cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laryngeal Evaluation Using Features from Speech and the Electroglottograph

Signal processing techniques were utilized to discriminate speakers with laryngeal pathology from a normal population. Classical periodicity analyses and discriminant analyses were performed separately on a set of features extracted from two data sets taken from both subject populations. The two data sets consisted of the acoustic and electroglottographic signals recorded simultaneously during an experimental paradigm. Preliminary results encourage further refinement of the technique and use of the electroglottograph in this application.
Approach to Evaluate and Implement Information Systems That Satisfy Your Goals

An information system that works in one application and environment may not work in another. Successful adoption of information systems requires that the organization evaluate candidates to ensure that they satisfy intended goals and consider the backgrounds and capabilities of the users. This paper describes an approach for evaluating and implementing information systems that satisfy technical requirements and organizational goals. Integral to this approach is the use of an assessment instrument consisting of objective-driven rubrics that are redundant to ensure consistency. This approach is applied in an NSF-supported CI-TEAM project to evaluate candidate systems to support an online cyber-collaboratory to enhance product dissection and reverse engineering activities in the classroom and to suggest improvements for the next generation system.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Dientamoeba fragilis infection presenting to the Emergency Department as acute appendicitis

Dientamoeba fragilis is a non-enteroinvasive, protozoan parasite of the human large intestine with a worldwide prevalence. Considered for years to be a non-pathogenic organism, more recent studies suggest that up to 25% of adult hosts and up to 90% of infested children may manifest clinical disease. D. fragilis infestation has been implicated in chronic gastrointestinal syndromes characterized by protean complaints such as post-prandial abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, flatulence, fatigue, anorexia, and weight loss. Rarely, D. fragilis infestation is the etiology of acute abdominal pain, mimicking a surgical abdomen. A case report is presented that details a patient with a 1-month history of vague abdominal complaints who presented to the Emergency Department with an apparent episode of acute appendicitis.
5-Azidoimidacloprid and an Acyclic Analogue as Candidate Photoaffinity Probes for Mammalian and Insect Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

The 5-azido analogue of the major insecticide imidacloprid, 1-(5-azido-6-chloropyridin-3-ylmethyl)-2-nitroiminoimidaz olidine (1), and an acyclic analogue, N-(5-azido-6-chloropyridin-3-ylmethyl)-N'-methyl-N' '-nitroguanidine (2), were prepared in good yields as candidate photoaffinity probes for mammalian and insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The essential intermediate was 5-azido-6-chloropyridin-3-ylmethyl chloride (3) prepared in two ways: from 6-chloro-5-nitronicotinic acid by selective reduction and then diazotization, and from N-(6-chloropyridin-3-ylmethyl)morpholine by an electrophilic azide introduction with lithium diisopropylamide followed by chlorine substitution of morpholine with ethyl chloroformate. Coupling of 3 with 2-nitroiminoimidazolidine gave 1. Conversion of 3 to 2 was achieved in good yields via the hexahydrotriazine intermediate 14. Fortuitously, the azido substituent in 1 and 2 increases the affinity 7-79-fold for rat brain and recombinant alpha4beta2 nAChRs (K(i)s 4.4-60 nM competing with [(3)H](-)-nicotine) while maintaining high potency on both insect nAChRs (Drosophila and Myzus) (K(i)s 1-15 nM competing with [(3)H]imidacloprid). Azidopyridinyl compounds 1 and 2 are therefore candidate photoaffinity probes for characterization of both mammalian and insect receptors.
Effects of nicotine on spinal cord injury pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled crossover trial.

Background: One factor affecting spinal cord injury (SCI)–related pain may be nicotine. Case reports have described a worsening of neuropathic pain from smoking and relief from abstinence. Neurobio...
Optimal electric energy storage operation

Estimating the arbitrage value of storage is an important problem in power systems planning. Various studies have reported different values based numerical solutions of variations of a basic model. In this paper, we instead rely on a closed form solution for storage control. The closed form highlights the right type of forecasting that is required and allows large horizon problems to be solved. We study various scenarios and provide a simple methodology for evaluating the arbitrage value of storage.
A comparison of pollen wall development in normal and gametocide treated plants of Triticum aestivum

SummaryPollen wall development in wheat plants untreated or treated with a gametocide was investigated using LM and TEM. The effect of the gametocide occurred mainly at the vacuolate stage, where most of the microspores were evidently aborted. There are three possibilities in which the used gametocide could be interfering in the abortion of the microspores: either by inhibiting the formation of sporopollenin, or by causing failure of the tapetum, or by deterioration of the vacuolar system that contains the digestive enzymes.
Relation of the Big Five to the EASI scales and the Thurstone Temperament Schedule

Abstract Principal components, canonical correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the relation of Big Five markers to the EASI temperament scales (Study 1) and the Thurstone Temperament Schedule (Study 2). In Study 1 (n=147) across all three types of analyses the results indicated that the EASI Sociability, Emotionality and Impulsivity scales appeared to be parallel to the Big Five Extraversion, Neuroticism and Conscientiousness scales, respectively. In Study 2 (n=200) across all three types of analyses the Thurstone Reflective and Emotionally Stable scales appeared to be roughly parallel to the Big Five Openness and Neuroticism scales, respectively. All four of the remaining Thurstone scales measure Big Five Extraversion to some degree, but the Sociable and Dominant scales appear to be slightly purer measures Extraversion.
JTE-522 selectively inhibits cyclooxygenase-2-derived prostaglandin production in inflammatory tissues.

Objective and Design: To investigate the effect of JTE-522, a selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor, on prostaglandin (PG) production and COX expression in rats.¶Subjects: Male rats (4-8 weeks old) were used for in vivo experiments, while for in vitro assay, rat peritoneal macrophages were used.¶Treatment: JTE-522 (1-100mg/kg) and indomethacin (0.03-10mg/kg) were administered orally. JTE-522 and reference compounds (0.01-10 μM) were subjected to COX expression.¶Results: JTE-522 inhibited the development of carrageenin-induced paw edema and PGE2 production in inflammatory paws at a dose of 10mg/kg. On the other hand, JTE-522 (1-100 mg/kg) did not affect A23187-stimulated thromboxane B2 release from whole blood or the PGE2 level in gastric mucosa. JTE-522 did not suppress lipopolysaccharide-induced COX-2 expression in peritoneal macrophages.¶Conclusion: These results indicate that JTE-522 selectively inhibits PG production mediated by COX-2 in inflammatory tissues. JTE-522 may thus represent a novel type of anti-inflammatory drug without adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract.
Dynamic Inverse Prediction and Sensitivity Analysis With High-Dimensional Responses: Application to Climate-Change Vulnerability of Biodiversity

Sensitivity analysis (SA) of environmental models is inefficient when there are large numbers of inputs and outputs and interactions cannot be directly linked to input variables. Traditional SA is based on coefficients relating the importance of an input to an output response, generating as many as one coefficient for each combination of model input and output. In many environmental models multiple outputs are part of an integrated response that should be considered synthetically, rather than by separate coefficients for each output. For example, there may be interactions between output variables that cannot be defined by standard interaction terms for input variables. We describe dynamic inverse prediction (DIP), a synthetic approach to SA that quantifies how inputs affect the combined (multivariate) output. We distinguish input interactions (specified as a traditional product of input variables) from output interactions (relationships between outputs not directly linked to inputs). Both contribute to traditional SA coefficients and DIP in ways that permit interpretation of unexpected model results. An application of broad and timely interest, anticipating effects of climate change on biodiversity, illustrates how DIP helps to quantify the important input variables and the role of interactions. Climate affects individual trees in competition with neighboring trees, but interest lies at the scale of species and landscapes. Responses of individuals to climate and competition for resources involve a number of output variables, such as birth rates, growth, and mortality. They are all components of ‘individual health’, and they interact in ways that cannot be linked to observed inputs, through allocation constraints. We show how prior dependence is introduced to aid interpretation of inputs in the context of ecological resource modeling. We further demonstrate that a new approach to multiplicity (multiple-testing) correction can be implemented in such models to filter through the large number of input combinations. DIP provides a synthetic index of important inputs, including climate vulnerability in the context of competition for light and soil moisture, based on the full (multivariate) response. By aggregating in specific ways (over individuals, years, and other input variables) we provide ways to summarize and rank species in terms of their vulnerability to climate change. This article has supplementary material online.
Toward a Comprehensive Bibliography of Technical Writing

This paper makes a strong case for a comprehensive listing of technical writing publications. An introduction to the main thesis establishes the importance of technical writing both academically and professionally. A strong bibliography would provide a mine of information for both teachers and technical writers. The author would welcome a response on the subject, including references to information for citation.
VENEZIANO REPRESENTATION WITH THE POMERANCHUK TRAJECTORY.

A term containing the Pomeranchuk trajectory is constructed for the Veneziano representation of the $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}$ scattering amplitudes. It contributes to direct-channel resonances (recurrences of $P$) only in the $I=0$ amplitude and gives proper asymptotic behavior for all isospin amplitudes. Taking the same slope as the $\ensuremath{\rho}$ trajectory and normalizing to the asymptotic cross section of 15 mb, we obtain an $I=0$, $J=2$ resonance at 1 BeV with a width of 75 MeV. The Adler condition is satisfied, and the contribution of the Pomeranchuk term to the scattering lengths is very small.
Adverse effects of androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer: Current management issues

Prostate cancer (CaP) is the most common visceral malignancy and a leading cause of cancer death in men. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is an established treatment for locally advanced and metastatic CaP, and often used as primary therapy in select patients. As ADT has continued to assume an important role in the treatment of CaP, a greater appreciation of potential adverse effects has been acknowledged in men receiving this therapy. Given that all treatments for CaP are frequently associated with some degree of morbidity and can have a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the potential benefits of any treatment, including ADT, must outweigh the risks, particularly in patients with asymptomatic disease. Once the choice to proceed with ADT is complete, it is imperative for the urologist to possess comprehensive knowledge of the potential adverse effects of ADT. This permits the urologist to properly monitor for, perhaps diminish, and to treat any linked morbidities. Patient complaints related to ADT such as a decrease in HRQOL, cognitive and sexual dysfunction, hot flashes, endocrine abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, and alterations in skeletal and body composition are commonly reported throughout the literature. Herein, we review the principal adverse effects linked with ADT in CaP patients and suggest various universal strategies that may diminish these potential adverse consequences associated with this therapy.
COMMON TCR-BETA CHAIN REARRANGEMENTS IN SHORT-TERM CULTURED LYMPHOCYTES INFILTRATING OVARIAN-TUMORS

We have recently reported that tumor reactive T cell lines and clones can be developed from lymphocytes infiltrating ovarian malignant tumors and ascites (TIL/TAL). These cells are currently used for immunotherapy of ovarian cancer. In this study we investigated the presence of common non-germline rearrangements at TCR Cbeta1 among freshly isolated and cultured ovarian TIL/TAL. The cultured ovarian TIL/TAL show a characteristic T cell phenotype (>95% CD3+) and mediate tumor target lysis. Our results show that non-germline rearrangements can be detected in cultured ovarian TAL isolated from ascites but not in freshly isolated TAL. Certain of rearranged bands were common among cultured TAL. In contrast, in samples of freshly isolated TIL from solid ovarian tumors localized at different organ sites, common rearrangements were found among fresh and cultured TIL. The results suggest that the observed polyclonality of T cells isolated from freshly collected ascitic tumors may be due, at least in part, to either dilution by passenger lymphocytes, or the lack of an in vivo oligoclonal response to autologous tumor, and indicate the usefulness of molecular analysis of TCR V gene segments in T cells used for immunotherapy.
Health and environmental effects of coal-liquefaction processes: Environmentally acceptable technology development

Abstract Chemically complex materials produced by several coal-liquefaction processes and under various stages of process design and operating conditions have been screened for potential health and environmental effects. Biologically active materials have been fractionated and rescreened. Chemical constituents of biologically active fractions have been identified, and the environmental fate of problematic agents is being determined. Coal-derived liquids are generally more active than shale oil and petroleum crudes in biological and ecological test systems. Biologically active agents include primary aromatic amines (PAA), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and phenols. Some components of coal-derived materials are taken up by biota and metabolized. Hydrotreating, a refining or upgrading process, reduces PAA, PAH and phenol content, as well as mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and toxicity of coal liquids. Selective distillation restricts PAA and PAH content, as well as mutagenicity and carcinogenicity, to high boiling range coal liquids. Other process conditions and environmental factors influence chemical characteristics and biological activity of resultant materials. Eliminating toxic input of coal liquids to ecological test systems results in partial system recovery. Recent findings indicate that biological responses to a particular chemial agent vary, depending on whether that material is presented to the organism or environment as a pure compound or in a complex mixture. Thus, results of studies with pure compounds cannot be used alone to predict effects of complex mixtures. The growing health and environmental data-base has been used in selecting process modifications and marketable products that minimize risk to man and the environment. The data have also been used in developing occupational health and industrial hygiene practices, and may aid selection of control technologies, mitigative strategies, special handling and accident prevention procedures and spill-cleanup options to enhance the environmental acceptability of a coal liquefaction industry.
20.8 A 20mW GSM/WCDMA receiver with RF channel selection

Recent work on RF receivers has exploited N-path filters to address two critical issues, namely, blocker tolerance and high RF selectivity [1,2]. However, these designs face three drawbacks: (1) the low-noise amplifier (LNA) incorporates a Gm stage that, even with a virtual ground at its output nodes, must still withstand strong blockers at its input; (2) the low-order filter transfer function does not provide sufficient selectivity in narrow-band applications such as GSM or WCDMA; (3) they consume roughly 60mW around 2GHz.
Galanin modulates the neural niche to favour perineural invasion in head and neck cancer

Perineural invasion (PNI) is an indicator of poor survival in multiple cancers. Unfortunately, there is no targeted treatment for PNI since the molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. PNI is an active process, suggesting that cancer cells communicate with nerves. However, nerve-tumour crosstalk is understudied due to the lack of in vivo models to investigate the mechanisms. Here we developed an in vivo model of PNI to characterize this interaction. We show that the neuropeptide galanin (GAL) initiates nerve-tumour crosstalk via activation of its G protein-coupled receptor, GALR2. Our data reveal a novel mechanism by which GAL from nerves stimulates GALR2 on cancer cells to induce NFATC2-mediated transcription of cyclooxygenase-2 and GAL. Prostaglandin E2 promotes cancer invasion, and in a feedback mechanism, GAL released by cancer induces neuritogenesis, facilitating PNI. This study describes a novel in vivo model for PNI and reveals the dynamic interaction between nerve and cancer.
Applications of a Model of Endogenous Technical Change to US Industry Data

Economists have generally accepted the proposition that technical change is partially endogenous to an economic system. Increases in the productivity of inputs, particularly labour, are effected by the responses of firms and individuals to the incentive of possible profits created by allocating resources to the knowledge-generating and knowledge-using activities of invention and innovation. It is hoped that insight into the determinants of the rate of technical change can be gained here by focusing on the links between inventive activity and on the character of the incentives which induce a firm to engage in inventive activity. An intertemporal optimization model incorporating links between the firm's level of research and development activity and increases in its productive capacity is presented. This model posits a production function for the firm consisting of the three arguments: capital services, labour services, and the (firm's) stock of technological knowledge.3 Increases in the stock of technological knowledge are derived from the flow of research services in the firm's employ. The reasons for neglecting non-research inventive activities are essentially pragmatic. First, none of the comparative statics implications with respect to research and development presented subsequently are altered if the relationship between changes in the firm's stock of technological knowledge and inventive activities is reasonably well behaved.4 Second, measures of other inventive activities and their prices are not generally available but data on research and development have been collected for a number of US industries. These data can be used to examine some of the implications of the model. Assuming that the firm's objective is the minimization of discounted future costs of production and research a number of implications with respect to the response of the firm's research and development spending to movements in input prices, research costs, and product demand are derived. These implications are examined empirically with a body of data for eleven United States industries for the period 1959-1966. This presentation is organized as follows. In the first section the essential features of the model and an exposition of the implications of the model are presented. Section II contains the empirical results of applying the model to industry data. A brief summary concludes the investigation.
Broadly neutralizing antibodies elicited by the hypervariable neutralizing determinant of HIV-1

The principal neutralizing determinant (PND) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 resides within the V3 loop of the envelope protein. Antibodies elicited by peptides of this region were able to neutralize diverse isolates. Serum from one of three animals immunized with the human T cell lymphoma virus (HTLV)-IIIMN PND peptide, RP142, neutralized MN and the sequence-divergent HTLV-IIIB isolate. Serum from one of three animals immunized with a 13-amino acid IIIB PND peptide (RP337) also neutralized both of these isolates. Characterization of these sera revealed that the cross-neutralizing antibodies bound the amino acid sequence GlyProGlyArgAlaPhe (GPGRAF) that is present in both isolates. This sequence is frequently found in the PNDs analyzed in randomly selected HIV-1 isolates. Sera from two rabbits immunized with a peptide containing only the GPGRAF residues neutralized divergent isolates, including IIIB and MN.
The Impact of an Early First Birth on Young Women's Educational Attainment

Women who become mothers at an early age tend to accumulate fewer years of schooling than those who delay entry into motherhood. In this paper, the impact of age at first birth on the process of educational attainment of young women is examined using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Young Women for the period 1968 to 1972. The results of this analysis indicate that (1) the younger the age at first birth, the fewer years of schooling completed, other things equal; (2) the effect of most determinants of educational attainment depends on age at first birth; and (3) the educational decrement caused by an early birth is about half as large for young black women as for their white counterparts. The key role played by educational attainment in determining the later occupation and income of individuals has been well documented. Education seems to be the mechanism through which characteristics of the family of origin are passed on to the next generation, thereby to influence the status of the occupation entered and the income obtained. To date, research on sex differences in education attainment has taken the model of this process, which was developed by Blau and Duncan, to describe the achievement process of males and estimated it for females. Using this strategy, differences between the sexes in the effects of the included variables on years of schooling completed could be estimated. The educational attainment of females, it was found, tends to depend more heavily on family background, and less on ability, than does that of males (Alexander and Eckland; Sewell and Shah, b). But the possibility that factors typically not
User-defined events for hardware performance monitoring

PAPI is a widely used cross-platform interface to hardware performance counters. PAPI currently supports native events, which are those provided by a given platform, and preset events, which are pre-defined events thought to be common across platforms. Presets are currently mapped and defined at the time that PAPI is compiled and installed. The idea of user-defined events is to allow users to define their own metrics and to have those metrics mapped to events on a platform without the need to re-install PAPI. User-defined events can be defined in terms of native, preset, and previously defined user-defined events. The user can combine events and constants in an arbitrary expression to define a new metric and give a name to the new metric. This name can then be specified as a PAPI event in a PAPI library call the same way as native and preset events. End-user tools such as TAU and Scalasca that use PAPI can also use the user-defined metrics. Users can publish their metric definitions so that other users can use them as well. We present several examples of how user-defined events can be used for performance analysis and modeling.
A Robust and Efficient Method for Solving Nonlinear Rational Expectations Models

The development and use of forward-looking macro models in policymaking institutions has proceeded at a pace much slower than predicted in the early 1980s. An important reason is that researchers have not had access to robust and efficient solution techniques for solving nonlinear forward-looking models. This paper discusses the properties of a new algorithm that is used for solving MULTIMOD, the IMF`s multicountry model of the world economy. This algorithm is considerably faster and much less prone to simulation failures than to traditional algorithms and can also be used to solve individual country models of the same size.
Copyright in a networked world: ethics and infringement

The statutes themselves are not the only basis for deciding whether an intellectual property rights infringement has occurred. Ethical judgments can also influence judicial rulings. This column looks at three issues of intellectual property ethics: the nature of the property, written guidelines for behavior, and enforcement mechanisms. For most active infringers digital property seems unreal, the rules ambiguous, and the enforcement statistically unlikely.
Granulocyte transfusion in septic canine neonates.

Summary: Newborn dogs were inoculated intratracheally with 0.5–1.0 x 108 Staphylococcus aureus/g body weight. Neutropenia (490 ± 280 neutrophils/mm3 versus 8,390 ± 490 control, ± S.E., P< 0.001), and depletion of the marrow neutrophil storage pool (3 ± 1% versus 27 ± 2% storage neutrophils P < 0.001) occurred 5–6 h following the inoculation. All animals died at 6–10 h. Additional inoculated pups were selected at random to receive transfusions of either granulocytes, plasma or red blood cells. Granulocyte transfusions (3x109 neutrophils/kg) improved survival (P < 0.005), but plasma and red blood cells did not. Speculation: Previous reports have shown that certain neonates with bacterial sepsis utilize neutrophils more rapidly than they are replaced by the marrow mitotic neutrophil pool. The quantitative neutrophil deficiency thus produced, results in blood neutropenia, reduced neutrophil availability to affected tissues and high mortality. In this study, neonatal dogs were infected experimentally and found to develop neutropenia, depletion of neutrophil reserves, and death. Granulocyte transfusions improved the survival of these animals while plasma or packed red blood cell transfusions did not. Thus, granulocyte transfusion may present a useful therapeutic modality in those septic neonates who are found to have neutropenia and a depleted neutrophil supply.
Coloring random and semi-random k -colorable graphs

Abstract The problem of coloring a graph with the minimum number of colors is well known to be NP-hard, even restricted to k -colorable graphs for constant k ≥ 3. On the other hand, it is known that random k -colorable graphs are easy to k -color. The algorithms for coloring random k -colorable graphs require fairly high edge densities, however. In this paper we present algorithms that color randomly generated k -colorable graphs for much lower edge densities than previous approaches. In addition, to study a wider variety of graph distributions, we also present a model of graphs generated by the semi-random source of Santha and Vazirani (M. Santha and U. V. Vazirani, J. Comput. System Sci. 33 (1986), 75-87) that provides a smooth transition between the worst-case and random models. In this model, the graph is generated by a "noisy adversary"-an adversary whose decisions (whether or not to insert a particular edge) have some small (random) probability of being reversed. We show that even for quite low noise rates, semi-random k -colorable graphs can be optimally colored with high probability.
DYANA: dynamics analyzer-programmer: part II: structure and function

In part I of this paper, it was explained that DYANA is a program which performs the following functions:1. On the basis of an input language, determines the structure of a dynamic system.2. Prepares a mathematical model of that dynamic system.3. Prepares a FORTRAN program which, in turn, is able to numerically solve the mathematical model.
Incidence and risk factors for urinary retention following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair

Abstract Background The incidence of postoperative urinary retention (PUR) has been reported to range from 1% to 22% in patients who have undergone laparoscopic inguinal hernia procedures. The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of PUR and examine different risk factors that may be associated with the development of PUR in patients who have undergone laparoscopic inguinal hernia procedures. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on 350 patients. Demographics, comorbidities, and operative and postoperative information were collected in patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair by 3 general surgeons from 2007 to 2011. Statistical analysis was done on patient demographics, medical histories, anesthesia notes, and postoperative notes to identify risk factors for the development of urinary retention after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Results Three hundred fifty consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs were reviewed. Twenty-nine patients developed PUR, an incidence of 8.3%. Age ≥60 years and history of benign prostatic hyperplasia showed significance on multivariate analysis, with odds ratios of 3.0 and 11.0 respectively ( P P Conclusions History of benign prostatic hyperplasia, age ≥60 years, and anesthesia time ≥2 hours were significant independent risk factors for urinary retention after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. On multivariate analysis, only history of group and age ≥60 years showed significance. This is 1 of the largest studies to show that the development of PUR in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair patients is a multifactorial process. Further studies should be conducted to corroborate our findings.
Text Scaffolds for Effective Surface Labeling

In this paper we introduce a technique for applying textual labels to 3D surfaces. An effective labeling must balance the conflicting goals of conveying the shape of the surface while being legible from a range of viewing directions. Shape can be conveyed by placing the text as a texture directly on the surface, providing shape cues, meaningful landmarks and minimally obstructing the rest of the model. But rendering such surface text is problematic both in regions of high curvature, where text would be warped, and in highly occluded regions, where it would be hidden. Our approach achieves both labeling goals by applying surface labels to a psilatext scaffoldpsila, a surface explicitly constructed to hold the labels. Text scaffolds conform to the underlying surface whenever possible, but can also float above problem regions, allowing them to be smooth while still conveying the overall shape. This paper provides methods for constructing scaffolds from a variety of input sources, including meshes, constructive solid geometry, and scalar fields. These sources are first mapped into a distance transform, which is then filtered and used to construct a new mesh on which labels are either manually or automatically placed. In the latter case, annotated regions of the input surface are associated with proximal regions on the new mesh, and labels placed using cartographic principles.
A Continuous Two-Dimensional Model of Threshold Learning

We present a model of threshold learning that represents discrete one-dimensional learning processes by a continuous two-dimensional learning process. The model gives us an overall view of the learning dynamics of an expanded range of training procedures, and provides insight into the training of multidimensional linear pattern classifiers. In our model the expected performance is measured by learning curves, and the confidence in this expected performance is measured by variance curves. Previous work on the continuous approximation has been restricted to one-dimensional learning processes. The theory developed here promises to lead to improved training procedures and improved rules for determining when to stop training.
Case Study: Effect of Soil-Structure Interaction and Ground Motion Incoherency on Nuclear Power Plant Structures

The soil-structure interaction (SSI) has a significant impact on nuclear power plant (NPP) structures, especially for massive and rigid structures founded on soils, such as containments. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Standard Review Plan (SRP) provides the requirement and acceptance criteria for incorporating the SSI effect in the seismic design and analyses of NPP structures. The NRC staff uses the SRP for safety review of license applications. Recent studies have indicated that ground motions in recorded real earthquake events have exhibited spatial incoherency in high-frequency contents. Several techniques have been developed to incorporate the incoherency effect in the seismic response analyses. Section 3.7.2 of Revision 3 of the SRP also provided guidance for use in the safety evaluation of seismic analyses considering ground motion spatial incoherency effect. This paper describes a case study of the SSI and incoherency effects on seismic response analyses of NPP structures. The study selected a typical containment structure. The SSI model is generated based on the typical industry practice for SSI computation of containment structures. Specifically, a commercial version of SASSI was used for the study, which considered a surface-founded structure. The SSI model includes the foundation, represented with brick elements, and the superstructure, represented using lumped mass and beams. The study considered various soil conditions and ground motion coherency functions to investigate the effect of the range of soil stiffness and the ground motion incoherency effect on SSI in determining the seismic response of the structures. This paper describes the SSI model development and presents the analysis results as well as insights into the manner in which the SSI and incoherency effects are related to different soil conditions.
GRADING AND SAMPLING OF MISSOURI BURLEY AND DIASPORE CLAYS1

At the present time there is no uniform terminology applied to Missouri high alumina clays. The terms burley flint, burley, and diaspore are suggested. Sampling methods are described and the adoption of a uniform sampling procedure is recommended. The advantage of establishing a sliding scale of prices based on alumina content is pointed out.
The effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on the rate of ascending aorta dilation in patients with bicuspid aortic valve.

Background Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), the most common congenital heart defect, is associated with progressive aortic dilation and increased risk of dissection and rupture. The use of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor has recently proven effective in slowing the rate of aortic dilation in other aortopathies, suggesting it may also be useful in managing BAV. We sought to determine whether ACE inhibitors effectively reduce the rate of aortic dilation in adolescents and young adults with BAV. Methods A retrospective cohort study was undertaken. Subjects receiving ACE inhibitor therapy were compared with controls with BAV and matched for the degree of aortic regurgitation. The rate of change in ascending aorta diameter was compared between the two groups. Results Among the 141 subjects identified in the patient records, 103 were receiving no medication and 38 were taking ACE inhibitors. Over a mean follow-up of 37 months, the ascending aorta Z-score increased slightly among those receiving ACE inhibitor +4.5 ± 1.6 to +4.7 ± 1.6. The rate of change was no different than those subjects not receiving ACE inhibitors, P = .64. Conclusion In an adolescent and young adult population with an isolated BAV, there is no proven benefit to ACE inhibitor use with regard to slowing rate of ascending aortic dilation.
Fast non-linear Zernike filter for optical phase visualization based on ferroelectric liquid crystal optically addressed spatial light modulator

Summary form only given. High-resolution adaptive wavefront sensing and wavefront control are complementary problems. Upcoming new devices for wavefront compensation like liquid crystal spatial light modulators (SLM) and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) potentially provide the wavefront compensation with spatial resolution on the order of 10/sup 4/-10/sup 6/ elements. Such resolution requires use of new optical wavefront sensors. In our paper we proposed a new phase visualization method originating from classical phase contrast technique using non-linear Zernike (NZ) filter based on optically addressed SLM (OASLM) with planarly aligned nematic liquid crystal.
Stability of switched systems: a Lie-algebraic condition

We present a sucient condition for asymptotic stability of a switched linear system in terms of the Lie algebra generated by the individual matrices. Namely, if this Lie algebra is solvable, then the switched system is exponentially stable for arbitrary switching. In fact, we show that any family of linear systems satisfying this condition possesses a quadratic common Lyapunov function. We also discuss the implications of this result for switched nonlinear systems. c 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Effect of Water-Based Microencapsulation on Protection against EDIM Rotavirus Challenge in Mice

We determined the capacity of microcapsules formed by the combination of sodium alginate, an aqueous anionic polymer, and spermine hydrochloride, an aqueous cationic amine, to enhance protection against rotavirus challenge in mice. Adult BALB/c mice were orally inoculated with either free or microencapsulated rotavirus (simian rotavirus strain RRV) and challenged 6 or 16 weeks later with murine rotavirus strain EDIM. Virus-specific humoral immune responses were determined at the time of challenge and 4 days after challenge by intestinal fragment culture. We found that spermine-alginate microcapsules enhanced protection against challenge 16 weeks after immunization but not 6 weeks after immunization. Quantities of virus-specific immunoglobulin A produced by small intestinal lamina propria lymphocytes were correlated with the degree of protection against challenge afforded by spermine-alginate microcapsules. Possible mechanisms by which microcapsules enhance protection against rotavirus challenge are discussed.
Tutorial: COIN-OR: Software for the OR Community

The goal of the COIN-OR Foundation is to serve the operations research community by providing both software and the necessary infrastructure to foster the development and deployment of cutting-edge computational operations research. Many people in the operations research community are either not familiar with just how much COIN-OR can benefit them, or do not know how to obtain and use COIN-OR software. In this tutorial, we first show how COIN-OR software can be applied in the workplace, in the classroom, and in research. We then show how to obtain and use COIN-OR software. We consider two classes of users: those who want to use the COIN-OR software but are not interested in compiling code and those who wish to write code that uses this software as a foundation for their applications.
The effects of SNAP/SNARE complexes on the ATPase of NSF

The ATPase of the N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) appears to be central to the events that culminate in vesicle-target membrane fusion. Complexes containing different combinations of NSF, alpha-SNAP, Vamp-2 (synaptobrevin 2), syntaxin 1, and SNAP-25 were reconstituted and then tested for their effect on the ATPase of NSF. While NSF interacts with all alpha-SNAP-containing complexes, only the alpha-SNAP/t-SNARE complex significantly stimulated ATPase activity. This stimulation was dependent on increasing SNAP/t-SNARE complex and was saturable. The apparent stimulation of ATPase activity is due to a 10-fold increase in initial hydrolysis rate. Complex containing both v- and t-SNAREs bound significantly more alpha-SNAP but did not stimulate the ATPase of NSF.
Dermoid of a Rat Cornea

The unique occurrence of a solid corneal dermoid in a laboratory rat is described. No other report of such a tumor could be found in the literature.
Stretchwork: Managing the Career Progression Paradox in External Labor Markets

Changes in employment relationships have diminished the degree to which internal labor markets shape careers. Using comparative field studies, we examine how contract workers try to achieve career ...
Safety and cost effectiveness of step-down unit admission following elective neurointerventional procedures

Objective Post-procedure monitoring in a neurointensive care unit (NICU) after neurointerventional procedures is conventional at most centers. However, NICU resources are scarce and costly. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an intermediate care step-down unit could be a safe and cost-effective alternative to the NICU for patients after uncomplicated neurointerventional procedures. Methods A retrospective review was undertaken of 127 consecutive patients over a 3-year period undergoing elective neurointerventional procedures including treatment of intracranial aneurysms, tumors, arteriovenous malformations and dural arteriovenous fistulas. Seventy-one patients were admitted to a step-down unit and 56 patients were admitted to the NICU. Endpoints were post-procedural complications, hospital costs and length of stay. Patients admitted to the step-down unit were compared with patients admitted to the NICU. Results Patients admitted to the step-down unit did not have more complications than patients admitted to the NICU. Two patients admitted to the step-down unit had neurological complications after the procedure which were immediately recognized by nursing staff and adequately managed. The mean (SD) total cost per patient was $19 299 ($6955) for patients admitted to the step-down unit and $22 716 ($8052) for patients admitted to the NICU, resulting in a statistically significant cost saving for patients admitted to the step-down unit of $3417 (p=0.012). The mean (SD) total cost less procedural costs per patient was $8442 ($4062) for patients in the step-down unit and $10 631 ($4727) for those admitted to the NICU, which was also statistically significant (p=0.005). Length of stay averaged 21.7 h for patients admitted to the step-down unit and 24.9 h for those admitted to the NICU (p=0.016). Conclusions A step-down unit is a safe and cost-effective alternative to the NICU for patients undergoing elective neurointerventional procedures.
Learning through changes: an empirical study of dynamic behaviors of probability estimation trees

In practice, learning from data is often hampered by the limited training examples. In this paper, as the size of training data varies, we empirically investigate several probability estimation tree algorithms over eighteen binary classification problems. Nine metrics are used to evaluate their performances. Our aggregated results show that ensemble trees consistently outperform single trees. Confusion factor trees(CFT) register poor calibration even as training size increases, which shows that CFTs are potentially biased if data sets have small noise. We also provide analysis on the observed performance of the tree algorithms.
SHIFT AND SCALE COUPLING METHODS FOR PERFECT SIMULATION

We describe and develop a variation on a layered multishift coupler due to Wilson that uses a slice sampling procedure to allow one to obtain potentially common draws from two different distributions. Our main application is coupling sample paths of Markov chains for use in perfect sampling algorithms. The coupler is based on slicing density functions and we describe a “folding” mechanism as an attractive alternative to the accept/reject step commonly used in slice sampling algorithms. Applications of the coupler are given to storage models and to auto-gamma distribution sampling.
Intentional Network Monitoring: Finding the Needle without Capturing the Haystack

Monitoring network traffic serves many purposes, from security to accounting, yet current mechanisms for collecting network traffic are typically based on low-level features of network traffic (e.g., IP addresses, port numbers), rather than characteristics that more closely map to intent (e.g., people, applications, or devices). In this paper, we present the case for intentional network monitoring---the practice of capturing the minimal set of traffic that satisfies the operator's monitoring intent or goal---and a preliminary design and implementation for NetAssay, a system that enables intentional monitoring. A significant challenge in developing NetAssay is developing a runtime that can maintain a mapping between stable abstractions that an operator or programmer might use to express intent (e.g., a username) and the dynamic, heterogeneous data that establishes these associations (e.g., information from a login server or DNS record). We present examples that show how the NetAssay runtime can perform late binding between these mappings and network flow space and discuss the research and technical challenges associated with establishing more general late-binding mechanisms.
Recurrent Fusions in MYB and MYBL1 Define a Common, Transcription Factor–Driven Oncogenic Pathway in Salivary Gland Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC), the second most common malignancy of salivary glands, is a rare tumor with bleak prognosis for which therapeutic targets are unavailable. We used RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to analyze low-quality RNA from archival, formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples. In addition to detecting the most common ACC translocation, t(6;9) fusing the MYB proto-oncogene to NFIB, we also detected previously unknown t(8;9) and t(8;14) translocations fusing the MYBL1 gene to the NFIB and RAD51B genes, respectively. RNA-seq provided information about gene fusions, alternative RNA splicing and gene expression signatures. Interestingly, tumors with MYB and MYBL1 translocations displayed similar gene expression profiles, and the combined MYB and MYBL1 expression correlated with outcome, suggesting that the related Myb proteins are interchangeable oncogenic drivers in ACC. Our results provide important details about the biology of ACC and illustrate how archival tissue samples can be used for detailed molecular analyses of rare tumors.
Improving pediatric asthma care: A partnership between pediatric primary care clinics and a free-standing Children's Hospital

AbstractBackground: Asthma is a common chronic disease of childhood. Providers’ adherence to asthma guidelines is still less than optimal. Objectives: To determine if an Asthma Education Program aimed at primary care practices can improve asthma care within practices and if the results vary by duration of the program. Methods: Ten practices were randomly assigned to an Early Asthma Education Intervention (EI) group or a Delayed Asthma Education Intervention (DI) group. The EI group received the intervention for 12 months and was monitored for 6 additional months. The DI group was observed without intervention for 12 months, then received the intervention for 6 months, and was monitored for 6 additional months. The program included training of asthma educators in each practice and then monitoring for improvement in medical record documentation of National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) asthma quality indicators by blinded random review of patient charts. Results: In the EI group, 6-, 12-, ...