cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can mouse models for brain tumors inform treatment in pediatric patients

Brain tumors represent the most common solid tumor of childhood. Although the histology of many pediatric brain tumors is similar to that of their adult counterparts, significant differences exist with regard to tumor location and response to therapy. The biological and genetic basis for this difference is poorly understood, as tumor tissue is generally unavailable for such studies. While targeted therapies directed against specific molecules active in cancer represents a new arsenal of agents for treating these tumors, such agents are generally not being developed for pediatric cancer in particular. Therefore, new agents for treatment of pediatric glioma must be obtained from compounds being tested against tumors of comparable histology in adult patients. Compounding this problem, although brain tumors are among the most lethal tumors of childhood, their absolute number is relatively small. As a consequence, trials with new agents must be prioritized based on the likelihood that a particular agent or combination of agents will have efficacy in pediatric cancer. Mouse models for brain tumors may help to identify targeted agents, and combinations of agents, effective against these tumors. Such data can be used to prioritize therapies for clinical trials in children with these tumors.
Axon strata of the cerebral wall in embryonic mice

Abstract The stratification of principal fiber systems affiliated with the developing neocortex has been analyzed by means of HRP tracing methods, monoamine histofluorescence and silver impregnations in mouse embryos ranging from the 15th to 16th embryonic day ( E 15 16 ) to the end of gestation (E19 = the day of birth). As early as E 15 16 a fiber stratum divides the subplate and marks the inferior boundary of the developing cortex. Axons coursing in this fiber plane, termed the external sagittal stratum (ESS), include components of at least 5 identifiable systems: thalamocortical, corticothalamic, ipsilateral corticocortical, callosal and monoaminergic. The neocortical afferents of extrinsic origin, i.e., the thalamocortical, callosal and monoaminergic systems, cross the intermediate zone from their separate directions and convergence upon the ESS. After a variable course through this striatum, single fibers ascend from their parent fascicles to ramify densely in the cortical subplate (CSB). Fibers of each of the extrinsic afferent systems mingle with each other and with locally arising axons within the CSB. Axons of the monoaminergic projection as well as fibers of the thalamic projection cross the cortical plate to ramify in the marginal zone. Other axons apparently of local intracortical origin course tangentially through the cortical plate. Otherwise, the cortical plate is devoid of proliferating axons at this early developmental stage. The set of observations illustrates the existence of sharply defined boundaries between axon-rich and axon-poor strata of the developing neocortex. These boundaries also compartmentalize postmigratory neurons with respect to their state of differentiation.
Delayed hypersensitivity testing as a clinical measure of cell-mediated immunity in the cat

The purposes of this study were to examine the cell-mediated immune response of the normal cat to the modified live feline viral rhinitis, calicivirus, and parvovirus (FVRCP) vaccine (Felocell CVR, Norden, Lincoln, NE), and to evaluate the intradermal skin test as a clinical measure of the immune response of cats. Vaccine and diluent were injected intradermally on the dorsal pinna of 34 normal adult cats. Skin thickness measurements, lymphocyte counts, and Concanavalin A mitogenesis indices were evaluated in 18 of these cats. Skin biopsies were obtained in 16 cats. In normal cats, the FVRCP vaccine induced a delayed hypersensitivity response characterized by a mononuclear infiltrate most pronounced at 72 h. Five cats with either feline leukemia (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) were tested and had a significantly reduced response to the skin test. The skin test provides a clinically useful method of evaluating immune function in cats and may be useful in development of a prognostic index.
The solubility of carbon in BaTiO3 at fixed, low oxygen potentials at 800°C

Abstract When equilibration with a gas phase containing CO-CO2 was used to establish the oxygen activity of BaTiO3 at 800°C, a considerable solubility of the second component of the gas mixture (namely carbon) was thermogravimetrically measured. The substantial solubility of this dopant is offered as a possible explanation of the anomalous behavior in the electrical conductivity at low oxygen pressures which has been reported. The results have been interpreted in terms of a defect model proposing that the electrical compensation of the interstitial carbon occurs by a “filling” of the oxygen vacancies and an increase in the number of conduction electrons.
A double-blind study of perioperative steroid requirements in secondary adrenal insufficiency

Abstract Background. Patients treated long-term with supraphysiologic doses of glucocorticoids experience secondary adrenal insufficiency and are routinely given large doses of steroids in the perioperative period to prevent hypotension. Because the dose of steroids required to prevent hypotension is not known, we conducted a randomized, double-blind study to determine whether patients treated long-term with glucocorticoids actually require increased steroids in the perioperative period. Methods. Patients who had been taking at least 7.5 mg prednisone daily for several months and had secondary adrenal insufficiency as defined by adrenocorticotropic hormone testing formed the study population. Patients were randomized to two groups. One group received perioperative injections of saline solution alone; the other received perioperative saline solution and cortisol. All patients received their usual daily prednisone dose throughout the study. Results. Six patients were in the steroid-treated group and 12 were in the saline-treated group. Most subjects underwent major operations such as joint replacements, abdominal operations, and miscellaneous other procedures. Two patients had hypotension, one in each group. Hypotension resolved with volume replacement in both patients. The average pulse rates and blood pressures were similar in both groups during the perioperative period. Conclusions. Patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency do not experience hypotension or tachycardia caused by inadequate glucocorticoid levels when given only their daily dose of steroids for surgical procedures.
Bedside Assessment of Cardiac Hemodynamics: The Impact of Noninvasive Testing and Examiner Experience

Abstract Background Knowledge of cardiac filling pressures is critical in the diagnosis and management of patients with dyspnea or heart failure. Echocardiography and B-natriuretic peptide (BNP) testing are commonly used to estimate these pressures, but their incremental value beyond physical examination remains unknown. Methods Right and left heart filling pressures were prospectively estimated as "normal" or "abnormal" by staff cardiologists and cardiovascular trainees based upon physical examination findings alone, or examination coupled with echocardiographic and BNP data in patients referred for cardiac catheterization. Net reclassification improvement was calculated to determine whether echocardiographic/BNP data had incremental value in the determination of right and left heart pressures. Results Two hundred fifteen observations were made by 9 examiners in 116 consecutive patients. Right and left heart pressures were accurately predicted from examination alone in 71% and 60% of observations, respectively. Examination-based accuracy was greater for staff cardiologists compared with trainees for right heart (82 vs 67%, P =.03) and left heart pressures (71% vs 55%, P =.03). Exposure to echocardiographic and BNP data did not enhance accuracy beyond bedside examination alone, both for left heart pressures (net reclassification improvement=−0.004; 95% confidence interval, −0.12-0.12) and right heart pressures (net reclassification improvement=0.02, 95% confidence interval, −0.09-0.13). Conclusions Cardiac filling pressures can be estimated from physical examination with modest accuracy, which is enhanced with experience. While echocardiographic and BNP data predict cardiac filling pressures, they may not provide information of incremental value beyond examination alone. Rigorous teaching and practice of cardiac examination skills should continue to be emphasized during medical training.
Identification of liquid-phase decomposition species and reactions for guanidinium azotetrazolate

Abstract The objective of this work is to analyze the decomposition of guanidinium azotetrazolate (GzT) in the liquid phase by using a combined experimental and computational approach. The experimental part involves the use of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to acquire the spectral transmittance of the evolved gas-phase species from rapid thermolysis, as well as to acquire spectral transmittance of the condensate and residue formed from the decomposition. Time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ToFMS) is also used to acquire mass spectra of the evolved gas-phase species. Sub-milligram samples of GzT were heated at rates of about 2000 K/s to a set temperature (553–573 K) where decomposition occurred under isothermal conditions. N2, NH3, HCN, guanidine and melamine were identified as products of decomposition. The computational approach is based on using quantum mechanics for confirming the identity of the species observed in experiments and for identifying elementary chemical reactions that formed these species. In these ab initio techniques, various levels of theory and basis sets were used. Based on the calculated enthalpy and free energy values of various molecular structures, important reaction pathways were identified. Initiation of decomposition of GzT occurs via ring opening to release N2.
A correspondence between partitions related to generalizations of the Rogers-Ramanujan identities

A 1-??? correspondence is established between partitions of a positive integer n of the form (p"1p"2p"3...p"n) where p"1-p"j"+"k"-"1>=2 and at most i-1 of the p"j and partitions of n whose book differences d"j all lie in the range -(i-2)=<2k-i-1. The same correspondence is also applied to partitions whose book differences lie in the range -(i-2)=
Mono(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(II) Complexes with Hydride, Alkyl, and Tetrahydroborate Ligands: Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Ethylene Dimerization and Trimerization Catalysis

The mono(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(II) complex CpTiCl(dmpe)2 has been prepared by treating (CpTiCl2)x with n-butyllithium in the presence of 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane (dmpe). Subsequent treatment of this titanium(II) species with methyllithium or n-butyllithium affords the alkyl and hydride analogues CpTiMe(dmpe)2 and CpTiH(dmpe)2, respectively. The X-ray crystal structures of CpTiX(dmpe)2 (X = Cl, Me, H) have been determined, and all possess unusually long metal−ligand distances owing to steric crowding in the first coordination sphere of these formally eight-coordinate complexes. Analogous treatment of [Cp*Ti(BH4)Cl]2 with n-butyllithium in the presence of a chelating phosphine affords the mono(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)titanium(II) complexes Cp*Ti(BH4)(η2-PP), where PP is dmpe or (tert-butyl)tris(dimethylphosphinomethyl)silane (trimpsi). All of these titanium(II) complexes are catalysts for the oligomerization of alkenes. For example, ethylene is dimerized to 1-butene; subsequent coupling reac...
Transforming growth factor-β1 increases albumin permeability of isolated rat glomeruli via hydroxyl radicals

Transforming growth factor-β1 increases albumin permeability of isolated rat glomeruli via hydroxyl radicals. Background Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a multifunctional cytokine. Glomerular cells and tubular epithelial cells secrete and respond to TGF-β1. A close association between elevated levels of TGF-β1 and the development of glomerulonephritis, glomerulosclerosis, and tubular hypertrophy has been documented. The role of TGF-β1 in proteinuria is not well understood. Methods Isolated rat glomeruli were incubated in medium alone or with TGF-β1 (1 to 10 ng/mL) and TGF-β1 + 200 U/mL of superoxide dismutase (SOD) or 1 mmol/L of dimethylthiourea (DMTU) scavengers of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, respectively, for up to 60 minutes at 37°C. Glomerular albumin permeability (P alb ) was calculated from the volumetric response of glomeruli to an oncotic gradient using videomicroscopy. Results One or 2.5 ng/mL of TGF-β1 had no effect on P alb (0.18 ± 0.08, N = 17; 0.18 ± 0.079, N = 20 vs. control 0.00 ± 0.06, N = 25), whereas 5 or 10 ng/mL of TGF-β1 caused a significant increase in P alb (0.31 ± 0.09, N = 20; 0.33 ± 0.06, N = 23) within 15 minutes. The effect of 10 ng/mL of TGF-β1 on P alb increased further after 30, 45, or 60 minutes of incubation (0.43 ± 0.06, N = 24; 0.53 ± 0.06, N = 25; 0.74 ± 0.075, N = 21). The TGF-β1–induced increase in P alb (0.75 ± 0.065, N = 15) was blocked by SOD (0.07 ± 0.14 N = 15) or by DMTU (0.04 ± 0.13, N = 15). Incubation of glomeruli with the carrier medium (4N HCl) in which TGF-β1 is dissolved and SOD or DMTU alone did not affect P alb . Conclusion Elevated levels of TGF-β1 derived from glomerular or extraglomerular sources are capable of increasing glomerular P alb via superoxide and hydroxyl radicals and may lead to proteinuria in vivo.
Separation of CsCl from a ternary CsCl-LiCl-KCl salt via a melt crystallization technique for pyroprocessing waste minimization

Abstract A parametric study has been conducted to identify the effects of several parameters on the separation of CsCl from molten LiCl–KCl salt via a melt crystallization process. A reverse vertical Bridgman technique was used to grow the salt ingots. The investigated parameters were: (1) the advancement rate, (2) the crucible lid configuration, (3) the amount of salt mixture, (4) the initial composition of CsCl, and (5) the temperature difference between the high and low furnace zones. From each grown salt ingot, samples were taken axially and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results show that CsCl concentrations at the top of the ingots were low and increased to a maximum at the bottom of the salt. Salt (LiCl–KCl) recycle percentages for the experiments ranged from 50% to 75% and the CsCl composition in the waste salt was low. To increase the recycle percentage and the concentration of CsCl in the waste form, multiple crystallization stages were explored showing that they were practical under the optimal experimental conditions at 5.0 mm/h rate with a lid configuration and temperature difference of 200 °C for a total of five crystallization stages. Up to 88% of the LiCl–KCl salt can be recycled under these proposed conditions.
Recent Advances in Distributed Collaborative Surveillance

In Carnegie Mellon University's CyberScout project, we are developing mobile and stationary sentries capable of autonomous reconnaissance and surveillance. In this paper, we describe recent advances in the areas of efficient perception algorithms (detection, classification, and correspondence) and mission planning. In detection, we have achieved improved rejection of camera jitter and environmental variations (e.g., lighting, moving foliage) through multi-modal filtering, and we have implemented panoramic backgrounding through pseudo-real-time mosaicing. In classification, we present methods for discriminating between individual, groups of individuals, and vehicles, and between individuals with and without backpacks. In correspondence, we describe an accurate multi-hypothesis approach based on both motion and appearance. Finally, in mission planning, we describe mapbuilding using multiple sensory cues and a computationally efficient decentralized planner for multiple platforms.
A simplified computational model of the oxidation of Zr/Al multilayers

Abstract A computational model is developed to describe the oxidation of nanolaminates comprising Zr/Al bilayers. The model is developed in light of recent experimental observations of reactive multilayers ignited in air. These suggest that at early stages following the completion of the formation reaction, the oxidation process is more closely described using a surface-reaction controlled growth regime; however, as the oxide layer thickens, transition to the diffusion controlled growth occurs. A simplified computational model is consequently developed that incorporates both regimes of oxide growth. The evolution of the foil temperature is described using an energy balance equation that takes into account the oxidation heat, oxygen intake and radiative heat loss. The computations are implemented to estimate the oxidation heat release rates and the temperature of the oxidizing foil, and to analyze the impact of radiative heat losses. The temperature measurements are then exploited to characterize the transition from the surface-reaction controlled growth regime to the diffusion-limited growth regime.
Analysis of the One-Level Sealed Bidding on Effectiveness under Different Bidding Variables

The one-level sealed bidding is studied under the circumstance of project construction in build-operate-transfer (BOT) mode, where the bidding variable is considered separately as concession term, toll per product, payment and the total revenue. A game model with incomplete information among tenderers is presented and the optimal bidding strategies of tenderers are given. When the tenderer's construction cost belongs to uniform distribution, the optimal bidding strategy is related to his cost, the numbers of all tenderers, his relative cost coefficient, demand in unit time and so on. Furthermore, when the anticipations of market demand among the tenderers are different, the optimal bidding strategies under the above bidding variables may fail; when the operation and maintenance cost could be ignored, the bidding variable of total revenue is the best choice.
Atmospheric Electricity Hazards

Atmospheric electricity, and electrostatic discharge in general, can be a significant hazard to aircraft, spacecraft and personnel.
Play and the evolution of fairness: a game theory model

Abstract Bekoff [J. Consci. Stud. 8 (2001) 81] argued that mammalian social play is a useful behavioral phenotype on which to concentrate in order to learn more about the evolution of fairness. Here, we build a game theoretical model designed to formalize some of the ideas laid out by Bekoff, and to examine whether ‘fair’ strategies can in fact be evolutionarily stable. The models we present examine fairness at two different developmental stages during an individual's ontogeny, and hence we create four strategies—fair at time 1/fair at time 2, not fair at time 1/not fair at time 2, fair at time 1/not fair at time 2, not fair at time 1/fair at time 2. Our results suggest that when considering species where fairness can be expressed during two different developmental stages, acting fairly should be more common than never acting fairly. In addition, when no one strategy was evolutionarily stable, we found that all four strategies we model can coexist at evolutionary equilibrium. Even in the absence of an overwhelming database from which to test our model, the general predictions we make have significant implications for the evolution of fairness.
The Role of PTF1-P48 in Pancreatic Acinar Gene Expression

The 100-base pair ELA1transcriptional enhancer drives high level transcription to pancreatic acinar cells of transgenic mice and in transfected pancreatic acinar cells in culture. The A element within the enhancer is the sole positively acting element for acinar specificity. We show that the acinar cell-specific bHLH protein PTF1-P48 and the common bHLH cofactor HEB are part of the PTF1 complex that binds the A element and mediates its activity. Acinar-like activity of the enhancer can be reconstituted in HeLa cells by the introduction of P48, HEB, and the PDX1-containing trimeric homeodomain complex that binds the second pancreatic element of the enhancer. The 5′ region of the mouse Ptf1-p48 gene from −12.5 to +0.2 kilobase pairs contains the regulatory information to direct expression in transgenic mice to the pancreas and other organs of the gut that express the endogenous Ptf1-p48 gene. The 5′-flanking sequence contains two activating regions, one of which is specific for acinar cells, and a repressing domain active in non-pancreatic cells. Comparison of the 5′-gene flanking regions of the mouse, rat, and human genes identified conserved sequence blocks containing binding sites for known gut transcription factors within the acinar cell-specific control region.
The interaction of cyclic hardening and ratchetting for AISI type 304 stainless steel at room temperature—I. Experiments

Abstract Uniaxial zero-to-tension load controlled tests at stress rates differing by three orders of magnitude were performed on annealed AISI Type 304 stainless steel. The maximum stress was determined either as the stress reached in displacement control at one per cent strain (History I), or as the stress reached after a 1050 s relaxation test at one per cent strain (History II). The tests of History III were identical to those of History I, except that the specimens were subjected to cyclic hardening prior to the start of the ratchetting test. The ratchet strain accumulations in Histories I and II are significant and depend on stress rate. A stress rate decrease increases the accumulated ratchet strain. The final ratchet strain accumulation is independent of stress rate sequence. In History II, no ratchet strain was found at any stress rate. If the steel had behaved in a rate-independent fashion, no ratchet strain accumulation should have been found in any of the tests. They were performed with an MTS servohydraulic, computer controlled testing machine, a clip on-extensometer and digitized data acquisition.
A rare cause of occlusion of the internal carotid artery

A most unusual case of a fungus granuloma of the pituitary gland is presented. The foggy appearance of the sella turcica confronted with the seemingly hyperlucent sphenoid sinus as well as the concomitant angiographic findings may be perhaps considered a pathognomonic sign of intrasellar inflammation. Occlusion of the internal carotid by invasion of aspergillus niger.
Associations among parent acculturation, child BMI, and child fruit and vegetable consumption in a Hispanic sample.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association of parent acculturation with child fruit and vegetable consumption and obesity, as measured by body mass index (BMI). Participants included 250 Mexican-American and other Hispanic families living within San Diego County. Height and weight measurements were collected to calculate the age- and sex-specific BMI for each child and parent, and parents completed self-administered surveys. Child BMI z-score was significantly related to parent BMI after controlling for parent acculturation and parent birth place (β = 0.05, p < 0.01). Child fruit consumption was significantly associated with parent acculturation (β = −0.02, p = 0.01) and parent BMI (β = 0.02, p = 0.04) after adjusting for the other variables in the model. Child vegetable consumption was not significantly related to parent acculturation. Findings suggest that parental weight status may be more predictive of child obesity than acculturation, and highlight the need to examine culturally relevant behavioral and psychosocial factors related to childhood obesity and dietary behaviors.
Factors that influence the decision to do an adequate evaluation of a patient with a positive stool for occult blood

Factors that influence the decision to do an adequate evaluation of a patient with a positive stool for occult blood
Ionisation in the Upper Atmosphere

THE more important agencies which may conceivably cause the ionisation of the upper atmosphere of the earth are the ultra-violet light, α- and β-particles, all of solar origin, the penetrating radiation of cosmic origin, and the ionising radiations from terrestrial sources. The last mentioned may perhaps be ruled out immediately because of the fact that the conductivity of the lower atmospheric strata increases rapidly with the height for the first few kilometres. The possible effects of these ionising agencies have been considered in papers by Chapman and Milne, Benndorf, Elias, Lassen, and others. Recently, experiments with the electromagnetic waves of wireless telegraphy, together with theories of the propagation of these waves over the surface of the earth, have led to more definite information about the ionisation in the upper atmosphere, and it has been of interest to examine again the causes of the ionisation.
Changes in rat adrenal cyclic nucleotides during normal and neoplastic growth

Abstract In an attempt to correlate changes in cyclic nucleotide levels with in vivo growth of the rat adrenal gland we have measured adrenal cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in normal, hyperplastic, and neoplastic rat adrenals. The first group of animals were subject to either unilateral adrenalectomy (ADX) or acute hypophysectomy 1 h prior to unilateral adrenalectomy (HADX). Cyclic nucleotides were measured in the contralateral adrenal post-operatively. In HADX rats cyclic GMP rose steadily throughout the 7 day study period, while ADX rats exhibited significant decreases in adrenal cyclic GMP. Cyclic AMP remained approximately 1.5 pm/mg tissue in HADX rats, while in ADX rats there was significant elevation of adrenal cyclic AMP at all time points. Cyclic GMP/cyclic AMP ratios remained constant in HADX animals; however, the growing adrenals of ADX animals exhibited depressed cyclic GMP/cyclic AMP ratios at all time periods. Adrenal hyperplasia was induced in a seond group of animals by a transplantable, corticotropin-secreting, pituitary tumor. Adrenals from age-matched animals served as controls. Adrenal cyclic AMP was significantly elevated in tumor-bearers at a time correspinding to the peak accumulation of adrenal weight, protein and DNA in these animals. In contrast, adrenal cyclic GMP in both tumor-beares and control animals fell steadily throughout the study period. Cyclic GMP/cyclic AMP ratios of control animals decreased from 2 to 3 weeks post-transplant remaining at the 3 week value during the period corresponding to rapid adrenal growth in tumor-bearers. The cyclic GMP/cyclic AMP ratio in the hyperplastic adrenals of tumor-bearers decreased steadily throughout their rapid growth period, suggesting a positive correlation between adrenal growth and depression of the cyclic GMP/cyclic AMP ratio. Cyclic nucleotide levels in neoplastic adrenals of rats bearing the transplantable adrenocortical carcinoma 494 were compared with cyclic nucleotides in normal rat adrenal glands. Cyclic AMP was not different in the two groups. However, the cyclic GMP content of neoplastic adrenals was significantly lower than that of normal adrenal tissue, causing a suppression of the cyclic GMP/cyclic AMP ratio in the neoplastic tissue. Thus, measurement of adrenal cyclic nucleotides in both hyperplastic and neoplastic rat adrenal glands suggests that adrenal growth in vivo may be characterized by a depression of the cyclic GMP/cyclic AMP ratio.
Effect of Selenium Supplementation on Cytotoxic Activity of the Human NK Cell Line

Abstract The cancer chemopreventive activity of Se has been suggested to be related to the ability of Se to modulate the immune system, in particular natural killer (NK) cells. To date, studies investigating Se-modulation of NK cell function have used mixed lymphocyte populations or enriched NK cell populations from peripheral blood or spleen. To alleviate extraneous variables, the effects of Se compounds on the NK cytotoxic activity were assessed using a human, non-transformed, NK cell line (NK3.3) derived from a mixed lymphocyte culture from normal donors. Selenite, but not selenomethionine, inhibited the natural cytotoxic and antibody-dependent cytotoxic activity of NK3.3 cells. The data suggest that Se-induced enhancement of NK activity in vivo may not be due to a direct interaction of Se on NK cells. The elevated in vivo NK activity may be explained by an indirect effect of Se (i.e., Se may affect another cell population that in turn releases “factors” that enhance NK cell cytotoxic activity).
Preliminary analysis of the importance of material properties and thermal inputs on heat shields for Mars entry.

Material properties and thermal inputs on heat shields for Mars entry, noting importance of insulation vs ablation due to uncertainities in radiant heating inputs
Jimmy carter and playboy: A sociolinguistic perspective on style

Using research by Martin Joos and John J. Gumperz to develop a perspective for rhetorical analysis, the article contends that Carter's final remarks in his Playboy interview reflect an ineffective sociolinguistic code shift to a stylistic level inappropriate to Carter as public personality and as presidential candidate.
Detecting Road Traffic Events by Coupling Multiple Timeseries With a Nonparametric Bayesian Method

Road traffic sensors provide rich multivariable datastreams about the current traffic conditions. Occasionally, there are unusual traffic events (such as accidents, jams, and severe weather) that disrupt the expected road traffic conditions. Detecting the occurrence of such events in an online and real-time manner is useful to drivers in planning their routes and in the management of the transportation infrastructure. We propose a new method for detecting traffic events that impact road traffic conditions by extending the Bayesian robust principal component analysis (RPCA) approach. Our method couples multiple traffic datastreams so that they share a certain sparse structure. This sparse structure is used to localize traffic events in space and time. The traffic datastreams are measurements of different physical quantities (e.g., traffic flow and road occupancy) by different nearby sensors. Our proposed method processes datastreams in an incremental way with small computational cost; hence, it is suitable to detect events in an online and real-time manner. We experimentally analyze the detection performance of the proposed coupled Bayesian RPCA (BRPCA) using real data from loop detectors on the Minnesota I-494. We find that our method significantly improves the detection accuracy when compared with the traditional PCA and noncoupled BRPCA.
A hierarchical model for estimating response time distributions

We present a statistical model for inference with response time (RT) distributions. The model has the following features. First, it provides a means of estimating the shape, scale, and location (shift) of RT distributions. Second, it is hierarchical and models between-subjects and within-subjects variability simultaneously. Third, inference with the model is Bayesian and provides a principled and efficient means of pooling information across disparate data from different individuals. Because the model efficiently pools information across individuals, it is particularly well suited for those common cases in which the researcher collects a limited number of observations from several participants. Monte Carlo simulations reveal that the hierarchical Bayesian model provides more accurate estimates than several popular competitors do. We illustrate the model by providing an analysis of the symbolic distance effect in which participants can more quickly ascertain the relationship between nonadjacent digits than that between adjacent digits.
Rapid alternating stimulus naming in the developmental dyslexias

A rapid, alternating stimulus (RAS) naming measure was designed to study the developing ability in dyslexic readers to direct attention to contextual patterns while performing a rapid serial naming task. The results from a 3-year longitudinal investigation of 98 children indicate three trends. RAS performances differentiate both average from impaired readers and dyslexic subgroups from each other. The largest, most impaired subgroup can not complete the RAS tasks in kindergarten; the smaller subgroups have little name access speed deficits. Early RAS performances are highly predictive of later reading, particularly at the single-word reading level. Implications for understanding the development of automaticity and the relationship between retrieval speed and reading are discussed.
Decreased antibody formation in mice exposed to lead.

SEVERAL environmental contaminants have been demonstrated to be synergistic to infectious agents. Polychlorinated biphenyls1, arsenicals2, cobalt sulphate3 and sulphur dioxide4 increased the mortality of animals infected with viral agents. Lead nitrate enhanced the mortality of mice to Salmonella typhimurium5. Some of these compounds are apparently immunosuppressive as circulating antibody titres to infectious agents from animals exposed to lead, cadmium, mercury6, DDT (ref. 7) and polychlorinated biphenyls8 were significantly lower than those from the control animals. This study was undertaken to determine if the decreased circulating antibody in animals that were exposed to lead was a result of a decrease in the number of cells producing antibody.
Measurements of benzene concentration by difference-frequency laser absorption spectroscopy

Measurements of benzene concentration based on high-resolution laser absorption spectroscopy by use of the R(6) transition in the ν4 fundamental vibrational band near 14.8 µm (676.6 cm-1) are reported. These measurements were performed with a tunable continuous-wave, mid-infrared spectroscopic light source that employs difference-frequency mixing of two Ti:sapphire lasers in a GaSe nonlinear optical crystal. A minimum benzene concentration detection of ∼11.5 parts in 106 was realized at a reduced pressure of 40 mbars.
Synthesis of the new ring system, Pyrazolo[3,4‐d][1,3]diazepine. A novel route for the synthesis of azolo[1,3]diazepines

A reduction of the nitrile group of 5-amino-4-cyano-1-methylpyrazole (3) has provided the very versatile compound 5-amino-1-methylpyrazole-4-carboxaldehyde (4). The amino group of 4 was protected using di-methylformamide dimethylacetal and the aldehyde group was then reacted with trimethylsilyl cyanide to afford the moisture sensitive compound 5-[[(dimethylamino)methylene]amino]-4-[cyano(trimethylsiloxy)-methyl]-1-methylpyrazole (10). The cyano group of the cyanohydrin 10 was reduced using a cobalt boride catalyst to afford an intermediate aminomethyl group which was involved in an in situ annulation. This reaction provided 1-methyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrazolo[3,4-d][1,3]diazepin-4-ol, a derivative of the new ring system, pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,3]diazepine.
Monoclonal antibodies to rat liver cytochrome P-450 2c/RLM5 that regiospecifically inhibit steroid metabolism.

Abstract Hybridomas were formed from myeloma cells and spleen cells derived from BALB/c female mice immunized with purified liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 2c/RLM5 (P-450 gene IIC11) isolated from untreated adult male rats. Six hybridoma clones produced monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) of the IgM( k ) type. All the MAbs bound strongly to P-450 2c/RLM5 when measured by radioimmunoassay, and four of the six specifically immunoprecipitated P-450 2c/RLM5 in an Ouchterlony double-immunodiffusion test. These four MAbs also bound but did not immunoprecipitate P-450 RLM3. The MAbs that precipitated P-450 2c/RLM5 neither bound nor precipitated P-450 PB-B (gene IIB1) and P-450 BNF-B (gene IA1) of rats or P-450 LM2 and P-450 LM4 of rabbits. In contrast, mouse polyclonal anti-P-450 2c/RLM5 antibody strongly immunoprecipitated P-450 RLM3 as well as P-450 2c/RLM5 and to a lesser extent P-450 PB-B and P-450 LM2. The MAbs that precipitated P-450 2c/RLM5 also inhibited by more than 90% androstenedione 16α-hydroxylase activity of untreated rat microsomes, but did not inhibit microsomal 6β- or 7α-hydroxylation. In addition, complete inhibition of both androstenedione 16α-hydroxylation and testosterone 16α-hydroxylation was observed in a reconstituted system with P-450 2c/RLM5. Androstenedione 6β-hydroxylation catalyzed by P-450 2c/RLM5 was also inhibited, whereas P-450 3-catalyzed 7α-hydroxylation was not inhibited by the MAbs. P-450 2c/RLM5 catalyzed 2α-, 16α- and 6β-hydroxylation of progesterone in a reconstituted system were also inhibited by the MAb by 60–80%. These MAbs should prove useful for “reaction phenotyping,” i.e. for defining the contribution of microsomal P-450 2c/RLM5 to the oxidative metabolism of endogenous steroids and other P-450 substrates in animal and human tissues.
A Hybrid Collocation-Galerkin-Sn Method for Solving the Boltzmann Transport Equation

A hybrid collocation-Galerkin-Sn method for solving the one-dimensional Boltzmann transport equation is presented. For problems with highly anisotropic scattering, this method offers many advantage...
Child behavior and emotional problems in Jamaican classrooms: a multimethod study using direct observations and teacher reports for ages 6–11

Abstract International research on children's problems relies heavily on parent and teacher ratings. Such ratings are helpful to professionals who assess children but are subjected to biases emerging from adults’ personal involvement with the children they rate, and their own cultural experiences. This study investigated whether ratings of teachers versus observers on Jamaican children ages 6–11 differed according to informant, urban versus rural area, gender, and age. Significantly higher total problem scores emerged for ratings by observers than those by teachers. Observers also rated younger children as more demanding and aggressive while both informants rated rural children as exhibiting more externalizing problems than urban children. Opportunity for discharging behavior in the environment may have caused rural children to present more externalizing problems. Media and training effects may have increased teachers’ tolerance for problems in children nationwide, but in contrast to observers’ circumscribed observation periods, teachers’ ratings may reflect their perspectives on children's problems over an entire academic year.
Predicting Lexical Answer Types in Open Domain QA

Automatic open-domain Question Answering has been a long standing research challenge in the AI community. IBM Research undertook this challenge with the design of the DeepQA architecture and the implementation of Watson. This paper addresses a specific subtask of Deep QA, consisting of predicting the Lexical Answer Type LAT of a question. Our approach is completely unsupervised and is based on PRISMATIC, a large-scale lexical knowledge base automatically extracted from a Web corpus. Experiments on the Jeopardy! data shows that it is possible to correctly predict the LAT in a substantial number of questions. This approach can be used for general purpose knowledge acquisition tasks such as frame induction from text.
Mechanisms governing cyclic deformation and failure during elevated temperature fatigue of aluminum alloy 7055

Abstract The cyclic stress response, deformation and damage characteristics of aluminum alloy 7055 was studied at ambient and elevated temperatures. Specimens of the alloy were cyclically deformed using tension-compression loading under total strain-amplitude control. The alloy showed evidence of softening to failure at the ambient and elevated test temperatures. The degree of cyclic softening increased with an increase in test temperature. The presence of deformable matrix strengthening precipitates and particles in the T7751 microstructure resulted in a local decrease in resistance to the motion of “mobile” dislocations, causing a progressive loss of strengthening contributions to hardening. At the elevated temperatures, the occurrence of localized oxidation and embrittlement at the grain boundaries are promoted by the applied cyclic stress and play an important role in accelerating crack initiation and exacerbating stable crack propagation. The damage response of the alloy is discussed in terms of competing influences of intrinsic microstructural effects, matrix deformation characteristics arising from a combination of mechanical and microstructural interactions, cyclic plastic strain amplitude and concomitant response stress, and test temperature.
A determination of interface state energy during the capture of electrons and holes using DLTS

A quasi-equilibrium or a steady-state method using a transient capacitance technique for determining the interface energy is presented. During the carrier capture, a quasi-equilibrium or a steady state is established by adjusting the capture pulse voltage and the gate pulse bias. The quasi-Fermi level during capture intersects the interface state level which dominates the emission following the removal of the capture pulse. The interface state densities for samples fabricated in and orientations were given as examples. Capture cross section was also obtained using a similar procedure.
Evolution of antibiotic occurrence in a river through pristine, urban and agricultural landscapes.

A river along the semi-arid Front Range of Colorado was monitored for antibiotics including five tetracycline and six sulfonamide compounds. Existing analytical methods were adapted to measure these compounds in a surface water matrix at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.05 μg/L). Natural organic matter present in surface waters was confirmed to significantly impact the low-level analysis of tetracyclines (TCs) necessitating the use of standard addition quantification techniques. Five sites along the Cache la Poudre River were monitored for antibiotics encompassing pristine areas without anthropogenic influence, urban areas impacted by wastewater discharges and agricultural areas susceptible to non-point source contaminant runoff. The only site at which no antibiotics were detected was the pristine site in the mountains before the river had encountered urban or agricultural landscapes. By the time the river had exited the urban area, 6 of the 11 antibiotic compounds that were monitored were found in the samples. At Site 5, which had both urban and agricultural influences all five of the TCs monitored were detected indicating both urban and agricultural influences. The concentration of TCs at Site 5 ranged from 0.08 to 0.30 μg/L.
Epicurean and Galilean Motion in Gassendi's Physics

Pierre Gassendi held a Galilean theory of the motion of composite bodies. He also accepted an Epicurean theory of the motion of atoms according to which atoms can never gain or lose speed. The conjunction of these two theories is awkward and, from the point of view of physics, unfruitful. I offer metaphysical reasons why Gassendi might have thought he needed to adopt the Epicurean view of atomic motion.
Valuing children's health: a comparison of cost-utility analyses for adult and paediatric health interventions in the US.

The objective of this review was to analyse the methods of paediatric and adult cost-utility analyses (CUAs) conducted in US populations, and to compare the cost-utility ratios of health interventions by classifying them by disease prevention stage, intervention category and primary disease type. A CUA database developed by the Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA was used to compare the descriptive and methodological characteristics of paediatric and adult studies. The final dataset included 35 paediatric and 491 adult studies, which generated a total of 91 paediatric and 1498 adult cost-utility ratios. In paediatric studies, the most common intervention types were immunisations and pharmaceutical interventions, which each accounted for 17% of studies. Pharmaceutical interventions accounted for the plurality of adult studies (36%). In studies that used a single source of preferences to determine quality-of-life weights, preferences most frequently came from the author in paediatric studies (29%) and the patient in adult studies (14%). Almost all studies with available discount rate data used the same rate (most commonly 3%) for costs and benefits. Few studied used generic health-state classification instruments; preferences for health states were most often based on author and community preferences in paediatric studies, and author and patient preferences in adult studies. The overall median cost-utility ratio was $US7300/QALY (year 2002 values) in child studies and $US26 000/QALY in adult studies; child studies tended to have lower published cost-utility ratios than adult studies, even when categorised according to intervention or disease. In conclusion, CUAs of paediatric and adult health interventions vary across descriptive characteristics, but are largely similar methodologically. Further, costutility ratios for interventions evaluated in the literature tend to be lower for paediatric interventions than for adult ones. When allocating resources, policy makers who use economic analysis as a decision-making aid can take some comfort in the methodological similarities between paediatric and adult studies, but more work is required to standardise methods in both groups.
Communicating Safe Motherhood: Strategic Messaging in a Globalized World

ABSTRACT The practice of education as a tool of persuasive communication has been used in family planning and reproductive health for at least 50 years. However, the past three decades have seen a phenomenal evolution of communication as a social science; as a result there has been an increasingly systematic research-based application of mass media—particularly television, radio, newspapers, and internet—for enhancing the impact of health messaging. In this article I examine the theoretical underpinnings of behavior change communication in the context of the aforementioned mediating factors that influence the design and content of family planning and reproductive health programs. I look at three main types of behavior change communication strategies, entertainment education, social marketing, and advocacy, and describe how these three strategies have been applied to effect social change using a case study to describe and assist in reviewing the impact they have had on targeted behaviors. The descriptions ...
Bruno Klopfer--a biographical sketch.

(1960). Bruno Klopfer — A Biographical Sketch. Journal of Projective Techniques: Vol. 24, Silver Anniversary Issue, pp. 232-237.
Familial Occurrence of Unilateral Vestibular Schwannoma

Vestibular schwannoma (VS) may present clinically in one of two forms: sporadic unilateral or hereditary bilateral. Almost all cases of familial transmission have been associated with the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type II (NF-2). In this report, we describe nine families (18 individuals) presenting with unilateral VS without evidence of NF-2. In four of the nine families, the affected individuals were of parent-offspring relationship, in three families they were cousin-cousin, and in the remaining two families, they were sibling-sibling and aunt-nephew. No other members of the families were diagnosed with NF-2. There was no evidence for gender predilection or genomic imprinting among affected individuals. This study suggests that familial occurrence of unilateral VS may be genetically inherited as it occurs more commonly than would be estimated by chance alone. Future genetic studies will elucidate whether occurrence of unilateral VS in these families represents a variable expression of NF-2, chance occurrence of unilateral VS in families, or a new genetic disorder.