cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lorcainide therapy in a cardiac arrest population.

Abstract Thirty-eight patients with a prior history of cardiac arrest underwent programmed electrical stimulation (PES) studies and serial drug testing. Lorcainide was tested acutely in all 38 patients and prevented ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) induction in 14 patients and failed in 24 (efficacy rate 37%). Procainamide had failed clinically (cardiac arrest or breakthrough VT) in 16 patients, seven patients had previously severe adverse side effects, and thus only 15 were tested on procainamide at PES testing with seven protected. Following initial studies, 14 patients were started on lorcainide oral therapy and 24 on other therapy determined effective at PES testing (N-acetylprocainamide-two, flecainide-nine, bethanidine-three, slow-release procainamide hydrochloride-three, quinidine-two, cibenzoline-one, amiodarone-four). After 29 ± 7 months follow-up, three are alive on lorcainide therapy, five discontinued therapy due to side effects; six died—three sudden deaths (33%) and two cardiac deaths (both myocardial infarctions). Twenty out of 24 patients are alive who were started on PES predicted effective therapy other than lorcainide; four died—three sudden deaths (13%) and one cardiac nonsudden death. Antiarrhythmic therapy guided by PES studies gives overall encouraging results in a cardiac arrest group of patients. Lorcainide, however, is not tolerated well and affords less protection against a sudden death recurrence than is noted in a population on other antiarrhythmic therapy predicted effective at PES testing.
Zeros of the partition function and pseudospinodals in long-range Ising models

The relation between the zeros of the partition function and spinodal critical points in Ising models with long-range interactions is investigated. We find that the spinodal is associated with the zeros of the partition function in four-dimensional complex temperature/magnetic field space. The zeros approach the real temperature/magnetic field plane as the range of interaction increases.
STAT3 supports experimental K-RasG12D–induced murine myeloproliferative neoplasms dependent on serine phosphorylation

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and other myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are genetically heterogeneous but frequently display activating mutations in Ras GTPases and activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Altered STAT3 activity is observed in up to 50% of AML correlating with poor prognosis. Activated STAT proteins, classically associated with tyrosine phosphorylation, support tumor development as transcription factors, but alternative STAT functions independent of tyrosine phosphorylation have been documented, including roles for serine-phosphorylated STAT3 in mitochondria supporting transformation by oncogenic Ras. We examined requirements for STAT3 in experimental murine K-Ras–dependent hematopoietic neoplasia. We show that STAT3 is phosphorylated on S727 but not Y705 in diseased animals. Moreover, a mouse with a point mutation abrogating STAT3 S727 phosphorylation displayed delayed onset and decreased disease severity with significantly extended survival. Activated K-Ras required STAT3 for cytokine-independent growth of myeloid progenitors in vitro, and mitochondrially restricted STAT3 and STAT3-Y705F, both transcriptionally inert mutants, supported factor-independent growth. STAT3 was dispensable for growth of normal or K-Ras–mutant myeloid progenitors in response to cytokines. However, abrogation of STAT3-S727 phosphorylation impaired factor-independent malignant growth. These data document that serine-phosphorylated mitochondrial STAT3 supports neoplastic hematopoietic cell growth induced by K-Ras.
SU‐E‐T‐394: Evaluation of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) Efficiency Using the Elekta Agility

Purpose: To evaluate the efficiency of VMAT delivery using the Elekta Agility head with 160 5mm leaves. The Agility head is promoted as having significantly faster leaf motion and therefore delivery time. Improvement of efficiency allows for more patients to be treated in a day and reduces the time that each patient must be on the treatment table. Methods: Six plans initially treated on an 80‐leaf Elekta Infinity were selected. The sites represented were Pancreas, two Head and Neck plans, Pelvis, Retroperitoneal Mass, and Rectal. For each plan, a film measurement in a 30×30×30 cm phantom is conducted. The beam‐on time of each plan delivery is recorded. To compare plans with the 160‐leaf Agility, the plans optimized for the 80‐leaf Infinity are converted to 160‐leaf plans by pairing adjacent MLC leaves. This produces a plan in which the aperture shapes on both machines are matched. Additionally, another plan is optimized using the 160‐leaf Agility to show the improved capabilities of the higher resolution device. Results: The plans delivered on the 80‐leaf Infinity took on average 273 seconds to deliver. On the 160‐leaf Agility, paired plans took on average 112 seconds to deliver. The re‐optimized Agility plans took on average 204 seconds to deliver. All of the paired plans took significantly less time (less than half) to deliver (p<0.01). Plans re‐optimized for the Agility took significantly less time on average (p×0.02), however one plan did Result in an increase in delivery time from 267 seconds to 298 seconds. Conclusion: The Agility head is shown to greatly improve the efficiency of VMAT delivery when compared to the Infinity. Additional research is needed to refine the planning objectives to reduce treatment time when optimized using the Agility MLC.
Advances in the CMU/Interact Arabic GALE Transcription System

This paper describes the CMU/InterACT effort in developing an Arabic Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) system for broadcast news and conversations within the GALE 2006 evaluation. Through the span of 9 month in preparation for this evaluation we improved our system by 40% relative compared to our legacy system. These improvements have been achieved by various steps, such as developing a vowelized system, combining this system with a non-vowelized one, harvesting transcripts of TV shows from the web for slightly supervised training of acoustic models, as well as language model adaptation, and finally fine-tuning the overall ASR system.
The van der Waals Interaction of Hydrogen Atoms

The van der Waals interaction energy of two hydrogen atoms at large internuclear distances is discussed by the use of a linear variation function. By including in the variation function, in addition to the unperturbed wave function, 26 terms for the dipole-dipole interaction, 17 for the dipole-quadrupole interaction, and 26 for the quadrupole-quadrupole interaction, the interaction energy is evaluated as ${W}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}=\ensuremath{-}\frac{6.49903{e}^{2}}{{a}_{0}{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{6}}\ensuremath{-}\frac{124.399{e}^{2}}{{a}_{0}{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{8}}\ensuremath{-}\frac{1135.21{e}^{2}}{{a}_{0}{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{10}}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\cdots},$ in which $\ensuremath{\rho}=\frac{R}{{a}_{0}}$, with $R$ the internuclear distance. Some properties of the functions ${F}_{\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\mu}}(\ensuremath{\xi},\ensuremath{\vartheta},\ensuremath{\phi})$, which are orthogonal for the volume element $\ensuremath{\xi}d\ensuremath{\xi}sin\ensuremath{\theta}d\ensuremath{\theta}d\ensuremath{\phi}$, are discussed, and their usefulness in atomic problems is pointed out.
Non-destructive freeze damage detection in oranges using machine vision and ultraviolet fluorescence

Abstract A non-contact, non-destructive, and rapid method of detecting freeze-damaged oranges based on ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence of the peel oil constituents visible on the peel surface was investigated. The visual appearance is different from oleocellosis in that freeze-damaged oranges exhibit a fine pattern of 1–2 mm bright yellow dots on the peel when viewed under longwave UV light. Visual and machine vision-based methods were evaluated to determine their ability to detect freeze damage in Californian navel oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) subjected to laboratory simulated freeze conditions of −7 °C for 0, 8, or 16 h periods. The study focused on the period within the first few days (i.e., prior to fruit dehydration) after a freeze event has occurred because there are currently no rapid, objective, and non-destructive methods of freeze damage detection available for use during that time period. Using the USDA segment cut method to determine the presence of internal freeze damage, the classification rates for both UV fluorescence methods varied with the level of freeze damage. Using machine vision, a classification accuracy of 87.9% was obtained for unfrozen and moderately or severely frozen fruit, dropping to 64.4% for fruit with low levels of freeze damage. UV fluorescence shows promise for both visual inspection using existing black light inspection rooms or for automation using on-line machine vision techniques for separating freeze-damaged fruit subjected to moderate or severe freeze conditions.
Study and manipulation of charges present in silicon nitride films

As crystalline silicon solar cells continue to get thinner, the surfaces of the cell play an ever important role in controlling the cell efficiency. One tool to minimize surface recombination is field effect passivation from the charges present in the thin films applied on the cell surfaces. Basic PC 1D simulations were carried to understand the relation between the amount and sign of charge on cell efficiencies with varying emitter-doping levels. Silicon nitride (SiNx) thin films are known to carry net positive fixed charges that originate from specific silicon nitrogen dangling bonds (*SiN3) known as K centers. The properties of fixed positive charges present in as-deposited SiNx films are studied by capacitance - voltage (CV) and electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques. We report that the as-deposited SiNx films also carry neutral defects (K0 centers) that can easily be manipulated to either positive (K+) or negative (K) charge states depending on the end application. Corona charging was used to change the net charge in the film to either positive or negative and high energy (sub-300 nm) UV light was used to neutralize or annihilate the charges. ESR measurements showed that the neutral K0 defects are distributed throughout the bulk of the nitride film. A high temperature annealing step decreases the amount of neutral defects possibly due to bonding of hydrogen with the K center. First order effects of both positive and negative nitride charges on test structures were studied by photoconductance measurements.
Impact of paracervical block on postabortion pain in patients undergoing abortion under general anesthesia

Abstract Background Paracervical block is used as a way to decrease postoperative pain in patients having abortions under general anesthesia. To date, no studies have evaluated the efficacy of this practice. Study Design Patients were recruited from a university-based family planning clinic. Seventy-two patients seeking abortion under general anesthesia were enrolled into the single-blinded study. Thirty-nine patients were randomized to receive a paracervical block, and 33 were randomized to no local anesthesia. The patients completed a demographic survey and visual analog pain scales for pain prior to and at several time points after the procedure. Data regarding the need for additional pain medications postoperatively were recorded. Analysis of variance single factor and two-sample one-sided t test were used in data analysis. Results Experimental and control groups were similar in all measured demographic characteristics. They were also similar in gestational age, number of laminaria required, preoperative dilation, operative time, estimated blood loss and reported complications. Postoperative pain was not significantly affected by placement of a paracervical block prior to abortion under general anesthesia. The need for postoperative pain medication during recovery was similar between groups. Conclusion This study does not support the hypothesized benefit of local anesthesia prior to surgical abortion under general anesthesia to reduce postoperative pain.
The grant and the grid

A narrow focus on architecture and surrounding features, situated in predominately political and economic reconstructions of historical context, has limited our understanding of Native and non-native occupations of the Plains in southeastern Colorado. Anglo, Hispano and Native groups came to the territory with different ideas as to the land’s promise, and therefore engaged in different subsistence strategies. Influenced by the terrain and by each other, they created new cultural landscapes. Large blocks of federally-owned land provide opportunities for archaeologists to look at such anthropogenic landscapes writ large. Researchers can combine archaeological data and historical documents in order to examine culturally constituted perceptions of land and landscape, and the effects of such perceptions on land use: in short, the transformation of land into homeland.
Formation of 1,2,4-dioxazolidines by electron-transfer photooxygenation of aziridines

Abstract DCA-sensitized photooxygenation of cis - and trans -2,3-diphenylaziridine in acetonitrile yields exclusively cis -3,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-dioxazolidine. Photooxygenation of N-alkyl- substituted 2,3-diphenylaziridines provides both isomers of the peroxide. The cis trans ratio of isomers decreases with increasing size of the group on nitrogen. These stereochemical results provide support for a proposed mechanism involving addition of singlet oxygen to intermediate azomethine ylides.
Adverse Effects of Amiodarone

Amiodarone was introduced 30 years ago as an antianginal agent and subsequently has been used as an antiarrhythmic agent. This drug was initially used for patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias; however, currently it is being used broadly for rate and rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation. At first, amiodarone was primarily used by cardiologists and today it is used throughout the medical profession. Amiodarone therapy can potentially result in a wide range of adverse effects. The majority of these adverse effects are dose related and reversible. The following is a review of the adverse effects and drug interactions of amiodarone along with recommendations for identification and management of these adverse effects.
Monolayer-by-monolayer compositional analysis of InAs/InAsSb superlattices with cross-sectional STM

Abstract We use cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to reconstruct the monolayer-by-monolayer composition profile across a representative subset of MBE-grown InAs/InAsSb superlattice layers and find that antimony segregation frustrates the intended compositional discontinuities across both antimonide-on-arsenide and arsenide-on-antimonide heterojunctions. Graded, rather than abrupt, interfaces are formed in either case. We likewise find that the incorporated antimony per superlattice period varies measurably from beginning to end of the multilayer stack. Although the intended antimony discontinuities predict significant discrepancies with respect to the experimentally observed high-resolution x-ray diffraction spectrum, dynamical simulations based on the STM-derived profiles provide an excellent quantitative match to all important aspects of the x-ray data.
Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on the Hospitalization Rate of Crohn's Disease Patients Seen at a Tertiary Care Center: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background/Aims: Recent studies suggest that markers of mesenteric inflammation, such as increased adipose tissue, may be associated with poor outcomes in Crohn's disease (CD). This study's hypothesis is that CD patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) have more CD-related hospitalizations than CD patients without MetS. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of CD patients seen from 2000 to 2012 at our tertiary care center. We analyzed crude and age-, sex- and duration of CD-adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) of CD-related hospitalization of those with MetS versus those without MetS. We also investigated possible associations between individual component conditions of MetS and rate of CD-related hospitalization. Results: A total of 868 CD patients were included. There were 37 (4%) patients with MetS at initial observation. After multi-variable adjustment, patients with MetS had a CD-related hospitalization rate twice that of those who did not have MetS. High triglycerides (TG), low high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and diabetes mellitus (DM) were associated with increased risk of CD-related hospitalization. Conclusions: CD patients with MetS have a higher rate of CD-related hospitalization compared to those without MetS. Hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol and DM may be good markers of local and systemic inflammation as seen in CD.
Determination of Timings in Signal Systems with Traffic-Actuated Controllers

Many traffic control systems on urban arterials and grid networks include signals with actuated controllers. However, commonly used signal timing computer programs have been designed for fixed-time signals and cannot directly optimize the timing of coordinated actuated signals. Users have to apply techniques designed for pretimed signals and then translate the optimal fixed-time plans into settings for the actuated controllers. The development of improved procedures for applying the MAXBAND, PASSER, and TRANSYT-7F timing programs to arterials and grid networks with actuated controllers is described. These procedures determine the yield points, force-offs, and maximum green times from the fixed-time plans on the basis of simple analytical relationships. The proposed procedures were applied on 14 representative real-world arterials and grid networks with different characteristics, and their performance was evaluated with the NETSIM microscopic simulation model. The results indicated that the proposed procedures improved traffic performance compared with the commonly used approaches that directly use the optimal fixed-time splits and offsets to set the actuated controller settings. Based on the study findings, guidelines were formulated and documented for timing coordinated actuated signals.
Spatial Information Theory Meets Spatial Thinking: Is Topology the Rosetta Stone of Spatio-temporal Cognition?

Topology is the most commonly used spatial construct to bridge the gap between formal spatial information theory and systems on the one side and (human) spatial cognition and thinking on the other. To this end, we find topological calculi in virtually all research areas pertinent to spatial information science such as ontological modeling, geographic information retrieval, or image analysis and classification. Manifold behavioral experiments have been conducted to assess the cognitive adequacy of topological calculi with varying results. Our contribution here is unique for two reasons: first, we are addressing, behaviorally, the role of topology in the crucial area of spatio-temporal information; second, we are evaluating the role of topology across different semantic domains. We report five experiments that were conducted in the framework we developed (Klippel and Li 2009), which combines critical constructs from spatial information theory and cognitive science. Topologically equivalent movement patterns...
Empirical Bayes Methods Applied to Estimating Fire Alarm Probabilities

Abstract An empirical Bayes approach is used to derive a Stein-type estimator of a multivariate normal mean when the components have unequal variances. This estimator is applied to estimating the probability that a fire alarm reported from a particular street box signals a structural fire rather than a false alarm or other emergency. The approach is to group alarm boxes into relatively homogeneous neighborhoods and to make empirical Bayes estimates of the “probability structural” for each box in the neighborhood from yearly (1967–1969) Bronx data. A dispatching rule based on the estimates is evaluated on 1970 data.
Orectolobicestus n. g. (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea), with the description of five new species and the transfer of Phyllobothrium chiloscyllii to the new genus

ORECTOLOBICESTUS N. G. (CESTODA: Tetraphyllidea) is erected for six cestode species parasitising bamboo sharks (Orectolobiformes: Chiloscyllium). Members of this genus differ from all other phyllobothriid genera in possessing modified maisiform spinitriches on their distal bothridial surfaces. In addition, they are easily recognised in that they share the following unique combination of characters: their vitelline fields are interrupted by the ovary, their necks are scutellate, and their bothridia bear an apical sucker and marginal loculi. Five new species of Orectolobicestus are described, including O. tyleri n. sp. from Chiloscyllium punctatum off Borneo, O. lorettae n. sp. from C. cf. punctatum off Australia, O. mukahensis n. sp. and O. kelleyae n. sp. from C. indicum off Borneo, and O. randyi n.sp. from C. hasselti also from off Borneo. In addition, Phyllobothrium chiloscyllii Subhapradha, 1955 is transferred to the new genus. O. chiloscyllii (Subhapradha, 1955) n. comb. is readily distinguished from all five new species in its greater total length. In addition to a number of proglottid features, O. kelleyae n. sp. and O. randyi n. sp. clearly differ from the other three new species in their possession of trifid, rather than fully serrate, spinitriches on their proximal bothridial surfaces. The latter two species conspicuously differ from one another in total number of proglottids (11-21 vs 27-38). O. tyleri n. sp. generally has fewer proglottids than O. lorrettae n. sp. (7-17 vs 13-23) and, like O. mukahensis n. sp., possesses scutes that are spathate rather than elongate. O. tyleri n. sp. is readily distinguished from O. mukahensis n. sp. in its possession of fewer proglottids (7-17 vs. 19-29). The five new species of Orectolobicestus share derived bothridial microthrix features with Phyllobothrium squali Yamaguti, 1952, Thysanocephalum sp., Orygmatobothrium sp., Ruhnkecestus Caira & Durkin, 2006 and species of Paraorygmatobothrium Ruhnke, 1994. Among these taxa, Orectolobicestus most closely resembles Paraorygmatobothrium and Ruhnkecestus in its vitelline fields being interrupted by the ovary and the possession of a scutellate neck.
WAIS performance differences of male and female psychiatric patients

This study compared the WAIS IQ and subtest scores of 167 male and 112 female patients of a heterogeneous psychiatric population. Males obtained significantly higher Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ scores than did females, and significantly more male than female patients obtained Full Scale scores above the Average classification of intelligence (IQ is greater than or equal to 110). These data suggest that relatively high intelligence levels and, in particular, IQ scores above the Average classification are more effective to reduce the observed incidence of behavioral disorders among females than among males, perhaps because differing societal demands result in less effective coping behaviors at given levels of intelligence for males than for females. This explanation also is consistent with the significant overrepresentation of males in this clinic sample relative to their proportion in the general population. Further work at other facilities would help to determine the generality of these findings and to clarify their interpretation.
Comparison of Theoretical and Experimental Characteristics of Oscillating Bubbles

Mass transfer in typical areation devices such as sieve plate reactors and bubble columns takes place predominantly within the oscillating bubble regime. Mass-transfer rates from oscillating bubbles can be several times larger than mass-transfer rates from rigid bubbles. The hydrodynamics of oscillating bubbles has been described by Tsamopoulos and Brown (J. Fluid Mech. 1983, 127, 519-537) and later by Feng (SIAM J. Appl. Math. 1992, 52 (1), 1-14), using the domain perturbation technique first developed by Joseph (Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 1973, 51, 295-303). A high-speed video imaging system was used to determine the shapes of oscillating bubbles for a wide range of fluids and operating conditions. Air bubbles introduced through an orifice were recorded while rising inside a liquid. When the liquid was water, a hydrogen bubble technique was used to determine pathlines around the rising bubble. The experimental data on shapes and pathlines were compared with bubble shapes and pathlines created using theoretical models.
Effects of Corticotropin and Heat on Corticosteroid-Binding Capacity and Serum Corticosteroid in White Rock Chickens

The effects of the administration of corticotropin (ACTH) or high environmental temperature on serum maximum corticosteroid-binding capacity (MCBC) and serum corticosteroid concentrations were studied in 6- to 8-wk-old White Rock chickens. Highly significant increases in serum corticosteroids produced by either intramuscular or intravenous injections of ACTH were followed by significant reductions in MCBC within 24 hr. A single high-temperature episode (46 C) caused a significant increase in serum corticosteroids when blood was sampled immediately following exposure to heat; however, serum corticosteroids were not significantly increased following two heat episodes spaced 11 hr apart. Exposure to high temperature did not alter MCBC levels.
An economic interpretation of the Gibson relationship

For a given level of long-term growth, one would expect to find a corresponding relationship between a representative interest rate and a general price index. Keynes brought attention to the long-run relationship between the level of the price index and the rate of interest, called the Gibson relationship. Irving Fisher's analysis, on the other hand, suggested a long-run relationship between the inflation rate (rate of change of the price level) and the rate of interest. In this paper, empirical correlations for the Gibson and Fisher relationships, based on U.S. data, are examined over the past four decades. There is a slight preference for the Gibson relationship, on the basis of those correlations. There has been some interest in trying to "explain" the persistence of the Gibson relationship. If pricing follows a general mark-up rule, it is possible to provide structural specification for the Gibson relationship, and the corresponding correlations are estimated.
Learning and working in Japan

Many Americans envy the results of the Japanese educational system. But the question remains: can we copy it, must we make better use of the cultural resources we have, or is it best to use a little of each?
Optical and magneto-optical properties of Tb(Mn1-xFex)2 compounds where x = 0.35, 0.5, 0.65

Abstract The room temperature optical and magneto-optical properties of the polycrystalline Tb(Mn 1− x Fe x ) 2 compounds where x =0.35, 0.5, 0.65 were investigated using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and magneto-optical polar Kerr spectrometry (MOPKS). The diagonal component of the optical conductivity tensor ( σ xx ) of the compound was obtained by SE in the 1.6–5.0 eV region and the magneto-optical parameters [Kerr rotation ( θ K ) and ellipticity ( e K )] by MOPKS in the 1.5–5.5 eV energy range. The magnitudes of the Kerr rotation and ellipticity of Tb(Mn 1− x Fe x ) 2 for x =0.5 and 0.65 in the ultraviolet (UV) region are much larger than those of Tb(Mn 1− x Fe x ) 2 for x =0.35. The origin of the difference in the spectra was explained on the basis of the electronic and magnetic properties of the compounds. The large room temperature values of the Kerr rotation in the UV region for x =0.5 and 0.65 suggests these alloys might be candidate materials for magneto-optical applications.
Pharmacologic and clinical evaluation of posaconazole

Posaconazole, a broad-spectrum triazole antifungal agent, is approved for the prevention of invasive aspergillosis and candidiasis in addition to the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis. There is evidence of efficacy in the treatment and prevention of rarer, more difficult-to-treat fungal infections. Posaconazole oral suspension solution has shown limitations with respect to fasting state absorption, elevated gastrointestinal pH and increased motility. The newly approved delayed-release oral tablet and intravenous solution formulations provide an attractive treatment option by reducing interpatient variability and providing flexibility in critically ill patients. On the basis of clinical experience and further clinical studies, posaconazole was found to be a valuable pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of life-threatening fungal infections. This review will examine the development history of posaconazole and highlight the most recent advances.
Recombinant Human Transforming Growth Factor β Does Not Inhibit the Effects of Interleukin-1β on Pancreatic Islet Cells

The macrophage-derived cytokine, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), has been implicated to play an important role in the autoimmune β cell lesion of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) because of its i...
The role of business continuity management in organisational long range planning

Since the early 90s, business continuity management (BCM) has gradually established a foothold as a function and profession within business organisations. Despite its rapid development in the last two decades, BCM, as a discipline and a profession, is still regarded by many as an operational entity of management. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of BCM in corporate long range planning. It critically evaluates a number of typical definitions and derives three key elements of BCM. It then relates the role of BCM in corporate strategic management and proposes a set of strategic skills for business continuity managers in order to execute the BCM programme effectively. Finally, a number of salient points on strategic BCM are proposed to underpin the importance of its role in sustaining organisational performance.
Techniques of reconstructing overlay multicast trees for multimedia streaming

Overlay multicast is an efficient and employable approach for delivering multimedia content to a large number of receivers. A key problem in overlay multicast is how to deal with node failures and ungraceful leavings. When a non-leaf end host fails or leaves the multicast session, all downstream nodes will be affected. In this paper, we adopt the proactive approach, which pre-calculates a candidate node (called parent-to-be) for each node to connect to in case its current parent dies. The goal is to recover the multicast tree quickly so that the disruption of service to those affected nodes is minimized. We combine the local parent-to-be locating and global parent-to-be locating schemes together, in order to take advantage of less interference among affected nodes in the local scheme and the flexibility of the global scheme. The quality of the recovered tree is improved while the responsiveness of the proactive approach is maintained.
Evaluating Semiaquatic Herbaceous Perennials for Use in Herbicide Phytoremediation

Canna ×generalis L.H. Bail. (canna), Pontaderia cordata L. (pickerel weed), and Iris L. x 'Charjoys Jan' ('Charjoys Jan' iris) were exposed to a 5 mg·L -1 suspension of isoxaben or oryzalin or a water control for 9 days. Growth and photosynthetic responses were monitored throughout treatment and for an additional 22 d after termination of treatment. By the end of the experiment plant height of pickerel weed was reduced by oryzalin. Isoxaben resulted in lower height and reduced leaf emergence for all three taxa by the end of the experiment. Leaf CO 2 assimilation (A) and transpiration (E) were lower for oryzalin-treated canna only 17 and 18 days after treatment, several days after treatment had been terminated. Leaf A and E were lower for oryzalin-treated pickerel weed and 'Charjoys Jan' iris for most days after day 17. Isoxaben reduced A and E of all three plants for all days measured except day 6 for 'Charjoys Jan' iris. Lower photosystem II efficiency (Fv/Fm) was found for isoxaben-treated canna from day 5 onward and days 7, 20, and 23 for pickerel weed and 'Charjoys Jan' iris. Rapid reduction in A and Fv/Fm for all plants treated with isoxaben indicates a direct effect of isoxaben on photosynthesis. Reductions in growth and photosynthetic parameters due to oryzalin were minimal for all plants indicating these plants would be useful in phytoremediation systems where oryzalin is present. However, growth and photosynthetic parameters were reduced substantially for all plants exposed to isoxaben indicating the taxa studied would not perform well in phytoremediation systems with this level of isoxaben exposure. Chemical names used: isoxaben (N-(3-(1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl)-5-isoxazolyly)-2,6-dimethoxybenzamide); oryzalin (4- (dipropylamino)-3,5-dinitrobenzenesulforamide).
A multiplexed biosensor based on biomolecular nanowires

In this paper we describe the fabrication and characterization of a multiplexed biosensor based on molecular bio-wires that can be used for detecting multiple pathogens in a biological sample. At the core of the proposed device is a biosensor that operates by converting binding events between antigen and antibody into a measurable electrical signal using polyaniline nanowires as transducers. By mixing and patterning antibodies at different spatial locations of the biosensor, the response of the biosensor can be configured to detect the presence of either one of several pathogens present in the analyte, thus making it ideal for rapid environment screening applications. Experiments using the biosensor array specific to B. cereus and E. coli bacteria validate the functionality of the proposed multiplexed architecture.
A strongly well-posed PML in lossy media

A systematic method is presented for formulating a strongly well-posed perfectly matched layer (PML) for lossy media. This method is based on the complex coordinate-stretching technique that was originally proposed for the split-field PML in lossy media. However, unlike the previous split-field PML, this unsplit-field PML retains the hyperbolic system in Maxwell's equations, with some additional terms that are governed by ordinary differential equations that do not affect the well-posedness of the system. The derivation of the PML formulation is rigorous and straightforward.
An approach to assessing stochastic radiogenic risk in medical imaging.

Purpose: This letter suggests a formalism, themedical effective dose (MED), that is suitable for assessing stochastic radiogenic risks in diagnosticmedical procedures. Methods : The MED is derived from radiobiological and probabilistic first principals, including: (1) The independence of radiation-induced biological effects in neighboring voxels at low doses; (2) the linear no-threshold assumption for stochastic radiation injury (although other dose-response relationships could be incorporated, instead); (3) the best human radiationdose-response data currently available; and (4) the built-in possibility that the carcinogenicrisk to an irradiated organ may depend on its volume. The MED involves a dose-risk summation over irradiated voxels at high spatial resolution; it reduces to the traditional effective dose when every organ is irradiated uniformly and when the dependence of risk on organ volumes is ignored. Standard relative-risk tissue weighting factors can be used with the MED approach until more refined data become available. Results: The MED is intended for clinical and phantom dosimetry, and it provides an estimate of overall relative radiogenic stochastic risk for any given dose distribution. A result of the MED derivation is that the stochastic risk may increase with the volume of tissue (i.e., the number of cells) irradiated, a feature that can be activated when forthcoming radiobiological research warrants it. In this regard, the MED resembles neither the standard effective dose (E) nor the CTdose index (CTDI), but it is somewhat like the CTdose-length product (DLP). Conclusions: The MED is a novel, probabilistically and biologically based means of estimating stochastic-risk-weighted doses associated with medical imaging. Built in,ab initio, is the ability to link radiogenic risk to organ volume and other clinical factors. It is straightforward to implement when medicaldose distributions are available, provided that one is content, for the time being, to accept the relative tissue weighting factors published by the International Commission of Radiological Protection (ICRP). It requires no new radiobiological data and avoids major problems encountered by the E, CTDI, and CT-E formalisms. It makes possible relative inter-patient dosimetry, and also realistic intercomparisons of stochastic risks from different protocols that yield images of comparable quality.
Automatic segmentation in three-dimensional imaging of bone using artificial intelligent algorithms

The formation of three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasonic images requires the acquisition of the 3-D data set, the segmentation of the data into regions of different tissue types, and the rendering of the image. To produce 3-D ultrasonic images in real-time, the segmentation of tissues must be done automatically and rapidly. Two algorithms were developed based on artificial intelligence principles to segment data into the overlying soft-tissue and bone: an expert system utilizing the forward chaining application of rules, and a three-layer, counter-propagation neural network. The 3-D structure, a test object, and in-vivo bone were imaged with small error. The expert system performed better than the neural network and the neural network showed potential for future use. >
The meaning of ‘necessary’ in GATT Article XX and GATS Article XIV: the myth of cost–benefit balancing

Conventional wisdom tells us that in Korea–Beef, the Appellate Body interpreted the word ‘necessary’ in GATT Article XX to require a cost–benefit balancing test. The Appellate Body is supposed to have applied this test also in EC–Asbestos, US–Gambling (involving GATS Article XIV), and Dominican Republic–Cigarettes. In this article I demonstrate, by detailed analysis of the opinions, that the Appellate Body has never engaged in such balancing. They have stated the balancing test, but in every case they have also stated the principle that Members get to choose their own level of protection, which is logically inconsistent with judicial review by cost–benefit balancing. And they have decided every case by reference to the ‘own level of protection’ principle. The Appellate Body is right not to balance. Balancing is not authorized by the treaty texts, and it is not needed to prevent inefficient harm to foreign interests.
The demented driver: the doctor's dilemma.

Physicians play an important role in the driver licensing process because drivers, most frequently older ones, acquire diseases that impact their ability to operate a motor vehicle safely and because patients, their families, and regulatory agencies rely on them for diagnosis and treatment. It is now fairly clear that moderately and severely demented patients cannot drive safely. However, the issue of whether the mildly or very mildly demented patient can drive safely has not been fully resolved, although substantial evidence is emerging that most of these individuals have a higher accident risk than their healthier aged counterparts. Physicians, most commonly primary care physicians, will be encountering growing numbers of aged driving persons, particularly those over 70, who are at the greatest risk for developing age-related brain diseases in addition to other physical ailments. It is now evident that the cognitive impairment that accompanies these conditions can have a dramatic impact on driving ability, and recent legislation in a growing number of states (e.g., California and Utah) requires physician reporting of cognitive impairment for driving purposes. Thus, what should the physician do with regard to the "at risk" older driver to ensure good medical practice while maintaining a sound ethical and legal posture toward the patient, his family, and the state and its agencies? This article reviews the status of physicians with regard to the cognitively impaired drivers, particularly in states where the law mandates reporting of such individuals. The problem of timely and effective screening for the cognitively impaired driver is raised, and alternative approaches to the screening process are discussed.
Reactionary Rhetoric Against Open Access Publishing

In 2013, Jeffrey Beall published an attack on the open-access scholarship movement in tripleC : “The Open-Access Movement Is Not Really About Open Access”. This article examines the claims and arguments of that contribution. Beall’s article makes broad generalizations about open-access advocates with very little supporting evidence, but his rhetoric provides good examples of what Albert O. Hirschman called the “rhetoric of reaction”. Specifically, it provides examples of the perversity thesis, the futility thesis, and the jeopardy thesis in action. While the main argument is both unsound and invalid, it does show a rare example of reactionary rhetoric from a librarian.
A histochemical study of mucoid cells in the pars distalis of the human hypophysis.

Sections of the human hypophysis were fixed in either formalin or Bouin's fluid and stained by a variety of mucoid and acid stains in order to demonstrate the staining characteristics of the mucoid cells of the pars distalis. Five types of mucoid cells were revealed and designated as cell types III, IV, V, VI and IX according to the classification system of Ezrin. Cell types III, IV, V and VI were present throughout the pars distalis while cell type IX was observed only in the posterior zone. The cells were tinctorially distinguished by the PAS-orange G affinity of the type III cell, the alcian blue-PAS reactivity of the type IV cell, the alcian blue staining of the type V cell and the affinity of the type VI cell for alcian blue-PAS-orange G. Cell type IX was recognized by the affinity of its cytoplasmic granules for most of the stains employed. Modified and degranulated forms of these cells were observed and are also described.
Comparison of Cesium-137 and X-ray Irradiators by Using Bone Marrow Transplant Reconstitution in C57BL/6J Mice

Mice are used extensively in transplantation studies involving bone marrow ablation. Due to the increasing security issues and expenses involved with γ irradiators, self-contained X-ray irradiators have been increasing in popularity. We hypothesized that bone marrow ablation by irradiation of mice with a (137)Cs irradiator would be comparable to that from an X-ray source irradiator. A lethal-dose curve was obtained by irradiating C57BL/6J mice with 500, 700, 900, and 1100 cGy from either source. These data were used to determine the lethal radiation exposure range for a noncompetitive bone marrow engraftment curve for each source. At 90 d after reconstitution, the bone marrow engraftment curves revealed significant differences between the 2 sources in the establishment of B cell, myeloid, and T cell lineages. Murine B cell reconstitution after exposure to a (137)Cs source was greater than that after X-ray exposure at each dose level, whereas the converse was true for myeloid cell reconstitution. At the 1050- and 1100-cGy doses, mice irradiated by using the X-ray source demonstrated higher levels of T cell reconstitution but decreased survival compared with mice irradiated with the (137)Cs source. We concluded that although both sources ablated endogenous bone marrow sufficiently to enable stem cell engraftment, there are distinct physiologic responses that should be considered when choosing the optimal source for use in a study and that irradiation from the (137)Cs source was associated with lower overall morbidity due to opportunistic infection.
Radiative Width of the ρ − Meson

The excitation of high-energy pions in the nuclear Coulomb field has been investigated. The data, analyzed assuming the presence of both electromagnetic and strong contributions to coherent production of ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ systems, yield a decay width for ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ of 67\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}7 keV.
Early appropriate care: definitive stabilization of femoral fractures within 24 hours of injury is safe in most patients with multiple injuries

Background: Type and timing of treatment of femur fractures is controversial. Although reported as safe and effective in many reports, others have suggested that early definitive stabilization may cause complications, particularly in patients with chest and head injuries. Damage control orthopedics was proposed as an alternative in unstable patients. This study examines the effects of timing of fixation and investigates risk factors for complications. Methods: Seven hundred fifty patients with femur fractures treated between 1999 and 2006 were reviewed. Skeletally mature patients with mean age 35.8 years and mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) 23.7 were included. Four hundred ninety-two patients had ISS ≥ 18. Early stabilization (n = 656) was defined as definitive treatment of the femur fracture within 24 hours of injury. Results: Early definitive stabilization in patients with multiple injuries was associated with fewer complications than delayed stabilization (18.9% vs. 42.9%, p < 0.037) after adjusting for patient age and ISS. Early treatment was also associated with shorter hospital stay, intensive care unit stay, and ventilator days (p < 0.001). Severe (Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥3) abdominal injury was associated with more complications than severe head (Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤8) and chest (Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥3) injuries (44.2% vs. 40.9%, p = 0.68, and 34.4%, p = 0.024, respectively) and was an independent risk factor for complications (p < 0.0001). Chest injury was an independent risk factor for pulmonary complications (p < 0.001), but surgical delay in patients with chest injury was also associated with pulmonary complications (p = 0.04). More sepsis was noted patients with severe head injury (22.7% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.037) or severe chest injury (10.2% vs. 2.5%, p = 0.044) when treated on a delayed basis. More patients transferred from other hospitals were treated on a delayed basis (48.9% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Early definitive stabilization is associated with acceptably low rates of complications and is safe in most patients with multiple injuries, including some with severe abdominal, chest, or head injuries with attention to resuscitation before surgery. More complications and longer hospital stay were noted with delayed fixation after adjusting for age and ISS. Chest injury was associated with pulmonary complications; however, the presence of severe abdominal injury was the greatest risk factor for complications. Expediting access to definitive care may reduce complications and expenses.
Primary stimulus generalization effect in latent extinction of latent acquisition

After latent acquisition training placements to reward in the goalbox of a straight runway, Ss received latent extinction training placements to nonreward in either the runway goalbox or a distinctive goalbox. Control groups received either latent acquisition training only or neither type of training. Running speed data from a single test trial provided evidence for the operation of primary stimulus generalization in producing latent acquisition and latent extinction effects.