cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robot performance measurements using automatic laser tracking techniques

Abstract This paper describes two laser tracking techniques currently under development at the National Bureau of Standards for robot performance measurements. Tests indicate that the system can be used in real-time to determine the three-dimensional static and dynamic positioning accuracy of a robot end-effector to a few parts in 100,000 (i.e. 12.5–50 μm for a medium to large size robot), and wrist orientations to within 2 sec of arc. Both systems would be simple and compact enough to be considered as a general-purpose portable calibrating tool for robots (or CNC machines), or as an integral part of a robotic system providing real-time position feedback of the end-effector independent of the position and angle feedback of joint members. The ability to dynamically and statistically measure the position of an end-effector to the above accuracy has significant ramifications with regard to meaningful robot performance measurements, and the potential of these systems in other industrial and engineering applications.
Different dopaminergic mechanisms for amfonelic acid, amphetamine and apomorphine

Abstract Rats were trained to discriminate between the stimulus properties of intraperitoneal 0.16 mg/kg apomorphine and saline in a two-lever, food-motivated operant task. Employing the selected lever and the extended schedule performance measurements to indicate the generalization effect and perserverance of that effect, respectively, neither d -amphetamine nor amfonelic acid produced apomorphine-like discriminative properties. In contrast, administration of 0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg n-propylnoraporphine was observed to produce responses and perseverance on the apomorphine-appropriate lever that was similar to that seen after 0.16 mg/kg administration. The results of this behavioral experimentation are consistent with the notion that d -amphetamine, amfonelic acid and apomorphine may produce their dopaminergic effects by different mechanisms of action and the possibility of two sites of action for n-propylnoraporphine is discussed.
The tri-lateral challenge of resolution, photospeed, and LER: scaling below 50nm?

A simple analytical model for line-edge roughness in chemically amplified resists is derived from an accounting of stochastic fluctuations of photon ("shot noise") and acid number densities. Statistics from this counting exercise are applied to a region defined by the effective acid diffusion length; these statistics are then modulated by the slope of the image intensity to produce a value for LER. The model produces the familiar dependence of LER on aerial image (more specifically on latent image) and dose also seen in many other models and data. The model is then applied to the special case of interference imaging, for which the aerial image is a simple, known analytic function. The resulting expression is compared to experimental data at both relatively large half-pitches, shot with 257nm, and sub-50nm half-pitches shot with 13.5nm and hyper-NA 193nm. The model captures the primary scaling trends seen at the larger length scales, however at the sub-50nm problems arise. It appears that additional effects not covered by counting photons and acids are becoming increasingly important as length scales drop below about 50nm. These additional effects will require increased attention in order to improve LER in lockstep with diminishing CD and pitch.
The riddle of Kawasaki disease.

Two generations of clinicians and researchers have been stumped by the riddle of Kawasaki disease. Dr. Jane Burns writes that great challenges remain in the diagnosis and care of these children.
CredEx: user-centric credential management for grid and Web services

User authentication is a crucial security component for most computing systems. But since the security needs of different systems vary widely, authentication mechanisms are similarly diverse. In particular, independently-managed Web and grid services vary with regard to the type of security token (credential) used to prove user identity (username/password, X.509 signing, Kerberos, etc.). Forcing users to manage and present credentials manually for each service is tedious, error-prone and potentially insecure. In contrast, we present CredEx, an open-source, standards-based Web service that facilitates the secure storage of credentials and enables the dynamic exchange of different credential types using the WS-Trust token exchange protocol. With CredEx, a user can achieve single sign-on by acquiring a single (default) credential then dynamically exchanging that credential as needed for services that authenticate a different way. We describe the design and implementation of CredEx by focusing on its use in bridging password-based Web services and PKI-based grid services, illustrating how interoperability between these realms can be based upon the WS-Security and WS-Trust specifications.
Frozen magma lenses below the oceanic crust

The Earth's oceanic crust crystallizes from magmatic systems generated at mid-ocean ridges. Whereas a single magma body residing within the mid-crust is thought to be responsible for the generation of the upper oceanic crust, it remains unclear if the lower crust is formed from the same magma body, or if it mainly crystallizes from magma lenses located at the base of the crust1,2,3. Thermal modelling4,5,6, tomography7, compliance8 and wide-angle seismic studies9, supported by geological evidence3,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18, suggest the presence of gabbroic-melt accumulations within the Moho transition zone in the vicinity of fast- to intermediate-spreading centres. Until now, however, no reflection images have been obtained of such a structure within the Moho transition zone. Here we show images of groups of Moho transition zone reflection events that resulted from the analysis of ∼1,500 km of multichannel seismic data collected across the intermediate-spreading-rate19 Juan de Fuca ridge. From our observations we suggest that gabbro lenses and melt accumulations embedded within dunite or residual mantle peridotite are the most probable cause for the observed reflectivity, thus providing support for the hypothesis that the crust is generated from multiple magma bodies.
Biofilms in food processing

Abstract Microbial colonization of surfaces (biofilms) have been documented in many environments. Recently, researchers have suggested that biofilms may be a source of contamination in food processing environments. This review will discuss some historical aspects of biofilms, possible mechanisms for the adherence of bacteria to surfaces, methods for studying biofilms and problems adherent microorganisms may cause in food processing.
Direct determination of copper in urine by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Abstract A method is studied for the direct determination of copper in acidified urine by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. This method has the requisite accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for clinical use. Interference by protein, and ionic components is absent. Urine copper levels obtained by this method agree with those found by colorimetric analysis following ashing. The results obtained for normal urine copper excretions are comparable to those obtained by other published methods. The method was useful in determining copper levels in the normal and pathologic ranges.
EXPERIMENTAL INOCULATION OF THREE ARBOVIRUSES IN BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS (DENDROCYGNA AUTUMNALIS)

Wild-caught, immature black-bellied whistling ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis) were inoculated with eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), or western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus. Susceptibility, duration and titer of viremia, and antibody response to these arboviruses were determined. Birds from all inoculated groups became viremic. Higher virus titers occurred in the EEE group but overall mean titers were not significantly different among experimental groups. All birds inoculated with EEE and SLE viruses developed antibodies, and six of seven ducks receiving WEE virus were seropositive. All seropositive ducks had antibodies for at least 59 days, when the study was terminated. The EEE group had significantly more seropositive ducks during more days than the WEE and SLE groups. Geometric mean antibody titers were significantly smaller in the WEE group when compared to the EEE and SLE groups. Control ducks did not develop viremia or antibodies. Gross and histopathologic lesions compatible with viral encephalitis were absent in all of nine ducks necropsied. Black-bellied whistling ducks can develop low and short-term levels of viremia sufficient to infect mosquitoes, but probably cannot contribute significantly to the transmission of EEE and SLE. They may serve as good indicators of virus activity.
Partially successful treatment of a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and Hodgkin's disease: case report and literature review.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is rarely associated with Hodgkin's disease (HD). We report a case of nodular sclerosis HD in a patient previously diagnosed with CLL. Reed-Sternberg cells were CD15(+) and CD30(+). He was treated with dose-escalated CHOP and at relapse, mitoxantrone, vinblastine, and CCNU (MVC) with partial response to the former and complete response to the latter, although the patient died 15 months later. Data from 88 other similar cases published in the English language were analyzed. Based on the histological and clinical features at the time of transformation, these patients were divided into distinct categories for analysis. Prognosis was found to be poorer in patients with continued active CLL when compared with those with CLL in remission at the time of transformation to HD. It is suggested that these two presentations may derive from different pathogenic mechanisms.
Security, Insecurity and Migration in Europe

Gabriella LAZARIDIS (Ed.), Ashgate, 2011, ISBN 978-1-40940-9205, £65.00 (hbk), 307 pp. As the Danish government reintroduces border patrols and the economic insecurities across Europe mount, the to...
Simulated walks through dangerous alleys: Impacts of features and progress on fear

The current work considered how concerns for personal safety varied as respondents viewed two sequences of slides depicting walks down two dangerous urban alleys. It extended the Nasar/Fisher model of site-level fear-inspiring features by applying it to urban alleys and by controlling for relative position along a pathway. In Study 1, consistent with the Nasar/Fisher model, multilevel models linked refuge positively to fear in both alleys as did a prospect/escape composite. In Study 2 respondents estimated day and night time fear, day and night time chances of being attacked, and provided their own ratings of Nasar/Fisher features. All three features significantly affected fear. The replication also observed effects of being Chinese-born, and tentatively explored connections between mystery, danger, and Nasar/Fisher features. Results confirmed that safety concerns varied as respondents proceeded down an alley, and such variation was a function of both Nasar/Fisher features, where they were in the alley, and who they were.
Elucidation of Two Giants: Challenges to Thick-Shell Synthesis in CdSe/ZnSe and ZnSe/CdS Core/Shell Quantum Dots

Core/thick-shell giant quantum dots (gQDs) possessing type II electronic structures exhibit suppressed blinking and diminished nonradiative Auger recombination. We investigate CdSe/ZnSe and ZnSe/CdS as potential new gQDs. We show theoretically and experimentally that both can exhibit partial or complete spatial separation of an excited-state electron–hole pair (i.e., type II behavior). However, we reveal that thick-shell growth is challenged by competing processes: alloying and cation exchange. We demonstrate that these can be largely avoided by choice of shelling conditions (e.g., time, temperature, and QD core identity). The resulting CdSe/ZnSe gQDs exhibit unusual single-QD properties, principally emitting from dim gray states but having high two-exciton (biexciton) emission efficiencies, whereas ZnSe/CdS gQDs show characteristic gQD blinking suppression, though only if shelling is accompanied by partial cation exchange.
Trends in use of surgical mesh for pelvic organ prolapse

Objective Limited data exist on the rates of pelvic organ prolapse procedures utilizing mesh. The objective of this study was to examine trends in vaginal mesh prolapse procedures (VMs), abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC), and minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy (MISC) from 2005 to 2010. Study Design We utilized deidentified, adjudicated health care claims data from across the United States from 2005 to 2010. Among women 18 years old or older, we identified all mesh prolapse procedures based on Current Procedural Terminology codes (57267 for VM, 57280 for ASC, and 57425 for MISC). VM procedures included all vaginal prolapse surgeries in which mesh was placed, whether in the anterior, apical, or posterior compartment. We estimated rates per 100,000 person-years (100,000py) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results During 78.5 million person-years of observation, we identified 60,152 mesh prolapse procedures, for a rate of 76.0 per 100,000py (95% CI, 73.6−78.5). Overall, VMs comprised 74.9% of these surgeries for an overall rate of 56.9 per 100,000py (95% CI, 55.0−58.9). Rates of ASC and MISC were considerably lower at 12.0 per 100,000py (95% CI, 11.6−12.5) and 9.5 per 100,000py (95% CI, 9.2−9.9), respectively. Among sacrocolpopexies, ASC was more common than MISC in 2005-2007; however, since 2007, the rate of MISC has increased, whereas the rate of ASC has decreased. Regarding trends by age, VM was considerably more common than sacrocolpopexies at all ages, and ASC was more common than MISC in women older than 50 years. Conclusion From 2005 to 2010, the rate of mesh prolapse procedures has increased, with vaginal mesh surgeries constituting the vast majority.
Changes in Vitamin D-Related Mineral Metabolism After Induction With Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Therapy in Crohn's Disease

Context: Preclinical studies suggest that TNF-α suppresses PTH synthesis, inhibits renal 1α-hydroxylase activity, and impairs fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) degradation. The impact of inflammation on vitamin D and mineral metabolism has not been well-characterized in Crohn's disease (CD). Objective: The objective of the study was to assess short-term changes in vitamin D-related mineral metabolism in CD after anti-TNF-α induction therapy. Design/Participants: Eighty-seven CD participants, aged 5–39 years, were assessed at the initiation of anti-TNF-α therapy and 10 weeks later. Outcomes: Indices of clinical disease activity and serum concentrations of vitamin D metabolites, vitamin D-binding protein (DBP), calcium, PTH, FGF23, IL-6, and TNF-α were measured at each visit. A multivariable generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression analysis was used to examine the correlates of PTH and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] concentrations at each visit. Results: After anti-TNF-α therapy, cytokines a...
Plastic lenticular three‐dimensional prints

Methods and explanations are presented for obtaining a series of four scanning electron micrographs (SEMs) containing parallax information that can be incorporated into a single three-dimensional (3-D) plastic lenticular print. The explanation includes a brief discussion of tilt angles for optimum stereopsis and tilt compensation to correct for foreshortening. In addition, instructions are given on how the four prints must be arranged and rephotographed so that Nishika 3-D, a commercial company, can produce the final plastic lenticular prints. These 3-D prints, which can be black and white or color, do not require glasses or any additional aids to perceive stereopsis. They are believed to be an effective and economical format for displaying 3-D data at scientific poster sessions. Furthermore, the format and procedure used to produce the prints are not limited to data obtained from the SEM but can be used to create 3-D prints from micrographs or other data that originate with high and intermediate voltage transmission electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, scanned probe microscopies, magnetic resonance imaging, and molecular models.
Thermodynamics of ionic solid solutions. II: Discontinuous series : a new treatment of existing distribution data

A method of finding the activity coefficients of salts, anhydrous or hydrated, in binary solid solutions, described in an earlier paper as it applies to continuous series, has been applied to discontinuous series. The salts must differ with respect to only one ion. The method requires isothermal distribution data for equilibria between liquid (aqueous) and solid solutions in the ternary system consisting of the two salts and water. The following salt pairs were used for illustration: K(I/Br) at 0, 15, 25, 35, and 50°C., (NH4/K)SCN at 0, 30, 60, and 90°C., (K/Tl)C103 at 10°C., and (NH4/K)SO3NH2, (NH4/K)Br, (Mg/Co)SO4-7H2O, and (Mn/Cu) SO4.n H2O-all at 25°C. Two kinds of behavior were noted and treated differently: systems in which the two series have the same, and those in which they have different crystal lattices. For two salts, A and B, which have the same lattice, and whose rational activity coefficients, fA and fB, can be described by 2-suffix Margules equations (regular solutions), lnfA=BsxB2 and lnfB=BsxA2 to be partially miscible, Bs>2, but this requirement does not apply if the lattices are different. In each series, distribution constants for the equilibria were also determined. Where possible, the calculated activities of the salts or the Gibbs excess energies of the solid solutions were compared with values reported by others who determined them by other methods. All the salt pairs studied show slight or strong positive deviations from ideality.
Distribution of macroaggregates and fine-grained particles across a continental margin and their potential role in fluxes

Abstract The distribution and size of large marine aggregates (;0.5 mm) photographed in situ were compared with the small-particle distribution determined from beam attenuation (660 mm) in a section across the shelf and slope of the northern Gulf of Mexico. On the shelf changes in beam attenuation matched the trends in large particle concentration. Over the slope, beam attenuation profiles resembled the aggregates profiles in the upper 400 m with a small surface mixed layer maximum, a decrease through the upper thermocline to a minimum, and a small intermediate nepheloid layer (INL) in both large and small particles between 300 and 400 m. At the two deepest stations beam attenuation remained low from the bottom of the INL to the seafloor, while concentrations of large particles increased through the lower water column to concentrations greater than in the surface water. The distributions suggest that both large and small particles are resuspended from the upper slope and advected seaward, but on the mid slope this mode of transport occurs mostly as large aggregates. From calculations of settling speeds based on estimates of particle density, it appears that these aggregates are important in both the horizontal and vertical flux of particles along continental margins.
Scattering of Phonons by Monatomic Impurities in Potassium Halides

The thermal conductivity of doped KCl, KBr, and KI has been measured between 1 and 200\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Below \ensuremath{\sim}5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, the phonon scattering by the defects obeys a Rayleigh law in most cases. The magnitude of the scattering is determined by the mass difference alone. In ${\mathrm{Ag}}^{+}$-doped crystals, however, the Rayleigh scattering is much weaker than predicted by the mass difference. This is explained through the weak coupling between the ${\mathrm{Ag}}^{+}$ and its neighbors. Above 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, in the region of the resonance scattering, the conductivity can be qualitatively described with the model of elastic phonon resonant scattering by quasilocalized modes. In KCl:Tl, I, Rb, and Br, the mass difference alone suffices to qualitatively describe the data, which means that the resonant mode is odd. The resonant scattering observed in ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$- and ${\mathrm{Ag}}^{+}$-doped crystals is ascribed to excitations of even resonant modes. It is noted that in many cases thermal-conductivity measurements are complementary to optical-absorption measurements, since the former observe defects strongly coupled to the lattice, whereas the latter observe the ones which are weakly coupled.
Thermal aberration control in projection lens

In order to respond to the constant demand for more productivity in the manufacture of IC devices, higher throughput and higher resolution are fundamental requirements for each new generation of exposure tools. However, meeting both requirements lead to unwanted aberration we refer to as "thermal aberration". In our experience, the problem of the thermal aberrations does not correlated only to the duration of heavy use. It depends very strongly on both the optical settings and the mask patterns, also even on the specific interaction between the two. So, even if using the same illumination configurations, there is a possibility to observe different distribution of thermal aberrations. In this paper, we define and investigate various patterns to be used as targets for thermal aberrations compensation. These patterns are identified as the "weak patterns" of the thermal aberration. We assess several cases of thermal aberrations, and show how the optimized compensation for each is determined and then applied on the actual exposure tools.
The peculiar convergence of Jeffrey Alexander and Erik Olin Wright

Jeffrey Alexander and Erik Olin Wright are among the leading sociologists of their generation. Each has published his magnum opus in the past several years: The Civil Sphere (Alexander) and Envisioning Real Utopias (Wright). This paper—a dual review essay—lays out the core arguments of each work; situates each within the personal and intellectual contexts of its production; and critically assesses each in terms of its contributions to sociological theory and research. It also argues that the works converge (unexpectedly, given Alexander’s intellectual origins in neo-functionalism and Wright’s in neo-Marxism) upon a common intellectual position, that of Deweyan pragmatism. It tries to make sense of Alexander’s and Wright’s peculiar dual voyage in a Deweyan direction and offers some reflections as to what that journey might tell us about social theory and political thought today.
The design and applications of a context service

Context awareness enables applications to adapt themselves to their computing environment in order to better suit the needs of the user and the tasks. This paper describes a general middleware infrastructure for context collection and dissemination, realized as a Context Service. By way of two example applications, this paper also illustrates how context information provided by our context service can be exploited to enhance the user experience. These two applications are built upon the abstraction provided by the Context Service and thus help validate the design of this service. The first application, a Notification Dispatcher, uses context to route messages to the most appropriate communication device for a recipient. The second application, a context-aware content distribution system, uses context to predict users' access to web content, and uses these predictions to pre-process and pre-distribute content in order to reduce the access latency.
“Computers and the law”: A course description

This paper surveys current legal issues in the computer field and discusses the author's experience in twice teaching a course on computers and the law at Sangamon State University. Legal topics highlighted in the course include databanks and privacy; contracting for computer services; protection of proprietary software; tax treatment of computer software; liability problems in providing computer services; government regulation of the computer and communications industries; and the Justice Department's anti-trust suit against IBM. Teaching approaches for the non-lawyer are discussed and a bibliography is included.The primary purpose of this paper is to discuss the author's experiences in teaching, for the second time, a course at Sangamon State University, Springfield, Illinois, entitled “Legal Issues in the Computer Field,” and thereby stimulate interest in organizing similar courses at other universities. In addition, the author surveys the many topics that comprise the course content, and includes an abbreviated bibliography as an appendix.
Purgatorio—a new implementation of the Inferno algorithm

Abstract An overview of P urgatorio , a new implementation of the I nferno [Liberman, Phys Rev B 1979;20:4981–9] equation of state model, is presented. The new algorithm emphasizes a novel subdivision scheme for automatically resolving the structure of the continuum density of states, circumventing limitations of the pseudo- R matrix algorithm previously utilized.
A game-theoretical anti-jamming scheme for cognitive radio networks

Cognitive radio networks are a promising solution to the spectrum scarcity issue. However, cognitive radio networks are vulnerable to various kinds of security attacks, among which the jamming attack has attracted great attention as it can significantly degrade spectrum utilization. In this article we model the jamming and anti-jamming process as a Markov decision process. With this approach, secondary users are able to avoid the jamming attack launched by external attackers and therefore maximize the payoff function. We first use a policy iteration method to solve the problem. However, this approach is computationally intensive. To decrease the computation complexity, Q-function is used as an alternate method. Furthermore, we propose an algorithm to solve the Q-function. The simulation results indicate that our approach can achieve better performance than existing approaches to defend against the jamming attack.
Privacy Preserving Computations Using Implicit Security

We present a new technique for privacy preserving computation using an implicit security model that has applications in cloud computing. In the proposed technique, data is divided into partitions and stored over independent cloud servers. When the user wishes to perform computations on the data, he sends a signal to the servers and the servers perform the required computations. We show that if the main data storage servers do not collude, the privacy of the user data is maintained. This can be guaranteed by the use of independent cloud providers. The proposed technique eliminates the requirement of key management, is efficient and practical.
A case of autism and uniparental disomy of chromosome 1

We report a male child with autism found to have maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) of chromosome 1. The child met diagnostic criteria for the three symptom domains of autism: language impairment, deficient social communication and excessively rigid and repetitive behaviours. He also had a variety of features often associated with autism, including mild mental retardation, small head circumference, hyperactivity, poor fine motor skills, slightly dysmorphic facial features and a heightened interest in olfactory stimulation. His brother, who did not have chromosome 1 UPD, was also autistic. The mother, but not the father, had a history of psychiatric illness and a number of personality and social traits similar to the core features of autism. The discovery of the cytogenetic abnormality was made during the course of a genome-wide linkage screen, wherein genotypes at 6 out of 17 chromosome 1 markers were non-Mendelian and all transmissions were consistent with UPD. Further genotyping (a total of 54 markers) revealed alternating regions of heterodisomy and isodisomy. Whereas chromosome 1 UPD has not been shown to cause disease by effects on imprinting, numerous reports exist of the abnormality unmasking recessive disease-causing mutations. In agreement with this, one of the regions of isodisomy overlaps an emerging chromosome 1 region of interest in autism located at 150-160 Mb.
ADAPTIVE PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESPONSES TO TEMPERATURE EXTREMES BY THE THERMOPHILIC CYANOPHYTE SYNECHOCOCCUS LIVIDUS1

SUMMARY The physiological and biochemical changes associated with and resulting in adaptation to both sub- and supra-optimal temperatures are presented for the thermophilic cyanophyte Synechococcus lividus Copeland. The optimum temperature for growth was 45 C. An increase in the optimum temperature of photosynthesis from 50 to 55 C was shown for cells grown at the supra-optimum temperature of 57 C; whereas, cells grown at the sub-optimal temperature of 35 C exhibited a decrease in the optimal temperature from 50 to 45 C for 14CO2 uptake. These changes in optimal temperatures are interpreted as adaptive. Associated with the 5 C increase in optimal temperature for photosynthesis was an increase in chlorophyll a, plastoquinone A, and activity of ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase (RuDP carboxylase). However, the increase in the temperature optimum for 57 C grown cells was associated with a reduced O2 yield correlated with a reduced ferricyanide photoreduction capacity. RuDP carboxylase activity decreased rapidly above 55 C. Therefore reduced rates above 55 C resulted from damage to ferricyanide reducing systems and reduced RuDP-carboxylase activity, whereas low photosynthesis rates at sub-optimal temperatures were probably due to rate limiting effect of low temperatures on RuDP carboxylase activity with no evidence of damage to ferricyanide photoreducing systems.
Team projects in a Systems Analysis and Design class: elements of success

An essential part of many Systems Analysis and Design capstone courses is the development of operational, meaningful and real-world information systems. The development of such systems typically takes place in a small group setting to realistically simulate the future work environment of Management Information System (MIS) students. We investigated how previous work experience, time spent on the project, project complexity, and the relationships among project team members and between team members and project stakeholders affected the outcome of the system development projects. Our findings indicate that three factors: prior work experience in information technology; experience with project management; the ability to select relatively simple projects positively affected the project outcome. While difficulties among team members showed a negative impact on the outcome of the projects, difficulties in the relationships with the stakeholders and total time spent on the project did not have significant effects.
Cytologic patterns of metastatic thymoma: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Thymomas are the most frequent primary tumors of the anterior mediastinum. These lesions are slow growing and can be locally invasive, but extrathoracic metastases are rare, occurring in less than 2% of cases. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) may be helpful in making the diagnosis of metastatic thymoma, with or without a clinical history of primary mediastinal thymoma. We report three cases of metastatic thymoma diagnosed by FNAB. Each case illustrates a distinctive cytologic pattern. While two of the patients had a history of histologically confirmed thymoma 11 and 13 years previously, a third patient presented with an enlarged supraclavicular lymph node and pulmonary nodules, and no prior diagnosis of thymoma. These cases demonstrate that based on distinctive cytologic patterns and features, a diagnosis of metastatic thymoma can be made with FNAB. Ancillary studies will often confirm the diagnosis. Diagn Cytopathol 1994;11:182–187. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evolution of Neovascularization in Sickle Cell Retinopathy: A Prospective Fluorescein Angiographic Study

With prospective observations we have documented by fluorescein angiography the development of retinal neovascularization in the eyes of patients with sickle cell-hemoglobin C disease (hemoglobin SC). In each patient, arteriolarvenular (AV) anastomoses occurred before the development of neovascular sea fans. To our knowledge, this report constitutes the first such documentation in the literature. New sea fans from AV anastomoses appeared throughout an average interval of 18 months (range, 8 to 36 months) in approximately 21% of young adults with hemoglobin SC. Each year approximately 14% of young patients with hemoglobin SC may develop retinal neovascularization.
American medical research expedition to Everest.

In 1981 I had the extraordinary experience of leading the American medical research expedition to Everest that put five people on the summit and allowed us to obtain the first physiological measurements in that unique environment. Following the silver hot expedition in 1960–1961, I had often wondered whether it might be possible to make measurements very high, and even conceivably at the top of the world. Eventually I made the acquaintance of Dr. Duane Blume, a biologist who was at the California State University at Bakersfield, and John Evans who had been the climbing leader of the 1971 international Everest expedition with Duane. Together we decided to apply to Nepal for permission for an expedition opportunity, and were granted the post-monsoon slot in 1981. We selected six highly experienced high-altitude climbers, six so-called climbing scientists who will all MDs with an interest in high altitude medicine, and another eight physiologists to man the laboratories. I applied to the NIH for financial support, and although the application received some negative reviews, it was miraculously funded. The expedition walked in to the Everest base camp in August, the high camps were established in September, and the successful summit climbs were on October 21 and 24. Large amount of unique data were obtained including alveolar gas samples on the summit. These showed the critical importance of extreme hyperventilation. The extensive scientific results were reported in many publications. There were several critical episodes during the expedition including a fall by one of the climbing scientists near the summit. However in the event everybody left the mountain safely and the scientific return was outstanding.
Respiratory transmission of an avian H3N8 influenza virus isolated from a harbour seal

Avian influenza viruses constantly threaten human health as evidenced by the outbreaks of human H7N9 infections. Here, Karlsson et al. show that an avian H3N8 virus isolated from harbour seals has the potential to infect, cause disease and transmit in mammalian models of influenza virus infection.
Results of Open and Endovascular Revascularization for Acute Mesenteric Ischemia

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) accounts for only 1–2 per 1,000 hospital admissions but continues to be a highly complex clinical problem with a relatively high mortality rate. In a population-based autopsy study, the incidence of thromboembolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery with intestinal gangrene was 6.0/1,000 deaths, with the diagnosis carrying a mortality of 93 %. The problem was suspected antemortem in only 1/3 of patients. The mortality rate from AMI has declined only very moderately from 80–90 % in the 1970s to 60–70 % in the 1980s. This was largely attributed to a higher index of suspicion among clinicians, advances in radiographic diagnosis, and an aggressive surgical approach with better perioperative care. However, following this, traditional treatment yielded no further improvement in mortality over the previous two decades. In order to further impact the grave outcome of AMI, an endovascular first treatment paradigm has been championed over the last decade. Indeed, endovascular treatment does offer some definite advantages and has been utilized very effectively in the more elective treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI). While it is being increasingly used for revascularization in AMI, the main drawback is that it does not allow for immediate assessment of intestinal viability, limiting its applicability to select patients in whom immediate laparotomy is not indicated. In addition, personnel with advanced endovascular skills and an extensive inventory of endovascular devices and equipment may not be readily available in many facilities. It is, therefore, more ideally suited for patients presenting somewhat subacutely and without peritoneal signs.
A Journey in the World of DNA Rings and Beyond

I was born in China and would have remained there but for the tumultuous events that led many of my generation to the United States for graduate studies. Norman Davidson introduced me to DNA when I became a postdoctoral fellow in his group at the California Institute of Technology in 1964, and a fortuitous conversation there ignited my interest in DNA ring formation, which later led me to study different topological forms of DNA rings—catenanes, knots, and supercoils. In 1968, a chance observation led me to identify a new enzyme capable of converting one DNA ring form to another, an enzyme now known as a DNA topoisomerase. My interest in DNA rings and DNA topoisomerases continued throughout my years at the University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard. The fascinating ability of the topoisomerases in passing DNA strands or double helices through one another and their importance in cellular processes have kept me and many others excited in their studies.
LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION

Language teacher education programs are likely to be housed in departments of applied linguistics, education, or languages and literature: These three disciplines provide the knowledge base and opportunities for developing skills and dispositions for both prospective and experienced teachers. Until recently, applied linguistics (psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, language description, and language teaching and testing methodology) formed the core of language teacher education, not unexpected, since language teaching has historically been the primary focus of applied linguistics (Bardovi-Harlig and Hartford 1997, Crandall 1995; 1996). However, during the last decade, general educational theory and practice have exerted a much more powerful influence on the direction of the education of both preservice and inservice language teacher education, resulting in a greater focus on: 1) practical experiences such as observations, practice teaching, and opportunities for curriculum and materials development (Crandall 1994, Johnson 1996b, Pennington 1990, Richards 1990, Richards and Crookes 1988); 2) classroom-centered or teacher research (Allwright and Bailey 1991, Chaudron 1988, Edge and Richards 1993, Nunan 1989, van Lier 1988); and 3) teacher beliefs and teacher cognition in language teacher education (Freeman 1996; 1998, Freeman and Johnson 1998a, Richards and Nunan 1990). In fact, the last decade can be viewed as a search for a theory of language teaching and, by extension, of language teacher education at both the micro and macro levels (Freeman and Johnson 1998b, Johnson 1996a, Larsen-Freeman 1990, Richards 1990). Language teacher education is a microcosm of teacher education, and many of the trends in current language teacher education derive from theory and practice in general teacher education. These trends include at least four major shifts.
Social status differences regulate the serotonergic system of a cichlid fish, Astatotilapia burtoni

Serotonin (5-HT) inhibits aggression and modulates aspects of sexual behaviour in many species, but the mechanisms responsible are not well understood. Here, we exploited the social dominance hierarchy of Astatotilapia burtoni to understand the role of the serotonergic system in long-term maintenance of social status. We identified three populations of 5-HT cells in dorsal and ventral periventricular pretectal nuclei (PPd, PPv), the nucleus of the paraventricular organ (PVO) and raphe. Dominant males had more 5-HT cells than subordinates in the raphe, but the size of these cells did not differ between social groups. Subordinates had higher serotonergic turnover in the raphe and preoptic area (POA), a nucleus essential for hypothalamic-pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis function. The relative abundance of mRNAs for 5-HT receptor (5-HTR) subtypes 1A and 2A (htr1a, htr2a) was higher in subordinates, a difference restricted to the telencephalon. Because social status is tightly linked to reproductive capacity, we asked whether serotonin turnover and the expression of its receptors correlated with testes size and circulating levels of 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT). We found negative correlations between both raphe and POA serotonin turnover and testes size, as well as between htr1a mRNA levels and circulating 11-KT. Thus, increased serotonin turnover in non-aggressive males is restricted to specific brain nuclei and is associated with increased expression of 5-HTR subtypes 1A and 2A exclusively in the telencephalon.
A study of the mixed-mode interfacial fracture toughness of adhesive joints using a multiaxial fatigue tester

In this paper, a new technique is introduced for the control of the far field and mixed-mode crack tip of a single lap shear specimen with a crack along the interface. An investigation has been conducted to use one single lap shear specimen to obtain a series of values of interfacial fracture toughness as a function of the mixed-mode phase angle. The interfacial fracture behavior of the single lap shear specimen subjected to multiaxial concentrated line loads was investigated using a unique six-axis submicron tester coupled with a high density laser moire interferometer. The six-axis submicron tester was used to provide the displacement-controlled multiaxial concentrated line loads, whereas the moire interferometry technique was used to monitor the crack length during the test. In addition, a finite element technique was simultaneously used to determine the near crack tip displacement fields of the single lap shear specimen. The interfacial fracture toughness and phase angle were computed by using these near tip displacement variables through the analytical energy release rate and phase angle expressions derived by the authors. The results show that the facilities and methodology used in the current study can indeed be proved to possess the ability to control the far field and the mixed-mode conditions at crack tip, and to efficiently perform the mixed-mode fracture test.
Independent Application of the Sacco Disaster Triage Method to Pediatric Trauma Patients

Introduction Though many mass-casualty triage methods have been proposed, few have been validated in an evidence-based manner. The Sacco Triage Method (STM) has been shown to accurately stratify adult victims of blunt and penetrating trauma into groups of increasing mortality risk. However, it has not been validated for pediatric trauma victims. Purpose Evaluate the STM's performance in pediatric trauma victims. Methods Records from the United States’ National Trauma Data Base, a registry of trauma victims developed by the American College of Surgeons, were extracted for the 2007-2009 reporting years. Patients ≤18 years of age transported from a trauma scene with complete initial scene data were included in the analysis. Sacco triage scores were assigned to each registry patient, and receiver-operator curves were developed for predicting mortality, along with several secondary outcomes. Area under the receiver-operator curve (AUC) was the main outcome statistic. Sensitivity analysis was performed using a Sacco score without age adjustment, using blunt versus penetrating trauma, and using patients <12 years of age. Results There were 210,175 pediatric records, of which 90,037 had complete data for analysis. The STM with age adjustment predicted pediatric trauma mortality with an AUC of 0.933 (95% CI: 0.925-0.940). Without the age adjustment term, it predicted mortality with an AUC of 0.924 (95% CI: 0.916-0.933). The STM with age adjustment predicted blunt trauma mortality in 72,467 patients with an AUC of 0.938 (95% CI: 0.929-0.947) and penetrating trauma mortality in 10,099 patients with an AUC of 0.927 (95% CI: 0.911-0.943). These findings did not change significantly when analysis was limited to patients <12 years of age. The Sacco Triage Method was also predictive of some secondary outcomes, such as major injury and death on arrival to the emergency department. Conclusion The Sacco Triage Method, with or without its age adjustment term, was a highly accurate predictor of mortality in pediatric trauma patients in this registry database. This triage method appears to be a valid strategy for the prioritization of injured children. Cross KP, Cicero MX. Independent application of the Sacco Disaster Triage Method to pediatric trauma patients. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(4):1-6.
Formal methods in embedded design

For more than two decades, applied formal methods have remained the unexplored frontier of embedded system design - just beyond the reach of practice. There have been inroads, certainly, but no sign of a revolution -even a quiet one - in industry. Considering the rapid progress of technology over this time, the dynamic expansion of applications, and the meager investment in formal methods, just keeping pace with the advancing frontier speaks pretty well for the research. Having watched these trends over the years, I would not forecast any dramatic changes in practice. We should be looking for a sea change, not a revolution. Formal methods have a cumulative impact, reflected in languages and "informal" methods as much as in automated reasoning tools.
A comparison of interval analysis using constraint interval arithmetic and fuzzy interval analysis using gradual numbers

There are two approaches that restore the algebraic properties of real arithmetic to fuzzy arithmetic - constraint interval arithmetic on alpha-cuts and arithmetic on intervals of gradual numbers. In this study, the relationships between fuzzy interval analysis from a constraint interval approach and from a gradual number approach will be discussed.
Having a field day! Field trips are a lesson in organization and team work. More important, they are a chance to view technology at its latest

How does an IEEE Student Branch organize a smooth field trip and have fun at the same time? Here's how the University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) IEEE Student Branch organized an outstanding tour of technologically based companies in April 1982.
Modular software design with crosscutting interfaces

Aspect-oriented programming (AOP) languages such as AspectJ offer new mechanisms and possibilities for decomposing systems into modules and composing modules into systems. The key mechanism in AspectJ is the advising of crosscutting sets of join points. An aspect module uses a pointcut descriptor (PCD) to declaratively specify sets of points in program executions. Our approach employs crosscut programming interfaces, or XPIs. XPIs are explicit, abstract interfaces that decouple aspects from details of advised code
Endonuclease-independent insertion provides an alternative pathway for L1 retrotransposition in the human genome

LINE-1 elements (L1s) are a family of highly successful retrotransposons comprising »17% of the human genome, the majority of which have inserted through an endonuclease-dependent mechanism termed target-primed reverse transcription. Recent in vitro analyses suggest that in the absence of nonhomologous end joining proteins, L1 elements may utilize an alternative, endonuclease-independent pathway for insertion. However, it remains unknown whether this pathway operates in vivo or in cell lines where all DNA repair mechanisms are functional. Here, we have analyzed the human genome to demonstrate that this alternative pathway for L1 insertion has been active in recent human evolution and characterized 21 loci where L1 elements have integrated without signs of endonuclease-related activity. The structural features of these loci suggest a role for this process in DNA double-strand break repair. We show that endonuclease-independent L1 insertions are structurally distinguishable from classical L1 insertion loci, and that they are associated with inter-chromosomal translocations and deletions of target genomic DNA.