes

This article argues that g can arise from the effect of shared genes influencing cognitive test performance. Further, the puzzling effect that intercorrelations between cognitive tests are higher at lower ability levels can be accounted for by incorporating the concept of deleterious mutation load. Population genetics holds that one of the determinants of retained genetic variation is deleterious mutation load, and as mutations increase genetic variation, the effect is to yield intercorrelation magnitudes that are inversely correlated to performance. A simple mathematical demonstration of how this occurs is provided. This argument predicts the need for a profound shift of tactics in the search for biological bases of g.
Attracting Middle‐Income Families in the Hope VI Public Housing Revitalization Program

While the growing literature on HOPE VI emphasizes the presumed benefits of income mixing these benefits are most likely to occur if middle-income families with children are drawn to these sites. B...
Suboptimal sequential estimation-detection scheme for Poisson driven linear systems

Abstract The state estimation problem for a linear system driven by homogeneous Poisson processes of low intensities in the presence of white Gaussian noise is considered. A sequential estimation-detection scheme is developed as a suboptimal solution to the problem. The asymptotic performance for the time-invariant case as the intensity becomes small is derived and numerically simulated on a digital computer. The two results agree extremely closely, indicating that the scheme performs considerably better than the linear optimal filter in the sense of MSE when the Poisson intensity is small.
Salmonella osteomyelitis and arthritis in sickle cell disease

Salmonellosis is one of the most frequent serious infections in sickle cell patients and remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Capillary occlusion secondary to intravascular sickling may devitalize and infarct the gut, permitting Salmonella invasion. Reduced function of the liver and spleen, together with interference with reticuloendothelial system function due to erythrophagocytosis, suppresses clearing of these organisms from the blood stream. Abnormal opsonizing and complement function probably also play a role. The expanded bone marrow with sluggish flow leads to an ischemic focus for salmonella localization. The majority of Salmonella infections in sickle cell patients involve bones (especially long bones) and joints and occur most frequently in early childhood. Multiple sites, often symmetrical, are usually involved. It is imperative to distinguish Salmonella osteomyelitis from bone infarctions. While clinical and hematologic data may be suggestive, radionuclide bone imaging studies, particularly combined technetium and gallium scintigraphy and technetium sulphur colloid bone marrow scans, and magnetic resonance imaging appear more sensitive and specific. Salmonella osteomyelitis is best managed medically. Chloramphenicol, ampicillin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole have been used most frequently; however, newer beta lactams and quinolones are more active. Septic arthritis carries a poorer prognosis and often requires aggressive surgical intervention.
Sensor node source privacy and packet recovery under eavesdropping and node compromise attacks

Securing a sensor network poses a variety of problems. Of those, an important one is of providing privacy to the event-detecting sensor node and integrity to the data gathered by the node. Compromised source privacy can inadvertently leak event location. Safeguarding the privacy of the source node is important, as sensor networks hold critical roles in military application, tracking endangered species, etc. Existing techniques in sensor networks use either random walk path or generate fake event packets to make it hard for an adversary to trace back to the source, since encryption alone may not help prevent a traffic analysis attack. In this work, without using traditional overhead-intensive methods, we present a scheme for hiding source information using cryptographic techniques incurring lower overhead. The packet is modified en route by dynamically selected nodes to make it difficult for a malicious entity to trace back the packet to a source node and also to prevent packet spoofing. This is important because the adversary model considers a super-local eavesdropper having the ability to compromise sensor nodes. Additionally, we provide a method for the base station to recover corrupted packets and identify the location of the compromised node. We analyze the ability of our proposed scheme to withstand different attacks and demonstrate its efficiency in terms of overhead and functionality when compared to existing work.
Exploring Attribution of Responsibility in a Cross-National Study of TV News Coverage of the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen

This study investigates how prime-time television news portrayed attributions of responsibility for climate change policy issues in the United States, China, and Canada. In analyzing news coverage of the 2009 climate change summit in Copenhagen, we distinguish between causal and treatment responsibility. Additionally, we develop frames to test Cerutti's conceptualization of responsibility attribution (2010). The results suggest that television news in the 3 countries portrayed treatment responsibility differently. The prominence of morality, global justice, and national efficacy frames varied across countries, and these conditions were associated with the treatment responsibility frame, partially lending support to the validity of Cerutti's conceptualization.
Captopril removal by rabbit lung in vivo.

Abstract Removal of [ 14 C]captopril by the lungs of anesthetized rabbits was measured by the multiple indicator dilution technique. After coinjection of indocyanine green (ICG) and [ 14 C]captopril into the jugular vein of anesthetized rabbits, serial blood samples were collected from the carotid artery and each was analyzed for its content of both substances. Percent removal ( R ) of captopril after its initial injection of 10 nmoles captopril/kg (calculated at the peak of the ICG outflow curve) was 40.2 ± 2.5 (S.E.M.) and was significantly greater tha R after a second injection of 10 nmoles captopril/ kg (20.1 ± 2.4) 1 hr later. Removal of 70 nmoles captopril/kg (5.8 ± 3.0 after first injection, 6.4 ± 2.2 after second injection) was significantly lower than R of 10 nmoles captopril/kg. During a single pulmonary passage of either dose of captopril, R was inversely related to the calculated fractional concentration of intravascular captopril. Pulmonary metabolism of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) substrate [ 3 H]benzoyl-Phe-Ala-Pro ([ 3 H]BPAP) was 70.1 ± 1.7% in the absence of captopril, and was reduced significantly to 27.4 ± 2.4% by 10 nmoles captopril/kg and 7.6 ± 0.2% by 6 μmoles BPAP/kg. BPAP (6.4 ± 0.6 μmoles/kg) significantly reduced R of the first and second injections of 10 nmoles captopril/kg but this effect was selective, since BPAP did not reduce pulmonary removal of [ 14 C]serotonin. These data indicate that pulmonary removal of captopril in vivo is saturable and may primarily reflect binding of the drug to pulmonary endothelial ACE.
Predictive performance evaluation measures: Field study of a multi-outlet business

Abstract It is frequently suggested that accountants need to develop more comprehensive predictive measures of performance. In response, several predictive deterministic models have been proposed in the literature. This paper explores the feasibility of developing predictive statistical models of performance for revenue and profit centres. A large national retail organisation was selected to field test the applicability of such a model. The results indicate that a statistical model can detect significant differences in outlet performance in a multi-outlet firm, providing performance information useful for managerial evaluation. The methodology developed can be applied to performance evaluations in many retail firms.
Character image enhancement by selective region-growing

Abstract Preprocessing of character images is an important step in recognition. We describe a method of enhancing binary character images to assist the subsequent recognition process in both handwritten and machine-printed documents. The method performs selective and adaptive stroke “filling” with a neighborhood operator which emphasizes stroke connectivity. An improvement of 7% points was realized in recognition of address fields.
Conflict dissolution by reframing game payoffs using linear perturbations

Human beings have a prevailing drive to achieve their self-interest goals or equilibrium states, which may subsume their social interests. An ideal working environment or cooperative game situation would be one in which each participant or player maximizes his/her own interest while maximizing his/her contribution to the collective group interest. This paper addresses the feasibility, methods, and bounds for reframing a generaln-person game into an ideal game in which full cooperation or a targeted solution can be induced and maintained by the players' self-interest maximization. Criteria for good reframing are introduced. Monotonic games, self-interest cooperative and noncooperative games, and a decomposition theory of general games are also introduced to facilitate the study. It is shown that everyn-person game can be written as the sum of a self-interest cooperative game and a self-interest noncooperative game. Everyn-person game can be reframed so that full cooperation can be achieved by the players' self-interest maximization. Everyn-person game can be reframed so that a targeted solution can be obtained and maintained through the players' self-interest maximization.
Simulations of Reacting Droplets Dispersed in Isotropic Turbulence

Several important issues pertaining to dispersion and polydispersity of evaporating and reacting fuel droplets in forced turbulent flows are investigated. The carrier phase is considered in the Eulerian context and is simulated by direct numerical simulation. The dispersed phase is tracked in the Lagrangian frame and the interactions between the phases are taken into account in a realistic two-way coupled formulation. It is assumed that combustion takes place in the vapor phase and is described as fuel -f oxidizer —> products + energy. The resulting scheme is applied for extensive simulations of a forced, isotropic, low Mach number turbulent flow laden with a large number of fuel droplets. Here the results are presented for different values of the mass loading ratio and the heat release coefficient. The combustion process is significantly affected by the rate of evaporation and the fuel vapor participates in the chemical reaction almost immediately after its production. A strong correlation is observed between the droplet concentration and the reaction rate. The results are also used to discuss the temporal evolution of the mean temperatures and the mean mass fractions, as well as the role of the preferential distribution of the droplets.
Ischemic insult exacerbates acrolein-induced conduction loss and axonal membrane disruption in guinea pig spinal cord white matter.

Abstract Cellular destruction following ischemic insult may be due to secondary injury mechanisms, not the oxygen–glucose deprivation itself. We have examined the effect of acrolein, an aldehyde product of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and oxidative stress, on the axons in isolated guinea pig spinal cord white matter following ischemic insult. We have found that acrolein at 50 μM, which is unharmful to spinal cord when applied alone, causes action potential conduction failure and membrane disruption following 1 to 2 h of exposure when applied during the reperfusion period. Ischemic insult also exacerbates the effect of acrolein at 200 μM, which does inflict functional and anatomical damage when applied alone. Unlike metabolic poisoning, acrolein-mediated damage is not a function of axonal size and does not affect the refractoriness in response to dual and multiple stimuli. These results indicate that spinal cord axons, in addition to experiencing elevated free radicals, are more vulnerable to acrolein attack when the level of oxygen and glucose is low. We conclude that free radicals and lipid peroxidation in general, and acrolein in specific, may play a critical role in cellular destruction and functional loss in such injury.
On quantifying the effects of noncircularity on the complex fastica algorithm

The complex fast independent component analysis (c-FastICA) algorithm is one of the most popular methods for solving the ICA problem with complex-valued data. In this study, we extend the work of Bingham and Hyvarinen [1] by deriving conditions for local stability for the more general case of noncircular sources. We use the results of the analysis to quantify the effects of noncircularity on the performance of the algorithm using various nonlinearities and source distributions. Simulations are presented to demonstrate the results of our analysis.
Stimulation of Glucose Metabolism in Brown Adipose Tissue by Addition of Insulin in Vitro

The effects of insulin added in vitro on the metabolic fates of uniformly labeled glucose-14C in slices of rat interscapular brown adipose tissue were studied. Insulin strongly stimulated glucose uptake, lactate production, oxygen consumption, total carbon dioxide production, and conversion of uniformly labeled glucose-14C into fatty acids, glyceride-glycerol, carbon dioxide, and total lipids. Fatty acid synthesis from extracellular glucose was particularly sensitive to insulin and was stimulated approximately 60-fold by addition of this hormone. The insulin concentration required for half-maximal stimulation of net gas exchange was in the general range of estimated plasma insulin concentrations. The rate of fatty acid synthesis from extracellular glucose by brown adipose tissue slices under maximal stimulation by insulin was found to be lower by several-fold than that of white adipose tissue of similar rats, when the comparison is made per unit weight of lipid-free dry tissue. It is suggested that this may at least partially account for the relatively low content of stored triglycerides which characterizes brown adipose tissue in vivo. Although the stimulation of oxygen consumption in white adipose tissue by insulin has recently been quantitatively accounted for in terms of the necessity to reoxidize excess pyridine nucleotides generated during the passage of glucose through the pentose phosphate shunt and conversion of glucose to fatty acids, this explanation does not in its simplest form account adequately for the stimulation of oxygen consumption in brown adipose tissue by insulin. Certain apparent advantages are enumerated which seem to make attractive the use of brown adipose tissue for further study of the primary chemical mechanism of action of insulin.
Why bernstein polynomials are better: Fuzzy-inspired justification

It is well known that an arbitrary continuous function on a bounded set - e.g., on an interval [a; b] - can be, with any given accuracy, approximated by a polynomial or by a piece-wise polynomial function (spline). Usually, polynomials are described as linear combinations of monomials. It turns out that in many computational problems, it is more efficient to represent each polynomial as a Bernstein polynomial - e.g., for functions of one variable, a linear combination of terms (x − a)k · (b − x)n−k. In this paper, we provide a simple fuzzy-based explanation of why Bernstein polynomials are often more efficient than linear combinations of monomials, and we show how this informal explanation can be transformed into a precise mathematical explanation.
Landfill Use by Bald Eagles in the Chesapeake Bay Region

Abstract We examined patterns in the use of landfills (rubbish dumps) in the Chesapeake Bay by Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Sites of solid waste landfills (n = 72) were located using state databases. Satellite tracking data from 64 eagles were used to track eagle movements hourly during daylight and once at midnight to determine roosting locations (2007–2012). Landfill use varied significantly with age class, with hatch-year birds using landfills six times more often than adults and twice as often as third- and fourth-year birds. Hatch-year birds spent significantly more time at landfills than expected based on landfill area relative to the study area outside of landfills. The relationship between time of year and eagle presence at landfills was not significant, though the results suggest a peak in landfill use in the late fall. There was spatial variation in landfill use, with 10% of the landfills used by study birds receiving 75% of the total landfill use. Landfills within two km of communa...
A high-temporal resolution algorithm for quantifying organization during atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been described as a "random" or "chaotic" rhythm. Evidence suggests that AF may have transient episodes of temporal and spatial organization. The authors introduce a new algorithm that quantifies AF organization by the mean-squared error (MSE) in the linear prediction between two cardiac electrograms. This algorithm calculates organization at a finer temporal resolution (/spl sim/300 ms) than previously published algorithms. Using canine atrial epicardial mapping data, the authors verified that the MSE algorithm showed nonfibrillatory rhythms to be significantly more organized than fibrillatory rhythms (p<.00001). Further, the authors compared the sensitivity of MSE to that of two previously published algorithms by analyzing AF with simulated noise and AF manipulated with vagal stimulation or by adenosine administration to alter the character of the AF. MSE performed favorably in the presence of noise. While all three algorithms distinguished between low and high vagal AF, MSE was the most sensitive in its discrimination. Only MSE could distinguish baseline AF from AF with adenosine. The authors conclude that their algorithm can distinguish different levels of organization during AF with a greater temporal resolution and sensitivity than previously described algorithms. This algorithm could lead to new ways of analyzing and understanding AF as well as improved techniques in AF therapy.
Lithophane leeae (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Xyleninae), a striking new species from southeastern Arizona.

A new species of noctuid moth in the genus Lithophane Hubner is described and illustrated. Th e largest member in the genus, Lithophane leeae Walsh, sp. n. is known from a single female from the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona, and is strikingly diff erent from other described species of Li thophane. Mitochondrial DNA data place L. leeae closest to (but quite divergent from) Lithophane atara (Smith) in the Lithophane lepida Grote species-group of pine-feeding Lithophane species.
In-depth genomic data analyses revealed complex transcriptional and epigenetic dysregulations of BRAF V600E in melanoma

Background The recurrent BRAF driver mutation V600E (BRAFV600E) is currently one of the most clinically relevant mutations in melanoma. However, the genome-wide transcriptional and epigenetic dysregulations induced by BRAFV600E are still unclear. The investigation of this driver mutation’s functional consequences is critical to the understanding of tumorigenesis and the development of therapeutic strategies.
Peer review of human studies run amok: a break in the fiduciary relation between scientists and the public

Peer review aims to ensure the quality and credibility of research reporting. Conducted by volunteer scientists who receive no guidance or direction, peer review widely varies from fast and facilitative, to unclear and obstructive. Poor quality is an issue because most science research is publicly funded, whereby scientists must make an effort to quickly disseminate their findings back to the public. An unfortunately not uncommon barrier in this process is ineffective peer review. Most scientists agree that when done well, editors and reviewers drive and maintain the high standards of science. At the same time, ineffective peer review can cause great delay with no introduced improvement in final product. These delays and requests interfere with the path of communication between scientist and public, at a great cost to editors, reviewers, authors and those who stand to benefit from application of the results of the studies. We offer a series of concrete recommendations to improve this process.
Interplanetary magnetic field control of the location of substorm onset and auroral features in the conjugate hemispheres

[1] During 2001 and 2002, when the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) satellite had its apogee in the Northern Hemisphere and the Polar spacecraft, owing to the apsidal precession of its orbit, reached higher altitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, the two spacecraft offered a unique opportunity to study the aurora in the conjugate hemispheres simultaneously. Owing to the large fields of view of the Polar Visible Imaging System (VIS) Earth camera and the IMAGE-FUV instruments, substorms and auroral features were imaged on a global scale in both hemispheres. We have identified five substorm onsets and several auroral features that can be unambiguously identified and compared in the two hemispheres. When mapped onto apex coordinates in the two hemispheres, we find that substorm onset locations and auroral features are usually not symmetric. The longitudinal displacement in one hemisphere compared with the other can be as much as 1.5 hours of local time (∼1500 km). For southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) the hemispherical asymmetry (AMLT) is strongly correlated with the IMF clock angle (θ C ) and a linear fit, ΔMLT = -0.017c C + 3.44, gives a correlation coefficient of 0.83 with a mean deviation of 0.4ΔMLT. These findings are interpreted as the magnetic tensions force acting on open magnetic field lines before reconnecting in the magnetotail. This can also be thought of as the IMF penetrating the magnetosphere.
Mnemopoly: Board Games and Mnemonics:

A mnemonic system based on the game board from Parker Brothers' Monopoly® is described. Students' familiarity with the board, combined with simpler mnemonic devices (e.g., acrostics and rhymes), fa...
Chemical Speciation of the Uranyl Ion under Highly Alkaline Conditions. Synthesis, Structures, and Oxo Ligand Exchange Dynamics

The tetramethylammonium counterion was used to suppress formation of insoluble uranate salts, M2U2O7, and allow for a detailed structural and spectroscopic characterization of UO2(OH)n2-n (n = 4, 5) under highly alkaline aqueous solution conditions. Single crystals of [Co(NH3)6]2[UO2(OH)4]3·H2O were obtained by cooling a dilute solution of Co(NH3)6Cl3 and UO2(NO3)2·6H2O in 3.5 M (Me4N)OH to 5 °C. The asymmetric unit contains three distinct UO2(OH)42- ions, each displaying a pseudo-octahedral coordination geometry with trans oxo ligands. The three independent UO2(OH)42- ions in the unit cell give average UO and U−OH distances of 1.82(1) and 2.26(2) A, respectively. EXAFS data on solid [Co(NH3)6]2[UO2(OH)4]3·H2O and aqueous UO22+ in 3.5 M (Me4N)OH solution were collected at the U LIII edge, and the resulting radial distribution function shows a single asymmetric peak. For the solid and solution, curve fitting reveals two near neighbors. For the crystalline solid, the first shell was fit with two O atoms at ...
Reduced frequency dependence of third order nonlinearities in partially-depleted-absorber photodiodes

The third-order intercept point (IP3) of an InGaAs/InP partially-depleted-absorber photodiode is characterized. The IP3 has a flat frequency response: a record IP3 of 39 dBm is achieved at 20 GHz.
Genetic Interactions Between GLC7, PPZ1 and PPZ2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

GLC7 encodes an essential serine/threonine protein type I phosphatase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Three other phosphatases (Ppz1p, Ppz2p, and Sal6p) share >59% identity in their catalytic region with Glc7p. ppz1 ppz2 null mutants have no apparent growth defect on rich media. However, null alleles of PPZ1 and PPZ2, in combination with mutant alleles of GLC7, confer a range of growth defects varying from slow growth to lethality. These results indicate that Glc7p, Ppz1p, and Ppz2p may have overlapping functions. To determine if this overlap extends to interaction with targeting subunits, Glc7p-binding proteins were tested for interaction in the two-hybrid system with the functional catalytic domain of Ppz1p. Ppz1p interacts strongly with a number of Glc7p regulatory subunits, including Glc8p, a protein that shares homology with mammalian PP1 inhibitor I2. Genetic data suggest that Glc8p positively affects both Glc7p and Ppz1p functions. Together our data suggest that Ppz1p and Ppz2p may have overlapping functions with Glc7p and that all three phosphatases may act through common regulatory proteins.
Battery-aware router scheduling in wireless mesh networks

Wireless mesh networks recently emerge as a flexible, low-cost and multipurpose networking platform with wired infrastructure connected to the Internet. A critical issue in mesh networks is to maintain network activities for a long lifetime with high energy efficiency. As more and more outdoor applications require long-lasting, high energy efficient and continuously-working mesh networks with batterypowered mesh routers, it is important to optimize the performance of mesh networks from a battery-aware point of view. Recent study in battery technology reveals that discharging of a battery is nonlinear. Batteries tend to discharge more power than needed, and reimburse the overdischarged power later if they have sufficiently long recovery time. Intuitively, to optimize network performance, a mesh router should recover its battery periodically to prolong the lifetime. In this paper, we introduce a mathematical model on battery discharging duration and lifetime for wireless mesh networks. We also present a battery lifetime optimization scheduling algorithm (BLOS) to maximize the lifetime of battery-powered mesh routers. Based on the BLOS algorithm, we further consider the problem of using battery powered routers to monitor or cover a few hot spots in the network. We refer to this problem as the Spot Covering under BLOS Policy problem (SCBP). We prove that the SCBP problem is NP-hard and give an approximation algorithm called the Spanning Tree Scheduling (STS) to dynamically schedule mesh routers. The key idea of the STS algorithm is to construct a spanning tree according to the BLOS Policy in the mesh network. The time complexity of the STS algorithm is O(r) for a network with r mesh routers. Our simulation results show that the STS algorithm can greatly improve the lifetime, data throughput and power consumption efficiency of a wireless mesh network.
Dialing for displays: session initiation protocol for opportunistic augmentation

Opportunistic augmentation denotes connecting a personal mobile device to another device to gain a transient advantage for the user. For example, a mobile phone user might borrow a large display and keyboard from a desktop personal computer. This uniquely ubiquitous computing activity requires effective device and service discovery as well as appropriate media usable across two or more devices. In this paper we show how session initiation protocol (SIP), the call signaling protocol for voice over IP, effectively separates discovery from media-rendering selection in opportunistic augmentation. This separation improves system flexibility while allowing users or system administrators to choose the most appropriate discovery technologies for the environment. We also describe two phone-centric discovery mechanisms and demonstrate the practicality of the system by implementation and use in a test environment.
Principal component analysis approach for biomedical sample identification

Robotic control application on remote surgery has initiated an increasing interest recently as a result of the rapid development of the communication technology and multi-sensory integration. Raman spectroscopy can provide detailed information on molecular composition and it enables the detection of sample pathological changes in a non-destructive manner. It is particularly useful for in vivo tissue analysis. A feasible objective is to create a real-time approach of sample analysis using a Raman spectrometer directly mounted at the end-effector of medical robot to enhance the remote robot surgery. In order to extract intrinsic Raman spectrum, the impact of background spectrum needs to be excluded at first. Signal to noise ratio (SNR) can be improved by filtering techniques and the data normalization can be conducted by standard normal variate (SNV). Principal component analysis (PCA) is proposed for sample identification. PCA is used for dimension reduction so that significant signatures for different types of samples are indicated by dominant eigenvectors from the correspondent covariance matrix. Eventually different principal components are selected for cluster separation. By principal component analysis and control oriented identification, various samples can be distinguished in terns of intrinsic Raman spectrum. In this study, PCA identifies tissues from distinct clusters of different organs. A systematic approach is then formulated for sample identification via Raman spectroscopy.
On the Semantic Content of the Notion of ‘Thematic Role’

The notion of “thematic roles”, a more modem term for Fillmore’s (1968) case relations, Jackendoff’s (1972, 1976) and Gruber’s (1965) thematic relations, and Panini’s karakas, has been appealed to by contemporary linguists in the statement of natural language generalizations about syntax, morphology, and semantics for some 20 years now. Until recently, thematic roles were invoked only in research that treated semantics non-formally (i.e. not model-theoretically). The level of semantic rigor behind these notions in this literature is suggested by the characterizations in (1) of some of the roles from Andrews (1985) and Jackendoff (1985), which are very typical of the way roles are introduced in this literature.
Structure, conductivity, and optical absorption of Ag2−xO films

Abstract Evaporation of Ag in the presence of an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) oxygen plasma was used to deposit Ag 2− x O films with a range of stoichiometries onto r-plane sapphire substrates. A quartz crystal oscillator (QCO) was used to accurately measure the silver and oxygen arrival rates and establish the O/Ag flux ratio needed to produce films with nominal Ag 2 O stoichiometry. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicates that the Ag 2− x O films are not single phase but contain signatures of coexisting Ag 2 O and AgO components. XRD shows that the lattice matching with the r-plane sapphire substrate causes the Ag 2 O phase to grow with heteroepitaxial crystallites coexisting with crystallites having normal and random in-plane orientation. The AgO phase also forms with crystallites having heteroepitaxy as well as crystallites with normal and random in-plane orientation. The mixed phase Ag 2− x O films exhibit approximately 77% optical transmission over the visible range (500 nm to 700 nm) and have a single absorption edge near 3.3 eV. Four-point van der Pauw conductivity and Hall effect measurements indicate that the Ag 2− x O films are p-type with a conductivity on the order of 3 × 10 − 3 Ω − 1 cm − 1 .
Robust nonlinear aircraft tracking control using synthetic jet actuators

A robust, nonlinear tracking control strategy is presented for an aircraft equipped with synthetic jet actuators (SJA). The control law is designed to be easily implementable, requiring no observers, function approximators, or adaptive laws. By exploiting minimal knowledge of the structure of the nonlinear SJA dynamic model, a matrix decomposition technique is exploited to compensate for the input-multiplicative parametric uncertainty inherent in the SJA dynamics. The control law is shown to yield global asymptotic trajectory tracking in the presence of parametric uncertainty, actuator nonlinearity, and unknown, nonlinear external disturbances. A rigorous Lyapunov-based stability analysis is utilized to prove the theoretical result, and numerical simulation results are provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed control law.
Small-Scale Chemical Changes Caused by In-stream Limestone Sand Additions to Streams

In-stream limestone sand addition (ILSA) has been employed as the final treatment for acid mine drainage discharges at Swamp Run in central West Virginia for six years. To determine the small-scale longitudinal variation in stream water and sediment chemistry and stream biota, we sampled one to three locations upstream of the ILSA site and six locations downstream. Addition of limestone sand significantly increased calcium and aluminum concentrations in sediment and increased the pH, calcium, and total suspended solids of the stream water. Increases in alkalinity were not significant. The number of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa was significantly reduced but there was no effect on periphyton biomass. Dissolved aluminum concentration in stream water was reduced, apparently by precipitation into the stream sediment.
Creation of an electronics teaching laboratory as part of an overall infrastructure upgrade

This paper describes the restructuring of two heavily-used undergraduate electrical and electronic engineering laboratories. New roles were assigned to each room: one of the rooms was designated a teaching laboratory and the other was designated a projects laboratory. The attributes of each room were then optimized for its respective purpose. The teaching laboratory was equipped with a video projection system and was designed to facilitate organized group instruction. Other factors considered in the design of each room included: floor plan and visibility, student access, equipment security, and configuration of test equipment. This paper summarizes the motivation, sources of funding, pedagogical issues, and infrastructure issues involved in the restructuring process. A preliminary assessment of the results is offered, based on student feedback.