cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The live foaling rate per cycle in mares

Summary The overall live foaling percentage per cycle on 4 Kentucky Thoroughbred farms was 42.0%. The rate varied with mare reproductive status, mare age, cycle number and stallion. The most pronounced effect was associated with mare age. Estimates of the relative importance of embryonic loss as a factor limiting reproductive success for young and old mares. suggest that young mares lose half of their embryos from fertilisation to term, and the loss rate increases with mare age to the point that old mares lose all or nearly all of their embryos.
Oxygen bomb combustion of environmental and biological samples for tritium analysis.

An oxygen bomb is described which is capable of combusting up to 10 g of environmental and biological samples. Water recovery exceeds 98 per cent with a memory effect for tritium of generally less than 2 per cent of the amount of tritium in previous sample. The method is used for the assay of tritium but can easily be adapted for carbon-14, sulfur-35, and other radio-nuclides.
Abstract 374:VEGFR2/KDRpolymorphisms and gene copy gain with outcome in non-small cell lung cancer

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Background. The VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) is the predominant mediator of VEGF-stimulated endothelial cell function. Recently, VEGFR2/KDR copy number gain and mutation, and VEGF copy number gain, have been described in lung adenocarcinoma tumor specimens. To better characterize the molecular changes of these two genes in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), we investigated their abnormalities in NSCLC tumor tissue specimens and correlated with patients clinico-pathological characteristics. Methods. We extracted DNA from microdissected tissue obtained from 200 surgically resected NSCLCs. KDR single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 889G/A (rs2305948), SNP 1416A/T (rs1870377) and SNP −37A/G (rs2219471) were genotyped by PCR-based sequencing. KDR and VEGF copy number were examined by quantitative (q)-PCR. Protein expressions of VEGF and VEGFR2, and CD34 for microvascular density (MVD) analysis were studied by immunohistochemistry. SNP genotypes, genes copy number and protein expression were correlated with NSCLC clinico-pathological features, including overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results. KDR 1416 AT/TT genotypes had significantly improved OS (HR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.96, P = 0.035) compared with KDR 1416 AA in all NSCLC patients in the multivariate analysis with adjustment of histology and tumor stage. In lung adenocarcinomas, KDR 1416 AT/TT genotypes and KDR −37AG/GG were associated with a favorable OS (HR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.92, P = 0.029; HR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.96, P = 0.039, respectively). Strikingly, KDR −37 AG/GG genotypes predicted a superior OS compared with KDR −37 AA genotype in the NSCLC patients treated with adjuvant therapy (HR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.06 to 5.66, P = 0.036). No genotype in KDR SNPs was associated with RFS in NSCLC patients. Gene copy gain of KDR and VEGF were detected respectively in 34/91 (37.4%) and 2/91 (2.2%) NSCLC tumors. Gene copy gain of KDR was associated with a poor overall survival in NSCLC patients (HR= 2.96, 95% CI 1.41 to 6.24, P = 0.004). Furthermore, tumors with gene copy gain of KDR showed significantly higher cytoplasmic (P = 0.013) and membrane (P = 0.009) VEGFR2 protein expression, lower cytoplasmic VEGF expression (P = 0.044), and higher MVD (P = 0.018) and larger vessel areas (P = 0.033) compared with tumors lacking KDR gene copy gain. Conclusion. Our findings suggest an association between KDR SNP genotypes and survival in NSCLC patients receiving adjuvant therapy. KDR copy number gain was frequently identified in NSCLC and was associated with worse survival in NSCLC patients. (Supported by grant US DoD W81XWH-07-1-0306). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 374.
The settling of suspensions promoted by rigid buoyant particles

Abstract When substantial numbers of buoyant particles are mixed with a sedimenting suspension of heavy particles, the two types of solids undergo rapid lateral segregation from each other. Streams 3–5 mm in diameter containing the less populous species form and flow through a concentrated continuum suspension of the more populous species. This buoyancy driven convection results in greatly enhanced sedimentation rates. A theory is developed on the premise that streams move in plug flow with all resistance to motion confined to a thin lubricating layer at the strean-continuum interface. The model is compared with experimental data and is shown to account correctly for the effect of each system parameter on the observed settling rates.
HEAT INACTIVATION RATES OF BOTULINUM TOXINS A, B, E AND F IN SOME FOODS AND BUFFERS

Inactivation of botulinum toxins was determined in selected acid and low acid foods and buffer systems. Heating at 74°C and 79°C gave a biphasic curve when the log of the inactivation of the toxins was plotted against the time of heating. At 74°C, the time for inactivation of 103 LD50 of type A toxin per gram of an acid food such as tomato soup to no detectable toxin by mouse assay was an hr. or more. At 85°C the inactivation was very rapid and approached exponential decrease with inactivation to no detectable toxin within 5 min. In general, the toxins were more stable in acid foods such as tomato soup at pH 4.2 than in low acid foods, such as canned corn at pH 6.2. Twenty minutes at 79°C or 5 min at 85°C is recommended as the minimum heat treatment for inactivation of 103 LD50 botulinum toxins per gram of the foods tested.
A method for locating potential tree-planting sites in urban areas: A case study of Los Angeles, USA

A GIS-based method for locating potential tree-planting sites based on land cover data is introduced. Criteria were developed to identify locations that are spatially available for potential tree planting based on land cover, sufficient distance from impervious surfaces, a minimum amount of pervious surface, and no crown overlap with other trees. In an ArcGIS environment, a computer program was developed to iteratively search, test, and locate potential treeplanting sites by virtually planting large, medium and small trees on plantable areas, with large trees given priority as more benefits are expected to accrue to them. A study in Los Angeles, USA found 2.2 million potential planting sites, approximately 109.3 km 2 of potential tree canopy cover.
Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study: Methods and Findings to Date

Purpose To describe baseline and longitudinal findings of the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study.
The future of military space

The author discusses future developments in military Space technology and its utilisation. >
Quantification of Purple Corn ( Zea mays L.) Anthocyanins Using Spectrophotometric and HPLC Approaches: Method Comparison and Correlation

Purple corncob is a rich source of anthocyanins with great potential as food colorant. Accurate quantification of anthocyanin content in cereals such as purple corn is critical to evaluate their nutritional value and facilitate their application in foods. Our objective was to determine the advantages and disadvantages of four common spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods to quantify cereal anthocyanins. Anthocyanins from 14 purple corncob samples were extracted, identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-PDA-MS, and quantified different methods commonly cited in the literature or used by analytical laboratories: total anthocyanins, pH differential, and HPLC methods with intact or acid hydrolyzed pigments. Polymeric color was also determined as it affects color quality. Among the four methods, the total anthocyanin method produced the highest value, followed by the pH differential method and HPLC with intact pigments, which produced very similar results, while the HPLC with hydrolyzed pigments produced the lowest values. The quantitative differences among the four methods are likely due to the differences in their specificity. Despite the differences in quantitative results, three of the methods, pH differential and both HPLC methods, showed good linear correlation (R 2 ≥ 0.98). In addition, the effect of wavelength selection and the criteria for HPLC integration were also evaluated. In summary, anthocyanin quantification results were dependent on the method chosen to quantify the pigments in the material. So, reporting methodology is critical and recommended when interpreting the anthocyanin quantification results for better inter-literature comparison.
Deciphering and predicting spatial and temporal concentrations of arsenic within the Mekong Delta aquifer

Environmental context Himalayan derived arsenic contaminates groundwater across Asia, ranging from the deltas of Ganges-Brahmaputra of Bangladesh to the interior basins of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers in China, where more than one hundred million people are drinking water with hazardous levels of the toxin. Our ability to predict the distribution and changes in arsenic concentration in aquifers of affected regions has been limited. Here we provide a dynamic model that captures arsenic migration and can be used to forecast changes in groundwater arsenic concentrations. Abstract Unravelling the complex, coupled processes responsible for the spatial distribution of arsenic within groundwaters of South and South-East Asia remains challenging, limiting the ability to predict the subsurface spatial distribution of arsenic. Previous work illustrates that Himalayan-derived, near-surface (0 to 12m) sediments contribute a substantial quantity of arsenic to groundwater, and that desorption from the soils and sediments is driven by the reduction of AsV and arsenic-bearing iron (hydr)oxides. However, the complexities of groundwater flow will ultimately dictate the distribution of arsenic within the aquifer, and these patterns will be influenced by inherent physical heterogeneity along with human alterations of the aquifer system. Accordingly, we present a unified biogeochemical and hydrologic description of arsenic release to the subsurface environment of an arsenic-afflicted aquifer in the Mekong Delta, Kandal Province, Cambodia, constructed from measured geochemical profiles and hydrologic parameters. Based on these measurements, we developed a simple yet dynamic reactive transport model to simulate one- and two-dimensional geochemical profiles of the near surface and aquifer environment to examine the effects of subsurface physical variation on the distribution of arsenic. Our results show that near-surface release (0–12m) contributes enough arsenic to the aquifer to account for observed field values and that the spatial distribution of arsenic within the aquifer is strongly affected by variations in biogeochemical and physical parameters. Furthermore, infiltrating dissolved organic carbon and ample buried particulate organic carbon ensures arsenic release from iron (hydr)oxides will occur for hundreds to thousands of years.
Make my memory: How advertising can change our memories of the past

Marketers use autobiographical advertising as a means to create nostalgia for their products. This research explores whether such referencing can cause people to believe that they had experiences as children that are mentioned in the ads. In Experiment 1, participants viewed an ad for Disney that suggested that they shook hands with Mickey Mouse as a child. Relative to controls, the ad increased their confidence that they personally had shaken hands with Mickey as a child at a Disney resort. The increased confidence could be due to a revival of a true memory or the creation of a new, false one. In Experiment 2, participants viewed an ad for Disney that suggested that they shook hands with an impossible character (e.g., Bugs Bunny). Again, relative to controls, the ad increased confidence that they personally had shaken hands with the impossible character as a child at a Disney resort. The increased confidence is consistent with the notion that autobiographical referencing can lead to the creation of false or distorted memory. 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Role of arthroscopy in osteoarthritis of the knee

We compared arthroscopic partial menisectomy with limited debridement versus arthroscopic abrasion arthroplasty in patients with osteoarthritis. Group I consisted of 131 knees in 131 patients treated by partial meniscectomy and debridement of loose articular cartilage or removal of loose bodies. All patients had grade 3 or 4 chondromalacia in the affected compartment. The patients were followed for a mean of 3 +/- 1 years. Group II consisted of 28 knees in 28 patients treated by debridement with abrasion arthroplasty of exposed bone. The mean age of this group of patients was 63 years and they were followed for a mean of 3.8 years. The Group I patients noted 80% improvement by 1 year but this fell to 67% by 5 years after meniscectomy. Overall, 104 were improved, 16 unchanged, and 15 worse at the time of last evaluation compared to their preoperative status. In the Group II patients, 11 were improved, 8 unchanged, and 9 worse. Fifty percent of Group II subsequently underwent a total knee arthroplasty for salvage at a mean of 3 years following the abrasion procedure. Abrasion arthroplasty appears to offer little benefit over partial meniscectomy and debridement in the degenerative knee. Results of abrasion arthroplasty are unpredictable.
Comparing Ant Colony Optimization and Genetic Algorithm Approaches for Solving Traffic Signal Coordination under Oversaturation Conditions

This article proposes to solve the oversatu- rated network traffic signal coordination problem us- ing the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm. The traffic networks used are discrete time models which use green times at all the intersections throughout the consid- ered period of oversaturation as the decision variables. The ACO algorithm finds intelligent timing plans which take care of dissipation of queues and removal of block- ages as opposed tothe solecost minimization usually per- formed for undersaturation conditions. Two scenarios are considered and results are rigorously compared with solutions obtained using the genetic algorithm (GA), tra- ditionally employed to solve oversaturated conditions. ACO is shown to be consistently more effective for a larger number of trials and to provide more reliable so- lutions. Further, as a master-slave parallelism is possible for the nature of ACO algorithm, its implementation is suggested to reduce the overall execution time allowing the opportunity to solve real-time signal control systems. only a short time, the time to clear the network may be significant. Costs of infrastructure renewal and expan- sion may be cost prohibitive, and, under limited bud- gets, strategies are needed that enhance the mobility
Neutralization and delinquency among teenagers

A review of the literature dealing with Sykes and Matza's theory of delinquency suggests that there is a need for a measure of their concept of neutralization that is both psychometrically sound an...
Diastolic fluttering of the aortic valve: pathognomonic M-mode features of flail cusp

An 85-year-old woman presented with recent-onset dyspnoea and fatigue, blood pressure of 120/45 mm Hg, diastolic thrill on the left sternal border, and grade V/VI, high-frequency harsh (buzzing) holodiastolic murmur radiating to shoulder, spine, and vertex of …
Nocardia cyriacigeorgica--an established rather than an emerging pathogen.

In their recent report, Schlaberg et al. declare Nocardia cyriacigeorgica to be an “emerging pathogen” ([3][1]). However, no evidence is provided to support this claim. They refer to the review by Millar and Moore ([2][2]) for a definition of “an emerging pathogenic entity” but do not
Therapeutic angiogenesis in cardiology using protein formulations

Therapeutic angiogenesis in cardiovascular disease aims at improving myocardial function by increasing blood flow to ischemic myocardium that is not amenable to traditional forms of revascularization. Preclinical data have provided proof of the concept that angiogenic growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) and vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) may indeed improve myocardial flow and function when administered in ways that ensure prolonged tissue exposure to these short-lived molecules. Although other cytokines have been shown to enhance angiogenesis in vivo, FGF-2 and VEGF have been most widely studied and may serve as prototype proangiogenic drugs. Currently, several delivery techniques that are clinically applicable are being studied with respect to tissue distribution and retention as well as angiogenic efficacy of FGF-2 and VEGF. Although tissue distribution and retention of FGF-2 after intramyocardial injection compares favorably with other routes of administration, efficacy studies are not yet conclusive. At the same time, different protein- and gene-based formulations are being investigated. Arguments for and against protein and gene therapy are presented, showing that protein-based therapy seems to have advantages over gene therapy at the present time, although continuous efforts should be made to increase the tissue exposure time after a single administration of protein. While delivery systems and growth factor formulations are being improved, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials designed with existing animal data in mind, are needed to firmly establish the utility of therapeutic angiogenesis in cardiovascular disease.
PYFS-a statistical optimization method for integrated circuit yield enhancement

An efficient optimization method for the statistical design of integrated circuits is presented. This method, called the pseudo yield function substitution (PYFS) algorithm, is developed to help a designer select design parameters to maximize the product yield. The design goal of PYFS is to use fewer simulation runs to reach a yield-optimized design. This is accomplished with the development of an improved response surface method for accurate estimation of the circuit response function, and the use of a novel PYFS method for yield maximization. >
Aperture Coupled Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna Array Fed by Dielectric Image Guide

This paper presents the design of a rectangular dielectric resonator antenna array coupled to narrow slot apertures that are fed by dielectric image guide (DIG). The DIG is excited by an X-band rectangular waveguide through a waveguide transition, and DIG tapering is used to match between the waveguide and the DIG. Reflection cancelling slots are added near the original slots to improve impedance matching. Since the slots radiate in both directions, a reflecting conducting plate is inserted above the DIG to decrease the back radiation of the antenna. The antenna is fabricated and the measured results are compared to the simulated results.
Insurers' Demutualization Decisions

: Several explanations of why mutual insurers choose to demutualize their businesses are examined with a recent survey of mutual insurers. This study adds to the literature by surveying mutual insurers' executives on those factors that would lead them to demutualize their companies. Both univariate and multivariate techniques are applied to analyze those responses. Demutualization is most strongly influenced by access to capital markets, increased organizational flexibility, and the chance for company officers to increase their pay, as prior literature has suggested.
Statistical, Modular Systems Integration Using Combined Energy & Exergy Concepts

This paper details statistical concepts to systems-level applications with relevance to integration, operation, and optimization of engineering components and systems. A physicsbased exergy analysis is combined with system performance goals. Designed experiments are used to pre-determine relevant simulation points for the analysis in order to develop the statistical models most effectively and efficiently. The results of the simulation are then processed via advanced statistics to create a surrogate model that identifies the component and/or system within desired or anticipated operational ranges. These statistical surrogate models represent the system in a modular fashion. In this manner, a statistical module may be interfaced independently from its origination and a “system of systems” may be built from the surrogate modules that may be used to efficiently investigate engineering trades and perform preliminary design studies. Quantitative examples from aerospace components and systems are used to demonstrate the overall process.
Estimation of solid phase affinity constants using resistive-pulses from functionalized nanoparticles.

Abstract This paper describes a method for estimating the solid phase affinity constant of antibodies by using resistive-pulse (Coulter counting) data from spherical nanoparticles that expose antigens. We developed this technique by analyzing data published recently by Saleh, O.A., Sohn, L.L., 2003a. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100, 820–824. These authors used resistive-pulse sensing to detect an increase in the diameter of streptavidin-functionalized colloids due to the binding of monoclonal anti-streptavidin antibodies. Based on further analysis of their data, we were able to determine the number of antibodies bound to the colloids at various antibody concentrations. This information made it possible to estimate the solid phase affinity constant of the interaction by fitting the data with binding isotherms that describe the binding equilibrium between antibody and antigen. We calculated a value of 2.6 × 10 8 ± 0.8 × 10 8 M −1 which is in agreement with the specifications of the supplier of the antibody.
Estrogen-dependent plasma prolactin response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone in intact and castrated men.

Although it has been recently shown that GnRH is capable of increasing plasma PRL levels in humans, the role played by the steroid hormone environment in influencingthis response has not been clarified. Fourteen intact and 14 castrated subjects with carcinoma of the prostate were studied before and after daily treatment with 1.5 mg estradiolbenzoate (E2B), im, for 9 days. PRL responsiveness was tested after GnRH was given as an iv bolus or a continuous infusion for 4 h. During a 4-h saline infusion after E2B treatment, plasma PRL levels were measured in 8 intact and 8 castrated subjects for control purposes. No significant increase in PRL levels was noted after iv bolus or infusion of GnRH in intact or castrated men. After the administration of pharmacological doses of EB for 9 days, plasma PRL levels increased significantly in all subjects after both the iv bolus and the infusion of GnRH. During saline infusion, a significant decrease in plasma PRL levels was observed in all subjects. Plasma gonadotropin...
Juxtaposed Polycomb complexes co-regulate vertebral identity

Best known as epigenetic repressors of developmental Hox gene transcription, Polycomb complexes alter chromatin structure by means of post-translational modification of histone tails. Depending on the cellular context, Polycomb complexes of diverse composition and function exhibit cooperative interaction or hierarchical interdependency at target loci. The present study interrogated the genetic, biochemical and molecular interaction of BMI1 and EED, pivotal constituents of heterologous Polycomb complexes, in the regulation of vertebral identity during mouse development. Despite a significant overlap in dosage-sensitive homeotic phenotypes and co-repression of a similar set of Hox genes, genetic analysis implicated eed and Bmi1 in parallel pathways, which converge at the level of Hox gene regulation. Whereas EED and BMI1 formed separate biochemical entities with EzH2 and Ring1B, respectively, in mid-gestation embryos, YY1 engaged in both Polycomb complexes. Strikingly, methylated lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3-K27), a mediator of Polycomb complex recruitment to target genes, stably associated with the EED complex during the maintenance phase of Hox gene repression. Juxtaposed EED and BMI1 complexes, along with YY1 and methylated H3-K27, were detected in upstream regulatory regions of Hoxc8 and Hoxa5 . The combined data suggest a model wherein epigenetic and genetic elements cooperatively recruit and retain juxtaposed Polycomb complexes in mammalian Hox gene clusters toward co-regulation of vertebral identity.
A plethora of mechanisms in the HERG-related long QT syndrome. Genetics meets electrophysiology.

See article by Nakajima et al. [15] (pages 283–293) in this issue. The ether a-go-go-related gene ( eag ) was cloned from a Drosophila mutant displaying a dance-like movement disorder on exposure to ether [1]. Homologs of eag have been cloned in mouse and rat, but not (at least yet) in human. However, a related gene, the human ether a-go-go-related gene ( HERG ) was cloned from a human hippocampal cDNA library in 1994 [2]. The function of HERG was initially obscure, but came to dramatic attention in early 1995 when Keating et al. [3] identified mutations in HERG linked to one form of the congenital long QT syndrome (LQT2), and shortly thereafter HERG was identified as the α-subunit encoding the rapid component of delayed rectifier ( I Kr) [4,5]. Thus, HERG rapidly became of interest not only to geneticists interested in LQTS, but also to cardiac physiologists and pharmacologists interested in studying I Kr and its block by drugs. Studies from multiple laboratories have now made it clear that the vast majority of drugs associated with Torsades de Pointes are also I Kr blockers [6–14]. This finding, in turn, can go a long way in explaining the similarities between the congenital and drug-induced forms of the long QT syndrome, and may have important implications for drug development. Quite independent of the long QT syndrome, the availability of a cDNA encoding the structural subunit underlying I Kr has provided a crucial reagent for biophysicists studying the normal physiology, and the pathophysiology, of the channel. Therefore, mutagenesis of HERG is proceeding along two complementary lines: directed by physiology (often targeting residues or domains known to be important in other voltage-gated channels) or by clinical genetics, as new mutations are identified and characterized in patients with LQT2. The two approaches together are developing … * Corresponding author. Division of Clinical Pharmacology, 532 Medical Research Building I, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 23d Ave. South at Pierce Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232-6602, USA. Tel.: +1-615-322-0067; fax: +1-615-343-4522 dan.roden{at}mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Effects of lanthanum on 45 Ca movements and oxytocin-induced milk ejection in mammary tissue.

SummaryLanthanum did not cause an expected increase in the efflux of 45Ca from mammary tissue. The presence of nonradioactive calcium in the media probably precluded such movement. However, lanthanum did significantly reduce the milk ejection response of mammary tissue to oxytocin. The nature of this reduction indicates that a superficial calcium pool plays a role in myoepithelial cell contraction. Evidence in this report does not strongly favor any direct movement of extracellular calcium into the myoepithelial cell after oxytocin treatment.
Role of Aerobic Gram-Negative Bacilli in Endometritis After Cesarean Section

Endometritis is considered to be a polymicrobial infection, involving aerobes, anaerobes, and genital mycoplasmas. Aerobic gram-negative rods make up 7%-25% of all genital isolates, but findings from studies in which special collection techniques were used suggest that many of these may be contaminants from the lower genital tract. Bacteremia occurs in 4%-30% of patients with endometritis, and aerobic gram-negative rods account for approximately 25% of blood isolates. Both selected therapy studies and studies of intrauterine cultures collected at surgery from patients at risk for endometritis suggest the significant role of aerobic gram-negative rods. Among them Escherichia coli is the most common isolate in both genital and blood cultures. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis rank next, followed by Enterobacter species. Pseudomonas species account for fewer than 0.6% of genital isolates. Overall, aerobic gram-negative rods are causally involved in 10%-20% of cases of endometritis following cesarean section.
Vision-based system for welding groove measurements for robotic welding applications

Electric arc welding is a complex task that demands a high degree of control in order to meet the international standards for fusion welding. We present a Vision-Based Measurement (VBM) system and evaluate how different conditions and algorithms impact the measuring of beveled edges. The proposed system integrates hardware and software to image the welding plates using a single CMOS camera as visual sensor, run computer vision algorithms on a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) board, controls the robot movements and adjust the weld pattern and welder equipment parameters. A complete prototype, using a commercial linear welding robot is presented. The evaluation of the system as a groove mapping equipment, considering different processing algorithms combined with noise removal and line segment detection techniques, shows the potential of the approach for shop floor operation.
The length of training pilot: does anyone really know what time it takes?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES With funding from the American Board of Family Medicine, the Review Committee for Family Medicine of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has undertaken a project to examine the length of training for family medicine residents. This project comes at a time when concerns are being raised regarding how well family medicine residents are being prepared for independent practice, especially in view of the changing health care environment. The declining performance of recent graduates on the American Board of Family Medicine certification examination and reports of narrowing of the scope of practice of family physicians have only heightened these concerns. This special article is meant to provide a historical review of the issue as well as an overview of the project.
Inter-developing-country Trade and Employment

In contrast to the essentially trade-creating case for trade between developing and industrial countries (south-north), the traditional arguments for trade among developing countries (south-south) have been based on trade diversion, and the discussion has focused principally on trade in manufactures.
Questioning the Western idea of reason through Hindu philosophy: An analysis of The Circle of Reason by Amitav Ghosh

The Western idea of reason and science has always been one of the most important tools used by Europeans in the colonial project to define the differentiation between native and European and the hierarchy between these two groups. In the context of Indian civilization, Europeans built their own stereotype through the emphasis on the supposed superiority of analytical reason and of Western science, while they also built the image of Indians as passive, religious, and illogical beings. One of the characteristics of postcolonialism, however, is the questioning of these “prerogatives” by reconfiguring or instrumentalizing the features that were once subjugated by European colonialism. Thus, the post-colonial fiction becomes a vital instrument for working with these stereotypes without the constraints imposed by the technicality of scientific text, which still suffers from the prejudices of Western binary division between science and religion or spirituality. The Indian writer Amitav Ghosh is a master at questioning the European colonial principles through critical reinterpretation of Indian popular and philosophical/religious knowledge. Through the literary analysis of Ghosh’s first novel The Circle of Reason (1986), I intend to demonstrate how he subdues the glorification of reason and Western science exemplified by phrenology, sanitation, sewing machines, etc. To accomplish this, I will focus on his strategy of naming the three parts of the novel after the three guṇas (sattva, rajas and tamas) as well as the use of other references to Hindu philosophy such as Nachiketa, the main character of the Kaṭha Upaniṣad and the concept of māyā in the depiction of characters. Although some critics have paid relatively little attention to Ghosh’s use of Hindu philosophy, with some of them even suggesting its irrelevance to understand the novel, I argue that these elements appropriated from Hindu philosophy are fundamental to the understanding of the main dimension of the novel. Hindu philosophy then becomes not just Ghosh’s critical tool to question the Western monolithic view that establishes only one form of rationality as the legitimate one, but also the main theoretical tool for the present literary analysis.
Mitochondrial dynamics following global cerebral ischemia

Global brain ischemia/reperfusion induces neuronal damage in vulnerable brain regions, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent neuronal death. Induction of neuronal death is mediated by release of cytochrome c (cyt c) from the mitochondria though a well-characterized increase in outer mitochondrial membrane permeability. However, for cyt c to be released it is first necessary for cyt c to be liberated from the cristae junctions which are gated by Opa1 oligomers. Opa1 has two known functions: maintenance of the cristae junction and mitochondrial fusion. These roles suggest that Opa1 could play a central role in both controlling cyt c release and mitochondrial fusion/fission processes during ischemia/reperfusion. To investigate this concept, we first utilized in vitro real-time imaging to visualize dynamic changes in mitochondria. Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) of neurons grown in culture induced a dual-phase mitochondrial fragmentation profile: (i) fragmentation during OGD with no apoptosis activation, followed by fusion of mitochondrial networks after reoxygenation and a (ii) subsequent extensive fragmentation and apoptosis activation that preceded cell death. We next evaluated changes in mitochondrial dynamic state during reperfusion in a rat model of global brain ischemia. Evaluation of mitochondrial morphology with confocal and electron microscopy revealed a similar induction of fragmentation following global brain ischemia. Mitochondrial fragmentation aligned temporally with specific apoptotic events, including cyt c release, caspase 3/7 activation, and interestingly, release of the fusion protein Opa1. Moreover, we uncovered evidence of loss of Opa1 complexes during the progression of reperfusion, and electron microscopy micrographs revealed a loss of cristae architecture following global brain ischemia. These data provide novel evidence implicating a temporal connection between Opa1 alterations and dysfunctional mitochondrial dynamics following global brain ischemia.
A Note on the Posterior Mean of a Population Mean

SUMMARY It is a well-known result, see for example Lindley (1965) and Raiffa and Schlaifer (1961), that if x is the mean of a sample of independent observations distributed N(ju, a2) where qr2 is known, and if ,u has been assigned a normal prior distribution, N(m, v), then the posterior expectation of ,s, given the sufficient statistic xc, has the form {x(n/a2) + m/v}/{(n/a2) + 1/v}, that is, has the intuitively appealing form of a weighted average of the prior mean and sample mean with weights inversely proportional to the prior variance and the conditional sampling variance of X respectively. In this note we present an extremely simple generalization of this result which seems not to have been noted explicitly before and which holds for a variety of distributions other than the normal. VERY often inference concerns a population mean or the common conditional expectation of the observations given some parameter. In this note we show that if a simple and easily checked condition holds then the form of the posterior mean of a population mean is a weighted average of the observed sample mean, x, and the prior expectation of the population mean, m say, with weights respectively proportional to the inverses of the prior expectation of the conditional sampling variance of X and the prior variance of the population mean. This basic result is given in Section 2. In Section 3 we give a simple example and also indicate that the condition holds for a wide variety of distributions other than normal with known variance. The well-known normal result turns out to be the simplest special case of an equally appealing, but more general, form. Some generalizations are also indicated very briefly in that section. 2. BAsic RESULT
A phase I study of oral belinostat (PXD101) in patients with advanced solid tumors.

B134 Background: Belinostat (PXD101) is a pan hydroxamate histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor which demonstrates broad anti-neoplastic activity in vitro and in vivo. In Phase I studies in patients (pts) with advanced cancer, IV belinostat is well-tolerated up to 1000 mg/m2 days (d) 1-5, q21d. Methods: Pts with advanced solid tumors refractory to standard therapy, or for which no standard therapy exists, adequate renal and hepatic function and Karnofsky PS ≥60 were eligible. Primary objectives were to evaluate safety and tolerability, and secondary objectives, to determine pharmacokinetics (PK) and explore anti-tumor efficacy of oral belinostat. Pts were dosed in sequential cohorts of 3-6 pts on 1 of 4 schedules: once (QD) or twice (BID) daily in 28d cycles (continuous schedule), or QD or BID d1-14 q21d (discontinuous schedule). The dose was escalated in 250mg increments. Fasting and non-fasting PK studies were performed on all pts along with serial ECGs to evaluate effects on QTc interval. Results: Sixty pts, median age 60 (range 32-80) have been treated: 46 pts on continuous schedules at 250mg QD (20 pts), 500mg QD (6 pts) and 250mg BID (20 pts), and 14 pts on discontinuous schedules at 500mg QD (3 pts), 750mg QD (7 pts) and 500mg AM/250mg PM (4 pts). Median number of cycles is 2 (range 1-11); 15 pts continue on study. Two of 6 pts on continuous schedule of 500mg QD developed dose limiting toxicity (DLT) of grade (gr) 3 dehydration and gr 3 fatigue, and thus the MTD was set at 250mg QD. Dose escalation from 250mg to 500mg BID was deferred and the MTD set at 250mg BID. One of 6 pts each at 750mg QD and 500mg AM/250mg PM discontinuous schedule developed DLT of gr 3 fatigue. In available safety data from 41 pts, the most frequent adverse events (AE) occurring in >25% of pts included fatigue, anorexia, nausea, constipation and weight loss. Fatigue is the only drug-related grade 3 / 4 AE in >1 pt, occurring in 9 pts. Symptoms usually resolved after drug was withheld. In >2400 ECGs collected, no QTcF >500ms or QTcF increase >60ms above baseline was seen. Most common tumor types treated are colorectal (n=15), prostate (n=10), bladder (n=6) and lung (n=5). To date, 7 pts have SD lasting ≥ 4 months (one pt each with adenoid carcinoma, chondrosarcoma, renal, rectal, lung, prostate, thyroid). PK studies detected belinostat in serum, with exposure generally correlating with either dose, or frequency of dose (i.e., QD vs. BID). The apparent t1/2 of QD oral belinostat ranged from 1.16 - 1.59 hrs and did not appear to be influenced by food. Tmax ranged from 1.26- 3.68 hrs. Conclusions: Oral belinostat at 250mg QD and 250mg BID continuous, and 750mg d1-14 in a 21d cycle is tolerated. Dose escalation on discontinuous schedules continues.
Deciphering the black box of food allergy mechanisms.

Abstract Objective To review our current understanding of immunotherapy, the immune mechanisms underlying food allergy, and the methodological advances that are furthering our understanding of the role of immune cells and other molecules in mediating food allergies. Data Sources Literature searches were performed using the following combination of terms: allergy , immunotherapy , food , and mechanisms . Data from randomized clinical studies using state-of-the-art mechanistic tools were prioritized. Study Selections Articles were selected based on their relevance to food allergy. Results Current standard of care for food allergies is avoidance of allergenic foods and the use of epinephrine in case of severe reaction during unintentional ingestion. During the last few decades, great strides have been made in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying food allergy, and this information is spearheading the development of exciting new treatments. Conclusion Immunotherapy protocols are effective in desensitizing individuals to specific allergens; however, recurrence of allergic sensitization is common after discontinuation of therapy. Interestingly, in a subset of individuals, immunotherapy is protective against allergens even after discontinuation of immunotherapy. Whether this protection is permanent is currently unknown because of inadequate long-term follow-up data. Research on understanding the underlying mechanisms may assist in modifying protocols to improve outcome and enable sustained unresponsiveness, rather than a temporary relief against food allergies. The cellular changes brought about by immunotherapy are still a black box, but major strides in our understanding are being made at an exciting pace.
Mr. Gray on Caricature

valid, but must be viewed as approximations of the probable sampling variability of the estimates. The X2 and X4 coefficients are significant at the 5 per cent probability level. The X3 coefficient is significant only at the 10 per cent level, hence must be accepted with more reservations. Some analysts, when conducting research of this type, try different models in an effort to choose the model that best yields the expected results. And this may at times be necessary; the development of preliminary models often helps the investigator get a feel, or understanding, of the system for which the parameters are being estimated. But as C. F. Christ argues:
Aperture arrays for subnanometer calibration of optical microscopes

We fabricate and test subresolution aperture arrays as calibration devices for optical localization microscopy. An array pitch with a relative uncertainty of approximately three parts in ten thousand enables localization with subnanometer accuracy.
MEMS IMU and one-way-travel-time navigation for autonomous underwater vehicles

The absence of the global positioning system (GPS) is a challenge to navigation and localization in the underwater environment. Thus, for precise and accurate navigation, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) often rely on very precise (yet very expensive and high energy consumption) inertial strap-down sensors which require external observations to constrain their dead-reckoned position error over time — e.g., Doppler velocity logs (DVLs) or acoustic positioning systems. Recent advances in acoustic navigation methodologies are enabling AUVs to extend submerged mission time by providing external position corrections and thereby constraining position error. Additionally, advances in microelectromechanical system (MEMS) inertial sensor technology has drastically lowered the size, power consumption, and cost of inertial sensors; however, they are still noisy and accumulate error over time. This paper builds on recent advances in single beacon one-way-travel-time (OWTT) acoustic navigation and investigates the degree of bounding position error for small AUVs with a minimal navigation strap-down sensor suite, relying on a consumer grade MEMS inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a vehicle's dynamic model velocity. A real time implementation of an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), containing bias estimation, is obtained in the field with two Ocean-Server, Inc. Iver2 vehicles, and results show an average position error of 10.26 meters and 12.95 meters over a distance traveled of 1.73 kilometers and 1.91 kilometers, respectively.
Acknowledging and managing deep constraints on moral agency and the self

Doris proposes that the exercise of morally responsible agency unfolds as a collaborative dialogue among selves expressing their values while being subject to ever-present constraints. We assess the fit of Doris's account with recent data from psychology and neuroscience related to how people make judgments about moral agency (responsibility, blame), and how they understand the self after traumatic events.
Imagination in Avicenna and Kant

In comparing the views of Avicenna and Kant on the imagination, we find a striking congruence of doctrine. Kant?s doctrines of the syntheses of the imagination in his Transcendental Deduction (both A and B) have remarkable similarities with Avicenna?s views. For both Avicenna and Kant, the imagination serves to connect the phenomenal and the noumenal. At the least this comparison has the dual use of placing Kant?s doctrines in the context of the Aristotelian tradition and of illuminating the modern significance of the thought of Avicenna. Since Kant?s thought is more familiar to us than Avicenna?s (although perhaps not as evident in itself), we can use Kant also to help us understand the claims of Avicenna. On the other hand, this comparison may help to support the claim that an understanding of Kant lies to a large extent in his medieval and post-medieval roots ?just as Copernicus, in his own ?Copernican revolution?, was following certain earlier traditions.
Optimization by Ad Libitum Mixing and the Just-About-Right Scale

This exercise demonstrates the use of two methods for optimization of an ingredient level (sugar content) that influences sweetness and product acceptability in a beverage system. Two methods are used, the just-about-right scale (JAR) and a method of adjusting the sample to taste preference. The adjustment method is prone to a context effect in which the taster is likely to undershoot the true optimum when either ascending (adding) or descending (diluting) the sweetness level. The JAR scale method is prone to a centering bias, in which the middle concentration in a series is more likely to be called “just right” or optimal. A method for graphically interpolating the true JAR point from two overlapping concentration series is illustrated.
Ethics and Attitudes

The roughly 300,000 species of green plants and algae provide the means by which the energy of the sun that reaches the earth’s surface is locked up in chemical bonds. By carrying out this process, the plants and algae provide all of the food for from ten to thirty times as many heterotrophic organisms, including all the animals and man himself. Because of the nature of food chains and the degree of specialization in feeding habits of these heterotrophs, we may assume that the extinction of each species of plant is, on the average, accompanied by a ten- to thirty-fold loss amongst other organisms. Therefore, the diversity of plants is the underlying factor controlling the diversity of other organisms and thus the stability of the world ecosystem. On these grounds alone, the conservation of the plant world is ultimately a matter of survival for the human race.