cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A numerical algorithm for calculating microbial survival curves during thermal processing

Abstract Assuming that the targeted microorganism’s isothermal survival curves follow the Weibullian pattern, which describes a large number of microbial isothermal survival curves, a simple numerical algorithm was developed to calculate the momentary survival ratio during non-isothermal thermal processes. The algorithm is based on a mathematical expression derived from a non-isothermal survival rate model proposed in the literature. Simulations indicated that the proposed algorithm generated the same results as those obtained from other non-isothermal models found in the literature. However, compared to the published models, the proposed algorithm has two advantages. One is that the calculation speed is very fast because only simple algebraic operations are involved, and the other is that it can be programmed very easily in different computer languages and spreadsheets. In addition, the algorithm provides an effective way to estimate changes of microbial survival ratio with time from product temperatures that are either directly measured during thermal processing or predicted by proper heat transfer models. Thus, the algorithm can also be easily incorporated into control systems of commercial thermal process equipment.
Electronic and structural properties of BN and BP.

We present a pseudopotential study within the local-density formalism of the structural and electronic properties of zinc-blende BN and BP. The ground-state properties of these systems such as bulk moduli, lattice constants, cohesive energies, and frequencies of the TO phonon mode are in good agreement with experimental results. The valence charge density of BP shows two local maxima along the bond, which is similar to the case of diamond. In contrast, the charge density of BN is similar to that of a typical III-V compound semiconductor. The resulting band structures have some important features which are in disagreement with previously published work. Like most III-V compound semiconductors, the fundamental gap in BP decreases with decreasing volume. The corresponding gap in BN, however, increases with decreasing volume as was also found in diamond.
A feasibility test for perceptually adaptive level of detail rendering on desktop systems

Level of detail (LOD) rendering techniques reduce the geometric complexity of 3D models, sacrificing visual rendering quality in order to increase frame rendering rates. Perceptually adaptive LOD rendering techniques take into account the characteristics of the human visual system to minimize visible artifacts attributable to the reduced LOD. While these techniques have been previously examined in the context of high-performance rendering systems, it is not clear whether the benefits will necessarily overcome the behavioral costs associated with a reduced LOD on ordinary desktop systems. To answer this question, two perceptually adaptive rendering techniques, one velocity-dependent and one gaze-contingent, were implemented in the Unreal TM rendering engine on a standard desktop computer and monitor. These techniques were evaluated in separate experiments where participants were required to perform a virtual search for a target object among distractor objects in a perceptually rendered virtual home interior using a mouse to rotate the viewport. In the first experiment, objects moving across the observer's field of view were rendered in less detail than stationary objects, taking advantage of the fact that visual sensitivity to the details of moving objects is substantially reduced. Reaction times to detect the target remained constant with decreasing detail, whereas reaction times to localize a target decreased. In a second experiment, an eye tracker was used to render objects at the point of gaze in more detail than objects in the periphery, taking advantage of the fact that visual sensitivity is greatest at that location. Reaction times to detect the target increased with decreasing detail, whereas reaction times to localize a target decreased. The results from these experiments suggest that a reduced LOD can impede target identification, however, the resultant increase in frame rates facilitates virtual interaction. Overall, the behavioral costs associated with perceptually adaptive LOD techniques can be offset by the behavioral performance gains on desktop systems. However, we show that the nature of the task is important in determining the exact cost-benefit trade-off.
A relevance vector machine technique for the automatic detection of clustered microcalcifications (Honorable Mention Poster Award)

Microcalcification (MC) clusters in mammograms can be important early signs of breast cancer in women. Accurate detection of MC clusters is an important but challenging problem. In this paper, we propose the use of a recently developed machine learning technique -- relevance vector machine (RVM) -- for automatic detection of MCs in digitized mammograms. RVM is based on Bayesian estimation theory, and as a feature it can yield a decision function that depends on only a very small number of so-called relevance vectors . We formulate MC detection as a supervised-learning problem, and use RVM to classify if an MC object is present or not at each location in a mammogram image. MC clusters are then identified by grouping the detected MC objects. The proposed method is tested using a database of 141 clinical mammograms, and compared with a support vector machine (SVM) classifier which we developed previously. The detection performance is evaluated using the free-response receiver operating characteristic (FROC) curves. It is demonstrated that the RVM classifier matches closely with the SVM classifier in detection performance, and does so with a much sparser kernel representation than the SVM classifier. Consequently, the RVM classifier greatly reduces the computational complexity, making it more suitable for real-time processing of MC clusters in mammograms.
Abstract 559: The molecular kinetics of p21 and Cdk4 dictates irreversible G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in CRPC cells.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Deregulation of cell cycle progression is the hallmark of cancer; to this effect, several small molecules (AG-024322, AT7519, E7070, P1446A-05 and Flavopiridol) against cell cycle kinases are being developed to regulate cell cycle machinery that resulted in inhibition of tumor growth. The present study examined the effect of 3, 9-dihydroxy-2-prenylcoumestan-a furanocoumarin (Pso) on castration resistant prostate cancer cells (CRPC) cells. Treatment of CRPC (PC-3 and C4-2B) cells with Pso significantly caused irreversible G-G1 cell cycle arrest that resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation. Protein analysis suggested that the expression of cdk inhibitors (CDKI) p21cip1 and p27kip1 were upregulated in both CRPC cell lines by Pso treatment. Studies using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis suggest that Pso transcriptionally regulates p21cip1 and p27kip1 in CRPC cells. Our immunofluorescence analysis pointed out that both p21cip1 and p27kip1 accumulated in the nucleus upon the treatment as compared to untreated CRPC cells. In addition, the cell cycle arrest was associated with decreased levels of both cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases. However, cdk-4 appears to be more significantly downregulated when compared with either cyclins (D1, D2, D3 and Cyclin E) or other Cdk's (cdk2/6). Also, we noted an increased hypophosphorylated level of retinoblastoma (Rb) with a decreased in Rb phosphorylation resulted in inhibition of E2F1 function. Further, transient over expression of Cdk4 overcomes the Pso-induced G-G1 arrest in CRPC cells. Also, knockdown of p21cip1 and p27kip1 expression with small interfering RNA significantly abrogated the Pso-induced G-G1 cell cycle arrest suggested that induction of p21cip1 and p27kip1 is required for G-G1 cell cycle arrest by Pso. Altogether our results strongly suggest that Pso could be a potential candidate for prevention and therapy against CRPC. Our ongoing studies using xenograft models of CRPC in nude mice may reveal the in vivo efficacy of Pso. Citation Format: Thippeswamy Gulappa, Rama S. Reddy, Suman Suman, Chendil Damodaran. The molecular kinetics of p21 and Cdk4 dictates irreversible G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in CRPC cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 559. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-559
Warming during cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with jugular bulb desaturation.

Abstract The objective of this study was to characterize cerebral venous effluent during normothermic nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass. Thirty-one (23%) of 133 patients met desaturation criteria (defined as jugular bulb venous oxygen saturation ≤ 50% or jugular bulb venous oxygen tension ≤ 25 mm Hg) during normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass at 27 ° to 28 °C). Cerebral blood flow, calculated using xenon 133 clearance methodology, was significantly ( p −1 · min −1 ) than in the desaturated group (26.2 ± 6.9 mL · 100 g −1 · min −1 ), whereas the cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen was significantly lower ( p −1 · min −1 ) than in the desaturated group (1.52 ± 0.36 mL · 100 g −1 · min −1 ) at normothermia. The arteriovenous oxygen difference at normothermia was lower in the saturated group (3.92 ± 1.12 mL/dL) than in the desaturated group (5.97 ± 1.05 mL/dL). Neuropsychological testing was performed in 74 of the 133 patients preoperatively and on day 7 postoperatively. There was a general decline in mean scores of all tests postoperatively in both groups with no significant difference between the groups. We conclude that cerebral venous desaturation represents a global imbalance in cerebral oxygen supply-demand that occurs during normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and may represent transient cerebral ischemia. These episodes, however, are not associated with impared neuropsychological test performance as compared with the performance of patients with no evidence of desaturation.
Lighting controls for synthetic images

The traditional point source light used for synthetic image generation provides no adjustments other than position, and this severely limits the effects that can be achieved. It can be difficult to highlight particular features of an object. This paper describes new lighting controls and techniques which can be used to optimize the lighting for synthetic images. These controls are based in part on observations of the lights used in the studio of a professional photographer. Controls include a light direction to aim a light at a particular area of an object, light concentration to simulate spotlights or floodlights, and flaps or cones to restrict the path of a light. Another control relates to the color of the light source and its effect on the perceived color of specular highlights. An object color can be blended with a color for the highlights to simulate different materials, paints, or lighting conditions. This can be accomplished dynamically while the image is displayed, using the video lookup table to approximate the specular color shift
The effect of repeat restructuring charges on analysts' forecast revisions and accuracy

The primary objective of this study is to examine the effect of prior restructuring charges on analyst forecast revisions and accuracy. We find evidence that analysts respond differently to first-time restructuring firms than to repeat restructuring firms. Analysts revise their forecasts of both one-year-ahead earnings and five-year long-term growth in earnings more negatively for first-time restructuring firms than for firms with prior charges. When we examine forecast errors in the year subsequent to the restructuring, we find that current charges complicate analysts’ earnings forecast task. We further find that the decline in analyst forecast accuracy is mitigated by prior charges within past two years.
The promise of diffractive optics in maskless lithography

For photon-based maskless lithography, a system based on the incoherent addition of scanned, multiplexed, on-axis focal spots from an array of diffractive-optical elements, such as binary-phase zone plates, has advantages over systems based on partially coherent projection of the image of a micromechanical mirror array through a large refractive or reflective lens. We have fabricated binary-phase zone-plate arrays with numerical apertures up to 0.9 with near-ideal performance, and used them to achieve high quality lithography of arbitrary patterns. Using a wavelength of 400 nm we achieve k 1 factors as low as 0.32, without the use of any resolution enhancement techniques. Sufficient contrast is achieved in dense patterns despite the presence of diffracted orders other than +1. Advantages of our diffractive-optical approach include: the feasibility of wavefront engineering by using elements other than binary-phase zone plates; the simplicity of the planar processes needed to manufacture large arrays of high-NA diffractive-optical elements: and the ease of wavelength scaling, with the promise of ultimately approaching the limits of the lithographic process.
URATE NEPHROLITHIASIS IN A NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL (MIROUNGA ANGUSTIROSTRIS) AND A CALIFORNIA SEA LION (ZALOPHUS CALIFORNIANUS)

Nephrolithiasis has rarely been reported in marine mammals. During 2004 and 2005, two cases of nephrolithiasis were diagnosed during routine necropsy examination, one in a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and one in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Nephroliths were found throughout both kidneys during necropsy examination, varying in size from 1-10 mm in diameter in the northern elephant seal and from 1-15 mm in diameter in the California sea lion. Necropsy and histopathology revealed nephroliths in association with renal pelvic dilation and pyelonephritis in both animals. In addition, hydronephrosis was noted in the sea lion. Nephroliths were composed of uric acid and ammonium urate in the northern elephant seal and of ammonium urate in the California sea lion. The underlying disease leading to nephrolith formation was not determined; however, it is hypothesized that unknown metabolic derangements due to morphologic or physiologic differences may have played a role. This is the first report of urate nephrolithiasis in the California sea lion and northern elephant seal.
Quality assurance/quality control programs in some U.S. environmental laboratories

Abstract The quality control program of the Environmental Measurements Laboratory in radioactivity measurements is described and some results are reported.
Adverse outcomes of antiinflammatory therapy among patients with polymyalgia rheumatica

Objective. To evaluate the incidence and risks of adverse events associated with therapy (both corticosteroids [CS] and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]) among a previously identified, populationbased cohort of patients first diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) between 1970 and 1991 who were followed up over the long term. Methods. Information on demographics, PMR diagnosis, disease course, and drug therapy, in addition to data on adverse events commonly associated with CS and NSAID treatment, was obtained from the Rochester Epidemiology Project database. Cox proportional hazards and regression analysis models were used to evaluate the relationship between the occurrence of these events and therapy. Results. Of the 232 patients (69 male, 163 female) included in the study, the mean age at PMR diagnosis was 72.9 years, the average followup was 8.0 years, and 30 patients were also diagnosed with giant cell (temporal) arteritis. Among the 175 patients (49 male, 126 female) treated with CS, the mean duration of CS therapy was 2.4 years, the average daily dose was 9.6 mg, and the mean cumulative dose was 8.4 gm. In total, 65% of the 124 patients treated with CS alone experienced at least 1 adverse event, compared with 67% of the 57 patients treated with NSAIDs alone and 80% of the 51 patients treated with CS and NSAIDs. The average time from initiation of therapy to the first adverse event was 1.6 years (n = 160). Proportional hazards modeling identified 3 variables that independently increased the risk of adverse events: age at PMR diagnosis, a cumulative dose of prednisone ≥1,800 mg, and female sex. Person-year analysis revealed that the risks of diabetes mellitus, vertebral fractures, femoral neck fractures, and hip fractures were 2–5 times greater among PMR patients compared with age- and sex-matched individuals from the same population. Medical care or consultation by a rheumatologist was a highly significant predictor of a lower initial CS dose. Conclusion. The use of CS and NSAIDs in the treatment of PMR is associated with important longterm morbidity.
Minimally Invasive Treatment of Renal Abscess

AbstractPurpose: We critically evaluated the most appropriate management of renal abscesses, and identified the set of patients that most benefits from conservative treatment.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts regarding discharge diagnoses, radiological studies, pathological specimens, epidemiology factors and outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using loglinear and covariant analysis.Results: Nine years of experience (1984 to 1993) at 2 affiliated hospitals (1 public and 1 private) were reviewed. A total of 52 patients with renal abscesses was identified with a followup rate of 98 percent. In immunocompetent patients 100 percent of small abscesses (less than 3 cm.) managed by antibiotics and observation alone resolved. Of medium abscesses (3 to 5 cm.) treated with percutaneous abscess drainage alone 92 percent resolved. Large abscesses (greater than 5 cm.) often required more than 1 percutaneous drainage procedure (33 percent) or adjunct open surgical intervention (37 perce...
Monitoring above-zone temperature variations associated with CO2 and brine leakage from a storage aquifer

CO2 injection in saline aquifers induces temperature changes owing to processes such as Joule–Thomson cooling, endothermic water vaporization, exothermic CO2 dissolution besides the temperature discrepancy between injected and native fluids. CO2 leaking from the injection zone, in addition to initial temperature contrast due to the geothermal gradient, undergoes similar processes, causing temperature changes in the above zone. Numerical simulation tools were used to evaluate temperature changes associated with CO2 leakage from the storage aquifer to an above-zone monitoring interval and to assess the monitorability of CO2 leakage on the basis of temperature data. The impact of both CO2 and brine leakage on temperature response is considered for three cases (1) a leaky well co-located with the injection well, (2) a leaky well distant from the injector, and (3) a leaky fault. A sensitivity analysis was performed to determine key operational and reservoir parameters that control the temperature signal in the above zone. Throughout the analysis injection-zone parameters remain unchanged. Significant pressure drop upon leakage causes expansion of CO2 associated with Joule–Thomson cooling. However, brine may begin leaking before CO2 breakthrough at the leakage pathway, causing heating in the above zone. Thus, unlike the pressure which increases in response to both CO2 and brine leakage, the temperature signal may differentiate between the leaking fluids. In addition, the strength of the temperature signal correlates with leakage velocity unlike pressure signal whose strength depends on leakage rate. Increasing leakage conduit cross-sectional area increases leakage rate and thus increases pressure change in the above zone. However, it decreases leakage velocity, and therefore, reduces temperature cooling and signal. It is also shown that the leakage-induced temperature change covers a small area around the leakage pathway. Thus, temperature data will be most useful if collected along potential leaky wells and/or wells intersecting potential leaky faults.
Firing rate dependent effect of cocaine on single neurons of the rat lateral striatum

Cocaine's effects on striatal neurons related to vertical head movement were studied during a task requiring vertical head movement. The proportion of long-distance head movements was increased by low doses but decreased by the high dose, which produced stereotypic head bobbing. At all doses, normally low firing rates related to movement were elevated to a greater degree than were normally high firing rates. At the high dose, normally high firing rates were strongly suppressed, a restriction which may contribute to the decreased behavioral diversity characteristic of stereotypy.
Fractional uptake of radioactive rubidium in oral tissues of the rat

Abstract The fractional uptake of radioactive rubidium was used as an index of the fraction of the cardiac output going to normal and inflamed oral tissues. The findings suggest no increase in per cent of cardiac output to inflamed pulp. However, an increase in blood flow in inflamed mucosa was observed.
Quantitative Analysis of Triglycerides Using Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization-Mass Spectrometry

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) was used for quantitative analysis of triglycerides (TG) separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. APCI-MS was used for analysis of mono-acid TG standards containing deuterated internal standard, of a synthetic mixture of heterogeneous TG, of randomized and normal soybean oils and of randomized and normal lard samples. Quantitation of the TG by four approaches based on APCI-MS were compared, and these were compared to quantitation obtained using liquid chromatography (LC) with flameionization detection (FID). The APCI-MS methods were based on (i) calibration curves from data for mono-acid TG standards, (ii) response factors obtained from a synthetic mixture of TG, (iii) response factors calculated from comparison of randomized samples to their statistically expected compositions, and (iv) response factors calculated from comparison of fatty acid (FA) compositions calculated from TG compositions to FA compositions obtained by calibrated gas chromatography (GC) with FID. Response factors derived from a synthetic mixture were not widely applicable to samples of disparate composition. The TG compositions obtained using APCI-MS data without application of response factors had average relative errors very similar to those obtained using LC-FID. Numerous TG species were identified using LC/APCI-MS which were undetected using LC-FID. Two quantitation methods, based on response factors calculated from randomized samples or on response factors calculated from FA compositions, both gave similar results for all samples. The TG compositions obtained using response factors calculated from FA compositions showed less average relative error than was obtained from LC-FID data, and were in good agreement with predicted compositions for the synthetic mixture and for randomized soybean oil and lard samples.
Are Mandated Health and Safety Committees Substitutes or Supplements for Labor Unions

A recurring debate in the academic and applied world is whether workplace committees and other forms of employee participation are substitutes or supplements to labor unions. This study addresses this question by examining the effect of workplace committees on the enforcement of public policies. A number of empirical studies demonstrate a positive relation between unionization and enforcement of government labor policies such as OSHA. Mandatory employee committees may similarly improve the implementation of public policies by acting as collective agents for employees in the workplace, thereby increasing the probability that workers will exercise rights granted them under labor regulations. The paper tests this hypothesized committee effect on the exercise of rights by examining the state of Oregon's experience with mandated safety and health committees. By comparing OSHA inspection records for the two years preceding and following the implementation of committee mandates in 1991, it shows that mandated committees significantly increase the differences between OSHA enforcement in union and nonunion workplaces following passage of committee mandates. As a result, the predominant effect of committees is that of a supplement rather than substitute for labor unions in the realm of public policies directed towards safety and health.
Quantitative Determination of Slightly Soluble Salts by Means of Ion Exchange

An ion exchange method for the quantitative determination of slightly soluble salts has been described. The procedure, which has been aplied to a number of chemicals and to two tablet preparations, gives reproducigle and reliable results. It has the further advantage of requiring little technical skill on the part of the operator and permits a considerable saving of time.
A platinum-based covalent viability reagent for single cell mass cytometry

In fluorescence-based flow cytometry, cellular viability is determined with membrane-impermeable fluorescent reagents that specifically enter and label plasma membrane-compromised nonviable cells. A recent technological advance in flow cytometry uses antibodies conjugated to elemental metal isotopes, rather than to fluorophores, to allow signal detection by atomic mass spectrometry. Unhampered by the limitations of overlapping emission fluorescence, mass cytometry increases the number of parameters that can be measured in single cells. However, mass cytometry is unable to take advantage of current fluorescent viability dyes. An alternative methodology was therefore developed here in which the platinum-containing chemotherapy drug cisplatin was used to resolve live and dead cells by mass cytometry. In a 1-min incubation step, cisplatin preferentially labeled nonviable cells from both adherent and suspension cultures, resulting in a platinum signal quantifiable by mass cytometry. This protocol was compatible with established sample processing steps for intracellular cytometry. Furthermore, the live/dead ratios were comparable between mass- and fluorescence-based cytometry. Importantly, although cisplatin is a known DNA-damaging agent, a 1-min "pulse" of cisplatin did not induce observable DNA damage or apoptotic responses even within 6-h post-exposure. Cisplatin can therefore be used as a viability reagent for a wide range of mass cytometry protocols.
Refinement Maps for Efficient Verification of Processor Models

While most of the effort in improving verification times for pipelined machine verification has focused on faster decision procedures, we show that the refinement maps used also have a drastic impact on verification times. We introduce a new class of refinement maps for pipelined machine verification, and using the state-of-the-art verification tools UCLID and Siege we show that one can attain several orders of magnitude improvements in verification times over the standard flushing-based refinement maps, even enabling the verification of machines that are too complex to otherwise automatically verify.
A Pharmacology-Based Enrichment Program for Undergraduates Promotes Interest in Science

There is a strong need to increase the number of undergraduate students who pursue careers in science to provide the "fuel" that will power a science and technology-driven U.S. economy. Prior research suggests that both evidence-based teaching methods and early undergraduate research experiences may help to increase retention rates in the sciences. In this study, we examined the effect of a program that included 1) a Summer enrichment 2-wk minicourse and 2) an authentic Fall research course, both of which were designed specifically to support students' science motivation. Undergraduates who participated in the pharmacology-based enrichment program significantly improved their knowledge of basic biology and chemistry concepts; reported high levels of science motivation; and were likely to major in a biological, chemical, or biomedical field. Additionally, program participants who decided to major in biology or chemistry were significantly more likely to choose a pharmacology concentration than those majoring in biology or chemistry who did not participate in the enrichment program. Thus, by supporting students' science motivation, we can increase the number of students who are interested in science and science careers.
Nanometer positioning of a linear motion stage under static loads

A standard lead-screw-driven linear translation table was fitted with a secondary voice coil actuator, which can apply forces of /spl plusmn/0.5 N on the translating stage. The DC servomotor-driven lead screw is capable of positioning the table to a nominal precision of /spl plusmn/0.5 /spl mu/m. The secondary actuator then positions the table to /spl plusmn/1 mm. Both actuators utilize closed-loop feedback algorithms. This configuration has significant advantages over the more common "piggyback" arrangement, which often uses piezoelectric actuators. The advantages include preservation of the original load surface and position sensors and an easier to control actuator. Its ability to operate under static load and a model of the microdynamic behavior are addressed in this paper. When static loads of up to 36 N were applied to the translating stage, the secondary actuator could still displace the table to /spl plusmn/500 nm and control the position down to its zero-load precision. The microdynamic behavior in this region is nonlinear and was modeled using the modified Dahl model of friction. The key parameters in the model were identified using a 2 Hz sinusoidal input force with varying amplitudes from the secondary actuator. For a constant loading force, the parameters did not vary significantly with different excitation forces. The friction parameter relating the initial slope of the friction force versus displacement curve did change with different loading forces. Also, for smaller input signals causing displacements of less than 200 nm, the friction parameters would tend to drift, depending on input magnitudes.
PROMPT: A cross-layer position-based communication protocol for delay-aware vehicular access networks

Vehicular communication systems facilitate communication devices for exchange of information among vehicles and between vehicles and roadside equipment. These systems are used to provide a myriad of services ranging from traffic safety application to convenience applications for drivers and passengers. In this paper, we focus on the design of communication protocols for vehicular access networks where vehicles access a wired backbone network by means of a multi-hop data delivery service. Key challenges in designing protocols for vehicular access networks include quick adaptability to frequent changes in the network topology due to vehicular mobility and delay awareness in data delivery. To address these challenges, we propose a cross-layer position-based delay-aware communication protocol called PROMPT. It adopts a source routing mechanism that relies on positions independent of vehicle movement rather than on specific vehicle addresses. Vehicles monitor information exchange in their reception range to obtain data flow statistics, which are then used in estimating the delay and selecting best available paths. Through a detailed simulation study using ns-2, we empirically show that PROMPT outperforms existing routing protocols proposed for vehicular networks in terms of end-to-end packet delay, packet loss rate, and fairness of service.
A POSTOPERATIVE PROGNOSTIC NOMOGRAM PREDICTING RECURRENCE FOR PATIENTS WITH CONVENTIONAL CLEAR CELL RENAL CELL CARCINOMA

ABSTRACTPurpose: Few published studies have simultaneously analyzed multiple prognostic factors to predict recurrence after surgery for conventional clear cell renal cortical carcinomas. We developed and performed external validation of a postoperative nomogram for this purpose. We used a prospectively updated database of more than 1,400 patients treated at a single institution.Materials and Methods: From January 1989 to August 2002, 833 nephrectomies (partial and radical) for renal cell carcinoma of conventional clear cell histology performed at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center were reviewed from the center's kidney database. Patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease or familial syndromes, as well as patients presenting with synchronous bilateral renal masses, or distant metastases or metastatic regional lymph nodes before or at surgery were excluded from study. We modeled clinicopathological data and disease followup for 701 patients with conventional clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Prognostic vari...
Signing in the flesh : Notes on pragmatist hermeneutics

This article offers an alternative to classical hermeneutics, which focuses on discursive products and grasps meaning as the play of difference between linguistic signs. Pragmatist hermeneutics reconstructs meaning through an indefinite triangulation, which brings symbols, icons, and indices to bear on each other and considers a meaningful occasion as an embodied semiotic process. To illuminate the word-body-action nexus, the discussion identifies three basic types of signifying media: (1) the symbolic-discursive, (2) the somatic-affective, and (3) the behavioral-performative, each one marked by a special relationship between signs and their objects. An argument is made that the tension between various type-signifying media is unavoidable, that the pragmatic-discursive misalignment is an ontological condition, and that bridging the gap between our discursive, affective, and behavioral outputs is at the heart of ethical life.
On correcting the overestimation of the permutation-based false discovery rate estimator

Motivation: Recent attempts to account for multiple testing in the analysis of microarray data have focused on controlling the false discovery rate (FDR), which is defined as the expected percentage of the number of false positive genes among the claimed significant genes. As a consequence, the accuracy of the FDR estimators will be important for correctly controlling FDR. Xie et al. found that the standard permutation method of estimating FDR is biased and proposed to delete the predicted differentially expressed (DE) genes in the estimation of FDR for one-sample comparison. However, we notice that the formula of the FDR used in their paper is incorrect. This makes the comparison results reported in their paper unconvincing. Other problems with their method include the biased estimation of FDR caused by over-or under-deletion of DE genes in the estimation of FDR and by the implicit use of an unreasonable estimator of the true proportion of equivalently expressed (EE) genes. Due to the great importance of accurate FDR estimation in microarray data analysis, it is necessary to point out such problems and propose improved methods. Results: Our results confirm that the standard permutation method overestimates the FDR. With the correct FDR formula, we show the method of Xie et al. always gives biased estimation of FDR: it overestimates when the number of claimed significant genes is small, and underestimates when the number of claimed significant genes is large. To overcome these problems, we propose two modifications. The simulation results show that our estimator gives more accurate estimation. Contact: [email protected]
An analysis of the impact of swine CAFOs on the value of nearby houses

The impact of 39 swine confined or concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Black Hawk County, Iowa on 5,822 house sales is explored by introducing a new variable that more accurately captures the effects of prevailing winds, exploring potential adverse effects within concentric circles around each CAFO, managing selection bias, and incorporating spatial correlation into the error term of the empirical model. Large adverse impacts suffered by houses that are within 3 miles and directly downwind from a CAFO are found. Beyond 3 miles, CAFOs have a generally decreasing adverse impact on house prices as distance to the CAFO increases.
Zero-state observability and stability of discrete-time nonlinear systems

Abstract This paper studies discrete-time invariant autonomous systems ∑: x k + 1 = tf(x k )y k = h(x k ) We investigate the problem of when asymptotic stability of ∑ can be characterized by means of zero-state observability of ∑ and square summability of the output function h(x k ). The relationship among observability, square summable series and stability of discrete-time autonomous systems is exposed. The main result developed in this paper unifies a series of stability theorems recently proposed in the literature, and generalizes Morse's Lemma [Morse, A. S. (1990). Towards a unified theory of parameter adaptive control tunability. IEEE Trans. Autom. Contr., 35, 1002–1012.] in two directions: from continuous-time linear systems to their discrete counterparts and from linear systems to nonlinear systems.
Broad Mite on Primocane-fruiting Blackberry in Organic Production in Arkansas

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Rubus, high tunnels, pest susceptibility, Polyphagotarsonemus latus SUMMARY. The broad mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus) was found in association with leaf-curling symptoms on primocane-fruiting blackberry (Rubus rubus )i n Arkansas in 2007–2009. Broad mite had not been previously reported on blackberry. The plots sampled in this study were part of a study comparing harvesting in the fall versus harvest in spring and fall, high tunnels versus ambient conditions, and three genotypes, all under organic production. Leaves were sampled, broad mites per leaf counted, and leaf area and trichome density measured. Results indicated that broad mite is capable of overwintering in a moderate temperate climate and that it reduces leaf area of primocane-fruiting blackberry. The fall-only harvest system had fewer broad mites than fall and spring harvest. There were a range of genotype effects on broad mite populations, including one genotype, ‘Prime-Jan’, on which broad mite populations remained low, and one genotype, APF-46, on which mite populations grew significantly. Observations indicate that the broad mite may be a pest of ‘Prime-Ark 45’, another primocanefruiting cultivar.
Adaptive abstraction in expert systems for medical diagnosis

Preliminary research on applying a novel control scheme to a medical expert system is presented. The solution of most diagnosis problems requires reasoning at multiple abstraction levels. Adaptive abstraction (AA) is a control scheme that enables an expert system to switch automatically to an appropriate level of abstraction to solve the task at hand. The overall knowledge organization, the control mechanisms, and the knowledge base update method of the AA scheme are described along with examples in automated gait analysis. The advantages of the AA scheme are mentioned. Several theoretical issues concerning the design of expert systems are raised, including: determination of a knowledge base's granularity, the downward inclusion property, which is needed for the AA scheme to work, and the necessity of common-sense knowledge for expert systems to overcome brittleness. >
Reading as Evocation: Engaging the Novel in Phenomenological Psychology

AbstractLiterary fiction gives us a window into ourselves and into those who may seem most unfamiliar to us. We therefore have a moral imperative to read, just as, as psychotherapists, we have a moral imperative to listen. Literary study teaches us to read closely, to listen for structure as well as content, and it also instructs us about different ways of paying attention. Inversely, because the practice of psychotherapy values connection and process, rather than simply interpretation, it shows us how we can bring ourselves more fully to literature. In this paper I propose ways of engaging the field of phenomenological psychology in this dialectical relationship of literature and psychotherapy. By using as a case study a recent experience of teaching Aimee Bender’s (2000) novel An Invisible Sign of My Own in an interdisciplinary seminar on literature and psychology, I illustrate how literature and clinical discourses can inform and challenge each other as we seek to understand the meaning and lived exper...
Simultaneous spatial and temporal focusing for remote axial scanning in wide field imaging

We show theoretically and experimentally that simultaneous spatial and temporal focusing can scan the temporal focal plane axially by adjusting the group velocity dispersion, allowing for remote axial scanning.
Constraint lines and performance envelopes in behavioral physiology: the case of the aerobic dive limit

Constraint lines—the boundaries that delimit point clouds in bivariate scattergrams—have been applied in macro-ecology to quantify the effects of limiting factors on response variables, but have not been applied to the behavioral performance and physiological ecology of individual vertebrates. I propose that behavioral scattergrams of air-breathing, diving vertebrates contain informative edges that convey insights into physiological constraints that shape the performance envelopes of divers. In the classic example of repeated cycles of apnea and eupnea in diving, air-breathing vertebrates, the need to balance oxygen consumption, and intake should differentially constrain recovery for dives within or exceeding the aerobic dive limit (ADL). However, the bulk of variance observed in recovery versus dive duration scattergrams originates from undetermined behavioral variables, and deviations from overall stasis may become increasingly apparent at progressively smaller scales of observation. As shown on dive records from 79 Galapagos fur seals, the selection of appropriate time scales of integration yields two distinct recovery boundaries for dive series within and beyond the estimated ADL. An analysis of the corresponding constraint lines is independent of central tendencies in data and avoids violating parametric assumptions for large data sets where variables of interest account for only a small portion of observed variance. I hypothesize that the intercept between these constraint lines represents the effective ADL, and present physiological and ecological considerations to support this hypothesis.
On the sphere-decoding algorithm I. Expected complexity

The problem of finding the least-squares solution to a system of linear equations where the unknown vector is comprised of integers, but the matrix coefficient and given vector are comprised of real numbers, arises in many applications: communications, cryptography, GPS, to name a few. The problem is equivalent to finding the closest lattice point to a given point and is known to be NP-hard. In communications applications, however, the given vector is not arbitrary but rather is an unknown lattice point that has been perturbed by an additive noise vector whose statistical properties are known. Therefore, in this paper, rather than dwell on the worst-case complexity of the integer least-squares problem, we study its expected complexity, averaged over the noise and over the lattice. For the "sphere decoding" algorithm of Fincke and Pohst, we find a closed-form expression for the expected complexity, both for the infinite and finite lattice. It is demonstrated in the second part of this paper that, for a wide range of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and numbers of antennas, the expected complexity is polynomial, in fact, often roughly cubic. Since many communications systems operate at noise levels for which the expected complexity turns out to be polynomial, this suggests that maximum-likelihood decoding, which was hitherto thought to be computationally intractable, can, in fact, be implemented in real time-a result with many practical implications.
Coming out on a South African university campus: Adaptations of gay men and lesbians

Abstract Despite Africa's sordid view that same-sex behavior is a “social syphilis,” gay and lesbian students at Stellenbosch University in South Africa are developing networks of support and becoming visible both on and off campus. This exploratory study examines the opinions and beliefs of 20 gay and lesbian students (one student identified as bisexual) and the relationship between their social support networks, their involvement in a gay and lesbian Society at Stellenbosch University, and their experiences and interactions with others in college and their community. Findings reveal that some gay and lesbian students remain silent about their sexual orientation due to hostile campus environments and fear of discrimination and victimization. This article concludes with a brief discussion of Afrikaner nationalism vis-a-vis the gay and lesbian community in Stellenbosch.
Probabilistic DBNN via expectation-maximization with multi-sensor classification applications

The original learning rule of the decision based neural network (DBNN) is very much decision-boundary driven. When pattern classes are clearly separated, such learning usually provides very fast and yet satisfactory learning performance. Application examples including OCR and (finite) face/object recognition. Different tactics are needed when dealing with overlapping distribution and/or issues on false acceptance/rejection, which arises in applications such as face recognition and verification. For this, a probabilistic DBNN would be more appealing. This paper investigates several training rules augmenting probabilistic DBNN learning, based largely on the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. The objective is to establish evidence that the probabilistic DBNN offers an effective tool for multi-sensor classification. Two approaches to multi-sensor classification are proposed and the (enhanced) performance studied. The first involves a hierarchical classification, where sensor information are cascaded in sequential processing stages. The second is multi-sensor fusion, where sensor information are laterally combined to yield improved classification. For the experimental studies, a hierarchical DBNN-based face recognition system is described. For a 38-person face database, the hierarchical classification significantly reduces the false acceptance (from 9.35% to 0%) and false rejection (from 7.29% to 2.25%), as compared to non-hierarchical face recognition. Another promising multiple-sensor classifier fusing face and palm biometric features is also proposed.
Optical Phonon Raman Scattering as a Local Probe of Si-Ge Strained Layers

There has been considerable interest over the last few years in the properties of ultra-thin Si-Ge strained layers and Raman scattering has been widely used to study these materials. The interest in these strained layers has been prompted by proposed technological applications of these materials in high speed electronic devices1 and theoretical and experimental suggestions that the lowest lying optical transitions in superlattices of these materials can be direct in contrast to the weak, lowest lying, indirect transitions in bulk Si and Ge.2 For example, it has been argued that direct optical transitions at photon energies near 0.8 eV can be observed in 10 monolayer period, strain symmetrized Ge/Si superlattices grown on Si(100).2 While questions remain as to whether the fundamental gap in a Si-Ge superlattice can be direct, 3 it is generally agreed that in order to observe this possibility, layer thickness control at the monolayer level, atomically abrupt interfaces between the layers and excellent crystalline quality are aL.L. required. These requirements and the general scientific interest in the physics and chemistry of the strained Si-Ge system have placed a significant premium on the characterization of these materials at the atomic level.
Modeling of polymer/clay nanocomposite formation

A statistical thermodynamic modeling of the formation of polymer/clay intercalation and nanocomposites was developed. The key factor in determining intercalation was an exothermic heat of mixing between polymer chains and the organically modified silicate surface. This was found to agree with previous experimental results in the literature including halogenated polymers and acrylonitrile copolymers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 1657–1663, 2006