cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A computer-aided software engineering toolkit for the integration of CAD/CAM application software in a network environment

Much progress has been made in recent years in the development of Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) tools for engineering design, analysis, and manufacturing. Unfortunately, most of these CAD/CAM applications were constructed independently and without standardization. In essence, they automate a single aspect of design, analysis, or manufacturing and cannot be combined to form a cohesive environment, since integration among applications was not addressed during the design phase of CAD/CAM application software creation. In view of this problem, a novel approach is suggested for software integration of applications in a network environment. The distributed integration solution described in this dissertation employs a new "integration client/server" relationship, where the integration server is the core of the system, providing functions to translate or transform data between applications. The integration client consists of an interface with the server, a CAD/CAM application, and a user interface with the integrated system called the GRIM (GRaphical Interface Manager). There is only one integration server in the system, but there may be an unlimited number of clients. The solution created for distributed integration is implemented in a Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) workbench, geared specifically toward the generation of integration systems. This workbench is known as the CAD/CAM CASE Workbench, and includes an integration solution as well as standard CASE tools. The integration solution contains several tools which will aid a system designer in generating integration systems for CAD/CAM applications. Included is the distributed integration solution described in this dissertation. The distributed integration solution is designed to facilitate the semi-automatic generation of an integration system. It consists of an integration server at the center of the integration system which manages the exchange of data among the integration clients. The integration clients are the CAD/CAM applications in the context of the integration system. To use the distributed integration solution, the integration system designer will customize portions of the structure charts, data dictionary, and module specifications contained in the workbench according to the needs of the applications programs and generate C-source code defining the integration system. Using the distributed integration solution, the user will be able to effect data requests for applications, using the GRIM to interact with the system. All data exchanges are request driven. In addition to the distributed integration solution, this research includes a prototype integrated system which allows data to be requested from one application, and translated to a second for display and manipulation. The prototype was tested in a distributed environment and the results are described.
The Cuoco Configuration

Following A. Cuoco, a proof of the Law of Cosines is given using squares constructed on sides of the triangle. Then the configuration consisting of the original triangle and the triangle defined by...
Dot-product engine as computing memory to accelerate machine learning algorithms

Currently, intense work is underway to develop memristor crossbar arrays for high density, nonvolatile memory applications. However, another capability of memristor crossbars - natural dot-product operation for vectors and matrices - holds even greater potential for next-generation computing, including accelerators, neuromorphic computing, and heterogeneous computing. In this paper, we present a dot-product engine (DPE) based on memristor crossbars optimized for dense matrix computation, which is dominated in most machine learning algorithms. We explored multiple methods to enhance DPE's dot-product computing accuracy. Moreover, instead of training crossbars, we try to directly use existing software-trained weight matrices on DPEs so no heroic effort is needed to innovate learning algorithms for new hardware. Our results show that computations utilizing DPEs can achieve 1000 ∼ 10000 times better speed-efficiency product comparing to a state-of-art ASIC [1]. And machine learning algorithm utilizing DPEs can easily achieve software-level accuracy on testing. Both experimental demonstrations and data-calibrated circuit simulations are presented to demonstrate the realistic implementation of a memristor crossbar DPE.
Physiologic changes of the cornea with contact lens wear.

Purpose This article reviews the corneal changes resulting from the hypoxia that occurs during sleep and specifically during contact lens wear. Methods Discussion includes a literature review and observations regarding the changes to the corneal epithelium, stroma, and endothelium that take place during sleep and wearing of contact lenses made from different materials. Results Hypoxia and hypercapnia cause significant changes to the corneal epithelium, stroma, and endothelium. Some of these changes can also be seen following the sleep cycle. Epithelial changes include decreased metabolic rate, morphologic changes, microcysts, changes in junctional integrity, decreased corneal sensation, and pannus formation. Stromal changes include stromal edema, stromal acidosis, neovascularization, and changes in corneal shape and, ultimately, corneal thinning. Endothelial changes include bleb formation, polymegethism, changes in endothelial cell density, and possible changes in endothelial function. Conclusions There are multiple and significant corneal changes resulting from hypoxia and hypercapnia. These changes vary with the specific lens style. The high-oxygen-permeable contact lenses recently introduced may overcome some of these problems.
Ratings Models Using Super Decisions v2

In this chapter, we will learn how to build ratings models using Super Decisions. It may be useful to review the theoretical discussion of ratings models in the previous chapter. Here we will focus on the how-to aspects of using Super Decisions for ratings models.
Human rights in the news: Balancing new media participation with the authority of journalists and human rights professionals

From the outset the modern human rights movement has relied on the press and media as an essential partner in its work to hold governments accountable for human rights violations. When Peter Benens...
Incidence of Toxic and Other Mold Species and Genera in Soybeans.

The mold flora of 385 unprocessed soybean samples was determined before and after surface disinfection of the beans with 5% NaOCl. Molds were detected in 99.4% of the 19,250 non-disinfected soybeans examined, and in 52.8% of the 19,250 surface-disinfected soybeans examined indicating that contamination was primarily at the surface, although internal invasion also was substantial. The mold flora, both before and after surface disinfection, was dominated by species of the Aspergillus glaucus group, Asperigillus flavus , Aspergillus candidus , Penicillium cyclopium , plus species of Alternaria and Cladosporium . The toxicogenic species A. flavus , Aspergillus nidulans , Aspergillus ochaeceus , Aspergillus versicolor , Penicillium citrinum , P. cyclopium , and Pencillium viridicatum were encountered regularly in non-surface-disinfected soybeans. Except for A. flavus and P. cyclopium , the occurrence of toxicogenic species Aspergillus melleus , soybeans was sporadic. The toxicogenic species Aspergillus melleus , Pencillium expansum , and Penicillium urticae were encountered occasionally, but only in non-surface-disinfected soybeans. Penicillium chrysogenum , the penicillin-producing organism, was encountered regularly in non-surface-disinfected soybeans, but less frequently in disinfected soybeans.
Clinical role of electrocochleography in children with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder

Abstract Objectives To assess electrocochleography (ECochG) to tones as an instrument to account for CI speech perception outcomes in children with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD). Materials & methods Children ( Results On average, TR was larger in ANSD than in non-ANSD subjects. Most ANSD (73.3%) and non-ANSD (87.8%) subjects achieved open-set speech perception; TR accounted for 33% and 20% of variability in the outcomes, respectively. In the ANSD group, the PTA accounted for 69.3% of the variability, but there was no relationship with outcomes in the non-ANSD group. In both populations, nerve score was sensitive in identifying subjects at risk for not acquiring open-set speech perception, while the CAP and the ANN were more specific. Conclusion In both subject groups, the TRs correlated with outcomes but these measures were notably larger in the ANSD group. There was also strong correlation between PTA and speech perception outcome in ANSD group. In both subject populations, weaker evidence of neural activity was related to failure to achieve open-set speech perception.
Not a ‘Petro Metro’: challenging fossil fuel expansion

In this article, we draw on archival research, participant observation and content analysis to examine urban sustainability, networked infrastructures and environmental justice movements. We do thi...
An Alternative to Measuring Subjective Workload: Use of SWAT without the Card Sort:

One major drawback in some applications of the Subjective Workload Assessment Technique (SWAT) is the time required to administer the card sort. There are alternative methods of forming a workload ...
Something in common: Competitive dissimilarity and performance of rivals with common shareholders

Economists have long held that bringing firms under the umbrella of a common ownership structure creates monopolistic conditions that reduce competition. We challenge this view by investigating com...
Environmental Health Sciences, Religion, and Spirituality

This chapter reviews theories and empirical evidence on relations between religion and spirituality (R/S) and environmental health, a public health subfield and field of concentration that draws slightly less than one-tenth of public health students nationwide.
A study of the effect of alternative similarity measures on the performance of graph-based anomaly detection algorithms

We investigate an anomaly detection framework that uses manifold-based distances within the existing skeleton kernel principle component analysis (SkPCA) manifold-learning technique. SkPCA constructs a manifold from the an adjacency matrix built using a sparse subsample of the data and a similarity measure. In anomaly detection the relative abundance of the anomalous class is rare by definition and in practice anomalous samples are unlikely to be randomly selected for inclusion in the sparse data subsample. Thus, anomalies should not be well modeled by the SkPCA-constructed model. Here, we consider alternative distance measures based on viewing spectral pixels as points in projective space, that is, each pixel is a 1-dimensional line through the origin. Chordal and geodesic distances are computed between hyperspectral pixels and detection performance leveraging these distances is compared to alternative anomaly detection algorithms. In addition, we introduce Ensemble SkPCA which utilizes the ensemble of mean, normalized detection scores corresponding to multiple randomly generated skeletons. For acceptable false alarm tolerances, the ensemble detection score derived from chordaland geodesic-based methods achieves higher probability of detection than Euclidean distance-based Ensemble SkPCA or the benchmark RX algorithm.
Principles of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Induction and Recognition

In this chapter I will discuss neither HIV nor its associated dementia; instead I will focus on the principles which underlie the importance of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in controlling viral infections and the means by which these critical antiviral effectors can be induced. Viral infections remain major causes of human morbidity and mortality. Vaccination has eradicated smallpox and has diminished the incidence of the more severe viral infections (mumps, rubella, measles and polio), at least in the “developed” countries. However, in “underdeveloped” countries the incidence of many of these diseases remains high, and the morbidity and mortality consequent upon the infections remains significant. For example, measles virus infections in the third world lead directly or indirectly to an estimated 1–2 million deaths per year. Furthermore, since the appearance of HIV the contribution of viruses to human suffering has escalated enormously, and forecasts suggest that this will increase in the years to come. At present of course there is no vaccine for HIV, and this drives much of the current effort to molecularly dissect the antiviral immune response.
Sourcing Co-Created Products: Should Your Suppliers Collaborate on Cost Reductions?

We study how a multi-product downstream firm should source from the upstream market—single-source versus multi-source—in a situation where the products are co-created with the suppliers. We conceptualize co-creation as investments that are made at the different hierarchical levels and that are aimed at reducing the production costs incurred by the supplies. In the case when the downstream firm sources its products from multiple suppliers, it can foster cost-reduction collaboration among the suppliers. We find that the downstream firm may be worse off when the upstream suppliers collaborate. For a commonly used additively separable cost function, we show that the downstream firm’s optimal strategy is multi-source co-creation without collaboration. Multi-sourcing softens the holdup problem and leads to a positive level of investment by the downstream firm.
Traumatic brain injury and coextensive psychopathology: New evidence from the 2016 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS)

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health issue associated with increased medical comorbidity and economic burden. The majority of studies of TBI among clinical populations are geographically limited and rely on small samples. As such, the current study seeks to examine the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of TBI in a nationally representative emergency department (ED) sample. Using the 2016 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between TBI history, sociodemographic factors and mental health disorders. An estimated 179,986 adults age 18 and older were admitted to United States EDs in 2016 with a personal history of TBI. The majority of patients were male (69.71%), ages 50 years or older (50.92%) with Medicare (44.30%) or Medicaid (28.65%) insurance. Diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (AOR = 3.99), affective disorders (AOR = 2.97), anxiety disorders (AOR = 1.68), personality and behavior disorders (AOR = 2.77), and schizophrenia (AOR = 2.80) were significantly associated with history of TBI. These results provide insight into the developmental pathogenesis of TBI and its comorbid psychiatric consequences.
Hardy–Stein identity for non-symmetric Lévy processes and Fourier multipliers

Abstract Using Ito's formula for processes with jumps, we extend the Hardy–Stein identity proved in [7] to non-symmetric pure jump Levy processes and derive its martingale version. By a symmetrization argument for Littlewood–Paley functions, the L p boundedness of Fourier multipliers arising from non-symmetric pure jump Levy processes is proved.
Grothendieck constant is norm of Strassen matrix multiplication tensor

We show that two important quantities from two disparate areas of complexity theory—Strassen’s exponent of matrix multiplication $$\omega $$ and Grothendieck’s constant $$K_G$$ — are different measures of size for the same underlying object: the matrix multiplication tensor, i.e., the 3-tensor or bilinear operator $$\mu _{l,m,n} : {\mathbb {F}}^{l \times m} \times {\mathbb {F}}^{m \times n} \rightarrow {\mathbb {F}}^{l \times n}$$ , $$(A,B) \mapsto AB$$ defined by matrix-matrix product over $${\mathbb {F}} = {\mathbb {R}}$$ or $${\mathbb {C}}$$ . It is well-known that Strassen’s exponent of matrix multiplication is the greatest lower bound on (the log of) the tensor rank of $$\mu _{l,m,n}$$ . We will show that Grothendieck’s constant is the least upper bound on a tensor norm of $$\mu _{l,m,n}$$ , taken over all $$l, m, n \in {\mathbb {N}}$$ . Aside from relating the two celebrated quantities, this insight allows us to rewrite Grothendieck’s inequality as a norm inequality $$\begin{aligned} ||\mu _{l,m,n}||_{1,2,\infty } =\max _{X,Y,M\ne 0}\frac{|{{\,\mathrm{tr}\,}}(XMY)|}{||X||_{1,2}||Y||_{2,\infty }||M||_{\infty ,1}}\leqslant K_G. \end{aligned}$$ We prove that Grothendieck’s inequality is unique in the sense that if we generalize the $$(1,2,\infty )$$ -norm to arbitrary $$p,q, r \in [1, \infty ]$$ , $$\begin{aligned} ||\mu _{l,m,n}||_{p,q,r}=\max _{X,Y,M\ne 0}\frac{|{{\,\mathrm{tr}\,}}(XMY)|}{||X||_{p,q}||Y||_{q,r}||M||_{r,p}}, \end{aligned}$$ then $$(p,q,r )=(1,2,\infty )$$ is, up to cyclic permutations, the only choice for which $$||\mu _{l,m,n}||_{p,q,r}$$ is uniformly bounded by a constant independent of l, m, n.
Disparities in colorectal cancer mortality for rural populations in the United States: Does screening matter?

Abstract Introduction Rural compared to urban populations in the US have increased colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence with known disparity in screening rates and mortality. We hypothesize that rural-urban disparities are different at a regional level. Methods We assessed screening rates according to the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System guidelines using state and city-level data for county level estimates and correlating with county CRC mortality data from the National Cancer Institute. We used multivariable modeling to examine associations between rurality, screening rates, and mortality. Results Highest screening rate states had the smallest urban-rural disparities; lowest screening rate states had the largest disparities. Percent screened and urban-rural classification correlated significantly with mortality. Rural counties experienced ∼5 more deaths per 100,000 population even controlling for screening rates. Conclusions National urban-rural disparities in CRC screening mask greater state/regional disparities, not fully explaining the urban-rural mortality gap. Other factors (i.e. access to care, treatment differences) must be considered.
Birth of primate comparative anatomy

In 1698, a creature with a perplexing mix of human and "ape" features died in London. Brought back to England by merchants who had acquired it during a trading mission to West Africa, it attracted the attention of the Royal Society, and after the death of what we now know was a juvenile chimpanzee, Edward Tyson, a distinguished physician/anatomist, was commissioned to undertake its dissection. Tyson, who was assisted by William Cowper, prepared a detailed written and graphic description of their meticulous dissection, and this forms the major part of his 1699 publication Orang-outang sive Homo sylvestris: or The Anatomy of a Pygmie compared with that of a Monkey, an Ape, and a Man. Tyson records the many ways his "pygmie" resembled, and differed from, modern humans, including acute assessments of its brain and pelvic anatomy. Tyson's monograph is a text-book example of the comparative method. He, and it, deserve more recognition.
The organic formation of a wellness committee: A unique, student-led approach to implementing a wellness program in medical school.

Medical school wellness programs are rapidly becoming a prevalent feature of medical education. The wellness component of medical education is addressed by a multitude of different approaches, but is often led by administrative faculty rather than students. The first-year medical student authors collectively established a medical school wellness committee that is entirely student-driven. The goal of the wellness committee was to organize and promote student ideas centered on six aspects of wellness. The formation, initial successes, and hurdles to the inception and continuation of the committee are described in a repeatable way. This perspective provides insight into a student-led innovation that was formally accepted by faculty and administration to serve as part of the university’s overall wellness initiatives.
Preparing Pediatric Subspecialists to Lead Science and Medicine

* Abbreviations: ABP — : American Board of Pediatrics NIH — : National Institutes of Health The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education states that “residents should participate in scholarly activity.” In this issue of Pediatrics , Abramson et al1 provide current data indicating that most pediatric fellows do not conduct scholarly activity, author a publication, or submit a grant application during their fellowships. Yet involvement in scholarly activity is considered a requirement for certification by the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP),2 with a broad definition of how those requirements can be met. These findings confirm observations over several decades, providing an opportunity to address several crucial questions. (1) What are the goals of the requirement for scholarly activity? (2) Can “scholarly activity” be more broadly interpreted to meet public health and professional goals? (3) Are there implications for the duration of training programs? The original goal of the requirement for performance of scholarly activity was preparation of subspecialists in pediatrics for success in academic medicine. Academic practice was by far the primary postfellowship activity of pediatric subspecialists nearly half a century ago, when the requirement was introduced.3 Concern that physician-scientists … Address correspondence to Susan B. Shurin, MD. E-mail: sxs15{at}yahoo.com
From grain to glass to COVID-19

The case examines the business operations of Midwest Whiskey, MWW, focusing on the downstream supply chain. This includes examining the risks, efficiencies, and modes of distribution for all of the MWW products, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions of interest include: considering the downstream supply chain for MWW, where would you suggest Casey invests in the B2B and B2C channels? Would your answer change had the pandemic not occurred? What risks does MWW have? Why did you choose each? What capabilities, and subsequent actions, can MWW use to mitigate these? What are positives and negatives to investing in a three-way liquor license? What parameters should be taken into consideration in developing a forecasting model?
Shelby County v. Holder Impacting Voting Rights in Arizona

Sweeping changes have followed the Shelby County v. Holder ruling by the United States Supreme Court and now the principles of state sovereignty and federalism are at stake. This all came about after Shelby County, which provides that Arizona does not have to obtain “preclearance” from the United States Department of Justice before implementing election procedures.
Vesicular glutamate transporter 2-containing neurons of the centrally-projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus regulate alcohol drinking and body temperature

Abstract Previous studies in rodents have repeatedly demonstrated that the centrally-projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus (EWcp) is highly sensitive to alcohol and is also involved in regulating alcohol intake and body temperature. Historically, the EWcp has been known as the main site of Urocortin 1 (Ucn1) expression, a corticotropin-releasing factor-related peptide, in the brain. However, the EWcp also contains other populations of neurons, including neurons that express the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (Vglut2). Here we transduced the EWcp with adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) encoding Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) to test the role of the EWcp in alcohol drinking and in the regulation of body temperature. Activation of the EWcp with excitatory DREADDs inhibited alcohol intake in a 2-bottle choice procedure in male C57BL/6J mice, whereas inhibition of the EWcp with DREADDs had no effect. Surprisingly, analysis of DREADD expression indicated Ucn1-containing neurons of the EWcp did not express DREADDs. In contrast, AAVs transduced non-Ucn1-containing EWcp neurons. Subsequent experiments showed that the inhibitory effect of EWcp activation on alcohol intake was also present in male Ucn1 KO mice, suggesting that a Ucn1-devoid population of EWcp regulates alcohol intake. A final set of chemogenetic experiments showed that activation of Vglut2-expressing EWcp neurons inhibited alcohol intake and induced hypothermia in male and female mice. These studies expand on previous literature by indicating that a glutamatergic, Ucn1-devoid subpopulation of the EWcp regulates alcohol consumption and body temperature.
Economic Guidelines for Public Utilities Planning

This paper uses the wastewater collection utility to demonstrate the need and possibility of developing a normative mathematical relationship between the cost of installing such a utility on the one hand and the area being served and population density on the other. On the basis of an analysis of optimal network designs which were obtained by the use of a nonlinear programming algorithm, diseconomies of scale exist with increasing network size. This implies that a number of smaller and simpler networks may be constructed at a greater economy than a large enveloping system and treatment plant size. The combination of these factors—the network costs and the treatment costs—indicates that a minimum per capita cost solution exists. The size of the system at which a minimum cost is obtained is highly sensitive to the density of the population in the area being served but is relatively insensitive to the size of the service area.
Differentiated replication strategy in data centers

Cloud computing has attracted a great deal of attention in both academia and industry. We envision the provisioning of differentiated services as being one of the key components to the success of cloud computing. Unfortunately, this issue has not been fully addressed in the past. Realizing that different users might have different requirements regarding availability, reliability, durability, response time and so on, we conjecture that providing flexible replication mechanism is the right approach to service differentiation. In this paper, we propose Differentiated Replication (DiR), which allows users to choose different replication strategies by considering both the user requirements and system capability. We implemented a system that offers four differentiated storage services with DiR. The experimental results show that this service actually provides different availabilities and execution times for different service types with the same request traces, failure traces, and workload. In addition, we also show that in comparison to the regular uniform replication, DiR can further improve resource utilization, which will in turn provide a better user experience with regards to cloud computing.
Studies on the electron transport system. XVIII. Isolation of coenzyme Q (Q275) from beef heart and beef heart mitochondria.

Abstract Two different methods for purification of coenzyme Q from beef heart mitochondria and from beef heart have been described. Selective extraction following saponification or direct extraction of total lipids have been used for initial extraction. The coenzyme Q in these extracts has then been purified by chromatography on Decalso or silicic acid followed by crystallization from ethanol. The coenzyme Q obtained by these two procedures have melting points which range from 49.3 to 50°, E1cm1% at 275 mμ ranges from 162 to 165. All purified preparations have the same Rf when chromatographed on silicone-treated paper and identical visible, ultraviolet and infrared spectra.
Contemporary changes in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in human-dominated rivers: is there a role for DOC management?

SUMMARY 1. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) plays a central role in the dynamics of stream and river ecosystems, affecting processes such as metabolism, the balance between autotrophy and heterotrophy, acidity, nutrient uptake and bioavailability of toxic compounds. However, despite its importance to stream processes, restoration and management activities rarely incorporate DOC as a major management criterion. 2. Lotic DOC pools reflect terrestrial organic carbon accumulation, transfer to the river channel and aquatic processing. In pristine landscapes, characteristics such as topography, climate, and landscape composition are strong predictors of terrestrial accumulation and transfer. Within aquatic systems, the quantity and form of DOC are altered by a variety of processes including primary production, microbial breakdown, sorption to particles and photodegradation. 3. Terrestrial accumulation, transfer and aquatic processing of DOC in agricultural and other human-dominated landscapes are all subject to substantial change. Consequently, DOC pools in agricultural streams likely differ from historic conditions and now include more labile material and low concentrations of a variety of ubiquitous synthetic organic compounds (e.g. pesticides, antibiotics). 4. Although DOC change in agricultural streams and associated ecological consequences are expected to be widespread, current understanding and relevant data needed to manage affected systems are surprisingly scarce. 5. Wetland and riparian restoration projects have variable effects on fluvial DOC regimes, but management at this intermediate scale is a realistic compromise between the small extent of most restoration projects and the large spatial scale over which organic carbon impairment occurs.
Precision Medicine for Continuing Phenotype Expansion of Human Genetic Diseases

Determining the exact genetic causes for a patient and providing definite molecular diagnoses are core elements of precision medicine. Individualized patient care is often limited by our current knowledge of disease etiologies and commonly used phenotypic-based diagnostic approach. The broad and incompletely understood phenotypic spectrum of a disease and various underlying genetic heterogeneity also present extra challenges to our clinical practice. With the rapid adaptation of new sequence technology in clinical setting for diagnostic purpose, phenotypic expansions of disease spectrum are becoming increasingly common. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms will help us to integrate genomic information into the workup of individualized patient care and make better clinical decisions.
18F-FDG-PET-CT evaluation of melanoma progression versus non-progression using PERCIST 1.0

169 Objectives PETCT has proven efficacy in the management of recurrent melanoma. We assessed the progression of melanoma on PETCT qualitatively and quantitatively using the PERCIST 1.0 criteria to determine patterns of disease progression. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 44 paired baseline and follow-up 18F-FDG PETCT studies of histologically-proven melanoma. 28 cases with progressive disease (PD) (62.6±13.4 years;10F,18M) and 16 non-progression cases (NPD) (59.8±17.7 years; 5F,11M) were identified from clinical PET-CT reports with clinical follow up for truth. Minimal tumor metabolic activity threshold of 1.5 x liver mean + 2 SD at baseline was applied as described in PERCIST 1.0. PD represents a >30% SUL-Peak or >75% Total Lesion Glycolysis (TLG) increase, or new lesions. NPD includes a range between stable disease and complete remission. PERCIST 1.0 output was compared to the clinical qualitative read. Quantitative analyses using SUV at lean body mass (SUL) was made for Peak,Max and TLG for the single and up to 5 hottest lesions. Results PERCIST correctly identified all patients as progressing when compared to follow-up imaging or subsequent biopsy.None of the 28 cases progressed by >30% SUL-Peak or >75% TLG rise alone. 5 cases progressed with new lesions alone (18%).The remaining cases progressed as follows: New lesions + >30% SUL-Peak+ >75% TLG rise: 16 cases (57%); New lesions+ >30% SUL-Peak rise: 3 cases (11%); New lesions+ >75% TLG rise: 2 cases (7%); >30% SUL-Peak and >75% TLG rise: 2 cases (7%). None of the NPD cases had new lesions, or percentage rise in SUL-Peak or TLG. Conclusions In our series,most patients with melanoma progressed either by the appearance of new lesions in isolation, or in combination with a rise in SUL-Peak and/or TLG. No patients progressed with an isolated rise in TLG or SUL peak. PERCIST 1.0 assessment performed equivalently to qualitative assessments in disease progression in this population.These data support the PERCIST 1.0 criteria as valid for progression assessment, in part because most melanoma patients progress with new lesions
Students as Technicians: Screening Newborns for Cystic Fibrosis.

In this activity, freshman college students learn biotechnology techniques while playing the role of a laboratory technician. They perform simulations of three diagnostic tests used to screen newborns for cystic fibrosis. By performing an ELISA, a PCR analysis, and a conductivity test, students learn how biotechnology techniques can be used to diagnose diseases. Students get excited when they realize they will be performing tests actually used in a real-life situation. This exercise is also appropriate for high school students.
The release of acetylcholine (ACH) by the crossed olivo-cochlear bundle (COCB).

A method has been developed to detect acetyl-choline-like activity in the perilymph of guinea pigs. The acetylcholine-like activity in the guinea pig perilymph is not significantly increased by moderate acoustical stimuli but it is significantly increased when the crossed olivocochlear bundle is tetanically stimulated. The criteria for identifying acetylcholine as the chemical mediator at the crossed olivo-cochlear nerve/hair cell junction are now largely fulfilled.
THE STRUCTURE-FUNCTION RELATIONSHIP AND REDUCTION POTENTIALS OF HIGH OXIDATION STATES OF MYOGLOBIN AND PEROXIDASE

In these studies, we substitute electron-withdrawing (diacetyl) or -donating (diethyl) groups at the 2- and 4-positions of the heme in sperm whale Mb and HRP, and examine the structural and biochemical consequences. X-ray absorption spectroscopy shows that increased electron density at the heme results in an increased iron-pyrrole nitrogen average distance in both HRP and Mb, while decreased electron density results in shorter average distances. In HRP, the proximal ligand is constrained by a H-bonding network, and axial effects are manifested entirely at the distal site. Conversely, in Mb, where the proximal ligand is less constrained, axial effects are seen at the proximal side. In HRP, electron density at the heme iron depends linearly on pK3, a measure of the basicity of the porphyrin pyrrole nitrogens [Yamada, H., Makino, R., & Yamazaki, I. (1975) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 169, 344-353]. Using diethyl substitution (pK3 = 5.8) and diacetyl substitution (pK3 = 3.3) in HRP and Mb, we measured the one-electron reduction potentials (E(O)') of HRP compounds I and II and ferryl Mb. Compound I showed a decreased E(O)' with increasing electron density at the heme (pK3), similar to E(O)' of ferric HRP. E(O)' of HRP compound II and ferryl Mb showed an opposite dependence. This behavior of E(O)', while initially surprising, can be explained by the apparent net positive charge on the iron porphyrin in each oxidation state of the hemoproteins.
VARIATIONAL ESTIMATION OF THE SETTLEMENT OF A CIRCULAR RAFT ON ANISOTROPIC SOIL

A variational method is developed to analytically study the interaction between a circular raft of finite flexibility and a cross-anisotropic elastic soil deposit of infinite extent. The raft rests smoothly on the soil surface and undergoes flexural deformations under the action of uniformly or parabolically distributed axisymmetric external loads and the ensuing soil reactions. Soil anisotropy is treated rigorously and particular emphasis is accorded to the sensitivity of total and differential undrained raft settlements on assumed realistic values of the anisotropic soil parameters. (Author/TRRL)
Gap junctional communication in the post-implantation mouse embryo

We studied the extent of cell-to-cell communication via junctional channels in in vitro-implanted mouse blastocysts by monitoring ionic coupling and the spread of two injected low molecular weight dyes, fluorescein and Lucifer yellow. In the early attached embryos, both trophoblasts and cells of the inner cell mass (ICM) were ionically coupled to one another. Dye injections in either trophoblasts or ICM cells resulted in spread to the entire embryo. As older and more developed embryos were examined, the spread of injected dye was progressively more limited. In the most developed embryos examined, dye injected into a cell in the ICM region resulted in spread throughout the ICM but not into the surrounding trophoblast cells, while dye injected into a trophoblast cell did not spread to any other cell in the embryo. Simultaneous monitoring of ionic coupling and dye injections in embryos of intermediate stages in this transition revealed that the trophoblast and ICM cells were ionically coupled, even across the apparent boundary where no dye was observed to pass. In the latest stage embryos examined in which no injected dye was observed to move out of the ICM, ionic coupling was still observed between the cells of the ICM and the trophoblasts. Furthermore, in the more developed embryos, dye injected into the ICM region frequently was not transferred to all the cells of the ICM, thus suggesting a further compartmentalization of due spread within the ICM. Our observations that ionic coupling is more extensive than the detectable spread of injected dyes may perhaps reflect a reduced number of junctional channels. With fewer channels less dye would pass between cells, so that, together with continuous quenching, the transfer of injected dye would not be detectable. This partial segregation of cell-to-cell communication as indicated by the limited dye spread may parallel specific differentiation processes, in particular that of giant trophoblast, embryonic ectoderm and extraembryonic endoderm differentiation.
Moderate and severe iron deficiency lowers numbers of spleen T-lymphocyte and B-lymphocyte subsets in the C57/B16 mouse

Abstract Weanling C57/B16 mice (n=6–7) were fed diets containing 50 mg iron/kg diet (control), 16 mg iron/kg diet (moderately iron deficient) or 7 mg iron/kg diet (severely iron deficient), or were fed 50 mg iron/kg diet at the level consumed by severely iron-deficient mice (pair-fed) for 52–56 d. Spleen lymphocytes were stained with fluorescent antibodies specific for cell surface markers identifying populations of total T-lymphocytes, T-helper/inducer lymphocytes, T-suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes. Cellular fluorescence was measured by flow cytometry and percentages of spleen lymphocyte populations were determined. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were highest in control mice and pair-fed mice, intermediate in moderately iron-deficient mice and lowest in severely iron-deficient mice. Liver iron level was higher in control and pair-fed mice than in moderately and severely iron-deficient mice. Percentages of spleen total T-lymphocytes and T-cytotoxic/suppressor T-lymphocytes were lowest in severely iron-deficient mice, intermediate in moderately iron-deficient mice and highest in control and pair-fed mice. The percentage of spleen T-helper/inducer lymphocytes was significantly lower in severely iron-deficient mice than in control, moderately iron-deficient and pair-fed mice. The ratio of T-helper/inducer lymphocytes to T-suppressor /cytotoxic lymphocytes was not significantly different among treatment groups. The number of spleen B-lymphocytes was lowest in severely iron-deficient mice compared to control and pair-fed mice, and intermediate in number in moderately iron-deficient mice. While distribution of spleen lymphocyte populations varied with dietary treatment, the fluoresecence properties of cells within positively stained and negative populations were not altered by iron deficiency or food restriction by pair-feeding. These data suggest that decreases in the numbers of mature lymphocytes may contribute to the impairments in cell-mediated and humoral immune functions of iron deficiency.
Three-Dimensional Laminar Flow for Localized Cellular Stimulation

Stimulation of living mammalian cells is primarily accomplished by the delivery of chemical agents to single cells or cell populations. Due to the fast response time of diffusion for these agents over the small size scale of individual cells, localized stimulation is limited. Currently, there are alternate techniques that can produce localized gradients of chemical stimulants over single cells, but they lack the ability for long time scale events that are requisite for many cellular processes because of this diffusion limitation. We have developed a device that is able to create chemical agent separation in three dimensions along distinct boundaries that can be applied to cells. As many techniques are two-dimensionally constrained, this provides us with a more physiologically relevant system for investigating cellular signal transduction and can allow basal to apical activation separations. To accomplish this, multiple flow paths were introduced to manipulate spatiotemporally distinct regions inside a single capillary channel. Solutions that flow laminarly inside these fluidic channels deliver predefined chemicals to specific locations without turbulent mixing. Separation using this system under laminar flows created not only side by side domains in this capillary but also vertical as well. This device has multiple potential applications both in cell and molecular biology as well as in fluid dynamics and fabrication processes.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Implementation and evaluation of scalable Vehicle-to-Vehicle transmission control protocol

Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communications play a critical role in enabling important cooperative safety applications. V2V safety communications rely on broadcast of self-state information (e.g., position, speed, and heading) by each vehicle, which allows a vehicle to track its neighboring vehicles in real-time. One of the most pressing challenges in this research is to maintain an acceptable tracking accuracy of neighboring vehicles while avoiding congestion in the shared communication channel. In this paper we describe the evaluation of a transmission control protocol that adapts the message rate and transmission power for V2V safety communications. This protocol has been implemented on V2V test vehicles with wireless radios and integrated with existing active safety applications. The testing and evaluation results show that proposed communication design works well in practice, its performance matches the observation from previous simulations and shows great promise for a large-scale deployment of V2V cooperative safety systems.
Internet Marketing Offers an Excellent Potential for Increasing One's Practice

We are currently in the brief window of time during which this hypothesis is a debatable and interesting question—between the threshold of feasibility and the point of irrelevance. Five years ago, the statement would have been meaningless to most physicians. In a very short time, some sort of online presence (the simplest form of Internet marketing) will be a part of nearly all medical practices.
Negative thermal expansion in Y2W3O12

Abstract Neutron diffraction data were collected on polycrystalline Y2W3O12 at seven temperatures from 15 to 1373 K. All three cell edges of orthorhombic Y2W3O12 decrease with increasing temperature, giving an average linear thermal expansion coefficient of −7.0×10−6 K−1. Rietveld refinements of the neutron diffraction data show an apparent decrease in the average W–O distance of 0.05 A from 15 to 1373 K. This apparent decrease causes the decrease in the cell edges, but it is not an actual decrease of average W–O distances. The apparent shrinkage is instead considered to be caused by the transverse thermal motion of oxygen in the Y–O–W linkages.
Metallic Mineral Resources in the Twenty-First Century: II. Constraints on Future Supply

Supplying worldwide demand of metallic raw materials throughout the rest of this century may require 5–10 times the amount of metals contained in known ore deposits. This demand can be met only if mineral deposits containing the required masses of metals, in excess of present day ore reserves, exist in the Earth’s crust. It is, by definition, not known whether or not such mineral deposits exist. On the basis of the statistical distribution of metal tonnages contained in known ore deposits, however, it is possible to place constraints on the size distribution of the deposits that must be discovered in order to meet the expected demand. A nondimensional analysis of the distribution of metal tonnages in deposits of 20 metals shows that most of them follow distributions that, although not strictly lognormal, share important characteristics with a lognormal distribution. Chief among these is the observation that frequency falls off symmetrically and geometrically with deposit size, relative to a median deposit size that is approximately equal to the geometric mean deposit size. An immediate consequence of this behavior is that most of the metal endowment is concentrated in deposits that are several orders of magnitude larger than the median deposit size, and that are much rarer than the most common deposits that cluster around the median deposit size. The analysis reveals remarkable similarities among the statistical distributions of most of the metals included in this study, in particular, the fact that distribution of most metals can be fully described with essentially the same value (about 2–3) of the scale parameter, σ, which is the only parameter needed to describe the behavior of a normalized lognormal variable. This observation makes it possible to derive the following general conclusions, which are applicable to most metals—both scarce and abundant. First, it is unlikely that undiscovered mineral deposits of sizes comparable to those that contain most of the known metal endowment exist in sufficient quantities to supply the expected worldwide demand throughout the rest of this century. Second, if the expected demand is to be met, one must hope that very large deposits, perhaps up to one order of magnitude larger than the largest known deposits, exist in accessible portions of the Earth’s crust, and that these deposits are discovered.
Peroxisomal Proliferator-activated Receptor-α-dependent Inhibition of Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Tumorigenesis

The peroxisomal proliferator-activated nuclear receptor-α (PPARα), the target for most hypolipidemic drugs in current clinical use, regulates the transcription of genes involved in lipid metabolism and transport, and energy homeostasis. More recently, PPARα and its ligands have been implicated in inflammatory responses and the regulation of cell proliferation. PPARα also regulates the expression of Cyp4a fatty acid ω-hydroxylases and Cyp2c arachidonic acid epoxygenase genes. To study the role of the PPARα receptor and of its Cyp2c epoxygenase gene target in tumorigenesis, we treated mice injected with tumor cells with Wy-14,643, a PPARα-selective ligand. Compared with untreated controls, Wy-14643-treated animals showed marked reductions in tumor growth and vascularization, which were accompanied by decreases in the plasma levels of pro-angiogenic epoxygenase metabolites (EETs), hepatic EET biosynthesis, and Cyp2c epoxygenase expression. All these Wy-14643-induced responses were absent in PPARα-/- mice and are thus PPARα-mediated. Primary cultures of mouse lung endothelial cells treated with Wy-14643 showed reductions in cell proliferation and in the formation of capillary-like structures. These effects were absent in cells obtained from PPRAα-/- mice and reversed by the addition of EETs. These results identify important anti-angiogenic and anti-tumorigenic roles for PPARα, characterize the contribution of its Cyp2c epoxygenases gene target to these responses, and suggest potential anti-cancer roles for this nuclear receptor and its ligands.