cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Information and Time

The conceptual roots of the modern notion of information are traced. One of the most prominent of these roots stems from an unlikely source-western views of time. This root is perhaps the main reason for the wide appeal and explanatory power of our current conception of information, particularly in cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, however, this appeal and power have led many theorists and researchers to overlook problems with this conception. Psychology's dominant assumption of time not only underlies these problems but also prevents their solution. An alternative assumption of time-hermeneutic temporality-is thus described. This alternative is shown to avoid the more problematic aspects of the dominant view and offer a more promising basis for conceptualizing information.
Recent Advances in Optimization of Smart Structures and Actuators

Much of the recent and past work in the area of smart materials and structures has focused on analysis of actuators and actively controlled systems. Although many sophisticated analysis models have been developed, they are often coupled with ad hoc design methods or informal optimization procedures. A subset of the work done by the smart structures community has focused on development of formal design methodologies and optimization methods specifically for smart actuators and structures. The objective of this paper is to review the current work in development of design methodologies and application of formal optimization methods to the design of smart structures and actuators. In a related paper, optimization strategies for sensor and actuator placement were reviewed by a researcher at NASA Langley in 1999. The current paper reviews the recent work done in this area since 1999, in addition to optimization strategies for topology design of actuators, actively controlled structures, and drive electronics de...
Magnetic field sensitivity of depolarized fiber optic gyros

Results are presented of experimental measurements and an analysis of the magnetic field sensitivity of several types of depolarized fiber-optic gyros. It was found that depolarized gyros of the Bohm et al. (1981) and Fredricks and Ulrich (1984) configuration (having one depolarizer in the loop) can be highly sensitive to magnetic fields, while depolarized gyros incorporating Pavlath and Shaw concept (i.e., having unpolarized light enter and exit the loop) are insensitive to magnetic fields. It is shown that a gyro having all the advantages of both designs can be obtained by incorporating two depolarizers, one between the polarizer and the loop coupler and the other within the loop. A scheme of this type of fiber gyro is presented.
Vibrations of rectangular plates with moderately large initial deflections at elevated temperatures using finite element method

A finite-element formulation is developed for the free vibration of rectangular plates which are under the influence of moderately large stress-free initial deflections and large thermal deflections. The von Karman nonlinear strain-displacement relations are used to account for the thermal deflections. The plates are thin, isotropic, and Hookean in nature. The temperature imposed on the plate is assumed to be constant through the thickness of the plate. Uniform and sinusoidal temperature distributions are studied. The material properties of the plates are temperature-dependent due to the relatively high temperatures imposed on the plates.
Spatial patterns of mobile source particulate matter emissions-to-exposure relationships across the United States

Abstract Assessing the public health benefits from air pollution control measures is assisted by understanding the relationship between mobile source emissions and subsequent fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) exposure. Since this relationship varies by location, we characterized its magnitude and geographic distribution using the intake fraction (iF) concept. We considered emissions of primary PM 2.5 as well as particle precursors SO 2 and NO x from each of 3080 counties in the US. We modeled the relationship between these emissions and total US population exposure to PM 2.5 , making use of a source–receptor matrix developed for health risk assessment. For primary PM 2.5 , we found a median iF of 1.2 per million, with a range of 0.12–25. Half of the total exposure was reached by a median distance of 150 km from the county where mobile source emissions originated, though this spatial extent varied across counties from within the county borders to 1800 km away. For secondary ammonium sulfate from SO 2 emissions, the median iF was 0.41 per million (range: 0.050–10), versus 0.068 per million for secondary ammonium nitrate from NO x emissions (range: 0.00092–1.3). The median distance to half of the total exposure was greater for secondary PM 2.5 (450 km for sulfate, 390 km for nitrate). Regression analyses using exhaustive population predictors explained much of the variation in primary PM 2.5 iF ( R 2 =0.83) as well as secondary sulfate and nitrate iF ( R 2 =0.74 and 0.60), with greater near-source contribution for primary than for secondary PM 2.5 . We conclude that long-range dispersion models with coarse geographic resolution are appropriate for risk assessments of secondary PM 2.5 or primary PM 2.5 emitted from mobile sources in rural areas, but that more resolved dispersion models are warranted for primary PM 2.5 in urban areas due to the substantial contribution of near-source populations.
Ultrastructure of the placentae of the natricine snake, Virginia striatula (Reptilia: Squamata).

Virginia striatula is a viviparous snake with a complex pattern of embryonic nutrition. Nutrients for embryonic development are provided by large, yolked eggs, supplemented by placental transfer. Placentation in this species is surprisingly elaborate for a predominantly lecithotrophic squamate reptile. The embryonic-maternal interface consists of three structurally distinct areas, an omphalallantoic placenta and a regionally diversified chorioallantoic placenta. The chorioallantoic placenta over the embryonic hemisphere (paramesometrial region) of the egg, features close apposition of embryonic and uterine blood vessels because of the attenuate form of the interceding epithelial cells. The periphery of the chorioallantoic placenta, which is adjacent to the omphalallantoic placenta, is characterized by a simple cuboidal uterine epithelium apposed to a stratified cuboidal chorionic epithelium. There are no sites with attenuate epithelial cells and close vascular apposition. The morphology of the omphalallantoic placenta is similar to that of the peripheral chorioallantoic placenta, except that the height of uterine epithelial cells is greater and allantoic blood vessels are not associated with the embryonic epithelium. The functional capabilities of the three placental regions are not known, but structural characteristics suggest that the omphalallantoic placenta and peripheral zone of the chorioallantoic placenta are sites of nutritional provision via histotrophy. The paramesometrial region of the chorioallantoic placenta is also nutritive, in addition to functioning as the primary embryonic respiratory system. The structure of the chorioallantoic placenta of V. striatula is a new placental morphotype for squamate reptiles that is not represented by a classic model for the evolution of reptilian placentation.
Quinpirole-induced alterations of tail temperature appear as hyperalgesia in the radiant heat tail-flick test.

Several reports in the recent literature argue both for and against the importance of alterations of tail-temperature in the outcome of the tail-flick test. The data we present here support the assertion that drug-induced changes of tail-temperature may have a highly significant effect on tail-flick latency independent of drug-induced changes in nociception. We previously reported that peripherally administered injections of the dopamine agonist, quinpirole, produce significant reductions in the latency of response in the tail-flick test. This present work confirms our earlier findings; however, it indicates that the apparent hyperalgesia is an artifactual function of quinpirole-induced increases in tail temperature. Quinpirole (0.1–1.0 mg/kg IP) produced significant ( p < 0.001), dose-dependent, and highly correlated increases in tail temperature and decreases in tail-flick latency 15 min following injection. When controls for the change in tail temperature were applied, there was no distinguishable effect of the drug on tail-flick latencies. Sixty minutes following the administration of quinpirole there was no observable effect of the drug on either tail-temperature or tail-flick latency. The results of this study indicate that a) peripherally administered quinpirole has no effect on nociception as measured in the tail-flick test apart from its ability to alter tail temperature; and b) alterations in tail temperature may significantly alter the outcome of the tail-flick test.
Protective Effects of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in High-Risk African American Men With Coronary Heart Disease

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been extensively used for the treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease, but several concerns have been raised about their efficacy in African American (AA) patients with heart failure, hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy. In this study the authors assessed the effect of ACE inhibitors on total and cardiovascular mortality in high-risk AA patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD). This was a retrospective analysis of 810 AA men who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography between 1995 and 2003. All patients had demonstrable CAD and had undergone a complete ischemic workup. Follow-up was from 3 to 10 years. ACE inhibitors were administered to 237 patients, while the remaining 537 patients were not taking ACE inhibitors. Patients taking ACE inhibitors had significantly more comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, severe CAD) at baseline, compared with patients not taking ACE inhibitors (P<.05 for all comorbidities). Despite the unfavorable baseline profile, patients taking ACE inhibitors had significantly lower mortality from CAD during follow-up than patients who were not taking ACE inhibitors (P=.006). Stroke mortality rates were similar in both groups. Cox regression analysis showed an 80% higher relative risk in patients not receiving ACE inhibitors. These data indicate a substantial benefit from ACE inhibitor therapy in high-risk AA patients with CAD.
On the irreducibility of the will

This paper criticizes the thesis that intending to do something is reducible to some combination of beliefs and desires. Against Audi's recent formulation of such a view I offer as counterexample a case wherein an agent who wants and expects to V has not yet decided whether to V and hence does not yet intend to. I try to show that whereas belief that one will V is not necessary for intending to V, as illustrated in cases of desperate attempts to V, one cannot intend to V without preferring to V (rather than not V) and thus one cannot intend to V without, in some sense, wanting to V (at least wanting it in preference to not V-ing). The connection of one's intentions with one's objectives, attempts, plans, and hopes is briefly treated, and some influential work by Davidson is criticized.
Self-esteem in adolescent females

Abstract Purpose Self-esteem is a major "predictor" of satisfaction with life. This longitudinal study examined mean and individual changes in self-esteem, and how self-esteem is affected by race and body mass. Methods Girls were recruited at ages 9 and 10 years, and followed to age 22 years. The Harter Self-Perception Profile was administered every other year, analyzing scores from the Global Self-Worth Scale, by age or developmental phase: ages 9–12 (I), 13–16 (II), and 17–22 (III). Regression modeling included main effects and interactions between age/phase, race, and body mass index (BMI). Results Self-worth was greater in black than white women, and greater with lower BMI in both races. In the model with age ("traditional model") (with race and BMI), significant variables included BMI (inverse relationship) and the interactions between age and race, race and BMI, and the triple interaction between age, race, and BMI. In the model with phase ("transitional model") (with race and BMI), BMI, and the interactions between BMI and race, and race and phase, were significant. For example, self-worth was generally lower in Phase II (middle adolescence) for white women. Self-esteem tracked significantly (correlation 0.22, p Conclusions In this longitudinal analysis of self-esteem in adolescent girls, race and BMI are important predictors of self-esteem. Self-esteem is consistent across the phases of adolescence, and comparable with other personality traits. As noted by others, lower levels of self-esteem may increase the vulnerability of adolescents to risky behaviors.
Gastrointestinal perforations in renal transplant recipients immunosuppressed with cyclosporin

Gastrointestinal perforations frequently represent a lethal complication of immunosuppression. Of 325 renal transplant recipients treated with cyclosporin (CsA), 4 patients (1.2%) developed gastrointestinal perforation: 1 from gastric ulcer and 3 from colonic diverticula. All patients underwent operative treatment and all survived without complications. Three patients maintained a well-functioning allograft. In comparison to azathioprine, CsA does not seem to greatly affect the immune response to bacterial infections, thus representing a considerable advantage in the management of serious gastrointestinal complications.
Improvement of port wine stain laser therapy by skin preheating prior to cryogen spray cooling: a numerical simulation.

Background and Objectives: Although cryogen spray cooling (CSC) in conjunction with laser therapy has become the clinical standard for treatment of port wine stain (PWS) birthmarks, the current approach does not produce complete lesion blanching in the vast majority of patients. The objectives of this study are to: (1) experimentally determine the dynamic CSC heat flux when a skin phantom is preheated, and (2) numerically study the feasibility of using skin preheating prior to CSC to improve PWS laser therapeutic outcome. Study Design/Materials and Methods: A fast-response thin-foil thermocouple was used to measure the surface temperature and thus heat flux of an epoxy skin phantom during CSC. Using the heat flux as a boundary condition, PWS laser therapy was simulated with finite element heat diffusion and Monte Carlo light distribution models. Epidermal and PWS blood vessel thermal damage were calculated with an Arrhenius-type kinetic model. Results: Experimental results show that the skin phantom surface can be cooled to a similar minimum temperature regardless of the initial temperature. Numerical simulation indicates that upon laser irradiation, the epidermal temperature increase is virtually unaffected by preheating, while higher PWS blood vessel temperatures can be achieved. Based on the damage criterion we assumed, the depth and maximum diameter of PWS vessels that can be destroyed irreversibly with skin preheating are greater than those without. Conclusions: Skin preheating prior to CSC can maintain epidermal cooling while increasing PWS blood vessel temperature before laser irradiation. Numerical models have been developed to show that patients may benefit from the skin preheating approach, depending on PWS vessel diameter and depth. Lasers Surg. Med. 38:155–162, 2006. 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Influencing factors of place of death among home care patients with cancer in Taiwan.

Multiple factors, including personal and cultural values, physical and medical factors, and various healthcare systems’ forces, influence the place of death of patients with cancer. The purpose of this retrospective chart audit study was to examine the influence of sociodemographic factors, family s
Renal vascular injuries.

This article addresses renal arterial and venous injuries. Surgical approaches and management of these injuries and physiologic implications of renal blood flow are reviewed. Bypass versus nephrectomy and the difficult technical decisions involved in renal arterial reconstruction are also discussed.
THE EFFECT OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE ON CIRCUMCISION RATES AMONG NEWBORNS

ABSTRACTPurpose: Social and personal biases are thought to have a role in the decision to circumcise newborns. However, economic factors such as the type of health care coverage may determine which parents are offered circumcision during the newborn period. Therefore, we examined the rates of newborn circumcision among patients with and without insurance at a midwestern community hospital and tertiary care center.Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing circumcision at 2 different labor and delivery facilities between January 1997 and December 2001 was performed. Female gender, prematurity and all congenital anomalies comprised exclusion criteria. Circumcision rates were stratified by health care coverage and race. To assess characteristics of patients who did not undergo circumcision during the newborn period the indications for circumcision and insurance status were examined at a children’s hospital.Results: Health care coverage differed significantly between the 2 labo...
Can glandular lesions be diagnosed in pap smear cytology

Many reports have been published on the accuracy of the cervical vaginal smear for squamous lesions, and the literature contains fewer reports on the accuracy of the cervical vaginal smear for glandular lesions. The sensitivity of glandular lesion diagnosis depends on the subtype of lesion. The diagnostic sensitivity is highest for invasive endocervical adenocarcinoma and lowest for endometrial adenocarcinoma. The ability of some of the Bethesda system categories for glandular lesions to describe what they purport to describe is questionable. The Bethesda system categories of adenocarcinoma accurately classify adenocarcinomas. The Bethesda System category of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS) is a misnomer. Although many cases of adenocarcinoma in-situ are placed in this category, follow-up of patients with AGUS show that the majority of patients with clinically significant lesions have squamous dysplasias. Other categories of AGUS, such as AGUS favor endometrial origin, are more appropriately named and encompass endometrial lesions which are either neoplastic or non-neoplastic.
Cyborg MAVs Using Power Harvesting and Behavioral Control Schemes

The focus of this research is to use flying insects, coupled with lightweight electronics, to develop cyborg MAVs, or CMAVs. The premise isn't simply to build telemetry devices on the insects, but to embed controls and power systems within the insects to create MAVs that are alive yet manipulated in their actions. The model insect implemented is the Manduca sexta moth, which has a wingspan up to 10cm, a body mass up to 2 grams, and can withstand payloads up to 1 gram. The technique used to create these CMAVs is an integration of MEMS and CMOS devices onto a single silicon device that is surgically inserted into the moth. The control and sensor systems are powered by harvesting energy from the vibration of the insect flight by means of piezoelectric material and inductor-coils. Methods for controlling the insect flight include reactionary responses to visual and direct stimulation. Guidance is achieved through an ultra-wideband communication system and a micro GPS system. The primary discussion topics of this paper are the power harvesting devices employed and the control schemes used to manipulate the flight of the CMAVs.
Women Workers and the Class Struggle: the Case of Argentina

In order to develop a theory of the potential of women to participate directly in the class struggle in Latin America we must understand the roles women play in class society that determine how their labor power is expropriated by the ruling class and how that expropriation is justified ideologically. As Engels wrote in The Origin of the Family Private Property and the State (1972) women are involved in the production and reproduction of material life within two contexts: [(1)] the family and [(2)] social production. The family represents the economic form through which women daily reproduce the labor power of the current work force as well as reproduce the future generation of workers. The expropriation of their unpaid labor is justified by an ideology that defines domestic work as inherently "feminine" i.e. a natural extention of female biological identity. Another important function of the family is to maintain women as a massive reserve army of labor to be absorbed into the paid work force when the system needs them. Womens social status their relative economic dependence or independence and their isolation from or accessibility to political mobilization by movements for social changes are affected by whether their activities are limited to reproduction and maintenance work as wives and mothers within the family or whether they are absorbed into social production. (excerpt)
Editorial: Software survey section

The introduction of a new Software Survey Section to SYSTEMS RESEARCH is to encourage the open exchange of information on software programs relevant to our professional field. With the rapid penetration of computers into academic and industrial institutions has come a parallel increase in the number of scientists and researchers designing their own software. The existence of much of this software remains unknown to even those of us who could most benefit from its use. We believe that it is of vital importance to our readers that such information be made available. We believe also that a professional journal is the best place to share such information. Your contribution would be most welcome.
Green Supply Chain Management and consumer sensitivity to greener and leaner options in the automotive industry

As found in the empirical section of the present study, there were some interests in exploring alternative options in fuel efficiency when considering the next vehicle purchase, even if they are keeping their vehicles longer than anticipated. Although most respondents felt that green initiatives in automobiles were ideas that they could support in order to mitigate gas prices, few are willing to abandon older, more familiar technologies. There was statistically verifiable evidence in the hypotheses-testing results that provided some evidence of support for manufacturers’ initiatives for leaner and greener automobiles. A review of ISO 14000 and green vehicular production initiatives and how companies measure performance are reviewed within case studies of both Chinese and German automotive industries.
The Coital Alignment Technique (CAT): An Overview of Studies

The Coital Alignment Technique (CAT), a basic physiological alignment that provides consistent and effective stimulation for female coital orgasm, has been evaluated in a series of controlled studies. An overview of the CAT is discussed as well as related studies including replication studies, and subsequent studies of Orgasm Consistency Training (OCT), which incorporates the CAT technique. Classic sex problems like female coital anorgasmia and premature ejaculation and modern day epidemic-level sex problems such as hypoactive sexual desire are analyzed in relation to a syndrome of sexual dysfunction symptoms devolving from failed intercourse. Studies indicate that some symptoms of sexual dysfunction considered to have their etiological foundations in pathology are the result of ineffective intercourse techniques.
The Electrochemical Flow Capacitor: A New Concept for Rapid Energy Storage and Recovery

Availability of grid-scale electric energy storage systems with response rates on the order of seconds plays a key role in wide implementation of renewable energy sources. Here, a new concept called the electrochemical flow capacitor (EFC) is presented. This new concept shares the major advantages of both supercapacitors and flow batteries, providing rapid charging/discharging while enabling the decoupling of the power and energy ratings. Like in supercapacitors, energy is stored in the electric double layer of charged carbon particles. A flowable carbon-electrolyte mixture is employed as the active material for capacitive energy storage, and is handled in a similar fashion to flow or semi-solid batteries (i.e., for charging/discharging, it is pumped into an electrochemical cell, and for storage, it is pumped into reservoirs). This study presents the proof-of-concept of this technology and reports initial EFC performance data obtained under static and intermittent flow operations.
APT: an area-performance-testability driven placement algorithm

The authors present a placement algorithm that uses the notion of partial scan and that addresses testability as well as performance. The cost of including a flip-flop cell in a scan path is obtained in the placement process and guides the selection of scan flip-flops. This is then followed by a cell resizing step in which logic cells change their widths and timing characteristics using the templates provided by a cell library. This reduces delays in the critical timing paths and delays caused by inserting scan flip-flops. Experimental results on the ISCAS benchmark show that combining the performance and testability optimizations in the placement level resulted in better solutions in terms of area, timing, and fault coverage. >
PM2.5 metal exposures and nocturnal heart rate variability: a panel study of boilermaker construction workers

Background: To better understand the mechanism(s) of particulate matter (PM) associated cardiovascular effects, research priorities include identifying the responsible PM characteristics. Evidence suggests that metals play a role in the cardiotoxicity of fine PM (PM 2.5 ) and in exposure-related decreases in heart rate variability (HRV). We examined the association between daytime exposure to the metal content of PM2.5 and night HRV in a panel study of boilermaker construction workers exposed to metalrich welding fumes. Methods: Twenty-six male workers were monitored by ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) on a workday while exposed to welding fume and a non-workday (baseline). From the ECG, rMSSD (square root of the mean squared differences of successive intervals) was summarized over the night (0:00–7:00). Workday, gravimetric PM2.5 samples were analyzed by x-ray fluorescence to determine metal content. We used linear mixed effects models to assess the associations between night rMSSD and PM 2.5 metal exposures both with and without adjustment for total PM 2.5 . Matched ECG measurements from the nonworkday were used to control for individual cardiac risk factors and models were also adjusted for smoking status. To address collinearity between PM2.5 and metal content, we used a two-step approach that treated the residuals from linear regression models of each metal on PM 2.5 as surrogates for the differential effects of metal exposures in models for night rMSSD. Results: The median PM2.5 exposure was 650 μg/m 3 ; median metal exposures for iron, manganese, aluminum, copper, zinc, chromium, lead, and nickel ranged from 226 μg/m 3 to non-detectable. We found inverse linear associations in exposure-response models with increased metal exposures associated with decreased night rMSSD. A statistically significant association for manganese was observed, with a decline of 0.130 msec (95% CI: -0.162, -0.098) in night rMSSD for every 1 μg/m 3 increase in manganese. However, even after adjusting for individual metals, increases in total PM2.5 exposures were associated with declines in night rMSSD. Conclusion: These results support the cardiotoxicity of PM 2.5 metal exposures, specifically manganese. However the metal component alone did not account for the observed declines in night HRV. Therefore, results suggest the importance of other PM elemental components.
Regulation of the vasomotor activity of lymph microvessels by nitric oxide and prostaglandins

It was shown previously that the presence of endothelium modulates spontaneous vasomotion of small lymphatic vessels. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the nature of endothelium-derived f...
Pharmacotherapeutic trials in adolescent alcohol use disorders: opportunities and challenges.

Medications as adjuncts to psychosocial treatments for adolescent alcohol use disorders hold the promise of improved efficacy over psychosocial treatments alone. Specific components should be included in the design and implementation of these medication studies. Included should be assessment of the developmental risks of the chosen medication, consideration of short-term effects on the clinical disorder, factors affecting compliance and retention, age-specific pharmacokinetics, and systematic safety monitor- ing. A risk-benefit analysis should be conducted on the potential benefits of the medication to decrease alcohol use versus the potential long-term effects of medication use on brain development. To select clinically meaningful subtypes of adolescents with alcohol use disorders for medication trials, classification systems should be derived from multi-factorial models of complex neurodevelopmental disorders. Multi-factorial models will be required to select samples wherein specific gene-gene and gene-environment interactions predict medication treatment response. In samples of adolescents with alcohol use disorders, clinically meaningful subtypes are likely to have differential medication treatment response as a function of age of onset, family history of disorder, and comorbid psycho- pathology. Findings from preclinical and treatment studies in adults, along with pilot treatment findings in adolescents, suggest that particular serotonergic agents, opioid antagonists, and agents that modulate excitatory amino acids and GABAergic transmission might be effective. Future medication trials for adolescents with alcohol use disorders should use specific combinations of medications, based on specific hypotheses involving key neurotransmitter systems that putatively modulate treatment response. Combinations of medications may have additive effects on particular neurotransmitter systems or synergistic effects across two or more neurotransmitter systems, to further decrease alcohol consumption when compared with single-agent treatment.
On-board electrically peaking drive train for electric railway vehicles

This paper presents a novel drive train technology as a remedy to some of the problems that affect the design and the exploitation of electric railway vehicles. The base loading (energy necessary to overcome aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance frictions) and the peaking (power necessary to accelerate and decelerate the vehicle) are strictly separated. As in conventional electric railway drive trains, the base loading is still provided by the overhead line. However, the peaking power is provided by an on-board energy storage device. This architecture reduces the currents drawn from the overhead line and the problems associated with these currents. The potential advantages and disadvantages of this drive train are discussed for several types of electric railway vehicles. The feasibility of this drive train is discussed and propositions for future work are made.
Long-term outcomes in patients with mucinous, medullary, tubular, and invasive ductal carcinomas after lumpectomy

Abstract Background Mucinous, medullary, and tubular carcinomas are uncommon types of breast cancer whose rarity does not permit large single-institution studies or randomized trials to define optimal treatments. In this study, we evaluated the long-term outcomes of breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for these subtypes of breast cancer and compared them with those for invasive ductal carcinoma. Methods In our institutional database of patients who received BCT from 1965 to 1999, 1,643 patients with stage I to II mucinous (61), medullary (37), tubular (60), and invasive ductal (1,485) histologies were identified. The clinical and pathologic features of the 4 groups were evaluated and compared with respect to local-regional recurrence rates, disease-free survival, and overall survival (OS). Results No statistically significant differences were found in the local-regional failure rate among the 4 groups (10.6-year median follow-up). Only patients with tubular carcinoma had better 5- and 10-year OS rates ( P = .013). In multivariable analysis, factors associated with improved OS included age at or below 50 years, negative nodal status, use of chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, and tubular histology. Conclusions BCT for mucinous, medullary, or tubular carcinoma resulted in similar local-regional failure rates to that for invasive ductal carcinoma. Tubular carcinoma patients had the most favorable OS. BCT is an appropriate treatment strategy for early-stage mucinous, medullary, and tubular carcinomas.
Wessim: a whole-exome sequencing simulator based on in silico exome capture.

Summary: We propose a targeted re-sequencing simulator Wessim that generates synthetic exome sequencing reads from a given sample genome. Wessim emulates conventional exome capture technologies, including Agilent’s SureSelect and NimbleGen’s SeqCap, to generate DNA fragments from genomic target regions. The target regions can be either specified by genomic coordinates or inferred from in silico probe hybridization. Coupled with existing next-generation sequencing simulators, Wessim generates a realistic artificial exome sequencing data, which is essential for developing and evaluating exome-targeted variant callers. Availability: Source code and the packaged version of Wessim with manuals are available at http://sak042.github.com/Wessim/. Contact: ude.dscu.sc@240kas or ude.dscu.sc@anfabv Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Changes in College Women's Attitudes Toward Sexual Intimacy

Inspired by the work of Tolman and others, this longitudinal qualitative study was designed to explore how women feel about sexual intimacy in the first year of college and how these feelings change over time. In-depth interviews with 14 young women were conducted over a period of 2 years. Findings suggest that the valence of sexual intimacy shifts by the end of women's sophomore year, but this shift in valence is not necessarily accompanied by a stronger sense of sexual agency, given that terms of the sexual and relational landscape to which women must adjust seem to primarily benefit cultural constructions of masculinity.
Cell signaling by imidazoline-1 receptor candidate, IRAS, and the nischarin homologue.

: IRAS transfection into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) or pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cell lines leads to the appearance of nonadrenergic binding sites for radiolabeled-clonidine. Nischarin is the mouse homologue of IRAS. IRAS seems to be a cytosolic protein that is anchored to the intracellular side of plasma membranes by a POX domain. Previous studies of IRAS-transfected HEK293 cells, and Nischarin-transfected 3T3 cells have shown this protein can intrinsically mediate cell growth and differentiation independent of imidazoline drugs through binding to insulin receptor substrates (HEK293 cells) and fibronectin receptors (3T3 cells). Herein, a growth-arrested PC-12 cell line stably transfected with IRAS is shown to express lower basal and nerve growth factor-stimulated levels of the activated form of extracellular receptor kinase than found in a vector-only transfected control cell line treated similarly. These findings suggest that IRAS is a membrane-associated mediator of receptor signaling.
Water Vapor Transport and the Production of Precipitation in the Eastern Fertile Crescent

The study presented here attempts to quantify the significance of southerly water vapor fluxes on precipitation occurring in the eastern Fertile Crescent region. The water vapor fluxes were investigated at high temporal and spatial resolution by using a Regional Climate Model [fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5)–Noah land surface model] to downscale the NCEP– NCAR reanalysis. Using the Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis Techniques (ISODATA) clustering algorithm, the 200 largest precipitation events, occurring from 1990 through 1994, were grouped into classes based on the similarity of their water vapor fluxes. Results indicate that, while southerly fluxes were dominant in 24% of tested events, these events produced 43% of the total precipitation produced by the 200 largest events. Thus, while the majority of precipitation events occurring in the Fertile Crescent involve significant water vapor advected from the west, those events that included southerly fluxes produced much larger precipitation totals. This suggests that changes that affect these southerly fluxes more than the westerly fluxes (e.g., changes in the Indian monsoon, movement of the head of the Persian Gulf, etc.) may have a relatively strong affect on the total precipitation falling in the Fertile Crescent even though they affect relatively few precipitation events. To obtain a clearer view of the precipitation mechanisms, the authors used a linear model, along with the estimated water vapor fluxes, to downscale from 25 to 1 km. The result shows a spectrum of mountain scales not seen in the regional model, exerting tight control on the precipitation pattern.
Wilms tumor: recent advances in clinical care and biology

Wilms tumor is the most common renal malignancy that occurs in childhood. The remarkable evolution of treatment for this malignancy has served as a paradigm for multimodal cancer treatment. A rich database has accrued over time from well-controlled clinical trials. Translational research has directly affected patient care by allowing risk-based therapy. This article will summarize advances in our knowledge of the biology of Wilms tumor and describe the impact on clinical treatment of Wilms tumor.
What's old is new again: training is the information technology constant

This paper is an account of some of the more instructive experiences we gained as we sought to ensure that our information technology training programs kept pace with a fast changing milieu of hi-technology. It will talk about some ways that we successfully kept old training ideas new in our tech training classroom. Who would have thought that in just one hundred years mankind would progress from its first sustained flight at Kitty Hawk to personal computers, smart phones, or global positioning systems? Yet today, space flight is more or less taken for granted until something out of the ordinary happens. Personal computers, in so many various forms, are nearby no matter where we go. Hi-tech phones have become an indispensable part of our daily life and today can be found in almost every purse or clipped on every belt. Global positioning systems which were once on every military wish list are now an optional item in our cars. All of this gives testimony of our technological ingenuity and adaptability. Many of these systems, when used on the job, require some level of training in order for the users to feel comfortable. Therefore the need for training has become the one indispensable constant in the fast-changing and ever-dynamic world of hi-technology.
On interpreting ‘The Indian Interpreter’

This paper addresses the proposition that certain multilingual situations favor certain learning strategies on the part of speakers. The paper takes this proposition as the best approach to explaining the development of pidgin grammars, and exemplifies the general approach by studying the seventeenth-century Delaware-based Traders’ Jargon in its linguistic and social context. The task of the paper, then, is to see if the evidence provided by the Jargon's grammatical structures fits the theory's predictions, and if the evidence for the multilingual situation in which it arose fits as well. The conclusion is that both types of evidence fit well if we assume that the Jargon arose before the period of European settlement, and that this assumption is indeed justified. (Pidgin and creole studies; languages in contact; early European/Indian; North American Indian languages)
Providing Energy Security in an Interdependent World

Focusing on energy independence, although politically attractive, is a misguided quest that can actually distract from the more important objective of managing the transition to a more sustainable and secure energy future in an interdependent world.
Searching for Character Models

We introduce a method to automatically improve character models for a handwritten script without the use of transcriptions and using a minimum of document specific training data. We show that we can use searches for the words in a dictionary to identify portions of the document whose transcriptions are unambiguous. Using templates extracted from those regions, we retrain our character prediction model to drastically improve our search retrieval performance for words in the document.
Reassessment of the Weather Effec t: Stock Prices and Wall Street Weather

Psychology literature has long established the effect of sunshine on mood. Recent research in behavioral finance has investigated whether investors’ mood fluctuations induced by hours of sunshine affect investment decisions in a significant manner such that equity mispricing follows. Some research in this area has concluded that there is a systematic relationship between security markets and local weather, while other research has found no relationship between investment decisions and hours of sunshine. This paper aims to study the weather effect and its possible evolution over time in an effort to consolidate the different findings in the field. Sunshine and daily market return are positively correlated for New York City from 1948 to 2010. However, this relationship exhibits a distinct cyclical pattern over the last 50 years. One possible explanation for the existence of such a pattern is the entry of ‘non-rational’ investors into the market during certain periods which results in the identification of a significant weather effect. This finding supports the view that security markets are to some extent irrational.
Diffusion in three-component gas mixtures

A solution to the Stefan-Maxwell diffusion equations for equimolal countercurrent diffusion in a three-component gas mixture is obtained which is similar in form to Gilliland's equation for diffusion of two gases through a third inert gas. The important features of both types of diffusion are investigated and the conditions under which the following phenomena occur are determined: (1) diffusion barrier (the rate of diffusion of a component is zero even though its concentration gradient is not zero); (2) osmotic diffusion (the rate of diffusion of a component is not zero even though its concentration gradient is zero); (3) reverse diffusion (a component diffuses against the gradient of its concentration). A generalized driving force which describes these phenomena is introduced, and approximate equations are developed which give the individual rates of diffusion directly.
Chromaticity corrections in the SLC final focus system

The current technique of measuring the IP (interaction point) chromaticities in the SLC final focus system is presented. A semiempirical correction scheme has been successfully implemented to control the IP chromaticities, as characterized by the waist position dependence on the beam energy to better than 0.5 cm/100 MeV. Several outstanding issues needing further improvement are identified, and possible courses of efforts in the near future are discussed. >
Profile hidden Markov models.

Summary : The recent literature on profile hidden Markov model (profile HMM) methods and software is reviewed. Profile HMMs turn a multiple sequence alignment into a position-specific scoring system suitable for searching databases for remotely homologous sequences. Profile HMM analyses complement standard pairwise comparison methods for large-scale sequence analysis. Several software implementations and two large libraries of profile HMMs of common protein domains are available, HMM methods performed comparably to threading methods in the CASP2 structure prediction exercise. Contact: eddy@genetics.wustl.edu.
Anticonvulsant and Growth Inhibitory Effects of Some Organophosphorus Compounds

A series of organophosphates, structurally ghosphoryl analogs of phenylurethane, have een tested for anticonvulsant and growth inhibitory effects. The effects were expected from structural considerations.
Stable adaptive fuzzy control for an automated highway system

Recently, stable direct and indirect adaptive controllers have been presented which use Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems, conventional fuzzy systems, or a class of neural networks to provide asymptotic tracking of a reference signal for a class of continuous-time nonlinear plants with poorly understood dynamics. The indirect adaptive scheme allows for the inclusion of a priori knowledge about the plant dynamics in terms of exact mathematical equations or linguistics while the direct adaptive scheme allows for the incorporation of such a priori knowledge in specifying the controller. In this paper, the performance of these indirect and direct adaptive schemes is demonstrated through the longitudinal control of an automobile in an automated highway system.
Aβ, tau, α-synuclein, huntingtin, TDP-43, PrP and AA are members of the innate immune system: a unifying hypothesis on the etiology of AD, PD, HD, ALS, CJD and RSA as innate immunity disorders

Despite decades of research, thousands of studies and numerous advances, the etiologies of Alzheimers Disease (AD), Parkinsons Disease (PD), Huntingtons Disease (HD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD-U), Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), Reactive Systemic Amyloidosis (RSA) and many other neurodegenerative and systemic amyloid diseases have not been defined, nor have the pathogenic mechanisms leading to cellular death and disease. Moreover, the biological functions of APP/amyloid-β (Aβ), tau, α-synuclein, huntingtin, TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), prion protein (PrP), amyloid A (AA) and some of the other primary proteins implicated in amyloid diseases are not known. And, there are no successful preventive or therapeutic approaches. Based on a comprehensive analysis and new interpretation of the existing data in context of an evolutionary framework, it is proposed that: (i) Aβ, tau, α-synuclein, huntingtin, TDP-43, PrP and AA are members of the innate immune system, (ii) the isomeric conformational changes of these proteins and their assembly into various oligomers, plaques, and tangles are not protein misfolding events as defined for decades, nor are they prion-replication activities, but part of their normal, evolutionarily selected innate immune repertoire, and (iii) the immune reactions and activities associated with the function of these proteins in innate immunity lead to AD, PD, HD, ALS, CJD, RSA and other related diseases, which are innate immunity disorders.
Dynamic risk model for CMO with credit tranching

In this paper, we present a dynamic risk model that can assess the stochastic credit quality of senior tranches of collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO) while supported by any number of junior bond classes. We design the model to be universal and to embed common hazards and retreats within the U.S. housing market. This deployment assists us in resolving real problems when gauging the dynamic creditworthiness of CMOs’ senior bond tranches. Resulting from our subsequent theoretical simulations, we discover the boundaries of these structured financial instruments when exposed to relatively modest probabilities of a broad economic crisis. We demonstrate that despite their diverse supportive structures, CMOs are not as protective as originally thought by many investors when a widespread housing calamity progresses.