cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SMALL CELL CARCINOMA OF THE BLADDER MIMICKING A GYNECOLOGICAL TUMOR

A 68-year-old woman presented elsewhere with gross hematuria 1 week in duration. Abdominal computerized tomography (CT) showed a large tumor of the pelvic cavity. With a tentative diagnosis of a gynecological tumor with bladder invasion, she was referred to us. Chest radiograph was normal. Magnetic resonance urography with a half-Fourier acquisition, single shot turbo spin-echo sequence revealed right hydronephrosis and a right hydroureter with obstruction at the level of the distal ureter (fig. 1). Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a large tumor involving the right posterior wall of the bladder, right perivesicular fat and right distal ureter. The tumor was low in signal intensity on T1 and T2-weighted images. It was enhanced heterogeneously after gadolinium administration (fig. 2). At surgery an ulcerated polypoid tumor arising from the right lateral wall of the bladder was found. The tumor extended to the right ureterovesical junction, right distal ureter and right perivesicular area. Radical cystectomy, right nephroureterectomy and iliac lymph node dissection were performed. Histological examination revealed features of small cell carcinoma, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Following surgery the patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. However, she was diagnosed with hepatic metastasis and local recurrence on abdominal CT 4 months later, and died 7 months postoperatively.
Authentication of paintings by Ralph A. Blakelock through neutron activation autoradiography

Following his mental collapse at the end of the nineteenth century the paintings of Ralph A. Blakelock suddenly began to bring exceptionally high prices. Not surprisingly, therefore, many forgeries attributed to him were produced in the early twentieth century. In fact, some experts consider him to have been the most widely forged American painter. At Brookhaven National Laboratory a group of paintings attributed to him have been studied by thermal neutron activation autoradiography combined with solid state high resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy. Most of the paintings studied were of unquestioned authenticity coming from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Collection of Fine Art of the Smithsonian Institution, the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Nebraska, and two private collectors with well established histories of acquisition. These included paintings produced by Blakelock both before and after his breakdown. In general a number of characteristic consistencies in the types of pigments and media used and how they were employed in these paintings were revealed by the activation study. Of course, major differences exist between his early and later work. However, a lack of these characteristics and hidden overpainted details which are not revealed in conventional X-ray radiographs have provided evidence that two of the paintings attributed to Ralph Blakelock are the work of other artists. Some paintings of Blakelock's contemporaries George Inness and Albert Ryder have also been investigated.
Memristor-based synapse design and a case study in reconfigurable systems

Scientists have dreamed of an information system with cognitive human-like skills for years. However, constrained by the device characteristics and rapidly increasing design complexity under the traditional processing technology, little progress has been made in hardware implementation. The recently popularized memristor offers a potential breakthrough for neuromorphic computing because of its unique properties including nonvolatily, extremely high fabrication density, and sensitivity to historic voltage/current behavior. In this work, we first investigate the memristor-based synapse design and the corresponding training scheme. Then, a case study of an 8-bit arithmetic logic unit (ALU) design is used to demonstrate the hardware implementation of reconfigurable system built based on memristor synapses.
Directed Microtubule Growth, +TIPs, and Kinesin-2 Are Required for Uniform Microtubule Polarity in Dendrites

Summary Background In many differentiated cells, microtubules are organized into polarized noncentrosomal arrays, yet few mechanisms that control these arrays have been identified. For example, mechanisms that maintain microtubule polarity in the face of constant remodeling by dynamic instability are not known. Drosophila neurons contain uniform-polarity minus-end-out microtubules in dendrites, which are often highly branched. Because undirected microtubule growth through dendrite branch points jeopardizes uniform microtubule polarity, we have used this system to understand how cells can maintain dynamic arrays of polarized microtubules. Results We find that growing microtubules navigate dendrite branch points by turning the same way, toward the cell body, 98% of the time and that growing microtubules track along stable microtubules toward their plus ends. Using RNAi and genetic approaches, we show that kinesin-2, and the +TIPS EB1 and APC, are required for uniform dendrite microtubule polarity. Moreover, the protein-protein interactions and localization of Apc2-GFP and Apc-RFP to branch points suggests that these proteins work together at dendrite branches. The functional importance of this polarity mechanism is demonstrated by the failure of neurons with reduced kinesin-2 to regenerate an axon from a dendrite. Conclusions We conclude that microtubule growth is directed at dendrite branch points and that kinesin-2, APC, and EB1 are likely to play a role in this process. We propose that kinesin-2 is recruited to growing microtubules by +TIPS and that the motor protein steers growing microtubules at branch points. This represents a newly discovered mechanism for maintaining polarized arrays of microtubules.
Semi-empirical estimates of neutron production in shell implosions

Analytic models of laser coupling, shell motion, DT-gas compression, thermal conduction, and neutron production are used to obtain relatively simple predictions of plasma conditions and neutron yield in DT-filled glass shells as functions of pellet and laser parameters. The predictions can be improved if a few parameters of the models are fitted by normalization against experiment.
Multithreaded Programming Can Strengthen an Operating Systems Course

Today, virtually all operating systems support multithreaded programming. In fact, threads are easier to use and more efficient than processes. This paper presents a possible way of using multithreaded programming to strengthen an operating systems course. More precisely, the lecture hours are divided into a theory track and a programming track. The former concentrates on the traditional topics, while the latter consists of seven programming assignments and one mini-project that can provide students with a comprehensive coverage of the use of multithreaded programming in the design of various operating system components. These assignments also serve as a vehicle for introducing interesting materials (e.g., PRAM models) that are normally not available in a typical operating systems course.
The effect of cimetidine and propantheline on the symptoms of a patient with systemic mastocytosis

A 24 year old white woman with a lifelong history of systemic mastocytosis and symptoms of diarrhea and flushing was demonstrated to have a normal gastric analysis and inconsistent steatorrhea. She responded well to oral cimetidine therapy for 11 months. A symptomatic recurrence was controlled with the addition of propantheline. Gastric secretory studies demonstrated cimetidine suppression of both basal acid and basal pepsin secretion, as well as maximal pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion; suppression of stimulated pepsin secretion was minimal. The combination of cimetidine and propantheline markedly suppressed both peak acid and peak pepsin secretion in response to pentagastrin stimulation. These data support a dominant role of cholinergic mechanisms in the control of gastric pepsin secretion; additional data obtained with maintenance of constant intragastric pH are required for further clarification.
Alcohol and genetics: new animal models

In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that there is a genetic component to alcoholism. Attempts to isolate alcoholism genes have met with modest success, in part because alcoholism is a multigenic trait. Recently, experimental animal models and novel genetic manipulations have provided several clues as to the specific genes involved in alcoholism, and extensive research has identified many genes that might influence responses to alcohol. Although not all of these might be proven to influence drug sensitivity, research has provided evidence for the involvement of a few genes. Ultimately, findings from animal models that investigate the function of specific genes could aid the development of pharmacotherapies to treat alcohol dependence.
An ethical dilemma in volunteer professional relationships

Ethical issues in social welfare agencies tend to focus on conflicts between social workers and clients and other personnel. This article discusses a social worker's ethical dilemma when a volunteer seeks to circumvent agency rules. Values, principles, and theories of justice are used to analyze the case, and a process of ethical decision making delineates the steps leading toward the decision.
Carbon nanotube circuits: opportunities and challenges

Carbon Nanotube Field-Effect Transistors (CNFETs) are excellent candidates for building highly energy-efficient digital systems. However, imperfections inherent in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) pose significant hurdles to realizing practical CNFET circuits. In order to achieve CNFET VLSI systems in the presence of these inherent imperfections, careful orchestration of design and processing is required: from device processing and circuit integration, all the way to large-scale system design and optimization. In this paper, we summarize the key ideas that enabled the first experimental demonstration of CNFET arithmetic and storage elements. We also present an overview of a probabilistic framework to analyze the impact of various CNFET circuit design techniques and CNT processing options on system-level energy and delay metrics. We demonstrate how this framework can be used to improve the energy-delay-product (EDP) of CNFET-based digital systems.
Air-Deployed Microbuoy Measurement of Temperatures in the Marginal Ice Zone Upper Ocean during the MIZOPEX Campaign

AbstractAir-deployed microbuoys (ADMBs) were developed as a means of measuring subsurface temperatures in the marginal ice zone (MIZ) over campaign-duration time scales to better understand how MIZ surface layer heat content accelerates melt rates at the edge of the ice pack. ADMBs are small, low-cost buoys deployable from unmanned aircraft and are capable of measuring temperatures to 0.1°C absolute accuracy at the surface, 1-m, and 2-m depth, along with GPS position. Each ADMB contains a microcontroller, GPS, 900-MHz radio, flash electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), battery, and a set of temperature sensors to monitor conditions for up to 10 days. A communications board on an overflying aircraft autonomously deploys each ADMB and collects data from previously deployed ADMBs for analysis. The 2013 Marginal Ice Zone Observations and Processes Experiment (MIZOPEX) campaign deployed ADMBs into the summer melt season MIZ north of Oliktok Point, Alaska, collecting over 400 h of data fr...
The Fermilab Energy Doubler, A Two-Year Progress Report

Work has been undertaken for a period of about 2-1/2 years at Fermilab on feasibility studies for the Energy Doubler/Saver. This activity has centered on the technology of building Energy Doubler/Saver magnets and their cooling system. Energy Doubling would be accomplished by installing in the 4-mile tunnel of the Fermilab accelerator a ring of superconducting magnets. Energy Saving would use the same ring of superconducting magnets operating in a power saving mode. The motivation for the saver would be to obtain the same energy, intensity and duty cycle of the present machine but with a significantly reduced electrical power bill.
Low serum sodium as a poor prognostic indicator for mortality in congestive heart failure patients.

Background The incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF) has not significantly declined over the past 50 years, and overall survival rates are low at 5 years following diagnosis. Numerous studies have shown low serum sodium to be a poor prognostic indicator of all cause mortality in CHF patients. Hypothesis The goal of this hypothesis was to validate if hyponatremia is an important predictor of mortality in an outpatient population of CHF patients on maximal combined angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and β-blocker therapy. Methods A total of 364 (13% with hyponatremia) patients with CHF (ejection fraction [EF] ≤ 40%) were enrolled in a heart failure disease management program. The mean New York Heart Association (NYHA) class was II.XII. The average baseline serum sodium was 138.2 mEq/L. Results We evaluated the relationship between hyponatremia (<135 mEq/L) and all-cause mortality at 40 months. During follow-up, 8 patients in the hyponatremia group compared to 31 in the normonatremic group died. Results of Kaplan-Meier analyses indicated there were no significant differences in mortality between the hyponatremia and normonatremic groups (log-rank test = 0.39). Results for Cox proportional hazards models indicated low sodium was not a significant predictor of mortality (unadjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65, 3.07; adjusted OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 0.57, 4.53). Conclusions The relationship between hyponatremia and all-cause mortality did not reach significance. Hyponatremia did not significantly predict mortality in a CHF population on maximal medical therapy. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stress-energy tensor in Bell-Szekeres space-time

In a recent work an approximation procedure was introduced to calculate the vacuum expectation value of the stress-energy tensor for a conformal massless scalar field in the classical background determined by a particular colliding plane wave space-time. This approximation procedure consists in appropriately modifying the space-time geometry throughout the causal past of the collision center. This modification in the geometry allows to simplify the boundary conditions involved in the calculation of the Hadamard function for the quantum state which represents the vacuum in the flat region before the arrival of the waves. In the present work this approximation procedure is applied to the non-singular Bel-Szekeres solution, which describes the head on collision of two electromagnetic plane waves. It is shown that the stress-energy tensor is unbounded as the killing-Cauchy horizon of the interaction is approached and its behavior coincides with a previous calculation in another example of non-singular colliding plane wave space-time.
DISTRIBUTION OF MECHANICAL STRESS IN THE LUNG, A POSSIBLE FACTOR IN LOCALISATION OF PULMONARY DISEASE

Abstract Experimental and theoretical studies show that the mechanical stresses in the upright lung are not uniform, but are much higher in the upper than lower zones. The stresses are greatest at the apex, where they may be several times larger than at the base of the lung. These high apical stresses are associated with larger alveoli and more negative intrapleural pressures than elsewhere in the lung. The uneven distribution of stress results from distortion of the lung by its own weight. The distribution of some forms of lung disease is closely related to this distribution of stress. Centrilobular emphysema develops first at the top of the lung and spreads downwards. It is suggested that this disease is caused by generalised bronchiolitis, with consequent mechanical failure and dilatation in the regions of highest stress. Spontaneous pneumothorax is commonly caused by the rupture of an apical bleb, because that is where the lung is stressed most. The development of apical bullae, and the cavities in pulmonary tuberculosis, are also related to this hitherto unrecognised factor.
A 3D wave model to simulate the interaction of wave field in the presence of multi-structures

A 3D dispersive numerical model has been developed and utilized to study the interacted wave field in the Offshore Engineering Basin (OEB) of National Research Council Canada in the presence of array of structures. The basic physics of the numerical model follows the concept of the depth averaged velocity distribution along with an enhanced dispersion relation. The Alternating Direction Implicit (ADI) algorithm has been employed for the solution of the governing equations. As an application, the model has been used to study the wave propagation in the presence of different combinations of structures where the effects due to the reflection and diffraction are also incorporated. Relevant experiments are carried out in the OEB. Total 10 wave probes are deployed to measure the data at different locations in the Basin. Later the numerical results are compared with the experimental results in the OEB at different probe locations for different wave and structure conditions. The comparisons of the numerical results show great agreement with the experimental results. In this paper the results for regular waves will only be presented and discussed.
The effect of the 2-amino group of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine on translesion synthesis and duplex stability

Replication of DNA containing 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (OxodG) gives rise to G → T transversions. The syn-isomer of the lesion directs misincorporation of 2′-deoxyadenosine (dA) opposite it. We investigated the role of the 2-amino substituent on duplex thermal stability and in replication using 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2′-deoxyinosine (OxodI). Oligonucleotides containing OxodI at defined sites were chemically synthesized via solid phase synthesis. Translesion incorporation opposite OxodI was compared with 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (OxodG), 2′-deoxyinosine (dI) and 2′-deoxyguanosine (dG) in otherwise identical templates. The Klenow exo− fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I incorporated 2′-deoxyadenosine (dA) six times more frequently than 2′-deoxycytidine (dC) opposite OxodI. Preferential translesion incorporation of dA was unique to OxodI. UV-melting experiments revealed that DNA containing OxodI opposite dA is more stable than when the modified nucleotide is opposed by dC. These data suggest that while duplex DNA accommodates the 2-amino group in syn-OxodG, this substituent is thermally destabilizing and does not provide a kinetic inducement for replication by Klenow exo−.
A Modified Comparative Fit Index for Factorial Invariance Studies

As a prerequisite for meaningful comparison of latent variables across multiple populations, measurement invariance or specifically factorial invariance has often been evaluated in social science research. Alongside with the changes in the model chi-square values, the comparative fit index (CFI; Bentler, 1990) is a widely used fit index for evaluating different stages of factorial invariance, including metric invariance (equal factor loadings), scalar invariance (equal intercepts), and strict invariance (equal unique factor variances). Although previous literature generally showed that the CFI performed well for single-group structural equation modeling analyses, its applicability to multiple group analyses such as factorial invariance studies has not been examined. In this study we argue that the commonly used default baseline model for the CFI might not be suitable for factorial invariance studies because (a) it is not nested within the scalar invariance model, and thus (b) the resulting CFI values migh...
Coping with Burnout: Family Physicians and Family Social Workers-What Do They Have in Common?

ABSTRACT This article describes the way of coping with burnout among family physicians and family social workers. Emphasis is given to the question: What do both professionals have in common when it comes to burnout? Most human-service professions have traditionally been client or patient centered, with little attention given in the literature or in training to the many stresses experienced by the professional. Clearly, learning to cope with stress is an important skill for these professionals. It is important not only for the individual's well-being and patient care, but also for curriculum development and implementation of prevention and treatment programs.
Lymphocytes, apoptosis and sepsis: making the jump from mice to humans

Sepsis is an important clinical problem with a mortality rate of 20% to 30%. Lymphocyte apoptosis has been recognized as an important step in the pathogenesis of experimental sepsis, by inducing a state of 'immune paralysis' that renders the host vulnerable to invading pathogens. The importance of lymphocyte apoptosis in human disease is now confirmed by Weber and colleagues, who demonstrate extensive apoptosis in circulating lymphocytes from patients with severe sepsis. Weber and colleagues' data set the basis for further studies aimed at modulating lymphocyte apoptosis in sepsis.
Nb3In: A β-tungsten structure superconducting compound

High-pressure techniques were employed to synthesize a new compound, Nbain having the β-tungsten structure (A15) with a lattice parameter a0 = 5.303 A. Its superconducting transition temperature was found to be 9.2 ± 0.1°K.
Cartesian causation: body–body interaction, motion, and eternal truths

Abstract There is considerable debate among scholars over whether Descartes allowed for genuine body–body interaction. I begin by considering Michael Della Rocca’s recent claim that Descartes accepted such interaction, and that his doctrine of the creation of the eternal truths indicates how this interaction could be acceptable to him. Though I agree that Descartes was inclined to accept real bodily causes of motion, I differ from Della Rocca in emphasizing that his ontology ultimately does not allow for them. This is not the end of the story however, since two of Descartes’s successors offered incompatible ways of developing his conflicted account of motion. I contrast the occasionalist view of Nicolas Malebranche that changes in motion derive directly from divine volitions with the non-occasionalist claim of Pierre-Sylvain Regis that such changes derive from a nature distinct from God. In light of Della Rocca’s interpretation, it is noteworthy that the issue of eternal truths is relevant to both alternative accounts. Indeed, Regis took the doctrine that such truths are created to provide crucial support for his alternative to an occasionalist account of body–body interaction. What does not help Della Rocca, however, is that Regis’s view of motion requires a fundamental revision of Descartes’s ontology.
Semidiscrete biomass dynamic modeling: an improved approach for assessing fish stock responses to pulsed harvest events

Continuous harvest over an annual period is a common assumption of continuous biomass dynamics models (CBDMs); however, fish are frequently harvested in a discrete manner. We developed semidiscrete...
Nonlinear filters for image sharpening and smoothing

A general approach to the transform-magnitude-shaping-based image enhancement method is advanced. In the method, the magnitude of the input image transform is modified using a nonlinear mapping expressible as a power series, while its phase is kept invariant. The inverse transform of the modified image transform results in a sharpening or smoothing depending on the choice of the power series coefficients. Further improvement in the overall enhancement is achieved by a two-channel processing scheme which is implemented by applying different transform amplitude shaping methods to the low-frequency and high-frequency components. Examples the proposed enhancement method are included. >
An age-related spatial learning deficit: Choline uptake distinguishes “impaired” and “unimpaired” rats

A functional decline in the hippocampal formation may underlie the emergence of spatial learning deficits in aged rodents. In this study, sodium-dependent high-affinity choline uptake (HACU) was used to monitor hippocampal function in response to training on a spatial task. The subjects were male Long-Evans rats at either 4 months or 22–24 months of age. Animals were trained to locate a camouflaged escape platform in the Morris water maze. Each animal that received place training had a yoked counterpart that was exposed to swimming in the maze but was not required to learn the task. Animals, both young and aged, were sacrificed after attaining a criterion performance. Relative to animals in the yoked condition, place training significantly reduced HACU in both the young rats and in a subpopulation of the aged animals that learned the task rapidly. In contrast, for aged rats that had an impaired rate of acquisition, no effect of place training on HACU was observed. These results provide evidence for a relationship between the behavioral capacities of aged rats and changes in the status of hippocampal function.
Comparison of postoperative comlications between saphenous vein and IMA grafts to left anterior descending coronary artery.

Considerable controversy exists regarding relative morbidity associated with the saphenous vein graft (SVG) and internal mammary artery (IMA) graft in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization. As a part of the cooperative study on use of antiplatelet drugs for graft patency, operative and postoperative data were prospectively collected on 1,150 patients who underwent either SVG (n = 656) or IMA anastomosis (n = 494) to the left anterior descending coronary artery. There were no differences in baseline characteristics of patients, distribution of randomization among treatment groups, and total number of distal anastomoses performed between the two groups. The aortic cross-clamp time, cardiopulmonary bypass duration, operative time, and chest tube drainage were greater (p = 0.0001) in the patients with IMA grafts compared with SVG. However, there was no difference in the operative mortality rate, the amount or blood and blood products received, the reoperation rate for control of postoperative bleeding, and incidence of wound complications between the two groups. The early and 1-year patency rates for the IMA were slightly but not significantly better than the SVG patency rates (92.8% versus 90.1% for 1-year patency; p = 0.309). In conclusion, use of IMA is associated with a longer operative time as well as increased postoperative bleeding compared with the SVG. It, however, does not increase operative mortality or postoperative morbidity.
An improved robust hierarchical registration algorithm.

This note describes an improvement to an accurate, robust, and fast registration algorithm (Alexander, M.E. and Somorjai, R.L., Mag. Reson. Imaging, 14:453-468, 1996). A computationally inexpensive preregistration method is proposed, consisting of simply aligning the image centroids, from which estimates of the translation shifts are derived. The method has low sensitivity to noise, and provides starting values of sufficient accuracy for the iterative registration algorithm to allow accurate registration of images that have significant levels of noise and/or large misalignments. Also, it requires a smaller computational effort than the Fourier Phase Matching (FPM) preregistration method used previously. The FPM method provides accurate preregistration for low-noise images, but fails when significant noise is present. For testing the various methods, a 256 x 256 pixel T2*-weighted image was translated, rotated, and scaled to produce large misalignments and occlusion at the image boundaries. The two situations of no noise being present in the images and in which Gaussian noise is added, were tested. After preregistration, the images were registered by applying one or several passes of the iterative algorithm at different levels of preblurring of the input images. Results of using the old and new preregistration methods, as well as no preregistration, are compared for the final accuracy of recovery of registration parameters. In addition, the performances of three robust estimators: Least Median of Squares, Least Trimmed Squares, and Least Winsorized Mean, are compared with those of the nonrobust Least Squares and Woods' methods, and found to converge to correct solutions in cases where the nonrobust methods do not.
Redesigning Services in a Patient Education Resource Center Setting: A DMAIC Quality Improvement Project

This article describes a quality improvement project using the Six Sigma DMAIC framework in a health care setting. The project goal was to increase efficiency and decrease instructor time spent teaching patient education classes by grouping together patients with similar learning needs.
Neo‐sophistic rhetorical theory: Sophistic precedents for contemporary epistemic rhetoric

(1994). Neo‐sophistic rhetorical theory: Sophistic precedents for contemporary epistemic rhetoric. Rhetoric Society Quarterly: Vol. 24, No. 3-4, pp. 16-24.
Transfer of Writing Skills: Implications of the Theory of Lateral and Vertical Transfer.

R. M. Gagne's distinction between lateral and vertical transfer can be elaborated for written composition: (a) the lateral transfer of mechanical and formal skills and (b) the vertical transfer of higher-order knowledge in the domain of rhetoric and writing. Vertical transfer of writing skills is situational: a function of the context and content of a specific rhetorical situation. Success in a situational writing task depends on two types of domain-specific knowledge being operational: (a) knowledge of the specific content of the subject matter and (b) knowledge of the domain of rhetoric and writing. The theory of lateral and vertical transfer as applied to writing is compatible with current conceptions of declarative and procedural cognitive processes and with a balanced pedagogy of both student-centered and direct, content-oriented instruction. Two appendixes present practical procedures based on transfer theory for improving general program goals and classroom instruction of writing.
Compressive Information Extraction: A Dynamical Systems Approach

Abstract This talk addresses the problem of extracting actionable information that is very sparsely encoded in high dimensional data streams. The central theme of our approach is the realization that actionable information can be often represented with a small number of invariants associated with an underlying dynamical system. Thus, in this context, the problem of actionable information extraction can be reformulated as identifying these invariants from (high dimensional) noisy data, and thought of as a generalization of sparse signal recovery problems to a dynamical systems framework. While in principle this approach leads to generically nonconvex, hard to solve problems, computationally tractable relaxations (and in some cases exact solutions) can be obtained by exploiting a combination of elements from convex analysis and the classical theory of moments. In the second part of the talk we will illustrate the application of these results to some challenging problems such as video, image and genomic data segmentation, where the goal is to detect changes, for instance in scenes, activities, texture, or gene promoter expressions. We will conclude the talk by exploring the connection between hybrid systems identification, information extraction, and machine learning, and discuss new research directions in identification and systems theory motivated by these problems.
Human enterovirus in the gastrocnemius of patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Background Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is characterized by myofiber degeneration and loss of function in muscles of the lower limbs. Human enterovirus (HEV) infection has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of muscle diseases. However, its association with PAD has not been studied. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that infectious HEV is present in skeletal muscle of patients with PAD and is associated with severity of disease. Methods and Results Gastrocnemius biopsies from 37 patients with PAD and 14 controls were examined for the presence of HEV RNA, viral capsid protein, viral RNA copy number, and viral infectivity. HEV RNA was detected in 54% of the biopsies from patients with PAD but was not detected in muscle biopsies from control patients. This difference in prevalence among PAD and control patients was significant at P <0.001. Viral RNA copy numbers were increased significantly at the later stages of disease; Fontaine Stage IV (105.50 copies/mg muscle wet weight, at P <0.005) and Stage III (104.87 copies/mg, at P <0.010) compared to Stage II (102.50 copies/mg). Viral replication was confirmed by the presence of the negative-strand of viral RNA in all specimens positive for HEV RNA. Cultures of HeLa and human skeletal muscle cells treated with muscle homogenates showed HEV replication and the presence of HEV capsid protein. Conclusion Our data identified infectious HEV in the gastrocnemius of PAD patients but not in controls. Viral copy number and prevalence of infection were higher in the later stages of disease. Our data point to the need for further studies to determine the contribution of HEV infection to the pathophysiology of PAD.
Neuropsychological Assessment of Dementia

Neuropsychological studies show that cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are distinct from age-associated cognitive decline. Quantitative and qualitative differences are apparent across many cognitive domains, but are especially obvious in episodic memory (particularly delayed recall), semantic knowledge, and some aspects of executive functions. The qualitatively distinct pattern of deficits is less salient in very old AD patients than in younger AD patients. Although decline in episodic memory is usually the earliest cognitive change that occurs prior to the development of the AD dementia syndrome, asymmetry in cognitive abilities may also occur in this "preclinical" phase of the disease and predict imminent dementia. Discrete patterns of cognitive deficits occur in AD and several neuropathologically distinct age-associated neurodegenerative disorders. Knowledge of these differences helps to clinically distinguish among various causes of dementia and provides useful models for understanding brain-behavior relationships that mediate cognitive abilities affected in various neurodegenerative diseases.
The influence of the semiconductor and dielectric properties on surface flashover in silicon-dielectric systems

New experimental results on surface flashover are reported for high field silicon-dielectric systems. Different conditions of the lateral surface, contacts and ambient dielectrics have been studied. The strong influence of the semiconductor quality, and that of the dielectric properties, on the prebreakdown and breakdown response of the system, is demonstrated. All experimental results strongly support the conclusion that surface flashover in silicon systems is a physical process totally different from semiconductor surface breakdown. This conclusion has important practical application in the improvement of the performance of photoconductive power switches, severely limited by premature breakdown effects. >
Second-harmonic generation studies of differences in molecular orientation of Langmuir–Blodgett films fabricated by vertical and horizontal dipping techniques

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) studies have been carried out on Langmuir–Blodgett films of 2-docosyl-amino-5-nitropyridine that were transferred by two different dipping techniques: vertical y-type and horizontal x-type depositions. The SHG behavior of horizontally transferred films is remarkably different from that of the vertically transferred films. In y-type films the SHG is due mainly to the in-plane component χyyy(2) (which is along the dipping axis) of the second-order nonlinear optical susceptibility tensor and χxxx(2) is negligible. In the case of x-type films, the SHG is due to the in-plane χ(2) tensor components but χyyy(2) and χxxx(2) have comparable magnitudes. In both films the nonlinear optical chromophores lie almost flat with respect to the plane of the substrate. The cancellation of χxxx(2) in y-type films is due to the preferential orientation of molecular domains along the dipping axis. In horizontally transferred films, molecular domains seem to be randomly distributed on the surface.
Direct Observation of Nanoscale Switching Centers in Metal/Molecule/Metal Structures

Conductance switching in metal/molecule/metal structures has attracted tremendous and broad interest. Understanding the switching mechanism, which remained controversial to date, will be vital for engineering nanoscale switches crucial for memory and logic applications. Here we describe a new switching mechanism revealed by a novel scanned-probe technique that images the mechano-electrical response of a Pt/stearic acid/Ti structure switch device. In each image a single switching center, characterized by a nanoscale conductance peak, appeared or disappeared when the device was switched “on” or “off”. Our results strongly indicate that the formation and dissolution of individual nanoscale filaments through the molecular layer give rise to conductance switching in our molecular structures with unusually high on/off ratios (∼105).
QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF PORTION CONTROLLED TENDERLOIN STEAKS

Steaks from mechanically pressed tenderloins and steaks from paired, unpressed control tenderloins from Good and Choice grade steers were studied. Pressing did not adversely affect overall quality of the tenderloin steaks; however, fibers of the pressed steaks were kinked and compacted when compared to control steaks. No differences in fiber breakage or in sarcomere length were noted. Fat, moisture, lean color, marbling texture, marbling amount, lean texture, lean firmness and moisture on the steak surface were similar in pressed and unpressed steaks, Panel scores for tenderness, juiciness and flavor and Warner-Bratzler shear values were also similar for pressed and unpressed steaks. Pressed steaks had greater cooking loss, but they were more uniform in size and shape than control steaks.
Photoanisotropic incoherent-to-coherent optical conversion

A new approach to incoherent-to-coherent optical conversion based on a real-time five-wave-mixing technique in photoanisotropic organic film is presented. A uniform grating is written holographically in the sample and then erased locally by an incident white-light image. Subsequent coherent diffraction of the spatially modulated grating imposes the incoherent image upon the reading laser beam, permitting subsequent coherent optical processing. A theoretical analysis of the holographic recording and erasing mechanism in these photoanisotropic materials is presented, and the saturation is shown to be responsible for the grating intermodulation that produces the incoherent-to-coherent conversion. Experimental results of white-light images converted to inverted coherent images in real time are presented, and the resolution is shown to exceed 28 line pairs/mm.
Ottoman History Writing and Changing Attitudes Towards the Notion of “Decline”

The arguments presented below support, I hope, the following set of assertions. First, historical writing on the question of the “decline” of the Ottoman Empire presently is undergoing a sweeping, if incomplete, revision that vitally affects our perceptions not only of this now-defunct imperial system but also of the contemporary Middle East. Secondly, the debate over Ottoman decline only now is escaping from its thorough enmeshment in European norms of what constitutes political and economic development and the very concept of progress itself. Thirdly, from the later 18th century until about twenty years ago, notions of Ottoman “decline” had been a popular and unquestioned item in the intellectual inventory of Western academics and politicians alike. Fourthly, the challenges mounted to the decline paradigm reflect, among Ottomanists, an increasingly sophisticated sense of the past that owes much to the growth of global and comparative history. The collapse of the Soviet empire reinforced, but did not give rise to, these challenges. Here, in brief, is the decline paradigm regarding the Ottoman Empire. Let me be clear: I believe this paradigm to be incorrect and misleading. Between 1300 and 1566, the Ottoman Empire expanded steadily under the guidance of ten sultans who were remarkable for their warrior and/or administrative skills. Decline set in at the apex of Ottoman power, under Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent (1520–66), who foolishly allotted power to a concubine who became his wife, with devastating effects on the Empire. The accession of his son, Selim “the Sot,” affirmed the maxim “the fish begins to rot from the head” and the rule of the harem only made things worse. Coupled with the price revolution triggered by the influx of American silver, the foundations of Ottoman power were permanently shaken. In the paradigm under challenge here, Ottoman decline began in the late 16th century and continued until 1922, when the Ottoman Empire finally disappeared. While there were competent sultans and bureaucrats who occasionally struggled to right the ship of state, incompetence and backwardness prevailed.
Self-managing systems: a control theory foundation

The high cost of operating large computing installations has motivated a broad interest in reducing the need for human intervention by making systems self-managing. This paper explores the extent to which control theory can provide an architectural and analytic foundation for building self-managing systems, either from new components or layering on top of existing components. Further, we propose a deployable testbed for autonomic computing (DTAC) that we believe will reduce the barriers to addressing key research problems in autonomic computing. The initial DTAC architecture is described along with several problems that it can be used to investigate.
Pediatric Craniocervical Junction Injuries

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to review pediatric craniocervical junction injuries in the context of embryology, developmental anatomy, and biomechanics.CONCLUSION. The craniocervical junction is functionally and developmentally distinct from the rest of the spine, and mechanistic models often fail to explain these injuries. Various developmental features and complex anatomy likely contribute to injury in this region in children. Some of the injury patterns at the craniocervical junction in children are similar to adults, but many are unique.
Automatic simplification in FORMAC

Simplification is a central and basic operation in the manipulation of mathematical expressions. Indeed, much of the tedious algebra that plagues scientists and engineers involves the time-consuming application of simplifying transformations to unwieldly mathematical expressions. It seems obvious, conceptually, that some simplifying transformations can be applied "automatically" to arbitrary expressions. However, there are transformations that require special handling; they simplify some expressions and complicate others.
Parameters of thromboelastography in healthy newborns

Thromboelastography (TEG) aids in monitoring a patient’s global hemostatic system by measuring the rate of clot formation, clot strength, and stability. The usefulness of TEG in pediatric settings, especially with neonates, is limited owing to a lack of neonatal reference values. In this study, neonatal TEG reference intervals were developed and results correlated with other coagulation test parameters. Samples were from women who delivered a neonate after at least 34 weeks of gestation in normal pregnancies. From the recovered placenta, cord blood from the umbilical vein or artery was collected within 30 minutes after delivery and tested. Neonatal TEG reaction time (time clot formation begins), clot firmness (shear elastic modulus strength), and platelet function analysis closure times were significantly lower than those in adult ranges (P < .001). When compared with the values for children, TEG reaction time, angle, coagulation index, clot firmness value, and clot kinetics (time from clot formation to time amplitude reaches 20 mm) were significantly different (P < .001) among neonates. TEG can be used to interpret the data for newborns by using reference values obtained in the present study. All patients with a bleeding or thrombotic history need
Adoptive cellular immunotherapy for the treatment of malignant gliomas.

Abstract The median survival for adults with recurrent primary malignant gliomas is 56 weeks following surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Generally, reoperation can extend the median survival an additional 26–32 weeks. We have developed an aggressive treatment program that utilizes low doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2) combined with ex vivo activated killer cells (LAK) infused via an indwelling catheter placed into the surgical resection cavity. Autologous leukocytes were collected during a standard 3–4 h, outpatient leukapheresis procedure, then activated ex vivo for 4–5 days with high doses of IL-2. The treatment protocol consisted of two 2-week cycles of therapy over a 6-week period. Patients with stable disease or objective response on follow-up MRI scans were retreated at 3-month intervals. Acute and cumulative IL-2-related toxicities were observed, but limited, and included fever, headache and transient neurologic irritation. Corticosteroid levels and usage were strictly controlled during immunotherapy, although higher doses were used intermittently to mitigate toxicity. Biologic changes included lymphocytic infiltration, regional eosinophilia, tumor necrosis, and the localized production of IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-12, demonstrated by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Summary: IL-2 plus autogeneic LAK cells can be safely administered intracavitary to treat high grade primary brain tumors with limited toxicity within the central nervous system. Six out of 28 patients had long-term survival of greater than 2 years post-reoperation plus immunotherapy with 2 patients alive over 8 years. The presence of a marked regional eosinophilia appeared to correlate with increased survival and may be predictive of a biologic and therapeutic response. Regional adoptive immune therapy was well tolerated and should be considered an option for patients with high-grade tumors refractive to standard therapeutic approaches.
Seizure control for intracranial arteriovenous malformations is directly related to treatment modality: a meta-analysis

Object Seizures are a common presenting sign of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The object of this meta-analysis was to determine if the modality selected to treat AVMs affects the rate of seizure outcomes. Methods All published data describing seizure status as an outcome goal over the past 20 years were included in this study. Seizure outcomes following microsurgery (MS), endovascular embolization for cure (EVE), or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) were compared using a validated random effect logistic regression approach. Results 24 studies, with a total of 1157 patients, were analyzed. Overall, the microsurgical group had the best seizure control (p Conclusions This is the first meta-analysis designed to study relative rates of seizure outcomes following the currently utilized AVM treatment modalities. In general, MS results in the highest proportion of seizure control. However, if SRS results in successful obliteration of the AVM, then this modality is the most effective in achieving seizure control.