cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stochastic games with two non-absorbing states

In the present paper we consider recursive games that satisfy an absorbing property defined by Vieille. We give two sufficient conditions for existence of an equilibrium payoff in such games, and prove that if the game has at most two non-absorbing states, then at least one of the conditions is satisfied. Using a reduction of Vieille, we conclude that every stochastic game which has at most two non-absorbing states admits an equilibrium payoff.
Reconstructing discontinuous surfaces from a given gradient field using partial integrability

This paper describes an adaptive surface reconstruction method from a given gradient field that allows discontinuities in the solution. We first formalize a vector space projection technique to reconstruct a surface with a uniformly integrable gradient field that corresponds to the minimum norm solution in the gradient space over discrete imaging settings. Next, we generalize this technique to reconstruct minimum norm solution surfaces with partially integrable gradient fields, where partial integrability is characterized adaptively from the given gradient field using multi-scale gradient space expansions. The simulations on synthesized and real data using block processing techniques indicate that the proposed method provides fast and reliable surface reconstruction through accurate characterization of embedded partial integrability in a given gradient field.
Berkeley and the Argument from Microscopes

In the course of his discussion of the sensible quality of color in the Dialogues Berkeley advances an argument that I shall refer to as the argument from microscopes (AFM). I offer an account of the AFM that treats it as part of Berkeley’s extended Reductio of Hylas’ philosophical theory of metaphysical realism. I then criticize two representative interpretations of the AFM which fail to appreciate its Reductio structure and, as a consequence, mistakenly attribute to Berkeley such problematic claims as that sensible objects are not colored and that the microscopic view of objects reveals the real nature of objects. If I am correct, properly construed, Berkeley’s AFM escapes these and other objections commonly raised against it.
Perceptions of Sexual Harassment: The Effects of Gender, Legal Standard, and Ambivalent Sexism

This research tests the possibility that the reasonable woman as compared to the reasonable person test of hostile work environment sexual harassment interacts with hostile and benevolent sexist beliefs and under some conditions triggers protectionist attitudes toward women who complain of sexual harassment. We administered to a sample of undergraduates the ambivalent sexism inventory along with the fact patterns in two harassment cases and asked them to make legally relevant decisions under either the reasonable woman or person standard. We found that those high in hostile sexism, and women, found more evidence of harassment. However, those high in benevolent sexism did not exhibit the hostile sexism effects. Although men were less sensitive to the reasonable woman standard than women, under some conditions the reasonable woman standard enabled both genders to find greater evidence of harassment. The results are discussed from the perspectives of law and psychology.
Granuloma-specific expression of Mycobacterium virulence proteins from the glycine-rich PE-PGRS family.

Pathogenic mycobacteria, including the agent of tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, must replicate in macrophages for long-term persistence within their niche during chronic infection: organized collections of macrophages and lymphocytes called granulomas. We identified several genes preferentially expressed whenMycobacterium marinum, the cause of fish and amphibian tuberculosis, resides in host granulomas and/or macrophages. Two were homologs of M. tuberculosis PE/PE-PGRS genes, a family encoding numerous repetitive glycine-rich proteins of unknown function. Mutation of two PE-PGRS genes produced M. marinum strains incapable of replication in macrophages and with decreased persistence in granulomas. Our results establish a direct role in virulence for some PE-PGRS proteins.
Electrochemical and spectroscopic studies of neptunium(VI), -(V) and -(IV) in carbonate-bicarbonate buffers☆

Abstract The behavior of neptunium(VI), -(V) and -(IV) in carbonate-bicarbonate buffers (1 M) has been examined electrochemically and spectroscopically. Np(VI) undergoes a one-electron quasi-reversible reduction to Np(V) at +0.22 V vs SSCE Np(V) is reduced irreversibly to Np(IV) at ca. −1.8 V. Although Np(V) is readily oxidized to Np(VI), no oxidation of Np(IV) was observed. Spectroscopic results indicate that the Np(VI)-(V) reaction involves one reactant and one product. The spectrum of Np(IV) in 1 M carbonate-bicarbonate has been quantitatively analyzed. Comparisons to results for uranium under similar conditions are presented.
There Is No Perfect Health System

Extensive research into quality of care in different countries yields no conclusive findings that one system is better or worse than others. Quality does not necessarily vary with financing mechanisms; even countries with single-payer systems have variations in quality. Quality is not directly related to the amount spent on health care, since the highest-spending country (the United States) does not have measurably better outcomes. Investments in the quality measurement and reporting systems in all countries would substantially increase the opportunities to learn from cross-national comparisons.
The Application of Linear PA/FT-IR to Polymer-Related Problems

A simplified method has been developed which allows the computation of linear photoacoustic FT-IR spectra using only one sample and one reference interferogram from a commercial, rapid-scan spectrometer. The application of linear computation to photoacoustic infrared data can produce spectra similar to transmission spectra through the reduction, if not elimination, of the saturation artifacts typical of amplitude computation, the usual mode of producing a PA/FT-IR spectrum or a transmission mode spectrum. Comparison of the resulting linear spectra with amplitude spectra has been used to demonstrate the existence of surface layers on top of substrates. Qualitative identification of the surface layer is easier in this mode than in the case where amplitude spectra are obtainted at the extremes of instrument mirror velocity. Additionally, information concerning a polymer matrix in the presence of up to 25 wt % carbon black is contained in linear photoacoustic spectra. Linear photoacoustic FT-IR spectra of carbon-filled samples are easier to interpret in comparison to spectra obtained by amplitude methods.
Multiple forms of aryl acylamidase in regional tissues of developing rat brain

The specific activities of two forms of aryl acylamidase (AAA) were examined in 7 regions of the developing rat brain, plus the remainder of the brain and the whole brain. AAA-1 activity peaked at 15 days old in all brain regions studied except the whole brain where it peaked at 22 days of age. AAA-2 activity peaked between 15 and 29 days old in most brain regions studied except corpus striatum and hippocampus where the AAA-2 activity peaked before 15 days old. In all areas and at all time periods, with the exception of CS after 15 days of age, AAA-2 activity was much higher than that of AAA-1. The developmental pattern of AAA-1 is generally the same in the different brain regions while that of AAA-2 shows more regional specificity. These results indicate that neither AAA-1 nor AAA-2 may be associated with amine N-acetyltransferase in the brain which has an entirely different developmental pattern.
Lack of cholinergic regulation of vasopressin and norepinephrine responses to hypertonic saline in humans

In vitro studies in hypothalamic-pituitary explants in the rat have suggested cholinergic mediation of arginine vasopressin (AVP) osmoregulation. In this study we attempted to demonstrate, in humans, cholinergic mediation of AVP osmoregulation. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that the plasma AVP response to an osmolar stimulus would be attenuated by pharmacologic blockade of central nervous system muscarinic or nicotinic receptors in humans. We also evaluated the effects of cholinergic blockade on the norepinephrine (NE) response to an osmolar stimulus. Young normal males underwent hypertonic saline infusion following administration of the centrally active muscarinic antagonist scopolamine or the centrally active nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine. Neither mecamylamine nor scopolamine affected the AVP response to hypertonic saline infusion. Mecamylamine reduced NE concentrations in a dose-dependent manner, but did not affect the slope of the NE increase during hypertonic saline infusion. In a second experiment, we evaluated the effects of scopolamine and mecamylamine on the AVP and NE responses to physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor which stimulates AVP release into plasma through a non-osmolar central nervous system cholinergic mechanism. Scopolamine eliminated the AVP response to physostigmine. Mecamylamine reduced NE concentrations both before and after scopolamine administration but did not affect the slope of the AVP response. These results fail to support cholinergic regulation of the AVP response to osmolar stimulation in humans.
Rapid detection ofHaemophilus influenzae type b in cerebrospinal fluid by commencal coagglutination and latex agglutination kits

The ability of two commercial kits to detectHaemophilus influenzae type b antigen in cerebrospinal fluid was evaluated. Results obtained by Bactogen, a latex agglutination test, and Phadebact, a coagglutination test, were compared to counterimmunoelectrophoresis, Gram stain and culture results. One hundred and seven specimens of cerebrospinal fluid were tested. Thirty were found to contain bacteria, 20 of which wereHaemophilus influenzae type b. All 20 were positive by Bactogen and Phadebact testing, 19 were culture positive, 18 were positive by counterimmunoelectrophoresis and 15 had gram-negative bacilli seen on Gram stain. The culture negative specimen contained microscopically visible gram-negative bacilli and was from a patient on antimicrobial therapy who was previouslyHaemophilus influenzae type b culture positive. No false positives from other genera or the 77 culture negative specimens occurred with Phadebact, Bactogen or counterimmunoelectrophoresis.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the co-pyrolysis of catechol and 1,3-butadiene

Abstract In order to better understand the reactions responsible for the formation and growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from solid fuels, we have performed pyrolysis experiments in an isothermal laminar-flow reactor (at temperatures of 600–1000 °C and a fixed residence time of 0.3 s) with catechol, a model fuel representative of the aromatic moieties in coal and biomass fuels; 1,3-butadiene, a major product of biomass pyrolysis; and with catechol and 1,3-butadiene together (in a catechol-to-1,3-butadiene molar ratio of 0.83). No PAH of ⩾3 rings are produced at temperatures
Transformation by Tribbles homolog 2 (Trib2) requires both the Trib2 kinase domain and COP1 binding

Tribbles homolog 2 (Trib2) is a pseudokinase that induces acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in mice and is highly expressed in a subset of human AML. Trib2 has 3 distinct regions, a proline-rich N-terminus, a serine/threonine kinase homology domain, and a C-terminal constitutive photomorphogenesis 1 (COP1)–binding domain. We performed a structure-function analysis of Trib2 using in vitro and in vivo assays. The N-terminus was not required for Trib2-induced AML. Deletion or mutation of the COP1-binding site abrogated the ability of Trib2 to degrade CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), block granulocytic differentiation, and to induce AML in vivo. Furthermore, COP1 knockdown inhibited the ability of Trib2 to degrade C/EBP-α, showing that it is important for mediating Trib2 activity. We also show that the Trib2 kinase domain is essential for its function. Trib2 contains variant catalytic loop sequences, compared with conventional kinases, that we show are necessary for Trib2 activity. The kinase domain mutants bind, but cannot efficiently degrade, C/EBP-α. Together, our data demonstrate that Trib2 can bind both COP1 and C/EBP-α, leading to degradation of C/EBP-α. Identification of the functional regions of Trib2 that are essential to its oncogenic role provides the basis for developing inhibitors that will block Trib functions in cancer.
High-Speed Nanomechanical Property Measurement in Liquid Using Inversion-Based Iterative Feedforward-Feedback Control

This article presents an inversion-based iterative feedforward-feedback (II-FF/FB) approach to achieve high-speed nanomechanical property measurement of soft materials in liquid. Measurement of nanomechanical properties in liquid is needed for studying a wide variety of soft materials, particularly live biological samples such as live cell. Moreover, high-speed nanomechanical property measurement is needed when dynamic evolution of the sample occurs and/or the rate-dependent viscoelasticity of materials is measured. Nanomechanical measurement in liquid, however, is challenged by the adverse effects including the thermal drift effect, the reduction of the signal to noise ratio, and the hysteresis and the vibrational dynamics effects of the piezoelectric actuators (used to position the probe relative to the sample). Thus, the main contribution of the article is the development of the II-FF/FB approach to tackle these challenges. The proposed method is illustrated through force-curve measurement on a poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) sample in liquid at high-speed. The experimental results demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed approach in achieving high-speed force-curve measurements of soft samples in liquid.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Radiochemical assay for UDP-glucose dehydrogenase

Abstract A rapid radioisotopic assay was developed for the enzyme UDP-glucose dehydrogenase. The assay is based on formation of UDP-glucuronate- 14 C from UDP-glucose- 14 C. The enzyme product was rapidly separated from unreacted substrate on anion-exchange paper after hydrolysis of the sugar nucleotides to give the sugar acid and neutral sugar. The assay was developed with the enzyme from lily pollen, but it should be useful for any biological system.
Helium diatom polarizability and the dielectric properties of fluid helium

Abstract A priori calculations of the helium diatom polarizability are combined with an evaluation of the pair distribution function of gaseous helium to yield the second dielectric virial coefficient at 4 and 322°K. Order of magnitude agreement with experimental data is found, but the isotopic dependence at 4°K is in conflict with experimental data
Growth patterns of fresh human crystalline lenses measured by in vitro photographic biometry

The purpose of the study was to demonstrate and evaluate the use of digital-image photography to measure the central thickness and equatorial diameter of whole fresh human crystalline lenses free of all zonular attachments. Forty-one human donor postmortem intact clear crystalline lenses, with a mean age of 28.5 ± 16.4 years, were obtained by the contributing eye banks. The lenses were removed by the eye bank and shipped in Optisol-GS, a physiologic preservative storage medium, at 7 °C. The lenses were stored at the same temperature and in the same preservative throughout this study. This medium has been demonstrated to maintain the morphometric characteristics of epithelial cells. After freeing the lenses of all residual zonular attachments, digital photographs were obtained within an average of 20.9 ± 13.4 h after death. The digital images were used to determine the central thickness and equatorial diameter of the crystalline lenses. By carefully calibrating the digital images and maintaining the lenses in physiological storage medium, reliable dimensional measurements were obtained. The dimensions for central thickness for each lens were compared to published, age-matched lenses, measured in vivo, and were found to duplicate these in vivo measurements reliably.
Cloning and expression of the Escherichia coli replication origin in a single-stranded DNA phage

Abstract The Escherichia coli DNA replication origin (oriC) and the adjacent asparagine synthetase gene (asnA) have been inserted into the duplex replicative form DNA of the single-stranded phage vector M13Goril. By in vitro recombination, the entire oriC asnA-containing plasmid pJS5 was inserted into M13Gori1 in both possible orientations. Both phage types transduce the asnA gene and confer upon the M13 vector the ability to replicate as a plasmid in the E. coli mutant rep3. In rep+ hosts, these phages undergo single-stranded DNA synthesis and viral morphogenesis.
Cabibbo angle II

When permutation symmetry and phase invariance are assumed, the mass matrices for two generations take a unique form. The expressions for the masses of various quarks found earlier are used in the mass matrices to determine the Cabibbo angle. This angle is found to be 13° 11′. It is very close to the experimental value.
Does electromagnetic radiation accelerate galactic cosmic rays

The 'reactor' theories of Tsytovich and collaborators (1973) of cosmic-ray acceleration by electromagnetic radiation are examined in the context of galactic cosmic rays. It is shown that any isotropic synchrotron or Compton reactors with reasonable astrophysical parameters can yield particles with a maximum relativistic factor of only about 10,000. If they are to produce particles with higher relativistic factors, the losses due to inverse Compton scattering of the electromagnetic radiation in them outweigh the acceleration, and this violates the assumptions of the theory. This is a critical restriction in the context of galactic cosmic rays, which have a power-law spectrum extending up to a relativistic factor of 1 million.
Association of diabetes duration and diabetes treatment with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Despite the observed association between diabetes mellitus and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), little is known about the effect of diabetes duration before HCC diagnosis and whether some diabetes medications reduced the risk of HCC development. This objective of the current study was to determine the association between HCC risk and diabetes duration and type of diabetes treatment. METHODS: A total of 420 patients with HCC and 1104 healthy controls were enrolled in an ongoing hospital-based case-control study. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to adjust for HCC risk factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 33.3% in patients with HCC and 10.4% in the control group, yielding an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 4.2 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 3.0-5.9). In 87% of cases, diabetes was present before the diagnosis of HCC, yielding an AOR of 4.4 (95% CI, 3.0-6.3). Compared with patients with a diabetes duration of 2 to 5 years, the estimated AORs for those with a diabetes duration of 6 to 10 years and those with a diabetes duration >10 years were 1.8 (95% CI, 0.8-4.1) and 2.2 (95% CI, 1.2-4.8), respectively. With respect to diabetes treatment, the AORs were 0.3 (95% CI, 0.2-0.6), 0.3 (95% CI, 0.1-0.7), 7.1 (95% CI, 2.9-16.9), 1.9 (95% CI, 0.8-4.6), and 7.8 (95% CI, 1.5-40.0) for those treated with biguanides, thiazolidinediones, sulfonylureas, insulin, and dietary control, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes appears to increase the risk of HCC, and such risk is correlated with a long duration of diabetes. Relying on dietary control and treatment with sulfonylureas or insulin were found to confer the highest magnitude of HCC risk, whereas treatment with biguanides or thiazolidinediones was associated with a 70% HCC risk reduction among diabetics. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
A theoretical analysis on pore size change of porous ceramic membranes after modification

Abstract The evolution of the pore size distribution and the average pore size of porous ceramic membranes during a modification process of deposition of solids in the membrane pores are analyzed using a method based on the population balance theory. The theoretical analysis suggests that the results of modification on the pore size change of ceramic membrane are strongly determined by the initial pore size distribution of the membrane and the pore narrowing kinetics of the modification process. For a ceramic membrane having a pore size distribution with a large amount of smaller pores and a modification process with a pore size independent pore narrowing rate, the modification could result in an increase in the average pore size, unless the porosity (or permeability) of the membrane is substantially reduced. The average pore size of ceramic membranes can be reduced if the membranes have rather uniform initial pore size distribution, or if the modification process has a pore narrowing kinetics which gives a pore narrowing rate being proportional to the pore size.
Experimental implications of Bell's theorem

Abstract It is demonstrated that the conjunction of Bell's argument with a supplementary assumption makes the existing cascade photon experiments applicable as a test of local hidden-variable theories. Since this supplementary assumption is weaker and more general than the supplementary assumption of Clauser, Horne, Shimony, and Holt (CHSH), an experiment based on this assumption refutes a considerably larger family of hidden-variable theories than the previous experiments based on the CHSH assumption.
High-dose melphalan and total body irradiation with bone marrow transplantation for refractory malignancies

Abstract We investigated if high dose melphalan and total body irradiation could be administered to adult patients with acceptable toxicity. Nineteen adult patients with relapsed disease, 15 of them having hematologic malignancies, were treated with high-dose melphalan ( 100 mg/m 2 –140 mg/m 2 ) divided over 2 consecutive days followed by a rest period of 4 , days before receiving total body irradiation, 850 rad administered in five fractionated doses over 3 , days . Subsequently 11 patients received autologous, seven allogeneic and one syngeneic, bone marrow transplantation. All patients had severe myelosuppression and the major extramedullary toxicity was mucositis. There were three early deaths, two related to septicemia and one to graft-versus-host disease with associated cytomegalovirus pneumonitis. All patients were heavily pretreated, and 16 were demonstrating progressive disease on alternative salvage therapies at the time of bone marrow transplantation. Two of the 16 evaluable patients (12.5%) achieved complete remissions, and 10 (63%) achieved partial remissions for a total response rate of 75% . One patient is a long-term disease-free survivor (over 1 yr ). An occasional patient may be cured by this approach. The combination of melphalan, an alternative alkylating agent to cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation are associated with moderate gastrointestinal toxicity in heavily pretreated adult patients. The combination warrants further investigation in a less heavily pretreated population to determine more accurately the complete response rate.
Retinoid receptors, transporters, and metabolizers as therapeutic targets in late onset Alzheimer disease

Vitamin A (retinoid) is required in the adult brain to enable cognition, learning, and memory. While brain levels of retinoid diminish over the course of normal ageing, retinoid deficit is greater in late onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD) brains than in normal-aged controls. This paper reviews recent evidence supporting these statements and further suggests that genes necessary for the synthesis, transport and function of retinoid to and within the ageing brain are appropriate targets for treatment of LOAD. These genes tend to be clustered with genes that have been proposed as candidates in LOAD, are found at chromosomal regions linked to LOAD, and suggest the possibility of an overall coordinated regulation. This phenomenon is termed Chromeron and is analogous to the operon mechanism observed in prokaryotes. Suggested treatment targets are the retinoic-acid inactivating enzymes (CYP26)s, the retinol binding and transport proteins, retinol-binding protein (RBP)4 and transthyretin (TTR), and the retinoid receptors. TTR as a LOAD target is the subject of active investigation. The retinoid receptors and the retinoid-inactivating enzymes have previously been proposed as targets. This is the first report to suggest that RBP4 is an amenable treatment target in LOAD. RBP4 is elevated in type-2 diabetes and obesity, conditions associated with increased risk for LOAD. Fenretinide, a novel synthetic retinoic acid (RA) analog lowers RBP4 in glucose intolerant obese mice. The feasibility of using fenretinide either as an adjunct to present LOAD therapies, or on its own as an early prevention strategy should be determined.
Density Functional Theory for non-relativistic Fermions in the Unitarity Limit

Abstract We derive an energy density functional for non-relativistic spin one-half fermions in the limit of a divergent two-body scattering length. Using an epsilon expansion around d = 4 − e spatial dimensions we compute the coefficient of the leading correction beyond the local density approximation (LDA). In the case of N fermionic atoms trapped in a harmonic potential this correction has the form E = E LDA ( 1 + c s ( 3 N ) − 2 / 3 ) , where E LDA is the total energy in LDA approximation. At next-to-leading order in the epsilon expansion we find c s = 1.68 , which is significantly larger than the result for non-interacting fermions, c s = 0.5 .
Polarized Advanced Fuel Reactors

The D-3He reaction has the same spin dependence as the d-t reaction. It produces no neutrons so that if the d-d reactivity could be reduced it would lead to neutron-clean reactor. The current understanding of the possible suppression of the d-d reactivity by spin polarization is discussed. The question as to whether a suppression is possible is still unresolved. Other advanced fuel reactions are briefly discussed.
Enhancement of inhibitory synaptic transmission in large aspiny neurons after transient cerebral ischemia

Abstract Large aspiny neurons and most of the GABAergic interneurons survive transient cerebral ischemia while medium spiny neurons degenerate in 24 h. Expression of a long-term enhancement of excitatory transmission in medium spiny neurons but not in large aspiny neurons has been indicated to contribute to this selective vulnerability. Because neuronal excitability is determined by the counterbalance of excitation and inhibition, the present study examined inhibitory synaptic transmission in large aspiny neurons after ischemia in rats. Transient cerebral ischemia was induced for 22 min using the four-vessel occlusion method and whole-cell voltage-clamp recording was performed on striatal slices. The amplitudes of evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents in large aspiny neurons were significantly increased at 3 and 24 h after ischemia, which was mediated by the increase of presynaptic release. Postsynaptic responses were depressed at 24 h after ischemia. Inhibitory postsynaptic currents could be evoked in large aspiny neurons at 24 h after ischemia, suggesting that they receive GABAergic inputs from the survived GABAergic interneurons. Muscimol, a GABA A receptor agonist, presynaptically facilitated inhibitory synaptic transmission at 24 h after ischemia. Such facilitation was dependent on the extracellular calcium and voltage-gated sodium channels. The present study demonstrates an enhancement of inhibitory synaptic transmission in large aspiny neurons after ischemia, which might reduce excitotoxicity and contribute, at least in part, to the survival of large aspiny neurons. Our data also suggest that large aspiny neurons might receive inhibitory inputs from GABAergic interneurons.
Self-Mutilation and the Chronically Suicidal Patient: An Examination of the Frequent Visitor to the Psychiatric Emergency Room

AbstractA retrospective chart review examined the records of all patients (n = 1580) seen in the emergency mental health service at a major teaching hospital during the time period June 30, 1985, through July 1, 1986. Twenty-four chronically “suicidal” patients were identified. Suicidality and chronicity were operationally defined as four or more visits, in which “suicidal” behavior was the primary presenting problem during the index year. The diagnostic and demographic characteristics of these patients were compared to a matched “nonsuicidal” control group of chronic emergency room visitors. Nineteen out of the 24 chronically “suicidal” patients had a history of self-mutilation, whereas none of the control group had any mention of self-mutilation or suicidal behavior in their charts (x2 = 26.42, df = 1, p < 0.01). These 24 “suicidal” patients, who comprised a little more than 1% of the patients seen that year in the psychiatric emergency service, accounted for over 12% of all psychiatric emergency room v...
Detection of clustered microcalcifications using fuzzy modeling and convolution neural network

This paper describes an automatic computer searching system for detecting clustered microcalcifications. A fuzzy classification modeling was employed to extract each suspected microcalcification possessing similar physical parameters. Therefore, only those possible classes were evaluated using a sophisticated convolution neural network which requires a great deal of computation and serves as a discriminator. Based on the detected spots, many of them are true microcalcifications, the computer can easily make a determination when 5 spots are located within a defined region. However, when a cluster consists of only two to four suspicious spots a fuzzy function was used to determine the inclusion of other spots near the cluster. This can be very important for the detection of subtle cases. The membership of the latter fuzzy function was composed of the distance between the suspected spots as well as the output values of the convolution neural network. We have tested the improved algorithms on our research database consisting of 45 mammograms. The results indicated that the fuzzy classification modeling decreased the number of false-positives from 2,874 to 1,067 suspected spots per image without increasing any false-negative detection. The over-all performance in the detection of clustered microcalcifications through the updated algorithms was 90% sensitivity at 0.5 false-positive per image. The computation time using a DEC-Alpha workstation was decreased from 5 minutes to about 3 minutes per image.
MRI findings of an intermuscular lipoma in a 2-year-old

We report the MRI findings of a large deep intermuscular lipoma in a 2-year-old child with a painless palpable shoulder mass, and its differentiation from liposarcoma and other soft-tissue masses. To our knowledge, the imaging features of deep lipomas in children have not been reported.
Enhancing International Business Relationships: A Focus on Customer Perceptions of Salesperson Role Performance Including Cultural Sensitivity

Abstract For many manufacturers, success in the international marketplace depends largely on how well they manage their relationships with retailers, distributors, and agents in foreign cultures. Even so, remarkably little effort has been devoted to understanding cultural sensitivity and its role in international business relationships. The authors draw on existing research and 52 in-depth field interviews with Mexican purchasing directors to provide a working definition of salesperson role performance which includes customers' perceptions of cultural sensitivity as a key dimension. A conceptual framework is presented that identifies the antecedents and consequences of salesperson role performance as a guide to future research efforts. Implications for U.S. managers are discussed.
Cyclo (His-Pro): Mapping hypothalamic sites for its hypothermic action

Hypothalamic loci of Sprague-Dawley rats were individually injected with cyclo (His-Pro) to determine the sites where that metabolite of thyrotropin-releasing hormone acts to produce hypothermia. There was almost always a positive hypothermic response in the preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area (POA/AHA); injection into the posterior or middle hypothalamic areas or into the hippocampus caused no significant decrease in core temperature. The fact that only injection into the POA/AHA evoked hypothermia suggests that this area is a major hypothalamic site of action of cyclo (His-Pro) in modulating thermoregulation in the rat.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction teachers, practice characteristics, cancer incidence, and health: a nationwide ecological description

Studies have demonstrated the potential of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program to improve the condition of individuals with health outcomes such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic pain; improve psychological well-being; reduce stress levels; and increase survival among cancer patients. To date, only one study has focused on the effect of long-term meditation on stress, showing a positive protective relationship. However, the relationship between meditation and cancer incidence remains unexplored. The objective of this study was to describe the state-level relationship between MBSR instructors and their practices and county-level health outcomes, including cancer incidence, in the United States. This ecologic study was performed using geospatial mapping and descriptive epidemiology of statewide MBSR characteristics and overall health, mental health state rankings, and age-adjusted cancer incidence rates. Weak to moderate state-level correlations between meditation characteristics and colorectal and cervical cancer incidence were detected, with states with more meditation (e.g., more MBSR teachers per population) correlated with a decreased cancer incidence. A negative correlation was detected between lung & bronchus cancer and years teaching MBSR only. Moderate positive correlations were detected between Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and female breast cancer in relation to all meditation characteristics. Statistically significant correlations with moderate coefficients were detected for overall health ranks and all meditation characteristics, most strongly for total number of years teaching MBSR and total number of years of general meditation practice. Our analyses might suggest that a relationship exists between the total number of MBSR teachers per state and the total number of years of general meditation practice per state, and colorectal and cervical cancer incidence. Positive correlations were observed with overall health rankings. Despite this study’s limitations, its findings could serve to generate hypotheses and to inform and motivate a new focus on meditation and stress reduction in relation to cancer incidence, with specific relevance to colorectal and cervical cancer.
Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Transmits Palytoxin-Stimulated Signals Leading to Altered Gene Expression in Mouse Keratinocytes

We have been probing the molecular mechanisms of tumor promoters that stimulate distinct initial signals to define critical downstream biochemical events in carcinogenesis. The action of the novel skin tumor promoter palytoxin on signaling and gene expression in keratinocytes, the primary target cells of tumor promoters, was therefore investigated. Palytoxin stimulated an increase in mRNA for matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), an enzyme implicated in carcinogenesis, in a keratinocyte cell line derived from initiated mouse skin (308). Palytoxin stimulated an increase in c-Fos binding to the activator protein-1 (AP-1) site present in the promoter of the mouse MMP-13 gene. This effect was specific because palytoxin had little effect on c-Jun, JunB, JunD, FosB, Fra-1, or Fra-2 binding or on overall levels of transcription factor binding. The increase in c-Fos binding corresponded to a palytoxin-stimulated increase in c-Fos protein levels. Palytoxin stimulated the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38. The MAPK kinase inhibitor PD 98059 blocked palytoxin-stimulated ERK activation. PD 98059 also blocked the palytoxin-stimulated increases in c-Fos protein levels, c-Fos binding to the AP-1 site, and MMP-13 mRNA. These studies identify important differences between palytoxin-stimulated signaling in keratinocytes derived from initiated mouse skin, the biologically relevant cell type, and other cell lines. Specifically, our data suggest that, in keratinocytes derived from initiated mouse skin, ERK plays an important role in transmitting palytoxin-stimulated signals to three downstream targets that are likely to affect carcinogenesis: c-Fos, AP-1, and MMP-13.
Comparing body-size growth curves: the Gallucci-Quinn index, and beyond

Gallucci and Quinn suggested that the product \( {L_\infty } \cdot k \) is a sensible index to compare two growth curves (L∞, k the usual Bertalanffy parameters). This paper gives four (interrelated) reasons why this index captures some essential features of body-size growth. It also notes that the product \( k \cdot L_\infty^3 \) directly compares fish growth at the maximum growth rate.
Considerations for ISDN planning and implementation

THE INFORMATION AGE has created such a diversity between the Communications needs of the business user and the residential Community that one common-denominator public telephone network can no longer serve everyone. The time when evolutionary network enhancements can be justified and implemented will come too late to be acceptable to a large body of business users, because of this diversity of needs. The emerging proliferation of technological bypass of local telephone facilities in the United States is symptomatic of the need for one or more shared wideband/ broadband overlay networks to serve the business community. This environment requires accelerated introduction of digital technologies in the telephone network for provision of high-speed end-to-end digital services including data, facsimile, and video. This necessitates the use of Overlay facilities and networks to meet present business customer demands until the loop plant in the common-denominator network can evolve to optimally meet the varied demands of the whole community. This paper describes past progress and current plans for the introduction of digital technologies for switching, interexchange trunking, and the local loop for an end-to-end digital network. The paper also discusses the implementation of common-channel signaling, based on CCITT's SSN07 in the circuit-switched network, as well as the use of an overlay packet-switched network for provision of data commumcations and videotex services.
Latin Elegy in the Old Age of the World: The Elegiac Corpus of Maximianus

The sixth-century poet Maximianus reintroduces the erotic themes that had been largely absent from Latin elegy since Ovid. But, in a departure from 'love elegy', Maximianus speaks as an old man who is no longer physically capable of love. This co-authored article argues that Maximianus' picture of the breakdown of the aging body alludes to the common late antique idea of the 'old age of the world'. But whereas the senectus mundi narrative locates its end-point in the sublimation of earthly desires, Maximianus' elegiac narrative offers no such resolution for the infirmity and impotence of physical existence.
Heart failure patients' experiences of a self-management peer support program: a qualitative study.

Abstract Objectives Explore the experiences of patients with heart failure in a self-management support program to inform the development of future interventions that support and motivate patients to engage in self-management. Background Peer-support programs have led to improved outcomes among patients with other chronic conditions and may result in similar improvements for heart failure patients. Yet, among patients recently hospitalized for heart failure, over half had no or minimal engagement with a reciprocal peer support program. Methods Qualitative semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 28 patients (mean age 72; 71% Female; 21% African-American; 75% Caucasian) with different levels and types of engagement in a heart failure self-management support program. Results Key themes that emerged included the importance of heart failure specific-social support, sharing information, comparing self to others, depression, and functional status. Conclusions Useful services for heart failure patients provide comfort, restore confidence, and offer practical solutions.
The Effect of Chilling in Cold Air or Ice Water on the Microbiological Quality of Broiler Carcasses and the Population of Campylobacter

ABSTRACT Cold air or ice water can be used to chill poultry carcasses after slaughter. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of 2 chill methods on broiler carcass bacteria. Broiler carcasses were cut in half along the dorsal-ventral midline; one half was subjected to an ice-water immersion chill in an agitated bath for 50 min, whereas the reciprocal half was subjected to an air chill in a 1°C cold room for 150 min. Total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter were enumerated from half-carcass rinses. Species of Campylobacter isolates was determined by a commercial PCR method, which was followed by molecular subtyping with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and determination of antimicrobial susceptibility to 9 drugs. Although significantly fewer of each bacterial type were detected per milliliter from immersion-chilled carcasses than from air-chilled carcasses, in each case the difference was less than 1 log10 cfu/mL. Chilling method did not affect species; both Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were recovered. Results of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis subtyping did not suggest that either chilling method selected for any specific subtypes; most subtypes were found on carcass halves used for both the air chill and water immersion chill. Resistance to 2 antimicrobial drugs was noted in 9 C. coli isolates, 6 from air-chilled carcass halves and 3 from immersion-chilled carcass halves. These data showed that immersion-chilled carcasses had lower numbers of bacteria; however, the difference was not large and may have been due to simple dilution. Both methods were effective for lowering carcass temperature, and neither chilling method seemed to select for specific species, subtypes, or antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter.
Nonlinear dynamics equations and chaos

Nonlinear dynamics and chaotic systems have been of great interest to many scientists and engineers over the past two decades. Many nonlinear systems are a result of mathematical models of physical and biological systems that possess inherent nonlinear properties. In this paper, we focus our attention on a second-degree nonlinear differential equation with a sinusoidal forcing function and constant coefficients; such equations, which are commonly employed for mathematical modeling of biological systems usually possess inherent nonlinear properties. We show that the second-degree nonlinear differential equation system could be aperiodic and therefore the long-term behavior is not predictable. However, in the case of the increased frequency of the sinusoidal input, the system shows somewhat periodic, convergent behavior. The simulations demonstrate how small, seemingly insignificant changes to the parameters (e.g., initial conditions) can dramatically alter the system response.
Thermochemical Analysis of Gas-Cooled Reactor Fuels Containing Am and Pu Oxides

Literature values and estimated data for the thermodynamics of the actinide oxides and fission products are applied to explain the chemical behavior in gas-cooled-reactor fuels. Emphasis is placed on the Am-O-C and Pu-O-C systems and the data are used to plot the oxygen chemical potential versus temperature of solid-solid and solid-gas equilibria. These results help explain observations of vaporization in Am oxides, nitrides, and carbides and provide guidance for the ceramic processing of the fuels. The thermodynamic analysis is then extended to the fission product systems and the Si-C-O system. Existing data on oxygen release (primarily as CO) as a function of burnup in the thoria-urania fuel system is reviewed and compared to values calculated from thermodynamic data. The calculations of oxygen release are then extended to the plutonia and americia fuels. Use of ZrC not only as a particle coating that may be more resistant to corrosion by Pd and other noble-metal fission products, but also as a means to getter oxygen released by fission is discussed.
A SET-THEORETIC VIEW OF THE KÖPPEN DRY CLIMATES

ABSTRACT Using basic set theory, all climatic classes and sub-classes are seen as sets. Thus the Koppen primary classes A, C, and D are mutually exclusive thermal classes but may intersect the dry B sets. The subsets so formed, such as BSC sa provide a much more meaningful nomenclature than BSh or BSk. The proposed view and resultant terminology 1) leaves the dry climates within the thermal framework already established, 2) simplifies the total system, 3) provides a more refined temperature description of the dry climates, 4) reveals more of climatic controls and location. BSCsa is easily seen as a steppe climate, mesothermal, and on the dry side of a Mediterranean climate. The western half of North Africa is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the scheme.
Energy efficiency through burstiness

OS resource management policies traditionally employ buffering to "smooth out" fluctuations in resource demand. By minimizing the length of idle periods and the level of contention during nonidle periods, such smoothing tends to maximize overall throughput and minimize the latency of individual requests. For certain important devices, however (disks, network interfaces, or even computational elements), smoothing eliminates opportunities to save energy using low-power modes. As devices with such modes proliferate, and as energy efficiency becomes an increasingly important design consideration, we argue that OS policies should be redesigned to increase burstiness for energy-sensitive devices. We are currently experimenting with techniques to increase the disk access pattern burstiness of the Linux operating system. Our results indicate that the deliberate creation of bursty activity can save up to 78.5% of the energy consumed by a Hitachi DK23DA disk (in comparison with current policies), while simultaneously decreasing the negative impact of disk congestion and spin-up latency on application performance.
Medical Implications of Elder Abuse: Self-Neglect

Self-neglect, the most common form of elder mistreatment seen by Adult Protective Service Agencies across the United States, is an often unrecognized geriatric syndrome characterized by squalor and unsafe living circumstances. It is a result of medical, neurologic, or psychiatric disorders coupled with lack of capacity for self-care and self-protection in the absence of necessary services or medical care, and leads to increased morbidity and mortality. Clinicians should evaluate self-neglecters and plan interventions based on comprehensive geriatric assessment and capacity assessment. State and federal policies are needed to address the pressing needs of this vulnerable population of seniors.