cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mean Aggregation versus Robust Rank Aggregation for Ensemble Gene Selection

Feature (gene) selection is an important preprocessing step for performing data mining on large-scale bioinformatics datasets. However, one known concern is that feature selection can sometimes give very different results when applied to very similar data sets. Ensemble gene selection is a promising new approach which may help resolve this concern, producing more stable gene lists and better classification results. Ensemble selection consists of multiple runs of feature ranking which are then combined into a single ranking for each feature. However, one of the most critical decisions when performing ensemble gene selection is deciding on which aggregation technique to use for combining the resulting ranked feature lists from the multiple runs of feature ranking into a single decision for each gene. This paper is an in-depth comparison between two aggregation techniques: Mean Aggregation (a simple and commonly-used technique) and Robust Rank Aggregation (a recently proposed aggregation technique designed specifically for bioinformatics). Our results show that in general Mean Aggregation will outperform (or at least match) Robust Rank Aggregation in terms of classification performance, while being significantly simpler to implement and perform. These results allows us to recommend with reasonable confidence the use of Mean Aggregation over Robust Rank Aggregation.
A Review of Systems for Psychology and Psychiatry: Adaptive Systems, Personality Psychopathology Five (PSY–5), and the DSM–5

We outline a crisis in clinical description, in which atheoretical categorical descriptors, as in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), has turned focus away from the obvious: evolved major adaptive systems. Adaptive systems, at the core of a medical review of systems (ROS), allow models of pathology to be layered over an understanding of systems as they normally function. We argue that clinical psychology and psychiatry would develop more programmatically by incorporating 5 systems evolved for adaptation to the external environment: reality modeling for action, short-term danger detection, long-term cost-benefit projection, resource acquisition, and agenda protection. These systems, although not exhaustive, coincide with great historical issues in psychology, psychopathology, and individual differences. Readers of this journal should be interested in this approach because personality is seen as a relatively stable property of these systems. Thus, an essential starting point in ROS-based clinical description involves personality assessment. But this approach also places demands on scientist-practitioners to integrate across sciences. An ROS promotes theories that are (a) compositional, answering the question: What elements comprise the system?; (b) dynamic, answering: How do the elements and other systems interact?; and (c) developmental: How do systems change over time? The proposed ROS corresponds well with the National Institute of Mental Health's recent research domain criteria (RDoC) approach. We urge that in the RDoC approach, measurement variables should be treated as falsifiable and theory-laden markers, not unfalsifiable criteria. We argue that our proposed ROS promotes integration across sciences, rather than fostering the isolation of sciences allowed by atheoretical observation terms, as in the DSM.
A Note on the Continuity of Parsonian Action Theory

The four structural elements of action identified in Talcott Parsons' The Structure of Social Action—means, ends, conditions, norms—can be directly assimilated to the four variables which generate the AGIL schema: instrumental, consummatory, external, internal. The former set primarily define the unit act; the latter are generalized to the action system level.
Dynamics at Lys-553 of the Acto-Myosin Interface in the Weakly and Strongly Bound States

Abstract Lys-553 of skeletal muscle myosin subfragment 1 (S1) was specifically labeled with the fluorescent probe FHS (6-[fluorescein-5(and 6)-carboxamido]hexanoic acid succinimidyl ester) and fluorescence quenching experiments were carried out to determine the accessibility of this probe at Lys-553 in both the strongly and weakly actin-bound states of the MgATPase cycle. Solvent quenchers of varying charge [nitromethane, (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperinyloxy) (TEMPO), iodide (I − ), and thallium (Tl + )] were used to assess both the steric and electrostatic accessibilities of the FHS probe at Lys-553. In the strongly bound rigor (nucleotide-free) and MgADP states, actin offered no protection from solvent quenching of FHS by nitromethane, TEMPO, or thallium, but did decrease the Stern-Volmer constant by almost a factor of two when iodide was used as the quencher. The protection from iodide quenching was almost fully reversed with the addition of 150mM KCl, suggesting this effect is ionic in nature rather than steric. Conversely, actin offered no protection from iodide quenching at low ionic strength during steady-state ATP hydrolysis, even with a significant fraction of the myosin heads bound to actin. Thus, the lower 50 kD subdomain of myosin containing Lys-553 appears to interact differently with actin in the weakly and strongly bound states.
Followup of Patients with Papillary Thyroid Cancer: In Search of the Optimal Algorithm

BACKGROUND: Cervicalrecurrenceoccursinupto30%ofpatientsaftersurgicaltreatmentforpapillarythyroid cancer. This study sought to determine an appropriate algorithm for followup evaluation. STUDY DESIGN: Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer were identified. Clinicopathologic data were recorded, as were the results of all followup evaluations including radioiodine scan, cervical ultrasonography, and serum thyroglobulin levels. The disease recurrencefree survival probability was estimated, and risk factors for recurrence were determined. RESULTS: Thyroidectomywithorwithoutneckdissectionwasperformedin162patients.Weexcluded36 patients (followup less than 6 months in 26, extracervical disease at diagnosis in 4, unknown tumorsizein6)fromtheanalysis.Oftheremaining126patients,109(86.5%)hadnoevidence of disease, with serum thyroglobulin 1 ng/mL at last followup; 4 (3.2%) had no evidence of disease (negative imaging), with serum thyroglobulin 1 ng/mL, and 13 (10.3%) had recurrent disease. Cervical recurrence occurred in nine patients, all detected by routine ultrasonography. Pulmonary metastases occurred in four patients; three were diagnosed by chest CT and one by radioiodine scan. Thyroid stimulating hormone-suppressed thyroglobulin levels were available in 11 of the 13 patients and were elevated in 9. Patients with high T stage (extrathyroidal extension), or high N stage had an increased risk of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Afollowupstrategyemphasizingroutinecervicalultrasonographyandunstimulatedthyroglobuliniseffectiveinidentifyingpatientswithrecurrentpapillarythyroidcancer,andmayminimize theindiscriminateuseoftherapeuticradioiodineforradiographicallyoccultdisease.Surgeryremains the optimal treatment of cervical recurrence, which is the dominant pattern of treatment failure. (J Am Coll Surg 2007;205:239–247. © 2007 by the American College of Surgeons)
Evaluation of continuing medical education programs: A selected literature, 1984-1988

This study was undertaken to review the state of continuing medical education literature between 1984 and 1988. A review of 135 published articles describing continuing medical education programs and some aspect of program evaluation was included. In order to make the literature more accessible to clinicians and researchers interested in any aspect of continuing medical education, a series of indexes were developed. The literature was classified by learning domain, instructional method, instructional technique and evaluation method. This review provides a framework for examination of the design, implementation, and evaluation of continuing medical education. The results suggest that research in the field of continuing medical education is expanding and that continuing medical education programs do have an impact on physician performance.
Botulinum Neurotoxin for the Treatment of Migraine and Other Primary Headache Disorders: From Bench to Bedside

Botulinum toxin type A, a neurotoxin, is effective for treating a variety of disorders of involuntary muscle contraction including cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, and hemifacial spasm. It inhibits neuromuscular signaling by blocking the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. The biological effects of the toxin are transient, with normal neuronal signaling returning within approximately 3 to 6 months postinjection. Recent clinical findings suggest that botulinum toxin type A may inhibit pain associated with migraine and other types of headache. However, the mechanism by which this toxin inhibits pain is not fully understood and is under investigation. Research findings suggest that botulinum toxin type A inhibits the release of neurotransmitters from nociceptive nerve terminals and, in this way, may possess an analgesic effect. A number of retrospective open-label chart reviews and 3 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have demonstrated that localized injections of botulinum toxin type A significantly reduce the frequency, severity, and disability associated with migraine headaches. Although the majority of patients in these studies experienced no botulinum toxin type A-mediated side effects, a small percentage of patients did report transient minor side effects including blepharoptosis, diplopia, and injection-site weakness. Currently, 4 randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials are being conducted to evaluate the efficacy, optimal dosing, and side-effect profile of botulinum toxin type A as a novel treatment for migraine and other types of headache. These studies may provide further evidence that botulinum toxin type A is an effective option for the preventive treatment of migraine.
Success in the Prevention of Infant Walker–Related Injuries: An Analysis of National Data, 1990–2001

OBJECTIVE. Here we describe the epidemiologic characteristics and secular trends of infant walker–related injuries among children who are younger than 15 months in the United States. METHODS. A retrospective analysis was conducted of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1990–2001. Sample weights that were provided by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System were used in all analyses to adjust for the inverse probability of case selection and make national projections regarding infant walker–related injuries. RESULTS. An estimated 197200 infant walker–related injuries occurred among children who were younger than 15 months and treated in US emergency departments from 1990 through 2001. Five percent of these children required admission to the hospital. The number of infant walker–related injuries remained relatively constant from 1990 through 1994, averaging 23000 cases per year. After the introduction in 1994 of stationary activity centers as an alternative to mobile infant walkers and the implementation of the revised American Society for Testing and Materials F977 voluntary infant walker standard in 1997, there was a marked decrease in the number of infant walker–related injuries. Overall, there was a 76% decrease in the number of injuries from 1990 to 2001 from 20900 injuries in 1990 to 5100 in 2001. Soft tissue injuries and lacerations represented 63% of the injuries. Trauma to the head region occurred in 91% of cases. Skull fractures were the most common (62%) type of fracture. Falls down stairs was the mechanism of injury in 74% of cases. CONCLUSIONS. The adoption of passive injury-prevention strategies, such as use of stationary activity centers as alternatives to mobile infant walkers and redesign of infant walkers to prevent falls down stairs, were associated with a marked decrease in the number of infant walker–related injuries.
Dysregulation of transforming growth factor-beta 1 expression in N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-induced rat esophageal tumorigenesis

Alterations in the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) have been implicated for malignancies of both human and experimental animal models. To further investigate the role of TGF-beta 1 in chemically-induced esophageal tumorigenesis, the expression of TGF-beta 1 was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (T-PCR) and immunohistochemical studies in N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA)-induced rat esophageal tumorigenesis. We observed no significant difference in TGF-beta 1 mRNA levels between 25-week papillomas and normal rat esophageal epithelium. However, TGF-beta 1 mRNA levels were increased 2.9-fold (p<0.05) in 45-week papillomas induced by NMBA, when compared to normal rat esophageal epithelium. Immunohistochemical studies revealed a decreased intracellular TGF-beta 1 immunoreactivity in the papillomas when compared to the normal rat esophageal epithelium, indicating the existence of a discordance between TGF-beta 1 mRNA and protein expression. Furthermore, by immunohistochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a predominantely mutually exclusive staining pattern was observed for TGF-beta 1 and PCNA. These findings suggest that overexpression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA occurs late in NMBA-induced rat esophageal tumorigenesis, and the discordant mRNA and protein expression may result in tumor evasion from TGF-beta 1 controlled negative growth regulation, thus promoting tumor progression in this model.
Demystifying DNA Demethylation

Variability and adaptability are necessary for overcoming the challenges of multicellular life. To address this need, nature has evolved a substantial enzymatic toolbox for altering cytosine within the genome. Methylation of the nucleotide cytosine (C) at the 5-position of the base has profound impacts on gene expression and cellular identity. The reverse of this process, DNA demethylation, is equally important for cleaning the genomic slate during embryogenesis or achieving rapid reactivation of previously silenced genes. Although the mechanism of DNA methylation has been rigorously established, active DNA demethylation in mammals has remained enigmatic, as disparate observations have failed to coalesce into a consistent model. Cytosine deamination, oxidation, and base excision repair enzymes have been proposed in a dizzying variety of combinations ( 1 ). Against this backdrop, two reports in this issue, by Ito et al. ( 2 ) on page 1300 and He et al. on page 1303 ( 3 ), help bring new clarity to the mechanistic model for DNA demethylation.
A Multicapillary Inlet Jet Disruption Electrodynamic Ion Funnel Interface for Improved Sensitivity Using Atmospheric Pressure Ion Sources

A new multicapillary inlet and ion funnel interface for electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry has been developed and demonstrated to achieve higher ion transmission efficiency compared to a single-capillary inlet and ion funnel interface. Even though the distance between the end of the ESI inlet capillary and the exit of the ion funnel (10 cm) is significantly longer than that of the conventional interface (typically a few millimeters), a significant part of the directed inlet gas flow persists into the first stage of pumping and results in an increased gas load to the second chamber. A jet disrupter made of a circular metal disk placed on axis in the ion funnel enhanced the dispersion of the directed gas flow from a multicapillary inlet and was also found to improve the ion transmission. The ion funnel with the jet disrupter demonstrated a 15% improvement in ion transmission (compared to that without the jet disrupter) and simultaneously reduced the pumping speed required for the first or second stage by a factor of 2-3. Compared to the sensitivity with the standard mass spectrometer interface (an API 3000, Sciex, Concord, ON, Canada) in MS/MS operation using an interface equipped with the jet disrupter and ion funnel, a 5.3-10.7-fold enhancement in signal was observed for samples with concentrations of 100-500 pg/microL and 10.2 to 14.1-fold enhancement for concentrations of 10 to 50 pg/microL. The decreased enhancement at higher concentrations is attributed to space charge effects and detector saturation.
Evaluating placental inter-ordinal phylogenies with novel sequences including RAG1, gamma-fibrinogen, ND6, and mt-tRNA, plus MCMC-driven nucleotide, amino acid, and codon models

It is essential to test a priori scientific hypotheses with independent data, not least to partly negate factors such as gene-specific base composition biases misleading our models. Seven new gene segments and sequences plus Bayesian likelihood phylogenetic methods were used to compare and test five recent placental phylogenies. These five phylogenies are similar to each other, yet quite different from Fthose of previously proposed trees, and span Waddell et al. [Syst. Biol. 48 (1999) 1] to Murphy et al. [Science 294 (2001b) 2348]. Trees for RAG1, gamma-fibrinogen, ND6, mt-tRNA, mt-RNA, c-MYC, epsilon -globin, and GHR are significantly congruent with the four main groups of mammals common to the five phylogenies, i.e., Afrotheria, Laurasiatheria, Euarchontoglires, Xenarthra plus Boreoeutheria (Laurasiatheria plus Euarchontoglires). Where these five a priori phylogenies differ, remain areas generally hard to resolve with the new sequences. The root remains ambiguous and does not reject a basal Afrotheria (the Exafroplacentalia hypothesis), Afrotheria plus Xenarthra together with basal (Atlantogenata), or Epitheria (Xenarthra basal) convincingly. Good evidence is found that Eulipotyphla is monophyletic and is located at the base of Laurasiatheria. The shrew mole, Uropsilus, is found to cluster consistently with other moles, while Solenodon may be the sister taxa to all other eulipotyphlans. Support is found for a probable sister pairing of just hedgehogs/gymnures and shrews. Relationships within Afrotheria, except the Paenungulata clade, remain hard to resolve, although there is congruent support for Afroinsectiphillia (aardvark, elephant shrews, golden moles, and tenrecs). A first-time use is made of MCMC enacted general time-reversible (GTR) amino acid and codon-based models for general tree selection. Even with ND6, a GTR amino acid model provided resolution of fine features, such as the sister group relationship of walrus to Otatriidae, and with BRCA a more reasonable rooting. An extensive analysis of GHR sequences reveals strong congruence with prior phylogenies, including strong support for Eulipotyphla, and good resolution within Rodentia. A codon model gives a worse likelihood than a nucleotide model and sometimes switches support, e.g., with RAG1+gamma-fibrinogen from a hyrax-sirenian association to support for Tethytheria. An analysis of the concatenated data is in accordance with well-resolved features of the gene trees. Taken all together, this work suggests that we are on the right path finding strong confirmation of prior phylogenies. However, with the use of robust criteria for assessing trees (i.e., not Bayesian posteriors), it is apparent parts of the tree remain hard to resolve. Since our current models are far from fitting the sequence data, we should continue with our exploratory analyses to arrive at a refined set of hypotheses for future testing using more model independent characters (e.g., rare indels, gene rearrangement, and SINE data).
Comparative in vivo distribution of opiate agonists and antagonists by means of double isotope techniques.

Abstract Rats were injected with mixtures of morphine-14C and naloxone-3H and and the entry of the isotopes into the brain and various tissues was measured via combustion in a tissue oxidizer. Naloxone crossed the blood brain barrier 8–10 times faster than morphine. Increasing the dose of morphine from very low to pharmacological levels had little effect on the relative tissue distribution. Administration of naloxone at intervals after a morphine dose indicated that naloxone still enters the brain more rapidly, with most of it entering during the first fifteen minutes. Similar studies using naloxone-14C and naltrexone-3H showed that naloxone enters the brain more effectively than naltrexone. This situation is reversed in the liver, since this organ disproportionately retains naltrexone.
One-step molybdate method for rapid determination of inorganic phosphate in the presence of protein.

Abstract A rapid method for the estimation of inorganic phosphate in the presence of high concentrations of protein is described. In this procedure protein precipitation is prevented by inclusion either of guanidine hydrochloride or of urea. The assay is based on the observation that the solubilized phosphomolybdate-protein complex absorbs much more strongly in the 400-nm region than either molybdate or phosphomolybdate. The principal advantages of this technique are that the color development is rapid, often within 2 min of mixing, and that the color is stable for up to at least 30 h.
The placekicker in professional football: Simmel's stranger revisited

The concept of Georg Simmel's stranger as expanded by Robert Park and Alfred Schutz is applied to the placekicker in American professional football. The placekicker's relationship to the team is examined in terms of its structural centrality and cultural marginality. Changes that have occurred in football due to the rise to prominence of the kicker are described. Implications from the occupational position of the kicker are drawn.
Denitrification in cypress swamp within the Atchafalaya River Basin, Louisiana.

Abstract Nitrogen has been implicated as a major cause of hypoxia in shallow water along the Louisiana/Texas, USA coasts. Excess nitrogen (mainly nitrate) from Mississippi and Atchafalaya River drainage basins may drive the onset and duration of hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Restoring and enhancing denitrification have been proposed to reduce and control coastal hypoxia and improve water quality in the Mississippi River Basin. Sediments were collected from six baldcypress restoration sites within the Atchafalaya River Basin, Louisiana, USA. The acetylene blockage technique was used to measure background and potential sediment denitrification rates. Denitrification fluxes were measured before nitrate addition (background rates) and after nitrate addition of 100 mg N l −1 (potential denitrification) at three seasonal temperatures. Background denitrification was low across all cypress swamp sites ranging from 0.9 to 8.8, 0.6 to 28.5 and 8.8 to 47.5 g N evolved ha −1 d −1 at water/sediment column temperatures of 8, 22 and 30 °C, respectively. After nitrate addition, temperature had a significant effect on sediment denitrification potential. Maximum rates measured at 8, 22 and 30 °C were approximately 250–260, 550 and 970 g N ha −1 d −1 , respectively. Most of the added nitrate in water columns, incubated at 8 °C, was removed after 65 d compared to 32 d and 17 d at 22 and 30 °C, respectively. These results indicate cypress swamps have the potential to assimilate and process elevated levels of floodwater nitrate with denitrification being a major removal mechanism.
Measurement of optical loss in oxide-confined VCSELs

Cold-cavity spectral characteristics are used to extract the size dependent optical loss for small diameter oxide-confined VCSELs. For aperture diameters ≤ 2 µm, the oxide scattering loss can be as large as 10 cm−1.
Analytical Solution of Piston Ring Lubrication Using Mass Conserving Cavitation Algorithm

A novel analytical approach for piston ring lubrication solution is presented by taking proper account of mass conservation in the cavitated region (JFO boundary conditions). A system of five nonlinear equations is employed to calculate such parameters as oil film thickness, frictional force, power loss, and oil flow rate. For an enclosed cavitation pattern in piston-ring assembly it was found, that JFO boundary conditions give much better accounting of the estimation of friction force, power loss and flow rate. To show the effectiveness of the undertaken approach, the widely accepted Jeng's approach (Jeng, 1992a) was selected, in which the pressure contribution from the cavitated and the second full film regions, as well as the trailing edge pressure, are ignored. Presented as a Society of Tribologiats and Lubrication Engineers Paper at the STLE/ASME Trlbology Conference in Orlando, Florida, October 11–13, 1999
Plant tissue-based bioselective membrane electrode for glutamate

Abstract A novel potentiometric membrane electrode with selective response to L-glutamate over the 2 × 10 -4 –1.3 × 10 -2 M concentration range is constructed by immobilizing slices of yellow squash tissue at a CO 2 gas sensor. This system represents the first successful use of intact plant materials as biocatalysts in the construction of bioselective potentiometric membrane electrodes; as a result, the range of future possibilities may be greatly extended. The glutamate-sensing electrode combines excellent selectivity characteristics over some 25 possible interferences tested, good reproducibility, and a useful lifetime of 7 days in aqueous samples.
Motion-segmentation-based change detection

Detecting regions of change in images of the same scene taken at different times is of widespread interest. Important applications of change detection include video surveillance, remote sensing, medical diagnosis and treatment. Change detection usually involves image registration, which is aimed at removing meaningless changes caused by camera motion. Image registration is a hard problem due to the absence of knowledge about camera motion and objects in the scene. To address this problem, this paper proposes a novel motion-segmentation based approach to change detection, which represents a paradigm shift. Different from the existing methods, our approach does not even need image registration since our method is able to separate global motion (camera motion) from local motion, where local motion corresponds to regions of change while regions with only global motion will be classified as 'no change'. Hence, our approach has the advantage of robustness against camera motion. Separating global motion from local motion is particularly challenging due to lack of prior knowledge about camera motion and the objects in the scene. To tackle this, we introduce a motion-segmentation approach based on minimization of the coding length. The key idea of our approach is as below. We first estimate the motion field by solving the optical flow equation; then we segment the motion field into regions with different motion, based on the minimum coding length criterion; after motion segmentation, we estimate the global motion and local motion; finally, our algorithm outputs regions of change, which correspond to local motion. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our scheme.
Expected Performance of a Queueing System with Ancillary Activities

Many service organizations follow a scheduling policy whereby employees alternate between direct customer service (e.g. bank deposits and withdrawals) and an ancillary activity (e.g. bookkeeping, paperwork). When queues are short, employees are diverted to ancillary activities; when queues become long, employees return to customer service. This paper evaluates trade-offs between the system objectives of (1) minimizing customer delay, (2) minimizing teller idle time, and (3) minimizing the disruption of ancillary activities, for queueing systems with ancillary activities. Customers are assumed to arrive by a stationary Poisson process, and service times are exponential random variables. In terms of objectives (1) and (3), the best of four policies studied is to add a server when the queue size per server reaches a maximum and remove a server when the queue size equals zero. The difference in teller idle time between the policies is generally small, particularly when the traffic intensity is large.
The Effects of Experimentally Induced Changes in Ego States on Pronunciation Ability in a Second Language: An Exploratory Study

N AN ATTEMPT to apply the methods of scientific inquiry to the rich but relatively elusive data that are generated in the clinical circumstance, a research strategy, termed transpositional research, has been proposed by Guiora.’ The first step in this strategy is the identification of another realm of behavior where the phenomena first observed in the clinical situation can also be assumed to exist. It is essential, however, that the behavior chosen for hypothesis testing lend itself readily to experimental manipulation and control. Thus, once a hypothesis generated in the clinical setting is tested out in the transposed realm, we can then hope to reapply the findings to the original circumstance. For the past several years, Guiora has been engaged in the empirical study of the concept of empathy. The nonclinical behavioral realm selected for this study was the ability to authentically pronounce a second language. In a series of publications, Guiora6,8y10 developed the proposition that empathy can be conceptualized as a comprehending modality alongside inference and intuition and offered the following definition: “Empathy is a process of comprehending in which a temporary fusion of self-object boundaries, as in the earliest pattern of object relations, permits an immediate emotional apprehension of the affective experience of another, this sensing being used by the cognitive functions to gain understanding of the other.“6 It is clear from the foregoing definition that empathic capacity is viewed as critically dependent upon the flexibility of the psychic processes which function to regulate self-object boundaries. The choice of authenticity of pronunciation as the behavioral realm for testing hypotheses concerning empathic capacity is based on the notion that pronunciation ability is profoundly influenced by the same underlying processes, namely, permeability of ego boundaries. In a recent paper’ Guiora introduced a new concept: language ego. It was proposed that similar to the concept of body ego, ’ 2 language ego is conceived as a maturational concept and likewise refers to self-representation with physical outlines and firm boundaries: “Grammar and syntax are the solid structure on which speech hangs, lexis the flesh that gives it body, and pronunciation its very core. Pronunciation is the most
Relaxation and recombination in spin-polarized atomic hydrogen.

We have studied relaxation and recombination processes in compressed, doubly polarized atomic hydrogen at temperatures from 0.13 to 0.60 K and magnetic fields from 3 to 9 T. The gas and surface dipole three-body recombination rate constants at a field of 7.6 T are measured to be, respectively, ${L}_{g}$=8.9(8)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}39}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{6}$ ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and ${L}_{s}$=1.2(4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}24}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{4}$ ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. They decrease slowly with field and ${L}_{s}$ exhibits no significant angular dependence. The three-body recombination rate due to hyperfine mixing has also been measured. Electronic and nuclear relaxation rates have been measured; the b-c electronic relaxation rate constant in the gas is ${G}^{\mathrm{bc}}$=1.03(7)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}15}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$exp(-${E}_{\mathrm{bc}}$/${k}_{B}$T). The temperature and field dependence of the nuclear relaxation rate in the gas are observed to be in excellent agreement with recent theoretical calculations. Three-body surface recombination-rate measurements using $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}^{4}$He surfaces indicate that as little as one monolayer of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ on the liquid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ surface appreciably decreases the adsorption energy of atomic hydrogen. Densities achieved include 4.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{18}$ atoms${\mathrm{?}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ at 0.55 K (pure $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ walls), and 1.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{18}$ atoms${\mathrm{?}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ at 0.19 K (8 at. ? sup 3---He).
Value‐Based Insurance Design: More Health at Any Price

When everyone is required to pay the same out-of-pocket amount for health care services regardless of clinical indication, there is evidence of underuse of high-value services and overuse of interventions of no or marginal clinical benefit. Unlike most current health plan designs, value-based insurance design (V-BID) acknowledges heterogeneity of clinical interventions and patient characteristics. It encourages the use of services with strong evidence of clinical benefit and likewise discourages the use of low-value services. Implementing this concept into the national policy debate required a strategy that included conceptual framework development, program implementation, rigorous evaluation, media outreach, and an advocacy plan. Upon completion of this strategy involving several colleagues from multiple disciplines, Congress included language specifically authorizing V-BID in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. A wide-ranging approach, planned as early as possible, can lead to the successful translation of health services research to policy.
Seasonal abundance of the crapemyrtle aphid,Sarucallis kahawaluokalani, in relation to the pecan aphids,Monellia caryella andMonelliopsis pecanis and their common predators

The seasonal abundance of the crapemyrtle aphid,Sarucallis kahawaluokalani (Kirkaldy), and the majority of its predators that are common with the yellow pecan aphid,Monelliopsis pecanis Bissel, and the blackmargined aphid,Monellia caryella (Fitch), were determined in norh Florida.S. kahawaluokalani populations were tri — and bimodal in the 2 years studied and peak populations ofS. kahawaluokalani preceeded those of the pecan aphid complex. Peaks in predator populations consisting of Coccinellidae, Syrphidae, Chrysopidae and Anthocoridae, either coincided with or occurred just afterS. kahawaluokalani peaks. The implications of the findings with respect to use ofS. kahawaluokalani as an alternate host of predators of pecan aphids and the potential for manipulation of the system to enhance biological control in pecan are discussed. The use of this system is advocated for augmentation and manipulation of generalist predators in other crop systems.
Enabling intensional access control via preference-aware query optimization

Although the declarative nature of SQL provides great utility to database users, its use in distributed database management systems can result in unintended consequences to user privacy over the course of query evaluation. By allowing users to merely say what data they are interested in accessing without providing guidance regarding how to retrieve it, query optimizers can generate plans that leak sensitive query intension. To address these types of issues, we have created a framework that empowers users with the ability to specify access controls on the intension of their queries through extensions to the SQL SELECT statement. In this demonstration, we present a version of PostgreSQL's query optimizer that we have modified to produce plans that respect these constraints while optimizing user-specified SQL queries in terms of performance.
Assay of the activity of malonyl-coenzyme A decarboxylase by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

We developed a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) assay to measure the activity of malonyl–coenzyme A (CoA) decarboxylase (MCD) in crude tissue homogenates. Liver extracts are incubated with [U-13C3]malonyl–CoA to form [U-13C2]acetyl–CoA by the action of MCD. The reaction mixture contains 2 mM ADP to prevent the hydrolysis of [1,2-13C2]acetyl–CoA by acetyl–CoA hydrolase present in the extracts. Newly formed [U-13C2]acetyl–CoA and internal standard of [2H3,1-13C]acetyl–CoA are analyzed as thiophenol derivatives by GC–MS. This assay was applied to a study of the kinetics of MCD in rat liver. Using the Lineweaver–Burke plot of MCD kinetics, Km of 202 μM and Vmax of 3.3 μmol min−1 (g liver)−1 were calculated. The liver MCD activities (μmol min−1 g−1 ± SD) in three groups of rats with different nutritional statuses—fed, 1-day fasted, and 2-day fasted—were 1.80 ± 0.41, 2.59 ± 0.37 (P < 0.05), and 3.07 ± 0.70 (P < 0.05), respectively. We report a practical, nonradioactive, sensitive assay of MCD in crude tissue extract.
Left ventricular apical papillary fibroelastoma

FIGURE 1. Intraoperative photograph showing apical left ventricular papillary fibroelastoma. A 66-year-old man with a history of smoking was seen for increasing shortness of breath. A chest radiograph demonstrated a right lower lobe mass. Chest computed tomography confirmed the presence of a 2.7-cm lung lesion suggestive of neoplasm. Preoperative cardiac clearance included echocardiography. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a 1-cm mass in the apex of the left ventricle. No other cardiac pathology was noted. Removal of the mass was accomplished through a left ventriculotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass by means of an Embol-X aortic cannula (Embol-X, Inc, Mountain View, Calif). The intraoperative finding was that of a friable tumor embedded within the apical endocardium and myocardium (Figure 1). Pathologic findings included a 1-cm friable tumor with histologic features consistent with papillary fibroelastoma. The heparin-coated mesh filter of the Embol-X cannula captured a 1-mm tumor fragment. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged at 6 postoperative days. Papillary fibroelastomas account for 8% of all cardiac tumors, with 85% involving the cardiac valves. An apical left ventricular location is a rare finding. The main indication for removal is the risk of embolic complications, particularly stroke. Removal is surgical.
Promoting Joint Thinking in International Conflicts: An Israeli-Palestinian Continuing Workshop

This article reviews the development of interactive problem solving as an unofficial approach to the resolution of international conflicts, especially as we have applied it to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The article describes the concept of the continuing workshop, which represents our latest attempt to maximize the political impact of interactive problem solving. After presenting the goals, terms of reference, and ground rules of such workshops, the paper examines their potential contribution to the larger process of conflict resolution. The principles of the continuing workshop have been applied in a series of meetings between high-ranking Israeli and Palestinian participants. The paper discusses some of the practical issues confronted in this effort, such as preparation, selection of participants, and the third-party role; and assesses the contribution of this continuing workshop to transforming the relationship between the two societies in conflict.
Cardiovascular response to sudden strenuous exercise.

Cardiac responses to sudden strenuous exercise were studied in seven dogs instrumented to measure cardiac output (Q), stroke volume (SV), left ventricular (LV) pressure, aortic pressure and circumflex coronary blood flow (CBF). The dogs were run on a treadmill at 12.9 km/h, 20% grade for 15s without prior warm-up. During the first 10s of the run, HR and Q increased rapidly. By 2s, myocardial O2 requirements, as estimated from either the tension time index (TTI) or calculated wall tension, had increased significantly above resting values. Simultaneously, mean CBF fell 13% and stroke CBF fell 49% below resting values at the onset of sudden exercise (2s) and was associated with 17% and 21% decreases in positive and negative LV dP/dt, a 9% decrease in (dP/dt)/P and an 11% decrease in SV. After the initial decrease at 2s, these variables then increased rapidly as the run continued except for stroke CBF which never reached resting levels. HR. Q, and LV dP/dt reached near maximal values for this level of exercise by 10s after the start of exercise. In contrast, mean CBF was still increasing when the run was terminated.
Caterpillar Inc.'s Think Big program at Illinois Central College: Sustaining financial support through collaborative partnerships

This chapter describes the joint associate degree program between Illinois Central College and Caterpillar, Inc., and discusses how collaborative instructional programs can help sustain financial support for community colleges.
Proteomic identification of novel plasma kallikrein substrates in the astrocyte secretome.

Plasma kallikrein (PK) is activated during hemorrhage and has been implicated in cerebral vascular permeability and edema. To further characterize the potential effects of PK on the brain that may follow cerebral vascular injury, we have utilized a proteomics approach to search for novel PK substrates in the astrocyte secretome. Extracellular proteins released by astrocytes are critical mediators of cerebral homeostasis, including roles in synapse function and vascular integrity. We identified 1,108 proteins in astrocyte condition medium and 295 of these were annotated as secreted proteins. The total abundance of nine proteins was changed after treatment with PK. Characterization of the secreted proteins revealed low molecular weight fragments for 59 proteins in conditioned media exposed to PK that were not observed in untreated controls. The most striking finding from this study was the appearance of fragmentation of 26 extracellular matrix-associated proteins including collagen isoforms 1–6 and11, nidogen-1 and -2, lysyl oxidase-like protein 1, and matrix metalloproteinase 19 in the presence of PK. We also demonstrated that PK induced the fragmentation of non-matrix proteins, including apolipoprotein E. This report further characterizes the astrocyte secretome and identifies novel potential targets of PK-induced proteolysis that may contribute to its effects on the brain following vascular injury.
On steady states in mountain belts

The dynamic system of tectonics and erosion contains important feedback mechanisms such that orogenic systems tend toward a steady state. This concept is often invoked, but the nature of the steady state is commonly not specified. We identify four types of steady state that characterize the orogenic system and illustrate these cases by using numerical-model results and natural examples. These types are (1) flux steady state, (2) topographic steady state, (3) thermal steady state, and (4) exhumational steady state: they refer to the erosional flux, the topography, the subsurface temperature field, and the spatial pattern of cooling ages, respectively. Models suggest that the topography will reach a steady mean form at the scale of an orogenic belt, but perfect topographic steady state is unlikely to be achieved at shorter length scales. Thermal steady state is a precondition for exhumational steady state and in the case of temperature-dependent deformation, topographic steady state. Exhumational steady state is characterized by reset age zones spatially nested according to closure temperature, as illustrated in natural systems from New Zealand, the Cascadia accretionary margin, and Taiwan.
Robust image fusion using a statistical signal processing approach

Abstract Image fusion is studied using a very basic and reasonable mathematical model for the observed images. The model attempts to characterize the statistical aspects of the problem, including the impact of random distortions, like noise. The image fusion problem is posed as an estimation problem where the best fusion algorithm minimizes the mean square error between the fused image and the true scene. The optimum image fusion approach is described for the case where all the parameters of the model are known. A robust image fusion approach is proposed for cases where various parameters of the model are unknown which may be the case in practice. It is shown that the robust image fusion approach will provide a mean square error which is always smaller than a given bound, thus limiting the loss from not knowing the exact model parameters. Further, our results imply that ignoring correlation between the noise from different sensors is a robust approach, a fact which has not been rigorously demonstrated elsewhere. Numerical results are presented which further verify the robustness of the proposed approach.
English, Chinese and ER diagrams

Abstract This paper examines the similarities and correspondence between the Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) technique and the constructs of two natural languages: English and Chinese. The correspondence between English and ERD was based on the author's previous work, and it was found that the ERD constructs have direct correspondence to the English sentence structure. The correspondence between Chinese and ERD is new research work. It is found that the Chinese character construction has a direct correspondence to the ERD modeling principles. The main result, however, is philosophical in nature: it shows the universality of the primitives used in conceptual modeling no matter whether the primitives are used in data/information modeling or used in recognition/construction of Chinese characters. It also shows that these primitives are embedded in human thinking, and, therefore, their use is very natural in the conceptual modeling process. The results of this research can be useful for improving modeling methodologies, techniques and tools and for improving language translators or better ways to learn or understand a text written in English or Chinese.
Angioarchitecture of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: Characterization using volume-rendered 3-D CT angiography

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are congenital abnormal communications between the pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein, forming a fight-to-left shunt. Patients present with symptoms of hypoxemia, paradoxical emboli, and/or, less commonly, rupture of the PAVM and hematemesis. They can occur sporadically or in association with heredity hemorrhagic telangectasia (HHT) [1]. Embolotherapy is currently the treatment of choice. Investigators have shown a significant improvement in PaO 2 after embolization with very few complications [1-3]. It is critical that the angioarchitecture of the PAVM be elucidated prior to embolization. Historically, this was done exclusively by angiography. With the advent of helical computed tomography, a noninvasive mapping technique has emerged. The angioarchitecture of PAVMs can be accurately depicted by analysis of both the axial and 3-D reconstructed images 14, 5]. The following is a pictorial review of PAVMs, with emphasis on the complex type, and the benefits of using 3-D computed tomography (CT) volume rendering for diagnosis, angioarchitecture characterization, and preembolization planning [6].
Clinical patterns of paediatric urolithiasis.

Summary— A series of 270 paediatric stone patients was studied retrospectively according to the clinical pattern of urolithiasis (age and sex, stone location, stone analysis, recurrence rate) and aetiology of stone disease (infection, anatomical, metabolic or idiopathic). Infection stones occurred earliest and more commonly in males and were usually upper tract struvite calculi related to Proteus infection. Anatomical stones were most commonly associated with pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction and had a high recurrence rate, despite surgical correction of obstruction. Idiopathic stones most resembled those found in adult urolithiasis by virtue of occurring latest, being sited in the ureter more often and being more frequently composed of calcium oxalate. Metabolic stones were most frequently calcium phosphate or cystine and virtually all were renal. They comprised the smallest group but had the highest recurrence rate.
The study of network structuring in organizations through the use of method triangulation

(1982). The study of network structuring in organizations through the use of method triangulation. Western Journal of Speech Communication: Vol. 46, Interpretive Approaches to the Study of Organizational Communication, pp. 162-178.