cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bayesian analysis of bivariate competing risks models with covariates

Abstract Bivariate exponential models have often been used for the analysis of competing risks data involving two correlated risk components. Competing risks data consist only of the time to failure and cause of failure. In situations where there is positive probability of simultaneous failure, possibly the most widely used model is the Marshall–Olkin (J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 62 (1967) 30) bivariate lifetime model. This distribution is not absolutely continuous as it involves a singularity component. However, the likelihood function based on the competing risks data is then identifiable, and any inference, Bayesian or frequentist, can be carried out in a straightforward manner. For the analysis of absolutely continuous bivariate exponential models, standard approaches often run into difficulty due to the lack of a fully identifiable likelihood (Basu and Ghosh; Commun. Statist. Theory Methods 9 (1980) 1515). To overcome the nonidentifiability, the usual frequentist approach is based on an integrated likelihood. Such an approach is implicit in Wada et al. (Calcutta Statist. Assoc. Bull. 46 (1996) 197) who proved some related asymptotic results. We offer in this paper an alternative Bayesian approach. Since systematic prior elicitation is often difficult, the present study focuses on Bayesian analysis with noninformative priors. It turns out that with an appropriate reparameterization, standard noninformative priors such as Jeffreys’ prior and its variants can be applied directly even though the likelihood is not fully identifiable. Two noninformative priors are developed that consist of Laplace's prior for nonidentifiable parameters and Laplace's and Jeffreys's priors for identifiable parameters. The resulting Bayesian procedures possess some frequentist optimality properties as well. Finally, these Bayesian methods are illustrated with analyses of a data set originating out of a lung cancer clinical trial conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.
An identification problem for hereditary systems

The system identification problem, within the context of this paper, is the determination of an input-output operator A based upon a limited amount of information. We consider the case where A is a linear, time invariant map on an appropriate function space and develop an algorithm for determining A from knowledge of input-output pairs in A.
Migration of the elderly from U.S. central cities

Little documentation exists of the population movements of older people into and out of American central cities. To fill this gap we examine the extent to which the older population defined as being at least age 55 in 1960 participated in the population out-migration from central cities in the United States between 1960 and 1970. Older persons constitute a relatively high proportion of the population in central cities and between 1960 and 1970 the relative size of these concentrations actually increased. However because this higher percentage may reflect the aging-in-place of middle-aged and older cohorts or the previous net out-migration patterns of more mobile younger population groups (leaving the old behind) such cross-sectional time comparisons indicate little about the net migration flows of the older population. (excerpt)
Wideband propagation channel measurement in an indoor environment

A channel propagation measurement is conducted within the hallway of a building over 2–3 GHz for wireless HDTV application. First we measure wideband complex transmission data using a vector network analyzer. Then the path loss is calculated and fitted with a channel model. Both the path loss exponent and standard deviation are extracted. The power delay profile (PDP) is also derived. The time dispersion parameters and dominant propagation mechanisms are identified.
Phytoextraction and accumulation of mercury in three plant species: Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), beard grass (Polypogon monospeliensis), and Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata).

The objective of this research was to screen and search for suitable plant species to phytoextract mercury-contaminated soil. Our effort focused on using some of the known metal-accumulating wild-type plants since no natural plant species with mercury-hyperaccumulat ing properties has yet been identified. Three plant species were evaluated for their uptake efficiency for mercury: Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), beard grass (Polypogon monospeliensis), and Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata). Four sets of experiments were conducted to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of these three plant species: a pot study with potting mix where mercury was provided daily as HgCl2 solution; experiments with freshly mercury-spiked soil; and a study with aged soils contaminated with different mercury sources (HgCl2, Hg(NO3)2, and HgS). Homemade sunlit chambers were also used to study foliar uptake of Hg from ambient air. Among the three plant species, Chinese brake fern showed the least stress symptoms resulting fr...
Left ventricle myocardial border detection in three-dimensional intracardiac ultrasound images

We have previously reported an automated approach to detection of endocardial and epicardial borders in individual intracardiac ultrasound (ICUS) images. Here, we report the method's extension to 3D ICUS image data sets. Our method is based on fully automated detection of epicardial and endocardial borders inside a single interactively identified region of interest. BOrder detection is based on an optimal graph-searching approach that utilizes a priori knowledge about left ventricular (LV) anatomy and ultrasound imaging physics. Eight cadaveric pig hearts were used for validation. Two ICUS sequences were obtained from each heart, with a 10 MHz CVIS 10F catheter positioned in the LV across (1) the aortic valve and (2) the mitral valve. Performance of the 3D automated border detection method was assessed by comparing the observer- defined and computer-determined quantitative indices of LV volume and by border positioning errors. The 3D reconstruction of the lV was performed from the sequences of the detected epicardial and endocardial borders using shape- based interpolation and surface rendering.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A simple model for gravitational deposition of non-diffusing particles in oscillatory laminar pipe flow and its application to small airways

Abstract Gravitational deposition of non-diffusing particles from oscillatory laminar flows in a horizontal pipe is studied. Developing a simple mathematical model, we demonstrate that when the time for gravitational sedimentation (Td) becomes appreciable relative to the time for flow oscillation (T), the gravitational deposition may no longer be approximated by the classical solution based on steady flow (J. Aerosol Sci. 3 (1972) 351). The analysis shows that an error caused by this approximation increases with the ratio of Td/T (for instance, the errors in the estimation of deposition site are 1.5%, 5.9%, and 128% for Td/T=0.05, 0.1, and 0.5, respectively); the application of the commonly used steady flow-based solutions to dominantly oscillatory flows, such as tidal breathing in lung airways, may therefore significantly underestimate local deposition density. We conclude that the oscillatory nature of tidal airflow must be taken into account when one calculates gravitational deposition of micrometer size particles in small airways of the human lung.
Sibling interaction and symbolic capital: Toward a theory of political micro-economy

Abstract Older siblings play a role in their younger siblings’ language socialization by ratifying or rejecting linguistic behavior. In addition, older siblings may engage in a struggle to maintain their dominant position in the family hierarchy. This struggle is seen through the lens of language and political economy as a struggle for symbolic capital. Bilingual adolescent sibling interactions are analyzed as expressions both of identity and of symbolic power. This paper proposes a theory of political micro-economy , by which analysts may trace connections between broad societal structures and structures of face-to-face interaction.
Endogenous BDNF regulates inhibitory synaptic transmission in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus

Output from steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) neurons in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) is anorexigenic. SF-1 neurons express brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that contribut...
Transcriptionally regulated adenoviruses for prostate-specific gene therapy

Most virally based vectors for gene therapy contain viral promoters that are tissue-nonspecific. Consequently, unintended expression of toxic therapeutic genes in normal tissues may potentially occur. We have constructed adenoviruses that contain a bacterial β-galactosidase (β-gal) gene (lacZ) under the control of three different prostate-specific promoters: prostate-specific antigen (PSA), probasin, and the mouse mammary-tumor-virus long terminal repeat (MMTV; prostate-specific Ad-lacZ). In general, these prostate-specific Ad-lacZ can effectively transduce and express β-gal in prostate cells and display weak, if any, expression of β-gal in nonprostate cells in vitro. In vivo, these adenoviruses showed a high level of β-gal expression in canine prostate but also disseminated to tissues other than prostate after intraprostatic (i.p.) injection. However, none of the prostate-specific Ad-lacZ expressed β-gal in these nonprostate tissues. Furthermore, prostate-specific Ad-lacZ expressed β-gal only in xenograft tumors grown in nude mice, derived from human prostate-cancer cells DU145 and PPC-1, but showed no β-gal expression in tumors derived from human bladder-cancer cells RT4. These results indicate that adenoviruses containing prostate-specific promoters may express intended transgenes specifically in prostate in vivo.
PHOTOELECTRIC K-ABSORPTION CROSS SECTION OF BERYLLIUM

The continuous photoelectric absorption cross section of Be has been measured for photon energies extending from the $K$ edge energy, at 110 eV, to 180 eV. The measurements were carried out by the application of technical improvements which included a more precise electronic method for determining the surface density of absorbers and auxiliary equipment for transfering samples into the spectrograph without exposure to air. The theoretical results of the atomic photo-ionization cross section are also included for reference. The present data are compared with earlier measurements. The cross section ranges from a value of 1.01 Mb at 99.6 \AA{} to a value of 0.63 Mb at 71.5 \AA{}.
A Sárközy Theorem for Finite Fields

A classical result of Sarkozy states that, for any $k\in {\mathbb N}$ and any positive density subset $E$ of ${\mathbb N}$, there exist elements $x$ and $y$ of $E$ and $n\neq 0$ such that $x-y=n^k$. A version of this result for finite fields is derived from a recent theorem of P. Larick, a short proof of which is also given.
The preparation and X-ray crystallographic characterization of lead(II) calix[4]arenesulfonate complex

Abstract The reaction of tetrasodium calix[4]arenesulfonate with lead(II) nitrate gives a complex with 2:1 metal–ligand stoichiometry. The complex has been characterized by elemental and X-ray crystal structure analysis. The latter reveals a layered structure consisting of alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers. All Pb(II) ions have different coordination environments and show an unusually high degree of hydration in the solid state.
The binding of 1,8 ANS congeners to I-FABP and comparison of some hypotheses about ANS' spectral sensitivity to environment.

Abstract The ANS congeners 1-anilinonaphthalene and 1-amino,8-sulfonato naphthalene were investigated as analogs of 1,8 anilinonaphthalene sulfonate. Like 1,8 ANS, they also bind to I-FABP, and the fully-bound spectra reveal interesting similarities and differences with respect to ANS binding. The nature of these differences suggests that certain hypotheses in the literature about ANS photophysics ought to be revised. The conceptual decomposition of energetic effects in the thermodynamics of ANS binding proposed earlier [1] [W. Kirk, E. Kurian, F. Prendergast, Characterization of the sources of protein–ligand affinity: 1-sulfonato-8-(1′)anilinonaphthalene binding to intestinal fatty acid binding protein. Biophys. J. (1996) 70 69–83.] is extended further in this report.
Security vulnerabilities in IEEE 802.22

Cognitive Radio (CR) is seen as one of the enabling technologies for realizing a new spectrum access paradigm, viz. Opportunistic Spectrum Sharing (OSS). IEEE 802.22 is the world's first wireless standard based on CR technology. It defines the air interface for a wireless regional area network (WRAN) that uses fallow segments of the licensed (incumbent) TV broadcast bands. CR technology enables unlicensed (secondary) users in WRANs to utilize licensed spectrum bands on a non-interference basis to incumbent users. The coexistence between incumbent users and secondary users is referred to as incumbent coexistence. On the other hand, the coexistence between secondary users in different WRAN cells is referred to as self-coexistence. The 802.22 draft standard prescribes several mechanisms for addressing incumbent- and self-coexistence issues. In this paper, we describe how adversaries can exploit or undermine such mechanisms to degrade the performance of 802.22 WRANs and increase the likelihood of those networks interfering with incumbent networks. The standard includes a security sublayer to provide subscribers with privacy, authentication, and confidentiality. Our investigation, however, revealed that the security sublayer falls short of addressing all of the key security threats. We also discuss countermeasures that may be able to address those threats.
Comparison of the signal-to-noise characteristics of quantum versus thermal ghost imaging

We present a theoretical comparison of the signal-to-noise characteristics of quantum versus thermal ghost imaging. We first calculate the signal-to-noise ratio of each process in terms of its controllable experimental conditions. We show that a key distinction is that a thermal ghost image always resides on top of a large background; the fluctuations in this background constitutes an intrinsic noise source for thermal ghost imaging. In contrast, there is a negligible intrinsic background to a quantum ghost image. However, for practical reasons involving achievable illumination levels, acquisition times for thermal ghost images are often much shorter than those for quantum ghost images. We provide quantitative predictions for the conditions under which each process provides superior performance. Our conclusion is that each process can provide useful functionality, although under complementary conditions.
Connecting Distance Learning Communities to Research via Virtual Collaboratories: A Case Study from Library and Information Science

This case study reports on patterns of participation in a virtual collaboratory organised around goals associated with the involvement of graduate students in research and writing projects. Traditionally, distance learning classrooms have been devoted to teaching content matter (in a virtual context) yet this case study reports on the use of synchronous learning contexts to support research and professionalisation on the part of graduate students in library and information science. Focus is placed on discussing virtual collaboratories as a form of learning design that modifies the use of existing (synchronous) distance learning classrooms.
Optical Interconnect for 3D Integration of Ultra-Low Loss Planar Lightwave Circuits

We demonstrate the fabrication of a low loss broadband vertical coupler for use in the 3D integration of Si3N4 based planar waveguides. Coupling loss of 0.2 dB was achieved and interaction between layers investigated.
Two dimensional image scanning of movies using surface acousto-optic interaction

Abstract The scanning of two-dimensional black and white movies is described by using the interaction of light with surface acoustic waves. The modulation transfer function for the image scanner is derived. Further, it is shown that the spatial resolution is limited by the surface acoustic wave transducer bandwidth rather than the physical size of the exit pupil of the scanner.
The effect of the ion emission surface on the optical properties of ion beams

Abstract The current density actually obtained in accelerated ion beams is much smaller than would be expected on the basis of the volume in phase space occupied by the ions leaving the source. We have made a study of the trajectories of ions in a beam to find out the reason for this limitation in performance. In the cases studied the limitation could be laid entirely to the effect of the shape of the plasma emission surface. The accelerated beams had the coherence expected from the small thermal spread at the source, but the effective object resulting from the curvature of the plasma surface had an axial length of as much as 10 cm at high current with the result that only a small fraction of the accelerated current could be converged through a small aperture in image space. The effect of space charge in the beams was made negligible by neutralization. No other factor had an appreciable effect on beam optics.
Phase-mask covered optical steganography based on amplified spontaneous emission noise

Phase mask encryption is proposed to improve the transmission privacy of an optical steganography system. The stealth signal carried by amplified spontaneous emission noise is encrypted by a fast changing code.
Lack of obvious 50 kilobase pair DNA fragments in DNA fragmentation factor 45-deficient thymocytes upon activation of apoptosis.

The DNA fragmentation factor 45 (DFF45/ICAD) is a key subunit of a heterodimeric DNase complex critical for the induction of DNA fragmentation during apoptosis in vivo. To further assess the importance of DFF45 in chromosomal DNA degradation, we induced apoptosis in wild-type control and DFF45 deficient thymocytes and compared the cleavage of chromosomal DNA to 50 kilobase pair size fragments. We found that there is a lack of obvious large chromosomal DNA fragments upon treatments by various apoptotic agents in DFF45 deficient thymocytes. The major organ systems in the DFF45 mutant mice either two months or fifteen months of age appear normal. These results suggest that functional DFF45 is required for cleavage of DNA into both large size and oligonucleosomal size fragments in thymocytes during apoptosis. However, deficiency in DFF45 apparently does not significantly affect normal mouse development and tissue homeostasis.
Drosophila Atrophin Homolog Functions as a Transcriptional Corepressor in Multiple Developmental Processes

Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine repeats within the Atrophin-1 protein. The in vivo function of Atrophin-1 is unknown. We have characterized a Drosophila gene encoding an Atrophin family protein. Analysis of mutant phenotypes indicates that Drosophila Atrophin is required in diverse developmental processes including early embryonic patterning. Drosophila Atrophin genetically interacts with the transcription repressor even-skipped and is required for its repressive function in vivo. Drosophila Atrophin directly binds to Even-skipped in vitro. Furthermore, both human Atrophin-1 and Drosophila Atrophin repress transcription in vivo when tethered to DNA, and poly-Q expansion in Atrophin-1 reduces this repressive activity. We propose that Atrophin proteins function as versatile transcriptional corepressors and discuss a model that deregulation of transcription may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration.
Methods for detecting auditory steady-state potentials recorded from humans

Abstract Auditory steady-state potentials were recorded from the scalp of adult humans. The stimuli were 100-μs clicks presented at a rate of 39.1/s. Four stimulus levels were used (−20, 0, 10, and 20 dB SL). The presence or absence of a response was determined by three frequency-domain methods and examiners. The frequency-domain methods were: magnitude-squared coherence (MSC), phase coherence (PC), and magnitude only (MO). The MSC method generally had the highest d′ values, indicating that it was the most sensitive method for detecting responses. The hearing threshold predicted by the MSC method was the lowest, and it was within 4 dB of the behaviorally measured threshold for the click stimuli. Further, the amplitude of the response was significantly more variable than its phase, and no relation was found between the variability of the amplitude of the response and the amplitude of the noise. In summary, response detection methods that incorporate phase information (such as MSC and PC) should be chosen over methods which incorporate only amplitude information.
Avian diversity in pine forests along an urban–rural/agriculture-wildland gradient

To understand the role of pine forests in an urban/agricultural matrix for avian diversity conservation, we investigated how avian species richness (number of species) changes along an urban–rural/agriculture-wildland gradient. We conducted bird surveys and vegetation surveys in pine forests in central-east Georgia, during 2010–2011 breeding seasons. We classified an urban–rural/agriculture-wildland gradient into seven classes. We performed the rank analysis of covariance and pairwise comparisons (based on the overlap of 90 % confidence intervals). Significant differences in avian species richness were found among seven classes (P < 0.05). Species richness was lower in pine patches embedded in wildland matrix compared to those in urban and/or agricultural matrix. Lower diversity was associated with relatively low structural diversity of vegetation in pine patches within the wildland matrix. Although most results of pairwise comparisons were insignificant, species richness of shrub nesting species, migrant species, and pine-grassland species was higher at pine patches in a mixture of low level of urban and agricultural land use and/or in low level of agricultural land use. Our results suggest that while pine forests in wildland are crucial habitats for conservation-important species, pine forests in some human-altered landscapes may also play a positive role for avian diversity conservation.
Final height of growth hormone-treated patients with growth hormone deficiency: the North American experience

The results of treatment of growth hormone (GH)-deficient patients with recombinant GH are better than the results of treatment with pituitary GH. The reasons for this improvement include higher dosages, more consistent treatment, and daily administration. Under ideal circumstances, final height in patients with GH deficiency (GHD) can be within the normal range for adult height with GH treatment, and brought close to their target height. To achieve this result, it is important to diagnose and treat GHD early, use adequate doses of GH, and continue treatment until final height.
On the comparison of a weak variant of the Newton-Kantorovich and Miranda theorems

We recently showed a semilocal convergence theorem that guarantees convergence of Newton's method to a locally unique solution of a nonlinear equation under hypotheses weaker than those of the Newton-Kantorovich theorem. Here we first weaken Miranda's theorem, which is a generalization of the intermediate value theorem. Then we show that operators satisfying the weakened Newton-Kantorovich conditions satisfy those of the weakened Miranda's theorem.
Influence of Curvature and Pressure Gradient on Turbulent Wake Development in Curved Channels

The development of steady wake flow downstream of a cylindrical rod within a curved channel under the influence of positive, negative, and zero streamwise pressure gradients is theoretically and experimentally investigated. The measured asymmetric wake quantities, such as the mean velocity, turbulent fluctuations in longitudinal and lateral directions, and the turbulent shear stress, are transformed from the probe coordinate system into the curvilinear wake coordinate system. For the transformed nondimensionalized velocity defect and the turbulent quantities, affine profiles are observed throughout the flow regime. Based on the experimental observations and using the transformed equations of motion and continuity, a theoretical framework that generally describes a two-dimensional curvilinear steady wake flow is developed. The theory treats the straight wake flow as a special case for which the curvature radius approaches infinity. A comparison of the developed theory with our own experimental results and with the re-evaluated experimental data from the literature establishes the general validity of the theory.
The Role of Hypothalamic Adrenergic Receptors in Preventing Testosterone-Induced Androgenization in the Female Rat Brain

Androgenization of the female neonatal rat brain by testosterone and the subsequent development of persistent estrus in the adult can be blocked by drugs which interfere with normal hypothalamic neuronal function. The mechanism of action of these drugs was studied. A 25-μg dose of testosterone propionate at 5 days of age produced a 69% incidence of persistent estrus at 90 days of age. α-Methyl-p-tyrosine given with testosterone propionate resulted in an 81% incidence of persistent estrus. Therefore, hypothalamic norepinephrine depletion did not prevent androgenization. Tyramine (100μg) inhibited androgenization to an incidence of 27% by 90 days. Phenoxybenzamine (50 μg) and phentolamine (50 μg) each reduced the incidence to 0%. Combining the β-antagonist propranolol with phenoxybenzamine or phenotolamine reversed the block in androgenization, resulting in 37% and 50% incidences of persistent estrus, respectively. Tyramine causes the release of neuronal stores of norepinephrine, which is turn stimulates α-...
Re-Arrangement, Anticipation and Harmonization as Exegetical Features in the Genesis Apocryphon1

This chapter shows that how the Genesis Apocryphon employs several of biblical narrative. The techniques which the author calls "anticipation," "rearrangement" and "constructive harmonization" are related devices whose goal is the production of the smoother narrative of which he speaks. The chapter describes these phenomena in some detail in order to highlight the nuances which distinguish them and in order to show more clearly how they function in relation to their biblical original. In the case of anticipation, the necessary material is introduced at an earlier point in the narrative than it is in the biblical story, but it is not removed from its original location as in the case of rearrangement. Anticipation and constructive harmonization are the most alike of the techniques; both fill a perceived gap in the biblical text. The problem resolved by the technique is more pronounced in the case of the harmonization.Keywords:anticipation; biblical text; constructive harmonization; Genesis Apocryphon; rearrangement
IGF-1 induced vascular endothelial growth factor secretion in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract Elevated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels correlate with increased progression and poor prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). VEGF expression is regulated by hypoxia and cytokines, including insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). In this report, we examined IGF-1 signaling and VEGF expression in SCC-9 cells. IGF-1 and the chemical hypoxia agent, cobalt chloride, each stimulated VEGF secretion and VEGF promoter activation. Cobalt chloride increased Hif-1α protein levels and HIF-1 dependent activation of the enolase promoter. IGF-1 increased these parameters only in the presence of cobalt chloride. IGF-1 stimulated PI-3K/Akt and Erk/MAPK pathways in SCC-9 cells, each contributing to Hif-1α expression and VEGF secretion. SCC-9 cells express the VEGF receptors Flk-1 and neuropilin-1, with VEGF treatment increasing VEGF promoter activity and VEGF secretion that was attenuated by the Flk-1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, ZM 323881. These results demonstrate the presence of an IGF-1 regulated VEGF autocrine loop in HNSCC.
Breast cancer in men.

Breast cancer is an infrequent but serious problem in men. Men account for less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer in the United States. Estimates for 1995 are that 1400 (0.76%) of the 183,400 new cases of breast cancer in the United States occurred in men. 12 Breast cancer comprises 0.2% of all cancers in males. Approximately 240 men died of breast cancer in 1995, representing 0.5% of the expected 46,240 total deaths from breast cancer and 0.08% of cancer deaths among men. The earliest reference to breast cancer is in the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus from Egypt, which dates from 3000 to 2500 years b.c. and appears to have referred to a man. 11 The first clinical description of a case is attributed to John of Arderne in England in the fourteenth century. 45 Thereafter breast cancer in males received no more than an occasional mention until collections of several hundred cases began to appear in the literature in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 121 Knowledge relevant to many aspects of the disease in men is still limited. Information is based largely on retrospective analysis of data and case reports. Prolonged periods are required to collect an appreciable number of cases at treatment centers, during which changes occur in diagnostic methods, staging, treatment, and the personnel directly involved. Treatment of men has been guided largely by knowledge gained from treatment of women, whose greater numbers permit controlled therapeutic trials.
Wavelet Multi-scale Edge Detection for Extraction of Geographic Features to Improve Vector Map Databases

Although numerous at smaller geographic scales, vector databases often do not exist at the more detailed, larger scales. A possible solution is the use of image processing techniques to detect edges in high-resolution satellite imagery. Features such as roads and airports are formed from the edges and matched up with similar features in existing low-resolution vector map databases, By replacing the old features with the new more accurate features, the resolution of the existing map database is improved. To accomplish this, a robust edge detection algorithm is needed that will perform well in noisy conditions. This paper studies and tests one such method, the Wavelet Multi-scale Edge Detector. The wavelet transform breaks down a signal into frequency bands at different levels. Noise present at lower scales smoothes out al higher levels. It is demonstrated that this property can be used to detect edges in noisy satellite imagery. Once edges are located, a new method will be proposed for storing these edges geographically so that features can be formed and paired with existing features in a vector map database.
Occurrence of Salicyluric Acid in Milk

HIPPURIC acid was isolated from milk by Karabinos and Dittmer nearly twenty years ago1, but approximately 7 mgm. per cent of the non-protein nitrogen in milk is still unaccounted for2. Using ion exchange chromatography, several nitrogenous constituents, other than amino-acids, have been identified in milk very recently by Schwartz and Pallansch3. In the present communication evidence that cow's milk contains the glycine conjugate of salicylic acid is presented.
Impact of the NSF State/Industry/University Cooperative Research Center on low-cost, high-speed polymer composites processing on the research and educational programs at Michigan State University

Abstract The objectives of the National Science Foundation (NSF) State of Michigan/Industry/University Cooperative Research Center on low-cost, high-speed polymer composites processing at Michigan State University (MSU) are design, development and deployment of technology and knowledge-based systems that will reduce costs of polymer composites processing by (a) insuring faster processes, (b) reducing component costs, and (c) reducing implementation times of new composite designs. Significant accomplishments have been made in research, education and technology transfer in the areas of novel processing, liquid molding, thermoplastic processing, intelligent design and process modeling, and interphases and joining. The Center's primary educational activities were supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology-Advanced Technology Program (NIST-ATP) with General Motors and General Electric, and the Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP) with the University of Delaware and the US Department of Defense. The Center's role in the four-year NIST-ATP was to disseminate injection-molded thermoplastics design methodologies to automotive, appliance, computer and other key US industries. The program enabled the Center to develop course material, a CD-ROM design manual, and workshop materials on state of the art thermoplastics design knowledge. To date, hundreds of individuals have participated in the workshops, and the material developed in this program is being integrated into undergraduate, graduate and continuing education offerings. The TRP program brought together the NSF Center at MSU and the composite materials center at the University of Delaware (UD) in a collaborative composite materials education and training effort for the Department of Defense and the durable goods industry. Educational developments included incorporation of knowledge derived from the TRP program into 49 new or existing engineering courses (23 at MSU and 26 at UD); six experiments for a new teaching laboratory; four workshops; four videotaped instructional modules (two each for liquid molding RTM technology and the injection molding technology); interactive WEB-based simulations and tutorials; and development of knowledge-based software.
The Female Circumcision Controversy: An Anthropological Perspective

The Female Circumcision Controversy: An Anthropological Perspective. Ellen Gruenbaum. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2001. 242 pp.
Abolishing Exclusive Jurisdiction in the Federal Circuit: A Response to Judge Wood

Part of a symposium of responses to Chief Judge Wood’s suggestion for giving regional circuits a share of the Federal Circuit’s authority over patent law, this article argues that now that a degree of nationwide uniformity in patent law has been achieved, it would be a pity to disrupt it. While Chief Judge Wood is right that the law would improve with percolation, a change in the composition of the court, new procedures for challenging patents in the Patent and Trademark Office, a District Court pilot program, and satellite patent offices will bring to the debate new voices, different kinds of expertise, and diverse experience. It is worth waiting to see how these changes play out.
Natural inflation with pseudo Nambu-Goldstone bosons

It is shown that a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson of given potential can naturally give rise to an epoch of inflation in the early universe. Mass scales which arise in particle physics models with a gauge group that becomes strongly interacting at a certain scales are shown to be conditions for successful inflation. The density fluctuation spectrum is nonscale-invariant, with extra power on large length scales.
Evaluation of cluster interconnects for a distributed shared memory

Clusters of Symmetrical Multiprocessors (SMPs) have recently become popular as low-cost, high-performance computing solutions. The type of interconnection hardware used in these clusters can become a deciding factor in their overall performance. This paper evaluates the performance of three different communication systems, 10 Mbps Ethernet, 100 Mbps FastEthernet and 155 Mbps ATM, using a multithreaded Distributed Shared Memory system, Strings. The raw performance of each network is first measured using netperf. Ten different applications are then used for performance evaluation, including programs from the SPLASH-2 benchmarks, a medical computing application, and some computational kernels. It is found that half of the programs tested are not significantly affected by changes in the bandwidth. Though the ATM network provides the highest overall bandwidth, the remaining applications show that the increase in latency compared to FastEthernet prevents any performance improvement. On the other hand, applications that require only moderately high bandwidths perform substantially better with FastEthernet.
The Rise and Spread of Suicide Bombing

This article reviews the existing literature, mostly from political science, on suicide bombing. A prominent weapon in the toolkit of violent nonstate actors for a generation, suicide bombing generates a significantly larger number of casualties per attack than other uses of force by terrorist groups, insurgents, and others. Scholars tend to agree that no single reason leads individuals to become suicide bombers. Moreover, groups use suicide bombing for strategic reasons—although whether suicide bombing campaigns make groups more likely to achieve their goals is unclear. Scholars continue to disagree about what drives groups to adopt or eschew suicide bombing, including the role of religion. Although groups that are more religious are significantly more likely to adopt suicide bombing, the underlying cause and its relationship to particular religious ideologies (such as Salafi Jihadi movements) versus the structure of religious groups remain matters of contention.
Invited Commentary: Lost in Estimation—Searching for Alternatives to Markov Chains to Fit Complex Bayesian Models

Bayesian methods have seen an increase in popularity in a wide variety of scientific fields, including epidemiology. One of the main reasons for their widespread application is the power of the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques generally used to fit these models. As a result, researchers often implicitly associate Bayesian models with MCMC estimation procedures. However, Bayesian models do not always require Markov-chain-based methods for parameter estimation. This is important, as MCMC estimation methods, while generally quite powerful, are complex and computationally expensive and suffer from convergence problems related to the manner in which they generate correlated samples used to estimate probability distributions for parameters of interest. In this issue of the Journal, Cole et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2012;175(5):368-375) present an interesting paper that discusses non-Markov-chain-based approaches to fitting Bayesian models. These methods, though limited, can overcome some of the problems associated with MCMC techniques and promise to provide simpler approaches to fitting Bayesian models. Applied researchers will find these estimation approaches intuitively appealing and will gain a deeper understanding of Bayesian models through their use. However, readers should be aware that other non-Markov-chain-based methods are currently in active development and have been widely published in other fields.
Defense Mechanisms in Notaspid Snails: Acid Humor and Evasiveness

Notaspid snails are known for their defensive skin secretion of sulfuric acid (pH 1–2) in response to noxious stimuli. We observed acid secretion and behavior in five notaspid species, and studied them in detail in Pleurobranchaea californica . All species secreted acid in response to skin abrasion or compression. Moreover, all species showed stereotypic avoidance behavior to acidified sea water less acidic (pH 2–3) then their own secretions. In Pleurobranchaea , secretion could also be stimulated by dilute solutions of taurine, 10 −5 -10 −2 moll −1 . Secretion began at the stimulated region and spread slowly for about a minute following stimulation. Local contraction and transient edema of the skin were associated with acid secretion. In de-ganglionated preparations secretion could be caused by orthodromic stimulation of body wall nerves, by mechanical stimulation or by taurine. These data suggest that acid secretion is a positive feedback process modulated by inhibitory paths and coordinated by both central and peripheral nervous systems. A picture emerges of a defensive secretory response that provides an additional noxious stimulus initiating or potentiating avoidance behavior. The data also suggest a potential role for taurine release from injured tissue and the existence of specific nociceptive neural pathways regulating complex behavior. In addition to deterring extraspecific predation, acid secretion could regulate interactions between animals of the same species.
Human very long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase and two human homologs: initial characterization and relationship to fatty acid transport protein☆

Several human genes with a high degree of homology to rat very long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (rVLCS) and mouse fatty acid transport protein (mFATP) were identified. Full-length cDNA clones were obtained for three genes, and predicted amino acid sequences were generated. Initial characterization indicated that one gene was most likely hVLCS, the human ortholog of rVLCS. The other two (hVLCS-H1 and hVLCS-H2) were more closely related to rVLCS than to mFATP. Phylogenetic analysis of amino acid sequences confirmed that hVLCS-H1 and hVLCS-H2 were evolutionarily closer to VLCSs than FATPs. Alignment of predicted amino acid sequences of human, rat and mouse VLCSs and FATPs revealed the existence of two highly conserved motifs. While one motif is also present in long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases, the other serves to distinguish the VLCS/FATP family from the long-chain synthetase family. Elucidation of the biochemical functions of all VLCS/FATP family members should provide new insights into cellular fatty acid metabolism.
Planar and vertical Si nanowire photodetectors

We demonstrate scalable Si nanowire photodetectors that function as phototransistors. Etched planar and vertical Si nanowire photodetectors have been fabricated and characterized, showing high (>35,000) internal gain under UV illumination.
Significance of early tagged contextual graphemes in grapheme based speech synthesis and recognition systems

In this paper we present our argument that context information could be used in early stages i.e., during the definition of mapping of the words into sequence of graphemes. We show that the early tagged contextual graphemes play a significant role in improving the performance of grapheme based speech synthesis and speech recognition systems.
Fertility and pregnancy in the patient with inflammatory bowel disease

The majority of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are affected during their peak reproductive years.1 While initial concerns focus on attaining a durable remission and avoiding the side effects of medications, once in remission the focus often shifts to the effect of disease and the medications used to treat it on fertility and the ability to conceive a healthy child. This paper summarises the existing literature on the effects of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) and the medications used to treat it on fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Patients are naturally concerned about passing their disease on to their offspring. Unfortunately, family history is the strongest predictor for developing IBD. If one parent is affected, the risks of the offspring developing IBD are 2–13 times higher than in the general population.2,3 One study estimated that the risks of IBD in first degree relatives of probands with UC and CD were 1.6% and 5.2%, respectively, values that were even higher in the Jewish population.4 If both parents have IBD, the risk of their offspring developing IBD over their lifetime was estimated to be 36%.5 Several studies suggest that breastfeeding may be protective against the development of IBD in the infant. In a meta-analysis of 17 studies, the eight highest quality studies showed a pooled odds ratio of 0.45 (0.26, 0.79) for CD and 0.56 (0.38, 0.81) for UC.6 However, these were not mothers who had IBD themselves. Infertility is defined as the diminished ability or the inability to conceive and have offspring. It is also defined in specific terms as failure to conceive after a year of regular intercourse without contraception. In general, women with CD appear to have similar fertility rates to the general population. Older referral centre studies estimated infertility rates …
Counterregulatory hormonal response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in insulin-dependent diabetic patients: a comparison of equimolar amounts of porcine and semisynthetic human insulin.

. The aim of the present study was to compare the degree of hypoglycaemia, the hypoglycaemic symptom score and counterregulatory responses to equimolar amounts of intravenously administered porcine and semisynthetic human insulin in a double-blind crossover study in insulin-dependent diabetic patients. After overnight stabilization of blood glucose to approximately 6 mmol l−1 insulin was infused from 06.00 hours at such a rate as to keep the blood glucose concentration constant at 6 mmol l−1. At 09.00 hours hypoglycaemia was induced by increasing the infusion rate to give a blood glucose level of 2 mmol l−1 within about 60 min. The individual infusion rate from the first test was repeated in the second test, 1 week later. Blood glucose minimum levels were 2.1 (range, 1.3–2.9) and 2.1 (1.3–2.8) mmol l−1 for porcine and human insulin, respectively. The insulin concentrations at blood nadirs were 107 (66–180) and 107 (56–184) pmol l−1, respectively, for porcine compared to human insulin (NS). Symptom scores at minimum blood glucose concentrations were 43 and 46, respectively, with a maximal difference in intensity of 1 point in each patient. There were no statistical differences in the counterregulatory responses of glucagon, epinephrine, norepinephrine, Cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin, beta-endorphine or in serum-potassium decreases. Patients were unable to discriminate between the two forms of insulin. It is concluded that there are no differences between porcine and semisynthetic insulin with regard to glucose fall, hormonal counterregulation or symptom scores, when the two forms of insulin are administered intravenously in equimolar amounts.
The ACGME competencies in the operating room.

Background In 1999, the ACGME introduced the 6 competencies that have become the basis for resident education. Since the operating room (OR) has traditionally been the major focus for resident teaching in surgery, we performed an observational study to determine whether it is an appropriate setting for the teaching and/or assessment of the competencies. Methods A 3-person team observed 11 operations and recorded all teaching events. Observers then determined whether each event involved the teaching of a competency by faculty or demonstration of a competency by residents. Frequency counts, mean times, and ranges were calculated for each competency taught and demonstrated. Results The Patient Care competency was both the most commonly taught and demonstrated. Faculty spent an average of 33% of operative time instructing in patient care, and residents demonstrated it 65% of the time. The Interpersonal/Communication Skills (4%) and Practice-Based Learning/Improvement (4%) competencies were also occasionally demonstrated by residents. The remaining competencies were addressed less frequently. Conclusions OR teaching was primarily devoted to the Patient Care competency. The OR was also an appropriate setting for evaluating resident performance in this area. New approaches to OR teaching or educational efforts in other settings such as the clinic are necessary for teaching and assessing the remaining competencies.