cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correction to: Quantitative variation and heritability estimates of fire blight resistance in a pedigree-connected apple germplasm set

The article was published with errors in Table 1 and Online Resource 1 found in the results section and supplementary material.
Radiobiological shot noise explains Three Mile Island biodosimetry indicating nearly 1,000 mSv exposures.

The 1979 accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power station in Pennsylvania released about 22 million Curies of xenon-133 into the environment. Because physical dosimetry indicated exposures to the nearby population of less than about 2 mSv, discernible impacts to the health of the exposed population are not generally believed to have resulted. However, there is contrary evidence, including especially the results of biodosimetry via cytogenetic analysis using the FISH method. This report examines the discrepancy between the results of physical dosimetry and biodosimetry, which among the small number of persons examined indicated exposures between 600 and 900 mSv. The paradox reveals a fundamental error in the health physics body of knowledge: the definition of the energy imparted to tissue, e, fails to properly account for the temporal distribution of ionization products resulting from dilute contamination with an internally incorporated beta-emitting radionuclide. Application of a century-old result describing “shot noise” in an electronic system repairs the deficiency. The Xe-133 concentration in the tissue of those individuals exposed to the most intense portion of the radioactive plume released from the TMI facility is shown to have been on the order of 0.1 μCi/l, persisting for multiple hours. Shot noise reference doses in the range from 820 to 1,700 mSv follow, a result which is consistent with biodosimetric analysis. The finding should motivate a comprehensive re-evaluation of the conventional understanding of the 1979 accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power station, especially regarding its impact upon the population of the surrounding area.
No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 seminal shedding despite SARS-CoV-2 persistence in the upper respiratory tract

RNA viruses (eg, Zika, Ebola, HIV) are often shed in male genital secretions. We evaluated the presence and level of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen, nasal secretion, and saliva collected after confirmed infection. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected in semen 6-17 days after the onset of symptoms despite concomitant shedding in oral secretions.
NR2F1 is a barrier to dissemination of early-evolved mammary cancer cells

Summary Cancer cells disseminate during very early and sometimes asymptomatic stages of tumor progression. Granted that biological barriers to tumorigenesis exist, there must also be limiting steps to early dissemination, all of which remain largely unknown. We report that the orphan nuclear receptor NR2F1/COUP-TF1 serves as a barrier to early dissemination. High-resolution intravital imaging revealed that loss of function of NR2F1 in HER2+ early cancer cells increased in vivo dissemination without accelerating mammary tumor formation. NR2F1 expression was positively regulated by the tumor suppressive MMK3/6-p38-MAPK pathway and downregulated by HER2 and Wnt4 oncogenic signaling. NR2F1 downregulation by HER2 in early cancer cells led to decreased E-cadherin expression and β-catenin membrane localization, disorganized laminin 5 deposition, and increased expression of CK14, TWIST1, ZEB1 and PRRX1. Our findings reveal the existence of an inhibitory mechanism of dissemination regulated by NR2F1 downstream of HER2 signaling.
A vertebral level-wise data augmentation scheme for segmentation via deep learning

Accurate vertebral segmentation is important for image-related assessment of spine pathologies. Recent spine segmentation techniques focus on deep learning-based methods. However, they typically require a large training dataset with accurate annotations, which may not be feasible in practice. To mitigate the challenge, here we propose a data augmentation scheme based on a single spine to incorporate biomechanically constrained intervertebral motion (rotation and translation) to generate a large training dataset (N=3000). Vertebrae are then segmented using a point cloud-based deep learning architecture, PointNet++, which appears not to have been applied to spine segmentation before. Spine testing samples (N=90) are first generated by applying our data augmentation technique to three separate spines. Segmentation performances are compared with two baseline data augmentation methods that do not include intervertebral motion. Then, we further evaluate our technique based on 8 spine samples from actual image acquisitions. In both cases, we show that incorporation of vertebral level-wise data augmentation improves segmentation accuracy in terms of mean Dice coefficient (e.g., 0.932 vs. 0.902 for augmented testing samples and 0.940 vs. 0.924 for acquired testing samples). These results suggest that our vertebral level-wise data augmentation is useful to facilitate deep learning-based spine segmentation, which is important especially when it is not feasible to generate accurate annotations for a large number of training samples.
Paint Cost and the Frugal Distinguishing Number.

You are handed a graph with vertices in a neutral color and asked to color a subset of vertices with expensive paints in $d$ colors in such a way that only the trivial symmetry preserves the color classes. Your goal is to minimize the number of vertices needing this expensive paint. This paper address the issues surrounding your choices. In particular, a graph is said to be $d$-distinguishable if there exists a coloring with $d$ colors so that only the trivial automorphism preserves the color classes. The distinguishing number of $G$, denoted ${\rm Dist}(G)$, is the smallest $d$ for which $G$ is $d$-distinguishable. We define the -paint cost of $d$-distinguishing, denoted $\rho^d(G)$, to be the minimum number of vertices that need to be painted to $d$-distinguish $G$. This cost varies with $d$. The maximum paint cost for $G$ is called the upper paint cost, denoted $\rho^u(G)$, and occurs when $d={\rm Dist}(G)$; the minimum paint cost is called the lower paint cost, denoted $\rho^\ell(G)$. Further, we define the smallest $d$ for which the paint cost is $\rho^\ell(G)$, to be the frugal distinguishing number, ${\rm Fdist}(G)$. In this paper we formally define $\rho^d(G)$, $\rho^u(G)$, $\rho^\ell(G)$, and ${\rm Fdist}(G)$. We also show that $\rho^u(G)$ and $\rho^\ell(G)$, as well as ${\rm Fdist}(G)$ and ${\rm Dist}(G)$, can be arbitrarily large multiples of each other. Lastly, we find these parameters for the book graph $B_{m,n}$, summarized as follows. For $n\geq 2$ and $m\geq 4$, we show $\bullet$ $\rho^\ell(B_{m,n}) = n-1;$ $\bullet$ $\rho^u(B_{m,n}) \geq (m-2) \left( n-k^{m-3} \right) +1$, where $k={\rm Dist}(B_{m,n});$ $\bullet$ ${\rm Fdist}(B_{m,n}) = 2+\left\lfloor \frac{n-1}{m-2} \right\rfloor.$
Uncertain Incumbents: The Politics of Executive Term Limit Adoption Across Sub-Saharan Africa

When South Sudan gained independence in 2011, the countrys newly ratified constitution was conspicuously missing one provision: a limit on presidential terms in office. Over the past two decades, many African governments have faced the question of whether to combat long histories of presidents for life by capping the number of years an executive can serve. During the period of political liberalization in the early 1990s alone, twenty-five sub-Saharan states adopted term limits while another nine African governments resisted adopting such limits during this same time period. How can this variation be explained? Drawing on both descriptive statistics from the universe of cases and in-depth studies of Zambia and Cote dIvoire, I argue that the decision to implement restrictions on executive tenure is made within the ruling party based on members perceptions of their electoral strength vis-a-vis the nascent opposition in the new, multi-party electoral environment. Parties that feel certain they will not be seriously challenged by opposition parties in the foreseeable future do not adopt a limit on executive tenure (Cote dIvoire), whereas parties that perceive a threat of replacement in the future elections do adopt term limits in order to ensure that no opposition party will enjoy future incumbent advantage (Zambia). In this way, I argue that term limit choice is based on contemporary domestic factors, namely the power balance between parties at the time of liberalization in African states.
A 40V Voltage-Compliance 12.75mA Maximum-Current Multipolar Neural Stimulator Using Time-Based Charge Balancing Technique Achieving 2mV Precision

Electrical brain stimulation (EBS) is a technique to stimulate neurons by current pulses. Charge accumulation due to these pulses leads to voltage build up, causing electrode corrosion and tissue damage. To ensure the safety and longevity of EBS operation, various charge balancing (CB) methods have been introduced.
Spatiotemporal adaptive evolution of an MHC immune gene in a frog-fungus disease system.

Genetic diversity of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes is linked to reduced pathogen susceptibility in amphibians, but few studies also examine broad spatial and temporal patterns of MHC and neutral genetic diversity. Here, we characterized range-wide MHC diversity in the Northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens, a species found throughout North America that is experiencing disease-related declines. We used previously sequenced neutral markers (mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites), sequenced an expressed MHC class IIs gene fragment, and measured infection prevalence and intensity of the global fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) across 14 populations. Four populations were sampled across two decades, enabling temporal comparisons of selection and demography. We recovered 37 unique MHC alleles, including 17 that were shared across populations. Phylogenetic and population genetic patterns between MHC and neutral markers were incongruent, and five MHC codon positions associated with peptide binding were under positive selection. MHC heterozygosity, but not neutral marker heterozygosity, was a significant factor explaining spatial patterns of Bd prevalence, whereas only environmental variables predicted Bd intensity. MHC allelic richness (AR) decreased significantly over time but microsatellite-based AR did not, highlighting a loss of functional immunogenetic diversity that may be associated with Bd selective pressures. MHC supertype 4 was significantly associated with an elevated risk of Bd infection, whereas one supertype 2 allele was associated with a nearly significant reduced risk of Bd. Taken together, these results provide evidence that positive selection contributes to MHC class IIs evolution in R. pipiens and suggest that functional MHC differences across populations may contribute to disease adaptation.
Near Instance Optimal Model Selection for Pure Exploration Linear Bandits.

The model selection problem in the pure exploration linear bandit setting is introduced and studied in both the fixed confidence and fixed budget settings. The model selection problem considers a nested sequence of hypothesis classes of increasing complexities. Our goal is to automatically adapt to the instance-dependent complexity measure of the smallest hypothesis class containing the true model, rather than suffering from the complexity measure related to the largest hypothesis class. We provide evidence showing that a standard doubling trick over dimension fails to achieve the optimal instance-dependent sample complexity. Our algorithms define a new optimization problem based on experimental design that leverages the geometry of the action set to efficiently identify a near-optimal hypothesis class. Our fixed budget algorithm uses a novel application of a selection-validation trick in bandits. This provides a new method for the understudied fixed budget setting in linear bandits (even without the added challenge of model selection). We further generalize the model selection problem to the misspecified regime, adapting our algorithms in both fixed confidence and fixed budget settings.
Anti-HIV Immunotoxins

The use of targeted therapies to treat infectious diseases is a novel application that requires a persistent infection that cannot be cleared by other means and the expression of microbial antigens on the surface of productively-infected cells. Although some bacterial or parasitic infections may meet these criteria, chronic viral infections and microbe-induced neoplasia are the most likely targets. In this chapter we will discuss the use of immunotoxins to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The results demonstrate the importance of targeting the appropriate molecules and utilizing the cell biology of the microorganism.
Assessing Barriers and Enhancers to Increasing Physical Activity during the School Day in Children on an American Indian Reservation: A Qualitative Research Study.

Objective We attempted to determine factors that enhance or limit physical activity (PA) in children living on an American Indian (AI) reservation. Methods Six audio-recorded focus groups (FGs) were conducted. Each group included 6 - 8 participants (N = 42) with 3 grade specific FGs (4th - 6th grade students) and 3 adult FGs. Results FG analysis identified 4 main barriers to PA: school environment; community and school resources; electronic devices; and the role of parents and family. Analysis revealed 3 main strategies to increase PA: structured/non-competitive activities; structured/competitive activities; and increasing school and community-wide capacity. Conclusion The results from this study provide a school health perspective on the 4-day school week.
Decisions in Force Field Development Reply to Kollman and Dill

We reply here to several of the questions raised by Kollman and Dill (J. Biomole. Struct. Dyn. 8, 909–913, 1991) about the paper by Roterman et al. (J. Biomole. Struct. Dyn. 7, 421–453, 1989).
Role of Light in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer incidence rates ire high and rising in the U.S. and appear to be much more common in industrialized than in non-industrialized countries (Waterhouse et al., 1982). As common as breast cancer is in the industrialized world, risk continues to increase (Davis et al., 1990). The historically low rates of breast cancer in Japan have been increasing rapidly in recent decades (Ursin et al., 1994). The reasons for the increases in breast cancer risk are not well understood (Kelsey and Horn-Ross, 1993). One possible contributor may be `light pollution’ during the night, and artificial light during the day (Stevens, 1987; Stevens et al., 1992; Stevens & Davis, 1996). We have come from an environment in our evolutionary past with dark nights and bright, full spectrum days to a modern environment with lighted nights in homes, and dim, spectrum-restricted “ days” inside buildings where most people now work. Indeed, the “ built environment” is the predominant environment in the industrialized world. This change in lighting may change our circadian physiology, in particular normal cycling of melatonin and other hormones, leading to early menarche and elevated circulating estrogen and prolactin. Early menarche and elevated sex hormones are known to increase breast cancer risk (Kelsey et al., 1993; Bernstein and Ross, 1993). A reduction of melatonin, due to lighting changes in the environment, may also more directly increase risk of breast cancer based on melatonin’s reported oncostatic action in vitro (Hill and Blask, 1988).
Phosphoenolpyruvate Synthesis and Release by Mitochondria from Guinea Pig Liver

Abstract The development of a multisyringe and Millipore filter system for separating mitochondria from their incubation medium, then extracting the mitochondria with perchloric acid, has permitted the rapid analysis of extramitochondrial and intramitochondrial intermediates. This technique has also been utilized to measure the intramitochondrial concentrations of malate, ATP, ADP, and phosphoenolpyruvate at various times during an incubation program. It has been shown that P-enolpyruvate formed from malate can attain a maximum concentration of 11 µmoles per g of mitochondria, dry weight. After this concentration is attained, additional P-enolpyruvate that is synthesized is passed rapidly out of the mitochondria and increases only the extramitochondrial concentration of that intermediate.
IFN-α Suppresses Activation of Nuclear Transcription Factors NF-κB and Activator Protein 1 and Potentiates TNF-Induced Apoptosis

We and others have reported that IFN-α potentiates the apoptotic effects of TNF through a mechanism that is not understood. Because the nuclear transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1 have recently been reported to mediate anti-apoptosis and cell survival, we hypothesized that IFN-α potentiates the cytotoxic effects of TNF by suppressing TNF-induced activation of NF-κB and AP-1. We tested this hypothesis by pretreating human Jurkat T cells with IFN-α, which blocked TNF-induced activation of NF-κB and AP-1 in a time- and dose-dependent manner as determined by EMSA. IFN-α blocked TNF-induced phosphorylation and degradation of the inhibitor subunit of NF-κB, and suppressed NF-κB and AP-1 activation induced by various other inflammatory stimuli. NF-κB-dependent reporter gene expression activated by TNF, TNFR1, TNF receptor-associated factor 2, and NF-κB-inducing kinase was also abrogated by IFN-α pretreatment. The suppression of NF-κB and AP-1 correlated with the potentiation of TNF-induced cytotoxicity and caspase activation. Overall our results suggest that IFN-α potentiates the apoptotic effects of TNF possibly by suppressing NF-κB and AP-1 activation.
Insiders and Outsiders: Paradise and Reality in Mallorca

Insiders and Outsiders: Paradise and Reality in Mallorca. Jacqueline Waldren. Providence, RI: Berghahn Books, 1996.260 pp.
Child development, child health and child rearing knowledge among urban adolescents: are they adequately prepared for the challenges of parenthood?

(1985). Child Development, Child Health and Child Rearing Knowledge among Urban Adolescents: Are They Adequately Prepared for the Challenges of Parenthood? Health Education: Vol. 16, No. 5, pp. 37-41.
A Most Unusual Pacemaker

We present a case of pacemaker artifact on 12-lead electrocardiogram that was initially interpreted as malfunction of the patient's dual-chamber cardiac pacemaker. It was ultimately determined to arise from an extracardiac gastric pacemaker, which had been inserted for refractory, severe diabetic gastroparesis. Proper functioning of both devices was confirmed, and settings were adjusted to test for interdevice interference. This is a report of a patient with both cardiac pacemaker and a gastric pacemaker. We review the literature on patients with multiple pacemaker devices, and conclude with several practical considerations for their care. (PACE 2011; 1–3)
The Inferior Parietal Lobule Is the Target of Output from the Superior Colliculus, Hippocampus, and Cerebellum

The inferior parietal lobule (IPL) is a functionally and anatomically heterogeneous region that is concerned with multiple aspects of sensory processing and sensorimotor integration. Although considerable information is available about the corticocortical connections to the IPL, much less is known about the origin and importance of subcortical inputs to this cortical region. To examine this issue, we used retrograde transneuronal transport of the McIntyre-B strain of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) to identify the second-order neurons in subcortical nuclei that project to the IPL. Four monkeys ( Cebus apella ) received injections of HSV1 into three different subregions of the IPL. Injections into a portion of the lateral intraparietal area labeled second-order neurons primarily in the superficial (visual) layers of the superior colliculus. Injections of HSV1 into a portion of area 7a labeled many second-order neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. In contrast, virus injections within a portion of area 7b labeled second-order neurons in posterior regions of the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum. These observations have some important functional implications. The IPL is known to be involved in oculomotor and attentional mechanisms, the establishment of maps of extrapersonal space, and the adaptive recalibration of eye–hand coordination. Our findings suggest that these functions are subserved by distinct subcortical systems from the superior colliculus, hippocampus, and cerebellum. Furthermore, the finding that each system appears to target a separate subregion of the IPL provides an anatomical substrate for understanding the functional heterogeneity of the IPL.
Effects of factual information on creating resistance to emotional appeals

Factual information about a little-known country was presented to Ss who subsequently heard either a negative or positive emotional appeal about the country and its people. Ss in the control conditions did not receive prior information about the country before hearing the emotional appeals. The results indicated that Ss exposed to prior factual information were less persuaded by the negative appeal than Ss who did not receive prior information. Prior factual information had little effect in influencing susceptibility to the positive appeal. Indirect evidence cited suggested that the factual information tended to create a positive attitude toward the country. Several interpretations of the data, including an averaging model of information integration, were discussed.
A hospital-based helicopter service: Will it fly?

We present an outline of how to conduct a financial feasibility study for an emergency transport helicopter service as well as an example of one hospital's successful experience. Data regarding types of patients transported and guidelines for setting up such a program also are discussed.
PHOTOSYNTHETIC DYNAMICS IN VARYING LIGHT ENVIRONMENTS: A MODEL AND ITS APPLICATION TO WHOLE LEAF CARBON GAIN'

The light environment of a plant microsite can be highly dynamic with sunflecks lasting from seconds to minutes in length. Whole leaf photosynthetic response to such variations is complex and species-specific. A mathematical model based on a single enzyme pool is derived to mimic leaf response in varying light. The model is used to analyze carbon gain in Fragaria virginiana. I find that sunflecks can be responsible for an appreciable proportion of leaf carbon gain throughout a day, especially under light-limited conditions. Model results also indicate that the standard methods of estimating carbon gain in varying light using steady-state photosynthetic rates often give overesti- mates.
Recognition of facial features in immediate memory

This study sought to determine which facial features are best retained in a recognition test of immediate memory. Following a 30-sec viewing of an entire face in either a front or profile orientation, subjects were tested for feature recognition of the eyes, nose, or mouth in either the same or different orientation. Results showed (1) performance was significantly above chance in each condition, (2) feature selection was superior when study and test orientations were the same, (3) there were differences among the individual features when the study and test orientations were the same, but no differences when the orientations differed, and (4) when the study and test orientations were the same, the eyes and mouth were recognized better than the nose. These data provide converging evidence on the relative importance of the eyes and mouth for facial recognition.
The contamination of surfaces during high-energy electron irradiation

Abstract Specimen contamination during electron-optical examination has been studied using “holey’ carbon-film specimens in a modified electron microscope. The composition of the residual gas atmosphere was determined by mass-spectrometric analysis. The gas pressure in the vicinity of the specimen was reduced to between 10−5 and 10−8 torr by differential pumping. The functional dependence of contamination rate on specimen temperature was also investigated between −85 and +200°c. Both the source of carbon-bearing gas molecules and the growth rate of carbon film caused by the interaction of electrons with adsorbed carbonaceous species were investigated. The results indicate that molecules contributing to the observed rates of film growth originate not only from the specimen surrounds, but also from the region along the electron-beam path, possibly from as far away as the electron gun. However, with both these sources included, calculations showed that the supply of contaminating gas molecules was barely suf...
Noncommunicating accessory uterine cavity

Abstract Objective: To report a case of a noncommunicating accessory uterine cavity. Design: Case report. Setting: University-affiliated reproductive endocrinology practice. Patient(s): A 15-year-old nulligravida with increasing dysmenorrhea. Intervention(s): Pelvic ultrasound, intravenous pyelogram, hysterosalpingogram, laparoscopy, laparotomy, and resection of noncommunicating accessory uterine cavity. Main Outcome Measure(s): Results of imaging studies, surgical examination, and resection of anomaly. Result(s): Complete resection of accessory cavity and resolution of dysmenorrhea. Conclusion(s): The patient had a mullerian anomaly in which the uterus contained two uterine cavities. One normal uterine cavity with communication to both fallopian tubes was present along with a noncommunicating, accessory uterine cavity.
The Private Use of Public Interest

Much of the recent debate over the growth of government--its size, its intrusiveness, its scope--is governed by an underlying distinction that is difficult to maintain: that between "public" and "private." This distinction is assumed to be conceptually meaningful in every reference to the public interest/private interests, public goods/private goods, and public sector/private sector. These black-and-white dichotomies are forced on an empirical reality colored mainly in shades of gray. It is precisely this growing indistinguishability of public and private that may well represent a condition of genuine importance in characterizing modem liberal democracies. The ambiguity of this distintion is a datum of importance politically, economically, and sociologically. In this article, I shall explore the import of the ambiguity in this distinction for arguments concerning the growth of the public sector, as well as its penetration into, and its penetration by, the private sector. Public Goods/Private Goods Mainstream welfare economics has explored the conditions under which the equilibria of a competitive market system are Pareto efficient. It is commonly known that public goods and externalities pose problems for the efficiency of market pricing mechanisms. Positive externalities and public "goods" are undersupplied, while negative externalities and public "bads" are oversupplied. The reasons for this supply imbalance derive from the properties of the goods in question, the processes of producing and consuming the goods, problems associated with appropriability and excludability, and, generally, the divergences between social cost and private cost or social benefit and private benefit. Much is made of polar cases--private goods which are appropriable and excludable, public goods that are not--and much of the debate over the proper role of government focuses on them. While considerations of the proper role of government in a world of externalities and public goods (sometimes referred to as an "interdependent world") are highly
Pulmonary Emphysema in a Non-smoking Population

Smoking and air pollution appear in the literature to be the two etiologic variables most strongly associated with a risk for developing pulmonary emphysema. In most populations, however, it is difficult to separate these variables. This preliminary report presents the five-year emphysema mortality experience in an essentially non-smoking population of 64,256 Seventhday Adventists in California. They do not appear to differ greatly from the general population in respect to exposure to air pollution. There were four deaths due to emphysema as the "underlying cause" among SDA men whereas 22 would have been expected at concurrent California mortality rates for men. An additional 14 deaths attributed a secondary role to emphysema, whereas 51 would have been expected. The deceased with such a diagnosis appear to be drawn primarily from the SDA minority with a long-term smoking history. Other population variables do not appear able to explain this degree of difference, and it is concluded that smoking, particularly cigarettes, may indeed be an important differential factor related to the risk of mortality from pulmonary emphysema.
Congenital dysplasia of C2--6.

Neural arch dysplasia of the cervical 4 vertebrae is a rare occurrence. The authors present a case with dysplasia of cervical bodies and posterior arch elements at multiple levels. The embryogenesis of these anomalies is discussed.
Rotational magnetic properties of spin glasses and type-II superconductors

Abstract Rotational magnetization-vector measurements disclose that the field-induced anisotropy of spin glasses and the field-induced vortex flux of type-II superconductors undergo frictional directional changes that are closely analogous macroscopically. Moreover, in each case, the detailed nature of the directional changes reveals a sizeable distribution in the strength of the frictional torques exerted by the sample material, whose magnetic states are thus seen to be spatially inhomogeneous.
Discrepancy reduction or attempted distraction? A reply to Liebling, Seiler, and Shaver

In the context of an experiment that shows enhanced cigarette smoking due to the presence of a mirror, Liebling, Seiler, and Shaver (1974) argue that drive theory has been pitted successfully against self-awareness theory. This reply notes that their experimental conditions did not allow for an unambiguous application of either theory, and concludes that their results have little to say about the relative accuracy of the two theoretical approaches.
Application of real options analysis to technology portfolio planning: a case study

Purpose – The concepts of real options analysis, which transfer options analysis for financial investments to those involving real properties, such as land and plant facilities, have already existed for 30 years. However, the actual application of real options analysis to technology portfolio planning has not been as widespread as expected. Among others, a major barrier to such applications appears to be a lack of appreciation and acceptance of real options by technology executives. This case study aims to present a successful application experience of real options analysis to technology portfolio planning and highlights the lessons learned in overcoming such lack of acceptance and other barriers.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a case study approach. The methodology focuses on describing the key issues and solutions for applying real options analysis in the technology portfolio‐planning process of a company.Findings – The findings in this paper showed that considerable barriers exist in the a...
Contemporary Model of Civil Engineering Failures

The civil engineer's involvement in engineering failure litigation provides a basis for examining aspects of professional practice. Several case histories of civil engineering failures were discussed by a seminar group composed of civil engineering graduate students and engineering practitioners. The underlying theme of the seminar was the characterization of civil engineering failures in contemporary society, specifically the need for a more rational approach to the resolution of legal disputes. In the present (and likely future) system, most participants in an engineering project will probably be brought into the litigation process when a dispute arises. Recognition of this reality would lead the future practicing engineer to minimize the high transaction costs of lawsuits through active participation in efforts to resolve disputes, rather than defensively denying responsibility or blaming others. The civil engineering practitioner should understand the expectations of all the participants in a project ...
Do we understand rotating isothermal collapses yet

Abstract The scalar virial equation can be used to elucidate many interesting properties of equilibrium gas clouds when the effects of surface pressure, rotation, self-gravity, and internal isothermal gas pressure are considered simultaneously. Details regarding the internal structure of rotating isothermal gas clouds are ignored in order to obtain an analytical expression describing global cloud properties. Excellent agreement is obtained between the simple analytical model and other previously published, more detailed models in physical regimes where other models have been constructed. For the first time, a physical connection is drawn between the surface-pressure-dominated equilibrium models of S. W. Stahler (1983, Astrophys. J. 268, 155–184) and the rotation-dominated models of C. Hayashi, S. Narita, and S. M. Miyama (1982, Prog. Theor. Phys. 68, 1949–1966). Stable axisymmetric models of any mass and angular momentum can be constructed. Using the analytic expression for virial equilibrium as a foundation, all rotating, isothermal collapse calculations can now be well understood. Limiting properties of isothermal clouds are outlined, and realistic “starting” models for cloud collapse are proposed.
In)appropriate neurosurgical consultation.

Abstract Objectives Whether or not a patient could benefit from a computed tomography (CT) scan and/or the evaluation by a neurosurgeon requires judgment by a clinician of the risk of clinical deterioration. To assess this clinical process we aimed to determine how many of the consultations to the Neurosurgical department (NSG) of UC Davis are appropriately indicated for neurosurgical input or management. Secondly, we investigated how CT is used in the University of California Davis Medical Center (UCDMC) in NSG consults of head injured patients compared to a validated and highly sensitive decision making tool, the Canadian CT Head Rule (CCHR). Patients and methods Patients were enrolled in this prospective study if they presented to a department of UCDMC other than neurosurgery and when, consequently, the NSG was consulted. The emergency consultations were categorized into three groups: head injury, spine injury and others. Subsequently, the appropriateness of the consultations was evaluated based on the need for evaluation determined by the likelihood of clinically important intracranial lesions for head injury and by the likelihood of clinically important spinal cord injury or spinal cord instability for spine injury. Of the head injured patients with a CT scan the appropriateness of the scan was determined by way of the CCHR. Results Between 21 July and 15 August 2008 99 consultations were included: 32 patients with head injuries, 29 with spine injuries, 34 with other diseases and 4 not sufficiently documented patients. 23 classified inappropriate, 69 appropriate and 7 remained unclassified. Of the head injured patients, 10 (31.2%) had gotten a CT scan that was classified inappropriate. Conclusion NSG receives 3–4 requests for consultations per day from the other services of UCDMC, of which one is of questionable validity and one of the three CT scans for head injury is not necessary. These results suggest the use of the CCHR in UCDMC would improve patient care and could result in large health-care savings, while there would also be less radiation exposure.
Centrifugal Contactors for Laboratory-Scale Solvent Extraction Tests

Abstract A 2-cm contactor (minicontactor) was developed and used at Argonne National Laboratory for laboratory-scale testing of solvent extraction flowsheets. This new contactor requires only 1 L of simulated waste feed, which is significantly less than the 10 L required for the 4-cm unit that had previously been used. In addition, the volume requirements for the other aqueous and organic feeds are reduced correspondingly. This paper (1) discusses the design of the minicontactor, (2) describes results from having applied the minicontactor to testing various solvent extraction flowsheets, and (3) compares the minicontactor with the 4-cm contactor as a device for testing solvent extraction flowsheets on a laboratory scale. The submitted manuscript has been authored by a contractor of the U.S. Government under contract No. W-31-109-ENG-38. Accordingly, the U. S. Government retains a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to publish or reproduce the published form of this contribution, or allow others to do so, ...
Genetics, Ethics, and Alzheimer Disease

This article considers the emerging research on Alzheimer disease (AD) genetics in relation to ethical questions surrounding presymptomatic and prenatal genetic testing. Given the rapid advance in AD genetics over the past 8 years, it is likely that the attention of clinicians and ethicists will increasingly turn to genetic issues. After a survey of current genetic knowledge, this article addresses 3 areas of likely ethical concern. While AD genetic screening programs are currently rare and restricted to specific pedigrees, they will become more common in the future. It is, therefore, imperative that society and clinicians begin to consider the ethical issues this raises.
High efficiency transformation of U.S. rice lines from mature seed-derived calli and segregation of glufosinate resistance under field conditions.

Gene transfer techniques have been developed previously for certain model rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars, but problems persist in U.S. lines for low transformation rates and in vitro callus culture. Moreover, few studies have evaluated traits such as herbicide resistance in transgenic U.S. rice lines under field conditions. A rapid and efficient method was developed for production and field evaluation of transgenic herbicide-resistant elite U.S. rice lines and cultivars. Six elite U.S. rice lines were transformed for glufosinate herbicide resistance by particle bombardment of mature seed-derived embryogenic calli; resistance was confered by either the pat or bar gene. By utilizing optimized media for embryogenic callus induction and bialaphos or hygromycin B as a selection agent, an average transformation efficiency of 5% (258 independent events/5201 calli) was obtained across six lines. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA isolated from primary R0 and R1 progeny plants demonstrated that the pat and hygromycin phosphotransferase (hph) genes were stably integrated into the rice genome. Glufosinate resistance in R0, R1, and R2 progeny was confirmed in the greenhouse and under field conditions. All R1 and a majority (79%) of R2 progeny exhibited one to two gene segregation patterns for glufosinate resistance. The high efficiency and reproducibility of the improved transformation system should make it possible to routinely introduce genes of interest into any elite U.S. rice breeding line.
The irresponsibility of American social scientists

The arguments contained in books criticizing American social scientists by C. Wright Mills (The Sociological Imagination) and Bernard Crick (The Science of American Politics) are discussed, compared and criticized. It is argued that Mills’ criteria of evaluation and constructive alternatives to the tendencies he criticizes are immeasurably sounder than those found in Crick's book. An effort to supplement Mills’ argument by providing a more explicit statement of its moral underpinnings is made. Finally, it is argued that though both critiques have serious empirical flaws, the authors have undeniably demonstrated that important tendencies for irresponsible thought and action do exist within the American social sciences.
Acidic isostere design: Synthetic strategies and recent progress in understanding electronic properties and metabolic stability

The efficient synthesis of a family of twelve acidic heterocycles of varying acidity from a single common intermediate facilitates the search for new acidic bioisosteres. An extension of this chemical approach led to a new family of phosphonate replacements in prototypes related to the N-methyl D-asparate (NMDA) antagonist 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (AP7)
Nonequilibrium statistical quantum field theory for open systems

On etudie l'evolution de champs quantiques dans l'univers precoce caracterises par une matrice densite dependante du temps P S (t)
Multisensor fire observations

From space, we can understand fires in ways that are impossible from the ground. New Earth-observing satellites capture the significant impact of fires on our planet. This animation moves from a sequence of global fires in 2002 to continental and close-up views of three significant fires in the western United States in the summer of that year, the Hayman fire, the Rodeo-Chediski fire, and the Biscuit fire. Particular emphasis is made on the correlation of measurements from different satellite sensors. These sensors show many atmospheric and terrestrial phenomena that influence or are influenced by the occurrence of fires on Earth. Copyright held by creator.
Activation of the SMU.1882 Transcription by CovR in Streptococcus mutans

In Streptococcus mutans, the global response regulator CovR plays an important role in biofilm formation, stress-tolerance response, and caries production. We have previously shown that CovR acts as a transcriptional repressor by binding to the upstream promoter regions of its target genes. Here, we report that in vivo, CovR activates the transcription of SMU.1882, which encodes a small peptide containing a double-glycine motif. We also show that SMU.1882 is transcriptionally linked to comA that encodes a putative ABC transporter protein. Several genes from man gene clusters that encode mannose phosphotranferase system flank SMU.1882 -comA genes. Genomic comparison with other streptococci indicates that SMU.1882 is uniquely present in S. mutans, while the man operon is conserved among all streptococci, suggesting that a genetic rearrangement might have taken place at this locus. With the use of a transcriptional reporter system and semi-quantitative RT-PCR, we demonstrated the transcriptional regulation of SMU.1882 by CovR. In vitro gel shift and DNase I foot-printing analyses with purified CovR suggest that CovR binds to a large region surrounding the -10 region of the P1882. Using this information and comparing with other CovR regulated promoters, we have developed a putative consensus binding sequence for CovR. Although CovR binds to P1882, in vitro experiments using purified S. mutans RpoD, E. coli RNA polymerase, and CovR did not activate transcription from this promoter. Thus, we speculate that in vivo, CovR may interfere with the binding of a repressor or requires a cofactor.
Efficient 3D frequency response modeling with spectral accuracy by the rapid expansion method

Frequency responses of seismic wave propagation can be obtained either by directly solving the frequency domain wave equations or by transforming the time domain wavefields using the Fourier transform. The former approach requires solving systems of linear equations, which becomes progressively difficult to tackle for larger scale models and for higher frequency components. On the contrary, the latter approach can be efficiently implemented using explicit time integration methods in conjunction with running summations as the computation progresses. Commonly used explicit time integration methods correspond to the truncated Taylor series approximations that can cause significant errors for large time steps. The rapid expansion method (REM) uses the Chebyshev expansion and offers an optimal solution to the second-order-in-time wave equations. When applying the Fourier transform to the time domain wavefield solution computed by the REM, we can derive a frequency response modeling formula that has the same form as the original time domain REM equation but with different summation coefficients. In particular, the summation coefficients for the frequency response modeling formula corresponds to the Fourier transform of those for the time domain modeling equation. As a result, we can directly compute frequency responses from the Chebyshev expansion polynomials rather than the time domain wavefield snapshots as do other time domain frequency response modeling methods. When combined with the pseudospectral method in space, this new frequency response modeling method can produce spectrally accurate results with high efficiency.
Electronic structure theory of magnetism of surfaces, interfaces and overlayers

It is now clear that the advent of accurate self-consistent (local) spin density function (LSDF) calculations for surfaces, interfaces, and multilayers means that theory is no longer limited to simple parameter-dependent models. These complex magnetic systems are of growing interest because the reduced symmetry, lower coordination number, and availability and role of highly localized surface and interface states offers the possibility of inducing new and exotic phenomena and so holds out the promise of new device applications. A key question and goal has been the possibility of inducing 2D magnetism in a controlled way. We describe some methods used to obtain structural, electronic and magnetic properties and how these calculations can give not only a clearer understanding of the experimental results but also predictions on novel systems not yet made experimentally. In particular, the magnetization (including its anisotropy) and charge and spin densities obtained can be compared directly with experiments (e.g., conversion electron Mossbauer spectroscopy). For excitations (like spin-polarized photoemission and inverse photoemission), spin polarized photocurrents can be calculated from the LSDF results. Illustrative examples demonstrate that it is possible not only to make quantitative predictions for real systems, but more importantly, one gains insight into the underlying physics of these materials.
An examination of the relative economic efficiency of commercial vs. cooperative telephone companies

In this study, the authors examine the relative economic efficiency of the commercial and cooperative telephone companies in the United States. A national sample of over 900 firms using annual data for the years 1973 through 1980 is analyzed. A Cobb-Douglas profit function is employed in the study. The results indicate that commercial firms are more profitable than cooperatives (and, therefore, are more economically efficient), that both types of firms are price takers in the output market, that there is evidence of regulatory effectiveness, that market density affects profits, and that commercial firms experience increasing returns to scale while cooperatives do not.
Uptake and incorporation of mercury into mercury-binding proteins of gills of Mytilus edulis as a function of time

Individuals of Mytilus edulis (collected from Sequim Bay, Washington, in April and August, 1980) were exposed to 5 μg l-1 mercury as HgCl2 for 28 d. Gill mercury accumulation, mercury incorporation into the soluble fraction and low molecular weight, mercury-binding proteins of gills, and induction of these mercury-binding proteins were determined as a function of time. Short-term mercury uptake rates of excised gills were also determined for mussels sampled at intervals during exposure. Gill mercury accumulation occurred in three phases, represented by net uptake phases initially (up to Day 4) and toward the end of the exposure (Days 15 to 28), and an intermediate stable phase (Days 4 to 15). The stable phase was associated with induction of the predominant mercury-binding proteins and mercury incorporation into the proteins. After Day 15, the mercury-binding proteins were saturated and spillover of mercury into high molecular weight proteins had occurred. This was associated with saturation of the soluble fraction, increases of mercury on particulate fractions, and a loss of the ability of gills to maintain stable mercury concentrations. Mercury uptake rates of gills were not affected by the 28 d exposure of the whole organism.