cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stem Cell Therapy in Neonatal Diseases

Common complications in neonates occur in almost every organ system in the neonatal intensive care unit. While a number of them have short-term effects, a few of them also have long-term consequences. Among the latter are bronchopulmonary dysplasia and necrotizing enterocolitis in premature neonates, and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in borderline preterm and term neonates. While medical advances have improved our understanding of the pathogenesis, therapies to effectively prevent and/or significantly ameliorate the severity of these disorders, and to decrease their associated mortality and morbidity have not been found. One promising approach to make a potential impact in the outcomes of these neonatal conditions is the use stem cells, specifically, mesenchymal stem cells. The authors briefly review the potential role of stem cell therapy in the above-mentioned neonatal diseases. They focus primarily on human clinical trials.
Adaptive effects of natal experience on habitat selection by dispersers

Despite considerable interest in the effects of natal experience on habitat selection, little attention has been paid to the adaptive significance of this behaviour. Here we suggest that experience in the natal habitat may provide dispersers with information that improves the decisions they make while searching for a new habitat. In animals with time-limited sequential search, or in laboratory experiments using one-choice protocols, experience in the natal habitat may affect an individual's estimate of its total search time, or of its chances of encountering a high-quality habitat after leaving its natal habitat. In turn, theory suggests that changes in estimates of search time or encounter rates with high-quality habitats will affect the chances that dispersers will be attracted to cues from any habitat that is perceived to be of low or medium quality. For any disperser, regardless of search tactics, salient experiences in the natal habitat may change disperser estimates of the quality of new habitats that are similar to their natal habitat. For example, a history of successful foraging in the natal habitat might increase the attractiveness of cues from natal-type habitats, whereas difficulty foraging prior to dispersal might decrease it. In turn, any process that links an individual's experience in its natal habitat with its level of preference for cues from comparable natal-type habitats would encourage a positive relationship between habitat performance and preference, without requiring genetic correlations between these two variables. Generally speaking, positive effects of natal experience on habitat preference (NHPI) are predicted to be more common than negative effects of experience on habitat preference (negative NHPI). Predictions about the effects of natal experience on disperser estimates of search time, encounter rates and habitat quality can be investigated using appropriate experimental protocols, especially those that include naive subjects raised in habitats that lack the cues that dispersers use to locate and identify habitats under natural conditions.
Overview of Orofacial Pain: Epidemiology and Gender Differences in Orofacial Pain

Chronic orofacial pain is a prevalent problem that encompasses numerous disorders with diverse causes and presenting symptoms. Compared with men, women of reproductive age seek treatment for orofacial pain conditions, as well as other chronic pain disorders more frequently. Important issues have been raised regarding gender and sex differences in genetic, neurophysiologic, and psychosocial aspects of pain sensitivity and analgesia. Efforts to improve our understanding of qualitative sex differences in pain modulation signify a promising step toward developing more tailored approaches to pain management.
Evaluation of protease inhibitors and an antioxidant for treatment of sulfur mustard-induced toxic lung injury

Sulfur mustard (SM)-induced lung injury has been associated with protease activation, oxidative injury and inflammatory response culminating in tissue necrosis. The protease inhibitors aprotinin and ilomastat and the antioxidant trolox were evaluated for efficacy in ameliorating SM-induced lung injury. Anesthetized spontaneously breathing rats (N=6-8/group) were intratracheally intubated and exposed to 1.4 mg/kg SM (0.35 mg SM in 0.1 ml of ethanol) or ethanol alone by vapor inhalation for 50 min. At 1 min before the exposure rats were treated with one of the following: intravenous aprotinin, 4.4 mg/kg; intraperitoneal (ip) ilomastat, 25mg/kg; or ip trolox, 500 microg/kg. Aprotinin-treated animals received supplemental 2.2mg/kg doses at 1 min and 6h post-exposure (PE). A whole body plethysmograph system was used to monitor pulmonary function (PF) parameters for 1h before exposure (baseline), and from 5-6 and 23-24h post-exposure. SM inhalation caused significant increases in several PF parameters, including tidal volume, peak inspiratory flow, peak expiratory flow, end expiratory pause and enhanced pause. Consistent with the reported development of SM-induced pathology, these changes were minimal at the 5-6-h time and significant at the 23-24-h timepoint. At the later time it is known from previous work that airways are becoming obstructed with loose cellular debris, damaged cells and exudate, which contributed to the changes in PF parameters. Treatment with aprotinin or ilomastat eliminated these PF changes, yielding results comparable with controls for each of these parameters. Lung lavage fluid analysis showed that SM caused a significant increase in total protein (TP) and in the cytokines IL-1alpha and IL-13. Aprotinin treatment prevented the increases in TP and IL-1alpha production, ilomastat prevented the increased production of IL-13, and trolox treatment did not significantly prevent the SM-related increases in TP, IL-1alpha or IL-13. Histopathologic examination of lung tissue 24h post-exposure showed minimal alveolar effects caused by SM, while damage to bronchiolar regions was much more severe due to the highly reactive nature of SM. While aprotinin and ilomastat both alleviated the PF perturbations, surprisingly only aprotinin reduced the observed pathology, both grossly and histologically. These early results indicate that treatment with aprotinin and to a lesser extent ilomastat reduces some of the direct inflammatory response and damage associated with SM-induced lung injury. This research was supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency - Joint Science and Technology Office, Medical S&T Division.
Inelastic deformation under indentation and scratch loads in a ZrB2–SiC composite

Abstract Inelastic deformation features induced in an ultra-high temperature ceramic composite, ZrB 2 –SiC, due to static indentation (rate of deformation of the order of 10 −5 s −1 ), dynamic indentation (rate of deformation of the order of 10 3 s −1 ), and high-velocity scratch (500 mm/s) experiments are presented. It was found that this ceramic composite has up to 30% higher dynamic hardness compared to static hardness. Dynamic indentations resulted in extensive transgranular microcracking within the indented regions compared to static indentations. In addition, significant plastic deformation features in terms of slip-line formation were observed within statically and dynamically indented regions. The high-velocity scratch studies revealed extensive transgranular microcracking perpendicular to the scratch direction and slip-lines in and around the scratch path. Preliminary transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations from regions of slip-lines surrounding the scratch grooves revealed dislocation activity in the composite.
HIF and c-Myc: Sibling Rivals for Control of Cancer Cell Metabolism and Proliferation

O 2 deprivation (hypoxia) and cellular proliferation engage opposite cellular pathways, yet often coexist during tumor growth. The ability of cells to grow during hypoxia results in part from crosstalk between hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and the proto-oncogene c-Myc. Acting alone, HIF and c-Myc partially regulate complex adaptations undertaken by tumor cells growing in low O 2 . However, acting in concert these transcription factors reprogram metabolism, protein synthesis, and cell cycle progression, to "fine tune" adaptive responses to hypoxic environments.
Weight Gain Is Associated with Increased Risk of Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Survivors on Aromatase Inhibitors.

Objective: Hot flashes in breast cancer survivors (BCS) receiving adjuvant aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy are common, but risk factors for these symptoms are not well-defined. This study tested if body size is associated with hot flashes in BCS on AI therapy.Materials and methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of a cohort of postmenopausal women with Stages 0-III breast cancer receiving adjuvant AI therapy at a university hospital-based outpatient breast oncology clinic. Subjects provided patient-reported outcomes on hot flashes, current and pre-breast cancer weight and height, and additional demographic and treatment data.The primary outcome was occurrence of hot flashes. Secondary outcomes included hot flash severity and frequency. The exposures of interest were 1) current weight and 2) weight change since breast cancer diagnosis, categorized as weight loss (lost 10 pounds or more), maintenance (+/- 10 pounds), or gain (gained 10 pounds or more). Multivariable logistic regression models examined the independent association between hot flash outcomes and current weight or weight change while controlling for confounders.Results: 300 participants were enrolled at a mean age of 61 years (range 33-86) after mean duration of AI exposure of 23 months (range 1 month-9 years). 177 (59%) reported hot flashes overall, 96 (32%) reported moderate to very severe hot flashes, and 60 (20%) had at least 4 hot flashes daily. 182 (61%) experienced weight maintenance, while 81 (27%) had weight gain and 34 (11%) had weight loss. In a multivariable model, weight gain was independently associated with hot flash occurrence (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.4) and hot flash severity (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4-4.9), but not hot flash frequency, after adjusting for current weight and height, age, smoking, race, prior chemotherapy and prior tamoxifen therapy. Hot flash occurrence was also significantly associated with current smoking (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.1-24.0) and age (OR for each additional year of age 0.93, 95% CI 0.90-0.97). Current weight, alcohol use, AI type, and AI duration were not associated with any of the three outcomes.Conclusions: In an outpatient BCS population on AI therapy, weight gain is a risk factor for both hot flash occurrence and severity. Women who gained at least ten pounds since breast cancer diagnosis were two times more likely to have hot flashes than women who maintained or lost weight. These results support the thermoregulatory model of hot flashes and argue against a protective effect of body fat in this population.Support: ACS MRSG-08-110-01-CCE, ACS CCDA#-08-107-01, Pennsylvania Department of Aging Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 1059.
Quantification of constituents in areal and intimate binary mixtures of particulate materials

We conducted an investigation of accuracy and applicability of linear and non-linear mixture models to analyze the spectra of binary mixtures of particulates as they apply to hyperspectral remote sensing. The goal of the spectral analysis is to estimate the abundance of each constituent in the binary mixture in terms of the mass of each constituent. All of the data analyzed for this were collected under controlled laboratory conditions using particulate materials that were carefully sifted to limit the particle size distributions. Quantification of intimate mixtures may not be practical in remote sensing due to the requirement that one needs to have detailed knowledge of the materials being observed and the manner in which they are mixed. However, when the particle sizes and mass densities are similar to one another, one can get a reasonable estimate of the mass fractions of a mixture using a simple linear mixture model.
Slow transport of freely movable cytoskeletal components shown by beading partition of nerve fibers in the cat.

Abstract To account for the transport in nerve fibers of tubulin and neurofilament proteins in slow component a, the Structural Hypothesis holds that these proteins are assembled into microtubules and neurofilaments in the cell bodies and the cytoskeletal organelles then moved down in the fibers as part of an interconnected matrix at a uniform rate of about 1 mm/day. The Unitary Hypothesis, on the other hand, considers these proteins to be carried down within the fibers as soluble components or as freely movable small polymers or subunits turning over locally in the stationary cytoskeleton. To differentiate between the two hypotheses, cat L7 dorsal roots were taken at times from 7 to 25 days after their L7 dorsal root ganglia were injected with [3H]leucine to assess the labeling of the cytoskeleton by the use of beading and autoradiography. Beading was induced by a mild stretch and after fast-freezing and freeze-substitution of the roots for histological preparation, the beads were seen in the fibers as a series of expanded regions alternating with constrictions. In the constrictions the cytoskeleton was compacted into an area as small as 5% that of the normal axon, with the axoplasmic fluid and displaceable (freely movable) components squeezed from the constrictions into the adjoining expansions. Roots taken after 7 and 14 days, times consistent with slow component a downflow, were assessed with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and their content of tubulin and neurofilament proteins shown to constitute 40–50% of all the labeled proteins present. In autoradiographs of dorsal roots taken at those times, numerous grains due to radioactivity were located over the non-constricted regions of the fibers. Few or no grains were present over the constrictions after 7 days. The findings are in accord with the labeled tubulins and neurofilament proteins being present in soluble form in the fibers and expressed from the constrictions into the expansions of the beaded fibers. In contrast, a number of fibers in roots taken at 14–20 days after injection showed somewhat higher grain densities over the constrictions and more so after 25 days, indicating uptake of labeled subunits into the cytoskeletal organelles at later times. The results are consistent with the downflow of tubulin and neurofilament proteins as soluble components which drop off in the axon to turn over locally in their respective cytoskeletal organelles.
Production of weak scalar bosons in lepton antilepton colliding beams

Abstract Weak interaction cross sections for high energy lepton-antilepton collisions are calculated in the scalar boson theory. The cross sections obtained are several orders of magnitude larger than those predicted recently for production of intermediate vector bosons.
Plasma androstenedione and oestrone levels before and after the menopause. II. Non-endocrine ovarian tumours and cysts

Abstract Plasma androstenedione (A) and oestrone (E 1 ) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 45 hospitalized patients who had non-endocrine benign or malignant ovarian tumours or cysts. The findings of these measurements were compared with the findings of the mean steroid levels which we determined previously (see previous article) in 135 healthy women, around the menopause, of similar weight. Of the total number of patients, 26 had non-endocrine benign ovarian tumours and cysts and were in the reproductive and pre-menopausal ages. The mean plasma A level was found to be significantly higher than the normal value ( P 1 level was not different from the norm. The remaining 19 patients, all around the menopause, had non-endocrine malignant epithelial ovarian tumours. The mean plasma levels of both A and E 1 were found to be significantly higher ( P Since increased plasma A levels are associated with non-endocrine ovarian tumours and cysts, it seems likely that the measurement of plasma A may be used as an endocrine detector of non-endocrine ovarian tumours.
Effects of National, School, and Gender Cultures on Friendships among Adolescents in Australia and the United States

Research conducted in Australia and the United States tested the proposition that national, school, and gender contexts shape friendship norms and experiences. American (vs. Australian) adolescents...
In Situ Investigation of the Palladium Silicon Reaction

Palladium has been deposited on {100} and {111} oriented silicon wafers and also on polysilicon. Cross-sectional specimens for transmission electron microscopy were prepared and heated in-situ. The interfaces between silicide and silicon were rough and the volume changes accompanying heating and compound formation caused elastic strains in the substrates and in one case hillock formation in the products.
Chlorophyll: synthesis-aided compiler for low-power spatial architectures

We developed Chlorophyll, a synthesis-aided programming model and compiler for the GreenArrays GA144, an extremely minimalist low-power spatial architecture that requires partitioning the program into fragments of no more than 256 instructions and 64 words of data. This processor is 100-times more energy efficient than its competitors, but currently can only be programmed using a low-level stack-based language. The Chlorophyll programming model allows programmers to provide human insight by specifying partial partitioning of data and computation. The Chlorophyll compiler relies on synthesis, sidestepping the need to develop classical optimizations, which may be challenging given the unusual architecture. To scale synthesis to real problems, we decompose the compilation into smaller synthesis subproblems---partitioning, layout, and code generation. We show that the synthesized programs are no more than 65% slower than highly optimized expert-written programs and are faster than programs produced by a heuristic, non-synthesizing version of our compiler.
Negotiating mutual fund advisers’ fees: The Supreme Court has spoken

On 30 March 2010 the Supreme Court decided Jones v. Harris Associates L.P. It has unanimously remanded the case to the lower court with directions concerning mutual fund advisers’ fees. The Court rejected the lower court's holding that shareholders should do their due diligence. It held that the funds’ boards of directors should negotiate the advisory fees, pursuant to Section 36(b) of the Investment Company Act, and should collect the information necessary to do so, following a 30-year precedent of the Gartenberg case. The Supreme Court suggested a somewhat broader inquiry by the board of directors. The fees must be the result of negotiation between the board and adviser.
Smooth pursuit tracking of an abrupt change in target direction: vector superposition of discrete responses

The directional control of smooth pursuit eye movements was studied by presenting human subjects with targets that moved in a straight line at a constant speed and then changed direction abruptly and unpredictably. To minimize the probability of saccadic responses in the interval following the target’s change in direction, target position was offset so as to eliminate position error after the reaction time. Smooth pursuit speed declined at a latency of 90 ms, whereas the direction of smooth pursuit began to change later (130 ms). The amplitude of the offset in target position did not affect the subsequent smooth pursuit response. In other experiments, the target’s speed or acceleration was changed abruptly at the time of the change in direction. Step changes in speed elicited short-latency responses in smooth pursuit tracking but step changes in acceleration did not. In all instances, the earliest component of the response did not depend on the parameters of the stimulus. The data were fit with a model in which smooth pursuit resulted from the vector addition of two components, one representing a response to the arrest of the initial target motion and the other the response to the onset of target motion in the new direction. This model gave an excellent fit but further analysis revealed nonlinear interactions between the two vector components. These interactions represented directional anisotropies both in terms of the initial tracking direction (which was either vertical or 45°) and in terms of the cardinal directions (vertical and horizontal).
Advances in understanding gray matter pathology in multiple sclerosis: Are we ready to redefine disease pathogenesis?

The purpose of this special issue in BMC Neurology is to summarize advances in our understanding of the pathological, immunological, imaging and clinical concepts of gray matter (GM) pathology in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Review articles by Lucchinetti and Popescu, Walker and colleagues, Hulst and colleagues and Horakova and colleagues summarize important recent advances in understanding GM damage and its implications to MS pathogenesis. They also raise a number of important new questions and outline comprehensive approaches to addressing those questions in years to come. In the last decade, the use of immunohistochemistry staining methods and more advanced imaging techniques to detect GM lesions, like double inversion recovery, contributed to a surge of studies related to cortical and subcortical GM pathology in MS. It is becoming more apparent from recent biopsy studies that subpial cortical lesions in early MS are highly inflammatory. The mechanisms responsible for triggering meningeal inflammation in MS patients are not yet elucidated, and they should be further investigated in relation to their role in initiating and perpetuating the disease process. Determining the role of antigens, environmental and genetic factors in the pathogenesis of GM involvement in MS is critical. The early involvement of cortical and subcortical GM damage in MS is very intriguing and needs to be further studied. As established in numerous cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, GM damage is a better predictor of physical disability and cognitive impairment than WM damage. Monitoring the evolution of GM damage is becoming an important marker in predicting future disease course and response to therapy in MS patients.
Prospects for pharmacogenetics and ecogenetics in the new millennium

Genetics and genomics are certain to have a large impact in drug development and proper pharmaceutical treatment of subgroups of patients with many specific diseases. We should be able to increase the therapeutic margin for many agents. Genetic variation will also be important in refining estimates of risk from all kinds of environmental agents and in choosing more effective and more cost-effective risk reduction strategies. The linkage of information about genetic variation and information about environmental, nutritional, behavioral, metabolic, medical, and healthcare factors will be necessary to interpret the variation in clinical and public health terms. However, there is a great risk that present federal and state efforts to protect confidentiality and privacy of individual genetic information may make such research infeasible. In Michigan, a Governor's Commission has sought to strike an appropriate balance.
Magnitude and symmetric optimum criterion for the design of linear control systems: what is it and how does it compare with the others?

The magnitude and symmetric optimization techniques are two related methods for designing optimal linear control systems in the frequency domain. Both methods have been used in industry for some time, yet they do not appear to have been well documented in the English control engineering literature. The development of the criterion is examined, including general solutions for typical controllers. As a basis for comparison, time-domain response optimization techniques such as minimizing the integral time absolute error, along with state-space techniques, i.e. pole placement, are briefly reviewed. Personal computer simulation results for a normalized position control system are given to illustrate these methods. >
SUPRAGLOTTIC AIRWAY INFECTIONS

The distinction of deep tissue infections of the upper airway as supraglottic is an anatomic distinction. The supraglottic infections (epiglottitis or supraglottitis, retropharyngeal cellulitis, retropharyngeal abscess, and peritonsillar abscess) just as easily could be grouped together by their propensity to cause airway obstruction and life-threatening illness, however. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are necessary to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates associated with these infections. The purpose of this article is to review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of supraglottic infections in the population of pediatric patients. Potential complications of each infection are reviewed. Although the focus of this article is the primary care clinician, the important and necessary contributions available from consultants (especially otolaryngologists, radiologists, and anesthesiologists) are included. Important diagnostic tools used to diagnose supraglottic infections include the history and physical examination as well as radiologic and laboratory studies. Treatment rationales are based largely on clinical and diagnostic findings. Understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms of disease adds useful information about treatment issues. It is frequently helpful for the primary care clinician to enlist the assistance of specialists in otolaryngology, radiology, and anesthesiology. In general, the prognosis for patients with supraglottic infections is good with early recognition and treatment. Possible complications associated with these infections are included in the following discussion. Control measures of community infection can be helpful, especially in reducing the incidence of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease.
Remembering Responses and Cognitive Estimates of Knowing: The Effects of Instructions, Retrieval Sequences, and Feedback☆

Two experiments examined the effects of feedback on a person's ability to recall their responses to multiple-choice items and the confidence with which they made those responses within the context of a control theory of feedback processing. In Experiment 1, instructions to remember answers and confidence ratings (instructions vs no instructions) were varied with feedback for responding (feedback vs no feedback). In Experiment 2, all subjects received instructions to remember their responses, and feedback was varied with retrieval cue sequence: answer given first vs confidence rating given first. Feedback reduced the rate of error perseveration and decreased the likelihood of retrieving original answers. Subjects allocated more time to study feedback when they erred with a high level of confidence that they were correct. Subjects took less time to retrieve confidence ratings when they were given the answer first as a retrieval cue. Instructions to remember had no effect on recall. Results suggest that learners closely monitor their personal estimates of knowing in an effort to regulate future learning. The relationship of these personal estimates to feedback also provides an explanation for the phenomenon of hindsight bias.
Effects of geometric shape and serving temperature on quality characteristics of irradiated bologna and frankfurters

The effects of irradiation (1.1 kGy, and 2.2 kGy) on bologna and frankfurters were measured to determine if variations in geometric size create differences in quality of irradiated ready-to-eat meats. Irradiation up to 2.2 kGy had no effect on color, TBARS values, pH, or texture of vacuum packaged bologna and frankfurters. Irradiation significantly (P < 0.05) lowered aroma and flavor scores while increasing off-aroma and off-flavor scores in product served cold, but was not significant when the product was served hot. Geometric size did not create differences in quality of irradiated bologna and frankfurters but serving temperature did. New information on the effects of processing variables and product differences would provide opportunities to improve control of potential quality changes from irradiation of Ready-to-Eat (RTE) meat products.
Lessons in stability from thermophilic proteins

Studies that compare proteins from thermophilic and mesophilic organisms can provide insights into ability of thermophiles to function at their high habitat temperatures and may provide clues that enable us to better define the forces that stabilize all proteins. Most of the comparative studies have focused on thermal stability and show, as expected, that thermophilic proteins have higher Tm values than their mesophilic counterparts. Although these comparisons are useful, more detailed thermodynamic analyses are required to reach a more complete understanding of the mechanisms thermophilic protein employ to remain folded over a wider range of temperatures. This complete thermodynamic description allows one to generate a stability curve for a protein that defines how the conformational stability (ΔG) varies with temperature. Here we compare stability curves for many pairs of homologous proteins from thermophilic and mesophilc organisms. Of the basic methods that can be employed to achieve enhanced thermostability, we find that most thermophilic proteins use the simple method that raises the ΔG at all temperatures as the principal way to increase their Tm. We discuss and compare this thermodynamic method with the possible alternatives. In addition we propose ways that structural alterations and changes to the amino acid sequences might give rise to varied methods used to obtain thermostability.
Anisotropic Elastoplastic and Damage Behavior of SiCp/Al Composite Sheets

A combined experimental and modeling research is performed to study the anisotropic elastoplastic and damage responses of SiC particle-reinforced Al composite sheets. To investigate the effects of the composite processing, two sets of specimens cut from the heat-treated and as-rolled composite sheets are tested under uniaxial loading. The dependence of the strength, plastic flow, and strain ratios on the rolling angles are discussed in detail. To model the phenomena observed in the experiments, a micromechanics-based damage framework is further developed. The interfacial debonding and the rolling angle's effects are integrated into this model. Good consistency between the experimental results and the analytical predications demonstrates the validity of the theoretical model.
A fast approximate acoustic match for large vocabulary speech recognition

In a large vocabulary speech recognition system using hidden Markov models, calculating the likelihood of an acoustic signal segment for all the words in the vocabulary involves a large amount of computation. In order to run in real time on a modest amount of hardware, it is important that these detailed acoustic likelihood computations be performed only on words which have a reasonable probability of being the word that was spoken. The authors describe a scheme for rapidly obtaining an approximate acoustic match for all the words in the vocabulary in such a way as to ensure that the correct word is, with high probability, one of a small number of words examined in detail. Using fast search methods, they obtain a matching algorithm that is about a hundred times faster than doing a detailed acoustic likelihood computation on all the words in the IBM Office Correspondence isolated word dictation task, which has a vocabulary of 20000 words. Experimental results showing the effectiveness of such a fast match for a number of talkers are given. >
Interactive, graphical processing unit-based evaluation of evacuation scenarios at the state scale

In large-scale scenarios, transportation modeling and simulation is severely constrained by simulation time. For example, few real-time simulators scale to evacuation traffic scenarios at the level of an entire state, such as Louisiana (approximately 1 million links) or Florida (2.5 million links). New simulation approaches are needed to overcome severe computational demands of conventional (microscopic or mesoscopic) modeling techniques. Here, a new modeling and execution methodology is explored that holds the potential to provide a tradeoff among the level of behavioral detail, the scale of transportation network, and real-time execution capabilities. A novel, field-based modeling technique and its implementation on graphical processing units are presented. Although additional research with input from domain experts is needed for refining and validating the models, the techniques reported here afford interactive experience at very large scales of multi-million road segments. Illustrative experiments on a few state-scale networks are described based on an implementation of this approach in a software system called GARFIELD. Current modeling capabilities and implementation limitations are described, along with possible use cases and future research.
Advancing environmental risk assessment for transgenic biofeedstock crops

Transgenic modification of plants is a key enabling technology for developing sustainable biofeedstocks for biofuels production. Regulatory decisions and the wider acceptance and development of transgenic biofeedstock crops are considered from the context of science-based risk assessment. The risk assessment paradigm for transgenic biofeedstock crops is fundamentally no different from that of current generation transgenic crops, except that the focus of the assessment must consider the unique attributes of a given biofeedstock crop and its environmental release. For currently envisioned biofeedstock crops, particular emphasis in risk assessment will be given to characterization of altered metabolic profiles and their implications relative to non-target environmental effects and food safety; weediness and invasiveness when plants are modified for abiotic stress tolerance or are domesticated; and aggregate risk when plants are platforms for multi-product production. Robust risk assessments for transgenic biofeedstock crops are case-specific, initiated through problem formulation, and use tiered approaches for risk characterization.
China images in the life and times of Henry Luce

1985-1925 - origins of China images in the life of Henry R Luce 1926-1936 - heroes and bandits 1937-1941 - the red star and the good earth 1942-1943 - our honoured ally 1944 - the stillwell crisis 1945-1946 - the vigil of a nation 1947-1948 - too little, too late, "Ghosts on the Roof" and other political fairy tales 1950s - leaning to one side since 1965 - the trans-pacific dialogue.
Cesarean delivery on maternal request: the impact on mother and newborn.

Mothers should be counseled that the most concerning risks related to maternal request cesarean delivery are neonatal respiratory morbidity and those that may affect the mother's future reproductive health, including life-threatening conditions, such as placenta accreta. The literature suggests that overall risks of maternal complications with cesarean delivery on maternal request are slightly lower than a trial of vaginal delivery and are primarily driven by the avoidance of unplanned or emergent cesarean deliveries and their associated increased rate of complications. When addressing risks and benefits with patients, there are three areas of importance. First, the risks for neonatal respiratory morbidity and abnormal placentation with future pregnancies should be emphasized. Secondly, there are many areas on which studies are lacking. Finally, numerous factors can alter the risks and benefits—such as culture, maternal obesity, and provider background—and should be acknowledged.
Directed synthesis of nanoporous carbons from task-specific ionic liquid precursors for the adsorption of CO2.

Postcombustion CO2 capture has become a key component of greenhouse-gas reduction as anthropogenic emissions continue to impact the environment. In this paper, we report a one-step synthesis of porous carbon materials using a series of task-specific ionic liquids for the adsorption of CO2. By varying the structure of the ionic liquid precursor, we were able to control pore architecture and surface functional groups of the carbon materials in this one-step synthesis process leading to adsorbents with high CO2 sorption capacities (up to 4.067 mmol g-1) at 0 °C and 1 bar. Finally, added nitrogen functional groups led to high CO2/N2 adsorption-selectivity values ranging from 20 to 37 whereas simultaneously the interaction energy was enhanced relative to carbon materials with no added nitrogen.
STASIS THROMBI INDUCED BY BACTERIAL ENDOTOXIN.

1. In normal rabbits, single intravenous doses of E. coli and Salmonella endotoxin produce an immediate, transient, hypercoagulable state. Venous stasis occurring during such a state allows the formation of massive red thrombi at sites of obstructed blood flow. The duration of stasis required to produce thrombi following endotoxin administration depends in part on the preinfusion silicone clotting time of the rabbit. 2. E. coli endotoxin shortens the recalcification time of platelet-poor plasma obtained from normal subjects and from patients with heredofamilial coagulation defects of Factor XII (Hageman) and Factor IX (plasma thromboplastin component). In contrast, the recalcification time of platelet-poor plasma obtained from patients with Factor XI (plasma thromboplastin antecedent) deficiency is lengthened by endotoxin. It is suggested that the heat-labile plasma factor known to be required for the platelet-endotoxin interaction may be related to Factor XI.
Ionization Chambers for Monitoring in High-Intensity Neutrino Beams

Radiation-hard ionization chambers were tested using an intense electron beam from the accelerator test facility (ATF) at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). The detectors were designed to be used as the basic element for monitoring muons in the Main Injector Neutrino beamline (NuMI) at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL). Measurements of linearity of response, voltage dependence, and the onset of ionization saturation as a function of gap voltage were performed.
Benzobisoxazole cruciforms as fluorescent sensors.

ConspectusCross-conjugated molecular cruciforms are intriguing platforms for optoelectronic applications. Their two intersecting π-conjugated arms allow independent modulation of the molecules’ HOMO and LUMO levels and guarantee a well-defined optical response to analyte binding. In addition, the rigid cross-conjugated geometries of these molecules allow their organization in two- and three-dimensional space with long-range order, making them convenient precursors for the transition from solution-based to the more practical solid-state- and surface-based devices. Not surprisingly, a number of molecular cruciform classes have been explored because of these appealing properties. These include tetrakis(arylethynyl)benzenes, tetrastyrylbenzenes, distyrylbis(arylethynyl)benzenes, tetraalkynylethenes, biphenyl-based “swivel” cruciforms, and benzobisoxazole-based cruciforms.In this Account, we summarize our group’s work on benzobisoxazole molecular cruciforms. The heterocyclic central core of these molecules for...
The postmodern ethnic condition in Ernesto Qui|[ntilde]||[oacute]|nez|[rsquo]|s Bodega Dreams

Ernesto Quinonez’s novel, Bodega Dreams, is presented as an exemplar of contemporary Latino/a writers’ persistent depiction of ethnic identity as a life-defining social factor. By positing the dialectical opposition of the ethnic to the mainstream as the analytical framework for interpreting the significance of the moral dilemma central to the novel, the argument advanced is that Bodega Dreams instantiates a particular social sensibility tied to ethnicity and character formation that may be referred to as the postmodern ethnic condition, and that the definition of that social sensibility is a permutation of the political project of the fading civil rights era.
Laboratory Evaluations of Some Solanaceous Plants as Possible Hosts for Tomato Pinworm

Keiferia lycopersicella (Walsingham) clearly preferred tomato over 12 other solanaceous plant species for depositing eggs, but some eggs were deposited on all the species tested. Development from egg to was completed on tomato and on 4 of 6 species of Solanum in tests where eggs were transferred to the plants. Development was not completed on the 3 species of Nicotiana or on 3 species of Datura included in the tests.
Comparison of shoulder internal rotation passive range of motion in various positions in nonathletic persons and the establishment of normative values for the sidelying position

Background Loss of shoulder internal rotation (IR) range of motion (ROM) is prevalent in overhead athletes, but it can also be seen in nonathletic persons. A paucity of normative data exists, however, for shoulder IR ROM in positions other than supine, especially in nonathletic persons. The aim of this study was to determine shoulder IR ROM differences between the sidelying, semi-sidelying, and supine positions as well as to establish initial normative values for IR ROM for the sidelying and semi-sidelying positions in nonathletic persons. Methods IR ROM was measured on 204 nonathletic persons using the sidelying, semi-sidelying, and supine positions. Mean values of IR ROM for each position were calculated. Differences in IR ROM across the 3 positions and side-to-side differences were examined, including the influence of sex and age on IR ROM. Results Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability for the sidelying position was excellent. The sidelying position had significantly less IR ROM compared with the other positions, and there was a significant side-to-side IR ROM difference, greatest for the sidelying position (6.8°). Women had significantly more IR ROM than men did, with sidelying normative values of 49° and 55° for female dominant and nondominant shoulders, respectively, and 42° and 51° for male dominant and nondominant shoulders, respectively. Conclusion This investigation establishes initial normative IR ROM values for the sidelying position for both shoulders and sexes. Health care providers can begin to examine IR ROM deficits using these normative values for the sidelying position.
Elastic Properties and Stresses in Polyimide thin Films and Coatings

Polyimide thin films and coatings (< 20μm) for electronic applications have been fully characterized. Analysis of residual stresses and determination of all 21 anisotropic constants are necessary for a better understanding of these coatings in complex geometries. The residual stresses have been measured by a real-time vibrational holographic interferometry technique. The number of elastic constants is reduced to 9 independent constants by finding the orthotopic axes. All the 9 orthotropic constants - 3 normal compliances, 3 shear compliances and 3 independent Poisson’s ratios - have been determined. Moisture diffusion constants have also been measured.
Comparison of “Host Cell Infiltrates” in Patients with Follicular Lymphoma with and without Spontaneous Regression

The "host cell infiltrates" in five patients with low-grade follicular lymphoma who had spontaneous regression without therapy were studied with the use of immunohistochemical methods applied to frozen sections. These infiltrates were compared with the "host cell infiltrates" in six patients with follicular lymphoma with progressive disease. The group with progressive disease was selected to be similar to the group with spontaneous regression in age, sex, histologic characteristics, and stage of disease. The patients with spontaneous regression had significantly more T-helper cells in the host cell infiltrate than the control patients. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in numbers of cytotoxic/suppressor T-cells, macrophages, Tac-positive cells, Leu-7-positive cells, or proliferating cells.
New results in global stabilization for stochastic nonlinear systems

This paper presents new results on the robust global stabilization and the gain assignment problems for stochastic nonlinear systems. Three stochastic nonlinear control design schemes are developed. Furthermore, a new stochastic gain assignment method is developed for a class of uncertain interconnected stochastic nonlinear systems. This method can be combined with the nonlinear small-gain theorem to design partial-state feedback controllers for stochastic nonlinear systems. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Gemcitabine-induced radiation recall myositis in a patient with relapsed nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Radiation recall reaction is an acute inflammatory response evident in previously irradiated fields, induced by chemotherapy administration. Sixteen-year-old female with relapsed nasopharyngeal carcinoma was treated with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin. Disease remission was observed after four cycles. After the seventh cycle, patient developed acute pain and swelling involving the neck muscles. The affected muscles were within the previous irradiation field. Her symptoms improved with corticosteroid treatment. In contrast to other chemotherapy agents, gemcitabine can induce recall reaction involving deeper tissues. Gemcitabine therapy should be discontinued in the event of a radiation recall, as subsequent exposure will likely exacerbate symptoms.
Distributed Relation Logic

We extend the relational algebra of Chin and Tarski so that it is multisorted or, as we prefer, typed. Each type supports a local Boolean algebra outfitted with a converse operator. From Lyndon, we know that relation algebras cannot be represented as proper relation algebras where a proper relation algebra has binary relations as elements and the algebra is singly-typed. Here, the intensional conjunction, which was to represent relational composition in Chin and Tarski, spans three different local algebras, thus the term distributed in the title. Since we do not rely on proper relation algebras, we are free to re-express the algebras as typed. In doing so, we allow many different intensional conjunction operators. We construct a typed logic over these algebras, also known as heterogeneous algebras of Birkhoff and Lipson. The logic can be seen as a form of relevance logic with a classical negation connective where the Routley-Meyer star operator is reified as a converse connective in the logic. Relevance logic itself is not typed but our work shows how it can be made so. Some of the properties of classical relevance logic are weakened from Routley-Meyer’s version which is too strong for a logic over relation algebras.
The Association between Diabetes and Herpes Simplex Eye Disease

ABSTRACTPurpose: To evaluate the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and presence and severity of Herpes simplex eye disease (HSED).Methods: We conducted two sub-studies. We included the patients seen on the Cornea Service of the Wills Eye Hospital from January 2008 to August 2012. Study 1 included 541 patients with HSED and 3226 controls. Study 2 involved 40 diabetic and 120 non-diabetic ocular surface HSED patients. Severity of ocular surface HSED was graded as mild, moderate, or severe, based on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Patients were excluded if they had fewer than two office visits or had non-Herpes simplex-related vision-threatening conditions. Diabetes was graded as: diet group (DM controlled with diet), oral group (DM controlled with oral medications), and insulin group (DM control required insulin).Results: Five of 541 (0.93%) HSED patients had type 1 DM, similar to 19/3246 (0.59%) controls (p = 0.375); 48 of 541 (8.88%) HSED patients had type 2 DM, similar to 287/3246 (8.84%) c...