cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pivot selection and row ordering in givens reduction on sparse matrices

Several strategies for pivot selection in Givens reduction to upper triangular form and for row ordering within major steps of the reduction are compared on the grounds of how well they preserve sparsity. Recommendations are made based principally on the results of runs on test problems. The use of Givens similarity transformations in reducing a sparse matrix to Hessenberg form is similarly examined and finally some conclusions are drawn as to the advisability of using Givens reduction methods on sparse systems.
Ferromagnetic Heat Capacity in an External Magnetic Field near the Critical Point

Some thermodynamic principles useful for understanding the heat capacity of a ferromagnet in an external field near its critical (Curie) point are discussed, with special emphasis on the influence of demagnetizing effects. Two simple examples show the variety of behavior which may be expected, depending on the magnitude of the external field. The utility of considering low-field and high-field limits is pointed out, with particular reference to Ni and EuS.
Spatial nonreciprocity in waveguide second-order processes

We show numerically and experimentally that second-harmonic generation in spatially nonsymmetrical structures can show a direction-dependent or nonreciprocal behavior under a variety of conditions.
A method based on polynomial approximations for numerical solution of volterra integral equations

Summary A general treatment based on polynomial approximations is presented for numerical solution of Volterra integral equations. The method is developed with a formalism that permits use of polynomials of any degree. In general, as the degree of the polynomial is increased, accuracy of solutions also is improved. The new procedure is illustrated by solving an integral equation of stationary electrode polarographic interest. The same equation also is solved by other numerical methods used previously, and it is concluded that the new method is preferable when accurate solutions are required. The new method also is capable of providing accurate solutions of integral equations even when the independent variable is very large. This fact should make it possible to treat mathematically techniques such as cyclic voltammetry under conditions approaching the steady state.
Adjuvant Therapy in Stage II Colon Cancer: Current Approaches

The Oncologist 2005;10:325–331 www.TheOncologist.com Correspondence: Al Benson III, M.D., F.A.C.P., Northwestern University, Division of Hematology/Oncology, 676 North St. Clair, Suite 850, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. Telephone: 312-695-6180; Fax: 312-695-6189; e-mail: a-benson@north western.edu Received November 2, 2004; accepted for publication January 25, 2005. ©AlphaMed Press 10837159/2005/$12.00/0 An estimated 106,370 new cases of colon cancer were forecast to be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2004 [1]. Of these cases, approximately a quarter were predicted to be stage II disease. The overall survival rate for stage II patients after surgery alone ranges from 70%–80% [2]. Adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to improve survival in patients with node-positive or stage III colon cancer in many studies [3–5]. The benefit of adjuvant therapy for patients with stage II colon cancer has been an area of controversy. Recently, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) published guidelines based on a thorough analysis of the available data [6–8]. The purpose of this article is to review the trials that have contributed to the current recommendations regarding adjuvant therapy for stage II colon cancer patients and to summarize recommendations. Staging in colorectal cancer has recently undergone revision to better reflect the differences in survival within stages II and III [9]. Stage II has been subdivided into IIA (T3N0) and IIB (T4N0). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate with surgery alone for stage IIA patients is 65%–73% (highgrade versus low-grade lesions), and it is 51%–60% for stage IIB patients (high-grade versus low-grade lesions) [10]. Stage III has also been subdivided to reflect differences in 5-year survival rates depending on depth of invasion as well as the number of lymph nodes involved. In a secondary analysis of the data from the Intergroup 0089 trial (INT0089) of high-risk, stage II and stage III colon cancer patients, the number of lymph nodes analyzed was found to be an independent prognostic variable [11]. Whether lymph nodes were found to be positive or negative, survival increased as the number of lymph nodes analyzed increased (p = .0001 and p = .0005, respectively, for stage III and II disease). The American Joint Committee on Cancer and the College of American Pathologists have recommended that at least 12 lymph nodes be examined [9, 12]. If fewer than The Oncologist Dialogues in Oncology
Political Television Commercials: An Experimental Study of Type and Length

Considerable controversy has arisen over the use in political campaigns ofshort, image-oriented television commercials. This study compared the effect of type (image and issue) and length (5 minute and 60 second) of political television commercials in terms of candidate evaluation, recall of commercial content, and likelihood of voting for the candidate. Issue commercials resulted in higher candidate evaluation while image commercials resulted in greater recall of content. Higher evaluation of the candidate was achieved by five-minute commercials, but no significant difference in content recall attributable to length was present. An interaction between type and length of commercials surfaced on the voting variable, and the 60-second issue commercial appeared to be slightly superior to other combinations.
Thermally responsive rolling of thin gel strips with discrete variations in swelling

The process by which spatial variations in growth transform two-dimensional elastic membranes into three-dimensional shapes is both a fundamentally interesting mechanism of shape selection and a powerful tool for the preparation of responsive materials. From the perspective of lithographic patterning of thin gel sheets, it is most straightforward to prepare materials consisting of discrete regions with different degrees of swelling. However, the sharp variations in swelling at the boundaries between such regions make it impossible for the sheet to adopt a configuration that is free of in-plane stresses everywhere. Thus, the deformation of such materials is not well understood. Here, we consider the geometrically simple case of a photo-crosslinkable poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymer patterned into thin rectangular strips divided into one high- and one low-swelling region. When swelled in an aqueous medium at 22 °C, the sheet rolls into a three-dimensional shape consisting of two nearly cylindrical regions connected by a transitional neck. Heating to 50 °C leads to fully reversible de-swelling back to a flat configuration. We propose a scaling argument based on a balance between stretching and bending energies that relates the curvature of the 3D shape to the width and thickness of the strip, find good agreement with experimental data and numerical simulations, and further demonstrate how this simple geometry provides a powerful route for the fabrication of self-folding stimuli-responsive micro-devices.
Rates of erosion and their implications for exhumation

At time-scales of 102 to 105 years, erosion by rivers, landslides and glaciers can exceed 5 mm/y. Sustained denudation at these rates is sufficient to account for many of the rapid rates of unloading or cooling that are revealed by geobarometric or thermochronologic studies. Because feedbacks exist among many surface processes, determinations of erosion rates on a few geomorphic processes can be adequate to estimate mean rates across an entire landscape. Rates of fluvial and glacial incision exert a dominant control on landscape lowering, because these rates set the local base level and modulate the flux from adjacent hillslopes. When rates of deformation are sufficiently rapid and sustained, a collisional orogen approaches a dynamic equilibrium or topographic steady state. Due to variations in erosion rates as a function of Late Cenozoic climate changes, such a steady state should be defined at time-scales longer than one climate cycle. During dynamic equilibrium, the geomorphic system displays a predictable configuration of interacting rivers, hillslopes and glaciated process zones. A dynamic equilibrium appears to prevail near Nanga Parbat, Pakistan, and the Southern Alps of New Zealand, where spatial variations in geomorphic erosion rates mimic variations in bedrock cooling rates at time-scales of 106 y.
Utility of an initial D-dimer assay in screening for traumatic or spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage.

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity of a D-dimer assay as a screening tool for possible traumatic or spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. If adequately sensitive, the D-dimer assay may potentially permit omission of a more expensive computed tomography (CT) scan of the head when such hemorrhage is clinically suspected. Methods: Prospective, consecutive, blinded study of patients (age > 16 years) requiring a CT scan of the head for suspected intracranial hemorrhage over a five-month period at a university, Level I trauma center. All study patients had a serum D-dimer assay obtained prior to their CT scans. Sensitivity and specificity, with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) D-dimer assay for the detection of intracranial hemorrhage were calculated. Results: Of the 319 patients entered in the study, 25 (7.8%) had a CT scan positive for intracranial hemorrhage. Patients with intracranial hemorrhage were more likely to have a positive D-dimer assay (chi-square ? 13.075, p < 0.001). The D-dimer assay had 21 true-positive and four false-negative tests, resulting in a sensitivity of 84.0% (95% CI ? 63.7% to 95.5%) and a specificity of 55.8% (95% CI ? 55.5% to 55.9%). The four false-negative cases included one small intraparenchymal hemorrhage, one small subarachnoid hemorrhage, one moderate-sized intraparenchymal hemorrhage with mid-line shift, and one large subdural hematoma requiring emergent surgery. Conclusions: Due to the catastrophic nature of missing an intracranial hemorrhage in the emergency department, the D-dimer assay is not adequately sensitive or predictive to use as a screening tool to allow routine omission of head CT scanning.
Potential impacts of global climate change on the hydrology and ecology of ephemeral freshwater systems of the forests of the northeastern United States

Global, national, and regional assessments of the potential effects of Global Climate Change (GCC) have been recently released, but not one of these assessments has specifically addressed the critical issue of the potential impacts of GCC on ephemeral freshwater systems (EFS). I suggest that this is a major oversight as EFS occur in various forms across the globe. In the northeastern United States, these systems, whether ephemeral (“vernal”) pools or ephemeral or intermittent headwater streams are abundant and provide unique habitats critical to the maintenance of forest biodiversity. Since the hydrology of these waterbodies is strongly affected by weather patterns (in the short-term) or climate (long-term), they are especially sensitive to climate change. In this essay, I review the literature on relationships between climate and hydrology of EFS and on relationships between hydrology and ecology of these systems. I then conclude with my assessment of potential impacts of GCC on the hydrology of EFS and implications for their ecology. The focus of this essay will be on EFS of the forests of the northeastern United States, but will include literature from other regions as they relate to the general relationships between GCC and EFS.
Computer Communication Via Satellites--A Queueing Model

The last few years have witnessed the intensive growth of computer communication networks. The need for nationwide and multination computer communication systems brought about the development of packet-switching networks such as the ARPANET. In this paper we examine a model for computer-to-computer communication via a satellite link. In each network, a single node, the satellite communication concentrator (SCC), manages the flow of information between the terminals in the network and the satellite link. The SCC buffers messages from the terminals and retransmits them over the satellite channel. Buffer space claimed by a message is made free only after the SCC receives an acknowledgment from the receiving network; transmission errors cause the buffer to retransmit the message. The statistical behavior of such a system is considered.
Enteric Dysganglionosis Resembling Intestinal Neuronal Dysplasia in a Foal With Bacterial Colitis

A 5-day-old quarter horse colt with a history of hypothermia, agonal breathing, and diarrhea was euthanized. At necropsy, numerous slightly raised, discrete, closely approximated submucosal nodules were observed in the colon and small intestine. Histologically, these nodules were composed of expanded submucosal mesenchyme that contained numerous neurons either individually or in ganglia. Thirty-two percent of these ganglia included 8 or more neurons, in contrast to 6% in an age-matched foal. Some nodules had necrosuppurative inflammation with vasculitis, thrombosis, and bacterial colonization. A few heterotopic neurons were randomly distributed in the mucosa and the muscularis mucosa. Histologic changes were most consistent with intestinal neuronal dysplasia, a disease of the submucosal plexus described in humans.
A 1GHz-bandwidth CMOS integrator for compressive sensing and RF applications

CMOS hardware development of a resettable 1 GHz integrator circuit for basis projection or random demodulation in Compressive Sensing is described. To accomplish the projection, a wide bandwidth Integrate Amplify and Dump (IAD) circuit element is combined with several mixers to provide integration over the 1GHz bandwidth. The IAD block design in the IBM8RF process is summarized and test results for the constructed IAD device are presented. Finally, a system design for a multichannel compressive sensing receiver is proposed.
Generating–absorbing sponge layers for phase-resolving wave models

Abstract The accurate generation and absorption of water waves in phase-resolving models are critical issues in representing nearshore processes. Here, we present a source function method for combined wave generation and absorption using modified sponge layers. This technique can be easily adapted to a wide variety of systems, and does not require the solution of Green's functions but rather the simpler knowledge of solutions for free waves. These solutions may be linear or nonlinear, regular or irregular, and generated waves can be made arbitrarily accurate through simple selection of sponge layer coefficients. Generating–absorbing sponge layer systems are shown to have a close correspondence to relaxation zones for wave generation if relaxation coefficients are chosen appropriately.
Defining and detecting innovation: Are cognitive and developmental mechanisms important?

Although the authors' ingenuity in identifying criteria for innovation for field studies is appealing, most field studies will lack adequate data. Additionally, their definition does not clearly distinguish innovation from individual learning and is vague about cognitive mechanisms involved. We suggest that developmental data are essential to identifying the causes and consequences of learning new behaviors.
Word Knowledge in a Theory of Reading Comprehension

We reintroduce a wide-angle view of reading comprehension, the Reading Systems Framework, which places word knowledge in the center of the picture, taking into account the progress made in comprehension research and theory. Within this framework, word-to-text integration processes can serve as a model for the study of local comprehension processes, that is, those that make sense out of short stretches of text. These processes require linkage between the word identification system and the comprehension system, with the lexicon in the linking role. Studies of these processes examine the influence of one sentence on the reading of a single word in a second sentence, which enables the integration of the word meaning into the reader's mental model of the text. Skilled comprehenders, more than less skilled, show immediate use of word meanings in the integration process. Other evidence is also consistent with the assumption that word meaning processes are causal components in comprehension skill.
The Dynamic Behavior of Individual Microtubules Associated with Chromosomes In Vitro

Mitotic movements of chromosomes are usually coupled to the elongation and shortening of the microtubules to which they are bound. The lengths of kinetochore-associated microtubules change by incorporation or loss of tubulin subunits, principally at their chromosome-bound ends. We have reproduced aspects of this phenomenon in vitro, using a real-time assay that displays directly the movements of individual chromosome-associated microtubules as they elongate and shorten. Chromosomes isolated from cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells were adhered to coverslips and then allowed to bind labeled microtubules. In the presence of tubulin and GTP, these microtubules could grow at their chromosome-bound ends, causing the labeled segments to move away from the chromosomes, even in the absence of ATP. Sometimes a microtubule would switch to shortening, causing the direction of movement to change abruptly. The link between a microtubule and a chromosome was mechanically strong; 15 pN of tension was generally insufficient to detach a microtubule, even though it could add subunits at the kinetochore-microtubule junction. The behavior of the microtubules in vitro was regulated by the chromosomes to which they were bound; the frequency of transitions from polymerization to depolymerization was decreased, and the speed of depolymerization-coupled movement toward chromosomes was only one-fifth the rate of shortening for microtubules free in solution. Our results are consistent with a model in which each microtubule interacts with an increasing number of chromosome-associated binding sites as it approaches the kinetochore.
UNRESTRICTED RIDING IN PICKUP TRUCK CARGO BEDS POSES SIGNIFICANT HAZARDS

Individuals riding in the beds of pickup trucks face significant risks of debilitating injury or death, yet Mississippi currently has no legislation restricting ridership in truck beds. Data collection on accidents involving truck bed passengers indicates that children make up the majority of victims. Such accidents impose a heavy burden on society in terms of both medical expenses and impaired quality of life for the victims. Language: en
EFFECTS OF TEXT AND FEEDBACK VARIANTS ON SPATIAL INFERENCING

Two versions of a fictitious recreational park were developed. One described the location and order of 25 park landmarks as might be encountered by a driver (route version). The other (survey version) presented the same 25 landmarks using spatial or geographic referents. Both versions were 25 sentences in length. Subjects read either the route or survey version first, one sentence at a time. After reading the text, subjects were given 1 min. access to a map of the park. The route subjects were given a label map. which showed the location of park landmarks by name. The survey readers were given an icon map, which designated the same landmarks using pictures. After viewing the map, both groups were given a set of 20 inferential questions regarding the landmarks. Subjects then read the same text version again; however, half the subjects for each text version viewed the same map, while the other half received the alternate map form. All groups then answered the same set of inferential questions. A control gro...
Retentiveness of dental cements used with metallic implant components.

There is limited dental literature evaluating the retentive capabilities of luting agents when used between metal components, such as cast metal restorations cemented onto machined metal implant abutments. This study compared the retentive strengths of 5 different classes of luting agents used to cement cast noble metal alloy crowns to 8-degree machined titanium cementable implant abutments from the Straumann ITI Implant System. Sixty prefabricated 5.5-mm solid titanium implant abutments and implants were used; 30 received the standard surface preparation and the other 30 received an anodized surface preparation. Anodized implant components were used to reflect current implant marketing. Sixty castings were fabricated and randomly paired with an abutment and implant. A total of 12 castings were cemented onto the implant-abutment assemblies for each of the 5 different luting agents (zinc phosphate, resin composite, glass ionomer, resin-reinforced glass ionomer, and zinc oxide-non-eugenol). After cementation, the assemblies were stored in a humidor at room temperature prior to thermocycling for 24 hours. Each casting was pulled from its respective abutment, and the force at which bond failure occurred was recorded as retentive strength. A statistically significant difference was found between the 5 cements at P < or = .001. Of the cements used, resin composite demonstrated the highest mean retentive strength. Zinc phosphate and resin-reinforced glass-ionomer cements were the next most retentive, while glass ionomer and zinc oxide-non-eugenol cements demonstrated minimal retention. In addition, retention was not altered by the use of an anodized abutment surface.
Replacement attacks against VM-protected applications

Process-level virtualization is increasingly being used to enhance the security of software applications from reverse engineering and unauthorized modification (called software protection). Process-level virtual machines (PVMs) can safeguard the application code at run time and hamper the adversary's ability to launch dynamic attacks on the application. This dynamic protection, combined with its flexibility, ease in handling legacy systems and low performance overhead, has made process-level virtualization a popular approach for providing software protection. While there has been much research on using process-level virtualization to provide such protection, there has been less research on attacks against PVM-protected software. In this paper, we describe an attack on applications protected using process-level virtualization, called a replacement attack. In a replacement attack, the adversary replaces the protecting PVM with an attack VM thereby rendering the application vulnerable to analysis and modification. We present a general description of the replacement attack methodology and two attack implementations against a protected application using freely available tools. The generality and simplicity of replacement attacks demonstrates that there is a strong need to develop techniques that meld applications more tightly to the protecting PVM to prevent such attacks.
Silver Acetate Mouth Spray As An Aid In Smoking Cessation: Results Of A Double-Blind Trial

Background: We studied the use of an aversive technique to improve the outcome of smoking-cessation efforts. We hypothesized that a silver acetate mouth spray, which produces a strong aversive taste when cigarettes are smoked, would increase the quit rate among smokers. Methods: Our study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that was carried out in a private family practice office in an urban area. We studied 42 smokers, who were recruited by advertisement and who were motivated to quit by self-report. They were randomly assigned active spray or placebo spray; all were given a written list of behavioral suggestions. The spray was to be used every 2 hours for 3 weeks during which time the subjects were to keep diaries of cigarette smoking and spray use. Biochemical measures (salivary thiocyanate and cotinine) were recorded at entry, at 3 weeks, and at 3 months. Results: Thirty smokers completed the study. No differences were found between the two groups in quit rate or number of cigarettes smoked. Conclusions: Silver acetate aversive spray did not increase quit rate among motivated smokers.
The Effects of Nutrition Education and Gardening on Attitudes, Preferences, and Knowledge of Minority Second to Fifth Graders in the Rio Grande Valley Toward Fruit and Vegetables

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. social issues, obesity, Type II diabetes, horticulture, health, fruit and vegetable questionnaire SUMMARY. Child obesity has become a national concern. Obesity in children ages 6–17 years has more than doubled in the past 30 years. Only 20% of children today consume the recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables. This trend is even more pronounced in minority populations. Past studies have reported a horticulture-based curriculum, including gardening, can improve children’s attitudes toward eating fruit and vegetables. To investigate whether children of a minority population can benefit from gardening combined with a curriculum on nutrition, research was conducted with elementary schools in a primarily Hispanic region of Texas. Elementary school teachers participating in this research agreed to have school gardens and complete all activities in a curriculum on nutrition provided to them through the Texas Agrilife Extension Service. One hundred and forty-one children in the participating schools completed a pre- and posttest evaluating their nutritional knowledge, preference for fruit and vegetables, and snack choices before and after a gardening program supplemented with nutrition education. Differences were detected between pre- and posttest scores for all three variables. After comparing pre- and posttest scores, it was concluded that gardening and nutritional instruction had a positive effect on students’ nutritional knowledge, fruit and vegetable preference (FVP), and snack choices.
Basic Plasma Phenomenon

Because much of the monograph is concerned with the interactions between a pulsed electrode and the plasma, some of the basic plasma phenomena that will ultimately dictate these interactions will be described. Of particular importance are the factors that influence the currents and the kinetic energies of the charged particles that are extracted from the plasma by the driven electrode. Closely related to this discussion is the manner of the plasma generation, which determines the physical characteristics of the plasma, such as the charge densities, plasma potentials, and temperatures of the ionic and electronic species. This chapter discusses the phenomena that occur in the plasma while the next chapter (Chapter 3) discusses the typical methods used to generate the plasma.
Decanalization of wing development accompanied the evolution of large wings in high-altitude Drosophila

In higher organisms, the phenotypic impacts of potentially harmful or beneficial mutations are often modulated by complex developmental networks. Stabilizing selection may favor the evolution of developmental canalization—that is, robustness despite perturbation—to insulate development against environmental and genetic variability. In contrast, directional selection acts to alter the developmental process, possibly undermining the molecular mechanisms that buffer a trait’s development, but this scenario has not been shown in nature. Here, we examined the developmental consequences of size increase in highland Ethiopian Drosophila melanogaster. Ethiopian inbred strains exhibited much higher frequencies of wing abnormalities than lowland populations, consistent with an elevated susceptibility to the genetic perturbation of inbreeding. We then used mutagenesis to test whether Ethiopian wing development is, indeed, decanalized. Ethiopian strains were far more susceptible to this genetic disruption of development, yielding 26 times more novel wing abnormalities than lowland strains in F2 males. Wing size and developmental perturbability cosegregated in the offspring of between-population crosses, suggesting that genes conferring size differences had undermined developmental buffering mechanisms. Our findings represent the first observation, to our knowledge, of morphological evolution associated with decanalization in the same tissue, underscoring the sensitivity of development to adaptive change.
Abstract P3-05-16: The effect of HER-2/neu inhibition on prolonging clinical benefit with fulvestrant treatment for metastatic estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab

Background: Fulvestrant is a well-established treatment for postmenopausal patients with estrogen receptor (ER) positive metastatic breast cancer, and some patients experience prolonged clinical benefit exceeding one year. HER2 activation is a major cause of endocrine resistance, and cross-talk between HER2/neu and ER coactivator MED1 regulates tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells. (Cancer Res 2012 1;72(21):5625-34.). In a xenograft mouse model, suppression of MED1 enhanced tumor growth inhibition by fulvestrant in HER2/neu overexpressing breast cancer cells (PLoS One 20123 30;8(7)). Objective of study: To determine if blocking the HER2/neu receptor with trastuzumab can improve response to fulvestrant. Methods: This was an IRB approved record review of patients from three medical oncologists with biopsy-proven ER+ metastatic breast cancer treated with fulvestrant. Demographic data collected included age at diagnosis, type and stage of cancer, original and metastatic ER, progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2/neu biomarkers, and site(s) of metastasis, and primary local and systemic treatment. All patients with HER2/neu positive primary tumors received trastuzumab. The duration of fulvestrant therapy was calculated. Time to clinical disease progression on fulvestrant was measured as a surrogate for duration of clinical benefit. Based on the median duration of therapy of 425 days, patients were divided into two groups: Short Treatment ( 425 days). Results: One hundred metastatic ER+ fulvestrant treated breast cancer patients with documented duration of therapy were identified. There was no difference between the Short and Prolonged Treatment Groups in regards to age, sites of metastases, or use of adjuvant endocrine or chemotherapy. Eighty five patients had recorded HER2/neu tumor status. All 11 of 85 (13%) patients with documented HER2/neu positive primary tumors received trastuzumab. Patients with HER2/neu positive tumors tended to have longer durations of fulvestrant therapy (772 (51-1911) days (median (range)) compared to HER2/neu negative patients (360 (60-2739) days, p=0.059). Only 2 of 45 (4%) tumors from the Short Treatment Group were HER2/neu positive, while 9 of 40 Prolonged Treatment Group patients with documented HER2/neu status were positive (Fisher’s exact test p Citation Format: Mahmoud Charif, Elyse E Lower, Diane Kennedy, Harriet Kumar, Shugufta Khan, Neetu Radhakrishnan, Xiaoting Zhang. The effect of HER-2/neu inhibition on prolonging clinical benefit with fulvestrant treatment for metastatic estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-05-16.
Testicular Cancer: Post-Chemotherapy Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection

As reported by Jemal et al. (2006), an estimated 8,000 new cases of testicular cancer were diagnosed in 2005, with a reported 400 deaths due to this disease. Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy in men between 20 and 40 years of age. Major improvements in the prognosis of testicular cancer have occurred during the past 20 years, with overall disease-specific survival rates exceeding 90%, which is due largely to the sensitivity of these tumors to platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with metastatic testicular cancer are frequently treated using a multimodal treatment approach consi­sting of systemic chemotherapy followed by post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND). In this chapter, we will discuss the indications, technical details, treatment-related outcomes, and post-operative surveillance strategies following such dissection.
Enhancing the conjugation yield of brush polymer–protein conjugates by increasing the linker length at the polymer end-group

Polymers with oligoethylene glycol side chains are promising in therapeutic protein-polymer conjugates as replacements for linear polyethylene glycol (PEG). Branched PEG polymers can confer additional stability and advantageous properties compared to linear PEGs. However, branched PEG polymers suffer from low conjugation yields to proteins, likely due to steric interactions between bulky side chains of the polymer and the protein. In an effort to increase yields, the linker length between the protein-reactive functional end-group of the polymer chain and branched PEG side chain was systematically increased. This was accomplished by synthesizing four well-defined poly(poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether) acrylates) (pPEGA) with pyridyl disulfide end-groups by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization mediated by chain transfer agents (CTAs) with different linker lengths. These, along with linear PEG and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAm), were conjugated to two model proteins, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and beta-lactoglobulin (βLG). The conjugation yields were determined by gel electrophoresis. The length of the linker affected conjugation yield for both proteins. For BSA, the conjugation yield step increased from 10% to 24% when the linker was altered from 1 ethylene glycol (EG) unit to 3, with no additional increase for 4 and 6 EG units. In the case of βLG, the yield gradually increased from 9% to the 33% when the linker length was increased from 1 to 6. PEG and pNIPAAm reacted with yields as high as 75% further emphasizing the effect of steric hindrance in lowering conjugation yields.
Engineering Decision Making in an Open Age

In an age of diversification and changes, a new framework for decision making for a team is required. As growing complexity and diversification call for team members from a wide variety of areas, a decision cannot be made one-time as it used to be and it must be reached by trials and errors step by step. Such dynamic decision making has to convince members at each step by providing different perspectives for each member to understand the line of reasoning, and must allow lazy evaluation, because some members cannot understand what pieces of knowledge and experience are called for until later step, when clearer perspective is available. Steps proceed by satisfying at least one member. If it fails, then it backtracks to the previous step until it satisfies one more member. This process is repeated until all members are satisfied.Artificial Intelligence allows such trial and error decision making to make all members feel satisfied. The usefulness of this approach is demonstrated by applying developed WPS producing tool to many applications in industry.And it is believed this DDM tool will be very useful for decision making in other areas, too, where systems are very complex and diverse.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A Combined Theoretical-Experimental Paradigm for Studying Mechanical Conditioning of Tissue Engineered Arteries

There is a great unmet clinical need to develop small diameter tissue engineered blood vessels (TEBV) with low thrombogenicity and immune response, suitable mechanical properties, and a capacity to remodel to their environment [2, 3]. Development of a clinically useful small diameter TEBV will surely rely on techniques from a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from molecular and cell biology and biochemistry to material science and biomechanics. With regard to the latter, biomechanical stimuli, such as cyclic strain, have been shown to stimulate remodeling of collagen gel-derived TEBVs to greatly improve their mechanical behavior [5]. In native blood vessels, remodeling mechanisms appear to be aimed towards maintaining the local, 3-D mechanical environment (i.e., the local stresses or strains). It is becoming increasingly obvious that tissue engineered constructs also adapt to altered mechanical loading, and specific combinations of multidirectional loads appear to have a synergistic effect on the remodeling. Tissue engineered heart valve constructs exposed to cyclic flexure and shear stress, for example, exhibit a five-fold increase in production of extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents compared to constructs exposed to cyclic flexure or shear stress alone [1]. A critical gap remains, however, in understanding the role of both unidirectional and multidirectional loading on TEBV remodeling. Towards this end, we have developed theoretical and experimental frameworks to study remodeling of collagen and fibrin gel-derived TEBVs.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Measurement of Heat Conductivity and Morphology of Nanofluids

A measurement device using transient hot-wire methods to measure heat conductivity of nanofluids was developed. Nanofluids with suspensions of metal oxide nanoparticles were measured. Behaviors of nanoparticles suspended in fluids were viewed using TEM images to correlate between the macroscopic heat conductivity and the microscopic patterns of nanoparticles in the suspensions.
Evolution of mineral fabrics and microstructures in Kimmeridge Shale upon kerogen maturation

Shale has increasingly received attention due to its recent recognition as a potential game changer of US energy outlook. However a fundamental relationship between mineral fabrics, kerogen, and elastic properties of shale remains questionable. Here we present different synchrotron X-ray techniques to capture microstructural transformations in Kimmeridge Shale upon temperature-induced anhydrous maturation. Upon heating up to 300 °C, the degrees of all clay minerals fabrics remain fairly consistent and this result supports minor microstructural changes observed in microtomographic images. A noticeable amount of gas bubble started to form at 400 °C and led to a significant shrinkage of kerogen. The reduction of kerogen greatly influences elastic anisotropy properties and the identification of the promising source in the hydrocarbon reservoir.
Spinal Cord Damage with Diving Injuries: Considerations for Nursing Care

Complications involving the neurologic, pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and integumentary systems can be minimized with a vigilant and systematic nursing approach to the quadriplegic patient. This care encompasses both the patient and the significant others. A nurse-coordinated team effort provides for patient and family trust, continuity of care, and better outcomes from these devastating injuries.
A Hybrid Approach for Individual and Group Activity Analysis in Crowded Scene

This paper presents an efficient hybrid (top-down and bottom-up) framework for activity recognition based on analyzing group context in crowded scenes. The approach presented starts by discovering interacting groups of people using a graph based clustering algorithm. Given the interacting groups, a novel group context activity descriptor is computed that captures not only the focal person’s activity but also the behaviors of neighbors in the group. Finally, for a high-level of understanding of human activities, we propose a bottom-up approach using a random field model to encode activity relationships between people in the scene. We evaluate our approach on two public benchmark datasets and compare the utility of our proposed descriptor with other descriptors using the same baseline recognition framework. The results of both the steps show that our approach with the proposed descriptor achieves recognition rates comparable to state-of-the-art methods for activity recognition in crowded scenes.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION.

Tissue culture technics have made it possible to detect cytomegalovirus infection in living patients, to determine the frequency of infection, and to gain information bearing on the relationship of chronic infection with these agents to chronic disease. Both the congenital and acquired forms of cytomegalovirus infection are uniquely chronic. Recent studies attest to the potential importance of these viruses as etiologic agents in chronic disease. In most congenitally infected infants the cytomegaloviruses cause mental retardation and cerebral palsy. That the acquired infection can produce significant hepatic damage is suggested by the recent isolation of cytomegalovirus from the urine of children with hepatomegaly and abnormal liver function tests and from the liver of a young woman who died of chronic hepatitis.
Multiple Time Series Approach to the Analysis of Hospital Patient Movements

In this research I join Hogarth and Makridakis (1981) in explicitly recognizing the significance and importance of modeling, forecasting, and planning as future-oriented decision-making activities and propose to study the behavior of hospital patient movements (admissions and discharges) and construct forecasting models to predict the future time paths of patient movements. The forecasting models may be used to generate forecasts of patient movements as input information for health care planning.
First Order Homogeneous and Inhomogeneous Linear Equations

The solution of first order inhomogeneous linear equations provides the simplest example of the method of variation of constants given previously in Chap. 2, Sect. 2.1.
An Agricultural Harvest Knowledge Survey to Distinguish Types of Expertise

Gaining insight into the unique characteristics of participants during user research is a valuable tool for both recruitment and understanding differences within the target population. This work describes an agricultural harvest knowledge survey that was created for user research studies that observed experienced combine operators driving a combine simulator in virtual crop fields. Two variations of the survey were designed, utilized, and evaluated in two separate studies. Both studies found a difference between low and high knowledge operators' performance on the knowledge survey in addition to performance differences. Based on the success of this survey as a population segmentation tool, the authors recommend three criteria for the design of future knowledge surveys in other domains: 1) use real world scenarios, 2) ensure question are neither too difficult nor too easy, and 3) ask the minimum number of questions to identify operator knowledge successfully. Future research aims to create a tool that can ...
Keimvermitteltes Wachstum kolloidaler Metallnanokristalle

Beim keimvermittelten Wachstum handelt es sich um eine leistungsfahige und vielseitige Vorgehensweise zur Synthese kolloidaler Metallnanokristalle. Der grose Reiz dieser Methode resultiert aus dem erstaunlichen Ausmas an Kontrolle, das uber die Grose, Form, Zusammensetzung und Struktur von Nanokristallen erzielt werden kann. Diese Parameter kontrollieren nicht nur die Eigenschaften von Nanokristallen, sondern entscheiden auch uber deren Relevanz und Leistungsfahigkeit in diversen Anwendungen. Das keimvermittelte Wachstum bietet hervorragende Aussichten fur die Erweiterung zahlreicher Anwendungen und offnet zugleich Turen fur neue Entwicklungen. Dieser Aufsatz veranschaulicht die schier endlos erweiterbare Diversitat von Metallnanokristallen auf Basis von Keimen mit genau definierten und kontrollierbaren internen Strukturen in Verbindung mit einer geeigneten Kombination aus Bedeckungsmittel und Reduktionskinetik. Daruber hinaus werden neue Einsatzmoglichkeiten und zukunftige Richtungen aufgezeigt.
Michigan Shared Print Initiative and GreenGlass for Groups for Data Analysis in Developing a Collaborative Collective Collection

The Michigan Shared Print Initiative, involving 11 Michigan public university libraries, has partnered with Sustainable Collection Services in using Sustainable Collection Services' new collection analysis and data decision support tool, GreenGlass for Groups. This tool effectively analyzes the group of libraries' individual and collective holdings, sharing mechanisms, and retention needs. This article outlines the establishment of the Michigan Shared Print Initiative, the creation of its collaborative print monograph collection, the use and benefits of GreenGlass for Groups, which is being used for the required collection data analysis for the venture, and the general elements that have contributed to the project's success.
The Market is Flat (or is it?) The Effect of Electronic Trading on Buyer Reach, Geographic Transaction Activity and Geographic Price Variance

We analyze how increased use of electronic channels affects geographic price variance by enabling buyers to shift demand across locations. Using data from the wholesale automotive market, we find that buyers use the reach of the electronic channels to shift purchases from highprice to low-price locations. This “arbitrage” reduces the variance of market prices, but not their means. Further, these relationships weaken with distance, due to transportation costs. The study contributes to the literature on how electronic trading affects geographic trade and price dispersion by: a) considering the role of geographic location in price dispersion, b) observing the behavioral mechanism (buyer arbitrage across locations) that leads to lower price dispersion, c) analyzing dispersion when prices are determined by auction rather than fixed price, and d) examining how reduced buyer search costs have led to lower price dispersion throughout the entire market, as opposed to only the online or offline components.
A model for understanding teachers’ intentions to remain in STEM education

This study examined the relationships of various teacher retention factors with the intentions of math and science teachers to remain in the profession. With data collected from the 2007–08 Schools and Staffing Survey, a sample of 6588 secondary math and science teachers across public schools in the USA was used for structural equation modeling. Socioeconomic impact, student truancy, and years of experience all showed direct relationships with teacher autonomy, while administrative support, teacher autonomy, and satisfaction with salary were all directly related to these teachers’ intentions to remain in the profession. Of these teacher retention factors, satisfaction with salary was found to have the strongest relationship. By understanding what factors are associated with the intentions of math and science teachers to continue teaching, educational policymakers and practitioners will have practical guidance in helping them make decisions to improve the retention of these teachers in secondary public schools, on whom the fields in STEM are so dependent.
The Intervened Heart: Cardiac Hardware in the Forensic Suite:

Cardiovascular interventions—in the form of bypass grafts, stents, prosthetic valves, and ventricular assist devices—are increasingly common for the typical citizen of the industrialized world. Whi...