cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of energy required for phaco-chop and divide and conquer phacoemulsification.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the safety and usefulness of phaco-chop cataract extraction. Setting: A university-associated, multispecialty ophthalmology practice. Methods: Fifty-three patients in a university-associated ophthalmology practice had cataract extraction, 32 by the phaco-chop technique and 21 by four-quadrant divide and conquer phacoemulsification. Phacoemulsification energy and complication rates were compared. Results: Mean phacoemulsification energy was significantly lower in the phaco-chop group (mean 782 J ± 446 [SD]) than in the divide and conquer group (mean 3264 ± 1218 J) ( P Conclusion: The phaco-chop technique provided safe, effective cataract extraction with significantly less energy than that required for divide and conquer phacoemulsification.
Anti-IgA antibodies of limited specificity in healthy IgA deficient subjects.

SUMMARY To investigate the subclass and allotype specificity of anti-IgA antibody synthesis, serum samples from 156 IgA deficient blood donors were screened for anti-IgA antibodies by passive haemagglutination using IgA proteins of both subclasses (IgA1 and IgA2) as well as allotypes A2m(1) and A2m(2). Anti-IgA activity was found in 25% (thirty-nine). Antibodies were class-specific in 19% (twenty-nine) and of limited specificity in 6% (ten) of the samples. One unusual serum had anti-IgA directed solely against IgA2. Its activity against A2m(2) was inhibited not only by A2m(2) protein but also by A2m(1) and by three IgA1 proteins. The anti-A2m(1) activity of the same sample was inhibited only by A2m(1) proteins. The specific mechanism of IgA deficiency in this sample is discussed as well as the structural differences of the different allo- and subtypes of IgA and their relation to the antigenic properties of IgA. Inhibition studies could be performed with only one sample with anti-IgA1 antibodies, but no allotypes of IgA1 were found. By haemagglutination inhibition, 15% (twenty-three) of the samples contained minute amounts of IgA1, but no IgA2. None of the samples had only IgA2 or IgA1 and IgA2. Both findings, anti-IgA antibodies with limited specificity in IgA deficient subjects and minute amounts of IgA of one subclass only in IgA deficient samples, are conceivable if IgA deficiency is caused by selective lack or defect of a subclass of B lymphocytes specifically synthesizing IgA2.
First-principles calculation of the Ag-Cu phase diagram.

Total-energy band calculations based on the augmented-spherical-wave method are used to determine the binding curves of the elements and of selected compounds in the Ag-Cu system. The calculated total energies, together with vibrational free energies determined by a Debye-Gr\"uneisen analysis of the binding curves and configurational entropies determined by the cluster variation method, are used to calculate the solid-state portion of the Ag-Cu phase diagram. The solubilities at both ends of the phase diagram, calculated with no adjustable parameters, are in excellent agreement with experiment. For the Ag-Cu system, it is shown that local volume relaxation effects are very important and that significant improvement in the calculated phase diagram is obtained by including vibrational free energies.
Persistence in Body Mass Index in a Recent Cohort of US Children

Abstract While childhood obesity has become a significant public health concern over the last few decades, and underweight children continue to be a concern, knowledge pertaining to the origins of or persistence in childhood anthropometric measures is incomplete. Here, we utilize several nonparametric metrics to assess the evolution of weight and body mass index (BMI) across the entire distribution during early childhood. We find that movements within the distribution of weight – both upward and downward – are quite high prior to primary school and then decline noticeably. For BMI, we find that movements within the distribution – both upward and downward – are highest at the start of kindergarten and at the start of middle school. However, there are important sources of heterogeneity, including race, gender, and age that should prove insightful to researchers and policymakers. For instance, comparing males versus females who are initially in the bottom quartile of the distribution of BMI, we find that males have a higher probability of moving up at least 10 percentile points between kindergarten and eighth grade (53% versus 50%). Comparisons among racial groups indicate that whites who are initially in the top quartile of the distribution of BMI have a higher probability of moving down at least 10 percentile points between kindergarten and eighth grade than blacks and Hispanics (46% versus 37% and 40%, respectively).
Carotenes and retinal in Phycomyces mutants.

Three different types of β-carotene mutants of Phycomyces have been studied. In 2 mutants (Type I) β-carotene is still the principal carotene but scaled down or up relative to wild type. The carotene mixture of 2 mutants (Type II) consists mainly of phytoene and phytofluene. In Type III (2 mutants) β-carotene is replaced by lycopene. The examination of the mutants reveals that the receptor pigment is very likely neither β-carotene nor retinal. Transmission spectra through the growing zone of live sporangiophores of 1 of these mutants which contains less than one-thousandth of the β-carotene content of wild type show that the receptor pigment extinction is less than 0.003 at its maximum.
Postoperative rupture of the anterolateral deltoid muscle following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients who have undergone open rotator cuff repair.

Background Postoperative ruptures of the antero-lateral deltoid in patients with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty utilizing the delto-pectoral approach following failed mini-open or open rotator cuff repairs have not been reported in the English literature. The incidence of this complication is unknown. Materials and methods A retrospective review of 199 patients who underwent reverse total shoulder arthroplasty utilizing a deltopectoral approach was performed. These procedures were performed by 2 surgeons in 2 hospitals. There were 3 patients who had postoperative rupture of the deltoid. These ruptures occurred without any history of trauma to the patient. In all 3 patients, past surgical history was significant for a rotator cuff repair utilizing a mini-open or mini-open modified to open approach. Successful repair of the deltoid was achieved using a transosseous suture repair in all 3 patients. Results At most current follow-up (all >12 months), average forward elevation was 120°. A small residual anterior deltoid defect was present in all 3 patients, but pain was quantified as 0-4 out of 10 and radiographs demonstrated satisfactory position of the reverse arthroplasty implants. Conclusion Postoperative ruptures of the antero-lateral deltoid can occur in patients who have undergone reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, utilizing the delto-pectoral approach following failed mini-open or open rotator cuff repairs. A supero-lateral approach during reverse total shoulder arthroplasty could be useful in assessing and possibly reinforcing a deltoid origin previously damaged or repaired during mini-open or open rotator cuff repair.
Atul Butte discusses the divide between bioinformatics and the clinic

Abstract Atul Butte is an Assistant in Endocrinology and Informatics and Attending Physician at Children's Hospital, Boston, USA ( http://www.chip.org ), and is an Instructor in Paediatrics at Harvard Medical School ( http://www.harvard.edu ). He received his undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Brown University in 1991, and worked in several stints as a software engineer at Apple Computer and Microsoft Corporation. He graduated from the Brown University School of Medicine in 1995, during which he worked as a research fellow at National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK; http://www.niddk.nih.gov ) through the Howard Hughes/NIH Research Scholars Program. He completed his residency in Paediatrics and Fellowship in Paediatric Endocrinology in 2001, both at Children's Hospital. During his research under Isaac Kohane (at Children's Hospital) he developed a novel methodology for analyzing large data sets of RNA expression, called Relevance Networks. His recent awards include the 2003 Emory University School of Medicine, Pathology Residents’ Choice Award, 2002 American Association for Clinical Chemistry Outstanding Speaker Award, 2002 Endocrine Society Travel Award based on presentation merit, 2001 American Association for Cancer Research Scholar-In-Training Award and the 2001 Lawson Wilkins Paediatric Endocrine Society Clinical Scholar Award.
Are Workers “Ricardian”? Estimating the Labor Supply Effects of State Fiscal Policy

This research investigates whether workers perceive current deficits as implied future taxes (la Ricardian equivalence) and therefore consider current deficits when formulating their expectations about future net wages. A life cycle model of labor supply that permits workers to be aware of the government's budget constraint over time is constructed and then estimated using microlevel data and state fiscal policy variables. The results reveal that state government budget deficits tend to increase male labor supply more (or decrease it less) the more the state relies on individual income taxes. Such an effect is what would be predicted with “Ricardian” workers.
New horizons in the pharmacologic approach to hyponatremia: the V2 receptor antagonists

This article provides an overview of the developing niche for vasopressin 2 receptor antagonists ("vaptans") in the management of hyponatremia in clinical practice. Specific areas of focus include the physiological and clinical rationale for use of this class of medications (including advantages over older and less specific therapeutic modalities), the practical limitations to the use of these new drugs (including issues of tolerability, toxicity, risk, and cost), and the unanswered question of the extent to which correcting hyponatremia will improve clinical outcomes.
Financial incentives and endogenous enforcement in China's pollution levy system

Abstract Using data from 3000 Chinese factories, we estimate an econometric model of endogenous enforcement in which factories’ levy rates and emissions are jointly determined by the interaction of local and national enforcement factors, abatement costs and regulator–manager negotiations that are sensitive to plant characteristics. Our results demonstrate the significant deterrent impact of a system that combines progressive financial penalties and self-reporting with few options for contesting regulatory decisions, despite the prevalence of state enterprises and developing-country conditions in China. Despite central pressure for uniformity in enforcement, we find great regional diversity that reflects local conditions. We also find that pollution control through financial incentives has a much greater impact on production processes than on end-of-pipe abatement.
The diagnosticity of color for emotional objects

Object classification can be facilitated if simple diagnostic features can be used to determine class membership. Previous studies have found that simple shapes may be diagnostic for emotional content and automatically alter the allocation of visual attention. In the present study, we analyzed whether color is diagnostic of emotional content and tested whether emotionally diagnostic hues alter the allocation of visual attention. Reddish-yellow hues are more common in (i.e., diagnostic of) emotional images, particularly images with positive emotional content. An exogenous cueing paradigm was employed to test whether these diagnostic hues orient attention differently from other hues due to the emotional diagnosticity. In two experiments, we found that participants allocated attention differently to diagnostic hues than to non-diagnostic hues, in a pattern indicating a broadening of spatial attention when cued with diagnostic hues. Moreover, the attentional broadening effect was predicted by self-reported measures of affective style, linking the behavioral effect to emotional processes. These results confirm the existence and use of diagnostic features for the rapid detection of emotional content.
A Practical Approach to Shift-Share Analysis

Shift-share analysis, a technique for analyzing a region's economic growth pattems, is explained, and basic uses of the technique are reviewed. Potential pitfalls and means of avoiding them are discussed. A modified technique, actual-expected-differential shift-share, is proposed as more appropriate than the classic method for sector-level analysis aimed at local economic development groups. Potential uses of the revised technique are briefly overviewed, including strategic planning, business retention and expansion programs, and industrial attraction initiatives.
Validation of three-dimensional echocardiography for quantifying the extent of dyssynergy in canine acute myocardial infarction: Comparison with two-dimensional echocardiography☆

Objectives. This study was designed to compare the accuracy of three- and two-dimensional echocardiography for quantifying the extent of abnormal wall motion in experimental acute myocardial infarction, as correlated with the pathologic determination of infarct size. Background. Two-dimensional echocardiographic estimations of the fraction of myocardium showing abnormal wall motion are often used as an index of infarct size even though they rely on image plane positioning and geometric assumptions that may not be valid. Three-dimensional echocardiographic reconstruction of the endocardial surface eliminates the need for these assumptions and may improve echocardiographic estimates of infarct size. Methods. Coronary ligation was performed in 14 open chest dogs, and echocardiographic imaging of the ventricle was performed 6 h later. Three-dimensional echocardiography used seven or eight spatially registered short-axis images to measure percent of endocardial surface and mass showing abnormal wall motion. Three two-dimensional echocardiographic methods using multiple, nonspatially registered images were evaluated. One method used seven or eight short-axis slices and a summation of discs algorithm for computing surface area. The second method used the same images and a conical model for the left ventricle. The third used basal, middle and apical short-axis plus apical four- and two-chamber views comparing summed endocardial lengths showing abnormal wall motion with the total of the endocardial dimensions, expressed as percent. The percent of left ventricular mass and surface area infarcted was determined by staining with triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Results. Three-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of endocardial surface area correlated more closely with infarct mass (r = 0.94, SEE ±3.6%) than did the two-dimensional method using the summation of discs algorithm (r = 0.85, SEE ±6.6%), the summation of conical sections algorithm (r = 0.82, SEE ±5.4%) or the method using summed endocardial lengths (r = 0.79, SEE ±7.4%). Limits of agreement analysis comparing mass showing abnormal wall motion with anatomic infarct mass and surface area showing abnormal wall motion with anatomic infarct surface area showed the smallest limits for three-dimensional echocardiography. Conclusions. Three-dimensional echocardiography is a more accurate means of noninvasively estimating myocardial infarct size in this canine model than two-dimensional echocardiography.
Reminiscence and item recovery in free recall.

The item recovery or reminiscence component of recall in RTT procedures was investigated in two free recall experiments. In the first, Erdelyi and Becker’s (1974) “hypermnesia” effect was found with pictures as the to-be-remembered material: total amount recalled increased over two successive test trials, and included a large reminiscence effect, with some 27% of previously unrecalled items appearing in the second test. The second experiment, with word lists, showed that the frequency of occurrence of new items was greater following a 12-min separation of two test trials than in two relatively massed tests. This kind of item recovery is relevant to models of output interference and retrieval limitations in free recall, and may be also related to spontaneous recovery effects.
PRIMARY RESULTS FOR THE FIRST TEXAS MOBILE LOAD SIMULATOR TEST PAD

The pavement behavior under 630,000 axle repetitions from the Texas Mobile Load Simulator (TxMLS) was studied. During the course of TxMLS testing, nondestructive testing and in situ instrumentation (pressure cell, strain gauge, and multidepth deflectometers) were applied to monitor and assess the pavement condition. In addition, pavement distress data, such as measurements of permanent deformation, rutting, and cracking, were collected and analyzed. At the end of 630,000 axle repetitions, the maximum permanent deformation was approximately 22 mm. A forensic study was then performed by cutting a 1.8-m by 3-m trench in the middle of the test pad and three nuclear density gauge (NDG) tests were performed on top of each layer to determine the densities and moisture contents. It was found that the lime-treated gravel base (LTB) layer contributed the most to rutting. The axle-load applications increased the density of the LTB layer in the pit area, which caused the pavement structure to settle and consolidate. The highest rate of rutting was observed at the early stages of loading, between 10,000 and 20,000 axle repetitions. The higher deflections on the left wheelpath as observed from falling weight deflectometer data were probably due to the higher moisture content and the instrumented pit. NDG data showed that the LTB, lime-stabilized subgrade (LTS), and subgrade in the left wheelpath all had higher moisture contents than those in the right wheelpath.
Effects of interactive instructional techniques in a web-based peripheral nervous system component for human anatomy

Background: This study investigated the effects of interactive instructional techniques in a web-based peripheral nervous system (PNS) component of a first year medical school human anatomy course.Method: Existing data from 9 years of instruction involving 856 students were used to determine (1) the effect of web-based interactive instructional techniques on written exam item performance and (2) differences between student opinions of the benefit level of five different types of interactive learning objects used. The interactive learning objects included Patient Case studies, review Games, Simulated Interactive Patients (SIP), Flashcards, and unit Quizzes.Results: Exam item analysis scores were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) for students receiving the instructional treatment incorporating the web-based interactive learning objects than for students not receiving this treatment. Questionnaires using a five-point Likert scale were analysed to determine student opinion ratings of the interactive...
ProQuPri: towards anonymity protection with privacy quantification for context-aware applications

Privacy is the most often-cited criticism of context awareness in pervasive environments and may be the utmost barrier to its enduring success. Users certainly desire to be notified of potential data capture. Context-based pervasive applications have the vulnerabilities of tracking and capturing extensive portions of users' activities. Whether such data capture is an actual threat or not, users' perceptions of such possibilities may discourage them from using and adopting pervasive applications. So far in context-based pervasive applications, location data has been the main focus to make users anonymous. However in reality, anonymity depends on all the privacy sensitive data collected by the applications. Protecting anonymity with the help of an anonymizer has the susceptibility of a single point of failure. In this poster, we propose a formal model ProQuPri (Protect Anonymity and Quantify Privacy) that preserves users' anonymity without anonymizer while quantifies the amount of privacy at the time asking for services from untrustworthy service providers. Before placing a request, each user can protect his own anonymity by collaborating with his peers.
The nucleon and Δ-resonance masses in relativistic chiral effective-field theory

We study the chiral behavior of the nucleon and De-isobar masses within a manifestly covariant chiral effective-field theory, consistent with the analyticity principle. We compute the {pi} N and {pi}{Delta} one-loop contributions to the mass and field-normalization constant, and find that they can be described in terms of universal relativistic loop functions, multiplied by appropriate spin, isospin and coupling constants. We show that these relativistic one-loop corrections, when properly renormalized, obey the chiral power-counting and vanish in the chiral limit. The results including only the {pi} N-loop corrections compare favorably with the lattice QCD data for the pion-mass dependence of the nucleon and De masses, while inclusion of the {pi}/De loops tends to spoil this agreement.
Functions of novel transcription factors interacting with the promoter of the gene encoding the mRNA cap binding protein (eIF4E) in growth regulation |[bull]| 771

Cell division is dependent on cell growth. Although elements regulating cell division have received intense scrutiny, factors regulating growth in the form of new protein synthesis are less well characterized. The mRNA cap-binding protein (eIF4E) is rate limiting for translation initiation and transforms fibroblasts. To identify factors regulating eIF4E, we characterized the promoter of the eIF4E gene using linker scanning mutants. Promoter activity was dependent on sites at -5, -25, -45 and -75. Sites at -5, -25, and-45 were located in areas classi-cally involved in transcription initiation; a myc box at -75 was previously described. Since the eIF4E promoter lacked both TATAA and initiator elements, we characterized potential preinitiation complexes at -5, -25 and -45 sites. EMSA experiments revealed novel factors binding the -25 site whose minimum motif was TTACCCCCCCTT. The abundance of 68 and 98 kd proteins which bound this site in UV crosslinking and Southwestern analysis correlated with protein synthesis rates and c-myc levels in differentiating U937 and HL60 cells. Correlations between the 68 and 98 kd proteins, eIF4E expression and protein synthesis rates suggested a role for the -25-binding factors in down-regulation of protein synthesis during differentiation. These novel transcription factors are also positioned to mediate the induction of eIF4E by the c-myc oncogene.
Phase Diagram of Mg Insertion into Chevrel Phases, MgxMo6T8 (T = S, Se). 1. Crystal Structure of the Sulfides

A combination of ab initio calculations and experimental methods (high-resolution neutron and powder X-ray diffractions) was used to solve the crystal structure of MgxMo6S8 (x = 1 and 2). It was shown that at room temperature, the latter are similar to the crystal structure of classic Chevrel phases (CPs) such as CuxMo6S8: space group R3, ar = 6.494 A, α = 93.43° for MgMo6S8 and ar = 6.615 A, α = 95.16° for Mg2Mo6S8. For x = 1, one Mg2+ cation per formula unit is distributed statistically between inner sites. For x = 2, the second Mg2+ cation per formula unit is located in the outer sites. Peculiarities of the electrochemical behavior of the CPs as electrode materials for Mg batteries were understood on the basis of the analysis of the interatomic distances. It was shown that the circular motion of the Mg2+ ions between the inner sites in MgMo6S8 is more favorable than their progressive diffusion in the bulk of the material, resulting in relatively slow diffusion and Mg trapping in this phase. In contra...
Gender and race differences in child sexual abuse correlates

Abstract This study reports gender and race differences found in seven types of characteristics for 15,758 households in Indiana that were investigated by Law Enforcement and/or Child Protection Services for child sexual abuse. Twelve hypotheses, generated from a literature review, were supported by the empirical testing of the data. Major conclusions include: (a) child sexual abuse is a complex, multi-faceted problem that involves dysfunctions at all ecological levels, (b) significant correlates accounting for between-race and between-gender differences in sexual abuse can be used for program planning, implementation, and evaluation, (c) future services require the development of community-wide cooperative programs; and (d) program implementation and evaluation require the integration of knowledge and skills of all professionals from different disciplines. More detailed descriptions of future programs and service needs are also discussed in reference to three (primary, secondary, and tertiary) types of prevention of child sexual victimization.
Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) — A new tool in geochemistry

Abstract A proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method has been developed for determination of the concentrations of elements (with Z > 12) in geological samples. In this procedure proton bombardment is utilized to induce characteristic X-rays in all elements present in samples to be analyzed. The method involves observation and counting of these X-rays thereby providing a quantitative measurement of the concentration of each element (with Z > 12) in the samples. Complete analysis can be obtained in about 30 min, only mg amounts of material are required, samples are not destroyed, the concentrations of as many as 75 elements are obtained in one operation and the procedure is fully automated. Concentrations of a few ppm, in some favorable cases 1 ppb, can be quantitatively determined. Advantages and limitations of the method are discussed.
A reevaluation of fatty acids as inflammatory agents in acne.

The currently widely held theory that intrafollicular free fatty acids (FA) are the primary agents instigating inflammatory changes in acne is based on circumstantial evidence. There is no direct evidence that FA in physiologic concentrations are inflammatory. In the present study the quantities of FA present in isolated pilosebaceous ducts and in isolated comedones were analyzed. Using these values, the effect of FA on intracutaneous injection into human skin was investigated. The range of FA in 257 isolated pilosebaceous ducts from skin of the upper back of 10 male subjects was 0.19 to 2.43 μg, with an average of 0.89 ± 0.75 μg of FA per duct. The mean FA content in 45 open comedones was 63.6 ± 24.8 μg per comedone. Fatty acids for intracutaneous testing were isolated from human skin surface lipids and from hydrolyzed triglycerides purified from pooled isolated sebaceous glands. Twenty-six subjects received 100 μg of FA intracutaneously in the upper back. The response to FA injections could not be distinguished from the response to saline control injections. By 24 hr no erythema, induration, or any visible marks of inflammation were present in the skin of any of the subjects tested. At the histologic level a mild inflammatory infiltrate consisting predominantly of lymphocytes was slightly more marked in the FA injection site than in the saline control injection site. Increasing the amount of FA injected to 500 μg still produced no visible inflammatory response in human skin. We conclude that intracutaneous injections of FA in physiologic concentrations do not produce more than a very mild inflammatory reaction in human skin and suggest that the role of Propionibacterium acnes in the pathogeneisis of acne may be more complex than merely as a source of intrafollicular lipases.
Inversion of unimodular matrices

An algorithm is developed to compute the inverse of unimodular matrices. An efficient algorithm is given which requires less evaluative computation compared with the previous results.
Reformulating zero‐sum games with multiple goals

This paper investigates the two‐person zero‐sum multiple payoff game in which the objective is to minimize a player's total underachievement from a fixed set of goals. It is demonstrated that a previous formulation of this problem can be substantially simplified.
Practical Approach for the Stereoselective Introduction of β-Arabinofuranosides

A practical approach for the stereoselective introduction of β-arabinofuranosides has been developed on the basis of locking an arabinosyl donor in a conformation in which nucleophilic attack from the β face is favored. The new glycosyl donor was designed by analyzing optimized geometries of low-energy conformers of the arabinofuranosyl oxacarbenium ion. The Newman projection of the E3 conformer indicated that nucleophilic attack from the α face is disfavored because an eclipsed H-2 will be encountered. On the other hand, an approach from the β face was expected to be more favorable, because it will experience only staggered substituents. The arabinofuranosyl oxacarbenium ion could be locked in the E3 conformation by employing a 3,5-O-di-tert-butylsilane protecting group, which places C-5 and O-3 in a pseudoequatorial orientation, resulting in a perfect chair conformation of the protecting group. The new glycosyl donor gave excellent β selectivities in a range of glycosylations with glycosyl acceptors hav...
Theory and design of two-dimensional filter banks: a review

There has been considerable interest in the design of multidimensional (MD) filter banks. MD filter banks find application in subband coding of images and video data. MD filter banks can be designed by cascading one-dimensional (1D) filter banks in the form of a tree structure. In this case, the individual analysis and synthesis filters are separable and the filter bank is called a separable filter bank. MD filter banks with nonseparable filters offer more flexibility and usually provide better performance. Nonetheless, their design is considerably more difficult than separable filter banks. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of developments in this field on the design techniques for MD filter banks, mostly two-dimensional (2D) filter banks. In some image coding applications, the 2D two-channel filter banks are of great importance, particularly the filter bank with diamond-shaped filters. We will present several design techniques for the 2D two-channel nonseparable filter banks. As the design of MD filters are not as tractable as that of 1D filters, we seek design techniques that do not involve direct optimization of MD filters. To facilitate this, transformations that turn a separable MD filter bank into a nonseparable one are developed. Also, transformations of 1D filter banks to MD filter banks are investigated. We will review some designs of MD filter banks using transformations. In the context of 1D filter bank design, the cosine modulated filter bank (CMFB) is well-known for its design and implementation efficiency. All the analysis filters are cosine modulated versions of a prototype filter. The design cost of the filter bank is equivalent to that of the prototype and the implementation complexity is comparable to that of the prototype plus a low-complexity matrix. The success with 1D CMFB motivate the generalization to the 2D case. We will construct the 2D CMFB by following a very close analogy of 1D case. It is well-known that the 1D lossless systems can be characterized by state space description. In 1D, the connection between the losslessness of a transfer matrix and the unitariness of the realization matrix is well-established. We will present the developments on the study of 2D lossless systems. As in 1D case, the 2D FIR lossless systems can be characterized in terms of state space realizations. We will review this, and then address the factorizability of 2D FIR lossless systems by using the properties of state space realizations.
Bronchogenic Carcinoma and Postoperative Empyema: Is Survival Really Enhanced?

From 1959 to 1974, 542 patients underwent curative resection for bronchogenic carcinoma. Postoperative empyema occurred in 17 of these patients. The overall 5-year survival of these 17 patients was only 18%, compared with 27% in the 525 patients without empyema. We were unable to demonstrate by our study or by a review of the literature that postoperative empyema favorably influences survival in patients who have had pulmonary resection for bronchogenic carcinoma.
Predictors of treatment engagement for young children exposed to violence

This study examined factors associated with treatment engagement and child outcomes in 1,365 children receiving community-based services for exposure to violence. Data were collected on children and families who completed an intake interview. Children were categorized into groups based on whether they attended any therapy sessions after the intake, terminated prematurely from therapy, or completed treatment. Results demonstrated that child emotional and behavioral problems at intake, general parent stress, and income did not differ by treatment engagement. Type of violence exposure, parent–child stress, and race differed by category of treatment engagement. Strategies from Safe From the Start service providers to increase treatment engagement are included in the discussion.
2876 – Glutamatergic strategies in the treatment of pathological gambling: a pilot study

Aims There is substantial evidence indicating that pharmacological treatments targeting glutamatergic transmission are of potential utility in the treatment of drug addiction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of glutamatergic treatments in patients with pathological gambling. Methods Fifteen patients fulfilling criteria for pathological gambling and receiving drugs with effects on glutamatergic transmission (amantadine, N-acetylcysteine, gabapentin, pregabalin and topiramate) were enrolled. Gambling craving (Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale, G-SAS, and visual analogue scale, VAS) and relapse (Gambling Timeline Follow Back, G-TLFB) rating scales were administered before and after treatment (1, 3, 6 months follow-up). Results Gambling craving and behavior were significantly reduced (p Discussion Our results are discussed in the context of the glutamatergic hypothesis of addiction. Our data seem to confirm the utility of targeting the glutamatergic system for the treatment of PG, in particular by acting on craving and increasing treatment retention. In particular, glutamatergic medications may offer some advantages in preventing relapse.
Long-lived lines of Caenorhabditis elegans can be used to establish predictive biomarkers of aging

Abstract Long-lived recombinant inbred lines, some of which have mean and maximum life spans up to 70% longer than wild type, were used in these analyses. Longer life results from a slower exponential rate of increase in mortality. General motor activity decreases with chronological age in all genotypes; this decay in general motor activity is a biomarker of aging in that it is a predictor of maximum life span. The aging process has also been dissected into component processes. The length of development and the length of reproduction are unrelated to increased life span; lengthened life is due entirely to an increase in postreproductive life span. Development, reproduction, and life span are each under independent genetic control. General motor activity and life span share at least one common rate-determining genetic component.
Rapid directed self-assembly of Lamellar microdomains from a block copolymer containing hybrid

Material properties and directed self-assembly of a block copolymer containing hybrid material are presented in this paper. The hybrid material, which is a mixture of poly(styrene-b-ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) and organosilicate (OS), shows morphologies of microdomains similar to those of organic diblock copolymers depending on the fraction of each phase, i.e. PS and PEO+OS. This material system shows very strong segregation between phases, which provides well defined microdomains in thin films even right after spin coating. The strong segregation also makes it possible to generate microdomains of sub-10 nm length scale regime. The hybrid is found to be directed self-assembly (DSA)- friendly, thus typical topographic and/or chemical guiding patterns can be used for DSA of the hybrid.
Intracerebral tumor-associated hemorrhage caused by overexpression of the vascular endothelial growth factor isoforms VEGF121 and VEGF165 but not VEGF189

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to be a significant mediator of angiogenesis during a variety of normal and pathological processes, including tumor development. Human U87MG glioblastoma cells express the three VEGF isoforms: VEGF121, VEGF165, and VEGF189. Here, we have investigated whether these three isoforms have distinct roles in glioblastoma angiogenesis. Clones that overexpressed each isoform were derived and inoculated into mouse brains. Mice that received VEGF121- and VEGF165-overexpressing cells developed intracerebral hemorrhages after 60-90 hr. In contrast, mice implanted with VEGF189-overexpressing cells had only slightly larger tumors than those caused by parental cells and little evidence of hemorrhage at these early times after implantation, whereas, after longer periods of growth, enhanced angiogenicity and tumorigenicity were apparent. There was rapid blood vessel growth and breakdown around the tumors caused by cells overexpressing VEGF121 and VEGF165, whereas there was similar vascularization but no eruption in the vicinity of those tumors caused by cells overexpressing VEGF189, and none on the border of the tumors caused by the parental cells. Thus, by introducing VEGF-overexpressing glioblastoma cells into the brain, we have established a reproducible and predictable in vivo model of tumor-associated intracerebral hemorrhage caused by the enhanced expression of single molecular species. Such a model should be useful for uncovering the role of VEGF isoforms in the mechanisms of angiogenesis and for investigating intracerebral hemorrhage due to ischemic stroke or congenital malformations.
Logical and physical simulation of heavy vehicle automation: a case study of the Lincoln Tunnel

Rising with the expansion of today's transportation systems are needs for new techniques to handle the increasing demand load. This includes the development of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to incorporate modern technology into creating flexible transportation systems which react more efficiently to traffic problems. A particular focus is the creation of an Automated Highway System (AHS) to combine advanced sensing and communication technologies to create highly efficient computer-controlled traffic flow. At present, many complex dimensions of automated highway development remain difficult to mange. To develop an evolutionary step toward an automated highway, increasing traffic flow in a highly controlled environment is essential. The Lincoln Tunnel, a Hudson River crossing between New York City and New Jersey, represents a major artery to thousands of commuters living in New Jersey. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the governing authority of the Lincoln Tunnel, has dedicated certain priority lanes for bus traffic to streamline traffic flow and create a reward process for mass transit commuters. It is possible to increase flow efficiency using existing technology to control vehicle motion through this corridor. This paper provides a description of physical simulation testing the feasibility of automating lanes for bus flow on this roadway.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cutbacks in Disability Transfer Programs An Evaluation

The large growth in disability transfer program beneficiaries and expenditures from 1965-1978 and the sizable decrease in older male labor force participation has led to public concern about both the incentive effects of and the budgetary expenditures for these programs. The Reagan administration has discussed two paths toward reducing disability benefit expenditures: removing individuals from the rolls via administrative review and reducing the generosity of benefits. These two alternative retrenchment strategies are explored in terms of both the number of beneficiaries expected to voluntarily remove themselves from the rolls if benefits are reduced and the expected economic hardships if individuals are administratively removed. Existing econometric choice modeling underlies the estimates.
On the linear quadratic minimum-time problem

A nontraditional minimum-time problem that includes quadratic-state and control-weighting terms in the performance index is investigated. This formulation provides a convenient solution to the problem that uses the solution of the Riccati equation to compute the optimal feedback gain and the optimal time. In some cases the latter is simply found using the derivative of the Riccati equation solution. >
Ray redistribution optics for high-feedback annular resonators, I: component design with geometric optics

A method is presented by which the feedback and effective magnification of a high extraction efficiency decentered annular ring resonator (HEXDARR) can be changed, with the introduction of a flux-redistribution irradiance mapping optical pair, into the compact leg of the resonator. The mirror pair shapes were derived, and, using ray-trace methods, it is verified that the desired redistribution is effected. It is also shown that the specification of the mirror surfaces given by the equations derived meet the requirements for reducing the effective magnification and introducing no phase errors.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Image grand tour

We describe a method of fusing, visualizing, and exploring multiple registered images called the image grand tour (IGT). The IGT is based on the grand tour idea for exploring high-dimensional data sets. In this article, we provide information on the general grand tour and show how this can be adapted to explore many linear combinations of the registered images in search of interesting structure and information. We provide several examples where the IGT is used for remote sensing, the search for rock art pictographs, and sensor fusion. WIREs Comput Stat 2013, 5:198–206. doi: 10.1002/wics.1253 This article is a U.S. Government work, and as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America. Conflict of interest: The author has declared no conflicts of interest for this article.
Proton magnetic resonance, magnetic susceptibility and Mössbauer studies of Clostridium pasteurianum rubredoxin.

Mossbauer and magnetic suspectibility studies concur in assigning high spin values to the single iron atom of rubredoxin in both redox forms. Contact shifts were observed in the NMR spectrum of the reduced form that appear to originate from pseudocontact rather than hyperfine contact interaction. The magnetic properties of rubredoxin are compared with those of another iron–sulphur protein, the eight-iron ferredoxin.
Test Environment Selection for Corrosion-Fatigue Testing of Aluminum Alloy 7075-T6

Abstract The appropriateness of a variety of test environments was determined for studies of interactions between corrosion and fatigue crack propagation (FCP) in the context of damage tolerance and durability. Because many fatigue cracks in aerospace structures involve materials in occluded geometries, measurements included occluded region potential as a function of time, boldly exposed region polarization scans, corrosion morphology comparisons, and pH. The alloy of interest was aluminum alloy 7075-T6 (UNS A97075). The test environments included four common ASTM test solutions for localized corrosion susceptibility of aluminum alloys and the lap joint simulant solution (LJSS), which was designed to reproduce in-service corrosion morphologies. The use of the ASTM standard solutions severely limited the range of potentials that can be probed during FCP testing. The LJSS was more passivating, resulting in the ability to probe a wide range of potentials without inducing localized corrosion on the boldly exp...
Iron Release Is Reduced by Mutations of Lysines 206 and 296 in Recombinant N-Terminal Half-Transferrin†

Human serum transferrin consists of two iron-binding lobes connected by a short peptide linker. While the high homology and structural similarity between the two halves of the molecule would suggest similar characteristics, it has been shown that the pH-dependent rate of release of iron from the N-terminal lobe is quite different from that of its C-terminal counterpart. This suggests that the N-lobe of human serum transferrin has a specific, pH-dependent, molecular mechanism for releasing iron. Sacchettini and co-workers using structural information have hypothesized that two lysines in the N-terminal lobe of ovotransferrin create a dilysine interaction and suggest that this is the trigger for pH-dependent iron release. To investigate this hypothesis, we used a Pichia pastoris expression system to produce large amounts of wild-type nTf, the single point mutants, nTfK206A (Lys 206 to alanine) and nTfK296A (Lys 296 to alanine), and the double mutant, nTfK206/296A. The purified recombinant proteins were then...
Luteal phase serum cell-free DNA as a marker of failed pregnancy after assisted reproductive technology.

Purpose: DNA-damaging factors have been reported in patients that failed to achieve pregnancy after assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The hypothesis was that increased circulating cell-free DNA released by damaged cells could predict unfavorable conditions leading to failed ART treatment. The objective was to compare the relative concentrations of cell-free DNA in the luteal phase sera of nonpregnant versus pregnant patients. Methods: Frozen-thawed sera (30 IVF cases) were obtained 1 week after embryo transfer. There were 16 pregnant and 14 nonpregnant cases and controls consisting of male sera (n = 8 cases). Modified isocratic capillary electrophoresis was performed and the images analyzed for cell-free DNA. Results: Circulating cell-free DNA were identified in the sera of all patients. The serum concentrations of high (12 kb) and low (1 kb) molecular weight cell-free DNA were similar for both nonpregnant and pregnant patients. Male control sera had higher cell-free DNA concentrations compared with females. Evaluation of sera from a control case showed no fluctuations in cell-free DNA concentrations throughout specific days of the menstrual cycle. Conclusions: The results do not support the use of the luteal phase cell-free DNA concentration as a marker for failed pregnancies. The equal concentrations of high and low molecular weight cell-free DNA and ladder band-like gel patterns suggested cell apoptosis as the source of DNA.