cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response of Arundo donax L. (giant reed) to leaf damage and partial defoliation

Arundo donax (giant reed) is a tall clonal invasive grass which has impacted many riparian ecosystems in the US. Experiments tested the hypotheses (1) that defoliation would affect A. donax stem growth and leaf production and (2) that leaf damage or removal would influence A. donax photosynthetic rates using a combination of field and laboratory settings. Leaf defoliation did not affect the height of stems or the number of leaves per stem for plants growing at a field site. Leaf damage did not influence the electron transport rate (ETR) for damaged or adjacent leaves, and defoliated stems maintained ETR which were similar to those of undamaged leaves. These findings suggest that moderate to low levels of leaf damage and/or defoliation alone may not significantly influence growth of A. donax stems and leaves and, therefore, may not reduce A. donax persistence in a particular habitat. Further, these results provide a benchmark against which to judge the effects of management approaches which affect A. donax...
Effect of precordial electrocardiographic electrode placement on st‐segment measurement during exercise

Research protocols often utilize serial exercise testing to examine the efficacy of anti-ischemic therapies. These tests, however, are prone to multiple sources of bias. This investigation sought to determine the influence of varying precordial electrocardiographic (ECG) electrode placement on the detection of exercise-induced ST-segment shifts. Fifteen coronary artery disease patients with abnormal exercise tests were studied. Based on the previous exercise test, the precordial electrode position exhibiting the greatest ST-segment shift was selected as the reference electrode. Four additional electrodes were placed around this reference electrode and exercise testing was performed. ECG strips were recorded every minute. The time-to-onset and -offset of ischemic-type ST-segment depression was recorded. ST-segment depression was recorded during exercise from the reference electrode in 12 of 15 patients. Ischemic-type ST-depression was also recorded in each of these 12 patients with the surrounding electrodes; however, the time-to-onset detected by all four surrounding electrodes concurred in only 5 of 12 (42%) patients. The time-to-offset of the ST-segment depression concurred in 9 of 12 (75%) patients. Serial ECGs recorded from similar but not exactly the same precordial ECG electrode position should yield similar results for the detection of ischemia, but time-to-onset or -offset of ischemia may differ by 60 s or more. Small changes in the time-to-onset and -offset of ischemia should not be considered reliable indicators of anti-ischemia efficacy.
Akt and PTEN: new diagnostic markers of non-small cell lung cancer?

We are particularly interested in testing the principles of cell proliferation and apoptosis in the microenvironment of human lung cancers with respect to the cell survival protein Akt1 and PTEN2. Akt is a cytosolic protein which promotes cell survival by phosphorylative inactivation of targets in apoptotic pathways. Akt has been found to play a role in the survival of experimental cancer cell lines in breast, prostate, ovary, lung and brain tissue. PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene whose protein product is expressed in inverse proportion to phosphorylated Akt in endometrial and breast cancer cell lines. No studies of the diagnostic significance of Akt and PTEN in human lung cancers have been reported.
Simultaneous Confidence Intervals for Ratios of Normal Means

Abstract Given one or more groups of multivariate normal samples, methods are presented for forming simultaneous confidence intervals of all ratios of linear forms of the mean vectors. The methods cover the cases of equal or unequal covariances. In a simultaneous inference context, they are multivariate extensions of a method due to Fieller (1954) for estimation of the ratio of two normal means.
Enantioselective Synthesis of Nonphosphorus-Containing Phosphotyrosyl Mimetics and Their Use in the Preparation of Tyrosine Phosphatase Inhibitory Peptides

Abstract Three new L-amino acid analogues 12, 18 and 25 have been prepared in protected form suitable for incorporation into peptides by solid-phase synthesis using Fmoc protocols. These agents represent nonphosphorus-containing phosphotyrosyl (pTyr) mimetics, which utilize carboxylic groups to provide functionality normally afforded by the pTyr phosphate group. To demonstrate the utility of these analogues, the protein-tyrosine phosphatase-directed peptides Ac-D-A-D-E-X-L-amide (28 – 30) were prepared, where X = pTyr mimetic. In the case where X = 3-carboxy-4-(O-carboxymethyl)-L-tyrosine (8) a Ki value of 3.6 μM was obtained against PTP1, which equals the Km of the parent pTyr containing peptide. Besides tyrosine phosphatases, these analogues may be useful in a number of contexts, including SH2 domain and phosphotyrosine binding domain systems.
Non-Polymeric Binders for Ceramic Powders: Utilization of Neutral and Ionic Species Derived from Decaborane(14)

The pyrolytic conversion of bis-Lewis base adducts of decaborane(14), L·B10H12·L (L=neutral monophosphine) and phosphonium salts of the [B10H10]2− anion (e.g. [Ph4P+]2, etc.), to ceramic materials has been studied. All species examined served as binders for a variety of non-oxide refractory ceramic powders (e.g. B4C, BN, BP, B13P2, SiC, Si3N4, B, C, AIN).
Mindlessness and gaining compliance in Computer-Human Interaction

The computers are social actors (CASA) effect refers to the application of social rules when individuals interact with computers. Although the most plausible mechanism for CASA involves mindlessness, according to Langer, Blank, and Chanowitz's (1978) original theorization, mindlessness stems from a motivational deficit during a compliance gaining interaction. Mindlessness occurs when individuals view their behavior as relatively unimportant or inconsequential. However, researchers often employ a cognitive deficit approach and examine the CASA effect as a perceptual rather than behavioral outcome. Moreover, previous findings suggest that computer agents may activate the norm of reciprocity to induce human compliance (Fogg & Nass, 1997). To test the mechanism of mindlessness and address possible methodological artifacts from past work on Computer-Human reciprocity, an experiment employing a 3 (request type: direct, placebic, or sufficient)x3 (request size: large, medium, or small) design tested alternative hypotheses based on the cognitive and motivational explanations. The data are consistent the motivational hypothesis. In contrast to previous findings from Fogg and Nass, neither obligation, liking, nor mood correlated with compliance. The findings offer several directions for future work.
Experimental Study of A Frequency-Adjustable Piezoelectric Bimorph Energy Harvester

Piezoelectric energy harvesters are ideal for capturing energy from mechanical vibrations in ambient environments. The operating and source frequencies must match for the energy harvester to produce useful power. In this article, a new, broadband piezoelectric energy harvester that is implemented as a series of connected vibrating piezoelectric bimorph beams is designed and tested. The experimental results show that the operating frequency can be adjusted by changing the stiffness of a connecting spring and/or a small mass mounted on the bimorph. The results provide a foundation for the design of frequency-self tuning piezoelectric energy harvesters capable of maximizing power efficiency.
Amyloid precursor protein accumulates in regions of neurodegeneration following focal cerebral ischemia in the rat

Abstract The distribution of β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) was examined immunocytochemically in rats subjected to focal cerebral ischemia by permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. At 4 and 7 days post-occlusion, APP immunoreactivity was preferentially localized within axonal swellings, dystrophic neurites and neuronal perikarya all along the periphery of the infarct. Immunolabeling was observed with antibodies generated against N-terminal, midregion, and C-terminal domains of APP. No immunoreactivity was observed with antisera directed against β-amyloid protein (βA4) itself. This pathological accumulation of APP is consistent with alterations of APP recently described in other models of neurodegeneration and implies a role for this protein in the response to CNS injury.
The use of biodegradable amikacin microspheres to prevent vascular graft infection

The following study was performed to determine if an antibiotic impregnated in a biodegradable polymer can prevent infection and eradicate inoculum bacteria from contaminated polytetrafluoroethylene vascular grafts. Poly(glycolide-co-dl-lactide) amikacin microspheres (PAM) measuring 50-100 microns were designed to deliver 100 mg (PAM 100) or 300 mg (PAM 300) amikacin per unit dose. Twenty mongrel dogs had a short segment of infrarenal aorta replaced with a graft that had been bathed in a 2 cc solution of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (3 x 10(8) CFU/ml). Dogs were divided into three groups: Controls had contaminated grafts placed and received no therapy; PAM 100 and PAM 300 were used, respectively, to cover the grafts in the other two groups. Animals were sacrificed 14 days postoperatively at which time grafts were examined and cultured. Among controls, 7/8 had clinical graft infections and all had positive cultures for S. aureus (8/8) or E. coli (5/8). None of the treated animals had clinical graft infections (P < 0.001). Positive cultures were obtained for S. aureus in 2/8 (P < or = 0.007) and E. coli in 0/8 (P < or = 0.03) PAM 100 dogs and for S. aureus in 0/8 (P < or = 0.0002) and E. coli in 0/8 (P < or = 0.03) PAM 300 dogs. Two PAM 100 and four PAM 300 dogs had rare growth of contaminant bacteria (NS). In conclusion, PAM can prevent clinical graft infection and completely eradicate a standardized bacterial inoculum.
FGFR1 and PROKR2 rare variants found in patients with combined pituitary hormone deficiencies

The genetic aetiology of congenital hypopituitarism (CH) is not entirely elucidated. FGFR1 and PROKR2 loss-of-function mutations are classically involved in hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH), however, due to the clinical and genetic overlap of HH and CH; these genes may also be involved in the pathogenesis of CH. Using a candidate gene approach, we screened 156 Brazilian patients with combined pituitary hormone deficiencies (CPHD) for loss-of-function mutations in FGFR1 and PROKR2. We identified three FGFR1 variants (p.Arg448Trp, p.Ser107Leu and p.Pro772Ser) in four unrelated patients (two males) and two PROKR2 variants (p.Arg85Cys and p.Arg248Glu) in two unrelated female patients. Five of the six patients harbouring the variants had a first-degree relative that was an unaffected carrier of it. Results of functional studies indicated that the new FGFR1 variant p.Arg448Trp is a loss-of-function variant, while p.Ser107Leu and p.Pro772Ser present signalling activity similar to the wild-type form. Regarding PROKR2 variants, results from previous functional studies indicated that p.Arg85Cys moderately compromises receptor signalling through both MAPK and Ca2 + pathways while p.Arg248Glu decreases calcium mobilization but has normal MAPK activity. The presence of loss-of-function variants of FGFR1 and PROKR2 in our patients with CPHD is indicative of an adjuvant and/or modifier effect of these rare variants on the phenotype. The presence of the same variants in unaffected relatives implies that they cannot solely cause the phenotype. Other associated genetic and/or environmental modifiers may play a role in the aetiology of this condition.
Use and overuse of left ventriculography

Background Left ventriculography provided the first imaging of left ventricular function and was historically performed as part of coronary angiography despite a small but significant risk of complications. Because modern noninvasive imaging techniques are more accurate and carry smaller risks, the routine use of left ventriculography is of questionable utility. We sought to analyze the frequency that left ventriculography was performed during coronary angiography in patients with and without a recent alternative assessment of left ventricular function. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of insurance claims data from the Aetna health care benefits database including all adults who underwent coronary angiography in 2007. The primary outcome was the concomitant use of left ventriculography during coronary angiography. Results Of 96,235 patients who underwent coronary angiography, left ventriculography was performed in 78,705 (81.8%). Use of left ventriculography was high in all subgroups, with greatest use in younger patients, those with a diagnosis of coronary disease, and those in the Southern United States. In the population who had undergone a very recent ejection fraction assessment by another modality (within 30 days) and who had had no intervening diagnosis of new heart failure, myocardial infarction, hypotension, or shock (37,149 patients), left ventriculography was performed in 32,798 patients (88%)—a rate higher than in the overall cohort. Conclusions Left ventriculography was performed in most coronary angiography cases and often when an alternative imaging modality had been recently completed. New clinical practice guidelines should be considered to decrease the overuse of this invasive test.
Numerically-assisted coupled-mode theory for silicon waveguide couplers and arrayed waveguides

We investigate coupled-mode theory in designing high index contrast silicon-on-insulator waveguide couplers and arrayed waveguides. We develop and demonstrate a method of solution to the inverse problem of reconstructing the coupling matrix from the modal profiles obtained, in this case, from finite-difference frequency-domain field calculations. We show that whereas supermode theory provides a good approximation of the mode profiles, next-to-nearest-neighbor coupling becomes significant at small separation distances between arrayed waveguides. These distances are quantified for three different silicon-on-insulator material platforms. We also point out the phenomenon of field skewing and deformation at small separations.
Discrete time quantized data controllers

A new technique for the digital control of continuous time systems is presented. This technique is based on a table look-up algorithm. To minimize the number of entries in the table, a grid embedding process is proposed. Using this process, an accurate, fast, and low-cost controller can be constructed using a table of a few thousand entries. The paper derives the control strategy and proposes a digital circuit to implement the controller. An example is presented in which the performance of a closed-loop digital controller is compared with that of an optimal regulator. The comparison shows that the performance of the new controller is very close to that of an equivalent optimal controller
Early expression of p107 is associated with 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation

In response to hormonal stimulation quiescent 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells reenter the cell cycle and undergo a mitotic expansion phase prior to terminal differentiation. The cell cycle regulatory proteins p130 and p107 undergo dramatic changes in protein levels within 24 h of differentiation. The role of these proteins in regulating adipocyte mitotic clonal expansion and/or differentiation are unclear. It has recently been demonstrated that adipocyte proliferation can be uncoupled from adipocyte differentiation through the use of the pharmacological MEK inhibitor PD98059 or the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, sodium vanadate. We examined the expression of p130 and p107 in stimulated 3T3-L1 cells in the presence of either PD98059, U0126 or sodium vanadate. While inhibition of MEK blocked proliferation, the cells underwent differentiation normally. In contrast, vanadate blocked differentiation without affecting proliferation. Inhibition of MEK did not affect the increase in p107 expression in stimulated cells indicating that induction of p107 is independent of MAP kinase signaling. Vanadate treatment caused a significant delay in p107 expression in the first 24 h following stimulation. Under these conditions, p130 expression was relatively unchanged. Our results indicate that a rapid increase in p107 expression correlates with a commitment to undergo adipocyte differentiation. The data further suggest that the rapid induction of p107 is not required for cellular proliferation during the mitotic clonal expansion phase. Taken together, these findings provide correlative data that implicate p107 in the terminal differentiation, but not proliferation, of quiescent preadipocytes following hormonal stimulation.
CML: how low can you go?

The use of imatinib mesylate as a specific inhibitory treatment of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase has revolutionized the treatment of CML. Although results of treatment in patients in accelerated phase or blast crisis remain suboptimal, the rate of progression to advanced phase from chronic phase has
The world is our laboratory

Cosma Shalizi profiles the career and vision of Myron Scholes, and charts the naisance of the seminal Black–Scholes formula for financial risk management.
Sex, Drugs, and Hepatitis C Virus

mission of HCV. Because the pool of infected persons is very large (the World Health Organization estimates that 170 million people worldwide are infected with HCV) and sexual intercourse is common, even a low rate of sexual transmission can account for a large number of new cases. This explains why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend condom use for longterm serodiscordant heterosexual couples to prevent HCV transmission [1] while attributing 15% of new HCV infections to sexual transmission [2]. The literature about HCV is rife with
Possible vector dissemination by swift foxes following a plague epizootic in black-tailed prairie dogs in northwestern Texas.

To determine whether swift foxes (Vulpes velox) could facilitate transmission of Yersinia pestis to uninfected black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies by acquiring infected fleas, ectoparasite and sero-logic samples were collected from swift foxes living adjacent to prairie dog towns during a 2004 plague epizootic in northwestern Texas, USA. A previous study (1999–2001) indicated that these swift foxes were infested almost exclusively with the flea Pulex irritans. Black-tailed prairie dogs examined from the study area harbored only Pulex simulans and Oropsylla hirsuta. Although P. irritans was most common, P. simulans and O. hirsuta were collected from six swift foxes and a single coyote (Canis latrans) following the plague epizootic. Thus, both of these canids could act as transport hosts (at least temporarily) of prairie dog fleas following the loss of their normal hosts during a plague die-off. All six adult swift foxes tested positive for antibodies to Y. pestis. All 107 fleas from sw...
Students' Roles, Rights, and Responsibilities as Research Participants

The research situation is discussed from the point of view of the student participant. Participants may assume roles, varying in the nature of their compliance, as good, faithful, apprehensive, or ...
General asynchrony is not expensive for PRAMs

The authors present a technique to efficiently simulate a synchronous n-processor PRAM using a completely asynchronous PRAM. This work is an extension of prior results of Martel et. al. (1990) in which a measure of work for asynchronous PRAM algorithms is developed that accounts for all instructions executed by the processors including busy waiting steps. These prior results show that if the asynchrony is modestly restricted, the expected work of asynchronous PRAM algorithms is within a constant factor of the expected work on a standard synchronous n-processor PRAM. They extend these prior results to a general asynchronous model with only O(nT(min(log P,log U))) expected work and O(nT) space, using up to n/lognlog*n processors. Here, P is the number of processors used in the simulation, U is the maximum number of updates to any single data item, and T is the number of time steps in the synchronous n-processor PRAM algorithm. The results indicate that completely relaxing synchrony in shared memory parallel processing systems is possible with only modest additional work. >
Harlequin Syndrome Following Implantation of Intrathecal Pumps: A Case Series.

Objective Harlequin syndrome (HS) is a condition that has been associated with one-sided sympathetic denervation of the face, characterized by contralateral hemifacial flushing and relative hyperhidrosis. Case series associate HS with conditions and procedures, including neuraxial anesthesia, that disrupt unilateral facial sympathetic innervation. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first series of HS following implantation of an intrathecal drug delivery system. Case Series A 37-year-old and 58-year-old female patients with intractable pain from metastatic cancer were scheduled for placement of an intrathecal pump drug delivery system. Thirty minutes after a mixture of hydromorphone, bupivacaine, and clonidine was initiated through the intrathecal pump, both patients developed well-demarcated skin flushing, confined to one side of their face. Patients were not in distress, and physical examination revealed neither focal neurological deficits nor ocular involvement. Postprocedure thoracolumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done in the first patient and showed no evidence of neuraxial bleeding or spinal cord compression. The flushing gradually faded and eventually disappeared without any untoward effects. Conclusion HS is a condition associated with one-sided sympathetic denervation of the face that can occur after intrathecal pump implantation. An understanding of the pathophysiology of this condition and reassurance are vital factors for successful management of this condition.
Angelica sinensis and its Alkylphthalides Induce the Detoxification enzyme NAD(P)H: Quinone OxidoReductase 1 by Alkylating KEAP1

The roots of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Dang Gui; Apiaceae) have a long history in traditional Chinese medicine as a remedy for women’s disorders and are often called “lady’s ginseng”. Currently, extracts of A. sinensis are commonly included in numerous dietary supplements used for women’s health and as antiaging products. In the present study, we examined the potential chemopreventive activity of A. sinensis extracts by measuring the relative ability to induce the detoxification enzyme, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). The lipophilic partitions showed strong NQO1 induction with concentrations to double the enzyme activity (CD) of 5.5 ± 0.7 (petroleum ether) and 3.9 ± 0.5 μg/mL (chloroform). Fractionation led to the isolation of phenolic esters and alkylphthalides, especially Z-ligustilide, the main lipophilic compound, which showed strong NQO1 inducing properties (CD = 6.9 ± 1.9 μM). Transcription of many detoxifying enzymes is regulated through the antioxidant response element (ARE) and it...
10C-4 Improved Myocardial Motion Tracking in Mouse Echocardiography Using Large-Diameter Microbubbles

High frequency (25-35 MHz), transthoracic, adult mouse echocardiography images sometimes exhibit low echogenecity in segments of the myocardium, resulting in degraded regional motion tracking. In this work, we performed high frequency (30 MHz) transthoracic ultrasound scanning on the left ventricle (LV) of normal C57BL/6 mice. Large-diameter microbubbles (range=2-8 mum, median~=5 mum) were used to enhance myocardial image signal via microbubbles lodging in the myocardial capillary bed [1]. Microbubbles produced an image intensity enhancement of 5-10 dB throughout the myocardium - especially in known signal dropout susceptible locations such as the septal wall. The motion analysis was performed using various filtering and tracking block size parameters, and the results were compared between analysis on microbubble-enhanced images and control echocardiographic images where no microbubbles were employed. The use of microbubbles allowed motion tracking without image pre-filtering and thus reduced the smoothing effect on motion tracking that filtering can cause. Motion tracking using smaller tracking block size (0.2 x 0.2 mm2 vs. 0.4 x 0.4 mm2) on microbubble- enhanced images yielded finer tracking accuracy and better resolution than when tracking was performed on control images. Microbubble enhancement also facilitated motion tracking measurements using "real-time" image sequences (requiring an acquisition lasting a few seconds) versus the previously preferred EKV data acquisition method (i.e., an ECG-gated EKV acquisition mode) that required 2-3 minutes.
Evidence-based assessment of treatment options for children with IgA nephropathies.

We present an evidence-based evaluation of published data on therapy for children with various presentations of the IgA nephropathies – idiopathic IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN). Particular attention has been paid to the outcome markers used in the studies reviewed, with the best evidence provided by markers highly associated with progressive renal failure. No treatment modality for either IgAN or HSPN in pediatric patients has been shown to be effective by a properly designed and administered randomized controlled trial (i.e., the highest level of evidence – level 1). Lower levels of evidence support the use of a variety of corticosteroid regimens, often in combination with other agents, although there are some conflicting studies in this area. No convincing evidence has been published to date to support the use of fish oil, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or tonsillectomy for the treatment of children with IgAN or HSPN. Well designed randomized controlled trials in children with the IgA nephropathies need to be undertaken.
The Roles of Mood and Conscientiousness in Error Reporting Decisions on IT Projects

Human errors in the workplace can lead to economic costs, negative publicity, and, in extreme cases, loss of lives. These errors need to be reported in order to allow for corrective action to be ta...
Risk/Need Assessment, Offender Classification, and the Role of Childhood Abuse

Over the last several decades, the use of risk/need assessments has had a great impact on correctional classification and treatment decisions. One instrument that is now being used by many correctional agencies in the United States is the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R). Criticisms of the LSI-R include failure to consider physical and sexual abuse as risk factors and failure to modify the instrument for the assessment of female offenders. Using a sample of 442 offenders (317 male and 125 female), this research investigates (a) the validity of the LSI-R for both females and males and (b) the relationship between childhood abuse, the LSI-R, and recidivism rates. Analyses indicated that the LSI-R is a valid (predictive) instrument for this sample of female offenders and that a history of prior abuse fails to add to the prediction of reincarceration, once risk is controlled for using the LSI-R. Implications for further research are discussed.
Investigation of the cytotoxicity and insulin transport of acrylic-based copolymer protein delivery systems in contact with caco-2 cultures

Microparticles or nanospheres of hydrogels of crosslinked poly(methacrylic acid) grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) as well as crosslinked poly(acrylic acid) grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) were prepared for use as oral insulin delivery carriers. The copolymer carriers were synthesized by precipitation/dispersion polymerization that led to gel nanospheres or by bulk polymerization and subsequent size reduction of thin films to obtain gel microparticles. The cytotoxicity of these copolymers was investigated in contact with Caco-2 cell cultures using a metabolic assay to measure the effect of the presence of copolymers on the cell viability. The copolymers were found to exhibit no cytotoxic effect on the cell cultures. Insulin-loaded formulations were also tested for cytotoxicity and insulin transport studies across cell monolayers. The copolymers were shown to open the tight junctions between cells, increasing the available area for diffusion across the cell monolayer, and thus increasing the permeability of insulin across the monolayer.
On the formation and propagation of nonlinear internal boluses across a shelf break

High-resolution two- and three-dimensional numerical simulations are performed of first-mode internal gravity waves interacting with a shelf break in a linearly stratified fluid. The interaction of nonlinear incident waves with the shelf break results in the formation of upslope-surging vortex cores of dense fluid (referred to here as internal boluses) that propagate onto the shelf. This paper primarily focuses on understanding the dynamics of the interaction process with particular emphasis on the formation, structure and propagation of internal boluses onshelf. A possible mechanism is identified for the excitation of vortex cores that are lifted over the shelf break, from where (from the simplest viewpoint) they essentially propagate as gravity currents into a linearly stratified ambient fluid.
Tracking Changes in Healthcare Documents

We present methods for monitoring a large, diverse, and autonomously modified collection of healthcare documents on the Web. Our methods do not require document-providers to offer any special services. They are based on explicating changes between document versions on a per-user basis by using differencing algorithms. These changes are presented to users in the context of the documents using special XML elements. In order to effectively browse changes in large document collections, we use a variable-resolution XML browser. A noteworthy feature of this browser is that it produces usable displays at any level of detail specified by a user
CHINESE AND AMERICAN MANAGERS' COMPENSATION AWARD DECISIONS: A COMPARATIVE POLICY‐CAPTURING STUDY

Using a policy-capturing approach, in this study we examined the extent to which 4 variables (work performance, relationship with coworkers, relationship with managers, and personal needs) affect the process through which Chinese and American managers make 2 types of compensation award decisions (bonus amounts and nonmonetary recognition). Results showed that, compared with their American counterparts, Chinese managers (a) put less emphasis on work performance when making bonus decisions; (b) put more emphasis on relationship with coworkers when making nonmonetary decisions; (c) put more emphasis on relationship with managers when making nonmonetary award decisions; and (d) put more emphasis on personal needs when making bonus decisions. We discussed the implications of these results for future research and practice.
Proofs from simulations and modular annotations

We present a modular technique for simulation-based bounded verification for nonlinear dynamical systems. We introduce the notion of input-to-state discrepancy of each subsystem Ai in a larger nonlinear dynamical system A which bounds the distance between two (possibly diverging) trajectories of Ai in terms of their initial states and inputs. Using the IS discrepancy functions, we construct a low dimensional deterministic dynamical system M(δ). For any two trajectories of A starting δ distance apart, we show that one of them bloated by a factor determined by the trajectory of M contains the other. Further, by choosing appropriately small δ's the overapproximations computed by the above method can be made arbitrarily precise. Using the above results we develop a sound and relatively complete algorithm for bounded safety verification of nonlinear ODEs. Our preliminary experiments with a prototype implementation of the algorithm show that the approach can be effective for verification of nonlinear models.
Achieving fluency in modernized and formalized Hohfeld: puzzles and games for the LEGAL RELATIONS Language

A significant refinement has been made in the AHOHFELD representation language, linlciig it realistically to decisions being made in the legal system, and it has been renamed to become the LEGAL RELATIONS Language. Similar changes have been made in the underlying AHOHFELD logic, which has become the Logic of LEGAL RELATIONS. A series of 27 puzzles and games, designed to enable legal problem solvers to become fluent in the LEGAL RELATIONS Language, are described and illustrated briefly in this article. More detailed presentation of the Play-A-Round puzzles and the Clever Plaintiff and the Legal Argument games are available at Internet site: http://thinkers.law.umich.edu.
Mutation of flgM attenuates virulence of Salmonella typhimurium, and mutation of fliA represses the attenuated phenotype.

Abstract Salmonella typhimurium ST39 exhibits reduced virulence in mice and decreased survival in mouse macrophages compared with the parent strain SL3201. Strain ST39 is nonmotile, carries an indeterminate deletion in and near the flgB operon, and is defective in the mviS (mouse virulence Salmonella) locus. In flagellum-defective strains, the flgM gene product of S. typhimurium negatively regulates flagellar genes by inhibiting the activity of FliA, the flagellin-specific sigma factor. In this study, flgM of wild-type S. typhimurium LT2 was found to complement the mviS defect in ST39 for virulence in mice and for enhanced survival in macrophages. Transduction of flgM::Tn10dCm into the parent strain SL3201 resulted in attenuation of mouse virulence and decreased survival in macrophages. However, a flgM-fliA double mutant was fully virulent in mice and survived in macrophages at wild-type levels. Thus, the absolute level of FliA activity appears to affect the virulence of S. typhimurium SL3201 in mice. DNA hybridization studies showed that flgM-related sequences were present in species other than Salmonella typhimurium and that sequences related to that of fliA were common among members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Our results demonstrate that flgM and fliA, two genes previously shown to regulate flagellar operons, are also involved in the regulation of expression of virulence of S. typhimurium and that this system may not be unique to the genus Salmonella.
Scavenger receptor class-A is a novel cell surface receptor for double-stranded RNA

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a potent signal to the host immune system for the presence of an ongoing viral infection. The presence of dsRNA, intracellularly or extracellularly, leads to the induction of innate inflammatory cytokines in many cell types including epithelial cells. However, the cell surface receptor for recognition of extracellular dsRNA is not yet determined. Here, we report that extracellular dsRNA is recognized and internalized by scavenger receptor class-A (SR-A). Treatment of human epithelial cells with specific antagonists of SR-A or with an anti-SR-A antibody significantly inhibited dsRNA induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). Furthermore, intranasal dsRNA treatment of SR-A-deficient (SR-A−/−) mice showed a significant decrease in the expression of inflammatory cytokines and a corresponding decrease in the accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in lungs. These data...
Modification of microcantilevers using layer-by-layer nanoassembly film for glucose measurement

Abstract Here, we report a new approach of glucose measurement by using a multilayer modified microcantilever. Glucose oxidase (GOx)/polyethyleneimine (PEI) multilayer modified microcantilever underwent bending when it was exposed to glucose solutions. The magnitudes of bending were proportional to the concentrations of glucose. This technique provides a new platform for enzyme functionalized cantilever biosensors.
The RR/RR CICQ switch: hardware design for 10-Gbps link speed

The combined input and crossbar queued (CICQ) switch is an input buffered switch suitable for very high-speed networks. The implementation feasibility of the CICQ switch architecture for 24 ports and 10-Gbps link speed is shown in this paper with an FPGA-based design (estimated cost of $30,000 in mid-2002). The bottleneck of a CICQ switch with RR scheduling is the RR poller. We develop a priority encoder based RR poller that uses feedback masking. This design has lower delay than any known design for an FPGA implementation.
A Structured approach for describing healthcare applications for the Internet of Things

Applications for the Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare have been widely forecast, investigated, and even deployed on a small scale. But most of this work is scattered about a few random applications. In this paper we present a structured approach for describing IoTs for healthcare by defining general classes of system types, classifying the healthcare delivery settings, then using a structured approach to describing the elements for a particular use case. We illustrate the approach for three use cases and discuss certain issues that arise. A brief survey of related work is also given. We conclude that for healthcare applications, domain understanding and inter-professional collaboration are critical to developing realistic use cases.
Math Course Taking For CTE Concentrators: Evidence from Three Studies of the Impact of a Decade of Education Reform

This paper presents an argument supported by evidence that the positive effects of education reform legislation take time to accumulate, and, given time, have the power to bring about improvement. Specifically, the course-taking patterns in mathematics of CTE students in the years following the 1990 Perkins II Act and 1994 School-to-Work Opportunities Act clearly show that these students are taking part in an increasing number of higher mathematics courses, while at the same time decreasing the number of lower-level math courses taken ( Levesque, 2003 ). These trends have developed over a number of years, accentuating the necessity of allowing for the passage of time before evaluating whether a particular reform movement has been successful.
Global Health and the Human Rights Imperative

Open any magazine, click on a television news channel, or surf the net and you are likely to find global health highlighted as one of the foremost challenges of new millennium. First, this article will consider the meaning and measures of global health and detail the path to improved health and development prescribed by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Second, it will trace the development of international human rights law as it relates to health. Third, it demonstrate how human rights and health, long traversing parallel routes, are in fact converging in the 21st Century quest for global health - a quest that is simultaneously being driven by evolving international rights and norms related to trade, labor, the environment and human security. The article will conclude that global health and human rights are products of new international norms of governance borne of our interdependence and ongoing multilateral collaboration.
EXTRACAPSULAR FRACTURES OF THE FEMUR IN THE AGED: A Contribution to the Merits of the Russell Treatment

The Russell treatment is the simplest and most efficient heretofore described method for fractures of the femur in its upper two thirds outside [SEE THE FIGURE FIG. 5-A, 5-B AND 5-C IN SOURCE PDF] of the joint capsule. If the surgeons who are unfamiliar with the method were aware of the accurate traction that the Russell apparatus exerts in the longitudinal axis of the femur, and were to give it due trial, its popularity would greatly increase and direct skeletal force would not be so popular in the treatment of similar fractures in this region. The introduction of the Wilkie apparatus into the Russell treatment better adapts the latter to extracapsular fractures in the aged, as pulmonary complications are reduced to a minimum. This reduction of complications is due to two reasons: (1) it is no longer necessary to lie flat on the back for six weeks; (2) after three weeks and until six weeks after the injury, while in the Wilkie apparatus, the patient may be shifted in bed to any position in the horizontal plane. After the seventh week consolidation is usually completed in aged patients and the Wilkie apparatus is removed.
Urine and serum lysozyme measurement in renal homotransplantation.

SummaryIncreased lysozyme activity in urine has been shown to be a reliable sign of renal homograft rejection. The ease and rapidity (20 minutes) of the measurement should make this assay a most valuable adjunct in the postoperative management of patients with kidney homotransplants.
Emotional Trade-Off Difficulty and Choice:

In this article, the authors explore whether choice patterns are sensitive to the potential of relevant trade-offs to elicit negative emotion. Across three experiments, decision makers increasingly...
Preliminary Wing Study of General Aviation Aircraft with PRSEUS panels

A new approach in the design of aerospace vehicles was recently introduced by NASA and Boeing researchers in order to meet the new challenges in aviation. This innovative configuration is called Pultruded Rod Stitched Efficient Unitized Structure (PRSEUS), a stitched carbon-epoxy material system that offers the opportunity for designing stiffer, lower weight and more cost efficient aircrafts by eliminating fasteners and incorporating damage tolerance concepts. Except from superior structural performance and low-cost manufacturing methods, this configuration must also demonstrate advanced aeroelastic behavior in order to be fully implemented in commercial aircrafts. A preliminary wing study of a general aviation aircraft that embodies PRSEUS technology is presented in this paper compared to the structural, dynamic and aeroelastic behavior of the original metallic wing model. The study showed that the presence of PRSEUS panels leads to decreased deformations in static and aeroelastic analyses, higher natural frequencies and flutter speeds and improved crashworthiness. Weight considerations are also presented in order to substantiate the comparison between the PRSEUS configuration and the original structure.
Molding the Flow of Light with Artificial Optical Materials

We propose to link the fields of optical metamaterials and celestial mechanics, opening the way to investigate light phenomena reminiscent of orbital motion, strange attractors and chaos, in a controlled laboratory environment.
Trait affiliation, aspects of the Big Five, and the interpersonal circumplex

We explored the circumplex structure of the four aspects underlying Big Five Extraversion (Assertiveness and Enthusiasm) and Agreeableness (Compassion and Politeness) as markers of the major axes of the interpersonal circumplex. Additionally, we sought to develop a new measure of trait affiliation to integrate into this model of interpersonal behavior. Trait affiliation, due to its association with both warmth and sensitivity to reward, was hypothesized to lie between the Compassion aspect of Agreeableness and the Enthusiasm aspect of Extraversion. Four separate samples of participants completed trait and behavioral frequency measures of the interpersonal circumplex, the Big Five Aspects Scales (BFAS), and measures of trait affiliation. Results supported the association of the aspects with each other and interpersonal behaviors as well as the hypothesized location of trait affiliation. This model helps clarify the integration of the Big Five, interpersonal behavior, and trait affiliation.
Anchored Wilkinson Catalyst

A series of Anchored Wilkinson’s Catalysts were prepared by the reaction of the homogeneous Wilkinson catalyst with alumina/heteropoly acid support materials. It was found that the catalytically active species from these materials were unique in that they had only a single triphenylphosphine and a heteropoly acid as ligands giving these catalysts distinctive steric and electronic characteristics. These catalysts were used to promote the hydrogenation of 1-hexene and limonene with substrate to catalyst ratios of 10,000 and 7,500 respectively. The results were compared with those obtained using the homogeneous Wilkinson and 1% Rh/Al2O3 catalysts with respect to catalyst activity and stability as well as the reaction selectivity as measured by the amount of double bond isomerization observed. The observed rates of hydrogen uptake and double bond isomer formation in the hydrogenations of both 1-hexene and limonene follow the same order with respect to the nature of the heteropoly acid ligand used to anchor th...
A Large-Scale Informatics Database to Advance Research and Discovery of the Effects of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

ABSTRACT Clinical research advances in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and behavioral health have always been restricted by the quantity and quality of the data as well as the difficulty of collecting standardized clinical elements. Those barriers, together with the complexity of evaluating TBI, have resulted in serious challenges for clinicians, researchers, and organizations interested in analyzing the short- and long-term effects of TBI. In an effort to raise awareness about existing and cost-effective ways to collect clinical data within the Department of Defense, this article describes some of the steps taken to quickly build a large-scale informatics database to facilitate collection of standardized clinical data and obtain trends of the longitudinal outcomes of service members diagnosed with mild TBI. The database was built following the Defense of Health Agency guidelines and currently has millions of longitudinal clinical data points, Department of Defense-wide clinical data for service members diag...
A mind of her own

She is unlikely to be someone that many physicists will have heard of. But Alicia Boole Stott (1860–1940) was one of the first people to explore 4D geometrical figures and had a remarkable ability to conceive how such figures are put together, despite being essentially self-educated. Her path to a mathematics career, however, was full of sorrow, indirection and drama.
Spatio-Temporally Consistent Correspondence for Dense Dynamic Scene Modeling

We address the problem of robust two-view correspondence estimation within the context of dynamic scene modeling. To this end, we investigate the use of local spatio-temporal assumptions to both identify and refine dense low-level data associations in the absence of prior dynamic content models. By developing a strictly data-driven approach to correspondence search, based on bottom-up local 3D motion cues of local rigidity and non-local coherence, we are able to robustly address the higher-order problems of video synchronization and dynamic surface modeling. Our findings suggest an important relationship between these two tasks, in that maximizing spatial coherence of surface points serves as a direct metric for the temporal alignment of local image sequences. The obtained results for these two problems on multiple publicly available dynamic reconstruction datasets illustrate both the effectiveness and generality of our proposed approach.