cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On-demand feature recommendations derived from mining public product descriptions

We present a recommender system that models and recommends product features for a given domain. Our approach mines product descriptions from publicly available online specifications, utilizes text mining and a novel incremental diffusive clustering algorithm to discover domain-specific features, generates a probabilistic feature model that represents commonalities, variants, and cross-category features, and then uses association rule mining and the k-Nearest-Neighbor machine learning strategy to generate product specific feature recommendations. Our recommender system supports the relatively labor-intensive task of domain analysis, potentially increasing opportunities for re-use, reducing time-to-market, and delivering more competitive software products. The approach is empirically validated against 20 different product categories using thousands of product descriptions mined from a repository of free software applications.
Pirellula and OM43 are among the dominant lineages identified in an Oregon coast diatom bloom

Although bacterioplankton and phytoplankton are generally perceived as closely linked in marine systems, specific interactions between discrete bacterioplankton and phytoplankton populations are largely unknown. However, measurements of bacterioplankton distributions during phytoplankton blooms may indicate specific microbial lineages that are responding to phytoplankton populations, and potentially controlling them by producing allelopathic compounds. Here we use a comprehensive molecular approach to identify, characterize and quantify bacterioplankton community responses to an Oregon coast diatom bloom. Total DAPI counts increased by nearly sevenfold in bloom samples, reaching 5.7 x 10(9) cells l(-1), and lineage-specific cell counts using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) indicated that Bacteria accounted for approximately 89% of observed increases. Several dominant members of the bacterial community present outside the bloom (SAR11 and SAR86) did not contribute significantly to observed increases in bloom samples. Clone library and FISH data indicated that uncultured planctomycetes most closely related to Pirellula, and members of the OM43 clade of beta proteobacteria, reached 0.5 x 10(8) and 1.2 x 10(8) cells l(-1), respectively, and were among the dominant lineages in bloom samples.
Static versus dynamic sampling for data mining

As data warehouses grow to the point where one hundred gigabytes is considered small, the computational efficiency of data-mining algorithms on large databases becomes increasingly important. Using a sample from the database can speed up the data-mining process, but this is only acceptable if it does not reduce the quality of the mined knowledge. To this end, we introduce the "Probably Close Enough" criterion to describe the desired properties of a sample. Sampling usually refers to the use of static statistical tests to decide whether a sample is sufficiently similar to the large database, in the absence of any knowledge of the tools the data miner intends to use. We discuss dynamic sampling methods, which take into account the mining tool being used and can thus give better samples. We describe dynamic schemes that observe a mining tool's performance on training samples of increasing size and use these results to determine when a sample is sufficiently large. We evaluate these sampling methods on data from the UCI repository and conclude that dynamic sampling is preferable.
The (gradually) changing face of state IT jobs

Working for the state once meant long hours, low pay, and lots of red tape. That picture has certainly changed in recent years, as state governments plan to compete with the private sector for top IT talent.
Choline and Pancreas Extract on Fatty Livers and Ketosis Due to Ant. Pituitary Extract

SummaryThe deposition of fat in the liver of fasting rats due to certain anterior pituitary extracts is not influenced by the administration of choline or a pancreas extract called lipocaic. The ketonuria which accompanies these fatty livers is not affected by the administration of the pancreas extract but is slighly reduced by feeding choline.
Improved method for transmission electron microscopy of ciliated cell monolayers maintained on gas-permeable membranes

SUMMARY A new method is described for preparing thin sections for transmission electron microscopy of ciliated respiratory epithelial cells cultivated in vitro on Teflon membranes. Hamster tracheal explant cultures were treated with collagenase to promote epithelial migration. Patches of monolayer growth occurred in the vicinity of the explants when the latter were incubated on FEP-etched Teflon membranes in Chamber/Dishes. Cells in the monolayer maintained a high degree of differentiation as evidenced by active ciliary motion. The monolayer was fixed and processed in situ. During the embedding process the chamber was supported on a solid Teflon cylinder to keep the membrane taut as it was heated to polymerize the resin. The membrane was removed and the monolayered cells were re-embedded and sectioned. Electron microscopic examination of cultures revealed clear cell profiles on a flat, even basal plane. This method provides for a normal spatial configuration of cells in a monolayer format, and should prove useful for electron microscopy studies of any cells cultured on flexible films.
Foreign Body Endoscopy Experience of a University Based Hospital.

Background: Guidelines support endoscopic removal of certain gastric FB and all FB lodged in the esophagus. We aim to report our experience on endoscopic foreign bodies (FB) removal in order to aid in the formation of future guidelines regarding this subject. M ethods: Retrospective analysis of one hundred forty-four cases of FB removal involving 43 patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for FB removal from January 2005 through December 2010 in a university-based hospital. To evaluate to outcome of endoscopic FB removal, cost of procedures and complications. Results: Of all FB removal cases, 23 (53%) were males, with total mean age of 26.4 ± 11.3 years. Only 20% were performed on an outpatient bases. Abdominal x-ray was obtained to confirm ingestion of FB in 83%, and computed tomography scan was performed in 13%. Most procedures were performed in operation room (59%) while only 21% of the cases were performed in endoscopy lab. General anesthesia was used in 58%, while monitored anesthesia care in 28%. Average time to EGD was 17.14 hours. No major complications due to procedure were reported. Minor trauma and erosions due to FB were reported in 14%. FB extraction was unsuccessful in only three cases, and one case required surgical intervention. Cost of all procedures was over 430, 000 dollars with mean of 2,990 dollars for procedure. Conclusion: Endoscopic retrieval is effective and safe procedure, but utilizes significant hospital resources. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/gr517w
A Trypanosomal Protein Synergizes with the Cytokines Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor and Leukemia Inhibitory Factor to Prevent Apoptosis of Neuronal Cells

Despite the neuronal degeneration in the chronic stage of Chagas' disease, neuron counts actually increase in the preceding, asymptomatic stage, in contrast to the age-related decrease in neuron counts in age-matched normal individuals. Relevant to this observation, we found that the trans-sialidase (TS) of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas' disease, induces neurite outgrowth and rescues PC12 cells from apoptotic death caused by growth factor deprivation. These properties, novel for a parasite protein, were independent of catalytic activity and were mapped to the C terminus of the catalytic domain of TS. TS activated protein kinase Akt in a phosphoinositide-3 kinase-inhibitable manner, suggesting a molecular mechanism for the TS-induced neuroprotection. TS also triggered bcl-2 gene expression in growth factor-deprived cells, an effect consistent with TS protecting against apoptosis. Ciliary neurotrophic factor and leukemia inhibitory factor, two cytokines critical to the repair of injured motor neurons, specifically potentiated the TS action. The results suggest that TS acts in synergy with host ciliary neurotrophic factor or leukemia inhibitory factor to promote neuronal survival in T. cruzi-infected individuals.
Detailed Mapping of Determinants within the Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus Envelope Surface Unit Identifies Critical Residues for Human Cell Infection within the Proline-Rich Region

Replication-competent porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are either human cell tropic (PERV-A and PERV-B) or non-human cell tropic (PERV-C). We previously demonstrated that PERV in vitro cell tropism is modulated by 2 residues within the C terminus of SU and that the PERV receptor binding domain (RBD) extends beyond the variable regions A and B (VRA and VRB, respectively), to include the proline rich-region (PRR) of SU (M. Gemeniano et al., Virology 346:108-117, 2000; T. Argaw et al., J. Virol. 82:7483-7489, 2008). The present study aimed to identify the specific elements within the PERV RBD that interact with the C-terminal elements of SU to facilitate human cell infection. We constructed a series of chimeric and mutated envelopes between PERV-A and PERV-C and using pseudotyped retroviral vectors to map the human cell tropism-determining sequences within the PERV RBD. We show that the PRR from PERV-A is both necessary and sufficient to allow human cell infection when substituted into the homologous region of the PERV-C envelope carrying two C-terminal amino acid substitutions shown to influence human cell tropism, Q374R and I412V (PERV-Crv). Furthermore, substitution of a single amino acid residue in the PRR of the non-human-tropic PERV-Crv envelope allows vectors carrying this envelope to infect human cells. Receptor interference assays showed that these modified PERV-C envelopes do not bind either of the human PERV-A receptors, suggesting the presence of a distinct human PERV-C receptor. Finally, vectors carrying these modified PERV-C envelopes infect primary human endothelial cells, a cell type likely to be exposed to PERV in clinical use of certain porcine xenotransplantation products.
THE RESIDENCE TIME OF LARGE WOODY DEBRIS IN THE QUEETS RIVER, WASHINGTON, USA

Instream large woody debris (LWD) provides several critical functions in riverine ecosystems, including sediment and nutrient retention, salmonid habitat enhancement, and stable colonization sites for incipient floodplain vegetation. In this study, the size and species composition of LWD in the Queets River, Washington, USA, were examined and compared with the size and species composition of forest trees from which they originated, in order to determine a depletion rate for LWD in the active channel. Increment cores from instream LWD were crossdated against cores from riparian conifers to estimate the year each LWD piece was recruited to the river channel. Debris pieces that were decayed or otherwise incompetent to provide cores were dated using standard 14C techniques. Hardwood species (Alnus rubra, Populus trichocarpa, and Acer macrophyllum) were better represented among riparian forests than among instream LWD, and conifers (Picea sitchensis, Tsuga heterophylla, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Thuja plicata) were better represented among LWD than in the adjacent riparian forest, suggesting that hardwoods were depleted from the channel faster than conifers. The depletion rate of coniferous LWD from the channel followed an exponential decay curve in which 80% of LWD pieces were <50 yr old, although some pieces have remained for up to 1400 yr. Although most wood is depleted from the channel within 50 yr, some wood is apparently buried in the floodplain and exhumed centuries later by lateral channel migration. The calculated depletion constant of 0.030 is equivalent to a half-life of ∼20 yr, meaning that virtually all of the wood will have disappeared within 50 yr. This rapid depletion suggests that harvesting large conifers from the riparian zones of large streams could have adverse impacts within three to five decades.
MARTI: Mobile Augmented Reality Tool for Industry

A large number of augmented reality (AR) applications have been developed for handheld platforms built around ultra mobile computers. Unfortunately, these platforms, created for research, are not appropriate for demonstrations and user testing because their ad hoc nature affects the user experience. An AR platform designed for the average user will provide more accurate data on software usability. This paper presents such a platform designed with user input to meet their expectations. The result is a two handed device that a randomly selected group of users would want to have in their workplace. This platform is ideal for testing and commercializing industrial augmented reality applications.
Optimizing programs over the constructive reals

The constructive reals provide programmers with a useful mechanism for prototyping numerical programs, and for experimenting with numerical algorithms. Unfortunately, the performance of current implementations is inadequate for some potential applications. In particular, these implementations tend to be space inefficient, in that they essentially require a complete computation history to be maintained.Some numerical analysts (cf. [3]) propose that the programmer instead be provided with variable precision interval arithmetic, and then be required to write code to restart a computation when the intervals become too inaccurate. Though this model is no doubt appropriate at times, it is not an adequate replacement for exact arithmetic. The correct transformation from a program operating on the constructive reals to a reasonable program using iterated interval arithmetic can be nontrivial and error prone. Here we present a technique based on program slicing to both automate this process and reduce the amount of reexecution. Thus the programmer is still free to use the simpler abstraction of exact real arithmetic, but we can provide a more efficient interval arithmetic based implementation. Some preliminary empirical results are presented.
Radiometric characterization of FTIR spectrophotometers

This work addresses the issues related to the radiometric, or photometric, accuracy of Fourier- transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometers. In particular, the sample induced error in the radiometric measurements is investigated. Measurement results for the transmittance of a set of optical filters are presented. The optical density (OD) of these filters ranges from 0.3 to 5 between 2 and 25 micrometers wavelengths. Future research in the direction of improving the radiometric accuracy is summarized.
Preventing Tracking-Tube False Detections in Occupancy Modeling of Southeastern Beach Mouse

Abstract Quantifying habitat occupancy of the southeastern beach mouse Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris is important for managing this threatened species throughout its limited range. Tracking tubes were used to detect the southeastern beach mouse in coastal areas on the federal lands of the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and Canaveral National Seashore. Because this method relied on observations of footprints, detections of beach mice were confounded by the co-occurrence of cotton mice Peromyscus gossypinus, which have wider but slightly overlapping footprint widths. Mice of both species were captured and footprinted using tracking tubes to collect a database of footprints of known identity. These data were used to develop a Bayesian hierarchical model of the cutoff width at which a print could be assigned as a beach mouse with a known probability of error. Specifically, within the model, observed footprint widths were used to estimate a mean and variance of footprint width for...
STAX: Statistical Crosstalk Target Set Compaction

This paper presents STAX, a crosstalk target set compaction framework to reduce the complexity of the crosstalk ATPG process by pruning non-fault-producing targets. In general, existing pruning techniques do not employ their processes in a cost-effective manner. Neither do they handle process variations properly. To address the first weakness, this paper presents a framework to determine a sequence of available analysis and pruning tool invocations to prune as many of the crosstalk targets as fast as possible. As a result, an initially enormous collection of crosstalk targets is usually reduced to a very small set of targets via a vectorless process. A statistical static timing analyzer is developed and embedded to address the second shortcoming of existing approaches. Experimental results on ISCAS’85 benchmark demonstrate that STAX greatly improves the runtime compared to other crosstalk target pruning methodologies, including ATPG, with no prior target set compaction.
Toward a Knowledge-Based Theory of the Firm

Given assumptions about the characteristics of knowledge and the knowledge requirements of production, the firm is conceptualized as an institution for integrating knowledge. The primary contribution of the paper is in exploring the coordination mechanisms through which firms integrate the specialist knowledge of their members. In contrast to earlier literature, knowledge is viewed as residing within the individual, and the primary role of the organization is knowledge application rather than knowledge creation. The resulting theory has implications for the basis of organizational capability, the principles of organization design (in particular, the analysis of hierarchy and the distribution of decision-making authority), and the determinants of the horizontal and vertical boundaries of the firm. More generally, the knowledge-based approach sheds new light upon current organizational innovations and trends and has far-reaching implications for management practice.
NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF DEEP INDENTATION ON SINGLE CRYSTALS

Indentation tests with large penetration depths have been used to study the plastic deformation behavior of materials. In this work, finite element simulations of wedge indentation into face-centered cubic single crystals were performed. Numerical solutions to the stresses and shear strains within the single crystals indented with a relatively large penetration depth were obtained. The crystal lattice rotation map of the indented crystals was also shown. Indentation experiments were conducted on copper crystals and the results were used to validate the numerical predictions. Comparison of the numerical solutions to the crystal lattice rotation with the experimentally measured lattice rotation map was made. The main features of the crystal lattice in-plane rotation map from the finite element simulations are also found on the map developed from the electron backscatter diffraction measurements. Both simulations and experimental measurements reveal the same dislocation structures as evidenced by the slip sectors underneath the wedge indentation zone.
Examination of observation impacts derived from observing system experiments (OSEs) and adjoint models

With the adjoint of a data assimilation system, the impact of any or all assimilated observations on measures of forecast skill can be estimated accurately and efficiently. The approach allows aggregation of results in terms of individual data types, channels or locations, all computed simultaneously. In this study, adjoint-based estimates of observation impact are compared with results from standard observing system experiments (OSEs) using forward and adjoint versions of the NASA GEOS-5 atmospheric data assimilation system. Despite important underlying differences in the way observation impacts are measured in the two approaches, the results show that they provide consistent estimates of the overall impact of most of the major observing systems in reducing a dry total-energy metric of 24-h forecast error over the globe and extratropics and, to a lesser extent, over the tropics. Just as importantly, however, it is argued that the two approaches provide unique, but complementary, information about the impact of observations on numerical weather forecasts. Moreover, when used together, they reveal both redundancies and dependencies between observing system impacts as observations are added or removed from the data assimilation system. Understanding these dependencies appears to pose an important challenge in making optimal use of the global observing system for numerical weather prediction.
Role of Shocks in the "Sub-Transonic" Flutter Phenomenon

A semi-quantitative investigation is reported on the influence of partial-chord transonic shocks on flutter of "typical-section" wing models. Unsteady airloads are assumed as the sum of linearized theory and a "shockforce doublet" centered at the measured steady shock location. The shock is shown usually to destabilize singledegree pitching motion; it may affect flexure-torsion flutter either way, often profoundly. Various typicalsection parameters are studied, along with the important phase lag known to be present in the shock oscillation. Energy transfer during flutter is examined. Simplified calculations are presented that are believed relevant to the transonic tests by Farmer & Hanson.
Letter to the Editor---A Criterion for Realism in War Games

The author has been in the business of constructing rules for war games i.e., games with human players for some years. The search for “realism” has been arduous and always frustrating. Since the author must usually adopt a pragmatic attitude towards this elusive property and make do with whatever is at hand, the search for truly general criteria for realism has been sometimes desperate. Over the last several years one such criterion has slowly emerged. It is only a necessary condition, not a sufficient one. Therefore it is only a weak criterion for realism, but appears to be a strong test for a lack of realism. Special purpose games can probably be imagined for which the theorem does not apply.
Recent Trends in Electronic Materials Industry and Technology

The production in Electronic Materials Industry is under the large influence of the trends in Electronic Industry which is the major field of the demand; Industrial Electronic Appliance which is mainly composed of computer and communication equipments, Consumer Electronic Appliance which is mainly composed of video equipments (Home TV, Video etc.), and Electronic Components & Devices (semiconductors, ICs, display devices). First, the trend of electronic ceramic components is introduced by over-view of Japanese production changes of Electronic Industry and Electronic Materials (the association handling) in past ten years. Second, the demand forecasting of each production which is based on the trend of its related electronic equipment is introduced. Third, the major production groups and the technology trend of electronic equipments & devices which largely influence the technological trend of electronic ceramic components are introduced. Finally, the technology trend of electronic ceramic components is outlined. Only over-view of the field of Industrial Electronic Appliance, the market of Electronic Industry is annually expanding, as operation of Mobile Communication at Sub-microwave band (L band) is starting, Multi-Media era which is information equipment related is coming, and electronics applying in Automobile related equipment is developing. In connection with these, the demand expansion of Electronic Materials and rapid progress of the technology are expected.
Recent advances in laser-based combustion diagnostics

Laser-based diagnostic techniques offer unique and powerful capabilities for combustion research and development. In this paper we overview recent progress in the evolution of two different diagnostic concepts: spectrally resolved absorption, which is a line-of-sight technique; and planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging, which yields multiple-point measurements in a plane. The absorption measurements utilize tunable, narrow-linewidth, near-infrared diode lasers (TDLs) as light sources. Recent applications described include: a dual-wavelength TDL system for rapid sensing of combustion temperature, for use in openand closed-loop combustion control; a combustion species monitor based on TDL absorption in a multipass cell with a fast-flow gas-sampling system; and a wavelength-multiplexed TDL absorption probe for time-resolved sensing of temperature, velocity, and species concentration in a hypersonic shock tunnel. Recent work on PLIF to be reported includes: application of PLIF imaging to supersonic, exothermic flowfields relevant to current research on ram accelerators; development of a scheme for imaging temperature in air flows using acetone as a flow tracer; and application of simultaneous PLIF imaging and particle-imaging-velocimetry (PIV) to combustion flows. (Author)
Seed Yield, Development, and Variation in Diverse Poa pratensis Accessions

Post-harvest residue removal is critical for high seed production of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Previous work showed some accessions have little yield reduction with mechanical removal of post-harvest residue compared with the controversial practice of open-fi eld burning. Using 10 of these accessions, our objectives were (i) to relate seed yield and yield components in spaced plants to yield in row-seeded plots, (ii) to link yield to growth and development factors, and (iii) to determine variation for seed production factors among accessions. Seed yield, seeds per panicle, panicle number, weight per seed, heading, anthesis, and harvest dates showed strong accession differences on spaced plants in 2002 and 2003. Yields in row-seeded plots from 1998 and 1999 data were consistently correlated with yield per plant per area in spaced plants in 2002 (r = 0.75, P < 0.05) and 2003 (r = 0.90, P < 0.01). Turf quality was negatively correlated with yield per plant per area in 2002 and 2003 but was not consistently correlated with yield components. Days from heading to anthesis consistently correlated with yield per plant per area in 2002 (r = 0.81, P < 0.01) and 2003 (r = 0.85, P < 0.01). Variation for seed yield and yield components was observed within accessions both years and differed among accessions. The results show that seed yield per plant per area in spaced plants may be a useful predictor of yield in fi eld stands and that a long heading to anthesis period promotes seeds per panicle and seed yield. R.C. Johnson, USDA–ARS, Box 646402, Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA 99164; W.J. Johnston and C. Golob, Washington State Univ., Box 646420, Pullman, WA 99164; F.B. Bertoli, Monsanto Company, Milan, Italy. Mention of product names does not represent and endorsement of any product or company but is given only to clarify the methodology; other products may be equally eff ective. Partial fund
Study of Light-Load Voltage Gain Distortion in LLC Resonant Converter

The distortion of LLC resonant converter output voltage gain under light load operation was analyzed. The voltage gain curve considering distributed capacitance of LLC converter was presented through modeling and simulation analysis. Four kinds of method were introduced to improve this issue. The experiment results of a 12 V/20 A LLC converter prototype are given out to verify the methods.
Coproporphyrinogenase in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.).

1. Coproporphyrinogenase was extracted and purified from tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.). Enzyme activity was mainly located in mitochondria rather than in chloroplasts. The enzyme was purified by differential centrifugation, ammonium sulphate fractionation, calcium phosphate gel adsorption and dialysis. A 69-fold final purification was obtained. 2. An apparent K m value of 3.6×10 −5 m was found, the value being largely dependent on the amount of coproporphyrin III recovered after reduction with sodium amalgam to coproporphyrinogen III. Protoporphyrin formation was linear up to 3h and decreased with further incubation. The enzyme activity increased with the concentration of enzyme protein up to 30μg/ml of solution. 3. Enzyme activity was greatly enhanced by increasing Fe 2+ concentrations up to 0.5mm, beyond which inhibition occurred. Co 2+ and Mn 2+ were also found to activate at low concentrations (0.1mm) and inhibit at higher concentrations (5mm). Fe 3+ and Cu 2+ , both at 0.1mm, and o -phenanthroline and EDTA, each at 1mm, were found to be inhibitory.
Gender and Transnational Black Immigrant Identities

As in the past, different groups of Africans from different countries forming the continent are still lumped together into the general category of Black Africans. Though the women immigrants discussed in this book come from countries with similar economic and political circumstances, this form of unitary group identity obfuscates the huge differences and internal diversity commonly found among Black Africans—differences in languages, cultures, normative systems, and social structures. The West African subregion is no different. As indicated, the heritage of the region has been shaped by indigenous Black African cultures, Arabian cultures, and European colonization. This heritage confers on the region a rich tapestry of cultures oftentimes romanticized as well as celebrated by all. This heritage and legacy endears the region to the rest of the world as a gateway and mecca of cultural hybridity. Sometimes forgotten by the rest of the world due to its seemingly intractable social, economic, and political problems, the region is home to a diverse wealth of natural resources that have yet to be tapped for improvement in the quality of life of its peoples. The depiction of the region on the world scene is one of human misery, despair, and unforgiving poverty. Occasionally, it is also seen as an oasis of hope—that sooner rather than later the peoples of the region will realize their dreams and promises for a better life.
Advances in the use of Lanthanide Enolates as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Shift Reagents

The use of lanthanide enolates as NMR shift reagents is described. Strategies to reduce broadening in the NMR spectrum with paramagnetic lanthanide ions are discussed. Recent studies of achiral donors are presented. Recent studies in which lanthanide enolates are used for structural and conformation analysis are described. The use of paramagnetic and diamagnetic chiral lanthanide complexes for analysis of enantiopurity by NMR spectroscopy is discussed. Recent studies in which NMR spectroscopy is used to characterize lanthanide β-diketonate complexes are described. Keywords: chiral analysis; enantiomer analysis; enantiomeric excess; enantiomeric purity; lanthanide diketonate; lanthanide enolate; NMR; shift reagent
Current Research at the Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, University of New England

Our research interests include topics outside as well as inside Australia, for instance my own work on the Late Stone Age and Iron Age of West Africa has recently led to the publication of The Archaeology of Benin by Oxford University Press and I have further material in preparation for publication concerning the Lake Chad area of N.E. Nigeria. Likewise, Iain Davidson is presently completing work on man-environment relationships during the late Pleistocene in Spain.
Pediatric Therapy-Related Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia: The M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Experience

Abstract Background: Therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia (t-MDS/AML) is a long-term complication of pediatric cancer and it carries a poor prognosis. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively studied pediatric t-MDS/AML patients treated at M. D. Anderson from 1975 to 2007. We also compared these patients to pediatric patients with de novo MDS/AML during this time interval. Results: Among 2589 children with cancer treated at M. D. Anderson, we identified 22 (0.85%) patients with t-MDS/AML and 141 (5.4%) patients with de novo MDS/AML. Patients with t-MDS/AML had a median age of 14 years (range, 3–20). There was a male and Hispanic predominance. The most common primary malignancies were osteosarcoma and Hodgkin lymphoma. The median latency period was 4.1 years. Fourteen patients received AML-type chemotherapy, 5 underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) as induction therapy, and 3 received supportive care. Fourteen patients underwent SCT as induction (n=5), post-remission (n=5), or salvage therapy (n=4). Their respective 2-year survival rates were 20%, 40%, and 25% (p= 0.85). Patients with de novo AML were younger (p=0.001), and had higher rates of CR (p=0.03), and survival (p Conclusion: Childhood t-MDS/AML has a poor prognosis. Although patients benefited from AML-type induction chemotherapy followed by SCT as post-remission therapy, effective therapies are needed.
Role of Simulations in Student Learning: A Case Study Using Marketing Simulation

Simulations, like other pedagogical tools, should be evaluated for their effectiveness in achieving course objectives and student learning. This research examines the efficiency of using a particular simulation in achieving course objectives and student learning compared with a general textbook and other learning pedagogical tools from the students’ perspective.
Net Shape Processing of Alnico Magnets by Additive Manufacturing

Alternatives to rare earth permanent magnets, such as alnico, will reduce supply instability, increase sustainability, and could decrease the cost of permanent magnets, especially for high-temperature applications, such as traction drive motors. Alnico magnets with moderate coercivity, high remanence, and relatively high-energy product are conventionally processed by directional solidification and (significant) final machining, contributing to increased costs and additional material waste. Additive manufacturing (AM) is developing as a cost effective method to build net-shape 3-D parts with minimal final machining and properties comparable to wrought parts. This paper describes initial studies of net-shape fabrication of alnico magnets by AM using a laser engineered net shaping (LENS) system. High-pressure gas atomized pre-alloyed powders of two different modified alnico “8” compositions, with high purity and sphericity, were built into cylinders using the LENS process, and followed by heat treatment. The magnetic properties showed improvement over their cast and sintered counterparts. The resulting alnico permanent magnets were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and hysteresisgraph measurements. These results display the potential for net-shape processing of alnico permanent magnets for use in next generation traction-drive motors and other applications requiring high temperatures and/or complex engineered part geometries.
INSTRUMENTATION AND AUTOMATION OF AN ICU RESPIRATORY TESTING SYSTEM

Since 1971, a commercially available ICU minicomputer system has been used as the basis for developing an intermittent respiratory testing system. Airway flow and pressure signals and instantaneous gas concentrations, measured by a mobile mass spectrometer, are used to perform a variety of respiratory function tests at the ICU bedside. The determinations include respiratory work and mechanics, O2 consumption and CO2 production, intrapulmonary shunt fraction, and spirometry. A telephone communications facility extends use of the computer to remote hospitals. Data analysis algorithms support the use of intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
Culture’s impact on trust, distrust, and intentions in data theft environments: A cross-cultural exploratory study

Data breaches—security incidents—have become an everyday occurrence, with hundreds of millions of consumers having their lost personal identification information (PII), had their credit and debit c...
Psychological and psychiatric issues in space.

Based on anecdotal reports from space and studies of space analog environments on Earth, a number of psychosocial and psychiatric issues have been identified that can lead to problems in space. We studied several of these issues during a series of Shuttle/Mir missions. We found support for decrements in commander support during the 2nd half of the missions and a novelty effect in U.S. astronauts at the beginning. Displacement of unpleasant emotions to outside individuals was found in both crewmember and mission control subjects. Americans were less happy with their work environment than Russians, and mission control personnel were more dysphoric than crewmembers. The subjects considered problems on-board the Mir to be major critical events. We found no evidence for the occurrence of asthenia during the missions, although our measure did not evaluate all of the features of this syndrome.
Symptom Self-Management: Strategies Used by Older Adults Receiving Treatment for Cancer .

Background Older adults are at high risk for cancer treatment-related symptoms but often accept them as inevitable. This may have a negative impact on patient outcomes. . Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine symptom self-management strategies used by older adults receiving cancer treatment, determine the effectiveness of these strategies, and examine relationships between symptom self-management and demographic and treatment characteristics. . Methods 100 adults aged 65 years or older from a community cancer center participated in this descriptive, exploratory study. Demographic, treatment, and self-management data were collected using an investigator-developed tool. Symptom presence was collected using part 1 of the Symptom Representation Questionnaire. . Findings Participants reported an average of 7.15 symptoms and 3.36 self-management strategies used at home. Taste changes were managed most, followed by fatigue and bowel changes. On average, strategies used to manage symptoms were moderately effective.
A data driven in-air-handwriting biometric authentication system

The gesture-based human-computer interface requires new user authentication technique because it does not have traditional input devices like keyboard and mouse. In this paper, we propose a new finger-gesture-based authentication method, where the in-air-handwriting of each user is captured by wearable inertial sensors. Our approach is featured with the utilization of both the content and the writing convention, which are proven to be essential for the user identification problem by the experiments. A support vector machine (SVM) classifier is built based on the features extracted from the hand motion signals. To quantitatively benchmark the proposed framework, we build a prototype system with a custom data glove device. The experiment result shows our system achieve a 0.1% equal error rate (EER) on a dataset containing 200 accounts that are created by 116 users. Compared to the existing gesture-based biometric authentication systems, the proposed method delivers a significant performance improvement.
Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics

Metabolomics based on mass spectrometry can provide quantitative and qualitative information of the pool of metabolites (metabolome) present intracellularly or extracellularly in a given biological system. A typical metabolomics workflow requires several key steps such as quick and robust sample preparations with quenching of metabolism, chemical derivatization if needed, instrumental measurement, data-processing with/without database information and further statistical analysis and interpretation. Here, we introduce general metabolomics workflows for global and targeted analyses using gas chromatography or liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometers.
Semi-Supervised Generative Adversarial Network for Gene Expression Inference

Gene expression profiling provides comprehensive characterization of cellular states under different experimental conditions, thus contributes to the prosperity of many fields of biomedical research. Although the rapid development of gene expression profiling has been observed, genome-wide profiling of large libraries is still expensive and difficult. Due to the fact that there are significant correlations between gene expression patterns, previous studies introduced regression models for predicting the target gene expressions from the landmark gene profiles. These models formulate the gene expression inference in a completely supervised manner, which require a large labeled dataset (i.e. paired landmark and target gene expressions). However, collecting the whole gene expressions is much more expensive than the landmark genes. In order to address this issue and take advantage of cheap unlabeled data (i.e. landmark genes), we propose a novel semi-supervised deep generative model for target gene expression inference. Our model is based on the generative adversarial network (GAN) to approximate the joint distribution of landmark and target genes, and an inference network to learn the conditional distribution of target genes given the landmark genes. We employ the reliable generated data by our GAN model as the extra training pairs to improve the training of our inference model, and utilize the trustworthy predictions of the inference network to enhance the adversarial training of our GAN network. We evaluate our model on the prediction of two types of gene expression data and identify obvious advantage over the counterparts.
Immune Modulation for Stem Cell Therapy

The remarkable strides made by stem cell biologists and tissue engineers have brought us ever so close to the promised land of having unlimited supplies of cells, tissues, and even organs to cure end-stage organ failure and reverse the course of degenerative diseases. Will our immune system perceive these engineered cells as foreign and target them for destruction as it does for conventional transplants? If so, how do we manage the immune response to prevent rejection, or better yet, to teach the immune system to accept the transplanted stem cells as self? In this ­chapter, we review how the immune system recognizes transplant antigens and analyze current data on immunogenicity of the various types of stem cells. We summarize current strategies for controlling transplant rejection and speculate on future directions in inducing transplant tolerance with the exciting possibilities of using stem cells to reeducate the immune system.
The telecommuting life: managing issues of work, home and technology

As the 21st century approaches, the work environment is transforming, driven in large part by technology. For example, technology is challenging ideas about where and when work needs to take place. Technology allows employees to work from home. However, this new distributed work arrangement brings with it many new challenges for both the employee and employer. In this case, we introduce one company that has decided to experiment with the telecommuting arrangement. Through the eyes of one teleworker, many of the benefits and challenges of telecommuting are explored. INTRODUC
The Attorney's Duty to Report Professional Misconduct: A Roadmap for Reform

The duty to report professional misconduct is one that every lawyer faces, but about which there is great uncertainty. Whether to impose a duty at all is in sharp dispute, with the argument closely balanced. The most common rules in place today implementing such a duty are poorly drafted and result in substantial costs both to those that report and those that are reported. The rules are replete with ambiguities and omissions making compliance difficult for those that practice under them. In this piece, I critically assess the competing arguments for and against a mandatory reporting rule and illustrate that they often are flawed, or at least unsupported. Nevertheless, it is clear that the vast majority of the states and the ABA presently favor mandatory reporting and will continue to do so in the absence of a more compelling case to dispense with such rules. Since it is likely that most lawyers will continue to practice under reporting rules for the foreseeable future, it is important to get them right. From reviewing the rules as they have been applied across the states, I identify ten fundamental questions that rule drafters should address, the policy choices presented, and suggestions for their resolution. With the vast majority of states presently undertaking a thorough reexamination of their own rules of professional conduct, this article provides a unique framework to guide those actions with respect to the lawyer's duty to report professional misconduct.
Obesity prevalence and voting behaviors in the 2016 US presidential election

Objective We assessed the relationship between county-level prevalence of adult obesity and voting behaviors in the 2016 US presidential election. Methods Spatial autoregressive regression was performed to examine county-level obesity rate in relation to the vote margin for the Republican Party presidential candidate, defined as the percentage difference in votes received by the Republican presidential candidate and those received by the Democratic presidential candidate, adjusting for county sociodemographics and state fixed effects. Results A quadratic association was found between county-level obesity rate and the vote margin for the Republican Party presidential candidate-the margin increased when obesity rate increased from 11.8% to 34.1%, but after reaching its peak of 36.1%, it started to decrease when obesity rate further increased to 47.9%. Conclusion Typically, health disparity has been considered as a political outcome, whereas its impact on political behavior is rarely examined. Our findings indicate obesity disparities may not only be influenced by political decisions but also affect political behavior. Future studies should elucidate the pathway linking obesity to voting behavior and track the long-term trend of this relationship.
Watching TV News Coverage of Middle East Affairs: Sunni-Shia Relations Matter and a Public Not Knowing this Will Affect How the United States Plans for Any Future Involvement in that Region

Television news does not help Americans understand the complexity of the problems the United States faces and may face in the future in the Middle East. Sectarian conflict where Sunni versus Shia or Sunni versus Sunni differences matter make it difficult for the United States to determine allies. A public that does not understand some of the basics of Middle Eastern sectarian conflict cannot be expected to show sustained support for any American involvement and can limit the range of policy options available to the United States. The United States Army by developing Field Manual 3-24 (published in 2006, adopted in 2009) showed a need to address sectarian issues as part of counter-insurgency warfare. The public, however, shows little understanding of sectarian issues and that can affect the development of American policy.
Printing princely modernity: Lithographic design in Muslim-ruled princely states

This working note analyzes the social and ideological salience of lithographic book design in the context of quasi-colonial Indian ‘princely’ or ‘native’ states in the late nineteenth century. Focu...
Abstract 003: Metabolome-Wide Association Study With Habitual Physical Activity Among 4119 U.S. Participants

Background: Being physically active has been associated with lower risks of cardiometabolic diseases. However, the biological mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear, and can be inv...