cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automated sorting of neuronal trees in fluorescent images of neuronal networks using NeuroTreeTracer

Fluorescence confocal microscopy has become increasingly more important in neuroscience due to its applications in image-based screening and profiling of neurons. Multispectral confocal imaging is useful to simultaneously probe for distribution of multiple analytes over networks of neurons. However, current automated image analysis algorithms are not designed to extract single-neuron arbors in images where neurons are not separated, hampering the ability map fluorescence signals at the single cell level. To overcome this limitation, we introduce NeuroTreeTracer - a novel image processing framework aimed at automatically extracting and sorting single-neuron traces in fluorescent images of multicellular neuronal networks. This method applies directional multiscale filters for automated segmentation of neurons and soma detection, and includes a novel tracing routine that sorts neuronal trees in the image by resolving network connectivity even when neurites appear to intersect. By extracting each neuronal tree, NeuroTreetracer enables to automatically quantify the spatial distribution of analytes of interest in the subcellular compartments of individual neurons. This software is released open-source and freely available with the goal to facilitate applications in neuron screening and profiling.
Sociolinguistic Profiles: India, West Germany, and Japan

The preceding chapters focused on the nature of functional approaches to language study and three sociolinguistic concepts—communicative competence, intelligibility, and model—and how they can be used to gain insight into language use and pedagogy in nonnative contexts. This chapter considers three particular contexts in which English is learned and used as a second or foreign language—India, West Germany, and Japan. These countries are particularly interesting for a look at nonnative contexts of language learning and use since each can be associated with a distinct nonnative variety: English in India is an institutionalized variety of English; Japanese English represents a performance variety. English in West Germany represents a variety of English which is best placed on a continuum between a performance and institutionalized variety.
Effect of irrigation water source and post-harvest washing treatment on the microflora of alfalfa and mung bean sprouts

Abstract Alfalfa and mung bean sprouts were grown using municipal water or water generated from an aquaponics system. After seven days of growth, sprouts were harvested, separated into 25-g portions and assigned to one of four different treatment groups. With the exception of the control treatment, all treatments involved washing for 1 min in 500 mL of solution, followed by draining and sampling sprouts for selected microorganisms. Post-harvest washing treatments consisted of the following: 1) no wash control; 2) municipal water wash, pH 6.58; 3) chlorine wash at 200 ppm, pH 9.15; and 4) organic acid wash prepared at a 1% concentration and pH 1.52 from a stock solution that contained ≤35% sulfuric acid, ≤10% citric acid, and ≤5% phosphoric acid by weight. Overall, the numbers of total aerobic microorganisms (TAM), Enterobacteriaceae (EB), total coliforms (TC) and yeast and mold (YM) recovered from alfalfa or mung bean sprouts grown in aquaponics water were higher than the number of TAM, EB, TC and YM from sprouts grown in municipal water. Alfalfa and mung bean sprouts grown in municipal water and washed post-harvest with either municipal water or chlorine had fewer TAM (1.1–1.4 log CFU/g lower) and YM (0.6–1.3 log CFU/g lower) than unwashed alfalfa or mung bean sprouts. When sprouts were grown in aquaponics water and washed post-harvest with municipal water, they had similar numbers of TAM, EB, TC and YM to control sprouts. Washing sprouts with chlorine had little or no effect on levels of TC, and in some cases, sprouts treated with a chlorine wash had higher numbers of TC than control sprouts. This likely occurred because the primary biocidal activity of the 200 ppm chlorine solution was directly related to pH (>pH 9.0) and not hypochlorous acid, which may have created a favorable environment for coliform regrowth. The post-harvest washing treatment that resulted in the greatest reduction in counts of microorganisms on sprouts was the organic acid wash. When compared to the control treatment for alfalfa sprouts, the organic acid wash reduced populations of TAM, EB, TC and YM recovered from alfalfa sprouts by greater than 99.97%. Similarly, the organic acid wash reduced populations of TAM, EB, and YM by greater than 99% on mung bean sprouts when compared to populations recovered from the control treatment. The results of the present study demonstrated that aquaponics water provided adequate nutrients for growth of sprouts and microorganisms. Furthermore, this study showed that sprouts contain a significant number of microorganisms that are difficult to reduce with post-harvest wash treatments, supporting the notion that multiple hurdle technology may be the only solution for lowering final counts on sprouts to levels below 3 log CFU/g.
The Banking Business: Fundamentals

This chapter discusses the fundamentals of banking business. The monetary nature of demand deposits makes commercial banks a favorite object of study by monetary economists. These economists believe that the interactions between the supply and demand for money are a major source of variations in prices, production, and employment in modern industrial economies. The financial position of an economic unit is described by the money values of its assets, liabilities, and net worth. Assets are the things the unit owns. Liabilities are its debts. The net worth of the unit is calculated by subtracting its liabilities from its assets. Because liabilities represent outside claims on assets, net worth stands for the unit's residual claims on its assets. If it were to liquidate assets and pay off its debtors, it would be left with cash equal to its net worth. Banks have evolved from simple depository institutions into complex organizations with many functions. Their distinctive feature is the checking deposit function. No other financial institution has such a large proportion of its liabilities subject to sudden call on demand.
Clustering Help-Seeking Behaviors in LGBT Online Communities: A Prospective Trial

Online Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) support communities have emerged as a major social media platform for sexual and gender minorities (SGM). These communities play a crucial role in providing LGBT individuals a private and safe space for networking because LGBT individuals are more likely to experience social isolation and family rejection. However, the emergence of these online communities introduced new public health concerns and challenges. Since LGBT individuals are vulnerable to mental illness and risk of suicide as compared to the heterosexual population, crisis prevention and intervention are important. Nevertheless, such a protection mechanism has not yet become a serious consideration when it comes to the design of LGBT online support communities partially because of the difficulties of identifying at-risk users effectively and timely. This pilot study aims to explore the potential of identifying LGBT user discussions related to help-seeking through natural language processing and topic model. The findings suggest the feasibility of the proposed approach by identifying topics and representative forum discussions that contain help-seeking information. This study provides important data to suggest the future direction of improving data analytics and computer-aided modules for LGBT online communities with the goal of enhancing crisis suicide prevention and intervention.
What’s in store: prospects and challenges for American street-level commerce

This paper surveys dynamics and trends that have influenced and continue to influence the three key tenants of American urban storefronts: retailers, food services, and personal services. By connecting academic literature, economic statistics, and real estate and marketing industry reports, the article outlines what these three street-level industries can expect in the foreseeable future. E-commerce, the experience economy, the Maker Economy, and regulatory, cultural and demographic shifts will have a profound impact on American urban storefronts – but certainly not always a negative one. Urban designers have a key role in ensuring vibrant, inclusive and resilient commercial streets.
Grafting polymer from oxygen-vacancy-rich nanoparticles to enable protective layers for stable lithium metal anode

Abstract Fabricating an artificial solid electrolyte interface (SEI) is a promising approach to improve cycling stability of lithium metal batteries. In this work, a new category of artificial SEI based on oxygen vacancy-rich hybrid nanoparticles was prepared by covalently grafting polymers from yttria–stabilized zirconia (YSZ) nanoparticles via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The hairy nanoparticles had high dispersibility in dimethylsulfoxide, and were solution casted into uniform thin films with high inorganic content, high ionic conductivity (>1 × 10−4 S/cm at r.t.), and good mechanical properties (Young's modulus 7.56 GPa). No dendrite formation was observed by in-situ optical microscopy on a lithium metal protected by such artificial SEI. Protected anodes were stably cycled at 3 mA/cm2 and 3 mA h/cm2 with low overpotentials (20 mV) for >2500 h. LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA)|Li full cells with protected Li anode showed much higher specific discharge capacity at various rates and improved capacity retention compared to unprotected Li anode.
Cyber Espionage or Cyber War?: International Law, Domestic Law, and Self-Protective Measures

Scholars have spent considerable effort determining how the law of war (particularly jus ad bellum and jus in bello) applies to cyber conflicts, epitomized by the Tallinn Manual on the International Law Applicable to Cyber Warfare. Many prominent cyber operations fall outside the law of war, including the surveillance programs that Edward Snowden has alleged were conducted by the National Security Agency, the distributed denial of service attacks launched against Estonia and Georgia in 2007 and 2008, the 2008 Stuxnet virus designed to hinder the Iranian nuclear program, and the unrestricted cyber warfare described in the 1999 book by two Chinese army colonels. Such conduct is instead relegated to the law of espionage and is thus governed almost entirely by domestic law. The absence of an overarching international law solution to this problem heightens the importance of technological self-protective measures.
Laser‐Assisted Removal of Embedded Vena Cava Filters: A First‐In‐Human Escalation Trial in 500 Patients Refractory to High‐Force Retrieval

Background Many patients are subject to potential risks and filter‐related morbidity when standard retrieval methods fail. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the laser sheath technique for rem...
Viscous liquid–liquid wetting and dewetting of textured surfaces

We experimentally investigate the spreading and receding behavior of small water droplets immersed in viscous oils on grid-patterned surfaces using synchronized bottom and profile views. In particular, the evolution of apparent advancing and receding contact angles of droplets fed at constant flow rate is studied as a function of grid surface coverage and height for a wide range of external phase viscosity. Detailed examination of droplet aspect ratio during inflation process provides an averaging method for characterization of quasi-static advancing angles on heterogeneous surfaces. Droplets spreading in partial Cassie state on planar microfluidic grids are also shown to capture oil patches that further evolve into trapped oil droplets depending on grid aspect ratio. The natural retraction velocity of thin water films is examined based on external phase velocity and regime maps of trapped droplets are delineated based on control parameters.
The Lawyer's Role in a Contemporary Democracy, Promoting Access to Justice and Government Institutions, The Challenge of Democratic Lawyering

Do democratic values potentially inform the work of lawyers? Do democratic ideals have implications for how lawyers structure relationships with clients? Can lawyers contribute to strengthening democracy in the United States? Can they increase the participation of the “disenfranchised” in our democracy? For a growing number of lawyers and theorists committed to pursuing progressive social change, the answer to each of these questions posed by this Symposium is an emphatic “yes.” These lawyers and theorists comprise a broad movement that stresses the importance of lawyers’ working collaboratively with (not simply on behalf of) low-income and working-class people, people of color, and their groups and communities to collectively push for social change.1 Lawyers in this
The NCAA: It’s Necessary, but It’s Not the FBI

In trying to regulate amateurism in major programs with astronomical revenues, the NCAA has become overextended. This has led to the creation of a lengthy, complicated rulebook The rules are unpredictable and difficult to understand. Students, coaches, and staff members routinely seek out the institution’s compliance officers for NCAA rule interpretations. Sometimes the compliance officers, who often have juris doctor degrees, must request an official interpretation from the NCAA home offices. This paper argues that the NCAA or a similar organization is necessary to keep collegiate sports viable. Recognizing that the NCAA has stumbled in recent years, often by overreaching, this paper argues that athletic leaders need to focus on the original purposes that led to the creation of the NCAA and refocus the organization on those purposes, in part by giving college faculty a greater role. Handled properly, this will help keep both the NCAA and college athletics relevant and important for decades to come.
Post-translational Modifications of the Protein Termini

Post-translational modifications (PTM) involve enzyme-mediated covalent addition of functional groups to proteins during or after synthesis. These modifications greatly increase biological complexity and are responsible for orders of magnitude change between the variety of proteins encoded in the genome and the variety of their biological functions. Many of these modifications occur at the protein termini, which contain reactive amino- and carboxy-groups of the polypeptide chain and often are pre-primed through the actions of cellular machinery to expose highly reactive residues. Such modifications have been known for decades, but only a few of them have been functionally characterized. The vast majority of eukaryotic proteins are N- and C-terminally modified by acetylation, arginylation, tyrosination, lipidation, and many others. Post-translational modifications of the protein termini have been linked to different normal and disease-related processes and constitute a rapidly emerging area of biological regulation. Here we highlight recent progress in our understanding of post-translational modifications of the protein termini and outline the role that these modifications play in vivo.
The Utility of Discriminant Analysis to Determine the Geographic Origin of Commercially Important Seafood and Aquaculture Species: A Meta-Analysis

Elemental profiling is a process where element concentrations in tissues are used to discern group membership between a priori groups, such as geographic location. The goal of this meta-analysis wa...
A study of the impact of enrollment in a computer science class on mathematics scores and attendance in a secondary school

Statement of the problem. There has been a deterioration in attendance and of mathematics test scores among many of the secondary schools in America. Enrollment in a computer science class has recently been focused upon as one of the possible solutions to increasing the attendance and mathematics scores in large urban areas. This study attempted to determine whether those students at a secondary school who had participated in a specific computer science class would show greater mathematics scores at the end of the school year and greater actual attendance in school than those who had not participated. Procedures. The purpose of this study was to determine whether those students at Agoura High School in the Las Virgenes Unified School District in California who participated in a computer science class during the 1984-85 school year showed greater growth in mathematics scores as measured by standardized test scores than a similar group of students who did not participate, and to determine whether the first group of students showed more actual days of attendance in school than the second group of students. The population of this project included 347 (eleventh grade) students from the school. The sample consisted of forty-three students enrolled in only one computer science class and another forty-three students not enrolled in a computer science class. A pretest and posttest with the comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS) was used for the purpose of comparing the two groups. Number Cruncher Statistical System (NCSS) was utilized to generate statistics and tables. ANOVA, ANCOVA, and t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Findings. The data supported the hypothesis that there was a relationship between the enrollment in a computer science class and the posttest mathematics scores using days of attendance and pretest mathematics scores as covariates. The data also supported the premise that there was no relationship between the enrollment in a computer science class and the actual days of attendance. On mathematics posttest scores for the comparing of the two groups, an F-ratio of 8.44 was obtained. The significance level of the F-ratio was.0047. The research hypothesis that the enrolled group would surpass the nonenrolled group on posttest mathematics scores was supported by the above data. This was the critical test result. This study revealed that students enrolled in a computer science class had higher posttest scores in mathematics than those who did not enroll. It revealed also that there was no significant difference in attendance in school between the first group of students and the second group of students.
Some observations on the malabsorption syndrome, based on the use of absorption tests and biopsy of the small intestine.

Summary 1.Abnormal jejunal mucosal histology was demonstrated in 8 patients who were shown to have laboratory evidence of impaired intestinal absorption. 2.The histologic abnormalities have not yet been shown to be specific for sprue. 3.There was dissociation between the severity of histologic abnormality and the severity of malabsorption. 4.This suggests that biochemical abnormalities of the intestinal mucosal cells may be the primary factor in the pathogenesis of the sprue syndrome.
Bootstrap Variable-Selection and Confidence Sets

This paper analyzes estimation by bootstrap variable-selection in a simple Gaussian model where the dimension of the unknown parameter may exceed that of the data. A naive use of the bootstrap in this problem produces risk estimators for candidate variable-selections that have a strong upward bias. Resampling from a less overfitted model removes the bias and leads to bootstrap variable-selections that minimize risk asymptotically. A related bootstrap technique generates confidence sets that are centered at the best bootstrap variable-selection and have two further properties: the asymptotic coverage probability for the unknown parameter is as desired and the confidence set is geometrically smaller than a classical competitor. The results suggest a possible approach to confidence sets in other inverse problems where a regularization technique is used.
A Summary on Progress in Materials Development for Advanced Lithium-Ion Cells for NASA's Exploration Missions

Vehicles and stand-alone power systems that enable the next generation of human missions to the moon will require energy storage systems that are safer, lighter, and more compact than current state-of-the-art (SOA) aerospace quality lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. NASA is developing advanced Li-ion cells to enable or enhance future human missions to Near Earth Objects, such as asteroids, planets, moons, libration points, and orbiting structures. Advanced, high-performing materials are required to provide component-level performance that can offer the required gains at the integrated cell level. Although there is still a significant amount of work yet to be done, the present state of development activities has resulted in the synthesis of promising materials that approach the ultimate performance goals. This paper on interim progress of the development efforts will present performance of materials and cell components and will elaborate on the challenges of the development activities and proposed strategies to overcome technical issues.
The Zen of Sustainable Use of the Planet: Steps on the Path to Enlightenment

At its best, the quest for sustainable use of the planet aspires to a harmonious relationship between human society and natural systems. At its worst, sustainable use is an assertion that human ingenuity and technology can free humankind from biophysical constraints and its dependence upon ecological life support systems. Although science guided by reason is essential to reaching informed decisions on sustainability, it must be accompanied by a new ethos, or set of guiding beliefs. Science can never reduce uncertainty on the complex multivariate systems called ecosystems to the degree that explicit legislation would be possible to protect the components on a species by species, habitat by habitat, ecosystem by ecosystem, and landscape by landscape basis without going to ridiculous extremes. This circumstance does not, however, invalidate attempting to define conditions appropriate to achieving sustainability. Some consensus must be reached on the broad, general conditions governing human society's relationship to the environment. A shared ethos would promote sustainable use and reduce the possibility of harsh penalties exacted upon species that do not respond adequately to alteration in their environment.
The Demise of the American Convention System, 1880–1911

During the nineteenth century American political parties selected their candidates for elective offices in conventions. Around 1910 most states established a system of direct primaries whereby the voters selected their parties' nominees for public office. This book examines the transition from the indirect to the direct primary, as well as its implications for American politics. It offers a systematic analysis of the convention system in four states (New Jersey, Michigan, Colorado and California) and the legislative history of the regulation of political parties during the Progressive Era. It argues that the major political parties themselves were chiefly responsible for doing away with the nominating convention. Candidates played a pivotal role in inaugurating the new nominating system as they became more open and aggressive in pursuit of their parties' nominations. The convention system was never designed to withstand the pressures exerted on it by a more competitive nominating process.
Private data management in collaborative environments

Organizations are under increasing pressures to manage all of the personal data concerning their customers and employees in a responsible manner. With the advancement of information and communication technologies, improved collaboration, and the pressures of marketing, it is very difficult to locate personal data is, let alone manage its use. in this paper, we outline the challenges of managing personally identifiable information in a collaborative environment, and describe a software prototype we call SNAP (Social Networking Applied to Privacy). SNAP uses automated workflow discovery and analysis, in combination with various text mining techniques, to support automated enterprise management of personally identifiable information.
What is the Basis for Making an Eye Movement During Reading

At some time during the period of a fixation a decision is made to move the eyes. This paper considers possible bases for this saccade initiation decision during reading. Two extreme theoretical positions seem unlikely: that the decision is made without consideration of information from the current fixation or that the eyes are moved when processing of information from that fixation is finished. Alternative explanations which suggest that the eyes are moved after some but not all processing is complete are considered and tested against recent data.
Synchronous phase changes due to the gap in the bunch train [particle beam]

The B Factory bunch train in both beams is designed with a 250 nsec gap in order to minimize ion trapping. Possible differences in the synchronous phase between the bunches due to this gap in the bunch train are studied. Such an unequal phase shift between the bunches could lower the luminosity. >
κ-Opioid Receptor Agonists Modulate Visceral Nociception at a Novel, Peripheral Site of Action

κ-opioid receptor agonists (κ-ORAs) have been shown to modulate visceral nociception through an interaction with a peripheral, possibly novel, κ-opioid-like receptor. We used in the present experiments an antisense strategy to further explore the hypothesis that κ-ORA effects in the colon are produced at a site different from the cloned κ-opioid receptor (KOR). An antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to the cloned rat KOR was administered intrathecally (12.5 μg, twice daily for 4 d) to specifically knock-down the cloned KOR. Efficacy of the KOR antisense ODN treatment was behaviorally evaluated by assessing the antinociceptive effects of peripherally administered κ- (EMD 61,753 and U 69,593), μ- (DAMGO) and δ- (deltorphin) ORAs in the formalin test. Intrathecal antisense, but not mismatch ODN blocked the actions of EMD 61,753 and U 69,593 without affecting the actions of DAMGO or deltorphin; a complete recovery of antinociceptive actions of the κ-ORA EMD 61,753 was observed 10 d after the termination of antisense ODN treatment. In contrast, the ability of EMD 61,753 to dose-dependently attenuate responses of pelvic nerve afferent fibers to noxious colonic distension was unaffected in the same rats in which the antisense ODN effectively knocked-down the KOR as assessed in the formalin test. Additionally, Western blot analysis demonstrated a significant downregulation of KOR protein in the L4-S1 dorsal root ganglia of antisense, but not mismatch ODN-treated rats. The present results support the existence of a non-κ-opioid receptor site of action localized in the colon.
Track and Trace Multiple Incoherent Sound Sources in 3D Space in Real Time

This paper presents a methodology for tracking and tracing multiple incoherent sound sources in 3D space in real time. A salient feature of this methodology is its capability of handling all types of sound signals, including broadband, narrowband, continuous, impulsive, and tonal (sinusoidal) sounds over the audible frequency range (20 to 20,000 Hz). Locations of sound sources are indicated in terms of the Cartesian coordinates in real time. The target sources are viewed through an automatic tracking camera covering 350 degree solid angle. The hardware includes four microphones, a thermometer, a webcam, a five-channel signal conditioner and a laptop. Thus, the system can be made light, portable, easy to setup and use and inexpensive. The underlying algorithm is a hybrid approach consisting of modeling of sound radiation from a point source in a free field, triangulation and signal processing techniques. To acquire better understanding of the performance of the device, numerical simulations are conducted to study the impacts of signal noise ratio, microphone spacing, source distance and frequency on the spatial resolution and accuracy of the results. Experiments are carried out to validate results over a wide variety of real-world sound signals such as helicopter noise, human conversations, truck pass-by noise, gun shots, impact sounds, clapping, coughing, etc. Satisfactory results are obtained in most cases, even when a source is behind the measurement microphones.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Studies on 24-Membered Macrocyclic Mononuclear and Dinuclear Iron Complexes: Stability and Catalytic Hydroxylation of Adamantane by Divalent Iron Complexes

The dinucleating 24-membered hexaazadiphenol macrocyclic ligand 3,6,9,17,20,23-hexaaza-29,30-dihydroxy-13,27-dimethyltricyclo[23.3.1.111,15]triaconta-1(28),11,13,15(30),25,26-hexaene (L or [24]BDBPH) is prepared by the NaBH4 reduction of the Schiff base obtained from [2 + 2] template condensation of 2,6-diformyl-p-cresol with diethyltriamine. The ligand maintains dinuclear integrity for both iron(II,II) and iron(III,III) complexes, while facilitating the formation of bridging phenolate diiron cores. Potentiometric equilibrium studies indicate that a variety of protonated, mononuclear and dinuclear iron(II) and iron(III) complexes form from p[H] 2−11 in an aqueous solution. The protonation constants and stability constants of the 1:1, 1:2 [ligand/iron(II) or ligand/iron(III)], and 1:1:1 [ligand/iron(III)/iron(II)] complexes were determined in a KCl supporting electrolyte (μ = 0.100 M) at 25 °C. The mechanisms for the formation of dinuclear iron(II), iron(III), and mixed-valence iron(II,III) complexes are d...
Mechanical and gas transport properties of poly-ε-caprolactone model networks

The glass transition temperature increases with increasing crosslink densities in model networks formed by endlinking poly-ϵ-caprolactone with a triisocyanate crosslinking agent. In the noncrystalline networks, the gas permeability decreases with increasing crosslink density. These results are consistent with an interpretation that the crosslinks reduce the main-chain molecular motions which are important to these processes. At the lowest crosslink density, where poly-ϵ-caprolactone networks are crystalline, the gas permeability is lower than would be expected based on the volume fraction of amorphous polymer. The excess reduction in permeability is attributed to crystallization-induced enrichment of crosslink junction points in the amorphous fraction of the network. This reduces the permeability by creating an artificially high crosslink density in those regions of the network responsible for gas transport. Since crosslinking increases the stiffness and reduces the flexibility of the network polymer chains, it affects large penetrants more strongly than small ones. Therefore, increasing the crosslink density proves to be a useful method for increasing gas separation factors.
Exercise activation of muscle peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α signaling is redox sensitive

Abstract The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α)-activated signal transduction pathway has previously been shown to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle in response to endurance exercise. In vitro data indicate that PGC-1α signaling may be sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) but its role in vivo is not clear. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate whether the PGC-1α pathway could be activated by a single bout of anaerobic exercise in rats, wherein a major portion of ROS was generated via the cytosolic xanthine oxidase (XO), and (2) to examine whether allopurinol (ALP), a specific XO inhibitor, would attenuate PGC-1α expression and signaling owing to decreased ROS generation. Female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: (1) subjected to sprinting on a treadmill at 35 m/min, 15% grade, for 3 min followed by 3 min slow running at 15 m/min, 0% grade, repeated until exhaustion (88 ± 4 min; Exer; N = 9); (2) subjected to the same exercise protocol (88 ± 4 min) but injected with two doses of ALP (0.4 mmol/kg, ip) 24 and 1 h before the experiment (Exer+ ALP; N = 9); and (3) rested control (C; N = 9). Exercise increased XO activity and ROS generation in the Exer rat vastus lateralis muscle ( P P P P P P P P P
Bakine Para un Maestro/Plena is Song, Plena is Work

Bakine Para un Maestro by Kino Garcia. 20 minutes, color, super. film available on 3/4" or 1/2" tape. Available from Taller de Cine la Red, P.O. Box 6992, Santa Rosa Unit, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, 00621. (809) 798-0047 or (809) 763-1071 Plena is Song, Plena is Work by Pedro Rivera and Susan Zeig. 37 minutes, color, 16 mm. Available from the filmmakers at 53-55 Prince Street, New York, New York, 10012. (212) 226-0924.
Repairing return address stack for buffer overflow protection

Although many defense mechanisms against buffer overflow attacks have been proposed, buffer overflow vulnerability in software is still one of the most prevalent vulnerabilities exploited. This paper proposes a micro-architecture based defense mechanism against buffer overflow attacks. As buffer overflow attack leads to a compromised return address, our approach is to provide a software transparent micro-architectural support for return address integrity checking. By keeping an uncompromised copy of the return address separate from the activation record in run-time stack, the return address compromised by a buffer overflow attack can be detected at run time. Since extra copies of return addresses are already found in the return address stack (RAS) for return address prediction in most high-performance microprocessors, this paper considers augmenting the RAS in speculative superscalar processors for return address integrity checking. The new mechanism provides 100% accurate return address prediction as well as integrity checking for return addresses. Hence, it enhances system performance in addition to preventing a buffer overflow attack.
Scattering of Surface Plasmon Polaritons by a Circularly Symmetric Surface Defect

By the use of the method of reduced Rayleigh equations, we develop a theory of the scattering of a surface plasmon polariton from a cirularly symmetric defect on a metal surface. We derive and solve one-dimensional integral equations for the scattering amplitudes corresponding to different rotational numbers $m$. We calculate the differential cross sections for scattering into the vacuum and into other surface waves, and the field intensity near the surface. The results show agreement with recent experimental data. We also consider resonant scattering due to surface shape resonances.
Progression of intraepithelial Paget's disease of the vulva to invasive carcinoma

Sequential progression from intraepithelial Paget's disease of the vulva to invasive carcinoma after an interval of 10.8 years is documented in this report. Infiltration of the dermis with permeation of lymphatics and metastasis to regional lymph nodes are believed to have resulted directly from foci of intraepidermal Paget's cells that persisted after a simple vulvectomy. No underlying primary sweat gland carcinoma was present. Hence, this case establishes the invasive potential of intraepithelial vulvar Paget's disease and substantiates the notion that it is indeed a type of carcinoma in situ.
The formation of tropical cyclones

This paper attempts a synthesis of new observations and new concepts on how tropical cyclone formation occurs. Despite many worthy observational and numerical modeling studies in recent decades, our understanding of the detailed physical processes associated with the early stages of tropical cyclone formation is still inadequate; operational forecast skill is not very high. Although theoretical ideas cover a wide range of possibilities, results of new observations are helping us to narrow our search into more specific and relevant topic areas.
Kinematics of the slumgullion landslide from UAVSAR derived interferograms

In order to measure the response of the Slumgullion landslide to hydraulic forcing, we utilize the unique capabilities of the NASA/JPL's UAVSAR airborne repeat-pass SAR interferometry system to provide surface geodetic measurements with “landslide-wide” spatial coverage. Unlike traditional space-based INSAR we are not restricted to fixed flight tracks or fixed repeat times, allowing for optimal imaging geometries and timing. We combine four look directions chosen based on the landslide geometry and invert for the full 3-D landslide-wide surface deformation. These observations complement ongoing GPS measurements and in-situ observations of pore-pressure and atmospheric parameters acquired by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Insulin Increases the Association of Akt-2 with Glut4-containing Vesicles

Expression of a constitutively active, membrane-associated Akt-1 (PKB α) construct in 3T3L1 adipocytes was shown to induce glucose uptake in the absence of insulin by stimulating Glut4 translocation to the plasma membrane (Kohn, A. D., Summers, S. A., Birnbaum, M. J., and Roth, R. A. (1996)J. Biol. Chem. 271, 31372–31378). However, in rat fat cell the vast majority of Akt-1 is cytosolic and shows no re-distribution to the plasma membrane in response to insulin. On the other hand, little work has been done with other Akt family members such as Akt-2 (PKB β) or Akt-3 (PKB γ). In this report, an analysis of the subcellular distribution of Akt-2 in rat adipocytes shows that Akt-2 is present in significant amounts in various membrane compartments, as well as in the cytosol, and the former include the light microsomes where Glut4 is present in the basal state. The distribution of Akt-2 in resting adipocytes was found to substantially overlap with that of Glut4 when light microsomes were subfractionated by a sucrose velocity gradient indicating possible co-localization. We confirmed co-localization of Akt-2 and Glut4 in the basal state by immunopurification of Glut4 vesicles, which exhibited a 5.5-fold increase in Akt-2 in response to insulin relative to the amount of Glut4. These results are consistent with the possibility that Akt-2 may be involved in Glut4 vesicle translocation.
Application of image-guidance to surgery of the orbit.

There are a variety of pathologic processes affecting the orbital structures that an otolaryngologist might be asked to manage along with an ophthalmologist. The otolaryngologist may play the major role or may participate in a minor way. This article addresses some of these pathologic processes from anatomic and surgical standpoints, and the possible role of computeraided surgery (CAS) when contemplating orbital surgery. At the outset, it should be stated that the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery has endorsed the use of CAS as potentially beneficial in surgery involving orbital structures. Although it is certainly not essential that this technique be used, it can aid in the identification of various structures. Most importantly, CAS is not a replacement for knowing the anatomy of the orbit and its relationship to surrounding structures.
Direct calculation of electron density in density-functional theory: Implementation for benzene and a tetrapeptide

A recently developed approach for the direct calculation of electron density is implemented for polyatomic molecules: benzene and a tetrapeptide with four glycine residues. The method uses the density as the basic variable, divides a system into subsystems, and determines the density for each subsystem. It is found that the method is capable of describing the electronic structure with accuracy comparable to the Kohn-Sham method. This substantiates the hope for ab initio calculations of large systems beyond the reach of conventional methods.
A new cholinesterase in swine serum.

THERE are at present two groups of enzymes in mammals which hydrolyse acetylcholine: the first hydrolyses acetylcholine and acetyl-β-methylcholine and is found primarily in nervous tissue and red blood cells; the second group hydrolyses acetylcholine and benzoylcholine and is found in the serum and tissues of some animal species. Characteristic of this last group is the enzyme in human serum. In addition, there is one other related enzyme or group of enzymes which hydrolyses benzoylcholine but not acetylcholine. This was first noted and labelled benzoylcholinesterase by Sawyer1, and was reported by us as occurring in rabbit serum2.
Advancing solar cells to the limit with energy cascading

An analysis of six-junction (6J) concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar cells and modules versus combined cycle power plants is presented in order to determine if the power conversion efficiency of 6J CPV modules can equal or exceed the power conversion efficiency of combined gas turbine/steam turbine power plants. The 6J CPV solar cells are modeled with a realistic DNI solar spectrum at Phoenix, AZ, USA and then CPV cell efficiency and module system efficiency is calculated. Six junction CPV cells and modules will have to be pushed close to their limits in order to approach the performance of combined cycle power plants. If this is the case, it may be possible to realize ~ 50% CPV module AC efficiency with advanced 6J CPV cells and optimized balance of systems.
Merits of Non-Invasive Rat Models of Left Ventricular Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is characterized as a limitation to cardiac output that prevents the heart from supplying tissues with adequate oxygen and predisposes individuals to pulmonary edema. Impaired cardiac function is secondary to either decreased contractility reducing ejection (systolic failure), diminished ventricular compliance preventing filling (diastolic failure), or both. To study HF etiology, many different techniques have been developed to elicit this condition in experimental animals, with varying degrees of success. Among rats, surgically induced HF models are the most prevalent, but they bear several shortcomings, including high mortality rates and limited recapitulation of the pathophysiology, etiology, and progression of human HF. Alternatively, a number of non-invasive HF induction methods avoid many of these pitfalls, and their merits in technical simplicity, reliability, survivability, and comparability to the pathophysiologic and pathogenic characteristics of HF are reviewed herein. In particular, this review focuses on the primary pathogenic mechanisms common to genetic strains (spontaneously hypertensive and spontaneously hypertensive heart failure), pharmacological models of toxic cardiomyopathy (doxorubicin and isoproterenol), and dietary salt models, all of which have been shown to induce left ventricular HF in the rat. Additional non-invasive techniques that may potentially enable the development of new HF models are also discussed.
Performance modeling in CUDA streams — A means for high-throughput data processing

Push-based database management system (DBMS) is a new type of data processing software that streams large volume of data to concurrent query operators. The high data rate of such systems requires large computing power provided by the query engine. In our previous work, we built a push-based DBMS named G-SDMS to harness the unrivaled computational capabilities of modern GPUs. A major design goal of G-SDMS is to support concurrent processing of heterogenous query processing operations and enable resource allocation among such operations. Understanding the performance of operations as a result of resource consumption is thus a premise in the design of G-SDMS. With NVIDIA's CUDA framework as the system implementation platform, we present our recent work on performance modeling of CUDA kernels running concurrently under a runtime mechanism named CUDA stream. Specifically, we explore the connection between performance and resource occupancy of compute-bound kernels and develop a model that can predict the performance of such kernels. Furthermore, we provide an in-depth anatomy of the CUDA stream mechanism and summarize the main kernel scheduling disciplines in it. Our models and derived scheduling disciplines are verified by extensive experiments using synthetic and real-world CUDA kernels.
Radiation following surgery for oral cancer: impact on local control.

Objectives The use of postoperative radiation therapy (RT) is commonly used in the treatment of patients with high-risk squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. However, few data exist that quantitate the incremental benefit of RT when administered following surgery. The retrospective study was designed to measure the incremental benefit of adjuvant RT after surgery on control of the primary lesion when compared with patients undergoing surgical therapy alone for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Study Design Retrospective chart. Methods Previously untreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of mouth or oral tongue who were treated between 1974 and 1998 were eligible for study. A minimum follow-up of 2 years was required. Tumor site, stage, and RT data were correlated with local control. Results Patients with missing or incomplete data and those lost to follow-up or dead as a result of intercurrent disease with follow-up of less than 2 years were censored. A group of 211 patients who could be evaluated was available for the study. Radiation therapy was administered postoperatively to 58 patients, and 153 patients were treated with surgery alone. In the group treated with combined therapy, the average irradiation dose was 5850 cGy; this group included 35 patients who received more than and 16 who received less than 5700 cGy. Conclusions The incremental benefit in terms of control of tumor at the primary site for patients receiving postoperative RT was between 0% and 7%. Surgery alone controlled 80% to 85% of primary tumors. The dose of postoperative RT did not correlate with local control.
The Effects of Mixed-Race Households on Residential Segregation

This paper investigates how household-scale racial mixing affects measurements of neighborhood-scale racial segregation. This topic is increasingly important as mixed-race households are becoming more common across the United States. Specifically, our research asks two questions: What is the sensitivity of neighborhood racial segregation measures to levels of household-scale racial mixing? And what is the relationship between neighborhood racial diversity and the presence of mixed-race households? We answer these questions with an analysis that uses confidential long-form data from the 1990 U.S. census. These data provide information on household racial composition at the tract level. The results show that racial mixing within households has meaningful effects on measurements of neighborhood segregation, suggesting that patterns of mixed-race household formation and residential location condition understandings of neighborhood segregation dynamics. We demonstrate that mixed-race households are a dispropor...
Marijuana use is associated with inattention in men and sleep quality in women with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a preliminary study.

The study examined the association between marijuana use, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and sleep quality in 56 men and 20 women with ADHD. Participants, ages 18–45, were assessed with the Assessment of Hyperactivity and Attention, drug use survey, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Moderate to strong correlations were found between marijuana use and inattentive symptoms in men, and marijuana use and decreased sleep quality in women. Men and women with ADHD may use marijuana for different reasons.