cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Results of the Hyperfractionated Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, Doxorubicin, and Dexamethasone Regimen in Elderly Patients With Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

BACKGROUND. Understanding the causes of failure in older patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) may help improve treatment strategies for patients in this particular age group. METHODS. The objectives of the current study were to define the causes of death in older patients (aged ≥60 years) with ALL during induction and consolidation-maintenance with a dose-intensive regimen of alternating 8 courses of hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (hyper-CVAD) with high doses of methotrexate and cytarabine followed by maintenance with 6-mercaptopurine, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone and to compare their outcomes with the outcomes of older patients who received earlier, less intensive regimens and younger patients who received hyper-CVAD. One hundred twenty-two older patients who received hyper-CVAD were compared with 34 older patients who received less intensive regimens and with 409 younger patients who received hyper-CVAD. RESULTS. The complete response (CR) rates in older patients receiving hyper-CVAD, older patients receiving other regimens, and younger patients receiving hyper-CVAD were 84%, 59%, and 92%, respectively (P < .001); and the respective induction mortality rates were 10%, 12%, and 2% (P not significant in older patients). The incidence of disease resistance during induction was 5%, 27%, and 2%, respectively (P < .001). The majority of deaths were related to infections. Among patients who achieved a CR, death in CR was noted in 34%, 15%, and 7% of older patients receiving hyper-CVAD, older patients receiving other regimens, and younger patients, respectively (P < .001); and the respective rates of recurrence were 40%, 80%, and 48% (P = .004). The estimated 5-year survival rates were 20%, 9%, and 48%, respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS. The results of the current study suggested that intensifying the chemotherapy in older patients with ALL reduced the incidence of leukemia resistance but increased the incidence of death in CR from myelosuppression-associated infections. The overall benefit:risk ratio was favorable. Identifying novel, low-intensity agents/regimens for older patients with ALL may improve the results further. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Narrative and social tacit knowledge

This paper discusses the role of narrative in the expression and transmission of social knowledge as a specific type of tacit knowledge. Narrative is a central mechanism by which social knowledge is conveyed. Narrative provides a bridge between the tacit and the explicit, allowing tacit social knowledge to be demonstrated and learned, without the need to propositionalize it. Institutions can best maintain their stock of stories by providing occasions on which they can be told. Archival systems such as databases, lessons learned systems, and video records are less effective, particularly when they attempt to store records or transcripts of oral stories. However, they can be improved by attention to key design dimensions, including appropriate allocation of the effort required from system administrators and users, and attention to translation between genres.
Apotransferrins from several species promote thyroid hormone-dependent rat pituitary tumor cell growth in iron-restricted serum-free defined culture

Abstract Previously, we have studied thyroid hormone-dependent growth of GH1 rat pituitary tumor cells in iron-restricted serum-free defined medium (Sirbasku, D.A., et al. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 295–304, 7466–7477). Proliferation was promoted by triiodothyronine (T3) and any of seven forms of horse serum-derived apotransferrin (apoTf). In this report, we have asked if apoTfs from other species also acted as thyromedins and if other metal ion chelators served this role. To address these issues, three thyromedins were isolated from human serum and identified as apoTf, Fe3+ depletion, and assay in low-Fe medium, gave ED50s of 1.4–1.7 nM. Fe3+ saturation abolished their activities in high-Fe medium. To ask if apoTf was the major thyromedin in human serum, hormone-depleted preparations were iron saturated and shown to no longer support T3-dependent GH1 cell growth. Next, commercially prepared human, rat, horse, dog, rabbit, guinea pig and mouse apoTfs were shown to be as active under iron-restricted conditions as those isolated from human serum. Bovine apoTf and colostrum lactoferrin were > 100-fold less active; human milk apo-lactoferrin and apo-ovotransferrins were inactive. Transferrins which displayed thyromedin activity blocked the binding of 125I-rat 2Fe · Tf to GH1 cell receptors while those without thyromedin activity were ineffective. Finally, the metal ion chelators EDTA, citrate and deferoxamine did not show thyromedin activity indicating that apoTfs uniquely were able to promote T3-dependent cell growth in defined culture.
DNA polymerase activity during meiosis

Abstract DNA polymerase activity was examined during the meiotic cycle in Lilium. A marked increase in the bound fraction of enzyme activity was observed at zygonema, the stage of meiotic prophase when a late replicating DNA is synthesized.
AN ABSENCE OF X-RAY ACCRETION SHOCK INSTABILITY SIGNATURES IN TW HYDRAE

Gas accreting onto T Tauri stars should form shocks that are susceptible to the classical radiative shock instability. The instability should give rise to strong periodic modulation in the X-ray emission from the shock-heated plasma. Time series analysis of soft X-rays thought to arise predominantly in an accretion shock on the classical T Tauri star TW Hydrae reveals no periodic variations and a 99% confidence pulsed fraction limit of 5% over the frequency range 0.0001-6.81 Hz. We find no clear explanation for the absence of X-ray instability signatures, but suggest that existing one-dimensional models are too simple to explain the three-dimensional shock structure, or that preheating and deceleration of the accretion stream by the damping of magnetohydrodynamic waves excited either by the shock itself, or more deeply in the stellar envelope, could ameliorate the instability in the likely case of a sub-Alfvenic shock.
Dissolved and suspended solids transport from Coastal Plain watersheds.

Determination des teneurs et des depots de matieres dissoutes et en suspension dans les cours d'eau et les bassins versants de Coastal Plain; etude des relations entre les concentrations, les depots et les debits; determination de la qualite des eaux en tenant compte de ces parametres
The effects of supine exercise on left ventricular volume in heart disease.

Abstract Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (EDV) was measured by thermodilution in 30 patients with heart disease. Those with little physiologic abnormality varied in their response to exertion. In some, EDV decreased while forward stroke volume (FSV) was maintained or increased. In others, EDV and FSV rose during exercise. Patients with aortic insufficiency usually had a decrease in EDV with exercise, whether FSV increased or decreased. In patients with other lesions, FSV and EDV tended to vary together. Changes in EDV and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure with exercise were usually not in the same direction, and the factors which may explain this unexpected finding are discussed. It is concluded that end-diastolic pressure, as usually measured in the left ventricle during cardiac catheterization, will not reliably describe EDV or its changes with exercise.
Superconductivity in layered Ge/Cu films

Abstract A number of multilayered Ge/Cu thin films have been prepared by magnetron sputtering. These samples exhibit superconducting transitions at temperatures ranging from 0.3K to near 0.5K over a wide range of Cu and Ge layer thicknesses. Parallel beam X-ray diffraction patterns indicate the presence of monoclinic ( ϵ 1 ) Cu 3 Ge and an unidentified metastable crystalline phase in such multilayers over the investigated range of thicknesses (sometimes accompanied by a-Ge and fcc-Cu depending on the multilayer composition). The new metastable phase appears to be responsible for the observed superconductivity.
A modified technique for percutaneous needle biopsy of the kidney.

A technique for percutaneous needle biopsy of the kidney in infants and children,with the use of the amplifying fluoroscope, has been developed. With this technique, success has been obtained in over 97 per cent of the patients upon whom biopsies were performed.
The addition of rituximab to fludarabine and cyclophosphamide improves progression-free survival in patients with previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia in the United States [1]. There has been considerable progress in understanding the biology and treatment of CLL in last 20 years. The introduction of purine analogs (pentostatin, fludarabine, and cladribine) dramatically increased the response rates compared to alkylating agents [2, 3]. Combination chemoimmunotherapy has further improved the overall frequency of response to over 80% in treatment-naive and over 60% in relapsed/ refractory disease, respectively [4–7]. The combination of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) has been demonstrated to be one of the most effective regimens in younger patients with CLL in phase 2 trials. Tam et al. [4], reporting on 300 patients, noted an overall response frequency of 95% with 72% achieving complete response (CR) in patients treated with FCR as initial therapy for CLL. Other studies of FCR, reported by Lamanna et al. [7] and Foon et al. [8], revealed an overall response frequency of 100% and 89%, respectively, with CR in 77% and 61% of patients, respectively. In the salvage setting, FCR achieved a CR in 25% and overall response in 73% of the patients [5]. However, none of the prior studies have directly compared the addition of rituximab to fludarabine and cyclophosphamide in previously treated patients with CLL. Robak and colleagues report on a phase 3 trial, conducted at 88 centers in 17 countries between July 2003 and August 2007, that randomized previously treated patients with CLL to FC or FCR.
Distinctive Effects of T Cell Subsets in Neuronal Injury Induced by Cocultured Splenocytes In Vitro and by In Vivo Stroke in Mice

Background and Purpose—T cells and their subsets modulate ischemic brain injury. We studied the effects of the absence of T cell subsets on brain infarction after in vivo stroke and then used an in vitro coculture system of splenocytes and neurons to further identify the roles of T cell subsets in neuronal death. Methods—Stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery suture occlusion in mice and infarct sizes were measured 2 days poststroke. Splenocytes were cocultured with neurons, and neuronal survival was measured 3 days later. Results—A deficiency of both T and B cells (severe combined immunodeficiency) and the paucity of CD4 or CD8 T cells equally resulted in smaller infarct sizes as measured 2 days poststroke. Although a functional deficiency of regulatory T cells had no effect, impaired Th1 immunity reduced infarction and impaired Th2 immunity aggravated brain injury, which may be due to an inhibited and enhanced inflammatory response in mice deficient in Th1 and Th2 immunity, respectively. In the in...
Limit, Logic, and Computation

We introduce “ultrafilter limits” into the classical Turing model of computation and develop a paradigm for interpreting the problem of distinguishing the class P from NP as a logical problem of decidability. We use P(NP) to denote decision problems which can be solved on a (nondeterministic) Turing machine in polynomial time. The concept is that in an appropriate limit it may be possible to prove that problems in P are still decidable, so a problem whose limit is undecidable would be established as lying outside of P.
Surgical Treatment of Intra-articular Calcaneal Fractures

Most intra-articular calcaneal fractures are a result of high-energy trauma. The operative management of calcaneal fractures has been based on achieving anatomic reduction and minimizing complications of the compromised soft tissue envelope. The traditional extensile lateral approach offers advantages of achieving adequate fracture reduction with the risk of wound-healing complications and infection. Limited open reduction and internal fixation techniques with or without using external fixation focuses on achieving fracture reduction with less risk of wound complications but higher risk of malunion. This article discusses key points of operative management for various intra-articular calcaneal fracture patterns and clinical presentations.
A neural network model for spino-muscular generation of launching and braking forces by opponent muscles

The authors (1991) previously reported results on a mathematical model of the spinal circuitry known to be involved in controlling the balance of forces generated by muscles pulling from opposite sides of rotary joints in higher vertebrates. The model's neural connectivity is described. The model, known by the acronym FLETE, encapsulates the hypothesis that the spinal circuitry evolved to allow factorization or independent control of muscle length and muscle tension. The FLETE model revealed that such independent control requires specialized interneuronal circuitry to efficiently coordinate the opponent force generators. That analysis is extended to incorporate neuronal circuitry that ensures efficient opponent force generation and velocity regulation during movement. >
Relationships between polydnavirus gene expression and host range of the parasitoid wasp Campoletis sonorensis

To evaluate the relationship between immune suppression and host range six lepidopteran species were parasitized by the ichneumonid parasitoid Campoletis sonorensis. Parasitism inhibited the growth of permissive hosts (Heliothis virescens, Helicoverpa zea, and Trichoplusia ni), whereas growth of semi-permissive (Spodoptera exigua, Agrotis ipsilon) and non-permissive hosts (Manduca sexta) was not significantly affected. The 29‐36 kDa ovarian protein (OP), responsible for transient immunosuppression in the permissive host H. virescens, bound to and was endocytosed by hemocytes of permissive and non-permissive hosts. Expression of the cysteine-rich polydnavirus gene, VHv1.4, was detected in all the hosts, but declined only in semi- and non-permissive hosts at later times after parasitization. The VHv1.4 protein bound to hemocytes of permissive and semi-permissive hosts, but did not bind to hemocytes of the non-permissive host, M. sexta. Melanization of larval hemolymph was severely inhibited by parasitism in permissive hosts, but was unaffected in M. sexta. In the semi-permissive host, A. ipsilon, hemolymph melanization was transiently inhibited while viral genes were expressed. In conclusion, C. sonorensis OP transiently inhibits encapsulation in all hosts that were tested. The host range of C. sonorensis seems to be determined by whether or not the C. sonorensis ichnovirus (CsIV) is able to establish persistent infections of parasitized larvae to provide long-term suppression of host immunity. © 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Unambiguous Accuracy of an Interferometer Angle-Measuring System

In this paper we consider the problem of using signals received at three or four antennas to estimate the direction from which radio-frequency (RF) radiation is arriving. Though the results are couched in the terminology of angle measurements, they are applicable to any ambiguous measurements for which the number of ambiguities is inversely proportional to the accuracy. For an interferometric system the effect of receiver noise is examined. Then the optimum way to process the received waveforms, and the best spacing for the antennas, is determined. Next, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) requirements are determined which must be met to insure that, with a given probability, the final unambiguous measurement is not in error by more than some specified amount. Finally, a comparison is made between a system which uses unambiguous measurements and a system which uses ambiguous measurements and then resolves the ambiguities.
Epidemiology of ischemic placental disease: A focus on preterm gestations

Preeclampsia, placental abruption, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) have collectively been termed ischemic placental disease (IPD) due to a suspected common biological pathway involving poor placentation in early pregnancy and subsequent placental insufficiency. Despite decades of research, the etiologies of these conditions remain largely unknown and preventive and therapeutic strategies are lacking. It has been suggested that the underpinnings of IPD lie primarily in preterm gestations and that classification of these conditions based on the gestational age at onset will facilitate etiologic research. The purpose of this review is to describe our current knowledge regarding the risk factors, co-occurrence, and recurrence of the conditions of IPD with a specific focus on the preterm gestational window.
Structure of an extensible augmented reality framework for visualization of simulated construction processes

The presented work describes the recent research being conducted by the authors in the field of visualization of simulated construction processes. The underlying uncertainty involved in almost all construction operations makes it necessary to study and analyze the behavior of the acting resources in more detail and under different scenarios in order to come up with the most efficient method to perform a set of tasks and obtain the best possible result. Simulation and visualization of planned construction processes are powerful tools to achieve this objective. This paper focuses on the application of Augmented Reality (AR) for visualizing simulated construction processes in both outdoor and indoor environments and compares it to methods of visualizing modeled processes in pure Virtual Reality (VR). An AR framework and extensible class library are also introduced which can be used to verify and validate the results of simulation models and can be further applied to develop new AR systems.
The EXCITE Trial: Analysis of “Noncompleted” Wolf Motor Function Test Items

Objective. This is the first study to examine Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) tasks among EXCITE Trial participants that could not be completed at baseline or 2 weeks later. Methods. Data were coll...
A classification scheme for risk assessment methods.

This report presents a classification scheme for risk assessment methods. This scheme, like all classification schemes, provides meaning by imposing a structure that identifies relationships. Our scheme is based on two orthogonal aspects--level of detail, and approach. The resulting structure is shown in Table 1 and is explained in the body of the report. Each cell in the Table represent a different arrangement of strengths and weaknesses. Those arrangements shift gradually as one moves through the table, each cell optimal for a particular situation. The intention of this report is to enable informed use of the methods so that a method chosen is optimal for a situation given. This report imposes structure on the set of risk assessment methods in order to reveal their relationships and thus optimize their usage.We present a two-dimensional structure in the form of a matrix, using three abstraction levels for the rows and three approaches for the columns. For each of the nine cells in the matrix we identify the method type by name and example. The matrix helps the user understand: (1) what to expect from a given method, (2) how it relates to other methods, and (3) how best to use it. Eachmore » cell in the matrix represent a different arrangement of strengths and weaknesses. Those arrangements shift gradually as one moves through the table, each cell optimal for a particular situation. The intention of this report is to enable informed use of the methods so that a method chosen is optimal for a situation given. The matrix, with type names in the cells, is introduced in Table 2 on page 13 below. Unless otherwise stated we use the word 'method' in this report to refer to a 'risk assessment method', though often times we use the full phrase. The use of the terms 'risk assessment' and 'risk management' are close enough that we do not attempt to distinguish them in this report. The remainder of this report is organized as follows. In Section 2 we provide context for this report--what a 'method' is and where it fits. In Section 3 we present background for our classification scheme--what other schemes we have found, the fundamental nature of methods and their necessary incompleteness. In Section 4 we present our classification scheme in the form of a matrix, then we present an analogy that should provide an understanding of the scheme, concluding with an explanation of the two dimensions and the nine types in our scheme. In Section 5 we present examples of each of our classification types. In Section 6 we present conclusions.« less
A systematic review of universal campaigns targeting child physical abuse prevention

The purpose of this review was to better understand the impact of universal campaign interventions with a media component aimed at preventing child physical abuse (CPA). The review included 17 studies featuring 15 campaigns conducted from 1989 to 2011 in five countries. Seven studies used experimental designs, but most were quasi-experimental. CPA incidence was assessed in only three studies and decreased significantly in two. Studies also found significant reductions in relevant outcomes such as dysfunctional parenting, child problem behaviors and parental anger as well as increases in parental self-efficacy and knowledge of concepts and actions relevant to preventing child abuse. The following risk factors were most frequently targeted in campaigns: lack of knowledge regarding positive parenting techniques, parental impulsivity, the stigma of asking for help, inadequate social support and inappropriate expectations for a child's developmental stage. The evidence base for universal campaigns designed to prevent CPA remains inconclusive due to the limited availability of rigorous evaluations; however, Triple-P is a notable exception. Given the potential for such interventions to shift population norms relevant to CPA and reduce rates of CPA, there is a need to further develop and rigorously evaluate such campaigns.
Super-stereotypy II: enhancement of a complex movement sequence by intraventricular dopamine D1 agonists.

neostriatum; fixed action pattern; basal ganglia; striatum; nigrostria- tal dopamine; D1 receptor; D2 receptor; ACTH; peptide; Tourette's Syndrome; Parkinson's disease; SKF 38393; SKF 82958; quinpirole ABSTRACT This study compared the effect of intraventricular administration of dopamine D1 or D2 agonists or of ACTH on the sequential stereotypy of a serial pattern of grooming movements ("syntactic chain"). In a previous study, we showed that periph- eral administration of D1 agonists increased the probability of occurrence and enhanced the stereotypy of the already-stereotyped movement pattern. Here we made microinjec- tions of either SKF 38393 (a partial D1 agonist; 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 mg), SKF 82958 (a full D1 agonist; 5, 10, 20 mg), quinpirole (a D2 agonist; 5, 10, 20 mg), or ACTH-(1-24) (2, 5, 10 mg) into the lateral ventricles of rats. We measured the amount of grooming, the relative probability that the complex sequence pattern would occur, and the degree to which the syntactic pattern was completed faithfully. The total amount of grooming behavior was increased by intraventricular SKF 82958 and by ACTH, but was not changed by SKF 38393 and was decreased by quinpirole. Super-stereotypy of the sequential pattern was produced only by dopamine D1 agonists. The relative probability of initiating the syntactical sequence was increased by both SKF 38393 and SKF 82958, but was reduced by quinpirole and ACTH. The full D1 agonist, SKF 82958, also increased the likelihood that the pattern would be completed, thus causing sequential super-stereotypy in the strongest sense. Our results highlight a role for dopamine D1 receptors, probably within the basal ganglia, in the production of sequential super- stereotypy of complex behavioral patterns. Synapse 37:205-215, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Lindesmith on addiction : A critical history of a classic theory

The evolution of Alfred Lindesmith's classic theory of addiction is analyzed as a product of the particular intellectual currents and controversies in and for which it was developed. These include the conflicts that pitted qualitative against quantitative sociology; the fledgling discipline of sociology against medicine, psychiatry, and psychology; and advocates of therapy for addicts against those who would simply punish them. By casting the meaningful experience of drug effects exclusively in terms of symbolically mediated mental representations of brute physiological sensations, Lindesmith's theory posits an epistemologically untenable dualism between mental and bodily perception that unnecessarily limits the explanatory scope of sociological research. As an alternative to this dualism, a praxiological approach to the meaning of drug-induced behavior and experience is proposed.
HIGH AND DRY: VARIATION IN NET PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF THE INTERTIDAL SEAWEED FUCUS GARDNERI

The paradigm that net seaweed photosynthesis in the stressful intertidal zone decreases predictably with increasing tidal elevation has not been tested widely. We measured the variation in net photosynthesis rates of a common intertidal brown seaweed (Fucus gardneri) collected from 14 sites and two tidal heights on San Juan Island, Washington (USA) in water and air, in summer and winter. We also measured temperature, relative humidity, and thallus hydration in situ. Mean net photosynthesis in air was two orders of magnitude lower than in water, a greater mean difference than found among sites and between tidal elevations and seasons. Thalli never fully desiccated even in summer, and net photosynthesis was always positive. Rates in air and water varied little and nonsignificantly between tidal elevations and were not consistently lower at upper elevations, where in situ conditions were not always drier and hotter. Although photosynthetic rates per se did not vary predictably across the tidal gradient, mid-elevation thalli gained 25 times more carbon because they were exposed to air for shorter periods. Thalli experienced stressful conditions that reduce net photosynthesis during exposure, but the length of time exposed to air, rather than desiccation, determined daily photosynthetic carbon acquisition.
Hemodynamic effects of acute stressors in the conscious rabbit

Chronically instrumented, conscious rabbits were used to test the hypothesis that sensory stimulation with an air jet or oscillation produces differential hemodynamic changes that may be appropriat...
Gait variability of patients with intermittent claudication is similar before and after the onset of claudication pain

Abstract Background Recent research demonstrated that intermittent claudication patients have increased gait variability prior to the onset of claudication. However, it is unknown if these patients experience additional gait adaptations after the onset of claudication. Thus, we sought to determine how gait variability is affected by claudication in an effort to contribute to improved clinical management. Methods Twenty-six intermittent claudication patients and 20 controls walked on a treadmill at self-selected speed; intermittent claudication patients were tested before (pain free) and after (pain) the onset of claudication. Variability of the ankle, knee, and hip joint angles was assessed using the largest Lyapunov exponent, standard deviation and coefficient of variation. Dependent t-tests were used to compare the pain free and pain conditions. Independent t-tests were used to compare intermittent claudication patients and controls. Findings Pain free and pain conditions were not significantly different for any of the parameters evaluated except the ankle. Compared to controls, patients had significantly greater values for the largest Lyapunov exponent in both conditions for all joints. Interpretation Gait variability was essentially the same before and after the onset of claudication at the knee and the hip, and was increased in both conditions compared to controls. This indicates altered cooperation between components of the locomotor system of intermittent claudication patients, likely due to the associated myopathy since differences were present even before the onset of claudication. This research helps provide essential biomechanical knowledge of intermittent claudication that contributes to improved clinical management.
Innate immune responses to microbial poisons: discovery and function of the Toll-like receptors.

▪ Abstract There are many circumstances under which a toxin exploits an endogenous receptor or another protein of host origin to work its untoward effects. In most instances, the receptor normally fulfills a function that has nothing to do with the toxin per se; that is, the toxin is not the “natural” ligand. The situation with endotoxin, however, is a remarkable one. The endotoxin receptor evolved to detect endotoxin. Why have mammals maintained a gene that can undermine their survival? The search for the endotoxin receptor answered this question and also revealed the essential function and biological strategy of the Toll-like receptors: principal sensors of the innate immune system.
Analysis of multicarrier transmission in time-varying channels

Transceiver design is dependent on the a priori information available about the communication environment. We consider two cases: channel completely known at the receiver and transmitter (via feedback); and only channel statistics are known at the transmitter and the channel is known at the receiver. We develop an information-theoretic analysis of these scenarios by examining the mutual information expressions. We analyze a vector coding scheme suitable for time-varying channels and illustrate its asymptotic optimality. We examine the expected mutual information for slowly fading channels and investigate the OFDM transceiver structure. We then derive the average mutual information for OFDM in time-varying environments. This allows us to study the effect of time-variation on OFDM packet-size design. We illustrate the transmission overhead requirements through a numerical example.
Novel Feature Extraction for Noise Robust ASR using the Aurora 2 Database

This paper presents speech signal modeling techniques that are well suited to robust recognition of connected digits in noisy environments. After several preprocessing steps speech is represented by a block-encoding of discrete cosine transform of its spectra. In this paper we combine linear predictive coding (LPC), morphological filtering, and long block lengths to achieve robust features for improved recognition in noisy environments. The spectral envelope is first estimated by LPC. Subsequent morphological filtering enhances the peaks while smoothing the valleys, which are more affected by noise in the signal. These techniques were tested with the Aurora 2 database and the standard HMM recognizer as defined by the ETSI STQ-AURORA DSR Working group for WI007. With no major increase in computational demand a 23% word error rate (WER) reduction has been achieved as compared to the WI007 baseline MFCC front-end for multi-condition training condition. The basic conclusion is that the features resulting from the methods presented here perform better than cepstral features for ASR of noisy speech.
Proficient routing method that exploits the lifetime of Wireless Sensor Networks

The increase in the demand for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) has intensified studies which aim to obtain energy-efficient solutions, since the energy storage limitation is critical in those systems. Minimizing energy dissipation and maximizing network lifetime are important issues in the design of applications and protocols for sensor networks. Energy-efficient sensor state planning consists in finding an optimal assignment of states to sensors in order to maximize network lifetime. So that it is important to develop energy efficient solution to keep these networks for the longest period of time. Since, most of the nodes energy spent on data transmission, for that many routing technique has been proposed to expand the network lifetime such as the Online Maximum Lifetime heuristic and capacity maximization. In this project we propose an efficient routing power management heuristic obtain higher life time and increased coverage areas for network systems. In this we divide the node energy into two ratios; one for the sensor node originated data and the other one is data relays from other sensors. In our project, we are going to use the “Artificial bee colony algorithm” along with ERPMT to route the data packets. So, the lifetime of the network get increased when compared with the ABC algorithm alone used for routing the data packets.
Epinephrine Inhibiting Milk Ejection in Lactating Cows

Abstract Blood oxytocin was determined on 10 Holstein cows during normal milking and during milking when epinephrine was injected intravenously before or after udder stimulation. The average peak oxytocin concentration during normal milking was 399.7 μ U/ml plasma and was reached at 1min after teat cup application. Oxytocin concentration in blood plasma declined rapidly after peak concentration and dropped to 30.5 μ U/ml plasma within 4min after the start of milking. By 5min after removal of the teat cups, it had declined to less than 4 μ U/ml plasma. The administration of epinephrine, either before or after udder washing, inhibited milk ejection as indicated by milk production and oxytocin concentrations. Peak oxytocin concentrations were 1.05 μ U/ml plasma 1min after teat cup application when epinephrine was injected before udder washing and 8.6 μ U/ml plasma at teat cup application when epinephrine was injected after udder washing. These results and the use of a beta receptor blocker to inhibit the effect of epinephrine at the myoepithelial cell level indicated that epinephrine inhibited release of oxytocin from the neurohypophysis.
Impact of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt on post-colectomy complications in patients with ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis

Objective: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) occurs in approximately 5% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The risk of colon cancer is higher in patients undergoing colectomy, who have simultaneous PSC & UC. Our aim was to study the impact, in terms of post-colectomy survival and complications, of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) before colectomy in these patients. Methods: In this retrospective, case-control study, information was obtained on demographics, disease characteristics, TIPS characteristics, and post-colectomy complications. Nine patients with PSC and UC who underwent TIPS prior to colectomy (the Study group) and 37 patients with PSC and UC who underwent only colectomy without TIPS (the Control group) were included. Either an analysis of variance or the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test were used for continuous variables and Fisher’s Exact test or Pearson’s chi-squared test was used for categorical factors. Results: There was no difference in the mean age between the two groups; however patients in the Study group had lower platelet count (P ¼ 0.005) as well as higher Model for End- Stage Liver disease (MELD) scores (P < 0.001). Also, patients in the Study group had increased PSC severity as determined by Mayo PSC Risk Scores (1.50 vs. 0.20) (P ¼ 0.001). Total bilirubin levels were higher in the Study group (2.3 vs. 0.8 mg/dL) (P ¼ 0.011). Comparing the post-operative complication rates without adjusting for disease severity, the Study group had more wound infections (P ¼ 0.034), more wound dehiscence (P ¼ 0.022), and a higher re-admission rate within 30 days (P ¼ 0.032); however, the post-operative mortality was not significantly different. Conclusion: Patients with PSC and UC who underwent TIPS prior to colectomy had higher rates of complications; however, this was probably due to the greater severity of cirrhosis and PSC in this population.
A Study of Recall and Retention of Accelerated Lecture Presentation

Subjects were 118 students in Human Behavior and Development classes at State University College at Buffalo. Two lectures, which represented part of the course content, were recorded by the Ss’regular professor. Ss were divided into three groups. Lecture number one was presented to Group A (control) at normal word speed (21 minutes duration). The same lecture was presented to Group B (experimental), but at increased word speed (14 minutes duration). Group C (non-treatment) was not exposed to the tape recorded lecture. Rotational design was used for the second lecture presentation to adjust for possible inter-group differences. A thirty item recall test was administered to groups A and B immediately after presentation, and to the non-treatment group. Two to three weeks after each lecture a twenty item retention test was administered to groups A and B. Analysis of variance was computed on the raw test scores of control, experimental, and non-treatment groups for Recall Test I and II. A significant F-ratio (p <.001) was found for group comparisons on both tests. T-tests were calculated on the raw test scores of control and experimental groups for Recall Test I, Recall Test II, Retention Test I and Retention Test II. The results of these calculations did not demonstrate any significant differences between control and experimental groups for any of the four tests. It appears that lecture presentations, on a college level, can be increased in word rate, with a reduction in presentation time by one-third without any significant loss in recall or retention.
Semen Displacement as a Sperm Competition Strategy in Humans

We examine some of the implications of the possibility that the human penis may have evolved to compete with sperm from other males by displacing rival semen from the cervical end of the vagina prior to ejaculation. The semen displacement hypothesis integrates considerable information about genital morphology and human reproductive behavior, and can be used to generate a number of interesting predictions.
A new generalized row-based global router

This paper presents a new generalized row-based global router suitable for standard cell, gate-array, and sea-of-gates integrated circuits. It is the first row-based global router to explicitly minimize chip area. This global router uses adaptive Steiner trees to minimize chip area. The results were vastly improved over typical minimum wire length Steiner trees. This global router automatically adapts to technologies. In addition, optimal feedthrough placement is accomplished using linear assignment. Throughout the algorithm, timing constraints are taken into account. Also, a unique vertical constraint cycle minimization step eases the task for LEA channel routers. Finally, it is shown that this global router outperforms other global routers for all of the MCNC benchmark circuits which were tested.
Nonconventional interventions for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder: Ketamine, repetitive trans-cranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), and alternative approaches

ABSTRACTIt is alarming that only 59% of those who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Many existing treatments, both pharmacological and nonpharmacological, do not directly target trauma memories that lay at the core of the PTSD pathogenesis. Notable exceptions are medications like ketamine and propranolol and trauma-focused psychotherapies like eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (developed by Shapiro) and Trauma Interventions using Mindfulness Based Extinction and Reconsolidation (TIMBER) for trauma memories (developed by Pradhan). Although the antidepressant effects of ketamine are no longer news, ketamine’s effects on treatment refractory PTSD (TR-PTSD) is a recent concept. As TR-PTSD has a marked public health burden and significant limitations in terms of treatment interventions, a thorough assessment of current strategies is required. Research to bring clarity to the underlying pathophysiology and neurobiology of TR-PTSD d...
Point & Counterpoint: The Constitutionality of Tax Exemptions for Home State Bonds Under the Dormant Commerce Clause

The state exemption from taxation of interest on municipal and local home-state bonds when other states' bond interest is subject to tax creates a difficult issue for dormant Commerce Clause analysis. Two state courts have considered the extraterritorial bond taxation issue and have come to opposite conclusions regarding its constitutionality. This Point examines the arguments presented by the two cases and by various commentators, including concerns about the vagueness of the dormant Commerce Clause discrimination concept, the difficulty of applying the market participant exception in this context, and the changes in the global financial markets. It suggests that the home state exemption, while perhaps misguided, should be permitted under a contemporary view of federalism and the relations among the states.
A new two stage adaptive nonparametric test for paired differences

This paper proposes a new adaptive procedure for analyzing paired data. The procedure uses a function of ordered absolute values of the differences to measure tail heaviness of the underlying distribution. The value of the measure is then used to choose an appropriate signed rank test. The new adaptive procedure is shown to preserve the size of the test at its nominal level for all continuous distributions and typically has nearly the same power as the best signed rank test for a wide range of distributions.
Evidence of Local Protection Against Infection with Type I Pneumococcus.

The production of local protection or “local immunity” to micro-organismal infection was first fully described by Wassermann and Citron1 and interpreted by them as an “Umstimmung” or “retuning” of the local cells. This phenomenon has subsequently been observed but differently explained, especially by Besredka,2 Gay,3 and Opie.4Bull and McKee5 and recently Walsh and Cannon6 demonstrated in rabbits a definite specific resistance of the upper respiratory tract to pneumococcal infection subsequent to specific local intranasal instillation. These observers point out that although the rabbit host seems protected in general, evidences of mouse-protective substances are not demonstrable. Gay and Rhodes,7 on the other hand, found that only the derm was resistant to the streptococcus following experimental erysipelas whereas infection was produced by other routes of inoculation. Extensive literature in this field is afforded by Pacheco8 and Gay.9We employed both hairy and hairless white mice, and Type I pneumococcu...
Networked Life: How do I viralize a YouTube video and tip a Groupon deal?

A quick recap of where we have been so far in the space of online services and web 2.0. In Chapter 3, we discussed the recommendation of webpages with an objective metric computed by Google from the graph of hyperlinked webpages. In Chapter 4, we discussed the recommendation of movies with subjective opinions estimated by Net ix from movie–user bipartite graphs. Then we investigated the wisdom of crowds. In Chapter 5, we discussed aggregation of opinion in (more or less) independent ratings on Amazon. In Chapter 6, we discussed resolution of opinion conflicts in Wikipedia. In this chapter, we will talk about dependence of opinions, taking a macroscopic, topology-agnostic approach, and focusing on the viral effect in YouTube and tipping in Groupon. Then in the next chapter, we will talk about the effect of network topology on the dependence of opinion. As will be further illustrated in this and the next chapters, network effects can be positive or negative. They can also be studied as externalities (e.g., coupling in the objective function or the constraint functions, where each user's utility or constraint depends on other users' actions), or as information dependence (e.g., information cascades or product diffusion as we will see in this chapter). A Short Answer Viralization YouTube is a “viral” phenomenon itself. In the space of user-generated video content, it has become the dominant market leader, exhibiting the “winner takes all” phenomenon. More recently it has also featured movies for purchase or rental, and commissioned professional content, to compete against Apple's iTunes and the studios.
Roasting Kinetics of Fly Ash and Ammonium Hydrogen Sulfate

A new method was used to prepare Al_2O_3 from fly ash by NH_4HSO_4 roasting process.The effects of roasting temperature and molar ratio of Al_2O_3 in fly ash to NH_4HSO_4 on Al reaction rate were studied.The results showed that the control step of roasting reaction was solid layer diffusion,the reaction rate constant 1.25×10~(-3),1.56×10~(-3) and 1.89×10~(-3) min~(-1) at 300,350 and 400 ℃,and the activation energy calculated as 17.19 kJ/mol.The general kinetic equation was expressed as l-2/3α-(1-α)~(2/3)=0.0422exp[-17190/(RT)]t.The main roasted products were NH_4Al(SO_4)_2 and NH_4Fe(SO_4)_2 in the reaction process.The Al reaction rate reached more than 90%under the optimized conditions of 400℃,molar ratio of Al_2O_3 in fly ash to NH_4HSO_4 1:8 and roasting time 60 min.
Preliminary study for the animal plague in Himalayan Marmota focus in China

Objective To predict bacteria positive rate in the next two years for the animal plague in Himalayan Marmota focus of plague. Methods Using the weighted smoothing method to analyze the historical data for prediction. Results Data of detected bacteria positive rate after 1959 in Himalayan Marmota focus of plague was collected. The value got from weighted smoothing method from 2014 to 2015 is 11. 35% and 11. 62% respectively. Conclusion Epidemic situation has rising trend for the next two years in Himalayan Marmota focus which should be strengthened for the prevention and control work.
Surveys of behavior characteristics and results of serological test among commercial sex workers in Changping district of Beijing

Objective To understand the infection status of HIV and behavior characteristics among commercial sexworkers(CSWs) in Changping District. Methods Mass survey was conducted among CSWs arrested in Changping districtfrom 2005 to 2013. Results Totally 1 567 CSWs mostly in the age group of 15-35(71.09%),with low education background(88.51% for junior school education) and high mobility(97.51% for provincials) were surveyed during 2005-2013.The positiverates of anti-HIV and syphilis antibodies were 0.06% and 4.02% respectively. Fluctuations in condom use rates among theCSWs in the last commercial sex was observed(χ2=78.659,P=0.000). Differences of frequency of condom use among CSWshaving commercial sex in the recent month were significant(χ2=192.065,P=0.000). Drug abuse was noticed in 0.96% of thesex workers. Conclusion Propaganda of AIDS knowledge and,intervention of high-risk behaviors be strengthened,promotionof condom use and recommendation of safe sex behavior be carried out to roll back the spread of AIDS.
The epidemiology of diarrheal disease in the United States

Diarrheal disease remains an important health problem in the United States. The magnitude of this problem and the relative importance of bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens are examined. The often unique epidemiologic associations with specific organisms can be helpful not only in suggesting diagnoses in individual patients but also in the direction of public health action.