cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using fuzzy logic for performance evaluation in reinforcement learning

Current reinforcement learning algorithms require long training periods which generally limit their applicability to small size problems. A new architecture is described which uses fuzzy rules to initialize its two neural networks: a neural network for performance evaluation and another for action selection. This architecture is applied to control of dynamic systems and it is demonstrated that it is possible to start with an approximate prior knowledge and learn to refine it through experiments using reinforcement learning.
Biodegradation of Trichloroethylene and Dichloromethane in Contaminated Soil and Groundwater

Soil column and serum bottle microcosm experiments were conducted to investigate the potential for in situ anaerobic bioremediation of trichloroethy lene (TCE) and dichloromethane (DCM) at the Pinellas site near Largo, Florida. Soil columns with continuous groundwater recycle were used to evaluate treatment with complex nutrients (casamino acids, methanol, lactate, sulfate); benzoate and sulfate; and methanol. The complex nutrients drove microbial dechlorination of TCE to ethene, whereas the benzoate/sulfate and methanol supported microbial dechlorination of TCE only to cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cDCE). Microbial sulfate depletion in the benzoate/sulfate column allowed further dechlorination of cDCE to vinyl chloride. Serum bottle microcosms were used to investigate TCE dechlorination and DCM biodegradation in Pinellas soil slurries bioaugmented with liquid from the soil columns possessing TCE-dechlorinating activity and DCM biodegradation by indigenous microorganisms. Bioaugmented soil microcosms showed i...
Effect of various stimulus parameters on electrically-induced catecholamine secretion by thin slices of bovine adrenal medulla

We examined the role of various stimulus parameters in electrically-induced catecholamine secretion by thin slices of bovine adrenal medulla. The stimulus parameters examined were voltage, duration, pulse width, and frequency for square-wave monophasic pulses. As each was examined it was held constant at a selected value for the evaluation of subsequent stimulus characteristics.
The 400 kDa Subunit of the PCAF Histone Acetylase Complex Belongs to the ATM Superfamily

PCAF histone acetylase is found in a complex with more than 20 associated polypeptides. Here we report cloning and characterization of the 400 kDa PCAF-associated factor referred to as PAF400. PAF400 is almost identical to TRRAP, which binds to c-Myc and E2F, and has significant sequence similarities to the ATM superfamily including FRAP, ATM, ATR, and the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK. Remarkably, PAF400 and FRAP share sequence similarity in broad regions that cover 80% of the entire PAF400 sequence. However, unlike the other members of the ATM superfamily, PAF400 is not a protein kinase as judged from the lack of kinase motif and autophosphorylation activity. We discuss the possibility that PAF400 may play a role in signaling of DNA damage to p53 by stimulation of p53 acetylation.
Nucleolar persistence in embryonal carcinoma cells.

Abstract A series of embryonal carcinoma (EC) lines were found to have nucleoli which persisted through metaphase and anaphase in 60–88% of cells. When these cells differentiated, either spontaneously or upon chemical induction with retinoic acid or dimethylacetamide, the level of nucleolar persistence dropped to under 20%. Mouse embryo fibroblasts and mouse bone marrow cells had few persistent nucleoli. Persistent nucleoli in EC cells contained DNA, labeled with tritiated uridine and stained with ammoniacal silver, all of which support the hypothesis that rRNA synthesis continues in persistent nucleoli.
Abstract CN05-04: Early molecular changes in prostate carcinogenesis

After castration was shown by Charles Huggins in 1941 to be an effective treatment for advanced prostate cancer, androgenic hormones were assumed to be responsible in some way for disease development. Nonetheless, the manner in which androgens might contribute to prostatic carcinogenesis has remained elusive over the subsequent seven decades. Androgen levels decline steadily throughout adulthood in men, just as prostate cancers begin to appear (Rohrmann S et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 92:2519-25, 2007). In addition, the action of testosterone, and its metabolite dihydrotestosterone, on prostate epithelial cells in adult men tends to be the promotion of terminal differentiation by activating transcription of target genes, such as PSA and TMPRSS2, which form the secretion elaborated by the prostate for the ejaculate. By driving terminal differentiation of normal prostate cells, androgens seem unlikely to cause neoplastic transformation. However, new insights into the generation of somatic genome rearrangements that create fusion oncogenes in prostate cells have revealed a new mechanism of androgen receptor-associated cancer pathogenesis. The fusion oncogene TMPRSS2-ERG, present in at least half of all prostate cancer cases, may be the most common somatic gene fusion event in all of human cancer (Tomlins SA et al. Science 310:644-8, 2005). We have found that androgen receptor-triggered transcription in prostate cells leads to the recruitment of topoisomerase II-beta (TOP2B) by the receptor to sites of TMPRSS2-ERG genomic breakpoints, promoting TOP2B-mediated DNA double strand breaks and de novo TMPRSS2-ERG fusion transcripts. The results implicate androgens in the creation of TMPRSS2-ERG rearrangements, via a mechanism involving the androgen receptor and TOP2B, and provide new hints as to how prostate cancers might be better prevented. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(12 Suppl):CN05-04.
Liquid-liquid solubility and critical phenomena in binary mixtures

Abstract By assuming a proportionality exists between a difference in Boltzmann factors and a difference in compositions, the following expression is developed for the mole fraction order parameter in symmetric binary liquid mixtures Δx = [1 − exp E RT c (l−T c /T)] β In the critical limit this expression reduces to the form for simple scaling fx253-fig 1 By treating the original components A and B as if they transfer between the phases in the form of aggregates with the empirical formulas AmB1−m and Bn, in which 0 0, coexistence curves in diverse systems become symmetric and are fitted by the above expressions. Beta exponent values obtained from these fits range in value from 0.312±0.002 to 0.333±0.003.
TMDL reevaluation: reconciling internal phosphorus load reductions in a eutrophic lake

AbstractTotal maximum daily loads (TMDLs) are assigned to impaired waterbodies and provide a prescription for recovery. It is implicit that both the existing conditions and targets identified in a TMDL are based on credible and accurate information, ensuring that management actions directed to recovery are appropriate and effective. We evaluated the TMDL for phosphorus in Bear Lake, Michigan, to assess if the prescribed reduction was appropriately based on existing annual internal loads. We developed 5 different annual internal load scenarios based on phosphorus release rates from laboratory-based sediment incubations and diel dissolved oxygen measurements, ranging from very conservative to very liberal estimates of phosphorus release. The most realistic scenarios indicate that the previously established TMDL for internal phosphorus loading is 3–7 times greater than what actually occurs in Bear Lake. Based on our assessment, Bear Lake is likely already meeting the TMDL internal loading target, without the...
Classical Calculations of Scattering Signatures from a Gravitational Singularity or the Scattering and Absorption Cross-Sections of a Black Hole

Within the context of general relativity theory we calculate, analytically, scattering signatures around a gravitational singularity: angular and time distributions of scattered massive objects and photons and the time and space modulation of Doppler effects. Additionally, the scattering and absorption cross sections for the gravitational interactions are calculated. The results of numerical simulations of the trajectories are compared with the analytical results.
HODGKIN'S DISEASE IN WOODWORKERS

Abstract An analysis of occupation as stated on the death certificates of 1549 white males, aged twenty-five years or more, who had died of Hodgkin's disease in upstate New York in the years 1940-53 and 1957-64, revealed a preponderance over a matched control group of men whose work had entailed exposure to wood, and whose country of birth was given as Italy. Exposure to wood and birth in Italy, however, were not correlated in the two groups.
Happy Spirits and Grumpy Souls: Mood Changes in Older Adulthood

This article explores the phenomenon of mood changes due to the aging process. It employs the fictional characters of Happy and Grumpy, two of the seven dwarfs in the animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney 1937), to illustrate these changes and their effects on one’s personality. On the basis of the characterization of Happy and Grumpy in the authorized novel (Weyn 1987) the article concludes that these two temperaments are compatible and that therefore a person who has had a happy temperament in the earlier stages of life should be able to accommodate a disposition toward grumpiness in later stages of life.
Walking in the American cockroach: the timing of motor activity in the legs during straight walking

The timing of bursts of motor activity in extensor muscles in the coxae of pairs of legs in intact freely walking American cockroaches was studied. The timing of bursts in adjacent and non-adjacent leg pairs generally reflected the common alternating tripod gait of these insects. Detailed study of the timing further revealed two previously unreported features. (1) The timing of extensor bursts in the middle legs relative to bursts in the rear legs was more variable than it was relative to those in the front legs. This difference in variability was statistically significant for the means of bursts when all insects were considered together as well as for bursts in individual insects. An apparent difference in variability of the timing of burst starts compared to burst ends for any one leg pair was not significant. (2) There was a shift in the timing of motor bursts relative to one another when an insect walked fast such that motor bursts in the middle legs tended to lag farther behind those in the front legs, and those in the rear legs tended to lag farther behind those in the middle legs compared to the timing during slow walking. This shift was apparent in both burst starts and burst ends, although more obvious in the former. It occurred in both ipsilateral and contralateral leg pairs, and in both the mean data and the data for individual insects. The implications of these characteristics of the timing data are discussed in terms of the neural organization of insect walking.
Evaluation of Pictorial Symbols to Warn Computer Keyboard Users about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is an upper-extremity disorder that can cause chronic pain and disability. Although CTS can arise from a wide variety of repetitive tasks with awkward hand/arm positioning, a large percentage of cases are attributed to, or exacerbated by, computer input devices such as keyboards. One potential way to reduce the development of CTS in keyboard users is to warn them about the disease's early symptoms so that corrective actions might be taken before the disease becomes more severe. The present research systematically examines one of the components of a potential CTS warning, pictorial symbols. Participants examined a set of 12 ANSI Z535 style warnings with one, two or four pictorials. They then evaluated them on their perceived effectiveness, specifically on their ability to inform and motivate users to use correct arm and hand posture to avoid further CTS development. The evaluations involved estimating the percentage of people that would comply with the pictorial message if it w...
Acute ergotropic response induced by reserpine and mephentermine.

Abstract Mephentermine in non-stimulating doses (1 mg/kg) produces an acute ergotropic response (AER) when given intravenously with reserpine (1 mg/kg). The EEG and behavioral arousal obtained in rabbits by this drug combination was attributed to the release of brain norepinephrine because the precursor of norepinephrine (DL-DOPA) restored the AER in previously reserpinized animals. Conversely, norepinephrine, dopamine and the precursor of serotonin (5-HTP) all failed to restore the AER in reserpinized animals. The effects of iproniazid pretreatment, alpha methyl meta tyrosine pretreatment, chlorpromazine, pentobarbital, scopolamine, desmethylimipramine and imipramine on the AER are described. The AER was also produced in dogs. Reserpine given in combination with phenylethylamines may be a useful method for revealing important indirect central actions of the latter. In this regard, reserpine affected the central actions of mephentermine and methamphetamine differently. When given together, reserpine clearly enabled non-stimulant doses of mephentermine to cause an excitation that was not mimicked by subthreshold doses of methamphetamine. Conversely, pretreatment of rabbits with reserpine clearly reduced or abolished the CNS stimulation caused by high doses of mephentermine; whereas, threshold doses of methamphetamine characteristically produced CNS stimulation. The results suggest that mephentermine, in contrast to methamphetamine, acts predominantly or completely through indirect mechanisms in causing CNS stimulation.
Angiography in diagnosis of renal tumors Current concepts

Abstract With the advent of newer imaging modalities, angiography is no longer the choice either for the diagnosis or for the staging of renal cell carcinoma. For this reason, in the majority of patients routine preoperative angiography is probably not required. Angiography does, however, remain a valuable procedure and has specific indications in some patients with renal tumors including those patients in whom (1) the lesion is wholly intrarenal and does not disturb renal contcur, (2) there is a suspicion of a vascular abnormality, (3) there are indeterminate CT findings, (4) the inferior vena cava or renal vein is not adequately visualized on CT, (5) the renal tumor is bulky or excessively large, or (6) preoperative embolization is considered.
Chip-Level Coordinated Interference-Aware Beamforming for MIMO-CDMA in Frequency-Selective Broadcast Channels

In this paper a linear multi-user beamforming technique is proposed for frequency-selective channels in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system. Assuming perfect Channel State Information (CSI) is available at both transmitter and receiver, transmit beamforming and receive beamforming are coordinated to mitigate multi-user, multiple access (MAI), and Inter-Chip Interference (ICI) by maximizing an approximate lower bound of each individual signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR). Chip-level equalization is selected to mitigate the ICI due to its low computational complexity. Simulation results indicate that this technique outperforms traditional linear techniques in approaching high receive SINR, thus achieving higher data rates and/or lower error rates in large interference cases.
A Review of COSHH Essentials

Dangerous substances are used in a wide range of industrial and commercial activities and, over the years, many workers have contracted occupational diseases through exposure to such substances. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Essentials is published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of the UK to illustrate a step-by-step process for assessing risk and identifying control measures for hazardous substance handling. This paper examines and discusses the pros and cons of COSHH Essentials.
A classification of endocervical curettings

Abstract A histologic classification of endocervical curettings with division into unsatisfactory, negative, minimal-moderate dysplasia, marked dysplasia-carcinoma in situ , questionably invasive carcinoma, and invasive squamous cell carcinoma has been described and illustrated. When applied with relative uniformity and considered with cytologic pattern and cervical biopsy findings, this classification will assist in the evaluation of the patient with abnormal Papanicolaou smears. Techniques for obtaining adequate samples and for processing them with minimal tissue wastage have been described.
Intravascular susceptibility contrast mechanisms in tissues

The factors affecting the rate of loss of transverse magnetization in gradient echo and spin-echo pulse sequences have been quantified using computer modeling for media containing arrays of susceptibility variations. The results are particularly relevant for describing the signal losses that occur in tissues containing capillaries of altered intrinsic susceptibility from the administration of exogenous contrast agents or arising from changes in blood oxygenation. The precise magnitudes and relationship of gradient echo and spin-echo decay rates depend on geometrical factors such as the sizes and spacings of the inhomogeneities, the rate of water diffusion, field strength, and echo times. The conventional separation of contributions to transverse decay rates arising from so-called static field effects and diffusion is shown to be inappropriate for many situations of practical interest because diffusion introduces a motional averaging of the static field even in gradient echo sequences. The result of diffusion in some regimes is to reduce the decay rate from field inhomogeneities in gradient echo sequences, so that T2* is longer in media such as tissue where water diffuses reasonably rapidly, than would be the case for stationary nuclei. The effects of different types of contrast agent and the implications for functional imaging based on the effects of deoxyhemoglobin in brain tissue are considered.
Iterative determination of analytic continuation and its application to the pp forward amplitude

Abstract A report is made on a new attempt to determine analytic continuation of scattering amplitudes, which consists of evaluating iteratively on a computer the usual dispersion relation and its inverted one. Its application to the pp forward amplitude shows that this method is practical and powerful. Its imaginary part is shown to have a large dip just above the p p threshold, which makes its high-energy real part nearly twice that determined experimentally ignoring spin-flip.
Attenuated heart rate responses to public speaking in individuals with alcohol dependence.

Background: Because individuals with alcohol dependence (AD) have shown blunted cortisol responses to psychological stress, we assessed whether they also show attenuated cardiovascular responses. This study examined the cardiovascular responses of people meeting DSM-IV criteria for AD to orthostasis and public speaking. Methods: Heart rate (HR), stroke volume, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, mean arterial pressure, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure during orthostasis and public speaking were assessed by use of impedance cardiography and Dinamap blood pressure monitoring in 20 AD subjects abstinent for 21 to 28 days and in 10 age-matched controls. Orthostasis consisted of standing, whereas public speaking involved preparing and presenting two speeches. Self-reported mood state was also assessed during the tasks. Results: AD subjects had significantly lower resting BP compared with controls. Cardiovascular responses to orthostasis were similar between groups. AD subjects had attenuated HR during public speaking but reported similar anxiety responses to controls. Conclusions: Comparable cardiovascular responses to orthostasis in controls and AD subjects suggest intact reflex control of circulation. AD subjects had blunted HR responses to public speaking; this is consistent with the attenuated cortisol responses observed in this sample and in previous studies. This suggests a possible alteration in limbic system regulation of hypothalamic and brainstem responses to psychological stress. Cardiovascular responses of AD subjects that are inconsistent with subjective accounts of tension and anxiety suggest a disconnection between perception of threat and resulting physiologic responses in AD subjects.
Characterization of the sorption of mono-, di-, and trimethylamine in zeolite H-rho by deuterium n.m.r.

The sorption complexes of monomethylamine (MMA), dimethylamine (DMA), and trimethylamine (TMA) in H-rho are studied by means of deuterium n.m.r. of the methyl deuterated compounds over the temperature range −180 to +150 °C. The uptake rate of these sorbates from the gas phase at room temperature decreases strongly with the molecular weight and is negligible for TMA. Sorption is, however, enhanced by increasing the temperature and pressure. In MMA, strong chemisorption hinders the diffusion of the sorbate through the cavities, and thermal activation is required to reach a homogeneous distribution. In all cases, a wide dispersity of adsorbed species is observed, coarsely divided into chemisorbed species, which are assumed to be associated with the Bronsted acid sites, and weakly bound physisorbed species. The n.m.r. spectra show that at low loadings and below room temperature the molecules are predominantly chemisorbed while local motions take place in DMA (π-flips) and in TMA (threefold rotations). At high temperatures, the molecules begin to diffuse in the channels. When the number of molecules exceeds that of the available acid sites (12 per u.c.), most of the sorbate appears to be in a physisorbed state. Magic angle spinning (MAS) n.m.r. measurements of the 27 Al, 29 Si, and 13 C nuclei in some of the samples used for the deuterium measurements are also reported. These measurements indicate that structural changes in the zeolite framework occur upon sorption of the methylamine sorbates, analogous to those observed in water and methanol sorbed H-rho.
Flexible micro-supercapacitors with high energy density from simple transfer of photoresist-derived porous carbon electrodes

Abstract Flexible integrated micro-scale energy storage has attracted increasing research interest due to numerous compelling device applications. This paper presents a facile and scalable technique to fabricate a flexible high surface area carbon based micro-supercapacitor via pyrolysis of a commercial photoresist and transfer to a flexible substrate. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge, and AC impedance spectroscopy are used to characterize the fabricated devices, which show near ideal electrochemical behavior and retention of initial electrochemical performance after 300 bending cycles. The devices exhibit maximum energy density of 1 mWh cm−3 in aqueous electrolyte, which compares favorably to state-of-the-art flexible and rigid carbon-based micro-supercapacitor devices.
(IN)VISIBILITY BLUES: THE PARADOX OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM

In this article, we demonstrate how the taken-for-granted, inner-workings of culture can become implicated in the (in)visibility of minority members. We seek to illuminate ways in which institutions may unwittingly facilitate (in)visibility through their organizational habitus. We begin by providing further evidence of invisibility and visibility as real and commonly experienced psychosocial phenomena among minorities within predominantly white, institutional settings. In particular, we argue that a minority's inconspicuousness can be simultaneously fused together with one's conspicuousness to form what we call racial/ethnic (in)visibility. This study employs focus-group data collected from a sample of administrators and faculty from elite K-12 independent (private) schools, an institution that admittedly has been slow to make cultural change in its racial/ethnic ideologies and practices.
Brief motivational interviewing to reduce alcohol consumption among freshmen: secondary effects on polydrug use

Background & Aims: This study investigated high-risk drinking and polydrug use (PU) over 6 months for freshmen college students. Methods: The Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) brief motivational interviewing (BMI) intervention was implemented at a public university as a 3-year programme designed to reduce underage drinking among freshmen with a secondary focus on PU. Participants were 299 freshmen from a state-supported university. Participants attended baseline visit, 2-week, 3- and 6-month visits. Analysis: Paired t-tests were used to determine the differences between alcohol consumption at different time points. McNemar’s test was used to compare correlated proportions. Results: At the baseline, 30% of the participants were drinking and using illicit drugs, compared with 25% at the sixth month visit. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a decrease in alcohol consumption will also reduce the probability of PU. These findings can assist in developing health professio...
Cryosurgical ablation of the prostate.

ABSTRACT A new surgical procedure, cryosurgical ablation of the prostate, offers patients with organ-confined prostate cancer another treatment option. The advantages of this cryosurgical technique are complete ablation of prostatic cancers without radical prostatectomy procedures, less blood loss, decreased hospital stays, reduced health care costs, and minimal associated morbidity. Some possible complications of cryosurgical ablation of the prostate procedures include incontinence, impotence, rectal freezing from inadequate monitoring of the freezing process, urethrocutaneous and urethrorectal fistula formations, and urethral tissue sloughing. The intraoperative nurse's prime responsibility is to monitor the subfreezing temperatures of the cryoprobes. Postoperatively, patients have only a few perineal incisions covered with sterile dressings and a suprapubic catheter. Most patients have minimal discomfort that is managed easily with opiate analgesics. AORN Journal 61 (May 1995) 807–813.
On the use of permutation in and the performance of a class of nonparametric methods to detect differential gene expression.

Motivation: Recently a class of nonparametric statistical methods, including the empirical Bayes (EB) method, the significance analysis of microarray (SAM) method and the mixture model method (MMM), have been proposed to detect differential gene expression for replicated microarray experiments conducted under two conditions. All the methods depend on constructing a test statistic Z and a socalled null statistic z .T he null statistic z is used to provide some reference distribution for Z such that statistical inference can be accomplished. A common way of constructing z is to apply Z to randomly permuted data. Here we point our that the distribution of z may not approximate the null distribution of Z well, leading to possibly too conservative inference. This observation may apply to other permutation-based nonparametric methods. We propose an ew method of constructing a null statistic that aims to estimate the null distribution of a test statistic directly. Results: Using simulated data and real data, we assess and compare the performance of the existing method and our new method when applied in EB, SAM and MMM. Some interesting findings on operating characteristics of EB, SAM and MMM are also reported. Finally, by combining the idea of SAM and MMM, we outline a simple nonparametric method based on the direct use of a test statistic and a null statistic. Contact: weip@biostat.umn.edu
Role of calcium intake in modulating age-related increases in parathyroid function and bone resorption.

Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and bone resorption increase in elderly women and contribute to age-related bone loss. Whether these abnormalities are caused by calcium deficiency resulting from age-related decreases in absorption and renal conservation is unclear. We studied 28 normal elderly women (mean +/- SD, age 69.3 +/- 2.7 yr) who were maintained for 3 yr on usual calcium intake levels (20.4 +/- 7.2 mmol/day [815 +/- 289 mg/day]; n = 15) (known as the usual calcium group) or high calcium intake levels (60.4 +/- 6.5 mmol/day [2414+/260 mg/day]; n = 13) (known as the high calcium group) and a reference group of 12 normal young adult women (age 30.1 +/- 4.4 yr), whose calcium intake was 23.0 +/- 4.8 mmol/day (918 +/- 193 mg/day) (known as the young group). Serum PTH was measured every 2 h, and urinary excretion of deoxypyridinoline (Dpd), a new marker for bone resorption, was measured in 4 h collections. Parathyroid gland secretory capacity was assessed during induced hypocalcemia. The mean 24 h serum...
Hydrogenation of quinolines, alkenes, and biodiesel by palladium nanoparticles supported on magnesium oxide

A new catalyst composed of Pd nanoparticles supported on MgO has been prepared by the room temperature NaBH4 reduction of Na2PdCl4 in methanol in the presence of the support. TEM measurements reveal well-dispersed Pd particles of mean diameter 1.7 nm attached to the MgO surface. Further characterization was achieved by ICP-AES, XPS, XRD, H2 pulse chemisorption and H2-TPR. The new catalyst is efficient for the regioselective hydrogenation of the heterocyclic ring of quinolines, as well as for the mild reduction of a variety of alkenes representative of fuel components, and the partial saturation of biodiesel. The new material is considerably more reactive than commercial Pd/SiO2 and Pd/Al2O3 catalysts under analogous reaction conditions.
Amplification and over‐expression of the EGFR and erbB‐2 genes in human esophageal adenocarcinomas

Esophageal cancer is one of the 10 most prevalent human cancers worldwide. The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is on the rise and patients with this disease typically have very poor prognosis. Informative biomarkers would benefit the clinical management of this disease. We examined 13 cases with esophageal adenocarcinomas and 5 cases with Barrett's esophagus for amplification of the EGFR and erbB-2 genes. We detected multiple copies of the EGFR gene in 30.8% of the tumors and multiple copies of the erbB-2 gene in 15.4% of the tumors. Of the cases with amplification of the erbB-2 gene, co-amplification of the EGFR gene was found. Multiple copies of the EGFR gene were also found in one case of Barrett's esophagus. Immunohistochemical staining of the tissues revealed increased expression of the erbB-2 protein in Barrett's mucosa and adenocarcinoma, but no associations between staining intensity and degree of EGFR or erbB-2 gene amplification, histology, or tumor stage were found. Differential polymerase chain reaction was examined as a method for pre-operative detection of gene amplification in esophageal tumors and Barrett's mucosa.
Coordination chemistry in two dimensions: the angular overlap model for actinyl complexes

The angular overlap model has been applied to the study of actinyl coordination complexes AnO2L n (An = U, Np, Pu, Am; n = 4, 5, 6) using a 13-orbital sd5f7 manifold. After allowing for a triply bonded (σ + 2 ⊥ π) linear O≡An≡O substructure, a seven-orbital submanifold d3{dσ,dδ}f4{fδ,fϕ} remains for σ and π bonding to the ligands in the equatorial plane. The two fδ orbitals in this manifold cannot be used for σ bonding to the equatorial ligands leaving only a smaller five-orbital d3{dσ,dδ}f2{fϕ} manifold suitable for equatorial σ bonding. Pentagonal bipyramidal complexes of the type AnO2L5, which are known experimentally to be favored for monodentate L ligands, use this five-orbital submanifold most effectively to form σ bonds to all five equatorial ligands as indicated by the angular overlap parameters calculated for these orbitals. Hexagonal bipyramidal complexes of the type AnO2L6 are less favorable as formation of σ bonds to all six equatorial ligands (L) must necessarily either disturb the orbitals r...
Bayesian Hidden Markov Modeling of Array CGH Data

Genomic alterations have been linked to the development and progression of cancer. The technique of comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) yields data consisting of fluorescence intensity ratios of test and reference DNA samples. The intensity ratios provide information about the number of copies in DNA. Practical issues such as the contamination of tumor cells in tissue specimens and normalization errors necessitate the use of statistics for learning about the genomic alterations from array CGH data. As increasing amounts of array CGH data become available, there is a growing need for automated algorithms for characterizing genomic profiles. Specifically, there is a need for algorithms that can identify gains and losses in the number of copies based on statistical considerations, rather than merely detect trends in the data.We adopt a Bayesian approach, relying on the hidden Markov model to account for the inherent dependence in the intensity ratios. Posterior inferences are made about gains and losses ...
An Excel Solver Exercise to Introduce Nonlinear Regression

Business students taking business analytics courses that have significant predictive modeling components, such as marketing research, data mining, forecasting, and advanced financial modeling, are introduced to nonlinear regression using application software that is a “black box” to the students. Thus, although correct models are estimated, students often do not obtain a thorough understanding of the nonlinear estimation process. The exercise presented in this article was created to demonstrate to students the need for nonlinear regression estimation—rather than using linear transformations and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and subsequently demonstrate the nonlinear optimization process to estimate nonlinear regression models. Using the spreadsheet exercise, students can see effects on the fit of the model by changing the model parameters as they change the values of the decision variables. After applying the spreadsheet to further exercises, students have expressed a deep understanding of the linear regression software. This exercise is innovative because the active learning exercise requires the students to make the logical connections between the structure of the model, the model's parameters, and the objective function.
Influence of coadministration on the pharmacokinetics of mezlocillin and cefotaxime in healthy volunteers and in patients with renal failure.

The pharmacokinetic disposition of cefotaxime, desacetyl cefotaxime, and mezlocillin after the administration of each drug singly and in combination was examined in eight healthy volunteers and in five anuric patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In the presence of ESRD, the total body clearance of cefotaxime decreased from 256.7 ± 41.5 to 65.4 ± 42.0 ml/min, and its elimination half-life (t½) increased from 1.1 to 3.6 hours as compared with healthy volunteers. Concomitant administration of mezlocillin in healthy volunteers decreased the total body clearance of cefotaxime by 42% and increased its steady-state volume of distribution. This reduction in clearance was reflected by a decrease in both renal and nonrenal clearances. In the presence of ESRD, coadministration of mezlocillin increased the t½ of cefotaxime to 5.8 hours. Desacetyl cefotaxime accumulated in ESRD with a prolongation of its elimination t½ to 18.7 hours from 1.7 hours in healthy volunteers. Desacetyl cefotaxime peak plasma concentrations occurred later with the combination regimen in the presence of ESRD. The clearance of mezlocillin was reduced and t½ prolonged in ESRD from 194.6 ± 31.9 to 76.4 ± 38.8 ml/min and 1.4 to 2.3 hours, respectively. Concomitant administration of cefotaxime did not alter the pharmacokinetics of mezlocillin. These data suggest that in the presence of normal renal function, lower doses of cefotaxime may be adequate to maintain similar cefotaxime plasma concentrations when mezlocillin is coadministered compared to when cefotaxime is given alone. Additional pharmacodynamic and clinical studies with this combination are warranted to further elucidate the clinical impact of this pharmacokinetic interaction. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1989) 45, 527–534; doi:10.1038/clpt.1989.68
Learning temporal, relational, force-dynamic event definitions from video

We present and evaluate a novel implemented approach for learning to recognize events in video. First, we introduce a sublanguage of event logic, called k-AMA, that is sufficiently expressive to represent visual events yet sufficiently restrictive to support learning. Second, we develop a specific-to-general learning algorithm for learning event definitions in k-AMA. Finally, we apply this algorithm to the task of learning event definitions from video and show that it yields definitions that are competitive with hand-coded ones.
Singular spectrum analysis for time series with missing data

Geophysical time series often contain missing data, which prevents analysis with many signal processing and multivariate tools. A modification of singular spectrum analysis for time series with missing data is developed and successfully tested with synthetic and actual incomplete time series of suspended-sediment concentration from San Francisco Bay. This method also can be used to low pass filter incomplete time series.
Robust Distance Metric Learning via Simultaneous L1-Norm Minimization and Maximization

Traditional distance metric learning with side information usually formulates the objectives using the covariance matrices of the data point pairs in the two constraint sets of must-links and cannot-links. Because the covariance matrix computes the sum of the squared l2-norm distances, it is prone to both outlier samples and outlier features. To develop a robust distance metric learning method, we propose a new objective for distance metric learning using the l1-norm distances. The resulted objective is challenging to solve, because it simultaneously minimizes and maximizes (minmax) a number of nonsmooth l1-norm terms. As an important theoretical contribution of this paper, we systematically derive an efficient iterative algorithm to solve the general l1-norm minmax problem. We performed extensive empirical evaluations, where our new distance metric learning method outperforms related state-of-the-art methods in a variety of experimental settings.
Infection and stillbirth

Infection may cause stillbirth by several mechanisms, including direct infection, placental damage, and severe maternal illness. Various organisms have been associated with stillbirth, including many bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. In developed countries, between 10% and 25% of stillbirths may be caused by an infection, whereas in developing countries, which have much higher stillbirth rates, the contribution of infection is much greater. In developed countries, ascending bacterial infection, both before and after membrane rupture, with organisms such as Escherichia coli, group B streptococci, and Ureaplasma urealyticum is usually the most common infectious cause of stillbirth. However, in areas where syphilis is prevalent, up to half of all stillbirths may be caused by this infection alone. Malaria may be an important cause of stillbirth in women infected for the first time in pregnancy. The two most important viral causes of stillbirth are parvovirus and Coxsackie virus, although a number of other viral infections appear to be causal. Toxoplasma gondii, Listeria monocytogenes, and the organisms that cause leptospirosis, Q fever, and Lyme disease have all been implicated as etiologic for stillbirth. In certain developing countries, the stillbirth rate is high and the infection-related component so great that achieving a substantial reduction in stillbirth should be possible by reducing maternal infections. However, because infection-related stillbirth is uncommon in developed countries, and because those that do occur are caused by a wide variety of organisms, reducing this etiologic component of stillbirth much further will be difficult.
A layered broadband switching architecture with physical or virtual path configurations

The authors describe a multilayer connection control architecture for broadband communications. A graph framework is introduced to describe network layers of network design, path configurations, dynamic call routing, burst switching, and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell switching. These hierarchical layers of switching are performed at decreasing time scales, respectively. Switching at the higher layer is performed to reduce blocking at the next smaller time scale. A layered notion of equivalent bandwidth for satisfying layered grade-of-service parameters is introduced for making connections at these time scales. The authors then focus on the path configuration layer. Two path setup methods, namely, physical and virtual path setup, are described. Mathematical programs minimizing path bandwidth usage subject to meeting grade-of-service requirements are formulated for both methods. The relative merits of these methods are compared. In one example, physical path setup is shown to require roughly 50% more bandwidth than virtual path setup. >
A Framework for the Classification of Unstructured Data

Increased sources and quantity of unstructured information has created a further need for categorization and interpretation of their content. This paper describes the design of an interchangeable framework to support learning from an unstructured data source. Our approach supports integration of two or more learning mechanisms with a traditional indexing method. The goal is to identify a higher semantic content and more meaningful keyword combinations, considering both supervised and unsupervised techniques. Within a specific implementation both Bayesian learning as well as Clustering are integrated to support a boost parameter towards classification of unstructured text. We find that an implementation of this framework applied towards a set of Reuters news feeds supports a vastly improved recognition rate. Our effort is directed towards making associations between structured and unstructured information.
Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava filters are not getting retrieved: Where is the gap?

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study is to assess the retrieval rate and the predictors of successful retrieval of Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava (RIVC) filters. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of adult patients who had RIVC filter placements from 2004-2008. We excluded patients who died or were lost to follow-up and those who refused or had unsuccessful retrieval. We collected demographic and clinical data including indications for placement and follow –up. Successful retrieval was defined as objective evidence of retrieval by medical records. Results Over a 4 year period, we identified 351 patients who had RIVC filter placements. We excluded 99 patients (65 died, 24 decided to leave filter in place, 7 had unsuccessful retrieval and 3 lost follow –up). Majority of the filters were placed for surgical patients (161, 63.9%). Of 252 eligible patients for retrieval, only 47 filters were successfully retrieved yielding a retrieval rate of 18.7%. We identified three predictors for successful retrieval: Male gender, home discharge and follow up with procedural service. Conclusion In this large cohort we found that the retrieval rate of retrievable IVCF is extremely low consistent with national statistics. Male patients, patients who were discharged home and patients who were followed by the procedural service had higher chance of successful retrieval. We recommend that procedural service placing the filter should ascertain adequate follow-up. We are not certain why more males had successful retrieval than females. Further studies are necessary to investigate this finding.
Achieving Bounded Matching Delay and Maximized Throughput in Information Dissemination Management

The demand for high performance information dissemination is increasing in many applications, such as e-commerce and security alerting systems. These applications usually require that the desired information be matched between numerous sources and sinks based on established subscriptions in a timely manner while a maximized system throughput be achieved to find more matched results. Existing work primarily focuses on only one of the two requirements, either timeliness or throughput. This can lead to an unnecessarily underutilized system or poor guarantees on matching delays. In this paper, we propose an integrated solution that controls both the matching delay and CPU utilization in information dissemination systems to achieve bounded matching delay for high-priority information and maximized system throughput in an example information dissemination system. In addition, we design an admission control scheme to meet the timeliness requirements for selected low-priority information. Our solution is based on optimal control theory for guaranteed control accuracy and system stability. Empirical results on a hardware testbed demonstrate that our controllers can meet the timeliness requirements while achieving maximized system throughput.
Microparticulate Formulations for the Controlled Release of Interleukin-2

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a pleotropic growth factor essential to immune system function. Current methods of administration are limited by the necessity of hospitalization as well as dose-limiting toxicities and side effects. There is also the issue of low therapeutic concentrations at the desired site of action; for instance, in the case of solid tumor treatment. Here we describe the design of controlled-release vehicles for the local administration of IL-2 based on single (SE) and double emulsion (DE) poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) systems and a newly developed class of spray-dried lipid–protein–sugar systems composed of L-α-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and 0.2% Eudragit E 100. All three systems demonstrated the release of therapeutic drug quantities. Totals of 2.0, 0.5, and 2.8 μg of IL-2 (per mg of solid) were encapsulated in the SE, DE, and spray-dried formulations, respectively. The SE and DE released of 30 and 15% of the encapsulated protein, respectively, with delivery of biologically active IL-2 during the first 5 to 10 days. The lipid–protein–sugar-based system demonstrated extended sustained release of biologically active IL-2 for a period of 4 months. These systems provide a potential framework for long-term loco-regional immunotherapeutic treatment regimens. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 93:1100–1109, 2004