cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PROMIS Global Health item nonresponse: is it better to impute missing item responses before computing T-scores?

Item response theory (IRT) scoring provides T-scores for physical and mental health subscales on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Health questionnaire (PROMIS-GH) even when relevant items are skipped. We compared different item- and score-level imputation methods for estimating T-scores to the current scoring method. Missing PROMIS-GH items were simulated using a dataset of complete PROMIS-GH scales collected at a single tertiary care center. Four methods were used to estimate T-scores with missing item scores: (1) IRT-based scoring of available items (IRTavail), (2) item-level imputation using predictive mean matching (PMM), (3) item-level imputation using proportional odds logistic regression (POLR), and (4) T-score-level imputation (IMPdirect). Performance was assessed using root mean squared error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) of T-scores and comparing estimated regression coefficients from the four methods to the complete data model. Different proportions of missingness and sample sizes were examined. IRTavail had lowest RMSE and MAE for mental health T-scores while PMM had lowest RMSE and MAE for physical health T-scores. For both physical and mental health T-scores, regression coefficients estimated from imputation methods were closer to those of the complete data model. The available item scoring method produced more accurate PROMIS-GH mental but less accurate physical T-scores, compared to imputation methods. Using item-level imputation strategies may result in regression coefficient estimates closer to those of the complete data model when nonresponse rate is high. The choice of method may depend on the application, sample size, and amount of missingness.
MicroRNA-30c-regulated HDAC9 mediates chemoresistance of breast cancer.

Although histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been shown to effectively induce the inhibition of proliferation and migration in breast cancer, the mechanism of HDAC9′s contribution to chemoresistance remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-30c-regulated HDAC9 in chemoresistance of breast cancer and to determine the potential of selective inhibition of HDAC9 in sensitizing resistant breast cancer cells to chemotherapy. Expression levels of HDAC9 and miR-30c were measured in breast cancer cells and tissues using quantitative PCR analysis. The effect of selective inhibition of HDAC9 on sensitizing MDR cells to chemotherapy was assessed. MiR-30c/HDAC9 pathways’ potential to mediate chemoresistance was analyzed. Our studies show that HDAC9 was significantly up-regulated in chemoresistant breast cancer cell lines compared to a chemosensitive cell line and was inversely correlated with the levels of miR-30c. MiR-30c mimics and HDAC9 inhibitors reversed the chemoresistance of multidrug-resistant breast cancer cells. These results indicate that the mechanism of chemoresistance reversal with selective HDAC inhibition was partially realized by regulating miR-30c via directly targeting HDAC9. Our findings suggest that the miR-30c/HDAC9 signaling axis could be a novel and potential therapeutic target in chemoresistant breast cancer.
New Compact Neutron Generator System for Multiple Applications

Compact neutron generators can provide a high flux of neutrons with energies ranging from thermal (0.025 eV) to 14 MeV. The application of the deuterium-deuterium, D-10B, and D-7Li nuclear reaction...
Optimal doubly robust estimation of heterogeneous causal effects

Heterogeneous effect estimation plays a crucial role in causal inference, with applications across medicine and social science. Many methods for estimating conditional average treatment effects (CATEs) have been proposed in recent years, but there are important theoretical gaps in understanding if and when such methods are optimal. This is especially true when the CATE has nontrivial structure (e.g., smoothness or sparsity). Our work contributes in several main ways. First, we study a two-stage doubly robust CATE estimator and give a generic model-free error bound, which, despite its generality, yields sharper results than those in the current literature. We apply the bound to derive error rates in nonparametric models with smoothness or sparsity, and give sufficient conditions for oracle efficiency. Underlying our error bound is a general oracle inequality for regression with estimated or imputed outcomes, which is of independent interest; this is the second main contribution. The third contribution is aimed at understanding the fundamental statistical limits of CATE estimation. To that end, we propose and study a local polynomial adaptation of double-residual regression. We show that this estimator can be oracle efficient under even weaker conditions, if used with a specialized form of sample splitting and careful choices of tuning parameters. These are the weakest conditions currently found in the literature, and we conjecture that they are minimal in a minimax sense. We go on to give error bounds in the non-trivial regime where oracle rates cannot be achieved. Some finite-sample properties are explored with simulations.
Dyadic Acquisition of Survey Knowledge in a Shared Virtual Environment

Navigation and wayfinding are often accomplished collectively, with groups of people. Yet most studies of navigation and wayfinding behavior, and of the acquisition of spatial knowledge more generally, focus on the individual. In this paper we extend the investigation of these topics to dyads. In particular, we focus on how well straight-line distances and directions between objects (survey knowledge) were learned by individuals and by the same individuals when comprising a dyad. Our experiment was carried out in a shared virtual environment and we report on the technical issues in conducting such a collaborative experiment in a shared virtual environment, such as the choice of locomotion mode and the provision of full-body self-avatars. Our findings indicate that dyads outperform individuals in their acquisition of survey knowledge.
Photo-Electron Emission Microscopy of Semiconductor Surfaces

The technique of photo-electron emission microscopy (PEEM) is based on imaging of photo excited electrons from a surface. Typically ultra violet (UV) light above the work function of a metal will cause electrons to be emitted from a surface. Since photo excited electrons originate very near to the surface, they essentially reflect the electronic structure of the surface. These electrons may be accelerated and imaged, and the image will reflect the properties of the surface.While the PEEM technique has been understood in a basic sense for many years, it has been limited by the lack of high intensity UV light sources. The most crucial part of the electron imaging system for PEEM, the objective lens, is essentially the same as for the sister technique of low energy electron microscopy (LEEM), and advances in electron optics capabilities have been exploited both for LEEM and for PEEM.
Lipid membrane instability driven by capacitive charging

A new mechanism for lipid membrane destabilization and poration by electric fields is proposed. When a dc electric field is applied to an insulating planar membrane separating fluids with different conductivities, a capacitive charging current through the membrane in combination with shearing stresses, created by the electric field acting on its own induced free charge, drives electrohydrodynamic flow that modulates the shape and lipid density fluctuations. The instability is transient and decays as the membrane charges. Accordingly, the dynamics depends on the relative magnitude of the time for charging the membrane capacitor and the electrohydrodynamic flow time.
Confronting Existence: The Existential Dimensions of Becoming a Mother

Life changes completely and forever once a woman becomes a mother. Mothers undergo many shifts in their way of living during this transition, to incorporate her new baby into her life; many of which are practical in nature, but they also face existential issues too. Drawing on research with first-time mothers, this chapter reveals the ontological structures of motherhood to be temporality, being-towards, freedom and responsibility, identity, thrownness, mortality, meaning and purpose. In those early months, new mothers gain an awareness of existence as a whole and their place in it. They also confront the very notion of their own Being and how they make sense of this in a changing, unfamiliar world. The transition to motherhood therefore is a transition in life.
A Bayesian Hierarchical CACE Model Accounting for Incomplete Noncompliance With Application to a Meta-analysis of Epidural Analgesia on Cesarean Section

Noncompliance with assigned treatments is a common challenge in analyzing and interpreting randomized clinical trials (RCTs). One way to handle noncompliance is to estimate the complier-average cau...
Normal-Tissue Tolerance to Radiopharmaceutical Therapies, the Knowns and the Unknowns.

Radiopharmaceutical therapies are gaining increasing prominence as they improve survival in patients with common diseases such as metastatic prostate cancer ([ 1 ][1],[ 2 ][2]). However, whereas sodium iodide (131I) therapy has been used for over 70 y in treating malignant and benign thyroid
Paging strategy optimization in personal communication systems

Mobility tracking is concerned with finding a mobile subscriber (MS) within the area serviced by the wireless network. The two basic operations for tracking an MS, location updating and paging, constitute additional load on the wireless network. The total cost of updating and paging can be minimized by optimally dividing the cellular area into location registration (LR) areas. In current systems broadcast paging messages are sent within the LR area to alert the MS of an incoming call. In this paper we propose a selective paging strategy which uses the MS mobility and call patterns to minimize the cost of locating an MS within an LR area subject to a constraint on the delay in locating the MS.
The Riemann Integral

As was pointed out in the previous chapter, the second fundamental topic covered in calculus is the Riemann integral, the first being the derivative.
Corporate Fraud and Real Investment

This paper studies the real investment and financing behavior of firms around the period of fraud identified in SEC Accounting and Auditing Enforcement Releases. In the pre-fraud period, the typical fraudulent firm has a higher valuation, invests more and exhibits higher Q-sensitivity of investment than industry peers. The fraud period, by contrast, is characterized by significant drops in valuation and investment. I find no support for the hypothesis that fraudulent firms waste real resources by overinvesting during periods of fraud to signal value. Fraud appears to be an attempt to cover up bad investments made in response to the market's high valuation in the pre-fraud period.
THE INFLUENCE OF STEERING AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM DEGRADATION ON VEHICLE LIMIT PERFORMANCE

The influence of degraded steering and suspension components on open-loop vehicle performance at the limits of tire-road frictional coupling is examined in this paper. The major conclusion obtained is that, with the exception of the shock absorber in certain maneuvers, the range of limit performance exhibited by new cars, as derived from design differences, is much larger than the in-use changes in limit performance of individual vehicles deriving from degradation of steering and suspension system components.
Impact of hurricanes on gulf coast electric grid islanding of industrial plants

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of seasonal hurricanes and tropical storms on the security and delivery of electricity in Gulf Coast states' electric grid to industrial customers. The Gulf Coast in general and the state of Louisiana in particular include a relatively high number of industrial plants that are connected to the electric grid, and continuity of electricity to these industrial plants is of vital importance in flow of energy from Gulf Coast states to the rest of the nation. The purpose of this paper is to identify the tropical storms and their characteristics in the last fifty years, to determine the existing industrial plants, including their products and services, and to develop an algorithm that results in the impact of tropical storms and hurricanes on continuity of electricity to any specific industrial plant in the Gulf Coast geographical area. The study determines “islanding” of part of the grid that may result from the impact of the simulated tropical storms and would provide sufficient information to plant managers for continuing or halting their plant operation in time prior to the landing of tropical storms or hurricanes. This paper includes a summary of simulation results of 50 historical and 26 hypothetical tropical storms on selected industrial plants in the geographical area. To display the usefulness and practicality of the developed algorithm, we will include results of one case study in the state of Louisiana. Further work on use of the developed algorithm in hardening and development of resilient transmission system in Gulf Coast states will be reported in future publications.
Indices of Solar Activity

Publisher Summary This chapter is an aid to research workers in fields bordering astrophysics. More specifically, it is a guide through which geophysicists interested in solar-terrestrial research may be helped in their interpretation and use of the rather bewildering array of indices of solar activity. It also helps research workers in solar-terrestrial relationships to make an intelligent choice of the solar index appropriate to a given problem. The chapter discusses the observed features of the Sun. It is intended as a background to the discussion of indices of solar activity, as it is principally by observation of these features that the direct indices of solar activity are derived. Different layers of the solar atmosphere as distinguished by their physical properties are illustrated. These layers provide a convenient framework for reference. Furthermore, the chapter distinguishes between indirect indices derived from solar-induced phenomena of the terrestrial atmosphere and indices directly related to solar observations. Finally, the chapter endeavors to list the major published sources of solar indices of various types.
The Voracious Discipline

Studying computer science might help us understand how the industry both borrows from and contributes to other fields. The Web extra at https://youtu.be/P_xTe3p8Plk is an audio recording of author David Alan Grier expanding on his Errant Hashtag column, in which he talks about how studying computer science might help us understand how the industry both borrows from and contributes to other fields.
Multiscale Characterization of Deformation Mechanisms in the Weld Joint of a Nickel-based Superalloy

Multiscale plastic deformation in the heat affected zone (HAZ) of a Ni-based single crystal superalloy has been characterized using white microbeam synchrotron diffraction measurements together with OIM imaging, electron and optical microscopy. Characteristic length scales on the macro, meso and nano scale are determined. Dissolution of the gamma' - phase particles during heating and secondary precipitation of gamma' during cooling is found, as well as formation and multiplication of dislocations. This process is more intense as one approaches the fusion line (FL). In the regions immediately neighboring the FL, gamma' - phase particles dissolve completely and re-precipitate from the solid solution in the form of very small (10-20nm) particles. In the immediate vicinity of the FL, the temperature gradient and the rate of it's change reaches maximal values and causes the formation of large amounts of dislocations. Dislocations are concentrated in the gamma matrix of the single crystal superalloy. X-ray Laue diffraction (both conventional and microbeam) and electron microscopy show that alternating dislocations slip systems dominate in the HAZ with Burgers vector b=[110] and dislocation lines [1-12] and [1-1-2] ; or b=[-110], dislocation lines [112] and [11-2] . Each of these two dislocation groups forms two Z-shaped dislocation lines fluctuatingmore » around two cubic directions [100] and [010]. Local lattice rotations in different zones of the weld joint are linking with the microslip events in different zones of the weld.« less
Seawater optical property estimation from in situ irradiance measurements.

A simple algorithm that solves the inverse problem is numerically tested for estimating the ratio of the absorption to the transport coefficients from measurements of the irradiance and scalar irradiance at depths sufficiently beneath the surface of seawater. Results of radiative transfer calculations with a phase function for San Diego harbor seawater were used to test the algorithm and show that the ratio is quite insensitive to the depth of the measurements and to the direction of incident solar radiation unless the absorption is very weak. A second algorithm, based on the assumption that the radiance in the diffusion regime is proportional to a (one-parameter) Henyey-Greenstein shape, is examined for estimating the ratio of the backward scattering to absorption coefficients from only irradiance measurements. The algorithm has the advantage that no scalar irradiance measurements are required, but it provides significantly poorer estimates because the radiance is not sufficiently close to the Henyey-Greenstein shape.
Effects of varying the percentage of key illuminations paired with food in a positive automaintenance procedure

Three pigeons were exposed to a positive automaintenance procedure in which each trial began with a brief tone followed by the transillumination of a small central area of the response key for 10 sec. Key illumination was followed by food on 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5%, and 0% of the trials. The effects depended on the dependent variable observed. The mean rate of responding during key illumination rapidly increased and then decreased slightly as the percentage of key illuminations paired with food increased. The number of key illuminations during which at least one response occurred increased as a negatively accelerating function of the percentage of key illuminations paired with food, and the mean latency to the first response during the key illuminations decreased as a negatively decelerating function of the percentage condition. The mean rate of sustained responding during key illumination was not systematically affected by changes in the percentage conditions.
The viscoelasticity of polymer solutions: Comparison of theory and experiment

The theory of the preceding paper is compared with previously unpublished experimental results on the viscoelastic properties of two polystyrene fractions of molecular weight 1.9 × 106 and 1.2 × 106 in nitropropane, which is very nearly a theta solvent, and in toluene, a good solvent. At the concentrations used, around 1%, the theory predicts extensive departures from non-draining toward free-draining behavior; these effects are observed. The theory similarly fits experimental data of Johnson on a sample of polystyrene of molecular weight 860,000 in decalin and dioctyl phthalate in the same concentration range.
The t(14;18) chromosome translocations involved in B-cell neoplasms result from mistakes in VDJ joining

In this study, the joining sequences between chromosomes 14 and 18 on the 14q+ chromosomes of a patient with pre-B-cell leukemia and four patients with follicular lymphoma carrying a t(14;18) chromosome translocation were analyzed. In each case, the involved segment of chromosome 18 has recombined with the immunoglobulin heavy-chain joining segment (JH) on chromosome 14. The sites of the recombination on chromosome 14 are located close to the 5' end of the involved JH segment, where the diversity (D) regions are rearranged with the JH segments in the production of active heavy-chain genes. As extraneous nucleotides (N regions) were observed at joining sites and specific signal-like sequences were detected on chromosome 18 in close proximity to the breakpoints, it is concluded that the t(14;18) chromosome translocation is the result of a mistake during the process of VDJ joining at the pre-B-cell stage of differentiation. The putative recombinase joins separated DNA segments on two different chromosomes instead of joining separated segments on the same chromosome, causing a t(14;18) chromosome translocation in the involved B cells.
THE LAWRENCE BERKELEY LABORATORY GENERAL PURPOSE MAGNETIC MEASUREMENT DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM

The Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) Magnetic Measurements Engineering (MME) Group has developed a Real-Time Data Acquisition System (DAS) for magnetic measurements. The design objective was for a system that was versatile, "portable", modular, expandable, maintainable, quickly and easily reconfigurable both in hardware and software, and inexpensive. All objectives except the last were attained. An LSI 11/23 microcomputer is interfaced to a clock-calendar, printer, CRT control terminals, plotter with hard copy, floppy and hard disks, GPIB, and CAMAC buses. Off-the-shelf hardware and software have been used where possible. Operational capabilities include : (1) measurement of high permeability materials, (2) harmonic error analysis of (a) superconducting dipoles and (b) rare earth cobalt (REC) and conventional quadrupole magnets, and (3) 0.1% accuracy x-y mapping with Hall probes. Results are typically presented in both tabular and graphical form during measurements. Only minutes are required to switch from one measurement capability to another. Brief descriptions of the DAS capabilities, some of the special instrumentation developed to implement these capabilities, and some planned developments are given.
Time Lag in the Formation of the Latent (Photographic) Image

Two distinctly separate series of constant energy exposures were made on Hammer Extra-Fast Plates at several different light intensities. Another short series was made on a Hammer Slow Emulsion. The intermittent but constant energy exposures were provided by two different rotating mirrors whose ranges of speeds were 1900 r.p.s. and 750 r.p.s., respectively. The emulsion grains were illuminated for periods varying from 10−5 second to 5.5×10−8 second duration. The rotating mirrors made it possible to obtain data on the intermittency effect for much shorter time exposures than was possible for Davis or for Weinland using selected wave-lengths. In this study, the apparatus permitted, by the use of unselected wave-lengths from light sources, the consideration of the intermittency effect with reference to the influence of intensity upon the exposed emulsion at a constant ratio of rest to flash period, and as well for small changes in this same ratio. The data secured have a bearing on the Brush effect. The diffuse densities of the images on the emulsions were measured by an adaptation of the Richtmyer differential photoelectric photometer. With a decrease in the time of duration of the flash, there was found a gradual diminution of the image density until a critical flash interval or period was reached, after which the density-flash period curve fell rapidly with small decreases in the flash period. The breaking point in the curve varied within experimental limits for the two mirrors but for high light intensities approximated 1×10−7 second while for the lower intensities the break occurred in the region of longer intervals. The conclusions reached from the interpretation of the data are: that the quantum theory applied to light in this particular field fails; that the real intermittency failures of any magnitude occur in the region of shorter flash or exposure intervals; and that the formation of the latent image can probably be explained as a resonance process.
Effects of dynamic interfacial properties on drop deformation and orientation in shear and extensional flow fields

Abstract A first-order perturbation analysis of the deformation and orientation of drops in shear and extensional flow fields is presented. The solution parallels that of Cox except that a more general stress boundary condition is used at the drop interface. This condition accounts for possible interfacial tension variations on the drop surface as well as surface shear and dilatational viscosity effects. In addition to providing a quantitative basis for understanding observed deviations between experimental observations and previous theoretical predictions, the analysis provides the theoretical foundation for dynamic interfacial property measurements from relatively simple deformation and orientation tests.
On the cosmic limits of physical laws

Views on the completeness of the general theory of relativity are reviewed. An approach to a generalization of the theory based on a modification of the principle of inertia is outlined.
India's Foreign Policy Today: Reflections upon Its Sources

Occidental nations had distinct images of India long before they recognized the new republic ten years ago. To Herodotus and his contemporaries India was the scene of fabled wonders; to devout Christians in the Middle Ages it was the likely site of Paradise; and to the learned of later enlightened centuries it was above all the abode of superior wisdom. In fact, nothing about India seems to have attracted Western scholars so much as the religions and philosophies that originated in the subcontinent millennia ago. The fundamental principles of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism were analyzed and exposed with scholarly care during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as Western minds, increasingly convinced of the essential “materialism” of their own heritage, made a steady pilgrimage to the repositories of the great spiritual truths that India held.
A stereotaxic atlas of the brain of the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber)

The naked mole-rat (Rodentia, Bathyergidae: Heterocephalus glaber) is a strictly subterranean eusocial mammal. These rodents show a suite of morphological and physiological adaptations, including brain specializations, to this underground milieu that they have inhabited since the early Miocene. Recently, naked mole-rats have received considerable attention as the longest living rodent known, and some of these brain specializations may be potentially important to their exceptional longevity. To serve as a basis for future brain studies, we have constructed a stereotaxic atlas of the brain of this species, labeling all major brain structures.
Specific Staining of Sertoli Cell Nuclei and Evaluation of Sertoli Cell Number and Proliferative Activity in Meishan and White Composite Boars During the Neonatal Period

The positive relationship between Sertoli cell number and testicular size emphasizes the importance of determining factors involved in the regulation of the Sertoli cell population. Based on data from other species and indirect evidence in the boar, it is generally accepted that porcine Sertoli cells proliferate rapidly throughout the early postnatal period. However, direct evaluation of Sertoli cell number and the proliferative activity of Sertoli cells during the early postnatal period in boars have not been reported. Stereological enumeration of Sertoli cells is a labor-intensive process and would be greatly facilitated by a marker for these cells especially in the sexually mature male. Thus, the first objective of this study was to determine if expression of the transcription factor GATA-4 is an effective marker for fetal, postnatal, and adult Sertoli cells to facilitate enumeration procedures. The second objective was to evaluate the proliferative activity and growth of the Sertoli cell population in neonatal White Composite and Meishan boars, known to differ in mature testis size and Sertoli cell number, to determine the importance of this developmental period for the adult Sertoli cell population. GATA-4 was abundantly expressed by Sertoli cells throughout fetal and prepubertal stages of development and specifically stained both type A and B Sertoli cell nuclei in the sexually mature boar. Immunoreactivity was never observed in the germ cells regardless of their stage of development, illustrating that GATA-4 is a useful marker for both developing and adult Sertoli cells in the boar. Testicular size did not differ between breeds on Day 1 postpartum, but by 14 days postpartum White Composite boars had significantly larger testes compared to Meishan boars (P < 0.001). Similarly, Sertoli cell number did not differ between breeds at 1 day postpartum; however, at 14 days postpartum White Composite boars had a significantly larger Sertoli cell population compared to Meishan boars (P < 0.05). Surprisingly, despite having more Sertoli cells than Meishan boars at 14 days postpartum, the proportion of actively proliferating Sertoli cells in the White Composite boars was almost 50% less than the Meishan boars. This result illustrates that rapid rates of Sertoli cell proliferation probably occurred prior to 14 days postpartum in the White Composite boars. Collectively, these results illustrate that the relationship between testicular size and Sertoli cell number is manifested very early in the postnatal period for these two breeds. The substantial difference in the size of the Sertoli cell population and their proliferative activity between Meishan and White Composite boars during the early postnatal period emphasizes the importance of this early period for the establishment of the Sertoli cell population and subsequent adult testicular size.
Fourth Generation Quark Masses and Flavor Mixing Phenomenology From a Model With Maximal {CP} Violation

The phenomenological predictions of the Gronau-Johnson-Schechter ansatz on the quark mass matrices with maximal CP violations for four generations of quarks are presented. The main results are: (i) the b'-quark (charge - 13 fourth generation quark) has to be quite light (mb' ⩽ 60 GeV) and should be observable at LEP and pp colliders in the near future, (ii) the CP-violating observable l± in Bs0 is much larger (l± = O(10−2 – 10−3)) than in the three-generation case and should be observable at ϒ-factories in the near future. Other predictions include mt ⩽ 40 GeV, 125 GeV < mt' < 375 GeV, and (mt/mb)mb' ⩽ (mt' ≅ (mt/mb)[(mb/ms)(mc/mt)]12 mb'.
Adoption of an Integrated Radiology Reading Room Within a Urologic Oncology Clinic: Initial Experience in Facilitating Clinician Consultations

Purpose The authors describe their initial experience in implementing an integrated radiology reading room within a urologic oncology clinic, including the frequency and nature of clinician consultations and the perceived impact on patient management by clinicians. Methods A radiology reading room was established within an office-based urologic oncology clinic in proximity to the surgeon's work area. A radiologist was present in this reading room for a 3-hour shift each day. The frequency and nature of consultations during these shifts were recorded. Also, the clinic's staff completed a survey assessing perceptions of the impact of the integrated reading room on patient management. Results One hundred two consultations occurred during 57 included dates (average, 1.8 consultations per shift): 52% for review of external cases brought in by patients on discs, 43% for review of internal cases, and 5% for direct review by the radiologist of imaging with patients. The maximum number of consultations during a single shift was 8. All of the clinic's urologists indicated that >90% of consultations benefited patient care. The clinicians indicated tendencies to view consultations as affecting management in the majority of cases, to be more likely to seek consultation for outside imaging when the radiologist was on site, and to be less likely to repeat outside imaging when the radiologist was on site. Conclusions The integrated reading room within the clinic has potential to improve the quality of care, for instance by facilitating increased review of outside imaging studies and thereby potentially reducing duplicate ordering and by enabling occasional direct image review with patients by radiologists.
Trace enrichment of cytokinins using neutral polystyrene resins

Abstract Two neutral polystyrene resins, Amberlite XAD-2 and Porapak Q, have been tested for effectiveness in the quantitative recovery and trace enrichment of cytokinins from aqueous solutions. Both resins retained all of the cytokinin-active bases and ribonucleosides tested. Elution with 70% ethanol permitted quantitative recovery of cytokinins from the resins. Under the test conditions used here, adenine and the major ribonucleosides were either incompletely retained or not retained at all by the two resins. Quantitative recovery of cytokinin activity from hydrolysates of tRNA and from cultures of Agrobacterium tumefaciens was demonstrated using Amberlite XAD-2.
Virtual Reality Simulators in Medicine: Current and Future Concerns

There has been recent surge in the development of medical virtual reality simulators. These systems incorporate visual, auditory, and haptic displays and enable users to learn the skills needed to perform medical and surgical procedures in much the same way that flight simulators facilitate pilot training. These devices offer numerous training benefits to the user and also have the potential to improve patient safety. Despite these advantages, the medical community has been slow to embrace this technology. In fact, many of the current systems appear to showcase what can be done from a technological perspective instead of what should be done from the user's perspective. Thus, the purpose of this panel is to bring together experts who use, evaluate, and train with medical VR simulators to discuss current and future human factors concerns that impact the acceptance of this new technology.
Social after-effects of fur rubbing in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella): increased antagonism and reduced affiliation

Fur rubbing is widely believed to have a social bonding function in capuchin monkeys, yet a recent study of tufted capuchins revealed increased levels of aggression and reduced levels of affiliation after fur-rubbing bouts. This observed decrease in group cohesion may be attributable to increased intragroup competition for fur-rub material rather than being a direct effect of fur rubbing itself. To test this hypothesis, we separated individual tufted monkeys (Cebus apella) from their social group and provided them with fur-rub material or control material, thereby avoiding intragroup competition. After engagement with materials, we released subjects back into their social group and observed their subsequent interactions with group members. We found that subjects were more likely to encounter aggression and less likely to receive affiliation from others in the fur-rub condition than in the control condition. These results support the idea that fur rubbing carries social after-effects for capuchin monkeys. The precise mechanisms of the observed effects remain to be clarified in future studies.
Morphology and properties of PVC/solvent gels

Abstract PVC forms gels in a number of solvents. Measurements of gel melting temperature as a function of molecular weight and concentration indicate that the cross-links result from H bonding between two segments. Crystallization in the gels in the form of two types of crystals is independent of the gel network formation, growing after the gel forms. The gel-forming ability and gel hardness are functions of the polymer-solvent interaction and the H-bonding ability of the solvent. Replicas of freeze-fracture-etched surfaces of the gels suggest aggregation of the PVC molecules in the form of a fibrous network structure.
Morphology and Energetics of the Molecular Gas within a Core and a Diffuse Region in the Filamentary Dark Cloud GF 9

We have performed a CO, 13CO, and CS survey of a dense core region (GF 9–Core) and a diffuse filamentary region (GF 9–Fila) within the dark cloud GF 9 (LDN 1082). Spectra in each line were obtained toward 120 positions within each region covering areas of 8' × 10'. GF 9–Core is associated with the Class 0 protostar IRAS PSC 20503+6006, while GF 9–Fila has no associated IRAS point sources. The median CO excitation temperature of the core region is 7.2 ± 0.5 K; for the filament region, the median temperature is 7.8 ± 0.5 K. The mass derived from the LTE isothermal analysis of 13CO is 53 ± 8 and 40 ± 6 M⊙ for GF 9–Core and GF 9–Fila, respectively. Using near-infrared extinction data to trace the H2 column density, the isothermal LTE assumptions for 13CO appear to break down at AV 3 mag. The near-infrared extinction data are used to correct the derived 13CO column densities, yielding mass estimates that are ~20% larger than the LTE-derived masses. The average H2 volume densities for GF 9–Core and GF 9–Fila are ~5000 ± 700 and ~1700 ± 200 cm-3. Each region contains a 15 ± 3 M⊙ centrally condensed CS core, which is approximately 3 times more dense than the ambient 13CO regions. In GF 9–Core, the high-density gas core appears to be physically associated with the IRAS point source. Both high-density cores appear to be in virial equilibrium; however, the CS line widths in GF 9–Core are almost twice as large as those measured in GF 9–Fila. Because GF 9–Core is associated with the Class 0 protostar PSC 20503+6006, the CS line widths may be enhanced by outflow or infall motion. The additional nonturbulent line-broadening component caused by outflow/infall motion required to explain the line width implies a supersonic velocity of at least 0.3 km s-1 (Mach 1.5).
Maximizing circle of trust in online social networks

As an imperative channel for fast information propagation, Online Social Networks(OSNs) also have their defects. One of them is the information leakage, i.e., information could be spread via OSNs to the users whom we are not willing to share with. Thus the problem of constructing a circle of trust to share information with as many friends as possible without further spreading it to unwanted targets has become a challenging research topic but still remained open.Our work is the first attempt to study the Maximum Circle of Trust problem seeking to share the information with the maximum expected number of poster's friends such that the information spread to the unwanted targets is brought to its knees. First, we consider a special and more practical case with the two-hop information propagation and a single unwanted target. In this case, we show that this problem is NP-hard, which denies the existence of an exact polynomial-time algorithm. We thus propose a Fully Polynomial-Time Approximation Scheme (FPTAS), which can not only adjust any allowable performance error bound but also run in polynomial time with both the input size and allowed error. FPTAS is the best approximation solution one can ever wish for an NP-hard problem. We next consider the number of unwanted targets is bounded and prove that there does not exist an FPTAS in this case. Instead, we design a Polynomial-Time Approximation Scheme (PTAS) in which the allowable error can also be controlled. Finally, we consider a general case with many hops information propagation and further show its #P-hardness and propose an effective Iterative Circle of Trust Detection (ICTD) algorithm based on a novel greedy function. An extensive experiment on various real-word OSNs has validated the effectiveness of our proposed approximation and ICTD algorithms.
The structure and high temperature corrosion properties of chromized coatings

Abstract Chromizing of AISI 410 steel using the pack cementation method has been studied. The chromized layer consists of a ferrite phase, with a thickness of about 100–200 μm, and a near-surface layer containing more than 60% chromium. The structure of the chromized AISI 410 layer consists mainly of (CrFe)2N1−x and Cr23C6 phases. The oxidation behaviour of chromized carbon steel at 1000 °C in 1 atm of oxygen obeys the parabolic law x2 (g2 cm−4) = 2.5 × 10−10 t(s) − 1.2 × 10−7 The chromized coating demonstrates superior corrosion resistance when immersed in molten salt (95% Na2SO4 + 5% NaCl) at 877 °C.
Conformational analysis of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors using ab initio molecular orbital methods. 1. Rotational isomerism in methane sulfonamide anion, CH3-SO2-NH−

Ab initio calculations have been performed on methane sulfonamide anion. Geometries have been optimized using Hartree-Fock basis sets up to 6-31+G*, and single-point calculations employing those Hartree-Fock geometries have been performed at levels up to MP2/6-311++G**. In addition, geometry optimizations for the 0°, 90°, 150°, and 180° conformers have been carried out at the MP2/6-31G*, MP2/6-31+G*, and MP2/6-311++G** levels. Vibrational frequencies have been calculated using the HF/4-31G*, MP2/6-31G*, and MP2/6-31+G* geometries. All calculations at or above the 4-31G* level agree that H—N—S—C ˜90° is the global minimum. The H—N—S—C = 180° conformer is clearly higher in energy although the relative energy of this conformer varies from 0.36 to 1.03 kcal/mol for the post-HF calculations depending on basis set. The H—N—S—C = 180° conformer appears to be a very shallow local minimum. However, the potential energy surface is quite flat in this region, and the highest-level calculations, including MP2 optimizations and vibrational frequency analysis, are ambiguous on this point. The conformer with an H—N—S—C torsion of 0° is a transition state with a relative energy ˜8 kcal/mol.
Solid-phase preparation of dienes

The Stille reaction has been used to prepare a variety of functionalized dienes on a solid support.
Species-specific processing of prodynorphin in the posterior pituitary of mammals

The steady state levels of the prodynorphinderived opioid peptides, dynorphin A, dynorphin B, and a-neoendorphin, have been extensively studied in the magnocellular/posterior pituitary system of the rat. To determine whether the rat system serves as a general model for prodynorphin processing in the mammalian posterior pituitary, we examined the steady state levels of prodynorphin-derived opioid peptides in the posterior pituitary systems of representives of three diverse orders of mammals: guinea pig (order Rodentia), pig (order Artiodactyla), and rhesus monkey (order Primates). In each species studied there was evidence for species-specific deviations from the rat model. The most pronounced differences were observed with respect to the conversion of dynorphin A-(l–17) to dynorphin A-(l–8). In rodents, rats, and guinea pigs, under steady state conditions, the molar ratios of these forms are approximately 1:2 and 2.5:1, respectively. However, in the pig and rhesus monkey, the molar ratios of these forms a...
Uncertainty analysis and variation reduction of three dimensional coordinate metrology. Part 3: variation reduction

In this paper, the study focuses on the coordinate variations for the case in which the deterministic error component of the sampled geometric errors is no longer negligible compared to the random error component. Two different approaches are proposed for the estimation of coordinate transformation. In the one-step approach, the best-fit method is applied to directly fit the measurement data to the nominal surface. In the two-step approach, a deterministic surface is first constructed from the measurement data and the fitted deterministic surface is then best-fitted with the nominal surface to estimate the coordinate transformation. The computation needed in the two-step coordinate estimation approach is more expensive than that required by the one-step approach. However, by estimating the deterministic error component of the surface geometric error, the two-step approach can effectively reduce the influence of the deterministic error component on the result of coordinate estimation. Therefore, with the same measurement data, the two-step approach gives a much more accurate coordinate estimation result than the one-step approach. In addition, the variation range of the obtained coordinate transformation parameters is much reduced.
DPP6 domains responsible for its localization and function.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-like protein 6 (DPP6) is an auxiliary subunit of the Kv4 family of voltage-gated K+ channels known to enhance channel surface expression and potently accelerate their kinetics. DPP6 is a single transmembrane protein, which is structurally remarkable for its large extracellular domain. Included in this domain is a cysteine-rich motif, the function of which is unknown. Here we show that this cysteine-rich domain of DPP6 is required for its export from the ER and expression on the cell surface. Disulfide bridges formed at C349/C356 and C465/C468 of the cysteine-rich domain are necessary for the enhancement of Kv4.2 channel surface expression but not its interaction with Kv4.2 subunits. The short intracellular N-terminal and transmembrane domains of DPP6 associates with and accelerates the recovery from inactivation of Kv4.2, but the entire extracellular domain is necessary to enhance Kv4.2 surface expression and stabilization. Our findings show that the cysteine-rich domain of DPP6 plays an important role in protein folding of DPP6 that is required for transport of DPP6/Kv4.2 complexes out of the ER.
A content analysis of university library Web sites in English speaking countries

In a study of university library Web sites in four English speaking countries (Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA), the visual display of information was found to be similar across all countries. However, there were some differences in the content supplied. All of the 150 library Web sites examined provided access to their own catalogue and some databases. Most also provided access to other library catalogues, a description of services and an update date. There was much less information provided on instructional material and remote access, and there were discrepancies in the availability of encyclopaedias, request forms and pathfinders.
Direct Observation of Charge Transfer at a MgO(111) Surface

Transmission electron diffraction (TED) combined with direct methods have been used to study the $\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\sqrt{3}R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ reconstruction on the polar (111) surface of MgO and refine the valence charge distribution. The surface is nonstoichiometric and is terminated by a single magnesium atom. A charge-compensating electron hole is localized in the next oxygen layer and there is a nominal charge transfer from the oxygen atoms to the top magnesium atom. The partial charges that we obtain for the surface atoms are in reasonable agreement with empirical bond-valence estimations.
Spontaneous electrical activity in shoots of Ipomoea, Pisum and Xanthium.

Extracellular recordings from light-grown shoots of Ipomoea and Xanthium contain trains of spontaneous fluctuations which resemble action potentials. The rise time of the putative action potentials is usually in the range from 1 to 50 ms. Their duration is most frequently between 100 and 400 ms, but they may be either briefer or, in the presence of unusual shoulders, much longer. Their separation interval is typically between 0.1 and 10 s. The trains may last from 1 s to over 2 h.