cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification system by Tongue based on Bhattacharyya distance

Tongue recognition is a biometric technique that can be applied to different areas of expression of human identity. Recognition of the tongue is a difficult and complex problem that is important for surveillance, security, and intelligent interaction between computers and humans.The main idea of proposed system rely that on that any image of a person's tongue has multiple unique features. Those features vary from on tongue to another. The system proposed in this paper uses group, the Extract the characteristics based on the wavelet Transform where it uses information color (color space RGB) at a certain form of detailed wavelet transforms (discrete wavelet transform), and use of Bhattacharyya distance for comparison between persons.The tongue datasets that are used for of the suggested system are gathered from 30 volunteers of various samples; 4 have been from every individual, images have been captured in various expressions, illuminations, orientations, skin colors, backgrounds, varied in the age) from male and female, results indicated the discrimination rate for waveleting 72%, persons were recognized using Bhattacharyya distance by 93%.
The Geriatric Swallow: Through Thick and Thin

Purpose The goal of this article was to assess the utility of thickened liquids for patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia. Conclusion The use of thickened liquids is pervasive, but clinical justifi...
Association of Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Receipt of Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy for Uterine Fibroids: Findings from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Abstract Background When hysterectomy is used to treat uterine fibroids, a minimally invasive versus open abdominal approach is preferred. Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be associated with surgical mode. We sought to examine whether depression and PTSD are associated with minimally invasive hysterectomy (MIH). Methods This was a cross-sectional study of veterans with uterine fibroids undergoing hysterectomy in the Department of Veterans Affairs between 2012 and 2014. Diagnoses and procedures were identified by International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, codes. MIH was defined as laparoscopic, vaginal, or robotic-assisted versus open abdominal. A dichotomous variable indicated presence of depression or PTSD. Clinical variables, including uterine size, were abstracted from the medical record. We employed generalized linear models to estimate adjusted percentages and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of MIH by presence of depression or PTSD and sequentially adjusted for sociodemographic variables and health indicators (model 1), and then gynecologic and reproductive history variables, including uterine size (model 2). Results We included 770 veterans in our analytic sample. Veterans with depression or PTSD were more likely than those without such diagnoses to have a MIH (49% vs. 42%). Differences were attenuated in model 1 (47% [95% CI, 37%–57%] vs. 43% [95% CI, 34%–52%]) and no longer detectable in model 2 (45% [95% CI, 36%–54%] vs. 44% [95% CI, 36%–52%]). Conclusions Veterans with depression or PTSD were more likely that those without to have an MIH, possibly owing to smaller uterine size, suggesting that they may be undergoing hysterectomy earlier in the disease process. Further research is needed to understand whether this reflects high-quality, patient-centered care.
Impact of KRAS alterations in localized pancreatic cancer (PC).

431Background: Patients (pts) with localized PC do not routinely undergo comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) unless they develop recurrent or metastatic disease. KRAS is the most frequently mutat...
Fully Automated Radiosynthesis of Symmetric and Asymmetric [11C]Guanidines

1455 Introduction: Guanidines are present in a variety of naturally occurring products and is a key feature of the imaging agent and radiotherapeutic Iobenguane (MIBG)1. Recently, a fully automated method has been developed for the radiosynthesis of [11C]guanidines2 in our group based on the prior work of Westerburg and Langstrom3. The automated method was able to efficiently generate terminal [11C]guanidines, and in this work we had the objective to develop a procedure for forming disubstituted [11C]guanidine that are either symmetrical or asymmetrical around the radiolabeled guanidine. Methods: Production of symmetric and asymmetric [11C]guanidines was carried out using a GE TracerLab FXm. Hydrogen [11C]cyanide from the GE PETTrace cyclotron and process panel3 was passed through a pyridinium perbromide column to form [11C]cyanogen bromide, and bubbled into the reactor containing amine precursor in sodium borate solution (pH 8.0). The reaction mixture was then heated to 80 ℃ for 5 min to afford a [11C]cyanamide intermediate2. The cyanamide intermediate was then treated with the other amine substituent of interest (e.g. 2-fluoroethylamine) and heated at 140 ℃ for 8 min to yield [11C]guanidine product (Figure 1). Results: These preliminary synthesis conditions have been fully automated with further optimization potential under investigation. Radiochemical conversion (RCC) by HPLC indicated the need to vary the concentration of the amine added in the second step, 2-fluoroethylamine, for optimization. RCC of the asymmetric guanidine was observed at 21.3% with 10 equivalent of 2-fluoroethylamine, and RCC of the symmetric guanidine peaked at 39.2%. The symmetric [11C]guanidine is an observed side product in the preparation of asymmetric guanidine. Conclusion: We have developed a reliable and fully automated radiosynthesis method for symmetric and asymmetric [11C]guanylation of amines using a commercially available radiosynthesis module. The optimization and qualification of this method to generate PET tracers for preclinical and clinical application is underway. References:[1] Guanidines Historical, Biological, Biochemical, and Clinical Aspects of the Naturally Occurring Guanidino Compounds; Mori, A., Cohen, B. D., Lowenthal, A., Eds.; Plenum Press: New York, 1985. [2] Austin Y. Zhao, Allen F. Brooks, David Raffael, Jennell Stauff, Janna Arteaga, Peter J. H. Scott, Xia Shao. Fully Automated Radiosynthesis of [11C]Guanidines as Cardiac Imaging Agents ACS Med. Chem. Lett. 2020, 11, 11, 2325-2330.[3] Westerberg, G.; Karger, W.; Onoe, H.; Langstrom, B. [11C]Cyanogen Bromide in the Synthesis of 1,3-Di(2-tolyl)-[11C]guanidine. J. Labelled Compds. Radiopharm. 1994, 34, 691-696.
Unsymmetrically Loaded Hyperboloids of Revolution

The relation of the membrane theory solution to the solution of the bending theory equations of hyperboloids of revolution is examined. The equilibrium equations of the membrane theory are transformed into the form of Hill’s equation which is then solved using the concept of the infinite determinant. Once the values of the undetermined constants are established, the solutions for the stress resultants are presented in a form suitable for convenient application in both the membrane and bending theories. The number of terms required to obtain sufficiently accurate results using the infinite determinant representation is examined, and the results are compared with those obtained from previous studies.
Upper Extremity Axial Cuts

Overview of the right arm showing the location of the axial cuts depicted in the following figures
Showrooming and the competition between store and online retailers

Increasing numbers of customers are using physical store retailers' outlet to evaluate products. Although this helps them to identify their "best fit" product, they often end up buying the product not at the store but rather at a competing online retailer to take advantage of lower prices. This free-riding behavior by customers is referred to as "showrooming." We study a game theoretic model to analyze the competitive equilibrium where customers free-ride, and show that the profits of the store retailer are reduced compared to the situation when customers do not free-ride. This finding is in line with the current debate in the retailing industry where store retailers are discussing ways and means to improve their profits in the face of such showrooming. We also analyze the impact on the profits of a physical store retailer stocking a different assortment from that of the online retailer and show that this strategy may, under certain situations, improve its profits. Keywords: online retailing, showrooming, retail competition, pricing, game theory.
Promise Problems and Access to Unambiguous Computation

This paper studies the power of three types of access to unambiguous computation: nonadaptive access, fault-tolerant access, and guarded access. (1) Though for NP it is known that nonadaptive access has exponentially terse adaptive simulations, we show that UP has no such relativizable simulations: there are worlds in which (k+1)-truth-table access to UP is not subsumed by k-Turing access to UP. (2) Though fault-tolerant access (i.e., "1-helping" access) is known to be no more powerful than NP itself, we give both structural and relativized evidence that fault tolerant access to UP suffices to recognize even sets beyond UP. Furthermore, we completely characterize, in terms of locally positive reductions, the sets that fault-tolerantly reduce to UP. (3) In guarded access, Grollmann and Selman''s natural notion of access to unambiguous computation, a deterministic polynomial-time Turing machine asks questions to a nondeterministic polynomial-time Turing machine in such a way that the nondeterministic machine never accepts ambiguously. In contrast to guarded access, the standard notion of access to unambiguous computation is that of access to a set that is uniformly unambiguous-- even for queries that it never will be asked by its questioner, it must be unambiguous. We show that these notions, though the same for nonadaptive reductions, differ for Turing and strong nondeterministic reductions.
Multivariate relationships between leisure activities and personality.

Abstract This investigation is an attempt to assess the relationship between selected variables of personality and leisure activity preferences using multivariate statistical procedures. The Leisure Activity Questionnaire was used to collect data on the preferences of 139 high school students for 24 leisure activities. The Personality Research Form (PRF), based on Murray's Need-Press Theory, provided scores which measured 14 personality needs relevant to a wide variety of human functioning. The data were analyzed using three multivariate statistical procedures: canonical analysis, factor analysis, and discriminant analysis. Selected variables of personality were found to be significantly related to leisure activity preferences. These results lend support to the notion that different leisure activities appear to attract individuals with different needs. Four factors of independent dimensions of leisure activity were extracted from the data. Three of the factors, outdoor-nature, sports, and aesthetic-sophis...
MULTILEVEL STATISTICAL MODELS AND ECOLOGICAL SCALING

A useful way to conceptualize ecological processes operating at different spatial scales is through what Wu [1999] calls hierarchical patch dynamics. A key notion is that a few parts of a large hierarchical structure can be studied in isolation insofar as these parts are distinguished from the rest by “near-decomposability.” In effect, a segment of special interest within the hierarchical structure interacts weakly with the rest and then only asymmetrically. In this chapter, we focus on a particular kind of segment comprised of nested elements; higher levels are composed of the components of the level below. We consider multilevel statistical models that can be used to describe how variables characterizing higher levels affect processes operating at lower levels. For simplicity, consider a subset of a hierarchy with two levels The basic idea is to have a regression equation characterizing relationships at the lower, or micro, level and then have one or more of the regression coeffi- cients at the micro level a function of predictors at the macro level. At the micro level, for instance, taxa richness may be a function of stream velocity (and other things). Then at the macro level, the regression coefficient linking stream velocity to taxa richness may be a function of proximity of the stream to land used for agriculture. Thus, one can address how the relationship between stream velocity and taxa richness varies (or not) in different locations, here with locale characterized by proximity to land used for agriculture. That is, one can learn when to generalize over sites and when not to generalize over sites. One can also learn how different temporal and/or spatial scales are related. These sorts of relationships can easily be formulated as interaction effects within a conventional regression analysis. However, the usual estimation procedures will not properly characterize the uncertainty in the output, so that the confidence intervals and hypothesis tests will not perform properly. A key problem is that the model’s errors (or disturbances) are not likely to behave as if drawn independently from a single distribution. Special estimation procedures are required. Such procedures, often constructed within a multilevel framework, are well known and widely available in existing software [Raudenbush and Bryk, 2002]. Our goal, therefore, is to summarize some recent extensions of multilevel models to more complicated and realistic situations common in ecological research.
Improvement in the detection of locoregional recurrence in head and neck malignancies: F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography compared to high-resolution contrast-enhanced computed tomography and endoscopic examination.

Objectives/Hypothesis To compare the diagnostic efficacy of positron emission tomography (PET) with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET)/computed tomography (CT) to that of contrast-enhanced high-resolution CT (HRCT) and assess the value of a combinatorial approach in detection of recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (HNC) and to assess the efficacy of FDG-PET/CT with and without HRCT in comparison to standard-of-care follow-up—physical examination (PE) and endoscopy (E)—in determination of locally recurrent HNC. Study Design Retrospective study. Methods A total of 103 patients with HNC underwent FDG-PET/CT and neck HRCT. There were two groups of patients: Group A had an FDG-PET study acquired with low-dose CT, and group B had an FDG-PET study acquired with HRCT. The PET data obtained with or without HRCT were compared on a lesion and patient basis with the results of the PE/E. Results On a lesion basis, both groups combined had higher sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) than the HRCT. Specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) for group B were higher than for group A. On a patient basis, both groups combined had a higher sensitivity and NPV than PE/E, respectively, although specificity of PE/E was higher than that of either group. PET data obtained with either protocol directly influenced treatment. Conclusions HRCT increases the specificity and PPV of PET/CT when acquired simultaneously with PET. FDG-PET/CT acquired with either LDCT or HRCT has higher accuracy than HRCT alone and increases the sensitivity and NPV of PE/E. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 123:2664–2669, 2013
The relationship between childhood trauma history and the psychotic subtype of major depression.

Objective: Increasing evidence exists linking childhood trauma and primary psychotic disorders, but there is little research on patients with primary affective disorders with psychotic features. Method: The sample consisted of adult out‐patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) at clinic intake using a structured clinical interview. Patients with MDD with (n = 32) vs. without psychotic features (n = 591) were compared as to their rates of different types of childhood trauma. Results: Psychotic MDD patients were significantly more likely to report histories of physical (OR = 2.81) or sexual abuse (OR = 2.75) compared with non‐psychotic MDD patients. These relationships remained after controlling for baseline differences. Within the subsample with comorbid post‐traumatic stress disorder, patients with psychotic MDD were significantly more likely to report childhood physical abuse (OR = 3.20). Conclusion: Results support and extend previous research by demonstrating that the relationship between childhood trauma and psychosis is found across diagnostic groups.
Power Semiconductors: Status and Trends in Process/Device/Circuit CAD

Summary form only given. High-voitage semiconductor devices used in advanced power conditioning systems can be broadly catagorized into two classes: (1) low- and medium-power devices for applications below 200V (mostly power MOSFET's) and (2) medium- and high-power dsvices used for applications upto several kilovolts (predominantly conductivity modulated power devices such as the IGBTs and MCTs). Unlike small-signal devices, power devices are fabrimtad using wafer processing at temperatures in excgss of 1 OOO*C, and henC8, process models must incorporate high-temperature diffusion physics.
Gender Differences in the Correlates of Self‐Referent Word Use: Authority, Entitlement, and Depressive Symptoms

Past research shows that self-focused attention is robustly positively related to depression, and women are more likely than men to self-focus in response to depressed mood (e.g., R. Ingram, 1990; S. Nolen-Hoeksema, 1987). The goal of the current study was to further delineate gender differences in the correlates of self-focus as measured through the frequency of spontaneous use of self-referencing words. The frequency of such word use during a life history interview was correlated with self-reports, observations by clinically trained interviewers, and personality judgments by acquaintances. Results indicated that the relationship between self-reference and observations of depressive symptoms was stronger for women than men, and the relationship between self-reference and narcissistic authority and entitlement was stronger for men than for women. Acquaintance ratings supported these correlates. These findings illuminate the importance of using multiple measures and paying attention to gender differences in research on self-focus.
Theory of quasi-linear pulses in optical fibers

Abstract The evolution of quasi-linear pulses in optical fibers, with strong dispersion management, is studied analytically. The nonlinear terms of the Gabitov–Turitsyn equations are analyzed asymptotically. In this paper, the polarization preserving fibers as well as the birefringent fibers are studied. Finally, the study is extended to the case of multiple channels, namely dispersion flattened fibers. The numerical simulations support the analysis.
Identification of a human Akt3 (protein kinase B gamma) which contains the regulatory serine phosphorylation site.

Abstract The family of protein kinases called Akt, protein kinase B (PKB), or related to A and C kinase (RAC) have been implicated in numerous biological processes including adipocyte and muscle differentiation, glycogen synthesis, glucose uptake, apoptosis and cellular proliferation. There are 3 known isoforms of this enzyme in mammalian cells (1/α, 2/β and 3/γ). Akt1 and 2 contain a key regulatory serine phosphorylation site in the carboxy-terminal region of the protein. However, the reported sequence of the rat Akt3 protein differed significantly from this in that it lacked 25 amino acids in the C-terminal region, including this key regulatory serine phosphorylation site ( Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 216, 526–534). In the present studies we show that the deduced sequence of human Akt3 contains this serine and that it is phosphorylated in response to insulin. These results indicate that human Akt3 is regulated similarly to Akt1 and Akt2.
Ian is intelligent but Leshaun is lazy: Antecedents and consequences of attributional stereotypes in the classroom

One explanation for the widening achievement gap in America and throughout Europe between ethnic minorities/immigrants, and Whites is the influence of cultural stereotypes on attributions made by both educators and students. This paper explores some factors that increase the likelihood that educators will consciously or unconsciously rely on stereotypes to disambiguate attributional judgments of students. Specifically, the fundamental drive to make attributions in educational settings combine with a norm and pressure for internality judgments in achievement- related domains. These pressures place an extra burden on educators to look for internal causes for student achievement. When that pressure is combined with cognitive overload, motivational barriers, status and hierarchy disparities, and students’ more salient group membership, stereotypes emerge as likely candidates for attributions. The psychological and motivational consequences of attributional stereotypes are discussed in terms of their effects on both educators and students as a function of the distinct attributional patterns implied by stereotypes.
A horizontal monolithic series‐array solar battery employing thermomigration

By using the thermomigration process of Anthony and Cline (based upon Pfann’s temperature‐gradient zone‐melting process of the fifties) we have produced parallel aluminum‐doped zones extending entirely through an n‐type silicon slice of normal thickness. By applying a shallow p‐type emitter diffusion to one face and interrupting it within each ’’cell’’ by means of an n+stripe that makes contact to the n‐type base of the cell, we have realized a monolithic series‐array solar battery, with results that constitute a feasibility demonstration of the method. Its advantages are permitting the entire thickness of the slice to constitute an active region and avoiding more costly dielectric isolation of cells or hand assembly of cells.
Innovation in globally distributed teams: the role of LMX, communication frequency, and member influence on team decisions

For globally distributed teams charged with innovation, member contributions to the team are crucial for effective performance. Prior research, however, suggests that members of globally distributed teams often feel isolated and excluded from their team's activities and decisions. How can leaders of such teams foster member inclusion in team decisions? Drawing on leader-member exchange (LMX) theory, we propose that for distributed teams, LMX and communication frequency jointly shape member influence on team decisions. Findings from a test of our hypotheses using data from 40 globally distributed teams suggest that LMX can enhance member influence on team decisions when it is sustained through frequent leader-member communication. This joint effect is strengthened as team dispersion increases. At the team level, member influence on team decisions has a positive effect on team innovation.
Economical 10-m-class ground-based receiver for deep-space optical communications

Modifications to an existing radiofrequency telescope are described which would enable it to operate as an R&D optical receiver terminal for deep-space communications. The low overall cost of the telescope is due to the unique process of fabricating the 10.4 meter primary mirror and its support structure, the lightweight of the primary (< 15 kg/m2), and the requirement that the telescope act only as a photon bucket, which lowers the cost of optically figuring and polishing the mirror. The entire optical ground terminal facility is estimated to cost approximately $DLR10 M to construct.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Reduced Expression of the Hyaluronan and Proteoglycan Link Proteins in Malignant Gliomas

Malignant gliomas have a distinctive ability to infiltrate the brain parenchyma and disrupt the neural extracellular matrix that inhibits motility of axons and normal neural cells. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are among the major inhibitory components in the neural matrix, but surprisingly, some are up-regulated in gliomas and act as pro-invasive signals. In the normal brain, CSPGs are thought to associate with hyaluronic acid and glycoproteins such as the tenascins and link proteins to form the matrix scaffold. Here, we examined for the first time the expression of link proteins in human brain and malignant gliomas. Our results indicate that HAPLN4 and HAPLN2 are the predominant members of this family in the adult human brain but are strongly reduced in the tumor parenchyma. To test if their absence was related to a pro-invasive gain of function of CSPGs, we expressed HAPLN4 in glioma cells in combination with the CSPG brevican. Surprisingly, HAPLN4 increased glioma cell adhesion and migration and even potentiated the motogenic effect of brevican. Further characterization revealed that HAPLN4 expressed in glioma cells was largely soluble and did not reproduce the strong, hyaluronan-independent association of the native protein to brain subcellular membranes. Taken together, our results suggest that the tumor parenchyma is rich in CSPGs that are not associated to HAPLNs and could instead interact with other extracellular matrix proteins produced by glioma cells. This dissociation may contribute to changes in the matrix scaffold caused by invasive glioma cells.
Mechanism-based tuning of a LOV domain photoreceptor

Phototropin-like LOV domains form a cysteinyl-flavin adduct in response to blue light but show considerable variation in output signal and the lifetime of the photo-adduct signaling state. Mechanistic studies of the slow-cycling fungal LOV photoreceptor Vivid (VVD) reveal the importance of reactive cysteine conformation, flavin electronic environment and solvent accessibility for adduct scission and thermal reversion. Proton inventory, pH effects, base catalysis and structural studies implicate flavin N5 deprotonation as rate-determining for recovery. Substitutions of active site residues Ile74, Ile85, Met135 and Met165 alter photoadduct lifetimes by over four orders of magnitude in VVD, and similar changes in other LOV proteins show analogous effects. Adduct state decay rates also correlate with changes in conformational and oligomeric properties of the protein necessary for signaling. These findings link natural sequence variation of LOV domains to function and provide a means to design broadly reactive light-sensitive probes.
Modeling biomolecules: larger scales, longer durations

The molecules of life are big, complex, and dynamic. Collaborating in multidisciplinary groups that draw on chemistry, physics, mathematics, and other fields, computational scientists are beginning to simulate systems of large biomolecules interacting in time. Obstacles are formidable; the potential benefit, vast. The fast growth of molecular modeling as a research tool in biology and medicine has been tightly coupled to the advent of the supercomputer and to advances in applied and computational mathematics over the past decade. Three features characterize the progress made to date: bigger molecular systems described in atomic detail, longer simulation time scales, and more realistic representations of interatomic forces. With these improvements, molecular modeling by computer has given us many insights into the relationship between structure and function of biopolymers and drugs. Researchers now find it indispensable for structure refinement. Still, the state of the art in molecular modeling leaves much room for more progress. >
Desorption by Femtosecond Laser Pulses: An Electron-Hole Effect?

Desorption of molecules from metal surfaces induced by femtosecond visible laser pulses has been reported. Since the lattice temperature rise is insufficient to explain desorption, an electronic mechanism is clearly responsible. It is shown that a theory based on direct coupling between the center-of-mass degree of freedom of the adsorbate and the electron-hole excitations of the substrate provides a satisfactory explanation of the various experimental findings
An Analysis of Some of Piaget's Topological Tasks from a Mathematical Point of View.

During the 1950s and '60s, sweeping changes were made in the mathematics curriculum that were largely due to fundamental changes that had occurred in mathematics. Among these changes was a trend toward emphasizing the structural nature of mathematics. However, changes in the content of geometry represented more of a tentative groping than did changes in content dealing with the real numbers. Many approaches to geometry were proposed, such as those of transformation geometry, synthetic geometry, analytic geometry, and vector geometry. Although agreement was not reached as to approach nor indeed even as to the purpose of geometry in the curriculum, mathematics educators did agree that more geometry should be included and included much earlier than was done traditionally. Jean Piaget seems to be the only investigator who has systematically and extensively studied the development of the child's spatial concepts. This comprehensive theory is developed in detail in Piaget's books The Child's Conception of Space and The Child's Conception of Geometry. The first volume is a report of Piaget's studies of the development of the child's representational space.' In this work he contends that it is topological representation that first develops in the child. The projective and Euclidean concepts derive from the topological concepts. It is this first volume, The Child's Conception of Space, which is of concern in this paper. In the first five chapters of the book, Piaget presents his evidence that the young child's representational space is topological. Among the "topological relationships" described by Piaget are proximity, separation, order, and continuity. Interpretations of Piaget's work and inferences from it must be based on a study of his claims and on his evidence supporting such claims. It is the purpose of this paper to describe briefly Piaget's tasks and his results and to analyze the mathematics involved in each task. Difficulties involved in making inferences for mathematics education will be pointed out. Descriptions and analyses will be restricted to those tasks dealing with what Piaget calls topological relations.
COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF BENZQUINAMIDE AND P-2565 ON CARDIAC RATE.

SummaryThe bradycardia produced by benzquinamide or by P-2565 is not related to central parasympathetic stimulation. Studies on the isolated cat heart indicate that P-2565 does not have a direct effect on the isolated myocardium. Benzquinamide and P-2565 have ganglionic blocking properties as indicated by the tetramethylammonium test. In addition, the ability of benzquinamide and P-2565 to antagonize the guanethi-dine depletion of NE in heart tissue should be considered as a factor influencing the peripheral action of these agents on heart rate.The authors wish to acknowledge the capable technical assistance of Mr. Willie Treadwell and Mr. Daniel Walker. They also wish to thank Dr. S. Y. P'an of the Charles Pfizer Laboratories, Groton, Conn, for the generous supply of benzquinamide and P-2565.
Overview of accreditation of undergraduate medical education programmes worldwide.

Context There is significant variation in the structure and quality of undergraduate medical education around the world. Accreditation processes can encourage institutional improvement and help promote high-quality education experiences. Methods To investigate the overseeing of medical education from an international perspective, the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER®) has developed, and continues to update, the Directory of Organizations that Recognize/Accredit Medical Schools (DORA). The directory includes information on the presence of national accrediting bodies and related data. Medical education accreditation information was pooled by World Health Organization (WHO) regions. Results Although over half of all countries with medical schools indicate that they have a national process for accrediting medical education programmes, the nature of the various authorities and levels of enforcement vary considerably. Discussion Despite global trends indicating an increasing focus on the quality of education programmes, data linking accreditation processes to the production of more highly skilled doctors and, ultimately, better patient care are lacking. Investigating current accreditation practices is a necessary step for further research. To this end, we will continue to gather data on medical education around the world and will explore opportunities for relating these processes to outcomes.
The nature of plant growth‐promoting effects of a pseudoalteromonad associated with the marine algae Laminaria japonica and linked to catalase excretion

Aims: The goal of this study was to identify a marine algae-associated bacterium isolated from Laminaria japonica and investigate this microorganism's growth-promoting effects on plants. Methods and Results: The bacterium, identified as Pseudoalteromonas porphyrae, was determined to display a biostimulatory activity for seed germination and shoot growth in several agricultural plants and also for growth in ginseng callus cell culture. This biostimulatory activity was linked to a catalase enzyme that was excreted in the maximal amount during the transition from logarithmic growth phase to stationary growth phase. In addition, selected shifts in growth temperature and medium salinity affected the amount of enzyme excreted. The purified catalase was determined to be composed of identical subunits. The catalase of interest displayed significantly higher biostimulatory activity than the catalase from bovine liver. Conclusions: The catalase investigated in this study is unique in that it promotes growth in and possibly contributes to stress tolerance of plants. Significance and Impact of the Study: The catalase of interest has the potential for use in treatments that aim to improve percent seed germination as well as obtaining tall shoots in a shorter time period.
Dense linear systems FORTRAN solvers on the IBM 3090 vector multiprocessor

Abstract The IBM 3090 is a vector multiprocessor with a hierarchical memory system. We show with two examples (the LU and Householder factorizations) that the complex memory system and the vector hardware can be used efficiently by recasting the basic algorithms in terms of high-level matrix-matrix modules.
Acute coronary syndromes: Antithrombotics in ACS--moving beyond unfractionated heparin.

Antithrombotic therapy during percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction has evolved substantially over the past 15 years. With the results of the ATOLL trial, enoxaparin should now be considered a therapeutic alternative to unfractionated heparin in the treatment of such patients. Comparative studies of enoxaparin and bivalirudin, using standardized bleeding definitions, are warranted.
Cation-anion interactions in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate-based ionic liquid electrolytes.

An important step in developing ionic-liquid-based electrolytes for lithium rechargeable batteries is obtaining a molecular-level understanding of the ionic interactions that occur in these systems. In this study, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethansulfonate ([C2mim]CF3SO3) is complexed with LiCF3SO3, and the local structures of the CF3SO3- and [C2mim]+ ions are investigated with infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The isolation and subsequent refinement of a Li[C2mim](CF3SO3)2 crystal provides further insight into the structure of the [C2mim]CF3SO3−LiCF3SO3 solutions. Minor changes are observed in the infrared and Raman spectra of dilute [C2mim]CF3SO3−LiCF3SO3 solutions compared to pure [C2mim]CF3SO3. However, a suspension of very small Li[C2mim](CF3SO3)2 crystallites forms at a solution composition of [C2mim]CF3SO3:LiCF3SO3 = 10:1 (mole ratio), placing an upper limit on the solubility of LiCF3SO3. Essentially no changes are observed in the vibrational modes of the [C2mim]+ cations over the entire r...
Binding to isolated phage receptors and λ DNA release in vitro

Abstract Lambda DNA injection was investigated using partially purified λ-receptors isolated from the membrane of Escherichia coli K12. Binding of receptor and triggering of DNA ejection are distinct events. The binding occurs at 4° and may require the presence of a chloroform phase. The subsequent triggering of DNA ejection from phage-receptor complexes requires temperatures above 15°, begins without a lag period, and can occur in the absence of chloroform. The rate of stable binding in the absence of chloroform can be enhanced or diminished by mutations that alter either the phage tail or the host receptor.
Balancing Accessibility and Selectivity in 21st Century Public Mental Health Services: Implications for Hard to Engage Clients

This research highlights the importance of expanding examinations of service accessibility for hard to engage client populations to include assessments of individuals’ ability to gain entrance to services and the system’s ability to meet the service needs of particular client populations. The results of this research provide a framework to support these examinations. The increasing levels of selectivity and targeting of mental health services to particular client populations found in this study raise fundamental questions about the goals of service accessibility in 21st century public mental health services generally, and for hard-to-engage clients particularly. These findings also point to the need for examinations of the eligibility criteria and gatekeeping mechanism that are used to target services to particular client populations to determine if they are working as intended and to assess what impact these mechanisms have on hard to engage clients’ ability to gain entrance to needed services.
“Everyday Joe” versus “Pissy, Bitchy, Queens”: Gay Masculinity on StraightActing.com:

This paper analyzes discourse on Straight-Acting.com. I argue that straight-acting gay men model their version of masculinity on working-class aesthetics. Furthermore, this masculinity is dependent...
Synthesis and characterization of xLi2MnO3·(1 − x)LiMn1/3Ni1/3Co1/3O2 composite cathode materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

Abstract Various x Li 2 MnO 3 ·(1 − x )LiCo 1/3 Ni 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 ( x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) cathode materials were prepared by the one-step sol–gel route. The structure of x Li 2 MnO 3 ·(1 − x )LiCo 1/3 Ni 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 composites was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The surface morphology and microstructure of x Li 2 MnO 3 ·(1 − x )LiCo 1/3 Ni 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 composites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Electrochemical performance of x Li 2 MnO 3 ·(1 − x )LiCo 1/3 Ni 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 composites was evaluated in terms of capacity, cycling performance and rate capability. Although the morphology and structure were found to be affected by the Li 2 MnO 3 content, all composites showed an α-NaFeO 2 structure with R3m space group. Electrochemical results showed that cells using 0.3Li 2 MnO 3 ·0.7LiCo 1/3 Ni 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 composites had good performance, in terms of large reversible capacity, prolonged cycling stability, and excellent rate capability.
The complete tunnel axiom

Abstract The complete tunnel axiom (abbreviated CTA) is that there is a continuous function from the Stone-Cech remainder ω ∗ of the integers onto a linearly ordered space, such that every point- inverse has empty interior. The concept of a complete tunnel through a space is defined and its presence in ω ∗ is shown equivalent to the CTA. Various modifications of this concept are defined and some are shown equivalent to statements about ω ∗ and about compactifications of the Mrowka-Isbell space Ψ. The strongest of these statements is shown to follow from CH, but the weakest is negated by the Proper Forcing Axiom (PFA).
Verification and incorporation biases in studies assessing screening tests: prostate-specific antigen as an example

Abstract Objectives Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement is a widely used screening test for prostate cancer. However, studies assessing the performance of PSA suffer from verification bias and incorporation bias, because men with PSA levels less than 4 ng/mL do not undergo biopsy unless the digital rectal examination findings are suspicious for prostate cancer. We have reviewed how these biases have influenced such studies. Methods We compared the results of three studies that reported on the test characteristics of PSA, taking into account the types of bias present. We applied approximate verification bias corrections to previously reported age-specific reference ranges, based on the reported 22% cancer detection rate in the PSA range 2.5 to 4 ng/mL. To adjust for incorporation bias, we removed PSA from the criteria establishing the absence of prostate cancer and recalculated the test characteristics of PSA. Results Verification bias led to an elevation in the sensitivity estimates of PSA. The specificity increased or decreased depending on the type of bias present. After accounting for incorporation bias, the sensitivity of PSA testing at a 4-ng/mL cutoff level was less than 67%, and the specificity was more than 80.6%. Conclusions Studies evaluating PSA testing have been biased because of the presence of verification and incorporation biases. Future studies must consider the possibility of these biases to obtain valid results.
Variable temperature optoacoustic studies of 4f-states of neodymium in oxide phases

Abstract High resolution optoacoustic studies on a wealky absorbing 4f electron manifold of Nd 3+ in several samples of Nd 2 O 3 of varying purity are reported using a tunable, pulsed laser as the excitation light source. In cases where nonlinear optoacoustic was observed, good agreement was found between the observed response and a simple nonlinear optical absorption model. To resolve differing spectral assignments for bands of Nd 3+ in Nd 2 O 3 observed by conventional and optoacoustic spectroscopy, this work was carried out at sample temperatures ranging from 4 K to 295 K in an apparatus designed for studies on air- or moisture-sensitive materials.
Primary therapy with single agent bortezomib as induction, maintenance and re-induction in patients with high-risk myeloma: results of the ECOG E2A02 trial.

Single agent bortezomib results in response rates of 51% in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and is touted to be especially effective in high-risk disease. We are the first to prospectively explore single agent bortezomib as primary therapy (induction, maintenance and re-induction) without consolidative autologous stem cell transplant in a cohort selected to have high-risk multiple myeloma. Patients received eight cycles of induction, followed by maintenance bortezomib every other week, indefinitely. Patients relapsing on maintenance had the full induction schedule resumed. On an intention-to-treat basis, the response rate (⩾partial response) was 48%. Among seven patients who progressed on maintenance bortezomib and received re-induction, two responded to the treatment. With a median follow-up of 48.2 months, 1- and 2-year overall survival probabilities were 88% (95% confidence interval (CI) 79–98%) and 76% (95% CI 60–86%), respectively. Median progression-free survival was 7.9 months (95% CI 5.8–12.0). Twenty-three and thirty-four patients had ⩾grade 3 hematological and non-hematological toxicity, respectively, with treatment-emergent neuropathy in 7% with motor grade 1–2, 56% with sensory grade 1–2 and 2% with grade 3, and in 14% with neuropathic pain grade 1–2 and 2% with grade 3. In high-risk patients, upfront bortezomib results in response rates that are comparable to those reported for unselected cohorts, but single agent bortezomib is not sufficient as primary therapy.
Patient–physician colorectal cancer screening discussion content and patients’ use of colorectal cancer screening

Objective The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends using the 5As (i.e., Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist and Arrange) when discussing preventive services. We evaluate the association of the 5As discussion during primary care office visits with patients’ subsequent colorectal cancer (CRC) screening use.
4.1.2 Product Upgrades Based on Minimum Expected Quality Loss

The need to maintain or sustain a product's usefulness to or beyond its initial lifecycle expectancy is often driven by investment costs, market share, sales revenues, new product release schedules, standardization, uninterruptable usage, or declining budgets. A question then arises as to how often to upgrade a product. Aside from these typically discussed rationales, the paper concludes that a viable approach is to consider the upgrade cycle that results in the minimum cost based on quality. A general quality loss function was developed to investigate the expected quality loss for quality characteristics such as nominal-the-best, smaller-the-best, and larger-the-better. It is shown that when a shape parameter is introduced into the loss function, product upgrade cycles can be managed to minimize the expected losses.
Spontaneous Forniceal Rupture in Pregnancy

Forniceal rupture is a rare event in pregnancy. We report a case of a 26-year-old primigravid woman who experienced a forniceal rupture at 23 weeks of gestation with no inciting cause except for pregnancy. Pregnancy is associated with ureteral compression due to increase in pelvic vasculature with the right ureter more dilated due to anatomic reasons. Hormones such as prostaglandins and progesterone render the ureter more distensible to allow for pressure build-up and an obstructive picture at the collecting system. We will discuss physiologic changes in pregnancies that predispose to this uncommon phenomenon and the most up-to-date management strategies.
DL-4-ACETAMIDO-4-HYDROXY-2-BUTENOIC ACID γ-LACTONE

(1970). DL-4-ACETAMIDO-4-HYDROXY-2-BUTENOIC ACID γ-LACTONE. Organic Preparations and Procedures: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 51-52.
The Multiplex Control System for the Cornell 10-GeV Synchrotron

The outlines of a time-sharing multiplex control system for the Cornell 10-GeV electron synchrotron were presented at the First National Particle Accelerator Conference, March 19651. The synchrotron is now nearing completion; injection studies involving more than half the guide-field ring were carried out in 1966. At that time, the multiplex control system was working for most of the needed parameters: we report below on the results of this operating experience. We also present an outline of the steps which are being taken to use a computer for supervision and control of many of the accelerator components.
Dominance hierarchies in dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis): A test of a game-theory model

Abstract We studied the effects of prior residence on contests for status within dominance hierarchies of captive male dark-eyed juncos ( Junco hyemalis ) to test predictions of a game-theory model of contest behaviour (Maynard Smith & Parker 1976; Hammerstein 1981). Several predictions of the model were supported. (1) Encounters between birds that were equally matched in size, age, experience, and prior residence were more aggressive than those involving residents and non-residents of equal size, age, and experience. (2) Residents usually dominated non-residents when the contestants were equally matched in size, age, and experience. (3) In a few cases, residents dominated non-residents that may have been slightly superior in other respects as measured by previous dominance rank, but in most cases, superior non-residents dominated residents. However, not all predictions of the game-theory model were supported.