cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Global transcriptional analysis for biomarker discovery and validation in cellular therapies.

Potency testing is an important part of the evaluation of cellular therapy products. Potency assays are quantitative measures of a product-specific biologic activity that is linked to a relevant biologic property and, ideally, a product’s in vivo mechanism of action. Both in vivo and in vitro assays can be used for potency testing. Since there is often a limited period of time between the completion of production and the release from the laboratory for administration to the patient, in vitro assays such as flow cytometry, ELISA, and cytotoxicity are typically used. Better potency assays are needed to assess the complex and multiple functions of cellular therapy products, some of which are not well understood. Gene expression profiling using microarray technology has been widely and effectively used to assess changes of cells in response to stimuli and to classify cancers. Preliminary studies have shown that the expression of non-coding microRNA (miRNA), which plays an important role in cellular development, differentiation, metabolism, and signal transduction, can distinguish between different types of stem cells and leukocytes. Both gene and miRNA expression profiling have the potential to be important tools for testing the potency of cellular therapies. Potency testing, the complexities associated with potency testing of cellular therapies, and the potential role of gene and miRNA expression microarrays in potency testing of cellular therapies are discussed.
Endorectal surface coil MR imaging as a staging technique for rectal carcinoma: a comparison study to rectal endosonography

Background: Preoperative staging of rectal cancer is critical for guiding therapy and prescribing the most appropriate treatment option. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the accuracy of endorectal surface coil magnetic resonance imaging (ERSCMRI) with endosonography (EUS) in staging rectal lesions. Methods: Fourteen patients with rectal carcinoma, initially detected by barium enema or sigmoidoscopy underwent ERSCMRI and EUS. Subsequent resection of the lesions was performed, and the staging accuracies of these two modalities are compared. Results: MR T-staging agreement with pathologic T-staging was similar to that of EUS, but MR enabled more accurate identification of nodal involvement. Conclusion: ERSCMRI produced greater overall accuracy in staging for rectal carcinoma than did EUS.
A comparative evaluation of multiple chat stream interfaces for information-intensive environments

For information workers who monitor numerous constantly updating data streams, conserving cognitive resources is crucial. This study evaluated how an interface affects information workers' ability to grasp critical information from multiple text-based chat streams under time pressure. We designed and built a working prototype that displays ten chat streams simultaneously in standard chat windows (ST) and ticker tapes (TT). We conducted a lab experiment to evaluate differences in how these two interfaces support signal and context detection. We found that with ST, participants detected significantly more target words (SAT words) with rarer frequency and significantly more context information (disaster facts) than with TT. Our results show that while TT is potentially better for overview scanning of multiple streams, ST is likely to be better for multi-tasking. Our study informs the design of future multi-chat systems so that large amounts of information can be easier to detect and process.
Design considerations for the OMEGA upgrade final focus lens

The development ofmodem optical instruments has evolved into a complex multi-disciplinary activity with the explosion of sophisticated applications. For specialized optical systems, the development ofeven a prototype has become a costly exercise. This paper presents a new concept of virtual prototyping for optical systems to minimize the development time, cost and risk. This process employs the computer-aided design and modeling tools to address the broad issues of system layout, optical and optomechanical design, structural and thermal analysis for the real operating environment, tolerance budgeting and optimization procedures. The Center for Applied Optics (CAO) at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has developed the necessary computer interfaces between the various stages of optical system design, development and evaluation. As a common thtabase is used for the optical and mechanical design and analyses, the possibility ofa human error is eliminated while minimizing the time and effort required to accomplish these critical tasks. The virtual prototyping concept works in an iterative fashion to achieve the desired system performance at a minimum cost. This technique has been successfully employed in the design and development of several optical instruments for space, military and commercial applications, covering a broad spectrum from Uv to JR The performance specifications and the results of virtual prototyping for some typical systems are also presented. Keywords: Virtualprototyping, computer-aided design andmodeling, optomechanical design, tolerance analysis, optimization
Just Wages: The Law and Morality

“A job — even full‐time employment — is no sure escape from poverty”. Thus begins a book that goes on to say that beyond the first tragedy of unemployment lies the serious problem for many that rewards for work can be insufficient to live a decent life. This article will reflect on some of the major issues in this subject area. First, a look must be taken at what is meant by a “just wage”. A number of difficulties arise in the definition of “justice” and “wages”. Second, the question of what should be promulgated by law to further just wages should be investigated. What does the law require or what should it require of the wage contract? Finally, what recommendation is feasible to alleviate this problem for those who are working full time but not earning a living wage?
Type M for quasi-Hausdorff matrices

Let A = (ank) denote an infinite matrix. Then A is said to be of type M if the conditionsimply αn = 0(n = 0,1,2,…).
Hydroxyethyl starch enhances fibrinolysis in human plasma by diminishing α2-antiplasmin–plasmin interactions

Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions are effective volume expanders but are also associated with poorly understood coagulopathy. Enhanced fibrinolysis following dilution with HES has been demonstrated. This investigation sought to identify the interactions of HES with critical fibrinolytic/antifibrinolytic enzymes. Normal plasma or plasmas deficient in factor XIII, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor or alpha2-antiplasmin were either not diluted or were diluted 20% with 0.9% NaCl, 5% human albumin, high-molecular-weight HES (HES 450) or low-molecular-weight HES (HES 130). Plasma was activated with celite and exposed to 75 IU/ml tissue-type plasminogen activator. Coagulation growth/disintegration kinetics were determined with thrombelastography. Compared with undiluted plasma, diluted plasma had a significant decrease in the clot lysis time and the time to maximum rate of lysis in all plasma types except in alpha2-antiplasmin-deficient plasma. The hierarchy of the decrease in clot lysis time and time to maximum rate of lysis was HES 450 = HES 130 > 5% human albumin = 0.9% NaCl. In conclusion, HES dilution enhances fibrinolysis by diminishing alpha2-antiplasmin-plasmin interactions. Further laboratory and clinical investigation is warranted to better define the mechanisms by which HES enhances clot disintegration and to find new therapeutic roles for HES to either prevent or treat thrombosis.
Chemical expansivity of electrochemical ceramics

To better understand thermal strain in electrochemical ceramics, the temperature and oxidation-state dependence of lattice volume in La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF) were measured. Large values in the apparent thermal expansion coefficient at high temperature (>50 ppm/°C) were caused by changes in oxygen content, not increases in thermal expansivity. This material can be described using an improved thermodynamic formalism that incorporates a new physical property, the chemical expansivity. Our approach opens new avenues for modeling stress and strain in materials, probing defect structure, and analyzing transport and kinetic properties.
Intersession reliability of the electromyographic signal during incremental cycle ergometry: quadriceps femoris.

Introduction: The purposes of this investigation were to determine the: (1) reproducibility of the patterns of responses for electromyographic (EMG) amplitude and mean power frequency (MPF); and (2) intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the EMG amplitude and MPF during three incremental cycle ergometer tests separated by 48 hours. Methods: Ten men performed incremental cycle ergometry tests to exhaustion on three separate occasions. Surface EMG signals were recorded simultaneously from the three superficial quadriceps muscles at each trial. Results: Polynomial regression indicated that, for >95% of the cases, the best-fit model was the same at each trial for EMG amplitude but not for EMG MPF. The ICC values were high for EMG amplitude but low for EMG MPF. Conclusions: These results indicate that EMG amplitude is a reliable measure of motor unit activation strategy during incremental cycle ergometry, whereas the EMG MPF was unreliable. Muscle Nerve 2011
Communication with diverse audiences through a case study approach

Abstract An active-learning assignment is described that involves developing strategies and identifying appropriate tactics for diverse audiences. The assignment can be used in a class of any size. Students are required to develop a goal, objectives, strategies, an identification of tactics, and evaluation plans for a request for proposals by the city of Chicago regarding an urban food desert. Students are asked to develop a plan to promote fresh, high-nutrient food to either low-income African-American women or low-income Hispanic women living in the food desert.
Bromine number determination by coulometric flow-injection titration.

Abstract The bromine number, the number of grams of bromine which react with 100 grams of a substance under given conditions, is a widely used parameter in the chemical and petroleum industries. A method of performing the bromine number determination by coulometric flow-injection titration, using both sequential injection with sinusoidal flow and single zone techniques, is described. Titrations of olefins, known interfering compounds, and petroleum distillates were performed and compared with the results of conventional bromine number titrations. Analyses yielded a relative standard deviation of ⩽2%. Results compared favorably with those obtained by the conventional method for both pure (⩾97%) olefins and petroleum distillates. The method was found to be insensitive to interference from nitrogen compounds. The CFIT technique combines the advantages of coulometric titrations: controlled generation of reagent, avoidance of reagent standardization requirements and reagent storage and stability problems; with the advantages of FIA: small volume requirements which reduce cost and waste, controllable dilution through flow programming, toxic materials contained within a closed environment, and the capability of being automated.
AIDS and adolescence: a challenge to both treatment and prevention.

Even in New York City, the national epicenter of for an individual to progress from infection to AIDS). the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic These factors ensure that the current actual level of and the city with the most explosive mix of sexually infection in the adolescent group is badly undermediated and drug-related transmission, the numstated by counting the number of AIDS cases among ber of cases of acquired immunodeficiency synthem and any recent upwards trends in infection drome (AIDS) diagnosed among adolescents during rates will be even more badly underestimated. the first decade of the epidemic is small: fewer than Thus, even a small number of diagnosed cases 50 of 30,000 total AIDS cases. among adolescents is an ominous sign for the future, The number of diagnosed AIDS cases is, howwhich indicates a much larger area of the iceberg of ever, a dangerously misleading statistic, for two infection floating below the clinical surface. This bereasons. comes even more ominous when combined with First, given the long time lag between infection what we know about adolescent risk behavior conwith HIV and the diagnosis of Center for Disease cerning sex and drugs, and about groups of adolesControl {CDC) categorized AIDS (from 3 to more cents at special risk, such as runaway and street than 10 years), the number of cases of AIDS that youth, incarcerated adolescents, and teenagers adoccur before age 20 years or even 24 years will always dicted to crack. underrepresent the actual level of infection in a popThe 1990 New York City Department of Health ulation that adopts risk behavior at a median age of statistics on HIV infection among adolescents indigreater than 15 or 16 years. A corollary to this is that cate that of 725 cumulative cases of AIDS among date of infection of any individual case of AIDS dipersons aged 13 through 24 years, only 46 cases agnosed among persons in their late twenties is difoccurred in persons aged 13 through 19 years. Most ftcult to differentiate: is it a “long-onset” case of an of the 725 individuals diagnosed in their early tweninfected teen or a “rapid-onset” case in an infected ties were, of course, actually infected in adolescence. young adult? Further, another, larger group of AIDS cases diagSecond, in an epidemic with such a long lag between infection and symptomatic illness, the countnosed at ages 25 through 29 years (3,259 cases) cer-
Tumor necrosis factor alpha gene expression in human monocytic THP-1 cells exposed to beryllium

Chronic beryllium disease, which results from occupational exposure to particulate beryllium, is characterized by the development of lung granulomas and progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Increased production of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 beta) by pulmonary alveolar macrophages occurs in many chronic fibrotic lung diseases and is thought to contribute to the disease process. The purpose of the present study was to investigate cytokine production by human monocytic cells exposed to beryllium in vitro. The results indicated that such cells respond to beryllium ions in the presence of fluoride by accumulation of messenger ribonucleic acid for both tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 beta. These findings suggest that inhaled beryllium may directly stimulate the production of these cytokines by alveolar macrophages in vitro.
An attempt toward an integrated theory of consumer psychology and decision-making

This paper makes an attempt to integrate a number of selected theories of motivation (performance) and satisfaction. Specifically, this was accomplished by (1) reviewing selected major theories dealing with these concepts (expectancy-value theory, assimilation-contrast theory, social comparison theory, exchange theory, discrepancy theory, decision-making theory and self-concept theory), (2) reviewing selected major theories linking performance with satisfaction (March and Simon's theory, Porter and Lawler's theory, cybernetics/control theory and Raynor's theory of motivation), (3) presenting a set of criteria for developing a general theory of motivation and emotion, (4) introducing a general theory of motivation and emotion (evaluative congruity theory) and (5) translating the concepts of the selected traditional theories of performance and satisfaction into the language of evaluative congruity theory.
Purification of rat brain choline acetyltransferase and an estimation of its half-life.

—Acetyl-CoA:choline-O-acetyltransferase (ChAc, EC 2.3.1.6) was purified from rat cerebral cortex and its half-life determined. The molecular weight of the enzyme under non-denaturing conditions was estimated by gel filtration to be in the range of 60,000–65,000. On SDS acrylamide gels, the purified enzyme migrated as a single band with a molecular weight estimated as 62,000. The turnover rate of ChAc in the mature rat was determined by the double label method, employing l-[1-14C]leucine and l-[4,5-3H]leucine. Its half-life under steady-state conditions was estimated to be 5.2 days. As a control, tubulin was isolated from the same preparation and its half-life measured. Under these conditions tubulin exhibited a half-life of 3.8 days.
Pilgrimage to the Edge of the Watery Underworld: an Ancient Maya Water Temple at Cara Blanca, Belize

The Classic Maya (ad 250–950) landscape was imbued with sacred, animate qualities. Of particular significance were openings in the earth, such as caves and pools because, as portals to the underworld, the Maya could communicate with gods and ancestors to petition for plentiful rain and crops. The 25 pools of Cara Blanca, Belize embody such a place; their isolation from settled communities and the relatively sparse but unique architecture near pools suggest that it served as a pilgrimage destination. Growing evidence from exploratory dives and excavations at a possible water temple indicate that the Maya increased their visits in response to several prolonged droughts that struck between c. ad 800 and 900. Not only do we present results from a type of site that has been little explored, we also detail how non-elites dealt with climate change via ritual intensification and pilgrimage. It also serves as a lesson for how we deal with climate change today — that relying on traditional means rather than changing our course of action can have detrimental repercussions.
Inequalities in neighborhood child asthma admission rates and underlying community characteristics in one US county.

Objectives To characterize variation and inequalities in neighborhood child asthma admission rates and to identify associated community factors within one US county. Study design This population-based prospective, observational cohort study consisted of 862 sequential child asthma admissions among 167 653 eligible children ages 1-16 years in Hamilton County, Ohio. Admissions occurred at a tertiary-care pediatric hospital and accounted for nearly 95% of in-county asthma admissions. Neighborhood admission rates were assessed by geocoding addresses to city- and county-defined neighborhoods. The 2010 US Census provided denominator data. Neighborhood admission distribution inequality was assessed by the use of Gini and Robin Hood indices. Associations between neighborhood rates and socioeconomic and environmental factors were assessed using ANOVA and linear regression. Results The county admission rate was 5.1 per 1000 children. Neighborhood rates varied significantly by quintile: 17.6, 7.7, 4.9, 2.2, and 0.2 admissions per 1000 children ( P 2 = 0.55). Conclusion In a single year, asthma admission rates varied 88-fold across neighborhood quintiles in one county; a reduction of the county-wide admission rate to that of the bottom quintile would decrease annual admissions from 862 to 34. A rate of zero was present in 15 neighborhoods, which is evidence of what may be attainable.
Widespread distribution of somatostatin receptor messenger ribonucleic acids in rat pituitary

The expression of five somatostatin receptor subtypes, rsstr1-5, was examined in rat pituitary by in situ hybridization histochemistry. The anterior lobe of the pituitary expressed mRNA encoding all five rsstr subtypes. Relatively high levels of rsstr3 mRNA expression were also observed in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary. If all five rsstr proteins are expressed in the pituitary, the effects of somatostatin and somatostatin-28 on pituitary function may therefore represent the composite activation of more than one sstr. Co-localization studies on the same pituitary sections revealed a widespread distribution of rsstr mRNA in the major endocrine cell groups. Somatotrophs showed a relatively high level of rsstr4 and -5 mRNA expression while thyrotrophs predominantly expressed rsstr2 mRNA. These data may point to the potential roles for sstr subtypes in mediating SRIF physiology in the pituitary.
Diffusion-weighted imaging in characterization of cystic pancreatic lesions.

Aim To evaluate whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can characterize or predict the malignant potential of cystic pancreatic lesions. Materials and methods Retrospective review of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) database over a 2-year period revealed 136 patients with cystic pancreatic lesions. Patients with DWI studies and histological confirmation of cystic mass were included. In patients with known pancreatitis, lesions with amylase content of >1000 IU/l that resolved on subsequent scans were included as pseudocysts. ADC of cystic lesions was measured by two independent reviewers. These values were then compared to categorize these lesions as benign or malignant using conventional MRI sequences. Results Seventy lesions were analysed: adenocarcinoma (n = 4), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN; n = 28), mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN; n = 9), serous cystadenoma (n = 16), and pseudocysts (n = 13). There was no difference between ADC values of malignant and non-malignant lesions (p = 0.06), between mucinous and serous tumours (p = 0.12), or between IPMN and MCN (p = 0.42). ADC values for low-grade IPMN were significantly higher than those for high-grade or invasive IPMN (p = 0.03). Conclusion ADC values may be helpful in deciding the malignant potential of IPMN. However, they are not useful in differentiating malignant from benign lesions or for characterizing cystic pancreatic lesions.
INVITED EDITORIAL The Genetics of Cataract: Our Vision Becomes Clearer

I would like to thank Drs. Joe Horwitz, Muriel Kaiser-Kupfer, Mark Kantorow, Eric Wawrousek, and Sam Zigler for a close reading of the manuscript.
Review and evaluation of security threats on the communication networks in the smart grid

The smart grid, generally referred to as the next-generation power electric system, relies on robust communication networks to provide efficient, secure, and reliable information delivery. Thus, the network security is of critical importance in the smart grid. In this paper, we aim at classifying and evaluating the security threats on the communication networks in the smart grid. Based on a top-down analysis, we categorize the goals of potential attacks against the smart grid communication networks into three types: network availability, data integrity and information privacy. We then qualitatively analyze both the impact and feasibility of the three types of attacks. Moreover, since network availability is the top priority in the security objectives for the smart grid, we use experiments to quantitatively evaluate the impact of denial-of-service (DoS) attacks on a power substation network. Our work provides initial experimental data of DoS attacks against a power network and shows that the network performance degrades dramatically only when the DoS attack intensity approaches to the maximum.
Heterodyne frequency measurements (at 11.6 μm) on isotopic species of carbonyl sulfide, OC34S, O13CS, OC33S, 18OCS, and O13C34S

Abstract Heterodyne frequency measurements between a frequency-stabilized 13 CO 2 reference laser and a tunable diode laser (either tuned or locked to various carbonyl sulfide absorption peaks) have been made on a number of 10 0 0-00 0 0 band transitions in the isotopic species of carbonyl sulfide: OC 34 S, O 13 CS, OC 33 S, 18 OCS, and O 13 C 34 S. These OCS frequency measurements have been combined with existing microwave data and new sets of molecular constants obtained. These constants will be used later to form part of a frequency calibration compendium based on OCS.
Risk perception of future cardiovascular disease in women diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy

AbstractObjective: The objective of this study is to evaluate a woman’s risk perception for future cardiovascular disease (CVD) after being diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.Methods: A prospective cohort of women diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) was studied. Each woman completed two surveys, one prior to hospital discharge and one 2 weeks later, designed to assess knowledge of and risk perception for future CVD based on their recent diagnosis of a HDP. Rates of postpartum depression were also assessed.Results: Of the 146 subjects included, 28% were diagnosed with preeclampsia with severe features, 52.1% with preeclampsia with mild features, and 19.9% had chronic hypertension. Women with severe features and those delivering preterm were more likely to report a perception of increased risk of both recurrent HDP in a future pregnancy (p = 0.004 and 0.005, respectively) and hypertension later in life (p = 0.01 and 0.03, respectively). Women delivering preterm were mo...
New efficient and accurate moment matching based model for crosstalk estimation in coupled RC trees

In this paper we provide a new efficient moment matching based model for the estimation of crosstalk in coupled RC tree networks. This model is formulated based on an exact and efficient linear order recursive algorithm for the moment computation of such networks with both lumped and distributed RC elements. The formulas used in the model are efficiently obtained by using the results of moment computation without any matrix operation and can fit for arbitrary input waveforms. Simulation results show it performs better than all existing formulas.
Mutagenic Analysis of Double-stranded RNA Adenosine Deaminase, a Candidate Enzyme for RNA Editing of Glutamate-gated Ion Channel Transcripts

Mutagenic analysis of the substrate binding and catalytic domains of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) adenosine deaminase (DRADA) was carried out. This nuclear enzyme is likely to be involved in the RNA editing of glutamate-gated ion channels that are essential for fast excitatory neurotransmission in mammalian brain. The deletion of the first or the third of the three dsRNA binding motifs within the substrate binding domain dramatically decreases enzyme activity, whereas the second motif seems to be dispensable. The results indicate that the three motifs are not functionally equivalent in the catalytic action of DRADA. Mutation of the putative zinc-coordinating residues, His910, Cys966, and Cys1036, abolished the DRADA activity. Similarly, the Glu912 residue, predicted to be involved in the proton transfer functions of the enzyme, was found to be indispensable. Our results reinforce the previous proposal that the hydrolytic deamination mechanism of DRADA may be more similar to that of the cytidine deaminases than of adenosine deaminases.
Market Forces and Organizational Evolution at Freestanding Children's Hospitals in the United States

Objectives.—To describe market forces that affect freestanding children's hospitals, to describe the development of formal business relationships among these hospitals and pediatricians and other health care delivery organizations, and to explore the impact of such changes on the roles and missions of these hospitals. Methods.—All freestanding children's hospitals in the United States in 1991 were identified (n = 44). A survey was mailed to the chief executive officer of each hospital. Data were collected for the period of 1991 through 1996. Twenty-nine of the 44 hospitals surveyed responded. Results.—Twenty-seven (93.1%) of the 29 hospitals reported an increase in competition and a more advanced stage of market evolution. Twenty-five hospitals (86.2%) developed at least one type of business relationship with pediatricians or another health care organization. Twenty-one (72.4%) developed a network of pediatricians. Seventeen (58.6%) developed a relationship with an adult-focused health care organization. There were no significant differences in teaching, research, or charity care activities between those respondents that developed a pediatric network and those that did not or between those respondents that integrated with adult-focused health care organization and those that did not. Conclusions.—Nearly all freestanding children's hospitals developed new business relationships with physicians and other health care organizations. These new relationships were not associated with any significant changes in teaching, research, or charity care.
Contralateral testicular metastasis in paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma.

Genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare malignancy with an incidence of 0.5 to 0.7 per million children younger than 15 years. Rhabdomyosarcoma arises from primitive totipotential embryonal mesenchyme and approximately 15% to 20% of primary lesions are of genitourinary origin. Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma represents the primary site of the entity in approximately 7% to 10% of these cases and it is known to have a better prognosis than disease at other urogenital sites.1 Lymph node metastasis develops in 28% to 40% of cases of primary paratesticular lesions, leading most commonly to iliac, para-aortic and inguinal adenopathy. Hematogenous metastasis occurs most often to the lungs, liver, bone and bone marrow, and is present in 20% of patients at initial presentation.2 Up to 80% of metastases develop within the first year after diagnosis. To our knowledge we report the first case of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma metastatic to the contralateral testis. This metastatic focus, which represented the only site of hematogenous spread, was identified 4 months after the initial surgery during adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy.
A Cautionary Note on Generalized Linear Models for Covariance of Unbalanced Longitudinal Data

Missing data in longitudinal studies can create enormous challenges in data analysis when coupled with the positive-deniten ess constraint on a covariance matrix. For complete balanced data, the Cholesky decomposition of a covariance matrix makes it possible to remove the positive-deniten ess constraint and use a generalized linear model setup to jointly model the mean and covariance using covariates (Pourahmadi, 2000). However, this approach may not be directly applicable when the longitudinal data are unbalanced, as coherent regression models for the dependence across all times and subjects may not exist. Within the existing generalized linear model framework, we show how to overcome this and other challenges by embedding the covariance matrix of the observed data for each subject in a larger covariance matrix and employing the familiar EM algorithm to compute the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters and their standard errors. We illustrate and assess the methodology using real data sets and simulations.
Maximum likelihood estimation of sensor and action model functions on a mobile robot

In order for a mobile robot to accurately interpret its sensations and predict the effects of its actions, it must have accurate models of its sensors and actuators. These models are typically tuned manually, a brittle and laborious process. Autonomous model learning is a promising alternative to manual calibration, but previous work has assumed the presence of an accurate action or sensor model in order to train the other model. This paper presents an adaptation of the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm to enable a mobile robot to learn both its action and sensor model functions, starting without an accurate version of either. The resulting algorithm is validated experimentally both on a Sony Aibo ERS-7 robot and in simulation.
A nonlinear adaptive regression process for noise corrupt images

Most existing nonlinear regression filtering techniques for image denoising are claimed to be edge preserving without considering the pixel position information. This will cause speckling effects on the denoised image and inconsistent smoothing in the vicinity of texture-rich areas. This paper proposes a novel denoising method to address this problem. The proposed method removes the low to intermediate noise using edge-preserving range filtering, thereby removing short, false edges. The updated edge map is used for subsequent filtering in which pixel intensities are smoothed according to their minimum distance to the closest edge point. This procedure is carried out in an iterative scheme until the edge map stabilizes. We compare existing denoising algorithms with the proposed method. Experimental results validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method.
A comprehensive overview of radioguided surgery using gamma detection probe technology

The concept of radioguided surgery, which was first developed some 60 years ago, involves the use of a radiation detection probe system for the intraoperative detection of radionuclides. The use of gamma detection probe technology in radioguided surgery has tremendously expanded and has evolved into what is now considered an established discipline within the practice of surgery, revolutionizing the surgical management of many malignancies, including breast cancer, melanoma, and colorectal cancer, as well as the surgical management of parathyroid disease. The impact of radioguided surgery on the surgical management of cancer patients includes providing vital and real-time information to the surgeon regarding the location and extent of disease, as well as regarding the assessment of surgical resection margins. Additionally, it has allowed the surgeon to minimize the surgical invasiveness of many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, while still maintaining maximum benefit to the cancer patient. In the current review, we have attempted to comprehensively evaluate the history, technical aspects, and clinical applications of radioguided surgery using gamma detection probe technology.
Closure and Epistemic Modals

According to a popular closure principle for epistemic justification, if one is justified in believing that each premise in is true and one comes to believe that is true on the basis of competently deducing from —while retaining justified beliefs in the premises—then one is justified in believing that is true. This principle is prima facie compelling; it seems to capture the sense in which competent deduction is an epistemically secure means to extend belief. Nevertheless, we argue that when closure is applied to our ordinary everyday concept of belief, even the single-premise version of this principle fails. Our counterexamples involve the epistemic possibility operator . Though one can competently deduce¬ ' from¬' in deliberation, there are cases in which one can justifiably believe that¬' is true but would be unjustified in believing that¬ ' is true.
Mood and self-perception of alcoholics when sober and intoxicated. I. Mood change. II. Accuracy of self-prediction.

Of 30 men alcoholics, half scored higher and half lower on a measure of anxiety after drinking. On measures of self-prediction the alcoholics knew less about their drunk selves than about their sob...
Predictive analytics model for healthcare planning and scheduling

Abstract Patients who fail to attend their appointments complicate appointment scheduling systems. The accurate prediction of no-shows may assist a clinic in developing operational mitigation strategies, such as overbooking appointment slots or special management of patients who are predicted as being highly likely to not attend. We present a new model for predicting no-show behavior based solely on the binary representation of a patient's historical attendance history. Our model is a parsimonious, pure predictive analytics technique, which combines regression-like modeling and functional approximation, using the sum of exponential functions, to produce probability estimates. It estimates parameters that can give insight into the way in which past behavior affects future behavior, and is important for clinic planning and scheduling decisions to improve patient service. Additionally, our choice of exponential functions for modeling leads to tractable analysis that is proved to produce optimal and unique solutions. We illustrate our approach using data from patients’ attendance and non-attendance at Veteran Health Administration (VHA) outpatient clinics.
Using DFT Methods to Study Activators in Optical Materials

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of various activators (ranging from transition metal ions, rare-earth ions, ns2 ions, to self-trapped and dopant-bound excitons) in phosphors and scintillators are reviewed. As a single-particle ground-state theory, DFT calculations cannot reproduce the experimentally observed optical spectra, which involve transitions between multi-electronic states. However, DFT calculations can generally provide sufficiently accurate structural relaxation and distinguish different hybridization strengths between an activator and its ligands in different host compounds. This is important because the activator-ligand interaction often governs the trends in luminescence properties in phosphors and scintillators, and can be used to search for new materials. DFT calculations of the electronic structure of the host compound and the positions of the activator levels relative to the host band edges in scintillators are also important for finding optimal host-activator combinations for high light yields and fast scintillation response. Mn4+ activated red phosphors, scintillators activated by Ce3+, Eu2+, Tl+, and excitons are shown as examples of using DFT calculations in phosphor and scintillator research.
Mature T cell leukemias which cannot be adequately classified under the new WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms.

Mature T cell leukemias which cannot be adequately classified under the new WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms
Common mistakes of pharmacy job seekers

![Figure][1] Believe it or not, the job market for pharmacists is not what it used to be. In the past, pharmacy graduates enjoyed the luxury of multiple job offers, but the current sluggish economy has led to hiring freezes, work-force reductions, and restructuring of work schedules to reduce
Fracture Toughness of Multiphase Intermetallics

An overview of recent advances in ductile-phase toughening of multiphase intermetallics is presented. The fracture characteristics of aluminides, silicides, chromides, and their composites are reviewed to elucidate relationships between microstructure, toughening mechanism, and fracture resistance. The roles of crack-tip blunting, trapping, bridging, and interface delamination in instigating fracture resistance are considered. Prospects for improving fracture toughness are discussed in conjunction with relevant microstructural variables such as the volume fraction, size, morphology, constraint, and work-of-fracture of the ductile phase.
Perturbing peptide cation-radical electronic states by thioxoamide groups: formation, dissociations, and energetics of thioxopeptide cation-radicals.

Thioxodipeptides Gly-thio-Lys (GtK), Ala-thio-Lys (AtK), and Ala-thio-Arg (AtR) in which the amide group has been modified to a thioxoamide were made into dications by electrospray ionization and converted to cation-radicals, (GtK + 2H)+•, (AtK + 2H)+•, and (AtR + 2H)+•, by electron transfer dissociation (ETD) tandem mass spectrometry using fluoranthene anion-radical as an electron donor. The common and dominant dissociation of these cation-radicals was the loss of a hydrogen atom. The dissociation products were characterized by collision-induced dissociation (CID) multistage tandem mass spectrometry up to CID-MS5. The ground electronic states of several (GtK + 2H)+•, (AtK + 2H)+•, and (AtR + 2H)+• conformers were explored by extensive ab initio and density functional theory calculations of the potential energy surface. In silico electron transfer to the precursor dications, (GtK + 2H)2+, (AtK + 2H)2+, and (AtR + 2H)2+, formed zwitterionic intermediates containing thioenol anion-radical and ammonium catio...
A remark on bound states in potential-scattering theory

Let ℋ = ℋB + ℋC be the Hilbert space of ann-particle quantum system, where ℋB is spanned by the bound states and ℋC corresponds to the continuous spectrum of the Hamiltonian. It is shown that the wave functions which are in some sense localized in space and energy form a compact set in ℋ. This is used to prove that a wave packet ψ remains localized at finite distance for all time if ψ∈ℋB, and that it disappears at infinity if ψ∈ℋC.
American Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) vary in use of cultivated cherry orchards

ABSTRACT Some fruit-eating bird species commonly consume cultivated fruit. Species-specific variation in diet preferences could result in varying use of orchards and impacts on the fruit-producing industry. However, species-specific studies of avian orchard use are lacking, particularly throughout the fruit-growing season. Our objectives were to quantify the frequency of daily bird visits to orchards and the amount of time birds spent visiting orchards each day over the fruit-ripening season. Birds are well-documented consumers of cultivated sweet cherries (Prunus avium), which are relatively high in sugar and low in proteins and lipids. American Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) are common fruit-consumers in sweet cherry orchards. Robins often consume larger proportions of invertebrates and prefer lipid-rich fruits, while waxwings choose sugary fruits. Given these species-specific diet differences, we hypothesized waxwings would spend a greater proportion of days and mo...
Response of Rice( Oryza sativa L. ) in Cold Regions to Dry Matter Formation in Different Culture Models

[Objective]To compare the influence of 3 production modes( two-segment culture,greenhouse culture,and direct sowing) on the yield and dry matter formation of rice,and explore the relationship between different seedling culture models and high yield in the third temperature accumulation zone. [Method] Study greenhouse disk culture and direct sowing of Kongyu 131,greenhouse disk culture,two-segment culture and direct sowing of Longjing 21,greenhouse disk culture and two-segment culture of Longjiao 04-192 and Longdao 5,two-segment culture of Songjing 9. For greenhouse culture,choose 30 cm × 15 cm,3-4 plants per hole,sowing on April 22; for two-segment culture,30 cm × 20 cm,2 plants per pot,sowing on May 28,transplanting into disks on April 22; for direct sowing,sowing 150 kg / hm2in strips on May 25. [Result]Two-segment culture has the earliest full heading,and higher flower quantity per spike; direct sowing has the latest full heading, but higher spike quantity per unit area; greenhouse disk culture has higher maturing rate and thousand-kernel weight,and higher yield. Distribution of spike and aboveground dry matters is narrower in direct sowing than in greenhouse culture,but distribution of leaf dry matter wider than the latter. Spike dry weight distribution increases from direct sowing,to greenhouse culture,and two-segment culture. [Conclusion]The research provides references for the high-yield rice cultivation in the third temperature accumulation zone in Heilongjiang.
Epidemic Characteristics and Pathogen Monitoring of Hand-food-mouth Diseases in Luzhou City

Objective To Understand the epidemic characteristics and the distribution of pathogens of hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD) in luzhou city,and provide scientific evidence for developing preventive and control strategies.Methods Descriptive epidemiological methods were applied to analyze the surveillance data of HFMD from 2009 to 2010.Results A total of 470 cases of HFMD were reported in Luzhou city in 2 years with 2 death cases.The average annual incidence rate,mortality rate,case fatality ratio were 4.72 /105,0.02/105 and 0.43% respectively.The annual incidence rate was 6.99 / 105 in 2010,which is 185.31% higher than that of 2009.HFMD cases were reported in all counties and districts,but the urban areas had higher reported prevalence compared with rural areas,with all severe and death cases occurred in rural areas.The outbreak of HFMD could occur in four seasons,peaked from April to July and from October to December,which was consistent with students' schooling time.Children aged under 5 were the major population suffered from HFMD,accounting for 97.23% of the cases,in which 31.06% of them were kindergartens.Cox A16 type and other enterovirus were the major pandemic strain,accounting for 78.13%,and different serotypes had no cross-immunity.Conclusion Strengthening the epidemic monitoring and health education in rural areas and nurseries,raising public awareness of disease prevention and treatment are the effective strategies to control HFMD and reduce the severity and death.
One mate or two? Life history traits and reproductive variation in low-income women.

We contrasted the long-term mate preferences, reported developmental experiences, life history traits, and current personal traits of low-income women who reproduced with a single man (n = 222), two or more men (n = 145), or had not yet reproduced (n = 106). The mate preferences of the three groups were more similar than different, suggesting that group differences in reproductive strategy may be more strongly related to developmental experiences and current circumstances than to explicit preferences for one type of reproductive partner or another. Path analytic models revealed that the only direct predictor of number of reproductive mates was age of first reproduction, which in turn was predicted by level of education and age of first sexual intercourse. Age of first intercourse, in turn, was predicted by time spent with father. The pattern suggests paternal investment influences timing of adolescent sexual activity, and timing of this activity can set in motion a long-term reproductive trajectory.