cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Frailty modeling for spatially correlated survival data, with application to infant mortality in Minnesota.

SUMMARY The use of survival models involving a random effect or ‘frailty’ term is becoming more common. Usually the random effects are assumed to represent different clusters, and clusters are assumed to be independent. In this paper, we consider random effects corresponding to clusters that are spatially arranged, such as clinical sites or geographical regions. That is, we might suspect that random effects corresponding to strata in closer proximity to each other might also be similar in magnitude. Such spatial arrangement of the strata can be modeled in several ways, but we group these ways into two general settings: geostatistical approaches, where we use the exact geographic locations (e.g. latitude and longitude) of the strata, and lattice approaches, where we use only the positions of the strata relative to each other (e.g. which counties neighbor which others). We compare our approaches in the context of a dataset on infant mortality in Minnesota counties between 1992 and 1996. Our main substantive goal here is to explain the pattern of infant mortality using important covariates (sex, race, birth weight, age of mother, etc.) while accounting for possible (spatially correlated) differences in hazard among the counties. We use the GIS ArcView to map resulting fitted hazard rates, to help search for possible lingering spatial correlation. The DIC criterion (Spiegelhalter et al. ,J ournal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B 2002, to appear) is used to choose among various competing models. We investigate the quality of fit of our chosen model, and compare its results when used to investigate neonatal versus post-neonatal mortality. We also compare use of our time-to-event outcome survival model with the simpler dichotomous outcome logistic model. Finally, we summarize our findings and suggest directions for future research.
Genome-wide RNAi screen reveals the E3 SUMO-protein ligase gene SIZ1 as a novel determinant of furfural tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Furfural is a major growth inhibitor in lignocellulosic hydrolysates and improving furfural tolerance of microorganisms is critical for rapid and efficient fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, we used the RNAi-Assisted Genome Evolution (RAGE) method to select for furfural resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and identified a new determinant of furfural tolerance. By using a genome-wide RNAi (RNA-interference) screen in S. cerevisiae for genes involved in furfural tolerance, we identified SIZ1, a gene encoding an E3 SUMO-protein ligase. Disruption of SIZ1 gene function by knockdown or deletion conferred significantly higher furfural tolerance compared to other previously reported metabolic engineering strategies in S. cerevisiae. This improved furfural tolerance of siz1Δ cells is accompanied by rapid furfural reduction to furfuryl alcohol and leads to higher ethanol productivity in the presence of furfural. In addition, the siz1Δ mutant also exhibited tolerance towards oxidative stress, suggesting that oxidative stress tolerance related proteins may be under the SUMO regulation of SIZ1p and responsible for furfural tolerance. Using a genome-wide approach, we identified a novel determinant for furfural tolerance, providing valuable insights into the design of recombinant microbes for efficient lignocellulose fermentation.
Managing Citizen Relationships in Disasters: Hurricane Wilma, 311 and Miami-Dade County

As recent events have shown, effective knowledge sharing has become important at all political levels, especially when disasters occur. In this paper, we present the case of Miami-Dade County, which implemented a multi-jurisdictional, multichannel environment (311/portal) and successfully utilized it during hurricane Wilma. Drawing from our research on citizen relationship management (CiRM) and literature on absorptive capacity (ACAP), we argue that this setting increases an organization's ability to acquire, assimilate, transform, and exploit information and knowledge regarding the citizen's needs. We shall discuss implications for further CiRM research and managerial insight for emergency management at the end of the paper
Why We Need Fuzzy Models in Bio-Risk Assessment

A substantial weakness of the Risk-Assessment guidelines adopted by four US Government agencies is their failure to properly reflect the inherent statistical and non-statistical uncertainties involved in risk measurement. This paper critically reviews the four-stage guideline developed by the National Research Council (NRC) in 1983 and adopted, de facto, by EPA, FDA, OSHA, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Examples are given of specific risks where the guidelines are inappropriate. We introduce our concept of the 5th stage of Risk Assessment. Finally, we present current or potential applications of fuzzy and/or possibilistic tools which could improve the assessments. In addition, we describe how the application of possibility theory could improve the communication of risk in the context of NRCs four stages.
Femoral bone and cartilage wear is predictable at 0° and 90° in the osteoarthritic knee treated with total knee arthroplasty

Kinematically aligned total knee arthroplasty (TKA) positions the femoral component at the natural angle and level of the distal (0°) and posterior (90°) joint line. This technique applies referencing guides at 0° and 90° that are adjusted to compensate for wear and kerf and perform resections equal in thickness to the femoral component. Knowing whether femoral bone and cartilage wear is predictable would assist in establishing general guidelines for adjusting the resection level of these two referencing guides. This study tests the hypothesis that femoral bone and cartilage wear is predictable at 0° and 90° in the varus and valgus osteoarthritic knee treated with TKA. The study consists of 205 patients and 208 knees with Kellgren–Lawrence Grade 3 or 4 osteoarthritis and treated with a TKA. Each knee had a narrow slice (2 mm) preoperative 1.5 tesla magnetic resonance image in the sagittal plane. Femoral bone and cartilage wear at 0° and 90° was computed from best-fit circles superimposed on the peripheral boundary of the subchondral bone on the medial and lateral femoral condyles. Overall, 99.5 % of knees had minimal bone wear ( 1 mm cartilage wear on the medial femoral condyle. In the 26 % (54 of 208) of knees with a valgus deformity, 78 % at 0° and 55 % at 90° had ≥1 mm cartilage wear on the lateral femoral condyle. As a general guideline, adjustment for femoral bone wear is rarely required when performing kinematically aligned TKA. Most osteoarthritic knees require adjustment of the distal referencing guide to compensate for cartilage wear on the medial femoral condyle in the varus knee and the lateral femoral condyle in the valgus knee. Adjustment of the posterior referencing guide is required in about half of valgus osteoarthritic knees to compensate for lateral cartilage wear at 90°. Knowing that bone wear is rare and cartilage wear is predictable in varus and valgus Kellgren–Lawrence Grade 3 or 4 osteoarthritic knees helps establish general guidelines for adjusting the distal and posterior femoral referencing guides to restore the natural angle and level of the femoral joint lines when performing kinematically aligned TKA with generic instruments. IV.
Impact-induced demagnetization, magnetostriction and coercive force in co-doped iron oxide recording tapes

The saturation magnetostriction constant (λ s ) determines the remanence loss of a recording tape when an impact is applied normal to the plane of the tape. The addition of Co to iron oxide particles alters λ s and increases the coercive force. As Co is added to γ-Fe 2 O 3 , λ s becomes more negative and the stress demagnetization is greater; when Co is added to Fe 3 O 4 , λ s is less positive and the stress demagnetization becomes smaller. Impact-induced losses of up to 30% of the remanence are measured on Co doped γ-Fe 2 O 3 tapes with \lambda_{s} = -15 \times 10^{-6} ; this compares with a 1% loss in CrO 2 tapes where \lambda_{s} \sim 1 \times 10^{-6} . \lambda_{s} is measured on particle compacts using a strain gage; its value can also be estimated from the coercive force change produced when applying uniaxial tension to a tape.
Oxynitride gate dielectric grown in nitric oxide (NO): the effect of reoxidation on dielectric reliability of the active edge

Reoxidation of an oxynitride gate dielectric grown by NO anneal of thermal oxide has been studied. This process has demonstrated /spl sim/3-5X improvement of Q/sub BD/ of active edge intensive capacitors in comparison to thermal oxide, N/sub 2/O and NO oxynitride. This improvement is believed to be due to the reduction of local thinning of the gate dielectric at the field oxide edge which also reduces local build-up of positive charge near the gate electrode at the isolation edges.
Optimal discrimination and classification of neuronal action potential waveforms from multiunit, multichannel recordings using software-based linear filters

Describes advanced protocols for the discrimination and classification of neuronal spike waveforms within multichannel electrophysiological recordings. The programs are capable of detecting and classifying the spikes from multiple, simultaneously active neurons, even in situations where there is a high degree of spike waveform superposition on the recording channels. The protocols are based on the derivation of an optimal linear filter for each individual neuron. Each filter is tuned to selectively respond to the spike waveform generated by the corresponding neuron, and to attenuate noise and the spike waveforms from all other neurons. The protocol is essentially an extension of earlier work (S. Andreassen et al., 1979; W.M. Roberts and D.K. Hartline, 1975; R.B. Stein et al., 1979). However, the protocols extend the power and utility of the original implementations in two significant respects. First, a general single-pass automatic template estimation algorithm was derived and implemented. Second, the filters were implemented within a software environment providing a greatly enhanced functional organization and user interface. The utility of the analysis approach was demonstrated on samples of multiunit electrophysiological recordings from the cricket abdominal nerve cord. >
Telaprevir to Boceprevir switch highlights lack of cross-reactivity

Hepatitis C viral protease inhibitors increase sustained virologic response rates compared to interferon and ribavirin but also add side effects. Telaprevir and boceprevir are structurally similar, and share cross-resistant mutations. This case report highlights successful management of telaprevir skin rash and anal discomfort by switching to boceprevir.
Regulation of type II deiodinase expression by EGF and glucocorticoid in HC11 mouse mammary epithelium.

Thyroid hormones are important for mammary gland growth and development. The iodothyronine deiodinases play a key role in thyroid hormone metabolism. We have showed that type II 5′-deiodinase (5′D2...
Substrate effects on the verwey transition of thin magnetite films

Abstract The Verwey transition in magnetite thin films has been investigated by measuring the temperature dependence of the sheet resistivity. Substrate-induced stresses raise the transition temperature above the 119.4°K reported for bulk magnetite. The ratio of the resistances of the two phases at the transition temperature is independent of the substrate and proportional to the thickness of the sample, suggesting that a 600–1200 A surface layer remains in the high conductivity phase at all temperatures.
The re-emerging concept of personalized healthcare

Personalized healthcare has regained momentum through the unprecedented surge of research in the genomics field and related areas of biology. These new insights compel the optimization of healthcare and therapy for individual subjects. While the potential benefits are large, substantial obstacles need to be overcome for attaining clinical utility in general medial practice. These range from scientific hurdles emerging from biological and genetic complexity, to cultural, economic, legal, regulatory and ethical issues. This article addresses, in broad strokes, these intercalated issues, discussing recent advances, remaining questions and how to move forward. It also highlights recent developments at academic centers devoted to promoting personalized healthcare as an avenue with great potential for improving our healthcare system.
Foreword: Applying Feminism Globally

Welcome to the University of Baltimore Law Review’s first issue dedicated entirely to articles from the Center on Applied Feminism’s Feminist Legal Theory Conference. It is with great enthusiasm for this new collaboration and the Conference itself that I write this foreword to the issue.The Center on Applied Feminism serves as a bridge between feminist legal theory and the law. Unique within the legal academy, the Center seeks to apply feminist insights to legal practice and the policy arena. In particular, the Center examines how feminist theory can benefit legal practitioners in representing clients, shape legal doctrine, and play a role in policy debates and implementation. On March 30–31, 2011, the Center sponsored the Fourth Annual Feminist Legal Theory Conference: Applying Feminism Globally. The Conference brought together academics, practitioners, and activists from around the world to discuss such topics as Global Perspectives on Women’s Bodies, Health, and Reproduction; Women, Work and Socioeconomic Rights in the Global Economy; Women in Combat and Conflict – and Consequences; and Feminist Activism Around the World.
Scanning electron microscopic study of the airways in normal children and in patients with cystic fibrosis and other lung diseases.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to examine pulmonary tissue from 9 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), 12 patients with diseases other than CF, and from two surgically resected specimens with no known airways disease. A region of the human airways, the transition zone, was observed between the end of the terminal bronchiole and the type II alveolar cell lining of the respiratory bronchioles. This region was lined predominantly by nonciliated bronchiolar (NCB) cells. Patients with CF exhibited indistinct transition zones, epidermoid metaplasia, large dilated bronchial gland, copious surface mucus, alveolar destruction, and unusual microvilli; no single lesion specific for cystic fibrosis was identified.
Developing a Cloud Energy-Saving and Data-Mining Information Agent with Web Service Techniques

The paper focuses on developing a cloud energy-saving and data-mining information agent with Web service techniques. It could explore related technologies to establish a Web service platform, and study how to construct cloud interactive diagrams to employ Web service techniques for extensively and seamlessly integrating an energy-saving and data-mining information agent in the Internet. The preliminary system development, display and corresponding comparisons show that the research results are highly successful.
Behavioral effects of LSD in the cat: Proposal of an animal behavior model for studying the actions of hallucinogenic drugs ☆

In the course of examining the complete dose-response relationship for the behavioral effects of LSD in the cat, we discovered that, in addition to large increases in investigatory and hallucinatory-like responses, two behaviors, not previously reported, are emitted with a high probability under LSD. Beginning from a baseline of essentially zero in saline-treated animals, limb flicks and abortive grooming increase in frequency in direct relation to the dose of LSD administered (2.5, 10, 25 and 50 microgram/kg i.p.) and then decrease at higher doses (100 and 200 microgram/kg). Limb flicks are a species-specific behavior seen in normal cats almost exclusively in response to the presence of a foreign substance, such as water, on the hindpaw or forepaw. In abortive grooming, the cat orients to the body surfaces as if to groom but does not emit the consummatory grooming response (bite, lick or scratch), or emits the response in midair. These behaviors can serve as an animal behavior model for the actions of LSD and related hallucinogens in humans. The specificity of these behavioral changes is indicated by the fact that they are never seen in response to other classes of psychoactive drugs such as D-amphetamine, atropine, caffeine, and cholorpheniramine. They are, however, elicited by compounds such as psilocybin which are structurally and functionally related to LSD. The validity of the model is based on evidence indicating that it is: specific to hallucinogens, dose dependent, observed in a dose range effective in humans, parallels the major parameters of the actions of LSD in humans (see following paper), sensitive, robust, reliable, quantifiable and easy to score.
Is There a Relationship between DNA Methylation and Phenotypic Plasticity in Invertebrates

There is a significant amount of variation in DNA methylation characteristics across organisms. Likewise, the biological role of DNA methylation varies across taxonomic lineages. In some species, particularly invertebrates, there is increasing evidence suggesting that DNA methylation patterns contribute to enhanced phenotypic plasticity. For instance, based on recent studies in Crassostrea gigas, the absence of germline methylation could passively facilitate random variation increasing adaptive potential. Specific mechanisms by which limited methylation may contribute to increased phenotypic plasticity include: allowing access to alternative transcription start sites, sequence mutations, exon skipping, as well as transient methylation. Here we provide a perspective on the potential role of DNA methylation patterning providing advantages in organisms found in highly fluctuating environments. Fundamental differences in DNA methylation landscapes across organisms are discussed including recent research characterizing DNA methylation in invertebrates.
Oxygen Microscopy by Two‐Photon‐Excited Phosphorescence

High-resolution images of oxygen distributions in microheterogeneous samples are obtained by two-photon laser scanning microscopy (2P LSM), using a newly developed dendritic nanoprobe with internally enhanced two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-section. In this probe, energy is harvested by a 2PA antenna, which passes excitation onto a phosphorescent metalloporphyrin via intramolecular energy transfer. The 2P LSM allows sectioning of oxygen gradients with near diffraction-limited resolution, and lifetime-based acquisition eliminates dependence on the local probe concentration. The technique is validated on objects with a priori known oxygen distributions and applied to imaging of pO2 in cells.
The Effects of School Gardens on Students and Schools: Conceptualization and Considerations for Maximizing Healthy Development

There are thousands of school gardens in the United States, and there is anecdotal evidence that school garden programs can enhance students' learning in academic, social, and health-related domains. There has been little rigorous research, however, on the effects of school gardens or on the factors that promote the sustainability of these programs. This review draws on ecological theory to conceptualize school gardens as systemic interventions with the potential for promoting the health and well-being of individual students in multiple interdependent domains and for strengthening the school environment as a setting for positive youth development. This review (a) summarizes the small literature regarding the impact of school garden curricula on student or school functioning, (b) provides a conceptual framework to guide future inquiry, (c) discusses implications of this conceptualization for practice, and (d) suggests further research needed to better inform practice.
Algorithm for reduction of mechanical noise in arterial pulse recording with tonometry

The quality of arterial pulse recording is diminished by mechanical noise, mainly in the form of movement by the subject, which is unavoidable in environments such as treadmill stress testing aid in aerospace settings. A method is presented for minimizing motion artifacts in such recordings. The pulse shape is obtained, through the principle of tonometry, by means of two piezoelectric (crystal) sensors positioned at the pulse site. One motion sensor output is subtracted from the other (pulse sensor=pulse+mostly common-mode motion) output. Observations show that the mechanical gain at each sensor's interface differs. Subject movements can shift the transducer slightly and makes the gain time-varying. An algorithm is developed that estimates the best fit of pulse signal vs. noise signal in real time, using the method of least squares. An equation is presented to correct the pulse. >
Driver Age as a Factor in Comprehension of Left-Turn Signals:

An experiment to measure driver comprehension of left-turn signal and sign configurations was conducted as part of a study to investigate the performance of left-turn signals used in various signal strategies. The responses of 191 individuals to 81 stimuli simulating left-turn signal phases were analyzed for the effect of signal message on driver comprehension. Stimuli included 17 left-turn signal displays used for permitted, protected, and protected/permitted left-turn strategies as well as left turns during nighttime or emergency flashing signal operations. Comprehension in the original study was based on a correct versus incorrect dichotomy: if the subject's response agreed with a predetermined subset of possible answers, the answer was correct; all other answers were considered incorrect. These data are reanalyzed with three principal variations: (a) individuals' answers are based on a three-level correctness concept whereby answers considered incorrect in the previous study were further categorized i...
Coatings and Thick Films

A thick film typically has a thickness in the range 10–25μm; thin films are usually <500nm. However, what really distinguishes thick films and thin films—more than just their relative thickness—is the way in which they are produced. Thin films are often deposited using vacuum techniques such as sputtering and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). We describe these techniques and consider acronyms and hyphens in Chapter 28. Thick films are deposited from a solution or paste, which must be dried and then often sintered to produce the final coating.
Measuring complete isotopomer distribution of aspartate using gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

We have developed a simple and accurate method for determining the complete positional isotopomer distribution of aspartate carbon atoms by gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for 13C-metabolic flux analysis. First, we screened tandem mass spectrometry (MS) spectra of the tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) derivative of aspartate for daughter fragments with the necessary carbon atom fragmentations to fully resolve all 16 isotopomers of aspartate. Tandem MS scanning parameters were optimized for each daughter fragment, and the accuracy of tandem MS measurements were evaluated. We selected five accurate fragments that provided a redundant set of 47 labeling measurements to quantify the complete isotopomer distribution of aspartate by least-squares regression. The validity of the approach was demonstrated using six 13C-labeled aspartate standards and natural aspartate.
Neural correlates of temporal credit assignment in the parietal lobe.

Empirical studies of decision making have typically assumed that value learning is governed by time, such that a reward prediction error arising at a specific time triggers temporally-discounted learning for all preceding actions. However, in natural behavior, goals must be acquired through multiple actions, and each action can have different significance for the final outcome. As is recognized in computational research, carrying out multi-step actions requires the use of credit assignment mechanisms that focus learning on specific steps, but little is known about the neural correlates of these mechanisms. To investigate this question we recorded neurons in the monkey lateral intraparietal area (LIP) during a serial decision task where two consecutive eye movement decisions led to a final reward. The underlying decision trees were structured such that the two decisions had different relationships with the final reward, and the optimal strategy was to learn based on the final reward at one of the steps (the “F” step) but ignore changes in this reward at the remaining step (the “I” step). In two distinct contexts, the F step was either the first or the second in the sequence, controlling for effects of temporal discounting. We show that LIP neurons had the strongest value learning and strongest post-decision responses during the transition after the F step regardless of the serial position of this step. Thus, the neurons encode correlates of temporal credit assignment mechanisms that allocate learning to specific steps independently of temporal discounting.
Surfactant-free, large-scale, solution-liquid-solid growth of gallium phosphide nanowires and their use for visible-light-driven hydrogen production from water reduction.

Colloidal GaP nanowires (NWs) were synthesized on a large scale by a surfactant-free, self-seeded solution–liquid–solid (SLS) method using triethylgallium and tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphine as precursors and a noncoordinating squalane solvent. Ga nanoscale droplets were generated in situ by thermal decomposition of the Ga precursor and subsequently promoted the NW growth. The GaP NWs were not intentionally doped and showed a positive open-circuit photovoltage based on photoelectrochemical measurements. Purified GaP NWs were used for visible-light-driven water splitting. Upon photodeposition of Pt nanoparticles on the wire surfaces, significantly enhanced hydrogen production was observed. The results indicate that colloidal surfactant-free GaP NWs combined with potent surface electrocatalysts could serve as promising photocathodes for artificial photosynthesis.
Molecularly Modified Alkoxide Precursors for Synthesis of Dielectric Ceramics.

Chemical synthesis of titanate and zirconate based multicomponent electronic ceramics using molecularly modified alkoxide precursors is discussed. Controlled chemical polymerization of the modified alkoxides was conducted to prepare multicomponent gels which on calcination at moderate temperatures (700 – 1000°C) formed high purity, ultrafine powders (e.g. BaTiO3, ZrTiO4, LiTaO3). In the sol-precipitation technique modified precursors were used to prepare ultrafine ( 13) conditions.
Ionized magnesium and calcium levels in umbilical cord serum of pregnant women with transient hypertension during labor.

Using a new ion selective electrode (ISE) to measure ionized magnesium (IMg2+), we compared levels of IMg2+ with total magnesium (TMg) and serum ionized calcium levels (ICa2+) in umbilical arterial and venous serum of 13 parturients who developed transient hypertension in labor with levels in 38 who remained normotensive. Ionized, but not total magnesium levels were significantly lower in the umbilical veins of the hypertensive compared to the normotensive subjects (0.46 +/- 0.01 v 0.51 +/- 0.01 mmol/L), and these were at least 15% lower than maternal levels found in nonpregnant women (0.60 +/- 0.005 mmol/L, P < .001). If umbilical vein samples reflect maternal levels as well, then these results suggest that lower IMg2+ levels may play a role in the development of transient hypertension in labor, and the potential utility of an ion selective electrode for ionized magnesium in the diagnosis of subtle magnesium deficient states.
First strike: does preemptive analgesia work?

Adina Stern, 52, is in the preholding area of the hospital in preparation for her abdominal hysterectomy this morning. She and her surgeon agreed that she'd have a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump for postoperative pain control. Now as she gets ready for her surgery, she asks you if she should have pain medicine before surgery to prevent pain, so she wouldn't need as much medication postoperatively.
Cinoxacin in the Treatment of Acute Urinary Tract Infections: An Evaluation of Efficacy and a Comparison of Dosage Schedules

AbstractFifty-one women with acute urinary tract infections have been treated with cinoxacin, a new synthetic compound that is similar chemically and in antimicrobial activity to nalidixic acid. Urine cultures were made before treatment was started, midway through the 7 to 10-day course of therapy, 1 week after therapy and 4 to 6 weeks after therapy, if possible. Pre-treatment, midtherapy and post-therapy evaluations of renal and liver function along with a complete blood count were done. All patients were believed to have lower urinary tract infections. Urine cultures in 48 of the 51 patients (94 per cent) became sterile during therapy and 47 patients (92 per cent) maintained sterile urine 1 week after therapy. Of those patients undergoing followup cultures 4 to 6 weeks after therapy 72 per cent had sterile urine. No significant hematological, renal, hepatic or gastroenterologic toxicity was noted. Cinoxacin seems to be a safe and useful drug in the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by the com...
A sensor coverage game with improved efficiency guarantees

Distributed sensor coverage problem deals with designing local policies which enable a collection of mobile sensors placed in a mission space to reach a stable allocation which maximizes the coverage of the mission space. Due to stringent local information restrictions, classical approaches to distributed coverage such as Lloyd's algorithm cannot guarantee the worst case performance to be greater than 1/n of the optimal where n is the number of agents. Can we improve efficiency guarantees by providing additional, but limited information about the mission space to each agent? Modeling sensor coverage problem as a strategic game, we design an agent's payoff as a combination of a local utility function, which computes the marginal contribution of the agent to the system objective, and a network utility function, which computes the potential gain in the system objective that is achievable by relocating any other agent to former's local neighborhood. We show that the worst case efficiency of the designed game is at least 50%: Finally, we prove that the game is weakly acyclic and hence local agent policies such as better/best reply dynamics are guaranteed to converge to an equilibrium.
“New Hollywood” Filmmakers in the 1970s and 1980s

Hollywood in the 1970s and 1980s has acquired many labels, including “New Hollywood” and “Hollywood Renaissance.” There is dispute over how these labels differ, but, in general, we can agree that films from this period were in large part responses to post-Vietnam social upheavals, youthful alienation, shifting concepts of authorship, and technological change. This was the era of Director-As-Auteur, witness the directors featured here—Robert Altman, Steven Spielberg, Terry Gilliam, and Michael Moore. Spielberg and cinematographer Allen Daviau infused issues of race into the blockbuster format; Altman and Gilliam brought a morally ambiguous, fiercely revisionist vision that undermined narrative coherence and conventional genre formulas; and Michael Moore introduced his own special brand of “ambush,” agit-prop documentary agendas. Meanwhile, Muppet-Master Jim Henson, special effects wizard Richard Edlund, and editor Neal Travis confronted changes both social and technological in their work. Despite this scramble of change and revision, Classical Hollywood assimilates it all. The big studios never relinquish their power; rather, they distribute under their banners the work of independent production entities. See Geoff King, New Hollywood Cinema (New York: Columbia University Press, 2002).
Fused Salt Processing. Problem Statement

On a short-term basis the Chemical Development Fused Salt Processing program is essentially a straightforward, systematic investigation of the variables related to the hydrofluorination-dissolution of STR elements in a fluoride fused salt with the objective of establishing a process flowsheet. The significant variables were given in ORNL-56-1-67 and are temperature, type of fluoride melt, rate of HF addition, agitation (assuming that this is a different variable from rate of HF addition), and metallurgical condition of the fuel. Perhaps it is not presumptuous to add studies on nickel corrosion and efficiency of HF utilization to this list. These variables, with the exception of the type of fluoride melt, have already been investigated to the point where plant design should be possible (as a matter of fact, Argonne is proceeding on this presumption). It is unlikely that any significant changes would be made in that design on the basis of any work done in the near future. Consequently, a preliminary flowsheet will be drawn up on the basis of the existing information, and areas for possible further elaboration will be pinpointed.
On mode estimation in pattern recognition

A procedure for determining the modes of a continuous univariate probability density function (p.d.f.) is suggested. Inherent in this procedure is the use of a new nonparametric estimate of the p.d.f. An extension of this method to the multidimensional case is posed and some results of the procedure applied to real data problems are presented.
Value Change and Non-Violent Protest in South Korea: An Empirical Analysis

AbstractUsing the first, second, and sixth waves of the World Values Surveys, this article examines the extent to which the mass public's values have changed and/or persisted and their impact on political orientations, measured by protest potential and leftist ideology, in Korea. We find that the emergence of an authoritarian-libertarian value cleavage has played an important, if not vital, role in shifting mass political attitudes and in enhancing the propensity to engage in political action from the authoritarian rule, to the democratic transition, and to the period of democratic consolidation. We also empirically uncover our authoritarian-libertarian value scale is related to increasing levels of leftist reform-oriented attitudes, whereas age has become less important to Koreans in defining their orientations to political protest, especially during the period of democratic consolidation.
Aluminum and iron biomass pretreatment impacts on biochar anion exchange capacity

Abstract Some biochars have significant anion exchange capacity (AEC) under acidic pH conditions but typically have little or no AEC at neutral to alkaline pHs. We hypothesized that metal oxyhydroxide surface coatings on biochar will increase biochar anion exchange capacity (AEC) at higher pHs by virtue of the high point of zero net charge of metal oxyhydroxides. Here we report that pyrolysis temperature and the distribution of metal oxyhydroxides in biochars prepared by slow pyrolysis of biomass pre-treated with Al or Fe trichlorides strongly influenced biochar AEC. Biochars produced at 700 °C exhibit greater AEC than biochars similarly prepared at 500 °C. Spectroscopic (FTIR, XPS, and SEM-EDS) studies provided evidence for the formation of Al O C organometallic moieties on biochar surfaces that formed during pyrolysis. To a lesser extent, Fe also formed Fe O C surface structures on biochar, but most Fe was present in discrete crystalline phases ranging from zerovalent iron to ferric oxides. These organometallic bonding structures are a means of supporting metal oxides on biochar carbon and are responsible for broader metal atom distributions, which can increase AEC through the development of metal oxyhydroxide surface coatings that exhibit high points of zero net charge.
Evaluation of dose calculation accuracy of treatment planning systems at hip prosthesis interfaces.

There are an increasing number of radiation therapy patients with hip prosthesis. The common method of minimizing treatment planning inaccuracies is to avoid radiation beams to transit through the prosthesis. However, the beams often exit through them, especially when the patient has a double-prosthesis. Modern treatment planning systems employ algorithms with improved dose calculation accuracies but even these algorithms may not predict the dose accurately at high atomic number interfaces. The current study evaluates the dose calculation accuracy of three common dose calculation algorithms employed in two commercial treatment planning systems. A hip prosthesis was molded inside a cylindrical phantom and the dose at several points within the phantom at the interface with prosthesis was measured using thermoluminescent dosimeters. The measured doses were then compared to the predicted ones by the planning systems. The results of the study indicate all three algorithms underestimate the dose at the prosthesis interface, albeit to varying degrees, and for both low- and high-energy x rays. The measured doses are higher than calculated ones by 5–22% for Pinnacle Collapsed Cone Convolution algorithm, 2–23% for Eclipse Acuros XB, and 6–25% for Eclipse Analytical Anisotropic Algorithm. There are generally better agreements for AXB algorithm and the worst results are for the AAA.
Tuning the Ground State and Excited State Properties of Monocationic Iridium(III) Complexes by Varying the Site of Benzannulation on Diimine Ligand.

Extending π-conjugation of the diimine ligand (N^N ligand) via benzannulation is a common way to tune the absorption and emission energies of cationic iridium(III) complexes. However, it can cause either a red- or blue-shift of the absorption and emission bands depending on the site of benzannulation. To understand the mechanism of changes in optical transitions upon benzannulation on the diimine ligand, a series of new cationic iridium(III) complexes [Ir(dppi)2(N^N)]PF6 (1–6) (where dppi =1,2-diphenylpyreno[4,5-d]imidazole; N^N = 2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline (1), 2-(pyridin-2-yl)[7,8]benzoquinoline (2), 2,2′-bisquinoline (3), 2-(quinolin-2-yl)[7,8]benzoquinoline (4), 2-(pyridin-2-yl)[6,7]benzoquinoline (5), 2-(quinolin-2-yl)[6,7]benzoquinoline (6)) containing diimine ligand with varied degrees of π-conjugation via benzannulation at different sites of the 2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline ligand were synthesized. Experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that benzannulation at th...
Peripheral Nerve Stimulator

Peripheral nerve stimulation is an essential intra- and postoperative monitor of neuromuscular function and serves as a guide during critical periods including intubation and recovery from a general anesthetic. This is monitored by evaluating the muscular response to supramaximal electric stimulation of a peripheral motor nerve. Common sites include facial nerve (facial twitch) and ulnar nerve (thumb abduction). There are five patterns of stimulation commonly elicited. These are single-twitch stimulation, train-of-four (TOF) stimulation, double-burst stimulation, tetanic stimulation, and posttetanic count stimulation. There is good emerging evidence that objective monitoring performed perioperatively ensuring a TOF ratio greater than 0.9 will cause a subsequent decrease in the incidence of postoperative residual paralysis.
Inducible overexpression of endothelial proNGF as a mouse model to study microvascular dysfunction

Impaired maturation of nerve growth factor precursor (proNGF) and its accumulation has been reported in several neurodegenerative diseases, myocardial infarction and diabetes. To elucidate the direct impact of proNGF accumulation identified the need to create a transgenic model that can express fully mutated cleavage-resistant proNGF. Using Cre-Lox technology, we developed an inducible endothelial-specific proNGF transgenic mouse (proNGFLoxp) that overexpresses GFP-conjugated cleavage-resistant proNGF123 when crossed with VE-cadherin-CreERT2 (Cre). Expression of proNGF, inflammatory mediators, NGF and VEGF was evaluated by PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. EC-proNGF overexpression was confirmed using colocalization of anti-proNGF within retinal vasculature. EC-proNGF did not cause retinal neurotoxicity or marked glial activation at 4-weeks. Microvascular preparation from Cre-proNGF mice showed significant imbalance of proNGF/NGF ratio, enhanced expression of TNF-α and p75NTR, and tendency to impair TrkA phosphorylation compared to controls. EC-proNGF overexpression triggered mRNA expression of p75NTR and inflammatory mediators in both retina and renal cortex compared to controls. EC-proNGF expression induced vascular permeability including breakdown of BRB and albuminuria in the kidney without affecting VEGF level at 4-weeks. Histopathological changes were assessed after 8-weeks and the results showed that EC-proNGF triggered formation of occluded (acellular) capillaries, hall mark of retinal ischemia. EC-proNGF resulted in glomerular enlargement and kidney fibrosis, hall mark of renal dysfunction. We have successfully created an inducible mouse model that can dissect the contribution of autocrine direct action of cleavage-resistant proNGF on systemic microvascular abnormalities in both retina and kidney, major targets for microvascular complication.
IL-2Rβ abundance differentially tunes IL-2 signaling dynamics in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) stimulates both activated CD4 + and CD8 + T cells to proliferate. IL-2 signals through an identical receptor complex and promotes the same dose-dependent phosphorylation of the canonical transcription factor STAT5 in both cell types. Despite this, CD8 + T cells enter the S phase earlier and proliferate to a greater extent than do CD4 + T cells in response to IL-2. We identified distinct IL-2 signaling dynamics in CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. In IL-2–stimulated CD8 + T cells, STAT5 phosphorylation increased rapidly and was sustained for 6 hours. In contrast, CD4 + T cells had a biphasic response, with maxima at 15 min and 2 to 4 hours after stimulation. Both cell types required vesicular trafficking, but only CD4 + T cells required new protein synthesis to maintain high phosphorylation of STAT5. Two subunits of the IL-2 receptor, IL-2Rβ and IL-2Rγ, were twice as abundant in CD8 + T cells than in CD4 + T cells. Reduction of IL-2Rβ abundance by 50% was sufficient to convert CD8 + T cells to a CD4 + T cell–like signaling pattern and delay S phase entry. These results suggest that the larger pool of IL-2Rβ chains in CD8 + T cells is required to sustain IL-2 signaling and contributes to the quantitatively greater proliferative response to IL-2 relative to that of CD4 + T cells. This cell type–specific difference in IL-2Rβ abundance appears to tune responses, potentially preventing extensive, autoimmune proliferation of CD4 + T cells, while still enabling sufficient proliferation of CD8 + T cells to control viral infections.
Robust Quantitative Assessment of Trabecular Microarchitecture in Extremity Cone-Beam CT Using Optimized Segmentation Algorithms.

Purpose: In-vivo evaluation of bone microarchitecture remains challenging because of limited resolution of conventional orthopaedic imaging modalities. We investigate the performance of flat-panel detector extremity Cone-Beam CT (CBCT) in quantitative analysis of trabecular bone. To enable accurate morphometry of fine trabecular bone architecture, advanced CBCT pre-processing and segmentation algorithms are developed. Methods: The study involved 35 transilliac bone biopsy samples imaged on extremity CBCT (voxel size 75 μm, imaging dose ~13 mGy) and gold standard μCT (voxel size 7.67 μm). CBCT image segmentation was performed using (i) global Otsu’s thresholding, (ii) Bernsen’s local thresholding, (iii) Bernsen’s local thresholding with additional histogram-based global pre-thresholding, and (iv) the same as (iii) but combined with contrast enhancement using a Laplacian Pyramid. Correlations between extremity CBCT with the different segmentation algorithms and gold standard μCT were investigated for measurements of Bone Volume over Total Volume (BV/TV), Trabecular Thickness (Tb.Th), Trabecular Spacing (Tb.Sp), and Trabecular Number (Tb.N). Results: The combination of local thresholding with global pre-thresholding and Laplacian contrast enhancement outperformed other CBCT segmentation methods. Using this optimal segmentation scheme, strong correlation between extremity CBCT and μCT was achieved, with Pearson coefficients of 0.93 for BV/TV, 0.89 for Tb.Th, 0.91 for Tb.Sp, and 0.88 for Tb.N (all results statistically significant). Compared to a simple global CBCT segmentation using Otsu’s algorithm, the advanced segmentation method achieved ~20% improvement in the correlation coefficient for Tb.Th and ~50% improvement for Tb.Sp. Conclusions: Extremity CBCT combined with advanced image pre-processing and segmentation achieves high correlation with gold standard μCT in measurements of trabecular microstructure. This motivates ongoing development of clinical applications of extremity CBCT in in-vivo evaluation of bone health e.g. in early osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
Supply Chain Intermediation: A Bargaining Theoretic Framework

This chapter explores the theory of supply chain intermediation. Using a bargaining theoretic framework, we set out to examine why intermediaries exist, different forms they operate, and the way they influence supply chain efficiency. The notion of intermediary has its root in the economics literature, referring to those economic agents who coordinate and arbitrate transactions in between a group of suppliers and customers. Distinctions are often drawn between a “market maker” and a “broker” intermediary Resnick et al., 1998. The former buys, sells, and holds inventory (e.g., retailers, wholesales), while the latter provides services without owning the goods being transacted (e.g., insurance agents, financial brokage). Sarkar et al. (1995) offer a list of various intermediation services. They distinguish the services that benefit the customers (e.g. assistance in search and evaluation, needs assessment and product matching, risk reduction, and product distribution/delivery) and those that benefit the suppliers (e.g. creating and disseminating product information). Taking a step further, Spulber (1996) views intermediary as the fundamental building block of economic activities. He proposes the intermediation theory of the firm which suggests that the very existence of firms is due to the needs for intermediated exchange between a group of suppliers and customers. A firm is created when “the gains from intermediated exchange exceed the gains from direct exchange (between the supplier and the customer).” He also suggests that “with intermediated exchange, firms select prices, clear markets, allocate resources, and coordinate transactions” By this definition, firms are intermediaries which establish and operate markets.
Laser Induced Collisional Energy Transfer

This paper will summarize and review the work in laser induced collisional processes which has been underway in our group at Stanford during the last five years.
Factors influencing adenosine 3',5'-phosphate accumulation in bovine thyroid slices.

Abstract Incubation of bovine thyroid slices in the presence of thyroid-stimulating hormone resulted in increased slice content of adenosine 3',5'-phosphate. This effect of thyroid-stimulating hormone was potentiated by the inclusion of 1 mm theophylline in the incubation medium. In the presence or absence of theophylline, adenosine 3',5'-phosphate accumulation was maximally stimulated by 10 munits per ml of thyroid-stimulating hormone, and the highest nucleotide levels were attained by 3 to 6 minutes of incubation. Levels declined slowly following this early peak. The system responded similarly with two thyroid-stimulating hormone preparations of differing purities. Other peptide hormones tested were inactive. Among various chemical agents tested, only epinephrine was found to stimulate adenosine 3',5'-phosphate accumulation. This effect of epinephrine was half-maximal at 0.2 to 0.3 µm, but the magnitude of the response was small and its duration was brief as compared to the action of thyroid-stimulating hormone. The response to epinephrine was antagonized well by dichloroisoproterenol, but poorly by phenoxybenzamine.