cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early experience with intraoperative radiotherapy in patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Background: The use of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) in patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma has not been clearly defined. Methods: The medical records of our first 22 patients receiving IORT for resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma (2001 to 2006) were reviewed and compared with the records of 27 consecutive patients not receiving IORT for resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma (2004 to 2006). Results: There were no 30-day mortalities in either group, and complication rates were similar. Local recurrence occurred in 18% in the IORT group (median 14 months) and 12% in the no-IORT group (median 7 months). Distant recurrence occurred in 47% in the IORT group (median 11 months) and 32% in the no-IORT group (median 6.5 months). Median overall, stage-specific, and location-specific survival did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: Although limited in size and follow-up, our experience showed that complications, recurrence, and survival were not affected by IORT, but time to recurrence may be longer with IORT.
The breakdown of continuum models for mechanical contacts

Forces acting within the area of atomic contact between surfaces play a central role in friction and adhesion. Such forces are traditionally calculated using continuum contact mechanics, which is known to break down as the contact radius approaches atomic dimensions. Yet contact mechanics is being applied at ever smaller lengths, driven by interest in shrinking devices to nanometre scales, creating nanostructured materials with optimized mechanical properties, and understanding the molecular origins of macroscopic friction and adhesion. Here we use molecular simulations to test the limits of contact mechanics under ideal conditions. Our findings indicate that atomic discreteness within the bulk of the solids does not have a significant effect, but that the atomic-scale surface roughness that is always produced by discrete atoms leads to dramatic deviations from continuum theory. Contact areas and stresses may be changed by a factor of two, whereas friction and lateral contact stiffness change by an order of magnitude. These variations are likely to affect continuum predictions for many macroscopic rough surfaces, where studies show that the total contact area is broken up into many separate regions with very small mean radius.
Oxidation of adsorbed CO on Pt(111) in CO-saturated perchloric acid aqueous solutions: simultaneous in situ time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy and second harmonic generation studies.

Simultaneous normalized differential reflectance spectroscopy (ΔR/R) and second harmonic generation (SHG) has been employed to follow, independently, OH and adsorbed CO (COads) on a single Pt(111) microfacet in CO-saturated aqueous perchloric acidic solutions during voltammetric cycles, leading to the oxidation of COads and subsequent readsorption of CO on the surface. The results obtained are consistent with the disruption of the √19 × √19R19.1° phase just prior to the oxidation of adsorbed CO.
Using voxel-dependent importance factors for interactive DVH-based dose optimization

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) inverse planning is usually performed by pre-selecting parameters such as beam modality, beam configuration and importance factors and then optimizing the fluence profiles or beamlet weights. In reality, the IMRT dose optimization problem may be ill-conditioned and there may not be a physical solution to account for the chosen parameters and constraints. Planner intervention is often required to conduct a multiple trial-and-error process where several parameters are sequentially varied until an acceptable compromise is achieved. The resulting solution reflects a balance between the conflicting requirements of the target and the sensitive structures. A major problem of the conventional inverse planning formalism is that there exists no effective mechanism for a planner to fine-tune the dose distribution on a local level or to differentially modify the dose-volume histograms (DVHs) of the involved structures. In this paper we introduce a new inverse planning scheme with voxel-dependent importance factors and demonstrate that it provides us with an effective link between the system parameters and the dosimetric behaviour at a local level. The planning proceeds in two steps. After a conventional trial-and-error inverse planning procedure is completed, we identify the dose interval at which the fractional volume on the DVH curve needs to be changed. The voxels that receive dose in the selected range are then located and their voxel-dependent importance factors are adjusted accordingly. The fine-tuning of the DVHs is iterative in nature and, using widely available computer graphic software tools, the process can be made graphically interactive. The new IMRT planning scheme is applied to two test cases and the results indicate that our control over the differential shapes of the DVHs of the involved structures is,greatly enhanced. Thus the technique may have significant practical implications in facilitating the IMRT treatment planning process.
Ultraviolet Irradiation Produces Loss of Saxitoxin Binding to Sodium Channels in Rat Synaptosomes

Ultraviolet irradiation (UV) has been shown to cause an electrophysiologically measured inactivation of the rapid, transient sodium conductance system in nerve. Tritiated saxitoxin ([3H]STX) was used as a structural probe to assess the possibility of a corresponding perturbation in the conformation of the STX binding site. UV irradiation caused an irreversible decrease in the total number of high-affinity [3H]STX binding sites in rat synaptosomes, while the dissociation constant of the remaining sites did not change. The receptor loss followed first-order kinetics, and the rate of loss was independent of temperature. The action spectrum for binding loss indicated a peak in spectral sensitivity near 280 nm. A22Na flux assay in irradiated synaptosomes directly demonstrated that [3H]STX binding sites and veratridine-stimulated, STX-blocked 22Na efflux had similar sensitivities to UV radiation. We conclude that the UV inactivation of functional channels includes a modification of the STX binding-site structure.
On the Role of Rotation in the Generation of Magnetic Fields by Fluid Motions

It is generally accepted that the magnetic fields of planets and stars are produced by the self-exciting dynamo process (first proposed by Larmor) and that observed near-alignments of magnetic dipole axes with rotation axes are due to the influence of Coriolis forces on underlying fluid motions. The detailed role of rotation in the generation of cosmical magnetic fields has yet to be elucidated but useful insight can be obtained from general considerations of the governing magnetohydrodynamic equations. A magnetic field B cannot be maintained or amplified by fluid motion u against the effects of ohmic decay unless (a) the magnetic Reynolds number $R\equiv UL\overline{\mu \sigma}$ is sufficiently large, and (b) the patterns of B and u are sufficiently complicated (where U is a characteristic flow speed, L a characteristic length and $\overline{\mu}$ and $\overline{\sigma}$ are typical values of the magnetic permeability and electrical conductivity respectively). Axisymmetric magnetic fields will always decay (a result that suggests that palaeo-magnetic and archaeomagnetic data might show evidence that departures from axial symmetry in the geomagnetic field are systematically less during the decay phase of a polarity \`reversal' or \`excursion' than during the recovery phase). Dynamo action is stimulated by Coriolis forces, which promote departures from axial symmetry in the pattern of u when B is weak, and is opposed by Lorentz forces, which increase in influence as B grows in strength. If equilibrium is attained when Coriolis and Lorentz forces are roughly equal in magnitude then the system becomes \`magnetostrophic' and the strengths of the internal and external parts of the field, $B\_{\text{i}}$ and $B\_{\text{e}}$ respectively, satisfy $B\_{\text{i}}\lesssim B\_{\text{s}}R^{{\textstyle\frac{1}{2}}}$ and $B\_{\text{e}}\lesssim B\_{\text{s}}R^{-{\textstyle\frac{1}{2}}}$ if $B_{\text{s}}\equiv (\overline{\rho}(\Omega +UL^{-1})/\overline{\sigma})^{{\textstyle\frac{1}{2}}}\approx (\overline{\rho}\Omega /\overline{\sigma})^{{\textstyle\frac{1}{2}}}$, ($\overline{\rho}$ being the mean density of the fluid and $\Omega $ the angular speed of rotation). The slow and dispersive \`magnetohydrodynamic inertial wave' with a frequency that depends on the square of the Alfven speed|B|/ $(\mu \overline{\rho})^{{\textstyle\frac{1}{2}}}$ and inversely on $\Omega $ exemplifies magnetostrophic flow. Such waves probably occur in the electrically conducting fluid interiors of planets and stars, where they play an important role in the generation of magnetic fields as well as in other processes, such as the topographic coupling between the Earth's liquid core and solid mantle.
Gold nanoparticle response to nitro-compounds probed by cavity ring-down spectroscopy

Abstract The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) response of Au nanoparticles to adsorption of NO 2 , C 6 H 5 NO 2 , and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) is probed using the cavity ring-down technique. A uniquely sensitive first-layer response is observed for nanoparticles having a mean diameter of 4.5 nm, which appears characteristic of the –NO 2 group. Detection limits of 1.2 nmol/L (29 ppb), 7.6 nmol/L (184 ppb), and 0.17 nmol/L (4.1 ppb), are estimated for NO 2 , C 6 H 5 NO 2 , and DNT, respectively.
Selection of resistance to Venturia inaequalis using detached leaves from in vitro-grown apple shoots

Abstract A simple method was developed to screen apple cultivars for resistance to Venturia inaequalis using detached leaves from in vitro-propagated shoots. Leaves of 6 cultivars either susceptible or resistant to V. inaequalis were placed on Petri plates containing water agar or wet Whatman filter paper, and were inoculated with non-axenic conidial suspensions. Light microscopy studies indicated that the reaction of resistant and susceptible cultivars in vitro mimicked reactions in the greenhouse and field. Susceptible cultivars showed chlorosis 3 weeks after inoculation, and became necrotic after 5 weeks. Leaves from resistant cultivars showed no symptoms. On susceptible cultivars grown in vitro, multiple appressoria formed per spore, the mycelia proliferated above the cuticle on the surface of the leaf, and sporulation occurred 3–4 weeks after inoculation. The simplicity of this detached leaf assay allows not only selection from much larger plant populations than is currently possible with greenhouse and field techniques, but also makes possible the preservation of the mother plant during identification of resistant apple clones. This assay could be useful for studies of host-pathogen interactions.
Subscription dynamics and competition in communications markets

Multiple technologies, possibly administered by different entities, are expected to coexist in the rapidly-expanding communications market. In order to understand the complex interactions between different technologies, it is of fundamental importance to understand how technologies affect the demand of users and competition between network service providers (NSPs). To this end, we analyze user subscription dynamics and competition between NSPs in a duopoly communications market. First, we investigate the impact of technologies on the users' dynamic subscription and show that, for any charged prices, the equilibrium point of the considered user subscription dynamics exists and is unique. Next, we derive a sufficient condition on the technologies of the NSPs that ensures the user subscription dynamics to reach the equilibrium point. Then, we model the NSP competition using a non-cooperative game, in which the two NSPs choose their market shares independently, and provide a sufficient condition that guarantees the existence of at least one pure Nash equilibrium in the market competition game.
Attitudes Toward Clothing, Body and Self: A Comparison of Two Groups.

The purpose of this study was to determine (1) if two racial groups differed on self- esteem, body satisfaction, and clothing variables, and (2) if relationships existed among the variables. Two groups of subjects, 164 White and 68 Black collegiate females, were administered the Rosenberg Self-Image Questionnaire, the Body Characteristic De scriptive Scale, the Sexually Attractive Clothing Measure, and the Clothing Opinion naire. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and correlations. The two racial groups were significantly different on three variables (adequacy of money, use of sexu ally attractive clothing, and self-esteem) and alike on the remaining three variables (body satisfaction, attitude toward unusual clothing, and flair in clothing). All the re lationships between variables were the same for both racial groups. Seven pairs of variables were significantly related. These findings illustrate the complexity of clothing research when different groups within a pluralistic society are compared.
Calculations of atmospheric transmittance from 1⋯7 to 20 μ

Abstract A method for performing line by line calculations of atmospheric transmittance along variable pressure and variable mixing ratio paths is described. This method has been used to calculate the atmospheric transmittance for a vertical path through the atmosphere from a pressure level of 200 millibars and with a resolution of 0·5 cm -1 for the interval from 1·7 to 20 μ.
Effect of Low Oxygen Concentration on Survival and Emergence of Aquatic Insects

Abstract Safe concentrations of dissolved oxygen for survival and adult emergence of larvae of nine species of aquatic insects, including mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and midges, ranged from 0.6 mg/liter for the midge Tanytarsus dissimilis to slightly less than saturation for the emergence of Ephemera simulans (18.5 C). All species tested were less tolerant of low oxygen concentrations for 30 days than for 96 hours (90% of E. simulans survived 4 mg/liter for 96 hours, but no adults emerged successfully). Long-term studies are essential for the accurate assessment of oxygen stress in aquatic insects.
Foreign Direct Investment and Trade in the U.S. Agribusiness Industry: Discussion

The examination of foreign direct investment (FDI) issues offers as many empirical frustrations as it does analytical opportunities. Those conditions that make analysis of FDI possible and compelling-most notably imperfectly competitive markets-simultaneously constrain researchers in their efforts to gather the data necessary to test FDI theories. The papers discussed here represent an interesting set of attempts to induce existing data to reveal more about the relationship between FDI and trade within agricultural industries. Overall, the authors have achieved a degree of success paired with the expected data-related frustrations. As one might anticipate from investigations of a relatively neglected area of study, these papers present differing conceptualizations of FDI issues without creating substantial empirical or theoretical tensions.
The Termination Shock of the Solar Wind

An overview of the solar wind termination shock is presented including: its place in the heliosphere and its origin; its structure including the role of interstellar pickup ions and galactic and anomalous cosmic rays; its inferred location based on Lyman-α backscatter, Voyager radio signals, and anomalous cosmic rays; its shape and movement.
Products from furans. VI. Synthesis of dihydro-2-disubstituted-2H-pyran-3(4H)-ones, tetrahydro-3-(aminomethyl)-2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2-methyl-2H-pyran-3-ol derivatives and 6-(p-methoxyphenyl -6-methyl-7-oxa-1,3-diazaspiro[4,5]decane-2,4-dione†

Hydrogenolysis of 5,6-dihydro-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-6-methyl-5-oxo-2H-pyran-2-yl ethyl carbonate yielded dihydro-2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2-methyl-2H-pyran-3(4H)-one, 3. Subsequently cyanohydrin 4, derived from 3, on reduction afforded 3-(aminomethyl)tetrahydro-2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2-methyl-2H-pyran-3-ol, 5. The synthesis of N-dimethyl,N-isopropyl,N-imidazolyl as well as N-oxazolinyl derivatives of 5 is presented. The synthesis of 6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-6-methyl-7-oxa-1,3-diazaspiro[4,5]decane-2,4-dione 10, a spiro hydantoin prepared from ketone 3 is also reported.
Self-Stabilizing Robot Team Formation with Proto: IEEE Self-Adaptive and Self-Organizing Systems 2012 Demo Entry

We have used the Proto spatial computing language to create teaming algorithms based on random chain formation. Our algorithms are self-stabilizing, scale easily from less than ten robots to thousands of robots, and are highly robust against dynamic changes in perception and communication, arena size, teaming goals, adding and removing robots, and even mobility dimension. In this paper, we describe our approach, give details on our algorithms and their self-* properties, and present simulations validating the algorithms.
Solar Cycle Changes in Sunspot Umbral Intensity

The minimum intensities of sunspot umbrae were measured from 1992 through 2003 using the National Solar Observatory Kitt Peak Vacuum Telescope spectromagnetograph data. The resulting 3931 umbral measurements reveal a solar cycle variation in the umbral intensity, with umbrae appearing brighter on average at cycle minimum and darker at cycle maximum. Recent studies of umbral intensity have been in direct conflict with each other, showing decreasing, increasing, or no umbral intensity trends. By providing a longer temporal baseline, our new measurements uncover a solar cycle oscillation in umbral intensity. From this new perspective we show how previous studies agree with our work and with each other when the same phase of the solar cycle is examined. Also in agreement with other investigators, the solar cycle variation in the daily average umbral area, the lognormal distribution of umbral area, and the near constancy of the mean umbral radius during the solar cycle are seen in this data.
A Munc in the platelet granule works.

The membrane fusion regulator Munc13-4 facilitates calcium-stimulated release of cytolytic and inflammatory mediators from lymphocytes and granulocytes. In this issue of Blood , Ren et al reveal a similar requirement for Munc13-4 in secretion from activated platelets and provide new insights into a
Dynamics of support for European integration in post‐communist Poland

. This study examines the dynamics of citizen support for European integration in Poland. Using data from 1995 and 1998 surveys and from a three-wave panel study, we find that, as in Western Europe, both utilitarian calculations of self-interest and political considerations are equally important determinants of support for membership in the European Union. Moreover, between 1995 and 1998 there was considerable polarization of opinion along economic, partisan and ideological lines. We also consider the impact of pro-democratic and pro-capitalist values on support for integration. Our results show that, all things being equal, such values are significant predictors of European Union support. In addition, they have a strong impact on individual-level stability and change in attitudes toward Poland joining the European Union.
Environmental Uncertainty and the Global Biogeography of Cooperative Breeding in Birds

Summary Understanding why organisms as different as amoebas, ants, and birds cooperate remains an important question in evolutionary biology. Although ecology can influence cooperation and conflict within animal societies and has been implicated in species differences in sociality [1], the environmental predictors of sociality across broad geographic and taxonomic scales remain poorly understood [2]. In particular, the importance of temporal variation in selection pressure has been underestimated in most evolutionary studies [3, 4]. Environmental uncertainty resulting from climatic variation is likely to be an important driver of temporal variation in selection pressure and therefore is expected to impact the evolution of behavioral, morphological, and physiological traits, including cooperation [5]. Using a data set of over 95% of the world's birds, we examine the global geography and environmental, biotic, and historical biogeographic predictors of avian social behavior. We find dramatic spatial variation in social behavior for which environmental and biotic factors—namely, among-year environmental variability in precipitation—are important predictors. Although the clear global biogeographic structure in avian social behavior carries a strong signal of evolutionary history, environmental uncertainty plays an additional key role in explaining the incidence and distribution of avian cooperative breeding behavior.
A possible rôle for microsomal oxidases in metamorphosis and reproduction in the housefly.

Abstract Housefly larvae and adults of the Isolan-B strain, insecticide resistant because of high microsomal oxidase activity, and the susceptible WHO Standard Reference (SR) strain, were reared on diets containing phenobarbital or piperonyl butoxide. Periodically throughout the treatments groups of insects were assayed for microsomal aldrin epoxidase activity. This activity was compared with such growth and development parameters as pupation, adult emergence, and reproduction in similar groups of insects. At diet levels of 0·01 to 0·50 per cent both chemicals caused large increases, as much as elevenfold in microsomal oxidase activity in third instar larvae and 15 to 100 per cent inhibition of pupation and emergence. In the adult diet at 1 per cent, both compounds caused at least 50 per cent decrease in egg production. Phenobarbital enhanced the enzyme system in both larval and adult stages of both strains but piperonyl butoxide, while enhancing enzyme activity in larvae of the Isolan-B strain, was an inhibitor in the adult stage. The results are interpreted as an indication of a direct connexion between microsomal oxidase activity and the action of hormones in the housefly, probably through regulation of hormone titre by these enzymes.
D-methionine pre-loading reduces both noise-induced permanent threshold shift and outer hair cell loss in the chinchilla

AbstractObjective: This study tested multiple dosing epochs of pre-loaded D-methionine (D-met) for otoprotection from noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Design: Auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds were measured at baseline, 1 day, and 21 days following a 6-hour 105 dB sound pressure level (SPL) octave band noise (OBN) exposure. Outer hair cell (OHC) counts were measured after day 21 sacrifice. Study sample: Three groups of five Chinchillas laniger each were given a 2-day regimen comprising five doses of D-met (200 mg/kg/dose) intraperitoneally (IP) starting 2, 2.5, or 3 days prior to noise exposure. A control group (n = 5) received five doses of equivalent volume saline IP starting 2.5 days prior to noise exposure. Results: ABR threshold shifts from baseline to day-21 post-noise exposure were reduced in all D-met groups versus controls, reaching significance (p < 0.05) in the 3-day group. D-met groups showed reduced OHC loss relative to controls at day-21 post-noise exposure, reaching significanc...
Adolescent Heterosexual Males Talk About the Role of Male Peer Groups in Their Sexual Decision-Making

This research draws on in-depth, one-on-one interviews with a racially and ethnically diverse sample of 17 adolescent males, both virgins and non-virgins, to explore how they use talk to construct their sexual selves and present themselves as sexual decision-makers. The emphasis here is how some of the boys (n = 8) drew upon a particular discourse in their self-productions and implicated male peer groups in that production. I introduce the concept of the male fraternity and show how its particular qualities mediate boys’ sense of masculinity and belonging, as well as their understanding of females as sex partners. Attention is also paid to how the group context generates social control features that limit individual resistance to collective understandings about gender and sexuality. The findings require corroboration but suggest important ways in which adolescent talk and male peer groups are implicated in the production of male sexuality and the denial of female subjectivity.
Effect of Arthropod Repellents on the Mechanical Properties of Common Materials Used by U.S. Service Members

Arthropod-borne infectious diseases represent a serious threat to U.S. military personnel, and insect repellents are commonly used as the first line of defense against those illnesses. Recent feedback from the field suggests that currently provided repellents, which are based on N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), damage or alter some of the military-relevant materials. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of DEET and non-DEET repellents on the mechanical properties and appearance of commonly available synthetic materials (substrates) routinely used in military application. We measured the visual appearance, visible light transmittance, strength, and stiffness of four materials exposed or left unexposed to six repellents. Sheet materials were tested in four-point bending, and the thread material was tested in uniaxial tension. Some of the repellents significantly altered the strength and bending stiffness of the sheet material and reduced light transmission. The sheet materials tested are commonly used in lens applications, so the reduction in light transmission and visibility has practical implications. For the thread (Kevlar) material tested, two repellents significantly reduced thread strength. Kevlar is used in the manufacture of body armor, but it is unknown if a reduction in Kevlar strength reduces the protective value of the body armor.
Application of nuclear magnetic resonance and optical rotatory dispersion to studies in drug metabolism—stereoselectivity in the metabolism of trans-2-p-tolyl-cyclohexanol and trans-2-o-tolylcyclohexanol in the rat

Abstract Metabolic studies have been undertaken in male Holtzman rats on trans -2- p -tolylcyclohexanol (I) and trans -2- o -tolylcyclohexanol (II). Nuclear magnetic resonance and vapor phase chromatography were used for the detection and identification of urinary metabolites and optical rotatory dispersion was used for assignment of absolute configurations of optically active metabolites. About half of the urinary metabolites recovered from i.p. administration of the racemic para isomer I had undergone aromatic methyl group oxidation, while there was no evidence of methyl group oxidation in the ortho isomer II. The other major metabolite from racemic I was optically active I having the absolute configuration (1S,2R)-(+)- trans -2- p -tolylcyclohexanol. The predominant metabolite of the ortho isomer II was shown to be the compound which had undergone ring hydroxylation in the axial position on C-5. The metabolite obtained from racemic II was optically active with positive rotation.
WEIGHTING TEST SAMPLES IN IRT LINKING AND EQUATING: TOWARD AN IMPROVED SAMPLING DESIGN FOR COMPLEX EQUATING

Several factors could cause variability in item response theory (IRT) linking and equating procedures, such as the variability across examinee samples and/or test items, seasonality, regional differences, native language diversity, gender, and other demographic variables. Hence, the following question arises: Is it possible to select optimal samples of examinees so that the IRT linking and equating can be more precise at an administration level as well as over a large number of administrations? This is a question of optimal sampling design in linking and equating. To obtain an improved sampling design for invariant linking and equating across testing administrations, we applied weighting techniques to yield a weighted sample distribution that is consistent with the target population distribution. The goal is to obtain a stable Stocking-Lord test characteristic curve (TCC) linking and a true-score equating that is invariant across administrations. To study the weighting effects on linking, we first selected multiple subsamples from a data set. We then compared the linking parameters from subsamples with those from the data and examined whether the linking parameters from the weighted sample yielded smaller mean square errors (MSE) than those from the unweighted subsample. To study the weighting effects on true-score equating, we also compared the distributions of the equated scores. Generally, the findings were that the weighting produced good results.
A critical line based boundary surveillance strategy in wireless sensor networks

Environment monitoring is an important wireless sensor network application. A traditional method for such applications is to deploy sensors all over a region and aim to cover as much area as possible. However, this method is not only a great waste of money and resources, but also unnecessary and unrealistic. It also invokes many data collisions and places a serious burden on the network protocols. In this paper, we propose a critical line based environment surveillance strategy. We deploy sensors along critical lines instead of all over the region. Our aim is to capture or detect a target or target event rather than tracking it. As coverage is an important factor impacting monitoring, we study boundary coverage capability under several conditions and consider different deployments of sensors. We also compare our surveillance strategy to the traditional one, and the results show that our strategy saves many sensors. Furthermore, we abstract a model of the problem, which provides an optimizing solution to surveillance applications.
Improving the Performance of Radial Basis Function Networks by Learning Center Locations

Three methods for improving the performance of (gaussian) radial basis function (RBF) networks were tested on the NETtalk task. In RBF, a new example is classified by computing its Euclidean distance to a set of centers chosen by unsupervised methods. The application of supervised learning to learn a non-Euclidean distance metric was found to reduce the error rate of RBF networks, while supervised learning of each center's variance resulted in inferior performance. The best improvement in accuracy was achieved by networks called generalized radial basis function (GRBF) networks. In GRBF, the center locations are determined by supervised learning. After training on 1000 words, RBF classifies 56.5% of letters correct, while GRBF scores 73.4% letters correct (on a separate test set). From these and other experiments, we conclude that supervised learning of center locations can be very important for radial basis function learning.
Abscisic acid mimics effects of dehydration on area expansion and photosynthetic partitioning in young soybean leaves

Abstract. Leaf area expansion, photosynthetic carbon dioxide uptake and leaf dry mass accumulation were compared for expanding leaves of well-watered soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) plants, mildly dehydrated plants and well-watered plants treated with abscisic acid (ABA). Both ABA treatment and dehydration reduced area expansion in the light and over a 24 h period without decreasing the photosynthetic rates of expanding leaves. Dry mass accumulation during the light was less in ABA-treated and water-stressed leaves than in control leaves, with no differences among treatments in leaf mass per unit of area. ABA treatment and water stress both increased export of carbon from expanding leaves in the light. ABA applied near the end of the light period also increased export of carbon during the following dark period. However, it is unlikely that decreased availability of photosynthate caused slow expansion in the ABA and dehydration treatments, because expansion rates were not slowed in plants kept in dim light, even though photosynthetic rates and dry mass accumulation rates were greatly reduced. The data suggest that ABA may mediate the effects of mild dehydration on leaf area expansion and partitioning of photosynthate.
Radiopharmaceuticals for targeted radiotherapy of cancer

Targeted radiotherapy is the administration of a radiolabelled molecule designed to deliver therapeutic doses of radiation to malignant tumours with high specificity. Radionuclides that are used to label radiopharmaceuticals for cancer therapy generally decay by particle emission, i.e., α, -, +, Auger or conversion electrons. Bifunctional chelators have been designed to attach metal radionuclides to biological molecules that target tumours. Four types of targeted radiotherapy agents are discussed: small molecules, carrier particles, receptor-targeted agents and pre-targeting agents. Human trials of targeted radiotherapy for radiolabelled somatostatin analogues and pre-targeting agents are encouraging. This review focuses on selected disclosures in the patent literature, primarily between 1993 and 1999, for radionuclide production, bifunctional chelators and radiopharmaceuticals, which may prove successful in the development of future agents for cancer radiotherapy.
Systemic lupus erythematosus and its ABCs (APRIL/BLyS complexes)

BLyS and APRIL are closely related members of the TNF ligand superfamily. These cytokines individually may contribute importantly to the development and maintenance of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Dillon and colleagues demonstrate that in contrast to most members of the TNF ligand superfamily, which form only homotrimers, BLyS and APRIL can complex as heterotrimers. These complexes have in vitro biological activity, and circulating levels of BLyS/APRIL heterotrimers are frequently elevated in SLE, but not rheumatoid arthritis, patients. Although the mechanism and regulation of heterotrimer formation, the interconversion (if any) between homotrimers and heterotrimers, and, indeed, the normal physiologic role for such heterotrimers remain unknown, their preferential overexpression in SLE, but not in rheumatoid arthritis, raises the possibility that such heterotrimers may be playing a contributory role in SLE.
Operationalizing the interpretive turn: Deploying qualitative methods toward an economics of meaning

In his original essay advocating the interpretive turn in economics, Lavoie makes an explicit argument favoring (1) an economics of meaning and (2) the growth of knowledge through discursive rivalry within the scientific community. This paper contends that within Lavoie's explicit argument is an implicit case for a particular mode of discovery that resists the excesses of formalism common within the economics discipline and instead puts the investigator, the investigator's theoretical lens, and the subject under investigation in close proximity to one another. With the nodal points of this triangulated relationship in closer proximity to one another, an iterative learning process emerges that is itself a source of social scientific discovery. Further, and in connection to this mode of discovery, is the implicit case favoring qualitative research methods that correct the economics discipline's excessive reliance upon quantitative analysis in its empirical investigations that distances the investigator from the subject under investigation. The goal of this paper is to make these implicit arguments explicit.
Determination of the Dates of Passage of the Married Women's Property Acts and Earnings Acts

The purpose of this document is to analyze and record the dates of passage of state-level acts in the United States that granted married women the right to own and control property separate from their husbands, and the date of passage of acts granting married women the right to own their market earnings. The first of those rights was granted through what has been termed the married women's property acts (MWPAs), while the second was granted through earnings acts (EAs). These acts were passed in most states between 1848 and 1920, and have been credited with weakening the common law doctrine of coverture. The document carefully examines, and quotes, state-by-state, the laws granting married women those two types of property rights. It provides an explanation for each date chosen.
Effects of compression on language evolution

Abstract For many adaptive complex systems information about the environment is not simply recorded in a look-up table, but is rather encoded in a theory, schema, or model, which compresses information. The grammar of a language can be viewed as such a schema or theory. In a prior study [Teal et al., 1999] we proposed several conjectures about the learning and evolution of language that should follow from these observations: (C1) compression aids in generalization; (C2) compression occurs more easily in a “smooth”, as opposed to a “rugged”, problem space; and (C3) constraints from compression make it likely that natural languages evolve towards smooth string spaces. This previous work found general, if not complete support for these three conjectures. Here we build on that study to clarify the relationship between Minimum Description Length (MDL) and error in our model and examine evolution of certain languages in more detail. Our results suggest a fourth conjecture: that all else being equal, (C4) more c...
Is voice transformation a threat to speaker identification

With the development of voice transformation and speech synthesis technologies, speaker identification systems are likely to face attacks from imposters who use voice transformed or synthesized speech to mimic a particular speaker. Therefore, we investigated in this paper how speaker identification systems perform on voice transformed speech. We conducted experiments with two different approaches, the classical GMM-based speaker identification system and the Phonetic speaker identification system. Our experimental results showed that current standard voice transformation techniques are able to fool the GMM-based system but not the Phonetic speaker identification system. These findings imply that future speaker identification systems should include idiosyncratic knowledge in order to successfully distinguish transformed speech from natural speech and thus be armed against imposter attacks.
Culturally Responsive Teaching as an Ethics- and Care-Based Approach to Urban Education

Research shows culturally responsive teaching affects urban students positively. Current literature is an excellent resource for urban teacher preparation and provides definitions, models, and examples to help preservice teachers recognize the “how” and “what” of culturally responsive teaching. Missing, however, is an accessible, in-depth discussion of the “why” or theoretical components of culturally responsive teaching—a crucial part of developing culturally responsive teaching practices appropriately. This article addresses the gap by using Noddings’s care theory to frame culturally responsive teaching as question of ethics, inquiry, and caring and explores critically the theory–practice links that make this approach so effective.
Language and Literacy: What's a Speech-Language Pathologist to Do?

Abstract A series of letters to the editor, published in The ASHA Leader in 2008, suggest many speech-language pathologists are concerned and confused about the expanded scope of practice into lite...
Wideband channel sounder with measurements and model for the 60 GHz indoor radio channel

A wideband channel sounder and measurement results for the short range indoor 60 GHz channel are presented. The channel sounder is based on a 1 gigasamples/s dual channel arbitrary waveform generator and A/D converter/software demodulator, which synthesize and detect a baseband PN sequence with 500 MHz bandwidth. A heterodyne transmitter and receiver translate the baseband PN sequence to and from the 60 GHz band. Ten channel measurements taken across the 59 GHz to 64 GHz range are concatenated to provide a continuous channel measurement covering 5 GHz of bandwidth, resulting in 0.2 ns time domain channel impulse response resolution. The dynamic range and maximum sensitivity performance of the channel sounder are discussed in detail. Comparisons of results with a vector network analyzer based system are shown to verify the accuracy of the sounder. In an extensive measurement campaign with vertically polarized omnidirectional antennas, several different rooms (offices, labs, conference rooms and others) in four different buildings have been investigated. Over 700 channel measurements are the basis for a comprehensive characterization of the short range 60 GHz indoor radio channel with omnidirectional antennas. Finally, a simple stochastic static multipath channel model is derived from the measurement results.
Fast 8-Bit Median Filtering Based on Separability

We present a fast 8-bit median filter implementation based on a separability argument. Our strategy is to start with a naive separable implementation of the median filter which displays O(1) time complexity per pixel, and then optimize this implementation to reduce the time constant. The optimizations that we employ include (a) lowering the histogram memory requirements by using unsigned shorts or bytes as histogram elements, (b) consolidating operations by performing multiple short additions with a single integer addition, (c) employing SSE instructions to further speed up the histogram updates, and (d) updating only the part of the histogram that contains the median. We show that by employing these rather straightforward optimizations, we can achieve filter speeds that approach the performance of the fastest proprietary median filters currently in use.
Some measurements of the microclimate within a Sri Lankan tropical rainforest

Abstract This study characterizes the microclimate and soilwater conditions of three gaps within mixed-dipterocarp rainforest of southwest Sri Lanka. The gaps were each of a different size and within a particular part of the forest topography. The largest gap was in a valley and the smallest on a ridge. Soil water, light quantity, and temperature were recorded within demarcated zones across each gap. Although trends between gaps and within gaps are relatively easily explained, the numerical values reported give a good impression of differences and amplitudes concerned as well as of the actual values in the rainforest understory. Surface soilwater measurements revealed that the ridge gap was more prone to water stress than the valley and midslope gaps. Gap centers of all three disturbances appeared to have lower amounts of surface soil water than adjacent forest understories. Light quantities on a sunny day in the forest understory were between 0.26 and 0.92 mols, of which sunflecks contributed between 24 and 62%. These understory light levels are approximately 1% of full sun exposure. The central zone of the valley gap had the longest duration of full sun (17–54% of the daily photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of full sun). The center of the midslope gap had between 12 and 22% and the ridge had between 7 and 16% of daily PPFD of full sun. Diurnal temperature ranges in gap centers are wider than in adjacent forest understories. Sunny days had the greatest ranges of difference with a maximum of 34°C on the soil surface of the valley gap center, while surface temperatures in the understory did not exceed 25°C.
Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Vital Signs and Perceived Quality of Sleep in the Intermediate Care Unit: A Pilot Study

Background Sleep deprivation in hospitalized patients is common and can have serious detrimental effects on recovery from illness. Lavender aromatherapy has improved sleep in a variety of clinical settings, but the effect has not been tested in the intermediate care unit. Objectives To determine the effect of inhalation of 100% lavender oil on patients' vital signs and perceived quality of sleep in an intermediate care unit. Methods A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted in 50 patients. Control patients received usual care. The treatment group had 3 mL of 100% pure lavender oil in a glass jar in place at the bedside from 10 pm until 6 am. Vital signs were recorded at intervals throughout the night. At 6 am all patients completed the Richard Campbell Sleep Questionnaire to assess quality of sleep. Results Blood pressure was significantly lower between midnight and 4 am in the treatment group than in the control group (P = .03) According to the overall mean change score in blood pressure between the baseline and 6 am measurements, the treatment group had a decrease in blood pressure and the control group had an increase; however, the difference between the 2 groups was not significant (P = .12). Mean overall sleep score was higher in the intervention group (48.25) than in the control group (40.10), but the difference was not significant. Conclusion Lavender aromatherapy may be an effective way to improve sleep in an intermediate care unit.
International Phycological Society Treasurers: the first fifty years

Following the example provided by Michael J. Wynne and William J. Woelkerling in their articles on the Presidents of the International Phycological Society (IPS) (Wynne & Woelkerling 2001, 2011), a...
The costs and benefits of screening for PKU in Wisconsin.

Abstract A comprehensive benefit‐cost analysis of the screening program to detect newborns with PKU in Wisconsin is presented. Classic PKU is a genetic disorder which, if undetected and untreated during the first few weeks of life, generally results in mental retardation and a variety of other abnormal conditions. Monetary costs of the detection and treatment program were compared with the projected benefits (avoided costs) that result from the prevention of the mental retardation associated with the disorder. Future costs and benefits were determined using a 4 per cent, 7 per cent, and 10 per cent rate of discount. Net benefits (benefits‐costs) for detecting and treating one individual with PKU were $208,000 ($292,000‐$84,000) using the 7 per cent rate of discount. Net benefits for detecting four individuals with PKU per year in Wisconsin totaled $832,000, a large rate of return on a relatively small investment. The issue of the potential economic implications of maternal PKU is briefly discussed.
Regulation of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Gene Expression in the Astrocyte

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine with a diverse variety of biological functions on a wide range of cells (for review see Beutler and Cerami 1989; Vilcek and Lee 1991). TNF-α has especially been recognized as being one of the proinflammatory cytokines in a number of tissues, including the brain. Astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell in the brain, have been shown to be capable of producing many cytokines upon stimulation, including TNF-α (for review see Benveniste 1992). TNF-α is an important mediator of both inflammatory and immunological responses in the brain due to its interaction with astrocytes. TNF-α mediated responses include: 1) enhancement of ICAM-1 on human fetal astrocytes (Frohman et al. 1989); 2) enhancement of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression on astrocytes through its synergistic interaction with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) or virus (Massa et al. 1987; Benveniste et al. 1989); 3) proliferation of adult astrocytes (Selmaj et al. 1990); and 4) induction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) production by astrocytes (Frei et al. 1989; Benveniste et al. 1990). Additionally, TNF-α may act as an autocrine regulator of astrocyte function as these cells both produce TNF-α (Robbins et al. 1987; Lieberman et al. 1989; Chung and Benveniste 1990) and express high affinity TNF-α receptors (Benveniste et al. 1989). TNF-α may also contribute to demyelination within the central nervous system (CNS) due to its ability to lyse oligodendrocytes, the myelin producing cell in the CNS (Robbins et al. 1987), and induce myelin damage (Selmaj and Raine 1988).
Na(+)/glutamine (asparagine) cotransport by Staphylococcus lugdunensis and Corynebacterium amycolatum.

Staphylococcus lugdunensis and Corynebacterium amycolatum each have a Na+/glutamine cotransporter that displays an ordered reaction sequence at the extracellular surface, with sodium binding (Km of 6.5 mM) before glutamine (Km of 50 μM). Asparagine is low-affinity substrate (Km ≈ 1 mM) for each system.