cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of mitomycin in upper digestive tract stricture

Background. Mitomycin C is an anti-fibroblast chemotherapeutic agent that has demonstrated promise in the treatment of head and neck cancer-related cervical stenosis. The present study investigates whether the application of mitomycin C at the time of dilation is both safe and effective in the treatment of head and neck cancer-related upper digestive tract stricture. Methods. Twelve patients with progressive dysphagia and videofluroscopic evidence of upper digestive tract stricture after head and neck cancer treatment were dilated by Maloney or Savory dilators followed by the application of mitomycin C (0.2 mg/0.4 mL saline) to the stenotic segment for 5 minutes. Outcome measures included complication rate, improvement in baseline dietary consistency, and improvement in swallowing-related quality of life as measured by the M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory. Results. All patients experienced improvement in their baseline dietary consistency (p = .002) and M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory composite score (p = .001) after a mean follow-up time of 19 months. No complications from mitomycin use were observed. Conclusion. Mitomycin application appears to be a safe and potentially effective treatment for head and neck cancer-related upper digestive tract stricture. Given the small sample size and limited follow-up time, a randomized, controlled trial is needed to determine whether mitomycin application offers additional benefit over standard dilation therapy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2006
Recent advances in knowledge about beta-adrenergic receptors: Application to clinical cardiology

The properties of beta-adrenergic receptors in the cardiovascular system have been studied in the past by two experimental approaches, which can be termed pharmacologic and biochemical. In the pharmacologic approach, the nature of a drug interaction with receptors is deduced from alterations in the physiologic properties of the tissue caused by administration of various concentrations of the drug. Many important concepts about beta-adrenergic receptors have come from such indirect pharmacologic studies. The biochemical approach directly assesses the interaction of drugs with beta-adrenergic receptors by studying the binding of radiolabeled antagonists and agonists with the receptor. This relatively new approach has provided a large amount of new information regarding the intrinsic properties of beta-adrenergic receptors and modification of these properties by physiologic stresses, administration of drugs and disease states. The biochemical approach has also been applied recently to the study of beta-adrenergic receptors in human beings. In the future, substantial clinically relevant new information regarding the nature of beta-adrenergic receptors in physiologic and pathologic conditions should result from application of a combination of the biochemical and physiologic approaches to studies in human beings.
5 ways statistics can fool you-Tips for practicing clinicians

Published literature suggests that many clinicians are not fully equipped to evaluate and apply research reports for the care of their patients. In this article, we introduce and illustrate five basic statistical concepts that can significantly impact the interpretation of the medical literature and its application to the care of patients, drawing examples from the vaccine literature: (i) consider clinical and statistical significance separately, (ii) evaluate absolute risks rather than relative risks, (iii) examine confidence intervals rather than p values, (iv) use caution when considering isolated significant p values in the setting of multiple testing, and (v) keep in mind that statistically nonsignificant results may not exclude clinically important benefits or harms. These tips may help busy clinicians better interpret the increasingly overwhelming amount of medical literature they are faced with in their daily practices.
Backbone conformational dependence of peptide acidity

Electrostatic interactions at the protein surface yield over a billion-fold range of amide hydrogen exchange rates. This range is equivalent to the maximal degree of attenuation in exchange rates that have been shown to occur for amides buried within the protein interior. Continuum dielectric analysis of Ala-Ala, Ala-Gly, Gly-Ala and trans-Pro-Ala peptide conformer acidities predicts that the relative orientation of the two neighboring peptide groups can account for a million-fold variation in hydroxide-catalyzed hydrogen exchange rates. As in previous protein studies, an internal dielectric value of 3 was found to be applicable to simple model peptides, presumably reflecting the short lifetime of the peptide anion intermediate. Despite the million-fold range in conformer acidities, the small differences in the experimental exchange rates for these peptides are accurately predicted. Ala-Ala conformers with an extended N-terminal residue and the C-terminal residue in the alpha conformation are predicted to account for over 60% of the overall hydrogen exchange reaction, despite constituting only 12% of the protein coil population.
Reciprocal altruism as a felony: Antitrust and the prisoner's dilemma

Abstract Biologist study reciprocity. Because U.S. law outlaws cooperative commercial efforts to establish and maintain cartelized prices, for almost a century lawyers and judges also have been interested in the phenomenon of reciprocity. Judges and enforcement officials have set policy based upon intuitive hunches about the likelihood of reciprocity. This law is not consistent. Older court decisions exhibit fear that reciprocity is probable, while more recent doctrine and commentary have disparaged the likelihood of successful cooperation. This antitrust dispute can be understood in game theoretic terms similar to analyses of reciprocity developed by biological theorists. Axelrod's recent research on the repeated prisoner's dilemma game provides an explanation of how cooperative pricing can evolve despite competitive adversity. This research implies both support for the older antitrust fear of collusive reciprocity as well as criticism of recent and supposedly modern skepticism about the older view. But Axelrod's research as it stands is too simplistic for the market context. Before antitrust can use it, this research must be extended to account for three factors: for the existence of more than two equally sized players, for uncertainty in players' communication, and for the manner in which firms learn their managerial strategies.
Existence and uniqueness of pseudo-almost periodic solutions to semilinear differential equations and applications

Abstract This paper deals with the existence and uniqueness of pseudo-almost periodic solutions to the semilinear differential equations of the form (*) u ′ ( t ) = A u ( t ) + B u ( t ) + f ( t , u ( t ) ) , where A , B are densely defined closed linear operators on a Hilbert space H , and f : R × H ↦ H is a jointly continuous function. Using both the so-called method of the invariant subspaces for unbounded linear operators and the classical Banach fixed-point principle, the existence of a pseudo-almost periodic solution to (*) is obtained under some suitable assumptions. As applications, we examine the existence and uniqueness of pseudo-almost periodic solutions to some second-order hyperbolic equations.
Design and analysis of serial limiting dilution assays with small sample sizes

We study the design of serial limiting dilution assays (SLDAs) for estimation of effector cell frequency in settings that restrict severely the amount of material available for assay, and for which the assumption of a single-hit Poisson model is reasonable. For different designs (that is, dilution factor, number of dilution levels, and number of replicates at each level), we evaluate maximum likelihood and minimum chi-square estimators, using four quantitative criteria: probability of a non-informative assay (PNI), bias, coefficient of variation (CV), and mean squared error (MSE). Our results are exact, not simulation-based, nor approximations. We found that differences between these two estimators were insubstantial by comparison with the effect on the estimators of the experimental design. Bias was severe in small assays, and could lead, in extremely small designs, to overestimation of effector frequency by as much as 100%. These four criteria provide a rigorous basis for determining the most effective apportionment of total effort among replicates and dilution levels. By increasing the dilution factor and favoring the number of replicates over the number of dilution levels, the PNI is reduced while bias, CV and MSE are increased; and vice versa. Our study is easily extended to estimation of the density of biologically active particles per volume. It can also be extended to alternatives to the single-hit Poisson model for a serial limiting dilution assay.
Delayed wound healing in Mac-1–deficient mice is associated with normal monocyte recruitment

The Mac-1 integrin is an important mediator of migration and inflammatory activation of neutrophils and monocytes. However, the role of Mac-1 in modulating macrophage emigration and activation and its subsequent impact on cutaneous wound healing have not been fully elucidated. To examine the significance of Mac-1 to murine wound healing, we measured epithelialization and granulation tissue formation in partial-thickness ear wounds and full-thickness head wounds, respectively, in Mac-1–deficient mice. Wounds were histologically analyzed at postwounding days 3, 5, and 7. The gap measured between the leading edges of inward-migrating granulation tissue was significantly increased in knockout mice compared with control animals at day 5 (3.8±0.3 vs. 2.6±0.5 mm; p<0.001) and day 7 (2.2±0.4 vs. 0.96±0.73 mm; p=0.005). Epithelial gap measurements were also increased in knockout mice vs. wild-type controls at days 3 (0.62±0.02 vs. 0.54±0.07 mm; p<0.05) and 5 (0.58±0.06 vs. 0.39±0.08 mm; p<0.001). Immunohistochemistry showed equal numbers of macrophages in knockout and control wounds. These findings show that Mac-1 is required for normal wound healing but that the attenuation in the deposition of granulation tissue and wound epithelialization in Mac-1 knockout mice is not associated with decreased monocyte migration into the wound.
Lean gene and the clock machine

Signs of an increased girth are everywhere across the “fattening” world. Attempts to countermand this epidemic can be gauged by the rise in bariatric surgery in both the United States and Europe and the continued search for as-yet-elusive anti-obesity therapies. Against this backdrop, an intensive effort to unravel the molecular underpinnings of feeding and weight regulation has been underway since the discovery in 1994 of the adiposity hormone leptin (from the Greek leptos, for thin) (1). The prevailing model holds that long-term body weight constancy is maintained by leptin and other molecular signals that communicate between peripheral sites of fuel storage and utilization and specific regions of brain involved in ingestive behavior and energy expenditure. This system is thought to provide a selective advantage by preserving nutrient sufficiency during times of food scarcity. In a fascinating twist, brain regions involved in energy balance also appear to control peripheral glucose homeostasis, although the molecular pathways relating CNS and peripheral metabolism remain obscure. Recently, an emerging line of research into the genetic underpinnings of circadian behavior has surprisingly implicated a role for internal molecular clock genes in the coordinate regulation of behavior, energy balance, and metabolism. Work reported by Green et al. (2) in this issue of PNAS points toward a molecular output of the clock, an RNA deadenylase, as an additional factor that may underlie the coregulation of circadian rhythms and metabolism.
Fabrication and Replication of Arrays of Single- or Multicomponent Nanostructures by Replica Molding and Mechanical Sectioning

This paper describes the fabrication of arrays of nanostructures (rings, crescents, counterfacing split rings, cylinders, coaxial cylinders, and other structures) by a four-step process: (i) molding an array of epoxy posts by soft lithography, (ii) depositing thin films on the posts, (iii) embedding the posts in epoxy, and (iv) sectioning in a plane parallel to the plane defined by the array of posts, into slabs, with an ultramicrotome (“nanoskiving”). This work demonstrates the combination of four capabilities: (i) formation of structures that are submicrometer in all dimensions; (ii) fabrication of 3D structures, and arrays of structures, with gradients of height; (iii) patterning of arrays containing two or more materials, including metals, semiconductors, oxides, and polymers; and (iv) generation of as many as 60 consecutive slabs bearing contiguous arrays of nanostructures. These arrays can be transferred to different substrates, and arrays of gold rings exhibit plasmonic resonances in the range of w...
The use of the modified simplex method for automatic phase correction in fourier-transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract FT-n.m.r. spectra were automatically phase-corrected using the modified simplex method. Three optimization criteria for phase correction were investigated. Best results were obtained by maximization of the intensity minimum and maximization of the summed intensities below the baseline. The maximization of spectral area consistently failed to correct the spectral data satisfactorily.
Hyperandrogenism due to ovarian tumour mimicking PCOS: a case report

Hyperandrogenism is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive age group. While 82% of the cases are due to PCOS, steroid cell tumours account for less than 1% of cases. These tumours are mostly seen in perimenopausal women and 25-30% of these tumours show malignant potential. Hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is the recommended treatment. In a young patient unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and subsequent follow up can be offered. We present one such rare case of a young patient coming with menstrual irregularities, virilising symptoms and infertility, all features mimicking PCOS. She was diagnosed with a steroid cell tumour and successfully treated.
Persuasion, surveillance, and voting behavior

More than 4000 students received one of three letters urging them to vote in a campus primary election. Two letters suggesting that voting behavior would be monitored produced 37% turnout compared with 32% for a nonsurveillance letter and 26% for noletter controls. Differences among these three groups are significant at p < .01. The letters also increased turnout in a runoff election held one week after the primary; however there were no differences among the three letters. These results are discussed in terms of Thibaut and Kelley's three-step process for enforcing group norms.
The direct measurement of protein kinase C (PKC) activity in isolated membranes using a selective peptide substrate

A protein kinase C (PKC)-selective peptide substrate was used to develop a method for measuring PKC activity directly and quantitatively in isolated cell membranes without prior detergent extraction and reconstitution of the enzyme with phosphatidylserine and TPA in the presence of excess Ca2+. This simple and rapid method can reliably measure changes in membrane-associated PKC activity induced by various bioactive compounds such as hormones and growth factors. Also, this method, which measures PKC activity in its native membrane-associated state, has the advantage of being able to distinguish between active and inactive PKC associated with cell membranes.
Expression of glioma-associated antigens in pediatric brain stem and non-brain stem gliomas.

We investigated the protein expression of three glioma-associated antigens (GAAs) in pediatric brain stem glioma (BSG) and non-brain stem glioma (NBSG) cases with a view to their possible use in immunotherapy. Expression of EphA2, IL-13Rα2 and Survivin were studied by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded tissues using a series of 15 BSG cases and 12 NBSG cases. Thirteen of 15 BSGs and all 12 NBSGs expressed at least one of GAAs; and 7 BSGs and 9 NBSGs expressed at least two of these GAAs at higher levels than non-neoplastic brain. There was no association between the tumor grade and levels of GAA expression. Although many cases demonstrated diffuse expression of GAAs throughout specimens, partial or patchy expression was noted in a small number of cases, suggesting a need for targeting multiple GAAs in immunotherapy. These results suggest that EphA2, IL-13Ralpha2 and Survivin are suitable targets for developing vaccine strategies for pediatric glioma.
Cyclic cellular automata in 3D

Abstract Cyclic cellular automata in two dimensions have long been intriguing because they self organize into spirals and that behavior can be analyzed. The form for the patterns that develop is highly dependent upon the form of the neighborhood. We extend this work to three dimensional cyclic cellular automata and observe self organization dependent upon the neighborhood type. This includes neighborhood types intermediate between Von Neumann and Moore neighborhoods. We also observe that the patterns include nested shells with the appropriate forms but that the nesting is far more complex than the spirals that occur in two dimensions.
Atmospheric chemistry of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone

Rate constants for the atmospheric reactions of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone with OH radicals, NO3 radicals and O3 have been measured at 296±2 K and atmospheric pressure of air, and the products of the OH radical and NO3 radical reactions investigated. Using relative rate techniques, rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of OH and NO3 radicals with 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone of (2.15±0.36)×10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 and (1.26±0.40)×10-13 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, respectively, were measured, where the indicated errors include the estimated overall uncertainties in the rate constants for the reference compounds. An upper limit to the rate constant for the O3 reaction of <1×10-19 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 was also determined. These kinetic data lead to a calculated tropospheric lifetime of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone of a few hours, with both the daytime OH radical reaction and the nighttime NO3 radical reaction being important loss processes. Products of the OH radical and NO3 radical reactions were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and combined gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. N-methylsuccinimide and (tentatively) 1-formyl-2-pyrrolidinone were identified as products of both of these reactions. The measured formation yields of N-methylsuccinimide and 1-formyl-2-pyrrolidinone were 44±12% and 41±12%, respectively, from the OH radical reaction and 59±16% and ∼4%, respectively, from the NO3 radical reaction. Reaction mechanisms consistent with formation of these products are presented.
Size and form in the analysis of flake debris: Review and recent approaches

Flake debris — the by-product of lithic reduction — is abundant, not subject to uncontrolled collection, and sometimes culturally diagnostic. Its greatest virtue, however, is in registering the kinds and amounts of toolmaking and tool-using behavior that curated tools themselves may not. Most debris studies emphasize formal dimensions, yet even the best approaches assume rather than demonstrate a relationship between behavior and formal variation. Moreover, the diversity of formal typologies hinders interassemblage comparison. Progress in debris analysis has two prerequisites: (1) a minimum attribute set for individual flakes and (2) the combination of formal and continuous approaches to variation. Preliminary study suggests that Ahler's mass-analysis model and log skew Laplace functions hold particular promise for behavioral interpretation from debris assemblages.
On-sky performance of the Multi-Object Double Spectrograph for the Large Binocular Telescope

The Multi-Object Double Spectrographs (MODS) are two identical high-throughput optical dichroic-split double-beam low- to medium-dispersion CCD spectrometers being deployed at the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). They operate in the 3200-10500A range at a nominal resolution of λ/δλ≈2000. MODS1 saw first-light at the LBT in September 2010, finished primary commissioning in May 2011, and began regular partner science operations in September 2011. MODS2 is being readied for delivery and installation at the end of 2012. This paper describes the on-sky performance of MODS1 and presents highlights from the first year of science operations.
The renin angiotensin system as a risk factor for coronary artery disease

The renin angiotensin system was demonstrated to play a significant role in the genesis of hypertension and regulation of vascular tone over 100 years ago. The early investigations were subsequently expanded to implicate the renin angiotensin system in a variety of physiologic processes that may play a significant role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. The renin angiotensin system modulates vascular structure and left ventricular hypertrophy via a number of trophic effects. Elevated levels of angiotensin II are associated with the generation of oxidative stress, and may thus play a significant role in the earliest phases of atherosclerosis. The role inflammation plays in atherosclerosis is amplified by the renin angiotensin system via the effects on adhesion molecules, growth factors, and chemoattractant molecules, which modulate the migration of inflammatory cells into the subendothelial space. The effects of angiotensin II, which may be at least partially genetically mediated, have been implicated in epidemiologic and clinical studies as a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. This review centers on the potential role that the renin angiotensin system plays as a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, and the role of converting enzyme inhibition or angiotensin receptor blockade as a mechanism to decrease the initiation, progression, and clinical consequences of the atherosclerotic process.
Structural investigations of mode of action of drugs. I. Molecular structure of mitomycin C.

Abstract The crystal and molecular structure of the antitumor antibiotic mitomycin C has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The space group is monoclinic P21 with cell dimensions a =77.988(3) , b =20.355(7) , c =9.679(3) A , β=95.99°(1) and Z=4. The structure was solved by direct methods. There are two independent molecules per asymmetric unit. The structure was refined to an R value of 0.049 for 2151 observed reflections measured on diffractometer. The benzoquinone ring is slightly deviated from planarity. The N4 in the indole ring behaves like an amide nitrogen owing to its participation in the conjugated benzoquinoid system. The five membered ring through C1, C2, C3, N4 and C9a adopts an envelope conformation. The molecules are held together in crystal by the hydrogen bonds. All nitrogens except N4 are involved in the hydrogen bonding. Studies with models of drug and DNA indicate two different kinds of mechanism for crosslinking.
Left ideal structure of C∗-algebras

An abelian C∗-algebra is known to be isomorphic to the algebra of all complex continuous functions vanishing at infinity on its maximal ideal space. In an earlier paper the author defined a structure on the closed left ideals of an arbitrary C∗-algebra which was analogous to the structure topology on the maximal ideals which exists for the abelian case. This paper carries that work forward. The first section expands the technical base of the theory by showing that more of the desirable properties of a compact Hausdorff space carry over to the new structure. The following section contains applications of various sorts. For example, Theorem I.1 gives a new characterization of AW∗-algebras. The last section characterizes the maximal and minimal (closed) left ideals of any C∗-algebra.
Solid-Phase Synthesis of α-Glucosamine Sulfoforms With Fragmentation Analysis by Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Sulfated epitopes of α-glucosamine (GlcN sulfoforms) were prepared by solid-phase synthesis as models of internal glucosamines within heparan sulfate. An orthogonally protected 2′-hydroxyethyl GlcN derivative was immobilized on a trityl resin support and subjected to regioselective deprotection and sulfonation conditions, which were optimized with the aid of on-resin infrared or Raman analysis. The sulfoforms were cleaved from the resin under mild Lewis acid conditions without affecting the O- or N-sulfate groups and purified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The α-GlcN sulfoforms and their 4-O-benzyl ethers were examined by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS), with product ion spectra produced by collision-induced dissociation (CID). ESI-MS/MS revealed significant differences in parent ion stabilities and fragmentation rates as a function of sulfate position. Ion fragmentation by CID resulted in characteristic mass losses with strong correlation to ...
Measuring quality of life in chronic illness: the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy measurement system.

We focus on quality of life (QOL) measurement as applied to chronic illness. There are 2 major types of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments-generic health status and targeted. Generic instruments offer the opportunity to compare results across patient and population cohorts, and some can provide normative or benchmark data from which to interpret results. Targeted instruments ask questions that focus more on the specific condition or treatment under study and, as a result, tend to be more responsive to clinically important changes than generic instruments. Each type of instrument has a place in the assessment of HRQOL in chronic illness, and consideration of the relative advantages and disadvantages of the 2 options best drives choice of instrument. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) system of HRQOL measurement is a hybrid of the 2 approaches. The FACIT system combines a core general measure with supplemental measures targeted toward specific diseases, conditions, or treatments. Thus, it capitalizes on the strengths of each type of measure. Recently, FACIT questionnaires were administered to a representative sample of the general population with results used to derive FACIT norms. These normative data can be used for benchmarking and to better understand changes in HRQOL that are often seen in clinical trials. Future directions in HRQOL assessment include test equating, item banking, and computerized adaptive testing.
Western Blotting in the Serodiagnosis of Lyme Disease

There are currently no accepted criteria for positive Western blots in Lyme disease. In a retrospective analysis of 225 case and control subjects, the best discriminatory ability of test criteria was obtained by requiring at least 2 of the 8 most common IgM bands in early disease (18, 21, 28, 37, 41, 45, 58, and 93 kDa) and by requiring at least 5 of the 10 most frequent IgG bands after the first weeks of infection (18, 21, 28, 30, 39, 41, 45, 58, 66, and 93 kDa). When these definitions were tested in a prospective study of all 237 patients seen in a diagnostic Lyme disease clinic during a 1-year period and in 74 patients with erythema migrans or summer flu-like illnesses, the IgM blot in early disease had a sensitivity of 32% and a specificity of 100%; the IgG blot after the first weeks of infection had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 95%. Among patients with indeterminate IgG responses by ELISA, 6 of 9 patients with active Lyme disease had positive blots compared with 2 of 34 patients with other illnesses (P < .001). Thus, Western blotting can be used to increase the specificity of serologic testing in Lyme disease.
Frontal EEG asymmetry moderates the effects of stressful life events on internalizing symptoms in children at familial risk for depression

This study examined whether frontal alpha electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry moderates the association between stressful life events and depressive symptoms in children at familial risk for depression. Participants included 135 children ages 6 to 13, whose mothers had either a history of depression or no history of major psychiatric conditions. Frontal EEG was recorded while participants watched emotion-eliciting films. Symptoms and stressful life events were obtained via the Child Behavior Check List and a clinical interview, respectively. High-risk children displayed greater relative right lateral frontal activation (F7/F8) than their low-risk peers during the films. For high-risk children, greater relative left lateral frontal activation moderated the association between stressful life events and internalizing symptoms. Specifically, greater relative left lateral frontal activation mitigated the effects of stress in at-risk children.
Hepatitis C and hospital outcomes in patients admitted with alcohol-related problems

Background/Aims Alcohol is known to act synergistically with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to cause liver disease; however, their combined effect on outcomes in acutely hospitalized patients is less clear. We examined the impact of HCV infection on hospital mortality and length of stay among hospitalized patients with alcohol abuse problems. Methods We retrospectively identified 6354 admissions to an urban, public hospital between July 1996 and January 2002 with discharge diagnoses related to alcohol dependence or abuse. Hepatitis C diagnosis and other information were extracted from a clinical database and tested for associations with death and length of hospital stay using multivariable regression techniques. Results The prevalence of diagnosed HCV infection in this sample of patients with alcohol abuse was 15%. Patients with HCV were about twice as likely to die during hospital admission (4.4 vs. 2.4%; P -value Conclusions Patients admitted to the hospital with alcohol-related diagnoses have longer hospital stays and are more likely to die in hospital if they have a diagnosis of HCV.
Fast texture transfer

The article presents an algorithm for texture transfer between images that is up to several orders of magnitude faster than current state-of-the-art techniques. I demonstrate how the technique can leverage self-similarity of complex images to increase resolution of some types of images and to create novel, artistic looking images from photographs without any prior artistic source. Compared to other alternatives, methods based on texture transfer are global in the sense that the user need not deal with details such as defining and painting individual brush strokes. Texture transfer methods are also more general since they don't need to emulate any particular artistic style (line drawing, hatching, realistic oil painting, and so on). Not surprisingly, there is a price to pay for this generality - an algorithm designed for a specific artistic style will most likely produce results superior to those presented in the paper for that particular case.
Evolving land cover classification algorithms for multispectral and multitemporal imagery

The Cerro Grande/Los Alamos forest fire devastated over 43,000 acres (17,500 ha) of forested land, and destroyed over 200 structures in the town of Los Alamos and the adjoining Los Alamos National Laboratory. The need to measure the continuing impact of the fire on the local environment has led to the application of a number of remote sensing technologies. During and after the fire, remote-sensing data was acquired from a variety of aircraft- and satellite-based sensors, including Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+). We now report on the application of a machine learning technique to the automated classification of land cover using multi-spectral and multi-temporal imagery. We apply a hybrid genetic programming/supervised classification technique to evolve automatic feature extraction algorithms. We use a software package we have developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory, called GENIE, to carry out this evolution. We use multispectral imagery from the Landsat 7 ETM+ instrument from before, during, and after the wildfire. Using an existing land cover classification based on a 1992 Landsat 5 TM scene for our training data, we evolve algorithms that distinguish a range of land cover categories, and an algorithm to mask out clouds and cloud shadows. We report preliminary results of combining individual classification results using a K-means clustering approach. The details of our evolved classification are compared to the manually produced land-cover classification.
Patients Leaving Against Medical Advice (AMA) from the Emergency Department-Disease Prevalence and Willingness to Return

Abstract Background: How patients fare once they leave the emergency department (ED) against medical advice (AMA), and the extent of illness burden that accompanies them, remains unstudied. Objective: To determine the fate of patients leaving the ED AMA for a defined period of time post-discharge. Methods: This was a prospective follow-up study of a convenience sample of patients leaving the ED AMA during two 6-month periods in consecutive calendar years at an urban academic ED with 32,000 annual patient visits. Results: A total of 199 patients were identified, with 194 enrolled. Categories of discharge diagnoses included cardiovascular, undifferentiated abdominal pain, respiratory, and cellulitis. Of the 194 patients studied, 126 patients (64.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 57.6–71.5%) stated that their symptoms had improved or resolved. Of these 126 patients, 109 (86.5%, 95% CI 78.9–91.7%) had their original AMA discharge diagnoses referable to cardiovascular pathology. Ninety-five patients (75.4%, 95% CI 66.7–82.4%) with improved or abated symptoms did not plan to return. Of those with improved or abated symptoms, 31 patients (24.6%, 95% CI 17.6–33.2%) did return, and with further evaluation, 15 of them were found to have significant clinical findings. Of the 68 patients with continuing symptoms, 36 (52.9%, 95% CI 40.5–64.9%) returned for further evaluation. A total of 127 patients did not return. Twenty-five patients (19.7%, 95% CI 15.9–25.4%) expressed a reluctance to return to the same ED for fear of embarrassment. Seven patients (5.5%, 95% CI 4.8–8.7%) who did not seek alternative care but were still having symptoms did not return due to job or family commitments or because they would follow-up with a personal physician. Conclusion: Patients who leave the ED AMA have significant pathology.
The importance of meaning.

In the last incarnation of this column, we were reminded of the importance of accuracy, narrowly operationalized as understanding the difference between the population parameter (β) and our estimate of that parameter through regression. Here, we will remind ourselves of the importance of meaning, operationalized as understanding the meaning of the magnitude of the difference in addition to its statistical significance.
Relating stick-slip friction experiments to earthquake source parameters

[1] Analytical results for parameters, such as static stress drop, for stick-slip friction experiments, with arbitrary input parameters, can be determined by solving an energy-balance equation. These results can then be related to a given earthquake based on its seismic moment and the maximum slip within its rupture zone, assuming that the rupture process entails the same physics as stick-slip friction. This analysis yields overshoots and ratios of apparent stress to static stress drop of about 0.25. The inferred earthquake source parameters static stress drop, apparent stress, slip rate, and radiated energy are robust inasmuch as they are largely independent of the experimental parameters used in their estimation. Instead, these earthquake parameters depend on C, the ratio of maximum slip to the cube root of the seismic moment. C is controlled by the normal stress applied to the rupture plane and the difference between the static and dynamic coefficients of friction. Estimating yield stress and seismic efficiency using the same procedure is only possible when the actual static and dynamic coefficients of friction are known within the earthquake rupture zone.
Miscellaneous electrical energy use in homes

Abstract About 18% of all U.S. residential electricity, or 1600 kWh/yr per household, is used for miscellaneous appliances. Such appliances include waterbeds, dehumidifiers, television sets, well pumps, and clocks. The saturations, stocks, and electricity use for 35 appliances within the miscellaneous category have been estimated. Nationally, few miscellaneous appliances consume more than 2% of total electricity use, compared to 20% for refrigerators and 12% for electric water heating. However, in any given home, one of several miscellaneous appliances could be among the largest consumers of electricity. Failure to recognize the contribution of miscellaneous appliances to overall electricity demand can lead to erroneous forecasts because their demand is incorrectly attributed to space heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, and other standard end uses. In addition, there will be smaller savings from conservation programs aimed at standard end uses. Several trends suggest that the energy use of miscellaneous appliances will grow. In some new homes, miscellaneous appliances account for more than 40% of total electricity use.
Evaluation of the gum from Hakea gibbosa as a sustained-release and mucoadhesive component in buccal tablets

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the mucoadhesive and sustained-release properties of the water-soluble gum obtained from Hakea gibbosa (hakea), for the formulation of buccal tablets. Flatfaced tablets containing hakea were formulated using chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) as a model drug. Two types of tablets were prepared: uncoated tablets (type I) and tablets in which all but one face of the type I tablet was coated with hydrogenated castor oil (Cutina) using a compression coating technique (type II). In an attempt to explain the observed sustained-release effect, the potential for a chemical interaction between hakea and CPM was evaluated by FTIR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), UV spectroscopy, and acid-base titrations. Mathematical modeling of the CPM release data was developed to elucidate the mechanism of drug release. The mucoadhesive strength was evaluated by quantitating the force of detachment. Finally, the rates of water uptake and erosion were determined for the buccal tablets. The time required for 90% of the CPM to be released in vitro (t90%) was used as a basis for comparison. For formulations that did not contain hakea, the t90% was 14 min for both directly compressed and wet granulated tablets, whereas the t90% for wet granulated tablets containing 2 or 32 mg hakea/tablet was 36 and 165 min, respectively. Directly compressed tablets containing 2, 12, 22, and 32 mg hakea/tablet displayed t90% values of 48, 120, 330, and 405 min, respectively. DSC, FTIR, UV spectroscopy and acid-base titration experiments suggested the absence of chemical interactions. The force of detachment for directly compressed and wet granulated tablets increased from 0.70 +/- 0.3 to 4.08 +/- 0.52 N and from 0.65 +/- 0.28 to 3.94 +/- 0.31 N as the amount of hakea per tablet was increased from 0 to 32 mg, respectively, at a 5 N attachment compression force. The novel natural gum, hakea, may not only be utilized to sustain the release of CPM from a unidirectional-release buccal tablet, but it also exhibited excellent mucoadhesive properties. The mechanism by which CPM release was sustained was more likely due to slow relaxation of the hydrated hakea. The mucoadhesive strength can be modulated by altering the amount of hakea in the tablet.
Simple, relaxational models for the acoustical properties of porous media

Abstract By viewing thermal and viscous diffusion in porous media as relaxational processes, a particularly simple, phenomenological model for sound propagation in these materials is developed. The relaxation model parameters (characteristic times) are chosen by comparison to three existing models: Delany and Bazley's empirical equations; the Biot-Allard microstructural model; and Champoux and Stinson's generalized, microstructural model. It is shown that the relaxation model can effectively mimic the Delany-Bazley equations in their valid frequency range; yet, unlike the Delany-Bazley equations, the relaxation model has the advantage providing of realistic predictions at a broad range frequencies. In more exacting applications the characteristic times can be selected in a manner that makes the relaxation model predictions practically indistinguishable from the two microstructural models. The advantage of the relaxation model in these applications is its simple equations.
The VLSI design and implementation of the array processors of a multilayer vision system architecture

This paper describes the VLSI design and simulation of the lower layer processors of the KYDON vision system. KYDON is a completely autonomous, hierarchical, multilayered image understanding system. The VLSI design of the individual components as well as the timing simulation results of the processor array have been presented. The system runs at 50 MHz and promises a high processing rate of 300 image frames/sec.
Investors' Asset Allocations versus Life-Cycle Funds

Life-cycle funds, among the newest asset allocation fund offerings, are managed according to investors' time horizons and risk tolerances. Partly in response to the appearance of these funds, we examined the relationships among the risk in individual investors' portfolios, their financial-planning time horizons, and their risk tolerances. Generally, we found that portfolio risk increases as time horizon and willingness to take risk increase. This relationship held when we used multivariate analysis. Additional factors related to portfolio risk were found to be the investor's expectations of a future economic downturn, age, education, and marital status.
Creep‐Sintering and Microstructure Development of Heterogeneous MgO Compacts

Simultaneous creep and densification and the microstructure development of magnesium oxide powder compacts were studied at 125°C and for applied stresses of up to 0.25 MPa. Die-pressing the powder into compacts with a relative green density of ∼0.40 led to an approximately bimodal distribution of pores, with one fraction having sizes of the order of 10 times the (initial) particle size and the other fraction having pore sizes of the order of the particle size. The presence of the large pores in turn gave rise to rather unusual sintering effects. After first decreasing with relative density (ρ), the densification rate (dρ/dt) and the creep rate (dɛ/dt) then increased dramatically for 0.6 < ρ < 0.75. This range of ρ corresponded to the stage of microstructure development when grain growth and coalescence of the smaller pores have created a more uniform pore distribution. Above ρ∼ 0.75, both dρ/dt and dɛ/dt again decreased with ρ. These trends in the densification behavior are discussed in terms of material parameters such as the equilibrium dihedral angle and the pore coordination number.
Food Insecurity and Hunger in the Kindergarten Classroom: Its Effect on Learning and Growth

This study investigates the correlation between food insecurity, educational achievement, and health among kindergarten children in the United States. Data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten Cohort are used to analyze educational achievement and physical growth of kindergartners faced with food insecurity. The results demonstrate that children begin to experience the effects of food insecurity even at the most marginal level of household food deprivation. Children in households with any signs of food insecurity score lower and learn less during the school year.
Conservation at the edges of the world

Remote areas harbor some of the world's most undisturbed ecosystems. Major conservation gains can be made by effectively protecting nature in these remote zones. Conducting conservation work in remote settings presents both unique challenges and promising opportunities. We discuss how five commonly used approaches for conservation (buy and protect conservation; conservation motivated by the intrinsic values of nature; ecosystem service based conservation; ecotourism driven conservation; and conserva- tion enabled by community planning) can be optimally applied to protect ecosystems in these special set- tings. In this discussion we draw examples from two model remote sites: Palmyra and Tabuaeran Atolls. Spatial analyses conducted using population density as a proxy for remoteness indicate that many exist- ing recognized protected areas already include remote regions, but that the vast majority of the overall remote zones on the planet are not yet formally protected. Initiating discussions that directly consider both the roadblocks and opportunities for conservation in remote areas will help increase our odds of successfully protecting biodiversity in these unique and strategically important contexts.
Increasing Student Access to Qualified Science and Mathematics Teachers Through an Urban School‐University Partnership

Urban schools across the United States face a pervasive problem in their science and mathematics programs — a disproportionate number of the teachers in these classrooms are not certified, thus making them underqualified to teach these subject areas. Furthermore, urban schools deal with teacher shortages and attrition in these critical areas. The situation was found to be particularly severe in the Detroit Public School District. In response, Wayne State University and Detroit Public Schools embarked on a school-university partnership program to prepare teachers in science and mathematics through an alternative pathway to teacher certification program. This partnership program has proven to be successful in recruiting, preparing, and retaining a significant number of qualified minority science and mathematics teachers to serve the students in Detroit schools.
Life history variation in gametophyte populations of the moss Ceratodon purpureus (Ditrichaceae)

The life cycles of mosses and other bryophytes are unique among land plants in that the haploid gametophyte stage is free-living and the diploid sporophyte stage is ephemeral and completes its development attached to the maternal gametophyte. Despite predictions that populations of haploids might contain low levels of genetic variation, moss populations are characterized by substantial variation at isozyme loci. The extent to which this is indicative of ecologically important life history variation is, however, largely unknown. Gametophyte plants from two populations of the moss Ceratodon purpureus were grown from single-spore isolates in order to assess variation in growth rates, biomass accumulation, and reproductive output. The data were analyzed using a nested analysis of variance, with haploid sib families (gametophytes derived from the same sporophyte) nested within populations. High levels of life history variation were observed within both populations, and the populations differed significantly in both growth and reproductive characteristics. Overall gametophytic sex ratios did not depart significantly from 1:1 within either population, but there was significant variation among families in both populations for progeny sex ratio. Some families produced predominantly male gametophytes, while others yielded predominantly females. Because C. purpureus has a chromosomal mechanism of sex determination, these observations suggest differential (but unpredictable) germination of male and female spores. Life history observations showed that male and female gametophytes are dimorphic in size, maturation rates, and reproductive output.
Run-time declaration elaboration

An enhancement of the dynamics of declaration elaboration is suggested and exemplified. It is seen as part of a continuing process in language design, namely, refinement of a language's facility in regard to definition and control of data structures. The objective of this note is to encourage further examination and discussion of this process.