cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of extracranial carotid artery disease: A survey of an asymptomatic population with noninvasive techniques

Abstract To investigate the prevalence of internal carotid arterial stenosis in an unselected asymptomatic population over 50 years of age, 102 volunteers from one church congregation were studied with ultrasonic arteriography, spectral analysis, and ocular pneumoplethysmography. Fifty subjects were 50 to 59 years old; 33 were 60 to 69 years of age; and 19 were older than 70 years. Forty-five were men and 57 were women. Risk factors included diabetes mellitus (4%), heart disease (9%), hypertension (24%), peripheral vascular disease (20%), and smoking (46%). Disease was found in 11 subjects (10.8%). Of the 204 internal carotid arteries, 13 (6.4%) were abnormal. Two vessels had 20% diameter stenosis; four had stenoses of 20% to 39%; five had stenoses of 40% to 59%; one had a stenosis of 60% to 79%; and one was occluded. Stenoses greater than 40% occurred in 4% of the 50 to 59 years of age group, 6% of the 60 to 69 years of age group, and 11% of the greater than 70 years of age group. Although the prevalence of carotid stenosis was increased in all subjects who had risk factors, only the association with heart disease reached statistical significance. These results indicate that carotid stenosis is present in an appreciable number of asymptomatic subjects over the age of 50 years and suggest that its prevalence is associated with age and other risk factors. (J VASC SURG 1987;5:584-8.)
Giant Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm

Two and one half years after a lateral wall myocardial infarction, this 75-year-old patient was found to have marked cardiomegaly on chest radiograph. He had no cardiac symptoms. Chest CT with contrast (Fig 1⇓) revealed a …
Chromatography and characterization of γ-casein

Abstract A method for the isolation of γ-casein has been developed. The method involves the separation of γ-casein from chemically enriched β- and K-caseins by soft gradient DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Both of these γ-caseins were eluted by an 0.03 M glycine—sodium hydroxide 2 M urea buffer system at pH 8.0 using a gradient of 0.05 to 0.30 M in sodium chloride. The γ-casein from β-casein was characterized by polyacrylamide gel-urea electrophoresis (PGUE), and contains three major component bands and some minor bands. The isolate from K-casein contains one major component band and some minor bands. The γ-casein from β-casein showed two peaks in 0.076 M Tris—citrate buffer pH 8.6, having a sedimentation coefficient of the slow moving peak of 1.35 S and of the fast moving peak of 23.250 S. The γ-casein from K-casein showed a single sharp peak having a sedimentation coefficient of 0.82 S. A remarkable difference was found in the amino acid composition of the γ- isolated from β- as compared to the γ- isolated from K-casein.
SemRank: Semantic rank learning for multimedia retrieval

Multimedia retrieval suffers from the lack of common feature representation between a text based query and the visual content of a video repository. One approach to bridging this representation gap is known as query-by-concept, where a query and video are mapped into a common semantic feature space. One of the challenges with using semantic concepts for multimedia retrieval, is that the available vocabulary size is generally not sufficient for representing the content of the query and video. In addition, the lack of training data and visual feature representation often leads to low precision models. In this work, we explore the use of a query-by-concept approach for the multimedia Known Item Search (KIS) problem. We propose a semantic rank learning model, called SemRank, to overcome the challenges of the vocabulary size and lack of training data. First, we construct a semantic fusion model to combine the output from many noisy classifiers. Next, we train a gradient boosted regression tree model, using a semantic feature space derived from the query, video, and query-video similarity. Our approach is evaluated over a large internet video repository, and the results show that query-by-concept can be an effective model for multimedia KIS.
The term spread as a monthly cyclical indicator: an evaluation

Abstract This paper evaluates the monthly term spread as a predictor of the growth rates of the U.S. Industrial Production Index and whether or not a month is classified as recessionary using techniques previously applied to quarterly data.
Distribution and Excretion Studies in Dogs exposed to an Aerosol containing Polonium-210.

Abstract Following brief, single exposures of dogs to an aerosol containing polonium it was found that 64% of the inhaled polonium was deposited within the animal. Thirty days after exposure the lungs contained 32–49% of the total body burden. In the interval 28–149 days post-exposure the biologic half-time for clearance of the lung was 36 days; that for whole body clearance was 37 days. Removal of the deposited dust appeared to be governed chiefly by the rate of removal of the polonium from the lungs. Fifty per cent of the deposited polonium was excreted in the first three days, the principal route being via the feces. Distribution patterns and estimates of radiation dose are presented.
Solution structure of the Vam7p PX domain.

PX domains have been recently found to act as phosphoinositide binding modules. In the yeast SNARE protein Vam7p, the PX domain binds to PtdIns(3)P and is required for vacuolar targeting. To gain i...
Assembly of MreB filaments on liposome membranes: a synthetic biology approach.

The physical interaction between the cytoskeleton and the cell membrane is essential in defining the morphology of living organisms. In this study, we use a synthetic approach to polymerize bacterial MreB filaments inside phospholipid vesicles. When the proteins MreB and MreC are expressed inside the liposomes, the MreB cytoskeleton structure develops at the inner membrane. Furthermore, when purified MreB is used inside the liposomes, MreB filaments form a 4–10 μm rigid bundle structure and deform the lipid vesicles in physical contact with the vesicle inner membrane. These results indicate that the fibrillation of MreB filaments can take place either in close proximity of deformable lipid membrane or in the presence of associated protein. Our finding might be relevant for the self-assembly of cytoskeleton filaments toward the construction of artificial cell systems.
Connecting changing ocean circulation with changing climate

AbstractThe influence of changing ocean currents on climate change is evaluated by comparing an earth system model’s response to increased CO2 with and without an ocean circulation response. Inhibiting the ocean circulation response, by specifying a seasonally varying preindustrial climatology of currents, has a much larger influence on the heat storage pattern than on the carbon storage pattern. The heat storage pattern without circulation changes resembles carbon storage (either with or without circulation changes) more than it resembles the heat storage when currents are allowed to respond. This is shown to be due to the larger magnitude of the redistribution transport—the change in transport due to circulation anomalies acting on control climate gradients—for heat than for carbon. The net ocean heat and carbon uptake are slightly reduced when currents are allowed to respond. Hence, ocean circulation changes potentially act to warm the surface climate. However, the impact of the reduced carbon uptake o...
Surface uplift and erosion of the southernmost Argentine Precordillera

article i nfo Article history: The timing of uplift of the Precordillera is important for understanding the linkages, if any, between slab dynam- ics, shortening and topography. The study region (between 32° and 33° S latitude)liesat the southern end of the flat slab, where the subducting Nazca plate is nearly horizontal. South of the study region, subduction occurs at normal subduction angles of around 30° while north of the study region the slab subducts at around 5°. We use the geomorphology of the region to date the initiation of surface uplift and the ensuing landscape adjustment. The topography of the Precordillera of the Argentine Andes consists of both remnants of a low-relief Miocene landscape developed when the region was at a lower elevation, and rapidly eroding fluvial systems that have been dissecting this surface since uplift. This study utilizes 26 Al and 10 Be concentrations in stream sediment quartz to calculate erosion rates of the Miocene remnant paleo-landscape, as well as incision rates within the ac- tively incising post-uplift fluvial system. The remnant landscape is eroding at b10 m/My, while the surrounding landscape is eroding an order of magnitude faster, approaching 100 m/My. These values show the transition from a rapidly eroding system adjusting to uplift, to a system where rates of uplift approach those of erosion. We used a locally determined relationship between average upstream slope and erosion rate to model erosion across the landscape. DEM analyses of modern river profiles are used to reconstruct paleo-river profiles, which suggest an average of 1.3 km of uplift. Uplift of the southernmost Argentine Precordillera is constrained to have initiated by ~10 Ma, demonstrating that under the arid conditions typical of the southernmost Precordil- lera, millions of years are needed for a landscape to reach equilibrium.
Issuing costs to existing shareholders in competitive and negotiated underwritten public utility equity offerings

Abstract This paper presents the results of an empirical investigation of whether there is any difference in the cost incurred by public utilities if they issue new equity through a negotiated or competitive underwriting. We conclude that the expected cost of a competitive offer is less than the expected cost of a negotiated offer, but that the variance of the cost is substantially greater with a competitive offer. These results are interesting because most public utilities use negotiated underwriting unless forced by regulation to use competitive offers. This paper is also an addition to the growing agency theory literature.
Computational modeling of moderate pressure microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition reactors

Summary form only given. Microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PACVD) reactors have been used extensively for the growth of diamond films. The design geometric features of these reactors vary to enable control and shaping of the electromagnetic fields and plasma discharge. In particular, the design and tuning of various geometric parameters is known to affect not only the electromagnetic field structure, but also the plasma shape during operation. For example, the positioning of the substrate height is known to greatly affect the plasma characteristics when changed as little as a few millimeters. In the past, empirical experience has often guided decisions for changing these physical parameters during design and operation. A more detailed numerical study of these effects related to the geometry and the interaction of the microwave fields and plasma discharge is required. This study may also lead to more efficient reactor designs and ultimately faster deposition rates.
Shortest path problems with node failures

Consider the problem of finding the shortest paths from a node source s to a node sink t in a complete network. On any given instance of the problem, only a subset of the intermediate nodes can be used to go from s to t, the subset being chosen according to a given probability law. We wish to find an a priori path from s to t such that, on any given instance of the problem, the sequence of nodes defining the path is preserved but only the permissible nodes are traversed, the others being skipped. The problem of finding an a priori path of minimum expected length is defined as the Probabilistic Shortest Path Problem (PSPP). Note that if the network is not originally complete, the PSPP methodology can still be used if we first add each missing edge, together with a deterministic length (being defined by an alternative path using nodes that have no probability of failure). In this paper, after discussing potential applications of the PSPP, we study the complexity of this class of problems. We first show that the problem is, in general, NP-hard and then we develop polynomial time procedures for special cases of it. We also consider the complexity of a related problem: the Probabilistic Minimum Spanning Tree Problem (PMSTP). Finally, we provide a discussion of the implications of the results.
Differential space–time modulation for DS‐CDMA systems

Differential space–time modulation (DSTM) schemes were recently proposed to fully exploit the transmit and receive antenna diversities without the need for channel state information. DSTM is attractive in fast flat fading channels since accurate channel estimation is difficult to achieve. In this paper, we propose a new modulation scheme to improve the performance of DS-CDMA systems in fast time-dispersive fading channels. This scheme is referred to as the differential space–time modulation for DS-CDMA (DST-CDMA) systems. The new modulation and demodulation schemes are especially studied for the fast fading down-link transmission in DS-CDMA systems employing multiple transmit antennas and one receive antenna. We present three demodulation schemes, referred to as the differential space–time Rake (DSTR) receiver, differential space–time deterministic (DSTD) receiver, and differential space–time deterministic de-prefix (DSTDD) receiver, respectively. The DSTD receiver exploits the known information of the spreading sequences and their delayed paths deterministically besides the Rake-type combination; consequently, it can outperform the DSTR receiver, which employs the Rake-type combination only, especially for moderate-to-high SNR. The DSTDD receiver avoids the effect of intersymbol interference and hence can offer better performance than the DSTD receiver. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human capital, investment and growth: Some results from an endogenous growth model

Recent theoretical literature on the sources of economic growth has emphasized the role of human capital as an internal contributing force in the growth process. Empirical results reported in this paper provide support for this theoretical proposition. Cross-country data from 32 developing countries indicate that human capital (as alternatively measured by the primary school enrollment rate or the adult literacy rate) exerts a significant positive impact upon output growth.
Electron-ripplon scattering on the surface of liquid helium

We use an adiabatic development of the electron wave function to calculate the scattering matrix elements for the electron-ripplon interaction. In this treatment the nonadiabatic terms in the total Schrodinger equation are responsible for the scattering. Our calculation shows that the magnitude of the scattering matrix element for this interaction depends critically on the magnitude of the electron wave function at the surface.
Risk stratification of patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction by exercise radionuclide angiography and exercise electrocardiography.

The results of multicenter trials indicate that patients with left ventricular dysfunction and either three-vessel or left main coronary artery disease have improved prognosis when treated surgically. As part of a larger evaluation and follow-up study of coronary artery disease, the objective of this investigation was to determine whether exercise radionuclide angiography can be used, in patients with mild symptoms of coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction at rest, to identify patients with three-vessel or left main coronary artery disease. Eighty-four consecutive patients were studied with angiographically defined coronary artery disease in whom left ventricular ejection fraction at rest ranged from 20% to 40%. Patients underwent exercise electrocardiography, rest and exercise radionuclide angiography, and 24-hour electrocardiographic monitoring. There were 22 patients with one-vessel, 31 with two-vessel, 27 with three-vessel, and four with left main coronary artery disease. All but four patients had a documented history of myocardial infarction. By univariate analysis, the following parameters were related to the anatomic severity of coronary artery disease: magnitude of ST segment depression with exercise (p<0.001), magnitude of change in ejection fraction with exercise (p<0.005), and occurrence of angina during exercise (p<0.005). However, because of the extensive overlap among anatomic subgroups, no single factor had both a satisfactory sensitivity and a satisfactory specificity in identifying patients with three-vessel and left main coronary artery disease. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis also failed to predict three-vessel or left main coronary artery disease satisfactorily (sensitivity 73% and specificity 73%; positive predictive accuracy 59% and negative predictive accuracy 83%). Nonetheless, this multivariate analysis provided important prognostic information. During medical therapy (mean follow-up 56 months), the patients with a high likelihood of three-vessel or left main coronary artery disease had a greater risk of death or reinfarction than had patients with a low likelihood (p<0.05). These functional data were better than coronary anatomy alone in providing risk stratification. Four of six patients with two-vessel disease who died were classified incorrectly by the multivariate analysis in the high-likelihood group for three-vessel or left main coronary artery disease, but classified correctly as being at high risk; whereas none of the patients with three-vessel disease who were misclassified in the low-likelihood group died during medical therapy. Although exercise radionuclide angiography in patients with minimal symptoms of coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction is not precise in predicting three-vessel or left main coronary artery disease, it provides important functional information regarding subsequent prognosis during medical therapy.
An Integer Projected Fixed Point Method for Graph Matching and MAP Inference

Graph matching and MAP inference are essential problems in computer vision and machine learning. We introduce a novel algorithm that can accommodate both problems and solve them efficiently. Recent graph matching algorithms are based on a general quadratic programming formulation, which takes in consideration both unary and second-order terms reflecting the similarities in local appearance as well as in the pairwise geometric relationships between the matched features. This problem is NP-hard, therefore most algorithms find approximate solutions by relaxing the original problem. They find the optimal continuous solution of the modified problem, ignoring during optimization the original discrete constraints. Then the continuous solution is quickly binarized at the end, but very little attention is put into this final discretization step. In this paper we argue that the stage in which a discrete solution is found is crucial for good performance. We propose an efficient algorithm, with climbing and convergence properties, that optimizes in the discrete domain the quadratic score, and it gives excellent results either by itself or by starting from the solution returned by any graph matching algorithm. In practice it outperforms state-or-the art graph matching algorithms and it also significantly improves their performance if used in combination. When applied to MAP inference, the algorithm is a parallel extension of Iterated Conditional Modes (ICM) with climbing and convergence properties that make it a compelling alternative to the sequential ICM. In our experiments on MAP inference our algorithm proved its effectiveness by significantly outperforming [13], ICM and Max-Product Belief Propagation.
The use of a mono-fluted reamer results in decreased enlargement of the tibial tunnel when using a transtibial ACL reconstruction technique

To evaluate whether femoral tunnel preparation using a mono-fluted reamer rather than an acorn reamer would result in less tibial tunnel deformation when using a transtibial technique for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Tibial and femoral tunnel preparation was performed in four matched pairs of cadaveric knees. The tibial tunnel was drilled using a standard acorn reamer. The femoral tunnel was prepared using a transtibial technique with a mono-fluted reamer, and then, the same femoral tunnel was re-reamed using an acorn reamer. The anterior–posterior (AP) and medial–lateral (ML) dimensions of the tibial tunnel were recorded after each reamer. We then compared the measurements following the use of each reamer using a paired two-sample t test. There was a significantly larger degree of tibial tunnel deformation following femoral tunnel preparation with the acorn reamer when compared with the mono-fluted reamer. The initial tibial tunnel measured 10.5 and 10.1 mm in the AP and ML dimensions, respectively. The resultant AP diameter of the tibial tunnel after femoral reaming was 16.7 mm (p < 0.001) for the acorn reamer compared with 11.6 mm (p < 0.001) for the mono-fluted reamer. The ML diameters were 11.3 mm (p = 0.003) versus 10.2 mm (p = 0.07) for the acorn and mono-fluted reamer, respectively. The use of a mono-fluted reamer for femoral tunnel preparation results in less tibial tunnel deformation during transtibial reaming.
Bnip3 as a Dual Regulator of Mitochondrial Turnover and Cell Death in the Myocardium

The Bcl-2 adenovirus E1B 19 kDa-interacting protein 3 (Bnip3) is a pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Studies over the past decade have provided insight into how Bnip3 induces mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent cell death in cells. More recently, Bnip3 was identified as a potent inducer of autophagy in cells. However, the functional role of Bnip3-mediated autophagy has been difficult to define and remains controversial. New evidence has emerged suggesting that Bnip3 is an important regulator of mitochondrial turnover via autophagy in the myocardium. Also, studies suggest that the induction of Bnip3-dependent mitochondrial autophagy is a separately activated process independent of Bax/Bak and the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). This review discusses the current understanding of the functional role that Bnip3 plays in the myocardium. Recent studies suggest that Bnip3 might have a dual function in the myocardium, where it regulates both mitochondrial turnover via autophagy and cell death and that these are two separate processes activated by Bnip3.
Small-angle x-ray scattering and crystallization kinetics of poly(ethylene terephthalate) crystallized in a liquid environment

By small-angle x-ray scattering, a systematic investigation was performed of the long spacing of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) crystallized in a liquid environment. The results indicated that the measured long spacings were temperature dependent and apparently relatively insensitive to liquid type under the conditions studied. The kinetic nucleation model of polymer crystallization was found to adequately explain this dependence. The differences in the long spacings between thermal and liquid-induced crystallization were in part rationalized in terms of the suspected supercoolings involved in the respective processes. Calculation of the spherulite growth rates for liquid-induced crystallization was made on the basis of the kinetic nucleation model and the classic theory of polymer–diluent crystallization. The results were shown to agree with inferential experimental observations of these growth rates and to elucidate the physics underlying liquid–induced crystallization. Finally, use of this growth rate theory in conjunction with a previous model for overall crystallization kinetics was shown to adequately describe and predict the diffusion-limited kinetics observed experimentally for most liquid-induced crystallization situations.
PARP Inhibitor Activates the Intrinsic Pathway of Apoptosis in Primary Lung Cancer Cells

This investigation was aimed to see whether PJ34TM, a PARP inhibitor, could exert cytotoxicity in six nonsmall cell lung cancer cell lines developed from surgically resected tissues. Using various biochemical assays, we have seen that PJ34TM effects are consistent between untreated and treated samples but still somewhat variable between each cell line. Changes in protein expression and mitochondrial membrane potential between treated and untreated cells were indicating the possibility of apoptosis induction through an intrinsic pathway which causes cytotoxicity. Present results open the possibility of elucidating a decisive mechanism and effectiveness of chemotherapeutics specific to a patient.
Representing databases in frames

Three methods for representing data in a relational storage system with an in-core frame-based system are experimented with and reported upon. Tradeoffs among these three representational methods are sizes of databases, times for loading data, and performance of queries. Essentially, these methods differ in ways of capturing relationships among frames. The three different ways of capturing such relationships are via links (pointers), symbolic names (keys), or both. Results of the experiments shed light on efficient interfacing of databases with frame-based systems.
Recent advances in vaccination of non-responders to standard dose hepatitis B virus vaccine

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health problem. It is estimated there are more than 2 billion individuals exposed to the virus and 250 million are chronically infected. Hepatitis B is the cause of more than 600000 annual deaths due to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. An effective vaccine exists and preventative initiatives center around universal vaccination especially in those at highest risk. Effective vaccination algorithms have led to a significant decline in the development of new infections and its devastating consequences. The vaccine is administered intramuscularly in three doses, with 95% showing long lasting serologic immunity. An additional fourth dose or a repeated higher dose three course regimen is given to those that fail to show immunity. Despite these additional regimens, some remain vulnerable to hepatitis B and are deemed non-responders. Individuals with chronic disease states such as kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes mellitus, as well as those with a genetic predisposition, and those on immunomodulation therapy, have the highest likelihood of non-response. Various strategies have been developed to elicit an immune response in these individuals. These include increased vaccination dose, intradermal administration, alternative adjuvants, alternative routes of administration, co-administration with other vaccines, and other novel therapies. These alternative strategies can show improved response and lasting immunity. In summary, HBV vaccination is a major advance of modern medicine and all individuals at risk should be sought and vaccinated with subsequent adequate titers demonstrated.
A PEROXIDASE-MEDIATED, STREPTOCOCCUS MITIS-DEPENDENT ANTIMICROBIAL SYSTEM IN SALIVA

H2O2 formation by Streptococcus mitis was measured by the catalase-dependent conversion of [14C]formate to 14CO2 ; it was optimal at pH 6.0–6.5 and required glucose. The H2O2 formed by S. mitis could be employed as a component of an antimicrobial system that also included lactoperoxidase (LPO) and either iodide or thiocyanate ions in the concentrations present in saliva. The antimicrobial effect of the LPO-iodide- S. mitis system was measured by the decrease in the viable cell count of the target organisms ( Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida tropicalis ). The antimicrobial effect of the LPO-thiocyanate- S. mitis system was measured by the decrease in the rate of growth or the rate of uptake of [14C]valine by the target organisms ( E. coli, S. aureus ). Mixed or parotid saliva could replace LPO and thiocyanate ions in the S. mitis -dependent inhibition of bacterial growth and valine uptake. The presence in saliva of a peroxidase-mediated, antimicrobial system dependent on microbial metabolism for H2O2 and its role as a natural host defense mechanism are considered.
Response of Human Tumor Cells of Varying Radiosensitivity and Radiocurability to Fractionated Irradiation

The cytotoxic effects of radiation delivered in daily fractions of 2.0 Gy were examined in plateau phase cultures of human tumor cells of varying in vitro radiosensitivity, derived from tumors of varying radiocurability. Among the eight cell lines examined, three types of responses to fractionated irradiation were observed. In the group composed of tumor cell lines that were radioresistant in culture (D 0 > 2Gy) and derived from known local radiation failures or from tumor histologies associated with radiation failure, a gradual linear reduction in surviving fraction versus total dose was observed. In a second group, composed of cell lines that were radiosensitive in culture (D 0 ≅ 1 Gy) but derived from known radiation failures, the surviving fraction initially declined and began to plateau after 6 Gy (three fractions of 2 Gy). In the third group, composed of radiosensitive cell lines derived from tumors associated with high radiocurability, a rapid decline in surviving fraction versus total dose was observed. The in vitro response of human tumor cells to fractionated irradiation delivered at clinically relevant doses appears to be independent of in vitro X-ray sensitivity and p53 status but related to clinical radiocurability, suggesting a possible role in predicting tumor response to radiotherapy.
The MPC elucidator: a case study in the design for human-automation interaction

In this paper, we describe the design of a decision support system for operators of model-based predictive controllers (MPC). MPC is a form of advanced automatic control that is increasingly common in process operations due to its ability to control and optimize large sections of a process. A cognitive task analysis revealed that current operating displays, which rely on displaying tables of numeric information across several display pages, do not effectively support human operator monitoring, diagnosis, and control of MPC. This case study shows how we applied representation aiding and workspace management design principles to better support the human-automation interaction requirements of monitoring, understanding, and adjusting these complex, semi-autonomous; process controllers. We show how effective user interface design can significantly reduce the complexity of operating with advanced automation, and can lead to improved understanding of how the automation works.
Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solution Using Novel Nanoengineered Sorbents: Self-Assembled Carbamoylphosphonic Acids on Mesoporous Silica

Self‐assembled monolayers of carbamoylphosphonic acids (acetamide phosphonic acid and propionamide phosphonic acid) on mesoporous silica supports were studied as potential absorbents for heavy and transition metal ions in aqueous wastes. The adsorption capacity, selectivity, and kinetics of the materials in sequestering metal ions, including Cd2 +, Co2 +, Cu2 +, Cr3 +, Pb2 +, Ni2 +, Zn2 +, and Mn2 +, were measured in batch experiments with excess sodium ion. The solution pH ranged from 2.2 to 5.5. The kinetics study shows that the adsorption reached equilibrium in seconds, indicating that there is little resistance to mass transfer, intraparticle diffusion, and surface chemical reaction. The competitive adsorption study found the phosphonic acid‐SAMMS to have an affinity for divalent metal ions in decreasing order of Pb2 + > Cu2 + > Mn2 + > Cd2 + > Zn2 + > Co2 + > Ni2 +. The measured Cd2 +adsorption isotherm was of the Langmuirian type and had a saturation binding capacity of 0.32 mmol/g.
Using Swarm Intelligence and Bayesian Inference for Aircraft Interrogation

Sensor management deals with the efficient resource allocation to meet mission objectives of the application, air traffic control. A schedule for the sensors is constructed, which simultaneously meets the measurement accuracy and update rate, while minimizing the transmissions from the sensors. Bayesian inference is used to determine management requirements for individual aircraft. Particle swarm optimization, a technique modeled after swarming insects to solve multi-objective optimization problems efficiently, is used to form, test, and search potential sensor schedules for a final schedule solution that maximizes the fitness function. The fitness function is composed of weighted performance estimates enabling quantitative comparisons among schedules. A Bayesian network optimizes the values of the weights as well as the performance requirements to get the best overall performance possible from the entire sensor network system.
Differing opinions about natural gas drilling in two adjacent counties with different levels of drilling activity

The pace of development of shale gas plays varies greatly among US states and globally. Through analysis of telephone survey responses, we explore support for natural gas drilling in residents of Washington County (WC), PA (n=502) vs. residents of Allegheny County (AC), PA (n=799). WC has had intense Marcellus Shale (MS) drilling activity, in comparison to adjacent AC, which has had little drilling activity. WC residents are marginally more supportive of MS drilling than are AC residents (p=0.0768). Residents of WC are more likely to perceive MS as an economic opportunity than are AC residents (p=0.0015); to be in a family that has signed a MS lease (p<0.0001); to follow the MS issue closely (p=0.0003); to get MS information from neighbors, friends, and relatives (p<0.0001); and are marginally less likely to perceive MS as an environmental threat (p=0.1090). WC leaseholders are significantly more supportive of MS drilling than WC non-leaseholders and AC non-leaseholders (p=0.0024). Mediation analyses show that county-based differences in support of MS drilling are due to WC residents seeing more of an economic opportunity in the MS and their greater likelihood of having a family-held lease.
Does the histology of nodal metastasis predict systemic relapse after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in pathological stage B1 germ cell tumors

ABSTRACTPurpose: We evaluated the prognostic significance of the histology of metastatic lymph nodes to predict postoperative relapse in pathological stage B1 nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT).Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of the testicular cancer database was performed to identify all patients with clinical stage A NSGCT who underwent primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and were found to have pathological stage B1 disease. No patient received adjuvant chemotherapy and minimal followup was 24 months.Results: A total of 118 patients were identified with a 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) of 68% and a median followup of 43 months. Embryonal cell carcinoma was identified in 92 of 118 (77%) surgical specimens, which was significantly greater than the presence of teratoma (22%), seminoma (16%) and yolk sac (14.4%, p ≤0.001) with no difference in 5-year DFS comparing the presence or absence of each histology. Solitary histology was noted in 88 of 118 patients (74.5%). Embryonal...
Brief history of infant nutrition and view to the future.

Thank you for your generous remarks, Dr Eaton. With the extensive list of busy work, it is difficult to see how anything good could have come from my activities. Before accepting the award, I should like to acknowledge some of the many people who have contributed to my attaining this honor. First, I thank the nominating committee of the Academy who must have been sleeping at the time of their decision. I thank my ex-students, co-workers, and stimulators, particularly Frank Oski and Grant Morrow, as well as the late Bill Mellman and Michael Miller, who helped me accomplish the little I accomplished. I9ve been lucky in wives, both of whom gave considerable support.
Exploring the Complex Universe of Fixed-Income ETFs: Is More Better or Is Less More?

The debut of fixed-income ETFs in 2002 and 2003 was anxiously anticipated by investors who regard bonds as an essential part of a diversified portfolio. After a slow start that lasted a few years, bond ETFs suddenly started being issued in droves. Even the 2008–2009 financial crisis, which had quite an impact on equity ETFs, didn’t slow down the relentless growth of bond ETFs. That favorable market picture wasn’t matched, however, by their risk-adjusted returns. Most delivered, at best, lukewarm performance. In their defense, proponents of fixed-income investing have typically pointed to the overall low correlation between bonds and other asset classes as one of the main benefits of investing in this asset category, so in this article, the authors analyze the diversification potential of bond ETFs. The results were quite outstanding, as many bond ETFs showed highly favorable correlations in terms of both magnitude and direction of the sign of their coefficients with two major equity benchmarks. As is the case for other asset categories of the ETF market, however, the authors also noticed excessive duplication in the fixed-income segment of the market, making a compelling case for “less is more.”
A complete characterization of paths that are m-step competition graphs

For any digraph D let the m-step competition graph C^m(D) be the graph with the same vertices as D where x and y share an edge in C^m(D) if in D there are m-step paths from x and y to a common vertex z. This paper builds on the work of G.T. Helleloid (2005) and J. Kuhl and B.C. Swan (2010), characterizing the paths that are m-step competition graphs of a digraph. We show that the n-step path P"n is an m-step competition graph if and only if either m|n-1 or m|n-2.
A class AB monolithic mixer for 900-MHz applications

A class AB downconversion mixer for 900-MHz applications is presented. The circuit is implemented in a 25-GHz f/sub T/ bipolar process and consumes 10.2 mA total current from a 3-V supply. The design has a power gain of 7.5 dB and operates with supply voltages from 2.7 to 5 V. A single-sideband noise figure of 7.5 dB is achieved by design simplicity, use of bond-wire degeneration in the common-emitter driver stage, and optimization of the device sizes and bias currents. An input 1-dB compression point of -1.5 dBm is achieved by exploiting the class AB behavior of the common-emitter driver stage.
Dynamic range of finite-precision recursive QRD LS algorithm and its stability

It is observed that the cosine parameters generated by boundary cells will eventually reach quasi-steady-state if lambda is close to one. It is shown that the quasi-steady-state and ensemble values of sine and cosine parameters are the same for all boundary cells. It is independent of the statistics of the input data sequence and the position of the boundary cell which generates the sine and cosine parameters. Simulation results are presented to support this observation. The stability under quantization effect problem is discussed, and bounds tighter than previously published work are obtained. >
Demonstration of a Palm-Sized 30 Watt Air-to-Power Turbine Generator

A compact, high power-density turbo-generator system was conceived, designed and experimentally tested. The air-to-power (A2P) device with a nominal design point of 50 W electric power output operates on high pressure air such as for example from a plant pneumatic system or a portable bottle of pressurized air. A concept design study was first carried out to explore the design space for a range of output power at cost efficiency levels specified in collaboration with industry. The cost efficiency is defined as the cost of electrical power over the cost of pressurized air. The key challenge in the design is the relatively low power demand of 50 W while operating at high supply pressures of nominally 5 to 6 bar. To meet the cost efficiency goal under these conditions, a high-speed turbine and generator (∼450,000 rpm) are required with small blade span (∼200 μm) minimizing the mass flow while achieving the highest possible turbine performance. Since turbines with such small turbomachinery blading aren’t commercially available, a silicon-based MEMS turbine was designed using 2-D and 3-D CFD computations. To reduce the development time, existing and previously demonstrated custom-made generator and ceramic ball-bearing technology were used, resulting in a compact A2P proof-of-concept demonstration. The cylindrical device of 35 mm diameter resembles a tube fitting with a standard M24 adapter. Without load, a top turbine speed of 475,000rpm was demonstrated exceeding the design specification. Using load resistors, the proof-of-concept A2P device achieved 30 W of electrical power at 360,000 rpm and a turbine efficiency of 47%, meeting the cost efficiency goal. Higher speeds under load could not be achieved due to thrust load limitations of the off-shelf ball bearings. The demonstrated performance is in good agreement with the projected CFD based predictions. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first successful demonstration of a self-contained, 50 W-class turbo-generator of hybrid architecture where a MEMS turbine disk is joined with a precision machined titanium shaft and aluminum housing.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Physician Specialty Influences Care of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Abstract Background: CDC guidelines recommend Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and HIV testing, as well as specific antibiotic regimens in the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), although latitude in adhering to these guidelines is common. We hypothesized that adherence to CDC guidelines for antibiotic regimens and laboratory testing, coverage for anaerobic organisms, and the use of diagnostic imaging techniques do not differ significantly between practitioners with emergency medicine (EM) versus obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) training. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective medical chart review on patients (N = 351) discharged with a diagnosis of PID over a 20-month period at two neighboring emergency care facilities—one with EM-trained providers and the other with OB-GYN-trained providers. Results: Adjusted for demographic predictors and chief complaint, there was no significant difference in adherence to N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis antibioti...
The Lateral Facial Approach to the Nasopharynx and Infratemporal Fossa

Surgical access to the nasopharynx and infratemporal fossa is restricted by the bony structures that support and define these areas. Traditional surgical approaches to the nasopharynx for removal of benign neoplasms follow three directions: (1) the anterior route via the nasal cavity and the maxillary and, if necessary, the ethmoid sinuses; (2) the inferior route through the palate; and (3) the anterolateral retromaxillary pathway via the gingivobuccal sulcus into the pterygoid space. These approaches provide fair access, but limited visibility and little technical control of the neurovascular supply. For the small- to medium-sized tumor, the experienced surgeon is able to successfully manage the majority of cases using these approaches, singly or in combination. However, in patients with larger tumors—when recurrence is more common—approaches offering greater visualization have been developed, such as Panje's facial bifiap,1 Mann's transmaxillary,2 and Fisch's transtemporal.3 These provide better access ...
Structural Cerebral Changes and Conduct Disorder

Voxel-based morphometry was used to analyze structural MRI scans from 23 boys with callous-unemotional conduct problems (mean age 11 yrs 8 months) and 25 healthy controls, in a study at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, London, UK, and other centers in London and Germany.
Thermoacoustic applications in breast cancer imaging, non-contact explosive detection and communications

Thermoacoustic effect is promising in applications in a plethora of areas ranging from biomedical imaging to foreign body detection. This paper reviews our work on thermoacoustic applications in breast cancer imaging, non-contact explosive detection and communications.
Practical Methodology for Modeling Wireless Routing Protocols using OPNET Modeler

OPNET Modeler is one of the most popular commercial products for simulating and modeling of computer networks and related technologies. While creating a new simulation study using standard models is a fairly straight-forward task, developing new models or modifying existing ones could become a challenging and often frustrating undertaking. This paper provides an overview of OPNET Modeler’s software architecture for modeling wireless networks and MANET routing protocols. In particular, this paper concentrates on the modeling and simulation portion of the research project that studies improvement of Ad-Hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing protocol through the use of GPS coordinates. Using AODV modifications as an example, this paper introduces practical methodology for changing existing simulation models of MANET routing protocols and seamlessly integrating them within OPNET Modeler. In addition this paper introduces GeoAODV protocol which reduces the route discovery overhead through the use of GPS coordinates.
Using a Rasch Model to Rank Big Pharmaceutical Firms by Financial Performance

We explore a Rasch approach to ranking the top 15 firms in the pharmaceutical industry by their overall financial performance.Â Using an initial set of ratios spanning multiple dimensions of firm financial performance, we select the ratios that are compatible with the requirements of the Rasch model for this industry during 2002-2013.Â We then identify the firms that most frequently ranked among the top five performers. Three firms stand out as consistently disclosing the required data and showing up at the top of the performance spectrum. Our approach offers a new perspective on the valuation of managers and their firms.Â
Imported malaria and control strategies in Quanzhou City

OBJECTIVE To understand the epidemic situation of imported malaria in Quanzhou City, and put forward control strategies, so as to provide the evidence for the elimination of malaria on time in 2014. METHODS The data of epidemic situation, the annual sheets, and case investigation tables of malaria were collected and analyzed statistically in Quanzhou City from 2007 to 2011. RESULTS The total imported malaria cases were 15 in Quanzhou City from 2007 to 2011, all the cases were male, and 46.67% of them focused on 40-49 years old. These cases were found through the year and mainly distributed in Quangang, Jinjiang, Shishi and Huian (City or District). The parasite rate in "three-fever" patients was 0. CONCLUSIONS After the comprehensive measures with an emphasis on infection source management and vector control were implemented, the imported malaria endemic situation is stable in Quanzhou City. We should strengthen the health education and management of the entry-exit personnel as well as improve the control and management of imported malaria.