cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pi2 pulsations driven by ballooning instability

[1] With the evidence set forth in this study, we argue that ballooning modes are viable candidates for the generation of high-latitude Pi2 pulsations. In the scenario proposed here, it is the spatial separation ballooning wave perturbations along an energized boundary in the near-Earth plasma sheet combined with a westward ion diamagnetic drift, which imprint a temporal signature, namely, Pi2 pulsation, on conjugate, stationary ground stations. The ballooning wave perturbations are connected via field-aligned currents to the ionosphere causing Pi2 perturbations in the ground magnetic field. The observational evidence for this mechanism was conjugate spacecraft and ground data, showing correlated diamagnetic plasma perturbations and ground magnetic field oscillations, for two spatially separated, simultaneously occurring Pi2 events on 23 March 2007. The plasma perturbations were westward-drifting waves with azimuthal mode number, m, of approximately 40 consistent with drift ballooning modes. During the Pi2 events, particle energy and energy flux gradually increased until the onset of major particle injections, causing auroral intensifications and additional larger-amplitude Pi2s. The ground Pi2s, also shown to be westward-traveling, were superposed on a slowly decreasing H component which abruptly turned into a substorm bay. A ballooning-driven, high-latitude Pi2 differs from a high-latitude Pi2 that starts synchronized with substorm onset and that has been attributed to the transient response mechanism in that it is the frequency of drift ballooning mode in the near-Earth plasma sheet that determines the Pi2 frequency and not the bounce frequency of Alfven waves along a field line. The geophysical context for this type of Pi2 is a class of substorms that develop from a plasma instability in the near-Earth plasma sheet. If this instability does not lead to a substorm breakup, it could lead to a pseudo-breakup. Hence, it is also likely that some Pi2s associated with pseudo-breakup are caused by the mechanism described here.
Simultaneous paired intracellular and tetrode recordings for evaluating the performance of spike sorting algorithms

Objective evaluation of spike sorting algorithms such as those used to decompose tetrode recordings into distinct spike trains requires a priori knowledge of the correct classification for a given recording. Intracellular recording can unambiguously assign spikes to a single neuron, and thus provide correct classification if signals from that neuron concurrently appear in a tetrode recording. Simultaneous single or paired intracellular and tetrode recordings are used here to evaluate a contemporary spike sorting algorithm for isolated as well as overlapped events. These data are also used to demonstrate that overlapping extracellular spikes combine additively, and to introduce a means for quantifying variability in action potential shape.
Endothelin Response During and After Exercise in Horses

Abstract The objective of the present study was to measure plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) at rest and during exercise in the horse. Six healthy, Standardbred and Thoroughbred mares (5.3±0.8 years; 445.2±13.1 kg) which were unfit, but otherwise accustomed to running on the treadmill, were used in the study. Plasma ET-1 concentrations were measured using a commercially available radioimmunoassay kit. Horses performed three trials: a standing control (CON) trial where blood was collected from the jugular vein every minute for 5 min; a graded exercise test (GXT) where blood samples were collected at the end of each 1 min step of an incremental exercise test; and a 15 min submaximal (60% VO2max) steady-state exercise test (SST) where blood samples were collected 1 min before, immediately after, and at 2 min, 10 min and 20 min post-exercise. Plasma ET-1 concentration did not change (P>0.05) during the CON trial where it averaged 0.18± 0.03 pg/mL (mean±SE). Surprisingly, plasma ET-1 concentration did not change during the GXT trial where it averaged 0.20±0.03 pg/mL. There were no differences between the mean concentrations obtained in either trial (P>0.05). Plasma ET-1 concentrations were, however, significantly elevated (P 0.05) by 10 min of recovery. Together, these data may suggest that ET-1 concentrations are altered in response to an exercise challenge.
Pain Clinic Emergencies

The increasing recognition of the need to treat chronic pain has led to an increase in the number of interventional procedures performed on an outpatient basis, and consequently, a rise in the number of complications as well. Safe interventional pain management requires Pain specialists have a comprehensive understanding of how to perform a procedure as well as how to manage any acute complications. Though simplistic, an emphasis on prevention is the solution to avoiding a complication. This involves meticulous planning of the injection technique based on the relevant anatomy, thoughtful selection of doses and concentrations of medications, careful injection of the medications, and attentive monitoring of the patient. When prevention is not enough, preparation can be life-saving. Resuscitation equipment should be readily accessible, and physicians should be prepared to institute Advanced Cardiac Life Support protocols. Immediate recognition of the signs and symptoms associated with a vasovagal reaction, hypotension, hypertension, systemic local anesthetic toxicity, high spinal, pneumothorax, and anaphylaxis is paramount, as prompt treatment offers the best chance for a successful outcome.
Differential regulation of μ-opiate receptors in heroin- and morphine-dependent rats

Rats made dependent on heroin and morphine exhibit both qualitative and quantitative differences in the characteristics of radioligand binding to μ-opioid receptors in the central nervous system. In brain membranes prepared from control animals, [3H]dihydromorphine (DHM) binding was best described by a two-site model, while in morphine-dependent rats, [3H]DHM binding was best described by a single-site model. In contrast, [3H]DHM binding to membranes from heroin-dependent animals was best described by a two-site model, with an increased density of the high-affinity, and no change in the low-affinity population compared to controls. Furthermore, both the number of binding sites for [3H]DAGO (a ligand that selectively labels a population of high-affinity μ-opiate receptors) and the sensitivity of [3H]DHM to sodium ions was increased in heroin; but not in morphine-dependent rats. These studies demonstrate that opiate receptors are differentially regulated in heroin- and morphine-dependent animals. Such neurochemical changes in μ-opiate receptors may underlie differences in the behavioral and pharmacological profiles of heroin and morphine reported in man.
PERSPECTIVE—USE IT OR LOSE IT [1]

International location and trade have been transformed by multinational corporate development. Governmental activities have been affected strongly. Yet governments tend to remain reactors rather than actors. They need new tools, conceptual and otherwise, to do their jobs effectively. Geographic researchers can help provide such tools through emphssizing public policy considerations. Canadian geographers have shown the way. If you find that conforming to the socially prescribed role of “objective scientist'’precludes public policy research, try simple courage.
Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 249=n265 (odd)

Abstract Experimental data pertaining to nuclei with A = 249=n265 (odd) have been compiled and evaluated. Inconsistencies and discrepancies are noted. Where possible, level and decay schemes have been presented. If no experimental information is available, occasionally values from calculations or systematics are suggested.
The sexual effects of testosterone replacement in depressed men: randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Symptoms of male hypogonadism such as low libido and erectile dysfunction (ED) respond to testosterone (T) replacement. In hypogonadal men with major depressive disorder (MDD), the extent to which T replacement alleviates sexual symptoms of hypogonadism is not known. We conducted 6 week double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial in men with low and low-normal T levels (i.e., total T ≤ 350 ng/dl) and MDD. Men were randomized to receive weekly intramuscular injections of either T enanthate 200 mg or sesame-seed oil (placebo). The primary outcome measure was self-reported sexual functioning. We randomized 30 patients. The mean age was 52(SD ± 8) years, mean T level 262.5(SD ± 8) ng/dl, and mean baseline Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) score 21(SD ± 8). At baseline, sexual function was low, with the majority reporting having had normal erectile and orgasmic functioning 0–1 time in the preceding month. All patients who received T achieved normalization of their T levels. The HAM-D scores decre...
Motivations for space exploration

Abstract Possibly the greatest barrier to progress in space exploration is the lack of compelling motivations to justify the necessary investments. Spaceflight, a concept that gained currency in the middle of the twentieth century, may not be well adapted to the twenty-first century without significant modification. This article assesses the traditional motivations for space exploration, documented in a Harvard study carried out over two decades ago, in the light of subsequent developments. It then reports on a recent NASA study of justifications for a renewed Moon program, and concludes with the conjecture that the very meaning of human travel in space needs to be redefined.
Homogeneous Synthesis of Isotactic Polystyrene using n -Butyllithium Initiator

ORGANOLITHIUM compounds are known to cause the stereospecific polymerization of dienes1 and methacrylates2. Via n-butyllithium, styrene polymerizes easily to atactic polymer at ordinary temperatures3,4. We have now found that styrene may be polymerized at low temperatures, employing butyllithium as a soluble initiator, to crystallizable isotactic polystyrene.
BOYD'S CREEK OIL SPILL REMOVAL SITE, GLASGOW, KENTUCKY

ABSTRACT This paper describes the ongoing oil spill removal action conducted by EPA Region IV in Glasgow, Kentucky. The discharge source is an improperly abandoned oil well that is leaking crude oil through fractures in the limestone bedrock. The discharge is carried to the surface in a spring, which then flows directly into Boyd's Creek and Barren River Lake, a recreational use lake managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Some of the unique technical and policy issues of this removal action include the appropriateness of using Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) monies on this nontraditional “oil spill;” difficulties recovering the product from the karst features; cost recovery and responsible party (RP) identification; and concerns over Emergency Response Program involvement in the long-term operation and maintenance of the system.
Nimodipine and nifedipine enhance transmission at the Schaffer collateral CA1 pyramidal neuron synapse

Intracellular recording in the in vitro hippocampal slice was utilized to examine the effects of nimodipine and nifedipine on CA1 pyramidal cell excitability. The excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) elicited by a single stimulus in stratum radiatum was enhanced by nifedipine as evidenced by increases in EPSP amplitude, area and slope. Threshold for synaptically-evoked somatic action potentials was decreased following either nifedipine or nimodipine application, often resulting in spontaneous action potential activity. A secondary, late EPSP-like event appeared in the intracellular recordings during and following bath application of nimodipine, and was associated with burst-like activity in field potential recordings. In accordance with the hydrophobic nature of these compounds, extensive washout in normal Krebs' solution failed to reverse their effects, but nifedipine's actions were photolabile. These results indicate that dihydropyridines can enhance synaptic efficacy in the CA1 region of the hippocampus.
Thermal Management of a Heat-Pipe Drill: A FEM Analysis

Thermal management using heat pipes is gaining significant attention in past decades. This is because of the fact that it can be used as an effective heat sink in very intricate and space constrained applications such as in electronics cooling or turbine blade cooling where high heat fluxes are involved. Extensive research has been done in exploring various possible applications for the use of heat pipes as well as understanding and modeling the behavior of heat pipe under those applications. One of the possible applications of heat pipe technology is in machining operations, which involves a very high heat flux being generated during the chip generation process. Present study focuses on the thermal management of using a heat pipe in a drill for a drilling process. To check the feasibility and effectiveness of the heat pipe drill, structural and thermal analyses are performed using Finite Element Analysis. Finite Element Software ANSYS was used for this purpose. It is important for any conceptual design to be made practical and hence a parametric study was carried out to determine the optimum geometry size for the heat pipe for a specific standard drill.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Regulation of IFN-γ mRNA production in murine natural killer cells

We have previously reported that large, presumably in vivo activated, B cells stimulate murine natural killer (NK) cells to secrete increased levels of IFN-gamma. In order to further understand the mechanism of IFN-gamma induction, we compared the regulation of IFN-gamma mRNA production after stimulation of NK cells with either B lymphocytes or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)+ionomycin. Here we show that stimulation of NK cells by either stimuli results increase in IFN-gamma mRNA, albeit with different kinetics. Although the induction requires new RNA synthesis, we could not detect increased transcription of the IFN-gamma gene after stimulation. Measurement of the rate of mRNA degradation after IFN-gamma mRNA has accumulated demonstrates that this mRNA is more stable than IFN-gamma mRNA from unstimulated NK cells. Together, these results suggest that the increase in IFN-gamma mRNA and protein in NK cells, stimulated by B cells or PMA+ionomycin, results from stabilization of pre-existing IFN-gamma message. Our results also suggest that induction of the factor which stabilizes the mRNA, although as yet unknown, requires new RNA synthesis.
Enhanced expression of IL-27 mRNA in human newborns.

Interleukin (IL)-27, a heterodimer composed of Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3) and p28, is an early product of activated dendritic cells (DC). Binding of IL-27 to the WSX-1 receptor initiates Th1 (Thelper 1) responses in naive T cells. In order to assess the Th1 responses in human neonates with high susceptibility to infectious diseases, expression of EBI3-, p28- and WSX-1-mRNA in response to Toll-like receptor ligands was compared in neonate and adult monocyte-derived (m)DC. Only the combined addition of ligands induced expression of IL-27p28 mRNA. Surprisingly, neonatal mDC produced significantly more IL-27p28 mRNA than that obtained from adults. Furthermore, there was enhanced expression of EBI3 mRNA in cord blood as compared with adult blood. In addition, the secretion of WSX-1 mRNA in neonatal mDC and T cells was also significantly increased. Taken together, these findings indicate that the restricted Th1 responses in human newborns owing to deficient IL-12 production may be compensated for, in part, by enhanced IL-27 secretion.
Abrasive micro-blasting to improve surface integrity of electrical discharge machined WC–Co composite

Abstract This study investigates the improvement of surface integrity of wire electrical discharge machined (EDM) WC–Co composite by abrasive micro-blasting. The thermally damaged recast layer generated by EDM has craters, cracks, and bubbles, which deteriorate the surface mechanical properties. The micro-blasting, using 6–12 and 4–20 μm size SiC abrasive, enables the removal of the recast layer and is suitable for micro mechanical components. The surface roughness of EDM rough cut WC–Co parts was improved significantly, with the average surface roughness ( R a ) dropping down from 1.3 to 0.7 μm. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to examine the evolution change of surface texture and subsurface cross-section of EDM WC–Co workpiece. The SEM micrographs showed that the recast layer was removed efficiently. After 5 s of micro-blasting, surface textures with ridge and cavity patterns were observed on fine and rough cut EDM surfaces, respectively. These surface textures could be correlated to the surface roughness measurement and crater formation in EDM spark erosion. A series of erosion wear experiment was conducted to quantify the weight reduction, calculate the erosion wear rate, and identify the wear mechanism.
Peripancreatic vascular abnormalities complicating acute pancreatitis: contrast-enhanced helical CT findings

Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence and morphologic helical computed tomography (CT) features of peripancreatic vascular abnormalities in patients with acute pancreatic inflammatory disease in correlation with the severity of the pancreatitis. Materials and methods: One hundred and fifty-nine contrast-enhanced helical CT scans of 100 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis were retrospectively and independently reviewed by three observers. CT scans were scored using the CT severity index (CTSI): pancreatitis was graded as mild (0–2 points), moderate (3–6 points), and severe (7–10 points). Interobserver agreement for both the CT severity index and the presence of peripancreatic vascular abnormalities was calculated (K-statistic). Correlation between the prevalence of complications and the degree of pancreatitis was estimated using Fisher’s exact test. Results: The severity of pancreatitis was graded as mild (n=59 scans), moderate (n=82 scans), and severe (n=18 scans). Venous abnormalities detected included splenic vein (SV) thrombosis (31 scans, 19 patients), superior mesenteric vein (SMV) thrombosis (20 scans, 14 patients), and portal vein (PV) thrombosis (17 scans, 13 patients). Arterial hemorrhage occurred in five patients (6 scans). In our series, no cases of arterial pseudoaneurysm formation were detected. The interobserver agreement range for scoring the degree of pancreatitis and the overall presence of major vascular abnormalities was 75.5–79.2 and 86.2–98.8%, respectively. The presence of the vascular abnormalities in correlation with the severity of pancreatitis was variable. Conclusion: Vascular abnormalities are relatively common CT findings in association with acute pancreatitis. The CT severity index is insufficiently accurate in predicting some of these complications since no statistically significant correlation between their prevalence and the severity of pancreatitis could be established.
Comprehending surface and deep structure subjects: children's understanding of implied vs. explicitly stated nouns.

Previous research indicates young children are likely to interpret the surface-structure subject of a sentence as the deep subject regardless of syntax, e.g. John is chosen as subject of both John is easy to please and John is eager to please. However, with one-noun sentences, the task required both recognizing a difference between the sentences and inferring an implied noun. Thus an inability to make an inference might be responsible for the children's consistency in choosing the surface subject. Two experiments compared kindergarteners' interpretations of one- and two-noun sentences. With two-noun sentences (i.e. John is easy for Jim to please), which explicitly stated the surface object, consistency in choosing the surface subject decreased.
Oosporogenesis by Lagenidium giganteum in liquid culture

Abstract The sexual stage of Lagenidium giganteum can be cultured in liquid shake or fermentation culture by modifying techniques used for in vitro oosporogenesis on solid media. In addition to a basal component of yeast extract, consistent yields of viable oospores in liquid culture required exogenous sterols and unsaturated fatty acids, calcium, and magnesium. Fatty acids can be provided by vegetable oils enriched in oleic, linoleic, or linolenic acids. Levels of sterols present in vegetable oils are insufficient for optimum oosporogenesis in liquid media; crude preparations of sitosterol or cholesterol in combination with suitable vegetable oils yielded over 6 × 10 7 oospores/liter in liquid shake culture and 5 × 10 7 oospores/liter in 12-liter fermentation tanks. Sterols apparently enhance fatty acid uptake from culture media. Germination of oospores was regulated by dehydration, maturation protocols, and methods of activation. Following rehydration oospores begin germinating within 2 to 25 days, and asynchronous activation as monitored by sentinel mosquito infection continued for over 2 months under laboratory conditions. Seven-year-old oospores grown in vivo and stored at room temperature in soil germinated beginning 25 days after rehydration and continued infecting mosquitoes for several months.
Insulin stimulates hepatic lipogenesis in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.

The effects of the pancreatic hormones, insulin and glucagon, on rates of lipid biosynthesis in liver removed from rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were evaluated in vitro. Livers were removed from animals fasted for 30–36h, cut into ca. 1 mm3 pieces, and incubated in the presence of various concentrations of salmon insulin (sINS), bovine insulin (bINS), or a combination of BINS and bovine/porcine glucagon (GLU). Lipid synthesis was evaluated by total lipid concentration, 3H2O incorporation into total lipid, and by fatty acid synthetase activity. Both mammalian and sINS tended to increase tissue total lipid concentration in hepatic tissue incubated for 5h. Insulin also stimulated 3H2O incorporation into total lipid in a dose-dependent manner. Bovine INS (2 × 10−6 M) stimulated de novo synthesis nearly 6-fold over control rates; sINS (2 × 10−6 M) stimulated label incorporation more than 7-fold over control rates. Glucagon inhibited INS-stimulated 3H2O incorporation; whereas, GLU alone had no effect on lipid synthesis in liver pieces incubated 5h. Lipid class analysis indicated that bINS significantly stimulated 3H2O incorporation into phospholipids, fatty acids, and triacylglycerols. The greatest accumulation of label was in the triacylglycerol fraction, where incorporation was stimulated 17-fold over control levels. Hepatic enzymatic analysis indicated that bINS also significantly stimulated lipogenic enzyme activity 9-fold above control levels. These results indicate that INS is an important regulator of lipid synthesis in the liver of trout.
First Generation Continuum Cameras for the Large Millimeter Telescope

The Large Millimeter telescope (LMT) is a 50 m diameter telescope currently under construction in Mexico. We describe the first generation continuum instruments for the LMT - BOLOCAM II, a 144 pixel array receiver, and SPEED, a 4 pixel array of frequency selective bolometers. Together, these two instruments form a complementary set of continuum receivers designed for efficient mapping and source follow-up at mm-wavelengths. An overview of the instruments, the telescope, and the key initial science is given.
Estimation of observation impact using the NRL atmospheric variational data assimilation adjoint system

An adjoint-based procedure for assessing the impact of observations on the short-range forecast error in numerical weather prediction is described. The method is computationally inexpensive and allows observation impact to be partitioned for any set or subset of observations, by instrument type, observed variable, geographic region, vertical level or other category. The cost function is the difference between measures of 24-h and 30-h global forecast error in the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS) during June and December 2002. Observations are assimilated at 00UTC in the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Atmospheric Variational Data Assimilation System (NAVDAS). The largest error reductions in the Northern Hemisphere are produced by rawinsondes, satellite wind data, and aircraft observations. In the Southern Hemisphere, the largest error reductions are produced by Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (ATOVS) temperature retrievals, satellite wind data and rawinsondes. Approximately 60% (40%) of global observation impact is attributed to observations below (above) 500 hPa. A significant correlation is found between observation impact and cloud cover at the observation location. Currently, without consideration of moisture observations and moist processes in the forecast model adjoint, the observation impact procedure accounts for about 75% of the actual reduction in 24-h forecast error.
An Ad Hoc Review of Digital Forensic Models

Digital forensics has been the subject of academic study for a relatively brief period of time. One of the foundational ways in which researchers try to understand the scientific basis of a discipline is to construct models which reflect their observations. This paper reviews a collection of fifteen published papers which represent data points in the development of digital forensic models. It is neither an exhaustive review, nor exhaustive list of all available papers
The M/M/1 Queue in a Markovian Environment

This paper discusses the M/M/1 queue embedded in a Markovian environment or, subject to extraneous phase changes. It studies the busy period, equilibrium conditions, and emptiness probabilities by using analytic matric functions, and makes comparisons with the work of Neuts and of Naor and Yechiali.
Down-regulation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors by Nerve Growth Factor in PC12 Cells Is p140trk-, Ras-, and Src-dependent

Nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment causes a profound down-regulation of epidermal growth factor receptors during the differentiation of PC12 cells. This process is characterized by a progressive decrease in epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor level measured by 125I-EGF binding, tyrosine phosphorylation, and Western blotting. Treatment of the cells with NGF for 5 days produces a 95% reduction in the amount of [35S]methionine-labeled EGF receptors. This down-regulation does not occur in PC12nnr5 cells, which lack the p140trk NGF receptor. However, in PC12nnr5 cells stably transfected with p140trk, the NGF-induced heterologous down-regulation of EGF receptors is reconstituted in part. NGF-induced heterologous down-regulation, but not EGF-induced homologous down-regulation of EGF receptors, is blocked in Ras- and Src-dominant-negative PC12 cells. Treatment with either pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) or staurosporine stimulates neurite outgrowth in PC12 cell variants, but neither induces down-regulation of EGF receptors. NGF treatment of PC12 cells in suspension induces down-regulation of EGF receptors in the absence of neurite outgrowth. These results strongly suggest a p140trk-, Ras- and Src-dependent mechanism of NGF-induced down-regulation of EGF receptors and separate this process from NGF-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.
Historiography of Europeans in Africa and Asia, 1450-1800

Contents: Introductory essay Part One: On investigating and understanding European presences: historiographical change and continuity: On the 18th century as a category in Indonesian history, J. C. van Leur Some considerations on Portuguese colonial historiography, C. R. Boxer Retrospect on J. C. van Leur's essay on the 18th century as a category in Asian history, P. J. Marshall Part Two: On beginnings: making contacts, confronting the unfamiliar and surviving: The European approach to the interior of Africa in the 18th century, Robin Hallett New data on European mortality in West Africa: the Dutch on the Gold Coast, 1719-1760, H. M. Feinberg Prince Henry and the origins of European expansion, Malyn Newitt Early Ming images of the Portuguese, K. C. Fok Part Three: On formal presences: organized settlements and the trend towards dominion: Early English trade and settlement in Asia, 1602-1690, D. K. Bassett The Portuguese on the Zambesi: an historical interpretation of the Prazo system, Malyn Newitt Freehold farmers and frontier settlers, 1657-1780, Leonard Guelke Economic and political expansion: the case of Oudh, P. J. Marshall Part Four: Informal presences: Individual enterprise and merging in: Exiles and renegades in early 16th-century Portuguese Asia, Maria Augusta Lima Cruz Indian merchants and English private interests: 1659-1760, Bruce Watson Merchant in Royal service: Constant Phaulkon as Phraklang in Ayuthaya, 1683-1688, Jurrien van Goor European exiles, renegades and outlaws and the maritime economy of Asia, c. 1500-1750, G. V. Scammell Index.
Multifrequency Observations of a Solar Microwave Burst with Two-dimensional Spatial Resolution

Frequency-agile interferometry observations using three baselines and the technique of frequency synthesis were used to obtain two-dimensional positions of multiple microwave sources at several frequency ranges in a solar flare. Source size and brightness temperature spectra were obtained near the peak of the burst. The size spectrum shows that the source size decreases rapidly with increasing frequency, but the brightness temperature spectrum can be well-fitted by gyrosynchrotron emission from a nonthermal distribution of electrons with power-law index of 4.8. The spatial structure of the burst showed several characteristics in common with primary/secondary bursts discussed by Nakajima et al. (1985). A source of coherent plasma emission at low frequencies is found near the secondary gyrosynchrotron source, associated with the leader spots of the active region.
Dimensions of Naturalness

This paper presents a way of classifying different forms of naturalness and unnaturalness. Three main forms of (un)naturalness are found as the following: history- based (un)naturalness, property-based (un)naturalness and relation-based (un)naturalness. Numerous subforms (and some subforms of the subforms) of each are presented. The subforms differ with respect to the entities that are found (un)natural, with respect to their all-inclusiveness, and whether (un)naturalness is seen as all-or-nothing affair, or a continuous gradient. This kind of conceptual analysis is needed, first, because discussion concerning (un)naturalness is common in current bioethics and environmental ethics, and second, because the terms natural and unnatural are highly ambiguous. Thus, the lack of an exact definition of the type of (un)naturalness may lead into equivocation, other forms of bad argumentation, or at least vagueness.
TESTICULAR POSITION IN THE ANDROGEN INSENSITIVITY SYNDROME: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ROLE OF ANDROGENS IN TESTICULAR DESCENT

Purpose: We compared testicular position with genital phenotype in a clinical series and a literature review of androgen receptor mutations to assess the role of androgens in testicular descent.Materials and Methods: Our clinical reports, the androgen receptor mutations database and selected literature were reviewed. Subjects with a proved androgen receptor mutation were included in our study when a female or ambiguous phenotype was present (Quigley grade 3 to 7) and testicular position was documented. Comparison among groups was done by Fisher’s exact or chi-square test.Results: Of the 7 patients with detailed clinical records 5 had abdominal (bilateral in 4) and 2 had bilateral inguinal testes. Four patients with abdominal testes also had aberrant pelvic ligaments extending medially from the gonads. Including an additional 102 cases identified in the literature, abdominal testes were present in 52% and 3% of those with complete and partial androgen insensitivity, respectively. The incidence of abdominal...
Endodermal sinus tumor of the mediastinum

Endodermal sinus tumor (EST) of the mediastinum is a rare germ-cell neoplasm affecting mainly young adult males. Ten patients with EST were treated with a multimodality approach that included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. All patients had relapses after achieving a transient response except one who is still in complete remission more than five years following the diagnosis of the disease. Optimal therapy for this neoplasm has yet to be discovered. The disease is a subset of extragonadal germ cell tumors which appears to be lethal in most cases, particularly when the primary tumor is unresectable. The first case of five-year disease-free survival is described.
Studies on the cloud point and micellar phases of triton X-100 using 220 MHz proton magnetic resonance techniques

Abstract High-resolution proton magnetic resonance techniques at 220 MHz were employed to follow the transformation of Triton X-100 between its micellar and cloud point phases as a function of temperature. The results obtained suggest that while a phase separation occurs rather sharply above the cloud point, the increase in temperature below the cloud point is accompanied by the gradual formation of very large structures suspended in the aqueous phase. The proton magnetic resonance studies show that the separation of phases, which occurs above the cloud point, appears to be accompanied by a fractionation of the polydisperse detergent. In addition, a lowering of the cloud point of Triton X-100 by dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine was observed by visual means and the results are reported here.
Improvements in spectral collocation discretization through a multiple domain technique

Spectral collocation methods require that a complicated physical domain must map onto a simple computational domain for discretization. This and other restrictions are presently overcome by splitting the domain into regions, each of which preserve the advantages of spectral collocation, and allow the ratio of mesh spacings between regions to be several orders of magnitude higher than allowable in a single domain.
Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Cdc42-associated Tyrosine Kinase, ACK-2, from Bovine Brain

Cdc42 plays an important role in intracellular signaling pathways that influence cell morphology and motility and stimulate DNA synthesis. In attempts to determine whether nonreceptor tyrosine kinases play a fundamental role in Cdc42 signaling, we have cloned and biochemically characterized a new Cdc42-associated tyrosine kinase (ACK) from bovine brain. This tyrosine kinase, named ACK-2, has a calculated molecular mass of 83 kDa and shares a number of primary structural domains with the 120-kDa ACK (ACK-1). The main differences between the primary structures of ACK-2 and ACK-1 occur in the amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions. Like ACK-1, ACK-2 binds exclusively to activated (GTP-bound) Cdc42 and does not bind to its closest homologs,e.g. activated Rac. ACK-2 could not be activated by addition of glutathione S-transferase (GST)-Cdc42(Q61L), a GTPase-defective mutant, or by GTPγS-loaded GST-Cdc42 in in vitro kinase assays. However, ACK-2 was activated when cotransfected with wild type Cdc42 or Cdc42(Q61L) and stably associated with Cdc42(Q61L) in vivo, indicating that ACK-2 interacts with active Cdc42 in cells. Furthermore, the tyrosine kinase activity of ACK-2 was stimulated both by epidermal growth factor and bradykinin, suggesting that ACK-2 may play a role in the signaling actions of both receptor tyrosine kinases or heterotrimeric G-protein-coupled receptors.
Ultrasound of the endometrium: facts, controversies, and future trends

The role of ultrasound in the evaluation of the endometrium has been overshadowed by a large volume of literature about the ovaries and myometrium. In fact, aside from some investigations centering on the thickness of the endometrium in the normal woman and its relationship to the possibility of endometrial cancer, there has been little interest in the endometrium until very recently. Transvaginal sonography (TVS) has provided a modest improvement over transabdominal sonography (TAS) to image the endometrium and evaluate pathology; however, the gynecologic community relies heavily on endometrial biopsy (EMB), dilatation and curettage (D&C), and hysteroscopy for endometrial diagnosis. The introduction of saline-infused hysterosonography (HSG) has revolutionized gynecologic ultrasound of the endometrium. The variety and frequency of endometrial disorders seen with HSG rivals and even surpasses that seen with hysteroscopy, a moderately invasive procedure. This article will attempt to define the role of ultrasound in the complex anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the endometrium.
TU-C-T-6E-08: Statistical Analysis of IMRT Treatment Verification Films

Purpose: To compare the delivery of an intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT)treatment with the computer generated plan and to quantify this comparison using statistical techniques. Method and Materials: Comprehensive quality assurance is performed for every patient who undergoes an IMRTtreatment. Part of this treatment planning and delivery check involves irradiating a set of Gafchromic® EBT and/or Kodak EDR2 radiographic films. These images are converted to absolute dose and compared with the computer predicted dose maps. Two different implementations of principal component analysis (PCA) are employed for these comparisons. One system consists of creating a scatter plot of lexicographical representations of the irradiated film and the planar dose map (PDM) predicted by the treatment planning system, and the other utilizes the eigenvectors of the covariance matrix of the PDM and film for computing the PCA. Results: The results and merits of the mathematical PCA and geometrical variance techniques are compared with the pure image subtraction and distance‐to‐agreement (DTA) methods. The two statistical methods provide a more complete representation of potential radiation intensity delivery errors than the two latter ones. For some cases, small streaks of high‐level radiation that appeared in the films but not on the plans were more pronounced in the statistically produced images. On other cases, the fact that the subtraction and the PCA methods both indicated the same unplanned hot spots provided more assurance on the verification quality. Conclusion: All these approaches to IMRTimage evaluations ‐namely the two statistical, image subtraction, and DTA methods‐ are sufficiently robust to decipher most treatmentdelivery errors. However, since each method performs the image analysis differently, combining all these techniques is more powerful in detecting discrepancies in treatmentdelivery versus the IMRT plans and guarantees discovering any anomalies in radiation delivery in almost all the cases.
Modeling Investigation of an Ultrawideband Terahertz Sheet Beam Traveling-Wave Tube Amplifier Circuit

Extensive numerical analysis has demonstrated that a terahertz (H-band) sheet beam traveling-wave tube (TWT) amplifier circuit, composed of a staggered double grating array waveguide, has very broad bandwidth (~30%) of the fundamental passband (TE mode) with a 7:1 aspect ratio sheet beam without excitation of n = 1 space harmonic backward-wave modes. Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations utilizing MAGIC3D and CST PS predict that the designed circuit produces ~150-300-W output power, corresponding to ~3%-5.5% intrinsic electronic efficiency (~35-38-dB saturated gain from 50-mW input driving power), over ~25% bandwidth, which is in good agreement with CHRISTINE 1-D code predictions. Simulations, using a perfectly matched layer boundary (~ -30-dB return loss), show that the circuit stably operates without noticeable oscillation. With a more realistic matching condition (~ -9.5-dB return loss), it becomes unstable. However, simulations show that the incorporation of an attenuating sever with tapered conductivity suppresses the instability in tube operation.
Markov-optimal sensing policy for user state estimation in mobile devices

Mobile device based human-centric sensing and user state recognition provide rich contextual information for various mobile applications and services. However, continuously capturing this contextual information consumes significant amount of energy and drains mobile device battery quickly. In this paper, we propose a computationally efficient algorithm to obtain the optimal sensor sampling policy under the assumption that the user state transition is Markovian. This Markov-optimal policy minimizes user state estimation error while satisfying a given energy consumption budget. We first compare the Markov-optimal policy with uniform periodic sensing for Markovian user state transitions and show that the improvements obtained depend upon the underlying state transition probabilities. We then apply the algorithm to two different sets of real experimental traces pertaining to user motion change and inter-user contacts and show that the Markov-optimal policy leads to an approximately 20% improvement over the naive uniform sensing policy.
Classifying mobility recovery in children and youth with brain injury during hospital-based rehabilitation

Primary objective: This article describes mobility recovery for children and youth with traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury during hospital-based rehabilitation. Research design: A retrospective, descriptive pre-test/post-test design was used. Methods and procedures: One hundred and fifty-seven individuals with brain injury who were admitted for rehabilitation over a 5-year period were enrolled in this study. The Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) was used to document functional mobility at admission and discharge from the rehabilitation programme. The PEDI mobility classification system consisting of seven discrete levels of mobility was developed to provide clinically relevant and succinct outcome information. Main outcomes and results: The majority of children with brain injury (69%) improved one or more mobility classification levels. Children in the traumatic brain injury group made greater changes ( p = 0.001) in mobility recovery than children in the non-traumatic group. Conc...
Discovering Regulatory Network Topologies Using Ensemble Methods on GPGPUs With Special Reference to the Biological Clock of Neurospora crassa

Most genetic networks, such as that for the biological clock, are part of much larger modules controlling fundamental processes in the cell, such as metabolism, development, and response to environmental signals. For example, the biological clock is part of a much larger network controlling the circadian rhythms of about 2418 distinct genes in the genome (with 11 000 genes) of the model system, Neurospora crassa . Predicting and understanding the dynamics of all of these genes and their products in a genetic network describing how the clock functions is a challenge and beyond the current capability of the fastest serial computers. We have implemented a novel variable-topology supernet ensemble method using Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations to fit and discover a regulatory network of unknown topology composed of 2418 genes describing the entire clock circadian network, a network that is found in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans, by harnessing the power of the general-purpose graphics processing unit and exploiting the hierarchical structure of that genetic network. The result is the construction of a genetic network that explains mechanistically how the biological clock functions in the filamentous fungus N. crassa and is validated against over 31 000 data points from microarray experiments. Two transcription factors are identified targeting ribosome biogenesis in the clock network.
Translocation Relative to Spatial Genetic Structure of the Mojave Desert Tortoise, Gopherus agassizii

Abstract Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) have been translocated for decades, and research-oriented translocations recently have been recommended as a tool to help recover this threatened species. However, avoiding negative genetic impacts from wildlife translocations has been widely cautioned. Populations of the Mojave desert tortoise within a 200–276-km straight-line radius of each other (249–308 km measured around topographic barriers) tend to be genetically correlated and may be considered single genetic units for management purposes. When planning translocations among wild populations, releasing tortoises at recipient sites within a straight-line distance of 200 km from the source population would most conservatively maintain historic genetic population structure. However, the risk of causing outbreeding depression by inadvertently translocating Mojave desert tortoises between more distant populations or those of unknown provenance is low.
Lessons learned from usability testing of the VA's personal health record

In order to create user-centered design information to guide the development of personal health records (PHRs), 24 patients participated in usability assessments of VA's MyHealtheVet program. Observational videos and efficiency measures were collected among users performing four PHR scenarios: registration and log-in, prescription refill, tracking health, and searching for health information. Twenty-five percent of users successfully completed registration. Individuals preferred prescription numbers over names, sometimes due to privacy concerns. Only efficiency in prescription refills was significantly better than target values. Users wanted to print their information to share with their doctors, and questioned the value of MyHealtheVet search functions over existing online health information. In summary, PHR registration must balance simplicity and security, usability tests guide how PHRs can tailor functions to individual preferences, PHRs add value to users' data by making information more accessible and understandable, and healthcare organizations should build trust for PHR health content.
Sensible initialization using expert knowledge for genome-wide analysis of epistasis using genetic programming

For biomedical researchers it is now possible to measure large numbers of DNA sequence variations across the human genome. Measuring hundreds of thousands of variations is now routine, but single variations which consistently predict an individual's risk of common human disease have proven elusive. Instead of single variants determining the risk of common human diseases, it seems more likely that disease risk is best modeled by interactions between biological components. The evolutionary computing challenge now is to effectively explore interactions in these large datasets and identify combinations of variations which are robust predictors of common human diseases such as bladder cancer. One promising approach to this problem is genetic programming (GP). A GP approach for this problem will use darwinian inspired evolution to evolve programs which find and model attribute interactions which predict an individual's risk of common human diseases. The goal of this study is to develop and evaluate two initializers for this domain. We develop a probabilistic initializer which uses expert knowledge to select attributes and an enumerative initializer which maximizes attribute diversity in the generated population.We compare these initializers to a random initializer which displays no preference for attributes. We show that the expert-knowledge-aware probabilistic initializer significantly outperforms both the random initializer and the enumerative initializer.We discuss implications of these results for the design of GP strategies which are able to detect and characterize predictors of common human diseases.