cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stability of the unsteady viscous flow in a curved pipe

The linear stability of the flow of an incompressible viscous fluid through a curved pipe of circular cross-section is considered. There is a sinusoidal pressure gradient, with zero mean, acting down the pipe. The flow is shown to be unstable to a Taylor-Gortler mode of instability, with vortices aligned with the basic flow first appearing at the outer bend of the pipe when a critical value of the Taylor number is exceeded. A WKBJ perturbation solution is constructed and the form of the vortex amplitude is determined. This solution is found to break down in the vicinity of the pipe's outer bend, and an inner solution is presented to overcome this. The solution is determined by identifying a saddle point in the complex plane of the cross-sectional angle coordinate. This leads to an eigenvalue problem for the Taylor number, for fixed wavenumber and cross-sectional angle coordinate, which in turn leads to the determination of the critical Taylor number above which instability sets in.
Electromagnetic applications of a new finite-difference calculus

The accuracy of finite-difference analysis in electromagnetics can be qualitatively improved by employing arbitrary local approximating functions, not limited to Taylor expansion polynomials. In the proposed new class of flexible local approximation methods (FLAME), desirable local analytical approximations (such as harmonic polynomials, plane waves, and cylindrical or spherical harmonics) are directly incorporated into the finite-difference scheme. Although the method usually (but not necessarily) operates on regular Cartesian grids, it is in some cases much more accurate than the finite-element method with its complex meshes. This paper reviews the theory of FLAME and gives a tutorial-style explanation of its usage. While one motivation for the new approach is to minimize the notorious "staircase" effect at curved and slanted interface boundaries, it has much broader applications and implications. As illustrative examples, the paper examines the simulation of: 1) electrostatic fields of finite-size dielectric particles in free space or in a solvent with or without salt; 2) scattering of electromagnetic waves; 3) plasmon resonances; and 4) wave propagation in a photonic crystal.
New applications of channel vocoders

Recent work in the field of speech digitization has led to the identification of a variety of new requirements for the speech terminal. Among these are the need for variable rate, robustness, very low rates, low cost, weight, and power. Coupled with these needs is the ever-present desire for higher quality systems. In this paper recent innovations in channel vocoders are described that pertain to these requirements and the conclusion is drawn that the channel vocoder has significant potential for fulfilling the above needs.
Antioxidant Effects of L‐Carnosine on Liposomes and Beef Homogenates

The antioxidant activity of carnosine (β-alanylhistidine dipeptide) was investigated using several systems. In the presence of 100 μM ascorbic acid, carnosine inhibited metal ion-catalyzed deoxyribose degradation in a dose-dependent manner, indicating its hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity. Carnosine strongly inhibited metal ion-catalyzed liposomal lipid peroxidation in the presence of 100 μM ascorbic acid or 100 μM H 2 O 2 . Carnosine also inhibited thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) formation from ground beef homogenates. An increase in TBARS formation was caused by addition of 10 ppm Fe 3+ to the homogenates. Carnosine presence prevented such increase and it may be useful as an adjunct against oxidative tissue damage or for increasing shelf life.
Video Time Encoding Machines

We investigate architectures for time encoding and time decoding of visual stimuli such as natural and synthetic video streams (movies, animation). The architecture for time encoding is akin to models of the early visual system. It consists of a bank of filters in cascade with single-input multi-output neural circuits. Neuron firing is based on either a threshold-and-fire or an integrate-and-fire spiking mechanism with feedback. We show that analog information is represented by the neural circuits as projections on a set of band-limited functions determined by the spike sequence. Under Nyquist-type and frame conditions, the encoded signal can be recovered from these projections with arbitrary precision. For the video time encoding machine architecture, we demonstrate that band-limited video streams of finite energy can be faithfully recovered from the spike trains and provide a stable algorithm for perfect recovery. The key condition for recovery calls for the number of neurons in the population to be above a threshold value.
Some Data on Second Language Acquisition and Retention by Older Children

During the anxious days of the Six Day War in Israel in 1967, concerned colleagues and family members asked then and for months afterwards if I were truly going to go through with being a Fulbright Lecturer at Tel Aviv University. They were especially worried because I was going as a single parent with three young sons. Let me hasten to say that I went and that we all found it the most rewarding year of our lives up to that point.
Influence of boundary slip on the optimal excitations in thermocapillary driven spreading

Thin liquid films driven to spread on homogeneous surfaces by thermocapillarity can undergo frontal breakup and parallel rivulet formation with well-defined wavelength. Previous modal analyses have relieved the well-known divergence in stress that occurs at a moving contact line by matching the front region to a precursor film. Because the linearized disturbance operator is non-normal, a generalized, nonmodal analysis is required to probe film stability at all times. The effect of the contact line model on nonmodal stability has not been previously investigated. This work examines the influence of boundary slip on thermocapillary driven spreading using a transient stability analysis, which recovers the conventional modal results in the long-time limit. In combination with earlier work on thermocapillary driven spreading, this study verifies that the dynamics and stability of this system are rather insensitive to the choice of contact line model and that the leading eigenvalue is physically determinant, thereby assuring results that agree with the eigenspectrum. Modal results for the flat precursor film model are reproduced with appropriate choice of slip coefficient and contact line slope.
PSA screening for prostate cancer: The current controversy - a viewpoint

Prostate cancer is an important health problem. Randomized trials have not yet proven whether or not screening with prostate-specific antigen measurements reduces morbidity or mortality. The potential for overtreatment of prostate cancers not destined to cause future mortality, the uncertainty about the benefits of aggressive treatment of screen-detected cancers, and the relatively high costs of prostate cancer screening programs are all areas of concern. A shared approach to decisions about screening individual patients pending better evidence is one strategy for clinicians to consider in dealing with this controversial problem.
Differential genetic interactions between Sgs1, DNA-damage checkpoint components and DNA repair factors in the maintenance of chromosome stability

Genome instability is associated with human cancers and chromosome breakage syndromes, including Bloom's syndrome, caused by inactivation of BLM helicase. Numerous mutations that lead to genome instability are known, yet how they interact genetically is poorly understood. We show that spontaneous translocations that arise by nonallelic homologous recombination in DNA-damage-checkpoint-defective yeast lacking the BLM-related Sgs1 helicase (sgs1Δ mec3Δ) are inhibited if cells lack Mec1/ATR kinase. Tel1/ATM, in contrast, acts as a suppressor independently of Mec3 and Sgs1. Translocations are also inhibited in cells lacking Dun1 kinase, but not in cells defective in a parallel checkpoint branch defined by Chk1 kinase. While we had previously shown that RAD51 deletion did not inhibit translocation formation, RAD59 deletion led to inhibition comparable to the rad52Δ mutation. A candidate screen of other DNA metabolic factors identified Exo1 as a strong suppressor of chromosomal rearrangements in the sgs1Δ mutant, becoming even more important for chromosomal stability upon MEC3 deletion. We determined that the C-terminal third of Exo1, harboring mismatch repair protein binding sites and phosphorylation sites, is dispensable for Exo1's roles in chromosomal rearrangement suppression, mutation avoidance and resistance to DNA-damaging agents. Our findings suggest that translocations between related genes can form by Rad59-dependent, Rad51-independent homologous recombination, which is independently suppressed by Sgs1, Tel1, Mec3 and Exo1 but promoted by Dun1 and the telomerase-inhibitor Mec1. We propose a model for the functional interaction between mitotic recombination and the DNA-damage checkpoint in the suppression of chromosomal rearrangements in sgs1Δ cells.
Astrocyte Calcium Signaling: From Observations to Functions and the Challenges Therein

Abstract We provide an overview of recent progress on the study of astrocyte intracellular Ca(2+) signaling. We consider the methods that have been used to monitor astrocyte Ca(2+) signals, the various types of Ca(2+) signals that have been discovered (waves, microdomains, and intrinsic fluctuations), the approaches used to broadly trigger and block Ca(2+) signals, and, where possible, the proposed and demonstrated physiological roles for astrocyte Ca(2+) signals within neuronal microcircuits. Although important progress has been made, we suggest that further detailed work is needed to explore the biophysics and molecular mechanisms of Ca(2+) signaling within entire astrocytes, including their fine distal extensions, such as processes that interact spatially with neurons and blood vessels. Improved methods are also needed to mimic and block molecularly defined types of Ca(2+) signals within genetically specified populations of astrocytes. Moreover, it will be essential to study astrocyte Ca(2+) activity in vivo to distinguish between pharmacological and physiological activity, and to study Ca(2+) activity in situ to rigorously explore mechanisms. Once methods to reliably measure, mimic, and block specific astrocyte Ca(2+) signals with high temporal and spatial precision are available, researchers will be able to carefully explore the correlative and causative roles that Ca(2+) signals may play in the functions of astrocytes, blood vessels, neurons, and microcircuits in the healthy and diseased brain.
Helminth-Induced Interleukin-4 Abrogates Invariant Natural Killer T Cell Activation-Associated Clearance of Bacterial Infection

Helminth infections affect 1 billion people worldwide and render these individuals susceptible to bacterial coinfection through incompletely understood mechanisms. This includes urinary tract coinfection by bacteria and Schistosoma haematobium worms, the etiologic agent of urogenital schistosomiasis. To study the mechanisms of S. haematobium-bacterial urinary tract coinfections, we combined the first tractable model of urogenital schistosomiasis with an established mouse model of bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI). A single bladder exposure to S. haematobium eggs triggers interleukin-4 (IL-4) production and makes BALB/c mice susceptible to bacterial UTI when they are otherwise resistant. Ablation of IL-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα) signaling restored the baseline resistance of BALB/c mice to bacterial UTI despite prior exposure to S. haematobium eggs. Interestingly, numbers of NKT cells were decreased in coexposed versus bacterially monoinfected bladders. Given that schistosome-induced, non-natural killer T (NKT) cell leukocyte infiltration may dilute NKT cell numbers in the bladders of coexposed mice without exerting a specific functional effect on these cells, we next examined NKT cell biology on a per-cell basis. Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells from coexposed mice expressed less gamma interferon (IFN-γ) per cell than did those from mice with UTI alone. Moreover, coexposure resulted in lower CD1d expression in bladder antigen-presenting cells (APC) than did bacterial UTI alone in an IL-4Rα-dependent fashion. Finally, coexposed mice were protected from prolonged bacterial infection by administration of α-galactosylceramide, an iNKT cell agonist. Our findings point to a previously unappreciated role for helminth-induced IL-4 in impairment of iNKT cell-mediated clearance of bacterial coexposure.
Spatial patterns and economic contributions of mining and tourism in biodiversity hotspots: A case study in China

Mining activities and tourism are both growing fast in biodiversity intense areas globally. However, the dynamic and interactions between mining and tourism when they both occur in biodiversity hotspots, and how they together may impact the economy and environment in these biodiversity rich areas, remain unclear. This paper examined how the two industries interact in terms of their economic contributions and spatial patterns in a biodiversity hotspot, Yunnan, China. We used correlation analyses to measure the relationships between mining activities, tourism visits and local gross domestic productions. We also employed a distance-based technique to investigate the nature of any dependency between mining and tourism sites. Results showed that mining activities tend to be in relatively fluent areas while tourism tends to occur in less developed areas. Our results showed that the location of tourism and mining sites are likely to be close to one another but the two industries usually perform better economically when they are apart from each other. These findings can provide insights on how mining and tourism together may impact the economy and environment in biodiversity rich areas, and provide important information for managers and planners on balancing mining and tourism development in these areas.
Determination of radar target scattering center transfer functions from measured data

Development of successful radar target discrimination schemes using ultrawideband signatures hinges on an accurate understanding of the scattering behavior of complicated radar targets. In the time domain, a target response consists of an early-time component, which is localized and specular in nature, followed by a late-time natural mode series describing the global characteristics of the target. The temporal shape of specular responses depends on the localized geometry of the target; the sharp edge of an aircraft wing will produce a different event than the curved edge of a fuselage. This paper describes a simple technique for determining the localized transfer functions of a target from its measured time or frequency-domain response.
Analysis of active‐site amino‐acid residues of human serum paraoxonase using competitive substrates

Serum paraoxonase (PON1) is a calcium-dependent six-fold β-propeller protein structurally similar to the di-isopropylfluorophosphatase (DFPase) found in the squid Loligo vulgaris. Human serum paraoxonase (HuPON1) has been shown to hydrolyze an array of substrates even though relatively little is known about its physiological role(s) or its catalytic mechanism. Through site-directed mutagenesis studies, designed from a DFPase-like homology model, and from a crystal structure of a hybrid PON1 molecule, amino-acid residues essential for enzyme function, including H115 and F222, have been identified. It was shown previously that, when H115 is replaced with tryptophan, the resulting enzyme hydrolyzes paraoxon but not phenyl acetate. This study shows that, when present simultaneously, phenyl acetate competitively inhibits paraoxon hydrolysis by H115W. Conversely, when F222 is replaced with tyrosine, mutant F222Y can hydrolyze phenyl acetate but not paraoxon. The presence of DFP, an inhibitor of both arylesterase and paraoxonase activities of wild-type HuPON1 (mean Ki = 0.48 ± 0.15 mm), has no effect on the ability of F222Y to catalyze the hydrolysis of phenyl acetate, suggesting that the F222Y mutant is unable to bind DFP. Together, the results suggest that, in wild-type HuPON1, H115 and F222 are important in determining substrate binding and specificity, but are not likely to be directly involved in substrate hydrolysis.
Evolution of Human Walking

�ked to choose the most distinc­ tive feature of the human spe­ cies, many people would cite our massive brain. Others might men­ tion our ability to make and use so­ phisticated tools. A third feature also sets us apart: our upright mode of locomotion, which is found only in human beings and our immediate an­ cestors. All other primates are basical­ ly quadrupedal, and with good reason: walking on two limbs instead of four has many drawbacks. It deprives us of speed and agility and all but elim­ inates our capacity to climb trees, which yield many important primate foods, such as fruits and nuts. For most of this century evolution­ ary theorists have held that human ancestors evolved this strange mode of locomotion because it freed their hands to carry the tools their larger brains enabled them to make. Over the past two decades, however, knowledge of the human fossil record has ex­ panded. Neither a unique brain nor stone tools are in evidence among our earliest known ancestors, the austra­ lopithecines of three million years ago and more. Yet these same ancestors do clearly show many of the hallmarks of bipedal walking. How long had human ancestors been walking upright? Was bipedal­ ity fully developed in the hominids of three million years ago, or did they
The Effect of Impeller Type on Floc Size and Structure during Shear-Induced Flocculation

Most previous studies have evaluated the structure of flocs The effect of impeller type and shear rate on the evolution of floc at steady state (8‐1 0 ). The evolution of the floc structure size and structure during shear-induced flocculation of polystyrene is equally important, however, as it determines the steady particles with aluminum sulfate is investigated by image analysis. state characteristics of the flocs and their removal efficiency. One radial flow (six-blade Rushton turbine) and two axial flow Settling velocity measurements indicate an inverse relation(three-blade fluid foil, four-blade 457 pitch) impeller configura- ship between floc size and density. The reduced floc density tions are examined. The steady state average floc size is shown to with increasing size is usually attributed to the incorporation depend on the frequency of recirculation to the impeller zone and of fluid into the floc structure ( 11 ) . These porous flocs colits characteristic velocity gradient. The concepts of fractal geomelide with each other to form increasingly porous structures try are used to characterize the floc structure. For all impellers, the two-dimensional floc fractal dimension, D pf , increases during ( 12 ) until shear-induced fragmentation halts further growth floc growth, indicating formation of more open structures. Later of the floc size distribution. Floc structures can also be made on, D pf levels off at a steady state value as breakage becomes more compact by shear-induced breakage or restructuring significant and the floc size distribution approaches steady state. ( 13 ‐ 17 ) as illustrated in Fig. 1. The growth, breakage, and The shear rate does not affect the steady state D pf of the flocs restructuring processes govern the development of floc strucwithin experimental uncertainty. q 1996 Academic Press, Inc. tures and all three occur within the complex shear field of
Long-term changes in forest floor processes in southern Appalachian forests

Abstract Soil nutrient concentrations decreased in an aggrading southern Appalachian forest over a 20-year period. Construction of nutrient budgets showed significant nutrient sequestration aboveground including increased forest floor mass. We hypothesized that the changes in forest floor mass resulted from decreased litter decomposition rates because of decreased litter quality. In 1992 and 1993, we repeated a litter decomposition experiment conducted in 1969 and 1970 to test this hypothesis. In addition, we examined microarthropod populations and functional groups as litter decomposed. For four of the five species tested, first-year decomposition rates were about the same in both experiments. Initial litter nutrient concentrations of P were lower in all tree species in the most recent sampling. N, Ca, and Mg concentrations also declined in some species. These declines often resulted in decreased nutrient release rates during decomposition. Microarthropod populations differed significantly among litter species, as well as between years (probably resulting from differences in growing-season rainfall). For some litter species we found significant relationships between microarthropod populations and nutrient concentration (primarily C and N); however, most r2-values were low. Data suggest that changes in forest floor mass probably resulted from decreased litter quality and that those changes may have an effect on microarthropod populations.
The evolution of arid ecosystems in eastern Africa

The present aridity of Africa contrasts with the lush environments that existed over most of the continent in the early Cenozoic. The extinction of large terrestrial herbivores at the end of the Mesozoic, and relatively warm global climatic conditions in the early Cenozoic contributed to the spread of forests and woodlands in regions today occupied by grasslands and deserts. The increase in aridity after the Eocene climate optimum has been complex, characterized by multiple reversals and modulated by rifting in eastern Africa. The paleobotanical evidence indicates that ecological differentiation within the continent existed early in the Cenozoic, with some areas dominated by moist forests and others by drier Acacia woodlands. C4 grasslands began to spread during the Late Miocene, and became more prominent during the Pleistocene. In parallel to the spread of grassland mosaics during the Cenozoic there was an increase in the diversity of large herbivorous mammals (with body mass 4350 kg). This diversity in megafauna peaked in the Pliocene. One of the key ecological roles of the megafauna was to create and maintain complex mosaics that included open habitats. Faunal evidence of paleoenvironments in the Turkana Basin of Kenya corroborates conclusions derived from other lines of evidence, but raises new questions. Hypsodont and cursorial bovids increased in abundance in the Late Miocene about 6 Ma, in the Pliocene after 3 Ma, and again in the Plio-Pleistocene after 2 Ma. But this faunal evidence also demonstrates that not all parts of the Turkana Basin responded in the same way to climatic changes. The lower Omo valley of Ethiopia, a northern extension of the Turkana Basin, remained significantly more forested than the areas near the western margins of the basin. Major river valleys like the Omo served as refuges and centers of endemism during intervals of significant climatic fluctuations. A similar role was played by the coastal and montane forests of eastern Africa, which were separated from the Central African forests by an arid corridor that stretched from northeast Africa to Namibia, and probably originated in the
Collective Sensing with Self-Organizing Robots

We introduce a way to compose two local rule sets to form an environmental sensor. Each set of local rules results in a different global behavior when interpreted by a set of interacting programmable particles. In the composed system, the particles choose which set of rules to use depending on whether or not a certain condition is true or false about the initial state of the system. The global behavior of the system eventually matches only one set of rules, signaling that the particles have collectively recognized the condition on the initial state. We demonstrate the composition method on our robotic testbed.
FEL gain reduction due to wiggler errors

We report the results of a study comparing an analytical theory of wiggler errors in free-electron lasers (FEL's) to a numerical simulation. The different mechanisms of reduction in FEL gain due to wiggler errors are reviewed, and in each case analytical results are compared with computer simulation and shown to be in good agreement. We present a study of the proposed UV FEL user facility at BNL and determine the implications of the wiggler errors on the FEL design. >
Scatterometer resolution enhancement

Scatterometers can be effective for large scale monitoring of the Earth's surface. However, their low resolution can limit the utility of the data. Thus, there is interest in resolution enhancement methods that can create high resolution imagery from scatterometer measurements. In this paper, a brief review of an iterative image reconstruction is presented, and the implications of this theory for enhanced resolution scatterometer imaging is presented. The result is that the multipass sample spacing is the single largest limiting factor in the reconstruction scheme, while the aperture function attenuation and noise level play secondary rolls in the limit of the enhanced resolution image reconstruction from scatterometer data.
Computational Linguistics in Support of Linguistic Theory

In this paper, we overview the ways in which computational methods can serve the goals of analysis and theory development in linguistics, and encourage the reader to become involved in the emerging cyberinfrastructure for linguistics. We survey examples from diverse subfields of how computational methods are already being used, describe the current state of the art in cyberinfrastructure for linguistics, sketch a pie-in-the-sky view of where the field could go, and outline steps that linguists can take now to bring about better access to and use of linguistic data through cyberinfrastructure.
Hypophysial and Uterine Influences on Pig Luteal Function

It is evident that the elucidation of the diverse patterns of mammalian reproduction is dependent upon research from a comparative viewpoint. The results of such studies will provide a basis for understanding the ways different kinds of animals meet their reproductive requirements and will be useful also in evaluating evolutionary as well as ecological aspects of reproduction. The discussion presented here deals with results of experimental work on the reproductive physiology of the female domestic pig (Sus scrofa L.).
Hemagglutinin Stalk- and Neuraminidase-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies Protect against Lethal H10N8 Influenza Virus Infection in Mice

ABSTRACT Between November 2013 and February 2014, China reported three human cases of H10N8 influenza virus infection in the Jiangxi province, two of which were fatal. Using hybridoma technology, we isolated a panel of H10- and N8-directed monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and further characterized the binding reactivity of these antibodies (via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) to a range of purified virus and recombinant protein substrates. The H10-directed MAbs displayed functional hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and neutralization activity, and the N8-directed antibodies displayed functional neuraminidase inhibition (NI) activity against H10N8. Surprisingly, the HI-reactive H10 antibodies, as well as a previously generated, group 2 hemagglutinin (HA) stalk-reactive antibody, demonstrated NI activity against H10N8 and an H10N7 strain; this phenomenon was absent when virus was treated with detergent, suggesting the anti-HA antibodies inhibited neuraminidase enzymatic activity through steric hindrance. We tested the prophylactic efficacy of one representative H10-reactive, N8-reactive, and group 2 HA stalk-reactive antibody in vivo using a BALB/c challenge model. All three antibodies were protective at a high dose (5 mg/kg). At a low dose (0.5 mg/kg), only the anti-N8 antibody prevented weight loss. Together, these data suggest that antibody targets other than the globular head domain of the HA may be efficacious in preventing influenza virus-induced morbidity and mortality. IMPORTANCE Avian H10N8 and H10N7 viruses have recently crossed the species barrier, causing morbidity and mortality in humans and other mammals. Although these reports are likely isolated incidents, it is possible that more cases may emerge in future winter seasons, similar to H7N9. Furthermore, regular transmission of avian influenza viruses to humans increases the risk of adaptive mutations and reassortment events, which may result in a novel virus with pandemic potential. Currently, no specific therapeutics or vaccines are available against the H10N8 influenza virus subtype. We generated a panel of H10- and N8-reactive MAbs. Although these antibodies may practically be developed into therapeutic agents, characterizing the protective potential of MAbs that have targets other than the HA globular head domain will provide insight into novel antibody-mediated mechanisms of protection and help to better understand correlates of protection for influenza A virus infection.
Distinguishing hemangiomas from metastases on liver MRI performed with gadoxetate disodium: Value of the extended washout sign

Abstract Objective To describe the enhancement pattern of hemangiomas with gadoxetate disodium and propose a new sign – the “extended washout sign” – to diagnose hemangiomas on hepatobiliary MR imaging. Materials and methods In this retrospective IRB approved study, quantitative and qualitative image analysis of 45 hemangiomas and 37 metastases in 77 patients was performed. Gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MR imaging was obtained during arterial and portal venous phases as well as with delays of 3, 8, and 20 min. Lesion signal intensity was measured at each phase. Quantitatively, extended washout was defined as a 10% or greater decrease in signal intensity from 8 to 20 min on 3D gradient echo images. Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired Student’s t-test. Qualitative analysis was also performed to assess observer confidence based on T2-weighted images, dynamic images, and combined early (8 min) and late (20 min) hepatobiliary phases. Extended washout was defined as a perceptible change in signal from 8 to 20 min. Results On quantitative analysis, 84% of hemangiomas demonstrated a positive extended washout sign while only 18% of metastases did. Qualitatively, 78% of hemangiomas demonstrated a perceptible change in signal from 8 to 20 min, while only 5.4% of metastases did. When extended washout was used in combination with T2 hyperintensity, specificity increased to 100%, with a sensitivity of 87% and area under the curve of 0.99. Conclusions When combined with T2 signal intensity, the extended washout sign can be used to increase accuracy of differentiating hemangiomas from metastases on gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI.
Induction of labor.

Labor is induced if pregnancy must be completed before the onset of spontaneous labor, usually for reasons of maternal illness, fetal distress or, most commonly, prolonged pregnancy. Although various mechanical methods are available for labor induction, pharmacologic methods are more commonly used. Oxytocin is the standard treatment. Prostaglandin E2 may be useful when the cervix is not favorable for induction. This article reviews both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic methods for labor induction, and offers suggestions for successful induction in various circumstances.
Maneuver Detection with Event Representation Using Thrust Fourier Coefficients

A systematic way of detecting unknown maneuvers is developed by representing an unknown acceleration tied to an event with thrust Fourier coefficients. Event representation using thrust Fourier coefficients can rigorously represent an unknown maneuver by generating an equivalent maneuver with the same secular behavior. By appending 14 thrust Fourier coefficients as solve-for states, the modified sequential filter processes observation data both forward and backward in time to detect maneuver onset and termination time, respectively. Along with the represented perturbing acceleration, the detection algorithm provides more accurate postmaneuver orbit solutions. A case study of detecting unknown maneuvers with different types of simulated measurement data verifies the presented approach.
Hong Kong's Option to Secede

This article analyzes the option of Hong Kong to secede from the People's Republic of China from the perspectives of law, economics and ethics.
Bacterial and Fungal Infections

The rapid and thus far generally inexorable rise in HIV infections has led to a series of opportunistic infection that includes those caused by bacteria, yeasts, and members of the Eumycetes. The infections range in prevalence from occasional to highly prevalent, in severity from trivial to fatal, and in anatomic areas involved from local to disseminated. They occur as isolated, concurrent, or sequential infections with regard to other opportunistic diseases. Some vary in their geographic distribution. They may be newly acquired or reactivated and occur early or late in the course of HIV infection. Bacterial infections are usually easily treated, although they frequently disseminate and often recur after seemingly appropriate treatment. In contrast, all but the mildest fungal infections are difficult to treat and even more difficult or impossible to eradicate. The diagnosis of bacterial and fungal infections begins with clinical suspicion and involves relatively standard methodology. Treatment of the systemic mycoses and some bacterial infections in HIV infected patients is punctuated by exaggerated side effects of therapy, frequent relapses, and the need for maintenance suppressive therapy.
From the “ornamental and evanescent” to “good, useful things”: Redesigning the Gift in Progressive America

This article examines the transformation of American gift giving in the early twentieth century, using prescriptive and trade literature, as well as individual stories. This transformation occurred within the context of the transition from a Victorian to a modernist ethos and from a production to a consumption orientation. Changes in gift-giving practices were shaped by Progressive Era hygiene and home economics reformers and by aesthetic movements such as Arts and Crafts and interior decoration. Gift reformers divorced the gift from the Victorian ideal of ornamental and sentimental items, asserting that a gift's beauty lay in its functionality. This transformation fostered a second shift in the ideology of the gift. Rather than the giver's knowledge of and sentiment toward the recipient determining gift selection, the recipient's needs and desires increasingly dictated the choice. The gift thereby became more consumer-oriented. This change paved the way for the gift registry, which provided a commercial forum where prospective gift recipients could list their preferences.
THEORETICAL STUDY OF REPETITIVE AND MULTIPLE HOLES GROUTING

Aiming at the cylinder grouting manner, this paper studied repetitive grouting and multiple holes grout- ing for osmotic grouting, put forward some valuable theo- retical equations of grouting in rock mass. It can be used to instruct design and construction of grouting engineering in site.
Research on Storage of RDF in Relational Database

Resource description framework( RDF) is a normative language to describe the Web resource information. Howto store RDF data is becoming an important research issue. By analyzing the characteristics of RDF data,a storage model of RDF was proposed based on relational databases. The storage rules and a storage example were given. On the basis of the proposed storage approach,a prototype storage tool was implemented,and the experiments shown that the approach and the tool are feasible. Also,the theory comparative analyses with the existing storage modules were done.
Smoke Diffusion and Control at Different Platform Floor Structure of Subway Station in Fire

According to the physical model of subway station,three-dimension simulations were done to analyze the smoke diffusion and control system for different typical structures including island-platform and side-platform with or without platform screen door(PSD) in subway station fire which was located in the middle of the train.The characterization of turbulent smoke flow was made up of energy equation,momentum equation,continuity equation,concentration equation and equation of full modified buoyancy,and the SIMPLEC arithmetic was adopted to work out the solutions.The results indicated that when the fire lasted for 360 s on both typical platforms,the smoke diffused on the upper space of the whole platform floor and deposited below 1.8 m without PSD.On the contrary,with PSD, the smoke was restrained in the railway tunnel and more smoke was exhausted,all stairs were clean for evacuation.The efficiency of exhausting smoke was raised 15.8% in island-platform and 10.1% in side-platform.The effect of exhausting smoke in the side-platform was stronger than in the island-platform.Compard with the traditional smoke control model,it is found that PSD plays a remarkable role in restricting the diffusion of smoke,which provides a better condition for evacuation in the subway station fires.
Evaluation of a new optic-enabled portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry instrument for measuring toxic metals/metalloids in consumer goods and cultural products ☆

Abstract X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) is a rapid, non-destructive multi-elemental analytical technique used for determining elemental contents ranging from percent down to the μg/g level. Although detection limits are much higher for XRF compared to other laboratory-based methods, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ICP-optical emission spectrometry (OES) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), its portability and ease of use make it a valuable tool, especially for field-based studies. A growing necessity to monitor human exposure to toxic metals and metalloids in consumer goods, cultural products, foods and other sample types while performing the analysis in situ has led to several important developments in portable XRF technology. In this study, a new portable XRF analyzer based on the use of doubly curved crystal optics (HD Mobile®) was evaluated for detecting toxic elements in foods, medicines, cosmetics and spices used in many Asian communities. Two models of the HD Mobile® (a pre-production and a final production unit) were investigated. Performance parameters including accuracy, precision and detection limits were characterized in a laboratory setting using certified reference materials (CRMs) and standard solutions. Bias estimates for key elements of public health significance such as As, Cd, Hg and Pb ranged from − 10% to 11% for the pre-production, and − 14% to 16% for the final production model. Five archived public health samples including herbal medicine products, ethnic spices and cosmetic products were analyzed using both XRF instruments. There was good agreement between the pre-production and final production models for the four key elements, such that the data were judged to be fit-for-purpose for the majority of samples analyzed. Detection of the four key elements of interest using the HD Mobile® was confirmed using archived samples for which ICP-OES data were available based on digested sample materials. The HD Mobile® XRF units were shown to be suitable for rapid screening of samples likely to be encountered in field based studies.
Right on TARGET: glutamine metabolism in cancer

Recent studies highlight the importance of glutamine metabolism in metabolic reprogramming, which underlies cancer cell addiction to glutamine. Examples for the dependence on glutamine metabolism are seen across different tumor types as during different phases of cancer development, progression and response to therapy. In this perspective, we assess the possibility of targeting glutamine metabolism as a therapeutic modality for cancer.
WITHDRAWAL: Effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment on Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence: A Meta-Analysis

This article has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate. The correct published version of the article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2015.02.014 . The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy .
Short-term serial testing: functions and analytic methods.

Although short-term serial testing plays an important role in diagnosis and patient management, there are few guidelines to follow for achieving optimal use of this testing approach. Analytical methods that may be helpful in developing strategies for effective use of short-term serial tests are introduced.
Chapter Two: Theoretical Basis

This chapter provides a theoretical basis of the study. It has two sections. I first review the relevant literature and then I provide a theoretical framework for the study.
Lyman α radiation hydrodynamics of galactic winds before cosmic reionization

The dynamical impact of Lyman-alpha (Ly{\alpha}) radiation pressure on galaxy formation depends on the rate and duration of momentum transfer between Ly{\alpha} photons and neutral hydrogen gas. Although photon trapping has the potential to multiply the effective force, ionizing radiation from stellar sources may relieve the Ly{\alpha} pressure before appreciably affecting the kinematics of the host galaxy or efficiently coupling Ly{\alpha} photons to the outflow. We present self-consistent Ly{\alpha} radiation-hydrodynamics simulations of high-$z$ galaxy environments by coupling the Cosmic Ly{\alpha} Transfer code (COLT) with spherically symmetric Lagrangian frame hydrodynamics. The accurate but computationally expensive Monte-Carlo radiative transfer calculations are feasible under the one-dimensional approximation. The initial starburst drives an expanding shell of gas from the centre and in certain cases Ly{\alpha} feedback significantly enhances the shell velocity. Radiative feedback alone is capable of ejecting baryons into the intergalactic medium (IGM) for protogalaxies with a virial mass of $M_{\rm vir} \lesssim 10^8~{\rm M}_\odot$. We compare the Ly{\alpha} signatures of Population III stars with $10^5$ K blackbody emission to that of direct collapse black holes with a nonthermal Compton-thick spectrum and find substantial differences if the Ly{\alpha} spectra are shaped by gas pushed by Ly{\alpha} radiation-driven winds. For both sources, the flux emerging from the galaxy is reprocessed by the IGM such that the observed Ly{\alpha} luminosity is reduced significantly and the time-averaged velocity offset of the Ly{\alpha} peak is shifted redward.
Predictors and prognosticators for survival with Yttrium-90 radioembolization therapy for unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

// Meaghan S. Dendy 1,2 , Johannes M. Ludwig 2 and Hyun S. Kim 2,3 1 Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 2 Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Division of Interventional Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA 3 Yale Cancer Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA Correspondence to: Hyun S. Kim, email: // Keywords : colorectal cancer, liver cancer, radioembolization, Y 90 , biomarkers Received : December 28, 2016 Accepted : February 27, 2017 Published : March 08, 2017 Abstract This critical review aims to explore predictive and prognostic biomarkers of Yttrium-90 (Y 90 ) radioembolization therapy of colorectal liver metastases. A brief overview of established predictive and prognostic molecular and genetic biomarkers in colorectal cancer therapies will be discussed. A review of the literature on imaging modalities, genetic, metabolic and other molecular markers and the subsequent outcomes in post-Y 90 treatment will be presented. How these biomarkers and future biomarker research can inform locoregional treatment decisions in the clinical setting of metastatic colorectal cancer lesions of the liver will be explored. There are opportunities for personalized cancer treatment in the setting of Y 90 radioembolization. The ability to predict tumor response after Ytrium-90 radioembolization therapy can greatly impact clinical decision making and enhance treatment outcomes, therefore further research into the field is needed.
The Application of Monoclonal Antibodies to the Microsequencing of Proteins

The isolation of peptides through the use of monoclonal antibody immunoadsorbent columns was developed. The α chain of cholera toxin was used as a model for application of this strategy. Monoclonal antibodies to the A subunit of cholera toxin were isolated from mouse hybridoma cell lines. Two monoclonal antibodies with different specificities were used to immunoadsorb a cyanogen bromide digest of either purified native toxin or the α chain of the toxin. The amino-terminal sequences of the isolated fragments were determined by automated sequence analysis. In addition, a S. aureus protease digest was immunoadsorbed with one of the monoclonal antibodies.
Model-based framework for multi-axial real-time hybrid simulation testing

Real-time hybrid simulation is an efficient and cost-effective dynamic testing technique for performance evaluation of structural systems subjected to earthquake loading with rate-dependent behavior. A loading assembly with multiple actuators is required to impose realistic boundary conditions on physical specimens. However, such a testing system is expected to exhibit significant dynamic coupling of the actuators and suffer from time lags that are associated with the dynamics of the servo-hydraulic system, as well as control-structure interaction (CSI). One approach to reducing experimental errors considers a multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) controller design, yielding accurate reference tracking and noise rejection. In this paper, a framework for multi-axial real-time hybrid simulation (maRTHS) testing is presented. The methodology employs a real-time feedback-feedforward controller for multiple actuators commanded in Cartesian coordinates. Kinematic transformations between actuator space and Cartesian space are derived for all six-degrees-offreedom of the moving platform. Then, a frequency domain identification technique is used to develop an accurate MIMO transfer function of the system. Further, a Cartesian-domain model-based feedforward-feedback controller is implemented for time lag compensation and to increase the robustness of the reference tracking for given model uncertainty. The framework is implemented using the 1/5th-scale Load and Boundary Condition Box (LBCB) located at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. To demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed methodology, a single-story frame subjected to earthquake loading is tested. One of the columns in the frame is represented physically in the laboratory as a cantilevered steel column. For realtime execution, the numerical substructure, kinematic transformations, and controllers are implemented on a digital signal processor. Results show excellent performance of the maRTHS framework when six-degrees-of-freedom are controlled at the interface between substructures.
Online detection and parameter estimation with correlated data in wireless sensor networks

We present an online algorithm for hypothesis testing from correlated observations obtained from a network of heterogeneous sensors and in the presence of model uncertainty. The correlated observations are modeled using copula theory. The batch-mode expectation maximization (EM) algorithm is first developed and then extended to an online algorithm for model parameter estimation and hypothesis testing. Using real-world as well as simulation data, we compare the detection accuracy of our method with other supervised and unsupervised methods and also with a model which ignores the correlation in the data.
Children's School Readiness in Socioeconomically Diverse Pre-K Classrooms.

Persisting socioeconomic gaps in school readiness have inspired research examining aspects of the pre-K experience that could reduce these gaps. A strategy that deserves consideration is the socioe...