cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CC4 Cost-Benefit Analysis of Recombinant Erythropoietin in Premature Neonates

The use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) and intravenous (IV) iron was studied in a group of premature neonates. OBJECTIVE: The study purpose was to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the use of rhEPO and IV iron to reduce the need of erythrocyte transfusions (Ets) in premature neonates. METHODS: Neonates 24–30 weeks gestational age (GA) were considered for admission into the study. Patients were excluded if severe hemolytic or hepatic disease, or renal failure were present. If caretakers did not consent to rhEPO and IV iron therapy, the patients were followed as controls. For patients who were given caretaker consent, treatment included IV iron 1 mg/kg/day in hyperalimention or IV fluids and 400 U/kg/dose of IV rhEPO three times per week for 4 weeks, initiated at days 1–5 of life. There were 41 patients in the rhEPO group and 13 in the control group recruited over 12 months. RESULTS: The mean number of Ets performed in the first 4 weeks of life were 2.8 ± 2.5 for the control group and 1.9 ± 2.7 for the rhEPO group (p=0.28). The direct cost of providing rhEPO and IV iron to the 41 study patients was $8160.11 The direct cost of one Et in our institution is $235.05. No indirect costs (adverse effects) were noted. The average reduction in Ets per patient was 0.9 and if extrapolated to 41 patients would have resulted in cost savings (benefit) of $8673.34. The benefit to cost ratio of this program was 1.1:1. CONCLUSION: rhEPO and IV iron use was associated with a reduction of Ets and proved cost beneficial in a small group of premature neonates ≤30 weeks GA.
Binary phase-only synthetic discriminant functions designed using the successive forcing algorithm

A recently introduced algorithm called the Successive Forcing Algorithm (SFA) is generalized for designing Binary Phase-Only Synthetic Discriminant Functions (BPOSDFs). Preliminary simulation results obtained using this filter are presented. 1© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Association between pretreatment CA-125 levels and surgically documented complete responses in patients with ovarian cancer treated with second-line intraperitoneal therapy

Approximately 20%–40% of patients with small-volume residual ovarian cancer, following systemically administered platinum-based chemotherapy, will respond to a second-line intraperitoneal treatment regimen. In an effort to improve the selection criteria for patients being considered for this regional therapeutic approach, we retrospectively evaluated the influence of pretreatment CA-125 levels on the ability of a group of 70 patients with small-volume residual ovarian cancer (no tumor mass>1 cm in diameter) to achieve a surgically defined complete response (S-CR) following treatment on one of three phase-2 intraperitoneal chemotherapy trials conducted at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Overall, 18/46 (39%) patients with normal pretreatment CA-125 levels (≦units/ml) achieved a S-CR, compared to only 4/24 patients (17%) with an elevated pretreatment value (χ2= 3.7, P>0.5). Despite the lower S-CR rate in patients with elevated CA-125 levels, the duration of response and survival were similar in the two patient populations achieving a S-CR. Thus, we conclude that an elevated pretreatment CA-125 level in a patient with small-volume residual ovarian cancer should not be used by itself to disqualify an individual from consideration for a second-line intraperitoneal treatment regimen, although the finding suggests a reduced likelihood of achieving a S-CR with this therapeutic approach.
Numerical Synthesis and Analysis of Elastic Light-Scattering Microscope Images

We numerically synthesize elastic light-scattering microscope images using a combination of rigorous solution of Maxwell equations and diffraction theory to facilitate optical analysis of biological cells. We correlate subdiffractional cellular features with their scattering spectra.
A facile synthesis of β- and γ- hydroxyphosphonate esters from epoxides

Abstract A BF3.OEt2 catalyzed, regiospecific nucleophilic ring opening reaction of epoxides by dialkyl phosphite and methanephosphonate esters is described. The reaction proceeds in good to excellent yields to give the title compounds and is compatible with a variety of other functional groups.
Differential regulation of APP secretion by apolipoprotein E3 and E4.

Apolipoprotein E (apo E) is a cholesterol transport protein that is present both in blood as well as in central nervous system, where its levels increase following nerve injury. Presumably the function of apo E is to facilitates lipid uptake1. In the periphery, apo E is synthesized by the liver and taken up throughout the body via low density lipoprotein receptors1. In the central nervous system, apo E is synthesized by astrocytes and microglial cells following nerve injury1. Apo E avidly binds lipids, in particular cholesterol, and it is taken up by the axon during regeneration2. Thus, the action of apo E plays an important role in the ability of the brain to cope with neuronal injury. This role may also be critical in the ability of the brain to cope with a neurodegenerative illness, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Software development tools for multi-core/parallel programming

The new era of multi-core processors is bringing unprecedented computing power to the mainstream desktop applications. In order to fully exploit this compute power one has to delve into the world of parallel programming which until today has been the exclusive domain of High Performance Computing Community. This talk will focus on the current state of the art in parallel programming tools that is applicable for developers of mainstream parallel applications with emphasis on software development tools like compilers, debuggers, performance analysis tools and correctness checking tools for parallel programs. I will share some of the challenges that developers face today in developing applications for multi-core systems containing a small number of homogeneous cores (2 to 8) and discuss the situation we will face with the advent of systems containing many more heterogeneous cores in next few years.
The biomarker enriched proteome of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease cyst fluid

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is characterized by the development of numerous fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys of patients. We recently published our description of the proteome of renal cyst fluid in ADPKD. As a follow-up experiment, we hypothesized that the protein-bound subfraction consists of molecules of mechanistic or diagnostic interest in ADPKD. Using a manual biomarker enrichment kit, we have identified 44 distinct proteins in human cyst fluid.
Physiological role of carotenoids and other antioxidants in plants and application to turfgrass stress management

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly destructive chemicals within plant systems. Antioxidants are important photoprotective chemicals that guard plants from oxidative stress. Antioxidants can be classified into two groups: enzymatic and non-enzymatic. Of the non-enzymatic antioxidants, carotenoids have received relatively little attention in turfgrass research. However, carotenoids are vital antioxidants for buffering of singlet oxygen, dissipation of excess light energy through non-photochemical quenching, and harvesting light energy and channeling to the photosystem. Greater emphasis on carotenoids in turfgrass research could provide several benefits. For example, new cultivars could be selected that have improved high light tolerance owing to greater zeaxanthin production. Additionally, xenobiotics could potentially increase carotenoid production, thereby increasing turfgrass survivability under oxidative stress. Previous research indicates turfgrass species have robust carotenoid pool lev...
Early diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea after stroke: Are we neglecting a modifiable stroke risk factor?

Summary Sleep-disordered breathing is an increasingly recognized disorder that is particularly prevalent among stroke patients. Obstructive sleep apnea, a form of sleep-disordered breathing, is associated with multiple major stroke risk factors but is also an independent risk factor for stroke. In addition, untreated sleep apnea is associated with poor functional outcome after stroke. Sleep apnea is amenable to treatment and should be considered a modifiable stroke risk factor, though long-term compliance remains a major barrier. A better understanding of the relationship between sleep apnea and stroke may prompt providers to pursue the early diagnosis and treatment of underlying sleep-disordered breathing to both improve the chance of recovery from stroke in the short term and to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke in the long term.
Evaluation of protein multiple alignments by SAM-T99 using the BAliBASE multiple alignment test set.

Motivation: SAM-T99 is an iterative hidden Markov model-based method for finding proteins similar to a single target sequence and aligning them. One of its main uses is to produce multiple alignments of homologs of the target sequence. Previous tests of SAM-T99 and it’s predecessors have concentrated on the quality of the searches performed, not on the quality of the multiple alignment. In this paper we report on tests of multiple alignment quality, comparing SAM-T99 to the standard multiple aligner, CLUSTALW. Results: The paper evaluates the multiple-alignment aspect of the SAM-T99 protocol, using the BAliBASE benchmark alignment database. On these benchmarks, SAM-T99 is comparable in accuracy with ClustalW. Availability: The SAM-T99 protocol can be run on the web at http://www.cse.ucsc.edu/research/compbio/ HMM-apps/T99-query.html and the alignment tune-up option described here can be run at http://www.cse.ucsc. edu/research/compbio/HMM-apps/T99-tuneup.html. The protocol is also part of the standard SAM suite of tools. http://www.cse.ucsc.edu/research/compbio/sam/
IgE-BINDING FACTORS AND REGULATION OF THE IgE ANTIBODY RESPONSE

In rodents, IgE-bF are derived from a subset of T cells that bear Fc epsilon R or Fc gamma R, or both, and selectively enhance or suppress the IgE response. IgE-PF and IgE-SF may share a common structural gene, therefore a common polypeptide chain, and their biologic activities are decided by post-translational glycosylation process. Under physiological conditions, this process is controlled by two lymphokines, i.e. GEF and GIF. The same principle probably applies to human T cell-derived IgE-bF. In both rodent and human lymphocytes, Fc epsilon RII on B cells are degraded, and their fragments are released from the cells. The fragments of Fc epsilon RII on human B cells represent the carboxy terminal half of the receptor molecules and have affinity for IgE. In contrast, the fragment of Fc epsilon R in mouse B cells does not have an affinity for IgE. Thus, "IgE-bF" are derived from both T cells and B cells in humans, but only from T cells in rodents. The formation of T cell-derived IgE-bF was induced by interferons, while biosynthesis of Fc epsilon R in B cells and the formation of their fragments were enhanced by IL-4. IgE-bF are also formed by a subset of antigen-primed T cells upon cognate interaction with antigen-pulsed syngeneic macrophages. These antigen-primed T cells constitutively secrete either GEF or GIF, having no affinity for homologous antigen. Upon antigenic stimulation, however, GEF and GIF formed by the cells had affinity for the antigen. The antigen-specific GEF enhanced the antibody response, and antigen-specific GIF suppressed the antibody response, both in carrier specific manner. The possible relationship between antigen-specific GEF and antigen-specific TaF, and that between antigen-specific GIF and antigen-specific TsF both require further studies. Nonspecific GIF not only switches T cells from the formation of IgE-PF to the formation of IgE-SF, it also facilitates the generation of antigen-specific suppressor T cells which produce antigen-specific GIF upon antigenic stimulation. Propagation of antigen-primed T cells in the presence of GIF also facilitate the generation of antigen-specific suppressor T cells in vitro. If the same procedures would be effective for human T cells of allergic patients, it would be possible to generate antigen-specific suppressor T cells from their T cell population in vitro and to establish T cell hybridomas that produce allergen-specific GIF(TsF).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
MEK7-dependent activation of p38 MAP kinase in keratinocytes.

Previous studies suggest that a PKC/Ras/MEKK1 cascade regulates involucrin (hINV) gene expression in human epidermal keratinocytes. MEK7, which is expressed in epidermis, has been identified as a member of this cascade (Efimova, T., LaCelle, P., Welter, J. F., and Eckert, R. L. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 24387–24395 and Efimova, T., and Eckert, R. L. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 1601–1607). However, the kinase that functions downstream of MEK7 has not been identified. Our present studies show that MEK7 expression in keratinocytes markedly activates p38α and modestly activates JNK. Activation of p38 MAPK by MEK7 is a novel finding, as previous reports have assigned MEK7 as a JNK regulator. We also demonstrate that this regulation is physiologically important, as the p38α- and JNK-dependent activities regulate hINV promoter activity and expression of the endogenous hINVgene.
Automation of a Center Pivot Using the Temperature-Time- Threshold Method of Irrigation Scheduling

A center pivot was completely automated using the temperature-time-threshold method of irrigation scheduling. An array of infrared thermometers was mounted on the center pivot, and these were used to remotely determine the crop leaf temperature as an indicator of crop water stress. We describe methods used to automatically collect and analyze the canopy temperature data and control the moving irrigation system based on the data analysis. Automatic irrigation treatments were compared with manually scheduled irrigation treatments under the same center pivot during the growing seasons of 2004 and 2005. Manual irrigations were scheduled on a weekly basis using the neutron probe to determine the profile water content and the amount of water needed to replenish the profile to field capacity. In both years, there was no significant difference between manual and automatic treatments in soybean water use efficiency or irrigation water use efficiency. The automatic irrigation system has the potential to simplify management, while maintaining the yields of intensely managed irrigation.
Wireless, battery-less stethoscope for wearable health monitoring

A new wearable stethoscope that is both wireless and battery-less is described. The system consists of a sensor and a reader that uses inductive coupling as a method of transmitting the signals. This method enables the sensor to be free of wires and batteries, making it easy to attach to the skin. The transceiver antenna can be worn outside the clothes and the reader unit can be clipped on a belt. This configuration will allow long term wearing of the system to be less bothersome. The system can be used to capture human body sounds such as respiratory sounds for the purpose of continuous monitoring of patients with asthma or other pulmonary diseases.
Measurement of Intracranial Pressure

I read with interest the timely article by Horbar et al entitled "Effect of Application Force on Noninvasive Measurements of Intracranial Pressure" (Pediatrics 66: 455, 1980). Many are impressed with the correlation that the Ladd sensor displays in comparison to directly measured intracranial pressure (ICP). However, I share the concern of Horbar et al that there may be problems with the constancy of application force of the sensor. I was surprised when I increased application force over the sensor in the monkey model.1
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia and profound prematurity: report of a survivor

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) continues to be one of the most challenging problems in pediatric surgery. The overall mortality rate remains at 40%, and death is caused by pulmonary hypoplasia and persistent pulmonary hypertension. It has been suggested that in utero repair of the defect should be performed to allow the lungs to grow and develop, in the hope of preventing fatal pulmonary insufficiency. The authors report the survival of a 960-g premature infant with CDH, suggesting that ex utero repair is possible in a very low birth weight infant.
Beam-generated upper hybrid noise in Jupiter's outer magnetosphere

A model for generation of upper hybrid waves in Jupiter's outer magnetosphere is presented. Energetic electrons accelerated on high-latitude auroral field lines at 1 R(J) altitudes are assumed to stream outwards to the distant magnetosphere. The large decrease in the local magnetic field strength results in a highly collimated, field-aligned electron beam due to conservation of the particle's magnetic moment. As the beam travels outward it passes through the plasma sheet boundary layer region located on the edges of the plasma sheet. Because of the large field-aligned anisotropy of the beam, the distribution is unstable to the excitation of the upper hybrid waves which amplify and then undergo mode conversion at the f(p) layer to generate the Jovian continuum radiation. A novel feature of the model is the beam-anisotropic heat flux instability which drives UH waves unstable without the need for any positive slope on the electron distribution function.
High-Impedance Coaxial Autoaccelerator

Experimentation of a single-stage, 100 coaxial autoaccelerator was carried out on a 3 MeV, 9 kA, and solid (non-annular) electron beam and achieved a maximum energy gain of about 900 keV. This method provides an alternative to multiple-stage, lower-impedance cavity designs in achieving higher energy gain. Upper and lower bounds for the transmission line length exists which depend on the total pulse width and the rise time of the pulse if one were to maximize the cavity voltage. Experimental measurements of the highest energy electrons included aluminum foil transmission, bremsstrahlung photon absorbed dose using a PIN diode dosimeter, depth-dose profiles in aluminum, and direct cavity voltage measurements using a capacitive voltage probe. Simulations were also performed using a particle-in-cell (PIC) plasma code to model coupling of the beam to the cavity to calculate voltages. Calculation results of the experimental structure suggested that the autoaccelerator gap is magnetically insulated against breakdown while the beam is passing the gap due to the combined effect of the applied axial magnetic field and the azimuthal magnetic field of the electron beam.
Governmental Information Control: The Role Of Technical Societies

In the 1980s the zealous enforcement of technology transfer restrictions in the United States led to a clash between the government and the technology establishment as represented by technical societies, business, and universities. The interactions of the government with the societies, IEEE and the American Physical Society in particular, are examined.
Secondary (γ-Proteobacteria) Endosymbionts Infect the Primary (β-Proteobacteria) Endosymbionts of Mealybugs Multiple Times and Coevolve with Their Hosts

Mealybugs (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae) are plant sap-sucking insects that have within their body cavities specialized cells containing prokaryotic primary endosymbionts (P-endosymbionts). The Pendosymbionts have the unusual property of containing within their cytoplasm prokaryotic secondary endosymbionts (S-endosymbionts) [C. D. von Dohlen, S. Kohler, S. T. Alsop, and W. R. McManus, Nature (London) 412:433-436, 2001]. Four-kilobase fragments containing 16S-23S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were obtained from the P-endosymbionts of 22 mealybug species and the S-endosymbionts of 12 representative species. Phylogenetic analyses of the P-endosymbionts indicated that they have a monophyletic origin and are members of the -subdivision of the Proteobacteria; these organisms were subdivided into five different clusters. The Sendosymbionts were members of the -subdivision of the Proteobacteria and were grouped into clusters similar to those observed with the P-endosymbionts. The S-endosymbiont clusters were distinct from each other and from other insect-associated bacteria. The similarity of the clusters formed by the P- and S-endosymbionts suggests that the P-endosymbionts of mealybugs were infected multiple times with different precursors of the S-endosymbionts and once the association was established, the P- and S-endosymbionts were transmitted together. The lineage consisting of the P-endosymbionts of mealybugs was given the designation “Candidatus Tremblaya” gen. nov., with a single species, “Candidatus Tremblaya princeps” sp. nov. The results of phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA fragments encoding cytochrome oxidase subunits I and II from four representative mealybug species were in agreement with the results of 16S-23S rDNA analyses, suggesting that relationships among strains of “Candidatus T. princeps” are useful in inferring the phylogeny of their mealybug hosts.
CD45RO enriches for activated, highly mutated human germinal center B cells.

To date, there is no consensus regarding the influence of different CD45 isoforms during peripheral B-cell development. Examining correlations between surface CD45RO expression and various physiologic processes ongoing during the germinal center (GC) reaction, we hypothesized that GC B cells, like T cells, that up-regulate surface RO should progressively acquire phenotypes commonly associated with activated, differentiating lymphocytes. GC B cells (IgD−CD38+) were subdivided into 3 surface CD45RO fractions: RO−, RO+/−, and RO+. We show here that the average number of mutations per IgVH transcript increased in direct correlation with surface RO levels. Conjunctional use of RO and CD69 further delineated low/moderately and highly mutated fractions. Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) mRNA was slightly reduced among RO+ GC B cells, suggesting that higher mutation averages are unlikely due to elevated somatic mutation activity. Instead, RO+ GC B cells were negative for Annexin V, comprised mostly (93%) of CD77− centrocytes, and were enriched for CD69+ cells. Collectively, RO+ GC B cells occupy what seems to be a specialized niche comprised mostly of centrocytes that may be in transition between activation states. These findings are among the first to sort GC B cells into populations enriched for live mutated cells solely using a single extracellular marker.
Magnetic properties of high purity yttrium, lanthanum, and lutetium and the effects of impurities on these properties

Magnetic susceptibility measurements have been carried out on single and polycrystalline specimens of lutetium between 1.5 and 300 °K by the Faraday method. Its susceptibility was found to be paramagnetic and almost independent of temperature. A broad maximum centered at approximately 120 °K was found. Due to the discrepancies in past results of yttrium and lanthanum, their susceptibilities were also measured. Yttrium and lutetium were found to have χa greater than χc. Provided the specimens were of high purity, the relationship χpoly = (2/3)χa + (1/3)χ was well obeyed. Oxygen and hydrogen were found in general to lower the susceptibilities of these metals. The presence of an fcc phase in lanthanum was found to increase its susceptibility relative to a dhcp phase. An estimate of the susceptibility of pure fcc lanthanum is given.
Globalization of Education

AbstractThis article examines the political, economic, and social forces shaping global education policies. Of particular concern is global acceptance of human capital ideology and its stress on ed...
A monolithic variable gain Ku-band LNA

A monolithic four-stage low-noise amplifier (LNA) has demonstrated over 25 dB gain with gain control exceeding 30 dB and a noise figure of less than 3.5 dB from 14 GHz to 17 GHz. Single-gate field-effect transistors (FETs) provide minimum noise figure in the two input stages while dual-gate FETs in the output stages contribute enhanced gain with gain control. Gain control is achieved without degradation in the input and output voltage standing-wave ratios. >
Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy for the Jewish Child and Parent

Abstract Jewish children (N = 140, aged 3 to 10 years) enrolled in Jewish Sunday schools or preschools were individually administered a structured interview about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. Their parents (primarily Reform denomination) completed a self-administered questionnaire on their own attitudes toward these figures and toward Jewish tradition. Children's belief in both figures declined with age. Contrary to expectations, Jewish children believed in both figures equally regardless of parental encouragement, the child's behavioral participation in the myths, or parental commitment to Jewish tradition. Moreover, in comparison with previous studies of Christian children, Jewish children believed significantly less in not only Santa Claus but also the Tooth Fairy.
Modelling effects of land use/cover changes under limited data

Watershed models are valuable tools used in the study of impacts of land use/cover (LULC) changes on hydrology. We use the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to study the impacts of LULC changes in a coastal Alabama watershed, where flow data did not exist at the onset of the study. We set up and calibrated the model in the neighbouring Magnolia River watershed. Relevant model parameters were then transferred to the Wolf Bay watershed. Impacts of LULC changes on hydrology are studied in the Wolf Bay watershed by running the model with the default parameters, transferred model parameters (from the Magnolia River watershed), and calibrated parameters at the Wolf Bay watershed with limited data that became available later during the study. The relative changes in flow duration curves (FDCs) due to differing LULC showed a similar pattern with each parameter set: There is a clear threshold of around 1% probability of exceedance where the relative change is at its maximum. The relative change in flow due to LULC change drops drastically with increasing probability of exceedance of beyond 2% until it reaches a plateau at p = 20%. Hence, small to medium range flows are less sensitive to the parameter set. Further, the impact of LULC change on flow gradually decreases with the size of the storm for very large events (probability of exceedance < 1%). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Grape Seed Procyanidin Extract Ameliorates Fructose-Induced Hypertriglyceridemia in Rats via Enhanced Fecal Bile Acid and Cholesterol Excretion and Inhibition of Hepatic Lipogenesis

The objective of this study was to determine whether a grape seed procyanidin extract (GSPE) exerts a triglyceride-lowering effect in a hyperlipidemic state using the fructose-fed rat model and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Rats were fed either a starch control diet or a diet containing 65% fructose for 8 weeks to induce hypertriglyceridemia. During the 9th week of the study, rats were maintained on their respective diet and administered vehicle or GSPE via oral gavage for 7 days. Fructose increased serum triglyceride levels by 171% after 9 weeks, compared to control, while GSPE administration attenuated this effect, resulting in a 41% decrease. GSPE inhibited hepatic lipogenesis via down-regulation of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 in the fructose-fed animals. GSPE increased fecal bile acid and total lipid excretion, decreased serum bile acid levels and increased the expression of genes involved in cholesterol synthesis. However, bile acid biosynthetic gene expression was not increased in the presence of GSPE and fructose. Serum cholesterol levels remained constant, while hepatic cholesterol levels decreased. GSPE did not modulate expression of genes responsible for esterification or biliary export of the newly synthesized cholesterol, but did increase fecal cholesterol excretion, suggesting that in the presence of GSPE and fructose, the liver may secrete more free cholesterol into the plasma which may then be shunted to the proximal small intestine for direct basolateral to apical secretion and subsequent fecal excretion. Our results demonstrate that GSPE effectively lowers serum triglyceride levels in fructose-fed rats after one week administration. This study provides novel insight into the mechanistic actions of GSPE in treating hypertriglyceridemia and demonstrates that it targets hepatic de novo lipogenesis, bile acid homeostasis and non-biliary cholesterol excretion as important mechanisms for reducing hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic lipid accumulation in the presence of fructose.
Deploying CommunityCommands: A Software Command Recommender System Case Study

In 2009 we presented the idea of using collaborative filtering within a complex software application to help users learn new and relevant commands (Matejka et al. 2009). This project continued to evolve and we explored the design space of a contextual software command recommender system and completed a six-week user study (Li et al. 2011). We then expanded the scope of our project by implementing CommunityCommands, a fully functional and deployable recommender system. CommunityCommands was a publically available plug-in for Autodesk’s flagship software application AutoCAD. During a one-year period, the recommender system was used by more than 1100 users. In this article, we discuss how our practical system architecture was designed to leverage Autodesk’s existing Customer Involvement Program (CIP) data to deliver in-product contextual recommendations to end-users. We also present our system usage data and payoff, and provide an in-depth discussion of the challenges and design issues associated with developing and deploying the software command recommender system. Our work sets important groundwork for the future development of recommender systems within the domain of end-user software learning assistance.
Neurochemistry of the Sleep-Wake Cycle in Parkinson’s Disease

Many Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients struggle with excessive daytime sleepiness independent of their poor nocturnal sleep quality. Unexplained by comorbid conditions, these symptoms are inherent to the underlying neuropathology of the disease. Widespread neurodegeneration in PD affects multiple neurotransmitter systems critical for regulating the sleep-wake cycle including: dopamine, acetylcholine, hypocretin/orexin, serotonin, norepinephrine, and melanin-concentrating hormone. Disruptions in these interconnected signaling pathways reduce arousal through both direct and indirect (i.e., positive and negative feedback loops) mechanisms. This chapter reviews the role of each of these neurotransmitter systems in sleep-wake regulation and how degeneration of these nuclei may contribute to deficits in the sleep-wake cycle of PD patients.
Does body mass index affect lymph node retrieval in colon resection for cancer

13571 Background: The management of colon cancer is a multidisciplinary effort that begins with adequate staging centered around the assessment of lymphatic spread. Multiple research groups have st...
Wind Tunnel Testing of Airfoils for Wind Turbine Applications

Accurate wind tunnel measurements of the lift and drag of airfoil sections are critical for the design and performance evaluation of wind turbine blades. As blades continue to increase in size, the demand for highly accurate wind tunnel results at progressively larger Reynolds numbers has also increased. Performing these wind tunnel measurements requires precise experimental control, and three challenges for these measurements are model surface quality, pressure tap effects, and model deflections under aerodynamic loading. These challenges were systematically studied in the Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel using a DU96-W-180 airfoil geometry at a chord Reynolds number (Rec) of 3.0 × 106. Naphthalene sublimation showed turbulent wedges caused by surface imperfections; removing these imperfections increased the lift curve slope by 3%. Pressure tap diameter effects were investigated by placing taps of varying size at the same chord location on the airfoil. These measurements showed a steady pressure bias ...
Selecting patients for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: can the genie be put back into the bottle?

The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has been shown to be an effective therapy for the prevention of sudden cardiac death ([1][1]), an entity that remains a significant public health problem. However, because device implantation carries risks and is costly, the challenge has been to
The Effect of Taxes on U.S. Multinationals' Source of Foreign Debt Decisions

We examine the influence of taxes on where firms source their interest deductions using data on foreign debt offerings by U.S. multinationals during 1987-1997. This unique data not only allows us to identify the location of firms' debt issues, but it allows us to control for non-tax factors related to the decision to issue foreign debt (such as currency hedging). By examining whether U.S. multinationals issue foreign debt through a subsidiary (yielding a deduction against foreign income) or as a direct placement by the U.S. parent (yielding a domestic interest deduction), we are able to construct strong tests of tax incentives to concentrate interest deductions in foreign tax jurisdictions. Our access to data on the location and characteristics of these foreign debt offerings (combined with survey evidence we obtain from U.S. multinationals active in these markets) also allows us to investigate the role of conflicting non-tax incentives to structure these debt offerings as a direct obligation of the U.S. parent. Our empirical results indicate that taxes have a significant influence on where firms source their interest deductions. Consistent with geographic income-shifting predictions, we find (1) that firms with a domestic tax-loss carryforward are significantly more likely to issue foreign subsidiary debt, and (2) evidence that firms are more likely to issue debt through foreign subsidiaries in 'high' versus 'low' tax rate countries. In terms of the foreign tax credit (FTC) position of firms, we find that U.S. multinationals are significantly more likely to issue debt through a foreign subsidiary if binding FTC limitations adversely affect their ability to use a domestic interest deduction. These tax incentive findings are robust to a variety of sensitivity tests. In addition, our findings suggest that these tax incentives are traded-off against non-tax factors, such as subsidiary firms' higher cost of capital, characteristics of foreign markets that favor direct placements, and internal management control issues. This study makes several contributions. First, while prior accounting research provides general evidence that U.S. multinationals shift taxable income between geographic locations in response to variations in tax rates, this is the first study to document the use of interest-sourcing decisions as a mechanism to achieve income shifting. Second, this study provides initial evidence on conflicting incentives that moderate the influence of taxes on firms' financing decisions. Third, our finding that taxes influence the way in which U.S. multinationals structure their foreign debt offerings contributes to policy debates regarding tax distortions.
Multipart Vehicle Detection Using Symmetry-Derived Analysis and Active Learning

On-road vehicle detection is a critical operation in automotive active safety systems such as collision avoidance, merge assist, lane change assistance, etc. In this paper, we present VeDAS—Vehicle Detection using Active learning and Symmetry. VeDAS is a multipart-based vehicle detection algorithm that employs Haar-like features and Adaboost classifiers for the detection of fully and partially visible rear views of vehicles. In order to train the classifiers, a modified active learning framework is proposed that selects positive and negative samples of multiple parts in an automated manner. Furthermore, the detected parts from the classifiers are associated by using a novel iterative window search algorithm and a symmetry-based regression model to extract fully visible vehicles. The proposed method is evaluated on seven different datasets that capture varying road, traffic, and weather conditions. Detailed evaluations show that the proposed method gives high true positive rates of over 95% and performs better than existing state-of-the-art rear-view-based vehicle detection methods. Additionally, VeDAS also detects partially visible rear views of vehicles using the residues left behind after detecting the fully visible vehicles. VeDAS is able to detect partial rear views with a detection rate of 87% on a new partially visible rear-view vehicle dataset that we release as part of this paper.
Metal composition of soil, sediments, and urban dust and dirt samples from the Menomonee River Watershed, Wisconsin, U.S.A.

The Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn contents of the sand, silt, and clay fractions were determined for soils, urban street dust and bottom- and suspended-sediments sampled in the Menomonee River watershed, Wisconsin. The samples were dispersed by ultrasound prior to fractionation. The ultrasound dispersion avoids chemical contamination or alteration resulting from use of chemical dispersants and insures the dispersion of aggregates present in mechanically-sieved samples.
Finding what works: identification of implementation strategies for the integration of methadone maintenance therapy and HIV services in Vietnam

Integration of methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) and HIV services is an evidence-based intervention (EBI) that benefits HIV care and reduces costs. While MMT/HIV integration is recommended by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is not widely implemented, due to organizational and operational barriers. Our study applied an innovative process to identify implementation strategies to address these barriers. Our process was adapted from the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) protocol and consisted of two main phases. In Phase 1, we conducted 16 in-depth interviews with stakeholders and developed matrices to display barriers to integration. In Phase 2, we selected implementation strategies that addressed the barriers identified in Phase 1 and conducted a poll to vote on the most important and feasible strategies among a panel with expertise in cultural context and implementation science. Barriers fell into two broad categories: policy and programmatic. At the policy level, barriers included lack of a national mandate, different structures (MMT vs. HIV clinic) for cost reimbursement and staff salaries, and resistance on the part of staff to take on additional tasks without compensation. Programmatic barriers included the need for cross-training in MMT and HIV tasks, staff accountability, and commitment from local leaders. In Phase 2, we focused on programmatic challenges. Based on voting results and iterative dialogue with our expert panel, we selected several implementation strategies in the domains of technical assistance, staff accountability, and local commitment that targeted these barriers. Key programmatic barriers to MMT/HIV integration in Vietnam may be addressed through implementation strategies that focus on technical assistance, staff accountability, and local commitment. Our process of identifying implementation strategies was simple, low cost, and potentially replicable to other settings.
Polymorphism in merozoite surface protein-1 of Plasmodium vivax before malaria elimination in Hainan Island

To explore genotyping on merozoite surface protein-1of Plasmodium vivax before malaria elimination in Hainan Island,PCR amplification combined sequencing with alignment were conducted and phylogenetic tree was also constructed.In 27cases,24cases belonged to Sal type,2cases were Belem type and 1case was recombinant type.Sal type,which dominated type in those cases,was classified 9sub-Sal types in 24cases;two new continuous amino acid substitutions(DKKLLKEYELNADEKTKINQN)were found in two sub-Sal types,although individual amino acid substitution was found in other amino acid sequences.A new recombinant type was also found in those cases.Phylogenetic tree also showed Sal-1type,belem type and recombined type belonged to different clusters.Sal-a and Sal-b subtypes belonged to one cluster and other subtypes belong to other clusters.Two case of belem type,characterized as poly Q,belonged to some belem type and the evidence from phylogenetic tree also supported it.The constitution of recombined type belonged to II/Q/S type and this type needed further study because of no homologous sequence in database.In Hainan Island,gene diversity in merozoite surface protein-1of Plasmodium vivax manifested before malaria elimination and Sal-1type was denominated.
Site-level importance of broadleaf deciduous trees outweighs the legacy of high nitrogen (N) deposition on ecosystem N status of Central Appalachian red spruce forests

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can influence forest ecosystem N status, and the resilience of forests to the effects of N deposition depends on a number of co-occurring environmental factors that regulate N retention or loss. In this study, we test the idea that N deposition may have important and long-lasting impacts on patterns of N cycling by using field and laboratory techniques to assess N status in seven high-elevation Central Appalachian red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) forests located at sites that historically received moderate to high inputs of N atmospheric deposition. During 2011 and 2012, we measured multiple indices of N availability (e.g. foliar/soil C:N and δ15N, resin ion-exchange, and N transformation rates) that integrate N cycling over seasonal to decadal time scales. Using a model selection approach, we compared the strength of the association between various environmental factors and temporally-integrated indices of N status in a series of regression models. Site-level differences in the relative importance value of broadleaf deciduous (BD) trees consistently explained most of the observed variation in N status. Soil C:N was significantly lower for sites with greater BD importance (R 2 = 0.67–0.77), and there was a strong positive relationship between BD importance and soil δ15N content (R 2 = 0.64–0.85). Despite a four-fold difference in historic deposition across the seven forest sites, we did not observe any significant relationships between site N status and N deposition. These findings suggest that potential legacy effects of N deposition were obscured by the influence of BD importance on N status at these sites. Our results add strong support to the idea that predicting the resilience of forests to the effects of N deposition requires detailed knowledge on the contribution of tree species composition to soil N cycling and retention.
Att itudes Toward the Way Courts Deal with Criminals

The way courts treat criminals depends on a variety of factors. This paper examines how age, sex, and race affect an offender’s treatment during sentencing. These variables were collected using the 2010 General Social Survey and were tested using the SPSS 20.0 Student Version Statistical Software. The independent variables include age, race, and sex, while the dependent variable is the way courts deal with criminals. The hypotheses that were tested stated that older individuals, nonwhite persons, and men would believe that courts deal too harshly with criminals. The conclusion found that none of the variables showed a significant correlation; therefore, further research must be completed to determine if a correlation has occurred over time.
Reliability of self-aligned, ledge passivated 7.5 GHz GaAs/AlGaAs HBT power amplifiers under RF bias stress at elevated temperatures

We report a two-temperature RF bias stress test on nominal 1.2 W 2.5 GHz GaAs/AlGaAs HBT unit cell amplifiers. MTTFs of 2020 and 1340 hours were obtained at Tj=218/spl deg/C and 245/spl deg/C, respectively, under nominal input bias. An activation energy of 0.42 eV is estimated, consistent with published results for similar devices under DC bias stress.
Flux in Motion under the Influence of a Field Gradient

Chapter 16 has dealt with the critical state primarily as the static condition of a magnetized irreversible type-II superconductor. The critical state is, of course, attained in the first place by the motion of flux into the superconductor and the establishment of a flux density gradient whose magnitude at any place is controlled by the local pinning forces. When the applied field stops increasing or decreasing, the internal flux density gradient rests at its critical value, poised ready to move in response to any subsequent change, in either direction, of the external field. Numerous authors have inquired into the permanence of the critical state, as defined by the equality of a fluxoid driving force, F, to the aggregate or bulk pinning force, Fp. It seems that, although the critical state can for all practical purposes be regarded as permanent, it does undergo a slow logarithmic decay by a thermally activated process of flux creep. Similarly, if the sample is in its shielding critical state and the field increase is reinstated in the form of a small step, more flux will creep into the sample. In this chapter, flux creep is to be treated both as a thermally activated process and as an example of electromagnetic diffusion. If pinning is relatively weak, flux flow is able to take place. But since in the weak-pinning situation the critical flux-density gradient is necessarily small, flux flow usually occurs under the influence of a transport-current instigated Lorentz force.
Chapter 6 – Health-Care Technology Assessment (HTA)

Potential buyers of most goods and services in an economy instinctively perform, ex ante, some form of benefit–cost analysis that explores whether the benefit stream that acquired item is expected to yield exceeds the cost that its acquisition will impose on the buyer. Just how formal that analysis is in particular instances and how well it is executed varies. There is no question, however, that such analysis is always performed. An exception to this pattern is health care, for a number of reasons. First, the potential buyer typically lacks the technical, clinical competence to project the benefits stream from a medical intervention. Second, in most instances—certainly in the United States—the potential buyer lacks the information on prices required to estimate the likely cost of purchasing the intervention. Third, third-party payment—through either a private or public insurance program—limits the costs the intervention will visit on the recipient to only a fraction of the total cost of producing the intervention. This chapter describes how, in spite of these obstacles, it is possible to perform the required benefit–cost analyses in health care for many alternative treatment methods, including new medical technology (e.g., new pharmaceutical products). The perspective taken in these analyses typically is that of society as a whole, which makes the definition of both benefits and costs wider and more inclusive. It is shown how researchers collapse multidimensional clinical outcomes into one-dimensional metrics (e.g., the quality-adjusted life years or QALYs) likely to be produced by a medical intervention and how that metric can be used to perform what is known as “cost–utility analyses.” The chapter also describes the controversies arising out of these analyses and their limitations.