cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Qualitative Research: Central Tendencies and Ranges

It is always interesting to listen closely when someone says, "Qualitative research is..." or curious to read intently an article or book which prominently features "qualitative research" in the title, and then experience a strange, defamiliarization process as the words of the conversation, lecture, article, or book don't seem to fit your notion of what "qualitative research" is and isn't. Well, you are not alone in your confusion. As far as I know, no one has copy rights on the term so it ends up meaning a variety of things for a variety of people. As a matter of fact, that is the most important point: Qualitative research can be a diverse, rich, and sometimes selfcontradictory world of inquiry. Meta-analyses of qualitative research methods and philosophies are quite common in the field and serve as good introductions to this diversification of approach. In this short essay I offer one such examination of the field by presenting a series of couplets which help to exemplify central tendencies (CT) and ranges (R) of qualitative research. Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. This article is available in The Qualitative Report: http://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol1/iss4/4 Qualitative Research: Central Tendencies and Ranges by Ronald J. Chenail The Qualitative Report, Volume 1, Number 4, Fall, 1992 It is always interesting to listen closely when someone says, "Qualitative research is..." or curious to read intently an article or book which prominently features "qualitative research" in the title, and then experience a strange, defamiliarization process as the words of the conversation, lecture, article, or book don't seem to fit your notion of what "qualitative research" is and isn't. Well, you are not alone in your confusion. As far as I know, no one has copy rights on the term so it ends up meaning a variety of things for a variety of people. As a matter of fact, that is the most important point: Qualitative research can be a diverse, rich, and sometimes selfcontradictory world of inquiry. Meta-analyses of qualitative research methods and philosophies are quite common in the field and serve as good introductions to this diversification of approach. In this short essay I offer one such examination of the field by presenting a series of couplets which help to exemplify central tendencies (CT) and ranges (R) of qualitative research.
Medulloblastoma and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors: An institutional experience

BACKGROUND To the authors' knowledge there are relatively few data concerning supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET). The authors retrospectively reviewed all cases of PNET of the brain treated at the study institution to determine whether there was a difference in presentation, overall survival, and recurrence-free survival with regard to tumor location (supratentorium vs. posterior fossa). METHODS Between 1977–1996 33 patients with PNET were diagnosed and treated at 1 radiotherapy center. The median age of the patients was 9 years. The location of the tumor was in the posterior fossa in 25 patients and the supratentorium in 8 patients. The tumor had spread to the neuraxis in six patients; four patients with disseminated neuraxis disease had a supratentorial PNET and two had a posterior fossa PNET. All but three patients received craniospinal irradiation. The primary tumor received ≥ 5000 centigray in 27 patients and chemotherapy was employed in 26 patients. The median follow-up was 60 months. RESULTS The 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival rates for all patients were 77.2% and 79.6%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rates were 86.3% for patients with medulloblastoma (posterior fossa PNET) and 46.9% for patients with supratentorial PNET (P = 0.01, log rank test). For overall survival, prognostic factors included radiotherapy dose to the primary site, metastases (M) status, and location of the primary tumor. The 5-year recurrence free survival rates were 89.8% for patients with medulloblastoma and 46.9% for patients with supratentorial PNET (P = 0.003, log rank test). For recurrence free survival, prognostic factors included M status and primary tumor site location; radiation dose to the primary tumor site and patient gender were of borderline significance. In the ten patients with inadequate posterior fossa boost fields judged by Children's Cancer Group criteria, there were two failures, both of which were in the original tumor bed. CONCLUSIONS Supratentorial PNET has a worse overall survival and recurrence free survival than medulloblastoma. There is a suggestion that radiotherapy boosts in medulloblastoma may not need to encompass the entire posterior fossa because posterior fossa failures primarily are in the tumor bed. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to determine whether craniospinal irradiation followed by a boost to the tumor bed is adequate for medulloblastoma patients. Cancer 1999;86:142–8. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Behavior of actinides in the Integral Fast Reactor fuel cycle

The Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) under development by Argonne National Laboratory uses metallic fuels instead of ceramics. This allows electrorefining of spent fuels and presents opportunities for recycling minor actinide elements. Four minor actinides ({sup 237}Np, {sup 240}Pu, {sup 241}Am, and {sup 243}Am) determine the waste storage requirements of spent fuel from all types of fission reactors. These nuclides behave the same as uranium and other plutonium isotopes in electrorefining, so they can be recycled back to the reactor without elaborate chemical processing. An experiment has been designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the high-energy neutron spectra of the IFR in consuming these four nuclides and plutonium. Eighteen sets of seven actinide and five light metal targets have been selected for ten day exposure in the Experimental Breeder Reactor-2 which serves as a prototype of the IFR. Post-irradiation analyses of the exposed targets by gamma, alpha, and mass spectroscopy are used to determine nuclear reaction-rates and neutron spectra. These experimental data increase the authors` confidence in their ability to predict reaction rates in candidate IFR designs using a variety of neutron transport and diffusion programs.
IDEAL: An Integrated Distributed Environment for Asynchronous Learning

In this paper, we present the design and implementation of IDEAL, an Integrated Distributed Environment for Asynchronous Learning. The learning environment supports a Web-based distributed community for student-centered, self-paced, and highly interactive learning. IDEAL enables the students in the community to learn from each other and enhances their learning experience. Implemented using the prevalent Internet, Web, intelligent agent, and digital library technologies, IDEAL adopts an open architecture design and targets at large-scale, distributed operations. In the initial implementation, a number of prototypes using different Java-based software development environments have been developed.
Electronic speckle pattern shearing interferometer using a holographic grating

In this paper we propose a new method of shearing in an electronic speckle pattern shearing interferometry using holographic gratings. The system we are proposing consists of two parts: 1) to image the object onto an intermediate ground glass, and 2) the image on the ground glass is in turn imaged onto the photosensor of a CCD camera. A holographic grating placed in front of the ground glass screen is used for shearing the two images and for introducing phase stepping.
Preoperative hypothyroidism is a risk factor for postoperative atrial fibrillation in cardiac surgical patients.

Background and aim Although studies analyzing the effect of thyroid supplementation on postoperative morbidity and mortality from cardiac surgery have been inconclusive, they suggest a role in the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation. To further explore this relationship we conducted a retrospective study to determine whether abnormalities in routine preoperative thyroid function studies correlate with the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation. Methods From May 2004 until July 2011, 821 patients with complete thyroid function testing performed preoperatively underwent cardiac surgery. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative laboratory, clinical and hemodynamic data including postoperative electrocardiogram monitoring were retrospectively evaluated. Results Mean age was 65.7 years and 36% (294) of patients were female. Mean preoperative ejection fraction was 48.6% and 18% (100) had clinical heart failure. Ninety percent (682) of patients were euthyroid and 10% (77) were hypothyroid. Atrial fibrillation occurred significantly more frequently in hypothyroid patients (33.4% vs. 22.5%; p = .033). In multivariable analysis, increasing thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level (OR: 1.11; CI: 1.01 to 1.22; p = .030) was an independent predictor of postoperative atrial fibrillation. Beta blocker use within 24 hours prior to operation was protective (OR: .54; CI: .35 to .83; p = .005). Length of stay was significantly longer in patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation (9.1 vs. 6.5 days; p < .001). Conclusions In the current study, preoperative hypothyroidism was associated with postoperative atrial fibrillation. Further studies are warranted to delineate whether preoperative hypothyroidism is a useful biomarker for selecting patients most likely to benefit from preoperative thyroid supplementation in the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12513 (J Card Surg 2015;30:307–312)
Critical Culturally Sustaining/Revitalizing Pedagogy and Indigenous Education Sovereignty

In this article, Teresa L. McCarty and Tiffany S. Lee present critical culturally sustaining/revitalizing pedagogy as a necessary concept to understand and guide educational practices for Native American learners. Premising their discussion on the fundamental role of tribal sovereignty in Native American schooling, the authors underscore and extend lessons from Indigenous culturally based, culturally relevant, and culturally responsive schooling. Drawing on Paris's (2012) and Paris and Alim's (2014) notion of culturally sustaining pedagogy (CSP), McCarty and Lee argue that given the current linguistic, cultural, and educational realities of Native American communities, CSP in these settings must also be understood as culturally revitalizing pedagogy. Using two ethnographic cases as their foundation, they explore what culturally sustaining/revitalizing pedagogy (CSRP) looks like in these settings and consider its possibilities, tensions, and constraints. They highlight the ways in which implementing CSRP n...
Resilience-based Planning in Civil Infrastructure Using System-of-systems Analysis

This paper presents a vision for resilience-based planning in civil infrastructure using a system-of-systems framework. The distinguishing traits of system-of-system analysis are explained and evaluated with respect to the required dimensions of analysis in resilience-based planning. The application of the proposed framework is demonstrated in the context of financial planning for highway transportation infrastructure. The proposed framework facilitates an integrated analysis in which planning decisions are evaluated in terms of their effects on the resilience of infrastructure systems at four levels: asset, network, subnational, and national. Thus, it provides a tool for evaluation of planning decisions and prioritization of the allocation of constrained resources. Realization of the importance of resilience in infrastructure systems is emerging; therefore, this study is significant in exploring the dimensions of analysis and the required functionalities for resilience-based planning in infrastructure systems.
Different cognitive profiles on standard behavioral tests in Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) displayed a different pattern of cognitive deficit from patients with dementia resulting from Alzheimer's disease (AD). Specifically, PD patients, whether or not impaired on a mental status examination, had deficient Picture Arrangement but normal Vocabulary test scores whereas AD patients were impaired on both measures. Furthermore, PD patients with impaired mental status examination scores showed a deficit in set formation on Picture Arrangement not seen in the AD patients. Finally, when recent memory performance, as measured by the Wechsler Memory Scale, was predicted from an estimated IQ, 71% of PD patients who had normal mental status examination scores were seen to have at least a mild memory impairment.
Perceived Family and Social Support: Impact on Children

ABSTRACT Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation of children's perceived family and social support to their behavior and hopelessness. Method Subjects were 100 child psychiatric inpatients who completed a series of self-report measures, including the Social Support Questionnaire-Self Report, the Scales of Independent Behavior, and the Hopelessness Scale for Children. Results Children who perceived lower levels of family and social support were more withdrawn or inattentive and were more harmful to others, damaging to property, and uncooperative. In addition, children who reported fewer supportive persons in their lives had higher levels of hopelessness. Conclusions These data emphasize the connection between social support systems, psychopathology, and hopelessness. These relationships may indicate that children need a sense that they are cared for and supported if they are to avoid serious problems and feelings of hopelessness.
Hercules and Albrecht Dürer’s Das Meerwunder in a Chantbook from Renaissance Spain*

This article centers on two images from the life of Hercules and a border painting modeled after Albrecht Durer’s engraving Das Meerwunder (ca. 1498) in a Kyriale produced ca. 1500 for a Dominican convent in Toledo, Spain. It discusses the cultural significance of Hercules in Spain, and Toledo in particular, then presents a contextually sensitive reading of the image derived from Durer’s enigmatic engraving, whose subject has yet to be identified. The image in the Kyriale appears to represent Hercules’ once-famous rescue of the Trojan princess Hesione from a sea monster.
Voice of America and Iran, 1949–1953: US liberal developmentalism, propaganda and the Cold War

The administration of President Harry S. Truman used Voice of America radio to promote Iranian ‘liberal developmentalism’. Radio propaganda joined economic assistance, military aid, and other information programs to promote Western‐style capitalism and to repel Communist appeals in Iran. But President Dwight D. Eisenhower abandoned Truman's gradualist Iran policy in favor of covert action, a seemingly more expedient solution to perceived Iranian political instability. The US‐British engineered coup in 1953 to overthrow the nationalistic Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadeq revealed the shallowness of US commitments to liberal reform in Iran and highlighted Americans' willingness to undermine Iranian sovereignty in order to preserve US security interests in the Middle East.
Influence of progesterone on guinea pig gallbladder motility in vitro.

Experiments were designed to examine thein vitro effect of progesterone (1.6×10−5 M; 8×10−5 M) on the tone and contractility of guinea pig gallbladder smooth muscle. Muscle strips from animals of both sexes were stimulated with acetylcholine, cholecystokinin-octapeptide, histamine, and potassium prior to and 15 min after exposure to progesterone. The results were as follows: (1) progesterone at all doses studied completely abolished spontaneous phasic contractions; (2) progesterone produced a concentration-dependent decrease in resting tension; (3) the hormone significantly decreased the maximal contractile response to each of the agonists but had no effect on either the ED50 of the acetylcholine and cholecystokinin dose-response curves; and (4) estrogen priming is not necessary to demonstrate an inhibitory effect of progesterone. The data suggest that progesterone can directly affect the force-generating capacity of gallbladder smooth muscle both at rest and in response to stimulation. However, because of the relatively high concentration of hormone used, the physiological significance of the data must remain speculative.
MOLYBDENUM ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION OF INDIVIDUAL PRESOLAR SILICON CARBIDE GRAINS FROM THE MURCHISON METEORITE

We report the isotopic composition of molybdenum in twenty-three presolar SiC grains from the Murchison meteorite which have been measured by resonant ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS). Relative to terrestrial abundance (and normalized to s-process-only 96Mo), the majority of the analyzed grains show strong depletions in the p-process isotopes 92Mo and 94Mo and the r-process isotope 100Mo. Sixteen of these grains have δ-values <−600% for these three isotopes. The observed isotopic patterns of Mo from mainstream SiC grains clearly reveal the signature of s-process nucleosynthesis. Three-isotope plots of all grain data (δiMo vs. δ92Mo) show strong linear correlations with characteristic slopes. This finding suggests mixing of solar-like material and pure s-process material in the parent stars. Comparison with evolutionary calculations of nucleosynthesis and mixing in red giants suggests that low-mass thermally-pulsed symptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) stars are the most likely site for the observed s-process nucleosynthesis.
Doing Justice and Demonstrating Fairness in Small Claims Arbitration

This paper examines the intersection of technical law and common sense reasoning in small claims arbitration, a distinctive and increasingly prevalent kind of legal work. Following (Garfinkel, Ethnomethodology’s program: Working out Durkheim’s aphorism, 2002), the study explores the “reform of technical reason” and what a “just outcome” means by focusing on the arbitration of actual small claims cases and how technical-legal and non-technical/informal resources are brought into alignment to produce dispute resolution. The arbitrator elicits discussions that establish consensual and commonplace formulations of “the case,” formulations that foreshadow its disposition as technical matters of law. The research demonstrates how formal structures of equity, evenhandedness, and decisions without bias have their production in vivo, and how a just and fair course becomes a “just outcome.”
A comparison of LSCF-6428 and BYS for the oxidative conversion of methane and ethane

Results are reported for a comparative study of Bi1.5Y0.3Sm0.2O3-δ (BYS) and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ (LSCF-6428) in terms of their respective OCM activities, interactions with ethane, and stabilities in reducing environments. The results show that BYS is a superior OCM catalyst, having rates that are nearly 6 times greater and yields that are more than two times higher than those of LSCF-6428. On the other hand, using in situ dynamic XRD, BYS was observed to undergo a phase transformation at about 700 °C when in the presence of methane at pressures as low as 0.1 atm. Higher methane pressures resulted in more severe crystalline changes and could not be inhibited by the addition of 3% oxygen. The catalytically active species appear to be the oxides of BYS constituent cations, all of which are known OCM catalysts. LSCF-6428, on the other hand, is somewhat more resistant to methane and can be stabilized at high methane pressures by the addition of 3% oxygen. At OCM temperatures, neither material catalyzed et...
Predicting 30-day All-cause Hospital Readmissions

Hospital readmission rate has been broadly accepted as a quality measure and cost driver. However, success in reducing readmissions has been elusive. In the US, almost 20 % of Medicare inpatients are rehospitalized within 30 days, which amounts to a cost of $17 billion. Given the skyrocketing healthcare cost, policymakers, researchers and payers are focusing more than ever on readmission reduction. Both hospital comparison of readmissions as a quality measure and identification of high-risk patients for post-discharge interventions require accurate predictive modeling. However, most predictive models for readmissions perform poorly. In this study, we endeavored to explore the full potentials of predictive models for readmissions and to assess the predictive power of different independent variables. Our model reached the highest predicting ability (c-statistic =0.80) among all published studies that used administrative data. Our analyses reveal that demographics, socioeconomic variables, prior utilization and Diagnosis-related Group (DRG) all have limited predictive power; more sophisticated patient stratification algorithm or risk adjuster is desired for more accurate readmission predictions.
Cyclicly constructed E(s2)-optimal supersaturated designs

Abstract Nguyen [1996. An algorithmic approach to constructing supersaturated designs. Technometrics 38, 69–73] and Tang and Wu [1997. E ( s 2 ) -optimality of supersaturated designs. Statist. Sinica 7, 929–939] independently derived a lower bound for the E ( s 2 ) value of an N run, m factor supersaturated design (SSD). This bound can be achieved only if m is a multiple of N - 1 when N ≡ 0 ( mod 4 ) or if m is an even multiple of N - 1 when N ≡ 2 ( mod 4 ) . One important question is whether Nguyen–Tang–Wu bound can be achieved in all of these cases. In this paper, based on a construction method by Bulutoglu and Cheng (2004) , we present a theoretical method for finding as many positive integers t as possible such that there is an E ( s 2 ) -optimal SSD achieving the Nguyen–Tang–Wu bound with N runs and t ( N - 1 ) factors when N ≡ 0 ( mod 4 ) and 2 t ( N - 1 ) factors when N ≡ 2 ( mod 4 ) . This method is applied to the N = 12 , 14 , 18 , 20 , 24 , 26 , 28 , 30 , 32 , 38 , 42 , 44 , 48 , 50 , 54 cases.
Identifying Sources of Bias in the WISC-R:

The use of intelligence tests, especially the WISC-R, has come under repeated scrutiny in recent years. Arguments for and against the use of WISC-R IQs have centered around the issue of bias. The issues of construct validity, predictive validity, and item content bias on the WISC-R were examined. Evidence regarding these biases was analyzed based on psychometric conceptions of test bias. Although this approach can lead to a narrow examination of possible bias in the WISC-R, it allows for objectivity based on empirical studies. Although all the evidence is not in, our review clearly suggests that the verdict of “not proven” is justified. Test bias has now become and will continue to be one of the major topics in psychometric research.
5‐Methyl‐3‐(5‐methyl­isoxazol‐3‐yl)cyclo­hex‐2‐enone

The X-ray crystal structure of the title compound, C11H14N2O2, has been determined and its structure correlated with its anti­convulsant activity in mice and rats. An intramolecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bond links the two rings.
Fixation Produced by Conflict

All rats given a choice between a rewarded alternative and a conflict alternative (rewarded and punished) developed position fixations when the position of the alternatives was reversed. In contrast, all animals given one rewarded alternative and another nonrewarded (or punished and nonrewarded) alternative learned to choose the rewarded side during 25 successive reversals.
Respiratory frequency and the oxygen cost of exercise.

Although many studies indicate that the spontaneous breathing frequency minimizes breathing work, the consequences of this for exercise energetics have never been investigated. To see if the spontaneous exercise breathing frequency minimizes oxygen uptake, we compared\(\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) during treadmill walking (2/3\(\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) max) at several alternative frequencies. The alternative frequencies ranged from the lowest sustainable to a frequency twice the spontaneous value. All eight subjects adjusted tidal volume to comfort. Exercise oxygen uptake was constant, independent of breathing frequency. At the same time, minute ventilation rose to be 65% greater at the highest frequency than at the lowest (P<0.01). We then reproduced the various exercise frequencies, tidal volumes, and ventilations during seated isocapnic hyperpnea to measure\(\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) with locomotory muscles at rest. Once again, oxygen uptake was constant, independent of breathing frequency. We conclude that the spontaneous exercise breathing frequency fails to minimize\(\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) during either exercise or resting reproduction of exercise ventilation.
Ultraviolet absorption spectra of Zn2 and Cd2 in solid argon and krypton at 10 K

Abstract Zinc and cadmium atoms have been condensed with argon and krypton at 10 K. The most intense absorption is due to the 1 P 1 ← 1 S 0 atomic transition, and a weak band is due to the 3 P 1 ← 1 S 0 atomic absorption. Structured absorptions at 252 and 254 nm in solid argon and krypton with vibrational spacings of 140-120 cm−1 are due to the 1 Σ u + ← 1 Σ g + transition of Zn2. Similar 273 and 277 nm absorptions with 110-90 cm−1 vibrational spacings are due to Cd2 in solid argon and krypton, respectively.
Preliminary study examining relationship between family environment and resting mean arterial pressure in African-American youth

This investigation examined the relationship between family environment and mean arterial pressure in a sample of African-American youth. Completed data were collected from 46 adolescents attending an inner-city junior high school. Blood pressure measurements were assessed in a seated position with a Dinamap 1846 Vital Signs Monitor. To assess the additive effects associated with the family environment, a composite risk score (cohesion, conflict, control, and organization subscales of the Family Environment Scale) was computed. Regression analyses indicated that the cumulative risk associated with the family environment was predictive of resting mean arterial pressure.
Photochemical Mineralization of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen to Ammonium in the Baltic Sea

Solar-radiation-induced photochemistry can be considered as a new source of nutrients when photochemical reactions release bioavailable nitrogen from biologically nonreactive dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). Pretreatments of Baltic Sea waters in the dark indicated that >72% of DON was recalcitrant to biological mineralization. When this DON (16-21.5 microM) was exposed to simulated solar radiation, the concentration of NH4+ increased 0.5-2.5 microM more in irradiated waters than in the dark controls. The photochemical production of NH4+ and the dose of absorbed photons were used to calculate the apparent quantum yield spectrum for photoammonification [mol NH4+ (mol photons)(-1) nm(-1)] at wavelengths (lambda) of 290-700 nm (phiNH4,lambda). The modeled mean rates of photoammonification based on phiNH4,lambda were 143 and 53 micromol NH4+ m(-2) d(-1) at the surface and in the whole water column, respectively, of Baltic Sea stations during summer. The results of this study indicate thatthe rate of photoammonification approximately equals and periodically exceeds the rate of atmospheric deposition of reactive inorganic nitrogen to the northern Baltic Sea. Forthese stratified surface waters beyond riverine input of labile nitrogen, photoammonification can periodically be the largest source of new bioavailable nitrogen.
Expression of Integrin αvβ3 in Small Blood Vessels of Glioblastoma Tumors

Angiogenesis, which promotes tumor proliferation and invasiveness, is mediated by integrin-dependent cell adhesion mechanisms and requires expression of integrin alpha v beta 3. To determine whether integrin alpha v beta 3 is expressed in the small blood vessel hyperplasia characteristic of glioblastoma tumors, we explored the mRNA and protein expression of integrin alpha v, beta 3, beta 5, and beta 1 subunits in small blood vessels in gliomas of various grades and nontumorous brain biopsies. Antisense beta 3 and beta 5 riboprobes hybridized to small blood vessels (endothelial and adjacent mesenchymal cells) in 11 of 11 glioblastomas and 2 of 4 anaplastic astrocytomas, but failed to hybridize to small blood vessels in 12 non-neoplastic specimens and 4 low-grade astrocytomas. In contrast, antisense alpha v and beta 1 riboprobes hybridized to small blood vessels in all of the biopsies. The expression of integrin alpha v beta 3 protein in these vessels was determined by immunohistochemical analysis using anti-integrin subunit-specific antibodies. The findings were similar to those obtained using in situ hybridization: beta 3 subunit protein was detected on small blood vessels in 9 of 12 glioblastoma and 2 of 4 anaplastic astrocytomas, whereas it was not detected in small blood vessels of 10 non-neoplastic brains and 4 low-grade astrocytomas. In contrast, the alpha v and beta 1 subunit proteins were detected in small blood vessels in all of the brain biopsies, whereas the beta 5 subunit protein could not be detected. These data suggest that integrin alpha v beta 3 is expressed in small blood vessels of glioblastoma tumors.
A generalized polyphase merge algorithm

The k-generalized Fibonacci numbers are defined as in [1]. A polyphase merge (merging an equal number of sequences from k tapes onto a single unused tape) using k+1 tapes is defined in terms of linear combinations of these numbers. A method is described to output sequences onto k of k+1 tapes after the internal sorting of elements to form sequences. This method will permit a polyphase merge of sequences of sorted elements provided that enough sequences are generated internally to place the proper numbers of sequences on each of the k tapes. For each value of k, there is a set of permissible numbers that can represent the total number of sequences generated during the original output process. If one of these numbers is met exactly and if there is a specific distribution of sequences on the k tapes, then a polyphase merge may proceed. If these conditions are not met, an algorithm is necessary to adjust the numbers of sequences to permit a polyphase merge. This paper describes such an algorithm.
Synthesis of Tubular Gold and Silver Nanoshells Using Silica Nanowire Core Templates

We report the synthesis of tubular gold and silver nanoshells on silica nanowire core templates in solution. Silica nanowires were synthesized and characterized with optical and NMR methods. Gold nanoparticle seeds (2 to 3 nm) with weak repulsive surfactants such as tetrakis-hydroxymethyl-phosphonium chloride (THPC) were conjugated to the surface of these nanowires. A regrowth process was initiated from these nanoparticles on the surface of the silica nanowires dispersed in gold or silver stock solutions in the presence of reducing agents. Micrometers-long gold and silver tubular nanoshells (80-150 nm o.d.) were made, fully covering the silica nanowires.
Corpus Interruptus: Biotech Drugs, Insurance Providers and the Treatment of Breast Cancer

In researching the biomedically-engineered drug Neulasta (filgrastim), a breast cancer patient becomes aware of the extent to which knowledge about the development and marketing of drugs influences her decisions with regard to treatment. Time spent on understanding the commercial interests of insurers and pharmaceutical companies initially thwarts but ultimately aids the healing process. This first-person narrative calls for physicians to recognize that the alignment of commercial interests transgresses the patient’s humanity.
Immune processing of proteolipid protein by subsets of antigen-presenting spleen cells

Abstract Myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) contains one established antigenic epitope within the 131–151 amino acid sequence, with encephalitogenic activity for SJL mice (PLP139-151). In the current study, the processing and presentation of PLP by subsets of splenic antigen-presenting cells (APC) were examined by comparing their capacity to stimulate PLP-responsive T-cell clones, two of which are specific for PLP139-151, and one which is not specific for this peptide. In order to study whether PLP requires processing before its presentation by APC, PLP-pulsed and fixed APC were shown to stimulate PLP-specific T cells. However, the addition of PLP to unpulsed, fixed APC resulted in the absence of T-cell stimulation, while the ability of these fixed APC to bind antigenic peptide and efficiently present it to T cells, was demonstrated by their ability to use a synthetic peptide for the stimulation of the T cells. In order to study potentially different processing efficiencies among APC subsets, spleen cells were fractionated by adherence to plastic, and their respective APC activities were studied separately. The non-adherent (NAd) APC were unable to stimulate PLP139-151 specific T-cell clones with PLP as antigen. In contrast, a T-cell clone specific for a separate, but unidentified epitope on PLP was stimulated by NAd APC efficiently. In addition, stimulation of PLP139-151-specific T-cell clones by NAd APC did occur when the synthetic peptide instead of intact PLP was used as antigen, indicating a defect in PLP processing by the NAd APC. These results indicate that a subpopulation of splenic APC is unable to process PLP efficiently, and more specifically, may be unable to process a fragment containing the 139–151 sequence in PLP, while other antigenic fragments may be processed and subsequently presented efficiently.
Using tumour phylogenetics to identify the roots of metastasis in humans

The routes and timing of metastatic dissemination during cancer progression remain shrouded in mystery. However, phylogenetic studies are beginning to shed new light on this process and various models have been proposed. In this Review, Kamila Naxerova and Rakesh Jain discuss the hypothesized trajectories of metastasis, and examine the extent to which the current phylogenetic evidence support these models. In addition, the experimental techniques of lineage tracing, their strengths and weaknesses, and future directions for studies using such methods are discussed.
The maxillary antrolith

The case of a maxillary antrolith discovered as an incidental finding on a panoramic radiograph is presented. The literature is reviewed, with particular reference to etiology, clinical features, and radiographic findings. The value of facial tomographs taken in two directions pertaining to the present and similar cases is discussed.
Wideband signal detection using a Nyquist folding analog-to- information receiver in multipath fading environment

ABSTRACT The need to efficiently and effectively monitor the frequency spectrum for identification of unoccupied bands is essential in communication systems such as Cognitive Radio (CR), battlefield communications, etc. The Nyquist Folding Analog-to-Information Receiver (NYFR) which is based on the theory of Compressed Sensing has been proposed recently to address this problem in a sp arse environment. Although, typical CS techniques, involve random projections followed by a computationally intensive signal reconstruction process, the methods used in NYFR does not requires the laborious l1 minimization algorithm. The NYFR performs analog compression via a non-uniform sampling process that induces a chirp-like modulation on each re ceived signal. Signal parameters can simply be determined by using time-frequency analysis techniques without full signal reconstruction. This paper revisits the detection problem of using NYFR for information recovery for appropriate frequency detection when the original signal in the presence of both the additive white Gaussian noise and Rice multipath fading. An automatic detection algorithm was also developed to determine the detected frequency parameters without looking at the FFT spectrogram plot. Keywords: Compressive Sensing, Nyquist rate, noise
On design vulnerability analysis and trust benchmarks development

The areas of hardware security and trust have experienced major growth over the past several years. However, research in Trojan detection and prevention lacks standard benchmarks and measurements, resulting in inconsistent research outcomes, and ambiguity in analyzing strengths and weaknesses in the techniques developed by different research teams and their advancements to the state-of-the-art. We have developed innovative methodologies that, for the first time, more effectively address the problem. We have developed a vulnerability analysis flow. The flow determines hard-to-detect areas in a circuit that would most probably be used for Trojan implementation to ensure a Trojan goes undetected during production test and extensive functional test analysis. Furthermore, we introduce the Trojan detectability metric to quantify Trojan activation and effect. This metric offers a fair comparison for analyzing weaknesses and strengths of Trojan detection techniques. Using these methodologies, we have developed a large number of trust benchmarks that are available for use by the public, as well as researchers and practitioners in the field.
Evaluation of the minimum volume of salvage blood required for the successful use of two different autotransfusion devices.

SummaryBackground Autotransfusion in pediatric anesthesia is beneficial in several clinical settings; however, more frequent usage is deterred by process-related costs and the fact that the absolute volume of blood returned may be minimal. Objective Two autotransfusion devices (CATS, Fresenius Kabi AG, and Sorin Xtra, Sorin GmbH) with different technologies were evaluated to determine the minimum volume necessary to efficiently process salvage blood. Methods Banked blood was diluted to simulate different clinical scenarios. Volume and red cell mass in returned blood were analyzed as a function of initial volume and red cell mass in the collection reservoir using incremental increases in the volume of blood added to the reservoir. Results The volume of the returned processed blood for infusion was dependent on degree of dilution and blood volume in the reservoir. The CATS required a smaller initial minimum volume to process and successfully return; however, the Xtra provided a more efficient recovery at low initial collected volumes. Using test blood of various degrees of dilution, the CATS and Xtra were able to return blood for retransfusion after a mean initial red cell mass of 48.7 ml (±4.9 ml) and 53.7 ml (±5.0 ml) were processed, respectively. Conclusions Red cell mass rather than salvaged blood volume represents a reliable predictor of the successful use of an autotransfusion device. Measuring the hematocrit of the salvaged blood could improve the use of the devices. The investigated devices are likely to be roughly equivalent in effectiveness.
The charge state of C60 (buckminsterfullerene) molecules adsorbed on a metal surface: theoretical considerations

The charge state of a C60 molecule is strongly dependent on its environment. We discuss the factors that determine the charge state of C60 molecules adsorbed on metal substrates. An estimate of the charge state of a C60 molecule adsorbed without covalent bonding on a smooth simple metal surface is calculated taking into account the Coulomb interaction of the C60−n ion with its image charge and the polarization of the molecule, assuming the metal to be a perfect conductor, and the van der Waals interaction, using a Lennard-Jones pairwise potential based on graphite. We find that at most two electrons can be transferred to the molecule regardless of the work function of the metal. The broadening of the LUMO level of the adsorbed molecule due to resonance with the substrate energy levels will allow for a partial charge transfer even for metal substrates with work functions as high as 4.5 eV.
Anaerobic digestion of pig manure mixed with sewage sludge.

Abstract This experiment explored the possibility of treating pig manure plus sewage sludge by anaerobic digestion, using batch fermentation at 37°C. The results indicated that the digested materials contained a lower level of putrescible matter when compared to the raw materials. Co-digestion of pig manure and sewage sludge at the ratio of 2:1 seemed to give the best results in terms of reducing the organic load and yielding a higher volume of methane. The experiment should be repeated in digestion tanks of a sewage treatment plant, especially for treating pig manure which has been recognized as the major source of water pollution in Hong Kong.
Enhanced optical forces in integrated hybrid plasmonic waveguides

We demonstrate gradient optical forces in metal-dielectric hybrid plasmonic waveguides (HPWG) for the first time. The magnitude of optical force is quantified through excitation of the nanomechanical vibration of the suspended waveguides. Integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometry is utilized to transduce the mechanical motion and characterize the propagation loss of the HPWG. Compared with theory, the experimental results have confirmed the optical force enhancement, but also suggested a significantly higher optical loss in HPWG. The excessive loss is attributed to metal surface roughness and other non-idealities in the device fabrication process.
Vocal nodules, microwebs, and surgery

Successful treatment of vocal nodules is primarily accomplished through the direction of voice-language pathologists and teachers of music and speech. Rarely is surgical treatment necessary, although recent reports have suggested a correlation between vocal nodules and failed voice training with anterior commissure microwebs. One hundred fifteen consecutive patients with vocal nodules were evaluated. Eight anterior commissure microwebs were identified (7%), four of these in performers. Of the 96 patients with sufficient follow-up, 65 (68%) had complete resolution of their nodules and 17 (18%) had sufficient improvement to return to normal vocalization without surgical treatment. Nine patients required surgery, two of these with anterior commissure microwebs. All eight patients with microwebs had resolution of their nodules with either nonsurgical or surgical therapy. In total, 94% of patients were able to return to normal voice function, while the 6% of failures either did not receive or were noncompliant with voice therapy. Microwebs were found to be uncommon in patients with vocal nodules. Microwebs and other laryngeal pathologies in patients with nodules may be associated with a higher incidence of patients failing conservative voice therapy treatment.
Phase behavior in highly concentrated assemblies of microgels with soft repulsive interaction potentials.

Microgel particles with a soft repulsive interaction potential are investigated with particle tracking methods to study the phase behavior of soft-sphere systems. The use of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) particles allows the effective volume fraction of a sample to be tuned via thermal modulation without altering the particle number density. This allows for investigation of the phase behavior of an assembly as a function of its initial packing density. In particular, we have elucidated the influence of soft colloid “overpacking” on the freezing effective volume fraction (φeff,f). These studies thereby illustrate the interplay between energetics/packing forces occurring at the colloidal and polymer chain length scales.
System for Digitizing Information on Wisconsin’s Crash Locations

One of the key hurdles in identifying unsafe intersections and roadways in Wisconsin is the lack of a complete crash location map, especially for crashes that occurred on local streets. Crash locations are reported in terms of relative offset from an intersection on the basis of on- and at-street name information, which identifies the intersection, and direction and distance information, which identifies the offset. For intersection crashes, the offset distance is typically set to zero. As described in this paper, the Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, has developed a system to automate the mapping of Wisconsin local road crash locations. The location mapping algorithm involves the integration of two separate Wisconsin Department of Transportation databases: the Wisconsin crash database of police traffic accident reports and the Wisconsin Information System of Local Roads (WISLR). The application of WISLR, which is an inventory of local roads with details suc...
Molecular simulation of self-assembly in surfactant and protein solutions

Abstract In this work we study phase and structural transitions of simple lattice models for surfactant and protein solutions using Monte Carlo simulations. An extension of the Gibbs ensemble methodology to lattice systems is proposed. This method is used with an oil/water/surfactant model due to Larson to investigate the phase diagram of an asymmetric surfactant. A partial phase diagram is given in the region of low surfactant concentration. We have also studied the structural transitions of a simple lattice model for proteins due to Dill using the Rosenbluth and Rosenbluth chain growth algorithm combined with Boltzmann weighting and multi-link additions. This simple model seems to have limitations. In particular, the unique or almost unique lowest energy states that exist for certain model proteins of moderate length approaching that found in the simplest real proteins cannot be found in feasible simulation times. These problems appear to stem from the lack of sufficient specificity in the interactions.
Information, persistence, and real business cycles

Abstract This paper simulates the behavior of output in a New Classical macroeconomic model in which agents never observe truly exogenous shocks. The key conclusions are twofold. First, since agents only observe endogenous variables, the rational expectations are computed using Kalman filtering. Expectational errors are therefore serially correlated, inducing autocorrelation in output and employment. Second, observed innovations in the real money stock affect output since the innovations are correlated with the unobserved real shocks.
A Public-Key Cryptosystem Using Purely Cubic Fields

This paper presents an RSA-like public-key cryptosystem that can only be broken by factoring its modulus. Messages are encoded as units in a purely cubic field, and the encryption exponent is a multiple of 3. Similar systems with encryption powers of the form 2e as well as 3e were designed by Rabin, Williams, and Loxton et al. Our scheme is more general than previously developed methods in that it allows a broader class of primes for its modulus, namely any pair of distinct primes $ p, q \equiv 1 ( {\rm mod}3 )$ rather than $ p \equiv 4 ( {\rm mod} 9 )$ and $ q \equiv 7 ( {\rm mod} 9 )$ . The system employs several number theoretic techniques in the cyclotomic field $ \mbox{\bf Q}(\sqrt{-3})$ , including Euclidean division, rapid evaluation of cubic residuacity characters, and the computation of prime divisors of rational primes.
Fly ash as a sorbent for the removal of biologically resistant organic matter

Abstract Six different fly ashes, in both an untreated and an acidified form, were studied with respect to their ability to remove color and organic materials from a municipal waste treatment facility effluent. Color, fluorescence, and chemical oxygen demand were used to monitor the removal. The apparent predominant mechanism varies with the pH and the chemical characteristics of the ash. These mechanisms include carbon sorption, calcium precipitation of tannins and humics, sorption on the fly ash surface by silica, alumina, and/or iron oxide and, in the acidified situation, coagulation of colored colloids in the effluent dissolved from the fly ash. Some additional deleterious components are dissolved into the effluent during the treatment process. Many of these materials can, however, be removed by using a two-stage fly ash sorption process.Particularly of interest is the ability to remove over 90% of the boron from the effluent.