cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging and ultrasound in staging and surveillance of head and neck and thyroid cancer†

Objectives/Hypothesis: Positron emission tomography (PET) combined with cross-sectional computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used for staging and surveillance of cancers in the head and neck region. Ultrasonography (US) is an alternative imaging technique that provides diagnostic information while enabling simultaneous image-guided biopsies. A comparison of these diagnostic modalities in cancer detection is warranted. Methods: All patients with malignant neoplasms in the head and neck region who were evaluated by both PET/CT and US were reviewed. Diagnostic accuracy rates of PET/CT and US were determine according to whether cytologically or histologically confirmed cancer was present in US-guided fine-needle biopsy or surgical specimens. Results: From October 2004 to December 2007, 42 patients with an ultimately confirmed tissue diagnosis of a head and neck malignancy underwent both neck US and PET/CT. The sensitivity and specificity of US in predicting malignancy in the head and neck was 96.8% and 93.3%, respectively, in those 42 individuals. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 96% and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 93%. In comparison, PET/CT in this group demonstrated a sensitivity of 90.3%, specificity 20%, PPV 70%, and NPV 50%. Conclusions: PET/CT and US, especially when combined with US-guided fine-needle biopsy, are complementary tools in the detection of cancers of the head and neck. The highly sensitive and specific nature of US, combined with its low cost, low morbidity, availability as an in-office examination, and ability to guide biopsies, warrant consideration of its routine use in the management of head and neck and thyroid cancer patients.
ANOTHER LOOK AT THE POWER OF META-ANALYSIS IN THE SOLOMON FOUR-GROUP DESIGN '

Braver and Braver (1988) promoted a meta-analysis technique as the most powerful single test for analyzing data from a Solomon Four-Group Design. Customary analysis on fabricated data was not signi...
New Directions for CACM

Much has changed since the 1980s when the current format of Communications of the ACM was cast. What should be the mission of ACM's flagship publication in the 21st century?
Oxidation of nadh2 by the lipochrome pigment of the tissues of the bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis (mollusca, pelecypoda)

Abstract 1. 1. Ethanol and 2-propanol extracts obtained from the total body and the isolated ganglia of Mytilus galloprovincialis are able to oxidize NADH 2 in vitro , whereas similar extracts of mouse brain tested under the same conditions are devoid of this property. 2. 2. The oxidation of NADH 2 proved to be reversible. 3. 3. During the oxidation of NADH 2 the absorption of the extracts decreased at 230–270 nm. 4. 4. The oxidative capacity and absorption of the extracts significantly decreased, if the animals had been previously kept under conditions of prolonged (1–3 days) anoxia.
Structure problems in hypertext mysteries

Detective or mystery stories have always depended on linear storytelling. Can hypertext be nonlinear and still present a detective or mystery story? This paper analyzes how mystery stories work, examines one feasible structure for a hypertext mystery, and suggests hypertext opportunities for mystery writers. It concludes that the mystery reader’s expectations (rather than assumptions about hypertext) should determine structure.
Mars Rover Sample Return - Rover challenges

Mission requirements, design considerations, and scenarios are presented for the Mars Rover Sample Return mission to send rovers to Mars to collect samples for return to earth. Rover automation is examined in detail. Issues of rover design related to mobility, local navigation, and sample acquisition are discussed. Scenarios for rover operation are given, including a comparison between the level of automation of the computer-aided remote driving system and the level of the semiautonomous navigation system. It is suggested that the rover must be more automated than previous aircraft.
In the Wake of Slavery: Civil War, Civil Rights, and the Reconstruction of Southern Law – By Joseph A. Ranney

In the years following the Civil War, the South struggled with what we now call “transitional justice”—with the transition from an oppressive regime to, well, no one was quite sure what. Those who ...
Examination of U.S.-based Japanese subsidiaries: Evidence of the transfer of the Japanese strategic cost management

Abstract As a result of global competition, many Japanese companies are now operating in the United States. This article presents a survey of the management accounting methods employed by U.S.-based Japanese manufacturers and documents evidence about the current direction of accounting practices that are being transferred from Japan to the U.S. work environment. The results of the study show that most of the U.S.-based Japanese firms are similar to Japanese domestic firms in their use of management accounting methods of target costing and value engineering, variable costing, and strategic adaptation of traditional methods such as standard costing and budgeting. It is also evident that U.S.-based Japanese affiliates may be influenced by U.S. practices, as shown by significant usage of activity-based costing and internal rate of return for evaluating capital investment projects. This article is an important part of a continuing effort to study the development of management accounting among foreign-owned subsidiaries in the U.S., helping them to meet the challenges of global competition. Additionally, expanding this line of research on foreign subsidiaries that apply world class management accounting practices in other countries may assist U.S. multinational firms in their overseas subsidiaries' operations. Two limitations of this study and, thus, suggestions for future research are identified. First, the data on U.S.-based Japanese affiliates were collected for one point in time. Second, this study did not match each U.S.-based Japanese affiliate with its parent in Japan.
Structural and mechanistic studies of polymerase η bypass of phenanthriplatin DNA damage

In this work we investigated the ability of phenanthriplatin, a novel, potent monofunctional platinum anticancer agent, to inhibit DNA replication. Biochemical assays using site-specifically platinated DNA probes revealed the ability of phenanthriplatin lesions to block DNA replication by all polymerases tested except for Pol η, which exhibited inefficient but high-fidelity lesion bypass. Crystallographic studies of Pol η stalled at different stages of translesion synthesis past phenanthriplatin-platinated DNA provided insight into the mechanism by which the lesion inhibits DNA polymerases to induce cellular toxicity. Cytotoxicity studies using cells derived from patients who do not express functional Pol η suggest that phenanthriplatin-based therapy will be useful to treat cancers resistant to cisplatin by upregulating Pol η expression.
Gamete interactions and fertilization behavior in the larvacean, Oikopleura dioica

Summary Oikopleura dioica are often cultured in the laboratory but for several reasons are clearly not in conditions similar to those of the open sea. Despite this impediment, some interesting behaviors of the spawning of adults and gametes in 3-ml well plates were observed from April and May 1992–1994 using the circulation devices of Fenaux and Cie and Gorsky and Fenaux (2002). Testis sac size measurements and observations of swimming behavior of numerous individual males were made during sperm release. We calculated the intervals between initiation of sperm release and its cessation, the sinking rates of individual eggs, the potential for re-fertilization of unfertilized eggs up to 24 h post release, and the effects of sperm concentration on fertilization success. We found that in a group of 74 males the total minutes of spawning time was 1,076 min with an average time to completion of spawning by all males at 14.54 min. Individual eggs sink in a 10-ml graduated cylinder at the rate of 2.35 mm/s in stil...
Steady-state frictional sliding contact on surfaces of plastically graded materials

Abstract Tailored gradation in elastic–plastic properties is known to offer avenues for suppressing surface damage during normal indentation and sliding contact. In tribological applications, sliding contact analysis provides a more representative mechanism for fundamental understanding and design as it offers a tool to test materials under conditions of controlled abrasive wear. However, no such study exists for plastically graded materials, although the sliding behavior for elastically graded materials has been reasonably well understood. This study has established a systematic methodology to quantify the mechanics of steady-state frictional sliding response for a plastically graded material. Specifically, the effect of linear gradient in yield stress on the frictional sliding response is examined through parametric finite-element (FEM) computation of the instrumented scratch test. Gradients in yield strength affect both the load carrying capacity of the surface and its pile-up around the sliding indenter. An increase in yield strength with distance beneath the surface shifts the peak values of von Mises stress below the surface, thus improving the resistance of the surface to onset of plasticity and damage. For a given elastic–plastic property, an increasing yield strength gradient causes a reduction in total apparent friction through a reduction in the ploughing coefficient. The contact-load-bearing capacity of plastically graded surfaces follows a similar trend during indentation and scratch. However, significant differences between the pile-up and the friction response are observed between normal indentation and steady-state frictional sliding. In particular, an increase in interfacial friction is found to cause an increase in pile-up during scratch, while it causes a decrease in pile-up during indentation. The implications of the present results to the design of graded surfaces are discussed.
Expression and mutagenesis of mammalian cytosolic NADP+-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase.

Rat liver cytosolic NADP+-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDP2) was expressed in bacteria as a fusion protein with maltose binding protein (MBP). High levels of expression were obtained. The fusion protein was purified from bacterial lysates by affinity chromatography with an amylose resin and found to be catalytically active. IDP2 was separated from MBP by cleavage with protease Xa and purified to homogeneity by FPLC anion-exchange chromatography. A specific activity of 56.3 units/mg and respective apparent Km values for dl-isocitrate and NADP+ of 9.7 ± 2.9 μM and 11.5 ± 0.2 μM were obtained for the purified enzyme. These values are similar to those previously reported for cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase isolated from a variety of tissues. Evolutionarily conserved arginine residues implicated in substrate binding were changed to glutamate residues using PCR based site-directed mutagenesis of the bacterial fusion plasmid. Mutant enzymes containing residue changes of R100E, R109E, R119E, or R132E wer...
High-Temperature VLE for the Tetralin−Quinoline System

A flow type high-temperature apparatus has been designed and fabricated for the VLE measurements of multicomponent systems. The apparatus provides easy sampling without disturbing the equilibrium at temperatures up to 500 °C. The new VLE apparatus has been tested by measurement of data for the tetralin−quinoline binary system along an isotherm at 325 °C for which literature data are already available. Furthermore, new data measurements are reported at two higher temperatures, 350 °C and 370 °C. The apparatus will be used in the future to generate high-temperature VLE data for binary mixtures of various coal model compounds.
PIC code simulation of pulsed radiation in a tapered closed-cavity gyrotron

MAGIC, a two-and-one-half-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) code, has been used to investigate mode locking in closed-cavity gyrotrons. A cavity, with equally spaced modal frequencies, composed of a radially tapered section and a straight section of waveguide, is designed, built, and cold-tested. Experimental cold test results agree well with the MAGIC PIC code simulations. Using a sinusoidal current density modulation with an amplitude of 5% of the dc current and frequency of 280 MHz, the simulation results show radiation output in a train of narrow pulses (full width at half maximum /spl sim/1 us) at a 280 MHz repetition rate. Though the gyrotron does not appear to be mode locked, uniform pulse trains of 30-50 pulses can be obtained.
Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance studies on dichloropyridoquinolines

Carbon-13 NMR chemical shifts are reported for six angular and one linear dichloropyridoquinolines in CDCl3. The chemical shift assignments have been made using model compounds, fully coupled spectra, selective proton decoupling and results from lanthanide shift studies. Chlorine substituent effects are compared to those reported for chloroquinolines. The effect of the heteroaromatic nitrogen atoms on 13C1H coupling constants in these polycyclic systems are compared to those reported for pyridine systems.
Inhibition of dimethylsulfoxide-induced differentiation in friend erythroleukemic cells by diacylglycerols and phospholipase C

Abstract The effects of diacylglycerols and phospholipase C on dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-induced differentiation were investigated in Friend erythroleukemic cells (FELC). Greater than 80% of cells become benzidinepositive when incubated with 1.5% DMSO. The tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), inhibits DMSO-induced differentiation in FELC. Diacylglycerols were found to inhibit DMSO-induced differentiation dose responsively with the order of potency being 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) > dicaprylin > dilaurin > diolein. Phospholipase C which releases endogenous diacylglycerols from membrane phospholipids also inhibited DMSO-induced differentiation dose responsively. These results support the hypothesis that diacylglycerols can have effects similar to tumor promoters and suggest that protein kinase C may be a common mechanism for tumor promotion.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for suspected choledocholithiasis: testing the current guidelines.

Abstract Background Current guidelines include an algorithm for predicting choledocholithiasis. Presence of any very strong predictor or both strong predictors confers a high (>50%) probability of choledocholithiasis. Absence of predictors confers low risk ( Aim Determine accuracy of the proposed algorithm in predicting choledocholithiasis. Methods Retrospective analysis of all endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies performed for suspected choledocholithiasis in 3 years in a Tertiary care hospital and a community hospital serviced by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Division of Gastroenterology. Application of the guidelines, and comparing results to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography findings. Results A total of 1080 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies were performed; 521 for choledocholithiasis. Most patients were Hispanic and female. Univariate analysis: presence of any very strong predictor and both strong predictors had an OR for choledocholithiasis of 3.30 and 2.36 respectively. Multivariate analysis: odds of choledocholithiasis with any very strong predictor was 2.87, and both strong predictors 3.24. Choledocholithiasis was present in 71.5%, and 41% of patients with high, and intermediate risk respectively. Conclusion This study confirms the utility of clinical predictors for the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis. All of the very strong predictors and one of the strong predictors increased the odds of choledocholithiasis. Patients with high risk for choledocholithiasis had a probability of 79% of choledocholithiasis. Sensitivity and specificity of current predictors are too low to obviate the possible need of non-invasive tests to confirm or exclude choledocholithiasis in all risk groups.
Load-absorption by a filament in a fiber-reinforced material

Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der statischen Lastubertragung auf eine halbunendliche elastische Faser, die in einer unendlich ausgedehnten elastischen Matrix mit bestimmten mechanischen Eigenschaften eingebettet ist. Im Unendlichen wird fur die Matrix ein einachsiger Spannungszustand parallel zur Faser angenommen. Mit Hilfe eines angereicherten Vorgehens lasst sich die gesuchte Faserkraft durch eine Fredholmsche Integralgleichung zweiter Art charakterisieren. Zur Erleichterung der numerischen Losung der Integralgleichung wird das asymptotische Verhalten der von der Faser aufgenommenen Kraft herangezogen. Eine Reihe quantitativer Resultate zeigt die Vertiefung der Faserkraft und ihre Abhangigkeit von den physikalischen Parametern; ferner wird die Singularitat am Faserende diskutiert.
Modeling and production of 240Am by deuteron-induced activation of a 240Pu target

Abstract A novel reaction pathway for production of 240 Am is reported. Models of reaction cross-sections in EMPIRE II suggest that deuteron-induced activation of a 240 Pu target produces maximum yields of 240 Am from 11.5 MeV incident deuterons. This activation had not been previously reported in the literature. A 240 Pu target was activated under the modeled optimum conditions to produce 240 Am. The modeled cross-section for the 240 Pu(d, 2n) 240 Am reaction is on the order of 20–30 mbarn, but the experimentally estimated value is 5.6 ± 0.2 mbarn. We discuss reasons for the discrepancy as well as production of other Am isotopes that contaminate the final product.
Vitamin C in frozen, fresh squeezed, unpasteurized, polyethylene-bottled orange juice: a storage study

Abstract A storage study of frozen, fresh squeezed, unpasteurized, polyethylene-bottled orange juice was conducted to determine vitamin C loss on a monthly basis over a period of 24 months. Vitamin C content declined from an initial value of 40.6 mg/100 ml to 32.8 mg/100 ml in the final analysis for a loss of 19.2% over the storage period. A regression analysis showed a decrease of about 0.34 mg/100 ml of the vitamin C per month at this condition. The estimated shelf-life of this juice to meet the label claim of vitamin C of 130% DV is about 22 months at −23°C.
Stakeholders or subject matter experts, who should be consulted?

Abstract The Energy Office of Michigan asked Lawrence Technological University (LTU) to conduct Delphi Inquires into wind turbine noise and wildlife issues. These inquiries collected and analyzed stakeholders’ perceptions of how to address turbine noise and potential wildlife impacts in the Michigan Siting Guidelines for Wind Energy Systems. This paper uses Beierle and Cayford's conceptual framework for evaluating the success of public participation to compare the two inquiries. Beierle and Cayford's framework identifies five social goals for public participation in policy development: incorporating public values into decisions, improving the substantive quality of decisions, resolving conflict among competing interests, building trust in institutions, and educating and informing the public. The framework also identifies several process elements that contribute to the success of meeting those goals. This paper examines how the participants’ prior experience with each issue influenced two important elements of the participation process: the participants’ ability to engage in meaningful discourse and their ability to exert control over the process. This paper examines how some participants’ inexperience prevented them from effectively participating in the process of developing wind energy policy; demonstrating that it can be more productive to seek input primarily from technical experts than to seek consensus from all stakeholders.
A robust functional-data-analysis method for data recovery in multichannel sensor systems

Multichannel sensor systems are widely used in condition monitoring for effective failure prevention of critical equipment or processes. However, loss of sensor readings due to malfunctions of sensors and/or communication has long been a hurdle to reliable operations of such integrated systems. Moreover, asynchronous data sampling and/or limited data transmission are usually seen in multiple sensor channels. To reliably perform fault diagnosis and prognosis in such operating environments, a data recovery method based on functional principal component analysis (FPCA) can be utilized. However, traditional FPCA methods are not robust to outliers and their capabilities are limited in recovering signals with strongly skewed distributions (i.e., lack of symmetry). This paper provides a robust data-recovery method based on functional data analysis to enhance the reliability of multichannel sensor systems. The method not only considers the possibly skewed distribution of each channel of signal trajectories, but is also capable of recovering missing data for both individual and correlated sensor channels with asynchronous data that may be sparse as well. In particular, grand median functions, rather than classical grand mean functions, are utilized for robust smoothing of sensor signals. Furthermore, the relationship between the functional scores of two correlated signals is modeled using multivariate functional regression to enhance the overall data-recovery capability. An experimental flow-control loop that mimics the operation of coolant-flow loop in a multimodular integral pressurized water reactor is used to demonstrate the effectiveness and adaptability of the proposed data-recovery method. The computational results illustrate that the proposed method is robust to outliers and more capable than the existing FPCA-based method in terms of the accuracy in recovering strongly skewed signals. In addition, turbofan engine data are also analyzed to verify the capability of the proposed method in recovering non-skewed signals.
The structure of the carburized W(001) surface

Abstract The carburized surface of W(001) has been of interest because of the moderating effect of the carbon on the catalytic properties of the W surface. We have studied the carburized surface of W(001) formed by dissociative adsorption of ethylene using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and alkali ion scattering. The previously published sequence of LEED patterns and associated coverages were reproduced. The intensity of the Li + /C single scattering intensity was monitored as a function of exposure for various ion incident angles and correlated to the C/W Auger intensity ratio. Analysis of this data showed that C atoms adsorb above the first W layer at all coverages, including that associated with a (5×1) LEED pattern generated by adsorption at 1500 K. The structure has been obtained by analysis of the incident angle dependence of the Li + on W single scattering intensity for the clean and carbon covered surfaces. No major reconstruction of the carburized surface occurs, even for the (5×1). The prominent C single scattering peak, the incident angle dependence and K + multiple scattering features indicate that the C resides at or near the four-fold hollows at all coverages. Analysis of the incident angle associated with shadowing of W by C demonstrates that the C atoms are 0.5 A above the plane of the first layer W. The LEED (5×1) pattern is attributed to ordering in the C overlayer and a possible small amplitude periodic strain induced in the first layer W by the C.
Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analysis between serotonin receptor 1B gene variations and subtypes of alcoholism

A number of studies have reported a possible association between serotonergic pathway genes and alcoholism. A silent polymorphism (G to C substitution) in the gene encoding the autoreceptor 5-HT1B was linked to antisocial alcoholism in Finnish and an American Indian populations [Lappalainen et al., 1998: Arch Gen Psychiatry 55:989-994]. Several other polymorphisms of this gene have been investigated for their association with neuropsychiatric disorders. In the present study, a sample of 133 alcoholics without and 39 alcoholics with medical complications, and 88 normal controls was screened for three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), G861C, G261T, and C129T, in the 5-HT1B gene. The goal was to investigate their association with the disease, to measure the strength of linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the SNPs, and to compare haplotype frequencies between alcoholic groups and normal controls. Data was also analyzed on the basis of Type I (n = 47) and Type II (n = 85) alcoholism. There was no significant difference in the allele frequencies or the genotype distribution between any alcoholic groups, alcoholic subgroups, and controls for any polymorphism. G861C and C129T polymorphisms were in complete LD. The pattern of distribution of haplotypes was similar in patients and controls. It is concluded that these SNPs are not playing any direct role in the development of susceptibility to alcoholism in our patient sample.
Methodology to remunerate the generation reserve and the reactive power support as ancillary services based on the benefit proportioned to the power system

This article presents a methodology to remunerate the ancillary services of generation reserve and reactive power support as function of the benefit provided by the generators to the power system. The benefit provided by the ancillary service of generation reserve is calculated based on the reduction in the expected energy not supplied, multiplied by the unitary interruption cost of the power supply. For the ancillary service of reactive power support, the benefit is obtained through the avoided installation cost of new reactive power sources. The Aumann-Shapley cost allocation method is used to distribute, in a fair and efficient way, the benefit among the generators that provide the ancillary services.
The G Protein–Biased κ -Opioid Receptor Agonist RB-64 Is Analgesic with a Unique Spectrum of Activities In Vivo

The hypothesis that functionally selective G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists may have enhanced therapeutic benefits has revitalized interest for many GPCR targets. In particular, although κ-opioid receptor (KOR) agonists are analgesic with a low risk of dependence and abuse, their use is limited by a propensity to induce sedation, motor incoordination, hallucinations, and dysphoria-like states. Several laboratories have produced a body of work suggesting that G protein–biased KOR agonists might be analgesic with fewer side effects. Although that has been an intriguing hypothesis, suitable KOR-selective and G protein–biased agonists have not been available to test this idea. Here we provide data using a G protein–biased agonist, RB-64 (22-thiocyanatosalvinorin A), which suggests that KOR-mediated G protein signaling induces analgesia and aversion, whereas β-arrestin-2 signaling may be associated with motor incoordination. Additionally, unlike unbiased KOR agonists, the G protein–biased ligand RB-64 does not induce sedation and does not have anhedonia-like actions, suggesting that a mechanism other than G protein signaling mediates these effects. Our findings provide the first evidence for a highly selective and G protein–biased tool compound for which many, but not all, of the negative side effects of KOR agonists can be minimized by creating G protein–biased KOR agonists.
Complexes of 2-methylthioaniline and 3,3′-bis(methylthio)benzidine

Abstract Complexes of 2-methythioanaline and 3,3′-bis(methylthio)benzidine have been prepared and characterized in terms of their i.r., visible, and nmr spectroscopic properties as well as their magnetic moments and elemental analyses. The metals studied were Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Pd(II), and Zn(II). Only the chlorides of the complexes were prepared.
Serotonin receptors, social phobia and panic disorder

SummaryThis paper reviews the importance of the serotonin system in the generation of anxiety with particular emphasis on how these mechanisms may be important in the pathogenesis and treatment of panic disorder and social phobia. A discussion of animal models, the limitations of extrapolating from animals to humans, and a summary of the data currently derived from these models is presented. Human etiopathophysiologic and treatment studies of panic disorder and social phobia are also presented. The role of the various receptor subtypes in the modulation of anxiety are discussed as well as are implications for treatment. Clearly, more research is needed to understand the etiopathogenesis of anxiety disorders and to help clinicians treat them.
Vertical induction of engrailed‐2 and other region‐specific markers in the early chick embryo

We investigated the role of verti- cal signals in the regulation of Engrailed-2, a regionally restricted (mesencephalon/meten- cephalon) neuroectodermal marker, using epi- blast grafted from prospective neuroectoderm or prospective trunk mesoderm at mid-stage 3 in the gastrulating chick embryo. Grafts that were iso- lated from the rostral (prospective neuroectoder- mal) epiblast and placed rostral to or at the future mesencephalon/metencephalon level, be- tween the endoderm and epiblast of stage 3d to stage 8 host embryos, expressed Engrailed-2 after 24 hr in culture, whereas these same grafts failed to express this marker when placed at a more caudal level. Grafts from caudal (prospective trunk mesodermal) epiblast, which would ordi- narily not express Engrailed-2, also expressed this marker when placed at the mesencephalon/ metencephalon level, and failed to express it when grafted more caudally. The expression of four other markers, L5, Fgf8, Wnt-1, and paraxis, were also evaluated. Collectively, our results show that regionally restricted vertical signals are ca- pable of inducing neuroectoderm from naive tis- sue, and of patterning epiblast to express some but not all mesencephalon/metencephalon isth- mus markers. Experiments using grafts taken from older embryos indicated that the compe- tence of prospective neuroectoderm to become regionally patterned by vertical signals is gradu- ally lost between stage 3c and stage 7. Similarly, prospective mesoderm from the caudal epiblast becomes unable to respond to vertical, neural- inductive signals at these stages. These observa- tions support a role for vertical signals in the induction and patterning of the neuroectoderm at gastrula and early neurula stages. Dev. Dyn. 209:45-58, 1997. r 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The feasibility of a calcium method for the determination of geological age

Abstract Lepidolite probably contains a higher proportion of radiogenic Ca40 than any other mineral. Based on calculation, this proportion of radiogenic calcium in total calcium usually falls within a range of 1–30%, the oldest specimens carrying the highest proportions. Lepidolite is therefore potentially the most suitable mineral for a possible calcium age method and all evidence — quantitative analysis of potassium and total calcium, chemical concentration of calcium and its mass spectrographic analysis — indicate that such an age method is entirely feasible. It would probably be restricted to ancient (pre-Cambrian) specimens.
A method of evolving novel feature extraction algorithms for detecting buried objects in FLIR imagery using genetic programming

In this paper we present an approach that uses Genetic Programming (GP) to evolve novel feature extraction algorithms for greyscale images. Our motivation is to create an automated method of building new feature extraction algorithms for images that are competitive with commonly used human-engineered features, such as Local Binary Pattern (LBP) and Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG). The evolved feature extraction algorithms are functions defined over the image space, and each produces a real-valued feature vector of variable length. Each evolved feature extractor breaks up the given image into a set of cells centered on every pixel, performs evolved operations on each cell, and then combines the results of those operations for every cell using an evolved operator. Using this method, the algorithm is flexible enough to reproduce both LBP and HOG features. The dataset we use to train and test our approach consists of a large number of pre-segmented image “chips” taken from a Forward Looking Infrared Imagery (FLIR) camera mounted on the hood of a moving vehicle. The goal is to classify each image chip as either containing or not containing a buried object. To this end, we define the fitness of a candidate solution as the cross-fold validation accuracy of the features generated by said candidate solution when used in conjunction with a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. In order to validate our approach, we compare the classification accuracy of an SVM trained using our evolved features with the accuracy of an SVM trained using mainstream feature extraction algorithms, including LBP and HOG.
Organic control of growth and new growth

Abstract Each part of the body is transmitted from parent to offspring by genes. The growth and size of each part is dependent upon stimulation by hormones derived from ductless glands. If certain endocrine factors are absent or withdrawn, dwarfing or hypoplasia results; if the stimulating hormone is in excess, giantism or overgrowth may follow. Normally the body is cast in a chemical mold, each cell and part being held to rigid limits as to size and shape by specific chemical compounds circulating in the blood. Thus an epithelial cell, the nose, an arm, the liver, maintain a definite individual size from birth to death. Physiologic new growths of limited duration depend upon new or modified ductless glands of transient existence. For pregnancy a special gland, the corpus luteum, of short life, is called into being. If one attempts to add to the size of the body or of its individual parts by transplantation, cytolysins remove the alien elements. For successful grafting the tissue must come from the individual's own body—an iso-graft. Abnormal new growths may be called into being by the dysfunction of ductless glands and these pathological overgrowths may involve the entire body, a system, a member, an organ, a tissue, a cell or group of cells. New growths which have long been considered as benign or malignant tumors have been proved to result from endocrine dysfunction. We can no longer believe that tumors are always autogenous new growths for pathological new growths clearly arise and progress as a result of endocrine dysfunction.
Effects of exhaust gas recirculation and load on soot in a heavy-duty optical diesel engine with close-coupled post injections for high-efficiency combustion phasing

In-cylinder strategies to reduce soot emissions have demonstrated the potential to lessen the burden on, and likely the size and cost of, exhaust aftertreatment systems for diesel engines. One in-c...
Transcription factor AP-2γ is essential in the extra-embryonic lineages for early postimplantation development

The members of the AP-2 family of transcription factors play important roles during mammalian development and morphogenesis. AP-2gamma (Tcfap2c - Mouse Genome Informatics) is a retinoic acid-responsive gene implicated in placental development and the progression of human breast cancer. We show that AP-2gamma is present in all cells of preimplantation embryos and becomes restricted to the extra-embryonic lineages at the time of implantation. To study further the biological function of AP-2gamma, we have generated Tcfap2c-deficient mice by gene disruption. The majority of Tcfap2c(-/-) mice failed to survive beyond 8.5 days post coitum (d.p.c.). At 7.5 d.p.c., Tcfap2c(-/-) mutants were typically arrested or retarded in their embryonic development in comparison to controls. Morphological and molecular analyses of mutants revealed that gastrulation could be initiated and that anterior-posterior patterning of the epiblast remained intact. However, the Tcfap2c mutants failed to establish a normal maternal-embryonic interface, and the extra-embryonic tissues were malformed. Moreover, the trophoblast-specific expression of eomesodermin and Cdx2, two genes implicated in FGF-responsive trophoblast stem cell maintenance, was significantly reduced. Chimera studies demonstrated that AP-2gamma plays no major autonomous role in the development of the embryo proper. By contrast, the presence of AP-2gamma in the extra-embryonic membranes is required for normal development of this compartment and also for survival of the mouse embryo.
A multiresolution volume rendering framework for large-scale time-varying data visualization

We present a new parallel multiresolution volume rendering framework for large-scale time-varying data visualization using the wavelet-based time-space partitioning (WTSP) tree. Utilizing the wavelet transform, a large-scale time-varying data set is converted into a space-time multiresolution data hierarchy, and is stored in a time-space partitioning (TSP) tree. To eliminate the parent-child data dependency for reconstruction and achieve load-balanced rendering, we design an algorithm to partition the WTSP tree and distribute the wavelet-compressed data along hierarchical space-filling curves with error-guided bucketization. At run time, the WTSP tree is traversed according to the user-specified time step and tolerances of both spatial and temporal errors. Data blocks of different spatio-temporal resolutions are reconstructed and rendered to compose the final image in parallel. We demonstrate that our algorithm can reduce the run-time communication cost to a minimum and ensure a well-balanced workload among processors when visualizing gigabytes of time-varying data on a PC cluster.
Who Delivers Justice? Source Perceptions of Procedural Fairness1

Tyler and Bies (1990) argue that how leaders enact and apply formal procedures can affect perceptions of procedural fairness as much as the formal procedures themselves. This study examined directly the extent to which workers see either formal policies and procedures or their supervisors as the source most responsible for the procedural fairness they receive in their performance evaluations. Group differences in these source perceptions between exempt and nonexempt workers were also explored. Results indicate that workers attribute the responsibility for procedural fairness jointly and independently to both their organization's formal policies and procedures and to their supervisors. Results at the group level of analysis indicate that nonexempt workers perceive formal policies and procedures to be more responsible for procedural fairness than do exempt workers. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Strongyloides hyperinfection in a case of post- cadaveric solid organ transplantation

With cadaveric solid organ transplants becoming more common, the number of cases of infections transmitted from the donor to the recipient is increasing. This raises new questions regarding screening for infections in donors, particularly less common or rare infections. A Caucasian, CMV-positive 64-year-old male with end-stage renal disease secondary to type I diabetes mellitus received a simultaneous left kidney/pancreas cadaveric transplant from a 24-year-old Hispanic, CMV-positive, HTLV-1 negative donor. The donor blood work was negative for eosinophilia, but he did receive steroids prior to organ procurement. Small bowel obstruction and gastrointestinal bleeding complicated the recipient’s post-operative course. The patient had persistent nausea, bilious emesis, anorexia, and weight loss for months after his transplant. Endoscopy revealed confluent ulceration throughout the second portion of the duodenum with a heavy burden of the adult Strongyloides stercoralis on microscopic examination, consistent with hyperinfection. Urine and stool studies also confirmed the presence of Strongyloides infection. The patient was treated with ivermectin and immunosuppression changed to cyclosporine with resolution of the infection. Asymptomatic carriage was isolated to the donor (IgG positive status), while the archived recipient pre-transplant serum was negative for Strongyloides IgG. The other organ (liver, heart, and kidney) recipients were identified. The liver recipient died secondary to cardiopulmonary arrest post operative day 4. The heart recipient developed episodes of organ rejection, was treated with steroids, and subsequently developed Strongyloides hyperinfection with pulmonary involvement. The recipient of the right kidney was asymptomatic. This case highlights the need for enhanced screening protocols for cadaveric solid organ donors and recipients, based on infections endemic to the region of interest. In this circumstance, the identification of Strongyloides carriage may have reduced morbidity and mortality in the organ recipients.
Introducing engineering in middle schools

The Engineering Your Future program is a collaborative effort amongst IBM, the Colorado School of Mines (CSM), and the Denver Public School system (DPS). As part of this project, an IBM researcher and undergraduate students from CSM visit 25 middle school science classes (/spl sim/600 students) on a monthly basis to expose the students to various scientific, mathematical, and engineering concepts through hands-on investigations. Each teaching module is designed to engage students in interesting and relevant experiments which demonstrate scientific or engineering concepts that reinforce or enhance the standard curriculum. Repetitive interventions with each class are used to develop relationships between the middle school students, the outreach instructor, and undergraduate student "role models". The four participating Denver middle schools all have high minority (>90%) low-income (>70%) student populations that have demonstrated poor performance on state standardized tests of mathematics and science.
A Comparison of Patient Education Methods Used in Community Pharmacies

Four methods that a community pharmacist could use in providing medicatioh information to patients were compared in a study involving eight community pharmacist volunteers. Each of the methods were employed at different times by each pharmacist and 549 patients were enrolled and interviewed by telephone. The research included a pre-intervention period where pharmacists used normal educational procedures and intervention periods where pharmacists used various techniques learned in a training workshop. After intervention, patients reported that pharmacists provided more information about their medications than did physicians. Both patients and pharmacists preferred the combination of verbal counseling and an information leaflet to either method alone or to an in-store reference book. Patients receiving some written information had more knowledge about side effects. Significant differences occurred between pre-intervention and intervention conditions, with those patients receiving information in any form bei...
Secure multicast in various scenarios of WirelessMAN

Multicast enables efficient large-scale content distribution and has become more and more popular in network service. Security is a critical issue for multicast because many applications require access control and privacy. This issue is more sensitive to wireless network, which is lack of physical boundaries. IEEE 802.16 is the standard for next generation wireless network, which aims to provide the last mile access for wireless metropolitan area network (WirelessMAN). Multicast is also supported in IEEE 802.16, and a multicast and broadcast rekeying algorithm (MBRA) is proposed as an optional function for secure multicast. However, this algorithm does not provide backward and forward secrecy, and is not scalable to large group. This paper reviews the above two deficiencies of MBRA and proposes a new algorithm to address them. We also propose algorithms for secure multicast in different scenarios of WirelessMAN besides its basic scheme.
The Bilipschitz criterion for dimension reduction mapping design

We present a graphical method for evaluating the quality of a feature extraction mapping. Based on the Bilipschitz criterion, this Bilipschitz Criterion Plot (BCP) can be used to evaluate dimension reducing mappings for relative quality and to estimate the injectivity of the reduction map (as well as the associated reconstruction map). It can also be used to survey regions where the map is locally an expansion or contraction map. The plot is easy and fast to construct, and gives much more insight than any single value can, such as the distance preservation error. We demonstrate the value of such a mapping when examining the quality of the Sammon map, Neuroscale, the autoassociative map, and a recent technique that is designed to optimize the BCP in a linear fashion, the adaptive secant basis algorithm.
The Application of Monte Carlo Simulation in Finance, Economics and Operations Management

Monte Carlo simulation replaces deterministic values in equations with probabilistic values. Multiple solutions are computed by randomly sampling each probability distribution and an array of summary statistics are generated. This computational procedure represents a clear advance over discrete sensitivity analysis, scenario generation and what-if analysis for risk assessment. Crystal Ball is a simulation program that works within Microsoft Excel. Consequently, any problem that can be quantified in a spreadsheet can be the basis for a Monte Carlo simulation. This paper will explore and demonstrate the use of this computational procedure for such business applications as inventory management, portfolio optimization, project selection, reservation management, and benefits management. The conference presentation will also include a demonstration of the software application.
Incidence of acute transfusion reactions to platelets in hospitalized pediatric patients based on the US hemovigilance reporting system.

Background Transfusion reactions in pediatric populations have not been well studied. We investigated the incidence and type of transfusion reactions to platelets (PLTs) in a pediatric inpatient population. Study Design and Methods Over 1 year, a retrospective review of all PLT transfusions given to pediatric inpatients (≤18 years old) was performed at a single institution with application of the US hemovigilance reporting definitions. Intraoperative transfusions were excluded. Any signs or symptoms that could represent an acute transfusion reaction (ATR) within 24 hours after PLT transfusion were reviewed and classified based on the US hemovigilance reporting definitions. Results Between June 1, 2010, and May 31, 2011, a total of 805 PLT transfusions to 126 patients were identified as appropriate for inclusion. Of these 805 transfusions, 116 (14.4%) met the reporting criteria for ATRs. Some PLT transfusions were associated with multiple types of ATRs leading to 120 ATRs overall, as defined by the US hemovigilance reporting system. Of these 120 reportable ATRs, 54 (45.0%) transfusion-associated dyspnea (TAD) reactions, 38 (31.7%) febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions, 15 (12.5%) allergic transfusion reactions, eight (6.7%) hypotensive transfusion reactions, and five (4.2%) transfusion-associated cardiac overload reactions were identified. No resultant deaths associated with ATRs were observed. Of these reportable ATRs, only four (3.34%) were reported to the hospital transfusion service. Conclusions Our findings indicate that reportable ATRs in the pediatric populations may be more prevalent than previously reported and were underreported to our transfusion service. TAD encompassed the majority of reportable ATRs and is the main contributor to the increased rate of reportable ATRs.