cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognition in individuals at risk for Parkinson's: Parkinson associated risk syndrome (PARS) study findings

Objectives The Parkinson Associated Risk Syndrome Study identified a cohort of healthy adults with hyposmia and dopamine transporter binding reduction to characterize individuals at risk for Parkinson's disease (PD). We describe the cognitive profile of this cohort. Methods Individuals older than 50 y without PD were recruited. Two hundred twenty-five completed cognitive testing and were included in the final analysis. A neuropsychological test battery was administered and normative scores created for global cognition, memory, executive function/working memory, processing speed/attention, visuospatial abilities, and language domains. Other non-motor symptoms (constipation, depression, anxiety, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder) were assessed through questionnaires. Results Individuals with both hyposmia and reduced dopamine transporter binding (n = 38) had lower mean scores for global cognition, executive function/working memory, and memory compared with all other participants (n = 187). In separate multivariate logistic regression models, lower global cognition (odds ratio, 1.97, P = 0.004), and specifically executive function/working memory (odds ratio, 1.84, P = 0.004) scores were associated with membership in the hyposmia with dopamine transporter reduction group. Combining hyposmia with relative impairment on specific cognitive domains increased the odds of dopamine transporter binding reduction compared with hyposmia alone, with the greatest increase in odds for hyposmia plus executive function/working memory relative impairment (68% increase in odds from 4.14 to 6.96). Conclusion Changes in global cognitive abilities, and specifically executive function/working memory, are present in individuals at risk for PD. Combining non-motor features, including cognition, improves prediction of dopamine transporter binding reduction. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Mutual Information Preconditioning Improves Structure Learning of Bayesian Networks From Medical Databases

Bayesian networks (BNs) represent one of the most successful tools for medical diagnosis, selection of the optimal treatment, and prediction of the treatment outcome. In this paper, we present an algorithm for BN structure learning, which is a variation of the standard search-and-score approach. The proposed algorithm overcomes the creation of redundant network structures that may include nonsignificant connections between variables. In particular, the algorithm finds what relationships between the variables must be prevented, by exploiting the binarization of a square matrix containing the mutual information (MI) among all pairs of variables. Two different binarization methods are implemented. The first one is based on the maximum relevance minimum redundancy selection strategy. The second one uses a threshold. The MI binary matrix is exploited as a preconditioning step for the subsequent greedy search procedure that optimizes the network score, reducing the number of possible search paths in the greedy search. Our algorithm has been tested on two different medical datasets and compared against the standard search-and-score algorithm as implemented in the DEAL package.
Mechanism of interferon action: identification of essential positions within the novel 15-base-pair KCS element required for transcriptional activation of the RNA-dependent protein kinase pkr gene.

RNA-dependent protein kinase PKR is an important regulator of gene expression in interferon (IFN)-treated and virus-infected cells. The 50-kb gene encoding human PKR kinase (pkr) is inducible by IFN. Transfection analyses, using chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) as the reporter in constructs possessing various 5′-flanking fragments of the human pkr gene, led to the identification of a functional TATA-less promoter that directed IFN-inducible transcription. Sequence determination and mutational analysis of the pkr promoter region revealed, in addition to a functional copy of the IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) responsible for inducibility by type I IFN, a novel 15-bp element required for optimal promoter activity mediated by the ISRE. This element (5′ GGGAAGGCGGAGTCC 3′), designated KCS for kinase-conserved sequence, is exactly conserved between the human and mouse pkr promoters in sequence and position relative to the ISRE. We have now carried out an extensive mutational analysis of the 15-bp KCS element. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed, whereby every base pair position within the KCS element was replaced by each of the other three alternatives. Forty-five substitution mutants were analyzed for promoter activity by transient transfection analysis of untreated and IFN-treated human cells. The results establish 5′ NNRRRGG(C,A,T)GGRGYYN 3′, where R stands for purine and Y stands for pyrimidine, as the consensus sequence for the KCS element, both for basal and for IFN-inducible promoter activity. KCS-binding proteins were detected by electrophoretic mobility shift analysis (EMSA). Competition EMSA established that constitutively expressed nuclear proteins bound the KCS element selectively; KCS protein binding activity correlated with promoter activity in the transient transfection reporter assay.
An overview of pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect, and multiple aorta pulmonary collateral arteries

The management of infants and children with pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect, and multiple aorta pulmonary collateral arteries has proven to be challenging. Therapeutic approaches have included unifocalization, shunting, coiling of collateral vessels, and heart/lung transplantation. Results have been variable and frustrating. This review will cover the anatomy, physiology, initial medical management, subsequent surgical management, and controversies surrounding various therapeutic approaches. The evolving understanding of genetic considerations in this condition will also be explored.
Radiation-induced segregation: A microchemical gauge to quantify fundamental defect parameters

Defect kinetic parameters for radiation-induced grain boundary segregation in austenitic stainless alloys are evaluated by comparing model predictions to measured responses. Heavy-ions, neutrons, and proton irradiations having substantial statistical bases are examined. The combined modeling and measurement approach is useful for quantifying fundamental defect parameters. The mechanism evaluation indicates that vacancy migration energies were 1.15 eV or less and the vacancy formation energy at grain boundaries was 1.5 eV. Damage efficiencies of heavy ions and light-water reactor neutrons were about 0.03. Inferred proton damage efficiencies were about 0.15. Segregation measured in an advanced gas-cooled reactor component was much greater than predicted from those parameters alone.
L-diversity: privacy beyond k-anonymity

Publishing data about individuals without revealing sensitive information about them is an important problem. In recent years, a new definition of privacy called \kappa-anonymity has gained popularity. In a \kappa-anonymized dataset, each record is indistinguishable from at least k—1 other records with respect to certain "identifying" attributes. In this paper we show with two simple attacks that a \kappa-anonymized dataset has some subtle, but severe privacy problems. First, we show that an attacker can discover the values of sensitive attributes when there is little diversity in those sensitive attributes. Second, attackers often have background knowledge, and we show that \kappa-anonymity does not guarantee privacy against attackers using background knowledge. We give a detailed analysis of these two attacks and we propose a novel and powerful privacy definition called \ell-diversity. In addition to building a formal foundation for \ell-diversity, we show in an experimental evaluation that \ell-diversity is practical and can be implemented efficiently.
The Structure and Evolution of Hurricane Elena (1985). Part II: Convective Asymmetries and Evidence for Vortex Rossby Waves

A portable data recorder attached to the Weather Surveillance Radar-1957 (WSR-57) in Apalachicola, Florida, collected 313 radar scans of the reflectivity structure within 150 km of the center of Hurricane Elena (in 1985) between 1310 and 2130 UTC 1 September. This high temporal and spatial (750 m) resolution dataset was used to examine the evolution of the symmetric and asymmetric precipitation structure in Elena as the storm rapidly strengthened and attained maximum intensity. Fourier decomposition of the reflectivity data into azimuthal wavenumbers revealed that the power in the symmetric (wavenumber 0) component dominated the reflectivity pattern at all times and all radii by at least a factor of 2. The wavenumber 1 asymmetry accounted for less than 20% of the power in the reflectivity field on average and was found to be forced by the environmental vertical wind shear. The small-amplitude wavenumber 2 asymmetry in the core was associated with the appearance and rotation of an elliptical eyewall. This structure was visible for nearly 2 h and was noted to rotate cyclonically at a speed equal to half of the local tangential wind. Outside of the eyewall, individual peaks in the power in wavenumber 2 were associated with repeated instances of cyclonically rotating, outward-propagating inner spiral rainbands. Four separate convective bands were identified with an average azimuthal velocity of 25 m s 1 ,o r68% of the local tangential wind speed, and an outward radial velocity of 5. 2ms 1 . The azimuthal propagation speeds of the elliptical eyewall and inner spiral rainbands were consistent with vortex Rossby wave theory. The elliptical eyewall and inner spiral rainbands were seen only in the 6-h period prior to peak intensity, when rapid spinup of the vortex had produced an annular vorticity profile, similar to those that have been shown to support barotropic instability. The appearance of an elliptical eyewall was consistent with the breakdown of eyewall vorticity into mesovortices, asymmetric mixing between the eye and eyewall, and a slowing of the intensification rate. The inner spiral rainbands might have arisen from high eyewall vorticity ejected from the core during the mixing process. Alternatively, because the bands were noted to emanate from the vertical shear-forced deep convection in the northern eyewall, they could have formed through the axisymmetrization of the asymmetric diabatically generated eyewall vorticity.
Role of matrix metalloproteinases 1, 2, and 9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in chronic venous insufficiency.

Abstract Purpose: Increased transforming growth factor–β 1 (TGF-β 1 ) activity is associated with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) disease progression and dermal skin pathology. Because TGF-β 1 stimulates collagen synthesis and alters the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs), we investigated the hypothesis that increased TGF-β 1 activity is associated with differences in messenger RNA and protein levels of MMPs and TIMP-1 in patients with CVI. Methods: One hundred ten biopsies of the lower calf and lower thigh in 73 patients were snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and stratified into six groups according to the clinical etiologic anatomic distribution pathophysiology disease classification. One set of lower-calf and lower-thigh biopsies were analyzed for MMP-1 and TIMP-1 gene expression with quantitative reverse transcription and competitive polymerase chain reaction. A second set of biopsies was analyzed for the active and latent forms of MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 as well as for TIMP-1 by western blotting, gelatin zymography, and tissue localization by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: Compared with the control, MMP-1 messenger RNA was increased in class-4 and class-6 patients ( P ≤.01), whereas TIMP-1 was increased in class-6 patients only ( P ≤.05). However, there were no differences in total protein between MMP-1 and TIMP-1. Active MMP-2 protein increased in class-4 and class-5 patients compared with active MMP-1 and TIMP-1 ( P ≤.01). Western blotting did not identify the active component of MMP-9. Similarly, only the latent form of MMP-9 was observed by gelatin zymography, whereas both the latent and active forms of MMP-2 were observed. IHC demonstrated MMP-1 and MMP-2 in dermal fibroblasts and in perivascular leukocytes. TIMP-1 was observed in basal-layer keratinocytes of the epidermis only. MMP-9 was not detected by IHC. Conclusion: MMP synthesis is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in CVI. Our data suggest that post-translational modifications are key to functional regulation. Dermal fibroblasts and migrating leukocytes are probable cellular sources of MMPs. Increased active MMP-2 levels in class-4 and class-5 patients indicate tissue remodeling caused by pre-ulcer and postulcer environmental stimuli. These data suggest that alterations in MMP-2 activity, in conjunction with TGF-β 1 –mediated events, cause an imbalance in tissue remodeling leading to a pro–ulcer-forming environment. (J Vasc Surg 2001;34:930-8.)
Chemistry of atmospheric precipitation in the north-central united states: Influence of sulfate, nitrate, ammonia and calcareous soil particulates

The supply of alkaline soil dust and gaseous NH3 available to neutralize anthropogenic acids in the atmosphere controls the acidity of precipitation in the north-central United States. Major ions and trace metals were determined in precipitation-event and snow-core samples from sites along a 600 km transect from the North Dakota prairie to the forests of northeastern Minnesota, collected during the period April 1978–June 1979. Acidity increased 4-fold from west to east as the effect of alkaline dust and NH3 decreased with increasing distance from the cultivated prairie; calcium and Mg2+ decreased 2 to 3-fold across the transect. However, minimum concentrations of NH4+ and SO42− were observed at Itasca, the central site. Natural emissions of these elements were important in the west, while anthropogenic emissions were responsible for the higher concentrations in the east. Wet deposition of H+ decreased 8-fold and deposition of NO3− and SO42− decreased 1.5 to 2-fold from Hovland in the east to Tewaukon in the west. Wet deposition of the metal cations increased from Hovland to Tewaukon. Dry deposition followed a similar trend. Winter snow cover and freezing temperatures, which decreased airborne soil dust and the evolution of NH3 from the prairie soils, led to an increase in precipitation acidity at all sites. The acid increase was accompanied by a decrease in alkaline metal cations, especially Ca2+, and in NH4+. At Hovland SO42− and NO3− also increased during the winter. The occurrence of snow events at Tewaukon that were appreciably more acid than the snowpack accumulated there indicates that snow was neutralized after it fell by alkaline dust entrained in resuspended snow, or deposited separately. Winter inputs of acid are especially important because they are released during a short period in the spring. Over half of the acid input at Hovland occurred during the winter. Precipitation inputs of P and N probably benefit nutrient-poor ecosystems in the north-central United States. However, acid precipitation at Hovland is approaching levels known to cause adverse effects in sensitive regions. The geology of northeastern Minnesota, adjoining Ontario, and northern Wisconsin is similar to that in areas where lake acidification and losses of fish populations have occurred, so that such problems may eventually occur in central North America.
Re-imagining Redemption: Universal Salvation in the Theology of Julian of Norwich

The revelations Julian of Norwich received in 1373 provided her with unique insight that transformed her understanding of the Christian faith and prompted her to re-imagine traditional notions of sin, God's love, and salvation in new ways. Her re-interpretation of these doctrines causes great anxiety for Julian inasmuch as what she learned from her showings was at odds with church teachings, particularly her new understanding of God's plan of salvation for all humanity. I argue that Julian develops a theology of universal salvation characterized by an open understanding of who will participate in the salvation of Christ, and this openness places Julian in tenuous relationship with the church of her day. Ultimately, Julian's trust that “all will be well” allows her to push beyond the tension between her insight and church teachings, in effect challenging the official teaching of no salvation for those outside the church.
Modulation of Expression of Superantigens by Human Transferrin and Lactoferrin: A Novel Mechanism in Host-Streptococcus Interactions

The role played by host-pathogen interactions in regulation of expression of streptococcal virulence factors in vivo is beginning to become clear. We have reported that the expression of 2 streptococcal virulence factors, the streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (Spe) A and the cysteine protease SpeB, was reciprocally modulated during infection with Streptococcus pyogenes. To identify host signals mediating this reciprocal regulation, we cocultured clonal M1T1 isolates with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In accordance with our in vivo findings, when bacteria were in direct contact with human PBMCs or were separated in transwells, expression of speA was induced, whereas expression of speB was down-regulated. This phenomenon was mediated by transferrin and lactoferrin and was influenced by the iron-saturation status of these proteins. Iron chelation from media induced expression of speA, but to a much lesser degree than did that with apotransferrin and lactoferrin, suggesting additional effects of these ferrins on modulation of expression of speA and speB. Thus, ferrins may play an important role in host-pathogen interactions in skin and mucosal tissues.
Bosonic Path Integrals for Four-dimensional Dirac Particles

After reviewing coherent state path integrals for nonrelativistic spin in four dimensions (or equivalently, relativistic spin in three dimensions), the Dirac propagator in four dimensions is recast as a functional integral of an (S3×S3)/S1 field. Chiral transformations correspond to a global rotation of this field.
Particulate contamination control in plasma processing: building-in reliability for semiconductor fabrication

Plasma processing is used for /spl sim/35% of the process steps required for semiconductor manufacturing. Recent studies have shown that plasma processes create the greatest amount of contaminant dust of all the manufacturing steps required for device fabrication. Often, the level of dust in a plasma process tool exceeds the cleanroom by several orders of magnitude. Particulate contamination generated in a plasma tool can result in reliability problems as well as device failure. Inter-level wiring shorts different levels of metallization on a device is a common result of plasma particulate contamination. We have conducted a thorough study of the physics and chemistry involved in particulate formation and transport in plasma tools. In-situ laser light scattering (LLS) is used for real-time detection of the contaminant dust. The results of this work are highly surprising: all plasmas create dust; the dust can be formed by homogeneous as well as heterogeneous chemistry; this dust is charged and suspended in the plasma; additionally, it is transported to favored regions of the plasma, such as those regions immediately above wafers. Fortunately, this work has also led to a novel means of controlling and eliminating these unwanted contaminants: electrostatic "drainpipes" engineered into the electrode by means of specially designed grooves. These channel the suspended particles out of the plasma and into the pump port before they can fall onto the wafer.
Observations on Hillslope Erosion in Tower Karst Topography of Belize

Differential erosion in karst topography of Belize forms closed basins around karst towers. Ephemeral lakes that collect in the basins are active in removing talus and undermining hillslope support by corrosion. Channel incision establishes more rapid drainage of the basins that surround towers, resulting in less active hillslope erosion. Tower karst topography of coastal Belize is in the process of changing from a landscape characterized by rapid talus removal and undermining to a landscape characterized by slow talus removal and little slope undermining. As the drainage continues to improve around karst towers, steep tower hillslopes become more obscured at their bases by the accumulation of talus.
Strategic Party Government: Party Influence in Congress, 1789–2000

Why does the influence of Congressional parties fluctuate over time? Building on prevailing answers, we develop a model, Strategic Party Government, which highlights the electoral motives of legislative parties and the strategic interaction between parties. We test this theory using the entire range of House and Senate party behavior from 1789 to 2000 and find that the strategic behavior of parties complements members' preferences as an explanation for variation in party influence. Specifically, the strongest predictors of one party's voting unity are the unity of the opposing party and the difference between the parties in the preceding year. Moreover, we find strong links between party behavior in Congress and electoral outcomes: an increase in partisan influence on legislative voting has adverse electoral costs, while winning contested votes has electoral benefits.
System reliability estimation and confidence regions from subsystem and full system tests

This paper develops a rigorous and practical method for estimating the reliability-with confidence regions-of a complex system based on a combination of full system and subsystem (and/or component or other) tests. It is assumed that the system is composed of multiple processes (e.g., the subsystems and/or components within subsystems), where the subsystems may be arranged in series, parallel (i.e., redundant), combination series/parallel, or other mode. Maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) is used to estimate the overall system reliability. Interestingly, for a given number of subsystems and/or components, the likelihood function does not change with the system configuration; rather, only the optimization constraints change, leading to an appropriate MLE. The MLE approach is well suited to providing asymptotic or finite-sample confidence bounds through the use of Fisher information or bootstrap Monte Carlo-based sampling.
Lysophosphatidic acid upregulates the epidermal growth factor receptor in human airway smooth muscle cells

Human airway smooth muscle cells treated with lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) exhibit synergistic stimulation of mitogenesis (Ediger TL and Toews ML. J Pharmacol Exp T...
Fluconazole use and birth defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study

Background Low-dose fluconazole is used commonly to treat vulvovaginal candidiasis, a condition occurring frequently during pregnancy. Conflicting information exists on the association between low-dose fluconazole use among pregnant women and the risk of major birth defects. Objective We used data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study to examine this association. Study Design The National Birth Defects Prevention Study is a multisite, population-based, case-control study that includes pregnancies with estimated delivery dates from 1997 to 2011. Information on fluconazole use in early pregnancy was collected by self-report from 31,645 mothers of birth defect cases and 11,612 mothers of unaffected controls. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for birth defects with 5 or more exposed cases; crude odds ratios and exact 95% confidence intervals were estimated for birth defects with 3–4 exposed cases. Results Of the 43,257 mothers analyzed, 44 case mothers and 6 control mothers reported using fluconazole. Six exposed infants had cleft lip with cleft palate, 4 had an atrial septal defect, and each of the following defects had 3 exposed cases: hypospadias, tetralogy of Fallot, d-transposition of the great arteries, and pulmonary valve stenosis. Fluconazole use was associated with cleft lip with cleft palate (odds ratio = 5.53; confidence interval = 1.68–18.24) and d-transposition of the great arteries (odds ratio = 7.56; confidence interval = 1.22–35.45). Conclusions The associations between fluconazole and both cleft lip with cleft palate and d-transposition of the great arteries are consistent with earlier published case reports but not recent epidemiologic studies. Despite the larger sample size of the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, fluconazole use was rare. Further investigation is needed in large studies, with particular emphasis on oral clefts and conotruncal heart defects.
Acoustic Velocity Ratios in Solid Argon at 75 K up to Static Pressures of 150 Kbar

In the last decade, a considerable body of accurate high pressure thermodynamic data has been reported for solid argon [1].* Careful measurement of the equation of State (EOS) by piston displacement techniques to 20 kbar, first made by Stewart [2] and recently by Anderson and Swenson [3], agree within 3%. The latter data [3] has an estimated accuracy of ± 0.1% in the T = 0 equilibrium molar volume V, and the agreement with the lower pressure isochoric data of Lewis et al. [4] is within their combined experimental uncertainties. This high degree of agreement has led Anderson and Swenson to propose a Lennard-Jones type EOS for the temperature range up to the melting point. Their results suggest that argon obeys a reduced EOS at both T = 0 and near the triple point, which is similar to the EOS of the other rare gas solids, krypton and xenon.
Lineofsight Propagation of Spherical and Beam Waves through a Random MediumWeak Fluctuation Case

This chapter contains sections titled: Rytov Solution for the Spherical Wave Variance for the Kolmogorov Spectrum Correlation and Structure Functions for the Kolmogorov Spectrum Beam Wave Variance for a Beam Wave and the Validity of the Rytov Solution Remote Probing of Planetary Atmospheres Some Related Problems ]]>
Las genealogías espurias del Imperio turco y el islam en la "Silva de varia lección" de Pedro Mexía y sus posibles efectos en la percepción de los moriscos

Pedro Mexia in Silva de varia leccion (1540) offers information that backs thepolicies of Carlos V when the Spanish kingdoms are resisting their support.These call for the unity of Christian realms against the turks, whose empirehe tries to discredit with arguments about the illegitimate genealogy of theiremperors and their religion as opposed to the preeminent origin of Carlos V’sempire. Even if Mexia’s work had swayed public opinion in Spain to considerimperial policy as Spanish policy, the insistence of these arguments in the vilegenealogies of islam and its followers could have also sponsored the idea thatthe moriscos were impossible to integrate in the Christian community of Spaniardsby virtue of their genealogy.
Computerized Residential Refuse Districting

Solid waste management has rapidly become one of the priority problems facing local government administrators. To assist the director of a public works or sanitation department in the timely evaluation of alternatives for providing refuse collection, a computerized model was developed to delineate compact, balanced collection districts. The model is based on a heuristic methodology first proposed by Maranzana. The methodology is modified to enable control of district size and to consider the locations of both disposal sites and vehicle garages in the formation of districts.
Effects of impaired Ca2+ homeostasis on contraction in postinfarction myocytes.

The significance of altered Ca2+ influx and efflux pathways on contractile abnormalities of myocytes isolated from rat hearts 3 wk after myocardial infarction (MI) was investigated by varying extra...
Accounting And Visual Basic: Whats The Connection?

It is not enough today for accountants simply to know how to use word processing and spreadsheet software. In the knowledge age, accounting professionals must use infor-mation technology to the fullest. The ability to create, process, understand, and distri-bute information often determines work productivity, ratings on job performance evaluations, and even ultimate career successes. Accounting graduates with superior information technology (IT) skills are highly recruited, valued, and rewardedthese are the employees who are best able to perform the computer tasks required by their professional responsibilities. This paper reviews some reasons why todays accountants must be familiar with programming concepts in general, and Visual Basic (VB) in par-ticular. It also reviews those VB programming tools that are especially useful to accounting applications.
Acetate influence upon the transport kinetics of p-aminohippurate at 37 degrees C in rabbit kidney slices.

SummaryThe present investigation involving p-aminohippurate uptake by rabbit kidney slices has shown (i) confirmative evidence that p-aminohippurate uptake is stimulated by the presence of acetate at both 25 and 37°; (ii) oxygen consumption being stimulated by acetate at 25 but not at 37°; (iii) the Km for p-aminohippurate uptake at 37° is not affected by the presence of acetate in the medium; (iv) the Vmax for p-amino-hippurate uptake at 37° is directly related to the presence of acetate in the medium; and (v) acetate stimulates ATP utilization at 37° but does not alter energy charge potential.
Medical termination of pregnancy after endometrial ablation resulting in uterine rupture

Although pregnancy after endometrial ablation is rare, with an estimated rate of approximately 0.65% (Hare and Olah 2005), it is associated with a significant risk of complications including premat...
An Evolving Landscape: The Reconfiguration of Global Value Chain Activities

Received wisdom has it that the forces of globalization are inevitably leading to significant reconfiguration of value chain activities at both the macro (regional) and the micro (firm) levels. Som...
The experimental production of an early stage of extrauterine pregnancy

In former experiments I had shown that it is apparently impossible to produce experimentally an extrauterine pregnancy in the guinea pig.1 Neither ligation of the fallopian tubes at the juncture with the uterus, nor incision into the tubes or wall of the uterus at various periods of the sexual cycle led to the development of an extrauterine pregnancy. In another series of experiments I had shown that in the guinea pig only the mucosa of the uterus is able to produce a decidua under the influence of experimentally applied stimuli. In the human organism where extrauterine pregnancy occurs, decidua can to some extent form also at certain places outside of the uterine mucosa. It is, therefore, probable that one of the factors upon which the development of an extrauterine pregnancy depends is the capability of the tissue, into which the ovum penetrates, to develop decidual tissue which presents to the ovum an adequate soil for development.In an experiment carried out recently I was able to show that it is poss...
The first results of solar observations made in the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory using a magneto-optical filter

The results of observations of Doppler velocities and solar magnetic fields using a magneto- optical filter (MOF) are presented. The MOF-based instrument was manufactured and supplied to the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (CrAO) by the University of Southern California. It is one of three similar instruments designed to establish the helioseismology network „Mount Wilson —CrAO — AFiF” (Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute in Alma- Ata.)
Nomenclatural Notes. II. On Bulgaria, Phaeobulgaria and Sarcosoma

(1957). Nomenclatural Notes. II. On Bulgaria, Phaeobulgaria and Sarcosoma. Mycologia: Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 102-106.
Journalism–Business Tension in Swedish Newsroom Decision Making

ABSTRACTFrom Kohlberg’s moral reasoning approach, this study analyzes the decision-making process of a group of Swedish newspaper editors. We use a qualitative methodology to examine how editors respond to three ethical dilemmas related to company loyalty, journalistic values, and newsroom diversity. Findings suggest that commercial considerations do not outweigh the inherent ethical/journalistic influence on decisions concerning the newsroom. Further categorization reveals that ethical and managerial reasoning co-exist in a news media landscape that requires capturing readers and investors without neglecting journalistic values and norms. In investigating the moral, ethical, and business aspects of newspaper editors’ decision-making process, our findings reveal the delicate balance Swedish editors strive for during an increasingly difficult and transitional period in journalism.
Simulation of Microstructure Formation during Thin Film Deposition

We describe an approach to studying grain structure formation in polycrystalline thin films during deposition from the vapor phase using a “grain continuum” representation of the solid. We employ three codes in concert to track the development of grains while accounting for ballistic transport and surface reaction kinetics. We show that higher precursor reactivities might well lead to higher void fractions near the substrate surface.
Spontaneous Renal Rupture: Evaluation by Computerized Tomography

We report an unusual case of spontaneous renal rupture, including intrarenal and perirenal hemorrhage, which was evaluated by computerized tomography. Various causes of spontaneous rupture are discussed and a possible mechanism in this patient is suggested.
The impact of network structure on the perturbation dynamics of a multi-agent economic model

Complex adaptive systems (CAS) modeling has become a common tool to study the behavioral dynamics of agents in a broad range of disciplines from ecology to economics. Many modelers have studied structure's importance for a system in equilibrium, while others study the effects of perturbations on system dynamics. There is a notable absence of work on the effects of agent interaction pathways on perturbation dynamics. We present an agent-based CAS model of a competitive economic environment. We use this model to study the perturbation dynamics of simple structures by introducing a series of disruptive events and observing key system metrics. Then, we generate more complex networks by combining the simple component structures and analyze the resulting dynamics. We find the local network structure of a perturbed node to be a valuable indicator of the system response.
Krüpple-like factors 7 and 6a mRNA expression in adult zebrafish central nervous system

Krupple-like factors (KLFs) are transcription factors with zinc finger DNA binding domains known to play important roles in brain development and central nervous system (CNS) regeneration. There is little information on KLFs expression in adult vertebrate CNS. In this study, we used in situ hybridization to examine Klf7 mRNA (klf7) and Klf6a mRNA (klf6a) expression in adult zebrafish CNS. Both klfs exhibit wide and similar expression in the zebrafish CNS. Brain areas containing strongly labeled cells include the ventricular regions of the dorsomedial telencephalon, the ventromedial telencephalon, periventricular regions of the thalamus and hypothalamus, torus longitudinalis, stratum periventriculare of the optic tectum, granular regions of the cerebellar body and valvula, and superficial layers of the facial and vagal lobes. In the spinal cord, klf7- and klf6a-expressing cells are found in both the dorsal and ventral horns. Numerous sensory structures (e.g. auditory, lateral line, olfactory and visual) and several motor nuclei (e.g. oculomotor, trigeminal, and vagal motor nuclei) contain klf7- and/or klf6a-expressing cells. Our results may provide useful information for determining these Klfs in maintenance and/or function in adult CNS.
The lost art of the splenorrhaphy

Abstract Background In the case of the hemodynamically unstable child, splenorrhaphy is preferred to splenectomy to avert postsplenectomy sepsis. However, successful splenorrhaphy requires familiarity with the procedure. We sought to determine how many splenectomies or splenorrhaphies for trauma the average pediatric surgeon can be expected to perform during their career. Methods The Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) Database was queried for patients ≤ 18 years coded with an International Classification of Diseases 9th Edition diagnosis code of a splenic injury from 2004 to 2013. Age, gender, grade of splenic injury, and operations performed were extracted. Numbers of pediatric surgeons per hospital were obtained. Results 9567 children were identified. 2.1% underwent a splenectomy and 0.8% underwent a splenorrhaphy. The average surgeon performed 0.6 (SD = 0.6) splenectomies and 0.2 (SD = 0.4) splenorrhaphies for trauma. If these rates remain constant over time, the average surgeon would perform 1.8 (SD = 1.7) splenectomies and 0.6 (SD = 1.1) splenorrhaphies for trauma over a 30-year surgical career. Conclusion Nonoperative management is associated with a host of benefits, but has resulted in a decrease in the experience level of the pediatric surgeons expected to perform an emergency splenectomy or splenorrhaphy when the unusual occasion arises.
The Effect of Hydrogen on the Fatigue Properties of Austenitic Stainless Steel

Hydrogen can be used as an environmentally friendly fuel to power vehicles, electric devices, and spacecraft with water vapor as the only emission. One associated challenge is the development of safe hydrogen storage systems. Hydrogen tanks and other hydrogen infrastructure elements will be exposed to both high-pressure hydrogen and cyclic stresses. In our work, 304 stainless steel specimens were precharged with hydrogen and subjected to rotational bending fatigue with a maximum stress amplitude of 90 ksi. A diffusion model was solved to approximate the concentration of hydrogen in the specimen at the time of the test. Contrary to our previous work with simple bending fatigue tests, hydrogen precharging actually increased rotational bending fatigue life from 28,074 (Sx = 7,430, N = 103) cycles to 91,513 (Sx = 40,209, N=32) cycles, a factor of approximately 3.25. This result demonstrates that the effect of hydrogen on fatigue life can be highly situational, and great care should be taken when designing systems that will be exposed to high-pressure hydrogen under fatigue conditions.
Introduction: The Hunt for Extra-Solar Planets

Since the dawn of civilisation we have looked up to the stars, wondering whether other worlds exist and what they might look like. In the last few decades, developments in instrumentation and observation techniques have led to revolutionary discoveries: we now know that planets revolving around other stars than our Sun exist, and better still, they appear to be very common.
Chronic Inflammatory Polyneuropathy

Thirteen children with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy monitored between 1975 and 2005 are reported from Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Canada.
Control design of an advanced high-speed FESS for pulsed power applications

Control of an advanced high-speed flywheel energy storage system (FESS) based on a high-speed surface mount permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) is explored in this paper. A PWM inverter/rectifier controls the bi-directional flow of energy for charging and discharging the flywheel. During charging, an inner current loop controller and an outer speed loop controller regulate the system performance. During discharging operation, the outer speed loop controller is made inactive and instead a DC bus voltage regulator along with the current regulators control the FESS discharging mode of operation. Current, speed, and DC bus voltage regulations are realized by proportional plus Integral (PI) controllers. A novel design algorithm is used to generate the entire set of stabilizing PI controllers for the current and speed loops of the FESS. The PI gains for the voltage controller are designed based on the pole-zero cancellation theory, because of the non linear operation of the controller. Next, the operation of a 240 kW, 19-23 krpm FESS with its control system is evaluated by simulation. Finally, experimental results are presented to verify the control system performance.
Privacy-preserving, indoor occupant localization using a network of single-pixel sensors

We propose an approach to indoor occupant localization using a network of single-pixel, visible-light sensors. In addition to preserving privacy, our approach vastly reduces data transmission rate and is agnostic to eavesdropping. We develop two purely data-driven localization algorithms and study their performance using a network of 6 such sensors. In one algorithm, we divide the monitored floor area (2.37m×2.72m) into a 3×3 grid of cells and classify location of a single person as belonging to one of the 9 cells using a support vector machine classifier. In the second algorithm, we estimate person's coordinates using support vector regression. In cross-validation tests in public (e.g., conference room) and private (e.g., home) scenarios, we obtain 67–72% correct classification rate for cells and 0.31–0.35m mean absolute distance error within the monitored space. Given the simplicity of sensors and processing, these are encouraging results and can lead to useful applications today.
Extended esophagectomy in the management of carcinoma of the upper thoracic esophagus.

Abstract Upper thoracic esophageal tumors adjacent to the trachea often require a preliminary thoracotomy to accomplish resection. Between January 1985 and July 1992, 49 consecutive patients (38 men and 11 women) underwent extended esophagectomy for esophageal cancer where the neoplasm was mobilized through an initial right thoracotomy and then resected and reconstructed through an abdominocervical approach. Ages ranged from 40 to 80 years (median 63.4 years). The tumor was located in the upper third of the thoracic esophagus in 44 patients and in the middle third in five. Thirty-three patients had squamous cell carcinoma, 14 had adenocarcinoma, and two had adenosquamous cell carcinoma. Complications occurred in 35 patients (71.4%) and included anastomotic leak in 15, vocal cord paralysis in 11, atrial arrhythmia in nine, pneumonia in six, wound infection in five, and postoperative bleeding in one. Three patients required tracheostomy. There was one postoperative death (2.0%). Median survival was 0.9 years (range 1 month to 5.1 years). Thirty-one patients were alive at the time this article was written, 28 without evidence of cancer. Cause of death was recurrent disease in 13 patients, unrelated to cancer in three, and unknown in one. Overall actuarial 3- and 5-year survivals were 48.6% and 18.2%, respectively. Four-year survival for stage II disease was 44.6% as compared to 24.9% for stage III ( p p
Vector and Matrix Operations for Multivariate Analysis

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses vector and matrix operations for multivariate analysis. Facility in the arithmetic of vectors and matrices is essential in multivariate analysis. The chapter reviews the fundamentals of vector and matrix operations, and the concept of the determinant of a matrix. Multivariate analysis makes liberal use of vector concepts from linear algebra. Two vectors of the same order are equal if they are equal component by component. Scalar multiplication of a vector involves multiplying each component of the vector by the scalar. The chapter describes vectors as ordered n -tuples of numbers that are subject to certain manipulative rules. Two matrices A and B are equal only if they are of the same order and each entry of the first is equal to the corresponding entry of the second. In matrix addition, each entry of a sum matrix is the sum of the corresponding entries of the two matrices being added. Matrices can also be multiplied by a number and this is called—scalar multiplication of the matrix.
An analytical solution of switching angles for Selective Harmonic Elimination (SHE) in a cascaded seven level inverter

Selective Harmonic Elimination (SHE) is an established technique to eliminate unwanted harmonics that causes aliasing effect in communication systems and affects power quality in electrical systems. In this paper, an analytical approach for SHE is proposed for harmonic elimination in a multilevel inverter. Traditionally, numerical methods like Newton Raphson Algorithm are opted to solve the transcendental SHE equations. The disadvantage in iterative computation is overhead in computational effort and the solution time can be problematic in real-time operation. Additionally, the numerical methods are sensitive to initial values and produce just one solution depending on the initial values. It doesn't provide insight into the possible solution sets. The closed-form equations generate the appropriate transition angles, single or multiples and the modulation ratio can be programmed into a microcontroller to vary the fundamental while eliminating the targeted harmonics. The approach has been illustrated to eliminate up to 7th harmonic in a seven level single phase inverter and up to 11th in a three phase system (no triplen harmonic elimination). Simulation results are included to verify theoretical formulation. A low voltage seven level inverter was built with a H-bridge and the experimental results verify the theoretical findings. Results include both single phase and triplen systems.
The Inventive Concept in Patent Law: Not So Obvious

The inventive concept in patent law, central to the Supreme Court’s test for whether a patent is invalid because of obviousness, lacks clarity. This article discusses that lack of clarity with reference to the vague and inconsistent treatment of the inventive concept in the jurisprudence of the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada. In particular, this article discusses two unanswered questions: whether the inventive concept is a necessary part of the obviousness inquiry and what the inventive concept actually means. In answering the second question, this article explores three discrete stages in the evolution of the inventive concept: (1) the genesis of the inventive concept in Canadian jurisprudence in Apotex Plavix; (2) a notable dialogue regarding the interpretation of the inventive concept between the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal in Apotex Combigan; and (3) the persisting confusion surrounding the current meaning of the inventive concept. This article concludes by urging appellate courts to provide clearer guidance with respect to the significance and meaning of the inventive concept.
New and emerging technologies: a competitive edge for national success

New technologies and adaptations of those technologies are changing international economic standards and criteria for a competitive advantage in the world market–place. Many opportunities for investment exist, but countries must carefully evaluate current strengths and weaknesses, monitor trends and technological developments, and choose wisely where to invest their resources. This paper reviews the factors developing nations must consider when investing in new technologies and how to attract the location of manufacturing facilities in their countries. Highlights include: what makes up a competitive advantage, planning for technology transfer, researching customer needs and technological interface requirements, researching and monitoring technological developments, meeting world quality standards, the need for a skilled and educated workforce, and the importance of an efficient infrastructure.