cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of foreign entry on Argentina's domestic banking sector

The authors analyze how foreign entry affected domestic banks in Argentina during an especially intense period of entry in the mid-1990s. Their results are consistent with the hypothesis that foreign banks enter areas where they have a competitive advantage, putting pressure on the domestic banks already focused on that type of lending. They find that domestic banks with loan portfolios concentrated in manufacturing - an area to which foreign banks have traditionally devoted much of their lending - tended to have lower net margins and lower before-tax profits than other domestic banks. The informational advantages local banks enjoyed probably helped ensure that foreign banks would not drive them from the market. Domestic banks with greater consumer lending - an area in which foreign banks have not been heavily involved - had higher net margins and greater before-tax profits. Domestic banks that focused on mortgage lending - an area foreign banks entered aggressively in the mid-1990s - experienced falling net margins and increasing overhead. There were many domestic bank failures in the mid-1990s, but the banks that failed were not heavily concentrated in the types of lending favored by foreign banks.
Connecticut Nitrogen Credit Exchange Program

Long Island Sound is a cherished national natural resource, surrounded by some of the most densely populated land in the country. It has long provided sustenance, economic opportunities and comfort to the spirit for those who inhabit or visit its shores and waters. Like many of our Nation’s water bodies, it drains a substantial and diverse watershed, and suffers a broad range of environmental insults. The problem of most concern is the severe shortage of oxygen in the deep waters of the western part of the Sound during summer months. This hypoxia is attributable to excess nitrogen which fuels the growth of algae that in decomposing draw oxygen from the water, denying it to other aquatic life. While a considerable amount of nitrogen derives from surface runoff and atmospheric deposition, the main contributors are the many sewage treatment plants that pour thousands of pounds of nitrogen into the Sound and its tributaries each day.To address this problem, the two states primarily encompassing the Sound, New York and Connecticut, have taken measures to upgrade their sewage plants with nitrogen removal technologies. Connecticut has gone further, devising a program under which sewage plants may create, sell and purchase credits in order to meet their nitrogen effluent limitations. This paper describes the program.
Quantizing scalar change

This paper provides a new analysis of N-BY-N adverbials that captures their previously unrecognized close connection to verbs of scalar change. After providing a series of arguments that N-BY-N modification requires the VP to provide a scalar interval it can measure, we use this as novel evidence that incremental theme verbs, as well as inherently directed motion and change of state verbs, must make reference to scales. The analysis thus supports a unified scalar account of verbs of variable telicity (e.g., Hay, Kennedy & Levin 1999; Kennedy & Levin 2008; Kennedy 2012). Finally, we show that our analysis avoids empirical problems for previous approaches to these adverbials in both English (Beck & von Stechow 2007; Brasoveanu & Henderson 2009) and Russian (Braginsky & Rothstein 2008).
Androgen Receptor Splice Variant 7 and Efficacy of Taxane Chemotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Importance We previously showed that detection of androgen receptor splice variant 7 (AR-V7) in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) was associated with primary resistance to enzalutamide and abiraterone therapy, but the relevance of AR-V7 status in the context of chemotherapy is unknown. Objective To investigate whether AR-V7–positive patients would retain sensitivity to taxane chemotherapy and whether AR-V7 status would have a differential impact on taxane-treated men compared with enzalutamide- or abiraterone-treated men. Design, Setting, and Participants We examined CTCs for AR-V7 mRNA using a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. From January 2013 to July 2014, we prospectively enrolled patients with metastatic CRPC initiating taxane chemotherapy (docetaxel or cabazitaxel) at a single academic institution (Johns Hopkins). Our prespecified statistical plan required a sample size of 36 taxane-treated men. Main Outcomes and Measures We evaluated associations between AR-V7 status and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rates, PSA progression-free survival (PSA PFS), and clinical and/or radiographic progression-free survival (PFS). After incorporating updated data from our prior study of 62 patients treated with enzalutamide or abiraterone, we also investigated the interaction between AR-V7 status (positive or negative) and treatment type (taxane vs enzalutamide or abiraterone). Results Of 37 taxane-treated patients enrolled, 17 (46%) had detectable AR-V7 in CTCs. Prostate-specific antigen responses were achieved in both AR-V7–positive and AR-V7–negative men (41% vs 65%; P = .19). Similarly, PSA PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.7, 95% CI, 0.6-5.0; P = .32) and PFS (HR, 2.7, 95% CI, 0.8-8.8; P = .11) were comparable in AR-V7–positive and AR-V7–negative patients. A significant interaction was observed between AR-V7 status and treatment type ( P P P = .001; HR, 0.21 [95% CI, 0.07-0.59] for PFS, P = .003). Conclusions and Relevance Detection of AR-V7 in CTCs from men with metastatic CRPC is not associated with primary resistance to taxane chemotherapy. In AR-V7–positive men, taxanes appear to be more efficacious than enzalutamide or abiraterone therapy, whereas in AR-V7–negative men, taxanes and enzalutamide or abiraterone may have comparable efficacy. Circulating tumor cell–based AR-V7 detection may serve as a treatment selection biomarker in CRPC.
Geometric Quantization with Applications to Gromov-Witten Theory

In the physics literature, geometric quantization is an operation that arises from an attempt to make sense of the passage from a classical theory to the corresponding quantum theory. In mathematics, on the other hand, the work of Alexander Givental and others has revealed quantization to be a powerful tool for studying Gromov–Witten-type theories in higher genus. For example, if the quantization of a symplectic transformation matches two total descendent potentials, then the original symplectic transformations matches their genus-zero theories, and, at least when a semisimplicity condition is satisfied, the converse is also true. In these notes, we give a mathematically-minded presentation of quantization of symplectic vector spaces, and we illustrate how quantization appears in specific applications to Gromov–Witten theory.
The segmentation of the leech nervous system is prefigured by myogenic cells at the embryonic midline expressing a muscle-specific matrix protein

In the leech, adult muscle cells and embryonic mesodermal/ myogenic cells express the cell-type-specific Laz 1 O-l epitope on extracellular matrix-associated proteins. Using this muscle-specific epitope as a marker, we found the following correlations between the development of identifiable myogenie cells at the embryonic midline and the segmentation of the leech CNS into 32 reiterative ganglia. (1) During the production of mesodermal and ectodermal stem cells, cell bodies of midline myogenic cells create 32 anterior-posterior intervals along the midline of the embryonic germinal plate. The mesoblasts then rearrange themselves into 32 somites whose spacing follows the intervals between the midline myogenic cell bodies. (2) Bilateral segmental zones of myogenic differentiation originate in juxtaposition to the midline myogenic cells. (3) The first two types of muscle precursors develop from midline and adjacent bilateral myogenic cells; they are the precursors of the CNS muscles and of three groups of ventral blood sinus muscles. These two types of muscle precursors demarcate the boundaries of the territory within which neuroblasts proliferate and coalesce into segmental hemiganglionic primordia: Cell bodies of muscle precursors, like cornerstones, demarcate the anterior and posterior borders of the hemiganglionic primordia; their longitudinal processes surround the expanding hemiganglionic primordia on the medial, lateral, dorsal, and ventral aspect. The contours of muscle precursors and midline myogenic cells are sharply delineated by immunohistochemical staining of the LazlO-1 epitopes. In contrast, undifferentiated mesoblasts are surrounded by diffuse layers of stained epitopes, which are expressed at fluctuating levels. Because elevated levels of this matrix epitope are associated with mesodermal/myogenic cells undergoing morphogenetic rearrangements, it may participate in the molecular mechanisms underlying the segmentation of the nervous system.
Electrochemically-actuated mercury valve for flow rate and direction control: design, characterization, and applications

An electrochemically actuated mercury column was configured to function as a valve for controlling both flow rate and flow direction. The valving mechanism relies on a glass piston, which is placed on top of a mercury column, to open or block a capillary flow channel. The glass piston is actuated by the movement of the mercury column, and is based on an electrochemically induced change in the surface tension at the mercury-electrolyte interface. The position of the piston can be controlled by applying different voltages to the mercury electrode, which changes the surface tension of mercury, and hence the relative height of the mercury column in each of the two arms of a U-shaped tube. The extent of the piston displacement opens, closes, or partially opens the flow channel, thereby altering fluid flow rate. This paper presents the valving concept, and demonstrates its application in controlling both the rate and direction of fluid flow and in flow injection analyses.
Intracoronary fibrinolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction. Report of a prospective randomized trial.

Abstract We performed a randomized trial comparing intracoronary administration of streptokinase versus dextrose placebo within six hours after the onset of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction in 40 patients. The base-line clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic findings were similar in the control and streptokinase-treated groups. Reestablishment of flow occurred in 12 of 20 patients treated with streptokinase and in 2 of 20 given placebo (P<0.05). Left ventricular function, angiographic ejection fraction, and regional wall motion, measured before and immediately after intervention, and serial radionuclide ejection fractions, measured at treatment, at 12 days, and at 5 months, were compared according to type of treatment (streptokinase vs. placebo) and outcome of therapy (reperfusion vs. no reperfusion). No statistically significant differences between groups were found. Thus, although streptokinase was more effective than placebo in achieving reperfusion, we detected no improvement of left ventricul...
Lower bounds on sample size in structural equation modeling

Computationally intensive structural equation modeling (SEM) approaches have been in development over much of the 20th century, initiated by the seminal work of Sewall Wright. To this day, sample size requirements remain a vexing question in SEM based studies. Complexities which increase information demands in structural model estimation increase with the number of potential combinations of latent variables; while the information supplied for estimation increases with the number of measured parameters times the number of observations in the sample size - both are non-linear. This alone would imply that requisite sample size is not a linear function solely of indicator count, even though such heuristics are widely invoked in justifying SEM sample size. This paper develops two lower bounds on sample size in SEM, the first as a function of the ratio of indicator variables to latent variables, and the second as a function of minimum effect, power and significance. The algorithm is applied to a meta-study of a set of research published in five of the top MIS journals. The study shows a systematic bias towards choosing sample sizes that are significantly too small. Actual sample sizes averaged only 50% of the minimum needed to draw the conclusions the studies claimed. Overall, 80% of the research articles in the meta-study drew conclusions from insufficient samples. Lacking accurate sample size information, researchers are inclined to economize on sample collection with inadequate samples that hurt the credibility of research conclusions. Guidelines are provided for applying the algorithms developed in this study, and companion software encapsulating the paper's formulae is made available for download.
Paravertebral Mushroom: Identification of a novel species of Phellinus as a Human Pathogen in Chronic Granulomatous Disease

ABSTRACT We describe a case of paravertebral abscess caused by a Phellinus sp. in a boy with chronic granulomatous disease. Sequence-based identification of this mold, a new agent of disease, suggests a close relation to Phellinus umbrinellus.
Effect of caffeine on DNA synthesis in irradiated and unirradiated mammalian cells.

Abstract Caffeine increased the availability of replication origins, and consequently the number of growing points, in the DNA of Chinese hamster V79 and human (HeLa) cells. Caffeine also prevented the inhibition of replicon initiation normally caused by X-radiation and exposure to low doses of ultraviolet light. When caffeine was removed from the medium after irradiation, replicon initiation was inhibited. Caffeine also reversed the inhibition of replicon initiation caused by novobiocin, which is not a DNA-damaging agent. Because caffeine increases the number of growing points, it also partially reversed the inhibition of total DNA synthesis induced by hydroxyurea. It is proposed that caffeine alters the conformation of intracellular chromatin in such a way that the conformation usually induced by DNA-damaging agents is prevented.
The Classification of Artifacts in Archaeology

Analytic classification consists of forming successive series of classes, referring to different features of artifacts. Each class is characterized by one or more attributes which indicate a custom to which the artisan conformed, for example, a technique of manufacture, or a concept which he expressed in the artifacts, such as a design. These customs and concepts constitute modes. They are “procedural modes” when they refer to behavior of artisans and “conceptual modes” when they consist of ideas which artisans have expressed in artifacts.
Effect of Seed Roasting Conditions on the Antioxidant Activity of Defatted Sesame Meal Extracts

S.-M. JEONG, S.-Y. KIM, D.-R. KIM, K.C. NAM, D.U. AHN, AND S.-C. LEE ABSTRACT: Antioxidant activities of defatted sesame meal extract increased as the roasting temperature of sesame seed increased, but the maximum antioxidant activity was achieved when the seeds were roasted at 200 °C for 60 min. Roasting sesame seeds at 200 °C for 60 min significantly increased the total phenolic content, radical scaveng- ing activity (RSA), reducing powers, and antioxidant activity of sesame meal extract; and several low-molecular- weight phenolic compounds such as 2-methoxyphenol, 4-methoxy-3-methylthio-phenol, 5-amino-3-oxo-4- hexenoic acid, 3,4-methylenedioxyphenol (sesamol), 3-hydroxy benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid, vanillic acid, filicinic acid, and 3,4-dimethoxy phenol were newly formed in the sesame meal after roasting sesame seeds at 200 °C for 60 min. These results indicate that antioxidant activity of defatted sesame meal extracts was signifi-
Stratospheric Warmings: Observations and Theory

Winter stratospheric-warming observations and associated theories are reviewed. Major warmings occur on the average every other year and may be considered an important climatological component of the winter stratosphere. The warming results from eddy heat transport from equatorial latitudes into the polar regions. The eddies chiefly responsible for the transport are the planetary-scale waves which may attain amplitudes twice their monthly average values in the lower stratosphere prior to the warming. In the troposphere this amplitude increase is associated with the development of blocking patterns. The warming is shown to have a strong nonzonal component in the upper stratosphere, a feature not fully recognized by modelers. The critical-level theory of the sudden stratospheric warming provides a simple dynamic explanation of the event. The close connection between blocking in the troposphere and the development of the sudden warming is likely to be a result of resonance of free planetary waves in a stratospheric wind cavity.
A comparison of serum-free media for the support of in vitro mitogen-induced blastogenic expansion of cytolytic lymphocytes.

The high cost and potential dangers of including human AB serum in incubation media used to expand lymphocyte populations in vitro for adoptive immunotherapy have stimulated efforts to develop defined media which can support both the expansion and induction of lymphocytes with tumor cytolytic activity in the absence of serum. Lymphocyte proliferation following exposure to either PHA or the combination of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) and the calcium ionophore, ionomycin, was evaluated. Although the media tested, X-Vivo 10, HB-104, AIM V, and HL-1, supported the generation of comparable levels of LAK activity after 3–5 days incubation with 103 U human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)/ml, there were striking differences in the ability of each medium to support mitogenically stimulated lymphocytes in the absence of serum, with cells in AIM V and X-Vivo 10 showing the highest levels of DNA synthesis. In long-term cultures (17 days) of blood MNC stimulated by PDBu and ionomycin, X-Vivo 10 and HB-104 yielded the greatest numbers of cells. The addition of 2% AB serum greatly enhanced the ability of each medium to support cell proliferation to equivalent maximum levels. The results indicate that while all four serum-free media were suitable for lymphocyte culture and support the development of LAK activity, they differ in their capacity to support expansion of lymphocyte populations in response to polyclonal mitogenic activation. This latter characteristic should be considered before choosing a particular serum-free formulation as its constituents may affect mechanistic interpretations regarding signal transduction events.
Asymmetry of White Matter Pathways in Developing Human Brains

Little is known about the emergence of structural asymmetry of white matter tracts during early brain development. We examined whether and when asymmetry in diffusion parameters of limbic and association white matter pathways emerged in humans in 23 brains ranging from 15 gestational weeks (GW) up to 3 years of age (11 ex vivo and 12 in vivo cases) using high-angular resolution diffusion imaging tractography. Age-related development of laterality was not observed in a limbic connectional pathway (cingulum bundle or fornix). Among the studied cortico-cortical association pathways (inferior longitudinal fasciculus [ILF], inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and arcuate fasciculus), only the ILF showed development of age-related laterality emerging as early as the second trimester. Comparisons of ages older and younger than 40 GW revealed a leftward asymmetry in the cingulum bundle volume and a rightward asymmetry in apparent diffusion coefficient and leftward asymmetry in fractional anisotropy in the ILF in ages older than 40 GW. These results suggest that morphometric asymmetry in cortical areas precedes the emergence of white matter pathway asymmetry. Future correlative studies will investigate whether such asymmetry is anatomically/genetically driven or associated with functional stimulation.
Microstrip Open End and Gap Discontinuities Including Anisotropic Substrates

ABSTRACT A dynamic source reversal method, based on potential theory, is developed to determine the parameters of the equivalent circuit for capacitive gaps in microstrip lines with anisotropic substrates. The open circuit end capacitance is found as a special case by letting the gap spacing go to infinity. It is also shown that since the discontinuity is essentially characterized by the excess charge in the vicinity of the gap an equivalent problem with an isotropic substrate and an effective substrate thickness can be formulated that gives accurate results for the equivalent circuit capacitances.
Mannosidosis: Deficiency of a specific α-mannosidase component in cultured fibroblasts

Evidence is prisented which shows that the enzymatic defect in mannosidosis, the deficiency of alpha-mannosidase, is expressed in cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with mannosidosis. Additionally, by Cellogel electrophoresis, the enzyme can be separated into two major components (a heat stable component missing in mannosidosis fibroblasts with a pH optimum of 3.6-4.0 and a heat labile component present in mannosidosis fibroblasts with a pH optimum of 5.6-6.0). The specific activity and electrophoresis of alpha-mannosidase from cultured amniotic fluid cells are also shown to be similar to cultured skin fibroblasts.
On the structure of turbulent premixed flames in high-pressure combustors

The influence of pressure on the structure of turbulent premixed flames is examined using dimensional analysis, and it is found that both reaction-sheet and distributed-combustion burning are of likely importance at high pressures characteristic of practical gas-turbine engines.
Magnitude and significance of the higher-order reduced density matrix cumulants

Using full configuration interaction wave functions for Be and LiH, in both minimal and extended basis sets, we examine the absolute magnitude and energetic significance of various contributions to the three-electron reduced density matrix (3-RDM) and its connected (size-consistent) component, the 3-RDM cumulant (3-RDMC). Minimal basis sets are shown to suppress the magnitude of the 3-RDMC in an artificial manner, whereas in extended basis sets, 3-RDMC matrix elements are often comparable in magnitude to the corresponding 3-RDM elements, even in cases where this result is not required by spin angular momentum coupling. Formal considerations suggest that these observations should generalize to higher-order p-RDMs and p-RDMCs ( p 3). This result is discussed within the context of electronic structure methods based on the contracted Schrodinger equation (CSE), as solution of the CSE relies on 3- and 4-RDM "reconstruction functionals" that neglect the 3-RDMC, the 4-RDMC, or both. Although the 3-RDMC is responsible for at most 0.2% of the total electronic energy in Be and LiH, it accounts for up to 70% of the correlation energy, raising questions regarding whether (and how) the CSE can offer a useful computational methodology. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 107: 703-711, 2007
Incorporation of Colloidal PbSe Quantum Dots into 2-D Photonic Crystal Structures

We demonstrate the functionalization of 2-D photonic crystal structures operating at ∼ 1.5 μm with colloidal PbSe quantum dots and examine the modified photoluminescence from the functionalized photonic crystal. Using spin coating and airbrushing, monodisperse PbSe quantum dots were deposited from hexanes on lithographically patterned GaAs photonic crystal substrates. The effectiveness of patterning the PbSe quantum dots via standard liftoff process was examined. The near-IR photoluminescence spectra of quantum dot-functionalized photonic crystals were studied. We found that the photoluminescence peak became attenuated by approximately a factor of five and exhibited a narrow peak width (50 nm vs. 120 nm) compared to PbSe deposited on unpatterned GaAs, suggesting that there is some coupling between the quantum dots and the photonic crystal. Future work to improve the coupling and detection efficiency is proposed.
Rapid matching in Drosophila place learning

The level of conditioned behavior in animals is proportional to the intensity, amount, frequency, or probability of reinforcement. Interestingly, this matching can be dynamic, with performance levels following, for example, a switch in the probability of reinforcement with a short delay. We previously found that conditioned performance levels in Drosophila match reinforcement intensity in a place conditioning paradigm. Whether Drosophila can match conditioned behavior to a change in reinforcement intensity was an open question. In this study, we found that both conditioned behavior and memory levels match reinforcement intensity after a switch, and this rapid matching occurs within 2 min. Thus, fruit flies can dynamically match conditioned behavior and memory levels to a change in reinforcement intensity.
Similarity of Sales Representatives' and Supervisors' Problem-Solving Styles and the Satisfaction-Performance Relationship:

Summary.-Data from 125 sales representatives of 9 firms suggest that the difference between their scores and those of their sales managers on the Kirton AdaptionInnovation Inventory moderates the relacionship between job satishction and job performance. Studies of the link between satisfaction and performance in sales jobs have only rarely yielded a strong association, despite theory suggesting such a link (Bagozzi, 1980). Researchers seeking to make sense of the wide variation in findings regarding the association between satisfaction with work and job performance often suggest that this association is contingent on other factors such as economic conditions, the work environment, and a variety of individual difference variables (Miner, 1988, pp. 227-233). Recent studies (Churchill, Ford, Hartley, & Walker, 1985; Greenberg & Greenberg, 1980; Zimmer & Taylor, 1981) suggest that congruence between a sales representative and the selling task may be a promising contingency variable to explore in that the more closely matched a representative is with the job at hand, the higher the performance. It can be reasoned further that, when representatives are mismatched with some aspect of the job, this incongruence may moderate the satisfaction/performance link. These suggestions are supported by recent theory and research in organizational behavior which emphasize the important role of the fit or match between a worker and various characteristics of his work environment (French, Rodgers, & Cobb, 1974; Goodenough, 1985; Kirton & McCarthy, 1988; Thomson, 1985). Satisfaction, performance, stress, turnover, and commitment are some of the important outcomes that may be affected by this interaction. One way to determine how well a representative is matched to the sales job is to measure some characteristic of the person and the same characteristic of the job. At this point, however, scales that could be applied both to the person and to the job are not available. Although developing such scales is a worthy research goal, an alternative approach would be to match a sales representative with a role model, e.g., a supervisor, using the same scale, This
Blood vessels and tissue space associated with the brain of the rat.

Tissues from adult Sprague-Dawley rats fixed by perfusion with buffered aldehydes for a combined study of the vascular system of the brain are described in light and electron microscopy. In these preparations lack of shrinkage prevents the formation of perineuronal and perivascular spaces. However, connective tissue stains indicate restricted tissue space along the course of small arteries and veins. In fine structure this space is found within the walls of the vessels. It consists of a tubular extension of tissue space bounded inwardly by the endothelial boundary (basement) membrane and outwardly by the neural boundary membrane. Between these boundaries the formed elements of the media and the adventitia are found. The media consists of a thin layer of smooth muscle cells; each cells being enclosed in its own boundary membrane. The adventitia consists of cells and fibrous elements of the connective tissues which are derived, near the surface of the brain, from the intermingling of pial and vascular leptomeninges. This “neural” portion of the tissue space extends from the depths of the capillary bed (where it is obliterated by the fusion of boundary membranes), along the course of the blood vessels, through the subarachnoid space and into the general tissue space of the body.
Transverse relaxation of saline and plasma using Mn(II), HSA-EDTA-Mn, and HSA-EDTA-Gd: application to erythrocyte water exchange.

Enhancements of 1H nuclear magnetic transverse relaxation rates by Mn(II)- and Gd(III)-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-human serum albumin (HSA) complexes are compared with MnCl2 in human plasma and isotonic saline. HSA–EDTA–Mn and HSA–EDTA–Gd in saline, at physiological concentrations of HSA, afforded T2's comparable to 2 mM MnCl2 in 4% HSA saline. The above reagents are new and potentially useful relaxation agents for the measurement of H2O exchange rates in erythrocyte suspensions. The exchange rate of water across the red cell membrane was determined using these new reagents over the temperature range from 20 to 37°C. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.
Vulvar melanoma: a report of 20 cases and review of the literature.

Abstract Background Vulvar melanoma is the second most common vulvar malignancy and represents a significant women's health issue. Objective To report experience with 21 cases of vulvar melanoma in 20 patients and to review the literature about the condition. Methods Parameters retrospectively reviewed included age at diagnosis, family history of melanoma, location on the vulva, atypical nevi, Breslow depth, ulceration status, histologic pattern, presenting signs and symptoms, and the results of sentinel lymph node biopsy. Molecular characterization of the melanocortin type 1 receptor was performed in 1 patient. Results A family history of cutaneous melanoma was present in 15% of cases. The mean Breslow depth was 2.8 mm (range, 0.0-11.0 mm). Ten patients successfully underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy, results of which were positive in 2 (20%). Reported for the first time is that one patient had a germline mutation in the melanocortin type 1 receptor. Conclusion Vulvar and cutaneous melanoma behave similarly despite their unique pathogeneses. Sentinel lymph node biopsy can be performed successfully for vulvar melanoma.
Driver aggressivity analysis within the prediction in dynamic environments (PRIDE) framework

PRIDE is a hierarchical multiresolutional framework for moving object prediction that incorporates multiple prediction algorithms into a single, unifying framework. PRIDE is based upon the 4D/RCS (Real-time Control System) reference model architecture and provides information to planners at the level of granularity that is appropriate for their planning horizon. This framework supports the prediction of the future location of moving objects at various levels of resolution, thus providing prediction information at the frequency and level of abstraction necessary for planners at different levels within the hierarchy. To date, two prediction approaches have been applied to this framework. In this paper, we provide an overview of the PRIDE (Prediction in Dynamic Environments) framework and describe the approach that has been used to model different aggressivities of drivers. We then explore different aggressivity models to determine their impact on the location predictions that are provided through the PRIDE framework. We also describe recent efforts to implement PRIDE in USARSim, which provides high-fidelity simulation of robots and environments based on the Unreal Tournament game engine.
Choroid plexus: normal size criteria on neuroimaging

The lack of a well-recognized normal size criterion for the choroid plexus makes small or diffuse choroid plexus pathologies difficult to recognize. The purpose of this study was to determine the normal size of the choroid plexus in the pediatric population utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MR) and ultrasound (US). As volume measurement across multiple slices is a laborious process, we wanted to propose a simple clinical tool that is easy to use, reproducible, and quick to obtain measurements. This study retrospectively evaluated choroid plexus size in 90 children between the ages of 0 and 16. To determine the choroid plexus thickness, a total of 97 studies (71 MRIs and 26 Ultrasounds) were reviewed, from children without any signs of choroid plexus pathology; 6 measurements were taken from MR studies, and 3 measurements were taken from US studies. Averages and ranges of choroid plexus thickness were computed across age groups and gender. Across all ages, the mean choroid plexus thickness in the lateral ventricles was found to be 3.4, 3.3, and 3.1 mm in the axial, coronal, and sagittal views; 3.2 mm in the temporal horns; 2.5 mm in the fourth ventricle with the lateral limb of the choroid plexus in the fourth ventricle measuring 11.3 mm in length. No trends were observed with respect to age subgroups or gender. Choroid plexus thickness on average was 3.2 mm in the lateral ventricles and 2.5 mm in the fourth ventricle.
Dipyridine­(2,3,12,13‐tetra­bromo‐5,10,15,20‐tetra­phenyl­porphyrin)iron(II) pyridine solvate

The complex mol­ecule of the title compound, [Fe(C44H24Br4N4)(C5H5N)2]·C5H5N, is located on a twofold axis that passes through the Fe atom and the pyridine ligands. Only slight asymmetry, viz. 0.010 A elongation due to the Br substituents, is seen in the Fe—Nporph distances. The pyridine ligands are twisted by 19.18 (13)° from each other. The uncoordinated pyridine molecule is disordered over an inversion center.
Structured Learning for Multiple Object Tracking

Adaptive tracking-by-detection methods use previous tracking results to generate a new training set for object appearance, and update the current model to predict the object location in subsequent frames. Such approaches are typically bootstarpped by manual or semi-automatic initialization in the first several frames. However, most adaptive tracking-bydetection methods focus on tracking of a single object or multiple unrelated objects. Although one can trivially engage several single object trackers to track multiple objects, such solution is frequently suboptimal because it does not utilize the inter-object constraints or the obejct layout information [2]. We propose in this paper an adaptive tracking-by-detection method for multiple objects, inspired by recent work in [1] and [2]. The constraints for structured Support Vector Machine (SVM) in [1] are modified to localize multiple objects simultaneously with both appearance and layout information. Moreover, additional binary constraints are introduced to detect the existences of respective objects and to prevent possible model drift. Thus the method can handle frequent occlusion in multiple object tracking, as well as objects entering or leaving the scene. Those binary constraints make the optimization problem significantly different from the original Structured SVM [3]. The inter-object constraints, embedded in a linear programming technique similar to [2] for optimal position assignment, are applied to diminish false detections. In single object tracking case, given a set of frames {x1,x2, . . . ,xn} indexed by time, and the corresponding set of labeling, i.e. bounding box, {y1,y2, . . . ,yn}, structured SVM tries to find a model f (x,y), such that the task of predicting object location in a testing frame x could be conquered by maximizing: f (x,y) = 〈w,Ψ(x|y)〉, (1)
Human endometrium: an active site of cytokine production and action.

I. Introduction Complex interactions of a network of cells comprised of epithelial, stromal, endothelial, and lymphoid cells in human endometrium are displayed as orchestrated phases of proliferation, differentiation, and menstrual shedding. It is clear that these dynamic cell-to-cell interactions require a well developed array of intercellular communication signals. Many of the changes that occur in human endometrium are reminiscent of those associated with the inflammatory and reparative processes. Thus, it is not surprising that emerging evidence suggests the involvement of proinflammatory cytokines in endometrial reactions. Expression of the receptors for cytokines, production of these factors by endometrial cells, and regulation of endometrial functions by these factors all indicate the potential of cytokines to serve at autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine levels in human endometrium. In the succeeding sections, the emerging evidence for the role of cytokines in human endometrium is presented. In thi...
The kinetics of the inhibition by thyroxine of the cupric chloride catalyzed oxidation of ascorbic acid.

Abstract A study has been made of the thyroxine inhibition of the cupric chloride-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbic acid by varying each of the three reactants: (a) thyroxine, (b) cupric chloride, and (c) ascorbic acid. The results demonstrate a definite reaction between cupric chloride and thyroxine in the approximate ratio of 1 mole of cupric chloride to 3 moles of thyroxine. This reaction is considered to be due to a specific complex formation between copper and thyroxine.
Shift-Share Analysis: The International Dimension

This paper extends the traditional shift-share model to incorporate international effects. While some industries compete nationally for markets, other compete internationally. For industries competing nationally, regional growth derives from regional superiority relative to the national economy. For those competing internationally, regional growth is tied to regional advantages from specialization and competitive advantage relative to the international economy. Building on the Esteban - Marquillas concept of homothetic employment, the international shift-share model identifies regional growth due to regional and national competitive advantage and regional and national specialization. We demonstrate that the international model retains the property of region to region additivity.
Predictive performance models and multiple task performance

Five models that predict how performance of multiple tasks will interact in complex task scenarios are discussed. The models are shown in terms of the assumptions they make about human operator divided attention. The different assumptions about attention are then empirically validated in a multitask helicopter flight simulation. It is concluded from this simulation that the most important assumption relates to the coding of demand level of different component tasks.
Rheological Characterization of Monomethylhydrazine Gels

In this paper, viscometry, yield stress, and small shear strain oscillation experiments on monomethylhydrazine gels are presented. The goal is to define a gel formulation with a measurable yield stress under low-shear conditions and shear-thinning behavior at shear rates representative of typical rocket injectors. Hydroxypropylcellulose, fumed silica, and a hybrid of the two materials are investigated as gelling agents for monomethylhydrazine. The two gel formulations that included hydroxypropylcellulose exhibited similar shear-thinning behavior with power-law flow indices of ∼0.1 to 0.2. The pure fumed silica gel samples exhibited highly shear-thinning behavior with negative power-law flow indices indicative of thixotropic behavior. Tests performed after a preshear cycle showed shear-thinning power-law flow indices of ∼0.3. Unlike the pure hydroxypropylcellulose and hybrid gels, the fumed silica gel exhibited a well-defined, measureable yield stress. Small-strain oscillatory experiments showed that hydro...
Design and performance comparisons of two multidrive systems with unity power factor

From economical aspects, the multidrive systems are a promising application area for the converters, where the cost and size of the converters are shared by multiple inverter-motors. Given terminal constraints of unity power factor in grid line and independent multiple motor controls in output ports, two multidrive topologies are possible: one with single PWM-VSR feeding inverters through the common dc bus, and the other using a diode rectifier and an active power filter with its own load. Despite several publications for two systems, the features and advantages of the two systems have not been clearly explained. This paper, in detail, presents the theoretical analyses and systematic comparisons of the two multidrive topologies, from converter kilovolt-ampere ratings, dc-link voltage requirements, switch ratings, semiconductor losses, and reactive component designs point of views.
Singular stresses in a finite region of two dissimilar viscoelastic materials with traction-free edges

Abstract Traditional finite element analyses of the stress state in regions with dissimilar viscoelastic materials are incapable of correctly resolving the stress state because of the unbounded nature of the stresses. A hybrid formulation is developed utilizing the exact solution for the stress and displacement fields based on the eigenfunction expansion method under general loading. The region has two dissimilar viscoelastic material wedges with perfect bonding, and is not limited to a particular geometric configuration. The solution method is based on the principle of work in conjunction with the use of Laplace transformation to eliminate time dependency. The strength of the singularity is obtained in the time space without resorting to approximate Laplace inversion techniques. However, the intensification of the stress components is obtained by employing an approximate inversion technique.
Motion-compensated visual pattern image sequence coding for full-motion multisession videoconferencing on multimedia workstations

Motion-compensated visual pattern image sequence coding (MCVPISC) is an improved motion-compensated version of the visual pattern image sequence coding (VPISC) encoder. It is a high-performance video codec that is easily implemented in soft- ware. The MCVPISC codec is intended for real-time desktop com- puter applications such as multimedia delivery and local area net- work and point-to-point (modem) video conferencing. We describe a version of MCVPISC that has achieved bit rates of 0.15 bits/pixel or better for MPEG-2 test sequences (source encoding reduces this bit rate by about half). The computational complexity of the mono- chrome and color versions of the encoder is less than three integer operations per pixel. The decoder is bounded between 0.016 and 0.125 logical and integer operations per pixel. A prototype video conferencing system based on the MCVPISC codec has been implemented. The system hardware is comprised of two multimedia personal computers, two camcorders, two frame grabbers, and an ethernet connection. The prototype system software has a simple structure and runs under DOS and Windows™ 3.1. It includes a user interface, a video I/O interface, an event driven network inter- face, and a free running or frame synchronous video codec that also acts as the controller for the video and network interfaces. We have demonstrated that this prototype can support up to five full duplex full-motion video conferencing sessions. Future work will concen- trate on expanding the prototype to support synchronous audio, multiple hardware and software platforms, and network protocols. © 1996 SPIE and IS&T.
Scattering of ultrasonic waves by internal anomalies in plates immersed in a fluid

Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) of plate structures is frequently carried out in industrial and laboratory environments. In this paper the wave scattering from horizontally oriented internal cavities or cracks in a plate are studied using DPSM (Distributed Point Source Method). DPSM has gained popularity in last few years in the field of ultrasonic field modelling. DPSM is a semi-analytical technique that can be used to calculate the ultrasonic field (pressure, velocity and displacement fields in a fluid, or stress and displacement fields in a solid) generated by ultrasonic transducers. So far the technique has been used to model ultrasonic field near a fluid-solid interface when a solid half-space is immersed in a fluid. This method has also been used to model the ultrasonic field generated in a homogeneous isotropic solid plate immersed in a fluid. The objective of this study is to present the theoretical modelling of the diffraction and scattering pattern of guided waves in the solid plate when the transducers of finite dimension are placed on both side of the defective plate
Diagnostic digital image processing of human corneal endothelial cell patterns

This paper describes the application of digital image processing to the morphological evaluation of human corneal endothelial cell patterns. This morphological evaluation is used in both basic and clinical ophthalmology. There is interest in investigating the fundamental processes involved in the pattern formation and the variation in the pattern over time. Digital image processing and analysis of the binary segmented images of cell boundaries can be used to determine for each cell border the following features as: area, perimeter, aspect ratio, roundness, form factor, fractal dimension, length, breadth, width, equivalent diameter, x and y center of gravity, orientation angle, and moment angle. The question of the nature of the physical processes which result in the dynamic polygonal cell patterns is presented.
Integration of equipment planning and project scheduling

Abstract It is common to schedule project activities first, then the utilization of equipment and its operating crew is planned based on such schedule. Real world experiences indicate that activity scheduling can be heavily impacted by the resources needed. In particular, if a project requires highly specialized and expensive equipment type, then one needs to take into account the schedule and cost of such resources in developing the project schedule. In this paper, we consider the impact of using expensive and specialized equipment on the project schedule and its cost. The integration of project scheduling with equipment planning introduces new trade-offs that would lead to more realistic and cost-effective project schedules. Such trade-offs include the costs of: activity crashing, equipment setup, transition, idle time, and operator’s overtime as well as the project worth; rewards for early completion and penalty for delayed completion. An efficient mixed integer linear program is developed to capture the real world considerations of the integrated problem. The solution of the program yields the optimal schedules for the activities, equipment, and operators. These schedules involve crashing of critical and non-critical activities. An efficient heuristic is also developed and used to schedule large size projects. Optimal schedules are analyzed and computational experiences are provided.
Some antianaphylactic and antihistaminic properties of N'pyridyl, N'benzyl, dimethylethylenediamine monohydrochloride (Pyribenzamine)

Abstract 1.1. Pyribenzamine has potent antianaphylactic activity as demonstrated by passive anaphylactic experiments in guinea pigs. 2.2. Pyribenzamine has no demonstrable effect on precipitin titer. 3.3. Pyribenzamine has no demonstrable effect on the complement titer of guinea pigs. 4.4. Pyribenzamine administered orally to human beings decreased the size of histamine skin wheals in 18 of 28 subjects. 5.5. Pyribenzamine (oral) diminished the skin reactivity in 14 of 24 allergic patients. 6.6. Pyribenzamine reduced the reactivity of skin sites passively sensitized with serum containing cottonseed reagins.