cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A systems approach to improving patient flow at UVA Cancer Center using Real-Time Locating System

Long wait times not only indicate costly inefficiencies for healthcare facilities, but they also influence patient satisfaction and outcomes. As healthcare systems transition from provider centric care to patient centric care, increasing efforts have been made to reduce patient waiting times. At the University of Virginia, the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center (ECCCC) has experienced a 30% growth in patients over the past 3 years, resulting in a visible increase in wait times. In an effort to reduce wait times, the ECCCC has recently adopted a Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) that monitors patients' and providers' transient locations throughout the facility. The objectives of this project were to 1) to develop a framework to utilize RTLS data with other electronic medical records (EMR), and 2) to demonstrate how combined data can be used to better understand the flow of patients, bottlenecks, and patient-provider interactions in order to improve ECCCC operations. We combined data sets from multiple sources and statistically analyzed the data from patient and provider perspectives. Results indicate that the East Waiting and first floor Waiting areas have the highest average wait times and thus were identified as bottlenecks. Other locations at the ECCCC such as the Registration area were found to have significantly high average dwell times. A regression model indicated that patients visiting the ECCCC in the mid-morning, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., experienced longer length of stay than patients visiting at other times. Analysis of patient-provider interactions showed that providers are on average 48 minutes late to appointments. Recommendations include tailoring scheduling to prevent appointment delays and investigating processes such as registration. Future work includes intervention strategy testing through simulation of the entire multi-clinic ECCCC.
Principal Evaluation: Concepts, Needs and Realities

A range of stakeholders has created a range of meanings to the term principal evaluation. Role-based and outcome-based principal evaluations were the first two concepts introduced to the study of principal evaluation. With time, increasingly detailed models of principal evaluation have been suggested. School administrators and professional evaluators have designed role-based models. Policymakers and experts in assessing student achievement test scores have designed outcome-based models. We offer a general definition of the term principal evaluation, followed by an explanation of its components including: evaluation purpose, object to be evaluated, information describing the object, standards for evaluators, criteria for performance, and uses of results for making decisions. Evaluation of principals as institutional leaders is discussed in detail. Current evaluation problems are enumerated and solutions are offered.
Analysis of the brucella pathogen and its molecular genotype in Guangdong province

Objective To analysis the etiology and molecular classification of brucella strains isolated in Guangdong province in 2010.Methods The strains of 19 brucella were verified and identified by some methods including traditional biology phenotype confirmation,PCR amplification and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Results On phenotype level,4 strains were brucella melitensis biovar 1,2 strains were brucella suis biovar 3,and the rest were brucella melitensis biovar 3,which were specific B genes positive strains,and the PFGE typing similar values ranging from 67.9％ to 100％.In addition to the four strains from Zhuhai for the outbreak,the homology was 100％,and the rest were sporadic cases.Conclusions Brucella cases,in Guangdong province,are highly sporadic and dispersed outbreaks.Compared with a few years ago,it shows species diversification,and brucella melitensis biovar 3 is still the dominant serotype.PFGE can be used to distinguish the three species of brucella,but it can't effectively distinguish the allotypes. Key words: Brucella; Bacterial typing techniques; Polymerase chain reaction; Electrophoresis,gel, pulsed-field
The AmeriFlux network: A coalition of the willing

AmeriFlux scientists were early adopters of a network-enabled approach to ecosystem science that continues to transform the study of land-atmosphere interactions. In the 20 years since its formation, AmeriFlux has grown to include more than 260 flux tower sites in the Americas that support continuous observation of ecosystem carbon, water, and energy fluxes. Many of these sites are co-located within a similar climate regime, and more than 50 have data records that exceed 10 years in length. In this prospective assessment of AmeriFlux’s strengths in a new era of network-enabled ecosystem science, we discuss how the longevity and spatial distribution of AmeriFlux data make them exceptionally well suited for disentangling ecosystem response to slowly evolving changes in climate and land-cover, and to rare events like droughts and biological disturbances. More recently, flux towers have also been integrated into environmental observation networks that have broader scientific goals; in North America these include the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), Critical Zone Observatory network (CZO), and Long-Term Ecological Research network (LTER). AmeriFlux stands apart from these other networks in its reliance on voluntary participation of individual sites, which receive funding from diverse sources to pursue a wide, transdisciplinary array of research topics. This diffuse, grassroots approach fosters methodological and theoretical innovation, but also challenges network-level data synthesis and data sharing to the network. While AmeriFlux has had strong ties to other regional flux networks and FLUXNET, better integration with networks like NEON, CZO and LTER provides opportunities for new types of cooperation and synergies that could strengthen the scientific output of all these networks.
Effect of Time of Spacing on the Growth of Container-Grown Ilex cornuta ‘Dwarf Burford,’ Lindl. and Paxt., and Pittosporum tobira, Thumb.

Ilex cornuta ‘Dward Burford,’ Lindl. and Paxt., and Pittosporum tobira, Thumb. liners were transplanted into unspaced (adjacent) black 15.2 cm (6 in) diameter containers and later spaced 30 cm (12 in) apart 0, 30,61 and 126 days after transplanting. Keeping plants can-to-can (unspaced) significantly reduced growing-media temperatures. Delaying spacing until required by crowding resulted in improved root and shoot growth in Pittosporum tobira and to a lesser degree in Ilex cornuta.
Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with cell wall components and resistance to the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)) in maize (Zea mays L.)

114 Introduction 115 Materials and Methods 117 Results 121 Discussion 124 References 132 CHAPTER 6. GENETIC CORRELATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF QTL FOR CELL WALL COMPONENTS AND RESISTANCE TO STALK TUNNELING BY THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER (OSTRINIA NUBILALIS (HUBNER)) IN MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) 150 Abstract 150 Introduction 151 Materials and Methods 153 Results and Discussion 155 References 160 GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 167
The Role of Surgical Therapy

The correct treatment of any spinal column tumor depends on a number of characteristics or factors unique to the individual patient and their individual tumor. There is a broad spectrum of therapies available to treat spinal tumors, ranging from observation to total vertebrectomy. Both undertreatment and overtreatment can lead to trouble. A successful surgical plan follows from a concise, step-wise investigational algorithm: 1. Identify and characterize the tumor. 2. Classify the tumor as stage and extension. 3. Identify an indication for surgery—relative or absolute. 4. Review the non-operative options. 5. Review the options for resection and reconstruction. 6. Determine the role of adjuvant therapy. 7. Formulate a treatment plan that takes all steps into consideration.
Monoidal Computer III: A Coalgebraic View of Computability and Complexity (Extended Abstract)

Monoidal computer is a categorical model of intensional computation, where many different programs correspond to the same input-output behavior. The upshot of yet another model of computation is that a categorical formalism should provide a high-level language for theory of computation, flexible enough to allow abstracting away the low level implementation details when they are irrelevant, or taking them into account when they are genuinely needed. A salient feature of the approach through monoidal categories is the formal graphical language of string diagrams, which supports geometric reasoning about programs and computations. In the present paper, we provide a coalgebraic characterization of monoidal computer. It turns out that the availability of interpreters and specializers, that make a monoidal category into a monoidal computer, is equivalent with the existence of a universal state space, that carries a weakly final state machine for all types of input and output. Being able to program state machines in monoidal computers allows us to represent Turing machines, and capture the time and space needed for their executions. The coalgebraic view of monoidal computer thus provides a convenient diagrammatic language for studying not only computability, but also complexity.
Pediatric Periocular Dermoid Cysts: Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, and Surgical Outcomes.

Purpose: To report the incidence, clinical findings, and surgical outcomes of periocular dermoid cysts diagnosed among children over a 20-year period.Methods: All patients ≤5 years of age, who were...
Error-Prone Replication through UV Lesions by DNA Polymerase θ Protects against Skin Cancers

Summary Cancers from sun-exposed skin accumulate “driver” mutations, causally implicated in oncogenesis. Because errors incorporated during translesion synthesis (TLS) opposite UV lesions would generate these mutations, TLS mechanisms are presumed to underlie cancer development. To address the role of TLS in skin cancer formation, we determined which DNA polymerase is responsible for generating UV mutations, analyzed the relative contributions of error-free TLS by Polη and error-prone TLS by Polθ to the replication of UV-damaged DNA and to genome stability, and examined the incidence of UV-induced skin cancers in Polθ−/−, Polη−/−, and Polθ−/− Polη−/− mice. Our findings that the incidence of skin cancers rises in Polθ−/− mice and is further exacerbated in Polθ−/− Polη−/− mice compared with Polη−/− mice support the conclusion that error-prone TLS by Polθ provides a safeguard against tumorigenesis and suggest that cancer formation can ensue in the absence of somatic point mutations.
Exposure of home-attending healthcare workers to aerosolized medications (simulation study)

Abstract Home-attending healthcare workers (HHCWs), one of the most rapidly growing occupations worldwide, are exposed to a wide range of aerosol contaminants, including pharmaceuticals administered to patients in their homes by nebulizer treatment. The aerosol concentration and exposure patterns may be vastly different from those identified in hospital environments. Inhalation exposure of healthcare professionals to nebulized medications has not been quantified. This pilot simulation study was conducted to measure particles released from a commercially available nebulizer-based aerosol delivery system into the indoor environment. Aerosolized medications such as Ipratropium Bromide, Budesonide, and Albuterol Sulfate (all suspended in a NaCl solution), and NaCl (used as medication to treat respiratory symptoms) were evaluated in individual trials. Deionized water was used as a control. The aerosols were measured using an Electrical Low Pressure Impactor at three locations of the HHCW-simulating manikin relative to the aerosol source. Exposure to all four selected aerosolized medications was significant (exceeding background control by one to four orders of magnitude). The particle size distributions measured for the four aerosols at a fixed distance from the source demonstrated similar trends with no significant differences identified in most cases. Although the total aerosol mass concentration in the breathing zone of the simulated HHCW ranged widely, from 2.29 to 10.2 μg/m3, it was not significantly affected by medication type. Therefore, we concluded that NaCl can serve as a surrogate for assessing aerosol exposures, at least for the selected nebulizer-administered medications.
Overcoming the Lack of Labeled Data: Training Intrusion Detection Models Using Transfer Learning

Deep learning (DL) techniques have recently been proposed for enhancing the accuracy of network intrusion detection systems (NIDS). However, keeping the DL based detection models up to date requires large amounts of new labeled training data which is often expensive and time-consuming to collect. In this paper, we investigate the viability of transfer learning (TL), an approach that enables transferring learned features and knowledge from a trained source model to a target model with minimal new training data. We compare the performance of a NIDS model trained using TL with a NIDS model trained from scratch. We show that TL enables detection models to perform much better at identifying new attacks when there is relatively less training data available.
Social Risk and Internalizing Distress in Middle Childhood: The Moderating Role of Emotion Regulation Processes

This study examined whether the relation between peer victimization or rejection and internalizing distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms) was moderated by emotion regulation processes in a sample of elementary schoolers. Analyses were based on a sample of 476 third and fourth-grade children (M = 9.16 years). Data were collected in the fall and spring of one academic year. Peer-reported victimization and rejection were assessed through a peer nomination inventory. Child-reported victimization, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and emotion regulation were assessed via self-report measures. Findings from multiple group path models provided evidence that girls scoring higher on peer rejection and boys scoring higher on peer-reported relational victimization reported fewer depressive symptoms in the spring when scoring lower on expressive suppression (girls: β = 0.157, SE = 0.067, p = 0.019; boys: β = 0.239, SE = 0.099, p = 0.016). Alternatively, boys scoring higher on self-reported peer victimization in the fall reported fewer anxiety symptoms in the spring when scoring higher on expressive suppression (β = −0.260, SE = 0.117, p = 0.027) or lower on cognitive reappraisal (β = 0.246, SE = 0.097, p = 0.011). Boys’ peer-reported victimization emerged as a positive predictor of anxiety in the spring, but only at high levels of cognitive reappraisal (β = 0.284, SE = 0.128, p = 0.026). Results suggest that expressing emotion is a useful process for reducing depressive symptoms in rejected girls and relationally victimized boys. For boys, suppressing emotion may reduce the risk for developing anxiety as a consequence of peer victimization. Results suggest cognitive reappraisal is not an effective strategy for reducing anxiety in boys as a consequence of peer victimization. This study helps inform our understanding of the role of emotion regulation in relation between peer relationship difficulties and internalizing distress.
Mathematical investigation of microbial quorum sensing under various flow conditions

Abstract Microorganisms efficiently coordinate phenotype expressions through a decision-making process known as quorum sensing (QS). We investigated QS amongst heterogeneously distributed microbial aggregates under various flow conditions using a process-driven numerical model. Model simulations assess the conditions suitable for QS induction and quantify the importance of advective transport of signaling molecules. In addition, advection dilutes signaling molecules so that faster flow conditions require higher microbial densities, faster signal production rates, or higher sensitivities to signaling molecules to induce QS. However, autoinduction of signal production can substantially increase the transport distance of signaling molecules in both upstream and downstream directions. We present approximate analytical solutions of the advection-diffusion-reaction equation that describe the concentration profiles of signaling molecules for a wide range of flow and reaction rates. These empirical relationships, which predict the distribution of dissolved solutes following zero-order production kinetics along pore channels, allow to quantitatively estimate the effective communication distances amongst multiple microbial aggregates without further numerical simulations. Author Summary Microbes can interact with their surrounding environments by producing and sensing small signaling molecules. When the microbes experience a high enough concentration of the signaling molecules, they express certain phenotypes which is often energetically expensive. This microbial decision-making process known as quorum sensing (QS) has been understood to confer evolutionary benefits. However, it is still not completely understood how transport of the produced signaling molecules affects QS. Using a mathematical approach investigating QS across a range of environmentally relevant flow conditions, we find that advective transport promotes QS downstream yet also dilutes the concentration of signaling molecules. We quantify the importance of microbial cell location with respect to both other microbes and flow direction. By analyzing complex numerical simulation results, we provide analytical approximations to assess the distribution of signaling molecules in pore channels across a range of flow and reaction conditions.
ClusterClean: a Weak Semi-Supervised Approach for Cleaning Data Labels

Every day, tens of thousands of Amazon customers message Amazon’s selling partners inquiring about orders, products and services. Unfortunately, we have observed over time that buyers may send unsolicited and often times mal intended messages to sellers through the buyer-seller messaging (BSM) service. Although the BSM service gives the ability to sellers to report such messages, most of them do not make use of this feature. Hence, collecting training and testing data with clean labels to build machine learning models in order to proactively block unsolicited messages and help prevent and mitigate losses for Amazon is extremely challenging. To address this problem we propose ClusterClean, an algorithm that automatically cleans data labels with little to no human effort. ClusterClean has the ability to a) accurately infer the labels of unlabeled data points based on an initial small labeled set and b) detect new data patterns such as incoming unobserved spam attacks by soliciting feedback from users to decide on their label. Experiments on approximately 150,000 real messages from Amazon customers showed that ClusterClean can accurately clean the labels of these messages in a few minutes, drastically reducing the human effort and time spent on this task.
Discrimination in public accommodations

Despite widespread belief in the efficacy of statutes prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations, including protections for the use of privately provided yet publicly available services such as transportation, hotels, and restaurants, we lack causal estimates of the impacts of these statutes on the well-being of those they are designed to protect. We leverage the US Supreme Court's 1883 strike of the public accommodations provisions in the Civil Rights Act of 1875, along with variation in state-level statutes, to identify the impact of the Act's public accommodations provisions. Using a panel of repeated geo-located medical exams of US Colored Troops (USCT) and white Union Army veterans, and a series of difference-in-differences, geographic regression discontinuity, and placebo designs, estimates consistently suggest that the Court's ruling led to meaningful weight losses for USCT veterans in states without state-level public accommodations statutes. These findings suggest that statutes prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations can have significant positive impacts on the well-being of those they are designed to protect.
Dziban: Balancing Agency & Automation in Visualization Design via Anchored Recommendations

Visualization recommender systems attempt to automate design decisions spanning choices of selected data, transformations, and visual encodings. However, across invocations such recommenders may lack the context of prior results, producing unstable outputs that override earlier design choices. To better balance automated suggestions with user intent, we contribute Dziban, a visualization API that supports both ambiguous specification and a novel anchoring mechanism for conveying desired context. Dziban uses the Draco knowledge base to automatically complete partial specifications and suggest appropriate visualizations. In addition, it extends Draco with chart similarity logic, enabling recommendations that also remain perceptually similar to a provided "anchor" chart. Existing APIs for exploratory visualization, such as ggplot2 and Vega-Lite, require fully specified chart definitions. In contrast, Dziban provides a more concise and flexible authoring experience through automated design, while preserving predictability and control through anchored recommendations.
Predictors of Opioid Misuse During Emerging Adulthood: An Examination of Adolescent Individual, Family and Peer Factors.

Abstract Introduction Opioid misuse has reached epidemic proportions among emerging adults in the U.S. To inform prevention efforts, this study examined adolescent factors related to alcohol and marijuana (AM) use that are associated with a higher or lower risk for opioid misuse during emerging adulthood. Methods We used 11 waves of survey data from a diverse California cohort (N = 6,509). Predictor variables from waves 1-7 (ages 11-17) included individual (resistance self-efficacy, positive expectancies) family (older sibling and important adult use), and peer (perceived norms, time spent with peers who use, peer approval) factors. Opioid misuse at wave 8 (mean age = 18.3) and wave 11 (mean age = 21.6) included heroin and nonmedical prescription drug use. Results Initial latent growth models (LGMs) indicated that nearly all intercepts and slopes for individual, family, and peer AM factors predicted opioid misuse at waves 8 and 11. These associations were reduced to non-significance after adjusting for prior other substance use with the exception of three intercepts: positive expectancies, peer approval, and older sibling use predicted a higher probability of opioid misuse at wave 8. Conclusions Stronger AM positive expectancies, perceived peer approval of AM use, and older sibling AM use during adolescence are associated with a higher likelihood of opioid misuse during the transition to emerging adulthood. However, most adolescent factors were no longer associated with subsequent opioid misuse after adjusting for history of other substance use, highlighting the importance of considering the larger context of substance use in studies of opioid misuse among young people.
10.52 GOPS Systolic Cores Fuzzy Logic System for Cognitive Dysfunction Self-Awareness Using FPGA

It is inevitable to ignore the remarkable eco-friendly transformation impact that could be obtained by applying Sustainable Computing (SC) to a wide range of conventional applications in the near future. The reliability of the decision-making process in these transformed applications could be enhanced by the integration and collaboration of many algorithms and techniques like Cognitive Computing (CC), Approximate Computing (AC), and the reconfigurable hardware platforms with the SC, especially for scenarios with a high degree of uncertainties. In this paper, a systolic Fuzzy Logic System (FLS) processing cores has been proposed to provide a generic Cognitive Dysfunction Self-Awareness (CDSA) solution that assists the power management control of an electronic system based on its vital extracted parameters. The proposed processing unit architecture has been designed using VHDL, and the targeted FPGA chip was the Intel Cyclone V 5CGXFC9D6F27C7. The proposed systolic-cores FLS CDSA processing core achieved a computational processing speed of 10.52 GOPS.
Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and a CD5+ lymphoproliferative process presenting as composite disease in the bone marrow: a report of two cases

Correct subclassification of B cell lymphoma requires integration of histologic and immunohistochemical findings in addition to results of flow cytometric immunophenotyping, cytogenetic analysis, and molecular studies. Evaluation for the MYD88 L265P mutation and immunohistochemical staining for LEF1 can be helpful in the workup of small B cell lymphomas. In this case report of two diagnostically difficult cases, we present two patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) and a CD5+ lymphoproliferative process presenting as composite disease within the bone marrow. In both cases, integration of ancillary studies and results of biopsy at other sites of disease in addition to a careful histologic review and an expanded immunohistochemistry panel were important for the correct final classification.
Automating System Assembly of Aerospace Systems

One of the major challenges in modern aerospace designs is the integration and assembly of independently developed components. We have formalized this as the system assembly problem: from a sea of available components, which should be selected and how should they be connected, integrated, and assembled so that the overall system requirements are satisfied in a certifiable way? We present a powerful framework for automatically solving the system assembly problem directly from system requirements by using formal verification technology. We also present a case study where we applied our work to large-scale industrial examples from the Boeing Dreamliner.
Investigations on the Chemistry of Heparin VI. POSITION OF THE SULFATE ESTER GROUPS

Abstract The position of the O-sulfates in heparin was investigated by methylation procedures. Heparin was converted to the acetamido derivative and permethylated with dimethyl sulfate in aqueous alkali. Other methylation methods in organic solvents were also used. The carboxyl groups in the uronic acid moieties were then reduced and the resulting permethylated polysaccharide was hydrolyzed. The products were identified either as crystalline derivatives or by chromatography and specific color reactions. These were characterized as 3-O-methyl-d-glucose, 2,3-di-O-methyl-d-glucose, 3-O-methyl-d-glucosamine, glucosamine, and 3,6-di-O-methylglucosamine. On the basis of the amounts isolated, it is concluded that about one-third of the glucuronic acid moieties in heparin are sulfated on carbon atom 2 whereas the rest are not sulfated. Most of the glucosamine in heparin contains sulfate ester groups on carbon 6. Glucosamine units which are not sulfated and 3,6-di-O-sulfoglucosamine units are also present in small proportions. It is proposed that the degree of sulfation of the individual units in the heparin polymer is not uniform and that it may vary in different parts of the chain.
Debt Relief and Default Penalties in an International Context

Debt relief and penalties are discussed in connection with sovereign-country loans. We focus on conditions for the existence of penalties that are too low for ensuring Pareto efficiency, and show the possible time inconsistency of optimal debt contracts. A methodology for ascertaining debt relief implicit in international loans is outlined.
The p+n−n+ pulsed diode at extreme current densities—II: The forward pulsed case and its anomalous voltage response

Abstract The voltage transient response of the p+n−n+ diode structure to a single intense current pulse in the forward direction is presented for current densities up to 104 A/cm2. The anomalous voltage response is studied by computer simulation of the device and compared with the experimental results. The response at these current densities becomes very dependent upon the carrier lifetimes and the recombination law chosen for the n+ region. At the larger current densities Avalanche generation and Auger recombination can exist simultaneously, yielding a larger than expected voltage across the device even as steady state is approached.
A memorial as virtual traumascape: darkest tourism in 3D and cyber-space to the gas chambers of Auschwitz.

Tourism to traumascapes has as its destination sites associated with trauma (dark tourism), sites where disaster and tragedy actually occurred (darker tourism), or virtual recreations of such sites, particularly of the latter type (darkest tourism). A destination of darker tourism, Auschwitz attracts many visitors each year. Whereas the physical site is difficult to reach and contains remnants of the past that have either disintegrated or been substantially reconfigured, or are physically inaccessible, virtual Auschwitz tours exist that allow a different appropriation of an obliterated traumascape. Distinguishing between tourism online, online tourism, and virtual tourism as different types of site appropriation, this article focuses on the virtual visitation of actual and recreated Auschwitz gas chambers as a form of darkest tourism. It describes and analyzes the ways in which virtual tours in 3D and cyber-space create and recreate past trauma, and how they engage the senses.
Neural network technology for strata strength characterization

The process of drilling and bolting the roof is currently one of the most dangerous jobs in underground mining, resulting in about 1,000 accidents with injuries each year in the United States. To increase the safety of underground miners, researchers from the Spokane Research Laboratory of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health are applying neural network technology to the classification of mine roof strata in terms of relative strength. In this project, the feasibility of using a monitoring system on a roof drill to assess the integrity of a mine roof and warn a roof drill operator when a weak layer is encountered is being studied. Using measurements taken while a layer is being drilled, one can convert the data to suitably scaled features and classify the strength of the layer with a neural network. The feasibility of using a drill monitoring system to estimate the strength of successive layers of rock was demonstrated in the laboratory.
Implementing neural networks into modern technology

The practical implementation of signal separation methods such as artificial neural networks and independent component analysis (ICA) bring several problems to light. These problems include time independence, stationarity, linearity, prior knowledge of sources, and hardware implementation. A direct emphasis is placed on implementing these networks on vocal signals, more specifically, voice-activated systems (VAS). What aspects and limitations of ICA and BSS (blind source separation) must be considered are given; the significance of preprocessing or prewhitening is considered; and learning algorithms are given. Also, a discussion is given on hardware enhancement, which may solve some of the problems related to ICA.
Image reinforcement with ALOPEX conducted on connectivity strengths, using moment invariants

ALOPEX is an optimization technique. A cost function is maximized or minimized depending on the problem. In ALOPEX, the cost function is called the response and the many parameters to be optimized are the pixel intensities of patterns. The procedure allows for the parameters to be changed by small amounts in every iteration and the response to be computed. A stochastic element, an added noise, provides for the ability of the process to avoid local maxima or minima. The authors address the issue of the convergence speed using the concept of connectivity strengths of the templates involved, in conjunction with measures of moment invariants. >
Parallel-slab polarizing beam splitter and photopolarimeter

A dielectric-slab polarizing beam splitter (PBS) is described that generates two parallel beams of orthogonal p and s linear polarizations in reflection and functions as a diattenuator in transmission. The plane-parallel slab, which is set at Brewster's angle, is uncoated on one side and has an s-polarization antireflection coating (s-ARC) on the other side. Analytical results are presented for a PBS that uses a high-index slab coated with a low-index single-layer s-ARC, which is particularly suited for the IR. A novel multistage photopolarimeter that uses two such PBSs in series is described as being capable of sequential and simultaneous measurement of all four Stokes parameters of light.
Online efficient learning with quantized KLMS and L 1 regularization

In a recent work, we have proposed the quantized kernel least mean square (QKLMS) algorithm, which is quite effective in online learning sequentially a nonlinear mapping with a slowly growing radial basis function (RBF) structure. In this paper, in order to further reduce the network size, we propose a sparse QKLMS algorithm, which is derived by adding a sparsity inducing l 1 norm penalty of the coefficients to the squared error cost. Simulation examples show that the new algorithm works efficiently, and results in a much sparser network while preserving a desirable performance.
Adaptation of Myocardial Substrate Metabolism to a Ketogenic Nutrient Environment

Heart muscle is metabolically versatile, converting energy stored in fatty acids, glucose, lactate, amino acids, and ketone bodies. Here, we use mouse models in ketotic nutritional states (24 h of fasting and a very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet) to demonstrate that heart muscle engages a metabolic response that limits ketone body utilization. Pathway reconstruction from microarray data sets, gene expression analysis, protein immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical analysis of myocardial tissue from nutritionally modified mouse models reveal that ketotic states promote transcriptional suppression of the key ketolytic enzyme, succinyl-CoA:3-oxoacid CoA transferase (SCOT; encoded by Oxct1), as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α-dependent induction of the key ketogenic enzyme HMGCS2. Consistent with reduction of SCOT, NMR profiling demonstrates that maintenance on a ketogenic diet causes a 25% reduction of myocardial 13C enrichment of glutamate when 13C-labeled ketone bodies are delivered in vivo or ex vivo, indicating reduced procession of ketones through oxidative metabolism. Accordingly, unmetabolized substrate concentrations are higher within the hearts of ketogenic diet-fed mice challenged with ketones compared with those of chow-fed controls. Furthermore, reduced ketone body oxidation correlates with failure of ketone bodies to inhibit fatty acid oxidation. These results indicate that ketotic nutrient environments engage mechanisms that curtail ketolytic capacity, controlling the utilization of ketone bodies in ketotic states.
Damage control resuscitation

The early recognition and management of hemorrhage shock are among the most difficult tasks challenging the clinician during primary assessment of the acutely bleeding patient. Often with little time, within a chaotic setting, and without sufficient clinical data, a decision must be reached to begin transfusion of blood components in massive amounts. The practice of massive transfusion has advanced considerably and is now a more complete and, arguably, more effective process. This new therapeutic paradigm, referred to as damage control resuscitation (DCR), differs considerably in many important respects from previous management strategies for catastrophic blood loss. We review several important elements of DCR including immediate correction of specific coagulopathies induced by hemorrhage and management of several extreme homeostatic imbalances that may appear in the aftermath of resuscitation. We also emphasize that the foremost objective in managing exsanguinating hemorrhage is always expedient and definitive control of the source of bleeding.
Investigation of Riding Position Effects on Time-Trial Bicycle Drag Coefficient at Different Yaw Angles

Time-trial bicycle racing is highly influenced by aerodynamics, perhaps more so than any other form of bicycle racing. Companies competing in this class of racing spend millions of dollars trying to optimize the geometry of the bicycles and the gear each rider wears in order to reduce aerodynamic drag. The idea behind this project was to investigate other ways to optimize the aerodynamic efficiency of the rider, considering that the rider contributes the majority of the drag force of the bicycle-rider system. A large contributor to drag is the frontal area of the object of interest (a silhouette of the object in the fluid flow direction). This illustrates how much the rider’s body contributes to overall drag. If small riding adjustments could be made to the rider’s body during riding, drag may be significantly reduced. This idea and the fact that the direction of wind impacting the rider can vary influenced the concept of this project.It was hypothesized that adjusting the time-trial handlebars on the bicycle to place one of the rider’s hands further aft than the other would influence the upper body to rotate slightly. This could then reduce the frontal area of the rider in the wind direction, therefore reducing the aerodynamic drag. To simulate this situation, a non-contact 3-D digitizer was used to scan a rider aboard a bicycle in a normal riding position and in the above-mentioned, asymmetric position. This 3-D scan was then imported into the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program Star-CCM+ and several simulations were run. Each of the two riding positions was simulated at differing yaw angles, ranging from −45° to 45°. The initial simulations seem to prove the theory as the asymmetrical riding position experiences decreased drag at significant yaw angles while the normal riding position does not. These results are encouraging and it is desired to continue refinement of the scanning and simulation methods as well as to validate these findings in a wind tunnel.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Correlation of influenza A virus nucleoprotein genes with host species.

Abstract The RNAs coding for the nucleoproteins of a panel of influenza isolates from human and nonhuman hosts were compared by RNA-RNA hybridization to determine the extent of genetic diversity of this protein and to determine if related nucleoproteins (NP) are consistenly found in viruses from certain hosts. Five nucleoprotein groups were defined. Group 1 contains nearly all of the avian influenza viruses, group 2 includes only certain viruses isolated from gulls, group 3 includes all recent equine influenza strains, group 4 contains only equine/Prague/1/56, and group 5 contains all human and swine influenza isolates. The maintenance of specific nucleoproteins in viruses from certain species suggests that these proteins have evolved functionally significant differences that favor their replication in a specific host.
A Model of Task Group Development in Complex Organizations and a Strategy of Implementation

An intervention strategy for development of an industrial work group is proposed from a four stage model of group development. The group is distinguished from therapy and sensitivity groups in term...
The Influence of Age and Gender on the Pharmacokinetics of Moxifloxacin

Objective Moxifloxacin is a new 8-methoxyfluoroquinolone with a broad antibacterial spectrum. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of age and gender on pharmacokinetics, surrogate pharmacodynamics, safety and tolerability of a single dose of moxifloxacin.
Surgical management of bronchiectasis

Background. The prevalence of bronchiectasis has decreased significantly over recent decades. We reviewed the morbidity, mortality, and outcome of surgical treatment for pulmonary bronchiectasis in the modern era of antibiotic therapy. Methods. From January 1976 through January 1993, 134 patients (55 male and 79 female patients) underwent pulmonary resection for bronchiectasis. The mean age was 48.4 years (range, 4 to 89 years). The indication for operation was failure of medical therapy in 85 patients (63.4%), hemoptysis in 26 (19.4%), lung abscess in 12 (9.0%), and a nondiagnostic mass in 11 (8.2%). Mean duration of symptoms was 6 years (range, 1 to 60 years) and included a productive cough in 104 patients, fetid sputum in 91, recurrent infections in 81, and hemoptysis in 56. Thirteen patients (9.7%) had no prior symptoms and presented with either hemoptysis, lung abscess, or unresolved pneumonia. The disease was bilateral in 26 patients (19.4%) and mainly confined to the lower lobe in 75 (56.0%). The mean number of segments involved was 4.4 (range, one to 14 segments). Surgical treatment included lobectomy in 86 patients (64.2%), pneumonectomy in 21 (15.7%), wedge resection or segmentectomy in 18 (13.4%), and a combination of these approaches in 9 (6.7%). Disease was considered completely resected in 108 patients (80.6%). Results. The operative mortality rate was 2.2% and the morbidity rate was 24.6%. The mean follow-up in 103 patients was 6 years (range, 1 to 16 years). Overall, 61 patients (59.2%) were asymptomatic after operation. Symptoms were improved in 30 patients (29.1%) and unchanged in 12 (11.7%). Complete resection resulted in a significantly better result than incomplete resection ( p Conclusions. Pulmonary resection for bronchiectasis can be done with low mortality and morbidity. When possible, complete resection should be performed.
Spectral Response of Photochromic Glass at High Excitation Intensity

A conventional photochromic glass, heat-treated at 570°C for 20 h, was evaluated for its darkening kinetics for selected absorption wavelength intervals between 600 and 1000 nm. Excitation levels of 25, 45, and 90 mW/cm2 were used. Equilibrium absorption coefficients were measured as a function of depth of penetration of the excitation radiation and were fitted to an exponential function used to calculate related surface absorption coefficients. Optical bleaching radiation present in the excitation source, as well as the transverse monitoring beam, probably contribute to lower than intrinsic absorption characteristics.
Sedimentary dynamics under tidal influences, Big Grass Island, Taylor County, Florida

Abstract Tidal currents augmented by a general rise in sea level of about 0.5 ft. since 1910 have reworked and redistributed relict Pleistocene and Holocene sediments in the low-wave energy environment around Big Grass Island, Florida. Alterations in the textural parameters of sediments from the storm berm, and tidal channels, deltas and flats are a result of local hydraulic energy regimes. The position of inflection points on cumulative grain-size distributions from all of the environments represents winnowing at specific levels of wave and/or current power. Forced tidal flow concentrated by water head accumulation of the flooding tide against a barrier has initiated channel erosion, sediment transport and tidal delta deposition. Better channels facilitate more effective current concentrations, and enhance erosion. An accelerated rate of erosion and deposition results from the process-response mechanism of the tidal-current channel-system. Flood-current velocities are controlled by tidal range, amount of tidal-flat exposure during the previous low tide and equalization of head differential. Highest flood velocities occur at the beginning of the cycle. Tidal range and depth of minimum low water control the velocities of the tidal ebb currents. Highest ebb velocities occur in the latter part of each cycle. Tidal erosion is greatest when mean seasonal sea level is lowest.
Transcript specificity in BDNF-regulated protein synthesis

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a critical activity-dependent modulator of gene expression, which can regulate both transcription and translation. Several functions of BDNF, including the induction of dendrite outgrowth and long-term synaptic plasticity, are known to depend, in particular, upon the ability of BDNF to regulate protein synthesis. Although BDNF modestly increases total neuronal protein synthesis, substantial evidence indicates that BDNF induces the translation of only a small subset of expressed mRNAs and demonstrates an extraordinary degree of transcript specificity. The mechanism by which BDNF selectively upregulates the translation of only a discrete group of mRNAs is of intrinsic importance to its trophic function in promoting neuronal growth and plasticity, and is the focus of this review. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'BDNF Regulation of Synaptic Structure, Function, and Plasticity'.
Enhancing marine natural product structural diversity and bioactivity through semisynthesis and biocatalysis.

In the last several decades the plants, animals and microbes from the marine environment have revealed a portion of what is clearly a tremendous resource for structurally diverse and bioactive secondary metabolites. Many of these extraordinarily sophisticated and bioactive natural products can be isolated in significant quantities without great difficulty. As a result these readily available bioactive natural products provide valuable starting materials for the rational generation of libraries of compounds prepared through semisynthesis and biocatalysis. A review of our work using marine natural products to generate rationa-lly designed compound libraries and their biological activity against infectious diseases, cancer and neurological targets is presented. The marine natural products utilized to date as starting materials consist of compounds from a variety of structural classes and include: aureol, puupehenone, sarcophine, palinurin, and the manzamine alkaloids. The possibility to generate diverse bioactive products beginning with a marine natural product scaffold is a direct result of improvements made in the technologies to harvest samples from the ocean, purify and characterize complex natural products quickly and complete chemical reactions and biotransformations in parallel. As a result the vast resources of the ocean can now be utilized routinely to design and produce countless products to be evaluated as part of drug discovery and development programs.
Carbon Dioxide Solubility Enhancement through Silicone Functionalization: “CO2-philic” Oligo(dimethylsiloxane)-substituted Diphosphonates∗

Abstract Carbon dioxide has received significant attention as a potential environmentally benign medium to replace hazardous organic compounds, but is a relatively poor solvent. The addition of siloxane substituents provides an attractive and inexpensive means to solubilize a wide variety of compounds in CO2. By synthesizing and testing a family of gem-diphosphonate ligands that have been rendered CO2-philic by incorporation of a number of related, discrete dimethylsiloxane oligomers, we show that small variations in substituents have a significant effect on the CO2-philicity of the ligand. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic study of the effect of siloxane substituent size, branching, and position on the affinity of a ligand for CO2. In addition, we present a general approach to the preparation of novel gem-diphosphonate ligands.