cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mid-Wisconsin sediment record from Baldwin Lake reveals hemispheric climate dynamics (Southern CA, USA)

Abstract Recently acquired cores from Baldwin Lake, Southern California, document the first regional, terrestrial-based evidence for glacial period millennial-to-orbital scale climate variability. Eight AMS 14C dates on a 14-m core from the lake's present day depocenter provide initial age control over the interval from 20,000 to 48,000 years before present (BP). A linear age model extends the record to a minimum age of 65,000 years BP. A combination of lithologic description and one cm contiguous sedimentological analyses indicates significant changes in the dominant type of depositional environment over the length of the record at millennial-to-orbital time scales. As a first-order interpretation, the dominant sedimentary environments alternate between permanent and ephemeral lake systems. Orbital-scale forcing includes long-term winter-summer insolation variability and its modulation of winter storm tracks and the North American monsoon, respectively. Millennial-scale variability is attributed to extra-tropical, ocean–atmosphere dynamics akin to historical interdecadal Pacific climate variability. In addition, there is notable correspondence to the independently dated Greenland Ice Core record (GISP 2) at millennial-to-orbital time scales suggesting that Baldwin Lake contains, in addition to its local/regional record, a hemispheric record of climate change — similar to Owens, Pyramid, and Summer Lake of central and northwestern North America. An initial comparison to GISP2 δ18O(ice) indicates that North Atlantic interstadials correlate to permanent lake environments in coastal southwestern North America. These results present a notable conflict with the proposed “super-ENSO” phenomenon in the western tropical Pacific. These results also highlight the necessity for acquiring additional high-resolution glacial period records for resolving questions of spatial–temporal phasing of late-Quaternary climates.
Giant aneurysms of ascending aorta and pulmonary artery.

Fig. 2. (A) With anulo-aortic ectasia and severe aortic insufficiency, pulmonary artery valve displasia and severe insufficiency, pulmonary artery ectasia, the patient underwent a surgical intervention. Ascending aorta (Ao) and pulmonary artery trunk (PA) were exposed by median sternotomy. (B) Ascending aorta aneurysm and aortic valve were replaced with bioprosthesis and Dacron conduit. Pulmonary artery trunk was open; another bioprosthesis and Dacron tube were used to replace the native valve and pulmonary trunk. Subsequently, the Dacron graft was sheltered by native pulmonary artery wall.
Osteoclast Response to Low Extracellular Sodium and the Mechanism of Hyponatremia-induced Bone Loss

Our recent animal and human studies revealed that chronic hyponatremia is a previously unrecognized cause of osteoporosis that is associated with increased osteoclast numbers in a rat model of the human disease of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). We used cellular and molecular approaches to demonstrate that sustained low extracellular sodium ion concentrations ([Na+]) directly stimulate osteoclastogenesis and resorptive activity and to explore the mechanisms underlying this effect. Assays on murine preosteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells and on primary bone marrow monocytes both indicated that lowering the medium [Na+] dose-dependently increased osteoclast formation and resorptive activity. Low [Na+], rather than low osmolality, triggered these effects. Chronic reduction of [Na+] dose-dependently decreased intracellular calcium without depleting endoplasmic reticulum calcium stores. Moreover, we found that reduction of [Na+] dose-dependently decreased cellular uptake of radiolabeled ascorbic acid, and reduction of ascorbic acid in the culture medium mimicked the osteoclastogenic effect of low [Na+]. We also detected downstream effects of reduced ascorbic acid uptake, namely evidence of hyponatremia-induced oxidative stress. This was manifested by increased intracellular free oxygen radical accumulation and proportional changes in protein expression and phosphorylation, as indicated by Western blot analysis from cellular extracts and by increased serum 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine levels in vivo in rats. Our results therefore reveal novel sodium signaling mechanisms in osteoclasts that may serve to mobilize sodium from bone stores during prolonged hyponatremia, thereby leading to a resorptive osteoporosis in patients with SIADH.
Meson Production in n-p Collisions at Cosmotron Energies

154 analyzable three-prong events were observed in collisions between Cosmotron-produced neutrons, with energies up to 2.2 Bev, and protons in a hydrogen-filled diffusion cloud chamber. These events were classified as a result of the reactions $n+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p+p+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, $p+p+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$, and $p+n+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ with frequencies in the ratio (0.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3): (1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.35): (3.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.7), respectively. The observed ratio of the probability for double meson production to that for single meson production is more than 20 times higher than the ratio predicted from Fermi's statistical model. No triple meson production is observed, in agreement with the statistical model. The momentum distributions of the observed mesons are also in rough agreement with the theory. In the center-of-mass system, in the reaction $n+p+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, protons and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ show a tendency to be emitted backward, while neutrons and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ tend towards forward emission. However, the data suggest that protons and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$, and also neutrons and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, tend to be emitted more frequently in opposite directions than protons and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ or neutrons and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$. All of these results may be qualitatively in agreement with a meson production model where each nucleon is excited separately to an intermediate, possibly resonant, state which subsequently decays by emission of a meson.
Effects of Public and Private Policies on Working after Childbirth

This study investigates the impact of parental leave laws, policies that help families balance work and family life, and the supply, cost, and quality of substitutes for the mother's time on how soon mothers begin working outside the home following childbirth. The data come from the National Child Care Survey 1990, a survey of 4,400 families with children under age 13, and A Profile of Child Care Settings, a study of child care centers conducted at the same time in the same communities. The sample consists of 613 mothers who had a child in the year before the survey. Proportional hazards models were used to model the effects of policies on the risk of working within the year after childbirth, controlling for characteristics of the mother and the family. The results suggest that employer policies affect how quickly mothers who had been employed prior to the birth reenter the workforce.
A differential scanning calorimetric study of brain clathrin.

Abstract The thermal denaturation of clathrin-coated vesicles isolated from bovine brain tissue has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and has been compared to basket structures reformed from isolated triskelion trimers of clathrin and to isolated triskelions. The coated vesicles and reformed baskets displayed similar, yet distinct, thermal behavior. Calorimetric data of the coated vesicles exhibited a single denaturation transition peak at 55.9 ± 0.1 °C, skewed to low temperatures whereas the thermograms for the reformed baskets exhibited a broad transition peak at 53.1 ± 0.1 °C and a peak at 56.3 ± 0.1 °C. Neither transition was reversible. The specific transition enthalpy was 11.5 ± 1.0 J g −1 for the coated vesicles and the total transition enthalpy was 9.1 ± 0.3 J g −1 for the reformed baskets. In contrast, isolated triskelions showed no thermal transition between 15 and 90 °C. Although the coated vesicles and the reformed baskets have similar stability reflecting their similar structures, the coated vesicles appear to be marginally more stable than the reformed baskets. The complexity of the transition profiles and their lack of symmetry suggest the existence of several, somewhat independent, domains unique to the cage-like structure of the coated vesicles and reformed baskets.
Perceptual organization in the prefix effect

Three interpretations of short-term verbal memory are discussed, one based on association theory, one on neutral computer modeling, and one on the mechanisms of speech perception, conceived as an active process. The prefix effect, in with a redundant stimulus (or response) digit acts like a non-redundant one in its load on memory, is easily explained by the speech-perception hypothesis but seems to pose difficulty for the other approaches. Two experimental conditions were devised which should eliminate the stimulus prefix effect if the postulated relationship with active speech perception is valid: ( a ) using a different speaker for the prefix; ( b ) using three identical digits as prefix rather than one. Two experiments were carried out, each testing both predictions. The expected pattern of results emerged in both studies.
Outcome of adults with acute lymphocytic leukemia after second salvage therapy

BACKGROUND. The outcome of adults with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) who undergo second salvage therapy has been characterized poorly. This is important with regard to investigational approaches aimed at helping this subset of patients. The objectives of the current study were to predict outcomes and determine the prognostic factors associated with second salvage therapy in patients with ALL. METHODS. In this study, 288 patients were analyzed who received second salvage therapy for ALL at the authors' institution. RESULTS. Overall, 53 patients (18%) achieved a complete response (CR). The median remission duration was 7 months and the median survival was 3 months. In multivariate analysis, prognostic factors that were associated independently with achieving CR were duration of first CR and platelet count. Patients with a first CR <36 months and platelet counts <50 × 109/L had an expected CR rate of 7%. In multivariate analysis, prognostic factors that were associated independently with survival were duration of first CR, percentage bone marrow blasts, platelet count, and albumin level. The expected 12-month survival rates for patients with 0 or 1, 2, 3, or 4 adverse factors were 33%, 14%, 8%, and 0%, respectively. A repeat multivariate analysis using landmark assessment at 6 weeks selected achievement of CR as adding significantly to the survival benefit (P = .0001; hazard ratio, 0.51). Only 22 patients (8%) were able to undergo allogeneic stem cell transplantation as second salvage therapy, and their 1-year survival rate was 18%. CONCLUSIONS. The outcome of adults with ALL undergoing second salvage therapy is poor. Novel effective therapies against ALL are needed in this subset of patients. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Phencyclidine-analogue self-injection by the baboon.

Self-injection of phencyclidine HCl (PCP) and four of its analogues was examined in baboons. IV injections of drug were dependent upon completion of 160 lever presses (a 160-response fixed-ratio schedule). A 3-h time-out period followed each injection, permitting a maximum of eight injections per day. Self-injection performance was first established with cocaine and, once stable, test doses of each drug were substituted for 15 days. All five compounds maintained maximal self-injection performance, differing only in their relative potencies. The order of potency was approximately PCP>NMPCA=TCPY>NNBPCA>ketamine. Analysis of the distribution of injections throughout the day indicate that lower doses (and vehicle) were injected mainly during the daylight hours (i.e., 9 AM–6 PM), but as the dose was increased the injections became more uniformly distributed. Only the highest doses of these compounds affected food intake, though the degree of suppression was modest. No differences between these compounds with respect to their abuse potential could be found.
Mid-infrared quantum cascade laser based off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy for biogenic nitric oxide detection

Tunable-laser absorption spectroscopy in the mid-IR spectral region is a sensitive analytical technique for trace-gas quantification. The detection of nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled breath is of particular interest in the diagnosis of lower-airway inflammation associated with a number of lung diseases and illnesses. A gas analyzer based on a continuous-wave mid-IR quantum cascade laser operating at ∼5.2 μm and on off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (ICOS) has been developed to measure NO concentrations in human breath. A compact sample cell, 5.3 cm in length and with a volume of <80 cm3, that is suitable for on-line and off-line measurements during a single breath cycle, has been designed and tested. A noise-equivalent (signal-to-noise ratio of 1) sensitivity of 10 parts in 109 by volume (ppbv) of NO was achieved. The combination of ICOS with wavelength modulation resulted in a 2-ppbv noise-equivalent sensitivity. The total data acquisition and averaging time was 15 s in both cases. The feasibility of detecting NO in expired human breath as a potential noninvasive medical diagnostic tool is discussed.
The Benefit of Aggressive Hemodialysis in Children 1689

In the adult population with renal failure, a KT/V of less than 1.2 is associated with higher mortality and aggressive dialysis has been shown to improve survival. Similar data in children are not available. We hypothesize that a more aggressive dialysis regiment, by increasing dialysis time, will lead to beneficial effects on patients blood pressure, serum albumin, and the response of bone marrow to erythropoietin. To test the hypothesis, we prospectively increased dialysis clearance in 17 pediatric hemodialysis patients in our institution. Pre-dialysis systemic blood pressure, number of antihypertensive medications, serum albumin, hemoglobin levels and erythropoietin dose were compared at baseline(time 0), 4 months (time 1), and 12 months (time 2). Results are shown in table1.
Robotic Use in Colorectal Disease: A Critical Analysis

Laparoscopic surgery is widely accepted in colorectal surgery, with proven short-term benefits. Nevertheless, widespread adoption of this approach is far from being a reality in part due to some inherent technical limitations. Robotic technologies have been developed to overcome some of these shortcomings, and several authors have embraced it, strongly supporting the superiority of this approach compared with laparoscopy. However, as we await more robust data, the routine use of robotic technology for the treatment of colorectal diseases, outside of clinical trials currently under way, does not appear to be cost effective and justified. In this article, we will review the available evidence for the specific colorectal procedures, focusing primarily on rectal surgery, an application with potential advantages for robotic technology.
S-Wave Proton-Proton Scattering from 0.2 to 40 Mev for the Yukawa and Gauss Error Potentials

Tables of the phase shift expected for the $S$-wave in proton-proton scattering are presented. The energy range covered is from 0.2 to 40 Mev. The accuracy obtainable by means of them is stated in the text and is believed to be sufficient for most applications. For energies below 5 Mev use is made of the function $f$ which varies nearly linearly with energy. Representations of $f$ in terms of depth and range of the potential wells are studied and some questions arising in comparing potentials with each other and with experiment are briefly discussed.
Electron Optical Observations on Marblehead Illite

Electron optical observations on Marblehead illite showed the presence of twinned aggregates of lath-shaped crystallites. The selected area diffraction patterns of these aggregates indicate a strict orientational relationship between them. Original twinned mica flakes display all possible stages of the transformation of these micas into lath-shaped illites, where the a and b dimensions of layers do not show any noticeable changes, but c-dimension becomes shortened in the illites. The transformation seems to involve parting along (110) of the micas, subsequent H2O and OH inclusion in the structure and other possible chemical changes resulting from the hydration. The morphology and the size of lath-shaped crystallites displaying (001) and (110) forms seem to be responsible for the excess of water and K-deficiency in the Marblehead illite compared to the micas. Individual illite laths commonly have a length 0·1–4 µ, a width of 0·01–0·1 µ and a thickness varying between 10 and 50 A.
Fe(I)-mediated reductive cleavage and coupling of CO2 : An FeII(μ-O,μ-CO)FeII core

THF solutions of a new iron(I) source, [PhBP^(CH2_Cy_3)]Fe ([PhBP^(CH_2Cy_3)] = [PhBP(CH_2P(CH_2Cy)_2)_3]-), effect the reductive cleavage of CO_2 via O-atom transfer at ambient temperature. The dominant reaction pathway is bimetallic and leads to the formation of a structurally unprecedented diiron Fe^(II)(μ-O)(μ-CO)Fe^(II) core. X-ray data are also available to suggest that bimetallic reductive CO_2 coupling to generate oxalate occurs as a minor reaction pathway. These initial observations forecast a diverse reaction landscape between CO_2 and iron(I) synthons.
Solid-state physics: response with a twist.

The behaviour of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric materials in a magnetic or electric field makes them easy to spot. But for their more recently discovered counterpart, ferrotoroidic materials, things become complex. The defining property of ferroic materials — that's the ferromagnets, ferroelectrics and ferroelastics — is that of forming domains, based on magnetization, electric polarization and elastic strain respectively. It makes these materials of great technological importance, for instance in data storage as ferroelectric memory or as ferromagnetic domains written on a hard disk. But a fourth form of ferroic order has been postulated, based on an ordered arrangement of magnetic vortices or 'toroidization'. One of the prerequisites for this fourth form — called ferrotoroidicity — has now been observed , in the form of domains of opposite ferrotoroidic orientation. The ferrotoroidic domains were observed optically on lithium cobal phosphate (LiCoPO4), coexisting with independent antiferromagnetic domains. The ferrotoroidic state differs from the other forms of ferroic order in its asymmetric behaviour under the reversal of time and space. This asymmetry could lead to exciting possibilities for future applications.
Seasonal Variation in Daily Temperature Ranges

Abstract Abrupt spring and autumnal changes in the daily temperature range, from low winter values to higher nonwinter values, were noted in the Minneapolis-St. Paul temperature record. Since this feature was even more evident in five rural and small town Minnesota stations, it can be accepted as real. The inverse relationship found between surface albedo and the daily temperature range indicated that the reduced winter temperature range is associated with snow cover. A second factor controlling the temperature range is cloud cover. This led to the conclusion that variation in net solar radiation is the primary factor. A strong statistical relationship between daily temperature range and the three variables considered (solar radiation, albedo, and cloud cover) was limited to the spring and fall. In March-April the statistically significant factors were solar radiation and albedo, while in October-November they were solar radiation and cloud cover. For the October-December period albedo was also statistica...
Ethical decision–making: a multidimensional construct

Poor ethical decision–making costs industry billions of dollars a year and damages the images of corporations. Thus, by answering the question ‘Why do individuals behave as they do when confronted with ethical issues?’ ethical theory can provide businesses with a means to create a more ethical climate and a more successful operation. This study tested the Ethical Decision–Making Model with accountability (Beu & Buckley 2001), which uses theory that suggests that ethical behavior is influenced by the individual, the issue, social relationships (accountability), and the organization in which the employee is embedded (Brass, Butterfield & Skaggs 1988; Frink & Klimoski 1998). The results showed that individuals’ thought processes (cognitive moral development), personalities (locus of control, hostility and aggression, Machiavellianism), and gender influence how they respond to ethical dilemmas, as well as the salience of the moral issue (moral intensity) and the environmental context (work/school).
Functional analysis of hair manipulation: a replication and extension

In a multi-phase investigation, we assessed the problematic hair manipulation of a four-year-old male diagnosed with autism. In phase 1, a functional analysis of hair manipulation resulted in high levels of responding during a no-interaction condition, while near-zero levels were observed in other conditions. In phase 2, hair manipulation was reduced to near-zero levels during a condition in which Billy wore gloves on his hands to attenuate digital-tactile stimulation. In phase 3, a stimulus preference assessment indicated that object manipulation competed with hair manipulation, and that wearing gloves did not alter the amount of time that Billy manipulated preferred objects. The results are discussed in the context of interventions that achieve their effects via reinforcer substitutability or competition. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decomposition in an ombrotrophic bog and a minerotrophic fen in Minnesota

Using mass-loss and CO/sub 2/-evolution techniques, the authors evaluated the decomposition of peat in an ombrotrophic bog in northern Minnesota. They also compared decomposition potentials, using uniform material (cellulose), between the bog and a nearby minerotrophic fen. Mass loss decreased with increasing depth in the peat due to environmental and substrate limitations. Mass-loss from cellulose was greater in the fen than in the bog.
Aldosterone responses to ACTH during hypoxia in conscious rats

This study examined the aldosterone response to physiological ACTH infusion (4 ng/kg per min) and pharmacological ACTH injection (1.8 microgram) in conscious Long-Evans rats at 42 h of normoxia (21% O2) or hypoxia (10% O2). Hypoxia per se (no exogenous ACTH) significantly decreased control aldosterone levels despite elevated endogenous plasma ACTH). Hypoxia attenuated the aldosterone responses to ACTH infusion but not to ACTH injection. It was concluded that hypoxia attenuates aldosterone responses to small increases in ACTH, and large increases in ACTH can override this apparent decrease in adrenocortical sensitivity.
Production of constitutively acetylated recombinant p53 from yeast and Escherichia coli by tethered catalysis.

Abstract Post-translational modification of proteins is a dynamic way of generating new protein–protein interaction interfaces that are critical for signaling networks in diverse cellular functions. Purified recombinant proteins frequently lack these signature modifications. Using the tumor suppressor p53 as the model protein, we present here a tethered catalysis approach for the production of acetylated p53 in vivo. P53 is a major tumor suppressor protein that protects the cell from various oncogenic stresses. Upon DNA damage, p53 is stabilized and activated by a plethora of post-translational modifications, including acetylation. Here, we show that constitutively acetylated p53 can be expressed and purified from both yeast and Escherichia coli . This method is highly suitable for studying protein–protein interactions in the conventional yeast two-hybrid screen that requires a constitutively acetylated state of p53. Furthermore, effective production and purification of acetylated p53 from E. coli supports future biochemical and structural characterization. The method described in this work can be applied to other proteins and modifications, and thus has widespread use in the fields of signal transduction and proteomic research.
Influence of ionophores which bind calcium on the release of norepinephrine from synaptosomes.

Abstract A preparation of synaptosomes isolated from rat brain was used as a model of nerve to study affects of drugs on uptake and release of biogenic amines. The influence of ionophores, which bind calcium, on the release of noripinephrine from synaptosomes was examined to determine their effect on the release of the amine. A23187 induced release of norepinephrine mainly as the amine and this action was enhanced by calcium and depressed by magnetism. X-537A however, released norepinephrine mostly as deaminated metabolites but acted independently of calcium or magnetism. A23187, therefore is thought to be associated at least in part, with exocytotic amine release, possibly by enhancing entry of calcium across the plasma membrane. X-537A on the other hand may act as a carrier of the amine across the vesicular membrane and expose the amine to intrasynaptosomal monoamine oxidase.
Leaders, followers, and time

Abstract In order to consider leadership from a temporal perspective, we examine extant leadership research that refers to temporal variables in its theorizing and/or empirical testing. We consider rhythmic patterns manifested in leader and follower behavior and employ entrainment, polychronicity, pace/speed, punctuality, and temporal depth as categorization concepts for the analysis. Further, we propose general theoretical statements about temporal dimensions and their prospective roles in relationships and processes related to leadership.
A cross between two maize relatives: Tripsacum dactyloides and Zea diploperennis (Poaceae)

Crosses betweenTripsacum dactyloides and teosinte (Zea diploperennis) using standard pollination technique have been successfully attempted and six highly fertile hybrid plants obtained. Previous research had shown other teosintes to be cross-incompatible with Tripsacum and maize to be crossable but highly intersterile withTripsacum. Some investigators believe thatTripsacum played a prominent role in the origin of maize; theTripsacum-diploperennis hybrid provides evidence to support that idea. Ears produced by the hybrid have paired kernel rows, a distinctive characteristic of the oldest archaeological maize that none of the wild relatives have. This unique hybrid is described and discussed in terms of its possible role in the origin and evolution of maize.
Synthetic tumor-specific breakpoint peptide vaccine in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia and minimal residual disease: a phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Imatinib is the current standard frontline therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In the majority of patients, imatinib induces a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR); however, complete molecular responses are infrequent. The Bcr-Abl fusion creates a unique sequence of amino acids that could constitute a target for immunomodulation. METHODS: A mixture of heteroclitic and native peptides derived from both b3a2 and b2a2 sequences was used to vaccinate patients with CML in CCyR who were receiving imatinib therapy and who had stable Bcr-Abl transcript levels. RESULTS: Ten patients were enrolled, all with b2a2 transcripts (including 2 patients who had coexpression of b2a2 and b3a2). Patients had received imatinib for a median of 62 months. Three of 10 patients achieved 1-log reduction in Bcr-Abl transcript levels, including the 2 patients who had received previous interferon therapy, and 3 other patients achieved a major molecular response. The vaccine was tolerated well, and there were no grade ≥3 adverse events. Vaccination did not affect the leukocyte profiles in peripheral blood except for regulatory T cells, which were down-regulated briefly during the late stage of vaccination in patients who achieved approximately 1-log reduction in Bcr-Abl transcript levels. CONCLUSIONS: The current data suggested that vaccination-related transient disruption of immune tolerance may contribute to the reduction in Bcr-Abl transcripts. Clinically, this Bcr-Abl peptide vaccine may transiently improve the molecular response in a subset of patients with CML. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Ramp response signatures for the detection of antipersonnel mines

Previous electromagnetic scattering result have been presented for the ramp response profile functions for Anti- Personnel (A-P) Mines in lossless, homogeneous media. 3D images have been generated using such profile functions for three orthogonal incidence angles. The purpose of this present paper is to provide techniques for generating profile functions for lossy dispersive media. This procedure has been quite successful, provided the electrical properties of the ground are known, and the radar is calibrated. Under these conditions, these profile functions would provide valid radar images of the A-P mines.
Texture induced anisotropy in extruded Ti–6Al–4V–xB alloys

Abstract The tensile properties of extruded Ti–6Al–4V–xB alloys (wt.%) were evaluated in an orientation perpendicular to the extrusion direction at room-temperature and 455 °C. The extrusion process preferentially oriented the basal plane of α-Ti perpendicular to the extrusion axis. This strong α-phase texture resulted in tensile anisotropy. The tensile strength in the transverse orientation was lower than that in the longitudinal orientation, but it remained greater than that for the as-cast Ti–6Al–4V. The TiB phase was aligned in the extrusion direction and increased B content was found to weaken the α-phase texture, causing a weakening of tensile anisotropy. Debonding was not observed during the tensile tests in the transverse orientation, indicating a strong interface bond exists between the TiB phase and the two-phase (α + β) Ti–6Al–4V matrix.
Why multiple document image binarizations improve OCR

Our previous work has shown that the error correction of optical character recognition (OCR) on degraded historical machine-printed documents is improved with the use of multiple information sources and multiple OCR hypotheses including from multiple document image binarizations. The contributions of this paper are in demonstrating how diversity among multiple binarizations makes those improvements to OCR accuracy possible. We demonstrate the degree and breadth to which the information required for correction is distributed across multiple binarizations of a given document image. Our analysis reveals that the sources of these corrections are not limited to any single binarization and that the full range of binarizations holds information needed to achieve the best result as measured by the word error rate (WER) of the final OCR decision. Even binarizations with high WERs contribute to improving the final OCR. For the corpus used in this research, fully 2.68% of all tokens are corrected using hypotheses not found in the OCR of the binarized image with the lowest WER. Further, we show that the higher the WER of the OCR overall, the more the corrections are distributed among all binarizations of the document image.
A synthetic lymph node containing inactivated Treponema pallidum cells elicits strong, antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in mice

The goal of this study was to investigate the use of a synthetic lymph node (SLN) for delivery of Treponema pallidum ( Tp ) antigens. Immune responses of C57BL/6 mice were analyzed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after SLN implantation. Group 1 mice received SLN with no antigen; Group 2, SLN with formalin-inactivated Tp (f- Tp ); and Group 3, SLN with f- Tp plus a CpG oligodeoxynucleotide. When tested by ELISA, sera from Group 2 and Group 3 mice showed stronger IgG antibody reactivity than sera from Group 1 mice to sonicates of f- Tp or untreated Tp , but not to sonicate of normal rabbit testicular extract at all times. The IgG1 level was higher than IgG2c level for Group 2 mice at all times and for Group 3 mice at 4 and 8 weeks. IgG1 and IgG2c levels were nearly equivalent for Group 3 mice at 12 weeks. Immunoblotting showed that IgG from Group 2 and Group 3 mice recognized several Tp proteins at all times. Supernatants of splenocytes from Group 2 and Group 3 mice contained significantly more IFNγ than those from Group 1 mice after stimulation with f- Tp at all times. A significant level of IL-4 was not detected in any supernatants. These data show that strong humoral and cellular immune responses to Tp can be elicited via a SLN.
The Relationships Among Uncertainty, Social Support, and Psychological Distress in Adolescents Recently Diagnosed With Cancer

Uncertainty in illness about diagnosis, symptoms, prognosis, treatments, and relationships with health professionals is a major psychosocial stressor for adolescents recently diagnosed with cancer. In this study, the theoretical linkages of the uncertainty in illness theory of perceived social support, uncertainty, and psychological distress were tested. Respondents consisted of 60 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 22 years who were recently diagnosed with cancer. Data were generated by three questionnaires and analyzed using Pearson product moment coefficients and multiple regressional analyses. Hypotheses tested were that among adolescents with cancer (1) there will be an inverse relationship between perceived social support and uncertainty; (2) there will be a positive relationship between uncertainty and psychological distress; (3) there will be an inverse relationship between perceived social support and psychological distress; and (4) there will be an inverse relationship between perceived social support and psychological distress when controlling for uncertainty. Findings were as follows: the first three hypotheses were supported; there was no relationship between perceived social support and psychological distress when controlling for uncertainty. An interaction effect of perceived social support and uncertainty explained 39% of the variance in psychological distress.
Suspended particle mineralogy and transport in water masses of the West African shelf adjacent to Sierra Leone and Liberia

A combined hydrographic-mineralogic survey of water masses and their suspended particulate matter was carried out over the continental shelf and upper slope adjacent to Sierra Leone and Liberia; it revealed a two-layered system with distinct clay signatures. The south-eastward flowing surface Canary Current was montmorillonite-richer and kaolinite- and gibbsite-poorer than the bottom water. There was a nepheloid layer on the shelf in the lower 20 m of the water column over most of the 480-km long study area. The average suspended particle load of the layer, 320 μgl−1, exceeded that of average open-ocean water by more than an order of magnitude. The clay mineralogy of the material in the near-bottom nepheloid layer is consistent with its being a significant sediment source for the deep equatorial eastern basin of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Separation and function of neutrophil karyogranuloplasts and comparison with cytoplasts and intact cells

Since neutrophjl cytoplasts lacking nucleus and granules were first prepared by centrifuging neutrophils over a discontinuous Ficoll gradient containing cytochalasin B, several functional deficits have been reported in these cytoplasts. Although these functional deficits have been considered to originate from the absence of organelles, cell damage during preparation could not be excluded. Therefore, in the following experiments the Ficoll gradient was modified to isolate both cytoplasts and karyogranuloplasts, which have a nucleus and granules and represent the cell after loss of the cytoplast. Electron microscopy and analysis of marker proteins and cell volume showed that karyogranuloplasts were distinct from neutrophils. The phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) orN-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP) -induced O 2 − release, corrected by surface area, was in the following order: neutrophils > cytoplasts > karyogranuloplasts. Both aggregation and membrane potential depolarization were maximal in neutrophils, intermediate in karyogranuloplasts, and lowest in cytoplasts when either PMA or FMLP was used as a stimulant. Extracellular release of the granule contents (degranulation) was triggered by FMLP in both neutrophils and karyogranuloplasts. Cytochalasin B pretreatment greatly enhanced FMLP-induced O 2 − release, degranulation, aggregation, and depolarization of membrane potential in neutrophils and karyogranuloplasts, but not in cytoplasts. The ability of cytochalasin B to potentiate FMLP-triggered cell function probably depends on granules or cell organelles which are depleted in cytoplasts. Chemokinesis and chemotaxis were impaired in both karyogranuloplasts and cytoplasts. Specific FML[3H]P binding was greater in karyogranuloplasts than in cytoplasts. Cellular actin content, measured by the DNase I inhibition assay, was abundant in cytoplasts and was extremely low in karyogranuloplasts. Karyogranuloplasts retain various neutrophil functions, except for chemotaxis, and provide an important control when studying the role of cell organelles in cytoplast function.
Human rights violations during Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip: 27 December 2008 to 19 January 2009.

Abstract The Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip from 27 December 2008 to 19 January 2009 was characterised by gross, unprecedented human rights violations, which were the result of a deliberate political decision to overlook the loss of civilian lives in order to save those of Israeli soldiers. These violations included attacking medical personnel and civilians, impeding emergency medical evacuations, restricting health care for the civilian population, preventing referral to care outside the Gaza Strip and jeopardising distribution of medical supplies and food. This article will focus on the right to health of Palestinians under Israeli occupation by presenting case studies that have been collected by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel. It will emphasise how the Palestinian medical system has been stretched to its breaking point, severely and negatively affecting the provision of medical services; the consequences of denying patients referral to care outside the Gaza Strip; and other severe violations of h...
Proximate time optimal control of an XY positioning table

This paper focuses on the development of a time optimal control method for two-dimensional rigid body systems. Our approach is based on the traditional Proximate Time-Optimal Servomechanism (PTOS), which starts with a near-time-optimal controller and then switches to a linear controller at the time when the system output is close to a given target. This paper proposes to expand the PTOS, a unidirectional control law to a two-dimensional system, in order to perform linear point-to-point trajectories.
Neuronal organization underlying visually elicited prey orienting in the frog--I. Effects of various unilateral lesions.

Abstract We have studied the effects on frog orienting behavior of three lesions: unilateral optic nerve section, unilateral tectal lobe ablation, and unilateral transverse hemisection of the neuraxis at a level just caudal to the optic tectum. Unilateral optic nerve section and unilateral tectal lobe ablation produce very similar deficits in visually elicited responses to prey items, an absence of responses for stimuli at locations within the monocular field of one eye. Unilateral hemisection, in contrast, results in abnormalities in visually elicited responses over a wider area, encompassing the entire ipsilateral visual hemifield. The hemisection deficit also differs in character from that following optic nerve section or tectal lesion. Within the affected hemifield, frogs do not fail to respond to stimuli but rather respond with abnormally directed movements. The movements, regardless of stimulus eccentricity on the horizontal, are always forwardly directed. While not varying with horizontal eccentricity, the movements do vary with stimulus elevation and distance. The variation with stimulus distance in the affected hemifield is somewhat different from that in the opposite hemifield. We conclude from the behavior that remains after hemisection lesions that there must exist bilateral descending tectofugal paths capable of triggering movements which vary with stimulus elevation and distance, and a crossed descending tectofugal path capable of triggering turns into one visual hemifield. That the deficit area is larger following a hemisection than following tectal lobe ablation indicates that the hemisection has affected the ability of both tectal lobes to trigger turns in one direction. A possible interpretation of this finding is that the lesion has interrupted not only the crossed descending tectofugal path from one tectal lobe but an uncrossed descending tectofugal path from the other. This hypothetical pathway as well as the others mentioned is incorporated in a model of the organization of the post-tectal circuitry involved in orienting.
Using single-trial EEG to predict and analyze subsequent memory

We show that it is possible to successfully predict subsequent memory performance based on single-trial EEG activity before and during item presentation in the study phase. Two-class classification was conducted to predict subsequently remembered vs. forgotten trials based on subjects' responses in the recognition phase. The overall accuracy across 18 subjects was 59.6% by combining pre- and during-stimulus information. The single-trial classification analysis provides a dimensionality reduction method to project the high-dimensional EEG data onto a discriminative space. These projections revealed novel findings in the pre- and during-stimulus periods related to levels of encoding. It was observed that the pre-stimulus information (specifically oscillatory activity between 25 and 35Hz) -300 to 0ms before stimulus presentation and during-stimulus alpha (7-12Hz) information between 1000 and 1400ms after stimulus onset distinguished between recollection and familiarity while the during-stimulus alpha information and temporal information between 400 and 800ms after stimulus onset mapped these two states to similar values.
The Evolution of Neural Circuits Controlling Feeding Behavior in Frogs

Our approach to understanding motor systems is a phylogenetic, 'outside-in' approach, the goal of which is to identify behavioral transitions during phylogenesis and elucidate their neurological basis. In this paper, we review the results of recent behavioral, biomechanical and neurological studies on frog feeding behavior. These studies show that highly protrusible tongues have evolved numerous times independently among frogs, and that the biomechanics and neuromuscular control of feeding behavior have been transformed repeatedly during frog evolution. Many of the independent lineages possess unique biomechanical mechanisms for protracting their tongues and unique neural mechanisms for coordinating feeding behavior. In frogs, there has been considerable evolution at the interface between reticular central pattern generators (CPGs) associated with feeding and sensory feedback circuits that modulate feeding motor output. In particular, the roles of hypoglossal and glossopharyngeal sensory feedback appear to have been relatively plastic in their evolution. Prey-type dependence of hypoglossal sensory feedback in Rana suggests that the interaction between descending visual control and sensory feedback also may be evolutionarily plastic. Comparative studies have found that motor systems sometimes evolve conservatively across morphological and behavioral transitions (i.e., the shoulder in birds) or, alternatively, they may be subject to considerably more evolutionary change than is reflected in morphological characteristics (i.e., feeding in cichlids). We hypothesize that the CPG circuits for feeding behavior in the reticular formation may evolve conservatively because they are highly integrated, multifunctional networks which cannot be optimized for one function without compromising others. In contrast, the interfaces between the CPG, sensory feedback and descending control should be less constrained. When changes in motor patterns occur during evolution, it is likely that sensory feedback or descending control may be involved.
Engineering Properties of Organic Materials for Near Infra-Red Applications

This presentation will highlight the development of novel cyclometalated Ir complexes as phosphorescent emitters and the utilization of novel electron transporting materials and host materials for efficient near infra-red OLED.
Approximate Computations Of Physical MTF

This paper concerns a simple and inexpensive method for computing the polychromatic MTF of an optical system whose performance is determined essentially by longitudinal chromatic aberration. This method employs the results of wave optics computation and therefore retains high accuracy regardless of whether image quality is governed primarily by diffraction, geometric aberrations, or any combination thereof. We believe the analysis methods outlined in this paper will provide a useful engineering tool to the systems engineer who wishes some reasonably accurate insight into the effect of chromatic aberration on MTF tradeoffs. For lenses intended for high-acuity aerial photography, as a general rule, chromatic aberration will seriously limit MTF performance for focal lengths longer than 6 inches.© (1968) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Investigation of Polymer Micro-Actuators Based on Electrostrictive Poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) Copolymers

Micromachined actuators based on the electrostrictive P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer, which possesses a high strain (∼5%) and high elastic energy density (∼ 1 J/cm3), have been designed and fabricated. The performance of the devices have been characterized and modeled in terms of the properties of the copolymer and dimensions of the devices. The experimental results on the device responses under high AC fields (electrostrictive mode), weak AC fields in DC field biased state, and frequency dependence, are very close to the modeling results. Due to the large field induced strain and high frequency capability of the electrostrictive P(VDF-TrFE), the device possesses the capability of operation at non-resonance mode with high displacement and force output, and hence, the device is capable to be used over a broad frequency range. For example, for a device of 1 mm lateral dimension, the displacement output can reach more than 50 μm and the ratio of the displacement/applied voltage is more than 20 nm/Vrms. Furthermore, over more than 3 frequency decades (up to 100 kHz), the dispersion of the displacement is less than 20%. The observed performance of the devices indicates that this class of the electrostrictive P(VDF-TrFE) based micro-actuators is attractive for micropumps and valves.
Effects of acute and chronic morphine and narcotic antagonists on brain energy metabolism

Abstract Morphine sulphate (4 mg/kg to 32 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent decrease in brain malate as antinociception increased. Decreased brain malate persisted 72 hours after implantation of morphine pellets by which time mice had become tolerant to antinociception. This finding suggests that malate decrease, unlike changes of other metabolites in other studies, might not be simply a result of general metabolic changes. Malate change as well as antinociception was prevented by prior injection of naloxone (3.0 mg/kg) or naltrexone (0.6 mg/kg) in acute experiments. Malate decrease in pelleted mice was no longer present if withdrawal was produced by naloxone or naltrexone in mice implanted with morphine pellets for 72 hours. Brain P-creatine was elevated in all mice implanted with morphine pellets even after withdrawal, thus, apparently, representing a more generalized effect than malate change.