cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Wireless Networks Merit Different Net Neutrality than Wired Networks

This paper attempts to answer whether wireless net neutrality should be different than wired net neutrality because of the different technologies used. We are concerned with whether the challenges of wireless signals and mobility merit different traffic management techniques, and how these techniques may affect net neutrality. We address whether wireless network operators should have a different ability to restrict applications used on their networks than wired ISPs. We are also concerned with which wireless applications or services should be covered by a net neutrality requirement, and whether this requires the definition of managed services. We review the pertinent aspects of network architecture and discuss the main differences between wired and wireless networks. We find that wireless networks differ substantially from wired networks only at and below the network layer. We then more specifically address how traffic management differs in wireless networks. We conclude that wireless networks require stronger traffic management. We find, however, that despite the differences in traffic management, similar net neutrality concerns apply. We state our general position on net neutrality, and then examine how it may apply to wireless net neutrality. We argue that since the differences between wired and wireless networks lie in lower layers, net neutrality in both wired and wireless networks can be effectively accomplished by requiring an open interface between network and transport layers.
Pink and White Carnations:A Semiotic Analysis of Wallace Stevens

The force dynamic relationship created by opposing forces of order and disorder are consistently represented in various perceptually aesthetic modalities. I assert that this abstraction is evidence of the cognitive underpinnings of the aesthetic experience. In exploration of this hypothesis, the present article will analyze a poem entitled “The Poems of Our Climate” by American poet Wallace Stevens and illustrate.
The Dependent Auditor, the Three Party Arrangement, and Cost-Benefit Comparisons

This short essay focuses on the costs and benefits accruing to each of the three parties to a conventional public company audit: company management, the auditor, and investors. Recognition of those costs and benefits leads to the conclusion that the auditor’s dependence on the goodwill of management makes it unlikely that an audit in such a setting will serve investors well.
Optical and structural properties of composite films prepared by co-evaporation of TiO 2 and MgF 2

The optical and structural properties of TiO2-MgF2 mixed films prepared by coevaporation with ion-assisted deposition have been investigated. The composition of coevaporated TiO2-MgF2 mixed films can be tuned by controlling the relative deposition rates of the two sources. Most of the films with thicknesses less than 500 nm are found to be homogeneous in optical properties. The optical and structural properties of the mixed films change from MgF2-dominant to TiO2-dominant as the TiO2 content in the mixed film increases. The dependence of the refractive index with composition can be fitted by Bottcher's formula at low TiO2 content and by Lorentz-Lorentz formula at high TiO2 content in the mixed films. An application of TiO2-MgF2 mixed films for the design and fabrication of antireflection coatings in the near infrared region has also been discussed.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cloud-Assisted Smart Camera Networks for Energy-Efficient 3D Video Streaming

Despite current obstacles, smart camera networks that offload computationally intensive tasks to remote servers could allow energy-efficient 3D and multiview video encoding and delivery yet still ensure high-quality multiple-device video streaming.
Operating system impact on trace-driven simulation

Trace-driven simulation is commonly used by the computer architecture research community to pursue answers to a wide variety of architectural design issues. Traces taken from benchmark execution have been extensively studied to optimize the design of pipelines, branch predictors, and especially cache memories. Today's computer designs have been optimized based on the characteristics of these benchmarks. One important aspect that has been ignored in a majority of these trace-driven studies is the effect of the operating system interacting with the benchmark. It has been acknowledged that operating system overhead can introduce a level of interference that can limit the benefits of new designs. The reason why the operating system has been, for the most part, ignored in these studies is the lack of readily available tools that can generate kernel-laden traces. In this paper we describe two tracing systems that allow the capture of operating system and application traces. We have captured traces of both benchmark and commercial applications using these tools. We show the effects of including operating system activity while studying various architectural design tradeoffs. We have found that the operating system can increase the number of instructions captured in the trace (for a given time sample) by as much as 100X, can significantly modify the instruction mix, and produce different ranges of reference locality. The results of this study show that the inherent characteristics of the applications will dictate the amount of overhead introduced by the operating system.
A critique of the Flynn Effect: Massive IQ gains, methodological artifacts, or both?

Abstract The Flynn Effect proposed by Flynn (1984; 1987) is reviewed and evaluated. Even in the presence of a skeptical and critical scrutiny of the effect, it appears that there is more than just methodological artifact to be explained. But the acceptance of the effect has been too quick. The proper explanations for the effect will not be meaningful until the nature of the effect is much better understood than it is now. Six questions are raised that have not been adequately answered. Two criticisms of the logic underlying the Flynn Effect are presented — one showing that even if IQ and SAT are highly correlated, their secular means will not necessarily track one another; the second showing that results by Flynn, (1984) are as consistent with a changing IQ variance as with a changing mean. The second of these is empirically evaluated with a re-analysis of a subset of the sources of Flynn's original 1984 data. Finally, 10 research strategies and designs are suggested that would help us better understand the effect. The critique is developed with the goal of clarifying the nature, meaning and causes of the Flynn Effect. The author hopes that this critique will stimulate both healthy skepticism about the Flynn Effect and careful research into its actual causes.
A Characterization of the Variation in Relative Humidity across West Africa during the Dry Season

AbstractThe variation of relative humidity across West Africa during the dry season is evaluated using the Modern Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) dataset and the method of self-organizing maps. Interest in the dry season of West Africa is related to the connection between near-surface atmospheric moisture and the occurrence of meningitis across West Africa, most notably in the region known as the meningitis belt. The patterns in relative humidity are analyzed in terms of frequency of each pattern as well as the sequencing from one pattern to the next. The variations in relative humidity are characterized subannually for individual years from 1979 to 2009 as well as decadally over the entire 30-yr duration of dry seasons in West Africa. The progression from relatively moist patterns to relatively dry patterns and back to the moist patterns over the course of the dry season corresponds to the northward and then southward migration of the intertropical convergence zone. The r...
International Conference on “Modeling, Simulation, Optimization for Design of Multi-disciplinary Engineering Systems”, Goa, September 2003

The conference is jointly sponsored by the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) and International Society of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (ISSMO).
Post-stroke infections exacerbate ischemic brain injury in middle-aged rats: Immunomodulation and neuroprotection by progesterone

We investigated the effect of delayed, prolonged systemic inflammation on stroke outcomes and progesterone (P4) neuroprotection in middle-aged rats. After transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO) surgery, rats received P4 (8 or 16 mg/kg) or vehicle injections at 2h, 6h and every 24h until day 7 post-occlusion. At 24h post-injury systemic inflammation was induced by giving three doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 50 μg/kg, at 4h intervals) to model post-stroke infections. We measured serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), pro-inflammatory cytokines, and behavioral parameters at multiple times. Serum BDNF levels decreased more in the vehicle+LPS group compared to vehicle-alone at 3 and 7 days post-injury (P<0.05). Vehicle-alone showed a significant increase in interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels at different times following stroke and these levels were further elevated in the vehicle+LPS group. P4 at both doses produced a significant (P<0.05) decline in cytokine levels compared to vehicle and vehicle+LPS. P4 restored BDNF levels at 3 and 7 days post-stroke (P<0.05). Behavioral assessment (rotarod, grip strength, sensory neglect and locomotor activity tests) at 3, 5 and 7 days post-stroke revealed that the vehicle group had significant (P<0.05) deficits in all tests compared to intact controls, and performance was worse in the vehicle+LPS group. P4 at both doses produced significant functional improvement on all tests. Systemic inflammation did not show an additive effect on infarct volume but P4 at both doses showed significant infarct reduction. We suggest that post-stroke infection exacerbates stroke outcomes and P4 exerts neuroprotective/modulatory effects through its systemic anti-inflammatory and BDNF regulatory actions.
Missile Loads at High Angles of Attack

study, side forces were presented for various conditions over a range of angles of attack up to 90 deg. Presented here is a comparison of the experimental data with Missile DATCOM predictions for the normal forces.
Presentation and Prognosis of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in Patients Below Age 50

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the fastest growing cancers in the United States, is increasingly recognized in younger patients in whom the clinicopathologic features have been poorly described. We aim to compare clinical presentation between early (i.e., ≤50 years of age) and later onset EAC, and to evaluate factors associated with survival. All patients diagnosed with EAC at our hospital between 1994 and 2004 were evaluated. Demographics, social history, family history of cancer, clinical presentation, diagnosis during Barrett’s surveillance, endoscopic and histologic findings, treatment, and survival were compared between patients older than 50 and ≤50 years of age. Thirty-one of 242 (12.8%) patients were ≤50 years at diagnosis. Patients ≤50 were more likely to present with dysphagia (80% vs. 60%, P = 0.003) and have lymphatic spread at diagnosis (48% vs. 31%, P = 0.015). Median survival was 21.1 months (range 13.1–31.4) for younger patients and 22.0 months (range 20.0–28.1) for older patients (P = NS). Factors associated with shortened survival were dysphagia at presentation, advanced histologic grade, lymphatic spread, and esophagectomy. By multivariable analysis, shortened survival was associated with histologic grade (P = 0.03) and lymphatic spread (P = 0.01). Younger patients comprise a considerable proportion of newly diagnosed EAC. Diagnosis is delayed in younger patients presenting with dysphagia which contributes to adverse outcomes and advanced stage at time of diagnosis. Early endoscopy should be performed in the evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and dysphagia, particularly for patients younger than 50 years.
Crystal structure of Pt(S2COEt)2

The crystals of Pt(S2COEt)2 are orthorhombic, Pbca, with (at 20°C)a=7.799(3),b=7.368(6),c=20.588(7) A,D cale=2.46g cm−3 forZ=4. The platinum atom resides on a crystallographic center of inversion and is bound to the four sulfur atoms of the xanthato ligand in a square planar geometry. The Pt−S distances are 2.313(6) and 2.320(7) A with an intraligand S−Pt−S angle of 75.1(2)°.
Technological-Institutional Synergy and the Extent of National E-Governments

Synergy between technological infrastructure and institutional efficacy is hypothesized to be a key enabler of national e-governments and is empirically demonstrated using objective measures for these two factors. For the research models proposed, composite variables are constructed from secondary sources, data are analyzed using moderated multiple regression, and robustness is demonstrated with assorted post hoc analyses, including model validation via replication. Well over half the variance in e-government across countries is explained by the single TI synergy term using data reported in 2008 (n = 60, adjusted R2 = 0.618) and in 2010 (n = 103, adjusted R2 = 0.651; n = 120, adjusted R2 = 0.694). This simple linear regression model offers a straightforward way to visualize the relative positions of countries with respect to technological-institutional synergy and the extent of national e-government. Using the model to identify atypical countries and country clusters for further study is highlighted.
Voltage-Sensitive PIP2 Phosphatase Shows PIP2 Requirements for KCNQ and Ca2+ Channels

The four talks in this symposium highlight the dependence of ion channel function on membrane phospholipids and fatty acids. Although of low abundance (1-2%), the phosphoinositide phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is a signature lipid of plasma membranes. The PIP2 lipid aids ion channel function there, and depleting PIP2 can decrease the activity of >80 types of channels (Logothetis et al, Pflugers 2010). A voltage sensitive 5-phosphatase (VSP) converts PIP2 to PI(4)P rapidly during strong depolarizing voltage steps (Okamura et al, J Physiol 2009). Exogenously expressed, this VSP serves to test the PIP2 dependence of plasma membrane ion channels and the kinetics of resynthesis of PIP2. Using the PLCdelta1 PH (pleckstrin homology) domain as a reporter, we measure the membrane PIP2 concentration as a change in FRET (Forster resonance energy transfer) between YFP-PH and CFP-PH. The PH-domain assay reports that strongly activated VSP depletes PIP2 with a time constant <150 ms. Activating VSP for 500 ms with a +100 mV depolarization reduces current in KCNQ channels by 90% (Falkenburger et al, JGP 2010) and reduces current in four subtypes of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels by 30-60% (Suh et al, Neuron 2010). The channel currents and the PH domain signals recover with time constants of 7-15 s. Such observations imply that: (1) KCNQ channels and several Ca2+ channels need PIP2 for best operation, (2) the PIP2 likely binds directly to the channel protein, (3) PH domains and channels form low-affinity complexes with PIP2 that last < 10 ms, and (4) resynthesis of PIP2 from plasma membrane PI(4)P takes only ∼10 s. This resynthesis from PI(4)P is much faster than the 150-s time seen for two-step resynthesis from PI after activation of receptors coupled to PLC. Support: NIH grants NS08174, GM83913.
A note on tensile deformation of flat sheets

Abstract It is shown that the results of previous calculations [7] are insensitive to the precise value of the constant of proportionality between radii ratio and neck strain, for a wide range of choices for this constant.
Mitochondrial Pharmacology: Its Future Is Now

Mitochondrial medicine is an evolving discipline whose importance derives from the central function of mitochondria in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, generation of reactive oxygen species, and cell death by necrosis or apoptosis. Consequently, mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in the progression of aging and the pathophysiology of many common diseases and off-target drug effects. This provides an impetus for the development of mitochondrial pharmacology, and some promising therapeutic targets for mitochondrial protective therapy have been identified. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2014); 96 6, 629–633. doi:10.1038/clpt.2014.177
Relative risks of diseases in the presence of incomplete penetrance and sporadics

In most diseases of contemporary interest to epidemiology, the importance of familial risk factors is often assessed by relative risk measures computed from family history data. In this paper, we examine the efficiency of relative risk measures in discerning the genetic background of a disease. It is shown that even for a simple (one locus, two alleles) genetic disease, incomplete penetrance of the disease allele and/or occurrence of sporadics (i.e. non-heritable cases caused by environmental risk factors) often yields a rather small value of relative risk. This means that a small value of relative risk need not necessarily imply that genetic factors are unimportant in the aetiology of the disease. Furthermore, it is shown that the relative risk measures are complicated functions of disease gene frequency, the penetrance parameter and the sporadic rate. A rejection of genetic involvement for a disease on the basis of a single relative risk estimate may, therefore, be erroneous.
P-37: Optical Fiber scanning as a Microdisplay source for a Wearable Low Vision Aid

Optical fibers are microfabricated and piezoelectrically vibrated to produce rectilinear scan patterns. By coupling a laser to the optical fiber and projecting the collimated light directly to the viewer's eye, the result is a proposed low-cost, spectacle-mounted, wearable low vision aid.
Molecular Targeting of BCL2 and BCLXL Proteins by Synthetic BCL2 Homology 3 Domain Peptide Enhances the Efficacy of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapeutic agents are known to induce programmed cell death or apoptosis. The activation of cellular antiapoptotic defense that prevents the translation of drug-induced damage into cell death is the key factor in cellular antiapoptotic resistance that decreases the chemotherapeutic effectiveness of a broad spectrum of anticancer drugs. A novel proapoptotic anticancer drug delivery system (DDS) was designed to simultaneously induce apoptosis and suppress antiapoptotic cellular defense. The system includes three main components: 1) anticancer drug camptothecin (CPT) as an apoptosis inducer, 2) synthetic BCL2 homology 3 domain (BH3) peptide as a suppressor of cellular antiapoptotic defense, and 3) poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymer as a carrier. The above DDS was studied in vitro using A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cells and in vivo on nude mice bearing xenografts of human ovarian tumor. The results obtained in both series of experiments corroborate each other. They show that the designed DDS provided intracellular delivery of active components and suppressed cellular antiapoptotic defense, leading to the more pronounced induction of caspase-dependent signaling pathway of apoptosis compared with CPT alone and simple CPT-PEG conjugate. Including BH3 peptide in complex DDS decreased apoptotic cellular defense, substantially increased toxicity of the whole complex, and provided high antitumor activity. Therefore, the proposed novel multicomponent proapoptotic anticancer drug delivery system has high potential to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy.
Clinical Experience With a New Removable Tracheobronchial Stent in the Management of Airway Complications After Lung Transplantation

Background Airway complications are among the most challenging problems after lung transplantation. This article describes the use of a new tracheobronchial stent that can be placed and removed easily by flexible bronchoscopy. Methods A retrospective review was done of 24 consecutive patients requiring tracheobronchial stent placement after lung transplantation. A new self-expanding hybrid nitinol stent was used, and changes in airway diameter and spirometry were assessed. Stent related complications were recorded. Results Between February 2007 and April 2008, 24 patients underwent stent placement, and 49 stents were placed for 36 anastomoses at risk. Indications included bronchial stenosis in 12, bronchomalacia in 12, bronchial stenosis plus bronchomalacia in 20, and partial bronchial dehiscence in 5. Adjunctive procedures included electrocautery in 1, balloon dilatation in 7, and electrocautery plus balloon dilatation in 4. The average degree of stenosis decreased from 80% to 20%. After stent placement, the average increase was 0.28 liters in forced vital capacity and 0.44 liters in forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Complications included granulation tissue formation in 10 stents, migration in 9, thick mucus formation in 2, and fracture in 3. Conclusion Airway complications in lung transplant patients were effectively palliated. Our complication rate with this new stent is comparable with other airway stents. This stent has the advantage of easy removability during flexible bronchoscopy if complications from the stent outweigh the benefits of palliation.
Factors Influencing the Volume-Outcome Relationship in Gastrectomies: A Population-Based Study

Background A relationship between hospital procedural volume and patient outcomes has been observed in gastrectomies for primary gastric cancer, but modifiable factors influencing this relationship are not well elaborated.
A comparative analysis of understanding practices in the VMT environment

The oriented question of this symposium is, what are the appropriate methods and frameworks for studying practice in CSCL environments? To foster a useful dialogue on methodology, we apply a "comparative analysis" of computer-mediated interactions taken from a common data source of Virtual Math Teams (VMT) environment.
Color Doppler Tissue Imaging for Evaluation of Right Ventricular Systolic Function in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease

Objective We sought to explore the relationship of color Doppler tissue imaging–derived systolic indices of tricuspid valve annular motion and magnetic resonance imaging–derived right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction in patients with congenital heart disease. Methods Patients with congenital heart disease who underwent echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging on the same day were included. The tricuspid valve annular color Doppler tissue imaging–derived parameters of peak velocity during isovolumic contraction, myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction, peak systolic velocity, and Tei index were compared with magnetic resonance imaging–derived RV ejection fraction. Results Peak systolic velocity and myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction correlated well with RV ejection fraction after adjusting for age, RV dilation, and pressure overload ( r = 0.65 and 0.73, respectively). Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were excellent for peak systolic velocity ( r = 0.95 and 0.97, respectively) and very good for myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction ( r = 0.93 and 0.85, respectively). Conclusions Color Doppler tissue imaging indices of tricuspid valve annular motion are reproducible and provide a potentially useful complementary tool for assessment of RV systolic function in patients with congenital heart disease.
Attributes of schematic faces in preschoolers’ use of names of emotions

Eyebrow curvature, opening of the eyes, and, within naturalistic or stylistic mouth, opening or form of the mouth were related to occurrences of the names of the emotions “afraid,” “happy,” “mad,” “surprised,” and “sad” with 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old females and males who were predominantly white and middle class in background. With naturalistic mouths, combinations of arched eyebrows, open eyes, and open mouth evoked “afraid” and, less often, “surprised.” Arched eyebrows with relatively closed eyes and mouth evoked “happy,” and straight eyebrows, regardless of eyes and mouth, evoked “mad.” “Sad” occurred infrequently. The stylistic U-shaped mouth evoked “happy,” and the stylistic inverted-U mouth evoked “sad,” both regardless of eyebrows and eyes. These generalizations held across age, sex, repetition of presentation, and place and time of participation of the children.
a prince by any other name? identity and politics in Highland Cameroon

Small public acts carry with them the keys to the cultural and institutional worlds in which they occur. To understand why a particular person in the Bamenda Grassfields of Cameroon changed his name, and thereby the symbol of his public identity, this study presents the cultural and political context in which such an act makes sense. This context includes the historical relations between the two Grassfields chiefdoms of Nso and Nseh, as well as the relations of each with the national economic and political systems.
First molar radicular bone near the maxillary sinus: a comparison of CBCT analysis and gross anatomic dissection for small bony measurement.

Objectives This study assessed agreement of cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) measurements against those obtained by gross dissection and physical calipers for dimensions of maxillary bone around first molar roots in cadaveric specimens. Study design A total of 37 human maxilla pairs with 69 first molars were analyzed by CBCT with a resolution of 200 μm and the results compared with gross dissection. Matched data sets of 414 data points (6 data points per tooth) were compared using Bland-Altman statistics. An operational definition of clinical accuracy was proposed. Results The data sets displayed a Pearson correlation coefficient of r = 0.85. Analysis revealed a positive bias for CBCT of 0.4 mm with a standard deviation of 1.1 mm relative to gross dissection. Less bone around first molar roots was demonstrated than reported in available literature. Conclusions High-resolution CBCT measurements were acceptable for clinical accuracy and study of the maxillary sinus.
Real-Time Predictive Surgical Control for Cancer Treatment Using Laser Ablation [Life Science]

This article presents an over view on real-time predictive control for laser surgery based on the computational framework that consists of components for numerical implementation of the nonlinear heterogeneous Pennes equation of bioheat transfer including model calibration, remote data transfer, model coregistration, finite element meshing and parallel solution algorithms, cellular damage prediction, and optimal laser control. The goal is to develop a predictive computational tool that may be used by surgeons during a minimally invasive hyper/ hypothermia procedure to destroy cancerous tumors. The tool includes various components of computer models in the computational framework that controls the thermal source and makes a prediction of the treatment outcomes. Simultaneously, model parameters are updated to increase the accuracy based on the real-time intraoperative imaging data from in vivo temperature measurement. Current results show that it is important to consider the heterogeneity in the patient-specific cancerous region and the surrounding domain in order to the accuracy of prediction. By solving the corresponding inverse problem, predicted results can be improved by the experimental data, and capture well-known behavior of decreased perfusion in the damage region and hyperperfusion surrounding the damage region.
Electronic structure and photoelectron spectroscopy of AlSi mixed dimer

The electronic structure of the heterodimer AlSi is experimentally studied using anion photoelectron spectroscopy. Four low-lying electronic excited states are observed for AlSi. The electron affinity of AlSi is measured to be 1.32 (5) eV, which is lower than that of both Al2 and Si2. The electronic structure of AlSi is understood by comparing to that of the known Al2 and Al2− molecules. The ground state of AlSi is determined to be X 4Σ− with a vibrational frequency of 400 (50) cm−1. The four excited states are A 2Σ−, B 2Δ, C 2Π, and D 2Σ+ with excitation energies of 0.23, 0.67, 0.82, and 1.13 eV, respectively. The photoelectron spectra of Al2− are also presented and excited states of the Al2− anion are definitively observed. The electronic structure of AlSi is discussed and compared to that of the homonuclear dimers, Al2 and Si2.
Packaging and Transportation of Neptunium Oxide

The Savannah River Site's HB-Line Facility completed a campaign in which fifty (50) cans of neptunium oxide were produced and shipped to the Idaho National Laboratory in the 9975 shipping container. This shipping campaign involved the addition of neptunium oxide to the 9975 Safety Analysis Report for Packaging (SARP) as a new content and subsequently a Letter of Amendment to the SARP content table. This paper will address the proper steps which should be taken to add a new content table to a SARP. It will also address the importance of product sampling and understanding the material shipping requirements of a SARP.
Septal cystic mass in the right atrium: echocardiographic evaluation

Right atrial masses rarely are seen in children and are usually benign. Clinical manifestations mainly depend on the location of the mass and whether it alters blood flow. This report describes the clinical course, echocardiographic findings, pathology, and serial follow-up of an unusual cystic mass with a mixture of tissue common to the atrioventricular septum located in the posteroinferior right atrium.
The new American Cancer Society Lung Cancer Screening guidelines and the role of the pathologist.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently published its new initial Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) based on findings of the National Cancer Institute’s National Lung Screening Trial. The majority of non-small cell lung cancers are diagnosed in a locally advanced stage (Stage IIIB) or advanced stage with metastatic disease (Stage IV) with 5 year survival rates of only 7% and 2%, respectively. Therefore, there has been interest for decades in the detection of lung cancer at an earlier stage through screening when treatment might be more efficacious. In a setting in which a patient’s clinician has access to a ‘‘high-volume, high-quality’’ lung cancer screening and treatment center, the ACS recommends LDCT screening for patients between the ages of 55 to 74 years old who are in relatively good health and who are current smokers or who quit smoking within the past 15 years. Of course, this is a time period in which cost containment in medicine and concerns about excessive or unnecessary testing are at the forefront. As noted by the ACS guidelines, the benefits of screening may not be sufficient compared to the risks for some patients because of their age, other conditions, or relatively low probability of developing lung cancer, but screening is still a decision to be made by individual patients and their medical care providers. False-positive results and overdiagnosis with overtreatment may add costs and possible risks, without benefits in some cases, but the overall benefits and decreased medical and productivity costs from detecting and treating lung cancer in an early stage are worthwhile goals in the appropriate patient groups. Pathologists will diagnose the increased number of aspirates, biopsies, and other procedures that will follow from LDCT screening. As pathologists are already aware, these tissues may need to be triaged for predictive biomarker testing or other studies, requiring conservation of tissue samples in many cases. This potential increase in testing takes place within the new context of cost containment and laboratory efficiency. Screening for lung cancer is not the only area of laboratory screening that is under debate among pathologists. The Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine welcomes input on this topic, including, especially, evidence-based studies on the benefits, risks, and costs of screening for cancer and other diseases.
A justification methodology for automated manufacturing technologies

Abstract Current demands, originating in global markets, upon manufacturing industries have promoted the enactment of strategic measures commonly directed toward improving production resources. This has led to the necessity of critical capital investment evaluations of various automation alternatives by many corporations. This paper present a methodology which enables corporate decision makers to evaluate and select the appropriate automation systems to implement from a list of potential candidates. The methodology uses a two phased approach and two sets of ordinal scale measures to weight the intangible benefits resulting from implementation of automation alternatives from the standpoint of both strategic and tactical considerations.
Experience with a Double-Compensating Beam Calorimeter

In an experiment to measure the D(t,?)n cross section at beam energies of 10 to 120 keV, we have developed a double-compensating beam calorimeter, based on a Swiss Design to measure the particle beam intensity. A Faraday cup is not useful because of considerable charge exchange in the target gas at such low beam energies. We calibrated the calorimeter both with 10- and 3-MeV protons (comparing with a Faraday-cup measurement of the beam flux) and with the heat generated in a precision resistor. Both methods agree and give a calibration accurate to ±0.08% over a range of 10 to 800 mW beam power. Beam powers as low as 5 mW may be used, but with less accuracy. The beam energy must be known in order to calculate the particle intensity. Some difficulties with and peculiarities of the device are discussed.
A preferred pulse in self-induced transparency

Abstract We show that a careful treatment of the propagation of optical pulses in inhomogeneously broadened dielectric media, within the framework of the McCall-Hahn theory, leads to some qualitative deviations from the predictions of McCall and Hahn. These new predictions are in strong conflict with experimental results, and may have interesting implications for theoretical work on “soliton” behavior.
Pigment mutations associated with altered circadian rhythms in mice

Mammalian albinism is known to alter neural pathways, reduce retinal pigment, and affect diverse behaviors. Mammalian circadian rhythms have been shown to depend on visual pathways, respond to light intensity and regulate many behaviors. Here we show that mice homozygous for the recessive albino or pinkeye-dilute mutations display shorter circadian rhythms than pigmented controls. We conclude that these pigment loci, or closely linked loci, influence the expression of circadian rhythms in mice.
Towards the synthesis of spongistatin 1: Diastereoselective synthesis of the C(36)–C(45) subunit

Abstract An effcient and highly diastereoselective 12 step synthesis of the C(36)–C(45) subunit ( 2a ) of spongistatin 1 is described. The synthesis features highly diastereoselective α-alkoxyallylation reactions using the γ-alkoxy substituted allylstannanes 5 and 6 , and a thermodynamically controlled intramolecular Michael addition to close the pyran. Download full-size image
Sandstone and Chert Columns in Permian Rocks of Southwest Montana: Biogenic or Inorganic?: ABSTRACT

Enigmatic columnar structures of sandstone, cherty sandstone, and chert in the Phosphoria Formation were studied at 18 localities in southwest Montana. The structures have circular to elliptical cross sections, diameters of 0.5 to 8 in. and are up to 13 ft long. Most have irregular external annulations, perhaps due to compaction; others are smooth sided. The structures are in and can be traced through a variety of host rocks. They are most common and best developed in the nonglauconitic littoral to sublittoral facies of the Shedhorn Sandstone. In the sandstone they are almost always oriented perpendicular to bedding. In the intercalated shale or chert host rock, approximately 50% are inclined at very low angles to the bedding. Up to 95% of a host bed may consist of the columns. The high-density packing of the columns, their morphology, highly variable composition, and association with several host-rock types indicate the structures are organic, probably burrows, rather than inorganic in origin. Their great length, sparse bulbous bases, and the presence of other poorly preserved patterns suggest that the organisms that formed the structures mainly were escaping sediment influx by moving upward rather than burrowing downward. If so, the structures may have important implications about rates of sedimentation on the Permian platform of western United States, if the life span of the organism that produced them can be determined. However, no organism capable of producing the burrows has been found preserved within one. End_of_Article - Last_Page 621------------
Response of a forest-interior songbird to the threat of cowbird parasitism

Abstract Abstract. The expansion of the breeding range of the brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater, into eastern North America has resulted in many historically naive populations of songbirds becoming victims of brood parasitism. To test whether an eastern forest-interior songbird, the hooded warbler, Wilsonia citrina, recognizes brown-headed cowbirds as a threat to the nest, a mount of a cowbird or a control, the veery, Catharus fuscescens, was presented to 25 incubating females. Female hooded warblers were significantly more aggressive towards the cowbird than the veery model. Total time spent off the nest, rate of alarm calling and chipping, time spent within 2 m of the model, and number of close passes at the model were significantly greater for the cowbird trials. Most yearling females had moderate or strong discrimination between cowbird and veery models, and there was no significant difference between yearling and older females in the intensity of their response towards cowbirds. The ability of naive yearling females to recognize cowbirds suggests some non-learned (i.e. genetic) basis to this behaviour. Hooded warblers have developed the ability to recognize cowbirds as a threat to their nests, suggesting that host aggression can evolve relatively quickly even for non-learned behaviour.
Optimal acceleration thresholds for non-holonomic agents

Finding optimal trajectories for non-accelerating, non-holonomic agents is a well-understood problem. However, in video games, robotics, and crowd simulations non-holonomic agents start and stop frequently. With the vision of improving crowd simulation, we find optimal paths for virtual agents accelerating from a standstill. These paths are designed for the "ideal", initial stage of planning when obstacles are ignored. We analytically derive paths and arrival times using arbitrary acceleration angle thresholds. We use these paths and arrival times to find an agent's optimal ideal path. We then numerically calculate the decision surface that can be used by an application at run-time to quickly choose the optimal path. Finally, we use quantitative error analysis to validate the accuracy of our approach.
Regulation and selective expression of Ly-6A/E, a lymphocyte activation molecule, in the central nervous system

Abstract The Ly-6 locus encodes a group of cell surface molecules found predominately on lymphoid cells in the mouse. These proteins share several structural and functional characteristics with Thy-1, a molecule expressed in both lymphoid and neuronal tissue. Utilizing anti-Ly-6A/E monoclonal antibodies, the present results demonstrate in situ expression of these molecules in brain tissue. The findings also indicated that these molecules are not expressed during embryonic or neonatal stages of development. Moreover, although Ly-6b haplotype mice exhibited staining primary associated with vascular elements throughout the brain, Ly-6a mice exhibited staining predominantly associated with white matter limited to the hippocampal and midbrain regions. Although cultured glial and neuronal cells expressed marginally detectable levels of Ly-6A/E, the majority of GFAP+ cells in these cultures expressed high levels of Ly-6A/E following incubation with cytokines including rIFN-gamma. In addition, northern blot analysis of RNA from enriched astrocytic cultures corroborated the induction of Ly-6A/E expression. These findings have therefore established that Ly-6 is amongst those groups of genes expressed in both brain and lymphoid tissues.
Pattern of endocardial activation during sustained ventricular tachycardia

Fifty-five patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia due to prior myocardial infarction underwent intraoperative endocardial activation mapping during ventricular tachycardia to guide subendocardial resection. The mapping data were analyzed to determine the pattern of endocardial activation during tachycardia. Of a total of 122 tachycardias, 101 had a pattern of activation assigned: in 90 (90%), endocardial activation spread centrifugally from a tachycardia site of origin, and 11 (10%) had a continuous loop of electrical activity around an aneurysm. All patients had at least one tachycardia having the centrifugal spread pattern. Tachycardias with a continuous loop pattern had a shorter mean cycle length than those with a centrifugal spread pattern (260 ± 33 versus 338 ± 81 ms, p Thus, the vast majority of ventricular tachycardias in this group of patients are characterized by a centrifugal spread of endocardial activation from a site of origin less than 6 cm2in size. Mapping-guided ablative surgery may remove the entire tachycardia circuit in these patients and a critical portion of the circuit in the minority of patients with continuous loop tachycardias.
δ-Opioid receptor antagonists attenuate motor activity induced by amphetamine but not cocaine

Abstract Naloxone and naltrindole attenuate the locomotor response to amphetamine, implicating δ-opioid receptors in the opioid-antagonist/amphetamine interaction. To determine the role of δ-opioid receptor subtypes in this phenomenon, rats were pretreated with the following selective antagonists administered intracisternally: naltrindole, [D-Ala 2 , Leu 5 , Cys 6 ]enkephalin (DALCE, δ 1 receptor selective), naltrindole-5′-isothiocyanate ( δ 2 receptor selective). Cumulative dose-response curves to amphetamine were constructed (saline, 0.1, 0.4, 1.6 and 6.4 mg/kg s.c.), with injections every 30 min. Naltrindole was also tested against cumulative doses of cocaine (saline, 3.0, 10, 30 and 56 mg/kg i.p.). Gross and fine motor activity were recorded for 20 min, commencing 10 min postinjection. Amphetamine and cocaine dose dependently increased both gross and fine movements. Naltrindole (10 μg) attenuated the gross but not fine activity response to amphetamine, but 10 or 30 μg failed to influence the response to cocaine. Naltrindole-5′-isothiocyanate (30 μg) attenuated slighty but significantly the gross activity response to amphetamine, whereas DALCE (30 μg) was without effect. However, a combination of 10 μg each of DALCE and naltrindole-5′-isothiocyanate markedly attenuated the amphetamine-induced increases in gross movements without altering fine activity. These data provide further evidence for the involvement of δ-opioid receptors in the modulation of behavioral effects of amphetamine; both δ 1 - and δ 2 -opioid receptors appear to play a role. The differential effects of opioid antagonists on locomotor activity stimulated by amphetamine and cocaine suggests differences in the mechanism of action of these drugs not previously appreciated.
An indirect method for evaluating certain infinite integrals

This paper introduces a new approach for evaluating exactly certain infinite integrals. The method is demonstrated on a number of integrals which are not listed in the standard integral tables. The evaluated integrals are of the type $$\int_0^\infty {kei (\lambda \eta ) d\eta ;} \int_{ - \infty }^\infty {kei (\lambda \sqrt {x^2 + \eta ^2 } ) d\eta ;} \int_{ - \infty }^\infty {sin (\alpha \eta ) kei|\lambda (y - \eta )|d\eta }$$ where kei is a modified Bessel function. It is also shown how other integrals of this type may be easily evaluated by the presented method.
Correction of distortion due to thermal drift in scanning probe microscopy

A common source of distortion in scanning probe microscope (SPM) images is "thermal drift," the slow thermal expansion of different materials in the sample and microscope due to small changes in temperature over the course of a scan. We describe here a method for correcting this distortion by immediately following each image scan with a rescan of a small, narrow portion of the same area with the slow and fast scan axes reversed. The original, full image is corrected using a low-order polynomial mapping function, with coefficients determined by a pixel-wise comparison between the original full and rescanned partial images. We demonstrate here that this method can correctly remove distortion from a wide range of images with a precision of better than one pixel, and is also robust to common imaging artifacts. We also address some of the programming considerations that have gone into implementing this computationally intensive technique, which can now be performed using standard desktop hardware in times that range between a few seconds and a few minutes.
Succinylcholine-induced hyperkalemia complicating the neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Excerpt To the editor: Severe hyperkalemia may complicate the use of succinylcholine in patients with major burns, direct muscle trauma, and various neuromuscular disorders (1-3). Nontraumatic rhab...
Pre-computed backprojection based penalized-likelihood (PPL) reconstruction with an edge-preserved regularizer for stationary Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

Stationary Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (sDBT) is a carbon nanotube based breast imaging device with fast data acquisition and decent projection resolution to provide three dimensional (3-D) volume information. To- mosynthesis 3-D image reconstruction is faced with the challenges of the cone beam geometry and the incomplete and nonsymmetric sampling due to the sparse views and limited view angle. Among all available reconstruction methods, statistical iterative method exhibits particular promising since it relies on an accurate physical and statistical model with prior knowledge. In this paper, we present the application of an edge-preserved regularizer to our previously proposed precomputed backprojection based penalized-likelihood (PPL) reconstruction. By using the edge-preserved regularizer, our experiments show that through tuning several parameters, resolution can be retained while noise is reduced significantly. Compared to other conventional noise reduction techniques in image reconstruction, less resolution is lost in order to gain certain noise reduction, which may benefit the research of low dose tomosynthesis.