cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonrandom chromosome losses in tumorigenic revertants of hybrids between isogeneic immortal and neoplastic human uroepithelial cells.

Somatic cell hybrid analysis was used to examine the role of recessive cancer genes in tumorigenic transformation in vitro of human uroepithelial cells (HUC). Hybrids between nontumorigenic pseudodiploid SV40-immortalized HUC (SV-HUC) and two aggressive grade III transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) produced in nude mice after in vitro exposure of SV-HUC to 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) were completely suppressed for tumorigenicity at early passage. Tumorigenic reversion occurred after five or more passages in culture and was always accompanied by chromosome losses. Overall, the tumorigenic revertants showed statistically significant losses of chromosomes 1, 4, 5, 9q, 12, 14q, and 17 (all P≤0.05) as compared to losses in suppressed hybrids. In addition, hybrid reversion was accompanied by losses that left specific tumors with a single remaining homolog of certain chromosomes (i.e., 3, 5q, 11p, 17p, and 18q). These losses were also considered significant because of the likelihood that genes on these chromosomes were reduced to homozygosity. Many of the significant losses (i.e., 5q, 9q, 11p, and 17p) were of chromosomes that are frequently lost in clinical TCC. Thus, these results support the hypothesis that these chromosomes contain genes whose loss leads to HUC tumorigenesis.
Effects of concurrent saccharin availability and buprenorphine pretreatment on demand for smoked cocaine base in rhesus monkeys

The effects of saccharin and the opioid partial agonist buprenorphine on cocaine base smoking were evaluated in five male rhesus monkeys. Monkeys completed a sequence of responding consisting of lever-press responses maintained under a fixed-ratio (FR) schedule followed by inhalation responses (FR5) on a smoking spout to gain access to a single delivery of volatilized cocaine base (1.0 mg/kg per delivery). Monkeys could receive a maximum of ten smoke deliveries per session. In the first experiment, either saccharin (0.03% wt/vol) or water was concurrently available under an FR1 schedule through a lip-operated drinking device. As lever FR values increased from 128 to 256, 512, 1024 and 2048, the number of cocaine smoke deliveries decreased. Cocaine intake was not statistically different when water versus saccharin was concurrently available. However, as cocaine consumption decreased, saccharin intake increased demonstrating that under these conditions, saccharin was substituting for cocaine as a reinforcer. On the first day that lidocaine replaced cocaine, all of the monkeys received the maximum number of smoke deliveries (ten) and saccharin intake increased. Lever-press responding gradually extinguished over days when lidocaine (1.0 mg/kg per delivery) was available with concurrent saccharin. In the second experiment, water was concurrently available with cocaine and buprenorphine (0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly (IM) 30 min before the start of the session. Although pretreatment with the lower dose of buprenorphine (0.01 mg/kg) had little effect on cocaine intake overall, individual differences in cocaine intake occurred. The higher dose of buprenorphine (0.1 mg/kg) decreased the amount of cocaine consumed at all lever FR values tested.
1141105802 Lymphoid neogenesis occurs within fallopian tubes after infection with Chlamydia

Inflammation induces lymphoid aggregates suggestive of lymphoid neogenesis in both murine and human genital tracts after infection with Chlamydia. Lymphoid neogenesis refers to the accumulation of mononuclear cells which organize into distinct regions forming structures which resemble secondary lymphoid tissue. The regulation of lymphoid neogenesis has been implicated in tissue dysfunction. In particular, CXCL13, a homeostatic chemokine necessary in formation of secondary lymphoid tissue in utero, was expressed in both in vitro and in vivo models. In the in vitro model, we used organ cultures of human fallopian tissue (HFT) which was infected with C. trachomatis serovar E. We noted a 30-fold increase in mRNA for CXCL13 and found expression of CXCL13 in endothelium and stromal cells. Using the murine model for in vivo studies, we found CXCL13 induced in oviducts of Chlamydia-infected mice. An alteration in the level or duration of bacterial burden in the genital tract was not observed in treated mice. Surprisingly, anti-CXCL13 treatment significantly extended oviduct diameters, a measure of inflammation, 3 weeks after resolution of genital infection (7.5 + 1.2 goat IgG versus 43.7 + 8.7 anti-CXCL13; n = 3–4/grp, P = 0.038, n = 4, t-test). Lastly, ectopic lymphoid tissue in known cases of human salpingitis was found to express CXCL13 and other characteristics of lymphoid neogenesis. This data indicates that CXCL13 plays a role in immune-mediated fallopian tube dysfunction. (NIH-AI-26328, AI-148146 & Iris-Cantor-UCLA fund).
Uniprocessor Memory Organizations

In this chapter, two-level memory hierarchies are defined and analyzed for the Restricted AND-Parallel Prolog (PWAM) architecture (reviewed in Section 2.3). PWAM is chosen for study in this book for several reasons. It is an extension of the Warren Abstract Machine (WAM), which allows fair comparison between sequential and parallel Prolog architectures. It is designed to execute sequential code efficiently with a modified WAM storage model. High-level measurements presented in Section 3.5 support this criterion. It is designed to execute parallel code with low communication and parallelism control overheads. Measurements are presented in this chapter which support this second criterion. The results from the RAP-Prolog benchmark measured indicate, for example, that a tightly-coupled shared memory multiprocessor with eight high-performance processing elements coupled with a 32-way interleaved memory and a high capacity bus can achieve a speed-up of 750%.
Explaining Race, Poverty, and Gender Disparities in Advanced Course-Taking.

We use panel data on Florida high school students to examine race, poverty, and gender disparities in advanced course-taking. While white students are more likely to take advanced courses than black and Hispanic students, these disparities are eliminated when we condition on observable pre–high school characteristics. In fact, black and Hispanic students are more likely than observably similar white students to take advanced courses. Controlling for students' pre–high school characteristics substantially reduces poverty gaps, modestly reduces Asian–white gaps, and makes little dent in female–male gaps. Black and Hispanic students attend high schools that increase their likelihood of taking advanced courses relative to observably similar white students; this advantage is largely driven by minorities disproportionately attending magnet schools. Finally, recent federal and state efforts aimed at increasing access to advanced courses to poor and minority students appear to have succeeded in raising the share of students who take advanced courses from 2003 to 2006. However, secular trends (or spillovers of the policies to non-poor, non-minority students) have spurred faster growth for other students, contributing to widening demographic gaps in these years. © 2009 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
SPONTANEOUS MELANOMA IN REGENERATING TAILS OF AXOLOTLS.

Relationships between neoplasia and regeneration were studied in the regenerative processes following 21 amputations through or near 8 spontaneous melanotic formations in the tails of axolotls. It was found that spontaneous melanoma can grow in the presence of regeneration, but that melanotic ingrowth into a regenerate tends to be limited to temporary “symbiotic” participation of the melanotic tissue in the development of the regenerate. It was also found that regeneration is almost always essentially normal in the presence of a spontaneous melanoma, even when the regenerate grows from the tumor itself or from a previous regenerate that is black with melanotic cells. Melanotic cells are presumably derived from normal pigment cells, and some investigators have suggested that neoplastic cells under the influence of regenerative processes may occasionally be transformed back into normal cells. The present study has provided no evidence that such a transformation ever occurs. Instead, the regenerative processes seem only to limit the neoplastic activity of melanotic cells that participate in regenerative growth. In fact, when regeneration is abnormal, melanotic cells may behave much as they do in the absence of regeneration.
Calculated values of the octanol–water partition coefficient and aqueous solubility for aminoazobenzene dyes and related structures

Abstract Results from calculations of the logarithm of the octanol–water partition coefficient, log P, and the aqueous solubility, S, for a wide range of arylamine dyes and related structures are presented. Since many arylamine dyes have functional groups that easily form ions, the logarithm of the apparent partition coefficient for dissociative systems, log D, has also been calculated as a function of pH for some of these compounds. Correlations of the observed biological behavior of various dyes with log P and S are discussed.
Detection of coronary stenoses on source and projection images using three-dimensional MR angiography with retrospective respiratory gating: preliminary experience.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study the ability of three-dimensional MR angiography with retrospective respiratory gating to reveal stenoses in proximal coronary arteries on source and projection images. CONCLUSION: Proximal coronary artery stenoses can be identified using three-dimensional MR angiography with retrospective respiratory gating, both with projection images and on source images alone. Reasons for missed lesions included collateral vessels and retrograde flow distal to complete occlusion and volume averaging of vessels with adjacent structures. Causes of false-positive interpretations included small foci of decreased signal intensity distal to complete occlusion, partial volume effects on individual partitions, and regions of distal vessels leaving the imaging plane.
Macroscopic model of rotating nuclei.

I present a macroscopic model for the energy of rotating nuclei which has several refinements relative to the rotating-liquid-drop model. Of most importance are the inclusion of finite-range effects in the nuclear surface energy by means of a Yukawa-plus-exponential potential, finite surface diffuseness effects in the Coulomb energy and in the rotational moments of inertia, and an improved specification of nuclear shapes. With this model I calculate the properties of points of equilibrium corresponding to nuclear ground states and fission saddle points. The results are qualitatively similar to those of the rotating-liquid-drop model, but there are significant quantitative differences in fission-barrier heights and moments of inertia. Fission barriers for nonrotating nuclei are calculated for nuclei with atomic numbers varying from 14 to 117. For rotating nuclei, detailed results are given for the entire range of angular momentum for which a fission barrier exists, for nuclei with atomic numbers from 20 to 100, and for mass numbers which exceed the range of known nuclei. The calculated barriers are lower than liquid-drop-model barriers for lighter nuclei and are consistent with those deduced from experimental fission-fusion data over a wide range of nuclear species. The present calculations indicate that super-deformed rotating ground states, which are predicted in the liquid-drop model, would not survive fission long enough to undergo electromagnetic decay. Multiparameter functions which approximately reproduce the calculated results for barrier heights and moments of inertia are described.
Distinct Structural Changes in the GABAA Receptor Elicited by Pentobarbital and GABA

The barbiturate pentobarbital binds to γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors, and this interaction plays an important role in the anesthetic action of this drug. Depending on its concentration, pentobarbital can potentiate (∼10–100 μM), activate (∼100–800 μM), or block (∼1–10 mM) the channel, but the mechanisms underlying these three distinct actions are poorly understood. To investigate the drug-induced structural rearrangements in the GABAA receptor, we labeled cysteine mutant receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes with the sulfhydryl-reactive, environmentally sensitive fluorescent probe tetramethylrhodamine-6-maleimide (TMRM). We then used combined voltage clamp and fluorometry to monitor pentobarbital-induced channel activity and local protein movements simultaneously in real time. High concentrations of pentobarbital induced a decrease in TMRM fluorescence (FTMRM) of labels tethered to two residues in the extracellular domain (α1L127C and β2L125C) that have been shown previously to produce an increase in FTMRM in response to GABA. Label at β2K274C in the extracellular end of the M2 transmembrane helix reported a small but significant FTMRM increase during application of low modulating pentobarbital concentrations, and it showed a much greater FTMRM increase at higher concentrations. In contrast, GABA decreased FTMRM at this site. These results indicate that GABA and pentobarbital induce different structural rearrangements in the receptor, and thus activate the receptor by different mechanisms. Labels at α1L127C and β2K274C change their fluorescence by substantial amounts during channel blockade by pentobarbital. In contrast, picrotoxin blockade produces no change in FTMRM at these sites, and the pattern of FTMRM signals elicited by the antagonist SR95531 differs from that produced by other antagonists. Thus, with either channel block by antagonists or activation by agonists, the structural changes in the GABAA receptor protein differ during transitions that are functionally equivalent.
His Bundle Recordings in Atrioventricular Nodal Alternating Wenckebach Periods Ending in 5:1 Atrioventricular Block Coexisting with Paroxysmal Atrioventricular Nodal Block

Atrioventricular nodal alternating Wenckebach periods ending in 5:1 atrioventricular block occurring during rapid atrial rhythms were explained by postulating the presence of block in three levels of the atrioventricular node. This pattern of conduction occurred in ten of 11 patients who either had received ouabain or verapamil (nine patients) or who had organic atrioventricular nodal disease (two patients). In contrast, this pattern of conduction occurred in only one of eight nonmedicated patients without organic atrioventricular nodal disease. The frequent association of this pattern with paroxysmal, tachycardia-dependent atrioventricular nodal block suggested a similar, but not necessarily identical, mechanism. In conclusion, atrioventricular nodal alternating Wenckebach periods ending in 5:1 atrioventricular block, as well as paroxysmal atrioventricular nodal block, were only rarely the result of rapid atrial rates per se their occurrence indicating organic or pharmacologic effects on the atrioventricular node. Since both can be produced by carotid sinus pressure, further studies appear to be necessary to determine the role that vagal effects can have in their genesis.
Telic and Mechanistic Explanations of Mind and Meaningfulness: An Empirical Illustration

Two traditions of personality theorizing, teleology and mechanism, are contrasted on their views of mind and the pivotal cognitive phenomenon of meaningfulness A major, albeit less well known, distinction between these traditions involves the assumption of time The fact that contemporary cognitive models rely on time (e g, temporal sequences or past events) places them firmly in the mechanistic tradition of personality theorizing Telic implications for cognition have been relatively overlooked, and are herein explored theoretically and empirically Cognition without temporality is described and distinguished from modern cognitive models that employ telic terminology An original study is provided to illustrate how these distinctions can be operationalized and addressed empirically
The Effect of Electrostatic Forces on the Distribution of Drops in a Channel

Direct numerical simulations are used to examine the effect of electric fields on the behavior of suspension of drops in dielectric fluids. The effect of electric field is modeled using the “leaky dielectric” model, coupled with the full Navier-Stokes equations. The governing equations are solved using a front-tracking/finite volume technique. The interaction of the drops is strongly dependant on the conductivity and the permittivity ratio, but fibration, where drops line up into long columns, takes place over a wide range of these parameters. The hydrodynamic interaction due to fluid circulation induced by the electric field has a strong influence on the drop distribution and the rate of fibration.© 2002 ASME
Uncovering the biology and epidemiology of Neospora caninum.

. The parasite has a world-wide distribution, and is a major cause ofinfectious abortion in cattle. For exam-ple, neosporosis is the most commonlydiagnosed cause of bovine abortion inNew Zealand, The Netherlands, UK andCalifornia (USA).The protozoan was isolated fromdogs prior to 1960 and, at the time, wasthought to be
Polyaniline stabilized barium titanate nanoparticles reinforced epoxy nanocomposites with high dielectric permittivity and reduced flammability

Epoxy polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) filled with both barium titanate (BaTiO3) (500 and 100 nm) and conductive polyaniline (PANI) stabilized BaTiO3 nanoparticles (NPs) have been successfully prepared. The effects of the BaTiO3 nanofiller loading level and the PANI coating on the mechanical properties, rheological behavior, thermal stability, flammability and dielectric properties were systematically studied. The viscosity study on the nanosuspensions indicates that the PANI layer on the BaTiO3 nanoparticle surface can promote the network formation of the epoxy resin. The introduction of the PANI layer was found to reduce the heat release rate and to increase the char residue of the epoxy resin. The dynamic storage and loss moduli were studied together with the glass transition temperature (Tg) obtained from the peak of tan δ, and the reduced Tg in the PNCs is associated with the enlarged free volume. The tensile test indicated an improved tensile strength of the epoxy matrix with the introduction of the BaTiO3 NPs. Compared with the cured pure epoxy, the elasticity modulus was increased for all the PNC samples. The fracture surface study revealed an enhanced toughness. Due to the ferroelectric nature of BaTiO3, the real dielectric permittivity increased with increasing the BaTiO3 nanoparticle loading. The PANI layer on the surface of BaTiO3 also enhanced the dielectric permittivity arising from the interfacial polarization formed in the PNCs.
Effect of shock strength on oblique shock-wave/vortex interaction

An experimental study of the interaction between streamwise vortices and two-dimensional oblique shock waves has been conducted at Mach 2.5. The experiments involved positioning an instrumented two-dimensional wedge downstream of a semispan wing so that the trailing tip vortex from the wing interacted with the oblique shock wave formed over the wedge surface. The experiments were designed to simulate interaction of streamwise vortices with shock waves formed over aerodynamic surfaces or in supersonic inlets. The influence of oblique shock wave intensity on this inherently three-dimensional interaction was examined for vortices of variable strength. Results indicate that the interaction of a moderate strength vortex with an oblique shock wave can lead to the formation of a steady separated shock structure upstream of the oblique shock front. A significant expansion of the vortex core is observed in these cases, and the scale of the structure increases with shock wave intensity. In some instances the separated shock structure continues through the oblique shock front to strike the shock-generating wedge forming a three-dimensional shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction. The experiments indicate that significant distortion of streamwise vortices can be precipitated by oblique shock fronts with supersonic downstream conditions.
Embracing Geographic Analysis Beyond Geography: Harvard's Center for Geographic Analysis Enters 5th Year

Without a department of geography, Harvard University established the Center for Geographic Analysis CGA in 2006 to support research and teaching of all disciplines across the University with emerging geospatial technologies. In the past four and a half years, CGA built an institutional service infrastructure and unleashed an increasing demand on geographic analysis in many fields. CGA services range from helpdesk, project consultation, training, hardware/software administration, community building, to system development and methodology research. Services often start as an application of existing GIS technology, eventually contributing to the study of geographic information science in many ways. As a new generation of students and researchers growing up with Google Earth and the like, their demand for geospatial services will continue to push CGA into new territories.
Asymmetric Illumination of Optically Anisotropic Beads for Detecting Rotational Motion

Many biological molecules, including RNA polymerases and ATP synthases, undergo rotational motion during their biological processes. Characterizing these processes at the single molecule level with high temporal and spatial resolution can reveal valuable information about their mechanical and dynamical properties. We are particularly interested in the dynamics of conformational changes of DNA molecules under torsion. Toward this long term goal we have developed a methodology that enables us to directly record the angular displacement of particles undergoing rotational motion by using asymmetric illumination of optically anisotropic beads. The method is implemented by illuminating a partially metal-coated bead with a laser beam coupled into the back side of the objective. The laser beam illuminating beads in the sample plane is oriented at an oblique angle to form asymmetric illumination. We observe that the scattering signal of the bead changes with the angular displacement of the coating on the bead relative to the illuminating laser beam. We use an optoelectronic system to detect scattering signal which is the direct high-speed measurement of the angular displacement of the bead. We conclude that our method is able to map angular displacements to electrical signal and we can determine the angular displacement of the biological molecule when conjugated to the bead. Our method obviates image acquisition and image processing procedures commonly used in previous studies, and it has the potential to significantly enhance the bandwidth of detection. We envision usage of this method in a range of biophysical measurements including magnetic trapping, tethered particle motion. We plan to use this rotational tracking method in combination with magnetic tweezers, a single-molecule technique that enables the application of torsional stress to twist single DNA molecules to extract high bandwidth torsional mechanical properties and dynamics of the molecules.
Four Concepts of Health in America: Results of National Surveys

Our objective was to determine how large, random samples of Americans define health. Two questions were used to ascertain concepts of health: Are you healthy? and How do you know? (What does health mean to you?) These questions were added to omnibus telephone surveys conducted with two random samples of adults from the 48 contiguous United States: one in 1995 (N = 1,000); the other in 2002 (N = 1,011). The surveys also collected demographic data. This study focuses on cases with complete data (N = 950 in 1995, N = 967 in 2002). In both survey samples, more than 92% of respondents reported that they were healthy. Four distinct conceptions of health emerged from responses to the "how do you know" question: physical, psychosocial, capacity, and control. While prevalence varied with survey year as well as respondent age and education, these four concepts were evident in both 1995 and 2002. There are four robust concepts of health in America. Ongoing attention to these concepts may enhance efforts to communicate about and improve health.
Mechanical and oxidation properties of AlRu-based high-temperature alloys

High-temperature intermetallic compounds are being tested for aerospace and engine applications in which strength, toughness, and oxidation resistance must be combined. Intermetallics have the prospects of high specific strength and specific elastic moduli at elevated temperatures, and diverse unconventional compounds have recently received intensive attention, in part because there are hundreds of untested binary compounds that melt above 1500 C. Mechanical and oxidation data are given for a group of alloys based on the B2(cP2) compound AlRu with alloying elements that were selected to improve either mechanical or oxidation properties, or both.
Eliminating multiple modes of vibration in a flexible manipulator

Vibration suppression is often difficult to achieve in systems whose parameters are a function of configuration. A modified command filtering technique is proposed that eliminates the first two modes of vibration in a large, flexible manipulator with position-dependent parameters. The elimination of residual vibration is demonstrated using a circular trajectory located in the workspace of the manipulator so that a change in system properties occurs. The modified command filtering technique is compared to previous control methods in order to demonstrate its effectiveness in eliminating residual vibration. >
Right bundle-branch block ventricular tachycardias: septal versus lateral ventricular origin based on activation time to the right ventricular apex.

Background Identifying the septal versus lateral site of origin of ventricular tachycardia (VT) with a right bundle-branch block (RBBB)-type pattern and an R-S ratio >1 in lead V1 is difficult with the 12-lead ECG, especially in patients with prior apical infarction. Methods and results We prospectively evaluated 58 patients with VT. Sixteen patients had apical infarcts (group 1), 29 had nonapical infarcts (group 2), and 13 had no heart disease (group 3). QRS complex onset to activation at the right ventricular apex (stim-RVA) was measured during left ventricular (LV) apical septal and lateral pacing, and 47 RBBB-type VTs (QRS-RVA) were localized to the septal or lateral apex by using entrainment techniques. Pacing and VT site of origin were confirmed by electroanatomic mapping. The stim-RVA time was 59+/-16 ms for septal versus 187+/-24 ms for lateral sites in group 1, P Conclusions The QRS-RVA differs for the VT site of origin from the LV septal versus lateral apex. These data prove useful in rapidly regionalizing the VT site of origin with a V1 R-S ratio >1, particularly in instances of an apical infarct, where surface ECG distinctions are less identifiable.
The Incidence of Hybrid Automobile Tax Preferences

We use national and California price data from January, 2002 to June, 2009 for three hybrid and five non-hybrid car models to estimate the share of federal tax preferences for purchasing hybrid cars that accrues to car sellers. Our preferred estimates suggest that almost one-half of the subsidy is capitalized into car prices, but some specifications lead to larger estimated benefits for car suppliers. Our results also show (1) that a California program providing HOV stickers to owners of hybrid fuel automobiles led to large increases in the price of those vehicles, and (2) that failing to control for rising gas prices which increase the demand for fuel efficient vehicles leads to upwardly biased estimates of the amount of the hybrid car tax subsidy captured by automakers.
Letter by Falk Regarding Article, “An Unusual Heart Failure: Cardiac Amyloidosis Due to Light Chain Myeloma”

To the Editor: I found the case report by Martinelli et al, “An Unusual Heart Failure: Cardiac Amyloidosis due to Light Chain Myeloma,”1 interesting, but, unfortunately, I believe that the authors have perpetuated a common misperception in describing the patient as having smoldering myeloma. Careful examination of the data presented indicates that their patient did not have multiple myeloma, and I believe that their conclusion that “light chain myeloma—may be a cause of cardiac amyloidosis” is semantically incorrect. Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a …
National-level differences in the adoption of environmental health technologies: a cross-border comparison from Benin and Togo

Environmental health problems such as malaria respiratory infections diarrhoea and malnutrition pose very high burdens on the poor rural people in much of the tropics. Recent research on key interventions-the adoption and use of relatively cheap and effective environmental health technologies-has focused primarily on the influence of demand-side household-level drivers. Relatively few studies of the promotion and use of these technologies have considered the role of contextual factors such as governance the enabling environment and national policies because of the challenges of cross-country comparisons. We exploit a natural experimental setting by comparing household adoption across the Benin-Togo national border that splits the Tamberma Valley in West Africa. Households across the border share the same culture ethnicity weather physiographic features livelihoods and infrastructure; however they are located in countries at virtually opposite ends of the institutional spectrum of democratic elections voice and accountability effective governance and corruption. Binary choice models and rigorous non-parametric matching estimators confirm that households in Benin are more likely than households in Togo to plant soybeans build improved cookstoves and purchase mosquito nets ceteris paribus. Although we cannot identify the exact mechanism for the large and significant national-level differences in technology adoption our findings suggest that contextual institutional factors can be more important than household characteristics for technology adoption. Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (c) The Author 2014; all rights reserved.
Productivity improvement with evolutionary development

An evolutionary approach to software development can realize lifetime productivity improvements. The authors explain the natural evolutionary process of software. Negative evolutionary influences can erode the useful life of software, but these can be regulated. Software evolves through three stages: (1) elaboration, (2) adaptation, and (3) mutation, progressive expansion/growth. Differing life cycle models are contrasted for how they consider these three evolutionary stages, how well they meet customer needs, and how they take into account evolution regulators. By using an evolutionary approach to software development, the benefits of the effort spent on development are actualized over a longer period of time. Productivity increases because the life span of the product increases, gains in development productivity are not eaten up by support cost, and development productivity gains are not lost because of a lack of understanding of evolution. >
Three-Dimensional Flight Experiments Using On-Line Mixed-Integer Linear Programming Trajectory Optimization

This paper presents an improved path planner formulation using mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) to solve a receding horizon optimization problem in real-time for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This paper uses variable sized time-steps with linear interpolation points and horizon minimization techniques to enhance the capability of the online path planner. Flight tests on an unique indoor quadrotor testbed demonstrate that MILP can be reliably used in real-time. A multi-vehicle test is also presented to demonstrate non-communicating de-confliction trajectory planning using MILP.
Understanding Grid resource information management through a synthetic database benchmark/workload

Management of Grid resource information is a challenging, and important area considering the potential size of the Grid and wide range of resources that should be represented. Though example Grid Information Servers exist, behavior of these servers across different platforms is less well understood. This paper describes a study we undertook to compare the access language and platform capabilities for three different database platforms, relational, native XML, and LDAP, serving as a Grid information server. Our study measures query response times for a range of queries and highlights sensitivities exhibited by the different platforms to variables such as result set size and collection size.
Quantification of body shape for contoured support fabrication

A computer-controlled technique for quantifying seated body contours is described. To measure body contours, the system uses an electronic sensor interfaced to an IBM PC/AT. Contour data can be displayed and modified through use of a graphics software package written in Pascal. Data obtained with this technique are used to fabricate customized seating supports for the wheelchair user. >
Side Chain Liquid Crystalline Thermoplastic Elastomers for Actuator and Electromechanical Applications

The synthesis of a polystyrene-b-polyvinylmethylsiloxane-b-polystyrene diblock and triblock copolymer functionalized with liquid crystals exhibiting a smectic C* phase on the PVMS central block is described. The synthetic route is based on the anionic polymerization of styrene and trimethyltrivinylsiloxane monomers and the functionalization of resulting triblock copolymers. The resulting polymer can self assemble into a thermoplastic elastomer where the high Tg styrene blocks serve as physical crosslinks for a low Tg siloxane block. The presence of a smectic liquid crystalline phase and the block copolymer mesophase are observed across various temperature ranges depending on the length of the spacer connecting the liquid crystalline moiety to the polymer backbone. The influence of mechanical deformation upon the morphologies of the liquid crystalline and block copolymer mesophases was investigated. The interactions between the smectic LC and the block copolymer morphologies and their influence upon their respective orientations in response to shear fields are detailed. The parallel-transverse orientation of the hexagonally close packed (HCP) cylinders of the block copolymer morphology and the smectic liquid crystalline phase, respectively, was observed for melt fiber drawn samples. However, the transverse-perpendicular orientation was observed for liquid crystalline block copolymers that experienced oscillatory shear. The transverse orientation of HCP cylinders was observed while shearing took place above the smectic to isotropic transition temperature, indicating that the presence of an isotropic liquid crystalline phase alters the orientation of the block copolymer morphology. Additionally, it was found that the spacer length was a key factor in the clearing points for the smectic liquid crystalline phase, as well as significantly influencing the nanophase segregation of the block copolymer.
Performance of Floating Absolute Risks

A recent investigation of hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer risk used a method called "floating absolute risks" (FARs) to compute confidence intervals for relative hazards. This method has been used in other medical studies and has received controversy. This controversy stems from the correct implementation of this method. However, there has been no direct comparison of the FAR method, as it is sometimes incorrectly applied and reported, with the conventional approach for computing confidence intervals from proportional hazards regression. In this paper, the author reports simulation results comparing these two methods and demonstrates that the FAR method, when applied incorrectly, can produce confidence intervals that are substantially too narrow.
Addressing sample identification errors in a multispecialty tertiary care hospital in Bangalore

Background and Objectives Errors in sample identification contribute to patient mismanagement and erroneous administration of blood and blood products. This report describes the rate of sample identification errors over 2 years in a multispecialty hospital in India and possible measures to decrease these errors. Materials and Methods Various measures were taken to reduce the risk of identification errors during sample collection, laboratory processing and administration of blood. The bedside blood grouping method by the slide agglutination technique was also introduced along with other measures in December 2011 as a risk mitigation step to prevent an ABO incompatible transfusion, as well as to provide a method of surveillance for possible errors during transfusion. Results The rate of sample identification errors was 48 and 45 per 1 000 000 among the total tests billed in 2011 and 2012, respectively. In the blood bank alone, the sample identification error rate was 0·96 in 2011 and 0·46 in 2012 per 1000 bags of blood and blood components issued after the various steps to prevent such errors in the blood bank were introduced. 81% of these errors (26 out of 32) have been reported in the inpatient setting. 15·6% (5 out of 32) were repeat errors made by the same technicians. Conclusions Among the various measures used to reduce sample identification errors, bedside blood grouping allows prevention of ABO incompatible transfusions when performed by trained technicians and may also be used as a method of active surveillance for sample identification errors in hospitals.
On responses in the human visual system as a function of adaptation level.

Thresholds are determined at various short times before and after the onset of a 38-mL conditioning stimulus in the dark-adapted eye, and following six other levels of pre-adaptation. An outstanding feature of the results is that under certain conditions thresholds decrease with increasing pre-adapting luminance. The results are considered to provide an indirect picture of on-responses in the visual system. The relation between “masking” associated with these on-responses and those effects attributable to photochemical bleaching is assessed and discussed.
Staged O2 Introduction and Selective H2 Combustion during Catalytic Reactions of Alkanes on Cation-Exchanged H-ZSM5

Stoichiometric reactions can be used to remove H2 and the associated kinetic and thermodynamic barriers that lead to low dehydrocyclodimerization selectivity during alkane reactions on cation-modified H-ZSM5. O2 co-reactants can form H2O in exothermic reactions that balance the enthalpy of endothermic dehydrogenation steps. O2 reacts preferentially with H2 via homogeneous and heterogeneous pathways, but also with hydrocarbons as H2 is depleted; thus, it must be gradually introduced as H2 forms in dehydrogenation reactions. Staged O2 protocols significantly increased aromatics yields during C3H8 reactions on unexchanged and on Ga- and Zn-exchanged H-ZSM5. On Ga/H-ZSM5, the maximum aromatic yields increased from 54% to 68% and aromatization/cracking selectivity ratios increased from 2.1 to 3.9 when O2 was introduced gradually into a gradientless batch reactor as H2 formed. O2 introduced was converted to H2O with >95% selectivity; an equivalent amount of O2 initially added with C3H8 led to low H2O selectivit...
Communication with spawned processes

Motivated by prior work with the global optimization algorithm pVTDIRECT95 [2], this paper considers two methods for simplifying communication with spawned processes. Tests are performed for each method, and runtimes for the two methods are compared. In general, the performance of the two methods is quite similar, although other aspects of each method set the methods apart. In particular, restrictions on how the spawning has to be done determines the practicality of the method.
Decision support for caregivers through embedded capture and access

The care of individuals with concerns about development, health, and wellness is often a difficult, complicated task and may rely on a team of diverse caregivers. There are many decisions that caregivers must make to help ensure that the best care and health monitoring are administered. For my dissertation work, I have explored the use of embedded capture and access to support decision-making for caregivers. Embedded capture and access integrates simple and unobtrusive capture and useful access, including trending information and rich data, into existing work practices. I hypothesized that this technology encourages more frequent access to evidence, increased collaboration amongst caregivers, and decisions made with higher confidence. I have explored this technology through real-world deployments of new embedded capture and access applications in two domains. For the first domain, I have developed two applications to support decision-making for caregivers administering therapy to children with autism. The first application, Abaris, supports therapists working with a single child in a home setting, and the second application, Abaris for Schools, extends the ideas of Abaris for use in a school setting for many teachers working with multiple children. The second domain I have explored is decision-making for parents of newborn children. In particular, I developed and evaluated embedded capture and access technology to support parents, pediatricians, and secondary childcare providers in making decisions about whether a child’s development is progressing normally in order to promote the earlier detection of developmental delays.
Chronic acalculous cholecystitis in children with biliary symptoms: Usefulness of hepatobiliary cholescintigraphy

365 Objectives Acalculous cholecystitis increasingly is recognized as a cause of recurring biliary symptoms in adolescent females, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of hepatobiliary cholescintigraphy in children with suspected acalculous cholecystitis. Methods We reviewed medical records of patients (age 9-20 years) who underwent cholescintigraphy from February 2009 to January 2011. Patients with gallstones and those with a clinical follow-up of ≤1year were excluded. Studies in which gallbladder stimulation was not performed were also excluded. Gallbladder ejection fraction of ≤ 35% after a 30-minute infusion of cholecystokinin-8 (CCK, 0.02µg/kg) or a 30 ml fatty meal (Lipomul) was considered abnormal. Diagnosis of chronic acalculous cholecystitis was based on pathology following cholecystectomy. Patients with negative gallbladder pathology, complete resolution of symptoms on follow-up, or alternative diagnoses for persistent symptoms were considered not to have acalculous cholecystitis. Results Fifty-five of the 110 patients who underwent cholescintigraphy formed the study group. Mean patient age was 14.8 years. There was female preponderance (87%). Median symptom duration was 7 months (interquartile range, 1-19 months). The most common symptom was abdominal pain (96%). Median duration of clinical follow-up was 2.9 years (interquartile range, 1.8-3.7 years). Forty-one patients had at least one study with CCK (48 scans) and 17 patients with Lipomul (20 scans). Cholescintigraphy was 82% sensitive and 85% specific in diagnosing acalculous cholecystitis, with a negative predictive value of 94%. Conclusions Hepatobiliary cholescintigraphy is useful for excluding acalculous cholecystitis as a cause of chronic or recurrent abdominal pain in adolescent females.
Assessment techniques for curricular improvement: pre-conference workshop

Professional and regional accreditation bodies increasingly require programs to maintain a three-part assess/evaluate/improve process. This three-part process must be clearly documented, regularly used, and should be inclusive of all faculty. Adhering to this process should enable a program to determine the extent to which students are achieving stated educational objectives and outcomes. In recent years program assessment has become more rigorous; it is no longer sufficient to collect data and evaluate outcomes once every accreditation cycle. Instead, assessment is now viewed as an ongoing activity that will serve to effect change and should lead to continuous improvement of the curriculum. Program evaluation should also include other key constituents such as alumni, students, and employers. Outcomes-based assessment presents a new set of challenges for departments to grapple with. It is sometimes difficult to identify the types of data to collect, and once collected, how to use the data to evaluate individual courses and the overall program. Moreover, it is challenging to interpret the data to identify specific strengths and weaknesses within the program. The workshop will begin with an overview of the current state of outcomes-based assessment, and will continue with an explanation of the terminology currently in use. A survey of effective data collection techniques will be presented, including direct and indirect assessment techniques. The presenters own assessment process will be presented and critiqued, and participants will have an opportunity to apply similar techniques for their own assessment and accreditation requirements. The goal of the workshop is to help participants understand how to collect, interpret, and use assessment data for the accreditation process to improve the quality of their courses and the overall degree program. Participants may bring samples of their own course syllabi and program objectives to make the workshop more relevant to their own needs.
PD47-09 FOLLOW-UP CARE AFTER ED VISITS FOR KIDNEY STONES—A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

Abstract Introduction and Objective: Follow-up care after an ED visit for kidney stones may help reduce ED revisits and increase use of stone prevention strategies. To test these hypotheses, we analyzed medical claims from working-age adults with kidney stones. Methods Using data from MarketScan (2003 to 2006), we first identified patients with an ED visit for kidney stones. We then determined which patients had an outpatient visit within 90 days of ED discharge. Finally, we used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the association between receipt of follow-up care and ED revisit, as well as use of stone prevention strategies (24-hour urine testing and PPT prescription). Results Only 48.0% ( n =33,741) of patients seen in the ED for kidney stones received follow-up care, 68.3% of which was with a urologist. While follow-up care was not associated with fewer ED revisits, patients who received it were more likely to undergo 24-hour urine testing (predicted probability, 2.2% vs. 0.9%; P P P =0.001). Conclusions Over half of patients seen acutely in the ED for kidney stones do not receive follow-up care. Given that follow-up care is associated with greater use of stone prevention strategies, efforts to enhance linkages across healthcare settings are needed to provide patients with urinary stone disease higher quality care.
Adaptations of Peromyscus for Winter Survival in an Appalachian Montane Forest

Both Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus had slightly higher body mass in spring and summer than in autumn and winter. Mean resting metabolic rates of both species were highest in September and November. For both species, maximum nonshivering thermogenesis following norepinephrine dosage increased markedly in early autumn, declined in October and January following unseasonably warm periods, peaked in February during the coldest portion of the winter, and declined throughout the spring. Neither length of photoperiod nor minimum ambient temperature correlated with the variation in resting metabolic rates; however, both environmental factors correlated strongly with capacity for nonshivering thermogenesis.