cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Study on Control Strategy and Surveillance of Malaria in the Past Ten Years in Guangdong

Objective To analyze the characteristic of malarial epidemiology in Guangdong and provide basis for setting the surveillance and strategy for the treatment and prevention of malaria. Method With retrospective epidemiological investigative method, the characteristics of the cases and occupation of patients were analyzed. Anopheles were captured for anatomical analysis and classification down to genus. Result 11852 malaria cases were reported between 1996 and 2005 in Guangdong, with an annual morbidity of 0.020 and 0.370 per ten thousand. In the past ten years 11677 plasmodium-positive individuals were found, in ten years, of which 52.54% are local residents and 47.46% are migrants. The highest morbidity was found in loggers, quarry-men and farmers. In recent ten years, Plasmodium vivax was the only prevailing species in Guangdong, with occasional import of falciparum malaria. Six species of anopheles were trapped in ten sites but no mosquito was infected with sporozoites. Mosquito net treated with pentmethrin can effectively prevent malaria. Conclusion It is concluded that malaria morbidity in Guangdong had been controlled in low level, the malaria endemic areas are straggled through out the province and malaria cases are mainly imported. Malarial prevalence can be stopped if the patients are treated at the early stage and the control measures are implemented early at the endemic areas.
Data Science and Management for Large Scale Empirical Applications in Agricultural and Applied Economics Research

The increased availability of high resolution data and computing power has spurred enormous interest in “Big Data”. While analysts typically source data from a wide variety of agencies, even within the USDA no comprehensive data warehouse exists with which researchers can interact. This leads to massive duplication in efforts, inefficient data sourcing, and great potential for error. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief overview of this state of affairs within the community. An overview of a prototype warehouse is also provided, as are thoughts on future directions.
Pressure Distribution of Horizontal Section of Horizontal Drilling in Gas Reservoir

Based on the gas flow model in gas reservoir and the fluid flow model in horizontal well,a couple model is developed and used for numerical computing study of single flow performance in horizontal borehole.The complex pressure distribution in the model makes the fluid flow computation of horizontal well be fairly complicated,so the non-linear equation describing fluid flow performance has been applied for space iterative computation followed by time iterative computation.This paper provides applicable computation procedure to calculate the pressure distribution of horizontal well in gas reservoir,and could be as a guide for design and production of horizontal wells.
CAE Design and Failure Analysis of Automotive Composites

Composites are now extensively used in applications where outstanding mechanical properties are necessary in combination with weight savings, due to their highly tunable microstructure and mechanical properties. These properties present great potential for part integration, which results in lower manufacturing costs and faster time to market. Composites also have a high level of styling flexibility in terms of deep drawn panel, which goes beyond what can be achieved with metal stampings. The so-called multifunctional or smart composites provide significant benefits to the vehicles as compared to the traditional materials that only have monotonic properties. CAE Design and Failure Analysis of Automotive Composites focuses on the latest use of CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) methods in design and failure analysis of composite materials and structures, beginning with a brief introduction to the design and failure analysis of composite materials, and then presenting some recent, innovative CAE design examples of composite structures by engineers from major CAE developers and automobile OEMs and suppliers. This title brings together 12 SAE technical papers, carefully selected by the editors covering three main areas of expertise: • Design and Failure Analysis of Composites: Static Loading • Design and Failure Analysis of Composites: Dynamic and Impact Loading • Design and Failure Analysis of Composites: Blast Loading
CROSS SECTION FOR THE Ca$sup 40$($gamma$,3p3n)Cl$sup 34$ REACTION

The cross section of ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{40}(\ensuremath{\gamma}, 3p3n){\mathrm{Cl}}^{34}$ as a function of photon energy was determined up to 70 Mev. With a threshold for the process below 35 Mev the cross-section function was found to have a resonance-shaped peak of 0.3 millibarn at 50 Mev with a width at half-height of 6 Mev. The integrated cross section was 2.7 Mev-mb. The mode of the process is discussed on the basis of a statistical model.
Optical Properties of SmB6

SmB6 is of interest as one of a group of mixed configuration compounds in which there is noninteger occupation of the 4f-shell of the rare earth ion. The reflectivity of SmB6 has been measured at room temperature in the energy range of.02 to 5 eV, and at 15K in the energy range.35 to 5 eV. Samples used consist of small flux-grown, single-crystal flakes obtained from Z. Fisk, and large polycrystalline melt pieces obtained from J.C. Mikkelsen. The poly-crystalline samples were measured in the entire energy range, but the single crystals were too small for use between.02 and.35 eV. Between.35 and 5 eV data from both types of samples agreed well.
Strategies for reducing implant costs in the revision total knee arthroplasty episode of care

Abstract Background Implant price has been identified as a significant contributing factor to high costs associated with revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA). The goal of this study is to analyze the cost of implants used in rTKAs and to compare this pricing with 2 alternative pricing models. Methods Using our institutional database, we identified 52 patients from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Average cost of components for each case was calculated and compared to the total hospital cost for that admission. Costs for an all-component revision were then compared to a proposed "direct to hospital" (DTH) standardized pricing model and a fixed price revision option. Potential savings were calculated from these figures. Results On average, 28% of the total hospital cost was spent on implants for rTKA. The average cost for revision of all components was $13,640 and ranged from $3000 to $28,000. On average, this represented 32.7% of the total hospital cost. Direct to hospital implant pricing could potentially save approximately $7000 per rTKA, and the fixed pricing model could provide a further $1000 reduction per rTKA—potentially saving $8000 per case on implants alone. Conclusions Alternative implant pricing models could help lower the total cost of rTKA, which would allow hospitals to achieve significant cost containment.
Design, analysis and prototyping of a flux switching transverse flux machine with ferrite magnets

This paper presents a novel Flux Switching Transverse Flux Machine (FS-TFM) topology. This new topology is well suited to use low cost ferrite magnets in a flux focusing design to achieve high torque density. An electric scooter traction motor featuring the proposed topology is designed using soft magnetic composites through 3D finite element analysis. Design optimization and analysis are conducted regarding cogging torque, efficiency, power factor, and demagnetization. The designed FS-TFM has extremely low cogging torque, high torque density even with ferrite magnets, and moderate power factor. A prototype motor is under construction to verify the motor performance through experimental evaluation. Benchmark comparison shows the proposed topology is promising for low-cost, direct-drive applications.
Advances in Geofluvial Modeling: Methodologies and Applications

Stream bank erosion is an important form of channel change in alluvial environments; it should be accounted for in geomorphic studies, river restoration, dam removal, and channel maintenance projects. Recently, one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) flow and mobile-bed numerical models are becoming useful engineering tools for predicting channel morphological responses to stream modifications. Most, however, either ignore bank erosion or implement only simple ad hoc methods. A combined modeling of vertical and lateral fluvial processes in streams, i.e., geofluvial modeling, is important yet still at its research stage. In this chapter, advances in geofluvial modeling are presented. First, a literature review is provided in the area of geofluvial modeling. Second, important geofluvial processes are discussed as they need to be incorporated into models. Third, a recently developed 2D geofluvial model, SRH-2D, is described. SRH-2D incorporates processed-based bank erosion modules into a 2D mobile-bed module; it is developed with the primary objective of advancing the geofluvial modeling toward a practical engineering tool. Bank erosion modeling consists of a uniform retreat module and mechanistic failure module; both are suitable for uniform and multilayer banks with noncohesive or cohesive materials. The coupling techniques are developed that emphasize ease of use and model robustness (stability). Fourth and final, a number of laboratory and field cases are selected to validate and verify the geofluvial model; application cases are also presented to demonstrate the practical aspects of the model. It is found that the state-of-the-art 2D geofluvial modeling is becoming practical to assist project planning, design, and evaluation. SRH-2D can predict accurately for some streams, but only qualitatively for more complex streams.
P114 Does HLA-DR matching prevent formation of de novo anti-donor HLA-DQ antibodies?

Aim Donor specific antibodies (DSA) directed to mismatched HLA-DQB antigens are the most prevalent DSA after transplantation. Such DSA have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic antibody mediated rejection and graft loss. Currently, patients listed for deceased donor kidney transplantation receive priority points for each HLA-DR, but not DQ, matched with their donor. We aimed to determine whether HLA-DR matching impacts the formation of DQB DSA. Methods Our study population included 567 patients without pre-transplant DSA who received kidney transplantation from Jan 1st 2009 to Dec 31st 2014. HLA typing of recipients and donors was performed by SSO/SSP. Pre- and post-transplant testing of anti-HLA antibodies was performed using solid phase assay (One Lambda). Prospective T and B cell crossmatches were performed in all cases by flow cytometry. Results Out of 567 patients, 72 (13%) had zero, 215 (38%) had one and 280 (49%) had two DR mismatches (mm) with their respective donor. Overall, during the follow-up interval (median 4.6 years), 92 (16%) patients developed DSA. Twenty-four patients (4%) developed class I DSA, 44 (8%) had cl II DSA and 24 (4%) had cl I and II DSA. Among patients with zero HLA-DR mismatches, only 9% developed DSA. These DSA were directed to the mismatched HLA class I antigens and, in only one case, to a mismatched DQB antigen. The percent of patients who developed DSA was significantly higher in the groups with 1 or 2 DR mm, namely 19% and 14%, respectively (p = 0.0002) The highest number of DQB DSA was observed in the group with 1 DR mm (Table 1). Conclusions Our results indicate that zero HLA-DR mm represents an acceptable surrogate for the absence of de novo DQB DSA. We suggest that the number of priority points received by patients with zero HLA-DR mm should be increased. This may limit the number of patients who develop de novo DQB DSA, resulting in improved transplant outcomes. No additional points are warranted for a single DR match, which does not appear to have any protective effect.
Changes in thromboinflammatory profiles across the generations of transcatheter aortic heart valves

The transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure was developed to provide patients with severe aortic stenosis an alternative to the surgical aortic valve replacement. Since the approval of the original SAPIEN the technology has rapidly evolved. While several approaches can be used for valve deployment, as delivery systems have become smaller and more flexible, the transfemoral approach has become the dominant technique for valve deployment. One hundred and forty five patients undergoing TAVR receiving one of four valve types (Sapien, Sapien XT, Sapien3 or CoreValve) via the femoral artery were included in this study. Platelet count, white blood cells count (WBC), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Serum Amyloid A (SAA) were determined before and after TAVR. Platelet counts declined after the procedure regardless of the valve type and were dependent upon the baseline platelet count. Use of conscious sedation blunted the decline in platelet count. With the newer generation valves, the rise in WBC post-TAVR was lower than observed with the Sapien, in keeping with less systemic inflammation. Consistent with WBC, IL-6 levels were lower following deployment of the newer generation valves. Elevations in plasma SAA, which occur following myocardial injury, were not reduced with the newer valves. Evolution of the TAVR technology has occurred rapidly over the last 5 years. The newer devices and smaller delivery systems are associated with less systemic inflammation, as reflected in WBC and plasma IL-6 levels. However, the acute phase reactant SAA remains unchanged, possibly reflecting different triggers for SAA following TAVR.
Software Aging and Software Rejuvenation: Keynote

The study of software failures has now become more important since it has been recognized that computer system outages are more due to software faults than due to hardware faults. The phenome- non of "software aging", in which the state of the software system degrades with time, has been reported in widely used software and also in high-availability and safety-critical systems. The primary causes of this degradation are the exhaustion of operating system resources, data corruption and numerical error accumulation. This may eventually lead to performance degradation of the software system or crash/hang failure or both. To counteract this phenome- non, a proactive approach to fault management, called "software rejuvenation" has been proposed. This essentially involves grace- fully terminating an application or a system and restarting it in a clean internal state. This process removes the accumulated errors and frees up operating system resources. This method therefore avoids or postpones unplanned and potentially expensive system outages due to software aging. In this talk, we discuss methods of evaluating the effectiveness of proactive fault management in operational software systems and determining optimal times to perform rejuvenation.
Smoking Topography Characteristics During a 6-Week Trial of Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes in Smokers With Serious Mental Illness.

INTRODUCTION A nicotine-reduction policy could have major benefits for smokers with serious mental illness (SMI). However, potential unintended consequences, such as compensatory smoking, should be considered to ensure that such a policy does not negatively affect this population. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to examine the impact of smoking very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes for 6 weeks on smoking topography characteristics, indicators of compensatory smoking, among smokers with SMI. AIMS AND METHODS After a baseline usual brand smoking phase, smokers with SMI (N = 58) were randomly assigned under double-blind conditions to receive either VLNC (0.4 mg nicotine per g tobacco) or normal nicotine content (NNC; 15.8 mg nicotine per g tobacco) research cigarettes for 6 weeks. During two study visits scheduled 6 weeks apart, participants smoked either their usual brand (baseline) or assigned study cigarettes (postrandomization) through a handheld smoking topography device. Univariate analysis of variance compared smoking topography indices with cigarette condition (VLNC vs. NNC) as the between-subjects factor with corresponding baseline topography results included as covariates. RESULTS At week 6, participants in the VLNC condition smoked fewer puffs per cigarette and had shorter interpuff intervals compared to participants in the NNC condition (ps < .05). There were no differences between research cigarette conditions at week 6 for cigarette volume, puff volume, puff duration, peak flow rate, or carbon monoxide boost. CONCLUSIONS Findings are consistent with acute VLNC cigarette topography studies and indicate that a nicotine-reduction policy is unlikely to lead to compensation among smokers with SMI. IMPLICATIONS Given the high smoking rates among people with SMI, understanding how a nicotine-reduction policy may affect this population is critically important. When considering the smoking topography results as a whole, smokers with SMI did not engage in compensatory smoking behavior when using VLNC cigarettes during a 6-week trial. Study findings suggest that compensatory smoking is not likely to occur among smokers with SMI if nicotine content is lowered to minimally addictive levels.
Multi Agent-based Distributed Energy Arbitrage in Residential Distribution System

The energy arbitrage in residential microgrid system gained attention in recent years and the idea is to efficiently utilize the small scale distributed energy resources. Although the peer-to-peer (P2P) business framework is widely considered in such distribution systems, the conventional P2P model may become inefficient when the supply-to-demand ratio is very high or low in the system, which could increase the system operational cost. Moreover, it is more challenging to accommodate a large number of prosumers in a P2P market due to communication and computation burden. Considering these issues, this paper proposes a regionally-expanded P2P energy trading system in a hierarchical structure. In this approach, a large system can be divided into small sub-systems that can participate in the energy arbitrage effectively. The proposed energy arbitrage model was applied in residential microgrids consist of smart solar homes, namely nanogrids, to verify the effectiveness. Results showed that the proposed approach can provide more financial benefits to the consumers by reducing the operational cost.
THE RIGHT WAY: SINGLE CORONARY ARTERY AND PERIOPERATIVE RISK STRATIFICATION

Single coronary artery is a rare congenital heart disease ranging in prevalence between 0.02 and 0.06%. When patients with a single coronary artery have left ventricular dysfunction it can be challenging to provide accurate pre-operative risk assessment for non-cardiac surgery. A 58 year old woman
Cosmetic treatment in patients with autoimmune connective tissue diseases: Best practices for patients with lupus erythematosus

The cutaneous manifestations of lupus, especially chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus, are a source of significant morbidity and can negatively impact patient quality of life. While the active inflammatory component of the disease may be adequately treated, patients are frequently left with residual skin damage and disfiguring aesthetic deficits. Dermatologists lack guidelines regarding the use and safety of various reconstructive and cosmetic interventions in this patient population. Laser treatments are largely avoided in the lupus population because of the possible photodamaging effects of ultraviolet and visible light. Similarly, given the autoimmune nature of this disease, some physicians avoid injectable treatment and grafts because of the concern for disease reactivation via antigenic stimulation. In the second article in this continuing medical education series we compile available data on this topic with the goal of providing evidence-based guidance on the cosmetic treatment of patients with lupus erythematosus with a focus on chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
Anxiety and Depression Reduction as Distal Outcomes of a College Transition Readiness Program for Adults with Autism.

Young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience increased rates of anxiety and depression which can impact academic success. The Stepped Transition in Education Program for Students with ASD (STEPS) applies cognitive-behavioral principles to help young adults with ASD improve their adjustment to postsecondary education. We aimed to determine if STEPS had an effect on anxiety and depression. Treatment-seeking adults with ASD (n = 32; Mage = 19.74) were randomized to STEPS or transition as usual (TAU; i.e., waitlist control group). STEPS participants evinced significantly greater declines in depressive symptoms from pre-treatment to post-treatment compared to the waitlist. Anxiety symptoms did not significantly change. Results suggest that transition support for young people with ASD may improve mental health.
The spectrum of pathological diagnoses in non-sentinel axillary lymph node biopsy: A single institution's experience.

Abstract Although axillary lymphadenopathy is a common clinical encounter, systemic evaluation of non-sentinel lymph node biopsy is sparse. We reviewed our institution's 15-year experience to delineate the spectrum of diagnoses in non-sentinel axillary lymph nodes. 1165 non-sentinel axillary lymph node biopsies were retrieved and the diagnosis and relevant clinical information was reviewed. This spectrum of diagnoses was further stratified by gender, age, and oncologic history. The spectrum of diagnoses included: breast carcinoma (27.6%), lymphoma (29.2%), melanoma (3.5%), other carcinoma (2.9%), sarcoma (0.4%), and benign changes (36.3%). The most common diagnoses in men were lymphoma (61.8%) and benign changes (23.6%); while in women they were benign change (41.2%), breast carcinoma (37.8%) and lymphoma (16.7%). Besides benign changes, lymphoma and breast carcinoma were most common in women younger and older than 30 years, respectively. In patients with a history of malignancy, the most common diagnoses were metastasis from the known tumor and benign change; while in patients with a negative oncologic history and female patients without a history of breast cancer, the diagnosis was generally either lymphoma or benign change. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma was rare but may be mistaken as metastatic carcinoma thus a high index of suspicion is warranted. Thus through retrospective review of a large cohort of non-sentinel axillary lymph node biopsies, we described the spectrum of pathological entities based on the gender, age, and clinical history, which could provide valuable information for further work-up of axillary lymph node biopsy.
Police Prosecutions and Punitive Instincts

This Article makes two contributions to the fields of policing and criminal legal scholarship. First, it sounds a cautionary note about the use of individual prosecutions to remedy police brutality. It argues that the calls for ways to ease the path to more police prosecutions from legal scholars, reformers, and advocates who, at the same time, advocate for a dramatic reduction of the criminal legal system’s footprint, are deeply problematic. It shows that police prosecutions legitimize the criminal legal system while at the same time displaying the same racism and ineffectiveness that have been shown to pervade our prison-backed criminal machinery. The Article looks at three recent trials and convictions of police officers of color, Peter Liang, Mohammed Noor, and Nouman Raja, in order to underscore the argument that the criminal legal system’s race problems are playing themselves out predictably against police officers. The Article argues that we should take the recent swell of prison abolitionist scholarship to heart when we look at police prosecutions and adds to that literature by exploring this controversial set of defendants that are considered a third rail, even among most abolitionists. Second, the Article argues that police prosecutions hamper large-scale changes to policing. By allowing law enforcement to claim that brutality is an aberration, solvable through use of the very system that encourages brutality in the first place, we re-inscribe the failures of policing and ignore the everyday systemic and destructive violence perpetrated by police on communities of color. In order to achieve racial justice and real police reform, we must reduce our reliance on the police, rather than looking to the criminal legal system to solve this crisis.
Myocardial Scar and Mortality in Chronic Aortic Regurgitation

Background Chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) can be associated with myocardial scarring. It is unknown if scarring in AR is linked to poor outcomes and whether aortic valve replacement impacts this...
Definition and Identification of Intangibles

Actions 8 to 10 of the BEPS Project aim to develop rules to prevent the erosion of tax bases and the shifting of profits through the movement of intangibles within multinational groups. This chapter addresses the definition of intangibles and outlines the identification of intangibles. It analyzes the relevance of legal protection and its validity for a transfer pricing analysis. Lastly, as intangible asset assignment or license contracts have a mixed nature that also encompasses the provision of services, we will mention aspects that help differentiate them.
A unifying view on traffic conflicts and their connection with crashes.

Abstract After decades of research on traffic conflicts and other crash surrogate events, defining these events and conclusively connecting them with crashes continue to be the most important tasks. This paper aims to help establish a consensus on these two fundamental matters by discussing the underlying concepts by which they can be connected in a consistent construct justified with theory and empirical evidence. The importance of insight into a safety-relevant event beyond what is externally observable is emphasized by considering two distributions of crash nearness: (1) values observed by external observers and (2) driver-preferred values that are usually unobservable. Traffic encounters and traffic conflicts are discussed here in the context of crash possibility illustrated with these two distributions. The difference between the preferred and observed crash nearness values is introduced as the delay of response to an error that violates the crash nearness preference. Traffic conflicts caused by driver errors that violate the driver populace’s minimum crash nearness are recommended for safety analysis if only external observations are available. The conditions of properly detecting such traffic conflicts and estimating the probability of crash are identified and their validity is emphasized based on the past SHRP2 study. The mentioned study identified two additional conditions for proper identification of traffic conflicts: (1) speeds sufficiently high to induce driver responses consistent with the theory and with Lomax distribution and (2) elimination of self-clearing encounters such as a preceding vehicle exiting a lane in rear-end interactions. The most encouraging finding of this study is the mentioned sufficiently high speeds that tend to coincide with collision outcomes sufficiently serious to be reportable to the authorities. Another encouraging element is the insight about preferred crash nearness values that may be brought by autonomous vehicles. The biggest challenge in applying EV modeling today is using proper safety-relevant events to ensure that the tail of a distribution estimated based on observed events is consistent with the distribution tail that represents a crash. Autonomous vehicles may help eliminate this challenge since their preferred crash nearness values should be known.
A hack for learning math: starting and ending on high notes to create a more pleasurable learning experience

The present study focuses on creating a more pleasurable learning experience for students learning maths. Participants completed two lists of maths problems, a short list of only difficult maths pr...
Race/ethnicity and response to blood pressure lowering treatment after intracerebral hemorrhage:

Background: It is unknown if race/ethnicity modifies the response to blood pressure (BP) lowering treatment after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We aimed to examine the race/ethnicity differences ...
Incorporating Robustness to Imaging Physics into Radiomic Feature Selection for Breast Cancer Risk Estimation

Digital mammography has seen an explosion in the number of radiomic features used for risk-assessment modeling. However, having more features is not necessarily beneficial, as some features may be overly sensitive to imaging physics (contrast, noise, and image sharpness). To measure the effects of imaging physics, we analyzed the feature variation across imaging acquisition settings (kV, mAs) using an anthropomorphic phantom. We also analyzed the intra-woman variation (IWV), a measure of how much a feature varies between breasts with similar parenchymal patterns—a woman’s left and right breasts. From 341 features, we identified “robust” features that minimized the effects of imaging physics and IWV. We also investigated whether robust features offered better case-control classification in an independent data set of 575 images, all with an overall BI-RADS® assessment of 1 (negative) or 2 (benign); 115 images (cases) were of women who developed cancer at least one year after that screening image, matched to 460 controls. We modeled cancer occurrence via logistic regression, using cross-validated area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC) to measure model performance. Models using features from the most-robust quartile of features yielded an AUC = 0.59, versus 0.54 for the least-robust, with p < 0.005 for the difference among the quartiles.
Island Queens: Appropriated Portraits of Royal Samoan Women

In 1893, Samoan princess Fa’amusami Malietoa, daughter of King Malietoa Laupepa, posed in traditional ceremonial garb for photographer John Davis, who worked for her father in Apia, Samoa. Around 1910, this same photograph was repurposed as a commercially sold postcard, inscribed “A Samoan Dancing Girl,” the sitter’s identity and the portrait’s original context lost. This photograph will serve as a case study addressing the uses and reuses of photographs of young Samoan women, which will investigate how misinterpretations of the social roles of young Samoan women contributed to misunderstandings of such images. I will argue that many photographs or postcards that seem to be simple examples of exoticization may actually be repurposed portraits of Samoan women of high status, originally made to commemorate their important social roles.
Acetyl group transfer in lipogenesis. I. Studies involving the degradation of fatty acids by the Kuhn-Roth and related methods.

Abstract A method to test the role of citrate or acetyl carnitine in acetyl group transfer out of the mitochondria was proposed, based on the loss of tritium from T-acetyl CoA in the citrate synthase reaction. The method was based on comparing the T 14 C ratios in acetate obtained by the Kuhn-Roth degradation of lactate and fatty acids formed in adipose tissue from glucose-6-14C-6-T. Isotope discrimination against tritium was found in the citrate synthase reaction. The Kuhn-Roth oxidation, when applied to the degradation of tritium-labeled fatty acids, causes labilization of tritium from the terminal methyl end. In addition a significant fraction of the acetate produced arises from the center of the fatty acid molecule. Various modifications of the Kuhn-Roth procedure did not markedly improve the results. Alkaline permanganate oxidation of labeled palmitate caused enrichment of tritium relative to 14C in the terminal methyl group. It was concluded that the procedures based on available degradation procedures are so far not adequate to test the acetyl transport question. The Kuhn-Roth degradation of labeled compounds must be used with great caution in the interpretation of isotope-distribution patterns.
Horizontal spectrum sharing and coexistence scenarios for mutually interfering wireless systems

Horizontal spectrum sharing occurs when multiple users share a given band of frequencies with no central control or coordination, and all users compete for access to the available spectrum. Depending on the actual approach used to allocate transmit power over available channels, mutual interference may affect user performance. Three types of horizontal spectrum sharing scenarios will be outlined in the paper, which can be reached through different user strategies for power allocation that can be more or less greedy in terms of channel use. The impact of such strategies for power allocation on user rates and total system throughput in dense and sparse spectrum sharing scenarios will be discussed in the paper. The discussion is illustrated with numerical results obtained from simulations, which show that less greedy approaches result in a more efficient spectrum sharing scenarios than the more greedy ones.
Chapter 2 Electron diffraction: A combination with other techniques

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the major milestones of the evolution of gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) during the seven decades of its history focusing at the interactions of this method with other techniques. GED has its own inherent weaknesses and unique strengths. Its data are often insufficient to provide all the necessary information for a full evaluation of the structure of any but the smallest molecule. Therefore, interactions with other methods have been found useful to increase the power of GED and extend its range of application. These interactions are of two different kinds. The first type of interaction occurs at the experimental level and implies some modifications of standard GED equipment. The second type of interaction refers to the way the experimental GED data are treated and it implies the inclusion of some additional information from independent sources of both experimental and computational nature. Both of them describe the standard GED equipment and standard structure analysis. The chapter also provides an overview of the electron diffraction method. It describes the experimental equipment followed by the basic equations of GED and structure analysis. As a logical consequence, it describes the changes in running the GED experiment and characterizes those modifications, which are used in a combined structure analysis.
Predicting query performance using query, result, and user interaction features

The high cost of search engine evaluation makes techniques for accurately predicting engine effectiveness valuable. In this paper we present a study in which we use features of the query, search results, and user interaction with the search results to predict query performance. We establish which features are most useful, study the effect of different classes of features, and examine the effect of query frequency on our predictions. Our findings show that performance predictions using result and interaction features are substantially better than those obtained using only query features. Such results can support automated search engine evaluation methods and new query processing capabilities.
How Does Bankruptcy Risk Affect Stock Values

Research in corporate restructuring argues that the risk of bankruptcy reduces firm value by the present value of both the direct and indirect costs of bankruptcy. Additionally, the potential for bankruptcy affects both the investment horizon of investors and the discount rate implicit in equity values. This paper empirically examines the effect of cross-sectional differences in the probability of bankruptcy on the determinants of firm value. We estimate bankruptcy probabilities for an extensive sample of more than 38,000 firm-year observations over a twelve-year period. Using a valuation model that employs both book value and earnings, we provide empirical evidence that earnings multiples decrease as the estimated probability of bankruptcy increases. These results imply that investors and analysts rely less on current earnings and more on book value (which proxies for the firm’s liquidation value) as a firm’s probability of bankruptcy increases.
Unmasking of a Novel Potassium Current in Drosophilaby a Mutation and Drugs

The delayed rectifier potassium current plays a critical role in cellular physiology. This current ( I K) in Drosophila larvae is believed to be a single current. However, a likely null mutation in the Shab K+ channel gene ( Shab 3) reduces I K but does not eliminate it. This raises a question as to whether or not the entire I Kpasses through channels encoded by one gene. Similarly, an incomplete blockade of I K by high concentrations of quinidine, a selective I K blocker, raises a question as to whether I K consists of two components that are differentially sensitive to quinidine. We have addressed these questions by a combined use of genetics, pharmacology, and physiology. The current component removed by the Shab 3 mutation differed from the remaining component in activation kinetics, inactivation kinetics, threshold of activation, and voltage dependence. The two components showed strong differences in sensitivity to quinidine. Physiological properties of the current component removed by the Shab 3 mutation were similar to those of the quinidine-sensitive fraction of I K. Complementary to this, properties of the current component remaining in the Shab 3 mutant muscles were similar to those of the quinidine-resistant fraction of I K. These observations strongly suggest that, in contrast to the current belief, I Kconsists of two components in Drosophila , which are genetically, pharmacologically, and physiologically distinct. These components are being called I KS and I KF. I KS is carried via Shab -encoded channels. I KF defines a new voltage-activated K+ current in Drosophila .
Intracutaneous ALA photodynamic therapy: dose-dependent targeting of skin structures.

Background Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using topical aminolevulinic acid (ALA) depends on local drug uptake, metabolism to porphyrins, and depth of light penetration using different wavelengths. Topical ALA-PDT has limited depth of drug penetration. We studied induced porphyrin distribution and PDT after intradermal ALA administration using different drug concentrations followed by high-fluence red light irradiation. Materials and Methods Intradermal injections (∼2 mm deep) of ALA concentrations from 0.0005% to 1% were studied in swine to evaluated porphyrin fluorescence before PDT and clinical and histological damage 24 hours after PDT. Porphyrin accumulation was measured by fluorescence microscopy of frozen section. PDT was performed 3 hours after intradermal injections using a 635 nm LED array at a fluence of 200 J/cm2. Skin responses to PDT were observed grossly and by histology (blind evaluation). Results Intradermal ALA caused porphyrin accumulation in epidermis, hair follicles (HF), sebaceous glands (SG), sweat glands (eccrine glands, EG and apocrine glands, AG), and subcutaneous fat. Significant differences of fluorescence intensity were observed between different skin structures (P 0.05). Intradermal ALA is potent. ALA concentrations ≥0.25% followed by red light exposures caused a very intense vascular PDT reaction. Moderate doses of injected ALA concentration (∼0.06%), selectively targeted EG. Low doses (≤0.016%) targeted fat; producing fat necrosis with minimal inflammation, manifested both clinically and histologically. In contrast to topical ALA-PDT, intradermal ALA-PDT can effectively photosensitize deep skin structures. Conclusion Potentially, intradermal ALA-PDT using various ALA concentrations may be useful for treating vascular lesions (malformations, hemangiomas, tumors), EG/AG disorders, fat or deep targets in skin. Lasers Surg. Med. 43:621–631, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A novel printed stub-loaded square helical antenna

A novel planar printed stub-loaded square helical (PSLSH) antenna is presented for 2.4GHz WLAN applications. Unlike conventional stub loaded helical (SLH) antennas, the input impedance of the proposed antenna is real. Therefore, a simple quarter-wave transformer can be used to match this antenna. Simulation results show that the antenna has a maximum gain of 10 dBi, a front-to-back ratio of 12dbi, a 70° half-power beam width and a good axial ratio. The volume of PSLSH antenna is 75% less than conventional axial mode helical antennas and 17% less than SLH antennas. Furthermore, the usable bandwidth of PSLSH antenna (46%) is significantly higher compared to SLH antenna (10%).
Bench-scale demonstration of CO2 capture with electrochemically-mediated amine regeneration

Electrochemically-Mediated Amine Regeneration (EMAR) is a new strategy for CO2 separations that uses industrially relevant amine sorbents in a nearly isothermal capture process. The electric nature of the EMAR system offers significant practical advantages in retrofit applications and for installation in non-power generating facilities. EMAR systems are based on an electrochemical copper cycle where desorption is facilitated by oxidation of a copper anode to generate cupric ions that displace CO2 from the polyamine sorbents. The CO2 capacity of the sorbent solution is regenerated through electroplating of the cupric ions onto a separate copper cathode. Results from a bench-scale system demonstrate the potential of the technology for efficient low-energy capture of CO2. The importance of current density and sorbent flow rate are measured. The work of capture increases linearly with current density. For flow rate, however, there is an optimum value of about 1 cm s−1 of superficial velocity through the device. Different electrode geometries and different electrolytes are also examined. At ambient pressure and temperature, which are far from the ideal operating conditions, CO2 can be captured for 100 kJ per mol−1 at a membrane current density of 50 A m−2. The Faradaic (current) efficiencies reach 80% under some conditions with only minimal optimization of the design and materials. This level of performance already meets or exceeds the performance of other electrochemical systems.
Managing the monstrous: Sex offenders and the new penology.

Sex offenders were once taken to be exemplary of the underlying psychopathological basis of crime. Today their significance is very different. Rather than occasions for testing our modernist faith in scientific rationality, they have become a lesson in the intransigence of evil. Recent laws aimed at addressing sex offenders reflect a transformation in the penal process that has been called the “new penology.” This new penology sees crime as a problem of managing high-risk categories and subpopulations, not normalizing individuals to community norms. Kansas v. Hendricks and recent cases upholding the constitutionality of “Megan's Law” open a window into the operation of the new penology and reveal the degree to which its features are largely immune from constitutional limits established by judicial review.
Brain scanning in patients with recurrent breast cancer.

Brain scans were performed on 116 patients with recurrent breast cancer. Seventy-eight of 79 (98 percent) asymptomatic patients with recurrent disease had negative brain scans. Eleven of 37 (30 percent) patients with central nervous system (CNS) symptoms had scans indicative of intracranial metastases. There was no difference in the distribution of extracranial metastatic disease in patients who had positive brain scans when compared with those who did not. Brain scanning is of value in detecting intracranial metastases in patients with CNS symptoms. Brain scanning seems unnecessary, however, in the staging of patients with recurrent breast cancer who have no CNS symptoms.
Reversing the size-dependence of surface plasmon resonances

The size-dependence of surface plasmon resonances (SPRs) is poorly understood in the small particle limit due to complex physical/chemical effects and uncertainties in experimental samples. In this article, we report an approach for synthesizing an ideal class of colloidal Ag nanoparticles with highly uniform morphologies and narrow size distributions. Optical measurements and theoretical analyses for particle diameters in the d ≈ 2–20 nm range are presented. The SPR absorption band exhibits an exceptional behavior: As size decreases from d ≈ 20 nm it blue-shifts but then turns over near d ≈ 12 nm and strongly red-shifts. A multilayer Mie theory model agrees well with the observations, indicating that lowered electron conductivity in the outermost atomic layer, due to chemical interactions, is the cause of the red-shift. We corroborate this picture by experimentally demonstrating precise chemical control of the SPR peak positions via ligand exchange.
AN AFTER-SCENARIO QUESTIONNAIRE FOR USABILITY STUDIES: PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION OVER THREE TRIALS

The purpose of this report is to (1) describe a psychometric evaluation of a printer scenario questionnaire (PSQ) that was used to assess user satisfaction during scenario-based usability studies of printers and (2) compare the psychometric properties of the PSQ with those of the After-Scenario Questionnaire (ASQ) (Lewis, 1991b). The PSQ is similar to the ASQ, but is composed of three five-point scales rather than three seven-point scales.
An empirical study of automated dictionary construction for information extraction in three domains

Abstract A primary goal of natural language processing researchers is to develop a knowledge-based natural language processing (NLP) system that is portable across domains. However, most knowledge-based NLP systems rely on a domain-specific dictionary of concepts, which represents a substantial knowledge-engineering bottleneck. We have developed a system called AutoSlog that addresses the knowledge-engineering bottleneck for a task called information extraction . AutoSlog automatically creates domain-specific dictionaries for information extraction, given an appropriate training corpus. We have used AutoSlog to create a dictionary of extraction patterns for terrorism, which achieved 98% of the performance of a hand-crafted dictionary that required approximately 1500 person-hours to build. In this paper, we describe experiments with AutoSlog in two additional domains: joint ventures and microelectronics. We compare the performance of AutoSlog across the three domains, discuss the lessons learned about the generality of this approach, and present results from two experiments which demonstrate that novice users can generate effective dictionaries using AutoSlog.
Treatment of refractory thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura using multimodality therapy including splenectomy and cyclosporine

ADAMTS13 mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an immunological disease that is very difficult to treat. Plasma exchange, with plasma replacement and steroids have been the first line of treatment for this condition. Ten to 20% of the patients either have no response or a partial response to the treatment. Refractory TTP has been treated in few case reports with anti-CD20 agents, intravenous gamma globulin, vincristine and splenectomy. We report two cases of refractory TTP that responded to multimodality immunosuppresive therapy that included splenectomy, intravenous gamma globulin, and cyclosporine after numerous plasma exchange treatments, steroids, rituximab and vincristine had failed to induce remission. Combining drugs that target T and B lymphocytes is a standard in organ transplantation and deserves more consideration in the treatment of severe and refractory autoimmune diseases such as TTP.
Jovian radiation and charging environment considerations in Galileo

The Galileo spacecraft which will orbit Jupiter in 1987 will encounter one of the most interesting natural environments. These include high energy radiation electrons and ions and magnetospheric plasmas. The evaluation of Galileo design commenced with a careful consideration of the plasma environment and the now standard spacecraft charging analysis. In addition the intense high energy radiation environment has necessitated the consideration of charges deposited internally to the spacecraft. This paper presents some of the analyses and the design changes which have occurred as a result of the above mentioned environmental interaction considerations.