cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Involving patients and the public--is it worth the effort?

Professor Chambers says that a survey of 250 people might cost £2000. I calculate 2 second class stamps=38p, 2 envelopes 2p, survey document A4 photocopy × 2 × 5p=10p, total 50p × 250=£125. That leaves a healthy £1875 for management and overheads. In a nutshell, it indicates that though possibly worth the effort it is not worth the cost.
Evidence for a common metal ion-dependent transition in the 4-carboxyglutamic acid domains of several vitamin K-dependent proteins.

Abstract The murine monoclonal antibody H-11 binds a conserved epitope found at the amino terminal of the vitamin K-dependent blood proteins prothrombin, factors VII and X, and protein C. The sequence of polypeptide recognized by antibody H-11 contains 2 residues of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid, and binding of the antibody is inhibited by divalent metal ions. By using a solid-phase immunoassay with 125I-labeled antibody and immobilized vitamin K-dependent protein, binding of the antibody to the vitamin K-dependent proteins was inhibited by increasing concentrations of calcium, manganese, and magnesium ion. The transition midpoints for antibody binding were in the millimolar concentration range and were different for each metal ion. In general, the transition midpoints were lowest for manganese ion, intermediate for calcium ion, and highest for magnesium ion. Antibody H-11 bound specifically to a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 1-12 of human prothrombin that was synthesized as the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing derivative. Binding of the antibody to the peptide was not inhibited by calcium ion. These data suggest that inhibition of antibody H-11 binding by divalent metal ions is not due simply to neutralization of negative charge by Ca2+. This transition which is conserved in vitamin K-dependent proteins containing the H-11 antigenic site is likely due to a structural transition of the amino-terminal polypeptide possibly from a random (accessible) to ordered (inaccessible) structure.
Preliminary Direct Measurement of the s-Quark Asymmetry

We present a preliminary direct measurement of the parity violating coupling of the Z boson to strange quarks, A_s, derived from a sample of approximately 300,000 hadronic decays of Z bosons produced with a polarized electron beam and recorded by the SLD experiment at SLAC between 1993 and 1997. Events with primary strange quarks are tagged by the presence in each event hemisphere of a high-momentum charged K meson, neutral K meson or Lambda hyperon identified using the Cherenkov Ring Imaging Detector and/or a mass tag. The CCD vertex detector is used to suppress the background from heavy flavor events. The strangeness of the tagged particle is used to sign the event thrust axis in the direction of the initial strange quark. The coupling A_s is obtained directly from a measurement of the left-right-forward-backward production asymmetry in polar angle of the tagged strange quark. To reduce the model dependence of the measurement, the background from primary up and down events is measured from the data, as is the analyzing power of the method for primary strange events. We measure A_s = 0.82+-0.10(stat.)+-0.08(syst.) (preliminary).
Selling City Futures: The Financialization of Urban Redevelopment Policy

This article examines the specific mechanisms that have allowed global financial markets to penetrate deeply into the activities of U.S. cities. A flood of yield-seeking capital poured into municipal debt instruments in the late 1990s, but not all cities or instruments were equally successful in attracting it. Capital gravitated toward those local governments that could readily convert the income streams of public assets into new financial instruments and that could minimize the risk of nonpayment due to the actions of nonfinancial claimants. This article follows the case of Chicago from 1996 through 2007 as the city government subsidized development projects with borrowed money using a once-obscure instrument called Tax Increment Financing (TIF). TIF allows municipalities to bundle and sell off the rights to future property tax revenues from designated parts of the city. The City of Chicago improved the appearance of these speculative instruments by segmenting and sequencing TIF debt instruments in ways that made them look less idiosyncratic and by exerting strong political control over the processes of development and property tax assessment. In doing so, Chicago not only attracted billions of dollars in global capital but also contributed to a dangerous oversupply of commercial real estate.
Preliminary design and evaluation of portable electronic flight progress strips

There has been growing interest in using electronic alternatives to the paper Flight Progress Strip (FPS) for air traffic control. However, most research has been centered on radar-based control environments, and has not considered the unique operational needs of the airport air traffic control tower. Based on an analysis of the human factors issues for control tower Decision Support Tool (DST) interfaces, a requirement has been identified for an interaction mechanism which replicates the advantages of the paper FPS (e.g., head-up operation, portability) but also enables input and output with DSTs. An approach has been developed which uses a Portable Electronic FPS that has attributes of both a paper strip and an electronic strip. The prototype flight strip system uses Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to replace individual paper strips in addition to a central management interface which is displayed on a desktop computer. Each PDA is connected to the management interface via a wireless local area network. The Portable Electronic FPSs replicate the core functionality of paper flight strips and have additional features which provide a heads-up interface to a DST. The central management interface is used for aircraft scheduling and sequencing and provides an overview of airport departure operations. This paper presents the design of the Portable Electronic FPS system as well as preliminary evaluation results.
A Smooth Block Bootstrap for Statistical Functionals and Time Series

Unlike with independent data, smoothed bootstraps have received little consideration for time series, although data smoothing within resampling can improve bootstrap approximations, especially when target distributions depend on smooth population quantities (e.g., marginal densities). For approximating a broad class statistics formulated through statistical functionals (e.g., LL-estimators, and sample quantiles), we propose a smooth bootstrap by modifying a state-of-the-art (extended) tapered block bootstrap (TBB). Our treatment shows that the smooth TBB applies to time series inference cases not formally established with other TBB versions. Simulations also indicate that smoothing enhances the block bootstrap.
New self-stabilizing algorithms for minimal weakly connected dominating sets

In this paper, we propose two new self-stabilizing algorithms, MWCDS-C and MWCDS-D, for minimal weakly connected dominating sets in an arbitrary connected graph. Algorithm MWCDS-C stabilizes in O(n4) steps using an unfair central daemon and space requirement at each node is O(log n) bits at each node for an arbitrary connected graph with n nodes; it uses a designated node while other nodes are identical and anonymous. Algorithm MWCDS-D stabilizes using an unfair distributed daemon with identical time and space complexities, but it assumes unique node IDs. In the literature, the best reported stabilization time for a minimal weakly connected dominating set algorithm is O(nmA) under a distributed daemon [1], where m is the number of edges and A is the number of moves to construct a breadth-first tree.
Extracellular ATP-stimulated current in wild-type and P2X4 receptor transgenic mouse ventricular myocytes: implications for a cardiac physiologic role of P2X4 receptors

P2X receptors, activated by extracellular ATP, may be important in regulating cardiac function. The objective of the present study was to characterize the electrophysiologic actions of P2X4 receptors in cardiac myocytes and to determine whether they are involved in mediating the effect of extracellular ATP. Membrane currents under voltage clamp were determined in myocytes from both wild-type (WT) and P2X4 receptor-overexpressing transgenic (TG) mice. The P2X agonist 2-meSATP induced an inward current at –100 mV that was greater in magnitude (2-fold) in TG than in WT ventricular cells. In the presence of the P2X4 receptor-selective allosteric enhancer ivermectin (3 μM), the 2-meSATP-stimulated current increased significantly in both WT and TG ventricular cells, consistent with an important role of P2X4 receptors in mediating the ATP current not only in TG but also WT myocytes. That the current in both WT and TG cells showed similar voltage-dependence and reverse potential (∼0 mV) further suggests a role fo...
The effectiveness of certain antidotes in counteracting the off-flavor in potatoes grown on soil treated with benzene hexachloride

Activated charcoal (1 ton per acre), when applied to benzene hexachloride-treated soil, showed a definite ability to counteract the characteristic off-flavor of benzene hexachloride in potatoes. It did not impart any off-flavor of its own to the potatoes.
Optimizing in the class of Fuller modified limited information maximum likelihood estimators

Abstract A general class of Fuller modified maximum likelihood estimators are considered. It is shown that this class possesses finite moments. Asymptotic bias and asymptotic mean squared error are derived using small-σ expansions. A simulation study is carried out to compare different estimators in this class with standard estimators.
Protein separations using polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings with molecular micelles in open tubular capillary electrochromatography

Novel polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) coatings for enhanced protein separations in open tubular CEC (OT-CEC) are reported. Use of four cationic polymers (poly-L-lysine, poly-L-ornithine, poly-L-lysine-serine, and poly-L-glutamic acid-lysine), and three anionic molecular micelles, sodium poly(N-undecanoyl-L-leucyl-alaninate) (poly-L-SULA), sodium poly(N-undecanoyl-L-leucyl-valinate) (poly-L-SULV), and sodium poly(undecylenic sulfate) (poly-SUS) were investigated in PEM coatings for protein separations. The simultaneous effects of cationic polymer concentration, number of bilayers, temperature, applied voltage, and pH of the BGE on the separation of four basic proteins (alpha-chymotrypsinogen A, lysozyme, ribonuclease A, and cytochrome c) were analyzed using a Box Behnken experimental design. The influence of NaCl on the run-to-run reproducibility was investigated for PEM coatings containing each cationic polymer. All coatings exhibited excellent reproducibilities with a %RSD of the EOF less than 1% in the presence of NaCl. Optimal conditions were dependent on both the cationic and anionic polymers used in the PEM coatings. Poly-L-glutamic acid-lysine produced the highest resolution and longest migration time. The use of molecular micelles to form PEM coatings resulted in better separations than single cationic coatings. Chiral poly-L-SULA and poly-L-SULV resulted in higher protein resolutions as compared to the achiral, poly-SUS. Furthermore, the use of poly-L-SULV reversed the elution order of lysozyme and cytochrome c when compared to poly-L-SULA and poly-SUS.
Selective Acceptance and Inefficiency in a Two-Issue Complete Information Bargaining Game

Abstract This paper explores the effects of a “selective acceptance” rule on the outcome of two-issue negotiations. The alternating-offer game introduced here allows for the possibility that settlement may be reached on one issue while negotiation continues about the other. This model captures features of laws that are generally believed to increase efficiency. The analysis shows that if one issue is indivisible, there are inefficient subgame perfect equilibria with no Pareto-improving alternative equilibria. With opposing valuations, rapid communication guarantees inefficiency. These are unique examples of this strong form of inefficiency in an alternating-offer bargaining game with complete (and perfect) information. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C72, J30.
Comparison of lactoperoxidase- and thyroid peroxidase-catalyzed iodination and coupling.

Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and lactoperoxidase (LPO) were compared with respect to their ability to catalyze protein iodination and T4 formation. Goiter thyroglobulin was used as the protein acceptor in most cases, since thyroglobulin is most likely the physiological substrate for peroxidase in the thyroid gland. Experiments were also performed with BSA, fibrinogen and casein. With goiter thyroglobulin as the protein acceptor LPO and TPO were about equally active in catalyzing T4 formation at pH 7.0. At pH 7.0 LPO was also as effective as TPO in catalyzing the conversion of DIT to T4 (coupling reaction). Iodinations were performed with concentrations of iodide varying from 10 µM to 10 mM. With both TPO and LPO, inhibition of iodination was observed when the concentration of I− exceeded 1 mM. Attempts to calculate Km (I−) for LPO were complicated by marked deviation of Lineweaver-Burk plots from linearity. However, the results indicated that at pH 7.0 TPO was more effective than LPO at concentrations of iodi...
A density functional theory study of methyl shifts and methylcyclopropanol ion formation in C4H8O+· ions☆

Abstract C4H8O+· ions undergo a number of skeletal isomerizations, including rearrangement to the 2-butanone ion before metastable dissociation. However, the mechanisms whereby these rearrangements take place are not all firmly resolved. To remedy this, we characterized potential steps in the skeletal isomerizations of C4H8O+· ions using density functional theory. We established that branched and straight chain C4H8O+· ions with the oxygen on the terminal carbon interconvert through methylcyclopropanol ions and β-distonic ions. The cyclic isomers were found to be more stable than their ring-opened β-distonic forms. Transformation of ions with the O on a terminal carbon to ions with O on the second carbon occurs by methyl shifts that convert CH2·CH(CH3)CHOH+ and CH3CH2CHCHOH+· to CH3CH(OH)CHCH2+·. The second methyl shift takes place by inversion of the methyl configuration, possibly in accord with predictions of Woodward–Hoffmann rules.
South-nonsouth differentials in National Labor Relations Board certification election outcomes

This paper investigates and evaluates the magnitude of regional differentials in outcomes in National Labor Relations Board elections. The data for this project include NLRB elections conducted during the period 1973–1978.
γ-Secretase in biology and medicine

gamma-Secretase is a membrane-embedded proteolytic complex composed of presenilin and three other subunits. The gamma-secretase complex generates the amyloid beta-peptide of Alzheimer's disease but also plays important roles in normal physiology, especially in signaling from the Notch receptor. How this hydrolytic enzyme works in a hydrophobic environment is largely unanswered, but mutagenesis and chemical probes have offered insight. gamma-Secretase is an important therapeutic target, although mechanism-based toxicity presents a serious obstacle. Agents that lower amyloid beta-peptide production while leaving important normal functions of gamma-secretase intact are promising therapeutic leads. Inhibition of Notch signaling by gamma-secretase inhibitors, which is undesirable for the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease, may be beneficial for the treatment of a variety of cancers.
Communication Through Television UNESCO Adult Education Experiments in France, Japan and India

The UNESCO experiments on communication through television in the field of adult education conducted in France, Japan and India during the current and the previous decades demonstrated for the first time the potential of television for thr promotion of culture and education among the general masses. They also indicated that the tele-clubs, organized for group viewing in both urban and rural communities, could be an effective and adequate means for the purpose of communicating messages of social education. The results obtained from the special series of telecasts underscored the fact that the appeal of television was not restricted within national boundaries. The indirect co-operation of France, Japan and India-countries with different cultural backgrounds-toward the growth of a common institution like the tele-club was not merely a significant step in the effort to bring into reality an international exchange of ideas and experiments in the field of educational television; it also reinforced the concept of international communication through a global television system.
LATEX FIXATION TEST IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. III. A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF THE TITER OF RHEUMATOID FACTOR AND THERMOLABILE INHIBITOR.

In the latex fixation test the determination of the titer of rheumatoid factor together with the thermolabile inhibitor was shown to provide reproducible serological parameters which were used in a longitudinal study of 66 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. All 8 patients who experienced an unequivocal remission during the course of observation were found in the group of patients with relatively low titers of the latex fixation test and with varying degrees of thermolabile inhibition. No remissions occurred in the group of patients with high titers with out thermolabile inhibition. In le test a fixation de latex il esseva demonstrate que le determination del titro del factor rheumatoide insimul con le inhibitor thermolabile provide reproducibile parametros serologic, le quales esseva usate in un studio longitudinal de 66 patientes con arthritis rheumatoide. Omnes del 8 patientes qui experientiava un remission inequivoc durante le curso de observation se trovava in le gruppo de patientes con relativemente basse titros in le test a fixation de latex, e con varie grados de inhibition thermolabile. Nulle remissiones occurreva in le gruppo de patientes con alte titros sed sin inhibition thermolabile.
Synthesis of Rigid and Stable Large-Inner-Diameter Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Rigid large-inner-diameter (> 15.0 nm) multiwalled carbon nanotubes (LID-MWCNTs) were synthesized from cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and ammonium metatungstate, in which CTAB was converted to CNT structure and ammonium metatungstate was converted to WC nanoparticles inside of LID-MWCNTs.
Political Development and Socioeconomic Development: The Case of Latin America

One way of acquiring insight into the processes of political development in Latin America is to compare the countries of the area systematically in terms of the “degree of development” which each can be said to have attained. Ideally, such an enterprise can lead to the understanding of the past history of the “more developed” countries by reference to the present problems of the “less developed” while an understanding of the problems confronting the more developed countries can make possible a glimpse into the future of those now less developed. Isolation of the factors responsible for a state's being more or less developed can moreover prove instructive for the understanding of the relations between political and socioeconomic phenomena. Perhaps most important, such comparisons provide the means for holding constant effects attributable to characteristics shared by all, or nearly all, of the Latin American countries. Thus it can be argued with much plausibility that military intervention in politics, say, derives from elements in the Hispanic tradition. Yet it is clear that the frequency of military intervention varies from country to country, even where they share equally in that tradidition. Thus one is forced to go beyond the “Hispanic tradition” thesis with which the investigation might otherwise have come to rest. In the present article I will be concerned with the problem of the relation of political development to socioeconomic development in the Latin American context. For reasons that will become apparent below, I will not at this point attempt a rigorous analysis of the concept of political development, which has already been the subject of a large and rapidly growing literature.
Peristaltic pumping of a second-order fluid in a planar channel

The peristaltic motion of a non-Newtonian fluid represented by the constitutive equation for a second-order fluid was studied for the case of a planar channel with harmonically undulating extensible walls. A perturbation series for the parameter δ (δ ≡ half-width of channel/wave length) obtained explicit terms of 0(δ2), 0(δ2Re2) and 0(λ1Reδ2) respectively representing curvature, inertia and the non-Newtonian character of the fluid. Numerical computations were performed and compared to the perturbation analysis in order to determine the range of validity of the terms.
Synthesis of Robust Surface-Charged Nanoparticles Based on Cyclopropenium Ions

We investigate synthetic strategies of cationic surface-charged nanoparticles using cyclopropenium-based (CP) monomers and block copolyelectrolytes (BCPEs) via surfactant-free emulsion polymerization. The monomers and BCPEs themselves were found to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. With these systems, the hydrodynamic diameters of the resultant particles can be reliably tuned from 30 to 100 nm, simply by varying the amount of CP monomer added. As CP is a remarkably stable carbocation, the nanoparticles retain their charge over a wide pH range. Furthermore, we found that the nanoparticle interior can be covalently functionalized with fluorescent dyes. The ability to easily synthesize sub-100 nm surface-charged particles with narrow polydispersity in one-pot can lead to applications as additives, gene-delivery vectors, and chromatographic separation, among others. Here, we demonstrate the versatility of CP-based monomers and BCPEs for the synthesis of surface-charged nanoparticles and the modulation of synt...
Comparison of analytical and experimental results for free vibration of non-uniform composite beams

Resonant frequencies and mode shapes were calculated by a transfer matrix technique for Timoshenko beams of varying cross section. With the non-uniform beam represented by a series of uniform segments, results are given for longtudinal, torsional, and flexural vibration. Comparison with numerical results from the literature confirms the accuracy of the solution for transverse vibration of a homogeneous, tapered cantilever beam. With the theory extended to a composite beam, comparison with experimental data (via a Fourier analyzer) for a uniform and a doubly-tapered beam of sandwich construction demonstrates the accuracy of the analysis in practical application.
Three-Dimensional Deformation Measured in an Alaskan Glacier

Measurements of movement along 28 boreholes reveal the three-dimensional flow field in a 6 million cubic meter reach of Worthington Glacier, a temperate valley glacier located in Alaska. Sliding at the bed accounted for 60 to 70 percent of the glacier's surface motion. Strain rates in the ice were low from the surface to a depth of about 120 meters, but then increased rapidly toward the bed. Ice deformation was not affected by temporal changes in the sliding rate. The three-dimensional pattern of motion indicates that plane strain, which is often assumed by models, is a poor approximation of this viscous flow.
Computational study of sulfur–nickel interactions: A new S–Ni phase diagram

Prediction of the interactions between H2S-contaminated hydrogen fuel and Ni surfaces under conditions similar to those for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operation using DFT (density function theory) calculations (with thermodynamic corrections) has resulted in a new S–Ni phase diagram, which suggests the existence of an intermediate state between clean Ni surfaces and nickel sulfides – sulfur atoms adsorbed on Ni surfaces. This prediction is consistent with many experimental observations relevant to sulfur poisoning of Ni-based anodes in SOFCs, which cannot be explained using the existing S–Ni bulk phase diagram from classical thermodynamics. The accurate prediction of the adsorption phase is vital to a fundamental understanding of the sulfur poisoning mechanism of Ni-based anodes under SOFC operating conditions.
Association between power law coefficients of the anatomical noise power spectrum and lesion detectability in breast imaging modalities

Previous research has demonstrated that a parameter extracted from a power function fit to the anatomical noise power spectrum, ?, may be predictive of breast mass lesion detectability in x-ray based medical images of the breast. In this investigation, the value of ? was compared with a number of other more widely used parameters, in order to determine the relationship between ? and these other parameters. This study made use of breast CT data sets, acquired on two breast CT systems developed in our laboratory. A total of 185 breast data sets in 183 women were used, and only the unaffected breast was used (where no lesion was suspected). The anatomical noise power spectrum computed from two-dimensional region of interests (ROIs), was fit to a power function (NPS(f) = ? f??), and the exponent parameter (?) was determined using log/log linear regression. Breast density for each of the volume data sets was characterized in previous work. The breast CT data sets analyzed in this study were part of a previous study which evaluated the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve performance using simulated spherical lesions and a pre-whitened matched filter computer observer. This ROC information was used to compute the detectability index as well as the sensitivity at 95% specificity. The fractal dimension was computed from the same ROIs which were used for the assessment of ?. The value of ? was compared to breast density, detectability index, sensitivity, and fractal dimension, and the slope of these relationships was investigated to assess statistical significance from zero slope. A statistically significant non-zero slope was considered to be a positive association in this investigation. All comparisons between ? and breast density, detectability index, sensitivity at 95% specificity, and fractal dimension demonstrated statistically significant association with p <?0.001 in all cases. The value of ? was also found to be associated with patient age and breast diameter, parameters both related to breast density. In all associations between other parameters, lower values of ? were associated with increased breast cancer detection performance. Specifically, lower values of ? were associated with lower breast density, higher detectability index, higher sensitivity, and lower fractal dimension values. While causality was not and probably cannot be demonstrated, the strong, statistically significant association between the ? metric and the other more widely used parameters suggest that ? may be considered as a surrogate measure for breast cancer detection performance. These findings are specific to breast parenchymal patterns and mass lesions only.
Development of automotive battery systems capable of surviving modern underhood environments

Abstract The starting, lighting, and ignition (SLI) battery in today's automobile typically finds itself in an engine compartment that is jammed with mechanical, electrical, and electronic devices. The spacing of these devices precludes air movement and, thus, heat transfer out of the compartment. Furthermore, many of the devices, in addition to the internal combustion engine, actually generate heat. The resulting underhood environment is extremely hostile to thermally-sensitive components, especially the battery. All indications point to a continuation of this trend towards higher engine-compartment temperatures as future vehicles evolve. The impact of ambient temperature on battery life is clearly demonstrated in the failure-mode analysis conducted by the Battery Council International in 1990. This study, when combined with additional failure-mode analyses, vehicle systems simulation, and elevated temperature life testing, provides insight into the potential for extension of life of batteries. Controlled fleet and field tests are used to document and quantify improvements in product design. Three approaches to battery life extension under adverse thermal conditions are assessed, namely: (i) battery design; (ii) thermal management, and (iii) alternative battery locations. The advantages and disadvantages of these approaches (both individually and in combination) for original equipment and aftermarket applications are explored.
Teaching Theories of International Political Economy from the Pit: A Simple In-Class Simulation

Helping students understand abstract theories and concepts and how they apply to their everyday lives and the world around them is one of the most difficult tasks confronting a college teacher. Taking the task a step further by trying to demonstrate the ways in which the theoretical lenses used by analysts color their analyses and conclusions about real-world events is even more difficult. Using the family card game Pit as the tool, students can get a relatively realistic feel for how the structure of trading relationships, as reflected in theoretical constructs, determine (or at least condition and direct) the outcomes of international exchange and who wins and who loses in the international system. This article lays out the basic logic of the game and then develops the substance of the simulation for international relations courses. We also provide some insights into the applications of this simulation beyond international relations classes. Discussion of debriefing and student assessment of the experience is also provided.
Protection against cocarcinogenesis by antioxidants

Natrium-Selenid und andere Antioxydantien konnen die Entstehung von Tumoren hemmen. Die Wirkung kommt moglicherweise zustande uber eine Hemmung der Bildung von Co-Carcinogenen.
Declining Diagnosis of Birth Asphyxia in California: 1991–2000

Objective. Birth asphyxia is recognized as an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Whether advances in perinatal care have altered the incidence of birth asphyxia is unknown. We determined the incidence of birth asphyxia diagnoses made over a 10-year period in California. Methods. In a population-based retrospective cohort study of 5 364 663 live births, we determined the incidence and case fatality of birth asphyxia between 1991 and 2000. Using a statewide administrative hospital discharge database, we identified all newborn admissions that generated a diagnosis of birth asphyxia (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 768.5, 768.6, or 768.9) or a diagnosis that overlaps with birth asphyxia, such as congenital encephalopathy or fetal distress. We determined incidence and in-hospital case fatality rates adjusted for birth weight and demographic characteristics and stratified by associated perinatal complications. Results. The 24 330 newborns who received a diagnosis of birth asphyxia yielded a population incidence of 4.5 per 1000 live births. Black ethnicity (relative risk [RR]: 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2–1.3), male gender (RR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1–1.2), and low socioeconomic status (RR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1–1.2) all were associated with increased risk. The diagnosis of birth asphyxia decreased by 91% from 14.8 to 1.3 per 1000 live births during the study years. This decrease could not be explained by an increased diagnosis of overlapping conditions. Overall case fatality was 4%, and the majority of deaths in infants >2000 g occurred in the presence of congenital anomalies, cord abnormalities, or maternal hemorrhage. In newborns <2000 g, case fatality was highest in the presence of chorioamnionitis (48%). Conclusion. The diagnosis of birth asphyxia has decreased dramatically in recent years. The factors that are responsible for this decline are unclear and deserve additional investigation.
The role of epigenetic modification in tumorigenesis and progression of pituitary adenomas: a systematic review of the literature.

Background Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are commonly occurring neoplasms with diverse endocrine and neurological effects. Although somatic gene mutations are uncommon in sporadic PAs, recent studies lend support to epigenetic modification as a potential cause of tumorigenesis and tumor progression.
Newton's method and the goldstein step length rule for constrained minimization

A relaxed form of Newton's method is analyzed for the problem, min?F, with ? a convex subset of a real Banach space X, and F:X ? R1 twice differentiable in Frechet's sense. Feasible directions are obtained by minimizing local quadratic approximations Q to F, and step lengths are determined by Goldstein's rule. The results established here yield two significant extensions of an earlier theorem of Goldstein for the special case ? = X = a Hilbert space. Connections are made with a recently formulated classification scheme for singular and nonsingular extremals.
Discourses of American Indian Racial Identity in the Public Relations Materials of the Fred Harvey Company: 1902–1936

This study explores the discursive identities constructed by Harvey Company personnel around American Indians in their tourist promotional literature and practices, merchandising, and employee relations practices. The study disputes the dominant narrative that the company promoted only cultural imperialism and commodification, using the cultural–economic model of public relations practice to provide a more nuanced lens that reveals varying, and sometimes conflicting, discourses used to achieve and legitimize organizational objectives. The findings suggest ways in which public relations, tourism, and ethnicity form interrelated areas of study that deserve further theoretical development.
Monitoring the Agricultural Economy: Strains on the Data System

parisons,1 and analysis of such issues as factor roles and shares, structure, interindustry dependencies, economic well-being of participants, industry capacity and utilization, and industry productivity. This discussion adopts the same definition of the food and fiber system that was used in the preceding paper. The system is composed of farming, marketing, and direct input supplying subsectors.
Optimized acquisition scheme for multi-projection correlation imaging of breast cancer

We are reporting the optimized acquisition scheme of multi-projection breast Correlation Imaging (CI) technique, which was pioneered in our lab at Duke University. CI is similar to tomosynthesis in its image acquisition scheme. However, instead of analyzing the reconstructed images, the projection images are directly analyzed for pathology. Earlier, we presented an optimized data acquisition scheme for CI using mathematical observer model. In this article, we are presenting a Computer Aided Detection (CADe)-based optimization methodology. Towards that end, images from 106 subjects recruited for an ongoing clinical trial for tomosynthesis were employed. For each patient, 25 angular projections of each breast were acquired. Projection images were supplemented with a simulated 3 mm 3D lesion. Each projection was first processed by a traditional CADe algorithm at high sensitivity, followed by a reduction of false positives by combining geometrical correlation information available from the multiple images. Performance of the CI system was determined in terms of free-response receiver operating characteristics (FROC) curves and the area under ROC curves. For optimization, the components of acquisition such as the number of projections, and their angular span were systematically changed to investigate which one of the many possible combinations maximized the sensitivity and specificity. Results indicated that the performance of the CI system may be maximized with 7-11 projections spanning an angular arc of 44.8°, confirming our earlier findings using observer models. These results indicate that an optimized CI system may potentially be an important diagnostic tool for improved breast cancer detection.
Smooth Muscle Cell Fate Determination and Pattern Formation in the Mouse Female Reproductive Tract • 307

Smooth Muscle Cell Fate Determination and Pattern Formation in the Mouse Female Reproductive Tract • 307
Identification of thermodynamically relevant interactions between EF-Tu and backbone elements of tRNA

A set of 45 different tRNAs, each containing a single deoxynucleotide substitution covering the upper half of the molecule was used in conjunction with a high-throughput ribonuclease protection assay to investigate the thermodynamic role of 2' hydroxyl groups in stabilizing a complex with elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) from Thermus thermophilus. Five distinct 2' hydroxyl groups were identified where substitution with a proton resulted in an approximately tenfold decrease in the binding affinity. The same five 2' hydroxyl groups reduced the affinity of the interaction with the nearly identical Thermus aquaticus EF-Tu. Four of these 2' hydroxyl groups were observed to form hydrogen bonds in a co-crystal structure of tRNA(Phe) and T. aquaticus EF-Tu, while the fifth 2' hydroxyl group can be associated with an intramolecular hydrogen bond in the tRNA. However, four additional hydrogen bonds to 2' hydroxyl groups observed in the crystal structure show no thermodynamic effect upon disruption. Some of these discrepancies may be reconciled based on the unbound structures of the protein and RNA.
Structural Studies of T200 Glycoprotein and the Il-2 Receptor

AbstractImmunological analysis of the cell surface of hematopoietic cells has led to the identification of many different cell membrane molecules, some of which have well-defined functions as receptors. In general, however, the role of most lymphocyte cell surface molecules remains ill-defined even in cases in which antibody inhibition studies have given some insight into the biological processes in which they participate. Here we describe molecular and biochemical studies of T200 glycoprotein (leukocyte-common antigen) and the IL-2 receptor which illustrate the kinds of approaches that can be currently used to characterize individual molecules. T200 glycoprotein is a large Mr glycoprotein found exclusively on leukocytes. However, the exact Mr varies in a cell-type-specific fashion and this property is conserved between different species. Comparison of the rat, mouse and human cDNA sequences show that the large cytoplasmic portion of the molecule is well-conserved, approximately 90%, whereas the exterior ...
Electronic Permitting Issuance System for Oversize/Overweight Vehicles

The effort reported here focuses both on improving the efficiency of the special hauling permitting processes of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and on improving the level of service offered to NYSDOT's customers—truckers, construction companies, and others applying for permits. The electronic system is designed to replace a largely manual system of data checking, route verification, and permit issuance. By linking personal computers at transmission companies (third parties that prepare and submit permit applications for truckers) directly to computers at NYSDOT, and equipping these computers with automated route verification capability using a geographical information system, improved service can be offered at reduced cost to the state.
An elementary inequality about the Mahler measure

We show that up to scalar multiples, td.p/ sits between M.p/ 1 and m.p/. This leads to an equivalent statement of Lehmer’s problem in terms of td.p/. The proof is elementary.
Two models of unawareness: comparing the object-based and the subjective-state-space approaches

Over the past 20 years or so, a small but growing literature has emerged with the aim of modeling agents who are unaware of certain things. In this paper we compare two different approaches to modeling unawareness: the object-based approach of Board and Chung (Object-based unawareness: theory and applications. University of Minnesota, Mimeo, 2008) and the subjective-state-space approach of Heifetz et al. (J Econ Theory 130:78–94, 2006). In particular, we show that subjective-state-space models (henceforth HMS structures) can be embedded within object-based models (henceforth OBU structures), demonstrating that the latter are at least as expressive. As long as certain restrictions are imposed on the form of the OBU structure, the embedding can also go the other way. A generalization of HMS structures (relaxing the partitional properties of knowledge) gives us a full converse.
Superconductivity by long range color magnetic interaction in high density quark matter

We argue that in quark matter at high densities, the color magnetic field remains unscreened and leads to the phenomenon of color superconductivity. Using the renormalization group near the Fermi surface, we find that the long-range nature of the magnetic interaction changes the asymptotic behavior of the gap $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ at large chemical potential $\ensuremath{\mu}$ qualitatively. We find $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\sim}\ensuremath{\mu}{g}^{\ensuremath{-}5}\mathrm{exp}[(\ensuremath{-}3{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{2}/\sqrt{2})/g]$, where g is the small gauge coupling. We discuss the possibility of breaking rotational symmetry by the formation of a condensate with nonzero angular momentum, as well as interesting parallels to some condensed matter systems with long-range forces.
Incorporating a District Heating/Cooling System Into an Existing Geothermal Power Plant

Geothermal energy has been used for power generation, space and process heating, and to a lesser extent, space cooling. However, it is rarely used for cogeneration. This paper shows how a district heating/cooling system can be incorporated into an existing geothermal power plant to make the best use of extracted hot brine. In the power plant analysis, exergy destruction throughout the plant is quantified and illustrated using an exergy cascade. The primary source of exergy destruction in the plant is determined to be the reinjection of used brine into the ground, which accounts for 48. 1 percent of the total exergy destruction. The overall first and the second law efficiencies of the plant are calculated to be 5.6 and 28.3 percent, respectively, based on the exergy of the geothermal fluid at downwell, and 5. 7 and 28.6 percent, respectively, based on the exergy of the geothermal fluid at wellhead. A binary system is considered for the heating/cooling district to avoid corrosion and scaling problems. The heating system, as designed, has the capability to meet the entire needs of the Reno Industrial Park under peak load conditions, and has 30 percent reserve for future expansion. An absorption system will be used for the cooling of the intended 40 percent floor space of the industrial park. An economic analysis shows that the incorporation of the district heating/cooling system with 2,785,000 m 2 of floor space connected to the geothermal grid appears to be feasible, and financially very attractive. Further, using the returning freshwater from the district heating/cooling system for partial cooling of the binary fluid of the power plant can save up to 15 percent of the fan work.
Growth changes in mammalian cell cultures by plastic additives (effect of triethyl citrate).

Inhibition of cultured mammalian cell growth was used to examine the biological activity of triethyl citrate, a common plasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride). Cell populations were determined by a sample extraction procedure and measurement of nucleic acid content (total purines and pyrimidines) by its absorbance at 268 mm. Triethyl citrate demonstrated strikingly different dose–effect characteristics from its theoretical hydrolysis products (ethanol and citric acid). The inhibitory effects of sodium citrate were reversed by calcium chloride while the action of triethyl citrate underwent little or no change under similar conditions. Triethyl citrate did not appear to produce resistant cell strains in culture but did seem to be degraded with time. Inhibitory action of triethyl citrate was shown to be independent of inoculum size within the ranges utilized in the study. The procedures described appear to have a number of advantages for the biological or toxicological evaluation of ingredients which might be added to a plastic formulation or to contaminates which might enter the plastic during manufacture of the item or device.
TU‐A‐WAB‐10: Estimating Repeatability Coefficients of Diffusion Indices for Assessing Trueness of the Radiation‐Induced Changes in Individual Patients

Purpose: To demonstrate the application of repeatability coefficients to assess whether longitudinal changes in diffusion indices of white matter structures are true changes for individual patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT). Methods: Using test‐retest diffusion tensor datasets from National Biomedical Imaging Archive database, as a measure of uncertainty, the repeatability coefficients (RC) of diffusion indices within the segmented cingulum, corpus callosum, and fornix were estimated. Twenty‐two patients with low‐grade or benign tumor treated by partial brain radiation therapy participated in an IRB‐approved MRI protocol. The diffusion tensor images were acquired pre‐RT, 3 weeks during RT, at the end of RT, and 1, 6, and 18 months after RT. The upper and lower limits of 95% confidence interval (CI) of the estimated RC from the test and retest data were used to evaluate whether the longitudinal percentage changes in diffusion indices of the segmented structures in the individual patients were beyond the uncertainty and thus could be considered as true radiation‐induced changes. Results: Diffusion indices of the segmented white matter structures had different uncertainties. The estimated RCs ranged from 5.3% to 9.6% for fractional anisotropy (FA), from 2.2% to 6.8% for mean diffusivity (MD), from 2.4% to 5.5% for axial diffusivity (AD), and from 2.9% to 9.7% for radial diffusivity (RD). Overall, 23% of the patients had FA changes, 44% had MD changes, 50% had AD changes, and 50% had RD changes beyond the uncertainty ranges. In the fornix, 85.7% and 100% of the patients showed changes beyond the uncertainty range at 6 and 18 months after RT, respectively, demonstrating that radiation has a pronounced late effect on the fornix compared to other segmented structures. Conclusion: Assessments of repeatability and confidence interval of diffusion tensor measurements in white matter structures allow us to determine the true longitudinal change in individual patients. Supported in part by RO1 NS064973.
Vehicle State Estimation for Rotary Magnetic Selective Ride Control

This paper describes a method of vehicle state estimation using the kinematic relationships established based on the Kinematics and Compliance (K&C) test. The estimator relies on the suspension displacement sensors. Suspension velocities are estimated using discrete differentiation and specially developed nonlinear filter. Performance of the proposed estimator is verified through vehicle testing at different roads. The vehicle used in this study is a demonstration vehicle with prototype rotary magneto-rheological dampers.Copyright © 2010 by General Motors Corporation