cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Local convergence of the method of pseudolinear equations for quasilinear elliptic boundary-value problems

Abstract A variant of the method of pseudolinear equations, an iterative method of solving quasilinear partial differential equations, is described for quasilinear elliptic boundary-value problems of the type -[ p 1 ( u x )] x - [ p 2 ( u y )] y = f on a bounded simply connected two-dimensional domain D . A theorem on local convergence in C 2, λ ( D ) of this variant, which has constant coefficients, is proved. Three other method of solving quasilinear elliptic boundary-value problems, namely. Newton's method, the Kacanov method and a variant of the method of successive approximations that has constant coefficients, are briefly discussed. Results of a series of numerical experiments in a finite-difference setting of solving quasilinear Dirichlet problems of the above-mentioned type by the method of pseudolinear equations and these three methods are given. These results show that Newton's method converges for stronger nonlinearities than do the other methods, which, in order thereafter, are the Kacanov method, the method of pseudolinear equations and, last, the method of successive approximations, which converges only for relatively weak nonlinearities. From fastest to slowest, the methods are: the method of successive approximations, the method of pseudolinear equations, Newton's method, the Kacanov method.
Implicit learning: An analysis of the form and structure of a body of tacit knowledge.

Abstract Subjects learned implicitly the underlying structure of an artificial language by memorizing a set of representative exemplars from the language. The form and structure of their resulting knowledge of the language was evaluated and analyzed over a four day period by several procedures: (a) solving anagrams from the language, (b) determining the well-formedness of novel letter strings, and (c) providing detailed introspective reports. Several important implications about implicit acquisition of a novel complex system emerged. First, the memorial representation of a structured system is acquired through the dual operations of a differentiation-like process based upon relational invariances and a configurational process based upon overall structure. Second, the form of tacit knowledge is an abstract representation of the intrinsic structure of the stimulus field. Third, while the ability to make explicit what is known implicitly increases with performance levels, the conscious apprehension of structure always lags behind what is known unconsciously.
Triage of patients out of the emergency department: Three-year experience

Because of severe emergency department (ED) overcrowding, the authors initiated a program of referring certain patients who were assessed as not needing emergency care away from the ED. A selected group of patients who presented to a busy university ED were refused treatment and triaged away following a medical screening examination performed by a nurse. In this 3-year study 136,794 patients presented to the triage area in the ED, of which 21,069 (15%) were refused care and referred elsewhere. Letters and calls to all referral clinics, eight local EDs, and the coroner's office identified no patients who had been grossly mistriaged, and only insignificant adverse outcomes could be identified. Additional follow-up on 3,740 individuals triaged away was performed by telephone. Responses from this survey indicated that 42% of persons received care elsewhere the same day, 37% within 2 days, and 22% decided not to seek medical care. A group of 1.6% sought care at other hospital EDs for minor complaints. The authors concluded that a group of patients can be selectively triaged out of the ED without significant adverse outcomes, which may offer one approach to the problem of ED overcrowding.
Occipital neuralgia with and without migraine: difference in pain characteristics and risk factors.

(Headache 2011;51:124-128) Objectives.— We conducted this study to identify differences in presentation and symptomatology between patients with isolated occipital neuralgia (ON) and patients with ON who also had migraine headache (ON + M). Background.— Occipital neuralgia is an uncommon cause of headaches. Very little is known about the pain characteristics and associated features of patients with ON + M and whether these pain characteristics differ from those of patients with isolated ON. Methods.— We studied 35 consecutive patients presenting with ON to the University of Southern California headache clinic. All patients met International Headache Society criteria for diagnosis of ON. Patients completed a questionnaire designed for this study. We also collected demographic data, including age, gender, and ethnicity. Results.— Twenty patients had ON + M and 15 had isolated ON. There was no difference in age, gender or ethnicity between patients with ON + M and those with isolated ON. Patients with ON + M had significantly more complaints of pain traveling to the scalp and presence of scalp tenderness and tingling compared with patients with isolated ON; 25% patients in the ON + M group described the pain as “dull” whereas none of the isolated ON group reported this characteristic. There was higher use of chiropractors and massage therapy in patients from ON + M group than from isolated ON. Conclusion.— There may be significant differences in pain characteristics for patients with ON + M and those for patients with isolated ON. The data indicate that patients with migraine should also be screened for symptoms of ON, as there may be similarities in presentation. The clinical implications of distinguishing ON + M and isolated ON include differences in treatment regimen, avoidance of inappropriate use of medical resources, and differences in long-term outcomes.
Ezogabine (retigabine) and its role in the treatment of partial-onset seizures: a review.

Abstract Background Ezogabine, also known as retigabine, is a recently approved anticonvulsant medication with a novel mechanism of action. It activates low-threshold voltage-gated potassium channels, leading to hyperpolarization of the membrane potential, stabilization of the resting membrane potential, and suppression of repetitive firing. Objective This review identified the efficacy and tolerability of ezogabine in the treatment of partial-onset seizures reported in randomized controlled trials. Additional characteristics of the medication, including mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic properties, drug interactions, and additional applications under investigation are also addressed. Methods MEDLINE and EMBASE were systematically searched, using the search terms retigabine and ezogabine, for randomized trials published from 1980 through February 8, 2012. Trials of the effects of adjunctive ezogabine in patients aged ≥16 years with partial seizures were included for analysis of clinical efficacy and tolerability. Articles that did not pertain to clinical efficacy and that did not report on randomized controlled trials were excluded. Articles relating to additional properties were reviewed for inclusion in the review. Results One Phase IIb and 2 Phase III trials were identified. Ezogabine has reported dose-dependent efficacy at doses of 600, 900, and 1200 mg/d. As with most anticonvulsant medications, the most common adverse events associated with ezogabine were central nervous system effects. Because potassium channels in the urothelium of the bladder are activated by ezogabine, a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy is in place regarding the risk for urinary retention and symptoms of acute urinary retention. There are limited drug interactions with ezogabine because it does not undergo metabolism by the cytochrome P450 system and is not highly protein bound. Conclusions Ezogabine is a newly approved anticonvulsant for adjunctive therapy in partial-onset seizures in adults with a novel mechanism of action, activating low-threshold voltage-gated potassium channels. It has advantages over many of the available anticonvulsants in that it is not metabolized through the cytochrome P450 system and is not highly protein bound, therefore limiting its potential for drug–drug interactions. Unique to ezogabine compared with other anticonvulsants is its association with urinary retention due to its effect on potassium channels in the urothelium of the bladder.
Expanding Options to Improve Outcomes Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers a curative option for children with a number of potentially lethal malignant and non-malignant conditions. Decisions regarding the appropriateness of HSCT for a given patient involve careful consideration of the risks associated with HSCT and the likelihood of cure. This is particularly important as the procedure is being used with increasing frequency for diagnoses such as high-risk sickle cell anemia where the disease is associated with shortened lifespan but death generally occurs in adulthood. Recent advances in supportive care such as improved anti-microbial agents, the use of reduced intensity conditioning regimens and high-resolution HLA typing that allows for better donor selection have all contributed to improved outcomes. However, the risk of treatment-related mortality remains approximately 5-10%, in part due to complications such as veno-occlusive disease (VOD) for which there has been less progress.
An appending efficient algorithm for allocating public projects with positive complementarities

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of locating an optimal package of public projects from a set of potential projects when the projects have positive complementarities. With many projects exhaustive evaluation is impossible which necessitates a search for efficient algorithms which locate the optimal package of projects. The main contribution of this paper is the construction of an efficient algorithm, among the set of appending algorithms , for projects with positive and positive uniform complementarities . The restriction to appending algorithms stems from practical considerations discussed in the paper.
Infantile dilated cardiomyopathy. Relation of outcome to left ventricular mechanics, hemodynamics, and histology at the time of presentation.

BACKGROUND: For patients with acute dilated cardiomyopathy, definition of prognosis and of clinical features predictive of outcome is particularly important due to the availability of cardiac transplantation and other innovative treatment strategies. METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed our experience with 24 children under 2 years of age with dilated congestive cardiomyopathy to determine outcome and potential predictive variables. Clinical, serological, ECG, echocardiographic, hemodynamic, and histological findings were analyzed. Idiopathic cardiomyopathy or myocarditis constituted 29% of the patients presenting with congestive heart failure without structural heart disease. Among these patients, 45% recovered completely, 25% survived with persistent left ventricular dysfunction, and 30% died. All except one of the deaths occurred during the first 2 months after presentation. Poorer outcome and higher mortality were associated with a more severely depressed left ventricular ejection fraction and/or a more spherical left ventricular shape at presentation. Histological evidence of myocardial inflammation was a favorable prognostic indicator, whereas histological evidence of endocardial fibroelastosis was associated with a poor outcome. During the recovery phase, diastolic volume fell rapidly. Ventricular mass was elevated from the earliest observations and fell more slowly, with persistent elevation of the mass-to-volume ratio up to 2 years. Function and contractility improved over the first several months in most patients who recovered, although in occasional patients continued improvement was seen for as long as 2 years after presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Histological and echocardiographic features can be used to identify patients at particularly high risk for death. To have any impact on outcome, decisions about cardiac transplantation must be reached rapidly, since almost all deaths occurred within the first 2 months after presentation. Recovery of function is often rapid, but continued improvement may be seen for as long as 2 years.
Senior Leadership in Higher Education: An Outcomes Approach:

This leadership development approach revolves around a set of competencies of highly effective senior leaders in higher education, developed in consultation with university presidents and vice presidents, former American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows, and others. The Class of 1999-2000 ACE Fellows, aspiring senior leaders in higher education, used these outcomes to assess their knowledge and skills, to plan learning activities to address identified gaps, and to document their learning during the Fellowship. Reflecting, developing, and documenting their leadership using the outcomes promotes continuing leadership development of Fellows upon return to their campuses and throughout their careers.
Root wrenching and lifting date of slash pine: Effects on morphology, survival, and growth

Slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) seedlings were subjected to three wrenching treatments: One root wrenching in early August; Three root wrenchings in early August, September, and October; and No wrenchings. Seedlings were then lifted on five dates between November and February based on the number of chilling hours accumulated. All wrenched seedlings had reduced shoot dry weight, smaller shoot-root ratio, and smaller stem diameter and height. These morphological differences translated into improved survival as well as increased diameter and height growth when measured one and two years after planting. Only seedlings wrenched three times demonstrated improved root fibrosity. Furthermore, only multiple wrenched stock showed greater resistance to drying imposed prior to planting. At the time of lifting, seedlings lifted latest had greater stem diameter, increased root dry weight and number of root tips, and improved shoot-root ratio. However, no survival differences were detected across lifts, and those seedlings lifted earliest demonstrated the best height and diameter growth.
Inhibition of Human Natural Killer Cell and Lymphokine-Activated Killer Cell Cytotoxicity and Differentiation by Vitamin D3

Recent data suggest that vitamin D3 may be capable of immunoregulation after it is converted to an active metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). The effect of vitamin D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 on human natural killer (NK) cells and their activation by interferon (IFN) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) was investigated. Vitamin D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibited NK cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of non-adherent (NA) cells at 37 degrees C for 18 h with the vitamins also led to inhibition of NK activity. Both the inhibition of NK lysis and pretreatment of NA cells were dependent on the concentrations of fetal calf serum (FCS) in the medium. The inhibition of NK activity was less effective in the presence of 10% FCS than with 1% FCS. Vitamin D3 inhibited both IFN and IL-2 activation of NK activity. However, increasing doses of IL-2 were able to abrogate the inhibition caused by vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 was able to inhibit NK activity of phytohaemagglutinin and IL-2-activated cells, and also inhibit the proliferation and lymphokine-activated killer activity induced by IL-2. NA cells pretreated with vitamin D3 did not respond well to IL-2. NA cells pretreated with low doses of IL-2 were sensitive to inhibition by vitamin D3 while those pretreated with high doses of IL-2 were not. The data presented suggest that vitamin D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibit NK activity and LAK cellular differentiation.
Investigating the CH4 reaction pathway on a novel LSCF anode catalyst in the SOFC

Abstract For the first time, the perovskite lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF) is demonstrated to exhibit catalytic activity for the direct electrochemical oxidation of CH 4 in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode environment for more than 72 h with a steady state flow of CH 4 at 900 °C, producing a maximum of 186 W/cm 2 . Results of the transient response studies suggested that the electrochemical oxidation of CH 4 on the anode produced electricity, H 2 O, and CO 2 via (i) CH 4 decomposition, (ii) electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen to H 2 O, and (iii) electrochemical oxidation of carbon to CO 2 . The formation of CO 2 and CO takes place in a parallel pathway: C + 2O 2− → CO 2 ; C + O 2− → CO; where the intrinsic rate constant for the formation of CO 2 is greater than that of CO.
How to play if you must

Beyond what Colman is suggesting, some residual indeterminacy of Nash equilibrium may remain even after individual rationality is amended. Although alternative solution concepts can expand the positive scope (explanatory power) of game theory, they tend to reduce its accuracy of predictions (predictive power). Moreover, the appeal of alternative solutions may be context-specific, as illustrated by the Stackelberg solution.
Thermally-induced fracture in composites

Abstract This paper presents an experimental and analytical investigation of thermally-induced cracking in cross-ply, graphite/epoxy composites. It is shown experimentally that both rates and amplitudes of the thermal excursions affect the extent and the form of damage. The analytical study shows that the early stages of sufficiently slow thermal excursions result in crack patterns that are analogous to mechanical loading effects, and can be assessed by an approximate, two-dimensional micro-cracking model. However, three-dimensional aspects of the spatially non-uniform stress field may have to be included to model crack formation under subsequent temperature excursions or rapid thermal fluctuations. In the latter cases oblique and curved cracks develop and the laminate is susceptible to internal and free-edge delaminations.
Homo pavlovius: Cinema, Conditioning, and the Cold War Subject

Edward Hunter, the man popularly credited with coining the term brainwashing , had a deep appreciation of the power of his new construct. In his book on this new form of mind control, first published in 1951 and then expanded on in 1956, he referred often to the “eerie sensation” this term inspired in him. 1 Many Americans shared this sensation in the first decade of the Cold War. The fear and fascination surrounding the term brainwashing presumably stemmed from the conviction that in this uncanny phenomenon the totalitarian enemy revealed its true face. If a name was needed to accompany that face, Hunter supplied that as well. The ultimate source of the “eerie sensation” emanating from behind the Iron Curtain was identified by Hunter as Ivan Pavlov, the Nobel Prize‐winning scientist and inventor of the methods the Soviets and their allies were allegedly employing on American prisoners of war (POWs) in Korea, on prominent dissidents in Eastern bloc coun tries, and on a mass scale on their own citizens. Hunter saw evidence of a deep connection between the POW camps and Pavlov’s experiments on reflex condition ing, and he furthermore claimed that the “Chinese, as a race, are undergoing mind treatment inside a Great Pavlovian Wall.” 2 From the start the problems both with Hunter’s account of brainwashing and with his picture of Pavlov as the mastermind behind it were readily apparent. Not the least of these was that Pavlov had never been a Bolshevik, and his most impor tant research had been carried out before the Bolsheviks came to power. The exact nature of the relation between Pavlovian conditioning and brainwashing was also problematic, as was, some skeptics suggested, the entire concept of brainwashing. Despite such skepticism, Hunter’s construct proved remarkably resilient—attesting not just to the skill with which the journalist and intelligence operative had woven his account but also to the degree to which it tapped into deep undercurrents of anxiety in the contemporary public. Joost Meerloo, a Dutch psychiatrist who taught
BEFORE (AND AFTER) NEOLIBERALISM: Tacit Knowledge, Secrets of the Trade, and the Public Sector in Egypt

For anthropologists, the term neoliberal often becomes a shorthand for indicating all that is wrong with the present. But such usage of the term can foreclose our ability to imagine different futures. In this article, I go back to a time before neoliberalism, when economists and philosophers were engaged in debates about the rationality of economic planning within market economies, and in which the concept of “tacit knowledge” was pivotal. These 1920s and 1930s thinkers, especially Hayek and von Mises, were convinced that collectivism and planning would not work, and their work is cited still today as having established the basis for laissez-faire (neoliberal) capitalism. I critically juxtapose their findings with a historical analysis of the public sector in Egypt, with a short excursis into management theory (and research on tacit knowledge), and with my own ethnography. Looking at the case of a successful public sector banker I worked with in Cairo, I show how he relied on tacit knowledge as a collective inheritance that was embodied in collective subjects and “secrets of the trade.” My findings thus call into question Hayek's argument about the irrationality of collectivism and economic planning. They also point to the importance of tacit knowledge practices as collective and public goods in our economic imaginary of the future.
Prevalence of Variants in Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase and the Severity of Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Pulmonary hypertension is a serious disease associated with constriction, cellular proliferation, inflammation, and in situ thrombosis of the small vessels of the lung. Some studies suggest that homozygous 677TT variants and compound heterozygous 677CT/1298AC variants in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase may increase the risk for systemic vascular disease. We sought to determine the prevalence of variants in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in patients with pulmonary hypertension, and whether homozygous or compound heterozygous variants are associated with an increased severity of disease. The medical records of patients with pulmonary hypertension were retrospectively reviewed to identify 105 patients who were evaluated for variants in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. The frequency of the minor allele 677C > T was 0.352 and the frequency of the minor allele 1298A > C was 0.295. The number of patients who were homozygous 677TT, homozygous 1298CC or compound heterozygous 677CT/1298AC was similar to the number of control patients with corresponding variants in a meta-analysis of studies. Patients with homozygous or compound heterozygous variants had a significantly higher ratio of pulmonary to systemic vascular resistance (0.75 ± 0.07 vs. 0.56 ± 0.04, p = 0.019) during baseline heart catheterization. Twenty-five of 61 patients without, and 28 of 44 patients with, homozygous or compound heterozygous variants had moderate to severe disease (p = 0.030). Variants in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase are common in the general population and in patients with pulmonary hypertension. It is unlikely that these variants cause pulmonary vascular disease; however, they may influence the progression or severity of disease.
Effect of Hg(II) on d(GCGCATATGCGC)2 conformation: UV absorption and circular dichroism studies

Abstract Exposing the palindromic dodecamer d(GCGCATATGCGC) 2 , dissolved in the neutral-salt solvent 0.1 M (≡ low salt) or 3.0 M (≡ high salt) NaClO 4 , to increasing amounts of Hg(ClO 4 ) 2 (≡ Hg(II)) produces major changes in its chirality in the low-salt medium but not high-salt. Let r ≡ [Hg(ClO 4 ) 2 ] added /[DNA-P]. At low salt, the conformational changes are noted as follows; in absence in Hg(II), the near-conservative CD spectrum of the dodecamer is that of a B-type DNA. In the presence of Hg(II), the long-wavelength positive Cotton band (central location near 280 nm) undergoes inversion at r > 0.2 and reaches maximum negative extension at r = 0.5–0.6. A new minor positive CD peak appears around 315 nm. The long-wavelength negative Cotton band (central location near 250 nm) experiences a slight red-shift by about 10 nm but remains otherwise rather unaffected by Hg(II). Major CD changes are also noted in the short-wavelength region near 220 nm. The inverted CD spectrum is in general more complex in structure than the spectrum of the untreated oligomer. By contrast, the CD changes seen in the high-salt medium are not as complex, and the CD scripture of a right-handed B-type helix is retained. It is stressed that all CD changes are fully reversible: both the low-salt and high-salt CD spectra of the untreated dodecamer are regained subsequent to the removal of Hg(II) with the help of a complexing agent such as sodium cyanide. The (ordinary) UV absorption spectra of the dodecamer are altered by Hg(II) in less spectacular fashion although differences in progression in the two-salt media are noted. We interpret the CD changes as signaling (right-handed) B ↔ (left-handed) non-B transitions of the oligodeoxyribonucleotide at low-salt levels but not at high-ionic strength. The presence of isodichroic (isosbestic) points in the various spectra shows that the Hg(II)-induced conformational transitions are governed by well-defined equilibria. Whether the CD changes represent B ↔ Z transitions is unclear at present.
Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence. 61. Near-IR Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence, Electrochemistry, and Spectroscopic Properties of a Heptamethine Cyanine Dye in MeCN

The oxidation of the heptamethine cyanine dye 2-[4‘-chloro-7‘-(1‘‘-methyl-3‘‘,3‘‘-dimethylindolin-2‘‘-ylidene)-3‘,5‘-(propane-1‘‘‘,3‘‘‘-diyl)-1‘,3‘,5‘-heptatrien-1‘-yl]-1-methyl-3,3-dimethylindolinium cation (HMC+) in the presence of tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) at +0.7 V vs SCE in MeCN produces near-IR electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) with an emission maximum at about 805 nm and a relative ECL quantum efficiency of 0.21 vs Ru(bpy)32+ (bpy = 2,2‘-bipyridine) with TPrA in MeCN as a standard. The ECL emission spectra are identical to the photoluminescence spectra. The concentration dependence of the ECL is attributed to both self-absorption and competition by radical dimerization reactions. An oxidative-reduction mechanism for excited state formation is proposed and is compared to the Ru(bpy)32+/TPrA reference system. Digital simulation was employed to examine the kinetics of the homogeneous redox reaction between TPrA and HMC+. The rate constant for the catalytic reaction is >2000 M-1 s-1, and the lowe...
Fetal cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac function in diabetic pregnancies

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the relationship between fetal cardiac wall hypertrophy and ventricular function in fetuses of metabolically controlled, insulin-requiring diabetics. STUDY DESIGN: M-mode directed fetal echocardiography included measurements of left and right ventricular free wall and interventricular septal thickness and ventricular diastolic and systolic dimensions. Fetal measurements included biparietal diameter, estimation of fetal weight, and cardiac area/thoracic area. Cardiac size is expressed as a ratio of wall thickness/biparietal diameter, and function is expressed as ventricular shortening fraction (Ventricular diastoli dimension — Ventricular systoli dimension/Ventricular diastolic dimension). Fetuses of diabetics at 20 to 24, 28 to 31, and 32 to 36 weeks' gestation were compared with normal fetuses of nondiabetic mothers at similar gestational ages, which were used as a control group. RESULTS: Study and control groups were comparable in mean gestational age (22 vs 20, 29 vs 29, 35 vs 34 weeks) in each groups 1, 2, and 3. All fetuses tested fell within these groups. Estimated fetal weight, cardiac area/thoracic area, right ventricular wall thickness/biparietal diameter, and interventricular septal thickness/biparietal diameter were greater in the study group between 32 and 36 weeks: 3227 ± 430 versus 2235 ± 176 gm ( p p p p p CONCLUSION: These findings reveal an increase in right ventricular shortening fraction associated with global cardiac enlargement. Myocardial hypertrophy involving right ventricular wall thickness and interventricular septal thickness in metabolically stable insulin-requiring diabetics revealed hypercontractility of the right ventricle.
Histopathology associated with malposition of the human temporomandibular joint disc

Anterior displacement of the temporomandibular joint disc is associated with a general remodeling of the joint's soft tissues. The anterior part of the posterior attachment becomes fibrotic. The external shape and the internal architecture of the disc change in characteristic ways. The disc appears to overlie more of the lateral pterygoid muscle than is normal. The capsule connecting the anterior band of the disc to the condyle appears to be elongated.
The flaneur, the street photographer and ethnographic practice

In her paper "On City Streets," Deborah Moore "fram[es] a con versation between social science and street photography, paying particular attention to the Chicago School of Sociology and the New York Photo League." She notes that, "I treat social science
Robert Boyle and the Machine Metaphor

The seventeenth–century chemist and philosopher Robert Boyle argued that the world is like a clockwork machine. This led to the problems of the place of a Creator and of how one can explain the directed, “final–cause” nature of organisms. Boyle thought that he could wrap everything up in one neat package, with a clear place for a designing God, but of course the coming of Darwinism casts doubt on this. Nevertheless, Boyle's thinking does have some very interesting implications for the way in which we today should consider the science/religion relationship.
The third annual lectureship of the Juan A. Del Regato foundation: Squamous cell carcinomas of the oropharynx☆

Abstract Since Juan del Regato started in 1931 at the Curie Foundation, great progress has been made in improved control rates and in our understanding of the basic principles of radiotherapy. Today, the management of cancers by irradiation is a composite of radiobiological concepts and knowledge of the behavior of the tumors. This blend of basic science and clinical knowledge has given considerable insight into general oncology. A somber note is appropriate. There is still plenty to be learned. The value of high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation, multifractionation, and hypoxic cell sensitizers are areas that require clinical investigation. The proliferation of radiotherapy facilities has resulted in the dispersion of clinical material and in the United States there are no Centers with enough patients to carry out meaningful investigations. Because of the complexity of the treatment schemes, cooperative studies involving a large number of participants fail to prove or disprove any hypothesis. If advances are to be made in clinical radiotherapy, there will have to be willingness to refer patients to Centers that are equipped for specific investigations.
Network design and allocation considerations in the Hughes data-flow machine☆

Abstract A network performance metric is introduced and evaluated on candidate networks for the Hughes data-flow machine, a programmable architecture constructed of multiple homogeneous processing elements for signal and image processing applications. The metric combines a traffic distribution pattern with network interconnections to statically measure the time required to flush the network of a given traffic volume. Candidate networks of the Hughes data-flow machine are described and analyzed using our performance metric to observe how the static performance of networks change with a range of traffic patterns, and with the size of the network. The candidate networks are compared based on the results of these static measurements. The HDFM allocator is then described and used to extract traffic patterns from actual applications. The performance metric is evaluated again as the allocator varies the ratio of parallelism vs communication load. The results enable a network comparison of the allocation complexity required to achieve equivalent performance levels.
Effect of prefrontal lesions on trained anticipatory visual attending in cats.

Prefrontal cortex lesions effect on trained anticipatory visual target fixation in cats, noting performance impairment in voluntary eye movement control
Hierarchical brain tissue segmentation and its application in multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease

Based on Fuzzy Connectedness (FC) object delineation principles and algorithms, a hierarchical brain tissue segmentation technique has been developed for MR images. After MR image background intensity inhomogeneity correction and intensity standardization, three FC objects for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), gray matter (GM), and white matter (WM) are generated via FC object delineation, and an intracranial (IC) mask is created via morphological operations. Then, the IC mask is decomposed into parenchymal (BP) and CSF masks, while the BP mask is separated into WM and GM masks. WM mask is further divided into pure and dirty white matter masks (PWM and DWM). In Multiple Sclerosis studies, a severe white matter lesion (LS) mask is defined from DWM mask. Based on the segmented brain tissue images, a histogram-based method has been developed to find disease-specific, image-based quantitative markers for characterizing the macromolecular manifestation of the two diseases. These same procedures have been applied to 65 MS (46 patients and 19 normal subjects) and 25 AD (15 patients and 10 normal subjects) data sets, each of which consists of FSE PD- and T2-weighted MR images. Histograms representing standardized PD and T2 intensity distributions and their numerical parameters provide an effective means for characterizing the two diseases. The procedures are systematic, nearly automated, robust, and the results are reproducible.
Prucalopride accelerates gastrointestinal and colonic transit in patients with constipation without a rectal evacuation disorder

Abstract Background & Aims: Prucalopride (PRU) is a selective benzofuran 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 –receptor agonist with gastrointestinal and colonic prokinetic activities. We evaluated the effects of PRU on gastrointestinal and colonic transit in patients with constipation. Methods: Gastrointestinal and colonic transit were measured over 48 hours in 40 patients who fulfilled modified Rome I criteria for functional constipation. Patients had no evidence of a rectal evacuation disorder. Subjects were randomized to receive a daily dose of 2 or 4 mg PRU or placebo in a double-blind, parallel-group design. Each treatment lasted 7 days. The transit test was performed over the last 48 hours of the study. Effects on gastric emptying, small bowel transit, and colonic transit were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results: Of 61 patients screened, 40 were eligible and randomized. Two patients withdrew because of adverse events. PRU accelerated overall gastric emptying and small bowel transit. PRU tended to accelerate overall colonic transit with significantly faster overall colonic transit and ascending colon emptying with the 4-mg dose. Conclusions: PRU accelerates transit through the stomach, small bowel, and colon in patients with constipation unassociated with a rectal evacuation disorder. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2001;120:354-360
Incorporating prior knowledge with weighted margin support vector machines

Like many purely data-driven machine learning methods, Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers are learned exclusively from the evidence presented in the training dataset; thus a larger training dataset is required for better performance. In some applications, there might be human knowledge available that, in principle, could compensate for the lack of data. In this paper, we propose a simple generalization of SVM: Weighted Margin SVM (WMSVMs) that permits the incorporation of prior knowledge. We show that Sequential Minimal Optimization can be used in training WMSVM. We discuss the issues of incorporating prior knowledge using this rather general formulation. The experimental results show that the proposed methods of incorporating prior knowledge is effective.
Influenza and Pertussis Vaccination Coverage Among Privately Insured Women of Reproductive Age

An increasing number of vaccines are now designated as maternal vaccines, recommended prior to, during, or immediately following pregnancy. The influenza and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines have the potential to improve the health of women and their offspring. Among privately insured women of reproductive age, goals of this study were to describe influenza and Tdap vaccination coverage and to explore variation in coverage by age and race/ethnicity. This cross-sectional, observational study included women 18–44 years of age with continuous enrollment from 1 January 2007–31 March 2011 in a single, Midwestern health insurance plan and at least one visit to a plan affiliated practice. Data on vaccine coverage came from insurance claims, supplemented by electronic medical record data. Primary outcomes were: receipt of Tdap ever, receipt of Tdap or Tetanus vaccination (Td) in the past 10 years, and receipt of influenza vaccination during the 2010–2011 influenza season. Coverage was compared by race/ethnicity. Among 12,657 women with continuous private insurance, 45.5 % had received Tdap ever, 82.5 % had received Td or Tdap in the past 10 years, and 39.8 % received the influenza vaccine in the 2010–2011 season. Marked disparities in influenza vaccination coverage by race/ethnicity were observed, only 30.0 % of African American women received influenza vaccine compared to 40.7 % of white, non-Hispanic women (p < .0001). Among insured women of reproductive age, there is a need for interventions to increase Tdap and influenza vaccination uptake. Further research is needed to understand and address disparities in influenza vaccination coverage in this population.
Mode estimation and adaptive feedforward control for stabilization of a flexible gun tube

In this paper we describe an approach for designing a pointing and stabilization system for an unbalanced, flexible gun. Our approach is based upon classical control techniques as well as system identification and adaptive feedforward techniques. Adaptive algorithms identify the flexible modes of the system and estimate the dynamics unbalance. This information is used to update the control law in order to improve the stabilization accuracy of the system.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Visible light angular scatterometry for nanolithography

Visible light angular scatterometry is investigated for sub-100 nm line metrology. Measurement sensitivities to small variations in line dimensions are examined and some observations are made on the measurement conditions leading to improved sensitivities even for 20 nm CD. Experimental results with good accuracies are also shown for red light angular measurements of PMMA gratings made by e-beam lithography and nanoimprint lithography. The theoretical and experimental studies show high sensitivity and accuracy in characterization of the geometry and dimensions of nano-lines, particularly in measuring the polymer residue thickness of nanoimprinted polymer gratings and the undercut line profiles resulting from e-beam lithography. The results promote using this low cost and non-invasive technique to examine and control some underlying lithographic processes in nanofabrication.
Variations in creep rate along the Hayward Fault, California, interpreted as changes in depth of creep

Variations in surface creep rate along the Hayward fault are modeled as changes in locking depth using 3D boundary elements. Model creep is driven by screw dislocations at 12 km depth under the Hayward and other regional faults. Inferred depth to locking varies along strike from 4–12 km. (12 km implies no locking.) Our models require locked patches under the central Hayward fault, consistent with a M6.8 earthquake in 1868, but the geometry and extent of locking under the north and south ends depend critically on assumptions regarding continuity and creep behavior of the fault at its ends. For the northern onshore part of the fault, our models contain 1.4–1.7 times more stored moment than the model of Burgmann et al. [2000]; 45–57% of this stored moment resides in creeping areas. It is important for seismic hazard estimation to know how much of this moment is released coseismically or as aseismic afterslip.
Ensuring safe access to medication for palliative care while preventing prescription drug abuse: innovations for American inner cities, rural areas, and communities overwhelmed by addiction

This article proposes and develops novel components of community-oriented programs for creating and affording access to safe medication dispensing centers in existing retail pharmacies and in permanent or travelling pharmacy clinics that are guarded by assigned or off-duty police officers. Pharmacists at these centers would work with police, medical providers, social workers, hospital administrators, and other professionals in: planning and overseeing the safe storage of controlled substance medications in off-site community safe-deposit boxes; strengthening communication and cooperation with the prescribing medical provider; assisting the prescribing medical provider in patient monitoring (checking the state prescription registry, providing pill counts and urine samples); expanding access to lower-cost, and in some cases, abuse-resistant formulations of controlled substance medications; improving transportation access for underserved patients and caregivers to obtain prescriptions; and integrating community agencies and social networks as resources for patient support and monitoring. Novel components of two related community-oriented programs, which may be hosted outside of safe medication dispensing centers, are also suggested and described: (1) developing medication purchasing cooperatives (ie, to help patients, families, and health institutions afford the costs of medications, including tamper-or abuse-resistant/deterrent drug formulations); and (2) expanding the role of inner-city methadone maintenance treatment programs in palliative care (ie, to provide additional patient monitoring from a second treatment team focusing on narcotics addiction, and potentially, to serve as an untapped source of opioid medication for pain that is less subject to abuse, misuse, or diversion).
BITs and bargains: Strategic aspects of bilateral and multilateral regulation of foreign investment

Abstract Bilateral investment treaties (BITs) provide international standards for the protection of foreign investment. Andrew Guzman has argued that BITs represent a prisoner's dilemma for developing countries—they would have been better off operating under customary international law. We formalize and critique Guzman's claim and demonstrate that a prisoner's dilemma is not necessary to explain the developing countries’ behavior. Instead, the optimal strategy for newly independent states may have been to reap a windfall gain by a temporary period of expropriation and then to use BITs to commit to respecting property rights to new foreign investments. Finally, we argue that a multilateral agreement on investment (MAI) is now unlikely because the widespread coverage of BITs has narrowed the achievable surplus of an MAI.
Synthesis and structures of the quaternary sulfides KGaSnS4, KInGeS4, and KGaGeS4

Abstract The new quaternary compounds KGaSnS4, KInGeS4, and KGaGeS4 have been synthesized by the reaction of K2S5 with elemental Ga or In, Sn or Ge, and S at 900°C. The crystal structures of the three compounds have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Crystal data: KGaSnS4—space group P 1 , Z = 4, a = 7.152(2), b = 7.847(2) , and c = 15.163(3) A, α = 83.78(2)°, β = 87.21(2)°, γ = 63.83(2)° (T = 153 K), R(F2) = 0.147 for 3068 observations and 130 variables, R(F) = 0.073 for 2432 observations having F2o > 3σ(F2o); KInGeS4—space group P 1 , Z = 4, a = 7.200(5), b = 7.739(5) , and c = 15.037(10) A, α = 91.83(3)°, β = 99.26(4)°, γ = 112.01(4)° (T = 294 K), R(F2) = 0.124 for 4832 observations and 131 variables, R(F) = 0.048 for 1956 observations having F2o > 3σ(F2o); KGaGeS4—space group P2 1 a , Z = 4, a = 6.853(2), b = 15.956(5) , and c = 7.108(2) A, β = 111.95(1)° (T = 115 K), R(F2) = 0.060 for 2235 observations and 65 variables, R(F) = 0.027 for 1925 observations having F2o > 3σ(F2o). While the three crystal structures differ, they show close similarities. All three structures are made up of layers of metal-centered tetrahedra separated by potassium ions. The main group metal atoms are disordered to varying degrees among the tetrahedra. In each structure the tetrahedra form corner-sharing chains along the a axis and these chains are connected by pairs of edge-sharing tetrahedra. The layers in KInGeS4 and KGaGeS4 have the same structure while that in KGaSnS4 is different, owing to the different ways the edge-sharing tetrahedral pairs connect the chains. All three compounds are poor conductors.
Design Optimization of Fiber Reinforced Plastic Composite Shapes

A global approximation method to optimize material architecture and cross-sectional area of new fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) composite beams is presented. The sections considered are intended for applications in short-span bridges. The beams are subjected to transverse loading, and the optimization constraints include deflection limit, material failure, and elastic buckling. Assuming a laminated structure for the pultruded FRP shapes, experimentally-verified micro/macromechanics models are used to predict member structural behavior. The design variables include the cross-sectional geometric dimensions and the material architecture. The constraint functions are defined through a global approximation at a number of design points, and the approximate constraint equations are obtained through multiple linear regressions and are defined as power law functions of the design variables. The proposed method can concurrently optimize the dimensions and material architecture of a given shape, and as an illustratio...
Behavioral-immunologic relationships in older men and women.

Abstract Serum im-munoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA and IgM) and intellectual performance were aamined in a group of fourteen elderly men (mean age 74.2) and twenty-three women (mean age 73.2) who reported that they were in good health. Significant negative Pearson product-moment correlations between performance and IgG and IgA emerged for men. Among women the relationship was not sipnificant.
A Note On Correlated Errors in Repeated Measurements

This paper considers a test score model in which the true score and the measurement error are autocorrelated. After some preliminary remarks on corrections for attenuation, the paper focuses on the...