cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A design approach for ultrareliable real-time systems

A design approach developed over the past few years to formalize redundancy management and validation is described. Redundant elements are partitioned into individual fault-containment regions (FCRs). An FCR is a collection of components that operates correctly regardless of any arbitrary logical or electrical fault outside the region. Conversely, a fault in an FCR cannot cause hardware outside the region to fail. The outputs of all channels are required to agree bit-for-bit under no-fault conditions (exact bitwise consensus). Synchronization, input agreement, and input validity conditions are discussed. The Advanced Information Processing System (AIPS), which is a fault-tolerant distributed architecture based on this approach, is described. A brief overview of recent applications of these systems and current research is presented. >
Emotions and Entrepreneurial Opportunity Evaluation

Emotions may affect opportunity evaluation yet emotions’ influence in entrepreneurship research has been neglected. Findings from the two studies in this paper indicate that appraisal dimensions of...
The effect of repetition on iconic memory

The present experiment examined the influence of repetition on iconic memory using the Sperling (1960) procedure. It was assumed that the whole-report procedure would estimate only information available from a somewhat more permanent memory system than the icon, while the partial report would estimate both that information and the information available in the icon. The difference between the whole and partial report was assumed to measure information available only in the icon. Across a series of 160 displays one particular display occurred half the time (80 repetitions). The results indicated that the repetition influenced recall from the more permanent memory system assessed by whole report, but had no influence on the information available from the icon (partial report minus whole report).
Design of Nanostructure Complexes by Droplet Epitaxy

We demonstrate a number of unseen self-assembled nanostructure complexes fabricated on various GaAs surface indexes by droplet epitaxy. Even under identical growth conditions, the configuration of nanostructure complexes is distinctive on each surface. The morphology evolution of nanostructure complexes is kinetically and energetically analyzed in determining the correlation between shape of nanostructure complexes and atomic surface matrixes with atomic ball−stick models. By systematically varying growth environment, we report many uncanny nanostructure complexes on given surface indexes.
Effect of pathogen concentrations on removal of Cryptosporidium and Giardia by conventional drinking water treatment.

Abstract The presence of waterborne enteric pathogens in municipal water supplies contributes risk to public health. To evaluate the removal of these pathogens in drinking water treatment processes, previous researchers have spiked raw waters with up to 106 pathogens/L in order to reliably detect the pathogens in treated water. These spike doses are 6–8 orders of magnitude higher than pathogen concentrations routinely observed in practice. In the present study, experiments were conducted with different sampling methods (i.e., grab versus continuous sampling) and initial pathogen concentrations ranging from 101 to 106 pathogens/L. Results showed that Cryptosporidium oocyst and Giardia cyst removal across conventional treatment were dependent on initial pathogen concentrations, with lower pathogen removals observed when lower initial pathogen spike doses were used. In addition, higher raw water turbidity appeared to result in higher log removal for both Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts.
Crack Propagation in Aluminum-Foil Laminates

Crack propagation in 4 × 10-in. laminated specimens of 1100 H-19 aluminum foil under uniaxial tensile loads perpendicular to the crack direction has been investigated. While the crack behavior is similar to that found in monolithic sheets the laminates exhibit a brief arresting of crack growth before onset of sudden fracture. It was further established that the Griffith-Irwin energy-dissipation rate is a constant for any particular laminate configuration.
Infrared Detection of Defects in Powder-Metallic Compacts

Electric Joule heating of low-conductivity media through direct current excitation can be used to generate a temperature profile throughout a powdermetallic (P/M) compact. When recording the surface temperature distribution with an infrared (IR) camera important information regarding the integrity of the sample can be gained. Unlike most existing IR techniques, this research concentrates on obtaining the temperature distribution and heat flow behavior in P/M parts when they are subjected to active electric current injection. The practical measurements are supported and complemented by a simple theoretical model that serves as a calibration tool to aid in the evaluation of the infrared signatures that are recorded over the sample surface and correlated with the detection of surface and subsurface flaws. In this paper we will report on the design of the active infrared detection system and a basic theoretical testbed that is suitable for calibration. Specifically, we state the governing equations and boundary conditions, followed by devising numerical solutions that enable a comparison to the measured thermal response. In addition, the numerical modeling approach can also serve as a method to model various flaw sizes and orientations in an effort to practically determine flaw resolution limits as a function of minimally detectable temperature distribution. Preliminary measurements with controlled and industrial samples indicate that this IR testing methodology can successfully be employed to inspect both green-state and sintered P/M compacts.
A 40-Year Record of Tree Establishment Following Chaining and Prescribed Fire Treatments in Singleleaf Pinyon (Pinus monophylla) and Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) Woodlands

Abstract Chaining and prescribed fire treatments have been widely applied throughout pinyon–juniper woodlands of the western United States in an effort to reduce tree cover and stimulate understory growth. Our objective was to quantify effects of treatment on woodland recovery rate and structure and the relative dominance of the two major tree species in our Great Basin study area, singleleaf pinyon ( Pinus monophylla Torr. & Frem.) and Utah juniper ( Juniperus osteosperma [Torr.] Little). We resampled plots after a 40-yr interval to evaluate species-specific differences in tree survivorship and establishment from posttreatment age structures. Tree age data were collected in 2008 within four chained sites in eastern Nevada, treated in 1958, 1962, 1968, and 1969 and originally sampled in 1971. The same data were collected at five prescribed burn sites treated in 1975 and originally sampled in 1976. All chained sites had greater juniper survival than pinyon survival immediately following treatment. Chained sites with higher tree survival also had the greatest amount of new tree establishment. During the interval between treatment and the 2008 sampling, approximately four more trees per hectare per year established following chaining than following fire. Postfire tree establishment only occurred for the initial 15 yr and was dominated by juniper. Establishment after chaining was dominated by juniper for the first 15 yr but by pinyon for 15–40 yr following treatment. Results support an earlier successional role for juniper than for pinyon, which is more dependent upon favorable microsites and facilitation from nurse shrubs. Repeated chaining at short intervals, or prescribed burning at infrequent intervals, will likely favor juniper dominance. Chaining at infrequent intervals (> 20–40 yr) will likely result in regained dominance of pinyon. Chaining treatments can be rapidly recolonized by trees and have the potential to create or amplify landscape-level shifts in tree species composition.
Application-specific codesign platform generation for digital mockups in cyber-physical systems

The testing of cyber-physical systems requires validating device functionality for a wide range of operating conditions. The environment with which the cyber-physical device interacts, such as lungs for a medical ventilator device or a busy freeway for an autonomous vehicle, may be complex and subsequently difficult to explore all possible configurations. Computer simulations that utilize device and environment behavioral models may be used as a first stage of testing, but at some point development must occur using the real device running in real-time. We present a codesign framework for aiding cyber-physical device development where real devices or prototypes are connected to real-time models that simulate the interacting environment. Such test setups are known as digital mockups and allow for testing environment scenarios that are hard to capture with commonly-used but limited physical mockups. The framework supports model hardware/software codesign to enable models of varying speed and accuracy to be implemented within an embedded processor or as a custom coprocessor circuit on an FPGA. We describe an accompanying tool that generates code templates to reduce the time required to develop digital mockup test setups. We utilize the framework to build a digital mockup test setup for a commercial ventilator, and showcase codesign capabilities by implementing environmental models as both circuits and as instructions on a processor.
Application of the flexible cystoscope to the excision of renal cell carcinoma with intracaval tumor thrombus

Cardiopulmonary bypass, temporary cardiac arrest, and exsanguination have facilitated the surgical resection of renal tumors with intracaval thrombi that extend above the hepatic veins or into the atrium. The bloodless field provided by this approach enables the surgeon to utilize a flexible cystoscope to ensure that the caval thrombus has been removed entirely from the hepatic veins.
Young Children's Help‐Seeking as Active Information Gathering

AbstractYoung children’s social learning is a topic of great interest. Here, we examined preschoolers’(M = 52.44 months, SD = 9.7 months) help-seeking as a social information gathering activity thatmay optimize and support children’s opportunities for learning. In a toy assembly task, weassessed each child’s competency at assembling toys and the difﬁculty of each step of the task.We hypothesized that children’s help-seeking would be a function of both initial competency andtask difﬁculty. The results conﬁrmed this prediction; all children were more likely to seek assis-tance on difﬁcult steps and less competent children sought assistance more often. Moreover, themagnitude of the help-seeking requests (from asking for verbal conﬁrmation to asking the adult totake over the task) similarly related to both competency and difﬁculty. The results provide supportfor viewing children’s help-seeking as an information gathering activity, indicating that preschool-ers ﬂexibly adjust the level and amount of assistance to optimize their opportunities for learning.Keywords: Help-seeking; Active learning; Information gathering; Social learning; Scaffolding;Preschoolers
U.S. Navy versus Vieques, Puerto Rico: Social Justice Through Civil Disobedience

SUMMARY For over 60 years, the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, served as a live munitions target range for the United States Navy. The Navy protected the U.S. Empire's colonial relationship with Puerto Rico. Within this context, the colonial, racial and oppressive paradigms shield most anti-military movements in Puerto Rico. The tragedy of a civilian killed in Vieques by an errant 500-pound bomb destroyed this protective shield, bringing to light the social, economical and environmental injustices and atrocities committed by the U.S. Navy. This tragedy increased the public awareness of how people's lives, beaches, environment, and livelihood had been destroyed. Social action by solidarity and civil disobedience proved powerful in the anti-military struggle for achieving justice for the people in Vieques. This paper provides an overview of the people's struggle against the U.S. Navy. The historic demilitarization of Vieques will commemorate the solidarity of people in their victory for justice and world peace.
Low Audio-frequency Electromagnetic Signals of Natural Origin

NATURAL electromagnetic signals of very low frequency have been studied by several investigators during the past few years. In 1948 Willis1 reported a series of measurements of ‘magnetic noise’ in the frequency-range 5–800 cycles/sec. but did not discuss the problem of the physical origin of the observed signals. That some of the signals reported by Willis are due to lightning is strongly indicated by observations of other investigators2. Aarons and Henissart3, working in the frequency-range 1–20 cycles/sec., have reported correlations between low-frequency magnetic fluctuations and geomagnetic disturbance and solar phenomena. Therefore it appears that in the frequency-range 1–100 cycles/sec, there is a transition in the dominant physical cause of natural electromagnetic signals.
Spatial And Temporal Resolution Of The Nonlinear Optical Properties And Melt Dynamics Of Si At 1 μm

We have recently demonstrated a passive, picosecond, Si optical-limiting switch for 1 micron radiation. Since this device functions below, at, and above the Si melting threshold, its operating characteristics are determined by a large number of mechanisms including nonlinear transmission, self-diffraction, nonlinear reflection, phase transitions, and resolidification morphologies. Here, we review measurements in which we apply a wide variety of picosecond spectroscopic techniques in order to characterize these optically-induced phenomena.
Variability of the Occurrence Frequency of Solar Flares as a Function of Peak Hard X-Ray Rate

We study the occurrence frequency of solar flares as a function of the hard X-ray peak count rate, using observations of the Solar Maximum Mission. The size distributions are well represented by power-law distributions with negative indices. As a better alternative to the conventional method, we devise a maximum likelihood method of determining the power-law index of the size distribution. We find that the power-law index of the size distribution changes with time and with the phase of the 154-day periodicity. The size distribution is steeper during the maximum years of solar cycle 21 (1980 and 1981) than during the declining phase (1982-1984). The size distribution, however, is flatter during the maximum phase of the 154-day periodicity than during the minimum phase. The implications of these findings are discussed.
ADRENAL SPECIFIC NUCLEAR TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR (TF) BINDING REGION IN 21-HYDROXYLASE DEFICIENCY

Both salt-losing and non-salt-losing 21-hydroxylase deficiency have been associated with a deleterious conversion event at nucleotide 655 (A or C in CYP21) to the CYP21P sequence (G) which modifies mRNA splicing leading to an elongated translation product with altered enzyme activity (PNAS 1988; 85:7486). To determine if the DNA binding region for a cAMP-dependent adrenal specific nuclear TF (JBC 1991; 266:11199) could account for this phenotypic heterogeneity, we determined the sequence of this functionally conserved region (-134 to -122) in 3 patients (2 salt-losing: 1 non-salt-losing) with this mutation. An 849-bp region of CYP21 was amplified by PCR utilizing a biotinylated primer. Sequencing was performed (SequenaseR) following DynabeadR magnetic avidin-biotin separation. The presence of other reported mutations was assessed by hybridization of specific oligonucleotide probes.
Evidence for mixed-charge state from the normal-phase transport properties of cuprate superconductors

Abstract We derive the expressions for the resistivity, Hall coefficient and Hall angle for a cuprate superconductor crystal having semi-metal normal state characteristics and show that the normal-state transport properties can be explained in terms of the mixed-charge behavior of the system which, for highly mobile hole systems, leads to a R H scaling rule [Phys. Rev. Lett. 72 (1994) 2636]. This is consistent with the mixed charge condensation model proposed earlier [Phys. Lett. A 208 (1995) 171].
CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH RHABDOMYO SARCOMA: AN ASSOCIATION WITH CENTRAL NERVOUS AND GENITOURINARY SYSTEMS ANOMALIES. A REPORT FROM THE INTERGROUP RHABDOMYOSARCOMA STUDY (IRS)

CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH RHABDOMYO SARCOMA: AN ASSOCIATION WITH CENTRAL NERVOUS AND GENITOURINARY SYSTEMS ANOMALIES. A REPORT FROM THE INTERGROUP RHABDOMYOSARCOMA STUDY (IRS)
Insulin-like growth factor type I increases concentrations of messenger ribonucleic acid encoding cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme in primary cultures of porcine granulosa cells.

Insulin-like growth factor type I (IGF-I) is an important intraovarian peptide that stimulates granulosa cell steroidogenesis during follicular development. The cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) that converts cholesterol to pregnenolone is the rate-limiting step in progesterone biosynthesis. Since treatment of primary cultures of immature porcine granulosa cells with IGF-I will increase progesterone production as well as the synthesis of immunoprecipitable P450scc enzyme, we examined possible molecular mechanisms subserving these inductive effects of IGF-I. To this end, cultures of porcine granulosa cells were maintained in serum-free medium with or without IGF-I under various treatment paradigms. Cellular concentrations of specific P450scc mRNA were measured by Northern blot hybridization using a 32P-labeled 1-kilobase porcine cDNA clone. Northern blot autoradiogram densitometry data were normalized with a constitutively expressed 1.2-kilobase chicken glyceraldehyde-3-phosp...
q-Anon: practical anonymity for social networks

This paper discusses why many of the common assumptions made in anonymity research cannot be applied to social network data. In particular, the concepts of ‘public’ and ‘private’ cannot be used to neatly distinguish certain types of social network data from others. It is proposed that social network data should be assumed public and treated private. An alternative anonymity model, q-Anon, is presented, which reconciles the paradox of social network data’s public/private nature. Finally, the feasibility of such an approach is evaluated suggesting that a social network site such as Facebook could practically implement an anonymous API using q-Anon. The paper concludes with a practical discussion of how q-Anon may affect different types of applications.
Vertical Structure of Dissipation in the Nearshore

Abstract The vertical structure of the dissipation of turbulence kinetic energy was observed in the nearshore region (3.2-m mean water depth) with a tripod of three acoustic Doppler current meters off a sandy ocean beach. Surface and bottom boundary layer dissipation scaling concepts overlap in this region. No depth-limited wave breaking occurred at the tripod, but wind-induced whitecapping wave breaking did occur. Dissipation is maximum near the surface and minimum at middepth, with a secondary maximum near the bed. The observed dissipation does not follow a surfzone scaling, nor does it follow a “log layer” surface or bottom boundary layer scaling. At the upper two current meters, dissipation follows a modified deep-water breaking-wave scaling. Vertical shear in the mean currents is negligible and shear production magnitude is much less than dissipation, implying that the vertical diffusion of turbulence is important. The increased near-bed secondary dissipation maximum results from a decrease in the tu...
Representational Concentration and Interest Community Size: A Population Ecology Interpretation

We extend Gray and Lowery's (1996) work on interest community concentration in ways that generate novel insights about several of the empirical and theoretical controversies on interest system diversity found in the literature. This explanation, which suggests that interest community diversity is an artifact arising from the distinct growth processes of the different types of interests found in the community, is tested with highly detailed and complete data on the diversity of state interest communities, demonstrating that the empirical relationship between diversity and interest system size can be replicated solely from knowledge about the density functions of interest guilds.We use these findings both to evaluate the population ecology model's interpretation of diversity and to comment on several substantive issues raised in the larger literature on interest representation.
Carbohydrate metabolism in the thyroid gland.

ABSTRACT The presence of the 7 principal tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes—aconitasc, fumarase, condensing enzyme, and isocitric, α-ketoglutaric, succinic, and malic dehydrogenase—was demonstrated in sheep and human thyroid tissue. Quantitative assays were adapted for the measurement of aconitase, fumarase, isocitric, succinic, and malic dehydrogenase in homogenates of this tissue. It was found that methimazole, potassium perchlorate and thiocyanate did not inhibit significantly any of these 5 enzymatic activities in sheep thyroid homogenates. These 5 enzymes were not found exclusively in mitochondria. The sheep thyroid content of aconitase, fumarase, and isocitric, malic, and succinic dehydrogenase is much lower than the liver content of these enzymes. This finding in a metabolically highly active tissue suggests the existence in this tissue of an alternate pathway of glucose catabolism. The content of 5 of the aforementioned enzymes in thyroids from treated thyrotoxic patients was correlated with the deg...
Anthrax Toxin Receptor 2 Functions in ECM Homeostasis of the Murine Reproductive Tract and Promotes MMP Activity

Anthrax Toxin Receptor proteins function as receptors for anthrax toxin, however physiological activity remains unclear. To evaluate the biological role of Antxr2, we generated Antxr2−/− mice. Antxr2−/− mice were viable, however Antxr2 is required for parturition in young females and for preserving fertility in older female mice. Histological analysis of the uterus and cervix revealed aberrant deposition of extracellular matrix proteins such as type I collagen, type VI collagen and fibronectin. A marked disruption of both the circular and longitudinal myometrial cell layers was evident in Antxr2−/− mice. These changes progressed as the mice aged, resulting in a thickened, collagen dense, acellular stroma and the disappearance of normal uterine architecture. To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the uterine fibrosis we performed immunoblotting for MMP2 using uterine lysates and zymography using conditioned medium from Antxr2−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts and found reduced levels of activated MMP2 in both. This prompted us to investigate MT1-MMP status, as MMP2 processing is regulated by MT1-MMP. We found MT1-MMP activity, as measured by MMP2 processing and activation, was enhanced by expression of either ANTXR1 or ANTXR2. We identified an ANTXR2/MT1-MMP complex and demonstrated that MT1-MMP activity is dependent on ANTXR2 expression levels in cells. Thus, we have discovered that ANTXR1 and ANTXR2 function as positive regulators of MT1-MMP activity.
Trends and outcomes of total and partial nephrectomy in children: a statewide analysis.

Abstract Objective To report trends in surgical approach and associations with outcomes in children undergoing extirpative renal surgery in the state of Maryland over a 12-year period. Methods The Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) database was queried to identify children undergoing total or partial nephrectomy between 2000 and 2011. Demographic, clinical, hospital, and charge data were compared between children undergoing open and minimally invasive renal surgery. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of prolonged length of hospital stay and 30-day readmission. Multivariable linear regression was performed to identify independent predictors of increased hospital charges. Results Of the 346 children undergoing extirpative renal surgery, 289 (83.5%) underwent total nephrectomy and 48 (13.9%) underwent minimally invasive surgery. Utilization of minimally invasive surgery for congenital urinary anomalies has steadily increased from 15% to 35% over the past decade. Children undergoing minimally invasive total nephrectomy were healthier, had shorter hospital stay, and were more likely to have surgery at a high-volume institution. No such differences were noted in patients undergoing open and minimally invasive partial nephrectomy. On multivariable regression analyses, high patient complexity was the main predictor of increased length of stay (OR 16.02, 95% CI 7.06–36.31), 30-day readmission (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.38–6.70), and total hospital charge ( p Conclusion In Maryland hospitals, most extirpative renal surgeries in children are total nephrectomies performed using an open technique by high-volume surgeons. Although the overall proportion of minimally invasive surgeries has not increased over time, the utilization of MIS in congenital anomaly cases has. Patient complexity and not operative approach dictates postoperative morbidity and hospital charges.
Abstract 4400: A novel bispecific antibody with high-affinity to DOTA-metal haptens for pretargeted radioimmunotherapy

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC In an effort to reduce background and at the same time maintain hapten retention in the tumor for pretargeted radioimmunotherapy (PRIT) applications, we recently engineered a high-affinity single chain variable fragment (scFv) to 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) metal chelates. This scFv displays ∼100 pM affinity to Lu and Y chelates of DOTA, ∼1 nM affinity to In chelates of DOTA-aminobenzene (DOTABn), and ∼10 nM affinity to In chelates of DOTA. A bispecific antibody (bsAb) construct was then engineered as a fusion of this scFv to the C-terminus of an IgG light chain. We present a three-step method for PRIT using the IgG-scFv bsAb, a dextran-based clearing agent, and radiolabeled DOTA. Biodistribution and tumor uptake were evaluated in mice with LS174T carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-positive tumors using this anti-CEA bsAb and 177Lu-DOTA, 111In-DOTABn, or 111In-DOTA after pretargeting with the bsAb at time t = −25 h, and clearing of residual bsAb with a dextran-based compound at t = −1 h. The bsAb exhibited tumor uptake of 19 ± 3 %ID/g at 24 h post injection resulting in approximately 10^5 DOTA binding sites per cell. The PRIT approach resulted in 177Lu-DOTA tumor uptake of ∼14 %ID/g at 24 h and 48 h, tumor to kidney ratios of ∼20 at 24 h and 48 h and tumor to blood ratios greater than 300 at 24 h and 48 h. The PRIT system was used to analyze in vivo the effect of small molecule affinity on tumor uptake. 177Lu-DOTA with an affinity of ∼100 pM for the bsAb resulted in 9-fold higher tumor uptake at 24 h than 111In-DOTABn (∼1 nM), and 28-fold higher tumor uptake than 111In-DOTA (∼10 nM). In addition, haptens with higher affinity resulted in higher tumor to kidney and tumor to blood ratios. We present here a PRIT approach with the highest yet reported 48 h tumor to blood and tumor to kidney ratios for CEA targeting. In addition, we report for the first time a systematic study of the effect of small molecule affinity on tumor uptake with affinities spanning a range of two orders of magnitude. View this table: 24 h biodistribution of DOTA haptens with varying affinities Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4400.
Indoor radon source fluxes: Experimental tests of a two-chamber model

Abstract Modeling houses as two coupled chambers, namely, the living area and basement, predicts more accurately the total indoor radon source flux from building materials and geology than a one-chamber model in houses with disparate radon concentrations. Three regional surveys found mean radon concentration ratios between basement and living area to range from 1.4 to 4.2, implying weak interchamber coupling in most cases. The invariability of second-order system parameters under steady infiltration but different initial conditions confirms the adequacy of the two-chamber model. The presence of a characteristic radon source flux was detected within the basements of two houses, in one case across different infiltration, coupling, and initial conditions. One-chamber models fit to two-chamber tracer gas data in one house show a source flux variation of a factor of 6 across changing coupling, while the two-chamber source flux variation was only a factor of 1.5. A substantial fraction of the apparent one-chamber living area source flux in these cases is the variable convective radon flux from the basement. The technique is not sensitive enough to detect living area source fluxes if either the interchamber coupling is strong or if the basement source flux is substantially larger.
Positive skin prick tests in patients with and without clinical manifestations to peanuts

Abstract Rationale Significant mortality rates are associated with peanut allergy. Determining the factors that are predictive of future reactions to peanuts is essential. Methods A survey was mailed to caregivers of 192 patients, below the age of 18 years, with a diagnosis of peanut allergy in a suburban private allergy practice. The diagnosis of peanut allergy was made by epicutaneous skin prick tests (SPT). The age of peanut allergy diagnosis, type of reaction, and history of personal and family atopic disease was addressed. Comparisons between groups were made using unpaired t tests. Results One hundred seven surveys (57%) were returned. Ninety-four patients had a positive history of symptoms with exposure to peanut-containing products. Thirteen patients had a positive SPT with no prior history of reaction to peanuts. Of these patients, two (15%) developed allergic reactions during SPT. At the time of diagnosis, patients with a history of allergic reactions to peanuts were significantly older (2.4 years) than those without a history of prior reactions to peanuts (1.6 years) (p 0.05). Conclusion Older patients with peanut allergy are more likely to have a history of severe reactions. In patients without a prior history of reaction to peanuts, a positive SPT may suggest future risk of reactions. Further studies are needed to support this theory.
New species of eriophyid mites, a redescription of Eriophyes lionotus, and notes on Aceria mackiei (Acarina: Eriophyidae).

Aceria lithocarpi, A. neosymphoricarpi, Eriophyes chamaebatiariae, E. peraphylli , all new species, and a variant of Aceria mackiei (Keifer) were found west of the Rocky Mountains and are described and illustrated. Both sexes of a species considered to be E. linnotus (Nalepa), collected from black birch, Betula occidentalis Hook., are described.
Synthetic Discriminant Functions For Three-Dimensional Object Recognition

The synthetic discriminant function concept together with its modifications of maximum common information filters and decorrelation transformations are reviewed. We then advance a unified procedure for determining the coefficients for such linear combination filters for recognition of objects in different orientations and from different aspect views. Our formulation utilizes only deterministic techniques and a correlation matrix observation space. This formulation is most attractive for the realization of shift-invariant filters for use in correlator architectures. We then advance the highlights of our initial results on the performance of this new type of generalized shift-invariant filter.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Lygus lineolaris (Heteroptera: Miridae) population dynamics: nymphal development, life tables, and Leslie matrices on selected weeds and cotton.

The influence of hosts upon the demography of Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) was examined by comparing vital rates among hosts, and with life tables, and Leslie age-class models. Nymphal development, survivorship, and sex ratio data were obtained from cohorts on cotton, green beans, and up to 12 weed hosts implicated as sources of immigration into cotton. Adult survivorship and fecundity data were obtained from cohorts on cotton and Erigeron annuus (L.) Persoon. Linear models for total or stage-specific nymphal development were not different among nine weed hosts and cotton; they extrapolate to a lower threshold of about 10°C. A truncated normal model from green beans resulted in an upper threshold of about 34°C and a curve breadth that suggests a temperature–generalist life strategy. The percentage of time per instar was influenced by the host. Nymphal survivorship was high on weed hosts but poor on cotton. The sex ratio was 1:1 and was not influenced by host. Adult survivorship and total fecundity was higher on cotton than E. annuus , but the net fecundity was higher on the weed. More eggs were deposited in cotton buds than other parts of the cotton plant except the terminal. Birth rates were similar on E. annuus and cotton, but the cohorts on cotton had a higher death rate and longer generation time. Thus, the intrinsic rate of increase on cotton was about half that on E. annuus . The stable-stage distribution was unaffected by host and was about 0.50, 0.40, and 0.10 for eggs, nymphs, and adults, respectively. Host influenced the time of convergence. These analyses suggest an r -selected life strategy.
Spectral fissioning in phonemic transformations.

Listeners presented with a repeated sequence of brief (30- to 100-msec) steady-state vowels hearphonemic transformations—they cannot identify the vowels, but they perceive two simultaneous utterances that differ in both phonemic content and timbre (Warren, Bashford, & Gardner, 1990). These utterances consist of either English words or syllables that occur in English words. In the present study, we attempted to determine whether the two percepts represent alternative interpretations of the same formant structures, or whether different portions of the vowels are used for each verbal organization. It was found that separate spectral regions are employed for each verbal form; Components below 1500 Hz were generally used for one form, and components above 1500 Hz for the other. Hypotheses are offered concerning the processes responsible for the verbal organization of the vowel sequences and for the splitting into two spectrally limited forms. It appears that the tendency to organize spectral regions separately competes with, and can overcome, the tendency to integrate the different spectral components of speech into a single auditory image. A contralateral induction paradigm was used in a procedure designed to quantitatively evaluate these opposing forces of spectral fission and fusion.
Personal management and quality of life: A study of men and women in two cultures

In this study path analysis is applied to the relationships among personal management, resource satisfaction, sense of control, and quality of life. Analysis of survey data from men and women of two cultures provides empirical support for: the conceptual model of resources as inputs; management behavior as throughputs; and satisfactions as outputs. Cultural versus economic effects are analyzed. Management is shown to be related to productivity in all cultural groups. Management behavior directly and indirectly contributes to resource satisfaction, and through increased sense of control contributes to quality of life.
Atmospheric tides and the rotation of Venus. I - Tidal theory and the balance of torques

Insolation absorbed by the surface of Venus is quickly redeposited at the bottom of the atmosphere. This periodic heating causes mass to flow away from the warm afternoon side of the planet and into the cooler morning region. The Sun's gravitational field exerts a torque on this atmospheric tide tending to accelerate the retrograde zonal circulation. When this torque is transmitted to the crust, it can balance the despinning effect of tides in the body of Venus. The slow retrograde rotation of Venus may be a steady state among tides in the atmosphere, tides in the solid body, and possibly the influence of the Earth.
Non-Thermal Laser Ablation Model for Micro-Surgical Applications

Abstract We have developed a non-thermal laser ablation model which may reduce thermal damage to neighboring structures. Based on this model, the three critical parameters for a well controlled non-thermal microsurgery are (1) the laser wavelength with its photon energy matching closely the bond dissociation energy, (2) the energy fluence must be above threshold to avoid thermal process due to non-radiative relaxation from the excited electronic states to vibrational, (3) ultra short laser pulses (few fs) to completely eliminate thermal and direct biomolecular reactions. In this model the UV laser photon dissociates the molecular bonds which leads to the splitting of longer polymer chains into small fragments. The excess energy if any may appear as kinetic energy in the polymer-fragments. The extreme rapidity of the bond breaking process reduces heat conduction. The model establishes a relationship between ablation depth per pulse, the absorption coefficient, the incident laser energy fluence, and the thr...
Spectral line intensities for the O I, N I, C I, B I, and Be I isoelectronic sequences, Z = 26–36

Abstract The spectral line intensities for the O I, N I, C I, B I, and Be I isoelectronic sequences and for Z = 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, and 36 are presented. The transitions are of the types 2 s 2 2 p k −2 s 2 p k +1 , 2 s 2 p k +1 −2 p k +2 , 2 s 2 2 p k −2 s 2 2 p k , and 2 s 2 p k +1 −2 s 2 p k +1 . The simulated spectra are useful for the identification of allowed and forbidden transitions in the wavelength range 40 to 2300 A in tokamak plasmas. The line intensities are calculated for an electron density of 2.5 × 10 13 cm −3 and for an electron temperature approximately equal to the temperature for maximum abundance of each ion in the case of coronal equilibrium.
Schleiermacher Contra Lindbeck on the status of doctrinal sentences

Lindbeck has devised what he calls a ‘regulative theory’ of doctrinal sentences, which he considers to be superior to its main rivals ‘propositionalism’ and ‘experiential-expressivism’. For Lindbeck, Schleiermacher is the classical expressivist. I argue that Schleiermacher is more properly classified as a propositionalist, though he does have expressivist inclinations. According to Schleiermacher, doctrinal sentences express propositions about God, the world, and human self-consciousness, and they can be the objects of cognitive states. At the same time, there is a sense in which they ‘express’ pious self-consciousness. I also argue that Schleiermacher's account of doctrinal sentences is superior to Lindbeck's, because it provides a better basis for understanding ecumenical dialogue.
Disulfide reductive elimination from an iron(III) complex

The redox-active pincer ligand derived from bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-phenol)amine, [ONOcat]H3, enables reductive elimination of di-tert-butyldisulfide from a putative iron(III) dithiolate complex. The quinonate synthon of the ligand, [ONOq]K, was used to prepare [ONOq]FeX2 complexes (1, X = Cl; 2, X = N(SiMe3)2), which were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, EPR and Mossbauer spectroscopies and identified to be high-spin iron(III) complexes. The protonolysis of 2 with tetrachlorocatechol afforded either monomeric [ONOq]Fe(ortho-C6O2Cl4)(py) (3) or dimeric {[ONOq]Fe(ortho-C6O2Cl4)}2 (4). In contrast, the protonolysis of 2 with tert-butylthiol resulted in the extrusion of di-tert-butyldisulfide and the formation of a [ONOcat]Fe fragment trapped with pyridine as monomeric [ONOcat]Fe(py)3 (5) or dimeric {[ONOcat]Fe(py)}2 (6). These results indicate that the [ONO]Fe platform can promote reductive elimination of disulfide without incurring changes to the metal oxidation state.
Breadths and shifts of molecular band lines due to perturbation by foreign gases

Abstract The shifts in frequency and the half-intensity widths (HIW) due to foreign gases have been measured in the fundamental bands of HCl 35 , DCl 35 , and HBr 79 , and in the 1-0 and 2-0 bands of CO. The salient features of these effects are the linear dependence of shifts and widths upon the density of the foreign gas, the strong J dependence, and the dependence of the maximum shift observed upon the vibrational quantum number of the band and the polarizability of the foreign gas. The results are in agreement with similar earlier work.
The impact of cockpit instruments on pilot exhaustion

Abstract When designing an aircraft, many designers emphasize the importance of automation within the cockpit and neglect a vital component of safe transport, the pilot. Highly automated transports have focused on the design of maximizing the aircraft capabilities; however, questions have been raised about human performance capacity and man-machine interface during flight. In addition to concentrating on the automation aspects of the cockpit, some emphasis needs to be placed on the human aspects of the cockpit. Two essential factors that should be considered are the physical and mental states of the pilot as well as his understanding of the new automated cockpit. This paper will discuss potential types, causes, and affects of pilot exhaustion / fatigue and how the man-machine interface affects the pilot's performance.
Extensive Extramedullary Disease Involving the Colon in Multiple Myeloma: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Organ involvement in multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by infiltrative disease or by a myelomatous mass known as a plasmacytoma. We present a patient with MM who had extensive extramedullary involvement of the colon and a review of the literature on colon plasmacytomas. A 57-year-old male with MM presented with disease relapse in 2007, workup showing biopsy confirmed left perinephric extra-medullary disease involving the adjacent colon. Positron emission-tomography (PET) exhibited intense pan-colonic fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake and computed-tomography confirmed extensive infiltrating soft tissue thickening in the ascending, transverse, and descending colon representing plasmacytomas. The patient underwent an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after conditioning with high-dose melphalan. Restaging PET-scan showed complete resolution of colonic extra-medullary plasmacytomas. Extramedullary plasmacytomas (EMP) are rare and constitute 4% of all plasma cell tumors. Colonic plasmacytoma is an extremely rare site, with fewer than 25 cases reported in the literature. Colonic plasmacytomas have different presentations depending on the size and location. Treatment options for primary EMPs include surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The primary treatment option for secondary EMP is systemic chemotherapy. This rare pan-colonic plasmacytoma, as a part of extramedullary myeloma, showed an impressive response to chemotherapy.
Distinct immunologic changes in vivo following combination versus individual PD-1 or CTLA-4 checkpoint blockade in human cancer

Therapies targeting T cell immune checkpoints such as CTLA4 and PD1/PDL1 axis have shown considerable promise in the therapy of human cancer. Combination therapy with dual immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) was recently shown to be highly active in melanoma. While signaling via both PD1 and CTLA4 is known to converge downstream and dampen T cell function, data comparing in vivo effects of blockade of these immune checkpoints either alone or in combination in vivo in humans are limited. Here we have analyzed paired pre/post therapy samples from patients treated either anti-CTLA4 (n = 5) or anti-PD1 (n = 6) alone, or a combination of anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 (n = 8), using several methodologies including multi-parameter flow cytometry, single-cell mass-cytometry (CyTOF), Luminex and analysis of transcriptome of purified immune cells with exon-level arrays. We show that blockade of CTLA4, PD1 or combination blockade leads to distinct immunologic, genomic and cytokine signatures in vivo. CTLA4 blockade leads to a prominent proliferation signature in vivo, manifest as an increase in Ki-67 expression in a subset of T cells with transitional memory phenotype. PD1 blockade does not induce this phenotype and instead leads to marked changes in T cells expressing NK and cytolysis associated genes, as exemplified by Granzyme+ T cells. Combination blockade leads to non-overlapping changes in gene expression including proliferation-associated and chemokine genes and leads to an increase in both Ki67+and Granzyme+ T cells. Overall, therapy-induced changes are more prominent in T cells than in monocytes include also involve non-overlapping changes in several alternatively spliced transcripts and non-coding RNAs. Each of the ICB therapies also leads to a distinct cytokine profile with differential effects on systemic levels of sIL2R and IL1a. Changes seen in the peripheral blood T cells can also be seen in the tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. Combination therapy leads to an increase in interferon-gamma producing T cells in both circulation as well as tumor bed. PD1 expression is higher on tumor infiltrating T cells when compared to T cells in circulation. Importantly, PD1 receptor occupancy following anti-PD1 therapy may be incomplete in the tumor infiltrating T cells even in the setting of complete receptor occupancy in circulating T cells. These data demonstrate that blockade of PD1, CTLA4 alone or in combination have distinct immunologic effects in vivo and each strategy serves as a unique immune-therapeutic. Improved understanding of the in vivo effects of ICB is needed for rational development of future immune-based combinations against cancer.
Back to basics: validation of automated as compared to manual slide staining in the cytopathology laboratory.

Regulatory agencies on laboratory accreditation require that a laboratory validate and document an instrument's functionality in its own specific environment, including the capability of the instrument to replace existing processes. Instruments without manufacturer-provided validation protocols must still undergo validation with documentation of the specific method used. This study was performed to validate the Sakura Tissue-Tek® DRS™ 2000 automated slide stainer. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2008;36:199–201. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.