cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contemporary Meta-Analysis of Extended Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulant Thromboprophylaxis to Prevent Venous Thromboembolism.

Abstract Background Medically ill patients remain at risk of venous thromboembolism for up to 6 weeks after hospital discharge due to factors such as immobilization and inflammation. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review of Phase III randomized controlled trials comparing extended use of direct oral anticoagulation (DOAC) post discharge for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis with placebo. Results The primary efficacy outcome (composite of venous thromboembolism and mortality) occurred in 373/13,099 patients in the DOAC group (2.9%) and 477/13,309 patients in the placebo group (3.6%), with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69-0.91). The secondary efficacy outcome (nonfatal symptomatic venous thromboembolism) occurred in 75/15,573 patients in the DOAC group (0.48%) and 120/15,599 in the placebo group (0.77%) with an OR of 0.62 (95% CI, 0.47-0.83). The primary safety outcome (major bleeding) occurred in 90/15,474 patients in the DOAC group (0.58%) and in 47/15,418 patients in the placebo group (0.3%) with an OR of 1.92 (95% CI, 1.35-2.73). The secondary safety (clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding) outcome occurred in 333/15,474 patients in the DOAC group (2.2%) and 191/15,418 patients in the placebo group (1.2%) with an OR of 1.75 (95% CI, 1.46-2.1). The extended use of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis post discharge results in decreased venous thromboembolism events but increased bleeding risk. Our cost-effective analysis of extended DOAC use vs placebo showed superiority of the DOAC group. Conclusion In conclusion, given the mortality benefit and cost benefit, extended thromboprophylaxis is a beneficial strategy to efficiently reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism.
Mutual electrical doping in polymers

Two initially neutral conjugated semiconducting polymers are found to transfer electrons when put in contact in the solid state, leading to mutual electrical doping.
The contribution of the mouse tail to thermoregulation is modest

Understanding mouse thermal physiology informs the usefulness of mice as models of human disease. It is widely assumed that the mouse tail contributes greatly to heat loss (as it does in rat), but ...
Fulminant colitis and toxic megacolon.

SUMMARY Twenty-seven cases of fulminant colitis are reported. All had at least five of the seven criteria of severity. Four developed toxic megacolon. Sixty-three per cent failed to respond to parenteral steroids, parenteral nutrition, and vigorous resuscitation and required surgery. Two of the patients with megacolon perforated and died. Prompt attention to these patients and a willingness to rely on surgery are important approaches. The experience reported here reiterates that previously published.
A preclinical study of diffusion-weighted MRI contrast as an early indicator of thermal ablation.

Purpose Intraoperative T2 -weighted (T2-w) imaging unreliably captures image contrast specific to thermal ablation after transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery, impeding dynamic imaging feedback. Using a porcine thalamotomy model, we test the unproven hypothesis that intraoperative DWI can improve dynamic feedback by detecting lesioning within 30 minutes of transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery. Methods Twenty-five thermal lesions were formed in six porcine models using a clinical transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery system. A novel diffusion-weighted pulse sequence monitored the formation of T2-w and diffusion-weighted lesion contrast after ablation. Using postoperative T2-w contrast to indicate lesioning, apparent intraoperative image contrasts and diffusion coefficients at each lesion site were computed as a function of time after ablation, observed peak temperature, and observed thermal dose. Lesion sizes segmented from imaging and thermometry were compared. Image reviewers estimated the time to emergence of lesion contrast. Intraoperative image contrasts were analyzed using receiver operator curves. Results On average, the apparent diffusion coefficient at lesioned sites decreased within 5 minutes after ablation relative to control sites. In-plane lesion areas on intraoperative DWI varied from postoperative T2-w MRI and MR thermometry by 9.6 ± 9.7 mm2 and - 4.0 ± 7.1 mm2 , respectively. The 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 quantiles of the earliest times of observed T2-w and diffusion-weighted lesion contrast were 10.7, 21.0, and 27.8 minutes and 3.7, 8.6, and 11.8 minutes, respectively. The T2-w and diffusion-weighted contrasts and apparent diffusion coefficient values produced areas under the receiver operator curve of 0.66, 0.80, and 0.74, respectively. Conclusion Intraoperative DWI can detect MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery lesion formation in the brain within several minutes after treatment.
Moments of L′(½) in the Family of Quadratic Twists

We prove the asymptotic formulae for several moments of derivatives of GL(2) L-functions over quadratic twists. The family of L-functions we consider has root number fixed to −1 and odd orthogonal symmetry. Assuming generalized Riemann hypothesis, we prove the asymptotic formulae for (1) the second moment with one secondary term, (2) the moment of two distinct modular forms f and g, and (3) the first moment with controlled weight and level dependence. We also include some immediate corollaries to elliptic curves using the modularity theorem and the work of Gross and Zagier.
The risk of child removal by child protective services among pregnant women in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder

For parenting women with substance use disorders, enrolling in medication-assisted treatment often means being involved with child protective services. This study examines the impact of biopsychoso...
Immune cell deconvolution of bulk DNA methylation data reveals an association with methylation class, key somatic alterations, and cell state in glial/glioneuronal tumors.

It is recognized that the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in the biology of cancer. To better understand the role of immune cell components in CNS tumors, we applied a deconvolution approach to bulk DNA methylation array data in a large set of newly profiled samples (n = 741) as well as samples from external data sources (n = 3311) of methylation-defined glial and glioneuronal tumors. Using the cell-type proportion data as input, we used dimensionality reduction to visualize sample-wise patterns that emerge from the cell type proportion estimations. In IDH-wildtype glioblastomas (n = 2,072), we identified distinct tumor clusters based on immune cell proportion and demonstrated an association with oncogenic alterations such as EGFR amplification and CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion. We also investigated the immune cluster-specific distribution of four malignant cellular states (AC-like, OPC-like, MES-like and NPC-like) in the IDH-wildtype cohort. We identified two major immune-based subgroups of IDH-mutant gliomas, which largely aligned with 1p/19q co-deletion status. Non-codeleted gliomas showed distinct proportions of a key genomic aberration (CDKN2A/B loss) among immune cell-based groups. We also observed significant positive correlations between monocyte proportion and expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 (R = 0.54 and 0.68, respectively). Overall, the findings highlight specific roles of the TME in biology and classification of CNS tumors, where specific immune cell admixtures correlate with tumor types and genomic alterations.
Activation of a Toxic Component of Clostridium botulinum Types C and D by Trypsin

Abstract When the Stockholm and 468C strains of type C and the 1873 strain of type D Clostridium botulinum are „cured” of their prophages, they simultaneously discontinue the production of their dominant toxins (C1 and D), but they continue to produce a second antigenically monospecific toxin (C2). These „cured” strains of types C and D therefore become indistinguishable with respect to the toxin produced. Fifteen type C cultures received from other laboratories discontinued to produce the dominant toxin when subcultured in broth. The C2 toxin, however, was produced by eight of these cultures. The C2 toxin is produced by these cultures as a protoxin that requires treatment with trypsin before its toxicity can be demonstrated. Of the 21 type C cultures that produce the C1 toxin, 20 were shown to produce the C2 toxin. The filtrates of 14 of these cultures required trypsin treatment before the C2 toxicity could be demonstrated. Low levels of toxicity could be demonstrated in the six remaining culture fluids without trypsin; toxicity, however, was increased with trypsin.
A double authentication scheme to detect impersonation attack in link state routing protocols

In this paper, we present an authentication scheme to prevent impersonation attack in link state routing protocol. The existing authentication schemes are either simple to compute but vulnerable to attacks of too robust against attacks but has exponential computation cost. We introduce a double authentication (DA) scheme which provides authentication to the routing information data carried by link state routing packets. In this scheme every router needs to sign the routing data twice with two different keys using a group keying scheme, which is based on one-way hash function. Based on our performance assessment, we found that this scheme is simpler to implement, computationally efficient and provides the degree of robustness desired with less communication overhead but has higher memory requirement.
The Role of Near-Resonant Intermediate States in the Two-Photon Excitation of NO2: Origin Bands in Bent-to-Linear Transitions,

The two-photon absorption spectrum of NO/sub 2/ in the energy region from 55,000 to 60,000 cm/sup -1/ shows two new highly resolved band systems. The lower of these is recognized as the 3 psigma /sup 2/..sigma../sub u//sup +/ Rydberg state, higher members of which have been observed in previous work by conventional vacuum-UV absorption spectroscopy. The higher system is assigned to its companion 3p..pi.. /sup 2/PI/sub u/ Rydberg state, seen here for the first time. Both band systems evidence clear origins in bent-to-linear transitions, assignments which are confirmed by the rotational structure of individual bands. An important feature of these spectra is the high intensity of the origin and low-frequency cold bands, which deviates strongly from Franck-Condon predictions. The authors suggest that this behavior can be explained by intramolecular relaxation within the continuum of intermediate states resonant with the first photon. 2 figures, 2 tables.
The Choice of Estimation Method and Its Effect on Efficiency Measurement in Public Education: Stochastic Frontier Regression vs. Data Envelopment Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to extend the empirical literature on efficiencymeasurement in public education. Two estimation methods often used in determiningefficiency in the production of public education are used to determine if the results fromthe methods are similar. The Oklahoma public schools are of interest because Oklahomahas a large number of districts with very different characteristics. The methods ofestimation are Stochastic Frontier Regression (SFR) and Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA). SFR estimates the inefficiency model simultaneously with the production or costfunction. In the DEA model, the first stage estimates the efficiency scores and the secondstage uses a Tobit regression model to determine causes of inefficiency. In this study, theempirical results of the SFR and DEA efficiency scores for the majority of Oklahomaschool districts are not identical, suggesting that the method of estimation affects theefficiency scores. In general, SFR generated a more favorable score than that of DEA. Theresults from the two estimation methods in the inefficiency model are also different.However, both methods suggest that the most important determinants of inefficiency aresocioeconomic factors associated with each district. (I21, C13)
Sucrose fermentation by Fusobacterium mortiferum ATCC 25557: transport, catabolism, and products.

Abstract Studies of sucrose utilization by Fusobacterium mortiferum ATCC 25557 have provided the first definitive evidence for phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar:phosphotransferase activity in the family Bacteroidaceae. The phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sucrose:phosphotransferase system and the two enzymes required for the dissimilation of sucrose 6-phosphate are induced specifically by growth of F. mortiferum on the disaccharide. Monomeric sucrose 6-phosphate hydrolase (M(r), 52,000) and a dimeric ATP-dependent fructokinase (subunit M(r), 32,000) have been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The physicochemical and catalytic properties of these enzymes have been examined, and the N-terminal amino acid sequences for both proteins are reported. The characteristics of sucrose 6-phosphate hydrolase and fructokinase from F. mortiferum are compared with the same enzymes from both gram-positive and gram-negative species. Butyric, acetic, and D-lactic acids are the end products of sucrose fermentation by F. mortiferum. A pathway is proposed for the translocation, phosphorylation, and metabolism of sucrose by this anaerobic pathogen.
Finding the missing links in EGFR

Structural studies of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have advanced greatly in recent years, but they have used a 'divide-and-conquer' approach for independent study of the intracellular and extracellular regions. Several recent papers provide important new perspectives on 'undivided' EGFR and describe the initial steps in reconstructing signaling behavior of the intact receptor.
Nature of the conduction disturbance in selective coronary arteriography and left heart catheterization

Abstract The electrocardiographic changes associated with coronary arteriography were compared with those occurring during left ventricular catheterization in 16 patients. In 1 patient, a 36 year old man, transient left anterior divisional block was documented when the catheter tip was in the outflow tract of the left ventricle. The ÂQRS shifted from +90 to −50°, the initial 0.02 second QRS forces shifted interiorly and to the right, and the QRS interval increased from 0.07 to 0.09 second, fulfilling previously described criteria for the diagnosis of left anterior divisional block. This was attributed to transient injury of the anterior division of the left bundle branch. During recovery, several progressively decreasing degrees of left anterior divisional block were recorded. In the same patient and in the other 15, selective opacification of the coronary arteries shifted the main QRS forces, without change in the direction of the initial QRS forces. The axis shifts occurring during coronary arteriography are attributed to parietal block. Selective opacification of the coronary arteries does not affect the intraventricular conducting fascicles and Purkinje fibers.
The X-Ray Emission Analysis of Thin Films Produced by Lubricating Oil Additives

X-ray emission techniques have proven feasible for the analysis of thin films produced by the reaction of lubricating oil additives with metal parts. The method was found applicable to the determination of Zn, Ba, P, S, and Cl in the concentration range of zero to 75 μg/cm2. Standard films were prepared synthetically from standard solutions of the elements of interest.
Rates and equilibria of adsorption and desorption of propane and propylene on 13X molecular sieves determined experimentally using a differential sorption bed system

Abstract An adsorption/desorption system (apparatus) involving a differential sorption bed was constructed, and experimental procedures were developed to measure quickly and with reasonable accuracy adsorption and desorption rate and equilibrium data. The experimental adsorption and desorption rate and equilibrium data of propane and propylene in particles of 13X molecular sieves were measured with this experimental system for different adsorbate concentrations and temperatures and are presented in this work. The results indicate that the adsorption rates of propylene are higher than those of propane. There are differences, most often at earlier times, between the adsorption and desorption rates. The magnitude of the differences depends in a complex way on the concentration of the adsorbates and the temperature of the system. The potential use of the rate and equilibrium data of this work with respect to adsorption/desorption model building, parameter estimation, model discrimination, and adsorption/desorption process design is also discussed.
The interaction of the zone of calcified cartilage and subchondral bone in osteoarthritis

The zone of calcified cartilage (ZCC) forms an important interface between cartilage and bone for transmitting force, attaching cartilage to bone, and limiting diffusion from bone to the deeper layers of cartilage. The height of the ZCC is a relatively constant percent of articular cartilage and the height is maintained by a balance between progression of the tidemark into the unmineralized cartilage and changing into bone by vascular invasion and bony remodeling. During its formation, the cells that form the ZCC have properties similar to the cells of the growth plate. In the adult, the ZCC becomes quiescent but not inactive. The ZCC may be reactivated in osteoarthritis and may progressively calcify the unmineralized cartilage. This might contribute to cartilage thinning which would increase the concentration of forces across the uncalcified cartilage leading to more damage. Although the subchondral bony plate remodels extensively in osteoarthritis, there is little evidence that a change in the biomechanics of the plate directly initiates the osteoarthritic process in cartilage. However, increased repair by endochondral ossification of vertical cracks in the ZCC that penetrate into the marrow space could contribute to progression via changes in the ZCC.
Encoding of the amplitude modulation of pulsatile electrical stimulation in the feline cochlear nucleus by neurons in the inferior colliculus; effects of stimulus pulse rate

Objectives. Persons without a functional auditory nerve cannot benefit from cochlear implants, but some hearing can be restored by an auditory brainstem implant (ABI) with stimulating electrodes implanted on the surface of the cochlear nucleus (CN). Most users benefit from their ABI, but speech recognition tends to be poorer than for users of cochlear implants. Psychophysical studies suggest that poor modulation detection may contribute to the limited performance of ABI users. In a cat model, we determined how the pulse rate of the electrical stimulus applied within or on the CN affects temporal and rate encoding of amplitude modulation (AM) by neurons in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICC). Approach. Stimulating microelectrodes were implanted chronically in and on the cats' CN, and multi-site recording microelectrodes were implanted chronically into the ICC. Encoding of AM pulse trains by neurons in the ICC was characterized as vector strength (VS), the synchrony of neural activity with the AM, and as the mean rate of neuronal action potentials (neuronal spike rate (NSR)). Main results. For intranuclear microstimulation, encoding of AM as VS was up to 3 dB greater when stimulus pulse rate was increased from 250 to 500 pps, but only for neuronal units with low best acoustic frequencies, and when the electrical stimulation was modulated at low frequencies (10?20?Hz). For stimulation on the surface of the CN, VS was similar at 250 and 500 pps, and the dynamic range of the VS was reduced for pulse rates greater than 250 pps. Modulation depth was encoded strongly as VS when the maximum stimulus amplitude was held constant across a range of modulation depth. This ?constant maximum? protocol allows enhancement of modulation depth while preserving overall dynamic range. However, modulation depth was not encoded as strongly as NSR. Significance. The findings have implications for improved sound processors for present and future ABIs. The performance of ABIs may benefit from using pulse rates greater than those presently used in most ABIs, and by sound processing strategies that enhance the modulation depth of the electrical stimulus while preserving dynamic range.
Problems of the analog interface in microprocessor-based systems

Panelists specializing in the fabrication of microprocessors, A/D and D/A converters, and systems designers using microprocessors in such areas as industrial controls and automobile engine control, will explore such problems as the need for standards, which currently exist for some digital interfaces, and also the need for new types of functions in interface components.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Cyclopolymerization of a Functional Non-symmetric Divinyl Monomer

Abstract A non-symmetric divinyl monomer with terminal carboxylic acid functionality was readily synthesized from the reaction of ethyl α-hydroxymethylacrylate (EHMA) with maleic anhydride. The new monomer (EHMA–MA) was homopolymerized in both bulk and ethyl acetate using AIBN as an initiator to give cyclopolymers. The synthesis of the monomer and cyclopolymers were followed by 13C NMR, 1H NMR, and FTIR. 1H NMR was also utilized to obtain the degree of cyclization of the polymers, which were found to be 95% or higher in all cases. The molecular weights of the cyclopolymers were around 40–60,000 g/mol as estimated by SEC. The cyclopolymers were thermally stable up to 150 °C. Although the cyclopolymers obtained were not water-soluble; they were soluble in aqueous 1 M NaOH solution. In addition to the carboxylic acid functionality present, the cyclopolymers also had an ethyl ester and a lactone moiety. These functional groups were reacted with hexylamine to obtain a polymer with imide and amide moieties.
Interaction of norepinephrine with cerebellar activity evoked by mossy and climbing fibers.

Abstract Previous studies of the inhibitory actions of norepinephrine (NE) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on Purkinje neurons were extended to determine the effect on the responses to afferent input from climbing fibers, mossy fibers, and cerebellar interneurons. Complex spike excitation, simple spike excitation and inhibition of Purkinje cell discharge were elicited by electrical stimulation of the appropriate afferent pathways and quantitated by computing poststimulus-time histograms of the neuronal response, recorded extracellularly in anesthetized rats. Histograms were compared before, during, and after microiontophoresis of NE or GABA. The effect of both these putative neurotransmitters was to reduce spontaneous activity more profoundly than either simple or complex spike excitation. In addition, an apparent increase in counts in histograms detecting complex spike excitations was often recorded, particularly with NE, due to an increase in the number of full-size action potentials in the complex spike. The inhibitory response of the Purkinje cell to activation of basket and stellate cell afferents was also potentiated by NE. This effect was often seen at NE dosages causing only a minimal change in spontaneous activity. Thus, NE enhances excitatory or inhibitory evoked responses of Purkinje cells relative to spontaneous activity. The data imply that the action of NE is more complex than a simple depression of activity. In the context of current concepts of cerebellar function, NE input may be able to modulate many dimensions of information processing in the cerebellum.
Cooperative Interaction between HIV-1 Regulatory Proteins Tat and Vpr Modulates Transcription of the Viral Genome

The virion-associated protein of human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1), Vpr, is a small protein with 96 amino acid residues that has the ability to modulate transcription of HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter activity and affects several cellular functions. In this study we have employed molecular approaches to further investigate the mechanism by which Vpr exerts its regulatory effect upon the LTR. We show that by structural and functional interaction with Tat, a potent viral regulatory protein, Vpr synergistically enhances the transcriptional activity of the HIV-1 LTR. Because Tat utilizes cyclin T1 and its partner, CDK9 to elevate the level of transcription from the LTR, we examined the cooperativity between Vpr, Tat, and cyclin T1/CDK9 on viral gene transcription. Results from co-transfection studies indicated superactivation of LTR by Tat and cyclin T1/CDK9 in the presence of wild type Vpr. This activation was not observed with the R73S mutant of Vpr, which contains arginine to serine transition at residue 73. Interestingly, expression of R73S mutant in cells exerts a negative effect on the observed superactivation of the LTR by Tat, cyclin T1/CDK9, and wild type Vpr. Results from protein-protein interaction studies indicated that Vpr is associated with both Tat and cyclin T1 in cells expressing these proteins. Use of deletion mutant proteins in binding studies revealed that the binding sites for Tat and Vpr within cyclin T1 are distinct and that association of these two viral proteins with cyclin T1 is independent from each other. These observations suggest a working model on the cooperative interaction of Vpr with viral and cellular proteins and its involvement in control of viral gene transcription and replication. Moreover identification of R73S mutant of Vpr provides a new therapeutic avenue for controlling HIV-1 gene transcription and replication in the infected cells.
Lessons learned from analyzing library database usage data

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a project undertaken at SUNY Cortland to develop a system that would collect electronic resource usage data in a consistent manner and allow SUNY Cortland to assess this data over several years.Design/methodology/approach – The project used data gathered from EZProxy server log files to examine usage of the library's electronic resources.Findings – Through examining the usage data the library discovered that users were utilizing particular types of resources, from specific physical locations, and accessing those resources from specific pages in the library's web site.Originality/value – By examining usage data for electronic resources, libraries can learn more than which resources are being used. Usage data can give libraries insight into where, when, how, and possibly why their users are accessing electronic resources.
A polynomial‐time algorithm to find shortest paths with recourse

The Shortest Path with Recourse Problem involves finding the shortest expected-length paths in a directed network, each of whose arcs have stochastic traversal lengths (or delays) that become known only upon arrival at the tail of that arc. The traveler starts at a given source node and makes routing decisions at each node in such a way that the expected distance to a given sink node is minimized. We develop an extension of Dijkstra's algorithm to solve the version of the problem where arclengths are nonnegative and reset after each arc traversal. All known no-reset versions of the problem are NP-hard. We make a partial extension to the case where negative arclengths are present. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A model of compositional surface phase transitions in ternary alloys

Abstract A model for calculating the surface excess free energy of segregated ternary alloy surfaces is presented. It is based on nearest neighbor interactions, and also accounts for strain energy effects associated with segregated solutes at the surface. In particular, the model is exercised for the case of PbBiNi alloys, for which compositional surface phase transitions have been observed experimentally. The model displays the observed phase transitions, and is useful in interpreting other features of the experimental temperature dependence of solute surface concentration, such as site competition effects.
Vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy using inverted visible pulses

We present a broadband vibrational sum frequency generation (BB-VSFG) scheme using a novel ps visible pulse shape. We generate the fs IR pulse via standard procedures and simultaneously generate an ‘inverted’ time-asymmetric narrowband ps visible pulse via second harmonic generation in the pump depletion regime using a very long nonlinear crystal which has high group velocity mismatch (LiNbO3). The ‘inverted’ ps pulse shape minimally samples the instantaneous nonresonant response but maximally samples the resonant response, maintaining high spectral resolution. We experimentally demonstrate this scheme, presenting SFG spectra of canonical organic monolayer systems in the C-H stretch region (2800-3000 cm−1).
A taxonomic revision of the Antennaria media (Asteraceae: Inuleae) polyploid species complex in western North America

TheAntennaria media polyploid species complex has been evaluated, at least in part, on numerous occasions without consensus on either the taxa that should be included within the complex or the rank at which these taxa should be recognized. The primary purpose of this quantitative, multivariate, phenetic study is to propose a taxonomy for the polyploid species complex that not only is independent of a knowledge of either chromosome number or reproductive biology but that concurrently minimally reflects morphological variation associated with each. The use of canonical discriminant analysis facilitates this purpose. In an attempt to maintain consistency with other recent revisions of polyploid complexes within the genus, the rank of subspecies (A. media subsp.media, A. media subsp.ciliata, A. media subsp.compacta, A. media subsp.fusca, andA. media subsp.pulchella) is selected as the infraspecific rank that satisfies the purpose of the phenetic study and is supported by the analyses. These subspecies differ to varying degrees with respect to reproductive characters (corolla length, pappus length), vegetative-reproductive characters (involucre length, peduncle length, cauline leaf length, cauline leaf width), and vegetative characters (basal leaf length and basal leaf width).Antennaria media subsp.pulchella is a sexually reproducing, diploid subspecies, whereas the remaining four subspecies are essentially agamospermous polyploids.
Parameter synthesis of higher kinematic pairs

We describe a parameter synthesis algorithm for planar mechanical systems comprised of higher kinematic pairs in which each part translates along a fixed axis or rotates around a fixed point. This is an important class of systems and is not addressed by prior synthesis research. Kinematic function is computed from the CAD models of the parts and is represented graphically as configuration spaces. Design flaws appear as incorrectly shaped contact curves, as incorrectly placed intersection points, and as incorrect curve sequences. The designer reshapes the faulty curves with the keyboard mouse. The synthesis algorithm computes new parameter values that realize the changes without harmful side effects, using a novel form of constrained optimization. The algorithm has been tested on industrial applications.
Tidal theory with Newtonian cooling

Processes representable by Newtonian cooling models are found to be of importance for tides in various planetary atmospheres. The equations of tidal theory are, therefore, rederived to include a rather general Newtonian cooling, and some of the effects of this inclusion are investigated.
Definition for technical success of iceberg towing operations

Offshore platforms proposed for operation in regions with icebergs must be designed to withstand ice loads associated with impacts for cases where icebergs cannot be managed or avoided. Both fixed and floating systems have been successfully used on the Grand Banks off Canada's east coast without incident to date. The Hibernia platform is designed to withstand impact loads; these loads were estimated without consideration of the efficiencies of ice management. The Terra Nova and White Rose FPSO's are designed to disconnect and move off site if threatening icebergs cannot be managed. These systems have ice strengthening, with the benefits of ice management considered in determining the design ice loads. Ice management efficiencies were based in large part on overall towing success rates determined from ice management records. Towing success was based on a number of criteria, including whether the iceberg was obviously deflected from its course and whether downtime resulted. It is expected that in the near future there will be pressures to reduce platform costs in order to make more marginal fields viable, platforms will be installed further north where iceberg and sea ice conditions are more severe and as more platforms come on stream, there will be restrictions regarding where icebergs can be safely towed so as not to increase risks to neighboring installations. As assessment of ice management becomes more critical, it will be desirable to develop more accurate measures of efficiency for assessing both downtime and potential for impacts. In this paper, a number of alternative methods for evaluating ice management efficiency with respect to impact avoidance and the potential influence on ice design loads are explored and criteria for further development of these discussed.
Models and algorithms for the design of survivable multicommodity flow networks with general failure scenarios

Abstract We consider the design of a multicommodity flow network, in which point-to-point demands are routed across the network subject to link capacity restrictions. Such a design must build enough capacity and diverse routing paths through the network to ensure that feasible multicommodity flows continue to exist, even when components of the network fail. In this paper, we examine several methodologies to optimally design a minimum-cost survivable network that continues to support a multicommodity flow under any of a given set of failure scenarios, where each failure scenario consists of the simultaneous failure of multiple arcs. We begin by providing a single extensive form mixed-integer programming formulation for this problem, along with a Benders decomposition algorithm as an alternative to the extensive form approach. We next investigate strategies to improve the performance of the algorithm by augmenting the master problem with several valid inequalities such as cover constraints, connectivity constraints, and path constraints. For the smallest instances (eight nodes, 10 origin–destination pairs, and 10 failure scenarios), the Benders implementation consumes only 10% of the time required by the mixed-integer programming formulation, and our best augmentation strategy reduces the solution time by another 50%. For medium- and large-sized instances, the extensive form problem fails to terminate within 2 h on any instance, while our decomposition algorithms provide optimal solutions on all but two problem instances.
Text categorization of Heart, Lung, and Blood studies in the Database of Genotypes and phenotypes (dbGap) Utilizing n-grams and Metadata Features

The database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP) allows researchers to understand phenotypic contribution to genetic conditions, generate new hypotheses, confirm previous study results, and identify control populations. However, effective use of the database is hindered by suboptimal study retrieval. Our objective is to evaluate text classification techniques to improve study retrieval in the context of the dbGaP database. We utilized standard machine learning algorithms (naive Bayes, support vector machines, and the C4.5 decision tree) trained on dbGaP study text and incorporated n-gram features and study metadata to identify heart, lung, and blood studies. We used the χ2 feature selection algorithm to identify features that contributed most to classification performance and experimented with dbGaP associated PubMed papers as a proxy for topicality. Classifier performance was favorable in comparison to keyword-based search results. It was determined that text categorization is a useful complement to document retrieval techniques in the dbGaP.
In-place updates in the presence of control operators

This paper presents a formal account of the concept of in-place updates in purely functional languages. In purely functional languages, updates of abstract objects involve creating duplicates of these objects. This paper reviews static conditions, which, if satisfied by l-terms, guarantee that, even if updates are performed in-place, the purely functional semantics is retained. These static conditions, however, fail to guarantee the requisite safety in the presence of control operators like callcc and throw. The conditions are hence augmented by another condition which is defined on the operational semantics. Here we statically verify the satisfiability of a conservative approximation of this condition by data-flow analysis on CPS-terms. Also a significant class of programs is identified for which the condition holds even without data-flow analysis.
Doing Audience Ethnography: A Narrative Account of Establishing Ethnographic Identity and Locating Interpretive Communities in Fieldwork

This article is an account of how ethnographic identity was constituted and how audiences were located during the early stages of an ethnography of television viewers in Mexico. The description takes a narrative form and details the field experience and acknowledges the visibility and self-interest of the ethnographer. Writing about the field experience in such a fashion is motivated by the fact that few studies of media reception provide discussion about the events that shaped the direction of the inquiry, the productive discomfort of the field encounter, selection and movements within the interpretive communities represented in studies, or relationships with various members of those communities. Moreover, a narrative account is helpful in demonstrating how the methodology that was developed evolved as a result of emerging relationships and contextual processes, not as a systematic design for finding a research “sample.”
Composite Coloration Efficiency Measurements of Electrochromic Polymers Based on 3,4-Alkylenedioxythiophenes

We report a method to measure the composite coloration efficiency of organic electrochromic polymers at 95% of the total optical density change measured at λmax. This practical method is useful for the comparison of organic polymers as well as inorganic electrochromic oxides and for gaining insights into the reasons for increased efficiencies in organic polymer systems. Three polymers from the family of the poly(3,4-alkylenedioxythiophenes) (PXDOTs) were chosen, due to their well-behaved electrochromic properties, to develop the tandem chronoabsorptometry/chronocoulometry method. Coloration efficiencies were measured by monitoring the amount of injected/ejected charge as a function of the change in optical density of the polymer film. The results of these experiments revealed a significant relationship between structure and coloration efficiency determined at λmax in organic polymers. Poly(3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno[3,4-b]dioxepine) (PProDOT-Me2) possessed the highest coloration efficiency (375 cm...
Core losses in magnetic materials at very high flux densities when the flux is not sinusoidal

Presently, insufficient material data is available to predict core losses at high flux densities with complex flux waveforms. A steel tester is described whereby this data can be obtained from electrical steel at densities in excess of 20 kG. The flux wave-form can be selected and controlled to study the influence of harmonics and to simulate actual flux conditions existing in magnetic circuits. An electromechanical waveform generator is capable of synthesizing waveforms of 30 to 90 Hz fundamental with phase and amplitude selected odd harmonics up to the eleventh. This signal is amplified to excite Epstein sample strips placed in a water-cooled test yoke up to 140 kA/m. Feedback technique is applied to keep total distortion between input signal and flux waveform below 4 percent at peak excitation. The flux density is measured with air-flux compensated search coils. A calorimetric method is used to measure core losses by recording the temperature rise of thermistors placed between sample strips. Some test results are presented to demonstrate the flexibility and usefulness of the steel tester.
The Paradox of Better Subjective Oral Health in Older Age

We analyzed data from the 2004-06 Australian National Survey of Adult Oral Health to investigate the paradoxical relationship of better subjective oral health in older adults compared with young or middle-aged adults. In interviews with 14,092 adults, prevalence of problems with eating or appearance was not significantly associated with age among dentate people with no denture(s). In contrast, among dentate denture-wearers, prevalence ranged from 18.7% in ≥ 65-year-olds to 46.7% in 25- to 34-year-olds (p < 0.01). Dentate interviewees (n = 3,724) underwent oral epidemiological examinations and completed the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire, evaluating adverse impacts of oral conditions. In multivariable analysis, mean OHIP-14 scores were only weakly associated with age among people who had none of 5 clinical conditions [≥ 5 missing teeth, denture(s), untreated decay, moderate/severe periodontitis, toothache]. However, for people with ≥ 2 clinical conditions, there was a three-fold, inverse association between age and mean OHIP-14 scores (p < 0.01). The findings show that experience of oral disease is more deleterious to subjective oral health when it occurs early in adulthood than when it occurs in old age, a pattern that likely reflects high expectations of young generations and, conversely, great resilience in Australia's oldest generation.
Measuring and evaluating school performance: an investigation of status and growth-based achievement indicators.

Several school performance indices were evaluated using achievement data from multiple longitudinally matched middle school student cohorts in a large district in the southwestern United States. Measures designed to index the within-cohort achievement status and growth of students as well as the status and growth-based changes that occur over years between different student cohorts were studied. Within- and between-cohort status and growth-based estimates of school performance were generated by applying simple and relatively complex statistical models to the longitudinal time-series data obtained on students. Results indicated that within-cohort status-based estimates were closely related to student demographics and between-cohort estimates were associated with cohort enrollment size and initial performance level. These results suggest that schools may often be rewarded and penalized on the basis of factors over which school personnel have limited or no control. Implications for the measurement and evalua...
Fault tolerant and channel aware target localization in wireless sensor networks that use multi-bit quantization

Technological advancements have made the development of low-cost, low-power, and multifunctional sensors feasible. Shortcomings of individual sensors such as limited accuracy, range, computational capability, energy reserves, and communication bandwidth may be overcome by organizing sensors into networks. Locating the position of a target or other entity is a very important application of sensor networks for commercial, military, and homeland security applications. Network bandwidth limitations make transmissions of analog data impractical, making localization based on quantized data important. Sensor faults and communication channel imperfections degrade the localization performance of a wireless sensor network. Extending the current work for a fault tolerant and channel aware (FTCA) network using binary data we developed a model for FTCA localization with multi-bit data. Simulations show that localization algorithms that are FTCA using the maximum likelihood framework and multi-bit quantization provide better localization performance in terms of root mean square (RMS) estimation errors which are close to the theoretical bounds defined by the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) even with a relatively small number of sensors.
Determination of Circulating Pulmonary Blood Volume in Dogs by an Arteriovenous Dye Equilibration Method

The "equilibration" method introduced by Bradley to measure circulating "splanchnic blood volume" has been applied to the estimation of "pulmonary blood volume." The theoretic and practical aspects of the method are analyzed. Values for circulating "pulmonary blood volume" determined in anesthetized dogs were not significantly different from values obtained by the "mean circulation time output" method and were significantly greater than those determined by the "slope output" method. When experimental conditions were varied, relatively parallel changes were recorded by the three methods. It is believed that the "equilibration" method is a valid one for estimating circulating "pulmonary blood volume."
Interactions between anion exchange and other membrane proteins in rabbit kidney medullary collecting duct cells.

In separated outer medullary collecting duct (MCD) cells, the time course of binding of the fluorescent stilbene anion exchange inhibitor, DBDS (4,4′-dibenzamido-2,2′-stilbene disulfonate), to the MCD cell analog of band 3, the red blood cell (rbc) anion exchange protein, can be measured by the stopped-flow method and the reaction time constant, τDBDS, can be used to report on the conformational state of the band 3 analog. In order to validate the method we have now shown that the ID50,DBDS,MCD (0.5±0.1 μm) for the H2-DIDS (4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-dihydrostilbene disulfonate) inhibition of τDBDS is in agreement with the ID50,Cl −,MCD (0.94±0.07 μm) for H2-DIDS inhibition of MCD cell Cl− flux, thus relating τDBDS directly to anion exchange. The specific cardiac glycoside cation transport inhibitor, ouabain, not only modulates DBDS binding kinetics, but also increases the time constant for Cl− exchange by a factor of two, from τCl=0.30±0.02 sec to 0.56±0.06 sec (30mm NaHCO3). The ID50,DBDS,MCD for the ouabain effect on DBDS binding kinetics is 0.003±0.001 μm, so that binding is about an order of magnitude tighter than that for inhibition of rbc K+ flux (K I,K +,rbc=0.017 μm). These experiments indicate that the Na+,K−-ATPase, required to maintain cation gradients across the MCD cell membrane, is close enough to the band 3 analog that conformational information can be exchanged. Cytochalasin E (CE), which binds to the spectrin/actin complex in rbc and other cells, modulates DBDS binding kinetics with a physiological ID50,DBDS,MCD (0.076±0.005 μm); 2 μm CE also more than doubles the Cl− exchange time constant from 0.20±0.04 sec to 0.50±0.08 sec (30mm NaHCO3). These experiments indicate that conformational information can also be exchanged between the MCD cell band 3 analog and the MCD cell cytoskeleton.
Vaccine Impedes the Development of Reflux-Induced Esophageal Cancer in a Surgical Rat Model: Efficacy of the Vaccine in a Pre-Barrett’s Esophagus Setting

Background & Aims We developed a granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) tumor vaccine for esophageal cancer. We evaluated the effectiveness of the vaccine as a prevention option in a surgical reflux rat model of esophageal cancer.
Characterization of thin-film blue SrGa2S4 phosphors for low-to-medium-energy cathodoluminescent displays

The spectral response, luminance, and outgassing characteristics of new, thin-film Ce-activated SrGa 2 S 4 phosphors for application in field-emission flat-panel displays are presented. The tested phosphor materials are prepared using molecular beam epitaxy. The sample screens are tested with e-beam excitation at currents up to 50 μA within the 200-2000 V (i.e., low-voltage) and 3-8 kV (i.e., medium-voltage) ranges. The spectral coordinates are compared to those of commercial low-voltage phosphors. Phosphor outgassing, as a function of time, is measured with a residual gas analyzer at a fixed 50-μA beam current in the low-voltage range. We find that levels of outgassing stabilize to low values within the first hour of excitation. The desorption rates measured from thin films are compared to previously studied desorption parameters for powder phosphor layers.