cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection of Concealed Ferrous Objects in Vehicles Using Magnetometry-Based Technology

Acts of insurgency have become an ever increasing threat resulting in extensive measures being taken by the law enforcement authorities to mitigate their devastating effects on human life and infrastructure. This paper introduces a magnetometry based information, and signal processing methodology for detecting concealed ferrous objects in vehicle body panels. From extensive literature research [6–12], it was observed that while magnetic sensors have been used in a variety of related applications but have not been extensively applied to the on-road detection of firearms and explosives concealed in vehicles. This study utilized an extensive experimental protocol for preliminary concept validation. The main idea behind the approach was that almost all concealed weapons and explosives are made up of a considerable amount of ferrous material and hence produce a local distortion in the magnetic footprint of the Earth’s magnetic field which can then be identified by utilizing sensitive magnetic sensors.To detect concealed ferrous objects, magnetic signatures of a vehicle door panel were obtained and compared to a base magnetic signature of the same vehicle door panel (the magnetic field data of the same vehicle where no foreign ferrous objects were present), by using a scanning assembly with onboard magnetic and infrared sensors. To analyze the data, a top-down, goal-driven signal processing methodology was designed. To achieve the objective of accurately detecting concealed ferrous objects, simple measures such as magnetic field strength and its energy density were computed, and used in conjunction with more sophisticated statistical measures such as normalized cross-correlation and Mahalanobis distance. Although all these methodologies were able to detect a magnetic footprint anomaly in the presence of a concealed object, the Mahalanobis distance approach in particular provided the most conclusive results in all the cases considered.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Self-managing, disconnected processes and mechanisms for mobile e-business

With the tremendous advances in hand-held computing and communication capabilities, rapid proliferation of mobile devices, and decreasing device costs, we are seeing a growth in mobile e-business in various consumer and business markets. In this paper, we present a novel architecture and framework for end-to-end mobile e-business applications such as purchasing, retail point of sales, and order management. The design takes into consideration disconnection, application context and failure modes to provide mobile users with seamless and transparent access to commerce and content activities. In our architecture, we consider a novel business process design based on state-machines and event management to handle disconnection and resource limitations. We designed, implemented and deployed a system for mobile e-business on clients integrated with private exchanges and sell-side servers. The e-business framework on mobile clients is implemented based on J2ME and open XML standards. A performance study of simple e-business transactions was done on the client using the above mechanisms and programming environment. We show that the performance of a purchasing process using the framework does reasonably well.
The Conflict of Ethos and Ethics: A Sociological Theory of Business People’s Ethical Values

This article develops a sociological theory of ambivalence to explain several puzzling and contradictory ethical attitudes of business people: (1) a simultaneous disposition to comparatively more self-interested and more charitable behavior than many other occupational groups and (2) a moderate level of receptiveness to inculcation of moral principles through social channels such as higher education. We test the theory by comparing the way that business students rate the ethical acceptability of various ethically challenging scenarios with the way that criminal justice students rate these same scenarios. We also explore the malleability of ethical views by measuring differences between the responses of sophomores and seniors. The data generally support hypotheses based on a theory of ambivalence. At the same time, however, we also report on findings that suggest alternative explanations to ambivalence.
The paravertebral nerve root block for inguinal herniorrhaphy—A comparison with the field block approach

Background and Objectives Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of the paravertebral block for inguinal herniorrhaphy by comparison with the well-established field block. Methods Thirty patients undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy were randomly divided into two groups. Group A (n = 15) received paravertebral block of the ipsilateral nerve roots of T12, L1, and L2. Group B (n = 15) received field block. Each block was evaluated in terms of the degree of patient discomfort associated with surgical manipulations, requirement for supplemental anesthetic, the degree of patient discomfort associated with block performance, and the overall degree of patient satisfaction. Results Both approaches were successful in blocking somatic sensory fibers. The paravertebral approach showed a significantly higher success rate than the field block (P Conclusions The paravertebral nerve root block proved to be superior to the field block, to be devoid of side effects, and was acceptable to the patients.
A Smell to Die for

How dietary restriction extends life span may involve anticipatory neurons. The odor of dietary yeast is sufficient to speed Drosophila aging while mutants of an odorant-binding protein extend life span.
Comparative Field Efficacy of Management Strategies Containing Brassica napus Seed Meal or Green Manure for the Control of Apple Replant Disease

Mazzola, M., and Mullinix, K. 2005. Comparative field efficacy of management strategies containing Brassica napus seed meal or green manure for the control of apple replant disease. Plant Dis. 89:1207-1213. Alternative management strategies to the use of preplant soil fumigation for the control of apple replant disease (ARD), including cover crops and strategies incorporating Brassica napus seed meal (rape seed meal [RSM]) amendment as the central component, were evaluated in the orchard. A 1-year wheat cover crop consisting of three short-term cropping periods with plant material removed at the end of each growth period and a 3-year B. napus green manure significantly enhanced vegetative growth and yield of Gala/M26. However, in each instance, the resulting disease control and growth response were inferior to that achieved through preplant methyl bromide soil fumigation. A 3-year bare fallow and 1- or 2-year B. napus green manure neither suppressed disease development nor enhanced tree growth. Preplant RSM amendment in conjunction with a postplant mefenoxam soil drench provided effective suppression of ARD, and the resulting tree growth and yield were comparable with that attained in response to 1,3dichloropropene-chloropicrin fumigation in one orchard. At a second orchard, the growth response attained with the alternative treatment was inferior to preplant soil fumigation, which was associated with an apparent re-infestation of RSM-treated soils and tree roots by Pratylenchus spp. Application of RSM after wheat cropping or in conjunction with soil solarization provided an intermediate level of disease control and a corresponding reduction in growth and yield of apple relative to preplant fumigation at both sites.
Understanding the Behavioral Intention to Report Unethical Information Technology Practices: The Role of Machiavellianism, Gender, and Computer Expertise

Although organizations can derive competitive advantage from developing and implementing information systems, they are confronted with a rising number of unethical information practices. Because end-users and computer experts are the conduit to an ethical organizational environment, their intention to report unethical IT-related practices plays a critical role in protecting intellectual property and privacy rights. Using the survey methodology, this article investigates the relationship between willingness to report intellectual property and privacy violations and Machiavellianism, gender and computer literacy in the form of programming experience. We found that gender and computer expertise interact with Machiavellianism to influence individuals’ intention of reporting unethical IT practices. This study helps us to improve our understanding of the emergent ethical issues existing in the IT-enabled decision environment.
Delaunay triangulation in three dimensions

Triangulation in two and higher dimensions began with Dirichlet, Voronoi, Thiessen, and Delaunay. A number of textbooks and papers have extensively covered the properties of triangulations and algorithms for their construction. Most dealt with theoretical aspects of the algorithms and gave upper bounds on their complexity. Here we present a new algorithm and its implementation. Instead of providing a theoretical analysis, we present implementation details, and tests and examples. The algorithm is a generalization of our previous method. >
Flexible and stretchable UHF RFID tag antennas for automotive tire sensing

UHF RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag antennas are proposed for automotive tire applications, which are flexible and sufficiently broadband for a wide variety of tire materials and construction. The RFID tags may be mounted on or in the tires to monitor their condition and provide history data. The influence of the rubber material on the tag's performance is studied, and a broadband tag antenna is proposed which remains tuned on dielectrics of varying permittivity and thickness. Furthermore, a textile-based RFID antenna is fabricated and tested. The flexibility and durability of this antenna makes it a perfect candidate for RFID tire applications.
On the Asclepian Spirit and the Future of Psychoanalysis

Abstract: The dynamics of the Asclepian myth are analyzed, and generic dynamics of the healing imperative are illustrated. The story teaches much about the early theories and practice of ancient medicine, and originated the healing symbol of the staff and serpent which appears on the emblem of the American Academy. The multi-modal therapeutic approach used at the Asclepia was often climaxed by dream incubation as a centerpiece of the treatment. Dreams from modern physicians in analysis will be introduced to show that while our practice has changed in external trappings, the underlying dynamics of ancient and modern healers reflect a common humanity. Modern therapists have reacquired the use of dreams and invented a new set of explanatory myths. Consideration of future developments leads to linking the “psychosomatic model” of antiquity with the psychopharmacological interventions which are now commonplace in psychodynamic psychotherapy. The Asclepian emphasis on spirituality is also finding increasing rec...
Methylmercury: Teratogenic and lethal effects in frog embryos

Rana pipiens embryos at the cleavage, blastula, gastrula, and neural-plate stages of development were treated with methylmercuric chloride in concentrations of 0.5-200 parts per billion (ppb) to determine embryocidal and teratogenic effects. Concentrations of 40 ppb and above were lethal to embryos treated during the cleavage stage. Embryos at the blastula, gastrula, and neural-plate stages were treated for 5 days with 5-30 ppb; 5 ppb had only minor effects, 10, 15, and 20 ppb caused various defects (exogastrulae, poor tail development, poor general development) and increased death rates related to exposure time and concentration, and embryos treated with 30 ppb had a high frequency of defects after 24 h and all died by the end of the 3rd day. Individual tolerances to methylmercury of various degrees were observed.
Enhanced Expression of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Correlates with Development of AIDS

Abstract The progression to AIDS may be significantly related to the level of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication. We have used quantitative cell culture and quantitative DNA and RNA PCR to measure viral load and expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained cross-sectionally and longitudinally from HIV-1-seropositive homosexual men enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Our results indicate that the number of circulating CD4 + T-lyrnphocytes producing HIV-1 increased as the total number of CD4 + T-cells declined. However, there was no correlation between the number of HIV-1-producing CD4 + cells and the duration of infection. Furthermore, the level of HIV-1 gag RNA increased as the disease progressed and CD4 + cell numbers declined. Subjects who remained asymptomatic with stable CD4 + cell counts, however, maintained a very low level of HIV-1 RNA expression during the entire period of follow-up (38-71 months). In contrast to viral RNA expression, the level of proviral DNA did not change significantly as the disease progressed. However, the level of proviral DNA was significantly higher in AIDS patients than in men who remained asymptomatic. Such increased levels of HIV-1 DNA were detected 34-68 months before the development of AIDS. These results support the role of HIV-1 RNA expression in the development of AIDS.
Using Temporal Modes of Rainfall to Evaluate the Performance of a Numerical Weather Prediction Model

Abstract The authors demonstrate that much can be learned about the performance of a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model by examining the temporal modes of its simulated rainfall. Observations from the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) network are used to evaluate the rainfall frequency, and its diurnal and semidiurnal modes, in simulations made by a preliminary version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for the conterminous United States during the summer of 2003. Simulations and observations were broadly similar in the normalized amplitudes of their diurnal and semidiurnal modes, but not in the modes' phases, and not in overall frequency of rain. Simulated rain fell too early, and light rain was too frequent. The model also did not produce the distinct, nocturnal maximum in rainfall frequency that is integral to the hydrologic cycle of the Great Plains. The authors provide evidence that there were regional and phenomenological dependencies to the WRF model's perform...
Statistical fluctuations in the ionization yield and their relation to the electron degradation spectrum

Various indices that characterize the statistical fluctuations in the ionization yield for electron incidence are discussed. The indices include the variance, the moments, the central moments, and the cumulants, all defined in terms of the probability P(T/sub 0/,j) that an electron of kinetic energy T/sub 0/ causes, upon complete slowing down, exactly j ion pairs. Like the mean ionization yield, each of the indices is expressible as an integral over the current energy T of electrons. The integrand is a product of the Spencer-Fano degradation spectrum y(T/sub 0/,T) for source energy T/sub 0/ with another factor, and displays contributions from different values of T to the quantity of interest. It has been shown for the first time that the cumulant of any order (including the variance as a special case) receives contributions from different T in nearly the same way as the mean ionization yield. Therefore, T/sub 0/ greatly exceeding the first ionization threshold, every cumulant is roughly proportional to T/sub 0/, just as the mean yield is. This leads to a generalization of the Fano factor. Thus the present findings reinforce the importance of the cumulant notion in statistical physics in general. Numerical work on molecular hydrogen as anmore » example substantiates the general conclusion and predicts the value 0.30 for the Fano factor for an electron of initial energy 10 keV.« less
Developing a conceptual model of virtual organisations for citizen science

This paper develops an organisation design-oriented conceptual model of scientific knowledge production through citizen science virtual organisations. Citizen science is a form of organisation design for collaborative scientific research involving scientists and volunteers, for which internet-based modes of participation enable massive virtual collaboration by thousands of members of the public. The conceptual model provides an example of a theory development process and discusses its application to an exploratory study. The paper contributes a multi-level process model for organising investigation into the impact of design on this form of scientific knowledge production.
Repeated exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol reduces prefrontal cortical dopamine metabolism in the rat

Long-term abuse of marijuana by humans can induce profound behavioral deficits characterized by cognitive and memory impairments. In particular, deficits on tasks dependent on frontal lobe function have been reported in cannabis abusers. In the current study, we examined whether long-term exposure to delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana, altered the neurochemistry of the frontal cortex in rats. Two weeks administration of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol reduced dopamine transmission in the medial prefrontal cortex, while dopamine metabolism in striatal regions was unaffected. These data are consistent with earlier findings of dopaminergic regulation of frontal cortical cognition. Thus, cognitive deficits in heavy abusers of cannabis may be subserved by drug-induced alterations in frontal cortical dopamine transmission.
A teenage boy with late onset hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with predominant neurologic disease and perforin deficiency.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHLH) is an autosomal recessive disorder of cytotoxic cell function that results in abnormal proliferation of benign lymphocytes and histiocytes in response to infectious stimuli. FHLH generally occurs in very young children, and typically presents with fever, cytopenias, coagulopathy, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. Central nervous system involvement occurs frequently and may precede the development of systemic symptoms by months to years. We report a case of an 18-year-old male with a 2-year history of symptoms attributed to a demyelinating disorder, who succumbed to rapidly progressive hemophagocyte lymphohistiocytosis. Post-mortem, two distinct perforin mutations were identified. We discuss the central nervous system and genetic findings in this unusual presentation of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:1070–1072. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Imparting diagnostic information to mothers: a comparison of methodologies.

This study sought to evaluate maternal understanding of information obtained during a diagnostic consultation by mothers of speech-handicapped children as a result of two replay procedures: Video T...
The Lucid Dream Ensemble: a laboratory of discovery in the age of convergence

This paper describes the formation, creations and performances of a digital arts performing ensemble. It considers issues of collaboration across media, especially in the context of composed audio-visual improvisation (comprovisation). By contextualising our creative work within the wider discourse of both the practice and aesthetics of contemporary intermedia, we seek to enhance the potential relevancy of the article's main focus to readers.The story of the Lucid Dream Ensemble is one of contemporary creative activity in the realm of digital arts. It exists in a university setting, and its purpose is educational as well as artistic. Founded at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 2002, the ensemble seeks to foster collaboration across auditory and visual boundaries. The group is made up of audio-visual performers who control laptop computers in real-time by various interactive means. Its canvas is a surround-sound set-up, as well as three projectors. The ensemble seeks a true integration of video and audio, as expressed in the creation of audio-visual artefacts aimed at providing an immersive experience. The group has progressed from presenting unrelated audio and video, to integrating the process of creation of sound and image, to collecting audio and video as a group and processing them collaboratively.
EFFECTS OF MATING SYSTEM ON PRODUCTION TRAITS IN DAIRY CATTLE.

Abstract An experiment designed to study the effect of various mating systems on sire-lines of dairy cattle is described. Inbreeding depressions were found in various production traits by comparing outbreds with inbreds (F, ≅ 0.25). The differences were 1,313 lb, 35 lb, 1,761 lb, and 48 lb in favor of the former, in actual milk, actual fat, M.E. milk, and M.E. fat. of the first lactation, respectively. For the same traits, differences of 1,832 lb, 74 lb, 2,455 lb, and 97 lb, respectively, were found in favor of the two-line crosses compared to inbreds of the same line. However, inbreeding effects varied significantly among sire-lines. There was no evidence that increase of production with age was more rapid in inbreds than in outbreds.
Determination of fluidization quality of beds of spherical particles

Abstract In a continuing effort to develop a regime delineation scheme and diagnostic tools to predict the quality of bed fluidization, experimental data have been taken for beds of three different sizes of spherical glass beads at ambient operating conditions. The bed is 0.153 m square and average diameters of the bed materials are 1260, 2093, and 3243 μm. A heat-transfer thermocouple and a pressure-measuring transducer probe were employed to record temperature- and pressure-fluctuation data as functions of time. These have been successfully utilized to obtain bubble or emulsion phase frequencies visiting the probe sites and hence the hydrodynamic activity in the bed interior and on its wall. It is also shown that the gross bed voidage data are somewhat inadequate for regime delineation, whereas local heat-transfer coefficient data are good indicators of the bed-fluidization quality.
Yield and N accumulation responses of late‐season determinate soybean to irrigation and inoculation with various strains ofBradyrhizobium japonicum

Abstract Cobb and Coker 488, late‐season (maturity group VIII) cultivars of soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr], were grovn under irrigated and non‐irrigated conditions on a Norfolk loamy sand in a two‐year field experiment. Each cultivar was inoculated withBradyrhizobium japonicumstrains [USDA 3I1b110; Brazil 587; NifTAL 184 and 102 (NifTAL cultures of Brazil 587 and USDA 110, respectively); and North Carolina 1001, 1004, 1005, 1010, and 1029). Drought conditions were present both years, and irrigation significantly increased the overall yield (2.49 vs 1.92 Mg ha‐1). Coker 488 was significantly higher in seed yield than Cobb (2.55 vs 2.02 Mg ha‐1). Strain ofB.japonicumalso affected seed yields. NC1010‐inoculated soybean was significantly higher in seed yield rank than all other soybean at the P<0.01 level, when compared by single degree of freedom contrast (sdfc). The yield ranking of soybean inoculated with NC1001 was significantly lower than soybean inoculated with all other strains, when compared by sdfc (...
A Medical Informatics View of Quantum Computation

Many medical centers lack access to the parallel-computing capability that is now needed for large-scale, genetic diagnostic information. Such enhanced computer resources are also needed for recent diagnostic physiological model simulations, and for enhancements in medical imaging. Increases in classical parallel processing capability are incremental and expensive. Quantum computing is the only new computing method that promises a very-large increase in parallel-processing capability. The reason is that the classical-computing unit of information, the 0-bit, or the 1-bit, is replaced by the quantum qubit unit which can be superposed as multiple strings of 0’s and 1’s. Medical-center research units may also need enhanced parallel computing ability for genome research, protein structure prediction, and the use of new simulations of physiological models. It is suggested that health-research funding and collaboration needs to be directed towards the final development of large-scale quantum computing.
The Supreme Court as Interstitial Actor: Justice Ginsburg's Eclectic Approach to Statutory Interpretation

The Supreme Court is in the midst of an extended debate regarding the proper approach to construing federal statutes. A number of Justices have engaged in heated dialogue addressing the pros and cons of textualism or intentionalism, as well as the virtues and limitations of Chevron deference. Although Justice Ginsburg has not participated in these judicial exchanges, she has adopted her own approach to the challenge of interpreting federal statutes. This Article explores Ginsburg’s approach by focusing on four opinions that construe federal criminal laws and three that interpret labor relations and anti-discrimination laws. The Article’s central thesis is that Justice Ginsburg’s reliance on certain interpretive resources varies depending on how she views the Court’s role as an interstitial actor. In the criminal law area, Ginsburg opinions make primary use of language-based analysis and of two substantive canons - the rule of lenity and the anti-preemption canon - that operate to constrain the scope of the law, while she downplays contextual evidence of congressional or executive branch intent. By contrast, her labor and anti-discrimination opinions - although they begin with textual analysis - rely heavily on legislative history and purpose as well as on agency deference. These stark differences in interpretive approach probably reflect in part Justice Ginsburg’s underlying policy preferences. A more important lesson of the opinions, though, is how they signify her view of the Court’s appropriate interaction with the political branches. When construing the meaning and scope of criminal law statutes, Ginsburg advances a fairly muscular institutional role for the Court. Her criminal law opinions express a constitutionally informed concern for the relatively powerless position of criminal defendants in ordinary political discourse. At the same time, the opinions often include invitations to Congress to clarify its meaning by overriding the Court’s decision. Congress responded to Ginsburg’s initial criminal law majority opinion by overriding it a mere eight months later, and the Justice understands that the political branches are quite capable of producing effective responses to criminal law majority opinions with which they disagree. When it comes to labor relations and civil rights, Ginsburg regards the Court as a distinctly more junior partner in the lawmaking enterprise. This stance in turn signals both a greater comfort level about how interest group politics operate in a civil regulatory setting and greater skepticism regarding Congress’s ability to respond to any constructions imposed by the Court.
Central pressure more strongly relates to vascular disease and outcome than does brachial pressure: the Strong Heart Study.

Brachial blood pressure is predictive of cardiovascular outcome; however central pressure may better represent the load imposed on the coronary and cerebral arteries and thereby bear a stronger relationship to vascular damage and prognosis. Relations of brachial and central pressures to carotid artery hypertrophy (intimal-medial thickness and vascular mass), extent of atherosclerosis (plaque score), and incident cardiovascular events were examined in the Strong Heart Study. Central pressures were calculated using radial applanation tonometry. Among 3520 participants, central and brachial pulse pressures were more strongly related to vascular hypertrophy and extent of atherosclerosis than were systolic pressures. Central pulse pressure was more strongly related to all 3 arterial measures than was brachial pulse pressure (r0.364 versus 0.309 for plaque score; P0.001 for comparison of Spearman correlation coefficient; r0.293 versus 0.249 for intimal-medial thickness; P0.002; r0.320 versus 0.289 for vascular mass; P0.05). Among the 2403 participants free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline, 319 suffered fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular events during mean follow-up of 4.81.3 years. After adjustment for age, gender, current smoking, body mass index, cholesterol:HDL ratio, creatinine, fibrinogen, diabetes, and heart rate, central pulse pressure predicted cardiovascular events more strongly than brachial pulse pressure (hazards ratio1.15 per 10 mm Hg, 2 13.4, P0.001 versus hazards ratio1.10, 2 6.9, P0.008). In conclusion, noninvasively-determined central pulse pressure is more strongly related to vascular hypertrophy, extent of atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular events than is brachial blood pressure. These findings support prospective examination of use of central blood pressure as a treatment target in future trials. (Hypertension. 2007;50:197-203.)
HOME-TO-JOB AND JOB-TO-HOME SPILLOVER: The Impact of Company Policies and Workplace Culture

We draw on gender theory and neo-institutional theory to examine the impact of workplace characteristics and family demands on negative job-to-home and home-to-job spillover. Our multivariate analyses of the 1997 National Study of the Changing Workforce data indicate that family-supportive workplace cultures reduce negative spillover in both directions, whereas the availability of company policies, such as dependent care benefits and flextime, do not. Our results also show that family demands increase spillover more for women than for men. Our findings suggest that the atmosphere of the workplace is more important than the availability of company policies in reducing negative spillover.
Alterations in hippocampal phospholipid profile by prenatal exposure to ethanol

It has been suggested that hippocampus-related cognitive processes are especially sensitive to ethanol. To provide an insight into the biochemical mechanisms underlying the hippocampus-related functional deficits associated with prenatal ethanol exposure, we investigated the effects of chronic ethanol exposure on the phospholipid profile in developing rat hippocampi. High-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that ethanol lowered the levels of total phosphatidylserine (PS) by 15-20% at all ages examined, primarily owing to the reduction in 1-stearoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-PS (18:0,22:6n-3-PS) species. Ethanol exposure also led to a decrease in phosphatidylcholine (PC) and an increase in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), but the total phospholipid content was not significantly changed. At the fatty acid level, ethanol exposure significantly decreased the 22:6n-3 content at postnatal days 0 and 21, with a slight increase in 22:5n-6, without changing the total fatty acid content significantly. In conclusion, ethanol depleted PS, especially 22:6-containing species, and PC from hippocampal membranes with concomitant increase in PE. Alteration of the phospholipid profile in the hippocampus resulting from exposure to ethanol during prenatal and developmental stages may have significant implications with respect to the cognitive dysfunction observed in fetal alcohol syndrome.
Isolation of human single chain variable fragment antibodies against specific sperm antigens for immunocontraceptive development

Contraceptive vaccines can provide valuable alternatives to current methods of contraception. We describe here the development of sperm-reactive human single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies of defined sperm specificity for immunocontraception. Peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from antisperm antibody-positive immunoinfertile and vasectomized men were activated with human sperm antigens in vitro and the complementary DNA prepared and PCR-amplified using primers based on all the variable regions of heavy and light chains of immunoglobulins. The scFv repertoire was cloned into pCANTAB5E vector to create a human scFv antibody library. Panning of the library against specific sperm antigens yielded several clones and the four strongest reactive were selected for further analysis. These clones had novel sequences with unique complementarity-determining regions. ScFv antibodies were expressed purified and analyzed for human sperm reactivity and effect on human sperm function. AFA-1 and FAB-7 scFv antibodies both reacted with fertilization antigen-1 antigen but against different epitopes. YLP20 antibody reacted with the expected human sperm protein of 48 plus or minus 5 kDa. The fourth antibody AS16 reacted with an 18 kDa sperm protein and seems to be a human homologue of the mouse monoclonal recombinant antisperm antibody that causes sperm agglutination. All these antibodies inhibited human sperm function. This is the first study to report the use of phage display technology to obtain antisperm scFv antibodies of defined antigen specificity. These antibodies will find clinical applications in the development of novel immunocontraceptives and specific diagnostics for immunoinfertility. (authors)
CAPITALIZATION OF INTEREST, MATERIALITY JUDGMENT DIVERGENCE AND USERS'INFORMATION NEEDS

A review of the international literature surrounding the concept of materiality yields no existing standards, no consensus of opinions, and little consistency of judgments. This study examines the initial application by auditors in the United States of SFAS No. 34 to comparative financial statements. The study finds that, relative to net income or net plant, the amount of capitalized interest judged to be material covers the same range of values as the amount judged to be immaterial. Such overlap suggests that the basis for disclosure or nondisclosure is not at all clear and that comparison of one firm's results with another may be hampered. The suggestion is made that the most immediate solution to this problem is disclosure and communication of the materiality guidelines used by the preparer of the (inancia1 statements.
Nonparametric Nonlinear Cotrending Analysis, With an Application to Interest and Inflation in the United States

Given the assumption that the components of a vector time series are stationary around nonlinear deterministic time trends, nonlinear cotrending is the phenomenon that one or more linear combinations of the time series are stationary around a linear trend or a constant; hence, the series have common nonlinear deterministic time trends. In this article, I develop nonparametric tests for nonlinear cotrending, and I derive nonparametric estimators of the cotrending vectors. I apply this approach to the federal funds rate and the consumer price index inflation rate in the United States, using monthly data, to analyze the price puzzle.
Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: histopathologic and biochemical recurrence data at one-year follow-up

Introduction: Robotically assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of prostate cancer. We report the histopathologic and short term PSA outcomes of 500 robotic prostatectomies. Materials and Methods: Five hundred patients underwent robotic radical prostatectomy. The procedure was performed via a six trocar transperitoneal technique. Prostatectomy specimens were analyzed for TNM Stage, Gleason's grade, tumor location, volume, specimen weight, seminal vesicle involvement and margin status. A positive margin was reported if cancer cells were found at the inked specimen margin. PSA data was collected every three months for the first year, then every six months for a year, then yearly. Results: Average pre-operative PSA was 6.9 (1-90) with Gleason's score of 5 (2%), 6 (52%), 7 (40%), 8 (4%), 9(2%). Post operatively histopathologic analysis showed Gleason's 6 (44%), 7(42%), 8(10%), 9(4%). 10%, 5%, 63%, 15%, 5% and 2% had pathologic stage T2a, T2b, T2c, T3a, T3b and T4 respectively. Positive margin rate was 9.4% for the entire series. The positive margin rate per 100 cases was: 13% (1-100), 8% (101-200), 13% (201-300), 5% (301-400) and 8% (401-500). By stage it was 2%, 4%, 2.5% for T2a, T2b, T2c tumors, 23% (T3a), 46% (T3b) and 53% (T4a). For organ confined disease (T2) the margin rate was 2.5% and 31% for non organ confined disease. There were a total of 47 positive margins, 26 (56%) posterolateral, 4 (8.5%) apical, 4 (8.5%) bladder neck, 2 (4%) seminal vesicle and 11 (23%) multifocally. Ninety five percent of patients (n=500) have undetectable PSA (<0.1) at average follow up of 9.7 months. Recurrence has only been seen with non organ confined tumors. Those patients with a minimum follow up of 1 year (average 15.7 months) 95% have undetectable PSA (<.1). Conclusion: Our initial experience with robotic radical prostatectomy is promising. Histopathologic outcomes are acceptable with a low overall margin positive rate. Short term biochemical recurrence free survival has also been good. We believe that the precise dissection allowed by the advantages of laparoscopic robotic surgery will translate into excellent long term oncologic outcomes.
Image segmentation and classification using color features

Color provides a wealth of information for interpretation of image content. The increased availability of affordable digital color cameras has created the opportunity to explore the degree to which color is useful in computer vision. This paper shows that a system for image segmentation and classification can be created using color as the primary feature. This system is comprised of two phases: segmentation and classification. In the first step, an image is searched with a blob detection algorithm to determine the location of any possible foreground elements. These areas are extracted from the image to be used in the next step. Classification is done using a set of eight color features that are optimally selected for each database. The appropriate feature vector is created for each foreground area removed from the original image. The vector is then compared to a preconstructed database to be identified. For this paper USA postage stamps on envelopes were used as the test cases.
A Novel Visualization Model for Web Search Results

This paper presents an interactive visualization system, named WebSearchViz, for visualizing the Web search results and facilitating users' navigation and exploration. The metaphor in our model is the solar system with its planets and asteroids revolving around the sun. Location, color, movement, and spatial distance of objects in the visual space are used to represent the semantic relationships between a query and relevant Web pages. Especially, the movement of objects and their speeds add a new dimension to the visual space, illustrating the degree of relevance among a query and Web search results in the context of users' subjects of interest. By interacting with the visual space, users are able to observe the semantic relevance between a query and a resulting Web page with respect to their subjects of interest, context information, or concern. Users' subjects of interest can be dynamically changed, redefined, added, or deleted from the visual space
URETHRAL OBSTRUCTION AFTER PRIMARY EXSTROPHY CLOSURE: WHAT IS THE FATE OF THE GENITOURINARY TRACT?

AbstractPurpose: We assessed the impact of posterior urethral obstruction after primary bladder exstrophy closure.Materials and Methods: A review of the records of patients with classic bladder exstrophy at our institution identified 29 boys and 12 girls with a mean age of 11.75 years who had had posterior urethral outlet obstruction after closure was done in the neonatal period.Results: Of these 41 patients 75% underwent closure elsewhere. At closure osteotomies were done in 13 patients and 23 were younger than 72 hours. Paraextrophy skin flaps were used at primary closure in 27 cases (66%). Obstruction presented as recurrent urinary tract infection, upper tract deterioration with or without renal failure, bladder stones, difficult catheterization, urethral stitch erosion, a full bladder on ultrasound, a prolonged dry interval, urinary retention, inability to catheterize, bladder rupture, rectal prolapse and epididymitis or prostatitis. Usually the initial obstructive episode developed within 60 days of ...
Relativistic Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck model for high energy heavy ion collisions

One of the main motivations for carrying out research in heavy-ion collisions is to create nuclear matter at various densities and excitation energies in order to map out the nuclear phase diagram. The normal nuclei have a density of ρ 0 = 0.16 fm-3 and is at zero temperature. To extend beyond this requires the compression and deposition of energy in the nuclear matter. Experiments carried out so far indicate that heavy-ion collisions indeed offer such a possibility. Depending on the incident energy per nucleon in the collision, differernt regions of the nuclear phase diagram can be probed.
RETROPERITONEAL LYMPH NODE DISSECTION IN PATIENTS WITH LOW STAGE TESTICULAR CANCER WITH EMBRYONAL CARCINOMA PREDOMINANCE AND/OR LYMPHOVASCULAR INVASION

ABSTRACTPurpose: The outcome after primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) was analyzed in patients with clinical stage I-IIA nonseminomatous germ cell testicular cancer with embryonal carcinoma predominance (ECP) or lymphovascular invasion (LVI).Materials and Methods: Between 1989 and 2002, 267 patients with clinical stage I-IIA nonseminomatous germ cell testicular cancer, and ECP and/or LVI underwent RPLND. Patient information was obtained from a prospective database. Median followup was 53 months.Results: Overall 42% of patients had pathological stage (PS) II disease, of whom 54% had low volume (PN1) disease and 16% had retroperitoneal teratoma. The 5-year progression-free probability was 90% overall, 90% for PS I and 86% for PN1. All patients with relapse were continuously free of disease following standard chemotherapy with or without resection of residual masses and the 10-year actuarial overall survival was 100%. When adjuvant chemotherapy was restricted to patients with PN2 disease, ...
The Relationship between Unit Cost and Cumulative Quantity and the Evidence for Organizational Learning-by-Doing

in the psychology literature since the beginning of the twentieth century. Ebbinghaus (1885) famously demonstrated the filearning curve by Ebbinghaus (1885) famously demonstrated the fi rst learning curve by memorizing ever-longer strings of nonsense syllables; Bryan and Harter (1899) memorizing ever-longer strings of nonsense syllables; Bryan and Harter (1899) studied learning curves exhibited by telegraph operators sending and receiving studied learning curves exhibited by telegraph operators sending and receiving Morse code; and Book (1908) studied a learning curve in typing skills. The idea Morse code; and Book (1908) studied a learning curve in typing skills. The idea that a phenomenon analogous to the learning curve might also apply at the level that a phenomenon analogous to the learning curve might also apply at the level of the organization took longer to emerge, but it had begun to fi gure prominently of the organization took longer to emerge, but it had begun to fi gure prominently in military procurement and scheduling at least a decade before Wright’s (1936) in military procurement and scheduling at least a decade before Wright’s (1936) classic paper providing evidence that the cost of producing an airframe declined as classic paper providing evidence that the cost of producing an airframe declined as cumulative output increased. cumulative output increased. Wright (1936), who was careful Wright (1936), who was careful not to describe his empirical results as a
Environmental and Agriculture Benefits of Direct Seeding of Wheat in Setif High Plains (North East of Algeria)

Direct seeding of wheat in the Setif region reduces fuel consumption and machinery. It enables also the rehabilitation soil and the reduction of environmental pollution.
Head and Neck Trauma

While the overall mortality rates have decreased significantly, TBI remains a significant public health problem. In addition, while cervical spine and spinal cord injuries are less common in children compared to adults, these injuries are an important source of long-term morbidity and pose a significant burden on the health care system. The management of these injuries has continued to evolve over time. Critically injured children with TBI require the close coordination of management between the PICU team, the trauma surgeon, and the neurosurgeon.
IoT promises, perils and perspectives: Closing statement: The Internet of Things (Ubiquity symposium)

By many indications, signs, and signals there is writing on the wall: the Internet of Things (IoT) is coming! In this closing statement, Kemal Delic briefly reflects on two possible developments for the IoT and concludes with a third, and more likely, scenario.
The Core Competence of Corporations and Its Relationship with Diversification Strategies

The evaluation criteria of the core competence of corporations are presented. Based on the core competence, the types of diversification strategies are re-celassified. The relationship between the core competence and the diversification strategies is further elaborated with some suggestions on the implementation of diversification strategies in China.
Assessment of the relationship between quantitative ultrasound measurement SOS (T) and hip BMD in population with and without osteoporotic fractures in the females

Objective To gain the basic knowledge of peak SOS(T) SOS SOS(R) ,and the SOS(T) and BMD of femoral neck in osteoporotic fracture group and non - fracture contrast group in Chinese young women. Both the relationship between these data and the ability for predicting fractures of in these group of young women were analysed. Materials and Methods Three groups of female persons without bone metabolic diseases and medical treatment were included in the normal health group: women of 100 cases, the non - fracture group of 126 cases, and the osteoporotic fracture group of 32 cases; SOS(T) HIPN were measured with QUS device Sunlight Omnisense produced by Sunlight corp Hip BMD is measured by DPXA - L produced by Lunar corp SPSS8.0 software was used to analysis all the data including T test D test and multiple linear correlation and regression analysis. Results In normal group SOS(T) = 3964±104,SOS(R) = 4186±112 . In non - fracture control group: SOS(R) = 3893.95±156.84, HIPN = 0.7045±0.105 . In fracture group: SOS(T) = 3637.8±125.39, HIPN = 0.6088±0.03476. Two - Independent t tests between groups in women SOS (T) t = 4.06, P 0.01, BMD , of femoral neck t = 4.067 P 0.001. Using multiple linear correlation and regression analysis , it was found that SOS (T) correlated only with BMD of femoral neck significantly. Using Logistic regression analysis , the fracture risk per I Sd fracture risk decrease in SOS(T) and hip BMD:SOS (T) odd ratio = 3.98 (95%CI1.98-1.97) BMD odd ratio=10.435(95%CI3.0 - 36.2) .The combined use of SOS(T) and BMD is a better predictor of fracture risk, the odd ratio is 10.35. Conclusion In our clinical study SOS (T) increases with HIPN in all groups significantly, and SOS (T) value is quite different between groups . All regression formulae are statistically significant. So we conclude that SOS (T) is a good available predicting factor for BMD and fracture risk , as good as BMD in osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. The combined use of them is better than either one used alone.
The Stein-Leventhal syndrome; a review and case reports.

Abstract A review of the literature has been presented. Five cases of the Stein-Leventhal syndrome have been presented.
Vildagliptin was effective as add-on therapy in type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin monotherapy.

Source Citation Bosi E, Camisasca RP, Collober C, Rochotte E, Garber AJ. Effects of vildagliptin on glucose control over 24 weeks in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metfo...