cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structure and dynamic properties of dehydroergosterol, 13-113-113-1

Dehydroergosterol has been widely used as a fluorescent analog of cholesterol for the investigation of lipoprotein, model membrane, and biological membrane structure. Although its synthesis was reported over fifty years ago, the complete structure and assignment of the three double bonds in the rings has not heretofore been firmly established. Therefore, dehydroergosterol was synthesized and purified by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. The proposed structure (Δ8, 7, 9(11), 22-ergostatetraen-3β-o1), including the location of the double bond at Δ9(11), was confirmed by mass spectroscopy,1H-NMR, and13C-NMR. In addition, a convenient assay for determination of impurities in dehydroergosterol preparations utilizing absorbance peak ratios is described. The spectroscopic properties of dehydroergosterol are highly dependent on solvent dielectric constant. Dehydroergosterol was incorporated into sonicated unilamellar vesicles composed of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine or distearoylphosphatidylcholine. Arrhenius plots of dehydroergosterol fluorescence polarization indicated that the sterol was sensitive to the phase transitions of these phospholipids near 23° and 54°C, respectively. Differential polarized phase fluorescence and lifetime analysis were used to determine the dynamic properties of dehydroergosterol in the vesicles. At 37°C the limiting anisotropy, order parameter, and rotational rate of dehydroergosterol in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine were 0.162, 0.65, and 0.71 nsec, respectively. The limiting anisotropy and order parameter, but not the rotational rate, of dehydroergosterol were sensitive to the temperature and/or the physical state of the phospholipid.
Patients' expectations of shoulder surgery

Patients' preoperative expectations of shoulder surgery affect both the decision to proceed with surgery and how patients assess outcomes of surgery. Our goals were to identify patients' expectations of shoulder surgery, to develop and test a patient-derived shoulder surgery expectations survey, and to determine the prevalence of major expectations by diagnosis. An initial sample of 409 patients (mean age, 51 +/- 17 years; 58% men) with diverse shoulder diagnoses were asked open-ended questions preoperatively about their expectations of shoulder surgery. Their responses were grouped into 38 categories including the following: pain relief, increasing range of motion, improving the ability to wash and dress, returning to sports, improving the ability to interact and care for others, and for the shoulder to be back to the way it was before shoulder symptoms started. Expectations varied by demographic characteristics, diagnosis, and functional status measured by the L'Insalata Shoulder Rating Questionnaire and the Short Form 36. The most frequently cited categories were then assembled into closed-format questions to form a draft survey. A second sample of 100 patients with diverse shoulder diagnoses completed the draft survey on 2 separate occasions to establish test-retest reliability. Items retained to form the final survey were frequently cited, represented clinically relevant or potentially unrealistic expectations, and had concordance levels of 0.40 to 0.83 measured by the kappa statistic (71% had kappa >or= 0.60). The final 17-item Hospital for Special Surgery Shoulder Surgery Expectations Survey requires less than 5 minutes to complete. This patient-derived, self-administered survey has several possible uses in daily clinical practice, such as providing a way to learn about the patient's perspectives, providing the orthopaedist with a template to guide a formal discussion about realistic and unrealistic goals, and providing a prospective record that can be used jointly by the orthopaedist and patient postoperatively to assess the outcome of surgery.
Green's functions for the schrödinger operator with periodic potential

Let G(x, y), x, y ∈, Rd denote the Green's function of the operator −12Δ + V, where V is a continuous, periodic function. We give a description of the asymptotic exponential behavior of G(x, y) as ¦ y¦ → ∞ in a specific direction from the point x. This is achieved using large deviations results of Donsker and Varadhan.
Partition and high-performance liquid chromatography of β-lipotropin and synthetic β-endorphin analogues

Abstract Distribution constants of 14 acetylamino acid amides were measured in two solvent systems useful for partition chromatography of peptides. Free energies of transfer of side-chains, expressed by the chromatographic parameter Δ RM, linearly correlated with calculated surface areas for amino acids with hydrocarbon side-chains. Values for a variety of side-chains linearly correlated with Δ RM (side-chain) values previously measured for the 31-residue peptide β-endorphin. It was concluded that accessibility of the amino acid residues in β-endorphin to the solvent environment can explain its separation from some very closely related analogues. High-performance liquid chromatography was inadequate for effecting these separations.
Paradigms, rationality, and partial communication

Critics have said that Kuhn's account of scientific revolutions represents them as subjective and irrational processes, in which mystical conversions and community pressures rather than good reasons determine choices between theories. Kuhn rejects the charge, insisting that there is partial communication among proponents of competing paradigm candidates and their arguments are rational though not coercive. The critics reply that in fact Kuhn's position entails total non-communication and irrationality. A Kuhnian account of “partial communication” is thus necessary. Kuhn's attempt to give one, based on the notion that the “good reasons” advanced in paradigm debates function asvalues, fails. But a more satisfactory account can be given if it is recognized that paradigm-debaters will, in one or both of two ways, share paradigmsother than the ones at issue. Further, Kuhn's position both should and can accommodate a notion of theory reduction; his unqualified rejection of reduction is an unnecessary weakness, even apart from questions about the rationality of revolutions. The paper concludes with a brief examination of the contrast between Kuhn's and Feyerabend's strategies for the advancement of science.
Enzymic conversion of phosphorylase a to phosphorylase b.

Abstract Phosphorylase b, the product of the action of a muscle enzyme (PR) on crystalline rabbit muscle phosphorylase a, has one half the molecular weight of the a form. The molecular weights are 242, 000 and 495, 000 respectively.
Proceedings of the 4th symposium on Usable privacy and security

Welcome to the Fourth Symposium On Usable Privacy and Security! This year's program features 12 technical papers, two workshops, 16 posters, 12 posters published in the past year at other conferences, a panel, four discussion sessions, and two invited talks. On Thursday evening SOUPS 2008 attendees will head to the Phipps Conservancy for dinner in a lush garden setting. This year we received 43 technical paper submissions. Each paper was refereed by at least three members of the technical papers committee, and through an online discussion process the committee selected 12 papers for presentation and publication. The technical papers committee selected the paper "Expressions of Expertness: The Virtuous Circle of Natural Language for Access Control Policy Specification" by Philip Inglesant and M. Angela Sasse of University College London and David Chadwick, Lei Lei Shi of University of Kent to receive the SOUPS 2008 Best Paper Award. This paper presents the design of a controlled natural language interface to access controls as well a study of usability in practice. The first day of SOUPS 2008 features the Workshop on Usable IT Security Management (USM'08) held in parallel with the Symposium on Accessible Privacy and Security (SOAPS'08). The USM workshop focuses on usable security from the perspective of IT professionals who have to deal with the difficult problem of managing the security of large, complex enterprise systems, where an error could cost a fortune. USM includes an invited talk on human and organizational aspects of security incident management by Robin Ruefle of CERT. SOAPS focuses on design considerations for verification images, toolbars, CAPTCHAs, and other web-based mechanisms to ensure users with disabilities are not excluded or confined to lower levels of security. SOUPS 2008 features an invited talk on moving towards a science of security and human behavior by Ross Anderson of the University of Cambridge. Panel discussions will focus on the relationship between testing for usable security and product design. Finally, the SOUPS 2008 program includes four parallel "discussion" sessions, featuring moderated discussion on a topic of interest to attendees. Discussion sessions have been organized around the following topics: "Understanding PCI Regulations and Applying Strategies to Ensure Cardholder Privacy," "Metrics for Characterizing Research Participants' Technical Knowledge," "HCI-SEC Research, Private Data, and complying with the Common Rule," and "Balancing Security, Usability, and Cost." Other discussion sessions may be added depending on interest. We hope the informal, small group format will lead to lively and productive interactions.
Time associated with components of clinical services rendered by nurse-midwives. Sample data from phase II of nurse-midwifery care to vulnerable populations in the United States.

The purpose of this article is to present prospective data from phase II of “Nurse-Midwifery Care to Vulnerable Populations in the United States” about the components of clinical services provided to women and infants by CNMs, and the amount of time spent providing services in a variety of settings. Three hundred sixty nine CNMs collected data on 16,729 client visits. The results indicate that the amount of time taken by a CNM to conduct an ambulatory client visit is similar, regardless of site. There were slight differences in the length of time taken for major components of a visit between sites but, in general, there was a remarkable similarity. The amount of time spent in intrapartum care and inpatient visits is also reviewed.
Stability of Solutions to Classes of Traveling Salesman Problems

By performing stability analysis on an optimal tour for problems belonging to classes of the traveling salesman problem (TSP), this paper derives margins of optimality for a solution with respect to disturbances in the problem data. Specifically, we consider the asymmetric sequence-dependent TSP, where the sequence dependence is driven by the dynamics of a stack. This is a generalization of the symmetric non sequence-dependent version of the TSP. Furthermore, we also consider the symmetric sequence-dependent variant and the asymmetric non sequence-dependent variant. Amongst others these problems have applications in logistics and unmanned aircraft mission planning. Changing external conditions such as traffic or weather may alter task costs, which can render an initially optimal itinerary suboptimal. Instead of optimizing the itinerary every time task costs change, stability criteria allow for fast evaluation of whether itineraries remain optimal. This paper develops a method to compute stability regions for the best tour in a set of tours for the symmetric TSP and extends the results to the asymmetric problem as well as their sequence-dependent counterparts. As the TSP is NP-hard, heuristic methods are frequently used to solve it. The presented approach is also applicable to analyze stability regions for a tour obtained through application of the $ {k}$ -opt heuristic with respect to the $ {k}$ -neighborhood. A dimensionless criticality metric for edges is proposed, such that a high criticality of an edge indicates that the optimal tour is more susceptible to cost changes in that edge. Multiple examples demonstrate the application of the developed stability computation method as well as the edge criticality measure that facilitates an intuitive assessment of instances of the TSP.
Stability properties of the transverse envelope equations describing intense ion beam transport

The transverse evolution of the envelope of an intense, unbunched ion beam in a linear transport channel can be modeled for the approximation of linear self-fields by the Kapchinskij-Vladimirskij (KV) envelope equations. Here we employ the KV envelope equations to analyze the linear stability properties of so-called mismatch perturbations about the matched (i.e., periodic) beam envelope in continuous focusing, periodic solenoidal, and periodic quadrupole transport lattices for a coasting beam. The formulation is analyzed and explicit self-consistent KV distributions are derived for an elliptical beam envelope in a periodic solenoidal transport channel. This derivation extends previous work to identify emittance measures and Larmor-frame transformations to allow application of standard form envelope equations to solenoidal focusing channels. Perturbed envelope equations are derived that include driving sources of mismatch excitation resulting from focusing errors, particle loss, and beam emittance growth. These equations are solved analytically for continuous focusing and demonstrate a factor of 2 increase in maximum mismatch excursions resulting from sudden driving perturbations relative to adiabatic driving perturbations. Numerical and analytical studies are carried out to explore properties of normal mode envelope oscillations without driving excitations in periodic solenoidal and quadrupole focusing lattices. Previous work on this topic by Struckmeier and Reiser [Part. Accel. 14, 227 (1984)] is extended and clarified. Regions of parametric instability are mapped, new classes of envelope instabilities are found, parametric sensitivities are explored, general limits and mode invariants are derived, and analytically accessible limits are checked. Important, and previously unexplored, launching conditions are described for pure envelope modes in periodic quadrupole focusing channels.
Sensorimotor neurotoxicity associated with high-dose deferoxamine treatment.

Purpose. We report a reversible sensorimotor neurotixicity that developed in two β-thalassemic patients treated with high-dose deferoxamine (DFO) for iron overload. Methods. Two patients were treated with high-dose (120 mg/kg/day) intravenous DFO for iron overload. Results. Sensorimotor toxicity developed after 5 and 6 months of treatment, respectively. The development of the neurotoxicity did not correlate with the serum ferritin or the ratio of DFO dose to serum ferritin. Symptoms resolved in both patients with discontinuation of DFO treatment. In 1 patient, symptoms recurred with resumption of DFO treatment. Conclusions. These cases demonstrate that a reversible sensorimotor neurotoxicity, a previously unreported toxicity, may complicate DFO therapy; this complements the previously reported auditory and visual neurotoxicity associated with DFO therapy. Discontinuation of therapy at the time of onset of neurotoxicity is recommended. with possible resumption at lower doses.
Cone beam collimation for single photon emission computed tomography: analysis, simulation, and image reconstruction using filtered backprojection

This paper presents an analysis of two cone beam configurations (having focal lengths of 40 and 60 cm) for the acquisition of single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT) projection data. A three‐dimensional filtered backprojection algorithm is used to reconstructSPECTimages of cone beam projection data obtained using Monte Carlo simulations. The mathematical analysis resulted in on‐axis point source sensitivities (calculated for a distance of 15 cm from the collimator surface) for cone beam configurations that were 1.4–3 times the sensitivities of parallel‐hole and fan beam geometries having similar geometric resolutions. Cone beam collimation offers the potential for improved sensitivity for SPECT devices using large‐field‐of‐view scintillation cameras.
The Role of Maternal Axin in Patterning the Xenopus Embryo

Abstract Regulation of the stability of β catenin protein is a critical role of Wnt signaling cascades. In early Xenopus development, dorsal axis specification depends on regulation of β catenin by both cytoplasmic and nuclear mechanisms. While the cytoplasmic protein axin is known as a key component of the cytoplasmic β catenin degradation complex, loss-of-function studies are needed to establish whether it is required for dorso-ventral patterning in the embryo, and to test where in the embryo it carries out its function. Here, we show that embryos lacking maternal axin protein have increased levels of soluble β catenin protein and increased nuclear localization of β catenin in ventral nuclei at the blastula stage. These embryos gastrulate abnormally and develop with excessive notochord and head structures, and reduced tail and ventral components. They show increased expression of dorsal markers, including siamois, Xnr3, chordin, gsc, Xhex, and Otx2, decreased expression of Xwnt 8 and Xbra, and little alteration of BMP4 and Xvent1 and -2 mRNA levels. The ventral halves of axin-depleted embryos at the gastrula stage have dramatically increased levels of chordin expression, and severely decreased levels of Xwnt 8 mRNA expression, while BMP4 transcript levels are only slightly reduced. This dorso-anterior phenotype is rescued by axin mRNA injected into the vegetal pole of axin-depleted oocytes before fertilization. Interestingly, the phenotype was rescued by ventral but not dorsal injection of axin mRNA, at the 4-cell stage, although dorsal injection into wild-type embryos does cause ventralization. These results show directly that the localized ventral activity of maternal axin is critical for the correct patterning of the early Xenopus embryo.
Optical Fourier transform analysis of corneal endothelial cell patterns (Invited Paper)

The quantitative analysis of human corneal endothelial cell patterns is analyzed with Fourier transform methods. The optical or digital Fourier transform of the pattern of endothelial cell borders is analyzed to yield the average cell area and the coefficient of variation of the average cell area. The more difficult problem of cell shape characterization is still under investigation. The advantage of the Fourier transform analysis is the parallel processing of the optical Fourier transform and the potential development of a hybrid digital-optical device for the rapid analysis of large numbers of endothelial specular photomicrographs
An integrated diversity and fusion framework for binary consensus over fading channels

In this paper, we consider a cooperative network that is trying to reach consensus on the occurrence of an event by communicating over not fully connected and time-invariant network topologies with fading channels. We first discuss the fusion and diversity decision-making strategies over time-invariant network topologies and shed light on the underlying trade-offs. We then propose an integrated diversity and fusion framework. Our approach properly takes advantage of both fusion to enable information flow and diversity to increase robustness to link errors. We mathematically analyze the proposed framework and show how the network achieves accurate consensus asymptotically. To show an example, we then utilize the proposed framework over regular ring lattice networks. Our theoretical and simulation results indicate that the proposed technique improves the consensus performance considerably.
Techniques of Bold Speaking, Safely, in Bossuet's “Sermon sur la prédication évangélique” (1662)

In seventeenth-century France, the one context in which it was possible to publicly criticize the monarch was the pulpit. Yet, in delivering criticism, the court preacher had to avoid sounding too harsh not only for fear of giving offense but for fear the sovereign might cease listening altogether. This paper examines the rhetorical techniques by which the preacher could indirectly—and hence “safely”—criticize the king. As we see from Bossuet9s “Sermon sur la predication evangelique” (1662), far from being a simple means of cajoling, these techniques attempted to provide the preacher with the most effective means for delivering bold criticism.
Deep low-loss multimode channel waveguides fabricated on glass substrates using dry silver film electromigration technique

A simple but reliable silver electromigration technique was successfully developed to fabricate deep multimode planar and channel waveguides on the SBS450 optical quality glass substrates. In contrast to earlier ion-exchange waveguides reported, a relatively high electric field (~ 440 – 545 V/mm) was applied to speed up the whole field-assisted process by supplying the silver in ionized form rather in neutral form while at the same time prevents the silver ions that were driven into the glass from reducing into silver atoms, a major contributor to waveguide loss. The waveguides thus fabricated showed no discolors or cracks, while the attenuation losses were measured to be less than 0.2dB/cm, using our 0.6328µm He-Ne laser edge-coupling setup.
SPECIFIC DAMPING CAPACITY FOR ARBITRARY LOSS ANGLE

Abstract An analysis was performed to establish a relationship between specific damping capacity and loss angle for materials with arbitrary loss angle. The motivation for this work is that the usual relationship is only valid for low loss materials and leads to some confusion when the specific damping capacity is greater than one. In this paper, two equations for specific damping capacity are derived that are valid for all values of loss angle. One equation uses the usual definition of specific damping capacity as dissipated energy per cycle divided by maximum stored energy. The other equation defines specific damping capacity as dissipated energy per cycle divided by work done per cycle. The latter equation has the desirable property of varying between zero and one. The analysis done in the time domain is extended to include analysis of hysteresis curves as well.
Long term recording from cortical and subcortical neurons in unrestrained cats.

Abstract A system for obtaining chronic unit recording from cortical and subcortical neurons in unrestrained cats is described. This system has been used and tested in a population of trained animals for several years, and possesses the following major advantages: the microelectrode may be easily changed in the event that it becomes damaged or if a longer traverse is desired; it has proved feasible to maintain stable records from the same population of cells for as long as 14 days; the electrode can be moved through the brain of the conscious animal, affording the opportunity to map a large number of different cells in the same individual. Details of the construction of reliable glass-insulated platinum-iridium microelectrodes are presented.
Distinct mechanisms of impairment in cognitive ageing and Alzheimer's disease.

Similar manifestations of functional decline in ageing and Alzheimer's disease obscure differences in the underlying cognitive mechanisms of impairment. We sought to examine the contributions of top-down attentional and bottom-up perceptual factors to visual self-movement processing in ageing and Alzheimer's disease. We administered a novel heading discrimination task requiring subjects to determine direction of simulated self-movement from left or right offset optic flow fields of several sizes (25 ° , 40 ° or 60 ° in diameter) to 18 Alzheimer's disease subjects (mean age = 75.3, 55% female), 21 older adult control subjects (mean age = 72.4, 67% female), and 26 younger control subjects (mean age = 26.5, 63% female). We also administered computerized measures of processing speed and divided and selective attention, and psychophysical measures of visual motion perception to all subjects. Both older groups showed significant difficulty in judging the direction of virtual self-movement [ F (2,194) = 40.5, P < 0.001] and optic flow stimulus size had little effect on heading discrimination for any group. Both older groups showed impairments on measures of divided [ F (2,62) = 22.2, P < 0.01] and selective [F(2,62) = 63.0, P < 0.001] attention relative to the younger adult control group, while the Alzheimer's disease group showed a selective impairment in outward optic flow perception [ F (2,64) = 6.3, P = 0.003] relative to both control groups. Multiple linear regression revealed distinct attentional and perceptual contributions to heading discrimination performance for the two older groups. In older adult control subjects, poorer heading discrimination was attributable to attentional deficits ( R 2 adj = 0.41, P = 0.001) whereas, in Alzheimer's disease patients, it was largely attributable to deficits of visual motion perception ( R 2 adj = 0.57, P < 0.001). These findings suggest that successive attentional and perceptual deficits play independent roles in the progressive functional impairments of ageing and Alzheimer's disease. We speculate that the attentional deficits that dominate in older adults may promote the development of the perceptual deficits that further constrain performance in Alzheimer's disease.
Primeness, Internalism and Explanatory Generality

Williamson (2000) [Knowledge and its Limits, Oxford: Oxford University Press] argues that attempts to substitute narrow mental states or narrow/environmental composites for broad and factive mental states will result in poorer explanations of behavior. I resist Williamson’s arguments and use Twin-Earth style cases to argue for the causal inertness of broad mental states.
Testing a cumulus parametrization with a cumulus ensemble model in weak-temperature-gradient mode

This paper prototypes a method for calibrating a cumulus parametrization against a cumulus ensemble model. The key to this technique is to run the cumulus model and the parametrization in identical ‘test cells’ that provide forcing typical of that seen over tropical oceans. In particular, the mean temperature profile is relaxed to a reference profile that is assumed to be characteristic of the environment of the convection. This is done by calculating the mean vertical velocity needed to balance heating due to convection, latent-heat release, and radiation with adiabatic cooling. This ‘weak-temperature-gradient’ vertical-velocity profile is then used to advect moisture vertically and, via mass continuity, through the sides of the test cell, entraining reference-profile air as needed. As an example, a toy cumulus parametrization used previously is altered to reproduce the dependence of rainfall rate on surface wind speed shown by the cumulus ensemble model. This alteration greatly changes the behaviour of simulated large-scale disturbances in an aquaplanet equatorial beta-plane model. In particular, increasing the slope of the curve of rainfall rate against wind speed results in the development of much greater synoptic-scale variance. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
A reply: Media and methods

Media and methods together influence learning. This article illustrates an approach to research that allows us to look at the cognitive mechanisms by which learners interact with instructional designs and use media and methods to construct understanding. It critiques Clark's (1994) replaceability challenge.
Georgian Membership in NATO: Policy Implications of the Bucharest Summit

This article examines Georgia's efforts to gain NATO membership, focusing primarily on how closely Georgia meets NATO's political and military standards for applicant states as suggested in NATO's 1995 Study on Enlargement . In addition, this article assesses the transatlantic debate over enlargement at NATO's 2008 Bucharest Summit, and provides updated analysis of Georgia's military capabilities after its conflict with Russia over South Ossetia. The findings indicate that Georgia falls short of NATO's requested baseline measures for democratization and military modernization, and that the recent war in Georgia raises additional complications in Georgia's ambitions for alliance membership.
Thermal properties of corn starch extraction intermediates by differential scanning calorimetry

ABSTRACT Thermal properties of corn starch extraction intermediates from four types of corn were studied using differential scanning calorimetry. Starch at four different stages of extraction, including a standard single-kernel starch isolation procedure and three starch extraction intermediates, was isolated from mature corn kernels of B73 and Oh43 inbreds and the mutants of waxy (wx) and amylose extender (ae) in an Oh43 background. Differences in thermal properties and moisture and protein contents of starch from the extraction stages were statistically analyzed. Most thermal properties (gelatinization and retrogradation onset temperatures, gelatinization and retrogradation ranges, gelatinization and retrogradation peak temperatures, gelatinization and retrogradation enthalpies, peak height index, and percentage of retrogradation) of starches extracted at stage 3 intermediate (a procedure that did not include a final washing step) were similar to those of starch extracted by the standard single-kernel i...
Reconstructing networks using co-temporal functions

Reconstructing networks from time series data is a difficult inverse problem. We apply two methods to this problem using co-temporal functions. Co-temporal functions capture mathematical invariants over time series data. Two modeling techniques for co-temporal networks, one based on algebraic techniques and the other on Bayesian inference, are compared and contrasted on simulated biological network data.
Deficiency of CREB and over expression of miR-183 in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a rare leukemia of infancy and early childhood. A hallmark of JMML is that JMML cells are selectively hypersensitive to GM-CSF in vitro, but have normal sensitivity to IL-3, which shares the β-subunit receptor with GM-CSF.1, 2 The pathogenesis of JMML is linked to dysregulated signal transduction through the Ras signaling pathway caused by mutations of RAS, PTPN11 and c-CBL, or loss-of-heterozygosity of NF1.3, 4 Although most patients with JMML experience an aggressive disease course, some others spontaneously resolve.3, 5 No specific mutation has been definitively demonstrated to confer a poorer prognosis, with the exception of perhaps PTPN11, which has been shown to be associated with a higher risk of relapse in some series. In addition, gene expression and methylation analyses have identified signatures associated with outcome that are unexpectedly independent of genotype,5, 6 leading us to believe that additional mutations or events mitigate the course of JMML. Finally, the mechanisms that underlie selective GM-CSF hypersensitivity are not well established in JMML.
MSA: a memory-aware utility accrual scheduling algorithm

Whereas fairness can be the basis for general-purpose operating system scheduling policies, timeliness is the primary concern for real-time systems. As such, real-time schedulers permit uninterrupted, exclusive access to the CPU by a specific task to ensure its timely completion of execution. Only a subset of tasks, however, can satisfy their timing constraints during processor overload conditions in a real-time system. Utility accrual (UA) scheduling disciplines assure scalability and graceful performance degradation by identifying the subset of tasks to be granted the heavily contended system resources.Furthermore, whereas general-purpose operating systems treat memory monolithically and indiscriminately service dynamic allocation requests, UA-schedulers can benefit from special memory management considerations during memory overload conditions. MSA, the scheduling algorithm here presented is the first of its kind to treat memory as a UA-scheduler-managed resource. The scheduler is made aware of memory allocation requirements of each task throughout runtime and accordingly makes appropriate CPU and resource scheduling decisions. The algorithm is well-suited for use in resource-constrained embedded systems in a soft real-time environment.We have implemented MSA in a POSIX real-time operating environment and measured its performance under various load conditions. Our experimental results show overall performance gains over other memory-unaware UA scheduling algorithms during memory overload.
Negotiator confidence: The impact of self-efficacy on tactics and outcomes.

Abstract In a series of four studies, we examined whether and how negotiators’ task-related self-efficacy affects their performance. In the first two studies, we identified two theoretically meaningful self-efficacy constructs—distributive self-efficacy (DSE) and integrative self-efficacy (ISE)—and provided evidence of construct validity. In the third study, task-congruent self-efficacy was positively associated with negotiators’ self-reports of tactical decision-making. In the fourth study, we measured negotiators’ tactics and found that ISE and DSE affected negotiators’ initial choice of tactics. We conclude that ISE and DSE predisposes negotiators to select certain tactics, which then guide the course of the negotiation, and, ultimately, affect the quality of deals.
Local control and complications after radiation therapy for primary orbital lymphoma: a case for low-dose treatment.

Abstract Orbital involvement at the time of initial presentation is unusual in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In an effort to identify potential ways of improving the radiotherapeutic management of this disease, the records of 22 patients were reviewed retrospectively. All had biopsy-proven orbital non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and the minimal, median, and maximal durations of follow-up in surviving patients were 4.8 years, 7.0 years, and 17.4 years, respectively. Permanent local control was achieved in 21 of the 22 patients (96%). Complications were scored according to a grading scheme in which grade 1 was the least significant complication and grade 4 was blindness as a result of radiation therapy. Of the 12 patients who received a radiation dose
Firms as knowledge repositories

One reason firms exist is to serve as knowledge repositories. Firms compete against other firms and need profits to survive. Firms must be entrepreneurial to discover and act on profit opportunities. Knowledge required to spot profit opportunities is disbursed among economic actors and often is tacit knowledge that can only be obtained by those in close proximity. This gives rise to agglomeration economies, which can be leveraged within firms. In a competitive economy people have an incentive to keep knowledge from people in other firms, but to share it with those in their firm. One role of the firm is to act as a repository of knowledge for those within the firm’s boundaries, and to lower the cost of obtaining knowledge about profit opportunities. Entrepreneurs need firms to contain and capture the profits from their innovations.
Synthesis and conversions of 2-aryl derivatives of s-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidine

The reaction of arylhydrazines and 1-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methylthio-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidines forms 2-aryl-3-oxo-2,3,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-s-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidines. The reaction of 2-phenyl substituted triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidine with various acylating agents to give 8-acyl derivatives and the effect thereon of hydrogen chloride were studied. The amine-imine tautomerism of these compounds was studied by PMR spectroscopy.
Parallel Computing of an Integral Formulation of Transient Radiation Transport

Parallel computing of the transient radiative transfer process in participating media is studied with an integral equation model. Two numerical quadratures are used: the discrete rectangular volume (DRV) method and YIX method. The parallel versions of both methods are developed for one-dimensional and three-dimensional geometries, respectively. Both quadratures achieve good speedup in parallel performance. Because the integral equation model uses very small amount of memory, the parallel computing can take advantage of having each processor store the full spatial domain information without using the typical domain decomposition parallelism, which will be necessary in other solution methods, for example, discrete ordinates and finite volume methods, for large-scale simulations. The parallel computation is conducted by assigning a different portion of the quadrature to different compute node. In DRV method a variation of the spatial domain decomposition is used. In the case of YIX scheme, the angular quadrature is divided up according to the number of compute nodes. These parallel schemes minimize the communications overhead
Variable Power Turbine Nozzle System Mechanical Development

Mechanical, material, thermal, and actuator response time problems encountered and resolved during the development of a variable power turbine nozzle system for a nominal 400-hp (300-kw), 1950 F (1339 K) maximum cycle temperature truck industrial gas turbine power plant are described in this paper.Copyright © 1977 by ASME
Characterization Of Electro-Optic Anomalies Associated With Transient Response Of Fast Readout Charge-Coupled Devices

The salient electro-optic properties of typical Fairchild model 222 interline transfer charge-coupled devices when exposed to single impulses of visible light (100 ps to 10 As) and with subsequent fast single-frame readout (4 ms) are presented. Identification and differentiation between CCD video components arising from the intended image area or photosites and those arising from the vertical registers are discussed, with emphasis on possible ambiguities resulting from improper or random combination of the two components. In addition, CCD/camera signal-to-noise ratio and resolution as functions of readout rate and spectral input are included. Fast readout philosophy, design criteria, and circuitry are discussed.
The NASA Langley Multidisciplinary Uncertainty Quantification Challenge

This paper presents the formulation of an uncertainty quantification challenge problem consisting of five subproblems. These problems focus on key aspects of uncertainty characterization, sensitivity analysis, uncertainty propagation, extreme-case analysis, and robust design.
Transaction tagging in highly congested queueing simulations

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how a very simple queueing model can be used to gain insight into a computer memory management strategy that is important for a large class of discrete-event simulation models. To this end, an elementary queueing model is used to demonstrate that it can be advantageous to run transaction-based simulations with a relatively few “tagged” transactions that collect data. The remaining transactions merely congest the system. Conceptually the tagged transactions flow through the simulation acting similar to radioactive trace elements inserted into a biological system. The queueing model analyzed in this paper provides insight into some trade-offs in simulation data collection. We show that, while resulting in a longer computer run, an optimal tagging interval greater than one will minimize the probability of prematurely aborting the run. Finally, we propose a heuristic procedure to estimate the optimal tagging interval. We illustrate this with an actual simulation study of a steel production facility.
Interstitial Reirradiation for Recurrent Gynecologic Malignancies: Results and Analysis of Prognostic Factors

Thirteen patients with recurrent or new primary gynecologic malignancies after previous radiation therapy (RT) underwent interstitial reirradiation (IRI) from July 1986 through December 1990. Mean and median ages were 63 and 70 years, respectively. Mean and median implanted volumes were 14.3 and 12 cc, respectively. Overall, 9/13 (69%) had complete responses to IRI and 6 (46%) continue to have no evidence of disease (NED) 24-71 months later (median follow-up, 59 months). Of 7 patients with recurrent cervical or new primary vaginal carcinoma, 5 (71%) remain free of disease 27-71 months (median, 58 months) after IRI. Of 6 patients with recurrent endometrial carcinomas, only 1 (16%) continues with NED 24 months after IRI. Patients with NED after IRI had a median disease-free interval prior to IRI of 100 months compared to 6 months in patients failing IRI. Trends toward improved outcomes were observed in squamous vs adenocarcinoma, smaller tumor volumes, higher implant doses, and vaginal wall/suburethra vs vaginal cuff location. One possible complication, a rectovaginal fistula, developed in the presence of recurrent cervical cancer 22 months after IRI. Interstitial reirradiation is an effective treatment for selected patients with recurrent gynecologic malignancies after previous RT. Advantages of IRI over radical surgery include its potential to preserve organ structure and function and its applicability to patients with medical contraindications to salvage surgery. Furthermore, since subsequent exenterative surgery should not be compromised in patients failing IRI, a policy of IRI as initial treatment may be justified for patients in whom the potential for morbidity is limited.
Evaluation of Moisture Susceptibility of Nanoclay-Modified Asphalt Binders through the Surface Science Approach

AbstractDue to an increasing rate of traffic volume and truckloads in recent years, asphalt binders are often modified with synthetic polymers to increase stiffness and sustain excessive heat during hot summer days. However, the cost of polymer-modified binders (PMBs) is significantly higher than unmodified binders. Nanoclays, on the other hand, are relatively inexpensive and naturally abundant, and have favorable intrinsic properties, such as nanoscopic size and high surface area. To this end, the research reported in this paper investigated moisture resistance properties of a commonly used Performance Grade (PG) 64-22 binder modified with different dosages of two selected nanoclays [(1) Cloisite 15 A, and (2) Cloisite 11B]. The state of dispersion of the nanoclay in the binder was examined using a scanning electron microscope and small-angle x-ray diffraction. The morphological analyses of scanning electron microscope scans and inter-gallery distances (d-spacing values) of small-angle x-ray diffraction ...
Organizing multimedia data socially

Social network sites such as Orkut, MySpace, Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube are flourishing. On these sites, users create communities, upload/share user generated content such as blogs, photos and videos, and interact with each other directly or indirectly. For analyzing and organizing multimedia data, social networks provide useful signals additional to traditional perceptual signals such as color, texture, shape, and motion. In this talk, I will first explain what some social signals can be useful. I will then present algorithms that can fuse these social signals with text and perceptual features. To deal with a large amount of data and rapidly growing social networks, we have recently developed a number of parallel, online algorithms. I will present parallel implementation of Support Vector Machines, PF-Growth (for association mining), spectral clustering algorithm (including SVD and k-mean), Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), and combinational collaborative filtering.
Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy of iRGD-Conjugated Crosslinked Multilayer Liposomes for Drug Delivery

Targeting nanoparticles by conjugating various specific ligands has shown potential therapeutic efficacy in nanomedicine. However, poor penetration of antitumor drugs into solid tumors remains a major obstacle. Here, we describe a targeting strategy for antitumor drug delivery by conjugating a crosslinked multilamellar liposomal vesicle (cMLV) formulation with a tumor-penetrating peptide, iRGD. The results showed that iRGD peptides could facilitate the binding and cellular uptake of drug-loaded cMLVs and consequently enhance the antitumor efficacy in breast tumor cells, including multidrug-resistant cells. Moreover, colocalization data revealed that iRGD-conjugated cMLVs (iRGD-cMLVs) entered cells via the clathrin-mediated pathway, followed by endosome-lysosome transport for efficient drug delivery. Finally, in vivo study indicated that iRGD-cMLVs could deliver anticancer drugs efficiently to mediate significant tumor suppression.
The value of sentinel lymph node biopsy in elderly breast cancer patients.

Abstract Background Although sentinel lymph node biopsy has been accepted as a useful procedure for certain breast cancer patients, the value of this procedure in the elderly remains unknown. We undertook this study to evaluate changes in adjuvant treatment attributable to sentinel lymph node biopsy. Methods A total of 104 patients ≥65 years underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy plus lumpectomy or mastectomy for the treatment of clinically node-negative invasive breast cancer. Demographic, pathologic, and treatment data were evaluated using an SAS software package (SAS, Cary, North Carolina). Results Twenty-nine of 104 patients (28%) had metastatic disease in ≥1 sentinel lymph node. Nonsurgical treatment was modified in 38% of patients because of sentinel lymph node biopsy results. Changes included adjuvant chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy, adjuvant axillary radiotherapy, and decisions against adjuvant therapy. Conclusions These data suggest that sentinel lymph node biopsy in elderly breast cancer patients is beneficial.
A planning model for phasing in a new fleet of light rail vehicles

Abstract This paper describes a computerized planning model developed to assist the operations planning groups of urban transportation systems. The model is to be utilized in planning the phasing in a fleet of new light rail vehicles (LRVs). The model consists of a system of interrelated, calibrated mathematical functions following iterative procedures to meet specified tolerances. Applications of the model are given within the context of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The experimental investigations include: the impact of the LRVs on ridership demand, operating costs, revenues and on operating performance measures. Additionally, assignment rules for allocating arriving LRVs are evaluated. The experimental results show that the “best” assignment rule changes as a function of the number of LRVs available. In addition, the results show that following the introduction of the LRVs, “economies of scale” can be expected. The model is written in FORTRAN and consists of ten modules, the main routine and nine sub-routines.
EUS-guided drainage of pelvic abscess

Deciding how to treat pelvic abscesses can pose a clinical dilemma. They usually occur after surgery or in patients with medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, ischemic colitis, sexually transmitted diseases, or septic emboli from endocarditis. However, the anatomical challenges make this a clinical obstacle, with navigation needed around the bony pelvis, bladder, bowel, reproductive organs in females, the prostate in men, rectum, and other neurovascular structures. Historically, pelvic abscesses necessitated surgery and ultrasound-guided transrectal or transvaginal interventions or were percutaneously drained under computed tomography (CT) guidance. Recently, there have been advances in the field of interventional endosonography that have opened a new avenue for drainage. This chapter will review the different treatment options for draining pelvic abscesses, with a focus on the technique of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guide drainage.