cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Systems Approach for the Generation of New Product Ideas

One way to manage a creative project directed toward new product ideas is through a systems approach. This model offers a systematic way to explore all relevant factors, including those related to consumer satisfaction.
Slow tonic muscle fibers in the thyroarytenoid muscles of human vocal folds; a possible specialization for speech.

Most of the sounds of human speech are produced by vibration of the vocal folds, yet the biomechanics and control of these vibrations are poorly understood. In this study the muscle within the vocal fold, the thyroarytenoid muscle (TA), was examined for the presence and distribution of slow tonic muscle fibers (STF), a rare muscle fiber type with unique contraction properties. Nine human TAs were frozen and serially sectioned in the frontal plane. The presence and distribution pattern of STF in each TA were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy using the monoclonal antibodies (mAb) ALD-19 and ALD-58 which react with the slow tonic myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform. In addition, TA muscle samples from adjacent frozen sections were also examined for slow tonic MyHC isoform by electrophoretic immunoblotting. STF were detected in all nine TAs and the presence of slow tonic MyHC isoform was confirmed in the immunoblots. The STF were distributed predominantly in the medial aspect of the TA, a distinct muscle compartment called the vocalis which is the vibrating part of the vocal fold. STF do not contract with a twitch like most muscle fibers, instead, their contractions are prolonged, stable, precisely controlled, and fatigue resistant. The human voice is characterized by a stable sound with a wide frequency spectrum that can be precisely modulated and the STF may contribute to this ability. At present, the evidence suggests that STF are not presented in the vocal folds of other mammals (including other primates), therefore STF may be a unique human specialization for speech.
Reforming medicare: The limited framework of political discourse on equity and economy

Abstract Medicare, the major program that organizes the delivery and financing of health care for the elderly in the United States, is being rapidly and significantly changed in order to bring Federal expenditures for health care under control. Questions of ‘equity’, ‘justice’ and ‘access to health care’ (that have long been associated with liberal ideology) have lost discursive currency within the realm of acceptable political debate that now focuses on ‘economy’ and the restoration of ‘competitive market forces’ to the health care industry (a point of view associated with conservative ideology). Pluralistic analyses of American health care policy most often focus on the differences between liberals and conservatives and could only explain the current bipartisan effort to reorganize Medicare as a defeat for liberals and as a vindication for the conservative perspective during a period of economic crisis. This essay develops the alternative point of view that American political debate on health care, among and between liberals and conservatives, has always taken place within a space bracketed by well defined limits established by widespread support for the market model of health care. The strength and dominance of this model that organizes and supports the private production of health care for profit is far more important in explaining the continuity in American health care policy over time and the recent policy adjustments than any examination of ideological differences between political conservatives and liberals. After analyzing the limited framework of debate structured by the market model of health care, this paper critically examines the recent changes in Medicare and challenges the market model on empirical grounds. Finally, the author returns to a discussion of the implications of these changes for equity and justice.
Pb(Zr,Ti)O3-GaN Heterostructures for RF MEMS Applications

Ferroelectric (Pb(Zr0.3Ti0.7)O3 or PZT(30/70))/GaN/Sapphire heterostructures were fabricated by the sol-gel process. The structure and composition of PZT, and its dielectric and ferroelectric properties in Pt/PZT/Ru or Pt/PZT/Pt, and Pt/PZT/GaN configurations were characterized to assess their feasibility as RF MEMS devices for eventual insertion in RF communication systems. The X-ray diffraction and pole figure analysis confirmed the stoichiometric, phase-pure PZT with (111) out-of-plane relationship on (0001) GaN. The secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) depth profile indicated a stable interface with insignificant inter-diffusion of the Pb, Zr, or Ti elements into the GaN. The properties of PZT in Pt/PZT/Ru/GaN or MFM configuration were high capacitance density (C/A = 1.25 μF/cm2) and polarization (30 μC/cm2). In contrast, PZT in Pt/PZT/GaN or MFS configuration exhibited lower capacitance density (C/A = 0.35 μF/cm2) and asymmetrical hysteresis loops (polarization ∼4 μC/cm2). From the calculated spati...
Ischemic Stroke Survivors’ Opinion Regarding Research Utilizing Exception from Informed Consent

Introduction: ‘Exception from informed consent for research’ (EFIC) is a rigorous procedure regulated by the FDA that requires community assent but allows enrollment without patient
Enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of carbohydrates

A review about the potential of enzymes as catalysts for the synthesis of carbohydrates: advances in the enzyme-catalysed construction of natural and unnatural monosaccharides; methods for enzyme-catalysed formation of glycosyl bonds by Lenoir and non-Lenoir pathways
RNA metabolism during the development of cotyledons of Pisum sativum L.

Abstract Changes in RNA synthesis in cotyledons of Pisum sativum L. during seed development and maturation were studied. The bulk of the total RNA accumluated by 21 days after flowering preceding by nearly 1 week the maximum accumulation of protein which occurred at 27 days. Gel electrophoresis of total RNA indicated that exogenously supplied [32P]orthophosphate was incorporated into heavy and light rRNAs and the 4–5-S RNA component but incorporation into these fractions became restricted as the seed matured. At maturity [32P]orthophosphate was incorporated increasingly into a non-nucleic acid contaminant in addition to the accumulation of radioactive material into an apparently novel RNA component. Ribosomes occurred in polysomic configurations in young cotyledons but at seed maturity there was a preponderance of monosomes. These changes presumably reflected changes in the mRNA population. Analysis of low molecular weight messenger-like RNA species associated with ribosomes indicated that both quantitative and qualitative changes occurred in these components during seed development.
Dimethyl Sulfoxide Alteration of Collagen

In vitro incubation of human scar in our laboratory with 99% DMSO demonstrated, by electron microscopy, the disruption of the collagen fibers. This may prove to be a useful preparatory step for selective enzymatic assault upon exuberant or undesirable scar tissue in the clinical setting. Further study of this concept is planned.
Resonance ionization spectroscopy of lithium

Abstract Saturated three-step resonance ionization of ground state lithium was demonstrated and the first measurement of the photoionization cross section from the excited n = 3 manifold of lithium was made. This demonstration of saturation shows the feasibility of detecting single atoms of lithium using sensitive charge detection methods.
Great Service Pays : A Model for Service Delivery in an Academic Music Library

SUMMARY Special-subject libraries can be particularly intimidating for casual and seasoned patrons alike. Music libraries, with their variety of materials, formats, and vocabularies, can present particular challenges for the user. With this proposal for a model of service delivery, as well as many tips gained through experience working the front-of-house in a large academic music library, music library Public Services staff can significantly enrich the patron experience, which, in turn, will pay tangible dividends and enhance the stature of the music library on campus.
Association of a Triblock Ethylene Oxide (E) and Butylene Oxide (B) Copolymer (B12E260B12) in Aqueous Solution

The association behavior of a triblock ethylene oxide (E) and butylene oxide (B) copolymer with a very long middle E block (B12E260B12) in aqueous solution has been investigated by means of laser light scattering. The flower-like closed association behavior of BEB−type triblock copolymers in aqueous solution can be altered to form open, branched, associated structures because of the very long E blocks. The B12E260B12 triblock forms flower-like micelles in a closed association process with a critical micelle concentration of 0.056, 0.040, and 0.033 mg/mL even at fairly low temperatures of 10.0, 20.0, and 25.0 °C, respectively. At room temperature, B12E260B12 can form large secondary associated structures which coexist with the flower-like micelles at concentrations of only 1−2% (w/v). The secondary associates increase in both amount and size with increasing concentration and increasing temperature, producing a highly viscous fluid even for a 4% aqueous solution of B12E260B12.
Advances in APDs for UV astronomy

We report the most recent work of our group of the development of avalanche photo diodes based on (Al)GaN. The goal of this group is to achieve single photon counting. In this paper we first give the scientific motivation for making such a device in the context of UV astronomy and then describe current work and plans for future development. The development includes improving the sensitivity to be able to carry out single photon detection and the fabrication of arrays.
Semimetal/semiconductor composites for optoelectronic applications

Arsenides, such as GaAs and AlGaAs, contain a dispersion of metallic As clusters in a high-quality single crystal semiconductor matrix. These composite materials exhibit interesting and useful properties, including a large electro- optic effect, and a combination of properties that make it useful as a high-speed photoconductor.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Recursive partitioning analysis of prognostic factors for patients with four or more intracranial metastases treated with radiosurgery.

The purpose of this study was to devise a new recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) of patients with four or more intracranial metastases treated with a single radiosurgery procedure to identify a class of patients with extended survival. 205 patients underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery for four or more intracranial metastases (median = 5, range 4-18) during one session. The median total treatment volume was 6.8 cc (range 0.6-51.0 cc). Radiosurgery was used as sole management (17% of patients), or in combination with WB-RT (46%), or after failure of WB-RT (38%). The median marginal radiosurgery dose was 16 Gy (range 12-20 Gy). RPA assessed the effects of age, Karnofsky >70, extracranial disease, visceral metastases, number of metastases, total treatment volume, history of breast and melanoma primaries on survival. The median overall survival after radiosurgery for all patients was 8 months. RPA identified a favorable subgroup of 78 patients (43% of the series) with a total treatment volume or = 7 cc and/or > or = 7 metastases and have a significantly poorer survival.
A Behavioral Model for the Fracture of Surface Hardened Components

An analytical model has been developed which shows that the fracture of surface hardened components initiates at the subsurface interface because of the triaxial stress-state developed at this location.
Topology Changing Amplitudes in (2+1)-Dimensional Gravity

It has recently been observed that 2 + 1 dimensional gravity is a well-defined, finite, and soluble theory, and is particularly simple if the cosmological constant is zero. In this paper it is shown that in the latter case, it is possible to compute the topology-changing amplitudes rather explicitly. One finds that if the quantum theory is formulated on space-times that do not admit classical solutions, it is dominated by planckian distances. If formulated on space-times on which a classical solution is possible, the quantum theory escapes from the planckian domain into the classical regime. The cosmological constant, if zero in the classical lagrangian, is subject to neither finite nor infinite renormalization and remains zero in the quantum theory. We also briefly discuss the coupling to point masses, and some generalizations to include fermionic symmetries, including a super Chern-Simons action that is related to the Casson invariant.
Designing and validating the Joint Battlespace Infosphere

Fielding and managing the dynamic, complex information systems infrastructure necessary for defense operations presents significant opportunities for revolutionary improvements in capabilities. An example of this technology trend is the creation and validation of the Joint Battlespace Infosphere (JBI) being developed by the Air Force Research Lab. The JBI is a system of systems that integrates, aggregates, and distributes information to users at all echelons, from the command center to the battlefield. The JBI is a key enabler of meeting the Air Force's Joint Vision 2010 core competencies such as Information Superiority, by providing increased situational awareness, planning capabilities, and dynamic execution. At the same time, creating this new operational environment introduces significant risk due to an increased dependency on computational and communications infrastructure combined with more sophisticated and frequent threats. Hence, the challenge facing the nation is the most effective means to exploit new computational and communications technologies while mitigating the impact of attacks, faults, and unanticipated usage patterns.
Evaluation and management of chronic pelvic pain

Evaluating patients with chronic pelvic pain is complex. A detailed medical history should be ideally supplemented by psychologic evaluation and assessment of the woman's social background. At the time of physical examination, the location and intensity of the pain should be mapped. Assessment of pain relief with the administration of a local anesthetic to trigger points or selected nerves may be useful in predicting the potential efficacy of surgical interventions such as uterosacral nerve ablation. Appropriate tests include pelvic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Ultimately, laparoscopy may provide the final diagnosis. Management should address the underlying cause(s) of pain; when this cannot be done, it should focus on treating the pain itself. When appropriate, empiric administration of antidepressants may be considered. In selected women, therapeutic goals may be achieved by electrical stimulation of nerves.
Seasonal dependence of mesospheric gravity waves ( <100 Km) at Peach Mountain Observatory, Michigan

We present results from a 14-month study of all-sky camera observations of the Hydroxyl (OH) nightglow made at the Peach Mountain Observatory, Michigan (42.3°N; 83.7°W) Spatial variations in the observed OH airglow images have been used to assess gravity-wave (GW) occurrence frequency at ∼85 km altitude as a function of season. A Strong seasonal dependence of mesospheric GW activity is observed, with peak activity in the summer months and much reduced activity during the winter months. Gravity waves (as defined by observed coherent variations in relative OH brightnesses of >∼7.5) were found to be present on about 70% of the clear-sky nights during the summer months. During the spring, fall, and winter months, however, the observed GW occurrence frequency was very low (<10%). Most of the GWs were observed to propagate towards the eastward hemisphere. We suggest that the tropospherically-generated GWs are anisotropic (eastward) thus passing through to the mesosphere only in the summer and being filtered out by the intervening neutral winds during other seasons. It is also possible that the GWs are able to reach higher altitudes without breaking because of their smaller amplitudes at lower altitudes during the summer season relative to the winter season.
The Measurement of Democracy and the Means of History

The issue of measurement has seized the public eye more than ever before. The computer, communication, and information revolutions have produced a veritable flood of facts and observations on every imaginable topic and subject from every nook and cranny on earth, and beyond. Information overload challenges both our sensibilities and our abilities to process and organize knowledge; everything must be measured, compared, rated, and ranked. The demand for informational order has grown far faster than the ability to deliver. The public obsession with order and ordering to the minutest detail can be both consuming and obscuring. On the surface, inaccurate and inappropriate measures command the same allusion to mathematical precision as the more accurate and reliable measures. The focus of measurement in the social sciences is on identifying common metrics that accurately capture the essential quality of key factors and attributes that define complex, social phenomena. Objective and subjective assessments must be separated to the degree possible. Similarly, in social processes, means and ends must be distinguished in order to gauge performance. Governance and social order are, to a greater degree than any other social phenomena, based in commonalities of collective action and response. These constitute the means of history and should be distinguished from the ends so we can better understand how the past got us to the present and what we might make of the future. From a secular perspective, the purpose of democracy is to define and refine democratic purpose, the success of which can be measured as a conflict management function. Factionalism and the polarization of dissent present major impediments to the consolidation of democracy.
Energetic ions upstream of Jupiter's bow shock

In an analysis of the Jovian ion events, Baker et al. (1984) have found that there appears to be a spectral hardening as the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) changed orientation from the postnoon to a prenoon connection point. It was also observed that ion events were accompanied by long-period (approximately 10 min) waves whose presence was weakly related to a decrease in the ion anisotropy. The present investigation examines in substantial detail the development of the ion energy spectrum over the full range (approximately 30 keV to approximately 4 MeV). The results of the investigation show that the energy spectra are dominated by heavy ions (presumed to be oxygen and sulfur) at higher (approximately equal to or greater than 300 keV) energies.
Effects of differential supplementation of fatty acids during the peripartum and breeding periods of Holstein cows: I. Uterine and metabolic responses, reproduction, and lactation

The objectives were to evaluate the effects of differential timing of supplementation of different Ca salts (CS) of fatty acids (FA) on FA profiles of cotyledonary-caruncular tissues, metabolic status, uterine health, pregnancy, pregnancy losses after 2 artificial inseminations (AI), and milk yield. Holstein cows (n=1,380) were assigned randomly to be fed either CS of palm oil (PO) or safflower oil (SO) from 30 d prepartum until 30 d postpartum (dpp) and further randomized to receive either CS of PO or fish oil (FO) from 30 to 160 dpp. Supplementation of CS of FA was at 1.5% of dietary dry matter. Tissues (n=23) and blood (n=32) were collected from a subsample of cows. Blood was collected daily from parturition to 10 dpp and three times weekly thereafter until 30 dpp for analyses of PGF2α metabolite, nonesterified FA, β-hydroxybutyric acid, blood urea nitrogen, and glucose. Cows were evaluated once between 8 to 10 dpp for cervical discharge type. At 43 dpp, cows received 2 injections of PGF2α 14 d apart, followed 14 d later by injections of GnRH at 7 d before and 56 h after an injection of PGF2α with AI at 16 h after the second GnRH injection. All cows received intravaginally a controlled internal drug-releasing device, containing 1.38 g of progesterone, at 18 d after the first AI followed 7 d later by removal of the device and injection of GnRH. Nonpregnant cows at 32 d after AI were injected with PGF2α, followed 56 h later with a GnRH injection and second AI 16 h thereafter. Cows diagnosed pregnant after both AI were re-examined at 60 d of pregnancy to determine pregnancy losses. Milk weights were recorded monthly for all cows. Caruncular n-6:n-3 FA ratio was greater in cows fed SO. Plasma concentrations of metabolites and frequency of cervical discharge type did not differ between PO- and SO-fed cows. Plasma PGF2α metabolite was greater in SO-fed cows at 4 and 7 dpp. Pregnancy per AI at 32 and 60 d post first AI was not affected by diets, but pregnancy loss was less in FO-fed cows. At second AI, pregnancy was greater in FO-fed cows at 32 d and in SO-FO-fed cows at 60 d post AI. Pregnancy loss after second AI was not affected by diets. Overall pregnancy per AI was greater in cows fed SO followed by FO at 60 d of pregnancy and pregnancy loss was reduced in FO-fed cows. Monthly milk yield was greater (0.7 kg/d) in SO-fed cows. In conclusion, strategic feeding of CS of FA during transition and breeding periods can benefit fertility and milk production of lactating dairy cows.
Correlation of bcl-2 and p53 expression in primary breast tumors and corresponding metastatic lymph nodes

BACKGROUND. The p53 tumor suppressor gene product participated in G1 cell cycle arrest or cell death. Loss of function was associated with poor outcome in patients with breast carcinoma. bcl-2 prevented apoptosis induced by c-myc or growth factor deprivation. High bcl-2 expression in breast tumor tissue specimens appears to be associated with favorable prognostic factors. However, Bcl-2 and p53 expression in primary tumor tissue specimens versus metastatic lymph node specimens in breast carcinoma has not been studied. The current study compared Bcl-2 and p53 expression in primary breast carcinoma tissue specimens with Bcl-2 and p53 expression in axillary lymph node specimens. METHODS. Primary breast tumor and corresponding axillary metastatic lymph node tissue specimens were obtained from 60 patients with breast carcinoma. They were evaluated for the presence of Bcl-2 and p53 expression by immunohistochemistry using standard methods. RESULTS. Bcl-2 expression in primary tumor tissue specimens (53%) was correlated with Bcl-2 expression in metastatic lymph node specimens (50 %; Pearson correlation = 0.656). p53 expression in primary tumor specimens (72%) was correlated with p53 expression in metastatic lymph node specimens (60 %; Pearson correlation = 0.800). A significant inverse correlation also was found between p53 and Bcl-2 expression in primary breast tumor tissue specimens (Pearson correlation = −0.310). CONCLUSIONS. The current study suggested that Bcl-2 and p53 expression in axillary metastatic lymph node specimens is correlated with Bcl-2 and p53 expression in the primary tumor tissue specimens. The prognostic and predictive value of Bcl-2 and p53 expression in axillary lymph node metastasis in patients with breast carcinoma needs to be further evaluated in larger trials with longer follow-up. Cancer 2003;98:2554–9. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
Anaesthesiology as a model for patient safety in health care.

Although anaesthesiologists make up only about 5% of physicians in the United States, anaesthesiology is acknowledged as the leading medical specialty in addressing issues of patient safety.1 Why is this so? Firstly, as anaesthesia care became more complex and technological and expanded to include intensive care it attracted a higher calibre of staff. Clinicians working in anaesthesiology tend to be risk averse and interested in patient safety because anaesthesia can be dangerous but has no therapeutic benefit of its own. Anaesthesiology also attracted individuals with backgrounds in engineering to work either as clinicians or biomedical engineers involved in operating room activities. They and others found models for safety in anaesthesia in other hazardous technological pursuits, including aviation. 2 3 Secondly, in the 1970s and ‘80s the cost of malpractice insurance for anaesthesiologists in the United States soared and was at risk of becoming unavailable. The malpractice crisis galvanised the profession at all levels, including grass roots clinicians, to address seriously issues of patient safety. Thirdly, and perhaps most crucially, strong leaders emerged who were willing to admit that patient safety was imperfect and that, like any other medical problem, patient safety could be studied and interventions planned to achieve better outcomes. #### Summary points Anaesthesiology is acknowledged as the leading medical specialty in addressing patient safety Anaesthesia is safer than ever owing to many different types of solutions to safety problems Solution strategies have included incorporating new technologies, standards, and guidelines, and addressing problems relating to human factors and systems issues The multidisciplinary Anesthesia Safety Foundation was a key vehicle for promoting patient safety A crucial step was institutionalising patient safety as a topic of professional concern Although anaesthesiology has made important strides in improving patient safety, there is still a long way to go ### Anaesthesia: safer than ever It is widely believed that anaesthesia is …
Observations of the Urban Heat Island Effect in New York City

Abstract Differences in the temperature fields through the lowest 700 m of the atmosphere in and around New York City during the hours near sunrise are analyzed. Data were obtained by an instrumented helicopter on 42 predetermined test mornings from July 1964 to December 1966. Results show urban surface temperature inversions to be less intense, and far less frequent, than those in the surrounding non-urban regions. A high frequency of weak elevated inversion layers at an average height of 310 m was observed over the city. The average intensity of the urban heat island, i.e., urban temperature excess, was a maximum near the surface and decreased to zero at 300 m. On mornings with relatively strong urban elevated inversion layers the heat island extended to well over 500 m. For more than two-thirds of the test mornings there existed an elevated “cross-over layer” in which rural temperatures were higher than urban temperatures. The magnitude of the cross-over effect was less than that of the heat island effect.
Improvement of RF Sputtering by Crossed EM Fields

A method is described whereby the cathode to ground capacitance of an RF sputtering module may be dramatically reduced, thereby cutting the power loss and improving the efficinecy. The technique uses a dc magnetic field, perpendicular to the RF electric field, thereby producing a cycloidal path for electrons and greatly increasing the extent of the Crookes dark space. It is shown that the applied magnetic field must be great enough to require the cycloidal height to be less than the desired dark space width. Experimental observations are described.
Binary vapor adsorption by activated carbon

Abstract The adsorption of binary vapor mixtures has been investigated on BPL grade activated carbon. Vapor mixtures include CNCl H 2 O , HCN H 2 O and HCN CNCl . Preadsorption of one vapor generally lowers the adsorption of the second vapor below its single vapor isotherm value. Adsorption of CNCl after pre-adsorbing HCN is greater than the adsorption of HCN after pre-adsorbing CNCl. correlating with the higher affinity coefficient observed for CNCl. The adsorption of H2O vapor is reduced to very low levels by pre-adsorbing HCN or CNCl.
Preliminary investigation of dose for a dedicated mammotomography system

We use a previously reported, optimized quasi-monochromatic beam technique together with unique complex acquisition trajectories made possible with a novel, dedicated cone-beam transmission computed mammotomography (CmT) system to investigate effects of low dose imaging of pendant, uncompressed breasts. Investigators have used a guideline of dose for CmT type applications as that used for dual-view mammography (4-6 mGy for average breast size). This dose is somewhat arbitrary, and it may be possible to reduce this significantly without sacrificing image quality using our quasi-monochromatic x-ray beam, 3D complex acquisition orbits, and iterative reconstruction techniques. A low-scatter acrylic resolution phantom in various media, a breast phantom with sponge and oil-filled lesions, and a cadaver breast are used to evaluate the effect of lowered dose on resolution and image artifacts. Complex saddle acquisition trajectories (necessary to overcome cone-beam distortion) are carried out for total exposures of 96, 300, and 600 mAs over 240 projections. These exposures relate approximately to 1/10 th , 1/3 rd , and 2/3 rd of the standard dual view mammography dose for an average sized 50% adipose/glandular breast. Iterative reconstruction uses an OSTR algorithm with 0.125 mm 3 voxels. Image artifacts increased as dose was reduced but did not appear to greatly degrade image quality except at the lowest contrast tested (1% absolute contrast). As expected, noise increased as dose was reduced. However, this did not appear to affect resolution for rods in air (high contrast), nor rods in oil (20% absolute contrast). Resolution was reduced for rods in water (1% absolute contrast) due to increased prevalence of image artifacts as well as increased noise. Breast phantom imaging of soft lesions in a highly glandular breast (6% absolute contrast) clearly yielded the 60uL and all larger volume lesions. Preliminary biological breast tissue results illustrate excellent subjective image quality at all dose levels tested. Results indicate that our quasi-monochromatic beam together with complex orbit capability and iterative reconstruction has the potential to provide sufficient image quality for practical 3D mammotomography of uncompressed breasts at significantly lower dose than dual view mammography. This is nominally a 2-fold improvement over other approaches using circular orbits and broader spectral x-ray beams. While simple image filtering (post-reconstruction smoothing) could improve noise quality, improvements in image artifact correction and scatter correction are required to more accurately determine the lower limits on dose. A contrast-detail study is also warranted with a greater variety of lesion sizes and contrasts.
Recent Progress in Neural Network Estimation of Atmospheric Profiles Using Microwave and Hyperspectral Infrared Sounding Data in the Presence of Clouds

Recent work has demonstrated the feasibility of neural network estimation techniques for atmospheric profiling in partially cloudy atmospheres using combined microwave (MW) and hyperspectral infrared (IR) sounding data. In this paper, the retrieval performance in problem areas (over land, near the poles, elevated terrain, etc.) is examined. Retrieval performance has been improved by stratifying the neural network training data into distinct groups based on geographical (latitude, for example), geophysical (atmospheric pressure, for example), and sensor geometrical (scan angle, for example) considerations. The spectral information content of cloud signatures in Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) data is also explored. A Principal Components Analysis is presented that indicates that most variability due to clouds is contained in the first two eigenvectors. A novel statistical method for the retrieval of atmospheric temperature and moisture (relative humidity) profiles has been developed and evaluated with sounding data from the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) and the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU). The present work focuses on the cloud impact on the AIRS radiances and explores the use of stochastic cloud clearing mechanisms together with neural network estimation. A stand-alone statistical algorithm will be presented that operates directly on cloud-impacted AIRS/AMSU data, with no need for a physical cloud clearing process. The algorithm is implemented in three stages. First, the infrared radiance perturbations due to clouds are estimated and corrected by combined processing of the infrared and microwave data using a Stochastic Cloud Clearing (SCC) approach. The cloud clearing of the infrared radiances was performed using principal components analysis of infrared brightness temperature contrasts in adjacent fields of view and microwave-derived estimates of the infrared clear-column radiances to estimate and correct the radiance contamination introduced by clouds. Second, a Projected Principal Components (PPC) transform is used to reduce the dimensionality of and optimally extract geophysical profile information from the cloud-cleared infrared radiance data. Third, an artificial feedforward neural network (NN) is used to estimate the desired geophysical parameters from the projected principal components. The performance of this method was evaluated using global (ascending and descending) EOS-Aqua orbits colocated with ECMWF fields for a variety of days throughout 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Over 1,000,000 fields of regard (3x3 arrays of footprints) over ocean and land were used in the study. The method requires significantly less computation than traditional variational retrieval methods, while achieving comparable performance. Retrieval accuracy will be evaluated using ECMWF atmospheric fields as ground truth. The accuracy of the neural network retrieval method will be compared to the accuracy of the AIRS Level 2 (Version 5) retrieval method.
A mould-and-transfer technology for fabricating scanning probe microscopy probes

We report a general fabrication technology for realizing singular or arrayed probes for scanning probe microscopy (SPM) applications. This method allows SPM probes to be made of a variety of materials, including metal, polymer (e.g., polyimide, SU-8), elastomer and silicon nitride. The probe shank and tip may be made of different materials. The mould-and-transfer fabrication process can realize arrayed tips with uniform geometries across a wafer, a feature that is especially useful for the development of large arrayed SPM probes. For example, an array with 1 M probes has been made with good uniformity of tip geometries and tip-to-tip spacing of 50 µm. Several specific SPM probe applications based on this process have been demonstrated to illustrate the utility of this general fabrication method. We discuss SPM probes with tips made of metal or polymer materials (polyimide, SU-8 and elastomer), for surface characterization and nanolithography.
Prevalence of Mammographically Dense Breasts in the United States

Background National legislation is under consideration that would require women with mammographically dense breasts to be informed of their breast density and encouraged to discuss supplemental breast cancer screening with their health care providers. The number of US women potentially affected by this legislation is unknown.
The Transformation of Boards of Directors for the 21st Century: Culture, Power and Accountability

The collection of papers in this volume concerns boards of directors – as they are now and how they are likely to be transformed as the world, and organizations, move into the 21st century.
Designing Patterns and Profiles for Faster HMM Search

Profile HMMs are powerful tools for modeling conserved motifs in proteins. They are widely used by search tools to classify new protein sequences into families based on domain architecture. However, the proliferation of known motifs and new proteomic sequence data poses a computational challenge for search, requiring days of CPU time to annotate an organism's proteome. It is highly desirable to speed up HMM search in large databases. We design PROSITE-like patterns and short profiles that are used as filters to rapidly eliminate protein-motif pairs for which a full profile HMM comparison does not yield a significant match. The design of the pattern-based filters is formulated as a multichoice knapsack problem. Profile-based filters with high sensitivity are extracted from a profile HMM based on their theoretical sensitivity and false positive rate. Experiments show that our profile-based filters achieve high sensitivity (near 100 percent) while keeping around 20\times speedup with respect to the unfiltered search program. Pattern-based filters typically retain at least 90 percent of the sensitivity of the source HMM with 30-40\times speedup. The profile-based filters have sensitivity comparable to the multistage filtering strategy HMMERHEAD [15] and are faster in most of our experiments.
Quantifying the unquantifiable.

Applicability has been described as ‘‘inferences about the extent to which a causal relationship holds over variations in persons, settings, treatments, and outcomes’’ [1,2]. Consequently, to determine the applicability of any research result to a population of interest in a given setting, one has to take two aspects into consideration: first, whether, and to what extent, differences in patient characteristics, settings, treatments, and outcomes are present between a given body of evidence and a population of interest and second, whether existing differences can act as effect modifiers and have the potential to alter or even reverse the magnitude of an observed treatment effect. The first step, assessing differences in patient characteristics, settings, treatments, and outcomes, sounds straightforward but is, in reality, often hampered by lack of reporting [3]. The second step, determining the potential impact of differences on the magnitude of a treatment effect, is even more challenging. Such an assessment is frequently fraught with unknown factors such as the extent of effect modification caused by specific differences in patient characteristics, interventions, and so forth. In reality, assessments of applicability, therefore, often become a matter of assumptions and subjective judgments. In this issue of the journal, Koppenaal et al. [4] propose an adaptation of the Pragmatic-Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary tool to be used to grade the applicability of systematic reviews of trials. The idea is intriguing because unless conclusions of systematic reviews are both valid and applicable to broader patient populations in realworld settings, decisions based on such systematic reviews may be flawed. Devising an applicability score that could complement the grading of the strength of a body of evidence would be a useful feature for users of systematic reviews. But is it possible to quantify and rate the applicability of an entire body of evidence in a systematic review? I am
Evaluating the utility of syndromic surveillance algorithms for screening to detect potentially clonal hospital infection outbreaks.

Objective The authors evaluated algorithms commonly used in syndromic surveillance for use as screening tools to detect potentially clonal outbreaks for review by infection control practitioners. Design Study phase 1 applied four aberrancy detection algorithms (CUSUM, EWMA, space-time scan statistic, and WSARE) to retrospective microbiologic culture data, producing a list of past candidate outbreak clusters. In phase 2, four infectious disease physicians categorized the phase 1 algorithm-identified clusters to ascertain algorithm performance. In phase 3, project members combined the algorithms to create a unified screening system and conducted a retrospective pilot evaluation. Measurements The study calculated recall and precision for each algorithm, and created precision-recall curves for various methods of combining the algorithms into a unified screening tool. Results Individual algorithm recall and precision ranged from 0.21 to 0.31 and from 0.053 to 0.29, respectively. Few candidate outbreak clusters were identified by more than one algorithm. The best method of combining the algorithms yielded an area under the precision-recall curve of 0.553. The phase 3 combined system detected all infection control-confirmed outbreaks during the retrospective evaluation period. Limitations Lack of phase 2 reviewers’ agreement indicates that subjective expert review was an imperfect gold standard. Less conservative filtering of culture results and alternate parameter selection for each algorithm might have improved algorithm performance. Conclusion Hospital outbreak detection presents different challenges than traditional syndromic surveillance. Nevertheless, algorithms developed for syndromic surveillance have potential to form the basis of a combined system that might perform clinically useful hospital outbreak screening.
On Some Open Problems in the Theory of Cellular Automata

Some open problems in the theory of cellular automata are considered: the tradeoff between machine complexity and interconnection complexity, linear time pattern recognition and transformation problems, and the noncomputability of the constant of linearity of linear time problems.
Critical Exponents, Colines, and Projective Geometries

In [9, p. 469], Oxley made the following conjecture, which is a geometric analogue of a conjecture of Lovasz (see [1, p. 290]) about complete graphs.Conjecture 1.1. Let G be a rank-n GF(q)-representable simple matroid with critical exponent n − γ. If, for every coline X in G, c(G/X; q) = c(G; q) − 2 = n − γ − 2, then G is the projective geometry PG(n − 1, q).We shall call the rank n, the critical ‘co-exponent’ γ, and the order q of the field the parameters of Oxley's conjecture. We exhibit several counterexamples to this conjecture. These examples show that, for a given prime power q and a given positive integer γ, Oxley's conjecture holds for only finitely many ranks n. We shall assume familiarity with matroid theory and, in particular, the theory of critical problems. See [6] and [9].A subset C of points of PG(n − 1, q) is a (γ, k)-cordon if, for every k-codimensional subspace X in PG(n − 1, q), the intersection C ∩ X contains a γ-dimensional subspace of PG(n − 1, q). In this paper, our primary interest will be in constructing (γ, 2)-cordons. With straightforward modifications, our methods will also yield (γ, k)-cordons.Complements of counterexamples to Oxley's conjecture are (γ, 2)-cordons.
Barriers to workers' compensation and medical care for injured Personal Assistance Services workers.

Abstract Objectives. We documented barriers to workers' compensation and injury-related medical care faced by homecare or Personal Assistance Services (PAS) workers. We explored differences between independent providers and agency-employed workers. Methods. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of 38 injured workers. Participants were primarily female and racial-ethnic minorities. Results. Most participants (82%) were independent providers. Common barriers to reporting injury included commitments to clients and financial pressure. Unlike agency employees, many independent providers knew little about workers' compensation eligibility and injury reporting procedures, and frequently were given “the runaround” by the social service bureaucracy when they attempted to report injury and access injury-related medical care. Among independent providers, delays in filing a claim and receiving timely medical attention were common. Conclusions. The lack of a traditional employment inf...
Compositional may-must program analysis: unleashing the power of alternation

Program analysis tools typically compute two types of information: (1) may information that is true of all program executions and is used to prove the absence of bugs in the program, and (2) must information that is true of some program executions and is used to prove the existence of bugs in the program. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm, dubbed SMASH, which computes both may and must information compositionally . At each procedure boundary, may and must information is represented and stored as may and must summaries, respectively. Those summaries are computed in a demand driven manner and possibly using summaries of the opposite type. We have implemented SMASH using predicate abstraction (as in SLAM) for the may part and using dynamic test generation (as in DART) for the must part. Results of experiments with 69 Microsoft Windows 7 device drivers show that SMASH can significantly outperform may-only, must-only and non-compositional may-must algorithms. Indeed, our empirical results indicate that most complex code fragments in large programs are actually often either easy to prove irrelevant to the specific property of interest using may analysis or easy to traverse using directed testing. The fine-grained coupling and alternation of may (universal) and must (existential) summaries allows SMASH to easily navigate through these code fragments while traditional may-only, must-only or non-compositional may-must algorithms are stuck in their specific analyses.
The permanent electric dipole moment of gold chloride, AuCl

The [19.20]0+-X1Σ+ (0,0) band system of gold chloride, AuCl, has been studied using optical Stark spectroscopy. The [19.20]0+ state is analysed as a 3Π electronic state, and the observed Stark shifts analysed to determine ground and excited electronic state permanent electric dipole moments, μel. A considerably smaller μel of 0.32 ± 0.17 D for the [19.20]0+ (v = 0) state, in comparison to that of 3.69 ± 0.02D for the X1Σ+ (v = 0) state is observed. The experimental assignment of the [19.20]0+ state to a component of the 3Π state has been corroborated by high-level quantum–chemical calculations using exact two-component theory for treating relativistic effects and the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster approach for describing the electronic excited state. A close inspection of the electronic wave functions for the 3Π states of gold monohalides reveals significant participation of excitations from the halogen valence p orbitals to the anti-bonding molecular orbitals mainly localised on the gold atom. This l...
A preliminary report of the short-term effect of carbonated beverage consumption on calcium metabolism in normal women.

• A variety of nutritional factors influence the bioavailability of calcium and increase a woman's risk of osteoporosis. Eight healthy women completed an 8-week metabolic study designed to investigate the effect of nonalcoholic carbonated beverage consumption on calcium metabolism. Compared with women receiving a control diet, women consuming a diet high in nonalcoholic carbonated beverages demonstrated similar mean serum levels of calcium, ionized calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and osteocalcin. Twenty-four-hour urine volume, creatinine clearance, calcium-creatinine ratio, and phosphorus-creatlnine ratio were similar during consumption of the diet high in nonalcoholic carbonated beverages and the control diet. Twenty-fourhour cyclic adenosine monophosphate–creatinine ratio was significantly lower in women consuming the diet high in nonalcoholic carbonated beverage compared with women receiving the control diet (342±27.4 nmol/mmol vs 409±22.1 nmol/mmol). Consumption of a diet high in nonalcoholic carbonated beverages on a short-term basis does not appear to affect adversely the serum or urinary markers of calcium metabolism. ( Arch Intern Med. 1989;149:2517-2519)
Histologic results 1 year after bioprosthetic repair of paraesophageal hernia in a canine model

Background The use of prosthetic materials for the repair of paraesophageal hiatal hernia (PEH) may lead to esophageal stricture and perforation. High recurrence rates after primary repair have led surgeons to explore other options, including various bioprostheses. However, the long-term effects of these newer materials when placed at the esophageal hiatus are unknown. This study assessed the anatomic and histologic characteristics 1 year after PEH repair using a U-shaped configuration of commercially available small intestinal submucosa (SIS) mesh in a canine model.