cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Muon capture and muon lifetime

We survey a new generation of precision muon lifetime experiments. The goal of the MuCap experiment is a determination of the rate for muon capture on the free proton to 1 percent, from which the induced pseudoscalar form factor $g_P$ of the nucleon can be derived with 7 percent precision. A measurement of the related $\mu$d capture process with similar precision would provide unique information on the axial current in the two nucleon system, relevant for fundamental neutrino reactions on deuterium. The MuLan experiment aims to measure the positive muon lifetime with 20 fold improved precision compared to present knowledge in order to determine the Fermi Coupling Constant $G_F$ to better than 1 ppm.
Sir Ronald A. Fisher and the International Biometric Society

Summary The year 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Sir Ronald A. Fisher, one of the two Fathers of Statistics and a Founder of the International Biometric Society (the “Society”). To celebrate the extraordinary genius of Fisher and the far-sighted vision of Fisher and Chester Bliss in organizing and promoting the formation of the Society, this article looks at the origins and growth of the Society, some of the key players and events, and especially the roles played by Fisher himself as the First President. A fresh look at Fisher, the man rather than the scientific genius is also presented.
Numerical calculation of I-V characteristic curves of an ion implanted GaAs MESFET

A numerical method for calculating the I-V characteristics of a GaAs MESFET with ion implanted layer is presented. This method is based on the finding of the channel conductance as a function of the voltage drop across the metal-semiconductor junction which in turn is related to the depletion depth of the active layer through the solution of Poisson's equation.
Decreased fasting free fatty acids with L-carnitine in children with carnitine deficiency.

At the time of acute presentation, children with carnitine deficiency may have increased free fatty acid concentrations and hypoglycemia. However, whether carnitine replacement affects the plasma concentration of these substrates remains to be determined. Therefore, to evaluate the effect of carnitine replacement on plasma substrate and hormone concentrations, five children with carnitine deficiency (two idiopathic, two secondary to long-chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency, one secondary to isovaleric acidemia) were fasted overnight before and after treatment with oral carnitine (80 +/- 7 mg.kg-1.day-1). During carnitine supplementation, plasma total carnitine (19 +/- 4 versus 45 +/- 6 nmol/ml, pretreatment versus treatment, respectively) and free carnitine (11 +/- 3 versus 31 +/- 6 nmol/ml), as well as red blood cell total carnitine (0.057 +/- 0.019 versus 0.130 +/- 0.019 nmol/mg of hemoglobin) increased (p less than 0.05). Fasting plasma glucose (83 +/- 4 versus 85 +/- 3 mg/dl) and ketone body (0.54 +/- 0.18 and 0.56 +/- 0.20 mM) concentrations did not change with carnitine supplementation, but plasma free fatty acids (1.28 +/- 0.32 versus 0.77 +/- 0.07 mM) decreased (p less than 0.05). No differences in fasting insulin, growth hormone, or cortisol concentrations were observed. Urinary excretion of free carnitine (0.1 +/- 0.0 versus 2.4 +/- 0.7 mumol/mg creatinine), total carnitine (0.3 +/- 0.1 versus 3.4 +/- 0.9 mumol/mg creatinine) and acyl carnitine (0.2 +/- 0.1 versus 0.9 +/- 0.3 mumol/mg creatinine) increased (p less than 0.05) with carnitine supplementation. The decreased plasma free fatty acid concentrations with carnitine supplementation may be due to more efficient fatty acid oxidation and/or increased urinary excretion of fatty acids as acylcarnitines.
Technological catastrophes: their causes and prevention

Abstract Spectacular technological successes worldwide have deflected attention from the growing number of technological catastrophes. As technology becomes increasingly complex, technological disasters are likely to increase. Since the Industrial Revolution, we have created a cornucopia of technological systems. Sometimes these systems malfunction, and sometimes these malfunctions result in technological disasters. A technological disaster is one that brings on a major crisis, threatens the viability of a technological system, causes massive losses of life and property, and may endanger the social environment in which it occurs. By contrast, a technological failure is brought on by an unanticipated breakdown of one or more components of a technological system. It may impair the system’s operation and may cause minor property damage, loss of life, or both. A technological failure, if not identified and corrected in time, can lead to a technological disaster.
Repeated exposure to MDMA provides neuroprotection against subsequent MDMA-induced serotonin depletion in brain

Abstract Repeated exposure to sub-lethal insults has been reported to result in neuroprotection against a subsequent deleterious insult. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether repeated exposure (preconditioning) to a non-5-HT depleting dose of MDMA in adult rats provides neuroprotection against subsequent MDMA-induced 5-HT depletion. Treatment of rats with MDMA (10 mg/kg, ip every 2 h for 4 injections) resulted in a 50–65% depletion of 5-HT in the striatum, hippocampus and cortex, and these depletions were significantly attenuated in rats that received a preconditioning regimen of MDMA (10 mg/kg, ip daily for 4 days). The 5-HT depleting regimen of MDMA also resulted in a 40–80% reduction in 5-HT transporter immunoreactivity (SERTir), and the reduction in SERTir also was completely attenuated in MDMA-preconditioned animals. Preconditioning with MDMA (10 mg/kg, ip) daily for 4 days provided neuroprotection against methamphetamine-induced 5-HT depletion, but not dopamine depletion, in the striatum. Additional studies were conducted to exclude the possibility that alterations in MDMA pharmacokinetics or MDMA-induced hyperthermia in rats previously exposed to MDMA contribute towards neuroprotection. During the administration of the 5-HT depleting regimen of MDMA, there was no difference in the extracellular concentration of the drug in the striatum of rats that had received 4 prior, daily injections of vehicle or MDMA. Moreover, there was no difference in the hyperthermic response to the 5-HT depleting regimen of MDMA in rats that had earlier received 4 daily injections of vehicle or MDMA. Furthermore, hyperthermia induced by MDMA during preconditioning appears not to contribute towards neuroprotection, inasmuch as preconditioning with MDMA at a low ambient temperature at which hyperthermia was absent did not alter the neuroprotection provided by the preconditioning regimen. Thus, prior exposure to MDMA affords protection against the long-term depletion of brain 5-HT produced by subsequent MDMA administration. The mechanisms underlying preconditioning-induced neuroprotection for MDMA remain to be determined.
Clocking Links in Multi-chip Packages: A Case Study

This brief note presents a case study for clocking links in multi-chip packages. A particular co-packaged multichip system design based on multi-Gbps silicon photonics global interconnect provides the context for our study of near-short range links, and we explore its design space. A preliminary exploration of phase noise suggests that the links should be clocked mesochronously, with an optically distributed full-rate clock and using local phase adjustment at each receiver.
Morphological variations for the permanent mandibular first molars in human monozygotic and dizygotic twins.

Abstract The permanent mandibular first molars of 199 monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs were observed (on dental casts) to investigate the concordance-discordance rates. These molars were classified according to the cusp number and the presence or absence of the distal fovea ( Biggerstaff , 1968). The comparison of the rate of agreement of the trait in monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs, using the chi-square statistic, revealed a relatively close association between the populations. Further, the male permanent mandibular first molars were distributed primarily in the categories where the teeth were larger and contained a larger number of crown components. The females tended to cluster in the categories known to be relatively smaller in size. The within-pair mosaicism caused a rejection of the hypothesis for a simple mode of inheritance for dental traits and emergence of the concept that genetic factors are probably operating to control the phenotypes on the right and left sides.
Hydrophilic nylon 6,6 nanofibers supported thin film composite membranes for engineered osmosis

Abstract Previous studies have concluded that an ideal thin film composite (TFC) membrane specially designed for Engineered Osmosis (EO) should have an ultra-thin selective layer with excellent permselectivity supported by a hydrophilic, highly porous, non-tortuous and thin support structure. In this study, an emerging TFC supporting material, electrospun nanofibers, were used to fabricate a TFC-EO membrane where the support structure and the selective layer properties were individually optimized. Specifically, nylon 6,6 nanofibers fabricated via electrospinning were used for the first time to form the support structure due to its intrinsic hydrophilicity and superior strength compared to other nanofiber materials. The resulting membrane exhibited half of the structural parameter of a regularly used commercial FO membrane. Furthermore, the selective layer permselectivity could be adjusted using a co-solvent during the interfacial polymerization processes. Adding acetone to the organic phase (hexane) was found to increase permeance and decrease selectivity and hence affect the osmotic flux performance of our membranes. Our best membrane outperformed the standard commercial FO membrane by exhibiting a 1.5 to 2 fold enhanced water flux and an equal or lower specific salt flux.
Is There a Relationship between Potential and Actual Skill

AbstractIn this paper, possible connections between actual and potential skill are discussed. Actual skill refers to when the prediction time series is validated against the observations as the verification while perfect skill refers to when the observed verification time series is replaced by one of the members from the ensemble of predictions. It is argued that (i) there need not be a relationship between potential and actual skill; (ii) potential skill is not constrained to be always greater than actual skill, and examples to the contrary can be found; and (iii) there are methods whereby statistical characteristics of predicted anomalies can be compared with the corresponding in the observations, and inferences about the validity of the (positive) gap between potential and actual skill as “room for improvement” can be better substantiated.
Command performances, performance commands

This chapter reviews some major concerns in the study of music cognition, focusing on musical performance and composition. An attempt is made to discern the nature of the hybrid term “performance”. The different chapters dedicated to performance in this volume (by Shaffer; Carlson, Friberg, Fryden, Granstrom & Sundberg; Todd; and Kurkela) are discussed. Possible directions for the future of performance, composition, and music education are proposed in light of developments both in personal-computer/music-synthesis environments and in our understanding of the acquisition of musical skills. A strong need is expressed for cognitive studies to devote more attention to composition, which necessarily implies the participation of willing composers. A critique of the subject-object split that plagues the science of performance is developed. Finally, some thoughts on the future of music and the cognitive sciences are advanced with a critique of some of the basic assumptions of Cognitive Science and an examination ...
Beat the clock: a multiple attribute approach for scheduling data broadcast

With the uprising popularity of large-scale applications, highly scalable data delivery is becoming a major requirement. One example application is eHealth sensor networks applications. In this paper, we consider a time-critical wireless broadcast dissemination approach to meet user specific deadlines. We propose a novel deadline-aware algorithm, called the Multiple Attributes Integration (MAI) to schedule on-demand requests based on a number of attributes. Our results suggest that MAI can significantly increase the system performance.
Incidence of diffuse FDG uptake in the thyroid of patients with hypothyroidism.

Positron emission tomography (PET) positive lesions are common in the thyroid. The uptake can be focal or diffuse. Diffuse thyroid uptake is thought to be indicative of autoimmune thyroiditis and not for lesions of malignant potential. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis as a cause for diffusely positive thyroid glands has been demonstrated. We determine the incidence of diffuse thyroid PET positivity in hypothyroid patients, presumed to have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The study design was retrospective database and electronic medical record review. The study setting includes tertiary care and academic health sciences center. The subjects were patients at our medical center who underwent positron emission tomography. Hypothyroid patients were identified who had total body PET imaging performed for any reason. Patients were excluded if they were not taking levothyroxine, had a history of neck surgery, neck irradiation, Graves’ disease, taking lithium, thalidomide, amiodarone or interleukin. Patients remaining after the application of these exclusion criteria were presumed to be hypothyroid from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Only 9.5% of PET scans of hypothyroid patients display diffuse thyroid activity. Only a small minority of presumed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients will display diffuse thyroid activity after PET imaging. The etiology of this effect is unknown. Diffuse thyroid activity rarely requires surgical intervention. Level of evidence: IV.
Observations of a western North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) birth offshore of the protected southeast U.S. critical habitat

ThewesternNorthAtlantic rightwhale (NARW) (Eubalaena glacialis) is a critically endangered baleen whale with an estimated population below 450 individuals (Pettis 2009, Waring et al. 2009). Historically, the NARW occurred throughout the North Atlantic, but due to intense whaling, the population has been severely decimated and is now largely restricted to the eastern seaboard of North America (Reeves et al. 2007). The species has been protected from harvesting since 1935, but recovery has been prevented by mortalities from ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear (Kraus et al. 2005, Knowlton and Brown 2007). The NARW’s only known calving area is located in the shallow, nearshore waters off the southeastern United States
Perceptions of controllability and anticipated anger

The relation between perceived controllability for breaking a social contract and anger was investigated within a role-playing paradigm. Ninety children representing three age groups (M = 5.1,7.3, and 9.8) participated. The children were asked to provide causes for why a social engagement was not kept, and then to rate these causes as well as a standard set of six others on perceived controllability and anticipated anger reactions. All three age groups perceived the controllable causes as more associated with anger than the uncontrollable causes, although a developmental trend documenting this cognition-emotion relation was also displayed.
The Depressive Symptomatology of Parent Care Among the Near Elderly: The Influence of Multiple Role Commitments

This article investigates the independent additive and the interactive effects of being an informal caregiver of an elderly parent and three role commitments (being married, having a child or grandchild coreside, and being employed) on depressive symptomatology. For the respondents with a living mother, being a caregiver to their mother was not associated with the level of depressive symptoms. For the respondents with a living father, being a caregiver to their father was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Respondents who were caregivers to their father reported lower depressive symptom scores due to being married and due to being employed. Being married and being employed may provide an alternative source of integration and thus buffer the detrimental effects that caregiving for a father has on depressive symptomatology. The findings are discussed in the context of role strain and role enhancement perspectives.
The covering law model of historical explanation

It is often argued (as by Hempel and Nagel) that genuine historical explanations — if these are to be had — must exhibit a connection between events to be explained and universal or probabilistic laws (or ‘hypotheses'). This connection may take either a ‘strong’ or ‘weak’ form. The historian may show that a statement of the event to be explained is a logical consequence of statements of reasonably well‐confirmed universal laws and occurrences linked by the laws to the event to be explained. Or the historian may show that a statement of the event to be explained has high inductive probability conferred upon it given statements of reasonably well‐confirmed probabilistic laws and occurrences so linked by the laws to the type of event to be explained that one finds the occurrence of the particular event likely. This essay focuses on ‘strong’ explanations which meet a ‘deducibility’ requirement (for reasons given in the body of the article). It is argued that explanations in history (at least where it is plaus...
Selective enhancement of Ipomoea batatas Poir. embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus growth and production of embryos in liquid culture

Embryogenic callus cultures of Ipomoea batatas Poir. produce fast growing non-embryogenic material which soon dominates the cultures. Our objective was to selectively enhance the proliferation of the embryogenic fraction. For this, the effect of BAP and 2,4-D concentrations on growth of embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus were studied and consequently, nutrient media for the production and indefinite maintenance of embryogenic callus without embryo formation were defined. Selective proliferation of embryogenic callus was obtained on solid media with 10 μM 2,4-D and 1 μM BAP and in liquid media with 5 μM 2,4-D. Selective proliferation of non-embryogenic callus occurred in liquid medium with 1 μM 2,4-D. In embryogenic liquid culture, embryos were produced with 0–2 μM 2,4-D. Increasing 2,4-D concentration from 0 to 2 μM in these cultures restricted embryo development.
Clinical Impact of Discordant Prescribing of Fluoroquinolones and Alternative Treatments in Escherichia coli Pyelonephritis.

Introduction:The emergence of resistant Escherichia coli to fluoroquinolones (FQs) is of growing concern, yet the latest guidelines for the treatment of pyelonephritis still recommend FQs as first-line treatment. Our primary objective was to determine the impact of discordant prescribing of FQs in E coli pyelonephritis on hospital length of stay (LOS) and early clinical response (ECR).Methods:We retrospectively compared discordant and concordant prescribing of FQs for LOS and ECR. We also compared FQs, ceftriaxone, piperacillin/tazobactam, and carbapenems for these clinical outcomes.Results:Forty-nine patients included in the comparison between discordant (n = 9) and concordant (n = 40) prescribing of FQs. There was significantly lower ECR in patients with discordant prescribing of FQs (38 of 40, 95% vs 5 of 9, 55.6%, P = .0074) and a trend toward longer LOS (4 [2.3] days vs 3 [2.0] days, P = .0571). Illness severity, estimated using Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II) score, was similar between g...
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Images (NMRI) of In Situ Epoxy Curing Behavior in Anodized and Untreated Aluminum Bonded Joints

Abstract Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (NMRI) was used to analyze the curing behavior of epoxy adhe-sives in the presence of anodized and chemically-treated aluminum surfaces. The proton images of epoxy between untreated AI plates are characterized by large amounts of inhomogeneities (fine texture of high and low mobility regions) finely distributed throughout the sample. Large uncured domains of epoxy were found aggregated and near the center of the bonded adhesive sample. Dispersion of uncured material during curing is observed through redistribution of intensity in the images with cure time. The anodized aluminum-epoxy samples, on the other hand, showed very small contrast and coarse texture images. However, the onset of curing was clearly shown with increases in contrast and texture. Large amounts of uncured material were seen near the anodized surfaces. This effect was more pronounced in the chromic acid anodized aluminum samples (CAA).
A shock-tube ignition study of a Utah coal

Abstract Ignition times of coal particles were determined by a shock-tube technique which permitted test times of up to 40 ms. It was possible to hold essentially constant pressures on entrained particles for such periods and to stabilize the hot-cold gas interface to maintain also the gas temperature around the coal constant until the time of pressure decay. The ignition of particles of high volatile Utah coal was determined by detection of visible radiation from a flame region around the particles and by detection of changes in infrared radiation produced by the temperature jump of the particles which occurred with flame appearance. Ignition times of from 0.3 to 30 ms were observed for closely sized particles of 12, 25, 48.5, and 96.5 μm diameter. A mathematical description of the transient heating and ignition processes of the coal particles in the shock tube was developed which accurately reproduced the observed effects of test conditions on the ignition times. This description requires the release of thermal energy from exothermic reaction of the coal pyrolysis gases with oxygen convectively transported to the surface of the particle.
Fixed-point theorems for contractive-type mappings

Abstract Two fixed-point theorems are established for functions satisfying generalized contractive-type conditions. These theorems generalize the corresponding results of Guseman, Khazanchi, Rhoades, and Sehgal.
Effects of etonitazene upon respiratory neurons

En este estudio se analizan los efectos de la administracion de etonitazene sobre la actividad de las neuronas respiratorias en el perro y el mono. Las neuronas inspiratorias responden con cese total de su actividad y las neuronas expiratorias responden con una descarga de actividad continua hasta la muerte del animal.
Seeking Information: Where Do Pregnant Women Go?

As part of a larger investigation of health behaviors and beliefs during pregnancy, a sample of 529 women were asked to identify their major sources of information about what they should and should not do during their pregnancies. Health care providers and books were cited as first or second most important by the largest number of respondents. When associations between respondent characteristics and preferred in formation sources were explored, it was found that women of higher socioeconomic status (SES) relied more on books and less on family than did women of lower SES. In addition, having had a previous pregnancy was associated with greater use of one's self as an information source. Although provider characteristics were not associated with choice of information source, women who perceived more support from their pro viders viewed them as more important sources of information. A similar effect for family was found. Health locus of control beliefs also were related to the relative importance of selecte...
Intestinal Epithelial Toll-Like Receptor 4 Regulates Goblet Cell Development and Is Required for Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Mice

Background & Aims Little is known about factors that regulate intestinal epithelial differentiation; microbial recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 might be involved. We investigated whether intestinal TLR4 regulates epithelial differentiation and is involved in development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) of the immature intestine. Methods Mice with conditional disruption of TLR4 in the intestinal epithelium and TLR4 knockout ( TLR4 −/− ) mice were generated by breeding TLR4 loxp/loxp mice with villin-cre and Ella-cre, respectively. Enterocytes that did not express or overexpressed TLR4 were created by lentiviral or adenoviral transduction. Intestinal organoids were cultured on tissue matrices. Bile acids were measured by colorimetric assays, and microbial composition was determined by 16S pyrosequencing. NEC was induced in 7- to 10-day-old mice by induction of hypoxia twice daily for 4 days. Results TLR4 −/− mice and mice with enterocyte-specific deletion of TLR4 were protected from NEC; epithelial differentiation into goblet cells was increased via suppressed Notch signaling in the small intestinal epithelium. TLR4 also regulates differentiation of goblet cells in intestinal organoid and enterocyte cell cultures; differentiation was increased on deletion of TLR4 and restored when TLR4 was expressed ectopically. TLR4 signaling via Notch was increased in intestinal tissue samples from patients with NEC, and numbers of goblet cells were reduced. 16S pyrosequencing revealed that wild-type and TLR4-deficient mice had similar microbial profiles; increased numbers of goblet cells were observed in mice given antibiotics. TLR4 deficiency reduced levels of luminal bile acids in vivo, and addition of bile acids to TLR4-deficient cell cultures prevented differentiation of goblet cells. Conclusions TLR4 signaling and Notch are increased in intestinal tissues of patients with NEC and required for induction of NEC in mice. TLR4 prevents goblet cell differentiation, independently of the microbiota. Bile acids might initiate goblet cell development.
Kinship into the Peruvian Adoption Office: Reproducing Families, Producing the State

El articulo analiza los instrumentos y las estrategias articuladas por trabajadoras de la oficina de adopciones del gobierno peruano para trasladar ninos de familias pobres o indigenas, o de instituciones estatales, a familias peruanas o extranjeras de clase media. El analisis de los mecanismos a traves de los cuales las trabajadoras comprenden e interpretan la legislacion sobre adopcion demuestra como ellas a la vez reproducen nociones hegemonicas sobre familia, pobreza, y raza. De esta forma, se argumenta que el analisis de las biografias personales de las trabajadoras del sistema de adopcion permite identificar el alto grado de dependencia que existe entre, por una parte, el proceso de adopcion finalmente concretado; y por la otra, el ideal de la transparencia del sistema y el nivel de identificacion de las trabajadoras con sus clientes en base a la similitud en las trayectorias personales. Lo anterior revela los limites que enfrenta el sistema de adopcion en un contexto marcado por fuertes jerarquias de raza y clase constitutivas de la formacion del estado en el Peru contemporaneo
A new class of complex time-frequency distributions for estimating phase synchrony between signals

Determining the time-varying phase spectrum of non-stationary signals is important for the quantification of the dynamics between signals and has been widely used in detecting synchrony between chaotic oscillators. Current work in quantifying time and frequency dependent phase information relies on either the Hilbert transform or the complex Morlet wavelet transform [1]. Although these methods are effective at extracting the time-varying phase information, they have some drawbacks such as the assumption that the signals are narrowband for the Hilbert transform and the non-uniform timefrequency resolution inherent to the wavelet analysis. In this paper, we propose using a general class of complex distributions belonging to Cohen's class for defining time-varying phase spectrum and phase synchrony. This new class of distributions is defined using the spectrogram decomposition of time-frequency distributions and is shown to have improved performance in detecting phase synchrony compared to existing methods using simulated signals.
Distribution and Development of Immature Salt Marsh Tabanidae (Diptera)

A 54,000-m2 study plot was systematically sampled to determine the distribution of Chrysops fuliginosus, C. atlanticus , and Tabanus nigrovittatus larvae in a regularly flooded Spartina alterniflora salt marsh. Soil samples were analyzed for salinity, percentage organic content, and pH. Distances of soil samples from the nearest drainage ditch were recorded. Of the 96 samples washed, 64.5% contained C. fuliginosus larvae, while only 14.6% and 17.7% yielded C. atlanticus and T. nigrovittatus , respectively. C. fuliginosus had a highly contagious distribution and coexisted with C. atlanticus and T. nigrovittatus in 11 samples. A significant negative correlation was computed for numbers of C. fuliginosus larvae collected and distances from drainage ditches. C. atlanticus larval occurrence was significantly correlated with salinity and percentage organic matter. C. atlanticus immatures were collected from very wet depression areas that bordered drainage ditches. T. nigrovittatus immatures were abundant throughout the open marsh in surface sediments that contained accumulations of very wet matted vegetation, but larval distribution was not correlated with salinity, percentage organic content, pH, or distance from drainage ditches. Small and large C. fuliginosus and T. nigrovittatus larvae were present in the marsh throughout all seasons; results suggest that some larvae of these speciesneed 2 years or more to mature.
Second malignancies in young children with primary brain tumors following treatment with prolonged postoperative chemotherapy and delayed irradiation: A pediatric oncology group study

Between 1986 and 1990, the Pediatric Oncology Group conducted a study in which 198 children younger than 3 years of age with malignant brain tumors were treated with prolonged postoperative chemotherapy in an effort to delay irradiation and reduce long-term neurotoxicity. Children younger than 2 years of age received 24 months of chemotherapy followed by irradiation, and those between 2 and 3 years of age received 12 months of chemotherapy plus irradiation. Chemotherapy was given in 28-day cycles (AAB, AAB), with cycle A = vincristine (0.065 mg/kg) intravenously on days 1 and 8 and cyclophosphamide (65 mg/kg) intravenously on day 1, and cycle B = cisplatinum (4 mg/kg) intravenously on day 1 and etoposide (6.5 mg/kg) intravenously on days 3 and 4. Five of the 198 children developed second malignancies, with a cumulative risk at 8 years of 11.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0-39%). Four of the five second malignancies occurred in children younger than 2 years of age at diagnosis, with a cumulative risk at 8 years of 18.9% (CI, 0-70%). Initial diagnoses were choroid plexus carcinoma (2 children), ependymoma (1 child), desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma (2 children), and medulloblastoma (1 child). Duration from diagnosis of initial tumor to second malignancy was 33, 35, 57, 66, and 92 months. Three children younger than 2 years of age developed lymphoproliferative disease, that is, myelodysplastic syndrome (2 children), both with monosomy 7 deletions, and acute myelogenous leukemia (1 child), after 24 to 26 cycles of chemotherapy, including 8 cycles of etoposide. Two of 3 received craniospinal irradiation (2,560/3,840 cGy) and (3,520/5,320 cGy). Time to second malignancy was 7 years 8 months, 4 years 9 months, and 2 years 9 months. Two children developed solid tumors, at 5 years 6 months and 2 years 11 months, respectively, after initiation of treatment. A sarcoma developed after 26 cycles of chemotherapy and no irradiation, and a meningioma developed after 12 cycles of chemotherapy and local craniospinal irradiation. Potential causative factors for this high rate of secondary malignancies include prolonged use of alkylating agents and etoposide with or without irradiation.
Evaluation of the Modified Broth-Disk Method for Determining Antibiotic Susceptibilities of Anaerobic Bacteria

A total of 110 strains of anaerobic bacteria including 9 different genera was tested for antibiotic susceptibility by the modified broth-disk method of Wilkins and Thiel (1973), using prereduced media and the VPI anaerobic culture system. Results were compared with those obtained with an agar dilution technique with incubation in a GasPak jar. There was greater than 95% agreement between the two methods with ampicillin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin, and 90% or greater agreement with erythromycin, penicillin, and tetracycline.
5.2.1 Effecting Quality of Service Across Systems of Systems

The ability for diverse communication networks to adapt to changing mission characteristics, such as priority, have been a recognized challenge across Systems of Systems. Within the Department of Defense, mechanisms do not exist to extract dynamic mission features for use in defining Service Level Agreements (SLA) and for use within Quality of Service (QoS) provisioning. These mechanisms, were they to exist, would also serve a wide range of non-defense enterprises. This paper provides background on QoS and SLAs within the current military context. We then offer a research approach to improve on the network-focused, QoS mechanics. Using OpNet, early simulations reproduce the competing cross-mission information environment and serve as the foundation for continued “mission-aware” QoS research.
Predictors of compliance with tornado warnings issued in Joplin, Missouri, in 2011

Joplin, a city in the southwest corner of Missouri, United States, suffered an EF-5 tornado in the late afternoon of 22 May 2011. This event, which claimed the lives of 162 people, represents the deadliest single tornado to strike the US since modern record-keeping began in 1950. This study examines the factors associated with responses to tornado warnings. Based on a post-tornado survey of survivors in Joplin, it reveals that tornado warnings were adequate and timely. Multivariate logistic regression identified four statistically significant determinants of compliance with tornado warnings: number of warning sources, whether respondents were at home when the tornado struck, past tornado experience, and gender. The findings suggest several recommendations, the implementation of which will further improve responses to tornado warnings.
Addictive behavior and the theory of psychological reversals.

Abstract Apter's new theory of psychological reversals is considered as a potentially useful paradigm for understanding and treating the addictive behaviors. The theory departs from the usual homeostatic underpinnings of personality theory and instead holds particular promise in accounting for certain crucial aspects of addictive beheviors including the phenomenon of relapse and the experience of loss of control. The concept of reversals may hold a key to the commonalities underlying the addictive behaviors.
The ALPACA line balancing system

Abstract The ALPACA line balancing system is an interactive computer-based system for the planning and control of assembly lines upon which mixed models with a large option mix are to be assembled. The ALPACA system facilities the assignment of work to operators along the assembly line and provides immediate evaluations of the effects of the assignment of work. Work is assigned and initially evaluated on the basis of forecasted model mix and option mix percentages. The operator's work assignment is further evaluated by passing an actual vehicle build sequence of models complete with all specified options past the operation (via a simulation) to highlight any extreme overcycle or idle conditions which are not apparent from average values based on the forecasted model mix and option mix percentages. ALPACA gives the industrial engineer and the line supervisor, working together as a team, the ability to balance an assembly line quickly and react rapidly to product engineering changes and/or schedule changes.
Equilibrium States of LYAM System

In this paper, a study of the Lyapunov Associative Memory (LYAM) is given. This system is constructed by a set of ordinary differential equations, and its stable equilibrium states store pattern cluster information. The study shows that the single-class system is always globally stable; the many-class system has many unstable activation states and at least one stable category state representing the learned information. A rigorous stability study of the many-class system is difficult, and it remains to be investigated.
Application of Ground/Air Data Link to General Aviation Operations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently upgrading secondary surveillance radars with systems which will have an integral data link capability, the Mode Select (Mode S) beacon system. These new systems will allow two-way data communications between ground systems (e.g., weather databases and Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems) and aircraft that are equipped with data link compatible Mode S transponders and suitable display and input devices. Initial data link services include both weather information and ATC advisories. The MITRE Corporation* is developing an in-house capability to perform end-to-end operational evaluation of data link services. Initially, a low-cost, portable pilot position man-machine interface is being developed for use in general aviation operations. The objective is to explore operational issues in laboratory and limited flight test environments, and to demonstrate these services on a data link I/O device, a laptop portable personal computer (PC) with touch panel. A group of pilots will bench test the interface design, and the results will be incorporated into the design used in flight testing. This paper describes the project's objectives and results to date, including implementation details and pilot test results.
‘That’s a wrap’: overcoming obstacles for successful video design in flipped classes

The flipped classroom offers benefits for students, faculty, and institutions. Yet, there are obstacles which sometimes prevent implementation of this pedagogical model. This article reviews existing literature and the authors’ experiences to suggest that there are four common challenges which impede on the process of flipping a classroom. These barriers include: the time commitment, a lack of institutional support, fear of technology, and budgetary constraints. Overcoming these barriers is essential to successfully flipping a classroom, particularly in the area of video design. The authors review existing literature and offer suggestions for improving best practices to overcome these barriers and create a positive experience for students, instructors, and institutions. Specifically, we aim to offer suggestions for best practices in video design for a successful flipped classroom experience.
Infection of an Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Pocket with Campylobacter Jejuni

Infection of an Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Pocket with Campylobacter Jejuni. A patient with a defibrillator pocket infected with Campylobacter jejuni is presented. The patient was treated with antibiotics without removal of the device. He made a complete recovery. He has remained free of infection for 1 year. This case indicates that patients with defibrillator pocket infections with Campylobacter and perhaps other low pathogenicity infections may be treated without removal of the device.
Aflatoxin B -induced alterations in uptake and distribution of 65Zn-ZnCl2 by four Zea mays cultivars and toxin effects on root and stem elongations

Aflatoxin Bl has been recovered within seemingly healthy, intact seeds, which suggests that its transport from contaminated soil to the fruit can occur. Previously, we examined the effects of 19.7 µg• -3 mixed aflatoxins (AFTs) on the abilities of three Zea mays cultivars to remove Zn ++ from Perlite and the influence of Zn ++ on the cultivars' capabilities to both take-up and distribute AFTs. Here, we report both 2.5 and 5.0 µg aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 )cm -3 influences on time-dependent, uptake and organ distribution of 65 Zn-ZnCl 2 from liquid culture by Zea mays , cvs. 'Early Yellow', 'Silver Queen', 'Early White' and `Golden Queen'. In addition, time-dependent seed germination as well as root and stem elongation responses to AFB1 are described. Neither 2.5 nor 5.0 µg AFB 1 cm -3 affected the cultivars' abilities to germinate. Whereas an analysis of variance revealed significant differences for the combination cultivars, AFB 1 concentration and time regarding root elongation, such analysis for stem elongation yielded only a significant interaction between AFB 1 concentration and one cultivar at a time course's completion. As for 65 Zn-ZnCl 2 uptake, an ANOVA indicated that there were significant differences for the combination organs, cultivars and AFB 1 concentration. Certain results suggest Zea mays cultivar variability in susceptibility to exogenous AFB 1 . The significance of these findings is discussed.
Palatability of Ground Turkey and Beef Containing Soy

Abstract A sensory panel indicated no significant difference in flavor between the controls and ground turkey or beef patties containing 10% textured soy protein (TSP). Both of these products were rated acceptable, whereas patties containing 20 and 30% TSP ranked just below acceptable on the rating scale. Findings for aroma were similar to those for flavor except that there was a difference between the control and the turkey patties containing 10% TSP. All turkey and beef products were acceptable in juiciness although turkey patties containing TSP were significantly less juicy than the control. As much as 40% TSP was substituted for ground turkey in sweet-sour and chow mein entrees without significantly lowering mean scores for aroma, flavor, and general acceptability. However, for turkey loaf, significant differences in aroma and general acceptability were noted between control samples and those containing 40% TSP. This difference also was detected in flavor of turkey with dressing casserole.
On the complexity of "Always Best Connected" in 4G mobile networks

Global developments in wireless communications have shaped a novel, user-centric vision for the next generation of mobile systems and wireless access network broadly termed "4G". This widely accepted vision sketches a heterogeneous infrastructure comprising different wireless access systems in a complementary manner, where the user, supported by his/her personal intelligent agent(s), enjoys untethered connectivity and ubiquitous access to applications, value-added services and multimedia content over the most efficient combination of wireless and wireline systems available. We proceed to analyze the implications of this "Always Best Connected" vision to identify pivotal concepts and formulate an appropriate model. Furthermore, we proceed to analyze the complexity of our proposed model by showing that, in principle, being "Always Best Connected" translates to family of problems that are known to be NP-hard.
Ethnic and gender consensus for the effect of waist-to-hip ratio on judgment of women's attractiveness.

The western consensus is that obese women are considered attractive by Afro-Americans and by many societies from nonwestern developing countries. This belief rests mainly on results of nonstandardized surveys dealing only with body weight and size, ignoring body fat distribution. The anatomical distribution of female body fat as measured by the ratio of waist to hip circumference (WHR) is related to reproductive age, fertility, and risk for various major diseases and thus might play a role in judgment of attractiveness. Previous research (Singh 1993a, 1993b) has shown that in the United States Caucasian men and women judge female figures with feminine WHRs as attractive and healthy. To investigate whether young Indonesian and Afro-American men and women rate such figures similarly, female figures representing three body sizes (underweight, normal weight, and overweight) and four WHRs (two feminine and two masculine) were used. Results show that neither Indonesian nor Afro-American subjects judge overweight figures as attractive and healthy regardless of the size of WHR. They judged normal weight figures with feminine WHRs as most attractive, healthy, and youthful. The consensus on women’s attractiveness among Indonesian, Afro-American, and U.S. Caucasian male and female subjects suggests that various cultural groups have similar criteria for judging the ideal woman’s shape.
Semimetal-to-semiconductor transition in bismuth thin films.

Field- and temperature-dependent magnetotransport measurements on Bi layers grown by molecular-beam epitaxy have been analyzed by mixed-conduction techniques. In the thin-film limit, the net hole density scales inversely with layer thickness while the mobility scales linearly. By studying the minority electron concentration as a function of temperature in the range 100--300 K, we have unambiguously confirmed the long-standing theoretical prediction that quantum confinement should convert Bi from a semimetal to a semiconductor at a critical thickness on the order of 300 \AA{}.
The handy five food guide

Human beings select food from a vast array of products; so the potential for choosing foods which do not support one's health is high. Food guides categorize the food supply and provide limitations and emphases, such that persons who lack knowledge of food composition and nutrient requirements have this simplified information to assist in their selection of a combination of foods that will support good health. The development of a nutritionally sound food guide is relatively simple when the population to be served is homogeneous with respect to food supply; food preferences; and environmental, economic, and health constraints and objectives. However, the world population is heterogeneous with respect to these considerations; so a guide developed for one group may be meaningless to another. One solution to this problem is the development of a wide variety of food guides, each suitable for use with a specific group. At the other extreme is development of a single, flexible guide that transcends individual and cultural differences. Too many food guides could cause confusion, but a single guide probably would be too vague to be useful for any group. A reasonable compromise, therefore, is to have a few food guides, each developed to meet broad but specific objectives for different target audiences. The purpose of this paper is to present the developmental criteria for the Handy Five Food Guide (Note 1) and some preliminary observations on its usefulness. This guide is intended primarily for use with children or uneducated adults in developing countries. It may also be useful for others who for religious, ecological, or health reasons seek guidance in selecting a nutritionally adequate diet that emphasizes plant foods.