cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinicians' knowledge of 2007 food and drug administration recommendation to discontinue nelfinavir use during pregnancy.

In 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Pfizer Inc recommended immediate discontinuation of nelfinavir (NFV) during pregnancy due to contamination with a potential teratogen. A few weeks after the announcement, we surveyed antenatal HIV care providers to determine how widely the warning was disseminated. Overall, 69 of 121 (57.0%) providers knew to discontinue NFV. Callers with more than 50 HIV-infected patients were 2.54 times as likely to be aware as callers with 1-3 HIV-infected patients (P < .01). Only 12 (33.3%) obstetricians were aware, compared to 21 (80.8%) infectious diseases specialists (P < .001). The FDA/Pfizer Inc recommendation to avoid nelfinavir mesylate (NFV) in pregnancy appears to have successfully reached HIV experts. However, not all pregnant women have access to experts and may receive most of their care from providers without extensive HIV experience. More effective dissemination of critical HIV-related information to all antenatal care providers, including general ob...
Altitude-Related Illnesses

Altitude-related illnesses are a frequent cause of morbidity and occasional mortality in travelers to high altitudes in the United States and throughout the world. The primary altitude illnesses are acute mountain sickness, high-altitude pulmonary edema, and high-altitude cerebral edema. The pathogenesis of these syndromes remains unclear despite considerable research. Altitude also has potential deleterious effects on common medical conditions including coronary artery disease, pulmonary disease, hemo globinopathies, and pregnancy. Most of these problems are primarily preventable with appropriate information before travel. Education should include information about rate of ascent, diet, alcohol intake, physical activity, and preventive medications, including acetazolamide, nifedipine, and dexamethasone in selected circumstances.
The diagnosis and medical management of vascular ulcers

Abstract Of the many causes of non-traumatic, chronic skin ulceration in the lower extremities, vascular diseases are, by far, the most common etiologic factors. Consequently, there is a tendency to label patients as having peripheral vascular disease whenever recurrent leg ulcers are found, sometimes leading to inappropriate therapy. One cannot ascribe an etiologic diagnosis to a leg ulcer by its appearance alone, but must take into account the clinical context in which it occurs. The purposes of this chapter are to review the clinical features associated with various kinds of vascular ulcers and to discuss diagnostic methods and the appropriate medical therapy. Vascular ulcers are broadly divided into those associated with arterial insufficiency and those related to venous disorders.
WE-D-AUD B-03: Assessment of An In-House Independent Phantom Dose Calculation Algorithm for IMRT QA

Purpose: To test the RTP‐Filter, an in‐house independent phantom dose calculation system for IMRT QA. Method and Materials: The dose from all IMRT beams delivered in treatment position was calculated in coronal planes where actual film densitometry for 100 cases was performed in solid water phantoms. A ray trace through the phantom determines the depth and location of points relative to an MLC shape, whose leaf pairs define integration elements for TPR, head scatter and phantom scatter. A virtual scatter source determines the head scatter. Factors for the off‐axis ratio, penumbra, and out‐of‐field scatter and leakage are applied. The calculations were compared with the pinnacle planned dose to create 3%‐3mm and 5%‐5mm decision maps. The same analysis was performed for the original film measurements. Eight physicists scored 200 cases as pass, conditional, or fail, resulting in 1600 scores. Cases exceeding tolerances but that might be clinically acceptable were conditional. Results: Excellent agreement between pinnacle convolution calculations and the RTP‐Filter was obtained, with 89.4% passing, 10.2% conditional, and 0.4% failing. The respective values for the film‐to‐pinnacle comparisons were 67.1%, 26.3%, and 6.6%. Both the film and the RTP‐Filter had the best plan agreement for prostate cases and the least agreement for brain cases. While the trends for error identification were the same (e.g., presence of many small fields), the RTP‐Filter represented more closely the historical decisions that were made, with errors in film densitometry and MLC mis‐calibration identified as the causes for out‐of‐tolerance deviations. The good results of the RTP‐Filter are most likely due to careful modeling of the out‐of‐field and penumbra components. Conclusion: The RTP‐Filter provides fast and robust IMRT QA, decoupling the plan and machine QA. The rate of plan disagreement is lower than that for film due to the absence of film and MLC errors.
The prediction of dye sensitization from irreversible electrochemical potentials

Abstract This study was undertaken to ascertain if the redox potentials of sensitizing dyes lose their meaning in the context of dye sensitization when the dye electroreactions in solution are irreversible. Only the first reduction and oxidation potentials are considered here and in the theory of sensitization. It is shown that reversibility of the electrode process involving dissolved dye in fact has little significance for most sensitizing dyes. The reversibility of the redox reactions of adsorbed dye, on the other hand, is quite important for sustained photocurrents and photovoltages, and the great majority of good sensitizing dyes can apparently act reversibly in the solid state regardless of their irreversibility in solution. The prediction of dye sensitization from a mixed group of reversible, semi-reversible and irreversible potentials utilizing cut-off potential limits for action remains valid as long as the potentials are reproducible and are obtained with the same electrochemical system, solvent and electrolyte included; albeit the correlation must stand as a somewhat weakened semi-empirical one. One electron per molecule of dye appears to be transferred in sensitization of the silver halides, as well as in the first electrochemical reactions in solution, but not without exception. The potentials and reversibility for several dyes are documented for the first time in ACN/TBAP. Some excursions beyond the first waves were observed and discussed for the rhodamine dye family and for some related dyes.
ACTIONS OF PROSTAGLANDINS E1, E2 AND E3 ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Prostaglandins E1, E2 and E3, injected into the cerebral ventricles of unanaesthetized cats, produced sedation, stupor and signs of catatonia. The threshold dose was 3 μg/kg. Slight sedation was also observed following an intravenous injection, but a dose of 20 μg/kg was required. In chicks, intravenous injections of prostaglandins (10 to 400 μg/kg) caused respiratory depression, profound sedation, loss of normal posture and, with the higher doses, loss of the righting reflex.
Effects of increased salinity on the diatom assemblage in Fonda Lake, Michigan

A salt storage facility has been located adjacent to Fonda Lake since 1953. In February 1981 a core was taken from the profundal sediments of the lake and analyzed to determine the effects of salt perturbation on the diatom community over a 32-year period. Diatom assemblages from different levels were compared using multivariate techniques including cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Shifts in diatom composition related to salinification were revealed most clearly by subdominant taxa. Five distinct groups of diatom taxa were found to correspond with 5 depth intervals. The diatom component of the lake up to 1960 included two groups of taxa which were alkaliphilous and chloride indifferent. A reduction in species diversity beginning in 1960 may indicate a salt effect. By 1968, when diversity reached a minimum, a variety of halophilic taxa (including Diatoma tenue, Navicula gregaria and Synedra fasciculata) attained their highest relative abundances. At the top of the core, diversity increased slightly and some halophilic taxa decreased in relative abundance, which suggests a possible decrease in salt loading to the lake.
Temporal regulation of the muscle gene cascade by Macho1 and Tbx6 transcription factors in Ciona intestinalis.

For over a century, muscle formation in the ascidian embryo has been representative of ‘mosaic’ development. The molecular basis of muscle-fate predetermination has been partly elucidated with the discovery of Macho1, a maternal zinc-finger transcription factor necessary and sufficient for primary muscle development, and of its transcriptional intermediaries Tbx6b and Tbx6c. However, the molecular mechanisms by which the maternal information is decoded by cis-regulatory modules (CRMs) associated with muscle transcription factor and structural genes, and the ways by which a seamless transition from maternal to zygotic transcription is ensured, are still mostly unclear. By combining misexpression assays with CRM analyses, we have identified the mechanisms through which Ciona Macho1 (Ci-Macho1) initiates expression of Ci-Tbx6b and Ci-Tbx6c, and we have unveiled the cross-regulatory interactions between the latter transcription factors. Knowledge acquired from the analysis of the Ci-Tbx6b CRM facilitated both the identification of a related CRM in the Ci-Tbx6c locus and the characterization of two CRMs associated with the structural muscle gene fibrillar collagen 1 (CiFCol1). We use these representative examples to reconstruct how compact CRMs orchestrate the muscle developmental program from pre-localized ooplasmic determinants to differentiated larval muscle in ascidian embryos.
Factitious angioedema: a mimic of refractory "angioedema".

Angioedema can be broadly categorized as (1) allergic, (2) idiopathic, (3) angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor associated, (4) hereditary, or (5) acquired. Factitious disorder imposed on self, also known as Munchausen syndrome, is characterized by a deceptive report, or an active falsification, of signs or symptoms with the aim of presenting one’s self in the sick role in the absence of other obvious external rewards (ie, malingering). We describe 4 cases of factitious angioedema with objective findings.
Is older, wiser?: an age-specific study of exposure of private information

The world of Internet is a versatile place, not only as a means of convenience for an individual where quite possibly any mundane task can be taken care of with a click of a button, but also as a hot spot for those who lurk around the corners of the Internet to obtain other people's data. These data can then be used for any number of purposes, from seemingly harmless statistics collection for boosting the sales of a company to the damaging crime of identity theft. In this paper we discuss whether older adults are more careful about keeping their information private than their younger counterparts. We show that the difference in attitudes about keeping identity elements private on the Internet can be attributed to age difference. Our surveys show that older adults in fact place more importance on the privacy of their identity elements and hence may be more apprehensive about sharing information online. Our analyses show that more number of older adults considered their identity elements as being "extremely important" to keep private than their younger counterparts.
Dislocation Mobility in HCL-Doped Ice

Dislocation velocities have been measured in both lightly and heavily HCl-doped ice single crystals using synchrotron-based, monochromatic X-ray topography. In the temperature range −10°C to −30°C, a concentration of ˜1 × 10−6M was found not to affect the mobility of either 60° or screw basal dislocations, confirming the earlier observations of C. Shearwood and R. W. Whitworth [Philosophical Magazine A65, 1992, 85]. However, heavier doping (˜1.9 × 10−4M) increased the basal dislocation velocity, compared to pure ice, by a factor of 2.6 at −16.4°C.
The introduction of a holistic massage service in a combined paediatric and adult BMT unit

This letter describes the use of holistic massage on a 14 bed combined adult and paediatric BMT Unit. Undergoing a transplant is physically and psychologically demanding1 and can frequently leave patients feeling hopeless and depressed.2 The major focus of transplant physicians has been on the medical and not the psychological care of the patient. Transplant patients are nursed in protective isolation cubicles for several weeks and (as a general infection control measure) are allowed limited visitors. Patients may experience a degree of sensory deprivation and can feel deprived of touch.
Expert’s comment concerning Grand Rounds case entitled “Severe Kyphoscoliosis after primary echinococcus granulosus infection of the spine” (by M. Thaler, M. Gabl, R. Lechner, M. Gstöttner and C.M. Bach)

The authors describe a rare case of a 6-year-old boy with inappropriate surgical treatment of spinal echinococcus granulosus by thoracotomy, vertebral resection, multiple laminectomies, and instrumented fusion. This treatment resulted in reoccurrence of the hydatid cyst, paraplegia, and severe kyphoscoliosis. The authors should be commended for taking on this challenge, which is rarely seen by even the most experienced spine surgeons. We should all learn lessons from this case, and several points stood out as I read the manuscript, which was well organized, illustrated, and referenced by the authors.
Epitope spreading in immune-mediated diseases: implications for immunotherapy

Evidence continues to accumulate supporting the hypothesis that tissue damage during an immune response can lead to the priming of self-reactive T and/or B lymphocytes, regardless of the specificity of the initial insult. This review will focus primarily on epitope spreading at the T-cell level. Understanding the cellular and molecular basis of epitope spreading in various chronic immune-mediated human diseases and their animal models is crucial to understanding the pathogenesis of these diseases and to the ultimate goal of designing antigen-specific treatments.
Deformation twinning in a HfV2+Nb-based laves phase alloy

Abstract Compression tests at very low temperature down to 4.2 K and conventional transmission electron microscopy were conducted to investigate the twinning behavior of the C15 HfV2+Nb Laves phase. We chose two phase C15/bcc alloys to improve the ambient temperature ductility since the single Laves phase intermetallic compound is brittle. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that substantial mechanical twinning takes place in the C15 Laves phase matrix at room temperature and 77 K. A deep minimum in the flow stress, with a drop of nearly 500 MPa, appears at around 77 K in the C15/bcc two-phase alloy with C15 matrix. Since no such anomaly is seen in the bcc phase, we believe that the cause of this can be attributed to mechanical twinning in the C15 Laves phase. Twin bands observed in the C15 matrix of deformed samples at both 298 and 77 K can be classified into three categories by their thickness; coarse twin bands about 10 nm to several hundred nm thick, fine twin bands around 3–10 nm thick, and ultra fine twin bands with average thickness of 1.5 nm. A high density of ultra-fine twin bands is the characteristic feature of twinning in the C15 matrix. They belong to the 〈112〉(111) twinning system and commonly intersect with each other.
Children's Temperament: Patterns Across Cultures

Abstract Cultural ethnotheories about child development provide the context for early socialization in homes and schools. This study assessed ideal temperaments of children as viewed by teachers in four cultural settings: the United States, England, Israel, and Japan. Similarities and differences in ideals were found with the United States and England being most similar and Israel being most divergent. The temperament ideals for mood, intensity, activity and adaptability showed the greatest cross-cultural differences. Temperament judgments of actual children from the United States, England, and Israel were also assessed. England and the United States were found to be the most similar. The judgments of Israeli teachers were different on the dimensions of mood, adaptability, and distractibility of children. The results suggest the importance of cultural ideals of temperament for understanding teachers' perceptions of children, decisions about classroom environments, and individual adjustment patterns.
Yeast prions: Bungee cord domains' balancing act

Abstract The yeast prion-like protein Sup35 has repeats responsible for the reversible induction of an altered, but advantageous phenotype. The expansion of similar repeat domains in several mammalian proteins is associated with neurodegenerative disease – so why are these ‘bungee cord' domains conserved?
Control is the key: Unlocking the motivation of at‐risk students

Traditional instructional environments for at-risk (i.e., unmotivated) students are teacher controlled and provide low-level, routine tasks. This, however, contradicts current theory and research regarding environments that enhance motivation to learn. To effectively assist motivationally disadvantaged students, instructional environments must support autonomy and challenge. Six “at-risk” students in an alternative education program completed motivation surveys after engaging in various learning activities. Overall, the participants completed 54 surveys. Using multiple regression, involvement, boredom, confusion, competence, and desire to be doing something else were regressed on perceived challenge and perceived control. The results indicated that control and challenge were significant predictors of the motivation variables. The findings are discussed in terms of awakening to the powerful influence of instructional tasks on student motivation and desire to engage in learning activities. Limitations of the present study provide insights into future endeavors. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Are hepatic scans overused

Liver scans are used in the evaluation of hepatomegaly, abnormal liver chemistries, fever of unknown origin, suspected hepatic abscess, and cirrhosis. Except in the case of hepatic abscess, where the scan is of proven diagnostic accuracy in 80 to 95 percent of cases, the reliability of the scan in these situations has not been examined critically. It has not been established whether the scan provides useful new data in these settings or merely duplicates information obtained by more conventional methods. Extensive anecdotal experience suggests that a normal liver scan in these situations cannot exonerate the liver as a site of disease, and an abnormal scan provides little or no information on the nature of the disease process. That the liver scan can be used routinely to obviate biopsy or other more invasive procedures in these difficult clinical problems is highly unlikely. There is no question that in selected cases the liver scan may be helpful in indicating the presence of hepatic disease and its location. When used wisely the scan may contribute to the evaluation and management of many clinical problems. The reliability of the technique, however, is limited and its routine application as a screening test for metastatic malignancymore » or other hepatic disorders is unwarranted.« less
Spontaneous and Evoked Glutamate Release Activates Two Populations of NMDA Receptors with Limited Overlap

In a synapse, spontaneous and action-potential-driven neurotransmitter release is assumed to activate the same set of postsynaptic receptors. Here, we tested this assumption using (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo [a,d] cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801), a well characterized use-dependent blocker of NMDA receptors. NMDA-receptor-mediated spontaneous miniature EPSCs (NMDA-mEPSCs) were substantially decreased by MK-801 within 2 min in a use-dependent manner. In contrast, MK-801 application at rest for 10 min did not significantly impair the subsequent NMDA-receptor-mediated evoked EPSCs (NMDA-eEPSCs). Brief stimulation in the presence of MK-801 significantly depressed evoked NMDA-eEPSCs but only mildly affected the spontaneous NMDA-mEPSCs detected on the same cell. Optical imaging of synaptic vesicle fusion showed that spontaneous and evoked release could occur at the same synapse albeit without correlation between their kinetics. In addition, modeling glutamate diffusion and NMDA receptor activation revealed that postsynaptic densities larger than approximately 0.2 microm(2) can accommodate two populations of NMDA receptors with nonoverlapping responsiveness. Collectively, these results support the premise that spontaneous and evoked neurotransmissions activate distinct sets of NMDA receptors and signal independently to the postsynaptic side.
A calculator program for computing quantities of solvents required when changing percentages in solvent systems

Abstract A HP-41C calculator program is described that calculates the quantities of solvents needed to change an existing solvent system to one with new percent
Harmonically-related gratings-based quadrature phase interferometers

We report a new method for obtaining non-trivial phase difference between the output ports of an interferometer through the use of shallow diffraction gratings. We show that as opposed to a single shallow diffraction grating-based interferometer (which provides only trivial phase shifts, i.e., 0° or 180°), a pair of harmonically-related shallow diffraction gratings can be used to design interferometers with non-trivial phase shifts between different output ports. More importantly, the phase shifts can be adjusted by simply shearing one grating with respect to the other. This approach does not change the path length relationships of the different interference beams within the interferometer, which is an advantage for metrology and low coherence interferometry applications.
Role of Nanostructures on the Performance of a-Si:H Solar Cells

This paper represents a method to enhance efficiency of a-Si:H solar cells by using nanostructures. The role of plasmonic nanoparticles as well as nanotemplates on the performance of a-Si:H solar cell will be discussed.
Reflective Single‐Polarizer Bistable Nematic Liquid Crystal Display with Optimum Twist

A single polarizer reflective liquid crystal display in a bistable twisted nematic configuration is proposed and experimentally reported. In the two bistable states, the twist angles are 63.6° and 423.6° which produce the dark and bright states, respectively. Numerical optimization of the polarization states is performed by using Mueller matrix of the cell studied. Our results show that high contrast display is possible using this configuration without any use of an optical compensation film.
Glass transitions and amorphous phases in SBS-bitumen blends

Abstract Blends of bitumen with 3–10% of a styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) block copolymer were investigated by means of modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) in an effort to better understand the miscibility and structure of the blends, along with the composition of the mixed phase(s). This relied on the measurements of the glass transition temperatures (Tg) in bitumen and SBS in their blended and unblended states. In the unblended state, bitumen showed four Tg's, and SBS showed two. In the blends, a new Tg arose from a phase of mixed composition, which contained polybutadiene (PB) segments and about 30% of the maltenes. The blends also showed anti-plasticization as a shift of the Tg's from the paraffins in bitumen and the PB block in SBS moved away from each other. The results indicate that the PB block has good interactions with bitumen, but that the polystyrene (PS) block does not.
Electrostatic polymer processing of isotactic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) fibrous membrane

Abstract Isotactic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) (P4M1P) is a widely used polymer in industrial applications and specifically, in medical products. Producing micro- or nanofibers would expand the usefulness of P4M1P to a broad range of medical applications. The choice and quality of solvent for the solution used for electrospinning can have a dramatic effect on the spinnability of fibers and on their morphological appearance. In this study, four solvent systems: cyclohexane, cyclohexane/acetone mixture, cyclohexane/dimethyl formamide (DMF) mixture and cyclohexane/acetone/DMF mixture have been investigated. As demonstrated by FE-SEM, electrospun fibers with different morphologies including round, twisted with a roughened texture, curled and twisted-ribbon shapes were formed. The fiber shape and morphology depended strongly on the type and amount of non-solvent used.
DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY OF CHOLESTATIC LIVER DISEASE

The differential diagnosis of cholestatic liver diseases is extensive. The first part of this article covers primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), as these two diseases have many clinical, biochemical, and pathologic features that are typical of cholestatic liver diseases. Subsequently, the remainder of the differential diagnoses(Table 1) and approach to diagnosis of cholestatic liver disease are discussed.
Effect of fluorine content on crystallization of canasite glass-ceramics

The effect of fluorine (F) content in the parent glass on nucleation and crystallization of glass-ceramics with canasite as the principle crystalline phase have been studied using differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron and scanning electron microscopies. CaF2 precipitation occurred during the nucleation phase at all concentrations studied. However, canasite formation during subsequent crystallization was strongly dependent on F content. Canasite failed to form at both high and low concentrations of F, while with intermediate F concentrations canasite and CaF2 were the only phases identified. Agrellite (NaCa2Si4O10F) formed when the F content was high.
Application of state feedback with integral control to pulse-width modulated push-pull DC-DC convertor

The well-known state feedback with integral control is applied to the multioperating point pulse-width modulated push-pull DC-DC convertor. A new large-signal circuit model of the power stage is modified so that the load resistance is eliminated from the system matrix. Two closed- loop continuous-conduction mode push-pull con- vertors are designed using a pole-placement technique: (a) a conventional convertor with a diode rectifier and (b) a convertor with a small inductor and a bidirectional power flow. The large-signal dynamic performance of these conver- tors is investigated by simulations in the time domain. It was found that the state feedback with integral control in the bidirectional power-flow convertor is suitable for switched-load applica- tions, e.g. radar systems, dot-matrix printers, and power supplies for random-access computer mem- ories.
Cytologic detection of Strongyloides stercoralis in a 55-year-old Hispanic man with routine rectal/anal pap smear.

The anal–rectal cytology is introduced recently to evaluate human-papillomavirus related cellular changes in the cells of anal canal. It is especially useful in high risk patients such as HIV patients. Very few reports were published regarding cytomorphological findings in anal cytology. Strongyloides stercoralis is an enteric helminthic parasite with particular significance in immunocompromised patients. The infection is asymptomatic or manifests as mild gastrointestinal symptoms in normal hosts. The infection can be devastating in immunocompromised persons, and carries a high mortality rate. The presence of S. stercoralis larva in anal–rectal pap smears is rare. We report a case in a routine anal–rectal Pap smear with Strongyloides, and discuss the clinical significance and life cycle of S. stercoralis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
TWO-PHOTON SPECTROSCOPY OF THE ACETALDEHYDE-AR COMPLEX

The two-photon spectrum of the acetaldehyde−Ar complex has been measured in the vicinity of the (n,3s) Rydberg transition of the acetaldehyde monomer. The cluster spectrum is blue shifted by 14 cm-1 from the monomer origin. The vibrational analysis yields harmonic frequencies of 32, 27, and 21 cm-1 for the intermolecular modes. The two high-frequency modes are Franck−Condon active, indicating a substantial displacement of the minimum configuration with respect to the ground-state equilibrium structure. The abrupt disappearance of the vibrational structure at energies of about 190 cm-1 above the origin is interpreted as the dissociation limit of the complex.
Note on Convergence of powers of a fuzzy matrix

We show by example that a theorem in Thomason, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 57 (1977) 476, also recently quoted in Imai et al., Fuzzy Sets and Systems 109 (2000) 405, about the convergence of fuzzy matrices is false.
Is N-sulfation just a gateway modification during heparan sulfate biosynthesis?

Several biologically important growth factor–heparan sulfate (HS) interactions are regulated by HS sulfation patterns. However, the biogenesis of these combinatorial sulfation patterns is largely unknown. N-Deacetylase/N-sulfotrasferase (NDST) converts N-acetyl-d-glucosamine residues to N-sulfo-d-glucosamine residues. This enzyme is suggested to be a gateway enzyme because N-sulfation dictates the final HS sulfation pattern. It is known that O-sulfation blocks C5-epimerase, which acts immediately after NDST action. However, it is still unknown whether O-sulfation inhibits NDST action in a similar manner. In this article we radically change conventional assumptions regarding HS biosynthesis by providing in vitro evidence that N-sulfation is not necessarily just a gateway modification during HS biosynthesis.
A κ - κ Error Correcting Procedure for Nonparametric Imperfectly Supervsed Learning

A decision-directed error correcting scheme for non-paramnetric imperfectly supervised learning is proposed. The proposed procedure is based on a nearest neighbor rule with a reject option and combines the knowledge accumulated by the learning scheme with that provided by the supervision. An asymptotic analysis of the error correction scheme shows that relabeling of training measurements can have a lower probability of error than the supervision provided Bayes' probability of error is less thani the supervisions probability of error. Computer simulations are used to compare the performance of the proposed scheme with the performance of the k nearest neighbor rule without error correction.
A Note on S5

This is really a note to Wajsberg's [4]. In [3] J. C. C. McKinsey proved the following two completeness theorems: (1) theorem 6: If A is a wff of S2 with just r (proper or improper) sub-wffs, then A is provable in S2 iff A is satisfied by every normal S2-matrix with no more than 2 2r+1 elements ; (2) theorem 13: if A is a wff of S4 with just r sub-wffs, then A is provable in S4 iff A is satisfied by every normal S4-matrix with no more than 2 2r elements. Now, a similar theorem has not been explicitly formulated for S5, even though a similar, even simpler, theorem has been almost at hand since Wajsberg's [4] was published in 1933, namely: Theorem. If A is a wff of S5 with just n propositional variables, then A is provable in S5 iff A is satisfied by a normal SS-matrix with 2 2n elements .
Multiple Constituencies and the Social Construction of Nonprofit Organization Effectiveness

Based on the social constructionism perspective and a multiple constituency model, this study investigates stakeholder judgments of nonprofit charitable organization effectiveness. ThestudyalsousesaDelphiprocesstoidentifycriteriathatsomepractitionerw-experts regard as objective indicators of effectiveness. Data on various stakeholder judgments of organizational effectiveness and on the objective indicators were collected for a sample of 64 organizations, allowing for examination of the extent to which stakeholder judgments are consistent and for examination of the extent to which judgments are related to objective indicators. Among the major results of the study are that practitioner-experts define objective effectiveness as employing correct procedures; stakeholders frequently vary substantially in their judgments of the effectiveness of the same organization; stakeholder judgments of effectiveness seldom are related to objective (correct procedures) effectiveness; and differenttypesofstakeholdersusesome...
Feasibility and promise of a 6-week program to encourage physical activity and reduce joint symptoms among elderly breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitor therapy.

Abstract Background National guidelines suggest that women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer be considered for adjuvant endocrine treatment with an aromatase inhibitor (AI). Joint symptoms (arthralgia) are a common AI side-effect. There is a need for effective approaches to arthralgia management that enable survivors to remain on AI therapy while optimizing as pain-free a life as possible. This feasibility study investigates a 6-week self-directed walking program in a sample of elderly female breast cancer survivors on AIs reporting joint pain. Methods Intervention: Walk With Ease (WWE) goal—minimum 30 min of walking 5 days a week (150 min per week). Eligibility: age > 65; Stage I–III breast cancer; ≥ 3 months of AI therapy; self-reported joint pain/stiffness. Measures: (1) walking—number of days/week and number of minutes/walk, (2) visual analog scales (VAS) for joint pain, fatigue and stiffness, and (3) arthritis self-efficacy (ASE) to manage joint pain and fatigue. Statistics: t-tests, correlation coefficients and effect sizes. Results Sample target of 20 was achieved—mean age 71 (65–87), 85% Caucasian, mean BMI 29. Proportion walking 150 min/week increased from 21% at baseline to 50% at 6 weeks (p Conclusions A self-directed walking program among elderly breast cancer survivors on AI therapy significantly increased total time of walking per week over a 6 week period. Joint pain, stiffness, and fatigue also decreased, although not significantly. Testing within a larger sample is warranted.
Effect of microstructure on molecular oxygen permeation through condensed phospholipid monolayers.

A method is presented that allows novel measurement of the effect of microstructure on the oxygen permeability of highly condensed, polycrystalline phospholipid monolayers. Oxygen permeability of the polycrystalline shell coating a stationary microbubble is measured directly using an apposing microelectrode in the induced transfer mode and modeling oxygen flux through the shell and intervening aqueous medium. Varying cooling rate through the phospholipid main phase transition permits control of shell microstructure by manipulation of crystalline domain size and shape. Domain boundary density, defined as the ratio of the mean domain perimeter to the mean domain area, of the microbubble shell is determined by fluorescence microscopy. Oxygen permeability was shown to increase linearly with domain boundary density at a constant phospholipid acyl chain length and, accordingly, was shown to decrease exponentially with increasing chain length at a constant domain boundary density. Modification of the energy barr...
A minimized rRNA-binding site for ribosomal protein S4 and its implications for 30S assembly

Primary ribosomal protein S4 is essential for 30S ribosome biogenesis in eubacteria, because it nucleates subunit assembly and helps coordinate assembly with the synthesis of its rRNA and protein components. S4 binds a five-helix junction (5WJ) that bridges the 5' and 3' ends of the 16S 5' domain. To delineate which nucleotides contribute to S4 recognition, sequential deletions of the 16S 5' domain were tested in competitive S4-binding assays based on electrophoretic mobility shifts. S4 binds the minimal 5WJ RNA containing just the five-helix junction as well or better than with affinity comparable to or better than the 5' domain or native 16S rRNA. Internal deletions and point mutations demonstrated that helices 3, 4, 16 and residues at the helix junctions are necessary for S4 binding, while the conserved helix 18 pseudoknot is dispensable. Hydroxyl radical footprinting and chemical base modification showed that S4 makes the same interactions with minimal rRNA substrates as with the native 16S rRNA, but the minimal substrates are more pre-organized for binding S4. Together, these results suggest that favorable interactions with S4 offset the energetic penalty for folding the 16S rRNA.
Visualization of interfacial urethane polymerizations by means of a new microstage reactor

Abstract Mixing activated polymerizations, such as RIM urethane polymerizations, may evolve from an imperfectly mixed state; this can drastically modify the characteristics of the polymer formed. Here we focus on the basic building block of the unmixed state: a single interface between reactive monomers. We present a reactor which allows the visualization of the inerface by using an optical microscope and use it to document a variety of phenomena for two and three component urethane polymerizations: (1) the interface may or may not be stable, producing fingering, roll cells, or spontaneous generation of interfacial area, (2) different types of domains (e.g. crystalline or phase-separated) may be formed on opposite sides of the interface, and (3) hard and soft domains may be segregated for the three component polymerization due to diffusional effects.
The Activity of Synthetic Folic Acid in Purified Rations for the Chick

The addition of 25γ of synthetic folic acid per 100 grams of our basal ration prevents the reduced growth, poor feathering condition, and low hemoglobin and hematocrit values consistently obtained when the basal ration is fed to chicks. More than 25γ are needed when the diet contains sulfasuxidine. Evidence for the possible indirect action of folic acid is summarized. Vitamin C or whole liver powder gives a slight response in the presence of adequate amounts of synthetic folic acid.
Prostate-specific antigen bounce predicts for a favorable prognosis following brachytherapy: a meta-analysis.

Purpose Controversy exists whether the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) bounce phenomenon following definitive radiation for prostate cancer has prognostic significance. Here, we perform a meta-analysis to determine the association between PSA bounce and biochemical control after brachytherapy alone.
Novel hydrophilic bis(1,2,3-triazolyl)fluorenyl probe for in vitro zinc ion sensing.

A hydrophilic bis(1,2,3-triazolyl)fluorene derivative was synthesized as a multi-photon-absorbing, zinc-ion-sensing fluorescent probe. The fluorescence response was approximately five-fold greater in presence of Zn2+, resulting in a large binding constant (1 × 109) for a 1:2 ligand to zinc complex. A four-fold increase in the two-photon absorption cross section was achieved upon binding Zn2+. In vitro two-photon fluorescence microscopy imaging revealed a significant fluorescence increase upon introduction of Zn2+ into HeLa cells and reversible Zn2+ binding, demonstrating the potential of this probe for zinc ion sensing.
The Effect of Bathymetry on the Coastal Upwelling of Homogeneous Water

Abstract The influence of bathymetry upon the wind-driven, steady-state coastal upwelling motion of homogeneous water is investigated. The motion occurs in two principal layers, a divergent surface Ekman layer and a subsurface return flow. The restriction that the surface layer depth be always a small fraction of the total depth permits the retention of the surface layer solution developed in a previous paper by the author where bathymetry was not treated. The subsurface motion is affected by bathymetry, but the governing equations can he simplified for bottom topographies of slopes characteristic of continental slopes and shelves. The velocity and pressure fields are deduced by a combination of analytic and numerical means. The principal physical effects of bathymetry are two-fold. Shoaling uplifts and compresses the streamline field in the return flow. The resulting acceleration of the flow toward shore induces a jet in the longshore velocity field for the subsurface layer. This motion occurs in the dir...
Interaction of Gold Clusters with a Hydroxylated Surface

We explore the interaction between gold nanoclusters and a fully hydroxylated surface, Mg(OH)2's basal plane, by using a density functional theory-enabled local basin-hopping technique for global-minimum search. We find strong interaction of gold nanoclusters with the surface hydroxyls via a short bond between edge Au atoms and O atoms of the -OH groups. We expect that this strong interaction is ubiquitous on hydroxylated support surfaces and helps the gold nanoclusters against sintering, thereby contributing to their CO-oxidation activity at low temperatures.
Nanoparticle-based immunoassays for sensitive and early detection of HIV-1 capsid (p24) antigen

We evaluated the feasibility of using nanoparticle (NP)-based assays for improving detection sensitivity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) p24 antigen. One assay that was evaluated is a gold NP-based biobarcode amplification (BCA) assay, which can detect HIV-1 p24 antigen at levels as low as 0.1 pg/mL. The lower limit of detection for an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is 10-15 pg/mL. These results demonstrate that the HIV-1 p24 BCA assay offers 100-150-fold enhancement in the detection limit over the traditional colorimetric ELISA. Furthermore, the BCA assay detected HIV-1 infection 3 days earlier than did ELISA in samples from patients who had experienced seroconversion. The other assay that we tested is the europium NP-based immunoassay, which uses europium NPs to replace gold NPs in the BCA assay to further simplify the detection method and decrease the incubation time. For detection of HIV-1 p24, the lower limit of detection for the europium NP-based immunoassay was 0.5 pg/mL. These results indicate that the universal labeling technology based on NPs and its application may provide a rapid and sensitive testing platform for clinical diagnosis and laboratory research.
Query portals: dynamically generating portals for entity-oriented web queries

Many web queries seek information about named entities (such as products or people). Web search engines federate such entity-oriented queries to relevant structured databases; the results of those searches are then returned to the user along with web search results. Current federated approaches have two limitations: (i) they often fail to return important results for a broad class of such entity-oriented queries and (ii) the information they return per entity is often inadequate. In this paper, we present the Query Portals system that addresses these limitations. The Query Portals system dynamically generates a portal for an entity-oriented query. It first provides an overview of the relevant entities and further allows users to drill down to gather additional information on these entities. Our architecture uses a judicious combination of pre-processing and query time techniques so that the query portal can be generated efficiently.
Two-stage data mining for flaw identification in ceramics manufacture

Advanced ceramics are commonly manufactured by sintering high-purity powders. The design of ceramic elements is governed by its fracture strength, which is greatly influenced by microstructural flaws. Three ceramic powder preparation methods for ceramics manufacturing are considered in this paper—uniaxial pressing followed by isostatic pressing, flocculated slip casting, and dispersed slip casting. Their effects on the growth and characteristics of microstructure flaws and damage on the ceramic surface are investigated using a two-stage data-mining approach. In the first stage, digital microstructural images are mined to characterize the flaws and surface damage. In the second stage, an extreme value probability distribution is fitted using the information from stage 1. The extreme value distribution estimates large flaws which are highly correlated with subsequent fractures. Results of the two-stage data mining show that ceramic production method significantly affects flaw characteristics that, in turn, ...
Effects of Chlorinated Amines on Endothelial and Epithelial Barriers In Vitro and Ex Vivo

Chlorinated amines are long-lived oxidants released from inflammatory cells. They have been observed to alter the function of important inflammatory molecules. Whether they can contribute directly to the inflammatory alteration of cellular barriers is not known. Monolayers of cultured porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells, monolayers of cultured dog kidney tubular epithelial cells (MDCK), and the vascular surface of an isolated perfused rabbit lung were exposed to taurine chloramine. Taurine chloramine increased albumin flux across the endothelium, decreased the electrical resistance across the epithelium, and increased the hydraulic conductivity of the rabbit lung vasculature. These alterations in barrier function appeared to occur in the absence of cytolysis of the cells making up the barriers. These results suggest that chlorinated amines, long-lived oxidants released from inflammatory cells, may contribute directly to alteration of cellular barriers.
Negotiating governance in virtual worlds: grief play, hacktivism, and LeakOps in Second Life®

The acts of transgression in cyberspace have grown in visibility with grief play and griefing in virtual worlds. Briefly defined, griefing is the intentional harassment of other players. This paper argues that in recent years, griefing has developed from a set of trolling practices that manifests itself as offensive language and tasteless pranks into political initiatives with hacktivist undertones. Because the tactical nature of role-playing and gaming provides the anonymity and the cunningness required for hacktivistic initiatives, griefing bears the potential to take part in the transgressive politics of civil disobedience. Arguing that grief play and griefing are tactical uses of media that lead to transgressive politics, this paper will examine the role of such activities in influencing virtual politics. In order to demonstrate how this transformation has occurred, this paper will discuss the birth of vigilante organizations, specifically, that of Justice League Unlimited JLU, and the operation conducted against them by The Wrong Hands. The said operation, whose intention was to leak JLU's secret papers, Brainiac Wiki, exposed a grid-wide surveillance operation that the vigilante group was conducting in Second Life ®.
Anodized Aluminum alloys, insulator or not?

The automated handling equipment (AHE) industry presently uses expensive, exotic and environmental unfriendly conductive or dissipative finishes such as silver impregnated anodize, black electroless nickel, black chrome, and black copper to control ESD. The purpose of this study was to determine if anodized aluminum would provide a sufficient range of dissipation. This paper describes the result of controlled experiments of several plating suppliers and types of plating. When implemented, dissipative anodized aluminum will provide a conservative annual savings of at least $1,000,000 to Universal Instruments Corporation.
MIMO Second Order Sliding Mode Control

The paper proposes an approach to second order sliding mode control for multi-input multi-output (MIMO) nonlinear uncertain systems. Second order sliding mode techniques for single-input single-output (SISO) systems show, with respect to standard sliding mode control, the same properties of robustness and precision, feature a higher order accuracy and can be exploited to eliminate the chattering effect. The application of second order sliding mode control to MIMO nonlinear systems is a challenging matter. The presented MIMO control method applies to a quite large class of nonlinear processes affected by uncertainties of general nature; the control design is simple; the conditions of existence on the controllers are weak. The proposed procedure represents a general approach to the second order sliding mode control of MIMO systems