cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Editorial comment to nomograms to predict the pathological stage of clinically localized prostate cancer in Korean men: comparison with western predictive tools using decision curve analysis.

An accurate prediction of outcomes is fundamental for informed treatment decision making. 1 It requires the identification of prognostic factors and an estimation of their association with the future events. A combination of several factors in a prognostic model usually increases the accuracy of predictions and is therefore an important part of contemporary clinical research. Because of its high prevalence, marked variability of its presentation and natural history, as well as availability of a number of different clinical variables reflecting its biological aggressiveness, prostate cancer had been intensely studied and many prognostic tools have been developed. 2 A common problem of all prognostic models is the deterioration in their performance when they are used in patient populations that are different from those in which they were developed. This phenomenon depends on the degree of the differences and is expected to be more profound when large differences could be expected; for example, populations of different ethnic/racial origin. This underscores the importance of the validation of prognostic tools developed in Western countries before they are recommended for an Asian population. In this study, Jeong et al. developed a set of nomograms predicting several pathological outcomes in Korean radical prostatectomy patients, validated them externally and compared their performance with that of two prognostic models that were constructed in American patients. 3 The authors observed a higher predictive accuracy of their original nomograms compared with the studied Western tools, which lead them to suggest that these new nomograms might be more useful in Asian patients with prostate cancer.
OPTIMIZATION OF CORE RELOAD DESIGN FOR LOW-LEAKAGE FUEL MANAGEMENT IN PRESSURIZED WATER REACTORS

A method was developed to optimize pressurized water reactor low-leakage core reload designs that features the decoupling and sequential optimization of the fuel arrangement and control problems. The two-stage optimization process provides the maximum cycle length for a given fresh fuel loading subject to power peaking constraints. In the first stage, a best fuel arrangement is determined at the end of cycle (EOC) in the absence of all control poisons by employing a direct search method. The constant power, Haling depletion is used to provide the cycle length and EOC power peaking for each candidate core fuel arrangement. In the second stage, the core control poison requirements to meet the core peaking constraints throughout the cycle are determined using an approximate nonlinear programming technique.
Effects of γ-sterilization on butyltin homogeneity and content in sediments: a GC–ICP–MS study

A GC–ICP–MS method based on extraction and alkylation of butyltins with sodium tetraethylborate was used to quantitatively assess the fate of these analytes in solutions and sediments following exposure to γ-irradiation. The effects of a 2.5 Mrad sterilization dose on three butyltin species in both methanolic calibration solutions and in sediment matrices were investigated. Although significant losses of tributyltin (TBT, 90%), dibutyltin (DBT, 100%) and monobutyltin (MBT, 80%) were detected in standard solutions prepared in methanol following γ-irradiation, no species inter-conversion occurred. Some degradation of TBT (38%) and DBT (32%) but no significant change in MBT content was found using a spiked sediment CRM HISS-1. Conversion DBT to MBT in spiked HISS-1 was deduced. Much smaller degradation of TBT (16% loss) and 10% loss of DBT by conversion to MBT (14% gain) was registered using a sediment blend of PACS-2 and HISS-1 (SOPH). Despite some initial losses of TBT and DBT due to irradiation, better than 2% RSD in both TBT and DBT concentrations measured in twelve different bottles of blended sediment SOPH were obtained, indicating the material may be considered homogeneous for these analytes. Results from a long-term five-year stability study of PACS-2 show that all three butyltins are stable during storage at 4 °C followed with 2.5 Mrad minimum dose of γ-irradiation sterilization treatment.
Nanostethoscopy: A New Mode of Operation of the Atomic Force Microscope

We introduce a new mode of operation of the atomic force microscope (AFM). This detection scheme, a “Nano-Stethoscope”, involves using the atomic force microscope in a novel acoustic mode not generally recognized. The Nano-Stethoscope uses the conventional scanning feature to locate a desired site, positions the AFM microscope tip over the site, holds the cantilever stationary (in x and y) and records the tip’s z-motion as a function of time. The tip/cantilever system thus functions as a micro-motion detector to respond to characteristic “pulsations”, nano-configurational changes, or any other event that influences the position of the tip as a function of time. We have demonstrated the feasibility of using the tip of an AFM in this manner in a biological system with a measurement of the vibrations of an emerging shrimp egg nauplius (~3 μm, ~10 Hz) and on the Angstrom scale in a non-biological system i.e., the thermal expansion of metal interconnect lines on a microelectronic circuit.
A vision for the National Cancer Program in the United States.

The intersection of two noble endeavors — the scientists' quest to understand life itself and the physicians' dedication to relieve suffering and prolong life — came into sharp focus in 1971 with the United States National Cancer Act. This focus has led to an exponential expansion of our understanding of cancer at the genetic, molecular and cellular levels, and concomitant advances in our ability to disrupt the disease process through prevention, early detection and successful treatment. At the National Cancer Institute we are committed to capitalize on these achievements. A new era is now within our grasp, a time when no one suffers or dies as a result of cancer.
Cognitive Skills Development among Transfer College Students: An Analysis by Student Gender and Race

The purpose of the study is to improve the understanding of transfer college students, by examining the patterns in and predictors of cognitive skills development among transfer college students. Moreover, this study examined how such patterns and predictors differ by student’s gender and race within this population. Results found that men and women transfer students have differing cognitive skills gains after transferring to a 4-year institution. Results also indicated that there are differences in the cognitive skills gained in college by transfer students from various races. Finally, using regression analysis, models were developed to predict the variance in cognitive skills development for transfer students. Models were able to 33% and 46% of the variance in cognitive skills gains, when evaluated by gender or ethnicity.
VIP: a very important protein in arthritis.

Many studies have shown that immune system modulation can be used to treat various forms of arthritis. A vasoactive intestinal peptide has recently been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory effects, indicating a new therapeutic approach for inflammatory arthritis (pages 563–568).
The Role of the Gallbladder in the Pathogenesis of Cholesterol Gallstones

During the past century, a variety of explanations have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones. Early attempts to account for the phenomenon of cholelithiasis focused on events in the gallbladder and stressed mucosal inflammatory changes, gallbladder stasis, stratification of bile, and absorption of bile salts from a damaged mucosa. The advent of the concept of "lithogenic bile" redirected attention to the liver and led to the proposal that an enzyme-mediated genetic and/or metabolic defect is the initiator of cholesterol cholelithiasis. While recognizing that the pathogenesis of gallstones is probably multifactorial, alterations in gallbladder and biliary ductal motor function constitute a plausible, but as yet unexplored, mechanism for alterations in enterohepatic circulation dynamics and subsequent cholesterol cholelithiasis. Gallbladder motor function is a complex phenomenon influenced by dynamic compliance, autonomic pharmacology, hormonal responses, and sphincter dynamics. Attempts to describe these aspects of biliary physiology may characterize the next phase in our understanding of the pathogenesis of cholesterol cholelithiasis.
Statistical Orbit Determination Theory

Recent advances in methods for estimating the state of a continuous non-linear dynamic system using discrete observations are reviewed. Particular attention is given to a comparison of batch and sequential algorithms. The stability and convergence characteristics as well as questions related to the computation effort are considered. Finally, numerical results obtained in applying the recently developed Dynamic Model Compensation algorithm are compared with results obtained using a batch algorithm using range-rate data obtained during the Apollo 10 and 11 lunar orbit missions. These results indicate a distinct improvement in estimation accuracy using the Dynamic Model Compensation algorithm.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of registered nurses regarding the spread of nosocomial infections and the impact of organizational support

Nosocomial infections (NIs) are new localized or systemic infections that develop in patients receiving medical care in a hospital or other healthcare facilities. They are caused by pathogens often transmitted by indirect and direct contact. It has been documented in the literature that at the time of graduation from their professional education, healthcare professionals have sufficient knowledge to practice safe patient-care and to follow infection control guidelines. However, the evidence suggests otherwise since healthcare professionals, across all categories, are implicated in the transmission of NIs. With nurses having the most contacts with patients, understanding of their knowledge, attitudes and practice patterns with regard to the spread of NIs may provide one approach by which this health care issue would be addressed.
The alpha subunit of initiation factor 2 is phosphorylated in vivo in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract The phosphorylation state of the alpha subunit of initiation factor 2 (eIF-2 alpha) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of lysates from cultures grown under a variety of conditions. The alpha subunit was maintained in a phosphorylated state during logarithmic growth on fermentable and nonfermentable carbon sources, during starvation for an essential amino acid, during heat shock, during stationary phase, and during sporulation. Only when cells were starved for a carbon source for 2 h in 1 M sorbitol was eIF-2 alpha isolated in the nonphosphorylated state. This is in contrast with the studies in rabbit reticulocyte lysates, in which arrested protein synthesis was correlated with a relative increase in the extent of phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha.
Investigation into the effects of fiber waviness in standard notched composite specimens

This study presents a numerical and experimental evaluation of the standardized material testing specimens (tension and compression) used for determining the strength of composite materials in the presence of defects. The composite specimens contain through the thickness fiber waviness and a circular cutout. The intentional waviness levels have been applied in the out-of-plane direction of the multi and unidirectional laminate during the curing process. The standardized face-stabilized open-hole compression test based on ASTM D6484 and the open-hole tension test according to ASTM D5766 are used for evaluating the interaction of the fiber waviness and the circular cutouts. Temporal evaluations of the load-deformation response in the specimens are coupled with optical microscopy to understand the failure modes and damage progression. Laminates with multidirectional layups show different failure modes and a different damage trajectory when compared with the response in the unidirectional laminates. The damage trajectory is dominated by the notch region and also influenced by notch size and free edge effects.
A comprehensive threat management framework for a crop biosecurity national architecture

Our Nation’s ability to rapidly detect and identify plant pests and pathogens either in offshore native habitats or soon after introduction into the U.S. is inadequate. This inability to anticipate the arrival of agricultural threats allows them to spread more readily, results in greater damage, and makes it more difficult and expensive to respond with mitigation or eradication efforts. There are important fundamental gaps in our knowledge of foreign plant pests and pathogens that pose a threat to U.S. agricultural production. These gaps reduce the reliability and timeliness of risk assessments and risk management decisions that may be available to U.S. decision makers in the event of a real or perceived crop biosecurity threat. Results from this research will enhance the nation’s defense posture for crop biosecurity threats, and will serve as a prototype for the application of this systems approach to other such select agents for important agricultural crop species. It is initially being exercised with a real threat to U.S. crop biosecurity – Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) which was detected in the southeastern United States in November 2004. This paper will describe the results of an ongoing end-to-end systems study and a technology readiness baselining for the problem of agricultural crop biosecurity.
De-Oiling and Pretreatment for High-Quality Potato Chips

ABSTRACT A de-oiling step using a centrifuge ensures oil content reduction and improves the quality of fried snacks. A commercial deep-fat fryer was used to fry potato slices, untreated, blanched in hot water (85C/3.5 min) and rinsed in 3% NaCl solution (25C/5 min). A de-oiling step (350 ± 1 and 457 ± 1 rpm) for 1 min was performed after the frying (145, 165 and 185C) and cooling (0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 120 s) steps. Higher frying temperature, high-centrifuge speed and short cooling time yielded potato chips with low oil uptake. In general, the blanching and soaking pretreatments decreased oil absorption compared with the untreated chips. Neither the frying temperature nor the pretreatments had a significant effect (P > 0.05) over the final texture of the potato chips. However, de-oiling led to increased hardness of the chips fried at 145 and 165C for 0 s cooling time, and the hardness decreased as cooling time increased. Potato chips had lower lightness and redness color value when fried at 145C, and higher values when fried at 185C; yellowness (b* values) increased with increasing temperature. In general, pretreated samples were lighter (paler) than the untreated controls. A consumer test indicated that blanching and de-oiling without cooling enhanced the texture and overall quality of the chip; soaking and de-oiling improved the color, flavor and the overall quality; and the two pretreatments did not significantly influence the odor of the chip. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Fried snacks are a popular item in the American diet. These results are useful for an effective process design for high-quality potato chips.
Cool-season turfgrass species mixtures for roadsides in Minnesota

Abstract Roadside turfgrass mixtures are subject to a wide variety of extreme stresses including heat, drought, low nutrient availability, ice cover, and road salt exposure. The currently specified turfgrass seed mixtures for roadsides in Minnesota have not been based on the results of recent, designed experiments. A quantitative approach to evaluating turfgrass species mixtures for roadsides in Minnesota is needed in order to improve the current mixture recommendation. The objectives of this experiment were to (1) assess the performance of several mixtures of cool-season turfgrass for survival on roadsides in central Minnesota, (2) quantitatively evaluate the influence of individual species on the survival of turfgrass mixtures on roadsides, and (3) identify a suitable mixture of cool-season turfgrass species for roadsides in central Minnesota. In fall 2011, three replications of 51 cool-season turfgrass mixtures, comprising nine species of turfgrass, were established at two roadside locations in the metropolitan area surrounding St. Paul, MN, USA. Survival of the established mixtures was assessed using digital image analysis to determine percent living ground cover during both spring and summer 2012, and again using a grid-intersect method during spring 2013. Several mixtures were identified that performed significantly better than the current specified mix during spring or summer 2012. The log-odds of a plot retaining at least 60% living turfgrass cover in spring 2013 decreased by 1.78 for mixtures including tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea L.). Hard fescue [ Festuca trachyphylla (Hack.) Krajina] and sheep fescue ( Festuca ovina L.) increased the log-odds of success by 0.95 and 0.96, respectively, and both estimates were significant at the 90% confidence level. Quantitative analysis of survival percentage in spring 2013 indicated that the best mixture for roadsides in central Minnesota comprises 20% slender creeping red fescue, 40% hard fescue, and 40% sheep fescue. These results can be used by public works officials to implement and improve roadside turfgrass mixtures in Minnesota.
Mitochondrial dysfunction and age.

Purpose of reviewMitochondrial dysfunction is commonly thought to result from oxidative damage that leads to defects in the electron transport chain (ETC). In this review, we highlight new research indicating that there are early changes in mitochondrial function that precede ETC defects and are rev
Profit status of home health care agencies and the risk of hospitalization.

Abstract We examined the association of profit status and patient hospitalizations in the present-day home health care market, a market that grew substantially in the past decade, with much of that growth attributed to the entry of for-profit agencies. Data from the 2007 National Home and Hospice Care Survey were linked to the risk-adjusted agency-level measure of the percent of home health episodes of care ending in hospitalizations available from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) Home Health Compare Web site. A linear regression model was estimated (n = 510). Control variables included other agency characteristics besides profit status, area hospital bed supply, and state dummy variables to control for state fixed effects. For-profit agencies were more likely than not-for-profit agencies to have a risk of hospitalizations greater than expected after accounting for patient characteristics and model control variables. Attributes of the CMS hospitalization measure are discussed and impl...
Comparative studies of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) for real-time identification of signaling pathway

Cell signaling is one of the fundamental processes that control the cell fate. It modulates the cell shape and mechanics. To identify the dynamic signaling pathway in situ, we need tools that are capable of monitor the real-time elasticity and viscosity changes as well as structural rearrangements. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has been demonstrated to be an effective instrument to visualize membrane and cytoskeleton structures on live cells. It can also provide the mechanical stiffness information by recording force displacement curves. Meanwhile, the viscoelasticity change by signaling pathways can be measured as the change of dissipation of a monolayer of cells by means of a Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D). In the current study, we use the human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell line as a model system which will be stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF). AFM was first used to image the structure of live A431 cells before and after stimulation; force measurement was also performed to analyze the dynamic elasticity change. The change of viscoelasticity of the A431 cell induced by EGF was monitored in real time on a QCM-D in terms of dissipation change and frequency shift. The mechanical property measurements from AFM and QCM-D experiment was analyzed and compared. Quantitative analysis can be performed to obtain the dynamic modulus of the material through theoretical modeling. This novel combination can be complementary to each other. A unified profile can therefore be generated as an effective indicator of signaling pathways such as cell proliferation and apoptosis.
Comparison of electrical properties of viruses studied by AC capacitance scanning probe microscopy.

Capacitances of five types of viruses, adenovirus type 5 (AV5), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), simian virus 40 (SV40), vaccinia (MVA), and cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV), were compared by AC capacitance scanning probe microscopy. This technique, using a Pt-coated AFM tip as an electrode to probe capacitance of materials between the tip and a bottom electrode, has been applied to study surface structures of semiconductors and polymers with nanometer spatial resolution; however, biological samples at the nanoscale have not been explored by this technique yet. Because most biological cells are poor conductors, this approach to probe electric properties of cells by capacitance is logical. This scanning probe technique showed that each virus has distinguishable and characteristic capacitance. A series of control experiments were carried out using mutant viruses to validate the origin of the characteristic capacitance responses for different viruses. A mutation on the capsid in HSV1 with green fluorescence pro...
Regeneration of goldfish retina: rod precursors are a likely source of regenerated cells

This study describes regeneration of the neural retina in juvenile goldfish. The retina was destroyed with an intraocular injection of ouabain, a technique introduced by Wolburg and colleagues (Maier and Wolburg, 1979; Kurz-Isler and Wolburg, 1982). We confirmed their observation that the level of damage produced by the toxin was graded, in that neurons in the inner retinal layers were preferentially destroyed, and only in the more severely affected retinas were cells in the outer nuclear layer (i.e., photoreceptor cells) damaged. Evidence of retinal regeneration could be seen beginning about 2 weeks after the injection of ouabain. In contrast to previous studies (Maier and Wolburg, 1979), we found that regeneration took place only in those retinas in which photoreceptors had been destroyed. In cases in which the outer nuclear layer was spared, no regeneration of inner layers occurred, even after 6 months. Thymidine autoradiography was used to document the regeneration of new retinal neurons and to show that rod precursors, like other dividing cells, were not destroyed by the ouabain, but in contrast showed an increased mitotic activity. Regeneration did not proceed uniformly, but was initiated at neurogenic foci scattered across the retina. These foci consisted of clusters of dividing neuroepithelial-like cells. The evidence is consistent with the proposal that these cells were derived from rod precursors. These results imply that rod precursors are capable of a wider range of developmental fates than they normally express.
Excimer laser surface modification of ultra-high-strength polyethylene fibers for enhanced adhesion with epoxy resins. Part 2. Effect of treatment environment

Ultra-high-strength polyethylene (UHSPE) fibers were treated with a pulsed XeCl (308 nm) UV excimer laser to improve their adhesion to epoxy resin. The effects of the number of laser pulses and the treatment environment were explored. The chemical and topographical changes of the fiber surfaces were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic wettability measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The effects of the UV excimer laser treatment on the fiber/matrix interfacial shear strength (IFSS) were evaluated by the single-fiber pull-out test. The XPS data indicated the incorporation of both oxygen and nitrogen on the fiber surface. The wettability data showed that the fiber surface becomes much more polar, as a result of oxygen and nitrogen incorporation, after the laser treatment. The SEM photomicrographs showed increased surface roughness after the laser exposure. All these factors contribute to increase the UHSPE fiber/epoxy resin IFSS by 200-400%.
Soy protein for infant feeding: what do we know?

Purpose of reviewThis review discusses the safety, nutritional adequacy and recommendations for use of soy protein formulae, based mainly on the most relevant reports published during 2005 and 2006.Recent findingsConcerns have recently been raised regarding potential risks with soy protein formulae,
The jogger's aneurysm: unusual presentation of popliteal artery trauma.

In two cases, chronic, minor trauma was associated with the formation of pseudoaneurysms of the popliteal artery. Unusual clinical features of these cases included a painful popliteal fossa mass and leg pain following exercise. Initial noninvasive evaluation should include Doppler flow measurements and ultrasound. If a vascular origin is suggested, arteriography is essential.
The Impact of Urinary Incontinence and Its Treatment on Female Sexual Function

Urinary incontinence is a prevalent disorder that negatively impacts not only women’s overall quality of life but also female sexual function. Most of the literature suggests that women with urge urinary incontinence are more likely to report sexual complaints and dissatisfaction than women with stress urinary incontinence. Successful treatment of both stress urinary incontinence and urge urinary incontinence have been shown to improve overall female sexual function scores.
Tumor necrosis factor in experimental cancer regression with alphatocopherol, beta-carotene, canthaxanthin and algae extract.

Abstract Regression of established hamster buccal pouch carcinoma has recently been demonstrated in association with an induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha in macrophages. Regression of hamster buccal pouch tumors has also been demonstrated following the local injection of alphatocopherol, canthaxanthin and an extract of Spirulina-Dunaliella algae. The current study demonstrates that cancer regression is also accompanied by a significant induction of tumor necrosis factor in macrophages in the tumor area, suggesting a possible mechanism of tumor destruction. One hundred and forty young, male adult hamsters were divided into seven equalgroups of 20 animals. Epidermoid carcinomas were induced in right buccal pouches by 14 weeks of painting, three times per week, of a 0.5% solution of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. Groups 1 and 2 were untreated and sham injected controls. Groups 3–7 had injected twice weekly into the right buccal pouches 0.1 ml (1.9 mg/ml of 13- cis -retinoic acid, canthaxanthin, algae extract, beta-carotene and alphatocopherol. After 4 weeks the tumors in groups 3–7 demonstrated varying degrees of regression and the animals were sacrificed and the right buccal pouches excised. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was demonstrated by immunohistochemical techniques. A very significant increase in TNF-α positive macrophages was found in the tumor-bearing pouches of animals in groups 5–7. Smaller numbers of TNF-α-positive macrophages were found in group 4 pouches and a very slight increase in group 3 pouches.
Solution structure and topology of the N-terminal membrane anchor domain of a microsomal cytochrome P450: prostaglandin I2 synthase

The three-dimensional structure of a synthetic peptide corresponding to the N-terminal membrane anchor domain (residues 1-25) of prostaglandin I(2) synthase (also known as cytochrome P450 8A1), an eicosanoid-synthesizing microsomal cytochrome P450, has been determined by two-dimensional (1)H NMR spectroscopy in trifluoroethanol and dodecylphosphocholine which mimic the hydrophobic membrane environment. A combination of two-dimensional NMR experiments, including NOESY, TOCSY and double-quantum-filtered COSY, was used to obtain complete (1)H NMR assignments for the peptide. Using the NOE data obtained from the assignments and simulated annealing calculations, the N-terminal membrane domain reveals a bent-shaped structure comprised of an initial helix (residues 3-11), followed by a turn (residues 12-16) and a further atypical helix (residues 17-23). The hydrophobic side chains of the helix and turn segments (residues 1-20) are proposed to interact with the hydrocarbon interior of the phospholipid bilayer of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. The hydrophilic side chains of residues 21-25 (Arg-Arg-Arg-Thr-Arg) point away from the hydrophobic residues 1-20 and are expected to be exposed to the aqueous environment on the cytoplasmic side of the ER membrane. The distance between residues 1 and 20 is approx. 20 A (1 A=0.1 nm), less than the thickness of a lipid bilayer. This indicates that the N-terminal membrane anchor domain of prostaglandin I(2) synthase does not penetrate the ER membrane.
Modeling of the fast organic emissions from a wood-finishing product—Floor wax

Abstract Environmental chamber and full-scale residential house tests were conducted to evaluate the fast organic emissions from a wood-finishing product—floor wax. For the environmental chamber tests, a very small amount of ( −2 ) of the wax was applied to an aluminum plate. It was found that the chamber exit organic concentrations can be estimated by a model with an initial condition of instant organic emissions. The model was applied to the house data to interpret the octane and nonane emissions. Significant sink effects were found in the house that prolonged the elevated octane and nonane concentrations for more than 2 days.
BARTMAP: A viable structure for biclustering

Clustering has been used extensively in the analysis of high-throughput messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiling with microarrays. Furthermore, clustering has proven elemental in microRNA expression profiling, which demonstrates enormous promise in the areas of cancer diagnosis and treatment, gene function identification, therapy development and drug testing, and genetic regulatory network inference. However, such a practice is inherently limited due to the existence of many uncorrelated genes with respect to sample or condition clustering, or many unrelated samples or conditions with respect to gene clustering. Biclustering offers a solution to such problems by performing simultaneous clustering on both dimensions, or automatically integrating feature selection to clustering without any prior information, so that the relations of clusters of genes (generally, features) and clusters of samples or conditions (data objects) are established. However, the NP-complete computational complexity raises a great challenge to computational methods for identifying such local relations. Here, we propose and demonstrate that a neural-based classifier, ARTMAP, can be modified to perform biclustering in an efficient way, leading to a biclustering algorithm called Biclustering ARTMAP (BARTMAP). Experimental results on multiple human cancer data sets show that BARTMAP can achieve clustering structures with higher qualities than those achieved with other commonly used biclustering or clustering algorithms, and with fast run times.
Precise droplet volume measurement and electrode-based volume metering in digital microfluidics

In this work, for the first time, we demonstrate nanoscale droplet generation from a continuous electrowetting microchannel using a simple and precise image-based droplet volume metering technique. One of the most popular ways of droplet generation in electrowetting devices is to split a droplet from a preloaded volume as a fluid reservoir. This method is effective, but lowers volume consistency after multiple droplets are generated. Impedance- and capacitance-based methods of volume metering have been successfully used in digital microfluidics, but require complex circuitry and feedback signal processing. In this work, we demonstrate nanoliter droplet generation from a continuous electrowetting channel used as a replenishable fluid reservoir which compensates for the loss of reservoir volume as droplets are sequentially split. This improves volume consistency especially for applications requiring multi-droplet generation. Based on the area of the electrode, the volume of each droplet split from the electrowetting channel can be obtained by a simple and precise image processing technique with no need for additional hardware and measurement errors of ±0.05 %. This simple technique can be used in a wide range of applications that require precise volume metering, such as immunoassay.
An electrophoretic study of urinary protein in the rat.

The nature of the proteins present in the urine of the normal rat has been investigated by electrophoretic analysis and by fractional precipitation of these proteins by ammonium sulfate. Components similar to serum α- and s-globulin constitute the major portion of the urinary protein in both male and female rats. Following the intraperitoneal injection of renin, a massive proteinuria occurs. The proteins excreted are similar in proportion and electric mobility to those of normal rat serum.
Evaporation-induced buckling and fission of microscale droplet interface bilayers.

Droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) are a robust platform for studying synthetic cellular membranes; however, to date no DIBs have been produced at cellular length scales. Here, we create microscale droplet interface bilayers (μDIBs) at the interface between aqueous femtoliter-volume droplets within an oil-filled microfluidic channel. The uniquely large area-to-volume ratio of the droplets results in strong evaporation effects, causing the system to transition through three distinct regimes. First, the two adjacent droplets shrink into the shape of a single spherical droplet, where an augmented lipid bilayer partitions two hemispherical volumes. In the second regime, the combined effects of the shrinking monolayers and growing bilayer force the confined bilayer to buckle to conserve its mass. Finally, at a critical bending moment, the buckling bilayer fissions a vesicle to regulate its shape and mass. The μDIBs produced here enable evaporation-induced bilayer dynamics reminiscent of endo- and exocytosis in ...
The medium and the message: a revisionist view of image quality

In his book "Understanding Media" social theorist Marshall McLuhan declared: "The medium is the message." The thesis of this paper is that with respect to image quality, imaging system developers have taken McLuhan's dictum too much to heart. Efforts focus on improving the technical specifications of the media (e.g. dynamic range, color gamut, resolution, temporal response) with little regard for the visual messages the media will be used to communicate. We present a series of psychophysical studies that investigate the visual system's ability to "see through" the limitations of imaging media to perceive the messages (object and scene properties) the images represent. The purpose of these studies is to understand the relationships between the signal characteristics of an image and the fidelity of the visual information the image conveys. The results of these studies provide a new perspective on image quality that shows that images that may be very different in "quality", can be visually equivalent as realistic representations of objects and scenes.
Domoic acid induced seizures progress to a chronic state of epilepsy in rats

The emergence of an epilepsy syndrome in sea lions poisoned by domoic acid (DA) draws striking parallels to the single case study of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) that developed in an 84 yr old man one year after being poisoned by DA. To establish a basis for understanding this disease in sea lions and humans that appears to progress from DA poisoning, we have investigated the potential for a single incident of DA poisoning in rats to progress to spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS), the hallmark of epilepsy. We have developed a DA administration protocol to induce a nonlethal status epilepticus (SE) and monitored the animals for SRS by 6 h/week of video recording. We demonstrate that a single episode of SE leads to SRS in 94% of rats (n = 23) in 6 months. These findings indicate that DA induced SE can efficiently translate to epileptic disease.
Evolution of airway hyperresponsiveness in infants with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Infants born with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (DH) characteristically have pulmonary hypoplasia. Airway hyperresponsiveness during the first 4 weeks of life can be demonstrated in most of these neonates. Early postnatal pulmonary development in infants with severe DH has not been well characterized. We examined lung growth in patients with congenital DH by using the forced deflation method to study pulmonary function in 18 infants on mechanical ventilation who survived neonatal repair of their congenital DH. Thirteen infants without primary pulmonary pathology who required general anesthesia for other surgery served as controls. Infants were further divided according to age at the time of testing into early (age or = 29 days) groups, yielding four groups of subjects: early diaphragmatic hernia (EDH): n = 9; mean age, 4.2 days; range, 1-7 days; early controls (EC): n = 8; mean age, 3.1 days; range, 1-6 days; late diaphragmatic hernia (LDH): n = 11; mean age, 57.7 days, range, 28-120 days; and late controls (LC); n = 5; mean age, 52.2 days; range 32-90 days. All infants were studied once, with the exception of two infants with DH who were studied on two occasions at EDH and LDH stages. A marked reduction in weight-corrected forced vital capacity (FVC) was seen in the EDH group (13.9 +/- 3.9 ml/kg) as compared to the EC group (44.4 +/- 4.9 ml/kg). During the ensuing 4 months of life, FVC in patients with LDH (24.5 +/- 1.9 ml/kg) was much higher than FVC in patients with EDH (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate the presence of pulmonary hypoplasia in the EDH group and suggest subsequent rapid postnatal lung growth. An index of rate constant, MEF25/FVC, as compared with control groups was abnormally elevated in EDH subjects (1.87 +/- 0.30/second vs 1.16 +/- 0.32/ second, P < 0.05), indicating significantly increased lower airway caliber relative to lung volume. The severe reduction of the rate constant in the LDH group (0.36 +/- 0.05/second vs 0.73 +/- 0.07/second, P < 0.05) suggests the development of lower airway obstruction. After the administration of a nebulized bronchodilator (BD), an increase in MEF25 (32.9%) in the EDH group was not significant, but an increase of 134.7% in the LDH group was significant (P < 0.05). Although the study utilized a cross-sectional design with most of the infants in either the early or late group, present findings suggest that infants with EDH have lung restriction reflecting pulmonary hypoplasia. These infants developed lower airway obstruction and airway hyperresponsiveness with only mild fixed obstruction over the first 4 months of life.
Does experience improve hospital performance in treating patients with AIDS

This paper examines how experience affects hospital performance in treating patients with AIDS. The most common life-threatening medical complication of AIDS is Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Studies of patients with PCP demonstrate that patients who received care at hospitals that were more experienced with AIDS had lower immediate mortality. These higher volume medical facilities did not use more resources but used resources more efficiently and provided better medical care. Better outcomes for experienced providers suggest three policy implications for improving quality of patient care: (1) create regionalized centers where large numbers of patients with a particular illness are treated; (2) encourage low volume providers to rapidly increase their experience; or (3) establish targeted educational programs for low volume providers. Historical review of experience with other medical problems such as tuberculosis indicate that one policy option, creating regional medical centers, did not have the desired effect of better patient outcomes. These facts support policies to provide targeted educational programs and opportunities for low volume facilities to rapidly increase their familiarity with AIDS. Outcomes could be improved by such policies.
A Uniform Ergodic Theorem for Certain Markov Operators on Lipschitz Functions on Bounded Metric Spaces

Some sufficient conditions are given for uniform convergence of the iterates of transition operators associated with random contractions of a bounded metric space.
Visions to stay home by Visual services for home delivery

Abstract An appraisal of future, comprehensive visual telecommunication services is presented. Central to this appraisal is an identification of benefits the services may yield, and a separate examination of problems that might offset the benefits. While it appears that service providers and product suppliers will gain substantially from such services, benefits to users are not so evident.
Current Concepts in Oncologic Surgery in Small Animals

Surgical oncology is experiencing rapid transition in veterinary medicine. Mast cell tumors and soft tissue sarcomas are two of the most common neoplasms in small animal patients. Clinicians should be familiar with the need for staging and the procedures involved in treating patients with these tumors. Clinicians should be comfortable with available adjuvant therapies and when to use them in certain patients.
Augmenting Traditional Assessment and Information: The Videoshare Model.

Traditional quantitative approaches to assessment convey limited descriptions of children. Although norms and numbers do provide valuable information about children, they are static representations and cannot present the whole picture. In contrast, video assessment is a powerful approach that captures the dynamics of movement, bodily expression, and emotion, and thus it can provide an accurate and richly detailed depiction of a child's abilities and development. Video assessment seems to be an appropriate component of portfolio approaches to the assessment of young children. This article briefly reviews the literature on the use and effectiveness of video assessment in educational and clinical settings. It then describes how the Videoshare model takes advantage of the capacity of video records to provide graphically descriptive records that can serve as a valuable supplement to traditional assessment measures and sources of information. Finally, the article reports the results of surveys that evaluated fa...
A long-pulse neutral beam power supply system for LBL 20 kV, 10 a sources

This paper describes the power supplies and control system for the LBL 20 kV, 10 A, 10 sec long-pulse neutral beam source test facility, now in operation. Such sources are used in a number of existing and planned fusion power experiments.
Explaining investor behavior using an adjective check list

Abstract Using data for more than 500 investors, this study shows that propensity to seek novelty and avoid ill-defined and risky situations differs between investors who currently either own or do not own each of a wide variety of types of assets. These results give additional support to the findings of McInish (1982), Shefrin and Statman (1984) and Harlow and Brown (1990) that psychological approaches can be useful in explaining investor behavior.
EEG Phasic Event Detection by Microcomputer

This communication describes results of preliminary testing of a new method of implementing EEG waveform detection. The circuit described is capable of detecting EEG alpha, beta, delta, sleep spindles, muscle artifact, etc., on three separate channels simultaneously when operating at 32: 1 time compression. Microprocessor implementation allows for adaptive control of detection parameters, making hardware changes unnecessary.
Equivariant Index and the Moment Map for Completely Integrable Torus Actions

Abstract Consider a completely integrable torus action on a compact Spincmanifold. The equivariant index of the Dirac operator is a virtual representation of the torus and is determined by the multiplicities of the weights which occur it in. We prove that these multiplicities are equal to values of the density function for the Duistermaat–Heckman measure, once this is defined appropriately. (The two-form that we take is half of the curvature of the line bundle which is associated to the Spincstructure. It is closed and invariant but not necessarily symplectic.) We deduce that these multiplicities are equal to the topological degree of the “descended moment map”Φ: M/T→ t *, which in nice cases can be described as sums of certain winding numbers.
Effects of Wildfire Ash on Thermal Performance of Attic Insulation Batts

This study investigates the thermal performance of typical residential attic insulations under wildfire ash deposition. Adding a layer of wood ash to the surface of other materials, such as insulation batts, may theoretically increase the overall thermal resistance of the integrated layers; however, in case of penetrating the wood ash into the fibers of the porous insulation materials, the direction and magnitude of change in overall thermal resistance remains uncertain. There have been many questions in public whether the layers of ash can affect the thermal performance of insulation batts, and if it does, how much this effectiveness will be, although the studies reported in open literature on this topic are limited. This study attempts to address these questions through analytical and experimental approaches.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Infrastructure for In Situ System Monitoring and Application Data Analysis

We present an architecture for high-performance computers that integrates in situ analysis of hardware and system monitoring data with application-specific data to reduce application runtimes and improve overall platform utilization. Large-scale high-performance computing systems typically use monitoring as a tool unrelated to application execution. Monitoring data flows from sampling points to a centralized off-system machine for storage and post-processing when root-cause analysis is required. Along the way, it may also be used for instantaneous threshold-based error detection. Applications can know their application state and possibly allocated resource state, but typically, they have no insight into globally shared resource state that may affect their execution. By analyzing performance data in situ rather than off-line, we enable applications to make real-time decisions about their resource utilization. We address the particular case of in situ network congestion analysis and its potential to improve task placement and data partitioning. We present several design and analysis considerations.
Elementary Abelian p -groups revisited

For each prime p , a Fraenkel-Mostowski model is constructed in which there are two elementary Abelian p -groups with the same cardinality that are not isomorphic.
Heterocyclic compounds. X. A new synthesis of thiadiazasteroids

The reaction of ν-ketoacids or ν-aldehydo acids with o-amino amides results in the formation of 4-quinazolones. Using this reaction a number of polyheterosteroid analogs were synthesized. Thus, when 2-amino-3-carboxamido-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzothiophene (9) was refluxed with levulinic acid (10) in a high boiling solvent, thiadiazasteroid analog (11) was obtained in 78% yield. It was found that this facile one-step reaction could be used to synthesize a variety of tetra and pentacyclic compounds. Nmr spectroscopy was used to assign stereochemistry to the 17-methyl “steroids” (31) and (32).
Laboratory Training for Police Officers

In a retreat-like setting, a voluntary group of police officers was given several days training in better communication and learning about oneself and others. In the midst of the training, the trainees were recalled to active duty to help deal with a race riot. After the riot they returned to training. The total program appeared to be successful.