cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Image feature analysis for classification of microcalcifications in digital mammography: neural networks and genetic algorithms

We have developed an image feature-based algorithm to classify microcalcifications associated with benign and malignant processes in digital mammograms for the diagnosis of breast cancer. The feature-based algorithm is an alternative approach to image based method for classification of microcalcifications in digital mammograms. Microcalcifications can be characterized by a number of quantitative variables describing the underling key features of a suspicious region such as the size, shape, and number of microcalcifications in a cluster. These features are calculated by an automated extraction scheme for each of the selected regions. The features are then used as input to a backpropagation neural network to make a decision regarding the probability of malignancy of a selected region. The initial selection of image features set is a rough estimation that may include redundant and non-discriminant features. A genetic algorithm is employed to select an optimal image feature set from the initial feature set and select an optimized structure of the neural network for the optimal input features. The performance of neural network is compared with that of radiologists in classifying the clusters of microcalcifications. Two set of mammogram cases are used in this study. The first set is from the digital mammography database from the Mammographic Image Analysis Society (MIAS). The second set is from cases collected at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC). The diagnostic truth of the cases have been verified by biopsy. The performance of the neural network system is evaluated by ROC analysis. The system of neural network and genetic algorithms improves performance of our previous TRBF neural network. The neural network system was able to classify benign and malignant microcalcifications at a level favorably compared to experienced radiologists. The use of the neural network system can be used to help radiologists reducing the number biopsies in clinical applications. Genetic algorithms are an effective tool to select optimal input features and structure of a backpropagation neural network. The neural network, combined with genetic algorithms, is able to effectively classify benign and malignant microcalcifications. The results of the neural network system can be used to help reducing the number of benign biopsies.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Novel Micropump for Electronics Cooling

A novel micropump design for electronics cooling applications capable of integration into microchannel heat sinks is presented. The pumping action is due to the combined action of Coulomb forces due to induction electrohydrodynamics (EHD) and a vibrating diaphragm with nozzle-diffuser elements for flow rectification. A comprehensive numerical model of the micropump accounting for transient charge transport and vibrating diaphragm deformation is developed. Each component of the model is validated by comparing to analytical, numerical or experimental results from the literature. It is shown that the flow rate achieved by the micropump with combined action of EHD and vibrating diaphragm can be higher than the sum of flow rates achieved from the action of the EHD and the vibrating diaphragm, independent of each other.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Guest Editor's Introduction: Computationally Driven Experimental Biology

The complexity, diversity, and richness of experimental data on cellular systems are inspiring the development of computational analysis techniques that can directly prioritize and suggest new experiments.
Differentiating ability in the use of personality scales.

A common method of obtaining personality measurements entails asking peers or observers to judge the characteristics of a ratee. It is known, however, that rater characteristics, ratee characteristics, and the conditions of rating affect the rater's perception of another's personality characteristics, especially under conditions of minimum cues about ratees ( 3 ) . In this study, raters' use of personality rating scales was examined when raters had only minimal cues about ratees available for judgment. In order to examine the interactive effects of ratee and rater characteristics, an experimental situation was designed so that each rater would provide a number of ratings on different ratees. It was hypothesized that persons would differ in the degree to which they differentiated among the ratees and further that this "differentiating ability" would be a function of their own self-ratings. In other words, under conditions of minimal information about ratees, some persons will attend to the available cues while others will simply provide similar ratings for all persons. This hypothesis has been tested here by examining the self-ratings of persons classified as high, medium, and low on differentiating ability. Student Ss rated nine unknown adult males on five personality scales? Cues available for ratees were the man's physical appearance, his name (a common pseudo-name), and his pseudo-occupation. Ninety Ss were randomly assigned in equal groups to nine rooms. Nine ratees and nine different occupations were then rotated in a Latin square design so that each group of 10 Ss scored each ratee in a different order and with a different occupation. Self-ratings on the same scales for each S were also collected at this time. The variance for each S's rating of the nine men was computed for each personality trait. The range and median variances for each trait are shown in Table 1. These ranges indicate a tremendous variation amoog Ss in their use of these personality scales. Since the personality scores are relatively stable, a variance of 151.9 indicates considerable rater differentiation among ratees; a variance of .8 suggests the user perceived essentially no difference among ratees.
Design of Micro-photonic Beam Steering Systems

Abstract The paper introduces a direct photonic beam steering device, which is intended to be used as a large scale all optical switch array for communication networks. The objective is to direct the light beam with two degrees of freedom, so the beam from any of the input ports can be sent to any of the output ports, satisfying the optical and operation requirements. The technology is enabled through the integration of microelectromechanical systems, thin film piezo actuators, optical engineering technologies, and Axiomatic approach to systems design. The curved electrode electrostatic and thin film piezoelectric actuators are simulated in advance to the microfabrication processes. This technology has the potential of many novel applications such as: all optical switching, microendoscopy and gazable microeye among others.
Uranium alloys: sample preparation for transmission electron microscopy

SUMMARY A new procedure has been developed to produce thin foils of uranium and its alloys for transmission electron microscopy. The procedure is a two-step electrochemical cleaning-thinning process which produces self-supporting discs. This procedure was used to produce thin foils of the most important alloys of uranium.
Deviation from Organizational Norms Concerning the Relationship Between Status and Power: Equity vs. Self‐Interest Theory

In past research on status and power, the two variables have often been confounded. Within an experimentally induced organization, status and power were separated and their effects on a series of dependent variables were examined. A three-factor design using high and low levels of power and status and norms prescribing defernce to high status or to high power was created. Differing predictions for deviation from the prescribed norms of self-interest theory and equity theory were contrasted. The data indicate that a low power, high status individual who is in an organization which rewards high power will deviate from the prescribed norms in order to increase his rewards. Status affected subjects' self-perceptions and interacted with power to affect conformity to prescribed norms and perception of partner.
Direct Intrahepatic Portocaval Shunt

The direct intrahepatic portacaval shunt (DIPS) is a modification of the TIPS procedure, using intravascular ultrasound-guidance, combined with fluoroscopy. The DIPS procedure was initially conceived to increase the durability of shunt patency and extend the spectrum of patients with portal hypertension for whom endovascular portocaval shunting can be performed. The DIPS procedure involves intravascular ultrasound-guided puncture from the inferior vena cava to the portal vein through the caudate lobe of the liver. The shunt is completed with a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent graft. This article describes the indications, technique, and outcomes of the DIPS procedure to enable the interventional radiologist currently experienced with TIPS to incorporate this procedure into their practice.
Novel method of purification of human leukocytic elastase using adsorption on a high-performance liquid chromatography gel permeation column

Neutrophil elastases are serine proteinases released during acute and chronic inflammatory states. We have developed a novel isolation method for neutrophil elastase, involving conventional gel chromatography followed by adsorption of protein at low ionic strength on a high-performance liquid chromatography gel permeation column. The bound elastase is then eluted by application of higher ionic strength. This adsorption step at low ionic strength, a step to be avoided in most purification methods, was used to advantage here to allow isolation of homogeneous material. This purification procedure should be useful for quick, simple bulk preparation of the enzyme.
Bird hematocrits: effects of high altitude and strength of flight.

Abstract 1. 1. Hematocrits of three bird species living at high altitudes were measured and compared to hematocrits found in the literature for eleven other bird species. 2. 2. There was no statistical difference between the hematocrits of highland and lowland natives but the difference between the hematocrits of strong and weak fliers is significant. 3. 3. Birds and mammals appear to respond similarly both to high oxygen demand and to high altitude.
Formation of graphane and partially hydrogenated graphene by electron irradiation of adsorbates on graphene

Abstract We report the formation of graphane and partially hydrogenated graphene by electron irradiation of graphene having chemisorbed H2O and NH3. Graphane is formed by the irradiation of graphene that is mechanically exfoliated onto SiO2 substrates in air at a relative humidity of 50%. Partially hydrogenated graphene is formed by the irradiation of graphene that is heated to remove adsorbates and then exposed to H2O or NH3 gases. We propose that hydrogenation is due to H+ ions and H radicals produced by the fragmentation of H2O and NH3 adsorbates by impact with backscattered and secondary electrons. This effect could be used as a technique for writing graphane and partially hydrogenated graphene nanostructures on graphene using electron-beam lithography.
Painting, Piety, and Politics in 1848: Hippolyte Flandrin's Emblem of Equality at Nîmes

Flandrin - the most important religious artist in France during his lifetime - began a mural in 1848 whose iconography is without precedent in Christian art, represents a unique response to the revolutionary turmoil of its period, and illustrates two of the most prevalent topoi of 19th-century discourse. This essay, a social history of the work, examines how it functioned and was perceived within its specific local context, and how it reflects pervasive issues in France as a whole. It is argued that the ambiguous image served as a form of symbolic mediation between opposed concepts of the “Christ humanitaire” and the “Christ-roi,” and the conflicting ideologies which they represent. Examination of related religious paintings further articulates its unique position and meaning.
Phosphorylation-induced changes in backbone dynamics of the dematin headpiece C-terminal domain

Dematin is an actin-binding protein abundant in red blood cells and other tissues. It contains a villin-type ‘headpiece’ F-actin-binding domain at its extreme C-terminus. The isolated dematin headpiece domain (DHP) undergoes a significant conformational change upon phosphorylation. The mutation of Ser74 to Glu closely mimics the phosphorylation of DHP. We investigated motions in the backbone of DHP and its mutant DHPS74E using several complementary NMR relaxation techniques: laboratory frame 15N NMR relaxation, which is sensitive primarily to the ps–ns time scale, cross-correlated chemical shift modulation NMR relaxation detecting correlated μs–ms time scale motions of neighboring 13C′ and 15N nuclei, and cross-correlated relaxation of two 15N–1H dipole–dipole interactions detecting slow motions of backbone NH vectors in successive amino acid residues. The results indicate a reduction in mobility upon the mutation in several regions of the protein. The additional salt bridge formed in DHPS74E that links the N- and C-terminal subdomains is likely to be responsible for these changes.
Transport results from untwinned YBCO: Washboard frequency of the vortex lattice, and the quasiparticle mean free path

The “washboard frequency” ω of the moving vortex lattice in untwinned YBa2 Cu3 O6.93 may be observed through mode-locking to an externally applied ac current of frequency ωext. The interference between ω and ωext results in jumps in the dc current-voltage characteristics when ω and ωext are harmonically related1. The interference effect disappears in the vortex liquid state. The Hall conductivity σxy below Tc in YBCO contains contributions2 from a positive quasiparticle (qp) term (∼H) and a negative vortex term (∼1/H). The qp term is surprisingly large well below Tc and implies a large gap anisotropy and a long qp mean free path (mfp). The thermal Hall effect3 κxy is closely related to the qp σxy; κxy is produced by asymmetric scattering of qp by pinned vortices. The qp mfp at H = 0, extracted from σxy and extended to low T by κxy, increases remarkably from 90 A at Tc to more than 0.5μm at 22 K.
Examining Förster Energy Transfer for Semiconductor Nanocrystalline Quantum Dot Donors and Acceptors

Excitation energy transfer involving semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) has received increased attention in recent years because their properties, such as high photostability and size-tunable optical...
Comprehensive observational assessment: Ia. A systematic, quantitative procedure for assessing the behavioral and physiologic state of the mouse.

A systematic observational method is described for comprehensively assessing and quantifying the behavioral and physiologic state of the mouse and its response to drugs. With this method, the pattern profile of various classes of pharmacologic agents and their members can be identified and differentiated, and the relative specificity of their actions defined. The method is applicable to a wide range of investigative goals. Inter- and intra-observer reliability studies have shown it to meet the pragmatic requirements for research.
The Role of V2 Receptor Antagonists in the Treatment of Hyponatremia

Under normal circumstances, there is a balance between water intake and water excretion such that plasma osmolality and the serum sodium(Na+) concentration remain relatively constant. The principal mechanism responsible for prevention of hyponatremia and hyposmolality is renal water excretion. In all hyponatremic patients, water intake exceeds renal water excretion. Excretion of water by the kidney is dependent on three factors. First, there must be adequate delivery of filtrate to the tip of the loop of Henle. Second, solute absorption in the ascending limb and the distal nephron must be preserved so that the tubular fluid will be diluted. Lastly, arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels must be low in the plasma. Of these three requirements for water excretion, the one which is most important in the genesis of hyponatremia is the failure to maximally suppress AVP levels. Given the central role of AVP in limiting renal water excretion, AVP receptor antagonists represent a physiologic and rational method to increase renal water excretion.
967-20 Reduced Thrombogenicity of Nitinol vs Stainless Steel Slotted-Tube Stents in Rabbit Carotid Arteries

The thrombogenicity of slotted-tube stents made of nitinol or stainless steel (Palmaz Schatz) was assessed in a rabbit carotid artery model. Fourteen nitinol and 8 stainless steel stents (7 mm long single segment stents) were deployed in a carotid artery of 22 NZW rabbits with a 3.0 mm balloon inflated twice at 6 atm for 1 min. No antiplatelet or antithrombotic drugs were given. Eight rabbits with nitinol and 8 with stainless steel stents were euthanized after 4 days. The remaining 6 rabbits with nitinol stents were euthanized after 14 days. At sacrifice, both carotids (stented and control) were exposed and resting blood flow measured. The amount of thrombus on each stent was assessed by a semi-quantitative grading scale (I: no lumen encroachment; II: lumen encroachment; III: subocclusive thrombus; and IV: occlusive thrombus) and by the weight of the dry thrombus. Results All nitinol were patent at 4 and 14 days whereas 6 out of 8 (75%) stainless steel stents had total thrombotic occlusion at 4 days (p l 0.0001). Parameter Stainless Steel 4 day Nitinol 4 day Nitinol 14 day ANOVA p-value n 8 8 6 Carotid flow (ml/min) 1.5 ± 2.8 24.0 ± 2.0 25.5 ± 19 l0.000001 Thrombus grade III = 2, IV = 6 I = 8 I = 6 l0.0001 Thrombus weight (mg) 20.0 ± 5.9 2.5 ± 0.6 2.7 ± 0.3 l0.000001 Histologic examination of stented arterial segments showed that although the depth of strut penetration was similar in all 4 day rabbits, the group with stainless steel stents consistently had evidence of diffuse medial necrosis and thinning (8/8 vs 118; P = 0.0004). Conclusions Nitinol stents developed significantly less thrombus in comparison to stainless steel stents of similar design as measured by thrombus weight. thrombus grade and degree of blood flow reduction at 4 days in the rabbit carotid artery model. For nitinol stents there was no worsening of these thrombotic parameters at 14 days, compared to 4 days. More severe vascular injury may contribute to the thrombogenicity of stainless steel stents.
Generlizations of steel's many-one rank sum test

Steel [14] proposed a distribution-free many-one method for comparing k≧2 test treatments with a control or standard in the one-way layout based on Wilcoxon [16] rank sum statistics. An efficient method is presented for computing the necessary probability points for this technique and an expanded table of points is given. The method also works for generalizations of Steel's procedure where the rank sum statistics are replaced by general linear rank statistics. Asymptotic probability points are found for many-one methods based on all linear rank statistics satisfying the conditions of the Chernoff-Savage [2] Theorem. It is shown that the asymptotically optimal design for these many-one methods takes approximately k 1/2 times as many observations from the control as from each test treatment. The asymptotic relative efficiency of two many-one procedures is identical to that of their two-sample counterparts.
Density Functional Theory Study of the Structural, Electronic, and Magnetic Properties of a μ-oxo Bridged Dinuclear FeIV Complex Based on a Tetra-Amido Macrocyclic Ligand

Recently, the synthesis, crystallographic structure, and Mossbauer characterization of the first example of an [(FeIVTAML)2O]2− (TAML = tetra-amido microcyclic ligand) complex were reported. Here, we elucidate the prominent structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of this complex on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. While the torsion between the molecular halves is caused by hydrogen bonding between the TAML moieties, the bending of the Fe−O−Fe unit is an intrinsic property of the bridge. The values for the 57Fe isomer shift and quadrupole splitting obtained with DFT are in good agreement with experimental results and indicate that the irons have intermediate spin states (S1 = S2 = 1). The iron spins are coupled by strong antiferromagnetic exchange to yield a ground state with system spin S = 0. The Fe−O distances in the excited S > 0 states are significantly longer than in the ground state. Since the wave function of the ground state, in which the iron spins are antiferrom...
The AcceleGlove: a whole-hand input device for virtual reality

We present The AcceleGlove, a novel whole-hand input device to manipulate three different virtual objects: a virtual hand, icons on a virtual desktop and a virtual keyboard using the 26 postures of the American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet.
Case-based reasoning: An introduction

Abstract Case-based reasoning is a method of solving a current problem by studying the solutions to previous, similar problems. This article presents an introduction to the case-based reasoning process, including an example of the creation and consultation use of the case base. Construction tools for case-based reasoning are identified, and key concepts in case-based reasoning are discussed.
Citric acid production by Aspergillus niger on wet corn distillers grains.

Aims: To determine which citric acid-producing strain of Aspergillus niger utilized wet corn distillers grains most effectively to produce citric acid. Methods and Results: Citric acid and biomass production by the fungal strains were analysed on the untreated grains or autoclaved grains using an enzyme assay and a gravimetric method respectively. Fungal citric acid production on the grains was found to occur on the untreated or autoclaved grains. The highest citric acid level on the grains was produced by A. niger ATCC 9142. The autoclaved grains supported less citric acid production by the majority of strains screened. Biomass production by the fungal strains on the untreated or autoclaved grains was quite similar. The highest citric acid yields for A. niger ATCC 9142, ATCC 10577, ATCC 11414, ATCC 12846 and ATCC 26550 were found on the untreated grains. Treatment of the grains had little effect on citric acid yields based on reducing sugars consumed by A. niger ATCC 9029 and ATCC 201122. Conclusions: It is feasible for citric acid-producing strains of A. niger to excrete citric acid on wet corn distillers grains whether the grains are treated or untreated. The most effective citric acid-producing strain of A. niger was ATCC 9142. Significance and Impact of the Study: The study shows that the ethanol processing co-product wet corn distillers grains could be utilized as a substrate for the commercial production of citric acid by A. niger without treatment of the grains.
Calculation of the optical response of atomic clusters using time-dependent density functional theory and local orbitals

We report on a general method for the calculation of the frequency-dependent optical response of clusters based upon time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The implementation is done using explicit propagation in the time domain and a self-consistent program that uses a linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO). Our actual calculations employ the SIESTA program, which is designed to be fast and accurate for large clusters. We use the adiabatic local density approximation to account for exchange and correlation effects. Results are presented for the imaginary part of the linear polarizability, $\mathrm{Im}\ensuremath{\alpha}(\ensuremath{\omega}),$ and the dipole strength function, $S(\ensuremath{\omega}),$ of ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ and ${\mathrm{Na}}_{8},$ and compared to previous calculations and to experiment. We also develop a method for the calculation of the integrated frequency-dependent second-order nonlinear polarizability for the case of a step function electric field, ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}}_{\mathrm{step}}(\ensuremath{\omega}),$ and present results for ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}.$
Automatic elimination of the undetermined multipliers in Kane's equations using a Pseudo Uptriangular Decomposition (PUTD) method

Abstract The formulation of the equations of motion for constrained multibody systems is presented. The procedures employed use Kane's equations as developed by Huston et al . and use a tree-like configuration array as a basis for analysis. A Pseudo Uptriangular Decomposition method along with the Gramm-Schmidt process is developed to modify Kane's equations when the constraint equations are introduced using the undetermined multipliers. This approach is shown to be far reaching in its application and it is tailored for general purpose algorithms used in the development of computer programs for complex structure dynamics.
Potential of minicomputer-array processor system for nonlinear finite-element analysis

The potential of using a minicomputer/array-processor system for the efficient solution of large-scale, nonlinear, finite-element problems is studied. A Prime 750 is used as the host computer, and a software simulator residing on the Prime is employed to assess the performance of the Floating Point Systems AP-120B array processor. Major hardware characteristics of the system such as virtual memory and parallel and pipeline processing are reviewed, and the interplay between various hardware components is examined. Effective use of the minicomputer/array-processor system for nonlinear analysis requires the following: (1) proper selection of the computational procedure and the capability to vectorize the numerical algorithms; (2) reduction of input-output operations; and (3) overlapping host and array-processor operations. A detailed discussion is given of techniques to accomplish each of these tasks. Two benchmark problems with 1715 and 3230 degrees of freedom, respectively, are selected to measure the anticipated gain in speed obtained by using the proposed algorithms on the array processor.
Physical Modeling and Control of a Multi-Cylinder HCCI Engine

Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is one of the most promising piston-engine concepts for the future, providing significantly improved efficiency and emissions characteristics relative to current technologies. This paper presents a framework for controlling a multi-cylinder HCCI engine with exhaust recompression and direct injection of fuel into the cylinder. A physical model is used to describe the HCCI process, with the model states being closely linked to the thermodynamic state of the cylinder constituents. Separability between the effects of the control inputs on the desired outputs provides an opportunity to develop a simple linear control scheme, where the fuel is used to control the work output and the valve timings are used to control the phasing of combustion. Experimental results show good tracking of both the work output and combustion phasing over a wide operating region. In addition, the controller is able to balance out differences between cylinders, and reduce the cycle-to-cycle variability of combustion.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Bimodal Transport of a Waste Water Plume Injected into Saline Ground Water of the Florida Keys

Two experiments were conducted on Long Key, Florida, United States, to examine the fate of waste water following sewage disposal in 10 to 30 m deep injection wells. This waste disposal practice introduces extraordinary amounts of nutrients into the ground water of the Florida Keys. In these experiments, artificial ground water tracers, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and radioiodine (131I) were used to determine transport rates and directions of soluble nonreactive substances injected into the saline ground water underlying the Keys. Two types of transport were observed: (1) rapid flow (0.20 to 2.20 m/hr) presumably due to the many conduits present in the limestone; and (2) slower flow (less than 0.003 to 0.14 m/hr) associated with the limestone's primary porosity. Vertical flow was comparable to horizontal flow due to either the density-driven buoyancy of the waste water plume or to preferential flowpaths that allow upward advection or combination of both. These experiments showed that conservative artificial tracers injected into the subsurface reach surface water in a matter of days and can remain in the immediate vicinity of the injection well for several months.
Online political participation, civic talk, and media multiplexity: how Taiwanese citizens express political opinions on the Web

This study seeks to assess the implications of the social use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for online political participation. Past research investigating the link between ICTs and political participation has emphasized the informational use of ICTs, overlooking their communication-enabling potentials for facilitating political talk in interpersonal spaces and subsequently, political participation in public domains. To understand further how ICTs as a means of communication may relate to political participation, we use data from the 2008 Taiwan Social Change Survey (N = 1076) to examine the relationship between the Internet and online political participation by looking at online media use for social interaction and engagement in civic talk online. Our findings suggest that interpersonal factors such as online civic talk and media multiplexity are positively associated with online political participation. Individuals who discuss politics with their friends via the Internet and those...
The effects of iron sulphide surface area variations on coal liquefaction

The purpose of this work was to determine the effects of surface area variations of iron sulphides on coal liquefaction. Several iron sulphides were synthesized including pyrites (FeS2) with 46.6 wt% Fe, pyrrhotites (Fe1−xS) with ~ 60 wt% Fe and iron-sulphur compounds of unknown composition. Surface areas of the synthetic pyrites varied from 2 to ⪢ 10 m2 g−1, pyrrhotite surface areas were 6 and 10 m2 g−1, and the surface areas of the iron-sulphur compounds were 40 and 80 m2 g−1. These iron sulphides were tested for catalytic activity in tubing reactor runs with West Virginia Blacksville no. 2 coal and SRC-II heavy distillate. All these sulphides showed catalytic effects as compared to runs with only coal and solvent, although the effects were not as large as those obtained with a cobalt-molybdenum on alumina catalyst. Large differences in surface areas before reactor testing did not cause any significant differences in conversion. The results from an additional series of tubing reactor runs, which was carried out to determine how iron sulphide surface areas change during liquefaction, showed that the surface areas were drastically changed during the two-minute heat-up of the reactor. Robena pyrite with a surface area of 2.0 m2 g−1 and the iron-sulphur compound with a surface area of 80 m2 g−1 yielded iron sulphides with surface areas of 5.2 and 10.8 m2 g−1 after a two-minute heat-up to 425°C and subsequent one-minute quench.
FGF9 on the move.

FGF receptors have been implicated in a number of syndromes that involve skeletal disorders. A new study in mice has identified a spontaneous mutation in Fgf9 with reduced activity but increased diffusion through tissues resulting in a gain-of-function phenotype comparable to those due to activating mutations in genes encoding FGF receptors.
Improved image inpainting using maximum value edge detector

Image inpainting is a novel method to repair damaged images. In this paper, an improved edge operator is proposed to calculate the structure priority value for determining the order of filling in an image. We use a maximum value edge operator which refines the number of edge pixels detected accurately as opposed to the existing method which relies on a single edge operator and in many cases may not provide the best output. An improvement in accuracy for edge detection thereby improves the quality of the inpainting method.
Ambulance pharmacist - why haven't we thought of this role earlier?: Ambulance pharmacist

The role of the ambulance pharmacist has a surprisingly short history, yet offers enormous opportunities for ambulance services and for incumbents alike. Given the complexity and novelty of the pre-hospital patient-care environment, ambulance pharmacist position descriptions are only now beginning to be accurately described. Governance, including special emphasis on Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 medicines, and assuming accountability for medicine standards in an ambulance jurisdiction, are some of the roles performed. There are significant opportunities for interdisciplinary pre-hospital patient care, teaching and research. Ambulance pharmacist positions now exist in three states of Australia and with a rapidly expanding private industry ambulance sector, it is envisaged that opportunities will also arise therein.
Use of seasonal precipitation forecasting to improve agricultural production in the Sudano‐Sahel: an institutional analysis of Burkina Faso

Climate forecasts of the total rainfall in the Sudano-Sahelian region of West Africa may have sufficient value to assist in agricultural decision-making at the national, regional and local level. Forecasts are produced in both international and national centres using a variety of techniques. Institutions in Burkina Faso, the focus of the present case study, that are involved in agro-meteorology and agriculture are interested in using forecasts. They have requested many improvements in the forecasts-some of which are beyond the state of the art. The research for the present article, based on interviews with representatives of institutions and following the trail of other agro-meteorological information, confirms the existence of an information network within Burkina Faso that could reasonably well disseminate climate forecasts to interested organizations, farmers, and pastoralists.
Physical dependence of opiate-like peptides

Methionine-enkephalin and beta-endorphin, endogenous peptides with activities similar to those of opiates, were infused for 70 hours into the periaqueductal gray-fourth ventricular space of the rat brain. When challenged with a naloxone, a specific opiate antagonist, these animals manifested a typical morphine-like withdrawal syndrome. These results show that such peptides can cause physical dependence.
Comprehensive evaluation of occupational radiation exposure to intraoperative and perioperative personnel from 18F-FDG radioguided surgical procedures

Purpose The purpose of the current study was to comprehensively evaluate occupational radiation exposure to all intraoperative and perioperative personnel involved in radioguided surgical procedures utilizing 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG).
Shifting Sands and Shifting Grounds: Analysis and Implications of Shifting Dynamics in the Global Construction Industry

AbstractThe global construction industry is in a state of change. The largest construction companies are tracked annually by Engineering News Record (ENR) in the Top 225 Global Contractors list. In the late 1990s this chart was topped by Japanese firms; in the 2000s a French firm held the number-one spot for nine consecutive years. For the last three years, however, Chinese firms have held the top three largest global contractor positions on the list. This is surprising because, just 5 years earlier, none of these Chinese firms were even among the top 10 largest global contractors. To examine these shifting dynamics, the authors compiled the ENR Top 225 Global Contractor data from 1994 to 2011 into a database and analyzed the data. The data were fitted to generate a forecast of predicted changes in market leadership and industry sector shifts to understand the evolving dynamics further. The paper concludes with a discussion of the effects of these critical industry trends to help decision makers understan...
Tau oligomers and tau toxicity in neurodegenerative disease

AD (Alzheimer's disease) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the extracellular accumulation of amyloid β-peptide and the intracellular accumulation of tau. Although there is much evidence linking tau to neurodegeneration, the precise mechanism of tau-mediated neurotoxicity remains elusive. The presence of tau-positive pre-tangle neurons lacking neurofibrillary tangles has been reported in AD brain tissue. In order to study this non-fibrillar tau, we generated a novel monoclonal antibody, named TOC1 (tau oligomeric complex 1), which selectively labels tau dimers and oligomers, but does not label filaments. Time-course analysis and antibody labelling indicates that oligomers appear as an early event in AD pathogenesis. Using a squid axoplasm assay, we have demonstrated that aggregated tau inhibits anterograde FAT (fast axonal transport), whereas monomeric tau has no effect. This inhibition requires a small stretch of N-terminal amino acids termed the PAD (phosphatase-activation domain). Using a PAD-specific antibody, TNT1 (tau N-terminal 1), we demonstrate that PAD exposure is increased in diseased neurons and this leads to an increase in FAT inhibition. Antibody co-labelling with the early-AD marker AT8 indicates that, similar to TOC1, TNT1 expression represents an early event in AD pathogenesis. Finally, the effects of the molecular chaperone Hsp70 (heat-shock protein 70) were also investigated within the squid axoplasm assay. We illustrate that Hsp70 preferentially binds to tau oligomers over filaments and prevents anterograde FAT inhibition observed with a mixture of both forms of aggregated tau. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that tau oligomers are the toxic form of tau in neurodegenerative disease.
Toward a Better Understanding of the Positive/Normative Distinction in Economics

This essay argues in favor of retaining the positive/normative distinction in economics, in spite of developments in methodology and epistemology that have cast doubt on the possibility of a “value-free” economics. The central claim is that it is worthwhile to distinguish between positive economic analysis and normative judgments, even if economics is viewed as being permeated with ethical values. This argument is presented without trying either to demonstrate that there is (or is not) a profound epistemological difference between science and ethics or to show that positive science can (or cannot) afford us access to objective reality.
What is the risk posed by prostate cancer

Prostate cancer carries an extraordinarily varied prognosis. Previously, most men presented with clinical symptoms often succumbed to their disease several years following treatment with hormonal manipulation. With the advent of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, most men are now diagnosed with localized, well- to moderately differentiated disease. The most powerful predictor of long-term outcome is the Gleason score, followed by tumor volume. Over the past two decades, changes in the interpretation of Gleason patterns have resulted in the reclassification of many well-differentiated tumors as higher grade tumors. Men with well-differentiated disease have an excellent prognosis and often survive 10–20 years without intervention. Conversely, men with poorly differentiated disease often succumb to their cancer within a decade. PSA can estimate tumor volume, but poorly differentiated disease may not produce much PSA. We are unable to predict accurately the risk posed by a specific prostate cancer.
Rates of cerebral atrophy differ in different degenerative pathologies

Neurodegenerative disorders are pathologically characterized by the deposition of abnormal proteins in the brain. It is likely that future treatment trials will target the underlying protein biochemistry and it is therefore increasingly important to be able to distinguish between different pathologies during life. The aim of this study was to determine whether rates of brain atrophy differ in neurodegenerative dementias that vary by pathological diagnoses and characteristic protein biochemistry. Fifty-six autopsied subjects were identified with a clinical diagnosis of dementia and two serial head MRI. Subjects were subdivided based on pathological diagnoses into Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), mixed Alzheimer's disease/DLB, frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-only-immunoreactive changes (FTLD-U), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Twenty-five controls were matched by age, gender and scan interval, to the study cohort. The boundary-shift integral was used to calculate change over time in whole brain (BBSI) and ventricular volume (VBSI). All BSI results were annualized by adjusting for scan interval. The rates of whole brain atrophy and ventricular expansion were significantly increased compared to controls in the Alzheimer's disease, mixed Alzheimer's disease/DLB, FTLD-U, CBD and PSP groups. However, atrophy rates in the DLB group were not significantly different from control rates of atrophy. The largest rates of atrophy were observed in the CBD group which had a BBSI of 2.3% and VBSI of 16.2%. The CBD group had significantly greater rates of BBSI and VBSI than the DLB, mixed Alzheimer's disease/DLB, Alzheimer's disease and PSP groups, with a similar trend observed when compared to the FTLD-U group. The FTLD-U group showed the next largest rates with a BBSI of 1.7% and VBSI of 9.6% which were both significantly greater than the DLB group. There was no significant difference in the rates of atrophy between the Alzheimer's disease, mixed Alzheimer's disease/DLB and PSP groups, which all showed similar rates of atrophy; BBSI of 1.1, 1.3 and 1.0% and VBSI of 8.3, 7.2 and 10.9%, respectively. Rates of atrophy therefore differ according to the pathological diagnoses and underlying protein biochemistry. While rates are unlikely to be useful in differentiating Alzheimer's disease from cases with mixed Alzheimer's disease/DLB pathology, they demonstrate important pathophysiological differences between DLB and those with mixed Alzheimer's disease/DLB and Alzheimer's disease pathology, and between those with CBD and PSP pathology.
Racism and Psychological and Emotional Injury Recognizing and Assessing Race-Based Traumatic Stress

The purpose of this article is to discuss the psychological and emotional effects of racism on people of Color. Psychological models and research on racism, discrimination, stress, and trauma will be integrated to promote a model to be used to understand, recognize, and assess race-based traumatic stress to aid counseling and psychological assessment, research, and training.
2008 AND ALL THAT: ECONOMICS AND VICTORIAN LITERATURE

In their collection of essays, The New Economic Criticism: Studies at the Intersection of Literature and Economics (1999), Mark Osteen and Martha Woodmansee identified and named a movement in economic literary studies and sought to place it alongside a cultural turn in economics. In their introduction, they offer possible reasons for the proliferation of scholarship in literature, culture, and economics. One is that “the critical pendulum has decidedly swung back toward historicist methods” and away from formalist approaches (3); another is that the 1980s thrust “interest rates, stock market speculation, takeovers, leveraged buyouts, and so on, into the public attention as never before since the 1930s” (4). Today, the proverbial pendulum has swung back toward formalism, and it is now surprising to encounter their comparison of the 1980s to the 1930s because we have become so accustomed to claim that comparison to the 1930s for our own post-2008 economy.
Racial Segregation by Playing Position in the English Football League: Some Preliminary Observations

Over the last 17 years, research has shown that blacks are significantly underrepresented in spatially central playing positions in major league baseball and professional and college football. The ...
Medical Waste Management: Where Does the Solid Waste Go?

To minimize spread of infection, medical waste must be carefully managed. Current waste management practices involve a hierarchy that includes waste reduction, waste treatment, and, ultimately, landfilling. The modern landfill is designed to control emissions and minimize adverse effects on the environment. This article provides an overview of the fate of medical waste once it is placed in a municipal solid waste landfill.
Pseudo-merohedral twinning and noncrystallographic symmetry in orthorhombic crystals of SIVmac239 Nef core domain bound to different-length TCRζ fragments

HIV/SIV Nef mediates many cellular processes through interactions with various cytoplasmic and membrane-associated host proteins, including the signalling ζ subunit of the T-­cell receptor (TCRζ). Here, the crystallization strategy, methods and refinement procedures used to solve the structures of the core domain of the SIVmac239 isolate of Nef (Nefcore) in complex with two different TCRζ fragments are described. The structure of SIVmac239 Nefcore bound to the longer TCRζ polypeptide (Leu51–Asp93) was determined to 3.7 A resolution (Rwork = 28.7%) in the tetragonal space group P43212. The structure of SIVmac239 Nefcore in complex with the shorter TCRζ polypeptide (Ala63–Arg80) was determined to 2.05 A resolution (Rwork = 17.0%), but only after the detection of nearly perfect pseudo-merohedral crystal twinning and proper assignment of the orthorhombic space group P212121. The reduction in crystal space-group symmetry induced by the truncated TCRζ polypeptide appears to be caused by the rearrangement of crystal-contact hydrogen-bonding networks and the substitution of crystallographic symmetry operations by similar noncrystallographic symmetry (NCS) operations. The combination of NCS rotations that were nearly parallel to the twin operation (k, h, −l) and a and b unit-cell parameters that were nearly identical predisposed the P212121 crystal form to pseudo-merohedral twinning.
Atmospheric spectroscopy: an introduction.

The summer 1978 Optical Society of America Topical Meeting on Atmospheric Spectroscopy is briefly reviewed in this introduction to a set of representative papers presented at the Topical Meeting held at Keystone, Colorado.
Use of subunits of the methylreductase protein for taxonomy of methanogenic bacteria

A rapid procedure for measurement of the apparent molecular weight of the three subunits of component C, the methylreductase, has been developed. The procedure requires as little as 200mg of wet cells and uses a quick purification step on phenyl-Sepharose prior to sodium dodecyl slfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Eighteen species of methanogenic bacteria have been surveyed. The groups of organisms discerned by this procedure correspond to the phylogenic ones defined by 16S rRNA cataloging and sequencing data. The molecular weight of the smaller subunit of the methyl-reductase unequivocally differentiates the orders of the Methanobacteriales and Methanococcales (35,000–43,000) from the Methanomicrobiales (29,000–32,000). Within the order Methanomicrobiales, this method differentiates between the two families Methanomicrobiaceae and Methanosarcinaceae. A new isolate may quickly be assigned to its family. For example, on the basis of its subunit pattern, we propose that the new isolate Methanococcus frisius should be relocated in the genus Methanosarcina.