cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thomas B. Connery, Journalism and Realism: Rendering American Life

In the early 21st century, social and mobile media technologies are changing how journalists are writing and reporting news. Twitter has challenged some reporters as storytellers to “tweet” breaking news in 140 characters or less. When coupled with a mobile phone, apps such as Vine allow reporters to instantly capture and share short videos—not to simply show what is happening but to give viewers a sense of what French literary theorist Roland Barthes called “being there.” The journalism profession is also being tested by independent bloggers who are often credited for covering news in their communities better than those working in legacy media do. The introduction of new storytelling forms is nothing new in the world of journalism, of course. Thomas B. Connery’s latest book, Journalism and Realism: Rendering American Life, is an excellent reminder that we can learn much from studying cultural practices to better understand how emerging storytelling forms are evolving and changing the media landscape today.
On comparing methods for discriminating between actually negative and actually positive subjects with FROC type data.

The task of searching and detecting multiple abnormalities depicted on an image, or a series of images, is a common problem in different areas such as military target detection or diagnostic medical imaging. A free response receiver operating characteristic (FROC) approach for assessing performance in many of these scenarios entails marking the locations of suspected abnormalities and indicating a level of suspicion at each of the marked locations. One of the important characteristics of a system being evaluated under the FROC paradigm is its performance in the conventional ROC domain, namely classifying a subject (or a unit of interest) as “negative” or “positive” in regard to the presence of the abnormality (or any of the abnormalities) of interest. With FROC data we can compare subjects by specifying a function of multiple scores within a subject. This approach allows formulating subject-based ROC type indices that can be estimated using existing ROC concepts. In this article we focus on indices that reflect the ability of the system to discriminate between actually negative and actually positive subjects. We consider a previously proposed index that is based on the comparison of the highest scores on subjects and two new indices that are based on potentially more stable comparison functions, namely comparison of average scores and stochastic dominance. Based on these indices we develop nonparametric procedures for comparing subject-based discriminative ability of diagnostic systems being evaluated under the FROC paradigm. We also investigate the properties of the statistical procedures in a simulation study.
Do Male Veiled Chameleons, Chamaeleo calyptratus, Adjust their Courtship Displays in Response to Female Reproductive Status?

Variation in male courtship behavior may be due to inherent differences among males or may arise from males adjusting their courtship displays according to female responsiveness. Female veiled chameleons, Chamaeleo calyptratus, exhibit two distinctive suites of body coloration and behavior patterns that vary according to receptive and non-receptive stages of their reproductive cycle. We presented male chameleons with both receptive and non-receptive females, and recorded differences in their mating frequency, courtship intensity and courtship behavior patterns. As expected, males were more likely to court and attempt mating with receptive females. Although fewer males courted non-receptive females, their courtship displays were significantly longer than those directed towards receptive females. Males also adjusted the contents of their displays according to female reproductive condition. Certain behavior patterns were unique to courtship displays directed towards each class of females. Males exhibited the behavior pattern `head roll' only when paired with receptive females, and `chin rub' was displayed only during courtship of non-receptive females. We hypothesize that these differences in male courtship frequency, intensity and content reflect differences in female reproductive value. Although males may benefit from mating with both receptive and non-receptive females, the costs associated with courtship may depend on female responsiveness. Thus, males adjust their courtship tactics accordingly.
Identification of volatile flavor compounds developed during storage of a deodorized hydrogenated soybean oil

Hydrogenated soybean oil, even after it has been thoroughly deodorized, will develop a characteristic, objectionable flavor known as hydrogenation flavor during storage. The volatile compounds in such an oil were isolated, fractionated by gas chromatography, and the gas chromatographic fractions identified by IR and mass spectrometry. A total of 48 compounds was identified. Among them, 2-trans-6-trans-octadienal, and higher alcohols and lactones, appeared to play an important role in contributing to the hydrogenation flavor.
Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Is the Frank–Starling Law Kaput?

Building on work by Otto Frank in the late 19th century, Ernest Starling described in the early 20th century the ability of the heart to change its force of contraction and therefore stroke volume in response to changes in venous return, which has been called the Frank–Starling law of the heart in honor of these 2 physiologists. The Frank–Starling effect enables the heart to match cardiac output to venous return on a beat-to-beat basis.1 A major mechanism responsible for the Frank–Starling effect and hence the beat-to-beat autoregulation of cardiac output is the sarcomere length-dependent activation of force development.2 Article, see p 1491 In this issue of Circulation Research , Sequeira et al3 investigate both the Ca- and length-dependent regulation of force development in cardiomyocytes harvested from patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a familial disorder commonly associated with mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins.4 Consistent with previous animal and human studies,5 myofilament Ca sensitivity was increased in all 38 HCM patient samples compared with 12 nonfailing donor hearts. Notable, the authors observed that length-dependent activation was impaired, which, unlike the Ca sensitivity increase, seemed to be a primary effect of the mutant sarcomeric proteins because (1) it could not be rescued by increasing protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation and (2) was normalized when mutant troponin (Tn) proteins were replaced with wild-type protein. These new results suggest that impaired length-dependent activation and hence a defective Frank–Starling effect importantly contribute to the pathogenesis of HCM (Figure). HCM is a familial disorder commonly associated with mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Mutation carriers develop progressive heart hypertrophy and fibrosis and are at a high risk for sudden death because of ventricular arrhythmia. More than 1000 mutations in >11 genes have been identified, which can lead to this disease. …
The Blueberry Stem-Gall in Maine

Hemadas nubilipennis Ashmead has been isolated as the specific cause of the pinkish, kidney-shaped galls on the stems of low-bush blueberries growing in Maine. This insect is capable of causing severe injury through a reduction in the fruiting surface of the plants, but the gall-maker has been held in check by the cultural practice of burning over the blueberry fields in rotation every second or third year.
Multiple trains of same-color surface plasmon-polaritons guided by the planar interface of a metal and a sculptured nematic thin film. Part V: Grating-coupled excitation

The excitation of multiple surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) waves by the plane wave illumination of a metallic surface-relief grating coated with a sculptured nematic thin film (SNTF) was studied theoretically. The relevant boundary-value problem was formulated such that the grating plane and the morphologically significant plane of the SNTF can be rotated about a common axis with respect to each other. The rigorous coupled-wave analysis was employed to numerically solve the boundary-value problem. Absorptances were calculated as functions of the angle of incidence of a linearly polarized plane wave with wave vector lying wholly in the grating plane, and the excitation of the SPP waves was inferred from those peaks in the absorptance curves that were independent of the thickness of the SNTF. These peaks were successfully correlated with the solutions of the underlying canonical problem solved in Part IV of this series of papers.
Muscle-bone and fat-bone interactions in regulating bone mass: do PTH and PTHrP play any role?

Metabolic bone disease occurs when there is a net loss in bone density. Osteoporosis, the most common metabolic bone disease, is a devastating problem and an increasingly major public health issue. A substantial body of evidence in the elderly population indicates that a relationship exists between the components of body weight and various measures of bone/mass, density, and function. Both muscle and fat contribute to the body’s total weight and the intimate associations of muscle, fat, and bone are known. But the close functional interactions between muscle and bone or fat and bone are largely unidentified and have drawn much attention in recent years. Each of these tissues not only responds to afferent signals from traditional hormone systems and the central nervous systems but also secretes factors with important endocrine functions. Studies suggest that during growth, development, and aging, the relationship of muscle and fat with the skeleton possibly governs bone homeostasis and turnover. A better understanding of the endocrine function and the cellular and molecular mechanisms and pathways linking muscle or adipose tissues with bone anabolism and catabolism is a new avenue for novel pathways for anabolic drug discovery. These in turn will likely lead to more rational therapy toward increasingly prevalent disorders like osteoporosis. In this review, some of the recent works on the interaction of bone with muscle and fat are highlighted, and in so doing the role of parathyroid hormone (PTH), and PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) is surveyed.
Successful Treatment of Intrathecal Methotrexate Overdose by Using Ventriculolumbar Perfusion and Intrathecal Instillation of Carboxypeptidase G2

Prompt and appropriate management measures are critical in order to achieve a favorable outcome after a major overdose of intrathecally (IT) administered methotrexate (MTX). Published information available to guide clinicians in the immediate management of this medical emergency is scant. Herein we describe a 6-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who received an inadvertent overdose of 600 mg of IT administered MTX instead of the intended dose of 12 mg. Severe acute neurotoxicity developed rapidly. Lumbar puncture and drainage of 15 mL of cerebrospinal fluid 2 hours after administration resulted in removal of 32% of the administered drug. Ventriculolumbar perfusion with 240 mL of warmed isotonic saline through ventricular and lumbar catheters for 3 hours resulted in removal of a total of 90% of the drug within 8 1/2 hours after administration. IT administration of 2,000 U of carboxypeptidase G2 (CPDG2), an enzyme that inactivates MTX, resulted in a further 150-fold reduction in cerebrospinal fluid MTX concentration. The patient experienced complete recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of the use of IT instillation of CPDG2 for the treatment of an overdose of IT administered MTX in a human, and it is only the second reported favorable outcome after an IT overdose of more than 500 mg of MTX. Minor IT overdoses of MTX can be managed by immediate lumbar drainage alone. Major overdoses may also necessitate prompt ventriculolumbar perfusion, IT instillation of CPDG2, and further supportive measures for a successful outcome after this infrequent but potentially catastrophic event.
Three-dimensional virtual surgery accuracy for free fibula mandibular reconstruction: planned versus actual results.

Purpose Virtual surgical planning (VSP) can promote efficiency, but the ability to transfer the proposed plan to the actual result has not been adequately studied. The purpose of this study was to morphometrically compare the virtually preplanned scenario with the postoperative 3-dimensional (3D) anatomic result. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of 10 patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction using a free fibula flap and VSP were evaluated. Pre- and postoperative Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine files were imported into Mimics 10.01 software (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium) for surgical planning. Preoperative VSP and 1-week postoperative computed tomographic (CT) scans were evaluated to assess surgical accuracy using VSP. The pre- and postoperative morphometric measurements were compared using the Student t test. Results Twenty CT scans from 10 patients (mean age, 56.9 ± 20.2 yr) who underwent partial mandibular resection were analyzed. The dimensions of the fibula segments after osteotomy showed no difference from the preoperative VSP (mean difference in fibula height, 1.2 mm; mean difference in width, 0.9 mm; mean difference in length, 1.3 mm). The postoperative anterior and posterior mandibular angles differed from the VSP by 12.4° and −12.5°, respectively. The condylar distance and inclination showed a discrepancy of only 1.7 mm and 4.6°, respectively, between VSP and postoperative CT scans. Conclusions VSP confers reproducible precision and accuracy for free fibular mandibular reconstruction. The benefit was most striking for large reconstructions requiring multiple fibular segments. Future directions include assessing the use of external registration devices to enhance surgical accuracy and to follow patients longitudinally to monitor the long-term benefit of VSP.
Perioperative outcomes following surgical resection of renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava thrombus extending above the hepatic veins: a contemporary multicenter experience

Abstract Background Surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients with inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus above the hepatic veins is technically complex and associated with an increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. However, minimal data exist that describe contemporary perioperative outcomes at major referral centers or the prognostic factors associated with poor outcomes. Objective To determine the preoperative predictors of major complications and 90-d mortality after surgery in RCC patients who have IVC thrombus above the hepatic veins. Design, setting, and participants We reviewed medical records of all RCC patients who had IVC tumor thrombus above hepatic veins and had had surgery between January 2000 and December 2012 at the Mayo Clinic, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and the University of Wisconsin Hospital. Outcome measurement and statistical analysis Major complications recorded were defined as ≥3A according to the Clavien-Dindo system within 90 d of surgery. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate associations of preoperative variables with risk of major complications or 90-d mortality. Results and limitations A total of 162 patients were identified for study (level 3, 4 in 69, 93 patients, respectively, according to the Neves classification). Cardiopulmonary bypass was used in 60 of 162 patients (37.5%), and 40 patients (24.7%) had preoperative angioembolization. Major complications were reported in 55 patients (34.0%), with the most common being respiratory, cardiac, and hematologic issues. After multivariate analysis, preoperative systemic symptoms and level 4 thrombus were independently associated with increased risk of major complications. Mortality was reported in 17 patients (10.5%) within 90 d after surgery. After multivariate analysis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) and low serum albumin were preoperative factors independently associated with increased risk of 90-d mortality. Conclusions Contemporary perioperative mortality and major complication rates for RCC patients who have upper-level thrombus are 10% and 34%, respectively. Patients who have ECOG PS >1 or low serum albumin have increased risk for perioperative mortality.
A stereospecific rhodium catalyzed hydroacylation. Cyclization of trans-4-hexenal-1-d

Treatment of trans-4-hexenal-1-d with RhCl(PPh3)3 (I) in C6 H6 afforded 2-methylcyclopentanone-3-d and -2-d (II-3-d, and II-2-d) in 91 ratio when the reaction was carried to a low conversion. The deuterium in the II-3-d product was found to be cis to the C(2) methyl group by analysis of the 270 MHz 1H and 41.4 MHz 2H NMR spectra. This analysis was assisted by the synthesis of II-cis-2,3-d2 by treatment of 2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one with D2 and I. The 270 MHz 1H and 41.4 MHz 2H spectra of II-cis-2,3-d2 and of II-2,5,5-d3 were instrumental in the assignments of proton resonances in spectra of II-3-d. The results demonstrated that the cyclization of 4-hexenal-1-d occurred by a syn addition of the CD bond to the olefinic bond to generate II-3-d. The results were interpreted in terms of a mechanism involving intervention of an acylrhodium(III) hydride complex and organorhodium(III) intermediates derived therefrom.
Ultrasensitive quantification of cerebral capillary flow networks and dynamics

Ultra-high resolution optical Doppler coherence tomography (μODT) is a promising tool for brain functional imaging. However, its sensitivity for detecting slow flows in capillary beds may limit its utility in visualizing and quantifying subtle changes in brain microcirculation. To address this limitation, we developed a novel method called contrast-enhanced μODT (c-μODT) in which intralipid is injected into mouse tail vein to enhance μODT detection sensitivity. We demonstrate that after intralipid injection, the flow detection sensitivity of μODT is dramatically enhanced by 230% as quantified by the fill factor (FF) of microvasculature. More importantly, we show that c-μODT preserves the quantitative properties for flow imaging, i.e., showing a comparable change ratio of hypercapnia-induced flow increase in the capillary network before and after injecting intralipid.
Optical-precision alignment of diffraction grating mold in Moiré interferometry

A high-precision optical method is presented for aligning diffraction grating molds with the edges of specimens in moire interferometry. The alignment fixture is simple and convenient to operate. The conventional method of grating-mold alignment has a wide band of uncertainty in the range of error which is not compatible with the required precision of high-sensitivity moire interferometry. Following a description of the alignment technique, both the single-edge and parallel-edge guide bar optical alignment methods are introduced and compared.
An approximate analytic model of supertanker lightering operations

The most economical means of transporting crude oil over long distances is through the use of very large and ultra large crude containers (VLCCs and ULCCs respectively). These ships require sea lane depths of more than 55 feet to navigate. Since no major U.S. port is deeper than 45 feet, special offloading procedures must be employed. One such procedure is lightering, the process of offloading crude oil from VLCCs to smaller vessels for final delivery to the port. A linked set of queuing models is developed in an effort to understand lightering operations better and to enhance tradeoff analyses. The model assumes that port service times, lightering vessel loading times and VLCC interarrival times are exponentially distributed, allowing us to model lightering vessel operations using a cyclic queuing model. VLCC delays are modeled using an approximate M/Ek/S queue. The two models are linked through a VLCC service time model. The sensitivity of the model to changes in key inputs as well as the likely impacts of the model's assumptions and approximations are discussed. The paper concludes with recommendations for future studies.
Collective 2+ states in the U(5) classical limit of the proton-neutron interacting boson model

The U(5) classical limit of the proton-neutron interacting boson model Hamiltonian, appropriate for the collective 2/sup +/ states, is investigated. The symmetric and mixed-symmetry 2/sup +/ states are identified as arising from the boson-number-weighted symmetric and antisymmetric vibrations in the beta degree of freedom, respectively. Also approximate formulas for the energies away from the U(5) limit and for the reduced matrix elements of the E2 and M1 transition operators are given.
Effects of lorazepam tolerance and withdrawal on GABAA receptor operated chloride channels in mice selected for differences in ethanol withdrawal severity.

Abstract Withdrawal seizure prone (WSP) and withdrawal seizure resistant (WSR) mice were treated with 5 mg/kg lorazepam for 7 days via implanted osmotic mini pumps. Following chronic drug treatment, brains were assayed for GABA-mediated chloride flux (GABA-Cl − ). Under control (drug naive) conditions, brain membranes prepared from WSP and WSR lines did not differ in flunitrazepam or ethanol stimulation of GABA-mediated 36 Cl − uptake, but the WSP lines were more sensitive to inhibition of 36 Cl − flux by the inverse agonist, FG-7142. Membranes from lorazepam tolerant WSP and WSR mice were resistant to flunitrazepam- and ethanol-stimulation of GABA-Cl − . Withdrawal from chronic treatment, by an acute injection with the benzodiazepine antagonist RO15-1788, returned flunitrazepam stimulation of GABA-Cl − to near control levels in WSR membranes but not in WSP membranes and restored ethanol modulation of the channel to control levels in both lines. Inhibition of chloride flux by the benzodiazepine partial inverse agonist, FG-7142 was greater in membranes from WSP mice compared with WSR mice. Tolerance to lorazepam increased sensitivity of the WSR membranes to FG-7142 without altering the response in the WSP line. Again, withdrawal restored the Cl − flux response to FG-7142 back to near control levels. Lorazepam tolerance lowered [ 3 H]-flunitrazepam binding affinity slightly only in the WSR strain with no change in binding number. Withdrawal from chronic lorazepam treatment produced no significant change in binding affinity or number. The initial genotypic differences in benzodiazepine inverse agonist sensitivity, may be related to the selection for withdrawal seizure severity. Chronic administration of lorazepam reduces the coupling between the benzodiazepine agonist site and the chloride channel and concomitantly increases coupling between the channel and the inverse agonist site, while withdrawal resets the receptor coupling back to control response levels. However, for the WSP line, this drug environment dependent shift in channel coupling bias appears to be deficient compared with the WSR line.
Friction and Surface Finish

CONFERENCES on Friction and Surface Finish were held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during June 5–7 under the joint auspices of the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgy. Representatives of the automobile, aviation, oil, machine tool, grinding, general machinery and other industries took part. The object of the Conferences was to bring before engineers associated with the many industries concerned, a summary of present knowledge regarding friction and finish, and to bring out by discussion an appreciation of what new information is needed and an indication of the most promising directions for future research. The discussion was too extensive to report here, but the following notes indicate matters which were especially interesting to those present.
Biosynthesis of membrane cholesterol during peripheral nerve development, degeneration and regeneration

Biosynthesis of peripheral nerve cholesterol was investigated by the in vivo and in vitro incorporation of [1-14C]-acetate into sciatic endoneurium of normal rats during development, degeneration and regeneration. Labeled sterols were rapidly formed (<10 min) within the endoneurial portion of sciatic nerve after [1-14C]acetate administration by intraneural injection. The majority of labeled sterols were initially found in lanosterol and desmosterol. After six hr, the14C-labeling in both precursors was decreased to minimum, whereas cholesterol became the major labeled product of sterol. As myelination proceeded, the incorporation of [1-14C]acetate into endoneurial cholesterol decreased rapidly and reached a minimum after six no. In mature adult nerve, an increased proportion of biosynthesis of lanosterol and desmosterol also was demonstrated. The in vitro incorporation of [1-14C]acetate into cholesterol was inhibited during Wallerian degeneration. Instead, cholesteryl esters were labeled as the major sterol product. Such inhibition, however, was not observed in the adult Trembler nerve (Brain Res. 325, 21–27, 1985), which is presumed to be due to a primary metabolic disorder of Schwann cells. The cholesterol biosynthesis was gradually resumed in degenerated nerve by either regeneration of crush-injured nerve or reattachment of the transected nerve. These results suggest that cholesterol biosynthesis in peripheral nerve relies on the axon to provide necessary substrates. De novo synthesis appears to be one of the major sources of endoneurial cholesterol that forms and maintains peripheral nerve myelin.
Endothelium-Derived Neuregulin Protects the Heart Against Ischemic Injury

Background—Removal of cardiac endothelial cells (EC) has been shown to produce significant detrimental effects on the function of adjacent cardiac myocytes, suggesting that EC play a critical role in autocrine/paracrine regulation of the heart. Despite this important observation, the mediators of the protective function of EC remain obscure. Neuregulin (NRG, a member of the epidermal growth factor family) is produced by EC and cardiac myocytes contain receptors (erbB) for this ligand. We hypothesized that NRG is an essential factor produced by EC, which promotes cardioprotection against ischemic injury. Methods and Results—We demonstrate that human cardiac EC express and release NRG in response to hypoxia–reoxygenation. Under conditions where hypoxia–reoxygenation causes significant cardiac myocyte cell death, NRG can significantly decrease apoptosis of isolated adult ventricular myocytes. Coculturing adult murine myocytes with human umbilical vein, murine lung microvascular, or human coronary artery EC c...
Tolerance to low oxygen and sulfide in Amphiura filiformis and Ophiura albida (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

The brittle stars Amphiura filiformis (Muller) and Ophiura albida (Forbes) were exposed to different oxygen saturations (100, 10, 5, 3, and <1% oxygen saturation) and to physiological anoxia (<1% oxygen saturation) at different total sulfide concentrations (0, 2, 20, 200 μM). The mortality was followed during experiments and the median survival time (LT50) was determined. The infaunal A. filiformis had a significantly higher tolerance to both hypoxia and sulfide than did the epibenthic O. albida. After exposure to 10% oxygen saturation for a month, only 2.0% A. filiformis and 0% O. albida were dead. In oxygen saturations <1% A. filiformis and O. albida had a LT50 of 7.5 and 2.5 d, respectively. The presence of even very small concentrations of sulfide decreased the survival significantly. Sulfide is shown to be the key factor for the survival of the two species.
Nonlinear Modeling by Interpolation Between Linear Dynamics and Its Application in Control

This paper proposes a finite series expansion to approximate general nonlinear dynamics models to arbitrary accuracy. The method produces an approximation of nonlinear dynamics in the form of an aggregate of linear models, weighted by unimodal basis functions, and results in a linear growth bound on the approximation error. Furthermore, this paper demonstrates that the proposed approximation satisfies the modeling assumptions for analysis based on linear matrix inequalities and hence widens the applicability of these techniques to the area of nonlinear control.
SU-C-18A-07: The Importance of Image Processing for Simulated Deformations

Purpose: Deformations can be digitally applied to patient images to evaluate the accuracy of deformable image registration (DIR). However, this can also deform image noise and artifacts, leaving a fingerprint of the underlying deformation that could skew accuracy determination. Image processing can be used to erase this fingerprint and create a more realistic DIR test scenario. The importance of image processing to simulated deformations is tested here. Methods: These tests utilize a virtual pelvic phantom, made from a patient CT image, and a pelvic-shaped water phantom to acquire noise signatures. Two image-filtering techniques are tested here: a spatial convolution with a Gaussian (SCG) and an edgepreserving filter (EPF) that preferentially removes the Fourier components associated with noise. Four different processing scenarios are evaluated here. The first is no processing (NP). For the second, noise from the water phantom is added to the set of test images without filtering (NF). The third and fourth scenarios add noise after applying the SCG and EPF filtering methods. EPF provides the most realistic test scenario. These processing scenarios are tested for their effect on the spatial accuracy of the DIR algorithms from MIM Software and Velocity Medical Solution. Results: For NP, NF, SCG, and EPF, the mean errors from MIM were 0.78, 1.11, 1.44, and 1.24 mm, respectively. The corresponding maximum errors for MIM were 21.7, 18.8, 26.1, and 21.1 mm, respectively. Velocity was relatively insensitive to these different processing scenarios, where the mean errors ranged from 1.66 to 1.74 mm and the maximum errors from 12.1 to 12.4 mm. Conclusion: Velocity creates globally smooth deformations, whereas MIM exhibits much more local pliability. This local pliability makes MIM sensitive to differences in image processing. Thus, an objective evaluation of its accuracy with simulated deformations must utilize realistic noise scenarios, with carefully balanced image processing.
Live robotic surgery: are outcomes compromised?

Objective To determine the outcomes of patients undergoing robotic partial nephrectomy as a live broadcast surgery compared to a cohort treated without observers. Methods From 2007 to 2011, 39 robotic partial nephrectomies were performed as live broadcast surgery by 1 of 5 high volume surgeons. Live broadcast cases were defined as surgeries viewed by multiple visiting physicians via live teleconference in which the visitors were able to interact with the operating surgeon. Live cases were compared with 847 cases performed under standard operating procedure during the same period. Cases performed under standard operating procedure were not broadcasted. Demographic, clinicopathologic, and perioperative outcomes were compared between groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to the test the association between live broadcast surgery and adverse perioperative outcomes. Results Demographic and clinicopathologic data were similar between both groups. The live broadcast surgery group experienced equivalent operative times (196.3 vs 183.8 minutes; P = .22), estimated blood loss (EBL; 187.8 vs 190.7; P = .93), warm ischemia time (WIT; 20.8 vs 18.8; P = .17), hospital length of stay (LOS; 2.8 vs 2.8 days; P = .99), positive surgical margin rate (2.6% vs 2.3%; P = .83), and rates of postoperative complications (5.1% vs 12.8%; P = .16). There were no Clavien III to V complications in the live broadcast group. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that live broadcast surgery was not associated with any unfavorable perioperative parameter. Conclusion Live robotic surgery is associated with excellent patient outcomes which compare favorably to cases done under normal operating procedures. Live robotic surgery represents a powerful educational tool which may be used without increasing patient morbidity.
280 TOPICAL TESTOSTERONE THERAPY FOR MICROPHALLUS IN MALE CHILDREN WITH HYPOPITUITARISM

Previous reports have documented the presence of microphallus in boys with hypopituitarism and have indicated the beneficial effects on phallic growth of systemic testosterone (T). Phallic growth probably depends on adequate tissue levels of dihydro-testosterone (DHT) with T being converted to DHT in the target tissue. Growth hormone (GH) may play a permissive role. We have studied the results of short-term (3 wks), topical application of 5% T in 4 boys with this syndrome. All patients were receiving GH at the time of T therapy. No acceleration of linear growth and no advance in osseous maturation occurred during or after treatment. We conclude that local T for this brief period is a safe, effective, and simple means of stimulating phallic growth. Whether the effect is due to local tissue levels of elevated blood concentration of T remains to be demonstrated.
Extracellular calcium alters frequency modulation of [3H]acetylcholine release from rat hippocampal slices

Abstract The concentration of extracellular Ca 2+ has been shown to enhance or attenuate [ 3 H]acetylcholine (ACh) release subsequent to a conditioning stimulus in rat brain hippocampal slices. Slices were incubated in vitro in [ 3 H]choline solution. Subsequently the slices were subjected to two consecutive electrical stimulations separated by 15 or 30 min at 0.25, 1, 4 and 16 Hz and [ 3 H]ACh release was assessed. It was found that a conditioning stimulus may reduce [ 3 H]ACh release during a second stimulation. This phenomenon is frequency related and disappears when the two stimulations are 30 min apart. High extracellular Ca 2+ (4.0 mM) further attenuated [ 3 H]ACh release during the second stimulation whereas low Ca 2+ (0.32 mM) abolished the decrease in [ 3 H]ACh release following the second stimulation in all frequencies tested.
Shell deformity among scallops (Argopecten irradians Lamark) cultured in a recirculating seawater system

Abstract Bay scallops, Argopecten irradians , were held in a recirculating seawater system for 25 weeks and fed a diet consisting of four species of cultured algae. The rate of growth of the shellfish was less than reported for scallops from natural areas, and a gross shell deformity was noted among most of the scallops after 18 weeks of culture. The deformity may have been related to an inadequate diet.
High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of selenocysteine with the fluorescent reagent, N-(iodoacetylaminoethyl)-5-naphthylamine-1-sulfonic acid.

The method described is based on derivatization of selenocysteine with N-(iodoacetylaminoethyl)-5-naphthylamine-1-sulfonic acid and responds linearly to selenocysteine spiked into plasma. Recovery is insensitive to inter-individual variation or use of serum versus plasma, but is decreased by hemolysis. The derivative is stable for at least three days. The total imprecision of determinations in plasma was 0.8–2.1% (coefficient of variation) over the range of 6–30 μM selenocysteine, with a detection limit of 0.4 μM (3 × S.D.). There was no significant interference from plasma thiols. This appears to be the first report of the selective reaction of free selenocysteine with a fluorescent reagent. This simple method works well in plasma and serum and may be adaptable to other types of samples.
High efficiency beta-decay spectroscopy using a planar germanium double-sided strip detector

Abstract Beta-decay spectroscopy experiments are limited by the detection efficiency of ions and electrons in the experimental setup. While there is a variety of different experimental setups in use for beta-decay spectroscopy, one popular choice is silicon double-sided strip detectors (DSSD). The higher Z of Ge and greater availability of thicker detectors as compared to Si potentially offer dramatic increases in the detection efficiency for beta-decay electrons. In this work, a planar GeDSSD has been commissioned for use in beta-decay spectroscopy experiments at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL). The implantation response of the detector and its beta-decay detection efficiency is discussed.
p42/mitogen-activated protein kinase as a converging target for different growth factor signaling pathways: use of pertussis toxin as a discrimination factor.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is a 42-kDa serine/threonine-specific protein kinase that requires phosphorylation on both tyrosine and threonine residues for activity. This enzyme is rapidl...
Polarized x-ray absorption spectroscopy for the study of superconductors and magnetic materials

Synchrotron radiation is a good source of polarized radiation in the x-ray regime. The radiation obtained from a bending magnet source is linearly polarized in the bending plane and has a varying degree of circular polarization away from the bending plane. This feature of synchrotron radiation can be taken advantage of with proper optics to selectively use the type of polarized radiation required for the experiment in question. Linear polarized radiation is used to study the anisotropic nature of electronic and atomic structure by x-ray absorption techniques from single crystal and oriented powder samples. We will give a specific example of the use of linearly polarized x-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements for the study of the magnetically oriented layered copper oxide superconductors. While such linear dichroism measurements help identify the symmetry of the empty electronic states, circular dichroism measurements in magnetic systems help in determining the spin contribution to the absorption process. We will discuss magnetic circular dichroism measurements of the ordered-disordered invar alloy Fe3Pt.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Eicosanoid biosynthesis by hemocytes from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Abstract We describe eicosanoid biosynthesis by microsomal-enriched preparations of hemocytes from larvae of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta . Four major prostaglandins, PGA 2 , PGE 2 , PGD 2 and PGF 2α , and a lipoxygenase product that co-chromatographed with 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) were synthesized under most conditions. The HETE's fraction was the predominant product. Eicosanoid biosynthesis was sensitive to experimental conditions, including incubation time, temperature, and protein concentration. Optimal biosynthesis was observed with 1.5 mg of microsomal-enriched protein, incubated at 30°C for 2 min. The hemocyte preparation is sensitive to low dosages of naproxin and esculetin. As in mammals, most lipoxygenase activity (87%) was localized in the cytosolic fraction of hemocytes. Unlike mammals, in which PGH synthase is associated with intracellular membranes, the hemocytic activity was detected in microsomal (59%), cytosolic (35%) and mitochondrial fractions (5%).
Hydrogen-peroxide-induced heme degradation in red blood cells: the protective roles of catalase and glutathione peroxidase

Catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPX) react with red cell hydrogen peroxide. A number of recent studies indicate that catalase is the primary enzyme responsible for protecting the red cell from hydrogen peroxide. We have used flow cytometry in intact cells as a sensitive measure of the hydrogen-peroxide-induced formation of fluorescent heme degradation products. Using this method, we have been able to delineate a unique role for GSHPX in protecting the red cell from hydrogen peroxide. For extracellular hydrogen peroxide, catalase completely protected the cells, while the ability of GSHPX to protect the cells was limited by the availability of glutathione. The effect of endogenously generated hydrogen peroxide in conjunction with hemoglobin autoxidation was investigated by in vitro incubation studies. These studies indicate that fluorescent products are not formed during incubation unless the glutathione is reduced to at least 40% of its initial value as a result of incubation or by reacting the glutathione with iodoacetamide. Reactive catalase only slows down the depletion of glutathione, but does not directly prevent the formation of these fluorescent products. The unique role of GSHPX is attributed to its ability to react with hydrogen peroxide generated in close proximity to the red cell membrane in conjunction with the autoxidation of membrane-bound hemoglobin.
A Computational Algorithm to Produce Virtual X-ray and Electron Diffraction Patterns from Atomistic Simulations

Electron and x-ray diffraction are well-established experimental methods used to explore the atomic scale structure of materials. In this work, a computational algorithm is developed to produce virtual electron and x-ray diffraction patterns directly from atomistic simulations. This algorithm advances beyond previous virtual diffraction methods by using a high-resolution mesh of reciprocal space that eliminates the need for a priori knowledge of the crystal structure being modeled or other assumptions concerning the diffraction conditions. At each point on the reciprocal space mesh, the diffraction intensity is computed via explicit computation of the structure factor equation. To construct virtual selected-area electron diffraction patterns, a hemispherical slice of the reciprocal lattice mesh lying on the surface of the Ewald sphere is isolated and viewed along a specified zone axis. X-ray diffraction line profiles are created by binning the intensity of each reciprocal lattice point by its associated scattering angle, effectively mimicking powder diffraction conditions. The virtual diffraction algorithm is sufficiently generic to be applied to atomistic simulations of any atomic species. In this article, the capability and versatility of the virtual diffraction algorithm is exhibited by presenting findings from atomistic simulations of 〈100〉 symmetric tilt Ni grain boundaries, nanocrystalline Cu models, and a heterogeneous interface formed between α-Al2O3 (0001) and γ-Al2O3 (111).
Risk factors associated with mortality from white-nose syndrome among hibernating bat colonies

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease responsible for unprecedented mortality in hibernating bats. First observed in a New York cave in 2006, mortality associated with WNS rapidly appeared in hibernacula across the northeastern United States. We used yearly presence–absence data on WNS-related mortality among hibernating bat colonies in the Northeast to determine factors influencing its spread. We evaluated hazard models to test hypotheses about the association between the timing of mortality and colony-level covariates, such as distance from the first WNS-affected site, colony size, species diversity, species composition and type of hibernaculum (cave or mine). Distance to origin and colony size had the greatest effects on WNS hazard over the range of observations; the type of hibernaculum and species composition had weaker effects. The distance effect showed a temporal decrease in magnitude, consistent with the pattern of an expanding epizootic. Large, cave-dwelling bat colonies with high proportions of Myotis lucifugus or other species that seek humid microclimates tended to experience early mortality. Our results suggest that the timing of mortality from WNS is largely dependent on colony location, and large colonies tend to be first in an area to experience high mortality associated with WNS.
Resonantly (in-band) cladding-pumped Yb-free Er-doped fibre laser with record efficiency

Power scaling potential with record high efficiency for a resonantly (in-band) cladding-pumped Yb-free Er-doped eye-safe fibre laser utilising the fibre with non-clustering composition and increased cladding pump absorption is domonstrated. While pumping at 1532.5 nm by power-combined fibre-coupled spectrally-narrowed InGaAsP/InP diode laser modules, ∼47 W of continuous-wave multimode output power at ∼1590 nm with optical-to-optical efficiency over 77% were achieved. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the highest efficiency ever obtained from a cladding-pumped Yb-free Er-doped fibre laser.
Open Prisons in the Japanese Manner

ABSTRACT The nature and functions of five open facilities of Japan's Correction Bureau are placed within the context of comparative criminal justice. As for open prisons about the world, they depart from the “principle of containment” in ways shaped by the sociocultural system of the given society. Effects of war offer remarkable opportunities for penological change that have been seized by pioneering individuals in Japan and elsewhere. The several open units in Japan illustrate the grounding of prison operations in the unique features of Japan's sociocultural system.
ParkZoom: A parking spot identification system

Accurate localization in outdoor and indoor spaces is a challenging task. The widely used GPS is not designed for high accuracy applications and yields accuracy levels not sufficient for lane or spot level localization. In addition, errors from inertial sensors accumulate with time due to integration drift. We introduce a smartphone based, infrastructure aided parking localization system called ParkZoom for estimating (zooming into) the precise parking spot location of a vehicle during traversal in both indoor and outdoor parking lots. On the vehicle side, the proposed method utilizes conventional smartphones for generating and transferring continuous sensor data, such as accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass readings. On the infrastructure side, ParkZoom employs statistical learning of sensor data signatures, pattern classification of data, constraint propagation and error correction for accurate parking spot identification. The paper presents experimental results with the ParkZoom algorithm obtained on real data in city driving and two parking areas.
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF FEATURE RANKING TECHNIQUES FOR SOFTWARE QUALITY PREDICTION

The primary goal of software quality engineering is to produce a high quality software product through the use of some specific techniques and processes. One strategy is applying data mining techniques to software metric and defect data collected during the software development process to identify potential low-quality program modules. In this paper, we investigate the use of feature selection in the context of software quality estimation (also referred to as software defect prediction), where a classification model is used to predict whether program modules (instances) are fault-prone or not-fault-prone. Seven filter-based feature ranking techniques are examined. Among them, six are commonly used, and the other one, named signal to noise ratio (SNR), is rarely employed. The objective of the paper is to compare these seven techniques for various software data sets and assess their effectiveness for software quality modeling. A case study is performed on 16 software data sets, and classification models are...
Neuropeptide Y and posttraumatic stress disorder

Resiliency to the adverse effects of extraordinary emotional trauma on the brain varies within the human population. Accordingly, some people cope better than others with traumatic stress. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36-amino-acid peptide transmitter abundantly expressed in forebrain limbic and brain stem areas that regulate stress and emotional behaviors. Studies largely in rodents demonstrate a role for NPY in promoting coping with stress. Moreover, accruing data from the genetic to the physiological implicate NPY as a potential ‘resilience-to-stress’ factor in humans. Here, we consolidate findings from preclinical and clinical studies of NPY that are of relevance to stress-associated syndromes, most prototypically posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Collectively, these data suggest that reduced central nervous system (CNS) NPY concentrations or function may be associated with PTSD. We also link specific symptoms of human PTSD with extant findings in the NPY field to reveal potential physiological contributions of the neuropeptide to the disorder. In pursuit of understanding the physiological basis and treatment of PTSD, the NPY system is an attractive target.