cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combined use of steady-state fluorescence emission and anisotropy of merocyanine 540 to distinguish crystalline, gel, ripple, and liquid crystalline phases in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers

The various lamellar phases of dipalmitoylphosphadtidylcholine bilayers with and without cholesterol were used to assess the versatility of the fluorescent probe merocyanine 540 through simultaneous measurements of emission intensity, spectral shape, and steady-state anisotropy. Induction of the crystalline phase (Lc') by pre-incubation at 4°C produced a wavelength dependence of anisotropy which was strong at 15 and 25°C, weak at 38°C, and minimal above the main transition (>~41.5°C) or after returning the temperature from 46 to 25°C. The profile of anisotropy values across this temperature range revealed the ability of the probe to detect crystalline, gel (Lβ'), and liquid crystalline (Lα) phases. The temperature dependence of fluorescence intensity was additionally able to distinguish between the ripple (Pβ') and gel phases. In contrast, the shape of the emission spectrum, quantified as the ratio of merocyanine monomer and dimer peaks (585 and 621 nm), was primarily sensitive to the crystalline and gel phases because dimer fluorescence requires a highly-ordered environment. This requirement also explained the diminution of anisotropy wavelength dependence above 25°C. Repetition of experiments with vesicles containing cholesterol allowed creation of a phase map. Superimposition of data from the three simultaneous measurements provided details about the various phase regions in the map not discernible from any one of the three alone. The results were applied to assessment of calcium-induced membrane changes in living cells.
Women, work, and migration: Jamaicans in London

This article examines the changed status of female Jamaican migrants in London, focusing on two new features in their lives: the superior wageearning opportunities in England, and the separation from many of their close relatives. On balance, these changes have improved Jamaican women's position, but their effects are mixed. The ability to earn a salary appears to buttress their claims to power and respect in relations with their husbands and gives them the feeling that they are more independent in England than in Jamaica. The absence of relatives tends to enhance women's power in the home, but adds to the burden of child-rearing. The concluding section explores the implications of this study for the analysis of migrant women generally.
Aggressive variants of follicular cell derived thyroid carcinoma; the so called ‘Real Thyroid Carcinomas’

The pathological diagnoses and classification schemes for thyroid carcinoma have changed over the past 20 years and continue to do so. New entities have been described and molecular analyses have suggested better characterisation and grouping of certain tumours. Because some of the lesions have been named differently by different authors, clinicians and patients may be confused as to what a specific patient’s lesion represents. In this review, we discuss the thyroid tumours of follicular origin which are clinically unusual but important to recognise as their behaviour may be aggressive, they may not respond to radioiodine treatment and they may cause significant mortality. This paper describes these important but rare lesions, their pathological features, important clinicopathological correlations, molecular correlates and prognostic implications.
Scaling of field‐line random walk in model solar wind fluctuations

The diffusion coefficient associated with random walk of magnetic field lines is computed by direct calculation of a large number of field lines from a specified statistical ensemble. Two-component magnetic field models are examined, consisting of a mixture of slab and two-dimensional fluctuations. The scaling of the diffusion coefficient with magnetic field strength is established numerically for a wide range of relative fluctuation amplitudes ( δb/B0). The results confirm the recent nonperturbative theory of field line random walk (Phys. Rev. Lett., 75, 2136, 1995), but depart considerably from the quasilinear B0−2scaling, for models thought to be appropriate to the solar wind.
Memoir/manuals of South Korean pre‐college study abroad: defending mothers and humanizing children

In this article, we analyse the memoir/manuals of three 'goose' families. These are South Koreans whose children participate in pre-college study abroad (PSA). One parent (typically the mother) accompanies the child while the other (usually the father) remains at home to support the venture. Although many South Koreans aspire to study abroad, both the mothers and children of goose families have attracted wide criticism - the mothers for being narrowly instrumental and too family centred, worried only about social reproduction and mobility and the children for forsaking their nation, foregoing their filial duties and, perhaps, failing abroad. These memoir/manuals defend the goose mother and protect the PSA child against such charges. As memoirs, they depict remarkable people worthy of documentation. As manuals, they offer (at least some) guidance for mothers and families contemplating this particular family strategy. The memoir/manuals open a window to the challenges and anxieties of PSA in South Korea today.
Testability features of the 68040

The design and implementation of on-chip test functions on the 68040 microprocessor are described. The discussion includes an introduction to the 68040, along with the testability goals and objectives that were set at the beginning of the design. Further discussions detail the different design-for-testability techniques used to control and observe the behavior of the 68040 subsystems. Topics covered include the global test architecture, special test modes for the internal RAM arrays, the scan circuitry used for structural testing of random logic, and the IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) implementation on the 68040. >
DEDIFFERENTIATION OF PROSTATE CANCER GRADE WITH TIME IN MEN FOLLOWED EXPECTANTLY FOR STAGE T1C DISEASE

Purpose: We assess whether the Gleason grade changes in men followed expectantly with clinical stage T1c prostate cancer.Material and Methods: We studied 70 men with stage T1c prostate cancer who underwent watchful waiting with repeat needle biopsy sampling to assess for progression. After the initial cancer diagnosis all men had at least 1 other biopsy demonstrating cancer.Results: Of 70 cases 9 (12.9%) showed a significant change in grade from Gleason scores 6 or less to 7 or greater. The average followup of those patients without a change in grade was 22 months and greater than those with a change in grade. There was no difference between the groups with and without changes in grade in regard to initial prostate specific antigen (PSA), percent-free PSA, or PSA density or velocity. Of 9 cases there were 5 (56%) and 8 (89%) with grade change that occurred at 12 and 15 months or less after initial biopsy, respectively. In contrast, only 1 of 24 (4%) patients in whom last re-biopsy was performed 24 months ...
First-trimester septated cystic hygroma and cavum velum interpositum cyst.

First-trimester septated cystic hygroma, frequently noted during general obstetric first-trimester screening, is strongly associated with fetal aneuploidy and structural anomalies and is considered an ominous finding. We present the case of a fetus with a first-trimester septated cystic hygroma and cavum velum interpositum cyst. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2011
Theory, Logic and Data : Paths to a More Coherent Eyewitness Science

SUMMARY Building a better scientific literature on eyewitness reliability is a continuous process. The articles in this special issue of Applied Cognitive Psychology are timely and well-reasoned reflections on the need to learn from the history of the area, recognize the unique ways in which the legal system operates, and develop better theory. The current article comments on these articles and embellishes on some of these points. Copyright # 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Parallelizing object recognition on the hypercube

Abstract In this paper a parallel Interpretation Tree search algorithm for object recognition on the Intel iPSC/2 hypercube multicomputer is presented. The input to the algorithm is a set of sensory measurements consisting of sensor locations and the directions of the surface normal. Such data is typical of sparse range or tactile sensors. At this time the algorithm is capable of handling two-dimensional objects or three-dimensional objects located on a plane with all sensory measurements parallel to the plane. The objects are typically those which a robot would encounter in an industrial scene during the process of automated inspection or automated assembly. The algorithm is able to handle polyhedra or objects which can be approximated as piecewise combination of polyhedra. Both single- and multiple-object scenes are considered. Three strategies for mapping the Interpretation Tree search process on the hypercube are considered. The performance of the algorithm for each of these mapping strategies is examined in terms of parameters such as speed-up, processor utilization, inter-processor communication overhead and load sharing between processors. It is shown that the requirement for uniform load sharing leads to increased inter-processor communication. Experimental results are presented and future directions are outlined.
Liquid crystallinity in trimer oligomers isolated from petroleum and pyrene pitches

Abstract The first unsubstituted, monodisperse polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) to form a liquid crystalline phase (100% mesophase) has been isolated. With a molecular weight of 598 Da and consisting of only 14 aromatic rings, this pyrene trimer is also the lowest molecular weight (mol wt) PAH species for which the existence of liquid crystallinity has been reported. Multiple isomers of the pyrene trimer exist, providing the melting-point depression (mpt = 290 °C) necessary for the existence of a liquid phase and the possibility of mesophase formation. The trimer cut of M-50 pitch (mol wt = 645–890 Da; mpt = 330 °C) has also been isolated and was found to consist of ∼40% mesophase. This trimer is the lowest average mol wt carbonaceous pitch for which significant mesophase formation has been reported. Both trimers were isolated from their starting pitches via packed-column supercritical extraction, using toluene and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) mixtures as the extractive solvent. Mass spectrometry and UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy were used for molecular characterization. The results of this study indicate that for PAHs, the molecular weight for which liquid crystallinity occurs can be significantly reduced by creating PAH oligomers with lower polydispersity and increased monomer-unit homogeneity.
Rapid deadenylation and poly(A)-dependent translational repression mediated by the Caenorhabditis elegans tra-2 3′ untranslated region in Xenopus embryos.

The 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of many eukaryotic mRNAs is essential for their control during early development. Negative translational control elements in 3′UTRs regulate pattern formation, cell fate, and sex determination in a variety of organisms. tra-2 mRNA in Caenorhabditis elegans is required for female development but must be repressed to permit spermatogenesis in hermaphrodites. Translational repression of tra-2 mRNA in C. elegans is mediated by tandemly repeated elements in its 3′UTR; these elements are called TGEs (for tra-2 and GLI element). To examine the mechanism of TGE-mediated repression, we first demonstrate that TGE-mediated translational repression occurs in Xenopus embryos and that Xenopus egg extracts contain a TGE-specific binding factor. Translational repression by the TGEs requires that the mRNA possess a poly(A) tail. We show that in C. elegans, the poly(A) tail of wild-type tra-2 mRNA is shorter than that of a mutant mRNA lacking the TGEs. To determine whether TGEs regulate poly(A) length directly, synthetic tra-2 3′UTRs with and without the TGEs were injected into Xenopus embryos. We find that TGEs accelerate the rate of deadenylation and permit the last 15 adenosines to be removed from the RNA, resulting in the accumulation of fully deadenylated molecules. We conclude that TGE-mediated translational repression involves either interference with poly(A)'s function in translation and/or regulated deadenylation.
Incidental appendectomy--yes or no? A retrospective case study and review of the literature.

Objective: A retrospective review of appendectomies performed at the University of Kansas Medical Center between January 1, 1989, and January 1, 1994, was conducted. In addition, the literature evaluating effectiveness of incidental appendectomy in preventing future operation and morbidity from appendicitis was reviewed. The results of the two reviews were analyzed to formulate guidelines for the appropriateness of performing incidental appendectomy in association with other operative procedures.
Analytical insights into optimality and resonance in fish swimming

This paper provides analytical insights into the hypothesis that fish exploit resonance to reduce the mechanical cost of swimming. A simple body–fluid fish model, representing carangiform locomotion, is developed. Steady swimming at various speeds is analysed using optimal gait theory by minimizing bending moment over tail movements and stiffness, and the results are shown to match with data from observed swimming. Our analysis indicates the following: thrust–drag balance leads to the Strouhal number being predetermined based on the drag coefficient and the ratio of wetted body area to cross-sectional area of accelerated fluid. Muscle tension is reduced when undulation frequency matches resonance frequency, which maximizes the ratio of tail-tip velocity to bending moment. Finally, hydrodynamic resonance determines tail-beat frequency, whereas muscle stiffness is actively adjusted, so that overall body–fluid resonance is exploited.
Current Management of Aortic Injuries

The past decade has seen major changes in the management of blunt, traumatic thoracic aortic injury. The increasing use and improvement of computed tomography scans and endovascular stent grafts have changed management paradigms by allowing more rapid diagnosis and definitive repair with less physiologic stress on the patient. Short- and long-term data support this trend, as well as the advantages of delayed repair for stable aortic injuries.
Effortful control predicts adolescent antisocial-aggressive behaviors and depressive symptoms: co-occurrence and moderation by impulsivity

Effortful control is associated with fewer aggressive-antisocial behaviors (AAB) and depressive symptoms (DEP), but impulsivity may moderate these relations. However, few researchers have considered the effects of AAB-DEP co-occurrence. A multi-informant, multimethod approach assessed 5- to 10-year-olds' effortful control and impulsivity and, 5-6 years later, their AAB and DEP (N = 474). Participants were non-Hispanic Caucasian (59.2%) or Hispanic (27.9%) from a Southwestern U.S. metropolitan area. Low effortful control predicted pure AAB. Low effortful control and low impulsivity predicted pure DEP and co-occurring AAB-DEP. An effortful Control × Impulsivity × Age interaction predicted pure AAB and co-occurring AAB-DEP. For older adolescents, lower effortful control predicted more symptoms only at average and high impulsivity. Results highlight multiple pathways to pure DEP versus pure AAB or co-occurring AAB-DEP.
On the power efficiency and optimal transmission range of wireless sensor nodes

This paper considers the power efficiency and transmission range optimization of wireless sensor nodes. A power consumption model is proposed, and the parameters are presented for several commercially available low-power wireless sensor node devices. Then the optimal transmission ranges to achieve the most energy efficiency are obtained for wireless sensor source nodes and relay nodes, respectively. The power saving for multi-hop transmission is investigated by adopting the optimal transmission range. Numerical results are presented to compare the energy efficiency performance under different scenarios.
Wound Bed Preparation of the Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Over the last few years, substantial advances have been made in our understanding of the pathophysiology of diabetic foot ulcers, the importance of thorough surgical debridement, and how this standard therapeutic modality impacts on wound bed preparation (WBP). Importantly, the concept of WBP is revolutionizing the way we approach nonhealing or difficult to heal wounds, including those due to diabetes. Much of what we do clinically, from elimination of bacterial burden, to debridement, and to the use of new technologies to heal diabetic foot ulcers, can now be seen as being part of the comprehensive WBP strategy and as facilitating the process of healing [Falanga Wound Repair Regen 8:347–52, 2000; Falanga et al. Ostomy Wound Manage Suppl:2–13, 2008]. From a therapeutic standpoint, at least in the USA, large multicenter clinical trials have led to the regulatory approval for neuropathic diabetic ulcers of topically applied platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) BB (beclapermin or Regranex, Ortho-McNeil, Raritan, NJ) (Smiell et al. Wound Repair Regen. 7:335–46, 1999; Steed J Vasc Surg 21:71–8, 1995; Steed et al. J Am Coll Surg 183:61–4, 1996) and living bioengineered skin [Apligraf, Organogenesis, Canton, MA (Falanga Lancet 366:1736–43, 2005; Lazic and Falanga Plast Reconstr Surg 127 Suppl 1:75S–90, 2011; Veves Plast Reconstr Surg 127 Suppl 1:91S–2, 2011; Veves et al. Diabetes Care 24:290–5, 2001); and Dermagraft, Advanced Biohealing, La Jolla, CA (Marston et al. Diabetes Care 26:1701–5, 2003)], and have dramatically increased the number of available therapeutic options. However, not to be forgotten are advances that these and other clinical trials have brought to the standard of care for treating neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers. Indeed, these improvements in standards of care for diabetic foot ulcers have raised the bar for proving the effectiveness of new treatments. Stated differently, it may have become harder to prove the effectiveness of new therapeutic agents. Thus, from now on we may be looking for “quantum” jumps in therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.
Classification of underwater targets from autonomous underwater vehicle sampled bistatic acoustic scattered fields

One of the long term goals of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) minehunting is to have multiple inexpensive AUVs in a harbor autonomously classify hazards. Existing acoustic methods for target classification using AUV-based sensing, such as sidescan and synthetic aperture sonar, require an expensive payload on each outfitted vehicle and post-processing and/or image interpretation. A vehicle payload and machine learning classification methodology using bistatic angle dependence of target scattering amplitudes between a fixed acoustic source and target has been developed for onboard, fully autonomous classification with lower cost-per-vehicle. To achieve the high-quality, densely sampled three-dimensional (3D) bistatic scattering data required by this research, vehicle sampling behaviors and an acoustic payload for precision timed data acquisition with a 16 element nose array were demonstrated. 3D bistatic scattered field data were collected by an AUV around spherical and cylindrical targets insonified by a 7-9 kHz fixed source. The collected data were compared to simulated scattering models. Classification and confidence estimation were shown for the sphere versus cylinder case on the resulting real and simulated bistatic amplitude data. The final models were used for classification of simulated targets in real time in the LAMSS MOOS-IvP simulation package [M. Benjamin, H. Schmidt, P. Newman, and J. Leonard, J. Field Rob. 27, 834-875 (2010)].
Dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial management in large organizations: Toward a theory of the (entrepreneurial) firm

Mainstream economic theory has generally excluded consideration of the role of managers, which has, in turn, impaired its ability to explain resource allocation by, and heterogeneity among, firms. In the real world, managers are called on to fill entrepreneurial and leadership roles: sensing opportunities, developing and implementing viable business models, building capabilities, and guiding the organization through transformations. These entrepreneurial management tasks are part of the organization׳s capabilities, which also encompass embedded organizational processes that can be slow to change. An understanding of entrepreneurial management and organizational capabilities will contribute to more realistic economic models and a better understanding by policy makers of industrial dynamics and the requirements of innovation.
Social Movements and Citizenship: Conscientious Objection in France, the United States, and Israel

This article examines the ways in which citizenship regimes shape social struggles. It traces the conscientious objection movements in France during the war in Algeria, in America during the Vietnamese War, and in Israel after the invasion of Lebanon to show how they employed different practices and formed different alliances despite having similar goals. These differences can be attributed, in part, to the different citizenship regimes in each country: republican in France; liberal in the U.S.; and ethnonational in Israel. Arguments and practices that seemed sensible in one locale seemed utterly inappropriate in another. Social movements' activists did not manipulate conceptions of citizenship strategically. Rather, citizenship regimes constitute subjectivities and thereby shape the sensibilities and preferences of activists and state actors. Citizenship regimes shape social dramas by structuring the repertoire of contention available in a particular struggle.
Magnetically Assisted Filtration of Solid Wastes: Laboratory and Flight Experiments

Solid wastes can be separated from aqueous streams and concentrated by filtration in a magnetically assisted fluidized bed. In this work the filtration of solid waste materials using filter beds consisting of granular ferromagnetic media is demonstrated. The degree of bed consolidation (or conversely fluidization) is controlled by the application of magnetic forces. In the Magnetically Assisted Gasification (MAG) process, solids are first entrapped by filtration, and then fluidized and transferred to a high temperature reactor where they are thermally decomposed. The maximum particle loading for the filter bed is determined by the intergranular void space. Using magnetic methods, it is possible to manipulate the degree of compaction as the filtration progresses to increase the void space and thereby maximize the loading capacity and efficiency of the filter. This process is completely compatible with operation in microgravity and hypogravity. Magnetically assisted filtration methods have been studied in the laboratory and in a recent series of flight experiments conducted onboard NASA’s KC-135 aircraft.
Customer Relationship Building on the Internet in B2B Marketing: A Proposed Typology

Despite the large number of customer relationship marketing (CRM) applications currently in use on the Internet, there is a lack of an organizing structure. This paper presents a 3X3 typology of e-CRM practices, with particular focus on business-to-business interactions. The typology is based on two dimensions: (1) the stage of the purchase decision process and (2) Berry and Parasuraman’s (1991) levels of relationship marketing. The proposed typology can be used to design and evaluate a finn’s e-CRM strategies relative to its B2B relationship marketing objectives.
Powder Coating Technology

Powder coating technology is an environmentally friendly, nonpolluting coating process, providing coatings with improved performance for functional or decorative purposes. The commercial importance of the technology has been growing in mature as well as growing markets. The principles of powder coating technology, from the materials used through their processing to application of the coating on a substrate, are discussed. Keywords: electrostatic spray; polymeric resins; powder coating; solvent-free; UV curing
The effect of side wall rotation on the recirculation zones in a cylindrical container

The flow field induced in a cylindrical container by the rotation of the bounding surfaces is highly vortical. If the bounding surfaces (i.e. the two end walls and the side wall) are rotated at different angular velocities, a meridional flow develops due to the tilting and stretching of the axial vorticity created by the rotation of the bounding surfaces. In the present study, the flow field induced by the rotation of one end wall and the side wall is studied numerically for a range of Reynolds numbers and ratios of the side wall to the end wall rotation rate. It is shown that rotating the side wall in either the same direction or the opposite direction as the rotation of the end wall tends to inhibit the formation of separation bubbles on the axis of the container.
Study on the synthesis of artificial antigens of melamine

Objective:Study on the synthesis of artificial antigens of melamine.Methods: The artificial antigens(Mel-BSA1 and Mel-BSA2) were developed by conjugating melamine to carrier proteins with glutaraldehyde method and carbodiimide(EDC) method respectively.Polyclonal antibodies against melamine were produced after immuning two new zealand white rabbits respectively using Mel-BSA1 and Mel-BSA2.Results: The artificial antigens(Mel-BSA1 and Mel-BSA2) were confirmed by infrared spectroscopy.Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS) showed that the ratio of melamine to BSA in Mel-BSA1 and Mel-BSA2 was 2∶1 and 10∶1 respectively.The antibody titers was 1∶2×105,1∶ 1×105 and 1∶6×105,1∶15×105 respectively.Conclusion: High titers of polyclonal antibodies against melamine were produced after immuning two New Zealand white rabbits respectively using,laying the groundwork for further research of rapid immunoassay determine melamine.
Therapeutic effect of azithromycin on Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in children

Objectives To study the therapeutic effect of azithromycin on Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in children and to explore the reasonable application of antibiotics. Methods A total of 31 cases of Campylobacter jejuni enteritis with watery stool were recruited in the study. Campylobacter jejuni was detected by latex agglutination test in their stool samples. The cases were randomly divided into two groups. Treatment group(n = 17)were treated with azithromycin combined with mucosal protective agent(Smecta)and probiotic preparation(Bifid Triple Viable Capsule/Powder),Control group(n = 14)were treated by mucosal protective agent and probiotic preparation without azithromycin. The courses of disease and the duration of Campylobacter jejuni in the stool were compared between the two groups. Results The clinical and biochemical data between two groups were not significantly different. All the patients recovered from the illness completely. The course of disease after therapy,total course of disease and the duration of Campylobacter jejuni in stool were significantly shorter in the treatment group than control group(P 0.01). Conclusions The course of disease and the duration of Campylobacter jejuni in stool are short in children with Campylobacter jejuni enteritis when treated by azithromycin.
Bladder permeability in interstitial cystitis is similar to that of normal volunteers: direct measurement by transvesical absorption of 99mtechnetium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid.

AbstractBladder permeability was directly measured with the radionuclide used clinically for detecting vesicoureteral reflux (99mtechnetium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, 99mTc-DTPA) in 10 interstitial cystitis patients diagnosed according to National Institute of Arthritis, Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases criterion and compared to 9 sex matched, symptom-free, normal volunteers. After functional bladder capacity was determined (capacity at which the patient demands fluid inflow to stop), the bladder was emptied and 5mCi. 99mTc-DTPA in 10ml. of saline were infused followed by normal saline to 80% of functional capacity. This was done to normalize the patients to the same low bladder pressure, since previous studies of rabbits indicated that bladder permeability is low and not significantly different at 20% and 60% of anesthetized bladder capacity (defined as the volume producing an intravesical pressure of 20cm. water). Radioactivity of 1ml. serum specimens taken at 0, 2, 15 and 30minutes afte...
Language and Identity Explored

The relationship between language and identity is widely discussed in applied linguistics, sociology, communications and other related scholarly fields. Furthermore, many researchers have focused on the post-Soviet region, which given its unique historical context allows for testing of this relationship. The widespread bilingualism as a result of historical russification and the linguistic transformations that occurred after the collapse of the Soviet Union make the region a ‘sociolinguistic playground’. Recent events in Ukraine have given grounds to further explore this relationship, now in attempt to link language and identity as potential forces for geopolitical change in the region. This paper presents an overview of existing research, theories, and opposing perspectives related to the relationship between language and identity, and considers complications such as historical russification, religious influence, socioeconomic factors, and education with regards to the Ukrainian and post-Soviet context. I aim to illustrate the significance of language and its effects on socio-political change in the case of Ukraine, by presenting arguments and complications in support of the relationship between language and identity.
Prognostic significance of day 14 bone marrow evaluation in adults with Philadelphia chromosome–negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND The role of day 14 (D14) bone marrow (BM) assessment in detecting increased blasts in patients undergoing induction for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is not well defined. METHODS This study evaluated 389 adolescent and adult patients with previously untreated Philadelphia chromosome-negative ALL who received frontline induction chemotherapy and for whom a D14 BM assessment was performed. RESULTS A D14 BM blast proportion < 10% (including blast-free aplastic BM) was observed in 319 patients (82%), 10% to 29% was observed in 31 patients (8%), and ≥30% was observed in 39 patients (10%). The composite complete remission (CR)/complete remission with inadequate platelet recovery (CRp) rates for these groups were 99.7%, 87%, and 79%, respectively. The median event-free survival (EFS) was 49, 33, and 9 months, respectively (P < .001). The median overall survival (OS) was 88, 37, and 21 months, respectively (P < .001). The D14 BM blast group was the only factor predictive for the achievement of CR/CRp (P < .001). According to a multivariate analysis, the D14 BM blast group was independently prognostic for both EFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.85; P = .004) and OS (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.14-1.85; P = .003). However, when minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment at the time of CR was added to the model, the D14 BM blast group was no longer prognostic for EFS or OS. CONCLUSIONS An assessment of residual D14 BM blasts in patients with ALL is highly predictive of the achievement of CR with induction chemotherapy and of EFS and OS. However, the D14 BM blast assessment is less prognostic of long-term outcomes when an MRD assessment is also available. Cancer 2016;122:3812-3820. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Single-Point Cutting Processes

The principle used in all machining processes is to create the surface required by providing suitable relative motions between the cutting tool and the workpiece. The cutting edge or edges on the cutting tool remove a layer of work material. The removed material is often called a shaving or a chip. The simplest surfaces to generate are flat surfaces and internal or external cylindrical surfaces. For example, if a cutter is reciprocated back and forth along a straight line and a workpiece is incrementally fed beneath the tool in a direction perpendicular to the motion of the tool, a flat surface will be created on the workpiece. Similarly, a cylindrical surface can be generated by spinning the workpiece and feeding the tool parallel to the axis of workpiece. Therefore, in general, two kinds of relative motion must be provided by a machine tool. These motions are called primary motion and feed motion and are defined as follows.
The Ultraviolet Extragalactic Background

We discuss the results of a detailed numerical study of the absorption and reprocessing of UV photons in a clumpy, photoionized universe, focusing on the effects of intervening discrete absorbers on the propagation of ionizing diffuse radiation. We compute the contribution to the metagalactic flux associated with H and He Lyα line emission, two-photon continuum and recombination radiation from the Lyα forest clouds and the Lyman-limit systems. In the light of new data and recent studies, we reexamine the contribution of quasars to the ionizing radiation field.
Development of a Squad Level Vocabulary for Human-Robot Interaction

Interaction with robots in military applications is trending away from teleoperation and towards collaboration. Enabling this transition requires technologies for natural and intuitive communication between Soldiers and robots. Automated Speech Recognition ASR systems designed using a well-defined lexicon are likely to be more robust to the challenges of dynamic and noisy environments inherent to military operations. To successfully apply this approach to ASR development, lexicons should involve an early focus on the target audience. To facilitate development a vocabulary focused at the squad level for Human Robot Interaction HRI, 31 Soldiers from Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA provided hypothetical commands for directing an autonomous robot to perform a variety of spatial navigation and reconnaissance tasks. These commands were analyzed, using word frequency counts and heuristics, to determine the structure and word choice of commands. Results presented provide a baseline Squad Level Vocabulary SLV and a foundation for development of HRI technologies enabling multi-modal communications within mixed-initiative teams.
Investigating Inner Experience While Reading an Erotic Short Story

iii Acknowledgements iv List of Tables vii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 2: Literature Review 3 Historical and Current Theories of Sexual Arousal 3 Experience during Arousing Tasks and Activities 7 Experience Sampling 13 Current Study 29 Chapter 3: Method 31 Participants 31 Materials 32 Apparatus 33 Procedure 33 Data Analysis 36 Chapter 4: Results 38 Phenomena while Reading an Erotic Short Story 38 Comparisons with the Natural Environment and While Reading Classical Fiction 56 Individual Differences in Experience 58 Chapter 5: Discussion 62 Attrition 62 Pristine Experience while Reading an Erotic Short Story 65 Pristine Experience across Environments 68 Limitations 69 Summary and Conclusions 70
Epidemiology of Vitamin C

A review is presented of the epidemiology of vitamin C. This review summarizes the epidemiologic relationship of vitamin C intake to mortality from all causes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases and the results of randomized controlled trials involving vitamin C supplements and mortality. Many studies show an inverse relationship between mortality and vitamin C intake, particularly for levels close to the current U.S. recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 75–90 mg per day for adults. The inverse relationship is particularly strong for serum vitamin C. However, several studies show no relationship at all or no significant relationship after controlling for confounding variables. There is little evidence of a relationship at high or low levels of vitamin C supplement intake. The results of randomized intervention trials assessing the impact of supplemental vitamin C on mortality and cancer survival are largely negative, but there are selective instances of benefits. There have been very few intervention trials focusing on vitamin C. Most of the available prospective cohort data on vitamin C and mortality have not been analyzed. Additional cohort analyses and new intervention trials would substantially refine the evidence. Vitamin C is an essential human nutrient and there is substantial epidemiologic evidence that regular intake of at least the RDA of vitamin C is beneficial for optimum health.
Business Models to Cure Rare Disease: A Case Study of Solid Biosciences

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare genetic disorder affecting thousands of individuals, mainly young males, worldwide. Currently, the disease has no cure, and is fatal in all cases. Advances in our understanding of the disease and innovations in basic science have recently allowed biotechnology companies to pursue promising treatment candidates for the disease, but so far, only one drug with limited application has achieved FDA approval. In this case study, we profile the work of an early-stage life sciences company, Solid Biosciences, founded by a father of a young boy with DMD. In particular, we discuss Solid’s one-disease focus and its strategy to treat the disease with a diversified portfolio of approaches. The company is currently building a product pipeline consisting of genetic interventions, small molecules and biologics, and assistive devices, each aimed at addressing a different aspect of DMD. We highlight the potential for Solid’s business model and portfolio to achieve breakthrough treatments for the DMD patient community.
Looking back at PACS attempts—what has happened since PACS I

My collaborators and I originally came to this PACS effort, bringing the expertise of Physics, Computer Science and Radiology to bear on the subject. Since the time of our original PACS I paper [7] many years ago, we have been able to influence a number of PACS efforts: namely, a large nuclear medicine system at Middlesex University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ [8], a broad band radiology system incorporating commercial viewing stations overseen by Y.Bizais in Nantes, Brittany (France), and a broad band video system linking the many different floors on which the radiology department is located overseen by P Cahill at New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center in New York City and reported on at PACS II [2] Now, the PACS effort has moved passed the development stage and into the commercial exploitation stage. However, a number of interesting questions concerning the implementation of PACS in medical applications, particularly with respect to Radiology remain. (Unfortunately, due to lack of support for PACS activities, some of our computer science colleagues (Baxter, Schimpf and Zeleznik) have moved into research in other areas.)
Clocking and Variation

As process technology continues to scale, increasing numbers of transistors are integrated onto a single processor die, providing higher levels of performance and additional features (Fig.1.1). However, the unwanted side-effect of this increased integration is the worsening of variations of all types: static process variations resulting from reduced device dimensions and dynamic voltage and temperature variations. At the same time, transistor degradation and early-life failure are always concerns, but becoming more critical as the number of devices increases.
Power considerations for the application of detrended fluctuation analysis in gait variability studies

The assessment of gait variability using stochastic signal processing techniques such as detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) has been shown to be a sensitive tool for evaluation of gait alterations due to aging and neuromuscular disease. However, previous studies have suggested that the application of DFA requires relatively long recordings (600 strides), which is difficult when working with clinical populations or older adults. In this paper we propose a model for predicting DFA variance in experimental data and conduct a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the sample size and number of trials required to detect a change in DFA scaling exponent. We illustrate the model in a simulation to detect a difference of 0.1 (medium effect) between two groups of subjects when using short gait time series (100 to 200 strides) in the context of between- and within-subject designs. We assumed that the variance of DFA scaling exponent arises due to individual differences, time series length, and experimental error. Results showed that sample sizes required to achieve acceptable power of 80% are practically feasible, especially when using within-subject designs. For example, to detect a group difference in the DFA scaling exponent of 0.1, it would require either 25 subjects and 2 trials per subject or 12 subjects and 4 trials per subject using a within-subject design. We then compared plausibility of such power predictions to the empirically observed power from a study that required subjects to synchronize with a persistent fractal metronome. The results showed that the model adequately predicted the empirical pattern of results. Our power simulations could be used in conjunction with previous design guidelines in the literature when planning new gait variability experiments.
NUMERICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF ELASTO-PLASTIC MODEL

Abstract The theory of elasto-plastic material models in general, and the concepts of a two surface model namely cap model are presented briefly. The need for suitable modifications to be made to the existing models to account for the actual behavioral response of geologic materials is investigated. A correction function approach is suggested to account for the nonassociative behavior of the material tested. The performance of the model to predict the response of a laboratory test is examined. Necessary changes in the algorithm for the model to be implemented in a numerical analysis procedure are documented.
EHR access rights and the role of the patient

Background: The amount of patients being treated beyond the borders of one institution in so-called shared care models has constantly increased over the last years. This development led to a substantial amount of EHR (Electronic Health Record) projects aiming to facilitate those shared care processes. An essential requirement for the introduction of an EHR is an access right concept fulfilling simultaneously all regional and national data privacy requirements in order not to violate the patient’s rights as the requirements of all participating partners. Objectives: The scope of this paper is to examine whether and if how a generally applicable access concept could be designed that fulfils all above mentioned requirements and is at the same time implementable with the existing capabilities offered by the IT systems. Methods: Results of a requirements analysis were used to examine how patient, care provider, and data privacy requirements can be fulfilled with the existing technical possibilities to manage access rights. Results: It could be demonstrated that there is no access concept fulfilling all requirements. Conclusions: There are only two possible solutions for the dilemma: a) to completely abstain from a sophisticated access rights management or b) to focus on the patient and give him the full ownership of his data and empower him to manage the access rights. Considering the currently occurring strong shift towards “personalized medicine” and the inclusion of an increasing amount of genetic information in clinical documentation we strongly believe that the latter option is the preferable one, finally leading to the conclusion that PHR (Personal Health Records) are preferable compared to EHR (Electronic Health Records).
'Til Death Do Us Part: The Difficulties of Obtaining a Same-Sex Divorce

This Article explores a problem faced by many wedded same-sex couples: the difficulty in obtaining a divorce. Suppose two men from Pennsylvania travel to Massachusetts to obtain a marriage license and return to Pennsylvania shortly thereafter. If their marriage breaks down, the couple will be unable to divorce in the state because Pennsylvania refuses to recognize the marriage for any purpose. Moreover, due to Massachusetts’ residency requirement, the couple cannot simply travel back to Massachusetts to divorce. Because this problem is in part encouraged by state miniDOMAs, and the Supreme Court has the opportunity to rule on DOMA’s constitutionality, this Article will also explore the various rationales for holding DOMA unconstitutional, how each affects mini-DOMAs, and thus same-sex divorce. If miniDOMAs are permitted to stand, this Article urges that all States be required to recognize same-sex marriage at least for the limited purpose of granting divorce so that married same-sex couples will no longer find themselves “wedlocked.”
Predicting Mortality in Decompensated Heart Failure: A Retrospective Study of 1,023 Veteran Admissions

Introduction Several risk models have been developed to predict mortality in patients with heart failure to help guide therapy and facilitate shared decision making. Implementation of these predictive models has been cautious due to a lack of generalizability and limitations in estimating mortality for individuals. Hypothesis We hypothesized that the online Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) Risk calculator, derived from patient cohorts with preserved and reduced systolic heart failure, would accurately predict 1- and 3-year mortality rates in veterans hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure. Methods A retrospective analysis was undertaken of 1023 consecutive, unique patients admitted with the primary diagnosis of heart failure over a 10-year period at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. The MAGGIC risk calculator was used to predict 1 and 3-year mortality rates based on 13 patient variables. These estimates were compared to actual survival. Results The demographics of our study population were as follows: median age 73, male 99%, diabetes 57%, COPD 48%, HF diagnosis Table 1 . To further clarify if the MAGGIC model could accurately predict mortality across various risk groups, patients were stratified into quintiles based on integer score ( Figures 1a, b ). Patients in the highest risk group had precise risk predictions at 1-year (64.49% actual versus 54.26% predicted) and at 3-years (86.92% actual versus 84.89% predicted) Conclusions Our data demonstrates that the MAGGIC risk calculator is accurate in predicting 1 and 3-year mortality rates in hospitalized veterans, independent of systolic performance. Moreover, the risk calculator effectively predicted patient mortality across multiple integer risk scores. This risk model demonstrates promise in identifying hospitalized patients at high risk for mortality and therefore may assist in decision making regarding appropriateness of pursuing advanced heart failure therapy or palliative care.
Asynchronous Blind Network Division Multiple Access

We present a blind collision resolution algorithm in slow fading channels based on retransmission diversity. The algorithm neither assumes packet nor symbol synchronization of the different users and it does not demand estimates of the arrival times of the colliding signals. The proposed scheme works independently of the relative alignment of the packets, and so it can also resolve synchronous collisions. The decoding complexity does not scale with the packet size and thus does not burden the receiver. Having forgone synchronization, the penalty paid is a longer queueing delay of data at the transmitters. Still the algorithm achieves high throughputs similar to synchronous network division multiple access (NDMA) protocols.