cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A generalized direct search acceptable-point technique for use with descent-type multivariate algorithms

Abstract Many non-linear programming algorithms employ a univariate subprocedure to determine the step length at each multivariate iteration. In recent years much work has been directed toward the development of algorithms which will exhibit favorable convergence properties on well-behaved functions without requiring that the univariate algorithm perform a sequence of one-dimensional minimizations. In this paper a direct search method (the golden section search) is modified to search for acceptable rather than minimizing step lengths and then used as the univariate subprocedure for a generalized conjugate gradient algorithm. The resulting multivariate minimization method is tested on standard unconstrained test functions and a constrained industrial problem. The new method is found to be relatively insensitive to tuning parameters (insofar as success or failure is concerned). A comparison of the golden section acceptable-point search (GSAP) with other popular acceptable-point methods indicates that GSAP is a superior strategy for use with the conjugate directions-type algorithms and is also suitable for use with the quasi-Newton methods. The comparison are based on equivalent function evaluations required to minimize multivariate test functions.
Computer memory: abacus to DRAM

Basic concepts of the first computer memory, the abacus, and the current DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) are discussed. The abacus was the main memory for the first electronic digital computer, the ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer). Built between 1939 and 1942, the ABC was a special-purpose machine designed to solve a system of linear algebraic equations. The similarities and differences between these two computer memories separated by over 30 years are highlighted. >
Aortic-iliac thromboembolism as an uncommon sequel to Staphylococcus aureus valvular endocarditis in a calf

Battiflora H: 1989, Immunohistochemistry in tumor diagnosis. Handout Short Course US Can Acad Pathol, p. 33. 10. Brodt P, Reich R, Moroz LA, Chambers AF: 1992, Differences in the repertoire of basement membranes degrading enzymes in two carcinoma sublines with distinct patterns of site-selective 1 1 . metastasis. Biochim Biophys Acta 1139:77-83. Cheville NF: 1983, Neoplasia. In: Cell pathology, 2nd ed., pp. 366-373. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA. 12. Fidler IJ, Gersten DM, Riggs CW: 1977, Relationship of host immune status to tumor cell arrest, distribution, and survival in experimental metastatis. Cancer 40:46-55. Hart IR, Fidler I J: 1980, Role of organ selectivity in the determination of metastatic patterns of B16 melanoma. Cancer Res 7:2281-2287. Sources and manufacturers 8.
Hepatitis B immunoprophylaxis: developing a cost-effective program in the hospital setting.

There are several goals of a hepatitis B immunoprophylaxis program. Prevention of clinical disease and carrier status in healthcare workers (HCW) is the primary goal. In addition, the uncommon incidence of staff transmitting hepatitis B infection (HBV) to patients should not continue with available methods of prevention.2,3 The prevention of disease is not only desirable from a public health standpoint, it is also needed to protect health centers from liability that may result from the occurrence of preventable diseases of occupational origin, such as HBV.4
Escherichia coli Responses to a Single DNA Adduct

To study the mechanisms by which Escherichia coli modulates the genotoxic effects of DNA damage, a novel system has been developed which permits quantitative measurements of various E. coli pathways involved in mutagenesis and DNA repair. Events measured include fidelity and efficiency of translesion DNA synthesis, excision repair, and recombination repair. Our strategy involves heteroduplex plasmid DNA bearing a single site-specific DNA adduct and several mismatched regions. The plasmid replicates in a mismatch repair-deficient host with the mismatches serving as strand-specific markers. Analysis of progeny plasmid DNA for linkage of the strand-specific markers identifies the pathway from which the plasmid is derived. Using this approach, a single 1,N6-ethenodeoxyadenosine adduct was shown to be repaired inefficiently by excision repair, to inhibit DNA synthesis by approximately 80 to 90%, and to direct the incorporation of correct dTMP opposite this adduct. This approach is especially useful in analyzing the damage avoidance-tolerance mechanisms. Our results also show that (i) progeny derived from the damage avoidance-tolerance pathway(s) accounts for more than 15% of all progeny; (ii) this pathway(s) requires functional recA, recF, recO, and recR genes, suggesting the mechanism to be daughter strand gap repair; (iii) the ruvABC genes or the recG gene is also required; and (iv) the RecG pathway appears to be more active than the RuvABC pathway. Based on these results, the mechanism of the damage avoidance-tolerance pathway is discussed.
Brain GABA levels in patients with bipolar disorder

Abstract Purpose A growing body of research supports an important role for GABA in the pathophysiology of bipolar and other mood disorders. The purpose of the current study was to directly examine brain GABA levels in a clinical sample of bipolar patients. General methods We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to examine whole brain and regional GABA, glutamate and glutamine in 13 patients with bipolar disorder compared to a matched group of 11 healthy controls. Findings There were no significant differences in GABA, glutamate or glutamine between patients and controls. Conclusions Further research is needed to better characterize the GABAergic and glutamatergic effects of pharmacotherapy, anxiety comorbidity and clinical state in bipolar disorder.
Efficient Symbolic Algorithms for Computing the Minimum and Bounded Leakage States

Static power consumption due to subthreshold, gate, and junction leakages has become a significant component of the total power consumption. For nanoscale circuits, leakage poses one of the most important challenges to the continuation of Moore's law. The leakage of a logic gate varies by an order of magnitude over its Boolean input space. Thus, one way to minimize leakage in a circuit during standby mode is to apply an input vector for which the leakage is at its minimum. Such a set of vectors is called the minimum leakage set (MLS). In this paper, an efficient algorithm for computing the exact MLS is presented. The approach is based on implicit enumeration using integer-valued decision diagrams. Since the search space for MLS is exponential in the number of primary inputs, the enumeration is done with respect to the minimum balanced cut of the digraph representation of the circuit. Next, the problem of the increased switching power, which results from driving all inputs to a given state when entering the standby mode, is addressed. For a given upper bound B on the leakage, the MLS algorithm is extended to identify the maximal input cube with the minimum switching cost from the set of minterms whose maximum leakage is lesB. The switching cost associated with an input is taken to be proportional to the load capacitance of that input. The algorithms have been successfully tested on the ISCAS85 and MCNC91 benchmark circuits
Management of carotid 'blowout' with endovascular stent grafts.

Objectives/Hypothesis Since 1992, endovascular techniques for vascular occlusion and stenting have evolved significantly. Endovascular occlusion of the carotid artery has been used in the management of carotid “blowout.” Although it seems logical to expand this application to the use of arterial stents to repair rather than occlude the artery when cerebral cross-circulation is inadequate, concerns remain regarding the placement of a foreign body in a contaminated field. The purpose of the present report is to describe our experience with endovascular stents for control of carotid hemorrhage. Study Design Retrospective case review. Methods Retrospective review of three cases of acute or threatened carotid hemorrhage managed with endovascular stent placement. Results Two patients presented with acute carotid blowout, and one patient with a probable sentinel bleed. All patients previously had been heavily treated with surgery and irradiation: Two had developed pharyngocutaneous fistulas, and one had an open wound filled with tumor that surrounded the carotid artery. All were thought to be at significant risk for stroke if the carotid artery was occluded. In all three patients, stent placement resolved the acute hemorrhage. Mean duration of follow-up was 8.3 months. In two patients, the stent became exposed, ultimately thrombosed or extruded, or both. The third patient had no residual sequelae of stenting but died 3 months later. Conclusion When an unacceptable risk of cardiovascular accident makes occlusion unwise, acute carotid hemorrhage can be successfully managed with directed placement of endovascular stents, but the long-term sequelae of placing these foreign bodies in a field with ongoing contamination make this a temporizing rather than permanent measure for use while more definitive long-term solutions are pursued.
Long-Term Menstrual and Reproductive Function in Patients With Bulimia Nervosa

OBJECTIVE: Menstrual dysfunction occurs frequently in patients with bulimia nervosa. Whether this is associated with diminished fertility is unknown. This study examined menstrual and reproductive function in bulimia nervosa patients retrospectively, with 10–15-year follow-ups. METHOD: A total of 173 women with bulimia nervosa were interviewed an average of 11.5 years (SD=1.9) after initial assessment with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and a questionnaire about menstruation, pregnancy, and eating disorder symptoms. RESULTS: At baseline assessment, 38.2% of the subjects reported regular menses, and 4.6% reported amenorrhea. At follow-up, the rate of amenorrhea was 16.8% (2.9% because of pregnancy). At baseline, 34.7% of the subjects had experienced at least one pregnancy. At follow-up, 74.6% had been pregnant at least once, and 1.7% reported an inability to conceive. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that while menstrual irregularities are common, bulimia nervosa appears to have little impa...
Anisotropic magnetic susceptibility of erbium and ytterbium in zircon, ZrSiO4

Abstract Magnetic susceptibility measurements have been made for both Er- and Yb-doped (103ppm) zircon single crystals with the magnetic field perpendicular and parallel to the [001] axis. Large susceptibility anisotropies were found in both cases. Our observed anisotropies of ZrSiO4: Yb indicate small populations (19%) of Yb ions at the axial (tetragonal) sites, as the susceptibility of ZrSiO4: Yb would be nearly isotropic if the Yb ions only occupied the orthorhombic sites. For Er3+ in orthorhombic sites of zircon, our data indicate that the first excited state is paramagnetic with gx = 9 and gy 5 at 20 cm−1 above the ground state (gx 0, gy 15). The first excited state is quite similar to the ground states observed for Er3+ in many host lattices
Allelic Expression Imbalance: Tipping the Scales to Elucidate the Function of Type 2 Diabetes–Associated Loci

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified many genetic locations harboring variation that increases susceptibility to type 2 diabetes (T2D) (1). However, in order to leverage these exciting findings into rational personalized treatment strategies for patients, one needs to understand these loci in much greater detail. To begin with, it is far from clear how mechanistically these genetic differences drive T2D risk; indeed, GWAS typically report variation that is in itself not causal but rather closely “travels” down the generations with the culprit variant. Furthermore, it has proven challenging to elucidate the actual causal gene at each location. Studies of obesity genetics highlight this point. For some time, attention has been focused on understanding FTO, as intronic variation within this gene was implicated in obesity through consistent GWAS (2,3). However, it was recently reported that these variants actually act at a distance to influence the expression of the neighboring gene, IRX3 (4). There is much interest, therefore, in experimental strategies that can elucidate the functional significance of T2D GWAS variants while avoiding misattribution of biological risk. In this issue of Diabetes , Locke et al. (5). applied a logical molecular biology approach to tackle this issue. They sought to discover the regional effects of previously identified T2D risk loci resulting from multiple GWAS efforts, the largest and most recent being from the DIAbetes Genetics Replication And Meta-analysis (DIAGRAM) consortium (6). Specifically, they investigated a particular mechanism by which nucleotide changes could impact T2D risk, namely by changing …
Chondrogenic differentiation of neonatal human dermal fibroblasts encapsulated in alginate beads with hydrostatic compression under hypoxic conditions in the presence of bone morphogenetic protein-2.

In the present work, neonatal human dermal fibro- blasts (nHDFs) were evaluated as a potential cell source for intervertebral disc repair. Chondrogenic differentiation of nHDFs was studied in the presence or absence of hydrostatic compression under normal and hypoxic conditions. In addi- tion, the potentially synergistic effects of mechanical sti- mulation and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 on the chondrogenic differentiation of nHDFs were assessed. Mechanical stimulation was applied to the cells encapsulated in alginate beads using a custom-built bioreactor system for either a 1- or 3-week period at a frequency of 1 Hz for 4 h/day. In general, after 21 days of culture, high cell viability was observed for all the groups, with the exception of the groups exposed to intermittent mechanical stimulation for 3 weeks. Long-term intermittent application of mechanical stimulation under low O2 conditions resulted in elevated collagen biosyn- thesis rate from day 0. Inclusion of BMP-2 for this group improved the chondrogenic differentiation of nHDFs, as indi- cated by elevated aggrecan gene expression and an increased collagen production rate compared to the day 0 group. Thus, the combination of hypoxia, BMP-2 supplementation, and long-term intermittent application of dynamic hydrostatic pres- sure was found to be a potent promoter of the chondrogenic differentiation of nHDFs. V
Many-to-Many Invocation: a new object oriented paradigm for ad hoc collaborative systems

Many-to-Many Invocation (M2MI) is a new paradigm for building collaborative systems that run in wireless proximal ad hoc networks M2MI provides an object oriented method call abstraction based on broadcasting. An M2MI invocation means "Every object out there that implements this interface, call this method." An M2MI-based application is built by defining one or more interfaces, creating objects that implement those interfaces in all the participating devices, and broadcasting method invocations to all the objects on all the devices.
Transferring criminal investigation methods from developed to developing nations

This article examines the transfer of criminal investigation methods from developed to developing nations. We base our analysis on two general bodies of theory and research: policy transfer and institutional theory. Based on data from a study of a violent crime outbreak in Trinidad and Tobago, a small island developing state in the eastern Caribbean, we explore three efforts to import criminal investigation methods and techniques from developed nations. Our findings provide insights into the challenges faced by developing nations in acquiring crime control methods from developed nations and integrating these methods with their own.
Capacity evaluation for IEEE 802.16e mobile WiMAX

We present a simple analytical method for capacity evaluation of IEEE 802.16e Mobile WiMAX networks. Various overheads that impact the capacity are explained and methods to reduce these overheads are also presented. The advantage of a simple model is that the effect of each decision and sensitivity to various parameters can be seen easily. We illustrate the model by estimating the capacity for three sample applications--Mobile TV, VoIP, and data. The analysis process helps explain various features of IEEE 802.16e Mobile WiMAX. It is shown that proper use of overhead reducing mechanisms and proper scheduling can make an order of magnitude difference in performance. This capacity evaluation method can also be used for validation of simulation models.
Shedding Light on "Invisible" Costs: Trading Costs and Mutual Fund Performance

Industry observers have long warned of the “invisible” costs of fund trading, yet evidence that these costs matter is mixed because many studies do not account for the largest trading-cost component—price impact. Using portfolio holdings and transaction data, the authors found that funds’ annual trading costs are, on average, higher than their expense ratio and negatively affect performance. They also developed an accurate but computationally simple trading-cost proxy—position-adjusted turnover.
LEVEL SET BASED CLUSTERING FOR ANALYSIS OF FUNCTIONAL MRI DATA

We present a level set based clustering technique to detect activation regions from functional brain images using contextual information. Earlier similar approaches have been primarily concerned with local spatial context. Our approach relies on the idea that voxels within a functional region have similar temporal behavior. Using a level set formulation, a two-dimensional curve is evolved with a speed proportional to a similarity measure between the fMRI signals of voxels lying on the curve and their neighbors in the direction of propagation. The correlation coefficient is used to quantify similarity in time series of adjacent voxels. Simulation results from synthetic images demonstrate that using spatio-temporal contextual information provides better segmentation than a context-free, voxel-wise technique. Results from a real fMRI experiment using auditory stimulation are also presented.
Findings---Retailer Promotion Pass-Through: A Measure, Its Magnitude, and Its Determinants

We use data on all manufacturer funding and promotion activity by a major U.S. retailer during a two-year period to compute promotion pass-through and assess its magnitude. Then, we estimate a two-tiered probit and lognormal regression model to study drivers of the large variation we observe in pass-through rates. Although our analysis is based on data from a single retailer, it provides a much more complete picture of the magnitude and variability of pass-through than has been available to date. Some key insights from our work are as follows. First, the retailer passes through more than 100% of the total manufacturer funding it receives in aggregate, but the median pass-through rate for individual manufacturers is much lower than 100%. Second, some manufacturers are promoted even without funding. This is more likely for private label and high-share manufacturers in high-lift and high-margin categories. Third, a small number of manufacturer and category characteristics explain a significant amount of the variation in pass-through. In particular, pass-through is higher for private label. It increases with the share of the manufacturer in the focal category but also with the sales of that manufacturer in other categories. Categories with high sales, high promotion lift, low concentration, and low margin get more pass-through. We corroborate some recent conclusions in the literature, e.g., that some pass-through rates are much higher than 100% and that high-share manufacturers get more pass-through. We add several new insights, e.g., on the magnitude of aggregate pass-through, on cross-pass-through across and within categories, on pass-through for private label, and on the category drivers of pass-through.
Sociospatial Geographies of Civil War in Sierra Leone and the New Global Diamond Order: Is the Kimberley Process the Panacea?:

We examine the relationship between diamonds and conflict, and performance of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) in combating ‘conflict diamonds’ using Sierra Leone as a case study and theory on the social production of scale. A ‘glocalization’ process produced lawless spaces and economic opportunities for rebels to circumvent national controls through subregional networks and to access global capital to fund conflict, while KPCS arrangements stemmed conflict diamonds by restoring state regulation and transparency. We contend that the KPCS and its scaling were initially more about protecting economic interests of major diamond companies and trading countries than about ‘ethical diamonds’. The KPCS externalized costs to national governments and poor alluvial-diamond-producing countries relative to industry players; hence the discordance between near elimination of conflict diamonds globally and relative failure in these countries. Findings suggest an approach differentiated by country circum...
Public Hospital-Based Laboratory Experience during an Outbreak of Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infections

The experience of a public hospital virology laboratory during a springtime 2009 outbreak of a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus in New York State is described. Influenza virus was isolated from 145 of 613 respiratory swab specimens. Symptoms of fever (temperature, 102.7 ± 0.32°F), cough, upper respiratory infection, myalgia, and headache were reported. Atypical symptoms of nausea/vomiting and diarrhea were also observed. Illness occurred mainly in patients ≤21 years of age (85/145 patients). Only two patients were ≥65 years old. Compared to the results of traditional culture methods, the sensitivities of a rapid chromatographic influenza A and B virus immunoassay and rapid shell vial culture were 70.3% and 98.6%, respectively. A sensitivity of 80% was obtained by testing 50 specimens by a direct fluorescent-antibody (DFA) assay. The observation of adequate numbers of cells on the DFA assay slides suggests that the low sensitivity of the chromatographic immunoassay may result from its intrinsic nature and not from improper specimen collection. A reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay of 45 specimens performed off-site yielded 21 novel (H1N1) viruses and 2 seasonal (H3N2) influenza viruses. The mean time interval of 5.69 ± 0.37 days from specimen collection to the availability of RT-PCR results limited the value of this assay for patient care. In laboratories lacking on-site molecular capabilities, shell vial techniques can rapidly (about 1 day) confirm negative results and/or identify false-negative chromatographic immunoassay results. Laboratories lacking culture capabilities may also use the DFA assay to confirm or replace the results obtained by these immunoassays. Increasing testing demands caused shortages in commodities and personnel. Alternative testing strategies and planning are necessary in order to optimize virus detection and ensure appropriate resource allocation.
Are Latino Immigrants a Burden to Safety Net Services in Nontraditional Immigrant States? Lessons From Oregon

The significant growth of the Latino population in the midst of an economic recession has invigorated anti-Latino, anti-immigrant sentiments in many US states. One common misconception is that Latino immigrants are a burden to safety net services. This may be particularly true in nontraditional immigrant states that have not historically served Latino immigrants. Oregon data suggest that despite a higher prevalence of poverty, use of safety net services among Latino immigrants in Oregon is lower than that among non-Latino Whites. Immigration status, costs, lack of insurance coverage, and discrimination are among the reasons for this group's limited use of services. Nevertheless, policies designed to strengthen community and institutional support for Latino immigrant families should be considered in the context of current health care and immigration reform efforts.
Making Interpersonal Comparisons Coherently

Many ethical theories, including in particular consequentialist moral the ories, require comparisons of the amount of good possessed or received by different people. In the case of some goods, such as monetary income, wealth, education, or health, such comparisons are relatively unproblematic. Even in the case of such goods there may be serious empirical measurement problems, but there appear to be no difficulties in principle. Thus Cooter and Rappoport (1984) maintained that there was no serious difficulty of making interpersonal utility comparisons for an earlier generation of economists who regarded utility as an index of “material welfare.”
Reported Influence of Evaluation Data on Decision Makers’ Actions An Empirical Examination

Using a set of scenarios derived from actual evaluation studies, this simulation study examines the reported influence of evaluation information on decision makers’ potential actions. Each scenario...
Accurate and Stable Matrix-Free Time-Domain Method in 3-D Unstructured Meshes for General Electromagnetic Analysis

We develop a new time-domain method that is naturally matrix free, i.e., requiring no matrix solution, regardless of whether the discretization is a structured grid or an unstructured mesh. Its matrix-free property, manifested by a naturally diagonal mass matrix, is independent of the element shape used for discretization and its implementation is straightforward. No dual mesh, interpolation, projection, and mass lumping are required. Furthermore, we show that such a capability can be achieved with conventional vector basis functions without any need for modifying them. Moreover, a time-marching scheme is developed to ensure the stability for simulating an unsymmetrical numerical system whose eigenvalues can be complex-valued and even negative, while preserving the matrix-free merit of the proposed method. Extensive numerical experiments have been carried out on a variety of unstructured triangular, tetrahedral, triangular prism element, and mixed-element meshes. Correlations with analytical solutions and the results obtained from the time-domain finite-element method, at all points in the computational domain and across all time instants, have validated the accuracy, matrix-free property, stability, and generality of the proposed method.
Memory, Action, and Motor Control

This review chapter focuses on recent conceptualization of memory which emphasize strength of activation for memory units and the direct control of action. Allport's (1980a, b) views are presented as the major example. Both flexibility in performance and performance limitations are stressed and possible constraints on memory/attention and motor control are outlined. A joint perspective on constraints on attention and motor control is recommended.
The in Vitro Resistance of Poliomyelitis Virus to Chemical Agents

agents on the virus of poliomyelitis have been relatively limited in scope. In this paper we present the results of viricidal tests on a number of chemical agents tested under conditions expected to reveal those most active for this particular virus. The survey is by no means limited to recognized germicides, but includes many agents which clearly do not fall in this category. Since the purpose was to cover first as many agents as possible, rather than to study a few in detail, the number of tests carried out with each agent were perforce limited. For this reason the results in any given case cannot be regarded as altogether conclusive. Nevertheless, the survey gives some indication of the array of agents to which the virus is more or less highly resistant. Of more importance than this, it points to a few to which it is seemingly quite highly suceptible and which therefore deserve further study. It was the original purpose of this investigation to make the survey even broader in scope and then to follow this general survey with a detailed study of the individual agents, or class of agents, which seemed to possess outstanding viricidal activity. This program, however, was interrupted. We are therefore reporting our observations on the work as far as it was carried.
Executive functioning and lateralized semantic priming in older adults

AbstractNormal aging is associated with a number of cognitive deficits, including changes in executive functioning. Research suggests that hemispheric asymmetry during certain tasks becomes less pronounced in the elderly, reflected in greater bilateral patterns of cortical activation among older adults. Forty-two younger adults and thirty-five older adults were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests sensitive to frontal functioning. In addition, they completed a lexical decision task to assess lateralized implicit priming at two stimulus onset asynchronies (50 and 750 ms). Results of accuracy and reaction time data support Cabeza’s model of reduced asymmetry in older adults completing a semantic priming task. Analysis of the contribution of executive functioning revealed its importance in semantic memory processing.
In Vivo Neutrophil and Lymphocyte Function Studies in a Patient With Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type II

We investigated in vivo neutrophil and lymphocyte function in a patient who lacks Sialyl-Lewis-X, a ligand for the selectin family of leukocyte adhesion molecules (leukocyte adhesion deficiency II, LAD II). As assessed by skin chamber and skin window techniques, in vivo chemotaxis of neutrophils was markedly impaired (less than 6% of normal values). A marginal pool was present as determined by an increase in circulating neutrophils after epinephrine injection and calculated recovery of infused radiolabeled autologous neutrophils. Kinetic studies showed a reduced half-life of 3.2 hours (normal 7 hours) and markedly increased turnover rate (cells/kg/d) of approximately eight times the normal value. A normal antibody response to the T-cell-dependent antigen bacteriophage phi X174 showed that T/B-cell interaction is not affected in LAD II. These findings provide direct evidence that the selectin family and its ligands play an important role in neutrophil function.
Generation of a Central Nervous System Catheter-Associated Infection in Mice with Staphylococcus epidermidis

Animal models are valuable tools for investigating the in vivo pathogenesis of Staphylococcus epidermidis infections. Here, we present the procedure for generating a central nervous system catheter-associated infection in a mouse, to model the central nervous system shunt infections that frequently complicate the treatment of hydrocephalus in humans. This model uses stereotactic guidance to place silicone catheters, pre-coated with S. epidermidis, into the lateral ventricles of mice. This results in a catheter-associated infection in the brain, with concomitant illness and inflammation. This animal model is a valuable tool for evaluating the pathogenesis of bacterial infection in the central nervous system, the immune response to these infections and potential treatment options.
Quantifying three-dimensional optic axis using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

The optic axis of birefringent samples indicates the direction of optical anisotropy, which should be described in three-dimensional (3-D) space. We present a method to quantify the complete 3-D optic axis orientation calculated from in-plane optic axis measurements from a polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography system. The in-plane axis orientations with different illumination angles allow the calculation of the necessary polar angle. The method then provides the information to produce the actual birefringence. The method and results from a biological sample are presented.
Fundamentals of phase field theory

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the fundamentals of phase field theory. This theory provides an alternative method for solving dynamical problems involving crystallization from a melt. The sharp solid liquid interface of the classical model is replaced by a diffuse interface by introducing an auxiliary variable ( , the phase field, that indicates the phase. The phase field model can be derived on the basis of an entropy functional. It is possible to formulate thermodynamically consistent phase field models for solidification from the melt, for pure materials, and for alloys, including hydrodynamics. The complexity of these models, however, increases drastically with the complexity of the system being modeled. Using these models for computations is certainly possible, especially for pure materials, and has led to a number of interesting results.
Using MB-System and Matlab to generate geographical mosaics from seafloor images

A method of generating photomosaics from AUV-derived seafloor images was produced using principally the software packages MB-System and Matlab. Images are placed based on their geographical positions as logged by the vehicle, however, the raw navigation is refined using acquired bathymetry, reference bathymetry, and the images themselves. During these refinements, care is taken to maintain a physically realizable navigation model. The initial phase of this development was to generate supplementary files to support image placement into world space by GIS utilities. Subsequently, programs were developed in Matlab to assemble image data in a more effective manner than was available from standard utilities, and also to produce an updated navigation model based on visual control points common between crossing and overlapping images. Resulting mosaics have been used for groundtruth points in broader surveys, sensor placement and localization, and general mission planning.
Evaluating the capabilities of microbial chemical production using genome-scale metabolic models

Abstract As the field of metabolic engineering advances, it is becoming essential to have a systems-level understanding of the chemical production capabilities of microorganisms. Genome-scale metabolic modeling is being used to gain this understanding, both by investigating the overall metabolic potential of microorganisms for chemical production and by incorporating increasingly complex information on the physical limits of metabolism (i.e. stoichiometry, thermodynamics, and kinetics). The development of metabolic models with advanced tools for examining these limits will enable a better understanding of how metabolic networks are physically constrained and, ultimately, of how these limits can be overcome to expand the possibilities of microbial chemical production.
1992–2002: Perspective on a Decade of Post-Tsunami Surveys

We present a discussion of the field surveys conducted in the wake of fifteen locally devastating tsunamis in the period 1992–2002. The goal of these surveys has been to gather homogeneous databases of run-up and inundation, for the purpose of documenting precisely the penetration of the waves along the affected beaches. In turn, these can be used as datasets to be matched by numerical simulations of the generation of the tsunamis, their propagation and interaction with the beaches. These surveys hav e provided new insight into some complex phenomena, such as the existence of a leading depression in an N_wave, the importance of beach topography on the local enhancement of run-up, the contribution of underwater landslides to tsunami hazard, and the value of an educated population in terms of the mitigation of human losses. We review a simple and robust algorithm allowing the discrimination between tsunamis generated by dislocations and landslides, based on the aspect ratio of the distribution of run-up on a nearby beach, and the comparison of maximum run-up to the seismic slip involved in the parent earthquake. Some of the techniques developed in these recent post-tsunami surveys can be extended to events dating back a few decades through the interview of elderly witnesses and the surveying of remanent watermarks. When applied to the case of the 1946 Aleutian tsunami, the resulting data require both a large dislocative source to explain the far-field tsunami, and a coeval underwater landslide to account for the near-field run-up values which reached 42 meters at the site of the Scotch Cap light-house.
Psychometric Properties of the Impairment Rating Scale in Samples of Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are impaired in numerous domains. However, psychometrically sound measures assessing broad-ranging impairment, particularly brief scales for diagnostic purposes, are scarce. The Impairment Rating Scale (IRS), originally developed to assess ADHD-related impairment in children, has been adapted to a 12-item self-report measure of impairment in adults. In this study, the psychometric properties of the adult IRS were examined in three samples. In Studies 1 and 2, the adult IRS demonstrated good convergent, divergent, and incremental validity among college students and an online sample of adults, respectively. In the same studies, an appropriate clinical cutoff score was identified (IRS item score ≥1) using diagnostic tests. In Study 3, the adult IRS demonstrated good interrater reliability between ratings provided by romantic partners. Overall, findings support the clinical utility of the adapted IRS for assessing the impairment diagnostic criterion for ADHD in adults.
An evaluation of delay to reinforcement and mand variability during functional communication training

Children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities often exhibit invariant responding (i.e., restricted behavioral repertoires), deficits in communication, and challenging behavior. Approaches demonstrated in the basic and applied literature to increase response variability include extinction, lag schedules of reinforcement, and percentile schedules of reinforcement. Results of basic studies have also indicated that delays to reinforcement often produce increases in response variability. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of a delay to reinforcement on the variability of communication responses during functional communication training with individuals with developmental disabilities and histories of engaging in challenging behavior. Results indicated that delays to reinforcement increased mand variability with all four participants with variable effects on challenging behavior across participants.
Market Dynamics and Growth

Competitive markets have provided the key to development of private capitalism. To Adam Smith markets are central in stimulating growth of division of labor, scale economies, and even new technology. The neoclassical growth-theory used by Solow depended basically on the existence and activity of competitive factor and output markets. Modern endogenous growth theory pioneered by Lucas, Romer, and others have used competitive efficiency in both domestic and international markets as central to the diffusion of modern technology and learning by doing.
Corpus callosum atrophy rate in mild cognitive impairment and prodromal Alzheimer's disease.

Background Corpus callosum (CC) size and shape have been previously studied in Alzheimer's disease (AD) with the majority of studies having been cross-sectional. Due to the large variance in normal CC morphology, cross-sectional studies are limited in statistical power. Determining individual rates of change requires longitudinal data. Physiological changes are particularly relevant in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), in which CC morphology has not been previously studied longitudinally. Objective To study temporal rates of change in CC morphology in MCI patients over a one-year period, and to determine whether these rates differ between MCI subjects who converted to AD (MCI-C) and those who did not (MCI-NC) over an average (±SD) observation period of 5.4 (±1.6) years. Methods We used a novel multi-atlas based algorithm to segment the mid-sagittal cross-sectional area of the CC in longitudinal MRI scans. Rates of change of CC circularity, total area, and five sub-areas were compared between 57 MCI-NC and 81 MCI-C subjects. Results The CC became less circular (-0.89% per year in MCI-NC, -1.85% per year in MCI-C) with time, with faster decline in MCI-C (p = 0.0002). In females, atrophy rates were higher in MCI-C relative to MCI-NC in total CC area (p = 0.0006), genu/rostrum (p = 0.005), and splenium (0.002). In males, these rates did not differ between groups. Conclusion A greater than normal decline in CC circularity was shown to be an indicator of prodromal AD in MCI subjects. This measure is potentially useful as an imaging biomarker of disease and a therapeutic target in clinical trials.
What Is Fair in the Environmental Debate

Public debate over environmental issues has become a battle to define what is fair. For the most part, none of the competing positions claims to be ruled principally by self-interest. And, although the economic literature on methods for allocating natural resources is vast, considerations of productivity and efficiency do not seem to be foremost in reactions to environmental conflicts. It is increasingly difficult to escape a sense that environmental resources are not limitless and that some of them, in fact, are already in short supply. Since there are not enough resources for everyone to have as much as she or he wants, the situation is perceived to require some distributive tradeoffs. There is therefore a need to determine what distributive rule, and even what process for determining that distributive rule, will be most just (Lerner, 1981). There is evidence that perceptions of justice affect environmental attitudes and behavior. Kals (1993), for example, found that perceived justice of various policies was a significant predictor of attitudes toward various environmental policies in Germany. Opotow (1994) has shown that including the bombardier beetle in one’s scope of justice was a significant mediator between attitudes about the beetle and support for providing environmental protection for the beetle. Finally, Axelrod (1994; Axelrod & Lehman, 1992) has found evidence that, at least for some people, “principled” outcomes—which certainly include outcomes that would be defined as just—have a greater impact on decisions in environmental conflicts than do economic or social consequences. But there is no standard, culturally-promulgated way of thinking about justice with regard to the environment. It is only recently that human interaction with the natural environment has widely been seen as involving ethical decisions and considerations of fairness (e.g., Heberlein, 1972). Thus there is perhaps a broader range of ways in which justice is embodied in the environmental debate than in regard to other social issues, and there is more of a contest to see which view will emerge as the dominant one in public policy.
Anastomotic narrowing after esophagogastrectomy with the EEA stapling device.

We studied a series of 176 patients undergoing esophageal resection with the aid of the EEA surgical stapling device (Auto Suture U.K. limited, Great Britain) during a period of 7 1/2 years. A total of 160 patients (91%) were operated on for malignant disease. Operative death occurred in 15 patients (8.5%), and there were three anastomotic leaks (1.7%). The prevalence of dysphagia caused by both benign and malignant strictures after esophageal resection in which the EEA stapler was used was 17.4%. The rate of benign anastomotic narrowing in discharged patients was 12.5%. Anastomotic stricture resulting from recurrent tumor caused dysphagia in 6.2% of the patients undergoing resection for malignant disease. The highest rate of benign anastomotic narrowing occurred in patients who had undergone esophageal resection for benign, nondilatable strictures. In these patients, the prevalence of benign anastomotic narrowing was 37.5%, compared with 9.6% in the patients undergoing resection for malignant disease (p
Comparative Study of >2 eV Lattice-Matched and Metamorphic (AL)GaInP Materials and Solar Cells Grown by MOCVD

This work investigates >2 eV (Al)GaInP alloys grown via MOCVD for application as the top junction of IMM solar cells. We explore balancing Al content and lattice constant as two complementary variables to achieve target bandgaps in one material system. Prototype solar cell performance and defect spectroscopy (DLTS/DLOS) are used to evaluate the various alloys. Results thus far suggest that metamorphic GaInP is the most promising route for a high-performance top cell up until metamorphic GaInP becomes indirect.
Absolute Total State-Selected Cross Sections for Ion-Molecule Reactions of Importance in Planetary Ionospheres

State-selected and state-to-state ion chemistry has played an important role in our fundamental understanding of elementary bimolecular ion-molecule collision dynamics.1, 2, 3 The progress in state selected ion chemistry depends on the development of experimental techniques for state selection of reactant ions. The formation of 0+ in its ground 4S states can be achieved when one of a variety of ionization methods is followed by collisional relaxation.4
Next-Generation Sequencing of Uveal Melanoma for Detection of Genetic Alterations Predicting Metastasis

Author(s): Afshar, Armin R; Damato, Bertil E; Stewart, Jay M; Zablotska, Lydia B; Roy, Ritu; Olshen, Adam B; Joseph, Nancy M; Bastian, Boris C | Abstract: PurposeTo clinically use the UCSF500, a pancancer, next-generation sequencing assay in uveal melanoma (UM) and to correlate results with gene expression profiling (GEP) and predictive factors for metastasis.MethodsCohort study. Tumor samples of adult UM patients were analyzed with the UCSF500 and GEP. Main outcomes were copy number changes in chromosomes 1, 3, 6, and 8 and mutations in GNAQ, GNA11, SF3B1, EIF1AX, BAP1, SRSF2, U2AF1, and PLCB4. Chromosome 3 loss (a metastasis predictor) was tested for correlation with GEP class, tumor characteristics (largest basal diameter, thickness, ciliary body involvement, and extraocular extension), and histology (presence of epithelioid cells, closed loops, and mitotic count).ResultsThe 62 patients had a mean age of 59 years (range, 24-89 years). Chromosome 3 loss was detected in 30 patients and was associated with larger basal tumor diameter (Wilcoxon rank sum test, P = 0.015), greater thickness (Wilcoxon rank sum test, P = 0.016) and tumor, node, metastasis stage (Fisher test, P = 0.006), epithelioid cytology (Fisher test, P l 0.001), BAP1 mutation (Fisher test, P l 0.001), and chromosome 8q gain (Fisher test, P l 0.001). Class 2 tumors were much more likely to have chromosome 3 loss than class 1 (odds ratio, 121; P l 0.001). Eleven patients developed metastatic UM, of which five died during the study. All metastatic cases had chromosome 3 loss, 8 gain, BAP1 mutation, and class 2 GEP. Five class 1 tumors had chromosome 3 loss.ConclusionsUCSF500 detects chromosomal copy number changes and missense mutations that correlate strongly with metastasis predictors, including GEP.Translational relevanceNext-generation sequencing of UM should enhance survival prognostication.